Netflix has announced a 60% increasing in their pricing, dealing a blow to entertainment junkies all over.

Until now, customers of the online movie service were able to take advantage of both mailed DVDs and streaming video for $10 a month. The new pricing will make these services $8 a month…each!

According to The New York Times:

For millions of customers, the shift in price might change the daily calculus of an entertainment diet made up of a myriad of choices: cable television packages, online streams, Redbox rentals and iTunes downloads. The price increase spurred complaints from thousands of Netflix customers on Facebook and other Web sites, some of whom said they may now rely less on physical DVDs and more on online options.”

BONUS: Check out this cool map of popular Netflix choices by region!

Thanks to the L.A. Times!

…for Congress, that is.

After 12 terms in the House, Rep. Ron Paul is choosing not to seek reelection.

The former OB/GYN and libertarian-leaning Congressman has represented the 14th district of Texas since 1997.

Now, he intends to put all of his time and energy into his 2012 presidential campaign.

I felt it was better that I concentrate on one election. It’s about that time when I should change tactics.”

Paul has ran for president twice before, in 1988 and 2008, and is largely considered a long shot for the 2012 GOP nomination.

Today’s Washington Post article, As smartphones proliferate, some users are cutting the computer cord, describes how smartphones are enabling a “always-on, Internet-on-the-go society”.

“A third of all American adults own a smartphone and for many minority and low income users, those mobile devices have replaced computers for Internet access. The findings released Monday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project highlight the breakneck speed consumers are adopting smartphones — faster than just about any high-tech product in history. … Of those who solely rely on smartphones to surf the Web, most are minorities, younger than 30 and have low incomes. They’ve found mobile devices as a suitable replacement for buying expensive computers and paying DSL or cable modem bills every month, Smith said. Cable and DSL remain faster, but that difference may not be big enough to justify their high costs for some consumers.”

How many UMBC students use a smartphone for a significant part of their access to the Internet? What are you using: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, WebOS? Please share your experience as a comment.

Today’s Washington Post article, As smartphones proliferate, some users are cutting the computer cord, describes how smartphones are enabling a “always-on, Internet-on-the-go society”.

“A third of all American adults own a smartphone and for many minority and low income users, those mobile devices have replaced computers for Internet access. The findings released Monday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project highlight the breakneck speed consumers are adopting smartphones — faster than just about any high-tech product in history. … Of those who solely rely on smartphones to surf the Web, most are minorities, younger than 30 and have low incomes. They’ve found mobile devices as a suitable replacement for buying expensive computers and paying DSL or cable modem bills every month, Smith said. Cable and DSL remain faster, but that difference may not be big enough to justify their high costs for some consumers.”

How many UMBC students use a smartphone for a significant part of their access to the Internet? What are you using: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, WebOS? Please share your experience as a comment.

Today’s Washington Post article, As smartphones proliferate, some users are cutting the computer cord, describes how smartphones are enabling a “always-on, Internet-on-the-go society”.

“A third of all American adults own a smartphone and for many minority and low income users, those mobile devices have replaced computers for Internet access. The findings released Monday by the Pew Internet & American Life Project highlight the breakneck speed consumers are adopting smartphones — faster than just about any high-tech product in history. … Of those who solely rely on smartphones to surf the Web, most are minorities, younger than 30 and have low incomes. They’ve found mobile devices as a suitable replacement for buying expensive computers and paying DSL or cable modem bills every month, Smith said. Cable and DSL remain faster, but that difference may not be big enough to justify their high costs for some consumers.”

How many UMBC students use a smartphone for a significant part of their access to the Internet? What are you using: iPhone, Android, Blackberry, WebOS? Please share your experience as a comment.

Thanks ABC news!

Kidnapping victim, Jaycee Dugard, recently released a book entitled “A Stolen Life: A Memoir” in which shares all the details of her horrifying experience.

She also conducted her first on television interview with ABC news’ Diane Sawyer late Sunday night.

Now 31-year old Jaycee was kidnapped at the young age of 11 and  was subjected to 18 years of sexual abuse during which she mothered two children.

In her interview, she narrates her life at the hands of Philip and Nancy Garrido and discusses how she has been able to cope since her joyous release in 2009.

Check out the full interview here.

Courtesy of Google

Google anounces its latest gadget.

What do you think about adding a 51st state?

Obama hopes to reach a budget agreement ASAP.

Need more Rebecca Black? Well here’s your latest fix!

Genesis 39:6b-20 (NIV)

Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, 7 and after a while his master’s wife took notice of Joseph and said, “Come to bed with me!” 8 But he refused. “With me in charge,” he told her, “my master does not concern himself with anything in the house; everything he owns he has entrusted to my care. 9 No one is greater in this house than I am. My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” 10 And though she spoke to Joseph day after day, he refused to go to bed with her or even be with her. 11 One day he went into the house to attend to his duties, and none of the household servants was inside. 12 She caught him by his cloak and said, “Come to bed with me!” But he left his cloak in her hand and ran out of the house. 13 When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and had run out of the house, 14 she called her household servants. “Look,” she said to them, “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us! He came in here to sleep with me, but I screamed. 15 When he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 16 She kept his cloak beside her until his master came home. 17 Then she told him this story: “That Hebrew slave you brought us came to me to make sport of me. 18 But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.” 19 When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying, “This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger. 20 Joseph’s master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king’s prisoners were confined.

Reflection:

We are not told on what basis or strength of character that Joseph is able to resist and maintain his integrity even at the price of persecution. But we have to remember that the Lord is with him. We are to notice that the presence of God is what keeps him faithful.

Response:

Like Joseph, all of us face times of temptation sooner or later. They may come upon us without any warning and we must respond immediately. Let’s prepare our hearts beforehand, humbly asking God for His continual presence in our lives so we can flee from temptation when it comes. The only way we can resist temptation is not through our willpower but the Spirit’s empowering.