The Fujifilm FinePix S1000fd 10.0 should be a welcome addition for those who have been waiting for a SLR-styled digital camera but with a range of top-notch features on offer at a budget price. Fujifilm took the initiative and came out with this super-zooming model as a part of its S-series models. The appearance is that of a miniature but very compact DSLR (digital single lens reflex). The FinePix looks very basic, in fact, very utilitarian but never compromises on performance and is perhaps the best choice when you are looking for an easy-to-handle digital camera with ultra-zoom characteristic, along with the convenience of not handling interchangeable lenses any more.

When viewed for the first time, its appearance may look a bit cluttered but all the buttons have been arranged in a manner, which leaves no room for confusion. Fujifilm has claimed that the S1000fd is the world’s smallest digital camera that combines 10 Megapixel with a 12x optical zoom and these two features are its claim-to-fame. The 12x optical zoom doesn’t have too much competition to worry about. This has been combined with a very neatly done Face Detection AF module that boasts of an automated ‘Red-Eye’ removal system capable of measuring the clicked subject and optimizing it for that perfect shot. What makes the FinePix S1000fd so appealing is its ability to pack-in features like the 2.7-inch TFT LCD, CCD imager and an electronic viewfinder (EVF) in a very convenient manner. Its EVF is particularly impressive and provides you a very defined sense of colour hues. It also features some Fuji regulars like the Shutter Priority that helps you define the shutter speed and Aperture Priority that is mandatory for getting the right amount of lens exposure.

The FinePix 10.0 has an overwhelming 15 scene modes to choose from and this includes the choice of ‘suppressed’ natural light mode and Panorama mode. When combined with its ISO-boosted image stabilization coordination, getting an accurate preset is now very simple. Its resolution of 10.0 Megapixel is complemented by a contrast-detection automatic focus, which promises sharp images in outdoor, dim or indoor lighting. Another defining attribute is the VGA (30 fps) movie mode and option of XD/ SDHC/SD/ memory cards. Razor-sharp images are assured with minimal effort, courtesy of the Focus/Drive modes and its sturdiness can be vowed for. The Verdict — Fujifilm’s FinePix S1000fd makes a very sensible purchase, both for those who are transitioning upwards from being basic point-and-shoot clickers and the more accomplished photographic talent.

You can now buy new and used FinePix camera’s at hugely discounted prices through any of the links above.

While many audiophiles are concerned about things like home theatre ceiling speaker placement and the location of woofers and tweeters, no true home theater would be complete without a home theater carpet. A home theater carpet changes the theater’s ambience drastically. It gives your guests the feel of walking into a real life movie theater and helps to make the viewing of a home movie a real communal event.

Secondly, home theater carpeting makes your sound system better. There is a reason that all movie theaters have carpeting instead of tile or hardwood floors. Hard surfaces introduce too many reflective surfaces for good sound quality. They cause too much vibration, echoing, and feedback. In real live theaters you’ll also seldom see walls and ceilings with hard surfaces for similar reasons. The home theater carpeting helps to eliminate the vibrations because carpeting absorbs sound waves that reach it, preventing it from reflecting. It absorbs audio from inside the room and it also insulates the room from random outdoor noises such as car traffic, kids playing, and planes passing overhead.

On a more trivial note, plush home theater carpeting also provides a lavish treat for the feet and helps to add to the luxurious feel of the room. Your company will love it because home theater carpeting makes your room less about seeing a particular movie and more about having a movie going experience.

Finding the perfect home theater carpeting is not difficult. If you know the style of your favorite theater’s carpet, you can match it down to the color, fabric, and design at one of the many theater carpeting stores on the Internet.

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When it comes to GPS receivers,the Garmin Nuvi 350 is the best GPS navigation system,which is very popular. Travelers who are in the know prefer this navigator hands down. From local gas stations to banks to groceries, everything you might want to find is in the database of this small system. Enter your destination on the color screen and go: you’ll be there in no time.

This system really speaks to you, telling you streets and exits. A safe and pleasant ride can be attained with this feature that allows you to totally watch the road. Another feature allows you to set an alert to approaching points of interest or attractions within the vicinity. When it comes to navigation systems, this is the best rated GPS you can purchase because it can’t get any easier to use.

