Amazon is Sending College Students Free Packages!

Free, are you serious?

I am absolutely serious. Regular Joe's pay $99 for Amazon Prime, but you get it for free. Amazon knows you're a broke college student so they gave you a price tag you couldn't refuse. Every college student loves free stuff. We wait in long lines for free stuff, we go to college events for free stuff, we go home for semester breaks and raid our parents house for free food.

When you sign up for a free 6-month Amazon Prime Student Membership you will get all of your packages delivered right to your door for free within two days. That is half a year of free shipping. But that's only the beginning. 

You also get free Amazon Prime Instant Video access, Amazon Music, Amazon Cloud Storage and specials deals and coupons. 

Just use your university e-mail that ends in ".edu" to verify you are a current college student at any accredited institution in the nation and enjoy all the free Amazon Prime benefits for half of a year. 

You have nothing to lose and a lot to gain. Just think of all the money you will save and it will make you feel better about that online shopping guilty pleasure that you know you will indulge either way. 

Learn more about the benefits and features of an Amazon Student free membership by clicking on the image link below. 

Emulation vs. Real Hardware for Retro Gaming

First of all let me preface this post by informing you that this is not a list comparing all of the pros and cons of emulators vs. consoles, but rather my opinions on each, which I prefer, and some advice to help you decide which is right for you.

That being said, what are emulators. Emulators are software applications that have been developed to mimic video game consoles on PC's and other computers or systems that are not the original hardware. PCSX2, EPSXE, Dolphin and Project 64 are some of the most popular emulators for Playstation 2, Playstation 1, Gamecube/Wii, and Nintendo 64 respectively. PCSX2 and EPSXE are my personal favorites. Many emulators do not play all of the games for a platform seamlessly, but those two in particular have a great compatibility list.

I do own the original hardware consoles for all of these emulators and have played them extensively. In my experience, emulators provide a few key benefits. Some of these include: improved graphics, faster load times, digital game files, Save States (The ability to save a game at any point, my favorite feature), and support for other controllers (I like to use my XBOX 360 controller, another great feature for me).

With all of these great benefits it can be easy to jump to conclusions and say emulators are better. But there is something to be said for the nostalgia that comes with putting the real game disk or cartridge into the original console, using the original controller and feeling the mounting excitement as you watch the familiar start up loading screen. Also, I sometimes find that one of my favorite emulator features, Save States, sometimes prevents me from progressing. I don't always have a lot of time to play video games so Save States are great for that, but the ability to save at any time sometimes ends up becoming a crutch. I find myself taking too long to complete games or not completing them at all because I am not pushed to reach the next save point.

The biggest benefit of consoles is that you can play all of the games seamlessly without rampant glitches that exist with emulators. The most popular games on the most popular emulators are pretty smooth like Final Fantasy X and VII, but some of the hidden gems or obscure titles are more prone to glitches on emulators.

A major drawback of playing retro consoles is that they are usually not portable and take up a lot of space that sometimes is not available. Emulators on the other hand can be played on your desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet and even on other consoles like the original XBOX and PSP.

With this in mind I actually play both emulators and the original consoles on a regular basis. I play practically all of my Playstation 1 games emulated on my PSP for the portability aspect. I play about half of my Playstation 2 games on emulators, mainly RPGs to take advantage of Save States, while playing platformers and multiplayer titles on the original console. The original XBOX, one of my favorite consoles does not have a good emulator so I play all of those games on the console. All of my Nintendo games I play on consoles to enjoy the nostalgia.

The truth is neither is better because it depends on the purpose. Personally I prefer the original hardware to emulators if I had to choose. I suggest that you download some emulators and give them a try and if you don't have the console already, wait until you find out if the emulators will suffice for you before dropping the money to pick up a retro console.

Whatever you do, keep on gaming!

Internet Piracy, the problem that isn't

Internet Piracy is not as big of a problem as it is made out to be. A recent study by The London School of Economics has revealed that teens who illegally download music, movies and TV shows are more likely to purchase content than those who do not. Perhaps this can be attributed to a "try before you buy" mentality or a frustration with the sometimes sub-par quality of pirated media.

Whatever the case, those in charge of the legal distribution of media content need to adopt a new perspective of online piracy and it would be in their best interest to cease the senseless lawsuits against internet sites that enable digital media piracy.

Initially, targeting Torrent websites has seemed to be the most viable option for piracy opponents. Instead of going after the imperceptible number of users that would be nigh impossible to corral and punish, they have attempted to cut off the head of the dealers. Unfortunately, this is a losing battle against a hydra, "cut off one head and two more shall take its place!" As soon as a torrent site is shut down, there are more in the wings ready to rise up and it won’t be long before the defeated dealer rises again with a slight change in moniker or a new signature at the end of their URL. The point is, fighting internet piracy is not just a losing battle but a pointless one. 

As a marketing major, one of the key concepts that we are taught as the new philosophy of good marketing is to understand what the customers want and provide tailored solutions that provide so much value that customers will be happy to pay for it. Then follow up to make sure they are satisfied, thus providing more value. Marketing is all about nurturing relationships with customers.

