Daddy Forever

Win a Trip to Paris and Five HP Mini Netbooks

Daddy Forever — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:05:11 +0000

Last year, I gave away two notebooks and one multi-touch computer. This year, I hoping to giveaway multiple computers as well. However, I have no idea when that will happen. In the meantime, feel free to enter the Intel Solid-State Drive giveaway. The grand prize is a five-day trip to Paris for two and a HP Mini Netbook. The trip to Paris includes airfare and hotel (five days and four nights).

In addition to the grand prize, four lucky dads and moms can also win a HP Mini Netbook. All the mini notebooks feature an Intel Solid-State Drive (SSD). As most geek dads and moms know, SSDs increase system performance, speed boot up time, and reduce the launch time of applications. However, solid-state drives cost more, which is why they are not standard on most computers.

The Intel HP Mini Netbooks Giveaway ends April 26, 2010. Moms and dads can enter once a day. The entry form only takes a couple of minutes to fill out. It will ask for basic information (name, email, address, phone, planet of birth, etc). The contest is limited to legal residents of the United States. Good luck everyone.

[Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post. However, half the people in our neighborhood works for Intel or have worked for Intel (including this dad blogger back in the 1500's).]

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St. Patrick's Day 2010

Daddy Forever — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 08:03:03 +0000

Dads and moms, don't forget to dress your little ones in green on St. Patrick's Day. You don't want anyone pinching your kids, do you? Wait, maybe you shouldn't answer that question. After all, dads and moms do have the right to not incriminate themselves. Have a fun Saint Patrick's Day everyone!

The two little ones in a playful St. Paddy's Day moment

Little Disney is trying to figure out what the green thing is while
Little Monkey is waiting to be recused her from her pesky, little brother

Note: blue and not green was the color originally associated with St. Patrick.

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Postcard Printing Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 14:09:35 +0000

Thanks to my latest sponsor, UPrinting, I'm giving away 100 custom postcards on my dad blog. The winner can have the postcards printed in full color on both sides of the 14pt cardstock. Cool. With postcard printing, dads and moms can create postcards (duh), thank you cards, party invitations, save the date cards, birth announcements, and promotional mailing pieces for a business.

One lucky reader on this dad blog will receive 100 custom postcards (full color on both sides, 14pt cardstock). To enter, leave a comment on my dad blog telling me what kind of postcards you plan to print. Due to shipping costs, the giveaway is limited to US residents. The deadline to enter is Sunday, March 28th. The winner will be randomly selected. I will forward the winner's email address to UPrinting.com. Make sure to use a valid email address in the email text box.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Leave a comment about postcards on Daddy Forever's Facebook fan page
Tweet about this giveaway or about your favorite postcards ONCE on Twitter and include @daddyforever and #giveaway in the tweet (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)

[Disclosure: UPrinting is offering me 100 postcards for running this giveaway on my dad blog. UPrinting is a company that enables dads and moms to print online.]

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FCC Consumer Broadband Test

Daddy Forever — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:22:01 +0000

The Federal Communications Commission recently announced a new broadband test service to help dads and moms clock the speed of their Internet connection. The tests help geek dads and moms compare their actual speeds with the speeds advertised by their providers. My test results actually came close to what Verizon FIOS advertised (up to 10 Mbps download and 2 Mbps upload).

In the broadband speed test, moms and dads are randomly assigned either the Ookla or M-Lab test. I'm not sure what the differences in the tests are, but the results do vary slightly between the Ookla or M-Lab test in Internet Explorer and Firefox

Ookla broadband test with Internet Explorer (Thursday 9pm)

M-Lab broadband test with Internet Explorer (Thursday 9pm)

Ookla broadband test with Firefox (Thursday 9pm)

M-Lab broadband test with Firefox (Thursday 9pm)

FCC Consumer Broadband Test Overview

Download Speed
The speed at which data is sent from the testing server to your computer
Upload Speed
The speed at which data is sent from your computer to the testing server
Latency
The time it takes for data to be sent from your computer to the testing server and back (the round trip time)
Jitter
The variability in the delay between your computer and the testing server

Note: the FCC requires the street address from where dads and moms are connecting to the Internet because it uses the data to analyze broadband quality and availability on a geographic basis.

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Toys of the Year

Daddy Forever — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:09:33 +0000

Many people have heard of the Oscars (the academy awards, not the hot dog), but how many dads and moms know what TOTYs are? FYI for dads and moms, TOTYs are Oscars for the toy industry. TOTY is short for Toy of the Year. For the last ten years, members and associate members of the Toy Industry Association (TIA) have selected the top toys for the year. Read on to see this year's winners of the Toy of the Year Awards.

Property of the Year
Bakugan by Cartoon Network
This isn't a surprise to moms and dads of boys. All the boys in our area are into Bakugan. BTW, yesterday Spin Master announced the new Bakugan Season 3: Gundalian Invaders toy line.
Innovative Toy of the Year
Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia
According to the media, Zhu Zhu Pets were the must of have toys for Christmas last year.
Educational Toy of the Year
Mindstorms NXT 2.0 by LEGO Systems
How can you go wrong with Lego and robots? In my opinion, Lego Mindstorms NXT 2.0 is the perfect toy for geek dads and geeky children. Warning, the list price is $280.
Electronic Entertainment Toy of the Year
Rubik's TouchCube by Techno Source
Maybe it's just me, but I think a list price of $150 ($65 at Amazon) for a Rubik's Cube is ridiculous. What's wrong with the old mechanical Rubik's Cube?
Boy Toy of the Year
Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid by Spin Master
My son got a Bakugan 7-in-1 Maxus Dragonoid for Christmas. With a list price of $40 ($34 at Amazon), this geek dad thinks the toy is overpriced for what you get. My son, however, doesn't agree with me. He thinks the toy is so cool.
Girl Toy of the Year
Zhu Zhu Pets by Cepia
Looks like Zhu Zhu Pets won two awards. Anyone have an opinion about Zhu Zhu Pets?
Infant Toy of the Year
Crayola Beginnings Color Me a Song by Crayola
With this toy, toddlers can create original music by scribbling. Sounds like a cute toy for our one year old.
Preschool Toys of the Year
Tonka Chuck & Friends Chuck My Talking Truck by Playskool
Bilibo by Active People
A talking truck sounds more fun than a non-talking one, but otherwise I'm not sure what's so special about the toy truck. I don't understand the Bilibo toy, but the open-ended toy has won several awards.
Activity Toy of the Year
Crayon Town by Wild Planet Entertainment
Crayon Town combines the fun of coloring with real 3-D play. I think my kids would like Crayon Town.
Game of the Year
Sort It Out! by University Games
A family card game that involves sorting items. My nine year old would probably like this game.
Outdoor Toy of the Year
My 1st Scooter by Radio Flyer
Most kids like scooters and this one looks kinda cool.
Specialty Toy of the Year
Captain Owen's Dolphin Explorer Boat by Sprig Toys
Looks like the toys were designed for pretend play. The set kinda reminds me of the superhero action figures my kids play with it. Except the dolphins probably don't have any special powers.

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Lunar Antics Giveaway Winner

Daddy Forever — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:01:55 +0000

The winner of the Lunar Antics Giveaway on my dad blog is Lydia. Thanks to Laconil Publishing and Robert Walters, Lydia will receive a signed copy of The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy, I'd Hate to Be Made Out of That Stuff! (you can also order Boy, I'd Hate to Be Made Out of That Stuff from Amazon). Congrats to Lydia! Thank you everyone for entering and take it easy the rest of the week.

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Dairy Free, Egg Free Birthday Cake

Daddy Forever — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:03:53 +0000

The Little Monkey and I baked Little Disney a birthday cake on Saturday (his birthday was last Wednesday, but he was sick and didn't stop vomiting until Saturday). Because my son is allergic to eggs and dairy, we used Duncan Hines cake mix and frosting. Unlike Betty Crocker, some of the Duncan Hines cake mixes and frosting do not contain milk. In place of eggs, we used Ener-G Egg Replacer (free of gluten, wheat, casein, dairy, egg, yeast, soy, nut, low protein, rice). I bought the Ener-G Egg Replacer at Whole Foods, but you also order it from Amazon if you can't find it. BTW, everyone carry Betty Crocker cake mixes and frosting, but only a handful of stores carry Duncan Hines cake mixes and frosting. And when the stores do stock them, they only carry a few flavors (why do they stock lemon cake mix, but not lemon frosting?).

After baking the cake and enduring my wife's laughter, Little Disney showed his appreciation by dumping his slice of cake on the table. He didn't even try take a bite. Turned out to be a good move on his part because we just found out he's also allergic to soy and wheat (the Duncan Hines cake mix and frosting contain wheat and soybean oil). More bad news, but it could be worst. At least Little Disney is not allergic to water like Elphaba (anyone read Wicked?).

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Scentsy Mother's Day Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:33:51 +0000

I know Mother's Day is still two months away, but some dads and kids need to start early on their plans for Mother's Day (not me of course, this geek dad has already reserved a table at McDonald's). Here's an idea: Scentsy bars and warmers would make a fantastic Mother's Day present. And thanks to Scentsy, I'm giving away a Scentsy System on my dad blog. Before I get to the details of the Scentsy Mother's Day Giveaway, let me tell you a little about Scentsy.

