I believe you will like the new design. I need to improve on the Banner images but the overall look is 10 times better in my opinion. For those of you interested I am now using the prophoto 2 WordPress theme. The Pro Photo theme creators allow two installation of their theme so Melissa and I decided to split the costs. The theme is more aimed at photographers but I think it works well for any purpose.

While installing and personalizing the new theme I learned of a email subscription service called feedburner that I believe will make subscribing to my site an exponentially better experience then it is now. I really, really, really, really hope you decide to renew your subscription by following the instructions below. It will take you no longer then 10 seconds to do.

If you would like to continue your subscription to my site please visit the following link and input your email address:

>>> Subscribe to Zane Perry’s Blog by Email <<<

I will be disabling the old subscription service April 1st so if you haven’t subscribed to the new service you will no longer receive email updates (boo hoo, I know!). There will always be a Subscribe form at the bottom of the new page so if you decide not to subscribe now and then change your mind in the future you can always re-subscribe. I have set my subscriptions to be sent at 7AM-9AM EST so people can check out my posts while at work and to allow me to catch any mistakes in posts before they are distributed. I hope this improves your experience.

Write a comment and let me know what you think. If you have any trouble subscribing feel free to send me an email or write a comment.

I look forward to writing more this Spring and hope you continue to read! More to come

Update: If you are interested in using the ProPhoto2 theme use referral code ZANEP588 and receive a $10 discount

Update 3/19/09: Zucker defends CNBC, Jim Cramer

Update 4/13/09: Hulu removed clips. Links to Daily Show clips still work.

Update 4/14/09: Cramer continues complaining about Stewart: ‘It was a complete and utter ambush.

Here is Jimmy Fallon’s new show website
http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/
IMDB – http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0266422/
Wiki – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Fallon

I used the following video in my case against Jimmy. This is an episode of Diggnation where Fallon joined Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht to review the weeks top diggs. It kind of shows you what it would be like to share a beer with Jimmy. To be honest he kind of scares me.

In short, I don’t think he is nearly as funny as Conan. I am glad to see Conan moving up an hour but wish he handed the baton to someone else (Will Ferrell? I think I would watch every night if he got the pick!). Jimmy Fallon use to be pretty funny back in the day (imo) but he is getting old and has lost his edge.

What do you think?

Results – 5 to 3 Jimmy is not funny. We will find out in March!

NBC2 News Story

I have called his office and requested a meeting with the Senator to get his side of the story. I don’t stand for this kind of shit. If his answer isn’t logical I am going to make it my job to get this bill shot down and his ass out of office next election.

Right now S.C. has other things to worry about.

• The Economy is headed south
• South Carolina ranks 48th out of 51 (includes DC) with an unemployment rate of 8.4% as of Dec. 19, 2008 (CNN)
• South Carolina high schools represent roughly 1% of all secondary schools in the US, South Carolina contributes 5% of the total number of high school drop outs. (Source)

Clearly our top priority should be profanity! (thx for the data johnnick)

Please call his office and fwd this blog entry to your local Charleston friends and neighbors. So far only 8 people have called, two of which were in Sen. Fords district (not including myself). His contact information is below.

Senator Robort Ford (Dem)

(H) P.O. Box 21302, Charleston, 29413
Bus. (843) 813-1777 Home (843) 852-0777
(C) 506 Gressette Bldg., Columbia, 29201
Bus. (803) 212-6124 Home (803) 798-9220

E-Mail Address: RIF@scsenate.org

Here is the digg submission that led me to this story.

I will update this entry with Sen. Robert Fords response if he does reply. I was very polite and respectful but doubt he will. Maybe I should run for office and take his seat!

(click image to see screenshot)

Update: I Won the League!

First lets talk about going to an Optometrist to get your glasses. Yes, you have to go to an Optometrist every once in a while. Prescriptions change and you need to check on the health of your eyes (especially if you wear contacts). Now that I have covered that lets talk about why you should limit your trips to the Optometrist to checkups and prescriptions only. Lets take a look at my last bill to the Optometrist.

Around $400 bucks. Sounds about right. $300 after insurance (I pay for vision insurance with my company). Lets look at the charges.

Eye Exam – $125. Insurance covers $95. Cool.
Eye Glasses Frame – $120
Basic No Coatings Lenses – $75
- Anti Reflective Coating would have cost an additional $75

Contact Lens Fit – I have to vent here. When I was done the exam the Optometrist offered to let me try on a pair of contacts. I thought this was a courtesy. The second I put them in… WHAM, “By the way that will be $80″. $25 bucks a pop for each contact lens and $80 bucks for him standing next to me while I did it! Don’t you think he should have mentioned these charges when he told me to try them on? WTF!

Ok, I am getting off topic. Now that I have reviewed my last experience with the Optometrist lets review my experience today purchasing eye glasses online.

First thing I did was google “Buy Eye Glasses Online”. Eventually I found my way to a good article on 43 Folders called Adventures in $40 eyeglasses. I recommend reading this later as Matthew Haughey has some good information on the monopoly Optometrist and vendors like LensCrafters® have on us. Eventually after reading this article as well as a couple others I found out that you need A copy of your prescription, pupil distance, and Frame size.

• A copy of your prescription can be obtained by calling your last Optometrist and asking them to fax it over (or go there and get a copy). I called mine and he was happy to do it. He seemed to know what I was up to and started throwing me offers. I declined and said I might be back to see him after shopping around.
• Pupil distance can be found on your prescription but it is kind of hard to read. You can ask your last Optometrist or figure it out yourself .
• Frame Size can be found by looking at a previous pair of glasses that fit. I had the biggest confusion figuring out what each measurement was. This image answered all questions I had on what was what. It turns out your glasses actually have the dimensions written on the inside of the frame (they were written on the left side of mine)

Once you have these numbers you are good to go. I just purchased a pair for $49.95 from GlassesUSA.com. I decided to get the Thin Light Polycarbonate Lenses (+$35.00) with Anti-Reflective coating (+$14.95) –I highly recommend the Anti-Reflective coating as it makes photographs of you better because of less lens glare. Grand total, $99.90 for a pair of glasses that would normally run around $300.

If you are looking for a better deal on contacts I recommend 1800contacts.com. I have been using them for over 6 years now and have no complaints. Keep in mind they do require you to provide an proof of prescription within the year before shipping.

In short. Visit the Optometrist to get your eyes checked out, then buy your glasses and contacts online. You can save hundreds of dollars. If you are worried about choosing a pair you don’t like go to a store and check out the brands and try them on. Then write the brand/type down, go home, google the brand/type and find the same pair for hundreds cheaper.

I hope some of you 4 eyed nerds found this article useful! Write a comment if you did!