Amazon: iPhone 3G/3GS Case for $1.00!

Amazon is offering their AmazonBasics Shell-Case for iPhone 3G/3GS for only $1! Shipping is not included unless you have Amazon Prime.

I was surprised to see that this case actually has really good reviews (mainly 5 and 4 star with just a few 3 star). This will likely go fast, so I would check it out here if you are in the market: Amazon iPhone 3G/3GS Case Deal.

Not sure you can get it cheaper anywhere else.

Amazon: Nintendo Wii Hardware Bundle $199 + Free $50 Game Credit!

This is definitely a great deal on the Nintendo Wii if you are looking for one!
Right now on Amazon you can get any of the Nintendo Wii Hardware Bundles for $199 PLUS get a FREE $50 Game Credit that will show up in your account 2 days after your order ships.

The great thing about Amazon is that you don’t have to pay tax in most states, so even if a B&M (Brick & Mortar) store has it for the same price, getting it off Amazon will likely save you on tax!

NOTE: The prices on Amazon can vary from one minute to the next. I can make no guarantees that the price will be the same as the one above when you click on the Amazon link. Let me know in the comments section below if the price changes and I will get the post updated as soon as possible.

Gran Turismo 5 pushes Black Ops from UK number one

Sony and Polyphony Digital's racer Gran Turismo 5 has made the top of the UK chart in its opening week, pushing the record-selling Call of Duty: Black Ops down to second.

I love the realism in this game. The attention to detail and all the premium car choices is what puts GT% over the other racing games out. I'm not really a fan of always having to drift through a corner and having damage ruin the race. While it isn't as realistic in that sense it makes up for it with clean looking replays of your sweet ride. It could definetly be better but it is also totally underrated. I mean need for speed is not as good a game whatsoever.

I recently bought Call of Duty: Black Ops; and believe me, this is one of the best games ever made.

See the bestseller list here

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition

I am a huge Harry Potter fan and when The Tales of Beedle the Bard came out with this I automatically wanted it because it's inspired by Harry Potter and I thought it would be kinda cool to see what stories wizards told their children. My favourite is the Tale of Three Brothers.

My brother bought this for me for Christmas even though its below my reading level and I must say that it's definitely worth the money for little kids. They will love it and when I have kids I will definitely be reading these stories to them.:D

Click here to buy your copy

Amazon music sale: $1.99 MP3 albums (and how to get one free)

Looking to stock that iPod with some new tunes? Amazon has some downright unbeatable deals on some downright decent (in some cases excellent) albums.
For a mere $1.99, you can snag any of the following:

• "Band of Joy," Robert Plant
• "Battle Studies," John Mayer
• "Dark Side of the Moon," Pink Floyd
• "High Violet," The National
• "Hurley," Weezer
• "Kaleidoscope Heart," Sara Bareilles
• "Power to the People - The Hits," John Lennon
• "The Fame Monster," Lady Gaga
• "The Suburbs," Arcade Fire
• "This Is Happening," LCD Soundsystem
• "Transference," Spoon
• "xx", The XX
• "You Are Not Alone," Mavis Staples

At least some of these (including John Mayer and Pink Floyd) are on sale today only, but they'll be replaced tomorrow with at least five more $1.99 albums.

So, how can you score one for free? Turns out the Get $3 in MP3 Downloads deal I mentioned the other day is still running. You can apply that $3 credit to any of these albums--and still have a buck left over!

Full Dark, No Stars

For all of those who complain about the price of the e-book, you are NOT true King fans. I have been a fan for almost 20 years, and regardless of price, I am always first in line to get his new releases.

This was my first purchased download for my new Kindle and of course, King doesn't disappoint! The stories are a little darker than his usual work (hard to imagine I know!) but I didn't want to put the Kindle down as I was engrossed in the stories.

I've read several of the negative reviews, and I have to say that the Kindle debate has no bearing whatsoever on my opinion because I don't have one and don't want one. My review is purely based on my opinion of the book's merits. And while I disagree with the negative opinions of the book's content, I chalk that up to the massive diversity in King's audience. He won't be able to satisfy everyone, but I for one expect this to be a collection that I look forward to re-reading several times.

