Mornings with Chris & LaRae

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

2010-04-21T05:34:00.000-07:00

Question: A fully grown kangaroo can jump how many yards in one jump?

Answer: 14 yards

Too Early Trivia Monday, April 19th, 2010

2010-04-19T07:59:00.001-07:00

Question: The average person uses how many tubes of toothpaste in their lifetime?

Answer: 276

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

2010-04-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Question: Who is on the $2 Bill?

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

Too Early Trivia Monday, April 12th, 2010

2010-04-12T05:18:00.000-07:00

Question: What toy was invented to clean wallpaper?

Answer: Play-Doh

Too Early Trivia Friday, April 9th, 2010

2010-04-09T06:14:00.001-07:00

Question: How many slices of pizza do Americans eat every second?

Answer: 350

Too Early Trivia Thursday, April 8th, 2010

2010-04-08T05:27:00.000-07:00

Question: Skin is the largest organ of the body. It makes up what percent of our weight?

Answer: 12 percent

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, March 30th, 2010

2010-03-30T05:20:00.001-07:00

Question: In Greek mythology, Athena was the goddess of...?

Answer: Wisdom

Too Early Trivia Monday, March 29th, 2010

2010-03-29T06:43:00.001-07:00

Question: Coca-Cola was created on this date in what year?

Answer: 1886

Too Early Trivia Friday, March 26th, 2010

2010-03-26T06:07:00.000-07:00

Question: In what year were jelly beans invented?

Answer: 1861

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

2010-03-24T05:37:00.000-07:00

Question: How many different types of cards does Hallmark make?

Answer: 105

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, March 23, 2010

2010-03-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

Question: What state sleeps the best?

Answer: Hawaii

Too Early Trivia Monday, March 22nd, 2010

2010-03-22T07:55:00.003-07:00

Question: Approximately how much money did the average person spend on their Easter dinner last year?

Answer: $38

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

2010-03-16T05:26:00.000-07:00

Question: The average person will read how many books in their lifetime?

Answer: 533

Too Early Trivia Monday, March 15th, 2010

2010-03-15T05:58:00.001-07:00

Question: How many words will the average person speak in their lifetime?

Answer: 123 million

Too Early Trivia Thursday, March 11th, 2010

2010-03-11T06:13:00.001-08:00

Question: The #1 comfort food for women is ice cream....what is #2?

Answer: Mac and Cheese

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, March 10th, 2010

2010-03-10T06:06:00.003-08:00

Question: In what year was the pen name Betty Crocker created?

Answer: 1921

Too Early Trivia Monday, March 8th, 2010

2010-03-08T05:20:00.001-08:00

Question: How many hours do women spend shopping annually?

Answer: 385

Too Early Trivia Friday, March 5th, 2010

2010-03-05T06:14:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the number of seat fillers at the Academy Awards?

Answer: 125

Too Early Trivia Thursday, March 4th, 2010

2010-03-04T07:22:00.001-08:00

Question: The average person will own how many cars in their lifetime?

Answer: 8

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010

2010-03-03T06:16:00.000-08:00

Question: How fast does ketchup come out of the bottle?

Answer: 25 mph

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

2010-03-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

Question: On average....how many pairs of shoes does a woman buy in a year?

Answer: 4

Too Early Trivia Monday, March 1, 2010

2010-03-01T07:45:00.000-08:00

Question: This week is National______________Week?

Answer: Chocolate Chip Cookie

Too Early Trivia Thursday, February 25th, 2010

2010-02-25T05:25:00.003-08:00

Question: For 2009, two cities tied as the most literate cities in the country. Which are they?

Answer: Seattle and Minneapolis

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

2010-02-24T05:40:00.001-08:00

Question: How old is the average telephone pole?

Answer: 24 years

5 Things That Will Make You Happier

2010-02-23T05:28:00.000-08:00

Here are five things that research has shown can improve happiness:

1. Be grateful

A study had people write letters of gratitude to people who had helped them in some way. The study found that the people reported having more happiness over weeks and even months after writing the letters. What's even more surprising is that sending the letter wasn't even necessary. People still said they felt better even when they wrote letters but never delivered them.

2. Be optimistic

People were asked to visualize an ideal future, for example, living with a loving and supportive partner, or finding a job that was fulfilling. They were then told to describe their image in a journal entry. After doing that for a few weeks, people also said they had higher feelings of well-being.

3. Count your blessings

People who practice writing down three good things that have happened to them every week show big boosts in happiness. It seems that the act of focusing on the positive helps people remember reasons to be glad.

4. Use your strengths

Another study asked people to identify their greatest strengths and then to try to use these strengths in new ways. For example, someone who says they have a good sense of humor could try telling jokes to lighten up business meetings or cheer up sad friends. That seemed to help happiness.

5. Commit acts of kindness

It turns out helping others also helps us. People who donate time or money to charity, or who help people in need have improvements in their own happiness.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100222/sc_livescience/5thingsthatwillmakeyouhappier

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

2010-02-23T05:27:00.001-08:00

Question: Which game was Atari's best-selling game of all time?

