There are certain etiquette rules that people are meant to follow. In the past, these rules bound society together so that it was safe. But, it is safe to say that they have pretty much been forgotten today.

1. Men’s Wedding Clothing

The rule here is that you are getting married in the evening, you should wear a morning suit or a formal suit and not a tuxedo. In addition to that, you should give a tie to the men that are taking part in the wedding and make sure that the shade is similar to the one you will be wearing.

2. Opening The Door

Men are supposed to open the door for ladies- whether they know them or not. It was the done thing in the past but over the years, this etiquette rule has been pushed out. What’s more, women today seem to get embarrassed to start smirking if the man has enough sense to open the car or building door for her.

3. Writing Thank-you Notes

It is only decent to write a thank-you note after receiving a gift- no matter how close or distant the giver is. About 3 or 4 decades ago, parents made it a point to teach their children how to write these notes at a very early age. Today the very idea is laughed at.

4. It is Rude to Ask for Gifts

Today it is normal to receive weddings invitations that mention exactly what the bride would like to receive as a gift. This would be okay if she wanted cheap gifts but they tend to take advantage of the situation and ask for gifts that are worth at least a thousand dollars! Actually, it is never okay, so don’t do it.

5. Leaving at the Right Time

Guests are supposed to leave a party once the guest of honor (the oldest guest, basically) has left. People today come and go as they please- they decide to leave once they have had enough to drink at the open bar or when they catch a glimpse of the sunrise.

6. Arriving on Time

According to this etiquette rule, guests are supposed to arrive at the given time and not wait about at home till they are sure that they will either make a grand entrance or be fashionably late. In the olden times, if you arrived at a dinner part even 15 minutes late, you would be expected to eat in the kitchen with the staff and join the rest of the guests only when they were done eating.

7. Eating Together

Etiquette rules at the dinner table are happily ignored today. The family members are supposed to dress for the meal and eat only if everybody is at the dinner table.

8. Parental Unity

These rules should be followed by parents all around the world. Firstly, they should never argue in front of their children and they should never try to turn the child against the other. Secondly, if the child’s father tells him to do something, the mother must make sure that he goes through with it.

9. Discretion on the Street

In the past, if people were walking on the street, they would talk in hushed tones, dress well and refrain from doing anything that would could be termed as attention-seeking. Today people walk about practically in their underwear and scream on their mobile phones on their way to the grocery store.

10. Money Matters

A gentleman is not supposed to borrow cash from a lady, he should pay back the borrowed amount as soon as possible and he should not talk about money.

Popularity: 8% [?]

The term ‘danger’ is usually associated with animals like bears, tigers and lions- carnivores, basically. However, the following top10 list of the top 10 most dangerous herbivores will tell you about those herbivores that may look gentle but can be extremely dangerous.

1. Gelada Baboon

Gelada Baboons have massive manes and flat faces that look severe no matter what. They are native to Ethiopia and their diet consists of grass and leaves. While they quite peaceful most of the times, they will eat you alive with their sharp and terrifying teeth if you happen to irritate them.

2. American Bison

The American Bison was left behind after the extinction of the Ice Age and can weigh about one ton. Humans tried their best to kill the species off but the Government intervened which is why a few are still around in zoos and national parks. They are dangerous only if you show signs of hurting their offspring or if you enter their territory.

3. Gorilla

A gorilla can weigh about and more than 200 kilograms and is extremely strong. They are quite peaceful and may even smile at you if you are lucky but if you try to hurt its family or threaten it in anyway, the gorilla will attack you without thinking. They have huge arms and their canines are sharp and knife-like and because they can run faster than any human on the planet, an irritated gorilla can kill you within a few seconds.

4. Cassowary

These birds are the largest in the world and are native to New Guinea and Australia. These vegetarians eat only fruit but if you manage to irritate them, the Cassowary will kick you with it dagger-like claw and disembowel you in no time.

5. Rhinoceros

All the species of rhinos are native to Asia and Africa. Because they are big, strong and have horrible tempers, they can be very dangerous. Even though a rhino’s horn is made of hair, it can enter an enemy and watch it bleed to death.