In the same way, the entertainment industry needs to provide more value to their customers. The 4 P's of marketing are Product, Price, Place and Promotion. One reason for customers engaging in internet piracy is that they feel that the product does not warrant the price of the entertainment. There is a discrepancy in value provided to the customer.

 For instance, many new movies are released in Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Copy Combo packs at $19.99 to $29.99 in brick-and-mortar retail stores, while the digital only copy available through online outlets such as VUDU, Amazon and Xbox Video are the same price. So you get less value, i.e. no physical DVD or Blu-Ray, for the same amount of money. An argument can be made that the reason for this is that they are providing value through instant download of the product but I would consider that to be a stretch.

Do not misunderstand me, I am not saying that internet piracy is right and that legal distributors should give up entirely. What I am saying is that something is not adding up. Maybe the entire industry is set for a restructuring where A-list actors get a smaller chunk of change. Perhaps a reduction in price may lead to a monumental increase in sales that would lead to greater profits.

What ever the case, research shows that the entertainment industry continues to grow and Box Office sales have been at all time highs. Continued growth is expected in the entertainment media industry and the problem of internet piracy is exaggerated.

With any problem it is important to look for the best solution, not the most obvious. Piracy opponents should use this as an opportunity to explore new solutions, such as new revenue models for distribution, like the many subscription and ad based revenue models such as Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Amazon Prime Music, etc. Innovative solutions can solve problems and understanding what customers want and providing them with value. Good marketing is all about listening. Listen to what internet piracy is telling you.

How To Use The Internet: Reddit

Reddit is the front page of the internet. If you are not using Reddit, than you are not using the internet correctly!

There is so much information on the internet that it can be hard to sift through at times. Reddit is an internet community that solves this problem. Think of it like an army of curators sifting through the internet to save you time and help you find the good stuff.

Reddit is a massive internet community that promotes anything on the internet that Redditors deem to be worthy. The idea is that the community posts articles, pictures, discussions, etc. under categories called Sub-reddits and the community "Up-votes" or "Down-Votes" what they think is good, relevant, etc.

Reddit is for everyone because it has something for everyone. If you use the internet for consuming information in any way than you would benefit from using Reddit. Subscribe to Sub-reddits, or topics, that interest you and let the community show you what's good on the internet pertaining to that subject.

Recently, a third party internet traffic ranking site called Alexa.com, listed Reddit.com as the 10th highest ranking site for internet traffic in the U.S. and 24th globally.

Reddit can be accessed via their internet site, reddit.com or through reader apps on Android, iOS and Windows. There are a variety of apps available each with similar UI's and features.

So what are you waiting for?

Become a Redditor and Win the Internet!

How Trolls Can Help Your Business' Facebook

U Mad Bro?

Many businesses and organizations dread the inevitable appearance of Trolls who will eventually crop up in the comments of their websites or social media accounts. Internet Trolls wreak havoc by spreading negativity and discord, often making controversial statements to purposely instigate arguments. On a website, the problem is easily "remedied" by deleting the comment(s). Although this is a popular solution it is not very effective and often backfires. Some Trolls will become spiteful if their comments are deleted and will attempt to stalk the business on their social media and on internet review sites to damage the brand image. However, many small to medium sized businesses rely on Facebook as a “free,” or low cost, marketing tool and absolutely dread an unwelcome naysayer criticizing their business and starting arguments.

Truth be told, this is a great “problem” to have for any business or organization if they just change their perspective and view it as an opportunity. Trolls get people arguing, which means more comments. The Facebook algorithm interprets these comments as engagement, which boosts the ranking of a post. In short, Trolls equal more people seeing your post on their news feed. Many Facebook followers are unlikely to read the comments anyways and even if they do, most will make their own judgments while ignoring the Troll's input.  

If you do want to attempt to manage Trolls, the best thing to do is to respond to them individually. If they are upset, acknowledge their feelings, show that you are listening, apologize and attempt to pacify them. If they are just looking to start arguments with others involved in the discussion, it is best to leave them be. If the Troll is bullying someone than you may want to step in and politely try to diffuse the situation but do not order the troll to "cease and desist" as this is likely to fuel their fire. A plausible solution would be to acknowledge possible differences in opinion and freedom of speech, but recommend  civic debates over arguments.

When it comes to Trolls on social media, sometimes the best thing to do is nothing. Only attempt to respond to a Troll if they are bullying someone repeatedly or if you feel you can pacify them and make yourself look like a responsible and carrying organization. Otherwise, let it be and enjoy the unintended promotion that Trolls bring to your posts. Remember, most people will recognize Trolls and disregard their outrageous opinions.

Lazy Diet Tip #087: Healthy Soda, Zevia & Honest Fizz (Stevia, Splenda and Aspartame)

Honest Fizz & Zevia Natural Sodas

So like many Americans I love soda, pop, fizzy lifting drinks, or whatever you may call them. The problem is they can be bad for you and while drinking water is much better for you, it does not satisfy my cravings. So I struggled to limit my intake to one soda per day until I discovered an alternative.
Now, a lot of people ask me, "Hey, what are you drinking?"..... "Is that an energy drink?".... "Do you know the Muffin Man?" OK, maybe not the last one but the first two for sure. My answer is usually something like this: "I am glad you asked, I'm drinking Zevia (or Honest Fizz) the all natural soda sweetened with Stevia to help keep me strong!" <Thumbs up and shameless promotional flashing of the label while smiling much too much>
Perhaps not quite that dramatic, but hey if they need someone to do a commercial and spread the word, I'm available.

