Top 10 Lists

How to Win at Hanging With Friends

2012-02-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

A little while back I created a blog post "How to Win at Words with Friends". Around that time, I discovered a game by the same creators, Hanging with Friends, that has been gaining some popularity over the past few months. For those of you who don't know what Hanging with Friends is, it's a hang man game where you play with friends over your mobile device. You pick a word (based on a few available letters) for your friend to solve, and they have to figure it out within a certain number of strikes. Once they solve or don't solve, they create a word and it's your turn to solve. You keep doing this until the first person reaches five strikes. While a very fun game, it's not always the easiest to win, but follow the tips below to improve your Hanging with Friends win streak.

1. Understand that the Letter Revealed is the Last Vowel: This is important to know for both the guesser and the word creator. Hanging with Friends always gives the guesser a free letter and it's the last vowel in the word. Don't create a word where the last vowel appears more than once in the word, and if you see that a vowel appears with 3 or 4 letters after start guessing consonants that can be bunched together (i.e. rch for porch, or nts for words like flints).

2. When the E is the 2nd to last Letter Guess R, D, or S: While this doesn't always hold true, more often than not if the letter revealed is an E and only one letter is after that E, it will be either an R, D, or S. Guess this before moving onto the other letters. Again, not always the case, but more often than not, it holds true.

3. Get the Vowel Guess Out of the Way: If you have a word with five blanks before the first vowel appears, you know there's another vowel. Always go with the guesses you know will help to reveal a letter.

4. Use Y's as a Vowel When Possible: This is a great way to throw people off. One of my favorite words to play is simply "pyros" because people don't expect that y there. _ _ _ o _ will make them go with a, e, i, o, u before thinking that maybe it's a word without any more vowels. This works even better for longer words with one vowel (besides Y) and Y.

5. Throw People Off with the First Letter: Getting the first letter right opens the doors for guessers and makes it a lot easier to solve the word. A good way to throw them off is by using an uncommon word that has letters (other than the first) that form multiple other words. If you play "wend", for example, if a person gets the "end", they are going to likely guess "send", "tend", "mend", and "bend" before turning to wend. Words like this help players win games.

6. Go for the Longer Word if Possible: Longer words means less guesses. Add the s to the end of the word to give the guesser one less strike (or "ed"). Avoid, however, adding an extra letter that's already within the word.

7. Use Two Letters with an 8 or More Point Value Within One Word: X, Q, J, Z...if you can use two of these letters within one word do it. The guesser might get one, but more often than not they will not think to guess to. Even if you have to use a double letter like "Jazzy", it's still a great choice for a word.

8. Plays Words with Vowels as the First Letter: This works well with words that look like no vowels are left (i.e. "axis"). If you play a word with a vowel as the first letter when the word looks like there are no more (again _ _ i _), it's a good way to throw them off. It shouldn't be done all the time, but playing it infrequently and smart is an efficient way to give them a strike.

9. When Guessing, Think of a Possible Word Before Selecting a Letter: We know T, S, R or all common letters, but it doesn't mean the person forming the word used them. In actuality, if they are trying to stump you they will likely steer clear of those letters. Instead of going with the common letters, think of a word that can be made using the letters provided to you and use that as a basis to guess. Even with only one letter, it's a good way to increase your odds.

10. Form the Word First in a New Game: In close games this can be the difference maker. Making the other person guess first can result in them having to guess an extra word.

NFL Playoff Predictions

2012-01-07T08:15:00.000-08:00

I know I said I'd shy away from football posts now that the season is over, but my Giants are in the playoffs and I'm very excited. Here are my predictions for the playoffs.

AFC Playoff Race:

Wildcard:

Pittsburgh over Denver: 27 - 10
Why?: Teams have already figured Tim Tebow and this Denver team has reverted back to their old ways for the beginning of the season. if Buffalo can destroy them like they did, Pittsburgh will have no problem.

Bengals over Texans: 24 -21
Why?: This will be a very close game that I can see going either way, but the injuries suffered by the Texans are becoming too much for this team to handle. The Bengals only lost by 1 point last time and even though they only beat one team above .500 I see them pulling off the upset.

Divisional:

Patriots over Bengals: 24 - 14
Why?: The defense will still have issues for the Patriots, but they'll find a way to get rookie QB Dalton. Tom Brady will be clutch on offense (like usual) and even with a poor D they will find ways to win like they have all season.

Ravens over Steelers: 21 - 17
Why?: Both are pretty balanced teams with the slight edge going to the Ravens. Ravens took both games and there's no reason to speculate that they wouldn't take the 3rd one in the series especially with a Roethlisberger that isn't 100%.

Championship:

Ravens over Patriots: 30 - 24
Why?: This is where the Patriots D will bite them in the ass. The key for the Ravens to win this game is to give Ray Rice the ball often which is what they'll do. Brady will still have a good game, but the D will do the Patriots in.

NFC Playoff Race:

Wildcard:

Giants over Falcons: 37 - 21
Why?: I already revealed my bias by stating I'm a Giants fan, but I expect a big game from this team. Eli is having his best season as a QB and is one of the most dangerous QBs in the leagues when he's clutch (which has been more times than not this season). Him and Cruz will do damage against this team.

Saints over Lions: 34 - 17
Why?: The last time these teams faced each other it resulted in a 31-17 win by the Saints. I expect a very similar score with a Drew Brees that has been fantastic all season (especially as of late). Matt Stafford has had a great season, but he's no Drew Brees.

Divisional:

Giants over Packers: 35 - 34
Why?: Yes, I know bias right here, but I expect a similar vibe to the 2007 season when the Giants lost by 3 points to the Pats and then beat them in a close game in the Super Bowl. Packers aren't an undefeated team this year, but easily the best in the league and I see the last drive coming down to Eli and him getting it done. Last time what stopped the Giants from a win was giving the ball back to the Packers with too much time on the clock. It won't happen this time.

49ers over Saints: 17 - 10
Why?: If any defense can figure out how to stop Drew Brees it's the 49ers. In order for the 49ers to win this game, they need to put on a great defense showing and have Alex Smith commit 0 turnovers (both will happen). Frank Gore will be the one who decides this game with 2 running touchdowns.

Championship:

Giants over 49ers: 21 - 17
Why?: The 49ers beat the Giants last time 27-20 in regular season. I think the Giants are improved since then and will do what they need to do on both offense and defense to win this game. Bradshaw will have a decent game (not great, but just enough) and Eli & Cruz will put up big numbers again. Again, I understand I'm biased, but I sense another upset.

Super Bowl:

Ravens over Giants: 24 - 13
Why?: This is where my bias for the Giants end. A team that is balanced on both offense and defense will be the team that stops the Giants. The Packers don't have the D, the 49ers don't have the O, but the Ravens have both and it will be the deciding factor in this game.

NFL Power Rankings - Playoff Time!

2012-01-02T19:37:00.000-08:00

Well the regular NFL season is over and looks like I'll be back to regular blogging. Final power rankings below.

1. Green Bay Packers: 606 (581 )

Previous Week: 1

Notes: No Aaron Rodgers? No problem apparently. Matt Flynn surprised everyone with his dominant performance over the Lions. Even with a subpar defense, the Packers are the best team in the NFC and in the NFL.

2. New Orleans Saints: 545 (486 )

Previous Week: 2

Notes: The Packers might be the best team in the NFL, but the Saints are the team nobody wants to play in the playoffs right now. Drew Brees is looking like the best QB in football right now.

3. New England Patriots: 493 (441 )

Previous Week: 4

Notes: In a conference without an elite team, the Patriots have the slight edge over other good teams like the Ravens and Steelers mostly due to Tom Brady. Their defense might not be great, but the Patriots have won 8 in a row and are the team nobody wants to face in the AFC.

4. San Francisco 49ers: 475 (451)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: The 49ers end the season as the #2 seed with a 13-3 record after being 6-10 the year before. If their defense plays at the top of their game, they can beat anyone in the playoffs.

5. Baltimore Ravens: 418 (384)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: A win over the Bengals gets them a bye week in the playoffs. If the Broncos upset the Steelers, the Ravens might find their road to the championship game fairly easy with the Texans suffering from injuries, the Broncos being the Broncos, and the Bengals already losing twice to them.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 417 (393)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: Like the 49ers, if this team's defense is at the top of their game, they can beat anyone in the NFL. They should coast against Denver next week.

7. Houston Texans: 328 (348)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: Losing three games in a row (especially all to non-playoff teams) is not what the Texans wanted to do going into the playoffs. It will be a tough game against the Bengals.

8. Detroit Lions: 312 (328)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: The Lions did not expect a Packers team without Aaron Rodgers to perform as well as they did on offense, but there you go. It's exciting that this team has made the playoffs for the first time since 1999, but it might be short-lived with their first game on the road against a red hot Saints.

9. Atlanta Falcons: 275 (226)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: The win over the Buccs in week 17 means that the Falcons get to play the Giants on the road instead of the Saints who destroyed them in week 16.

10. Philadelphia Eagles: 197 (170)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: Might be "weird" ranking a non-playoff team so high (especially one that only finished the season at .500), but very few teams played as good of football at the end of the season as the Eagles. They somehow end the season in 2nd place in the NFC East only one game back from taking that division.

11. Cincinnati Bengals: 178 (196)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: Well, they lost to the Ravens, but got some help and are now in the playoffs as a 6th seed. Their first game is against the Texans who they only lost to by 1 point a few weeks ago.

12. New York Giants: 176 (132)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: When the Giants team can put it all together like they did against the Cowboys, there are very few teams they can't beat. Victor Cruz is one of the better receivers in the league as is Eli in the QB position. This QB / WR combo will be exciting to watch in the playoffs.

13. San Diego Chargers: 153 (128 )

Previous Week: 15

Notes: The other non-playoff team (besides the Eagles) that few would want to face in the playoffs. They are the best 8-8 team out of the 3 in the AFC West, but unfortunately will not be able to compete in the wildcard game against the Steelers.

14. Tennessee Titans: 150 (119)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: They won, but didn't get the help they needed to get in. That one touchdown loss against the Bengals was the only thing preventing this team from making the playoffs. That and giving up the Colt's first win.

15. Dallas Cowboys: 144 (185)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: They simply played worse than the Giants on all sides of the ball. The blame can't be on Romo this time as he still put up a solid game. Jerry Jones says Jason Garrett's job is safe and he's probably being truthful although if they end up not making the playoffs next year it probably will be a different story.

16. New York Jets: 135 (148)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: The Jets lose their last 3 games of the season and end up not making the playoffs. Rex Ryan's job will be safe for now (he was the one who transformed this team from a joke to relevant after all), but is very far from that Super Bowl guarantee he promised at the beginning of the season.

17. Chicago Bears: 117 (98)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: Well, they finally win a game and end the season at .500. If Jay Cutler didn't have starting QB security for the Bears he does now.

18. Seattle Seahawks: 75 (75)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: Even they ended the season with the same record, the Seahawks still exceeded expectations this season.

19. Arizona Cardinals: 54 (15 )

Previous Week: 22

Notes: A moral victory for the Cards. Arizona ends the season on a strong note with a win over the Seahawks and an 8-8 record.

20. Oakland Raiders: 32 (57)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: The Broncos gave the Raiders a shot at an AFC West division title, but they couldn't beat the Chargers. Will Carson Palmer be the starting QB for the Raiders next season?

21. Miami Dolphins: 32 (8)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: Nothing made this team happier than shattering any hopes of a playoff birth for the Jets with a win over them. After staring off the season 0-7, the Dolphins go 6-3.

22. Denver Broncos: 15 (35)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: Well, I guess Tim Tebow "led" this team to a surprising playoff berth despite losing their last 3. This team is the weakest of the 12 teams in the playoffs, but based on some of their wins you never know what can happen.

23. Carolina Panthers: 6 (55)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: Excited about watching Cam Newton & co compete next season. They might not be a playoff team in 2012, but they'll be a lot closer than they were this year.

24. Buffalo Bills: -52 (-4)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: I thought after being up 21 - 0, the Bills could at least NOT get destroyed by the Pats for their last game of the season. I was wrong. What a disappointing season for a team that started off so strong.

25. Kansas City Chiefs: -71 (-104)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: Too early to say, but Romeo Crennel looks like a good fit in KC. Prior to him taking over the head coaching gig, the team looked like one of the bottom 3 in the NFL. While not a playoff caliber team yet, they look much improved.

26. Washington Redskins: -103 (-59)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: Another team that started off the season so strong (and a team that some said could have taken the NFC East), but showed their true colors as the season progressed. It will be interesting to see what happens in terms of changes in the off season.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -134 (-187)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: The only bright spot in the Jags season was MJD who put up another great season (and one of the best in the NFL in the RB position).

28. Cleveland Browns: -181 (-161)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: 6 losses in a row and 0 division wins to close out the season. Disgusting.

29. Minnesota Vikings: -217 (-204)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: They still put up a fight against the Bears and like a lot of their losses, they came up short by one possession.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -306 (-266)

Previous Week: 30

Notes: 10 losses in a row and Morris is gone. This team was so competitive last year and started off this 4-2. I can't remember the last time I saw such a collapse.

31. Indianapolis Colts: -387 ( -366 )

Previous Week: 31

Notes: They get the #1 pick in the draft. It will be interesting to see if they get Luck (for themselves or for trade bait).

32. St. Louis Rams: -395 (-370 )

Previous Week: 32

Notes: And the Rams end the season on a horrible note and Steve Spagnuolo and GM Billy Devaney are immediately fired. It will take a while for this team to rebuild.

NFL Power Rankings Week 17

2011-12-26T13:35:00.000-08:00

1. Green Bay Packers: 581 (533)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: A Christmas Day win over the Bears secures home field advantage throughout the playoffs for the Packers.

2. New Orleans Saints: 486 (434)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: The Packers might have the best record, but the Saints look like the team nobody wants to be playing against right now. Drew Brees breaks Dan Marino's 27 year old record during Monday Night football.

3. San Francisco 49ers: 451 (422)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: A win gives this team a #2 seed and a bye week for the playoffs. Remarkable for a team who finished 6-10 the year before.

4. New England Patriots: 441 (413)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: The Patriots are the best in the AFC (both in record and their playing ability), but their defense might give them some trouble come playoff time.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 393 (341 )

Previous Week: 7

Notes: Even with two losses against the Ravens this season, the Steelers have been playing better overall as of late.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 384 (355)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: A win or a Steelers loss gives this team the AFC North and a first round bye.

7. Houston Texans: 348 (389 )

Previous Week: 5

Notes: This team might be starting to feel the effect of their injuries. A loss to the lowly Colts doesn't do much in terms of confidence boosters.

8. Detroit Lions: 328 (270)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: The Lions make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

9. Atlanta Falcons: 226 (270 )

Previous Week: 9

Notes: Even with getting crushed by the Saints, the Falcons can do some damage come playoff time.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 196 (177)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: The Bengals control their own playoff destiny. A win and they're in as the #6 seed. Just last year they were 4-12.

11. Dallas Cowboys: 185 (227)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: That game against the Eagles didn't matter since the Giants beat the Jets. That being said, the Cowboys will need Romo to be a 100% in order for them to pull off a win against the Giants and take the NFC East.

12. Philadelphia Eagles: 170 (130)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: Too bad this team is eliminated from the playoff picture. They've been playing like the Eagles we expected prior to the start of the season.

13. New York Jets: 148 (193)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: The Jets lose bragging rights in New York and likely a playoff spot with a loss to the Giants.

14. New York Giants: 132 (82)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: The Giants control their own playoff destiny. A win and their in over the Cowboys. This team has so much potential, but they're not nearly playing up to their ability. They will likely struggle come playoff time (if they make it in) unless they get it to together.

15. San Diego Chargers: 128 (189)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: The loss against the Lions ends any chance of making the playoffs and will likely be the end of Norv Turner.

16. Tennessee Titans: 119 (88)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: The Titans win and cling onto their playoff life. They need to beat the Texans and also need help from some other teams.

17. Chicago Bears: 98 (112)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: After looking like a wildcard favorite, the Bears lose 5 in a row and are now eliminated from the playoff picture. People have been saying "Peyton Manning as MVP", but what about Jay Cutler?

18. Seattle Seahawks: 75 (104)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Even though they're out of the playoff race, the Seahawks have played a lot better than anyone expected this year.

19. Oakland Raiders: 57 (31)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: The Raiders have a shot at the AFC West with a win and a Broncos loss.

20. Carolina Panthers: 55 (-9)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: No team is going to want to face an even better Cam Newton come next season.

21. Denver Broncos: 35 (82)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: The division leader in the AFC West ranked at 21? Well, the Broncos (specifically Tim Tebow's) luck has run out and chances are that even if they make in the playoffs they will get killed by the Steelers or Ravens in the first round.

22. Arizona Cardinals: 15 (42)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: Like the Seahawks, a team that has performed better than anyone expected.

23. Miami Dolphins: 8 (28)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: A good fight against the Patriots. The Dolphins hope to finish the season in 3rd place in the AFC East after starting the season 0-7.

24. Buffalo Bills: -4 (-59)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: They finally get a win, but the Bills can't help but feel very disappointed after starting the season so strong.

25. Washington Redskins: -59 (-26)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: They win big against the Giants and then lose to a Vikings team without Peterson in the 2nd half. It will be interesting to see the changes this team makes in the off season.

26. Kansas City Chiefs: -104 (-87)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: The way this team has played their last two games is enough to convince me to give Romeo Cremel the full time coaching gig. A win against the Packers and an overtime loss against the Raiders is impressive considering how this team has played the other 13 games of the season.

27. Cleveland Browns: -161 (-132)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: The Browns have now lost 5 in a row and really have nothing to fight for other than to avoid getting their 6th loss in a row.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: -187 (-126)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: Even though the Browns also lost, they lose a spot against them in the rankings. They look like the worse team right now.

29. Minnesota Vikings: -204 (-230)

Previous Week: 30

Notes: Very bad news for the Vikings team losing Peterson considering how this season has gone. Hopefully he'll be 100% healthy come next season.

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -266 (-215 )

Previous Week: 29

Notes: Officially 9 losses in a row after getting slaughtered by the Panthers. Freeman is not the answer at QB.

31. Indianapolis Colts: -366 ( -389 )

Previous Week: 32

Notes: The Colts finally move out of the last spot in the rankings with a win streak. That's right, they actually won two games in a row!

32. St. Louis Rams: -370 (-318)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: They have the same record as the Colts, but have easily been playing a lot worse over the last few games (even before the Colts started winning). The Rams have the second longest current losing streak.

NFL Power Rankings Week 16

2011-12-18T19:05:00.000-08:00

No time for notes this week :(. Big shake up in the rankings though.

1. Green Bay Packers: 533 (558)

Previous Week: 1

Notes:

2. New Orleans Saints: 434 (388)

Previous Week: 4

Notes:

3. San Francisco 49ers: 422 (387)

Previous Week: 5

Notes:

4. New England Patriots: 413 (367)

Previous Week: 7

Notes:

5. Houston Texans: 389 (421)

Previous Week: 2

Notes:

6. Baltimore Ravens: 355 (400)

Previous Week: 3

Notes:

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 341 (387 )

Previous Week: 6

Notes:

8. Detroit Lions: 270 (259)

Previous Week: 8

Notes:

9. Atlanta Falcons: 270 (215)

Previous Week: 10

Notes:

10. Dallas Cowboys: 227 (170)

Previous Week: 11

Notes:

11. New York Jets: 193 (235)

Previous Week: 9

Notes:

12. San Diego Chargers: 189 (94 )

Previous Week: 17

Notes:

13. Cincinnati Bengals: 177 (161)

Previous Week: 13

Notes:

14. Philadelphia Eagles: 130 (66)

Previous Week: 18

Notes:

15. Chicago Bears: 112 (165)

Previous Week: 12

Notes:

16. Seattle Seahawks: 104 (45)

Previous Week: 20

Notes:

17. Tennessee Titans: 88 (125)

Previous Week: 14

Notes:

18. New York Giants: 82 (112)

Previous Week: 15

Notes:

19. Denver Broncos: 82 (107)

Previous Week: 16

Notes:

20. Arizona Cardinals: 42 (6)

Previous Week: 21

Notes:

21. Oakland Raiders: 31 (59)

Previous Week: 19

Notes:

22. Miami Dolphins: 28 (-2 )

Previous Week: 22

Notes:

23. Carolina Panthers: -9 (-45)

Previous Week: 24

Notes:

24. Washington Redskins: -26 (-64)

Previous Week: 25

Notes:

25. Buffalo Bills: -59 (-24)

Previous Week: 23

Notes:

26. Kansas City Chiefs: -87 (-135 )

Previous Week: 28

Notes:

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -126 ( -74)

Previous Week: 26

Notes:

28. Cleveland Browns: -132 (-110)

Previous Week: 27

Notes:

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -215 (-169)

Previous Week: 29

Notes:

30. Minnesota Vikings: -230 (-174)

Previous Week: 30

Notes:

31. St. Louis Rams: -318 (-296 )

Previous Week: 31

Notes:

32. Indianapolis Colts: -389 ( -420)

Previous Week: 32

Notes:

NFL Power Rankings Week 15

2011-12-12T04:18:00.000-08:00

1. Green Bay Packers: 558 (499)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: They have been called a "one sided" team with a second to last ranked defense, but proved how dangerous they can be on D against the Raiders. This team might do what the Patriots couldn't in 2007, go 19-0.

2. Houston Texans: 421 (385)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: This team has earned the #2 spot. Injury-ridden and still winning big (and tough games). A first seed is a very possible thing for this team.

3. Baltimore Ravens: 400 (371)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: A close 2nd in terms of the best team in the AFC. With how things are shaking up in the AFC, this team can be anywhere from a 1st to 5th seed come playoff time.

4. New Orleans Saints: 388 (354)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: A big win against the Titans that helps move this team closer to a first round bye come playoff time. This team is the better team right now than the 49ers and deserve that #2 seed.

5. San Francisco 49ers: 387 (408)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: A tough divisional loss. Things don't get easier with a game against the Steelers this weekend.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 387 (345)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: Am I excited to see how this team matches up against the 49ers. This is the game to watch for next week.

7. New England Patriots: 367 (335)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: The Patriots and Tom Brady will be the team to end Tim Tebow's streak.

8. Detroit Lions: 259 (231)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: To me, this team has the best shot at a NFC wildcard. Games against the Raiders and Chargers should result in wins before a very tough game against the Packers to close out the season. They better hope the Packers loser 1 game between now and then so that they rest up their players.

9. New York Jets: 235 (179)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: With the Jets winning and Titans, Bengals, and Raiders losing, they are now in the driver seat for that #6 seed. They're the best team out of the 4 and will likely hold on to this spot.

10. Atlanta Falcons: 215 (190)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: The other probably wildcard spot in the NFC. They face two easy games against the Jags and Buccs and a tough one against the Saints. 10-6 will be a sure thing for the wildcard so count them in unless there's a big upset.

