10 things you shouldn't buy this year

10 Things Not to Buy in 2010

by AnnaMaria Andriotis
Monday, January 4, 2010

Ten years ago, most homes relied on dial-up connections to access the Internet and iPods, flat-screen TVs and the Nintendo Wii didn't exist.

In 2010, consumer should expect to see more revolutionary products supplanting old mainstays. In media, DVDs, books, newspapers and magazines will continue to lose ground to services like in-home movie rentals and gadgets like the Amazon (AMZN) Kindle. In big-ticket items, the push for energy efficiency will continue to influence consumer decisions on cars and home upgrades.

As a result, some consumer products appear poised for a dip in sales, which could be a prelude to obsolescence. Here are 10 items not to buy in 2010.

DVDs

The days of going to a video shop to rent a movie are at an end. In September, Blockbuster (BBI) said it plans to close roughly 22% of its stores by the end of 2010; meanwhile, third-quarter revenue was down 21% from the year-ago period. (The company didn't return calls for comment.)

Looking ahead, DVD purchases could turn cold, as well. On average, DVDs sell for at least $20 each. That's pricier than signing up for Netflix (NFLX) or renting movies from cable providers' on-demand channels. Netflix charges as little as $8.99 a month to rent one DVD at a time (with no limit to the number of monthly rentals).

Time Warner Cable offers thousands of movies on demand for around $4.99 each. Verizon Fios cable service charges $5.99 a month to download unlimited movies.

Home telephone service

It will probably take a while, but home landlines could become as archaic as the rotary phone.

According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, more than one in five U.S. homes (22.7%) had cellphones — and no landlines — during the first half of 2009, up from 10.5% during the same period in 2006.

Ditching your home phone is easier now than it has been in the past, as cell phone companies compete for greater market share and alternatives to the home landline continue growing. For example, magicJack provides phone service when it's plugged into a computer's USB port and a home phone. It costs $39.95 and includes a one-year license for calls in the U.S. and Canada; after that, service costs $19.95 per year. (By contrast, Time Warner Cable's digital home phone service costs $39.95 per month.)

And, consider Skype, which is free when you communicate with other Skype users; this software application uses the Internet as a platform to make calls, hold video conferences and send instant messages.

External hard drives

Consumers who keep their computers for years and upload thousands of songs, videos, movies and photos will need to get more space at some point.

External hard drives are one option, but an up-and-coming alternative might be simpler and save you another transition down the road. Online backup services, like Carbonite.com or Mozy.com, allow users to back up data over the Internet.

These services are more expensive than purchasing an external hard drive, which typically starts at around $70. At Carbonite.com, a one-year subscription starts at $54.95, and at Mozy.com monthly subscription costs total $54.45 for a year.

Smartphone also-rans

In the past few years, several smartphones hit the market with similar features to the iPhone and BlackBerry, but they haven't generated the same buzz. As a result, fewer developers are likely to create applications and other products that cater to those phones.

Today, the BlackBerry dominates the smartphone market with 40% market share, followed by the iPhone with 25%, according to data released by ComScore in December. In the near term, both are expected to stay at the top. ComScore found that most consumers who'll be shopping for smartphones in the next three months plan to purchase a Blackberry (51%) or an iPhone (20%).

By contrast, only 5% of respondents said they planned to purchase T-Mobile's MyTouch. The Palm Pre and Palm Centro received 2% and 1% of the vote, respectively.

A possible upcoming competitor that could shake up the space is Google's (GOOG) Android. According to ComScore, as of October, the Android's market share had doubled to 3.5% in the past year.

Compact digital cameras

For nearly a decade, digital compact cameras were must-haves for most consumers.

But during the past several years, another type of digital camera has been slowly rising in popularity: the single-lens reflex (SLR) camera, from manufacturers including Nikon, Canon (CAJ), Sony (SNE) and Olympus. Although bulkier, these cameras produce pictures that more accurately represent what's in their viewfinders than those that use older technology.

They're also pricier. For example, Canon's digital compact cameras start at $110, while the SLRs start at $570.

Newspaper subscriptions

The past few years have been unkind to the publishing industry.

In 2008, newspaper advertising revenues declined by 17.7%, according to the Newspaper Association of America. Meanwhile, average daily circulation at 379 newspapers fell 10.6% from April through September 2009, compared to the same period a year ago, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations.

Magazines haven't fared any better. In 2009, more than 360 magazines shut down. During the first half of 2009, ad pages fell 27.9% when compared to the same period in 2008, according to Publishers Information Bureau.

