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Interesting Facts...

2010-10-23T18:33:00.000-07:00

10 Skills You Need to Succeed at Almost Anything

2010-10-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

What does it take to succeed? A positive attitude? Well, sure, but that’s hardly enough. The Law of Attraction? The Secret? These ideas might act as spurs to action, but without the action itself, they don’t do much.

Success, however it’s defined, takes action, and taking good and appropriate action takes skills. Some of these skills (not enough, though) are taught in school (not well enough, either), others are taught on the job, and still others we learn from general life experience.

Below is a list of general skills that will help anyone get ahead in practically any field, from running a company to running a gardening club. Of course, there are skills specific to each field as well – but my concern here is with the skills that translate across disciplines, the ones that can be learned by anyone in any position.

1. Public Speaking

The ability to speak clearly, persuasively, and forcefully in front of an audience – whether an audience of 1 or of thousands – is one of the most important skills anyone can develop. People who are effective speakers come across as more comfortable with themselves, more confident, and more attractive to be around. Being able to speak effectively means you can sell anything – products, of course, but also ideas, ideologies, worldviews. And yourself – which means more opportunities for career advancement, bigger clients, or business funding.

2. Writing

Writing well offers many of the same advantages that speaking well offers: good writers are better at selling products, ideas, and themselves than poor writers. Learning to write well involves not just mastery of grammar but the development of the ability to organize one’s thoughts into a coherent form and target it to an audience in the most effective way possible. Given the huge amount of text generated by almost every transaction – from court briefs and legislation running into the thousands of pages to those foot-long receipts you get when you buy gum these days – a person who is a master of the written word can expect doors to open in just about every field.

3. Self-Management

If success depends on effective action, effective action depends on the ability to focus your attention where it is needed most, when it is needed most. Strong organizational skills, effective productivity habits, and a strong sense of discipline are needed to keep yourself on track.

4. Networking

Networking is not only for finding jobs or clients. In an economy dominated by ideas and innovation, networking creates the channel through which ideas flow and in which new ideas are created. A large network, carefully cultivated, ties one into not just a body of people but a body of relationships, and those relationships are more than just the sum of their parts. The interactions those relationships make possible give rise to innovation and creativity – and provide the support to nurture new ideas until they can be realized.

5. Critical Thinking

We are exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of times more information on a daily basis than our great-grandparents were. Being able to evaluate that information, sort the potentially valuable from the trivial, analyze its relevance and meaning, and relate it to other information is crucial – and woefully under-taught. Good critical thinking skills immediately distinguish you from the mass of people these days.

6. Decision-Making

The bridge that leads from analysis to action is effective decision-making – knowing what to do based on the information available. While not being critical can be dangerous, so too can over-analyzing, or waiting for more information before making a decision. Being able to take in the scene and respond quickly and effectively is what separates the doers from the wannabes.

7. Math

You don’t have to be able to integrate polynomials to be successful. However, the ability to quickly work with figures in your head, to make rough but fairly accurate estimates, and to understand things like compound interest and basic statistics gives you a big lead on most people. All of these skills will help you to analyze data more effectively – and more quickly – and to make better decisions based on it.

8. Research

Nobody can be expected to know everything, or even a tiny fraction of everything. Even within your field, chances are there’s far more that you don’t know than you do know. You don’t have to know everything – but you should be able to quickly and painlessly find out what you need to know. That means learning to use the Internet effectively, learning to use a library, learning to read productively, and learning how to leverage your network of contacts – and what kinds of research are going to work best in any given situation.

9. Relaxation

Stress will not only kill you, it leads to poor decision-making, poor thinking, and poor socialization. So be failing to relax, you knock out at least three of the skills in this list – and really more. Plus, working yourself to death in order to keep up, and not having any time to enjoy the fruits of your work, isn’t really “success”. It’s obsession. Being able to face even the most pressing crises with your wits about you and in the most productive way is possibly the most important thing on this list.

10. Basic Accounting

It is a simple fact in our society that money is necessary. Even the simple pleasures in life, like hugging your child, ultimately need money – or you’re not going to survive to hug for very long. Knowing how to track and record your expenses and income is important just to survive, let alone to thrive. But more than that, the principles of accounting apply more widely to things like tracking the time you spend on a project or determining whether the value of an action outweighs the costs in money, time, and effort. It’s a shame that basic accounting isn’t a required part of the core K-12 curriculum.

What Else?

Surely there are more important skills I’m not thinking of (which is probably why I’m not telling Bill Gates what to do!) – what are they? What have I missed? What lessons have you learned that were key to your successes – and what have you ignored to your peril?

10 Small Changes Can Make You a Multi-Millionaire

2010-10-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Saving for your retirement, your children's education or just improving your standard of living can be impossible unless you know what to do. Small changes in your spending can achieve $1-2,000,000 over your lifetime.

10 Small Changes in your Spending Habits:

Save your change - this can be as much as $50 a month.
Stop buying soda, coffee, and junk food when out - $50-100 per month.
Take your lunch to work - $250-350 per month.
Cancel your cable TV - $50-150 per month.
Use coupons at the supermarket - $50 or more per month.
Shop at discount stores for clothes - $50-100 per month
Use the Internet to shop significant purchases - savings up to 40-50%.
Increase insurance deductibles - $200 per year.
Lower thermostat in winter and raise it in summer - $25-100 per month.
Pay bills online/automatic bill pay - $15-20 per month postage.

You may look at these suggestions and say, no way can I change or live without it! Your next step is to find something else that yields the same or more savings. For example, I cannot give up cable, so it is part of my entertainment. I use group discount movie tickets to achieve similar savings and more selective how often we go to the movies. Remember the goal is saving $750.00 or more a month, the specifics are up to you.

