Sony: Microsoft Wants Blu-Ray Xbox

Apparently, the news is buzzing around with talks about Microsoft being in the works of trying to work out a way for them to get blu-ray technology into their Xbox 360's. In theory, this would allow for Microsoft to better compete with Sony's Playstation which has the obvious advantage with its built in blu-ray technology. However, Microsoft would have to pay for the technology.

It just seems funny to me to see Microsoft initially supporting HD-DVD back when they thought it was going to be the winner of the high definition war. Now that HD-DVD is a failure, they go groveling to Sony for the technology they should have backed in the first place. Funny how.

Ocean Potion Sun Tan Lotion

Spring Break is almost here and thats why I am going to tell you about this amazing sun care and tanning product line from Ocean Potion. They have a variety of products to choose from depending on what you prefer. My personal favorite is Xtreme Coconut Oil with SPF 4 because I love the smell of coconut oil and its super healthy for your skin. The website has many different products such as the "gradual glow" tanning lotion which absorbs into the skin fast, as well as softens your skin with its natural contents. It also has natural shea and coco butters to make it go on smooth without looking fake and without those nasty streaks.

So anyways, there is this Spring Break contest going on at opotion.com that is trying to get the general public to enter a 30 second to 1 minute video commercial for there tanning line on YouTube. A winner will be selected and that person will win a $5000 reward. Spring Break is around the corner, and for all you people that want a better tan without the sun can use a product from opotion.com. Besides that, don't forget to some crunches while you're at it so you look extra hot along with your new sunless tan.

Apple Iphone to Woo Blackberry Users

In an article out of Bloomberg, Apple's Steve Jobs has announced plans to allow third party software writers to build upon the IPhone platform which was previously blocked by Apple before. The main reason many Blackberry users haven't switched to the Iphone was because of lack of the ability to access corporate email automatically from the phone. Now Steve Jobs has a new goal of selling 10 million I-phones by the end of 2008. So about 4.1 million have been sold so far.

By allowing corporate email such as Microsoft Exchange, to work in the I-phone, the hopes are that many people who hold dear to their Blackberries, might make the switch. Will Steve Jobs hit the goal by the end of year?

Get Organized with Labels

Do you ever feel like you should start getting organized around your house or small business? Well if you've thought about it like so many people do, then you should highly consider starting out by printing out labels for things like files, containers, or storage boxes. Having things labeled make searching for things so much easier.

I've checked out this site for label makers and it is actually pretty cool. They have videos that show you how easy it is to apply labels and they could benefit your life.
If you click on the home solutions link and get a list of the products available, you will see how they have a compare feature which I used to compare two different label makers that were exactly the same price, but I wanted a comparison of the different features offered by both of them. The two models were LT-100H and LT-100T, the only difference at first glance is their appearance. But they both have cool features like languages available in English, Spanish, and French, and they both had box effects and memory to remember the last label printed.

As a small business, I would say having on of these if you don't already is a must. Personally, since I have been thinking about starting a business, I am going to invest in one. Also don't forget to check out their desktop mailing solution. They offer a printer with full access to online stamps which allows you to print out postage right from your home or small business. Check out the site for full details.

California to Utilize Methane from Dairy Cows

According to Earthtimes.org, PG&E and BioEnergy solutions just came up with the world's first project that will utilize the methane released from dairy cow manure for use into California's Renewable energy portfolio. It's the first of its kind to be implemented from bio gas to pipeline. It works by flushing the manure into a covered lagoon after which the manure decomposes and special scrubbers purify the gas to pipeline standards and get shipped off for use. This initial project will start out at a 5,000 dairy cow farm but has potential to reach California's 2 million cow population.

The system claims to reduce 70 percent of the methane that would have been dispersed into the atmosphere. This form of methane capture saves the planet from additional greenhouse gases, as methane is a greenhouse gas 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. It also qualifies PG&E for inclusion into their renewable energy portfolio under biomass. California energy regulators have required energy companies to produce 20 percent renewable energy by 2010 which has the energy companies scrambling to comply through either solar, biomass, wind, geothermal, or small hydroelectric. The future of natural gas could come from an entirely renewable source for California.

