Mike's Blog

Beer Hockey Table!

2012-09-17T23:12:00.000-07:00

Beer Hockey is a drinking game that consists of spinning a quarter, defending your 'goal', and chugging beer if your beer gets hit. The rules get more complicated, but once you play for a bit you get the hang of it and you're hooked for life! If you're interested about the full rules stay tuned and I'll be posting a lengthy post describing the rules in full (and might include a tutorial video).

Me and my friends were introduced to this game sometime last year, and have been playing ever since. Over the time we've evolved our own rules and style, but were never able to find a table made specifically for the game. For beer pong you have custom beer pong tables everywhere, but no matter how hard we looked we couldn't find a single Beer Hockey Table, so we created our own. After a few ideas thrown around amongst friends we agreed on a final design and got to work. A handful of working hours later and we had a near final product. At the moment there is still some touchup to finish and the center logo is being designed (by EJ Lund) and will be included soon. The picture above is where the table sits for now. Within the next week it should be complete and ready to play on!

Stay tuned for more updates, pics, and rules on how to play!

iPad Mini

2012-08-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

There have always been rumors circulating about a smaller, more versatile iPad being produced by Apple. However, until lately there was no evidence to back this up and no signs of an actual product arriving. Finally rumors are starting to add up and I'm pretty sure we can expect a smaller iPad/larger iPod touch before this year's holiday season. Rumors speculate it will be priced around the $300 range, putting it right in line with Kindle and Nook's top end 'tablets.'

I've personally checked out the Kindle and Nook's 'tablets' and compared to the iPad, I'm not impressed. Companies have tried time and time again to recreated the eloquence and fluidity of the iPad, but have failed. With Apple unveiling a smaller iPad at a lower price I predict the prices of other tablets will fall (more than they already have) and Apple will grab a larger hold on the tablet market. I would personally LOVE to have an iPad but cannot because of the high price. When Apple releases this new smaller iPad (iPad Mini if you will) you can assure yourself I will be preordering one and enjoying it thoroughly.

Overall, the iPad Mini is going to add more versatility to Apple's already versatile product line, and assure they are going to have that much more hold over the vastly growing electronic product market.

Live Wallpaper for Mac: A Review

2012-08-15T19:57:00.000-07:00

While searching through the Mac App Store I came across this enticing app and had to buy it. It's cheap ($0.99) but awesome! It allows you to customize your desktop to have a moving background featuring the date, time, and weather. Or you can use one of their default date/time/weather setups and incorporate it into your own background! Overall the idea of the app is amazing and I love having it on my desktop. Don't get me wrong, you can have the time and date showing in the top right hand corner by the computer's default, but this app allows you to display it in a whole new way. They have been slowly working bugs out of the program and it has been improving as time goes on. The most recent update changed some weather bugs.

All in all I would highly recommend this app to anyone who owns a Mac and is looking for a new way to spice up their desktop and add some relevant information to everyday living. 5 stars!!!

Specs:
Category: Utilities
Version: 1.4
Price: $0.99
Size: 47.6 MB
Seller: Chanok Opapongpunt

Additional information can be found at facebook.com/SquidMelon

YouTube MONEY!

