May
12
Showcase Your Talents, Claim Your Fame
Filed Under Culture, Entertainment, Internet, Music, Recreation, Reviews, Social Networking, Talent | Leave a Comment
I’m excited about a fairly new social networking site that instantly grabbed my attention when I first heard about it on CNN a little while back. Taltopia, a Los Angeles based media distribution and social networking company, launched back in March of 2007. The goal of Taltopia is to provide a platform for people to showcase their talent. Actors, singers, musicians, comedians, artists, models and more are all welcome to participate. If you have the talent, all you have to do is upload your media such as audio, video, or photos, and start being seen.
Not sure of your talents? No problem! You can join the Taltopia critic crowd and begin offering your opinions on those showcasing their stuff. Fans and critics vote for their favorites, giving them that extra edge they seek. Those with talents who get a higher amount of votes get featured on the front page of the website, offering even more exposure for those wanting to claim their fame.
I think sites like this are a fantastic opportunity to gain that extra bit of exposure one needs to get noticed. Those who wish to share their talent have plenty of avenues to explore, but there is always room for additional opportunities. Everyone knows there are talent agencies and talent agents all over the place, but it really comes down to networking and connecting with the right people at the right time. The coolest thing is that Taltopia is a FREE service for everyone. Visitors can register for free and simply create their own profile.
Let’s face it, it seems like everyone is trying to be some sort of celebrity these days. Everyday aspiring talent is searching for casting calls, looking for gigs, and trying to create additional self promotion. And even those who don’t seek celebrity status find alternative ways to participate, like voting for others. Look at the explosive amount of people who vote for their favorites on hit television shows like American Idol and Dancing With the Stars. And those are only just a couple popular shows where you viewers can vote. Growing communities of individuals who strive for fame, fortune, and participation have all come together, and I think a website like Taltopia makes it even more exciting for everyone.
Apr
28
Animoto: Feature Your Photos in Movie Trailer Format
Filed Under Computers, Entertainment, Photos, Reviews, Videos, Web Design | Leave a Comment
Photo galleries on the internet have become quite boring in my opinion. Yes, there are plenty of options to choose from when you want to feature your photos online, but they all seem to lack creativity. How many photos can you browse through before your mind becomes numb with boredom? I believe this problem has become more noticeable since the advancement in social networking, more so on sites that are geared toward customized profiles.
Thankfully there are new projects on the horizon. Animoto is a new and exciting alternative to the same old boring photo galleries and slide shows we have become accustomed to. This new photo experience combines both music and photos, creating a unique video in a movie trailer format if you will.
Users of Animoto upload their photos and pick an appropriate song of their choice from the online music library. Animoto will then analyze your images and incorporate them with the music, creating a one of a kind music video using the photos you have uploaded. No two videos are alike when you use Animoto. This makes the whole creation process even more interesting. Looking for an upbeat video? Or how about a mellow and relaxed collaboration of photos? Animoto has it covered.
The finished product can be shared with you friends and family through email, websites, blogs, etc. This type of format is very suitable for social networking sites like MySpace or Facebook. The whole process doesn’t even take that long to complete.
There are other exciting opportunities offered at Animoto as well. If you are a musician that is interested in featuring your music in the music library, you have a chance to submit your tunes. Animoto is in beta, so changes are to be expected throughout the site. Check out the official website of Animoto to learn more about this new and interesting way to feature your photos.
Apr
27
UPDATE: Received Check from PayPal Alternative
Filed Under Business, Deals, Finance, Freebies, Money, Reviews | 1 Comment
Several days back I wrote about Revolution Money, a new company that allows people to send and receive money, offering a nice alternative to PayPal. In my post I mentioned a promotion that the company was running, which is still on until May 15, 2008. The company is offering $25 to anyone residents of the United States who register for free. I said that I would post a photo of the payment once I received it, and the time has come. I chose to receive the check through mail, and received a check for $22.50. This being because there is a $2.50 processing fee for checks.
So here it is, a fast and easy $25.00 for anyone who signs up. You can read more about this offer if you are not sure what I am talking about. And for all of you who are still interested in this offer, sign up through my green banner link if you would be so kind. I receive $10 for anyone who signs up through me. If you sign up, you can do the same and refer this great offer to others and receive additional money as well. Remember that the offer is only valid until May 15, 2008, so if you want a few extra bucks in your pocket you’ll have to sign up soon.
Apr
19
Alternative to Paypal, Plus Receive $25 For Free
Filed Under Business, Deals, Finance, Freebies, Internet, Money, Reviews | 1 Comment
I have discussed my unpleasant support experience with PayPal in the past, so I won’t go through the details again. I’ll just say that I am always on the lookout for some possible PayPal alternatives simply out of curiosity. I have been a PayPal member for a very long time, and continue to use their service primarily based on the needs of my customers. I just welcome competition that can make things a bit more interesting, something I think is much needed in this particular industry.