The Garmin nuvi 350 tells you how to get there, and it even entertains you while you’re on your way. This navigation device includes an MP3 player, an audio book player and a JPEG picture viewer; it is an incredible value. With the Language Guide, which is optional, you’ll be able to get basic translations of foreign words. Because this product has so many features and accessories, it can be difficult to imagine anything that isn’t as useful or delightful.

This is much more affordable than you would expect for something like this. When you search for one online, you might be able to find one for about $100. If you need GPS kit, search for Garmin Nuvi 350 reviews and you get a lot of great information about the product and how it’s priced

The new craze in the world of pocket watches is the digital pocket watch. Long time watch enthusiasts are not the least bit enthused about this new comer to the world of watches. The average watch lover is use to ole time movies where the good guy or the bad guy pulls out his pocket watch attached to a long chain and checks the time on an antique, featuring Roman numerals. How many times have we seen a movie where something is supposed to happen at high noon? The real watch people knew what high noon looked like on an antique pocket watch. Imagine that same movie where something was supposed to happen at high noon and the villain pulled out a shiny antique pocket watch with the matching chain, opened up that classy old school cover and it was digital? Just takes all the authenticity out of the moment doesnt it? Dont take my word for it. Go to a local watch store which has both types of watches and compare the two for yourself.

Another type of time piece that is becoming more and more popular is the atomic watch and atomic clocks. These are digital time pieces but they come equipped with an excellent feature that other watches do not have. Each night, all atomic time pieces are set using the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) transmitter. The antique elgin pocket watches are some of the most coveted pocket watches. This ensures that each one of these time pieces stays set accurate. The radio signal that is used to set the time pieces is strong enough to stretch over the entire US.

The electronic timepiece is not a new invention as most people probably know. Watch enthusiast say that these electronic pieces first started getting recognition around the 70s. Some say that a movie that was made around 68 which featured a made up electronic clock was the inspiration. One of the very first electronic time pieces was made with an LED diode. The antique waltham pocket watches are sought after by the watch collecting community. When a section of the watch was pressed, the user could see what time it was. This actually took a great deal of battery power to use. The next version had an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) which did not drain the battery as the diode did. This was the first time that digital wrist watches burst onto the scene.

Technology has come a long way since the diode and the LCD watches. The newest technology comes in the form of an atomic clock that can be accurate with in 1 second and does not need to be set for years. Watch people love antique pocket watches. This would far surpass the current technology of atomic clocks and watches which currently need to be set every day from NIST in order to keep their accurate time. This is an amazing feat. Technology has truly come a long way and who knows what is in store for watches and clocks in the years to come.

Nintendo Wii prices don’t really seem to fluctuate. They change depending on if they are in a bundle package or if they are used. Otherwise expect to pay the full Nintendo Wii price. Great places to find a Wii are your local Best Buy, Target, Walmart and Toys R Us. You can simply call these stores and find out if they have any special such as any coupons towards the purchase or a free game with a Wii purchase. If you do want to purchase in a bundle then look at those prices as well. Buying used will give you many more options.

Finding the best Nintendo Wii price today isn’t as easy as one might think. There are lots of packages you can purchase that includes a set of games, the Wii and a controller that really give you the best deal but may not be what you are looking for. Trying the suspect Wii vendors may come with better warranties, but perhaps the best deal might be from your local craigslist?

When deciding to purchase a Wii one must also figure out whether they will need an extra controller or any particular games. Especially during the holiday season Best Buy, Sam’s Club, Target and even Walmart will have bundle deals with an extra controller and two or three games for a price that doesn’t even sound like the down-payment on a car. Now if you were thinking that you can find a friend who works at one of these stores to buy the game console for you I’m going to disappoint you by telling you that these stores don’t give any discount for the game consoles to their employees. You can tear up that Best Buy application.

The cost of the Wii is $250 plus taxes. Or you can get a bundle that comes with 2 remotes and 3 games for about $550. It really just depends if you are planning on using the games offered in the bundle. Call your local Target, Walmart, Toys R Us, and Circuit City in the mornings to see if they even have the Wii in and to find out the Wii prices. Sometimes they are difficult to locate. The best thing about purchasing the Wii at Best Buy is that they offer a warranty plan on their electronics that extends past the warranty that Nintendo offers.