2012-07-07T08:29:00.000-07:00

With computers everywhere these days and cameras on every phone, it's no wonder YouTube has been such a success. Add in social networking sites which allow you to "Share" videos you like and show them to your friends and you have a place where you can get lost for HOURS. Most of us are probably guilty of logging onto YouTube every once in a while and searching around, watching videos, and the next thing you know your entire day is gone! It's a common thing these days. Advertisers have realized this and now most videos you watch on YouTube are started with an ad from some company or political campaign. But you can't fault the advertising companies, they're simply doing their job. This new wave of internet video popularity however, has spawned a new wave of "celebrities." People make good money if they can get enough views on their YouTube videos, because advertising companies are willing to pay big bucks if you have massive traffic on your videos daily. Some of my personal favorites include Epic Meal Time, FPS Russia, and Husky Starcraft. With millions of views on their videos they're getting paid a decent amount of money. I'm not sure on the exact numbers per views, but I know it's enough for people to do that as their job! Recently it has caught my attention (as I watch videos on YouTube and wish I could make money doing it) and I've seriously considered trying to create videos to capture an audience and get them to "Subscribe" to my channel and watch my videos. In the process of thinking about topics to make videos about or things I could do, I'm drawing blanks. I think I have a good enough personality to make my own videos but I don't want to be someone who rambles on about the first things that come to mind. I'd prefer a channel that had a specific genre or topic, if you will. Maybe I'll come up with an idea soon....but for now I'm stuck blogging and hoping people will read it so I can make money that way! Any ideas? Let me know in the comments and maybe I'll start something new!

The Newsroom Premiere

2012-06-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

About 2 hours ago I had no idea what The Newsroom was. When I sat down to watch TV after coming home from work and eating dinner I simply flipped on the tube and it was already on HBO (I think I was watching True Blood before work). After I watched the entire episode I did some searching and came to find it was the series premiere. The opening scene caught my attention and had me glued to the TV for the remainder of the show. I love how they related it to real world events that occurred (BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico) and made the show around that event. The characters were vivid and enticing and I felt like they were right here in the room with me (or maybe I just wanted MacKenzie McHale, played by Emily Mortimer, to be in the room with me - that accent, oh my!). I think it's safe to say I will definitely be watching the show next time it's on, and keeping up with it weekly. I highly recommend this show!

iPhone 5

2012-06-24T21:46:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again when speculations and rumors hit their high point surrounding the newest iPhone model to be unveiled by Apple. After a large hype last year and many people thinking the 2011 release was going to be a new design, this year has built even higher. There is little doubt the new iPhone will be redesigned. Many rumors hint towards a slightly larger screen. I think I can speak for most people and all iPhone enthusiasts when I say a bigger screen is wanted. With the competition releasing larger screened phones, borderline tablets (Galaxy Note), customers want to see a larger iPhone screen. I'm not advocating for a screen as large as the Galaxy Note. Personally I think the Note's screen is too large, but I do believe the iPhone screen could benefit from a larger area.

Some other rumors are listed below;
- New, smaller dock connector
- Different color/finish on the exterior
- HD front-facing camera
- World phone (supporting LTE networks)

Different sources give different release dates for the phone due to different variables. Overall I'm pretty certain you can bet on a September/October release.

FREE Auto Insurance?!

2012-04-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

It seems like you can't turn on a TV these days without learning how much money you can save on auto insurance. Save $400 with our company! Save $350 with our company in only 15 minutes! I can't seem to figure out why we don't all switch auto insurance companies a number of times, and then they'd be paying us! That's even better than FREE!!

Barbie Dolls for Sale!!!

2012-04-23T21:17:00.001-07:00

I have come across a few boxes full of old Barbie dolls from the 1970s and 1980s. All of them remain in their factory box and have never been removed. Most of the boxes are in near-mint/excellent condition, with only a few having any major dings. Below is a list of what I've come across so far, and more may follow. I do not have set prices yet for these dolls, but have some ideas in mind for what I will accept. Email me at onlinetrading11@yahoo.com to make an offer, ask any questions, and to see pictures. I will keep this list up-to-date with sales and new findings. Thanks!

Island Fun Steven (1987) No. 4093

Island Fun Teresa (1987) No. 4117

Island Fun Christie (1987) No. 4092

Sunsational Malibu Ken (1981) No. 3849

Sunsational Malibu Ken (1983) No. 4971

Sunsational Malibu Christie (1981) No. 7745

Sunsational Malibu Skipper (1981) No. 1069

Sun Lovin' Malibu Christie (1978) No. 7745

Great Shape Ken (1983) No. 7318

SuperStar Christie (1976) No. 9950

Hispanic Barbie (1979) No. 1292

Twirly Curls Barbie (African-American) (1982) No. 5723

Magic Moves Barbie (1985) No. 2126

Barbie and the Rockers (Barbie, Dana, Dee Dee, Diva, and Derek -- complete set) (1985)

Free Stickers!