11. Dallas Cowboys: 170 (217)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: Another very tough loss for the Cowboys. While Romo didn't play badly, he did little to show that he's not a winning QB in November and a loser in December. The game against the Buccs is a trap game that I'm predicting will result in a loss for the Boys.

12. Chicago Bears: 165 (181)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: The Bears season is slowly slipping away after losing 3 in a row.

13. Cincinnati Bengals: 161 (180 )

Previous Week: 12

Notes: Once looking like an elite in the AFC, the Bengals are now on the outside looking in. They most likely have to win their last 3 (including a tough season ending game against the Ravens) to make the playoffs.

14. Tennessee Titans: 125 (138)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: A competitive game against the Saints, but a loss is tough given the wildcard race in the AFC. They get two easy divisional games against the Colts and Jags which can keep them in the playoff race.

15. New York Giants: 112 (82)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: A season saving win for the Giants that also puts them in the driver seat for the NFC East. If they win out (which is possible with their remaining schedule) they're in. The last game against the Cowboys at the end of the season will likely decide the division winner. Eli has been outstanding this year and, in my opinion, will carry this team to the playoffs.

16. Denver Broncos: 107 (79)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: I'm a Jew turned atheist, but I"m starting to reconsider my religious beliefs after seeing Tim Tebow and his winning streak. He has been coming back from the impossible and pulling off huge wins. They're luck will eventually run out (most likely against the Pats), but with the Raiders struggling and the Chargers are their last leg, they look like they'll take the AFC West.

17. San Diego Chargers: 94 (78 )

Previous Week: 18

Notes: A win that keeps them in it, but it's only a matter of time before this team is out of the playoff race. Norv Turner will also be out of a job.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: 66 (28)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: They're still hanging on to that miracle that gets them into the playoffs. They won't make it, but they'll be looking to finish at .500.

19. Oakland Raiders: 59 (98)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: The Raiders last two games are against the Chiefs and Chargers, both division games that they need to win in order to potentially beat out the Broncos for the AFC West.

20. Seattle Seahawks: 45 (14)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: If the Seahawks could play the Rams every week they'd look like an elite team. 6-7 is still better than expected from this team.

21. Arizona Cardinals: 6 (-23)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: That's 3 wins in a row now for the Cards including two in a row against good teams (Cowboys and 49ers). Games against the Bengals, Browns, and Seahawks could make this team end their season at a surprising 9-7.

22. Miami Dolphins: -2 (34 )

Previous Week: 19

Notes: No Tony Sparano. Bad time to fire a coach considering how well this team was rebounding from an awful start.

23. Buffalo Bills: -24 (23)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: The Bills continue to sink lower and lower each week. They don't even look competitive anymore.

24. Carolina Panthers: -45 (-21)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: Cam and co will look to end the season in 3rd place which is somewhat an accomplishment for a team that's used to ending their season in last in the NFC South.

25. Washington Redskins: -64 (-41 )

Previous Week: 25

Notes: A mess, but what can you expect when Ross Grossman is your leader.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: -74 (121)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: Big week for MJD. Doesn't really matter much for this team though.

27. Cleveland Browns: -110 (-75)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: The Browns keep going down.

28. Kansas City Chiefs: -135 (-86 )

Previous Week: 27

Notes: The improvements of the Chiefs D can't mask their horrific offense.

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -169 (-120)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: The Buccs look to upset the Cowboys this Saturday night.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -174 (-152 )

Previous Week: 30

Notes: Even for a team like the Vikings, 2-11 is still worse than expected at this point.

31. St. Louis Rams: -296 (-251)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: Expect big changes for this team in the offseason.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -420 ( -398)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: I'm still in my survivor league and will be picking the team that plays them for the remainder of the season. It's a sure thing.

NFL Power Rankings Week 14

2011-12-05T19:22:00.000-08:00

1. Green Bay Packers: 499 (473)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: The Packers proved that they are beatable by barely escaping an upset loss against the Giants. Aaron Rodgers also proved how clutch he can be and how easy a game winning drive can look. The road to 16-0 just got easier.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 408 (352)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: The only game standing in their way of a 14-2 season (and a clinch of a 1st round bye) is a home game against the Steelers. The 49ers are the better team this year and should win.

3. Houston Texans: 385 (351)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: No Schaub? No problem. The team faced their first real test without their star QB and pulled off an impressive victory.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 371 (346)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: The Ravens made it look all too easy against the Browns. Each game is very important for the rest of the season as it could mean the difference of a 1 seed and 5 seed come playoff time.

5. New Orleans Saints: 354 (314)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: This team is looking like one of the best in the NFL right now. The Packers should fear this team in the playoffs.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers: 345 (288)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: The second game between the Steelers and the Bengals looked nothing like the first with the Steelers completely dominating. The playoffs are now a definite, it's just a matter of fighting for the division instead of a wildcard.

7. New England Patriots: 335 (332)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: Some times a win will drop you a couple of spots in the rankings. A game against the Colts was one where they obviously were going to win, but still revealed the many holes this team this has on defense. They can't expect to be a Super Bowl team with that defense even with Tom Brady.

8. Detroit Lions: 231 (268)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: Tough loss for the Lions. They might need to take their next 3 against the Vikings, Raiders, and Chargers in order to make the playoffs.

9. Dallas Cowboys: 217 (236)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: A win over the Cards would have put the Cowboys in great position to take the NFC East. It would have happened if it wasn't for Garrett icing his own kicker. Now the games against the Giants are even more important.

10. Atlanta Falcons: 190 (207)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: A loss against a good Texans team on the road moves this team up 2 spots. They look like the best 7-5 team in the NFC right now.

11. Chicago Bears: 181 (208 )

Previous Week: 11

Notes: This looks like a completely different team without Cutler. A loss against the lowly Chiefs might be the game that keeps them out of the playoffs.

12. Cincinnati Bengals: 180 (223 )

Previous Week: 10

Notes: This team is starting to look less and less like the team we saw in the first half of the season. They have two remaining tough games (Texans and Ravens) and two games they should win (Cardinals and Rams). They'll need to take the two games they should win and one of the tough games most likely to make the playoffs.

13. New York Jets: 179 (127 )

Previous Week: 14

Notes: Not that the Jets are a Super Bowl caliber team by any means this year, but I predict they'll be the ones to take the 6th seed.

14. Tennessee Titans: 138 (110)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: The Titans will likely need to take one against the Saints or Texans to make the playoffs. No easy task. This team, however, has been doing a lot better than anyone would have thought.

15. Oakland Raiders: 98 (134)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: That loss puts the Raiders in a tough spot with two upcoming games against the Lions and Packers.

16. New York Giants: 82 (83)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Although the Giants got their 4th loss in a row, they put up a good fight against the Packers. Bold prediction, the Giants take their remaining 4 and clinch the playoffs.

17. Denver Broncos: 79 (66)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: Tim Tebow looked better than he had in past games, but still needs to improve. That being said, he is still finding ways to win. The Broncos are the team to beat in the AFC West.

18. San Diego Chargers: 78 (32)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: Even at 5-7, the Chargers playoff hopes are very much alive. If they take the remaining 4, they will likely clinch the division.

19. Miami Dolphins: 34 (-13)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: This team very much deserves to be out of the bottom 20. If they played the first half like they have been the second half, they'd in the thick of the playoff race. Unfortunately too little too late.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: 28 (62)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: And it's now officially 100% over for the Eagles. Who would have thought 12 games in the Eagles would need to take the remaining 4 to even finish the season at .500

21. Buffalo Bills: 23 (51)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: The Bills are starting to look like the Bills that we are used to over the past couple of years.

22. Seattle Seahawks: 14 (-39)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: This team is fighting hard for their playoff life. They won't make it, but it's exciting to watch this team (who once looked like they had no shot) compete this hard.

23. Carolina Panthers: -21 (-83)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: The Panthers have fought their way out of the cellar in the NFC South. They are the better team than the Buccs and it's not surprise that they won that game.

24. Arizona Cardinals: -23 (-62)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: The NFC West has been the kryptonite for some of the NFC East teams and the Cardinals have been helping with this. A 7-9 or 8-8 record would be a lot more than what was expected from this team.

25. Washington Redskins: -41 (-22)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: The Redskins will be hoping to end the season better than the Eagles.

26. Cleveland Browns: -75 (-40)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: Won't be surprised if this team loses their remaining 4 games of the season.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: -86 (-130 )

Previous Week: 29

Notes: Their defense has been looking a lot better these past couple of games (even though their offense is horrendous). A nice win over the Bears that keeps their playoff hopes alive. I still think this team deserves to be ranked very low in the power rankings when you look at how they've played their entire season.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -120 (-80)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: Their 4-8 record is a lot more accurate representation of this team than the 4-2 record that they started off with.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: - 121 (-85)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: Del Rio is gone, the Jaguars still suck.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -152 (-141)

Previous Week: 30

Notes: A good offensive effort against the Broncos, but once again the Vikings come up short.

31. St. Louis Rams: -251 (-215 )

Previous Week: 31

Notes: Normally this is the type of team that would be the worst in the NFL. Lucky for them they're playing with the 2011 Colts. Unlucky for them because they lose the #1 spot in the draft.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -398 ( -384)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: I was shocked that this team staged a comeback like they did against the Pats. This team is fighting hard still which says as much about their heart as it does their talent.

NFL Power Rankings Week 14

2011-11-29T04:04:00.000-08:00

1. Green Bay Packers: 473 (445)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: They proved that they're well ahead of the Lions in terms of overall talent. 16-0 is looking more and more likely for this team.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 352 (392)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: Good defensive effort, bad offensive effort by the 9-2 49ers. "Easy" divisional games against the Rams and Cards should bring this team back on track.

3. Houston Texans: 351 (315 )

Previous Week: 3

Notes: Down to their 3rd string QB, the Texans are looking to be more and more in trouble. They pulled off the win against the Jaguars, but won't find it to be as easy against the Falcons.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 346 (286)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: Big win for the Ravens that helps them look like a strong chance for a #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

5. New England Patriots: 332 (269)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: At this point, the Patriots have the division locked and are now fighting for home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

6. New Orleans Saints: 314 (286)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: They rolled over the Giants and are now hoping to get a bye week come playoff time.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 288 (256 )

Previous Week: 8

Notes: They won, but it was a pretty ugly effort against a very subpar Chiefs team. They cannot play like this against stronger opponents and expect to win.

8. Detroit Lions: 268 (286)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: They face another tough game on the road against the Saints that might make this team on the outside looking in for the playoff hunt.

9. Dallas Cowboys: 236 (216)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: An expected close game against the red hot Dolphins, but the Cowboys managed to pull off the win. With the way the Giants are playing, they can take 1 out of 2 against them and would be in good shape for the division.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 223 (190)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: A closer game than expected, but the Bengals remain one of the stronger favorites for the wildcard after a win against the Browns.

11. Chicago Bears: 208 (228)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: The spike at the last 5 seconds of the game is the type of things this team can expect without Cutler leading the way. That being said, they look like they can compete for a playoff spot for the remainder of the season.

12. Atlanta Falcons: 207 (167)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: After facing a Texans team who are having sever QB issues, the Falcons face the Panthers and Jags making it likely this team can be 10-4 or 9-5 with two games left in the season.

13. Oakland Raiders: 134 (112)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: Even with the Broncos on their tail, the Raiders are looking more and more like the division favorites.

14. New York Jets: 127 (104)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Big win for the Jets that keeps them in the thick of the playoff race. Chances are they'll need win 4 out of their next 5 to make it.

15. Tennessee Titans: 110 (74)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: A team that has quietly been in the playoff race all year long.

16. New York Giants: 83 (144)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: A second half collapse is all too common for this team. An extremely difficult schedule doesn't help, but the Giants need to play a lot more competitively in order for them to be a playoff team. That being said, if they lose to the Packers next week (which is very likely) and take the next four against the Cowboys (2 games), Jets, and Redskins (all winnable games) they clinch the playoffs.

17. Denver Broncos: 66 (59 )

Previous Week: 19

Notes: Tebow still might not look like a NFL caliber QB, but he's winning and I guess at the end of the day that's all that really matters. Winners of 4 in a row, the Broncos should easily make it 5 with a game against the Vikings next Sunday.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: 62 (139)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: With how things are shaping up in the NFC (specifically the East), this team isn't 100% out of it if they take the remaining 5 games. 9-7 might make the playoffs.

19. Buffalo Bills: 51 (61)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: That game was like a playoff game for the Bills. Losing against the Jets means they need nothing short of a miracle to make the playoffs.

20. San Diego Chargers: 32 (56)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: The Chargers season is fading fast after an OT loss to the Broncos. Norv Turner will likely not have a job after this season.

21. Miami Dolphins: -13 (-4)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: Another solid game for the Dolphins (although this time they come out on the losing end). A 7-9 record would be a nice surprise for this team who started off 0-7.

22. Washington Redskins: -22 (-53)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: They finally get a win but it's too little too late for this Redskins team.

23. Seattle Seahawks: -39 (-5)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: Still the strongest of the NFC West teams (excluding 49ers) which doesn't really mean much.

24. Cleveland Browns: -40 (-12)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: The Browns will end up between 5-11 and 7-9 resulting in another subpar season.

25. Arizona Cardinals: -62 (-89 )

Previous Week: 27

Notes: All that win over the Rams does is help confirm that this team isn't the worst in the NFC West.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -80 (-66)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: The surprise season of last year has all been lost now after sitting at 4-7.

27. Carolina Panthers: -83 (-96)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: An expected win against the Colts. Should be a close game against the Buccs next week.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars: -85 (-71)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: It will be shocking if Del Rio has a job after this season.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: -130 (-102)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: The one positive thing that can be said about the Chiefs' game against the Steelers is that it was their most impressive defensive effort yet this season. Does little to overshadow their horrific offense.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -141 (-110)

Previous Week: 30

Notes: They once showed promise after McNabb was waived, but that was short lived.

31. St. Louis Rams: -215 (-199 )

Previous Week: 31

Notes: Will remain in this spot unless they can pull off another win this season. Don't hold your breath.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -384 ( -357)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: What else can be said? Peyton for MVP?

NFL Power Rankings Week 12

2011-11-20T19:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you who are fairly new to the power rankings, I base the scores on a variety of different things such as record, the records of those they have played, total offense, total defense, and point differentials between games all with a weight associated with each. The number in ( ) is the previous week's score.

1. Green Bay Packers: 445 (411)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: They face their two toughest games against the Lions and the Giants. If they win both, they'll likely be 16-0.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 392 (343)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: Who would have thought in the beginning of the season that the 49ers would be a better team than the Ravens (who they're facing this Thursday). This should be a great matchup.

3. Houston Texans: 315 (323)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: Can Matt Leinart keep the Texans on top? He'll face an "easy" game to get him into it against the Jags before his first true test against the Falcons.

4. New Orleans Saints: 286 (286)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: A win against the Giants next week means a very strong possibility of a 3 seed or better come playoff time.

5. Detroit Lions: 286 (274)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: Good teams like the Lions find ways to come back from large deficits. At 7-3 with an injured Bears team, this team looks to be in good shape to make the playoffs.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 286 (258)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: A big win over the Ravens that makes it even more likely that they'll take the AFC North.

7. New England Patriots: 269 (212)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: An expected blowout against the Chiefs. At 7-3, they're in good shape to take the AFC East with the Bills going downhill and the Jets sitting at 5-5 (with the tiebreaker in favor of the Pats).

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: 256 (252 )

Previous Week: 7

Notes: After looking subpar all season long, this team seems to be back on track over their last few games.

9. Chicago Bears: 228 (190)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: They've now won 5 in a row, but hit a huge roadblock with Jay Cutler suffering a season ending injury. Lets see if Caleb Hanie can lead this team to the playoffs.

10. Dallas Cowboys: 216 (147)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: Dallas is starting to look like the team we've expected. They almost lost that game to the Redskins, but the key to winning it was the lack of turnovers given up by the offense (namely Romo). If Romo plays his best, this team will make the playoffs.

11. Cincinnati Bengals: 190 (209)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: Two losses against the Ravens and Steelers doesn't mean this team "isn't who we thought they were" as others have stated. They played both teams tough and are still the favorite for 6th playoff seed.

12. Atlanta Falcons: 167 (128 )

Previous Week: 13

Notes: Big win over the Titans that helps keep them in both the wildcard and division races.

13. New York Giants: 144 (171 )

Previous Week: 11

Notes: That game against the Eagles was just as important to them as it was their opponent. People are now saying that they need to win against the Saints or Packers to stay alive, but not the case. If they lose both of those games and then win their remaining 4 (two against the Cowboys, one against the Jets, and one against the Redskins..all possible wins) they'll clinch.

14. Philadelphia Eagles: 139 (64)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: The Eagles have kept their season alive. Against the NFC East they look like the team we expect them to be, but struggle against non-division opponents.

15. Oakland Raiders: 112 (82)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: Who would have thought that the team standing in the Raiders way of a division title would be the Broncos?

16. New York Jets: 104 (119)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: Tough loss. 6-4 and 5-5 is a big difference right now in the AFC wildcard race. The Jets need to turn it around (especially on offense) and fast.

17. Tennessee Titans: 74 (106)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: The bright spot in the Titans loss was Locker who looked great at QB.

18. Buffalo Bills: 61 (104)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Well, the Bills I guess weren't the elite team we thought they were over their first few games. The Dolphins might actually catch them.

19. Denver Broncos: 59 (15 )

Previous Week: 20

Notes: Don't want to take away from the Broncos great win, but Tebow does not look as good as others have been making it out to be. He's lucky he's won his last two games and needs to significantly improve at the starting QB position in order for this team to win the AFC West.

20. San Diego Chargers: 56 (93)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: The only reason this team is still alive for the playoffs is that they play in the AFC West.

21. Miami Dolphins: -4 (-54 )

Previous Week: 28

Notes: Winners of 3 in a row, the Dolphins are not only winning, but winning big. Dallas better be careful this Thursday and not take this team lightly.

22. Seattle Seahawks: -5 (-54)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: I can't say that the Seahawks are a "good team", but they are definitely separating themselves from the Cardinals and Rams. Given that they play in the NFC West, this team can finish the season at 8-8.

23. Cleveland Browns: -12 (-50)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: They won a home game against a team that's about equal (maybe slightly less) in their playing ability. This team always seems to beat the teams below them and lose to the teams that are average or good.

24. Washington Redskins: -53 (-35)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: So close to breaking out a slump, but still ended up at the losing end. Grossman played a great game, but it just wasn't enough. The Redskins are officially (albeit not mathematically) out of the playoff hunt.

25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: -66 (-49)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: They don't lose too many spots in the rankings since they played the Packers a lot closer than anyone expected. Losers of 4 in a row, they face a must win against the Titans.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars: -71 (- 49)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: The Jaguars might very well lose their next 5 before ending their season with a game against the Colts.

27. Arizona Cardinals: -89 ( -46 )

Previous Week: 22

Notes: After a shocking win against the Eagles on the road they are brought back to reality with a thrashing by the 49ers.

28. Carolina Panthers: -96 (-48)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: Would have been a nice surprise victory for the Panthers. Instead they blow a big lead against the Lions.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: -102 (-57)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: No surprise that they lost as badly as they did to the Patriots. What was more surprising was how competitive they played for the first quarter and a half.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -110 (-77)

Previous Week: 30

Notes: They face a tough remaining schedule and can very likely end up 2-14.

31. St. Louis Rams: -199 (-154)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: They worst of the teams with at least a victory. They'll remain that way unless they can take 2 out of 3 against the Cards, 49ers, and Seahawks in the coming weeks.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -357 (-357)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: Someone left a comment on my last post about how the Colts might be throwing their season for a #1 draft pick. While at this point they might be aiming for that, they can still win a game and be guaranteed the worst record in the NFL. Plus. I don't think a team ever really wants to be associated as "one of the worst NFL teams in history". This team is just downright awful. I am hoping their losing streak continues as I am picking the Panthers on the road against them in my survivor pool.

NFL Power Rankings Week 11

2011-11-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

1. Green Bay Packers: 411 (355)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: They should be able to cruise to 10-0 with a home game against the Buccs next week before facing a potential first loss with two road games against the Lions and Giants. If they win both of those, they'll likely go 16-0.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 343 (307)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: It was an expected close game against the Giants, but the 49ers put up another impressive win against the Giants at home. At 8-1, barring any monumental collapse, they are pretty much a definite for the division winners. Now they'll need to go after a 1 seed for the playoffs.

3. Houston Texans: 323 (262)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: I feel like a broken record, but this team does not get enough credit in power rankings. That being said, it will be interesting to see how this team copes without Schaub for the season. Their #3 spot in the rankings might be short lived. Either way, 3-3 for the rest of the season (maybe even 2-4) will make them division winners.

4. New Orleans Saints: 286 (255)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: An important win that gives them a little bit of breathing room in the NFC South. They still face 3 tough games this season against the Giants, Lions, and another game against the Falcons, but should be able to find themselves at 11-5 or 12-4 at the end of the season.

5. Detroit Lions: 274 (289)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: Tough loss against the Bears. Now with the series split between the two teams and both having the same record, the 5th seed can very likely be either team's. The Lions still rank as one of the best teams in the NFL despite their issues on Sunday with turnovers.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 258 (276)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: The Ravens seem to be able to play good teams extremely well, but play down against teams that they should easily beat. Their 3 losses this season come against the Titans, Jags, and now the Seahawks. While their two victories against the Steelers puts them in good shape for the division, it's worrisome how they seem to not put up their best effort against subpar teams (even their win over the Cards was almost a loss).

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 252 (219 )

Previous Week: 8

Notes: An important win for the Steelers. At the end of the season , a wildcard spot could very well come down to tiebreakers and Sunday's win over the Bengals could put them into the playoffs.

8. New England Patriots: 212 (188)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: A win by the Pats puts them at a big advantage for the division. A game ahead of both the Jets and Bills and they have the tiebreaker now over the Jets.

9. Cincinnati Bengals: 209 (238)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: They put up a fight against the Steelers and even with a loss, I think Sunday's game proves this team is more than legit. They will contend for a wildcard (and maybe surprisingly a divisional title) for the remainder of the season.

10. Chicago Bears: 190 (153)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: They made a statement with a very impressive win over the Lions that they are the same team that we remember them being last year. Besides the Packers, they play 6 games for the remainder of the season who they are better than meaning that a 12-4 record is very possible.

11. New York Giants: 171 (191)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: So far they are 1-1 with their remaining tough schedule. They did put up a strong fight against the 49ers on the road. Very surprising to say that a game against the Eagles next Sunday night might be a big confidence booster for this team.

