Posts by randy

Having Fun in GameStop

Sep02
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

Having Fun in GameStop

If you’re going to spend most of your time in GameStop searching for that hard-to-find game, you may as well have some fun while you’re at it.

Here are some methods for having fun in GameStop while you’re digging around for a specific title.

Talk to Yourself

GameStop 8 300x224 Having Fun in GameStopI’m a people-watcher, so I always notice the weirdos in GameStop. One time, in my quest to find a limited edition copy of Brothers in Arms, I spent an hour just listening to this one GameStop creep mutter to himself. Come to found out a few days later, stalking GameStop’s Facebook page, that this guy is a regular at GameStop stores up and down the Gulf coast. So sometimes now I talk to myself, just to keep things interesting.

Re-arrange the Titles

Okay, so maybe I’m kind of a jerk, but when I’m in GameStop and the employees are being unbearable, I like to subtly rearrange the tiles my own way. Sometimes I put everything in reverse alphabetical order, sometimes I arrange them by color, and sometimes I just move titles around willy-nilly knowing that the employees will have to spend hours re-arranging. It’s my way of exacting revenge on the losers that work at GameStop.

Hand Out Fake Coupons

You can find free GameStop coupons all over the Internet, but some people will try to use any old coupon they can to save money. So when I’m feeling particularly cruel, I’ll stand near a GameStop store and hand out fake coupons. I make them look real enough that people think they’re the real thing, and see if I can get away with it.

Once I made a coupon that read Buy One Game Get Five Free and you should have seen the excited looks on those gamer dork’s faces.

Talk in a Silly Voice

The whole purpose of having fun in GameStop is to make your search for a rare game more exciting and bearable. I’ve spent entire weekends digging through GameStop collections up and down the Interstate, so I have to do something to distract myself.

My all-time favorite trick is to talk in a really silly voice while I’m in GameStop. Juvenile? Yes. Entertaining? Always.

Understand that most of the stuff on this list is probably illegal. I don’t take anything I do to the jerks at GameStop lightly, and I can’t promise that you won’t get arrested for trespassing if you pull any of these GameStop stunts. Be careful out there.

Posted in Entertainment, Games

Spaghetti Westerns You Might Have Missed

Sep01
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

During the height of the sub-genre, there were a ton of great spaghetti westerns cranked out in Italy and Spain. While you’re likely to have heard of the classics made by men like Sergio Leone, there remain many films that are relatively unknown to American viewers. If you’re interested in learning more about the films that inspired men such as Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, give a few of these a try.

Lesser Known Spaghetti Western to Watch

  • The Fighting Fists of Shanghai Joe (1972) – Chen Lee is a Chinese immigrant who arrives in the Old West and puts his martial arts skills to good use against murderous outlaws.
  • China 9, Liberty 37 (1978) – A gunfighter awaiting hanging is released on the condition that he kill a local rancher (Warren Oates). Jenny Agutter stars as the rancher’s beautiful wife.
  • Grand Duel (1974) – Lee Van Cleef and Horst Frank butt heads in this spaghetti western about an ex-lawman (Van Cleef) who helps a man accused of murder to clear his name. Also known as Storm Rider, look for some of the soundtrack in Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill.
  • Man from Nowhere (1966) – Giuliano Gemma flashes his distinctive smile as a cheerful gunman who joins forces with a bandit leader and then slowly unravels his plans.
  • Django (1966) – Considered one of the most memorable cult classic movies, Django stars Franco Nero as a mysterious gunfighter who pulls a coffin behind him. When he arrives in a small town seeking vengeance against a rogue military man, you can bet that we’ll get to see what’s inside the wooden casket (with violent results). A sequel would follow in 1987.
  • White Comanche (1968) – William Shatner plays half-breed twin bothers who engage in a life and death struggle with one another. Fans of T.J. Hooker should love this one.
  • God’s Gun (1975) – Lee Van Cleef plays a gentle priest who’s gunned down by a ruthless outlaw. Turns out he has a twin brother (also Lee Van Cleef), and he comes looking for payback.
  • Death Rides a Horse (1968) – John Phillip Law stars as a young man out to avenge the death of his family at the hands of a gang of outlaws. Lee Van Cleef, meanwhile, plays a gunman who’s been released from prison after 15 years and is seeking some revenge of his own.

Now that you’re aware of these lesser-known spaghetti westerns, all that remains is for you to go out and rent them. Your local video store may not carry them, so your best bet is to either get them from Netflix or buy them from Amazon.

