Connected Isolation

Kohls Has the Best Coupons

2013-05-18T20:37:00.002-05:00

I keep my eye out for good coupons and some of the best I have seen are the $10 off coupons from Kohls. Usually stores will make you spend a certain amount to save a certain amount like save $5 on a purchase of $25 or more, but not Kohls. They give you $10 off and you only have to spend $10! That means if you can find something for $10, you basically get it for free. It has to be over $10 so you will end up spending a dollar or 2, but still, getting $10 of merchandise for $2 is a great deal.

I have gotten 2 of these Kohls coupon cards in the mail over the past 2 weeks. Usually I don't like being on mailing lists because you get so much useless junk mail, but Kohls is a good list to be on. With the 1st card, I got a water bottle with a filter, $10 value for about a dollar. With the 2nd card I got 2 packs of vacuum bags, $12 value for $2.

I'm surprised Kohls offers these coupons. I can't see how they would be making money if people are using them like this. Maybe they figure people will spend more once they are in the store, and maybe people will, but frugal types like myself will use it to get the best deal and spend the least amount needed to use the coupon.

Have you found any other great coupons for other stores? Share them in the comments below.

Bobble Water Bottle Review

2013-05-04T09:19:00.000-05:00

For many years I have been drinking bottled water. I'm not sure when it started, but one day I decided tap water was not good enough. Don't get me wrong, the water in my area is generally considered to be pretty good and plenty safe to drink. I guess the fact that bottled water is pretty cheap when bought in bulk, it comes in convenient bottles, and it always tastes good are a few of the reasons I have been drinking bottled water.

Recently I got tired of lugging those bottles home from the store every few weeks so I looked into some alternatives. I found that there are some reusable bottles that come with a built in filter. I thought this might be a good option to try out. After doing some research I found that the reviews were just so-so. Some said it made the water better, others said it didn't really do much. I was still interested to at least try out this option.

I had a $10 gift card to Kohls so I went in looking for one of these bottles with a filter. They had the Bobble water bottle on sale for about $10. Perfect, so I got it.

The bottle is clear and has a filter/cap combination along with another plastic cap to put on the top. The filter comes in several colors. I went with black. According to the back there are 3 sizes: 13oz, 18.5oz, and 34oz. I looked all over but it is not clear as to which size I got. It does not clearly say it on the package or the bottle, but I think I got the 18.5oz. I found this absence of information to be very odd considering this is an important thing to know.

So I got it home and tried it out. I cleaned it first with some soap and water. They say not to wash it in the dishwasher. Then as recommended, I filled it up and squeezed the water out to clean the filter the first time. The bottle is squeezable but it does take some effort to get the water out.

I decided to do a side by side test with plain tap water and water filtered from the Bobble. With 2 glasses side by side, first I did a visual inspection. Both appeared to have particles floating around in the water. This could be little bubbles of air, or minerals of some kind, I don't know. The filtered glass had slightly fewer particles visible.

Then for the taste test. The tap water tasted pretty good. It was drinkable, but mentally, drinking from the tap makes me think it is not as good as bottled spring water. Next I tasted the filtered Bobble water. I tasted very similar. If anything, I would describe it as more "empty". The tap seemed to have a bit more of a taste, not necessarily a bad taste, while the filtered water was a bit more bland. Still very similar.

As for the size and shape of the bottle, it is a bit large to carry around. I like bottled waters from the store because their shape is great for carrying around or putting in a lunch. This Bobble is a little too big for that. The outside of the bottle is slick so it could be difficult to grip if it is wet. The bottom of the bottle is contoured which gives less surface area on the bottom which may make it more likely to tip over if knocked.

Right now I plan on using the Bobble for water at home, but not on the go. I will still use the bottled water from the store for that. Hopefully this bottle will help cut down on costs and use of bottled water from the store. I will report back with an update after using this water bottle for a while.

Update: 5-18-13
So I have been using the Bobble for about 2 weeks and so far I have been happy with it. I don't know that it is making the water all that better, but it is certainly drinkable and has helped me cut down on the amount of bottled water I have been drinking from home. I still wouldn't use it on the go because the size is too bulky, but for home use it is a good alternative.

Funny Girls - Milana Vayntrub and Stevie Nelson from Live Prude Girls

2013-04-06T13:27:00.001-05:00

I recently discovered a new pair of funny girls named Milana Vayntrub and Stevie Nelson. They run the Youtube channel called Live Prude Girls which features the 2 of them sitting on a couch interviewing a guest, usually a fellow Youtuber or someone from tv or movies. Their style can be described as awkward, aimed to make the guest feel uncomfortable as they tag team back and forth asking personal or controversial questions. The girls compliment each other wonderfully as Milana plays the cute naive girl and Stevie plays the privileged no nonsense deadpan style.

Here is an example where they interview comedic Youtuber Kassem G:

In this one, they interview Bob Odenkirk from Breaking Bad:

One last quick clip from their 2nd channel LivePrudeGirls2:

This is the 4th blog article here featuring funny girls. If you liked this one, be sure to check out the others here, here, and here.

Best Reddit Subreddits to Subscribe to

2013-03-27T14:20:00.000-05:00

If you are a Redditor, you know how important subreddits are. For those who might be new to Reddit, subreddits are the different forums or groups within the website. These forums are created by the users and can be about anything or any topic. While Reddit starts you off with some default subscriptions to a few subreddits, they don't make it too easy to find the good ones. Subscribing to subreddits that interest you are what will make or break your experience on the website. Below, you will find some of the best subreddits you should check out and consider subscribing to.

The Basics:
/r/Pics and /r/Videos are 2 huge subreddits which are pretty self explanatory. Images and videos are some of the staples on the internet and these 2 groups will help you find the new submissions that are popular and will probably end up being talked about among friends and end up on the news later that week.

Funny:
/r/Funny is another huge group that is a recommended if you enjoy a quick laugh. It mostly consists of funny pictures found on the internet.
/r/ContagiousLaughter. Laughter is contagious and this subreddit is proof of that. Check out the top submissions and you are sure to be cracking up in no time.
/r/AdviceAnimals is all about memes. You know the pictures with the top caption/bottom caption that are usually funny or witty or just point out something we all know but never really thought about. These are always fun and you can make your own very easily.
/r/FirstWorldProblems. A fun take on the types of problems those who are privileged and seem to have it all encounter in their daily lives.

