Just over 9 months ago I wrote a post telling you all about an exciting new website called PayPerPost.com that actually pays you to blog. They act as a conduit between bloggers and businesses that want to advertise on blogs.

I originally said that I was going to try this “thing” out and if I made enough cash to buy my telecaster I’d post the picture.

Well, I decided against the Telecaster and instead got a Paul Reed Smith Custom SE with upgraded EMG pickups and locking sperzel tuners. I paid for it completely with money from blogging!

Actually, I’ve used my bloggin money throughout the year for other things also. It’s been nice to have a little mad money account to feed my musical/gadget/technology obsession without dipping into the family budget.

Anyone who dosen’t believe it works, just look to the right, and stay tuned, cause I’m about to put up some more stuff I’m buying with my blog cash.

Comes in 3 flavors…..err colors 

With Vet costs getting more and more exspensive, yet with pet owners becoming more attached to their pets, the growing trend towards pet insurance is increasing. You could very easily spend over 3K if your dog had a serious accident or medical problem.

Theres a website called www.petcareinsurance.com that provides affordable pet insurance should you ever need it.

Pet insurance allows you to proceed with the best course of action recommended by your veterinarian, not what you can afford. You are able worry less about the finances, and concentrate doing the right thing for your sick pet.

It’s a good investment whether you have a new pet or an aging one.

I’ve got a couple of good, sad and ugly news to report in the music world today.

To start off, one of my favorite bands is the Drive By Truckers. I’ve been a fan for several years but have yet to see them live. I was hoping to catch them with the lineup of Patterson Hood and Jason Isbell. Jason Isbell joined the group shortly before Decoration Day and immediately made an impact in their songwriting. In fact you could argue that Jason was thhe reason that DBT where as popular as they are. It does seem that Jason’s songs where the ones that I couldn’t get out of my head and sung along to.

Well, it seems that Jason and DBT have parted ways. Can’t say we didn’t see it coming. The good news is Jason has a new album ready to release. “Sirens Of The Ditch” will be released on July 10th and I’m sure will just continue to reassure my suspicion that HE was in fact the thing that made DBT what is is.

On another note, another of my favorites, Wilco, just released a new album and DVD companion. I am downloading it as we speak (legally) and will comment on it at a later date.

Uy Yuh Yuy.

So over at gofish.com, they are sponsoring a contest called “Seduce A Celebrity” where you can win a date with a celebrity. The first guinea pig is Mirelly Taylor of “Las Vegas”, “Punk’d”, and “Numb3rs”. Not that she’s a slouch in the easy on the eyes catagor, but sheesh, how much are they paying her to do this?

So the concept is that to enter you must make a video explaining why you should be her date and the viewers get to pick who wins the date.

Can you smell the inherant problem with this? Can you say “SANJAYA”?

All it’s gonna take is a bunch of drunk frat guys to upload the video of the local crazy pervert and get all their “Buds” to vote him in.

Of course I might actually enjoy watching that date.

Nonetheless there are some funny entries but the most are run of the mill and what you would expect not to mention that their Ryan Seacrest-esque host is none other than media tool Andrew Firestone. I think it will be interesting to see who wins and how this date goes. I would also be interested in who the next celebrity will be. Can I put in an early vote for Wing? I’d make a video for her! Grrrrrrrrr.

Go check out the Free videos at GoFish.com, and tune in later for the results. Isn’t this what the internet was made for?

McDonald’s Employee Hides Pot Stash In Happy Meal Box, Gives to Child

“Daddy, I got two toys in my happy meal!”

We realize that you have to disguise your stash when you go to work, but hiding your pipe, marijuana and lighter in a happy meal box is a dangerous idea. Why?

You might hand your stash right out the drive through window. That’s what one McDonald’s employee in Ottawa, Illinois did, and as you might imagine, everyone—even the police chief — is laughing at him. The employee is a 17 year-old high school senior, he’s been arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. From FoxChicago:

“Police admit that many in the town find the incident… funny.
Police Chief: “I’d be rather surprised if at any time in the rest of my career I see something like this happen again.”

read more | digg story

So I stumbled apon this site that is currently in beta right now, but is called TestFreaks.com and looks like it might actually be a pretty cool idea. It appears to be a clearinghouse or search engine of just reviews of products. So say you where looking to buy a new phone, you would go here and be able to search and read a variety of cell phone reviews.

Like I said, they are currently building the site, so the selections are a bit limited, but supposidly new products are coming online soon and they are also building a developers forum to get input on building this next generation consumer information site.

Worth checking out and keeping an eye on.

You’re probably gonna hear alot about this over the next few days.

I’ve never agreed with him and have lampooned his comments, politics and religious views over the years. However, I won’t stoop to the easy blog entry here at this time. For all the criticism I’ve had of the man, this is not the time or place to do so…. well maybe it is the place, but not now.