I came across a website titled Revolution Money which caught my interest. I read that if I signed up for a Revolution Money Exchange account that I would receive $25 completely free. There aren’t many people that would walk away from someone or something handing over $25. Some people are skeptical or cautious, which is how I think everyone should be. Others don’t really care and will do almost anything for free money. I myself will investigate things before jumping into free offers.
I did a little snooping around to find out about Revolution Money and thought I’d share what I came up with. I did an internet search on the company and came up with mostly other websites offering a free money pitch. Basically, something like I am doing right here and now. Most sites offered nothing but a sales pitch, while very few offered personal experiences with the company.
After I really didn’t come across any negative experiences, I moved on to my next step of a BBB search. The Better Business Bureau shares details about Revolution Money Inc which can you view. Any issues that were experienced show up as being resolved, which is a positive from my perspective.
Upon completing a general web search, blog search, and Better Business Bureau search, I decided to visit the official website of the company. I was pleased with the professional looking main page design and layout, very easy to understand. I will always look for a privacy notice, disclaimer, and terms and conditions page. I have a habit of reading through fine print, even though I am not a lawyer and don’t understand most of it. I believe I just like to take this simple precautionary approach so that I can at least say I made an effort to read the fine print.
I didn’t come across anything out of the ordinary. I did see that I had the choice to opt-out by filling out an opt-out notice that was shown on the Privacy Policy page. This is an important detail and should not be overlooked. If you are reluctant with giving private information, I suggest you make use of the opt-out notice. Again, I am not a lawyer by any means, but this is my take on the whole deal.
Continuing on, I followed the link to create a Revolution Money Exchange account since this was what I initially read about. In order to receive my $25 I would have to create this account. I viewed the steps which all seemed simple enough. Throughout the years I have signed up for hundreds of different things here and there, so this procedure was quite familiar to me. The website shows that registration only takes 2 minutes, which it did. I filled out the necessary info, which included basic information like your name, address, phone number, user id, password, security questions, etc. I was then asked to provide my social sec. number for security purposes. This of course made me pause for a bit. Everyone knows that they shouldn’t give that number to just anyone, so I thought I would check things out a little bit further.
I remembered reading articles in Bloomberg, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal, all offering a good share of details about the company. I really didn’t think this was a scam, but I was still not one hundred percent sure why I was required to give my SSN during registration. What I was able to find out was that your Revolution Money Exchange account is held at First Bank & Trust in Brookings, SD; a member of FDIC. This basically means they are FDIC insured. I was very glad to see this. Federal law requires all financial institutions to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each person who opens an account. Therefore, providing your social security number is simply for protection. Odd, I know, but I do believe this is the truth. Besides, this is not something you get with PayPal, because PayPal isn’t a bank or financial institution. Paypal really offers no solid protection.
So, with all the information I have gathered, I was confident enough to continue on with registration. I continued to provide the required info, and the rest was very quick and easy. I was instantly sent an activation link through email to verify my account. I verified, logged in, clicked on the transactions link, and there it was, the $25 as promised. My account balance was $0 until I clicked the “accept” button in the transactions list so that I received the $25 from Revolution. My available account balance then went to $25. In order to receive the money, you must withdraw it from your account balance, just like PayPal. You are given the option to have it sent directly to your bank account, or you may choose receive a check through the mail.
I did not link my account with my bank, so I chose to receive a check through the mail which is said to require 7 to 10 business day processing time and requires a $2.50 processing fee which is fine with me. I did not have to provide any additional information to withdraw the money, fast and easy, something I thought was fantastic. By electing to receive the $25 check through the mail, I only withdrew $22.50 so that the $2.50 was available for the processing fee, leaving me with an account balance of $0 when all said and done. There is no processing fee if you choose to send the money directly to your bank account, which only requires 2 to 3 business days of processing time. Here’s a screen shot of my transaction:
Now, all I have to do is wait for the check to arrive. When it does, I will provide an image of the scanned check to offer some proof of receipt. If received, I must say it’s one of the easiest ways to get a few extra spending bucks, something we all enjoy. In addition, you may also refer friends, family members, etc, and receive $10 for each one that completes the same registration.
Now it’s my turn to refer you, that is only if you would like to receive $25 for free and try something new other than the same old PayPal experience. I’m not hiding anything here, if you sign up through my link by clicking the green Sign Up Now banner, I will receive $10 for referring you. Keep in mind this is for residents of the United States. Register your free account now, because you only have until May 15, 2008 to receive your free $25. Spread the word of your experience, and try and make some extra money for yourself. Remember not to spam everyone when referring. Revolution Money will allow you to make up to $500 in referral money within one calendar year, through promotions etc, which I think is very fair. If this info has helped you, give it a shot. And remember, I will post a scan upon receipt of payment. Now go on, get some free money the easy way!
UPDATE: I received the free check from Revolution, see the latest information here.
Mar
7
10,000 BC Movie Reviews
Filed Under Movies, Reviews | Leave a Comment
I’m on the prowl for some feedback and reviews of the new 10,000 BC movie. I’ve always had some sort of interest in movies like this. I have had mixed thoughts from the previews that I have seen so far through. I’m sure I will check it out soon. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts about the movie once you have seen it.