Interesting:
/r/MildlyInteresting. Like the title says, these post are about things spotted that are mildly interesting and more times than not, actually very interesting.
/r/DoesAnybodyElse. A place where people post about their unique quirks and find out if anyone else is the same way. A fun place to discover how different or how much the same we all are.
/r/AskReddit . Have a question or need some quick advice? AskReddit is another huge subreddit where you can ask the community anything and get answers from other users.
/r/iAmA is a place where people state who they are or what they do and then they answer questions that are submitted. These can be very interesting depending on who is hosting them. Often it is famous people or people who have interesting jobs or experiences.

Helpful / Educational:
/r/LifeProTips and /r/YouShouldKnow will give you advice on how to live better. They provide tips that will make things easier and improve your life in ways you never expected.
/r/TodayILearned. People learn interesting facts and things everyday. This is the place to share and read about them.
/r/Frugal is a great place to learn about how to stretch those dollars and make the most of your earnings. In times like these, everyone can use some tips on how to save money.

Entertainment:
/r/Documentaries is a great place to find some of the best documentary films on the web. Sort by popularity to find the best ones and discuss them with other users in the comments section.
/r/FullMoviesOnYoutube. It is not always easy to find movies online, but this subreddit really helps out a lot when it comes to finding good movies on Youtube. Check frequently as new movies are often taken down quickly.
/r/ListenToThis is a good place to find new music that is not popular yet. Do you know of a great band or artist that has not made it big yet? Share their music here.

Other:
/r/JusticePorn. Do you like when bad people get what they deserve? This one is the place where justice is served.
/r/Technology. Stay up to date with the newest technology related news and discussion with this one.

For more user subreddit recommendations check out this thread on Reddit.

For a big list of subreddits sorted by subscribers and popularity, check out Reddit List.

Do you know of some good subreddits that are not on this list? Share them below in the comments section.

Thoughts on Having Kids

2013-03-25T11:56:00.000-05:00

I'm around the age where it is acceptable to get married and have kids, but I have choose not to do either of these things. There are a few reasons why I would not want to have kids. One reasons is the enormous responsibility. Another is the unpredictability of what your child will be like. And the third reason is that life is too hard and just not good enough. I'll explain all of these reasons in detail below.

Having a kid is a big responsibility in terms of commitment and time, not to mention the financial aspect of it. When you have a child, you are pretty much saying that you are going to take care of this child and be a parent to him or her for at least the next 18 years. That is a long time! You are responsible to provide for them and make sure they have a good life as they grow up. Taking care of yourself is hard enough, but throw in another person and you are working twice as hard.

There is so much uncertainty when having a child. You don't know if it is going to be a boy or a girl. You don't know how he or she is going to turn out. You don't really know how it will affect your life if it is your first child. People assume their child will be born healthy, but many babies are born with medical problems or disabilities. As mentioned before, life is hard enough even when you don't have any significant problems to overcome, but throw in a mental or physical disability and it makes it much more difficult. You are really taking a chance and rolling the dice when you decide to have a child. You hope for the best, but you never know what you are going to get.

The last reason for not having kids is the fact that life is too hard and not good enough. This is a depressing reason but there are so many bad things and negativity in the world that it would be unfair to bring someone into it and subject them to these things. I realize this may be a controversial reason and there can be a lot of discussion about it. I think the world needs to be a better place to live and the living situation needs to be very good before deciding to bring a child into the world.

What about the flip side? One might ask, "Haven't you ever seen a baby and wished you had one of your own"? This has not happened often, but I have worked with young children in the past and it has made me consider this question. In moments like that, I have thought about what it would be like to raise a child of my own, but all things considered, I still would decide against it. I would be more willing to help someone else raise a child by assisting with babysitting. This would provide a similar experience without all the pressure and commitment of having your own child.

What are your thoughts on weather or not to have kids? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

GoDaddy Promo Codes

2013-02-15T15:00:00.000-06:00

I recently transferred a domain name from Bluehost to GoDaddy to save some money. Bluehost is charging $13.99 per year to renew a domain name. I got fed up with these high costs and decided to look for a cheaper option.

After doing some research I settled on GoDaddy. I know they are famous for their commercials, but they are a big company so they can offer low prices on website related services. I got my domain transferred and renewed for a year for just $7.99. I plan on doing this for my other domains as soon as they are about to expire.

I found they have some good deals if you are looking for webhosting or new domain names. Here is a current promotion for 35% off all new orders. It expires on February 28th 2013.

If you happen to read this after February 2013, there are some more GoDaddy promo links in the sidebar on the right that should be active right now.

Best Youtube Channels of 2013

2013-02-08T16:12:00.000-06:00

It's still early in the year, but already there are some great Youtube channels to check out. Here are some of the best and funniest Youtube channels of the year so far.

1. Laina the Overly Attached Girlfriend (wzr0713)
You probably recognize her from the Overlay Attached Girlfriend meme which is a screen cap of her face from one of her videos. Laina as risen from this fame and created a great new Youtube channel. She is very funny and smart, traits that come across in her videos which range from vlogs, to parodies, to fan challenges. Here is one where she goes to the red carpet at the American Music Awards to try to find Justin Beiber.

2. Vitaly Pranks (VitalyzdTv)
Vitaly is one of the bravest pranksters out there who is known for pushing the envelope and creating "R Rated" pranks. He does the kind of stuff that makes people want to beat him up before he reveals that it is all just a joke. Sometimes people are a good sport about it and other times things get out of hand. If you like edgy prank videos, be sure to check out this channel. In this one, he goes around to guys saying, "Do you even lift?" implying that they need to work out.

3. Jia Jiang - Rejection Therapy (DukieAjah)
Jia Jiang is on a quest to create 100 videos featuring the concept of Rejection Therapy. This means he goes around and asks people requests that are unusual or weird and most likely going to get rejected. Jia films each situation and records the outcome. Many times his odd requests are granted and he gets to experience something special. On this day, he goes to Costco and asks to speak on the intercom system which leads to an unexpected result.

