Eating Durian!

My friend invited me to eat Durian this afternoon. It's been awhile since I've eaten durian. It is one of my favorite fruits. So yummy! Can't wait.

I wonder where we'll gonna eat our lunch today. I want to eat some good food that would make me happy. Hmmm. I'm thinking now. I'm hungry! I didn't have a snack this morning.

We have a new helper. I've realized that we really need one. My folks are old. They should not be doing household chores anymore. I am also working. All I want to do when I get home is to rest so I can't help that much in the household chores too. Our new helper is really a big help. I hope that she will not go home and stay with us for a longer time. We only borrowed her. My sister-in-law is sick so her mother lend us her helper.

I'm listening to a senti song right now..

Happy Kadayawan!

We are celebrating the Kadayawan Festival. It is a celebration of the bountiful harvests of Davao City. Today is the last day of the celebration. There was a float parade early today. Lots of people are out in the street to watch the parade. And I am at home. I'm missing the celebration. Hu hu My sister in law is sick so I have to stay at home and accompany her. My mom pick up my sister's in laws mother. They are coming to help us out here. We really need help. The toughest of it all my father is not here. He went to his hometown to visit his brother. His brother passed away a few days after they arrived. It's really hard if there's one member of the family who is sick. I hardly slept last night. I help out in taking care of her alternating my mom. My mom should take a rest too because she's not that young anymore.

I'm chatting with my brother right now. He is the wife of my sister in-law who is sick. He is making me sick too. His inquiries annoys me. But he has his ways of making me laugh. ha ha I love him so! He is just worried about his wife too. But he has cool down now. Thank God! He needs to discipline his wife. She is a pain on our neck! She doesn't help herself. She's very hard headed. The doctor advice her before to avoid drinking soft drinks, eating junk foods. But she never listened. She didn't even finish the prescribed medicine for her. That is why right now she is suffering even more. I'm tired of her. It is a cycle. Who wouldn't be tired of it?

Maybe next year I would get to go out and participate in our Kadayawan Festival. I hope so! Happy Kadayawan! =)

Lady GaGa - Poker Face lyrics

Mum mum mum mah
Mum mum mum mah

I wanna hold em’ like they do in Texas Plays
Fold em’ let em’ hit me raise it baby stay with me (I love it)
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he’s been hooked I’ll play the one that’s on his heart

Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got

Can’t read my,
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you’re with me (I love it)
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it’s love if it’s not rough it isn’t fun, fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh-oh-e-ohh-oh-oh,
I’ll get him hot, show him what I’ve got

Can’t read my,
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

I won’t tell you that I love you
Kiss or hug you
Cause I’m bluffin’ with my muffin
I’m not lying I’m just stunnin’ with my love-glue-gunning
Just like a chick in the casino
Take your bank before I pay you out
I promise this, promise this
Check this hand cause I’m marvelous

Can’t read my,
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)

Can’t read my,
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)

Can’t read my,
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)
Can’t read my
Can’t read my
No he can’t read my poker face
(She’s got to love nobody)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face

(Mum mum mum mah)


[source]

Jason Mraz : I'm yours Lyrics

Well you done done me and you bet I felt it
I tried to be chill but you're so hot that I melted
I fell right through the cracks
And now I'm trying to get back
Before the cool done run out
I'll be giving it my bestest
Nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours

Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love
Listen to the music of the moment maybe sing with me
I like peaceful melodys
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love love

So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

I've been spending way too long checking my tongue in the mirror
And bending over backwards just to try to see it clearer
But my breath fogged up the glass
And so I drew a new face and laughed
I guess what I'm saying is there ain't no better reason
To rid yourself of vanity and just go with the seasons
It's what we aim to do
Our name is our virtue

I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

Well no no, well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment come and dance with me
I like one big family (2nd time: I like happy family)
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved love love love

I won't hesitate no more
Oh no more no more no more
It's your God-forsaken right to be loved, I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours

No I won't hesitate no more, no more
This cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short

This is our fate, I'm yours, I'm yours


[source]

Wii Rules!

LOS ANGELES -Not every parent whose child wants a Nintendo Wii this holiday season will be able to get their hands on one. Instead of Tickle Me Elmo, this year parents will stalk the aisles of retailers and surf the Web in hot pursuit of the tiny, white "waggle box." The $250 kid-friendly console has already been on the market for a year, and more than 13 million are already in the hands of gamers."

Nintendo is making as many Wiis as it can," says IGN GamerMetrics analyst Nick Williams. "There's a limited supply, a continuously high demand." Though Microsoft's Xbox 360 sold more units than the Wii in September due to the launch of "Halo 3," analysts predict the Wii will be back on top in October, selling as many as 450,000 units.

The Wii has made headlines for entertaining the elderly at retirement homes and putting motion-based controllers in the hands of many non-gamer moms. But the system has also delighted very young children because of its easy-to-grasp style of play and lack of button manipulations. Many parents, understandably cautious about putting 6-, 4- or even 2-year-olds in front of a videogame console, seem to have warily endorsed the Wii because of its anti-couch potato imperative and shallow learning curve.

And although older gamers might find it limiting, the Wii's online functions are currently limited to a Web browser and sharing avatars. Instead of pairing players with random gamers around the world in chat rooms like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Nintendo's system encourages multiplayer action in the living room.

"We hear all the time from parents that they take a look at the Microsoft Xbox 360 controller or the Sony PlayStation 3 controller and they get instantly intimidated," says John Davison, co-founder of What They Like, a start-up that in mid November launched a Web site called Whattheyplay.com devoted to helping parents learn about videogame content.

While Microsoft's Xbox 360 team aims to make its machine as family-friendly as possible--on Nov. 8 the company announced a new feature called the "Family Timer" that allows parents to set automatic game-over times before bedtime--Xbox 360 thus far hasn't positioned itself as the child-friendly game platform.

With so many veteran Wii owners and wanna-be Wiisters hinting at which games they'd like to unwrap in December, parents must now take on the daunting task of vetting their kids' wish lists for age-appropriate and appealing titles.

Fortunately, the nature of game development for the Wii platform has evolved some bedtime enforcement techniques of its own. Some of the most in-demand and kid-befitting games are played in bite-size two-minute chunks.

With titles like Nintendo's own "Wii Sports" (which comes with every Wii), Sega's "Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games" and Take-Two Interactive's "Carnival Games," kids choose from among several mini-games that don't elicit refrains of, "Mooooom, I need to get to a place where I can save my game before I quit!" With mini-games, mothers can graciously grant the kids one more round of Wii baseball or one last ring toss--and still pack them off to bed on time. These games last literally only a few seconds, or a couple of minutes, at most. Beyond the quick mini-games, titles like Capcom's "Zack and Wiki," LucasArts' "Lego Star Wars" and Activison's "Guitar Hero III" are perfect for playing together with friends, and especially with older relatives. These three games allow adults to take on the role of guide without spoiling puzzle-solving and discovery for kids, and their tongue-in-cheek jokes should keep parents entertained.

