Sometimes you have to wonder, why do we keep saying yes to Facebook applications? Hell, why do we keep agreeing to join sites like Facebook? The Internet, with all its varied possibilities for self-improvement and edu-ma-cation, seems to have convinced all of my friends that endless clicking to build my Pirate/Vampire/Werewolf/Outlaw/Jedi/ stats is how I want to spend my spare time. If I had a nickel for all the time-wasting clicks I’ve done in the name of improving my Buffy The Vampire Slayer trivia score, I’d be a successful Internet advertising firm.

I had to finally call a stop to the madness in my life when my account got so full of pointless applications, it crashed through the floor of the Internet and even now virtual rescue workers are moving cranes into position to haul up its bloated pale white corpse from the under-webs. I’m sure they’ll start a new “My Deceased Facebook Friends” app soon so you guys can all add me. Facebook for all its endless sources of mediocrity is but a minor pantheon deity of dumb next to the true monster of the web, MySpace. Mulder and Scully should be investigating this thing for all the lost time it’s responsible for. The 600 lb gorilla of social networking sites, MySpace is best known for … wait for it … not working.

I know the thing is straining at the seams. I know it’s constantly trying to meet user demand for more ways to tell the world that Peter Petrelli is “da bomb”, Barack is the Man and Amy ain’t goin’ to rehab. I understand that servers can only take so much of a beating until they need a little “me” time crying under the bed. I feel its digital cry for help. But I mean … damn! Last month, MySpace wouldn’t even let me login for three weeks. Just took me to Google instead. Thought maybe it was a problem with my own computer but NOPE — apparently it was indeed something with their Death Star of a web site. Some enterprising Rebel Alliance hacker seems to be blasting their weak spot repeatedly. That was a huge service interruption for a site the size of MySpace, and I couldn’t even get an email reply from their non-English speaking help center employees to find out what the problem was.

Most people haven’t actually had to deal with not being able to use the site at all, but it seems to be a 50/50 ratio for any given function you try to use working or not. Perhaps that’s where they got the idea for Facebook…clearly people will just sit there and click till something works so why not add their favorite pop culture icons into the mix?

People will argue, “I use Facebook/MySpace for reconnecting/staying in touch with my friends.” Really? Because the one function on both these sites which would actually seem to facilitate this need, the blog, is actually used regularly by about ten people in my 1500 or so added friends. I guess I shouldn’t find it surprising that most people prefer to communicate by lolcat comments then by actually reading what their best buddies are up to. I swear, I once posted a blog advertising that I was giving away all my money and that my girlfriend wanted to have sex with someone else that I picked out for her, and all I got was a message from some band called “The Dogmatics” in Kansas who rocked out with God and wanted to be my friend.

To sum up, we shouldn’t fool ourselves into thinking that we’re more social than any given loner with a scoped rifle in a bell tower just because our profiles tells the world that we like, oh say, The Amazing Race, My Little Pony and rate higher in the “cutest smile” category than any of our other friends (BTW this means you are fat). Human interaction requires more action than comparing quiz results to be meaningful. Unlike your Mom and so many curmudgeons before me who’ve been telling you for years to go out to a park or hang out with a friend or you know, something involving getting out of your chair, I’m not gonna flog that dead horse.

For Pete’s sake, you should at least write the occasional comment (using actual words please and a minimum of acronyms) acknowledging that your old high school buddy’s big traumatic break-up did not go entirely unnoticed. Maybe if we put in a little effort, our inevitable lonely deaths and subsequent face consumption by our beloved cats will generate some post-mortem comment page sympathy.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Did you know that you can watch live TV on your PC or laptop computer? That’s right, today with hundreds of major channels and networks offering live streams of their programming, there are many websites that will allow you to watch live TV on your PC for free. Most major networks such as, CNN, ESPN, MTV, and Discovery allow you to watch their shows for free… even if you don’t have cable.

So where do you get started? It’s easy to watch live TV on your PC just by following any one of the simple steps below:

1. You can go to a major network station’s home page such as CNN or ESPN and search their site for a live streaming feed. From their you can generally open the feed in Windows Media format and watch it live on your computer monitor. The stream can be a bit slow at times but it’s the easiest way to watch TV on your PC.

