Technology Slice Blog

Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - The Sydney-to-Hobart fleet has been left battered, bruised and in potential disarray after menacing winds and high seas yesterday cut a swath through its numbers. As the maxi yachts took on the treacherous crossing of Bass Strait, many of the yachts that were a long way behind and still travelling down the southern New South Wales coast were finding the going brutal after a tough first night following Sunday's start. Last night, 12 yachts had withdrawn from the 628- nautical-mile race, including maxi YuuZoo, skippered by Ludde Ingvall, leaving the fleet at 74 vessels. Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Ingvall's 93-foot maxi was the first withdrawal for the day and second for the race after Jazz Player pulled out after damaging a mainsail on Sunday night and returned to Sydney. Jazz Player's skipper Andrew Lawrence said he would wait until the weather calmed this morning before sailing the yacht home to Victoria. ''It's gutting. You...

Daniel Balsam Making Bundle Suing Spammers - Dan Balsam's inbox has been deluged with hundreds and hundreds of e-mails over the past 36 hours. But, for once, the anti-spam crusader is happy about it. The San Francisco lawyer was the subject of a national Associated Press feature; readers may recall SF Weekly penning a story about Balsam back in March. (He candidly told us he was spurred to quit a job in marketing, go to law school, and begin suing spammers out of the frustration of e-mails "promising me bigger breasts and my wife a bigger penis."). Daniel Balsam Making Bundle Suing Spammers The e-mails he's getting now are a bit more pleasant. "Most people are thanking me. Some of them are asking for legal help in states I'm not licensed to practice in. And some of them are calling me a blood-sucking leech," he says with a laugh. "The vast majority of people hate spam and like what I'm doing." Balsam -- who meticulously chronicles ...

Business Hotel for the Dead in Tokyo - A "business hotel for the dead" is now open in Tokyo. That may seem like a really strange business to be in, but the non-profit organization that opened it saw a real need. And they may have a point. The LISS Center's Shin-Kiba facility in Tokyo's Koto Ward is built to handle up to 37 bodies. They are placed in rooms with antibacterial lights to slow the decomposition process. UPI reports the LISS System is operating their business hotel for the dead as a service to the bereaved. Business Hotel for the Dead in Tokyo business hotel for the dead tokyoThe Tokyo-based facility costs 88 USD per night, so it's a temporary stop for a loved one's corpse. The business hotel for the dead allows people a chance to make preparations for the funeral without feeling rushed into it. "We want families to have time to think," said Nyokai Matsushima. So Tokyo's "business hotel for the dead" was created. LIS...

Pay Down Credit Card Debt - To play off that cliche' about how guns don't kill people, people kill people, credit cards don't drive people deep into debt, but they sure do make it easy for people to get there. Credit card debt has become the bane of the American consumer's existence. As hard as we try, it seems that getting completely out from under credit card debt is extremely difficult. Pay Down Credit Card Debt It doesn't help that credit card companies will do everything they can to keep you from paying off that balance. After all, the interest rate they get to charge when you don't is a large portion of their revenue, along with what they charge business to use their cards. Catch 22 Not many people know this and the credit card companies have done a great job keeping it secret, but they regard people who pay off their credit card bills each month and never carry a balance as "deadbeats." Pay Down Credit Card Debt

Garrett Wittels Charged with Rape - Florida International infielder, Garrett Wittels, ended last season with a 56-game hitting streak, and threatens to break Robin Ventura’s college record of 58 if he is able to continue his streak in the 2011 season. However, the college star might not have the opportunity. Wittels has been charged with raping two 17-year-old girls in the Bahamas on December 20th. He was released on $10,000 bond. More information as this story develops… Garrett Wittels Charged with Rape

Air Force Football - Anyone who doesn't feel an emotional tingle when the Air Force football team gathers after each game in front of the band and the cadet wing to sing the school's alma mater is not off to a good start with coach Troy Calhoun. The quiet, emotional power of that moment is something Calhoun cherishes. The 1989 graduate of the academy joins the celebration and sings after each game. "The third verse of the 'Air Force Song' hits home," Calhoun said. "I learned the words in the first three days I was here as a cadet in 1985. I've never forgotten them. I sing it a hair better after a victory. It's a time when you reflect on those who have sacrificed so we can enjoy the fruits and freedoms we have in this country." Air Force Football In four years as Air Force's head coach, Calhoun has seen his star rise. That's not surprising considering he has produced four bowl teams in those four years. The Falcons (8-4) play ...

Aretha Franklin will Die within a Year - The Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who is suffering from pancreatic cancer, has less than a year to live, according to reports. The Respect singer, 68, is suffering from incurable advanced pancreatic cancer, a US magazine claimed. Her family confirmed that she had the disease but refused to give details or discuss her prognosis, reports the Sun. Family and friends are 'very concerned' but said she is doing well. It was earlier reported that the American singer is recovering from surgery to treat pancreatic cancer, She announced last week that she was canceling all her concerts until May on the advice of her doctor, but did not disclose the cause of her illness. Aretha Franklin will Die within a Year

Ricky Pointing Apologizes after Outburst - Ricky ponting has insisted the video umpire was wrong not to award Australia the wicket of Kevin Pietersen in the Boxing Day Test incident that prompted his $5400 fine yesterday. The Australian captain this morning apologised for his prolonged complaints to on-field umpires Aleem Dar and Tony Hill but justified his challenging of the verdict of video-umpire Marais Erasmus, insisting Pietersen had inside-edged a delivery from Ryan Harris on day two at the MCG. Ricky Pointing Apologizes after Outburst "I had a chance to look at it again last night. I still, in my heart and in my mind, believe that he inside-edged that ball," Ponting told ABC Radio. "I think if you look at the replay properly, in the way that it needs to be looked at, I think everyone will understand that Hot-Spot mark wasn't a long way away from where the ball passed the bat ... but that's irrelevant now. The decision was made and I've got to ge...

Richard Chamberlain, Don't Come Out - Richard Chamberlain, who came out as gay in a 2003 memoir after having starred as '60s heartthrob Dr. Kildare and the romantic lead of "The Thorn Birds" (1983) and other TV movies and miniseries, says in a new interview that, "Personally, I wouldn't advise a gay leading man-type actor to come out." Speaking to The Advocate, in a Q&A posted on the magazine's website last week, Chamberlain, 76, said, "Despite all the wonderful advances that have been made, it's still dangerous for an actor to talk about that in our extremely misguided culture. Look at what happened in California with Proposition 8," the state amendment in 2008 that banned gay marriage. "Please, don't pretend that we're suddenly all wonderfully, blissfully accepted." Richard Chamberlain, Don't Come Out Some gay stars do successfully play straight romantic parts - among them Sean Hayes with his Tony Awar...

Natalie Portman Pregnant - Actress Natalie Portman is engaged to a ballet dancer and choreographer and expecting her first child with him, People magazine reported on Monday. The 29 year-old actress met the French choreographer, Benjamin Millepied, during the production of her newly released movie, "Black Swan," which has earned her Oscar buzz. Millepied, born in Bordeaux, France, is a principal dancer and choreographer at the New York City Ballet. In "Black Swan" Portman plays a New York ballerina whose obsession with technical perfection takes a heavy toll on her mind and body. Natalie Portman Pregnant

Advocare Independence Bowl - Four Yellow Jackets will not play in the bowl due to academic issues, while three Yellow Jackets will sit out the first half after missing curfew. Starting safety Mario Edwards and starting wide receiver Stephen Hill, along with reserve outside linebacker Anthony Barnes and reserve defensive end Robert Hall, will not play in the bowl. Starting outside linebacker Anthony Egbuniwe and reserve defensive backs Michael Peterson and Louis Young will sit out the first half. What's more, quarterback Josh Nesbitt is not expected to play after breaking his arm in the November 4 contest against Virginia Tech. Keeping in mind that Tevin Washington has played well since taking over the starting job for the final three games of the season, the suspensions and key injury could tip the scale in Air Force's favor if it wasn't already leaning that way before. The Yellow Jackets rank first in rushing offense, averaging 327 yards per game, and Air Force ranks se...

