Lady Gaga scores biggest selling album of 2010
Yahoo! Music, Dec 28, 2010 5:00 pm PSTCourtesy of NME.com - Singer also reveals special New Year's Eve announcementLady Gaga's 'The Fame Monster' has become the biggest selling album of 2010.
The album, which is an extended version of her 2008 debut 'The Fame,' clocked up nearly six million sales worldwide over the last year.
The singer finished ahead of Eminem in second, who scored 5.7 million album sales with 'Recovery.'
"'The Fame Monster' was named the best-selling album of 2010!" she wrote on her Twitter page Twitter.com/Ladygaga. "I'm so excited for the future, believe work hard, you will achieve your dreams."
Gaga also revealed that she plans to make a special announcement about her forthcoming second album 'Born This Way' at midnight on New Year's Eve (December 31).
Earlier this year Gaga came top of Spotify's most listened-to tracks and albums of 2010 lists.
For more on Lady Gaga, check out her NME.com page.
Lady Gaga News
Seven Ways To Save On Your Grocery Bill...tonight
By Kira Vermond
How much did you spend on groceries last week? Between wallet-busting shopping runs and last-minute trips to pick up frozen pizza, the cost of chow can take a bite out of anyone's budget. But there's good news. You can save money at the checkout counter tonight - without resorting to scarfing down canned pasta or day-old bread.
We asked two retail experts for the scoop.
Consider what you're buying
It sounds obvious, but a lot of people are on autopilot when they shop and hardly notice what they're spending, says Kimberley Clancy, owner of Frugal Shopper Canada in Mississauga, Ont. So start paying attention to the cost of your staples like milk and apples. "That way if there's a change in price, you'll actually know if it's a good deal," she says. No more taking the store's word for it.Go big then go home
Instead of swiping a couple of potatoes, onions or carrots from the bulk bin, pick up prepackaged bags for a savings of up to 50 percent. Or bypass the stewing beef and opt for a cheap roast. When we tried it, stewing beef was going for $11 per kilogram while a hunk of roast was only $6.59 per kilogram. And it took only five minutes (and a sharp knife) to cut it up for a homey stew.The small picture
"Think about the money in your pocket, not the money in your bank account," advises Philip Graves, a consumer behaviouralist and author of Consumer.ology: The market research myth, the truth about consumers and the psychology of shopping. Studies show that when people focus on the cash in their wallet instead of their salary, they spend less. So, if you budgeted $100 for groceries that week, then stick to your budget.
Want Kate's engagement ring? Just three bucks in China
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Chinese vendors looking to cash in on the frenzy over the April wedding of Britain's …
Chinese vendors looking to cash in on the frenzy over the April wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton are selling copies of her engagement ring for as little as three dollars.
Knock-offs of the 45,000-dollar sapphire-and-diamond ring that the prince gave to Middleton -- and once worn by his mother, Princess Diana -- are on offer at various shops on Taobao.com, China's largest online mall.
Most are selling for less than 100 yuan (15 dollars), with the cheapest -- allegedly made of zircon and unspecified alloys -- available for just 19.9 yuan, or about three dollars, according to Taobao pages searched by AFP.
The original item was given to Diana by William's father, Prince Charles, when they were engaged in February 1981. Charles and Diana divorced in 1996 and she was killed in a car crash in Paris the following year.
Chinese media said this week that factories in Yiwu, east China, the world's largest wholesale market for small products, were ramping up output of royal wedding souvenirs, from fake rings to cups to dolls.
The producers, wary of finding themselves in a copyright lawsuit, say they are making minor changes to their bogus engagement rings, reducing the number of "diamonds" surrounding the "sapphire", according to the reports.
Deals of the Day: Wall Street Cat Fight Over Who’s #1
By Stephen Grocer
Deals of the Day gathers all the biggest news of the morning related to mergers and acquisitions, bankruptcies, financing and private equity. Deal Journal’s homepage is http://blogs.wsj.com/deals. You can see real-time updates of our posts and our favorite deal-related articles on other Web sites through our Twitter feed at http://twitter.com/wsjdealjournal.