A similar project in Israel is underway to capture methane for electricity. It appears that the projects finally caught on in the states, turning brown into green.

With basic knowledge about insurance quotes, you can end up in a much better deal of house insurance as well as any health deal like a dental insurance. Plus, it also saves you from a specious and cheap travel insurance deal.

Domain Registration

If you are a blogger or website owner or wish to become one, you must first seek to purchase a Domain Registration for the name of your website or blog. At paylessdomains, there is a simple search tool that allows you to search for the availability of website names or domain names. You can easily check for available .com or .net websites with the click of a button.

The prices are definitely not bad either. It only costs 11.95 for a .com or .net and that lasts for a whole year. Not only that but special discounts are applied when you register a name for two years or more. A host of available features come with the purchase of the domain name including domain forwarding, email hosting, and 24/7 customer support to name a few.

To get started all you need to do is register an account with the website and fill in the necessary forms. And if you are looking for a domain transfer, its totally free. Purchasing a domain name through these guys are simple and easy. Check them out for yourself.

Next Generation Hybrid Technologies

According to BusinessWeek, General Motors and Daimler are beefing up their automobiles to be real competitors against Japanese auto makers Honda and Toyota who seem to have a firm grip on the hybrid market.

The first of its kind, new hybrid vehicles with lithium ion batteries will be manufactured for the Mercedes-Benz flagship S-class luxury sedan. Lithium ion batteries will transform the hybrid market with longer lasting batteries and better performance than their nickel metal hydride counterparts in current hybrid vehicles.

GM doesn't plan to offer lithium ion hybrids until 2010 with plans to put lithium ion batteries into its Saturn Vue Plug-in, but it does say it plans to use it across a broad range of its models as well including the much anticipated Chevy Volt.

A smart move for The Big Three Auto companies as Toyota has plans to compete by utilizing plug-in hybrids which can add more fuel efficiency and the ability to drive in all electric mode if drivers only drive a short distance everyday.

The dynamics of the emerging hybrid markets are very interesting to say the least. We'll keep you updated as more stories come out on the topic. More info on the hybrid plug in wars between Toyota and GM. GM has a lot of catching up to do because even Honda Hybrids are gaining momentum as they try to place their dominance in the market of high fuel efficient vehicles.

Peoples Health Insurance - Find the Right Plan

There are lot of people in the country that might not have health insurance due to various reasons like being in between jobs, or a college student, etc. Having health insurance is one of the most important ways to cover yourself in case of a health emergency.

A really cool site that I came across offers just that. It offers health insurance for any situation and has the right plan for everyone. Some of the plans range from affordable short term health insurance, to student health insurance. Student health insurance is something that I had to purchase while I was going through college due to unavailable coverage in my area. It was a simple process and was reasonably priced. Make sure you don't just assume that you are covered under your parents plan when attending college like so many of my friends did. It can cost you thousands of dollars in medical bills like my dear friend Danielle.

The site has easy to follow instructions depending on your desired needs for insurance. Applying is easy, all you have to do is fill in a form, and they do the rest. Remember not to gamble on your health, it's just not worth it.

The Amero Currency

I read this over at the Modesto Bee, and wondered to myself how such a system would be implemented. The Amero is a currency that would encompass a union of currencies the US Dollar, the Canadian Dollar, and the Mexican Peso. Supposedly this is all a part of the North American Union that some conspiracy theorists keep talking about as well as some members of congress. The issue never gets any public media unless it is to try and discredit it.

But I say, bring it on. Our economy is so messed up or soon will be, what harm will a new currency do to our devalued Dollar anyway. Maybe it will help us prevent a recession. I say lets follow the EU model and become a North American Union and introduce a new currency just as the Europeans have. Look at how well the EURO is doing against other world currencies. It's time to look past petty differences between the countries we share borders with and become a regional super power.

Check it out or google the Amero for yourself.

EZunsecured Business Loans

If you have entrepreneurial blood like I do, then you will really be interested in this blog post about how obtain an easy unsecured business loan. Do have an idea for a startup business but don't know where to get the capital to start it? Look no further than EZunsecured Business Loans.

