Friday, October 31, 2008

Exciting News - Meet the Cast of Twilight at Hot Topic

Meet the Cast of Twilight! - October 31st (Source)

Want to meet the cast members from the most highly anticipated film of the year? Of course you do. So prepare yourself for an event you can sink your teeth into, because the cast of Twilight will descend on select Hot Topic stores nationwide in November! Malls will be selected soon, so keep checking Hottopic.com for the latest information. Need more details? Look below!

11/10 - San Francisco, CA with Robert Pattinson “Edward”

11/10 – Seattle, WA with Taylor Lautner “Jacob,” Edi Gathegi “Laurent” & Rachelle Lefevre “Victoria”

11/11 – Dallas, TX with Robert Pattinson “Edward”

11/11 – Denver, CO with Taylor Lautner “Jacob,” Edi Gathegi “Laurent” & Rachelle Lefevre “Victoria”

11/12 – Chicago, IL with Robert Pattinson “Edward”

11/12 – Scottsdale, AZ with Taylor Lautner “Jacob,” Edi Gathegi “Laurent” & Rachelle Lefevre “Victoria”

11/13 – Philadelphia, PA with Robert Pattinson “Edward”

11/13 – Houston, TX with Taylor Lautner “Jacob,” Edi Gathegi “Laurent” & Rachelle Lefevre “Victoria”

11/13 – Fairfax, VA with Kristen Stewart “Bella”

11/14 – Boston MA with Robert Pattinson “Edward”

11/14 – Minneapolis, MN with Taylor Lautner “Jacob,” Edi Gathegi “Laurent” & Rachelle Lefevre “Victoria”

11/14 – NY/NJ with Kristen Stewart “Bella”

11/15 – Miami, FL with Taylor Lautner “Jacob,” Edi Gathegi “Laurent”

Message from the Goo Goo Dolls


A Message From The Goo Goo Dolls about this Tuesday

This Tuesday we will elect the next President of the United States. The result will have great consequences for the nation.

This election offers a choice is between two men with dramatically different visions of the future. We have strong feelings about this choice. But we feel even more strongly that all Americans, regardless of political preference, have a stake in the outcome and should vote in this critical election.

This is likely to be a close election. Your vote matters. Please use it and make a difference.

Happy Halloween From Chotskies

Monday, October 27, 2008

Body Recovered Believed to Be Julian King

This is the worst news possible. Authorities believe they have recovered the body of 7 year old Julian King who has been missing since Friday.

In what may be the horrible conclusion to an epically tragic weekend for Jennifer Hudson's family, Chicago authorities have recovered the body of a 7-year-old boy fitting the description of the entertainer's missing nephew.

However, there has been no confirmation that the remains, found in an SUV abandoned on a Chicago street, are those of Julian King.

Julian vanished following the slayings of Hudson's mother and brother, who were shot dead in their home Friday. Police issued an Amber Alert and FBI kidnapping experts were called in to help search for a white 1994 Chevy Suburban—the same vehicle in which the body was discovered, about 14 miles from the murder site.

Over the weekend, Hudson and her sister, Julia, the boy's mother, both made emotional pleas for Julian's safe return. The Oscar-winning Dreamgirls star also offered a $100,000 reward and asked fans "to pray for our family."

The boy's stepfather, William Balfour, 27, was detained by police but has not formally been charged. He is currently in the custody of state officials.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Anchor Anne Pressley Dies


Anchorwomen, Anne Pressly, 26, died at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center.

She was discovered Monday morning a half-hour before she was to appear on ABC affiliate KATV's "Daybreak" program. Her mother went to her home after she didn't answer her regular wake-up call.

Police have yet to identify a suspect, though detectives have combed the area around Pressly's home in the Heights neighborhood—a mix of bungalows and mansions near the Little Rock Country Club. News reports have said detectives found evidence that Pressly's credit card was used Monday at a gas station a few miles from her home.

A police spokeswoman, has said investigators suspect Pressly was the victim of a random attack. Davis did not return a call for comment Saturday night.

Where Is Jennifer Hudson's Nephew?

So horrific, the coverage on Jennifer Hudson's nephew, 7-year-old Julian King is scary. To think that she and her family are dealing with the shock of the deaths of 2 family members and are waiting for news on where her 7 year old nephew is.

There is a lot of evidence and hopefully her nephew will be found. However, this poor child may have watched the murder of 2 members of his family. Whomever is responsible is a sicko and we pray that the murder/murders will be brought to justice.

The Amber alert is here.

This is the person in question.



William Balfour. Balfour has previously been convicted of attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and receiving stolen property; he was paroled in 2006. Balfour's relationship to the Hudson's is currently unknown. Police say he's possibly driving one of two cars: a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban (IL plate - X584859) or a teal Chrysler Concord (temp tag - 332K823). Police consider Balfour armed and dangerous but has not been charged with anything. Police believe the shooting stemmed from a domestic incident. Balfour has previously listed Donnerson's home as a residence.

