On its associated blog, Fusedeals, states quite simply that the purpose of their site is to "share information about deals and bargains from other websites".
















(click to enlarge) The site layout conjures up images of no-nonsense tech sites and ye-olde Bulletin Board Services. While perhaps seeming a little intimidating for first-time users, the layout is entirely appropriate to the purpose of the site. No pretty pictures, just deals in plain text, with mouse-over boxes containing enlarged details.














How It Works:

The site features a number of feeds from various discount shopping deal sites. The idea is very simple, yet infinitely functional - the latest deals on one single page, automatically updated throughout the day so you can snag the deals.

The deals feature anything from Laptop computers and HD connect cables to sets of dumbbells and cutlery. You simply click on the deal and end up at the site where you can purchase almost immediately. For some of these external sites you will need to register and sign in before adding items to your cart.

Here's an example of the site in action:

If you were to click on the following deal featuring a Toshiba HD-DVD Player:










You would then be transported to the featured ad on Gottadeal, one of the sites providing feeds for Fusedeals. When you click on the item you will be transported to the original sales site, in this case - Amazon.com where you can buy the product.

Daily Deals frequently update throughout the day and the sheer coverage of shopping sites makes this a powerful tool for finding the best deal. Make sure you check out the external online stores before buying "blind". A little bit of research will give you peace of mind when purchasing goods online.

Suggestions:
I would love to see a search engine of some sort included on the site. I understand that this may be difficult or impossible using feeds. Also, it would be great to see deals grouped into categories instead of grouping by the deal websites. But these suggestions may possibly overcomplicate a simple and effective concept.


Important Note: This has been a paid review. This does not mean I am paid to have an opinion that pleases others. My review contains my own observations about the subject matter - both positive and negative. The review may contain criticism, suggestions and comments of my own choosing. See disclosure policy for more details.

Technorati Tags: Fusedeals Daily Deals Feeds Bargain Shopping

I have been tagged by Kilroy, who is running "Kilroy's Education Meme", plus if you check out the post, you can participate in the carnival as well.

Here goes...

-----(-)-> What was the name of the teacher that was most influential in your life from grades K through 6?

My answer: Er.. I didn't have grade K or 6, I went to a Community School. What's that, you ask? It's a long story. My most influential teacher was Phil (yes, we called them by their first names!) - Phil taught maths and philosophy and general ethics and how to mess with the man. Valuable lessons.

-----(-)-> What subject did you favor in high school?

My answer: English Literature. That's why I can talk good.


-----(-)-> Did you attend a university and if so did you attain a degree?

My answer: Bachelor of Education from Melbourne University (4 years). I am qualified to teach Drama and Psychology. P.S. I hate teaching and decided not to pursue it at all. I prefer writing about stuff and drawing funny pictures.


-----(-)-> Do you learn best through books, by watching or hands-on?

My answer: It depends what it is you are learning. Eg. I learned a lot from reading a chapter in a book about how to do a golf swing. Then I learned from watching, then from hands-on. All three, then.


-----(-)-> Has education been an ongoing process for you? How do you feel about that?

My answer: Yes. I like to learn new things every day. Sometimes I annoy myself by reading obsessively about a subject that has no apparent bearing on my life. How do I feel? Um, ask Dr Phil.


----(-)-> What seven people are you tagging to do this?

My answer: 7 people!!! I don't know 7 people.
Hehehe. How about 3?
Saboma from Maryannaville
Arvind Iyer from arvind iyer
Bhalla saab from The Fun Hunt

My collection of Patricia Cornwell novels is growing. Fly my pretties!! Heheehehheheeheh!
Sooon I shall have THEM ALL!!! Whahahahahah!



















I managed to snag it for $2.00 plus $5.10 postage & handling. This is when Ebay works for you!

Verdict - Success!

Unnatural Exposure is the latest to add to my slightly disturbing and definitely obsessive collection of Dr Kay Scarpetta books. If you ask me, anyone who doesn't like these books doesn't like fiction or can't read. Or both. Or perhaps they are squeamish. I'm not. But I'm a Scorpio. Death and dismemberment don't bother me, as long as it's fictional - book or movie. I'm not a psychopath though. Really. Wouahahahahahahah!!!

Actually, Unnatural Exposure scared the living crap out of me. I may never sleep again.

