After the design is set, the coding will begin, along with all the new added features. Trend Spike will become a Men’s Online Magazine….blog inspired. I am hiring a few writers to write content for Trend Spike as regular contributors (2-4 times per month). If you feel like you’re a good candidate, go ahead and shoot me an email via the contact page. I myself will only be able to write about 3 articles a week, since I do work full-time and go to school. I want Trend Spike to be producing 5-7 articles a week…not to mention continuous updates to the new features which I’ll be taking care of. Therefore, it would best if this blog had a team of 5 or so writers.

For all of you bloggers out there, have you entered “WTW’s Craziest Internet Marketing Contest You’ve Ever Seen?” It comes to an end tonight, and I’m hoping I can come out with a few prizes. I wouldn’t mind winning the OIOpublisher and the free CSS coding, for obvious reasons…and who could argue with winning a cash prize? Lol. I’m normally not a big fan of contests myself, but this one was just too big, and it had too many prizes that could really boost the effectiveness of my relaunch effort.

So anyway, there you have it. Keep checking back, because you won’t want to miss the relaunch, trust me! Or just subscribe and you’ll get the relaunch post right in your email.

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Quick Update on Trend Spike

This will be the third theme that you’ve seen on Trend Spike since it was launched about a month ago, but this new one is pretty much where I’ve been wanting to head for some time now. When I originally started this site, I had some great ideas, but I felt that it would be best to hold off on them until I got my feet wet in the world of blogging. Therefore, the Premium News Themes seemed like the best bet, and at that point in time, they were.

However, I have some pretty big announcements and features coming soon, and the current theme/layout just won’t work. I think it’s also about time that I’ve had my own custom theme made. The new design is being worked on now, and will be coded some time next week. I hope to launch the new look in about 2-3 weeks, but we’ll see how everything goes. There’s always something that pushes you back.

Thanks to everyone who has been a regular reader and/or subscriber. The site had 1,000 uniques in January, 4,000 in February, and on track for 8,000+ in March. I’m planning to do major advertising in April, and I’d like to see 50,000 or more uniques each month by summer. Therefore, I felt that the new layout was needed now, to give the site room to grow.By the way, for those of you who have asked for more articles on the other subjects that Trend Spike covers, such as video games, cars, etc; those are definitely topics that I intend to cover. After the new theme is ready, you’ll see plenty of features, and new articles 5-7 times a week. Also coming soon, I’ll be holding some contests giving away some huge prizes. More info on that soon!

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Trend Spike Is Movin’ On Up

What do you guys think? Not only about this clock, but the discussion in general. Is the destruction of Earth and mankind inevitable, or will we always find a solution? How aware are you when placing your footprint? Anyways, I enjoy finding things like this that keep me amused for a few minutes. Let me know if you have something fun you want to share.

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World Gone Wild

Well it was time to take the test. As I enter my name in the search box, I’m thinking to myself, oh great, another name that gets stored into their database, and eventually gets spit out on the front page, for some woman to tell the world that I cheated on her. Well the results for now are negative. Dateline won’t be showing up at my door, questioning my love life.

But wait, what’s this? A recent poll on the site, shows that 58% of the women audience would cheat on their partner. So, aside from women who come to this site for true, emotional support, the majority of these women are coming, not only to humiliate some guy who supposedly cheated on them, but to also verify that they themselves would cheat? Oh boy, hypocritical much?

Either way the site is amusing, for a minute or two anyway. I decided to see which guy made it to the top of the list, hehe. Hope he has some sort of public protection from the angry mob that might catch him in an alley some day. Turns out my suspicion was right. The guy at the top of the list, who has over 56,000 views, is being harassed by a woman who appears to have too many personal issues. This guy’s picture and full name is pasted on his profile for the world to see. According to the women commenting, this woman has been creating a new profile and getting this man on the front page of the website since September. Wow! I need to hire her to get me on the front page of Digg for 6 months.

Don’t bother reading the first 20 comments in the profile. It’s mainly the same woman spamming the board with the same exact message, all in caps of course. Skimming some of the comments, she apparently has even gone so far as to call him a child predator, and give out personal information, such as the name’s of his friends, co-workers, and wife. Honestly, I feel bad for the women who have given this lady emotional support, and then come to find out, most of the information they were fed, turned out to be all lies. I hope the people running this website can afford a good lawyer. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be taking responsibility when some of these men fight back.

Well, there’s my dose of Jerry Springer for the day. It’s sad, but entertaining. You can’t help but laugh at the intention of the website. Are you in the database?

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Are You Sleeping With Lorena Bobbitt?