Mergers & Acquisitions
Fujitsu: Toshiba has bought a stake in a hard-disk drive research and development joint venture from its partner Fujitsu to make the unit 100%-owned. [WSJ]
Goldman Sachs: The investment bank’s Petershill Fund agreed to buy a minority stake in global macro hedge-fund manager Mount Lucas Management, which has $1.8 billion under management. [Bloomberg]
Patni Computer: A consortium of Apax Partners and iGate are close to buying 63% percent of IT service company Patni Computer in a deal valued at about $915 million. [Reuters]
PetroChina: PetroChina agreed to a $2.85 billion deal to sell a natural gas transmission company to its partially owned Hong Kong unit, Kunlun Energy. [Dow Jones Newswires.]
Financial Institutions
Who’s King of Wall Street? Over the past three weeks, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have traded places atop the “league tables” that chart which investment banks advise on the most merger deals for the year, and the jockeying can be expected to continue. [WSJ]
AIG: American International Group said it has obtained new credit lines from commercial banks to replace its bailout aid from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. [WSJ]
Ally Financial: The lender agreed to pay $462 million to Fannie Mae to avoid having to repurchase poorly underwritten mortgages sold to the housing finance giant. [Reuters]
Mizuho Financial: The Japanese bank is ramping up operations in fast-growing Asian countries as it looks to win more advisory work from Japanese companies that are increasingly focused on overseas markets. [WSJ]
Man crashes ‘muscle car’ onto George W. Bush’s lawn
A man was briefly detained Wednesday night after he accidentally crashed what authorities identified as a "muscle car" onto the lawn of former President George W. Bush's home in Dallas.The man was driving a 1970s era Mercury Cougar to visit one of Bush's neighbors, according to CBS affiliate KTVT-TV in Dallas. According to authorities, the man began driving erratically when his accelerator pedal got stuck.
He lost control of the car and ended up on Bush's lawn. The Secret Service and the Dallas Police Department rushed to the scene; Secret Service agents briefly detained the man for questioning and subsequently released him—though authorities are still investigating. The driver has still yet to be identified (though it's safe to say it wasn't Joe Biden).
Here's a video report from the scene of the mishap, courtesy of ABC News:
The Most Pirated Film of 2010 Is...
The Most Pirated Film of 2010 Is...
Drumroll please....Avatar is the most pirated film of the year.
The Oscar-winning mega-blockbuster was downloaded from torrent websites an amazing 16,580,000 times, according to TorrentFreak. That represents a 33% increase in download activity from last year's top-pirated film, Star Trek, which was downloaded just under 11 million times.
GALLERY: The top grossing films of all time.
20th Century Fox, which distributed the sci-fi epic, isn't exactly crying. The film grossed nearly $2.8 billion at the worldwide box office to become the highest-grossing movie ever. Director James Cameron has frequently touted 3D filmmaking as the industry's best hope for combating piracy, but 3D glasses didn't hold back pirates from shattering all recorded piracy records. The financial performance of Avatar's home entertainment revenue isn't known yet, but the initial DVD release broke sales records.
Surprisingly, second on the list is Kick-Ass, distributed in the US by Lionsgate. That film recorded 11,400,000 downloads off of torrent websites and grossed a somewhat disappointing $48 million domestically (plus another $48 million overseas).
Hyundai-Kia, Volkswagen win top safety pick awards
Hyundai-Kia, Volkswagen win top safety pick awards
- Ken Thomas, APWASHINGTON - South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia and German car maker Volkswagen lead the U.S. insurance industry's annual list of the safest new vehicles, used by safety-minded consumers looking to buy a new car.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recognized 66 vehicles on Wednesday with its "top safety pick award" for the 2011 model year, the most-ever awarded by the Virginia-based group. The number was more than double the 27 vehicles selected last year.
Hyundai Motor Corp. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., and Volkswagen AG and its Audi brand received the most awards with nine, followed by eight awards apiece by General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. The awards, used in advertising to attract car buyers, bolster Hyundai and Volkswagen as they attempt to build a larger foothold in the United States.
Hyundai's Genesis sedan, Sonata midsize and Santa Fe and Tucson sport utility vehicles picked up awards, while Kia was recognized for the Optima midsize car, the Forte and Soul small cars, and the Sorento and Sportage SUVs. Volkswagen won plaudits for the Jetta and Jetta SportWagen, the Golf and GTI small cars and the Touareg and Tiguan SUVs. Audi's A3 and A4 sedans and Q5 SUV also made the list.
Subaru and Chrysler received five awards apiece while Volvo and Mercedes had four. Subaru was the only automaker to win awards in every vehicle category in which it competes. Nissan and Honda had two awards each and Mitsubishi and BMW had one.