Benjamin Millepied Engaged to Natalie Portman - Natalie Portman gave Christmas-coma-induced celebrity watchers and fans a shock Monday when she announced that she's pregnant and engaged to Black Swan co-star Benjamin Millepied. So just who is the man who stole Portman's heart? He's a 33-year-old French-born principal dancer at the New York City Ballet who choreographed the ballet scenes in the psychological thriller, for which Portman is garnering Oscar buzz. Benjamin Millepied Engaged to Natalie Portman When doing press for the film, the mere mention of Millepied's name to Portman triggered an automatic response: "I never talk about my private life." But Swan director Darren Aronofsky did. "I asked (Portman and Millepied) the other day if I get credit for that," he says. "They said, 'You get credit.' He is amazing. He is a serious guy who is doing very serious things with his life. I think it is a very good match." Ben...

Celebrity Babies of 2010 - The year is almost over and it's time to wrap up the long list of celebrity babies born in 2010. Who welcomed their first child and who had their seventh? What wacky baby names did they come up with this year? From Ever Irme to Billie Beatrice, check out 2010's celebrity offspring below. Oh, and 2011 is shaping up to be a big baby year too with expected births from Pink, Mariah Carey, Natalie Portman, Joey McIntye, David Schwimmer, Drea de Matteo, Autumn Reeser, Kim Zolciak, Rachel Zoe and Toni Collette. Celebrity Babies of 2010 Alanis gave birth on Christmas Day to her first child, a boy named Ever Irme. Ali and hubby Hayes MacArthur had their first child, Theodore Hayes, about two weeks ago. After suffering a miscarriage last year, Celine gave birth to twins, Eddy and Nelson, in October. Sandra adopted baby she named Louis Bardo despite the aftermath of her very messy divorce. Celebrity Babies of 2010

Jeff Probst Survivor's New Rules - After 21 seasons, the producers hope to shake up the Survivor franchise with the introduction of a new twist – second chances! – and a new rule about quitters. On Survivor: Redemption Island, which premieres Feb. 16 on CBS, when a contestant is voted off, he or she won't leave the game completely but go instead to Redemption Island, where he or she will face off against the next person voted off in a duel. The winner lives on to face the next arrival at Redemption Island until one person left standing has a chance to return to the game. Jeff Probst Survivor's New Rules "We did a haphazard version of Redemption Island a few years ago called the Outcasts," host Jeff Probst explained to Entertainment Weekly. "It didn't work and it didn't please the audience and there was one fundamental flaw – we didn't tell people up front it was going to happen ... So I have no problem with people coming back into the game ...

Man Faces Criminal Charges for Hacking Wife's E-Mail - Michigan resident Leon Walker faces a peculiar predicament: he’s been charged with a felony for secretly checking out his wife’s email account. Using his wife’s password, Walker accessed her Gmail account and learned she allegedly was having an affair, according to this article in the Detroit Free Press. State prosecutors in Michigan have charged Walker under a statute used typically to prosecute identity theft or theft of trade secrets, the Free Press Reports. Walker, who divorced his wife this month, faces a criminal trial in February and up to 5 years in prison. Man Faces Criminal Charges for Hacking Wife's E-Mail A few weeks back, we noted that the Sixth Circuit had ruled that people have a reasonable expectation that their emails will remain private and further that the government needs a search warrant to snoop through emails stored by Internet Service Providers. But criminal charges for surreptitiously c...

Winter Break Activities - If your kids were good this year, they probably have some toys from Santa to keep them busy during this school-free week. But if they were really, really good, you might just want to treat them to one of these fun events, too. "BARRON HILTON: PIONEERS OF FLIGHT" The National Air and Space Museum's exhibit of aviation and rocketry in the 1920s and '30s reopened recently with additional artifacts and hands-on activities for kids. On display are the Fokker T-2, the first plane to fly nonstop across the United States, and one of the first planes to fly around the world. Winter Break Activities Open daily 10 to 5:30. Sixth Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000. www.nasm.si.edu . Free. "WINTER WONDERLAND" Glen Echo's puppet stage presents a post-Christmas Tiny Tots performance that's designed for children four and younger. (The Puppet Co. is also showing "The Nutcracker" through Friday for older kids.)...

Miley Cyrus Racy Pictures - Seemingly always involved in some sort of drama these days, Miley Cyrus is once again facing a photo leak consisting of a few racy personal pictures. The latest offering contains no nudity while depicting the "Hannah Montana" star clad in a barely-there dress as her assistant pretended to delve in for a chest lick. Miley Cyrus Racy Pictures Miley's latest photo snafu comes just a month after the teens tar made headlines upon being shown on videotape smoking a bong allegedly packed with salvia as part of her 18th birthday celebrations. None-too-pleased with his daughter's actions, Billy Ray has let it be known that Miley's doings are beyond his control - as he's currently in the midst of separating from now ex-wife, Tish. Miley Cyrus Racy Pictures

Weirdest Celebrity Baby Names - Popular baby name website babynamewizard.com selects one name to represent the cultural zeitgeist. And this year, for the first time ever, the name of the year is actually not a name at all. This, according to Laura Wattenberg, author of the babynamewizard blog and the baby name guidebook of the same name, has been the Year Of The Un-Name. The year when the coolest names weren’t names at all, but Words-As-Names. So why 2010? Gwyneth Paltrow named her baby Apple six years ago. Weirdest Celebrity Baby Names It’s not that unconventional personal branding is so new. What’s different now is that people don’t even think it’s weird anymore. Pop stars used to have single names (Cher, Madonna) because it was unusual. Now they do it because it’s something people associate with pop stars. This year’s top name isn’t a pop star’s per se. It’s attached to a member of that relatively new breed of people who are famous for being famous: Reality TV stars. Ye...

Top Baby Names of 2010 - Vampires, Harry Potter, Obamarama and celeb picks: they're all big, and growing for 2010. Jacob and Emma may have reigned as the top baby names of 2009 on Social Security's list, but Parenting.com readers set their own naming trends. Here's what you named your kids in '09 -- and what you might be naming them in 2010. Tons of readers searched for Wmffre (variation of Humphrey, German, peaceful, pronounced OOM-fre) and Eithne (Irish, fairy, pronounced ITH-nee) - though we've yet to meet a child of either name, so we're guessing you were just curious! Not surprisingly, perennial faves Ella (English, beautiful fairy) and Aiden (Irish, fiery) came in tops this year; and though we're not sure if Britney's made a complete comeback, her son's name Jayden (Hebrew, God has heard) is still a hot pick. Gossip Girl stayed strong this year as well, with Leighton (English, from the meadow) moving up from spot 50 into 15, and First Family...

