Hot or Not App Review and Giveaway

Hot or Not

Hot or Not is the mobile and facebook application for Badoo.com, a dating site. I have been using the android and website app for a minute. The app allows you to send messages to interested parties on your iPhone or on Facebook. Next, you can add and rank photos.


If you are interested in someone, you can rank them based on looks with a heart or X. You also can skip if you click on the next pic in the queue. You also can expand the profile (the little I in the circle) and rank based on interests.


The profile contains valuable information:


· Language(s) spoke


· If they have kids, want more kids, or not sure, if they want kids.


· Gender and age range of who they want to date


· Interests


· Relationship status


· Pictures


· Age


· Last time online


· Location


· Mutual Facebook Friends


· Sexual orientation


· Description of appearance


· Smokers and drinkers


· Education


· Work/Profession


· Living situation




For example, I give X’s to men, who want more kids or not sure if they want more kids. I also give X’s to men, who are in a relationship. On the other hand, I love me a bald-headed, chocolate man, whether white chocolate, dark chocolate, or brown chocolate.

Second, you can create and edit your profile, in addition to creating a search.

Matches

Hot or Not has a match feature built-in. If you like someone and they have liked you back, you get a match notification, saying “you found a connection”. At this point, you can keep ranking prospects or you can send your new connection a message.

Giveaway

Enter to win $1000 from Apptism. Winners will be announced on February 15, 2014.

Social Media Links:

Try Not or Not Mobile App Download (iTunes)
Hot or Not Facebook Fan Page

Facebook App

Android App

Easy Canvas Prints

I reviewed Easy Canvas Prints, in exchange for honest review. I received an 11 X 14 print. I chose a photo collage I created with CollageItPro. I chose this pic because it has plenty of pics of my kids, in action. I don't have too many pics of the kids and I together because it is either brad only, kalen only, brad and kalen, myself and kalen, myself and brad. I knew the pic would come out dark in some spots because of the webcam photos, but it still was a beautiful canvas.

About the company:
Facebook Page

The company offers canvas prints, with different sizes, wraps, and frames. You also can choose a custom size. You chose the photo for the canvas, whether a photo, digital art, or a landscape. If you have art on Instagram or Facebook, you can choose that too.  You also can choose borders and enhancements.





Some enhancements include:

1. Black and White or Sepia Pictures
2. Minor Retouch-ups (red eye, date stamping, minor imperfections)
3. Major Retouch-ups ( teeth whitening, wrinkle removal, scars, blemishes, object removal, photo restoration, filter effects, painting effects, color isolation, adding people, removing people, and background replacement. 

I chose my children. The canvas comes arrived in a plastic bag to protect the print. So this is the pic (and a video of the canvas), I chose:

Giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Vision of New Jerusalem: Now by Marty Angelo Book Review

I reviewed Vision of New Jerusalem: Now, in exchange from Marty Angelo. I saw a post on BookBlogs and responded to his request The book is also published by One Life Matters Ministries. The book consists of 32 chapters plus appendices and footnotes (400 plus pages). The book is .99 on Kindle and 9.95 on paperback.

About the Book:
An in-depth study of the relationship of the kingdom of God, the Church, and the New Jerusalem. By understanding and applying the principles found in this book one will learn how to:

1. Stay out of troublesome situations... Now!
2. Live a victorious overcoming life... Now!
3. Experience inner peace... Now!
4. Build an important bridge between preterism/fulfilled eschatology and futurism... Now!

My review:

The book starts out with Angelo becoming a Christian in 1981, but he did not start the book until 1983, when Marty was in jail for possession. In 1985, while working at a substance abuse center, Marty started developing a manuscript for another book: Once Life Matters: A New
Beginning. The book focuses on the endtimes and the second coming of Jesus Christ. Angelo shared and taught his vision with students/staff members at the center, but got fired because his vision was not aligned with the center's vision.

The first few chapters focused on Marty's background and his process for developing his books. He focused on his experiences in prison and his conversion to Christ. He also talked about his religious upbringing and background.

Page 34 goes into the four end-time teachings.
1. Futurist: Jesus will return to Earth. No one knows the date or time. The future will also involve catastrophe and judgment. There are four sub-categories under futurist:

• Pre-Millenial: The Church will be raptured at the second coming of the Lord. There will be tribulation and a 1000-year millennial period. 
• Mid-tribulation: the church will be raptured during the middle of the great tribulation and the 1000 year millennial period
• Post Millennial-the church is raptured in the future (not knowing the date or time), but after the tribulation, but before the millennial period
• Amillennialism- does not believe in a 1000 year millennial reign, but believes Jesus will come in the future.

