DO YOU KNOW WHAT "SEXTING" MEANS? HOW ABOUT "BROMANCE"???

This week, the Macquarie dictionary (--which is an Australian dictionary) announced its entries in the dictionary's annual "Best New Word or Phrase" contest. Here are a few of our favorites:

--Celebutard: A dumb celebrity.

--Wii Shoulder: Painful inflammation of the shoulder caused by playing too much Nintendo Wii . . . or any other virtual computer game which involves movement.

--Pimp Cup: A brightly-colored goblet-shaped glass that's usually decorated with rhinestones.

--Bromance: A non-sexual but close friendship between two males.

--Toxic Debt: Debt which is initially acquired as a legitimate business transaction, but which eventually proves to be financially worthless . . . just like the subprime loans which fast-tracked the global financial crisis.

--Sexting: Sending or receiving sexually-explicit pictures or videos over a cell phone.

--Climate Porno: Exaggeratedly alarmist predictions about the progress of global warming and its effects on the world.

--Online voting ends January 31st, and the winning word or phrase will be announced the first week of February. (Yahoo News)

(--You can check out more words and phrases and vote for your favorites here . . .)

http://www.macquariedictionary.com.au/anonymous@9c9F499506513/-/p/dict/index.html

SANJAYA'S COME BACK???

IN LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, SANJAYA MALAKAR WILL BE DROPPING SOME NEW TUNES *AND* A MEMOIR!!!

Not to startle you . . . but in less than two weeks, SANJAYA MALAKAR will be taking the world by storm again!!! On Tuesday, January 20th, Sanjaya will be dropping a new, five-song EP called "Dancing to the Music in My Head" . . . AND a memoir, which is similarly titled "Dancing to the Music in My Head: Memoirs of the People's Idol".

Since you'll probably want to be all over that book, you should head over to Amazon.com, and pre-order it. (--Here's the link . . .) http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Music-My-Head-Memoirs/dp/1439136149/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231281409&sr=8-1

As for the EP, Amazon is currently streaming PREVIEWS of each of the songs. (--You can check them out, at this address . . .)http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-Music-My-Head-EP/dp/B001OVSV78/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1

And if you need MORE Sanjaya action . . . here's a video of Sanjaya performing "A Quintessential Lullaby", which is the third song on the EP . . .)

By the way . . . in all seriousness . . . Sanjaya's new stuff doesn't sound as bad as you might expect. It's got a real groove to it that feels more organic than the lame-n-tame garbage you find on most "Idol" contestants' debut albums.)

Remember: Sanjaya was just 17 when he was on "Idol". He showed off a nice voice in the early rounds . . . and a lot of people were rooting for him. Then, as his fan-base ballooned, he started getting pushed further and further into the competition . . . and got a little in over his head. And that's when things got WEIRD, with the crazy antics and hairstyles and stuff. But putting all that "Idol" nonsense aside, it sounds like Sanjaya's new EP might actually be worth a spin.

ITUNES CHANGE

APPLE HAS ANNOUNCED A PRICE SHIFT ON ITUNES TRACKS:

At yesterday's MacWorld conference, Apple announced that they'd be introducing a price shift on some of their iTunes tracks, which have always cost 99 cents a pop. But beginning on April 1st, there will be three price points. Most of their songs will still cost 99 cents . . . but now, select older "catalog" tracks will cost 69 cents, while hot new hit songs will be bumped up to $1.29.

Apple has always refused to budge on their 99-cent download price . . . but they've apparently decided to cave in order to make their entire service DRM-free. (--As you probably know, DRM-free music files are unprotected or unlocked tracks.)

The new three-tier pricing was part of a deal with three of the four major labels . . . Sony, Universal, and Warner Music . . . to allow iTunes to sell DRM-free tracks. (--They'd previously reached a DRM-free deal with the fourth major label, EMI.)

So beginning yesterday, 8 million of the 10 million songs on iTunes were made DRM-free . . . and the remaining 2 million will be switched over by the end of the month. (--If you bought protected tracks from iTunes, you can now switch them out for the better-encoded DRM-free files.)

For what it's worth, iTunes' competitors . . . the Amazon MP3 Store, Wal-Mart's digital music store, and eMusic . . . have been DRM-free for over a year now.

Here's a fake news report from The Onion about Apple's revolutionary new laptop, the "MacBook Wheel", a computer that comes fully equipped . . . with no keyboard. VERY FUNNY!!

FOLLOW THAT CAR

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KEEP TABS ON YOUR KID WITH A GPS TRACKING DEVICE???