4. Roman Atwood Pranks (RomanAtwood)
Like Vitaly, Roman Atwood and company are another great prank group to check out. These guys come up with some of the best ideas that are always funny and elicit hilarious reactions from the unsuspecting targets. In this one, they use a play on words to tell people they have a bee on them.

5. Badge of Shame - Joe Goes (BadgeofShame)
Joe from Badge of Shame goes around to conventions and different events to interview people in attendance. His questions are funny and awkward which make them very enjoyable to watch as he interacts with the general public. Here is one where he visits Japan to interview the people and learn about the culture.

If you liked these, check out the Best Youtube Channels of 2012

Sambazon Juice Review

2013-01-15T16:57:00.000-06:00

I was at the store the other day and I saw a promotion where if you buy a salad, you get a free Sambazon juice. Sambazon is one of these healthy juice blend drinks that has acai berry. I had never tired it before and since the regular price was $3.50 for a 10oz bottle, I thought I would give it a whirl.

They have many varieties but I decided to go with the strawberry banana. It's 100% juice and omega 3 6 and 9. According to the date, the shelf life is about 2 months which is not bad. As for the price, I would never pay $3.50 for a single serving of juice. I wish these fresh juice smoothies for more affordable. The cheapest ones are like $2.50.

So how did it taste? Very good! It was like a cross between a juice and a smoothie. Not heavy like a smoothie, but fuller than a juice. It had a fresh taste to it and had a banana flavor mixed with berry. There was a little bit of a grit to the texture, but that is to be expected from a blend like this.

Overall I was very pleased with the product. Unfortunately, the cost is out of my price range so the only time I would get it again would be another free promotion or a big discount.

New Funny Girls - Angela Trimbur and Wendy McColm

2013-01-02T16:09:00.000-06:00

With comedy traditionally being considered a male dominated genre, it's always nice to find funny, creative women excelling in this area. I recently discovered a couple of talented girls on Youtube named Anglea Trimbur and Wendy McColm. I found Angela through Kyle's channel (check him out too, he is hilarious). She performed a song as "Juli Diamond" called Club North Pole. I thought it was great so I did some research and found her channel. Here is one of her videos where she and her friends have a thing for young guys... really young guys.

After checking out some of Angela's videos, I found Wendy McColm. She also has a channel and has written, directed, and acted in many videos. She makes odd videos with a quirky sense of humor that will either leave you laughing or asking yourself, "What did I just watch?" Here is one where she pays tribute to the Back To The Future series.

Here is one more channel to check out that features both of these ladies as well as a few more funny women, it's called These Girls. It again has an off beat sense of humor that your will either love or hate. In this video, they are at a party and they see a guy they like named Dave.

If you liked these videos be sure to check out their channels for a lot more entertaining videos.

10 Best Songs of 2012

2012-12-01T17:49:00.000-06:00

It is time to recap the best songs of 2012. For this list, there are only a few rules including: No super popular songs that everyone has heard, no artist repeats, and although most of the songs are from this year, some may have been released in a previous year. Here are Connected Isolation's top 10 songs of 2012:

1. Ricki Lee - Raining Diamonds

The number 1 song this year is Raining Diamonds by Australian singer songwriter Ricki Lee. It boggles my mind as to why this song did not get extremely popular. It has all the ingredients of a perfect pop song. Also check out the live version she did of this song on X-Factor.

2. Reggie Watts - Fuck Shit Stack

Reggie Watts may be one of the most talented and innovative acts in the music scene today. He makes songs on the fly using his voice, looping machines, and synthesizers. His live performances are hilarious and will leave you in awe. Here is one of his more popular songs called Fuck Shit Stack. I'm posting the live version to emphasize his music skills and stage presence.

3. G-Eazy - Lost in Translation

G-Eazy has a knack for picking some of the best samples to use in his songs and this one is no exception as he samples the song PonPonPon by Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu. The chorus is fun and catchy and the beat and lyrics are excellent as what we have come to expect from G-Eazy. If you like this, check out his recent mixtapes available for free download.

4. Die Antwoord - Baby's On Fire

They may be number 4 on this list, but Die Antwoord is the artist of the year. No other act is as interesting, different, and genre redefining as these guys. Every song and video they put out will captivate your interest whether you like it or not. To learn more about them and hear more of their songs, check out the profile feature here.

5. Flight of the Conchords - Feel Inside

It's been a while since FOTC have put out some new music, but this year they released a special song for charity called Feel Inside. They actually got the lyrics by interviewing a bunch of kids to help get suggestions for the song. Then with collaboration of a bunch of artists, the final product was created and it turned out remarkably well. It's funny, heartwarming, and powerful all rolled into one. Here is the extended version to show how they came up with the song (song starts at 5:05).

6. Icona Pop - I Love It

Here is a catchy synth pop song by the Swedish lady duo of Icona Pop. This one will be stuck in your head before one listen. The lyrics are fun to sing along with and the music is great for dance parties.

7. Gregory and the Hawk - Blind and Unwise

Slowing down a bit for this next one from GATH. Meridith aka Gregory and the Hawk has one of the most beautiful voices around and she shows it here in the song Blind and Unwise from her latest album.

8. The Naked and Famous - Young Blood (White Sea Remix)

This New Zealand band has gained some attention with their hit song Young Blood. This remix starts off with some angelic singing and slowly builds into a grungy yet delicate electo pop song. White Sea, who is a female, which is rare in the business of remixing and music production, does a fantastic job with the vocal editing and arrangement.

9. Adrian Lux - Fire (R3hab Remix)

If there is an epic dance song on the list, this is it. This remix of Adrian Lux's Fire has some of the most intense sounds I have heard. The chorus synths just crash with force you can feel. Coupled with some nice vocals make this a great song for the clubs or anywhere for that matter.

10. Twin Atlantic - Make a Beast of Myself

Wrapping up the 10 best songs of the year is Twin Atlantic with the song Make a Beast of Myself. With electronic pop dominating the list, this rock song brings some needed diversity. This Scottish band has hit with this passionate song. The video is great too as it tells a story in slow motion.

