Below are the 5 most recent journal entries recorded in brillig422's InsaneJournal:

Saturday, November 12th, 2011
12:03 am	Money Maker...The Others Blu Ray $1.75 at Target B&M w/ Coupon Currently $4.25 Trade-In Value at Target B&M has The Others Blu Ray $4.75, Coupons.com has $3.00 off coupon bringing total to $1.75. Current Amazon Trade-In value is $4.25. Small profit to be made, but it's still free money. $3.00 off coupon (use zip 68144) www.coupons.com Amazon Trade-In http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/r...&sr=8-3-ti free baby samples mail nullThe true story of a brilliant counterfeiter who "made" millions, outwitted the Secret Service, and was finally undone when he went in search of the one thing his forged money couldn't buy him: family. Art Williams spent his boyhood in a comfortable middle-class existence in 1970s Chicago, but his idyll was shattered when, in short order, his father abandoned the family, his bipolar mother lost her wits, and Williams found himself living in one of Chicago's worst housing projects. He took to crime almost immediately, starting with petty theft before graduating to robbing drug dealers. Eventually a man nicknamed "DaVinci" taught him the centuries-old art of counterfeiting. After a stint in jail, Williams emerged to discover that the Treasury Department had issued the most secure hundred-dollar bill ever created: the 1996 New Note. Williams spent months trying to defeat various security features before arriving at a bill so perfect that even law enforcement had difficulty distinguishing it from the real thing. Williams went on to print millions in counterfeit bills, selling them to criminal organizations and using them to fund cross-country spending sprees. Still unsatisfied, he went off in search of his long-lost father, setting in motion a chain of betrayals that would be his undoing. In The Art of Making Money, journalist Jason Kersten details how Williams painstakingly defeated the anti-forging features of the New Note, how Williams and his partner-in-crime wife converted fake bills into legitimate tender at shopping malls all over America, and how they stayed one step ahead of the Secret Service until trusting the wrong person brought them all down. A compulsively readable story of how having it all is never enough, The Art of Making Money is a stirring portrait of the rise and inevitable fall of a modern-day criminal mastermind. An Interview with Jason Kersten, author of THE ART OF MAKING MONEY Q: What compelled you to write The Art of Making Money A: Curiosity about the crime of counterfeiting initially drew me in. Master counterfeiters- criminals who produce superior quality notes and sell them-are extremely rare. Unlike other kinds of career criminals, they are also craftsmen, and they typically learn from another master through apprenticeship. When Art Williams learned to counterfeit from a master at just 16, he was the last link in a chain of counterfeiters that went back generations. I found this so fascinating, this idea of legacy. I wanted to know how Art learned the art of counterfeiting, the dynamics of that student- teacher relationship and how it changed him. Then of course there was his pursuit of a counterfeit of the 1996 New Note, the most secure US bill ever created. It was a quest, and quests always make for great stories. While it was the world of counterfeiting that originally attracted me to Art's story, what ultimately made a book-length project worthwhile wasn't the crime, but the man. Art's quest to reconnect with his father was far more compelling than his criminal escapades, and it is the conflict that arises between these two goals that gives his story so much dramatic weight. Q: How did you find Art Williams and his story A: Art Williams actually found me. Back in 2004, the Hollywood producer Paul Pompian spent a week in Chicago scouting locations for one of his films. Paul didn't have a car, so one of his friends loaned him a car and driver. That driver turned out to be Art Williams. As the week went by, Art kept hinting to Paul that if he really wanted to make an interesting movie, he should listen to his story. Of course, being a veteran Hollywood man, Paul hears such claims on a daily basis, so he pretty much blew Art off the entire week. On his last day in Chicago, Paul had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport. By then he had taken a liking to Art. They were both native Chicagoans, both from the streets, and in a few of the details Art revealed about his past Paul saw shades of his own memories growing up in the city. Paul offered to buy Art lunch and, grudgingly, finally listen to his story. Upon hearing that Art had learned to counterfeit at 16, Paul was shocked, and of course there was much more to the story. He thought that Art's life might indeed not only make a good film, but an interesting book. Eventually he contacted my literary agent in the hopes of finding someone to write it. I really didn't know what to think when my agent told me about Art. I was fascinated, but there was no way I could commit to anything without meeting Art myself. After spending an hour with him on the phone and doing a little research, I though it would at least make an interesting magazine article. The resulting article ran in Rolling Stone in July of 2005, and by then I had learned enough about Art's story to want to write the book. Q: How much money did Art Williams counterfeit A: By Art's own estimate, he counterfeited about ten million