By conservatively investing the approximately $750 savings monthly in 30 years it could grow to $2,000,000.

Sorry about the lack of posts lately!

2010-10-20T19:37:00.001-07:00

I've been really busy with college. essays, projects, homework .. ugh!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will get to yall tomorrow and friday

Have a nice day!

Smart Select Your Next Car

2010-10-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

Just the thought of owning a new set of wheels is exciting enough to get carried away for a bit. While it’s natural to want to explore the market to see what all you can squeeze around a loosely estimated budget, there are more practical ways to go about buying your car so that you don’t lose too much money on it, or end up being dissatisfied in the long run.
Assess your needs before hand - This is probably one of the most crucial factors while looking out for your next car. Consider carefully what you want to use your car most for, to arrive at a right fit. Do you want it for small local trips or long outdoor runs; will it be used by a single person, or multiple drivers; how many passengers and how much luggage will it be carrying mostly?

Decide whether you want a new or a used car –This is completely dependent on your savings. While a new car may last you longer and require less immediate maintenance, an older car will set you back by a lesser amount initially and if maintained properly over the long run, maybe a more economically savvy decision. Is there an old car that you plan to trade in and how much more will you need to put in from your personal funds, are some important factors to consider here.

Research on models and prices – We all usually have a “dream car”, and this is where all practical thinking stops. Every vehicle will have many unique features which differentiate it from the others, however research shows that 90% of the time, we shortlist a car based only on one or two features. Obviously, it’s practical to research all options built around our needs in the market and then take an informed decision. With the Internet making research so easy, use websites that give you information on different models, features, comparative studies and car prices to shortlist cars that fit your budget.

Check cars for comfort, performance and on-road safety – Anything that’s a small irritant at the time of buying your car, might turn into a major grievance once you start using it regularly; so it’s important to check the car you are interested in for factors like performance, comfort, economy, appearance, dependability and car safety .

Consider long term costs – Though economy has been mentioned earlier as a checkpoint while considering a car, it’s important enough to discuss in greater detail. The money you spend on your car will not be a one time expense. Consider factors like ongoing maintenance and spare parts, registration and car insurance costs. Many websites compare these factors on various car models to give an average cost of maintaining a car. You can have a pretty good idea about what you should expect to spend on your car on a regular basis before you decide to buy it.

Do you plan to finance your car? Research options on finance and dealer discounts – This may involve some legwork on your part but is definitely worth it. It’s important to shop for money, BEFORE you start shopping for your car. If you’re looking for a loan, your credit union might be the best place to start. It’s easy but not really smart to go with the dealership finance options as you might not get the best deal there. If you can get a preapproved loan, that will help you negotiate better for your car.

Finally, Stick to your price - Don’t get carried away with “I’ll throw these mats in for free” pitch by your dealer. Stick to your price, especially if you’re not trading in your old car. Because of a weak market, it is often easier for a dealer to sell you a car for a slimmer profit than get loaded with an old car, which he may not be able to dispose off easily.

All You Need To Know About Credit Cards

2010-10-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

In current times, credit card has become an integral part of everyone’s life. People use these plastic cards for nearly every financial transaction today, from paying their phone bills to purchasing items in grocery stores. No matter where a person goes, credit cards serve as a substitute for cash. Often these cards are referred to as plastic money.

Having a good card allows you to enjoy a large number of benefits. Firstly when you have the card you do not have to carry a huge amount of cash with you when you go out shopping. Sometimes people find something while shopping which they need. Unfortunately they are not carrying enough cash to pay for it. When you have a card you can simply buy using the card and pay your dues later. While shopping online the easiest way to pay is via card. For most travelers and tourists the card has come as a boon since in foreign countries the card takes care of the trouble of converting travel funds to local currency.

Credit cards are issued by various banks to its customers. When the holder buys something with the card he actually borrows the money from the bank and later pays it back. You do not have to pay interest on the borrowed money if you pay it back within a stipulated time. Beyond this time you need to pay interest at defined rates. Each card has a credit limit which is the amount of money you can borrow and a mandatory minimum amount, based on your total purchases, which have to be paid every month.

Before you go ahead and get yourself a card you should be clear about a few things in your mind. How much can you borrow using the card before you run into serious debt? For what purpose are you taking the card and how will you use it?

There are innumerable card providers in the market, each offering a different package regarding credit card rates and various other benefits. You are to decide which the card most suitable for you is. A friend or relative maybe happily enjoying a card which has certain benefits but this does not mean that you will need the same card since your requirements maybe different. If you do not get the card which is most suitable for you, there is a chance that you can incur a financial loss.

Well there are business credit cards which are tailor-made for people who are running their own business. They have a higher credit limit because usually business overheads are paid using them. Zero interest credit cards have zero interest in the introductory phase and then later switch to normal rates. The introductory phase can stretch from 6 months to one year. Low interest credit cards have the lowest possible interest rates but they do have certain drawbacks like an annual fee or a very low credit limit. You may get a huge number of benefits for using Reward System cards like airline mileage points, gasoline points and hotel reward points. These are just some of the various types of cards which are available.

You can compare the benefits of each type of card from various banks at their Websites based on their interest rates, balance transfer rates, annual fees and other added benefits.

3 Helpful Ways To Become Successful In Your Career

2010-10-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Becoming successful in your career takes so much effort. Here are three helpful ways to achieve it:

1. Have the passion - Being successful in your chosen career requires you to have the passion for it. You need to love what you are doing and what you are in to. You need to be consistent and know what your true desires are. When you have the passion for your career, you would always want to make and give out all the best for it. You put in much effort because you know you want it. Your passion and desires would lead you to take risks. If you really fight for what you know makes you happy, then it is very possible to become successful.

