I'm a child of the internet, but even so I still haven't came to terms with buying large purchases online.  Rather, I can't stomach buying hardly anything online, no matter the price.  Some of the problem is that I'm an immediate gratification kind of person, when I buy it, I want it now, now after a few days shipping.  Also, I just don't like the idea of my info floating around and not in the intertubes, but rather to whoever Joe Blow happens to be looking at the order database.

Because of my fears I always price items online and then try to buy them locally.  This usually ends with me paying a little bit more from the store, but a convenience I'm willing to pay for.  My latest purchase has taught me to be even more diligent in my research when buying from a big chain store.

From my postings you can see that I purchased a new Flip Ultra HD camcorder.  I think it's the coolest thing since sliced bread, especially since you can purchase one online for as little as $150 from Amazon.  So, for reasons stated above I looked at the prices on BestBuy.com.  Pricing was within $10, something I could live with, so I took off to the Best Buy on the east side of Evansville.

At Best Buy I noticed that the Flip video cameras were vastly higher than they were online.  Consider that the same camera online was priced $40 cheaper and no indication of a sale price.  Furthermore, there was an open box model that sold for still more than a brand new item at BestBuy.com!

I'm not against brick 'n mortar locations making money and paying for a convenience.  I just don't think they should be taking advantage of people trusting they will get the best price, especially when it's advertised for much lower online from the same company.

The Best Buy employee was happy to match the online price from BestBuy.com, but not from Amazon.com.  The stores policy is to only honor pricing online when the company has a local presence.  Meaning, they would match a Target.com price, but not a NewEgg.com price.  So keep this in mind if you are out buying pricey new toys, check online first and don't trust 'On Sale' pricing at the store.

A few weeks ago I went to the Duck Inn, to see the local hard rock band Calling Corners.  They were nice enough to take the time and provide an e-mail interview.  Please check it out below.

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You guys put on an awesome show a few weeks ago when I saw you at the Duck Inn.  It was very refreshing to see live music in Evansville that hits as hard as you guys do, I'm a big fan of face melting-high-energy rock and you guys delivered.  It was so intense that the people on the other side of the bar had to come see what all the awesome was about.

Thank you for the compliment and we appreciate you being there.

I think it's very refreshing to hear original music from a local band,instead of the tried and true covers.  There is also a lot to be said for a band that can create a very entertaining show, even though a listener may not be familiar with their songs.

That's really one of the main things we focus on, is our stage presence.  For two reasons, one...we're living in a visual world now-a-days.  And two, because most people go to a local bar/venue to see a cover band, a person may get bored with an original set until they know your material.  So no matter how good your songs are, you have to keep them entertained with your energy on stage.

At this stage in your career do you prefer to play original songs live or do covers?

Original music most definitely.  Matt (our guitar player) and myself spent a number of years in a couple of local cover bands and it's a great time, and there's money to be made.  But doing your own music, hearing people sing YOUR songs back to you, that's more rewarding than all the money in the world.

We know from your MySpace Page that your influences are Trapt, Breaking Benjamin, Chevelle, etc..  But explain to someone who has never heard your music before what it sounds like, in 3 words.

Heavy Melodic Rock

Where is your favorite place to rock in Evansville?

There's a couple of favorites actually.  We love Woody's and we appreciate everything Zack has done for us so far.  Great staff, great P.A., with national after national coming through.  And then, we love O'Brian's Sports Bar as well.  That's a bar with a great vibe, just relaxed.  You feel like you can do anything there and people are gonna love it.

You say you guys got to share the stage with Theory of A Deadman, how has that experience motivated you as musicians?

I think it's motivated us to really keep working like we're working.  The "dream" is very much a possibility, and the fact that on our level we can get on the same stage as bands like Theory, or any of the other bands on their level that we've played with, definitely shows that.  Hard work definitely pays off.

We talked a little bit about internet popularity playing a part in getting signed to a record label.  Do you personally think Friend Count equals popularity?

I'm not sure if it can define your popularity, but I think in the beginning it definitely helps you gain that popularity that you're looking for.  Because if you can pull 50 of your closest friends to every show, it sends the message that you have something going on, and that someone besides you believes in your music and what you're doing.  From there, other people get curious, come see your show, talk about your show, help build your show, and that's how you build your following.

