Customer Review: NetTalk’s Bargain Phone Service Starts Off Strong, Then Call Quality Plunges

Posted on January 27, 2012 by admin

My home is in an area where cell phone service is spotty. One minute, my cell phone has three signal-strength bars, then the next minute, I have zero bars in the exact same spot. In hopes of getting more-reliable calling abilities, I set out in search of a home phone service in December 2011.

My initial goal was to get a traditional landline phone because of its dependability during power outages. Unfortunately, the cost was quite substantial and not within my current budget. Next, I turned to my cable company, but I found out the $ 25 monthly price it advertises doesn’t include about $ 13 in monthly taxes and fees.

Finally, I investigated Web-based phone services. The price for Vonage seemed steep at $ 26 plus taxes/fees, so I chose to take my chances on another service called NetTalk. It got a solid review from PC Magazine, and customers on Walmart’s website also sang its praises.

At the time of my purchase, the device needed to establish service (the NetTalk Duo) cost $ 70, with a $ 9.95 shipping charge. I purchased directly my unit from NetTalk so I could have the assurance of a 30-day, money-back guarantee. The cost included one year of phone service, resulting in a monthly cost of about $ 6.67 for the first year. In future years, I’d pay only for the service itself, which is currently priced at $ 29.95 annually (plus tax). The service includes free calls to the U.S. and Canada, call waiting, caller ID and call forwarding.

My experience with the NetTalk Duo got off to a strong start. It was easy to set up, compatible with my Internet router and seemed to work well with the new digital cordless phones I’d purchased. Sometimes there was a one- or two-second delay in me being able to hear the people I called, but I was willing to live with that.

About three weeks after I began using the NetTalk Duo, the real problems began. I started to hear a noise while having conversations that sounded like someone trying to dial an outgoing number. It sounded like two or three buttons on the phone being pushed, even though I was the only person at home. The person on the other end of the call could not hear these sounds, but I found them loud and disruptive to the conversation. As the problem worsened, I had one incident in which the tone sound started and would not stop. I finally had to hang up to end the call; I couldn’t hear the person I was talking to at all.

I contacted NetTalk via its online technical support system and submitted a trouble ticket. I received a prompt response, and a technician sent a firmware update to my NetTalk device. When I reported back that the problem continued after the software was installed, I received a response which said, in part, “Unfortunately the issue you are experiencing is a VoIP issue called ‘DTMF Talk Off’ which affects many different VoIP providers. The vocal sounds made by you or the other party are being misinterpreted by the system as the push buttons on your phone, which it is making a misguided attempt to repeat. Women’s voices are particularly prone to this…”

I’d like to hear from users of other Web-based (also known as voice over IP) phone services like Vonage, Ooma and NetTalk. Have you dealt with call quality issues, including those described here? Please share your good and bad experiences so we can all be more-informed shoppers.

For more tips on avoiding customer service nightmares and saving money, visit my blog: Who Cares About Customers?

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Surviving the Aftermath of the Holidays

Posted on January 23, 2012 by admin

Three tips that really help pay the bills and keep one afloat during these trying times are surprisingly, simple, easy and uncomplicated to accomplish.

Tip One

Pay only part of each utility bill for the next two months. This will keep your servers satisfied and understanding to some extent. However, servers may add the dreaded late fees to your next bill, but at least you won’t have ‘shut off’ alternatives to worry about. And with winter invading the entire country, that would be tragic.
Stall all card payments made for Christmas shopping until March. Don’t sweat, credit ratings are the least of your worries, and they will make little difference, if any at all.

Tip Two.

If you can get in a few more hours of work, go for it, every extra bit helps. It’s not wrong to ask your boss, infact, most often it shows courage and desire to survive versus giving up the need to live!
If extra hours are not available, don’t loose hope, instead follow strict guidelines for your next shopping trips for at least three months.
Cut down on ‘name brands’ and expensive meat cuts. Inexpensive meat cuts are just as tasty (often have more flavor) and only requires inventive cooking styles.
Cut down on shopping trips. It saves gas and the unnecessary commodities we can do without after the many splurges over the holidays.
Family ‘food throwdowns’ are an awesome way to get the whole family involved making great food dishes with less expensive ingredients for family dinners. They always work and are so much fun. They give a whole new concept to meal time, trust me!

Tip Three.

