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Summer Movies
Best Buy Exclusive 07/14/2010
Don't go into the water
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Nothing is lovelier than a day at the ocean. That is, unless you are attacked by a great white or swarmed by piranhas. Of course, you could always be stalked by a psycho on your boat or left behind for shark bait by your scuba guide. Watch these movies if you couldn’t get away this summer – it will help you feel better about your staycation. (Check out Jaws, Piranha, Dead Calm, Open Water)
Summer camp
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Ah, memories of summer camp: mosquitoes, homesickness, awkward pre-pubescence…Somehow it never lived up to camp in the movies, where counselors were wacky and irresponsible, yet somehow inspirational, and you made lifelong friends. Even Ernest had more madcap fun than most of us remember. If only you go back and relive it…nope, still not as great as in the movies. (See Meatballs, Wet Hot American Summer, Ernest Goes to Camp, Indian Summer)
Surf’s up
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Hang ten, dude! Or not. It always looks so much easier on the big screen, with surfers finding those totally tubular waves and actually being able to stand up on their boards for more than three seconds. Even if you’re a total poser who hasn’t surfed anything more than the web, you can still get that adrenaline rush on DVD. (Watch Point Break, Surf’s Up, Blue Crush, The Endless Summer)
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
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Baseball: the great American pastime. Particularly when it comes to Hollywood, USA. What can be more inspiring than the classic tale of a group of underdogs and misfits banding together to beat the Yankees (or at least retrieve dad’s autographed ball or get the girl). Baseball has been woven into our collective childhood memories and dreams, and even if you never made it to the big leagues, you can always live vicariously through the movies. (Take home The Sandlot, Bull Durham, A League of Their Own, Major League, Field of Dreams)
Summer slashers
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Who knew summer could be so scary? Jason, that’s who. Summer is a perfect time for terror, with unsupervised teens and camp counselors up to no good, just begging to be stalked by insane, revenge-driven killers. With the huge success of “Friday the 13th” (12 installments to date), slasher films have become blood-soaked cult classics. (Check out Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, I Know What You Did Last Summer)
Family Vacation
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Road trips, camping trips, trips to the shore…the family vacation is what summers were made for. Unless of course, you’re traveling with Chevy Chase or John Candy – the kings of disastrous family vacations. Chase’s Clark Griswold set the standard for the worst trip ever, providing a plethora of movie quotes and universal cultural references. So the next time the rugrats are whining in the back seat, pop in one of these DVD’s. (See The Great Outdoors, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Summer Rental)
Summer job
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Summer isn’t all fun and games. Summer jobs are important for those who need to save up to buy a car or pay for college. So if you didn’t get that awesome job at Best Buy that you wanted, and you already saw what happens to camp counselors, you might want to explore other opportunities that at will least keep you out of a chicken suit. (Caddyshack, Adventureland, The Flamingo Kid)
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Apps for the Road
Trapster
GPSed
iPhone, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and more: Record your trips anywhere on Earth using your mobile device. Tracks are traced on Google Maps and stored in an online archive. All you need to start tracking is a mobile device with a GPS receiver.
Google Sky Map
Android: Discover the night sky just by pointing your phone to space. By using your Android phone's orientation sensors, Google Sky Map can show you a star map from a campground, backyard or creepy truck stop.
Kayak
iPhone, Blackberry, Android and more: Get flight, hotel and car rental info in a snap with KAYAK’s free travel app. The app also includes KAYAK Trips so you can easily manage your itinerary from anywhere.
Road Trip Lite
iPhone: Turn your iPhone into a road trip expense tracker and keep tabs on gas prices, fuel economy, even repair costs. Road Trip Lite is especially useful for groups to divvy up road trip expenses.
Urbanspoon
iPhone, iPad, Android: If you enjoy food and slot machines, then Urbanspoon is your best bet. This free app helps you find great restaurants based on your cravings. Just shake it until you find a restaurant that looks promising.
My Vacation
iPhone, iPad: Tired of crummy, over-priced postcards getting lost in the snail mail? Now you can create picture perfect postcards on the road and send them to your friends (and frenamies) from your iPhone.
Yelp
Android, iPhone, Blackberry and more: Not sure what to do in your chosen destination? Try Yelp. It’s the fun and easy way to find reviews and see what's great (and not so great) in the city you're in.
Layar
Android, iPhone 3GS: See beyond the map. By using a combination of your phone’s camera and GPS data, the Layar Reality Browser can identify your location and literally show you the sights you may be missing.
uPackingList
iPhone, iPad: uPackingList is a free app designed to turn packing into fast and convenient activity for any journey – business trip, vacation, family picnic, fishing, theme park etc.
Free Wi-Fi for All!
Proceed with Caution
Free Wi-Fi has its drawbacks: Signal strength can be spotty, and it’s not very secure. Hackers have been known to set up fake hotspots to steal data, so be certain it’s legit, use a VPN when possible and make sure your security software is up to date.
Hotels
Typically, the more expensive the hotel, the more expensive the Internet access. Go figure. Luckily, many 2- and 3-star chains like Hampton, Courtyard By Marriott, Red Roof Inn, and Holiday Inn Express offer free high-speed access (it’s not always Wi-Fi, though).
Airports
You’ll have to pay at LAX and Newark, but free Wi-Fi is an increasingly popular offering at smaller airports like Cedar Rapids and Reno. You’ll also find it in Phoenix, Orlando, Charlotte, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, even Anchorage.
Want something for nothing?
Free mobile apps like Wi-Fi Finder make finding free Wi-Fi easy. But what if your phone can’t do apps, or your battery dies? Luckily, there are some common places to get a complimentary connection. Click the arrows below to find out where.
Places with books
You’ll have to be quiet while you’re using it, but many public libraries have free Wi-Fi. Sometimes the local bookstore will have it too, but if you want to be sure, go to Barnes & Noble. It’s free at every location.
Coffee shops
Major chains like Caribou Coffee, Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee & Tea typically offer complimentary Wi-Fi, but many of the independents do, too. Of course, you’ll need to buy a cup of joe (or a $9 scone) so you don’t feel like a freeloader.
Restaurants
Hungry for some free Wi-Fi? Most Paneras have it. Many McDonald’s do too. You also might find it at Burger King, IHOP, Krispy Kreme, Schlotzsky’s, Taco Bell and Denny’s (we suggest the Moons Over My Hammy).
Comments
Protip: Before making an article about movies...
...we should make sure stores carry them so they can be bought instead of just online.
Then again...
You can order from bestbuy.com at any store location.