TMZ is reporting that the whole incident might stem from a feud between Balfour and Hudson's sister Julia, mother of missing 7-year-old Julian. Julia is a bus driver for the CTA. A posting on her MySpace picture page alludes to the incident, saying, "...William bitch ass sold my car." Pic is after the jump.

Cook County court records show Balfour pleaded guilty in 1999 to attempted murder and vehicular hijacking. He also was convicted in a 1998 case of possession of a stolen motor vehicle, records show.

Balfour was released from the Illinois River Correctional Center in Downstate Canton in May 2006 after serving seven years in prison. He is still on parole, state records show.

Balfour's mother said her son and Julia Hudson were separated and that Donerson had thrown him out of the family home last winter. While standing outside the Wentworth Area police station Friday night with Rev. Jesse Jackson, Michele Balfour denied that her son had anything to do with the slayings.

Family members said she spoke with him Friday afternoon and he seemed as if he had been sleeping. There was no trace of panic or anxiety in his voice, they said.

"I didn't raise no murderer," Michele Balfour said. "He was not a child abductor. They have the wrong person."

Friday, October 24, 2008

2 Bodies Found At Jennifer Hudson's House

This just in:

2 bodies are discovered at the home of Jennifer Hudson in Chicago.

The bodies are believed to be her mother and her brother.

Also a child is reported as being held for ransom.

More news to come.

As per the Chicago Sun Times
Two people were found murdered inside a South Side home Friday, including a woman who is believed to be related to Academy Award-winning actress Jennifer Hudson, authorities said.

Hudson, 26, became famous after appearing on “American Idol” in 2004. She went on to win an Oscar in 2006 for her performance in the film “Dreamgirls.”

Halloween Fun

Carve Your Own Pumpkin

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Enter this Adorable Costume Giveaway

Head over to Grosgrain to enter this costume giveaway. It is darling and who ever wins will be very happy.

How stinkin cute is her little model?

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

An Apple Card Giveaway & A Way To Make Extra Cash


Have you ever left a review on a website? Wouldn't it be awesome to get paid for those reviews?

Now you can, with Ciao.

I have been doing reviews on various uh ummmm book sites and a very large site beginning with the letter "A" for years and haven't made a single dime. That is about to change.

Today, I signed up with Ciao, and entered my first review in under 5 minutes.

What is Ciao - Ciao is new online price comparison and consumer review site. This is the most comprehensive source of intelligent shopping on the web. It is the perfect place to go before you start purchasing those big ticket items or those stocking stuffers for the holidays. You can review everything from Computers and TV's to beauty products and movies.

Can't decide between

It is free to sign up and you chose what you want to review.

Here is the best part. You can possibly make money by submitting a qualifying review. This is a great way to earn extra cash for said holiday gift.

There are lots of fun and easy ways to earn money on Ciao. When you write a review of a product or service, you are paid every time another member reads and rates your review (a "read"). Inviting your friends to become Ciao members also earns you money: For the first 6 months of their Ciao membership, you will earn a commission equal to 50 percent of their earnings on Ciao (excludes survey earnings).

How You Get Paid - Once your account has reached a minimum balance of $5, you can request a money transfer into your PayPal account. To do so, log in and go to your personal member area, "My Ciao". Click on the "Account" tab and finally click on "Request payment". Pay-outs are made once a month to all Ciao members who have requested one or more payments in the course of that month.

How it works:

Ok, let's get started on the giveaway part.

To win an Apple Card in the Amount of $25.00 follow the instructions below.

To enter this giveaway, first visit this page: http://www.ciao.com/specials/Write_a_review_in_3_simple_steps_GFOL

Then, follow this easy, three-step process:

Step 1) Enter what product you'd like to review (e.g. iPod Touch)

Step 2) Click on "write a review" and share your experience using this product, as well as rating, with the Ciao community of shoppers. Be sure to do a full-length review!

Step 3) Join the Ciao community, start connecting with other shoppers and earn money for your reviews ($1 per qualified review). You can even upload video reviews

Finally, once you have done at least one full length product review (at least 120 of your own words), post your Ciao username and a link to your review in my other blog's comment section.

Note: this contest is also open to current Ciao.com members, just be sure to include a link to a new review to qualify for this giveaway.

  • Giveaway ends November 3, 2008 at Midnight.
  • Don't forget to follow the instructions listed above before leaving a comment.
  • Please supply an email address so that I can contact you.
  • You will have 3 days to claim your prize.
  • Don't forget to leave a comment on my other blog to enter. Not on Chotskies!
Good Luck and have fun reviewing!

Come On This Is Funny!!!

I found this on Yummy Mummy and it is written by Blogger Sharon DeVellis.

Inside Scoop

Aging Gracefully: Or...Why The Hell Would I Ever Use That?

October 20, 2008

Occasionally I come across a product that leaves me befuddled and confused as to why anyone would ever buy it, let alone use it. A few months ago while reading O Magazine, I came across such a product.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head in disbelief. Why? I asked, Why?