What is Scentsy?
Scentsy bars are highly scented wax candles that melt at a very low temperature in specially designed electric warmers. Scentsy also carries hanging fresheners for cars, travel tins, and room sprays.

What's so special about Scentsy?
My wife use to light wax candles around the house. But after we had children, she switched to battery-powered candles because they are less dangerous. Plus my wife got annoyed with me blowing out all her candles (I couldn't help it — I was positive my kids would accidentally knock them over and burn the city down). Unless your kids eat them, battery-powered candles are safe. But you know what's wrong with them? They have no scent. That's what great about Scentsy bars. They are scented like waxed candles (there are over 80 fragrances). And just like battery-powered candles, Scentsy bars are not dangerous for children or pets (great news for moms and dads).

The Mother's Day Giveaway
Thanks to my latest sponsor, Scentsy and Natalie Hodson (Independent Scentsy Consultant and the mom of a cute five-month old baby), I'm giving away a Scentsy System on my dad blog. The gift pack includes a full size warmer and three Scentsy bars. The deadline to enter is March 30th (Pacific time). The contest is limited to readers in the US and Canada. The winner will be randomly selected. To enter, go to the Scentsy web site and leave a comment on my dad blog telling me what your favorite warmer or scent is.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Leave a comment about your favorite Scentsy warmer or scent on my Facebook fan page
Tweet about this giveaway or about your favorite Scentsy warmer or scent ONCE on Twitter and include @daddyforever and #giveaway in the tweet (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)

[Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post.]

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Walmart Books Promotion, Food Allergies, and Alice in Wonderland

Daddy Forever — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:33:05 +0000

Walmart Books Promotion | Food Allergies | Alice in Wonderland Video Game

This week on my dad blog, I have three short news stories that may be of interest to dads and moms:

Read Across America at Walmart
Walmart.com is running a month-long promotion on children books as part of Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss's birthday. Dads and moms can save up to 40% on the top 500 children's books. Parents can purchase children books for as low as $3 (including free shipping). According to various studies, by the age of two, children who are read to regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study found that children who were read to at least three times a week by a family member were almost twice as likely to score in the top 25 percent in reading.

Hope for Children with Food Allergies
According to three new studies, oral immunotherapy can help kids build up tolerance to foods to which they are allergic. In experimental treatments, children with food allergies were fed tiny amounts of the very food to which they're allergic [Warning! Dads and moms should not try this at home because there is a chance a child could have a significant life-threatening reaction].

In the first study, nine of 12 children with peanut allergies who swallowed small doses of peanut protein under a doctor's supervision daily for three to five years can now eat unlimited amounts of peanuts.

In a second study of 25 children with peanut allergies, the researchers gave the peanut protein treatment to 16 children and placebo powder to the other nine. After one year, the children were given the peanut challenge. The kids taking placebo had allergic reactions after consuming the equivalent of one and a half peanuts. Those in the treatment group could tolerate 20 peanuts before they developed symptoms.

The third study involved 55 children aged 5 to 18. Forty were given escalating daily doses of egg white powder and the rest got placebo powder. None of the kids on placebo passed the egg challenge a year later, while 21 of the 40 could tolerate the full 5-gram dose without having a reaction. That's only about half an egg, but a few of the children are able to tolerate more and are eating scrambled eggs for breakfast.

Alice in Wonderland Video Game
Disney Interactive Studios released a new video game, Alice in Wonderland (anyone see the new movie yet?), for Wii, Nintendo DS, and Microsoft Windows. In the videogame, Alice and friends embark on a journey to save Underland, which has been taken over by the Red Queen's army. Players explore multiple environments, including the Mushroom Forest and the Red Queen's castle filled with strange doors, passageways, false perspectives, and objects that come to life to enhance the journey. It's rated Everyone 10+. The list price is $40 for the Wii, $30 for the Nintendo DS, and $20 for Windows. The kids and I have not tried the game, so I don't know if it's any good. Leave a comment if you have played the game.

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How to See Attractions for Free

Daddy Forever — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:26:09 +0000

Previously, I shared a tip about how dads and moms can get into popular attractions for free or at a discount. Today, I have another tip for seeing local attractions for free. And with spring break just around the corner for many dads and moms, this money saving tip will come in handy. Read on to find out how.

Lan Su Chinese Garden

Here's my frugal tip: Many libraries have cultural passes moms and dads can check out for free. For instance, our county library have free passes for several attractions in the greater Portland area:

Portland Children's Museum
The Children's Museum provides children with the hands-on tools for exploration, artistic self-expression and development of their imagination
Portland Art Museum
The Portland Art Museum hosts a diverse collection of art from contemporary to European masters
Lan Su Chinese Garden
Lan Su has been called the most exquisite, authentic Suzhou-style garden ever built outside China
Portland Japanese Garden
A haven of tranquil beauty which has been proclaimed one of the most authentic Japanese gardens outside Japan
Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks and Minerals
The Museum collection includes a variety of crystallized mineral species, world class specimens of common quartz and gypsum, colorful copper minerals, and one of the two finest red rhodochrosite specimens in the world
Washington County Museum
Learn about life in the county — from the Atfalati Indians, through the pioneer settlements of the 1800's to today's population growth and the influx of high tech
Pittock Mansion
A visit to this 16,000 square foot chateaueseque mansion will bring you back to the romantic charm of a vanished era
A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village
This hands-on, interactive museum is designed to spark children's curiosity

The cultural pass is free, but there are catches. For instance, the rules for the free pass at our county library are:

Each cultural pass is available for a one-day check-out
Passes should be reserved in advance
Borrowers must be 18 years of age or older
Patrons must pick-up and return the pass to the same library
Each pass provides free admission to the destination (restrictions may apply)
Use of the passes is intended to serve as an introduction to each destination
The passes are not intended for repeated use by the same individual or family
Library patrons are encouraged to purchase personal memberships to cultural destinations if they are interested in frequent use

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Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes Giveaway Winners

Daddy Forever — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:07:28 +0000

The winners of the Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes Giveaway are Alicia (bloggyig), Desert Songbird (azdice), and Karen M (ditkaren). Thanks to Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes (Facebook :: Twitter), each winner will receive a set of two meal passes. Each pass is good for one meal at either Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes. Congrats to Alicia, Desert Songbird, and Karen M! Enjoy your dinner at Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes. Thank you everyone for entering the contest.

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Baby Turns One

Daddy Forever — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 08:02:30 +0000

Little Disney turns one on Wednesday (March 3rd). He had a rough first year [H1N1; seizures; food allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tomatoes, and shrimp; Failure To Thrive (FTT) Syndrome; severe eczema (his skin is rough like a lizard and he scratches himself bloody); and acid reflux]. Hopefully his second year will be much better.

On the positive side, Little Disney started walking a month ago. And thanks to the feeding tube, he's now in the 25th percentile (weight). Unfortunately, he still doesn't eat and the doctor won't take him off the IV until he's in the 50th percentile (will probably take another year – ugggh).

Happy Birthday, Little Disney! Daddy and mommy loves you very much.

This is how I sit

This is how I stand

And this is how I poop

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Marvel Super Hero Squad Video Game Review

Daddy Forever — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:36:24 +0000

The kids and I have been playing the Marvel Super Hero Squad video game (by THQ) for over two months now (bought it over the Christmas holidays). As some of you know, my kids are into superheroes (just like super dad). And because my super kids love super heroes, they think Super Hero Squad is super awesome. If your kids are into superheroes and you're looking for a gift idea, my kids recommend Super Hero Squad. The video game is fun for geek dads and moms too (I can vouch for that).

Video Gaming Console Platform
Sony PSP, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, and Wii

Game Rating
Everyone 10+

List Price
The list price is $19.99 for the Sony PSP, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS. The list price is $29.99 for the Wii.

What is Super Hero Squad about?
Duh. The game is about a squad of Marvel Super Hero and their villain counterpart. There are a bunch of Marvel characters in the game (Wolverine, Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Falcon, Captain America, Ms. Marvel, Wolverine, Invisible Woman, Nightcrawler, Spiderman, Storm, Thing, Dr. Doom, Juggernaut, Abomination, Crimson Dynamo, Mole Man, Sabretooth). There are two modes: Battle and Adventure. In Battle mode, you go head-to-head with another player and fight as your favorite superhero or villain. Up to four people can play in Battle mode. In Adventure mode, you and the rest of the Marvel Super Hero Squad must stop Doctor Doom from collecting fractals to create the Infinity Sword. Up to two players can play in Adventure mode.

Will your kids like Super Hero Squad?
If your kids like superheroes, they will probably like the Super Hero Squad game. Battle mode is great for little kids (and geek dads and moms). The Little Monkey (age 4) and Spiderboy (age 6) had no problem figuring out how to battle each other in Battle mode. My little girl actually defeats her big brother consistently. Adventure mode is more suited for older kids. The Little Princess (age 9) can complete the superhero adventures, but the Little Monkey and Spiderboy have problems figuring out what to do to finish their adventure. My kids are not gamers [including Wii Sports (bundled with the Wii console), we only have five games]. My guess is that hard-core gamers probably won't like this game. It's kinda of cartoony.

