, On Thursday January 27, 2011, 2:44 pm ESTFor millions of baby boomers, the financial gap between today and a successful retirement is deep and wide. When confronted with this reality, many folks simply give up, lamenting that they will never be able to retire or will continue working until age 75. But it may not have to be that way, if you are willing to adopt radical strategies to accelerate your retirement plan and close that financial gap. Here are a few ideas to consider:
[See 10 Winter Wonderlands for Retirement.]
1. Work a second job. You need more income now so you can save more for retirement. If you are healthy and the nest is empty, fill some spare time with more work. I am friends with a couple who each work full-time in conventional 9-to-5 office jobs. One spouse also works evenings and weekends selling ladies shoes in a mall department store on commission. She makes more money from that part-time job than she does at her regular job.
2. Become a single car family. Most married couples are two car families, even if the kids are gone and one spouse is not working. Operating costs including gas, insurance, maintenance, and repairs and carrying costs such as depreciation, taxes, and interest for a car or SUV can easily average $6,000 to $10,000 per year and even more for luxury vehicles. (Check Edmunds.com or ConsumerReports.org for data for your vehicle.) Gas prices are on the rise. Getting rid of the second vehicle can save you thousands of dollars for retirement. Commute with others, take public transit, share a ride with your spouse, or ride a bike instead. It can be done with careful planning.
4 Radical Strategies to Retire Sooner
BlackBerry maker RIM knocked out of top five mobile phone sellers globally
By The Canadian Press
MONTREAL - BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (TSX:RIM) has been knocked out of the top five mobile phone sellers globally, says tech research company IDC.
Apple (Nasdaq:AAPL) stayed in the top five, but slipped to fifth spot in the last quarter of 2010, despite a record quarter for shipments of its iPhone, IDC said Friday.
"Change-up among the number four and five vendors could be a regular occurrence this year," said Ramon Llamas, senior research analyst with IDC's mobile devices technology and trends team.
"Motorola, Research In Motion and Sony Ericsson, all vendors with a tight focus on the fast-growing smartphone market who had ranked among the top five worldwide vendors during 2010, are well within striking distance to move back into the top five list," Llamas said in a news release.
Has 'American Idol' Already Found "The One"?
Nashville Episode: Has 'American Idol' Already Found "The One"?
Posted Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:21pm PST by Lyndsey Parker in Reality Rocks
Nashville is the music capital of America, with undiscovered talent spilling out of every honky-tonk and busking on every street corner. But Thursday's "American Idol" auditions got off to a surprisingly shaky start at Music City's legendary Ryman Auditorium--with plenty of the usual delusionals we've come to expect from this crazy show. However, by the episode's end, the judges had found a few real Nashville stars...including one, Lauren Alaina, who just may win this whole darn thing.
THE GOOD:
Lauren Alaina - When this incredibly talented 15-year-old powerhouse started belting, I instantly thought, "Wow, they've found this year's Allison Iraheta." The judges took that thought one step further and basically declared her this year's WINNER. "I think we found The One today. We found her!" proclaimed Steven Tyler. And he may be right; I have to say, this girl impressed me, and if she's not at least in the top 10, I'll eat Steven's little hat. And I give her bonus props for having the nerve to challenge the four-times-her-age Aerosmith icon to an "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" sing-off and then totally holding her own. My one gripe about Lauren? Her heartstring-tugging backstory about her cancer-stricken cousin. After Chris Medina's tearjerker from the night before, it sort of fell flat...and really, this girl didn't need a sob story to get ahead. She's just that good.
Inside the world’s most expensive apartments
While housing prices in Canada may be getting less affordable, they still pale in comparison with those in cities such as New York, Tokyo and London.
Take the world's most expensive apartments: One Hyde Park in London, England.
The least expensive apartment sells for slightly more than $10 million while the priciest goes for about $220 million. The average cost per square foot? Roughly $9,500.
The four buildings with their 86 apartments were officially opened to the public last week. According to the developers, the Candy brothers, 60 per cent of the apartments have already been sold.
However, the Daily Mail reported only two of the sales have actually been completed, both to investors in the project, while deposits have been made on a further 26.
Whoever ends up living there will do so in the height of luxury. The buildings feature a private cinema, 21-metre swimming pool, golf simulator, wine cellar, panic rooms and even a tunnel to the exclusive Mandarin Oriental hotel nearby.
The builders used 15 different types of stone in the construction, including nearly $80 million worth of a special "sparkly" concrete.
The buildings were designed by Richard Rogers of architecture firm Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. Rogers is best known for designing the controversial Pompidou Centre in Paris, The Lloyd's building in London and the much-maligned Millenium Dome, also in London.
Rogers' inside-out style, featuring heating ducts and elevators prominently displayed, is set to come to Canada.
Slash your taxes
My 19-year-old daughter Laura had a taxing epiphany last summer. Fresh from her first couple of weeks at her summer job as a receptionist at a local hair salon, she waltzed in the front door, sat herself down at the kitchen table and ripped open the envelope holding her first paycheque. Her initial giddiness quickly turned to shock. She had worked 40 hours at $10 an hour. That totaled $400. But her paycheque amounted to only $344. Where was the rest of her money?