12. Dallas Cowboys: 147 (115)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Are the Cowboys turning a corner or are the Bills not as good as we thought they were? I think it's somewhere in the middle. Don't expect the Cowboys to replicate what they did for the remainder of the season, but as long as Romo is solid this team will be in the NFC East hunt.

13. Atlanta Falcons: 128 (155 )

Previous Week: 13

Notes: Would have been a huge win for the Falcons at home, but they came up just short. Even at 5-4, they have a legit shot at the wildcard and even the division still.

14. New York Jets: 119 (158)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: Tough break for the Jets. Seems pretty unlikely that they'll win the division even though they're only one game behind first. With the AFC North likely having two teams fighting for the wildcard and the Bills possibly still putting up a fight towards the end of the year, it won't be easy for the Jets to make the playoffs. Even the Titans could surprise us all.

15. Tennessee Titans: 106 (43)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: I still say this team won't finish past 9-7, but that was still an impressive road win against the Panthers.

16. Buffalo Bills: 104 (169)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: After looking like one of the elites, this team is fading fast with two ugly losses in a row. They'll end up being around a .500 team

17. San Diego Chargers: 93 (116)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: It's hard to act surprised that they lost against the Raiders considering how this team has been playing as of late. The division is officially up for grabs by anyone.

18. Oakland Raiders: 82 (46)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: A nice win against the Chargers that puts them into sole possession of 1st in the AFC West. Expect the first place team to fluctuate a lot, however, for the remainder of the season.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: 64 (98)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: Well, I think it's safe to say that nobody is expecting much out of the Eagles anymore. They aren't just under performing, they are one of the lower teams in the NFC.

20. Denver Broncos: 15 (-27 )

Previous Week: 24

Notes: Don't be surprised if they sneak up from behind and take a weak AFC West division.

21. Washington Redskins: -35 (1)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: The return of Rex Grossman didn't bring the team to wear they were prior to starting Beck (3-1). Stick a fork in this team.

22. Arizona Cardinals: -46 ( -78 )

Previous Week: 28

Notes: A streak??? By the Cards?? Well it happened and against the Eagles on the road. This team is pretty much around the same in terms of skill level all the way down to about 29 or 30 in the rankings so I'd take their ranking with a grain of salt.

23. Carolina Panthers: -48 (1)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: I liked this team all year long despite their record. I still think Cam Newton is an exciting player to watch, but I guess this team is really as bad as their 2-7 record says they are.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: - 49 (- 15)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: No surprise they were blown out by the Texans at home. Again, they are a lot worse than their record indicates.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: - 49 (-77)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: If everyone can play the Colts, all teams would look like a playoff caliber team.

26. Cleveland Browns: -50 (-26)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: The Browns are not only one of the worst teams in the league, but one of the more boring ones to watch.

27. Seattle Seahawks: -54 (-91)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: If this team can play like they did against the Ravens and Giants every week, they'd be viewed as playoff contenders. Unfortunately, these games are really flukes for what they really are.

28. Miami Dolphins: -54 (-103 )

Previous Week: 30

Notes: Two wins in a row for the once winless Dolphins. Lets see if they can pull of a 3rd with an impressive win over the Bills.

29. Kansas City Chiefs: -57 (-48)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: I honestly would put them in the bottom 2 if it wasn't for their 4 wins. They are horrible.

30. Minnesota Vikings: -77 (-36)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: An unsurprising blowout against the Packers. Doesn't necessarily mean this team won't win a few more games with Ponder as QB, it's just that with all of the upset / wins by the bottom ranked teams, it makes it difficult to have them out of the bottom 3.

31. St. Louis Rams: -154 (-191)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: A win at least makes them not in sole possession of the 2nd to worst record in the NFL. I think in a head to head match up, they'd beat the Chiefs (who are 2 spots ahead), but 2-7 an 4-5 are a big difference.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -357 (-329)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: (Insert comment about how terrible they are here).

NFL Power Rankings Week 10

2011-11-07T04:25:00.001-08:00

1. Green Bay Packers: 355 (324)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: I can't remember the last time I saw a QB perform as well as Aaron Rodgers has this season.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 307 (264)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: Being at 7-1 moves them up to the 2nd spot in the rankings. It should be a great game against the Giants.

3. Detroit Lions: 289 (293 )

Previous Week: 2

Notes: A team that doesn't get enough credit in most power rankings. The Lions are better than any team in the AFC.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 276 (245)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: As expected, it was a close game against the Steelers, but the better team won. Even they've struggled during some games, this Ravens team is one of the most put together teams at both sides of the bowl in the NFL.

5. Houston Texans: 262 (226)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: Another team that doesn't get enough credit. They might be playing in arguably the second to worst division in the NFL, but they're winning convincingly.

6. New Orleans Saints: 255 (196)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: A nice bounce back by the Saints. They're pretty bipolar this year, but they should still take the division.

7. Cincinnati Bengals: 238 (211)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: You can complain about their schedule all you want, but a 6-2 record by this Bengals team is very impressive (which includes a win over a good Bills team). This team can be competitive all season for the division title.

8. Pittsburgh Steelers: 219 (240)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: Losing both games to the Ravens puts them at a huge disadvantage for the division especially with the Bengals having a surprisingly good season. It really is a must win next week against them.

9. New York Giants: 191 (150)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: They have arguably the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL (including Sunday's game) and started off strongly against the Pats on the road. If they can beat the Patriots on the road, they can beat almost anyone. The Giants at 6-2 can likely go 5-3 for their second half and take the division.

10. New England Patriots: 188 (213 )

Previous Week: 7

Notes: Tough loss against the Giants. Their once dominant offense looked average against the Giants. Considering how awful their D is they cannot afford to struggle as much as they have been on offense over their last 3 games.

11. Buffalo Bills: 169 (199)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: Division games are always tough especially against a good Jets team. The Bills will still be in it all season long.

12. New York Jets: 158 (110)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: A big win that brings them into a 3 way tie for first. Considering how the Pats have been playing as of late, they have a stronger chance to win the division then most thought a couple of weeks ago.

13. Atlanta Falcons: 155(101 )

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Basically a scrimmage game against the Colts, but the Falcons find themselves at 5-3. Not as good of a team as they were last year, but a strong contender for the wildcard.

14. Chicago Bears: 153 (109)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: A huge win over the Eagles making them one of the favorites for a wildcard spot.

15. San Diego Chargers: 116 (140)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: They got rolled over by Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense, but put off a strong effort offensively. They're lucky the Raiders and Chiefs have been struggling.

16. Dallas Cowboys: 115 (87 )

Previous Week: 17

Notes: They won a game that everyone expected to. Not that impressive. The Cowboys will be inconsistent all year long and will be around 8-8 or 9-7.

17. Philadelphia Eagles: 98 (130)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: Are the Eagles better than their 3-5 record? Sure. Well, maybe. Even if you think they're team is talented, they really haven't done anything all year. They beat the Rams and Redskins (close game) which was anything but impressive and had only one really great game against the Cowboys. Now at 3-5, they need a miracle to clinch the division and almost as much of a miracle to take the wildcard with the Cowboys at 4-4, Lions at 6-2, Bears at 5-3, Falcons at 5-3 ,and even the Buccs at 4-4.

18. Oakland Raiders: 46 (80)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: Tough lost against the Broncos. A win would have been a huge in the lowly AFC West.

19. Tennessee Titans: 43 (70 )

Previous Week: 19

Notes: Another "average" time that will end up between 7-9 and 9-7.

20. Washington Redskins: 1 (49)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: Started off the season as a nice surprise and are quickly becoming one of the worst in the NFL. They look horrible offensively (Beck and Grossman are not the answer).

21. Carolina Panthers: 1 (1)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: In my opinion, one of the better sub .500 teams in the league (even more so than a lot of 3-5 teams). They won't be contenders for the playoffs, but will be a fun team to watch all season.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: - 15 (41)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: Besides the Chiefs, the worst .500+ team in the league. They do not look like a team that can compete for a playoff spot.

23. Cleveland Browns: -26 (23)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: An unsurprising loss by the Browns. Hillis coming back wouldn't make too much difference for the team considering how much he has struggled.

24. Denver Broncos: -27 (-79 )

Previous Week: 28

Notes: A nice win by Tebow and gang that brings them within only 1 game of first place.

25. Minnesota Vikings: -36 (-38)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: It's only 2 games without McNabb, but they won against the Panthers and put up a fight against the Packers. They can go from 2-6 to 7-9 (don't be surprised if they do).

26. Kansas City Chiefs: -48 (38)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: Much worse than their record indicates. Who did they beat? A Vikings team with McNabb, Chargers when they should have lost, the Raiders right after they lost Campbell, and a close game against the lowly Colts. I was not surprised that they were destroyed by the Dolphins.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -77 (-71)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: Del Rio can't really do much at this point to save his job. Even if his team bounces back and finishes off the half strong they won't make the playoffs.

28. Arizona Cardinals: -78 ( -97 )

Previous Week: 29

Notes: A disgusting battle against the Rams, but the Cards came up with a victory.

29. Seattle Seahawks: -91 (-59)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: They can take 2nd in the division with a 4-12 record.

30. Miami Dolphins: -103 (-155 )

Previous Week: 30

Notes: A better team than their 1-7 record indicates and they proved that with their first win of the season. They will get a couple of more wins.

31. St. Louis Rams: -191 (-174)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: Would have been nice for them to win 2 in a row. Against the Cards, that was really their only shot.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -329 (-281)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: Not only the worst team in the league, but one of the worst teams I've seen in a long, long time.

NFL Power Rankings Week 9

2011-10-30T16:45:00.000-07:00

Heading into Week 9 we saw a huge upset (Rams over Saints) and a couple of close ones (Giants and Dolphins, Cards and Ravens).

1. Green Bay Packers: 324 (329)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: They actually benefited from the bye week as very few of the top 10 teams stepped up and had impressive performances. They remain, easily, the #1 team in the league.

2. Detroit Lions: 293 (224)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: Back at #2, the Lions demonstrated that those two losses weren't a sign of things to come. Yes it was against the Broncos, but that was an impressive win.

3. San Francisco 49ers: 264(231)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: They move down to #3 even after a win due to the impressive win by the Lions. At 6-1, they pretty much clinched the NFC West. The next goal is to get a #1 or #2 seed in the playoffs.

4. Baltimore Ravens: 245 (222)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: After what looked another upset loss for the Ravens, they bounced back and had their biggest comeback in franchise history. Even though they etched out a win, it still shows some concerns with this team.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers: 240 (219)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: I have been saying all year that this team does not look good at all, but they were impressive against the Patriots. I'm going to say that it's mostly due to the talent on the Steelers more so than the Pats being overrated.

6. Houston Texans: 226 (195)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: Another division win for the Texans. With all the troubles in the AFC West, they no longer look like the weakest of the division leaders.

7. New England Patriots: 213 (225)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: Tough loss for the Patriots. They should win against the Giants at home next week, but you never know what kind of Giants team you'll see on the football field.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: 211 (170)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: They have been quietly emerging as one of the elite AFC teams. An away game next week against the Titans should be a good one. If they win, don't rule them out for winning the AFC North.

9. Buffalo Bills: 199 (151)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: A good win against a struggling Redskins team. While the 49ers are putting up a more surprising and impressive season, the Bills are right behind them.

10. New Orleans Saints: 196 (227)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: Ouch. Who would have thought it would be the Saints who give up the Rams first win? It wasn't even close at that. Even with that loss, they are still the clear division favorites.

11. New York Giants: 150 (135 )

Previous Week: 12

Notes: It wasn't pretty, but the Giants found a way to win. Even with being 2 games up in the NFC East, it's hard to call them the division favorites as they have the toughest remaining schedule in the NFL (remaining 9 games teams have a combined record of 29 - 15..and that includes a 3-4 Eagles who have been great as of late)

12. San Diego Chargers: 140 (171)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: Yes they should have won that game, but the fact of the matter is they played like crap for most (if not all) of the 60 minutes. Now tied with the Chiefs and Raiders for 1st in the AFC West, they are far from looking like a lock to clinch the division this year.

13. Philadelphia Eagles: 130 (68)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: Sunday night was the first time that the Eagles actually looked like the time they are supposed to be. An impressive win over the Cowboys. A win over the Bears next week will show that this team is back on track.

14. New York Jets: 110 (118)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: The Pats losing opens up the door for the Jets (even with a win by the Bills). Huge games against the Bills and then the Pats. If the Jets take both games, they will have a strong chance to take the division.

15. Chicago Bears: 109 (108)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: A win over the Eagles next week will make the Bears strong wild card contenders.

16. Atlanta Falcons: 101 (94)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: I've been disappointed with the Falcons this year, but think they are a better 4-3 team than the Buccs. They face an easy game against the Colts before going back home for an important game against the Saints.

17. Dallas Cowboys: 87 (123)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: The fact that the Cowboys couldn't' even play competitively against the Eagles shows how much trouble this team is. Romo has proven himself a good quarterback at times, but his lack of ability to perform in clutch situations is troublesome for the Cowboys. I won't be surprised if they get rid of him next season.

18. Oakland Raiders: 80 (78)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: The Chiefs pulling out a win against the Chargers benefited the Raiders as they now sit in a 3 way tie for first. If McFadden gets healthy and Palmer starts to play well this team has as good of a chance to take the division as the Chargers.

19. Tennessee Titans: 70 (46)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: An easy game for the Titans, but could have also been a trap game for them (it's easy to take the Colts lightly). Chris Johnson really needs to step up his game.

20. Washington Redskins: 49 (93)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: After looking long they can compete for the NFC East division, they have been getting worse and worse each week. As much as Grossman is not a good QB, he's better than Beck and has helped the team start off the season at 3-1. They need to put him back in the starting position.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 41 (45)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: Nothing likely made the Buccs happier than seeing the Saints get upset like that against the Rams. Now if they can take 2 out of 2 against the Saints next week, they have a legit shot of winning the NFC South. I still think this team has a lot of issues and is one of the weaker +.500 teams.

22. Kansas City Chiefs: 38 (16)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: I said last week that if they beat the chargers they'd be out of the bottom 20, but still not sold on this team. They should have lost that game and while they have made significant improvements since their horrendous 0-3 start, they still have a long way to go.

23. Cleveland Browns: 23 (60)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: Browns are a "what you see is what you get" type of team. They beat the teams you'd expect and lose to the ones you'd expect. Expect a loss next week against the Texans followed by a win next week against the Rams.

24. Carolina Panthers: 1 (23)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: Very close game against the Vikings, but come out on the losing end. They are one of the more exciting sub-.500 teams to watch and definitely have been giving 100% each week.

25. Minnesota Vikings: -38 (-53)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: The post McNabb era looks promising for the Vikings after beating the Panthers and coming close to beating the Packers. They'll be looking for redemption next week against the Packers, but even if they don't get it expect a great game the following week against the Raiders.

26. Seattle Seahawks: -59 (-19)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: Given the way the Cowboys have been playing, expect the possibility of a Seahawks upset next week.

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -71 (-17)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: A great defensive win over the Ravens followed by a poor performance against the Texans. They follow the bye week with a, what they hope to be, a morale booster against the Colts.

28. Denver Broncos: -79 (-32 )

Previous Week: 27

Notes: I can never grasp how people can give up on a rookie QB after only a couple of games. Tebow looked bad against a great Lions team, but he'll get better as the year progresses.

29. Arizona Cardinals: -97 (-66 )

Previous Week: 29

Notes: So close to upsetting the Ravens, but couldn't hold on. This team has played close in all of their loses except against the Vikings and Steelers, but still stand at 1-6.

30. Miami Dolphins: -155 (-130 )

Previous Week: 30

Notes: Another close game, but the Dolphins still have yet to win. This team will win sooner than later (and will likely win more than 1 game this season).

31. St. Louis Rams: -174 (-219)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: Who would have thought this team's first win would be against the Saints?? What a morale booster. That being said, I couldn't put them past the Dolphins yet. While an impressive win, the Dolphins are still a better team.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -281 (-226)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: With the Rams winning, the Colts will have a long way to go before getting out of the cellar. This team can easily go 0-16 this year.

NFL Power Rankings Week 8

2011-10-23T19:10:00.000-07:00

I promise that this blog won't turn into a "power ranking" blog (which is hard to believe since the last 3 posts have been that), but that's what I feel like writing about.

1. Green Bay Packers: 329 (311)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: They didn't win in a blow out like expected against the Vikings, but at 7-0 they're still the best team in the NFL. However, the hopes of a perfect season seems to be less likely after Sunday's narrow victory over the struggling Vikings.

2. San Francisco 49ers: 231(227)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: Easily the best surprise in the NFL this season. Curious to see how this team will do after the bye week.

3. New Orleans Saints: 227 (164)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: A win against the Colts is anything but impressive this season, but the fact that the Saints dominated as much as they did is a testament to how great this team is just as much as how horrible the Colts are.

4. New England Patriots: 225 (221)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: Still the division favorites by far, but a win by the Jets over the Chargers means that this team has a way to go before being confident that the AFC East is theirs.

5. Detroit Lions: 224 (253)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: The two losses in a row by the Lions likely indicates that they aren't a top 3 NFL team as thought in previous weeks, but the Lions are still one of the best in the league. They'll need to win against the Broncos next week on the road to get back on track.

6. Baltimore Ravens: 222 (255)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: Apparently the AFC South are the Ravens' kryptonite. I still think they're the strongest team in the AFC North.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 219 (187)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: This team is benefiting from a lack of elite teams this year in the NFL. A 5-2 Steelers team might seem like par for the course, but they've been struggling to win games against teams that they should easily beat. If they want to be taken seriously this year they'll need to keep it close against the Pats next week at home.

8. Houston Texans: 195 (128)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: If there was any doubt who was the team to beat in the AFC South, the Texans silenced critics with a convincing road win against the Titans. 10-6 will almost definitely win the division and the Texans seem like they can reach that with a subpar division.

9. San Diego Chargers: 171 (203)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: Would have been a big win on the road against the Jets. Luckily for the Chargers, the Raiders also lost meaning that the team is still in first place in the division. The Chargers have yet to beat anyone good (the best team they beat were the Chiefs barely at home). I would be less than surprised if they lose big to the Chiefs next week.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: 170 (170)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: They lost 2 spots in the Power Rankings due to big wins by the Texans and Saints. This team still hasn't won critics over. Even if they win the next two games (which is likely with games against the Titans and the Seahawks) they'll likely need to win against the Steelers to convince everyone they're legit.

11. Buffalo Bills: 151 (153)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: The Bills will need to recover from their loss against the Giants last week in order to stay competitive all season. A home game against a struggling Redskins team should help give them a confidence boost.

12. New York Giants: 135 (135 )

Previous Week: 11

Notes: As stated in previous weeks, the Giants are one of the more difficult teams in the NFL to read. Wins against the Eagles and Bills were impressive, but a loss against the Seahawks and an almost lost against the Cards makes it difficult to have confidence in this team yet.

13. Dallas Cowboys: 123 (92)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Nothing unexpected with a big win against the Rams at home. Expect a great game next week against the Eagles.

14. New York Jets: 118 (58)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: They needed that comeback victory against the Chargers. The difference of being at 4-3 instead of 3-4 in the AFC is huge with potential wildcards coming from more than half of conference.

15. Chicago Bears: 108 (63)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: The Bears are quietly making their way back into contention. The Buccs I think are one of the weaker +.500 teams in the league but it doesn't make a road win against them any less impressive.

16. Atlanta Falcons: 94 (51)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: After their bye week next week they go on to play the Colts on the road before facing the Saints at home.

17. Washington Redskins: 93 (134)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: This team is on the verge of falling apart big time. I still am against replacing Grossman. He had one bad game, but before it lead the team to 3-1. Now with an inexperienced quarterback (Beck) and Hightower out for a while, the team has two difficult games against the Bills and the 49ers.

18. Oakland Raiders: 78 (126)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: Hopefully Carson Palmer will bring new life into the team after a horrific loss at home against the Chiefs.

19. Philadelphia Eagles: 68 (68)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: The Eagles have a lot to prove at 2-4. They have a must win home against the Cowboys following the bye.

20. Cleveland Browns: 60 (34)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: Their first win against a non-winless team was anything, but impressive (home win 6-3 against the Seahawks), but they still managed to get it done without Hillis.

21. Tennessee Titans: 46 (122)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: Ouch. It's not surprising that the Titans lost against the Texans, but when you get slaughtered like that against a team you're fighting for a division title against at home it says a lot about your team.

22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 45 (78)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: Even with a win against the Saints, I think they're the worse +.500 team in the league. After the bye week, they will face the Saints on the road who will be looking to redeem themselves.

23. Carolina Panthers: 23 (-11)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: A nice win for Cam Newton and staff. Not a playoff team by any means, but don't be surprised to see the Panthers improve to 7-9 or even 8-8 on the season.

24. Kansas City Chiefs: 16 (-43)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: The Chiefs have made their way back into playoff contention with a nice road win against the Raiders. Because of how awful they played the first 3 games of the season, they sit at #24 in the Power Rankings. A win against the Chargers next week will likely knock them out of the bottom 20.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars: -17 (-83)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: Might be too late to save their season, but their defense was solid against the Ravens Monday night in an impressive win.

26. Seattle Seahawks: -19 (-2)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: I guess they couldn't build up off of the momentum from their road win against the Giants prior to the bye week.

27. Denver Broncos: -32 (-58)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: Tebow looked pretty good and was clutch in helping the Broncos rally with a win against the Dolphins. He will be put to the test against the Lions' D next week.

28. Minnesota Vikings: -53 (-43)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: I was more impressed with the Vikings than I was with the Packers this week. They made the game competitive and life without Mcnabb might put some life into this team.

29. Arizona Cardinals: -66 (-26)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: It's bad news when you're the 2nd to last team in the NFC West.

30. Miami Dolphins: -130 (-111 )

Previous Week: 30

Notes: So close, but couldn't pull off a victory. They'll likely be the first winless team to win a game, however they face a pretty tough schedule for the remainder of the season. A home game against Washington in week 10 seems like their best bet.

31. St. Louis Rams: -219 (-164)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: A loss by 27 still moves them up in the rankings due to the horrific performance by the Colts.

32. Indianapolis Colts: -226 (-161)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: Wow..just wow. One of the worst losses I've seen in a while. Since the Rams, Colts, and Dolphins don't play each other at all this season, there's a chance that they can all be 0-16. The Colts seem like the best bet for this to happen even with two games against the Jags and a home game against the Panthers.

NFL Power Rankings Week 7

2011-10-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

And then there were 1. Green Bay is now the only team in the NFL who remains undefeated while there are still 3 teams yet to win a game. How did it effect this week's power rankings? Read below.

1. Green Bay Packers: 311 (284)

Previous Week: 1

Notes: Until this team loses a game, they'll remain in the #1 spot (and even if they lose, chances are they'll keep the #1 spot). This team can realistically go 16-0.