Kelsey Grammer Quick Divorce - Kelsey Grammer is after a quick divorce, it seems. He's eager to marry his new girlfriend, so he's been asking the judge handling his divorce from Camille to put booster rockets on that process. What, is the new girl pregnant? The legal term for the process Grammer's asked the judge for is called "bifurcation." This would allow the divorce to go forward but split the alimony and asset splitting to be handled afterward. And yes, Kelsey Grammer's new lady is pregnant. Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh attend the after party for the New York premiere of Blue Valentine hosted by Quintessentially at Boom Boom Room on December 7, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for The Weinstein Company) kelsey grammer quick divorce,camille grammer,kayte walsh Kelsey Grammer Quick Divorce TMZ broke the news of Kelsey Grammer's quick divorce request earlier today. His girlfriend Kayte Walsh was noted by TMZ as bei...

Michael Douglas Palm Springs Fest - Michael Douglas will be honored with the Icon Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival next month. The Icon Award "honors a creative talent who, through the course of his or her career, has created a body of work which symbolizes the highest level of achievement in the motion picture art form," festival organizers said. The actor is set to receive the honor at a Jan. 13 presentation as part of the festival's Talking Pictures: The Contenders series, which focuses on Oscar front-runners. The event will include a selection of clips from Douglas' movies, an onstage conversation with the actor and a screening of his film Solitary Man. Michael Douglas Palm Springs Fest "We're thrilled to have the opportunity to honor Michael Douglas at a time when both his creative prowess and his contributions to world cinema have never been more evident -- or more deserving of celebration," festival director Darryl Ma...

Leann Rimes Eddie Cibrian Engaged - Country singer LeAnn Rimes got engaged over the holidays with Eddie Cibrian. Rimes confirmed her engagement to Cibrian over the microblogging Web site Twitter. "Eddie and I got engaged over the holidays," the 28-year-old singer writes. "It's for real this time and the first time EVER!" Rimes and Cibrian were rumoured to be set on getting married since last month, but Rimes has denied the engagement which was reported by E! News. The entertainment outlet then said that Rimes was upset because she and Cibrian wanted to give their engagement as an exclusive to another outlet. Leann Rimes Eddie Cibrian Engaged But Rimes has chosen to break the news through Twitter. The singer further wrote: "It was nice to have our little secret for us our families and friend's a few days! So excited to now share the wonderful news with our fans." "Thank you for all your well wishes!! We are extremely excited and look...

Oscar Ballots Mailed - The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced they've mailed out the Oscar nomination ballots to 5,755 voting members of the Academy. Ballots are due back on January 14, 2011 at 5pm PT (and yes, they are very strict about that deadline). There are 248 feature films eligible to be considered in the Best Picture category, and it would be really interesting to learn how many films on average each Academy voter watches before casting his or her votes. Studios mail out screeners of films they are pushing, but the numbers of screeners sent out is nowhere near 248. Oscar Ballots Mailed PricewaterhouseCoopers is once again in charge of tallying the votes. Nominees will be announced on Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at 5:30 a.m. PT. The 83rd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 27, 2011, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood, CA. Oscar Ballots Mailed

Alia Rose Rose Le Beau - What a sad couple days for this family. Alia Rose celebrated Christmas and her birthday, but the next day Teena Marie’s daughter found her passed away in bed. The mother was a R&B legend who was one of the few white women to make it big. The day after Christmas she was found dead and unfortunately it was her child who found her. So who exactly is Alia Rose? The 19 year old has followed in her mother’s footsteps and performs under the name Rose Le Beau. As you can see below Teena Marie’s daughter has even done some music with her. Alia Rose Rose Le Beau The mom was 54 when she died and had many popular songs including her pop hit “Lovergirl.” She grew up listening to R&B and therefore that is what style she sang. Her only child has a pretty powerful voice too and will hopefully be able to continue her legacy. We all wish her family, loved ones and fans the best in this tough time, especially Teena Marie’s daughter who is so young and discovere...

Natalie Portman - People magazine reported this morning that Natalie Portman, the star of the sexy ballet thriller, is pregnant and that the father is her on-set coach and trainer Benjamin Millepied, to whom the actress is also engaged. She has since confirmed the report. The pregnancy, of course, wasn't arranged by distributor Fox Searchlight (we hope), but the news could boost the film just the same. Portman's movie is at this moment rolling out in a big way -- in fact, the art-house hit just nearly doubled its number of theaters as it tries to cross into the mainstream -- and having an actress in the news for a romance that began during the film's production will likely only help it. Natalie Portman It won't hurt, either, that there are some parallels between Portman's real-life story and the story of her character, Nina Sayers. No, not the hallucinating-about-a-doppelganger part. But the movie is, after all, about the transformation of a young woman's...

LaGuardia Airport - LaGuardia Airport reopened around 4 p.m. EST on Monday after 12 hours of closure since 4 a.m. due to the Nor'easter blizzard that hit New York and surrounding states midday on Sunday. The general arrival and departure delays at the airport are now within 15 minutes, according to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “Weather conditions at LGA Airport have caused disruptions in flight activity. ... Please check with your airline before traveling to LGA to determine if your flight is affected,” reads an alert issued by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey early Monday. John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport—the other two major airports in the New York area—are expected to open at 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday evening, respectively, according to the FAA. LaGuardia Airport

iPad Mossberg Best of 2010 - Wall Street Journal columnist Walt Mossberg weighed in Monday with his picks for the best and worst tech products of 2010, with Apple products dominating his "best of" lists. Mossberg's favorite product of the year was the Apple iPad, followed by 4G wireless networks and a third-place tie between the Samsung Galaxy S and Apple iPhone 4. On the worst list were the Dell Streak, Google TV, and the TiVo Premiere. Did PCMag analysts agree with Mossberg this year? iPad Mossberg Best of 2010 When audio analyst Tim Gideon first got his hands on the iPad earlier this year, he too was impressed. The tablet earned 4.5 out of 5 rating and secured our Editor's Choice. Despite the lack of Flash support or a camera, the sleek design and overall experience made the iPad a must-have device. As for 4G networks, mobile analyst Sascha Segan reviewed Verizon's 4G LTE network earlier this month and found it to be "the Cadillac of wireless ne...

Woman Arrested Christmas Tree Attack Francheska Terrero - There has been a Christmas tree attack which has resulted in the arrest of a woman. At around 12:30 a.m. on Friday, Christmas Eve, police were called to the residence of a West Hartford family. This could be one of the strangest domestic abuse cases ever. According to MSNBC, police received a call from a woman who said that her 19-year-old daughter was attacking her husband with the family Christmas tree. Officers arrived to find the tree on its side. Ornaments were strewn around the room and broken. Woman Arrested Christmas Tree Attack Francheska Terrero Francheska Terrero, their daughter, was extremely drunk, according to the officers who arrived at the scene. She was also belligerent. Aside from attacking her parents with the Christmas tree, Francheska also grabbed the phone from her mother as she called the police and hurled it at her father. Do you suppose Francheska was on Santa’s naughty list this year? The gir...

Health Tests Men Need - The length of a man's index finger may indicate his prostate cancer risk, a recent study conducted by The University of Warwick and the Institute of Cancer Research found. The research findings were published in the British Journal of Cancer, causing a buzz in the medical community and among men concerned about their prostate health. According to the study, if your index finger is longer than your ring finger, you are at a 33% lower risk for prostate cancer than when the hand pattern is reversed; ring finger longer than index finger. The length of the first and third finger is set in the womb. Researchers over a 15-year period collected data on finger length in 1,524 patients with prostate cancer as well as 3,044 healthy men. They found that more than half the men had the more common pattern of shorter index to ring finger. Health Tests Men Need Men with both fingers of the same length had the same risk as those with shorter index to ring finger....