After a brief talk about how taxes work, I told her the good news—that our family was using several tax and income splitting strategies to make sure we weren't paying a dime more in tax than we had to. In fact, she was benefitting directly from one of our strategies: the Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) that her dad and I set up to help her pay for university or college. With an RESP, I explained, she was not only the beneficiary of her parents' largesse, but also the government's—since the feds throw in an annual cash grant. Even better, when we withdrew that money, we would pay very little tax on it, because it would be taxed in her hands, not ours. Her reaction? Of course, she wanted to know more.
My experience with Laura reinforced how much interest there is out there among families who want to save on taxes and increase their net household income. Most of us are willing to pay the taxes we have to, but no one wants to overpay. The truth is, the tax man has carefully eliminated almost every loophole out there, so you should take full advantage of the very few strategies left to slash your tax bill. And one of the most effective is income splitting.
Dubai opens 'world's highest restaurant'
Dubai has taken the concept of haute cuisine to new heights, with the opening of a fine-dining venue 442 metres up in the sky.
Touted by developers in the United Arab Emirates as "the world's highest restaurant", the At.mosphere lounge began seating guests on Sunday on the 122nd floor of the world's tallest building, the 828-metre Burj Khalifa.
Toronto's revolving 360 Restaurant in the CN Tower is considered by Guinness World Records authorities to have the World's Highest Wine Cellar, 351 metres above ground.
The UAE developers behind At.mosphere plan to apply to Guinness to take the title of World's Highest Restaurant.
At.mosphere can accommodate more than 210 guests and also boasts private dining rooms as well as a main dining floor, according to developers.
Oscar Nominations List 2011
Here are the nominees for the 83rd Academy Awards. Stick with MTV News all day for Oscar reactions, analysis and more.
Best Picture
"Black Swan," Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver and Scott Franklin, Producers
"The Fighter" David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman and Mark Wahlberg, Producers
"Inception," Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan, Producers
"The Kids Are All Right," Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte and Celine Rattray, Producers
"The King's Speech," Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, Producers
"127 Hours," Christian Colson, Danny Boyle and John Smithson, Producers
"The Social Network," Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca and Ceàn Chaffin, Producers
"Toy Story 3" Darla K. Anderson, Producer
"True Grit" Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen and Joel Coen, Producers
"Winter's Bone" Anne Rosellini and Alix Madigan-Yorkin, ProducersActor in a Leading Role
Javier Bardem in "Biutiful"
Jeff Bridges in "True Grit"
Jesse Eisenberg in "The Social Network"
Colin Firth in "The King's Speech"
James Franco in "127 Hours"Actor in a Supporting Role
Christian Bale in "The Fighter"
John Hawkes in "Winter's Bone"
Jeremy Renner in "The Town"
Mark Ruffalo in "The Kids Are All Right"
Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech"
Keyless entry systems vulnerable to car thieves
Cars.com - Colin BirdRemote keyless entry has been around for a while - since the late 1980s, in fact - and today it's almost standard on all new cars. But the pervasiveness of this feature is not without consequence. As researchers in Switzerland point out, the technology can make vehicle theft a breeze for a savvy thief.
Remote keyless-entry systems use radio waves that typically are specific to a manufacturer, and the signals are usually encrypted. When your vehicle's key fob is within six metres of the car, you're allowed to transmit a signal to unlock the doors, pop the trunk, remote start your car (when equipped) or activate the car alarm.
Researchers at ETH Zurich discovered that these encrypted signals are easy to intercept and trick.
The theft works by setting up two antennas, one near the targeted vehicle and one near the holder of the key fob - be it in a purse, bag or pocket. This equipment can usually be purchased for $100 to $1,000. The person with the antenna aimed at the owner of the key fob needs to get within eight metres of the target. In a store, this could be a few aisles away, so as to not arouse suspicion.
Once the antenna is near the intended victim's key fob, the key transmits a low-power signal to the antenna, which is then relayed to the antenna near the vehicle. Once that occurs, the thief can unlock the doors and drive away (if the vehicle has push-button start).
The Swiss researchers hacked into eight car manufacturers' passive-entry systems using this method. No cryptology or protocol could stop it.
While this system may seem fairly complicated, it could catch on with car thieves because of the cost of the equipment and anonymity. However, the hack cannot start the cars with traditional keys. Today's ignition systems are increasingly complicated and secure. That's one reason why car thefts are largely on the decline in the U.S.
Baby name trends mapped out to reveal a few unexpected choices
Baby names were on the brain, at least across Ontario, after the publication of online maps that graphed the most popular newborn monikers according to postal code.The popularity of the name Tenzin in downtown Toronto's resurgent Parkdale raised the most curiosity among visitors to national neighbourhood news website OpenFile.
A follow-up report explained how the gender-neutral name is typically the first of two bestowed upon babies by Tibetan spiritual leaders in honour of the Dalai Lama, whose religious name is Tenzin Gyatso.
