Pause..This months slow down!!

Sorry Guys…this months was the slowest update of all from me…with all the busy in workin and travelling + Holiday, Its a busy but enjoyable Holiday for me…so im enjoying it to the fullest. Well i hope all the best to u guys…

And Happy Gawai to u all…Sarawakian
Happy School Break…Malaysian

The Zune HD: a new hope for Microsoft

Microsoft has announced the Zune HD, a multitouch device with a 16:9 OLED screen, a Web browser, and HD radio support. We dig through the details and talk with Microsoft about why the Zune "platform" will soon be as important as the Zune "device."

Microsoft last night announced (officially) the Zune HD, even though the device won't be available for several months. While the product itself looks nice, it's the "platform" behind it that is finally coming to fruition and may be Microsoft's best chance at capturing a bigger slice of those home entertainment dollars.

We spoke with Brian Seitz, the group marketing manager for Zune, about the new product and Microsoft's larger strategic ambitions. Here's everything you need to know:

Zune questions

Old accessories: Yes, accessories for other Zune models will interface with the Zune HD, which features the same connector plug.

Multitouch: Yes, Zune HD has it.

Web browser: A full Web browser will be included. It will use now-standard multitouch gestures like double-tap, pinch, and stretch. Seitz told us it would be a "cool browser for the finger." My digits are tingling already.

(Update: Microsoft tells us it is a "version of IE 6 that has been highly customized and optimized for multitouch." As for an e-mail client... this is it. No app is available, but "common e-mail services like Hotmail will be accessible via the browser.")

Flash: The Zune HD Web browser is still in early builds, but Seitz says that Flash support doesn't look likely. "From what I've seen, no," he said, but that might still change before release.

HD: Zune HD has an OLED 16:9 touchscreen with a resolution of 480x272. That sounds sweet, but it's not high-def. The "HD" in the product name refers to support for HD radio on the one hand and, on the other, support for outputting HD video to TVs over an HDMI connector.

HD radio: Past Zune research has shown that owners used the radio feature an average of twice a week, so Microsoft hopes to capitalize on that popularity by adding support for HD radio. Like digital TV, HD radio is a digital format that supports multicasting—one station can now offer multiple subchannels. With few portable HD radio receivers on the market, Microsoft hopes this will set it apart.

HD video: If you thought getting that HD video (720p max) off the device and onto a TV would be cheap and easy, you're half right. The HDMI connection needed to do this will only interface with an external Zune dock, which is sold separately (and if history is any indication, at outlandish prices).

Internet connection: As with past Zunes, the Zune HD features a WiFi connection but no cellular radio. The decision positions the device quite obviously against Apple's iPod touch, though Seitz makes it clear Microsoft is "not trying to play copycat."

Original Xbox games: Some early rumors around the device suggested that it could play 3D games from the original Xbox. Microsoft has "nothing to announce" about games at this time, but clearly has plenty of ideas in the works. More details will be forthcoming over the summer.

An app store: One of the touch's key features is Apple's App Store. Microsoft sounds ready to launch something similar for games, but what about other applications? Seitz says that the company looked at the top 20 apps people used on the touch and found that most were games. Without a cell radio and constant Internet, this makes sense. The Zune team also wants to avoid duplicating work being done by the Windows Mobile team, and it doesn't make sense to have two separate app stores.

Zune death: Are the smaller flash Zunes going away? Seitz says that no final decisions have been made beyond the fact that Microsoft wants to focus more on its next-gen product. Reading between the lines, though, if you want one of the smaller flash Zunes, picking one up this summer is probably a good idea.

Xbox Live: The Xbox Live Video Marketplace will be replaced by some kind of "Zune Marketplace" later this year. Microsoft has spent the last year (finally) doing some heavy lifting on the backend with the goal of combining its sprawling services. While specifics haven't yet been announced, the company does want to move to a model where purchased content resides in the "cloud" and can then be viewed on any device (Xbox, Zune, Windows PC). This would be a welcome and long-overdue change to the current, more limited approach.

Storage space: Not yet announced.

Sony Announce Three New Phones at Entertainment

Sony Ericsson announced three new phones on Thursday, all of which will eventually appear in the United States. Sony also announced a new sideloading movie service that will be compatible with two of the company's newly announced phones.

Sony Ericsson's U.K. division announced the three phones in the U.K., which will ship to "selected markets," including the United States, in the fourth quarter.

The three phones are the Satio, which was previously known as the Idou, the 12.1 megapixel cameraphone that wowed audiences at the Mobile World Congress; the Yari, a phone designed for "gesture gaming; and the Aino, which boasts an 8.1 Mpixel camera and the ability to control the Sony PlayStation 3. Sony did not announce prices on any of the models.

Sony 's New Aino Phone
Sony is positioning the phone as a complement to its PlayStation 3 console, allowing it the ability to access content stored on the console via Wi-Fi.

The Sony Satio (Idou)
The three phones are the Satio, which was previously known as the Idou, the 12.1 megapixel cameraphone that wowed audiences at the Mobile World Congress.

Sony's Yari Phone
Sony has positioned the Yari as the ultimate phone for mobile fun, with a number of innovative new features. Sony claims that the Yari will be the first phone to allow "gesture gaming" outside Japan.

Masturbation : Facts!

Masturbation means touching your own genitals for sexual pleasure. This is a normal, healthy expression of sexuality but about half the people who masturbate feel ashamed or embarrassed about it. This is because masturbation has been maligned for centuries as a deviant, dangerous and sinful practice, and some of the old taboos linger on.

Childhood memories of being ‘caught in the act’ by horrified parents can trouble a person well into their adult years. Some of the known health benefits of masturbation include stress reduction and enhanced immune system function. Other terms for masturbation include solo sex, self loving, self pleasuring and wanking.