2012-01-25T16:23:00.000-08:00

I recently went on a web search to find out how I could get some cool stickers for my snowboard, truck, binders, etc. Basically I wanted to be able to rep the companies I like and use everyday, as well as put some cool stickers on my stuff. Most companies require you to send them a self addressed, unsealed envelope which they will then send you stickers back in. I sent out to 29 different companies and was hesitant at first whether or not I'd get much back. This was all done about a week ago, and today I got my first stickers! Oakley sent me 2 stickers, one decent sized and one smaller sticker. Once I get more stickers back I will post them so you can see just how many stickers you can get for free from companies. If you have any questions on how this process works contact me and I'll be more than happy to share!

Epic Sledding Fail!

2012-01-25T13:48:00.000-08:00

Last month me and a group of friends went sledding up at Mt. Charleston/Lee Canyon. We brought an assortment of sledding toys with us, but the most intriguing was a mini snowboard. It was intended for use by kids and had a label on it stating "Do Not Exceed 100 pounds," needless to say, we exceeded that limit. After several fail attempts by myself and a few other friends to stand and ride the board, we hit success (and by success I mean failure...) The following video shows our friend Aaron Combs aka Combsy, going off a jump with the mini snowboard. He said he was trying to do a 360 off the jump, but that's hard to tell by the way he falls in the video. Enjoy the video! Please rate, comment, and like!
Don't forget to share it and mention it to your friends!

Storage Auctions

2012-01-25T02:14:00.000-08:00

You may have seen the popular shows "Storage Wars" or "Auction Hunters" and if you're like me, they get you thinking. How often do these people actually make money? How much money can you make? How big is the risk? From how I see it, the types of storage units people bid on vary depending on the resources they have to resell items. Someone with a storefront can buy units with more furniture and bigger items. However, someone like myself with more experience on eBay and Craigslist would be better off buying units with smaller items. As far as the risk is concerned, I believe it depends on how big you're willing to bet. You can only see so much when you look into the storage unit. Many times the unit is filled with boxes or most of the contents are blocked by other items. More times than not, you're going to be bidding on a unit hoping there is something worth the money inside that you can't yet see.

Personally, I want to give this a try. It's probably a good idea to start small and get a feel for how the auctions work. Who knows, maybe I'll buy a unit for cheap and end up finding something worth a lot! That's another aspect of the auctions which draws people in, the mystery. Some people actually do this as a hobby for the excitement. I plan on attending some auctions in the near future and seeing if I can't find some valuable items to resell and make a sizable profit! I will keep my blog updated with my successes or failures (hopefully the former).

iPhone 4S!!!!

2011-10-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

We are only 12 short hours away from finding out all the juicy details about the new iPhone! I cannot wait to see what Apple has in store, and what I will be buying within the next few weeks. Yes, I will be buying a new phone regardless of whether it's a new design or not. Honestly I would have already bought an iPhone 4 if I knew there wasn't one coming out soon. I recently dropped my second 3GS and broke a second screen. One word of advice... always use a case! Let's recap some of the more prominent rumors, and what I believe the new phone will be.

For starters, I highly doubt a new design will be introduced. My prediction is the phone will still be the iPhone 4 type design, but may possibly sport a larger screen (not by much). It's pretty universally accepted the new iPhone will have the A5 chip, which will greatly improve performance all around. Another, more recent rumor, that's gained a lot of fuel and get's me stoked is a 64GB model. I would be in love if this was true. Next, the rear facing camera will be 8MP and the front camera will be improved as well. Longer battery life will surely be an addition. Rumors also speculate the new iPhone will come with 1GB of RAM, which is a lot for a phone (which are just tiny computers nowadays anyway).