Parents of all backgrounds have increasingly considered handles of more offbeat origin, based on the popularity in the U.S. of Nevaeh. The backwards spelling of "heaven" gained accidental traction in 2000 after the singer of heavy metal group P.O.D. mentioned it was the name of his daughter on MTV's "Cribs," and it has stuck around ever since.
Government of Ontario data collected between 2005 and 2009 was used by OpenFile map designer Patrick Cain to create Top 5 lists for both genders, broken down by the first three characters in each postal code. Tenzin was ranked for Toronto girls in the company of Ava, Chloe, Emily, Emma, Fatima, Gurleen, Isabella, Olivia, Sarah and Victoria.
The best and worst dressed players at the 2011 Australian Open
The first two rounds are in the book at the Australian Open, which means it's time for your favorite quarterly review of Grand Slam fashions, Busted Racquet's best and worst dressed tennis players list.
Note that Venus Williams didn't make the worst dressed list. This is because she would be so dominant on said list that it'd be unfair to the other competitors. Venus is already in the bad outfit Hall of Fame. You can't compare her to a mere mortal, like Caroline Wozniacki. They don't let Mariah Carey enter "American Idol," you know?
Christina Hendricks loses USD 850,000 diamond bracelet
New York, Jan 19 (PTI) Hollywood beauty Christina Hendricks flew into a panic after she lost an USD 850,000 diamond bracelet at the Golden Globes ceremony.The ''Mad Men'' star borrowed the gems from legendary jewellery company Chopard to wear it on the red carpet for the star-studded event in Los Angeles on Sunday.
But as the flame-haired bombshell made her way into the venue, one of the matching diamond bangles slipped off and she turned to reporters to help her locate the pricey piece.
"Have you seen a diamond bracelet? I''ve lost one that looks like this," Hendricks asked.
18 Common Work E-mail Mistakes
Most of us rely on e-mail as one of our primary communication tools. And given the number of messages we send and receive, we do it with remarkable success.
But as with anything, the more e-mails we send, the more likely we are to screw one up. And simple e-mail mistakes can be disastrous. They can cost us a raise, promotion--even a job.
With a new year upon us, this is the perfect time to go through some of the worst e-mail mistakes employees make and how to avoid them.
1. Sending before you mean to. Enter the recipient's e-mail address only when your e-mail is ready to be sent. This helps reduce the risk of an embarrassing misfire, such as sending an important e-mail to the wrong person or e-mailing a half-written note.
[See 9 Little-Known Ways to Damage Your Reputation at Work.]
2. Forgetting the attachment. If your e-mail includes an attachment, upload the file to the e-mail before composing it. This eliminates the embarrassing mistake of forgetting it before hitting "send," and having to send another e-mail saying you forgot to attach the document.
This is so true!
Mortgage Broker in Edmonton
If you are you looking for a mortgage broker in Edmonton then you are at the right place.
“A mortgage broker is someone who arranges mortgage loans for individuals and businesses. He is different from a loan officer who is the employee of a particular lender. Mortgage brokers are the largest distributors of mortgage products in developed mortgage markets like the U.S., Australia, Spain, Canada and the United Kingdom. People tend to confuse mortgage brokers with lenders. A mortgage broker offers loan products from various lenders to borrowers. He actually works with a number of lenders, and therefore has information about various mortgage options that are available, and is able to advise and help the borrower in securing a mortgage loan.
The lender is the one who actually funds the loan. The mortgage broker does not have any funds of his own involved in funding a mortgage loan.
FunctionsNowadays, due to competitive market conditions, lenders have a plethora of offers at various rates. Since the general borrower is usually not conversant with financial products, a mortgage broker is able to advise the consumer on the best offers according to his needs. The broker also takes care of the entire procedure of securing the mortgage for the borrower, along with proper advice regarding the mortgage and the property offered against it. Mortgage brokers are especially useful for borrowers with poor credit records. Since they often find it difficult to secure a mortgage, the broker is usually able to obtain the required finance, as he is in touch with different lenders and is aware of their terms.
Finding the right broker is not easy. Site Mortgage broker in Edmonton offers some great information about what to look for.
12 ways to defeat your debt
, On Wednesday January 12, 2011, 11:06 pm ESTIs it your goal to pay down debt this year? We've got some strategies to help.
Debt: surveys say we’re deeper in it, but we’re more eager to get out of it too. Debt has become an ugly word in recent years, and it’s no surprise that paying it down tops many New Year’s resolutions lists again this year.
Just before 2011 started, Canadians got a bit of wake-up call when new numbers showed we hit a record high for household debt. According to a story on CBC News , household debt increased by 6.7 per cent over levels from just a few years back. Our debt to income ratio — the amount we earn after taxes versus what we owe — is at its highest level in 20 years at just over 148 per cent. We’ve even surpassed the U.S. when it comes to the average amount of household debt.
