Direct TV box fails!!! America's Got Talent

For some reason my Direct TV box can't handle shows that air two episodes in the same week! On America's got Talent, bachelor pad, etc. You get some, not others. LAME!!!

Two Green Lynx Spiders spotted in San Diego California

Green Lynx Spider

Peucetia viridans

They were spotted on the same day miles apart from each other. As a native of San Diego I can say that I've never seen them here before.

Installing .cab files on Windows Mobile 7.5

I have a client that just got the new HTC phone running Windows Mobile 7.5  So he wants to view his security cameras on this new phone.

Manufacturer of the DVR, had an app on their website for Windows Mobile. It's a .cab file. Everything related to installing .cab files is for older versions of Windows Mobile. Sync Center and WMSS Do not apply to the latest version, 7.5 to the best of my searching only interfaces with ZUNE and there is no way to install .cab files through Zune.

Crazy that 8 years ago I had to tell Apple clients that they needed to by a PC to see their cameras.. now they need an iphone, ipad or android.

Review of Flir Extech thermal imaging camera ebay i5 i7

So you want to buy a used FLIR TIR thermal imaging camera. You find one on Ebay. If you're paying attention you notice that some i5 units say 80 x 80 resolution and some say 100 x 100. On the i7 you notice some are 120 x 120 and others 140 x 140 resolution. I think FLIR could have changed the model numbers to differentiate these critical differences but they didn't. The FLIR rep confirmed that the way to identify the older generation vs. the new generation i5 & i7 cameras is by color. If it's blue and gray or orange and green its the older lower resolution models. The black version of the i5 and i7 sports the higher 100x100 and 140x140 imagers. So know what you're bidding on! I see so many people bid up the old units to only a few hundred less than a brand new in the box current higher resolution model. Don't be that guy, the one selling your low res as a " buy it now"  for less than you paid and leaving the resolution off the description looking for a sucker!

Google's Gmail becoming useless for critical business communication

Anyone else realize that some of their Gmail emails are going into the SPAM box of other Gmail user accounts? you might not! The day I posted something on craigslist my account got flagged by Google as a SPAMMER account. Quite the contrary, I never send any unsolicited mail to anyone. Unfortunately Gmail is an unsupported free service and once this happens you cannot remove the flag. So I created a second account and went through all the hassle of that process.

Well I just found out my wife's Gmail account (never having craigslist exposure) was sent to someone's SPAM box. That account rarely gets used. That means EVERYONE is at risk of lost communication as a GMAIL user. As of today I am ditching Gmail because everyone client communication for me turns into $$$ or lost $$$ if I don't get their email (has happened) or they don't get my email (has happened).

Bye Bye Gmail. 

Dj lighting - Scanner comparasion Martin SCX vs. Eliminator

I just wanted to say that "you get what you pay for" . Again!

So I own a pair of Eliminator E139 barrel roller DMX controlled lights. I also just got a pair of Martin SCX500 scanners. The Eliminators are 250Watt bulbs and Martin are 150watt. The Martins look 3 times brighter than the eliminator. The optical path on the Martin is simple and efficient. The eliminator is not designed as well.
The Martin uses a front side coated mirror as the eliminator uses regular rear coated mirror.  The Martin uses a bulb that has the reflector integrated as one piece. Where the Eliminator has a separate reflector and bulb that has to be aligned right or the light will not be focused properly. The Martin does nice smooth sweeping motion as slow speeds where the eliminator is gittery.

So when buying equipment always remember that you get what you pay for! In all fairness Martin has be developing high end stage lighting since they began and has always chased the industry leaders in concert lighting (High End & Vari light) but has always dominated the lower end DJ and night club market. In this case their experience in getting maximum light out of a fixture is apparent!!  I'd like some 250 watt discharge models someday!

Amazon.com : Amazon associates program a fraud?

[ How to set up new Amazon associates store: tricks and tips, get huge sales, make $100,000 dollars in one season! NOT!]

Have you had items you sold through Amazon associates disappear off your reports and not get compensated for the sale? have you noticed or been paying attention?

That's exactly what happened to me in the holiday season of 2011. I just wonder how many other people are busting their hump promoting Amazon.com brand and getting screwed!!?

Here's my story.

 Amazon screwed me out of $650 worth of commissions. Why? Because my parents and sister ordered xmas presents and sent them to my parents address. I had an Amazon associates account registared to that address when I lived with my parents in 1997. Jump to 2011, because I once lived there they said all the orders that went to that address were "personal" and that the associates program was not a discount program. I said that they were not my orders, not ordered on my credit card and didn't go to my address. They then told me I set up this elaborate scheme to have other people buy things for me to get a 5% discount. I couldn't believe that they would say that and essentially tell me I was a liar and scamming them. I told them I would never waste all that time, ask other people to pay with their credit card to get a lousy 5% discount!!! They said yes I did.  I  told them that next holiday season I would not be pushing their brand. I sold $5,000 worth of goods for them and they ruined the relationship FOREVER for $150. There policies are open ended and their customer service is short sighted. People are far better off setting up their own portal vs. relying on Amazon. Also, they pay 60 days after the sale. Because their reports are so ambiguous it's hard to identify the dropped items. SHADY ASS COMPANY. Stay away from Amazon associates, for the effort, time and money you associates are putting in you are being poorly compensated for your effort. Start your own thing.. being an associate with an Amazon store is hardly being in business for yourself.


When my family found out I did not get paid by Amazon.com they were pissed! They said that they went out of their way to order almost all their Christmas gifts on Amazon and could have just went to the mall. Guess who won't be buying on Amazon next Christmas.


P.S. Amazon, if you were smart you would give associates the 5% on person sales just like if you work at Mc Donalds you get a discounted lunch. It's totally feasible to set a threshold of minimum outside sales to receive a discount on personal orders.