September 27, 2006
Bake Sale Anyone?
Reynolds Fun Shapes are running a contest called “Shape Up Your Bake Sale."
Here’s how it works: Consumers can write into www.reynoldsfunshapes.com and explain why their bake sale needs “shaping up” for a chance to win a FunShapes “Shape Up Your Bake Sale” kit. Reynolds will be giving away sixty of these kits each week for six weeks starting September 22, 2006.
Each kit includes a variety of FunShapes samples, a CD-rom with tips, recipes and signage for hosting a successful bake sale, a FunShapes tablecloth and a FunShapes calculator for quick tallies of customers’ bills. In addition, the “Shape Up Your Bake Sale” kits will include a disposable camera and entry information for an exclusive photo contest, with a chance to win a $500 donation to their organization from Reynolds FunShapes Baking Cups.
Permalink | Comments (0)September 26, 2006
The Philips Digital Photo Frame
The great corporate master in the sky has bestowed upon me a Philips Digital Photo Frame. My wife has made it very clear that they aren't getting it back. She has also made it very clear that I can't regift it to my mother.
To start, the packaging is immaculate. It unfolds much like an Ipod box. Actually, "Apple" design is very evident in many of the features. To test the usability, I avoided looking at anything resembling a manual. That was easy, since the manual is on the CD that is still sealed closed on my desk. I plugged it in, connected the USB cable, and turned it on. XP immediately recognized it as an external hard drive, internal capacity about 12 MB. It also has an SD card slot and a memory stick interface. Physically, it is very sharp. A clear acrylic frame borders the LCD screen, and a brushed metal leg holds it up.
Loading pictures is as simple as plugging in a memory card preloaded with photos, or dragging and dropping. One idiosyncrasy I would like to see remedied is that it essentially caches the original photo, and upon unplugging the USB cable goes into a compression process to reduce file sizes. Since I was loading original images over, I had to load 8 or 10, unplug to process, plug back in, etc. Probably not a big deal as I suspect most people will use memory cards.
The display quality is simply stunning. I've never seen a dedicated portable photo display gadget that is even in the same league. You can fiddle with the transitions, image order, set it up to turn on and off automatically, and a bunch of other stuff with the buttons right on the frame. It's very user friendly. I immediately thought that getting one for each grandparent would be a great Christmas gift. Add a SD card preloaded with pictures, and every six months you can mail Grandma new high res pictures of the kids.
That assumes that $249 is in your Christmas budget. The price is really the only negative. When Office Depot is selling a brand new PC with Windows XP for $250 after rebates, it's hard to justify spending that much on a snazzy little photo display that is probably running a modified Linux kernel.
So sorry Mom. You'll have to make do with visiting Flickr for another year.
Permalink | Comments (4)September 20, 2006
Working with a non-profit that needs cash?
The folks over at Hamburger Helper are conducting a grant contest for local non-profit groups raising funds to positively impact their community in some way.
Here’s how it works:
Every month through May 2007, Hamburger Helper will choose one 501(c)(4) organization for a monetary grant of up to $15,000. All the group has to do is to register online with www.myhometownhelper.com and complete an essay of two hundred and fifty words or less describing how they the need help.
All of the application information can be found here:
http://myhometownhelper.com/LearnMore.aspx
Permalink | Comments (1)Free Food!!!
GourmetStation.com, a company that creates in-home dining experiences, is running a contest called "Get Out of the Dog House." They are asking people to submit a short, under two-minute video on how they got in and how they got out of "the dog house” with family, friends or associates by Oct. 7. The top three winners will receive a 12-, six- or three-month Dinner of the Month Club certificate from GourmetStation.com (worth upwards of $1,000). During this promo, GourmetStation.com is offering $10 off every order it sells and donating the money to Borzoi Rescue.
For more information about the National Borzoi Rescue Foundation, you can visit: www.nbrf.info.
For more information about the contest, please visit http://www.myspace.com/getoutofthedoghouse.
For more information about GourmetStation, please visit www.gourmetstation.com.
