Truyo

Filed under: Budgets, Credit, Debt

Pop culture is poised on the precipice of a mid-season replacement lineup as networks get ready to roll out their latest offerings, hoping millions will tune into their channels. Many will watch in the hopes of sharpening their punch line delivery skills or getting a hearty chuckle.

But few viewers realize that the laughable and lovable characters we welcome into our homes once a week can actually teach us some valuable lessons about managing money and protecting our credit.

Whether they're fiscally frugal or free-spending, here's some practical advice from a few classic characters.

Continue reading Could sitcoms help you get out of debt?

Could sitcoms help you get out of debt? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: WalletPop Blog]

Here�s a good catch by CNN from this White House video that provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Obama administration�s cabinet meetings.

While it appears almost the entire cabinet uses BlackBerry as their smartphone of choice (I think I see one Razr in the pile � really?), all devices are to be left at the door before meetings begin.

As you can see, the relatively low-tech way of keeping track of which phone belongs to which statesman is fairly amusing. It also appears that United States Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice needs no less than three BlackBerry devices to remain connected.

Here�s a big screen capture:

Tags: blackberry, Mobile 2.0, smartphones, whitehouse

Read More... [Source: Mashable!]

We get it, Amazon Kindle App: you've just become available in over 60 countries, you're something of a jet setter now. But you don't have to go around and rub it in our faces. So what if we've only been to Mexico that one time by accident and can't sync books and page placement via Amazon's Whispersync technology... that doesn't make us any less valuable as a person. Oh, and you're coming to the Mac and BlackBerry "soon," huh? Well, aren't you special.

Kindle App for iPhone goes international, starts to get a little annoying at parties originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: Engadget]

Filed under: Computers, Video Games, Breaking News

What do you do when you're the U.S. government and you need heaps of computing power, quick and on the cheap? You snatch up 300 Sony PlayStation 3's of course. We've seen researchers use the gaming consoles before to crunch numbers and study gravity, and now the Air Force wants in on the Cell processor-powered action.

What exactly the Air Force plans to use the 300 PlayStations for is unclear, but the branch of the armed forces is getting price quotes from resellers.

Knowing that the PS3 is less a gaming machine and more a super computer in disguise, all we can say is we're glad it's the Air Force and not the NSA.

From Newsvine

Related links:

• Scientist Using Eight PlayStation 3s to Study Gravity
• PlayStation 3 Outsells Nintendo Wii in Japan
• PlayStation 3 On Your Cell Phone

U.S. Air Force Wants 300 PlayStation 3's originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 12:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: Switched]

Filed under: Extracurriculars, Shopping

Money, it seems, just might be able to buy you a bit of happiness this holiday season. Or so says research from the University of British Columbia and Harvard University.

The good news: It doesn't matter how much you make, because you can spend as little as $5 to get happy. But there's a catch: In order for your money to make you happy, you've got to spend it on others. Not yourself. Sounds like the perfect reason to pick up a little "extra something" for a loved one or co-worker.

What's the link?
The connection between your wallet and your happiness isn't as complex as you might think. "We found that while it might make you happy 'in the moment,' despite popular belief, spending money on big ticket items like new cars, jewelry or on vacations doesn't contribute to sustained happiness," says lead researcher, University of British Columbia assistant professor Elizabeth Dunn, PhD. And, using a year-end or holiday bonus to pay off bills isn't the path to happiness either.

Continue reading Maybe money can buy happiness after all

Maybe money can buy happiness after all originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: WalletPop Blog]

The trailer we've placed below the break for XBLA's Zeno Clash: Ultimate Editiion is a failure. It's not that you won't get a good idea of the first-person-brawler-slash-shooter's gameplay -- you will. It's that the clip doesn't come within a million miles of communicating just how skin-crawlingly creepy the experience of playing Zeno Clash is.

Just for the record, it's kind of like taking a shower in Neil Gaiman's bathwater after its been filtered through David Lynch's birth certificate. Cr-eepy.

Continue reading Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition trailer isn't creepy enough

Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition trailer isn't creepy enough originally appeared on Joystiq Xbox on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: Joystiq [Xbox]]

Filed under: Software, Odds and ends, iPhone

Maybe they're feeling a bit of pricing pressure? Whatever the reason, TomTom just released a stripped down version of its Navigation app that leaves out Canada. Oh my.

This USA-only version sells for US $49.99, [iTunes link] which is half the price of the version that includes our good neighbor to the north. Like the big brother version, this app includes turn by turn directions and lane guidance, and 2D and 3D driving views.

This holiday season there is no shortage of choices for getting directions to your holiday destinations, and TomTom is pitching aggressive pricing and a strong feature set. The last few weeks we've seen several of the GPS apps cut prices temporarily to get some customers motivated, but this move from TomTom looks permanent and will undoubtedly force other vendors to follow suit.

This app requires an iPhone or iPod touch running 3.0 software, or older iPhones and iPod touches can work with the software ONLY if users purchase the TomTom car kit with a built in GPS receiver.

Thanks to Dubbs for tipping us to this holiday treat.

TUAWTomTom lowers iPhone app price if you don't need to go to Canada originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Read More... [Source: The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)]