Reviews and More

Reviews of movies, TV shows, books, products, websites, and a whole lot more!

June 18th, 2008

Online “Heart Library”

Now that I’m getting older, I’m becoming increasingly concerned about my health. I’m trying to eat properly, exercise regularly, and educate myself on other things I can do to keep my body in tiptop shape.

One way I’ve been been following up on the education front is by learning about the causes and risk factors of heart attacks. Because of certain existing health problems and bad habits from my past, I’m extremely concerned about having a heart attack somewhere down the road, and want to do everything I possibly can to prevent an incident.

That’s why I’ve been spending a lot of time over at HeartLibrary.com. Run by St. Jude Medical, HeartLibrary.com features highly informative videos about heart diseases and conditions. Each video is about 3-4 minutes in length, and is presented by doctors in clear, concise language that is easy to understand. Some video titles in the library include: “Atrial Fibrillation”, “Heart Attack”, “Heart Block”, “Heart Anatomy”, and more.

I’ve found the videos to be very useful, and have even forwarded the site URL to several friends and family members that I thought would be interested in the information.

If heart disease is a concern for you or someone you love, then you should check out HeartLibrary.com. The more you know, the better prepared you will be for whatever might happen!

June 14th, 2008

USA Character Arcade

I’m not a hardcore gamer by any stretch of the imagination, but I do enjoy relaxing with a few hands of blackjack or solitaire every now and then. Free online games are just my style, so that’s why when I heard about USA Network’s new Character Arcade, I had to check it out.

The Character Arcade, currently in beta, is a website where casual gamers can hang out and play original flash-based games featuring characters from their favorite USA Network programs. Monk’s Mind Game, Monk’s Mind Machine, Psych Training Day, and Burn Notice Challenge are just a few of the themed offerings on the site. In addition, the Character Arcade puts its own twist on classics such as Solitaire and Sudoku by adding images of series actors on the cards or game board.

I don’t know about you, but I personally find Solitaire a heck of a lot more exciting when I turn over a card to find Jeffery Donovan’s face on it!

In addition to hosting these games, the Character Arcade also serves as a place where gamers can interact with each other, make new friends, issue direct challenges to each other, track performances, and even talk smack with their rivals. Best of all, the Character Arcade is 100% free to join, and the registration process is quick and easy. Oh, and did I mention that you can even win prizes?? What an awesome bonus just for playing games!

It took me less than two minutes to fill out the registration form. From there, I was able to start creating my profile and playing games immediately. My favorites so far are the Burn Notice Challenge, Blackjack, and Solitaire, all of which are tons of fun and highly addictive!

If you’re looking for a cool (and FREE) gaming site that will help you pass the time and meet new people, then you’ve just got to check out the USA Character Arcade today. My Character ID is JE223 — come on over and challenge me!!

June 14th, 2008

Celebrity Skin Problems

I was reading an interesting magazine article last night about celebrities who have suffered from acne and severe breakouts in the past. Of course, by the time the general public actually sees these people in magazine spreads or on the silver screen, the blemishes have been covered up by heavy applications of theatrical makeup or by Photoshop, so it’s often hard to tell who has good skin and who doesn’t.

I’d heard rumors about Brad Pitt having pockmarks all over his face, so I wasn’t surprised to see his name in the article. But other celebs that did have me raising my eyebrows were Cameron Diaz, Victoria Beckham (Posh Spice), Jennifer Love Hewitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Alicia Silverstone. The scary part was looking up photos of these celebs in full breakout mode — wow, makeup really does hide a lot!

At any rate, all of them seem to be doing fine now, so I guess their natural acne treatment or prescription medicines worked. Now I just wish these treatments would work for me sometime soon!!!

June 2nd, 2008

TV Pet Peeve #513

I know that TV shows aren’t meant to be true reflections of reality, but that doesn’t stop me from becoming annoyed by some details. One of my biggest pet peeves is how TV teenagers never look or act like real teenagers. I’m not just talking about how the actors playing these roles are usually in their twenties; I’m talking about how teens on network television shows never suffer from acne or have to wear braces.

Take the CW show Gossip Girl, for instance. Have you ever seen a group of high school kids with clearer skin or better teeth than these people? Probably not since The O.C., Veronica Mars, Party of Five, and Beverly Hills, 90210 went off the air!

Sign me up for whatever acne treatment and orthodontic procedures these folks are privy to, because here I am at 34 years old, still wearing braces and still suffering from pimples. It’s not fair!