Masturbation at different life stages
People who masturbate do it because it feels good. Other issues by age group may include:

• Babies - infants tend to masturbate as part of general body exploration.
• Young children - sexual fantasies don’t usually accompany masturbation at this age. Young children begin to pick up on their parents’ attitudes towards masturbation. If parents react in a mortified way, the child can feel ashamed of their sexual feelings and behaviours.
• Teenagers - many teenagers feel nervous or unsure about their developing bodies and sexual feelings. Mixed messages and misinformation about masturbation from parents and peers can increase the anxiety.
• Adults - some people believe that masturbation is only appropriate for those without partners, but most people with regular partners continue to masturbate throughout their adult life. The idea that adults who masturbate must be sexually deprived or inadequate is simply not true.

How much is too much?
A common concern, especially among teenagers, is the frequency of masturbation. ‘Normal’ ranges from several times per day, week or month to never masturbating at all. The frequency of masturbation isn’t a problem unless it is linked with an obsessive compulsive disorder, where the same activity must be repeated over and over.
Sexual benefits
Some of the known sexual health benefits of masturbation include:

• Solo masturbation is a safe sex practice that carries no risk of sexually transmissible infection and unwanted pregnancy. As part of lovemaking between two people, it is known as ‘mutual masturbation’.
• Sexual tension is released. Masturbation allows a person to express their sexuality by themselves and is valuable if, for example, they don’t have a partner or if sex with their partner isn’t available, or if they want to (or have to) abstain from sex for any reason.
• Being familiar with your own sexual responses allows you to better communicate your wants and needs to your partner.
• Masturbation is a popular treatment for sexual dysfunction; for example, women who don’t orgasm can learn by masturbating. Men who suffer from premature ejaculation can use masturbation to practice control.

Health benefits
Some of the known health benefits of masturbation include:

• Eases some of the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
• Relief from menstrual cramps
• Muscle relaxation
• Helps you to fall asleep
• Promotes release of the brain’s opioid-like neurotransmitters (endorphins), which cause feelings of physical and mental wellbeing
• Reduces stress
• Enhances self-esteem.

Masturbation in young children
Boys generally start masturbating at an earlier age than girls, since the clitoris and vagina are harder to find than the penis. Studies show that the way in which parents react to their child’s masturbation impacts on the child’s sexual attitudes and behaviours in adult life. Suggestions for parents include:

• Young children masturbate for various reasons, including curiosity, exploration and sensory pleasure.
• Reassure yourself that masturbation in young children is normal. It is not a sign of sexual deviancy.
• Focus on the setting, rather than the activity itself. For example, if your child is masturbating in public, tell them that what they’re doing is fine if they do it in private, much like toileting and picking one’s nose are private activities.
• Young children may turn to masturbation in times of stress. If your child is masturbating to the point where playtime and other activities are curtailed, you need to find out what is making them anxious and upset.
• If you are concerned about your child’s masturbatory practices, consult with your doctor or paediatrician.

Oral Sex : Facts!

Oral sex or oral-genital sex means both mouth contact with the vagina, which is called cunnilingus, and mouth contact with the penis, which is called fellatio. Cunnilingus comes from a Latin word for vulva (a woman's exterior sex organs), cunnus, and from the Latin word for licking, lingere. Fellatio comes from the Latin word fellare, meaning to suck. There are many different kinds of oral sex techniques, and you've probably even picked up a set of oral sex tips or your own oral sex techniques along the way. Some of the more common oral sex tips involve both partners performing oral sex techniques at the same time.

Either form of oral sex can be done with one partner stimulating the other individually, or both partners can stimulate each other's genitals simultaneously. Oral sex given simultaneously is commonly called 69, or, the French translation, soixante-neuf. This is because the body position of a couple having mutual oral sex resembles the numeral 69.

Oral Sex Is a Common Sexual Behavior
Cunnilingus and fellatio are common sexual behaviors for both same sex couples and couples of different sexes. There are various combinations of positions and techniques used in oral sex, but it is the mouth and tongue that provide the pleasure in all cases.

Kissing, licking, sucking and nibbling can feel good anywhere on the genitals of both men and women. The pressure (light, firm, and in between), speed (fast, slow, or changing), and the type of motion used can be varied endlessly to produce different sensations. In both practices, the warm, moist feeling of the mouth and the tongue on the genitals can be very erotic. Some enjoy a teasing, stop-start approach, while others prefer a more steady type of stimulation.

The Snaky-Lick Trick
In one fellatio technique, known as the Snaky-Lick Trick, the "trick" is to tease the underside of the penis head almost imperceptibly with the very tip of the tongue, just making ever so slight tongue contact with this sensitive area in one light upward lick, and then backing off for about fifteen seconds between each lick. This trick has been said to result in a powerful ejaculation in a very short time.

Other methods of fellatio include sucking the glans or shaft of the penis by engulfing it in the mouth, licking at various parts of the penis and scrotum, or nibbling anywhere along the genitals. Many men enjoy having the scrotum lightly stroked during fellatio and the area just beneath the scrotum is often quite sensitive to touch or oral massage.

Oral Sex: Safe and Clean
In short, oral sex between healthy people is safe and clean. Another hygiene aspect that concerns some people is genital odor. Simply washing the genitals is sufficient to prepare you for any sex, including oral sex.

It is not necessary for women to douche before having oral sex, but some women choose to do so. However, douching can wash away the helpful bacteria that naturally protect the vagina. In addition to a man's natural genital odors, the genitals often take on the smells of recently eaten foods. As with women, thorough washing can reduce this odor, and besides, many people find some degree of genital odor in their partner stimulating.

Oral Sex: A Taboo?
The notion that oral sex is taboo discourages some people from ever trying it. Oral sex has long been frowned upon and often deemed illegal. The basis for the social disapproval and legal restrictions lies in age-old religious prohibitions, which to some are still very powerful. People who accept and practice almost any of the major Western religions can therefore feel confused and guilty about engaging in oral sex, despite their knowledge that it is a safe and appropriate form of sexual expression.