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World’s Fastest Firefighter

Change that. There’s no reason why some rules can’t be broken. In fact, you don’t have to break rules, because when it comes to your diet, you make them. If you tell yourself that you’re not going to touch pizza, cake, chocolate, or anything else for a year, what do you think the chances are of that happening? Sure, it may be a good goal, but in reality, you’re setting yourself up for a disappointment. You’re going to have bad days, birthday parties, holidays, and everything else that will eventually force you to give into temptation.

Start by giving yourself room for error. Call this your “free day.” You can do this a number of different ways, but the main focus should be eating healthy on a regular basis, with an occasional splurge. I do it by eating healthy 6 days a week. I give myself one day (Sunday) to eat anything/everything I feel like shoving down my throat. This isn’t a license to purposely force feed yourself. Don’t eat that extra snack before bed on a full stomach, only because you know it’s your last chance to do it until next week. Instead, it’s a license to eat what you’ve been craving lately, and what you’re hungry for.

On Sunday, instead of eating oatmeal and a banana, I’ll pull out the Fruity Pebbles. Instead of a tuna fish sandwich on wheat for lunch, I’ll buy a meatball sub from Quiznos. For dinner, I might order pizza. I may even snack on some Oreos. Some may say that this is extreme splurging. Yet, I can maintain that diet for years if I choose to. There’s no comparison between eating healthy 6 days a week for a lifetime, and not eating healthy at all because you continue to ride the yo-yo. Instead of feeling guilty while eating the pizza, I enjoy it. Instead of losing my motivation to work out, my hunger (for the perfect body) grows stronger. I didn’t break the rules, I control them.

You can make rules that benefit you and your lifestyle. Maybe you’d rather give yourself a total of four days each month, instead of having a specific day to eat whatever you want. That way if you’re feeling down for a few days, you can take a break, come back and hit the ground running. When you give yourself these free days, you allow yourself to focus on eating healthy, instead of thinking about all the things you can’t have.

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Who Says You Can’t Splurge?

1. Walk - You actually thought I was going to start this off with a good tip? Who in the world wants to walk? Well that’s exactly the attitude we all (including myself) need to lose. Try getting some exercise; walk or ride a bike to run errands that are only a few blocks away.

2. Compare Prices - Using GasBuddy, you can compare prices from over 100,000 stations. You can even use them to receive the latest prices via text message.

3. Use Your Credit Card - Many credit card companies, offer cards that provide cash rebates for gas purchases.

4. Don’t Use Your Credit Card - Yes, I know I’m contradicting myself. Some gas stations are starting to charge extra for using credit cards, to cover merchant fees.

5. Thank A Grocery Store Clerk - Fill out the form and sign up for their loyalty program. Some grocery stores offer gas savings for being a member.

6. Use the Right Octane - Using a higher octane gas than recommended in the owner’s manual, offers no benefit. Again, no benefit.

7. Clean Out Your Car - According to the Federal Trade Commission, “an extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to 2%.” Be sure to take out the bowling ball in your back seat. A clean car, and a thicker wallet. Who can argue with that one?

8. Public Transportation - Bus, train, or subway.

9. Carpool - Not only do you save gas money, but you may also qualify to drive in the HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane. Wave goodbye to the suckers stuck in traffic!

10. Combine Errands - Instead of going to the grocery store, going back home, and then picking up your friend later on in the day, only to drive by the grocery store again on the way back; why not tell your buddy he’s going to work for his ride…by helping you carry groceries.

11. Check Your Tires - Make sure they are propery aligned and inflated.

12. Don’t Idle - Many seem to believe that turning off your car and restarting it uses more gas. Unless you’re driving a 1967 Oldsmobile, that’s not the case. Modern fuel injection proves this to be a myth. Of course, starters will eventually need to be replaced as well. So don’t turn the key at every red light you stop at. However, if you plan on being idle for 5 minutes, shut your engine off.

13. Checkups - Get regular tune-ups according to the manual.

14. Change Oil - Unless you drive in “ideal” conditions (most of us don’t), have the oil changed every 3,000 miles or every 3 months (whichever comes first). If you are driving in ideal conditions (you’re only kidding yourself), then you may be able to go longer between oil changes, but why risk it? Save money on gas, and more importantly, keep your car alive longer.

15. Don’t Over-Do-It - Don’t top off your tank, or it may overflow.

16. Don’t Drip - When taking the pump out of the tank, shake it a little, so that you don’t lose gas from dripping.

17. Double Check - Make sure the cap is on tight to prevent gas from evaporating

18. Remove Snow Tires - If it’s 100 degrees outside on a hot summer day, why are you using big tires with deep tread?

19. Roll Up Your Windows - Decrease air resistance, which in turn, will increase the amount of miles per gallon of gasoline that your car gets.