May 1st, 2008

“Become Tony Stark” Sweepstakes

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see the new film Iron Man, which opens nationwide tomorrow. It features an all-star cast that includes Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, and Jeff Bridges, and is directed by Jon Favreau. Iron Man, which has already opened in a few other countries, currently boasts an 8.3 average user rating on IMDb.com (after 740+ votes) and has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. You better believe I’ll be going to see it in the theater!

As I was checking for some more info on the film, I came across a sweepstakes tie-in that looks incredibly cool. It’s called Become Tony Stark for a Weekend, and will give one lucky winner a chance to experience L.A. like billionaire Tony Stark would. The prize package includes:

  • First class airfare from anywhere in the 48 contiguous states to Los Angeles
  • 3 nights at the Beverly Hills Hotel
  • A helicopter tour of L.A.
  • $1,000 to spend on Rodeo Drive
  • Dinner and spa treatments

I can’t think of another movie promo that included a prize package worth this much, so I think you’ll agree that this is pretty amazing!

What do you have to do to enter? It’s easy. Simply visit the Official Contest Page, verify that you’re 18 or older, and submit a valid email address as well as your home phone number. The sweepstakes is sponsored by MTV, and they guarantee that they won’t use your info for anything other than to notify you if you win, so there’s nothing to worry about on that front.

Anyway, check out this quick video clip about the Become Tony Stark for a Weekend sweepstakes, and enter by May 12, 2008 for your chance to win!

BECOME TONY STARK FOR A WEEKEND

April 29th, 2008

The Rookie Day 3: Extraction

I’ve been a huge fan of the hit TV series 24 ever since the very first season. I love the action-packed episodes, as well as all the twists and turns that the writers throw at us along the way. So obviously, I was extremely disappointed to learn that Season 7 would be delayed until January 2009 due to the WGA strike. Considering the fact that the S6 finale aired on May 21, 2007, that’s a long time to wait between fresh 24 episodes!

But I recently learned that there’s a way I can get my 24 fix without having to pull out my DVDs. Apparently, FOX and Degree Men® have teamed up to bring viewers a series of “websiodes” called The Rookie that more or less follow the 24 structure: same graphics, same ticking clock, same split screen, same CTU set, etc.

I thought this sounded pretty cool, so I decided to go to watch The Rookie over at the official FOX website. I checked out the current series called “The Extraction”, which is actually Day 3 (meaning there have been two previous series).

“The Extraction” stars Jeremy Ray Valdez as Jason Blaine, a rookie CTU agent who’s learning the ropes from veteran Alton Maxwell (played by Eric Beck). The two are in Mexico on a mission when Maxwell gets captured by Esteban Salazar (Jonathan P. Nichols), brother of Ramon and Hector Salazar, the drug smugglers from Day 3 of 24. Esteban wants to bring the family’s drug business back to the top — and he also wants revenge on CTU agents for killing both of his brothers.

When Blaine learns that Maxwell has been captured, he goes to work on an extraction plan. He utilizes the help of Kate Wyman (Katrina Law) back at CTU, and two tech agents, Ocho (Chad Johnson) and Dos (Jason Steward) out in the field to get the support he needs to rescue Maxwell.

There are six separate webisodes in Day 3, each ranging from about 4 to 8 minutes long. Because of the compressed time structure, things in The Rookie happen very quickly. It’s more or less nonstop action, which is pretty cool!

I think The Rookie Day 3: Extraction presented by Degree Men® is definitely worth watching. Sure, it’s not a total replacement for Jack, Chloe, and Bill Buchanan, but it’s entertaining and doesn’t require a huge time investment.

Check out the first episode right here, and then go to the FOX site I linked above to catch the rest. Be sure to view Chapters 3 and 4 to see Chad Johnson, mister “Ocho Cinco” of the Cincinnati Bengals, make his acting debut. He was pretty good, so I hope to see him make more appearances in the future!

April 22nd, 2008

Alien Nation Giveaway!

It’s been a while since I’ve hosted a giveaway, so I figured this would be a good time to do another one. Up for grabs this week is a very cool Alien Nation DVD movie collection. You might remember Alien Nation as a short-lived television series that aired on FOX from 1989-90. The show was canceled because of budgetary problems despite being very popular with fans, which of course left lots of folks extremely disappointed.

The storyline of the original series was taken up again four years later with a television movie called Dark Horizon, and due to the success of that film, four more films followed over the next 3 years. These films have now been put together in a DVD box set called Alien Nation: Ultimate Movie Collection, and I’m giving you a chance to win one right now!

