I've had fantasy football on the brain for weeks now. Though I do suspect that a NFL labor agreement is coming soon, I'm starting to sweat. To soothe myself, I have written a few articles about the NFL, drafting strategies, and how to make your fantasy football draft more fun...
Fantasy Football: Drafting In A Public Place
NFL Negotiations: Labor Settlement Status
How To Make Your Fantasy Football Draft Fun
Fantasy Football 2011: Tips for Your NFL Draft
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
It's Ghost Orb Picture Time!
I know you are excited, please calm down. I was scared, errr, excited too! Before I show it to you, I should provide a little background...
My seventeen year old daughter has been telling me for months that she has been hearing a man speak directly into her ear when she goes to bed at night. No, not every night, but several. Being the wonderful parent that I am, and knowing my daughter like I do, I immediately wondered what she had been drinking or smoking. I asked, she claimed innocence, and seemed pretty convincing, so I assured her that everything was fine, and went on about my business.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I found a ouija board on her bed, and asked her about it. She tells me that she and a friend had been using it. Knowing what I now know about these things, I was concerned, but could not blast her because, well, that whole pot/kettle thing.
Instead, I waited for her to leave the house one night, grabbed Mrs. Leslie, and went to taking photos in her room. This is what I captured...
Now, not only does this meet the criteria of being spirit energy, but it is even in motion! A few less impressive orbs showed up in other pictures, and the rest were clear. I'll admit that I did feel uneasy while in there, which actually lends to the credibility of the ghost theory, since I was laughing about the whole thing up until I actually got into the room.
Is her room haunted? I am not sure. What I do know is that this is one of the most impressive orb photos I have ever captured. I'm not sure when, or if, I will go back in there and take more pictures, but if I do, I will be wearing my Depends.
My seventeen year old daughter has been telling me for months that she has been hearing a man speak directly into her ear when she goes to bed at night. No, not every night, but several. Being the wonderful parent that I am, and knowing my daughter like I do, I immediately wondered what she had been drinking or smoking. I asked, she claimed innocence, and seemed pretty convincing, so I assured her that everything was fine, and went on about my business.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I found a ouija board on her bed, and asked her about it. She tells me that she and a friend had been using it. Knowing what I now know about these things, I was concerned, but could not blast her because, well, that whole pot/kettle thing.
Instead, I waited for her to leave the house one night, grabbed Mrs. Leslie, and went to taking photos in her room. This is what I captured...
 |
| Good gooblie woo! |
Now, not only does this meet the criteria of being spirit energy, but it is even in motion! A few less impressive orbs showed up in other pictures, and the rest were clear. I'll admit that I did feel uneasy while in there, which actually lends to the credibility of the ghost theory, since I was laughing about the whole thing up until I actually got into the room.
Is her room haunted? I am not sure. What I do know is that this is one of the most impressive orb photos I have ever captured. I'm not sure when, or if, I will go back in there and take more pictures, but if I do, I will be wearing my Depends.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Is MyLikes A Scam?
MyLikes is a site that allows you to post their advertisements to your Twitter account, and in return, is supposed to pay you for each click the advertisement receives. You can also post them to your Facebook page, but no compensation is received for doing this.
The average per click price is around $0.10, and there are many to choose from. After looking around the site, I determined that I should easily be able to make five to ten dollars a day, with only a few minutes of work. I based this on the fact that I have over 5,000 Twitter followers, and all of the trackable links that I post average ten clicks each.
The problem with MyLikes is that you have no control over the link that is posted. You do not even see what the link will be beforehand. This makes it completely impossible to change the link into a version that you can track. I was suspicious of this, but decided to carry on anyway.
Three weeks in, I have posted maybe fifty advertisements to my Twitter account. The most recorded clicks I have received on any advertisement was two. My average clicks per advertisement? ZERO.
This is impossible. I have been posting links on Twitter for well over a year now, and have never in the history of my account had zero clicks on a link I posted. Never.
That said, I have made a few dollars from MyLikes. This is because several of the links will pay you for clicking on them once yourself. It would be hard for MyLikes to scrub this click, since you personally know you did it. Since many of the advertisers will pay you for this first click, I have managed to make seven bucks, and some change. This money was paid to me via PayPal each Friday.