Why is this worrisome? Experts warn we could be in for a fall. Economic growth isn’t what it should be, and some analysts warn we could be in for another recession due to the financial crisis in Europe. Also, as interest rates rise so too will debt payments — and that’s going to make household budgets even tighter and make it more difficult to save. What about retirement? Recent figures suggest more boomers will enter it still carrying mortgages and credit card debts, according to a story on CTV News.
5 Ways To Trick Yourself Into Exercising
Making plans and wanting to workout is easy—it’s the showing up to the gym with running shoes on that is the hard part. But we’ve come up with five easy ways to make finding that ever-elusive motivation to mount the evil treadmill seem a little less daunting and a little more—dare we say it—desirable! We guarantee at least one of these tips will work for you!
1. Make it a mini vacation.
Spending an hour away from your everyday routine can be as rejuvenating as a mini getaway because it provides the perfect time to forget about work, chores, errands, and other responsibilities. To make the most of it, watch your favorite TV show on a gym TV or your iPod or iPad while on the treadmill, listen to an upbeat 30-minute workout mix with all of your favorite songs on the elliptical machine, or catch up on emails while on a stationary bike. A clean inbox plus endorphins is the perfect recipe for clear-headed satisfaction!
The Cutest Workout Clothes Under $50
2. Schedule small rewards to keep you on track.
Giving yourself something to look forward to makes working out much more fun! Track your progress with special rewards like a new pair of shoes, cute new workout clothes, or a nice big frozen yogurt after you’ve kept 10 gym dates in a row. Better yet, make an appointment for a massage after you’ve completed a local charity walk or fun run. Write your weekly rewards on a calendar that counts down to bathing suit season for added motivation.
3. Turn gym time into quality time with a friend.
Sure you’re there to break a sweat, but you can also lift weights, do ab exercises, and walk at a fast pace while catching up on the latest scoop on work, boyfriends, and family. Plus, it’s harder to slack off when someone else is by your side. If you don’t both belong to the same gym, invite your BFF over for a celebrity workout session a la Kim Kardashian’s exercise DVD.
The world's most unique travel destinations
Take a trip someplace that's unlike any other on Earth.
A big part of travel is that feeling you get when experiencing something completely new, something you haven't seen or done before. Many travel destinations offer an amenity or two that other places don't -- but there are only a few locations in the world that offer a truly unique experience.
Some of these places are wonders of nature -- a spot where the flora or fauna can't be found elsewhere, or where the mountains stretch the landscape to impressive formations. Other destinations are unique because of man-made features -- entire islands created out of sand, underwater museums designed to decay, or hotels shaved from ice.
Hot or cold, undeveloped or overly elaborate, these locations offer something you can't get anywhere else, which is as good a reason as any to plan a trip.
See the full list of the World's Most Unique Travel Destinations
The Azores
Explore the dramatic natural beauty and bounty of crater lakes in this collection of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the North Atlantic. Portuguese by language, it has a culture and cuisine all its own. Feast on the geothermally heated hotpots called cozido das furnas, which consist of mixtures of meats and stews and are a feature of the area near Sao Miguel.
Bhutan
High up in the Himalayan Mountains sits the world's newest democracy, whose 30-year-old king has been instrumental in developing the country's parliament, and injecting a democratic voice into Bhutanese affairs. The term "gross national happiness" was coined by the country's former king, who began the Buddhist country's path to modernization. It now straddles both the old world and the new, and has earned the nickname, "the last Shangri-La."
Grindavik, Iceland, The Blue Lagoon
Anne Banas, executive editor of SmarterTravel.com, recommends the stark beauty of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland. "They call it 'The Land of Fire and Ice' for a reason," says Banas. "It's one of those things that you have to do in a lifetime. You're swimming in these silica mud waters, but then it's snowing outside." Stay at the Blue Lagoon Spa, where you can take a geothermal steam bath, or have drinks while you soak in the lagoon.