The box set contains the five Alien Nation movies (Dark Horizon, Body and Soul, Millennium, The Enemy Within, and The Udara Legacy), as well as a ton of extra features like concept art, photo stills, and commentary.

The contest will run from today until 5pm central on Sunday, April 27. To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post (please be sure to use a valid email address in the email field) before the deadline. On the 27th, I’ll put all the names into an online randomizer to come up with the winner, who will then have 48 hours to reply with a physical mailing address. If I don’t receive a reply within the designated time, I’ll repeat the drawing and come up with a second an alternate winner, etc. (To be clear, there’s only ONE winner here.)

This looks like a pretty cool box set, so go ahead and enter!

Edit(4/22): U.S. residents only, please. Sorry!

April 19th, 2008

Keeping Up

A few people have asked how I find the time to watch and review so many movies (as well as TV shows and books). I try to put up at least one new review every day, which means that I certainly am very busy consuming all this media to keep my blog going. In order to do that efficiently, I find that sticking to a schedule is the best way to go.

Keeping up with TV shows is relatively easy, as they only require 21 or 42 minutes of my time. TiVo is very important in this regard, helping to shave 9 minutes off sitcoms and 18 minutes off dramas and allowing me to watch my shows whenever it’s convenient for me. If I didn’t have TiVo, I wouldn’t be able to watch TV!

Movies are a bit harder, as they require a longer time investment. I usually take them in during several sittings: 20 minutes as I use my mini-stepper machine, another 30 minutes when I take a break for lunch, and then maybe an hour after dinner. I also occasionally throw a DVD into my computer so I can have the movie playing in the background while I check email and do other tasks. Sure, I’d love to just sit in a massage chair for a couple hours while watching a film from beginning to end, but that’s impossible with all the other things I have to do in a day.

As for books, I force myself to read for 30 minutes before I take my afternoon nap and before I turn in for the night. Sometimes I read more than that, but if I find that if I don’t “assign” myself this task, I’m liable to let a book sit for weeks on end. I also listen to a fair amount of books on my iPod, but I try to make sure I get the unabridged version so it’s not cheating.

Anyway, there you have it. This is how I keep up with all of my movie, TV, and book reviews for this blog. And no, it never gets old or tiresome because I love this stuff!

March 22nd, 2008

Win a TriScents Home Makeover!

Although our home is just eight years old, the amount of wear and tear we’ve dished out makes the interior appear twice that age. I guess that’s what happens when two hyper dogs and an active five-year-old boy have the run of the place! All I can say is that a complete makeover is definitely in order at this point.

That’s why I’m very interested in the new promotion currently being sponsored by Renuzit TriScents. Between now and April 30th, you can enter to win a $20,000 Home Makeover from Renuzit. All you have to do is create a video or submit photos and an essay explaining why you need a home makeover and how the $20,000 from Renuzit TriScents can help you achieve your goals.

There is a two-minute limit on the videos and a 250-word limit on the essays, so you’ll definitely want to keep that in mind as you create your entries. For even more information about the contest, see official rules.

I think it would be simply amazing to win this $20,000 home makeover! There are so many things we’d be able to do with the money, such as refinishing or replacing our scratched-up wood flooring, updating our furniture, and repainting our walls. I have no doubt the house would look as good as new after this kind of makeover!

If you could use a $20,000 makeover for your home, then get out your camcorder or digital camera and enter to win the contest. Make sure you provide a compelling argument for why your home qualifies for the contest and back up your reasons with video or photographic evidence.

Oh, and don’t forget to try out the two new TriScents electric oil freshener varieties available nationwide. You can download and print a coupon on the TriScents site that will allow you to get a Renuzit TriScents Starter Kit from a local retailer.

I definitely need something like this to cover up the seemingly permanent doggy smell at my place, so I’ll be taking advantage of the coupon for sure!

March 15th, 2008

Kettering U.

I should have known my first attempt at college was destined for failure given how little effort I put into the research and application process. Here was my strategy: Wait until my best friend figured out where she wanted to go to school, and then follow her there.

I ended up being miserable all through freshman year as the school we went to didn’t have the major I wanted. I eventually transferred and got back on track (after a few more false starts), but I sometimes still wonder how different my life would have turned out had I gone my own way right from the beginning.

Choosing schools on a whim is probably not that much of a problem these days, especially since most colleges and universities have a significant online presence that allows prospective students to get to know more about the institution without ever having to leave home.

