KNEEDFULL THINGS

Devin The Dude The Dude 1998

2011-03-11T18:06:00.000-05:00

1 "The Dude" Scarface Devin the Dude
2 "Sticky Green" Tone Capone Devin the Dude, Scarface
3 "Don't Wait" Vintage Crate Music Devin the Dude, DMG, Spice 1
4 "Do What You Wanna Do" N.O. Joe Devin the Dude
5 "Mo Fa Me" Domo Devin the Dude
6 "Alright" Domo Devin the Dude, Randy Ran
7 "Bust One for Ya" J.B. Devin the Dude
8 "See What I Can Pull" Devin Devin the Dude
9 "Write & Wrong" Domo Devin the Dude
10 "One Day at a Time" Scarface, Mr. Lee Devin the Dude, K-Dee, K.B.
11 "Boo Boo'n" Domo Devin the Dude
12 "Like a Sweet" Devin, Domo Devin the Dude, Scarface, Jugg Mugg, Killemall, Ant Live
13 "Show Em'" Domo, Daddy Mook Devin the Dude, K.B.
14 "Ligole Bips (Southern Girls)" Domo Devin the Dude, Odd Squad, K.B.
15 "Can't Change Me" Scarface, Mr. Lee Devin the Dude, K-Dee, K.B.
16 "I Can't Quit" N.O. Joe Devin the Dude
17 "Georgy" Tone Capone Devin the Dude, Kuirshan

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Britney Spears - Femme Fatale (iTunes Version) (2011)

2011-03-11T17:57:00.000-05:00

Genre: Pop
Quality: 320 Kbps Avg / 44.1 KHz / Joint Stereo
Size: 104.4 MB

Track List:

01. Till The World Ends
02. Hold It Against Me
03. Inside Out
04. I Wanna Go
05. How I Roll
06. (Drop Dead) Beauitful Featuring Sabi
07. Seal It With A Kiss
08. Big Fat Bass Featuring will.i.am
09. Trouble For Me
10. Trip To Your Hear
11. Gasoline
12. Criminal

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Pastor Troy Still Troy [Grouprip][2011]

2011-03-11T17:54:00.000-05:00

1. From The Top
2. Can You See Me
3. Get Out
4. Im Just Chillin
5. Hundred Thousand (Feat. Mistah Mud And Lil Pete)
6. Can I Holla (Feat. Ralph)
7. Aint Gangsta No Moe
8. Im A Gangsta (Feat. Ralph And Mesha Right)
9. Represent Dat
10. Dirty Atlanta (Feat. Ralph)
11. On A Yacht (Feat. Yung LA And Lace Leno)
12. Keep Ya Head Up (Feat. Eklips Da Hustla)
13. To The Bottom

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X-Clan To the East, Blackwards

2011-03-10T18:33:00.000-05:00

1    "Funkin' Lesson"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
2    "Grand Verbalizer, What Time is It?"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J
3    "Tribal Jam"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
4    "A Day of Outrage—Operation Snatchback"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
5    "Verbal Milk"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
6    "Earth-Bound"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
7    "Shaft's Big Score"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan
8    "Raise the Flag"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
9    "Heed the Word of the Brother"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
10    "Verbs of Power"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X
11    "In the Ways of the Scales"    J. Hunter, L. Carson, A. Hardin, C. Grey    X-Clan    Brother J, Professor X

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WC - Revenge Of The Barracuda

2011-03-10T17:13:00.001-05:00

01. Revenge Of The Barracuda
02. You Know Me Ft. Ice Cube
03. Reality Show
04. What’s Good Ft. Kokane
05. Walking In My Taylors
06. That’s What I’m Talking About
07. Sticking To The Script Ft. Daz, Kurupt, Bad Lucc And Soopafly
08. 100% Legit
09. D Boy
10. Hustla Ft. Juvenile
11. The Spot Ft. Maylay
12. Dub C

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RICK ROSS TEFLON DON

2011-03-10T16:57:00.000-05:00

1.     "I'm Not a Star"       J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League     3:00
2.     "Free Mason" (featuring John Legend & Jay-Z)     The Inkredibles     4:07
3.     "Tears of Joy" (featuring Cee-Lo Green)     No I.D.     5:33
4.     "Maybach Music III" (featuring T.I., Erykah Badu & Jadakiss)     J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League     4:26
5.     "Live Fast, Die Young" (featuring Kanye West)     Kanye West     6:13
6.     "Super High" (featuring Ne-Yo)     DJ Clark Kent & The Remedy for F.A.T.E., LLC     3:46
7.     "No. 1" (featuring Diddy & Trey Songz)     Danja     3:54
8.     "MC Hammer" (featuring Gucci Mane)     Lex Luger     4:59
9.     "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" (featuring Styles P)     Lex Luger     4:10
10.     "Aston Martin Music" (featuring Chrisette Michele & Drake)     J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League     4:30
11.     "All the Money in the World" (featuring Raphael Saadiq)     The Olympicks     4:40

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DJ Whiteowl - Drop That 158

2011-03-10T16:53:00.001-05:00

1.BLACK ROB,DJ DOOWOP & SNAGGAPUSS - LIVE FROM THE STATE BUILDING (HOT !!!!!)
2.MEEK MILL - FREESTYLE
3.L.BLACK - U CAN'T SEE ME (WORLD PREMIERE)
4.BUSTA RHYMES,LABBA & SNOOP DOGG - DRUG OVADOSE (WORLD PREMIERE)
5.VADO & CAM'RON - AY YO MUMA (HOT !!!)
6.JADAKISS, AKON , MURDA MOOK & SHELLY - IM FREAKY
7.50 CENT - THE PAPER
8.EMINEM - THE GREATEST LINE OF ALL TIME
9.EMINEM - FREESTYLE
10.HAVOC - IM BACK - WELCOME HOME PRODIGY
11.STYLES.P & PHAROAH MONCH - THE BLACKHAND SIDE
12.INTERLUDE
13.HAFFA FT CORY GUNZ & SIRE - MURDER HOMICIDE (WORLD PREMIERE)
14.JAKK FROST FT NICO THE BEAST & REEF THE LOST CAUZE - 3 HEADED MONSTER
15.INTERLUDE # 2
16.L.BLACK, DOLLA RISE & TRIZZY - CRACK (WORLD PREMIERE)
17.RICK ROSS & MEEK MILL - THAT WORK
18.VADO - IM NICE
19.VADO & FRED DA GODSON - THE HEADBANGER (COOKIN SOUL REMIX)
20.FABOLOUS,BUSTA RHYMES,FAT JOE & R.KELLY - THE MONEY PT 2
21.CAM'RON - FREESTYLE
22.JR WRITER & HELL RELL - FREESTYLE
23.RON PAUL - G'D UP
24.EMINEM FT OBIE TRICE -EMULATE
25.LIL WAYNE LLOYD - THAT PUSSY
26.THROWBACK OF THE WEEK #4

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CASE HERE MY LOVE

2011-03-10T16:43:00.001-05:00

1.	"Back Again"	1:27
2.	"Foreplay"	4:02
3.	"I'm Ready"	4:36
4.	"Old Fashion Lovin'"	3:12
5.	"Labels"	3:26
6.	"Love 2 Love"	3:28
7.	"Jealousy"	4:06
8.	"Here"	1:22
9.	"Just Leave"	4:05
10.	"My Love"	1:46
11.	"Feels So Long"	4:21
12.	"She's Gone"	1:26
13.	"Labels (Remix)"	3:57

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2011-03-10T16:32:00.000-05:00

01. He'll Never Love You (Like I Do)
02. Love Is Just A Touch Away
03. I Wanna Say I Love You
04. You Are My Lady
05. Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)
06. Sing A Song Of Love
07. Calling
08. Good Morning Heartache

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CAMEOS GREATEST HITS

2011-03-10T16:26:00.000-05:00

1. "Word Up!" – 4:20 - Blackmon, Jenkins
2. "Single Life" – 4:29 - Blackmon, Jenkins
3. "Candy" – 4:25 - Blackmon, Jenkins
4. "She's Strange" – 3:47 - Blackmon, Jenkins
5. "Attack Me With Your Love" – 4:32 - Blackmon, Kendrick
6. "Back and Forth" – 3:51 - Blackmon, Jenkins, Kendrick, Leftenant
7. "You Make Me Work" – 4:44 - Blackmon
8. "I Just Want to Be" – 3:42 - Blackmon, Johnson
9. "Sparkle" – 4:02 - Blackmon, Lockett
10. "Skin I'm In" – 4:35 - Blackmon
11. "Freaky Dancin'" – 4:16 - Blackmon, Jenkins
12. "Keep It Hot" – 4:02 - Blackmon, Lockett

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E-40 Tha Hall Of Game

2011-03-10T01:51:00.000-05:00

   1. "Record Haters"
   2. "Rapper's Ball" (feat. Too Short & K-Ci)
   3. "Growing Up"
   4. "Million Dollar Spot" (feat. 2Pac & B-Legit)
   5. "Mack Minister (Skit)"
   6. "I Wanna Thank You" (feat. Suga-T)
   7. "The Story"
   8. "My Drinking Club" (feat. Young Mugzi & Levitti)
   9. "Ring It" (feat. Spice 1, Keak da Sneak & Harm)
10. "Pimp Talk (Skit)"
11. "Keep Pimpin'" (feat. D-Shot)
12. "I Like What You Do To Me" (feat. B-Legit)
13. "Things'll Never Change" (feat. Bo-Roc)
14. "Circumstances" (feat. Luniz, Cold 187um, Kokane, Celly Cel & T-Pup)
15. "It Is What It Is" (feat. Kaveo)
16. "Smebbin'"

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Mumford And Sons Sigh No More

2011-03-10T01:44:00.000-05:00

Mumford & Sons are an English folk rock band. The band consists of Marcus Mumford (vocals, guitar, drums, mandolin), Ben Lovett (vocals, keyboards, accordion, drums), "Country" Winston Marshall (vocals, banjo, dobro), and Ted Dwane (vocals, string bass, drums, guitar). The band formed in October 2007, rising out of what some in the media labelled the "West London folk scene" with other artists such as Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn and Noah and the Whale.

Mumford & Sons recorded an EP, Love Your Ground, and toured extensively in the UK to expose audiences to their music and build support for an eventual album. Their debut album, Sigh No More, was released in the United Kingdom in October 2009, and February 2010 in the United States. The album peaked at number two on the UK Album Chart and the Billboard 200 in the US.[1][2]

The band gained popularity throughout 2010, performing for larger audiences and making their first network television appearances in the U.S. On 1 December 2010, the band received two Grammy Award nominations, one for Best New Artist and the other for Best Rock Song ("Little Lion Man"). They won the ARIA Music Award for Most Popular International Artist in 2010, and the Brit Award in 2011 for Best British Album.

1.    "Sigh No More"     3:27
2.    "The Cave"     3:37
3.    "Winter Winds"     3:39
4.    "Roll Away Your Stone"     4:23
5.    "White Blank Page"     4:14
6.    "I Gave You All"     4:20
7.    "Little Lion Man"     4:06
8.    "Timshel"     2:53
9.    "Thistle & Weeds"     4:49
10.    "Awake My Soul"     4:15
11.    "Dust Bowl Dance"     4:43
12.    "After the Storm"

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Keith Sweat- Keith Sweat

2011-03-10T01:38:00.000-05:00

1. "Twisted" (featuring Pretty Russ & Kut Klose) (Keith Sweat, Athena Cage, Tabitha Duncan, Eric McCaine, Lavonn Battle) 4:30
   2. "Funky Dope Lovin'" (featuring Gerald Levert, Aaron Hall, and Buddy Banks) (William "Billy Bad" Ward) 4:51
   3. "Yumi" (Sweat, McCaine) 4:21
   4. "Whatever You Want" (Sweat, Fitzgerald Scott) 4:18
   5. "Just A Touch" (featuring Traci Hale) (Steve Arrington, Mark Hicks, Raye Turner, Danny Webster, Starleana Young) 5:03
   6. "Freak With Me" (featuring Pretty Russ, Tizone & Lil' Bud) (Sweat, John Howcott, Donald Parks, Emmanuel Officer) 4:44
   7. "Nature's Rising" (Interlude) (Sweat, Craig Love) 0:55
   8. "Come With Me" (featuring Ronald Isley) (Sweat, Love, Scott) 3:56
   9. "In The Mood" (Sweat, McCaine) 3:45
10. "Show Me The Way" (Interlude) (Sweat, Allen Smith) 2:50
11. "Nobody" (featuring Athena Cage) (Sweat, Scott) 4:24
12. "Chocolate Girl" (Sweat, Alphonso "Doc" Walker) 4:45

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Zapp & Roger All the Greatest Hits

2011-03-10T01:30:00.000-05:00

1. More Bounce to the Ounce – (with Roger Troutman)
2. Be Alright – (with Roger Troutman)
3. I Heard It Through the Grapevine – (with Roger Troutman)
4. So Ruff, So Tuff – (with Roger Troutman)
5. Do It Roger – (with Roger Troutman)
6. Dance Floor – (with Roger Troutman)
7. Doo WA Ditty (Blow That Thing) – (with Roger Troutman)
8. I Can Make You Dance – (with Roger Troutman)
9. Heartbreaker (Part 1, Part 2) – (with Roger Troutman)
10. In the Mix – (with Roger Troutman)
11. Midnight Hour-Live ’93 – (remix, with Roger Troutman)
12. Computer Love – (with Roger Troutman)
13. Night and Day ’93 – (remix, with Roger Troutman)
14. I Want to Be Your Man – (with Roger Troutman)
15. Curiosity ’93 – (remix, with Roger Troutman)
16. Slow and Easy – (with Roger Troutman)
17. Mega Medley: More Bounce To the Ounce

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2011-03-10T01:19:00.000-05:00

1.    "Intro"         Tim "Krazy Figz" Walls    1:35
2.    "I Want You"         J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League    4:35
3.    "The More I Try"             4:21
4.    "Give It to You"         Bryan-Michael Cox    5:07
5.    "I Just Know"         Kuya Productions    4:14
6.    "Me and U" (featuring Ne-Yo)        Jerrol "Boogie" Wizzard, Ryan M. Tedder*, Geno Regist    4:11
7.    "Lucky" (Interlude)            1:54
8.    "Lucky"             3:36
9.    "Let's Get It #"         Tim "Krazy Figz" Walls
10.    "How Could You… Feel My Pain"         LT-mOE    3:27
11.    "Leave U"         Jazze Pha    4:02
12.    "Haven’t Loved Right"             4:07
13.    "Go on Without You (Shirley Murdock cover)"
14.    "I'm Happy"         Tim "Krazy Figz" Walls
15.    "Riley's Interlude"             0:37
16.    "Leroy Jones"             3:42
17.    "Superwoman" (featuring Tameka "Tiny" Cottle)        Proper-T Productions*    3:44
18.    "Fly Above"         Drumma Boy    3:52

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Keith Sweat Make It Last Forever

2011-03-10T01:02:00.000-05:00

1. "Something Just Ain't Right" (Keith Sweat/Teddy Riley) 5:22
2. "Right and A Wrong Way" (Sweat/Riley) 5:17
3. "Tell Me It's Me You Want" (Sweat/Riley) 4:44
4. "I Want Her" (Sweat/Riley) 5:58
5. "Make It Last Forever" (featuring Jacci McGhee) (Sweat/Riley) 4:55
6. "In the Rain" (Tony Hester) 5:42
7. "How Deep Is Your Love" (Sweat/Riley) 4:47
8. "Don't Stop Your Love" (Sweat) 6:12

http://depositfiles.com/en/files/fb62qswpt

2011-03-10T00:47:00.003-05:00

   1. "Intro: Shorty The Pimp"
   2. "In The Trunk"
   3. "I Ain't Nothin' But A Dog"
   4. "Hoes"
   5. "No Love From Oakland"
   6. "I Want To Be Free (That's The Truth)"
   7. "Hoochie" (featuring D'wayne Wiggins)
   8. "Step Daddy"
   9. "It Don't Stop"
10. "So You Want To Be A Gangster"
11. "Something To Ride To" (featuring Ant Banks, Pooh-Man & Goldy)
12. "Extra Dangerous Thanks"

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Photoshop CS5 All-in-One For Dummies (2010) - (Malestrom

2011-03-10T00:37:00.003-05:00

Barbara Obermeier, "Photoshop CS5 All-in-One For Dummies"
For Dummies | 2010-06-08 | ISBN: 0470608218 | 720 pages | PDF

A full-color, value-packed reference for the newest version of Photoshop

Photoshop is the worldâ€™s most popular image editing software, with more than four million users worldwide. Professional photographers, graphic designers, and Web designers as well as photo hobbyists are eager to learn the newest features of the latest version, Photoshop CS5. This complete reference makes it easy, with nine self-contained minibooks covering each aspect of Photoshop.

# Photoshop is the image-editing software preferred by professional photographers and designers around the world; the latest version includes new functionality and enhanced tools
# This full-color guide includes nine self-contained minibooks: Photoshop Fundamentals; Image Essentials; Selections; Painting, Drawing, and Typing; Working with Layers; Channels and Masks; Filters and Distortions; Retouching and Restoration; and Photoshop and Print
# Includes all the basics for beginners as well as how to manage color, modify and transform selections and paths, make corrections with filters, use the liquefy command, prepare graphics for print or the Web, create contact sheets and picture packages, and more

With bonus information on the companion Web site and coverage for both Windows and Mac, Photoshop CS5 All-in-One For Dummies is an all-purpose reference.

http://www.fileserve.com/file/afRgSBY

2011-03-10T00:33:00.002-05:00

1. "Street Life"- 2:08
2. "The Rock Show"- 2:36
3. "Talk It How I Bring It"- 2:13
4. "War 4 Reason"- 4:58
5. "Get in 2 It"- 2:49 (Featuring Mia X)
6. "Ak'n Bad"- 4:29 (Featuring Mystikal, Skull Duggery)
7. "Heart of a Ghetto Boy"- 5:38
8. "Trip to London"- 2:13 (Featuring Kage, O'Dell )
9. "The Truth Is"- 3:20
10. "Been Thru It All"- 2:44 (Featuring Magic)
11. "Mr. Whomp Whomp"- 2:42
12. "I Was Placed Here"- 2:33 (Featuring Holloway)
13. "I'm Losing My Mind"- 2:31
14. "They Don't Hear Me"- 2:25
15. "If They Don't Know"- :49
16. "Walk That Line"- 5:16
17. "Waiting on God"- 4:49

http://www.fileserve.com/file/9P853jY

Tank Now Or Never[2010]

2011-03-10T00:28:00.003-05:00

1. "Showtime" (Intro) Song Dynasty 1:31
2. "Sex Music" Song Dynasty, Harvey Mason, Jr. 3:41
3. "Celebration" (featuring Drake) Stereotypes 4:13
4. "Emergency" (Intro) Song Dynasty 0:47
5. "Emergency" Song Dynasty 4:15
6. "Scream" Jim Jonsin, Rico Love 4:03
7. "Keep It 100" Song Dynasty 4:15
8. "Foreplay" (featuring Chris Brown) Kevin Barnes & Chris Brown 4:03
9. "Can I" (Intro) Daniel Christopher El/Song Dynasty 1:33
10. "Can I" Daniel Christopher El/Song Dynasty 3:35
11. "Amazing" Aaron Sledge & Brandon Hodge 4:01
12. "You Mean That Much" Song Dynasty, Steve Russell & Harvey Mason Jr. 3:40
13. "I Can't Make You Love Me" Michael Barry Reid & James Allen Shamlin 3:56

http://www.fileserve.com/file/C96SMtJ

Tyrese 2000 Watts

2011-03-10T00:20:00.002-05:00

1. "I Like Them Girls"
2. "I Ain't the One"
3. "Just a Baby Boy" (featuring Snoop Dogg & Mr. Tan)
4. "Make Up Your Mind"
5. "There for Me (Baby)"
6. "Interlude: Lord You Control Me"
7. "I'm Sorry"
8. "What Am I Gonna Do"
9. "Fling"
10. "Off The Heezy" (featuring Jermaine Dupri)
11. "Get Up On It" (featuring Solè)
12. "Housekeepin'"
13. "Interlude: I Wrote A Song About It"
14. "For Always"
15. "Bring You Back My Way"

http://www.fileserve.com/file/K3K2Tak

Marsha Ambrosius - Late Nights And Early Mornings [Explicit][Retail][2011][GroupRip]