Okay, here's my collection as it stands today (In order of publication - I revel in my nerddom!):

Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
Body of Evidence by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
All That Remains by Patricia Cornwell (August 1992) - Yes
Cruel & Unusual by Patricia Cornwell (December 1993) - Yes
The Body Farm by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
From Potter's Field by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
Black Notice by Patricia Cornwell - Yes
The Last Precinct by Patricia Cornwell (October 2000)
Blow Fly by Patricia Cornwell (October 2003) ?
Trace by Patricia Cornwell (September 2004)
Predator, was released on October 25, 2005

Not far to go now. I put a question mark after Blow Fly because somehow, mysteriously that one got soaked in an unknown liquid from an unknown source. Oooooh, scary. I probably knocked a glass over in the middle of the night. Had to dry the damn thing with a hairdryer. Worst thing was that I was in the middle of reading it. Next thing I know the pages are stuck together. I will prevail. * Sniff*!

Technorati Tags: Unnatural Exposure Patricia Cornwell Ebay Success

I visited Albert Park Driving Range for the first time last week. I didn't know what to expect, as I am not a particularly sports-oriented person by nature. But I love golf. It's strange how much I love golf, yet the most I have played is a number of rounds at Studley Park Golf Course (par 3 pitch & putt). Still, I have this sense of certainty that I have a natural ability at golf. I, just as many people have done before me, first started playing Tiger Woods on Playstation and recently ended up with an Obi-Wan Kenobi sense of knowing that I could play in the Ladies' Masters in 2008. All this without doing more than a couple of practice shots in the park and hitting a few putting strokes on the kitchen linoleum.

So when I arrived at Albert Park Driving Range I expected to be sitting back watching my partner hit 100 balls, acting out my role as a "Butch Harmon" type figure, pointing out diversions from the swing plane and the like. I have watched many golf videos by Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman, and consider myself to be a combination of caddy / coach and professional motivator, only without the requisite golf playing ability necessary to facilitate such a role.

So it caught be particularly off guard when he turned around and said "do you want a go?" I didn't even stop to consider anything, I just jumped up and said "yeah!"
Not realising that this "yeah" conveyed no actual underlying idea of what I was going to do when I got to the tee. Without thinking I grabbed the 1-wood, did the grip (I know that much at least!) and whacked the ball. To my amazement, it went up and straight towards one of the yellow flag markers. My partner was equally amazed, and encouraging. "Hit a few more!" he said. So I did, and to my surprise I actually got some good ones. Later on when I started thinking about it too much, I topped the ball, sending a 150 metre worm-burner down through the thick sea of other balls dotting the landscape.

Then I did what I am pretty sure has never been done in the Ladies' Masters, nor any other professional tournament. I hit the ball down and into the tee, sending it sproinging back like a boomerang 3 metres behind me and rolling rather pathetically towards my partner's feet. He stood there open-mouthed for a moment, trying to take in the situation, then burst into fits of giggles. Red faced I walked the longest 3 metres I have walked in my life, picked up the offending ball of shame and muttered "I'll just try that again."

Overally, I was pretty happy with the shots I made, aside from that backwards shot, the worm-burners (there were more than one of these!) and my spectacular sideways shot hit directly into the tightly-packed foliage of a conifer tree, never to be seen again. The range will have to strike that ball off their inventory until a strong gale is forecast.

Value for money was good: -
$7.70 for 50 balls
$14.30 for 100 balls
$2.20 clubs
$3.30 putting

I will be back "fore" more. Haahahahaha! So sorry about that one, it's just that I was trying to type "for" and I did "fore" as a typo. So I thought I'd keep it in. I know. Even my typos do bad jokes.

Technorati Tags: Golf Albert Park Driving Range

Last night I had a dream - I woke up (in the dream) and then woke up my partner saying excitedly "I've got a Page Rank 4! I've got a Page Rank 4!"....

I came in today, checked my blog and suddenly it read "Page Rank 4". And I thought to myself..." No $h!t" It was quite a shock actually.

Then I thought, what does that make me?

A psychic nerd?

You may remember my drawing from Nightmare on Web Street where I had dreams in HTML. I have modified it for the occasion:
















It just goes to show that if you try hard enough, and love long enough, anything is possible.

Excuse me, I need to find a wastepaper basket.

Technorati Tags: Google Page Rank 4 Dream