Posted in Entertainment

Tips on Renting a Car With No Credit Check

Jul26
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

 

Want to rent a car without a credit check? You have two options. The first is to rent a car with a credit card. The car rental company will see your ownership of a credit card as proof that you are credit worthy to take temporary possession of their $20,000 car and your credit won’t be checked.

Your other option is to work your butt off and find a car rental agency that will give you the keys to a car on nothing more than a cash deposit or debit card hold and a pretty smile. That’s tough work, but by no means impossible.

 

Look at this directory of car rental companies and figure out which of them has an office near enough to you to do business. Most people know the names of two or three national car rental chains and never give a second thought to their other rental options. Smaller car rental offices may be willing to rent you a car with a large enough cash deposit or hold on your debit card.

Rent-A-Wreck offices are known for being forgiving. Contact several Rent-A-Wreck employees until you find one willing to rent you a car without a check of your credit. If anyone wants to know why you’re so afraid of a credit check, remind them that every credit inquiry reduces your credit score. The idea is to hide the fact that you’re actually not credit worthy to rent a car.

 

One option that people overlook is having a friend or family member rent the car. All names on credit cards and rental car applications must match, so your friend or loved one that rents the car for you is really sticking their neck out. But if you are capable of paying them back and they trust your driving skills, you may be surprised how much people are willing to help you. Having to eat crow and ask for help is better than not renting a car at all, isn’t it?

For more on improving your credit and living a debt free life, check out my article on free bill pay.

Posted in Finances, Recreation

My Favorite Blaxploitation Films

Jul22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

I love blaxploitation movies. In case you don’t know, the blaxploitation film genre started in the early 1970s and was primarily aimed at an African-American audience. Some were instant classics, while others were laughably awful. But in either case, they were almost always memorable. Join me for a look at my favorite blaxploitation movies.

Shaft (1971) – This film about a black detective (Richard Roundtree) looking for a mobster’s missing daughter enjoyed mainstream success and won Isaac Hayes a Grammy for Best Original Score. Two sequels would follow, as well as a 2000 reboot starring Samuel L. Jackson (with Roundtree playing his uncle).

Super Fly (1972) – Ron O’Neal became an instant street icon as Youngblood Priest, a New York City drug dealer who’s looking to make one last score and retire from the business. Dig that groovy soundtrack!

Slaughter (1972) – When his parents are murdered by the mob, a former Green Beret (Jim Brown) goes looking for payback. Co-starring Rip Torn and Stella Stevens.

Coffy (1973) – Pam Grier is Coffy, a nurse who swears revenge on the criminal underworld after her younger sister suffers a drug overdose. In order to do so, she’ll have to go up against crooked cops, politicians, and pimps. Luckily, she has a seductive body and plenty of weapons at her disposal.

Scream Blacula Scream (1973) – The sequel to Blacula finds the cursed African prince (William H. Marshall) falling for a Voodoo practitioner (Pam Grier). Surprisingly good considering the title, with Marshall conveying empathy and menace at the same time.

Three the Hard Way (1974) – When white supremacists plan to kill every African-American via the nation’s water supply, three badass dudes (Jim Brown, Jim Kelly, and Fred Williamson) team up to save the day. Directed by Gordon Parks, Jr., this film features the three biggest black action stars of the time.

Dolemite (1975) – Urban poet and comedian Rudy Ray Moore portrays Dolemite, a street-smart cat who gets out of prison and seeks to reclaim his nightclub from an old rival. Expect lots of cheesy dialogue and outrageous fight scenes. Also listen carefully for some of Moore’s trademark rhymes.

You don’t have to be African-American to enjoy blaxploitation films. You also don’t have to be white to enjoy energy drinks. My favorite happens to be Red Bull, and you can save a bundle of money by using Red Bull coupons at the grocery store. That will leave you more money for fighting the corrupt white power structure.

Posted in Uncategorized

Max von Sydow Movies

Jul21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

Max von Sydow got his start in Swedish movies, but he’s since become a familiar face to both American and international audiences. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, the following list should provide an idea of his diversity as a performer.

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) – Sydow plays a reclusive artist in this Oscar-winning ensemble piece from Woody Allen. Other cast members include Michael Caine, Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, and Dianne Wiest.

Strange Brew (1983) – Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas bring their dimwitted SCTV Canadians to the big screen to stop the evil schemes of a power-mad brewmeister (Sydow). Just good, dumb fun.

The Exorcist (1973) – While Sydow has appeared in a few Swedish horror films, none have achieved the level of success enjoyed by this adaptation of the William Peter Blatty novel. Sydow is a priest well-versed in the art of exorcism, and he’s called upon to team with a young priest in order to drive a demon from the body of a girl (Linda Blair).

