Let's Talk About Me. For a Change.
3 days ago
Transformers :: Revenge of the Fallen
Sonya and I snuck out today and watched Transformers :: Revenge of the Fallen. I was planning on reviewing the movie in detail this evening, but I'm just too tired and we're waiting on dinner. So, this is my promise (you now have it in writing) that I'll be writing more about the movie sometime tomorrow.
Scam Alert - 1800Flowers.com
I'm sure you've heard of 1800Flowers.com, right? Well, if you haven't you are better off. Sonya and I have used them a couple of times and we've never really had any complaints... until now.
For Mother's Day this year, we thought we'd send flowers to Sonya's mom in Louisiana and to my mom here in Maryland. Sounds pretty simple right? Go to the web site, pick out the flowers you want to send, enter your credit card information and *VOILA*, flowers are sent to their doorstep. Well, that was all well and good, but there was something else going on that we didn't know about.
So, what's the problem you ask? I'll tell you. The other day I was going through our bank statement, like I do on a regular basis, and saw a random charge for $38.99 from company called "TLG*LiveWell". I had no idea what this was, so I asked Sonya if she remembered making a purchase from someone of that name. She said she had never heard of it. I did a little research on the good ol' World Wide Web to see what was going on.
I entered "TLG*LiveWell" into Google (I suggest you try it one day to see what I'm talking about) and found, I'm guessing, thousands of people who have experienced a similar "random" charge from this "TLG*LiveWell". All of which had no idea who in the hell they were. It turns out that 1800Flowers.com is in cahoots with them and somehow, some way, they sell your credit card information to them. Now, I'm not sure how they can do this, but I suspect that when Sonya was completing the purchase on the 1800Flowers.com web site there was a checkbox somewhere that needed to be deselected or our information would be available to them. She doesn't remember seeing that, but it was probably there (and probably impossible to see when you're finishing your order).
After doing a little research, I found that LiveWell is a subscription service that sends you coupons (electronically or via snail mail) for online or in-store shopping. I'd never heard of it and I DEFINITELY wasn't interested in their services. So, after digging a little deeper, I found their contact information and decided to give them a ring. Their representative told me that someone named "Sonya" had made a purchase through 1800Flowers.com and during the checkout process signed up for a membership with LiveWell (again, to her knowledge she didn't). It turns out that the first 30 days are free and you can cancel at anytime, but after that period you will be charged, in this case, $38.99. I have no idea if this was going to be a monthly or yearly charge. From the stuff I read online different people were being charged different amounts at different intervals.
I told the representative that we weren't interested in this service and, after his long rant about how we could save so much money with their service, offered to cancel our so-called "membership" and refund us the $38.99. I then proceeded to tell him that this was a shady way of doing business and that they must be ripping people off left and right. Judging by his tone, he had heard all of this before from a number of people.
What's the moral of the story? Well, I don't really have one except for when you make a purchase online, make sure you know EXACTLY what you're getting and who is going to have access to your information. Luckily I caught this random charge while going over our bank statement and was able to correct the issue. I can't imagine how many people out there just continue to pay and pay and when they realize it, it's too late.
Rant complete... don't use 1800Flowers.com. They suck.
For Mother's Day this year, we thought we'd send flowers to Sonya's mom in Louisiana and to my mom here in Maryland. Sounds pretty simple right? Go to the web site, pick out the flowers you want to send, enter your credit card information and *VOILA*, flowers are sent to their doorstep. Well, that was all well and good, but there was something else going on that we didn't know about.
So, what's the problem you ask? I'll tell you. The other day I was going through our bank statement, like I do on a regular basis, and saw a random charge for $38.99 from company called "TLG*LiveWell". I had no idea what this was, so I asked Sonya if she remembered making a purchase from someone of that name. She said she had never heard of it. I did a little research on the good ol' World Wide Web to see what was going on.
I entered "TLG*LiveWell" into Google (I suggest you try it one day to see what I'm talking about) and found, I'm guessing, thousands of people who have experienced a similar "random" charge from this "TLG*LiveWell". All of which had no idea who in the hell they were. It turns out that 1800Flowers.com is in cahoots with them and somehow, some way, they sell your credit card information to them. Now, I'm not sure how they can do this, but I suspect that when Sonya was completing the purchase on the 1800Flowers.com web site there was a checkbox somewhere that needed to be deselected or our information would be available to them. She doesn't remember seeing that, but it was probably there (and probably impossible to see when you're finishing your order).
After doing a little research, I found that LiveWell is a subscription service that sends you coupons (electronically or via snail mail) for online or in-store shopping. I'd never heard of it and I DEFINITELY wasn't interested in their services. So, after digging a little deeper, I found their contact information and decided to give them a ring. Their representative told me that someone named "Sonya" had made a purchase through 1800Flowers.com and during the checkout process signed up for a membership with LiveWell (again, to her knowledge she didn't). It turns out that the first 30 days are free and you can cancel at anytime, but after that period you will be charged, in this case, $38.99. I have no idea if this was going to be a monthly or yearly charge. From the stuff I read online different people were being charged different amounts at different intervals.