For some people, the issue is not conflict with their religious beliefs as much as it is a belief that it somehow compromises their masculinity or femininity. Some people incorrectly think that cunnilingus and fellatio are homosexual acts, even if experienced by heterosexual couples.

While homosexual couples do engage in oral sex, so do a majority of heterosexual couples. The activity itself is neither homosexual nor heterosexual.

Feelings Aroused by Oral Sex
Apart form the misconception about oral sex and homosexuality, women sometimes feel that performing oral sex can make them feel submissive, as if they are giving a service and are thereby inferior.

Men sometimes feel that performing oral sex on their partner reduces their masculinity because their penis is not involved. Couples should openly discuss these issues, and if necessary seek the help of a qualified therapist. Oral sex, just like any other sexual behavior, is a matter of personal preference.

Copyright 2002 Sinclair Intimacy Institute

Blog or Website -- What's the Difference

Here’s the skinny on the exploding world of blogs: First, the word ‘blog’ is a confluence of two words – ‘web’ and ‘log,’ as in, a ‘log’ or journal that sits on the web. Think “Captain’s Log, Star Date 50 jillion.”

Here’s the image you should keep in mind: I went to London once when I was a kid, and I was stunned to come upon a bunch of people standing on milk crates, all over a public park, talking loudly. Some of the people shouting their opinions from the top of their crates were surrounded by huge crowds. Others were surrounded by pigeons. The quality of the talk varied widely. Either way, everybody had something to say.

That’s a blog, only, your milk crate is online. It’s a personal space created by someone to voice his or her opinions or update people on his or her goings-on. Like a web site, it can be found by people using a browser, it uses regular URL addresses, and it may have advertising attached to it.

So to answer your question, a blog really is a website, but it’s often updated more often (something the search engines of the world notice, meaning you can get on their radar faster) and is designed to make it easy for people to post their comments, videos, pictures, and so on.

Finally, a blog is better designed than a web site for two-way communication, meaning visitors can easily leave feedback in the form of notes, pictures or video. If you want to set a blog up yourself and talk to the world (or the pigeons) about whatever you want, you can do it in minutes, for free. One easy site is at blogspot.com, but I’d welcome any other suggestions.

Firefox Adds Wolfram Alpha to Google

A handy new add-on to Mozilla’s Firefox browser merges the brainy Wolfram Alpha search engine to your Google search engine. When performing a search, results from Wolfram Alpha’s search engine appear on the side of your Google page.

This add-on is a great way to combine your more pedestrian, every-day searches with the more intellectual Wolfram Alpha search engine that actually answers questions and solves problems. Google on the other hand, spits out pages of search results that require you to scan through the pages and links.

The addition of Wolfram Alpha to a Google search doesn’t slow down the search process and offers a complimentary enhancement to your searches. If your job requires extensive research or you just like surfing the web for arcane material, Firefox’s Wolfram Alpha add-on is worth a try.

(Update: A commenter asked for a link to the Wolfram Alpha add-on. Here it is: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/12006

The add-on is still experimental, but so far has worked great. If you want to add your two cents about an experimental add-on, you need to register with the Mozilla add-on site

Why do girls allow taking of nude pictures?

IT has to be a sign of absolute trust, plain gullibility or loose morals when we read of the same consequences of usually failed relationships (or stolen hand phones) in “Woman who lost gems fears release of nude pics” where women fall prey to blackmail of having their nude pictures exposed.

Some questions that beg to be asked are: “Why our sweet ladies think that it’s proper to allow their boyfriends to take pictures of them naked? Do they think naked flesh will cement their relationship and stop the boyfriends from straying or flirting?

If a boyfriend threatens to break off a relationship if he is not allowed to take pictures of her undressed, does she believe it’s worth to keep such relationships?

We have seen how such pictures have nearly destroyed the careers and families of those exposed, and yet there are women wanting to continue frolicking in the altogether. And for heaven’s sake, most of them are not even engaged!

Of course, we can say Malaysia is a progressive nation and we are broad minded and what anyone does in private is private. But to trust a guy completely just because he says you have a lovely body and he wants to have sweet memories? Come on ladies, grow up!

Fossil Key to Evolution

Ida, 47-Million-Year-Old Primate Found in Germany; a Distant Ancestor?

Scientists say a 47-million-year-old fossil found in Germany may be a key link to explaining the evolution of early primates and, perhaps, telling them about developments that led to modern human beings.
The fossil, of a young female that probably resembled a modern-day lemur, is described as "the most complete primate fossil ever found." It is small -- its body is about the size of a raccoon -- but it has characteristics found in later primates and in humans.

The fossil was unveiled today amid great fanfare at a news conference at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Hurum nicknamed it "Ida," after his own six-year-old daughter.

It has, among other things, opposable thumbs, similar to humans' and unlike those found on other modern mammals. It has fingernails instead of claws. And by examining the structure of its hind legs (one of which is partly missing), scientists say they can see evidence of evolutionary changes that would eventually lead to primates standing upright.

10 First-Date Mistakes

The best thing about bad dates is that we walk away with a great story, and little doubt that the perpetrator is not the person for us. I was thinking about some of the errors made on first dates and came up with 10 common mistakes that could kill the chances for a second date:

1. Arriving Late
Even five minutes of lateness is inexcusable on the first date. People are already anxious, so making someone wait and stress out more about everything is pretty rude. It seems like the trend in NYC is to be late for things regularly. On one date, I texted the girl and told her I was running late. She said she was too. We ended up just having the date half an hour later than planned and technically no one was late because we were both half an hour late together.

