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People known little or nothing about auto insurance and if they did they would be able to manage the costs. Majority of young drivers are blinded by high costs and other myths their friends tell them. Here are 10 things everyone needs to know about car insurances. Read this list twice before making any unwise choices.

1. Speeding tickets do affect insurance rates.

If you are found guilty, you are a flagged driver. Think twice before accepting a guilty plea. You are always innocent until proven guilty. Most insurance companies will give you one grace ticket before your insurance rates go up. It will take 3-5 years to take it off the record.

2. Parking tickets and red light camera tickets do not affect insurances.

You probably will be forced to pay the tickets off when doing yearly inspections and car license plate renewals. Remember that red light camera tickets identify the car but not the driver.

3. Auto Car Insurances cannot cancel insurances after 2 months, depending on your policy.

They, however, can decide to not renew you because of at fault accidents and at-risk driving. One should note that providing false information is grounds for cancellation.

4. Insurance prices are not just determined by accidents.

They are based on how much money they will have to pay out for you. That means that the higher the deductible is, the less your rates will be. If you’re willing to pay more for your misdemeanors, the insurance will feel less threatened.

5. If you buy a sports car, you will probably pay big bucks for it.

If you are buying a brand new car,which is a sports edition, with nice additions, you probably will pay big bucks. You will pay even more if you are under 25 years of age.

Lindsay Lohan is a troubled star with a colourful past. One thing that has brought her success is her acting career. Here is a list of top 10 Lindsay Lohan movies. Feel free to comment if you agree or disagree.

1. Mean Girls (2004):

This was Lohan’s first movie independent from Disney. The film was successful and grossed at $129 million worldwide. It was seen by many critics, such as Roger Ebert, as the film which brought out Lohan’s breakout role.

2. The Parent Trap (1998):

Lindsay Lohan plays a dual role in this movie. At a summer camp in Maine, 11-year-old Hallie Parker (Lindsay Lohan) meets Annie James (also Lindsay Lohan). The two sisters discover that they are twins, who were separated after they were born. After their parents’ divorce, the father brought up Hallie, while the mother raised Annie. The twins set out to reunite heir family and their parents in this fun filled comedy. The only thing standing in their way is the father’s fiancé, Meredith.

3. Georgia Rule (2007):

This film really defines Lohan in real life. The character she plays is a troublemaker who is sent to live with her grandmother when the mother has had enough. Lohan does everything one can imagine in this film. She cheats lies and flirts to get through life. What merrily stops her is the advice her grandmother gives. The meaningful ending is meant to shock you. It was one of those cheesy movies you really wanted to watch without having to put much thought into it.

4. Freaky Friday (2003):

This film is based on a book of the same name written by Mary Rodgers. It stars Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis as a mother/daughter duo. In the film the characters’ bodies are switched due to a magical Chinese fortune cookie. One can only imagine what happens when each characters walks in the other’s shoes.

5. Get a Clue (2002):

Here, Lohan plays a high school student investigating the disappearance of one of her teachers. The movie was shown on the Disney Channel. It is comedic and fun for the whole family. What can go right with a pampered girl who likes gossip?

Studying for finals, midterms, and even regular tests can be inherently linked with stress. In fact, where stress is already built into a situation where you need to call up all the important information that you’ve learned in each of several classes over the course of several months, the last thing students need to do is add to the stress of important tests, midterms and finals, right? Well, unfortunately, many students inadvertently do just that. Certain common practices that often make finals and other tests even more stressful than they need to be.

Here are ten gadgets you should turn off before you start your studying for exams, midterms and other tests that are very important to your career.

1. Cell Phone

Smartphones have redefined the term “distracting” and have made it to the Top 1 Gadget to Avoid While Focusing on Coursework list. Text messages, email alerts, phone calls, app notifications, and rage-filled birds all beg for your attention. Unless you are using your smartphone to contribute to your online college course, you are probably just using it to waste valuable study time.

2. The Vacuum

Vacuums rank 2nd in the Top 10 Gadgets to Avoid While Focusing on Coursework list. Clean freaks everywhere will probably cringe at this concept, but put down the vacuum cleaner. If you usually distract yourself with cleaning tasks to avoid coursework, then make sure to remove all cleaning gadgets from your study area. People always looks for distractions, and with cleaning temptation lingering, it might be easy to make an argument for tidying up when really you should be studying hard.

3. The iPod

Music players like the iPod rank 3rd in the list. According to a study conducted by a team at the University of Wales Institute of Cardiff in the United Kingdom, background music can interfere with your ability to memorize new information. While the research also shows that certain types of studying can benefit from a soundtrack, you should opt for mellow music and avoid sound entirely if your coursework relies on memory-based tasks.