The Seventh Seal (1957) – The iconic Swedish film from Ingmar Bergman stars Sydow as a medieval knight who plays a game of chess with the personification of Death. Highly influential on later movies.

Flash Gordon (1980) – Sydow portrays Ming the Merciless, an alien conqueror who sets his sights on Earth. Luckily, our planet is defended by a pair of scientists and a player for the New York Jets (Sam Jones). Cheesy fun, with a memorable soundtrack from Queen.

Needful Things (1993) – Based on the novel by Stephen King, this horror flick stars Sydow as Leland Gaunt, a mysterious figure who arrives in a small Maine town and opens up an antiques store that deals in specialty items. Before long, murder and madness reign in the town, and it’s up to the local sheriff (Ed Harris) to restore peace.

The Virgin Spring (1960) – Winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and the inspiration for Wes Craven’s The Last House on the Left, this Ingmar Bergman project follows the murder of a young girl and the subsequent revenge visited on the killers by her father (Sydow).

The next time you’d like to see an elder statesman of cinema in action, be sure to check out a few of the Max von Sydow movies listed above. While his films from Sweden have often garnered the most critical acclaim, you’ll find his later appearances in American movies to be just as enjoyable.

Posted in Entertainment

Bad Halloween Costume Ideas

Jul18
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

Bad Halloween Costume Ideas

It is a good idea to think outside the box and try to wear uncommon costumes to Halloween parties. Uncommon costume ideas come from many places. When I’m brainstorming Halloween costume ideas, I often wake up in the middle of the night with a brilliant idea. Keep paper and pencil on you at all times when trying to come up with uncommon costume designs–you never know when you’ll have your next big idea.

Fortunately, most uncommon costumes come out well. They attract attention without standing out so much as to ruin the spirit of Halloween. When outside the box Halloween costumes go a little too far outside the box, they attract attention for the wrong reason. Here is a list of bad Halloween costume ideas. Avoid dressing up in these costumes.

Offensive Costumes

At a recent costume party, I saw a woman dressed up as accused child-killer Casey Anthony. This was a small private costume party among good friends, so although the idea was offensive, the costume ended up being okay.

Dressing up as Adolf Hitler, a runaway slave, or a dead baby (or anything tasteless like that) is bound to get you ignored or even kicked out of a Halloween party.

Obscure Costumes

You may be the world’s biggest anime fan, but hardly anyone at your costume party is going to appreciate your Yotsuba costume. Unless you’re headed to a costume party with a tight-knit group of friends, avoid dressing up as an obscure Battlestar Galactica character or some third-string football player.

Dead People

When people run out of Halloween ideas, they tend to just dress up as a dead version of some other character. Dead cheerleader, dead prom date, dead athlete . . . it’s all been done before, and you’ll just blend in among the crowd of zombies and ghosts.

Posted in Entertainment

Seat Selection in Poker

Jun15
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

Patience is a virtue in the game of poker. That pertains to all facets of the game. Being patient can be a boon to any player’s game before he even sits at the table.

This is because seat selection is an important part of strategy. To have the best chance of being successful, a player should choose the right seat. How does one determine which seat is the right seat? As with every other poker decision, he needs information, and the information can only come from patient observation.

The best way to choose an optimum seat is to spend some time watching the game being played. You may have to wait anyway if the game is gull, so put that time to good use. Note players’ styles, tendencies, habits and behaviors. Pay particular attention to who is loose, tight, aggressive and passive, as well as stack sizes.

In general, you want the looser, deeper stacked players to your right. This keeps you in the position of acting after a player who: 1) has a lot of money, and 2) is willing to put that money in the pot. If you wind up to the right of one of these players, you may find that your raises often get re-raised immediately, putting you to a tough decision. Of course, it would also be ideal to have the player to your right be weak, so that you have both the skill and position advantages over him.

You often wont’ get first pick of your seat right away. That is OK. Sit in the first seat available, ask for the seat change button, and wait until the spot you have scouted opens up. Remember: patience is a virtue — and at the table, a weapon.

Learn more at Redkings poker bonus code.

Posted in Fun, Games, Recreation

Flowers for Under $20

May28
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

There’s been a revolution in how items are delivered from one place to another in this country, and just one sign of that revolution is the ability of florist companies to sell flowers for under 20 bucks. Most flower delivery businesses offer multiple $19.99 floral arrangements as a standard, everyday item of sale.

