Creating Polls is one of several entertaining features on Sazze.com. Polls are a great way to get help deciding on which product to choose from or see the ranging opinions of other people about any given topic. This is a brief tutorial that explains how to create your own poll on Sazze.com and how to share it as an url or interactive widget on html pages like Facebook, Myspace, or your own blog. I will be using the Google Chrome browser for this tutorial.


Creating Polls Step #1:
Click on the "Polls" tab.



Step #2:
Click on "Click here to create you own poll". Tip: At the bottom of every poll has a "Create One!" link.



Step #3:
Enter your poll question and choose up to 3 options.

Step #4:
In Firefox or Google Chrome you can right click on any image and grab the image url. Another option is to save the image to your computer and upload the image to Sazze.



Step #5:[Final] If you are creating a poll for a product, you can grab the product url from the merchant site address bar. When a person clicks on the hyperlink, it will take that person directly to the product page for more information.
If you are not creating a poll for a product you can also use the image url as the "product url". Once you completed filling in your options, click the submit button and you have now created your own Sazze Poll!



How to share a poll:

Once you've targeted the poll you would like to share, click on the "Share Poll" link at the bottom left of the poll.
This will open up two options at the bottom.

Get poll url
Get poll embed code

Embed the code in any page that allows html codes and you are finished. You poll should be interactive like the one I have at the very bottom of the post.



Sazze Poll Widget: Click on the image to vote or make a comment.

Paprika and Spirited Away are among the few Anime animations that represent why I love watching anime movies so much. Both are extremely artistic and highly masterful works that take storytelling and animation into a whole new visual dimension. Truly, most animes are like that in a sense. It's mind food for the visually deprived and like your favorite foods they continue to whet your appetite for more.
The famous director, Satoshi Kon who also won an award for "Millennium Actress", continues to shine with his newest spectacle "Paprika".

A team of researchers discovered a medical breakthrough. They created a psychotherapy device that allows them to enter into the dreams of other people in an effort to cure them of any mental illnesses. However, events take a turn when two of the devices are stolen by someone in the research team. Paprika is the healer of the dreams and alter-ego of head female researcher Doctor Atsuko Chiba. Dr. Atsuko and her close fellow scientists must find the "dream terrorist" in order to save friends that have already become victims. The dreams and nightmares begin to merge with reality leaving the fate of the world in their hands.

"Waking Life" is similar to this movie where dreams move from scene to scene with fluidity and haphazardness. This is a complex adult movie with partial nudity so don't expect to watch this with your kids like "Spirited Away".

Paprika is surreal, disturbing, and intensely mind-blowing with an overwhelming parade of Japanese iconography and vibrant confetti colors. It will keep you on the edge with suspense. "Paprika" truly does add a little spice to your life.



Paprika review via Sazze.com

For almost 4 months I've fiddled with this camera and already I feel like I need to upgrade to the Canon 40D. The main reason is I need a camera that can handle low light conditions a lot better. All the restaurants that I've been commissioned to take food shots for have really dim lighting. This results in having to use my highest ISO. Thankfully Adobe Lightroom 2 enables me to use Color Noise, cutting back on the graininess of the shots. I was also a bit worried about using the XSi for magazine quality photos since it is more of a prosumer entry level camera. The lenses that I've used are the stock 18-55 mm, Canon 100 mm, and Canon 50 mm. Although the 100 mm is an excellent lens with gorgeous bokeh, the aperture is too small to get everything I want into focus and I have to move a few feet back just to get the entire plate shot. My favorite lens for food shots is definitely the $88 Canon 50 mm lens. Close up macros pair well with the 100 mm.


My Canon Rebel XSi Review at Sazze.com:
The Canon Rebel 450D/XSi is a remarkable digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera that truly set the bar for entry-level DSLRs. The 450D is a significantly improved upgrade from the Canon Rebel 400D/XTi with the addition of several impressive features for greater flexibility and control.

Major improvements include:
1.Live View AF (take photos like a point and shoot from the LCD screen)
2. 3" LCD screen
3.Bigger and brighter viewfinder
4.Faster processor allows you to take 3.5 frames per second (XTi 3fps/40D 6.5fps)
5.Spot metering
6.Improved 9-point Autofocus
7.Image Stablized Kit lens
8.Smaller battery with longer life

Some things I wanted improved from the XTi is on the XSi like the ISO button and image delete button accessible outside the camera instead of in the menu.

My profile:
Amateur photographer with a Canon A620, Olympus 560UZ, and Canon S3IS. I've handled a Canon SX100IS and Sony H7 before I returned those. So I'm a semi-picky photographer when it comes to choosing cameras that suit my needs. I also handled a Nikon D300 and Canon XTi for several weeks each from friends.