The morning newspaper has been replaced by a growing online media presence — much of which is accessible for free. The Amazon Kindle — even with its price tag of around $250 — and other eBook readers could increasingly become one-stop sources to access newspapers, magazines and books.
CDs

When was the last time you bought a CD or even walked into a record store?

The past decade was one of the worst for the industry. In the beginning, there was Napster. Then came iTunes, which was introduced in 2001 and offered affordable pricing and easy accessibility. Face it, CDs aren't coming back.

Record stores are feeling the pinch. Most Virgin Megastores in the U.S. have shut down following declines in sales and revenues. In 2004, Tower Records entered bankruptcy and by 2006 most locations had closed.

New college textbooks

Unless a student absolutely needs brand-new textbooks, they can use several alternatives to save.

Shop for used textbooks, which can help you save 70% to 90% off the retail price, says Mike Gatti, the executive director at the Retail Advertising and Marketing Association, a trade group. Check out web sites like CheapestTextbooks.com, Booksprice.com or Amazon.com. Many college bookstores also sell used texts.

Another option is downloading books online. Sites like Coursesmart.com sell subscriptions to digital copies of more than 7,000 textbooks. TextbookMedia.com allows students to download textbooks for free. You can also rent textbooks on Chegg.com.

Gas-guzzling cars

Skyrocketing gasoline prices dominated headlines during most of the decade, and they remain volatile.

The Energy Information Administration estimates that crude oil prices will average around $77 a barrel for the fourth quarter of 2009, up from $42.90 in the first quarter. The EIA also projects prices will rise in 2010 to their highest point in more than two years: $81.33 a barrel.

Recent announcements by car manufacturers to mass produce fuel-efficient cars could help push consumers away from gas-guzzling vehicles.

According to the Department of Energy, the most efficient cars include the Honda Civic Hybrid, which gets 40 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 45 mpg on the highway, the Volkswagen Jetta and Golf (both run on diesel), which each get 30 mpg in the city and 41 mpg on the highway, and the Toyota Prius hybrid (51/48 mpg).
Energy-inefficient homes and appliances

Ten years ago, shopping for home upgrades involved looking at a product's functionality and aesthetic. Now, there's another component: energy efficiency.

Today, the products most touted by manufacturers and retailers are those that are Energy Star certified and those that meet new federal environmental standards — most of which have higher price tags than their counterparts but help to lower heating and cooling bills.

The government is offering a federal tax credit of up to $1,500 on energy-efficient home upgrades through Dec. 31, 2016. But many are set to expire by Dec. 31, 2010; these include eligible insulation, roofs and windows and doors.

Copyrighted, SmartMoney.com. All Rights Reserved.

Healthy Oats Recipes and Cooking Tips

source

Overnight Oatmeal

Here is an easy way to serve a crowd a hearty breakfast before facing the elements for a day of winter sports. You can assemble it in the slow cooker in the evenin g and wake up to a bowl of hot, nourishing oatmeal. The slow cooker eliminates the need for constant stirring and ensures an exceptionally creamy consistency. It is important to use steel-cut oats; old-fashioned oats become too soft during slow-cooking.

Recipe:

8 servings, 1 cup each

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 7 to 8 hours (slow-cooker time) - 1 hour 35 minutes (stovetop time)

Ingredients

• 8 cups water
• 2 cups steel-cut oats, (see Ingredient note)
• 1/3 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup dried apricots, chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste

Preparation

1. Combine water, oats, dried cranberries, dried apricots and salt in a 5- or 6-quart slow cooker. Turn heat to low. Put the lid on and cook until the oats are tender and the porridge is creamy, 7 to 8 hours. Stovetop Variati on Halve the above recipe to accommodate the size of most double boilers: Combine 4 cups water, 1 cup steel-cut oats, 3 tablespoons dried cranberries, 3 tablespoons dried apricots and 1/8 teaspoon salt in the top of a double boiler. Cover and cook over boiling water for about 1 1/2 hours, checking the water level in the bottom of the double boiler from time to time.

Tips & Notes

• Ingredient Note: Steel-cut oats, sometimes labeled "Irish oatmeal," look like small pebbles. They are toasted oat groats—the oat kernel that has been removed from the husk that have been cut in 2 or 3 pieces. Do not substitute regular rolled oats, which have a shorter cooking time, in the slow-cooker oatmeal recipe.

Nutrition

Per serving : 193 Calories; 3 g Fat; 1 g Mono; 34 g Carbohydrates; 6 g Protein; 9 g Fiber; 77 mg Sodium; 195 mg Potassium

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fruit

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Multi-Grain Waffles

Traditional waffles are a butter-laden, high-carb indulgence, but they make the transition to good fats and smart carbs beautifully, yielding crisp, nutty-tasting waffles with all the sweet pleasure of the original. The batter can also be used for pancakes.