What I don't like about Super Hero Squad
Because I am a dad, I'm not too fond of a video game that involves punching and kicking. If your kids are the type that goes around hitting other people, this is probably not a good game for them. Luckily for me, my kids don't hit each other or other people (knock on wood) and the game has not changed that. They laugh when they pummel each other in the game, but they don't actually smack each other in real life (thank goodness).

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RingCentral Mobile Hosted Phone System

Daddy Forever — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:26:39 +0000

When the people over at RingCentral asked me to try out their hosted phone system, the geek dad in me couldn't say no. Yeah I know, a virtual PBX is not exactly a topic I usually cover on my dad blog. But I can see value in a hosted phone service for work-at-home dads and moms. Why order a separate work line when you can manage all your calls with RingCentral? And if you're a blogger with a service or product for sale, you can market a toll-free number from RingCentral (instead of your home or cell number). BTW, other than a three month test trial, I did not receive any compensation for writing this review.

What is RingCentral Mobile?
RingCentral Mobile is a virtual phone system for mobile professionals, home offices, and small companies. RingCentral Internet phone service gives dads and moms the power of a Fortune 500 phone system without having to buy and maintain hardware. With RingCentral Mobile, dads and moms can answer calls on a computer or on existing mobile, home, and office phones. Parents can also use RingCentral to send and receive faxes, route calls to any member of their team (or family) and to provide callers with an answering service (e.g., push 1 for sales, 2 for geek dad, 3 for the ball and chain). RingCentral gives small businesses the flexibility to easily configure their virtual phone system to match their needs and achieve a big company image.

How much does RingCentral Mobile cost?
The cost depends on the plan, which starts at only $9.99 a month:

Professional
$9.99 per month, 100 minutes, 5 extensions, 6.7¢ per additional minute
Business Plus
$24.99 per month, 500 minutes, 10 extensions, true 800 number, dedicated fax, dial-by-name directory, 5.9¢ per additional minute
RingCentral Office 1-line
$49.99 per month, unlimited calling and fax for one user, 10 extensions, local direct dial number, toll-free number, dedicated fax
RingCentral Office 4-line
$99.99 per month, unlimited calling and fax for 4 users, unlimited extensions, 4 local direct dial numbers, toll-free number, dedicated fax, multiple office or location support

What are the features of RingCentral Mobile?

Toll Free Numbers
Regular toll free (866, 877, etc.), true 1-800, or vanity number (e.g., 866-geek-dad).
Local Numbers
You can live and work in one city and get a local number in another.
Voicemail
Professional greetings, multiple delivery options, and alerts. Pick up voicemail via email or online account and play over your computer speakers — or pick up by phone.
Internet Fax
Send and receive faxes by email and online. Free fax software to electronically sign and edit faxes.
Virtual PBX
Create a business phone system using the phone number and extensions that you get with your subscription. Connect teams across the country or create virtual departments that are meaningful to you.
RingCentral Mobile App
An iPhone application that provides access to your RingCentral voicemails and faxes. It also enables you to use your RingCentral number as your Caller ID when you make business calls from your iPhone. Add, edit, and dial personal and business contacts.
Visual Voicemail
Manage voicemail and fax messages visually. Visual voicemail lists all your received voicemail and fax messages and lets you select any item from the list.
DigitalLine
Optional DigitalLine VoIP Phone Service allows you to instantly add digital phone lines anywhere you have high-speed Internet access. Quickly and easily connect satellite offices, home offices and remote employees.
Dial-by-name Directory
Auto-generated, the directory provides a list of departments and employees to callers, who can dial by first or last name.
Call Forwarding
Callers who dial your toll free or local number are directed to any of your phones (cell, home, and office phones). You can also direct calls to employees, partners and departments around the country. And with call transfer, you can transfer calls in progress between your landline and your mobile phone.
Call Queues
Never have another important call go to voicemail. With call queues, callers are automatically placed on-hold until one of your pre-designated agents becomes available to take the call.
Answering Rules
Direct callers to voicemail, extensions and alternate phone numbers based on date and time, date range, and caller ID as well as the number they dial (if you have more than one).
Call Screening
Auto-attendant calls you first before connecting a call, and announces the caller's name; it then gives you options: accept, reject or send it to voicemail.
Real-Time Call Control
Manage your calls online, in real time. Call Controller (call management tool) displays a caller ID and gives you clickable options.
Message Alerts
Get text messages on your cell phone or PDA alerting you to new faxes and voicemail.
Music/Messages On Hold
Reflect your business brand through the music and messages you play to callers on hold.
Click-to-call Out
Return calls instantly or highlight a number on a Web page or application and click.
Click-to-call Me
Drive more traffic to your sales phones with RingMe, an embedded button for your Web site and email signatures. Visitors can reach your business with a click of a mouse.
Outlook Integration
Fax directly from MS Outlook and applications such as Microsoft Word. Synchronize your Outlook contacts with your RingCentral account. Place calls from Outlook with click-to-call dialing.
Call Logs
A record of your calls and faxes is stored in your Web-based account. You'll see who called, the phone number, and the date, time, length and result of the transaction.
Calling Card
Convenient, safe and inexpensive: use your RingCentral phone number to place calls from any phone, just like a calling card.
Support
Customer service representatives are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Extensions
You'll have a flexible extension structure to incorporate local and satellite offices and employees, wherever they are. You'll be able to configure each extension individually through answering rules that give you a wide range of blocking, screening, fax and routing options through an easy-to-use interface.
Call Transfer
You will be able to transfer calls from any phone to any other phone, permanently or on the fly.
Dedicated Fax
Every RingCentral number can be used for phone calls and fax; however, if you need an additional toll free or local phone number for sending and receiving faxes, you can get a dedicated fax number.
Professional Recordings
Use professional voice talent to record your greetings and announcements.

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Connectify Wi-Fi Hotspot Software

Daddy Forever — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:09:23 +0000

My wireless router died recently so I have been playing with an application call Connectify for the last couple of days. The software is easy to use and very useful so I thought I would tell my fellow geek dads and moms about the program.

What is Connectify?
Connectify is an easy to use application that can turn a laptop (or desktop computer with wireless capability) into a Wi-Fi hotspot. Thanks to Connectify, geek dads and moms can wireless connect to the Internet without a wireless router. Cool! It's also free. Double cool! The software isn't limited to computers. Dads and moms can also connect Wi-Fi enabled devices like a cell phone or a Wii console. In my test, our Wii console detected the Connectify Wi-Fi hotspot, but couldn't connect to it for some reason (I'll get it working eventually).

What's so special about Connectify?
With Connectify, dads and moms can network Wi-Fi devices together without a wireless router. Thanks to the virtual hot spot created by Connectify, parents can shared files, folders, drives, and Internet connection. On the road, users can save money by sharing their Internet connection (instead of paying for each wireless device they want connected). And if dads and moms already have a wireless router at home, they can use Connectify as a repeater to extend their wireless range. Nice!

What's the catch?
It's free, but there are a couple of catches. First, Connectify only works with Windows 7 (the WiFi devices don't need Windows 7). And second, some hardware don't work properly with Connectify (consult the list of supported cards and devices).

How do you set up Connectify?
It's simple:

Download and install the software
Select a mode (Ad Hoc or Access Point) [Note: Access Point mode allows you to share a Wi-Fi connection from the same Wi-Fi card that you are using to access the Wi-Fi network. Ad Hoc mode needs the Internet connection to come from another connection such as Ethernet cable, cellular, or a second Wi-Fi card.]
Name your Wi-Fi hotspot
Create a secure password for your virtual hotspot
Select your Internet connection (no Internet sharing, local area connection, or wireless network connection)
Click on the Start Hotspot button

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Her Batman Dollhouse

Daddy Forever — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:03:46 +0000

The outlaws gave my kids some goodluck money (red envelopes) for Chinese New Year. Take a look at the dollhouse my daughter bought with her money.

It's a Fisher-Price Super Friends Batcave. And no, this dad wasn't there to help her pick out the Batman playset. My wife tried to encourage the Little Monkey to pick a less expensive Kai-lan or Dora girly toy, but my little girl refused.

BTW, my little girl did not get her fondness for superheroes from dad. She got it from big brother (guilty — he got it from me). Sometimes the Little Monkey plays in her big brother's room for hours while he's at school. I wonder what her playdates will be like when she starts kindergarten next fall.

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ABC Neckties Giveaway Winners

Daddy Forever — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 08:37:19 +0000

The winners of the ABC Neckties Giveaway are Carol (cdziuba) and Anne G (ajolly1456). Thanks to Daddy Forever's sponsor, ABC Neckties, the two winners on my dad blog will each receive a $25 gift certificate. I will forward the winners' names and email addresses to ABC Neckties Giveaway. They will send the code straight to the winners' email addresses. Remember, the giveaway is limited to US and Canadians readers. Thank you everyone for entering and have a great week.

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18×24 Poster Print Giveaway Winner

Daddy Forever — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:03:08 +0000

The winner of the Poster Print Giveaway is Kathy Pease. Thanks to Online Poster Printing, Kathy will receive a 18" x 24" poster print on this dad blog. Online Poster Printing's products include digital photo enlargements and digital photos on posters for dads and moms. Congrats to Kathy. Thank you everyone for entering and have a fun weekend!