Surgically Implanted Webcam Wafaa Bilal - What does it feel like to have a computer webcam surgically implanted in your skull? "It hurts," Wafaa Bilal told AOL News. And who better than he to know? A month ago, he underwent surgery to do exactly that -- install a small, Internet-connected camera into the back of his head. Surgically Implanted Webcam Wafaa Bilal "The pain has gone down by a significant amount, but the healing process is still ongoing," says Bilal. "I feel the camera in my skin, even though the majority of the pain is gone." And why exactly did he do this? Why else? -- for art. Bilal is one of 23 artists whose works were commissioned as part of the grand opening of Mathaf: The Arab Museum of Modern Art in Doha, Qatar. For a project called "The Third I," Bilal -- a professor of photography at New York University -- will wear his newly implanted camera, dubbed the 3rdi, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the next y...

Weight Loss Resorts - A weight loss resort is a word for various spas, resorts and retreats offering weight loss programs for adults. A pejorative term, perhaps more widely used, is fat farm. Weight loss camps have existed in the United States in large numbers since the 1950s. Some of these achieved their touted weight loss through forced low-calorie diets and exercise, and were criticized as "quick fixes" that did not result in long-term weight loss. Many modern weight loss resorts, particularly luxury resorts, take an approach geared more towards encouraging a healthy lifestyle and eating behavior than just achieving short-term weight loss. Programs like yoga, mediation and deep-breathing exercises may be offered in addition to traditional exercise. Many offer the chance to consult with medical doctors, physical therapists, nutritionists, personal trainers, even acupuncturists and life coaches. Weight Loss Resorts

Kate William Holiday Apart - According to NBC's Today Show, the "it" couple of the moment, Prince William and Catherine Middleton, spent Christmas apart this year. As YA Pop Culture let you know before the holiday, the newly engaged couple, who will have the world's attention upon them when they marry in a public ceremony this spring, had different plans for their last Christmas as unmarried young adults. According to Robert Jobson of News of the World, reporting on NBC's Today Show, the couple spent Christmas Eve together at Prince Charles's country home, Highgrove. Kate William Holiday Apart Then Prince William volunteered to work on Christmas Day in his job as a search and rescue pilot for the RAF. The RAF, Mr. Jobson said, likes to give holiday time off to men and women with families and encourages single adults to work in their stead. Catherine Middleton went to her parents' home when she spent Christmas Day with her family "for the fina...

Return Gifts Etiquette - It's quite impossible to make everyone happy all the time. Just think back to those gifts you've received, when you wished someone had offered you the receipt for an exchange or a refund. Unless you are living with someone day to day and share identical taste in everything; it can be difficult to pinpoint the perfect present. There are other circumstances that provide a gray area concerning when it's appropriate to return presents. Return Gifts Etiquette It's perfectly fine to return the duplicates-and of course write a thank you to each gift giver. Should any of those people see the singular remaining gift at your home, it is fine to let them assume that this is the one and only version you received.Most gift givers really want to please the gift recipient, so your friend may be perfectly happy to know that you exchanged her gift for something that matches your pattern. If that approach doesn't feel right, and your friend will never ...

Early Births New Health Risks - The number of women having early births has increased dramatically during the past two decades, which may create new health risks for newborns. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average time a fetus spends in the womb has decreased by seven days in the United States since 1992. Early Births New Health Risks Researchers say shorter pregnancies coincide with a large number of women and doctors now scheduling childbirth for convenience. But shortening a pregnancy could affect a baby's lung development, vision, weight and some fine-tuning of the brain. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have begun notifying doctors about the serious consequences of performing early elective births. Early Births New Health Risks

Kindle Best-Selling on Amazon - Amazon on Monday claimed that the third-generation Kindle was the all-time bestselling item in all of its stores and wasn't necessarily suffering due to Apple. The holiday helped push it past Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Both the Wi-Fi and 3G versions were the top items during the holiday, with Apple's 8GB iPod touch occupying third place in electronics. Appropriately, Christmas represented the best ever single day for new Kindle activations, book downloads and mobile app downloads for competing platforms. The company still refused to provide hard sales figures for the Kindle but was consciously aware of concerns that iPads might replace Kindles. Many Kindle buyers were often getting one in addition to an "LCD tablet," CEO Jeff Bezos said in a veiled allusion to the market-topping iPad. Many were using their tablets for apps, gaming and the web, but immediately switching to the Kindle for dedicated reading. Kindle Best-S...

Philadelphia Airport Cancellations - Airlines based at Philadelphia International Airport plan to resume flights in a few hours as a major snowstorm begins to taper. About 1,200 travelers were stranded at the airport overnight as a major snowstorm passed over the Philadelphia and its suburbs on Sunday, forcing airlines to cancel flights, according to Victoria Lupica, a spokewoman for the airport. Philadelphia Airport Cancellations A number of overnight and early morning flights were canceled due to the winter storm. Airport personnel worked to make stranded passengers more comfortable, offering food, water and juice as well as pillows and blankets. An exact tally of canceled flights was not yet available this morning, but Lupica said a primary runway was kept open throughout the storm. "We have been operational in terms of arrivals and departures," Lupica said in a phone interview. The airport mobilized 400 employees who made use of 200 pieces of snow removal equ...

Manchester NH Airport Deserted - The Manchester-Boston Regional Airport is open but nearly deserted, as a dangerous winter storm on the East Coast has grounded flights in and out. The first outbound flight Monday that was not canceled was a 9:50 a.m. Continental Airlines flight to Cleveland, but airport workers doubted it would get out. Security checkpoint workers stood idle at their posts, no passengers for them to screen. Manchester NH Airport Deserted Alicia Kinney, a 25-year-old mission worker from Columbus, Ohio., said her Sunday flight to Newark, N.J., was canceled, and Continental could not get her a confirmed seat until Wednesday. Kinney slept overnight on benches in the baggage claim area before moving up to the food court Monday morning. The storm brought wind gusts of more than 50 mph and dumped a foot of snow over much of New England. Manchester NH Airport Deserted

Hugh Hefner Gets Engaged - Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner says he's gotten engaged again. Hefner said in a Twitter message early Saturday that he'd given a ring to girlfriend and Playmate Crystal Harris, saying she burst into tears. Hugh Hefner Gets Engaged

Jim Tressel Leaving Ohio - Earlier this evening an online “reporter” from the http://www.chicagonow.com/ wrote an article that Ohio State Buckeye’s head coach Jim Tressel was stepping down as head coach after the Sugar Bowl. The news caused quite a shack up on the popular social media site twitter.com as his name “Jim Tressel,” went straight to the world wide trending topics list on the micro-blogging site. They reported that Tressel decided to leave at five key players for the buckeyes have been suspended for the first five games in the 2011 season, and reported an outlandish number of supposed violations while Tressel is head coach. However, Ohio State Athletic Director Gene Smith, tweeted from his verified twitter.com account that these rumors started by Chicago now are completely false, and even NBC sports are reporting that the rumors of Tressel’s departure is false. Jim Tressel Leaving Ohio

Scarlett Johansson Divorce 2 - Ryan Reynolds has started the official divorce process from wife Scarlett Johansson — the couple announced their separation a few weeks ago. Guess they changed their minds on not divorcing immediately! Ryan filed for divorce on Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, and Scarlett filed her response simultaneously. They both cited the date of their separation as December 14th. Neither Ryan “Sexiest Man Alive” Reynolds nor Scarlett are seeking spousal support. Well, on the bright side, at least they can kick off the New Year with a clean slate! Scarlett Johansson Divorce 2

Living to 100 - Living to 100 is easier than you might think. A new research by the University of Georgia has provided new clues on surviving to be 100 years old, finding that how we feel about ourselves and our ability to adapt to an accumulation of challenging life experiences may be as or more important than health factors. Researchers used information collected as part of the Georgia Centenarian Study, one of only two centenarian studies in the country, to measure psychological and social factors in addition to genetics and health of so-called expert survivors. Living to 100 Two hundred forty-four people aged 100 years or older were studied between 2001 and 2009. The research found that critical life events and personal history, along with how people adapt to stressful situations and cope with them are essential to explaining successful aging. "Understanding health in these terms has huge implications for quality of life," said Leonard Poon, director of the Ins...

