I’m sure ya’ll have heard of Facebook, but check out studivz.net and xiaonei.com. Do you notice anything similar? Well, both sites are 100% knockoffs of Facebook. The interesting thing about both those sites is, they’re making a lot of money.

Studivz is the German equivalent of Facebook and is the 120th most visited site on the internet. Xianonei is the Chinese version and isn’t far off from Studivz, being the 370th most visited site. What’s funny is Xianonei is almost completely like Facebook; it even has the same color scheme.

I don’t know much about international law, but if either of those companies were US based, they would be cooked alive by Facebook. But since both sites are based outside of USA, I’m assuming anything goes; Xiaonei was actually purchased in 2006 for some big bucks and Facebook didn’t do anything!

Usually people build on ideas, but Studivz and Xiaonei show how it’s possible to even make money if you just totally steal an idea.

Yeah.

The Marvels Comics movie “Iron Man” comes out this weekend and was expected to be a pretty big hit. It’s a high budget film with a lot of special effects and famous actors like Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jeff Bridges. Iron Man has also gotten great reviews, including one of my friends who saw a sneak preview.

Too bad “Iron Man” picked the weekend after “Grand Theft Auto IV” came out. It has gotten some of the best reviews ever and is expected to sell $400 million this week, beating out last year’s “Halo 3″ for the record. I got my pre-order copy this week, and I can safely say that I would rather play the game than go see a good movie in “Iron Man.”

This is really a big screw up for “Iron Man’s” marketing people who knew the game would be released this week. With such a high budget and a desperate need for high ticket sales, they have made it much harder on themselves. “Iron Man” is expected” the gross $50-60 million the first week, definitely getting hurt by “GTA IV.”

By the way, I’ve only finished 3 missions so far and have mainly been exploring and causing havoc with roommates. The first few missions are slow as expected, as it is basically showing you how to play step by step. It is harder to drive the cars, but once you are used to it they’re much better. People are harder to kill and it the new combat style definitely takes some getting used to. I still can’t go to Algonquin (Manhattan) without getting a high wanted level,but if you wanna see the game at its best, fly a helicopter toward Algonquin at night and marvel and the beautiful city and water below.

Last week I took an economics test that I studied hard for a week for. I had to get a 91 on the test to get an A in the class and was determined to do so. I have never studied like I did for that damn test and my hard work didn’t pay off.

I went over every question and equation repeatedly. I knew everything there was to know for that test and I still didn’t get that 91. The whole reason is because I didn’t get the time to finish 4 questions.

The professor actually ended the test 10 minutes before the class was over, with 4 questions, including one worth 5 points extra credit. The worst part is the 3 regular questions were worth double! When I went over the test tonight I got every question right, every single question except for what I didn’t have time to finish.

Those 3 questions were worth the equivalent of 6 questions, or 12 points, and I knew how to do the extra credit, another 5 points. I’m sure I would have scored a 105 on that test, but I was screwed by time.

I scored an 87, one right question short of an A in the class, and the final is optional and pretty much impossible. Hard work doesn’t always pay off…

http://www.holdyourbreathfordarfur.com/

I came across the worst campaign for conflict in Darfur today; “Hold your breath for Darfur”. I’m not sure why people think that doing things like this will prove a point. “Look at that guy, he’s holding his breath. I’m going to join whatever he’s campaign for, because it seems he’s really dedicated.” I don’t see how this campaign can ever provoke any action that’ll help the cause; hows holding your breath going to stop the genocide in Darfur. Additionally, which politician is going to sympathize with the idiots that hold their breath?

I’m tired of all these Facebook groups and websites dedicated to doing unrelated things for a cause. Obviously this campaign was so ridiculous, that the site hasn’t been updated since 2006.

How about we make a Hold your breath for people who have asthma campaign. Or maybe Jumping Jacks for Jesus day.

Yeah.

Some of ya’ll have already received the Economic Stimulus check, and are ready to either buy stuff or pay off debt. For those of you who don’t know, US government made the 2008 economic stimulus package, which alloted 152 billion dollars worth of rebates to tax payers. The reason for these rebates is to boost the consumer spending, and fix our economy’s current trend.

Needless to say, many company are very anxious to get a hold of your rebate check.

• Kroger, Albertsons and SuperValu are offering 10% bonuses (check your local store for info).
• Wal-Mart will cash your rebate check for free, in hope you’ll spend it all in their store.
• Staples has launched the Economic Stimulus Center. This will give consumers even more discounts, hence more incentive to buy!
• RadioShack is offering 10% deductions on purchases of $50 or more.

Even though I paid taxes last year, my parents claimed me as a dependent and I won’t be getting my check. I freaking paid 40% of my income on taxes too! Damn self employment tax and income tax. I’m just glad that Texas doesn’t have state tax, otherwise I’d be paying almost 50% of my income to the government.

For those of you who have gotten or are getting the check, check out local stores for the deals. I’m sure there’s a lot of competition out there to get your money; it’s like a second Christmas season for them. If you don’t want to spend the check, I suggest you put it in CountryWide’s 4% savings account.

Yeah.

A buddy of mine who works for Lionsgate recently showed me an advance copy of the script for Saw 5. The story is centered around a 73 year old man who lures his daughter into a dungeon he built in their basement, drugs her, handcuffs her, and leaves her down there to die.





Wait, nevermind, that wasn’t the movie script. That was a REAL EVENT that actually happened. The suspect, Josef Fritzl, held his daughter Elisabeth Fritzl captive at his home in Austria for TWENTY FOUR YEARS. Think that’s creepy? Try this on: he had sex with her multiple times and she ended up with 7 kids, 3 of whom stayed in the dungeon with her for their entire lives.

Actually, I think this is probably WORSE than Saw. Head on over to The New York Times for the full story.