To all readers of Field Of Love, Happy New Year 2008!

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Yesterday mark the end of 2007, today is the beginning of 2008. There are many happiness or sadness were left behind. However it is an experience that mold us into a better person. There's a saying goes, "The older we are, the wiser we become". Everyone is looking forward for a brand new year with plenty of optimism. To me, I'm wishing for the best of health, wealth, love and success. They will always be with me at the right place and the right time. And I also thank god for giving me so much strength and courage to face every single day happily with the best of health. To all readers of Field Of Love, I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2008. Here I present you the best new year fireworks celebration in Sydney 2008. Enjoy!

Aska Yang (楊宗緯), one of the best singer Taiwan ever produce

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Initially I have no interest in any of Taiwan's reality show. However on this quite Sunday, it change my view. My sis told me there's this very good singer called Aska Yang in a reality show called One Million Star. At first, I just watch him just to please my sis. But within minutes, I please myself even more! He's a hell one cracking singer. This guy I really superb. Aska Yang got a strength in his vocal, whereby he can really touch all the audience with his strong and emotional vocal. In one scene he manage to make his audience shed into tears.

However very unfortunately he pull out of the singing competition because of a dispute of this age. Originally he was 29 however he register himself as 24 years old. No actual reasons was given by Aska Yang. Even though it's still within the rules but he pull out of the competition because he feel bad for his family. However due to the strong encouragement from his fans and family, he's back singing again. Personally, I think he's consider as one of the best singer from Taiwan. His existance is not based on his looks, but his prowess vocal. Even in one scene he beat Jam Xiao. Aska Yang is a reminder to all singers that looks is just the packaging but vocal is the ingredient of a true singer.

Innocent death from political war

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Politics always stand at a very grey area. Political leaders often claim that they are fighting for human rights, but end of the day they still put their self interest in the first place. Let's quote the death of Benazir Bhutto as a good example. Her death shock the world even myself. She died in one of the most horrific way. Till today, no one knows what is the conspiracy behind her death. After her death, chaos are everywhere in Pakistan. Innocent people are suffering on the political wars. If these leaders care about their people, why should they let these restless pain on their citizens. Even Benazir's 19 year old son stand out for their party. Probably I do not undertand the political situation in Pakistan, to me, I understand the meaning of humanity.

23 steps of working less and achieve more

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Honest to myself, I'm one hell bloody lazy chap. I love sleeping more than anything else. The thing is I can't sleep most of my time isn't it? That is why I always try to do quality stuff in a certain time. A lot of people waste plenty of time by repeating something or I should say "robotic" job. It's non value added, time wasting, boring, brain dead...just name it. Enough of talking crap here. So, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to share with you 23 simple steps to work less and yet achieve more:

1. One goal. Set a single goal that you want to accomplish this year -- I know that we probably want to do 12 goals, but it's too difficult to maintain your focus on more than one goal, and it diffuses your energy. Pick one goal for the next 12 months, and then a single 3-6 month goal that will lead to your 12-month goal. Then choose something you can accomplish within the next 1-2 weeks that will lead to the 3-6 month goal. Now focus on that short-term goal, giving it all your energy, and when it's achieved, set your next short-term goal until you've accomplished your medium-term goal.

2. Find your passion. All the rest of these tips are just window dressing if you find work you're passionate about. If you're not in a job you love, start your quest to find that job now. You don't need to quit your current job right away, but start doing some research on the web, think about what you're really interested in, talk to others who are doing what you want to do. Make this your One Goal for this year, and it could turn out to be your best year ever.

3. Work from home. This is not a miracle solution, but it's something many people would love to do. And it's completely possible -- more people are doing it every day. Is it something you want to do? Give it some thought, and find a solution that works for you. You could telecommute for your current job -- plan your pitch to your boss today, making sure to focus on how it will benefit your company. Or you could find another job that allows you to work from home -- even if the pay is a little less at first, you will have reduced costs from not having to commute or eat lunch at work or buy expensive work clothes, and you will also have increased satisfaction.

4. Come in early. If telecommuting isn't your thing, try getting to work 30-60 minutes before the rest of the crowd. Or even more. This might require you to learn to wake up early, but the benefits are many: you skip the morning traffic, you can work without distractions until the rest of your coworkers come in, you can get a jump start on your day, you can be ahead of the crowd and get more done. Getting an early start is a great way to start your work day and to become more productive.

5. Work 4 days. If you can control your work schedule (or can convince your boss to change it), try working fewer days. Working four days a week not only gives you an additional day off, but it forces you to be more productive in the days you do work. Think about it: if you knew that you had to get your work done by the end of Thursday, you will focus more on what really needs to get done, and goof off less too. What would you do less? Email? Read stuff on the Internet? Chat? Play solitaire? Those unimportant things fade away when your time is limited.

6. Work 6-hour days. Same concept as above, but reconfigured. Personally, I'd choose the 4-day workweek, but that can't work for everyone. Get in early and leave even earlier -- imagine the 7 a.m.-1 p.m. work day. With focus, it can be done.

7. Work 20 hours. This might sound impossible. And if you are a full-time employee somewhere, it might be. But you could either 1) telecommute, and get your work done in fewer hours; or 2) work for yourself. Now, I'll admit that these options won't work for everyone, but they can be done. And I'll also admit that in working for yourself, you tend to work more hours, not fewer. But if you limit your hours to 20, it will force you to focus in the same what that working four days a week does. And if you focus on only those tasks that are truly important (see next item), you can get a lot done in 20 hours a week.

8. MITs. Each day, make a list with only three items: the three Most Important Tasks you want to accomplish today. Make at least one of them related to your One Goal. The others might be something you've been procrastinating on, or a big project that's due today, or something similar. Ideally, these MITs are really important tasks -- ones that will gain you longer-term recognition or income. Now focus on these, making sure to accomplish them. It's best to do your MITs first thing in the morning, before you get interrupted by a bunch of other things. If you do only three things today (you could choose more or less than three MITs, but I've found that three works for me), make it your MITs.

9. Batch process. There are usually a bunch of smaller tasks that we have to do that aren't that important. Email, paperwork, phone calls, things like that. Instead of doing those little things throughout the day, giving you busywork to interrupt and distract you from your important tasks, batch them together and do them at one set time each day. Write these tasks down on a small list, and with an hour left in your work day (or whatever works for you), start processing them as quickly as possible, ticking them off your list.

10. Telecommute 1 day a week. If you can't convince your boss to let you work completely from home, try one day a week. You could start out by calling in sick, but still getting a lot done from home. Or tell him you want to give it a try, just for one day this week, because you think it will make you more productive.

11. Freelance as a 2nd job. This is something I do, and I earn an extra $2,000 a month doing it. It's extra work, but it helps me to pay the bills (and pay off debt and save). Eventually, if you get good at the freelancing gig, you could make it your full-time work. To do this as a second job, set aside some time each day for freelance work. I've used early mornings (I get up an hour earlier and do one assignment), my lunch hour, work time (with permission), or evenings. If you could do 1-2 assignments a day, you will be making a decent extra income, and starting yourself down the road to working for yourself.

12. Brown bag it. This isn't life-changing, but I take my lunch to work every day -- leftovers or a sandwich, usually, with snacks such as fruits on the side. How does this help? Well, it saves me a lot of money (a few thousand a year) and it allows me to work through lunch, giving me time for that freelancing gig I talked about above or perhaps allowing you to leave work early.

13. Cycle to work. Again, not necessarily life-changing, but if you can commute even just a couple times a week by bike, you will save money on gas, reduce the stress of rush-hour traffic, and get your daily exercise done at the same time. A shower at work (or at a nearby gym) helps make this easier.