2. Have goals - You should know how to make goals. Make plans and aim to achieve something. Your goals serve as your inspiration and motivation to make your career a successful one. You must have a clear vision and aims on what you want to see in your life and in your chosen path. You efforts and character defines your future and the success of your career. Characterize what you want, when you want it and learn the effective ways on how to achieve it.

3. Be futuristic - It is important to be futuristic. Have an advanced thought on what you want in your life and career. You should know how to foresee your life in the future. Think about it and view it in different time frames so that you will know how to deal and cope with some unexpected changes you might encounter. Although you are not the ultimate author of your life, it is still necessary that you have some visions of your life in the future.

Not everyone succeeds in his or her chosen career. It is not as easy as it seems, but it is not impossible to make it happen. Be guided with these three helpful ways and be successful!

How To Save Money On Your Electric Bill

2010-10-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

Your home energy cost can at times be one of your highest bills. The cost of electricity at certain points of the year gets so high that you can run up hundreds of extra dollars in cost if you are not careful. There are a wide variety of ways that you can save money on your electric bill many of which are very easy to do.

First of all upgrade your lighting. There are many bulbs that can put out lots of light with little wattage. This might not seem like a huge change but it can save quite a bit of money for you in the long run. Also get into the habit of turning lights off so they use energy when it's not needed.

Try doing things like drying your clothes outside. Doing this even a few months of the year can save a family quite a bit on electrical costs.

Be sure to maintain your refrigerator. This would include making sure the cooling coils in the refrigerator and freezer are clear. Also go to the bottom and back of the unit so that you can clean out the vent which will help it run better.

Get a wattage meter that can measure how much electricity that the things you use around your home are using. These are normally less than $20 and plug into the outlet letting you measure what you are using. This will help you focus on the things that might need to be changed because they use too much power

Unplug everything you can when not in use. Many electronics especially draw phantom power even when off. This means they are using electricity even after turned off. This can gradually add up.

When you can use cold water over using hot water. Heating hot water uses quite a bit more energy than just using the cold water which doesn't require any of this electricity.

Facts! (Yes, they are back!)

2010-10-16T18:26:00.000-07:00

Average Cost of Raising a Child

2010-10-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Having your own family is a blessing that many of us do not acknowledge. Having a kid is one of the most beautiful experiences a person can have. Seeing your kid take his or her first step, giving you their first smile or seeing them off to school for the first time are memories that you will cherish all your life. However, in today's day and age, having a kid and raising him or her can be an expensive affair.

Many people actually put off having kids because they feel that they are not financial secure to take on the burden of rearing a kid. Raising a kid is not a joke. One needs to be prepared both financially and mentally to take on this great responsibility. Initially, parents will spend a lot of money on food, clothing and healthcare. Then more expenses get added.

The average cost of raising a kid from birth until the age of turning into a major is different in different countries. In fact, it can vary from city to city, depending on the cost of food, healthcare, education, housing, transportation and childcare. However, based on certain estimates, it has been calculated that on an average a single household spends about $222,000 each year. A family that is clubbed in the middle income category will spend about $11,500 - $13,500 each year and this amount will increase as the child keeps growing. Usually parents spend about 17 percent of the cost on childcare and 16 percent on education.

It may sound strange, but families that have more children tend to spend less compared to families that have one child. The reason for this is actually quite simple. If there are more kids in a family, they can share things like clothes, toys and even the bedroom. Also, the family saves money by purchasing food items in build. There are some schools that offer discounts if all siblings study in the same institution.

How to Save Money Every Month - Coffee Savings Tip

2010-10-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

Every month, coffee drinkers spend a lot of money on coffee without realizing it. The amazing fact is that by simply eliminating your $3.50 latte and putting it in the bank, you could save over $700,000 in your savings account! How could that be? It's all about saving and earning interest over the years and letting compounding interest multiply your savings. Here are the three tips to help you do that:

Tip #1 - Put the money in the Bank

Save money on coffee each month, and you could be closer to being a millionaire. Imagine that instead of spending that $3.50 on coffee, each month you diligently deposited that money into your bank's highest interest savings account, term deposit, savings bond or certificate. Suppose that you find something that pays 5%. That's a little high right now but historically, 5% is a reasonable

number to use.

Tip #2 - Use Inflation

Next, we save money each month by using inflation. We can assume that the price of that coffee will go up by 5% every year. Next year that same cup of coffee will cost $3.68. So on the second year of this savings program, we use the idea of inflation to convince ourselves to deposit $3.68 every day instead of last year's deposit of $3.50 every day.

Tip #3 - Use the Magic of Compound Interest

And now we let the magic of compound interest take over. Each month as you save your coffee money, the total you save annually, grows to $1,277.50 (365 days x $3.50 = $1,277.50) and the bank pays you 5% on that money. The next year, you increase your deposit by 5% (365 days x $3.68 = $1,343.20) and the bank pays 5% on that year's deposit and the previous year's balance. If you do that same calculation every year, here's how much money you would save over the years:

$20,809 over 10 years
$67,692 over 20 years
$165,638 over 30 years
$359,743 over 40 years
$732,480 over 50 years

You could save $732,480 over 50 years by just depositing your coffee money each month!

How to Save $1 million in just 30 years

But wait a second, 50 years is a long time to save money each month! Fortunately, you can save a million dollars in 30 years by finding $20/day to save each month and increasing that by 5% each year. You already have $3.50/day from your coffee money. All you need to do is find another $16.50/day. Here are the savings from just $20/day:

$118,909 over 10 years
$387,381 over 20 years
$1,026,958 over 30 years

Isn't that amazing?

Coolest University Ever

2010-10-14T21:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.wmich.edu/

Go there and hold Z and then press V on your keyboard

If you had one wish, What would it be?

