Welcome to Smuggle Me

I recently came across a pretty interesting way to try and market something as common as a backgammon game. It’s a website trying to promote online backgammon. They are using what they call the “#1 Player at BackgammonMasters, Jean-Claude the animated tiger.” It’s really quite creative what they are doing. They have an animated video of Jean-Claude doing his thing. Here’s one of them:

It’s a pretty cool animation. The first part was really nice and I loved the sign that looked just like the sign that is so famous here in Las Vegas.

Jean-Claude is a really interesting character. He has a series of these videos of Jean-Claude explaining how to succeed at a variety of life’s endeavors. Jean-Claude is a tiger, humoristic, mafia type, dressed in 70’s clothes (bell-bottoms and cream-colored shoes, a button-up shirt with a dice print and a large dollar sign chain around his neck) sitting in his trailer in the used junk car lot he manages. I loved the bling around his neck.

I think there on to a pretty interesting concept that could be an interesting method of viral marketing. Especially since viewers win prizes for trivia questions after viewing, and are offered rewards for suggestion any script ideas used. Looks like even the common game of backgammon isn’t immune to viral internet marketing.

This post sponsored by Gammonish.

I recently came across a link somewhere in the depths of my internet reading that said there was a way for you to embed an IM chat on your blog. Since I live on both IM and my blog I decided it was a good fit. The link led me to a company called Meebo which I had actually already used for Jabber IM. Turns out I got completely distracted by everything else that Meebo does that I still haven’t found the IM embedded in the blog. So, that post will have to wait for later.

However, I can tell you that I think a central web location to log into almost every chat service in the world is a great product. Not to mention all these other interesting Meebo products. Not to mention their blog which I can quickly tell you is a great read for anyone interested in a technology startup like me.

I have to confess that I personally have been a huge slacker in proper use of a savings account. I’m an idiot for doing it, but I fall in the same boat as the most of you. It’s just so convenient for me to have my money in the same bank as my checking account. Who cares if I’m not earning crap for interest. Well, I think I’ve had about enough of that. Look at this offer from SavingsAccount.com

Compare high yield online savings accounts and find a new savings account or checking account and earn more interest today with SavingsAccounts.com

SavingsAccounts.com is a new site on the internet, but they have all the big name banks right there. It’s not like they are trying to have you sign up with Bank of Nigerian Scam Artist. These are big name banks. I’m an idiot for not switching my savings over earlier. The interest rates for online savings accounts really is a great deal and 6% is much better than the banks less than 1%. It’s nice to have a teller, but it’s nicer to have more money in my savings account.

This post sponsored by SavingsAccounts.com

Sometimes you come across articles that are just too amazing to believe. This is one of those concepts that just makes you stop and wonder about what they’ll think of next. I guess that’s what makes technology so great. Here’s the description from the article

A Pennsylvania entrepreneur has developed technology that gives you all the battery juice you need directly from the air.

A little bit of a misleading title, but the Business 2.0 article talks about someone who has found a way to transmit electricity using radio waves. UNBELIEVABLE!!

That really is something else. I can’t even imagine the various uses for that type of product. It kind of makes you wonder what’s flying through the air. WOW!!

I’ve always tried to follow a simple rule about money management. Avoid debt like the plague. Seriously, I abhor it. I’ve seen what it did to my mother and father and I absolutely hate it. I understand that it is sometimes a necessary evil. However, credit cards are really risky if you don’t know how to manage them correctly. Take a look at this website that teaches about credit cards.

It’s a pretty straightforward site that is packed full of information. In fact, I’d almost say that there is too much information on the site. I’ve got a large screen and I had to scroll a full 10 screens to get to the end of all the information they had on credit cards. Since I’m a technology guy, there is some layout things that could be done to improve the page. However, the information on that site is good. The most important thing it said was to look at your credit card as a high interest loan. That’s exactly what it is. Why do you think credit card companies can afford to send you thousands of letters trying to get you to sign up for a credit card? Easy, they are making stacks of money from the high interest rates.

My best advice to you is to Pay Off Your Credit Cards ASAP and Avoid Debt like the PLAGUE!!

Once you do this, you’ll feel so much better. Not to mention, without debt you might actually have some savings. With savings you can start looking at various Banking Investment Services that will actually start paying you interest as opposed to having to pay interest. That’s an awesome feeling when your money starts working for you rather than your credit eating at you. It will be one of the best days of your life.

This post sponsored by Credit Loan