Get ready for this one, it’s the kicker tip!
Avoid the bars, movie halls and eating out. Yes, these are major throwbacks on your wallet, and my friend, the best money saving tip you can follow without too much regrets.
If you can car pool or better still walk to work, do it, gas is not getting any cheaper, so why fight it. Embrace it.
Instead of letting local gyms eat away at your wallet, close membership and use that cash to catch up on utility bills, while getting your workout (and more… in satisfaction) by walking to place of work and back.
Cut out the unnecessary luxuries like theraeputic massages, nail makeovers and restyling hairdos for two months. You’ll feel yourself again when the bills are caught up and the unnecessary luxuries begin again!

And in the end, three months from now, when you jingle at your pockets and you hear the sound of paper instead of coins, you know you’ve won the battle on surviving the aftermath of Christmas.
Now would be a good time, to start paying off credit cards in small amounts.

A good new year resolution….. tear up those credit cards before the next celebration. A magic rule of thumb to follow……buy only what you can pay for upfront.

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How to Close a Sale when a Customer Doesn’t Want to Sign a Contract

Posted on January 21, 2012 by admin

One of my biggest challenges as an inside sales person for a small phone company is, if I want to earn commission on a new sale, the customer needs to sign a contract with us. This isn’t always as easy as it sounds because there are plenty of customers out there who are simply opposed to signing any sort of agreement.

In fact, out of every 10 customers I talk to, I average 3 who don’t want to commit for any length of time. Some of them like the idea of being able to shop around whenever they want. Others don’t know if they’ll be in business that long and some simply feel I should be offering our best rates on a month-to-month basis.

Overcoming their hesitation is somewhat challenging and there are some that I can’t sell to. However, I do manage to ultimately sell to a good portion of those customers by making a little extra effort.

One of the first things I attempt to do is explain how the contract benefits the customer. I believe the majority of customers who hesitate when asked to sign a contract do so because they believe the agreement is one-sided. And, as someone who has read our contracts, I have to admit they do seem that way at first glance.

In my specific case, I can remind the customer we are guaranteeing a certain rate or discount for the length of the contract. This does make my customers much more comfortable when they sign it.

If there’s still some doubt, I then take the time to explain exactly why we require the contract. In our particular case, to get lower rates, we have to commit to contracts with our vendors. When I explain it that way, most of my customers do understand why I, in turn, need to have them sign an agreement too.

If all else fails, I look for some sort of extra incentive to offer them. This isn’t always possible and what I can offer does vary quite a bit depending on the size of the customer. But, I have found that even a small extra incentive (such as a one-time $ 10 credit) will often be enough to get a customer over that final hurdle because it shows we are willing to invest in them in order to get their business for the long-term.

As I said before, this doesn’t work for every customer and there will be some that won’t sign a contract regardless of what I do. But, by making the extra effort the first time they tell me no, I have definitely increased my sales commissions.

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Tax Checklist: Don’t Overlook These Important Deductions

Posted on January 19, 2012 by admin

Now that the holidays are over and you have hopefully kicked off the new year on a positive note, the next big hurdle is to prepare for tax season. That means getting your receipts together, going through tax records and getting your accounting paperwork in order. Here is a short deduction checklist to jump start your efforts:

Travel expenses. Traveling for business purposes can involve hotel rooms, airfare, dry cleaning and other expenses that can quality for deductions.
Professional fees. All fees paid to lawyers, CPAs, consultants and other professionals for business purposes can generally be deducted in the year they were incurred.
Home office. If you use a portion of your home for conducting your business, which includes meeting with clients or administrative work, you can most likely also deduct a portion of the indirect expenses related to your home office like utilities.
New equipment. Don’t forget to deduct that new printer, computer, camera or fax machine if they are used for business.
Educational expenses. College courses, seminars, books and DVDs used to grow your business or enhance your skill sets may qualify as tax deductions.
Energy saving improvements. Don’t forget to deduct energy-efficient improvements that you may have made to your home. Energy saving appliances, windows or doors can all qualify for additional deductions.
Job hunting deductions. Unfortunately for some, unemployment has been a stark reality this year. However, you can deduct some of the expenses incurred while looking for a job. If you traveled, hired an agency or had a resume prepared, you can most likely deduct those expenses.

It’s important to take all the deductions you can to come out ahead this tax season. The best tip is to hire a professional tax preparer to ensure that you properly itemize the most deductions with the least chance of being audited.