Did you find a new song you like here? What was your favorite song of 2012? Leave it in the comments below.

To see last year's list of the 10 best songs of 2011 go here.

10 Best TV Shows of 2012

2012-11-22T12:37:00.000-06:00

It's time to recap the best tv shows of the year with the annual top 10 list. These are my favorite shows that aired this year. Note, these are all major network shows so if your favorite cable show is not on here, that may be one of the reasons. Here are the 10 shows from 2012 you should watch:

1. Big Brother
The number one spot this year goes to the reality show Big Brother. This show has the drama, excitement, and suspense to keep you tuned in for 3 new episodes every week. This year had a coaches theme where former house guests returned to help out the new house guests. There were tons of great moments including this one where there was almost a fight between Willie and Joe.

2. Master Chef
I'm not really into cooking shows all that much, but Master Chef really hooked me in this year. It stars Chef Ramsey and a group of unknown contestants who want to prove themselves as the next great chef. Each week they compete in challenges and one person goes home. This season was made by some great participants such as Monte and Christine who despite being blind, holds her own in the kitchen.

3. Undercover Boss
Undercover Boss is a show that puts CEO's in the shoes of their employees to really get a feel for how the business is going and what the morale of the workers is like. They go in disguise and work alongside their employees to see how they can make the company better. At the end, they revel themselves and reward the exceptional employees who are doing a great job. It is always heartwarming and emotional.

4. NY Med
NY Med is part of a series of documentary style shows that take the viewers inside hospitals and introduces us to the nurses and doctors and what they deal with on a daily basis. There is plenty of drama and excitement that goes on each episode. It also makes you appreciate good health after seeing the situations of some of the patients on the show.

5. Secret Millionaire
Another feel good show to check out is Secret Millionaire. Much like Undercover Boss, the show takes a real life millionaire and sends them to a poor area to get involved with organizations in need. Their true identity is hidden as they interact with people who are working to make a positive impact on less fortunate communities. At they end, they reveal who they are and donate money to those who need it most.

6. American Ninja Warrior
This is a physical competition show that has been around for a while in countries like Japan, but is relatively new to the US. Athletes compete on obstacle and skill courses to get the best time. People from all over the country can try out, but only one will make it to the end and be named American Ninja Warrior.

7. Rules of Engagement
Even though it is not one of the most talked about shows out there, Rules of Engagement continues to be one of my favorite comedies on tv. This year it has gone into syndication so you may be able to catch the re-runs along with the new episodes when the next season starts.

8. Parks and Recreation
Another one of the best comedies still going strong is Parks and Recreation. The show continues to be funny even as settings and characters change. The cast is great and the writing is very good. They even got vice president Joe Biden to guest star on the show this season.

9. Shark Tank
Here is a show that I didn't really watch the first couple seasons it was on, but now I am really into it. You have 5 wealthy "sharks" who are looking to invest money into ideas they think show promise and will be profitable. Regular people pitch them their products and companies in hopes of getting some financial support. The show is very entertaining and it's fun to see these new companies and products come to life.

10. Last Resort
This is one of the few dramas that caught my interest this year. And while it is only half way through the season and will in fact only have 1 season as it stands now, it is still worth checking out. The show is about a crew on a US submarine that gets attacked by it's own country, or so it seems. There is lots of action and drama along with some powerful characters and an interesting storyline.

What was your favorite show of 2012? Leave a comment below.

Also check out last year's list of the best tv shows of 2011.

Changing a Light Switch Tips and Precautions

2012-11-10T12:07:00.000-06:00

I had a light switch that would flicker sometimes when I turned it on. I determined the connection inside the light switch was not good and probably worn out from regular use. Since light switches are cheap, I figured I would replace it and see if that would fix the problem. I found an identical switch for about 50 cents at the hardware store.

At home I made sure to turn off the electricity that goes to that switch. This is very important as I would find out later. I unscrewed the plate and pulled out the switch. I disconnected the 2 wires and made sure to document how they were connected.

Next I connected the new switch. I decided to test it out before screwing it back into the wall. This was not a good idea. I turn the power back on and then test the light. It worked. So then I decided to put the switch back into the wall. I must have touched the hot wire to the metal casing in the wall because the next thing I knew, there were tons of sparks and the fuse went out cutting off the electricity.

I was shocked, not physically luckily, but emotionally. I use a flashlight to see what happened. The switch and surrounding area was burnt. Even my fingers were black form the sparks and smoke. Thankfully I was not burned. I examined the metal on the casing and part of it was actually melted.

So with the power off, I cleaned up the area and debated on weather I should try it again or call an electrician. I was brave and decided to try it one more time. This time I did not turn the power on until everything was connected and put back in place. Once everything was screwed back in, I tested it out and in worked!

So if you have a light switch that is not working as well as it should, go ahead and replace it, but make sure the power is turned off from the fuse box the entire time.

The Voting System in the US is a Mess

2012-11-06T17:09:00.002-06:00

Much like the tax system, the voting system in the US needs to be reformed. One of the main things that needs to change is getting rid of the electoral college system and instead go by the popular vote so every vote counts. The fact that a candidate who receives less votes can actually win makes absolutely no sense. Many people do not even know what the electoral college is or how it works. Who is actually arguing to keep this ridiculous system?

Another thing that needs to change is that it needs to be easier for people to know who they are voting for. You shouldn't have to go seek it out by researching different sites on the internet to try to learn about the people who are running. All the information should be in one place. Voters should have it ahead of time and they should also have that information at the voting location. At least a summary with main points on each candidate should be available with the voting ballot.

Voting online should also be an option. With modern technology and convenience, why do we still have to go out to a location to vote or mail it in? People might argue that voting online is not secure and people might take advantage of it. If people can bank online and transfer money online, it is secure enough to cast a vote. All they need to do is set it up so the site is secure and the individual would have to put in several forms of identification to prove their identity.