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Lunar Antics Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:08:28 +0000

This week, I'm giving away a signed copy of The Lunar Antics Presents: Boy, I'd Hate to Be Made Out of That Stuff! on my dad blog. Lunar Antics (by Robert Walters) is a collection of newspaper-style cartoons about moon inhabitants who are the ultimate outsiders. But if you read the comic strips, you can see Lunar Antics is really about Earthlings.

You won't find the Lunar Antics comic strips online or in newspapers because they are available in book form only. The Lunar Antics is suitable for all ages. I have a confession: when I was a kid, I only read the comics section in the newspapers. My favorites were Calvin and Hobbes and Bloom County. Even as an adult, the comics section is one of my favorite sections in the newspaper.

The Lunar Antics giveaway is open to both Earthlings and moon inhabitants. However, because it is expensive to ship the book to the moon, the signed book will only be mailed to addresses in the USA or Canada. To enter, go to the Lunar Antics intro page and tell me who is your favorite character. The deadline to enter is March 3rd. One winner will be randomly selected. In the meantime, feel free to order the book directly from Lunar Antics or on Amazon.

[Disclosure: I am not human and I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post.]

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Dockers Free Pants Giveaway Winners

Daddy Forever — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:34:38 +0000

The winners of the Dockers Free Pants Giveaway are Teresa (themonkinme), Jennifer Gersch (intime), Annette E (annettekz2), Susan Anderson (henandsue), and Scarlette (scarlettestoltzfus). Thanks to this dad blog's latest sponsor, Dockers, the winners will each receive a pair of Dockers Soft Khakis (choice of classic khaki or red). After reading all the entries, I can see chivalry is not dead. I will contact the winners and forward all the info to Dockers in one email. Winners have 48 hours to get back to me. After that, I will select new winners. Congratulations to the winners and thank you everyone for entering the contest.

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Chinese New Year 2010

Daddy Forever — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:37:13 +0000

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! Thanks to the lunisolar Chinese calendar, Chinese New Year landed on Valentine's Day this year. It's the year of the tiger. Next year, Chinese New Year will land on February 3, 2011. It will be the year of the rabbit, which is my Chinese zodiac animal symbol.

According to Wikipedia, people born in the year of the tiger are unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, and generous. Tigers can be cold, restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, ruthless, selfish, aggressive, and moody.

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Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 14:32:41 +0000

Did you know February is National Potato Lovers' Month? I didn't know until the people over at Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes (Facebook :: Twitter) contacted me about their Potato Fest. And to celebrate National Potato Lovers' Month, I'm giving away six passes on my dad blog for meals at Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes. Three dads and moms will each receive a set of two passes. Each pass is good for one meal at either Souplantation or Sweet Tomatoes.

During National Potato Lovers' Month, Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes are offering a variety of potato-inspired menu items as part of their Potato Fest promotion. Featured menu items include Bistro Potato Salad, Roasted Potato Focaccia, Cream of Rosemary Potato Soup, Sweet Potato Corn Chowder Soup, and Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon. Souplantation / Sweet Tomatoes is even giving out their Golden Yam Bisque recipe (a customer favorite) in restaurants from February 15-28.

With the exception of french fries and potato chips, the potato has never been one of my favorite things to eat. But I have been eating baked potatoes almost daily as part of my low sodium/high potassium diet to lower my blood pressure. Potatoes are high in potassium (620 mg in a medium size potato) and low in calories (110), fat (0), cholesterol (0), and sodium (0). The plan seems to be working. This dad's blood pressure went from a high of 158/124 to 119/85 within one month. Gotta love those potatoes.

Souplantation / Sweet Tomatoes Giveaway
Three lucky readers from this dad blog will each receive a set of two meal passes to Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes. To enter, go to Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes and then leave a comment on my dad blog about your favorite menu item. The deadline to enter is February 28th (Pacific time). The winners will be randomly selected. The giveaway is limited to US readers.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Leave a comment about your favorite potato-based food item or dish on my Facebook fan page
Tweet about this giveaway or your favorite potato-based food item ONCE on Twitter and include @daddyforever and @souplantation in the tweet (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)

[Disclosure: I did not receive any potatoes or compensation for writing this post. No potatoes (other than the one I ate) were harmed during the writing of this post.]

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Kodak Valentine Giveaway Winner

Daddy Forever — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:39:54 +0000

The winner of the Kodak Valentine Giveaway is Carla. Thanks to Daddy Forever's sponsor, Kodak Gallery, Carla will receive a $25 gift certificate. I will contact Carla and forward her info to Kodak. Congratulations to Carla and thank you everyone for entering the contest. Take it easy this week and I hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year yesterday.

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Links Round Up – 2010.02.12

Daddy Forever — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:31:13 +0000

Healthy Child Healthy World :: Craftzine :: Ponoko

I didn't have time to write anything other than giveaway posts on my dad blog this week, so here are three short blurbs about a few sites I took a quick look at. Hopefully I'll have more time for longer reviews on my blog in the near future.

Healthy Child Healthy World
Healthy Child Healthy World is a nonprofit organization. Healthy Child educates dads and moms, supports protective policies, and engages communities to make responsible decisions, simple everyday choices, and well-informed lifestyle improvements to create healthy environments where children and families can flourish. According to Healthy Child Healthy World, over 125 million Americans, especially children, face chronic disease and illness such as cancer, autism, asthma, birth defects, ADD / ADHD, and learning and developmental disabilities. Evidence suggests environmental hazards and household chemicals are causing and contributing to many of these diseases.

Craftzine
If you're looking for arts and crafts ideas, take a look at Craftzine. They offer projects with clear instructions and helpful photos:

Fresh, imaginative content
New, original unique content offered daily, ranging from clear, detailed how-tos to interviews and book reviews, profiles of innovative crafters, free patterns, and more. Moms, dads, and kids get access to a wide variety of projects, from knitting to crochet, cooking to home décor, crafts for kids, pet projects, sewing, photography, paper crafts, electronic arts, and crafting with smart materials, like conductive thread.
Make interactive connections
Step-by-step how-to videos, weekly podcasts, forums and search enable dads, moms, and kids to bring their project to life and connect with the community for techniques, help, and feedback.
Save a buck
In the midst of a precarious economy where parents all cutting back and pinching proverbial pennies, CRAFT offers moms and dads smart, savvy solutions to re-imagine and re-invent old treasures. Recreate old indulgences on a dime, from luxe DIY spa treatments to fixing that delicious dish savored at the haute eatery.

Ponoko
Ponoko is a website where creators, digital fabricators, materials suppliers, and buyers meet to make practically anything. Ponoko hosts thousands of user generated product designs, ready to be customized and made into real things with the click of a mouse. With Ponoko, product designs can be priced instantly online. It is a green alternative and reduces warehousing and wastage because products are made locally (as close to the point of consumption as possible).

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Dockers Free Pants Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:08:04 +0000

Thanks to Dockers (I love their khakis), I'm giving away a pair of khakis on my dad blog to five dads (moms can enter too). The Valentine's Day related giveaway is actually a continuation of the Dockers Men Without Pants Super Bowl commercial (Calling all Men – its time to Wear the Pants). Enter soon because the free pants giveaway will end on noon Tuesday, February 16th (Pacific time).

Valentine's Day is around the corner and Dockers is searching for proof that men are wearing the pants and that chivalry is not dead. To prove to Dockers that chivalry is not dead, enter the Dockers Free Pants Giveaway by leaving a comment on my dad blog about your act of Valentine's Day chivalry (ie – box of chocolates, boutique of flowers, surprise weekend getaway, etc). For my lady readers, you can tell me what your guy did for you on Valentine's Day. Many dads and moms will be busy with the kids on Monday (no school on Presidents Day), so feel free to use an example from a previous Valentine's Day if you don't have time to enter next week.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Post your chivalry example as a comment and/or pictures on your Facebook page (include your Facebook username for verification) or on my Facebook fan page
Tweet your chivalry example ONCE on Twitter and include @daddyforever and #chivalryisnotdead in the tweet (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)

The giveaway is limited to US residents. The deadline to enter is noon Tuesday, February 16th (Pacific time). Five winners will be randomly selected. The five winners will each receive a free pair of Soft Khakis (classic khaki or red).

[Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post.]

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California Raisins Super Bowl Giveaway Winner

Daddy Forever — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 01:31:11 +0000

The New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl, 31-17. It was an excellent game (sorry Colts fan). No one predicted the exact score, so I had to enter a bunch of scores into a spreadsheet to determine the winner of the California Raisins Super Bowl Giveaway. Karen came the closest. She missed by only three points. Her prediction: Saints will win, 28-17.

Good job, Karen (and congratulations to the Saints). Thanks to California Raisins, she will receive a set of ingredients for the Five-Spice Popcorn Snack Mix recipe. I will get Karen's mailing info and forwarded it to the California Raisins people.

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The Little Valentines

Daddy Forever — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:01:26 +0000

Valentine's Day is about love and with four young children around, there's a lot of love in our family. We are blessed.