2. You can open up media player on your computer and search the live TV section and it will direct you to different websites and feeds that offer live streaming feeds directly from the media player. This option, while better than the first, still isn’t the best way to go about seeing all of the popular channels… but it will get you some of the less-well-known channels that might curb your television fix.

3. The best option is to go to a paid site like this one. For a small one-time fee ($49), you get to watch all of the channels you can imagine, plus many more that you didn’t even no existed. You can even watch TV stations from other countries, like - Italy, Egypt, China, Japan, and more! I signed up for this service about three months ago, and I don’t think that I’ll ever go back to paying $65 a month for satellite. Now all I do is hook up my laptop to the TV in my living room using a VGA connection and I’m surfing 3,000+ channels. Not too shabby for an initial $50 investment.

Watching live TV on your PC is very simple today since major networks provide the information and code to easily stream it on the Internet. This can be very convenient for people who are at work and want to catch up on the latest news or sports without having to find a TV nearby.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Digital Photography & Printing

You may wonder why I am bundling printing in with digital photography, but if you think about it, it really makes sense. With the highly functional and affordable color printers available to us at consumer-level pricing, the B&W print speed isn’t really what attracts us. And besides, if you are into digital photography, you will need a good printer. Anyways, lets hit the cameras first.

Canon Digital Rebel XTi 10.1MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens (Black) - Okay, I’m sure you are looking at the $600 price tag on this one and wondering what we’re thinking. However, if you are serious about photographer, you need a camera that is just as serious. That means dropping some serious cash. Another part of that is buying a decent lens. More than one lens to be exact because there is no miracle lens that lets you get perfect pictures of everything. Just try to take a detailed picture of the moon with a 35mm lens or take a macro picture and you will know what I am talking about.

Epson Stylus Photo R1800 Inkjet Printer - The printer is another place where you will need to lay down some green. Just remember, it is an investment. There are quite a few reasons I picked this printer. First off, Epson is the de facto brand in professional photo printing. The R1800 is a large format printer, which means it can print on paper larger than the regular 8.5 x 11 most printers are designed for. Eventually, you will want to have prints be larger than 8 x 10.

Popularity: 6% [?]

In case you haven’t set foot in a gym in the past 15 years, I’m going to go ahead and explain what an elliptical machine is.  An elliptical trainer (also cross trainer or simply elliptical) is a stationary exercise machine used to simulate walking or running without causing excessive pressure to the joints, hence decreasing the risk of impact injuries.  Okay, I lied… that was copied directly from Wikipedia, but the definition is probably much better than anything I would have come up with.  Simply put, these are the machines that seem to glide back and forth (think cross country skii’ing) or up and down (stair stepper).
Elliptical workouts basically involve aerobic or cardiovascular exercise. Elliptical cross trainers can be intimidating at first glance but once you get familiar with them you will find them easy to use and a fun part of your routine.  There are many benefits and no real drawbacks of starting an elliptical workout routine.  These machines are fantastic for beginners and experts alike.

To begin your elliptical workout, stand with your feet firmly planted in the movable footpads. The advantage of your feet being stationary makes this a smooth and non-jarring motion that is unique to the elliptical cross trainers. Grab the handles to add the upper body movement for a total body workout.

Elliptical motion feels very natural and compliments normal body movements only making it feel like the workout is easier. Elliptical workouts are equal or greater than similar equipment such as the treadmill creating a safer workout. It reduces the harmful stress and impact on your muscles and joints.

With time a major concern in our daily lives, an elliptical workout can be very desirable. It provides a total body workout utilizing one machine therefore saving time in having to go from machine to machine to achieve the same effect for all the different areas of the body.

An elliptical trainer benefit is they are safe for beginners and will even challenge the pro athletes. And because most people like to use these machines, they are more likely to workout on a regular basis. Consistent elliptical workouts will help in attaining good overall cardiovascular health.

It generally takes twenty minutes of elliptical exercise to start burning calories and improve your cardio health. If you are just starting out, exercise for twenty minutes and work up from there as your fitness level improves. Try to set 3 days a week as your goal to workout and work up to 5 days when you become more fit.

Another elliptical trainer benefit is they are perfect for burning fat. To burn fat effectively, you need to exercise at a moderate pace for a long period of time. Elliptical cross trainers give you the slow, aerobic, long duration type of exercise that works best to burn fat.