2. Baltimore Ravens: 255 (235)

Previous Week: 3

Notes: A solid win over a much improved Texans team. This is one of the best teams in the NFL on both sides of the ball.

3. Detroit Lions: 253 (283)

Previous Week: 2

Notes: The undefeated season has come to an end, but to a worthy opponent. They should be able to rebound at home against Atlanta.

4. San Francisco 49ers: 227 (171)

Previous Week: 8

Notes: A 5-1 record pretty much clinches the horrific NFC West. The 49ers are an OT loss away from being 6-0. After some doubt, it's pretty safe to say that this team is the real deal.

5. New England Patriots: 221 (192)

Previous Week: 6

Notes: As with last week, most people will have this team higher, but their defense still ranks last in the league (yards / game) and that was anything, but an easy home win against the Cowboys.

6. San Diego Chargers: 203 (199)

Previous Week: 5

Notes: A road game against the Jets will show whether this team is one of the elites or is just benefiting from an easy schedule.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers: 187 (142)

Previous Week: 11

Notes: They won, but it wasn't pretty against the awful Jaguars. They stand at #7 due to the lack of competition that's out there, but these aren't the same Steelers as a year ago.

8. Cincinnati Bengals: 170 (129)

Previous Week: 12

Notes: It's exciting to watch a team that's been as bad as the Bengals play so well so far. This team is on a hot streak with 3 wins in a row, including one over Buffalo.

9. New Orleans Saints: 164 (208)

Previous Week: 4

Notes: Could be the only person who places the Saints below the Bengals in the power rankings, but it is what it is. The Buccs aren't as good of a team as they were last year, but divisional games on the road are always tough. The Saints should be able to bounce back.

10. Buffalo Bills: 153 (178)

Previous Week: 7

Notes: Tough lost against the Giants. After the bye week, they have big games against the Redskins and Jets. Considering the competition for a wild card spot (assuming that the Pats clinch the division) the Bills will likely need to win at least one of these games to stay competitive.

11. New York Giants: 135 (105)

Previous Week: 15

Notes: A win against the Bills this season is nothing to sneeze at. The Giants didn't look great, but they needed this win after their upset loss against the Seahawks. Either way, they are first in the NFC East and after the bye will be playing the Dolphins at home and should easily be 5-2.

12. Washington Redskins: 134 (165)

Previous Week: 9

Notes: Even though the Eagles have been under-performing all year, you knew this was going to be a tough game for the Skins. Rex Grossman lasted a lot longer into the season then expected.

13. Houston Texans: 128 (160)

Previous Week: 10

Notes: Although they're sitting at 3-3, they still seem like the division favorites. Huge game next week against the Titans.

14. Oakland Raiders: 126 (92)

Previous Week: 16

Notes: Should be able to hold off the Chiefs next week and enter the bye at 5-2.

15. Tennessee Titans: 122 (112)

Previous Week: 13

Notes: In order for this team to have a chance at the division, they'll need to beat the Texans next week.

16. Dallas Cowboys: 92 (110)

Previous Week: 14

Notes: Another heartbreaking loss for the Cowboys. A team can only take so much of it before it ruins their season. Chances are the Cowboys won't finish as well as anticipated.

17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 78 (43)

Previous Week: 18

Notes: A big confidence boost for this team with a win over the Saints. They're actually first in the division because of it, but don't expect to last that long.

18. Philadelphia Eagles: 68 (34)

Previous Week: 20

Notes: An absolute must win for the Eagles against the Skins. After the bye, another one at home against the Cowboys.

19. Chicago Bears: 63 (3)

Previous Week: 24

Notes: They absolutely destroyed the Vikings, but with the Lions and Packers in their division there isn't too much hope for the Bears.

20. New York Jets: 58 (38)

Previous Week: 19

Notes: They won a game that they should have (home against the Dolphins), but will need to be the Chargers to move ahead in the rankings.

21. Atlanta Falcons: 51 (10)

Previous Week: 22

Notes: A road victory over the Lions next week will be a big confidence boost for this team.

22. Cleveland Browns: 34 (50)

Previous Week: 17

Notes: I had somewhat higher hopes for this team, but it looks like I will be let down.

23. Seattle Seahawks: -2 (2)

Previous Week: 25

Notes: In order for them to have a shot at the division (which is pretty much almost impossible at this point) they'll need to beat the Browns next week.

24. Carolina Panthers: -11 (15)

Previous Week: 21

Notes: While improved, they can't seem to win a game. Cam Newton will eventually lead this team to a winning season though.

25. Arizona Cardinals: -26 (-36)

Previous Week: 26

Notes: Another team that will help the Steelers look a lot better than they actually are next week.

26. Minnesota Vikings: -43 (8)

Previous Week: 23

Notes: Usually this team plays other teams close and then blows it at the end. They weren't even competitive against the Bears.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: -43 (-41)

Previous Week: 27

Notes: Are they back on track after winning 2 in a row? A road game against the Raiders will tell us for sure.

28. Denver Broncos: -58 (-55)

Previous Week: 28

Notes: Will be interesting to see how Tim Tebow effects the team.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: -83 (-59)

Previous Week: 29

Notes: They played the Steelers close, but it could be a testament to how much worse the Steelers are this year than any signs of improvement for the Jags.

30. Miami Dolphins: -111 (-96)

Previous Week: 30

Notes: If the Dolphins were to break out of their winless this season next week is it. They'll be home against the Broncos who are starting Tim Tebow.

31. Indianapolis Colts: -161 (-129)

Previous Week: 31

Notes: I honestly don't expect this team to win more than a game this year. They just don't have the heart without Peyton.

32. St. Louis Rams: -164 (-131)

Previous Week: 32

Notes: Well it was a given that they'd lose against the Packers. Possibility for a win will be week 9 which is a road game against the Cards.

NFL Power Rankings Week 6

2011-10-10T16:02:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start doing weekly power rankings for the NFL from here on out. I use a formula to determine where a team ranks based on record, who they played, point differentials, offensive numbers, and defensive numbers. I don't believe in the "a team was great last year so we're going to rank them high this year" hype that a low of publications do on power rankings. A lot of people do. The Steelers and Jets, for example, are ranked WAY too high in a lot of power rankings. Anyway, here are the power rankings heading into week 6. Total points are indicated next to the team which is based on the formula I mentioned earlier.

1. Green Bay Packers: 284

Notes: No team is as strong on all sides of the ball as the Packers this year. This team is solid and can easily be a 14-2 or 15-1 team this year. The only thing standing in their way is the fact that they play the Lions twice.

2. Detroit Lions: 283

Notes: Only one point behind the Packers from that number one spot. The Lions always find ways to win games which is a sign of a great team. Some people expect this team to slow down, but don't be surprised to see a 12-4 or 13-3 record from the Lions.

3. Baltimore Ravens: 235

Notes: They just haven't been winning, they have been winning convincingly. 24 point win over Jets, 30 point win over the Rams, and 28 point win over the Steelers. This team should be 5-1 heading into Steelers territory with games against the Texans and Jaguars.

4. New Orleans Saints: 208

Notes: Their only loss came against the best team in the NFL. While they've had close (especially this week against the Panthers) they've been finding ways to win. With what seems to be a subpar division this year in the NFC South, expect the Saints to easily coast to a division title.

5. San Diego Chargers: 199

Notes: They've been playing well against teams that they should be beating and lost against the only good team (Patriots) on their schedule for the first five games. Even though the Jets aren't looking great, a road victory against them would be huge for the Chargers.

6. New England Patriots: 192

Notes: I probably have them ranked the lowest out of any power ranking, but even though they have a superb offense, their defense has a lot of issues.

7. Buffalo Bills: 178

Notes: Not convinced that they are a lock for the playoffs this year (I think they'll end up at 8-8 or 9-7), but they have been playing excellent to start the season. Who would have thought that a win over the Eagles this week wouldn't be that surprising though

8. San Francisco 49ers: 171

Notes: A big surprise this year. It's surprising that any team from the NFC West has a winning record after 5 games, but the 49ers are playing extremely well. An OT loss to the Cowboys prevents this team from being 5-0.

9. Washington Redskins: 165

Notes: Another big surprise this year. I expected this team to be better, but not as good as they have been. It will be tough for them to maintain this type of playing with games left against the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants.

10. Houston Texans: 160

Notes: The team expected to take the AFC South this year is looking to be on pace to do just that. Even with the Titans tied for first, I expect the Texans to pull away at some point. This team does have their share of problems and can see the whole division looking like the NFC West of last year.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers: 142

Notes: Big win against the Titans, but am I the only who thinks this team is not looking remotely close to the team that made the Super Bowl last year?

12. Cincinnati Bengals: 129

Notes: Never expected the Bengals to be up this far in the rankings (not even in the top 20), but a team that can finish games as strong as the Bengals have is worth taking notice of. A win over the Bills helps this team secure the #12 spot.

13. Tennessee Titans: 112

Notes: Hard to read this team. A big win over Baltimore and a big loss against the Steelers. I think at some point the weaknesses of the team will catch up to them. Expect them to go about 8-8.

14. Dallas Cowboys: 110

Notes: Tony Romo might be up great numbers on paper, but he's been anything but clutch when it matters. This is what prevents him from being a top 5, even top 10 QB. Every game they have played has been decided by 4 points or less with one win being decided in OT.

15. New York Giants: 105

Notes: Another hard to read team. With a reversed call in the Cards game, this team could easily be 2-3. On the other end, if Victor Cruz held onto that ball or even if he dropped it, there would be a good chance the Giants would have scored on that drive (they are known for their ability to drive down the field and score in clutch situations) and be 4-1. This team is facing many injury issues, but should be able to stay competitive throughout the year.

16. Oakland Raiders: 92

Notes: Big win against the Texans on the road. The Raiders are much improved from last year and will either win a wild card spot or be very close to securing one.

17. Cleveland Browns: 50

Notes: A team ranked in the bottom 10 in most power rankings, but unjustly in my opinion. Their two wins came against the Colts and Dolphins (both winless), but I think this will prove themselves in the upcoming weeks.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 43

Notes: Like the Chiefs, this is another solid team from last year who looks terrible this year. The 49ers are a great team, but that lost this week was horrendous.

19. New York Jets: 38

Notes: I am just as surprised as anyone to see this team down at #19 after 5 weeks, but here they are. Next week is a must win against the Dolphins.

20. Philadelphia Eagles: 34

Notes: Another team destined to do great things who has started off the year horribly. At 1-4, I don't think we'll see them make the playoffs, but they'll end the season strong than what their 1-4 record indicates.

21. Carolina Panthers: 15

Notes: So close to being a decent team. Cam Newton looks great. Expect better things to come from the Panthers in the coming years.

22. Atlanta Falcons: 10

Notes: Far from being out of it, but they really haven't been playing well.

23. Minnesota Vikings: 8

Notes: If you watched the Vikings for the first 3 quarters of all their games you'd think they're 4-1 or 3-2. Even though this team falls apart in the last few minutes of the game, they are a lot better than their 1-4 record indicates.

24. Chicago Bears: 3

Notes: The division winners of last year are in a lot of trouble with the Packers and Lions both starting the season 5-0.

25. Seattle Seahawks: 2

Notes: A big win over the Giants although they should have won by a LOT more considering how much they were outplaying them in the first half of the game.

26. Arizona Cardinals: -36

Notes: And now we approach the "negative teams". The team will struggle all season after that Cruz call against the Giants cost them the win.

27. Kansas City Chiefs: -41

Notes: After looking like the clear winner for the worst team in the NFL, the Chiefs win 2 games in a row. A win against the Raiders and Chargers will make the Chiefs all of a sudden back in contention.

28. Denver Broncos: -55

Notes: Its bad news when you switch your starting QB this early in the season. Hopefully Tim Tebow can bring some life into this lowly team.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars: -59

Notes: After a narrow victory the first game of the season against the Titans, the Jaguars are looking worse every week. With upcoming games against Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Texans, expect the Jaguars to go 1-7 heading into the bye week.

30. Miami Dolphins: -96

Notes: The best of the winless, which is not saying much.

31. Indianapolis Colts: -129

Notes: I knew this tea was going to be worse without Peyton, but I don't think anyone expected them to be THIS bad.

32. St. Louis Rams: -131

Notes: I guess the Rams got tired of being in a run for the playoffs last year and reverted back to their old ways of the year before.

Top 11 Trends for Women’s Fall Fashion

2011-09-30T12:52:00.000-07:00

With autumn approaching, we took it upon ourselves to create this list of tips for staying up-to-date on ten of the biggest fall fashion trends! Follow this style report to enhance your look and bring even more warmth to your fall wardrobe. Here, we’ve made it easy for you by breaking it down to our top11 must-haves for women’s fall fashion:

1. Bag Charms

Add a little sass to your style by adding a bag charm to your favorite boho bag. These sweet bag charms boast a funky collection of feathers, beads, brass accents seashells and leather. Each charm clips to your bag with a metal leash clasp.

2. Tunics

Craving that bohemian flow look? Turn to tunics. Tunic tops range from babydoll cuts and romantic knits to versatile long tunics that can be worn as a top or a dress. Pair with vintage jewelry and rugged boots for a look that stops them in their tracks.

3. Boho Bags

Boho bags are one of this season’s hottest trends. Carry your belongings in style with these fabulous southwest inspired boho bags. Pull off unique embroidered patterns and rugged leather while basking in the functionality of it all. Go big or small, whatever your style, just make sure you go boho.

4. Crochet Dresses

A crochet dress is a perfect way to add tons of bohemian chic texture to your wardrobe. These crochet variety dresses can be layered over and under various pieces creating versatile comfortable style options with a ton of movement. Crochet dresses pair well with chunky vintage necklaces and an oversized boho bag, and they are a must-have for fall.

5. Midi Skirts

The always-fashionable midi skirt comes down to about mid-calf at the hem, and can come high in the waste, depending on the design. These versatile skirts are designed to hug closely at the hip and are a perfect addition to your summer and fall collection. Various midi skirts pair nicely with both cami tops and sweaters, chunky belts, and thick platform shoes. With the right midi skirt, the possibilities are endless.

6. Sheer Tops

Add a little mystery to your look. Sheer tops are perfect way to show a little, without showing it all, and they are perfect for layering with bandeau tops and patterned bralettes. Sheer tops give any outfit a fresh, airy feel with subtle sex appeal.

7. Wide Leg Jeans

The wider the better… when it comes to jeans, that is. Rock these wide leg jeans with vintage accessories and boho tops in soft fabrics. These rugged washed jeans hug low and close on the hip and drop down to the top of the foot lengthening the leg. These wide leg jeans are perfect for an organic effortless look that still feels chic and sweet.

8. Loafers for Women

Slide on loafers add sophisticated bohemian flavor to sweet skirts and skinny jeans. These loafers for women are designed to be casually chic with fun designs like zebra mohair, vintage tapestry print, metallic shimmer, and docksiders. These slide on loafers for women are a simply way to stay chic and on flat feet.

9. Crochet Dresses

10. Ankle Strap Heels

There’s nothing better than an ankle strap heel. These are not your mother’s Mary-Jane’s. Funky ankle straps come in both thick and thin styles, perfectly paired with platform heels and vintage materials like suede and leather. These ankle strap heels look chic with both dresses and slacks alike, tunics and leggings too. Try wearing them with sugary sweet ankle socks or textured tights.

11. Vintage Belts

We are in love with these vintage belts that add flare to any assortment of fabrics, textures, tunics, skirts, jeans, and more. Ranging from boho chic leather waste bags to unique chainmail snakes and vintage macramé, these belts add texture and focus to your outfit.

Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Halloween

2011-09-18T07:11:00.001-07:00

We all know that Halloween is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the United States, but just how obsessed are Americans with this holiday? Greeting Card Universe, the world’s largest paper greeting card store, put together this list of facts about Halloween that may surprise you!

10) The traditional Halloween colors are black and orange—black symbolizing darkness,
and orange symbolizing the harvest.

9) Move over Christmas, more than 35 million Halloween Greeting Cards and Photo Halloween Cards are exchanged every year.

8) More than 60% of all Halloween costumes sold in the U.S. are to adults.

7) Halloween is the third largest party day after New Year’s Eve and Superbowl Sunday.

6) Twenty-five percent of all candy sold in the United States is Halloween candy.

5) Halloween is second only to Christmas when it comes to consumer spending.

4) Over 85% of American homes will be decorated for Halloween.

3) Apart from trick-or-treating, haunted house attractions are the most popular Halloween activity.

2) Jack o’lanterns, a tradition from Ireland and Scotland, were originally carved from potatoes, beets or turnips, not pumpkins.

1) Fear of Halloween is called Samhainophobia.

10 Tips For Building Traffic To Your Restaurant

2011-09-09T04:27:00.000-07:00

So you opened a restaurant...congrats, but now what? In 2003, Tellem Worldwide created the Food Issues Group (FIG) to offer consumer education, crisis preparedness and management, food safety training for restaurants, food, beverages and bioterrorism education, and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan development. The FIG team put together ten tips for restaurant owners to increase exposure and foot traffic. Have something to add to the list? Leave it in the comment section!

Announce all news and updates via a press release to food reporters i.e.: new chef; new dish; new hours; new web site; anything new gets your name out there.
Educate yourself about social media and utilize it. Listen to feedback from customers and fans. Create a Facebook fan page or Twitter account for example and promote exclusive offers to fans and followers. Ask for recipe suggestions and favorite flavors or dishes. Encourage customers to review on Yelp, Opentable.com, and Google reviews etc.
Get your restaurant on every food web site listing such as: opentable.com, zagat.com, restaurants.com, urbanspoon.com, dine.com, citysearch.com or AOL’s City Guide etc.
Identify your USP – Unique Selling Proposition – what makes your restaurant different from any other in the city – then use it!
Check with museums, art centers and theaters to see where their support groups meet – invite them to meet at your place.
Advertise on themed web sites – like Italian ones, German ones, etc. Utilize micro-targeting advertisements on social networks like Facebook.
Seek placements in City Guidebooks – not just mentions, but actual reviews.
If a reviewer could mention anything negative about your restaurant, what would it be? Now take steps to change it!
Work with convention centers – most publish a guide to local restaurants for those coming from out of town.
Tie in with specific country tour groups. If you are Italian, for example, tie in with Italian tour groups – they are sure to miss home cooking.
Get a booth at your local farmer’s market and give away bite size tastes of food for free – these booths are so cheap and fun!

If it’s in the budget, hire a PR agency and let them get to work promoting your business to target audiences and potential customers and watch your sales flourish! For more information, contact Susan Tellem, Tellem Worldwide, Inc., 310-313-3444, stellem@tellem.com.

How to Build a Strong Credit Record and Rating for Your Business

2011-09-05T21:42:00.000-07:00

Having a healthy credit record for your business is vital in these difficult economic times where the amount of money available to borrow is in short supply. Being able to prove that your business is able to pay its financial commitments is imperative when banks are making lending decisions. It is also important to remember that it is not just banks who lend money – every time you (or a supplier) extend credit they are effectively lending money and you need to be sure that if you extend credit to anyone that you will get paid.

The importance of having a strong credit record and rating

Companies understand that company credit reports are available on every registered company and these are readily available from credit rating agencies. Company credit reports are based on a variety of factors which are used to build a credit profile of a business.

Company credit reports will typically include a rating (for example Creditsafe’s rating is based on the likelihood of a company entering insolvency in the next 12 months). A credit rating will typically take into account accounting factors such as whether there are any County Court Judgements (CCJs) recorded against the company, the length of time the company has been in operation and the background of its directors.

Also typically included in company credit reports will be information that can be used to build up a picture of their financial stability. Some agencies have started working with telecoms and utilities companies to build up payment data to show if the company can a) afford to pay and b) how quickly they will pay.

So let’s now have a look at some methods you can employ to help build a good credit rating:

1. Complete your report and accounts and ensure they are delivered to Companies House on time

Research completed by Creditsafe shows that companies who submit their accounts to Companies House in the last possible month are 8 times more likely to go into liquidation than those who file their accounts early. Filing your accounts on time and in full, shows credit rating agencies that you have nothing to hide – transparency is king! It isn’t to say that a business that doesn’t file until the last minute will enter insolvency, it’s just statistically proven that this more likely to happen. Also by being completely transparent you may even see an increase in your company credit rating on your company credit report.

Pay your bills on time

Ensuring your company has enough cashflow is a major issue. However by holding back and not paying bills on time sends out warning messages that your business is in financial trouble and at risk of going out of business. Credit rating agencies are constantly building up payment data from third party sources and using this information in their reports. If you haven’t done so already, consider restructuring your payment policy so that all payments are made by direct debit.

Pay suppliers within agreed timescales

This doesn’t mean you have to pay your suppliers in advance or even within 14 days, but it does mean that you should set up realistic payment terms with your suppliers and stick to them! A credit rating agency may not use this information within their rating algorithm however they may show this information on their reports.

Check your own group’s credit records carefully

Remember it’s not just your report that companies can see when they view your report. Many credit rating agencies will now show the records of other organisations within your organisation’s group or your parent company. Whilst these records may not directly affect your company credit rating it could have an impact on the person reviewing your company group as a whole.

Check out your existing and potential customers

In order to ensure a healthy credit record for your own company it is important that you are dealing with companies that are able to pay for any products / services they order. Many business owners do not feel the need to credit check their existing clients due to long standing relationships or the thought that the company is too big to fail – however the recession has shown how quickly this can change.

Take account of security threats

Shaking off a poor credit rating can take a long time even if it was caused by fraudsters and not your own business practices. As such it is important that you keep an eye on your company details (that are registered at Companies House) to ensure that no-one has attempted to change your details (a common practice amongst fraudsters).

Co-operate with your auditors

Being completely open and honest with your auditors is always a good idea as it shows full transparency of your financial records. Having positive comments from independent auditors can have a positive effect on your credit rating. Trying to hide information or not being completely honest will usually lead to a negative comment which in turn can lead to a negative effect on your rating.

Check your own record on a regular basis

It is vital to keep an eye on your company credit report and check this on a regular basis. By checking it regularly you can ensure that any old information is updated thus updating your credit rating. If you would like to know your company credit rating, click for a free company credit report.

Conclusion

Company credit reports are playing an increasingly important part in business today. Available online, they are both low-cost and high quality. Since more and more businesses decisions are based on information within credit reports, it makes sense to actively build a healthy record.

Creditsafe Group

Privately owned and independently minded Creditsafe is looking to change the way business information is used by providing high quality data in an easy to use format that everyone in an organisation can benefit from. If you would like information on any UK company, click free company credit report.