If these changes were made, the voting system would be more representative of the people's choice, it would be easier, and people would be more informed about who they are voting for so they can make the best possible decision when they go to vote

How to Fix a Stuck Disposal

2012-11-05T17:42:00.000-06:00

I have a GE disposal for my sink that would make a humming noise when I turned on the switch, but it would not spin. I did some research and found out that this means it is stuck or something is preventing it from spinning. In my case, it was probably rust or residue build up from having not used it for months. See I never put solid foods down the drain so I figured I didn't need to use it, but now I know that you should still run the disposal every once in a while so it does not freeze up.

So how did I fix it? First I took out the splash guard which is the rubber thing in the drain. It just pulls out. Next use a flashlight to look inside. You will see the disposal wheel and anything that might be in there. First I took a screwdriver and tried to scrape away any rust or debris that had accumulated on the inside.

Next I took a golf club handle and put it down into the drain, found a notch to catch it and slowly tried to rotate the wheel. You can use any type of stick to do this. It was very stuck and I didn't think it would work, but after a few minutes of pushing at it, it slowly began to break free and rotate. I turned it back and forth manually for about a minute.

Finally I turned on the switch and low and behold it worked! So if you have a sink disposal that makes a noise when you turn it on, but does not spin or grind, use the steps mentioned above. Also see if you can find your owners manual either at home or online for tips on how to fix your exact model. Good luck!

X-Factor Live Review 2012

2012-11-01T17:18:00.000-05:00

Let me start off by saying I was very disappointed with last night's X-Factor live performance show. X-Factor is the only singing show I watch right now and while it is not perfect, I do enjoy it. There were many things that ruined it for me last night.

One was the audio mixing. Either the crowd was way too loud or they just recorded the noise from the crowd too much because last night the constant screams from the audience were unbearable. And they were at inappropriate times. Some cheering for your favorite singer when they are introduced and when they finish their song is ok, but last night, judges would be in the middle of saying something and people would be screaming at the top of their lungs for no reason. The audio was mixed poorly as you could tell when pyrotechnics over shadowed the singers when they engaged.

Next we have the hosts, yes that is plural. Why they thought they needed 2 people to be a host is beyond me. There is absolutely no need for it. Khloe was awful right from the start. Mario is ok but bland. I would even take that Steve guy from last year over these 2 and I did not like that guy at all. And you would think the host would introduce the singers right? No, they introduce the judge who then introduces their singer. Again, this does not make sense.

Then we have the judges. LA and Simon are good. Britney is annoying and always looks like she is in pain and not enjoying the show, not even when her own singers are performing. Demi gives possibly the worst advice ever and is in no position to be mentoring people older than she is. It seems like every bit of advice she gives to one of her singers brings them down and makes them worse. For example last night she totally changed the looks for contestants such as Jennel, Paige, and Cece. These girls were beautiful and had their own styles that worked for them. Last night it's like Demi had them dress up for a bad Halloween party.

I found myself muting much of the show last night. Every time the audience starts screaming, mute. Every time Britney and Demi are giving critiques, mute.

The show wasn't all bad. Highlights in my opinion were Lyric Da Queen from Lyric 145 as well as Emblem3. These 2 already seem like stars compared to the others who still seem like armatures. I will tune in tonight to see how they handle the eliminations, but if these trends continue, I won't be watching this season much longer.

UPDATE: I just tuned in to watch the results show and the producers did not learn from their mistakes in the first live show. The audience is still screaming throughout the entire show which makes it unwatchable. Sorry Fox, but I'm not going to listen to people scream for 2 hours.

Reds All Natural Burrito Review

2012-10-19T17:31:00.000-05:00

I like burritos from restaurants like Chipotle and Moe's Southwest grill. I also like frozen meals that are easy to make at home. So when I saw a new frozen burrito product available at Target, I thought I would give it a try. I went with the Red's All Natural Bean and Rice burrito. It was on sale for about $2.50, regular price, $3.50. The burrito is big, comparable to those at the restaurants I mentioned. A look at the nutrition facts reveals that it is pretty healthy with not too much saturated fat or sodium, especially for a 510 calorie meal. The ingredients are healthy and natural too.

So I took it home and tried it. It took about 4 minutes to cook in my microwave. They recommend 3 minutes on each side. It was kind of watery when I took it out and cut it open. Then for the taste test. To my surprise it was very spicy, much too spicy for my tastes. After a few bites my mouth was already on fire. The packaging didn't mention anything about it being very spicy. I couldn't really taste anything besides the heat which was disappointing. I ended up just eating the outside tortilla and some of the black beans, but I had to toss the rest because it was too hot.

Overall I think this product has potential if they cut down on the spice. I looked at the ingredients and it has chili pepper, cayenne pepper, and white pepper, so that is probably what is contributing to the taste. If you like spicy foods, give this one a try.

The only other product I have tried which is similar to this is Amy's frozen burritos. The have a bean and cheddar burrito which is smaller, but pretty good. They usually sell for around $2.50. I buy these sometimes when they are on sale.

Red's has several other varieties of burritos such as steak, chicken, pork, and turkey but unfortunately I will not be trying them after being let down by the bean and rice burrito.

Loud Noise Effects On The Ear - Pain and Hearing Loss

2012-10-02T18:02:00.000-05:00

Be careful with your hearing by avoiding loud noises. This is pretty common knowledge, yet some people don't take it seriously until it's too late. Research shows that exposure to just one very loud sound or long term exposure to loud noise can result in permanent hearing damage. I am very careful about this, but sometimes you are caught by surprise by a loud sound and there is nothing you can do about it.

Last week something like this happened. I was at work and someone slammed a locker very hard while I was standing near it. You wouldn't think that a locker is that loud but slamming it hard enough does make a loud enough noise to hurt your ear. At first I was startled by the noise and right after my ear began to feel uncomfortable. In the following days my ear began to feel full like there was wax in it, but there was not. It was not very painful, and I still had my hearing luckily, but it just didn't feel right.

After about I week I got it checked out by a nurse. She looked inside and confirmed that there was indeed inflammation inside which was most likely causing the full feeling. Even thought it didn't hurt, having this kind of feeling in your ear is very bothersome and can pretty much ruin your day and not make you want to do anything. This was frustrating especially because it happened from something that was not my fault and I had no chance of avoiding it.