Until of course, the Gods of Irony decided to teach me why someone, at some point in their life as they are getting older and strange things happen to their body, things you would never ever imagine happening, things that although you knew subconsciously would happen but never thought in a million years it would happen to you per se, could possibly want to use it.

This is a delicate topic but one that is necessary because at some point ladies, this is going to happen to you. And unless your name is Samantha and you’re part of the of Sex In The City cast, it’s not going to come up in a normal everyday discussion with your girlfriends. So being the Yummy Mummy I am, I’m going to discuss this very delicate topic. And maybe some day in the future, you’ll thank me for it.

So….let’s see…..how to begin….

Let’s just say your partner likes to Go DownTown ummm…Vacation South of The Border hmmmm Yodel at the Canyon….no….umm……Pearl Diving.

Yes. That’s it. Let’s say your partner likes to dive for pearls.

And let’s just say your partner is a very good pearl diver. An excellent pearl diver! In fact, it’s possible one of the reasons you’re with your partner is because of their amazing pearl diving abilities. And let’s just say your partner loves to dive for pearls. And can hold their breath for a very long time. And let’s just say your partner finds a pearl Every! Single! Time! they go diving. And they’re beautiful pearls. So beautiful they make you oooooo and ahhhhhh at the immense beauty. Maybe they even bring tears to your eyes. And let’s just say one day, your partner is pearl diving and he’s so close to finding that pearl. So close. You’ve almost got it! you yell. It's there! Right there! And suddenly your partner stops and comes up and says “Did you know you have a grey pubic hair?”

All I’m saying ladies, is if anything like this ever happens to you, there’s a product out there for that.

The Sarah Palin Rap - Love Amy Poehler

I could listen to this all day!

one two three

My name is Sarah Palin you all know me,

Vice president nominee of the GOP

Gonna need your vote in the next election

Can I get a “what what” from the senior section

McCain got experience, McCain got style

But don’t let him freak you out when he tries to smile

Cause that smile be creepy

But when I be vp

All the leaders in the world gonna finally meet me

How’s it go Eskimo

Eskimos

Tell me what you know Eskimo

Eskimos

How you feel Eskimo

Ice cold

Tell me tell me what you feel Eskimo

Super cold

I’m Jeremiah Wright cause tonight I’m the preacha’

I got a bookish look and you’re all hot for teacha’

Todd lookin fine on his snow machine

So hot, boy gonna need a go-between

In Wasilla we just chill baby chilla

But when I see oil, let’s drill baby drill

My country tis of thee

From my porch I can see

Russia and such

All the mavericks in the house put your hands up

All the mavericks in the house put your hands up

All the plumbers in the house pull your pants up

All the plumbers in the house pull your pants up

When I say ‘Obama’ you say ‘Ayers’

Obama. Ayers.

Obama. Ayers.

I built me a bridge - it ain’t goin’ nowhere.

Ohhh

McCain, Palin, gonna put the nail in the coffin

Of the media elite

She likes red meat

Shoot a mull humpin’ moose, eight days of the week [gunshots]

Now ya dead, now ya dead

Cause I’m an animal, and I’m bigger than you

Holdin a shotgun walk in the pub

Everybody party, we’re goin on a hunt

la la la la la la la la [gunshots]

Yo Palin, I’m out!

I Honestly Don't Know How Body Experts Make Money

This crap makes me crazy.


Sometimes, people are just being themselves. It is just so hocky.

Toni Braxton Is Eliminated


Honestly, I am not sure what is going on here.

Toni Braxton is voted off Dancing with the Stars?

This is turning into a popularity contest.

There were at least two people that should have gone before Toni.

Ummm...hello...Cloris *cough* and Susan Lucci *cough, cough*.

Cloris is fun to watch but really people...this is a dancing competition. Are you not sick of watching her and Corky bump dirties on the dance floor. I am!

Susan Lucci, watching her dance is like watching it in slow motion. The moves are there, the smile and the body but hello.....I want to press the forward button so I can watch it in real time.

Oh well, next week is another week right?

New Dancing with the Stars Contestants???

Could you even imagine????
I take no credit for this awesome Photoshop job. Incredible!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Mr. Blackwell Dies


heeky fashion critic, Mr. Blackwell, suffered from an intestinal infection and has passed at the age of 86. Known for his annual worst-dressed list, Mr. Blackwell taunted some of Hollywood's best for their questionable taste in clothes. This guy called Madonna "The Bare-Bottomed Bore of Babylon".

"I merely said out loud what others were whispering. It's not my intention to hurt the feelings of these people. It's to put down the clothing they're wearing," said Mr. Blackwell in a past interview.

Mr. Blackwell, born Richard Sylvan Selzer, issued his first celebrity fashion critique in 1960 and continued until his death. His grandest moments also included hosting his own show Mr. Blackwell Presents in 1968 and designing his own clothing line. Mr. Blackwell was a fun and gregarious addition to the industry and will always be remembered.

