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Creating these lists is a tricky affair since “best” is such an objective term, and “all time” is sort of a misnomer; a child of the Internet Age can scarcely appreciate the achievement of 1950s television, given how much the medium has evolved. Comparing I Love Lucy with Seinfeld is about as reasonable as comparing caterpillars to butterflies.

Since great television does not exist in a vacuum, the best way to classify a quintet of the best all-time season finales is by working with five separate categories. Note that some of the explanations will seem vague; this is to spare any spoilers for those who have yet to watch the shows included and would like to do so without knowing the ending to a season or series.

Best Wrap-Up Finale
M*A*S*H
1983, Season 11 of 11

The most-watched broadcast in the history of TV is bound to end up on list of this sort. It did a fantastic job of wrapping up the 11 seasons of character development, main plot lines and subplots. Going into this finale, it was well understood that the show was over, and it drew more than 120 million viewers, the most for any broadcast until the 2010 Super Bowl. This finale holds a place in the hearts of many, a brilliant close to a show that exists at the middle point between classic and modern TV.

Best Comedic Finale
Arrested Development
2006, Season 3 of 3

Ron Howard’s hilarious and reflexive masterpiece is said to have ended too early by some, though it is tough to see what else the show could have done while remaining fresh and funny throughout (just look at how bloated and dull The Office grew). The series finale included great use of in-jokes and wrapped up the various stories of each character, and it ended with one of the best open doors ever: Ron Howard’s joke about a possible movie has long been in buzz as a possibility, one that currently seems all but certain.

Best Dramatic Finale
Magnum, P.I.
1988, Season 8 of 8

Several Emmy Awards were earned by this forerunner of action crime dramas, with plenty of crossover ties to other shows and a lead character who would break the fourth wall. Magnum’s life was posh, and while the eighth season was a bit forced after the fantastic finale of Season 7 (watch the show and the meaning of that becomes clear), the wrap up to his slick life was a spectacular send-off.

Best Finale Featuring a Song
The Wire
2003, Season 2 of 5

Steve Earle’s “I Feel All Right” was a splendid choice for a wrap-up montage of life on the Baltimore docks. Several stories died down as others were left open, and the bittersweet feeling of the show and the song are perfectly paired here. It captured the energy of the show and sunk hooks into the emotional gills of viewers while displaying the unfortunate result of so much corruption, all while Earle grooves on a harmonica.

Best Cliffhanger Finale
Dexter
2011, Season 6, ongoing

OK, so this pick might be a bit objective, since the aggravation of this cliffhanger still stings as viewers wait for the next season. But the last five seconds of the most recent Dexter finale are driving fans bonkers. Expect viewership of the Season 7 premiere to break some records, answer many questions and be generally spectacular television. Expect riots if the show is somehow canceled.

As a techie nerd with a passion for high speed internet I’m always looking for ways to integrate technology into my life. My life revolves around technology and this Christmas it’s no different. I’ll be heading out of town for Christmas which puts a cramp in my usual tech style but I’m not fearful – I know I’ll be prepared. Here’s my guide to avoiding an internet inaccessible Christmas.

Establish a Connection

Heading out to a rural area on vacation or during the holidays can leave you wondering if a good Internet connection is even possible. Do your research ahead of time and ask the hotel concierge if an internet connection is available. If not you might look at options such as mobile hotspots with your cell phone carrier or renting broadband card.

Seek Out WiFi

If an internet connection isn’t available at the location you’ll be staying then look for WiFi hotspots. This WiFi locator just requires a simple address to find locations in the area offering WiFi. Local establishments such as Starbucks and McDonalds often offer WiFi for their patrons. Check out these spots to make sure you can attend to your geek duties even while on vacation.

Look for Rented Options

Many companies online today rent broadband cards for both laptops and PCs. Check out your options online and rent a backup broadband card just in case. If you’re at a location that has cell reception then you’ll likely have a connection with a broadband card. In some instances your cable provider or wireless provider can provide you with broadband card services.

These are just a few of the ways to avoid an internet inaccessible Christmas this year. Have any suggestions? Tell us in the comments below!

Every fall season, movie theaters are littered with a slue of horror movies. Many times, there is a handful of predictable slasher movies that have mediocre acting, mediocre plot lines and make a mediocre amount of money. However, this Halloween season there has been a breath of fresh air to the fall movie scene, with Paranormal Activity 3. While many times, third installments in movie series are not known for their success, this Paranormal Activity has not only been the most lucrative film in the series (it had the biggest September-October opening debut of any movie ever) but it is also by far the best film in the series yet.