Photo above: Little Disney (11 months) and Little Monkey (4). Cupid transformed the other two kids into a heart pillow and a Valentine's bear (they will return to normal after Valentine's Day).

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ABC Neckties Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:02:37 +0000

Thanks to ABC Neckties (Twitter | Facebook), two readers of my dad blog will each receive a $25 gift certificate. Before we get to the details of the giveaway, I want to tell you a little about Daddy Forever's latest sponsor. As their name implies, ABC Neckties sells ties. They carry a wide variety of quality ties (both neckties and bow ties) in different colors, patterns, and fabrics. And if dads are not 100% satisfied with their purchase, they can return it for a full refund within 30 days of purchase.

ABC Neckties carries all sorts of ties. One of my favorites is the father-son matching tie sets (sale price: $25.46):

Matching micro fiber poly woven tie and hanky
Six colors to choose from
57" L x 3.5" W men's tie
49" L x 3" W boy's tie
9.5" hanky square for men
7" hanky square for boys
Boxed
Imported

ABC Neckties also has a nice selection of novelty and holiday neckties (like Valentine's Day). They even have my favorite holiday — Halloween. My favorite Halloween tie is the Spider Necktie (sale price: $11.01). Even though the spider tie has a Halloween theme, dads can wear it year round.

100% polyester
4" x 57"
Hand made
Imported

ABC Neckties Giveaway
Two lucky readers from this dad blog will each receive a $25 gift certificate to ABC Neckties. To enter, go to ABC Neckties and then leave a comment on my dad blog about your favorite tie. This giveaway is open to ~~international~~ US and Canadians readers ~~(I'll have to confirm this). If you can create an account on abcneckties.com, you should be able to enter~~. The deadline to enter is February 21st (Pacific time). The winner will be randomly selected. I will forward the winner's email address to ABC Neckties.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Fan Daddy Forever's new Facebook page (include your Facebook username for verification — yes, you can get credit if you are already a fan)
Follow me on Twitter: @daddyforever (include your Twitter username for verification — you can get credit if you are already following me)

[Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post.]

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Links Round Up – 2010.02.05

Daddy Forever — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:01:57 +0000

Explore the Literacy House
The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) recently launched a site that shows dads and moms how to transform routine daily activities like meal preparation and bath time into rich learning experiences for their children. According to research:

Children exposed to more spoken words earlier in life demonstrate richer vocabulary and early acquisition of literacy skills
Learning climate of the home positively impacts children's school readiness and language skills
The positive way parents interact with their children in the home helps children's literacy development

The NCFL's goal is to use the power of the family to promote a culture of learning.

Explore the Literacy House

I Love to Read Month
February is I Love to Read Month. And thanks to Box Tops for Education, dads and moms can purchase Barnes & Noble books for their kids and earn cash back for schools. Six percent of every purchase made in the Reading Room is donated to your kid's school. During the month of February, moms and dads can earn 10 Bonus Box Tops for orders over $40 and 25 Bonus Box Tops for orders over $60. While you are on the Box Tops for Education, be sure to check to see if your kids' teachers have all the items they need for their classrooms (via My Class Essentials).

The Fresh Air Fund Seeking Host Families
The Fresh Air Fund is seeking host families for this summer. Last year, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family program (Friendly Town) gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls (ages six to 18) free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. Thanks to host families who open up their homes for a few weeks each summer, children growing up in New York City's toughest neighborhoods have enjoyed the Fresh Air experience.

Firefly Night
Firefly Night is a new iPhone game app with two modes. In gameplay mode, FireFly Night is a drag and drop color matching game with 40 levels for dads and moms. In Numbers mode, FireFly Night lets dads, moms, and kids create numbers out of the collections in the color jars. Price: 99 cents.

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Handy Backup Giveaway Winners

Daddy Forever — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:31:04 +0000

The winners of the Handy Backup Giveaway are Alvin Bruce, Buddy Garrett, and Lydia. Congratulations to the winners! Thanks to the sponsor of the giveaway, Novosoft, the winners will each receive a license for Handy Backup Software (Standard Version). I will email the winners with the key codes soon. Note: anyone can download a 30-day trial version of the Handy Backup Software.

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Kodak Valentine Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:01:34 +0000

Thanks to Daddy Forever's latest sponsor, Kodak Gallery, I'm giving away a $25 gift card on this dad blog (giveaway is open to international readers). One lucky dad or mom will receive a $25 credit at www.kodakgallery.com. Before I get to the details of the Valentine's Day giveaway, I want to say I purchased a photo book from Kodak Gallery last December. It looked great and was a wonderful Christmas present for my dad. I ordered the small photo book (5 x 5.75") with 30+ pages. If I had to do it over again, I would select the medium (8.5 x 9.5") or large (12 x 14") photo book. The small book was good, but the larger size would have been stunning.

(a couple of pages from my Kodak Gallery photo book)

If you're looking for a Valentine's Day gift, Kodak Gallery has several photo products that would make excellent gifts for a loved one. Kodak Gallery makes it simple to give a meaningful photo gift. Valentine's Day gifts from Kodak Gallery include:

Photo Card
Why give a store-bought card when you can create your own special Valentine's Day card for as little as $1.49.
Photo Books
As I already mentioned previously, I love the photo book I bought last Christmas. I think photo books would make a great present for a mom or dad. Prices start at $9.99.
Framed Photo
A framed photo from Kodak Gallery takes the pain of going to the store to pick out a frame, printing your photo at a store, and then making sure the two fit. Thanks to Kodak Gallery, all you have to do is upload a sentimental photo, select a frame, and your Valentine's Day shopping is done. Price: $10 and up.
Photo Calendar
With a photo calendar, you can give someone special twelve months of love. I think a photo calendar would be a cute gift for kids too. Prices start at $12.99 (enter the promo code: CALENDAR35 to receive a 35% discount — expires Febuary 14th).

The Kodak Gallery Valentine's Day Giveaway
One lucky reader from this dad blog will receive a $25 credit at kodakgallery.com. To enter, go to Kodak Gallery and leave a comment on my dad blog telling me what you would create on kodakgallery.com. This giveaway is open to ~~international~~ readers in the US and Canada ~~(I'll have to confirm this). If you can create an account on kodakgallery.com, you should be able to enter~~. The deadline to enter is Valentine's Day, February 14th (Pacific time). The winner will be randomly selected. I will forward the winner's email address to Kodak Gallery.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Fan Daddy Forever's new Facebook page (include your Facebook username for verification — yes, you can get credit if you are already a fan)
Tweet ONCE about this giveaway with a working link to this page: http://daddyforever.com/2010/02/03/valentine-day-photo/ (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)

[Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post.]

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Family Portrait

Daddy Forever — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:02:29 +0000

Baby must have known daddy wanted to take some family photos on Saturday because he pulled out his feeding tube AGAIN. That's really nice of him.

I'm not sure what's going on with my oldest son (left) and youngest daughter (right). My son spiked up his short hair because he wanted to be a porcupine. And my little girl looks like she's about to be eaten by the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

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California Raisins Super Bowl

Daddy Forever — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:02:00 +0000

Anyone remember the old California Raisins' I Heard it Through the Grapevine commercials in the 80's? Well, that's today topic. California Raisins. Normally, I wouldn't blog about raisins. But my blood pressure tests came out high the last four times. Now I have to cut back on food that are high in salt, fats, and sugar. I also have to stop drinking coffee (someone please pray for me). With the Super Bowl less than a week away, I'm scrambling for snack alternatives — like California Raisins (fat free, cholesterol free, and contains fiber, potassium, and antioxidants).

The people over at California Raisins must of have heard about my high blood pressure because they sent me a recipe for their Five-Spice Popcorn Snack Mix. They also sent me all the ingredients in the California Raisins recipe, which is a good move on their part. I hate grocery shopping. I know where the milk, bread, and fruits are, but I struggle to find some of the ingredients in recipes. That's one of the reasons I prefer to cook stuff that comes out of a box, bag, or can (most of which are not good for my high blood pressure).

Read on to find out how you can win the ingredients in the photo below

The California Raisins Five-Spice Popcorn Snack Mix recipe has only 1 gram of saturated fat and no trans fat or cholesterol. It has 200mg of sodium (leave out the sesame sticks and chow mein noodles if you want to go lower), and 237mg of potassium (good for people with high blood pressure). The recipe was easy to make and didn't take long. The kids and I tried out the snack mix. I like it, but it was too spicy for me. Next time, I'm going to reduce the amount of cayenne pepper (my wife thinks the Chinese 5-spice powder also made the mix spicy). The kids didn't like it. They thought it was too spicy too and they prefer sweeter snacks. They would probably have loved the mix if I replaced the pepper with chocolate chips.

Now for the giveaway. You can win a set of ingredients to make the recipe by predicting the winner and final score of the Super Bowl between New Orleans and Indianapolis. The winner is the person who comes closest to the actual score (you must also predict the winner correctly). The deadline to enter is 3:30 pm Pacific Time on February 7, 2010. The giveway is limited to the US. In the meantime, check out the California Raisins recipes section.