dollars worth of US currency over a ten-year period. While that is quite a sum for a lone counterfeiter, the dynamics of the crime make getting rich from it a bit more complicated. Since he sold much of it for 30- cents on the dollar, he only got about third or less of the face value. Overhead, his splurging lifestyle, and the countless bills he burned because he wasn't quite satisfied, reduced his net profit even further. Q: Have you ever seen one of Art Williams's counterfeit bills A: I have, though interestingly this didn't happen until the book was almost finished. The bill, a C- note, was stuffed inside a journal sent to me by someone close to Art. This individual had tucked it in there as a memento years earlier and completely forgotten about it. Seeing it was a strange sensation. If I hadn't spent so much time learning about both real and counterfeit currency, I wouldn't have been able to distinguish it from a genuine bill. Holding it in my hand, I realized how easy it would be to just go spend it. Art always told me that spending his bills never felt like a crime to him, and I could see why: it was too easy to believe the bill was real. Q: While writing this book, did you have fantasies about becoming a counterfeiter yourself A: There came a point when I realized that few people-perhaps nobody other than Art and Natalie-knew as much as I did about how Williams made his bills. At the same time, I also had intimate knowledge of the personal tragedies and sufferings that his life as a counterfeiter had caused him. That kind of knowledge tends to strip away the glamour of the crime. Even so, there have certainly been times when I've daydreamed about making my own bills. Those fantasies are very short-lived. The likelihood that I would wind up in prison aside, counterfeiting at Art's level requires tremendous skill and patience, and it helps if you enjoy the work, which comes down to printing. Art always said he did it more for the challenge than the money, and I believe him. Sadly, if Art applied the same discipline to his counterfeiting to a legitimate endeavor, he would not only be successful, but free. Current Mood: frustrated (Comment on this)
Friday, November 11th, 2011
12:03 am	Corsair 16 GB Vengeance Low Profile 1600mhz Memory - $89, free shipping, no tax! Corsair 16 GB Vengeance Low Profile 1600mhz Memory - $89, free shipping, no tax! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/...00_details outback steakhouse birthday coupon Overclocking Memory from Corsair - the Leader in Performance Memory SolutionsCORSAIR high performance Vengeance memory module 16GB (4x4GB) 1600MHz 9-9-9-24, 1.5V for motherboards using AMD, Intel dual channel platforms. These Vengeance modules are designed for high-performance systems with extra-large CPU coolers, small form factor system builds, or other space-constrained applications that prevent the use of standard Vengeance memory. Each module is built using carefully selected DRAM to allow excellent overclocking performance, and has a limited lifetime warranty. Current Mood: silly (Comment on this)
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
11:54 pm	ASUS ET2011ET-B029E 20" All-in-One PC Pentium E5800(3.20GHz), 4GB DDR3, 500GB $499.99 free shipping ASUS ET2011ET-B029E 20" All-in-One PC Pentium E5800(3.20GHz), 4GB DDR3, 500GB $499.99 f/s http://www.ebay.com/itm/ASUS-ET20...0.m2000037 popeyes coupons Current Mood: uncomfortable (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
11:36 pm	7 Piece Gemstone and Crystal Stretch Bracelet Set, Black and White, 7.5" - $18.11 7 Piece Gemstone and Crystal Stretch Bracelet Set, Black and White, 7.5" Product Description Amazon.com Product Description Get that chic layered look with a hint of sophistication with the Seven Piece Gemstone and Crystal Stretch Bracelet Set. This set of seven bracelets features individual strands of gemstone chips and 6-millimeter freshwater pearls strung on elastic cord. The beads have a pretty luster and a classy mix of black and white tones. Measuring 7.5 inches around, the bracelets are stretchy enough to slide over your wrist without a bulky clasp to close. Layer these bracelets any way you like for a trendy look or wear them one at a time to change up your style from day to day. About Freshwater Cultured Pearls These pearls are gathered from freshwater lake and river mollusks. Most Freshwater pearls come from China and they can be mostly round to off-round, or rice-shaped to baroque. They look similar to Akoya pearls, but are the perfect gift when on a budget. They might be slightly less symmetrical, smaller, or not as easily matched, but these minor differences provide a major value for the price. Cultivation Pearls are produced naturally in the body of salt and freshwater mollusks, such as oysters and mussels. When these animals sense an irritant, such as a grain of sand, they produce a soft coating of calcium carbonate substance around it. The result is a pearl. Because perfectly round, naturally produced pearls are so rare, a process known as cultivation was developed by Kokichi Mikimoto in the early 1900s. A small bead of polished shell, the nucleus, is used as an irritant and delicately inserted into the mantle of a mollusk. It takes approximately 20-24 months of intensive husbandry to cultivate a saltwater pearl and somewhat less time to cultivate freshwater pearls. The harvest usually takes place during the months of June and September. Color Mollusks produce pearls in a variety of colors, accommodating most