Permalink | Comments (0)September 06, 2006
GM extends warranty
GM is extending the powertrain warranty on all vehicles to 5 yrs / 100,000 miles. Word is the decision was driven in part by feedback from their Fastlane blog. If somebody had asked me to list the companies I would expect to be influenced by blogs, GM would not have been anywhere on that list. Good on them if it's true, and hopefully it'll help sell a few more cars.
Now if Dodge would just do it, and do it retroactively...
Permalink | Comments (0)August 22, 2006
Ask an Expert at Best Buy
Even though I am an uber-nerd, I'm horrible at explaining tech stuff to people that think of the truck first when they hear the word Ram.
So, if you fit into that category, or know somebody that does, there are others more willing and able to help.
AskABlueShirt.com is the web site of Best Buy's Blue Shirts - specialists in consumer electronics who provide knowledge on the latest trends, products and services to make the shopping experience fun and easy. If you can't make it to the store to get your questions answered, you can use AskABlueShirt.com.
In anticipation of going back to school, AskABlueShirt.com is hosting three chats so people can Q&A with a Blue Shirt on such a wide array of topics as laptops, software, digital cameras, cell phones, PDAs – anything. The chats are scheduled for:
Sunday August 27th from 8 - 8:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday August 29th from 9 - 9:30 p.m. ET
Thursday August 31st from 1 - 1:30 p.m. ET
So there you go. Now leave me alone, and stay off my lawn!
Permalink | Comments (0)June 01, 2006
Father's Day Gift Idea: Portable DVD Player
Not for me though. I already have one, thanks to my corporate masters. However, I must say, the Insignia 10.2" Portable DVD Player totally rocks. We got a chance to give it a good workout last week, as we had a 2 hour 4H clinic on Thursday, and then back to back 7AM-5PM days at the horse show over the weekend.
I didn't have time to enjoy a movie in the great outdoors. I was too busy with Show Dad duties. However, Breck gave the machine a serious workout and pronounced it awesome. The key things I noticed are:
- It's light, very light. I've got paperback books that weigh more than this thing.
- The screen is big - 10 inches - and size does matter, with DVD screens.
- Battery life is as advertised. They claim 3 hours, Breck got about 3:20 out of the battery on Saturday. It ships with a car power adapter, so a dead battery is not the end of your movie.
- The screen is surprisingly bright. I honestly expected Breck to have problems watching a movie on a bright sunny day. He didn't.
- It runs very cool. Even after 3 hours continuous use it was still cool to the touch
- It's shock resistant. Breck was using it in a lawn chair, with the DVD player in his lap. He reported absolutely no skipping or freeze ups.
All in all, this seems like a very well designed and put together piece of electronic gear, and one any gadget happy geek dad would love to own.
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Permalink | Comments (1)May 19, 2006
Cool Tech in our not-too-distant future
Philips held an event in NYC last week to promote prototypes of their new line of tech gadgets branded sense and simplicity.
Looks like some pretty cool stuff was demonstrated.
- LED light bulbs with adjustable color and brightness - perfect for setting "the mood."
- A flat screen TV that is a framed mirror when not in use. Now if they could just integrate this into the bathroom mirror...
- Bookshelf sized portable greenhouses. Of course, purchasing one will enter you directly into a DEA database ;)
Maybe next year they will fly me in for some first person reporting.
Or not.
Permalink | Comments (1)May 02, 2006
WheresYours.com - Blogging about place
This is a very cool web site where you can "pin" your favorite spot in nature and create blog entries about that place. It's a nifty mash up of blogging, mapping, and niche marketing.
Oh, and you can win free trips too.
Here is my entry. Or maybe that should be skeleton of an entry. The downside to something like this is the need for the writer to recreate material that is likely already done somewhere else.
I'll bet as content builds there just about everybody will be able to find some new-to-you spot close to home. One of cool things about Geocaching is that the caches are often placed in out of the way, under used parks. Just this weekend I found a great picnic spot 10 minutes from home while looking for a cache.
And speaking of blogging about place, you have checked out Fred's book, right?