For instance, I was checking out the Kettering University website last night, and soon got caught up in watching a bunch of short videos featuring a character named Stickman. These videos show Stickman going through various stages of the college selection process, including choosing a school, visiting campus, and applying for admission. The videos are laced with humor, so they were a lot of fun to watch (I’ll embed one here for you).

Just from watching the videos, I learned that Kettering has one of the top mechanical engineering programs in the entire country, with US News and World Report ranking it the #1 university in America for Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering in the “America’s Best Colleges Guide for 2008″. Moreover, a majority of Kettering’s seniors have jobs lined up or are accepted to grad school before they even graduate, which is definitely the mark of a top-notch program.

Anyway, if you’d like to learn more about this Flint, MI school that was named on the US News Best Colleges list, be sure to visit admissions.kettering.edu today!

Oh, and here’s that Stickman vid that I promised you. This one is my favorite, as Stickman tries to figure out what he’s going to do with his life. Check it out:

January 24th, 2008

Lucky in Love

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to get for your sweetheart this year. Unfortunately, buying a Valentine’s Day present can be somewhat of a challenge, especially if your significant other is a difficult person to shop for. This is the situation I face every year in trying to find something nice for my husband.

But this year, I might be getting a little help. That’s because I’m going to enter the Game O Love Valentine’s Day contest sponsored by Overstock.com. The contest, which starts tomorrow and runs until February 11, gives everyone the chance to win major discounts and fantastic gifts for their loved ones.

Entering the contest is simple. All you have to do is visit Overstock.com’s “Game O Love” website, select a gift that you would like to win for your sweetheart, and submit that product via the online entry form. Winners will be drawn daily, which means you’ll have 18 chances to win (provided that you enter every single day).

I have a feeling that my husband wants a home theater system, so I’ve selected a Panasonic model that would be great in our home. If I could somehow win this prize, we’d both be in heaven!

panasonichometheater-1.jpg

If you’d like a chance to win an amazing gift for that special someone in your life, be sure to check out Overstock.com’s Valentine’s Day Game and get your entries in every day!

January 17th, 2008

George of the Jungle on Cartoon Network

gotj.jpgWhile my son was watching TV this morning, I saw a commercial for an updated George of the Jungle series that will premiere on Cartoon Network tomorrow, Jan.18th at 7:30pm (E/P).

I used to watch the older version of this cartoon when I was a kid, and I’m pretty excited about seeing what this 2008 series will be like. My son is interested in watching it too, so we’re going to make a family night out of it.

The 2008 George looks completely different, and from what I’ve seen it appears that there are a couple of new characters too. The new show already looks better than the old one, so I’m really looking forward to this one.

The official George of the Jungle website has more information about the show and characters, as well as free videos and games. Check it out, and be sure to tune into the premiere this Friday night at 7:30!

January 15th, 2008

Online Audio Advertising

I’m always looking for new ways to monetize my websites in order to bring in a bit of extra cash. Since I haven’t had much luck with old school pay-per-click advertising models, I’m ready to try a few different methods now.

One of the most intriguing opportunities I’ve come across is something called Pay-Per-Play advertising from Net Audio Ads. In the Pay-Per-Play model, publishers (website owners) simply insert a snippet of code on their sites, which allows NetAudioAds™ to serve up 5-second audio clips from a variety of different advertisers. The publisher earns money on 100% of their traffic — regardless of click-throughs, sign-ups, or other actions.

NetAudioAds™ has been around for more than two years already, and boasts nationally recognized brands such as Harley Davidson and Taco Bell among its 66,000 advertisers.

After reading through a bunch of additional information about this program, I went ahead and signed up for it. I think this sounds like a fantastic way to earn extra income from my sites — especially since I’ll be getting all of the revenue generated from my traffic. Plus, I love the fact that my commission won’t be dependent upon clicks or sign-ups because that means I can count on getting money as long as visitors are checking out my sites.

In addition, since I signed up today, I was able to get in on the NetAudioAds™ affiliate program, and will be able to earn money from everyone that joins the program through my link. The affiliate program is set to close to new members on February 1, so I’m glad I was able to join in time.

I can’t wait to get started with this! I’ll be sure to post some follow-ups to let you know how much money I make.

January 14th, 2008

Viral Videos on Television

As someone who spends a lot of time online, I’m simply amazed at how popular so-called “viral videos” have become. There are a number of websites that feature nothing but user-generated videos, and these sites are some of the most popular on the entire Internet.