Make Money Promoting MWF Water Filter and 17 Inch Laptop Backpack

It has been 6 months since I started working to promote my MWF Water Filter and 17 Inch Laptop Backpack products, during which time I have raked in a huge following and reputation. For any beginner, publishing online blog and getting your content seen is a very steep process. Most people quickly pack it up just a few months of starting a blog.

What makes people abandon their blog is that they come into it with a tinted view of what is realistic and what is not. Blogging and making a decent a reasonable income through affiliate and blogging requires more than just posting a few piece and expecting it to bring you thousands of Pounds monthly. What is required is carefully followed strategy, patience, and a considerable amount of time. Most of the top bloggers out there did not make their money over night, they spent, effort; and in some cases money to promote their blog and product.

I'm a firm believer in what you put in is what you get out. And there's no other place where that is so true than online activities. To give you an example of what I mean, I recently started 2 pages The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition and mwf water filter to try out some of the tip in Eric Enge's The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization. If you haven't see the book, be sure to check it out.

Within a few days of optimising the pages, they have literally jumped to the front page.
What I was trying to say was if you spend the time and effort; and a little bit of investment, it pays off in the end. The goal here is to put your content and product where they can be seen. If your blog is buried deep in the search engine result page and no one sees it, it just dies there.

How to Move up on search engines and make money:

This assumes that you know how to optimise your page for search engine traffic (SEO). If not please check out The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization.

1. Write a keyword-rich article, informative and quality article about your programme
2. Submit your link to bookmarking sites – this is very important.
3. Have a look at how others do it. Learn from the best :)
4. Make sure your content is 100% unique – don't copy any single line from somewhere else
5. If you can't write the content yourself, outsource it
6. Register with related sites/forums and use your keyword in your signature

This is a not-so-time-consuming strategy, you can do in one day. Once you have the first blog posted and start promoting your sites, it takes a few weeks to start noticing results and traffic improvements. I have also posted a graph on my site to show how the traffic increased with my The Tales of Beedle the Bard promotion. Have a look and leave a comment.

Follow the steps, rinse and repeat -  you're on your way to making money online just like everyone else.
Good luck!

Mouse Cursor Disappears on Firefox

I have been having this annoying cursor problem since that last couple of days. I have not installed anything, downloaded anything - but all of a sudden the cursor starts disappearing from the screen.

This seems to only disappear when the mouse is resting on Firefox. It does not happen when I have another application open with the mouse on it. If the mouse is not moved within a few seconds, it totally disappears from the screen, I have to shake or move the mouse to see where it is again.

This is getting very irritating to the extent that if I don't click on a link fast enough, the cursor disappears.

Has anyone experienced this sort of problem, and been able to sort it out? I would like to hear any tips, advice or a suggestion of a solution.

5 Top 17 Inch Laptop Backpacks

As someone who has been working with computers for the last 16 years, most part of that time is spent on the road. Which means that I move around with my laptop, headphones, Sanyo HD Cameras and all sort of personal effects that I might find useful on my globe-trotting adventures.

One thing that I carry around more than any other thing  is my laptop (IBM Thinkpad). I know most people use MacBook Pros these days, but I still have a little life left in this laptop. While it is till working and doing the job, I will continue to use it until when it decides to pack it in and not respond to the power up button any longer. But while it still fine I won't

I think the reason my laptop has lasted this long is down to choosing a good 17 inch laptop backpack that will not leave your computer to the harsh element out there. If like me you carry your office around with you everywhere you go, it is important you use a good quality laptop backpack that is designed to handle anything that is thrown at it.

So, how do you go about investing in something that lasts? Well, it is down to a few quality features - these features should determine if it worth spend money on the 17 inch laptop backpack or not:

Quality: You need to know if it will last after 3 months of constant use. Most backpacks I've used over the years start showing signs of trouble a few month after constant use. So be sure to check for that. One cool backpack that I will recommend is the Red 17 Inch Backpack from Swiss Gear. These guys make some of the best backpack laptops out there in terms of quality. But they can sometime be on the pricey side.

