Social Gaming Fun for the Whole Family

(MS) -- Finding quality time to spend with family is becoming more and more difficult, with the stress of busy work and school schedules and the upcoming holiday season. In order to spend valuable time together many families have started to gather to experience the age-old tradition of family game night but with a high-tech twist -- they are playing videogames. This holiday season, videogame publisher Activision Publishing is delivering several new ways for families to experience game night -- they can jam in a family band, learn to skate like Tony Hawk, rock the house with a turntable and save the world as only a super hero can. These games appeal to all ages and the sociability of being able to experience them as a family makes game night something to truly look forward to.

Ascend to Superstardom

with Friends and Family

This holiday season, families can come together and ascend the virtual stage as they rock their way to superstardom with Band Hero(TM), the highly-anticipated music game featuring chart-topping artists and great sing-along hits from today and yesterday. From the same people who brought the popular Guitar Hero(R) series, Band Hero features the hottest chart-topping hits from everyone's favorite acts, including Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, No Doubt, Lily Allen, and The All-American Rejects. Band Hero allows families to create the band they always dreamed of using any combination of guitar or drum controllers and vocals, providing rockers and performers of all ages the chance to experience and interact with their favorite music. Parents and their children will be able to sing any way they want with the all-new Sing-Along mode, which is like karaoke, and up to four players can showcase their vocal chops without worrying about scores or failing out. Rated "E10+" by the ESRB, Band Herois perfect for families looking to spend some fun, quality time together this holiday season.

"Riding" is the new way to play!

Few athletes have defined their sport the way Tony Hawk has defined skateboarding for generations of action sports fans. Now, his new game Tony Hawk(R): RIDE(TM) is set to reinvent video games with its unique motion sensing, hands-free skateboard controller. Players of all experience levels can step on the board and have a blast challenging friends and family in an active, social gaming experience. Set to be at the top of every kid's wish list this holiday, the skateboard controller allows families to play together as they physically control the action by performing cool moves on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game. By getting players off the couch and on the board breaking a sweat, Tony Hawk: RIDE, which is rated "E10+" by the ESRB, is a great choice to add fun with the family this holiday season.

Scratch and Mix the Hottest Hits

With the most diverse and international collection of music ever assembled in a music game, DJ Hero(TM) brings the party from nightclubs, block parties and dance halls to living rooms across the globe with an all-new interactive music experience that will appeal to every family member's musical tastes and allow players to hear music in a fresh, new way. Players can start the party by scratching, crossfading and sampling to 93 unique never-before-released mixes from some of the biggest acts in hip-hop, pop, rock and dance. DJ Hero allows up-and-coming turntablists of all ages to live out their superstar DJ fantasies with multiple gameplay modes such as DJ vs. DJ and guitar/DJ. Rated "T" for Teen (Mild Suggestive Themes, Lyrics) by the ESRB, DJ Hero is ideal for family get togethers, kids' birthday parties, dorm room cram session breaks or for fans looking for the coolest way to experience a new take on their favorite music.

Team Up as a Family of Marvel

Super Heroes and Super Villains

Families can now spend the holidays playing as some of the most popular Marvel Super Heroes and Super Villains in Marvel(TM): Ultimate Alliance 2! In the highly anticipated sequel to 2006's award-winning Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, the game follows a storyline inspired by Marvel's popular Civil War comic-book storyline and enables up to four family members or friends to play at one time, online or off. Families can assemble their dream team from a roster of famed super heroes, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Captain America and Iron Man and utilize interactive game dynamics that encourage teamwork, communication and strategy. Players can combat their enemies in graphically rich, real-world environments and must work together to make the ultimate choice: Will you fight for Super Hero registration with Iron Man or choose to defend personal liberty with Captain America? Rated "T" for Teen.

Holiday shoppers can find these games and more in retail stores nationwide. For more information, please visit www.activision.com.

CAPTION: A game like Band HeroTM is perfect for families looking to spend some fun, quality time together this holiday season.

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Technology Can Prove Beneficial to the Environment

Perhaps no two lifestyle changes have been more pervasive since the turn of the century than the increased reliance on technology and the ever-growing movement for the world to grow more environmentally conscious.