Paranormal Activity 3 is followed by two other low-budget horror films that documents a family’s suspicions that  their home may be haunted so they videotape themselves to see if they can gather any proof. As if the creepy night vision videotaping, that was a staple of the first two films, isn’t enough to scare audiences some of the over-the-top terrifying footage captured will.

The focus of this film is two young sisters, Katie (Chlose Csengery) and Kristi Rey (Jessica Tyler Brown) that were featured in the earlier films, when they were children. The purpose of the film is to explore the beginning stages of the hauntings that these two sisters faced when they were growing up in an attempt to explain why these two were the victims of such intense paranormal activity in the first two films. Fans of the first two films will appreciate the raw looking footage of this film that is similar to the first two installments; however this film has a much higher production quality. For the first time, the film goes outside the walls of the haunted home, and explores other locations and even introduces secondary characters to the plot while adding some minor character development, which was frankly absent in the first two films.

Paranormal Activity 3 beings by depicting Katie and Kristi Rey’s childhood with their mother Julie (Lauren Bittner) and her boyfriend Dennis (Christopher Nicholas Smith), a videographer who starts filming the family 24/7 after seeing a mysterious person appear in a intimate video he shot with his girlfriend. As Dennis begins to take the house to catch paranormal sightings, Kristi develops a friendship with an invisible presence, who begins to turn on the young girl and starts wreaking havoc on Kristi and her sister by bullying the two young girls and threatening their family.

Throughout the film, the audience sees the standard home video footage that first put the Paranormal Activity franchise on the map. However, there are even more thrills in this rendition and the higher production value makes the movie even more frightening. Perhaps one of the most disturbing parts of the film is that most of the action occurs during the day time again added to the realistic nature of the film. This is not your typical slasher film where everything happens under a full moon.

As Paranormal Activity 3 begins to unfold, it looks and feels much like the rest of the Paranormal Activity movies. However, the third portion of the film switches gears in a way that will surprise audiences and in a method that not only keeps this movie fresh but separates it from its two predecessors.

Overall, as this movie captures Katie and Kristi Ray’s childhood and how the paranormal taunting, that would haunt them for the rest of their lives, first came about audiences will enjoy more plot and character development that ultimately makes this movie even more frightening.

About the Author

Vera is a freelance writer and regular blogger in the entertainment field. She’s an avid movie/TV watcher, and would be lost without her digital cable!

For some, starting a small business may involve some level of passion. Industrial businesses, even though they may be considered smaller operations, require many moving parts, serious financing, and extreme amounts of passion. The challenge with passion based motivation, however, is there are times when it is not enough to guarantee success.

According to a study by Inc. and the National Business Incubator Association, “80% of new businesses fail within the first five years.” The study indicated that the passion required to start any small business is also the emotion which tends to get in the way of logical, business decision making.

In order to help ensure the successful launch of a small industrial business project planning needs to provide decision making data comparing predefined results, risks associated with the start up, budget concerns, etc. It is important, however, to bear in mind that planning needs to be flexible. Constant monitoring of progress and adjustment to changes will be required.

The small industrial business’s project plan will need to include sections describing the nature of the business, the products or services which will be offered for revenue generation plus where the industrial business will be located and why this is a required spot to start up.

The following eight items outline various aspects which should help one interested in starting a small industrial business:

8 Aspects Involved in Starting a Small Industrial Business

• Financing: Most new industrial companies are going to need a mix of short and long term financing. Land, building, heavy machinery and the like require loans payable over the long term. Short term loans will take care of things like wages, costs of materials and supplies, transportation and utility costs, etc.
• Registrations, Licenses and Clearances: Research and compliance with all local, state and federal rules and regulations concerning the type of work the business will conduct is extremely important. For many small companies, work is not permitted without all paperwork in order and available for inspection of government oversight officials.
• Loan Repayment: When negotiating with various financing institutions, it is important to reach a consensus as to the repayment terms. Proper projections need to be made in order to ensure the business will have the cash flow to meet its obligations.
• Maximizing Production Capabilities : Before the first product is created in the factory, production techniques and schedules need to be developed. Constant monitoring and improvement of production will help the small industrial business ensure it has the ability to meet its projections.
• Marketing Plan: Investors and banks tend to require start ups to have a detailed marketing game plan. Advertising, sales plans, wholesaler and retailer support all need to be addressed prior to the first products coming off the line.
• Personnel: Industrial businesses are intricate operations requiring a number of skilled and unskilled individuals. Recruiting the best people for the given jobs can be time consuming, but should not be overlooked as poor sourcing of talent can cause serious challenges with the company’s pursuit of success.
• Machinery Installation: Required equipment lists will be a part of the start up business plan. Once financing is in place, the heavy machines need to be purchased, installed, tested, and put into production schedules.
• Profit Assessment: Accurate data records must be a part of daily operations if the business expects to turn a profit. Cost of producing goods (for example, plumbing supplies) versus the revenues generated from the sale of those goods should allow the new business to make regular decisions and adjustments in operations.