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Taj Mahal: Avoiding Tourist Guides, Protecting Your Wallet and Preserving Your Sanity

Posted on January 17, 2012 by admin

More than 3 million people each year visit Agra to see what is perhaps the grandest architectural wonder of the world-the Taj Mahal. Many tourists are so excited to be able to view this monument and take the perfect picture, they are quite surprised by the logistical and bureaucratic challenges, and other nuisances on their way to the Taj Mahal. Unfortunately, Agra is rife with beggars, scammers and touts that can ruin your vacation. The worst of these pesky nuisances is the “guide.”

There are two types of guides in Agra. The authorized, licensed, educated guide speaks several languages (including German, French, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese) and is knowledagle about the history, architecture and stories surrounding the Taj Mahal. You can find his information from either your hotel concierge, or your travel guide. Be advised, he gets booked months in advance.

The other is the ubiquitous guide, extremely friendly at first, then progressively becoming more annoying and obnoxious. He will invade your personal space, gawk at you or your female companions, talk nonsense in thickly accented English, want to borrow your sunglasses or cap, and try to sell you stuff you don’t want. Finally, he will insist on being part of every photograph you take in front of the Taj. When you tell him to take a picture of you and your spouse, his buddy will quietly sneak up and stand behind you. Your best bet is to identify and disengage this type of guide.

The onslaught will begin as soon as you exit your vehicle in the parking lot. An extremely friendly man will start a conversation with you or begin escorting you to the eco-friendly cab area. Unless you strongly discourage him (repeatedly) in the first few minutes, this person will become your de facto guide and you must pay a hefty sum (INR 500-1000, roughly $ 10-20) to get rid of him.

Then you will encouter the footmuff seller. This person, often a child 10 years old, will first give you footmuffs as a gift. If you accept without bargaining, or asking the price, you will have to pay whatever he asks, which will vary based on the seller’s assessment of your financial status and savvy. INR 10 (about 25 cents) is a fair price for a pair of footmuffs although foreign tourists can expect to pay INR 50-150.

The distance to the Taj Mahal from the parking lot is a 10 minute walk (or a 5 minute ride). Most likely, the driver of your parked car will recommend an eco-cab, perhaps because he wants you to avoid beggars and other nuisances, or perhaps he has received a commission from the eco-cab driver. If you decide to hail a cab, you will need to make sure it has only one driver. If a driver’s friend or apprentice, or your footmuff seller’s friend rides with you in the front and you do not tell him to dismount, he has become your guide and you must pay to get rid of him.

Your cab ride will end a hundred meters short of the Taj Mahal complex entrance. Here you will be offered samples of handcrafted miniature Taj Mahals and pill boxes made from marble and semi precious inlaid stones. Unfortunately, unless you are an expert, you may not be able to judge its value (or its material) and you risk being seriously ripped off. Your best bet for buying Taj related memorablia is a government approved handicrafts store, in the main shopping areas of Agra, Jaipur or Delhi.

Admission to the Taj Mahal involves standing in line to buy tickets. Here too, you will encounter friendly men who will walk up to you to help you buy tickets at the discounted Indian rate. You might be able to save on the tickets (although they will be checked again), however, you will have bought yourself a guide.

Since admission for Indian nationals is very affordable, guides will be available for pestering even inside the Taj garden. They will offer to take your photograph, or invade your personal space with a running commentary. If you have been strong so far, do not cave in and maintain your disinterested and aggressive stance until the guide has left your presence. You will realize after a few more steps that you are in front of Taj Mahal–the most beautiful architectural gem in the world, and you have yourself and your family to enjoy and take it its magnificient view.

More on the Taj Mahal: Local Travel Tips
$ 1 roughly equals 50 INR (Indian Rupee)

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Protecting My Home While I’m on Vacation

Posted on January 10, 2012 by admin

A major concern for me while my family and I are vacationing is the security of our home and the valuables it houses inside. My family takes significant measures to make sure our house stays safe while we are out of town. Here is a look at how we protect our home when we are out of town on vacation and how the measures we take cost very little.

House-Sitter

To make sure our house is secure while we are away, we have a friend stay at the house. We do not board our dogs so we need someone there to care for them. Our house-sitter’s presence at the house reassures us, and our house looks like we are home when we are really 2,000 miles away.

Very Careful With Who Has Access to my House Key

I am very careful with who I give a copy of my house key to. I do not want everyone and their grandmother having access to my home. The people I give my key to are very close family members and friends. I do not want anyone taking advantage of our trust while we are away on vacation.