Not sure your kid is mature enough to battle it out with Guns 'n Roses' Slash and a rock-and-roll devil in "Guitar Hero III?" Some aren't ready for the content, but don't worry about their ability to get the hang of the game. "Little kids are very good at "Guitar Hero" because they have no nostalgic point of reference about how 'Sweet Child o' Mine' should sound," says Davison. "I've seen 5-year-olds play a perfect game."

Which Wii games should parents avoid? Well, there are obvious no-nos, like Take-Two Interactive's "Manhunt 2," a horror game about a murderer that Target won't even stock on its shelves. "Metroid Prime 3" and "Resident Evil 4" also glorify shooting things up. Other innocuous titles, like the ever-popular "Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," and "Super Paper Mario," are simply too difficult for most new gamers.

Some of the most anticipated new Wii games just won't be out in time for this year's holidays. "Wii Fit," "Super Smash Bros. Brawl," and "Mario Kart" are all expected in early 2008. That will, of course, give kids something to covet for upcoming birthdays.

The best way to find out which games are most appropriate and most enjoyable for your child is, of course, to play along. But many parents don't. A survey conducted in October by AOL Games and the Associated Press found that 43% of parents say they never play games with their kids. About 30% said they've joined in, but never for more than an hour.

Meanwhile, another survey by the NPD Group found that between the ages of 6 and 8, kids form videogame-playing habits that will determine how "serious" they'll be about gaming as big kids. "This appears to be a critical age at which to capture the future gamers of the world," says NPD analyst Anita Frazier.

Parents of young children can either withhold game machines, play along with a watchful eye, or look the other way. Either way, the Wii will be impossible to ignore.

[source]

How to Ask a Guy Out

Passively waiting for a hottie to make a move is simply not acceptable behavior for a fearless Cosmo chick like yourself. Sure, it can be a little intimidating to approach a dude, but it puts you in control of your dating destiny, and besides — guys really like it. "Men find it refreshing when a female asks them out," Says Rhonda Findling, psychotherapist and author of The Dating Cure. "Beyond that, it's empowering for the woman." Some tips for taking this bold step.

Buy Him a Drink
If a guy catches your eye while you’re out with friends, send over a beer. Since it forces him to make the next move and say thank you, it’s a stealth way of letting him know you're interested.

Suggest a Super Guy-Friendly Outing
Try to gauge what the guy you've set your sights on is into. Here's how: As you're chatting him up, ask him what he did over the weekend. Then, casually suggest something similar — whether it be going out for wings or to the batting cages — for the following Friday.

Invite Him on a Group Date
If you can't quite bring yourself to suggest solo time together, try inviting him out with a bunch of your friends which will make you feel more at ease. One caveat: Avoid having your Giselle look-a-like pal tag along — you want to make sure his eyes stay glued to you.

If You Lose Your Nerve...
Really can't bring yourself to invite a dude out? Then give him the green light to ask you. After flirting for a bit say something like, "Have you heard about this new movie? I've been dying to see it." It will give him the perfect opportunity to suggest you see it together — and because you've hinted at what you want to do, it takes some of the planning pressure off him. Perfect!
[source]

What makes you sad?

I am on my Emo mode right now. Emo means emotional. I have a low spirit tonight. I'm sad! These are the things or events that makes me sad...

• When i lost one of my possessions like umbrella, wallet. I just lost my umbrella.
  
• When a friend or a family member goes away. I hate goodbyes!
• When things doesn't turn out as i want it to be..
• When i am late at work.
• When i don't have money.
• When i stop myself from shopping or buying expensive things. I'm starting to save but it's really hard.
• When my dreams and ambitions in life are too far away.
• When somebody lies to me and doesn't keep their promises.
• When i am disappointed and frustrated.

I think it's true that as we get older, we become more Emo. What makes you sad?

I want to be techie...

I am interested in buying a PSP-3000 Sony PlayStation Portable. It is the redesigned version of Sony's popular PlayStation Portable. As what i have read, it is an even slicker version of the PSP Slim&Lite. It was announced during Sony's Leipzig Games Convention press conference. It looks almost exactly the same like the PSP-2000 Slim&Lite, but this new version of the PlayStation Portable has a built-in microphone and a better screen. The screen of the PSP-3000 is able to resist glare, so it will work better outdoors. The built-in microphone can be used for applications like Skype for PSP or for online gaming via Infrastructure. Wow! I think it would be great to have one.

I am asking my brother to buy me one. He is in Riyadh Saudi Arabia right now and my friends said that it would be cheaper to buy there than here in the Philippines. My friends are saying that they also want to buy. I just played a game awhile ago. I borrowed the PSP of Jolly, my officemate. It was really fun. I really enjoyed playing. I played while waiting for Jolly to fix her things and we'll go home. When you don't have anything to do and bored, you can play. I think that there is still a child in me who still wants to play. Age doesn't matter when it comes to playing, right?

Many Thanks!

I just arrived from work. It was raining very hard. I was saving my money but i don't have a choice but to ride in a taxi. Oh well, it's for my own benefit anyway. The water is high along the road so I don't have a choice. Anyways, I arrived home safely. I immediately turn on my laptop after changing clothes excited to view my blog and see who visited it. It's one of my happy moments seeing who have viewed my blog.

I'm so happy to read new comments and reactions from you guys!!! Thanks a lot! You are my inspiration in making this blog aside from the fact that I love sharing my thoughts and knowledge and everything that I've read. I want you to know that i am happy that you've enjoyed reading my blogs and you appreciate what I am doing. I welcome you anytime. I hope that you will continue to visit me. Vote on my poll too. Thanks!

I have not eaten dinner yet. I wonder what my mom cooked for dinner. I have to check it out. I am starving. So, have to go! See you guys! Thanks once again..

Lessons I've Learned...

Somebody told me that the best teacher is our own experience. I believe so. I'm a very hard headed person. My father said I'm a bull because I'm a Taurean. He is right. When i want something, i really go for it and no one can stop me. I don't even listen to advices. I just do my own thing and follow my own way. So now, i'm kinda sad because i messed up. It's so sad that i am still feeling it right now. I hate myself. What can i do i can't bring back time. So these are the lessons I've learned:

1. Patience is a virtue.

2. Easy come easy go.

3. Don't count the egss not yet hatched.

4. Whatever happens happens.

5. Listen well. Learn from the mistakes of others. You don't have to experience it yourself.

6. Cheaters never win.

7. Move on. Don't dwell on the past.

8. Tomorrow is a beautiful day.

9. Don't forget to pray. God is in control of everything.

10. Don't hurry. Just live each day as it is. You will reach your desired destination in time.

I just hope and pray that something good will come my way in the coming days that would cover up the sadness i am feeling right now.