Answer: Asteroids

Too Early Trivia Monday, February 22nd, 2010

2010-02-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

Question: According to the Forbes list of the most miserable cities in America who is #1?

Answer: Cleveland

Too Early Trivia Friday, February 20th, 2010

2010-02-19T06:01:00.000-08:00

Question: What percent of men are likely to wash their car on the weekend?

Answer: 72 percent

Too Early Trivia Thursday, February 18th, 2010

2010-02-18T05:59:00.000-08:00

Question: When was the Pillsbury Dough Boy first introduced?

Answer: 1965

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

2010-02-17T05:16:00.001-08:00

Question: How many close friends does the average person have?

Answer: 2

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

2010-02-16T05:52:00.003-08:00

Question: It is National ______________ Week?

Answer: Pancake

Too Early Trivia Friday, February 12th, 2010

2010-02-12T07:19:00.000-08:00

Question: In what year was the very first Daytona 500?

Answer: 1959

Too Early Trivia Thursday, February 11th, 2010

2010-02-11T06:49:00.001-08:00

Question: Top U.S. city to find a job?

Answer: Washington D.C.

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

2010-02-10T05:18:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the only animal (other than humans) that can get sunburned?

Answer: Pig

Too Early Trivia Monday, February 8th, 2010

2010-02-08T06:20:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans sent out Valentine's Day greeting cards last year?

Answer: 58 percent

Too Early Trivia Friday, February 5th, 2010

2010-02-05T05:39:00.000-08:00

Question: The average woman spends how many hours a week in her car?

Answer: 15 hours

Too Early Trivia Thursday, February 4th, 2010

2010-02-04T07:55:00.001-08:00

Question: The most stolen item from the Holiday Inn is towels...what is #2?

Answer: Remote Batteries

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

2010-02-03T05:29:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of women get up before 7 a.m.?

Answer: 61 percent

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010

2010-02-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Question: When did Punxsutawney Phil start predicting the weather?

Answer: 1887

Too Early Trivia Monday, February 1st, 2010

2010-02-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

Question: What is the most popular day to break-up?

Answer: Monday

Too Early Trivia Friday, January 29th, 2010

2010-01-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

Question: The average woman watches how many hours of TV a week?

Answer: 12 hours

Too Early Trivia Thursday, January 28th, 2010

2010-01-28T07:18:00.000-08:00

Question: The average woman uses how many cell phone minutes per month?

Answer: 424

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

2010-01-27T07:22:00.000-08:00

Question: What state has the highest percent of people who walk to work?

Answer: Alaska

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

2010-01-26T07:16:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans will eat at McDonald's today?

Answer: 7 percent

Too Early Trivia Monday, January 25, 2010

2010-01-25T07:21:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans step on a scale every single day?

Answer: 12 percent

Too Early Trivia Friday, January 22nd, 2010

2010-01-22T05:51:00.000-08:00

Question: On this date in 1930 the U.S. all time record low temperature was set. How cold did it get?

Answer: -85 In Mt. Carroll, Illinois

Too Early Trivia Thursday, January 21st, 2010

2010-01-21T07:56:00.003-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans drink vegetable juices each day?

Answer: 17 percent

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

2010-01-20T05:37:00.000-08:00

Question: How many teams are there in the NFL?

Answer: 32

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

2010-01-19T05:18:00.000-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans spend more time with their computers than with their spouse?

Answer: 65 percent

Too Early Trivia Monday, January 18th, 2010

2010-01-18T05:17:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans live within 50 miles of where they grew up?

Answer: 50 percent

Too Early Trivia Friday, January 15th, 2010

2010-01-15T05:46:00.003-08:00

Question: How many Americans say professional football is their favorite sport?

Answer: 30 percent

10 Ways To Schmooze Your Way To Success

2010-01-14T05:58:00.000-08:00

...It's not about what you know, it's who you know.

So the key to landing a job is to stand out by showing off your talent and personality. Here are some tips to help you leave a lasting impression:

1. A handshake can make or break a first impression, so practice! Show your self-confidence and interest by giving a firm shake.

2. Don't be shy! Go to events related to the industry you're interested in and mingle. You never know who you might meet.

3. Be sure to talk about topics other than the industry you're trying to break into. Listen and ask questions.

4. Don't be too pushy. When meeting someone new, don't shove your resume at them. Everyone knows you're talented, so establish a friendship first.

5. When you're at events, don't forget to ask for a person's business card or contact information at the end of a conversation. People love to know that others are interested in what they do, so chances are, they would love to keep talking with you.

6. Be ready to hand out a business card of your own! Some may think that business cards are outdated, but it's a lot easier to remember to call someone with a reminder sitting in their coat pocket.

7. Stop apologizing. Inexperienced networkers tend to apologize to people they're reaching out to. If you don't think you're worth their time, why would they want to? Networking doesn't have to be a burden. Just think of it as building new relationships!

8. People get tons of emails each day, so it's easy to miss one. To make a better impression, send a handwritten note saying "thank you." A handwritten note adds a personal touch.

9. Follow up. Potential employers meet new people every day, so it's important to stay on their radar by sending an email or making a call every few months.