I told the representative that we weren't interested in this service and, after his long rant about how we could save so much money with their service, offered to cancel our so-called "membership" and refund us the $38.99. I then proceeded to tell him that this was a shady way of doing business and that they must be ripping people off left and right. Judging by his tone, he had heard all of this before from a number of people.
What's the moral of the story? Well, I don't really have one except for when you make a purchase online, make sure you know EXACTLY what you're getting and who is going to have access to your information. Luckily I caught this random charge while going over our bank statement and was able to correct the issue. I can't imagine how many people out there just continue to pay and pay and when they realize it, it's too late.
Rant complete... don't use 1800Flowers.com. They suck.
iGots an iPhone
I know it's not that big of a deal to most people because it seems like everyone has one nowadays. But, it's a big deal to me. Sonya and I finally ditched ol' VW (Verizon Wireless) and switched to AT&T. We've been thinking about making the switch for a while now and we finally pulled the trigger. And here's what we're now using to blow up other people's cellies:
We decided to go with the iPhone 3G. Because of the release of the iPhone 3GS this week, Apple / AT&T dropped the price to $99.00 for new customers and those customers who were eligible for an upgrade. It was a deal we really couldn't pass up. With two iPhones (both with a data plan), 1400 minutes per month (with rollover minutes) and 200 text messages each, our phone bill is going to be within a few dollars of our Verizon bill. Pretty crazy seeing as we only had one data plan (my Blackberry) and a run-of-the-mill flip phone (Samsung Alias).
So far, we're very happy with the decision. Sonya absolutely loves what the phone can do and she's already asking me why we didn't make the move sooner. I've been talking about it for what, two years now? I knew she'd come around.
We decided to go with the iPhone 3G. Because of the release of the iPhone 3GS this week, Apple / AT&T dropped the price to $99.00 for new customers and those customers who were eligible for an upgrade. It was a deal we really couldn't pass up. With two iPhones (both with a data plan), 1400 minutes per month (with rollover minutes) and 200 text messages each, our phone bill is going to be within a few dollars of our Verizon bill. Pretty crazy seeing as we only had one data plan (my Blackberry) and a run-of-the-mill flip phone (Samsung Alias).
So far, we're very happy with the decision. Sonya absolutely loves what the phone can do and she's already asking me why we didn't make the move sooner. I've been talking about it for what, two years now? I knew she'd come around.
OK, For Real This Time...
I wanted to try and write this last night but the time just slipped away from me again. I was, however, able to get a post up on Lilly's blog (http://lillymccoy.blogspot.com) so the night wasn't a total wash. I just got tied up in the world of the web. I've got a pretty project that needs to be done by the end of July and I've been trying to work on it every chance I get. So, with that, and spending time with my family, time seems to be dwindling these days.
But, I think I've found some motivation. Sonya actually started a journal over the weekend. Not so much a blog because she's actually writing it in a book. She thought about going online with it but she doesn't want to open herself up like that just yet and she wants to be able to give Lilly something when she gets older. Something to document her feelings throughout the parenting process. She's doing a great job with it and I really enjoy reading it. Hopefully one day Lilly will too.
There are so many things to write about that I don't know how to prioritize them. So, what I'm going to do is just write about the first thing that comes to mind on a daily basis (isn't that the whole point of a blog anyway?). I probably won't write too much about parenting or being a dad unless it doesn't involve my actual experience as that what Lilly's blog is for. So, here's the first of what I hope to be a long line of posts from yours truly. Now, if I could just get in a rhythm.
Oh yeah, I'm also trying to get back into hitting the gym in the morning. Made it there today at 5:30 AM. Ran 2.5 miles and worked up a really good sweat. Maybe, just MAYBE I can get all these things going on a consistent basis. Here's hoping!
But, I think I've found some motivation. Sonya actually started a journal over the weekend. Not so much a blog because she's actually writing it in a book. She thought about going online with it but she doesn't want to open herself up like that just yet and she wants to be able to give Lilly something when she gets older. Something to document her feelings throughout the parenting process. She's doing a great job with it and I really enjoy reading it. Hopefully one day Lilly will too.
There are so many things to write about that I don't know how to prioritize them. So, what I'm going to do is just write about the first thing that comes to mind on a daily basis (isn't that the whole point of a blog anyway?). I probably won't write too much about parenting or being a dad unless it doesn't involve my actual experience as that what Lilly's blog is for. So, here's the first of what I hope to be a long line of posts from yours truly. Now, if I could just get in a rhythm.
Oh yeah, I'm also trying to get back into hitting the gym in the morning. Made it there today at 5:30 AM. Ran 2.5 miles and worked up a really good sweat. Maybe, just MAYBE I can get all these things going on a consistent basis. Here's hoping!
Orioles Magic
When I was younger there were few things I liked more than watching the Baltimore Orioles play baseball. I always wanted to be like Cal Ripken, Jr., my childhood hero. I worshipped this guy, and still do to some extent. When he retired I lost a lot of interest in the game. Especially since the Orioles haven't been able to put together a contender in years... and I mean YEARS. What's it been now? Eleven losing seasons in a row? It really makes it tough to stay interested.