4. The Remote Control

The remote control for television ranks 4th in the list.Many academic catastrophes began with the words, “Just one more episode.” Remote controls make that episode far too easy to reach. However, research from Shawn Achor shows that simply removing the batteries from the remote and putting them in a desk or nightstand was enough to mute the remote’s desperate call for attention.

5. The Shake Weight

Exercising gadgets like the Shake Weight rank 5th in the list. Exercising helps relieve stress, but it is also a way to distract you from focusing on course work. While it may seem like a good idea to postpone finishing class work in order to work out, it will only prolong what you need to finish—stressing you out even more.

6.The Handheld Games

Handheld game consoles rank 6th in the list. While “Game Boys” may not exist anymore, those beloved old bricks have been replaced by a host of handheld gaming devices. Put down your PSP, PSP Slim, and PSP Go; your Game Boy DS, DSi, and 3DS; your PlayMG; your Sony Xperia; and, yes, even your iPod Touch.

7. The Webcam

Webcams rank 7th in the list.Webcams make talking face-to-face with someone a reality even when he or she is not in the same room. Programs like Skypethat use webcam technology make staying in touch with family and friends easy and free. But unless you are using your webcam to connect to a study-buddy, you should turn it off and focus on the coursework at hand.

8. The Wii Console

Multiplayer gaming consoles like the PlayStation and Wii rank 8th in the list. Thanks to Netflix, multiplayer gaming, and online marketplaces, video game consoles now offer a practically unlimited lineup of distractions. If you find yourself falling into the trap of “one quick game” before your coursework, consider storing your controller in a different room from the console itself.

9. TV

Many people come home from a day’s work and “relax” in front of the tube. Little do they know that the rapid flickering, the constant changes in images, and the glowing pulse on the screen actually reduces their energy level.

On the other hand, if they were to go out and jog or have a workout in the gym (or write a new Web page , they would become more energized. Ironic, isn’t it?

Watching TV also inhibits your imagination and has a numbing effect on your mind. This is because TV viewers passively take in information as opposed to actively doing research and thinking about what they are watching. You sit back and watch what is essentially somebody else’s imagination.

How?

• For starters, you could throw away the remote control. It would amaze you how much less time you’d spend in front of the tube if you had to get up to change the channel or adjust the volume every five minutes.
• OK, if that is too much, you could give the remote control to a friend for, say, 21 days. At least you could realize how silly it would be to visit your friend and ask him or her for your remote control…
• What about a TV-watching plan where you choose to watch only certain shows in a week. You watch only these shows and immediately turn off the tube when they are over. It might be hard at times due to the fear of loss, but this method served as my first step towards successfully avoiding TV.
• When you are eating, turn off the box at all times.
• How about making it a point to devote at least 15 hours a week to reading?
• Ultimately, if all that fails, remember that you can always give your TV to a charity!

10.  Messenger

We understand that you need your computer when studying, but you don’t really need the messenger, these include Skype, Facebook and MSN. If you don’t want to automatically log in to Messenger when your computer boots up, then you should disable it. Fortunately, by learning how to disable Windows Live Messenger, you will still be able to log in when you need to. We recommend that you disable these distractions before your study period begins.

Remember: While remembering the importance of a test’s outcome can be a good motivator for studying, too much focus on the outcome can backfire. If you’re the type of person who is already pretty conscientious, and the idea of doing poorly on the test is starting to cause significant test anxiety, it may be time to shift your focus. This is because being overly anxious about a test’s outcome can actually cause you to do poorly, or to score lower than you normally would. To avoid obsessing, try some positive affirmations, visualizations, or tips from this article on overcoming test anxiety.

A house is traditionally the most expensive purchase we ever have to make. Getting onto the property ladder is a big step especially with house prices being as high as they are these days. In fact most people struggle to attain a mortgage as the banks have largely requested much higher deposits. The average purchase price of a detached house in the UK is now £249,000 which is roughly ten times the average wage. This may seem a like a huge figure but it is nothing compared to the value of some houses.  With this in mind, we now take a look at some of the world’s most expensive homes.

1. Starwood Estate, Colorado

Beautiful scenery surrounds this property in Aspen. This truly is a beautiful villa with 7 bedrooms and fireplaces at every turn. The house boasts a bar with a mountain view and a Jacuzzi. The price is the lowest on this list but is still a staggering $135,000,000.