2010-10-13T19:23:00.000-07:00

I would wish to start over

3 Simple Tips to Save Money

2010-10-12T23:01:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought of why you should save money?

Are you trying very hard to save money?

Saving money is one of the most important preparations for your financial future. It helps to prepare you for any emergencies such as unemployment, illness or disasters. In addition, it also helps you to plan for the future such as money for your children's education, buying new car or for retirement. These can cost a lot of money if you never save money. Therefore by having a good savings account can help you pay and lessen your loan obligation.

Saving money is not difficult as long as you have the determination and dedication to do it. So, if you are ready, you can try out the following steps.

#1- Make a Budget

Making a budget is one of the ways to save money because an accurate budget will help you to identify all your necessary expenses. In order to make a budget, you need to start by deciding the time frame that you will use. For example: monthly budget, quarterly budget or yearly budget. The next thing is to figure out how much income is coming in, the amount of money you spend and calculate the surplus. Remember to keep a record of it so that you can refer to it and make improvements.

#2- Start a Savings Plan

Once you have a budget plan, you should start to develop a plan on how you are going to save the money. The first step is to set your goals and figure out how much you want to save. After that, you should keep track of your own finances. By keeping track of your own finances, you should keep a close eye on your spending.

#3 - Spend Less

In order to spend less, one of the ways is to eat out less. Eating out can be fun and delicious, but it can seriously bite out your wallet. Therefore, you should try eating in more often or making your own food.

Besides eating out, you can also spend lesser by buying used or non-branded name products. I know the temptation to purchase the latest product can be strong, but if you save by buying used and non-branded products, it can be more substantial.

Saving money is possible because it is within your control. All you need is to learn and take time to develop and it will definitely benefit you for the rest of your life. So, start saving money today.

McDonald’s Happy Meal resists decomposition for six months

2010-10-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Vladimir Lenin, King Tut and the McDonald's Happy Meal: What do they all have in common? A shocking resistance to Mother Nature's cycle of decomposition and biodegradability, apparently.

That's the disturbing point brought home by the latest project of New York City-based artist and photographer Sally Davies, who bought a McDonald's Happy Meal back in April and left it out in her kitchen to see how well it would hold up over time.

The results? "The only change that I can see is that it has become hard as a rock," Davies told the U.K. Daily Mail.

She proceeded to photograph the Happy Meal each week and posted the pictures to Flickr to record the results of her experiment. Now, just over six months later, the Happy Meal has yet to even grow mold. She told the Daily Mail that "the food is plastic to the touch and has an acrylic sheen to it."

Davies -- whose art has been featured in numerous films and television shows and is collected by several celebrities -- told The Upshot that she initiated the project to prove a friend wrong. He believed that any burger would mold or rot within two or three days of being left on a counter. Thus began what's become known as "The Happy Meal Art Project."

"I told my friend about a schoolteacher who's kept a McDonald's burger for 12 years that hasn't changed at all, and he didn't believe me when I told him about it," Davies told us. "He thought I was crazy and said I shouldn't believe everything that I read, so I decided to try it myself."

Some observers of the photo series have noted that the burger's bun appears at different angles, and therefore aired suspicions that the Happy Meal may not in fact be as "untouched" as the project's groundrules stipulate. Davies says there's a simple explanation for the mobile-bun effect. "The meal is on a plate in my apartment on a shelf," she says, "and when I take it down to shoot it, the food slides around. It's hard as rock on a glass plate, so sure, the food is moving."

Davies' friend was the person who should have done the additional research. Wellness and nutrition educator Karen Hanrahan has indeed kept a McDonald's hamburger since 1996 to show clients and students how resistant fast food can be to decomposition.

As for Davies, she said that she might just keep her burger and fries hanging around for a while as well.

"It's sitting on a bookshelf right now, so it's not really taking up any space, so why not?" she said. It ceased giving off any sort of odor after 24 hours, she said, adding: "You have to see this thing."

In response to Davies' project, McDonald's spokeswoman Theresa Riley emailed The Upshot a statement defending the quality of the chain's food. Riley's email also blasted Davies' "completely unsubstantiated" work as something out of "the realm of urban legends."

"McDonald's hamburger patties in the United States are made with 100% USDA-inspected ground beef," Riley wrote. "Our hamburgers are cooked and prepared with salt, pepper and nothing else -- no preservatives, no fillers. Our hamburger buns are baked locally, are made from North American-grown wheat flour and include common government-approved ingredients designed to assure food quality and safety. ... According to Dr. Michael Doyle, Director, Center for Food Safety at the University of Georgia, 'From a scientific perspective, I can safely say that the way McDonald's hamburgers are freshly processed, no hamburger would look like this after one year unless it was tampered with or held frozen.'"

More pictures here: http://news.yahoo.com/nphotos/180-Day-Happy-Meal-Art-Project/ss/events/lf/101210happymealart

Did you know............

2010-10-12T14:51:00.000-07:00

100 followers!

2010-10-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Holy crap, 100 followers already... Thanks everybody!

Here is a gift for you

2010 Holiday Shopping Predictions: Gadgets, Games and Software [STATS]

2010-10-11T21:13:00.000-07:00

What’s on your holiday shopping list this year?

If you’re anything like the millions and millions of web users around the world, you might be thinking of purchasing a smartphone, a tablet, a gaming console or a few other geeky essentials for your friends and loved ones — or even for yourself.

According to data from Hitwise Intelligence, a web and search analysis firm, what we search and browse for leading up to the end-of-the-year holidays has a strong correlation to what we actually buy, both online and in brick-and-mortar stores. This kind of information, while invaluable to retailers and marketers, is also fascinating to us as gadget geeks.