I've had the Canon Rebel XSi for less than a week.

My intended uses:
Build a portfolio as a freelance photographer and sell my photos.
Medium of artistic expression
Capture family moments in top quality images

In my quest to find my first DSLR, the main thing I kept in mind was that any one of the DSLRs I choose will ultimately produce excellent quality photos depending on how I use the camera. The photographer makes the photos not the camera. All the entry-level cameras perform amazingly well so it depends on what features you are looking for. I knew the Nikon D300 and Canon 40D were not in my budget so I narrowed my choices down to the Nikon D80 and Canon XSi. However, my finalized decision to get the Canon XSi stemmed from the fact that Canon has more lenses available and all the lenses that I looked at and wanted were within my price range. Consequently, if I ever plan on upgrading my DSLR body, I would have a collection of great lenses already in my arsenal.

More reasons why I chose the XSi:
1. The body and the kit lens only cost me $594 = affordable. Nikon cameras and lenses are expensive!
2. Has the same Digic III processor as the 40D
3. Live View AF (the 40D does not have this feature, but of course the 40D still outperforms the XSi and has lots of advanced features.) Live View allows you use the LCD to focus and take a picture instead of using the viewfinder. It is really helpful for macro shots.
4. Impressive photos at high ISOs, outperforms all entry-levels in its class (not sure about the D90 because it has yet to come out).
5. Well-regarded and improved 18-55mm kit lens with added Image Stabilization. This lens takes sharper images and works fantastic without a tripod compared to the XTi kit lens.
6. Uses SD/SDHC memory cards. Thank goodness because I have tons of that and they are dirt cheap. A 4GB card is less than $20!

Accessories I also purchased:
1.Canon 50mm f1.8 ll lens
For my second lens I purchased the highly affordable Canon 50mmlens at $86. It is also fantastic for portraits because of the f 1.8 aperture setting. This allows you to have a narrow depth of field resulting in a blurred background and a crisp subject. Tripod needed for low light.
2.Nikon Pen Lens Cleaning Kit
3.Hoya UV 55 mm and 58 mm filters (protects the lenses from dust, scratches, and UV light).
4.Lowerpro 250 Fastpack Bagpack in black for storing everything and for traveling and hiking
5.LCD screen protector

Overall I was still blown away by the quality of the photos even though I expected it. I am also extremely impressed at how much easier it is to use than I expected once I read the manual. The manual itself was easy to understand and well written with helpful illustrations that guide you. Read this over a couple times. It really does give you tips and guides you through all of the camera features. I could not be happier with my decision and I would absolutely recommend this superb budget DSLR to anyone.

Helpful Resources:
*Canon EOS Rebel 450D/XSi User's Manual pdf : http://gdlp01.c-wss.com/gds/0300000933/EOSRXSi-EOS450D_EN.pdf
*Canon EOS Rebel 450D/XSi Homepage (contains updates, sample, videos. and more): http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eosdigital4/index.html
*Canon Digital Learning Center: http://www.usa.canon.com/dlc/controller?act=HomePageAct
*Which Camera to Buy? via Netmark :http://web500.us/which-one-to-buy-canon-xsi-canon-450d-or-nikon-d80-nikon-d40/
*How to use Canon XSi via Netmark: http://web500.us/how-to-use-canon-eos-450d-xsi/
*Essential XSi Accessories: http://web500.us/canon-xsi-or-canon-450d-accessories/

Video Tutorials on Youtube:
*Larkphoto: http://www.youtube.com/user/LarkPhoto
*MichaeltheMentor: http://www.youtube.com/user/MichaelTheMentor

Forums:
*DPreview 450D: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/forum.asp?forum=1031
*DPreview "Tips for using Manual Mode" discussion: http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=29174950
*DCresource Canon DSLRs: http://www.dcresource.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=11

A close friend sent me this story and I wanted to share it with others who haven't already read it. (Thanks Mar) For those of you who may be going through a rough time in your life or just need a little pick-me-up maybe this will cheer you up a little. It did for me.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see." "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the daughter replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship, or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean?

The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, do you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

You might want to share this message with the people who mean something to you. You might want to share this with those who have touched your life in one way or another; to those who make you smile when you really need it; to those who make you see the brighter side of things when you are really down; to those whose friendship you appreciate those who are so meaningful in your life. If you fail to share this message you will just miss out on the opportunity to brighten someone's day. It's easier to build a child than repair an adult. May we all be COFFEE !

I don't plan on expecting too much from the new movie Angels and Demons starring Tom Hanks based on the novel by Dan Brown. I do predict that it will be better than the Da Vinci Code. How can two great books suck twice in a row as movies? Unless it's a conspiracy...(inside joke for Dan Brown readers).