The world's most expensive hotel rooms
10. Ambassador's Bure at Wakaya Club & Spa, Fiji
Cost: $4,900 a night (All figures US). If your idea of luxury is a secluded island hideaway, Fiji's Wakaya Club & Spa is at your service. And interestingly enough, this secluded getaway is much more affordable than the other suites named in this article. This private island resort is composed of only 10 waterfront bures (or cottages), and the Ambassador's is its largest at 4,500 square feet. The bure's own spa, a private pool, several decks and a hammock are accompanied by private access to the Pacific Ocean. (Photo courtesy of Wakaya Club & Spa)
9. Imperial Suite at Park Hyatt Vendôme, Paris
Cost: $19,000 a night. You'll be content as a cat, soaking in the Parisian sunlight from the second-floor rooms of the Park Hyatt Vendôme. $19,000 will get you about 820 square feet of high ceilings, a spa bathroom (with a massage table, should you get the yen for an á la carte rub-down), a large living room, dining room and a work room (if you're on the clock). You'll also receive round-the-clock room service, along with an in-room safe for all your valuables. (Photo courtesy of Park Hyatt Vendôme)
8. The Royal Suite at Burj Al Arab, Dubai
Cost: $22,900 a night. This 25th-floor, two-bedroom suite is the very definition of indulgence in über-luxurious Dubai. After being chauffeured around the city in your choice of a Rolls Royce or a BMW and then stepping off your own private elevator, you'll be enveloped by the suite's marble, gold, mahogany and leopard-print décor. Explore each room and find full-size Hermes' 24, Faubourg fragrances and body products in several marble bathrooms, a rotating four-poster bed in the master bedroom and even a private cinema and library. And just in case you need a helicopter ride, well, the hotel offers those too -- but at additional cost. (Photo courtesy of Jumeirah)
7. Bridge Suites, Royal Towers at Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
Cost: $25,000 a night. The Bridge Suites span the space between Atlantis, Paradise Island's two Royal Towers, hence the name "Bridge Suites." Along with an awesome 16-story-high view on an 800-square-foot balcony, guests will enjoy the undivided attention of a staff of seven. Luxurious embellishments like a 22-karat gold chandelier in the dining room and a grand piano in the living room make this suite the ultimate in Bahamian extravagance. (Photo courtesy of Atlantis)
Best Deals on Yogurt
As our New Year’s resolutions to work out five times a week have slowly started to slip our minds, I’ve tracked down an easy and inexpensive way to stick with the “eating healthier” part of those promises for 2011.
Every week at Patch we scour the town to find the best deals on the items you shop for. This week’s bargain shopping was all about a healthy snack: yogurt.
Safeway has a huge selection of every kind of yogurt imaginable.
- Their 6 oz. Lucerne brand yogurts are $0.60 this week. But if you keep your eyes peeled, you’ll find that two Lucerne flavors are even cheaper through March 1: apricot mango and passion orange pineapple go for $0.29 for the next six weeks.
- Safeway also has Danon Light & Fit 6 oz. 4-packs in blueberry or peach flavors for $2.50, Activia 4 oz. 4-packs in blueberry, vanilla, or strawberry for $2.50, Lucerne 6 oz. 6-packs for $2.99, and Yoplait Light 6 oz. 8-packs a dollar off their regular price this week at $3.99.
- If you want to try a new yogurt, Safeway has 6 oz. Brown Cow yogurts in blueberry, strawberry, raspberry, and maple at an introductory price of $0.59 each instead of the soon-to-be normal price of $0.89.
7 top Fidelity funds for your 401k
Related topics: Fidelity, 401k, mutual funds, Vanguard, retirement
By making two moves early this year, you can get more from your 401k: Make the maximum contribution to your company's 401k plan, and invest in funds that have the lowest possible expense ratio, which puts more of your money to work.
With that in mind, here are seven proven Fidelity funds that belong in your portfolio. The funds can be combined into two types of risk-adjusted portfolio -- one targeting aggressive growth and the other designed to provide growth and income. Which type is best for you will depend on your age and risk tolerance.
Fidelity Low-Priced Stock Fund
Fund manager Joel Tillinghast has rarely owned fewer than 800 stocks in his portfolio, and often owns more than 1,000. At last count, Fidelity Low-Priced Stock (FLPSX) had 907 holdings. Tillinghast buys stocks priced at $35 a share or less, which increases the likelihood of small- and mid-cap investments in bull markets, but in bear markets can net him companies of virtually any size.
His long-term record has been one of solid, consistent performance. Average annual total returns over the last 10 years exceed 11%, almost double the performance of its Russell 2000 ($RUT.X) benchmark. Many of Tillinghast's top holdings come from the health care, consumer services and technology sectors. Among his top holdings: UnitedHealth (UNH, news), home health provider Lincare Holdings (LNCR, news), Oracle (ORCL, news) and Safeway (SWY, news).
Fidelity Focused Stock Fund
Manager Stephen DuFour invests in a concentrated portfolio of 45 stocks, mainly large-cap growth and value stocks. The top 10 holdings and sector weightings of the Fidelity Focused Stock Fund (FTQGX) reveal his focus on an expected recovery of U.S. and global consumers.
Should You Get Back Together With Your Ex?
Experts weigh in on if getting back together with your ex is a good idea — and share the three rules you must follow, if you do decide to go another round.
By Korin Miller
Shakira just announced on her blog that she and her boyfriend of 11 years are taking a break and "view this period of separation as temporary." But admit it: Whenever you hear about a couple planning to get back together, "Yeah, that'll last" often comes to mind. If a relationship ends, it's obvious there were problems, and it's hard to imagine things going any more smoothly the second time. That seems especially true if the split was awful. Shouldn't both people just learn from the experience and move on?
Related: What Happened To Hollywood's Sexiest It Couple
Not necessarily, say experts. Yes, there may have been issues, but a serious time-out can make a couple stronger in the long run…if those issues are addressed and resolved.
That said, there are certain "rules of the repeat" that can help improve your odds of success in round two.
Related: 3 Rules To Get Over a Breakup
Go Slow
It's hard to slam on the brakes when you're making up for lost time, not to mention enjoying being so familiar with each other. But admit it or not, you've both changed and need to take time to get reacquainted.