We took a look at market share and web traffic stats from the last week of August; here’s a breakdown of how pre-holiday stats stack up for the most popular consumer electronics products:

Apple Is on a Roll

With major releases throughout the year, Apple’s new iPhone 4, iPad and revamped line of iPods are guaranteed to show strong holiday shopping numbers. This brand grabbed five of the top 20 spots in consumer electronics-related markets for the month of August alone — that amounts to 42.1%.

Most of this attention centers on the iPhone, which launched a new fourth-gen model over the summer, and iPad, which hasn’t stopped making headlines since its debut this spring.

But a healthy amount of consumer interest is also focused on Apple’s new iPods. Many of these bite-sized devices hold more data than ever before and are priced to sell. The iPod shuffle sells for $49, and the new touchscreen, iOS-powered iPod nano starts at $149.

The company also refreshed its MacBook Pro line this year.

In other words, as a hardware manufacturer, Apple had a gangbusters year, rolling out product after product, some of which are entirely new. It would be fatuous to think Apple wouldn’t have an equally gangbusters holiday retail showing.

Still, we’ve been keeping an eye on Android OS’ not-so-slow advance in the mobile market. While this multi-manufacturer platform has a somewhat fragmented set of devices and release dates, we are hearing rumors, “trumors” and verified reports of several exciting, holiday-timed launches. Samsung’s Tab, for example, is anAndroid-powered tablet that is set to launch later this fall on all four U.S. wireless carriers.

The bottom line is that although Apple is the heavyweight to beat in terms of hardware and gadgets, there’s still plenty of room for other manufacturers and retailers to succeed this holiday season.

Games and Gadgets Make Great Gifts

By far and away, the two most dominant verticals in consumer electronics will be gadgets and gaming.

Gaming consoles as well as the games themselves are generating a huge amount of interest with consumers, and many companies are planning on holiday launches.

Microsoft’s Xbox is taking the lion’s share of consumer interest right now, we feel due in large part to the upcoming launch of Kinect, its controller-free interaction system. Several Mashable staffers got some hands-on (or rather, hands-off) time with Kinect during a visit to Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters; to say we were impressed would be a huge understatement. Kinect’s hardware is priced to sell at $150, and the Kinect bundle will be available to shoppers beginning November 4.

As far as non-Apple gadgets are concerned, HTC’s Desire and Samsung’s Galaxy S line are both performing well. One product that took us by surprise was the Kymera Magic Wand, a gestural remote control that’s halfAvatar, half Harry Potter. It’s been available for some time and sells for around $78 (£49.95).

What Are Your Predictions?

So, what’s topping your shopping list (and your wish list) for the 2010 holidays so far? Are you enamored of the new Droids? Are you eyeing the reduced-price Kindles? What games, gadgets and software are most interesting to you right now, and which do you think would make the best gifts?

Let us know in the comments what consumer electronics products are piquing your interest right now, and be sure to give us your holiday 2010 predictions, as well.

Did You know

2010-10-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

First of all, happy 10/10/10

Fallout New Vegas - So Excited, and I Just Can't Hide It

2010-10-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

If you take a look at some of the recent screen shots for Bethesda's newest entry in the Fallout series, you will probably notice that graphically, not much has changed since Fallout 3. This is due to the fact that the game runs on the same engine used in Fallout 3, and in many respects, the textures, artwork, and animations remain the same. This may upset some, as New Vegas could potentially have been released as an expansion for Fallout 3, as opposed to to a full priced standalone game, but development has changed hands in such a way that I will gladly pay up.

The original Fallout games were developed by Black Isle Studios, and they allowed for much more freedom in both action and morals than the Bethesda developed Fallout 3 was able to provide. Fallout 3 was a great game, but it ended up feeling diluted and restrictive regarding matters of character choice. Interactions typically fell to combat, whereas in the first two Fallout games, you could use civilized conversation, infallible logic, proven science, or if absolutely necessary, a cheap shot to the groin.

While Black Isle Studios was dissolved, many of its employees now work for developer Obsidian Entertainment. Backed by Bethesda, serving as producer this time around, Obsidian Entertainment has been given the Fallout 3 engine to do with what they will, and from what I have seen so far, every complaint I had about Fallout 3 has been addressed.

The V.A.T.S. targeting system has been revamped to not only include groin shots once again, but special weapon specific finishing moves as well. The diversity of character interaction has increased, and those that choose to specialize into the social aspects of their character will see much greater rewards than those offered in Fallout 3.

Another issue I experienced with Fallout 3 was the overall dilution of my character as I approached max level. You ended up literally having every skill in the game, with the only real variance being in what order you chose to max them out. This has supposedly been fixed in New Vegas, with characters becoming very specialized depending on what skill route they choose.

I can't wait until October 19th, when Fallout: New Vegas is released in North America, for I shall delve deep into the man cave and return enlightened by the developmental power of Obsidian Entertainment. If it does end up sucking however, you can call me out on it here.

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Did you know..

2010-10-08T10:03:00.000-07:00

How to Untangle MP3 Headphones

2010-10-08T08:51:00.000-07:00

How to Untangle MP3 Headphones - Watch more Funny Videos

Did you know....

2010-10-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well now you know..

Did you know

2010-10-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Uranus takes 82 years to orbit the sun?

Well, now you know

FACT

2010-10-06T21:39:00.001-07:00

When you breathe normally, air goes into your nose at about

6.5 kilometres (4 miles) per hour.When you take a good sniff at

something, it goes in at 32 kilometres (20 miles) per hour. When

you sneeze, it comes out at 160 kilometres (100 miles) per hour!

The Mariana Trench

2010-10-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

The Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Ocean, and the deepest location on Earth.