2. Wardrobe Malfunction
Make sure you align what you wear to what you're doing. I try not to make a girl walk too much if she's in heels. Also, I've seen girls wear pearls and a nice blouse at trashy outdoor drinking events, or heels to sporting events.

3. Talking Politics or Religion
Staying away from content that can spark a debate is a good idea the first time out. It's fun to argue with your significant other, but I think it's important to reach a comfort level first. If you try to proselytize someone, or battle them over a hot topic, you may reach a point of no return.

4. Checking Out Other People
You'd think that no one would do this, but guys are always looking at waitresses, or other patrons when out. One friend got in hot water because his date told me he made cat calls at other girls while on a date. Talk about a mistake!

5. Bringing Friends on a Non-Group Date
If you bring friends along on your date you look immature and insecure. You also throw the other person for a loop if they were expecting the date to be one-on-one. Make sure you establish that it is a one-on-one date upfront, and then follow the rules and show up alone.

6. Drinking Too Much
Some people turn into a completely different person when they are drunk. Let the other person get to know you while you're sober. Alcohol should be introduced into the relationship slowly, but if a drink or two takes the edge off, and wine adds romance it's fine. Just don't push it too far.

7. Being Too Aggressive
No one wants to deal with someone's wandering hands before they are ready. It is one of the surest ways to creep someone out. Just because someone is getting dinner with someone once doesn't mean it's an invitation into the sack. It's best to be hands off on the first date.

8. Not Being Aggressive Enough
My friend Margaret tells me to be more aggressive all the time. She said that if I don't kiss someone at the end of a date, or make a move when they hop in my bed they will begin to think something's wrong with them, or that I'm not into them. Maybe that's true, but sometimes I play it safe so that I don't break the rule I just mentioned above.

9. Canceling at the Last Minute or Standing Someone Up
Canceling for a legitimate reason is fine, but respect your date's time so that they can plan their night without you. Canceling one hour before a date is not cool — most of the date prep has already started at this point. Standing someone up is also very rude. What does it accomplish? If you change your mind, at least have the courtesy to just cancel. There's no need to make someone feel bad and waste their time just because you're too chicken to cancel the date.

10. Dominating the Conversation
Try to breathe in between sentences, and don't talk too much. Give your date a chance to speak. Aren't you trying to get to know one another? And don't speak for that other person (i.e order for them at dinner) unless they invite you to help with their order.

Used Cars Under $10,000

What can you get for less than 10 grand? Here are five of the best used or pre-owned vehicles we could find online and in the want ads.

2003 Infiniti G35 Sedan

 

It took a little digging to find a G35 from a dealer that scoots under our $10,000 price tag, but it was well worth the effort. Infiniti graced this car with Nissan's robust 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 260 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. It's the same engine the company plopped in the 350Z to take track abuse at the hands of right-pedal-happy gearheads the world over, and the mill does it with glee. All that toughness translates into carefree ownership for you — a deal made sweeter by the Infiniti's classy interior and rocking factory sound system. Fuel economy leaves a little to be desired at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway, but, given the kind of horsepower available, we can't complain too much.

2004 Acura TSX

 

Though a dealer will probably ask a little bit more than our $10,000 cutoff, we found several privately held 2004 TSXs well within this lowball price point. This car has the benefit of being one of the more attractive things to come out of the Acura stable in years, thanks to its aggressive stance and lunging lines. Under the hood sits a 2.4-liter inline four, and though the engine puts out a respectable 200 horsepower, it also manages up to 32 mpg highway. Those are numbers anyone can smile about. That efficient engine can be coupled to either a 6-speed manual or an automatic transmission. The latter is easier to come by, but the magnesium encased 6-speed is a delight to shift. Honda's reputation for reliability is some assurance against massive mechanical failures down the line.

2002 Audi A4

 

The kingdom of quattro has plenty to offer when it comes to fine used cars, and the A4 is the crown jewel. In the past, Audi owners have fought with reliability issues and repair bills that could leave your eyebrows permanently planted in your hairline. But the German automaker has made solid progress in the reliability department in recent years.

The 2002 Audi A4 could be had with either a 1.8-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder or a 3.0-liter V6 engine, but we prefer the 1.8 for its immediate torque delivery and remarkable efficiency. The V6 is typically mated to a CVT transmission, which sends power to all four corners. If you look hard enough, you may be able to scrounge up a 5-speed version of the 1.8-liter car, complete with Audi's all-wheel-drive wizardry.

2003 Saab 9-3 Convertible

 

Being low on funds doesn't have to mean a sentence cruising around in a no-frills 4-door. There are as many hot drop-tops out there as there are boring sedans, and the 2003 Saab 9-3 convertible is a great option. As we discovered, sharp versions with low miles can be sourced from individual sellers for less than $10,000. The cars boast unique styling and a peppy 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under the hood. But if you take your time, Aero versions can be found, featuring a 280-horsepower V6. Even harder to come by are the Aero XWD versions with all-wheel drive, but expect to shell out a little more cash for those cars. Power aside, the 9-3 convertible can brag about Saab's stout safety structure — meaning you may even get a lower rate on your car insurance.

2003 MINI Cooper

 

If a luxurious sedan or Swedish drop-top isn't quite up your alley, maybe the 2003 MINI Cooper is. When BMW resurrected the MINI name back in 2001, the company ousted all of the English reliability issues associated with the classic car and replaced them with solid German engineering principles. The result is a car that will serve up the same carefree motoring it offered right off the lot for its second or third owner. Outside, you get the now-iconic neo-MINI looks, which are still cute as a button after all these years. There's a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 115 ponies on tap. That may seem anemic when stacked against the other bruisers on this list, but the Cooper's relatively low weight makes for plenty of fun behind the wheel, especially when it's equipped with the 5-speed manual transmission.

New Cars for $10,000?

What can you get for 10 grand in the new-car market? Not much. Here is what i could find for around that price.

