Using any relaxation tips you may have picked up over the years is a great way to deal with the stresses in your daily life.

Sometimes, when you’re feeling stressed out, having someone tell you to relax or “chill out” is more annoying than anything else. But it’s advice you should take to heart, especially if you are having a bad day - or week.

Here are 7 tips that will help you relax when you’re feeling stressed.

1. Take a Warm Bath : Soaking in a tub full of warm water can work wonders when you’re feeling stressed. The warm water relaxes you physically, loosening tight, stiff muscles. And, as a result, you relax mentally as well.
2. Read a Good Book : One of the best ways to deal with a stressful situation, especially if the stress is caused by something you have no control over, is to not think about it. And one of the easiest ways to get your mind off things that are bothering you is to read a good book.
   You can read the latest best seller that you’ve been looking forward to. Or, if you don’t think you will be able to concentrate on anything new, choose an old favorite that you’re already familiar with.
3. Listen to Some Music : It’s a proven fact that soothing music can be relaxing. The type of music you choose is entirely up to you. Buy a CD or cassette featuring soft, modern ballads, gentle classics, smooth jazz, or New Age music. When you feel stressed, pop the music into the player and let the music carry you away.
4. Take a Deep Breath : Something as simple as taking a couple of deep breaths can work wonders. So, the next time you feel stressed, take a few slow, deep breaths. And, if you can, add a full body stretch. Stretching and yawning are also relaxing.
5. Try Aromatherapy : Certain scents have been found to have a calming, relaxing effect on the human body. One of those scents is lavender.
   You can buy lavender candles at a health food store or online, and place them around your home or office. Whenever you’re feeling stressed, burning a lavender candle can help you relax.
   Just make sure your lavender candles are made with essential oils.
6. Try Visualization : The things you visualize or imagine can actually have an effect on your mood.
   The next time you are feeling stressed, take a moment to close your eyes and imagine that you are somewhere more relaxing, like on a beach. Imagine that you can feel the cool breeze against your skin, and hear the ocean waves.
   If you’re stressed about a situation, like giving a speech in front of a large crowd, close your eyes and visualize yourself giving the speech, and everything going perfectly.
   Visualization can help you feel calmer, and better able to deal with whatever has you feeling stressed in the first place.
7. Spend Time Outdoors : Sunlight and fresh air have remarkable abilities to heal our spirit. Often something just as simple as taking a short walk around the block can help reset our priorities. Even yard work can be relaxing if approached from the right frame of mind.

The ballots are in for the best selling cell phone (on a global basis), according to Krusell, the Swedish manufacturer of carrying cases for portable gadgets.

The Krusell list is based upon the number of pieces of model-specific mobile and smart phone cases that have been ordered from Krusell during September 2006.

According to the comany, this list is unique due to the fact that it reflects the sales of phones on six continents and in more than 50 countries around the globe.

When you look at the rankings (after the break!) what’s interesting, at least globally, is how the mobile phone market has boiled down into what we call in marketing parlance a “three-horse race.”

In other words, out of all the companies that have tried their luck in this market (and many are still trying), three (and only three) companies have established themselves as the mobile phone market leaders in the eyes, ears and pocketbooks of the gadget-buying consumer audience.

(We take no demographic for granted here.)

Which three? You will find out in a moment. (Patience …)

Now, without further ado, let’s get to get to the rankings of the top 10 selling cell phones. The envelope please:

1. Sony Ericsson K790i/K800i
2. Sony Ericsson K750i/D750i/W800i
3. Nokia 6230/6230i
4. Sony Ericsson W810i
5. Motorola RaZr V3/ V3i /V3c
6. Nokia N73
7. Nokia 5500
8. Sony Ericsson P990
9. Nokia 6280/6282
10. Motorola Krzr K1

Sony Ericsson, Nokia, Motorola (looks like the combination of Sony and Ericsson from two cell phone companies into one is paying off …)

She’s close to moving out of The Hills and into the Valley.

Now there’s more good news for Hollywood’s most beloved train wreck.