Guest Posts

2011-09-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

To make sure that we're keeping the blog active, I will be releasing some guest posts between now and the next few days. Happy reading :)

MLB Standing Predctions

2011-08-25T16:34:00.000-07:00

Well, we're winding down on the 2011 season. This season is fairly unsurprising in terms of who seems to be a playoff team vs. the teams who are going to be left out in the dust (with the exception of the Diamondbacks who I don't think anyone had going to the playoffs heading into the season). With about 30 - 35 games left in the season, I thought I'd give me predictions for the final standings of the season. Feel free to leave yours in the comments section. Current record is indicated in ( )

AL EAST

1. Boston Red Sox: 99 - 63 (79-50)

2. New York Yankees: 97 - 65 (78-50)

3. Tampa Bay Rays: 90 - 72 (70-59)

4. Toronto Blue Jays: 79 - 83 (66-63)

5. Baltimore Orioles: 66 - 96 (51-77)

AL CENTRAL

1. Detroit Tigers: 87 - 75 (71-59)

2. Chicago White Sox: 80 -82 (63-65)

3. Cleveland Indians: 79-83 (63-64)

4. Kansas City Royals: 70 -92 (53-77)

5. Minnesota Twins: 66 - 96 (55 - 75)

AL WEST

1. Texas Rangers: 92 - 70 (74-57)

2. Los Angeles Angels: 85 - 77 ( 71-59)

3. Oakland Athletics: 79 - 83 (59-71)

4. Seattle Mariners: 71 - 91 (56-73)

NL EAST

1. Philadelphia Phillies: 102 - 60 (83-45)

2. Atlanta Braves: 99 - 63 (79-53)

3. New York Mets: 79 - 83 (61-68)

4. Washington Nationals: 78 - 84 (62-66)

5. Florida Marlins: 70 - 92 (58-72)

NL CENTRAL

1. Milwaukee Brewers: 97 - 65 (78-54)

2. St. Louis Cardinals: 84 - 78 (67-63)

3. Cincinnati Reds: 79 - 83 (64-66)

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: 78 - 84 (61-68)

5. Chicago Cubs: 74 - 88 (57-74)

6. Houston Astros: 53 - 109 (42-88)

NL WEST

1. San Francisco Giants: 88 - 74 (69 - 61)

2. Arizona Diamondbacks: 84 - 78 (71-59)

3. Colorado Rockies: 78 - 84 (63-68)

4. Los Angeles Dodgers: 72 - 90 (60-69)

4. San Diego Padres: 71 - 91 (60-71)

Top 10 Albums of 1991

2011-08-14T17:26:00.000-07:00

20 years ago there were a LOT of solid albums. In fact, when looking back at the 70s to present, I can't think of a better year for music with the exception of maybe 1994 which, while close, still falls short of 1991. It was the year that Nirvana changed the face of music (which that in itself makes it a great year of music). I've listed what I think, in my opinion, are the top albums of that year. Feel free to add your own.

10. Slint - Spiderland: Easily the most unknown album making the top 10 here, but Slint's Spiderland is often considered as revolutionary as Nirvana's Nevermind. Listening for the first time now might not evoke as much emotion as it did when it was first released in 1991, but Spiderland is a chilling record from start to finish.

Best Tracks (in order): Good Morning Captain, Breadcrumb Trail, Nosferatu Man

9. R.E.M. - Out of Time: An album that surprisingly got a lot of negative reviews from critics, Out of Time in my opinion ranks as R.E.M.'s best album besides Automatic for the People.

Best Tracks (in order): Losing My Religion, Shiny Happy People, Radio Song

8. Smashing Pumpkins - Gish: The Pumpkins debut album gets a significantly less amount of attention then their follow up Siamese Dream (which had the huge hit "Today"), but Gish is a great album and an incredible debut. Not as good as Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, but a very good album nonetheless.

Best Tracks (in order): Rhinoceros, Siva, I Am One

7. Cypress Hill - Cypress Hill: There were many good rap albums released in 1991 (including Ice-T's O.G. Original Gangster and Ice Cube's Death Certificate), but the only one to make the top 10 is the best rap release of the year (and maybe the decade); Cypress Hill's self-titled album. It's remarkable how this is a debut album.

Best Tracks (in order): The Phuncky Feel One, Hand on the Pump, How I Could Just Kill a Man

6. Metallica - Metallica: Metallica's Black album was not only their most successful album, but one of the biggest albums in hard rock history. In my opinion, it's not as good as Master of Puppets, but it's the second best album in their entire catalog.

Best Tracks (in order): Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven, Nothing Else Matters

5. U2 - Achtung Baby: U2's One from Achtung Baby is often considered one of the best songs from the 90's, but U2's Achtung Baby is a great album as a whole. Not as good as The Joshua Tree or War, but their 3rd best album which, given their extensive catalog, is pretty impressive.

Best Tracks (in order): Mysterious Ways, One, Zoo Station

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik: The four studio albums RHCP released prior prior to Blood Sugar could no way anticipate people for the brilliance of this album. Although a lengthy album, it never gets tiresome to listen to and remains easily the best album RHCP has ever released.

Best Tracks (in order): Under the Bridge, Give it Away, Breaking the Girl

3. Guns 'N Roses - Use Your Illusion I: The better of the duo (Use Your Illusion I and 2). Not as good as Appetite for Destruction, but a remarkable hard rock album from of the best bands in the genre.

Best Tracks (in order): November Rain, Don't Cry, Coma

2. Pearl Jam - Ten: While Pearl Jam has many good albums in their catalog, none reaches the brilliance of Ten. Ten is a solid hard rock album from start to finish and includes a handful of Pearl Jam's best songs.

Best Tracks (in order): Black, Jeremy, Alive

1. Nirvana - Nevermind: Nirvana's Nevermind changed the face of music by bringing grunge into the mainstream. A lot of albums that are considered "life changing" tend to be slightly overrated and fail to stand the test of time, but Nirvana's Nevermind has held up and is an awesome record that is not only the best of 1991, but one of the best in history.

Best Tracks (in order): Smells Like Teen Spirit, Lithium, Come as You Are

Honorable Mention: Primus - Sailing the Seas of Cheese

Hell's Kitchen Power Rankings - Season 9

2011-08-11T17:30:00.000-07:00

EDIT: Just as Will revealed he's in the top 2, Elizabeth revealed she's in the top 6. Check out her Facebook pic (she's wearing a black jacket..only rewarded to the top 6): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=574425724. Same goes for Paul (no shocker there): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=42417971.

I don't care what anyone says, Hell's Kitchen is one of the better hows on television right now. Yes it's trashy reality TV and yes I know Breaking Bad is on television, but nothing puts a smile more on my face than hearing Chef Ramsey yell at people. Season 9 isn't one of the better seasons mainly because there aren't people like Aaron (RIP) and Raj, but this season still has plenty of good moments. There are 9 remaining chefs left and I've listed their rankings in reverse order in terms of overall performance up to this point.

9. Tommy: Tommy should have been kicked off earlier, but he has remained on the show because of some fluke good performances here and there. Jonathan is a better cook and leader than Tommy, but because Jonathan is overly emotional his time on the show ended sooner. Tommy isn't vocal, has trouble more than half of the time in the kitchen, and is annoying as fuck (this won't get him kicked off, but makes me want him off the show more). If the blue team loses he'll be off next and even if they don't lose Ramsey might give him the boot.

8. Carrie: I'd much rather see her go far on the show then Elise, but in reality Carrie is much more likely to go home earlier. Her horrible performance in the beginning has put her at an unfair disadvantage, but she's not a strong cook. She can cook well, but under pressure she fucks up pretty regularly.

7. Elizabeth: A shitty spot to be in because it means you're the last one voted off right before the black jackets come out. Elizabeth has been somewhat under the radar and once Carrie (the last of the mediocre chefs) gets voted off she'll become the weakest link. She's not a bad cook, but hasn't really done anything to impress Chef Ramsey and she has huge communication issues which will be her downfall.

6. Natalie: I originally had her going far, but lately she's been struggling (especially on her last 3 services). I expect her to bounce back the next couple of services, but if she screws up once or twice more (which is more of capable of doing) it's goodbye to Natalie.

5. Elise: Can't stand her, but there's no denying that she can actually cook and deserves to still be in the game. Her attitude sucks, but she has proven herself to have the ability to handle the pressure of Hell's Kitchen. I think her attitude will ultimately send her home; either by saying something wrong to Chef Ramsey or the other Chefs getting even further disgruntled with her that they sabotage her. I won't be surprised if she makes it to the top 3 or 4, but no way she's making it to the finals.

4. Paul: A great cook ,but has demonstrated weakness. He was around 2 or 3 about 2 weeks ago until he screwed up terribly on the fish station and wasn't able to recover. Everyone's allowed to make mistakes, but the competition ahead of him is too strong in my opinion for Paul to advance to the finals.

3. Jamie: Jamie is definitely the type of chef that Ramsey's looking for. A good chef and vocal, but also extremely respectful to Ramsey. She could be a finalist.

2. Jennifer: Since a few weeks ago, I've had Jennifer pegged as this year's Nona (weight jokes aside). She's been flying under the radar until the last episode when the red team selected her as "their leader" (which only helps her cause), but hasn't really screwed up much yet and has demonstrated her ability to communicate.

1. Will: Will is easily the strongest Chef in Hell's Kitchen. Minus the last episode when Wolfgang Puck hated his spaghetti he's been PERFECT which no other Chef has been this season. The only issue with Will is that the "obvious" choice for a winner tends to come in second, for whatever reason (think Russell in Season 8 and Kevin in Season 6). The only advantage that Will has over these two is, while still a little cocky, isn't nearly as much of a douche as Russell and Kevin. Plus, if you look at his interview on the Hell's Kitchen site you know he's in the top 2 based on his answers (saying that his biggest accomplishment would be to win the head chef position at BLT Steak even though these interviews were conducted after their appearance on the show).

NFL Predictions 2011

2011-08-04T18:12:00.000-07:00

The lockout is over and even though this is NOT a top 10 list, I've become overly excited about the fact that football is here and decided to create a post about it (that was a mouthful). Here are my predictions for the 2011 NFL season. In parenthesis was the team's records last year.

AFC East

New England Patriots: 13-3 (14-2)

New York Jets: 11-5 (11-5)

Miami Dolphins: 6-10 (7-9)

Buffalo Bills: 3-13 (4-12)

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: 12-4 (12-4)

Pittsburgh Steelers: 12-4 (12-4)

Cleveland Browns: 7-9 (5-11)

Cincinnati Bengals: 2-14 (4-12)

AFC South

Indianapolis Colts: 11-5 (10-6)

Houston Texans: 8-8 (6-10)

Jacksonville Jaguars: 5-11 (8-8)

Tennessee Titans: 5-11 (6-10)

AFC West

San Diego Chargers: 10-6 (9-7)

Kansas City Chiefs: 9-7 (10-6)

Oakland Raiders: 7-9 (8-8)

Denver Broncos: 2-14 (4-12)

NFC East

Philadelphia Eagles: 12-4 (10-6)

New York Giants: 11-5 (10-6)

Dallas Cowboys: 8-8 (6-10)

Washington Redskins: 4-12 (6-10)

NFC North

Green Bay Packers: 12-4 (10-6)

Chicago Bears: 10-6 (11-5)

Detroit Lions: 6-10 (6-10)

Minnesota Vikings: 6-10 (6-10)

NFC South

New Orleans Saints: 13-3 (11-5)

Atlanta Falcons: 11-5 (13-3)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 10-6 (10-6)

Carolina Panthers: 1-15 (2-14)

NFC West

St. Louis Rams: 7-9 (7-9)

San Francisco 49ers: 7-9 (6-10)

Seattle Seahawks: 5-11 (7-9)

Arizona Cardinals: 5-11 (5-11)

Child Stars - Where Are They Now

2011-07-28T18:44:00.000-07:00

It's funny how a person can be the biggest thing in Hollywood than absolutely fall off the face of the Earth a couple of years later. It seems that childhood actors, compared to adult / teenage actors, are more typecast making it difficult to find a job later on in life. Don't get me wrong, there are many childhood actors who went on to do great things such as Drew Barrymore and Leonardo Dicaprio, but these people seem to be the exception to the rule. For this post, I've decided to focus on 10 popular childhood stars (or at least popular in my eyes) who seemingly fell off the face of the Earth and take a look at where they are now.

Who? Andrea Barber
Best Known For: Kimmy Gibbler on Full House.
Then and Now Pics:

What are they up to? If anyone was going to end up being a meth addict (Jodie Sweetin) or porn star (Judy from Family Matters) you would think it would be the one who got the shit end of the stick on these shows. Well, Andrea Barber, best known as Kimmy from Full House, is neither and is doing great! Well, maybe not great, but she's doing okay. She has decided to retire from acting after Full House and move to the UK with her husband where she had two children. Now, she lives in So. Cal with her family and doesn't seem to be doing much of anything these days (this made for an EXCITING first "Where Are They Now" update...). At least the one we expected to be fucked up in the head is the most normal.

Who? Jaleel White
Best Known For: Steve Urkel from Family Matters:
Then and Now Pics:

What are they up to? The nerdy Urkel (and to a lesser extent, the studly Stephan) has grown up and is no longer playing neglected nerdy teenagers who have an unhealthy obsession with cheese and average looking next door neighbors. Believe it or not, he's still acting and acting fairly regularly. The reason why you might not have seen him is that most of his roles are very minor (i.e. appearing in a TV show here and there). Jaleel seems to be forever stuck in these one off roles (with the exception of a few very unknown short films and series).

Who? Dustin Diamond
Best Known For: Screech on Saved by the Bell
Then and Now Pics:

What are they up to? Screech was one of the biggest nerds of the 90s (with the exception of the aforementioned Urkel) but managed to be friends with the "cool group" at Saved by the Bell. What gives? Anyway, Dustin Diamond is now..well..kind of a douche bag. If you watched Celebrity Fit Club (and who hasn't) he was on it in 2007 and was the least liked person on the show by far. Never tried, always had an attitude, etc. Besides this appearance, Dustin Diamond has been starring in Oscar worthy roles such as playing "Man in Outhouse" in the riveting "Big Money Rustlas" in 2010. He also had one of the least known roles in the 2009 unknown American Pie flick "American Pie Presents: The Book of Love" as "alumnus guy #1". His career is treading on thin ice, but he's still acting. I also found this fact from IMDB pretty telling "Trying to sell 30,000 T-shirts at $15-$20 each, by the end of June 2006, in order to save his $250,000 Wisconsin home, that he purchased on contract". I'm sure most of you also heard that he filmed an amateur porn of himself.

Who? Danny Tamberelli
Best Known For: Little Pete on Pete and Pete
Then and Now Pics:

What are they up to? The Adventures of Pete and Pete was not only one of the weirdest Nickelodeon shows of all time, but one of the best. I always found it odd that nobody forced Little Pete to remove his tattoo considering he was in elementary school. I guess they had more things to worry about like a creepy pedophile named Artie who pretended to be a super hero. If you watched Nickelodeon post Pete and Pete you already know that Danny Tamberelli was on All That and Figure Out quite regularly. Besides doing nothing, he's now a bassist and vocalist for the rock band Jounce that is so well known that they don't have a Wikipedia page.

Who? Danny Lloyd
Best Known For: Danny (the little kid) in The Shining
Then and Now Pics:

What are they up to? The Shining is my favorite movie of all time so figured it would be appropriate to do it for Danny Lloyd. Danny Lloyd appeared in only one other role after The Shining in a made for TV movie. He is now a teacher of sciences in Missouri which many students will attest to being "just as scary as The Shining". It's actually quite surprising he wasn't in anything else considering how great his performance was.

Who? Tia Mowry
Best Known For: Tia in the show "Sister, Sister"
Then and Now Pics:

Where are they now? Since obviously no one gives a shit about Tamara Mowry, we will just focus on Tia. Tia Mowry is best known for her brilliant role as a chameleon witch thingy in an episode of Are You Afraid of the Dark and secondary as the star of Sister Sister. She was in the move "The Hot Chicks" back in 2002 and most recently produced and starred in a movie in 2010 called Double Wedding (it's a Lifetime movie so I"m sure it sucked) and is in the TV show "The Game" (which should be, but is not about 50 cent).

Who? Danielle Fishel
Best Known For: Topanga on Boy Meets World
Then and Now Pics:

Where are they now? Besides discovering the existence of donuts and then discovering that you can vomit them up after eating to lose weight, Danielle Fishel is still acting with recent roles as a TV host for the show "The Dish" and appearances on the show Parenthood. She was quoted as saying "I don't smoke, I don't drink, I don't do drugs, I shop okay?" and then proceeded to get arrested for drunk driving in 2007. She also claimed actor Devon Sawa abused her during their relationship. While she didn't flat out say it, she said an "actor who she dated for almost 10 years physically abused her"..which can only be Devon Sawa. She also dated the now gay Lance Bass and the soon to be gay Ben Savage.

Who? Harvey Stephens
Best Known For: Damien in the 1976 flick "The Omen"
Then and Now Pic:

What are they up to? The Omen was one of the scariest movies of the 1970s which means that if it were to be shown in theaters today it would be compared to Big Momma's House for its horrorness (although Martin Lawrence in a fat suit is kind of scary). These days, Harvey isn't acting and is instead focusing on his career of staying employed. He was a futures trader in the London stock market and now a property developer in Kent, England.

Who? Jason Zimbler
Best Known For: Ferguson in Clarissa Explains it All
Then and Now Pics:

Where are they now? Everyone's 7th favorite fire crotch is obviously none other than Ferg face from Clarissa Explains it all. He was annoying, lacked a soul, and had more freckles than..a person with a lot of freckles. Since 2007, Jason Zimbler has founded and been directing shows from The Re-Theatre Instrument in Portland. This was pretty obvious once I saw a pic of his "look at me I'm all artsy" hat as shown below.

Who? Ross Hull
Best Known For: Gary (founder of the midnight society) from Are You Afraid of the Dark
Then and Now Pics:

Where are they now? Where were the adults on this show? Honestly, what parents allow their kids to gather in the woods at midnight (and if they didn't know, how could they never tell that they were gone). Gary was the leader of the Midnight Society, a group of socially awkward kids who told surprisingly scary stories around a campfire. Ross has held various weather anchor jobs in Canada with his most recent one being the weather anchor for CTV Southwestern Ontario as of last month. Apparently if you do a Google search for "Ross Hull" the first suggested search phrase is "Ross Hull gay" so we're officially saying he is now gay. According to a Livejournal comment by user Jeph21 (which is the most credible source out there), and I quote "I used to see Ross Hull in gay clubs all the time when I was in school (3 or 4 years ago), he was the creepy old man perving on college guys from the corner". And there you have it.

Best Fantasy Baseball Pickups

2011-07-22T15:42:00.000-07:00

The All Star game has come and gone and now fantasy baseball teams are scrambling to reformat their lineup to strengthen their teams. I find one of the keys to winning fantasy baseball is picking up the "under the radar" players who weren't drafted, but have been putting up solid numbers. I've listed below great pick ups for each position that are on 60% or less of fantasy baseball teams (according to ESPN) along with their season and last 30 day stats. Please note that we're excluding catchers because either you have an okay - good catcher at this point or you're shit out of lck

First Basemen

1. Derrek Lee (34.6% own)
Season: BA: .239 HR: 10 RBI: 34 Runs: 35 SB: 2
Last 30: BA: .232 HR: 6 RBI: 16 Runs: 22 SB: 0
Why? It's tough to imagine Derrek Lee ever being less than 100% in every league, but here we are. Don't let the BA discourage you from picking him up. He's been hitting well as of his last 15 (including 3 home runs in that time) and has had a hit in his last 5 games.

2. Edwin Encarnacion (53.4% own)

Season: BA: .268 HR: 7 RBI: 24 Runs: 37 SB: 4

Last 30: BA: .300 HR: 5 RBI: 12 Runs: 19 SB: 3

Why? Most of Edwin Encarnacion's numbers have been put up the last 30 days, especially the last 15 when he's been hitting over .430(!). Encarnacion is also eligible for 3B and DH which is highly beneficial considering the lack of 3B who have been putting up good numbers this year.

Second Basemen

1. Gordon Beckham (54.8% own)

Season: BA: .252 HR: 7 RBI: 30 Runs: 37 SB: 3

Last 30: BA: .316 HR: 1 RBI: 9 Runs: 7 SB: 1

Why? If nothing else, Gordon Beckham should be able to help increase your team's overall BA and has potential to hit for power on occasion. As with 3B, 2B suffers from a lack of good players this year making Gordon Beckham one of the better pick ups over other 2B free agents.

2. Jemile Weeks (32.3% own)

Season: BA: .308 HR: 0 RBI: 11 Runs: 17 SB: 10

Last 30: BA: .281 HR: 0 RBI: 5 Runs: 7 SB: 6

Why? He has been on absolute fire the past few days (including a 2 for 4, 5 for 9, and 2 for 3 games consecutively that included 3 stolen bases). Jemile could be a key pickup if you're looking for an extra boost at .BA and SB.

Third Basemen

1. Alberto Callaspo (23.0% own)

Season: BA: .289 HR: 3 RBI: 33 Runs: 32 SB: 4

Last 30: BA: .314 HR: 0 RBI: 5 Runs: 10 SB: 2

Why? Players that have experienced good seasons in the past are always worth looking at once they heat up and Alberto Callaspo is no exception. He's been dominating in .BA since 7/10 and hitting .406 in his last 15 games.

2. Danny Valencia (54.7% own)

Season: BA: .232 HR: 11 RBI: 51 Runs: 35 SB: 2

Last 30: BA: .260 HR: 4 RBI: 18 Runs: 12 SB: 0

Why? Not the greatest pickup, but again the 3B position is a little difficult to fill this year with quality players and Danny Valencia might be able to provide with the extra bit of power you need to win for the week. Plus, his .BA has improved over the past few weeks.

Shortstop

1. Jason Bartlett (8.2% own)

Season: BA: .251 HR: 1 RBI: 23 Runs: 40 SB: 21

Last 30: BA: .235 HR: 0 RBI: 4 Runs: 13 SB: 9

Why? Jason Bartlett has been a big bust for fantasy owners, but can still provide a lot of value for Stolen Bases. Considering only 8% own him, chances are he's free in your league. He also has 3 multi-hit games in a row that include 3 stolen bases. Obviously won't be the case for the rest of the season, but there's not reason to suspect that he can't finish the season strong.

2. Alexi Casilla (30.5% own)

Season: BA: .259 HR: 2 RBI: 20 Runs: 49 SB: 13

Last 30: BA: .242 HR: 0 RBI: 5 Runs: 18 SB: 3

Why? Alexi Casilla is eligible for both SS and 2B which already increases his fantasy value over just SS players. Casilla's value primarily lies on providing additional runs for your team although he can easily swipe a couple of bags in any given week.

Outfield

1. Cameron Maybin (29.4% own)

Season: BA: .277 HR: 5 RBI: 24 Runs: 46 SB: 19

Last 30: BA: .344 HR: 0 RBI: 8 Runs: 18 SB: 11

Why? One of the better kept secrets in fantasy is Cameron Maybin. He's a solid player when it comes to both .BA and stolen bases and has been fairly solid all season. He's been on a hot streak as of late which is only expected to continue.