2011-03-10T00:16:00.002-05:00




01.  Anticipation (Intro) (Produced By Marsha Ambrosius)          1:28
02.  With You (Produced By Marsha Ambrosius)                      5:09
03.  Late Nights And Early Mornings (Produced By Richard Harris)  3:27
04.  Hope She Cheats On You (With A Basketball Player) (Produced  4:03
    By Marsha Ambrosius)
05.  Far Away (Produced By Just Blaze)                            7:16
06.  Lose Myself (Produced By Canei Finch)                        5:03
07.  Your Hands (Produced By Andre Harris And Vidal Davis)        3:29
08.  I Want You To Stay (Produced By Marsha Ambrosius)            3:49
09.  Sour Times (Produced By Marsha Ambrosius)                    3:20
10.  Tears (Produced By Focus)                                    2:57
11.  Chasing Clouds (Produced By Syience)                         3:45
12.  The Break Up Song (Produced By Marsha Ambrosius)             3:28
13.  Butterflies (Produced By Marsha Ambrosius And Canei Finch)   4:11

http://www.fileserve.com/file/5wBzEst

Young Jeezy Hustlenomics

2011-03-10T00:08:00.002-05:00

1. (00:04:09) Young Jeezy - Go Dumb
2. (00:03:32) Young Jeezy - Kitchen feat. Tity Boi & Pusha T
3. (00:02:32) Young Jeezy - Can't Leave The Streets Alone
4. (00:03:56) Young Jeezy - I Mean It
5. (00:02:55) Young Jeezy - Count It Up
6. (00:02:11) Young Jeezy - Go Out On The Town
7. (00:01:05) Young Jeezy - My House
8. (00:04:01) Young Jeezy - Welcome To My Hood
9. (00:04:00) Young Jeezy - Look At The Club
10. (00:03:11) Young Jeezy - Where The Panties At
11. (00:05:37) Young Jeezy - Start It Up
12. (00:05:29) Young Jeezy - Hustle Hard
13. (00:03:23) Young Jeezy - Meet Me In The Tunnel
14. (00:03:48) Young Jeezy - The Lick
15. (00:03:30) Young Jeezy - CTE Or Nothin'
16. (00:04:00) Young Jeezy - Turned Out
17. (00:03:59) Young Jeezy - Zoning
18. (00:04:58) Young Jeezy - Lay It Down (Remix)

http://depositfiles.com/files/crk8vro81

Marques Houston Mattress Music[Us Itunes Version]

2011-03-10T00:02:00.002-05:00

1. "Mattress Music" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 4:18
2. "Pullin' on Her Hair" (featuring Rick Ross) Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 3:44
3. "Kickin' & Screamin'" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 3:36
4. "Mess" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 3:17
5. "Noize" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 4:38
6. "Swag Sex" (featuring Soulja Boy Tell 'Em) Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 3:24
7. "He Ain't Me" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 4:01
8. "High Notes" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 3:42
9. "Ghetto Angel" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 3:33
10. "Explosion" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes 4:07
11. "Waterfall" Eric Cire, Marques Houston, Chris Stokes, Omarion

http://depositfiles.com/files/pmnv919bf

Freeway Philadelphia Freeway

2011-03-09T23:43:00.003-05:00

1. "Free" (Produced by Just Blaze)
2. "What We Do" (feat. Jay-Z & Beanie Sigel), (Produced by Just Blaze)
3. "All My Life" (feat. Nate Dogg) (Produced by Bink!)
4. "Flipside" (feat. Peedi Crakk) (Produced by Just Blaze)
5. "On My Own" (feat. Nelly) (Produced by Just Blaze)
6. "We Get Around" (feat. Snoop Dogg) (Produced by Just Blaze)
7. "Don't Cross The Line" (feat. Faith Evans) (Produced by Just Blaze)
8. "Life" (feat. Beanie Sigel) (Produced by Ruggedness)
9. "Full Effect" (feat. Young Gunz) (Produced by Just Blaze)
10. "Turn Out the Lights (Freewest)" (feat. Kanye West) (Produced by Kanye West)
11. "Victim of the Ghetto" (feat. Rell) (Produced by Bink!)
12. "You Don't Know (In the Ghetto)" (feat. Omillio Sparks) (Produced by Black Key)
13. "Alright" (feat. Allen Anthony) (Produced by Just Blaze)
14. "Hear The Song" (Produced by Kanye West)
15. "You Got Me" (Bonus Track) (feat. Jay-Z & Mariah Carey) (Produced by Just Blaze)
16. "Line 'Em Up" (Bonus Track) (feat. Young Chris) (Produced by Just Blaze)

http://depositfiles.com/files/zxcy22yb9

Chris_Brown- F.A.M.E-2011 (Deluxe Edition) + iTunes Bonus

2011-03-09T23:11:00.002-05:00

Chris Brown - F.A.M.E. (Deluxe Edition)

   ARTiST.......: Chris Brown
  TiTLE........: F.A.M.E. (Deluxe Edition)
 GENRE........: R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop
LABEL........: Jive
RELDATE......: Mar-08-2011
QUALiTY......: 320  /  44.1Hz  /  Joint-Stereo
SiZE.........: 169,7 MB

     Tracks:

     01 Deuces (Feat. Tyga and Kevin McCall)                           04:35
     02 Up 2 You                                                       04:08
     03 No Bullshit                                                    04:07
     04 Look at Me Now (Feat. Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes)              03:48
     05 She Ain't You                                                  04:08
     06 Say It With Me                                                 03:02
     07 Yeah 3x                                                        04:01
     08 Next 2 You (Feat. Justin Bieber)                               04:30
     09 All Back                                                       04:26
     10 Wet the Bed (Feat. Ludacris)                                   04:26
     11 Oh My Love                                                     04:45
     12 Should've Kissed You                                           04:24
     13 Beautiful People (Feat. Benny Benassi)                         05:16
     14 Bomb (Feat. Wiz Khalifa)                                       03:33
     15 Love The Girls (Feat. Game)                                    03:12
     16 Rock, Paper, Scissors (Feat. Big Sean & Timbaland)             03:53
     17 Beg For It                                                     03:44
     18 Champion (Feat. Chipmunk) (Itunes Bonus Track)                 04:02
                                                                       ─────
                                                                       74:00 min

http://depositfiles.com/files/9iobut6hr

Big Mike Ruler Season 2K11: Barbie Proof (Hosted By Lil Kim)

2011-03-09T23:04:00.002-05:00

Tracklist:
01. Big Mike And Lil Kim-Intro
02. Lil Kim-Ether
03. Lil Kim-Shitted On Em
04. Jadakiss-Times Change
05. Jadakiss-Remember That
06. Camron feat. Vado-Hey Mooma
07. 50 Cent-Get Gully
08. Tony Yayo-Clips Up
09. Lil Kim-Skit Pt. 1
10. Lil Kim feat. IRS-Clap Clap
11. Lil Kim-Skit Pt. 2
12. Eminem-I Get Money The Lost Verse
13. Lil Kim Presents IRS-Freestyle
14. Raekown feat. Nas-Rick And Black
15. Lloyd feat. Lil Wayne-I Miss That Pussy
16. Kelly Rowland feat. Lil Wayne-Motivation
17. Wiz Khalifa feat. Snoop Dogg-Young Wild And Free
18. Gucci Mane-24 Hours
19. Meek Mill-Im Not A Star
20. Conn Artists feat. Cassidy-Got Em Like
21. Eminem feat. Slaughterhouse-2.0 Boyz
22. Raekown feat. Rick Ross And Ghostface Killah-Molasses
23. Kanye West-Bonus Track

http://depositfiles.com/files/rcyarf21f

Pete Rock & CL Smooth Mecca And The Soul Brother

2011-03-09T22:55:00.003-05:00

Tracklist:

Return Of The Mecca
For Pete's Sake
Ghettos Of The Mind
Lots Of Lovin
Act Like You Know
Straighten It Out
Soul Brother #1
Wig Out
Anger In The Nation
They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
On And On
It's Like That
Can't Front On Me
The Basement
If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right
Skinz

http://depositfiles.com/files/id6aa2owh

MAXWELL

2009-07-14T16:56:00.003-04:00

BLACKsummers'night, the heavily-anticipated new studio album from the ground breaking modern soul artist, Maxwell, is the first full-length release since Now, his critically-acclaimed third studio album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in August 2001. BLACKsummers'night is the sensuous opening installment of the artist's monumental BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT trilogy. The trilogy's subsequent chapters, blackSUMMERS'night and blacksummers'NIGHT, are slated for release in 2010 and 2011 respectively. The new album reunites Maxwell with long-time collaborator Hod David, who serves as co-producer and co-writer of the album. Striving for an emotional authenticity and real world sound for the album, Maxwell and Hod recorded the entire album live in the studio with an A-list ensemble of elegantly sympathetic musicians.

1 - Bad Habits
2 - Cold
3 - Pretty Wings - 1st Single
4 - Help Somebody
5 - Stop The World
6 - Love You
7 - Fistful of Tears
8 - Playing Possum
9 - Pheonix Rise

DOWNLOAD

rakim prepares for new album -The Seventh Seal

2009-07-14T16:46:00.003-04:00

LOS ANGELES (Billboard) - "The Seventh Seal," the long-anticipated album by rap legend Rakim, is slated for release in the fall.

The rapper -- best known as half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim -- signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001. Featured on the 2002 top 10 R&B single "Addictive" by Aftermath labelmate Truth Hurts, Rakim later parted ways with Dre and Aftermath, and his album was never released. Rakim has not released a new studio album save for 2008's mostly live set, "The Archive: Live, Lost & Found," which included four previously unreleased songs.

The new album is being released on Rakim's Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment. Its first single, "Holy Are You," will hit shelves July 28.

The rapper tells Billboard the new album is fueled by "consciousness and spirituality."

Billboard: What's the story behind the title, "The Seventh Seal?"

Rakim: The seals are from the Bible -- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: All have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to re-create the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.

When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.

Billboard: Does this album contain any material from the unreleased album you did with Dr. Dre, or is it all new music?

Rakim: No, that's locked down in the lab for now. This is me live from New York City, everything brand new.

Billboard: Who produced the album? Are there any guest features?

Rakim: I'm going to keep that cat in the bag for one more minute. But you'll see names you know and names you don't recognize yet but will after this drops. We've got our New York dudes on there, but we reached out to everybody. We have some features too; special cats in the right places but not everywhere.

Billboard: Are you concerned at all about reaching the new generation of hip-hop fans who aren't necessarily familiar with your music?

Rakim: I don't accept that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we've always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. The ladies want something that makes them feel sexy and loved. And everyone wants something that makes them think a little bit -- at least sometimes. Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I've always been able to bring that.

Billboard: Is there a chance that you and Dr. Dre may work together again in the future?

Rakim: No doubt, if the project and the timing are right. He's got his thing going on and I got mine. But I know our camps will look for ways to mix things up. PREORDER THE 7TH SEAL

Nas Responds To Kelis Allegations In Divorce Case

2009-07-14T16:31:00.001-04:00

As his less-than-amicable divorce from singer Kelis rages on, rapper Nas has disclosed his earnings and expenses to support the fact that his financial state is not quite what his estranged wife believes it is. According to TMZ, the Queensbridge native reports that while Kelis’ divorce petition indicated that he had received $11 million for his deal with Def Jam in 2006, he in fact only received close to $4 million.

Since then, he says, his monthly income has decreased to $147, 165.

Nas’ monthly expenses, on the other hand, currently total $71, 371.96, including $10,000 on his personal grooming alone, clothing and toiletries included.

Almost a month ago, Kelis made a similar disclosure, telling the courts that since her separation from Nas in November of last year, her average monthly income had decreased to $21, 616, almost $60,000 less than her projected expenses, once she gives birth to the child she is expecting with her ex.

The “Milkshake” songbird requested that a judge order Nas to pay all pregnancy-related expenses, half of all medical expenses after the baby is born, child support, and spousal support to maintain the life she lead while married.

“My survival is based on [his] will at this time,” Kelis said. “If he does not want to pay for an expense, it does not get paid.”

Though Kelis claims Nas has not offered any support since their separation, Nas told the judge that has agreed to pay $350 for a stroller, $450 for a baby sling, and $1,598 for two cribs.

He also indicated that he’d be willing to pay $5,000 a month in child support, which he called a “reasonable amount.”

He went on to say that he wants to be “fully involved” with raising his second child.

Nas has a 12-year-old daughter with ex-fiancée Carmen Bryan.

F.L.Y

2009-07-12T22:48:00.003-04:00

JAMBOREE

   1.  Jamboree                                                           2:35
 2.  Bands                                                              4:06
 3.  Swag Surfin'                                                       4:09
 4.  Party Time (Feat. Band Geakz)                                      4:57
 5.  Mr. Lenox (Feat. Young Dro)                                        5:31
 6.  Gotta Be                                                           4:28
 7.  Across The Globe (Feat. Sammie)                                    3:38
 8.  Mounted Up                                                         4:39
 9.  Prada Walkin' (Feat. Band Geakz)                                   3:04
 10. Sauced Up                                                          3:28
 11. Better Days (Feat. Dear Jayne)                                     5:45
 12. Stop Hatin 09

http://5fa462a9.seriousurls.com

BOBBY VALENTINO

2009-07-12T15:10:00.007-04:00

BOBBY VALENTINO

1 - Some Bobby
2 - Slow Down
3 - Give Me A Chance
4 - Never Lonely
5 - Mista Valentino (Interlude)
6 - Tell Me
7 - My Angel (Never Leave You)
8 - Want You To Know Me
9 - Gangsta Love
10 - Come Touch Me
11 - I'll Forgive You
12 - Love Dream
13 - Lights Down Low
14 - One Girl To Love
15 - Thank You Lord (Outro)
16 - Slow Down

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SPECIAL OCCASION

1 - INTRO
2 - ANONYMOUS FT. TIMBALAND
3 - CHECKIN' FOR ME
4 - SPECIAL OCCASION INTERLUDE
5 - REARVIEW (RIDIN') FT. LUDACRIS
6 - IF I HAD MY WAY
7 - HOW 'BOUT IT
8 - TURN THE PAGE
9 - HOME IS WHERE YOU BELONG
10 - LET HIM GO FT. FABOLOUS
11 - ONY HUMAN
12 - CAN'T WAIT 'TIL LATER
13 - I WAS WRONG
14 - SOON AS I GET HOME
15 - OVER & OVER
16 - RIGHT THERE (THANK YOU)

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LIGHTS CAMERA & R&B

Shake It Up
Your Smile (feat. Lil Wayne)
Knock Knock
Bobby V Speaks
80 on the Freeway
You (Willie the Kid feat. Bobby V)
One Chance (feat. Trey Songz & Lloyd)
Bobby V Speaks
Beep Remix (feat. Lil Wayne & Maino)
Butterfly Tattoo
Hands On Me
If I Had My Way
Poppin (Yung Joc feat. Bobby V)
Feels So Good
Mrs. Officer (Lil Wayne feat. Bobby V)
Sexy Girl

http://7bce81d7.linkbucks.com

THE REBIRTH

1 - The Rebirth featuring Dottie Peoples
2 - Make You The Only One
3 - Hands On Me
4 - My Girl
5 - Butterfly Tattoo
6 - Just Me ; You featuring Raphael Saadiq
7 - Beep featuring Yung Joc
8 - 3 is the New 2
9 - You're Not Alone
10 - Be My Love
11 - Dance The Night Away (Interlude)
12 - On The Edge
13 - Make You Say
14 - Stay With Me
15 - Another Life
16 - Give Me Your Heart

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DID MIKE KNOW HE WAS GONNA DIE

2009-06-30T18:02:00.001-04:00

...before his death.

* Genetic condition had ruined his lungs and left him unable to sing
* He became so skeletal, doctors believed he was anorexic
* He had nightmares about being murdered – and wanted to die
* He used swine flu as an excuse to avoid coming to England
* He thought he was agreeing to 10 concerts – it was 50

Whatever the final autopsy results reveal, it was greed that killed Michael Jackson. Had he not been driven – by a cabal of bankers, agents, doctors and advisers – to commit to the gruelling 50 concerts in London’s O2 Arena, I believe he would still be alive today.

During the last weeks and months of his life, Jackson made desperate attempts to prepare for the concert series scheduled for next month – a series that would have earned millions for the singer and his entourage, but which he could never have completed, not mentally, and not physically.

Michael knew it and his advisers knew it. Anyone who caught even a fleeting glimpse of the frail old man hiding beneath the costumes and cosmetics would have understood that the London tour was madness. For Michael Jackson, it was fatal.

I had more than a glimpse of the real Michael; as an award-winning freelance journalist and film-maker, I spent more than five years inside his ‘camp’.

Many in his entourage spoke frankly to me – and that made it possible for me to write authoritatively last December that Michael had six months to live, a claim that, at the time, his official spokesman, Dr Tohme Tohme, called a ‘complete fabrication’. The singer, he told the world, was in ‘fine health’. Six months and one day later, Jackson was dead.

Some liked to snigger at his public image, and it is true that flamboyant clothes and bizarre make-up made for a comic grotesque; yet without them, his appearance was distressing; with skin blemishes, thinning hair and discoloured fingernails.

I had established beyond doubt, for example, that Jackson relied on an extensive collection of wigs to hide his greying hair. Shorn of their luxuriance, the Peter Pan of Neverland cut a skeletal figure.

It was clear that he was in no condition to do a single concert, let alone 50. He could no longer sing, for a start. On some days he could barely talk. He could no longer dance. Disaster was looming in London and, in the opinion of his closest confidantes, he was feeling suicidal.

To understand why a singer of Jackson’s fragility would even think about travelling to London, we need to go back to June 13, 2005, when my involvement in his story began.

As a breaking news alert flashed on CNN announcing that the jury had reached a verdict in Jackson’s trial for allegedly molesting 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo at his Neverland Ranch in California, I knew that history had been made but that Michael Jackson had been broken – irrevocably so, as it proved.

Nor was it the first time that Michael had been accused of impropriety with young boys. Little more than a decade earlier, another 13-year-old, Jordan Chandler, made similar accusations in a case that was eventually settled before trial – but not before the damage had been done to Jackson’s reputation.

Michael had not helped his case. Appearing in a documentary with British broadcaster Martin Bashir, he not only admitted that he liked to share a bed with teenagers, mainly boys, in pyjamas, but showed no sign of understanding why anyone might be legitimately concerned.

I had started my investigation convinced that Jackson was guilty. By the end, I no longer believed that.

I could not find a single shred of evidence suggesting that Jackson had molested a child. But I found significant evidence demonstrating that most, if not all, of his accusers lacked credibility and were motivated primarily by money.

Jackson also deserved much of the blame, of course. Continuing to share a bed with children even after the suspicions surfaced bordered on criminal stupidity.

He was also playing a truly dangerous game. It is clear to me that Michael was homosexual and that his taste was for young men, albeit not as young as Jordan Chandler or Gavin Arvizo.

In the course of my investigations, I spoke to two of his gay lovers, one a Hollywood waiter, the other an aspiring actor. The waiter had remained friends, perhaps more, with the singer until his death last week. He had served Jackson at a restaurant, Jackson made his interest plain and the two slept together the following night. According to the waiter, Jackson fell in love.

The actor, who has been given solid but uninspiring film parts, saw Jackson in the middle of 2007. He told me they had spent nearly every night together during their affair – an easy claim to make, you might think. But this lover produced corroboration in the form of photographs of the two of them together, and a witness.

Other witnesses speak of strings of young men visiting his house at all hours, even in the period of his decline. Some stayed overnight.

When Jackson lived in Las Vegas, one of his closest aides told how he would sneak off to a ‘grungy, rat-infested’ motel – often dressed as a woman to disguise his identity – to meet a male construction worker he had fallen in love with.

Jackson was acquitted in the Arvizo case, dramatically so, but the effect on his mental state was ruinous. Sources close to him suggest he was close to complete nervous breakdown.

The ordeal had left him physically shattered, too. One of my sources suggested that he might already have had a genetic condition I had never previously come across, called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency – the lack of a protein that can help protect the lungs.

Although up to 100,000 Americans are severely affected by it, it is an under-recognised condition. Michael was receiving regular injections of Alpha-1 antitrypsin derived from human plasma. The treatment is said to be remarkably effective and can enable the sufferer to lead a normal life.

But the disease can cause respiratory problems and, in severe cases, emphysema. Could this be why Jackson had for years been wearing a surgical mask in public, to protect his lungs from the ravages of the disease? Or why, from time to time, he resorted to a wheelchair? When I returned to my source inside the Jackson camp for confirmation, he said: ‘Yeah, that’s what he’s got. He’s in bad shape. They’re worried that he might need a lung transplant but he may be too weak.

‘Some days he can hardly see and he’s having a lot of trouble walking.’

Even Michael Jackson’s legendary wealth was in sharp decline. Just a few days before he announced his 50-concert comeback at the O2 Arena, one of my sources told me Jackson had been offered £1.8million to perform at a party for a Russian billionaire on the Black Sea.

‘Is he up to it?’ I had asked.

‘He has no choice. He needs the money. His people are pushing him hard,’ said the source.

Could he even stand on a stage for an hour concert?

‘He can stand. The treatments have been successful. He can even dance once he gets in better shape. He just can’t sing,’ said the aide, adding that Jackson would have to lip-synch to get through the performance. ‘Nobody will care, as long as he shows up and moonwalks.’

He also revealed Jackson had been offered well over £60million to play Las Vegas for six months. ‘He said no, but his people are trying to force it on him. He’s that close to losing everything,’ said the source.

Indeed, by all accounts Jackson’s finances were in a shambles. The Arvizo trial itself was a relative bargain, costing a little more than £18million in legal bills.