I considered contacting MyLikes, and explaining the situation to them, but figured this would get me nowhere. In reality, challenging them would likely get my account deleted. This article may do the same. I am willing to take my chances, as with their current system in place, I only stand to make peanuts for my time.
I really like the MyLikes site setup, and truly wish they would offer a legitimate way to make some money. Maybe if enough people complain, change will be made. However, with thousands of people try to make money on the internet, there will always be new people willing to try this service, and genuinely believing that their Twitter posts are being ignored.
Is MyLikes a scam? Yes and no. They will pay you for your initial advertisement clicks, and a very small fraction of the clicks that come from your Twitter account. Use this site at your own risk, and do not expect to make any real money until a more reputable system is put in place.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
What Happens to Ohio State Now?
Wow, did this situation get ugly fast. Despite the fact that Jim Tressel has now resigned, Ohio State
still has a world of trouble on their hands. Lucky for Tressel, he will not be around to have to help clean up some of the huge mess he helped make. So what happens to Ohio State now?
Well, for one, Terrelle Pryor will have some answering to do. He will have to answer to Ohio State's own compliance office, as well as the NCAA. He has already been interviewed at least once in the past month, but that will not be the end of it.
It has already been established that Pryor was one of several players that had sold or traded Ohio State memorabilia for cash and tattoos. Now the NCAA is looking into the purported half dozen different vehicles he has been seen driving. What else will they uncover? Who knows at this point.
Jim Tressel will still have to answer for covering up flagrant violations. His punishment could be a three year suspension from coaching, but we will have to wait until the rest of the story unfolds to see how he is dealt with. All things considered, he is likely to get off easy compared to the Ohio State program. A worse punishment would be to be forced to stay on as a coach, and have to face the fans and players that he disappointed with his actions.
So what happens to Ohio State now? Possibly a post-season ban of several years, they will have to forfeit every win in which an ineligible player took the field, probable loss of scholarships, and who knows what else. The rest of the investigation will determine how severely Ohio State is punished, but based on what we already know, it is already a nasty situation.
The sad part of all of this is that the innocents will also be punished. The players that did nothing wrong, and the fans that are forced to sit back and watch this debacle unfold. While the punishments are still up in the air, one thing in certain. The Ohio State football program will never be the same.
Source: www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/05/30/zzz.html
still has a world of trouble on their hands. Lucky for Tressel, he will not be around to have to help clean up some of the huge mess he helped make. So what happens to Ohio State now? Well, for one, Terrelle Pryor will have some answering to do. He will have to answer to Ohio State's own compliance office, as well as the NCAA. He has already been interviewed at least once in the past month, but that will not be the end of it.
It has already been established that Pryor was one of several players that had sold or traded Ohio State
memorabilia for cash and tattoos. Now the NCAA is looking into the purported half dozen different vehicles he has been seen driving. What else will they uncover? Who knows at this point. Jim Tressel will still have to answer for covering up flagrant violations. His punishment could be a three year suspension from coaching, but we will have to wait until the rest of the story unfolds to see how he is dealt with. All things considered, he is likely to get off easy compared to the Ohio State
program. A worse punishment would be to be forced to stay on as a coach, and have to face the fans and players that he disappointed with his actions. So what happens to Ohio State
now? Possibly a post-season ban of several years, they will have to forfeit every win in which an ineligible player took the field, probable loss of scholarships, and who knows what else. The rest of the investigation will determine how severely Ohio State is punished, but based on what we already know, it is already a nasty situation. The sad part of all of this is that the innocents will also be punished. The players that did nothing wrong, and the fans that are forced to sit back and watch this debacle unfold. While the punishments are still up in the air, one thing in certain. The Ohio State football program will never be the same.
Source: www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/05/30/zzz.html
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Should Alabama Use a Two Quarterback System?
What do you do when you have two excellent quarterbacks? This topic is currently being debated by University of Alabama coaches and fans alike. Both players, A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims, are highly talented, and this is the type of problem that football teams want to have.