2. Nyjer Morgan (26.6% own)

Season: BA: .333 HR: 3 RBI: 22 Runs: 31 SB: 13

Last 30: BA: .329 HR: 1 RBI: 11 Runs: 11 SB: 3

Why? Another solid player all season in terms of .BA. One of the reasons fantasy owners stay clear of him is his lack of anticipated playing time, but with Carlos Gomez's struggles all year and Morgan's dominant .BA he will likely get playing time on an almost every day basis.

3. Alex Presley (27.8% own)

Season: BA: .351 HR: 1 RBI: 9 Runs: 12 SB: 4

Last 30: BA: .351 HR: 1 RBI: 9 Runs: 12 SB: 4

Why? Alex Presley is currently replacing Jose Tabata who is injured, but when Tabata returns it is highly likely that Presley will continue to start. Not a power hitter, but dominant in .BA and has proven he can steal bases well.

Starting Pitching

1. Cory Luebke (59.3% own)

Season: ERA: 2.57 WHIP: 0.87 K: 69 W-L: 3-3

Last 30: ERA: 1.50 WHIP: 0.67 K: 26 W-L: 2-2

Why? Since taking over starting pitching duties, Cory Luebke has been dominant allowing 4 ER in 4 starts along with a K / BB of 26 / 4. Wow. There's no reason not to pick him up to see how long he can keep this hot streak up.

2. Jonathon Niese (22.7% own)

Season: ERA: 3.76 WHIP: 1.32 K: 105 W-L: 9-8

Last 30: ERA: 3.94 WHIP: 1.25 K: 33 W-L: 3-2

Why? If you're looking to increase your strikeout total, Niese is a solid choice. I prefer him over other high strikeout pitchers with a low % own like say Dempster because he also has a fairly low ERA and a decent win - loss record.

3. Matt Harrison (52.7% own)

Season: ERA: 2.91 WHIP: 1.25 K: 70 W-L: 8-7

Last 30: ERA: 2.36 WHIP: 1.19 K: 22 W-L: 3-1

Why? Matt Harrison has been a solid pitcher all year and continues to improve with his .ERA and WHIP. With the exception of strikeouts, Matt Harrison usually delivers on all major categories when it comes to starting pitching.

Closers

1. Javy Guerra (47.1% own)

Season: ERA: 2.18 WHIP: 1.35 K / BB: 15/6 SV: 6

Last 30: ERA: 1.23 WHIP: 1.09 K / BB: 8/2 SV: 4

Why? For now, Javy Guerra seems to be the Dodgers closer and has been performing well in his new role converting all 4 of his last save opportunities. It will be important to watch him to see if he remains a closer for the Dodgers.

2. Jason Isringhausen (35.9%)

Season: ERA: 2.76 WHIP: 1.16 K / BB: 27/15 SV: 1

Last 30: ERA: 1.93 WHIP: 1.29 K / BB: 7/5 SV: 1

Why? I never thought that Jason Isringhausen would A) be still playing baseball at this point B) Be on the Mets C) Part of my best pickup list for fantasy baseball. Here we are though. With K-Rod going to the Brewers. Isringhausen will likely be closing out games for the Mets.

Top 10 Restaurants in Nassau County

2011-07-21T18:33:00.000-07:00

Being that my favorite thing to do is going out and trying new restaurants I figured t was appropriate to create a top 10 list that was specific to dining out. I grew up in Plainview, NY and currently live in Hicksville, NY which is in Nassau County (about 10 minutes from Suffolk). I've been to plenty of Suffolk restaurants, but feel that I haven't been to enough to do a "top 10 restaurants in Long Island" post so keeping it to Nassau County. Yes, I'm sure the random dive joint down the street from your apartment makes fantastic buffalo wings and I'm sure I've never been there, but I think I've been to enough places in Nassau County to make a decent list. Click on any of the restaurants to view their website and feel free to offer your suggestions below. Please note that a place must have waiter service to qualify which means that fantastic food places such as All American Burger unfortunately do not qualify.

10. Minado - I cannot get enough of Minado. Minado is a Japanese buffet located in Carle Place. The word "buffet" usually indicates a skeevy, low class place with subpar food, but Minado completely kills this stereotype. Fresh sushi (unique types of rolls too), hot and cold Japanese selections, crab legs, and crepes makes this one of the more unique buffet options on Long Island. Food is always great and the sushi chefs will make whatever you'd like if it isn't there. Recommended Food Item: Rock' N Roll Sushi Roll

9. Mim's - A lot of people will say this place is overrated, but cannot see why. I've been here five times, all GREAT experiences (only the Syosset location, never been to the Roslyn one). I like how the menu has so much variety, but not too many menu items (like a Cheesecake Factory) which can get overwhelming. I try something new every time I come here (appetizer and entree) and everything I've tasted has been excellent. If you're a lobster bisque fan, definitely get it here. Recommended Food Item: Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna

8. Lemonleaf Grill - I LOVE Thai food, but always have difficulty finding a place that makes really good Thai cuisine. Lemonleaf is one of the few Thai places that does Thai food extremely well. Everything I've had here is good. Lemonleaf is the only Thai place I will go to on Long Island. Recommend Food Item: Pineapple Coconut Fried Rice

7. Opa Grille - Opa Grille is a Greek restaurant located by the Bethpage train station. I've been to a few Greek places in Long Island and this is easily my favorite (although Wild Fig is the only place that can compete). I'm a sucker for their spanakopita and their grilled octopus. Recommended Food Item: Grilled Octopus (appetizer)

6. Zim Zari - Not the fanciest joint by any means whatsoever, but hard to find better tacos in Nassau County. Zim Zari's offers filet mignon tacos and other unique (and delicious) taco choices. Even better, they offer all their tacos for $2 each on Tuesdays. Fantastic. Recommended Food Item: Surf and Turf Tacos

5. Butera's - I've only been to the Woodbury location, but Butera's is also located in Smithtown, Sayville, and Seaford. Butera's offers delicious Italian American cuisine (especially their salads and seafoods). Recommended Food Item: Linguine Seafood

4. Tesoro Ristorante - Italian places more than any other cuisine in my opinion tend to differ when it comes to people choosing their favorites. Mine happens to be Tesoro's in Westbury. The owners and staff are extremely friendly and treat you like their best customer each and every time. I'm a big veal guy and they have the best veal dish I've ever tried: Veal Castagna. The brown sauce on it is RIDICULOUS. All other dishes I've had here were excellent too. Everything is fresh, delicious, and reasonably priced. Recommended Food Item: Veal Castagna

3. Rein at the Garden City Hotel - One of Long Island's most upscale hotels has one of the best restaurants in Nassau County. Rein is known for their Sunday Brunch (which is the best brunch I've been to), but also has great menu items for lunch and dinner. Not for the restaurant goer on the budget although they have a few deals floating around online. The Sunday Brunch has lobster, crab, sushi, a chocolate fountain, and a LOT more (along with unlimited mimosas and bloody mary's. Recommended Food Item: All of Sunday Brunch

2. Smokin' Als -Can't speak on behalf of the Bayshore location, but I've been to the Massapequa one a few times and it's ridiculously good. Not as good as your top BBQ places in the south, but the best place in Long Island to get BBQ. The meat and sauces are incredible and the brisket nachos are out of this world. Every meal, appetizer, and side I've had here was nothing short of fantastic and the price isn't that bad either. Recommend Food Item: Brisket Nachos (appetizer)

1. Waterzooi - I wouldn't consider myself to be a mussel person by any means, but Waterzooi has turned me. Located in Garden City, NY Waterzooi is without a doubt the best place in Long Island (and probably farther away) to get mussels. The place has a variety of unique broths (my favorite being the thai) and come with a ridiculously awesome frites an garlic mayo. The mayo is probably one of the best things I've ever eaten. I've had 5 different types of mussels here and all are among one of the best food items I've eaten. Their other food is fantastic as well (including the lobster fondue). Not only do they have amazing food, but they have a HUGE selection of Belgian beers. If you're on a budget, Waterzooi offers a three course meal of a choice of one of two apps, mussels with frites, and belgian chocolate cake for dessert for only $20 (you'll likely have plenty of leftovers too). Recommend Food Item: Thai Mussels

How to Win at Words With Friends

2011-07-19T18:18:00.000-07:00

Words With Friends is arguably the most addictive multiplayer mobile application in existence. I say multiplayer since Angry Birds is nearly impossible to catch with its addictiveness. Chances are if you got an iPhone in the recent months someone probably recommended you download Words with Friends and play with them. For those of you without an iPhone or a Droid, Words With Friends is pretty much identical to Scrabble except for maybe one or two minor tweaks. While extremely addictive, the game can be frustrating when you're continually on the losing side of the spectrum. I used to find myself losing regularly and then I figured out how to truly play the game and now I rarely every lose at all. For those of you who can't seem to figure out how to beat your opponent I've listed 10 tips on how to win at Words with Friends. Before I list them, apparently there is an application that you can download that chooses words for you (basically a cheating app) which I will NOT include here because I think it completely takes the fun out of the game.

1. Realize that it's a game of MATH not VOCABULARY: You got an 800 on the English part of your SATs? Great, but doesn't mean shit with Words with Friends. I hear all the time "I have a great vocabulary so I'll win all the time at this". Words with Friends tells you that a "word is not acceptable" if you try to play it and it's not actually a word. If you can try and maximize the amount of points you get every time by putting possible words together until something sticks you'll do okay. I learned that Qi and Za are words this way and both have helped me to win plenty of games.

2. A strong defense can be your best offense: Some of the people I play with have a bad habit of putting down a word right near a triple word tile. I beat these people every single time. Unless you have a really really kickass word, do not put a word down where your opponent can possibly get a triple word score. Triple words make and break games so don't blow it by allowing your opponent to get a triple word so easily.

3. Bridge two words together with an S: Often times you'll see that a horizontal word and a vertical word are separated by one letter. Most words can be added to by simply pluralizing it with an s. Why not obtain points from both of these words by simply putting an s and pluralizing both. This works great especially if the s is on a triple letter tile.

4. If you have the opportunity go first: I don't care what anyone says, going first is an advantage. If you go first you have the chance to both put points on the board first AND close out the game. This isn't an option if you go second. The extra few points you can get by closing out a game (where it minuses points from tiles they have over and add it to you score) can be the difference in a win.

5. If you see an opportunity to use a triple letter twice in one turn for a Q, J, X, or Z DO IT: This could apply to five or four point letters to, but especially for your Q, J, X, and Zs. You know that ax and ox is a word right? If you put an x on a triple letter and form both words you get 8x3x2 plus the 2 points from the a and the o is 50 points right there. And this is basically a minimum since you might play wax and ox, or box and ax, etc. It might not seem significant before you play it since it's two words, but some times this can be more valuable than a triple world.

6. Don't waste your Qs, Js, Xs, or Zs: Similar to the triple letter suggestion on tip 5, do not waste your good letters. If you get a Q at the beginning of the game, don't play Qi for 11 points, play Qi when you can for 31. If you get these later on in the game you might need to dump them to avoid negative points, but don't waste them right off the bat. I generally do not use these letters unless I"m getting 30 points or higher for the round.

7. Don't swap letters unless you have to: Swapping is better than passing if you have shitty letters, but generally you do not want to swap. If you can get rid of 3 letters on the board and only get 7 points out of it, it's still better than swapping for 4 letters and taking a risk (and you might get the letters you're looking for anyway). Take advantage of any opportunity you have to get points on the board.

8. Take advantage of opportunities to play a letter on multiple words: I'm always surprised by how some people don't realize that if you play a letter on more than one word you get points for both words. Essentially the letter is as good as a double letter tile, but better since you're getting points also from both words.

9. If you can get a guaranteed win by ending the game do it: If you see an opportunity to use 6 letters, end the game, win, but only getting 7 points it's a lot better than playing 2 letters for 40 points and risking that your opponent pulls an awesome word out of their ass. End the game if you can guarantee a win.

10. Take your time: A simple, but important rule in winning. Don't get pressured into rushing your turn so your opponent can go. Take time to find the word that will get you the most amount of points each and every time.

10 Ways to Quit Smoking - Cold Turkey

2011-07-07T17:59:00.000-07:00

Quitting smoking is one of the toughest things to do. As a past smoker I can tell you it takes a LOT of effort, time, and you need to really want to quit. Fortunately there has been many advances over the past years to aid smokers in quitting from the patch to gum to even electronic cigarettes. What about those of us though who don't want to chew shitty gum or let the entire world see we are struggling to get rid of our addiction? For those of us who do not want to use any outside method in quitting, there's the "cold turkey" approach. Quitting without any aids is extremely difficult, but can be done. Here are to 10 ways to help you quit smoking, cold turkey style.

1. Decrease Your Cigarette Intake Slowly - This is the method that ultimately helped me quit. I smoked (almost consistently) a pack per day. What I did was remove one cigarette from my daily routine. Once I felt completely okay for a couple of days I removed another, and another until I was down to 2 cigarettes and was able to just walk away. Took me 3 months, but it worked.

2. Eat, Eat, Eat!! - Along with decreasing my daily cigarette intake, I ate...a lot. I was stuffing my face with every food known to man when I felt a craving coming on. I ended up gaining a lot of weight in one month, but switched to celery sticks and other healthy foods and lost it quickly. If you can afford to pack on some pounds this is a great method. If not, then just be conscious of what you eat. Some people say they've been ale to stop completely right away from smoking and fill the nicotine void with food, sucking candies, gum, etc.

3. Stay Busy - Might sound stupid, but often times I found myself smoking because I was bored. Take on extra projects at work, go out every night of the week, etc. If you stay focused on something chances are you'll think less about your cigarette craving.

4. Avoid Alcohol - Quitting cold turkey might make you want to drink more, but getting drunk will only make you crave cigarettes more. Think about how many extra cigarettes you smoke when you're out drinking. If you're serious about quitting smoking, lay off the booze for a while.

5. Look at Pictures of Lung Cancer Patients - This is a very weird approach to quitting cold turkey, but does help others. We all know the dangers of smoking, but a visual example of how fucked up lung cancer can be might be the deciding factor of you sucking up your nicotine withdrawals.

6. Stay Away From Other Smokers - The smell of a smoker or seeing someone else smoke will only make you want to smoke. Avoid other smokers at all costs.

7. Identify Triggers and Avoid Them - Think about your daily routine. When do you reach for a cigarette? After a meal? While watching TV? What factors make you smoke more? Stress? Alcohol? Find what often makes you want to smoke and avoid them.

8. Buy Something Else with Your Cigarette Money - For those of you on a budget, use the money that you normally use for cigarettes towards something else. Anything else. If you don't have the money to buy cigarettes, it will significantly decrease your chances of smoking.

9. Take Up a Healthy Activity - It might sound weird, but if you start playing a sport, running, or do anything that requires more activity you'll find yourself wanting to smoke less and less.

10. Chew Toothpicks - As with eating, having something in your mouth (mind out of the gutters) when you're craving a cigarette will help to curb it.

10 Most Underrated Sublime Songs

2011-06-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

As most music fans know, Sublime has gotten back together with Rome taking on the responsibility of frontman. Given the fact that Sublime is my all time favorite band and think that Bradley Nowell was mucho talented, I have mixed feelings about this (especially given the fact that Sublime concerts these days are flooded with 15 year old kids who weren't even born when Bradley Nowell was alive). Anyway, Sublime to me was more than just "What I Got" and "Santeria". They had a ton of great songs that helped influence a lot of modern music such as Pepper, Slighty Stoopid,and Dirty Heads. If you're attending a Sublime concert in the near future and are only familiar with the singles, it will be worth checking out these top 10 underrated songs by Sublime (and their entire catalog for that matter). Songs that are disqualified from the list due to their popularity are: Date Rape, Smoke Two Joints, What I Got, Santeria, Wrong Way, Caress Me Down, Badfish, April 29, 1992 (my favorite song by them), and Doin' Time. Click on the song name to hear it

1. Seed - Nothing tops Sublime when they are in full out punk rock mode and Seed is them at the top of their game. The song includes one of Bradley's all time best guitar solos.

2. Saw Red - One of the most popular of this list, Saw Red is a track from the highly underrated Robbin' the Hood album featuring guest vocals from No Doubt's Gwen Stefani. Bradly Nowell and Gwen Stefani complement each other's voices very well and come up with one of Sublime's all time catchiest songs. Be sure to check out Bradley's guest appearance on No Doubt's Total Hate (pre Tragic Kingdom days).

3. 40oz to Freedom - The title track from Sublime's debut, in my opinion, encompasses all of the musical intricacies of Sublime. The song combines reggae, ska, punk, and alternative rock into one of Sublime's best songs.

4. Doin' Time (Uptown Dub) - I'll count one of the Doin' Time remixes as being different from Doin' Time (after hearing it you'll see why). A song from the b-side Secondhand Smoke album, Doin' Time is a fantastic remix of of the classic Doin' Time song.

5. Steppin' Razor - The first cover song to make the list (and the second Robbin' the Hood song), Sublime takes Peter Tosh's classic and gives it an 80's dancehall makeover.

6. Ebin - Most people think Ebin is one of the weaker songs from 40oz to Freedom, but I think it's one of the best. A very catchy number featuring another great guitar solo.

7. 5446 That's My Number / Ball and Chain - The second cover to make the list, 5446 That's My Number is an awesome track from the 40oz to Freedom album and one of the few Sublime songs to feature the saxophone.

8. Same in the End - Same in the End falls into the same category as Seed (punk) although a little cleaner.

9. What Happened - Another Sublime song featuring the saxophone, What Happened attempts to recount Bradley Nowell's night of getting wasted in an amusing and catchy way.

10. Scarlet Begonias - A great, great cover of the Grateful Dead classic with Bradley Nowell rapping for the song's bridge.

Honorable Mention: Under My Voodoo

Last Minute Valentine's Day Gifts

2011-02-01T15:32:00.000-08:00

We've all done it (well most of us anyway). You tell yourself that this is the year you will plan your "Valentine's Day gift buying strategy" ahead, but all of a sudden it's February 11th and you've got NOTHING. Not only do you not have a gift, but you don't have a clue on what you can get her in such short notice. You can't do just a card, flowers are cliche, and if you even think about pulling the old "how about we just spend some time together" crap, you'll end up spending the day alone (or being screamed at). If you find yourself in a Valentine's Day predicament, don't fret as we've outlined some great gifts you can buy last minute that will sure to make her (and in some cases him) a happy Valentine's Day celebrator.

1. David's Cookies - Valentine's Day Treats - Who doesn't like dessert? This isn't just your typical box of chocolates from the local pharmacy. David's Cookies provides delicious homemade cookies and dessert items that are really delicious and can be shipped SAME DAY (yes you heard right). From their "be mine bucket" (equipped with teddy bear, heart, 1 lb. tin of assorted fresh baked cookies, and 6 assorted brownies to their Valentine's Day tray, David's Cookies has a variety of Valentine's Day selections that will satisfy any dessert lover.

2. Smilebooks - Custom Photo Book - A gift from the heart that doesn't equate to "wow you're a cheap bastard". Smilebooks offers high quality custom photo books that you can customize and design for any occasion, including Valentine's Day. While same day shipping isn't an option (they actually recommend 6 - 10 business days for your order) you can essentially get your product expedited by contact the site directly. I gave a Smilebook to my girlfriend for our 1 year anniversary and she loved it.

3. FindGifts.com - If you really want a variety of options, check out FindGift.com. What's cool about this website is that you can narrow down the gifts by girlfriend, boyfriend, teen girlfriend, teen boyfriend, wife, and husband. While shipping dates will vary, you will often receive your gift fairly quickly after you purchase.

4. Gifts.com - For you truly last minute shoppers, there is gifts.com "last minute Valentine's Day gifts". From wine to jewelry to clothes, chances are gifts.com has you covered for your Valentine's Day emergencies.

5. Ivanka Trump Collection - If you're going to give her jewelry, why not buy it from one of the most beautiful women in the world. Ivanka Trump has a really beautiful line of jewelry ranging from necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings.

6. Spa Treatment - What woman doesn't love a massage / spa treatment? Using Google (or your favorite search engine) type in "(your town) day spa" and see what pops up. Make sure to check out their reviews (searching for "(spa place) reviews") because if you get a gift card for a crappy place, it might be the last Valentine's Day you celebrate.

8 Ways to Combat Menopause Hot Flashes Naturally

2010-07-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a while, which I apologize for, but today we have a guest blog post from Stacey Rosen, CEO of a great company called At Last Naturals.

View her blog post below on 8 ways to combat menopause hot flashes naturally.

My name is Stacey Rosen, president and CEO of At Last Naturals. I'm a long time reader of Yahoo Shine and excited to write my first blog post. Today's topic will be about natural ways to combat hot flashes, but will be creating more blog posts in the future.

There are many symptoms that come with menopause but the most talked about symptom is definitely hot flashes. Some women can experience up to a dozen hot flashes in just one day making it difficult to sleep and making it hard to focus on their daily activities. Hormonal Replacement Therapy is one effective way to relieve hot flashes but with that comes many side effects and risks. There are many alternative ways women are discovering everyday to relieve the severity of their hot flashes,. Some of the best and most effective ways are listed below.

1)      Dress Appropriately- Hot weather can make hot flashes even worse, by wearing cotton clothes and allowing your skin to breathe you can decrease both the occurrence and severity of these hot flashes, especially in the heat.

2)      Watch Triggers- Everyone is different and a variety of things can trigger hot flashes in different people. It is important to pay attention to what you were doing or eating before your hot flash. You may begin to notice a trend and find out what your triggers may be. Common triggers are alcohol, caffeine, hot food, hot tubs, saunas, smoking, sugary food and spicy foods.

3)      Relax- Stress can also be a common trigger for hot flashes. Giving yourself just 10-15 minutes a day of complete relaxation can greatly decrease your amount of hot flashes. Yoga and many deep breathing exercises can help relax your body and cool down.

4)      Flaxeed- Along with its laundry list of other health benefits, Flaxeed can reduce hot flashes and even ease other menopause symptoms. Consuming 1 tablespoon of ground flaxeed each day may not affect you immediately but after a month of two most people will experience extreme relief from hot flashes.

5)      Herbs- There are many herbs that are known to have estrogen-like properties that can help control your hot flashes. Some of these natural herbs include sage dong quai, red clover and the most effective and commonly used, black cohosh.

6)      Natural Progesterone Cream- 2% progesterone skin cream works in about 85% of perimenopausal women. Using as little as ¼ tsp once a day can begin to have a positive effect on hot flashes. This can be bought over the counter or it can be prescribed.

7)      Soy- In all forms soy can be beneficial but its recommended that you obtain soy from foods that contain it rather than from supplements. Tofu, tempeh, miso, soy milk, whole soybeans, texturized vegetable protein and soy power are all foods that naturally contain soy.