Hyundai said the award was particularly sweet for the Sonata, which also received the top score of five stars in the government's crash test program. The combination put Sonata "in a safety position unsurpassed in the industry," said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.
The 10 Best Weight-Loss Tips Of 2010
Dieting sucks and never seems to work long-term anyway. These easy habits will slim you down just in time for all the holiday parties. By Zoe Ruderman
Losing pounds doesn't have to be torture (we're looking at you, cayenne-pepper cleanse). Adopt at least three of these behaviors — they're simple to integrate into your day-to-day routine, and all are enthusiastically backed by nutritionists — and you'll be thinner and healthier in days. (Plus, the weight will stay off.)
1. SNACK, BUT SMARTLY
Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.
Related: 10 Things To Do Instead Of Dieting
2. TURN OFF THE TV
Dining while viewing can make you take in 40 percent more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you're eating solo.
3. STEP ON THE SCALE DAILY
If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it's a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly.
Related: Foods That Melt Flab Away
4. SCULPT THREE TIMES A WEEK
Doing 5 minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will help build and maintain muscle mass. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be, so you'll torch more calories as you go about your day.
5. REACH FOR YOUR CELL
Next time your mind gets stuck on a certain food, call a friend and redirect your brain by asking how her day's going. Research shows that cravings only last about 5 minutes, so by the time you hang up, the urge to devour junk will have subsided.
Related: Body Clues You Should Never Ignore
Holiday Baking Cooking Club Challenge: #11 Red Velvet Cupcakes
I hope you're excited for this little treat, Red Velvet Cupcakes. Chuck Hughes knows how to bake 'em. All you need is some food colouring and you've turned your typical cupcakes into something spectacular! My mouth is watering already.
And if I can't wait for these little guys, then Santa can't either. One more day on our fun trip down baking lane. I think you'll enjoy tomorrow's baking challenge. And don't worry, if you're not an experienced baker, have no fear, Chuck will show you how!
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How the Cooking Club Challenge works:
- Make the chosen recipe
- Follow the recipe either to a "T" or add your creative flair
- Email us (community@foodnetwork.ca) a picture (jpg. format) and a short descriptive paragraph - 50 words - before month's end for your chance to win!
Kanye, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Pharrell's Multi-Million-Dollar Homes
Kanye, Diddy, Lil Wayne, Pharrell's Multi-Million-Dollar Homes
Posted Fri Dec 17, 2010 3:47pm PST by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media TrainingIf you had a $14 million budget for a real estate purchase, how would you spend it? If you live a hip-hop lifestyle, you might first consider how rap luminaries Pharrell Williams, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West have spent their riches.
This week's photos of Williams' Miami high-rise prompted Curbed National to do a wrap-up of some of the year's news making hip-hop cribs.
IT PAYS TO BE A N.E.R.D. Considering N.E.R.D. frontman Pharrell Williams is known for his colorful Ice Cream brand outfits, it makes sense that his Miami penthouse also has a playful decor. He has a painting of "Family Guy" character Stewie, as well as oversized cartoon figures and a Perspective chair (which he designed) with human-like legs, toes, and all. But these are just the accessories. The massive $14 million abode, photographed by Todd Selby, has an arrowhead-shaped pool, spiral staircase, and view of the coastal shore. It is definitely fit for the head of an entity called the Billionaire Boys Club. (See more pictures at The Selby.)
New Shows on OWN Oprah Winfrey Network
OWN It!
Mark your calendar! At noon on January 1, 2011, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network goes live with a cable channel unlike any you've ever seen. See what you'll be watching...
Discountguru offers deals for shoppers
about 8 hours ago
Are you a shopper who likes to find the best prices available?
Discountguru.com, a website that helps you do just that in the Summit County area, is launching now, just in time for the holiday shopping season, in collaboration with the Stow Sentry.
Discounts of 50 percent and sometimes even better offered by retailers, businesses and services will be listed on the site on a daily basis.
Shoppers who share the news about these discounted prices with their friends, who also show an interest in purchasing them, will receive an even bigger discount. Discountguru.com offers sharing tools on the site for Facebook, Twitter, and e-mail, and of course deals will spread by word of mouth.
"We know that shopping and sharing great bargains is often a social activity that people like to share with one another," says David Dix, publisher. "They can do this by joining their friends at Discountguru.com and sharing the fantastic deals they find there."