Officials say they will not file charges against Britney Spears stemming from a 2007 incident in which she drove over the foot of a celebrity news guy while speeding out of the doctor’s office where she received collagen injections, natch.

The reasoning? The only way the dude’s foot could have been where a celeb news video showed it to be was if he himself had put it there.

Deputy district attorney Joseph Shidler told the press:

“We have no evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the suspect, Ms. Britney Spears, was at all aware that the victim’s foot had in fact been struck by the vehicle. There was much commotion and noise at the time and there is no proof that the suspect was aware of what had happened.”

MENACE TO SOBRIETY: Britney Spears puts motorists and pedestrians at extreme risk as she takes to the streets of Southern California in this 2007 file photo.

The Deputy D.A. added “The only way the victim’s foot could have been where the video indicates was by the victim placing it in that location.”

With this legal monkey off her back, Britney is free to once again terrorize greater Los Angeles County at will, should she feel a craving for Starbucks.

For millions of people Google is an indispensable search tool that they use every day, in all facets of their lives. From work or school, research, to looking up movies and celebrities to news and gossip, Google is the go-to search engine.

But instead of just typing in a phrase and wading through page after page of results, there are a number of ways to make your searches more efficient.

Some of these are obvious ones, that you probably know about. But others are lesser-known, and others are known but not often used. Use this guide to learn more about, or be reminded of, some of the best ways to get exactly what you’re looking for, and quickly.

1. Either/or. Google normally searches for pages that contain all the words you type in the search box, but if you want pages that have one term or another (or both), use the OR operator — or use the “|” symbol (pipe symbol) to save you a keystroke. [dumb | little | man]
2. Quotes. If you want to search for an exact phrase, use quotes. ["dumb little man"] will only find that exact phrase. [dumb "little man"] will find pages that contain the word dumb and the exact phrase “little man”.
3. Not. If you don’t want a term or phrase, use the “-” symbol. [-dumb little man] will return pages that contain “little” and “man” but that don’t contain “dumb”.
4. Similar terms. Use the “~” symbol to return similar terms. [~dumb little man -dumb] will get you pages that contain “funny little man” and “stupid little man” but not “dumb little man”.
5. Wildcard. The “*” symbol is a wildcard. This is useful if you’re trying to find the lyrics to a song, but can’t remember the exact lyrics. [can't * me love lyrics] will return the Beatles song you’re looking for. It’s also useful for finding stuff only in certain domains, such as
   educational information: ["dumb little man" research *.edu].
6. Advanced search. If you can’t remember any of these operators, you can always use Google’s advanced search.
7. Definitions. Use the “define:” operator to get a quick definition. [define:dumb] will give you a whole host of definitions from different sources, with links.
8. Calculator. One of the handiest uses of Google, type in a quick calculation in the search box and get an answer. It’s faster than calling up your computer’s calculator in most cases. Use the +, -, *, / symbols and parentheses to do a simple equation.
9. Numrange. This little-known feature searches for a range of numbers. For example, ["best books 2002..2007] will return lists of best books for each of the years from 2002 to 2007 (note the two periods between the two numbers).
10. Site-specific. Use the “site:” operator to search only within a certain website. [site:dumblittleman.com leo] will search for the term “leo” only within this blog.
11. Backlinks. The “link:” operator will find pages that link to a specific URL. You can use this not only for a main URL but even to a specific page. Not all links to an URL are listed, however.
12. Vertical search. Instead of searching for a term across all pages on the web, search within a specialized field. Google has a number of specific searches, allowing you to search within blogs, news, books, and much more:
    • Blog Search
    • Book Search
    • Scholar
    • Catalogs
    • Code Search
    • Directory
    • Finance
    • Images
    • Local/Maps
    • News
    • Patent Search
    • Product Search
    • Video
13. Movies. Use the “movie:” operator to search for a movie title along with either a zip code or U.S. city and state to get a list of movie theaters in the area and show times.
14. Music. The “music:” operator returns content related to music only.
15. Unit converter. Use Google for a quick conversion, from yards to meters for example, or different currency: [12 meters in yards]
16. Types of numbers: Google algorithms can recognize patterns in numbers you enter, so you can search for:
    • Telephone area codes
    • Vehicle ID number (US only)
    • Federal Communications Commission (FCC) equipment numbers (US only)
    • UPC codes
    • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airplane registration number (US only)
    • Patent numbers (US only)
    • Even stock quotes (using the stock symbol) or a weather forecast regarding the next five days
17. File types. If you just want to search for .PDF files, or Word documents, or Excel spreadsheets, for example, use the “filetype:” operator.
18. Location of term. By default, Google searches for your term throughout a web page. But if you just want it to search certain locations, you can use operators such as “inurl:”, “intitle:”, “intext:”, and “inanchor:”. Those search for a term only within the URL, the title,
    the body text, and the anchor text (the text used to describe a link).
19. Cached pages. Looking for a version of a page the Google stores on its own servers? This can help with outdated or update pages. Use the “cached:” operator.
20. Answer to life, the universe, and everything. Search for that phrase, in lower case, and Google will give you the answer.