You mentioned your MySpace Page and Facebook account numerous times throughout the night, does that generate a noticeable jump in online presence after every show?

MySpace not so much, we have a few friend requests here and there after the show so we keep plugging it.  But I think MySpace has went numb for the most part.  But our Facebook page definitely has.  We went from 3 fans to 200 plus in a matter of days.  And the cool thing about Facebook, it's honest.  Same goes with Twitter.  And what I mean by that is, you can't send friend requests from a FB band page or a Twitter account, so those are 200 plus people (on the FB page) that have searched us out because they liked the band and became a fan.  So those are the people that are gonna keep coming to shows and buying tickets.

Big name acts like Nine Inch Nails have embraced BitTorrent as a means to distribute music freely, assuming fans will be more inclined to buy your music if they like it.  Do you think there is any weight in that or considered this as a business model?

Ya know, I do think there's a lot of weight in this.  When this band first started we were so focused on how much money we could make once we got something recorded, or t-shirts, or whatever.  You're almost blinded by it, and by the time you see in front of you again, you're frustrated because you've only sold 3 cd's or whatever.  But I actually saw an interview with Trent Reznor a while back and he talked about this business model and giving stuff away and it makes alot of sense.  And we actually do that now.  We'll burn some songs to a spool of cd's and hand them out at our shows.  And then when people wanna hear more, they buy the actual disc.  And not only that, but we're looking at cheap things we can put our stamp on and hand out at shows as well.  People love free.

Where do you see Calling Corners 5 years from now?

Hopefully on the road doing this for a living.  We have a lot in the works right now and people should expect big things from us.  Because it's gonna happen.

Thanks a ton for your time, I look forward to catching you guys live again
soon.  Good luck.

Thank you.

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I can't stress enough how great these guys are live, it really is worth the cover charge.  Also, be sure to buy their album, which is available at Joe's Record Shack.

Lastly, be sure to add them as a friend on your MySpace and Facebook accounts.  And, if you twitter, be sure to follow them there as well.  Their next performance will be at Woody's on October 28th, see you there!

Calling Corners MySpace Account

Calling Corners Facebook Account

Calling Corners Twitter

Here is some free advice for local car lots looking to capitalize on the popularity of Evansville Craigslist.  Yes it's free to list and there are not printed rules to follow, however there is netiquette that should be followed if you don't want to piss potential buyers off.  Let's get started.

1. Always advertise the price, don't  make me call you.  Town and Country Ford is the latest offender of this and frankly I'll never shop there again, that's how much it pisses me off.

2. Provide plenty of pictures, at least 4, don't tease me with the perfect exterior picture when the interior is rotted.

3. Remove the damn listing if you've sold it off your lot.  Internet shoppers don't like to hear about great sales after the fact.

4. Don't Spam!  Filling up Craigslist with listings from your car lot is the equivalent of filling my email inbox with Viagra ads and then coming to the grocery store with me and pushing my cart over when it's full.  Don't do it, you are ruining the free service for everyone else and it makes you look like a dick.

5. Don't list crap.  Only list things on Craigslist that are of value or a special deal.  This means if you have a special edition car or truck you want to sell, list it, or if you have a bargain basement price, list it.  Everything else you can keep to yourself and try to sell off of your lot.

I love to save money. I cut coupons, watch sale adds, sign up for every email mailing list possible all in order to save a few extra dollars. Spending wisely is a tricky challenge for anyone in this economy and as a stay at home mommy it is one of the most important ways I can contribute to my family's quality of life. However, many stores send notifications and money saving coupons only to their credit card holders...until now.

Old Navy has started a wonderful and actually fun way of receiving superb coupons. They call it "Old Navy Weekly". I discovered it on accident by becoming a "fan" of them on Facebook. The tab is accessible to anyone on their website, the coupons, however, are another story.