Deals can also have a tipping point that employs a software application that activates the deal only if a certain quantity of certificates is purchased. The advertiser can choose if they desire a tipping point, and if so, once reached, the deal is on.
Besides the best deal of the day, Discountguru will feature other deals that will be displayed on the website that shoppers can also peruse and buy.
Family Friday: Easy Holiday Fudge - Shine from Yahoo! Canada
This column is usually about cooking WITH kids. But if you’re like me, you are obligated-out this month in a glittery swirl of holiday shopping, parties, dinners, and concerts, not to mention the usual keep-the-house-going duties. Cooking with kids is likely low on your list. It is on mine, too.
There was a time, pre-children, when I made dozens of Martha-style hand sugared gingerbread snowflake cookies as party favours for our festive open house. Our holidays look a bit different now, but I still like to give goodies from our kitchen, even if I don’t have time for marathon baking sessions.
For the past few years, I’ve been making fudge from a quick, super-easy recipe passed along by my friend Kendra. It’s simple to make, easy to divvy up, and quick enough to knock off before you get dressed for your neighbour’s tree-trimming party. Pop a block of fudge into a little cello bag, or parchment paper package tied up with string. If you have an extra few minutes and want to win points for fanciness, cut the fudge into little cubes and tuck it into a parchment-lined tin or box.
"Whatever" voted most irritating word in poll
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Whatever you think about using grating words, at the end of the day it's actually better not to say whatever, if you know what I mean.
For the second consecutive year "whatever' topped a Marist poll as the most annoying word or phrase in the English language.
Nearly 39 percent of 1,020 Americans questioned in the survey deemed it the most irritating word, followed by "like" with 28 percent and the phrase "you know what I mean' at 15 percent.
"Perhaps these words are introduced through popular culture, for example movies ... so they catch on," said Mary Azzoli, of Marist. "It has a lot to do with how accepted and how popular they become in every day speech."
Azzoli said words like "whatever" can be quite dismissive depending on how they are used.
"It's the way they are delivered and inherent in that delivery is a meaning.
The phrase "to tell you the truth" and "actually" were also unnerving to many people. But for younger Americans, aged 18 to 29, "like" was the word that annoyed them most.
(Reporting by Bernard Orr; Editing by Patricia Reaney)
The Most Memorable Dresses of 2010
By Elisa Kosonen
#1 KATY PERRY LIGHTS UP
More stories from Flare
- 2010 From A to Z
- Top 10 Party Dress Trends
- Dramatic Hair Transformations in 2010
- How to Bundle Up Without Looking Bulky
- The Royal Wedding Dress
#2 SANDRA BULLOCK'S OSCAR GOLD
Fashion faceoff: Jenny vs. Eva
Ladies, this battle is positively prehistoric -- not that either of our contestants is over the hill (quelle horreur!). It's just that the sequined Stella McCartney dress that Jenny McCarthy and Eva Mendes were both spotted wearing reminds me of something Wilma Flintstone might don for a fancy Stone Age party!
Mendes was the first to rock the sparkling Pre-Fall 2010 Stella McCartney frock when she walked the red carpet at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards in June. Sporting a casual side-parted 'do, the 36-year-old actress accessorized with gold bangles, Roger Vivier sandals, and a metallic clutch from the same designer.
Just last month, Jenny McCarthy donned the same one-shoulder number for the 2010 American Music Awards. Black peep-toe Louboutins, a silver bag, and a bouffant updo completed the 38-year-old's look.
The King's Speech leads Globes with 7 nominations
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) -- The British monarchy tale "The King's Speech" led Golden Globe contenders Tuesday with seven nominations, including best drama and acting honors for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush.
Other best-drama nominees were the psychosexual dance thriller "Black Swan," the boxing saga "The Fighter," the sci-fi blockbuster "Inception" and the Facebook chronicle "The Social Network."
Bing: More Golden Globes photos and video | More: See complete list of nominees
Nominees in the Globes' other best-picture category, for musical or comedy, are the Lewis Carroll fantasy "Alice in Wonderland," the song-and-dance extravaganza "Burlesque," the lesbian-family tale "The Kids Are All Right," the action tale "Red" and the romantic thriller "The Tourist."
"The Social Network" and "The Fighter" tied for second with six nominations each. Among nominations for "The Social Network" were Jesse Eisenberg as best dramatic actor, Andrew Garfield as supporting actor and David Fincher as director.