Controlling your temper isn’t always easy. But these effective anger management techniques will help give you the upper hand.

If your outbursts, rages or bullying are negatively affecting relationships with family, friends, co-workers and even complete strangers, it’s time to change the way you express your anger. You can take steps on your own to improve your anger management.

Anger management tips

Here are some anger management tips to help get your anger under control:

• Take a “time out.” Although it may seem cliche, counting to 10 before reacting, or leaving the situation altogether, really can defuse your temper.
• Do something physically exerting. Physical activity can provide an outlet for your emotions, especially if you’re about to erupt. Go for a brisk walk or a run, swim, lift weights or shoot baskets.
• Find ways to calm and soothe yourself. Practice deep-breathing exercises, visualize a relaxing scene, or repeat a calming word or phrase to yourself, such as “take it easy.” You can also listen to music, paint, journal or do yoga.
• Once you’re calm, express your anger as soon as possible so that you aren’t left stewing. If you simply can’t express your anger in a controlled manner to the person who angered you, try talking to a family member, friend, counselor or another trusted person.
• Think carefully before you say anything so that you don’t end up saying something you’ll regret. Write a script and rehearse it so that you can stick to the issues.
• Work with the person who angered you to identify solutions to the situation.
• Use “I” statements when describing the problem to avoid criticizing or placing blame. For instance, say “I’m upset you didn’t help with the housework this evening,” instead of, “You should have helped with the housework.” To do otherwise will likely upset the other person and escalate tensions.
• Don’t hold a grudge. Forgive the other person. It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to behave exactly as you want.
• Use humor to release tensions, such as imagining yourself or the other person in silly situations. Don’t use sarcasm, though — it’s just another form of unhealthy expression.
• Keep an anger log to identify the kinds of situations that set you off and to monitor your reactions.
• Practice relaxation skills. Learning skills to relax and de-stress can also help control your temper when it may flare up.

A simple, eye-catching, customizable calendar

Desktop Calendar XP Publisher’s Description

If you’re down in the dumps for disproportionately long periods of time and you find yourself blaming the rest of the world for your misery, then perhaps a change of attitude is in order. These 10 tips for positive thinking may be able to give your outlook in life its much needed overhaul. So increase your chances for a more constructive perspective with these 10 tips for positive thinking:

1. Recognize negative thoughts as they take shape and bury them before they take root. If you feel your mood darkening again, put a stop to these dangerous musings before you succumb to them. Rule your emotions, don’t let your emotions rule you.
2. Hang out with people who think positive as well. This condition can be quite infectious.
3. Just as contagious is a negative mindset. So avoid people who tend to think negatively on a constant basis. After all, who wants to hang around naysayers all the time?
4. Work out and eat right. If you look good on the outside, it’ll be easier to feel good on the inside, too.
5. De-clutter. Surround yourself only with the things you love and that make you feel good—framed family photos, favorite books, potted plants, works of art, or whatever else that’s meaningful to you.
6. If people tell you you can’t do something, take that as a challenge and prove them wrong. Chances are, they themselves can’t do it or are too afraid to try and are simply bitter about it. If you show them it can be done after all, maybe they’ll even be inspired by your success. You can be a living tip for positive thinking to them.
7. Just when you’re about to blow your top for all the seeming misfortunes that befall you, remind yourself of all your blessings instead. This practice can be very sobering, indeed.
8. Be a volunteer or get involved in charity work. Not only will you realize the sheer number of people who have bigger problems than you do, but there is also such an emotional and even spiritual high to be experienced in helping others.
9. De-stress. You’re more likely to be cranky if you’re perpetually stressed out. So get away from it all and recharge.
10. Keep it up. Getting started is easy. It’s the maintenance that’s tricky. Make a habit out of thinking positively till it becomes an indelible part of who you are.