California Raisins Five-Spice Popcorn Snack Mix Recipe

Ingredients

1 bag (low sodium, 97% fat-free) microwave popcorn, popped

1/4 cup sesame sticks

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon dried cilantro leaves

1 teaspoon Chinese 5-spice powder

1/2 cup crisp chow mein noodles

Olive oil cooking spray

1 cup California raisins

Directions
Stir all ingredients except raisins together in a large bowl. Spray with cooking spray, tossing gently, until popcorn is well coated with spices; stir in raisins.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Calories: 190 (23.6% from fat), Total Fat: 5g (saturated: 1g, trans fat: 0g), Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 200mg, Potassium: 237mg, Carbohydrates: 37g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 19g, Protein: 2g, Vitamin A: 2%, Vitamin C: 2%, Iron: 8%, Calcium: 4%

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Links Round Up – 2010.01.30

Daddy Forever — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 08:01:15 +0000

I have an inbox full of PR requests (you know, because I am the ultimate dad blogger). I don't have time to write posts about each one of them individually. In fact, even if I clone myself, I still wouldn't have the time to write a short blurb about all of them (that's why I give priority to giveaways). The best I can do is write short blurbs about a few of the requests I received.

Even Firefighters Go to the Potty
As the title suggests, this kids book is about going to the potty. I don't have a copy of Even Firefighters Go to the Potty: A Potty Training Lift-the-Flap Story ($7.99), but here's a description from Amazon:

Toddlers are uneasy about toilet training. And in most cases, even if they know they have to go, sometimes they are too busy to bother. In this hilarious gate-fold story, each person — from a firefighter on the way to answer a fire alarm to a zoo keeper on the way to feed the polar bears — stops what they are doing to go to the potty. With humor and no pedantics, toddlers learn that everybody uses the potty.

The Firefighters Potty book was written by Wendy Wax.

Coal Train Railroad
The Coal Train Railroad CD ($6.99) is a collection of jazz songs created just for kids, but parents will want to listen too. Coal Train was created by Nashville musicians Katy Bowser and Chris Donohue (Emmylou Harris, Collective Soul) to celebrate jazz and kids. Below are the songs in the album (you can download songs individually on Amazon):

All Aboard
My Mouth and Me
Bellybutton Stays the Same
Snuggling Suits Me Just Fine
It's Hard to Listen
I Need A Nap
Just the Juice, Jack
What's Mine Is Yours
Coal Train

More info: Coal Train Railroad

Little Pim Word Bag
This is an Apple iPhone application designed for children ages 1-4. Little Pim Word Bag, developed by Animax, is an interactive word game featuring Little Pim the panda. The game uses artwork, music, and sound effects to teach children 27 everyday vocabulary words in a second language – French or Spanish (shouldn't the panda be able to speak Chinese?). "Word Bag" costs $1.99 to download and can be used on both an iPhone and an iPod (I'm the only dad without an iPhone, iPod, iPad, or iPotty). This application is the newest product in the Little Pim line, which includes DVDs, flash cards, and CDs.

More info: Little Pim

Sweety High
Sweety High is a social media website for tween girls. It will launch publicly on February 1, 2010. Tween girls will be offered the ability to socialize on their "Lockers," watch and generate original videos on "Sweety Tube," manage their music on "Sweety Tunes," create yearbooks, start fan clubs, craft dedications, take quizzes, and other girly stuff. Although Sweety High is aimed at girls 9-14, dads and moms are encouraged to participate. Parents can create their own account and help manage their daughter's participation in an unobtrusive way. My daughter and I don't have an account, so I have not figured out how they plan to make money with this. My is guess is that some of the activities the girls are encouraged to do involve advertisers and sponsors in some way. BTW, Sweety High sounds a little like Barbie Girls to me. Then again, what do I know. I'm not a tween.

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Target Super Bowl HDTV Specials

Daddy Forever — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 20:03:35 +0000

I don't usually blog about sales, but Target sent me a preview of their Super Bowl specials for HDTV sets and I noticed they have a really good price for a 42" Magnavox 1080p LCD HDTV ($499). The prices on the other HDTV's might be good too, but my outlaws have been looking for a 40" flat screen TV so I know $499 for a 42" is a good deal — almost as good as the Black Friday specials and you don't even have to wait in the cold at midnight in the hopes of getting one. The Target Super Bowl HDTV specials start this Sunday (January 31st). BTW, I think I'm the only dad in Oregon who does not have a flat screen TV. I'm still waiting for someone to send me one for review.

Target Super Bowl HDTV Specials

42" Magnavox for $499
55" Vizio for $1299
47" Philips for $848
37" Vizio for $629
32" Sylvania for $299
19" Sylvania for $149

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How to Save Your Family if Your Accelerator Pedal Gets Stuck

Daddy Forever — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:46:52 +0000

In case there are dads and moms who have not heard: Toyota has issued a recall of several models because the accelerator pedal sticks. The stuck accelerator has resulted in several deaths. I'm not going to blog about the recall. Instead, I'm going to focus on what you should do in the event your accelerator sticks. BTW, the recall does not involve the Sienna mini-vans.

Toyota's Recommendations

If you need to stop immediately, the vehicle can be controlled by stepping on the brake pedal with both feet using firm and steady pressure. Do not pump the brake pedal as it will deplete the vacuum utilized for the power brake assist.
Shift the transmission gear selector to the Neutral (N) position and use the brakes to make a controlled stop at the side of the road and turn off the engine.
If unable to put the vehicle in Neutral, turn the engine OFF. This will not cause loss of steering or braking control, but the power assist to these systems will be lost.
If the vehicle is equipped with an Engine Start/Stop button, firmly and steadily push the button for at least three seconds to turn off the engine. Do NOT tap the Engine Start/Stop button.
If the vehicle is equipped with a conventional key-ignition, turn the ignition key to the ACC position to turn off the engine. Do NOT remove the key from the ignition as this will lock the steering wheel.

Consumer Reports' Recommendations
According to Consumer Reports, the best strategy to stop a runaway car is to press and hold the brakes and shift into neutral. Pumping the brakes at full throttle can make a bad problem even worse. Power brakes rely on engine vacuum to provide additional brake pressure. At full throttle, the engine doesn't generate any vacuum. So as soon as you remove and reapply pressure to the brake pedal, the power assist will disappear and stopping the car will become hopeless. Because a lot of people have never had a reason to shift to Neutral, Consumer Reports recommends you practice shifting to Neutral at a low speed while driving in a large empty parking lot or other safe area. That way, you will know how to handle a stuck accelerator in the event you are faced with that emergency.

Toyota Models Affected by the Recall

2009-2010 RAV4
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
2005-2010 Avalon
Certain 2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander except hybrid models
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia

[Disclosure: This public service announcement was brought to you by the letter K.]

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We Have Twins

Daddy Forever — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:03:01 +0000

Yes, those dragons are biting off the heads of superheroes.
I think my little girl has been hanging around her big brother too long.

My oldest son (age six) and youngest daughter (age four) are like a married couple. At times they bicker over the silliest thing (He won't let me play with his toys. She didn't say please!), but most of the time they get along really well. According to my son, they are twins. Wherever he goes, she goes. Whatever he does, she does. Last night, they even went to sleep together in my son's room. And get this, I heard my little girl tell her big brother a bedtime story. So cute. Unfortunately, he left her after 30 minutes because she talked too much.

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18×24 Poster Print Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:06:32 +0000

Thanks to Online Poster Printing, I'm giving away a 18" x 24" poster print on this dad blog. Online Poster Printing's products include digital photo enlargements and digital photos on posters for dads and moms. BTW, I used their service to print a 18×24 poster of the Christmas photo below. It was stunning. I didn't know you could produce a great photo that size from a little Canon A540 (only 6 mega pixels). The outlaws loved the poster print and want another one.

One lucky reader from this dad blog will receive a 18×24 poster print for free. To enter, leave a comment on my dad blog telling me what photo you want to print. Due to shipping costs, the giveaway is limited to US residents. The deadline to enter is Friday, February 19th. The winner will be randomly selected. I will forward the winner's email address to OnlinePosterPrinting.com. Make sure to use a valid email address in the email text box in the blog comments area.

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[Disclosure: I will receive a 18x24 poster print from Online Poster Printing for hosting this giveaway.]

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Barbie the Computer Geek

Daddy Forever — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:27:04 +0000

When the people over at Barbie emailed me about their "I Can Be" campaign, I wasn't planning on blogging about voting for Barbie's next career. After all, this is a manly dad blog, not a girly mom blog. Plus I already blogged about how I was magically changed into a Barbie girl and I really didn't want to write any more about Barbie.

Then I noticed one of Barbie's job choice is computer engineer. Guess what? I have a degree in computer engineering. However, if I had to do it all over again, I would have gotten a degree in computer programming instead. In general, the hardware side pays better, but I think the software side is more interesting (think apps). And this brings up the the real topic of this blog post, how do you help your kids decide what their career should be?

My parents were not exactly helpful when I was deciding what I wanted to be when I grew up. My mom was a seamstress and my dad was a cook. They had no career advice for me. OK, there was that one time my dad thought I should follow in his footsteps and become a cook at a Chinese restaurant. That shows how little my dad knew me because I can't cook. Not back then, not now. No one in their right mind would ever pay me to cook them a meal from scratch. And why would I want to work 60 hours a week for $12,000 a year?