In the early 1980′s, Betty was a more or less normal, married secretary in her late 50′s/early 60′s at a Little Rock law firm (allegedly working with Hillary Clinton) with a slight psychiatric problem for which she took medication. At some point, though, she stopped taking her medication and experienced a psychic and sexual renaissance of grandiose proportions: out with the husband and respectable job, in with the matching hot pink hair-do and spandex pants.Elton, meanwhile, was a much younger (30 years younger, to be exact!) man renowned in Little Rock for his phenomenal basketball skills until the day he claims someone “put something in his drink.” Elton met Betty in a homeless shelter, and it was love at first sight. The two were married and became notable Little Rock eccentrics, playing music all around town while sometimes delivering newspapers on the side. Elton ran for a seat in Congress, while Betty challenged Bill Clinton in an Arkansas gubernatorial race with the sole platform of lowering the age of consent to 14.

During this time they recorded at least three albums: “The Best of Elton and Betty” (which is not a compilation), “Sex Beyond the Door,” and the mysterious, elusive “Hard Deep Sex Explosion.” Each album – but “Sex Beyond the Door” in particular – is a searingly honest, bizarre gem in which the two expound on aspects of their daily lives and sexual inclinations while playing dubiously-tuned ukuleles and tiny guitars. “I Am the Master of Love,” “I’m In Love With Your Behind,” “I Don’t Really Like Oral Sex Much at All,” “The Little Dicks Fit Me Best,” “My Three Feet Red Hot Tongue Is Sweet as Sugar,” “Your Breast, I’d Love to Carresst [sic]” – it is through songs such as these that the true depth of their love for each other is revealed, in the process making their oeuvre arguably the most listenable and entertaining in the entire genre of Outsider Music.

Here is their MySpace page

From the wiki on how to:

Are you going to a concert this weekend? Have you seen the pits and have always been curious, but are concerned that you may come out with a broken face? With a little know-how and a lot of courage, you can make your way through a mosh pit and who knows? You might jump right back in.

1. Know what you’re getting into. Be objective and recognize that you may get hurt, and you’re definitely going to get covered in sweat (and maybe even the saliva or blood) of complete strangers. While the objective of a mosh pit is to make physical contact without getting hurt, there is a good degree of unpredictability and risk. If you’re considering making your debut in a mosh pit, be aware of the potential consequences and make sure that they’re worth the thrill.
2. Wear the right gear. Wear clothes that you don’t mind getting stained or even ruined. Your outfit should also be comfortable and light, since it will get hot in the pit. Make sure your shoes fit tightly and lace them well, because if it falls off, you’ll have an impossible time getting it back and your unprotected foot will suffer in the meantime. Also be sure to remove any spiked wristbands or other dangerous accessories, as they could injure a fellow mosher (or even yourself).
3. Brace yourself. Whether in the mosh pit or out, you need to keep your hands and more specifically your arms prepared. Don’t look like you’re ready to strike someone (you’ll freak people out and probably get yourself beat up), but certainly don’t put yourself in a position where your hands are going to be stuck to your sides and you accidentally get your face knocked by someone’s skull flying at you, but you weren’t ready for it.
4. Watch and observe from the side. How brutal are the individuals bouncing around this freak show? Are people just having fun, or are they going for blood? Know the difference between those who are slam dancing and the idiot high school football player who’s running around smashing people in the face with his knuckles. There are many different types of moshing, and adapting to these is an important step if you want to enjoy it.
5. Participate on the side line by pushing people back in the pit and embracing mosh pit kids from falling to their deaths as they circulate the rim. There are going to be people flying back and forth, side to side, up and down and all over the place. When you’re ready to deal with this, it’s time to enter.
6. Circle the circle pit. You’re going to continue pushing, bouncing, and slamming off of other people in the pit. Eventually you’re going to be able to control your direction and choose your hits, maybe even on your first night. Go at the speed of the crowd and be ready for the dropper: the dropper (or breakdown) is the violent outburst that many metal, hardcore, alternative bands, punk rock, and similar types of music have that goes from normal lyrical music to a crashing point which will set off the adrenaline of every kid around you and is virtually the “go” sound or green light that it is time to smash and slam again. If you’re unfamiliar with the music, this is going to be hard to spot, but if you see it coming, you’re going to have one up on half of the kids at the show.
7. Switch things up.

• Bodyslam. Jump into the air, aiming to have your upper body make contact with another mosher. A collision is the goal here.
• Stage dive. Push your way past the crowd and the bouncers if you can so that you can get on stage. Without disrupting the band or any of their equipment, dive into the crowd (make sure they see you coming) and tense up when you land so that you’re easier to catch.
• Crowd surf. You can start off either by stage diving or by hoisting yourself up on two (taller) people’s shoulders. Don’t have somebody lift you up by the foot with their hands because odds are, the people around you won’t have enough time to see you coming and somebody (including but not limited to you) will get hurt.

