Following the recent announcement prior to CES that Warner Brothers would exclusively release next-gen DVD movies on the Blue-ray format, hope is springing eternal that finally this stupid format war will end. Come on, giant corporate conglomerates! I’m willing to upgrade! Just let one format win and lets be done with it.

Blue-ray Partisans

• 20th Century Fox
• Disney
• Lionsgate
• New Line
• Sony
• Warner Bros.

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Read about the Darwin Awards here.

RUNNER UP # FIVE:
THE LAPTOP STILL WORKS (Confirmed True by Darwin)

“Driving is not a time to be practicing your multitasking skills,” remarked CHP spokesman Tom Marshall, commenting on a 29-year-old computer tutor’s decision to drive along Highway 99 in California while working on his laptop. He drifted over the center line, and was killed by oncoming traffic. CHP officers found Oscar’s computer still running, plugged into the Honda Accord’s cigarette lighter.

REFERENCES: http://DarwinAwards.com/darwin/darwin2007-12.html

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This page provides a list of items that can cause (or contribute to) liability under the alternative minimum tax. The list isn’t complete — there are other items that can contribute to AMT liability. Based on our experience, the items described below are likely to affect more people than other items.

1. Exemptions
   Believe it or not, exemptions contribute to AMT liability. The exemptions you claim for yourself, your spouse and your dependents are not allowed when calculating alternative minimum tax. It’s pretty rare (though not impossible) to see a tax return where someone had to pay AMT solely because of their exemptions, but the more exemptions you claim, the more likely it is that you’ll have AMT liability when all is said and done. (more…)

1. Pay off your debts.
Clean up your finances before you invest. You are guaranteed to save money on interest when you pay off your bad debt — i.e., using the 7 steps debt elimination plan. On the other hand, there is no guarantee that your investment will make money; especially when you are new at it.
2. Do your homework.
Do not trade until you understand the market and what it has to offer. Learn about investing and the different kinds of investment before you jump in.
3. Know yourself.
Understand your risk tolerance and formulate your investment strategy based on your risk profile, goals, and time horizon.
4. Have a solid strategy.
Did you do 1, 2, and 3 above? Always remain true to your plan and follow the style that works best for you.

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Rumors abound that Will Smith has now become a Scientologist. Need a scorecard to remember which of your favorite stars have join Tom Cruise’s little club? Here ya go:

• Tom Cruise
• John Travolta
• Nancy Cartwright
• Kirstie Alley
• Jason Lee
• Leah Remini
• Giovanni Ribisi
• Beck
• Priscilla Presley
• Greta Van Susteren (more…)

1. Always maintain a calm, collected tone
Keep your voice even, keep your tone low, and do not lose your temper. If you find yourself getting upset, place the person on hold for a moment, take a slow, deep breath, and pick the phone back up. If they have hung up on you, mention it when you call back.

2 . Before you call, outline the situation for yourself, and decide how you want it solved
Write down several options you would be willing to accept, and keep the page in front of you when you call.

3. Always get the name of the person who answered the phone, even if you speak to them for only a moment
Write the name down, as well as any other person you connect to. Keep notes of who said what.
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5. AUDITIONS - The audition process is outrageous. After waiting for nearly two days on concrete, the contestants are given an opportunity to showcase their talents alongside 20,000 hopefuls in the city they attend. Unless someone waits in line for the contestant (stepping away will cost you your place in line), this is a long time to be without an opportunity to shower. Not to mention, those that don’t bring food go the entire time without eating. Ryan Seacrest is typically late to these events, showing up as late as ten when the competitions start at eight in the morning. I guess the logic is, “What are two more hours?” Any attempt to beautify oneself must be accomplished in the bathroom while grappling with peers for a corner of a mirror to get television ready.
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1. Condense Your Main Message. Ideally you should get it down to a 30 second blurb. How do you do that? Start with the goal of your speech. Is it to convey knowledge? If so what is the main thrust? Perhaps your goal is to inspire your audience to take action. If so, what action do you want them to take Maybe your goal is to make your audience feel something. This is your overarching message. Write your first draft without attention to length at first. Once you’ve done that, then condense it. When you deliver your speech, touch on it at least 3 times or whenever appropriate, but be sure to include it in the beginning, middle, and especially at the end.

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