Back in high school, I had no idea what engineers did. But that's what most of my friends wanted to be, so I chose engineering too. Wrong move on my part. I found most of my engineering courses boring and it was reflected in my grades, but I was too proud to change major. I should have explored what I wanted to be instead of what my friends wanted to be (it's a good thing they didn't want to be male strippers).

My oldest child is only nine, but I hope when the time comes, I'll be able to help guide my kids instead of letting them blindly follow their friends. So, what career advice would you give your children?

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Do you have anything bigger?

Daddy Forever — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:09:27 +0000

Dead leaves are the disease and I've got the cure!

I bought this Yardman several years ago at Costco. It's a blower, vacuum, mulcher, and missile launcher. It's huge. The nozzle is so big, I could easily use the Yardman to suck up the kids' toys off the living room carpet. Unfortunately, the mulcher blades would probably grind the toys into itty bitty pieces (is this really a bad thing?). For yard work, I'm not liking the Yardman. It jams when you vacuum too many leaves. I can use it as a blower, but the kids hate it when I blow the leaves at them.

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Handy Backup Software Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 14:44:17 +0000

I'm giving away three copies of Handy Backup Standard on my dad blog. To enter the drawing for Handy Backup Software (Standard Version), just leave a comment. Three winners will be randomly selected. The deadline to enter is January 31st (Pacific time). Now, a few words about our sponsor: Novosoft.

What is Novosoft Handy Backup?
Handy Backup is software for data backup. The software automatically backs up data to DVD, CD, FTP site, network drive, or online storage. Sorry Mac users, Handy Backup only works on the Microsoft Windows operating systems.

What are the features of Handy Backup?
Some of the features of the standard version (giveaway) are:

Automatic backup and recovery
Backup Outlook/Windows Mail
Windows Registry backup
Backup as Windows service
Individual files and folders backup
Backup to storage devices: HDD, CD, DVD, Blu-ray, HD DVD, FTP, network drives
Backup to external drives (USB, FireWire, and Flash backup)
Integrated Remote Backup Service

How much does Handy Backup cost?

Handy Backup Standard (home and small office backup): $39
Handy Backup Professional (small and medium business backup): $99
Handy Backup Server (enterprise backup): $599

How do I purchase a license?
You can buy Handy Backup from Novosoft's online order page.

Can I try it before I buy it?
Yes, you can download Handy Backup and try it out for free for 30 days.

[Disclosure: I did not receive any compensation or merchandise (other than the giveaway prizes) from Novosoft for writing this post.]

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Single Asian Baby Boy Seeking Soulmate

Daddy Forever — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:26:19 +0000

Talk about awkward. Whenever people see our baby with a feeding tube, they do a double take and then quickly look away. You can tell they want to say something like, "Hey, did you know there's a tube sticking out of your baby's nose?"

Thank goodness they feel too uncomfortable to ask. Otherwise my response would have been, "How did that happen? He didn't have anything stuck up his nose a second ago."

Or "Yeah, we know. Baby lost a bet and now he has to live with the consequence."

Maybe I should play the Asian card, "It's our custom. This is how we let people know our baby is seeking a soulmate."

Mommy calls me yum-yum because I'm so yummy,
but daddy calls me dum-dum because I don't eat enough to sustain myself

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BookSwim – the Netflix of Book Rentals

Daddy Forever — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:10:31 +0000

Last month, I received an email from BookSwim. I had never heard of them before so I took a quick look at their site. After my quick peek, I could see that BookSwim is something that might interest some book-loving dads and moms. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to write about BookSwim until now. [Disclosure: I did not receive any books, membership, or compensation for writing this review.]

What is BookSwim?
BookSwim is an online book rental library service for dads and moms. They are like Netflix, but instead of movies, they rent hardcovers, paperbacks, and college textbooks. According to BookSwim, they stock all the latest bestsellers, new releases, and classics. Like Netflix, books are delivered directly to your home and you can keep the books as long as you want (no late fees).

How much does BookSwim cost?
BookSwim offers five rental plans for moms and dads. Their cheapest plan is $10 a month, but you have to pay for shipping ($4 per book). The best plan costs $60 a month and shipping is free.

1 Book a Month
Read 1 book a month
$9.99/month plus $3.99 shipping
Light Reader
Read 3 books at a time
$23.95/month (free shipping)
Casual Reader
Read 5 books at a time
$29.95/month (free shipping)
Avid Reader
Read 7 books at a time
$35.95/month (free shipping)
Devout Reader
Read 11 books at a time
$59.95/month

BookSwim Pros

Books are mailed directly to your house
Get most books quicker than the library
Saves money if you buy a lot of new hardcover releases each month
Better for the environment if you don't recycle books

BookSwim Cons

You can check out books for free at the library
You can get new releases the first week at the library if you know the secret to reserving new movies and books at the library
Kinda of expensive — $14 to rent one book with the cheapest plan (that's almost the cost of a $16 hardback at Costco and more expensive than two paperbacks)
You can't keep the books unless you pay extra for them

Why would use their service?
I don't think BookSwim will appeal to most dads and moms. However, I do think BookSwim is worth looking into if you're a college student (they rent textbooks now), you don't have a library nearby, have trouble getting books in a timely manner at your library, or if you buy a lot of books each month.

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SparkFun Electronics to Give Away $100,000 of Merchandise

Daddy Forever — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:33:15 +0000

SparkFun Electronics is giving away $100,000 worth of merchandise tomorrow. For 14 hours, geek dads and moms can order up to $100 of products for free. The SparkFun Free Day begins at 9am MST on January 7th, 2010 and ends at 11pm (or when they reach the $100k limit).

Some geek dads and moms have heard of SparkFun, but most of you probably have not. SparkFun is the type of eStore geek dads and moms buy their electronic parts from. If you're not sure what you should order, I would suggest an electronics kit. I have not ordered a kit from them before, but you might also need a soldering iron and solder for their kits.

I almost forgot to mention the catch, you have to pay for shipping. Here are more details about the SparkFun Free Day:

$100 max per household
You pay shipping
Limit of $100,000 in giveaways for the day
Starts 9AM MST January 7th, 2010
Ends 11PM MST January 7th, 2010 (or when they hit $100k, whichever comes first)
Rainchecks for popular items will be allowed
There is no minimum or maximum order
If you spend more than $100, the balance will be charged to your method of payment
You will see whether or not your order qualifies for a credit in the checkout process
Gift Cards cannot be bought on Free Day

BTW, January 7th is SparkFun Electronics' 7th anniversary. What a way to celebrate their birthday!

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Evian Roller Babies

Daddy Forever — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:37:10 +0000

Some of you have already seen this video, but this is something most dads and moms could watch over and over again. When you watch the video, you can't help but smile. [Question: what's with the roller skates? Don't most cool babies use roller blades and Heelys skate shoes now?]

(YouTube: Evian Roller Babies Video)

The Evian Roller Babies Interview is also humorous (but not as funny as the previous video — you might want to adjust the volume, it's also louder):

(YouTube: Evian Roller Babies Interview Video)

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Things We Won't Give Up Giveaway Winner

Daddy Forever — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:55:16 +0000

Happy New Years everyone! I took some time off from the blogosphere and the two zillion giveaways on my dad blog, but I'm back now. Not sure what I'm doing this year on my dad blog, but at the very least, I should announce the winner of the Kia Sorento Things We Won't Give Up Giveaway. Congratulations to Rhonda Mason! She is the winner of the giveaway. Thanks to the American built Kia Sorento, Rhonda will receive:

$50 Starbucks gift card
Six-month Netflix subscription (1 DVD out at-a-time plan – $53.94 value)
$50 Chili's gift card
$50 Best Buy gift card

I will email Rhonda. She has 48 hours to email me back with her mailing address (no PO Box please and the contest is limited to the USA). After 48 hours, I will select another winner.

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HP TouchSmart 600 PC Giveaway Winner

Daddy Forever — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:51:39 +0000

The potential winner of the HP TouchSmart 600 Computer Giveaway is Madeline. Thanks to our sponsors, HP and Microsoft Windows 7, Madeline might receive a multi-touch HP TouchSmart 600 PC. The winner has two days to email me their info. After 48 hours, I will select another winner. In the event the winner is an international reader, HP (or their representative) will decide if they will ship the HP TouchSmart 600 PC to the winner's country. If not, I will select another winner. As stated in the contest rule, the original winner will NOT be able to ask why, appeal the decision, or pick another winner of their choosing.

If you have not done so already, don't forget to enter the Things We Won't Give Up Giveaway to win (one winner gets all the prizes):

$50 Starbucks gift card
Six-month Netflix subscription (1 DVD out at-a-time plan – $53.94 value)
$50 Chili's gift card
$50 Best Buy gift card

Happy holidays everyone and thanks for playing!