Tips

• Find safety in the “eye of the storm”. If you are in a pit that is too intense and you are feeling fatigued, there is safety in the center. Just like a spinning bicycle wheel or a record, the tangential velocity is smaller closer to the center.
• If you are are struggling with being pushed too much and you want to get out of the pit, DO NOT bend down or you risk falling over and getting injured by people around you accidentally stepping on you. Bring your hands up towards your face and use your arms as stabilisers while working your way out of the mosh pit. Don’t panic: it’s more important to stay upright and take longer to get out than to hurry out and risk falling over.
• If someone falls down, you immediately help them up. This is the unwritten protocol of all mosh pitters. If you keep going and someone is down, you risk seriously hurting or even killing them (and if that doesn’t happen, some large mammal of a man is going to hurt you for not following this protocol).
• If you find someone’s sneaker, wallet, or other personal belonging, it is also mosh etiquette to hold it up in the air to be claimed by its owner.
• If you crowd surf, keep your feet raised. Hitting people in the head with your shoes with guarantee removal of one or both of your shoes which will then be flung towards the stage with maximum velocity, rendering you shoeless for the rest of the gig/day/festival weekend.
• Be sure that your valuables (e.g. wallet, phone) are tightly secured, or else they might fall off or get snatched in the pit. Better yet, leave as much as you can at home.
• Hold on to your glasses–if you must wear them, try to secure them around your neck. Otherwise, they might fall off and break in the pit. But don’t leave them at home, because you’ll need to see what you’re doing (and what others are doing) while moshing.
• Stay hydrated. It’s hot and sticky in the mosh pit, and you’ll be getting quite the workout.
• You’ll know when you’ve had enough. Moshing is seriously athletic you will get very tired. It may take you all night to get there, or it may be after your first run. When that happens take a break and enjoy the music from outside the pit.
• Go with some friends and stick with them. That way, you’ll have a few landmarks and lifesavers.
• When crowdsurfing, try to stay relaxed and go with it. Don’t flail around and hit/kick people as it is very likely you will get hit back
• Pay attention to what type of mosh pit it is. Some mosh pits are more about contact and running into each other while others are more centered on “mosh pit dancing”. Don’t go slam into the person doing a dance solo in the middle of the pit and likewise don’t start swinging your arms around dancing in the middle of a high contact pit. Remember, everybody is there to have fun!
• If you have hair long enough to be tied back please do so. It makes things more pleasant for all!

Warnings

• You’re going to get hit. As long as you’re not a target of another and you’re keeping your hands in a position not to get tagged in the face and you’re leaning backwards, you’ll be safe. But it is possible to become severely injured in a mosh pit, so understand the risks.
• Watch for kids who wear spike bands in a pit. They will leave scars.
• If you have done something to become the target of a much larger/more aggressive mosher, it is generally best to leave the pit for a little while. These overly aggressive moshers may single you out and make every effort to hit you as hard as possible which can cause undesired injury and quickly put a damper on your concert mood.
• Women, beware. There are guys in the pit who are going to go for the gold and try to cop an anonymous feel. If you get harassed, get a good look at the perpetrator and don’t hesitate to announce what he did. Most will disapprove and act accordingly.
• While participating on the side line is perfectly acceptable, understand that you are shoving moshers from their “blind spot” in most cases. A violent push from the side can send an off-balance mosher directly into an oncoming elbow or head that would’ve otherwise been averted. Furthermore, you can and will be specifically targeted for retaliation if you do this throughout the show.
• While climbing onto the stage and doing a stage dive may be glorious, note that if you get caught by security after getting on the stage, you may become a victim of retaliation from them. This is dependent on the group doing the security, but you may be ejected from the concert.

If you’re a motorcyclist who sometimes wears your underwear on your head, now you can wear a pair of jeans on top of that, and have your head protected from massive damage as well with these Nexx X60 Open Face motorcycle helmets. This jeans-like style is just one of a dozen choices, bringing the serious Thermo Resin protection along with anti-sweat fabric inside. A mere $200 protects your noggin from knockin’, and now you can put on a pair of jeans, a jean jacket and this helmet and have that denim look all over. Hey, it gives new meaning to the term “butthead.”

Via Gizmodo

Google makes most of their money from AdSense ads.

While it is technically possible to block Google ads on web pages through Firefox extensions or by modifying the hosts file, these hiding methods are mostly implemented by tech-savvy users and may not have that big an effect on Google’s revenue.