2009 Hyundai Accent GS 3-Door Base

Hyundai's Accent GS 3-Door starts at a featherweight $9,970 (not including the destination charge). It's hard to top a new car for less than 10 grand, especially when it comes packed with the kind of standard features this little Hyundai has, such as air conditioning and a tire-pressure-monitoring system. The company's outstanding 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty rides shotgun, and buyers are treated to great safety features including front, side and side-curtain airbags. Under the hood there's a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 110 horsepower, which is ample to scoot the little hatch along.

2009 Nissan Versa 1.6 Base

Nissan is proud of its Versa, and it should be. The company isn't offering any cash incentives at the moment, but when the base model Versa starts at $9,990, it doesn't need them. It's rare that so little coin can buy such a smart vehicle, but the Versa delivers with a robust 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 107 horsepower. Coupled to a 6-speed manual transmission, the engine makes the car feel light on its feet and peppy enough to garner disapproving glares from parents and law enforcement alike. Six standard airbags and a tire-pressure-monitoring system are also part of the package.

2009 Kia Rio

The Kia Rio starts off with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $11,495. But Kia is offering up to $1,500 toward your purchase if you visit a dealer before June 1. That knocks the damage back to a manageable $9,995. Even more cash is available if you're a recent graduate or in the military. As in the Accent, there's a peppy 110 horsepower on tap thanks to a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine. However, the Rio is a 4-door sedan that's much more family friendly than Hyundai's 3-door. A 5-speed manual transmission is standard equipment, although you can still go for the automatic and fall under our price cutoff thanks to Kia's rebate. Kia's 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty adds the kind of peace of mind that's worth a mint, too.

2009 Chevrolet Aveo

Chevrolet's entry into the small-car segment starts at $11,965, but with a $1,000 cash incentive available right now the Aveo slides just below $12,000. Available in either sedan or hatchback trims, the Aveo has a surprising amount of room inside and it also sips gas. Its fuel economy of around 34 mpg highway means you'll save some cash even after you're through making car payments. The Aveo also comes with a one-year subscription to GM's helpful OnStar system, meaning any kind of assistance is always just a push of a button away. Chevrolet has graced the Aveo with an efficient 106-horsepower Ecotec engine, and a 5-speed manual transmission is the order of the day for the base car. Granted, the Aveo is a bit north of the $10,000 price point

2008 Ford Focus Sedan

This year may not be a great one for dealerships, but last year wasn't much better. That means you can still find brand-new, never-registered 2008 models with plenty of cash incentives. Ford is offering up to $3,000 cash back on 2008 Focus sedans right now. With an MSRP of $14,995, that knocks your final price down to $11,995. Applying your best negotiating skills could cut that price even further. Even so, you probably won't be able to buy it for less than $10,000. But with a capable 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine that boasts 140 horsepower, it's the most powerful car on the list and a bargain for under $12,000. The 5-speed manual transmission doesn't leave much to complain about, and Ford has done an excellent job of making an inexpensive interior not feel like one.

Coldplay offer free live album download

Whether it's a sign of today's economic woes or simply of one band's generosity, Coldplay is kicking off their "Viva La Vida" tour with a whole lot of free music.

Everyone who checks out the tour, which starts Friday in West Palm Beach, Fla., will receive a complimentary copy of the band's new live album, "LeftRightLeftRightLeft."

But for those fans of the Chris Martin-fronted foursome who can't shell out the bucks to see Coldplay live, the band is also offering a free download of the entire album. The download is available on their website for the duration of the tour, which wraps up September 19 at Wembley Stadium in London.

More: Download "LeftRightLeftRightLeft"

Single-Leg Lateral Squat

The benefit

This exercise is valuable because it forces you to control your body using one leg while you move in all three planes—side to side, up and down, and forward and backward. This improves rotational strength and flexibility in your hips and knees, says dos Remedios. It also refines your balance and coordination and adds muscle.

How to do it

1. Stand on an 18-inch-high bench or box, with your left foot on the bench and your right foot dangling off the side. Your arms should be outstretched in front of your body.

2. While reaching forward with your arms, drop your right leg back across and behind your left leg as you try to lower the toes of your right foot all the way to the floor.

3. Using your left leg only, push your body back up to the starting position. Try to complete six to eight repetitions on each side.

Expert's tips

If you have trouble, start on a lower step, says dos Remedios. A rule of thumb: Choose the highest platform that allows you to lightly touch your foot to the floor. Increase the height as you gain strength.

1 Dumbbell, 650 Muscles

Start with a 15-pound dumbbell. Add weight as you progress, but don't go so heavy that you need to rest between exercises.

1. Woodchopper

With arms nearly straight and feet just beyond shoulder-width apart, hold a dumbbell over your right shoulder. Bend your knees and forcefully rotate your torso left as you draw your arms down and across your body. When your hands go past your left ankle, reverse the motion. Then switch sides. Keep your abs tight to prevent injury.

2. Arms-Out Squat

Standing with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, grasp a dumbbell by the ends and hold it straight out from your eyes. Now try to press the ends together as you simultaneously push your hips back, bend your knees, and lower your body until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Pause, and push back up.

3. Standing Pressout

With your feet shoulder-width apart, hold a dumbbell by its ends and next to your chest. Try to press the ends together as you simultaneously push the dumbbell away from your body and slightly up (to eye level) until your arms are straight. Pause, and pull the dumbbell back as you squeeze your shoulder blades together.

4. Towel Row

Secure a towel around a dumbbell's handle. Grab an end of the towel with each hand and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent. Bend at your hips, keep your lower back flat, and lower your torso until it's almost parallel to the floor. Pull the towel ends to either side of your abdomen. Pause and lower the towel.

