Redding, CA. June, 2011. — In a world where your swamp cooler just isn’t enough… It was a hot and sultry afternoon. Our hero wilts on the couch, surrounded by melted popsicles, and a sea of rapidly deteriorating moods… Things are about to get dangerous. One family will embark on a journey that will change the course of Wednesday afternoon. “Let’s go to the movies!” exclaims Sally, and the adventure begins. How do they find a movie that will appeal to everyone, and not be too scary or risqué for the little ones? Will they make it in time to procure tickets? How do they find out what’s playing near them?!? Have no fear! Nerds on Call is here to help save your summer movie day.
• A great resource to see what’s playing this week, or to plan your date night in the future, is www.flixster.com. Watch trailers of current and future releases, see what users and critics think about it, or click the “Want to See It” button to create a list of movies you want to see. If you miss the window it’s in theaters, you can add it to your Netflix queue. Link up with your friends via Facebook to let them know what you want to see and plan a get together. Quickly link to where it’s playing in your area and get up to date movie times. There are apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android phones so you don’t have to miss out on that great new release, even when you’re on the go. If you create an account, you can track movies and actors so you never miss that Indie film your heart throb signed up for on the down-low.
• Before you pack the kiddos in the car to head out to the new Cars movie, check out http://www.kids-in-mind.com/. This site breaks down a movie from start to finish, telling parents exactly what to expect so you can decide if it’s truly appropriate for your little ones. Highlighting three categories, “Sex & Nudity”, “Violence & Gore”, and “Profanity”, selecting the movie will give you an incredibly detailed description of every part of the movie that may be of concern to a parent. For example, the “Profanity” portion of Kung Fu Panda 2 tells the reader, “1 mild obscenity, 3 mild scatological references, 10 religious exclamations, name-calling (fat, stupid, wuss, idiot, fool, soft, and cuddly-face warrior)…” and goes on from there! Never be blindsided in a dark theater with your six year old again.
• Ready to commit, but not relishing the idea of standing in line, or perhaps you’re worried you’ll miss out on a sold-out showing of summer’s big blockbuster? Purchase your tickets in advance through www.fandango.com. While there’s not much else to the site, it does give you the option to purchase gift certificates to lure your friends to join you. Frankly, there may be no other way to get Jim to accompany you to see that new Julia Roberts and Tom Hanks romance…
• Just not up for heading out in the heat? Find the perfect movie for any occasion at www.jinni.com, a movie and TV show recommendation site. You can search by event (date night, family outing, kids, etc), mood (feel good, witty, tense), plot (a few examples: Good vs. Evil, chases and races), and many, many more. You can choose multiple search parameters to find the perfect movie or TV show. Then click “watch it” to link through to Netflix to add it to your instant queue, or purchase it through Amazon to stream to your computer. Click on the “free online” link to search for classic and cancelled TV shows, or past seasons of new favorites, that you can stream for free.
Have questions about these resources connect FREE with a NERD on our LIVE Chat @ www.callnerds.com or visit our www.callnerds.com/blog .
About The Author: Andrea Eldridge is CEO and co-founder of Nerds On Call, a computer repair company that specializes in on-site and online service for homes and businesses. Andrea is the writer of a weekly column, Nerd Chick Adventures in The Record Searchlight. She prepares TV segments for and appears regularly on CBS, CW and FOX on shows such as Good Day Sacramento, More Good Day Portland, and CBS 13 News, offering viewers technology and lifestyle tips. See Andrea in action at callnerds.com/andrea/.
About Nerds On Call: Established in a spare room in Redding, Calif., in March 2004, Nerds On Call offers on-site computer and laptop repair services to consumers and businesses. Nerds On Call provides trouble-shooting for PCs and Macs, home and office networks, printers, iPods® and MP3 players, handheld devices and cell phones, home theaters and game systems, and virtually every other form of digital entertainment. In 2009, 2010, & 2011 the company was named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5000 fastest growing private companies. With 7 locations across California and Oregon, Nerds On Call serves more than 40,000 satisfied customers per year. For more information, visit callnerds.com or call 1-800-919-NERD.
