F-R-E-E that spells free...

Even better than that little jingle that is now STUCK IN YOUR HEAD FOR THE REMAINDER OF YOUR DAY is the following deal that will make you sing it with pride.

Free credit score monitoring from Trans Union for 6 or 9 months depending on your preference. While I have never been a big fan of class action lawsuits this one is somewhat acceptable in that you get a service that may be of great use to you. I cut and pasted the 6 or 9 month options below but I strongly recommend you read all about it URL below where you can also register if you so decide. To be eligible you must register before 9/24/2008.

http://www.listclassaction.com/

***6 OR 9 MONTH OPTIONS***
You have two options for credit monitoring:(1) Get six months of free credit monitoring services (which retails for $59.75) that includes: (a) the ability to lock your credit report so third parties, such as lenders or other companies, will not be able to access your credit report without your consent (unless allowed by law); (b) unlimited daily access to your Trans Union credit report and credit score; and (c) credit monitoring with a 24-hour email credit notification service.
OR
(2) Get nine months of enhanced credit monitoring services (which retails for $115.50) that includes all the services listed above, plus a suite of insurance scores (which allows you to see your credit information as insurance companies do) and a mortgage simulator service (a customized report that shows the mortgage rates that you should qualify for). If you choose this option you will agree to give up your right to sue the Defendants for certain damage claims (see Question 15) and you will give up your right to receive a cash payment, if any, from the Settlement Fund.
******

PS: Pull it up and forward it back my selecta , "F-R-E-E, that spells Free---CreditReport.com, BABY!"

Back & forth with the Movie Snob

So after receiving my free movie code from Big Red yesterday I couldn't decide on what movie I should get. So I went on to the website and figured I would just get the highest rated movie that they had available using ratings from Da Flix. And as I suspected some touchy-feely movie was the highest rated. But what surprised me the most was that a friend of mine who THINKS he is the biggest movie snob ever had rated this chick-flick 3 stars (Da Flix allows you to share your viewing history and ratings). Instantly I now wanted to watch it because at the very least I can now make fun of him for the girly-man that he is.

I get home and pop the movie on and instantly kicked off a text message discussion with the Movie Snob that went exactly like this:

Troy: Watching ur touchy-feely movie (Definitely, Maybe) with Van Wilder trying to act a serious role. Of course u only watched it because Lil Miss Sunshine is in it. And we know how much you love that movie.

Movie Snob: Dude I never recommended that movie. It was ok but it's a movie I would not recommend.

Troy: Never said u recommended. But on Da Flix you rated it 3 stars. That pretty much means u r gay.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? Cause you're watching it.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U watched Brokeback Mountain 3 times when Heath Ledger died crying uncontrollably.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? Cause you know who starred in Brokeback Mountain.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? Little Miss Sunshine is ur favorite movie of all time.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You're using text language like a 15 year old girl.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U said, "no he didn't" when Van Wilder told April she should go to "life rehab" in the movie Definitely, Maybe.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You know the name of the characters.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? When Scarlett Johansson got engaged to Van Wilder u were truly happy for them saying and I quote, "don't they make a cute couple."

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You didn't like Harold & Kumar 2 because of the bottomless female nudity.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U LOVED Harold & Kumar 2 because of the bottomless MALE nudity.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? Life is Beautiful is your favorite movie.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U cried when April got the book & told Van Wilder to leave in your girly-movie.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You wear Jim Jones jeans.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U wear Rip Hamilton jerseys with matching headband & face mask.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You don't like the NBA anymore because they wear long shorts now.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U downloaded the soundtrack for Definitely, Maybe to ur top 25 tunes on ur gaypod.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You saw High School Musical in iMAX.

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? U only go to the indie artsy movie theaters.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? You told me I had to see, PS: I Love You in iMAX

Troy: U know how I know ur gay? After seeing Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants you tried to swap ur jeans with ur other gay friends.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? Your favorite NFL player is Willis Mc-GAY-hee.

Troy: OUCH, I'm going to remember that one. U know how I know ur gay? Your favorite cartoon character is Mr(s). Garrison.

Movie Snob: You know how I know you're gay? YOU WRITE LITTLE GIRLY-MAN STORIES ON THAT GAY BLOG OF YOURS THINKING IT MAKES YOU COOL!!!