6. Wild Boar

Wild Boars are not pure vegetarians and may or may not eat a lizard or frog, depending on its mood. They can weigh more than 250 kilograms and their sharp teeth can rip open any predator, big or small. Females are equally dangerous, especially if their piglets are in danger.

7. Cape Buffalo

Even though Cape Buffaloes look like cows, they are among the most dangerous vegetarians in Africa. Their horns are long and sharp and their hooves are very heavy. Cape Buffaloes are known to move with their herd which means that if one is injured, the rest will finish the attacker if need be.

8. Elephant

This may come as a shock because elephants are usually considered to be very peaceful and friendly, but fact remains that they have killed many zookeepers over the years. Once they decide that their babies need to be protected or that their personal space is being violated, they will retaliate.

9. White Lipped Peccary

The White Lipped Peccary is native to part of South America and Mexico. They have very sharp canines which become even sharper every time the animal shuts its mouth as they rub against each other. Like Cape Buffaloes, they move in herds of about 1000 and if you happen to get attacked, run up a tree as fast as you can.

10. Hippopotamus

A Hippopotamus is known to attack more people when compared to leopards, crocodiles and even lions. Even though it is quite fat, it can run extremely fast and trample over its victim.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Cockroaches are those pesky insects we avoid and kill as we scream. They are ugly and dirty and will drive you mad if you see more than a dozen at the same time.

1. Agile Creatures

Most insects find it difficult to move over terrain that is too rocky or too uneven. However, these creatures can move quite easily and like they have no care in the world no matter how difficult the surface of the land.

2. Nocturnal Traits

Cockroaches are nocturnal, which means that they come out only during the night. If you shine a light at them, they will run away. So, instead of wasting money on insect-repellent sprays and the like, you can just take your torch and follow them till they reach the exit and slam the door as hard as you can.

3. Darkness is Their Friend

Cockroaches like to live in darkness and in groups. If you see a single roach in the wilderness, you can be sure that it will be followed by its relatives and friends. They are probably sensitive to the light which is why the live like they do and run from the light as mentioned in the above point.

4. Not too fussy

Cockroaches will eat whatever they can find and are not too fussy as long as their tummies are full. This includes other insects, maybe their own friends and plants and waste products lying about. It would be pretty easy to open a restaurant for cockroaches, don’t you think?

5. Chirping and Hissing Noises

While crickets and mosquitoes are annoying in their own special way, cockroaches really take the cake. They like to chirp and hiss as they move around or come in contact with anything solid. If you put these sounds together, you will find that these tiny insects are more irritating than birds that are known to sit around and coo.

6. Strong and Sturdy Wins the Race

We would probably start complaining about how we are starving to death if we don’t eat for a few hours but cockroaches can eat nothing for a month and stay alive. We should learn something from them.

7. Lazy

Cockroaches are known to spend about 75% of the day just sitting around and doing nothing. Since they can’t read or listen to music and are clearly not too fond of food, it must get pretty boring but they like being lazy and who can blame them?

8. Headless and Hearty

If you manage to cut off its head, it will live for at least 7 days and move about. It may bump into things but it will stay alive. After the 7^th day, it will die of thirst because its mouth would have gone with its head.

9. Eighteen Knees

Cockroaches have six legs which should mean that they have 12 knees but interestingly, they have six more! It is no doubt that they move around as fast as they do. If we had eighteen knees, we could probably walk to the moon and back within a few hours.

10. Brainy

Our brains are situated in our skulls, that is, our heads. This insect’s brain is scatter through its tiny body which is why it can survive for a week without its head.

Popularity: 11% [?]

For some coffee presents a smell and chocolate is delicious. These sounds will please your ears, soothe you and calm your mind.

1. A Baby’s Laugh

Anybody who has heard a baby laugh is sure to agree with the fact that it is one of the most fascinations sounds in the world. It is beautiful and innocent and will make you giggle too! The best part is that it is fairly easy to make a baby laugh!

2. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore

Those who live by the beach are extremely lucky as they can hear this sound through the day. If you are having a bad day, all you need to do is walk till the sandy shores and listen to this sound for hours at a stretch. It is fascinating because it will make you marvel at nature’s sheer ability to make you happy!

3. Singing Sand

This sound can be heard in about three dozen places worldwide. Basically, when the various layers present in sand dunes move against each other due to fast winds, a fascinating and loud booming sound is emanated. It may scare you at first but once you realize why it is happening, you will want to sit down on the cool sand and listen till the sun goes down.

4. The sound of lightening

When lightening crackles through the air, dogs, cats and other forest animals hide under whatever they can find. But if you are in the safety of your home, you will find that this deep and startling sound is actually quite fascinating.

5. Sound of the wind

If you find a large forest, do walk into it as you will find yourself surrounded by tree. The wind will blow and you will hear the crackling of a million leaves across the area. The sound will be mesmerizing in itself and you will make it a hobby to hike through the plush green soil every day!

6. Frozen Ice

If you come across a frozen lake, be sure to stand around and watch it for some time. If the ice is particularly thick and something disturbs it and if starts moving, the sound that will be created will be unlike anything you have ever heard before. If you throw a few stones into the same lake, you can create the same sound.

7. The sound of birds returning

If you live by the countryside, you will be sure to heard the fascinating and beautiful sound of birds coming back after hibernation. The sound of their collective wings moving together is remarkable and you will find yourself waking up at the crack of dawn just to hear it.

8. The sound of rain against your window

When people are asked about their favorite sounds, they are sure to mention this particular one. The ‘tippy-tap’ will instantly rejuvenate you and soothe your senses. Therefore, even if you hear it raining in the middle of the night, switch on the light and listen.

9. The sound of crackling leaves

If you live in a place like New York City, you will be familiar with this particular sound. Autumn time is the best in this city and you will find at least 5 children at any time of the day playing in the beautiful fallen leaves. The sound is captivating and will make you wish you were young again.

10. Wind Chimes

Even though wind chimes are considered to be unlucky in some cultures, the sound is beautiful and enchanting.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Today, in the age of computers, children hardly read. But as it is very important to cultivate a habit of reading, one must start early with some of the best books that are available. So, if you want your child to read the books that would not only be informative but also entertaining, here is the list of some of the popular children’s books of the year 2009:

1. Never smile at a Monkey: And 17 Other Important Things to Remember

Children love animals, but animals can sometimes be extremely dangerous. They have their own way to protect themselves. This wonderful picture book by Steve Jenkins tells what one shouldn’t do when he/she is facing a considerably difficult situation with an animal. Children have showed great interest towards this book since it tells them not to tease a tiger or not to bother a black widow spider, but interact in different and friendly manner with these creatures.

2. Little Oink

The Amy Krouse Rosenthal book is a cute little story about a young pig who, unlike others, loves to be clean and orderly. As it is normally seen that it is the family which demands the kids to be clean, in this story it is just the opposite. The parents want their son to be like other pigs-messy and dirty. The story follows a simple track and shows the working of family dynamics. This book has got good reviews and is sure to be a children’s favorite this year.

3. Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy

This story is a highly imaginative one which surrounds the playful deeds of two kids, Lulu and Sam. They play various games and think themselves as super powers saving the playground from mean robots like tire swing. This David Soman creation helps to spark the creativity within children and is a favorite by now.

4. Mission Control, This is Apollo: The Story of the First Voyages to the Moon

This great colorful adventure book by Andrew Chaikin talks about the moments and the voyage of Apollo 11 when in landed on the moon on July 1969. This book is a wonderful collection of the memories of Alan Bean who walked on the moon with Pete Conrad on Apollo 12. The illustrations in this book are some wonderful paintings about the voyages undertaken by these astronauts to the moon.

5. Let’s Do Nothing

This story is about two boys, Sal and Frankie, who have done everything that was possible for them under the sun. They finished their drawings, solving puzzles and other such work. And they end up thinking what they are supposed to do next. Sal is the one who gets brainwaves regarding various ideas and thus he proposes to do nothing for ten seconds. They thus settle into a chair imagining themselves as statues. But Frankie’s imagination forces him to think that they are redwoods or tall buildings, ultimately leading them nowhere in their ‘let’s do nothing’ plan. A wonderful comical piece by Tony Fucile, we might just find it in the theatres soon.

6. The Very Hungry Caterpillar Pop-Up Book

This book is a pop-up book to the 1969 published book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle. The book showed how metamorphosis of a caterpillar takes place to form a butterfly. The book also gives details about various foods which the caterpillar apparently munches through. The pop-up book makes the book a far better read than the earlier one for children. The cut-outs in this book give it an animated look and it has already become a favorite.

7. The Curious Garden

The book, The Curious Garden is about a young boy goes out into the city to look around. He comes across a struggling garden and tries to help the plants to grow. He does not understand what he is undertaking and soon the garden grows bi bit and turns the city into a lush green area. This book by Peter Brown is a magical story where the boy dreams and asks the reader to dream too about a wonderfully green world again.

8. The Lion & the Mouse

This book by Jerry Pinckney brings light to the Aesop’s tale about the lion and the mouse. In this new book, the author creates a very colorful set in Africa. The colorful book emphasizes on the acts of kindness through picture illustrations. The book is a lovely piece of work because it actually makes the author feel that he has been transported to Africa. The story revolves around the small act of repaying an act of kindness by the mouse to the lion by freeing him from the net.

9. What’s Wrong with My Hair?

The Satoshi Kitamura creation is a complete picture book where conversations appear in balloons. The book is about the lion called Lionel who is extremely confused about what he should do with his messy hair just before a party the next day. We find him in a barber’s shop, with him staring out of each page from an oval shaped window. Ultimately his haircut makes him the star of the party. This book is a funny one and is sure to be a favorite among the children.

10. Redwoods

Redwoods is author Jason Chins’ first book. In this book, a New York kid is plucked from the middle of the city and is brought into the redwoods canopy of California. The nonfictional book is extremely informative as it gives a lot of knowledge regarding the redwoods of California and the beautiful pictures are good too. The reader discovers more as the protagonist roams in the woods.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

May it be a festival, an anniversary or any other occasion, presenting your loved ones with gifts is a very common practice. Gifts are for people of all ages and groups. Some of the items have been quite popular amongst the crowd and comes to our mind as the first choice when it comes to gift someone something special. Here is a list of top 10 items which have proved to be the most sought after gifts this year.

1. Nintendo Wii

Topping the list as the world’s most sought after gift is Nintendo Wii. This gaming system has been designed for people of all ages. The popular game titles such as “Wii Fit” are a do-it-yourself game simulation. Its popularity can be estimated by the fact that it has been rated as the most searched item on Google. The famous “MarioKart Wii”, can also be played using Wii. The Nintendo Wii has been priced at $250.

2. Wii Fit

Standing on the second spot is Wii Fit. This product is most searched for and is an ideal gift for anyone. The best thing about this video game is that helps players not to become couch potatoes as all the games are based on motion sensing technology. Apart from the “Wii Fit “disc comes a balancing board. While staring at the television you can perform various exercises like yoga and aerobics on the balance board.

3. IPod Touch

This is the latest offering by Apple and just like any other Apple product it has become the favorite among the crowds in no time. IPod Touch has become an outstanding alternative for those who like their existing phone or don’t want to pay heavy price for AT&T’s data plan. With a 32 gigabyte hard drive, it is the third most preferred gift.

4. Xbox 360

What do you think would make even a videogame nerd squeal? Xbox 360 Pro. The ultimate gaming equipment stands fourth on the list. The base model comes with a 60 GB hard drive and 500MHz graphics processor. With the Xbox Live you can even play online with your friend on the other side of the world. For those who are crazier about Xbox, there is Xbox 360 Elite which is much more powerful and also $100 more costly.