Alabama should not use a two quarterback system, and I'm fairly certain that Nick Saban will agree with me. Despite the fact that he recently told the media that he had no problem playing them both, Saban will want one solid leader on the field each Saturday.
When you use two quarterbacks, neither is able to properly get into a rhythm. It also creates confusion amongst the other players. The quarterback should be the leader of the team, and if that leader is changing every several plays, it is not a good thing.
A two quarterback system is best utilized when the quarterbacks have vastly different strong points. Such as when one is an excellent runner, and the other an excellent passer. This allows you to customize play, based on the situation. However, McCarron and Sims have very similar styles, and it simply would not make sense to interchange them within the game in order to gain an advantage.
As long as both quarterbacks stay healthy, it is almost sad that Alabama has too much of a good thing. Both players are talented, but only one will ultimately become the every Saturday QB. Certainly, we will see both play, but not every week.
Both will share time during the season opener against Kent State. It will not be until the September 10th game at Penn State that we see which guy is top dog, and how he will perform under pressure. Maybe Saban will surprise us all, and give McCarron and Sims equal playing time, but don't count on it.
coaches and fans alike. Both players, A.J. McCarron or Phillip Sims, are highly talented, and this is the type of problem that football teams want to have. Alabama should not use a two quarterback system, and I'm fairly certain that Nick Saban
will agree with me. Despite the fact that he recently told the media that he had no problem playing them both, Saban will want one solid leader on the field each Saturday.When you use two quarterbacks, neither is able to properly get into a rhythm. It also creates confusion amongst the other players. The quarterback should be the leader of the team, and if that leader is changing every several plays, it is not a good thing.
A two quarterback system is best utilized when the quarterbacks have vastly different strong points. Such as when one is an excellent runner, and the other an excellent passer. This allows you to customize play, based on the situation. However, McCarron and Sims have very similar styles, and it simply would not make sense to interchange them within the game in order to gain an advantage.
As long as both quarterbacks stay healthy, it is almost sad that Alabama
has too much of a good thing. Both players are talented, but only one will ultimately become the every Saturday QB. Certainly, we will see both play, but not every week.Both will share time during the season opener against Kent State. It will not be until the September 10th game at Penn State
that we see which guy is top dog, and how he will perform under pressure. Maybe Saban will surprise us all, and give McCarron and Sims equal playing time, but don't count on it.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Ghost Hunters on SyFy: Should the Show Be More Exciting?
After watching the comments posted to the Ghost Hunters on SyFy Facebook page for the past few months, I thought it was time to address what has become a common complaint: Ghost Hunters has become predictable and boring.
Apparently not everyone agrees with this, as Ghost Hunters on SyFy was just picked up for an 8th season, and averaged a million viewers each Wednesday night during this past season. It's clear that people are watching, but are they liking what they see? Based on some of the Facebook comments, no.
Some posters claimed that "Ghost Adventures" was now their favorite show, because of how exciting it is, and how much evidence is captured. But is it real? If ghosts were that active, and that easy to capture with recording devices, would we still be looking for proof? If Ghost Adventures was so credible, could we not just call this whole case solved, and move on to proving that aliens exist?
I am skeptical of any paranormal show that catches amazing evidence each and every time. Ghost Hunters on SyFy has stayed true to it's roots. A few of the cast members have changed, and they have experimented with new equipment, but the methods and belief system have remained in tact.
If Jason and Grant were to suddenly start capturing images of full body apparitions in every nook and cranny, I would know that they had buckled under the pressure, and sold out for the sake of ratings. I do expect for my jaw to occasionally drop, and my heart to race, during some of the episodes, and it does. To me, objects moving, or a particularly clear EVP are enough to make this happen, because I believe that this type of evidence is believable, and therefore impressive.
I will be watching Ghost Hunters until it is canceled. I do believe that slowly but surely, people will begin to jump ship. Hopefully that will not be for several more years. For seven years Ghost Hunters on SyFy has given me a reason to look forward to Wednesday night. Hopefully I will be able to continue this for a while longer.