The "modelquins" are hanging out advertising current deals and great new items. It is your job to hunt for the coupons. Its totally exciting. By moving click-able items around on the modelquins the different coupons become available. A set amount of coupons are available of each kind, i.e. 25% your purchase, $50 off $100 purchase or even $70 off $100 purchase. Fans of Old Navy on Facebook post clues to capturing these worthy coupons but the best coupons are usually gone within minutes. So far all I've been able to snag are the 25% off and $10 off of $50 purchase coupons but both are better than nothing!  New coupons are updated each Thursday night between 7:00pm and 11:00pm.

Our daughter is about to turn 2 years old and will need a complete new wardrobe for fall. I have always loved Old Navy clothes for their style and quality but they aren't usually my first stop for kids clothes because of the price. Having these coupons available to me in the next couple of months will put Old Navy in the top spot for stores to shop for her. Its a smart move for Old Navy and for any mommies trying stretch their clothing budgets

I can't live without the internet, nor can I live without all the great things the internet has to offer.  However, at times it can be a bit daunting and the information overload can cause to a loss of what I'm trying to focus on.  Thankfully there are tools available that streamline my browsing experience and generally make work go by so much faster.  Below are  my list of online must have's.

FireFox Browser - If you aren't using Fire Fox, this is the first thing you need to do.  Click on the link and go download and install, then come back to this page, I'll wait.  The rest of the Add-Ons below require FireFox to utilize, do yourself a favor and start browsing the internet like a genius.  IE are for those who just don't know any better and now you know.

ReadItLaterList.com - I use multiple computers every single day, from my personal laptop to my work PC, and even my wife's laptop when there are no other options.  Throughout my browsing time I come across a lot of interesting articles that I may not have time to completely digest, ReadItLaterList.com serves as a simple and efficient solution.  With a simple check mark I can create a list of pages I can go back and read later and synchronize with my other computers.  That way no matter where I'm seated I can follow up with where I left off from the other computer.

Fire.FM - I'm the type of person that must have constant back ground noise in the form of music.  Furthermore my taste in music varies widely and can change from day to day, so buying and bringing CD's to work is not an option.  Thanks to the internet there is a free and legal alternative, streaming music live to my browser based on my current listening preferences.  It's as simple as typing in the name of favorite band and the rest of my day is filled with music similar to the artist I choose, all FREE.

Foxit Reader - PDF's are both a great convenience and a thorn in my side, mainly because of the hoops Adobe requires you to jump through every few weeks.  I sear I spend more time updating that silly program than I actually do using it.  Thanks to Foxit Reader I can now read and make PDF's without having to use the bloated Adobe Reader software.  Foxit Reader also makes it a breeze to view PDF's directly in your browser and comes with complete functionality to never have to use Adobe reader ever again.

AVG Or Avast - Both of these programs are completely free and in my experience provide a better anti-virus service than paid software like Norton.  AVG and Avast are capable of scanning, identifying, and then removing any type of virus on your computer.  In the future I will be releasing a list of computer clean up software that I use to keep my PC running fast.  For now, if you aren't using one of these anti-virus programs, go download now and see which one you like best.  If you like using Torrents, LimeWire or other type of p2p application then Avast is the better choice.

gMail - This is simply the best free email service available online.  It was created by Google and provides plenty of options, customization, and storage for even the most talkative email enthusiast.  Furthermore, gMail allows synchronization of email accounts, which means you can have gMail read your hotmail or personal server side email accounts.  It's the only email application I use and I manage about a dozen different aliases.

That's it for now, but I will make online tools a regular feature on Evansville Blog.  If you have any suggestions or recommendations, please let me know what tools you can't live without.  Also, I'm available for questions as well, so start using the internet in a better way.

A local Evansville resident has posted a very interesting item on eBay.  joehilarious has posted a Tea Party Foam Finger, starting at just $6.00!  The foam finger is 18" long and contains the wording 'No Higher Taxes' in bold print.

Interesting way to protest and saves the time of making your own sign.  I bet this guy might even allow for local pickup, to discuss the current situation the effects of the Stimulus Package.

EvansvilleBlog.com is currently working on a revamp, to better reflect some goals that I have for the site.  Some of these goals will include guest authors, regular reviews, and hopefully a growing community of Evansville residents wanting to make their voices heard.

