It’s amazing how many DVDs and games we have that we never play anymore. Sure, I could trade them in at the local game store and be severely disappointed by the paltry amount they would give me. Now there is an alternative to that option that is free and will allow me to get games that I really want. The best part is that it is a free service.

BarterBee.com - The Free Way to Get Movies, Music, and Games offers members a chance to get free CDs, DVDs, and games they want by selling their items for points. If someone buys your item then you get the point value added to your account. Then you can go and spend those points to get whatever you wish.

Just for registering, Barterbee.com will add 5 points to your account. You can also earn points from referrals. If you don’t see what you are looking for, add it to your wish list. Barterbee will then send you an email notice when a member has added that item to their inventory. Barterbee also has a widget that can be placed on blogs, social networking sites, or profiles so that you can display your inventory anywhere.

Spending 5 points might limit what is available to you, but there are plenty of games that cost 5 or below. I picked out a PlayStation game (X-Men Mutant Academy) for 5 points. Once I entered my shipping address, I had to verify my order by entering my phone number. Next I received an automated message with a PIN to complete my order. Now I just have to wait for the game to arrive, which Barterbee will notify me when the member has shipped the item.

Now to clean out the gaming shelf and earn more points at Barterbee.

This is a sponsored post.

While playing video games is a wonderful way to beat the heat this summer by staying indoors, it’s also important to get outside. Grab your sunshades and the sunscreen. Head outdoors to play some of these classic outdoor summer games.

Badminton is not only a lot of fun but can be great exercise. Think of tennis but not so serious. A basic badminton set usually comes with four rackets, net, and a few birdies, also called shuttlecocks. Set up the net in the backyard and have fun.

A Croquet set comes with croquet mallets, metal arches, and colorful balls. Set the metal arches around the playing area. Hit your ball with your mallet to knock it through the arch. Continue to hit the ball on your turn through the next gate.

Who doesn’t love the game of horseshoes? It’s the game where almost really does count for something. A set includes usually four horseshoes and two spikes. Place spikes in the ground, leaving about 12 inches of the spike exposed. Take turns to see who can ring the spike with their horseshoe or who can get the closest.

Frisbee Golf or disc golf is played with frisbees and baskets. Players try to make it through the playing area by tossing their disc into the basket. Just like in golf, the fewer number of tosses, the better your score.

Lawn games are a great way to get out and enjoy the summer. Give that trigger thumb a rest.

Technorati Tags: lawn games, outdoor games

I use to work in television news, which is why The News Room is such an exciting concept to me. The free service allows you to find new stories and place those stories on your website. The News Room gives you access to news from various sources like the Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, and Reuters.

Having a way to add relevant news is just one benefit to the News Room. The most exciting part is that you can make money when people view the news on your website. Earnings start at $1 CPM. Embed video, text, image, or a feed with relevant content to your blog and earn money at the same time.

There are categories that you can browse to find relevant content. The search feature can also be used to find news stories. I used the search feature to find relevant game news. Once I found a story that was interesting, I pressed the “mesh” button. After agreeing to the terms of service and choosing a layout, I was able to copy the code. Here is a news story about the Wii remote being used in unique ways.

News gathering and sharing have become so much more efficient with technology advances. To be able to bring quality news from trusted sources to your website is really a great idea. The News Room not only helps you to bring news but gives you a way to earn money. I remember when I was in television news that only the broadcasting community had access to AP and Reuters. It’s nice to see that times have changed.