America's Best Cars For The Money

by Hannah Elliott

From fuel efficiency to maintenance costs, these cars, trucks and SUVs get top ratings

Amid the dire news for America's car companies comes a ray of light for beleaguered General Motors. An annual value study released Monday by Vincentric, an auto-industry analysis firm in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., gives 10 GM models top ratings. Only one model from fellow-sufferer Chrysler, the Jeep Compass, made the cut. Ford, which has yet to require government funding to help maintain its viability, had three models that earned top billing.

Among GM's winners are several models coming to define the Detroit-based company: hybrids and trucks. GM's segment toppers include the Chevrolet Tahoe and Chevrolet Malibu hybrids and the GMC Sierra 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 pickups.

The study, titled the "Best Value in America" report, evaluates the cost of owning specific models by accounting for depreciation, fuel, insurance, opportunity costs, financing, maintenance, taxes and state fees and repairs.

Each car was evaluated in every state and in Washington, D.C. The cars studied racked up annual mileages of 10,000, 15,000 and 20,000. Vincentric used varied insurance profiles (new drivers, less experienced drivers and experienced drivers) to determine the value for each vehicle.

Vincentric identified superior value by measuring which vehicles had the lowest ownership costs given their market segment and price.

To some extent, the Vincentric ratings reflect American automakers' strengths and weaknesses, says David Wurster, who leads product development and industry analysis for Vincentric. GM will pull through its current dire straits, he predicts. Chrysler may not.

"Hopefully what this means now is [GM will] get two months to refinish this plan for reorganizing, and they'll be in a position to be viable going forward," speculates Wurster. "I think [the government] wants Chrysler to do a deal and to kind of go away," he adds.

GM joined high-value stalwarts BMW and Toyota in this year's highest Vincentric ratings. The top-rated models range from the $22,600 MINI Cooper, rated best for a subcompact car, to Toyota's $64,755 Land Cruiser, rated the best of the large premium SUVs. Toyota's 4Runner, Camry, Prius, Tacoma and Venza each win their own segments, as does BMW's M3, X6, 7-Series and 5-Series Sedan and Wagon.

Toyota and BMW both deliver the products they promise, says Jez Frampton, the CEO of Interbrand, an international consulting firm.

"Brands are promises made between companies and markets, and those promises are either fulfilled or they aren't," Frampton says. "BMW and Mercedes won't let us down. They'll show us the way for premium motoring."

Though Frampton includes Mercedez-Benz on his short list of best brands, the German automaker is conspicuously absent from the best value report. Other premium no-shows include Audi and Lexus.

"That's very notable--particularly Lexus in my viewpoint, because they had historically done pretty well," says Wurster. "But I think it's more notable that BMW was the winner in many of those categories. ... It was excellent performance from their standpoint."

Other highlights in the report are the Volkswagen Routan van and Tiguan crossover. Each has high residual values that enhance the overall value, especially the Tiguan in the growing but precarious crossover market.

The value of any vehicle relies in part on gas prices, and that affects crossovers more than most. They offer good value to consumers who would otherwise drive a large SUV, but their car-like handling with extra cargo space doesn't offer the best value for everyone.

"Smaller cars and midsize vans have made a rebound in the economy, so bigger vehicles generally are taking a hit, and I think that's because people are asking themselves, 'What do I really need?'" says Karl Brauer, the editor in chief at Edmunds.com, a car research Web site.

[source]

Highest-Quality Cars Of 2009

Purchasers of these cars experience the fewest problems in the first three months of ownership.

Chrysler, Ford Motor and General Motors are showing marked improvement in the quality of their new vehicles--but you're still probably better off buying a Toyota.

According to the annual Initial Quality Study released today by market-research firm J.D. Power and Associates, cars made by Detroit's Big Three have improved in quality by an average of 10% over last year, putting them ahead of the 8%-improved industry average. Toyota ( TM news - people ), however, had the strongest showing in the industry this year, with the brand seeing, on average, 101 reported problems by consumers per 100 vehicles in the first 90 days of ownership--well below the industry average of 108 problems. -

In all, Toyota earned 10 segment awards for specific models. Each segment's winners are the models with the fewest reported problems in their class.

David Sargent, the vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates, told reporters at a press event today that Detroit's improvement with its products is a good indicator for "long-term" success. "Consumers can expect the quality of new vehicles to continue to rise," he said.

Ford's Edge, F-150 and Mustang each won segment awards, as did the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chrysler PT Cruiser, GMC Yukon and Mercury Sable.

Overall, Toyota's Lexus brand led the nameplate rankings for quality--the 12th year it has achieved such distinction in 20 years, and the first year since 2005. Porsche ( PSEPF.PK - news - people ), Cadillac, Hyundai and Honda ( HMC - news - people ) rounded out the top five.

Behind the Numbers
The J.D. Power Initial Quality study highlights the top vehicles in car and light-truck segments, measuring new-vehicle quality at 90 days of ownership. Information on problems experienced by consumers is gathered from more than 80,000 purchasers and lessees of 2009 model-year vehicles.

The study evaluates 228 problems distributed throughout eight categories: exterior, driving experience, features/controls/displays, audio/entertainment/navigation, seats, climate control, interior and engine/transmission. Each vehicle's performance is measured using a "problems per 100 vehicles" (PP100) system. A low PP100 score indicates better quality than a high PP100 score.

Overall, the industry average for initial quality has improved, moving from 118 problems per 100 vehicles in 2008 to 108 this year.

Standouts on the top-quality list include the Acura TL, Honda Pilot and Nissan Z, but several newly launched and redesigned models of 2009 also were surprise winners, since all-new models often lack the quality of the repeatedly updated cars that have been in the market for several years. The Hyundai Genesis, Kia Borrego, Toyota Venza and Volkswagon CC all bucked that trend, earning significantly better ratings than their segment averages.

Toyota Tops Again
Toyota's 10 segment awards were spread across its Lexus, Toyota and Scion brands. Lexus won awards for its IS, GS, GX, LS and LX models. The LX fared particularly well--it has the fewest quality problems of any vehicle, with just 52 per 100 vehicles reported.

"The LX basically sets a new standard in dependability," says Raffi Festekjian, the senior manager of product research and analysis at J.D. Power.

The MINI brand fared the worst in the study, with an average of 165 reported problems per 100 vehicles.