Today, few can imagine much less remember a world with no cell phones, e-mails or Internet. Similarly, the go green movement has made it hard for many people to remember a time when we didn't consider conserving resources or weren't more conscious of our impact on the environment.

While the two might seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum, that's not necessarily the case. In fact, technology can be used in a number of ways that make it beneficial to the environment.

* Improve your home and help the environment at the same time. Technology has made it much more environmentally friendly to improve or even build a new home. Ecofriendly materials are available that can greatly reduce a home's carbon footprint. For example, traditional drywall generates a lot of carbon dioxide at the factory and a significant amount of fuel is needed for it to be produced. However, a more ecofriendly choice takes less time to produce, reducing both fuel consumption as well as carbon dioxide emissions.

* Trade in your car. Hybrid cars greatly reduce a vehicle's impact on the environment, often getting as much as 60 miles per gallon of gas, saving hybrid drivers substantial amounts of money while significantly reducing the vehicle's carbon footprint. Those still driving gas guzzlers can take advantage of technology's hard work and trade in their vehicle for a hybrid or, in some areas, an electric car.

* Go paperless. The Internet has dramatically changed the way people live their lives. From how we order takeout to how we purchase movie tickets, seemingly every aspect of our lives has been influenced by the Internet. But the Internet can also influence the environment, and do so in a positive way.Whereas personal checks used to be the means by which we paid our monthly bills, nowadays the Internet allows us to pay bills online.

But how does this impact the environment? Certain creditors are willing to offer lower interest rates on credit cards or loans to customers who enroll for paperless statements. With a population in the neighborhood of 300 million, consider the positive impact going paperless could have on the environment should everyone decide to do so. Even if your utility providers or creditors do no offer discounts to go paperless, chances are very strong the option to do so still exists. So instead of choosing paper billing, which typically includes costly and wasteful advertisements along with your bill, go paperless and enjoy the ease of online bill paying.

* Clean green. A host of green cleaning products exist to help reduce the amount of volatile chemicals that enter the air when cleaning with traditional cleaners. Research continues to be conducted as to how to perfect ecofriendly cleaning products to improve efficacy but lessen the negative ecological side effects commonly associated with cleaning products.

CAPTION: Going paperless by paying bills online is one way technology has made it easier for people to lessen their carbon footprint.

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technology hybrid car paperless environment

New Internet Threats Target Millions Engaged in Banking Online

(PRNewswire/MS) -- An estimated 98 million Americans bank online, thanks to Web-based bill-paying, money transfers and other activities made possible by financial institutions and service providers. The convenience of completing these tasks at home helps simplify hectic schedules and provides customers with 24-hour account access.

Although financial institutions have security measures in place to protect their customers, cybercriminals have devised ways to circumvent some of these security devices. One tactic is to attack a bank customer's computer with a technique called keystroke logging (or just keylogging), which puts both your identity and your finances at risk.

Internet security firm Webroot reports that cybercriminals are churning out new variants of malware programs designed to log keystrokes at an increasing rate. One such program is called Zbot, which can activate while the owner of an infected PC is browsing a financial institution's Web site. In recent months, Webroot's Threat Research Lab has detected a steady increase in the incidents of Zbot. The program -- and others like it--can not only record what a person types, such as the bank account username and password, but can also steal the responses to "security questions" the bank might ask. Some versions of Zbot can take pictures of the screen whenever the bank customer clicks his mouse, which defeats even "soft" on-screen keyboards that some banks use specifically to thwart keyloggers.

"Online banking sites are tempting and potentially very lucrative channels for cybercriminals to target a great mass of people," said Mike Kronenberg, chief technology officer for Webroot's consumer security division. "We're seeing malware authors rapidly update their banking Trojan programs in an effort to avoid detection by Internet security solutions. This means consumers need to stay on top of protecting themselves online."

Kronenberg recommends three key steps for protecting your personal finances and your identity online:

Be Protected: Make sure you have a reputable antispyware and antivirus program installed on your computer. Be careful when doing searches for "free" antivirus software because the results are often decoys that have malicious programming built in to them.