8)      Exercise- One of the more commonly effective natural relief is exercise. Exercising at least 30 minutes a day doing any kind of cardio even if its just simply taking a walk can help prevent hot flashes. Exercising improves circulation and can help your body to cool down more effective during a hot flash.

Top Seven Gifts for Mom on Mother’s Day

2010-04-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Mother’s Day is a time to extend your gratitude to the most important woman in your life –mom. For the sentimental mom, the active mom, the beauty queen mom, the pop culture-enthused mom and the mom who loves to look and smell great, the following top seven gifts for mom on Mother’s Day offer a little something that every kind of mom will appreciate.

1. A SmileBooks Digital Photo Album – A wonderful personal gift that any mom will cherish, a digital photo album from SmileBooks.com creates permanent photo book memories. Choose from seven different photo book sizes ranging from pocket and mini photo books to professional panoramas, and create the perfect photo book for mom using SmileBook’s easy-to-use free software application. Add photos, artwork and text to customize and personalize each page, or take advantage of SmileBook’s professional design service and have an expert designer create a book for you. Order today using coupon code “MAY20” and save 20% off all SmileBooks until May 31.

2. A Lucille Roberts Gym Membership – This might sound like an unorthodox Mother’s Day gift, but a membership to the leading women’s gym and health club is the gift that keeps on giving. With a Lucille Roberts gym membership, mom can enjoy the health benefits of exercise classes, weight loss programs, tips and diets as she gains access to personal training and exclusive diet products. Sign up for a membership for one low price so that mom can take advantage of unlimited visits and classes run by weight loss experts with the knowledge to deliver the results mom desires. Choose from a $15 per month no-commitment membership with $49 due at registration, a 2-year $15 per month membership with $1 due at registration, and a paid-in-full membership for $249.

3. Lauren Hutton’s Mother’s Day Special – Valued at $139 and available now exclusively at LaurenHutton.com for the sale price of $49, Lauren Hutton’s Mother’s Day Special includes everything mom needs to look radiant and beautiful as ever. The Mother’s Day Special features Lauren’s favorite tortoise shell design Face Disc, her Aqua Elements loose powder, plus her award-winning lip liner. In this gift set, mom will also find a Lauren Hutton Natural Lip Duo complete with a lipstick and lip tint, an interchangeable lip balm pot, a coffee massage bar, brown cosmetic bag and keepsake box. Top off this gift set with a fold out brochure of Lauren’s best-kept makeup secrets from her modeling career and mom is sure to appreciate this one-of-a-kind Mother’s Day present.

4. Vera Wang Princess Perfume – A fragrance gem rich with delightful fruit and floral notes, Vera Wang Princess perfume features notes of apple, mandarin meringue, pink frosting, water lily, apricot and vanilla chiffon. With every spray of Vera Wang Princess, mom will happily bask in this whimsical treat, accented with dark chocolate and finished with notes of amber, warm woods and musk.

5. Loving Words to Her Deluxe Jewelry Box – Start with any title across the top, choose from eight pre-written verses or your own special verse, and then end with a 2-line sentiment to be printed on the top of this exquisite jewelry box. The backdrop of your personal message to mom features an enchanting floral design created by watercolor artist Ellen Wehrmann, complete with blooming hydrangeas, brilliant colors and intricate detail. The Loving Words to Her jewelry box, crafted from beautifully rich, mahogany-finish wood also features soft, cream velvet fabric interior lining perfect for protecting the contents. Mom will also love the three removable compartment trays and ring storage area found inside this deluxe jewelry box.

6. Oprah: A Biography – Since it is arguably the most influential television show in history, chances are mom is fan of the Oprah Winfrey show. That said, it would come to no surprise if your mother knew all about Oprah’s life story, from her past sexual abuse and romantic relationships to her weight problems, charitable donations, spiritual beliefs and strong views on the state of the world. However, according to Kitty Kelley, author of Oprah: A Biography, there is still much to learn about one of the greatest figures of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Give mom this controversial book this Mother’s Day and leave her surprised, thrilled and thoroughly entertained.

7. Bain D’esprit Sunflower Spa Bath and Body Gift Set – Fans of this popular scent describe it as an energetic, refreshing and seductive aroma that makes them feel good all day long. Included in this bath and body gift set mom will find everything she needs to freshen up, relax and smell great, along with a personalized gift message from you. This bath and body gift set features a Sunflower scented shower gel, body wash, bubble bath, body lotion, four bath fizzies, bath salts, fragrant Potpourri, sisal back scrubber, loofah, oval body massager and exfoliating bath poof – all presented in an elegant bamboo straw basket.

The Top Ten Unique Gifts for Groomsmen

2010-03-19T12:38:00.000-07:00

A groomsman plays a part in almost every aspect of the wedding. The groomsman is there for the engagement party, shower, bachelor party, rehearsal dinner and ceremony – playing his part and lending a helping hand every step of the way. Although the bonding experience that occurs between groom and groomsman during this special time is the greatest gift of all, the following ten gifts for groomsmen from WeddingChannel.com lend the opportunity to express that extra bit of gratitude.

1. Classic Money Clip – For the groomsman who commands unique style and class, this 2” x 1” personalized classic money clip is a gift that is right on the money. Have your groomsman’s initials engraved in this silver-plated clip, or personalize a line of text up to 12 characters so that he can ditch the wallet and stick to the classic clip that screams coolness.

2. Cigar Cutter – If there is a cigar aficionado amongst your groomsmen, upgrade his cigar smoking experience with this one-of-a-kind, custom-made cigar cutter. Measuring 1.25” x 4”, this nickel-plated cigar cutter complements any cigar collection, complete with a personalized message up to 10 characters.

3. Victorinox Swiss Army Golf Tool – Complete with every tool a golfer needs while out on the course, this Sapphire Swiss Army Golf Tool brings any golf-enthused groomsman up to par. Imagine all of the benefits of a Swiss Army knife - a nail file, blade, bottle opener, tweezers, toothpick and scissors, combined with hidden golf perks including a ball marker, tee punch with groove cleaner and one-handed divot repair. Few groomsman gifts say thanks like this sleek and versatile “green gizmo.”

4. Personalized Barbecue Kit – The ultimate accessory kit for the summer barbeque enthusiast, this sleek carrying case, tagged with an embroidered monogram, houses an array of high-end, stainless steel grilling tools. Inside this personalized barbecue kit, your groomsman will find top-of-the-line grilling gear including a grill brush, spatula, tong and basting brush - all protected by a sturdy, polyester exterior. Complete with a zipper closure and carrying handle, this barbecue kit provides everything a self-proclaimed chef needs to turn out the perfect barbecue.

5. Personalized Poker Set – We are willing to bet that your gambling groomsman will love the idea of having his own portable, personalized poker set. On the inside, your groomsman will uncover a full set of professional poker chips and cards – and on the outside, a classic wood box featuring his name and “established date” printed on a vintage-inspired pub image. Inside and out, this truly memorable groomsman gift is a “sure thing.”

6. Personalized MLB Clubhouse Framed Print – For the groomsman who always dreamt of playing in the major leagues, this personalized MLB Clubhouse framed print is sure to hit a home run. The photograph featured in this black beveled wooden frame depicts four professional jerseys, one featuring your groomsman’s name on the back and the other three with the names of his favorite home team players. As a token of your appreciation, give this gift and turn your groomsman’s childhood dream into a reality.

7. Digital Picture Keychain – Ensure the greatest memories shared between you and your groomsman last forever with this silver digital picture keychain. Store up to 31 of your most precious moments utilizing the user-friendly software, which allows you to transfer photos from your PC or Mac directly to the device. More than just a photo album, this digital picture keychain travels everywhere you do to put a smile on your face at a moment’s notice.

8. Credit Card Case – Since the groom can never take all the credit for planning a successful wedding, this black leatherette credit card case extends a message of gratitude to the helpful groomsman. A sleek alternative to a bulky wallet, this 4 ¼” x 3”personalized credit card case features eight double-sided slots, complete with a stylish brushed silver plate engraved with the groomsman’s initials.

9. Groomsman T-Shirt – At your wedding, the groomsmen wore matching tuxedos as a symbolic representation of the special role assigned to each one. For the groomsman who wants to hold on to that feeling and continue the tradition of special groomsman attire, this groomsman T-shirt satisfies the desire to a T. Made from 50/50 cotton-blend, this black T-shirt with white lettering reads “Groomsman” and is available in large or extra-large sizes.

10. Leather Business Card Case – For the professional groomsman who “means business,” this leather business card case serves as the perfect gift. A sleek card case with an engraved stainless steel plate, this leather case keeps business cards neat, crisp, fashionable and readily available at any given moment. Personalize this leather business card case with up to two lines of text at 15 characters per line and lead your groomsman down the path towards successful business deals.

The Tax Club Investigates: The Taxes of Blogging, (while Blogging on Taxes)

2010-02-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to announce our first ever guest blogger. Today we have a blog post from the fine folks over at The Tax Club. They have a great blog as well called The Tax Club Report. We look forward to other guest blogging opportunities from them.

As we begin to rely more on the World Wide Web for our every day needs, entrepreneurs are learning different ways to use the internet to generate income. Sure, the “Dot Com” era might be something for the business section of the news, but not everyone needs the Wall Street Journal or a high-tech understanding of computers to learn how to make a dime. For example, a lot of people have taken up something that’s as old-fashioned as apple pie and book clubs: sharing hobbies!

Whether it’s knitting, cooking, or fixing houses, the best way to share your special talent with an international crowd is to start a weblog, or a blog. This term is often used by the media to describe political weblogs, but any kind of online journal can be a blog. It’s likely that even a few of our readers have blogs of their own. Usually, a blogger makes income by letting third parties advertise on their website. If the blog was created as a platform to share your thoughts on some relevant issues and not to generate a profit, anything made should be filed under the “hobby” section of the tax return.

Expenses of a hobby can be deducted, but only up to the amount of your hobby income. The expenses are treated as a miscellaneous tax deduction on Schedule A of your tax return, limited by the 2% of Adjusted Gross Income threshold, so not every hobby will get the deduction. If the income becomes significant and more time and effort is expended to generate a profit from the blog, then the blogger might be able to treat it as a business, which means some of their expenses can be deducted directly against the income. That’s great news for people who put a large sum of money into their blogs yearly.

So how does one cross over and become a blogger with a business? For the IRS not to think you’re just trying to claim some deductions off your hobby, you have to become a pretty serious blogger. In determining whether you have a business or a hobby, the Internal Revenue Service and the courts rely heavily on the following factors:

(1) the manner in which the taxpayer carries on the activity; (2) the expertise of the taxpayer or his advisers; (3) the time and effort expended by the taxpayer in carrying on the activity; (4) the expectation that the assets used in the activity may appreciate in value; (5) the success of the taxpayer in carrying on similar or dissimilar activities; (6) the taxpayer's history of income or losses with respect to the activity; (7) the amount of occasional profits, if any, which are earned; (8) the financial status of the taxpayer; and (9) elements of personal pleasure or recreation involved. The preceding factors, although not all inclusive, should guide you, so that your business activities are seen as professional and well planned. If you cannot meet these factors, there is a “backdoor” way to prove that your activity is a for-profit activity by showing that the activity made a profit in at least three of the last five tax years, including the current year.

To have the activity treated as a business, rather than a hobby, you need to approach the activity in a professional and serious manner. You should be able to show that you put time and effort into your blog and you have a dynamic business plan that changes to make your activity more lucrative on a regular basis. You also shouldn’t be teaching people beginner’s knitting when you yourself haven’t reached intermediate; the IRS will be looking for a higher level of expertise. But as long as you are accomplished, you needn’t have your M.B. in Knitting Sciences; there are a lot of people out there who maintain informative blogs for income whose skills were self-taught.

Once you’ve made sure you’re almost at the point where your hobby is no longer just fun, and you are generating enough income, you can start examining your expenses. The IRS says that anything you use that is “necessary and ordinary” is deductible, and for many of the crafts I mentioned, there are certainly some very necessary items that are used. To start with, all of them would need a website, so hosting the website itself can be deductible. On top of that, anyone knitting, cooking, or fixing houses would probably take photos, both to illustrate the exact motions or actions for old readers, and to attract new ones (everyone loves photos). Thus, a new digital camera for your blog could be deducted. Once you get down to your hobby-specific items, you need to remember that only what is necessary is deductible. This means that if you are knitting, the yarn for the first Blue Cabled Alpaca Scarf will definitely be deductible, but the three you made for your nephews’ birthdays will not. If you are fixing houses, you can justify showing your readers how to replace roof shingles once, but you can only deduct the expenses that one time.

If all these rules seem overwhelming, then don’t be dismayed! You can still just keep a blog as a hobby, report your income as miscellaneous income and deduct the expenses limited to the income received from this activity on Schedule A. You can sleep sound at night knowing the IRS won’t be interested in your website (unless you have photos— as we said, everyone loves photos). But if this sounds like just a step away from what you’re already doing, consider filing your appropriate blog expenses under Schedule C this year and give yourself a pat on the back— congratulations! You’re a business owner!

10 Ways to Get on the Front Page of Reddit

2010-02-22T14:52:00.000-08:00

Before I start, you might ask "why not Digg?". Well, for one, Reddit is my all time favorite website. Additionally, Digg might get more traffic and a front page story on Digg might translate to more unique visitors to your website, but the front page is ruled by only 5% (approximately) of their user base. Basically if you're not a power user, you are shit out of luck unless you dedicate hours daily to becoming one. The content on Digg isn't bad, I just do not like the website for that and a multitude of other reasons. That being said, the traffic you can obtain from a front page Reddit story is upwards to 50,000 unique visitors in a 24 hour period..nothing to sneeze at. Given allt he submissions done on a daily basis through Reddit, how does your entry become a front page story? Below are ten tips that will help increase your chances.

1. Submit Something "Reddit-Related": Find random shit around the house, make it look like a Reddit alien, snap a picture of it, submit it to Reddit and watch the upvotes come! If you're not that artistic or creative, find an article that mentions Reddit positively (or better yet..a celebrity who mentions that they love Reddit) and that will do the trick. Just make sure it's not your lame blog that nobody has ever heard of. You'll find yourself here: http://www.reddit.com/r/reportthespammers

2. Make fun of Nickelback: Just like the rest of the world, Reddit hates Nickelback. Find a clever way to make fun of these no talent ass clowns and the Reddit community will adore you. Are there Reddit users who are indifferent towards Nickelback or even ones that like them? Sure, but they are greatly outnumbered by the ones who hate them.

3. Use a Credible Source (Preferably the Original One): If you find a great video, do NOT post it on your blog and then submit the blog link to Reddit. That folks is called spam and will get you nothing but downvotes. "But what about getting traffic to my blog?". Trust me, randomly spamming isn't the way to do it. You might not see the immediate benefit, but building up karma and trust is key to achieving success on Reddit or most other Social Media communities.

4. Be Transparent: Don't make believe that the website you are submitting to Reddit isn't yours. Be open and honest about it. As long as the content you are submitting is worth reading, Reddit won't necessarily care that it's your content. That being said, this doesn't mean you can submit your stuff all the time, but it is okay to do it every so often. Again, just don't be obnoxious about it. When doing it, be transparent with your submission headline. You can include "my view on x" or "a picture I took of x"..whatever makes the most sense.

5. Are you Interesting? Do an AMA!: AMA stands for "Ask me Anything" and there is a popular subreddit for it (http://www.reddit.com/r/iama). The subreddit actually stands for "I am A", but you get the point. People are curious nature so if you do something unique for a living or have been a part of something interesting, do an AMA.

6. Advertising: If all else fails or you just have money to kill, you can advertise your content on Reddit. It won't appear mixed in with the other front pag stories, but will show up above them on the rotating banner.

7. Remind Everybody How Long it Is Since Sean Hannity Promised to be Waterboarded: This involves simple math so if addition isn't your thing you might want to forget this. April 22nd (I believe) was the date that Sean Hannity promised to be waterboarded for charity, claiming that it really isn't torture. Just a heads up..it is and Sean hasn't followed through with his promise. Make sure if you go down this submission route to wait at least two weeks after the previous Sean Hannity waterboarding reminder.

8. Hate on Digg: Make fun of Digg (kind of like what I did in my opening paragraph) and most of Reddit will love you (while others will say "why all the hate?"). Create a cartoon that compares Reddit to Digg (with Reddit looking far more superior of course) and Reddit will love you even more.

9. Share Your Porn Collection: I usually see at least one or two NSFW (Not Safe for Work) submissions appear on the front page of Reddit at any given time. Come across a great nude pic? Share it with the Reddit community.

10. Do a Follow Up Submission: This works especially well with a "Self" submission. If you had something that reached the front page that calls for a follow up (i.e. You asked Reddit how to break up with your girlfriend), create another post, reference your original one and let the them know what happened.

Top 10 Best Unknown Websites - 2010 Addition

2010-02-19T06:06:00.000-08:00

Given the success of our previous "top 10 best unknown websites" list (we still get about 50 hits a day to this year and a half old article), I decided to make an updated list with more current "unknown websites". Feel free to add others in the comment section.

10. 27 B Slash 6 - Unusual name, unusual website. This funny funny website, run by Australian Web Designer (maybe?) David Thorne, mostly consists of e-mail exchanges of David screwing with people. These people range from landlords, gym staff, and coworkers. You might recognize this site from the Spider Drawing Story, but there are a dozen more hilarious e-mail exchanges on the site. Also a somewhat under the radar article are his son's rants on every day life.

9. Awkward Family Photos - They could be a little more strict with what they allow on their website, but Awkward Family Photos is still an entertaining time killer. The website is exactly what it sounds like...a list of awkward family photos.

8. Passive Aggressive Notes - Ever receive a "not so nice" e-mail or note? Submit to this blogging website and you'll likely see it appear in a future post. Passive Aggressive Notes is entirely made up individuals submitting passive aggressive notes they come across to the website hosts who post it and blog about it. Very addicting.

7. People of Walmart - This site might make you think twice before enterting a Walmart again (or maybe it will entice you to go even more). People of Walmart highlights the weirdest breed of Walmart customers via hilarious pictures.

6. Who's Your Champion - From Chuck Norris to Epic Beard Man, if you can think of a true "champion" you'll likely find them on here. Who's Your Champion is a website that allows you to submit who you think is a champion and vote for other people's submissions. Submissions includes a bio of the person, video, and various imagery. This is a great site to find a ton of "wtf" YouTube gems.

5. Please Rob Me - This is starting to get out of unknown territory given the fact that it was featured on TechCrunch and Mashable (not to mention that it was a front page story on Reddit). This website is just more comical than anything else. It's also a website where you probalbly will visit it once and never come back again. I won't spoil the joke..you'll see what I'm referring to when you visit.

4. The Engagement Club - The Engagement Club is a new Social Network that revolves around all things engagement related. Seek advice from the site owner Josh or various forum users, read some educational articles, or see how the love story between Tim and Jill unfold. My personal favorite feature of the site are the proposal videos. They have a directory of various engagement proposal videos sorted by "best", "worst", and "most romantic". Definitely can spend hours watching these.

3. Chatroulette - Chatroulette is exactly how it sounds. It's a random chat program where you don't know who you'll be speaking to. The program allows you to type in your text and see the other person via video. Very interesting and often hilariously entertaining.

2. Lamebook - To me, nothing is funnier than seeing a Facebook Status update gone wrong. Lamebook has a ton of them. You might have to sit through a few of them to find the truly hilarious ones, but definitely worth it once you do.

1. BoxerJam - I put CandyStand as one of my favorite "free online games" websites for my last post. BoxerJam has TONS of extremely addicting games (mostly focused on mind challenging ones which are my favorite). Favorite game here has to be MindStein.

Top 5 New Restaurants in New York City

2010-02-16T11:06:00.001-08:00

NYC is known for many things, including the wide variety and greatness of their restaurants. Every year there are many new (and delicious) eateries that sprout up in New York City. It is nearly impossible to be kept in the loop on all the new restaurants in the area making it highly likely that you are missing out on a new potential favorite food spot of choice. We've visited a few new ones over the past few months and narrowed it down to the five best new restaurants (3 months or later) in New York City.

1. This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef - Brand spanking new, but our favorite. Katz deli needs to watch out because This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef is one of the best sandwich joints I've ever been to. Seriously. Go now before the lines start to pick up because this place will catch on quickly. The menu is limited, but I think this works to their advantage given how great the food is.
Must Have: Pastrami Sandwich (the best I've ever had)
Location: 149 1st Avenue

2. Led Zeppole - Led Zeppole I believe is run by the same owners as This Little Piggy Had Roast Beef (if this is the case, congrats on having two kick ass new eateries). If you have a sweet tooth this place will satisfy your craving and then some. From deep fried Oreos, to soft serve ice cream, to fried dough this place has it all when it comes to desserts. Downside is the size (very small), but might make it's way as the best dessert spot in NYC.
Must Have: Funnel Cake
Location: 328 E 14th St

3. The Tax Club Cafe - You would never guess from the look of their website, but The Tax Club Cafe seems to pride itself on its exclusivity (made evident by the lack of address or phone number information). We'll tell you that it's on Lexington Avenue, but that's all we'll reveal :). The Tax Club Cafe is an American joint that specializes in brunch (although they do serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well). Food is excellent, service is great, just a pain in the ass to find. If you do find it, you'll be in for a treat.
Must Have: Breakfast Risotto with Quail Eggs.
Location: Lexington Ave

4. Matsukado - For those of you looking for a new Asian eatery look no further. If you're a fan of Japanese noodle, this place will be perfect for you as they offer amen, udon and soba. If you're on a budget, this place has plenty of food for a low price as well.
Must Have: Miso Ramen
Location: 104 2nd Ave

5. Carteles - I personally hate the decor (too vibrant), but it doesn't take away from the great food that this Cuban sandwich shop serves up. Service is a little slow (which is the only downside), but you can easily get around this by calling ahead of time. If Cuban sandwiches are your thing..or even if your'e not sure...definitely check this place out.
Must Have: El Cubano
Location: 443 E 6th St

Ten Celebrities Who Lost Their Lives to Substance Abuse and Addiction

2010-01-13T14:23:00.000-08:00

Celebrities gain access to some of the world’s most exclusive parties and often earn more money than they know what to do with. Unfortunately, the fast-paced high-life can catch up to a celebrity at a moment’s notice, where not even all of the fame and fortune in the world could save them from the fatal effects of substance abuse. The following ten entertainment icons all lost their lives to the consequences of substance abuse.

1. DJ AM – Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein died of an accidental overdose on August 28, 2009 in his New York apartment. Goldstein’s autopsy revealed acute intoxication as the cause of his death due to the combined effects of cocaine, oxycodone, Vicodin, Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, Benadryl and Levamisole. Further reports revealing the presence of nine undigested Oxycontin pills in DJ AM’s system point to suicide as a possible cause of his death.