[source]

Cheapest Cars To Drive

Try driving something small, light and foreign if you're looking to pinch pennies.

Japanese automaker Nissan has announced plans to sell an all-electric sedan, likely similar to its Versa, in Japan by 2010. The car will use a compact lithium-ion battery to achieve a driving range of more than 100 miles per charge, making driving about as cheap as it can possibly get.

For those looking to save money, there's no need to sit idle until such vehicles arrive stateside. There are plenty of fuel-sipping cars available today that are cheap to drive off the lot--and even cheaper to drive over the long term.

In Depth: Cheapest Cars To Drive

There's a gaggle of options, but narrowing down the choices purely in terms of cost is relatively easy: Think foreign, and steer clear of hybrids. Except for Pontiac's G3 hatchback and Chevrolet's Cobalt sedan, all of the cheapest cars to drive are made by non-U.S. automakers: Honda ( HMC - news - people ), Hyundai, Nissan ( NSANY - news - people ), Scion and Toyota ( TM - news - people ). And none have hybrid-electric engines.

Behind the NumbersTo compile our list of the cheapest cars to drive, we used data provided by Vincentric, an automotive data provider and consultancy based in Bingham Falls, Mich. The data lists the five-year costs of insurance, repairs, maintenance, interest and fuel for 2009 vehicles sold in the U.S., assuming the owner drives 15,000 miles per year with fuel at $2.50 per gallon. We did not consider the vehicles' suggested retail prices, depreciation or taxes in our assessment, as those costs are associated with the initial purchase and maintenance of a vehicle, not with the act of driving it.

Topping our list are the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Scion xD, all of which cost around $15,000 or less, are relatively cheap to insure and maintain, and get no less than 30 mpg in combined fuel efficiency. All three cars are also small.

In fact, size has a lot do with the expense of driving a car. Smaller cars cost less to insure and usually require less maintenance than SUVs or luxury cars, which tend to have more options, features and technology--all of which can and do break down. Furthermore, small cars use less gas and tend not to require expensive premium or diesel fuel.

"If you're a commuter and you're driving 50 miles a day, that's going to have a big impact on your decision of what kind of vehicle you buy," says James Clark, the general manager for Automotive Lease Guide, a residual-value data center in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The $16,380 Chevrolet Cobalt, for instance, has a combined fuel efficiency of 31 mpg; drivers can expect to spend $6,050 on the fuel it'll use over five years. Interestingly enough, though, that higher-than-average fuel efficiency isn't helping the car fly out of dealerships this summer (it sold 6,847 units last month, down 67% from June 2008).

On the other hand, sales of larger sedans and crossover SUVs have leveled off--and in some areas of the country, even gained a point or two--thanks to fuel prices averaging $1 per gallon less than a year ago. Chevy's larger Malibu and Impala sedans were down just 16% and 10% last month, respectively. Its Corvette, which guzzles gas at 16 miles per gallon in city driving, was down a middling 33%.

Still, the minute gas prices jump, consumers will flock back to fuel-sippers like the Cobalt, says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst at Irvine, Calif.-based Kelley Blue Book.

"That's what we see very typically," he says. "It just depends on how precipitous the rise is, how drastic the increase is."

Hybrid HypeIt's worth noting that none of the vehicles on our list are hybrids. Cars like the $56,550 Lexus GS hybrid and $19,800 Honda Insight sedan do indeed post better fuel efficiencies than their conventional counterparts, but their maintenance fees and the insurance associated with owning a luxury sedan (which most hybrids are) quickly disqualify them from the group.

It should also be noted that without hybrid technology, eight vehicles on our list equal or exceed the 30-mpg combined fuel economy of the $21,605 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid, which costs at least $5,000 more than any car on our list.

In short, though it tends to get the most attention from consumers who want to be more earth-friendly, hybrid technology isn't necessarily the answer for fuel-efficient but cheap transportation.

"We've got to be careful not to overstate the hybrid issue, because it's still a relatively small part of the whole total," says Dave Sargent, the vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "Although hybrid owners tend to be more satisfied with their [cars'] economy than other owners, sometimes they're not."

The best way to a cheap ride? Choose something small, light, and--more often than not--foreign.

[source]

Love Versus Adversity

Love Versus Adversity From Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tough Times, Tough People

Friendship makes prosperity more shining and lessens adversity by dividing and sharing it.
~Cicero

The stock market collapse of 2008 hit my husband, Tom, and me at the worst possible time in our lives. We were both retired and in our late fifties--too old to re-enter the job market (what few jobs were available) and too young to receive Social Security. We didn't even have a second car or any gold jewelry to sell to raise cash (as a financial guru on the Nightly Business Report had suggested).

Because we had retired early, we were already living lean. We shared one car. If I needed some clothes, I went to the thrift shop. I bought groceries on sale and stockpiled them in our basement.

In January, 2009, I met with my three best friends for our quarterly dinner. 2009 was to be a special year for us--we were all turning sixty. One friend suggested the four of us go away for a "60th Birthday Bash" to a bed & breakfast. It would be a fun chance to celebrate friendships that have endured forty-five years.

Tom and I had agreed we would deal with the pain of losing much of our retirement money by cutting back on vacations and eating out. Excursions were to be limited to destinations within a few hours of home and hotels where we had earned free nights with our credit card points. But I felt this trip with the girls was important.

At dinner one night, Tom listened as I detailed the plan for the girls' special weekend--restaurants, soaking in the spa, shopping, etc. He looked at me intently. He didn't say "no," but he didn't say "yes" either. We continued eating in silence and I thought about our new financial arrangement. "You know," I said, "maybe I won't go. This little trip could end up costing a couple hundred dollars." Then Tom admitted, "It really wouldn't be fair for you to take a vacation when I have to stay home."

I knew I had made the right decision. Tom and I were a team. I understood his feelings completely and bore no resentment. As much as I loved my friends, I loved my husband more. The next day I sent my pals an e-mail saying I was sorry, but I wouldn't be able to go on the weekend getaway.

A few weeks later one of my friends, Marilyn, called. "It just won't be the same if you're not with us on this adventure," she said. "Life is so short and this may be our only chance to travel together." Grandkids were starting to arrive. We didn't really know if we would all still be living in the same city in a few years. "I have a deal for you," she said.

Marilyn had just moved into a condo and I had offered to divide my perennials and grasses, fill in the empty spaces in her flower beds, and give her some pots for a container garden on her porch.

"I know you offered to help me with my landscaping. Since you're doing that work for me, I want to pay for your room on the weekend away. And breakfast is included."