"Try to look at it as a brand-new relationship," says relationship therapist Bethany Marshall, PhD, author of Deal Breakers. While you might be dying to fast-forward to cozy Saturday mornings in bed, it's important to stop and think about why you want to be together…just like you would while getting close with any guy.
Related: 10 Dating Truths You Can't Ignore
Volt wins 2011 North American Car of the Year award at Detroit show
By Jeff Karoub, The Associated Press
DETROIT - The 2011 Chevrolet Volt got another marketing jolt Monday, when it received the North American Car of the Year award.
The car that runs on electricity for 65 kilometres before a backup gas engine kicks in beat out the Nissan Leaf, another electric, and Hyundai Sonata in the annual ceremony on the first day of media previews for the Detroit Auto Show.
The Ford Explorer won the truck of the year, the third year in a row the Dearborn-based automaker nabbed the honour. Truck finalists were the Dodge Durango, the Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Forty-nine auto journalists from the U.S. and Canada made the picks. The vehicles are judged on innovation, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value.
It's the latest in a string of accolades for the Volt, which went on sale in limited markets in December and costs $40,280. It was named the Green Car of the Year at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November and Motor Trend and Automobile Magazine named the Volt the 2011 car of the year the same month.
General Motors Co. vice-chairman Tom Stephens said the Volt "represents the soul" of the new GM, on the rebound after enduring a government-led bankruptcy in 2009. GM sold between 250 and 350 Chevy Volts in December and Nissan's sales totalled less than 10 Leaf sedans in the past two weeks. Production for both is slowly ramping up.
It will be well into 2012 before both the Volt and Leaf, which costs $32,780, are available countrywide. Early demand is strong: About 50,000 people already are on waiting lists.
Motorola Xoom tablet crowned best CES gadget
Motorola Mobility's Xoom tablet computer powered by new "Honeycomb" software from Google was crowned the best gadget at the giant Consumer Electronics Show (CES) on Saturday.Along with being declared the top creation at the dazzling gadget extravaganza, Xoom was also honored as the best of the scores of tablets introduced here as fresh competitors in a market dominated by Apple iPads.
Motorola also scored a victory with its Atrix smartphone designed to work with high-speed 4G wireless networks and which can be used in a dock to power a laptop.
Atrix won the top spot in a smartphone category at the official Best of CES awards.
"We took big risks and they paid off," said Motorola Mobility chief software engineer Seang Chau. "We didn't know if people would get it; but obviously they got it."
US telecom maker Motorola Mobility jumped into the bustling tablet computer market Wednesday when chief executive Sanjay Jha unveiled Xoom at CES.
Motorola Mobility's hotly awaited tablet computer, the "Xoom," will be available in the first quarter of the year, Jha said.
With a 10.1-inch (25.6-centimeter) screen, the Xoom is about the same size as Apple's iPad, which hit stores in April and has other leading technology companies around the world scrambling to catch up.
Xoom will be a fierce competitor in the marketplace because Google built Honeycomb software specifically to power tablet computers, according to Jha.
Ford rises, Toyota plummets in best-loved car brand
, On Wednesday January 5, 2011, 4:22 pm ESTFord is rising fast in a survey of consumers' feelings toward car brands. In fact, Ford is now virtually tied for first place with fast-falling Toyota in the most recent Consumer Reports Car Brand Perception Survey.
Over the last two years, Ford's score in the survey has risen by 35 points while Toyota's score has fallen by 46 points.
In 2010, Toyota was the only major automaker to suffer a decline in sales compared to 2009. Toyota's image has been battered by a spate of recalls and safety scares that started about 18 months ago.
The big drop in consumers' perceptions of Toyota happened during the past year, said Jeff Bartlett, an editor with Consumer Reports. When the same survey was done early last year, news of Toyota recalls hadn't really shifted consumers' views of the automaker yet and it was the best liked brand in the survey -- by a long shot.
This year, views of Toyota began to plummet, he said.
"By Spring, it had really started to show some weakness," Bartlett said.
"2010 was very challenging for Toyota; we expect that some public perception of Toyota's long-standing reputation for quality and reliability might be influenced in the short term, " Toyota spokesman John Hanson said.
Other indicators, including other surveys, warranty claims and owner loyalty, show that Toyota is turning things around, Hanson said.
But Ford's ascent is not simply because it took advantage of Toyota's downfall. Ford made big strides in 2009, particularly in perceptions of environmental friendliness, quality and style, and maintained those gains in 2010 while Toyota slipped.
Consistency is important, Bartlett said, but it helps build on those gains year over year and leads to predictable consumer behavior.
Gap Designer Says High-waisted Flared Jeans Are Must-have For 2011
Bootcut jeans! Low-rise jeans! Acid wash jeans! Skinny jeans! Colored jeans! Jeggings! The most popular denim styles change every year, sometimes even season to season, leaving those who wear previous trends looking, well, a little out of date. This season Patrick Robinson, the Gap's executive vice president of global design, says a controversial old style will be back on the scene this spring.