2. Heath Ledger – Pronounced dead at 3:36 p.m. in his fourth-floor Manhattan apartment on January 22, 2008, actor Heath Ledger lost his life accidentally to acute intoxication from the combined effects of prescription medications including OxyContin, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam and doxylamine.

3. Kurt Cobain – An electrician who entered Kurt Cobain’s Lake Washington home on April 8, 1994 discovered the musician’s lifeless body along with a shotgun and a suicide note. Although he died of a gunshot wound, an autopsy administered to the deceased American songwriter later revealed a high concentration of heroin and traces of Valium in his body, a combination sources believe may have contributed to his mood and behavior that led to his suicide.

4. Chris Farley – On December 18, 1997, Chris Farley’s brother found the American comedian and actor dead in his apartment. An autopsy later revealed that Chris Farley had died of a heart attack, overdosing on a combination of cocaine and morphine early that morning.

5. Judy Garland – American actress and singer Judy Garland died from an overdose of barbiturates in the bathroom of her rented house in Chelsea, London. The ten 1.5-grain Seconal capsules found in Garland’s bloodstream created speculation that her overdose was a suicide, but the lack of inflammation and drug residue in her stomach indicated that she took the drugs over a long period. Judy’s death certificate states that her death had been “accidental.”

6. Jimi Hendrix – Although the death of American guitarist, singer and songwriter Jimi Hendrix has never been fully explained (reports are unclear as to whether his death was a suicide or an accident), an autopsy revealed the presence of nine prescribed Vesperax sleeping pills in Hendrix’s stomach at the time of his death on September 18, 1970.

7. Michael Jackson – Initial reports claimed that painkillers played a role in pop legend Michael Jackson’s death, which occurred at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on June 25, 2009. However, later reports pointed to additional medications that may have contributed to his death, including the anesthetic Diprivan and medication Jackson had taken for insomnia.

8. Marilyn Monroe – Found dead in the bedroom of her Los Angeles home on August 5, 1962, American actress, singer and model Marilyn Monroe lost her life to acute barbiturate poisoning. Initially listed as a “probable suicide” and later thought to have been a murder, Monroe’s death is one of the most debated conspiracy theories of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

9. Anna Nicole Smith –American model, sex symbol, actress and TV personality Anna Nicole Smith died of combined drug intoxication on February 8, 2007. Smith’s autopsy revealed the presence of Chloral hydrate in her system, the major component that doctors believe caused her death. The sedative became increasingly lethal when combined with the other prescription drugs in her system including four benzodiazepines, Klonopin, Ativan, Serax and Valium, as well as Benadryl and Topamax.

10. John Belushi – Comedian, actor and musician John Adam Belushi, most notably recognized for his work on Saturday Night Live and for his roles in movies National Lampoon’s Animal House and The Blues Brothers, died on March 5, 1982 from a combined injection of cocaine and heroin, a shot known in the drug world as a “speedball.”

Top 7 Worst Rappers Ever

2009-12-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

Insipred by a post I saw on Reddit, I decided to compile a list of the worst rappers ever. These were extracted by recommendations in the aforementioned comment thread. These guys suck...to say the least.

1. I Don't Care Who You Are U Tube

2. Speak the Hungarian Rapper

3. Eli Porter the #1 Freestyle Battle Emcee

4. Bangs - My Life is Hard

5. Boostalk - We Gon Rock

6. Denny Blazin Hazen

7. It's So Cold in the D

10 Fragrances Sure To Drive Him Wild

2009-12-07T08:03:00.000-08:00

You've got the hot outfit…the candlelight…the wine….the music…now all you need is that sensual finishing touch -- the perfume that will put your guy in the mood and drive him wild. Here are some top 10 fragrances for kicking your romantic rendezvous into high gear.

1. Romance from Ralph Lauren – Who needs real flowers when you're wearing the sexy, sultry scents of fresh rose, ginger, marigold, violet, oakmoss and musk.

2. Pink Sugar by Aquolina – Satisfy his sweet tooth with Pink Sugar featuring notes of cotton candy, caramel, raspberry, bergamot, licorice, powder, fig leaves, orange, strawberry, and wood.

3. Jessica Simpson Fancy – Tickle his fancy with the sweet scents of amber crystals, apricot nectar, pear, gardenia, jasmine, caramel, vanilla creme, sandalwood, red fruits and toasted almonds.

4. Lacoste Touch Of Pink - Be oh-so-pretty in pink. A sexy blend of coriander leaf, blood orange, cardamom, musks, jasmine, carrot seed, violet leaf, touch of vanilla and sandalwood.

5. Burberry THE BEAT – His heart will skip a beat when he smells this beautiful wood floral scent with bergamot, cardamom, pink pepper, mandarin, Ceylon tea, iris, white musk, vetiver, and cedar.

6. D&G Light Blue – Color your night wild with D & G Light Blue and its notes of rose, apple, musk and jasmine.

7. Issey Miyake L’Eau D’Issey – A seductively simple, feminine fresh water floral scent.

8. Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani – Create a sexy air of mystery with this unexpected Eau De Parfum spray.

9. Chanel Chanel #5 – A classic scent by CoCo Chanel that continues to induce attraction with its sparkling floral fragrance notes.

10. Calvin Klein Obsession – The name says it all. Musk and spice and everything nice.

Apologize Again

2009-11-19T05:25:00.001-08:00

I apologize again for minimal posting. A new one will be on here before Thanksgiving. I am hoping to get one once a week at least after that.

Top Eight Hanna-Barbera Cartoon Characters

2009-10-20T10:13:00.000-07:00

Starting in the early 1960s and up until the syndication of weekday afternoon cartoons in the mid-1980s, American animation studio Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. dominated the highly popular Saturday morning cartoon category. Along with the creation of numerous successful cartoon shows came fortune and fame for animation directors William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, who created an entourage of cartoon characters that would pave the way for decades of animated entertainment. Below are the top eight cartoon characters ever created by the Hanna-Barbera Enterprise.

1. Fred Flintstone – Fred Flintstone is the blue-collared brontosaurus-crane operator from Bedrock who coined the catchphrase “Yabba-Dabba-Doo!” The loud-mouthed and aggressive Flintstone spends most of his time and efforts scheming up ways to improve the working class lot of his family, which consists of his wife Wilma and daughter Pebbles. Despite his appearance, Fred Flintstone is a highly skilled athlete who excels in sporting events such as bowling, golfing, football and pool. He even went to the extent of taking ballet lessons to improve his bowling skills where he adopted the nickname “Twinkletoes”, a name that stuck with him throughout his college football years.

2. George Jetson – 38-year-old George Jetson lives with wife Jane, teenage daughter Judy and 7-year-old Elroy in the fictional and futuristic Orbit City, where all of the buildings are set on giant poles, much like the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. Formerly the star pitcher for the Orbit High School Spaceball team, Jetson is a digital index operator who works at Spacely’s Space Sprockets, a manufacturer of “sprockets” and other high tech equipment. Jetson often complains about his heavy workload, which requires him to push a single button on a computer for one hour, one day a week, and frequently loses his job at the whim of his short-tempered boss, Cosmo G. Spacely. Despite losing his job repeatedly, Jetson always regains his position by the end of the episode once Spacely has cooled off and come to his senses.

3. Papa Smurf – After Grandpa and Nanny Smurf, Papa Smurf is the third oldest of the Smurfs, and has lived for an unprecedented 542 years. It is easy to recognize the gentle, wise and knowledgeable Papa Smurf, who stands out from the remainder of the 100-year-old Smurfs complements of his red attire and bushy white beard, which was once brown during his younger years. Serving as the leader and paternal figure of the Smurfs, the naturally altruistic Papa Smurf is always looking to lend a helping hand, and is constantly concerned with the harmony and well-being of the Smurf community. In his leisure time, Papa Smurf enjoys experimenting with magical chemistry, or alchemy, and his greatest hobby is creating elixirs that he uses to help fellow Smurfs who have gotten themselves into trouble.

4. Yogi Bear – In 1958, Yogi Bear made his television debut as a supporting character to Huck in The Huckleberry Hound Show. Three years later, in 1961, Hanna-Barbera Productions gave Yogi his own self-titled show, The Yogi Bear Show, which eventually became more popular than The Huckleberry Hound Show. Yogi was the first break-out character ever created by Hanna-Barbera Studios, but more significantly, he was one of the first of several characters created with a collar. The collar allowed his body to remain static so that only his head would need to be drawn in each frame while speaking, drastically reducing the number of drawings needed to create the cartoon. In fact, artists could now create a seven-minute cartoon, which usually requires 14,000 drawings, using only 2,000.

5. Scoobert “Scooby” Doo – Best friend and pet of Norville “Shaggy” Rogers, Scooby-Doo is the unique, seven-year-old (or forty-nine in dog years) Great Dane who gets scared just as easily as his master. Despite being terrified of what is lurking around the corner, close friends Velma, Daphne and Fred encourage Scooby to go after dangerous villains with enticing and irresistible “Scooby Snacks.” Unlike the other dogs in his reality, Scooby is able to speak, but only in broken English where he tends to pronounce words as if they started with an “R”. Scooby reveals this error in pronunciation at the end of the episode when he howls out his catch phrase, “Scooby-Dooby-Doo!” only it tends to sound more like “Rooby-Rooby-Roo!”

6. Huckleberry Hound – Despite having a name that is synonymous with being “average”, Huckleberry Hound is the blue dog who always seems to come out on top. Either through his slow and persistent style of tackling assignments, or just out of sheer luck, “Huck” has the remarkable ability to successfully complete his jobs, even in the face of backfiring results. Huckleberry Hound has taken on roles in numerous fields, including serving as a police officer and working as a dogcatcher, where he never fails to accomplish his goals with a relaxed, sweet and well-intentioned approach.

7. Tom Cat – Thomas “Tom” Cat is the blue and grey anthropomorphic cat who makes up 50% of the academy-award winning cat-and-mouse duo known to the world as Tom & Jerry. Since his first appearance in the 1940 animated short Puss Gets the Boot, Tom Cat has chased and competed with Jerry Mouse episode after episode, but rarely sets out to eat him despite the natural laws that define the food chain among the creatures of the animal kingdom. Tom spends most of his time setting traps for Jerry, but many of them backfire and end up hurting him rather than Jerry. It is worthy to note that Tom, who started out as a cat with normal feline intelligence, has changed dramatically over the years. Since his debut, Tom Cat has become almost completely bipedal, branching off from his quadrupedal nature to adopt an almost-human level of intelligence.

8. Jerry Mouse – Gerald “Jerry” Mouse makes up the other half of the dynamic duo, Tom & Jerry. The brown anthropomorphic mouse also made his first appearance in Puss Gets the Boot, where audiences knew him as simply, “the Mouse”. It was not until his next appearance in The Midnight Snack where he adopted the name Jerry. Jerry Mouse has walked on two legs since his debut, and made his last appearance in The Karate Guard, a 2005 Tom and Jerry cartoon produced and directed by Joseph Barbera before his death. The Karate Guard short remains the last theatrical cartoon to feature the famous cat-and-mouse duo.

Sorry for the Lack of Posting

2009-10-12T09:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting. Expect a new top 10 list post sometime this week.

Top 10 Wines Under $10

2009-09-24T13:30:00.000-07:00

Finding a great wine can be an arduous task given the amount of different brands / types that are out there. When you are on a tight budget, this task can be even more difficult. There are, however, a lot of great wines out there that are still highly affordable. Below are the top 10 wines for under $10.

1. JM Fonseca Twin Vines - JM Fonseca Twin Vines is a white wine that is extremely refreshing and light (on both the palate and the wallet). This wine is a perfect compliment to any chicken or pasta dish as well.
Price: $9.99

2. Chauteau August - This merlot (the best for under $10) has a smooth taste and goes well with red meat and sharp cheeses.
Price: $8

3.Ravenswood Zinfadel - A fairly dry wine, but one of the best you can get for under $10. Extremely smooth with lots of flavor.
Price: $8.99

4. Twin Fin Pinot Noir - Has a slight "alcoholy" taste, but is very rich. Goes great with pizza, steak, or pasta with red sauce.
Price: $7.99

5. Voga Quattro - An interesting (and great tasting) blend of merlot, shiraz, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir.
Price: $8.99

6. D'Arenberg the Stump Jump - Has the smell and taste of dark berries. A very good red wine for under $10.
Price: $9.99

7. Veramonte Merlot Reserva - A mixture of blackberry and cherry aromas. This red wine has a great flavor.
Price: $8.95

8. HRM Rex Goliath Zinfandel - A California wine with a lot of blackberry and cherry flavors.
Price: $9

9. Banrock Station Riesling - A South Australian white wine with a hint of lemon flavor.
Price: $6.99

10. Domaine Houchart - A great summer wine that has hints of strawberry and watermelon.
Price: $9.97

10 Best Albums from the 90's

2009-09-22T05:28:00.000-07:00

A while back we did a blog post entitled "10 Best Albums from the 90's". It is only fitting that a post dedicated to the best albums from the 90's is created as well. The 90's music scene shifted from the New Wave era into the grunge / post grunge era as bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Bush ruled the radio. While the ten albums below might not all fall under your top 10 list, there is no arguing their popularity and their influence on modern music.

10. Live - Throwing Copper: Throwing Copper was the best "Nirvana influenced" album of the 90's. When listening to the current (horrible) albums that Live has released, it is surprising that they ever put a great album like this. Nevertheless, Throwing Copper is a great record that doesn't include a filler track.

Best Track: Lightning Crashes

9. Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory: I've listened to "Definitely Maybe" nearly as much as this album and I think the Morning Glory is the better album tune for tune. Oasis is hardly originial or innovative, but they take the music of their influences (primarily The Beatles) and turn it into a flawless pop album. Every track on this album is ridiculously catchy from the opener "Hello" all the way to the closer "Champagne Supernova".

Best Track: Champagne Supernova

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Blood Sugar Sex Magik: The first four releases from the RHCP were all very good (with the exception of maybe their debut), but they really came into their own on Blood Sugar Sex Magik. This album might be very long, but it is always enjoyable throughout. No other band was playing music like the Chili Peppers at the time and Blood Sugar Sex Magik illustrates why they were one of the best of the 90's.

Best Track: Under the Bridge

7. Pearl Jam - Ten: There is no question that this is a great album, but what makes Ten even more impressive is that it was a debut album. Eddie Vedder did work on other projects prior to Pearl Jam (Temple of the Dog), but that doesn't take away from the fact that this album is incredibly impressive for a debut (or any album for that matter). Pearl Jam did release other great albums during their still ongoing career (Vitalogy, Vs, Yield), but none have come close to the nearly perfect Ten.

Best Track: Black

6. Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream: I almost put "Mellon Collie" here instead. Even though "Mellon Collie" has some of my favorite Smashing Pumpkins tunes, the double album has too much filler to make the list. Siamese Dream, on the otherhand, is nearly a flawless album. Even though this piggy backed off of the success of Nirvana's Nevermind, it still had a huge influence on the post-grunce music scene.

Best Track: Today

5. Jimmy Eat World - Clarity: This is where all my credibility goes out the window right? For people who first heard Jimmy Eat World from the song "The Middle" (or future hits), you really need to give this release a listen. Clarity is completely different from the band's other releases. It is, without question, the best emo album of all time.

Best Track: Lucky Denver Mint

4. Sublime - Sublime: What's frustrating to me about this album (Sublime's best release) is that lead singer Bradley Nowell died shortly before it's release; never, in my opinion, reaching his peak as a songwriter. Nevertheless, this album is truly one of the best ones released during the 90s. No other band had mixed reggae, rock, pop, and alternative music nearly as well as Sublime did. This album (along with 40oz to Freedom to a lesser extent) helped to influence modern bands such as Pepper and Slightly Stoopid.

Best Track: April 29, 1992

3. Nirvana - Nevermind: Nevermind completely changed the face of music. Nobody was making music like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Lithium" and if they were, it certainly wasn't ruling the radiospace like Nirvana's tunes were. This album is hyped a lot due to Kurt Cobain's death, the fact that it was "different" than other music at the time, and because of how many bands this album influenced. This album is one of the rare ones that is just as good as the hype and even after 18 years (can't believe it's been out this long), it still continues to have an impact on newer generations from their very first listen.

Best Track: Smells Like Teen Spirit

2. Radiohead - Ok Computer: Even with the brilliance of "The Bends", nobody anticipated a release quite like this from Radiohead. Every single track on this album (with maybe the exception of "Fitter Happier") illustrates why this band is in a league of their own. This album almost always appears in people's top 3 for best 90's albums and rightfully so.

Best Track: Paranoid Android

1. Green Day - Dookie: Many would argue that while this is certainly worthy of the "top 10", it should not be in the number 1 spot. Green Day's Dookie, however, has had just as much impact on modern music as Nirvana's Nevermind and Radiohead's Ok Computer. This album, in my opinion, is not only one of the best albums from the 90's, but also one of the best of all time. Every song on here is an instant punk classic. Bands throughout the 90's and the new millenium tried to replicate the success of Dookie, but none have even come close. Green Day continues to make great music, but none of their future releases could compare to that of Dookie.

Best Track: Longview

Last Minute Rosh Hashanah Gift Ideas

2009-09-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

Choosing the perfect gift is always an arduous task, but when it comes to last minute gift purchases this becomes even more difficult. Rosh Hashanah is only three days away which means that if you haven't purchased a gift yet your options are somewhat limited. However, there are still a lot of great Rosh Hashanah gifts that you can buy in time for the holiday. Below is a list of the top five Rosh Hashanah gifts that you can purchase at the last minute.

1. Rosh Hashanah Cookie Arrangement - Instead of cake, why not celebrate the New Year with a Rosh Hashanah Cookie Arrangement courtesy of Clever Cookie. Not only are these cookies Kosher (and dairy free), you can get your own personalized message incorporated onto a cookie. Same day shipping available for individuals within the New York area and next day shipping available for people outside the New York region. This unique gift idea is bound to be a success at any Rosh Hashanah gathering.

2. Bagels from Bagel Boss - When it comes to bagels, nobody does it better than New York. Sure you can get a bagel anywhere, but New York bagels are known for being the best (from my experience I can definitely tell you that this is true). My favorite bagel place has to be Bagel Boss (Egg bagel with lox cream cheese specifically). What's great about Bagel Boss is that if you are not in the New York region you can get them shipped to you from anywhere in the United States the next day.

3. Jewish Recipes - For those of you with no Rosh Hashanah gift budget, you can preparea custom cookbook of Jewish recipes. JewishRecipes.com offers thousands of different Kosher recipe ideas for free. Why not put together a few of these recipes into one booklet and give it to the indiviudal hosting the Rosh Hashanah gathering. This idea is not only thoughtful, but won't require you to spend a dime.

4. Jewish Calendar - Since Rosh Hashanah is a celebration of the new year, a Jewish calendar makes perfect sense for a gift idea. TraditionsJewishGifts.com offers a selection of Jewish calendars that you can receive in two days after your purchase.

5. Stars of David Jewelry - Judaica Web Store offers over 100 jewelry items for sale that contain the Star of David. This gift idea is definitely for somebody with a more lucrative budget, if you have the money it makes for a great gift idea. Jewelry from Judaica Web Store can be sent within 2 days after purchase.

The Most Anticipated Las Vegas Events of September 2009

2009-09-11T09:19:00.000-07:00

Iron-pumping trade shoes, hilarious stand-up comics, Friday afternoon poolside parties and Labor Day Weekend extravaganzas, this up and coming month of September is sure to leave you wanting more.Clear your schedule, book your flight, pack your bag and get ready for the most anticipated Las Vegas events of September 2009.

Ditch Friday Daytime Pool Party at Palms Pool & Bungalows – Friday, September 11, 2009

Experience the ultimate poolside party presented by N9ne Group, Ditch Friday, at the Palms Pool & Bungalows on September 11. The most scintillating party on the Las Vegas strip takes place across three-acres of an adults-only playground complemented by three pools, a climate-controlled gaming area, four bars and two dramatic waterfalls. Partygoers can enjoy creative cocktails and mouth-watering cuisine while relaxing in a sexy and sophisticated setting filled with chic custom-designed furniture and décor. Each of the three two-story, poolside bungalows at the Palms has its own private bar, 42-inch plasma television, DVD player, stereo, LED lighted bathrooms, comfortable king beds and direct views of the poolside stage. The pool also features 27 amenity-packed VIP cabanas loaded with a stone table with a built-in ice chest, state-of-the-art sound system, 32-inch plasma television, house phone, lighted fan, refrigerator, digital safes and designer lounge furniture. Don’t miss this perfect excuse to skip work on Friday! Ticket prices range from $20 for pre-paid entry to 60$ for a VIP All Access Wristband. Log on to the N9ne Group Ticket Center for more information.

Ray Romano & Brad Garrett at the Mirage Resort and Casino Las Vegas – September 12 & 13, 2009

America’s favorite sarcastic brothers from the Emmy award-winning sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond” are set to reminisce on hilarious old times on stage in the Terry Fator Theatre at the Mirage Resort and Casino. Fans of the sitcom should not expect to see “Robert Barone” (Garrett’s deep-voiced character from the show), but an unrestrained stand-up comic who leaves audiences laughing long after he has left the stage. Despite branching off from their television alter egos, Romano and Garrett still behave like brothers on stage, casually insulting each other one minute and then boosting the other’s spirit the next. The dynamic duo is sure to bring on some tears from uncontrollable laughter, and promises to be one of the most spectacular Las Vegas events of September. Ticket prices range from $99 to $119 with seating based upon availability. Doors open one hour prior to show time and children under the age of 16 are not permitted to attend. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult and parental discretion is advised.

Joe Weider’s Olympia Weekend 2009 at the Las Vegas Convention Center – September 24 – 27, 2009

The 2009 Olympia Weekend Expo kicks off its fifth straight year at the Las Vegas Convention Center on September 25, bringing the ultimate bodybuilding and fitness experience to fans and enthusiasts from all over the world. Join an expected guest list of over 30,000 fans, all free to sample and purchase new products from across the globe while meeting professional athletes, celebrities and industry icons along the way. Witness grueling, adrenaline-pumping competitions such as Olympia’s Strongest Man Challenge and the Women’s Battle of the Biceps, as well as exciting shows like Olympia’s Powerlifting Super Show. Olympia is also proud announce the return of FLEX Magazine’s Bikini Model Search, the NAGA Olympia World Grappling Championship, Superstar Training Camp, 202 Showdown and the world-famous Olympia Muscle Pit, where fans get the chance to pump iron with their favorite IFBB professionals. Tickets for the event cost $15 per person, where every fan will bring home tons of Olympia giveaways including supplements, protein bars, energy drinks, t-shirts, fitness magazines and more!