A lump formed in my stomach. I knew she shouldn't be offering to do this. She, also, was retired and couldn't be that secure financially. I didn't know what to do. I was grateful for her generosity and deeply touched. But it didn't seem like a fair trade.

"Gardeners love to give their plants away. That's what we do," I said. "It's no big deal for us." But Marilyn was adamant that this was her way of paying me for my help. So I thanked her and said I would talk to Tom.

After I told the story to my husband, he had no problem with me going on this trip. In fact, he actually seemed happy for me. Maybe he just needed to know that I was taking our "change in lifestyle" seriously and willing to stick to my end of the agreement.

As I happily look forward to the "60th Birthday Bash" with my best friends, once again I am reminded that the bonds of love, be it for a spouse or friends, are much stronger than the chains of adversity. Always!

[source]

IN GooD TImES AND IN BAD

"Lord, have pity on my son." – Matthew 17:15

The parents took Lance to several doctors, yet the baby was often sick. He got worse and was confined to the hospital. It took several days before the correct diagnosis was finally found. The parents could only watch helplessly as their child suffered and cried from the needles and tests.
It was during that time that my friend, Lance's father, turned to God and surrendered the situation. Surprisingly, he admitted that it was the highest point of his relationship with God. He was crying out for his son and could only place his faith in the Divine Healer. God heeded his petition and healed Lance. Should we wait for a great problem to come to experience powerful and deep conversations with God? Can't we reach greater heights in our faith without going through a crisis?
Our journey to holiness need not be riddled with life and death situations in order to know God in a personal way. Whatever season we are in, we should strive to get closer to God, to increase our faith and love Him more through our neighbor. Jun Asis

REFLECTION:
Do I call on the Lord only in times of trouble? Have I acknowledged God during the happy times?

May I come to You at all times, Lord, not only when I think I have no options left.


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How to Buy a Digital Camera

Introduction

Digital photography keeps getting better. Higher resolution, more sophisticated controls and better technology all make taking great pictures easier than ever.

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The Big Picture From resolution to storage and from exposure control to white balance, we'll explain the digital camera terms you need to know.

The Specs Explained Buying a digital camera isn't all about megapixels. We'll translate the jargon and tell you just how important each specification is to your purchase.

Digital Camera Shopping Tips Before you head to the store, check out our advice for making a smart digital camera choice.

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The big picture

Megapixels still matter a lot to digital camera shoppers, in part because manufacturers and retailers hype that specification above all others. If you're having a hard time figuring out which camera to buy, you may be tempted to make a decision based solely on megapixel count; that's why nearly all manufacturers print the number on the front of their cameras.

But a camera needs more than just a high pixel count to take great pictures, so pay attention to other traits as well. For example, a lethargic camera that takes too much time between shots may miss the best action, and a big, heavy camera may spend more time on the shelf than in your carry-on bag. A camera with no manual controls may take fabulous shots in bright sunlight, but lousy ones in more challenging situations.

Key features

Resolution: If you intend to take pictures only to e-mail them to distant friends or to print at snapshot size, a camera of most any resolution will do. Even so, having more pixels gives you greater flexibility -- you can print sharper pictures at larger sizes, or crop and print small sections of pictures. These days most cameras offer a resolution of at least 5 megapixels, which is enough to make a sharp 11-by-14 print.

Size, weight and design: To some users, how much a camera weighs and whether it fits in a pocket may be more important factors than resolution. PC World has tested cameras that weigh as much as 2.3 pounds and as little as 4.2 ounces. Small cameras are convenient, but they frequently have tiny dials and few buttons, which make changing settings somewhat trying.

Zoom lens: Inexpensive cameras often lack a powerful optical zoom lens. If we had to choose between a camera with more optical zoom and one with higher resolution, we'd take the model with the more powerful zoom lens -- it means you won't have to magnify your subject and then use software to crop the image (and discard some of the resolution as a result). A few cameras now offer zoom ratings of up to 15X. These lenses are great for nature or sports photography, but you may need a steady hand or a tripod to avoid blurry pictures at extreme telephoto lengths if the camera doesn't have image stabilization. You should try a camera's autofocus at full zoom: We've tested some models that were slow to focus at full zoom in low light.

Be wary of advertised zoom ratings -- many vendors combine the optical zoom (which moves the lens to magnify the subject) with digital zoom, which merely captures fewer pixels and magnifies those. Optical zoom gives you all the benefit of the camera's maximum resolution, combined with the ability to get closer to the action.

Manual focus: For close-ups or situations in which the camera can't get a focus lock, switching to manual focusing can help you get the shot. Low-end cameras often omit manual focusing or allow only stepped focusing, which forces you to choose from a few preset distances.

Storage: At its highest resolution, a typical 5-megapixel camera can store six to eight images on a 16MB "starter" memory card. The size of the memory card that a camera ships with isn't terribly important, because you'll almost always have to buy another one (unless you're willing to transfer your images after every handful of shots). CompactFlash, SD (Secure Digital) Cards and SmartMedia cards cost about $6 to $15 for 512MB, or $25 to $40 for 2GB

Batteries: Cameras use one or more of several types of batteries: AAs, either nonrechargeable alkaline ($5 for four) or rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH, about $14 for four); high-capacity disposable CRV3s (around $10 apiece, and some cameras take two); or proprietary rechargeable batteries that can cost $25 to $65 to replace.

Movies and sound: Many cameras can capture video as well as still shots; this option is useful for taking short clips when you don't have a camcorder. Some models also will record an audio caption for still photos.

Exposure settings: All digital cameras let you shoot in fully automatic mode -- just press the shutter release and you get a picture. Most cameras also offer aperture- and shutter-priority modes, in which you adjust the size of the lens opening or how long the shutter stays open, and the camera automatically controls the other variable to give you the proper exposure.

Typically, you'd use aperture priority to maintain control over an image's depth of field -- for example, to blur the background of a shot while keeping the foreground sharp -- and shutter-priority mode to capture fast-moving subjects. A camera that relies exclusively on full auto would attempt to keep both the foreground and background in focus in the former example, and it would probably blur the moving subject in the latter.

Usually, cameras that offer priority modes also provide full-manual exposure control, in which you set both variables. These modes make a camera adaptable to almost any situation.

Menus: When evaluating a camera, consider how easily you can reach common settings -- resolution, macro mode, flash and exposure adjustments -- and how easily you can play back just-taken images. Too many buttons, and you waste time trying to figure out which button does what; too many menus, and you waste time digging through them.