"The Fighter" earned four acting nominations, best actor for Mark Wahlberg and supporting honors for Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Melissa Leo. Its nominations also included a directing slot for David O. Russell.
Johnny Depp earned two nominations, as best musical or comedy actor for "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Tourist."
Along with Eisenberg, Firth and Wahlberg, best dramatic actor contenders are James Franco for the survival story "127 Hours" and Ryan Gosling for the marital tale "Blue Valentine." Read more...
Where to Find the Best Cash Back Deals for Holiday Shopping
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Frugal shopping is a high priority for most consumers this holiday shopping season. While credit cards might be the last place most would think of looking for savings, this year they might be worth a closer look.
The number of credit card users is down by 8 million this year, and card issuers are in a fierce competition for cardholder dollars. This is good news both for people applying for new cash back or rewards credit cards as well as for existing cardholders, because many card issuers are sprucing up deals for both. Here is an overview of some of the better cash back deals that card issuers and retailers have rolled out for the holidays:
1. Sign-up Bonuses for Cash Back Credit Cards
If you are in the market to apply for a new credit card, you are in luck. Card issuers currently are one-upping each other with sign-up bonuses on cash back credit cards. For people who apply now, the sign-up bonus could prove helpful in taking some of the bite out of the new year’s credit card bills.
Chase started the trend with a $100 sign-up bonus for the Chase Freedom Card for new cardholders, who spend more than $500 within the first 3 months. The card features a rotating 5 percent cash back bonus in certain purchase categories, and 1 percent cash back on other purchases. For small business owners, the Chase Ink Card also currently offers a $100 cash back bonus as well, issued after new cardholders make their first purchase.
Discover Cards, similarly, has upped the sign-up bonus for new Discover More cardholders to a $100 cash back bonus. New cardholders must spend $500 within the first 3 months to qualify. The Discover More card also features a rotating 5 percent cash back up to a maximum in purchases, usually up to a maximum of $300 to $800 in charges.
More recently, Citi has added a $100 statement for people applying for its Citi Forward Card, who make $500 in purchases within 3 months of account membership. Also, the Citi ThankYou Premier card offers 20,000 bonus ThankYou points for new cardholders who spend $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening. While technically a travel rewards card, points are redeemable for $200 in gift cards and other rewards. Read more...
Meteor Shower and Total Lunar Eclipse to Wow Skywatchers This Month
Skywatchers, grab your blankets. December's night sky spectacular will feature the best meteor shower of 2010 as well as the only total lunar eclipse of the year – sights that should outshine any New Year's Eve fireworks display in terms of sheer wonder.
The massive Geminid meteor shower returns every year, so you'll have more chances if the cold proves too daunting on the night of Dec. 13. But anyone in North America who skips the total lunar eclipse on the night of Dec. 20 will be missing what promises to be the best lunar eclipse show until April 2014.
This year's Geminid meteor shower is expected to be the best display of so-called "shooting stars" of the year and will peak during the overnight hours of Dec. 13 and Dec. 14.
Dazzling Geminid meteor shower
Like most meteor showers, the Geminids will be at their best after midnight (early on the morning of Dec. 14), when the Earth is heading directly into the meteoroid stream. But some will be visible earlier in the night, on the evening of Dec. 13, because the meteors' radiant (where they appear to originate) is nearly circumpolar, so they will stay in view above the horizon all night. Read more...
Christmas And Holiday Gifts Under $20
Eight great gift ideas for the holiday season.
Kim Jeffery
Holiday shopping can be stressful — with so many people on your list, and the pressure to give the perfect present, it's tempting to say 'bah, humbug.' Luckily, we've done the legwork for you! With everything from gifts for globe trotters to hostess presents, here are eight playful ways to make the season bright. Read more ...
What Are The Popular Gifts For Christams?
Christmas is this special time of giving and the most popular gifts for Christmas is what most of us are looking for. It's such a fun to see the smiling faces and know that presents you choose are the right one. Sometimes looking for these special gifts is difficult when we don't know what to look for. There are so many different gifts ideas to choose from. That's why I made a list of some popular gifts for Christmas you can look through and see if you can find something special for people you love the most.
Kids Popular Gifts For Christmas
What are the kids popular gifts for Christmas this year? Lets check some of them.