Click Image to Zoom

Get $50 dollars fast

2010-10-06T00:24:00.000-07:00

PayBox is developing an online currency and payment processing service to make buying and selling online easier, more secure and available to everyone.

Why you should join today...

You start with a $50 balance and it's free.
PayBox will add up to $20 per day to your account for participating as we prepare to launch our new service.
You get $5 per person you refer to PayBox.
You'll be an EarlyBird user—before PayBox opens to the public.
You'll help shape the development of the best payment system ever designed for the Internet.
You could have hundreds or thousands of dollars in your account by the time we launch, without ever making a deposit!

JOIN EARLY! (click)

Fact

2010-10-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

No word in the English language rhymes with purple, orange, month or silver.

The World's First Artificial Heart

2010-10-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

This is the world's first total artificial heart.

Surgeons Domingo Liotta and Denton Cooley placed it into Haskell Carp's chest on April 4, 1969 in Houston. They removed it 64 hours later when a donor heart became available.

But the heart did what it was supposed to do, explained Judy Chelnick, an associate curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. The patient did not live long, but not because the manmade heart malfunctioned. It worked just fine, laying the stage for many later variations.

The piece of medical history is now stored in a formaldehyde solution in a cabinet behind the scenes at the museum.

More pictures of the heart:

Mark Zuckerberg (Founder of Facebook) is colorblind (FACT)

2010-10-04T22:40:00.000-07:00

Facebook is blue because founder Mark Zuckerberg is colorblind.

Zuckerberg is red-green colorblind, which means that the best color he can see is blue! We’re sure that it’s no coincidence that blue is the hue chosen to dominate the color palette of his ultra popular social networking website.

Another Fact.

2010-10-02T19:13:00.001-07:00

The worst epidemic of all time was the Black Death – a plague carried by fleas that live on rats– which killed 75 million people in Europe and Asia between 1347 and 1351.

Horrible and Fun Facts

2010-10-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

Here is the 1st fact for today;

Flies eat by vomiting up something they have eaten previously so that the chemicals in their vomit can start to dissolve the new meal. When it is sloppy, they suck it all up again. That is why it is really a bad idea to eat anything a fly's been sitting on!

"Deal with it"

Music Friday

2010-10-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Every Friday I will post videos from different artists, so here is The Glitch Mob

If you are into electronic, you will love them

Arnold Schwarzenegger signs bill reducing offense for marijuana possession

2010-10-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Thursday signed into law a bill that decriminalizes the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana. The bill reduces simple possession from a misdemeanor to an infraction. Currently, small-time pot possession is “semi-decriminalized” in California. There is no possible jail sentence and a maximum $100 fine.

But because possession is a misdemeanor, people caught with pot are “arrested,” even if that means only they are served a notice to appear, and they must appear before a court. In a signing statement, Schwarzenegger said he opposed decriminalization for personal use and threw in a gratuitous jab at Proposition 19, the tax and regulate marijuana legalization initiative, but that the state couldn’t afford the status quo.

California NORML director Dale Gieringer said that “Governor Schwarzenegger deserves credit for sparing the state’s taxpayers the cost of prosecuting minor pot offenders,”

The New Law will take effect from 1st January 2011.

Life After Downsizing

2010-10-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

You worked in your field as a professional for over 20 years putting in long nights and weekends. Of course, you heard the rumblings that the company wasn't doing so well, but management assured you there was nothing to worry about. Then out of the blue - layoffs!

Suddenly you find yourself working as a cashier at Target. Somehow you didn't picture your pre-retirement years this way but you have a family that is counting on you for paying the bills and the all important medical insurance.

Now there is nothing wrong with working at Target - it's an honest job with good benefits. It's just that after 20 years of experience and extensive education, you hadn't envisioned spending your pre retirement years customers if they want ten percent off their order by opening a store credit card.

After tirelessly applying for every job that you are qualified for and some you are even overqualified for and visiting every job board online, it's hard to keep your spirits up.
But it's important to keep a positive outlook. I know, easier said than done but you do have a lot to be positive about, don't you? Sure you may have financial trouble but everyone you love is healthy and there are worse things than working at Target.

You see, it's all about the attitude so you've got to think of downsizing as an opportunity. Perhaps you will now find a better job or make that career change you have been thinking about or even start your own business. Don't view yourself as a victim since this will only foster a bad attitude. Having a positive outlook will help you present yourself better in interviews - no one wants to hire someone who is bitter and depressed.

You know you have the right stuff or you wouldn't have lasted as long and gone as far in your former career. You just need to stop feeling sorry for yourself and tap into that energy again.

So for now, picture your job as a cashier, or delivering papers in the morning or whatever you have to do to make ends meet as temporary. Sure, this isn't what you pictured yourself doing at this time of your life but at least your house wasn't torn apart by a tsunami or hurricane. Put things into perspective and you will see how lucky you are to be given this new opportunity.

Once you view your job as temporary you can start to use it for your advancement. Think of it as an opportunity to network with people you would have never had the opportunity to cross paths. Maybe your next customer could be a business owner that you've been attempting to get an interview with.

There really is life after downsizing and while your current situation may be less than idea, it may actually force you into a new opportunity that you really love.

10 Top Wii Games for Your Kids

2010-09-30T20:32:00.000-07:00

Buying video games for kids can be a tricky affair. They can't be too easy, or it'll be a waste of money. Ditto if they're too hard. They can't be too violent, or you'll end up nursing bruises as life imitates art... and they can't be too cutesy, or they'll have absolutely no cool factor and therefore no interest! Today we list 10 of the best Wii games for kids 3 and over, to help keep them occupied but not hyped, happy but not too rambunctious!

1. Animal Crossing: City Folk

If your kids haven't quite developed the response speed necessary to play many video games, they'll love Animal Crossing's gentle and leisurely style of play.