Abs in No Time

Get ripped fast

In these days of bogus infomercials, fat-burning concoctions, and fitness contraptions that promise incredible abs, there's something reassuring about a workout with a medicine ball. The heft of a vintage medicine ball makes us want to put on gray sweats and start heaving it around with the fellas, grunting contentedly. On the other hand, you can take the vintage thing too far. Leather is out; vinyl is in. Medicine balls now have easier-to-grab surfaces, and they come in many sizes and weights. (They still need a new name, though. Medicine?!)

What are you waiting for?

Here's a leave-me-alone, in-a-hurry, 21st-century set of exercises that uses the weight of a medicine ball to blast your belly from top to bottom, and your obliques on the sides—those all-important muscles you use when doing twisting, turning moves in sports. The workout was designed by Jacqueline Wagner, C.S.C.S., a strength coach in New York City. The added weight of the medicine ball will give you a more intense workout than you'll get with conventional crunches.

Use a ball that's light enough so you can do one set of each exercise without straining or arching your back. A good weight for ab workouts is a 4-kilogram medicine ball (just shy of 9 pounds). Start with one circuit and build up to three sets of the circuit. Use a slow, controlled movement for the Double Crunch and Reverse Crunch.

Double Crunch

Starting position: Lie on your back, with your hips and knees bent as shown and your feet off the floor. Rest your hands lightly on your chest. Position the ball between your knees.

The move: Exhale as you lift your shoulders off the floor and bring your knees toward your chest. Grab the ball with your hands and bring it to your chest as you inhale and ...

The finish: Return your shoulders and legs to the starting position. Transfer the ball back to your legs on the next repetition, and keep alternating ball positions for the entire set.

Seated Twist

Starting position: Sit on the floor, your back straight but leaning slightly toward the floor, as if in the "up" position of a sit-up. Your knees should be bent 90 degrees, your heels about 15 inches apart and resting on the floor.

The move: Hold the ball close to your chest, rotate your torso to the left, and place the ball on the floor behind you. Rotate around to the right, pick up the ball, rotate left, and place it behind you.

The finish: Repeat eight to 12 times, then do eight to 12 more starting with a rotation to your right; that's one set.

Hint: Keep your head in line with your torso throughout the movement. Perform this move as quickly as possible.

Reverse Crunch with Knee Drops

Starting position: Lie on your back, hands resting on the floor at your sides, hips and knees bent 90 degrees, and feet off the floor. Position the ball between your knees. Keep your lower back on the floor throughout the exercise.

The move: Contract your abdominals and pull your knees to your chest, then return them to the starting position.

The finish: Lower your knees to the left and return to the starting position. Drop your knees to your right on the next repetition, and alternate sides for each rep.

New Tony Hawk to ship with skateboard peripheral (video)

Activision has announced the next iteration of the Tony Hawk franchise and, as previously rumored, the game will ship with a skateboard peripheral. Take a look at the first trailer.

After taking a much needed break, the Tony Hawk franchise is back with the new Tony Hawk Ride. But the big news is that the game will be following in the footsteps of Activision's most successful series, Guitar Hero, and will ship with its own skateboard peripheral.

The announcement comes via a teaser trailer released on GameTrailers.com, which shows off a little bit of gameplay footage, but most importantly reveals the peripheral itself. The faux-skateboard is a deck, sans wheels, and features a number of buttons running up the side. Though we have no details on how the controller works, presumably it will feature some sort of motion control.

According to the teaser site launched for the game, it will be released on the Wii, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. We can also expect more details on Tony Hawk Ride to be revealed at E3 next month.

Though the move is not necessarily that surprising, we still have to wonder just how it will work. After all, playing a plastic guitar in your living room is much different than riding a plastic skateboard.

Apple raking in piles of cash from the App Store?

Apple recently sold 1 billion iPhone apps through its highly successful App Store. Now, a well-reasoned analysis from Lightspeed Venture Partners suggests Apple might have pulled in as much as $45 million in revenue for those 1 billion apps. But does that mean Apple is actually making money from the App Store?

As Philip Elmer-DeWitt points out, Apple is also getting money from developers that register to sell apps. The company said earlier this year that it had over 50,000 registered developers; let's assume the majority are paying the $99 per year individual developer fee (larger developers pay a $299 enterprise fee). That means Apple is also pulling in about $5 million from developers.

But, unfortunately, analysis isn't very simple. Serving all those apps (many of which are free), developing the SDK, performing all the app reviews, advertising, and administering the App Store itself have real, and unknown costs. Even if the estimates are accurate, Apple is only getting, on average, about a nickel for every app sold. Apple is lucky if that is enough to break even, and it may not be.

Where Apple is making money, though, is in iPhone and iPod touch sales. Both have been significant contributors to the company's bottom line the last few quarters. Much like the iTunes Music Store originally existed to move iPods, the App Store, for now, is helping Apple sell plenty of mobile hardware.

Facebook Slammed with Another Phishing Attack

Facebook was hit with yet another phishing attack yesterday as malicious e-mails went to some of the social networking site's 200 million users. The attack, which Facebook is actively fighting, asked members to leave Facebook and access outside sites that then stole user names and passwords.

The malicious e-mail messages were of the garden variety for scams: poor grammar, misspellings, and a request to visit an external site that included the domain name www.151.im, www.121.im or www.123.im (do yourself a favor and don't click on those links). Once there, users were asked to log in again with their Facebook user ID and password, and boom -- suddenly, your information is released and becomes a vehicle for spamming.

Like the phishing attacks on Facebook late last month and early this month, these efforts seemed only to steal user names and passwords, not infect a computer with viruses. With these log-in credentials, phishers attempt to access Web mail services, as many people use the same log-in information for multiple sites. Identity theft could spring from there.

A Facebook spokesman told the New York Times that Facebook was "blocking links to new phishing sites, cleaning up phony messages and Wall posts and resetting the passwords of affected users." The number of those affected is undetermined.