Until now.
For some reason, I'm more interested in baseball this year than I have been in a while. Maybe it's because the Orioles front office is actually trying to build a team the right way instead of signing stop-gap, washed-up veteran re-treads (thanks for your contributions, Kevin Millar). The team is a lot younger now with a lot more potential. And for the first time in a long time there are a number of prospects in the O's farm system. I believe the Orioles have six prospects that are currently in the Top 100, including the No. 1 overall player, Matt Wieters.
It's definitely an exciting time to be an Orioles fan. It helps when they start the season 2-0 against the New York Yankees. A team that is becoming known for signing those same stop-gap type players only for 10x more the money. How's that $260 million for Sabathia and Teixeira now, Yanks fans? I know it's early, but this might be one of the few bright spots the Orioles might experience this season.
Oh yeah, I wanted to mention that I won a bet on Opening Day. My friend Matt, a dreaded Yankee fan, bet me that the Yanks would win on Opening Day. The loser would have to purchase some sort of shirt from the other team and wear it to work. So, since the Orioles won 10-5 on Monday, Matt will soon be wearing a Nick Markakis shirt to his place of business. Enjoy that day, Matt! Could have been worse for him I guess... could have been a Red Sox shirt.
Until now.
For some reason, I'm more interested in baseball this year than I have been in a while. Maybe it's because the Orioles front office is actually trying to build a team the right way instead of signing stop-gap, washed-up veteran re-treads (thanks for your contributions, Kevin Millar). The team is a lot younger now with a lot more potential. And for the first time in a long time there are a number of prospects in the O's farm system. I believe the Orioles have six prospects that are currently in the Top 100, including the No. 1 overall player, Matt Wieters.
It's definitely an exciting time to be an Orioles fan. It helps when they start the season 2-0 against the New York Yankees. A team that is becoming known for signing those same stop-gap type players only for 10x more the money. How's that $260 million for Sabathia and Teixeira now, Yanks fans? I know it's early, but this might be one of the few bright spots the Orioles might experience this season.
Oh yeah, I wanted to mention that I won a bet on Opening Day. My friend Matt, a dreaded Yankee fan, bet me that the Yanks would win on Opening Day. The loser would have to purchase some sort of shirt from the other team and wear it to work. So, since the Orioles won 10-5 on Monday, Matt will soon be wearing a Nick Markakis shirt to his place of business. Enjoy that day, Matt! Could have been worse for him I guess... could have been a Red Sox shirt.
Top Ten Favorite Cartoons (from my childhood)
I've been seeing a lot of things on Facebook regarding Top 5 lists. Things like, Top 5 movies I could watch over and over again, Top 5 books I've read, etc. etc. I saw one recently that was Top 5 cartoons that I grew up watching. But since this is the Monday Top 10 (that's right 10!) I'll have to expand that list a bit. So, here's the list for this week.
Here are the Top Ten Cartoons I Grew Up Watching:
10. Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
9. Scooby Doo
8. The Flintstones
7. Looney Tunes
6. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
5. Smurfs
4. Thundercats
3. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
2. Transformers
And the number one cartoon I grew up watching -
*drumroll*
1. G.I. Joe - A Real American Hero
Be sure to check back next Monday for a new Top Ten.
Here are the Top Ten Cartoons I Grew Up Watching:
10. Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears
9. Scooby Doo
8. The Flintstones
7. Looney Tunes
6. Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends
5. Smurfs
4. Thundercats
3. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe
2. Transformers
And the number one cartoon I grew up watching -
*drumroll*
1. G.I. Joe - A Real American Hero
Be sure to check back next Monday for a new Top Ten.
Must Haves
A friend of mine sent me a link to one of the most ridiculous (and gross) products I have ever seen (the product was called Squeez Bacon - that's right a type of bacon paste in a bottle - but enough about that). While I was upset that he sent me something so disgusting, I would later thank him because it led me to one of the greatest products ever. A true "Must Have". Ladies and gentlemen I give you the one... the only... Tauntaun Sleeping Bag!
Can you believe something so cool exists? I mean, how could you not want one of these things? If you're questioning whether or not you need one, let me review a few of the features provided by the folks at ThinkGeek.com:
So, if any of you dear readers are looking for a good birthday gift idea for me this year you know what to do. Now if I could just get my wife to dress up like Han Solo when she tucks me in at night... err... wait... nevermind.
The Tauntaun Sleeping Bag is available at ThinkGeek.com. Click here to get yours!
Can you believe something so cool exists? I mean, how could you not want one of these things? If you're questioning whether or not you need one, let me review a few of the features provided by the folks at ThinkGeek.com:
- classic Star Wars sleeping bag simulates the warmth of a Tauntaun carcass
- built-in embroidered Tauntaun head pillow
- glowing lightsaber zipper pull
So, if any of you dear readers are looking for a good birthday gift idea for me this year you know what to do. Now if I could just get my wife to dress up like Han Solo when she tucks me in at night... err... wait... nevermind.
The Tauntaun Sleeping Bag is available at ThinkGeek.com. Click here to get yours!