2. Active Life: Outdoor Challenge

Everyone, from about age 2, will find some games that they can play within this Wii game. The mat is included - so what you see on the price tag is what you get!

3. Go Diego Go: Great Dinosaur Rescue

This game is just like an episode of Go Diego Go... and conveniently aimed at the same age level! It is easy and intuitive enough for 3 year olds to play.

4. Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Snow Princess

Just like the 'boy' version, Go Diego Go, Dora Saves the Snow Princess game is simple enough for kids about age 3 and up to play.

5. A Boy and His Blob

The little kid needs to help the alien blob get back to his home planet in this game, which is simple enough for primary school aged kids.

6. Super Mario Bros for the Wii

The Super Mario version for Nintendo 64 brought the game out of the primary school realms and into tween and teenagerdom. This version brings it back to the kids - 2D, sidescrolling action and plenty of nice easy levels.

7. Boom Blox Bash Party

What kid could possibly resist the thrill of knocking over stack after stack of blocks... especially when there are no older brothers or sisters to yell at them and non parents will tell them not to? Good for both younger and older kids.

8. Sim Animals: Africa

All kids are entranced by lions and tigers and bears (oh my!), and in this Wii game they get to actually interact with them. First you have to help the animal, then it will help you within the game. Good life lessons!

9. Cars Race-o-rama

Little boys especially will love the fact that they can control the Disney Pixar Cars without the frustratingly necessary fine motor skills of ordinary racing games. Good graphics compared to other Wii games, also.

10. Ni Hao, Kai Lan: Super Game Day

An amazingly cute character, playing games that are suitable for four and five year olds... and even some determined 3 year olds! These are mini-games, so the challenges are fairly easy to surmount.

Bonus: Wii Sports Resort

If you have a Wii, and you have kids, there is no excuse for not having the Wii Sports Resort game There are games to suit just about every member of the family - even parents that 'aren't into video games' will find a use for this Wii game!

Five Areas That You Need to Simplify to Improve Your Life

2010-09-30T20:10:00.000-07:00

Life can seem so complicated. There are so many demands on your time and energy that you're not able to get everything you want to get done in your day. Look into your own life for the simplest solutions so that you un-complicate your life.

Here are five areas that you can simplify:

1. Your work environment

We spend a lot of our time in our work environment and if you have so much clutter in your work environment, designate one day per week to clear everything up and keep to that schedule. Get rid of things that are just distracting you from doing your best work. Don't have work scattered at different places throughout your home either and try to consolidate everything you need to do your best work in one spot. The key is to simplify your work and work environment so that you are not distracted and overwhelmed. Don't make work overly complicated when it doesn't have to be.

2. Your relationships

Don't make your relationships with others so complicated. If you have people in your life that are causing you a lot of drama, then stop associating with them. Tell them that you need some time to yourself and then concentrate on your own life. Some people just suck out all our energy and don't give anything back. Stop trying to solve everyone else's problems and concentrate on your own.

3. Your home environment

Is your home environment full of clutter? Go through each room and see what you can sell, give away or donate so that you are surrounded by things that you truly love. Having a simple home environment that gives you a feeling of joy and happiness can make a huge difference in your life. Don't make things so complicated - you don't need all the latest home entertainment gadgets and doodads.

4. Your thinking

Life doesn't have to be so complicated and taken so seriously. Take it easy on yourself and just do the best that you can, with what you have, and where you are. Develop the mindset that you are going to try new things in life and accept what happens. Don't complicate things needlessly as everything in life can be a learning opportunity. Accept yourself and others as they are and give up your high standards.

5. Your finances

Simplify your finances using automation. Automate everything you can - automate your savings, monthly contributions, bill payments, etc. Don't make your finances complicated by various accounts spread out over several financial institutions. Simplify and consolidate your finances. Remember the simplest financial advice of spending less money than you earn and investing the difference. Don't make your finances more complicated than that - just spend less than you earn.

Change what needs to be changed so that your life is not so complicated and enjoy the simple things in life.

3 Rules for Success in Your Life!

2010-09-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

Becoming successful can be a difficult task, but do you have what it takes to be successful in your life (no matter in which aspect), but don't know how or where to start?

I'm going to share with you the three elements that a successful person has.

Proactive. Successful people are the most proactive people found on earth. They do not wait for opportunity to drop from the sky. In fact, they are the ones who cease the opportunity once they see one. Even if they do not see one, they create. One example to give is Alvin Phang, one of Singapore's famous blogger who made it in his career. What he does is, he always gives free and quality workshop about blogging, and after which, encourage people to join his two day seminar. Without him promoting these free workshop through newspaper and internet, I'm sure the attendance of his seminar will not be as great.
An Ending Result In Mind. These people know and have "seen" the outcome in whatever they do. A famous quote in the bible, "as a man thinketh, so is he", is how you can program your mind to be. If you think that you are going to fail your exam even before it started, then most likely you will see the outcome that you've expected.
Perseverance. Most successful people failed in their career, their school, for at least once. You may have read different people who started their internet marketing business, for example, that they've purchased products upon products, sign up courses after courses, but haven't seen success. But they persevere, continued to try and error. They made it because of endless tries (you all know Albert Einstein's story, don't you?)

Having said that, we must also not let difficulties and challenges get in our way to give up. If you feel that you are facing some barriers and challenges, do not led yourself to self-pity and blame others. Instead, motivate yourself again by saying "I can do it", "everything is possible" many times until you are ready to move on.

Good Luck!

How to be More Positive in Life

2010-09-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

Is your life filled with negative thoughts and ideas? Are you fed up of losing out in life? If so you need to make some changes and fast. By turning your negative thoughts into positive thoughts you can make the change. By focusing on the positives you will have more success in life and in everything that you do.