However, here’s a secret trick – if you append the parameter “output=googleabout” to Google Web Search URL, the search results page will not carry any AdSense ads that are otherwise seen on the top and right sections of the page.

read more | digg story

The quick brown fox

Hevetica turns 50! 

There aren’t likely to be many eating or drinking establishments that can offer the star power of Spotlight Live, located right at New York’s Times Square. This jumbo karaoke emporium on something much stronger than steroids is a 23,000 square-foot, four-story potential nightmare for anyone but those with a craving for the limelight.

With fake paparazzi waiting at the door (your mug will show up everywhere), and your record contract waiting to be signed inside, you are in for a real expose. Once you’ve selected your song, you are whisked to the VIP green room (with white leather couches of course) where you and your performance are polished and perfected (if possible) with the help of choreographers and make-up artists. Off you go on to the massive stage where a professional band and back-up singers are ready to make you sound like a star (again, if possible) as your stellar performance is streamed live to the web and onto a 25-by-40-foot Jumbotron in Times Square.

With the five recording booths, seemingly hundreds of flat screens and constant instant messaging between tables, you may forget that there is food, too. Mini gourmet burgers, cotton candy and crispy rock shrimp will keep you happy as you ogle and critique those braver than you on the stage.

The concept has more star power behind it than most places with the joint efforts of three serial hospitality entrepreneurs: Elisabeth Blau with serious Las Vegas experience, Kerry Simon of Las Vegas and Iron Chef fame, and former Jerry Bruckheimer production V.P. Jennifer Worthington.

Via TheCoolHunter

This bill would be the first bill to extend hate crimes protection to homosexuals – Bush says he plans to veto it because it infringes on free speech.

First off, I didn’t realize that hate crime protection was NOT extended to homosexuals already, and second, how does this infringe on free speech? I guess free speech only applies to issues he supports.

I’m speechless.

read more | digg story

While you may lobby that nothing’s sweeter than an automated waffle maker, Chris Dimino just might counter that. This design guru has apparently concocted a retro inspired, and ever-so-slightly altered kitchen appliance that cooks waffle that are a bit wider and more familiar than usual. This piece of cookware sports an integrated stand for holding four jars of syrup, and the iron itself presses a nifty keyboard each and every time — caps lock key and all. Of course, we don’t expect retailers to start stocking these things anytime soon, but if you’re serious about your words waffles-per-minute, we’re sure Chris could make arrangements.

From Engadget

Okay – I’ve got it in writing now!

Start the countdown to the crow eating.

Lieberman: People get passionate when Apple comes out with something new — the iPhone; of course, the iPod. Is that something that you’d want them to feel about Microsoft?

Ballmer: It’s sort of a funny question. Would I trade 96% of the market for 4% of the market? (Laughter.) I want to have products that appeal to everybody.

MacDailyNews Take: Like the Zune? Note how Ballmer substitutes Windows vs. Mac market share when asked a question about iPod and the upcoming iPhone. It’s Apple that dominates the music market, not Microsoft. Recognizing that fact, it’s obvious that Ballmer gives “sort of a funny answer,” as he certainly would trade the Zune debacle for Apple’s iPod+iTunes in an instant.

Ballmer: Now we’ll get a chance to go through this again in phones and music players. There’s no chance that the iPhone is going to get any significant market share. No chance. It’s a $500 subsidized item. They may make a lot of money. But if you actually take a look at the 1.3 billion phones that get sold, I’d prefer to have our software in 60% or 70% or 80% of them, than I would to have 2% or 3%, which is what Apple might get.

In the case of music, Apple got out early. They were the first to really recognize that you couldn’t just think about the device and all the pieces separately. Bravo. Credit that to Steve (Jobs) and Apple. They did a nice job.

But it’s not like we’re at the end of the line of innovation that’s going to come in the way people listen to music, watch videos, etc. I’ll bet our ads will be less edgy. But my 85-year-old uncle probably will never own an iPod, and I hope we’ll get him to own a Zune.

MacDailyNews Take: Ballmer plays fast and loose with the truth. He can “prefer” to have his crap software in “60% or 70% or 80%” of so-called “smartphones,” but in reality, he has but 4.6%.

Canalys worldwide total smartphone device market – market share Q4 2006:
Symbian – 72.5%
Linux – 16.9%
PalmSource – 2.0%
Microsoft – 4.6%
RIM – 3.8%
Others – 0.2%

Ballmer’s 85-year-old uncle will probably never own an iPod because he’s related to Steve Ballmer, not because of anything to do with merits of the device. In the relatively small market of 85-year-old uncles, we’d venture to guess that Apple’s iPod dominates that market as thoroughly as it does all other demographic groups.

We have iCal’ed Mr. Ballmer’s statements for future reference.

Now Dance Monkey Boy