Sources:
www.syfy.com/ghosthunters/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Hunters
on SyFy Facebook page for the past few months, I thought it was time to address what has become a common complaint: Ghost Hunters has become predictable and boring.Apparently not everyone agrees with this, as Ghost Hunters
on SyFy was just picked up for an 8th season, and averaged a million viewers each Wednesday night during this past season. It's clear that people are watching, but are they liking what they see? Based on some of the Facebook comments, no. Some posters claimed that "Ghost Adventures
" was now their favorite show, because of how exciting it is, and how much evidence is captured. But is it real? If ghosts were that active, and that easy to capture with recording devices, would we still be looking for proof? If Ghost Adventures was so credible, could we not just call this whole case solved, and move on to proving that aliens exist? I am skeptical of any paranormal show that catches amazing evidence each and every time. Ghost Hunters
on SyFy has stayed true to it's roots. A few of the cast members have changed, and they have experimented with new equipment, but the methods and belief system have remained in tact. If Jason and Grant were to suddenly start capturing images of full body apparitions in every nook and cranny, I would know that they had buckled under the pressure, and sold out for the sake of ratings. I do expect for my jaw to occasionally drop, and my heart to race, during some of the episodes, and it does. To me, objects moving, or a particularly clear EVP are enough to make this happen, because I believe that this type of evidence is believable, and therefore impressive.
I will be watching Ghost Hunters
until it is canceled. I do believe that slowly but surely, people will begin to jump ship. Hopefully that will not be for several more years. For seven years Ghost Hunters on SyFy has given me a reason to look forward to Wednesday night. Hopefully I will be able to continue this for a while longer. Sources:
www.syfy.com/ghosthunters/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Hunters
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Is SEC Football Oversigning Ethical?
If you are one of the players that was asked to put your enrollment, scholarship, and college football career on hold, then your answer is likely no. If you are this person, SEC football coaches do not agree with you. They recently voted 12-0 to keep the number of signing slots at 28.
Even Florida coach, Will Muschamp voted to keep the number of signing spots the same, despite the fact that Florida makes it a point to not sign more than 25 players each year. It looks like Muschamp wants to keep his options open, just in case.
It is easy to see the point of view of these SEC football coaches. Signing 28 players gives you them a little room to work with. There is no way for them to predict who might change their mind about playing, who might not be able to make the grades, and who may take off for other reasons. No, these things do not happen every year, and when they do not, as many as three players will be highly disappointed.
However, these players are not completely shut out in the cold. They will still get what they came for, just at a later time. There is the option to transfer to another school, although this would mean sitting out an entire year before being able to play. I do feel sorry for these players on some level. However, it is the job of SEC football coaches to put the best team possible on the field. In order to make this happen, they need to have all 25 recruits available to play. Not 24, not 22...all 25.
It is not that SEC football coaches do not feel badly for recruits that are pushed back, but simply that they have a job to do. We, the fans, want to see our team come out on top, and should not chastise them for doing what it takes to make this possible.
Even Florida coach, Will Muschamp voted to keep the number of signing spots the same, despite the fact that Florida makes it a point to not sign more than 25 players each year. It looks like Muschamp wants to keep his options open, just in case.
It is easy to see the point of view of these SEC football coaches. Signing 28 players gives you them a little room to work with. There is no way for them to predict who might change their mind about playing, who might not be able to make the grades, and who may take off for other reasons. No, these things do not happen every year, and when they do not, as many as three players will be highly disappointed.
However, these players are not completely shut out in the cold. They will still get what they came for, just at a later time. There is the option to transfer to another school, although this would mean sitting out an entire year before being able to play. I do feel sorry for these players on some level. However, it is the job of SEC football coaches to put the best team possible on the field. In order to make this happen, they need to have all 25 recruits available to play. Not 24, not 22...all 25.
It is not that SEC football coaches do not feel badly for recruits that are pushed back, but simply that they have a job to do. We, the fans, want to see our team come out on top, and should not chastise them for doing what it takes to make this possible.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Top Ten Reasons to Love Alabama Football
We Win
Sure, not every game, but the vast majority. Being a fan of a team that loses all the time would be depressing. Of course, I can only imagine that is the case, since my team wins, a lot.