Follow these 10 tips for positive thinking and be successful in your search for a happier and healthier frame of mind.

If you aren’t sure, you will soon be able to download a tool from Google that will tell you once and for all if they are. If ISP’s aren’t going to tell their users exactly what is happening with their network connections, Google wants to make sure that these people have the ability to tell for themselves. This announcement is Google’s most recent attempt at raising awareness about net neutrality.

This isn’t the first time someone has made software to monitor your network to figure out if your ISP is doing anything fishy, NNSquad Network Measurement Agent is a tool that does exactly that already. In fact, this might actually be the tool Google is referring to. Vint Cerf, Google’s chief Internet Evangelist, is part of the NNSquad already.

It’s unclear what kind of effect something like this will have on the network neutrality debate, but it certainly can’t hurt.

Country star Sara Evans married former University of Alabama quarterback Jay Barker Saturday evening in an outdoor ceremony in Franklin, Tenn.

Evans’ eight-year-old son Avery, 8, walked his mother down the aisle.

The couple’s seven children (Sara Evans has three and Jay Barker has four from their previous marriages) were the only attendants.

The ceremony featured Nashville songwriter Marcus Hummon, a close friend of Evans’, singing “God Bless the Broken Road,” the Rascal Flatts hit he wrote - a song the couple says has deep meaning for their relationship.

Sara Evans, 37, wore an ivory silk taffeta Vera Wang gown with a halter neck and Jay Barker, 35, wore a Dolce and Gabbana suit.

The bride and groom had their first dance to Chris Brown’s “With You” and their 130 guests later boogied beneath a canopy of strung lights to a collection of R&B and pop hits spun by a local DJ.

Evans met Barker, the host of a sports radio show in Birmingham, Ala., via their minister, Joe Beam, who went on to officiate their wedding.

Both turned to him for support after their respective divorces.

“He was our own personal matchmaker,” laughs Evans, who says that Beam made both of them promise - before they even met one another - that they would let him officiate their wedding. “I think God told Joe to get us together.”

They were engaged in March.

“It was hard for me to believe he was real and that he loves me the way he loves me,” Evans said. “I thank God many times a day for bringing me Jay.”

Life is thought, and when we cease to think, we are not living. How we think, is the kind of life we live. Since we are able to control our thoughts, we can determine the course of our life and the way we feel during our time here.

“We are what we think.” - Buddha (BC)

It is very important to establish good thinking guidelines and follow them. Placing thoughts of peace and happiness in our minds will help to make our lives peaceful and happy. If we do not set our thoughts properly, we travel through life by way of places where we will wish we had not gone.

“It is the mind that maketh good or ill, that maketh wretch or happy, rich or poor.” - Edmund Spenser (1552-1599)

Our daily life includes thoughts associated with responsibilities concerning work, other people, and handling problems. If possible, try not to think of too many different things during your day, and don’t move or think too quickly. Start your morning with a plan to come through to bedtime relaxed, contented, and ready for a restful night’s sleep.

“Your own mind is a sacred enclosure into which nothing harmful can enter except by your permission.” - Arnold Bennett (1867-1932)

Reflect about things that can improve your feelings - learning, completing tasks and duties, pleasant and relaxing experiences, kind words. Think about your happiness, goals, life and its pleasures, your principles and your conduct. Think about enjoying the moment.

“Garner up pleasant thoughts in your mind, for pleasant thoughts make pleasant lives.” - John Wilkins (1614-1672)

What are you thinking about?