8 servings, 2 waffles each

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2/3 cup whole-wheat flour
• 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup toasted wheat germ, or cornmeal
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preparation

1. Mix buttermilk and oats in a medium bowl; let stand for 15 minutes.
2. Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, wheat germ (or cornmeal), baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
3. Stir eggs, sugar, oil and vanilla into the oat mixture. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients; mix with a rubber spatula just until moistened.
4. Coat a waffle iron with cooking spray and preheat. Spoon in enough batter to cover three-fourths of the surface (about 2/3 cup for an 8-by-8-inch waffle iron). Cook until waffles are crisp and golden brown, 4 to 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining batter.

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Wrap any leftovers individually in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat in a toaster or toaster oven.

Nutrition

Per serving : 188 Calories; 4 g Fat; 1 g Sat; 2 g Mono; 55 mg Cholesterol; 30 g Carbohydrates; 8 g Protein; 3 g Fiber; 328 mg Sodium; 227 mg Potassium

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 1/4 reduced-fat milk, 1/2 lean protein, 1/2 fat

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Iron

What does it do?

Iron is a critical mineral in the body. Iron is required to transport oxygen from the lungs to the cells in the body and for oxygen storage in the muscles. And, although iron is one of the most abundant elements on earth, it is also one of the most frequently observed deficiencies in the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the prevalence of iron deficiency in the U.S. is about 2 percent in adult men, 9 to 12 percent in non-Hispanic white women and nearly 20 percent in black and Mexican-American women.

What are the best food sources?

There are two forms of iron in the diet: heme and nonheme. In foods from animal sources, such as meat, poultry and fish, about half the iron is heme iron and the rest is nonheme. Iron from dairy foods, eggs and plant-based foods is entirely nonheme. Iron is better absorbed by the body from heme sources. Vitamin C also improves absorption of both forms of iron when consumed at the same meal. Fortified products, such as breads, cereals and breakfast bars, can contribute significant amounts of nonheme iron to the diet. For example, some fortified cereals can contain up to 24 mg of iron per 1-cup serving.

What happens if you don’t get enough?

Inadequate dietary iron results in iron deficiency anemia, the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. Symptoms include fatigue, reduced cognitive function, increased risk of infection and delayed development in infants. Iron deficiency anemia can also be the result of impaired iron absorption or iron loss due to blood loss from menstruation, injury and gastrointestinal bleeding. Iron deficiency is more common among infants, toddlers, teenage girls, women of childbearing age and vegetarians. Iron intake requirements are 1.8 times higher for vegetarians because nonheme iron is not absorbed as well as heme iron.

What happens if you get too much?

It’s not likely that you’ll get too much iron from dietary sources. However, high doses from supplements could cause harmful effects, ranging from gastrointestinal effects, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, to cardiovascular, nervous system, kidney and liver effects. Children should never be given iron supplements unless under the guidance of a physician or qualified health professional. Iron toxicity (from high doses of supplements) in children can rapidly result in severe long-term effects or death.

People with the following conditions may be at risk of harmful effects due to high iron intakes and therefore should not consume excess amounts of iron: hereditary hemochromatosis (a condition that causes the body to absorb and store too much iron), chronic alcoholism, liver disease, iron-loading abnormalities and certain genetic disorders. Additionally, it is recommended that adult men and postmenopausal women avoid iron supplements and highly fortified foods because of their greater risk for iron overload, a condition that leads to iron accumulation in the body.

How much do you need?

The following table lists the recommended intake for healthy people based on current scientific information.

Life Stage Group	Age Range	Recommended Dietary Allowance/Adequate Intake	Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
Infants	0-6 mo.	0.27*	40
Infants	7-12 mo.	11	40
Children	1-3 yr.	7	40
Children	4-8 yr.	10	40
Males	9-13 yr.	8	40
Males	14-18 yr.	11	40
Males	19-30 yr.	8	45
Males	31-50 yr.	8	45
Males	51-70 yr.	8	45
Males	> 70 yr.	8	45
Females	9-13 yr.	8	40
Females	14-18 yr.	15	45
Females	19-30 yr.	18	45
Females	31-50 yr.	18	45
Females	51-70 yr.	8	45
Females	> 70 yr.	8	45
Pregnancy	<>	27	45
Pregnancy	19-30 yr.	27	45
Pregnancy	31-50 yr.	27	45
Lactation	<>	10	45
Lactation	19-30 yr.	9	45
Lactation	31-50 yr.	9	45

NOTE: The table is adapted from the Dietary Reference Intakes reports. Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), when available, are in bold type; Adequate Intakes (AIs) are followed by an asterisk(*). RDAs and AIs may both be used as goals for individual intake. RDAs are set to meet the needs of almost all individuals (97 to 98 percent) in a group. For healthy breastfed infants, the AI is the mean intake. The AI for other life stage and gender groups is believed to cover the needs of all individuals in the group, but lack of data means the percentage of individuals covered by this intake cannot be specified with confidence.
UL = The maximum level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects. Unless otherwise specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water and supplements.