But the damage to his career, already in trouble before the charges, was incalculable. After the Arvizo trial, a Bahraini sheikh allowed Jackson to stay in his palace, underwriting his lavish lifestyle. But a few years later, the prince sued his former guest, demanding repayment for his hospitality. Jackson claimed he thought it had been a gift.

Roger Friedman, a TV journalist, said: ‘For one year, the prince underwrote Jackson’s life in Bahrain – everything including accommodation, guests, security and transportation. And what did Jackson do? He left for Japan and then Ireland. He took the money and moonwalked right out the door. This is the real Michael Jackson. He has never returned a phone call from the prince since he left Bahrain.’

Although Jackson settled with the sheikh on the eve of the trial that would have aired his financial dirty laundry, the settlement only put him that much deeper into the hole. A hole that kept getting bigger, but that was guaranteed by Jackson’s half ownership of the copyrights to The Beatles catalogue. He owned them in a joint venture with record company Sony, which have kept him from bankruptcy.

‘Jackson is in hock to Sony for hundreds of millions,’ a source told me a couple of months ago. ‘No bank will give him any money so Sony have been paying his bills.

‘The trouble is that he hasn’t been meeting his obligations. Sony have been in a position for more than a year where it can repossess Michael’s share of the [Beatles] catalogue. That’s always been Sony’s dream scenario, full ownership.

‘But they don’t want to do it as they’re afraid of a backlash from his fans. Their nightmare is an organised 'boycott Sony' movement worldwide, which could prove hugely costly. It is the only thing standing between Michael and bankruptcy.’

The source aid at the time that the scheduled London concerts wouldn’t clear Jackson’s debts – estimated at almost £242million – but they would allow him to get them under control and get him out of default with Sony.

According to two sources in Jackson’s camp, the singer put in place a contingency plan to ensure his children would be well taken care of in the event of bankruptcy.

‘He has as many as 200 unpublished songs that he is planning to leave behind for his children when he dies. They can’t be touched by the creditors, but they could be worth as much as £60million that will ensure his kids a comfortable existence no matter what happens,’ one of his collaborators revealed.

But for the circle of handlers who surrounded Jackson during his final years, their golden goose could not be allowed to run dry. Bankruptcy was not an option.

These, after all, were not the handlers who had seen him through the aftermath of the Arvizo trial and who had been protecting his fragile emotional health to the best of their ability. They were gone, and a new set of advisers was in place.

The clearout had apparently been engineered by his children’s nanny, Grace Rwaramba, who was gaining considerable influence over Jackson and his affairs and has been described as the ‘queen bee’ by those around Jackson.

Rwaramba had ties to the black militant organisation, the Nation of Islam, and its controversial leader, Louis Farrakhan, whom she enlisted for help in running Jackson’s affairs.

Before long, the Nation was supplying Jackson’s security detail and Farrakhan’s son-in-law, Leonard Muhammad, was appointed as Jackson’s business manager, though his role has lessened significantly in recent years.

In late 2008, a shadowy figure who called himself Dr Tohme Tohme suddenly emerged as Jackson’s ‘official spokesman’.

Tohme has been alternately described as a Saudi Arabian billionaire and an orthopaedic surgeon, but he is actually a Lebanese businessman who does not have a medical licence. At one point, Tohme claimed he was an ambassador at large for Senegal, but the Senegalese embassy said they had never heard of him.

Tohme’s own ties to the Nation of Islam came to light in March 2009, when New York auctioneer Darren Julien was conducting an auction of Michael Jackson memorabilia.

Julien filed an affidavit in Los Angeles Superior Court that month in which he described a meeting he had with Tohme’s business partner, James R. Weller. According to Julien’s account, ‘Weller said if we refused to postpone [the auction], we would be in danger from 'Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam; those people are very protective of Michael'.

He told us that Dr Tohme and Michael Jackson wanted to give the message to us that 'our lives are at stake and there will be bloodshed'.’

A month after these alleged threats, Tohme accompanied Jackson to a meeting at a Las Vegas hotel with Randy Phillips, chief executive of the AEG Group, to finalise plans for Jackson’s return to the concert stage.

Jackson’s handlers had twice before said no to Phillips. This time, with Tohme acting as his confidant, Jackson left the room agreeing to perform ten concerts at the O2.

Before long, however, ten concerts had turned into 50 and the potential revenues had skyrocketed. ‘The vultures who were pulling his strings somehow managed to put this concert extravaganza together behind his back, then presented it to him as a fait accompli,’ said one aide.

‘The money was just unbelievable and all his financial people were telling him he was facing bankruptcy. But Michael still resisted. He didn’t think he could pull it off.’

Eventually, they wore him down, the aide explained, but not with the money argument.

‘They told him that this would be the greatest comeback the world had ever known. That’s what convinced him. He thought if he could emerge triumphantly from the success of these concerts, he could be the King again.’

The financial details of the O2 concerts are still murky, though various sources have revealed that Jackson was paid as much as £10million in advance, most of which went to the middlemen. But Jackson could have received as much as £100million had the concerts gone ahead.

It is worth noting that the O2 Arena has the most sophisticated lip synching technology in the world – a particular attraction for a singer who can no longer sing. Had, by some miracle, the concerts gone ahead, Jackson’s personal contribution could have been limited to just 13 minutes for each performance. The rest was to have been choreography and lights.

‘We knew it was a disaster waiting to happen,’ said one aide. ‘I don’t think anybody predicted it would actually kill him but nobody believed he would end up performing.’

Their doubts were underscored when Jackson collapsed during only his second rehearsal.

‘Collapse might be overstating it,’ said the aide. ‘He needed medical attention and couldn’t go on. I’m not sure what caused it.’

Meanwhile, everybody around him noticed that Jackson had lost an astonishing amount of weight in recent months. His medical team even believed he was anorexic.

‘He goes days at a time hardly eating a thing and at one point his doctor was asking people if he had been throwing up after meals,’ one staff member told me in May.

‘He suspected bulimia but when we said he hardly eats any meals, the doc thought it was probably anorexia. He seemed alarmed and at one point said, 'People die from that all the time. You’ve got to get him to eat.'’

Indeed, one known consequence of anorexia is cardiac arrest.

After spotting him leave one rehearsal, Fox News reported that ‘Michael Jackson’s skeletal physique is so bad that he might not be able to moonwalk any more’.

On May 20 this year, AEG suddenly announced that the first London shows had been delayed for five days while the remainder had been pushed back until March 2010. At the time, they denied that the postponements were health-related, explaining that they needed more time to mount the technically complex production, though scepticism immediately erupted. It was well placed.

Behind the scenes, Jackson was in rapid decline. According to a member of his staff, he was ‘terrified’ at the prospect of the London concerts.

‘He wasn’t eating, he wasn’t sleeping and, when he did sleep, he had nightmares that he was going to be murdered. He was deeply worried that he was going to disappoint his fans. He even said something that made me briefly think he was suicidal. He said he thought he’d die before doing the London concerts.

‘He said he was worried that he was going to end up like Elvis. He was always comparing himself to Elvis, but there was something in his tone that made me think that he wanted to die, he was tired of life. He gave up. His voice and dance moves weren’t there any more. I think maybe he wanted to die rather than embarrass himself on stage.’

The most obvious comparison between the King of Pop and the King of Rock ’n’ Roll was their prescription drug habits, which in Jackson’s case had significantly intensified in his final months.

‘He is surrounded by enablers,’ said one aide. ‘We should be stopping him before he kills himself, but we just sit by and watch him medicate himself into oblivion.’

Jackson could count on an array of doctors to write him prescriptions without asking too many questions if he complained of ‘pain’. He was particularly fond of OxyContin, nicknamed ‘Hillbilly heroin’, which gave an instant high, although he did not take it on a daily basis.

According to the aide, painkillers are not the only drugs Jackson took.

‘He pops Demerol and morphine, sure, apparently going back to the time in 1984 when he burned himself during the Pepsi commercial, but there’s also some kind of psychiatric medication. One of his brothers once told me he was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was younger, so it may be to treat that.’

His aides weren’t the only ones who recognised that a 50-concert run was foolhardy. In May, Jackson himself reportedly addressed fans as he left his Burbank rehearsal studio.

‘Thank you for your love and support,’ he told them. ‘I want you guys to know I love you very much.

'I don’t know how I’m going to do 50 shows. I’m not a big eater. I need to put some weight on. I’m really angry with them booking me up to do 50 shows. I only wanted to do ten.’

One of his former employees was particularly struck by Jackson’s wording that day. ‘The way he was talking, it’s like he’s not in control over his own life any more,’ she told me earlier this month. ‘It sounds like somebody else is pulling his strings and telling him what to do. Someone wants him dead.

'They keep feeding him pills like candy. They are trying to push him over the edge. He needs serious help. The people around him will kill him.’

As the London concerts approached, something was clearly wrong. Jackson had vowed to travel to England at least eight weeks before his first shows, but he kept putting it off.

‘To be honest, I never thought Michael would set foot on a concert stage ever again,’ said one aide, choking back tears on the evening of his death.

‘This was not only predictable, this was inevitable.’

On June 21, Jackson told my contact that he wanted to die. He said that he didn’t have what it would take to perform any more because he had lost his voice and dance moves.

‘It’s not working out,’ Jackson said. ‘I’m better off dead. I don’t have anywhere left to turn. I’m done.’

Michael’s closest confidante told me just two hours after he died that ‘Michael was tired of living. He was a complete wreck for years and now he can finally be in a better place. People around him fed him drugs to keep him on their side. They should be held accountable.’

Michael Jackson was undoubtedly a deeply troubled and lonely man. Throughout my investigation, I was torn between compassion and anger, sorrow and empathy.

Even his legacy is problematic. As I have already revealed, he has bequeathed up to 200 original songs to his three children, Prince Michael, aged 12, Paris Katherine, 11, and Prince Michael II (also known as Blanket), seven. It is a wonderful gift.

Yet I can reveal that his will, not as yet made public, demands that the three of them remain with Jackson’s 79-year-old mother Katherine in California. It promises an ugly row.

Ex-wife Deborah Rowe, the mother of the eldest two, has already made it clear to her legal team that she wants her children in her custody, immediately.

The mother of the third child has never been identified. I fully expect that it will emerge that the children had a ‘test tube’ conception, a claim already made by Deborah Rowe.

Michael Jackson may very well have been the most talented performer of his generation, but for 15 years that fact has been lost to a generation who may remember him only as a grotesque caricature who liked to share his bed with little boys. Now that he’s gone, maybe it’s time to shelve the suspicions and appreciate the music.

R.I.P MICHAEL JACKSON

2009-06-25T22:28:00.003-04:00

Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the “King of Pop” and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50.

Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

The circumstances of Jackson’s death were not immediately clear. Jackson was not breathing when Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics responded to a call at his Los Angeles home about 12:30 p.m., Capt. Steve Ruda told the Los Angeles Times. The paramedics performed CPR and took him to the hospital, Ruda told the newspaper.

Story continues below ↓

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Jackson’s death brought a tragic end to a long, bizarre, sometimes farcical decline from his peak in the 1980s, when he was popular music’s premier all-around performer, a uniter of black and white music who shattered the race barrier on MTV, dominated the charts and dazzled even more on stage.

His 1982 album “Thriller” — which included the blockbuster hits “Beat It,” “Billie Jean” and “Thriller” — is the best-selling album of all time, with an estimated 50 million copies sold worldwide.

The public first knew him in the late 1960s, when as a boy he was the precocious, spinning lead singer of the Jackson 5, the music group he formed with his four older brothers. Among their No. 1 hits were “I Want You Back,” “ABC” and “I’ll Be There.”

Ranked with Elvis, Beatles
He was perhaps the most exciting performer of his generation, known for his feverish, crotch-grabbing dance moves and his high-pitched voice punctuated with squeals and titters. His single sequined glove, tight military-style jacket and aviator sunglasses were trademarks second only to his ever-changing, surgically altered appearance.

“For Michael to be taken away from us so suddenly at such a young age, I just don’t have the words,” said Quincy Jones, who produced “Thriller.” “He was the consummate entertainer and his contributions and legacy will be felt upon the world forever. I’ve lost my little brother today, and part of my soul has gone with him.”

Jackson ranked alongside Elvis Presley and the Beatles as the biggest pop sensations of all time. He united two of music’s biggest names when he was briefly married to Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie, and Jackson’s death immediately evoked that of Presley himself, who died at age 42 in 1977.

As years went by, Jackson became an increasingly freakish figure — a middle-aged man-child weirdly out of touch with grown-up life. His skin became lighter, his nose narrower, and he spoke in a breathy, girlish voice. He surrounded himself with children at his Neverland Ranch, often wore a germ mask while traveling and kept a pet chimpanzee named Bubbles as one of his closest companions.

“It seemed to me that his internal essence was at war with the norms of the world. It’s as if he was trying to defy gravity,” said Michael Levine, a Hollywood publicist who represented Jackson in the early 1990s. He called Jackson a “disciple of P.T. Barnum” and said the star appeared fragile at the time but was “much more cunning and shrewd about the industry than anyone knew.”

Jackson caused a furor in 2002 when he playfully dangled his infant son, Prince Michael II, over a hotel balcony in Berlin while a throng of fans watched from below.

INTERACTIVE

A lifetime of music
Timeline of singer's life, from Jackson 5 to ‘Thriller’ to Neverland.

In 2005, he was cleared of charges he molested a 13-year-old cancer survivor at Neverland in 2003. He had been accused of plying the boy with alcohol and groping him, and of engaging in strange and inappropriate behavior with other children.

The case followed years of rumors about Jackson and young boys. In a TV documentary, he had acknowledged sharing his bed with children, a practice he described as sweet and not at all sexual.

Despite the acquittal, the lurid allegations that came out in court took a fearsome toll on his career and image, and he fell into serious financial trouble.

Comeback had been planned
Jackson was preparing for what was to be his greatest comeback: He was scheduled for an unprecedented 50 shows at a London arena, with the first set for July 13. He was in rehearsals in Los Angeles for the concert, an extravaganza that was to capture the classic Jackson magic: showstopping dance moves, elaborate staging and throbbing dance beats.

Slideshow

Fans react to loss
Fans gather to mourn and shed tears as news spreads that the “King of Pop” is dead at 50.

more photos

Singer Dionne Warwick said: “Michael was a friend and undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest entertainers that I fortunately had the pleasure of working with. ... We have lost an icon in our industry.”

Hundreds of people gathered outside the hospital as word of his death spread. The emergency entrance at the UCLA Medical Center, which is near Jackson’s rented home, was roped off with police tape.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Michael Jackson has just died,” a woman boarding a Manhattan bus called out shortly after the news was announced. Immediately many riders reached for their cell phones.

Michael Jackson, 1958-2009

Singer Michael Jackson dead at 50

Jackson created childhood memories for many

‘King of Pop’ leaves the legacy of a boy prince

Newsweek: Former publicist remembers him

Newsweek: How Jackson became a pop god

Spielberg, Jones react to Jackson’s death

How will you remember Michael Jackson?

Favorite Michael Jackson song?

Was Jackson the greatest pop star ever?

Michael Jackson and the American imagination

So many people wanted to verify the early reports of Jackson’s death that the computers running Google’s news section interpreted the fusillade of “Michael Jackson” requests as an automated attack for about half an hour Thursday evening.

In New York’s Times Square, a low groan went up in the crowd when a screen flashed that Jackson had died, and people began relaying the news to friends by cell phone.

“No joke. King of Pop is no more. Wow,” Michael Harris, 36, of New York City, read from a text message a friend sent to his telephone. “It’s like when Kennedy was assassinated. I will always remember being in Times Square when Michael Jackson died.”

FROM AUSTRALIA

MICHAEL Jackson was one of the most talented individuals ever to grace a recording studio and will live on in the same way as those of the Beatles and Elvis Presley.
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Pop icon Michael Jackson dies at 50
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He was wacko, eccentric, difficult, misunderstood. He was talented, gifted, innovative, engaging.

In short, Michael Jackson was everything you could possibly need to be a pop star.

In recent years the circus that became his life masked an undeniable truth: that Jackson was one of the most talented individuals ever to grace a stage or recording studio in modern times.

His legacy will live on in the same way as those of the Beatles and Elvis Presley.

Jackson, however, was the world's most enduring pop star, even if the latter part of his career was noted more for dangling toddlers and days in court than chart-topping success.

His album Thriller didn't become the biggest seller of all time because of his celebrity. It did so because it was an incredibly original, beautifully crafted and performed piece of work. And he he seized the MTV generation by the scruff of its neck with the accompanying videos.

Jackson had the pop star gene from the day he was born and used it to great effect for most of his life.

His sold-out scheduled concerts in London proved that he still had the pulling power of a great talent.

What those punters paid for, most of all, was to see a catalogue of material performed by a man whose skills as an entertainer matched those of his musicianship.

It's unlikely we'll see such a happy and enduring marriage in pop music again. All we can hope for is that his talent lives on in the millions of pop star wannabes he thrilled with his music.

* 26 June 2009
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NME News
Michael Jackson dead from heart attack

Singer dies from cardiac arrest in Los Angeles

* Jun 25, 2009
* 7 Comments
* Michael Jackson news, reviews, video and tour dates
* Post to Twitter

Michael Jackson has died today (June 25).

The singer was rushed to hospital earlier today in Los Angeles, but according to reports he has died of a heart attack.

According to TMZ, paramedics were unable to revive the musician after they were called to his Los Angeles-area home. They reported that when paramedics arrived on the scene, Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that doctors pronounced the singer dead after arriving at the hospital in a deep coma at 1.07pm (PST). He was 50 years old.

His friend Uri Geller paid tribute to the singer saying: "Like the whole world I am devastated and lost for words. I still can't believe it, I reviewed half of Michael's new album, I can't believe what I am hearing. He was just rehearsing, looking forward to his gig in Britain. At the moment I am just trying to contact his family."

A spokesperson for the singer told NME.COM they had "no comment at this time". Jackson was due to undertake a residency at the O2 Arena in London next month.

NME.COM understands that fans are staging a tribute to Jackson at Trafalgar Square in London tonight.

Read NME.COM's Michael Jackson obituary online now.

Michael Jackson Dies

Posted Jun 25th 2009 5:20PM by TMZ Staff

Michael JacksonWe've just learned Michael Jackson has died. He was 50.

Michael suffered a cardiac arrest earlier this afternoon at his Holmby Hills home and paramedics were unable to revive him. We're told when paramedics arrived Jackson had no pulse and they never got a pulse back.

A source tells us Jackson was dead when paramedics arrived. A cardiologist at UCLA tells TMZ Jackson died of cardiac arrest.

Once at the hospital, the staff tried to resuscitate him but he was completely unresponsive.

A source inside the hospital told us there was "absolute chaos" after Jackson arrrived. People who were with the singer were screaming, "You've got to save him! You've got to save him!"

We're told one of the staff members at Jackson's home called 911.

La Toya ran in the hospital sobbing after Jackson was pronounced dead.

Michael is survived by three children: Michael Joseph Jackson, Jr., Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II.

Malicious program targets Macs

2009-04-23T11:53:00.000-04:00

CNN) -- Mac computers are known for their near-immunity to malicious computer programs that plague PCs.

Some security experts say viruses are moving toward Mac as those computers become more popular.

But that may be changing somewhat, according to computer security researchers. It seems that as sleek Mac computers become more popular, they're also more sought-after targets for the authors of harmful programs.

"The bad guys generally go toward the biggest target, what will get them the biggest bang for their buck," said Kevin Haley, a director of security response at Symantec.

Until recently, the big target always was Microsoft Windows, and Apple computers were protected by "relative obscurity," he said.

But blogs are buzzing this week about what two Symantec researchers have called the first harmful computer program to strike specifically at Mac.

This Trojan horse program, dubbed the "iBotnet," has infected only a few thousand Mac machines, but it represents a step in the evolution of malicious computer software, Haley said.

The iBotnet is a sign that harmful programs are moving toward Mac, said Paul Henry, a forensics and security analyst at Lumension Security in Arizona.

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"We all knew it was going to happen," he said. "It was just a matter of time, and, personally, I think we're going to see a lot more of it."

The malicious software was first reported in January. It didn't gain widespread attention until recently, when Mario Ballano Barcena and Alfredo Pesoli of Symantec, maker of the popular Norton antivirus products, detailed the software in a publication called "Virus Bulletin."

Mac users at large, however, should not be alarmed by the incident, experts said. The program infects only computers whose users downloaded pirated versions of the Mac software iWork.

The harmful software is a Trojan horse, meaning it tries to sneak into the computer with some sort of permission from the user. Computer worms travel differently. They wiggle their way into computers and replicate without the owner's approval or knowledge.

The Mac program is called a botnet because infected computers become part of a network that is controlled by the program's author.

The Mac botnet is significantly less threatening than computer worms like the much-publicized Conficker.c, said Jose Nazario, a senior security researcher with Arbor Networks. Conficker was thought to have infected up to 10 million computers, compared with thousands for the iBotnet, researchers said.

There's also some question as to whether it is the first botnet to target Mac. Others have targeted both PCs and Apple computers.