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2011 Kia Sorento – Dad Blog Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 08:01:10 +0000

Today is the first day of the Things We Won't Give Up Giveaway on this dad blog. There are four prizes in the giveaway (with a value of over $200). One lucky dad or mom will win them all. Below are the prizes for this contest:

$50 Starbucks gift card
Six-month Netflix subscription (1 DVD out at-a-time plan – $53.94 value)
$50 Chili's gift card
$50 Best Buy gift card

The sponsor of this giveaway is the 2011 Kia Sorento. The all-new 2011 Kia Sorento is a crossover based on car parts instead of a truck frame. Unlike earlier models, the 2011 model comes in a choice of four- and six-cylinder engines. The new model can also seat up to seven passengers with the third row seating package. The EPA is 21/29 mpg for the four-cylinder models and 20/26 mpg for the EX V6. The base model starts at $20,000 and EX V6 4×4 is priced at $29,000. The American-built 2011 Sorento is manufactured at the new Kia Motors manufacturing facility in West Point, GA. You can see a YouTube video of the 2011 Kia Sorento in my previous post.

To enter the giveaway on this dad blog, go to the Kia Sorento site and leave a comment here telling me what you like best about the new Sorento. The contest ends December 31, 2009 (Pacific time). Sorry this giveaway is limited to the US.

Bonus Entries (leave a separate comment for each entry)

Subscribe to my blog feed or newsletter
Follow Daddy Forever on Twitter: @daddyforever (include your Twitter username for verification)
Fan Daddy Forever's new Facebook page (include your Facebook username for verification)
Tweet ONCE about this giveaway with a working link to this page: http://daddyforever.com/2009/12/23/kia-sweepstakes/ (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)
Fan Kia Sorento's Facebook page (include your Facebook username for verification)
Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page with a working link to this page: http://daddyforever.com/2009/12/23/kia-sweepstakes/ (include your blog URL or Facebook username for verification)

And yes, you get credit if you're already following me via Twitter, Facebook, or RSS feed/email newsletter. Just leave a separate comment to let me know.

BTW, Kia is running a larger sweepstakes on their Facebook page. They are giving away an outdoor adventure or entertainment system (winner's choice).

[Disclosure: I received a new 2011 Kia Sorento for writing about the 2011 Kia Sorento.]

[Disclosure 2: Actually, the car wasn't new. It had 20 miles on it.]

[Disclosure 3: Just kidding. I did not received a 2011 Kia Sorento or any other compensation.]

[Disclosure 4: I'll probably take a week off from the blogosphere.]

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Christmas Photo 2009

Daddy Forever — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:35:36 +0000

This is the holiday photo we used on our Christmas cards this year. Aren't the kids cute? We actually took the photograph a week before Thanksgiving because of baby's feeding tube.

Happy holidays everyone!

[Reminder: Wednesday is the last day for the HP TouchSmart 600 PC Giveaway and the first day for the Kia Sorento's Things We Won't Give Up Giveaway.]

(Photo taken with my obsolete Canon A540)

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HP TouchSmart 600 Computer Giveaway

Daddy Forever — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:01:25 +0000

Thanks to the HP Santa, this geek dad is giving away a HP TouchSmart 600 computer to a lucky dad, mom, or Na'vi. The contest on this dad blog starts today and ends on Wednesday (December 23, 2009 Pacific time). And yes, this giveaway is open to international readers, but there's a big catch (more on this later). Before we get to the contest, I'm going to blog about the sponsors of the giveaway: HP TouchSmart 600 PC and Microsoft Windows 7.

What is it?
The HP TouchSmart 600 PC is a cool looking, multi-touch gadget for moms and dads (it's like a giant size iTouch). The all-in-one computer features full HD display, integrated webcam, wireless LAN, and Bluetooth. Currently, there are two series in the TouchSmart 600 family: 600t and 600xt (same as 600t, but with a faster processor, bigger hard drive, discrete graphics, HDMI and game console connectivity).

How much does it cost?
$1,249.99 for the 600t (base configuration) and $1,649.99 for the 600xt (base configuration).

What are the highlights?

Multi-touch PC features motions such as pinch, rotate, arc, flick, and press and drag let dads and moms zip through applications and photos
Integrated hardware and software technology, like HDMI, audio/video inputs, Windows Media Center, and TouchSmart Live TV (with optional TV tuner), give users a range of options for viewing video, recording TV, and playing game consoles (like xBox) on the HP TouchSmart 600
Windows 7 fast start up and shut down gives users easier access to their HP TouchSmart 600, which includes a long list of touch-enabled apps like Twitter, Hulu, Netflix, and Pandora
Windows 7 Home Premium features make it easy for HP TouchSmart 600 users to navigate the system quickly to easily find the documents they use most often:
- Snap (resize open windows by dragging)
- Pin (like tacking notes on a bulletin board)
- Shake (click a pane and shake the mouse to make every open window except one instantly disappears — jiggle again to bring the other windows back)
- Peak (x-ray vision to peer past all open windows straight to the Windows 7 desktop)
- Jump Lists (take parents right to documents, pictures, songs, or websites)
Premium quality speakers produce a crisp, clear sound for enjoying music and video — Windows 7 Play To feature also allows moms and dads to play media through networked PCs, TVs, or stereos around the house
Five Microsoft Touch Pack for Windows 7 games and applications allow parents to interact and learn multi-touch gestures in a more fun and intuitive way:
- Microsoft Surface Globe (hands-on, world-exploration application based on Microsoft Bing Maps)
- Microsoft Surface Lagoon (screen saver and interactive water simulation — use fingers to manipulate the water and have the school of fish respond)
- Microsoft Rebound (a game in which you use fingertips to move Tesla balls with an electrical field between them)
- Microsoft Garden Pond (guide origami pieces to peaceful areas on the pond )
- Microsoft Blackboard (intricate game of physics in which players solve a puzzle by creating a fanciful machine on a blackboard)

What's so cool about it?
I think the coolest feature of the HP TouchSmart 600 PC is Windows Touch. One-finger touch functionality has been available in previous versions of the Windows operation system. But Windows 7 features multitouch technology. Why limit yourself to one finger when you have ten or more fingers? If you want to zoom in on something in Windows 7, you can place two fingers on the screen of the TouchSmart 600 and spread them apart. To right-click a file, touch it with one finger and tap the screen with a second. Cool!

What are the HP TouchSmart 600 PC specs?

Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T6500 [2.1GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz FSB] (600t)
Intel Core 2 Duo processor T6600 [2.2GHz, 2MB L2, 800MHz FSB] (600xt)
23" diagonal 1080p Full HD widescreen with 16:9 aspect ratio
4GB DDR3-1066MHz SDRAM [2 DIMMs]
320GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive (600t)
500GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive (600xt)
NVIDIA GeForce G200 (600t)
1GB NVIDIA GeForce GT230M, and game console connections (600xt)
Slot-load SuperMulti DVD Burner
Wireless-N LAN card and Bluetooth
Internal antennas for 802.11 Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
6-in-1 memory card reader, 5 total USB, audio
Integrated high-performance 2.0 speakers (no external speakers)
HP low-profile, wireless keyboard and HP wireless optical mouse
A built-in, adjustable-tilt webcam and mic
Removable feet for wall mounting (bracket and adapter sold separately)

Is there a video of the HP TouchSmart 600?
You can see a YouTube video of the HP TouchSmart 600 PC in my previous post about the TouchSmart 600 computer.

How do you win a HP TouchSmart 600?
There are seven ways to enter the HP TouchSmart 600 Computer Giveaway. You can enter up to seven times, but only once in each category. No marriage proposals, bribes, or sad stories please (the winner will be randomly selected). Please leave a separate comment for each entry. The content management system will automatically assign a number for each comment. If you use a single comment to let me know you entered all seven categories, you will only be assigned one number (entry) for the giveaway. Random.org will be used to randomly select a winner. I will only notify the winner once. The winner has two days to email me their info. After 48 hours, I will select another winner. The deadline to enter is Wednesday (December 23, 2009 Pacific time).

Seven ways to enter the giveaway:

Leave a comment telling me what you think is cool about the HP TouchSmart 600 PC
Subscribe to my blog feed or newsletter and then leave a separate comment
Follow Daddy Forever on Twitter: @daddyforever and then leave a separate comment (include your Twitter username for verification)
Fan Daddy Forever's new Facebook page and then leave a separate comment (include your Facebook username for verification)
Tweet ONCE about this giveaway with a working link to this page: http://daddyforever.com/2009/12/21/multi-touch-600t-600xt/ and then leave a separate comment (include your Twitter URL or username for verification)
Follow HP on Twitter: @hp_pc and then leave a separate comment (include your Twitter username for verification)
Write about this giveaway on your blog or Facebook page with a working link to this page: http://daddyforever.com/2009/12/21/multi-touch-600t-600xt/ and then leave a separate comment (include your blog URL or Facebook username for verification)

What's the catch for international readers?
HP can ship the prize internationally. However, there are countries where HP and it's representative won't ship for various reasons. If HP can't ship the TouchSmart 600 to the winner's country, I will pick another winner. The original winner will NOT be able to ask why, appeal the decision, or pick another winner of their choosing. If you do not agree to this condition, do NOT enter the contest. Sorry, I do not have a list of countries where the TouchSmart 600 won't be shipped.

[Disclosure: I did not receive any products or compensation for writing this post.]

[Disclaimer: By entering this giveaway, you agree to hold HP, Microsoft, and I NOT liable for any problems you may encounter with this contest. Do NOT enter if you do not agree.]

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