Charlie Sheen Death Hoax - Charlie Sheen's ex-wife Denise Richards has slammed the death rumour of 'Two And A Half Men' star insisting that the actor is 'alive' and doing well. Sheen's death hoax circulated the Internet this weekend but his ex Richards, slammed the reports later that day, reports the New York Daily News . The "Wild Things" star tweeted "the rumor about Charlie Sheen is not true. He is alive and on his way over to see his daughters. Thank u all your concern (sic)." Charlie Sheen Death Hoax It's unclear where the rumors of Sheen's demise began, but social media websites including Twitter and Facebook left fans and curious gawkers wondering if the star had died in a snowboarding accident. According to one report on a website called Global Associated News, Sheen lost control of his snowboard and crashed into a tree. But thanks in part to Richards, Twitter followers eventually figured out that the actor was ju...

Snowfall Totals - December 26-27th, 2010: The first major winter snow storm of the season piled up snow accumulations of up to 16-inches or more around the Providence, Rhode Island area. The good news is there is no school this week, so snow removal crews don't have to contend with school buses on the roads. Bllizzard of 2010 As of 9:00am, the National Weather Service (NOAA) still has their blizzard warning up until 12 noon today. Heavy snow and potentially damaging winds with considerable blowing and drifting of snow, with a total snow accumulation of 10 to 16 -inches of snow is expected by the time the whole storm is over. The weather forecast is calling for the snow to taper off and sunny skies to return this afternoon, although the wind will make it seem like it's still snowing. Snowfall Totals Snow Removal Could be a Problem with High Winds and Drifting Snow WPRI.com in Providence, reports cleanup crews are out in force trying to their best to remove over a foot ...

State of Emergency New Jersey - Acting New Jersey Governor and Senate President Stephen Sweeney has continued the statewide weather state of emergency and ordered that state offices stay closed today. "The snow may have ended, but the high winds will continue to keep things treacherous. I urge all residents to stay home and stay off the roads," Sweeney said. State of Emergency New Jersey "The State Police, Office of Emergency Management and Department of Transportation have been working nonstop to clear snow and help stranded motorists. I thank everyone who had been working through the night for their dedicated service," he continued. Sweeney says the most important thing for residents to do is to stay safe, and he is encouraging everyone to check on elderly neighbors. "The worst of the storm is behind us, but we all still need to be careful and to look out for each other," he said. State of Emergency New Jersey

Flight Status - JFK International Airport was closed Sunday night due to a blizzard that swept across the Northeastern United States on the day after Christmas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center. The airport is scheduled to reopen on Monday, Dec. 27 at 5 a.m. Over 1,400 flights were canceled at JFK, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty Airports on Sunday, according to NY1. All three New York City metro airports are now closed, leaving many travelers unable to enter or leave New York City. Flight Status The Noreaster, which dumped several inches of snow across parts of New York City, New Jersey, and Delaware all the way north to Massachusetts and New Hampshire, threw a wrench into the plans of travelers, who voiced their disappointment on Twitter. “NY’s JFK airport is closed. Seems like NY for New Year’s isn’t happening,” @sidv tweeted. Flight Status

LIRR Still Suspended - Long Island Rail Road passenger service was still suspended in both directions Monday morning as the nation's busiest commuter rail system worked to clear snow from its tracks. "Right now, we have no estimate of when service will resume," spokesman Sam Zambuto said. "We're continuing to work at clearing the third rail and switches." When service does resume, Zambuto said it would operate on a holiday schedule. Service was still suspended as of 10 a.m. Monday. LIRR Still Suspended

MTA New York City (NYC) - The blizzard of 2010 has been so powerful it's got thundersnow and sent flurries into the subway system. Now the real question: WTF happens tomorrow when many of us head to work. Mayor Bloomberg said, "If you have to go out today, please leave the cars at home—take mass transit and be careful." He also said that if you have to drive, please wait a few hours so streets can be plowed, "I know it’s inconvenient, sometimes it can be expensive. But nothing is worth losing your life over this." Bloomberg said at a press conference at a Department of Sanitation facility where plows and other snow removing equipment are stored, "The latest weather reports are qualifying this storm as a blizzard, and unfortunately our city is directly in the path. The meteorologists at the National Weather Service are telling us that we may see up to 16 inches of snow, as well as gale force winds that could reach up to 55 mph." Sanitation Commission...

Rachel Uchitel Starts New Carrer as Private Investigator - Rachel Uchitel became infamous in 2009-2010 because, well, the woman is a serial, professional mistress. But she's focused on a new career now. One which still involves sneaking around, interestingly. In an ironic twist, the woman whose clandestine relationships with David Boreanaz and Tiger Woods gained national attention wants to be a P.I. “I decided to go back to school and get my private investigation license! I’ve learned to shoot a weapon. I had to Taser someone,” Uchitel told Fox 411. “I even had to get pepper sprayed, so I know what the effects are." Rachel Uchitel Starts New Carrer as Private Investigator Somewhere, Elin Nordegren wishes she could've done the honors. "I’ve already gone under cover," says the aspiring investigator. "In court, we actually do real stuff for the investigator who’s teaching the class." Rachel Uchitel was generally pretty good at hiding her r...

Calvin Wright Pearl Removed After 41 years - An Athens, Ga., man recently discovered he had a pearl stuck in his ear — for more than four decades. Calvin Wright was always a loud talker, and he finally knows why. The 46-year-old had a pearl from his mother's necklace stuck in his ear since he was five years old, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Wright found the lost gem earlier this month when he went to the emergency room with bronchitis. "The nurse was checking my ear and said, ‘Do you use Q-Tips?'" Wright told the Journal-Constitution. "I said yes, and she said, ‘You've got one in your right ear, I'll get it out.' She tried getting it and then she was like, ‘Whoa, this is hard. This is not a Q-Tip. Looks like you got a pearl in your ear.'" A specialist removed the pearl, which Wright kept. Calvin Wright Pearl Removed After 41 years When Wright was five, his mom left him and his sister home with the babysitter. The sib...