Do you lose your ever-loving mind if you don't know EXACTLY where your kid is . . . at any given moment? (--It's OK . . . you can admit it. I do too.)

If so, you're in luck because a British company called Lok8u (--pronounced "Locate You") has just come out with a new wristwatch for kids . . . that's equipped with a GPS tracking device.

The watch . . . called the Nu.M8 . . . triggers an alert if it's removed, and it allows parents to track their kids on a website, which is able to plot junior's location within TEN FEET. According to the owner of Lok8u, the wristwatch, "gives parents the reassurance of knowing where their children are, any time, anywhere . . . The overriding aim of Nu.M8 is to give children their freedom and parents peace of mind."

The Nu.M8 wristwatch costs around $220 . . . and service plans start at $7.50 a month. (Daily Mail)

You can learn more about the Nu.M8 watch here . . .)http://www.lok8u.com/

FUNNY CAT VIDEO

COME ON, IT'S TIME TO GET UP & FEED ME!!

In this time lapse video, a cat tries to wake up its sleeping owner all night long.

(--Note: The cat really starts trying to wake the guy up at :28.)

NICKNAME SHORTAG

THE FBI IS RUNNING OUT OF NICKNAMES FOR BANK ROBBERS:

White-collar criminals have been getting all the headlines recently. But good-old-fashioned bank robbers get the best nicknames. You can steal more dough by bilking investors, but it's cooler to stick-up a bank and become known as ''The Straw Hat Bandit."

I always thought these guys made up their own names, or that newspapers created them. But it turns out . . . it's the FBI. They think up memorable nicknames for serial bank robbers . . . people who rip off three banks or more . . . because it helps lead to arrests.

According to the FBI, a well-crafted nickname makes sure that a manhunt gets plenty of media attention. It also helps potential witnesses remember the bandit's disguise . . . like "The Groucho Bandit'' . . . or their getaway car, like ''The Cadillac Bandit''.

Here's the problem: Bank robberies are on the rise. There are more than 7,000 a year nationwide, and the numbers are growing by almost 5% a year. In fact, there are so many bank robbers at large that the FBI is having trouble thinking of new names for all of them. They claim that coming up with the names is one of their biggest challenges.

There were so many bank robberies last year in Chicago alone . . . 276, almost a record . . . that the FBI office there had to start reusing nicknames, like ''The Kangol Bandit 2'', for guys who rob banks wearing a Kangol hat.

Check out five pages of photos and nicknames of at-large robbers, including the Grizzly Adams Bandit and the Armed Clown Bandit, courtesy of the FBI's L.A. office, here . . .)http://www.labankrobbers.org/serial_bandits_01.htm

TIME FOR A "TT"

THE BEST WAY TO COPE WITH STRESS IS . . . TO THROW A TANTRUM?

Are you feeling stressed out these days? Maybe the end of the holidays has got you down. Or you don't want to go back to work after vacation. Or freezing weather is bothering you . . . or going back to school . . . or the horrible economy.

Okay, sorry. --But if you ARE stressed out, maybe there's a solution you haven't thought of: The tantrum.

A new survey of 2,000 adults in the UK called "The Sound or Silence Poll" showed that one in ten people deal with tension by going somewhere and sitting quietly, while more than a third admitted to having tantrums.

But that's not necessarily a bad thing according to Judi James, a psychologist and expert in communications and body language, and psychologist Geoffrey Beattie. They say, quote, "Releasing tension through shouting and screaming is a really beneficial way to expel the negative energies caused by stress. "January can be one of the most stressful times of the year, between sale shopping and recovering from the excesses of the party season, which can stimulate negative behaviors such as rising tension, stress levels, and blood pressure.

"When this threatens to overwhelm you, try a short sustained burst of shouting." Also, if you don't want a stressed co-worker flipping out on you this month, you might want to know the five things most likely to irritate people.

According to the survey, 28% of people are annoyed by others eating noisily, 26% are irritated by sniffing (???), 21% don't like it when people talk too loudly on the phone, and 5% can't stand it when other people sing. (Daily Mail)

SAME PLACE NEXT YEAR?

THERE'S AN OLD COUPLE WHO HAVE RENEWED THEIR WEDDING VOWS EVERY YEAR FOR 58 YEARS:

Oswald and Margaret Beauvoisin got married on December 27th, 1948, in Portsmouth England. The next year, Oswald was stationed in Bermuda with the Royal Navy. The year after that, he was back in England. So on their wedding anniversary, he and Margaret renewed their vows . . . and they've done it every year since.

