Here is a tip I just discovered recently. Most brick and mortar stores that have a website have some kind of mailing list that you can sign up for. It’s a great idea to sign up for your favorite store’s mailing list because they will send you exclusive savings on a pretty regular basis. But, the real tip is that for major stores they will generally give you a discount coupon just for signing up. Some coupons are for online use only, some are good for in store purchases too. I received a Banana Republic one before Christmas that was good for 40% off your entire purchase in store.

It’s an easy way to save a few bucks, and it takes almost no effort.

On a side note, a lot of these sites send out emails pretty frequently so I have some filters set up in Gmail that make any of these newsletters automatically bypass my inbox and go right into my Rewards label. So now I get all of these deals without them cluttering up my inbox.

I highly suggest you check out the websites for the stores you regularly shop at and sign up for their newsletters.

Does you have any tips for other stores that give a coupon for joining their mailing list? Drop me a comment.

The book is written as a sort of confession by a man named David. He is now in his 40s, but all of the novel’s events in the take place when he was a young boy in the 1950s. For the first few chapters the story is very tame. It plays out like the beginning of a love story and it is sort of hard to tell where things are leading. Then within a few short pages that all changes and you are in over your head. Soon I found myself disgusted with what I was reading. The torture is shocking and brutal. The things that happen cause physical reactions in you as you read. I wanted it all to stop yet I was compelled to turn the page. I had to find out what happened next. With each page I turned I wished and hoped that the horror would end. It couldn’t possibly get worse. With each page I was denied. In fact, I began to expect things to get worse. I have never had a book make me feel so uncomfortable in my own skin. What I was reading made me feel like I needed, like I had to get up and do something about what was happening. But as you read you are powerless. Before you know it you are a guilty accomplice to the heinous acts just like David.

Ketchum has this amazing ability to build up your hope and then rip it away with only a few words. This book is not for the weak at heart or the weak stomached. A few times I wondered if I would be able to go on, to continue reading.

It may sound like I am giving the book a horrible review, but actually it was very thrilling to read. It created feelings within me that I don’t ever feel. This is the first Jack Ketchum book I have read and I’m hooked. Next I’m going to read Off Season, which comes highly recommended.

Side Note: Half way through reading the book I discovered that Ketchum’s inspiration came from the real life story of Sylvia Likens and that in 2007 her story was made into a movie called An American Crime. The movie version of Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door was also released in 2007.

• 6 ice cubes (or double it if your tray makes smaller cubes like mine does)
• 1/2 cup of frozen berries
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
• 1 banana
• 1 tbsp peanut butter
• 2 tbsp ground flax seed

So start off by putting the ice cubes and the frozen berries in your blender and use the ice breaker or pulse feature to break the ice. I usually like blueberries or raspberries. You want to add at least half a cup, but you can add a little more to make it sweeter and more flavourful. Then add the cup of milk and the 1/2 cup of yogurt and break up a banana into chunks and add that too. I like to use Silhouette 0+ because it has no sugar and low calories, but it is still sweet because it has Splenda. Also you can add a dallup of peanut butter if you like, and for an omega 3 boost add two scoops of ground flax seed. The flax wont change the flavor, just the texture. Once all that is in put it on blend for a minute or so. Depending on your blender you may need to use a spatula to mix it a bit. Once it all looks consistent pour and serve!

This should fill two large glasses or make four smaller servings. Trust me, its delicious.

What’s the deal with the Internet hating on Adrian for having a beard anyway? A simple Google for Adrian Grenier beard comes up with a bunch of links to an array of different posts regarding Adrian’s shabby look. Maybe I’m misinformed? I have this preconceived notion that having a beard makes you more manly, and the more beard the more manly? If that’s not true then I’m going to have to reevaluate my entire belief system.

Naah, I still want one. I don’t care what anybody thinks and maybe if I wish very very hard one day it will happen.

The site has a pretty original/sweet premise. Basically they put up a wicked deal, usually 30% or more off on a clearance item. There are limited quantities and usually they sell out pretty fast. If the item sells out a new one is put up, if it doesn’t sell out a new one is put up anyway. Most stuff I wouldn’t even consider buying, hence why it is clearance. But every once in a while there is a decent deal. I have bought a couple of shirts from the site. Expect to add about $15 for shipping, but even with that the deals are pretty decent.

And, if you like Whiskey, check out Steep and Cheap and Chainlove.

The real winning aspect of the site is that it offers most of its wallpaper in a range of resolutions including widescreen, fullscreen, 720p and 1080p, and even mobile phone resolutions.

There are new additions almost every day but if you don’t happen to like whats on the main page hit the “Random” button at the top to see something else.

So, if you like free wallpaper check out Interfacelift or iphone.interface.com from your iPhone for direct access to 320×480 wallpaper. Oh yeah, the site also has free icons and themes too if that tickles your fancy.

PS, first post in 8 months. I rule.

The guy is clearly not making it up, it’s just too funny to be fake. Even if it is fake, it’s still golden. His name is Matt I believe, and I think he lives LA. Could be Wily though, cause thats the author name on the posts. I don’t know, I’ll call him Matt. He has a roommate who’s name starts with P, so for privacy, Matt calls him P. Since P moved in with Matt in January there have been hundreds of crazy interactions between them and Matt has posted a dozens of them online for our enjoyment.

If you get a chance, take 20 minutes and read them from the start. They are in chronological order and some won’t make sense if you don’t read the first ones. I specifically enjoyed his bike story.

The Bike Incident

Me: What hapanned to you?
P: I fell down the stairs.
Me: We don’t have stairs.
P: I fell down the stair in front.
Me: You look like you were hit by a bus. The “stair” out front is a 3 inch step.
P: I had hot dogs in my hand.
Me: What?
P: I tripped on my shoe and saved the hot dogs.
Me: Who does that?

Now, if this was anyone else in the world, I would’ve called bullsh*t right there. P being P though, “I tripped over my shadow” was believable….

The Next Day….
Person 1:
J: What happaned to you?
P: I crashed M’s bike.

Person 2:
S: What did you do to your hand?
P: I crashed M’s bike.

Brilliant liar this P….About 20 people later…..

P: So, ummmm……There’s something wrong with your bike.
Me: Yeah, I know, it fell down a stair.
P: Yeah, so, thats fine, right?
Me: Nope. You took it without asking, crashed it, then lied about it. You buy it or fix it.
P: It’s not my fault! I didnt’ mean to crash.
Me: You’re retarded. You have a week.
P: Nooo! The important thing is that I’m o.k.
Me: No, it’s not. The important thing is that you owe me money or a fixed bike or your homeless.
P: I’ll fix it, I’ll fix it.
Me: I know, and you’ll buy a lock for it too. I’ve been having problems with people taking it and crashing it.

Not always fun and games when dealing with a crazy person.

Like I said, read them from the start. They just keep getting better from #1 on.

“You practice it enough, you can get it as clean as that. Trust me on this, I’ve done it for several years now, actually several decades. That is pure clarity.” I laughed my ass off.

Then some guy says “Zakk has been watching too much YouTube.” Classic.