"This isn't the first botnet that's been built using Mac computers," Nazario said. "This is an interesting one in that it's a little more flexible and includes some new features. ... It's getting a lot of press mostly because it's Mac and people are talking about how Macs are immune to malware -- and, sure enough, they're not."

The potential damage that could be caused by the Mac botnet is also less severe than other attacks, said Darrell Etherington, a contributor to theAppleBlog, which is not affiliated with the computer company.

"It's a very low-level attack," he said. "Some people won't even notice the effect of it."

It is in the interest of software companies like Symantec, who spread the news, and McAfee, which has downplayed the presence of the Trojan, to raise concerns so they can promote their antivirus software packages, he said.

"Yes, it is going to become a bigger problem and, yes, people have to become more aware, but I think that what McAfee and Symantec would like is for the panic to start and for people to start rushing to antivirus software," which isn't necessary yet, Etherington said.

In a statement, Apple said it is working to prevent security problems.

"Apple takes security very seriously and has a great track record of addressing potential vulnerabilities before they can affect users," the statement says.

Only about 7.4 percent of computer users work on Macs, according to Gartner, a technology research firm.

That user base is proportionally more affluent than PC users, Etherington said, which may make Mac a bigger target. But overall, Macs are still far less vulnerable to attack than PCs, he said.

Haley said news of the Apple botnet is significant in part because it's something other authors of malicious code can build from.

"I don't think it's a tipping point; I think it's an evolutionary step. We see virus authors often use what somebody else has done," he said. "There's a model. There's something out there to follow."

INDOOR GARDENING

2009-04-09T13:44:00.004-04:00

Indoor gardening is increasing in popularity. Not only is it easy, adding a garden in your home is a healthy choice. Well selected and artfully arranged plants are visually attractive, and add to the décor of your home. An easy way to begin is to investigate aero gardening, a soil free method of gardening. You can successfully start a traditional garden be arming yourself with information , and a small amount of your time. Do not let your missing green thumb discourage you from attempting this relaxing hobby. The results will be gratifying.

Some people are of the opinion that plants belong outdoors, that it is not important to see them in an indoor setting. But, as we know, that idea has been disproved. When choosing plants for your indoor garden, consider the amount of experience you have before picking plants for your home. Some are hardier and stronger, and not as easily killed by a novice gardener. There are many books and articles on this subject, great information on the Internet, and very valuable tips from other gardeners, your friends and family. Your local nursery staff will be happy to help you get started successfully. Follow the advice you get from people you trust. You will derive a lot of pride and satisfaction seeing your garden grow.

When picking plants for your home indoor gardening project, you will have to be certain that the growing conditions are adequate for your type of plants, so that they will be able to thrive in the setting and condition of your home. First consider your budget, and determine how much you are able to spend on your plants. If your budget is low and you have the patience, starting with seeds or cuttings might be for you. If you can, start with fully grown plants. Do you want to display your plants for a season, or all year? That will also determine the kind of plants you purchase.

A good reason for starting an indoor gardening project is that plants will contribute in creating a healthy environment in your home. They remove carbon dioxide from the air, and purify the air around them by getting rid of pollutants and poisonous toxins. In this day and age when we are being bombarded by numerous toxins, have plants growing in your home is indeed very healthy. Gone are the days when flowers were removed from a sick room for the night.

Indoor gardening might be a bit of a challenge initially, but with the right help and information, your garden will be a success. Not only will it provide beauty to your home, it will keep it healthy. So, go for it. The choice is yours!

To make your Indoor Container Gardening a success click here AeroGrow AeroGarden Deluxe - Black

WHICH IPOD ARE YOU

2009-04-08T11:40:00.008-04:00

The iPod is everywhere, perhaps even in your pocket. And if not, maybe you're ready to get one with the recent launch of the updated iPod Classic, the fourth-generation iPod Nano, the newly shaded iPod Shuffle, or the price-reduced iPod Touch. . If you're hanging onto an older iPod, check below for information on the best accessories, as well as some handy tips for getting the most out of your iPod.

Apple iPod Nano 8GB - Pink

Welcome to the next generation of the iPod Nano. You’ll fall even more in love with the latest model –the 8GB iPod Nano, which packs games, movies, photos and music into a 3.6" x 1.5" x 0.24" digital entertainment package. Find your music fast, see movies on a widescreen, play games with motion control – all in the world's biggest small screen. The accelerometer comes in this fourth generation iPod Nano. Turn it sideways to view your movies in a widescreen presentation, or flip through more of your albums in Cover Flow. Your own personal DJ comes packed into this iPod Nano with the Genius feature as well. Use the Genius feature to find songs in your music library that play well together, creating a Genius Playlist for you.

Weighing just over an ounce, the new iPod Nano is perfect to carry in your pocket wherever you go. The iPod Nano is made of an all-aluminum and glass design. It is compatible with both Mac and Windows systems. Once you get a hold of this iPod Nano and start exploring all of its new features, you won't put it down.

Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features

* 8 GB capacity for 2,000 songs, 7,000 photos, or 8 hours of video
* Up to 24 hours of music playback or 4 hours of video playback when fully charged
* 2-inch LCD with blue-white LED backlight and 320-by-240-pixel resolution
* Supported audio formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
* Supported video formats: H.264, MPEG-4; Supported image file types: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG

Technical Details

* Brand name: Apple iPod nano 8 GB
* Generation: 4th
* Storage capacity: 8 GB
* Color: Pink
* Drive type: Flash drive
* Compatibility: Mac/Windows
* Width: 1.5 inches (38.7 mm)
* Depth: 0.24 inch (6.2 mm)
* Height: 3.6 inches (90.7 mm)
* Weight: 1.3 ounces (36.8 grams)
* Audio controls: Hold switch; click wheel
* Supported audio formats: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
* Song storage capacity: Up to 2,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format
* Display size: 2-inch diagonal
* Display type: LCD with blue-white LED backlight
* Display resolution: 320-by-240-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch
* Supported video formats: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
* Video storage capacity: Up to 8 hours of video
* Supported image file types: Syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats
* Image storage capacity: Holds up to 7,000 iPod-viewable photos
* Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery
* Battery life: Music playback time: Up to 24 hours when fully charged; Video playback time: Up to 4 hours when fully charged
* Battery charge time: Fast-charge time: about 1.5 hours (charges up to 80percent of battery capacity); Full-charge time: about 3 hours
* Headphones: Earphones
* Headphones Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
* Headphones Impedance: 32 ohms
* Input: Dock connector
* Output: 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
* Mac system requirements: Mac computer with USB 2.0 port; Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later; iTunes 8 or later
* Windows system requirements: PC with USB 2.0 port; Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3; iTunes 8 or later
* Operating temperature: 32 degrees to 95 degrees F (0 degrees to 35 degrees C)
* Nonoperating temperature: -4 degrees to 113 degrees F (-20 degrees to 45 degrees C)
* Relative humidity: 5percent to 95percent noncondensing
* Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
* What's in the box: iPod nano, Earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Dock adapter, Quick Start guide

Apple 8GB iPod nano Pink (4th Generation)

Apple iPod nano Green 16GB Flash Portable Media Player

With eight amazing colors, a new curved design, and great new features, iPod nano rocks like never before. The Genius Playlist feature finds the songs in your music library that go great together and makes a playlist for you. With its built-in accelerometer, iPod nano is made to move. Give it a shake, and it shuffles to a different song in your library. Turn it on its side to flip through your album art in Cover Flow. And tilt, move, and play accelerometer-inspired games (games available separately). Watching movies, TV shows, and video is even more fun on the sharp 2-inch screen. And your photos (up to 14,000 of them) look great in portrait or landscape view. Available in 8 GB and 16 GB models, the 16 GB iPod nano puts up to 4,000 songs or 16 hours of video in your pocket.A Musical Genius
Say you're listening to a song you really like and want to hear other tracks that go great with it. The Genius Playlist feature finds the songs in your music library that go great together and makes a Genius Playlist for you. It's like having your own highly intelligent, personal DJ.

Find Your Music Faster
It's even easier to find the song you want to hear. Now you can view your album art in Cover Flow. Or just press and hold the Center button to browse by album or artist. When you find the right song, press the Center button to add it to your on-the-go playlist.

Rock and Roll Over
Tilt or turn iPod nano on its side, and you'll listen, watch, and play in new ways. You can flip through your album art with Cover Flow. Or, vertically speaking, see more albums and artists on the screen at one time.

Shake Your Groove Thing
Sometimes, we could all use a little unpredictability. And now you can shake to change your music. Just give iPod nano a shake, and it shuffles to a different song in your music library. You'll always be surprised by what you'll hear.

Let the Games Begin
Now you can get in on games made especially for iPod nano and the accelerometer. They respond to the way you move, so they're immersive, addictive, and a blast. The iPod nano comes with Maze, which lets you work your way through vast mazes by tilting and moving. You can find even more games on the iTunes Store.

Even Your Photos Rock
Pull hundreds of photos from your pocket and share them wherever you go. Hold iPod nano upright and see your photos in portrait view. Turn the player on its side to see them in landscape. Your photos look beautiful in their proper aspect ratio on the vibrant, 320-by-240-resolution display.

Say you're listening to a song you really like and want to hear other tracks that go great with it. The Genius feature finds the songs in your music library that go great together and makes a Genius playlist for you. It's like having your own highly intelligent, personal DJ.

Product Features and Technical Details
Product Features

* 16 GB capacity for 4,000 songs, 14,000 photos, or 16 hours of video
* Up to 24 hours of music playback or 4 hours of video playback when fully charged
* 2-inch LCD with blue-white LED backlight and 320-by-240-pixel resolution
* Supported audio formats: AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
* Supported video formats: H.264, MPEG-4; Supported image file types: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG

Technical Details

* Brand name: Apple iPod nano 16 GB
* Generation: 4th
* Storage capacity: 16 GB
* Color: Green
* Drive type: Flash drive
* Compatibility: Mac/Windows
* Width: 1.5 inches (38.7 mm)
* Depth: 0.24 inch (6.2 mm)
* Height: 3.6 inches (90.7 mm)
* Weight: 1.3 ounces (36.8 grams)
* Audio controls: Hold switch; click wheel
* Supported audio formats: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
* Song storage capacity: Up to 4,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format
* Display size: 2-inch diagonal
* Display type: LCD with blue-white LED backlight
* Display resolution: 320-by-240-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch
* Supported video formats: H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
* Video storage capacity: Up to 16 hours of video
* Supported image file types: Syncs iPod-viewable photos in JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats
* Image storage capacity: Holds up to 14,000 iPod-viewable photos
* Battery: Built-in rechargeable lithium ion battery
* Battery life: Music playback time: Up to 24 hours when fully charged; Video playback time: Up to 4 hours when fully charged
* Battery charge time: Fast-charge time: about 1.5 hours (charges up to 80percent of battery capacity); Full-charge time: about 3 hours
* Headphones: Earphones
* Headphones Frequency Response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
* Headphones Impedance: 32 ohms
* Input: Dock connector
* Output: 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
* Mac system requirements: Mac computer with USB 2.0 port; Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later; iTunes 8 or later
* Windows system requirements: PC with USB 2.0 port; Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3; iTunes 8 or later
* Operating temperature: 32 degrees to 95 degrees F (0 degrees to 35 degrees C)
* Nonoperating temperature: -4 degrees to 113 degrees F (-20 degrees to 45 degrees C)
* Relative humidity: 5percent to 95percent noncondensing
* Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet (3000 m)
* What's in the box: iPod nano, Earphones, USB 2.0 cable, Dock adapter, Quick Start guide

Apple iPod nano Green 16GB Flash Portable Media Player

Apple iPod touch 16GB Flash Portable Media Player

iPod touch has always been an amazing iPod. With great new applications, now iPod touch is even better. Watch a movie you rented from iTunes. View rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline. Open PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments. With Maps, find your location and get directions from there. See where you are on a map, a satellite image, or a combination of both. Make Web Clips for your Home screen so you can visit your favorite websites in just one tap. Fill up to nine Home screen pages with Web Clips and arrange them however you like. Browse YouTube videos, follow your stocks, check the weather, and take notes. With the new iPod touch, tap into even more.

Glide through albums with the iPod touch's amazing Cover Flow technology. View iPod touch dimensions.

Browse the Web with the included Safari browser. Or fire up a YouTube video and enjoy the show.

The iPod touch responds to your movements; turn it sideways and your video is presented in widescreen mode.

Incredibly thin at just 8 millimeters.
The mail application lets you view rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline, as well as PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments.
Rearrange the icons on your Home screen. Even change the Dock.
Mark specific locations, find the best route between them, and search for points of interest along the way with Maps.

Music, Movies, and More
Flick through album covers and find your music. Download and watch your favorite movies, rentals, TV shows, and more from the iTunes Store. Tap into thousands of photos. All using incredible multi-touch technology on a beautiful 3.5-inch display.

Music
If a picture says a thousand words, think of what all the album art in your collection might say. With Cover Flow on iPod touch, flick through your music to find the album you want to hear. When you do, just tap the cover to flip it over and display a track list. Another tap starts the music. Even view the lyrics while you're listening to the track.

Video
The 3.5-inch display gives you video like you've never seen on a portable device. Watch your favorite movie or rental from the iTunes Store. Catch up on TV shows anywhere. Enjoy video podcasts. Play music videos. All using multi-touch technology. With a tap, bring up onscreen controls to play/pause and view by chapter. Turn your iPod touch to switch between widescreen or full screen.

Photos
iPod touch holds up to 20,000 photos you sync via iTunes. Flick to scroll through thumbnails. Tap to view full screen. Rotate for landscape format. Or perform some sleight of hand by opening two fingers to zoom in. You can even play slideshows, complete with music and transitions. Set any photo as your wallpaper to personalize your iPod touch . . . with a touch.

iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store
With iPod touch, discover new music anywhere. Its built-in wireless capability gives you access to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, where you can buy songs with a tap. Browse New Releases, What's Hot, Genres, and Top 10 songs. Or find exactly what you're looking for with a quick search. Tap a song to preview it, tap Buy to purchase it. Even redeem your iTunes gift cards and gift certificates. All from anywhere you happen to be.

Starbucks Music
You walk into a Starbucks. Order your latte. While you wait, you hear a song wafting from the loudspeakers. You love it. So you get out your iPod touch and buy it over Wi-Fi. Just like that. The iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store on iPod touch tells you what's playing in select Starbucks and lets you buy it along with other featured Starbucks content. So you can sip, shop, and listen.

Home Screen
Make the iPod touch Home screen your own. Change what's in the Dock. Rearrange the icons. And make room for even more. You can add up to eight Home screen pages and fill them with Web Clips.

Internet
Surf the web. Send email. Get directions and find your location with Maps. Check stocks, weather, and more. iPod touch is not just an amazing iPod. It's the Internet in your pocket.

Safari
iPod touch is the only iPod with wireless access to the web. Safari is built in, so you see websites the way they were designed to be seen. Search the web using the touchscreen keyboard. Zoom in and out by tapping the multi-touch display. Switch between portrait or landscape view, depending on how you hold your iPod touch. Sync your bookmarks. Better yet, add them to your Home screen. iPod touch can automatically create a Web Clip on your Home screen from any of your favorite websites. So just one tap takes you directly there.

YouTube
Got a bit of a YouTube addiction? iPod touch feeds it from anywhere with a special YouTube player built right in. Watch featured videos, check out the most viewed, search for something specific, then bookmark your favorites for future reference. It's all the fun of YouTube--pocket-size.

Mail
iPod touch is the first iPod with Mail. And it's the best email you've ever seen on a handheld device. This mail application lets you view rich HTML email with graphics and photos displayed inline, as well as PDF, Microsoft Word, and Microsoft Excel attachments.

Maps
Get directions and check traffic with Google Maps. Even find yourself, wherever you are. Using some local Wi-Fi networks (if Wi-Fi is turned on), iPod touch finds your approximate location and gives directions from there. Mark specific locations, find the best route between them, and search for points of interest along the way. With a hybrid map and satellite view, you can see major street names on top of satellite images.

Widgets
Widgets are small, incredibly handy applications you can use every day. Three of the most useful widgets now live front and center on your Home screen:

Weather
Get a five-day weather forecast, including highs and lows, for cities around the world. Save your favorite locations so you can check the weather anytime.
Notes
Take notes, make a to-do list, or jot down a reminder using the easy-to-use touch keypad. Then save or email them.
Stocks
Check your stocks and track the market over one day, one week, one month, three months, six months, one year, or two years.

High Technology
iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone, the most advanced software ever engineered, and state-of-the-art technology. With the multi-touch display, you can control everything using only your fingers. If you rotate your iPod touch from portrait to landscape, the accelerometer automatically changes the way the content is displayed. And with wireless technology, you can connect to the Internet from any Wi-Fi network, anywhere you are.

Multi-touch
iPod touch features the same revolutionary interface as iPhone. Built to take full advantage of the large 3.5-inch display, the multi-touch interface lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flick through photos and enlarge them with a pinch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page. And iPod touch features a touchscreen QWERTY keyboard perfect for browsing the web in Safari, getting directions on a map, searching for videos on YouTube, finding music on the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, or adding new contacts.

Ambient Light Sensor
The iPod touch display has an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts brightness to suit the ambient light in your surroundings. The result? A better experience for you and battery-saving efficiency for iPod touch.

Wireless
Connect to the Internet anywhere there's a Wi-Fi network. Send email from a coffee shop. Surf the web at the airport. Browse, buy, and download music from the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at select Starbucks locations or other wireless hot spots in your area. iPod touch finds wireless networks and connects you to the Internet.

Accelerometer
An accelerometer detects when you rotate iPod touch from portrait to landscape, then automatically changes the contents of the display, so you immediately see the entire width of a web page, your music in Cover Flow, or a photo in its proper aspect ratio.
Apple iPod touch 16GB Flash Portable Media Player

digital multimedia broadcasting

2008-12-30T19:15:00.000-05:00

The development of digital multimedia broadcasting

Satellite radio systems are actually part of a larger group of broadcasting mediums, which specialists refer to as Digital Multimedia Broadcasting or DMB. This digital transmission system is used in order to send data to different receivers such as radios, television sets or mobile phones and PDAs. There are two different ways of using digital multimedia broadcasting - S-DMB which is broadcasting via a satellite or T-DMB which uses terrestrial emitters. The complexity of the entire digital multimedia broadcasting field is huge. Out of all the features and characteristics digital broadcasting offers, satellite radio is probably the most spectacular as it generated immense interest and triggered an intense competition between the two main satellite radio broadcasters, Sirius and XM Radio. The development of satellite radio and other forms of digital broadcasting is spectacular because it offers two main qualities that terrestrial emitters are deficient in: quality and coverage. In the case of satellite radio, for example, the sound quality from a satellite broadcast is much higher than AM or FM broadcasts, as the hissing noises and transmission disturbances are eliminated.

Technical features of digital multimedia broadcasting - overview

Whether it refers to television, satellite radio or cell phone transmissions, digital multimedia broadcasting is based on the Eureka 147 DAB standard. Digital television uses the T-DMB which is made for transmissions on frequency bands III (VHF) and L (SHF). T-DMB is an ETSI standard (TS 102 427 and TS 102 428).
T-DMB uses MPEG-4 Part 10 (H264) for the video and MPEG-4 Part 3 BSAC or HE-AAC V2 for the audio. When it comes to satellite radio, there were a few issues to be resolved by the main satellite radio broadcasters. The satellite radio receiver needs to be in the line of sight of the satellite to receive the transmission – and there is the problem of having different landscaping objects block the direct transmission. Land based devices were installed in order to eliminate the lack of direct satellite transmission. Since the wider spectrum of broadcasts has to be covered, digital multimedia broadcasting uses OFDM-4DPSK modulation and a chip of T-DMB receiver is also provided by MPEG-2 Transport Stream De-multiplexer. This helps reduce the negative effects of shadowing and fading, present in many digital transmissions.