Cisco Adler Engaged to Model Barbara Stoyanoff - Shwayze’s better half, Cisco Adler, is getting hitched! The music maker has recently confirmed that he popped the question to his girlfriend, Barbara Stoyanoff about a month ago and the couple plans to walk down the aisle in February. Cisco was once engaged to Mischa Barton and dated Kimberly Stewart, but we think this Brazilian model is a definite upgrade! Cisco Adler Engaged to Model Barbara Stoyanoff

Find Apps for your iPhone Phone - The iTunes App Store is huge. More than 300,000 apps huge. I’ve watched this monster start from nothing and turn into a billion-dollar industry in only a few short years. We’ve been approaching this point for some time now, but it’s more apparent than ever that app exposure is of critical importance. A healthy majority of iOS app users discover new applications directly from their device as opposed to using iTunes. If you look specifically at the iPhone, the amount of real estate for discovery is only available to a very small percentage of the total apps. There are currently 20 overall categories, with Games offering an additional 20 subcategories. Each subcategory is broken into three lists and displays a max of 100 apps on the iPhone. Throw in a small number from the Top 25 and Featured lists and you wind up with roughly 12,000 apps being shown at one time. This works out to only about 4% of all apps that receive visibility. One can browse beyond...

Beyonce Trainer Holiday Fitness Tips - Singer Beyoncé is known for being "bootylicious," and many females seem to want to emulate her body style. Now women can get an idea of how to do that, thanks to her personal trainer who recently offered fitness tips on staying healthy during the holidays, something many people might need right about now. Nov. 23, 2010 - New York, New York, U.S. - Singer/actress BEYONCE KNOWLES attends the Lorraine Schwartz '2B Happy' Jewelry Launch held at Lavo. © Red Carpet Pictures According to a report from Popeater, Beyoncé's fitness trainer is Marco Borges. Borges works with several other famous females in Hollywood, including Shakira and Gwen Stefani. He has written the book "Power Moves: The Four Motions to Transform your Body for Life," currently selling on Amazon. He recently offered five great tips for holiday diet and exercise success. Beyonce Trainer Holiday Fitness Tips One of Marco's tips is to plan ahead...

JFK Airport Closed - A blizzard on the East Coast has forced the closure of New York area airports and more than 1,400 flights in the area have been canceled, according to reports. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, on its Web site, announced the closure of John F. Kennedy International Airport late Sunday night: "Weather conditions at JFK Airport have caused disruptions in flight activity. The airport is currently closed. Please check with your airline before traveling to JFK to determine if your flight is affected." JFK Airport Closed More flight cancelations at the three major airports in the New York area are expected Monday. CNN, citing the Federal Aviation Administration, is reporting that Newark airport was scheduled to reopen at noon EST, LaGuardia at 2 p.m. and JFK at 4 p.m. on Monday. But airlines say they don't expect normal service to resume until Tuesday, the Associated Press reports. JFK Airport Closed

NJ State of Emergency 2010 Due To Blizzard - Mayor Dawn Zimmer has declared a Hoboken in a state of emergency as high winds blow heavy snowfall throughout the state. Yet, City Hall will be remain open Monday and all essential employees are required to report to work, according to a news release from the city. Zimmer is urging residents to stay indoors and reminds them that all sidewalks must be cleared of snow within six hours of the end of the storm, which is predicted to taper off by tomorrow evening. Dumping or shoveling snow into restricted fire hydrants areas or into City streets is a violation of the law and subject to a fine. NJ State of Emergency 2010 Due To Blizzard In the meantime, the Hoboken Parking Utility will allow Hoboken residents with residential parking permits to keep their vehicles in Garages B and D for $5 from 4 this afternoon to 8 a.m. tomorrow. NJ Transit has suspended all bus service as of 8:30 tonight and all rail lines will be operating on enhance...

Sound of Music Cast Reunites - “Do, a deer, a female deer,” who would forget that song from the Sound of Music which is a highly accalimed Broadway musical and then musical movie decades ago. The Sound of Music Cast reuinited at the Oprah Winfrey show, October 2010 and reminisce the old memories they have together as part of the musical show. Ophah Winfrey Show’s feature on the reunion of The Sound of Music Cast was done in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the film. The original episode was aired October but it was re-aired as part of the favorite episode of Oprah’s final season. When we heard about the word final, we do hope that it will not be since many really loved this show but that is another story. Among those who are present in the Sound of Music cast reunion was Christopher Plummer. Plummer had never been into any reunion but he did come during the Oprah reunion episode and talked about the 1965 Sound of Music film. He also gave some rare glimpse on never before sho...

Von Trapp Family Singers - Every year a Julie Andrews musical plays around Christmas time. Between Mary Poppins and Sounds of Music, it is hard to tell which is the favorite. Princess Diaries (with Juilie Andrews) cannot even compare to the greatness of these older movies, although to many it ingrained into their childhood memories, and is a perfectcly nice movie. Sound of Music has so many parrallels to today's poltiical climate worldwide that it's a trifle scary. It is inspriing to watch the courage of Captain Von Trapp, standing up for his convictions, Although in checking stories of the real Von Trapp family singers, there are a few versions of the story. No matter your age though, this family story is inspriing and relatest to all ages. Von Trapp Family Singers Recently Oprah had a reunion of the great grandchildren of the Von Trapp family, who are billed as the Von Trapp Children Singers. The "children" performing are the great grandchildren of Mar...

Mike Singletary Fired - Mike Singletary has been fired as coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Team officials announced the firing after the 49ers returned to San Francisco from St. Louis, where they'd lost 25-17 and fell to 5-10 on the season. Mike Singletary Fired The Niners had been the pre-season pick to win the NFC West but the team lost its first five games this season. Singletary fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye three weeks into the season and switched starting quarterbacks several times. Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was made interim head coach for San Francisco's season-ending game Sunday versus Arizona. Tomsula has been on the 49ers' staff for four seasons. San Francisco was 18-22 under Singletary, a Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker from his playing days with the Chicago Bears. Singletary took over the team in October 2008. Mike Singletary Fired

GSI Commerce - GSI Commerce (NASDAQ: GSIC) closed Tuesday's trading session at $23.12. In the past year, the stock has hit a 52-week low of $20.87 and 52-week high of $31.35. GSI Commerce stock has been showing support around $22.57 and resistance in the $23.55 range. Technical indicators for the stock are Bearish. For a hedged play on this stock, look at the Apr '11 $20.00 covered call for a net debit in the $19.12 area. That is also the break-even stock price for this trade. This covered call has a duration of 115 days, provides 17.30% downside protection and an assigned return rate of 4.60% for an annualized return rate of 14.61% (for comparison purposes only). GSI Commerce does not pay dividends at this time GSI Commerce

Cold Cap Therapy Prevent Hair Loss - Chemotherapy hair loss is a problem that many cancer patients undergoing treatment have to deal with at one time or another. A recent innovation though may make hair loss caused by the radiation and chemotherapy preventable. The products in question are called "Penguin Cold Caps". Cold Cap Therapy Prevent Hair Loss The manufacturer's web side provides the following details on these products: Studies have shown that cooling the scalp has been found to reduce hair loss following chemotherapy. In 1990 Medical Specialities of California took up the idea of reducing chemotherapy hair loss through cooling the scalp with caps for Cancer treatments and designed the now world famous Penguin Cold Cap. By wearing the Penguin Cold Cap more than 90% of users can save their hair, a very visible sign of cancer, and retain their dignity and self confidence. Our cooling caps for Cancer Patients are a great help in fighting the cancer and are a...