10. Take a risk. A lot of people are scared of networking because they're afraid they'll be rejected. But that fear will keep you from meeting interesting people.

Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/10-ways-to-schmooze-your-way-to-success-560867/

The Biggest Consumer Scams of Last Year

2010-01-14T05:56:00.000-08:00

The Better Business Bureau came out with its list of last year's top scams.

1. Acai Supplements and Other "Free" Trial Offers

Ads offering trial offers for teeth whiteners, acai anti-aging pills, and other miracle supplements covered the Internet, including trusted Web sites of national news organizations. The marketing campaigns claimed an endorsement by celebrities like Oprah, Rachael Ray, and Dr. Oz. Thousands of people complained that the free trial actually cost them up to hundreds of dollars, month after month.

2. Stimulus/Government Grant Scams

Even before President Obama announced the stimulus plan, scammers had already set up sites where people and small business owners were tricked into thinking they could get a piece of the pie. Offers for fake assistance and advice got to people online, over the phone, e-mail, and snail mail.

3. Robocalls

Owning a cell phone or having a phone number on the do-not-call registry didn't stop telemarketing calls. The robocalls claimed that a person's auto warranty was about to expire or offered help in getting a lower credit card interest rate. The whole thing led to the robocalls violating federal telemarketing laws.

4. Lottery/Sweepstakes Scam

Victims got letters in the mail pretending to be from Reader's Digest, Publisher's Clearing House, or a foreign lottery telling them that they'd won millions. The letter would come with a check representing a part of the total winnings. In order to get the rest, the victim was told to deposit the check and then wire hundreds of dollars back to the scammers to cover taxes or other fees. Victims would wire the money, but never get the prize.

5. Job Hunter Scams

Scams targeting job hunters included attempts to gain access to personal information like a bank account or Social Security number. People were also scammed into paying a fee in order to even be considered for the job. Another scam would call job hunters pretending to be employers and told them that they had to take a look at their credit reports before being considered. The job offer was actually a scam for online credit monitoring that cost the victim every month until he or she cancelled.

6. Google Work From Home Scam

A bunch of Web sites popped up that claimed you could learn how to make money from home using Google or Twitter, and offered a free trial of learning materials. The sites included the Google or Twitter logo to make them seem more authentic. People thought they were getting a job with Google or Twitter when they were being tricked into a free-trial offer and were billed every month for the materials and other charges that added up to hundreds of dollars.

7. Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue/Debt Assistance

Scammers offered to help people save their house from foreclosure or help them get out of debt. But victims paid hundreds of dollars up front for assistance they needed but never got.

8. Mystery Shopping

People thought they could make extra money as a secret shopper who evaluates customer service at stores. Victims were asked to evaluate their experiences at a few stores as well as a money-wiring service by wiring money back to the scammers. A real-looking check was supposed to cover the costs, but they were fakes and victims were out hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.

9. Over-Payment Scams

Over-payment scams went after small business owners, landlords, or people with rooms to rent, as well as people who put classified ads on sites like Craigslist. The scammer pretended to be a customer, possible renter or interested buyer. The victim got a check for more than the amount requested so the scammer would ask the victim to deposit the check and wire the extra amount. The checks were fakes and the victims ended up wiring money back to the thieves.

10. Phishing E-Mails/H1N1 Spam

Phishing e-mails come in so many different versions. They look like legitimate business, government agency or official forms, or something from a friend. Phishing e-mails trick victims into giving out sensitive financial information or they infect the victim's computer with viruses. There were also spam e-mail that focused on products designed to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus.

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108564/the-biggest-consumer-scams-of-2009

Too Early Trivia Thursday, January 14th, 2010

2010-01-14T05:50:00.000-08:00

Question: The first pizzeria in the U.S. opened in the New York area. What was the year?

Answer: 1895

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, January 13th, 2010

2010-01-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

Question: According to Glamour...what is the median age that men get married?

Answer: 28

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

2010-01-12T05:44:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of people make three or more New Year's resolutions?

Answer: 63 percent

Too Early Trivia Monday, January 11th, 2010

2010-01-11T05:28:00.000-08:00

Question: What percent of North America is wilderness?

Answer: 38 percent

Too Early Trivia Friday, January 8th, 2010

2010-01-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Question: How many movies did Elvis make?

Answer: 31

Too Early Trivia Thursday, January 7th, 2010

2010-01-07T07:54:00.001-08:00

Question: What city has the most Rolls Royce's?

Answer: Hong Kong

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

2010-01-06T05:36:00.001-08:00

Question: Each year, how many pounds of pizza does the average American eat?

Answer: 23

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

2010-01-05T05:37:00.000-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans have been to Disneyland or Disneyworld?

Answer: 70 percent

Too Early Trivia Monday, January 4th, 2010

2010-01-04T05:33:00.000-08:00

Question: On this date in 1896 what state became the 45th state?

Answer: Utah

Too Early Trivia December 31st, 2009

2009-12-31T05:18:00.001-08:00

Question: How big is the ball that drop tonight in Times Square?