Source

Here are some of his famous quips

  • Barbra Streisand: "She looks like a masculine Bride of Frankenstein."
  • Christina Aguilera: "A dazzling singer who puts good taste through the wardrobe wringer."
  • Meryl Streep: "She looks like a gypsy abandoned by a caravan."
  • Sharon Stone: "An over-the-hill Cruella DeVille."
  • Lindsay Lohan: "From adorable to deplorable."
  • Patti Davis: "Packs all the glamour of an old, worn-out sneaker."
  • Ann Margret: "A Hells Angel escapee who invaded the Ziegfeld Follies on a rainy night."
  • Camilla Parker-Bowles: "The Duchess of Dowdy."
  • Bjork: "She dances in the dark -- and dresses there, too."
  • Spears: "Her bra-topped collection of Madonna rejects are pure fashion overkill."
  • Too Many Email Accounts????

    Do you have email accounts in a million places?



    I do.



    Email is a great way to keep up with friends and collagues but you can't get everyone to contact you through the same place. There are some on email, Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter but you don't have time to go to each site everyday. Well, there is an solution to this dilema and it's called...



    Visit Fuser.com">FUSER.



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    We've also recently added the ability to customize your Visit Fuser.com">Fuser.com. Choose your own color scheme or use one of the many background images provided.

    Sunday, October 19, 2008

    Make Money Reading Email

    The economy is scary we get a dollar and spend two. How about an easy way to make a few extra bucks reading email.



    Register at Visit InboxDollars">InBoxDollars , fill out a quick form and start receiving email that will put a few dollars in pocket.



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    Visit InboxDollars">InBoxDollars, take surveys, play games, etc.



    Aren't you tired of getting garbage email? How about some email that matters?

    You will only receive emails with special offers you’re likely to be interested in. It’s a fun and easy way to get great deals on products and services. Plus, you’ll get paid to read emails! In this economy this is what we need.

    You Want To Know What They Saw?????

    Remember my post from last week when I asked What are they Watching???

    Check it out!!!

    I look forward to seeing this when it is finally released. What about you???

    Thursday, October 16, 2008

    Looking For Halloween Gifts? How About Some of These?



    Who Won The Debate Last Night????

    A body language expert analyzes John McCain and Barack Obama in the final presidential debate.

    Presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama squared off in a final debate at Hofstra University in New York. Body language expert Dr. Lillian Glass analyzed the candidates' every move, and this is what she had to say:

    McCain
    • McCain came out stronger than we've ever seen him.
    • The strongest thing he said was, "I'm not President Bush."
    • He needed to look at the camera more, and really talk to the people.
    • He often used an upward thumb gesture while he was talking, which showed confidence and a winning attitude.
    • He was a bit mechanical, but that's likely due to his war injury.

    Obama
    • Obama looked in the camera much more than McCain did, and that was very powerful.
    • He often used an open-handed gesture that shows his own openness, which was excellent.
    • His laugh and smile sometimes turned into a smirk, which at times worked against him.
    • He defended himself well against McCain.
    • He looked very confident, and candidly answered questions and addressed the issues.

    "The best part was at the end when they hugged," Dr. Glass says. "It seemed like they really liked each other and they both really respect each other, all politics aside."


    But who won? "If you support McCain, you probably came out thinking he did wonderful," she says. "If you support Obama, you probably came out thinking he did wonderful. They both were excellent. I'd say it's a draw. But if you're undecided, you really have a lot to think about now."
    What's your opinion?
    [source]

    What Are They Watching?

    I don't know but I am dying to see it too.

    Be sure to check back for more information.

    Wednesday, October 15, 2008

    Help The Children of The World

    The suffering that happens in this world every day is horrifying. It is especially horrific when the suffering is being felt by children.

    Children and Health

    • An estimated 11 million children under age five die each year from preventable or treatable diseases. In 2004, an estimated 10.5 million children died before they reached age five, most from preventable diseases. (World Health Organization)
    • In 2002, vaccine-preventable diseases killed 1.2 million children - 14 percent of global deaths among children. (World Health Organization)
    • Each year, more than 10 million children in low- and middle-income countries die before reaching their fifth birthday. Seven in 10 of these deaths are due to just five preventable and treatable conditions, or often a combination of them: pneumonia, diarrhea, malaria, measles, and malnutrition. (World Health Organization)
    • There are an estimated 150 million children with disabilities in the world, most of whom face discrimination in one form or another. (UNICEF)
    • One in five deaths of children under age five in Africa is attributable to malaria. (Roll Back Malaria)
    • Malaria kills a child in Africa every 30 seconds. Many children who survive malarial episodes often struggle with learning impairments or brain damage. (Roll Back Malaria)
    • More than 150 million episodes of pneumonia are estimated to occur each year among children under age five in developing countries. Twenty percent of those cases are fatal. (World Health Organization)
    • Pneumonia is the leading killer of children - more than AIDS, malaria, and measles combined with approximately 2 million deaths each year. (World Health Organization)
    • Two hundred million children under age five are malnourished. (Global Health Council)