The future of digital multimedia broadcasting

The transfer from the analog world to the digital one is obvious in all fields of work. Since digital multimedia broadcasting is developing so quickly, there is a silent battle going on between the new age digital technology and the classic analog one. OF course, many compare the transition from the analog to the completely digital era with the way audio cassettes were replaced by CDs and later on even DVDs. However, the development of digital multimedia broadcasting is slower since it happens on so many levels at the same time. Digital television is taking us into new spaces that are basically hybrids of the features of regular TV and characteristics of the Internet. Satellite radio is also taking huge leaps forward, with more and more programs having satellite radio exclusivity. There are even discussion of moving events like the MLB exclusively on satellite radio, which would provide one of the first deadly strikes against terrestrial radio broadcasting. Digital data transmission is fast and accurate, and so far reality proves that the satellites used in order to facilitate broadcasting and reliable. Most digital multimedia broadcasting companies that own satellites also have backup ones ready to go in orbit and replace a defective one. Some other benefits of digital multimedia broadcasting recommend it as a next step in the development of broadcasting. From the consumer’s point of view, the quality and interactivity options of digital TV or satellite radio broadcasts are important features. Although most digital multimedia broadcasting channels and technologies are still complex and sometimes expensive, the evolution of digital broadcasting seems to be here to stay.

crysis warhead cheats

2008-12-29T19:00:00.001-05:00

Cheat Codes
Note: The following procedures involves editing a game file; create a backup copy of the file before proceeding. Use a text editor to edit the "diff_easy.cfg", "diff_normal.cfg", or "diff_hard.cfg" file in the "\crysis warhead\game\config\" directory to enable cheat mode and the console window on the Easy, Normal, or Hard difficulty. Add the line "con_restricted = 0" to the file, then press ~ while playing the game to display the console window. Enter one of the following codes to activate the corresponding cheat function. Alternately, add one of the following codes to the "diff_easy.cfg", "diff_normal.cfg", or "diff_hard.cfg" file in the "\crysis warhead\game\config\" directory to activate the corresponding cheat function.
Result
Cheat Code
God mode
g_godMode = 1
Infinite ammunition
i_unlimitedammo = 1
Toggle vehicle invincibility
v_goliathmode = [0 or 1]
No weapon limit
i_noweaponlimit = 1
No energy loss
g_suitCloakEnergyDrainAdjuster = 0
No energy cost
g_suitRecoilEnergyCost = 0
Extra health
g_playerHealthValue = 900.0
Instant health regen
g_playerSuitArmorModeHealthRegenTime = 0
Instant health regen while moving
g_playerSuitArmorModeHealthRegenTimeMoving = 0
Instant energy
g_playerSuitEnergyRechargeTimeArmor = 0
Instant energy while moving
g_playerSuitEnergyRechargeTimeArmorMoving = 0
More armor points
g_suitArmorHealthValue = 900.0
Run faster
g_suitSpeedMult = 2.85
Infinite nightvision
hud_nightVisionConsumption = 0
Spawn indicated item
i_giveitem [item name]
Set health regen time to 0
g_playerSuitHealthRegenTime = 0
Set regen time while walking to 0
g_playerSuitHealthRegenTimeMoving = 0
Set difficulty, "1" is easy, "4" is most difficult
g_difficultyLevel = 1
AI ignores player
ai_IgnorePlayer = 1
No waiting until regen starts
g_playerSuitHealthRegenDelay = 0
Set energy regen time to 0
g_playerSuitEnergyRechargeTime = 0
Do not wait until energy regen starts
g_playerSuitEnergyRechargeDelay = 0
Speed suit never runs out of energy
g_suitSpeedEnergyConsumption = 1
Rate at which time passes; "1" is default
time_scale = [number]
Toggle melee attacks while sprinting
g_meleeWhileSprinting = [0 or 1]
Fall speed in meters/second that causes death; "13.7" is default
pl_fallDamage_SpeedFatal = [number]
Maximum speed in meters/second at which you take no damage; "8" is default
pl_fallDamage_SpeedSafe = [number]
Set swim speed; "4" is default
pl_swimBaseSpeed = [number]
Set speed at which you jump out of water; "1" is default
pl_swimJumpSpeedBaseMul = [number]
Walking movement speed; "1" is default
g_walkmultiplier = [number]
Multiplies punch strength by this factor; "1" is default
cl_strengthscale = [number]
Koreans speak in Korean
ai_UseAlternativeReadability = 0
Toggle frame rate display
r_displayinfo = [0 or 1]
Developer mode
Start the game with the "-DEVMODE" command line parameter. Then while playing the game, press one of the following keys to activate the corresponding cheat function:
Result
Key
Toggle first and third person view
[F1]
Jump to next checkpoint
[F2]
Toggle fly and ghost modes
[F3]
Jump to previous checkpoint
[F10]
Get missile launcher, shotgun, alien MOAC
[Keypad 1]
Infinite ammunition
[Keypad 2]
Debug menu
[Keypad Enter]
Additionally, press ~ while playing the game to display the console window. Then, type one of the following codes and press [Enter] to activate the corresponding cheat function:
Result
Cheat Code
God mode
g_godmode 1
All weapons
i_giveallitems
Carry unlimited weapons
i_noweaponlimit 1
Infinite ammunition
i_unlimitedammo 1
Indestructible vehicles for everyone
V_goliathmode 1
Faster speed
g_suitSpeedMult = 2
Hide developer mode information
r_displayinfo 0
Koreans speak Korean
ai_UseAlternativeReadability
Item names
Use one of the following case-sensitive values with the "i_giveitem [item name]" code to spawn the corresponding item:
Item
Item code
Anti vehicle mine
AVMine
Assault scope
AssaultScope
AY69 micro machine gun
AY69
C4
C4
Claymore
Claymore
EMP grenade
EMPGrenade
Explosive grenade
FragGrenade
FGL40 Automatic grenade launcher
FGL40
Flash grenade
FlashbangGrenade
Flashlight for pistol
LAMFlashLight
Flashlight for rifle
LAMRifleFlashLight
Gauss rifle
GaussRifle
Grenade launcher for SCAR and FY71
GrenadeLauncher
Incendiary ammo for FY71
FY71IncendiaryAmmo
Lasersight for pistol
LAM
Lasersight for rifles
LAMRifle
Minigun
Hurricane
Missile launcher
LAW
PAX Plasma Accumulator Cannon
TACGun_XP_2
Alternate PAX
TACGun_XP
Pistol
SOCOM
Shotgun
Shotgun
Silencer for pistol
SOCOMSilencer
Silencer for rifle
Silencer
Smoke grenade
SmokeGrenade
Sniper rifle
DSG1
Sniper scope
SniperScope
Standard Korean rifle
FY71
Standard U.S. rifle
SCAR
Submachine gun
SMG
Tac Gun (mini nuke)
TACGun
Alternate ending
Pick up and drop all seven hidden frogs in the same playthrough to view an alternate ending. Note: Loading saved game files that do not have the previous frogs collected will not work.
Hidden frog locations
Search the indicated locations to find all seven hidden frogs (one per level) in the game:
Adapt Or Perish level: Get to the part after losing sight of Lee for the second time during the pursuit and reaching the KPA Nano-Suit soldiers fighting an alien exosuit. Go to the right, and walk up the hill with a resort bar on top. Inside the bar, enter the larger of the two bathrooms. On the toilet you will see a frog frozen to a book. Upon picking up the book, Psycho will exclaim, "It's Calmon! I've found him!" Once the book is thrown or dropped, it will explode.
All The Fury level: Once you reach the control tower, on the first floor, go to the room at the north end of the building. Once you enter the room, turn left. There are three refrigerators. Open the one in the middle to find the frog.
Below The Thunder level: When you get off the big yellow elevator that takes you up, find the metal grate on the roof. Shoot it, and jump up into the hole to enter the vents. Move through the vents, and keep taking left turns until reaching a dead end. You will find a cloaked frog on a red book titled "Croaking While Cloaking".
Call Me Ishmael level: After completing the "Join up with Sierra airstrike team" objective, follow the roads to the bottom of the hill, and go to the resort bar to the left. Continue through the resort bar, and follow the path down to the shore. Jump into the ocean, and swim east. On the other side of the large cliffs jutting out of the water, you will find a small island with a campsite at the far end. You will find the frog on a crate.
Frozen Paradise level: Once you reach the mining facility, use Strength mode to jump onto the roof of the largest building on the southwest corner of the facility. Once on the roof, fall off on the south wall of the building. You will land on a balcony and find the frog.
From Hell's Heart level: Immediately after you have gone through the second tunnel (including the one you started in), jump onto the train on the tracks to the right that stops at the end of the tunnel. While on the train, look right above the entrance to the tunnel to find the frog.
Shore Leave level: After fending off the KPA attacks against the stranded VTOL, look for a shack to the left near the shore. Walk along the beach to find an overturned boat. Knock the boat out of the way to find the frog.
Ice Age reference in "Frozen Paradise" level
After escaping the frozen aircraft carrier, you will enter an ice cave. Near the entrance, look for a hole near the ceiling to the left. Jump up into this hole, and stay on the second level of the ice cave. After jumping across a gap, look along the left side of the ice cave. You will find a rat and acorn frozen into the ice. This is a reference to Scrat the saber-toothed squirrel from the movie Ice Age.

FAR CRY 2 CHEATS XBOX 360

2008-12-21T16:20:00.002-05:00

At the main menu, select the "Additional Content" option, and choose the "Promotion Code" selection. Then, enter one of the following case-sensitive codes to activate the corresponding cheat function:

Bonus missions

Enter "2Eprunef", "6aPHuswe", "96CesuHu", "Cr34ufrE", "JeM8SpaW", "sa7eSUPR", "SpujeN7x", "tar3QuzU", "THaCupR4", "tr99pUkA", or "zUmU6Rup" as a case-sensitive code to unlock the "The Georgian", "The Bolivian", "Special Delivery", and "Le Français" missions. If you entered the correctly, the message "You have successfully unlocked the missions" will appear. Start a new game or continue a saved game. Pause the game, and display the "Map Legend" menu. You will see a new envelop legend labeled "Special Mission". Successfully complete the tutorial and a few missions. You will eventually get a phone call from a distorted voice that sends you on your "predecessor's tracks". Go to the envelop map legend location to find an old bus that is now a shack, and continue.

Special machetes

Start the game with a connection to Xbox Live. At the main menu, select the "Additional Content" option. Choose the "Exclusive Content" selection, then login with your Ubisoft account information or create a new account. After the game connects to the Ubisoft servers to verify your information, the message "ACCOUNT LINKING COMPLETE! Thank you for linking your Ubisoft account to your Xbox LIVE Gamertag. Special Machete. Unlock Special Machete" will appear. Press A to unlock the special machete. The message "The exclusive content was successfully unlocked" will appear. Return to the main menu. Select "Options", then select "Game". A new "Machete Type" option will appear. You now have access to the "Homemade" and "Primitive" machetes on the current profile.

Golden AK47 locations

When in the Northern District (the area where you start), look at the map. You will see a bus station at almost each corner of the map (top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right). Go to the bottom right bus station by following the road south, but use the road closest to the edge of the map. Then, follow the road north to the gun shop. From there, take the road northeast, then take the next right. The road should dead-end at a small shack on the other side of the mountain from the gun shop. The diamond light should flash. Inside the shack you will find a golden AK47, some ammunition, and a diamond case. Note: Put the golden AK47 in a primary case so you never lose it
.
On the Northern District map, west of Cattle Xing, there is a large rocky area that looks like a turkey drumstick on the map. Walk around to the bottom left of the "rocky drumstick" to find a hidden cave with wooden slats across the entrance. Break open the slats to find another golden AK47

Jackal job
When you do the job for the Jackal, be careful. If you do the mission with the blue square on it first, you will have to face all your past and present friends for a big showdown. Do not believe them when they say they have your back.

Jackal choices

When going for the Jackal after you have completed the mission with the blue square on it, you must go to a shack where he is hiding. When you get into the shack, he will give you two choices. You can either take the diamonds or the car battery. If you take the diamonds, he tells you to take them and bribe the commander or take the car battery and fix the explosives. However, if you take the diamonds, be careful with the large hole in the middle. If you drop in, you will not be able to get out.

UFLL jobs

When you do the jobs for the UFLL and its enemy, and your friend tells you to do a favor for him or her, do it. You have already been paid in full and will come back to the original mission afterwards.

Pass through walls

Note: This glitch requires an unpatched version of the game. Go up to a thin wall. Face directly at the wall, then take out your mortar. Rotate 180 degrees, and you should be on the other side of the wall. You can use this glitch to get to many previously unreachable locations.

Achievements

Accomplish the indicated achievement to get the corresponding number of Gamerscore points:
Stickin' it to the man (10 points): Kill a Faction Captain in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory.
Wages of Conflict (10 points): Aquire all conflict diamonds in the game available through payment or exploration.
Making friends (10 points): Save a Buddy from captivity.
The best laid plans (10 points): Work with a Buddy to subvert a mission offered by a faction.
Wanderer (10 points): Find all the Safe Houses in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory.
Orienteer (10 points): Find all the Safe Houses in Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory.
Investigative Reporter (10 points): Turn over the first set of the Jackal's audio logs to the Journalist.
Messenger (10 points): Complete all the available Underground side-quests in both the North and the South.
Supply... (10 points): Unlock new weapons by hitting a Convoy.
On the run (10 points): Escape the Town.
Down but not out (10 points): Escape to Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory.
Weapon Specialist (10 points): Purchase the manuals and acquire the bandolier for one weapon.
Bagman (10 points): Deliver stamped travel documents to the Underground in exchange for medicine.
Lineman (20 points): Complete a Mission intercepted from a cellular tower signal.
Dawa ya moto ni moto (20 points): Break the ceasefire and reignite the conflict.
Lent a hand (20 points): Complete a Buddy side quest.
Out of the frying pan... (20 points): Get rescued by a Buddy.
Dr Livingston, I presume (20 points): Enter every 1 square kilometer map region of the world.
Pulitzer material (20 points): Turn over all of the Jackal's audio logs to the Journalist.
Weapons Expert (20 points): Purchase the manuals and acquire the bandoliers for every weapon.
Playing both sides... (20 points): Switch sides in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory.
...against the middle (20 points): Switch sides in Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory.
...and demand. (20 points): Unlock all weapons by hitting every Convoy.
Prison escape (20 points): Escape torture at the old slave outpost.
Last man standing (30 points): Wipe out the senior leadership of both Factions and determine who will be the new Warlords.
...into the fire. (30 points): Save a Buddy from a mortal wound.
The third faction (30 points): Rescue all the Buddies from their respective predicaments.
Ruthless (30 points): Subvert all the main faction missions in Leboa-Sako - the Northern Territory.
Cold Blooded (30 points): Subvert all the main faction missions in Bowa-Seko - the Southern Territory.
Utility Man (30 points): Complete all Missions intercepted from cellular tower signals.
Good night sweet prince (40 points): Comfort a Buddy and ease his passing.
Heart of Darkness (40 points): Enter the Heart of Darkness.
The horror... the horror... (40 points): Resolve your conflict with the Jackal to facilitate the exodus.
First Response Team (10 points): Get highest revives count in a ranked match.
Hired Gun (20 points): Reach Rank 5 (Ranked Match).
Superior Captain (10 points): Win a round as the Captain in Uprising mode (Ranked Match).
Best in Class (20 points): Get highest xp total in one match (Ranked Match).
War Party (20 points): Win a match with 16 players (Ranked Match).
Upgraded Player (20 points): Upgrade one class 3 times (Ranked Match).
Safari Tour (20 points): Play at least one full round in every Official Map (Ranked Match).
Battle Hardened (20 points): Play at least one full round in every Game Mode (Ranked Match).
Professional (30 points): Reach Rank 10 (Ranked Match).
Mercenary (30 points): Reach Rank 20 (Ranked Match).
Field Hospital (40 points): Get 500 revives (Ranked Match).
Warlord (40 points): Achieve Rank 30 (Ranked Match).
Soldier of Misfortune (40 points): Unlock field manuals for all weapons (Ranked match).
Mapper (10 points): Create a map and get it validated in all game modes.
Adventurer (20 points): Download and rate 25 usermaps.

GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR CHEATS

2008-12-21T16:14:00.002-05:00

THERE HAVE BEEN ALOT OF BUZZ LATELY ABOUT THIS GAME, SO i'LL SHARE SOME CHEATS AND TRICKS I'VE FOUND ON THE NET AND WILL TRY TO POST MORE THIS IS FOR XBOX 360.

At the main menu, select "Options", "Cheats", "Enter New Cheat", then enter one of the following codes to unlock the corresponding cheat option:
Performance Mode
Press Yellow(2), Blue, Red, Blue, Green, Red(2).
Hyperspeed
Press Green, Blue, Red, Yellow(2), Red, Green(2).
Auto Kick
Press Yellow, Green, Red, Blue(4), Red. The bass drum pedal will now be played automatically. Note: Enabling this code will disable earning any money after a song has been completed.
Unlock Quickplay
Press Blue, Blue, Red, Green(2), Blue(2), Yellow.
Aaron
Press Blue, Red, Yellow(5), Green.
Nick
Press Green, Red, Blue, Green, Red, Blue, Blue, Green.
Johnny Viper
Press Blue, Red, Blue(2), Yellow(3), Green.
Rina
Press Blue, Red, Green, Green, Yellow(3), Green.
Air Instruments
Press Red(2), Blue, Yellow, Green(3), Yellow.
Invisible Characters
Press Green, Red, Yellow(3), Blue(2), Green.
AT&T Ballpark
Press Yellow, Green, Red(2), Green, Blue, Red, Yellow.
Gem Color
Press Blue, Red(2), Green, Red, Green, Red, Yellow.
Flame Color
Press Green, Red, Green, Blue, Red(2), Yellow, Blue.
Star Color
Press Red(2), Yellow, Red, Blue, Red(2), Blue.
Vocal Fireball
Press Red, Green(2), Yellow, Blue, Green, Yellow, Green.
Always Slide
Press Green(2), Red(2), Yellow, Red, Yellow, Blue.
Extra Line 6 Tones
Press Green, Red, Yellow, Blue, Red, Yellow, Blue, Green.
"Pull Me Under" song
Successfully complete an entire career with any instrument. "Pull Me Under" can be played during the credits. Once done, it will be unlocked.
Bonus characters
Successfully complete the indicated task to unlock the corresponding character for purchase:
Billy Corgan: Play "Today" in Band Career mode.
Hayley Williams: Play "Misery Business" in Vocals Career mode.
Ozzy Osbourne: Sing "Mr. Crowley" and the encore song at the "Germany: Ozzfest" gig in Vocals Career mode.
Rockubot: Successfully complete Drum Career mode.
Skeleton: Successfully complete Vocals Career mode.
Sting: Play "Demolition Man" in Bass Career mode.
Ted Nugent: Win Ted Nugent's Guitar Battle in Guitar Career mode.
Travis Barker: Play "Dammit" in Drum Career mode.
Zakk Wylde: Win Zakk Wylde's Guitar Battle, and play the encore song with him at the "Louisiana: Swamp Shack" gig in Guitar Career mode.
Chuck Schuldiner (Death) custom character
Use the following customizations:
Head
Nose: Narrow
Mouth: Smallest
Eyes: Little smaller and deeper; Color: Brown
Facial Fair: None
Body
Skin: Tan
Proportions: The tall buff in shoulders one
Presence: Calmer ones
Hair: Curley Cue; Color: 2nd Darkest Brown
Outfit
Torso: Very Casual; Color: Black
Pants: Deez Denims; Default
Shoes: Axel Kickers; Default
Instrument
B.C. Rich Stealth
Style: Manta
Finishes: Custom Color Black
Fret Board: Ebony
Inlays: Dots
Head Stock: Shredder
Finishes: Custom Color: Black
Pickguard: None
Pickups: Supersonic 2 Color Black
Knobs: None
Bridge: No Whammy
Strings: Default
Dimebag Darell custom character
Use the following customizations:
Head
Face: For the scaling, make his face and jaw bigger, and give him brown eyes.
Facial Hair: Fine Goatee
Body
Skin Tone: Tan
Proportions: The one close to the end, making him heavy in middle
Tattoos: Anything that looks good on left or right arm
Presence: Anything wild or really calm
Hair: Curley Cue; Color: Darkest Orange
Outfit
Torso: No Sleeves Please; Color: Black
Pants: Camo Whamo!; Color: Default
Shoes: These Oh Things?; Color: Default
Accessories: Left Arm: Banded Bracer; Color: Black, Right Arm: Little Banded Bracer; Color: Black
Instrument
Cowboys From Hell Dean ML Guitar
Body: Dearth Fader
Finishes: The Forge
Details: None
Band Logo: None
Fret Board: Ebony
Inlays: Dots silver
Headstock: Veejay
Finish: Solid Black
Details: Truss Cover
Pickguard: None
Pickups: Supersonic Black
Knobs: Bellenders: Black
Bridges: Whammy Bar:Black
Strings: Your choice
Note: If you do not like the "cowboy from hell" look, change the body finish to: Boltz, Bookmatch color orange, Detail: Pinstripe: Black, Firestarter.
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) custom character
Use the following customizations:
Head
Nose: Narrow larger at tip
Mouth: Top: Smallest; Bottom: Third smallest
Eyes: Little larger and deeper; Color: Hazel
Facial Fair: 5 o Clock Shadow; Black
Body
Skin: Pale
Proportions: Skinny and tall one
Presence: Calmer ones
Hair: Seattle's Finest; Color: Second lightest brown
Outfit
Torso: Layered T: Color; Default
Pants: Deez Denims; Default
Shoes: Slips Ons; Black
Instrument
Fender Mustang
Style: Treble Maker
Finishes: Custom Color: Second darkest blue row, then second darkest within
Fret Board: Ebony
Inlays: Dots
Head Stock: Style: T-bone; Color: Same as body
Pickguard: Style 1; Color: Third, gray but it looks white
Pickups: Strates Three: Black
Knobs: Speedsters
Bridge: Defender; same color as pick guard
Strings: Default
Achievements
Accomplish the indicated achievement to get the corresponding number of Gamerscore points:
Learning the Ropes (5 points): Complete a tutorial.
One Time Solo Artist (5 points): Completed a song (Solo).
Stix (5 points): Perform as a Drummer (Band or Solo).
Yodeler (5 points): Perform as a Vocalist (Band or Solo).
Pick and Axe (5 points): Perform as a Guitarist (Band or Solo).
Feeding the Beast (5 points): Upload a song to GHTunes.
Download Junkie (5 points): Download a few songs from GHTunes.
A Pair Beats A Pair (5 points): Complete an Xbox LIVE 2 v 2 Pro Face-Off match (win or lose).
Survival of the Fittest (5 points): Complete an Xbox LIVE Battle Mode match (win or lose).
Mine is Bigger Than Yours (5 points): Complete an Xbox LIVE Band v Band match (win or lose).
First of Many (10 points): Complete a gig (Band or Solo).
One Man Band (10 points): Perform as every instrument at least once (Vocals, Lead, Bass & Drums).
Should We Stick Together? (10 points): Complete a song in a band (4 player band) .
50 Note Posse (15 points): All band members get a 50 note streak at the same time (4 player band).
Easy There (25 points): Complete a Career on easy (Band or Solo).
Solo Artist (25 points): Complete a solo career (any difficulty).
Band on a Mission (25 points): Complete the majority of the gigs (Band or Solo).
Bling, Bling (30 points): Earn $1,000,000 in lifetime earnings.
Top of the Charts (30 points): Complete a band career (any difficulty).
Medium Musician (30 points): Complete a Career on medium (Band or Solo).
Solid Gold Rockstars (30 points): 100% a song as a band (4 player band).
Platinum Rockstars (50 points): 100% a song as a band, hard or expert only (4 player band).
Hardcore (60 points): Complete a Career on hard (Band or Solo).
Hall of Famer (100 points): Complete a Career on expert (Band or Solo).
Jack of All Trades (150 points): Complete all instrument careers - any difficulty (Band or Solo).
Additionally, there are 25 secret achievements:
Stamp Of Approval (5 points): You created your own band logo.
One Of A Kind Axe (5 points): You created your own custom guitar.
Warrior Of Rock (5 points): You created a male band member.
Custom Beats (5 points): You created your own custom drums.
Rock Maiden (5 points): You created a female band member.
Inked (5 points): You created a custom tattoo.
Leading Lady (10 points): You rocked out as Hayley Williams.
The Experience (10 points): You rocked out as Jimi Hendrix.
The Dark Prince (10 points): You rocked out as Ozzy Osbourne.
Pumpkin Smasher (10 points): You rocked out as Billy Corgan.
Bad to the Bone (10 points): You rocked out as the Skeleton.
Wylde Man (10 points): You rocked out as Zack Wylde.
Motorcity Madman (10 points): You rocked out as Ted Nugent.
Don't Blink (10 points): You rocked out as Travis Barker.
Shiny Metal Thingy (10 points): You rocked out as the Rockubot.
Guitarist's Coattails (10 points): Get the highest score in the band as the lead or bass guitar (4 player band).
Vocalist's Coattails (10 points): You got the highest score in a band as the vocalist.
1.21 Jigowatts?!?! (15 points): All band members activated star power at the same time.
Super Group Unite (15 points): You earned an 8x multiplier with the rest of the band at the same time.
Axe Museum (20 points): You unlocked all of the guitars.
Get Your Boogie On (30 points): You scored 222,222 or higher on the song Satch Boogie as the Lead guitarist.
Muse to my Ears (30 points): You scored 222,222 or higher on the song Assassin as a Drummer.
Mike Checka' (30 points): You scored 123,450 or higher on the song Beat It as a Vocalist.
Heavy Metall... (35 points): You scored 444,444 or more on the song Trapped Under Ice.
TOOL of Destruction (35 points): You scored 444,444 or more on the song Schism.