February 26, 2006
The Philips RC9800i - Missed it by that much
Philips Electronics sent me a $400 remote control to play with play with and write about. It's not a trip to Amsterdam, but hey, I'm not complaining.
When I got the box I was psyched. I've had a Home Theater Master 500 for a couple of years, and I've never been completely happy with it. So I jumped at the opportunity to replace it with the latest and greatest, without spending a dime of my own cash.
We will start with the good. The RC9800i is not so much a remote control as it is a small hand held Linux device optimized for home theater control. Anytime you add a Linux device to your network you gain geek points. Geek points are good.
Yes, I said add it to your network. It talks 802.11, and with the addition of the provided software to your computer, the remote device acts as an audio streaming proxy and streams MP3s on your PC through your stereo system. 99% of my MP3s originated with my CD collection, so the feature is of limited real value to me. But it's still fracking cool.
Set up is nice too. After the software update was completed (via USB cable to my computer), it spun up a wizard that asked me a bunch of questions (in plain English) about my home theater setup, walked me through some tests of the system, and then told it when it was done. It was exceptionally easy.
However, that ease of use comes with a price in flexibility. I suspect most home theater geeks will be annoyed by some of the limitations.
The most irritating limitation is the device's lack of ability to deal with stereo components that don't have a remote control. My CD jukebox is circa 1997 and does not have a remote control. That stops the set up process cold. There is no way that I found to tell the RC9800i to forget about the remote codes and move on. The only way to move on was to delete the CD player from my set up. I had to come up with a hack workaround that involved telling the device that I was going to play CDs via the DVD player, and having it set the inputs on the receiver for the CD player. It works, but that isn't the point. A $400 device designed to control home theaters should be able to handle a legacy component without the user having to come up with a hack workaround.
I had the same problem with the PS2. The RC9800i thinks the PS2 has a wireless remote. Maybe the newest models do, but mine doesn't. Again, I had to delete it from my set up.
The idea of the remote is that you push the "Play PS2" button on the touchscreen, and the remote turns on your PS2, switches the video equipment on, changes the inputs appropriately, etc. If you don't have wireless control of the PS2 it should at least be able to set up the rest while you push the power button on the PS2. Again, I could have hacked it by using the another button, but that is not the point.
If you have remote control on all your devices, it works great. I push watch TV, and the TV comes on, input changes to Tivo if necessary, the receiver turns on, and switches to the proper audio input. The remote seems to do a good job of picking up the expected functions from your remotes. You can add user defined buttons for functions that don't automatically transfer across.
However, there are usability issues. Number one is the form factor. A remote control should fit comfortably in one hand, leaving the other hand free to access your beverage as you channel surf. The 9800i isn't really a channel surfing friendly remote. The form factor doesn't work for me. Also, you have to page through 3 or 4 screens to get to some fairly common remote features. There doesn't seem to be a way to rearrange what buttons are accessed on what screens. I'd like to be able to customize that and get my most common functions on one screen. Also, the ability to program a bunch of buttons for your favorite channels on one screen would be cool too.
The bottom line is that the potential is there, and since it is Linux based new features are only a software upgrade away. This may evolve into the mother of all remotes, but I don't think it is there today.
Permalink | Comments (0)February 23, 2006
An Orgasmic House Cleaning Experience
Remember those Herbal Essence shampoo commercials that were all the rage a couple of years ago? You know, the ones where the hot women turned down dates and social opportunities because washing their hair was such a self-satisfying experience.
I think I just witnessed that in real life.
My corporate masters sent me the new improved Swiffer Sweeper to review. I've been pretty harsh on Swiffer products, and I really had no expectation that this would be different.
Michelle used it to mop the floors tonight, and reported back that she liked it. That's not exactly true. She squealed something along the lines of greatest thing ever. Really, she couldn't stop gushing about how great this thing is. Elevated heartbeat, flushed skin, big smile, all the signs were there. She was having a really fine cleaning experience, or the fumes from the toilet bowl cleaner were getting to her.