The site features:
1.) Easy Process: A quick look at their info page reveals that they provide easy service without having to deal with banks if your FICO credit score is 700 or above. If not, thats okay too, you'll just be required to provide documentation of finances.

2.) Fast Funding: You could get the money into your checking account as soon as two weeks without any documentation, however, if you provide documents as well as respond to phone calls and emails in a timely matter, this can dramatically increase the funding process.

3.) Excellent Service: The site provides excellent service by taking care of all the necessary requirements and hassles versus dealing with lenders at a bank. They can save you time and damage to your credit report from too many inquiries as well.

Honestly, if you are in the market for a business loan or were thinking about starting one, then check these guys out. They can save you so much time and money.

Ben Bernanke says More Should be Done to Help Home Owners

According to the New York Times, Ben Bernanke told a group of bankers in Florida that "more can and should be done" to help the millions of people that are facing struggles in these times of the current mortgage crisis. He wants to help those people with mortgages that exceed the value of their homes. His basic point was that he was urging the bankers to forgive portions of loans in order to prevent a broader economic weakening in the country. He apparently avoided saying that there was going to be a government bailout.

Democratic leaders in Congress are pushing for bolder action. The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, will hold a closed meeting on Wednesday with some of the leading advocates for more extensive rescue measures.

Overall, more and more foreclosures are expected to keep rolling through 2008. As more time goes on more pressure will be put onto the government for some sort of bailout. We'll have to wait and see the outcome.

Car Insurance

I am sure everyone one of you who drives out there is familiar with the auto insurance industry. No one likes to pay it, but we all have to. Some of the most annoying things about Car Insurance is that if you ever get a speeding ticket or into an accident, then you bill goes up.

In my case, however, I am just one of those young guys at the age 24 waiting to turn the magical age of 25 so my car insurance can go down. I definitely have checked into all the possible discounts I can get for the type of vehicle I have by going into the office. Some people don't realize that they qualify for discounts and should call their insurance companies immediately to ask. This can either save you money right away or they might tell you a way to save by taking a class or installing better safety features of some sort.

With my car, which is a Honda Civic Hybrid, I get extra discounts because it is a hybrid, and I also get extra discounts for having good safety features on it. I have also been a good driver for the past five years so I get an additional discount for that. All in all, I am pretty happy with my insurance company and I have thought about looking around to see if I could get a better deal. If you are thinking about looking for new auto insurance then check out that link above^ because they are giving out free insurance quotes. Either way, car insurance is a fact of life.

Boeing Pissed About Tanker Deal

In a startling fiasco between Boeing and the United States Air Force, a contract which was to replace 179 tankers worth $100 billion over the next 30 years was awarded to a foreign company (Air Bus) in Europe.

Boeing and members of Congress are absolutely livid and waiting to be debriefed about how the decision was made and under what criteria. Opponents say that many jobs in America were depending on the contract which was assumed to be handed to Boeing.

According to an article on CNN over the issue:

The company says a win would have supported 44,000 new and existing jobs at Boeing and more than 300 suppliers in more than 40 states.

Hawthorne Direct Infomercial/Commercial Production

I think everyone is guilty of staying up late and watching infomercials at night with a batch of freshly made popcorn. The thoughts that roll through your head seem to be something like "why hasn't anyone thought of that before?!?" or "Whoa! I have got to get me one of those," you sit there and watch them to until the end as if to find out more revealing secrets about the product trying to be sold to you right at that moment. Maybe you're just a sucker for infomercials like me, anytime I watch one I am practically thoroughly convinced of how great the product is and I instantly want one.

Well have you ever wondered to yourself what goes into infomercials? Well let me tell you about the TV media buying power of Hawthorne Direct. The company specializes in something called direct response television which is just a fancy name for infomercial/advertisement production where the ad is asking the audience to respond directly to the ad.

So Hawthorne Direct does two things mainly: One is creates infomercials by asking engaging the audience to purchase products over live television. The other service it offers is something I mentioned earlier, TV media buying, which a service which can complement their advertising production by not only producing an infomercial for you but also by purchasing airtime for the infomercial. Essentially they can help you from start to finish unlike other commercial production companies.

