Backing up, Backing up, Backing up, Backin up... Cause my Daddy Taught Me Good

Hey there.  I have been cracking up to this video since I first heard about it on the Kevin & Bean show on KROQ.  I looked it up and the whole family has this song on the brain.  It's even been sung at the most inappropriate of times.  lmao  It's a catchy tune and once you'll hear it, you'll curse me for inviting such as catchy song into your brain.  lmao  You're welcome.

Look for What You Need with the Rapidshare Search Engine

Hey there. I've recently stumbled across the world of Rapidshare Search and I'm a little surprised by the stuff that you can find on there.You have movies, games, apps, and other applications all at your fingertips.  I would be a little weary of downloading though.  From what I know, many malicious viruses and malware reside over downloads on the web so unless you know how to virus scan downloaded content before opening it, I would steer clear.  But if you have the ability to scan the file after downloading it, take a look and see what kind of stuff you can stumble upon.  Later!

Reboost with Boost Mobile

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Boost Mobile. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  With all the bills that we have to encounter, it's good to know that a cell phone does not have to cost an arm and a leg.  With all the high tech phones out there, texts, calls, and web can easily total a bill of over $100 for a single user. Boost Mobile offers a wide variety of phones and plans at affordable rates.  And the best part is that they are no contracts to sign!  You won't be bogged down with the same phone or plan for years.

I'm a blackberry fan and I'll admit that having one can be expensive, but not with Boost Mobile.  They currently have an unlimited Blackberry plan where you can get talk, text, and web for $60.  That's a pretty good deal!  You can update your Facebook page from your phone or send out Tweets via the apps available for Blackberry phones. 

Another cool feature is the Re-Boost program.  You can add money to your account to pay your bill anytime online, in person, or by phone.  It's really that simple.  And if you join the Auto Re-Boost program, you'll receive a $20 credit to your account for adding a debit or credit card.  Worry free service at it's best.

Don't let expensive contracts push you away from having quality service and an awesome phone.  Check out the Boost Mobile site and find the phone and plan that best fits your preferences and better yet, best fits your budget.  Later!

I've Been Hacked

Hey there.  This morning, I woke to an Email from my friend Alison telling me that I've been hacked.  Apparently, I sent out some spam Email containing a link to some Canadian pharmacy selling pink viagra.  That was not me, friends.  My account was compromised!  I've already took action and did what I had to do to make sure it doesn't happen again.  So if you received an Email from me with a link in it, I'm sorry, but it wasn't me!  Thanks.

Online Dating Just got Better with Shop4guys.com and Meetlocals.com

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of MeetLocals.com. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  In a busy lifestyle, it's not uncommon for single men and women to look for company online.  With the invention of online profiles on numerous websites, singles can easily browse profiles and read up on the likes and dislikes of potential friends.  Even recently separated Heidi and Spencer (of The Hills fame) have gone to their twitter pages to announce their online search to mingle with other singles.  Heidi mentioned that she's looking on Shop4Guys.com while Spencer is searching through Meetlocals.com for their next potential boyfriend or girlfriend.

Online dating has hit it big in recent years.  By pushing a few buttons, you can easily be matched with someone that shares many likes and dislikes and that eliminates the need of going on blind dates and having a disastrous time.  By sifting throw profiles, you'll be able to assure that you will have something in common to talk about and more of a chance of sparks flying.

All you single ladies!  And all you single gents!  Check out Shop4Guys.com and Meetlocals.com and hook up with a potential life partner! Later!

Affordable Family Friendly Education at Ashworh College

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Ashworth College. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends. I have many blogging friends that are stay at home moms. Which I think is great! There is nothing better than to be able to stay at home and spend more quality time with the kids. I wish I could do that... but I'm at work. Nevertheless, being a stay at home doesn't mean that mom's don't work. Besides the sack lunches, tending to injuries, being referee, and bringing down the law (of the household at least), a stay at home parent needs to find time to be themselves before they were mom or dad. Whether that be taking up an old hobby or getting back into school and getting that degree.

Getting back to school must be the most single thing most parents claim that they simply do not have the time for. Which may be true, if you are still speaking of school in the traditional sense. Now with many online schools, any parent, or working adult, can find the time to log online and attend school and work on improving your education. Because it's flexible and self-paced, so you can study whenever and wherever you like. Now that is ideal for any stay at home parent or working class citizen.