Answer: 12 feet in diameter

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, December 30th, 2009

2009-12-30T05:20:00.001-08:00

Question: Tiger Woods is 34 today. Which "Today" Show member is also having a birthday today?

Answer: Matt Lauer

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, December 29th, 2009

2009-12-29T05:17:00.000-08:00

Question: What percent of American workers did NOT take a vacation this year?

Answer: 35 percent

Too Early Trivia Monday, December 28th, 2009

2009-12-28T05:27:00.000-08:00

Question: Today is National_______________Day?

Answer: Chocolate

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

2009-12-22T06:35:00.000-08:00

Question: Another perk to kissing on New Year's Eve? Burning calories! How many calories does a one-minute kiss burn?

Answer: 26 calories

Too Early Trivia Monday, December 21st, 2009

2009-12-21T05:54:00.000-08:00

Question: Today is National___________________Day?

Answer: Humbug or Flashlight

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

2009-12-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

Question: Today is National_______________Day?

Answer: Stupid Toy Day or Chocolate Covered Anything Day

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, December 15th, 2009

2009-12-15T05:50:00.000-08:00

Question: From a survey in Travel and Leisure magazine, what is the Friendliest U.S. City?

Answer: Nashville

What Your Christmas Tree Says About You....According to A Self-Proclaimed Expert

2009-12-14T07:34:00.000-08:00

He claims to be a Christmas Tree Prognosticator. He can tell a lot about a person’s life and personality by their Christmas tree.

~~ARTIFICIAL OR REAL

There are two types of people: Real Christmas tree people and artificial tree people.

One is not better than the other, just different.

If you are a person who likes real trees you probably like the outdoors. You enjoy creating an ambience that invokes smell as well as sight.

Real tree people think that the experience of searching out the Christmas tree, chopping it down and dragging it back to the old homestead is all part of the fun.

If you like artificial trees, you like an investment that lasts. You want something pretty, but don’t want to make a lot of fuss.

Artificial tree owners can also be perfectionists. They don’t like to deal with gaps in the branches or dropping needles of a real tree.

~~WHITE LIGHTS OR MULTICOLORED LIGHTS

If you have white lights on your tree, you think of each light as a tiny star. White light people like simplicity.

White lights convey the serenity of an “Oh, Holy Night.”

Conversely, multicolored lights say, “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.”

People who like multicolored lights are party people. They like the festive feeling of multicolored lights because it reminds them of a disco or Las Vegas.

To them, the holidays are one big party and everyone is invited. And it wouldn’t be too far out of the realm of possibility that when the holiday party rolls around, they might even don a strand of multicolored lights as if it were gay apparel.

~~MATCHING OR ECLECTIC ORNAMENTS

If you have a tree with an eclectic assortment of ornaments, each one having a special meaning or story, you value your past and family history.

Each one is different; each one is special. They may not match, but it doesn’t matter to you.

The decoration of an eclectic tree is often a group effort. Some people hang the ornaments as others string popcorn and cranberries. Even the littlest elves in the house take part in decorating the eclectic tree.

A matchy-matchy ornament tree is usually a one-woman (or man) show: a person with a vision of what a perfectly coiffed tree should look like.

Matching ornament people like order and consistency. They usually have a theme for their Christmas tree, such as Victorian, Old World or country.

~~ANGEL OR STAR

Angel people believe in a higher power guiding their lives and directing their path. Angel people might have, at some point, imagined what it would have been like to be in that choir of angels, as told of old, who sang to shepherds guarding their flocks by night that a babe was born in Bethlehem.

Star people are the hopefuls, they hope for a better, brighter tomorrow.

They are sign seekers. They lead their lives by sometimes imperceptible directional arrows.

Star people will follow that little nudge inside of them that says, “Take cookies to your neighbor (peanut butter cookies with the chocolate kisses on top),” or “slip $20 into the bell ringer’s red bucket.”

That’s it. That’s all you get for your free sampling.

Source: http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/opinion/stories/2009/12/12/121209_HG_Payne.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=9

Too Early Trivia Monday, December 14th, 2009

2009-12-14T05:32:00.000-08:00

Question: What is said to be the first original fruit pie ever made?

Answer: Cherry

Too Early Trivia Friday, December 11th, 2009

2009-12-11T05:52:00.000-08:00

Question: On this date in 1869 this state became the first to give women the right to vote.

Answer: Wyoming

Too Early Trivia Thursday, December 10th, 2009

2009-12-10T05:37:00.001-08:00

Question: In the world, how many people are born each second?

Answer: 5

Great Time Waster

2009-12-09T05:48:00.001-08:00

Type in “6 out of every 10” into Google, and get the following:

~~Six out of every ten new jobs are computer-related.

~~In the US, six out of every ten couples buy a diamond ring for their engagement.

~~ Six out of every ten Americans live in areas that violate federal air quality standards.

~~ Six out of every ten U.S. smokers started smoking before age 14. Nine of every ten smokers became addicted before reaching age 19.

~~ Only six out of every ten… children will graduate from high school in New York – the third highest dropout rate in America.

~~ A study of US workers has revealed that six out of every ten employees surveyed stole company data upon leaving their job in the last year.

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

2009-12-09T05:47:00.001-08:00

Question: Today is National________________Day?

Answer: Homemade Gift Day and Pastry Day

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

2009-12-08T06:07:00.000-08:00

Question: Some cities are in the holiday spirit year-round! How many U.S. cities are named "Holiday"?

Answer: One....Holiday, Florida

Too Early Trivia Monday, December 7th, 2009

2009-12-07T06:42:00.001-08:00

Question: What is the best selling cereal of all time?

Answer: Cheerios

The Things That People Find Most Annoying

2009-12-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

Consumer Reports did a survey to find what annoys people the most.

Noisy neighbors, traffic jams, and long checkout lines were all on the list, but what really ticks people off are all those hidden fees in our bills!

Other annoyances included:

1. unscooped dog poop

2. not getting a human on the phone

3. incomprehensible bills".

4. tailgating

5. cell phone use by drivers

6. waiting for repair people

7. Very slow drivers

8. poor airline service (16th).

9. unreliable Internet service

10. Spam

11. passwords and PINs

Too Early Trivia Friday, December 4th, 2009

2009-12-04T05:52:00.000-08:00

In 2007, 90 percent of companies held employee holiday parties. What percent plan to do that this year?

Answer: 62 percent

Too Early Trivia Thursday, December 3rd, 2009

2009-12-03T05:28:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of households bought a new board game during the holidays last year?

Answer: 33 percent

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009

2009-12-02T06:11:00.000-08:00

Question: Today is _________________Day?

Answer: Play Basketball

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

2009-12-01T06:09:00.000-08:00

Question: What percent of Americans say they couldn't live without their microwave?

Answer: 86 percent

A Brief History of Black Friday

2009-11-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

Black Friday is the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season--often referred to as the busiest shopping day of the year.

But where did this tradition start, and just how big is it?

~~How did Black Friday became such a big shopping day?

It’s hard to say when the day after Thanksgiving turned into a retail behemoth, but it probably dates back to the late 19th century. At that time, store-sponsored Thanksgiving parades were common, and once Santa Claus showed up at the end of the parade, the holiday shopping season had officially started.

In those days, most retailers adhered to an unwritten rule that holiday shopping season didn’t start until after Thanksgiving, so no stores would advertise holiday sales or aggressively court customers until the Friday immediately following the holiday. Thus, when the floodgates opened that Friday, it became a huge deal.

~~So retailers were always hoping for an early Thanksgiving?

You bet. They weren’t just hoping, though; they were being proactive about it. In 1939, the Retail Dry Goods Association warned Franklin Roosevelt that if the holiday season wouldn’t begin until after Americans celebrated Thanksgiving on the traditional final Thursday in November, retail sales would go in the tank.

Roosevelt saw an easy solution to this problem: he moved Thanksgiving up by a week. Instead of celebrating the holiday on its traditional day—November 30th that year—Roosevelt declared the next-to-last Thursday in November to be the new Thanksgiving, instantly tacking an extra week onto the shopping season.

~~ Brilliant! How did that work out?

Not so well. Roosevelt didn’t make the announcement until late October, and by then most Americans had already made their holiday travel plans.

Many rebelled and continued to celebrate Thanksgiving on its “real” date while derisively referring to the impostor holiday as “Franksgiving.” State governments didn’t know which Thanksgiving to observe, so some of them took both days off. In short, it was a bit of a mess.

By 1941, though, the furor had died down, and Congress passed a law that made Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November regardless of how it affected the shopping day that would become known as Black Friday.

~~ Why call it Black Friday?

If you ask most people why the day after Thanksgiving is called Black Friday, they’ll explain that the name stems from retailers using the day’s huge receipts as their opportunity to “get in the black” and become profitable for the year. The first recorded uses of the term “Black Friday” are a bit less rosy, though.

According to researchers, the name “Black Friday” dates back to Philadelphia in the mid-1960s. The Friday in question is nestled snugly between Thanksgiving and the traditional Army-Navy football game that’s played in Philadelphia on the following Saturday, so the City of Brotherly Love was always bustling with activity on that day.

All of the people were great for retailers, but they were a huge pain for police officers, cab drivers, and anyone who had to negotiate the city’s streets. They started referring to the annual day of commercial bedlam as “Black Friday” to reflect how irritating it was.

~~ So where did the whole “get in the black” story originate?

Apparently storeowners didn’t love having their biggest shopping day saddled with such a negative moniker, so in the early 1980s someone began floating the
accounting angle to put a more positive spin on the big day.

~~ Do retailers really need Black Friday to turn an annual profit?

It’s certainly the day of the year in which you’re most likely to be punched while grabbing for the latest Elmo doll, but it might not be the busiest day in terms of gross receipts. According to Snopes.com, Black Friday is generally one of the top six or seven days of the year for stores, but it’s the days immediately before Christmas when procrastinators finally get shopping that stores make the serious loot.

Black Friday may, however, be the busiest day of the year in terms of customer traffic.

~~ But Black Friday tells us how the holiday season will shake out, right?

Again, not necessarily. According to a 2007 Time story, even if Black Friday goes swimmingly for retailers, it doesn’t really tell analysts much about how the holiday season will look. The National Retail Federation said that since the bulk of holiday shopping still occurs in the week leading up to Christmas, those days are far more important for retailers’ bottom lines than Black Friday is.

That week coupled with the steep discounts most retailers start offering on the day after Christmas end up determining how well the holiday season goes for retailers.

~~ What’s the story on Cyber Monday?

It’s obviously a bit tough for online retailers to cash in on the retail bonanza that their brick-and-mortar counterparts enjoy on Black Friday; you can’t really have a doorbuster sale when you don’t have any doors to bust.

In 2005, though, Shop.org, the online arm of the National Retail Federation, started promoting the Monday immediately following Black Friday as “Cyber Monday,” Black Friday’s tech-savvy cousin for online retailers.

~~ So is Cyber Monday the biggest online shopping day of the year?

Like Black Friday, Cyber Monday probably isn’t quite the e-commerce boom that you’d expect. According to Snopes, the first few years of Cyber Monday looked a lot like Black Friday. Sales were certainly higher than normal, but the biggest e-commerce days were still usually a couple of weeks before Christmas.

Basically, online shopping’s big days are governed by the same keep-putting-it-off impulse that shapes traditional retail’s best revenue days, only the online jackpots come a little earlier as procrastinators have to allow for shipping time.

Source: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/41432

The 12 Biggest Scams To Look Out For This Christmas

2009-11-25T05:50:00.000-08:00

1. Charity phishing scams.

During the holiday season, hackers take advantage of people by sending e-mails that seem to be from legitimate charities. But they are really fake Web sites that steal donations, credit card information and people's identities.

2. Fake invoices from delivery services.

During the holidays, cybercriminals send fake invoices and delivery notices that look like they're from FedEx, UPS or the US Customs Service. The e-mail asks consumers for credit card details, or ask them to open an online invoice or Customs form to get the package. After the people fill out a form, their information is stolen or malware is automatically installed on their computer.

3. Cybercriminal "wants to be your friend."

Cybercriminals send authentic-looking "new friend request" e-mails from social-networking sites. Clicking on links can automatically install malware on computers and steal personal information.

4. The dangers of holiday e-cards.

Cyber thieves cash in on people who send holiday e-cards to try to be environmentally conscious. Last year, there was a worm disguised as Hallmark e-cards and McDonald's and Coca-Cola holiday promotions.

5. "Luxury" holiday jewelry can come at a high price.

There's a new holiday campaign that leads shoppers to malware-filled sites that offer "discounted" luxury gifts from Cartier, Gucci and TAG Heuer. Cybercriminals even use fake logos of the Better Business Bureau to trick shoppers into buying products they never receive.

6. Online identity theft in open networks.

Online holiday sales will go up this year because more people will look to the Web for deals. While users shop on open sites, hackers can spy on them and try to steal their personal information. Never shop online from a public computer or on an open Wi-Fi network.

7. Christmas carol lyrics can be dangerous.

During the holidays, hackers create holiday-related Web sites for people looking for a holiday ringtone or wallpaper, Christmas carol lyrics or a festive screensaver. Downloading the files could infect a computer with spyware, adware or other malware.

8. Job-related e-mail scams.

Scammers are preying on job-seekers and promise high-paying jobs and work-from-home opportunities. Once people send in their information and pay their "setup" fee, criminals steal their money.

9. Auction site fraud.

Scammers hang out on auction sites. People should look out for auction deals that look too good to be true.

10. Password stealing scams.

Password theft is huge during the holidays. Thieves try to get a person's password and send out malware to record the keystrokes. Once they have access to one or more passwords, they get access to someone's bank and credit card details and clean out accounts within minutes.

11. E-mail banking scams.

Cybercriminals trick people into giving out their bank details by sending official-looking e-mails from financial institutions. They ask users to confirm their account information, including a user name and password, with a warning that their account will become invalid if they don't reply. Then they sell the information through an underground online black market.

12. Your files for ransom.

Hackers get control of people's computers through holiday scams and act as kidnappers. They hijack computer files and encrypt them and make them unreadable and inaccessible. The scammer holds the files for ransom and asks for a payment in exchange for getting them back.

Source: http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SmartSpending/blog/page.aspx?post=1398291&_blg=1,1398291

The 5 Biggest Thanksgiving Food Myths

2009-11-25T05:48:00.000-08:00

1. The Bigger the Turkey, the Better

Turkeys with big breasts don't have much flavor. You should compare the size of the breast to the size of the rest of the bird. Larger-breasted turkeys are new breeds that were made to produce a larger amount of meat, but not a better flavor. The smaller the breast meat to the whole bird, the closer the turkey is to the original model and the more old-fashioned flavor. Go with a fresh heritage turkey or crossbreed turkey.

2. Fresh Pumpkin is Better Than Canned Pumpkin

"Canned" isn't a bad word. Canned pureed pumpkin from the grocery store creates a more reliable result, especially in baking. If you want to use fresh pumpkin be sure to use sugar pumpkins.

3. Turkey Makes You Sleepy

If you find yourself passing out on the couch after the Thanksgiving meal, don't blame the turkey. It's true that turkey has tryptophan but there's not enough tryptophan in roasted turkey to make you tired. In fact, there's more tryptophan in cheese and chicken breast than there is in turkey. The real reason you're sleepy is because it's probably the stress of the holiday, the hours spent cooking, the wine and all the fat and calories you just crammed down your throat.

4. Stuffing is the Same as Dressing

Dressing and stuffing are similar, but not the same. The difference is in how they are prepared. Stuffing is stuffed inside the bird, while dressing is usually cooked in a casserole dish.

5. Pop-up Plastic Thermometers Work

Pop-up thermometers are unreliable. Not only do they pierce the skin and let flavorful juices escape, but they can also malfunction and leave you with an under- or overcooked bird. Use a probe thermometer instead.

Source: http://shine.yahoo.com/event/thanksgiving/the-5-biggest-thanksgiving-food-myths-debunked-546148/

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

2009-11-25T05:47:00.000-08:00

Question: How many minutes per day do women think about their hair?

Answer: 47 minutes

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

2009-11-24T05:16:00.001-08:00

Question: If you bring your lunch to work instead of going out to eat, how much can you save on average each month?

Answer: $80

Holiday Tipping Guidelines

2009-11-23T05:51:00.001-08:00

This holiday season, a leaner budget means figuring out how much to tip people in your life. FYI, you won't be alone if you scale back.

A new survey shows that about a quarter of folks plan to tip less this holiday season than they did last year. Only 6 percent plan to give more.

If you're on a tighter budget, here's how you can save without appearing cheap:

• There are no set rules, but year-end tips are generally the cost of a single session. So if a haircut costs $40, that's how much you could give as a tip.

• Holiday bonuses are generally reserved for people you've relied on for at least six months, so don't feel obligated to tip a hairdresser you've only been to a few times.

• For someone like a paperboy, they may not be able to accept cash. Grab them a gift for $20 or less... that could include a gift card.

• Teachers generally can't accept cash either. The rules vary, so be sure to check with the school.

Source: http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/dpg-Holiday-Tipping-Guidelines-mb-200911181258610916396

10 Annoying Phrases That Serve No Purpose

2009-11-23T05:50:00.001-08:00

10. It is what it is
This newcomer is the epitome of an ear-grating phrase that means nothing.

9. It's all good
The inclusion of "all" only accentuates how much you don't mean what you are saying.

8. To be honest
Not only is this phrase usually followed by something best left unsaid, but it also implies everything else you say is dishonest.

7. No offense
A phrase even more insincere than it is superfluous.

6. Whatever
In a recent survey, 47 percent of Americans chose this word compound as the most annoying phrase of all. Meaning you have permission to smack anyone who uses it and isn't a 12-year-old girl. (And it's a close call on smacking any 12-year-old girl who uses the "w" word.)

5. Don't get me wrong
Isn't it implicit in most human communication that your intention is always to be correctly understood?

4. With all due respect
Really?

3. Everything happens for a reason
A completely worthless utterance that probably doubles as a vicious taunt to those who have undergone terrible hardships.

2. At the end of the day
At the end of the day, you will be preparing for bed.

1. Going forward
Saying this is like announcing your next footstep.

Source: http://www.asylum.com/2009/11/18/10-annoying-phrases-that-serve-no-purpose/

How To Get Work Done On Your Car Without Being Scammed

2009-11-23T05:48:00.000-08:00

Get a recommendation: Ask someone with a similar income level and car type if they have a good relationship with their mechanic.

Use the owner's manual: You should never, ever walk into a mechanic and say, "I need a tune up." A mechanic may see this as an open invitation to charge you up to $1000 for random services like spark plug replacements when you don't need them. Your manual will list the necessary services according to the mileage you have on your car.

Get an estimate: Make sure the mechanic gives you a detailed parts-and-labor estimate so you'll know exactly what he plans to do. Never accept a verbal estimate. Make sure you sign the itemized estimate and walk away with a signed copy.

Ask questions: Never be afraid to ask, "Do I really need that?" or "Is work on that part absolutely necessary right now?" If your mechanic makes a generalization like, "The part is old," ask for details. Then ask to see the part.

Common traps:
• Drastic statements like, "We need to tow your car out of here because we don't want to be responsible for you driving it," are almost always a scam.
• Coolant and power steering flushes are common services some of the larger mechanic chains will propose in order to make money.
• A muffler that lasts a lifetime does not exist. Many of the larger companies give you free replacements and make their money on expensive exhaust system repairs.
• The $55 brake pad job is also a scam nine times out of ten. No shop can make money on a $55 dollar brake pad replacement job. It's an excuse to suggest the replacement of other parts when you don't need them.

Source: http://consumerist.com/5407641/warning-signs-that-your-mechanic-is-scamming-you

Dirty Secrets of Black Friday 'Doorbusters'

2009-11-23T05:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a Black Friday reality check: most shoppers will not bag the best bargains that appear in merchants' circulars.

Look at the fine print in this year's circulars. It will either say "While supplies last," "Minimum 2 per store," "No rainchecks" or "All items are available in limited quantities."