Scene modes: Some cameras try to entice prospective buyers, particularly beginning photographers, with a large number of scene modes -- presets that are designed for a variety of settings and subjects, such as the beach, fireworks and underwater. However, selecting one of these less common modes usually requires a trip to the menus, and multiple button presses. Some cameras let you assign one of the modes -- or a custom mode of your creation -- to a position on the control dial, where you can more easily access it. Some single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras offer multiple positions on their control dial for storing customized settings. Some point-and-shoots allow you to store customized settings as a mode within the scene modes menu.

One potentially helpful feature offered by many point-and-shoot cameras is facial recognition. In detecting people's faces, the camera aims to optimize both focus and exposure for the subjects, presumably to better effect than the more traditional portrait mode that almost every camera offers.

White balance: Almost all digital cameras allow you to choose a white-balance setting via presets. This setting tells the camera which elements in a shot should look white, and then by inference which elements should look black and what everything in between should look like. If you're finicky about color accuracy, look for a custom white-balance mode in which you press the shutter button while aiming at a white object.

LCD and viewfinder: All digital cameras have an LCD screen; these vary in size from 1.8 to 3.5 inches. The smaller size limits your ability to review just-taken images on the camera. A good LCD is essential for knowing whether you got the shot you wanted, and can usually give you an indication of whether it was properly exposed. LCD quality varies widely: Many wash out in sunlight or become grainy in low light, or the image may change if you tilt the camera slightly. If you can, try a camera outside before you buy it. Some cameras also have a viewfinder, which is a convenient backup for framing your shots (and if you turn off the LCD when not using it, you'll save battery power). Perhaps the best way to ensure an accurate exposure is to view the photograph's histogram on the LCD (if the camera offers this feature). A histogram is a graph that will show you highlights that are overexposed to the point of being pure white, and shadows that are underexposed and show as pure black.

Anti-shake: Some cameras offer anti-shake (also called image stabilization) as a shooting mode or as a feature that can be turned on and off. This is helpful when you're shooting photos in situations where it's difficult to get a sharp image, such as in low light. One disadvantage of an anti-shake shooting mode is that you can't use the feature in conjunction with another scene mode. Most point-and-shoot cameras use software to sharpen the resulting images. More advanced cameras, including SLRs, tend to employ one of two methods: optical image stabilization, in which an element in the lens adjusts to compensate for movement; or sensor movement, in which the camera's sensor moves in order to compensate for the shaking.

Wireless: Using Wi-Fi to transmit images to a PC or printer may sound enticingly free of entanglements, but we'd recommend that you try this feature beforehand. In our reviewers' experience, sending Wi-Fi transmissions did not work seamlessly in some cases, and as a result was not worth the extra money this feature added to the camera's cost.

The specs explained

A digital camera's megapixel count is an important spec -- but it is by no means the only one. Start with pixels, but make sure to check a few other important numbers when considering a purchase.

A camera's megapixel rating is another way of expressing its resolution. The higher the megapixel number, the higher the resolution. In general, higher-resolution cameras let you produce larger, higher-quality prints. Even a 5-megapixel camera (which is rare these days) can produce images of high enough resolution to produce crisp 11-by-14 prints. The trade-off is that higher-resolution images take up more space on your camera's memory card, so you may be able to take only a small number of shots before you have to download them to your computer. The solution, of course, is to purchase a larger-capacity memory card.

So if you're interested in producing mostly small snapshots or images to send via e-mail or post on the Web, you probably don't need anything better than a 5-megapixel camera. If you want to create large copies of your masterworks, you'll want a camera that captures 6 megapixels or more.

Important: Battery life

Some digital cameras quickly drain batteries -- especially alkaline batteries -- which can be expensive and annoying. Battery life and cost often aren't related; some inexpensive cameras have great battery life, and some expensive ones use up a charge quickly. Either way, it's a good idea to buy spare batteries.

Somewhat important: Megapixels

This figure provides a measure of how much fine detail a camera can capture. With more megapixels, you can print larger photos with better image quality. But most current models offer at least 5 megapixels, which is enough to make a sharp 11-by-14-inch print.

Somewhat important: Exposure controls

Some models offer aperture and shutter priority modes, as well as full manual control. Aperture and shutter priority modes allow you to customize the lens opening and shutter speed, respectively. Serious photographers will value these controls, as well as full manual control. Scene modes automate exposure settings, and some point-and-shoots offer many such presets, though accessing the bulk of them is likely to require a trip to the LCD menu.

Somewhat important: Focal range

Cameras with greater focal range can zoom out to fit more into a shot or zoom in to fill the frame with the subject. Optical zoom produces sharper images than digital zoom. All new point-and-shoot and advanced cameras offer at least a 3X zoom, and some offer up to 15X zoom (the zoom of a single-lens reflex camera depends on the lens). However, using powerful magnification makes the camera more susceptible to slight shaking, which can result in a blurry shot. If you want a camera with a powerful optical zoom, look for one that offers optical image stabilization.

Somewhat important: Manual focus override

Focusing the camera yourself can be more accurate than using automatic focus in some situations. SLRs offer a focus ring on their lenses, as do most advanced models. Point-and-shoot cameras, however, require that you use a button to adjust manual focus (if they offer manual focus at all). Some point-and-shoots provide only a stepped manual focus, meaning that you can set its focus only at a few predetermined distances.

Digital camera shopping tips

Ready to buy a digital camera? Here are PC World's recommendations:

Match megapixels to your use: Most point-and-shoot cameras offer at least 5 megapixels, which is plenty for producing 11-by-14-inch prints. Cameras with more megapixels will yield even larger prints and allow you to blow up a part of an image with less likelihood that the print will be blurry. If you plan to make only 4-by-6-inch prints, you don't have to shoot at the camera's highest resolution -- and as a result, you can fit more shots on your memory card.

Look for rechargeable batteries and a charger: The cost of disposable batteries adds up over the long run. Some cameras can use AA batteries of any type -- disposable or rechargeable. That capability can be helpful if your rechargeable batteries run out of juice and you don't want to wait while they replenish.

Disregard digital zoom: Most cameras offer at least 3X optical zoom -- and some boast an optical zoom as high as 15X. But sometimes vendors tout a high total zoom that includes digital zoom, which you should disregard: Digital zoom produces photos that are inferior to those produced with an optical zoom.

Look for a low-light focusing aid: Some cameras have auxiliary lights that help them focus in dim settings. That's important for many indoor shots.

Try the camera before you buy: Some cameras have commands and menus that are easier to use than others, a comparison you can make only with a hands-on trial. Also evaluate the lag time between when you press the shutter button and when the camera actually takes the picture. Try the zoom lens -- does it operate quickly and smoothly? Find out how long you must wait between taking pictures. And try the LCD viewfinder -- in the sun if possible -- to determine how easy it is to read.

Give extra consideration to a camera with a good selection of software: Look for useful packages such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Ulead PhotoImpact and Corel Snapfire for editing images, as well as applications for organizing and sharing them.