    Orphans and Vulnerable Children

    • By 2010, the number of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS globally is expected to reach 20 million. (Global AIDS Alliance)
    • More than 90 percent of all orphans in sub-Saharan Africa are cared for by their extended families. (UNICEF)
    • Less than 10 percent of children orphaned and made vulnerable by AIDS are receiving any type of support. (UNICEF)
    • In sub-Saharan Africa, by 2005, 15 million children had lost a parent to AIDS. (AVERT)
    • Twelve percent of all children in sub-Saharan Africa are orphans. One quarter of them lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. (UNICEF)
    • In 11 of the 43 countries in Africa, more than 15 percent of children are orphans, where AIDS is the cause of parental death from 11 to 78 percent of the time. (UNICEF)
    • AIDS is more likely than any other cause of death to create double orphans - children who have lost BOTH parents. (UNICEF)
    • In 2001, 15 percent of children in 10 sub-Saharan African countries had lost one or more parents to AIDS. (World Bank)
    • There are 143 million orphans worldwide as a result of all causes. (UNICEF)
    • Children whose mothers are dying or have already died are nearly four times more likely to die within the following two years than children whose mothers are healthy. (UNICEF)
    • An estimated US$4.7 billion will be needed in 2007-2008 to meet the needs of OVC. (UNAIDS)
    • The U.S. government (through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) reported spending US$225 million on OVC in 2007 - less than .7 percent of the U.S. foreign aid budget. (U.S. Department of State)

    These numbers are astonishing and we should all care...
    To find out how you can help by donating, spreading the word, or reaching out to congress
    visit GLOBAL ACTION FOR CHILDREN.

    Global Action for Children is a nonpartisan, results-oriented coalition dedicated to advocating for orphans and vulnerable children in the developing world.

    Madonna and Guy Ritchie Divorcing? Really?

    So, another one bites the dust. What else is new in Hollywood????

    To be honest, I never really understood what she was doing with him but that is just me.

    Didn't we hear about this for a few years now.

    I think this marriage was over right around the time her beautiful son was born but that's just me.

    Now that she is going to be single again, I wonder who she is going to sink her man eating (and I say this with the utmost respect) claws into.

    Madonna and Guy Ritchie's marriage is on the fritz, with the 50-year-old Queen of Pop and 40-year-old film director announcing their plans to divorce.

    "Madonna and Guy Ritchie have agreed to divorce after 7½ years of marriage," their reps said in a joint statement. "They have both requested that the media maintain respect for their family at this difficult time. A final settlement has not been agreed upon yet."

    "Guy Ritchie is responsible for wanting this divorce now," a source tellls Usmagazine.com. "He didn't want to wait to break the news, it had gone on along enough. This marriage was over a long time ago."

    Another insider tells Us: "All her friends and family have known all along. They had to keep it under wraps and really tried to work things out. They tried for years, actually.

    "They thought their belief in Kabbalah could help," the source adds, "but it's unfortunately hard for Madonna to hold on to anybody in her life. Thank God she has the kids."

    The news comes after British papers reported Wednesday morning that a split announcement was imminent.

    Citing unnamed sources, The Sun reports the couple want a divorce finalized by Christmas.

    Madonna, 50, and Ritchie, 40, "can't bear to live with the pretense any longer," a source told The Sun.

    "It's very sad. They were a great couple and brilliant parents. They just couldn't live together.

    "Despite huge attempts to patch things up, they both knew deep down that divorce was in the cards. It wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.' They tried hard over the past few months, but their fighting was getting out of control.

    "The final straw came before Madonna started her U.S. tour."

    Though Madonna wanted to wait to announce their split until after her global "Sticky and Sweet" tour, their fighting got so bad that Ritchie just wanted out, according to the Sun.
    [source]

    How to Back Up Your Precious Photos

    I take a lot of pictures. When I say a lot, I mean I average about 800-1600 monthly saving about 80% of those. See my photo sites here and here. This is how I save them.

    Put them into folders titled by month and then by date. Every two months I load them onto Webshots. Every 6 months I back up my photos to DVD's. Every year I store 1.5 years worth of on my computer. Over the summer I purchased a 500 GIG hard drive so that I can store a lot of them on there but right now it is storing an 11 gig movie that I need to have someone save for me on DVD's because I screwed up. At the time I didn't realize that I shouldn't create a movie bigger than 4 gigs. I am much more educated now.

    This is what I should be doing

    To save your photos:

    You need an auxiliary hard drive and a DVD burner. Get the largest external hard drive you can afford, and be sure you have a DVD burner and not just a CD burner. Data DVDs hold 4.2 gigabytes (more than 4,000 megabytes), but CDs can hold only 650 to 800 megabytes, depending on the type of blank disks.

    An external hard drive is easy to add. USB 2 or Firewire models work best, but if all your computer has the slow-speed USB (USB 1.1, the original kind of USB), that will have to do. DVD burners work best if they're internal, not external. If your computer doesn't have a DVD burner but has a CD burner, buy a new internal DVD burner and replace the older one. (It's not hard at all. The new burner will come with instructions.)