"But I can't afford school, Metallman. It costs too much money!" Not so, my friends. At Ashworth College, you can earn that Online degree and pay approx. 50% less than the average accredited online school and unlike other programs, you are guaranteed to graduate without student loan debt. Let me translate that for you... NO STUDENT LOAN to worry about AFTER you've graduated! And with over 100+ degrees to choose from, you will find the one that you have been wanting to achieve.

Being a stay at home parent is great, but have a backup plan ready for the when the little ones are more independent. With classes being attended online, there is no need to travel to a school when you can sit in the comfort of your own home and attend class. You've been helping your kids with homework through out elementary and middle school, with an online degree from Ashworth College, you can assure that you can continue to help them for years to come.

Rainbow Road Song

Hey there.  There have been many talks of rainbows as of late, especially since there was this one guy that posted a video of him freaking out over a double rainbow that almost turned into a triple rainbow.  lol  However, since I'm in Mario Kart mode, I just had to share this gem off of youtube.  Rainbow road!!!!  Later!

Earn a Year Long Subscription of TrainingVOD ($399 value) and Improve Your Business

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of TrainingVOD. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  I'm made comments before how my blog, Metallman's Reverie, is now considered a small business.  I think it's great, but like all small businesses... I need to make sure that I'm on top of my game to protect and grow my business.  With more exposure comes increased critique and you want to put the best product out there when dealing with potential sponsors and clients.  This is where TrainingVOD has been an irreplaceable ally. 

With over 50 years of presentation experience (ranging from classrooms to fortune 500 companies), TrainingVOD gives you the look and feel of in person training in the form of 10 minute videos.  If put it in perspective, there are 7 minutes in between commercials when you watch TV so these videos are streamlined towards the common consumer.  By keeping things tactical instead of story based, the videos are perfect in giving us the information we need and how to apply those skills.

So what kind of videos are we talking about here?  The kind that will help your business grow, expand, and help you be a better leader.  With topics that range from HR & Compliance to Safety and Operations and video courses ranging from protecting your PC to negotiating styles and Sales, you'll learn a great deal of information on how to assess and deal with any scenario that you may have to deal with.

I'm currently a subscriber to the "Business Skills" set of videos (197 courses) and I must confess that the courses are definitely for the average Joe.  There is no fancy gimmicks in the videos and they definitely feel as if actual trainers made these and not graphic artists.  If I can "get it" within 10 minutes, I don't see why no one else can.  With that being said, who wants in on TrainingVOD and learn the skills to improve your business and improve your skills of being a leader? That's right, my good friends at TrainingVOD has offered one of my readers a full year of the "Business Skills" set of courses and videos for free. FOR FREE! That $399 worth of training for free when fortune 500 businesses are paying up to a $1000 for similar training DVDs.All you have to do is leave a comment telling me how these videos would be beneficial to you.  That's it.  A simple comment and you're in the sweepstakes.  On August 1st, I will announce the winner among the comments (chosen by random.org) and provide them with instructions on how to obtain their free year subscription. 

Good luck to all you friends and don't forget to check out this quick tour of TrainingVOD.  http://www.trainingvod.com/content/tour It's just a taste of how to improve your business and leadership skills.  Later!

Being Blocked by the Man

Hey there.  Looks like I no longer have the freedom to do as I please online at work.  lol  It's not that I took advantage or anything, but it was nice to know that if I wanted to look up a video, I could.  Now, this Websense thing, is blocking most of my favorite sites, deeming them "inappropriate".  No more Cracked.com...  No more Youtube.com...  Limited Facebookcom....  and some of my sponsors' sites are blocked too.  Damn...  Now I'm being forced to actually work!  lol  (kidding)  Way to keep a guy down, job!!!  lol  Later!

Rejected Album Cover - Master of Puppets

Hey there.  I picked up this gem on Cracked.com.  They had readers send in their renditions of famous album covers BEFORE the label made the artist change them.  This Metallica one ranked third but I thought it was too funny and had to share it.  You can check out the full listing here.  Later!

Join Summer Classes with Kidzmet

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of KidzmetJen. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  With public schools cutting more and more of the fine arts department (music, art, sports, etc.) due to budget cuts, us parents are finding it harder and harder to find alternatives to keep that integral part of our kid's education alive.  Whether we're going through parks looking for sign up signs or searching online for classes in the area, it's always a tough search when minimal information is provided.  That's why Jen Lilienstein, the founder of Kidzmet.com, created a central location where parents can search for available classes for their children.