Don't base your decision on video capability: Any still camera's ability to take moving pictures is limited. If you want to shoot video, invest in a camcorder dedicated to the job.

Consider investing in a memory card reader or a camera dock: A memory card reader acts like an external hard drive attached to your PC or laptop, allowing you to download pictures directly from your camera's storage media. Many newer laptops have one or more memory card slots built in, as do some inkjet printers. If you have a second memory card, you can keep shooting while the images download, rather than having to keep the camera hooked up to your PC. Alternatively, some cameras come with a dock or offer one as an option, and some of these docks offer a dedicated button for uploading all of your new photos on a memory card. A dock also charges the camera's battery.

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[source]

The 10 Most Annoying Text Habits Ever

Here's how to combat bad text etiquette.

By Victoria Lowe

Unless you’re living a seriously alternative lifestyle, you’ve probably been communicating via text for a while now. You text your friends, your boyfriend(s) — even your parents. It’s quick, convenient, and usually makes your life a helluva lot more pleasant...except when you come face to face with the 10 worst texting offenses in the world. Check ’em out below, plus some advice on how to stop offenders in their tracks.

1. The Mass Text

It’s Friday night, you’re at home on the couch, and you get a text that goes something like this: “What are you getting into tonight?” You know for a fact that this very same text just went out to 20 other people at exactly the same time, and that the sender is just waiting to receive all his/her options before deciding what to do. So what if the only thing you have planned for the night is that lame-ass (but sooo good) Lifetime movie at 11? You refuse to hang out with someone unless they make specific plans to hang out with you. You know how you can block those newsletters that you never signed up for by sending an e-mail with “unsubscribe” in the body? We suggest doing the same thing in a reply-text.

2. The Texting Cult

There is always at least one point in the night — a lull in the conversation, a pause between thoughts — when it gets really quiet, and you look around and realize that all your friends are busy texting. One person pulls out her iPhone while everyone else is looking at the dinner bill, and then someone else starts doing it, and before you know it, you’re in the middle of the sacred circle of text. Resist the urge to choose some random person in your contacts to send a useless message to. Instead, pull out your phone and send a text to everyone at the table asking, “Should we order another drink?” It will make everyone laugh but also point out the silliness of the situation.

3. The Double Message

Of course you screen calls. Everyone does. Sometimes you’re in the middle of something and sometimes you just don’t feel like talking. But your phone is still working, and you see the missed call and the voice message alert. So why — why?! — do certain people feel the need to send a text letting you know that they just left a message? Don’t they realize that if someone is smart enough to read a text, they’re also capable of understanding what the little bobble head with the sound waves coming out of him symbolizes? Text back, “What’s next, a carrier pigeon?”

4. The Texting Tease

You’re seeing a really cute/smart/funny/cool new guy, and your heart skips a tiny beat every time you get a text from him. In the middle of the week, you get one asking what you’re up to this weekend. Assuming he wants to do something together, you let him know that it’s looking pretty relaxed so far. Does he then proceed to make a plan with you? No. He responds, “Oh okay, cool.” You stand there with a perplexed look on your face. Respond “Yeah, but call my secretary if you want to schedule something.” This way, the ball is in his court, but ultimately you’re the one who is in charge, thanks to your confident attitude.

5. The Bulk Texter

An example of what a series of texts from this person might look like:
Text 1: Hey!
Text 2: What’s up?
Text 3: What are you doing tonight?
Text 4: Some of us are going to Cool People Bar tonight.
Text 5: Around 10
Text 6: It’s gonna be me and Chris
Text 7: Are you coming?
Text 8: Let us know
Text 9: Byeee!
Text 10: lolz

An example of what that exchange should look like:
Text 1: Hey, Chris and I are going to Cool People Bar around 10 tonight. Let us know if you wanna come.

An example of what you could text back:
Text 1: Please
Text 2: never
Text 3: text
Text 4: me
Text 5: this
Text 6: way
Text 7: again.
(one-minute pause)
Text 8: For “realz.”

6. The Bored Texter
You’ve just finished a sufficiently long and entertaining texting exchange with someone, and now you’re ready to put your phone down for a little while. But your phone dings, and it’s another text from said person. It looks like this: “Soooo...” Or, “What upppp.” Or, “la la la...” Clearly, they have nothing else to say and just want something to do. Send a text saying, “Running, watching movies, reading books, baking.” Your buddy will get the point that some people actually have a life.

7. The Show-and-Teller

Love is wonderful. We’re huge advocates of love and being in love and enjoying that love. People gushing on and on about their amazing love life? Not so much. Not only do you have to listen to them tell every insignificant story about how cute it was that their boyfriends ate pancakes for dinner and woke up with a funny hairdo, but you also have to read all of their SUPER-cute texts. “Guys, look what he wrote to me! Omg look at what he said now! Haha aww, look at this one!!” The cure? A dose of their own medicine. “Hey, look what my Mom said about her gallbladder! Omg you won’t believe how I’m planning to organize my sock drawer! Aww, my dog is wagging his tail. Oh, he’s doing it again!!”

8. The Goobers-and-Popcorn Texter

The previews are over, you’ve been waiting to see this movie for weeks, and here you finally are, snacks in hand. But the guy in front of you insists on ruining your experience by texting for the entire 96 minutes. Here’s a little secret he doesn’t know: EVERYONE sees his phone lighting up. And hears it vibrating violently every two minutes. When the lights come up at the end of the flick, call up a friend and loudly discuss how rude the guy texting throughout the entire movie was. Then get ready to start running.

9. The Lingering K

This one is especially aggravating if you’re not on an unlimited texting plan. You get a message asking how your day went or if you’ll be free at a certain time, so you send back a detailed and informative reply. Your phone dings again. You open the message and it says...“k.” Do people not even have the decency to include the o? The offender doesn’t even need to reply to the message. But if they feel the need to, could they not at least drum up something a little more personal/creative/not totally unnecessary? Respond by letting them know how much, to the cent, they owe you for superfluous texts the next time you’re together. Then hold your palm out expectantly.

10. The Needs-to-Grow-a-Pair Texter

Guys should never, ever get comfortable with using text slang and abbreviations. Whether he’s a friend, date, or boyfriend, no girl wants to associate the men in their lives with tween-speak. The next time he sends you a “TTY L8ER” or “C U 2morrow,” tell him that he should really consider an iPhone, BlackBerry, Sidekick, or “anything that gives you more room to text.” He’ll realize how outdated his text-talk is.