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Best brain foods for every age

SuperFoods for Your Brain

Posted Thu, Sep 03, 2009, 12:38 pm PDT

September means that many of us are getting back to school or back to work or back to looking for work -- all of which require a whole lot of braininess. To support this big brain storm, I checked in with our friends at EatingWell, to see what they suggest for smart eating. They got back to me with the best brain food to eat during each stage of life...

The Best Brain Food for Infants and Babies:

Iron. By 5 or 6 months, babies have used up the iron stores they're born with and need to get iron from food or supplements to support brain development.
Food solutions: Iron-fortified cereals. Try these iron-rich recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Children and Teens:

School-aged children should start their day with low-glycemic-index breakfast foods. (They need morning fuel.) Food solutions: Bran cereals, oatmeal or whole-wheat bagels. Try these oat-filled recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Young Adults:

Got iron? 10 percent of women are anemic, and new studies show that being even mildly iron-deficient affects learning, memory, and attention. Luckily, restoring iron levels to normal also restores cognitive function.
Food solutions: Dark leafy greens, beans, meat or soy. Try these leafy green recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Older Adults:

Eat your antioxidants. People who eat more brightly colored fruits and leafy vegetables have less cognitive decline than those who don't; antioxidants in produce may mop up free radicals and protect neurons from damage.
Food solutions: Berries and other fruits, greens and turmeric (which contains curcumin). Try these antioxidant-rich recipes.

The Best Brain Food for Pregnant Women:

Pregnant women who eat fatty fish, such as salmon, during their third trimester of pregnancy have babies who tend to perform better on cognitive tasks. Researchers think the omega-3 fatty acid DHA is needed during this time to build neurons and their connections.
Food solutions: Salmon and other fatty fish, DHA-fortified eggs and yogurt. Try these healthy salmon recipes.

-Check out these brain-boosting recipes to incorporate all the foods above into your diet.

-But smarts are not everything. Here are some rules on how eat for happiness.

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Dangerous bacteria found on U.S. beaches

Dangerous staph germs found at West Coast beaches

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer Marilynn Marchione, Ap Medical Writer – Sat Sep 12, 3:02 pm ET

SAN FRANCISCO – Dangerous staph bacteria have been found in sand and water for the first time at five public beaches along the coast of Washington, and scientists think the state is not the only one with this problem.

The germ is MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus — a hard-to-treat bug once rarely seen outside of hospitals but that increasingly is spreading in ordinary community settings such as schools, locker rooms and gyms.

An employee displays a bacteria strain inside a petri dish containing agar jelly for bacterial culture in a microbiological laboratory in Berlin March 1, 2008.

REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

The germ causes nasty skin infections as well as pneumonia and other life-threatening problems. It spreads mostly through human contact. Little is known about environmental sources that also may harbor the germ.

Finding it at the beach suggests one place that people may be picking it up, said Marilyn Roberts, a microbiologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.

"We don't know the risk" for any individual going to a beach, she said. "But the fact that we found these organisms suggests that the level is much higher than we had thought."

She presented results Saturday at an American Society for Microbiology conference in California. Last year, her team reported finding a different type of bacteria, enterococci, at five West Coast beaches. And earlier this year, University of Miami researchers reported finding staph bacteria in four out of 10 ocean water samples collected by hundreds of bathers at a South Florida beach.

Many communities also commonly restrict bathing at beaches because of contamination with fecal bacteria.

In the new study, researchers tested 10 beaches in Washington along the West Coast and in Puget Sound from February to September 2008. Staph bacteria were found at nine of them, including five with MRSA. The strains resembled the highly resistant ones usually seen in hospitals, rather than the milder strains acquired in community settings, Roberts said.

No staph was found in samples from two beaches in southern California.

People should not avoid beaches or be afraid to enjoy them, scientists say.

"It's probably prudent to shower when you come out" to lower the risk of bacteria staying on the skin, said Dr. Lance Peterson, a microbiologist at NorthShore University Health System in Evanston, Ill.