So check these guys out, if you have an idea or something product or new invention you want to push through to consumers, then give these guys a look.

Oil traded at $102

According Bloomberg crude oil was trading at around $102 a barrel as the dollar weakened against the Euro which of course prompted investors to buy into commodities.

In general, when the economy weakens investors like to trade in metals and energy commodities as inflation increases. Yesterday the dollar fell as low as 1.52 Euros which was the lowest since the currency first entered the money supply in 1999. The market is currently just unpredictable, nobody seems to know what is going to happen next.

Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance

Despite the fact that the country may be facing an economic recession, that doesn't change the fact that people still need health insurance. If you are one those families or individuals who are looking for health insurance for any reason, then checking out the information from group health insurance California should be your first stop.

The site makes figuring out health insurance easy by the three steps they have highlighted at the top of the page. The first step is to get a quote, and you have the choice to look for quote as an individual/family or as a group.

From their you would just enter your zip code and follow the instructions to have a quote sent to you. Step two is choosing your quote, and step three is applying for your chosen policy. Its really pretty simple.

You may be asking yourself why you should choose Kaiser Permanente Health Insurance over others. To answer that question, I will quote the an FAQ answer on their page:

Kaiser Permanente offers high quality coverage at affordable prices. Business owners and employees get the most for their money when they choose Kaiser Permanente for California small business medical insurance.

Don't hesitate to at least get a quote and see if can save you money over other policies you may have been looking at. Good luck with your health insurance shopping.

Intel Lowers Profits for First Quarter

This article hits home a little since I do work in the semiconductor industry. Anyways, Intel has projected lower profits due to slumping memory chip prices. The biggest two problems are prices in NAND flash memory which is typical in mp3 players and digital cameras, and the other big memory type is DRAM which is the most common memory in peoples computers.

I sincerely hope the industry as whole doesn't fall to into the grip of the possible looming recession. I know major memory chip manufacturers such as Hynix, Samsung, and Micron are hurting because of their overproduction or flooding of the market of NAND and DRAM chips. Now they are feeling the pinch of the demand not keeping up with the production and prices had to cut in order move the inventory. The reason for the ramp up in production was mainly because of an anticipated demand of DRAM memory because of Windows Vista having higher memory requirements than Windows XP, but as we know Windows Vista adoption is a lot slower than when Windows XP was introduced back 01-02. We'll see how this whole thing plays out as time goes on.

Cordless Food Warming Tray

This Cordless Food Warming Tray is perfect for your home or office parties that might need catering. The product is obviously designed to keep foods warmer for longer periods of time, but the cool feature about this warming tray is that it only needs to be charged for 8 minutes for 60 minutes of warming. Its absolutely perfect for business parties of any kind.

Be sure to check out the You Tube video below to get a better idea of how this product works. This cordless food warming tray is definitely a unique gift idea.

Car Sales Slide As Economy Weakens

In an article by the Detroit News, car sales have taken a hit due to the slumping economy. The article states that The Big Three US companies took the hardest hit due to people not buying as many large trucks or SUV's.

Sales for GM cars and trucks fell by 12.9% last month

Chrysler cars and trucks fell by 14%

and Ford's sales dropped by 6.6%

Now both Ford and GM plan to reduce the amount of vehicles produced in order to bring the production in line with the shrinking demand. Now we can see how the slumping economy is starting to spill over from the financial and real estate markets into the auto industry.

Honda and Nissan sales actually rose last month while, unexpectedly, Toyota sales fell slightly by 2.8%. Perhaps Nissan has could emerge from this economic downturn with their plans to introduce hybrid and electric vehicles in the near future.

Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Unfortunately many American's suffer with poor credit or bad credit due to unexpected circumstances in their lives. Fortunately, there are websites that can help issue credit cards for bad credit. BadCredit.com is one of those places, which is a site that is dedicated to helping people with not so perfect credit scores and just so happens to be a really great consumer resource.

The most notable page on the site with regards to credit cards is their credit card comparison page. It lists ten credit card companies with different features for your selection and links that go to online applications.