[source]

MP3 Player Buying Guide

by Jason Tomczak

Buying an MP3 player can be a confusing process; there are countless devices to choose from and each one has its own capabilities and limitations. Marketing hype from product manufacturers just adds to the mess. We've got a simple list of things to look for when buying an MP3 player.

1. Name Brands: Stick to the name brand MP3 players to ensure a good quality product, a fair warranty and even a generous return policy. Refrain from buying obscure brands unless you're trying to boost that penny tech stock you got wrangled into. Some of the most popular name brands are: Apple iPod, Creative Zen, Microsoft Zune, SanDisk Sansa, Sony and Archos.

2. Music, Movies and Photos: What kind of content will go on this MP3 player? Just music, audio books or recorded lectures? If that's all, some MP3 players are super compact and have tiny monochrome screens or even no screens at all! These players are fine for someone who just wants basic audio playback. Want more active content like movies, TV shows and photo slideshows? Then you'll want a more advanced MP3 player with a wide-screen, color LCD display. If you're unsure about content, take the safe route and buy a player that can handle everything. The difference in price is outweighed by the increase in useful features.

3. Physical Size: MP3 players come in a wide range of physical sizes - some so small that they can hang off a keychain and others that'll barely fit in the hand. The smallest players are great for workout routines, jogging or even clipping to a shirt lapel for everyday use. Mid-sized MP3 players - palm-sized units with 2" to 3.5" screens and weighing less than 5 ounces - are the most popular world-wide and appeal to the greatest number of consumers for enjoying audio and video. Larger MP3 players - with 4" or larger color screens and thicker, heavier bodies - are fantastic for playing video and enjoying music, but they're typically much more expensive and can be considered niche products with far fewer accessories.

4. Storage Capacity vs. Price: MP3 players store content on either tiny internal hard drives or even tinier memory chips also known as Flash Memory. MP3 players with hard drives can store much, much more content than MP3 players that use Flash Memory. Hard drive MP3 players also cost less per unit of storage. For example, an 80GB hard drive MP3 player that can hold roughly 20,000 songs will cost between $215 and $250 USD (about $2.91 per 1GB of storage). An 8GB Flash Memory player that can hold about 2,000 songs will often cost $160 to $300 USD depending on how many bells and whistles (between $20 and $37.50 USD per 1GB). Why is it more expensive for less storage capacity? Flash-based MP3 players are typically thinner and lighter and they get much longer battery life and have no moving parts, meaning zero potential for skipping music and fewer failing parts. How much content will you really be storing on the MP3 player? Can you save a few bucks and get a smaller capacity player or should you just go for the gusto? Consider a 2GB or 4GB player for under $100 USD that will still hold 1,000 to 2,000 songs.

5. Battery Life: Most MP3 players have rechargeable batteries built in. A few have battery bays for AA or AAA batteries. No matter which you prefer, make sure the battery life is no less than 12 hours for music and 4 hours for video. The new "iPod classic", for example, gives upwards of 40 hours of battery life. Also consider charging cords or external battery packs for the MP3 player to keep it juiced up while on the road.

6. Adding Music: An MP3 player without music is like a car without gas. It may look nice and shiny, but it's practically useless until you fill 'er up. Each MP3 player comes with software for managing your music (and video) library. You can copy an entire CD collection onto an MP3 player with almost no technical knowledge or experience. If you want to buy music online for an MP3 player, there are several services available. The iPod, for example, uses the iTunes program to manage music and online music purchases are made through iTunes at an average of $0.99 USD per song. There are millions of songs available, as well as thousands of movies, TV shows and other content. Non-iPod MP3 players like the SanDisk Sansa will connect to the equally easy-to-use Yahoo! Music service or other online music stores like Rhapsody To Go, Napster, eMusic, etc. These services also have millions of songs, videos, etc., however the pricing schemes vary. No matter which MP3 player you decide to purchase, there will probably be more available content than one person could enjoy in a decade or more. And buying your music through these online services is almost always less expensive than buying physical CDs.

7. Music Format: The most common format for digital music is MP3. That's why most digital media players are simply referred to as MP3 players. It's universal. Other popular formats are WMA (Windows Media Audio - native to Microsoft Windows computers) and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding - a popular iTunes/iPod format). There are specialized formats, mostly used by audiophiles or geeks, like FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), OGG (Ogg Vorbis), WAV and AIFF. If you're not an audiophile or serious geek, your best bests are: high quality MP3 for all systems and players, WMA for Windows users, AAC for Mac users.

8. PC or Mac?: Some MP3 players work well with all types of computers and operating systems (Windows, Linux or Mac OS X), while other players are intended solely for Windows systems. Try to find an MP3 player that's as flexible as possible. However, if you know the MP3 player will never be connected to a Mac computer, buying a Windows-only device is a valid choice.

9. Extra Functions: Most people are looking for an MP3 player so they can simply enjoy content. Some advanced users appreciate additional features like built-in microphone for recording voice notes or interviews, FM radio tuner, wireless internet connectivity or even inputs for recording live video directly to the player.

10. Accessories: Everyone loves accessories and add-ons. They make the original product even better. The more popular the brand of MP3 player, the more accessories can be found. These range from hip protective cases, arm bands for runners, connectable speaker systems, wireless headphones and even adapters for using the MP3 player in automobiles.

If you keep these ten topics in mind when buying an MP3 player, you're bound to take home a product that you'll be very happy with for at least a year or two - at least until something much more sophisticated and fun comes along.

You can check out our list of recently reviewed MP3 players here.

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Is it Love or Infatuation?

During several occasions, you often get confused whether you are really in love or have infatuation. If you are also going through such a phase then here are a few helpful tips. They would help you in distinguishing between love and infatuation.

Tips to Differentiate Between Love and Infatuation

• Growth rate is one of the major differences between love and infatuation. Love always takes considerable time for growing. On the other hand, infatuation grows instantly.
• When you are really in love with a person, you are ready to accept him/her with his/her faults. This is the real sign of love. On the other hand, the person is considered to be perfect and without any flaws. When flaws appear on the surface, it almost becomes impossible to accept them.
• When you truly love someone, he/she will be your center point. You will think only about him/her. Whereas, person is self centered during infatuation.
• If you are truly in love with a person then you will care about his/her feelings. You will always try to do something special for him/her.
• Two persons can infatuate you at the same time. During true love, your entire focus will be on that person. This is one of the major differences between true love and infatuation.
• Security and trust are the keywords of true love. Whereas, infatuation is incorporated with the feelings of jealousy.
• When two persons love truly then are ready to face challenges and problems. On the other hand, you will try to ignore the problem, if you are infatuated.
• Physical part is the key component in infatuation. Whereas, it just plays a part in true love.
• Endurance is another factor of love. On the other hand, change is one of the major features of infatuation.

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