2. Preterist : believes Revelation was written before AD 70. Revelation is an explanation of Jesus and Daniel's prophecies concerning Jerusalem's destruction and the return of Christ. 

3. Historicist: Started in the first century church continuing to the age of Prophecies.

4. Idealist: Also known as spiritualist or symbolic. The events of Revelation are neither past or future, but simply symbolic, dealing with good versus evil .

Chapter 3 dealt with Marty being confused with parts of revelation (which confused me too, when I read it years and years ago). Some things, he had trouble understanding was the Mark of the Beast (666) and the Whore (Harlot). Marty started doing more reading and research into end-time books to gain a greater understanding. He started developing a greater relationship with God. 

Chapter 7 starts getting into the real meat of the book (p. 68). Angelo backs up all his work with biblical references. Page after Page of verses of the bible, mixed in with text.For example:

Peter Needs Conversion (p. 104)

Of course Peter didn’t completely understand his role in the Kingdom of God until he was totally converted on the Day of Pentecost. He first needed to be converted… one of the first keys to God’s kingdom.

Luke 22:31-32 - And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

He discussed the resurrection, the coming of Christ, how Satan's reign will come to an end. He also talked about the power of the Holy Ghost and how a relationship with Christ is very important. No one wants to be left behind. I definitely do not want to be left behind. Marty also discusses how the kingdom of Jerusalem will be re-established. Next, Marty discussed the day of judgment. This is a great theological book, with a simple, easy-to-read format. 

About the author:

Marty Angelo is an author and minister. He founded One Life Matters Ministries, which as a prison, substance abuse, and celebrity outreach.

Facebook Fan Page

Twitter: 

Blog:

The Writer's Platform

I read the Writers Platform by Austin Briggs. I won the book through a Librarything giveaway. I chose the book because I am a writer (short stories and poetry) and have low sales. I do not have a marketing plan to increase sales. I have no idea how to increase sales. I was glad when I got notified, I won a copy of the book.

The book discussed building a good writer's platform within 30 days, using social media only. I don't have to buy multiple copies of my print books. I don't have to start doing public speaking (not feeling that). I am not buying a review (those should be free). The process is not easy--it will require work. The book does not discuss illegal or shady ways to increase sales--loved reading that page of the book. I have seen so many websites, got plenty of emails, and seen books--where you attempt to earn a quick buck by spending hundreds and hundreds of your own money. I am a broke writer. I write for fun, but there is nothing like a sale. I already feel like the odds are against me because I am not a novelist. Takes more work to sell poetry and short stories, than a novelist. I have a blog, facebook fan page, pinterest, twitter, and google plus. I am in writing groups, writer's books, and promotion-based groups on facebook, library thing, and book blogs.

I been skimming through the book for about two weeks--to see if the information is worth taking an in-depth look at--and it is. The author focuses on techniques to improve your brand, pricing, and blogging. The books need to be the right price. The authors also need to watch what they say online, which can affect sales. If you are negative, then people may not buy your book. Briggs also discusses developing a website and a blog. All of this does not start without defining goals first. What do you expect from writing this book? What kind of income do you want? How many people do you need to buy your book, based on income?

There is also a great chapter on social media. Facebook and twitter are a must for writers. There is also Google Plus, Linkedin, Pinterest. Every follower is a potential buyer or promoter of your brand. We, as writers, need to update posts on a regular basis. We also need to develop goals for social media as well. Another note: Do not just post "buy my book" only because it gets boring and redundant. Post humor, opinions, and other content as well. You also can use facebook ads to attract new followers to your pages. Social media also allows networking with publishers, editors, and other writers.

Finally, the book discusses finding a good editor; formatting the book; choosing the right format for the book; guest posting; blog tours (which I have done for other authors); cross promotions; author associations; book bonuses; and review exchanges (i review your book and you review my book). The book also has a 90 day calendar to increase the book's and the author's brand. Each day is laid out with tips and techniques.

The book was simple to read, not too complicated. Not a lot of big words, you need a dictionary for.  I liked it. definitely will work on developing goals and start using the book to improve my brand.

The Facebook Diet

I read the Facebook Diet, in exchange for review from Netgalley.com. The book was wrote by Gemini Adams. The book shows cute pictures about Facebook Addicts. The book is hilarious and funny. The book also gives helpful hints on finding other things to do besides Facebook, like fall in love or Google Plus (yay Google). Or use a thesaurus and look up synonyms for "like" This book was a quick read and brightened up the last 30 or so minutes of my life.