That's right, Oswald and Margaret Beauvoisin have renewed their wedding vows every year for 58 years. And each time, they have a ceremony, where they remove their rings, are blessed, and then put their rings on again. Every year . . . for 58 years.

Now Oswald is 84, and Margaret is 81. This past December 27th, they renewed their wedding vows at a ceremony attended by ten of their 11 children, most of their 23 grandchildren, and their 13 great-grandchildren. (Daily Mail)

(--Check out a couple photos of Oswald and Margaret, then and now. . .)

JO BRO SNEAK PEAK

THE JONAS BROTHER'S NEW SHOW

A sneak preview for the JONAS BROTHERS' upcoming Disney Channel series, "JONAS", has hit the Internet.

(--"JONAS" was initially going to be some kind of spy show . . . but they dropped that idea. The series is scheduled to premiere in May.)

HUSBAND SEARCH 2009

A WOMAN STARTED A WEBSITE TO FIND HERSELF A HUSBAND:

Would you like to help a woman find her husband this year? Of course you would.

A 42-year-old media consultant from New Jersey named Neenah Pickett launched a website last Thursday called 52weekstofindhim.com, to help her find a husband in 2009. Neenah says, quote, "It's not just my picture and you meet me and I look different from my picture. I have videos up there. I have friends talking about me." Visitors to the site can also check out Neenah's prospective dates and voice their opinions. (ABC News)

(--If interested, check out her website here:) http://www.52weeks2findhim.com/

REACTION TIME TEST

WANT TO TEST YOUR REACTION TIME?

Check out a cool website that allows you to test your reaction time. It's a pretty simple game that tests how fast you can click on something onscreen in five attempts: http://lethalpenguin.net/host/136/

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

CHECK OUT THIS PHOTO OF AN OWL WHO MADE FRIENDS WITH A HOUND DOG:

A 16-year old basset hound named Beryl made an unusual friend at an animal shelter in the UK. Beryl met a tawny owl named Wol, and the two have been inseparable ever since.

The owl perched on Beryl's back when both of them were out getting exercise. Now they cuddle up four days a week and watch soap operas together. (The Sun)

(--Check out a a slideshow of other cute animal couples here . . .)http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/features/article2089898.ece

MAKING THE BEST OF IT

***EIGHT WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OUT OF LOSING YOUR JOB***

Losing your job is devastating. It can also be boring and depressing. That's why it's important to keep yourself busy. If you start acting like you're on vacation, you're in trouble. So, here are eight ways to make the most out of losing your job . . .

#1.) TAKE CARE OF LOGISTICS. When you're laid off, there are some unpleasant . . . but necessary . . . things to take care of. Before anything else, file for unemployment benefits, figure out your health-care coverage, and assess your financial situation.

#2.) MOURN. Once your ducks are in a row, it's okay to grieve. After all, losing your job is one of the hardest things you'll have to deal with in life. But after a few days of bad daytime TV and junk food, it's time to get moving again.

#3.) CREATE YOUR OWN JOBS. With eight extra hours in your day, you can't spend them ALL looking for jobs. So take care of some projects around the house. Remember, if you don't do SOMETHING, you could fall into a cycle of self-pity.

#4.) LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE. It won't hurt your chances of finding another job, and it's also something you'll be proud of. If you just spend 30 minutes a day, you'll make yourself a more well-rounded person, AND you'll be more valuable to employers.

#5.) VOLUNTEER. Did you know that over 80% of employers view volunteering as relevant work experience? Plus, it gives you a sense of purpose and empowerment . . . which is critical if you've been out of work for months and your self-esteem is suffering.

#6.) TAKE A CLASS. If you're lacking a skill that's kept you from advancing your career to the next level, now's the perfect time to fix it. In your free time, take a class that beefs up your resume and makes you even more marketable as a potential employee.

#7.) BE GOOD TO YOURSELF. Being jobless gives you time to reconsider your work situation as well as your life in general. Everybody's got something that's worth improving, and now that you have free time, there's no excuse for being lazy.

--For example, if you've been wanting to lose ten pounds, now's the time to do it. You'll be healthier physically AND mentally, because your self-esteem will get a big boost.

#8.) DON'T LIMIT YOURSELF. Looking for a job that's just like your old one really lowers your odds of finding something. So, don't be afraid to look elsewhere. Now is a good time to reexamine what matters to you, and to try something new. (CNN.com)