No Such Thing as a Minimum Purchase Requirement

One of my pet peeves is retail ripoff's. Lateley it seems that everyone is stating that you must purchase a minimum dollar amount to use a credit or debit card.
MasterCard says this is a violation of the agreement they have with their merchants. I know the cost of everything is going up, but I didn't choose for those merchants to get in the retail business. There is no reason for me to cough up extra money just to make a purchase.

The following link is MasterCards page to report a merchant/retailer violation. I may print out this page and just stick it in my pocket when I go shopping.


Here is a list of MasterCards merchant/retailer violations:

In order to make a MasterCard purchase, the merchant/retailer required a minimum or maximum amount.

The merchant/retailer is adding a charge for using your MasterCard card.

The merchant/retailer required identification.

A merchant/retailer displaying the MasterCard decal in their window refused to accept my MasterCard card.

Jump for the link

Google Maps Driving Simulator

Literally drive yourself crazy. GeoQuake a game developing site has a simulator so you can drive a little car around google maps. I picked Vegas as the city I wanted to drive in. It was really fun driving over the casino's. Gamble that - Caesar's Palace.

jump for the drivin'

Another Online TV Viewer

TidalTV, a broadband video network based out of Baltimore, Maryland, is offering premium content from NBC, CBS, Vogue TV, WSJ, MSNBC National Geographic and HGTV among others. All programs are available instantly at no cost for the viewer; moreover, there are no special plug-ins or downloads needed to access TidalTV content. The site will host both programmed and on-demand videos. The actually viewing experience mimics TV.

Know how much it will cost to fix your car

Finally there is a online place to find out how much that car repair is going to cost you. repairpal.com offers you independent and unbiased repair estimates, user
ratings and reviews, plus advice you can't get anywhere else.

Hey with gas prices nowadays, it's important to have you vehicle in tip-top shape.

Senate Republicans block taxes on oil

Thank you so much!! According to Senate Republicans, higher taxes on oil companies would increase not lower gasoline prices. That totally makes since. In order to have prices as low as possible for us, the oil companies need to have record profits.

I mean, they could reduce profits, increase demand (cuz, now I'm not driving unless I absolutely have to), and raise prices the natural way.

Dems needed 60 votes to pass their energy plan, but they only received 51 votes.

Drink - don't drive! Drinking is now cheaper!

Celebrity foreclosures

Seems they would have learned from the MC Hammer debacle, but maybe the Lifetime network needs to make a movie about how celebrities are losing their homes.

Oh Johnny!
Just this week alone we've found out that Ed McMahon's home will soon be foreclosed on (insert Publishers Clearing House joke here, you mean person).

Boxed out
Pulling up to the rear of this week, there is word this week that multi - million, multi champion, and multi babies mama former heavyweight champion of the entire world, Evander Holyfield is losing his $10 million dollar home. Didn't he make that from just one of the Tyson fights?

Must be the 'roids
Jose Canseco will get in the news any way he knows how. His latest foray has been to join the celeb foreclosure list. He simply walked away from the $2.5 million home because it “didn’t make sense” to continue paying the mortgage.
Here's what Jose thinks happened:
"OK, let’s assume it is $35 million.’ People have to understand that $35 million, you’re paying the government 41 percent. That leaves you with about $17 or $18 million, not even. Then you’re taking care of your whole family.” WOW! Just WOW!

Got him by the throat
Up next, throat grabber and sometimes NBA player, Latrwell Sprewell. Sprewell owed $320,284 on the home, which he purchased for $405,000 in 1994. I really hate to keep saying "WOW! Just WOW!"

No R-E-S-P-E-C-T
The queen of soul, may soon become the queen of foreclosures. Aretha Franklin was recently told that her Detroit mansion is on the verge of foreclosure due to $162.14 in unpaid taxes dating back to 2005.
$162.14 in unpaid taxes dating back to 2005
$162.14 in unpaid taxes dating back to 2005
One hundred and sixty two dollars and fourteen cents dating back to 2005.
The situation has now been resolved.

Stay tuned to see what finally happens to Michael Jacksons NEVER EVER LAND

Top 50 Google Android Apps

ismashphone.com has a comprehensive list of 50 new Google Android applications that will be coming to their phones when released. If you are thinking about getting an Iphone, you may want to wait. These apps are amazing.

jump for more info:

Clinton to give up tonight

AP is reporting that Hillarity is finally ready to throw in the towel tonight, and I am ready to throw up. I am glad this is over regardless of whom is coming out on top. It's time to get the real election started, so we can hear how these candidates plan to help us out. Stay tuned to see if it actually happens.

Play Chess with Wu Tang

Well actually just RZA. It's well known that rappers dig chess, so it should be no surprize to see the worlds first chess and hip hop online community. Now you can talk about gang bangin' while saying "CheckMate". I'm not sure what happens if you lose yet......probably something not good.

Sharper Image store closing discounts begin today

Sharper Image begins yet another episode in the closing of another retail chain. CompUSA went down earlier this year and now another "guys" store. Initial discounts begin at 20 to 40 percent. This is the time to buy that vibrating massage chair you have to sit in everytime you go in one of their stores.

Here's the press release from Buisness Wire:

NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Store closing sales have just begun at all 86 Sharper Image® stores as part of a major transformation of the Sharper Image brand. Over $50 million of inventory is being sold.

Discounts of 20% to 40% are now being offered on all merchandise in all stores. Consumers will be able to take advantage of deep discounts and important savings on electronics and toys as well as products for the home, personal care, the office and travel.

The store closing program is led by Hilco Merchant Resources, LLC and Gordon Brothers Retail Partners, LLC. Michael Keefe, President of Hilco Merchant Resources stated, “This is an outstanding opportunity for consumers to realize unprecedented savings on a remarkable selection of products not to be found anywhere but in Sharper Image stores. This is sure to be a very popular sale, which will not last very long and comes at a perfect time for making Father's Day gift purchases."

Going forward, transformation of the Sharper Image brand will be led by Hilco Consumer Capital, LLC, Gordon Brothers Brands, LLC and additional joint venture partners. The group, which purchased the iconic brand at a bankruptcy auction on May 29, 2008, has developed a global licensing strategy for wholesale, retail, direct-to-retail (DTR), e-commerce and catalog businesses that will exploit The Sharper Image’s heritage of quality, excitement, innovation and fun. The Sharper Image brand will be extended internationally in both existing and new product categories.