- Every year around the holidays, some new toys seem to get more attention than others. This year, one of those toys is Squinky. So, just what are these things known as Squinkies anyway? Here is what you should know about them. Squinkies are small, cute and collectible toys. They are soft and squishable and come in many different varieties. Read more at http://www.squidoo.com/popular-gifts-for-christmas.
Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Adventure Ball from Amazon
The Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster is an interactive, fun and furry toy hamster. Each of the four hamsters has a distinct personality and style. They are about as close to the real thing as possible, with one notable difference...no mess! It's easy to see why they are one of the hottest toys for the holiday season.
Adding to the realism are thirteen different hamster habitats for the battery-powered fluffballs to enjoy. Each one can stand alone, or be connected in different combinations for endless fun. You can choose the habitats that are best suited to the child you are getting the gift for, or you can choose the habitats that fit the unique personality of each of your Zhu Zhu Pets Hamsters. Among the more popular habitat is the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Adventure Ball. It's like a genuine hamster ball, with one main difference: it's more fun! Whether you have Chunk, Pipsqueak, NumNums or Squiggles; watching as the hamster frolics in its own ball will bring joy to anyone who sees it. Read more at http://bestchristmasdeals.blogspot.com/2010/11/zhu-zhu-pets-hamster-adventure-ball.html.
Vtec Kidizoom Camera - "Starter" Camera for Little Ones
Is your kid asking for a "real" camera like Mom's and Dad's? Vtec Kidizoom Camera is a pefect educational Christmas gift for your child aged three and up. This easy to use Vtec Kidizoom Digital Camera is a best way to document all your kid's adventures.
It is specifically designed and child-friendly camera with two-eye viewing, grips made to fit in little hands, and a built-in flash. This real digital camera can also shoot a short video. Simple-to-use photo editing software is included, allowing kids to have more fun by adding creative touches to their images.
If that's not enough the camera comes with three preschool games in case kids get tired of making pictures. You can view Kidizoom pictures on your TV or PC, you can watch a picture slide show or view movies. This makes the Vtec Kidizoom Camera an excellent way to entertain the whole family. Read more at http://www.squidoo.com/vtec-kidizoom-camera.
Crosley CR72 - Nostalgic Record Player
Crosley CR72 Nostalgic Record Player For The True Music Lovers
- switch to the AM/FM radio,
- turn on your modern CD or
- use the cassette player. Read more at http://www.squidoo.com/crosley-cr72.
Deal of the Day
Deal of the Day: $99 cruise
If you're sick of holiday shopping and need some R&R, a $99 three-day cruise may be just the ticket.
DealNews.com tipped us off about the deal on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, which includes an interior stateroom on its shipMajesty of the Seas. The ship leaves from Miami and visits two ports of call -- Cococay and Nassau, Bahamas. The $99 offer, which does not include taxes and fees, lasts through Dec. 31.
The nautical bargain is among "the lowest prices we've found" for a three-day Bahamas cruise, according DealNews.com.
Happy sailing! Read more...
Nine companies on the ropes in 2011
Whether because of dated products, broken business models or off-target strategies, a lot of notable companies are struggling as they enter the new year. Consider the plights of Sears, Kodak and these seven others.
AP Photo-Paul Sakuma, File
Micro Center computer store saleswoman Christine Canasa fixes up a display of Vonage products in a Santa Clara, Calif. file photo from May 24, 2006.
Vonage under fire
While 2011 may be the year the market gets back in gear, a lot of sizable companies look almost certain to struggle next year and over the long term -- because of bad bets, misguided merchandising or outdated products.
Take Vonage (VG.N). You might remember the quirky TV ads from this Internet phone company about how "people do stupid things" but shouldn't pay too much for phone service. They blitzed the airwaves a few years back, then dropped out of sight. Vonage itself may do the same before too long.
The company was a leader in cheap "voice over Internet protocol" phone service in the early days of that technology. But now, competitors like Google (GOOG.O), Skype and magicJack offer cheaper -- even free -- Internet phone service. This means that Vonage rates, typically $29 a month, may now be the ones that are too high.
Sales and subscribers declined in the last quarter as a result, a trend that might make it tough for Vonage to survive, believes Scott Stevens of Strata Capital Management, a hedge fund that was up 14.2% this year as of the end of October, compared with 7.9% for the S&P 500 Index ($INX). Read more...