I have to admit that I view quite a few viral videos each day as I surf through my favorite sites. In fact, most of the time, this user-generated content is more interesting than anything I see on national television on any given day. There’s just something strangely compelling about watching regular people ham it up for the cameras!

For example, I was browsing through the YawpBox earlier today, and I saw a hilarious video that still has me laughing! It started out as an ordinary wedding video, showing the newlyweds sharing their first dance together as husband and wife. They’re slow-dancing to “Unchained Melody” and it looks very romantic and all that.

Then, all of a sudden, the song cuts off and is replaced by “Baby Got Back.” This was obviously an orchestrated move, as the bride and groom then launch into a dance routine that matches the lyrics — much to the delight of the crowd! It was awesome!

Usually, the only people who would see this type of video are those who stumble across it online. But now, thanks to YawpBox TV, viral videos can now be played for a wider audience.

YawpBox TV is a “magazine style” show filmed before a live studio audience in Dallas, TX each week. The show’s hosts, Lex & Terry, issue challenges specifying what type of video content they want, and then viewers create videos complying with the topic. The best user-generated videos will be featured on future episodes of YawpBox TV — which is perfect for those looking for a shot at their 15 minutes of fame!

YawpBox TV sounds like a lot of fun, and is something I’m definitely going to check out!

December 3rd, 2007

Christmas Wishes

Christmas in my household has always been a time for wishes and dreams, and this year is no different. Even though money is pretty tight these days, it’s still fun to imagine getting a completely extravagant item that I would never buy for myself in a million years. So when I heard about Overstock.com’s All I want for Christmas Giveaway, I knew that I just had to enter!

The All I Want for Christmas Giveaway begins today, December 3, 2007, and runs until Friday, December 7. For those five days, you can enter to win any product from the Overstock.com website, valued up to $1,000. All you have to do to win is register with the site (you just need a valid email address), select the gift that you would most like to receive, and use the “Email a Friend” option on the product page to submit your entry to the contest. Here’s a quick commercial that you can check out for more info:

satchel.jpg I entered today, and chose this Prada satchel as the gift I’d most like to win. This is a beautiful bag that I would use as a briefcase for those occasions when I go out to meet with clients. Even with Overstock.com’s 33% discount, this satchel costs $999.99 — a price that’s way, way out of my budget. But as I said above, Christmas is about fanciful wishes, so I decided to aim high with this one.

You can also refer up to five friends for this giveaway, which I think is a neat idea. I’m choosing Jackie, Amber, Robin, Jerry, and Michelle, and hope that they return the favor when they enter the giveaway!Overstock.com is allowing everyone to enter once per day during the contest period, so I better get back to the site to look for more gifts that I’d like to win. Be sure to check out this contest for yourself, because the range of prizes is pretty amazing!

November 18th, 2007

“Run’s House” Shoe Giveaway

Hey everyone, I’ve got another awesome giveaway to tell you about! This is another tie-in for the MTV reality TV series Run’s House, which airs every Thursday night at 10pm (9 central).

If you watch the show then you already know that the Reverend Run (Joseph Simmons of Run-D.M.C. fame) has his own shoe company called Run Athletics. They make some pretty cool kicks over there, and right now I’m giving you a chance to win your very own pair!

That’s right, one lucky winner will be able to choose between a pair of women’s Pastry Shoes brand Fab Cookie Boots (color: Chocolate Chip) or men’s Run Athletics brand Arthur Ashe shoes (color: Aussie Grand Slam [brown]). The shoes pictured below are the correct style, but the men’s pair won’t be in this particular color.

fab-cookie-boot.jpgarthur-ashe.jpg

Please note that there are a limited number of shoes available here, so I unfortunately cannot guarantee the size of your choice. For the men’s shoes, the sizes range from 8.5 to 13, but are mostly 9 and 10. The women’s shoes are mostly size 8, with one 10 and one 7 thrown into the mix. But again, you’re not guaranteed to get the size you want even if it’s listed here, so I hope you can be understanding about the situation.

To be eligible for the drawing, all you have to do is send an email to contest@reviewsandmore.net with the phrase “Shoe Giveaway” in the subject line. The entry deadline is one week from today, Sunday November 25, 2007 at 12 noon (central). The winner will be notified by email, so please use a valid address.

Offer is open to U.S. residents only.

Get those entries in today, and remember to tune into MTV for Run’s House on Thursday nights!

November 8th, 2007

Run’s House DVD Winner

As promised, I held my drawing tonight for a free copy of the Complete Seasons 1 & 2 DVD box set of the MTV show Run’s House. The lucky winner of this giveaway is Teressa P. of Mobile, AL!