20. Light On The Air - Use air conditioner sparingly. Obviously there are times when combining #16 and #17 just isn’t practical. But hey, who ever said saving gas was easy. Now get back in that hot car and sweat your ass off.

21. Replace Air Filters - Don’t let clogged filters spend your money.

22. Don’t Speed - It will cost you at the pump, and earn you a visit with the city judge (trust me, if anyone knows about speeding tickets, I do). Once you start going over 60 mph, your gas mileage decreases rapidly.

23. Use Overdrive Gears - Engine speed, and engine wear is reduced.

24. Cruise Control - If you’re on the highway and there’s not much traffic, using cruise control can help to maintain a constant speed.

25. Remove Racks - Again, more weight on your car will decrease your gas mileage. If you’re headed to work, there’s probably no reason to have a bike rack on your car, from last weekend’s camping trip.

26. Acceleration - Seeing how fast you can get from 0 to 60 will cost you.

27. Braking - Don’t put yourself in a position that you’ll need to brake aggressively. Braking means slowing down, which in turn means having to accelerate again.

28. Fuel Treatments - Using a treatment can sometimes help to clean and protect your engine. However, they aren’t always necessary, and can sometimes even be harmful. Read your owner’s manual, and talk to a mechanic that you trust.

29. Car Shopping - We would all love to have a new Corvette ZR1, but the fact is, they get terrible gas mileage. A Honda Civic will get you a lot further on a tank of gas. You may also want to check out some of the new hybrids available. Even many SUVs are becoming available in a hybrid version.

30. Avoid Excessive Warming - On a cold winter morning, letting your engine warm for a minute is plenty.

31. Go Manual - Manual transmissions get better fuel economy.

32. Park In The Shade - To prevent gas evaporation and reduce the amount of air conditioner needed once you get back to your car.

33. Use The Landscape - If you’re coming up on a hill, ease up on the gas pedal, so that once you reach the downhill point, you can let your car glide down, without using gas to accelerate.

34. The Grade - Make sure you’re using the correct grade of motor oil for your car. This will ensure that there isn’t any unnecessary engine friction.

35. Feed Your Car The Good Stuff - You could even take it a step further, and start using synthetic motor oil, keeping friction to a minimum. However, the higher cost of synthetic oil will offset the savings on gas. Then again, synthetic oil will also keep your engine in better shape.

36. Late Night/Early Morning - Fill up during the coolest hours of the day, when the density of gasoline is maximized. When charging you, stations measure the volume of gasoline, not density.

37. Remove All Ice - Instead of just freeing your windshield after a cold winter night, clear the ice from your entire car. Ice can add a good deal of weight and wind resistance, which again, will decrease your gas mileage.

38. Change Locations - If you’re driving 20 miles to go work out at a gym, or to shop at your favorite grocery store, you may want to consider going somewhere closer. Driving distances should also be a factor, when purchasing a home, or finding a new job. Nobody wants to drive an hour to and from work everyday, and that’s a surefire way to spend more money on gas. On the other hand, if it means you’re living in your dream home, or you’re getting paid double your previous salary, then you might have something to think about

39. Test Different Routes - Make sure you’re using the best route to get to work, school, or any other activity that requires driving on a regular basis. Are you taking the long way, or maybe taking the road that is always backed up with traffic? See if there are any other options.

40. Avoid Gadgets - Rarely do the “gas-saving” gadgets ever work. You’re wasting your money trying to save money. Turn off that next infomercial that claims to increase your gas mileage by 20%. Research the product first if you really want to give it a shot.

41. Wait For The Quarter Mark - Don’t fill up your tank if it’s already half full. Remember, weight can cause your gas mileage to decrease. In other words, you’d be getting more mpg with a quarter tank of gas than you would with a full tank.

42. Leave Early, Stay Late - Sometimes, it may be beneficial to avoid rush hour. The stop and go driving in heavy traffic will significantly reduce your gas mileage, and also cause more wear and tear on your car.

I don’t live my life according to this tip sheet, and I’m not really suggesting that you do either. Driving on a hot summer day in Texas with your air conditioner turned off may not be practical, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take at least a few things from this list to save yourself gas money. If you take just one thing from this article, it’s “be smart.” If you’re driving a Hummer on 22’s like a bat out of hell, well then, don’t ask “why” when gas hits $5 a gallon. How many people do you see complaining about gas prices, and not taking ANY of these steps to do anything about it?