Perimeter Checks Prior to Leaving the House

Prior to leaving the house for our vacation, we perform perimeter checks. Basically, we want to make sure all windows, doors and gates are locked securely. We double check each window and door as a precaution. I would much rather be safe than sorry when it comes to home security.

Leave Lights On

Whether my family is gone for five minutes or five days, we have adopted the habit of always leaving a few lights on. This gives our house the appearance that someone is home and awake. Essentially, this is a burglary deterrent and is a habit I have maintained for most of my life.

Neighbors

Because I live on a very small block, it would be pretty hard to break into my house and not have my neighbors hear. Neighbors keep an eye for trouble around our house when we are gone and keep us informed if anything does happen.

The last thing I want to worry about when I go on vacation is the security of my home. That is why we take measures to protect our valuables and our home, so we can enjoy our much deserved vacation.

Dividend Investing Advantages: Single Parent Finances

Posted on January 8, 2012 by admin

For many single parents, budgeting for family expenses can be quite challenging. When adding in investments for retirement, many single parents simply give up as they are strained to find the right way to invest scarce money. If you are a single parent who is considering the start to your investments and retirement planning, then you may want to consider the advantages to dividend investing.

Source of Income
Stocks that provide a solid return on your investment will typically provide a source of income by also paying out a quarterly, or semi-annual, dividend. If you invest in a company that has good foundation fundamentals, you can expect the stock price to rise which is a great way to invest for retirement. But, for single parents, the additional advantage comes by way of dividend payments which you can either use for re-investing or, even better, utilize as a source of income.

Good Return On Investment
Most companies that pay out semi-annual or quarterly dividends are companies with a good financial foundation and, typically, can weather through bad economic times or bad news that affects their industry. In the long term, and beyond your passive return by dividends, these types of stocks will rise in share price and provide retirement savings.

Beat Inflation
Dividend stocks, by their very nature, also beat out inflation rates. With inflation rates typically averaging around 3 percent each year, a stock that not only provides a rise in share price, but also pays out a dividend greater than inflation, will yield a good return on your investment. In comparison, stocks that do not pay out dividends may not rise in price easily and, by not paying dividends, it is feasible that you would miss the opportunity to obtain passive income.

As a single parent, if you find there are daily challenges in your ability to budget and save for financial emergencies, consider investing in dividend stocks. Based on these advantages alone, the dividend stock provides a great financial tool for families during stressed economic times. As always, consult your financial planner before making any decision to investment in stocks, bonds, or any other financial vehicle.

Sources:
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2011/11/22/the-key-to-smart-dividend-investing.aspx

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/returnoninvestment.asp
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2092.html

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Are “Home Parties” a Financial Solution?

Posted on January 6, 2012 by admin

COMMENTARY | We’ve all gotten an invitation to a fill-in-the-blank party: organic foods; naughty toys; linens; nearly anything. This one was for jewelry, hosted by my friend Michelle, who extended her hospitality to Ashley Braun, the jewelry “stylist” who met Michelle at one of those urban indoor places for kids.

Ashley – young, bright and doused in an exuberant glow – laid out her jewelry samples in display boxes on Michelle’s long dining room table. Stand-up necklace holders and the line’s bright packaging framed them from behind.

The company with which Ashley works is one of hundreds of multi-level marketing operations, with names as familiar as Avon and Mary Kay, to unexpected major companies, like Lindt Chocolate, to newer companies, like Stella & Dot, Ashley’s company, and Wildtree, a business that sells herbs and oils that we’ll get to in a moment.

According to ABC News, multi-level marketing is a $ 28 billion dollar industry. The structure has two aspects: direct sales, like Ashley selling her jewelry to us; and the multi-level system, which requires the sales force to recruit sellers below them, who then pay a commission to the recruiter on each item the new sales person sells. For Ashley’s company, that person is called a “sponsor.” As USA Today pointed out, some of these multi-level companies are heavy on the multi-level, sometimes to the near-exclusion of selling the product.

Ashley’s, however, has plenty of product. It also had an initial outlay. When she signed up, the company offered $ 450 in free jewelry to build up her collection of samples. She purchased the display boxes, and her sponsor lent her about half of the jewelry there. She started in September, but wasn’t sure yet if she’d broken even. She thought she was close. “But,” she told me, her face earnestly sincere, “I’m really in it for the jewelry.”