This mostly sums up the big new features the new iPhone will consist of. Also, don't forget it will come loaded with the new iOS 5. Just thinking about this new iPhone gets me excited to own it. I can't wait for October 14th (rumored/projected day of release). I WILL be camping out to buy the iPhone, and I will post pictures and more about the experience.

iPhone to Debut October 4th!!

2011-09-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

The date has been set for the announcement press conference of the new iPhone! The much anticipated and highly rumored iPhone will finally be revealed to the world. With this being the announcement date, my estimate for the launch date of the phone is October 13th or 14th. Now that the date has been set for the world to learn about the new iPhone, let's talk about some of the rumors circulating.

There are 2 new rumored iPhones. One suggests a newly designed case with a 'teardrop' design and improved internal components. Another suggests simply upgraded components inside the same (at least from the outside) iPhone 4 casing. Then some people suggest both will be launching, one at a higher price and one at a lower price. However, people cannot decide which they believe will contain the higher price tag. Personally, I'm buying the new, higher priced iPhone regardless of it's outer design (although I would prefer it to be a new 'teardrop' design with a rumored 4" screen!).

Only time will tell if the rumors are correct (or rather which rumors are correct). Fortunately, we only have to wait one more week to find out!

Dropbox

2011-09-20T23:06:00.000-07:00

As more things start moving towards the 'cloud' it is going to become hard for people to avoid it. In my opinion, the future will see a massive move towards files and just about everything else saved on your computer being available in the 'cloud'. Dropbox is a perfect example.

Dropbox is easily downloaded onto your computer(s) and smartphone, allowing you to access any files contained in your 'box' from any computer connected to the internet. Gone are the days of e-mailing yourself a photo or document you may need for a class or project at work. Now it's as easy as dropping the file into your 'box' and accessing it right from your work or school computer.

Another aspect of this new trend is the affect it may have on jump-drives (aka thumb-drives). These little storage devices were excellent when you needed to transfer something from one computer to another, but they may become obsolete with the 'cloud'. Jump-drives can be lost or misplaced, but your storage online will always remain there. The only counter-argument I can fathom to this discussion is the price of online storage vs the price of portable storage. Will people be willing to pay for storage online? For the most part people probably don't understand the concept entirely for now, but I have a feeling they will soon.

In addition to being able to access your files from any computer with internet access, you can access your files from your smartphone by downloading the Dropbox app. The possibilities are endless with what you could need to use Dropbox for but one thing is for sure, it is a brilliant idea. I recommend this program/app to anyone who uses computers on a daily basis and has a need for moving files from place to place with ease.

You can download the program from Dropbox.com

iPhone 5 yet?

2011-09-18T09:44:00.001-07:00

The anticipation and unknown is killing me slowly. If the iPhone 5 isn't announced soon I may go crazy. Most speculations believe the phone will be announced in the next 2 weeks and be available for sale within a month's time.

On another note, I'm pretty sure it has a better chance of being called the iPhone 5 instead of the iPhone 4s, as long as the rumors and mock-ups are even remotely true. From what rumors have been speculating and mock-ups have shown, the phone will look nothing similar to the iPhone 4. Personally, I'd rather it not be like the iPhone 4. I like the pictures people have come up with, guessing what it will look like.

Only time will answer all of our questions.

iOS 5 and iPhone 5

2011-09-13T21:46:00.000-07:00

A new tip received from a source connected to Apple's AppleCare service has indicated iOS 5 may be launching on October 10th. This would be right on time with what tips from carriers and other sources have been hinting at for the new iPhone release. The last few iOS and iPhone releases have followed a trend. The iOS has been released a few days before the new device, probably to spread out the customer service demand. Taking this fact into account, and assuming this tip is credible, that would place the iPhone 5 launch later that week on October 14th. This release date coincides with speculations that iPhone 5 production has been ramped up in the last few weeks, and also reports of cell phone companies receiving the phone readying their staff for a "big release." Personally, I can't stand to wait much longer for the new phone to come out. I've been waiting and wanting a new phone for months (at one point I almost bought an iPhone 4 to have until the new phone came out).