Now it is about 8 days since the incident and my ear is feeling a little better, but still had a swollen feel to it. The nurse said it should go away by itself and I hope she is right. This is the first time I can remember a loud sound hurting my ears like this so maybe it was just a freak accident of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Never the less, it is a good reminder to protect your ears and avoid loud noises whenever possible. Once your hearing is gone, it's not easy to get it back.

UPDATE: 10-16-12
So it's been about 3 weeks since the incident. My ear is getting better on its own but it is still not 100%. I actually went to an ear doctor a few days ago to get it checked out. They gave me a hearing test and my hearing is still good which was a relief. They didn't exactly have a good answer as to why my ear feels full or swollen inside besides the obvious that it was caused by a loud noise. They said it will either heal on it's own or it may just be like that for who knows how long. I have done a lot of research on this issue and have not found too many similar cases or treatments. Hopefully this article will help people who experience a similar ear problem.

UPDATE 11-16-12
It's now been about 7 weeks since my ear started bothering me and still I have the feeling of aural fullness. Some days it is more noticeable than others. In some situations it is more noticeable such as if I am brushing my teeth or eating. I have been trying to avoid loud noises and limit my use of headphones. Covering my ear with my arm or a pillow seems to make it feel better for the time being, but does not get rid of the fullness afterward. This is pretty discouraging that this problem has lasted this long. It's not painful, but annoying. I have already been to an ear doctor so now I don't know what to do. I'll report back if it gets any better.

UPDATE 12-1-12
9 weeks and my ear is starting to feel better or at least it is not as noticeable as before. It seems like when I wear earbuds to listen to audio for extended periods of time, even when the volume is very low, it seems to make the fullness feeling come back, so I have tried to limit this activity. Overall it is a relief that it is getting better.

UPDATE 1-27-12
My ear seems to be pretty much back to normal. I may have had some kind of fluid build up that was causing the full feeling because after a while I was able to get that popping sensation back, the kind you get from yawning or pressure changes. I'm not sure what caused it to start or why it took so long to clear up but I'm glad it is not bothering me like before.

Changing Jobs - Perspective and Exposure Concept

2012-08-24T17:52:00.002-05:00

I recently changed job locations and while a move like this would normally make me stressed out and nervous, this time it didn't. I think it has a lot to do with perspective. See previously I was working at a big school with a good reputation and now I am working at a little school without a reputation. I compare it to someone who lived in New York city who then moves out to a small town in the country. It's as they say, "If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere."

So this new position has been pretty easy. The teachers are not intimidating, nor are the students. Everything is just a big step down from what I was used to and that makes it seem easy. I remember feeling the opposite way when I moved from a small school to the big school. Just pulling into the parking lot and seeing how many cars were there was enough to increase your heart rate.

I think this concept applies to all parts of life. Someone called it exposure therapy. Basically you expose yourself to a stressful environment until you become used to it and it no longer becomes stressful. Once you overcome that obstacle, everything else seems much easier.

Year Book Reflection, Friendship, and Keeping in Touch with People

2012-08-04T18:31:00.002-05:00

I want to preface this entry by explaining that this is one of a group of stories/memoirs/blogs that I have written up but have not posted yet. I have some good stories, true stories to post, but I have not yet done so because I feel like this site does not get enough traffic and because of that, they would go by without being read. I wanted to post this one just to try it out and see if anything happens. Are there any regular readers of this blog? If so, leave a comment to let me know. And now for the entry on friendship and keeping in touch with people.

Originally Written 7-12-12

I was going through some old stuff the other day and found my Jr. High School year books. It was so long ago, I didn't even remember I had year books for Jr. High. So of course I look through them and see all these familiar faces of people I had forgotten about. That's what is great about yearbooks. They are like a time capsule that can bring memories of the past. Most of the people I probably wouldn't even recognize today, but in the book, they stay as you remembered them.

This got me reflecting on the people I knew back then and how I haven't kept in touch with any of them. I was never really part if the "in crowd" at school. I was good at sports so that made me a cool kid, but as I got older, I found my own group of "regular" friends. I had a small group in Jr. High and another group in High School. I also was on the cross country team, so I made friends there too.

Out of school I would occasionally hang out with friends, but I was never one to initiate an activity. I was not very social back then. I'm not social now, but back then it was even worse. Still I had friends. I remember not wanting to ask people to do something like go see a movie because I didn't want to be responsible if they had a bad time. Like if I asked them to go see a movie and they didn't like the movie, I would feel bad, so I never really organized activities for us to do.

I was kind of clueless to the fact that friendships have to work 2 ways. One time my friend called me out on it. He showed me new cell phone he got and was implying that you use it to call people to do stuff. I was just kinda like "Cool phone.", completely missing the point. I didn't make enough effort with my friendships and over time that's how I lost them.

Into college, I had a group of friends that I met in the dorms there but after I left, I lost touch with them. During summers I would occasionally meet up with my old friends from high school. After a couple years those friendships faded. I will take responsibility for that, and I kind of think I distanced myself from them on purpose. Not that they were bad, but they were not all good. At times I felt like they took advantage of me. Also I didn't like the fact that they expected me to participate in activities that I didn't want to do. Nothing illegal or anything, just things I didn't want to do.

So after college, I pretty much lost touch with everyone. I sort of made new relationships online at that time with people from all over who had similar interests such as music. When social media like Facebook came around and made it easy for people to reconnect with old friends, I stayed away from it. Still to this day, I don't use Facebook. One of the main reasons is I don't want people I used to know to find me. People grow up and change. I don't want to be compared to others my age. This has been a big issue with me, so much that I tend to avoid people my age in social and work situations. I feel more comfortable around older people who I cannot be directly compared to.

Maybe I am not satisfied with my life and feel like I should have accomplished more or turned out better. I think I have done ok, but I know others have gone on to greater things and I don't want to be compared to that. So now I don't have much of a social life, but I think that is intentional. I know it is good to have friends, but it is also nice to be independent and not have to be there to support other people. I wonder if I will ever try to reconnect with old friends. It's a possibility, but people change and move on to other things and make new friends. Maybe one day if I become more comfortable and satisfied with how I have turned out I might reconnect.