5. Nintendo DS

The Nintendo DS is part of an all new continuation in the original Game Boy systems, which have been the most popular handheld gaming systems. The Nintendo DS is quite different from its predecessors as it is equipped with a crisp color graphics and a battery life of at least of 6 to 7 hours. Along with this, the product also has a built-in wireless mode allowing players to chat and share games online.

6. IPod Nano

From the day of its launch, IPod Nano still remains one of the most popular choices among the crowd. The fact that it is small, cheap and has the same 8GB capacity from its basic models magnetizes all tech savvy people. Its storage capacity suffices for about 2000 songs, 8 straight hours of video and over 7000 photos. Also available in the 16 GB version, it is handy enough for the fussiest user.

7. Ugg Boots

Just trailing after IPod Nano on the list are, the sheepskin boots which seem to once again gaining popularity among the crowds. These boots, also known as Ugg Boots, were once quite popular in Australia and just after a decade were also in demand in America. After celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio were spotted in these boots, it has become one of the most searched-for gifts this year.

8. Nikon D90

This is the only camera which is featured in the top 10 list. The 12.9 megapixel SLR camera has a brilliant resolution of 4288 by 2848 pixels in size. It is also capable of recording video clips. Though a device of professional level, it is in huge demand. The only drawback faced was that the D90 costs almost as much as all the top seven items combined.

9. Zune

As an answer to Apple’s IPod, Microsoft launched its own toy, Zune. Catering to the likes of geeks with abundant collection of music is sure to like the massive space available on the Zune. It is accompanied with a built-in FM tuner and also lets you share files wirelessly with other Zune users. The 80GB model is priced at $230.

10. Digital Picture Frame

Last on the list is Sony’s Digital Picture Frame which relieves from worrying about faded photographs. The frame is of 7 inch in size and has 256 megabytes of internal memory which is enough for 100 high resolution photographs which are swapped instantly. You can either choose one picture to be displayed for a while or put it on a slide show mode for variety.

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Popularity: 4% [?]

Teenagers make up a large part of our population, and their taste in movies is of a rather unique kind. They like different kinds of movies, movies which cater specifically to their wishes and personalities. In this article, we list the top 10 teen movies, movies which teenagers will definitely love watching.

1. The Breakfast Club

This movie, one of the Ted Hughes classics, is about a group of children in detention early on a Saturday morning. Each teenager represents one particular stereotype – the jock, the spoilt brat, the trouble-maker, the weirdo, etc. What follows is a very interesting movie on how teenagers can come together no matter what – The Breakfast Club is a refreshing look into the lives of troubled teenagers.

2. American Pie

The ultimate teenager classic. Who can forget Jim trying his best to get the sexy girl from school into the sack? With corny jokes, dark humor, and lots of good old fashioned American dirty comedy, this is one movie that every teenager out there will enjoy watching.

3. Pretty in Pink

One of the most famous teen romantic-comedies out there, also by the famous Ted Hughes. One girl is caught between her goofy best friend, and the popular, yet seemingly unattainable rich boy in school. Whom will she choose? With good music, great acting by Molly Ringwald, and a prom at the end, this is one movie the girls must not miss.

4. Not Another Teen Movie

The most famous of the teen-movie spoofs out there, which directly makes fun of stereotyping in teenage films. A highly entertaining movie that will get you laughing no matter what.

5. 10 Things I Hate About You

If you like the late Heath Ledger, this is the film for you. It’s a take-off on a Shakespearean play “The Taming of the Shrew”, and has all the elements of a classic teen movie –an unattainable, moody girl, the “don’t give a damn” guy, and a bet!

6. Bring It On

Kirsten Dunst stars as a cheerleader who finds out that her cheer-team has been stealing cheers from another team, so she goes all out to prove that they can win on their own talent and merits. The Spiderman girl is a must-watch in this movie.

7. Clueless

You must love Alicia Silverstone in this one! Paul Rudd also looks so darned cute. This movie is a must-watch, not just for the story line but also for the eye candy involved!