If you’ve used Amazon and it’s free two-day delivery methods, then you know how quick deliveries can be made in the USA these days. People who don’t buy from Amazon, but who use UPS or Federal Express regularly, understand the same thing. Package delivery has become lightning fast in a world where people don’t like to wait for much of anything.

The same can be said for cheap flowers. Floral arrangements lose their freshness quickly, so it’s best when flowers are delivered from nearby growers’ areas. When this happens, it makes flower sells cheap and fast. So companies like ProFlowers have worked to establish nationwide networks of growers, so they can make flower deliveries quick and inexpensive.

FTD and other competitors have sued ProFlowers, arguing there is no way that they get all their flower arrangements directly from growing fields. But whichever side you take in that dispute, one thing is certain about Proflowers’ business model–it has forced competitors to make flower delivery fast and cheap for the customer.

Posted in Flowers

Fine Stationery Coupons

May17
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

While e-mail might be the fastest way to send a message, it is hardly as much fun to send and receive as a real letter on fine stationary. Fine stationary is so much more than normal note paper. Fine stationary uses high quality paper which typically is of a heavy weight to stand up to the high pigment ink used in fountain pens. You can purchase fine stationary the ranges in size from small note cards to full sheets of letter size paper. While it is traditional to use fine stationary to write letters by hand, today you also can use your fine stationary for letters written using a computer’s word processing program. Thanks to fine stationary coupons, you can afford to purchase fine stationary for your every day correspondence.

Reasons To Use Fine Stationary

There are many reasons to use fine stationary instead of plain white paper, and with fine stationary coupons, you can afford to do so. Here are some of the top reasons:

- Hand write letters to friends and family members who do not use the internet

- Send a “just because” note to your loved one’s office address

- Print your resume on professional fine stationary for use at your next job interview

- Send invitations to friends and family for holiday parties.

Fine Stationary Comes In Many Options

Use your fine stationary coupons to purchase fine stationary of many different kinds. Not only does fine stationary come in different sizes, but it also comes with different design options. Fine stationary is available in designs appropriate for holidays ranging from Christmas to Flag Day. Take advantage of fine stationary coupons to purchase fine stationary for your next party.

You also can use your fine stationary coupons to purchase fine stationary that is accented with different designs so every letter you send is a little different. Designs may be printed on your fine stationary or you can purchase fine stationary that has been embossed. Embossing means that the design is raised. You can choose from classic design options on your fine stationary. These might include the following:

- Your monogram

- A personalization (for example, your first name)

- Simple black border

- Double line border

More casual correspondence might be better written on more fun designs. Look for fine stationary that features bright pictures and wild designs that will jump out at the letter’s recipient when they open the envelope. Some great ways to express yourself through fine stationary include:

- Seasonal designs. Look for options that include major holidays as well as beach and snow motifs.

- Abstract background images. These might be as subtle as an interesting border or as exuberant as a full bleed image of rainbow tie dye.

You can also use your fine stationary coupons to purchase matching envelopes to coordinate with your fine stationary and Hallmark Coupons. Using fine stationary coupons means that you can purchase several sets of matching fine stationary and envelopes in the designs of your choice for an affordable price.

Posted in Coupons

Worst Pickup Lines

Apr25
2011 Leave a Comment Written by randy

No matter what you’ve heard before, the old “pickup line” is not always a failure. Some pickup lines are relatively simple–the old-fashioned “Hi, my name is ____. What’s your name?” can be considered a pickup line, and it is one that usually works well.

But most pickup lines are real duds. Here is a collection of the absolute worst pickup lines, lines you should only use if you want to get rejected and possibly beat up.

“Do you clean your pants with Windex? Because I can see myself in them.”

“Do you work for UPS? I could have sworn I saw you checkin’ out my package.”

“Your name must be Daisy, because I have a strong urge to plant you right here.”

“Roses are red, violets are blue. I like spaghetti, let’s go screw.”

“Your name must be Visa, because you’re everywhere I want to be.”

“Can I buy you a drink, or do you just want the money?”

“Hey, I’m in high school.”

“Did you just fart?”

“I may not be Fred Flintstone, but I bet I can make your bed rock.”

“That shirt looks very becoming on you. If I were on you, I’d be coming too.”

“If you were a hamburger at McDonald’s, you would be the McGorgeous.”

“Those pants make you look fat.”

“If your left leg was Thanksgiving and your right leg was Christmas, could I visit you between the Holidays?”

“Do you know the recipe for love? One cup of you, one cup of me, knead until hard, and serve hot.”

Posted in Uncategorized - Tagged ,