64 GB iPhone 5?

2011-09-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

I don't know about everyone else, but my 32GB capacity iPhone 3GS is beyond full. I have a number of music videos and movies on my iTunes that are not on my phone, because there isn't enough room. However, a 64GB capacity phone would solve that problem! While very few rumors have circled about the new iPhone 5 having a 64GB capacity, I hope it does. Technology is getting better everyday, and we're seeing bigger capacity thumb-drives coming out for cheaper and cheaper prices. This leads me to believe the possibility of an iPhone with more capacity is in the very near future. The geniuses at Apple have already figured out how to fit so much into such a small case, so why not more memory? I would be more than willing to pay an extra $100 dollars for the extra space.

Only time will tell whether my dream will become a reality. According to rumors, that time is short. Many expect the new phone to be released within the month. Tips from phone carriers such as Sprint, and production facilities making parts for the phone, hint at a release in October.

Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star

2011-09-11T02:07:00.000-07:00

I was skeptical at first to watch this movie in theaters because of the reviews it received from critics and fans alike. The trailers looked funny, but at the same time slightly stupid. It was a decent movie. I wouldn't go see it again in theaters, but it definitely got me to laugh throughout. I would recommend it if you didn't want to see any other movies, but still wanted to go to the movies.

iPhone 5

2011-09-10T15:45:00.000-07:00

I cannot put into words how excited I am for the new iPhone to come out! I have had the iPhone 3GS for 2 years and am ready for an upgrade. I put off getting the iPhone 4 (mainly because I didn't have the money at the time to buy it) and now am ready for a new phone. So ready, in fact, that a friend of mine and I are planning on camping outside of a local Apple store prior to the release!

This will be my first time ever camping out front of a store for a product, and I feel it is well worth it. I would have to say I've slowly become a Mac addict over the years. It all started with an iPod mini, and has now turned into an iMac, and iPhone, with desires for more products (just not the budget!).

I will be sure to post pics and information about my journey through obtaining my new iPhone 5, and might even post a video or something of the sort showing it off!

9/11, 10 years later

2011-09-10T10:43:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2001, will forever be remembered by those who were alive to witness the events unfold. It'll be one of those moments where any two strangers can meet on the street and have a lengthy conversation discussing where they were that morning, what they had planned for the day, and what they were thinking as they watched the events occur.

Personally, I was only in 5th grade. 10 years old at the time I remember the day vividly, but thinking back on it, I wasn't exactly sure what was going on while everything was happening. I remember I was getting ready for school in the morning when my mom was sitting watching the news quietly. I remember seeing the photos and videos of planes crashing into the towers. The smoke, the terror, the unknown. When I got to school I remember everyone talking about what they'd seen on television. However, we were a bunch of elementary school kids and we couldn't exactly grasp the nature of the events.

After 10 years of looking back on that tragic day and remembering those who were lost, one can't help to think but how brave the men and women were who helped save as many lives as possible in our country's greatest time of need. The 9/11 memorial is on my list of things to see before I die. To honor those men and women who lost their lives.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and victim's families.

Alyssa Otremba R.I.P.

2011-09-08T21:31:00.000-07:00

This past weekend brought shock and sorrow to many in the Las Vegas area. A young, innocent life was brutally and abruptly taken. Alyssa Otremba, 15, was a student at Arbor View, but unfortunately will not be back. Friday night she was attacked on her way home. According to police reports the killer, Javier Righetti, admitted to robbing, raping, killing, and burning the body of Alyssa.

I do not understand how someone could bring themselves to do such harm to another human. Righetti is a disgrace to human kind and doesn't deserve to live his own life. He took the life of an innocent young girl, and did unacceptable things to her body in the process. I can't imagine what Alyssa's last 24 hours must have been like, but one thing is certain, she didn't deserve any of it. How someone can bring themselves to commit such terrible acts against another human evades my mind.