Stay Protected: Suppress the urge to hit the ignore button when you get those pesky reminders asking if you would like to check for updates. By having the most up-to-date software for both your operating system (like Windows or Linux) and your antispyware and antivirus program, you get the highest level of security.

Diversity is key: Would you ever use the same key for your car, office and your home? Although it may seem simplest to just use the same password for all your online accounts, it is perhaps the riskiest thing you can do to open yourself up to identity theft. If just one of your accounts is hacked it opens the door for the thief to gain access to all of them.

technorati keywords: internet threats, banking online, bill-paying, internet security, keyloggers, trojan, money transfer

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Landing a Job in a Digital Era

With people updating their social networking pages from their PDAs and downloading favorite tunes from their mobile phones, it should come as no surprise society has grown increasingly reliant on technology. Individuals about to dive into the job-seeking market may have to rethink their search skills to maximize the potential of reaching employers and companies that likely embrace a digital mind set.

As of June 2009, the U.S. unemployment rate reached 9.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means there are a great deal of people --from the recently laid off to the newly graduated --who are all vying for the same jobs. Thinking creatively and exploring numerous ways of advertising oneself can help land a job in today's market.

Newspaper: The newspaper has long been a respected and effective means to find work. It is still a viable way to find jobs that are local without having to search through hundreds and hundreds of positions, which is common with online job posting sites. However, why not turn the tables and use the newspaper --and its respective online site -- to advertise yourself? For a relatively low investment of time and money, you can place a classified ad that you are seeking work and briefly explain your credentials. Create a separate, free e-mail address with your favorite mail provider specifically for receiving inquiries to this advertisement.

Personal Web site: Employers are short on time and many want to exert the least amount of energy possible when seeking job candidates. A personal Web page can put your information in the hands of employers in a concise and eye-catching way. The Web page can feature a brief description of yourself and also include a digital resume. Simply provide a link to your site when applying for a job. Remember, a personal Web site should be all business. Now is not the time for a pretty picture or stories about your pets. Employers are looking for skills.

Be bold with buzzwords:Turn your experience into a list of buzzwords, keywords and important phrases when writing a resume. It used to be that verbs were the key to landing a job. Using strong action words should relay your experience. However, today resumes are frequently reviewed by a digital eye, rather than a human eye. This digital eye is programmed to recognize certain words and phrases that will sort your resume out from the others. Including the right keywords ensures your resume has a better chance of being picked. Use as many words as you can that were included in the original job posting --they're likely to be programmed keywords. Most of these words are nouns that signal job titles, technical skills and levels of education or experience.

Use social networking sites to your advantage: Employers and recruiters have admitted they frequently go to social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn to "check up" on potential hires --or even employees they already have on staff. Many a person has compromised his or her chances for hire by questionable material posted on their pages. Instead of being a victim of the pitfalls of social networking, use it to your advantage. Seed your pages with information that may be interesting to a potential employer by doing a little research. For example, if you know a certain company to which you'd like to apply places significant emphasis on the environment, list the "green" functions you've attended and the groups to which you belong on your page. Know a hiring manager is an avid golfer? Talk about your passion for the game. It's these little things that may get you in the door for an interview.

Think differently: There are some people who want to take their job search to another level. With the market saturated by job seekers, sometimes it's the person who has the nerve to stand out from the crowd that will land the job. Today it's not uncommon to find door-to-door solicitation of jobs, people posting job requests on YouTube or similar sites, or even standing in a busy downtown area with a sign that says, "Looking for Work." Others turn to popular blogs to get the word out. The more people who know you're looking for work, the better chance you will find a position.

Technology is technology: There are certain tips you should keep in mind when applying for jobs:

- Scanners that look at resumes work well with these typefaces: Helvetica, Courier, Futura, Optima, Palatino, New Century Schoolbook, and Times. And they work best with type sizes in the 10- to 14-point range.

- Don't send your resume as an attachment, or include any attachments, unless specified. There are always concerns about computer viruses and attachments can even get lost. Paste everything into the body of your e-mail.