personal preferences and budgets. The general color of a pearl is also known as the body color. Pearls typically range from white, cream, and yellow to pink, silver, or black. An overtone of secondary color is sometimes seen. For instance, a pearl may appear to be white, but upon closer inspection a rosy hue is detected. The body color would then be termed white-ros. Color variation does not affect the quality of the pearl, though it should be noted that color matching is important when choosing pearls for some necklaces, earrings, or bracelets. In fashion jewelry, pearls can sometimes be dyed to achieve the desired color, which should be mentioned in the product description or specifications. Lustre The appealing, deep shine of a pearl is often what defines its beauty. This shine is produced by multiple layers of semi-opaque calcium carbonate crystals, called nacre. The nacre reflects light on the surface of the pearl, producing brilliance and sheen. Lustre is an integral feature in determining the quality of a pearl. Large pearls have a thicker nacre and, therefore, a higher lustre. When comparing a small Freshwater pearl to a large South Sea pearl, the difference is clearly visible to the untrained eye and should be considered when purchasing pearls. Shape While pearls come in many different shapes, the rare st and highest-quality are round. Akoya, Tahitian, and South Sea oysters tend to produce the roundest pearls, while those of Freshwater mollusks can be oval to slightly off-round. When considering a pearl purchase, whether it be a necklace, bracelet, or earrings, look for consistency in the shapes of the pearls. Many of the less symmetrical shapes are used in stylish jewelry which can be quite beautiful: the drop pearls shape lends well to earrings, and the baroque pearl features irregular shapes that work well as necklace accents. In addition, a half sphere pearl called a mabe is often used in earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Size An oysters particular type and size has a direct effect on how large the pearl it produces will be, and pearls do come in a wide range of sizes. Round pearls are measured according to their diameter, while baroque pearls are measured by their length and width. A pearls size does not necessarily affect its quality, but it does affect its price. Large, round pearls are rare and their lustre is usually high--this beautiful combination of traits is often reflected in the cost of such pearls. Average pearl sizes (in diameter): Akoya: 6-8mm Freshwater: 5-6.5mm South sea: 11-13mm Tahitian: 11-12mm Surface Markings Often when an oyster creates a pearl, the nacre do es not develop smoothly. The surface of a pearl is judged by how many marks are visible in the nacre. These imperfections can be small and unnoticeable or quite large and distinct. Like diamonds, pearls are rarely flawless. However, high lustre or the way pearls are strung and set can help conceal surface markings. Care Proper care of pearls is not difficult if you remember that they are organic and produced by a living thing. Pearls are soft and delicate, but when cared for with common sense, they will maintain their lustre for centuries. The pearls should not come in contact with cosmetics, hairspray, perfume, chlorinated water, or other harsh chemicals. To keep them clean, let them be the last item put on when dressing, and the first item taken off at the end of an evening. The best way to maintain their lustre is to wear the pearls often, and wipe them down with a soft cloth afterward--pearls absorb the oils from skin, which helps keep them moist. Pearls should be stored in a cloth pouch or jewelry bag, separated from other jewelry to prevent nicks or chipping. Periodically, pearl strands should be restrung since the silk thread used to tie the pearls together breaks down over time. //<![CDATA[ amznJQ.declareAvailable('gbPriceBlockFields'); //]]> List Price: $29.00 Price: $18.11 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details Deal Price: $10.89 (38%) Special Offers Available o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o online applebees coupons The natural properties and process of pearl formation define the unique beauty of each pearl. The image may show slight differences in texture, color, size and shape.Get that chic layered look with a hint of sophistication with the Seven Piece Gemstone and Crystal Stretch Bracelet Set. This set of seven bracelets features individual strands of gemstone chips and 6-millimeter freshwater pearls strung on elastic cord. The beads have a pretty luster and a classy mix of black and white tones. Measuring 7.5 inches around, the bracelets are stretchy enough to slide over your wrist without a bulky clasp to close. Layer these bracelets any way you like for a trendy look or wear them one at a time to change up your style from day to day. Current Mood: aggravated (Comment on this)
Monday, November 7th, 2011
11:33 pm	Hitachi DV18DVC 18 Volt Ni-Cad Hammer Drill $99.99 (Free In-Store Pickup or $8.85 shipping) via B Hitachi DV18DVC 18 Volt Ni-Cad Hammer Drill $99.99 + (Free In-Store Pickup or $8.85 shipping) via BestBuy Outlet http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Hitac...8332541497 Amazon at amazon.com dell coupons discounts Max torque 380 in/lbs.Includes 18V Cordless Ni-Cd 1/2-in Hammer Drill Kit - DV18DVC, (2) 18V 1.4 Ah Ni-Cd Batteries - 324365, Charger - UC18YGL2, Carrying Case - 323230, 2-Sided #2 Phillips Bit - 983006 Current Mood: happy (Comment on this)