14. Take high-profile projects. If you just take the grunt work, your boss might or might not appreciate it, but it certainly won't make you a star and you won't go very far. Instead, volunteer for the big projects, the ones that will make a name for both you and your company. If there aren't any available, make your own. Be sure you can do them well, but if you do, these projects will have a huge impact on your life. The tasks on these projects should be your MITs every day. If you take on high-impact projects, you can be more productive working a half day than if you worked 10 hours a day on tasks that won't matter next week.

15. Automate your business. If you have your own business, or set one up on the side, find ways to make it automated as much as possible. Everything can be outsourced, from manufacturing to mailing to advertising to taking orders to customer support to credit card processing. Put your business front online, with online ordering, and give your outsourcers the ability to make decisions (with certain limits, following rules you set) without your approval, removing yourself from the bottleneck. If it's completely automated, your business will require minimal work from you once you've got it set up. Now all you have to do is check now and then to make sure things are running smoothly, and make sure your money is being deposited in your bank account. Nice.

16. Bank your raise. If you get a raise (and if you haven't in awhile, you need to make it happen by taking on high-profile projects and then asking for the raise), don't increase your spending. Take the raise and put the entire amount in the bank, making it automatically deducted from your paycheck or checking account and sent to a high-interest online savings account. Doesn't increase your productivity, but it can increase your financial stability.

17. Clear your desk. A messy desk might be the sign of a creative mind, but in my experience (I've tried both messy and now clean desks), having a desk that's clean is much more calming, much more productive, and more organized. Most importantly, it reduces visual clutter and allows you to focus on the task at hand, increasing your productivity. Clearing your desk can take a chunk of time, but it's worth it: take all your papers (everything!) and put them in your inbox, or in a pile if they don't fit. Now process through them, one at a time, from top to bottom, filing, acting upon, delegating, trashing each document or noting tasks on a to-do list for later (and filing the to-be-acted-upon documents in an action folder). Remove other knick knacks and put any office supplies or tools in a drawer (and empty out your drawers while you're at it). From here on out, everything goes in your inbox, and you process it to empty every day using the steps outlined here.

18. Granularize. If a project or task seems too intimidating, split it into smaller tasks, and just focus on the first task you need to do. For example, instead of "Research report", just find three sources on the Internet. You can read each of these sources and take notes after that.

19. Delegate. Get out of the habit of thinking you need to do everything yourself. Relinquish control and learn to trust others. If you don't think a person can handle a task, take the time to train him to do so. It will save you tons of time and headaches later. And by delegating, you empower others while shrinking your to-do list, leaving you to focus on what's really important.

20. Eliminate. Your to-do list is a mile long. You'll never be able to do all those things. Cut it in half by crossing out stuff that doesn't really need to be done, or delegating others. And from that list, just choose the three most important things that you need to do today. Get in the habit of eliminating as many of the tasks and processes you normally do as possible, and your work life will be greatly simplified.

21. Clear distractions. In addition to clearing your desk, you can allow yourself to focus more by eliminating all distractions: email or IM alerts, Twitter, other websites (in fact, turn off the Internet), phones, visual clutter around you or on your walls. Wear headphones so your coworkers interrupt you less, or let them know that you're not available right now. Focus more, and you'll get more done.

22. Kill meetings. One of the biggest time-wasters in our work lives. Most of the time, a meeting could have been accomplished with an email or a phone call. Beg out of meetings (or if you're the boss, eliminate them) by claiming you have a project due that you need to work on. Then be very productive during the time you would be at the meeting, and show your boss how much you got done.

23. Email once a day. Don't do email throughout the day. Set one time during the day to process email, then crank through it, getting your inbox to empty (use the same steps in "clear your desk" above). If you check email throughout the day, you are allowing yourself to be distracted and at the mercy of anyone who sends you a request. And by sending out emails all day, you are generating even more responses in return, compounding the problem. Batch process, and you will get a lot more done. Same applies to reading your RSS feeds and checking your blog stats and reading your forums.

Jam Xiao Jing Teng, I found you

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I have been looking for this song for quite sometimes and I finally found it. When I first heard it, it was a few months back. As I only know Ah Mei, as the other singer, I totally have no clue at all. Then I saw this young man's performance on the 2007 Golden Horse Awards in Taipei. His voice capture my attention. I start to do some searching and came across him by the name of Jam Xiao Jing Teng. With some luck, I manage to found the song (duet with Ah Mei). Later I'm going to get his album!

Duet with Ah Mei His performance in the 2007 Golden Horse Awards

The Top Baby Names of 2007

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What happened in baby names in 2007? The results are in: Emma has finally been knocked off its number one perch for the first time since it landed there in 2004! Sophia has been making steady progress since 2002, cracked the top 10 in 2005, and jumped six slots to be the new number one baby name for 2007.

Addison jumped a whopping 20 spots this year to land in the top 10 — no doubt thanks to flame-haired actress Kate Walsh's portrayal of Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd on the hot TV series "Grey's Anatomy" and its spin-off, "Private Practice."

In boys' baby names, Aiden still rules, as it has since 2005. But Jayden, Caden, and Jackson have jumped quickly into the top 10 this year and are the new rising stars.

And here they are, in order: The BabyCenter® Top Baby Names of 2007

Top 10 Girl Names

1. Sophia

2. Isabella

3. Emma

4. Madison

5. Ava

6. Addison

7. Hailey

8. Emily

9. Kaitlyn

10. Olivia

Top 10 Boy Names

1. Aiden

2. Ethan

3. Jacob

4. Jayden

5. Caleb

6. Noah

7. Jackson

8. Jack

9. Logan

10. Matthew

Five Pointers for Your First Month on the Job

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You’ve just accepted a new job. The position is likely to be more challenging than your last one, and the people, policies and procedures will be unfamiliar to you. All these changes can be both exciting and stressful. While most managers understand you need time to adapt, they also will take note of how you do it.

Because first impressions are lasting ones, here are five tips to help you make the most of your first month on the job:

Start fresh.

When preparing to leave your old position, you’ll probably be busy tying up loose ends right up until you walk out the door on your last day. That’s why it’s important to unwind and clear your head before you begin a new job. Try to take at least a few days off between leaving your old position and starting your next one. If that’s not feasible, make sure you have a restful weekend and a good night’s sleep before your first day. Feeling refreshed will help you begin your job at your best.

Assess the corporate culture.

After starting your new job, spend some time studying the culture at the firm. Consider arriving 30 minutes early and leave half an hour late on your first day or two to get a sense of how many others in your group do the same. Also note whether your co-workers or manager are fielding calls or e-mails from home, as well as the prevailing communication style at work. Do your boss and fellow employees generally prefer e-mail, voice mail or face-to-face conversations? Consider the dress code: Are people in suits, or is it a business-casual environment? When and for how long do people go to lunch? Pay attention to unwritten company rules and adopt them as your own. Though some customs may seem strange to you, keeping an open mind shows you’re willing to be part of the team.

Clarify expectations.

It’s important to be on the same page as your manager from the start, so within the first couple of days, meet with him or her to discuss your responsibilities and how your position fits into the grand scheme of things. You might ask the following questions: What are the immediate priorities and issues that need to be addressed? How often and in what form should I provide you with project updates? How will my performance be evaluated? You may also want to request feedback three or four weeks into the position to make sure you’re on the right track.

Get to know the team.

While your boss will likely take you through the office to meet everyone on your first day, your introduction should go beyond, “Hi, I’m Rachel.” Take the initiative to speak to colleagues for a longer period of time, whether it’s over a coffee break, lunch or more formal one-on-one meeting. Your goal is to learn specifics about the other person’s role, how his or her responsibilities affect your own and how the two of you can most effectively work together.