Angels & Demons is the prequel to Da Vinci Code and is a must-read if you enjoy Dan Brown's books. Da Vinci Code the movie was the most disappointing novel turned movie I have ever encountered. I read the novel right before it became a hype and it is definitely a book everyone should read. Many extreme religious people find offense to Dan Brown's books, but I find them highly entertaining cerebral reads. His books are wrought with crazy twists, shocking conspiracies, intense action, and subtle romances.

Even if Angels & Demons proves a surprising success, it will never redeem The Da Vinci Code. That has been laid to rest in the pyres of Suckdom since production.

Check out my brief review of The Da Vinci Code the movie at Sazze!

I know I'm two days late to post this important holiday in salute of my Veterans, but we did recognize them in our hearts on Nov. 11th. My fiance (No I'm not married..yet..it's just so much easier to say hubby...you know the common-law marriage thing?...okay whatever I'll get to that later...maybe) is a Veteran and served the United States Air Force for 2 years. I wanted to make a list of the people that I am close to that have served and are currently serving the United States military. I salute every American that has fought to keep our country safe. Thank you.

My dad-(Army) He fought in Korea
His brothers-Henry(Army),Greg(Navy retired),Johnny(Army retired Vietnam Vet)
My mother's brother,Joseph (Army)

My Veteran first cousins: Malcolm (Army), Greg(Air Force), Dorothy(Air Force), and Franklin(Army).

Currently serving close relatives: Riah(Army), Alvin(Army), Matt(Air Force), Denny (Army), and Jeremy(Air Force).

Numerous facts have been spun about the dangers of microwaves. A month ago my black 9 year old Sharp microwave finally conked out. I decided to see how life faired without one of the most used appliances in my home. I miss the 2 minutes and 30 seconds hot beverage warm ups, quick leftover re-heating, and breezy defrosting options when I procrastinate planning for meals.

What replaced my family's microwave? The stove, kettle, and counter top convection oven of course. I am happy to report that being microwave-free is a lot easier than I thought it would be. I thought I'd be all jittery and fall into a dark state of depression from the drawbacks of my microwave addiction. I'm here to tell you that you can give it up too!

The biggest pros are:
1.Healthier way of eating
2.Food tastes so much better
3.I'm forced to not procrastinate with the lack of a quick defrosting option
4.I don't buy microwaveable foods

The biggest con:
1.Convenience of set it and forget it in a flash. You spend several more minutes to prepare and heat anything up. It's totally worth it! Free yourself from the chains of the microwave. They aren't really locked you know. ;-)

Helpful links:
Green Living: The Dangers of Microwaved Food
Health Science: Hidden Hazards of the Microwave
FDA Radiological Program: Microwave Ovens

This is my first post participating in the "Works for Me Wednesdays Carnival" at Rocks in My Dryer. You can find lots of tips from other "Mommy" blogs there

I will be guest posting stories and ideas from TED Blog on Blazed Jive that leave a strong impression on me. TED Blog is my absolute favorite blog and I enjoy learning something new every day. It is my go to site to "learn about learning".

The following video is a playful presentation about the "powerful link between creativity and play" by Tim Brown. He correlates the fundamental learning environment of elementary students with enhancing the creative process for designers. Being a homeschooler, I love little tidbits of information that improves my teaching curriculum and consequently helps to amplify my daughter's knowledge and creative growth.

The premise of the presentation is broken down into three simple categories:

Exploration, Building, and Role Play

These are certainly not new concepts in a preschool setting, but it is interesting to see them carried over into a professional environment. How cool is that to work in a place that has you play all day? I'd even forego wearing dresses just to slide down the fire pole!

To keep my toddler entertained and stimulated, I use a book called Science Play. The fact that we're forced to go outside or think with our hands keeps the boredom fairies away.

Science Play is a well thought out book that contains various science activities for toddlers. Read my full review at Sazze: http://www.sazze.com/products/science-play-beginning-discoveries-for-2-to-6-year-olds1

1. Whole Foods
2. Safeway
3. Harris Teeter
4. Trader Joe’s
5. Hannaford
6. Albertsons
7. Food Lion
8. Publix Super Markets
9. Pathmark
10. SuperTarget



Alas, I frequent Fry's because it is closest to my home and is cheaper than Safeway. I am not surprised they are not on the list because their produce and organics department are in dire need of an upgrade.

The Safeway near my home is absolutely ghetto in a sense. It is small, pricey, disorganized, and the cashiers are not very friendly. Just the other day I bought a fruit tart from Safeway's only to find that the berries were moldy when I arrived home! I returned it the next day. The quality of supermarkets is only as good as its managers.