- Use the subject line of an e-mail as a theater marquee and sell yourself.

- Use the proofreading/spell-check functions of your word processing software, but also print out your materials and read them over. There's no excuse to be excluded from a job because of a silly typo.

- Follow-up with all job applications. It could move your resume to the top of the pile.

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Power-Up Green Initiatives With Battery Recycling

This article talks about the advantages of recycling the batteries that power the cordless phones, remote controls, flashlights, gaming systems, mobile phones, etc.

(MS) -- Batteries have become the lifeblood of modern-day society. These miniature powerhouses are the key to providing portable, convenient power for the myriad of electronic items we rely on daily. But batteries can come at a cost to the environment. If not properly disposed of or recycled they can prove dangerous -- leaching heavy metals and contaminants into the soil and groundwater, resulting in a number of negative side effects for both the environment and individual health, possibly including autism.

Batteries Power the World

Cordless phones, remote controls, flashlights, gaming systems, mobile phones, children's toys -- the list of items powered by alkaline or rechargeable batteries continues to grow. Batteries are even working in ways the average person may not witness. During a power outage, phone lines still operate because they are equipped with batteries. Batteries also help control power fluctuations, run commuter trains and provide back-up power for critical needs like hospitals and military operations.

Easy to Trash, But We Shouldn't

Batteries provide many advantages and everyday conveniences. However, it's the way they are disposed of that poses problems. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each year more than three billion batteries are thrown away by American households. In a typical year, disposed AA batteries alone, placed end to end, would circle the earth six times.

"Since 2007 the state of California has banned the dumping of alkaline batteries in landfills with other municipalities soon to follow," says Steve Stark, general manager of the Green Electronics Division of Perf Go Green Holdings, Inc. "Our goal is to make a difference by leading the fight in reducing battery-dumping in our landfills."

Batteries, while generally inexpensive and easy to buy, can be inconvenient and expensive to dispose of properly. Consumers may spend as much as $50 for a pail to recycle dead alkaline batteries. Generally people want to recycle batteries in the right way, they just don't want to pay to do it. According to a 2005 survey of telephone respondents in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, nine out of 10 people (92%) said they would be encouraged to recycle their batteries if they were collected from their home.

When spent batteries are dumped into landfills they can have extremely negative effects on the planet, as well as the life that it supports. Rechargeable batteries contain heavy metals such as nickel, cadmium, cobalt, mercury, and lead, which can leach out of landfills into the air, ground, and water. Single-use alkaline batteries, deemed safer for disposal, still may contain trace amounts of mercury. They also are composed of corrosive acids that can eat through many materials, and if burned can explode and release toxic fumes into the air.

Cadmium can cause lung damage, kidney disease, and death, while lead can damage the kidneys, nervous system, and reproductive system, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Some doctors and autism experts say that environmental mercury in water and soil may be one contributor to the rise in autism cases in recent years.

Recycling is the Answer

Recycling or discarding of batteries in the proper manner, meaning using a reputable company that guarantees safe recycling methods, is the only way to ensure harmful batteries do not end up in landfills. However, because up until now there have been no widespread recycling programs, currently only 2 percent of batteries are recycled.

PerfPower(TM) from Perf Go Green is changing the way consumers use and dispose of batteries. These alkaline batteries are made from recycled materials, and are 100 percent, lead-, mercury- and cadmium-free. The battery life is also equal to other popular name-brand batteries on the market.

The company is also making it a snap to recycle the batteries once they are spent. With the PerfPower(TM) recycling kit, individuals have a hassle-free and environmentally sound solution to properly handle their dead batteries. They simply buy the PerfPower(TM) batteries with a special redemption code; visit www.irecycled.com to register to receive a postage-paid recycling package (valued at $16.95); then place all spent PerfPower(TM) batteries and packaging into return unit and send it back to the company. If a person can mail a letter, he or she can recycle batteries at absolutely no cost.

To reduce the health implications and environmental effects of batteries, recycling is necessary. For more information on recycling initiatives, visit www.irecycled.com. For other green products, visit www.perfgogreen.com.