Have a game plan.

Think like an executive by developing a strategy to guide your first 30 days on the job. Not only will you remain on the right path, but your plan also will serve as a useful tool for your first review. Include goals you hope to accomplish and steps you must take to reach them. For instance, you might set out to learn a proprietary software system or have lunch with at least three co-workers during your first month.

The tips above will help make your first month on the job a successful one, but keep in mind that it’s important to strike a balance: You want to exude confidence, but you don’t want to seem like a know-it-all who won’t adapt to a new environment. And, while first impressions count, so does enthusiasm; by displaying an upbeat, dedicated attitude, your boss and co-workers will be thrilled you’re part of the team.

How to establish a proven product marketing technique

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I have numerous products in my hand, however I'm having a problem of marketing my products. Without a proper marketing strategy, there's no way I can generating sales leads. This is the problem that I'm fully aware of. Thankfully I manage to found an article title “Top 10 Ways to Boost Direct Marketing Results”. The marketing tips shown, it's very impressive and slowly but surely I began to see some positive results after implementing it. Now, I'm becoming a more smarter particularly in product marketing techniques.

Happiness within us

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Happiness is like a treasure box that everyone is looking for. It exist anywhere, everywhere in our life. In our deepest sorrow, happiness sitting there for us to discover. Most of us did not realise that happiness is just within us. When I was young, I thought that toys can make up my day forever. Unfortunately when I grow older, I realise that my taste of happiness has change. I no longer longing for toys. I'm looking at other sense of happiness through health and love. With god blessings, both elements never reach out of my hands. Then I began to look and ask myself, where does happiness come from? Fortunately I found the answer. A self satisfaction with what I have, not over demand, never compare with others, is where happiness come. We can never have the world, but we can always have the world of our own.

Heal Mesothelioma Asbestos Naturally

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Mesothelioma symptoms do not appear immeadiately after being exposed to asbestos. It is common for symptoms to appear 25-50 years after the intial exposure. There are instances where no symptoms are present.

After the disease advances and spread to other organs, symptoms such as jaundice, bowel obstruction, bowel changes, and low blood sugar may be experienced.

If you have been exposed to asbestos and the past and feel you are suffering from mesolthelioma symptoms, please see your doctor.

Be sure to informa your doctor that you have been exposed to asbestos in the past. Mesolthelioma is often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late because the symptoms mimic those of many other illnesses.

However there's a naturally Mesothelioma Asbestos healing whereby Over 350 Treatments & 2,000 Testimonials That No-one Else Will Tell You About.

For more information, please Click Here

Cure Prostate Naturally

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The prostate is gland that is part of the male reproductive system. It is shaped like a walnut and is about 1.2 inches across. One of its functions is to make part of semen, the fluid produced during ejaculation. This fluid is called prostate fluid. This fluid also keeps sperm healthy for fertilization.

The urethra runs through the prostate gland. This is why many men with prostate cancer experience urinary difficulties. If a tumor grows, it can put pressure on the urethra, ultimately slowing the flow of urine or not allowing the flow at all.

However there's a naturally way to Cure Prostate Naturally.

For more information, please Click Here

10 effective tips to become a smart eBay shopper

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eBay has become increasingly popular in recent memory as a holiday shopping destination. Every year, more and more people do at least some portion of their holiday shopping on eBay—after all, the variety of goods on eBay is unmatched, the prices are often excellent, and eBay wins hands down for convenience when pitted against the hours and hours of drudgery that retail shopping often entails. If you're planning to shop for the holidays on eBay, however, it's important to keep a few basic points in mind, both to avoid being disappointed and to avoid being overwhelmed either while you shop or after the holiday season is over.

eBay Holiday Shopping Tips 1-10

1. Shop early. Don't forget that virtually everything that you buy on eBay will have to be shipped to your door by carriers increasingly inundated by an annual year-end online shopping explosion.

Goods will take longer to arrive, and busy sellers may also take longer to ship. Remember, too, that although most eBay transactions proceed smoothly from purchase through delivery, the potential for problems to arise is always present—and these, too, can introduce delays. In general, therefore, you should probably avoid doing “last minute” shopping of any kind on eBay, and make the first week of December a kind of unofficial cutoff for eBay-based gift shopping.

2. Make shipping arrangements carefully. Be sure that you understand in advance the method of shipping that your seller uses. Demand a tracking number since packages can more easily go astray during the holiday shopping rush. Remember, too, that “signature required” packages can't be delivered when you're not at home—and many people are at home even less than usual during the holiday season—so it may pay to make arrangements with your seller for a delivery method for which no signature is required, or to make arrangements with a neighbor to accept any packages that may arrive while you are out (be sure in such cases to put a notice on your door for the delivery person indicating that the neighbor is willing to sign for your goods).

3. Check item sizes in advance. Because it's more difficult for a variety of reasons to return or exchange items that you bought on eBay, it's especially important to be sure about sizing or other personal criteria related to your “giftee” before you buy. Pay careful attention, too, to sellers' descriptions of sizing—phrases like “a very large medium” or “a slightly undersized large” can provide important clues that will help you to avoid mismatching the size of your purchase to the size of the recipient.

4. Double-check exchange policies. Because the holiday season does present lots of opportunities for items to be not-quite-right or slightly-too-big (or small), it can be a very good idea to check and double-check the exchange policies listed in any of the auctions on which you bid. If the gift doesn't quite work out as planned, you will most likely want to be able to return it for a refund or exchange.

5. Look for gift-ready auctions. eBay offers sellers the ability to classify auction listings as listings that offer “gift services,” meaning in such cases that the seller is willing to gift-wrap the item, include a card, expedite shipping, and/or ship directly to a person or address that is not you or yours. You can search specifically for auction listings offered with gift services by using custom search options in the advanced search tool.

6. Comparison shop. Don't simply assume that a given item will be cheaper on eBay. Of course, often it will be, but during the holiday season there will be no shortage of sales and advertisements in your local area for many of the same products that can be found on eBay. If you can save money by buying locally, it may just be worth the effort to do so during a busy and unpredictable season like the holidays.

7. Don't wait too long to buy. At the same time that you're comparison shopping, do also keep in mind that many of the most interesting and gift-worthy items on eBay are one-of-a-kind or are at least comparatively uncommon, and that demand for such gift-worthy items is likely to be higher during the holiday season.

If you're counting on buying a particular item as a gift, don't wait until someone else buys it first if you can “Buy It Now,” and don't wait until the last moment to place your bid, since it's all too common for interested buyers to forget to bid until it's too late and the auction is over.

8. Keep your eye on your account balance. One of the most tricky things about being an involved eBay shopper is the degree to which eBay makes it easy to buy and pay, then buy and pay, then buy and pay again in rapid succession. Keep your eye on your holiday budget, especially if you are buying by credit card and will have to pay for your purchases in months to come, and especially also if you tend to lose yourself in “auction mentality” and perhaps bid more than an item is worth in a determined effort to win at all costs.

9. Pay with a credit card if possible. Because during the holidays both you and sellers are more likely to be too swamped to engage in careful and concise transaction-related negotiation, try to pay with a credit card whenever you can so that if anything goes wrong either before or after the holiday season is over, you have recourse if the transaction or item in question goes bad. All of the major credit networks will refund your purchase price for you if an item that you bought is either not as described or is defective and a seller is unable or unwilling to rectify the situation. Many credit cards also offer points, extended warranties, and other benefits that make gift buying through them more attractive than gift buying via cash transfers or checks of one kind or another.