Colour: This is something that varies - I prefer back as it blends with most things around including your outfit; and keeping it clean is of less concern.  If black is your colour, be sure to check out my review of SwissGear Computer Backpack. Also made by Swiss Gear, this is my personal favourite - it has everything I want in 17 inch backpack laptop. The quality is great. It comes with a a mobile phone pocket, a computer compartment, an airflow back system, shoulder straps, a water bottle pocket, audio interface organizer pockets for business accessories, and a sunglasses holder. And not forgetting that it also water proof, keeping all your items from getting soaked if caught in the rain.

Price: Although prices vary according to makes and model. You should be looking for something that is less than $100. For example, the Swiss Gear Computer Backpack is going for $40 the last time I checked on Amazon.com here. They were on sale for less than 70% of the original price. So be sure to check for special offers like that before you buy.

Design: One thing that most people don't seem to agree on is design. Different people see things differently, this could be anything to do with cultural background, taste, opinion or fashion. But what you should be looking for is something that can hold your items and still have enough room for other things like camera, phones, keys and even your books and wallets. Check the straps for length, see if the latch hook is made of plastic or metal. These things matter for how long your 17 inch laptop backpack will last. You don't want to be seen with a relatively new laptop backpack with the strap broken off. Again, check how the strap joins the top and bottom of the backpack.

One thing that I look out for is the inside... does it have enough padding to protect my laptop in case of accidental falls?

If you follow these tips when next you want to buy any laptop backpack, it doesn't matter if it is a 17 inch laptop backpack - you will not go wrong. So, here's our run down of the top 5:

5 Top 17 Inch Laptop Backpacks

1.  SwissGear Computer Backpack (Black)
2. Targus CityGear Chicago Backpack Case for 15.4 Inch Notebooks TCG650
3. Swiss Gear Ibex 17-Inch Notebook Backpack
4. SA1908 ScanSmart Backpack
5. SYNERGY from SwissGear by Wenger Computer Backpack

SwissGear Computer Backpack (Black)

If like me you carry your office with you everywhere you go, then you should look no further than this SwissGear Computer Backpack (Black). It is one of those backpacks that dramatically help to reduce the bulk of workload you take with you. I have used a number of SwissGear Computer Backpacks over the years, but this one is the latest with everything you will need both for your laptop, personal items and hidden compartments for your wallet, mobile phone and keys.

The reason I bought it was because they have now drop the price from $100 to just under $50 this week on amazon.com - so I thought it was a great opportunity and snapped one up.

The padded compartment was even cool enough to hold my latest Xbox 360 - at least that should give you an idea of how well rounded the SwissGear Computer Backpacks is. If black is not your thing, you may want to compare it with the red version. What makes the black SwissGear Computer Backpack work for me is that it blends in well with anything around - including your outfit and it cleverly masks itself when dirty.

So, if you are looking for something practical, stylish and durable, you should pick one up today especially when it is now less than $50. Hurry up before it all runs out.

Click here to buy >>

Avatar - Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live

If like me you are an Avatar fan and did not get the chance to see the extended version of the movie, this is a great opportunity to relive the excitement and fun all over again. I didn't think I would live it until I saw it at a friend's - I placed an order once I got home.

Not only does this box come with 3 extended DVDs, it also comes packed with special features not shown in the movie. This box set with 3 DVDs will appeal to real die-hard fans - The background and footage missing from the original version have also made it to this set. If you want more pandora, that's exactly what you will get with Avatar - Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live .

I have a 60" Sony 1080P HDTV and PS3 BluRay player which made it look like I was back at the movie all over again. If your TV has 3D capacity, you will enjoy it even more. For some of us not lucky enough to have a 3D TV, the production is still superb on my Sony 1080P HDTV.