For the next couple days plan on some design changes, header designs, and template holders until the project is complete.  To stay on top of the changes please subscribe to my Twitter Feed.

Interested In Writing?

I'm looking for local authors that would be interested in writing restaurant or event news to be published to EvansvilleBlog.com.  No experience necessary, after all this is the internet.  However, I do ask that you be a local Evansville resident and have a general interest in the city of Evansville.  To apply, please send sample work and contact to me through the blog's contact system here.

Twitter is a popular and exponentially growing online communication tool used by virtually everyone.  Think of the service as like a one way conversation that allows you to listen into what certain individuals are doing, right when it's happening.  Now, the conversations don't have to be one way, the ability to subscribe to each others updates is what makes Twitter a social phenomenon.

So who uses Twitter in Evansville and why should you follow them?

ME - Myself and  this blog are on twitter, so you can be notified of new blog posts and what I'm doing on a semi-personal basis. http://twitter.com/EvansvilleBlog

Scott Dimmich - Scott is a meterologist for News 25 and updates frequently.  On occasions he may even help you decide if weather will hold off long enough for a round of golf. http://twitter.com/NEWS25sdimmich

Debbie Bush - Debbie is the general manager at 14 WFIE and updates frequently with comments on world news and local events.  She also frequently RT's which is a retell that alerts her followers of what she is interested in following. http://twitter.com/debbiebush

CJ Hoyt - CJ is the news director at 14 news and updates his twitter account with semi-personal updates as well.  Kinda like what he's currently watching on TV, but also keeps followers updated on what's going on at the News station. http://twitter.com/CJHoyt14

YOU - Twitter is free to sign up and free to use and best yet there isn't even any advertising.  While the latter may change in time, right now it's a great resource for immediate news and communicating with others around the Tri-State. https://twitter.com/signup

In this day and age everyone has heard of eBay, an online market place for people to have virtual yardsales.  And no doubt you've heard of a little antique publication called the Evansville Courier as well.  Both of these mediums can be used to sell something, but both cost money, let's look at an alternative free classified solution for Evansville.

Craigslist.org is a massive, online, free classified website where people can trade locally.  Joining Craigslist is free and to post items from CD's to cars is 100% free.  Unlike other classifieds that require an upfront cost and then a final value fee, no matter the price, on Craigslist Evansville it's free.

I've been using Craigslist for several years, both buying and selling.  From what I can tell, the Evansville section of the classifieds has absolutely exploded, especially in the Cars & Trucks section.  I attribute a lot of the increase in action to the slumping economy and people looking for deals or wanting to liquidate their driveway.  Be warned however, there are plenty of scammers on there, just like on eBay.  Since Evansville has a local section, don't pay up front for anything and always meet in a public area for transactions.

Craigslist Tips For Trading In Evansville

When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:

• Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe
• Tell a friend or family member where you're going
• Take your cell phone along if you have one
• Consider having a friend accompany you
• Trust your instincts

It's important to remember, that even online, if it's too good to be true, it normally a scam.  As mentioned previously, I've sold a vehicle on the free classifieds and purchased a number of items from local Evansville residents.  However, it's possible, once you have an account, to post items all over the US, depending on your locale.

So, start saving some money and start liquidating that garage the free way.

Thanks to Josh for leaving a comment on my blog, I was able to find out about his new website Evansville Intelligencer.  The Intelligencer was launched at the beginning of April and appears to cover most things Evansville.  At first glance the categories covered will be Health and Hygiene, Society and Events, Food and Drinks, Evansville Discoveries, and my personal favorite, Politics.

It's obvious that great articles about Evansville will be published here, mainly due to the sites impressive list of contributors.  Looks like experts on night life, legal studies, and even an MD contributing to the Health of Evansville.

Admittedly I don't get out as much as I would like, mainly because I'm a new father.  But thanks to the Intelligencer's articles I can pick and choose, spending my free time wisely.  However, as for the politics side of things, we may be on opposite sides of the fence.  So I'll tread lightly on upcoming comments and reviews.

Good luck on the site Joshua, Jessica, Anne, and Kelley!