10. Be an extra-careful eBay shopper. Because buyers tend to be in a greater hurry, on more thinly spread budgets, and buying a larger number of items on eBay in general during the holiday shopping season, the holidays also tend to be the time when buyers are easy targets for online fraud. To avoid having a really poor eBay buying experience, be sure to check any seller's feedback profile twice as carefully as you normally would, and be sure, too, to keep an eye out even more vigilantly than you usually do for warning signs that should lead you to avoid a particular seller or auction.

Above all, of course, you should remember to enjoy yourself as you shop eBay for the holidays. After all, the holidays are the one time of year when you can really shop guilt-free almost to your heart's content, and the holidays are likewise a time to really relax and have fun. It's the spirit of the season.

Why shopping can boast economy

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Retail sales are an important economic indicator because consumer spending drives much of our economy. Think of all of the people and companies involved in producing, distributing, and selling the goods you use on a daily basis like food, clothes, fuel, and so on.

When consumers open their pocket books, the economy tends to hum along. Retail shelves empty and orders placed for replacement merchandise. Plants make more widgets and order raw material for even more.

However, if consumers feel uncertain about their financial future and decide to hold off buying new refrigerators or blue jeans, the economy slows down. This is why politicians have resorted to tax rebates to give the economy a boost. By putting cash in consumers’ hands, they hoped to spend their way out of a recession.

On the 12th of every month, the Census Bureau releases the Retail Sales Index, which is a measure of retail sales from the previous month as determined by a sampling of stores both large and small across the country.

Although subject to future revision, the market closely watches this number as an indicator of the nation’s economy.

The report actually lists two numbers. The first is Retail Sales and the second number is Retail Sales Ex-Auto or without automobile sales included. The reason is auto sales can skew the overall number that they are big-ticket items and subject to seasonal fluctuations.

The number crunchers on Wall Street come to their own conclusions before the Census Bureau issues the report and that number is usually close. However, if the “street consensus” and the actual report differ significantly, look for the market to react abruptly. The market does not like surprises.

Template for blogger.com bloggers

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For all blogger.com bloggers who's looking to decorate their blog design can go to here -> Click Here . I found that their blog templates if very interesting with various designs. Hopefully you'll love it :)

Chinese Army Parade

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China National Day really give me a shock at that time and I have never seen this before It's really great and you may see this only in China. Enjoy it !

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10 priceless gift for your mom

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Forget the frantic holiday shopping and the lavish, expensive gifts. What Mom really wants is truly priceless, because she can't buy what you have the ability to give her. Best of all, it's free. (Dads and husbands, many of these gifts are just as meaningful when you're the giver. And Mom, feel free to click on "Email to a Friend" at the right if someone you know needs a gift suggestion.

The top ten free-but-priceless gifts Mom wants:

1. Your room, clean. Really clean. Nothing shoved into closets, crammed into bureau drawers or pushed under the bed. She wants your socks matched, your broken items tossed out, your unwanted books donated to the public library, your out-of-style or too-small clothes carted off to the nearest goodwill store. She wants all this done because this is what she'd do herself.

2. An empty and shining kitchen sink. Unlike Mother Hubbard's cupboard, this baby never seems bare in the average kitchen. Mom usually finds anything from a single sticky spoon (tossed in after a midnight freezer raid/ice cream binge) to a pile of teetering breakfast dishes left by family members too rushed to rinse them, let alone place them in the dishwasher. Imagine the joy she'll feel when she sees her face reflected in the kitchen sink.

3. The car, washed, with an interior that's showroom-neat. The inside is the most important part. She's too busy driving you here and there to vacuum the carpets; dig out straw wrappers, pennies, and food crumbs in the seat cushions; liberate paper coffee cups trapped under the seat; or shine those windows so they're head-bangingly transparent in their sparkling purity. Shoot some high-end room spray into the ceiling and seats, and make her think she's driving around in a spa. Don't forget the trunk and glove compartment!

4. The little things taken care of. Every houseplant watered, garbage basket emptied, library book or video store DVD returned, grocery item purchased from the shopping list, towel and sheet folded and put away, shirt ironed, loose button sewed on…you get the drift. All those little niggling tasks that moms have to keep up with are a source of low-level but constant stress. Wipe them out for just one day and their absence will cause those little wrinkles of concern to smooth away from Mom's face faster than a Botox injection.

5. A meal prepared for her just the way she likes it. Keep in mind her eating habits, calorie and nutrition concerns, and preferences. Mom has chowed down on your cholesterol-raising butter and syrup-laden French toast, your sticky birthday cakes covered with frosting so fattening it could fuel a third world country for a week. She would like a fresh tossed salad with a million cut-up goodies that you'd find at a well-stocked salad bar - the kind she wouldn't have the time to make for herself, but that she'd order in a restaurant. Or maybe some carefully seasoned and perfectly broiled fish - a nice fresh catch of the day straight from the fish market. And if you feel compelled to make dessert, how about angel food cake, lowfat vanilla yogurt, and fresh strawberries?

6. A day when she doesn't have to drive you anywhere - better yet, a week if you can manage it. Mom may chauffeur you with a smile, but it is seriously draining to spend hours behind the wheel, waiting for you at school, the mall, dance or music lessons, team practice, a friend's house, or a late-night party. A character in the movie "Repo Man" said it best: "The more you drive, the less intelligent you get." Help Mom keep her sanity and her brain cells intact just for one day.

7. A spa treatment with you providing the service. A back massage, a manicure and/or pedicure, a facial, a foot massage, aromatherapy - the options are endless. Read a book on what to do - go to a salon and observe trained professionals. Bring that home with you and lavish that attention on Mom. She'd feel guilty if you tried to buy these services for her, but if you do them yourself with materials you can purchase inexpensively - or find already lying around the house - then she'd feel doubly relaxed. And in the midst of all that pampering, she's more likely to say yes if you've got something you need to tell her, be it good news or bad.

8. A haircut - for you, not her. Mom wants to see your beautiful face! She doesn't want your hair hanging down and hiding the features she knows and loves so well. Just once, take a moment to get well-groomed so she can see past the fuzz and remember the sweet-cheeked baby she used to cuddle, or the clean-faced kid that used to bring her wildflowers and pictures saying "I heart you MOM!"

9. A chance to play a slow-paced board game so you can talk and enjoy each other's company. Scrabble is a great choice. Mom just wants to spend some quality time with you, and though you may be too old for family game night, you're never too old to play Scrabble with Mom.

10. Something you've made for her by hand. Yeah, you think you've outgrown this. But really, you haven't - you just haven't done it in a while. Get over your embarrassment and just draw her a picture, write her a poem, scribble down a page of your favorite memories of times spent with her. There isn't a mom in the world who doesn't keep a stash of these things. As you grow up you're less likely to do this - thus any efforts are more valuable to her. This may be the most important gift of all. Because when you're grown up and no longer call her house home, it won't be the items you bought that will sustain her and give her comfort. It'll be the moments you've shared, the memories she carries, and the love you've shown that will matter.

Are you ready for sex?

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The heat is on (romantic heat between you and your new love, that is)—and you’re in h-e-a-v-e-n! Your relationship is clearly heading toward the bedroom, but before you two head in there, slow down for a second. When you awake from your lust, will you question, “What was I thinking??”

If you’re the kind of person who isn’t comfortable with casual sex and only wants to get naked with prospective long-term partners, let me share some advice. Prevent your heart from being trashed by thinking clearly before you do the deed. Ask yourself: Are you ready to get naked with this person? Are you sure? Consider these five reasons that reveal you’re really, truly, undoubtedly, and unequivocally ready to disrobe! If one of them suits your situation, go for it... if you can’t check any of them off, you may want to slow down and take a wait-and-see attitude.