We Have Bear Bryant"The Bear"
Yes, he is dead and gone, but his spirit lives on in Alabama fans. Let me explain this so you non-Ba,a fans will quit telling us to stop mentioning him. Not only was he one of the best football coaches of all time, he was the man we all wanted to be our mentor, friend, father or grandfather. He had a magnetism that was so strong, that we will simply never get past it, so stop telling us we should.
Roll Tide Means Something Good
"It's a boy!" Roll Tide! "I'm coming over and bringing a case of beer." Roll Tide! "I just won the lottery!!!" Roll freaking Tide! The possibilities are endless.
We Have Nick Saban
You only hate him because we have him, and he's a winner. If he was coaching your team, you would think he hung the moon. You don't have to admit it aloud. We already know.
Bryant-Denny
Stadium Rocks
Sitting with over a hundred thousand of your closest friends can never be wrong. Throw in a jumbo tron, and one of the best hot dogs on earth? I'm certain this is what heaven is like.
Have Team Pride, Will Travel
Our fans show up in droves at all away games. The last time we played Hawaii? Looked like a home game. Alabama fans are not afraid to do whatever it takes to support the team no matter where we play.
It's A Numbers Game
The Bowl wins, SEC Championships, and National Championships just keep adding up. Love us or hate us, you cannot argue with the numbers.
Big Al is Endearing
Sure, the elephant is often portrayed as a vicious crusher, but our mascot is actually a softie. He may not be the most popular mascot in sports, but he is one of the most dearly love by Alabama fans.
Denny Chimes
Better than "Big Ben" and four times as likely to leave a lump in your throat. No, it won't tell you the time of day, but it will give you goosebumps every now and then.
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
You hate to hear it, because it means we just beat you. We love to yell it, because it means we just beat you. Admit it, it's catchy. You want to scream it too, but you know that you can't, because it means we just beat you.
Sure, not every game, but the vast majority. Being a fan of a team that loses all the time would be depressing. Of course, I can only imagine that is the case, since my team wins, a lot.
We Have Bear Bryant
"The Bear" Yes, he is dead and gone, but his spirit lives on in Alabama fans. Let me explain this so you non-Ba,a fans will quit telling us to stop mentioning him. Not only was he one of the best football coaches of all time, he was the man we all wanted to be our mentor, friend, father or grandfather. He had a magnetism that was so strong, that we will simply never get past it, so stop telling us we should.
Roll Tide
Means Something Good "It's a boy!" Roll Tide! "I'm coming over and bringing a case of beer." Roll Tide! "I just won the lottery!!!" Roll freaking Tide! The possibilities are endless.
We Have Nick Saban
You only hate him because we have him, and he's a winner. If he was coaching your team, you would think he hung the moon. You don't have to admit it aloud. We already know.
Bryant-Denny
Stadium Rocks Sitting with over a hundred thousand of your closest friends can never be wrong. Throw in a jumbo tron, and one of the best hot dogs on earth? I'm certain this is what heaven is like.
Have Team Pride, Will Travel
Our fans show up in droves at all away games. The last time we played Hawaii? Looked like a home game. Alabama fans are not afraid to do whatever it takes to support the team no matter where we play.
It's A Numbers Game
The Bowl wins, SEC Championships, and National Championships just keep adding up. Love us or hate us, you cannot argue with the numbers.
Big Al is Endearing
Sure, the elephant is often portrayed as a vicious crusher, but our mascot is actually a softie. He may not be the most popular mascot in sports, but he is one of the most dearly love by Alabama fans.
Denny Chimes
Better than "Big Ben" and four times as likely to leave a lump in your throat. No, it won't tell you the time of day, but it will give you goosebumps every now and then.
Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer
You hate to hear it, because it means we just beat you. We love to yell it, because it means we just beat you. Admit it, it's catchy. You want to scream it too, but you know that you can't, because it means we just beat you.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Free Terraria Download: Terraria Crafting Skills
This hot game is everywhere on the net. Because of this, those that want to play it are downloading anything and everything that is put in front of them, and called "Terraria Download." You should only download the game from the official site: www.terraria.org/
In order to play the full version of the game, you will have to purchase it from the Terraria site. It costs less than ten bucks ($9.99 to be exact). Though that might change due to how popular it has become. When you purchase it, you will get sandbox play, randomly generated worlds, and free content updates.
Once you are up and running, you will be able to start crafting. Terraria crafting is a tad difficult to understand at first, but with a little education and practice, you will building the best items in not time at all.
This site serves as an excellent guide to all things related to Terraria Crafting, and includes a visual guide to walk you through making different items: terraria.wikia.com/wiki/Crafting
Due to the popularity of Terraria, expect there to be new additions to the game fairly soon. Who could have predicted that such a simple game could be so addictive? Certainly not I!
In order to play the full version of the game, you will have to purchase it from the Terraria site. It costs less than ten bucks ($9.99 to be exact). Though that might change due to how popular it has become. When you purchase it, you will get sandbox play, randomly generated worlds, and free content updates.
Once you are up and running, you will be able to start crafting. Terraria crafting is a tad difficult to understand at first, but with a little education and practice, you will building the best items in not time at all.
This site serves as an excellent guide to all things related to Terraria Crafting, and includes a visual guide to walk you through making different items: terraria.wikia.com/wiki/Crafting
Due to the popularity of Terraria, expect there to be new additions to the game fairly soon. Who could have predicted that such a simple game could be so addictive? Certainly not I!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
The Football Connection to the Tuscaloosa Tornado
The April 27th tornado outbreak brought devastation to many areas of Alabama. One of the hardest hit areas was Tuscaloosa, which is the home of the University of Alabama. While many may think that connecting killer tornadoes to the upcoming Crimson Tide football season is insane, disrespectful even, hear me out.
Alabama is a football state. Like it or not, men, women, and children eat, live, and breathe football here. It is talked about on the radio year round, dominates the sports page even when not in season, and football discussions at the local hardware can be heard at any given time. Yes, we are obsessed, and most of us are proud of that fact.
Football here is an event. It gives us a chance to get together with our family and friends. We eat good food, maybe drink a few beers, and just enjoy spending three or four hours each Saturday in the fall with like minded individuals. We raise our children to love football so that they too can enjoy these pleasures in life.
Football season in Alabama is something we look forward to, and with the recent tornado destruction, we need this more than ever. The upcoming Crimson Tide football season will give those that have suffered greatly the chance to take a break from the clearing and rebuilding process, and lose themselves in the games. For just a few hours each week, tornado survivors will be able to forget their problems, and enjoy something we all dearly love here.
Will the tornadoes have any impact on the performance of the team? It is hard to say, but it would not be a stretch to say that the team will want to win more than ever, because a win will provide a happy ending to each Saturday.
Win or lose, the upcoming 2011 football season will be a welcomed distraction from the unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in Tuscaloosa, and elsewhere within the state. September cannot get here fast enough, and in the meantime, we will be not so patiently waiting.
Alabama is a football state. Like it or not, men, women, and children eat, live, and breathe football here. It is talked about on the radio year round, dominates the sports page even when not in season, and football discussions at the local hardware can be heard at any given time. Yes, we are obsessed, and most of us are proud of that fact.
Football here is an event. It gives us a chance to get together with our family and friends. We eat good food, maybe drink a few beers, and just enjoy spending three or four hours each Saturday in the fall with like minded individuals. We raise our children to love football so that they too can enjoy these pleasures in life.
Football season in Alabama is something we look forward to, and with the recent tornado destruction, we need this more than ever. The upcoming Crimson Tide football season will give those that have suffered greatly the chance to take a break from the clearing and rebuilding process, and lose themselves in the games. For just a few hours each week, tornado survivors will be able to forget their problems, and enjoy something we all dearly love here.
Will the tornadoes have any impact on the performance of the team? It is hard to say, but it would not be a stretch to say that the team will want to win more than ever, because a win will provide a happy ending to each Saturday.