The bottom line is to remember that having bad credit is not the end of world, and there are ways to build and repair your credit through resources such as this.

Blu-Ray the Leader of Next Generation DVD

Now that Toshiba has conceded the fight between its backed High Definition DVD and Sony's Blu-Ray DVD player, will consumers be flocking to the stores to buy new Blu-Ray Players? Not exactly, and that's because of the high price still associated with Blu-Ray. The last time I checked the store these suckers were around $400. The prices are going to have to come down for a mass adoption of the new players. Many American families are just dying to get their hands on one with all the sales being reported in the Plasma and LCD high definition television sets that have already been sold.

Experts say the prices will have to come down to around $200 for consumers to start buying the product en mass. I would say that is about right for me personally, because i looked into getting one with my new TV, but when I found out how much they were, I told myself I better just wait, after all there is always HD HBO.

Cash For Your Home Fast

There exists a website that can assist a homeowner that is looking to sell their homes in a fast and timely manner. The website can get you Cash For Your Home Fast and according to the site looks at each situation differently and depending on the circumstances will pay up to full market value for the home.

Some of the most notable features about the website is the fact that they promote they have a 27 minute average response time. They also claim that they can sell a house for you in as little as seven days! The website seems to be best utilized under special circumstances such as trying to sell your home as fast as possible or to try and avoid the high costs of Realtor fees.

The link posted above brings you to a page where you can fill in the simple information in the online form and receive an offer by email with no obligations or risks. If you are ever in a situation where perhaps your job has given you no choice but to move across the country and you have less than 30 days to move, maybe this would be a good choice for you (I know a co-worker going through this situation).

The site is relatively straight forward and easy to access the information needed about selling your home quickly. Some of the responses from other people who have used the website to sell their home have mentioned that it saved them from ruining their credit and saved them high Realtor fees. Give the site a click or two and see if it's right for you.

Inflation may be Worse Problem than Recession

According to JEANNINE AVERSA from the Associated Press, she points out that prices are for everyday items are going up faster paced than in a quarter century all the while the economy is dragging along with fears of recession.

The two mix of terms is dubbed stagflation by expert economists. It is true that the more time that goes by it seems that paychecks are getting stretched thinner and jobs are getting harder to find.

With the latest reports for the prices of wholesale merchandise jumped by a whopping 7.4% which was the biggest annual leap since 1981.

The two together create an economic disaster where people are not spending money because of higher prices, and companies are tightening their budgets and cutting everywhere they can.

All this news leads to a grim outlook for the future economic outlook of the US. Hopefully the economic stimulus package can do something positive.

Mortgage Industry Needs Help

According to Earth.co.uk , a freeze on interest rates in the UK were to be implemented last month. Could this be a possible sign of a struggling mortgage problem like the one currently being experienced in the United States?

Here in the States, more and more news is coming out about the rising number of homeowners that are foreclosing their homes due to the inability to pay their payments because of those variable rate interest loans. The US government has gone as far as trying to create a stimulus package to ease the fears of recession that could have been sparked by the this housing mortgage crisis.

Nonetheless, many people are in the market looking to try to sell their homes because of the inability to pay them. Also the stricter loaning requirements have probably also added to houses being on the market for too long or not being able to sell at the desired price. So it makes for a great time to buy a home if you are in the market and is quite possible to get a good deal or reduced price. Check out this Free Mortgage Quote website to find listings in the UK. They also have international mortgage options available as well. Good luck.

Intel Names New Chip Adam

Over at CNET News.com an article I cam across mentioned that the new name will be applied to a family of two chips with a couple members: Silverthorne and Diamondville

Silverthorne: is a low-power mobile processor destined for the next generation of mobile Internet devices. It incorporates a new low-power state, allowing it to essentially shut down in between processing tasks and limit power consumption.

Diamondville: is a single-core processor for ultra-low-cost laptops. Intel refers to the low-cost notebook design as "netbook" and estimates the pricing for these devices will go as low as $250. Diamondville is a tiny 45-nanometer processor that employs a simpler design than standard Intel processors

The new chips which are due out in late 2008, will just add to the variety of chips that Intel is piling up for each unique computer user.