The focus of Kidzmet is squarely on the education of our youth. You can very easy search for classes that fit your child's need. There is no second guessing when you can easily create a search for classes based on your child's, age and interest, and best of all... your budget! Check out the search results for the Santa Barbara area:

There are several classes for the new born group.  Since my wife is a stay at home mom now, I know she'll want to look for some "mommy and me" type activities and this a great way to see all the available classes in our area.  If you're looking for activities for you kids, do not overlook Kidzmet.com.  All the information you need in one website and if for whatever reason you are having difficulties at the site, you can easily chat with a Kidzmet member by clicking on the live chat icon in the bottom right of the screen.  Best of luck and I hope you enjoy your time in class with the kids!  Later!

Joker Book Shop

Hey there.  A friend of mine has started his own book store!  That's right, a book store people.  Many young entrepreneurs are engaging in high tech/modern businesses but this man knows the value of a good book and has started his business based on that principle. But his business has expanded and is now including DVDs, video games, and other great items for a pretty low price.  Feel free to browse around his online store, Joker Book Shop, and take a look for yourself.  Later! 

Technology Free Day

Get the Best Online Casino with Rival Casinos

This is a sponsored post
 Hey there.  I enjoy going to the casino. It's a great way to have some fun and kill some time.  The problem is that many of the casinos are few hours drive away and you really don't want to go through that drive to get there.  That's where Rival Casinos come into play.

While many of the online casinos require a deposit to play, Rival Casinos does not require a cash deposit and offers the best in online games, such as baccarat, blackjack, classic slots, craps, keno, let it ride, progressive slots, red dog, roulette, scratch cards, three card poker, video poker, and 5 reel slots.

I'm just saying that if you're into some online casino action, you can't go wrong with Rival Casinos.  It's better than driving for hours when you can enjoy all the casino action at the comfort of your own home.  Later!

Using Cappex for College Reviews

Hey there. My wife and I have been meaning to go back to school. But it's tough to find the time when you have a family to take care of. I'm not saying it's impossible, though. With some strategic time management, both my wife and I could be back in school before we know it. A good tool to help out has been Cappex.com It's free to join and helps match your student profile to a college that best suits your needs. Now, it's an up and coming site so instead of 1000s of colleges, you're more to see 100s but the database is growing everyday and considering that it's free, why not take a look to check it out. Check out the review of the cappex site by eduinreview.com. Later

You Gotta See This Contest Winners

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.  Most people that I know do not have perfect vision.  They either have glasses or wear contacts.  I, myself, wear glasses all day, everyday.  I can't see a thing without them... and it frustrates me when I don't have them on, because, well.... I'm blind as a bat without them.  I've even contemplating getting the LASIK procedure done. I've wondered how my different my life could be by having near perfect vision. I'm not the only one who wondered and thanks to the iLASIK Video Contest, I've been able to see what others have thought of having their life changed by LASIK.

The iLASIK Video Contest is now over, so you can't submit your own video, but you can still check out the contest winners here. My personal favorite being the “Contacts Stink” video.

I'm still debating on whether or not the procedure is for me. I'm in my late 20s and I don't know if my vision will continue a slow decline or if it will finally hit a plateau. I'll talk it over with the wife some more to get a better feel of what we think is best. I know I'm not the only one contemplating this, as evidenced by all the videos that were entered in the contest! Until then, later!

Welcome to the World of Travian

Hey there.  We all need a little place to escape.  Many of us have hobbies, such as reading or playing guitar.  Recently, I've been introduced into the world of Travian.  It's a military type game that plays similar to that of Command and Conquer and to a lesser extent, Risk.  You start off with a city and you build your resources: Wood, Clay, Iron, and Wheat.  You need certain amounts to build barracks (to train your army) or build a palace (where you can send out settlers and expand your empire).  Of course, you're not the only player, other players are scattered across the grid and each is out for blood.  You can be a lone wolf, but trust me, you will be devoured.  It would be better to make friends and join an alliance to protect yourself and coordinate an well thought out attack on stronger players to destroy their cities and take their resources.

And because it plays in real time, you are producing resources as you sleep.  You find yourself checking in from time to time to assure that you do not have any incoming attacks and if you do, you act accordingly and build your defenses. Check out the battle report below.

I must say that it's definitely the game of the moment, at least for me.  It's easy for me to check in, upgrade some stuff, attack away, and build defenses.  All within a few minutes.  If you're online as much as I am, and are looking to get into a military type game, definitely check out Travian.