Now I know that some people find offense to purchasing items online but if you aren’t one of those people then great! You can purchase the Nintendo Wii through any trusted 3rd party seller directly at Amazon or EBay. Sometimes you might even be able to purchase one at less than the original store price. But I would be weary of used consoles. If something does happen then you are out of luck and if it is delivered and it is broken it may be difficult to get a refund from a seller in China. Sometimes you can find the Wii at game stores as well.

If you do want it for less consider signing up for a Best Buy card and getting the discount they offer you once you open the account. This may be the cheapest new route for Wii prices. If you don’t mind a used Wii then go out to the pawn shop or look in the paper. This way you can actually see if the console works before purchasing it. Used systems are also sold at EBgames or Gamestop. Used consoles would also be on craigslist. Wii prices are usually still high because it is a popular console. If you go to the game store you can even sell your old console or games and use it as credit towards the new Nintendo Wii. Good luck in your search for the best Wii price.

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Looking to purchase your first or next point and shoot digital camera? The top makers of digital cameras are engineering and creating products with better picture quality and are loaded with features that users find more convenient than ever.

Face detection is an innovative technology on a few digital cameras. The Cyber-Shot DSC-W300 is a digital camera manufactured by Sony under the Cyber-shot line which includes this handy feature. Digital cameras with this feature are able to recognize faces in a scene then automatically adjusts the focus, exposure, white balance and flash to uncover faces hidden in shadows, turn skin tones to a more natural look, reduce or eliminate red-eye and remove harsh facial glare which means the photos you take will show every expression on every face in every shot you take.

Another feature many newer digital cameras include is image stabilization. Many more moments can be captured due to this now essential feature. Image stabilization compensates for the average user’s shaky hands the can blur and ruin those memorable moments. Image stabilization uses a built-in gyro sensor to detect camera movement and delivers signals that stabilize the lens. Image stabilization is available in the Sony Cybershot DSC-W300.

You can’t always tell the subject of your picture to move themselves into a better position so you can get a good shot based on the lighting conditions. With Intelligent Scene Recognition available in the DSC-W300 you select the mode such as Backlight, Backlight & Portrait, Twilight, Twilight & Portrait, Twilight with Tripod and Portrait, and the camera will adjust itself to produce the best possible picture under the lighting restrictions.

More picture taking opportunities are available when a digital camera has sufficient optical zoom. Digital cameras these days offer 3x to 10x zoom and even more. The Sony Camera DSC-W300 comes with a 5x optical zoom lens that captures outdoor subjects or scenes from far away with high quality detail.

Today’s auto market is becoming more and more varied, with Hummers lining up next to Smart Cars and Geo Metros in dealer lots.  One of the first things many people do when they buy a new vehicle is to make it their own by adding custom touches.  Bored spouses and kids make in car DVD systems one of the hottest new upgrades on the auto market.

Imagine, you’re headed across the country with your family to visit the in-laws in Omaha, and your kids are driving you crazy.  A car DVD system allows you to pop in one of their favorite movies and have them entertained for hours while on the road, now that is pure gold.

There are two main types of in car DVD systems: portable and in-dash.  Portable systems, though not as sleek or worry-free as the in-dash systems, are considerably cheaper and more versatile.  They are usually powered by your car’s 12-volt power adapter but can be converted to run from your home’s power supply, allowing you to take the DVD player and monitor into your in-laws house when your happy family arrives.

In-dash car DVD systems are hardwired into your vehicle’s entertainment system.  They display movies either on a screen in the centre-console, on a screen that descends from the roof of the vehicle, or on a screen which flips up from the dashboard.  Though these systems aren’t portable outside the vehicle, once installed they don’t require any extra cords or setup: you can load in your movies and drive away.  Screens located either on the centre-console or which flip up from the dashboard can double as displays for in-car GPS or navigation software, but they can be distracting to drivers.  The flip-down screens avoid driver distraction, but they are usually only convenient for back-seat viewing, leaving a front seat passenger to count license plates or play I-Spy with the driver.

In car DVD systems are perhaps the biggest boon to the long family road trip since Car Bingo, and as the technology improves you can expect the systems to get smaller, lighter, and cheaper.  Though portable systems are still the choice for families on the go since they require no expensive installation or conversion, more and more auto manufacturers have plans to include built-in systems in their vehicles, especially upscale and family autos.  It may be tough to find a driver for your next road trip, as the entire family will be stretched out in the back seat, munching on popcorn and watching a film.