Reason #1: You feel emotionally safe with your sweet thing.

Alice went out a few times with a guy who was bonkers over her. That in itself was an ego trip. He was brilliant and had a high-level job at a prestigious organization, which was the subject of enormously stimulating conversation. They also laughed a lot. In short, he was a pleasure to be with.

Although Alice and he were always clothed, he complimented her body often. Then he would criticize his former girlfriend, a rather famous lady, saying what an awful body she had. Alice was appalled that he would degrade someone he had once cared for. Although he was wonderful to her to her face, his nasty critiques of his ex were a turn-off. She stopped seeing him because she felt she would never feel safe from his denigrations should their relationship go the way his last one did.

Feeling emotionally safe is vital before getting naked. I doubt that Famous Lady would have felt safe with this guy had she known how he would debase her once their coupledom was kaput. Remember my Gilda-Gram: Feeling emotionally safe means feeling emotionally protected—which is necessary in love.

Reason #2: You know your honey will still be your honey later, after you’re clothed.

In a Seinfeld episode, Elaine described how her sweetie-for-the-night ran out of her bed early in the morning. She likened guys who do this to being farmers who feel they must tend their land before sunrise. Some women, too, exit early after a night of play! And it can erode even a sturdy self-image—if you allow that to happen. When a night of passion is followed by what might seem like icy abandonment, the previous evening’s thrill becomes a let-down. No person deserves to think the passionate night before was really meaningless. So, take your time, get to know this person, and make sure your relationship has some pacing to it. You are most likely to have a gone-in-the-morning paramour if things have proceeded quickly from first date to the bedroom.

Reason #3: Your sweetie really “gets” you.

Out-of-sight doesn’t necessarily have to mean out-of-mind. If you and your new love have something real, he or she will think of you even when you’re not together. During their early dating stages, Carol and Carl were window-shopping and passed a kitchen accessories shop. Carl had no interest in the shop’s contents, but Carol excitedly muttered, “Wow, I’d love to own that saucepan.” A few weeks later, Carl presented Carol with just the cookware she had admired. From that moment on, Carol knew she had found a guy who (a) was willing to listen and hear her and (b) wanted to please her with things she deemed important. She was able to move ahead with their romance, secure in the knowledge that there was real affection there and not just lust. As my Gilda-Gram puts it, it’s easy to get naked with someone who obviously cares about you, versus just hooking up with anyone. Today this couple is happily married—and Carl still listens to her intently and tries to please her whenever he can.

Reason #4: Your honey is willing to be inconvenienced to make you happy.

New daters Cathy and Mark developed a quick connection that seemed very tight. They had not yet been intimate. One day, Cathy’s car needed to be repaired. Mark was at home doing yard work when Cathy called to ask him to please drive her to the dealership. On this summer Saturday, Mark was not on any deadline, nor did he have pressing appointments to meet. But he outright said, “No.” He didn’t say, “No, I have to finish doing the lawn by 2 p.m. before my kids arrive,” or, “No, I am too tired,” or even, “No, I don’t want to drive to that part of town today.” He simply said, “No can do, sorry.” Mark did not want to inconvenience himself. She began to notice other instances of his unwillingness to bend in her direction. A week later, Cathy wisely ended the romance. Mark still can’t understand why! But know this: Someone who is that selfish in daily, fully-clothed life isn’t someone who is going to turn into a giving soul in bed! Let me put this plainly: Someone who withholds acts of kindness also withholds love. If you’re looking for real intimacy — sexually and emotionally — you won’t find it here.

Reason #5: The decision to be intimate is 100-percent mutual.

Paula and Charlie were platonic friends for three months, without the slightest hint of anything amorous. Then, just a few weeks ago, they casually kissed, and sparks flew. Neither could explain the change in their status, but they decided to officially re-name their get-togethers “dates.” Now the question was how to proceed. Neither of them wanted to destroy the wonderful bond they had established, yet both wanted to take the friendship to the next level. Yet, Paula was not quite ready to engage in naked romps. Charlie began to pressure her. Suddenly, the comfort they had shared was deteriorating.

Paula reasoned that if she abandoned her reticence, Charlie would feel happier. But she also knew that giving in to his desires was not where she wanted to be at this time. What was she to do?

They had a heart-to-heart talk. Charlie continued to push to move the affair up a notch. Paula suddenly perceived him as a self-involved baby who screamed, “I! want! my! sex!!” Sensing all that pressure, she ended both the friendship and the promise of more. Which was the right thing to do. If you’re not the kind of person who takes intimacy lightly, trying to do so for another person’s sake — “just this one time” — will almost undoubtedly backfire. You won’t wind up feeling closer... but probably will feel angry at yourself!

So, if you are interested in forging a long-term relationship and lasting bond, consider these points before you get naked with someone new. When these five reasons are involved, you’ll know you are treating yourself like a prize—and your new love will, too!

10 minutes per day for a fabulous abs

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You can, too, with help from these exercises. They'll strengthen and tone the rectus abdominis, the muscle that stretches from your ribs to your hips, and the obliques, the muscles that run down the sides of your torso. Do two sets of 10 to 12 repetitions, with a 1-minute break in between. Aim for two or three workouts a week, resting a day between sessions, and you'll stand taller and looks slimmer.

Hip Lift

Lie on your back with your arms by your sides, palms facing up. Raise your legs so they are straight up toward the ceiling and perpendicular to your torso.

Pull your navel toward your spine and lift your hips a few inches off the floor, keeping your legs pointed straight up. Then slowly lower your hips back to the floor.

Torso Twist

Sit on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat, about hip-width apart. Extend your arms straight in front of you, and lace your fingers. Tighten your abdominal muscles and lean back about 45 degrees toward the floor.

With your abs taut, rotate your torso toward the right as far as comfortably possible. Be sure to move your upper body (head, shoulders, arms, chest, and abs) in unison; don't lead with your arms. You should be looking in the same direction your hands are pointing throughout the move. Hold, then return to center and twist to the opposite side. That's one rep.

Eat for a Beautiful Smile

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A few simple changes to your diet can help keep your teeth healthy for life:

Eat carbs at mealtimes

A handful of potato chips or even a whole wheat roll can be just as damaging to your teeth and gums as a chocolate chip cookie. All carbohydrates break down into simple sugars, which are ultimately converted by bacteria in the mouth into plaque, a sticky residue that is the primary cause of gum disease and cavities. Carb-based foods such as breads and crackers tend to have "a chewy, adhesive texture," making it easier for them to get caught between teeth or under the gum line, where bacteria can then accumulate, says Christine Gerbstadt, MD, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Have carbs at mealtimes rather than as a snack: When you eat a larger amount of food, you produce more saliva, which helps wash food particles away.

Drink tea

Black and green teas contain polyphenols, antioxidant plant compounds that prevent plaque from adhering to your teeth and help reduce your chances of developing cavities and gum disease. "Tea also has potential for reducing bad breath because it inhibits the growth of the bacteria that cause the odor," explains Christine D. Wu, PhD, associate dean for research at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, who has conducted several studies on tea and oral health. Many teas also contain fluoride (from the leaves and the water it's steeped in), which helps protect tooth enamel from decay.

Sip with a straw

Most sodas, sports drinks, and juices contain acids, such as citric and phosphoric, that can erode dental enamel--even if they're diet or sugar-free versions. Sipping acidic drinks through a straw positioned toward the back of your mouth limits their contact with your teeth and helps preserve the enamel, says a study in the British Dental Journal.