Source: MSNBC America's 10 Healthiest Supermarkets

I've been searching for the past couple weeks for a complete guitar chord version of the "I'm Yours" song by Jason Mraz that I absolutely love listening to. (No I am not tired of this song. I don't listen to it enough to get the downer from its overplay.) I finally found it at Chordie.com. It's an extremely easy song to play-composed of just 3 basic chords and 1 bar for this version: C, G, Am, and F.

I even reviewed it at Sazze! http://www.sazze.com/products/im-yours-single-by-jason-mraz

This is such an awesome song by Anita Renfroe. She is a comedian with a very mediocre talent for singing, but her lyrics to the tune of the William Tell finale overture is funny and so true! I have a 3 year old so I cannot really empathize until several years from now. Hopefully, I can come up with better lines to recite to my child in the future.

She also looks like she could be Sarah Palin's sister. :/

Smart Kids Gameclub is the best DS game for toddlers. It is easy peasy for a toddler to play with various challenging and educational activities. It is separated into two rooms-Girl's Playroom and Boy's Playroom. My daughter began playing this when she turned two and it remains her favorite game. There are so many activities and games. The harder ones she can learn to play as she grows. I can say she has improved in these areas: hand eye coordination, problem solving, counting, and memorization.

Screenshots:





Check out my full review at Sazze.com: http://www.sazze.com/products/smart-kids-gameclub-for-ds

My 3 year old, Annie, has a few habits she has been into since she began waddling and terrorizing the world. She plays with imaginary stuff in mid air, always kicks off her blanket when she sleeps, twiddles with my hair (since she was 6 months old), and loves to wear all kinds of shoes. When she was a year old, she would wear everyone's shoes at the door-even high heels-and always took her older cousin Meggie's shoes much to Meggie's dismay.

Annie is a fantastic imitator and can easily reenact scenes from the shows she watches. Her appetite is fickle like my mood for country music. We ate lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant yesterday and all she was interested in eating were the green bean sprouts dipped in peanut sauce and just the middle parts of the sprouts.

I can't help but wonder what she'll be like when she grows up. Hopefully, just as cheerful, inquisitive, and funny as she was at this age.

Ever wonder what other facial product you should try out or what latest home appliance you should stay away from? Never fear, Sazze is there to help make life a little bit easier.

Sazze is an intriguing social network based off of the product reviews of its community. I use the 3 S's to describe Sazze; Share, Socialize, and Shop. That is pretty straight-forward. You can gain new friends, write helpful reviews, create engaging polls, vote on the quality of other member's reviews, chat/vent/rant/share ideas in the threads, link reviews and polls directly to your blog, and giddy-up your ranks to become one of the Elite members entering in the wonderful world of Club Sazze. Ooo...Ahhh

What's so exciting about reading and writing reviews? For starters, you help people make better buying choices with your experience, advice, and expertise. Even better, you get that good karma and great fortune will come your way because you did a good deed for the day energy. Further, member recapitulations provide you with golden information on which products to buy and which are not worth your time and Herculean-earned money. Videos and photos can also be posted with each product. One crucial tip: Honesty is the best policy when writing these reviews.

What I find most useful are the reviews of the latest products to hit the market, products I am thinking about purchasing, and products with an average of 5 stars. How can I resist not buying a 5-star Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix the Sazzers are raving about?! I'd be mad not to heed their advice. I will even provide you with a link my chocolate aficionados: 5-Star Product Review of Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix via Sazze


Tell me more about this elusive Elite stuff and Club Sazze. You can find out how to become an Elite member here: http://www.sazze.com/elite.php

Club Sazze is exclusive to Elite members and allows top Elite members to review and keep products. Eligibility is based on these following criteria:

1. Per Category
Each week we'll choose a new product category, look through the reviews, and examine the user ranking of that category.

2. Recent Activity
We'll also look into how active the user is. For example, a user who logs in daily should have a better shot of winning than someone who logs in once a month.

3. Community Feedback
We'll also take into consideration what the Sazze Community has to say. The more feedback a user's review gets, the better chance they have of winning.

More information on Club Sazze can be found here: http://www.sazze.com/club_sazze.php

But what if I have trouble finding something to review? You can review just about anything. Keep it tasteful for the most part. It's not an R-rated site folks. Look around your house or office (don't get yourself fired for writing reviews now), pick something up, and write like you're talking to a friend about it. I find that writing about products I have more knowledge about or really dislike are very easy to get jump started. The best reviews contain the Pros and Cons about a product and contain breaks instead of one long paragraph. Come on, I know you want to bag some of the suckiest movies you've seen as of late.

There you have it folks. That is my brief description of Sazze (pronunciation has yet to be officially public, but I pronounce it as "Sazz"). I hope to see you there!