Because people no longer have to wait for film to be processed and returned, the digital camera market continues to grow. Not having to use film means that the cameras can actually be considerably smaller with only the batteries dictating the actual size. With the upsurge of home computers it means that almost anyone can store and then play with the images on their own pc. While the image storage may be digital, the end result looks no different from a picture printed from photographic film.

Just like conventional cameras, this type is furnished with a series of lenses that focus the light and creates the image that you want to capture. The only difference between a digital camera and film cameras is how they capture this light inside the camera itself.

There are two methods of achieving this, The less expensive capture system called CMOS is generally in lower end cameras and probably won’t replace the more expensive CCD although it does an admirable job.

By using the CMOS sensor, many models have become more affordable for those users that do not require such a high performance device. the causal observer would probably never notice this difference though.

There is no need to feel confused by the range and functions these cameras have if you are armed with a few basic facts which are provided in this article. Image quality is important or it will be waste of time taking them so look for the highest megapixel model within your price range, if you are lucky you may find a model that is discounted because a new version is about to be introduced. You can always go online and shop for antique cameras if the thought of going digital makes you shake. There are good tips and tutorials on buying antique cameras.

If you are interested in collecting cameras then you should know better photos will be taken with a digital camera that has an optical zoom and not just a digital zoom, portrait shots that require ‘framing’ are so much easier with a an zoom facility. One way in which you can save money is to use batteries that can be recharges over and over saving you hundreds of dollars over their lifetime. If you want to do more than just take snap shots, look for a model that is high on functionality to create stunning photos you can be proud of, examples are listed below:

Video capture Continuous shooting

Panoramic images

Most models these days can accept a storage card to accept more images because high megapixel models use up a great deal of memory. some cameras won’t accept very high capacity cards anyway.

For photographers who will keep the camera with them at all time you may want to consider one of the more compact types that can be carried in a shirt pocket. Professional photographers may need heavy, bulky equipment but there is no requirement for a keen amateur to do so! These are just the basic things you have to look for in a camera when you buy one. With all its technology, versatility and portability, the digital camera is the future of photography.

While on a recent vacation to Aspen, some friends of mine, believed it would be a nice idea to blind date me with someone. Let me quiz you this, have you ever known anyone who met the love of there desires after being set up by there friends? Well I haven’t. Heck, I haven’t even met anyone who is still connected at all, after being set up. Well anyway this was a real classic crash.

I love my friends, to be sure, but its taking me awhile to get to the point where I am ready to take another vacation with them. I’ll begin with the microsoft zune accessories. Some of you are asking, what the heck is a zune and what would belkin zune accessories even look like? These are completely valid questions, but we don’t have the time to answer them, forgive me. Lets just say, an MP3 player and the stuff that is with them.

She, this lady I was with, would not shut up about her stupid zune and, “all the unbelievable accessories”, that she had. I mean really, over three and half hours of conversation, and when she was talking, it was about this MP3 player. Well, we had been drinking for all of the night and by 11 o’clock or so, we had all had our fill. Helen, that was her name, incredibly had yet to show us this amazing thing, and in hind sight, she might not should not have.

So, six beers and two glasses of wine later, out comes this amazing piece of technology, and before you know it, snatch and into the fire place goes this thing! I apologize, I know it was incorrect, and a terrible thing to do.

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When I spend about half a grand on a cell phone, I’m thinking . . . “i want to get my money’s worth!”

That’s how I feel, anyway — which is why I made it my business to put my new iPhone through the paces from jump street by scouring the web’s most serious iPhone resources for the most useful power tips/ tricks available. The result is this collection of 16 iPhone power tips that will help you get even more enjoyment out of your new favorite toy! Some of these, granted, you’ll need to Google to get the current URL. But, if you want, you can just click the link for the complete article with photos and videos.

1. Unstick a Stuck Slider: if you’re iPhone’s slider ever gets stuck — as in, it simply refuses to do anything when you try to slide it, usually because you want to make the iPhone up to use it — here is a fix from iPhone Atlas (www.iphoneatlas.com): press the Home button once before attempting to move the slider for the first time.