“The new fit of the season for women’s denim is the wide leg high waisted flare," Robinson said via press release. "This style is a modern interpretation of '70s influence which is a key theme for the spring season. To enhance the sophistication of the look, you can pair it with a fitted button down blouse or a light washed denim shirt."
So that's the word! '70s flares are back. But aside from trends, there's another waaay more important factor that should play a role in which jeans you buy. They should look good on you! If you're short, high-waisted jeans could make your body disappear. If you're not super-thin, wide legs can add extra bulk. Not to mention the awful long-crotch/flat-butt syndrome that can occur from the additional rise inches. Yes, these wide-leg, flared jeans with a high waist look awesome on some people, but they're such a tricky fit we're planning to avoid this trend all together. We're guessing Jessica Simpson probably will too
Starbucks new logo drops company name
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Starbucks Corp on Wednesday unveiled a simplified new logo that focuses on its mermaid symbol and removes the company name from around the border of the "siren."
The world's biggest coffee company's logo had been unchanged since Starbucks went public 1992.
The new, all-green logo lands as Starbucks plans to expand the number of branded products it sells outside its own cafes.
"Even though we have been and always will be a coffee company and retailer, it's possible we'll have other products with our name on it and no coffee in it," Chief Executive Howard Schultz said on a webcast.
The new logo design also marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the first Starbucks store in Seattle in 1971, Schultz said.
Executives said the new logo will be phased in over time. Its first appearance will be on paper goods such as cups and napkins in March 2011. It declined to say how much it would spend swapping out the logos.
Starbucks shares were down 6 cents, or less than 1 percent, to $32.43 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq.
(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, editing by Dave Zimmerman)
Sunwing vacation includes sleepless night
Several travellers who bought an all-inclusive vacation package in Mexico say they got a nasty surprise after arrival — they were booked into a hotel for one night less than expected and had to check out 17 hours before their morning flight home.
"Everyone in our package was in the same boat," said Tony Lucas, who bought the Sunwing/Signature vacation package from Vancouver to Puerto Vallarta with his wife, Stacey Riediger, at the end of November.
"It was a great deal … [but] it was a travel ripoff."
The couple from Abbotsford, B.C., paid $1,451 for the all-inclusive, eight-day package. It was Riediger's 40th-birthday celebration and her first time on an airplane. The couple — along with several others — ended up sleeping in the lobby of the hotel Riu Jalisco on their last night, because they had to check out early.
"It was cold. There was a lot of people with blankets sleeping on chairs and it was noisy. And it is open to the outside, so you are basically outside," said Lucas.
"The end of the vacation was definitely ruined. The beginning was ruined too, with wasting a day in the lobby … trying to get an answer to what's going on."
The Sunwing package is advertised as "eight days," with no reference to hotel checkout times in the booking confirmation from Expedia, the site the couple booked through.
"Especially being my first trip, I was nervous and I checked out everything," said Riediger. "We didn't see anything that said we had to be out at noon [the day before the flight back]."
It wasn't until the first afternoon in Mexico — at a Sunwing orientation — that the couple, along with several others, learned they were expected to vacate their rooms after seven nights.
"I felt like I had been lied to," said Riediger.
Lucas and Riediger said the Sunwing representative at the hotel gave the group two options: pay an extra $130 for a "late checkout" on their last day or take a "late-night tour" for $90 per head.
If they took the late checkout, they still had to vacate their room by midnight, the night before their early-morning flight home.
"It's all-inclusive. Why am I going to pay more money? I have already paid for the all-inclusive," said Riediger.
The Most Popular New Year's Resolutions
Whether you're hoping to quit smoking, be more organized or get a new job, now is the time to outline what you'd like to achieve next year. See how your goals for the New Year compare to the most popular resolutions of 2011.
The most common objective for those hoping to make some positive changes in 2011 is to drop a few pounds, according to an online poll of over 5,000 people on 43things.com. Poll results showed that 1,057 people voted to "lose weight" as their No. 1 resolution, with "be happy" coming in second place with 684 votes.
Here's the full list:
Most Popular New Year's Resolutions of 2011
1. Lose weight (1,057 votes)
2. Be happy (684 votes)
3. Save money (636 votes)
4. Fall in love (554 votes)
5. Get a job (515 votes)
6. Read more (433 votes)
7. Eat, drink, try or learn something new (378 votes)
8. Quit Smoking (345 votes)
9. Take a photo every day for a year (266 votes)
10. Run a marathon (255 votes)
5 Habits Of The Happiest Couples I Know
I'm taking a cue from Shine staffer Sarah McColl's post, "Five Habits of Happy People Even the Biggest Grump Can Borrow."
When I looked at her tips and applied them to marriage, they seemed to ring pretty true. I thought I'd share some with you so you'll be inspired also. Or not. I'm sure you'll let me know.