So what in tarnation (Tar Nation/Tar-nation/tar-nay-shun, idk) is Stevia? Well, it's a plant based, all-natural sweetener with zero calories! Oh boy, here comes the backlash...
"Isn't that like Aspartame?" "What about Splenda, what's the difference?" "I bet that causes cancer." "I want a Crumple Horned Snorkack."

Stevia is different because it is an all-natural sweetener that comes from a plant. Both  Splenda (Sucralose) and Aspartame are artificial sugar substitutes. Stevia has no calories, does not cause tooth decay, does not cause cancer, and has a negligible effect on blood glucose levels. However, some experts argue that certain kinds of Stevia can cause tooth decay, such as Stevia extract and drops stored in glycerin.  This is not the case in Zevia and Honest Fizz. Although, these sodas do contain other ingredients, such as citric and malic acid from fruits that are indeed bad for your teeth if you consume too much. While not as good as drinking water, they are a great alternative to regular sodas and traditional diet sodas and still satisfy the fizzy craving for carbonation.

In the spirit of full disclosure, these sodas also contain a sugar alcohol called Erythritol, which is used as a "stabalizer." Basically this just means it makes it taste more like sugar. "Aha, so there is a catch?" Well sort of I guess if you want to be picky, which you probably do. But, Erythritol also has (almost) zero calories, no effect on blood glucose, does not cause cancer and nor tooth decay. The small amount in each soda has a negligible caloric composition.

As far as taste goes, I personally prefer the taste to regular soda after drinking it so often. My initial opinion upon switching from drinking regular soda, to diet, to diet Coke sweetened with Splenda, was that it tasted better than any diet soda but not as good as regular soda. Now I am so used to it that I find myself wishing I could get it at restaurants.

Of the two brands, I prefer Honest Fizz with Profesor Fizz (Dr. Pepper) and Orange being my favorite flavors. Unfortunately, Honest Fizz is harder to find at brick and mortar stores than Zevia. While Zevia  can be found at most Whole Foods Market stores and some Target and Publix stores, I have only been able to find Honest Fizz at Big Lots stores. Originally Big Lots was selling them at $0.33/can, but after quickly selling out and going a few months without being in stock, they were reintroduced at $0.50/can which is still worth it in my opinion. You can always purchase them on Amazon here, but I find them to be too expensive, running $2.00/can or higher. Zevia can usually be found for $5.99 for a 6-pack but there is usually a printable $1-$1.50 off coupon on Zevia.com. I have occasionally found them on sale at Target for $3.33 for a 6-pack which is roughly $0.55/can. If you buy 4 6-packs at Whole Foods you get them at a slight discount of around $20 for 24 cans. The best place to purchase Zevia is usually Amazon. The most popular flavors, such as Zevia Cola, can be found in 24-packs for as little as $13-$14, when in stock. The average price is around $16-$18. Amazon also sells a variety 24-pack for around $20-$22 which is great for finding out which flavors you like.

Some of flavors do contain caffeine while other flavors are caffeine free. Zevia has a wider variety of flavors and is more readily available. But if you can find it at Big Lots for cheap, Honest Fizz tastes better in my opinion.

So the real question you should be asking is: "Why haven't you tried an all-natural soda sweetened with Stevia?" Don't forget to share with your friends and family. The post not the soda I mean. Unless your feeling generous, then share the soda. But it's sort of expensive, so maybe you should charge them. Just a suggestion.

How To Make Butterbeer from Harry Potter at Home for Muggles ... and Squibs (non-alcoholic)

Butterbeer is a delicious butterscotch drink popular among witches and wizards in the Harry Potter universe of J. K. Rowling. Muggles around the world can enjoy the magical beverage while visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at the Universal Orlando resort. Living in Orlando and being an annual passholder, I am proud to say that I have enjoyed the hallowed Butterbeer at the WWoHP in all three of it's renditions; cold, frozen and the recently introduced hot Butterbeer on numerous occasions. The cold version is my personal favorite of the 3 concoctions. Having tried the WWoHP Butterbeer many times and after many failed attempts trying recipes after scouring the internet, I believe I have finally brewed an acceptable draught of living dea....I mean Butterbear. I daresay a few sips will satisfy you all.

So first, we need our ingredients.

Butterbeer Ingredients

• Smucker's Butterscotch Topping (by ice cream toppings in the supermarket or buy it here on Amazon)
• Heavy Whipping Cream (I prefer the can over the carton) 
• Imitation Vanilla, Butter, Nut Extract (Butterscotch basically, buy this at your local grocery store)
• Cream Soda (Spend the extra money on A&W or one of the old timey glass bottle cream sodas for best results)
• Bowl
• Spoon
• Ministry of Magic mug (or whatever lame mug you probably have instead)