The company recommends 4-6 “Trunk Shows” per month. Whether one can pull together that number of shows probably depends on the person, which brings us back to Wildtree. Michelle and I have a friend who works with them, and is apparently making a living doing so, even winning trips.

But I don’t believe her to be the norm, and statistics bear out this theory. According to a separate USA Today article, the average person in multi-level direct sales makes just $ 2,400 per year. It takes a special kind of person, the outgoing kind who can make friends with whomever comes her way, to do as well as our mutual friend, and for her, the model and product are good fits.

“I have a friend who sells Mary Kay,” said a fellow guest. She described how her friend greets her with product recommendations, and the resulting humorous retort in her head. “I’m still trying to use up the eight tubes you sold me last time, because I wanted you to get the pink Cadillac.”

The party winding down, I approached Ashley as she added up her sales. “So how did you do?”

“Well, I need at least four orders for Michelle to get the hostess rewards,” she said, “and I have two.”

“What happens?”

“Usually people order online after the party and make up the total.” My unofficial survey had, in fact, revealed that many of the women were planning to purchase online, rather than on the spot. One woman was under strict orders from her husband to buy herself something, which she swore she would do later, from the website.

A friend, who finds it difficult to get out with her newborn, socialized while knocking two gifts off of her list. Another indulged herself a little. Most of us had a glass of wine, spirited chatting, and a nice evening, so for us, it was a success. For Ashley, only time will tell.

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Wearing Whispers (poem)

Posted on January 4, 2012 by admin

Wearing whispers now have found me

Jealous voices at my soul

They have found me worn and lonely

Here’s the time to take their toll

With no more laughter to console

Gnawing teeth just eat away

They feast upon this shallow hole

Looking toward another day

There is my field of yesterday

Where lovers dared challenge chance

For after all what could they say

Jealous whispers bore our trance

And for a time a special dance

When our time would never end

We thought the world was in our glance

We were lost in let’s pretend

Pretending smiles could be our friend

Behind those smiles whispers grew

Then came a rift we couldn’t mend

With such odds what could I do

These wearing whispers taint my view

Eating at my clarity

Yet what remains still dwells with you

Waiting at eternity

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The Complete List of Movies Set to Hit the Box Office in 2012

Posted on January 2, 2012 by admin

There is just something satisfying about seeing a movie in theaters more than watching one at home even if you have an awesome, and very expensive, home entertainment system. There just isn’t anything that can beat watching a movie in theaters. Is it the popcorn? Is it the snacks? Is it the crowd? Is it the ushers? Or is it just the movie and the memory of watching it when it first came out? Whatever it is, here’s a list of movies set to hit the big screen, in 2012, so grab your purse or your wallet and head to the theater where the action is.

We start the year off with a combination of horror and David Hasselhoff in Piranha 3DD on January the 8^th. I dare David to tell a gang of Piranhas to “Don’t Hassel the Hoff” before jumping in with them and seeing where that gets him. At the end of that week, on Friday the 13^th, three thrillers are released for you to chose from. In the first one, Mark Wahlberg, Giovanni Ribisi, and Kate Beckinsale join up in Contraband , and thenMan on a Ledge , starring Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, and Ed Harris, is about a fugitive who attempts suicide while pleading his innocence and then his brother trying to prove it. If neither of these interest you then you can step into the future and escape, with Heroes’ actor Milo Ventimiglia and Golden Globe nominee Rosanna Arquette, to divert disaster in The Divide . Tom Hanks, John Goodman and Sandra Bullock get closer to us and loud on the 20 ^th in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close , and then on that same day, if you want to escape their noise, step into the Underworld 4 with Kate Beckinsale. The month ends with an Irish actor’s, Liam Neeson, performance in The Grey on the 20 ^th .

February, the month of romance, is dedicated to comedy, science fiction, drama, adventure, fantasy, action, and thrillers, anything but romance, but then this month might be worth the lack of romance genre with this movie line up. Michael B. Jordan gains super powers in the Chronicle on the 3 ^rd , followed by Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Kristin Davis and Vanessa Hudgens Journey 2: The Mysterious Island on the 10 ^th , and the same day Denzel Washington discovers the hard way that a Safe House doesn’t guarantee safety. On the 20 ^th , aliens go after the President’s daughter in Lock-Out , and Amanda Seyfried is Gone on the 24 ^th when former Friends’ costars, Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd, reunite in Wanderlust .