Work and Personal Life Balance - Recently, I have been crazy busy with work. So busy, in fact, that I haven’t had much time for life. As a result of that, I’ve had to contend with the grumblings of my children, spouse, and mother (even at my age, I get a telling off from her!). On a more personal note, my nails are bitten to the quick, my hair is stringy and I look like I’m in dire need for a facial. I also feel a few massages wouldn’t go astray to get rid of those knots of tension on my neck and back. Work and Personal Life Balance If I were working in Google, I could probably get a massage while at the workplace (so the rumour goes). I might even be able to sneak in a facial, manicure and pedicure. Chances are, there would be a childcare centre at the office where I could drop my kids off and nip in to see them during my breaks. I’m not really certain where I would fit my spouse and mother into all this, but perhaps, I might have enough time after work to slot them i...

Work-Related Stress and Reduce - Although this combination of symptoms does typically turn out to be due to stress, it is wise to check for other causes first. Over-activity of the thyroid gland or of the adrenalin-producing glands (adrenals) are easily diagnosed with blood and urine tests. Any suggestion of a fever with these attacks should prompt checks for underlying infection. Nocturnal asthma, causing wheezing and breathlessness, should be considered. If these factors are eliminated, then the likely diagnosis is “anxiety attacks”. The name is not very helpful, as this common condition can affect people who are no more prone to anxiety than anyone else. The attacks are quite often alarming, not only because the symptoms are unpleasant, but because they happen unpredictably. This leads to the situation you describe, in which you increasingly anticipate the next attack coming. This winds up a mental spring, and so the problem becomes self-fuelling. Work-Related Stress and Reduce...

Work-Related Personal Development Plans - Personal development refers to activities that improve self-knowledge and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations. The concept is not limited to self-development but includes formal and informal activities for developing others, in roles such as teacher, guide, counselor, manager, coach, or mentor. Finally, as personal development takes place in the context of institutions, it refers to the methods, programs, tools, techniques, and assessment systems that support human development at the individual level in organizations. At the level of the individual, personal development includes the following activities: * improving self-awareness * improving self-knowledge * building or renewing identity * developing strengths or talents * identifying or improving potential * building employability or...

Rachel Uchitel Private Investigator - Tiger's former #1 mistress, Rachel Uchitel says that she plans on going back to school to become a private investigator. She told sources: "I decided to go back to school and get my private investigation license! I’ve learned to shoot a weapon. I had to Taser someone the other day. I had to get pepper sprayed, so I know what the effects are — so much fun! I had the best time ever! I’ve already gone under cover, I’ve done process serving. In court, we actually do real stuff for the investigator who’s teaching or class, so it’s very cool. Rachel Uchitel Private Investigator I’m going to work under my professor, Dale Gustafson, who runs DGA Detectives. I will take the test and actually be able to open up my own business under Dale’s license with him as a mentor until I get the hours under my belt to get my own license." And it sounds like Miss Uchitel is ready to get down to some serious business! She adds: "Having my...

Diddy to Pay for Model's Hair - US rapper Diddy is planning to pay for the model's hair that famously set on fire at his album release party. Model Miyoki Jones' hair went up in flames when she sat in a tub close to a candle at Diddy's bash for the release of his record Last Train to Paris at The London hotel in New York. After the incident, the 41-year-old reportedly phoned Miyoki and said he would pay for the bill, whatever the price comes to, to get her hair fixed. And according to TMZ.com, Jones has made an appointment for this week, and the repair treatment is likely to set Diddy back around $1,000. Diddy to Pay for Model's Hair

Snoop Dogg 1967 Pontiac Impounded - T'was the night before Christmas, and Snoop Dogg found that his 1967 Pontiac Parasienne convertible had been impounded! He wasn't the only star to find that "Impounded was the Case," as singer Keyshia Cole and reality TV star Dwight Eubanks found themselves in a similar situation! Snoop Dogg arrives at the Takers World Premiere at ArcLight Cinerama Dome Theater on August 4, 2010 in Los Angeles, CA Photo via Newscom So why was Snoop Dogg's ride taken away right before the holiday? Apparently it was due to the fact one of Snoop's posse members had been driving in it with a suspended license, NY Daily News reported. That means Snoop is liable to pay the $261 fine to get his car freed. It's likely Snoop will be able to cough up that pocket change though. He also has several cars from what is known of the Dr. Dre protege who enjoys "Gin and Juice." Snoop has also contributed to the holidays via his music, w...

Defensive Driving Tips - About 50,000 people die each year in the United States from traffic accidents. Good defensive driving techniques help to prepare the driver for any situation. A good defensive driver always assumes the worst situation and prepares for it. Not getting caught unprepared can help assure the driver and his passengers a safe passage to their destination. Paying attention to the road is an obvious point to be made, but the lack of this advice is one of the leading causes of car accidents. A common statement is that most car accidents happen within five miles of the driver's home. Why is this? Some say that this is due to the driver being in comfortable surroundings. The driver knows her neighborhood and feels that she does not need to be as careful when driving through it. More obvious but ignored lack-of-attention dangers are sleepiness, fatigue, daydreaming, cell phones, radios, highway hypnosis, talking and other distractions (kids arguing, dog barking, app...

Best Hybrids 2010 - The automotive manufacturing companies are all accelerating in the right direction. It seems that car manufactures around the world are trying their best in reducing fuel emissions and protecting the environment. Along with the environment, they are also keeping in mind the spiraling fuel costs while making best mileage cars when it comes to fuel economy. Thus, they have come up with a unique concept keeping in mind hybrid cars and the environment. To help you know your hybrid cars better, the following paragraphs will cover some information related to the best hybrid cars 2010 comparison. Best Hybrid Cars 2010 There are many car companies that have been rolling out fuel efficient and environment friendly cars off their manufacturing belts. People who are conscious about carbon footprints and the green house effect are interested in driving the best hybrid cars 2010. So, how do these cars operate and what helps these cars give a powerful performance? Let us fin...

Safest Compact Cars - Americans used to prefer big cars partly because they considered them safer. That may be changing. Automakers are making small cars safer, and high gasoline prices are making them more desirable. Chevrolet's Cruze compact car was one of 10 new vehicles to win the coveted Top Safety Pick award this week from the insurance industry, a sign that small cars are less hazardous to drive than they once were. Safest Compact Cars Plain Dealer reporter Robert Schoenberger says automakers continue to make the compact car class more upscale. Ford plans to start selling its new Focus early next year, and that car will feature stability control technology to help prevent skidding and a new kinds of airbags that stay inflated longer. General Motors has made safety a key selling point of the Lordstown-built Cruze, frequently mentioning the car's 10 standard airbags and electronic safety features in its commercials. Do you still prefer a larger car or truck for ...

Save Money Recycling - Buying a recycled laptop is a great way of saving money, it has been claimed. This is according to Broadband Genie, which noted people can get devices that only have slight imperfections for much less money. It added there is the added bonus that the system will be tested before it is sold, so there is actually less chance of it failing than a brand new computer. Save Money Recycling For those who are interested in using laptop recycling as a means of getting a newer model, the news provider observed it is important to try the product before committing to buy it. "Avoid buying a laptop without using it first if you can possibly help it. There might be something you don't like, be it the keyboard layout ... or [the] design," it remarked. Save Money Recycling

Julian Assange Book Deal - Assange has announced that he would use the profits for legal costs, the Guardian reported on Sunday. He is currently fighting an extradition request to Sweden after two women accused him of sexual misconduct, charges that he denies. An extradition hearing to Sweden is scheduled for February 6th to 7th, the report said. He told the Sunday Times that he was forced to enter the deals for an autobiography due to the financial difficulties he and the site have encountered. Julian Assange Book Deal "I don't want to write this book, but I have to. I have already spent £200,000 for legal costs and I need to defend myself and to keep WikiLeaks afloat," he told the Sunday Times. Assange has reportedly inked a $800,000 deal with American publisher Alfred A. Knopf, while a British deal with Canongate is reportedly worth £325,000. According to Assange, legal costs for the whistleblowing website and his own defence have reached £500,000. In addi...