You may not even be aware of the amount of negativity that seeps into your life on a daily basis. It comes from TV, from people who interact with and from the voice inside your own head.

The first step in replacing the negatives is to actually become aware of them. Listen to what you are saying. Is it negative or positive? When you find yourself saying negative things, stop, and turn them around into something positive if you can. It is your choice how you see things in life so why not choose to see only the positives. You will be surprised at what it can do.

You should start by cutting down on the amount of news you watch and listen to. Nearly everything on the news today is negative so why are you allowing this negativity into your life? If you watch the news first thing everyday you are starting you day on a negative vibration. Why start the day off badly when you don't have to?

You can try replacing the news with uplifting music or watching something positive and uplifting on the TV. Reading books is another great way to help you absorb positive information. Look for success stories if you want to make a change in your business life. Just by reading their successes you will start to feel more empowered and positive and you will start to take action.

Another way to remove negativity from your life is to limit the amount of TV you watch. Even if you are not engrossed in the program you are watching your subconscious mind will be taking in the messages.

If there are a lot of negative people in your life this is going to be a problem. You should remove them from your life because you don't need them. This is easier said than done but try to at least limit the time you spend with these people. Find positive people to interact with so that you feel good. If your partner is generally negative your positivity will rub off so stay upbeat when you are around them and try not to let them bring you down.

The last and probably the most important place to look when it come to negativity is to yourself. Most of us, although we don't realize it, generate negative self talk all day long. The mind accepts these thoughts as truths so you need to watch what you are saying about yourself and your life. You need to start focusing on the positive aspects of you. What do you like about yourself? What are the things you are most proud of?

You can use visualization and affirmations to help with positivity. Give yourself credit for all the things you do right each day and try not to focus on any of the negative things that may have occurred. End your day by taking the time to list five positive things that happened. You will be surprised at how this affects your sleep and your mood the next morning.

By replacing the negatives in your life with positives you will not only make yourself feel better but you will make your life better too. You will start to focus on the good things and by placing your attention on these you will be drawing more good things into your life. This is how the Law of Attraction works and by being positive you can make it work for you.

How to Simply Simplify Your Life

2010-09-30T19:04:00.000-07:00

It's kind of funny how people get when they decide that they need to simplify their life. Instead of figuring out an easy and relaxed way to do this, they freak out over it. They make all sorts of massive lists, all sorts of pie charts and Venn diagrams. They read thirty books on the subject, and eventually end up complicating their life ten fold in their attempt to simplify it. Think about it this way- doesn't it make sense that a system that will effectively help you simplify your life will be, well, simple?

The first easy step towards effectively simplifying your life is sitting down and making the smallest list possible about what you find to be most important in your life. Don't do this on your computer. A txt or word document is potentially infinite in size, and this will make it possible to make a massive list, or to use a complicated process to create your list. Instead, just take a regular piece of paper (either ruled or computer sheets) and fold it up a couple of times. Ideally, you want to only give yourself to write five things down. Figure out what the top five commitments are, the five most important factors in your life are. Think about what you value, think about what makes you most happy to spend your time on, think about what helps you grow and move forward in your life. Figuring out your priorities is the most important thing to do.

Once you know what your priorities are, subtract one from the list. Go through, figure out what's least important to you, and then remove it from the list. Chances are there's at least one item on your list that you put down there because you feel obligated to rank it as a top priority, even if it brings you neither joy nor progress in your life. Don't kid yourself, and cut the emotional hold it has on you now by removing it from your list. You will not have a mostly accurate list of what's most important in your life. Focus on these things to the exclusion of everything else. Do what you need to so that you can pay your bills and what not, but do the minimum to fulfill your obligations and the maximum to pursue your priorities.

Now that you've made an emotional and intellectual commitment to that which really matters to you in your life, you need to make it a physical reality. Go through your life and remove those things that don't contribute to your priorities and that aren't needs like earning enough money to fund your life. Clean out your desk, clean out your drawers- clean out your computer desktop your inboxes and your to-do lists. Remove all those things that are simply weighing you down and doing nothing for what really is important to you. Just purge those things in your life that will continuously be associated with unimportant aspects of your life. For those items and folders that are related to your financial and other necessary obligations, put them out of sight when you're not using them. For everything else, make sure what you see at all times has a positive association.

Now that you've decided what's important and cleared out space for it in your life, I'm going to make one last suggestion. Look over your list of priorities. If one of them is having a fulfilling social life, then great. You need to be with people to be happy in your life, you can't just be an focused goal machine at all times. If enjoyable human interaction is nowhere on the list, then remove the least important thing remaining on your list and replace it with leaving your house and enjoying your life with people you love.

Students in France live in shipping containers

2010-09-30T18:38:00.001-07:00

About 100 students live in shipping containers in Le Havre, France. These shipping containers are 25 m² (30 yd²) long and it costs €305 a month (That is about 420 dollars a month).

Here is what the containers include:

Equipment: Kitchen, sink, refrigerator, stove, sink, 1 table and 2 chairs
Sanitary: washbasin, shower, toilet
Furniture: 1 unit 1 single bed with a corner shelf, 1 desk, 1 chair, 1 wardrobe
Facilities: telephone socket, TV

here are some pictures of the containers.

In my opinion, they look really nice and comfortable. I'd gladly live there.

What do you guys think?

Privacy Policy

2010-09-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

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Welcome to my blog

2010-09-30T17:46:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

This is my first post. This blog will be about life and random stuff that comes to my mind. I'm a chill and funny person. I love music, movies, video games, computers/softwares, and the internet.. so expect some reviews about Music albums, games, and softwares.

Anyways, I will start posting today, so enough with the welcome message. Looking forward to your comments, my friends.