Two artists with 15-year histories released new songs in the past week. The dichotomy between them’s kind of interesting, so why not review them both simultaneously? So here’s my take on new songs from Britney Spears and Fiona Apple. Continue reading
Clipping digital coupons with SavingStar
As occasionally referenced here on the blog, I experiment with loyalty and coupon programs. I look for ways to simply recoup costs. I continue to be most enamored with Plink, which I’ve accumulated more then $150 back since starting to use it. But another one I’m beginning to like more is SavingStar. Continue reading
Book publisher settlments: For now, we wait.
It wasn’t that long ago that I wrote a post about the pending eBook settlements, and how it looked like it wouldn’t be much longer to receive the settlement payments. I was wrong, but fortunately the news isn’t all bad.
Amazon sent out notices to customers around Labor Day weekend noting that the payments were still pending, but they had grown, due to additional settlements made with more publishers. Thanks to the additional payments, the amount paid per book has now increased, with New York Times bestsellers estimated to garner a refund of $3.06 per book, with non-bestsellers $.73 per book. That’s more than double the previously announced numbers.
Still the same is people who bought eBooks from a major company, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, will by default receive the refunds directly from the company as credit towards future purchases. As a result of the additional settlements, however, people have now been given a second window to request a check, as opposed to receiving a credit. That window ends in mid-October.
Still vague is when the money will be paid, but the earliest will be early December, which is when the final hearing will be; appeals could force further delays, but with all the publishers on board and the payments heavily increased, it’s less likely to happen now.
I miss Busch Gardens
Busch Gardens was like a second home for me growing up. Because of my family’s proximity to the park for a number of years when I was little, season passes, and monthly or so trips, were pretty much inevitable. It was impossible to get tired of the park; it was always immaculate, organized, clean and entertaining. Continue reading
Bought it in print? Get a digital copy.
Awhile back, I wrote about a technology that let Amazon provide customers a digital copy of CDs previously purchased through the service. That service is now expanding to Kindle copies of books previously bought in print. The catch with the MatchBook service is that in many cases customers will need to pay a small fee to get the Kindle copy, but the fee (when required) will range between 99 cents and $2.99. Continue reading
The Cadbury Screme Egg: A mixture of excitement and sadness
While shopping the other day I tripped across something I’d never seen before: The Cadbury Screme Egg. It appears to have existed overseas for awhile, but it’s a new product here in the U.S. My initial reaction was a mixture of excitement… and sadness. Continue reading
Two pop queens try to make a splashy return
Last month saw the kickoff singles of two major female artists as they begin their respective buildups to their third albums. Both saw mega success in the past, and normally a lead-off single offers a hint of what’s to come. Let’s examine the latest from Katy Perry and Lady Gaga. Continue reading
Burger King’s latest: A french fry burger.
Tired of being asked if you want fries with that? Find it frustrating to have to alternate between burgers and fries when eating? Burger King’s all over that, with a French Fry Burger. Continue reading
Who needs horror films when you have stock reporting?
Fox Business’ report on Abercrombie & Fitch’s pretty spectacular profit drop reads more like a movie pitch to Fox for a horror movie. It amused me greatly this morning: Continue reading
Mission Zero is back, and counting too
Earlier this month one of my favorite local bands, Mission Zero, released their latest effort, “12345678!,” which goes off in a new direction from their previous music, although sticking with the pop-friendly vibe they’ve been rocking. Continue reading