Make Your Own Movies Using Moviestorm and You Could Win a $2K iMac

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Moviestorm. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends. Have you sat through a movie and then thought to yourself, "Hey, you know what... I think I could have done a better job." Most of us have that thought. Whether it be in movies, music, or anything else that we believe to be pretty great at. And while many of us can write our own music, not many of get to direct a movie. It's just to a big a scale for many of us to experience first hand. Luckily, we have the Moviestorm application, a virtual movie studio, that allows us to take the directors chair right from from your computer.

While it's not taking the crew outside for filming, it does allow you to create animated movies while you orchestrate every detail. With the options to build your own set, customize your own characters, direct the action and film your movie, you have an endless array of possibilities to allow you creative mind to roam free. And with the option to add your own images (logos & backgrounds) and audio files (voice acting & sound effects), the movies you create are 100% unique. With enough practice, your creations may be even good enough for TV!

Don't believe me? Then check out the Moviestorm Challenge . They are so confident in their product that they are willing to give one lucky winner a top of the line iMac. Anyone in the world can enter and all you have to do is make a movie (intended for kids) well enough to get landed on TV. Any channel, any station. It doesn't matter as long as it's aired on TV. To enter, you must use Moviestorm and create you movie using the new Fun Land Pack. The content pack contains many kid friendly characters and backgrounds so it shouldn't be too tough to come up with suitable content.

Now, I mentioned that it is free to download to try out, but that will only get you the basics. For us serious movie makers out there, many sets, characters, and other goodies can be rented for your personal use. That's what makes this subscription based program so great. Instead of paying out a lot of money for many scenes, accessories, and what not that you'll probably never use, you can choose what you need and rent it out. It's really that simple. For about $8 a month, you can choose which content pack (which include horror, romance, sci-fi, etc. etc.) you would like you subscription fee to apply to. This eliminates the need to purchase expansion packs and if you decided to take a break from filming, you can do so without a hitch.

Get to it, friends. Make that movie and get it on TV to win a top of iMac computer. Check out the video below. An original piece from a regular Joe like the rest of us. This showcases what the program can do. Later!

Get the Heineken Breathalyzer iPhone app and Enjoy Heineken Responsibly

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Heineken. All opinions are 100% mine.

Hey there friends.   The majority of us are old enough to go out, have a few drinks with friends and family, and have a great time.  However, many of us are not mature enough, or don't the means to advise a friend or family member they've had a little too much to drink.  You know who I'm talking about.  The crazy friend that always seems to go overboard, the uncle that never seems to know when to say no, or the the friend that seems to just want to drink the night away.  Well, having to remind them that they've had a little too much drink is now as easy as pulling out your phone.  Introducing the Heineken Breathalyzer iPhone app!

Due to the success of Heineken's Know The Signs campaign, Heineken has branched out and created an app to playfully remind our friends and family that they may be on the path to having a little too much.  Simply Download the Heineken Breathalyzer iPhone app (100% free) and have a friend or family member "blow" into the iPhone.  The iPhone will then select a "character" that your drinking buddy may be turning into.  The great thing about the app is that you have the option to choose which character to select before having your friend "blow" into the phone.  Say you're friend may show some signs of aggression.  Tap your iPhone and select "Fighter" and have your friend "blow" into the app.  Watch his or her face as this pops on the screen!

How can you not get a chuckle out of it?  But the best part is not the characters, but the fact that you have the option to see another "fighter" in action or read a story about a "fighter" type drinker.  Using humor as a catalyst, you can gently nudge friends and family to take it easy when you believe they may be on their way to a certain character type.  Or...  you can simply have fun with it.  Adjust the settings to random and the app will randomly select a character.  It's a great way to add a little more humor into an already fun night.

Heineken is doing things right by playing an active role in informing their customers to "Enjoy Heineken Responsibly".  I think it's great that they are thinking outside the box and using popular social media tools to convey this message.  This campaign has been running strong for over a year and hopefully they will continue to develop fun and creative ways to educate their customers.  If you are interested in reading up on the campaign, feel free to check out The Heineken Know The Signs website and read up on the campaign and any new developments.  Later!

Google Gods Have Blessed Metallman with a PR2

Hey there. A PR2! I've been staring a giant 0 since the birth of this site. I even stopped caring about Google Page Rank since I figured I would always be a 0 and should not even bother to check it anymore. But then, yesterday I read on another blog, that Google was planning on rolling out updated page ranks around the first of the month. Since I haven't checked in awhile, I decided to give it a go. To my surprise, I received a 2/10 ranking. That's pretty bad ass. Some pretty awesome news to start the new year. I haven't really been doing anything different so I wonder if it's the fact that I am now under my own domain. Either way, a PR2 is a low score, but it's better than a 0! Later!