Puppy Grow and Knows Your Name - Interactive Toy Dog
Watching the puppy get taller right in front of your eyes quickly wins the kid over. The included chart helps kids measure and track the growth of their puppy. Plus, puppy has something new to say each of the four days, which makes it seem like he really is learning as he grows. Part of this learning process includes singing two songs that feature your child’s name.
And, unlike a real dog, Puppy Grow and Knows Your Name can go back to being a puppy, so you and your child can watch the growth cycle all over again. Read more @ http://puppygrow.com/.
Squinky - Toy to Play and Collect
In the world of Squinkies there are palaces for the princesses, bubble gum machines, teapot treasures and more. These all add to the fun of collecting new sets each time they are unveiled. Collectors will want to keep adding to their sets until they are complete. Your children will love the many friends and accessories that come with their Squinky. Your children should be over four to receive and play with Squinkies as the parts are small and a very young child could put them in their mouth.
Read more @ http://squinky.net/.
Spike the Ultra Dinosaur from Amazon
This awesome oversized, plastic dinosaur stands 27 inches tall, with textured green skin, a yellow underbelly, gnarly teeth, and plenty of serious spines–enough to make any young dino-enthusiast faint. Before Spike is ready to roam the Earth, you’ll need to snap his legs and tail into place.
As soon as you turn him on, spikes on this long-necked dinosaur’s back and tail light up, and he starts blinking his eyes. Big, kid-friendly buttons on the durable remote control let you make Spike the ultra dinosaur walk forward, turn left or right, and swing his neck around. Read more @ http://spiketheultradinosaur.org/.
Bigfoot Monster Toy Review by Fisher Price
The Imaginext Bigfoot Monster shows a variety of feelings in addition to his vocabulary and this is sure to help your child not just develop language skills, but also to begin the process of learning empathy. Your child can also use the remote control to make the toy display variations of body language that would match the mood that the toy is exhibiting. The Bigfoot Monsters by Fisher Price will make a good buddy for any kid that is lucky to get one this holiday season.
Read more @ http://bigfootmonsters.net/.
Why we should all wear red lipstick
As females we spend a decent amount of time worrying about our appearance as it pertains to the opposite sex. We hit the gym, squeeze into Spanx, smooth our skin, lengthen our lashes, straighten or curl our hair, wax our privates, and some even spend a fortune on plastic surgery. But there's one thing every lady is born with that is guaranteed to attract a man: her lips.
(Photo: INFevents.com)
2010 YEAR IN REVIEW -Top Searches
Top Searches
Two global sporting events. Two top-rated talent shows. A fall from grace. A rise to fame. These are just some of the events and themes you'll discover in this year's Top 10 Searches list.
Presenting the sixth installment of Yahoo! Canada's Year in Review, our team of editors pored over more than one billion queries to offer a look at the people, stories and trends that dominated the year.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the Vancouver Winter Games took the top position. Impressive is that for an event which lasted a few weeks last winter, it still dominated all others stories to rank No. 1. Canadians pulled out their red mittens to showcase their national pride. During those 16 days, our athletes impressed us winning 14 gold medals, the most of any other participating country, including our first on home snow. Canada defended its name as a hockey powerhouse in both the women's event and a nail-biting gold finish for the men. But the high points also came with some lows. A luge competitor died in a terrible accident while on a practice run before mere hours before the Opening Ceremony.
South Africa, the first African nation to host the FIFA World Cup of Soccer, welcomed 32 nations in the world's largest sporting event. People took an online crash course in the sport, learning about the rules of the game, the major players (and outrageous referees), the octopus oracle, and super-cool (or was that super-annoying?) native horns that just wouldn't quit. The summer break brought productivity to a standstill and landed the World Cup in second place on our top 10 searches. Read more...
Top Searches
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Top Searches
1. Winter Games
2. World Cup
3. American Idol
4. Lady Gaga
5. Dancing With the Stars
6. Megan Fox
7. Tiger Woods
8. Justin Bieber
9. Sandra Bullock
10. Lindsay Lohan
10 ways to score great deals on tech
Tips and tricks for finding the best deals on tech gifts this holiday season.
Two things are more or less certain each holiday season: Your loved ones would prefer to receive hot tech gifts over a cheesy cardigan or box of chocolates — and as a result, you tend to go over budget because your heart is bigger than your wallet.
Well, there is a way you can splurge on tech toys this year — without breaking the bank — if you take heed of these simple tips and tricks. Read more...
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