How Bad Will the Economy Get?

IT'S TIME to get our heads out from under the covers and face our worst fears. The financial crisis is worldwide, and the U.S. is actually better off than most countries. Iceland is bankrupt, and others (including Russia) are teetering. What happens when a crisis turns into a complete collapse?

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8 Movies to Remind You that Life Isn't So Bad

What's got you down? Hate your job? Can't get your cholesterol below 250? Kids always yelling at the dinner table? Whatever it is, some guys have it a LOT worse than you do. At least in the movies… Source: Alwayswatching.org Read more»

• Who Will Win the 'Honeymoon is Over' Derby?
Romance and Affection fade quickly as Immediate Child and Mortgaged Up the Ass come on strong. Which horse are you betting on?
• The Top 16 Best Hotels in the World
Planning your next luxury vacation? From Florida to Tanzania, here are 16 superfantabulous places. Line up grandma (or the babysitter) now, and check with the chief to see which one she'd like to visit. Source: Travel & Leisure
• Cap'n Scruffy - Episode Two: Best Friends
America's #1 canine video blogger!
• Cap'n Scruffy - Episode One: Why Me?
America's #1 canine video blogger!
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5 Ways to Save a Life

Quick: What would you do if you impaled yourself with a large, sharp, piece of wood? If your tooth fell out? If you fell from a high ladder? If your friend had a severe allergic reaction? Even if you don't have first aid training, there are simple things everyone can learn to do in emergency situations. Read more»

• Cops Have ??? ALWAYS Get a Lawyer
Cops want tp ask you a few questions? You want to cooperate, but fight the urge. So say the law professor and detective in this fascinating video. Even if you haven't done anything wrong, they say, you will only make things harder on yourself if you answer police questions without your lawyer being present.
• What Orwell Wrote 70 Years Ago Today
George Orwell has been dead for 58 years, but his blog is now up and running. For the next four years, you can read what he wrote on this very day, 70 years ago.
• 5 Scientific Theories to Make Your Head Explode
Imagine how big the universe is. Now get this: Recent evidence suggests that it's billions of times bigger than that. And that's just one of five widely accepted scientific theories that are really, really crazy, when you think about it. Source: Cracked
• Get Ready for the New Generation of 'Superbugs'
Researchers are racing to find a way to kill a new generation of deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria, which have moved out of the ICU and into the population at large. One of the most promising avenues of research involve infecting the bacteria with even smaller organisms called macrophages. Source: The New Yorker.
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13 Things Your Bank Won't Tell You

Banks don't always promote their checking accounts with the highest interest rate. Why tell you about those when you're already willing to sign up for an account that pays less? Source: Reader's Digest Read more»

• 9 Ways to Tough Out Tough Times
It's hard to find any good news about your money these days. The stock market is tumbling. Banks are failing. Home values are cratering. And you're watching your retirement disappear...
• What's the Best Software for Tracking Your $$$?
After years of being goaded toward ever greater heights of consumerism, average Americans are finally feeling pressure to buckle down, spend less, save more, and prepare for lean times ahead...
• 5 Secrets to Growing Your Retirement $$$
DESPITE THE DECLINE of the stock market over the past year—including its breathtaking fall during the recent credit crisis—investing in a diverse mix of stocks and bonds is still the best way to grow your retirement money, especially when you factor in the tax advantages of IRAs and 401(k) plans. But as always, the devil is in the details…
• 10 Tough Ways to Boost Your Bottom Line
Instead of making small changes, make big changes which can have a large impact. The advantage is that you can put a huge dent into any debt you might have or supercharge your saving rate, with large increases over a short period of time. Here are 10 hard ways to get your finances in order.
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10 Ways to Lose Weight Without Dieting

If you did nothing else but reduce your portions by 10%-20%, you would lose weight. Most of the portions served both in restaurants and at home are bigger than you need. Pull out the measuring cups to get a handle on your usual portion sizes, and work on paring them down. Get instant portion control by using small bowls, plates, and cups, says Brian Wansink, PhD, author of Mindless Eating. You won't feel deprived because the food will look plentiful on dainty dishware. Read more»

• Herbal Remedy Works as Well as Anti- depressants
Taking high-quality St. John's wort can be as effective as standard prescribed antidepressants for some severely depressed people, German researchers report.
• Pets Help Keep You Cancer-Free
Owning a pet can reduce the chances of developing a form of cancer by nearly a third, researchers claim.
• 6 Biggest Threats to Your Health
More boys than girls are born every year in the U.S. But any lead in health men start with vanishes with the first dirty diaper. From infancy to old age, women are simply healthier than men. Out of the 15 leading causes of death, U.S. men lead women in all of them except Alzheimer's disease, which many men don't live long enough to develop. Although the gender gap is closing, men still die five years earlier than their wives, on average.
• Why Men Die Young--and How Not to
Men die six years sooner than women, on average--and not just because heart disease strikes men so much sooner. One good way to boost your life expectancy: have your doctor test your testosterone level, which falls about 1% a year beginning at age 30. Low testosterone levels can lead to depression, osteoporosis, and other serious problems in addition to reduced sex drive. Always be frank with your doctor, no matter how embarassing your concerns.
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Make Your Computer Run Faster--for Free

Q. My computer has gotten slower and slower at doing basic things like booting up and running multiple programs at once. How do I improve its performance without spending any money?... Read more»