2. Make Skype calls: Up-front disclaimer: We’re not talking about free, voice-over-IP (VOiP) Skype calls here. We’re talking about making SkypeOut calls, which are not free but can drastically reduce the cost of making international calls on your iPhone. Matter of fact, SoonR lets you access Apple Mail files, mailboxes, and contacts. It also lets you grab documents from your Mac for viewing on iPhone, including PowerPoint presentations and all that kinda’ good stuff.

3. Know Where to Go for the 411: Lucky for you, the world has gone iPhone crazy. That means there a lot of excellent sources of info on the latest iPhone developments out there on the web. Bad news: there’s a lot of crap, also. Here’s a short list of our favorite iPhone info sites:

- modmyiPhone.com
- iPhoneFreak.com
- iPhoneAlley.com
- The Unofficial Apple Weblog’s iPhone page
- Gizmodo’s iPhone coverage
- iPhoneAtlas.com

While you’re checking these sites, keep in mind that some sites you might already be visiting on a regular basis have really done a super job of becoming iPhone-friendly, including Digg.com, Amazon.com, FaceBook.com, and Netvibes.com!

4. Play Great Games: You know what Jack says about all work and no play! Not that the web surfing you’re doing on your iPhone is all work-related, yeah right? Games — most of which are free — are starting to pop up for the iPhone, and we’re sure there will be more where those came from. For now, you can just launch the Safari browser when your iPhone and visit these hot game sites:

- MacMost’s collection of iPhone games, including classics like solitaire and minesweeper (free, MacMost iPhone Games).

- mynuMo has 4 iPhone games, including iWhack — a whack-a-mole knockoff where the mole’s replaced by a headshot of Microsoft’s Steve Ballmer — and Blackjack (also free, myNuMo iPhone Games).

- iGiki’s games, which include Hangman and Canyon Crawl — aren’t free, but then, they’re only a buck a pop and might be just what you need when you get tired of the freebies (99 cents per game pack for 99 days, iGiki Games).

- PopCap’s Bejeweled, (free, PopCap Bejeweled).

5. Beat a Shortcut to your Fave iPhone Apps: Handy iPhone apps, like Leaflets (free, Get Leaflets) and Applists (free, Get Applists) put most iPhone apps your fingertips, but if you want to build your own list, just collect the apps you tend to use the most into the same bookmarks folder in Safari on your computer. Then, the next time you sync your iPhone, using iTunes, be sure to check “Sync Safari Bookmarks” on the info tab, under Web browser.

6. Rehang the Wallpaper: If you’re up for a bit of iPhone hacking, you can take any image you find anywhere on the web and turn it into a custom wallpaper.

But there is a much easier way: Download a 320×480 pixel image for free from a variety of online sources, saving them all in the same folder on your Mac. In iTunes, with your iPhone docked, select your iPhone, click the Photos tab, select the radio button next to “Sync Photos From…,” then from the drop-down list, select “Choose Folder…”

Next, browse to the folder you just created, then click “Apply” in the lower-right hand corner. Finally, on your iPhone, go to Settings, Wallpaper, Photo Library to hang your new wallpaper!

7. Take Self-Portraits Because the iPhone camera shutter’s button is a “soft” (i.e., onscreen) button, it’s a bit tricky to take self-portraits with it since you have to turn the phone around so you can no longer see the button. Here’s the solution: with the camera feature selected, place your finger on the camera icon and turn the phone around so you’re facing the lens. Then, smile pretty and let go of the shutter button! You’ll hear the telltale “click” — and, you’ve just taken a self-portrait!

8. Reveal Secret Features: When Apple released the first firmware update for the iPhone on August 1, 2007, it did so with little fanfare, and attributed most of the updates to “security fixes.” The Wall Street Journal’s Walt Mossberg discovered a few new non-security-related features on his side phone after the update including:

- Greater capacity in the iPhone module’s Favorites list (used to be 20, is now 50).
- Ability to automatically blind carbon copy (BCC) yourself on all e-mails sent, where previously, your only option was to CC yourself, which alerted your recipients what you were up to…
- Compatibility with some car adapters and external speakers, originally created for the iPod. For more iPhone and tech tidbits, visit Walt’s blog.