Win or lose, the upcoming 2011 football season will be a welcomed distraction from the unfortunate circumstances that have occurred in Tuscaloosa, and elsewhere within the state. September cannot get here fast enough, and in the meantime, we will be not so patiently waiting.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
December 21st, 2012 - Doomsday or Hoax?
December 21st, 2012 is a date that is on the mind of many. This date, being the end of the Mayan calendar, is considered by many to be doomsday. But is it?
An onslaught of movies and
books such as Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our time : The Mayan Calendar have been released in regard to this topic. An odd fact of note is that some of these are set to release in 2013, which is well after the date that we are supposed to be wiped off the face of the earth. This fact lends very little, if any, credibility to the authors of these books and scripts.
End of the world predictions are nothing new. Each has a varying degree of believers. Many people bought into the Y2K theory, and the recent prediction by Harold Camping, citing May 21, 2011 as the beginning of the end, caused quite a buzz. Even popular evangelists such as Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robinson have made predictions as to when the world would end. Thus far, every prediction has been a bust.
It is a fact that the Mayan calendar does indeed end in 2012. However, what the really means for us is not clear. My calendar ends each December the 31st. Does that mean that I should tell everyone that the end is coming? I think not.
The Mayans were not the only civilization that kept a calendar, and not the only ones that had a calendar that ended. There is no valid reason that we should put more stock into their calendar than the calendar of others. The reason that their calendar was more popular is simple. They were a larger civilization.
The Mayans never claimed that the end date of their calendar meant anything. Nothing good, nothing bad, nothing indifferent. They simply did not say. The fact that it ends could mean nothing more than it was time for the Mayans to start working on a new calendar, and they were not able to stick around long enough to do it.
So what will happen on December 21st, 2012? No one can say for sure. I, for one, will not lose sleep over it. The future is always uncertain. The important thing is to live everyday as if it were your last. Not just the days close to the end of the Mayan calendar.
An onslaught of movies and
books such as Solving the Greatest Mystery of Our time : The Mayan Calendar have been released in regard to this topic. An odd fact of note is that some of these are set to release in 2013, which is well after the date that we are supposed to be wiped off the face of the earth. This fact lends very little, if any, credibility to the authors of these books and scripts.End of the world predictions are nothing new. Each has a varying degree of believers. Many people bought into the Y2K theory, and the recent prediction by Harold Camping, citing May 21, 2011 as the beginning of the end, caused quite a buzz. Even popular evangelists such as Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robinson have made predictions as to when the world would end. Thus far, every prediction has been a bust.
It is a fact that the Mayan calendar does indeed end in 2012. However, what the really means for us is not clear. My calendar ends each December the 31st. Does that mean that I should tell everyone that the end is coming? I think not.
The Mayans were not the only civilization that kept a calendar, and not the only ones that had a calendar that ended. There is no valid reason that we should put more stock into their calendar than the calendar of others. The reason that their calendar was more popular is simple. They were a larger civilization.
The Mayans never claimed that the end date of their calendar meant anything. Nothing good, nothing bad, nothing indifferent. They simply did not say. The fact that it ends could mean nothing more than it was time for the Mayans to start working on a new calendar, and they were not able to stick around long enough to do it.
So what will happen on December 21st, 2012? No one can say for sure. I, for one, will not lose sleep over it. The future is always uncertain. The important thing is to live everyday as if it were your last. Not just the days close to the end of the Mayan calendar.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
The Haunted Collector: Paranormal Boom or Bust?
Haunted Collector premiered on SyFy recently, and I was among those watching. I was anxiously awaiting this premiere, as I love anything to that involves ghosts, or the paranormal in general.
I did not think the show was bad, but did not think it was good either. I am still on the fence as to if I will watch it again. Though really, who am I kidding? I watch every paranormal show out there, with the exception of Ghost Adventures, which gets on my last nerve.
The premise is not what I thought it was. I mistakenly assumed that the team visited the homes of individuals that chose to collect haunted items, and then found themselves in trouble when they did. I know from my eBay addict days that there is a large market for these type of items, and some sell for quite a lot of money. I cannot fully comprehend why anyone would want a haunted item in their home, but to each his own I suppose.