• It's a Cell Phone, Not Your Master
Is your work/life balance out of whack? Do you have a smartmphone? Bingo! In this article, an executive coach with a busy practice of type A businessmen tells how to overcome your Blackberry addiction.
• Should You Switch to Google's New Browser?
Google's new Chrome browser is a mixed bag. It's fast, stable, beautiful, and it gives you a lot more privacy than other broswers. Alas, it's still in beta, and right now it's only for PC users; Mac and Linux users will have to wait. Here are seven PROs and 7 CONs to consider before you go Chrome. Source: PC World
• How to Find a Great Contractor
In addition to lots of great references from other homeowners, make sure he has a great rep in the industry and a local street address in your community (not a PO box). Watch out for contractors who decline to give a cell phone number, who want to be paid in cash, and who drive a junker or otherwise look sleazy. Any doubts? Look him up on contractorcheck.com. Source: CNN Money
• New Way to Share Music Online
SimplifyMedia lets Mac and PC users listen to music files on other computers, via the Net. You can enjoy songs on your home computer while at work. Or have a listen to songs on friends' computers while they are online. It's safe, legal, and free. Download at simplifymedia.com. Source: Macapper.com
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Nine Secrets for Stronger Erections

AS MEN ENTER their 30s and 40s, their sexual performance changes, along with the quality of their erections. Even so, says Steven Lamm, M.D., there’s no reason that guys can’t continue to have strong erections—and the satisfying sex that goes with them—throughout middle age and beyond. Read more»

• Are You Too Nice in Bed?
Every lady loves a gentleman. But in the bedroom, it might be time to drop the "gentle."
• Can an Orgasm a Day Keep Love Alive?
When Charla Muller's husband, Brad, turned 40, she could have given him a custom split-cane fly rod. But instead, she decided on a more interesting gift: sex every day for the next 12 months… Source: Best Life magazine
• Change How You Think about Sex
Want a quick and easy way to feel better about the sex you're having? Stop buying in to "the fantasy model of all-night-long intercourse." Good sex lasts only three to 13 minutes, according to a new study by researchers from Penn State.
• Quick Fixes for Sexual 'Mismatches'
She's slow to get aroused? Tell her that you can see she's ALREADY turned on. Tired of always making the first move? ASK her to take the lead--and tell her how exciting that would be for you. Be aware that any remarks she makes about her body or yours could be a subtle request for sex.
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Networking for Guys Who Hate Networking

IN A DOWN ECONOMY, being a good networker can spell the difference between being employed and, well, being screwed. But don’t approach networking like a hunter out to bag the big trophy. Bleg. Make like you’re a farmer who’s out to…cultivate crops of relationships. Speaking of which, here’s how to make the most of that upcoming office party:
    •Eye contact. Keep it steady, but not creepy. Look away occasionally--just don't make it appear that you'd rather be talking to someone else.
    •Body language. Arms folded across your chest says, “I'm bored.” Arms clasped behind your back says, “I'm listening.”
    •Positioning. If you’re talking in a group, don't hem anyone in or, worse, turn you back to them.
    •Facial expressions. Try to look friendly and interested, even if you're not. But avoid the pasted-on grin at all costs.
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• 10 WORST Job Tips Ever
Nearly every day, someone sends me a bit of astounding job-search advice from a blog or a newsletter. Some of this advice seems to come directly from the planet X-19, and some of it seems to have been made up on the spot. Here are 10 of my favorite pieces of atrocious job-search advice, for you to read and ignore at all costs:
• 4 Ways to Save Your Job in a Slow Economy
Meet with your manager regularly to make sure you are on the same page regarding your performance. Don't complain--high-maintenance workers tend to alienate the powers that be. Stay busy, and forget about that three-week vacation. If you are fired, consider asking whether you can stay on at a lower salary. Source: SmartMoney magazine
• Simple Ways to Improve Your Powers of Persuasion
When someone objects to something you've said, try not to become defensive. Listen carefully and try to initiate a real dialogue. Don't whine. Don't overpersuade, by listing 101 reasons why you're right. Most of all, listen carefully. Most people will tell you what they need to hear in order to be persuaded. Source: Fortune
• How to Build a Web Site for Peanuts
For $10 and about eight hours, you can get your business's web site up and running. Low-cost and even free hosting companies are now available, and you can copy and paste much of the HTML you need to add calendars, shopping carts, etc. Plus--cheap ways to drive and monitor traffic to your site.
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Don't Let Kids Drink Before Age 15

Having that first drink before age 15 puts the imbiber at a higher risk for developing an alcohol problem later in life, a new report suggests. Read more»

• Making the Most of a Trip to Disney World
Your kids are desperate to go. You know you should go but worry about the crowds, the cost, the baking in the sun as you wait in line. Here's what you need to know to make the most of a trip to Orlando
• Top 10 Foods for Smarter Kids
Want your child to do better in school? Take a close look at diet. Certain "brain foods" may help boost a child's brain growth--plus improve brain function, memory, and concentration… Growing bodies need many types of nutrients--but these 10 superfoods will help kids get the most from school.
• What Every Freshman Must Know about $$$
Make sure your child knows who's paying for what. Have him/her create a budget and open checking and savings accounts, to get practice balancing a checkbook. Ideally, he should work part-time and open a Roth IRA. Your child will make money mistakes, so try not to blow up when he does. Source: Wall Street Journal
• Is It Safe for Kids to Use Cell Phones?
Recent studies suggest the possibility of a link between cell phones and cancer, especially for young people. Until the safety issue is settled, you might consider limiting kids to land lines. If your child does have a cell phone, make sure it's a low-emission model. Encourage texting instead of talking (it keeps the phone away from the head), and make sure the phone is stored away from the body, such as in a backpack, when not in use. Source: Best Life magazine
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