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Practice Mobile Phone Etiquette

A 2004 MIT survey found that cell phones are the one invention of modern day that people hate the most but can't live without. Which could be why there are an estimated two to three hundred million mobile phones in use worldwide.

Cell phones have made life easier and more convenient for so many people, and calling plans continue to evolve and become more affordable. Many homes do not have a landline at all --individuals make all of their calls from a wireless phone. People report feeling proverbially naked without their phones, and wouldn't leave home without them.

As technology continues to evolve, more and more people are relying upon their phones to make calls, text friends and family, take photographs, capture video, browse the Internet, and so much more. Which means cell phones have become an all-consuming presence.

As cell phone use reaches staggering statistics, social etiquette regarding the right places and times for using a phone have become ever more blurred. Many people see them as a nuisance or an imposition at certain times, but fail to practice social etiquette during their own phone use.
Several studies by popular phone service providers have indicated that individuals do not feel shy about interrupting face-to-face conversations to answer a ringing cell phone, or talking on the phone while in the bathroom. While common sense might indicate that it's courteous to turn the ringer off on a phone during a religious service, movie, or other group event, who hasn't been at a show or service where at least one phone goes off? Many venues -- including houses of worship -- now have a standard announcement asking phones to be turned off prior to commencement.

Others do not balk about airing their private information in front of others. Overheard conversations on city streets and in public places yield more personal details than some may enjoy hearing.

"Every day for years I rode the bus to and from work," says Jean from New Jersey. "You see the same people during commute hours, and there would always be one woman who had to immediately call her spouse upon entering the bus, report that she was 'on the bus,' and then discuss what would be cooked for dinner. She spoke so loudly and I found it very annoying. Finally fed up, one day I asked her how her roast beef was -- having overheard the menu item from the previous evening's ride. Embarrassed, she cut down on the phone calls from then on and spoke in a lower voice."

Etiquette experts say there is a time and a place for cell phone use, and users should be mindful of their surroundings before flipping open their phones to make or take a call. Consider these suggestions.

* Turn off the ringer and let calls go to voicemail during a business meeting or another important event, such as a doctor's appointment.

* Never discuss private or confidential information in a public place. You never know who may be listening.

* Don't take a call if you are feeling angry or overly emotional. You don't want to embarrass yourself or others by yelling, crying or becoming irritated during your conversation.

* Billy Idol had his "Rebel Yell," but mobile phone users seem to fall victim to "Cell Yell," talking much louder than is necessary on their phones. This can be very distracting to others, particularly in a confined space, such as a bus, car or train. If you are having trouble hearing the person on the other end of the conversation, or he or she is having trouble hearing you, call back at a more convenient time.

* Silent or vibration settings on cell phones were put there for a reason -- so you don't disrupt others when phones should be silent. This includes places such as business meetings, religious services, schools, restaurants, theaters, or sporting events.

* Don't let a call take precedence over safety. Avoid making calls while driving. Even hands-free phones can be distracting if you get engrossed in a conversation.

* Rely on text messaging to send a message discreetly. Just be sure to turn down your alert volume. Incoming text messages at two-second intervals can become annoying as well. And be courteous with text messaging. Not everyone has unlimited messaging plans, so they may be charged for the spam or funny jokes you forward on to everyone in your address book.

* If you are expecting a call that you don't want to miss, alert those around you that you're expecting a call and excuse yourself from the room to take it. Always put the people you're currently with as the priority.

* When in doubt, turn on vibrate mode and skip the call. Emergencies are few and far between, and you can always call a person back later.

CAPTION: Be courteous about where you make your cell phone calls.

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mobile phone cell phone Etiquette

Creating the Perfect Soundtrack For Your Wedding

If you've figured out by now that music is the key to a great wedding, you're right: it's the secret ingredient of every great wedding. The right song at the right time can evoke strong feelings and help solidify memories of the day long after the last dance.

