A Movie of Convenience

We all know and love Fandango.  We can buy tickets (most importantly) but also read reviews.  More popular review sites include Rotten Tomatoes (they’re usually pretty accurate in their ratings).  Now there’s a new site that goes one step further in its reviews.

Runpee.com doesn’t care if the movie’s great or not, it wants the experience to be enjoyable.  In that sense this site does something no one else does, they screen for the most appropriate times in any new releases to run to the bathroom.  They list both the time (how long the movie’s been running) as well as the line/scene you’re waiting for before you run out.  That’s right, sometimes with that extra large Pepsi there just isn’t a chance you’re gonna make it to the end.  But hey, you’ve checked Rotten Tomatoes and you know the movie’s good.  Well Runpee makes sure you only miss the less than necessary parts.  How convenient.

Why? Why? Why?

Any parent of a preschooler knows the drill? Why is the sky blue? Why do we have to wear shoes? Why are oranges orange?  The endless list of questions can become mind-numbing.

I just stumbled upon Whyzz – a website that helps parents answer kids’ “whyzz, whatzz and howzz”  with child-friendly answers.  From simple questions like “where do rabbits live?” to more complex issues like the recent Iranian elections or same-sex marriage, the site is an interesting place to find answers to questions your kids ask–whatever their ages.

Whyzz is also available on-the-go on your mobile.

Found via Mashable

Heroic Television

In honor of the official beginning of the new television season (and specifically the premiere of my favorite show) I’ve decided to write about the phenomenal NBC hit Heroes.

The premise of the show is there in the title and the first season tag line, Heroes, “ordinary people discovering extraordinary abilities”.  I could review and gush over the incredibleness of the show itself but I’ve decided to stay true to the realm of technology.

It’s been said the the internet is the main media of the future, or perhaps even of right now, depending on how you look at it.  To that end Heroes, in my opinion, has been the most successful show in breaking barriers and reaching out to fans online.

On NBC’s official Heroes web site there’s an array of options and opportunities to enhance the viewer experience (without alienating those fans content with there simple one hour a week show commitment).  Besides your average screen caps, cast photos, and even interviews and episodes, Heroes has reached new heights with its tie in experiences of Heroes Evolutions.

Evolutions is basically the interactive online universe of Heroes.  With six extra web sites that tie directly into the Heroes show itself (companies, blogs, and election sites)  that’s just the beginning.  Fans can sign up for text message updates from the different sites and play along with interactive mysteries and games.

In addition Heroes also posts a weekly online comic that expands on stories from within the series.  From online mysteries to the back stories of secondary characters the whole show is enhanced by the deeper fabric created in the online universe.

Heroes knows its fans (new and old) are devoted and interested.  In response they work as best they can to promote fan involvement and enjoyment.  From full cast appearances and show previews at Comic Con, Greg Beeman’s (a director and producer on the show) blog, to star Adrian Pasdar’s (Nathan Petrelli) Youtube channel with extra cast videos, the internet connects fans and creators to the series they love.

If I haven’t made it clear already, you should watch the show, it’s excellent.  Season 3’s two hour premiere tonight: 8/7 central (in case anyone’s interested).

Gas Saving Tip #25

There is no escape from the sky-high prices so I am trying some new things to ease the pain as best I can.

One thing I’ve started doing is using the stock market concept of dollar-cost averaging. Because the cost of gas is fluctuating a little (not constantly climbing like a few weeks back), I have started buying only 10 gallons at a time. It’s mostly a psychological trick as it feels less painful to my wallet to put out $45 rather than $90. Also, I may get a break if the gas price goes down before my next fill up.

It also helps because I am a gauge watcher, and if I am getting low, I drive less. This tricks me into not driving to just one place rather than grouping my errands because I think that I have less gas and I don’t want to have to buy it in the next state over where I do a lot of shopping and the gas prices are much higher.

Speaking of higher gas prices, I found a nifty site to help locate the cheapest pumps around. MSN  lets you find less expensive gas by zip code. They show the stations on a map that you can click for additional information about pricing. This could be helpful when you travel as well.  The prices are updated every night through a system that monitors prices at more than 90,000 stations nationwide so they should be relatively accurate even if not up-to-the-minute.

Photo via