If you are a fan, don't wait - these Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition are going fast.
Avatar - Three-Disc Extended Collector's Edition + BD-Live 

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

There's not much I can say about this amazing book that others haven't said. I will say that I am so glad Rebecca Skloot perservered through many obstacles and many years to bring this story to the public. I am not sure I would have had the patience, or that many others would have. The incredible backstories behind how Skloot investigated Henrietta's background just add so much to this story. This story made me laugh, brought me to tears, made me angry and helped me see things from a different perspective. Everything a great book should do. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

We can't undo what has been done - doctors taking things from people, using them for research, and never explaining or compensating the patient for it. But we can recognize that we need to change things going forward. I also hope that many of the scientists and researchers who defend things like what was done to Henrietta Lacks and her family can read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and understand that a simple thing, something they would have done and may do in their profession, can have lasting negative effects on people.

I hope this book will not just tell people who Henrietta was but lead to a dialogue that enables medical research to continue, while allowing people to have control over their own cells and biological products.

I really can't say enough about The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. It is recommended reading for all people. Even if you don't "like science" or "like biographies" or even "like nonfiction," read it anyway. There is a passionate story and an important message everyone should see. Congratulations, Ms. Skloot.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Call of Duty: Black Ops is one of those games that people love to hate. Being a keen gamer that I am, I was eagerly awaiting the release date to get my hands on it; and I was not disappointed. Those who have played with the previous versions know what to expect in this latest one.

The actions are mind-blowing. Although, I'm used to advanced graphics in games, the one in Call of Duty: Black Ops has raised the bar a lot higher. The attention to details is simply awesome. In fact, it looks so real that you sometimes forget that these characters are not humans.

Good plots and brilliant use of flashbacks ( see trailer ) suckers you even deeper into the game giving you that life-like experience. One thing I didn't like very well though, was the high level of gory scenes and blood shed through out the games. I know you can choose a less scarier game from the collection of games in there, you are still likely to see horrific and violent scenes.

This is by no means a negative thing about the game, it is just my own opinion giving that I normally prefer something a lot less action-packed. Don't get me wrong, this does not mean that that Call of Duty: Black Ops is the most violent video game on the market today. In fact, there are games out there that I won't even recommend you play.  For example, check out Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 you will love it if you are into heavy violent games. Black Ops, however, can not be compare to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, they are wholly on a different level in terms of violence, action and on-your-toes experience. It has everything you need to get your juices flowing. But be warned - make sure you check their age certificate ratings as some of them are not recommended for those that are 18 and under.

If you want to really enjoy Call of Duty: Black Ops, I would suggest you try playing it in a multi-player mode with someone else. The intensity is awesome; and knowing that you are playing against someone else on the other side adds another level of realism into the gaming experience.

One thing that the makers of Call of Duty: Black Ops have improved on is the starting interface. Unlike some other games out there that are very complicated to start, this one is dead simple. Pop the game into your met, and the new improved interface comes into view.

                                                  View larger

From there, you can now select the mode (single or multi player) as appropriate. Other than that, it is clever enough to work out your system and configure itself accordingly. More emphasis is placed on getting you playing the game rather than fiddling with the system.

In conclusion, this Call of Duty: Black Ops is that it was WAY better than the first two, and the game play was fantastic!

Get a copy today >>

Resources for Serious Software Developers

Following up on the post on "Why Are There More Python Jobs Than Java?" , which was a nice post by the way - I thought I would check out a few of the books suggested in some of the comments.

Seven Languages in Seven Weeks and Pro Python (suggested by co-workers)  are some of the books suggested so being the sort of person that I am, I gave in and bought these two books. If you are anything like me and are very interested in lots of programming languages, you will definitely like the Seven Languages in Seven Weeks book.

This book shows you how to learn and use various languages within a week. Although 7 days is not enough to master any language, but it is enough to get you working with the language.


I have been working with Java for a little more than 7 years, but still find it quite interesting to work with. But with the increase in Python's popularity it is hard not to take notice and start getting one's hands dirty. With that in mind,  I thought it won't hurt to play around with a little bit with Python and Django as recommended in the Seven Languages in Seven Weeks book.

One thing that developers are know for is that flexibility and speed with which the pick up a new language by the throat and get it to sing and dance. This is something that I have noticed over the years that is common amongst developers - they are always exploring technologies and new languages. Being the a developer myself, this was something I had to do as well.