2. One Hyde Park, London, England

The UK property is reminiscent of the opulence that features more and more in London. This has to be the most decadent apartment in the world. It is one of over 80 multi million pound properties backed by the Qatari royal family. This particular example also costs $135,000,000.

3. Updown Court, Surrey, England

Here we have another property in the UK but this time based in Surrey. It is a home that is large as well as beautiful. Set in grounds of over 58 acres and with 103 rooms, it is an awe inspiring piece of real estate. You won’t get any change out of $139,000,000 though.

4. The Manor, Los Angeles

Even the members of the Hollywood elite would struggle to purchase this property. It is a mansion set in grounds of over 4 acres and provides  enough space to park 100 cars. The air of opulence is highlighted by the fact that there is even a dedicated present wrapping room. If you have $150,000,000, you can live the high life.

5. The Pinnacle, Montana, USA

If you like snow-capped mountains in an alpine setting and you happen to be very rich, then a place like this could be yours. Located within a private retreat, the house offers heated flooring, a jacuzzi and massage room. All this for just $155,000,000.

Positive affirmations are an amazing way of rewiring your mind naturally so you can work on problems that have been standing between you and the life you have desired.

They are simply affirmative statements that you would repeat to yourself over and over every day, preferably at the time you just woke up, and before you went to bed.

Usually, if you use them the right way – by standing in a confident manner and reciting them with full belief in what you are saying – you would see results within a few weeks.

Let us go over some common problems people have solved with proper use of positive affirmations.

1. Positive Affirmations for Motivation and Positivity

Motivation and a positive mindset go hand in hand. How affirmations would work is that they would negate the negative thought patterns, and replace those thoughts with positive ones, like:

“I always see the bright side of life”, “I feel great about my life”, “I am naturally confident” and “I enjoy meeting new people”.
Gradually these thoughts become your default thoughts that replace the negative, unproductive ones.

2. Positive Affirmations for Confidence

When you have a positive outlook on life, it is not hard to become confident. You realize that the only failure in life is failure to act and try new things. That is a sure fire way of never getting what you want.

Example of positive affirmations for confidence which you would recite to yourself include: “I am powerful”, “I am outgoing”, “I believe in myself fully”, “I go after what I want” and many others.

Imagine how better your life will be when you replace your negative thoughts with these positive ones, and become more confident than you ever realized was possible.

3. Positive Affirmations for the Law of Attraction

Taking control of your mind and thoughts to such a degree that you are able to actively invite in your life what you desire in a learnable skill. Learning that skill is the essence of the law of attraction.

There are various degrees in success people are able to achieve while using LOA. The results vary from speed at which they appear after you want to manifest something, to the degree of how accurate the manifestation was.

In either case, positive affirmations are able to help you adopt a frame of mind that will eventually make you a master at manifesting.

Sample affirmations for those that want to improve their manifestation skills might be “I easily attract success in my life”, “My thoughts have the power to create my reality”, “I achieve anything I desire” and “I easily control my thoughts”.

4. Positive Affirmations for Money Mastery

Who among us can honestly say that they do not want to make more money? Positive affirmations can help you achieve a mindset so you will get out of debt as much as they can help you learn the mindset of a millionaire.

Some messages one would repeat to him or herself are “I have an intense drive to succeed”, “I always work hard”, “I easily manage my finances”, “My mind is focused on getting out of debt”, but of course this is just a small sample.

5. Positive Affirmations for Health

Of course, it is more important to be healthy that to be rich. The only desire of a sick rich man is the same as the only desire of a sick poor man – they both want to get better.

Positive affirmations can help you to stay clear of sickness by boosting the immune system as much as they can help you stop getting migraines.

Some affirmations for health many people use are “I am a healthy individual”, “I heal quickly and naturally”, “I easily resist illness”, “I am in control of the migraines”.

There is a myriad of blog sites that cater to the hottest buzz in the cyber world- the social web. Here is our list of the top 10 social web blog sites.

1. 1000 Heads

This blog site focuses on marketing within the context of European setting though it also provides a clear perspective of marketing in general terms. Molly Flatt’s group provides an intelligent treatise of social web from the perspective of first hand experiences of a marketing company.

2. Apophenia

Danah Boyd consistently studies and researches about the human elements of social web. Of late, she has been focusing on young adults and teenagers. It is highly recommended that one reads her archives of interesting and useful articles.

3. Beth’s Blog

This blog site is not only for the big business and corporate geeks. Beth provides a collection of practical and useful information at how we can use them for non-profit undertakings.

4. Carnage4Life

This blog site provides a structured analysis of the developments and advancements in the Web by a professional Microsoft programmer. The more recent posts in these blog focus on the Google wave, RSS bandit ribbon and Twitter.