Increase your C intake

"Vitamin C is the cement that holds all of your cells together, so just as it's vital for your skin, it's important for the health of your gum tissue," says Jones. People who consumed less than 60 mg per day of C (8 ounces of orange juice or one orange contains more than 80 mg) were 25% more likely to have gum disease than people who took in 180 mg or more, according to a study of over 12,000 US adults conducted at the State University of New York University at Buffalo.

Eat 800 mg of calcium a day

People who do are less likely to develop severe gum disease, says a recent study by the Buffalo researchers. The reason: About 99% of the calcium in your body is in your bones and teeth. Dietary calcium--available in foods like cheese, milk, and yogurt--strengthens the alveolar bone in the jaw, which helps hold your teeth in place. The recommended amount is 1,000 mg per day for women younger than 50 and 1,200 mg for those older.

People change and people die

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People change and people die. They were the prey to material world. It kill them in a silent way, whereby even themself did not realise it. The old self died, the new self grow. Arrogance, selfishness, anger was planted in their character. No longer they live within their trueself. Sometimes it's just hard to believe there are people who fell on their knees without a fight. Not only they let themself down, but also their loved ones. Past is only a sweet memory, present is just a stranger feeling baseless greatness in them. I'm glad that I make the right choice.

"People of character do the right thing, not because they think it will change the world but because they refuse to be changed by the world." - Michael Josephson

Health benefits of Green Tea

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Is any other food or drink reported to have as many health benefits as green tea? The Chinese have known about the medicinal benefits of green tea since ancient times, using it to treat everything from headaches to depression. In her book Green Tea: The Natural Secret for a Healthier Life, Nadine Taylor states that green tea has been used as a medicine in China for at least 4,000 years.

Today, scientific research in both Asia and the west is providing hard evidence for the health benefits long associated with drinking green tea. For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.

To sum up, here are just a few medical conditions in which drinking green tea is reputed to be helpful:

1. cancer

2. rheumatoid arthritis

3. high cholesterol levels

4. cariovascular disease

5. infection

6. impaired immune function

What makes green tea so special?

The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart attacks and stroke.

Links are being made between the effects of drinking green tea and the "French Paradox." For years, researchers were puzzled by the fact that, despite consuming a diet rich in fat, the French have a lower incidence of heart disease than Americans. The answer was found to lie in red wine, which contains resveratrol, a polyphenol that limits the negative effects of smoking and a fatty diet. In a 1997 study, researchers from the University of Kansas determined that EGCG is twice as powerful as resveratrol, which may explain why the rate of heart disease among Japanese men is quite low, even though approximately seventy-five percent are smokers.

Why don't other Chinese teas have similar health-giving properties? Green, oolong, and black teas all come from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. What sets green tea apart is the way it is processed. Green tea leaves are steamed, which prevents the EGCG compound from being oxidized. By contrast, black and oolong tea leaves are made from fermented leaves, which results in the EGCG being converted into other compounds that are not nearly as effective in preventing and fighting various diseases.

Heal your body with your brain

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You may not know it, but you have a doctor who's always on call — and he's right between your ears. Here are five ways you can harness your mental medicinal powers.

1. The Ailment: Allergies

The Mental Medicine: Laughter

Queue up the gut busters when allergies strike. Participants in a Japanese study were less affected by allergens after seeing a funny film but sneezed more after viewing a serious one. Laughter revs your parasympathetic nervous system, preventing allergens from taking hold.

Your therapy: Sidesplitting DVDs out this month include Superbad, The Simpsons Movie, and Hot Fuzz (the Collector's Edition). For a daily dose, check out funnyordie.com, a video-clip site from Will Ferrell and Anchorman director Adam McKay.

2. The Ailment: Cuts, scrapes, and bruises

The Mental Medicine: Good deeds

A Good Samaritan act can speed your recovery by at least a day. "Healing is delayed an additional day by hostile interactions," says Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at Ohio State University. "But a positive interaction boosts cytokines — chemicals that recruit cells that are needed for making repairs — in the area around the wound."

Your therapy: Surprise your mate with dinner, or send a card to your grandma or a check to your favorite charity. Pay it forward and you'll be cured in no time.

3. The Ailment: Heart Disease

The Mental Medicine: Optimism

Purging pessimism can help your ticker. Men who scored high on an optimism test were 55 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with defeatist dispositions, says a study in Archives of Internal Medicine.

Your therapy: Start by taking a weekly inventory of what you're grateful for — friends, family, anything — and avoid feeling resentful about what you still don't have. Focusing on gratitude increases optimism, according to a recent study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

4. The Ailment: Muscle injury

The Mental Medicine: Visualization

Imagine a workout to boost recovery. Just visualizing lifting weights can actually build muscle, speeding healing, say Cleveland Clinic researchers. In their study, men who visualized working out their biceps saw a 13 percent increase in muscle mass — without lifting a single weight.

Your therapy: For 15 minutes a day, imagine exercising your injured muscle, clearly visualizing the muscle. Imagine every detail — the pressure, the range of motion, the muscle flexing and stretching, says sports psychologist Trent Petrie, Ph.D.

5. The Ailment: Fatigue

Mental Medicine: Hearing music

Just like listening to the radio when you're red-eyed on the road, tuning in to music at your desk will help you focus on the task at hand, Japanese researchers found. Music triggers a relaxation response, muffling unproductive temptations and letting you tackle your work, says Larry McCleary, M.D., author of The Brain Trust Program.

Your therapy: Plug in to your iPod or call up pandora.com when you feel a dip. It doesn't matter what type of music you listen to, as long as it's something you choose, research shows.

10 romantic ways to keep love alive

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The person snoring away in bed next to you is your spouse (yes, women can snore too). We thought you might have forgotten about him or her, since holiday prep work seems to have taken over your existence. Even if it appears your schedule cannot accommodate one more thing, it is possible (and a priority) to show your mate he or she is still the biggest gift you have ever received. And we don't mean with an actual present. 'Tis the season to keep the flame between you two burning bright. Here's how.

1. Start a tradition.

The night before a big family gathering is the perfect time to reconnect with each other...alone. Plan a preholiday date that is bound to become tradition -- whether it's grilled cheese at the diner, a snowy stroll through the park, or camping indoors with a tent by your fireplace (roast marshmallows without the fear of woodland creatures joining you). The point is to enjoy each other -- and only each other -- before you loan yourselves out to relatives. When things get crowded across the dinner table, you can feel good knowing you went one-on-one just 12 hours before.

2. Get cookin'.

Neither of you needs to be a chef extraordinaire to have fun in a holiday kitchen. If you're a guest, ask for a task the two of you can work on. It's a great escape, and your help will be appreciated, to boot. In your own home, institute some holiday fun. Bake goodies you loved as kids or make eggnog from scratch. Enjoy your treats together -- nude perhaps?

3. Embrace the weather.

Snow becomes a chore when you have to shovel the steps, but this winter, make it a romantic event. Try to catch snowflakes on your tongue and then share a frosty kiss. Or just lie together silently on the ground and watch them fall gently to earth. No snow? No need! Get outside and do something together like window shopping late at night or sledding on the sand dunes.

Note: While you're waiting for your car to warm up, vandalize your husband's ride. Well, in an amorous way. Write "I love you" in the snow or frost on his front windshield. We bet he'll drive off without the heat on just so he can keep your sentiment intact.

4. Present something perfect.

There are some gifts that make everyone in the room go "Wow!" and others that are meant for your eyes only. Give each other the cashmere sweater or briefcase to open with the gang, but save one small, heartfelt gift to open alone in bed together. We're not saying the present should be naughty in nature (unless you want it to be); it might be something with meaning that you don't want to explain to a roomful of nosy aunts and uncles. This can also make a potentially stressful day at the in-laws a bit sweeter.