How To Build a Computer

Have you ever been curious as to how to build a computer from scratch. If you are interested in computers and technology, but haven't actually looked into doing it yet, then this website is a great tool to help you out.

As the website mentions, the only thing you need to be handy with is a screw driver. There are new do it yourself kits available now more commonly known as 'bare bones' kits. This is a very resourceful site if you are not sure what your doing with a computer. It features helpful links with information on how to:

* How To Install or Upgrade RAM
* How To Install or Upgrade a CPU
* How To Install a new Hard Drive

Each of components above have their own pages with a guide to help you through. Its really an essential guide for computer beginners. Building your own computer helps you to learn essential technical skills that can save you money from paying the Geek Squad for fixing it when it breaks down. Also you can save money by getting a better deal for building your own computer as well. The money you save can be put in to get better parts or a larger hard drive.

Definitely check the site out, its such a useful tool for beginners or advanced computer users looking for good deals on computer kits.

Microsoft Slashes Vista Prices

In an article I noticed today, apparently Microsoft corporation has recently announced that as soon as its service pack one is distributed, it will slash the price of Windows Vista Ultimate from retail price of $399 to $320. The move is unexpected by its own standards due because of Vista only being out for one year. There is much speculation that Microsoft is trying to entice more sales of its OS into the market place. However, the official reason of Microsoft's slash in prices is due to it's hope of speeding up the adoption process.

Even I myself am reluctant to switch over just because I like XP and know it so well. Perhaps this could be an overall sentiment. However, more people buying the OS and spreading its use causes more exposure to it and therefore a more likely adoption or switch over.

According to the Gartner’s estimated in the last year only 39 percent of the new computers were shipped with Vista pre-installed, while back in 2002 Windows XP was credited with a market share of 67 percent in the new computer sales. It is a clear sign that things are evolving.

Bad Credit Loans

If you are a sufferer of bad credit like so many Americans are, then there are resources available to help alleviate the stress and horror you may currently be going through. Lets face it, everyone stresses over their finances (unless you're rich), so checking out this site which offers Bad Credit Loans may be able to offer hope for a personal loan. The personal loan service is fast and completely secure. Furthermore, options are available for any credit situation, so it doesn't matter if you have poor or good credit; there is a loan for you.

If you are a "bad credit" sufferer and perhaps have lost a job and your car has finally kicked the bucket, then you're definitely going to need a new car if you are going to find a new job. That's why this site is so neat, it offers Bad Credit Auto Loans for people in just that situation. Your new car doesn't have to be the newest car on the block, but an auto loan for a used car is essential for job hunting or whatever the situation may be.

Check the site out and hopefully you can find some relief.

Dollar getting weaker

According to an article by CNN currency experts are now saying that before the dollar can recover from its apparent downfall, that is has more falling to go. A sad story for the US Dollar, a good story for our fellow Europeans who take vacations in the United States.

Probably the most alarming piece of information from the article is the fact that the US dollar has fallen to an all time "psychological" low against the EURO of $1.50. By mid 2008 is when economists say the dollar should bounce back...only a little though.

The economic stimulus package should provide some relief as well as foreign investment from the weak dollar. Nobody really knows what the dollar will do after next year. If anyone is familiar with the Amero, then perhaps it could be the solution if the economy really takes a hit in the years to come.

Get a Pre-Settlement Loan Today

There exists such a website to help you through through a financial crisis if you feel you have been tied up in a lawsuit or claim which can take quite a bit of time. The site will issue a pre-settlement loan if they feel you qualify through their guidelines. I have a friend who suffered an accident at work as a train driver, and it took him years of fighting before a large settlement was awarded to him. However, utilizing the service offered through this website, you can avoid the waiting and get your finances in order a lot quicker.

Check the site out if you think it may help you out. Cheers.

Eyes on Jobs as Indicator for Economy

Everyone knows the talk that has been going around amid the fears of recession with the poor stock market and the housing bubble bust. Now the market seems to be slipping more and more these days and economists and investors are looking towards jobs from the Industrial Scientific and Medical non-manufacturing industries for a clue. Give this video a click and check out what they have to say: