Oddies across Web

Warner Bros. to remake 'The Chaser'

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Studio picks up rights to South Korean hit -- Warner Bros. has picked up remake rights to South Korea's surprise hit "The Chaser," and already the project is taking on the aura of the studio's last major Asian remake hit, "The Departed."

 

Miramax, Rudin nab 'Unnamed'

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Ferris' novel to be published by Little, Brown -- Miramax Films and producer Scott Rudin have acquired screen rights to "The Unnamed," an upcoming novel by Joshua Ferris about a man who comes down with a mysterious affliction that fractures his family.

 

Blockbuster profits climb high

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Earns $38 million in the latest quarter -- Blockbuster brings fresh meaning to Mark Twain's quip, "The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated."

 

Janet Jackson controls the charts

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: 'Discipline' is the artist's sixth No. 1 -- Janet Jackson's first album for Island Def Jam, "Discipline," sold 181,000 copies in the week ended Sunday, giving her the sixth No. 1 of her career, according to Nielsen SoundScan data.

 

Warner Bros. shape shifts

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Robinov mulls new paradigm for WB, New Line -- While Time Warner topper Jeff Bewkes made the call to fold New Line Cinema into the Warner Bros. studio, it's up to Warner prexy Jeff Robinov, with guidance from his bosses Barry Meyer and Alan Horn, to figure out how to put the pieces of the new studio paradigm together.

 

Lohman replaces Page in 'Hell'

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Actress takes lead role in Sam Raimi thriller -- Alison Lohman will step into the lead role in Sam Raimi's supernatural thriller "Drag Me to Hell."

 

Maverick TV closes shop

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Rosenberg moves to Blueprint -- Maverick TV -- the shingle behind FX's "The Riches" -- has shut its doors.

 

Oscar bounce renews 'Old Men'

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: 'Counterfeiters' sees biggest Oscar bump -- Television viewers may have snubbed the Oscarcast in record numbers this year, but a best picture win still seems to mean something at the box office. Just how much remains a question.

 

'Indiana Jones' to premiere at Cannes

from Variety.com - Front Page

Front Page: Film will debut May 18 at film festival -- The long-awaited fourth installment of George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's period action-adventure pic will debut at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, May 18. Source- Variety - Front Page - Variety.com

 

Hilton's brother charged with DUI (AP)

AP - Another hard-partying Hilton may be cruising closer to jail.

 

Spears' father gets $2,500 per week

AP - Being Britney Spears' father is now a paying gig — through most of the summer, at least. A court has ordered the troubled pop star's estate to pay James Spears' $2,500 in weekly compensation and authorized him to lease a car. On Wednesday, his authority to handle his daughter's affairs, which was scheduled to expire March 10, was extended until July 31.

 

Is America ready for a gay 'Idol'? (AP)

AP - No finalist has ever been portrayed as openly gay during the past six seasons of "American Idol." With more details about contestants' personal lives being exposed — both on the show and unofficially online — that could change, and soon.

 

Facebook founder is world's youngest billionaire (AFP)

AFP - Mark Zuckerberg, the 23-year-old founder of social networking site Facebook, is the youngest ever self-made billionaire, according to an annual list published by Forbes magazine.

How to Get Financial Peace of Mind

Financial Zen: How to Get Financial Peace of Mind

It's a fact: our finances are one of the things in our lives that stress us out the most. If we're trying for a stress-free life — with stress-free productivity, working and living environments, waking early, morning routines and the like — then we need to address our finances and find routines that will keep the stress of money to a minimum.

First, identify the financial stressors in your life. For many people, these include: worries about debt, paying bills late, not having a financial security net, not having a sense of control over your finances, and arguments over finances.

 

Let's address these each with some simple solutions:

Get out of debt. This is often the first necessary step. But how do you do this? First, monitor your impulse spending urges to stop the bleeding. Use a debt snowball as a plan to get out of debt. Also see: How I save, How to stop living from paycheck-to-paycheck, and How I ended my affair with the credit card.

Pay your bills as soon as they come in. This is one of the easiest ways to eliminate stress over bills. When you get your power bill, write a check, put it in an envelope, and mail it the next day. Or if you bank online (and you should), go to your computer, log in, and send your electronic payment. To do this, you'll need to develop a bit of a cushion in your bank account, so you always have enough to pay the bills as they come in.

Make your payments automatic. I've covered this before … it's an great alternative to the above method. Instead of paying bills as they come in, you can set up automatic payments and automatic savings payments online, so that as soon as your paycheck comes in, your bills get send out and a certain amount is transferred to savings (or investments). Either method works great.

Develop a financial security net. This is something you should also do right away. First, if you are married or have any dependents, you should get life insurance right away. Do your research and make sure you're getting the right policy for your needs. Don't get whole life insurance — it's not the smartest investment. Second, look at your other insurance to see if it meets your needs, from auto to homeowners to renters and more. Third, make sure you have a will — this might not seem necessary if you are young, but if you have any dependents, this is a must. Fourth, develop an emergency fund — right away. I know, it's something that everyone advises, but if you don't have at least a small emergency fund, you will never have financial peace of mind. Build it up to 3-6 months worth, or whatever you need to feel secure.

Review your finances at least weekly. To get a sense of control over your finances, you have to monitor them. Be sure you're balancing your checkbook at least once a week, to ensure that you don't have bounced checks or debit transactions. Even if your bills are automatic, you'll still want to make sure they're going out. Take the 10-20 minutes every week that's necessary to look at your budget, your expenses, your income, and make sure you've got everything under control. If you've got a partner, do this together.

Talk about money with your partner. Money can be a huge stressor on a relationship. It's important that you talk about money on a regular basis in a non-emotional way, as hard as that may sound. It's crucial, in fact, to the survival of your relationship. You both have to be on the same page, or you will eventually argue and have major crises about your finances. You need to talk about your financial dreams and goals, your spending patterns, your budget, your income, your savings, debt, financial security, bills and the like. If you don't already do this, it may take awhile in the beginning, and be difficult. But try to do it as a team, and not accuse each other of anything, don't blame, and try to be positive and constructive. Over time, it will get easier. At the minimum, devote 10-20 minutes each week to reviewing your finances together, reviewing your goals, and making sure that you're together and seeing eye-to-eye. It will make a major difference in your relationship and in your stress level. Courtesy- ZenHabits

India to have 1mn new jobs in 2008: Survey

The hospitality, health and education sectors are likely to replace the IT/ITeS sector as leading job creators in the country, which will have over 10 lakh new work opportunities in 2008. India will add 10,25,800 jobs, a tad lower than 10,30,000 jobs in 2007, predicted the Ma Foi Employment Survey 2008 released here. The traditional job creating horses like IT and IteS sectors have been replaced by hospitality, health and education sector, Ma Foi Management Consultants Managing Director K Pandia Rajan said while releasing the survey. Ma Foi is the largest human resource service provider and staffing company in India. It has been conducting the employment survey since 2004. The 2008 survey was carried among 2006 companies from 22 sectors of the economy and is claimed to be the largest study on the organised sector. The hospitality sector is shown to generate the maximum number of employment in 2008 with over 4.26 lakh jobs.

 

An estimated USD 11.41 billion is expected to be seen in the hospitality sector in the next two years. India is likely to have around 40 international hotel brands by 2011," the survey highlighted. The health sector is expected to create over 2.95 lakh jobs led by a strong presence of private players and rising opportunities in medical tourism and telemedicine. The education sector, including training and consultancy, is expected to add 1.66 lakh employees. The survey found that manufacturing sectors of food products and beverages, furniture, mineral and metal products and mining will witness a constraint in hiring this year. Education tops the list of sectors generating the highest number of jobs in 2008 at 10,429,312, followed by hospitality at 6,595,879 and health at 3,616,525 jobs, the survey said.

 

One in every 30 emails in India carries virus

The Russian leader Joseph Stalin had once said that the death of one man is a tragedy whereas the death of millions is a statistic. A similar allegory could be the fact that one in every 30 emails, which bombard inboxes in Indian cyberspace, is infected with a virus. The revelation made by a study conducted by MessageLabs, a web security services company puts India right on top of the heap of nations, which have been affected by a flurry of virus activity in the month of January. While the global ratio of viruses in emails turned out to be one in every 131 mails, what's even more staggering is the spam ratio - one in every 1.36 mails is junk mail. One of the reasons for the increase in the number of viruses in the country could be the rampant piracy of software.

Speaking about the continuing trend, ML Srinivasan, Technical director, Secure Matrix Solutions, an Internet security firm, says, "The usage of legally purchased software is extremely low in India roughly 60 to 70 per cent of the software installed on Indian PCs is pirated. And they are easily available at roadside shops. In most cases, the software CD is infected by viruses, which are embedded in Key Generators or Crack programmes which help end users bypass the software registration process." Another reason for the spread of viruses is a lack of updated anti-virus signatures among those who own anti-virus packages.

World’s Richest People- Forbes

 

Warren Buffett

Net Worth: $62 billion

America's most beloved investor Warren Buffett is now the world's richest man. The 77-year-old stock investor has overtaken software czar Bill Gates as well as Mexican Tycoon Carlos Slim Helu.

 

Carlos Slim Helu & family

Net Worth: $60 billion

The second-richest man in the world this year, even richer than Microsoft's Bill Gates, at least for now, is Carlos Slim Helu.

Thanks to strong Mexican equities market and the performance of his wireless telephone company, America Movil.

 

Bill Gates

Net Worth: $58 billion

Harvard dropout and Microsoft visionary Bill Gates is no longer the world's richest man.

 

Lakshmi Niwas Mittal

Net Worth: $45 billion

Lakshmi Niwas Mittal, owner of the world's largest steelmaker ArcelorMittal, which accounts for 10% of all crude steel production, stands at a the fifth position.

The Indian origin steel czar is also the Europe's richest resident.

 

Mukesh Ambani

Asia's richest resident heads petrochemicals giant Reliance Industries, India's most valuable company by market cap.

His fortune is up $22.9 billion since last year, making him the world's second biggest gainer in terms of dollars.

The Ambani brothers inherited their fortune from their late father, renowned industrialist Dhirubhai Ambani.

 

Anil Ambani

Net Worth: $42 billion

The year's biggest gainer, Anil Ambani, is up $23.8 billion in the past year, and is closing gap with estranged brother, Mukesh, who ranks one spot ahead of him in the world at number five.

A marathon runner, his biggest asset is his 65% stake in telecom venture Reliance Communications. He recently raised $3 billion from the highly anticipated initial offering of his Reliance Power, the biggest in India's history.

Despite the hype, the stock tumbled 17% immediately after its February listing. In a bid to appease investors, company's board recently approved the issue of bonus shares.

 

Ingvar Kamprad & family

Net Worth: $31 billion

Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947.

Now his company Ikea, which sells hip designs for the cost conscious, is one of the most beloved retailers in the world, with an almost cultlike following.

 

K P Singh

K P Singh is now the world's richest real estate baron after listing his real estate development company DLF in 2007. The offering helped triple his fortune to $30 billion this year, up from $10 billion.

Indian companies create big jobs for US

 

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: This piece of information involving India's small entrepreneurs could embarrass Senator Barack Obama on the most crucial day of his political career. For all his criticism about Indian firms sucking up US jobs, one of America's top consulting firms has said on the contrary, Indian companies are creating more jobs in his country.

"Our estimate is that in 2007 alone, Indian firms that set up shop in the US through greenfield units or via acquisitions created no less than 65,000 jobs," said Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) secretary-general Amit Mitra.

Ernst & Young has conducted a study called 'Report on Direct Investments in USA by Indian Enterprises' for the industry association. More interesting is the fact that nearly three-quarters of the companies that were shopping in the US were small and medium enterprises (SMEs) or midcap firms. Full Story

4 Indians among top 10 richest in the world

 

NEW YORK: The number of billionaires in Asia jumped more than 30 percent last year, with tycoons from India and China leading the charge, according to Forbes magazine's annual billionaires list.

In total, this year saw 1,125 people around the world making the list, up from 946 last year, representing a total net worth of 4.4 trillion dollars and a dramatic increase from 3.5 trillion dollars in 2007.

Asians accounted for 211 people on the list, up from 160 last year, with India counting 53, up from 36 in 2007, and China, which had just 20 billionaires last year, now boasting 42.

Hong Kong saw five more entrepreneurs make the grade, giving it a total of 26 and meaning that China and Hong Kong, which has a special administrative status under Beijing, lead the Asian list if grouped together.

Japan, which last year lost Asia's leading spot after 20 years at the top, by contrast counted only 24 tycoons on the list, unchanged from last year and down from 27 in 2006.

"We see some trends that show that (China's) maybe several years or a decade behind the United States. We have a handful of Internet folks for the first time," said Forbes' Senior Editor Luisa Kroll, unveiling the findings.

"A lot of the fortunes in China and Asia in general are in real estate and infrastructure development as the booming economies basically build up to handle all of the growth," she said.

India placed third in the world for the number of billionaires, trailing the United States, which easily led the rankings with 469 billionaires up from 415 last year, and Russia with 87.

Four Indians figured in the top 10, with steel giant Lakshmi Mittal placed fourth with 45 billion dollars, followed by petrochemicals tycoon Mukesh Ambani with 43 billion dollars and his estranged brother Anil Ambani on 42 billion.

Property magnate K.P. Singh came in eighth on the list, with a fortune estimated at 30 billion dollars.

Hong Kong businessman Li Ka-shing was the top-placed billionaire from eastern Asia, with a fortune of 26.5 billion dollars, while China's Yang Huiyan was the top placed figure in China.

Twenty-six-year-old Yang inherited her 7.4-billion-dollar wealth when her father transferred his shares in the Country Garden Holdings property company he founded into his daughter's name.

Gautam Adani, an Indian college dropout who made his money building Mundra Port, a private sector port on India's west coast, was the richest newcomer in Asia with a personal fortune of 9.3 billion dollars.

Elsewhere, Australia counted the most billionaires in the Asia-Pacific region with 14, followed by South Korea with 12 and Malaysia with eight.

Taiwan had seven, Indonesia and Singapore both counted five, while Thailand had three and the Philippines two.

Flip Your Karma: 8 Tricks to Turn the Bad Into the Awesome

 "Fall seven times, stand up eight." - Japanese proverb

It's inevitable: sometimes, life just doesn't go your way.

Your schedule gets all messed up. You fail to follow your exercise plan. Someone is mean to you. You feel like quitting something. You want to curl into a little ball and cry.

Life deals out its blows, and leaves us discouraged, angry, frustrated, depressed, drained. And once we're in that bad place, in a mood where we just don't care about anything, it's pretty hard to get out of it.

But let me share a little secret to happiness and self-improvement here: all that stuff? It's just in your head.

Yeah, it sure doesn't seem like it. It seems that the slings and arrows of life are all coming at us. It feels like we're a failure. But it's true. It's all in your mind.

How can I trivialize horrible things that happen to you like that? By making it seem like a simple mental problem? Because that's what it is, and once you realize that, you are liberated — you have the power to change your circumstances!

It's not an easy task, I'll give you that. It's incredibly, monumentally hard. Changing your mind and changing your life is a mental hurdle worthy of the titans.

But it can be done. All it takes is a few mental tricks, and a lot of energy and willingness to keep an open mind.

"Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow." - Swedish proverb

Let me give you an example: for the last couple years, I've struggled with exercise. I actually enjoy running and working out, but there are days when I don't feel like doing a thing, or when I feel under the weather, and those days can stretch out to a week and that week can stretch into a few weeks. And then I've fallen off the exercise wagon and it feels like I can't get back on.

But then I use the first couple of tricks below, and my mindset changes. I switch on the positive attitude, and realize that my failure to exercise is actually just a stepping stone to fitness success. And looking back, I've had 6-7 of these failures, or stepping stones, and they've all led me further down the path to fitness. Today, I exercise almost every day, and I'm loving it.

The same is true of every other success I've had. This blog, for example, is a success in my eyes, but I've had points where I was discouraged by negative comments or emails. I flipped that discouragement around, however, and used the comments to help myself improve.

I had many failures along the way to eliminating my debt, but I made it there in the end, by not quitting. I have faced many tests of my patience and character, and failed not a few of those too. But through practice, I've gotten better, and while I'm not perfect, I know that I'll only continue to improve if I keep the same mindset.

It's all in your mind. Here are 8 tricks I use to turn anything bad into something truly awesome.

1. The power of positive thinking. I learned the power of positive thinking while I was quitting smoking, and I used the lessons of that challenge to help me with every other challenge I've faced since. Quitting smoking, as most smokers (and ex-smokers) know, is supremely difficult. There are many times throughout each day, in the first few weeks especially, when you feel like giving up. When you want just one cigarette (which leads to two …). When you just don't see the point of all this suffering. And yet, if you realize that it's just negative thinking, you can squash that negative thought like a little bug. Then replace it with a positive thought (I CAN do this!) and you're back on the road to success. Recognize negative thoughts, squash them, and find positive thoughts to replace them. Works every time.
2. Failure is a stepping stone to success. This is what I tell myself every time I fall. I get up, dust myself off, and start again. Each failure shows you an obstacle you didn't anticipate, and you can plan to beat that obstacle next time. Each failure brings you that much closer to winning. And you know what? Every single time I've told myself that, so far, it's been true. I've succeeded. Getting back up is the main thing.
3. Practice patience. This is what I tell myself when I get frustrated, when someone is difficult, when I begin to lose my patience. First, I vent somehow (talking to a friend or my wife is one of the best ways for me). Then, I tell myself that this is a great way for me to practice my patience. Sometimes, I have to repeat this to myself like a mantra, but it works nonetheless.
4. Learning experience. Similar to the "stepping stone to success" trick above, but it can be used for anything, not just failure. If I make a mistake, if I make the wrong choice, if I have a bad day … I just see it as an opportunity to learn. Then I review it in my head, trying to figure out what went wrong, trying to learn from my mistakes. If you see learning as a wonderful thing, as I do, then you can see every mistake as a blessing.
5. Makes you stronger. "That which does not kill us only makes us stronger," goes the famous saying. And while that's not always true (sometimes we can be left weakened and ruined), I've found it to be true in most cases. Something is difficult? I will be a stronger person for having endured it. This has been the case for me when I went through problems as a teen-ager (I ran away from home and slept in Golden Gate Park in S.F.), when I went through a divorce seven years ago, when I had stressful and trying times at various jobs. I became a better person because of it.
6. Test of your character. I like tests and challenges. It motivates me to step up to another level, to see if I can meet the challenge. This is the case with my first marathon, which was very difficult for me (for various reasons). It wasn't a particularly enjoyable experience for me, but I just saw it as a test. And when I passed that test, it was a joyous thing for me. This is true any time you go through a trying time — see it as a challenge, and try to meet that challenge. And when you do, you'll feel great about yourself.
7. Turn the other cheek. Jesus said that instead of taking an eye for an eye, if someone hits you, just turn the other cheek. I don't know many people who can meet this monumental challenge. I've tried it. It's not easy, and the desire to avenge any wrongs is hard to quash. However, I believe that even making an effort at this will make you a better person. It goes not just for physical wrongs to you, but anything that anyone does to you. They call you a name? Thank them. There will be some people who say that you have to meet force with force, or people will walk all over you. To this I say, "Where does it end?" And I also say, "You are merely stooping to their level." Rise above the pettiness of others, and become a better human being.
8. Love your enemy. I wrote about this recently as one of life's greatest challenges, and it belongs on this list. When you have anger toward another human being, give this a try. If you succeed, to any degree whatsoever, you will rejoice in this success. It is a miraculous thing.

"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." - Winston Churchill  Source - Zenhabits

Elsewhere: See LifeDev's cool article, Heartbreak Hotel: How to Turn Rejection into Triumph (Digg it if you like it!)

Steven Spielberg Is Working On A Social Network For Crackpots

Steven Spielberg Is Working On A Social Network For Crackpots [Bad Ideas]

Director Steven Spielberg is going to launch a social network this year for people who've seen ghosts and aliens, according to TechCrunch. (This reminds me of my Baptist-school teacher who thought Spielberg's role on earth was to prepare humanity to accept a demon invasion through Spielberg's alien fiction.) This sounds suspiciously like a boring Internet forum, unless this one comes with annoying zombie apps, which would feel redundant really.

Yahoo even reportedly bailed on the project. Spielberg has other, better projects in new media like his decent-looking video game, so why dabble in the sad world of vanity social networks?

Launching a social network is nothing special; there are scads of bad ones, including several big-budget failures. The Financial Times has its media-execs-only network. Variety has the Biz, a "social network" that's little more than a job board. None of this little world screams "big-time movie producer" to me. The only thing that could justify this is if Spielberg ties the site to his next paranormal film. Sadly his next sci-fi deals with black holes, not UFOs.

Source- gawker

Hollywood- the Hypes - Just wait n Watch

Kate Hudson Is So Not Pregnant

Kate Hudson put those pregnancy rumors to rest in a big way, hanging out poolside in Miami today. Her teeny bikini shows off her totally flat tummy (among other things), so clearly Ryder isn't getting a sibling anytime soon. He and Kate are pretty adorable splashing in the water and puckering up, but we're more curious to see who else has been keeping her lips busy while she's relaxing in Florida. The majority of you thought Kate was pregnant so based on these new images, have you changed your mind?

Eva Longoria Is Back to the Housewife Life

Eva Longoria isn't expecting any children of her own just yet, but she got to play with some cute kids over the weekend, accepting a donation from AT&T for PADRES Contra El Cancer. Eva accepted the donation as the spokesperson last year also which only goes to show that she still makes time to give back. However, now that the writers' strike has ended, fun in the sun time with Tony is over for Eva as she's back to work on Desperate Housewives. Luckily, apparently the cast got right back into the swing of things. Eva said, "We're back and it's like we never left. We were such a well-oiled machine before we broke so stop was jolting." Hopefully this means the show will include plenty of scandals for the fans that have been missing Wisteria Lane.

Drew Barrymore wears bikini for Justin Long

Drew Barrymore and Justin Long had a romantic getaway to Mexico this weekend. These two look like a sweet couple. You know, the kind that has sex then quickly runs to separate showers for a good wash and cry. You can't put a price on a love like that. But, unfortunately, you can put a price on a Mac. Seriously, Justin, $1500 and this thing doesn't mix drinks? I'll stick to my custom PC with a blender duct-taped to it, thank you very much. Now who wants an ink-toner mojito? *sips* Mmm, poisony.

Scarlett Johannson will date you for charity (Pity sex not included)

Scarlett Johannson could be yours for an entire evening. Provided you have a buttload of cash and win a charity auction on eBay. Scarlett goes up for bidding on Sunday, so start digging in those couch cushions. You'll get a chance to help the needy and possibly see some ScarJo cleavage. It reminds me of that passage in the Bible about caring for others: "And so Jesus said to Thomas, 'Dude, I totally need to touch that chick at the well's cones. Go get me a blind dude to heal. STAT. For real, that move is guaranteed to get me to No-Pants-rusalem.' And Thomas did as the Lord commandeth thus securing his heavenly position of righteous wing-man." 2 Superficialonians 5:19 (KJV)

Britney Spears' pregnancy rumors continue

The Britney Spears' pregnancy rumors continue. Earlier in the week it was Star, now it's Life & Style. No doubt the two have formed an alliance to grip the country in fear. An eyewitness for Life & Style claims Britney looks "totally pregnant." (Direct quote. I shit you not.) However, if Britney isn't pregnant it's not for lack of trying with Adnan Ghalib:

"Britney's still having sex with him," an insider tells Life & Style. And Jamie, who has moved in with Britney to oversee her recovery, "can't stand it," says the insider. "He hates when Adnan comes over and the two of them disappear for a few hours. He knows they're having sex. But Adnan makes Britney happy."

Anna Nicole Smith's daughter Dannielynn named heir

Reuters - A judge on Tuesday ruled that the baby daughter of deceased model Anna Nicole Smith is the sole heir to her estate, meaning 18-month-old Dannielynn could inherit a multimillion-dollar fortune.

Jessica Simpson Has a Type: Fun and Fearless (Shoppers)

Tony Romo and John Mayer were both spotted out shopping separately in NYC yesterday before their big Cosmo event and after the celebration most of the men headed off to grab some dinner together. Aww to that (and also, side note: awww to Tony's Tiffany's bag there...lucky Jess?). John picked up some less-romantic gifts at Louis Vuitton and Burberry to keep looking so sharp. While we noted that Jess must love Fun, Fearless men since John, Dane and Tony were all chosen for the honor, Tony wasn't afraid to crack a joke about it. He said, "If you date Jessica Simpson, I guess you're fun and fearless." He also tackled those engagement stories, saying, "I mean, it's just rumors. That's what people say." While Tony seems to have a great sense of humor about everything, Jess avoided any awkwardness by staying home from the event. I don't think we'll be hearing wedding bells just yet, but Tony and Jess are definitely growing on me, you?

Paris Hilton Hires Buddhist 'Guru' As New Shopping Buddy

If any of you had the fortune of seeing Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes in HBO's latest TV movie Bernard and Doris, you may remember the tobacco heiress's inexplicable desire to adopt a hare krishna healer. And now, following in the aristocratic footsteps of her idolized lady-who-lunch predecessors, Paris Hilton has decided to add a Buddhist monk "guru" to her ever-changing collection of confusing, flamboyant accessories. The gray-bearded, orange-robed monk has now replaced her standard arm candy of dogs, D-list actors and purses emblazoned with her own visage on them. But is Paris genuinely interested in learning the ways of the Dalai Lama, or is she eerily mirroring Duke's descent into madness?

Kate Hudson On Katherine Heigl: 'Who Is She?'

With two superstar parents and a lifetime spent travelling in Hollywood circles, you'd think Kate Hudson would be pretty up on her brethren in the acting community (especially those actresses gracing the cover of just about every other glossy on the newsstand). But apparently the name Katherine Heigl doesn't ring a bell with the former Mrs. Robinson. In an interview with UK Elle, the no-longer-single blondie allegedly feigned ignorance when Heigl's name was brought up, asking:

Does Nicole Kidman Have The Meanest Publicist In Hollywood?

Publicists tend to be one of two things: boring, lips-sealed mouthpieces armed with "no comment" at every twist and turn or loud-mouthed toughies whose sole duty on this planet is to defend their Amazonian clients. Nicole Kidman, for better or worse, is repped by the latter: one Catherine Olim, who sent out a nasty rebuttal regarding NY Post columnist Cindy Adams' claims that knocked up Nic threw a few back at the Oscars. And despite our affection for long-time gossip Adams and her kookily nonsensical musings, we're officially on Team Olim after hearing this statement:

"I cannot remember that last time that Cindy Adams got anything right. She's an idiot, and you can quote me."

Celebrities - a helping hand

Drew Barrymore Feels So Much Better After Giving Those Starving African Children A Fraction Of Her 'Music And Lyrics' Salary

It's Oprah's Big Give fever! YOU get to give! And YOU get to give! EVeryBOdy GETS to GIVE! To start the ball rolling, we offer documented Mac-enthusiast Drew Barrymore, who made a donation of $1 million of her personal fortune to an organization that feeds Kenyan children, written out on a giant, Price Is Right-style check and presented on The Oprah Winfrey Show today. It was a gesture of such heartfelt magnanimity that none other than Drew's Charlie's Angels co-star and bestest friend Cameron Diaz (secret, mutual nickname: Poo) called in to congratulate her on the gesture. Lucy Liu, meanwhile, waited patiently on Line 2; unfortunately, time restraints never allowed her to publicly state that she too was all for Barrymore's decision to give $1 million to a very worthy cause.

Beckham's Big Heart Helping China's Children

Soccer brought David Beckham to Shanghai, but sports aren't the only thing he's got on his mind. Yesterday he found the time to make a very special trip to the Xinhua hospital to visit with the sick children there. Those big smiles on Becks and the kids are totally making our hearts melt. Sadly for David, there was one kid who'll be missing him today — it's Brooklyn's ninth birthday, but he'll have to wait until his dad gets back to the States for celebratory hugs and gifts. Definitely a bummer, but we have a feeling David and Posh will find a way to make it up to him.

 

Sex Is Not Part Of The American Way Of Life -Surveys

Sex Is Not Part Of The American Way Of Life [Surveys]

May we speak bluntly? We Americans are a bunch of undersexed sissies. So says the new Global Sex Survey from Durex, maker of good-enough condoms. Barely half of Americans are having sex once a week, meaning that we rank above only the stuffy, sexually repressed Japanese in amount of fucking [NYDN]. And all of humanity has a big problem: we don't even like having sex.

"Sex worldwide could be better," according to the survey. We'd say so! Only 60% of people worldwide say sex is "fun, enjoyable, and a vital part of life."

Let that sink in for a moment. Only three out of five people on earth believe sex is fun. Further, less than half—only 44%—say they are fully satisfied with their own sex lives. Well, hard to be satisfied if you don't even think it's fun.

So who is winning the global sex race? Greece, where almost 90% of people say they get laid weekly. They are either very sexy, or very big liars. Following closely are Brazil, Russia, and China. Clearly, Americans need to get to screwing—possibly with the help of some pleasure-enhancing Durex products!—or our empire will surely fall to the onslaught of the Greeks.

Old, Old Man Would Like To See Little Girls Naked

Though now ancient and doddering, Hugh Hefner is still the same old lovable lech he always was. The Playboy founder would like, in addition to Lindsay Lohan, the Jim Henson-fashioned Olsen twins (still acting Mary-Kate, who the fuck knows Ashley) to do a nude pictorial for the magazine because, according to an anonymous source, "Hugh thinks the twins are every young man's fantasy." Wait, really? I thought we'd moved on from that bizarre period of 18th birthday countdowns (Hef had originally courted the pair around then) and furtive, shameful New York Minute viewings. It seems that Hef may be a bit out of touch on this one. Am I wrong? [Showbiz Spy] After the jump, video documentation of the two sexpots Hef so pruriently craves.

Odds from the web - still Hot

Christina Aguilera and Nicole Richie In No Holds Barred Glossy Mag Sales Contest [Two Women Enter, One Woman Leaves]

Christina Aguilera's baby blabber cover story in January versus (People! Exclusive!!) Nicole Richie's baby blabber cover last week, the chattering newsies are heatedly trying to get to the bottom of a quasi-intellectual argument about fame and newsstand sales. According to an MSNBC source, the Richie issue "sold more than 1.8 million copies...whereas Aguilera's has sold far less." But why the greater public interest in the ostensibly careerless Richie, as opposed to the Grammy award-winning Aguilera? Apparently, weekly readers like them some knocked up druggies and the weeklies know it:

"She's gone public about being a heroin addict. Her boyfriend is covered in tattoos. By default, she's got the more interesting baby."

Admittedly, any star worth their drug history will corral the public's fascination (there's a reason Behind The Music was such a smash hit, thanks to its consistent inclusion of addiction-laden tales), but regarding star power, Aguilera is the proven winner. According to IMDB, the chameleon-like songstress has appeared on 19 US magazine covers to date (and that's not including 31 additional international covers!), compared to Richie's paltry two: FHM in 2004 and Seventeen in 2005. But apparently when it comes to babies, stars are no longer playing the fame game. It's more of a "which baby is more destined to wind up like Daniellynn" kind of game which, however sick and twisted it may be, is admittedly more fun.

Mariah Carey and Kenneth The Page: Hottest New Unicorn-Wrangling Couple

Okay, we have officially forgiven Mariah Carey for Glitter, for two reasons. 1) She's such a hardcore 30 Rock fan that she asked Kenneth the Page to co-star in her new music video, and 2) Mimz is lookin' fine these days. Possibly the best she's ever looked. In this video for her new single, "Touch My Body," Kenneth (aka Jack McBrayer) plays a "compunerd" who shows up at Mariah's manse to fix technical issues with her 'puter, but winds up romping around wearing a Middle Ages fighting crown in her fluffy bed playing pillow fight. Our favorite moment? Kenneth's dead-on impression of Mariah's legendary falsetto singing skills in the first 30 seconds. Well that, and the sight of him walking an actual unicorn down a dark alley while wearing a regal robe. Well that, and and a mod scene in which Mimz and Kenny faux-shoot each other with guns. On second thought, scratch all that; every moment is classic.

Condom Testing: How is it Done? - Knowledge Center

Condom Testing: How is it Done?

From Articles about Condoms and Safe Sex Resources by Condom Man

There are six standard tests done for latex male condoms.  Although there is some slight variance in testing between the different regulation organizations, over the past twenty years, all of these organizations have come to do the same procedures for new condoms, and brands like Trojan, Durex, LifeStyles, Kimono, Crown, and others all sell condoms that have gone through testing.  The goals of these tests are to provide pregnancy and disease transmission prevention, and to minimize loss of sensation during sex.  The six standard tests focus on the following qualities: condom dimensions, leakage, tensile properties, air burst properties, package integrity, and lubricant quality.

A small number of condoms from every single batch are sampled each time.  In the condom dimensions test, the condom is stretched, and its width, thickness, and length are measured.  In the leakage test, condoms are screened to make sure that there aren't any holes or weak spots in them.  The test is done in one of several ways: manufacturers tend to use what are called the dry or wet methods, where an electrical charge is passed through the condom; if the charge passes through, this indicates that there are holes.  Independent producers tend to use the hang or hang/roll methods; in both tests, the condom is filled with water and a technician looks for leaks.  With the tensile properties test, a piece of material is cut from the midsection of the condom and stretched until it breaks.  This test measures the force needed to break the sample, the length of the material at point of breakage, and the tensile breaking strength.  There has been some questioning of the value of this test, as the midsection of the condom is less likely to deteriorate than the tip, and some manufacturers no longer use this test.

For the air burst test, the condom is inflated like a balloon until it bursts.  This records how much air the condom can hold before breaking, and is supposed to correlate with human breakage use.  While this test is promoted over the tensile properties test as measuring the entire condom, some criticism of it comes from the fact that the condom breaks at its weakest point, which means that defects in the stronger parts are overlooked.  Also, not much focus is given to inflating the tip, although new experimental tests are being done concerning this idea.  The fifth test is the package integrity test, where a packaged condom is placed in a vacuum to make sure the packaging is not defective.  The final test is the lubricant quality test, which determines how much lubricant is used in lubricated condoms.  Another commonly done test is the oven test, where a condom is artificially aged in an oven to see how well it will last when being stored or tested on.

If the samples pass the tests, then the batch can be sold; how many samples need to pass varies from company to company, but it's usually the vast majority.  How useful these tests are is a matter of debate, and some research suggests that they aren't very accurate when it comes to human breakage rates.  Regulation organizations are aware of this though, and are finding new ways to test condoms, including using human volunteers, filling condoms with pathogens in water to see if they can escape, and using motion tests where the condom is wrapped over an object and moved to test its durability.

30 Things to Do to Keep From Getting Bored Out of Your Skull at Work

I'm not one to get bored, ever … but a number of readers have written in with the question: What do I do if I'm bored out of my skull at work?

It gave me pause, to think about why I can't recall ever getting that bored at work. And I realized: I always keep myself busy, doing something, whether it's productive or not.

Sometimes, I'm creating a new project, or improving myself somehow … but sometimes I just find interesting stuff to read online or find a cool solitaire game to play. (Well, I haven't played any games in awhile, but Freecell used to be my poison of choice a few years ago.)

So the short answer: just find things to entertain yourself. Keep your mind busy. Challenge yourself. Talk to somebody. Break out of your mold.

The longer answer has to do with analyzing why you're bored in the first place. Is your job that boring? Are you really doing what you want to be doing? Is there a way to start pursuing something better? Or are you already in a great job, but something or someone is holding you back? And what can you do to improve the situation?

I'm not going to pursue the longer answer in this post, but give you some ideas for the shorter answer. It's not an exhaustive list of ideas. Just some things I've done to keep my mind busy — pick and choose those that might work for you.

 

• Create a new challenge. I think this is by far the best thing on the list, but you may differ. Many times we're bored because we don't have a challenge — things are too easy or routine. So instead of waiting for someone to create a challenge for you, do it yourself. How can you challenge yourself? Set a new goal at work. Challenge yourself to produce more than ever. Explore new projects. Set personal goals and pursue them. Whatever excites you.
• Pursue your next job. If your job is so boring you don't know what to do with yourself, you may need to move on. But instead of quitting right away, start lining up your next gig first. Look around for openings, call people, update your resume and submit it to a few places, pick up a few applications, send out some email feelers. Find something that will never get you bored, something you'll be passionate about.
• List your life goals. What is it you want to accomplish in life? Not just with work, but personally? If you've listed them before, it's always good to update them. Then choose one of those goals to achieve this year. Now think about what you can do today to move closer to that goal, even if it's just a small thing. Get the ball rolling. Do this every day — move yourself closer to that goal.
• Read Zen Habits. Or whatever your favorite distraction is. If it's something that will improve your life, even better. Just limit how long you read at one time, so you're not reading through the Zen Habits archives in one sitting.
• Declutter your workspace. If I've got nothing better to do, I'll clear off my desk (if there's anything there), or start looking around critically at everything in view and asking myself, "Does that really need to be there? How can I simplify this?" Weird, I know, but I have an oddly uncluttered workspace. Right now my desk is a table, my iMac, an nothing else. No files, no papers, no office supplies, nothing. Everything is done on my computer, and I love it that way. Nothing on my walls. You may not need anything as spartan as that, but decluttering can be a lot of fun.
• Pursue a hobby. My hobby (until it became a profession) was blogging … I would do it at work in my spare time, or before or after work. Not everyone can pursue their hobby at work — the model airplane glue might bother your coworkers, for example — but sometimes you can just read about it while at work. I was upfront about my blogging and freelancing at work with my boss, btw, but many people get away with doing it on the sly. I won't make a recommendation, but just don't get fired.
• Make your work a game. You can make a game out of anything. See how many widgets you can crank in 10 minutes. Pretend that your coworkers are evil villains. Imagine that you are a CIA agent in disguise, and no one knows. Or a fairy princess. Whatever floats your boat. :)
• Educate yourself. On Guam, this is called "edumacation" — it's not a real word, but we like to play with English. Whatever you call it, you can improve your knowledge online in any area — whether that be work-related or not. Be your own college instructor. Wikipedia is a great place to start, but if you're going to have a specialized knowledge in anything, branch out from there.
• Improve your skills. Along the same lines: choose a skill that needs sharpening, and challenge yourself to get better at it. Whether that's computer programming, writing, working with Adobe InDesign, or whatever. Perfect your skills — you can use it to further your career, get a new job, or become self-employed. Or just have the satisfaction of knowing you're the best you can be at that skill.
• Play Sudoku. Perhaps not the most intellectual game of all time, or the most exciting … but I still find it a lot of fun. I only played it a little while and didn't get addicted like other people I know, but I have to admit it's a fun way to pass the time.
• Choose a soothing desktop picture. I like to do this when I'm procrastinating. I will go online, to flickr or some desktop wallpaper website and browse around until I find a very simple, soothing picture. I do this maybe every month or so. In fact, I'm going to go do that right now!

 

• Do some pushups and crunches. If you're bored, you might as well start getting in shape. You can do pushups and crunches right there on the floor next to your desk (or go outside if you're worried about your coworkers seeing you). Or walk up some steps, or do squats and lunges without weights, or dips in your chair, or butt squeezes (that means squeeze your own butt, not your coworkers').
• Take a day or two off. Sometimes you just need to refresh yourself, recharge your batteries before starting again. Don't do any work while you're out. Veg out, or read, or sleep, or exercise, or whatever. Get your mind off work. Think about your priorities. Get out in nature. Reconnect with your life.
• Take a walk. Often this is all I need, especially if I've been sitting all day and my blood is pooling up in my butt and legs. I need to get that blood circulating! Go outside, walk around, look at people, look at nature, think about your day and your life and the people in it.
• Drink some water. Dehydration can make us tired and sluggish. Water can refresh us. Keep that water coming all day long — you may need to pee more though.
• Call a loved one. What better time to call someone to catch up, to tell them you love them, to just say hi … than when you've got nothing better to do. It's a nice way to stay connected.
• Read. I like to carry a novel everywhere I go. Then I whip it out anytime I have spare time, waiting at the doctor's office, in line at the post office, driving in the Indy 500 … you know. If not a novel, carry around a "to read" folder with stuff you want or need to read but don't have time for right now … then whip it out at your desk when you're bored. You could have a "to read" folder on your computer too.
• Start writing your novel. Many of us have a novel that's tossing itself around in our heads and hearts, waiting to come out. Well, start getting it out, mister. Just start by writing some notes, thinking about characters and plot and what the hell this book is about anyway. It's not going to come out by itself.
• Take a nap. If you don't have a good place to do this, you can curl up under your desk with a sweater, or go to your car and sleep. I've learned how to fall asleep at my chair, but thank goodness I'm working at home and can go to the couch in a napping emergency.
• Create a new project or role. If things are stagnating at work, start something new. Create and innovate. What can you do that has a lasting impact for your company and for yourself, for your career? If you're stuck in a dead-end role, create a new role for yourself. It doesn't matter if it's not in the job description. Find something that's not being done by someone else, something that needs to be done or that hasn't been thought of yet, but that would really benefit the company — and take it upon yourself to do it. You might need to talk to your boss, but sometimes you can just start doing something and inform the higher-ups later. If it's good for the company, and if they're smart, they'll be happy.
• Write a love letter. If you have a significant other, write a letter telling them why you love them. They'll love it. Email is fine, but pen and paper are even better.
• Do one small thing to make yourself wealthier. That might be creating a savings account if you don't have one yet, or setting up an automatic transfer between checking and savings every payday, or researching a money market fund or index fund, or simply reading Get Rich Slowly or The Simple Dollar for personal finance basics.
• Write a blog post. This is something I love to do when things get slow. I'll just call up a text file and start writing. I love lists, of course (you guys should know that by now), so often I'll just start making a list, and writing down my thoughts. If things are really slow, I'll do the whole blog post. I can always post it later if necessary. Make sure you love what you're writing about.
• Do an errand. This can either be in the office ("Where's that ink cartridge I've been needing all week?") or outside the office ("I really should buy toilet paper today!"). It gets you moving, it gets you away from the scene of your boredom, and it accomplishes something useful.
• Update your personal finances. I used to track my finances through Microsoft Money, but I've since switched to using a Google spreadsheet, so that it's online and accessible from anywhere. I considered other online solutions, but personally, I like to keep things as simple as possible. However you do it, it's a good idea to update your financial tracking system once a week or so, so that you know where you stand and you don't overspend. Got some spare time? Update.
• Meditate at your desk. Some people would say this is just a fancy term for taking a nap. But for me the key is not to fall asleep, but to close my eyes and focus on my breathing. Nothing new-agey about this — it brings your focus back to the present and calms you. Sometimes it'll calm you so much you'll fall asleep. I say, two birds, one stone.
• Organize your files. OK, this might seem boring to many people, but I like to organize things. I get a perverse satisfaction from purging useless stuff and having everything be smaller, neater, and in order. And it doesn't take long.
• Clear out your inbox. I get joy out of an empty inbox, whether that's my email inbox or physical one. Crank through it until it's empty — you don't have to do everything in the inbox, but just make a note of it on your to-do list if you plan to do it later (or delete, file, forward, or do it now). Got a thousand or two emails in your inbox? Put them in a temporary folder and do them later, starting with a fresh inbox. Chances are, you won't need to do them at all. Now just keep your inbox empty from here on out.
• Crank up the tunes. Some funky or upbeat tunes might just do the trick. They can make any job much more fun. Either play it on your speakers if your coworkers don't mind, or plug in the earbuds. Currently on my playlist: Radiohead, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Jack Johnson, Snow Patrol … I could go on and on.
• Get wild! Sometimes we just need to let loose. Start singing at the top of your lungs, or dance around the office. Sure, people might stare or laugh, but a little fun in the office isn't a bad thing. Or get out of the office and do something fun or crazy. One afternoon of wildity isn't going to hurt you (well, stay away from things that are illegal or life-threatening, if possible). Source-

31 Ways to Find Inspiration for Your Writing

No matter how much you love writing, there will always be days when you need inspiration from one muse or another.

In fact, I would argue that inspiration is not just a desirable thing, it's an integral part of the writing process.

Every writer needs inspiration to produce inspired writing. And sometimes, it can come from the unlikeliest sources.

I've compiled a list of some of my favorite ways of finding inspiration — some of them obvious, some of them less so. But it's always good to have reminders, and if you haven't used a few of these sources of inspiration in awhile (or ever), give them a go.

• Blogs. This is one of my favorites, of course. Aside from this blog, there are dozens of great blogs on writing and every topic under the sun. I like to read about what works for others — it inspires me to action!
• Books. Maybe my favorite overall. I read writers I love (read about my current loves) and then I steal from them, analyze their writing, get inspired by their greatness. Fiction is my favorite, but I'll devour anything. If you normally read just a couple of your favorite authors, try branching out into something different. You just might find new inspiration.
• Overheard dialog. If I'm anywhere public, whether it be at a park or a mall or my workplace, sometimes I'll eavesdrop on people. Not in a gross way or anything, but I'll just keep quiet, and listen. I love hearing other people have conversations. Sometimes it doesn't happen on purpose — you can't help but overhear people sometimes. If you happen to overhear a snippet of interesting dialog, jot it down in your writing journal as soon as possible. It can serve as a model or inspiration for later writing.
• 4Magazines. Good magazines aren't always filled with great writing, but you can usually find one good piece of either fiction or non-fiction. Good for its writing style, its voice, its rhythm and ability to pull you along to the end. These pieces inspire me. And bad magazines, while perhaps not the best models for writing, can still be inspirations for ideas for good blog posts. These magazines, as they don't draw readers with great writing, find interesting story angles to attract an audience.
• Movies. Sometimes, while watching a movie, a character will say something so interesting that I'll say, "That would make a great blog post!" or "I have to write that in my writing journal!" Sometimes screenwriters can write beautiful dialog. Other times I get inspired by the incredible camera work, the way that a face is framed by the camera, the beauty of the landscape captured on film.
• Forums. When people write on forums, they rarely do so for style or beauty (there are exceptions, of course, but they're rare). Forumers are writing to convey information and ideas. Still, those ideas can be beautiful and inspiring in and of themselves. They can inspire more ideas in you. I'm not saying you have to read a wide array of forums every day, but if you're looking for information, trawling some good forums isn't a bad idea.
• Art. For the writer aspiring to greater heights, there is no better inspiration that great art, in my experience. While it doesn't compare to the experience of seeing the art in person, I like to find inspiring works of art and put it on my computer desktop for contemplation (Michelangelo's Pieta is there right now). It doesn't have to be classical works, though — I've found inspiration in Japanese anime, in stuff I've found on deviantart.com, in local artists in my area.
• Music. Along the same lines, it can be inspiring to download and play great music, from Mozart to Beethoven to the Beatles to Radiohead. Play it in the background as you write, and allow it to lift you up and move you.
• Friends. Conversations with my friends, in real life, on the phone or via IM, have inspired some of my best posts. They stir up my ideas, contribute ideas of their own, and they fuse into something even more brilliant than either of us could have created.
• Writing groups. Whether online or in your community, writing groups are great ways to get energy and motivation for your writing. My best short stories were done in a writing group in my local college (a great place to look for such groups, btw), as we read out our work to the group, critiqued them and made suggestions. The work of the other writers inspired me to do better.
• The Pocket Muse. A book full of writing inspirations. Can't beat that!
• Quotes. I don't know why it's so, but great quotes help inspire me. I like to go to various quote sites to find ideas to spark my writing, turns of phrase that show what can be done with the language, motivation for self-improvement. Try these for a start: Writing Quotes and Quotes for Writers.
• Nature. Stuck for ideas? Go for a walk or a jog. Get away from sidewalks and into grass and trees and fields and hills. Appreciate the beauty around you, and let the inspiration flow through you. Sunsets and sunrises, of course, are two of my favorite uplifting scenes of nature, and anything involving water is also awesome (oceans, rivers, lakes, rain, rivulets, even puddles).
• History. It can be unexpected, but great people in history can inspire you to greatness. My favorites include Benjamin Franklin, Gandhi, Abraham Lincoln, Helen Keller, Leonardo da Vinci, and other greats.
• Travel. Whether it be halfway around the world, or a day trip to the next town or national park, getting out of your usual area and discovering new places and people and customs can be one of the best inspirations for writing. Use these new places to open up new ways of seeing.
• Children. I have six kids, and they are my favorite people in the world (my wife and siblings and parents being right up there too). I love to spend quiet time with them, taking walks or reading. I love to have fun with them, playing board games or having pillow fights. And during these times I spend with them, I'm often reflective, about life, about humanity, about love. I suggest that children, with their fresh outlook on the world, can change the way you view things.
• Exercise. I get my best ideas most often while running. There's something about the quietness, combined with the increased flow of blood through your brain, combined with being out in the fresh air with nature, that really stimulates the mind.
• Religion. Many of you aren't religious (and many are) but it doesn't matter much — the great religions in the world have ideas in them that are beautiful and inspiring. I've studied some of the writings of not only Christianity and Judaism but Islam, Bahai'i, Buddhism, Taoism, and many cultures with multiple nature gods. I can't say I'm an expert at any of these religions, but I can say that any time I've spent reading the ideas of religion have paid off for me in inspiration.
• Newspapers. I used to be a newspaper reporter and editor, and I've become jaded to newspapers. The news seems like an endless cycle of the same thing, happening over and over again. However, if you know how to look, you can find human-interest stories that are inspiring. Stories about people who have triumphed over adversity. (Edit: I had "diversity" instead of "adversity" here and have now corrected … thanks for the catch, Bill!)
• Dreams. I'm not very good at this, but at times in my life I've tried keeping a dream journal by my bedside and writing down what I can remember when I wake up. Not because I think it'll tell me something about myself or my future or past, but because dreams are so interesting in their complete disregard for the rules of reality, for their otherworldness and plot twists.
• Writing journal. I highly recommend this for any writer. It doesn't have to be fancy, or something you write in every day. Just a plain notebook will do, although a nice journal can be motivating. Write down thoughts and inspirations and quotes and snippets of good writing you find and pieces of dialog and plot ideas and new characters. Then go back to this journal when you need ideas or inspiration.
• Del.icio.us. This popular bookmarking site is a treasure trove of great articles and blog posts and resources. I don't do this much, but sometimes I'll browse through these links to find examples of great writing by others. While you shouldn't steal these ideas, you can often adapt them to your particular blog topic, or use the ideas to spark new ones of your own.
• Poetry. How can poetry inspire prose? Through its beauty and flow and style and use of rhythm and play on words. Through its use of language and music.
• Shakespeare. He's not the only playwright, of course, but he's undoubtedly the greatest, and the greatest master of the English language as well. While his writing can be difficult for those not used to the language of his time, a study of even one of his plays pays off immensely. The Bard wrote beautifully, used the largest vocabulary of any English writer, invented his own words, made up interesting phrases that are used to this day, had more puns and twists of words than any writer I know. There is no writer more deserving of our study and more inspirational to other writers.
• Google. Stuck for ideas? The old standby, Google, has often helped me out. I'll just search for the topic I'm writing about and find tons of great resources.
• Freewriting. One of the best ways to get unstuck if you're uninspired. Just start writing. Anything. It doesn't matter. Don't edit, don't pause, don't think. Just write and let it flow. You'll end up with a lot of garbage, probably, but it'll help you get out of your rut and you might just write some really good stuff among all that garbage.
• Brainstorms. Similar to freewriting, but instead of writing prose you're writing ideas. Just let them flow. Speed and quantity is more important than quality. Within this brainstorm of ideas, you'll most likely find a few nuggets of greatness. One of my favorite ways to get ideas.
• Flickr. If fine paintings and sculpture inspire you to greater heights, photography of some of the most talented people in the world can show what everyday humans can do if they try. I like Flickr.com, a real wealthy of amazing photography. Just browse through to find some wonderful inspiration.
• Breaking your routines. Get out of your rut to see things from a new perspective. If you usually take one route to work, try a couple others. If you usually get up, get ready for work, and leave, try exercising in the morning or watching the sunrise. If you usually watch TV at the end of the day, try reading or writing instead. Shake things up.
• Success stories. Another of my favorites. When I was training for my first marathon, for example, I read all kinds of success stories of people who had run their first marathon. It inspired me to keep going. There are success stories for writing, or anything else you'd like to do, that will inspire your brains out. :)
• People watching. This is an interesting activity for any writer. Go to a busy public place and just sit and watch people. They'll amuse you, inspire you, fascinate you. There's nothing more inspiring than humanity.

 
 "For my part I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." - Vincent van Gogh …. Source-