Another thing, which is more frightening than anything, is how close to my own home this all happened. I drive down the road the was attacked on all the time. I have driven past the spot where her body was found dozens of times. To think this all happened so close to my home gives me chills.

As for Righetti, the justice system will surely put him in his place. Whether that be 6 feet under, or in a cell for the rest of his miserable, worthless life. That decision will be up to the DA and the jury hearing the case. I'm torn between him getting the death penalty and living the rest of his life in prison, but I lean towards the first choice. I don't want my tax dollars going towards keeping this piece of shit locked up for the rest of his years. However, I'm sure his time in the cell would be anything but pleasant. A scared little 19 year old kid who raped and killed a helpless 15 year old girl, in jail with hard criminals, certainly wouldn't play to Righetti's favor. I say give him the death penalty. He'll probably sit in jail a while waiting for his turn to come. During this time he'll surely get his share of punishment and pain. Maybe then he'll feel sorry about what he did to that young girl.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family, loved ones, and close friends of Alyssa Otremba. I did not know her personally, but I did attend Arbor View. We all have to stick together in times of need, and right now her family needs us. Rest in peace Alyssa Otremba, you will never be forgotten.

Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day

2011-09-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

After watching the first movie I couldn't wait to watch the second one. The first was so entertaining and well put together it held my full attention to the very end. Unfortunately, the second movie let me down. It seemed to drag on FOREVER and parts just felt irrelevant to the entire storyline. Part of this dragging on feeling may be attributed to the time which I watched the movie, 2 AM. But, had I watched the first movie the same night at the same time I'm 100% sure I would have been wide awake and fully engrossed. It looks like I'm going to have to go back and watch the first movie again to remember how good it was and try and repress the memory of having watched the second one.

Blogger for iOS FINALLY!

2011-09-08T20:17:00.000-07:00

When I first started writing on Blogger I didn't own an iPhone, but it was not longer after that I bought one. One of the first apps I tried finding was an app for Blogger, but there was none to be found. Needless to say this led to me writing some posts from the web browser on the Blogger web-page. While this got the job done, it was a HUGE pain. Constantly having to move the page around and zoom in and out so I could read what I had written got old quick.

I was surprised it took Google so long to create a Blogger app, but I am sure glad they have. It will allow me to post so much faster!

The Boondock Saints

2011-09-04T19:36:00.000-07:00

I recently watched The Boondock Saints for the first time and I have to say it was an awesome movie. I had heard a lot about it from friends, but never got the chance to watch it. Thanks to Netflix I was finally able to (although the second one isn't available through Instant Watch).

I enjoyed the movie from beginning to end. I found the idea of a couple guys taking the law into their own hands a rather appealing one. Everyone thinks the same thing when we see somebody go in a big trial or get released on bail, when they should be locked up behind bars. I'm sure more than a few people have had the very idea this movie portrays run through their head when watching these types of things on the nightly news.

2 thumbs up for sure! I'm going to have to search around now to find the second movie and watch it as well.

College Football!

2011-09-03T14:25:00.000-07:00

The college football season has finally started and this can only mean one thing, my homework will suffer. After all, how am I supposed to concentrate on homework with these amazing games going on?

My school, UNLV, isn't known for it's football team. Their season opener came against number 10/11 ranked Wisconsin. The only thing we accomplished during the game was covering the spread (barely!). But, this doesn't deter me from watching other college games.

AUBURN vs. UTAH STATE
- Did anyone else see this game? I thought Utah State had it won for sure going into the final minutes of the 4th quarter, but they weren't able to close out the game. Auburn drove down the field to score a touchdown, bringing them within 3 points of Utah State. Then, they executed a perfect on-side kick and drove down the remainder of the field again to score and go up by 4 points.

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store!