So, having fallen behind on some of the chapters and some little pet project I was working on (just to learn to use Django), I have been putting in more effort and looking forward to finishing the book and the project. That means that the focus is now to go through the Seven Languages in Seven Weeks in all its entirety and see what comes how it turns out.

The Confession - John Grisham

Reading "The Confession", by John Grisham and am frustrated by a comment that the cheerleader Nichole and her Mom sent an average of 4 text messages a day. This was 1998.I do not think people were texting that much,if any in 1998. My boys are always among the first to jump on new technology and I am sure they were not texting in 1998.

I am enjoying the book a great deal but was puzzled by the texting.

There is also a reference to the mother starting a web site and blogging. Both of these are possible but blogs were not known in the late 1990's. May have had them but phrase was not common. If the web site and blogging came later then it would be more realistic. If anyone else was confused by this please post a response.  Reading on Kindle for IPhone and this was located at 305.

If you love reading gripping works from John Grisham, then you will definitely like The Confession

The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition

After many years since it was published, I finally managed to get my hands on a copy of The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition  last night for only $73. If you are a serious Potter fan, you will undoubtedly understand the feeling. This is a collector's edition, so it is highly sort after. At just $73, I thought it was a huge bargain, so I quickly snapped it up...

I read the standard version on release, and thought this was a spell binding book, which has wonderful enchanted stories, and that brought your imagination to a whole new level! I definitely recommend!

I love Harry Potter books, especially The Tales of Beedle the Bard, Collector's Edition. I always wanted to know what was in the stories of "The Beedle & The Bard" & low & behold, here it is! I'm a Harry Potter fan & I love this book. It's actually very interesting if you have children. Most parents don't read to their kids anymore, but if they were, I'd totally read this to them. It's kind of...childish, like meant for youngsters but I still loved it!

Just before I discovered these The Tales of Beedle the Bard, I was probably as if you, frustrated and puzzled the hell out of me.

SanDisk 16 GB Class 2 microSDHC Flash Memory Card SDSDQ-016G

So I wanted to save a few dollars and bought a 16gb card off ebay thinking it would be ok. Now, I may have received a defective card from the ebay seller but to me it looked like a fake, dont know exactly how to describe it but it didnt seem the same as this card I ordered off amazon.com and the 8gb card that came with my droid 2.

Anyways the ebay card worked to some degree, although my phone felt sluggish and when I would take pictures it would store it to the card but when I would go back to the gallery to view it the picture would not load and showed a grey camera logo. Also my music player would crash after playing a song and would say that the audio format was not supported, so after searching on forums i found that a lof of people were having the same problems with their droid 2.

I refused to believe it was something inherent in the phone so I ordered this card from amazon and could not be happier. The quality looked better at first glance and I had no issues as mentioned above. I know this is a long and somewhat indirect way to review this product but I think its good to be able to compare. So initial quality is good, hopefully it keeps working for me.

You too can order one today, it's only $26 today on Amazon.com

SYNERGY from SwissGear by Wenger Computer Backpack

I was really impressed when I received the backpack in the mail to try out and write a review about it. It's a pretty cool color scheme, and felt great on my shoulders. It probably took me five minutes to find ALL of the pockets this thing has, its great!

It fits my 13.3 inch Fujitsu T-5010 tablet PC great (with room for a slightly bigger laptop) with its well padded, square computer sleeve. My main reason for purchasing this backpack was, in fact, to have more protection for my computer while I'm going to school. This backpack completely suffices with the great amount of support and padding in the laptop sleeve, I feel fine setting down and lifting my backpack up all day without worrying about hurting my computer.

Its also big enough to hold an additional 4 books if needed, and the thing stands up no matter what is inside when you set it down :)
I have noticed that it becomes pretty hard to put a water bottle in the holder when there is a decent amount of stuff (i.e. a laptop charging chord) in the adjacent side pocket. I don't really care though because there's one of each on both sides of the backpack!

I totally recommend it >>