If you are looking for a good overall workout in the shortest amount of time, the elliptical workout is an ideal choice.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Popularity: 4% [?]

Popularity: 4% [?]

Popularity: 3% [?]

If you look at the many groups of women while you are out, whether it is at a movie theater, bar, or a bookstore, there is usually one that is very outgoing and seeking the most attention. She is the animated one that you will usually hear long before you see her. This is the girl that most of the other women may envy because of her natural ability to attract attention from men. Next to her you may see the shy girl, sitting quietly just listening to her. They are seeking just as much attention, but they just aren’t as loud as the first woman, and may not know how to get the attention. This is your target.

This is the woman that you should seek out yourself. You’ll notice her immediately. She’ll be the quiet one, probably laughing at everything the outgoing woman has to say, but she is rarely saying anything herself. These are the women that do not get as much attention, but may have something special to offer. Simply go right up to her and tell her how you can’t believe that a woman as beautiful as her isn’t getting the attention that the other women are getting. Ask to join her and make it known that you want to get to know her, and not her friends. She will be flattered that someone took the time to get to know her. Make sure you ask her name and other questions about her. You can even offer to buy her a drink. Do not say anything negative about her friends; just make sure that she knows that she is the one you are interested in.

The key to the picking up the shy friends is to give them the attention that they desire, yet may not know how to attract. They aren’t as loud and animated as the “alpha female” in the group, but they may have more to offer. They are definitely worth the attention.

If anything, this will allow you to get to know a beautiful girl that doesn’t have to be the life of the party. Perhaps she has more to offer than the other woman, and maybe this is a woman that you may like to get to know further. The only way you can tell is to seek out the shy girl and give her the attention she deserves.

Popularity: 6% [?]

There are some things that can be said about all Mark Twain quotes, regardless of which one it is you’re referring to. One, they’re witty. Yes, Mr. Twain was one witty character. Two, they bring a smile to your face. Whether you’re smiling because you think it’s funny or you’re smiling because you completely relate (even if a bit embarrassingly), Mark Twain quotes can crack a grin on the most stoic of faces.

Here are 16 Mark Twain quotes to get you smiling. Evidently… this guy knew his stuff.

1. “Always acknowledge a fault. This will throw those in authority off their guard and give you an opportunity to commit more.”

2. “Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.”

3. “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.”

4. “A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.”

5. “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.”

6. “But who prays for Satan? Who, in eighteen centuries, has had the common humanity to pray for the one sinner that needed it most?”

7. “Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.”

8. “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

9. “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.”

10. “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please.”

11. “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”

12. “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living; the world owes you nothing; it was here first.”

13. “A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read.”

14. “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

15. “A man who carries a cat by the tail is getting experience that will always be helpful. He isn’t likely to grow dim or doubtful. Chances are, he isn’t likely to carry the cat that way again, either. But if he wants to, I say let him!”

16. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do… Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

Music/MP3 Players/Stereos

Ok, ok, sure I could have let the stereo alone and just plan on using the surround sound system. However, not everyone is interested in having a home theater system including 5.1 surround sound. That is where the standalone stereo comes in.

Philips FWM575 360 Watts MP3/WMA Mini Shelf System - Phillips is one of the best names in home audio and you can’t go wrong with this setup. With 360 Watts of power, you are ready to rock it out without having the neighbors calling to complain. Sure, the $170 price tag might be a shocker, but it is a great sounding system with MP3/WMA playback. That means you can fit almost 200 songs in a single disc for hours and hours of continual playback. And if you really need to, you can use the system for your home theater audio.

Apple 160 GB iPod classic (Black) - The 160 GB iPod Classic is definitely the way to go for the audiophile. The fact that you have a HUGE amount of space with all the sleekness of the iPod is definitely the biggest selling point. There may be some out there saying I should have chosen the iPod Touch, but I just want to remind them that the interface (no matter how awesome it is) is not worth getting stuck with a max of 16 GB of storage. Others may want to mention the Zune, but I’m not sure the Zune is ready for widespread adoption yet. I would wait for one more generation of both the Zune and the iPod Touch when the technology is more mature. Until then, the 160 GB iPod Classic will more than satisfy your auditory needs.

Popularity: 3% [?]