30,000 NEW TROOPS GOING TO AFGHANISTAN

2008-12-20T16:18:00.001-05:00

Roughly 31,000 U.S. troops currently are in Afghanistan.
Of the additional troops, 20,000 will comprise four ground/maneuvering brigades, said Col. Gregory Julian, spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. That number is consistent with what Gen. David McKiernan, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, called for in October, he said.
The additional 10,000 likely refers to support personnel, Julian said.
McKiernan requested the additional 20,000 troops be sent to fight the increasing violence by the resurgent Taliban forces in the southern and eastern parts of the country.
On Friday, military officials said Defense Secretary Robert Gates signed a deployment order to move an additional 3,000 troops to Afghanistan next year. Those troops will be part of a combat aviation brigade, the latest approved by Gates for the expected buildup of U.S. troops in the country in 2009.

The brigade will send a number of much-needed helicopters to the region. Helicopters are the main mode of transportation for the U.S. military in Afghanistan, where high mountain roads and passes make it difficult for large transport vehicles to move troops and supplies.
The additional troops would nearly double the level of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Troop levels are likely to be maintained at this increased level for three to four years, Julian said Saturday, as U.S. forces continue to try to "clear and hold" more parts of Afghanistan from insurgents and militants and train Afghan military and police to be self-sufficient

source cnn.com

Bush announces auto rescue

2008-12-19T18:05:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- President Bush announced a rescue plan for General Motors and Chrysler LLC Friday morning that will make $13.4 billion in federal loans available almost immediately.
The money will come from the $700 billion fund set aside to bail out Wall Street firms and banks in October.
With these loans, Treasury will have committed virtually all of the $350 billion of that fund that it can hand out without additional authorization from Congress. Once Congress releases the other $350 billion, the two automakers will be able to borrow an additional $4 billion.
GM (GM, Fortune 500) will get $9.4 billion from the first allocation of federal loan money, while Chrysler would get the other $4 billion.
The loans are for three years, but the money will have to be repaid in full within 30 days if the firms do not show themselves to be viable by March 31.
Bush: "Preventing disorderly bankruptcy"
During brief remarks at the White House, President Bush said in normal times he would have not been in favor of preventing a bankruptcy of the two companies. But the current state of the economy and credit markets left him no choice but to act.
"Government has a responsibility to safeguard the broader health and stability of our economy," he said. "If we were to allow the free market to take its course now, it would almost certainly lead to disorderly bankruptcy and liquidation for the automakers."
"In the midst of a financial crisis and a recession, allowing the U.S. auto industry to collapse is not a responsible course of action," Bush added.
In a statement, President-elect Barack Obama said today's loan was "a necessary step to help avoid a collapse in our auto industry that would have devastating consequences for our economy and our workers."
Obama added that "the auto companies must not squander this chance to reform bad management practices and begin the long-term restructuring that is absolutely required to save this critical industry and the millions of American jobs that depend on it."
Conditions similar to auto bailout bill
The terms of the loan are similar to those set in the auto bailout legislation that was passed by the House last week but was shot down in the Senate.
Executives at GM and Chrysler must agree to limits on their compensation and eliminate perks such as corporate jets. The companies also must issue warrants, which convert into non-voting stock, to the government.
GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, who had previously agreed to reduce his salary to $1 a year in return for the federal loans, said at a press conference Friday he has no intention to resign. Some critics of GM have called for him to do so.
"You think I would have gone through what I did the last two months if I didn't want to stay?" he said.
The loans do not include the concept of a so-called "car czar" to oversee the automakers, although it does say that a designee of the President would determine if the automakers are making the changes necessary for them to be considered viable.
The Bush administration official said Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson would fill that role in the remaining days of the current administration.
The loans call for the automakers to prove they are viable by March 31, even though they are not expected to be profitable by that date. They must submit the details of the plans by Feb. 17.
The government wants the automakers to reduce their debt load by two-thirds via a debt for equity exchange with current bondholders and get the United Auto Workers union to agree to wages and work rules competitive with non-union plants operated by Asian auto manufacturers by the end of next year.
Talkback: Can U.S. automakers survive?
Wagoner said negotiations with GM debt holders and the union will begin almost immediately now that the loans are in place. He added that the company is confident it will be able to meet the targets set out as terms of the loan.
In addition, the government is calling for GM and Chrysler to use their stock to pay for half the funds needed to cover future retiree health care expenses, which will be paid by union-controlled trust funds, rather than the automakers themselves, starting in 2010.
But there is flexibility for the companies and the incoming Obama administration to allow the loans to continue even if these targets are not reached, as long as GM and Chrysler can provide an explanation as to why they are viable without hitting those targets.
Republican senators demanded hard targets for labor union concessions and cited the UAW's resistance to agree to them as the reason the bill died last week.
A Bush administration official cautioned that the government should not play a big role in the union negotiations that will take place in the next three months.
"We do not feel it is appropriate for government to dictate the specific terms of negotiations between management and labor or management and dealers or management and creditors," the official said.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said the union does not want further concessions to be spelled out in the loan agreement, but that the union would hold talks with the government about how to make the Big Three more competitive.
"We will work with the Obama administration and the new Congress to ensure that these unfair conditions are removed as we join in the coming months with all stakeholders to create a viable future for the U.S. auto industry," he said.
Time was running out
GM (GM, Fortune 500) has warned it will fall below the minimum amount of cash it needs to continue to operate without $4 billion in federal loans before the end of the month. Privately held Chrysler said it will need $4 billion or it will also run out of cash early next year.
Ford Motor (F, Fortune 500) has more cash on hand and has said it should be able to avoid tapping into federal dollars unless the weak auto sales continue longer than it expects in 2009.
Shares of GM soared more than 10% Friday morning on the news of the loan and Ford was up 5%.
U.S. auto sales plunged to 26-year lows last month as tight credit, rising job losses and weak consumer confidence have led to a virtual collapse in the auto market.
All of the major automakers, including Asian automakers Toyota Motor (TM) and Honda Motor (HMC), are cutting back production. But the situation is particularly severe at GM and Chrysler.
In the last week, those two automakers announced shutdowns of assembly lines for at least a month, several weeks longer than the typical shutdowns during the December holiday season

Auto Insurance and Leasing

2008-12-19T18:02:00.001-05:00

When leasing a car, it’s easier to stick with the same company for yourauto insurance. What you don’t know, however, is that you may end up paying too much for your coverage and it’s better to look elsewhere for lower rates.
When you lease, the vehicle that you will drive belongs to the leasing company. They want to make sure that their investment is covered in the event the vehicle gets damaged, totalled or stolen. They typically want to get covered for the difference between what your auto-insurer pays andyour outstanding leasing obligations at the time of the accident or damage. This is called GAP, short for Guaranteed Auto Protection, and is usually included in the leasing contract. If your leasing company is called BMW Financial Services, Chrysler Financial or any other finance division of an automaker, then chances areyour GAP insurance will be offered by the same lease company.
You are under no obligation to accept GAP insurance included as part of your lease agreement. Why pay an insurance premium if you could get the same coverage for a lower price? Invest some time shopping by comparing quotes from other insurance companies, including your existing one. Ask for discounts that you already qualify for and adjust your coverage accordingly.

Oil drops after 2.2M barrel OPEC cut

2008-12-17T12:38:00.000-05:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, in a bid to prop up falling oil prices, said Wednesday that it would cut production by 2.2 million barrels a day starting next month.
OPEC hopes the cuts will stabilize prices, which have dropped by more than $100 a barrel since reaching a record high in July. The worsening economic downturn has sapped demand worldwide.
A production cut had been widely expected. Indeed, U.S. crude for January delivery fell $1.94 to $41.66 a barrel shortly after the announcement. Oil had been as high as $45.50 earlier in the day.
Oil prices have fallen rapidly in recent months due to "the repercussions of the financial crisis," said OPEC President Chakib Khelil. "We are in a very deteriorating environment," he said.
"This move by OPEC was well telegraphed by the market," said Phil Flynn, senior market analyst with Alaron Trading in Chicago.
Before the meeting, Saudi Arabia's Oil Minister told reporters that the group would cut 2 million barrels a day.
The new cut comes on top of a recent decrease of 2 million barrels a day announced earlier, bringing production down a total of 4.2 million barrels per day from September levels.
With the cuts, OPEC nations will produce roughly 24.8 million barrels a day.
Khelil said the cartel hopes oil will stabilize between "$70 to $80 at least."
If oil fails to stabilize, Khelil left the door open for more cuts. "If you are not surprised [by the cuts], then we have to do something about it," he said.
The group is next scheduled to meet on March 15, but Khelil said member states were prepared to hold another meeting sooner if needed.
The nations in OPEC produce about 40% of the world's oil. The group met Wednesday in Oran, Algeria.
Non-OPEC fizzle: There had also been rumors early Wednesday that some non-OPEC countries would follow an OPEC cut with cuts of their own. But non-OPEC cuts failed to materialize.
"People really wanted to see a couple of non-OPEC producers step up to the plate, particularly Russia," said Tom Orr, head of research for brokerage Weeden & Co.
Top officials from Russia and Azerbaijan hinted that they may cut production with OPEC, according to reports, but no non-OPEC cuts were announced as the session progressed.
"They (Russia) haven't agreed to anything with us," said Khelil. As a separate nation, "they'll have to make their own decision," he added.
U.S. inventories: Meanwhile, the U.S. Energy Information Agency reported Wednesday that crude oil inventories increased 500,000 barrels from the previous week.
Analysts had expected to see a decline of 900,000 barrels of crude, according to a survey from research firm Platts.
Total gasoline inventories increased by 1.3 million barrels and are near the lower boundary of the average range. Supplies of distillates, which are used to make diesel and home heating oil, increased by 2.9 million barrels.
Analysts had expected a rise of 1.5 million barrels of gasoline, and a 1.8 million drop in distillates.
Economy and demand: As the global economy has slowed, the price of oil has plunged - nearly 70% since hitting a record high of $147.27 a barrel in mid-July. Investors are worried that worldwide slowdowns have tamped down demand for petroleum-based fuels.
In the United States, the world's largest oil consumer, driving has dropped off significantly over the past year, according to the Transportation Department.
Oil prices tumbled on Tuesday after the Federal Reserve lowered its key interbank interest rate to between 0% and 0.25% in an effort to jump-start the economy.
"These aggressive moves that have to be taken by the Fed are really not good for oil right now," said Flynn.

Have a Toy Game Hobby Night at Your House!

2008-12-17T12:31:00.000-05:00

Build family communication and togetherness by having a weekly toy game hobby night. It is so easy these days to let work, school, and the business of life rule the day, that we can easily lose touch with each other. If we get together one night each week for a toy game hobby night, we can rekindle those family ties.
Those families with small children will probably focus more on the toy aspect of the toy game hobby night. Take the time to get down on the floor and play with those youngsters. Cuddle those dollies and call yourself "grandma" or "grandpa." Push those trucks around and pretend right along with the kids. If your back can take it, let them take turns riding you like a horse while you crawl around and neigh. Every kid loves that!
On summer evenings, try toy game hobby night in the sand box at the park. Using an old mesh produce bag, collect a variety of suitable sand toys to take along. These toys include various containers, a few wheeled vehicles, toy garden tools, and cast-off kitchen utensils. In the sandbox with your kids, you can create towns with roads, castles, or just about anything.
Modeling dough is also a great activity for toy game hobby night. Collect some small cookie cutters and old jar lids (for pans) and create fancy cookies and desserts - inedible and calorie-free, of course! The kids can turn a large box on it's side for a counter and place the goodies on display to sell. Of course, you'll pretend to buy, eat, and enjoy!
Some fun games for family night include card games like Uno, board games like Candy Land or Life, and dominoes. When choosing games to play there are several things to consider. Is Scrabble, for instance, fun for everyone, or does all the spelling and thinking feel like work to some of the players? Does the game take forever to play, so that some players' attention spans play out? Does the game encourage merciless competition, like Monopoly, leaving losers feeling left out? It's important for kids to learn how to lose and still have fun. Don't "throw" the game, intentionally letting them win all the time, but don't mercilessly beat them every time either. Make it fun. If losing is a problem for some of the kids, check out some of the new cooperative games where everyone is on the same team.
Hobbies are also great to share as a family. Maybe your family would be interested in pursuing musical skills together. Families make great singing groups because their voices match well. If that's not for you, maybe you'd all enjoy fishing. Square dancing is fun for some families, while others enjoy playing badminton or other active games and sports. The important thing is to have fun together.
Having a toy game hobby night every week will help you stay close to your kids as they grow up. It will keep the bond of love fresh and the lines of communication open. Plan a toy game hobby night this week!

UNDERWATER DIGITAL CAMERA: CAPTURING MOMENTS UNDERWATER

2008-12-16T16:47:00.000-05:00

Memories are created just about anywhere. And when I say anywhere, I mean that memories are even created underwater – so the creation of underwater digital camera.
An underwater digital camera is not just used to capture underwater memories; some professional marine photographers also use underwater digital cameras in their business. Even marine biologists and scientists use underwater digital cameras to capture marine life and thus be able to study the life and properties of the marine life. But I think it is safe to assume that you, my reader, are neither a marine scientist nor a professional photographer. Like me, you are just some photo junkie who wants to capture underwater moments and just cant figure out how without ruining your cameras.
Please listen to me when I say that even waterproof cameras cannot withstand underwater photography. To be waterproof is to resist the water in certain levels, submerging in under the water to get the perfect shot is like throwing it out of the window expecting a pick-up truck to pass by and run over it.
Now if you’re really serious about using an underwater digital camera to capture those wacky and funny moments underwater, I suggest that you buy specialty cameras.
There are rarely underwater digital cameras, as cameras are electronic and cannot withstand water and water pressure. The closest electronics has ever got to producing underwater digital cameras are producing underwater casings for digital cameras. These casing will turn your conventional digital camera into an underwater digital camera.
If you are shooting with your underwater digital camera, you need to take note of a few things to help you come up with the best images underwater.
Remember that as you farther under water, light diffuses. This means that your underwater digital camera will produce images darker than those images you took while on land – this is because of the light diffusion the red spectrum seems darker. To avoid this, use white balance come up with natural colors. Also, pictures taken underwater will come up larger than pictures taken on land with the same zoom effect. Be sure to check your underwater digital camera’s viewfinder to check the right picture angle and size that you want.
An underwater digital camera with its built-in flash will produce marine show phenomenon. It is a phenomenon wherein your pictures come out as blurry and with white particles floating above it, to avoid this phenomenon it is advisable to use external flash for your underwater digital camera.
Before using your underwater digital camera, submerge the camera in the water first for several seconds then check if there are leaks through the case. Make sure that no grain of sand or piece of hair is stuck in between the seal to make sure that water will not permeate the case and thus wet your camera in the process. It is also advisable to put silica gel or two inside the case of your underwater digital camera as long as they don’t disturb the camera’s operation. (Silica gel will keep the moisture from forming inside your camera case.)
Most underwater digital cameras come with optional lenses. Don’t be afraid to add these lenses to your underwater digital camera kit. Macro lenses will help you capture small things without getting too close and startling your subject.
Also, remember to always wash of salt when you’ve used it under salt water. If the salts are not washed off, in time they will crystallize; act as sands and cause leaks for your camera case. In cases when sands seem to get into the case, they are better washed off with streams of water.
Check out Sony, Nikon and Canon’s website for available underwater cases for your digital cameras.

2008-12-16T14:03:00.001-05:00

Things You Need to Know Before You Buy Digital Camera
Digital cameras come in many sizes, colors, brands, zooms, resolutions, playbacks, etc. There are so many features and qualities that are being placed in the devices that buyers especially first timers become overwhelmed and dizzy with these outstanding arrays of gadgets. This is even without including the various advertisements and different ratings that are used to promote these products.
So what are the things to look for if you want to buy digital camera? To be able to answer these, there are 2 sets of information you have to know before you can decide. The first type of information is defining what YOU need and want in a digital camera. To do this, you can ask yourself the following questions:
- What do you want to take with your digital camera? Before you buy digital camera, it is important to determine what kind of pictures you want to take with it. If you are a digital photography enthusiast, any digital camera will not just do. You have to look for features that can support the zooming you need, the resolution, etc.
- How much is your budget? This is a very important question any person who intends to buy digital camera should ask. Because no matter what your needs and wants are for the device, your financial resource will play a huge part in dictating the type of digital camera you will buy.
- What are you resources? When you buy digital camera, sometimes the spending does not end there. You also have to consider the capacity and the power of the computer and the printer you will be hooking your camera with for your editing and printing needs. Editing software are already included when you buy digital camera but other devices aren't. Aside from a printer, ink and paper for printing, you might also need additional memory cards for your camera and a more powerful computer to support image editing and image storage and retrieval.
After answering these 3 questions, the second set of information you need to know before you buy digital camera are the features that you need in the device. These are:
- Resolution. Before you buy digital camera, check first its capacity to produce high quality photo images. The number of pixels indicated determines resolution. The more number of pixels, the higher the resolution which can make photos to be enlarged without losing image quality.
- Built-in memory. Digital cameras need memory cards for picture storage. When you buy digital camera, make sure that the gadget that you buy does not only have a "built-in" memory but should also have a card slot for external and additional memory. This allows you to change full memory cards conveniently while shooting your pictures.
- Look and feel. It is essential for you to feel comfortable holding your digital camera while shooting. So, before you buy digital camera, it good to test and check if you are comfortable holding it and using it. Consider where the buttons are located and how they are spaced out and see also if you feel comfortable using the viewfinder.
- Battery life. Digital cameras use up batteries fast and batteries are expensive. Before you buy digital camera, consider if the camera's batteries are rechargeable. This way you can recharge them. Take also into consideration an AC adapter when you buy digital camera. You can attach this to the camera when you are viewing your pictures or uploading them
- LCD. The LCD is a special consideration you have to look into when you buy a digital camera. This is a small screen located at the back of a digital camera that allows you to preview the pictures you took. This has to be considered when you buy digital camera because it uses up a lot of battery power.
- Special features. Special features that will suit your needs should be thought about, too before you buy digital camera. If you want your camera to have good zooming, you can opt for those with optical zoom lenses. A diopter adjustment on the digital camera's viewfinder will also be beneficial to those who regularly wear glasses and wish to buy digital camera. Other features such as remote control, tripods, etc. can also be considered when you buy a digital camera.
With these information, you can now figure out what you really need and want before you buy digital camera. If you want to see ratings and rankings of these devices based on price, resolution or other features, check out various websites that have these in the Internet.

