Ever wanted to do something a little extra special for a friend’s birthday other than writing on their wall? How about get some help from Bowling for Soup, CSS, Parlotones, Imogen Heap, Ash, Charlie Simpson, Body Language, Scarlet Grey, and Kill the Young? You can now with “Say it with Skype.”

From Skype’s blog:

Here’s how it works, you can send your friends a customized group video greeting by visiting Skype’s Facebook page and clicking on the Say it with Skype app located on the left side of your screen. Next, choose the friend you want to send the group video greeting to and select from one of the ten participating bands. You can even join in on the fun, by singing along with the band’s pre-recorded performance through your video webcam. Not ready for your close up? Personalize your message by adding a profile picture and writing a personal message for the band to hold up.

Since today’s my birthday I thought it was a really fun little addition to Skype, which I already love. Check it out!! You can also get 1 week free trail of Skype’s new group video call feature.

(Jem Warren, photo used with permission)

(Press Release) “The Confession Song Competition” kicked off with a bang, and considering Kiefer Sutherland is involved, we’re not surprised. The action star, alongside legendary British actor John Hurt, is currently lending his talents to a brand new Hulu.com exclusive web series called The Confession, which tells the tale of a lone hit man and his struggle over the forces of good and evil. As one can expect from a show with such star power, it’s pretty badass. In March, OurStage artists were given a shot to have their song featured on an episode of the show, and out of over 1600 submissions, one winner arose victorious.

Introducing Jem Warren, a “tranquil” New York–based singer-songwriter grounded in acoustic guitar with a strong ear for pop. Warren, more specifically his slow rolling Americana-style ballad “Jim Jones,” will accompany Kiefer Sutherland’s butt-kicking escapades on an upcoming episode of The Confession, broadcasting his music and his name to thousands of new potential fans and followers. How’s that for some free publicity? On OurStage, all it takes is a few clicks, a great song (and a little bit of luck of course) for great artists like Warren to win BIG opportunities. Stop by his OurStage profile to learn more about this rising artist, or head to the playlist below to listen to more of his tracks. Stay tuned to The Confession on Hulu.com to hear “Jim Jones” debut in an upcoming episode of the hot new series.

JEM WARREN – Combining melodies reminiscent of Tracy Chapman with a smooth groove similar to Everything But The Girl, Jem Warren has a tranquil musical sensibility similar to artists like Jose Gonzalez and Sun Kil Moon. “The songs on Jem’s new CD ‘Lifeblood To My Soul’ reflect the longing and yearning we all have felt at some point in our lives,” says Warren. “There is nothing more fulfilling than writing a song and creating a sound that deeply moves me.”

“Lifeblood To My Soul” comprises five songs: Fall Apart, Trouble, All I Need, Jim Jones and Freed. Jem composed all music and lyrics in addition to singing and accompanying himself on guitar.

Raised in Carmel, NY, by musician parents, Jem is now a resident of New York City. Living in the city has provided rich material for his songwriting – Jem keeps a diary of his life experiences in the form of song. He poetically expresses his perceptions of his world, writing about everything from love and nature to politics and religion.

Active on the New York City music scene since the mid-2000s, Jem performs regularly at venues such as The Bitter End, The Bowery Eletctric and Caffe Vivaldi and has appeared at the Livingroom and Sidewalk Café. He engages audiences with profound lyrical fragility, genuine storytelling and a melodic, haunting style. A performance schedule as well as CD purchase information is available at www.jemwarren.com. Additional information about Jem can be found at www.myspace.com/jemwarren.

I’ve always loved the idea of vacation rentals, especially on longer vacations. It’s like staying in a home instead of the sterile environment of a hotel (or noisy hotel as some cases have been). I’ve stayed in a few vacation rental properties over the years, but I never realized how affordable they could be until a couple years ago when I was in Puerto Rico for my friend’s wedding. The best man had rented out a huge place for his family and another family for $600 for a week. If they had gotten a hotel it would have been more than that per night for everyone!

If you’re planning a trip in the near future (or next summer) and want to start planning on saving some cash check out VacationRental.org. The website features vacation home rental listings and vacation rental managers.

If you’re headed out my way in Los Angeles you could rent this gorgeous mansion or a condo in Hollywood! Want to head up to Vail for some skiing? There’s a beautiful cabin available for rental!

It’s nice to have a website with a one-stop-shop for rental listings. I found some of the cities I looked up didn’t have any postings, but it is a great start. If you have a rental property it’s pretty easy to post a listing. So if you need a place make sure you check out VacationRental.org.