There are many intricate moving parts when starting any new business. Once the emotional based decision making has been overcome, the success or failure of a small industrial business will come down to proper record and data keeping, monitoring of costs and incomes, and generally sound business practices.

Super tips for frugal online shopping

Online shopping can be a fun and easy way to get what you are looking for at a discounted rate. But are  you doing everything that you can to make sure that you’re getting the best price? Follow the tips below and you’ll be saving money hand over fist.

Shop around – Just because you find an amazing deal for a sweater or pair of shoes on one site doesn’t mean that you can’t find a better deal elsewhere. So if you find a real bargain, bookmark it and then shop around for a bit. Unless, of course, there is a time restriction on your awesome find. If that’s the case, makes sure that you don’t miss out on the deal by shopping around too much.

Free shipping – Even if you find an amazing steal, shipping costs can add up, making that bargain not really a bargain anymore. Stick to stores that offer free shipping where you live. A lot of the time there’s a minimum purchase amount required in order to cash in on the free shipping. This amount can range anywhere from twenty five to a hundred dollars. Make sure that you don’t fall into the trap of ordering more to get your free shipping. This also can make a bargain actually cost you a lot more that you were intending.

Money back guarantees – When purchasing items online, especially clothes, make sure that the company you’re buying from has a money back guarantee and a convenient return policy. Sizes can different from style to style and brand to brand so you want to make sure that if the item you bought doesn’t fit, there won’t be an issue returning it. After all, if you got the perfect little black dress for twenty dollars but it doesn’t fit, then it really wasn’t much of a steal, was it?

Coupon sites -  While individual retail sites may have some great deals, you can usually save even more if you check out the coupon sites available on line. These sites gather all the coupons and sale codes in one easy place so you can browse and also search for a particular coupon. You could even find more than one, meaning more savings.

Off season shopping – You know how brick and mortar stores have big after season sales? Well the same holds true for their online counterparts. Shop off season online and you could end up getting your purchase for next to nothing.

Search engines – If you can’t find any online coupons or sales codes at your regular sites, try hitting your favorite search engine. If you search for your favorite store, odds are you’ll be able to find some online coupons or codes to help you save money.

One offs and second hand items – If you’re looking for a real steal, don’t discount auction sites and second hand online stores. Sometimes you can get exactly what you are looking for, hardly used for a fraction of the regular cost.

Group sites – While most of the major retailers have a website where you can buy their products, and while they may be cheaper than buying in store, even with coupons it may not be your best bet. If you are looking for a particular product, make sure to check out online group sites that offer a variety of items for a discount. These sites often offer a bigger deal than individual retail sites.

Online shopping is a convenient way to get what you need (and want) without having to hit a lot of different stores. And with all the different ways to save some cash online, it’s also better for your bank account. Do you shop a lot on line? What are some of your frugal online shopping tips? Are you excited for the 2011 black friday?

A swing set is without a doubt one of the best things you can possibly get your kids when they are growing up. Swing set parts are a necessary addition to the best swing sets and the possibilities are almost endless.

You could get a periscope for budding sailors who will pretend that they are on an important military vessel like a submarine. Or you could get a rope ladder so that they can pretend they are on an adventure on a pirate ship. Perhaps they must escape with the plunder or buried treasure they have just found on an enchanted island. They will need to run away and climb onto the ship in a hurry, so that rope ladder will come in handy.

Also, a tire swing is always a ton of fun for kids of all ages. They can sit on it, twist and turn, swing up and down and all around without all the constrictions that normally come with regular forward and backward swings. What is even more fun is that more than one child (or sometimes even more than two kids, if they are small enough) can fit in a single tire swing, so it can be a lot of fun for multiple people at once.