There are many ways to protect your identity on Facebook, including varying your passwords, changing privacy settings and keeping a close eye on the domain name. Also, if your college-educated friends start typing like third-graders, something's probably up.

Verizon Wireless To Offer $200 Netbook

The $200 price tag includes a $50 mail-in rebate, but a two-year data service plan is required.

Verizon Wireless plans to start offering on May 17 a Hewlett-Packard netbook for $200 to people who sign up for a two-year data service plan.

 

Verizon on Thursday said the HP Mini 1151NR would be available through its stores. The $200 price tag includes a $50 mail-in rebate. The service plan starts at $40 a month.

Verizon is not the first to subsidize the price of a netbook in return for a long-term data plan. AT&T recently launched a trial offer of mini-laptops starting at $50. The promotion is only available in the Atlanta and Philadelphia areas and requires customers to sign up forAT&T's at-home DSL and 3G wireless service for two years. The package starts at $60 a month.

In choosing to offer netbooks, AT&T and Verizon are tapping into the hottest-selling segment of the PC market. While analysts expect a decline in sales of standard-size laptops and desktops this year because of the economic recession, sales of netbooks are expected to increase 80% over last year to account for about 8% of the PC market, according to Gartner.

The HP Mini 1151NR has a 10-inch display and is powered by a 1.6-GHz N270 Atom processor from Intel . The product comes with 1 GB of memory, an 80-GB hard drive, and a keyboard that's 92% of standard size. The system weighs almost 2.5 pounds, is an inch thick, and comes with Microsoft's Windows XP Home Edition.

Celebrities at the Cannes Film Festival

French singer Charles Aznavour greeted French actress Hafzia Herzi during the ceremony.

Fellow jurors Shu Qi and Robin Wright Penn posed together during the Jury Presentation photo call at the Palais des Festivals.

Chinese actress Tan Zhuo during a photocall for the movie "Chun Feng Chen Zui De Ye Wan" (Spring Fever).

Dressed to impress: Chinese actor Chen Sicheng brought some spirit to the photo call for "Chun Feng Chen Zui De Ye Wan."

US film director Francis Ford Coppola during the "Tetro" photo call at the Palais des Festivals. The film is about a family torn apart by rivalries.

Harry Treadaway attended a news conference for the film "Fish Tank," directed by Andrea Arnold.

British actress Kierston Wareing amid a sea of photographers during a photo call for the film "Fish Tank."

Actor Michael Fassbender during a news conference for the film "Fish Tank."

Andrea Arnold, pictured at the photo call for "Fish Tank," directed the film.

French actress Isabelle Huppert, president of the jury, addressed the crowd during the opening ceremony for the festival.

Jury president Isabelle Huppert struck a coy pose for the photographers during the jury members' photo call

James Gray, a director and jury member, arrived at the opening ceremony.

Actress and juror Shu Qi posed for the sea of photographers outside the theater.

Pictured are actresses Elizabeth Banks, left, and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

Pictured here is a bird's-eye view of actress Alessia Piovan arriving at the premiere.

"Burn After Reading" actress Tilda Swinton brought a crimson look to the red carpet at the "Up" premiere.

Actress Robin Wright Penn, who is part of the 2009 Cannes Film Festival jury, arrived at the premiere of "Up."

With a swirl of her dress, model Eugenia Silva entertained photographers at the film's premiere.

Italian actress Asia Argento arrived at the premiere.

Benefits of Smiles…Do smile a Lot

1. Smiling Makes Us Attractive

We are drawn to people who smile. There is an attraction factor. We want to know a smiling person and figure out what is so good. Frowns, scowls and grimaces all push people away -- but a smile draws them in.

2. Smiling Changes Our Mood

Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There's a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.

3. Smiling Is Contagious

When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.

4. Smiling Relieves Stress

Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you'll be better able to take action.

5. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System

Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function improves possibly because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling.

6. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure

When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes, take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?

7. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin

Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural pain killers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.

8. Smiling Lifts the Face and Makes You Look Younger

The muscles we use to smile lift the face, making a person appear younger. Don't go for a face lift, just try smiling your way through the day -- you'll look younger and feel better.

9. Smiling Makes You Seem Successful

Smiling people appear more confident, are more likely to be promoted, and more likely to be approached. Put on a smile at meetings and appointments and people will react to you differently.

10. Smiling Helps You Stay Positive

Try this test: Smile. Now try to think of something negative without losing the smile. It's hard. When we smile our body is sending the rest of us a message that "Life is Good!" Stay away from depression, stress and worry by smiling.

Top 10 Cities for New Grads

As Class of 2009 feels pinch, job searches expand

For new grads who plan to expand their job searches beyond their college or hometowns, Apartments.com and CBcampus.com just released the "Top 10 Best Cities for Recent College Graduates." The list is based on the ranking of the top U.S. cities with the highest concentration of young adults (age 20 - 24) from the U.S. Census Bureau (2006), inventory of jobs requiring less than one year of experience from CBcampus.com (2009) and the average cost of rent for a one bedroom apartment from Apartments.com (2009).

According to Apartments.com and CBcampus.com, the top 10 cities for new grads are: 

1.  Indianapolis
Average rent:* $625

Popular entry-level categories:** sales, customer service, health care

2.  Philadelphia
Average rent: $1,034
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management

3.  Baltimore
Average rent: $1,130
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

4.  Cincinnati
Average rent: $691
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

5.  Cleveland
Average rent: $686

Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service

6.  New York
Average rent: $1,548
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, admin-clerical

7.  Phoenix
Average rent: $747
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, marketing

8.  Denver
Average rent: $877
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, health care

9.  Chicago
Average rent: $1,133
Popular entry-level categories: sales, marketing, customer service

10.  San Antonio
Average rent: $696
Popular entry-level categories: sales, customer service, management

Looking beyond your hometown

If you are considering expanding your job search to other cities, here are some tips:

• Contact an alumnus from your college who lives in that city and join your alumni chapter if there is one.
• Get an insider's perspective by familiarizing yourself with the local media and other resources. Read up on the city's business and community news.
• Develop a list of companies within the area and learn about their businesses and company cultures.
• Register with a national recruitment agency; interview with a recruiter in your local office and have that person put the word out to other offices in your target cities.
• Consider spending a few days in your desired city to learn more, network and set up informational interviews. In your applications and cover letters, tell hiring managers the dates you'll be in the city and available to interview.