5. Deck the halls.

Give the bedroom a seasonal boost with white twinkling lights strung on the headboard. You'll both feel like you're sliding under the covers in a whole new room. That sense of breaking from routine will add excitement to whatever it is you decide to do under those blankets.

6. Picture your life.

Get out your photo albums and reminisce. Make sure to pull books that hold images from your days as boyfriend, girlfriend. You will be reminded of how important you are to each other, and the shared memories will come flooding back. If you're at a relative's home, ask to see old childhood photos. Snuggle under an afghan and sip hot cocoa while you peruse.

Note: If you're going the hot chocolate route, we suggest giving your mugs some extra heat by adding a shot of peppermint schnapps.

7. Get a tune-up.

The long drive for holiday ham can turn into a traffic nightmare. Come prepared with a CD or iTunes song playlist that reminds you of your courtship or of your wedding and honeymoon. Before you know it, you'll be pulling into the driveway with hoarse voices from all that crooning. Even though you might spend the day on separate sides of the room, you'll have an added energy boost from your earlier performance.

8. Go for the pass.

The office party is a bore, and you both can't wait to leave. To make the hours go faster, pass your spouse a note on your way to the cheese table. Write about exactly what you want to do with him and the leftover gift-wrap and ribbon when you get home. He might reconsider his schmooze obligations and suggest you cut out early.

If there's one time of year you may find yourself too tired for romance, this is it. But once you put your intentions down on paper, you can't turn back. Connecting under the sheets will increase your bond in the hectic days to come.

9. Give your time.

You're fortunate to have each other, but not everyone is so lucky. Sign up to play bingo at a nursing home or distribute gifts to kids at a homeless shelter. Find a Project Santa in your hood (the post office can help), and shop together for a present that will make a child have a happy holiday. Volunteering together will allow you to break from routines that might start to seem selfish, and it will bring smiles to new faces.

10. Just say no.

Parties and get-togethers are great ways to catch up with special people you haven't seen in forever, but they can also leave you feeling too pooped to do anything else. The only solution: Tear up those invites! You just do not need to attend every function you are invited to. Think about it: If all of your friends or family will be together drinking eggnog, they won't be calling you! But use the would-be party time wisely. Take an uninterrupted nap together, go for a walk in the woods, or simply make love with the phone off the hook.

You only need 1 hour to clean your living room

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While we may be doing an excellent job of maintaining our living rooms, occasionally we need to do more than maintenance. Take the time to review what goes into a living room intense cleanup. Find a list of supplies along with step-by-step instructions to do a thorough cleaning in your living room.

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 45 Minutes- 1 hour

Here's How:

Begin with a 15 Minute Living Room Cleanup. This will clear out the clutter and give you room to do the actual intense cleaning in your living room. Don't worry about cleaning the floors in the 15 minute clean up. We will do this later.

Dust down the living room ceiling and corners of walls in.

Determine if the walls need washed in dirty spots. Spot wash, remembering air vents, doorknobs, doors, and switch plates.

Dust and clean all art and photographs along the walls in the living room.

Be careful when cleaning framed art and photographs. Never spray cleanser or water onto the frame. The liquid can seep behind the glass and damage the pictures. Instead lightly wet a clean cloth to wipe the frame and glass.

Dust and clean the ceiling fan in the living room.

There is nothing more embarrassing than turning on a ceiling fan and having large chunks of dust fall down on your guest's head. Use this living room cleaning time to dust down the fan and fan blades. You may need to use a gentle cleanser like Murphy's Oil Soap. Take down any light fixtures and gently wash and dry them before replacing.

Take down draperies, curtains, and blinds to wash or have cleaned according to the manufacturer's directions.

Vacuum and clean windowsills and corners. Wash the insides and outsides of the windows. Take down and rinse off the screens of the living room windows, before replacing.

Dust and clean out the couches and chairs.

Use a vacuum cleaner with attachment to clean out couch crevices. Check to make sure none of your missing items have found their way into the abyss of the couch. Clean slipcovers, accent pillows, etc. in the living room. Use an upholstery attachment on a rug shampoo machine to clean soiled couches and chair surfaces if needed. If a light cleaning is needed use upholstery spot cleaner. Test in a hidden area first.

Dust down and clean all accent lamps and knickknacks in the living room.

Use a vacuum attachment or duster to clean the lampshades, lamps, and any extra decorative items.

Remove books from bookshelves.

Dust down the books and the shelves. If your collection of books is overflowing, it might be time to donate, trash, or sell. Too many books weighing down shelves can give a living room the appearance of being cluttered.

Dust down accent tables and your living room's entertainment center.

Unplug and dust down all the electronics. Check cords for fraying and wear. Dust down the television screen.

Clean the carpets and rugs.

If your carpets and rugs are heavily soiled it may be time to call a professional. You can also rent cleaning machines to use. Be sure to ask for one with an upholstery attachment. If your carpets are only lightly soiled vacuuming and spot treating may be all that is necessary.

Take the time to clean the doormats inside and outside your doorways.

Wipe them down. Dust them off. Whatever needs to happen so that shoes don't transfer the dirt of your mat to your home. Double check that your mats are still in good condition to protect your carpets.

Tips:

Gather all of your supplies together first thing. Trying to sort through the pantry cabinet for your dust cloths might make you frustrated enough to declutter the cabinet. It's easy to forget what your initial goal was.

Partner up with a friend or relative. After you get done intensely cleaning your living room, help her do hers.

Listen to music, an audio book, or a foreign language tape. The time will pass a lot more quickly if you have an enjoyable atmosphere. This is a great time to commandeer the stereo for what you want to listen to. If anyone objects, offer to let them have a turn with the stereo and the cleaning.

What You Need:

1. Dust mop (preferably with a long handle)

2. Step-ladder

3. Cleaning cloths

4. Small bucket with handle

5. Sponges

6. Vacuum with attachment

7. Gentle cleanser

8. Rug shampoo machine with upholstery attachment (optional)

9. Spot remover for upholstery or carpets (optional)

Don't feel lonely on long holidays

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The winter holidays are upon us, and some people will be experiencing the holiday blues.

It is not true that there is a big increase in severe depression and suicides around Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year celebrations. Yet, some people do feel sad as they contemplate their lives now compared with happy times in the past.

Stress, fatigue, and drinking too much alcohol can contribute to the problem. We may miss loved ones who have died more intensely during the holidays, or feel lonely when everyone else around us seems to be celebrating with loved ones.

We may focus more on our pain when the distractions of everyday life disappear during extended periods away from work or school. Holiday activities may not meet the cheerful expectations promulgated in the media.

The best antidote to the holiday blues is planning ahead. Here are a few tips:

Don't over- or under-schedule yourself. People sometimes plan too many or too few activities around this time of year. Rather than be left with idle time that may bring on sad feelings, try to schedule events, performances, social activities, or travel.

Give to those less fortunate. Participating in volunteer activities that brighten the lives of others can sometimes provide the satisfaction we feel is missing from our lives. Soup kitchens, nursing homes, toy distributions, and conservation projects are possibilities. A Yahoo! search of "holiday volunteer" brings up a wide range of options across the United States and abroad.

Write down your and others' ideas. Perhaps readers of this blog will add to this list with their own creative, worthwhile, and satisfying ways to help others and yourself during this time of the year.

Get help if you need it. Despite plans to avoid the holiday blues, some people will experience severe episodes, as they might at other times of the year. Seek help for yourself or for someone else who may be suffering severe depression.