9. Just Ditch the Camera Altogether: On the other hand, if you know you’ll never use the iPhone’s camera, you can just remove it altogether. (If you work for or with certain government agencies, you’re iPhone may actually be considered “contraband” on their property because they don’t want you taking secret photos of Bigfoot, Elvis, or (believe it or not) alien spaceships!

10. Get the Official Mod Tool: If you’ve already had to send your iPhone back to Apple for warranty repair or replacement, you may have already discovered something different about the replacement iPhone. First off, it comes in a much thinner box. Second, it comes complete with the “official iPhone SIM card removal tool”: a paperclip! Yup, Apple actually supplies a paperclip with all replacement iPhones, along with instructions for using it to open the SIM card slot and insert your card!

11. Buy Spare Parts: If you’re the type who simply can’t resist trying to take your iPhone apart, here’s where to go to find replacement parts when you go too far: iPhone Parts. Sources of mine told me that Apple charges $300 for a replacement screen, but you can get one from iFixIt for only $199.95.

12. Kill that Annoying GSM Buzz: If you hear a buzzing sound, while using an iPhone cassette adapter in your car stereo, such as Monsters iCarPlay — which claims to be iPhone-compatible (but doesn’t appear anywhere on Monster’s website) — Gizmodo offers a low-tech solution: aluminum foil… Yup, just take a little bit of Reynolds Wrap and wrap it around the cable closest to your iPhone. Doing so eliminates the need to switch to “Airplane mode,” which would be a viable solution if it didn’t send your incoming calls to voicemail!

13. Find Wi-Fi Hotspots in Your Neighborhood: JiWire makes it easy to find the nearest hotspot when your iPhone — so you can rescue yourself from the slow-moving hell that is AT&T’s EDGE data service. Surf on over to iphone.jiwire.com on your iPhone and fill in your location. If you’re a cheapskate (like me), check the box for “Search Free Hotspots Only.”

14. More Wi-Fi Performance Enhancements: Apple has a potentially useful collection of WiFi related iPhone tips in a regularly-updated knowledgebase article on its website. Suggestions include fixing problems like paid WiFi connections that drop off suddenly, weak WiFi signals, and WiFi connections that revert to EDGE due to issues with WEP passwords, or problems with Mac address filtering.

15. “Hack” Your iPhone!: Disclaimer: this tip isn’t for everybody. Some of these “hacks” (i.e., self-made modifications to the iPhone’s default behavior) are intended for people who have experience changing the way their computers behave by accessing the underlying code governing such behavior. You’ve been warned.

- For Macs: iFuntastic and Installer.app.
- For Windows: Installer.app or iBrickr.

Once you’ve installed one of the above helper apps, you can try an ever-expanding array of iPhone mods. With iFuntastic, for example, you can add your own custom ringtones, rearrange the Home screen, and change the AT&T logo. Installer.app goes even further, letting you install and play Nintendo games that feature tactile feedback! The good folks at Gizmodo.com make it easy for Mac users to take advantage of this newfound power over their iPhones with a handy tutorial (visit their site and search for install apps iPhone).

Windows users can also use a helper app called iBricker to modify their iPhone, install custom ringtones, and install third-party apps. But, if all you care about is adding custom ringtones, you might want to try Efiko’s iPhoneRingToneMaker ($10).

16. Just Don’t Be a Sucker!: While searching for the latest iPhone apps, you could run across some websites that’ll offer you instant access to hundreds of the latest apps — all for one-time membership fee of $49.95. These sites include, but are not limited to, www.iphonenova.com, www.iphonecyclone.com, and www.iphonedownloadpro.com. Problem here, is that these sites (IMHO) are scams.

I ponied up $50 for membership to iPhoneNova, for example, which claims to be the “World’s First iPhone Download Service.” Guess what it really is? It’s a BitTorrent-like site for downloading illegal content you can view on your iPhone or iPod.

But, your $50 membership only gets you a BitTorrent client called Tomato Torrent and links for you to download two more already-free apps that help you convert existing videos and ripped DVD content to be viewed on your iPod/ iPhone. You also get links to a mere five (5) web-based iPhone games and a huge, poorly-organized list of illegal movie downloads like “The Simpsons” and “Transformers.” Nuff said; as Napoleon Dynamite would say, “…What a Rip-off”!

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