2008-12-11T16:42:00.001-05:00

5 Qualities For Affiliate Marketing

More and more people these days are turning to one
of the most popular businesses around - the business
of affiliate marketing. In this business, there are
no bosses, deadlines to meet, or piles of work that
have to be finished by the end of the day. In
order to succeed, you only need the necessary
tools.

There are basically five things you can't do without
if you want to make it in the business of affiliate
marketing. Below, you'll find each quality you'll
need.

1. Desire to learn
The first quality you must possess is the desire
to learn, coupled with the willingness to be
trained. Treading through unfamiliar territory
is tough indeed, especially if your lacking the
right knowledge. This is a combination of the right
frame of mind, coupled with a strong work ethic.

When starting out, you'll need to be willing to
keep your eyes and ears open, using the experience
of others to learn more as you go.

2. Invest time and effort
The second quality you must have is the willingness
to invest time and effort in helping your business
grow, even if you don't see immediate results. Even
though weeks may pass without hearing good news,
it's very important for anyone who wants to get
their foot in the business world.

3. Determination
The third quality you'll need is determination. If
you want to make it in the world of affiliate
marketing, you must possess to push yourself
forward. The ability to push yourself to greater
heights will determine what type of future you have.

4. Discipline
The fourth quality is self discipline. If you
teach yourself to work everyday with all of your
heart and soul, you'll be that much closer to
reaching your goals and making your dreams come true.

5. Optimism
The last quality you must have is optimism. Bad
attitudes should never discourage an affiliate
marketer from pursuing their dreams in order to
make life better for themselves or anyone around
them.

The attitude you have towards the business should
always be good, because you'll have to realize that
you're the captain of your ship and your the one
steering it towards destiny.

If you put the above tips to good use, you'll go
farther than you ever thought possible in the world
of affiliate marketing. You'll need these qualities
to succeed, as affiliate marketing can be a cutting
edge career. With the above qualities, you'll do
just fine in the industry.

THE 10 BEST WAYS YOU CAN HIDE YOUR VALUABLES

2008-12-10T19:06:00.000-05:00

Hiding your life's treasures under your pillow or mattress won'tsafeguard them from a thief. However, this doesn't mean that asafety deposit box at your bank is the only place for them.
In fact, the traditional approach of keeping one's valuables inthe home is an excellent idea, provided they are hidden inreally secret places.
The ten following ideas of where to locate a secret compartmentwill offer maximum security. The first five, because they dorequire some construction to the house, are better for peoplewho own their own homes. The second five ideas can beeffectively used by apartment dwellers or renters.
1. WALLS
- because walls are hollow, there can be hidden space behindevery wall in every room.
- the ideal spots are behind solid, fixed items, like coat racks,or boards along closet walls supporting the clothes hanging pole.
- remove the attachment and hollow out a compartment.
- make sure you camouflage your handiwork well.
2. BEAMS
- ceiling and wall beams are popular architectural features inhomes.
- make one of the false beams (one which doesn't offer muchsupport) moveable, and hollow an opening out of its top or backside.
3. BASEBOARDS
- one of the easiest-to-construct compartments is one behind abaseboard. These strips of wood that run along your walls nextto the floor are so common, no thief would give them a secondglance.
- choose a short section of board, and carefully pry it awayfrom the wall with a crowbar.
- now hollow out a hole, and replace the baseboard.
4. PANELING
- wall paneling offers a method of opening large areas of deadspace
- your best choice is behind actual boards nailed to the wallindividually, not behind the four-by-eight sheets.
5. MIRRORS
- for a compartment offering little depth, but a large area ofspace, you can construct a hollow right behind a full-lengthmirror on your closet door.
- hollow out your compartment, then mount your mirror withsliding tabs.
6. FURNITURE
- complicated secret spaces built into furniture have forcenturies been favorites.
- a simple approach is to remove the molding of a table or desk,and make a hollow.
7. BOOKCASE
- a common source of easily overlooked space is found at the baseof a bookcase. The lowest shelf is usually raised above theground level several inches, and this space is enclosed with abase-molding.
- if you can make the lowest shelf removable, you can attach yourvaluables to the underside of this shelf by means of magnets.
8. LIGHT SWITCH
- an easy and highly deceptive secret space can be constructedbehind an electric outlet plate or light switch plate.
- make sure the electricity is shut off when you remove the plateto construct your hollow.
9. HOUSEPLANTS
- secret compartments can be constructed in the base of yourplant pots: this will be especially effective if you have lotsof plants.
- seal your valuables well in plastic if they can bewater-damaged.
10. BURIED TREASURE
- finally, don't overlook the oldest hiding technique in history,of burying your valuables underground.
- make sure you have an accurate map of where your treasure isburied.
For maximum security in hiding your valuables in your own home,make sure your craftsmanship is flawless. And don't reveal yourhiding place to anyone out of your own family.

2008-12-10T15:56:00.001-05:00

Ball Chair
If you are tired of the average office chair andfind yourself experiencing chronic back pain, anexercise ball chair may be the chair you've beenlooking for. The standard office chair can be very cramped and hard on the back; which is whereball chairs can really help you out.
Ball chairs are the new and alternative solutionsto traditional office chairs. A ball chair is exciting, different, and also provides your backwith plenty of support while you sit, almost makingyou free from any of your back problems. Using anexercise ball as a ball chair is an excellent way to maintain the correct posture when sitting.
When choosing the right ball chair for your needs, here are some tips to help you: - The size of the chair should keep yourfeet on the floor while you sit, with your arms resting comfortably on the desk. When you sit on the ball chair, you should keep your legs forminga 90 degree angle at the knees. Any more or any less will mean that the ball chair isn't right foryou. - Your weight is a very important factor when choosing a ball chair. If your weight compressesthe chair and flattens it, you need to get a biggerball chair. If you happen to be very light in weight, you can under-inflate the ball chair.
Ball chairs will keep your back and abdominal musclesactive because of the slight bouncing it provides. Therefore, you can maintain proper posture, which helps to prevent back problems. Even though a ballchair can be a great alternative to a standard officechair, you should consult a doctor before you purchaseone. If you've had any back problems or surgeries, you want to get a doctor's advice before you make thatfinal purchase.

2008-12-10T15:50:00.000-05:00

3 Hour Dieting
When it comes to the world of dieting you will find that there are many diet, weight loss, and fitness plans on the market. It takes years for some to become a contender and others remain a best-kept secret of sorts. One such 'best kept' secret would be the 3 Hour Diet that was designed by Jorge Cruise. I am sure that there are many reading along and chuckling under your breath that there is no way one can lose weight by eating every three hours however the science behind the theory is fairly common and Jorge Cruise is a mainstay in the fitness industry.
The long and short of this diet operates with the knowledge that if you do not feed your body accurately and regularly your body will go into what is called 'starvation mode'. In this mode your body holds onto the fat rather than burning it up and consuming it for use. This means that your body is burning muscle rather than fat to take the energy it needs in order to function.
With the 3 Hour Diet you will not feel hungry all the time, in fact, there are many who claim they are constantly setting alarms and reminding themselves to eat. You will also learn the proper foods to eat in order to achieve the best possible results. The key is in learning which foods are right for you when dieting with this plan. You can purchase the book The 3-Hour Diet by Jorge Cruise and you can sign up online for more information about the weight plan itself and how to incorporate it into your busy routine.
I do recommend purchasing the book if you are seriously considering this as your method of dieting as there are many wonderful hints, tips, and tricks that are mentioned in the book to help you keep things going no matter how busy and hectic your lifestyle may be. One thing you need to keep in mind is that dieting with a program such as this is no small commitment. You need to stick to the timetable as much as possible in order to achieve the results this plan is famous for. If you aren't willing to eat every three hours then this plan really may not be the plan for you.
Otherwise, if this is something you would be interested in, I highly recommend it. There are special considerations based on the amount you weight currently and the amount of weight you are hoping to lose. It is best if you are honest throughout the process in order to achieve the best possible and most immediate results. The claim is that you can lose as many as 10 pounds in the first two weeks and there are those that have claimed to do just that over and over again. This is a diet that even many celebrities endorse for quick and immediate results.
The good and the bad about 3 hour dieting is that it is effective but takes a very real commitment on the part of the one that is dieting. This diet is one that is taking the world by storm. If you haven't heard of it before now, please take the time to check it out and see if this is something you could incorporate into your life. The results that have been reported as a result of this diet as nothing short of phenomenal. If there were one diet I would recommend above others for those who hate feeling hungry, it would be this diet.

dwele

2008-12-09T17:41:00.003-05:00

1. Poppa Yo (Intro)

2. Truth

3. Find a Way

4. Twuneanunda

5. A.N.G.E.L.

6. Day at a Time

7. Subject

8. Sho Ya Right

9. Money Don't Mean a Thing

10. Hold On

11. Kick Out of You

12. Without You

13. Whoomp (Interlude)

14. Lady at Mahogany

15. A.N.G.E.L. (Reprise)

16. Let Your Hair Down

2008-12-09T17:29:00.001-05:00

Gasoline Credit Cards

With gasoline getting more and more expensive, you've
probably found yourself wondering what you can do.
Even with the rising costs of gas and fuel, you
still need it to go places. No matter how you look
at it, you are at the mercy of these prices.

If you own two credit cards, changes are that you
will use one of them to pay for your gas. Gas credit
cards are now starting to shine. There are many
individuals who are planning to apply for a gas
card. Most cards are either issued by a leading
credit card company or by a major retailing gas
station.

Along with that, there are some of the gas credit
cards that give you a great deal like having
discounts on gases such as unleaded, premium, and
others. Gas credit cards also give you an
assurance to have more approved gas bonus.

If the credit card is approved, the owner of the
card will not only save money on gas, but he'll
also get an extra allowance for car equipment and
accessories. Gas cards can also help you save
a bundle on repairs as well.

Keep in mind that there are some things to consider
when you apply for a gas card. When you plan to
apply for a card, the conditions should always be
known. The benefits of the gas credit cards
available should also be studied and researched
in order to compare rates, features, and
benefits.

As the popularity of gas credit cards continue to
increase, so will the offers. Gas cards also
offer a positive effect for gasoline retailers as
well. The customer will also earn additional
incentives as well. If you plan to stick with
one brand of gas, this card can generate some of
the best rewards.

When looking for the best type of gasoline credit
card, the most important thing to do is review
the terms and conditions. The present status
of the card should also be reviewed in order to
avoid a bad credit record.

There are also several gas credit cards that will
give you extra rewards and point systems. What
this means, is that the card holder can earn
cash back on certain purchases. The more points
you get, the bigger product you can receive.

The ideal purpose of applying for gas credit cards
is to help eliminate the gas expenses. The
credit card should help you to have a deal with
gas expenses. Low interest premium cards can be
the best if you can maintain the proper balance.

The best thing about gasoline credit cards is the
fact that you don't have to pay for them now and
you can just pay later. Just don't forget to pay
the bill, as you could end up getting a bad credit
rating.

scarface

2008-12-09T17:18:00.003-05:00

Tracklist:
01. Intro (Feat. J.Prince)
02. High Powered (Feat. Papa Rue)
03. Forgot About Me (Feat. Lil' Wayne And Bun B)
04. Can't Get Right (Feat. Bilal)
05. Still Here (Feat. Shateish)
06. It's Not A Game
07. Who Are They (Feat. K-Rino And Slim Thug)
08. Soldier Story (The Product Featuring Z-Ro)
09. Redemption Song
10. High Note
11. We Need You (Feat. Wacko Of UTP)
12. Unexpected (Feat. Wacko Of UTP)
13. Emeritus
14. Outro

Yankees’ Joe Gordon Elected to Hall of Fame

2008-12-08T16:32:00.000-05:00

We’ve spent some time this winter debating the Hall of Fame credentials of a just-retired Yankee, Mike Mussina. Hopefully for the Moose’s sake, it doesn’t take 58 years after his retirement to be inducted.

That’s how long it took for Joe Gordon, the former Yankees second baseman, to make it to Cooperstown. But Gordon is in, at long last, after receiving 10 of 12 possible votes by the Veterans Committee in results announced this morning. He was the only player elected.

There are two Veterans Committee ballots, one for pre-1943 players (such as Gordon) and one for post-1942 players. There are more voters for the latter ballot, and no players from it were enshrined.

All 64 living Hall of Famers vote on the post-1942 ballot, with 48 votes (75 percent) needed for election. The closest this year was the former Cubs third baseman Ron Santo, who received 39 votes, or 60.9 percent.

Santo was followed by Jim Kaat (38, 59.4 percent), Tony Oliva (33, 51.6 percent), Gil Hodges (28, 43.8 percent), Joe Torre (19, 29.7 percent), Maury Wills (15, 23.4 percent), Luis Tiant (13, 20.3 percent), Vada Pinson (12, 18.8 percent), Al Oliver (9, 14.1 percent), Dick Allen (7, 10.9 percent).

The next chance for the group to be inducted will be in two years, but it’s worth noting that since the Veterans Committee was revised a few years ago, no post-1942 players have been elected.

“It’s not that players don’t care; there is an interest level from the players,” said the Hall of Fame President Jeff Idelson. “They obviously feel there are candidates worth election. The question is how you refine it and if, when.”

Gordon, who played for five Yankees championship teams, was the 1942 AL Most Valuable Player. That year he somehow beat out Ted Williams – who won the Triple Crown.

Reports, Employees Suggest Walmart Will Sell iPhones

2008-12-08T16:01:00.003-05:00

Walmart on Monday confirmed rumors that the retail chain will sell iPhones.

Employees in the cellphone departments of five California stores said they were training to start selling the device by the end of December,according to bloomberg.

Gadget blog The Boy Genius Report was the first to leak rumors about Walmart carrying iPhones. The publication also hinted at the possibility of Walmart selling a 4GB iPhone for $99. However, this rumor is appearing unlikely to be true: MacRumors report it recieved training and advertising materials for Walmart's iPhone, and there are no indications of a $99 model.

Walmart will become the second mass-market retail chain to carry Apple's phenomenally successful iPhone. In September, electronics retailer Bestbuy was the first to do the honors. Getting help selling iPhones from a pair of the largest retail companies will only elevate Apple's domination over the mobile phone industry.

Ron Santo denied Hall of Fame entrance

2008-12-08T15:49:00.001-05:00

LAS VEGAS - Ron Santo's quest for the Hall of Fame remained on hold Monday when he was denied entrance by voting of the Veterans Committee.

Candidates must receive 75 percent of the vote for induction. Joe Gordon, a nine-time All-Star second baseman for the New York Yankees and Cleveland Indians, was the only player elected. Gordon received 10 votes from the 12-person committee selecting candidates from 1942 or earlier.

With the 64 living Hall of Famers voting in the post-1942 portion of the ballot, candidates needed 48 votes. Santo came the closest with 39, followed by Jim Kaat (28), Tony Oliva (33), Hodges (28), Torre (19), Maury Wills (15), Luis Tiant (13), Vada Pinson (12), Al Oliver (9) and Dick Allen (7).

For his career, Santo hit .277 with 342 home runs and 1,331 runs batted in. He was a nine-time All-Star and won five Gold Gloves

Santo was first placed on the Hall of Fame ballot in 1980, but he received less than 4 percent of the total ballots cast by the Baseball Writers Association of America. He was removed from the ballot for failing to garner enough votes to remain among the candidates, but he was reinstated in 1985 when the BBWAA placed several "overlooked" candidates back in the mix.

But in the next 14 years, Santo never came close to receiving the necessary 75 percent, climbing to just 43 percent in 1998, his final year of eligibility.

His name then came up for inclusion by voting of the Veterans Committee, but this led only to several close calls and more sleepless nights for Santo. He thought he had an excellent chance in February 2003, when the voting panel was changed to the 58 living members of the Hall of Fame, 25 writers and broadcasters in the Hall and two holdovers from the old Veterans Committee whose terms had not expired.

"My peers," Santo said before the vote.

Santo even invited the media to his house to chronicle the moment, but he was crushed when the induction phone call never came. No one was elected that year, and Santo finished third, 15 votes shy of the necessary 75 percent, trailing Gil Hodges and Tony Oliva. Santo had said in the days before the results were announced that this probably would be his "last good chance" to make it.

But after the vote, he said: "I'm not going to say that. I can say this, though: Believe me, I'm not going to pay a lot of attention to it. Maybe the same thing will happen, but I won't be talking as much and feeling as good."

When the Cubs retired his jersey number 10 in a ceremony at Wrigley Field that September, an emotional Santo said to the crowd, "This is my Hall of Fame."

But true to form, Santo got his hopes up once more when he was up for election again in February 2005. This time he fell eight votes shy. By February 2007, Santo was cautiously optimistic, but he said the night before the announcement that he would not sleep at all, alluding to his health problems and the two-year wait between elections by the Veterans Committee.

To me, two years, because of what I have with the diabetes and [getting] older, it's like eternity," he said. "If I do get in, I'd like to enjoy it."

Though Santo finished first on the '07 ballot with 57 of 82 votes cast, he was still five votes short of 75 percent. And for the third straight time, no player was elected by the Veterans Committee.

It all seemed like a big tease. Every time Santo would get his hopes up, only to see them dashed. He was worried he wouldn't be around long enough to experience the thrill of getting in, especially after having both legs amputated below the knee in 2001 and '02.

Santo was distraught about the result in '07. He referred to the process as "torture."

"I'll be honest," he said. "Maybe it's just not in the cards [for me]."

Again this year, he was right.

2008-12-08T15:45:00.001-05:00

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Payments of around $1.5 billion will likely need to be made to settle credit default swaps on Tribune Co's debt, after the newspaper publisher on Monday filed for bankruptcy protection.

The privately held publisher of the Chicago Tribune and Los Angeles Times, which took on about $13 billion of debt when it went private last year under a deal led by real estate mogul Sam Zell, filed for bankruptcy after struggling with its heavy debt load.

Around $20.5 billion of credit default swaps on Tribune's debt are outstanding, though this number falls to around $1.5 billion after netting down redundant exposures, according to data by the Depository Trust and Clearing Corp, which confirms the majority of credit derivative trades.

Credit default swaps are used to protect against a borrower defaulting on their debt, or to speculate on their credit quality.

When a borrower defaults protection buyers are paid the full amount insured in return for the defaulted debt, or cash equivalents.

Tribune's bonds traded between 3 and 6 cents on the dollar on Monday, indicating protection sellers are unlikely to recover much from the contracts.

Tribune had $11 billion in outstanding long term debt as of Sept 28, according to a regulatory filing

2008-12-08T12:50:00.003-05:00

Cell phones, do you really want to be available all the time?

Do you really want to be available for anyone and everyone on a 24/7 basis? What do I mean? A famous person once said that the more available you make yourself; the more available everyone will expect you to be. People will actually be annoyed if you are not instantly and constantly available rather than being pleased when you do call. People expecting you to be available all the time may be annoying. Cell phone calls follow you everywhere you are including your bathroom. Even during nighttime when you want to rest, cell phones continue to ring and annoy you. If it is important, no problem but if it is very menial, why you need to be bothered so late.

Today in this modern society, we live in and the proliferation of cell phones we see people talking anywhere and everywhere. If used for business, this may prove to be very effective and worthy. However, for very menial issues being bothered in your sleep and even during your bathroom time may be quite annoying if not outright disgusting. However, if you make yourself available all the time, you created your own nightmare.

Cell phone etiquette is getting to be a forgotten concept. You will see people talking on the phone loudly and disturbs people nearby in restaurants and even in offices. I am sure by now, once or twice in a meeting you will notice that when a cell phone rings, almost everyone around will immediately look for their cell phones. If you were the one talking, and then the person in front of you talks on his phone, how would you feel? I am sure you will feel belittled and ignored. Rude practice, and should be changed.

It may help people who use cell phones to follow certain degree of etiquette with respect to the use of cell phones specially in places where you may seem rude if you use or even when your cell phone rings.

When you are in a place of worship, it may be necessary to leave your cell phone in the house or at least turn it off if you do not want to be away with it. This is because ringing cell phone will not just disturb you while you pray it will also disturb others. You do not need to show off your expensive gadget in a place of worship.