Troy: OK, you know what? I'm taking that last one personal. I mean, having a blog doesn't make someone gay. Straight people have blogs too. I mean, not that being gay is a bad thing...

AT&T's iPhone vs. Sprint's Treo 700p

So I made the switch to the AT&T iPhone by Apple from Sprint's Treo 700p by Palm. Here is what I like and don't like regarding the switch.

Things I don't like:
1. Battery life SUCKS! And this is with 3G turned off.
2. Why are they intentionally restricting me?
2a. Can't text to an email address.
2b. Can't send pictures using text.
2c. No cut & paste. (I know, next update...blah, blah, blah)
2d. Can't forward texts.
2e. Forces me to use mobile pages for sites they have partnerships with (google.com/ig).
3. No video camera.
4. Most of the free offerings on app store are crap.
5. No direct support for Hotmail (no free POP) like it does for Gmail or Yahoo Mail.

Things I like:
1. Browsing the web. You can even watch videos (YouTube AND others).
2. 2 Megapixel camera takes damn good pics
3. App store itself and not the vast majority of free offerings.
4. Support for MS Outlook is great and simple to setup.
5. Support for Gmail & Yahoo Mail is great and ridiculously simple to setup.
6. Haven't done it but supposedly you can get Hotmail via Izymail. Anyone ever used them?
7. Facebook and iPhone work really well together for the most part (browser is better than free app also).

Canceled cable. Now what?

So as you know I cancelled my cable earlier this year. But this was when I was taking 2 classes and the NFL was quiet so I really didn't even have time to notice. Now it is summer and I only did a 1-week class (Poland trip) so now I have tons of free time and there aren't really that many good DVDs out. (BTW, my Flix account has been on hold due to Redbox.com and will most likely remain on hold indefinitely. In honor of that Redbox.com will now be known as Big Red!)

In any case, I figured since I didn't get a tax rebate check (they claim I am too rich for a tax rebate...set ah THIEF!) I needed to find a way to get some of MY money back from the Gov't. Well, I found out the Gov't has mandated we go to digital TV by February 2009 and is willing to send you up to 2 $40 coupon cards good for purchasing a digital to analog converter. This is even valid for rarefied rich boys like myself who strangely enough still own analog TVs.

Of course I jumped on it just to play with electronics using other people's money (well, actually MY money). But being the true geek that I am I still reviewed and got a quality converter and even picked up an antenna (sadly I threw out all my rabbit ears that came with my TVs) since Radio Shack gives you 25% off the antenna when you buy them together. All told my bill was $34 including tax for the following items I list at the end.

And for my one time fee of $34 I get around 20 channels in crystal clear definition of which some broadcast in HD. Now I only did this recently so I can only go on what I have seen in about 6-8 hours of viewing pleasure:
ABC
NBC (2 of these with one being a weather channel that is pretty decent)
CBS
FOX
PBS (like 4 of these or so)
UPN
CW
Worship (best religious channel in my opinion - mostly music with lots of nature scenes)
ION (?? looked like family programming to me)
Others - family and educational stuff it appears

1. Find out what channels are available in your area by going here: http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/Address.aspx (after you get the channel list select "show digital stations only.")
2. Get your coupon cards here: https://www.dtv2009.gov/
3. Compare converters: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_CECB_units
4. Converter I bought: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3150939
5. Antenna I bought: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062081

And I am fully aware that there is no ESPN or NFL Network and that a die hard NFL fan like myself will suffer for the Monday night games. But you get what you pay for I guess.

I also have to ask, could this be the end of cable? Remember, this is digital where you actually get info on the show like with a cable box. And I know it is still lacking right now but you have to keep in mind that this isn't even fully rolled out yet (2/09).

This somewhat reminds me of when I dropped my land line MANY years ago people thought I was crazy but now it's the norm. Hell, I will go out on a limb and say that I give this 2 years before there isn't an all sports channel. Actually, this (nationwide network sports channel) in and of itself is a GREAT BUSINESS IDEA!!

PS: Much thanks to CancelCable.com (lots of info) for giving me a heads-up and providing me with all the details of what I needed to do. Each one teach one.

Why study finance? Why Brandeis?