UPDATE 8-4-12

I just paged through my high school year book and read the messages from my friends. I was surprised at how much they seemed to like me and it makes me wonder why I haven't kept in touch with them. Your school years are some of the best times in your life to meet people and make friends. You are around the same group of people who are exactly your age and are growing up in the same environment, so immediately you have a lot in common. Once you have developed these relationships, you should hold on to them, if they are good friends of course. I'm sure there are others in my place who have grown up and lost touch with the people they knew from childhood.

This reminds me of a senior student I knew this past year. It was time to get year books and he didn't really care to pick one up. I thought that was odd and tried to tell him he should get it because in the future he will want to look back at it and remember people. A yearbook is a fantastic resource for this. Maybe it's because we have things like Facebook now that kind of does the same thing, but still there is no replacement for a yearbook. If you are in high school now or will soon be, make sure to get your year book and have all your friends write a message in it for you. Trust me, this kind of thing is special and worth a lot more than it seems at the time.

Anything Is Possible

2012-07-28T16:46:00.003-05:00

It's really amazing to think how far mankind has progressed over the years. Just think about all the stuff we have now that did not exist 100 years ago. If you would have told people in the 1800's about the kind of stuff we have today from cars to computers to cell phones, they never would have believed you. Even today if you really think about, it's incredible that humans have been able to develop these types of technology.

When you realize this, it makes it seem like literally anything is possible and it is just a matter of time before something gets invented or discovered. Innovations are built on previous innovations and it continues on like that. New products are made and then products are made from those new products. With the invention of the internet and sharing of information, it allows people to learn about anything whenever they want. This is a huge advantage over previous generations and should make development of new technologies move even faster.

Who knows what will be available in the next hundred years? What will be the next big thing? Have we run out of new innovations or will there ever be a peak? Only time will tell, but I'm guessing it will continue to progress beyond our wildest imaginations.

2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony - Reflection and Diversity

2012-07-28T10:15:00.001-05:00

I watched the opening ceremony for the Olympics last night in London. Overall I thought the show was just ok. I liked how they had a lot of transitions and went through the history of London, but overall I just was not too impressed by it. I feel like it was too geared towards Great Britain when they could have made it have more of a global appeal.

The one thing I liked and this is something they have at each ceremony is the part where all the teams walk in and go around the stadium. It is very interesting to see all these people from all these countries around the world come together in one place. A lot of these small countries you never even heard of. In our country we tend to only get exposed to people around us and maybe see some diversity on tv once in a while, but rarely of these small countries.

It's amazing how different people look. We are all humans yet there are so many differences from one country to the next. Currently, the make up of the people of each country is somewhat consistent, but you can tell the populations of countries are beginning to mix in terms of race and ethnicity. The big countries have the most diversity because a lot of different people move there from all over, while the small countries are still pretty uniform in their population.

It's interesting how way back when people from a country were probably very much alike but now with the ease of transportation from one country to another, everything is becoming mixed. I think it's safe to say this trend will continue and over many years specific race and ethnicity will begin to fade as people become more and more mixed and blended.

Breaking Bad is on the Downswing

2012-07-17T10:47:00.001-05:00

I watched the season 5 premier of Breaking Bad and after watching it, I have concluded that the show has seen better days. I loved the first couple seasons. Season 3 was pretty good too. I didn't like season 4 as much. Don't get me wrong, I still like the show, I'm just saying it's probably a good thing this is the last season. I get the impression that they didn't expect the show to last this long and maybe that's why it is starting to trail off towards the end.

Season 5 Episode 1 Review (Spoilers Ahead)

The Episode starts off with Walt at a diner with a full head of hair and a beard. He meets a guy undercover and gets a car with a large gun in the trunk. They didn't really explain much, but we can conclude after watching the rest of the episode that this is a scene from the future that will happen later in the season.

So back to the present time, Walt is relaxing at home when he remembers there is video footage of them from the lab. This drove the episode plot. I like how they had to go destroy the evidence from the laptop, but I don't really like how they went about it. First off, Mike comes back and is pissed that Walt killed Gus. Really, I think he is overreacting. Why does he even care that much? Mike should be retired by now anyway. Next Jesse is back working with Walt. If I'm not mistaken, I thought they were on bad terms last time we left off. Oh well, we'll go with it.

So they get the electromagnet from the junk yard. Already they are tipping these guys off that they are using it to destroy evidence at the police station. The junk yard guys are now witnesses. Sloppy work guys. Then they are going to use it to try to destroy the laptop on the other side of the wall. I know they don't have many options, but this is going to destroy a lot of other evidence at the same time. That is not ethical, but I suppose at this point they don't care.

Next we find Ted is basically on life support in the hospital. I didn't even recocognize him and actually had to Google him to remember what actually happened to him. Apparently it was when he tripped and hit his head. So now he is in the hospital and looks like he's almost dead? I don't think so.

Overall they are trying to make Walt out to be like the new bad guy to replace Gus. I don't like this direction the show is taking. Walt is a good guy and the only reason he started all this was to help his family. He needs to secure the money and get out of this mess he has created.

If it were up to me, I would have it go like this: Hank discovers Walt is involved and finds out everything that has been going on. He decides to cover for for him so he doesn't go to jail. Then Walt and his family live happily ever after. Then at the end, maybe he goes back to do a guest speak or a substitute teach at his old school. The kids start acting up and give him a hard time or whatever. Old Walt might have just taken it and felt defeated, but now new Walt does not put up with that, and puts them in their place. How awesome would that be?

So yeah overall I don't really like the direction the show is going, which is a shame considering their ratings are higher than ever. None the less, I will continue to watch the rest of the series. If you have any comments on the show or this season, feel free to leave a comment below.

Rugged Wear Work Gloves Review

2012-07-16T14:48:00.002-05:00

I was in the market for a pair of new weight lifting gloves after my old ones were starting to fall apart after about 10 years. At first I searched online, the usual Amazon search and read some reviews. I found some that looked good, but they were kind of expensive, plus gloves are something you really need to try on before you buy. So then I thought about buying them in a local store. I looked at Target and they had a small selection, but nothing jumped out at me. Then I thought about going to Dick's sporting goods store. I looked online first and they had a big selection, but again, the prices were high. Finally I went to the Menards hardware store because i knew they had work gloves.