    You can see where my method is heading. My system has two levels of backup.
    The first is contained on the external hard drive. The second is a set of DVDs that are exact duplicates of folders on the external drive. Your normal backup is on the hard drive.

    Set up your hard drive backup this way: For every photo shoot, copy every original photo (or at least every original you feel is good enough to keep!) to a folder on the external drive named for the date, such as 2006-0723. Within THAT folder, create a folder called "Edited" and copy all the edited, cropped or otherwise changed originals to it.

    So on your external drive you'd have a folder called, say, 2006-0723. In that folder you'd have another folder called Edited. Originals go into the main folder; any photos you have altered in any way go into the Edited folder.
    Any time you need to access a photo you took, say, a few months ago, you can simply open it up from the folder it resides in.

    But the locked-up, unerasable backups are on data DVDs.

    This sounds complicated, but it's not. Like Krogh, I make sure that each main folder on the external hard drive cannot be any larger than the amount of files that will fit on a DVD. Each folder is numbered using four digits, such as 0014.

    This means that making backups requires no backup software at all; all you need to do is copy each folder, once it has enough files, to a corresponding DVD. Keep the folder size to 4 GB or less. (Check using a right click in Windows or Cmd-I on a Mac.)

    In your burner software, name the disk using the name of the folder, such as 0014. After making the backup, write that name on the blank hub of the disk using a Sharpie or similar pen. Store all the backup DVDs in a safe place preferably a safe deposit box or fire box.

    To restore your photos after a disaster, simply copy each folder from its DVD to your external drive.
    {SOURCE}

    Sunday, October 12, 2008

    Girls Just Want To Have Fun

    While I love Miley Cyrus it kind of crushes me that she attempted to remake this awesome Cyndi Lauper song. Miley is wildly popular but she isn't a great singer. This song leaves me NEEDING to hear the original. If you need a Cyndi fix after the Cyrus version - Check it here.

    Saturday, October 11, 2008

    Product Review, 3, 2, 1 Penguins


    Looking for something new to watch? Kid movies driving you crazy? Me too...until I received 3,2,1, Penguins.

    My daughter and I have watched this movie 3 times in the past 4 days. It is a smart movie, funny for kids and adults.

    3, 2, 1 Penguins is about a brother and sister (how appropriate for this house), Jason and Michelle who are traveling through outer space with 3 crazy named penguins and Kevin.

    3,2,1 Penguins is part of the Qubo Channel which hosts great kid shows like: Jane and the Dragon, Veggie Tales, Zula and Marvin the Tap Dancing Horse.

    The first story deals with jealousy and learning to appreciate what you have. The moral is being content and respecting the fact that the grass isn't always greener. "You have to have a satisfied heart or it will feel like you have a hole in your soul".

    3,2,1 Penguins is toted as a Christian animated show but I believe that the series is a breath of fresh air to the children shows that are out there. I love that the kids pray at the end of the episode. The lesson is good, not preachy and the kids are sweet.

    The second episode deals with gluttony and setting boundaries for yourself. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing. The kids and penguins learns this the hard way. If you find honey, eat just enough, too much of it and you will become sick." The moral is using self control and knowing when enough is enough.

    The third episode deals with sharing. Everyone getting what they want and need by sharing the wealth. The Flamingos and the Gnomes are fighting over water rights and the penguins and children teach them how to share the resource that they all need.

    Note: The children do pray at the end of each episode. They kneel at their beds with the hand folded in prayer, they also say Amen. This is the only time there is a message pertaining to religion. The prayers are not long or preachy.


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    Thursday, October 9, 2008

    Amateur Book Review - Kingdom Keepers

    I was supposed to start reading Eclipse by Stephanie Meyer, the 3rd book in the Twilight series but while waiting at the library for my son I spotted a book that I couldn't pass up.


    Are you looking for a book to get your 10-15 year old boy interested in reading? This is the book.

    Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson (check out his official site), reads like a great action movie scaled down for kids. Think Goonies and Freddy Kreuger in Disney World.

    Finn Whitman is one of five teens who are holographic hosts at Disney World. Their holograph image appear throughout the Magic Kingdom giving deliving information about the many attractions offered in Disney. All is well as Finn shines as a pseudo celebrity at school but when his dreams and reality start blurring as he experiences "crossing over" he searches to find out whether the other hosts are experiencing the same. Finn meets Wayne a retired Imagineer who tells him that he and the other hosts need to meet in dream world together to fight against the Overtakers. The Overtakers are lead by Maleficent the witch from Sleeping beauty.

    Finn and the others go to sleep at the same time, meet up in Disney and work together to destroy the Overtakers.

    The book is fast, interesting, fun and will hold the readers attention with mentions of the kids being attacked by the Pirates from The Pirates of the Caribbean. Traveling through the Magic Kingdom in the little cars from the Buzz Lightyear ride. And when the dolls from It's a Small World come to life and start biting the teens all hell breaks loose. Pooh and Piglet walking through Disney or Tom Sawyer smoking a pipe will just crack them up.