What the team actually does is go into homes and sniff out which item may be causing a haunting. Once they make this determination, it is up to the home or business owner if they want the item removed from the location. If they choose to get rid of it, John, the main investigator takes it with him, and places it in his personal haunted item museum. Nice way to score some free stuff, eh?
I found the team of investigators to be credible enough. Though I admit that I had a few reservations when I realized that two of the investigators are the children of the main investigator, John, and that they still live at home with their Dad. They are not horribly annoying, or overly dramatic like the Ghost Adventures crew, yet not nearly as appealing as the Ghost Hunters group.
The problem with the first episode is that there was no excitement, and no "wow" factor. Not that I expect them to be faking things for the sake of my entertainment, but I would like to have seen at least something that made my heart rate rise just a little. With this being the first episode, I assumed it would be the one that really draws attention, and makes us want more. For me personally, it did not deliver. Maybe you will feel differently.
I did not think the show was bad, but did not think it was good either. I am still on the fence as to if I will watch it again. Though really, who am I kidding? I watch every paranormal show out there, with the exception of Ghost Adventures, which gets on my last nerve.
The premise is not what I thought it was. I mistakenly assumed that the team visited the homes of individuals that chose to collect haunted items, and then found themselves in trouble when they did. I know from my eBay addict days that there is a large market for these type of items, and some sell for quite a lot of money. I cannot fully comprehend why anyone would want a haunted item in their home, but to each his own I suppose.
What the team actually does is go into homes and sniff out which item may be causing a haunting. Once they make this determination, it is up to the home or business owner if they want the item removed from the location. If they choose to get rid of it, John, the main investigator takes it with him, and places it in his personal haunted item museum. Nice way to score some free stuff, eh?
I found the team of investigators to be credible enough. Though I admit that I had a few reservations when I realized that two of the investigators are the children of the main investigator, John, and that they still live at home with their Dad. They are not horribly annoying, or overly dramatic like the Ghost Adventures crew, yet not nearly as appealing as the Ghost Hunters
group. The problem with the first episode is that there was no excitement, and no "wow" factor. Not that I expect them to be faking things for the sake of my entertainment, but I would like to have seen at least something that made my heart rate rise just a little. With this being the first episode, I assumed it would be the one that really draws attention, and makes us want more. For me personally, it did not deliver. Maybe you will feel differently.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Are You Extreme?
Apparently a lot of people are interested in becoming Extreme Couponers. My recent article on Associated Content, How To Become An Extreme Couponer has had more views than all of my other articles combined!
If you are interested in what a real expert (not little old me) has to say, check this out: Extreme Couponing 101 Strategies and Resources
Speaking of extremes, I am extremely happy that the new season of Ghost Hunters starts tonight, followed by the premiere of Haunted Collector. If that weren't enough to send me blasting off into orbit, Ghost Hunters was just picked up for an eight season.
I personally think the show is awesome, but I am not alone. Last season and average of ONE MILLION people tuned in to watch the show each Wednesday night. I knew the show was popular, but had no idea it was quite that popular.
All of this ghost talk prompted me to write this article: Guide To Conducting A Successful Ghost Hunt. The number of times that this article has been viewed does not even sniff the armpits of the coupon article. I guess saving money is way more important than hunting ghosts.
I, for one, happen to think that both are quite fun in their own right.
If you are interested in what a real expert (not little old me) has to say, check this out: Extreme Couponing 101 Strategies and Resources
Speaking of extremes, I am extremely happy that the new season of Ghost Hunters starts tonight, followed by the premiere of Haunted Collector. If that weren't enough to send me blasting off into orbit, Ghost Hunters was just picked up for an eight season.
I personally think the show is awesome, but I am not alone. Last season and average of ONE MILLION people tuned in to watch the show each Wednesday night. I knew the show was popular, but had no idea it was quite that popular.
All of this ghost talk prompted me to write this article: Guide To Conducting A Successful Ghost Hunt. The number of times that this article has been viewed does not even sniff the armpits of the coupon article. I guess saving money is way more important than hunting ghosts.
I, for one, happen to think that both are quite fun in their own right.
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