At Menards they had a big selection, a whole isle with different kinds of gloves in fact. Not only that, but the prices were good too. I found a pair I liked that were by the brand "Rugged Wear" or RW for short. The model is X-Treme Work Gloves. These looked like weight lifting gloves so I tried them out. They seemed pretty good and not only that, they were on sale for only $5! Regular price was $15 I believe. So I got them. I went with the XL size because I like the gloves to be roomy and breathable.

So at home I decided to do some modifications to them. They were kind of bulky so I decided to cut off the wrist strap that has velcro. This made them more comfortable and easier to get on and off. They are still full finger which I was looking for. I'm debating on whether or not to cut off the finger tips like most weight gloves, but for now I like them full finger.

After a few uses, I am pretty happy with these gloves. They look nice and make it easy to hold the weights. I did some research and there is practically nothing online about them. I don't even think the company has a website. They are a Menards brand so that is probably why they don't have a site. Anyway, if you are looking for gloves, I highly recommend going to Menards and trying these out.

UPDATE 8-6-12
So I have been using the gloves for a few weeks and I have noticed the the inside lining is starting to peel. Not a huge deal, but not great either. I'm not surprised considering the low cost of the gloves, but it is something to consider.

TV Review: Master Chef, SYTYCD, and New Shows This Week

2012-07-10T18:25:00.001-05:00

One show that I am really enjoying this season is Master Chef. Gordon Ramsay has a lot of shows and while I liked Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, Master Chef was always on the back burner, pun intended. Actually I started getting into it last season because someone I went to school with was on the show. This season I like it because they have a lot of good characters or should I say chefs. My favorites right now are Monti, Felix, and Christine. They are all still in the competition. I find myself drawn to this show even when other shows I like are on at the same time.

So You Think You Can Dance has selected the top 20 dancers and so far this looks to be a pretty good season. My favorites right now are Alexa Anderson, Amelia Lowe, and Janelle Issis. The show was not on last week due to the 4th of July holiday, but it will be back in full swing this Wednesday. It will be interesting to see how they deal with voting and eliminations with only one show per week.

There are 4 shows premiering this week, 2 new and 2 returning that I will be checking out this week. First is Trust Us With Your Life. I don't even know much about this show other than it is improvisational and similar to Whose Line is it Anyway, but I like those 2 things, so I'm hoping this show will be good. Catch the first episode this Tuesday on ABC.

Another show premiering right after that is NY Med. If I'm not mistaken, ABC has done 2 of these kinds of doctor documentary shows over the past couple years. They had different titles, based on the hospitals they were filmed at. I think this is the same series, just with a different name. I hope so because I really liked those previous shows. They followed doctors and the process of treating patients and working in a hospital on a human level.

A show that is returning this Thursday on CBS is Big Brother. This is one of my favorite summer shows. I already previewed the cast and it looks like a good one.

And finally, a show that is coming back for it's 5th and final season this Sunday is Breaking Bad. This has been one of my favorite shows of the past few years and while I thought the earlier seasons were better, I am still looking forward to seeing what happens in the final season.

Shampoo and Face Wash Review

2012-07-07T10:15:00.000-05:00

With so many self cleaning products on the market, it's hard to know which ones to pick. In my experience, even going with a product that has good reviews doesn't mean it will work for you. I have tried several shampoos, body washes, and face wash cleansers over the years and I thought I would share my thoughts and recommendations on them here.

Shampoo:

Suave - 2 in 1 Plus Shampoo and Conditioner

I have been a fan of Suave for a long time, mainly because their products are reasonably priced. I was using Suave Daily Clarifying shampoo for a long time, but eventually decided to upgrade to the premium 2 in 1 professionals brand. Overall I have been very pleased with this product. It has a nice scent and texture and you can get it just about anywhere for about $2-3 depending on the size. I have used Suave 2 in 1 for head to toe wash including hair, face and body. Overall it works pretty well.

My face gets very oily throughout the day and I do have trouble with blemishes and clogged pores. I wash my face daily and blot it to get the oil off throughout the day. Still, my skin tends to get peely after I wash it. Because of this I thought I would try Suave - Humectant Moisture.

Suave - Humectant Moisture Shampoo for Dry Hair

I thought this would help my skin be less dry, but it doesn't seem to make that big of a difference. I know this is shampoo and not face wash, but I thought I would try it anyway. It is cheap like most Suave products which I like. The negative about this one is that the smell is not good. I would describe it as a cough medicine type smell which is not pleasant. I probably would not buy it again because of this.

Face Wash:

As I mentioned before I have oily skin so I have a lot of trouble keeping it clean and nice looking. I have done research on many face wash products and have tried a couple including Cetaphil and St, Ives.

Cetaphil - Gentle Skin Cleanser

I tried this after reading a lot of good reviews about it. Although this one is not specifically for oily skin, many people said it was better than the one for oily skin, so I thought I would try it. In the store it is very expensive compared to what I am used to. I paid about $8 for the small bottle of Cetaphil cleanser. So I tried it for a few days and so far I don't really like it. It does not lather and makes you face very grippy when you put it on, so it's hard to actually spread it on your face. After you rinse it off, your face still feels oily again which is odd. The scent is ok, kind of bland. I think is has helped my skin be less dry compared to the Suave shampoo, but considering the high cost, I probably wouldn't buy it again.

St. Ives - Naturally Clear Apricot Scrub

This facial cleanser by St. Ives is supposed to help with blemishes and blackheads. It got good reviews so I gave it a try. Immediately you will notice the texture which feels like lotion mixed with sand. Maybe the roughness is supposed to help exfoliate your skin, but personally I don't like washing my face with sand. It gets all over you and it is hard to get off. The smell of the product is ok, kind of fruity. As far as cleaning the face, again just ok, nothing special. My main problem with this product as mentioned before is the grainy texture. I would not recommend it.

If you have any recommendations for other shampoos or face wash products, leave a comment below.