The big deal is the new wet cloths for it. One of them allows her to mop all 3-1/2 of our bathrooms without pulling out the mop and pail. I wasn't really aware that the mop and pail were such a problem. Actually, they never were for me. On those rare occasions that she has asked me to mop the floors, I just used the nearest sink as the mop pail. However, I've been married long enough to know better than to argue about a $6 cleaning product that makes my wife this happy.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to find a drug store that is open late and has the Swiffer Wet Cloths in stock ;)
PS. Note to the suits at Swiffer - if I see any TV commercials involving hot women really enjoying cleaning the floors, I expect a royalty check, or maybe a part in the commercial. We can talk about it.
Permalink | Comments (4)February 09, 2006
Swiffer Amazing Woman of the Year
Swiffer is running it's second annual Amazing Woman of the Year contest.
Cindy Crawford won last year, but that was only because I didn't nominate my wife :)
Going out on a limb here that Swiffer may not like...the contest seems very skewed towards women that are spending their time doing stuff beyond their own family. This is from the entry form:
If you know an amazing woman who deserves to be honored for her work at home and in the community, nominate her here. Tell us why this woman is amazing, including how she juggles all of her responsibilities, commitments and community service.
Quite frankly, I think the really amazing woman is the one that dials down the commitments and community service, in order to spend more time hanging out at the park with her kids.
Permalink | Comments (2)January 31, 2006
Febreze NOTICEables
From the website:
Febreze NOTICEables is the newest electric air freshener from Febreze. It includes two complementary scents that alternate automatically throughout the day for surprisingly noticeable, long lasting freshness
If by surprisingly noticeable they mean overwhelming aromatic, then yeah, that's a good description.
We lasted an hour with it plugged in, on low. The odor is just too powerful. Too much of a good thing is bad. It would be very useful for covering the smell of 20 cats sharing one litterbox, but as an everyday air freshener, it just doesn't work for me. I can't imagine anybody needing it, but given the number of electrified air fresheners I see advertised on network TV, somebody must be buying them.
Why do they think Americans have such a need to artificially alter the smell of their environments? Around here, we use aroma free laundry detergent and dryer sheets, the bath soap is at the very bottom of the smelly scale, and even our dog shampoo is not particularly perfumed.
I was probably the wrong person to be testing an air freshener. However, I did volunteer.
My bad.
Permalink | Comments (1)January 24, 2006
Free stuff from Febreeze
My mole deep in the corporate underworld passed on this tidbit.
Febreze is trying to reach more people as it launches Noticeables and for a limited time will be giving away free samples over the internet. All you have to do is visit
And enter this promo code: CHALLENGE1
A free sample of Febreze Noticeables will then be sent to you.
Permalink | Comments (0)December 06, 2005
Corporate Shrilling pays off
The corporate shrilling I've been doing around here paid off in a $50 Best Buy gift card. Sweet.
I blew it on the Firefly DVD set, and Fast Times At Ridgemont High.
Who is coming over for movie night?
Permalink | Comments (1)November 17, 2005
Exclusive Christmas Blockbuster
This is exclusive, you are not going to find this anywhere else.
***Must credit ODonnellWeb***
OK, sorry - I was channeling Drudge there for a minute.
I have it on good authority that Best Buy and Mo Rocca are working together on a secret plot to commericalize Christmas. Would you believe that for some people Christmas is all about the bling? And of course, your one-stop-shop for Christmas bling is Best Buy.
Don't believe me yet? Here is the proof. (15MB .mov file)
I only offer this as a public service. I'm totally in touch with the real meaning of Christmas.
Permalink | Comments (1)November 03, 2005
Swiffer CarpetFlick
More free stuff - more comments on said free stuff.
So Swiffer Carpetflick sponsored the Fox TV Fall Kickoff party. They flew me out to LA and I got to hang out and party with the hotties from The OC. It was really cool.
OK, that didn't really happen :) What did happen is they sent me a free sample of the Swiffer CarpetFlick and asked me write about it and somehow tie in the kickoff party and the new Fox Fall lineup. Unfortunately, the only show on Fox prime time that I watch regularly is 24, and of course nobody from 24 was at the party. So much for my tie in...