    The postives: I love the story. It is interesting to think that digital hosts are real people and can see things that are not of this reality. All of the details about the Disney theme park make this an intersting read. The story is different and what kid wouldn't want to walk around Disney after closing? A little Disney history is always interesting and educational too.

    The drawback: The characters are one dimensional. We don't really get to know any of the characters and the female characters are mostly just there to balance out the sexes.

    Book 2 was released in August 2008 and I look forward to getting my hands on it.

    If you have read or are reading this book, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

    The book was published by Disney, do I hear future movie????

    Check out a Kingdom Keepers Fan Site

    .

    See Ridley talk about Book Two The Kingdom Keepers II, Disney at Dawn

    Product Review - Smashies


    Press the button above to be taken to the home of Smashies

    Life is quick. We eat on the fly, as we rush kids to school, after school activities, sports events, etc.

    We all want our kids to make the right choices when it comes to snacks, but most kid friendly snacks aren't what we would call healthy or convenient.

    That is all about to change.

    Smashies is a new product by Luvli Foods. It is healthy and convenient. Smashies is a totally organic snack that your kids will love and you will appreciate the convenience of.

    Smashies is applesauce in a juice box container. You unscrew the cap and squeeze the apple sauce right into your mouth. Throw one in a lunch box, purse, backpack, wherever. They go anywhere and you no longer have to worry about the tin lid breaking or sending apple sauce flying when you peel that lid back. No spoon? No problem, it's simply not necessary. Can't finish it? That's fine, just screw the cap on until later.

    Besides the convenience of this snack there is the healthy aspect that we can't forget.
    No added water, sugar, salt, high fructose corn syrup or concentrates.

    What is in Smashies? Organic apple puree, organic apple flavor and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and nothing else.

    Your kids will love it. My two fought over the last one yesterday.

    No more applesauce growing mold in your fridge because you have to buy a jar and no one is eating it.

    Smashies isn't in stores yet but you can get yourself a case of it for $14.99, the cost of shipping.

    Order a case of Smashies and watch your kids ask for seconds. BTW...they take Paypal my personal favorite way of paying for online goods.

    Ghost Hunters Rock

    Are You Watching?

    Dancing with the Stars - No Eliminations this Week

    With Misty May-Treanor's injury this week, no one was sent home. I was a bit perturbed that the two that would have gone home if Misty wasn't out of the competition would have been Rocco and Karina.

    Rocco DiSpirito and Karina Smirnoff received the lowest combined score this week which would have had them packing. This is so bizarre. We have another week of Cloris and Corky rubbing uglies and other shananigans. God help us.

    Did you see Karina's face. She was pissed! She covered it up by sticking out a boo-boo lip but she was livid.

    This girl can do some crazy dance moves in heels.

    Check out her and Derek leaving a club last month.


    Monday, October 6, 2008

    Does This Scare Anyone But Me????



    In this country we pledge "to our country" not to a MAN! In this case Obama. I can't understand a lot of what they are saying but it does sounds as if they are calling Obama the Alpha and the Omega "the first and the last." Are they comparing him to God? I am confused.

    The teacher who released the video has been suspended. This demonstration was held on school grounds. This is extreme manipulation and indoctrination and should be eliminated from schools. The teachers job is to give students a place to lead themselves not to direct them in a particular direction.

    Isn't this a bit militia? This actually scares me.

    It also inspires me to lay off the pizza and Halloween candy for the next few weeks too.

    Giveaway on My Other Blog - ION Television Merchandise

    Maria's Space is giving away to four lucky winners the following:


    Want to see what's inside the bag??????

    A t-shirt, lined notebook, and pen.

    GIVEAWAY INSTRUCTIONS:

    • To enter, simply leave a comment with your email address on Maria's Space.
    • Want another entry Subscribe to my feed
    • Not enough? Blog about this giveaway and link back to Maria's Space.
    • Contest ends October 13, 2008 at midnight EST
    • A random winner be selected by Random.org
    • Winners will be notified by email and will have 3 days to accept or an alternate winner will be chosen.
    ION Television is also hosting a Halloween contest on their site. Head over to ION Television and enter to win a night in the spooky De Coronado hotel in San Diego. You can also load a photo of yourself in a Halloween Costume and see yourself displayed on the ION site.

    Support this new TV station and show their logo proudly..

    To see what is on ION tonight come here.

    Sunday, October 5, 2008

    OJ and Howard - Both In Their Own Prison (so to speak)

    GUILTY



    Does anyone else think it is interesting that OJ was found guilty on the same day Howard Stern got married?



    Years after one of the most watched murder cases in history, OJ Simpson is finally found guilty of something.

    (OJ's sister fainted after the verdict)



    You know, after being acquitted of a double murder I would think you would stay as far away from trouble as humanly possible.



    Not OJ!



    Simpson should stay away from the number 13! After 13 hours of deliberation, the Las Vegas jury convicted Simpson on 12 counts of kidnapping and robbing two sports memorabilia dealers at gunpoint at the Palace Station hotel and casino last September. This comes 13 years after the Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman case. Coincidence? You decide!