Find out if you have SAD. Some people will experience depression around the holidays as part of a more sustained low mood due to seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Those suffering with SAD may respond well to bright light therapy or antidepressants.

6 ways to find a good looking men

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Pride may be one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but your lover's lack of pride in how he looks can be even deadlier - to your love life, that is.

Sure, dedication, intelligence, and a sense of humor are what really stir the chemistry between you, but that doesn't mean you don't want your partner to feel like they're on top of their game, looks-wise.

After all, a confident partner is a sexually motivated partner, and sometimes an extra dose of sensuality is all a relationship needs to go to the next level. But beware: Goosing your loved one into taking better care of himself can be dicey territory, and even the most polite suggestion that "maybe you need to lose a few pounds" can lead to somebody sleeping on the couch for a week.

The solution? Sneaky partner upgrades, the kind that are good for his or her health, as well as their libido. So if you want to motivate your partner to dress sharper, eat better, and get their butt down to the gym, you need to take a stealth approach. Here's how to save their ego - and perhaps your love life.

Get Him Into The Sack Sooner

He may stay up late watching the game, or surfing the Web, or rearranging sock drawers. If so, lure him into bed earlier - or at least encourage those weekend naps. Sleep lowers levels of stress hormones and benefits the immune system - both helpful for improving appearance.

And a recent Columbia University study shows that people who manage only six hours of shut-eye each night are 23 percent more likely to be overweight than those who sleep for seven to nine hours. Plus, another study showed that those who had trouble falling or staying asleep were significantly more likely to eat fast food the next day.

Invite Him To Join You At The Gym

If his interest in workouts is falling faster than Britney's chances in the "Mom of the Year" awards, then he might be more motivated to stick with it if you stick with him at the gym. Nearly half of men who exercise alone quit their programs after a year, but two-thirds of those who exercise with their partners keep on pumping.

And of course, you know the benefits, and they don't only affect how he'll look in jeans: scientists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered that men who performed three weight workouts a week for six months not only built muscle and lost fat, but also improved their scores on measures of tension, anger, and overall mood. A smile will make anybody look good.

Go Scent Shopping

He may be stuck in the good ol' days of 11th grade cologne, and that makes him about as sophisticated as, well, your 11th grade boyfriend. A man's scent will stick in a woman's memory as much as anything he says or wears, according to a Cornell University study.

And since the nose is connected to the limbic system of the brain, which controls libido, you'll want to be sure that he occasionally splashes on a hint of rose, jasmine, green apple, or ylang-ylang, all of which have been shown to trigger sexual arousal. Or you can simply swap in a new hand soap, and the fragrance upgrade will change his appeal.

Keep A Picture Of Him On Your Desk

Not just to keep a work stalker from hitting on you. The more often you see your partner's face, the better it will look to you. The brain favors familiar faces when choosing a partner, according to a new study from the University of Liverpool, in England. Researchers showed more than 200 men and women photos of faces that had been digitally altered. When asked to rate attractiveness later, people preferred faces similar to those they had seen the most often.

Dress Him Down

Stuck on what to get him for the holidays? Besides the kind of tech stuff every guy loves, like these possible gifts, go for a plain, conservative addition to his closet. Why the conservative look? He'll be more attractive with less advertising on his wear. According to a Men's Health survey of 160 women, the biggest money-related turnoff is a man who's a walking logo.

Help Him Change The Spare Tire

You probably help your guy eat well when you're at home, but here's a scary stat: we consume 17 percent of calories from fast food, and more than 40 percent away from home. Worse yet, we underestimate our calories when we eat out by as much as 93 percent, which would make it easy to gain 15 pounds in a year - without even realizing it.

You might win the battle on the home front, and lose it when you're out and about. The fix? Learn what's good and bad on restaurant menus. Call your partner over to the computer and play this addictive and interactive Eat This/Not That game. Together you can have fun, learn a lot, and be better off the next time you're talking to the clown at the drive-thru.

If your mate stores more information between his ears, I guarantee that he'll be carrying less fat around his waist.

Remember, anybody can lose weight, and nobody is hopeless. Check out these amazing weight-loss stories - they'll inspire both of you to start the year right.

Do you really understand why most men are quite?

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Don't be so shocked - guys do actually talk, and not just about Tom Brady's quarterback rating. Most women think their man is the strong, silent type (or maybe the oblivious, silent type), and they wonder why he doesn't share his feelings.

But here's the truth: Men do want to open up, about their hopes, their fears, and their passions. Yet put him alone in a room with you, and he often turns into a Sphinx. Why can't he take his eyes off the TV and talk about the state of the relationship, or the finances, or, heck, the backyard landscaping? Why in the world can't he just summarize his day for 10 minutes?

In fact, one in five women say that they typically fight about a man's lack of verbal interaction, and 30 percent of men say their failure to communicate is the source of major conflict in the relationship. Why is it this way?

Here's one answer: Because even men who have feelings to share don't always feel comfortable sharing them with their partner. These are some of the reasons why some men often prefer to zip it, rather than delivering the goods:

Guys Are A Little Intimidated

No question, women are expert communicators. They throw questions like Oprah after her third cup of coffee; they're connecting on all cylinders. And like the divine Ms. W, women bring a lot of skill to their game: A special awareness of the people-scape around them, a keen set of emotions keyed to that awareness, and a rich vocabulary they use to talk about anything at anytime.

And they're always practicing their Q&A skills on their many friends, so they're in top talk mode all the time. Men know this. And they also know that more than one-third of women say that men simply can't relate and don't understand women. The result: Men are afraid of saying too much, because saying the wrong thing may get them into more trouble than Lindsay Lohan as a designated driver.

Guys Need To Decompress

Woman's view: When a man walks in the door, he ought to cough up some of the details about his day. After all, it's been 10 hours since they've communicated, not counting the two IMs, three voice mails, and one actual mid-day conversation.

Man's view: Can I please make a beeline to the bathroom? When men reach home, it's like those ultra-marathoners staggering across the finish line in Death Valley. The last thing they want to do is discuss how bright the sunlight was, and how scarce the water stops were.

Further up on his want-to-do list after arriving home: 14 percent of men want to check email, 12 percent are looking for a little private time in the bathroom, and 10 percent simply want to eat dinner. The common theme here: After they've spent a day serving the needs of others, they want to take care of themselves a little.

So when a man is hit with a demand for conversation so closely after returning from the stressful environment of work, he has only one gear left to shift into, and sometimes it's reverse. He's retreat, retreat, retreat.

Guys Are More Comfortable With Actions Than Feelings

Rather than talking about how he "feels," often a man would rather express his love by changing her oil, or bringing home a flower, or relinquishing control of the remote.

And when men do talk, they'd prefer to talk about actions rather than emotions. For instance, a lot of guys would choose to express their long-range faith in a relationship by talking about next summer's vacation plans, not by launching into a soliloquy about undying love.

Both conversations can mean the same thing (that he plans on sticking around); he just prefers to say it with plane tickets, rather than poetry. It's one of the reasons men are more comfortable talking at work (the practical universe) than they are at home (the castle that emotion built). But you can bring out his great communicator by making him feel more like he's operating in work mode, even when the topic at hand is your love life. Here's an incredible article, "The Home Office," that shows how he can use his best office skills for great success at home.

Guys Don't Want To Be Put On The Spot

When men talk less and women want more, the scenario can escalate. Like when the bad cop is pummeling the reluctant witness, more silence equals more questions. A full 65 percent of men we surveyed recently told us they don't want their partners to ask them more questions about themselves.

It's clear that some men are just plain tired of feeling like they're on the witness stand. They're not necessarily hiding anything; many guys simply prefer not to have to relate confusing feelings that they may not even understand themselves.