1. Reach out. In the words of an old commercial, "Reach out and touch someone..." But not just anyone. Your spouse! They'll be sure to thank you for it. And while you might not be having sex with the pool man or the cashier in the grocery store (or maybe you are, but that's a different blog post) there's no reason you can't break through that wall we all put up with a friendly, "Thanks. Hey, how is your day going?" If you're like me, you'll find that when you let other people into your world, you don't put so much pressure on your spouse to be Mr. Everything. Learn more ways to get out of a romance rut.
2. Be thankful. Yes, it's a bit cliche, but it works. I wrote a poem recently expressing just how thankful I am for the little things Rex does to keep this household running. I have continued my journaling also. When I see on paper just how much Rex brings to the table, I'm far less cranky at the way he clicks his fork against his teeth while eating my pesto salad. Or the way he leaves shoes all over the floor just waiting for me to trip and break my neck. Or how the night time routines often involve me doing everything kid related while he gets caught up on a riveting episode of South Park. Okay, now I'm getting mad. So I'll end it with a "Thank you, Rex, for trusting me to write about us and never once - not once - give me a hard time about talking about you getting hard... all the time. Moving on. Discover more surprising ways to feel happy every day.
J&J helps develop blood test to spot 1 cancer cell in a billion healthy ones
Related Content
Enlarge Photo
** HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL 12:01 A.M. EST MONDAY. THIS STORY MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, …
BOSTON - A blood test so sensitive that it can spot a single cancer cell lurking among a billion healthy ones is moving one step closer to being available at your doctor's office.Boston scientists who invented the test and health care giant Johnson & Johnson will announce Monday that they are joining forces to bring it to market. Four big cancer centres also will start studies using the experimental test this year.
Stray cancer cells in the blood mean that a tumour has spread or is likely to, many doctors believe. A test that can capture such cells has the potential to transform care for many types of cancer, especially breast, prostate, colon and lung.
Initially, doctors want to use the test to try to predict what treatments would be best for each patient's tumour and find out quickly if they are working.
"This is like a liquid biopsy" that avoids painful tissue sampling and may give a better way to monitor patients than periodic imaging scans, said Dr. Daniel Haber, chief of Massachusetts General Hospital's cancer centre and one of the test's inventors.
Ultimately, the test may offer a way to screen for cancer besides the mammograms, colonoscopies and other less-than-ideal methods used now.
"There's a lot of potential here, and that's why there's a lot of excitement," said Dr. Mark Kris, lung cancer chief at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He had no role in developing the test, but Sloan-Kettering is one of the sites that will study it this year.
Many people have their cancers diagnosed through needle biopsies. These often do not provide enough of a sample to determine what genes or pathways control a tumour's growth. Or the sample may no longer be available by the time the patient gets sent to a specialist to decide what treatment to prescribe.
Thrashers fans married during game
"In the presence of almighty God, our family, our friends and the entire Thrasher Nation, I take you Cindy to be my wife ..."
Has there ever been a more poetic declaration of matrimonial bliss? OK, probably ... but what about in an on-ice wedding ceremony during an NHL game?
Atlanta Thrashers season-ticket holders Cindy and David Pritchard were married during the first intermission of Thursday night's 3-2 shootout win over the Boston Bruins; he in his Thrashers jersey, her in a Thrashers-print dress (that on television looked uncomfortably like a large beach towel). What, no Jersey Fouls?
12 Ways To Save Money Fast For 2011
Financial worries got you down? Here’s how to keep the numbers in your bank account up for the new year!
By Lenora Epstein
1. Shave some extra cents off your gas costs by checking out GasPriceWatch.com to find the cheapest offerings in your area. For example, you’ll find that the Chevron on Olympic Boulevard in Los Angeles is selling gas for 22 cents less than a Mobil station a few blocks down the road.
Related: 6 Money-Saving Switches
2. Nix name brands and start buying generic toiletries and cleaning products in bulk. Better yet, take shopping trips with friends to Costco so you can all split that bulk pack of toilet paper.
Related: How To Save $250 in 30 Days
3. Join your local library. You might be shocked to find that its DVD collection is stocked and up-to-date (not to mention totally free). If you normally rent one movie per week from the video store or Netflix, you can save over $200 in a year!
Related: 4 Money Questions You Must Ask Your Guy
4. Unplug your appliances like coffee pots, toasters, hair dryers, and computer cords when you leave the house. According to Energystar.gov, it costs you $100 per year to power appliances in standby mode (especially ones with features like clock displays). When you go on vacation, it’s a good idea (both for your wallet and the environment) to unplug large energy consumers like entertainment centers.
Related: Genius Ways To Make Extra Cash Fast!
5. Cliché as it may sound, skip your morning Starbucks latte. You’ll save about 190 calories and $3 per day. You can still make your homemade coffee feel special by adding a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg.
Related: Money-Saving Beauty Tricks
6. Get cash back on your clothing purchases. It sucks when you buy a piece of clothing full-price, then see it on sale a week later. Hang on to your receipts, because larger chains like the Gap, Banana Republic, and Old Navy will refund you the difference on items that go on sale as long as you present a receipt within 14 days of the original purchase.