Congratulations to Teressa, and thank you to everyone who sent in entries. I’ll definitely be hosting more giveaways in the near future, so keep checking back!

runs-house.jpg

November 1st, 2007

Run’s House DVD Giveaway

s12l.jpg Since I had a tremendous response to the Veronica Mars Season 3 DVD giveaway that I promoted last week, I’ve agreed to go ahead and hold another contest. This time, the prize up for grabs is the Complete Seasons 1 & 2 box set from the MTV reality hit Run’s House!

Entering to win the DVD box set is easy: just send an email to contest@reviewsandmore.net with the phrase “Run’s House DVD Giveaway” in the subject line sometime between now and 9pm central on November 8, 2007. I’ll print out all the entries, toss them into a hat, and draw a lucky winner at random. The prize will be shipped directly from sponsor M80, so if you’re not comfortable giving your address out to a third party, please don’t enter. Also, we have to limit shipping to addresses in the U.S., so I apologize to all my international readers out there!

If you haven’t seen Run’s House yet, then entering this contest will be a fantastic way for you to get started with the show. I was able to catch the Season 4 premiere on MTV last week, and thought it was pretty good. The show gives viewers a glimpse into the daily life of Joseph Simmons, aka Reverend Run (from pioneering rap group Run-D.M.C.). We see him deal with issues that come up while raising his five kids and running his various businesses — all pretty interesting stuff.

Anyway, be sure to get your entries in quickly for your chance to win the Run’s House: Complete Seasons 1 & 2 box set!

October 23rd, 2007

Veronica Mars DVD Giveaway!!

***EDITED on 10/24*** Entry Deadline Now Changed to 10/30!!

A couple weeks ago, I told you about the upcoming release of Veronica Mars: The Complete Third Season on DVD. Well, the wait is officially over, as the DVD box set goes on sale today!

To celebrate the release, the marketing team at M80 has generously agreed to give away one of these box sets to a lucky reader! How cool is that? As I wrote in my previous post, this is a 6-disc set containing all 20 episodes from Season 3, along with some exclusive bonus features that you won’t find anywhere else.

So what do you have to do to enter the giveaway? It’s simple: drop me an email at contest@reviewsandmore.net with the phrase “Veronica Mars DVD Giveaway” in the subject line, and I’ll put your name in a hat with the rest of the entries (limit one entry per person). Edit: I’ve been asked to shorten the time frame a bit, so the contest will end in one week not two. Then, on October 30 (7 days from today), I’ll draw a winner from all the entries. Simple!

If you don’t want to wait that long or don’t want to test your luck, you can go ahead and buy the DVD set today from various online or bricks and mortar retailers.

*Please note that your prize will ship directly from M80, so if you’re not comfortable with a third party getting your home address, don’t enter the contest. I will NOT ship the prize myself, so don’t even ask! **Only U.S. residents are eligible.

vmars-s3.jpg

September 20th, 2007

Calling All Investors!

Back when I was in college working towards my business degree, I took an Investments class. While it was interesting to learn about how the most popular investment vehicles work, my favorite part of the class — by far — was when we got down to trading stocks (virtually speaking). Each student received the same amount of fake money to start with, and we tracked trades with a special software program. I ended up finishing in fourth place (out of 38 students), which wasn’t bad at all, and I got an A in the class.

While I’ve never attempted to try my luck in the real stock market, I do have the opportunity to try my hand at virtual trading again. That’s because MyWallSt.net is hosting a fantasy stock trading contest called the Rookie Challenge, and it definitely sounds like something I want to participate in!

MyWallSt.net is a social networking site for people interested in learning the ins and outs of investing in the stock market. It’s 100 percent free to join, and it gives you the chance not only to find out what investing is all about without having to put real money at risk, but also to interact with others in the community to learn from their experience and expertise.

Plus, MyWallSt.net has cool promotions like the Rookie Challenge. As with the site itself, the Rookie Challenge is a completely free perk to MyWallSt.net members. Registration is free, participation is free, and you’ll even get a free hat once your registration is processed. Best of all, by playing in the Rookie Challenge, you’ll have a chance to win the weekly $1,000 cash prize, which is given to the participant who increases the value of his or her portfolio the most for that week. Very cool!

I totally want to do this, so I better start checking the financial pages a bit more closely from now on! I would love to see you guys involved too. Just head on over to MyWallSt.net right now and fill out the registration form. Maybe one of us will win a $1,000 prize!