Disclosure: I’ve been compensated for this post through PayPerPost. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

(Press Release from CBS.com)

Just in time for the CSI Trilogy week, CBS.com announced the launch of the CSI Zeta Casefile site, dedicated to bringing fans exclusive content from three CSI series. The Website features a new application that lets fans be part of a CSI-inspired video and create customized suspect dossiers pulling images and information through Facebook Connect. The site will also feature exclusive interviews with cast and real CSI experts, virtual tours of the three CSI crime labs, and the chance to win a trip to the set of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION.* To access the Zeta Casefile site, please visit: www.csicrossover.com

The Cadillac sponsored site will debut in conjunction with the highly anticipated CSI Trilogy episodes. The three episode story line involves an interstate trucking ring that specializes in human cargo and black market organ harvesting set to air on Nov. 9 at 10:00 PM, ET/PT (CSI: MIAMI), Nov. 11 at 10:00 PM, ET/PT (CSI: NY), and Nov. 12 at 9:00 PM ET/PT (CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION).

This CSI Zeta Casefile application uses Facebook Connect to pull photos and information from the user’s Facebook account to produce a personalized criminal file and video, including artificial information on past crimes, aliases, and last known locations. Fans can share their experience with other fans and friends in their Facebook network.

Fans can also visit the CSI Zeta Casefile site to watch interviews with real CSI experts, who discuss the evolution of technology and innovation within CSI crime solving. Fans can take virtual tours of the labs featured on each of the three CSI series, allowing them a deeper look at the special effects, set designs and other various technologies used on the shows. The video content is complemented by a comprehensive photo gallery, showcasing stills and images of the set locations and cast interactions.

“Each of the CSI series continues to be among the most popular shows on CBS,” said Bill Binenstock, Vice President and Manager of CBS.com. “The upcoming CSI Trilogy has caused enormous buzz throughout the CBS.com CSI communities, and we wanted to build a site that would give fans a fascinating and exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the three series. The Zeta Casefile program is a creative and fun way to keep users engaged, while the behind-the-scenes content will give fans a deeper look into how the fictional CSI series are the most realistic looking shows on television.”

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of one of the 50 US or DC, 18 or over or age of majority in state of residence. Sweepstakes starts on Nov. 9, 2009 and ends at 11:59:59 am ET on December 31, 2009. Void where prohibited by law. See Official Rules and details at www.csicrossover.com or www.zetasyndicate.com

(Press Release from CBS.com)

Video from Russian actor’s group “Big Difference” (Bolshaya Raznitsa / Большая Разница). Find out what would have happened if the Wachowski Brothers had lived in the silent film era.

Dear Email Inbox,

While I’m extremely pleased with my Gmail email and the lack of increased spam I receive I’m tired of you. Every day I get hundreds of emails, most of them are great from friends, relatives, and collective colleuges in the new media world. There’s more from websites and blogs I’ve signed up for. The problem with all of these types of emails? They want me to do something.

Click here, sign up here, buy this, edit this, and etc. All of them require me to do something. Emails from Facebook saying that someone commented on a post (and I’d better write a reply). Another email from Twitter saying that So and So has started following me (and I’d better hurry up and follow them back).

So, email box, I grow weary of you. I want a filter that will just go click, flip, add, burn and butter just as you want me to without me having to think about it. Of course, the problem with most automated systems is what if I really don’t WANT to follow that person or write the other guy back? The auto-filter does not have my capacity for reason.

Instead, why don’t you stop giving me so much to do? Why don’t you go bug the other folks who get 5 emails a day?  It might be fun to start seeing other people.

Don’t think of this as the end. Just the end of the beginning.

Love,

Me.

GeoCities: This was probably one of the first popular webhosting sites. I just wanted to take a minute to mark it’s end. GeoCities closes today (26 October). To commemorate, xkcd.com did a redesign at makes me nostalgic for webpages circa 2000 CE.

Buy (Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar (feat. Felicia Day) MP3 on Amazon || Buy the music video on iTunes

The extremely awesome Felicia Day and the Guild have released a fantastic music video (Do You Wanna Date My) Avatar. This is a must watch. Tell Katie Perry and Shakira, there’s a new sexy diva of pop music.

If you haven’t seen this trailer yet, you’re going to want to. Stat! A SciFi, comedy musical with awesome stars like Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse), James C. Leary (Buffy), Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek) and more… bookmark the Cabonauts’ website and follow them on Twitter to keep updated on when this outrageously awesome show starts.

Ukraine has talent…. oh yes they do. Check out this awesome live sand animation done to an awesome set of music via chello. Reminds me how much creativity comes in a lot of different shades. I dare you not to be moved to tears like the members of the audience.

A article posted to the Discover Magazine website relates how the Chinese government has banned the use of shock therapy in the treatment of Internet Addiction. This happened after local media had picked up the story stemming from events in a hospital in Shandong province. My ‘favorite’ line from the article (i.e. the most ironic): “In what might be an indication of the clinic’s effectiveness, its practices came to light when former patients when online to complain.” Also mentioned in the piece is a recent UK survey that resulted in a working definition of Internet addition, amidst the debate about whether or not this is a real syndrome. Go read – http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/07/15/china-bans-electroshock-therapy-for-internet-addiction/