On March the 2^nd, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters is about two children who grow up, after an incident with a witch in a gingerbread house, to become witch bounty hunters and chase and capture them down but if you want to escape from witches, then seek Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax for help. Jessica Biel and Dennis Quaid Play the field on the 9 ^th , while writer Ben Livingston and actor John Cusack attempt to tell the last moment of the life of Edgar Allan Poe in The Raven . On the 27 ^th Chris Sarandon must try to remain Safe .

April is the month that fools want to make a complete fool of themselves for reasons still unknown to this day. This month of fools are Jason Biggs and his usual gang in American Pie 4: American Reunion on the 6^th, who return to Great Falls, Michigan for a high school reunion and then an unlucky fool travels to North Carolina to seek the woman who he believes is his good luck charm, on the 20^th, in The Lucky One , based on a Nicholas Sparks’ novel.

Kick off the month of May with superheroes, Scarlett Johansson, Robert Downey Jr., and Chris Evans, in the Avengers on the 4 ^th , and then on the 11 ^th , Chris Rock, Carmen Diaz, and Jennifer Lopez discover What To Expect When You’re Expecting . A week later Liam Neeson and Rihanna battle in Battleship , on the 18 ^th . As the month comes to a close, Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith return, all dressed in black, in Men In Black III on the 25 ^th .

On the first day of June, Kristen Stewart is back on screen but not as Bella Swan-Cullen in the final installment of Breaking Dawn. Instead she comes back as Snow White in the tale of Snow White and the Huntsman . Ben Stiller, Jade Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock become Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted on the 8 ^th while Patrick Wilson and Charlize Theron must join forces to save mankind in Prometheus . John Carter joins to Mars on the 9 ^th . Andy Samberg tells Adam Sandler “I Hate You Dad ” on the 15 ^th while Ewan McGregor climbs to beanstalk to become Jack The Giant Killer . On the 22 ^th Emma Thompson discovers how Brave she is in this animation classic for the kids and young at heart while Benjamin Walker becomes President in Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter .

On the third of July, Emma Stone and Andrew Garfield come together to tell the untold story of The Amazing Spider-Man . On Friday the 13 ^th , from the creator of Family Guy, Seth MacFarlane, comes the tale of a grown man and his Ted . Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Queen Latifah, and Denis Leary are back in the Ice Age 4: Continental Drift . Next Friday, Anne Hathaway and Christian Bale go head-to-head in Batman 3 – Dark Knigth Rises . The month of July ends when Kathryn McCormick and Ryan Guzman take the dance floor, on the 27 ^th , in Step Up 4 .

Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, and Jessica Biel are recalled in Total Recall on August the 3 ^rd . On the 15 ^th , Joel Edgerton and Jennifer Garner adopt Cameron “CJ” Adams in The Odd Life of Timothy Green . A young boy, who can speak to the dead and all things supernatural, must save his town, on the 17 ^th , in ParaNorman . Sylvester Stallone is back in The Expendables 2 on the 17 ^th .

The month of September gives wave to the vampire epic that has swept the nation since Dracula with Hotel Transylvania hitting up theaters on the 21 ^st . Adam Sandler and Andy Samberg sprout fangs for this flick.

The month of October is my favorite because of its connection with halloween, the supernatural and my birthday. Tim Burton is back this month with the story about a boy and his dog, Frankenweenie on the 5 ^th . Here Comes The Boom , on the 12 ^th , with Salma Hayek, Kevin James and Henry Winkler. Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw this month in Saw IX . Tom Hanks is on Cloud Atlas . Halloween III slashes through theaters on the 26 ^th .

On November the 2^nd, the remake of 1984 movie, Red Dawn , hits theaters. John C. Reilly and Jane Lynch Wreck-It Ralph on the 12 ^th . Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner are back on the 16 ^th , for one last time, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 . Keanu Reeves is at 47 Ronin on the 21 ^st . Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin and Isla Fisher are the Rise of the Guardians on the 21 ^st .

The month of December, and Christmas, brings us Tobey Maguire in the classic tale, inspired by Yann Martel’s book, the Life of Pi on the 21 ^st , and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Leonardo DiCaprio and Samuel L. Jackson are Django Unchained on Christmas day.

The year 2012 brought us 53 reasons to spend a night in a crowded theater, what will the year 2013 bring us?

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