Speaking of 24, just how are they going to have Jack save the world again when he is supposed to be dead? If he shows his face, he'll have both the US and Chinese government trying to take him out. Those aren't good odds, even if he is Jack Bauer.
In case you are wondering about the connection between household cleaning products and The OC, Swiffer makes clean up quicker and easier, - leaving you more time to obsess over The OC. I do have an MBA, so I'm qualified to say that I'm not sure I agree with that marketing strategy. I would think overworked housewives is the target market, not the young hipsters that watch The OC. If I was spending the advertising budget, I'd hire to Ty Pennington or that plumber guy on Desperate Housewives to clean with it on live TV, probably shirtless, then sit back and watch sales and my EOY bonus soar :)
About the Carpetflick... I don't get it. It's essentially a lint roller for your carpet. You insert the disposable double sided sticky pad and slide the Carpetflick over your carpet. In all fairness, it does work. Dog hair, dust, pocket lint that jumped for freedom and landed on your carpet, it all sticks to the pad. However, the pad is only about 3" x 6", so you go through the pads fairly quickly. I tested out on the stairs and family room carpet. It works as advertised, I just can't figure out why they are bothering to advertise it. It really seems like a solution in search of a problem.
Also, it's a unitasker, and I'm increasingly of the opinion that unitaskers are bad. Given the choice of three carpet cleaning tools that all do something different, but do it very well, versus one product that does all three good enough, I'll take the multitasker every time.
Neither Michelle nor I could come up with any reason why we would use it again. If pulling out the vacuum or hand vac is too much trouble, a manual carpet sweeper would work just as well, and it wouldn't consume disposable cleaning pads in the process.
Personally, I've always thought a ShopVac would make the ultimate household vacuum cleaner. You never know when you might spill 500 nails across your family room carpet...
Permalink | Comments (1)October 22, 2005
Serve N' Store Party Plates
It's been a while since I did any kitchen product blogging, and I know how my readers how like my entries on common household products.
Well, today we are talking about a new kitchen product, Serve N' Store Party Plates. They are the greatest things, ever.
OK, that is over doing it a bit - but they are quite nifty. First of all, they solve the lid problem. No longer do I have to curse the Gods when I defy all odds of probability and pull out the 12th consecutive Tupperware lid that does not fit the bowl I just dumped leftovers in.
I do that a lot.
With Party Plates, the plate is also a lid. They interlock with each other, totally eliminating the need for a separate lid. It's another one of those ideas that seems so obvious, after somebody else has done it.
They also pass the Michelle O'Donnell, Domestic Goddess test. She put some bread on one of the plates, closed it up, and let it sit. The bread was still yummy fresh 2 days later. That actually surprised me, as they are not airtight. 2 days is probably the upper limit of fresh food survivability. Either that, or maybe my kitchen is seriously lacking Oxygen.
They are not microwave proof, or at least the lawyers made them stamp "Not for use in microwave" on every plate. If these could go straight from the fridge to the microwave, that would be cool. If they did that I'd advocate packing up all your china and just living with Party Plates and Party Bowls.
Somehow, I don't think the Domestic Goddess will go for that though.
Update: Upon checking the FAQ, the white Party Plates are microwavable. I have red, although my food turning red in the microwave really wouldn't be a problem for me. Actually, I have no idea what would happen if I put the red Party Plates in the microwave, but I know how to find out....
The PR folks for the Hefty company, manufacturer of this fine product, did supply me with samples and ask that I write about their product. However, I think most of my readers know that I am way too principled to actually sell out for a few dollars of free product. If these things leaked, smelled funny, or otherwise ruined a perfectly good plate of leftovers I'd be the first to tell you, free product or not.
I'm not saying that my principals can't be bought, because they can. The price is higher though. If Mercedes-Benz wants to supply a car, I can assure you that you'll never see a disparaging word on this blog :)
Permalink | Comments (2)