Calvin Wright Pearl Removed - When he was five, little Calvin Wright stuck a pearl in his ear after it fell off his mom's necklace. 41 years later, it finally came out. "I notice I can hear myself better," he says. Wright and his sister were playing with their mom's necklace when it broke. He put two pearls in his ear; the doctor only took out one. This month, he went to the hospital in Atlanta after coming down with Bronchitis: Calvin Wright Pearl Removed "The nurse was checking my ear and said, ‘Do you use Q-Tips?'" Wright said. "I said yes, and she said, ‘you've got one in your right ear, I'll get it out.' She tried getting it and then she was like, ‘Whoa, this is hard. This is not a Q-Tip. Looks like you got a pearl in your ear.'" Nurse practitioner Christina Harrelson and nurse Haley Faulkner referred Wright to a specialist. Dr. James Dempsey removed the pearl, which Wright kept. Calvin Wright Pearl Removed

Top 10 List Fastest Cars 2010 - 10. Porsche Carrera GT Top Speed: 205 mph, 0-60 in 3.9 secs. Aluminum, 68 Degree, Water Cooled V10 Engine with 612 hp, base price is $440,000. The most powerful and most expensive Porsche nearly made the list as #10. 9. Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Top Speed: 211 mph, 0-60 in 3.3 secs. V12 Engine with 640 hp, base price is $430,000. Nice piece of art, the design is very round and smooth. 8. Pagani Zonda Top Speed: 215 mph, 0-60 in 3.5 secs. Mercedes Benz M180 V12 Engine with 650 hp, base price is $667,321. With a V12 motor, this baby can do much better. 7. Jaguar XJ220 Top Speed: 217 mph, 0-60 in 3.8 secs. Twin Turbo V6 Engine with 542 hp, base price was $650,000. Made in 1992, this car still got what it takes to make the list. 6. Ferrari Enzo Top Speed : 217 mph, 0-60 in 3.4 secs. F140 Aluminum V12 Engine with 660 hp, base price is $670,000. Only 399 ever produced, the price goes up every time someone crashes. Top 10 List Fastest Ca...

Avoid Work Rumors - Rumors can be damaging to other's lives, self esteem, and relationships. A participant in gossip is as guilty as the person who started the rumors. People who work in an office environment know all too well how damaging rumors can be. A seemingly small tale, which might actually be 95% true, starts at one end and becomes a tall tale with 95% lies by the time it reaches the top floor. Avoid discussing it. When someone comes to you with a little story about someone else you can say "I'm sorry, I really can't talk right now, I have so much to do before I leave today." As you get done saying that, pick up the phone and start dialing - maybe you can call IT and ask for help on some PC issue or call someone you meant to call anyway. Avoid Work Rumors Use distraction. Another thing you can do is to pick up some of your folders and mail and start walking towards the mail room or somewhere away from your desk. Give the impression of being in a bi...

Stars to Watch in 2011 - Breaking News Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION Ten stars to watch in 2011 By: Jen McDonnell Posted: 26/12/2010 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 * Print * E–mail * 0 * Share0 * Share2 * Report Error Willow Smith Will and Jada's daughter had us all whipping our hair back and forth in 2010, and it looks like she's only getting started. She'll open for Justin Bieber on the UK leg of his tour in March, and release an album in 2011 through Jay-Z's Roc Nation label. Rooney Mara Best known for her small role in The Social Network, this relative unknown beat out a slew of A-list actresses clamouring for the role of Lisbeth Salander in the Hollywood adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Stars to Watch in 2011 Alex Pettyfer He may be best known as Glee's Dianna Agron's boyfriend, but he'll soon break out on his own when he stars alongside Agron in I Am Number Four, based on the popular you...

Rep. Frank Pratt Found Beaten - An Arizona lawmaker was attacked, beaten unconscious and tied up on Christmas Day. State representative Frank Pratt was airlifted to a Phoenix hospital after he was ambushed at his business, Pratt Pools, in Casa Grande, Arizona. Sheriff's spokesman Tim Gaffney says Pratt is in stable condition with multiple bruises and contusions and at least one fracture. Gaffney says the attack happened after the 68-year-old stopped by Pratt Pools and was confronted by someone already inside. Rep. Frank Pratt Found Beaten Pratt was tied up after the beating and found Saturday evening by his wife, who went looking for him when he didn't come home and failed to answer his phone. Gaffney says the suspect fled in Pratt's SUV, a gold 2007 GMC Yukon. There was no word if police had identified a suspect, if the attack was random or if anything else was stolen. Pratt is going into his second term as Republican representative for House District 23. ...

Best Albums of 2010 - Brett Anderson of Suede picked Warpaint’s The Fool,saying, “There have been so many fantastic albums released this year, but Warpaint's is the best. It's a strangely compelling record. It creates its own sonic universe and there is so much space in there. There's something quite beautiful about it. Layering sounds is easy to do but creating that sense of musical minimalism is a really hard trick to pull off, and they do it very, very well.” Best Albums of 2010 Philip Selwayof Radiohead chose an Edwyn Collins album, Losing Sleep. He said,“I remember going to the hairdressers, aged 15, with a picture of Edwyn Collins and saying, ‘I want to look like him.’ Sadly, my hair let me down that day, as it has continued to do over the years. The same cannot be said of Collins' songwriting. Brimming with vitality, Losing Sleep is a collection of songs that are as astutely observant and melodically infectious as anything he has written. Together with an am...

Best Books of 2010 - Compiling a list of best books of the year always turns me into an optimist - though lamentations for the decline of literacy are widespread, every year certain authors keep producing books that are better researched, more insightful and more readable than ever before. For this list of the best books of 2010, I have relied on nominations from regular Seattle Times reviewers (and reserved a couple for myself). Their names follow each recommendation, and the words of praise that follow are, for the most part, theirs. I'm grateful for the work they do year-round to bring notice of good books to Seattle Times readers - I couldn't do it without them. Best Books of 2010 -FICTION: "Compass Rose" by John Casey (Knopf). A fitting sequel to "Spartina," winner of a National Book Award. Casey can write about women, be they wives, mothers, daughters or lovers, better than anyone since Reynolds Price wrote "Kate Vaiden." Rhode Islan...

Wedding Trends 2011 - The summer’s over, there are still weddings taking place, but those of you planning a wedding are looking forward to 2011. So how about some thoughts on wedding trends for 2011. Here are some things we’ve noticed, some things we’ve been told and some things we think you’ll love!!! * Lots of mermaid style dresses in collections – we’re getting womanly again! City-style weddings, à la Carrie & Big * City-style weddings, with short or tea-length dresses tie up nicely with the less fuss of the credit-crunch times Wedding Trends 2011 * Wedding dresses with pockets – the Zk team really loves this one and are sorry that some of us are already married as we would definitely have had pockets on our wedding dresses if we were getting married in 2011 (right, Mariana?!) * Vintage – it’s still here, you still love it * Embellishment on dresses in the hottest 2011 collections is still romantic – flowers, frills and orgaaaanza, darling! * DIY – doing things ...