8. Mean Girls

Like Lindsay or hate Lindsay, you’ll love this movie for comparing the rivalries always cropping up between teenage girls to rivalry between animals in the jungle. This is probably one of Lohan’s best movies so far, you should also check out Rachel McAdams!

9. Can’t Buy Me Love

This movie is pretty old, but it’s still an amazing movie to watch. What happens? A nerdy boy bribes a girl to be his girlfriend for a month, and he eventually ends up being the most popular boy in school. This movie was remade as “Love Don’t Cost A Thing”, but the original is still way better!

10. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

One of the classic teen movies where Ferris is a guy who always loves to skip class and take the day off, but when his Principal wisens up to his tactics, there’s bound to be some fun! Watch Matthew Broderick as Ferris, Jennifer Grey (the Dirty Dancing girl), and Charlie Sheen as a punk kid in this film – you’ll surely enjoy it!

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Popularity: 7% [?]

As technology gets more and more advanced, devices are getting smaller in size and design. This is the list of the top 10 slimmest laptops currently available across the world.

1. Dell Latitude E4200

The Dell Latitude E4200 is 0.8 inches thick and allows the user to travel in style. The finish of these laptops is long-lasting and the material used is of the best quality. While this may not be the slimmest laptop ever launched, it is definitely among the best. It is durable and reliable- what else does one need?

2. Lenovo Thinkpad X301

This thinkpad is 0.83 inches thick and consists of such features that leave no room for complaints. It has been designed in such a way that it uses the least possible amount of electricity- making it both effective and efficient. It costs about 2600 dollars.

3. Lenovo IdeaPad U110

The Lenovo IdeaPad U110 weighs about 1.05 kilograms and is 0.72 inches thick. While most compact notebooks are definitely reliable, they are not visually appealing. However, this ultra-thin laptop is both easy on the eyes and extremely durable. The price of this slim notebook has been estimated at 1,899 dollars.

4. Dell Latitude E4300

The Dell Latitude is 0.7 inches thick, making it the slimmest model in the Latitude series. While it may not be the slimmest in the world, it is of the highest quality and is extremely attractive. The build is solid and there is no doubt that if you decide to go for this laptop, it will assist you for years to come.

5. Samsung X360

The Samsung X360 is about 0.66 inches thick and is extremely lightweight. Samsung marketed this laptop with the help of a catchphrase that described the laptop to be lighter than air. It weighs about 1.27 kilograms and is extremely durable due to the nano technology which keeps bacteria at bay.

6. Toshiba Portege R500

The Toshiba Portege R500 was awarded a status which made it the most economically conscious machine in the world. It weighs about 1.72 pounds and is about 1 inch thick and while it may not fulfill its claim to be the slimmest, it is definitely easy to carry around and will fit into a purse with great ease.

7. Actius MM10 Muramasas

This laptop was introduced by Sharp Corporation in 2003. With a thickness of 0.54 inches, it was said to be the slimmest of its kind until the Apple MacBook Air was released 5 years later.

8. Apple Macbook Air

Apple Macbook Air is designed by the world renowned company Apple and is a part of the MacBook family. This ultra-thin laptop was introduced in January 2008 and has undergone changes ever since. Steve Jobs said that the MacBook Air was undeniably the slimmest laptop in the world. When Dell heard this claim, he decided to launch a new model.

9. Dell Adamo

As is mentioned above, the Adamo by Dell was launched after the MacBook Air claimed to be the slimmest. It was released in 2009 and is a slim and extremely portable subnotebook, with a design which focuses on mobility. The Dell Adamo definitely competes with the Size Zero range in terms of slimness today.

10. Size Zero by Sony Vaio

These Size Zero laptops are being marketed in India by the stunning Kareena Kapoor- Bollywood’s size zero actress. This laptop weighs about 655 grams and is 0.5 inches thick. Two models are available, priced at Rs.65000 and Rs 85,000 respectively. This ultra thin latop is definitely the slimmest laptop available today.

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Popularity: 6% [?]