Although this is a challenging market for new grads, remember: Attitude can be the key to your success. The reality is that the job search will take longer for these new grads thrust into the "real world" but the right mind-set can make you resilient.

Consider the words from Elaine Goodwin, who plans to graduate this fall from Northern Illinois University: "There is always something. I love the Japanese proverb that says 'Fall down seven, get up eight.' I understand that it is going to be a tough economy to graduate in, but I will take the challenge and show companies how I can be an asset to them. You can't get discouraged because the world is not going to give you a break."

*Average rent of one bedroom apartment

**Using search term "entry level" in that city

Apple Mac OS X Update Has Nearly 70 Security Fixes

Apple on Tuesday released Mac OS X 10.5.7, an update for its operating system that improves application performance and stability, and also includes close to 70 security fixes.

The update, available through Apple's Software Update control panel or from its Downloads Web page, adds RAW image support for several digital cameras; improves video playback and cursor movement for recent Macs with Nvidia graphics; improves the reliability and accuracy of the Unit Converter, Stocks, Weather, and Movies widgets; addresses Gmail login issues and Yahoo contact sync issues; and improves Finder search results for network volumes, among other tweaks.

It also fixes several issues with Apple's iCal and Mail applications, as well as its Parental Controls control panel. And it resolves several printing issues.

Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of the Mac OS X 10.5.7 patch is the fact that it contains 68 security fixes.

Though Andrew Storms, director of security operations for nCircle, notes that many of the vulnerabilities addressed are in open source software like BIND, PHP, and Ruby that Apple bundles with its system, he nonetheless questions the lingering perception that somehow Apple's software has fewer bugs than anyone else's.

"Who would have thought that OS X was so insecure?" he said in an e-mailed statement. "Nearly every component of Apple's OS and its applications are touched by security-related fixes in the latest massive update from Apple. This is a real wake-up call for everyone that has been touting the Mac OS as more secure than Windows."

While Storms may be correct in noting that Apple isn't possessed of some magical immunity to the human capacity for error that leads to software vulnerabilities, no less a source than Microsoft on Tuesday opted not to release a Mac version of its new PowerPoint patch because the exploit code it found targeted Windows machines but not Macs. The risk of an infected PowerPoint file to Mac users, it seems, just isn't as great as it is for users of Windows.

But Mac users shouldn't be complacent. More and more attacks target Web applications, making the underlying operating system less important.

Top 5 Twitter apps for Iphone

Tweetie, atebits, $2.99

Tweetie is one of the easiest to use and well-organized Twitter apps. There’s no limit on the number of tweets you can load, and that’s no small thing. Once you start tweeting, “following” other people (receiving their tweets) and having other people follow you, those tweets can pile up at pretty rapid clip. With Tweetie, you can pull up a list of your followers, read only their tweets and easily send a private reply (known as a “direct message”) or a more public one that will show up in their tweets along with the tweets of others. Tweetie also lets you track what the latest Twitter trends are, with trends being names, words and phrases that are popping up the most frequently on Twitter at any one point in time.

TweetMic, Voicetal LLC, 99 cents

What a great idea: Simply record what you have to say and publish it directly to your Twitter account, where it’s posted immediately. You can add a short, Twitter-like text introduction to your audio to prepare your listener for the topic you’re tweeting about. And you have as long as you like to speak, but keep in mind, as it’s for Twitter, the shorter the better. The program works best using Wi-Fi or AT&T’s 3G network. I first tried using TweetMic over the 2G, or EDGE network (which I often use to conserve battery life), but got this TweetMic message: “If you are using EDGE and not 3G, be prepared for very slow transfers so keep your recordings very short.

TwitterFon, naan studio, free

Think of this as a Twitter 101 app. TwitterFon has a very clean interface, and is one of the best free programs out there. If you want to do some basic tweeting and not get all fancy, TwitterFon will more than do the job. When you select a tweet, you’re taken to a profile of the twitterer, along with easy one-touch options for publicly replying to them, sending them a direct (or private) message or “retweeting” their message (sending it to others). Also, TwitterFon provides handy Web links – shown to the far right of the screen as a link within a blue circle – making it simple to get to them. In the search tab, you can look for tweets by keyword or current location – yup, location. If you’re using an iPhone 3G, which has a GPS chip

TweetStack, B1TE, $2.99

If you are like TV character Adrian Monk and have an obsession with neat stacks of stuff, TweetStack may be your app. The program offers several stacks that you can create to keep track of all things Twitter, including photos, locations, searches and unread messages. One of TweetStack’s nice features is that even if you don’t want to make stacks, there are two important ones that are default stacks shown on the bottom tab: one listing messages that are replies to your tweets, and another listing direct, or private, replies to you.

Twittelator, Big Stone Phone, free

Like TweetStack, Twittelator will find favor with those who like order. The app has “group” listings, with groups being tweets from your friends, your own tweets, your replies, as well as information you’ve marked as favorites, bookmarks, recent tweets and searches. There’s also Twittelator Pro, which costs $4.99. Among the features it offers: Offline tweeting, being able to create “subgroups” of close friends, letting you upload high-resolution photos and having the ability to keep an “unlimited” number of draft tweets.