World Wide

World Wide Soccer Manager 2009
$29.99
Overall, this game is awesome. It's quite detailed in terms of playability and decision-making, allowing you a hands on approach to almost every conceivable management decision including minimal day to day team adjustments, with realistic transfer scenarios (i.e. if you coach for Real Madrid you cannot sign Aguero no matter what you offer) and even manager interactions I am now great friends with Wenger and Benitez. Make sure to get the latest patch and it will run smoothly, with minimal to no issues (I use a mac). It also has a very detailed player database, you'd be hard pressed to want to sign a player that isn't in the game. However, if aesthetics are really important to you, this might not be your game. Compared to FIFA it severely lacks sponsorship (sorry Premier League fans), player photographs, stadium details and does not have some of the other eye catching visual details which FIFA has become so good at providing. That being said the game engine is good and in terms of playability and detailed decision-making this is as good as it gets. Be careful though you will become addicted.

The Whole Wide World
$14.94
I think Renee and Vincent are wonderful actors.
I love this movie and have watched it three times
since I bought it.

World Wide Rave: Creating Triggers that Get Millions of People to Spread Your Ideas and Share Your Stories
$22.95
This is the second of David Meerman Scott's books that I have read. The first was the New Rules of PR & Marketing, which I consider to be the Bible for Web 2.0 strategies. World Wide Rave is a quick read, partially because it is only 185 pages, but also because of David's writing style and the interesting content. World Wide Rave is full of real-world case studies of how companies are using social media to spread their ideas and influence potential buyers.

The book is appropriate for both newcomers to web 2.0 and for those with multiple years of experience. I am fairly experienced with social media, but I still gained significant insights from some of the best practices offered in World Wide Rave. For example, there are 18 different recommendations on how to create e-books (such as using landscape versus portrait orientation). And 10 different recommendations on how to produce viral YouTube videos (such as limiting the length to between 30 seconds and 2 minutes). There are also about 20 or so guiding principles for corporate marketing organizations to follow such as: 1) Nobody wants to hear about your products; 2) Think like a venture capitalist; 3) Create a Controversial Title for Content; 4) Make Content Free with No Strings Attached.

"World MegaMap Wall Map, Laminated & tubed (48"" x 77"")"
$36.00
I love this map! I got it to replace a National Geographic map (black background, brightly colored) and am very happy with the decision. This map uses the Van Der Grinten projection which works well on a large wall map like this. The map is too "bright" for some people -- there is a very similar Terra Nova map available which I believe has more subdued hues, that would be a better choice for someone looking for something more subtle. The oceans are nicely shaded with information regarding the ocean floor (I think).

Very handsome map, I recommend it.