"Make sure you get all the sand off," and cover any open cuts or scrapes before playing in the sand, Roberts added. Digging in the sand or being buried in it seems to raise the risk of infection, she said.

___

On the Net:

Microbiology meeting: http://www.icaac.org/

source

Joke1

Mrs. Tanoy is very kuripot when her husband died, she inquired with the
newspaper, asking the price for the obituary.

The ad taker said: '300 pesos for 5 words.'

She said: 'Pwede ba 2 words lang? 'Tanoy dead''

Ad taker: 'No mam. 5 words is the minimum.'

After thinking for a while, Mrs. Tanoy said: 'Ok, para sulit, ilagay mo,

'TANOY DEAD, TOYOTA FOR SALE '

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ------

Boy: Nay may ulam ba?

Nanay: Tignan mo na lang dyan sa ref, anak.

Boy: Eh wala naman tayong ref, di ba?

Nanay: O, e di wala tayong ulam. Konting common sense naman dyan, anak!

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ------

Caloy: Tay ,di ba sabi mo bibigyan mo ko ng P100 pag pumasa ako sa Math?

Tatay: Oo. Bakit, pumasa ka ba?

Caloy: Gud news, tay! Di ka na gagastos ng P100.

------------ --------- --------- --------- -------- - ---------

Kano (trying to speak Tagalog): Meg-kanow isang kilow mang-gow?

Tindero: One way.

Kano : Meg-kanow?

Tindero: I sed ONE WAY.

Kano : Aynowng ibig sabeyhin ng one way?

Tindero: Isang daan. Understang?!

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Erap: Kalokohan! Di ako naniniwala! Walang taong ganun kataba!

Loi: San ang balitang yan?

Erap: Dito sa dyaryo. Sabi; 'British tourist lost 2000 pounds.'

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

MMDA (with pen and ticket to a traffic violator):

Name?

Foreigner Driver: Wilhelm Von Corgrinski Papakovitz.

MMDA: Ahhh okay...(sabay tago ticket)...Next time be careful, ok?

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ------

BF: Sunduin kita mamaya ha. Bubusina nalang ako pag nasa harap nako ng
bahay nyo.

GF: Cge. Anong sasakyan ang dala mo?

BF: Wala. Busina lang...

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Nag-aapply si Tomas na security guard...

Interviewer: Ang kailangan namin ay taong laging may suspicious mind,
highly alert, insistent personality, strong sense of hearing with a killer
instinct. Sa tingin mo ba qualified ka?

Tomas: Sa palagay ko po hindi. Pwede po bang yun misis ko nalang ang
mag-apply?

------------ -----

Always remember, when SHE cancels a date, she HAS TO.

But....when HE cancels a date...... he HAS TWO.

------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

Junior: Nay, bibili ako ng HIGH CAKE.

Nanay: Hindi high cake, anak. HOT CAKE yun.

Junior: Ok nay, watever. Pahingi nalang ng barya.

Nanay: Sige, kumuha ka nalang dyan sa SOLDIER BAG ko.

------------ --------- --------- -

Pasyente ... magkano ang facelift?
Doktora ... complete treatment ay P145,000
Pasyente ... mahal naman !!! ano bang pinakamurang treatment para magmukha
akong bata?
Doktora ... heto tsupon, P20 lang!!

------------ ---------

ORDER

Customer .... waiter! bakit ang tagal ng order ko? ilan ang cook nyo dito?
Waiter .... ay, sir, wala pu kame cuk dito...pipse lang po!!

------------ --------- -------

PROBLEMA NGA

Pasyente ... Doc, may problema ako...tuwing alas otso ng umaga dumudumi
ako...
Doktor .... so, anong problema doon?
Pasyente ... Eh alas nuwebe po ako nagigising..

------------ --------- --------

ACCIDENT

A lawyer driving on a highway notices a crowd in an intersection.

With his urge to get into the thick crowd and see the action, he shouted,

'I'M THE SON OF THE VICTIM.'

Upon hearing, the people made way for him to get through.

There he saw, bloody and helpless lying in front of the people...a pig

bumped by a trailer truck!

------------ -------

PINTURA

Erap .... Honey, nagpintura ako ng banyo.
Loi ... Bakit dalawa ang suot mong jacket, ang init, init !!!
Erap ... Sabi kasi sa label, for best results put on 2 coats.

------------ --------- -

MANNY PAQUIAO

Reporter ... Manny, anong bill ang gagawin mo kapag congressman ka na?

Manny ... Ano'ng bill? e di yung tomotonog pagkatapos ng bawa't round sa
bukseng?

be carefull on green signal

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