During meetings, please turn off your cell phone; it is rude to have your phone ringing while somebody speaks. Disruption may cause problems especially when the meeting tackles extremely important issues. However, if you are waiting for terribly important call, you may use the vibrate mode of your cell phone to alert you when a call is in-coming and leave the meeting if you need to answer the call. You may also inform the possible caller that you are in a meeting and that you cannot be disturbed.

When traveling and if you are on-board an aircraft, you will be required to turn off your phone. This is because electronics devices may interfere with the aircraft’s avionics. Thus, it is a requirement to turn of your phone for safety reasons. However, for extremely long flights, airline companies allow cell phone usage at a certain time, if you really need to make a phone call, use this time allotted if necessary.

Cell phone have become to be a necessity nowadays, that is why most people use it and cell phone manufacturers have continuously develop different usage and functions for this very small gadget. Be globally competitive, but you should understand that being rude is not part of modernity. Follow certain degree of etiquette; this will be very helpful to you and your business.

2008-12-06T17:56:00.003-05:00

Cooking with Children
I am fairly certain that most of us have either seen or at the very least heard of the hit situation comedy "Married with Children" that dominated television for quite a few years and is still shown in syndication in many markets around the world. There are some wonderful insights that are shown by this often dysfunctional family and a few pearls to bring into your every day lives. The same can be said when it comes to cooking with children.
There is little on this earth that can teach you about yourself and the way your children view you as easily as cooking with your children. Of course, this is the perfect opportunity for many of us to let our hair down a little, relax, and have fun in the kitchen. Unfortunately, if you are anything like me, this is a difficult process to say the least. I am a bit of a control freak in my kitchen. It is my domain or sovereign territory so to speak. For this reason it is difficult to give up that little bit of control and hand over the reigns to any one of my children.
On the other hand, I know they are learning important skills that they honestly need to know in life. This knowledge of course doesn't make it any less difficult when I'm scraping tomato sauce out of places I would never have thought to discover it on my own. If you are considering cooking with children you need to make sure you have the proper ingredients on hand before beginning. You certainly do not want to be caught without that cup full of patience you will be requiring nor do you wish to need to leave in the middle of things for a run to the local grocery store to pick up the missing ingredients.
Another great rule of thumb when it comes to cooking with children is the KISS rule. Keep it simple silly. This rule will help out more than you ever realize. First of all, most children have relatively short attention spans. While they want to learn and help mommy out, they also do not want to have enough time to get bored with the details. Use simple recipes when cooking with children and your chances for success will be much greater than with overly complicated or ingredient intense recipes.
As if this wasn't enough to absorb another very important rule when it comes to cooking with children is to clean as you go whenever possible. Trust me on this. While there is part of you who will want to put off the task of cleaning the messes that are made until later, or wait till the end and only clean once, this allows the opportunity for messes to layer and compound themselves. Constantly clean throughout the process for the best possible results. You should enlist your children in the cleaning process as well. While it may be easier to do yourself, it is far more important to teach them the basics of cleaning as you go. Remember one day they will more than likely invade your kitchen while you're not looking.
Cooking with children can be an incredible way to have a fun day if you are able to let go of the control that you too often hold over the kitchen. Give over the keys to your kingdom for a day of fun and frolicking among the flour and sugar and see just how many wonderful memories you can make with your little ones along the way.

2008-12-05T20:33:00.001-05:00

Christmas Shopping for Out of Town Relatives
Although living nearby to all of your relatives can be a wonderful experience, unfortunately this is not always the case and relatives are often separated by vast differences. Sometimes you are forced to relocate because of a job and sometimes you just move because you would like to live in and experience a new city, state or country. Likewise one or more of your relatives may opt to relocate for the same reasons. Regardless of how or why it happened many of us often find ourselves in a situation where our relatives may be spread out all over the globe. This is a sad fact of life which makes it more difficult to stay in touch and also greatly complicates the Christmas shopping process. This article will take a look at some of the dilemmas associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives and will provide some strategies for dealing with these dilemmas.
The financial cost and the hassle of shipping gifts is one of the most obvious problems in this scenario. Items which are large, heavy or fragile can be difficult to ship. For example you may find a beautiful crystal vase that you know your out of town cousin will love but you may be hesitant to purchase this item because you are afraid it will be lost or damaged during shipping. Even shipping small items can be a problem particularly if they are items which would be hard to replace such as collectors items or limited edition items. In these cases it may be wise to stick with gifts such as gift certificates for your out of town relatives. These can often be included in a Christmas card and mailed with only the use of one stamp. Although these gifts may seem unexciting it is much easier than dealing with the long lines which typically exist at any shipping location around the Christmas season.
Another problem associated with Christmas shopping for out of town relatives is you may have a great deal of difficulty selecting gifts for these relatives. You may have been very close with the relative when they lived nearby but distance can make it difficult to stay in touch and can result in emotional distance between you and your far away relatives. You may be unaware of her current hobbies and interests which can make it difficult to select a personalized gift she will really appreciate. Opting for more generic items such as sweaters or scented bath soaps and candles is one way to deal with this problem. Another way to deal with this dilemma is to make a concerted effort to get in contact with your relative before you begin the Christmas season. Whether you give them a call or send an email or letter you will be opening up the lines of communication which can give you some insight into their current life and can help make it easier for you to select a great Christmas gift she will really appreciate.
Even purchasing items for the home can be difficult when it comes to out of town relatives. You may see a throw pillow or a vase you think your cousin will absolutely love and which would match her living room perfectly but you may be unaware that she has redecorated the living room by painting the walls a different color or purchasing new furniture to replace the furniture you remember so well. This may seem like a big detail but even if you have kept in contact with your cousin she may have forgotten to mention she had redecorated. This can make purchasing home related items for out of town relatives quite difficult. You can help to alleviate this problem by purchasing decorative items as gifts but including a gift receipt with the gift when you ship it to your relative. This makes it easier for them to return the item if it does not match their décor and purchase a more suitable item. They will appreciate the gesture of your gift as well as your thoughtfulness in allowing them to choose an item that really works well in their living space.

2008-12-05T20:27:00.005-05:00

Christmas Shopping for Kids
Christmas is a truly magical season that is enjoyed by many but no one enjoys the Christmas season more than kids. It might be the prospect of some well deserved time off from school, the allure of the lights and decorations, the beauty of the snow that often accompanies Christmas or just the anticipation of Santa and his sleigh filled with toys that is so exciting for children but it is evident that most kids are truly enchanted by Christmas. For this reason many adults truly enjoy shopping for kids and Christmas time.
While Christmas shopping for kids is a great deal of fun there are some factors to consider when Christmas shopping for kids. A few of the specific concerns include selecting age appropriate toys, selecting toys which are not too noisy or too big for the child’s living situation, selecting toys the child does not already have, selecting toys which the parents consider to be acceptable and finally selecting toys the child will enjoy. This can make Christmas shopping for kids a little more difficult but does not make the shopping any less fun.
Selecting age appropriate toys is very important when Christmas shopping for kids. This is so important for a couple of reasons. First of all it is important because toys which are designed for older children might be potentially dangerous for the child. For example toys which are designed for children over the age of three may contain small pieces which pose a choking hazard. Children under the age of three still often put toys and other objects in their mouths so they must receive toys which contain only pieces large enough to not be a choking hazard. Also, toys which are designed for an older child or even a younger child may not be as much fun for the child as they would be for children of the appropriate age. If the child is too young for the toy, they may be come easily frustrated because they can not use the toy appropriately. Conversely a child who is too old for a particular toy may become bored with the toy quickly.
When shopping for Christmas gifts for a child, it is also important to consider the child’s parents and the living situation. This includes the size of the living area and the proximity to neighbors. Specifically toys which are particularly noisy may not be appropriate for a child who lives in an apartment building with other apartment units nearby. Also, large toys such as a trampoline may not be appropriate for a child who does not have a yard large enough to accommodate such a gift. Similarly large indoor items such as a foosball table would not be appropriate for a child who does not have a dedicated toy room to accommodate such a large item. As a general rule it is best to stick with small items which do not make a great deal of noise when Christmas shopping for kids.
It is also important to consider the personal beliefs of the parents when shopping for Christmas gifts for their children. Specifically you should not purchase an item for a child if you know their parents are ethically opposed to such as item. Guns and violent video games are a couple of obvious example of Christmas gifts which may offend the parents. There are many parents who do not allow their children to play with these items because they believe they promote violence. If you are not sure about the feelings of the parents, it is best not to select these items.
Finally, when Christmas shopping for a child, it is wise to consult the parents beforehand. This can be helpful for a couple of different reasons. First the parents can give some insight into the child’s hobbies and interests which may make selecting a gift easier. They may even suggest a specific item from the child’s Christmas list ensuring you are giving the child something he really wants for Christmas. Consulting the parents can also prevent you from giving the child a gift he already has. Try calling the parents before you make a purchase to suggest a particular item. They can let you know if they think the child will enjoy the item or if the child already has the item.

2008-12-05T20:24:00.001-05:00

Christmas Shopping for Grab Bags
Although the Christmas season is all about giving, many people often find themselves completely stressed out about the prospect of Christmas shopping. For these individuals, one of the most stressful shopping situations involves Christmas shopping for gifts to contribute to grab bags. Sure it may be easy to purchase a great gift for your sister or your best friend but purchasing a gift for a complete stranger is considerably more difficult. Consider an office Christmas grab bag where each participant is asked to bring in a gift of an approximate dollar value. Each participant then takes turns choosing a gift from the grab bag. This can be a difficult situation because the participants likely have a variety of different interests and you may not even know all of the participants. However, there are a few strategies for making selecting a Christmas gift for this occasion fairly simple.
One of the easiest ways to ease the stress of this Christmas shopping dilemma is to purchase a Christmas gift you would be happy to receive. This is not as simple as it sounds because you also have to ensure the gift you choose is something which will appeal to others. You may have a specific interest such as knitting and may be thrilled with the prospect of receiving knitting needles but it is not reasonable to expect that everyone else would be happy with this Christmas gift. When Christmas shopping for a grab bag, it is important to choose items you like but that are also practical and universally liked. This will help to ensure the item you select will be enjoyed and cherished by the grab bag participant who selects the item you purchased. Useful household gadgets are often very good ideas for this type of situation.
Another way to deal with the stress of Christmas shopping for grab bag presents is to carefully consider the participants who will be selecting a Christmas gift from the grab bag. If you know most of the other people, you probably also have a good idea about the types of gifts they will like. For example, if you work in an office where most of the employees are Green Bay Packer fans, it might be a good idea to purchase an item such as a Green Bay Packers sweatshirt. Although the entire office may not be Packers fans you are putting the odds in your favor by selecting a gift which will appeal to the majority of the participants who are selecting a Christmas gift from the grab bag. Even if the person who selects the item does not enjoy the gift, they may be able to trade with another participant who will be very excited to receive the gift in question.
Finally when Christmas shopping for a grab bag gift, you should consider purchasing a gift card or gift certificate as a gift. This gift will likely appeal to all of the participants in the Christmas gift grab bag and will help to ensure the lucky participant who selects your gift will be able to use the gift card to purchase something they really want or need.
Still others who are Christmas shopping for a grab bag gift might consider purchasing a joke gift and including a gift receipt along with the item so the participant can exchange the item for something they would prefer. For example you might want to purchase a CD or DVD to contribute to the grab bag but selecting a CD or DVD which will be appreciated by all the participants and which the participants do not already own can be difficult. However, it might be fun to purchase a CD from an artist most people would be embarrassed to own or a DVD for a cheesy movie and include the gift receipt so the recipient can return the embarrassing CD or DVD for a CD or DVD they really like. All of the participants will get a laugh out of seeing the embarrassing gift and the participant gets to return the gift so everyone wins in this situation.

2008-12-05T18:57:00.003-05:00

Credit Card Fraud

This day and age, credit card fraud is very common. Victims of credit card fraud often experience a lot of hassle and stress. If you have a credit card, you should always be aware of the security features that is included with the card. If you are looking to get a credit card, you should always make sure that it offers plenty of security.

With credit card companies all over the United States, credit card fraud is becoming more and more common. Consumers are becoming more and more aware of the situation, and always look for ways to protect themselves. Many companies that offer credit cards are looking into other methods of security, to prevent credit card fraud from happening.

The best way to protect yourself against fraud is to check the monthly credit card statements you receive. By looking at your statements, you’ll easily be able to tell if your account has suffered any type of fraud. If you notice any type of fraudulent charges, you should instantly contact your credit card company and inform them. This way, they look into it and try to retrieve the money that was illegally stolen from you.

Another way that you protect yourself from fraud is to never reply to emails that may appear to be sent by your bank or credit card company. There are a lot of fake emails going around, that will steal your information should you enter it in. You should always use caution with emails, and reply only if you know that the email was indeed sent from your bank or credit card provider.

You can also protect yourself from fraud by keeping your credit card around you at all times. When you hand it to someone to make a payment, ensure that it is given back to you promptly. You should also keep it safe from others so they can’t view your information. When you carry your credit card with you, you should always keep it in a safe place, such as your wallet. This way, you don’t have to worry about it falling out.

There are always steps that you can take, to avoid falling into the trap of thieves and criminals. Criminals are always out there, looking for ways that they can steal your credit card information. Therefore, it’s up to you to protect yourself. Credit card fraud happens quite frequently these days, normally as a result of credit card holders not being aware of how to protect themselves. Anytime you suspect credit card fraud, you should contact your bank or company. This way, you can let them know what happened - and take the necessary steps in stopping fraud before it goes on any farther.

2008-12-05T18:57:00.001-05:00

Christmas Shopping For Close Relatives

Christmas shopping for close relatives can be extremely easy in some aspects but it can also be extremely difficult in other aspects. One the one hand shopping for close relatives is simple and a great deal of fun because they are people you really care about and people you know really well. However, on the other hand shopping for close relatives can also be extremely difficult and stressful because there is the added pressure to select Christmas gifts your relatives will really cherish and enjoy. This article will discuss some of the aspects of this Christmas shopping situation to help shoppers find the perfect gift for their loved ones.

Most people really look forward to Christmas shopping for their close relatives. For them this is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a loved one that he or she is sure to enjoy and appreciate. They also look forward to shopping for these close relatives because they know them well and likely have a number of great ideas for what to buy. However, all of these great ideas may turn out to be a source of stress. For example, you may immediately think of five or six great gift ideas for a particular relative. The problem you may encounter is that you think each of the gifts would be absolutely perfect and therefore have a great deal of trouble deciding which gift to select. Purchasing all of the items may not be feasible in terms of your budget and you may be disappointed that you can only select one item from the list of ideas. This can create stress because you may worry about selecting the best possible choice.

Another problem which may stem from having a lot of great ideas about what to get a particular relative is you may not be able to find the exact item for which you are searching. This can be particularly stressful and frustrating especially if you know a particular item would make the perfect gift for your loved one but are simply unable to find the exact item you are seeking during any of your shopping trips. In this case you may become obsessed with finding this particular item. Not being able to find this item can be incredibly frustrating. This frustration can make the shopping a great deal less fun. It can also cause you to not see other items which would also be great gifts because you are so focused on finding this one particular item.

Even when you don’t have a list of gift ideas for a particular relative, you may experience a great deal of frustration during your Christmas shopping. This frustration may stem from being too concerned about finding a gift which your close relative will really cherish and appreciate. The pressure of finding a great Christmas gift for a loved one is so important because you do not want someone you care so much about to be disappointed by the Christmas gift you give them. Although this should not really be a concern because it is most likely your close relatives will all be thrilled with the gifts you select for them but it still caused stress for many people.

Another problem associated with shopping for close relatives is it may be difficult to select appropriate gifts for multiple relatives without worrying that the relatives will compare the gifts. Again, this is not a likely scenario as most people would not go out of their way to discuss the gifts they were given but it is something that causes concern for many. Some individuals will feel that it is not appropriate to purchase an expensive gift for one relative but not for others. One way to deal with this is to select one item and give similar items to all of the relatives. Although the gifts will not be unique or selected for each individual it is one way to deal with the possibility of the recipients sharing information about the gifts they received. One example of how to do this is to give an item such as a sweater to each relative but to personalize the gift by selecting different styles or colors for each relative.

2008-12-05T18:55:00.001-05:00

Christmas Shopping During Big Sales

Several times a year retailers offer big sales on many of their items. Some of these times include President’s Day, Easter, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and of course Christmas. Retailers hold sale events during these times of year to encourage shoppers to get out and make some big purchases. The last minute Christmas shopping frenzy which takes place each year can be largely attributed to the sale events at Christmas time. Many shoppers specifically wait until the last minute to do their Christmas shopping because they know many items will go on sale at this time. While this is an excellent way to save money, savvy Christmas shoppers know that doing a little bit of their Christmas shopping at these other sales during the year can help to ease the stress and financial burdens often associated with last minute Christmas shopping.

Christmas shopping during big sales is definitely a good idea but it is important to remember that there are some ways to really take advantage of a big sale and some ways to have your Christmas shopping deterred by a big sale. This article will discuss a few basic strategies for doing your Christmas shopping during big sales without falling into some of the common pitfalls often associated with shopping during sales.

One of the biggest pitfalls associated with doing your Christmas shopping during big sales events is to end up purchasing many items you don’t need and would not have purchased if they weren’t on sale. This can be a problem especially if it causes you to exceed the budget you have set for Christmas shopping. This often happens when shoppers encounter a sale they think is simply too good to pass up. For some shoppers a discount of more than 50% seems very appealing and they may be tempted to buy these items just because the price has been reduced by so much but they might not really need the item. In this case the shopper may be saving 50% off of the original price because of the discount but if they wouldn’t have purchased the item if it wasn’t on sale they are really spending more than they would normally spend and are essentially losing money. To avoid this pitfall, it is wise to make a list of each person on your list and what you intend to purchase for them so you will not be tempted by big bargains.

Another problem associated with Christmas shopping during big sales is that hesitancy often causes the shopper to miss out on an item. When you are Christmas shopping during a big sale it is important to be slightly impulsive. If you see an item you think you would like to purchase for someone on your Christmas list, you have to either buy it right away or run the risk that it will be gone if you come back later to look for the item. Retailers often put items on sale when they only have a limited quantity of the item in stock and therefore once they sell out the item is gone. So it is important to remember that when you are Christmas shopping during a big sale, you have to make decisions quickly. You need to either decide to purchase an item or completely forget about the item because it will likely be sold soon after you leave the store.

2008-12-05T16:30:00.000-05:00

Buying Clothing When Christmas Shopping

Christmas shopping can be a lot of fun. Spending some time searching for the perfect gift for everyone on your gift list can be a great deal of fun. It is also rewarding when you find and purchase a gift you just know your loved one will treasure. However, there is one aspect of Christmas shopping which seems to be difficult for everyone. It seems when it comes to buying clothing while Christmas shopping, everyone seems to have at least a slight hesitation. There are just so many variables when it comes to clothes shopping that it can be difficult to shop for clothing for those on your gift list. Some of the variables which make Christmas shopping for clothing so difficult include size, color, style and material. This article will take a look at why Christmas shopping for clothing is so difficult and will attempt to offer some insight into how to purchase clothing for others.

The matter of size is one thing that makes Christmas shopping for clothing so difficult. You may have a good idea about what size your friend or family members is but it can be difficult to select the correct size particularly for items such as pants, skirts, dresses or blazers. Items such as sweatshirts in which the fit does not have to be perfectly tailored are easier to shop for but even with these items you still run the risk of selecting a shirt which is too small. A sweatshirt which is too big is considered acceptable as many people where these shirts large as a style but shirts which are too small can be rather uncomfortable and will not likely be worn by the recipient. When Christmas shopping for clothing it is wise to either select casual items or ask the recipient to try on the clothing. This ruins the element of surprise but will help you to select the correct size. You may wish to discuss your intentions to purchase clothing for your friend or family member and ask them if they would prefer to receive a surprise or to participate in the selection process by trying on items before they are purchased.

Selecting colors is another difficult aspect of Christmas shopping for clothing. In general if you know your friend or family members wears a particular color often, it is safe to assume they like this color and enjoy wearing this color. However, even this safe strategy can backfire on you at times. You may decide to purchase an article of clothing in this particular color because you see your friend or family members wearing the color often but you may soon find out they are tired of wearing that particular color and were hoping to receive clothing in other colors to expand their wardrobe. Again you can alleviate this problem by talking to your friend or relative and asking them what colors they would like to wear. This lets them know you are planning to purchase clothing for them for Christmas but does not give away the type of clothing or the style of the clothing.

Perhaps one of the most difficult dilemmas associated with Christmas shopping for clothing is selecting a style which will be appealing to the recipient of the Christmas gift and will look good on the recipient as well. If you are purchasing a gift of clothing for a really close friend or family member you may have a good idea about the style of clothing she likes because you see the clothing she wears on a regular basis but it still can be difficult to pick out items which you know she will like and will be flattering on her in terms of style. Again one of the best ways to deal with this situation is to ask the friend or relative to come shopping with you.