Industry experts spill the beans a few dirty secrets of Black Friday deals:

Limited quantities. Advertising a Black Friday deal as "limited quantities" is bogus. It doesn't make sense to spend tons of money to advertise something if you only have 3 of them.

What do you mean this HDTV is a "derivative?" Derivatives are models that have a few less features than a standard model in that product line. The difference can be subtle. The image contrast ratio might be 20,000 in a derivative model versus 30,000 in a standard model.

Retailers usually don't advertise these models as derivatives, so there's no way the average person could know unless they are savvy enough to compare their model numbers.

Which Black Friday deals are online? Lots of retailers will say that their Black Friday deals are available online, but they're not nice enough to tell you which ones.

Online deals that never get shipped. Last year, one of Sears' hottest Black Friday doorbuster deal was on a Kenmore washer-dryer pair for $600. They advertised that deal to be in "limited quantities," but they decided to honor every customer order made on that deal. Big mistake. The manufacturer could not ramp up production fast enough. Some customers waited months before their order was shipped.

About those rainchecks. Finally, if a retailer does offer you a raincheck on a deal, it could still turn out to be an empty promise. A raincheck doesn't guarantee that you will eventually get that elusive Black Friday deal. The retailer may never get more of the product shipped to its stores... so they don't have to honor it.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/20/news/economy/black_friday_doorbuster_secrets/index.htm?section=money_topstories&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fmoney_topstories+%28Top+Stories%29

Too Early Trivia Monday, November 23rd, 2009

2009-11-23T05:24:00.001-08:00

Question: The first issue of this magazine hit newsstands on this date in 1936.....which magazine was it?

Answer: Life

Too Early Trivia Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

2009-11-11T06:32:00.000-08:00

Question: According to Men's Health the average guy works out how many times a month?

Answer: 16

Too Early Trivia Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

2009-11-10T05:35:00.001-08:00

Question: What percent of men 18-49 take naps?

Answer: 35 percent (Men's Health)

Author Says Sushi is Fingerfood

2009-11-06T07:42:00.000-08:00

If you're using chopsticks to eat sushi, you're doing it wrong.

One man who calls himself a sushi concierge says you should eat the sushi with your fingers.

And if you want a little sauce, be sure to dip the fish, not the rice, and do not muddy it with wasabi (there may already be some under the fish).

Trevor Corson is the author of "The Story of Sushi".

He holds in NY's East Village to show Americans how to navigate the sushi bar as Japanese connoisseurs do.

The class includes a sushi meal, prepared by the restaurant's staff.

Classes, for a minimum of six people, are $105 a person plus drinks and can be arranged at sushiconcierge.com.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/dining/04sush.html?_r=2&ref=dining

Too Early Trivia Friday, November 6th, 2009

2009-11-06T05:37:00.000-08:00

Question: When were chocolate chip cookies invented?

Answer: 1937

Too Early Trivia Thursday, November 5th, 2009

2009-11-05T05:28:00.000-08:00

Question: How many of the nine planets have moons?

Answer: 7

Too Early Trivia, Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

2009-11-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

Question: Last November, what was the average cost to make a Thanksgiving feast for 10?

Answer: $44

100 THINGS RESTAURANT STAFFERS SHOULD NEVER DO

2009-11-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

Including.... 1. Do not let anyone enter the restaurant without a warm greeting.

2. Do not make a singleton feel bad. Do not say, “Are you waiting for someone?” Ask for a reservation. Ask if he or she would like to sit at the bar.

3. Never refuse to seat three guests because a fourth has not yet arrived.

7. Do not announce your name. No jokes, no flirting, no cuteness.

8. Do not interrupt a conversation. For any reason. Especially not to recite specials. Wait for the right moment.

9. Do not recite the specials too fast or robotically or dramatically. It is not a soliloquy. This is not an audition.

12. Do not touch the rim of a water glass. Or any other glass.

14. When you ask, “How’s everything?” or “How was the meal?” listen to the answer and fix whatever is not right.

15. Never say “I don’t know” to any question without following with, “I’ll find out.”

21. Never serve anything that looks creepy or runny or wrong.

25. Make sure the glasses are clean. Inspect them before placing them on the table.

27. For red wine, ask if the guests want to pour their own or prefer the waiter to pour.

28. Do not put your hands all over the spout of a wine bottle while removing the cork.

31. Never remove a plate full of food without asking what went wrong. Obviously, something went wrong.

34. Do not have a personal conversation with another server within earshot of customers.

35. Do not eat or drink in plain view of guests.

36. Never reek from perfume or cigarettes. People want to smell the food and beverage.

38. Do not call a guy a “dude.”

39. Do not call a woman “lady.”

40. Never say, “Good choice,” implying that other choices are bad.

45. Do not curse, no matter how young or hip the guests.

47. Do not gossip about co-workers or guests within earshot of guests.

49. Never mention the tip, unless asked.

50. Do not turn on the charm when it’s tip time. Be consistent throughout.

Rest of the list is here: http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/29/one-hundred-things-restaurant-staffers-should-never-do-part-one/