For those that have been wondering why the hell I am taking grad classes yet again in an attempt to gain yet another master's degree (MS in Finance) I offer the following video that displays Brandeis professors breaking down the mortgage crisis. Most specifically, the Global Economics class that I took last Fall and the World Financial Centers class that took me to Poland less than two weeks ago was taught by Prof. John Ballantine.

****
Here is a link to view the segment which ran Friday (7/18/2008) on the NewsHour which featured Brandeis International Business School:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/video/share.html?s=news01nc89q2a3

If you wish to view a transcript or just listen to audio, you may click here:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec08/bailouthazard_07-18.html
****

PS: Anita Hill (of Clarence Thomas nomination fame) is also a professor at Brandeis albeit in the Heller Social Policy & Management School.
PPS: No amount of education can save you from greed & stupidity though since I lost an arm & a leg investing in IndyMac Bank. Ouch!

Dining out deals

Cheesecake Factory
On Wednesday, July 30, in honor of their 30th year anniversary Cheesecake Factory restaurants nationwide will offer every delicious slice of our more than 30 varieties of cheesecake for $1.50 per slice to pay homage to the price they charged when they first opened in 1978. I got this through word of mouth and the only reference to it online I found was here.

Morton's The Steakhouse
Not to be outdone, Morton's will be celebrating their 30th anniversary in September and will feature Prime Sundays at Morton's every Sunday in that month. In a nutshell, you will get a prime sirloin burger from Morton's for $19.78 of which Morton's will make a $5 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each burger sold. This is a great deal for guilty elitist Liberals to live it up while taking a deduction! :)

Also from now until September 30th, 2008 Morton's is also running a Steak and Seafood For Two promotion that looks to be the exact same promo they earlier called 2 Can Dine For $99. Since I already did and blogged it there is no need for me to indulge a second time. On second thought, those desserts still rate as the BEST. I may have to do a follow-up just for quality consistency check purposes. :)

Going BROKE in Poland

Here I am in Warsaw, Poland for school going BROKE. Hey, I guess the best way to learn about world finance is to go broke in a foreign country. Hands on learning at its best!

And yes the dollar has been rising against the zloty and the euro since my departure from Boston on Friday but it has not been rising fast enough. Plus, I really don't think the Poles care because they are intent on taking every dollar, zloty and euro that I have in my possession no matter the exchange rates.

Look, call me naive but I honestly thought that since Poland is an Eastern European former socialist state the prices wouldn't be so ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that it is a member of the EU and that prices in the EU are sky high. Hey, I was just in Limerick, Ireland getting jacked up in February but that's Western Europe and it was for work so everything was expensed. Or maybe I am just jaded from the movie Eurotrip where the characters were instantly transformed into millionaires in Bratislava another Eastern European former socialist place. OK, I am not that jaded, but I definitely wasn't prepared for the financial a$$-rape that is taking place now.

Let me break down my first day here in Warsaw for you. I landed about 2pm Poland time which is 6 hours ahead of Boston and took a bus from the airport to the hotel for about $1.50 US. At this point I am thinking this isn't bad at all. The place looks a little old and rigid but the hotel seemed nice so I wasn't worried. I got just a tad apprehensive when the hotel told me that they will be charging my room rate in euros as opposed to the Polish zloty. But I brushed it aside speculating that it must be a European chain and thought nothing more of it. But later when they told me that internet would be an additional $10 euros per day I put my self on alert. After checking myself into my room I decided to pay a quick visit to the hotel bar with my classmate and 2006-2007 "Cropover Captain" of whom I share a room in which the beds are separated by an INCH (pictured above). He had a Long Island Iced Tea and I had a Bacardi & 7up (I also noticed that even though Coke is the dominant soft drink Sprite does not exist here). Guess what the total cost was for the two drinks?

$60 zloty including $4 tip.

And here is the kicker my friend. Upon my arrival I exchanged some dollars for zlotys at a rate of $1 for $1.90 zlotys. So in essence those two drinks including tip cost us a total of $31.58 in US dollars. Now if you have ever been to Europe before you know the tiny portion sizes they deal with over here. Trust me, those were TEN OUNCE glasses, at best, that those drinks were poured into. And theses glasses were then filled with ICE before the beverages were added. Look, at this moment I was immediately reminded of the fact that I am desperately trying to get myself back into shape and the strict diet that I should be on as a result. A blessing in disguise is what my Mother would call this type of situation. :)

How many blessings in disguise are you letting pass you by?