Unfortunately, many couples don't focus as much attention on their musical program as they do on picking out a reception hall, or florist. Too often, they leave crucial music decisions to their DJ or band. This can be a huge mistake, according to wedding music experts Gloria Sklerov and Barbara Rothstein, professional songwriters who set romance to music for films and TV, and are creators of http://www.weddingmusiccentral.com/

"While flowers, clothes and decor may make a wedding 'look' beautiful, it's well-planned music that makes a wedding 'feel' beautiful" says Sklerov, who has won multiple Emmys for wedding songs featured on daytime TV and has written songs for Sinatra, Cher and other top artists.
Think about weddings you've attended. How did you measure their success? Probably by whether you had a good time...or not. Top wedding coordinators know that music is the 'good-time-factor' of a wedding. People have a good time when they can participate, and feel connected to it all. It's a good sign when guests get up to dance frequently and when they're sharing in the emotions of sentimental moments like father/daughter, mother/son dances, etc. When the music is dull or constantly intrusive, and there's little involvement and interaction among the guests, chances are they're waiting for the right time to say goodbye.

Sklerov and Rothstein realized that couples have 'no way of knowing what they don't know' and really do need expert music planning guidance and information to plan a successful wedding program. Thanks to them, brides and grooms everywhere have access to expert know-how and a step-by-step planning system with their book, "How To Set Your Wedding To Music," the complete wedding music guide and planner. Here are some of their tips for a memorable event:
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION

Create a Plan: Visualize your wedding as a film, and think about the songs that would coordinate best with the scenes that unfold. For example, imagine the processional, the unity candle ceremony, the father/daughter dance, the mother/son dance, or even a special tribute to an important person in your life as you listen to sound clips of songs written especially for those moments.

Stay Organized: Keep a notebook and jot down songs you've heard or ideas you've gathered. Then, when you finalize your choices and discuss them in detail with your band or DJ you can consider their suggestions without feeling pressured.

Book Your DJ or Band: Once you know your date, book as soon as possible. DJs and bands have distinct advantages and disadvantages. DJs are usually less expensive, take up less space and offer playback of original songs by original artists. Bands can provide live sound and make any occasion seem elegant. Generally however, they are costly and your songs will be interpreted by the band, not necessarily performed with the 'feel' you like or are used to.

Go Beyond the Boring and Basic: Happily for the thousands of brides and grooms who've discovered weddingmusiccentral.com, there's no reason for wedding music to be dull or ineffectual. The Web site offers an exclusive line of music CDs created especially for weddings by Grammy and Emmy-winning writers, artists and producers, plus in-depth expert planning articles. The CDs feature exciting contemporary arrangements of classical ceremony favorites and pop standards, fresh new wedding songs for Fathers & Daughters, Mothers & Sons, and other special relationships including stepparents, and families of second marriages.

"When writing for film and TV," says Rothstein, "we had to master the art of enhancing each scene with the right touch of emotion ... adding to the significance of important moments." Their unique special songs such as "My Little Girl", "The Man You've Become" and "Yours, Mine & Ours" for fathers and daughters, mothers and sons and other relationships have gone on to become popular favorites for weddings.

Keep Your Guests in Mind: Consider the tastes of your guests. Make sure singles and older guests can enjoy the music as well. Include timeless standards and music of different eras that all guests will enjoy.

UNIQUE TOUCHES

In addition to the music that is played on your special day, songs and sentiments can be sent in advance of your wedding and afterward as well. You can 'send more than a card ... you can send a song' with the unique musical ideas that Sklerov and Rothstein offer with their Personalized CD Singles line:

* "Save the Date" CDs -- featuring the classic "Chapel of Love" and your save-the-date information imprinted directly on the CD. Send them to your guests in lieu of the standard save-the-date card.

* Personalized Gift CD Singles -- a selection of songs for mom, dad or even bridesmaids and maids of honor. You can express personal sentiments for your parents and friends with a special song they'll love.

* CD Thank You 'Notes' -- The wedding thank you song, "Thank You For Your Gift Of Love" with your names imprinted on each CD is an original 'musical' way to say 'thank you' instead of sending an ordinary thank you card.

For more great tips on wedding music or to order any of the unique musical items mentioned above, visit http://www.weddingmusiccentral.com/.

CAPTION: The right music can convey the emotions of all the special moments of your wedding day.




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wedding soundtrack wedding music wedding plan