5. FactoryCity

Chris Messina has been very active in forging a more open and liberal approach to the social web. One can distinctively discover the engaging character of his blog. It serves as the window for the ideas, challenges and modern technologies that are associated with the web’s strong potential as a user-based application.

Some of the songs in this list have gone on to become legendary. However, this does not mar the fact that they are overrated.

1. Light my Fire- The Doors

This popular song is boring and the chorus is dull and an insult to anybody who listens to it. While it is definitely vocally dull, something that comes as a shock when someone like Jim Morrison is singing, it is also lyrically dry. This ordinary song is definitely overrated.

2. Radiohead – Creep

Even though Radiohead is a splendid band and have undoubtedly released songs that are incredible, “Creep” isn’t one of them. It came out during the 1990s when the American culture was going through an awkward phase. The lyrics represent the situation at hand and therefore, ruin the song. However, it became very popular and thus, overrated.

3. Every KISS song

KISS did very well as a band but all their songs are extremely overrated. If you listen to all their songs at a stretch, you can practically feel your brain turn to mush. Their lyrics are senseless and their music is boring- what more can one ask for?

4. Sexyback- Justin Timberlake

While almost all his songs are literally mind-numbing because of his high-pitched voice, this one really takes the cake. The beat is catchy which is why the song did well but the listeners clearly learnt very long back that they must tune out his lyrics. A single verse is repeated again and again and then the song ends. The reason it did well is quite a mystery.

5. Unforgiven by Metallica

While this is definitely not as bad as the above mentioned songs, it is definitely overrated. The lyrics are okay, the beat is okay and the vocals are pretty average too. Other songs by Metallica such as “Master of Puppets” and “One” are definitely much better than “Unforgiven”.

The times may have changed, but classic dress trends remain in existence. We saw some incredible gowns on the runway in the past 6 decades and think they are as timeless as they get. Check out these 10 iconic wedding dresses and the brides. Which one  deserves the most recognition?

1. Grace Kelly (1956)

The most iconic wedding dress of all time came with a real life fairy tale that people still talk about to this day. Hollywood actress Grace Kelly had often played royal parts in movies. A trip to France’s Cannes Film Festival led her to meet Prince Rainier III of Monaco and a year later they were married in a dazzling ceremony. This ended her film career as Kelly became a full time Princess. MGM costume designer Helen Rose who had won two academy awards for her work was asked to design the royal gown. A bell shaped skirt made from taffeta with a beautiful embroidered lace bodice with a high neckline, long sleeves and a graceful train, the dress was the epitome of elegance with exquisite detailing. Princess Grace Kelly’s wedding dress to this day inspire women and I believe it will do so forever. Recently wed Ivanka Trump and Nicole Richie are both said to have been inspired by the dress for their fairytale wedding.

On September 13, 1982,  tragedy struck. While driving with her daughter, Stéphanie, to Monaco from their country home –  Roc Agel – on the French side of the border, Princess Grace suffered a stroke. The stroke caused her to drive her Rover P6 off the serpentine road down a mountainside. Grace was alive when she was pulled out of the wreckage, but had suffered serious injuries and was unconscious. She died the following day at the Monaco Hospital (“The Princess Grace Hospital Centre” in English—in 1985), having never regained consciousness; she was only 52 years old. It was at first reported that Princess Stéphanie suffered only minor bruising, but it later emerged that she had suffered a serious cervical fracture.

Princess Grace Legacy: On June 18, 1984, Prince Rainier inaugurated a public rose garden in Monaco in Princess Grace’s memory because of her passion for the flower. In 1993, Princess Grace was first U.S. actress to appear on a U.S. postage stamp.

2. Princess Diana (1981)

Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, Diana Spencer’s wedding dress was made for the‘Wild Romance.’ This was one of the most fairy tale wedding dresses to be made in history, it was made from silk taffeta with a tiny waist and a huge skirt. There were big puffy sleeves, a frilly neckline and the dress was decorated with antique lace, hand embroidered with hundreds of sequins and 10,000 pearls.  The most memorable and mesmerizing part of the dress was the 25ft train that covered the aisle of St Paul’s Cathedral where she and Prince Charles got married.

Diana and Charles - who had sons Princes William and Harry together – separated in 1995 and were divorced in 1997, weeks before her tragic death in a Paris car crash. On 31 August 1997, Diana was fatally injured in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma road tunnel in Paris, which also caused the deaths of her companion Dodi Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul, acting security manager of the Hôtel Ritz Paris. 