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42 Gas Saving Tips

First off, make sure you have the necessary tools. Most men just slap on shaving cream with their hands. That works, but once you use a shaving brush, you’ll never go back. Many swear by badger hair as being the best brush a man can get. The Vulfix Pure Badger Shaving Brush is a high quality brush at a relatively low price. The brush will produce a rich lather far superior to just using your hands. Now, you’ll need a shaving cream that complements the brush. Gillette Fusion Hydra Gel is a good shaving cream, although probably not the best. MSNBC had a story about the perfect shave a few years back. The contributor, Corey Greenberg recommended Trumper’s Violet Soft Shaving Cream along with Trumper’s Limes Skin Food after-shave. I haven’t tried these creams yet myself, but I assure you, I will. I planned on asking for these as gifts for Christmas. Wouldn’t you guess, the first time a man knows what he wants for Christmas, is the moment everyone decides that it will be the first year they don’t ask you what you want!

Most importantly, find a good razor that fits your needs. If you’re still using a Gillette Sensor, it’s really time to move on. I recommend the Gillette Fusion Power if you’re going to be using a multi-blade razor. It will make a world of difference. For a similar shave at a lower cost, try the Gillette Mach 3. However, if you’re interested in experimenting, and finding a long lost secret of man (so they say), try the Merkur Futur Adjustable Double Edge Safety Razor. Then let me know how it went . Shaving gurus insist that if you take the time to learn how to shave with this razor, you’ll have the smoothest, cleanest, least-irritating shave that you’ve ever experienced. There’s a reason for the learning curve. If you’re use to the multi-blade razors of today, you’re probably use to quick strokes that glide with the curves of your face. The ease-of-use of these razors has led men to push the blade against the skin, hoping for the closest shave. DE razors on the other hand, require technique. You’ll need to learn how to gently swivel the blade across your face, and break the habit of pushing the blade against your skin. This should come naturally after a dozen or so shaves with the razor. DE safety razors are especially good for men that can’t seem to get rid of shaving bumps. Although the Merkur razor is more expensive than a Gillette Fusion, the blades are actually cheaper. Since a Merkur is one that will last a life-time, eventually it pays for itself. After you’ve found what products work best for you, there’s still the actual technique of shaving:

Shower & Cleanse: Cleaning your hands and face will help to prevent infections. Steam from a hot shower will open your pores, causing whiskers to rise. Try shaving while in the shower. If you shave after your shower, be sure to keep your face wet at all times.

Apply a Quality Cream With a Quality Brush: Aim for a nice even lather. Using a brush will provide a whole new experience in the world of shaving. Shaving cream is just as important. Don’t use too much though. An excessive amount of foam will actually cause more irritation. The blade glides easier on a thin layer of cream. A good brush and cream will help to control the lather.

Shave Smart:

1. Minimize strokes; try not to shave repeatedly with short strokes in the same area.

2. Shave with the grain; even though shaving against the grain can sometimes give you a closer shave, it can also cause razor burn, and ingrown hairs. If you choose to shave against the grain, shave a second time, after you’ve removed most of the hair going with the grain. In certain areas on your face, especially the curves, you may need to pull, and tighten the skin carefully, to get a closer shave.

3. Rinse the razor after each stroke to prevent clogging.

4. If you missed a spot, re-apply cream before going back over it with the razor.

Rinse: Use cold water to close pores and soothe the skin.

Dry Face: Pat (don’t rub) your face dry with a soft towel.

Apply After-Shave: Use a toner without alcohol and/or a moisturizer.

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Put the Barber Out of Work

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Sasquatch Shaving Cream Prank

http://www.winningtheweb.com/trend-spike-review.php

and here:

http://www.fatmanunleashed.com/trend-spike-review/

I’ve been listening to feedback very carefully, and trust me, the site is hardly completed. I have many ideas that I’d like to make happen in the future. Think of Trend Spike as not only a blog, but an online magazine. With that said, what would you, the readers like to see added to the site? Throw some ideas at me, and while you’re at it, let me know what you think about these features that I plan to add in the coming weeks:

Trend Spike Models - Women send in bikini pictures of themselves, and I’ll choose one to become the “Trend Spike Goddess” of the month. They will receive a free Trend Spike t-shirt and $50 cash. Their photos will then be posted on the blog, with one picture of them in their new t-shirt.

Advice - Readers send in their questions, and I’ll post them once a month on the blog, giving my opinions/answers. Questions can range from what to do in relationships, which exercises to do, which cell phone to buy, or just general questions about this web site. Of course, readers can choose to remain anonymous.

Regular readings - A blog post once every other week on a certain day. For example, “Tuesday Tavern” where I’ll post a mixed drink, how it’s made, and any history behind it that I can dig up. “Friday Food Fight” where I’ll post a healthy, but delicious recipe.

Tell me what you think. Love it? Hate it? Want to add to it? You’re the reader. You decide.

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Show me the features!