    I really feel for his children. If anything, this should remind all of us good parents, that when we yell at our children for talking back, jumping on the couch, or forgetting to shut the refrigerator (or whatever other silly parenting issue) we can swallow that "parent guilt" feeling and know that we are nothing like OJ.







    Married



    Howard Stern whose radio show covered the OJ Murder circus back in 1995 got married to his long time girlfriend Beth Ostrosky.



    The bride wore a white chiffon gown with cutaway back and sides. Officiating at the ceremony was actor Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa's husband and an ordained minister.

    The 180 guests included Joan Rivers, Barbara Walters, Billy Joel, Steve Schirripa, Chevy Chase, Tommy Mottola, and Donald and Melania Trump.

    They dined on tuna tataki, scrambled eggs with white truffles and striped bass with caviar — washed down with wine and champagne. Songwriter Phoebe Snow serenaded the newlyweds with "You Send Me," and Joel crooned "The Stranger."

    The wedding is an about-face for the media maverick, who once worried on the air that marriage to the model could spoil a good thing.

    "It's a nice feeling that we get along great," he said in 2006. "We're very happy, and I don't want to (blank) it up."

    Biggest Entrecard Giveaway Ever

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    30,000EC from Freebie Reporter
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    Thursday, October 2, 2008

    Sup With Jessica Simpson?

    Did you catch Jessica on Dancing with the Stars?

    Personally I really liked Jessica with Nick but w/o Nick she is annoying.

    When I don't watch Jessica sing I think she sounds ok. When I watch her sing I get distracted by her overdone facial expressions. Why does she do that thing with her face? Is it hard for her to sing? Did you ever see a guitar player look like it really hurts to play a guitar solo? Well, Jessica does the same thing. There is some weird neck thing she does and her mouth does something strange.

    Oh and why does it look like she is eating the microphone?



    And why is she trying to sound like Jewel here?????

    Bye Bye KK


    Honestly, I was happy to see Kim Kardashian go.

    She is undoubtedly beautiful but as interesting as a rock. As Mark says, "it's like watching paint dry."

    But, I am sad to see Mark go.





    Check out my favorite girls recap:

    Wednesday, October 1, 2008

    Product Review - Halloween Party Store

    Halloween is only 30 days away. Do YOU have your Halloween costume yet?



    I do. I got it from Halloween Party Store.



    Picture to follow (come back after Halloween) but I will tell you the ones I would love to wear if I wasn't trick o'treating with my kids.









    They have some of the cutest sexiest costumes for women I have ever seen.



    You can also find your children, men's and pet costumes here.



    The Halloween Party Store ship for free for orders over $75.00 and they are quick but get over there this week and order. Halloween is only 30 days away!!!



    Happy Halloween

    Halloween is only 30 days away. Do YOU have your Halloween costume yet?



    I do. I got it from Halloween Party Store.



    Picture to follow (come back after Halloween) but I will tell you the ones I would love to wear if I wasn't trick o'treating with my kids.









    They have some of the cutest sexiest costumes for women I have ever seen.



    You can also find your children, men's and pet costumes here.



    The Halloween Party Store ship for free for orders over $75.00 and they are quick but get over there this week and order. Halloween is only 30 days away!!!



    Happy Halloween

    Halloween is only 30 days away. Do YOU have your Halloween costume yet?



    I do. I got it from Halloween Party Store.



    Picture to follow (come back after Halloween) but I will tell you the ones I would love to wear if I wasn't trick o'treating with my kids.









    They have some of the cutest sexiest costumes for women I have ever seen.



    You can also find your children, men's and pet costumes here.



    The Halloween Party Store ship for free for orders over $75.00 and they are quick but get over there this week and order. Halloween is only 30 days away!!!



    Happy Halloween



    Amateur Book Review - Sweet Life


    Last night I finished the second book written by Hawaiian author, Mia King entitled Sweet Life.

    Sweet Life is about successful, 40 year old Marissa Price whose husband gets offered a job with his firm in Hawaii. He talks her into moving there after they spend a week enjoying the sights. She believes this will be just what she needs to reconnect with her husband and daughter and finally be a stay at home mom.

    They buy a fixer upper home, her husband starts spending a lot of time at the gym and pointing out their differences. Just as the lightbulb goes off in her head he blindsides her with an "I need some time" comment.

    Heartbroken, Marissa asks him to leave the house and it is then that I feel the book really takes off. Marissa finds a new life with some other wayward women and together they fix up the house, help each other out, homeschool their kids together and make a family.

    I am always drawn to female friendships. There is nothing like having girlfriends.

    The characters are real and the story possible. A great chick lit book. Looking to throw the covers over yourself and take to the couch for a quick, enjoyable read. This is the book.

    I will be heading over to Amazon today to order her first book, Good Things and I eagerly await book 3 coming out next year.

    For Mia's blog, information about her books, giveaways, and some Hawaiian recipes head over here.

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