The initial French judicial investigation concluded the accident was caused by Henri Paul’s drunken loss of control. But in February 1998, Mohamed Al-Fayed, the father of Dodi fayed, for whom Paul had worked, publicly maintained that the crash had been planned and accused MI6 as well as the Duke of Edinburgh. An inquest in London starting in 2004 and continued in 2007–2008. No one to this day knows what happened.

Princess Diana Legacy: From her engagement to the Prince of Wales in 1981 until her death in 1997, Diana was a large presence on the world stage, often noted as the “world’s most photographed woman”. She was noted for her compassion, style, charisma, and high-profile charity work, as well as her tumultuous marriage to the Prince Charles which led to divorce and scandal.

3. Kate Moss (2011)

Moving out of the topic of royalty, Kate Moss stuck by her old friend, designer John Galliano and opted for a beautiful bias cut dress. Keeping hair and make-up soft and pretty turned this supermodel into a stunning English Rose.  And something blue turned out to be the lining in Mossie’s Manolo Blahniks, not Jamie Hince’s YSL suit.

Moss’ new husband Hince shunned traditional dark colours and opted for a light blue Stefano Pilati for YSL suit, giving his ensemble a rock twist with a pair of sunglasses.

The bridal party included 14 young bridesmaids in white chiffon dresses with a gypsy-style neckline and matching ballet pumps, with maid-of-honour, Moss’s former casting agent Jess Hallett in a blue Stella McCartney creation.

4. Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge (2011)

What can we say that hasn’t been said already? The Duchess of Cambridge managed to  wow  everyone in this stunning gown designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. The much-anticipated frock paid respect to Grace Kelly with its lace bodice, nipped in waist and a full skirt.

According to Yahoo News, Kate Middleton has now sparked a new wedding dress trend when she dazzled the world in an elegant lace bridal gown at her Royal Wedding to Prince William.The Duchess drew gasps as she emerged from her car in an Alexander McQueen lace gown with long sleeves, a plunging, yet modest neckline and full skirting. She’s heralded the re-emergence of the classic looks.

Just a year ago,  a strapless wedding dress was all the rage and dresses with even so much as a spaghetti strap were tough to unearth – but as the world of wedding fashion has caught up, that is all about to change.

5. Wallis Simpson (1937)

The marriage of Wallis Simpson and Prince Edward wasn’t a royal wedding as it should have been. The prince had decided to abdicate the throne in order to marry divorcee Mrs. Simpson. The bride wore a simple blue dress with a fitted waistband, gathered bodice all finished off with a neat hat – the style was widely copied for its simplicity. They would later move to the United States until the Prince Edward died in 1972.

There are several modern adventurers who have made their mark in several activities such as trekking, cycling, snorkeling and others. Given below are the top 10 modern adventurers.

1. Sir Ranulph Fiennes

Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his 2 friends became well known for their expedition around the world using only surface transport. The expedition called the Transglobe Expedition could be completed in 3 years. Fiennes was named the greatest living adventurer in the year 1984 by the Guinness Records. Fiennes finished 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days in 2003.

2. Mike Horn

Horn, a South African modern adventurer started out on his expedition without the use of motor vehicles in 1999. Horn crossed South America on foot and traversed Africa by bike. He has also climbed 2 peaks of 8000 meters and reached the North Pole on foot. The Pangaea Expedition is a 4 year expedition led by him currently to foster the conservation of natural resources and protection o environment.

3. Bertrand Piccard

Piccard is a great adventurer and a scientist. He and his friend became famous for their balloon ride all over the world in 1999. This ride later came to be known as the “the last great adventure of the 20th century.” He is thinking of going around the world in 2011 in his own solar powered light weight plane whose development is under process.

4. Ed Viesturs

Ed Viesturs is a cautious climber and a high-altitude mountaineer who was almost successful in climbing the climb Mount Everest, falling short just by 300 feet. He was adjudged the first American to have climbed all fourteen of the world’s 8000 meter peaks in 2005.

5. John Goddard

He is a great adventurer who is known for various pursuits such as riding an ostrich, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and starring in a Tarzan film. He also has to his credit many world records as a civilian jet pilot. This modern adventurer has also retraced the steps of Alexander the Great and Marco Polo and has explored the Congo and Nile river beds.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of the open road to excite the senses, free the mind and experience the best of any destination. In this post we take a look at some of the worlds best road trips to add to your travelling bucket list.

1. Route 66, USA

Also known as Main Street, Route 66 is considered to be the most spectacular and famous highway in the world. It has been eugolised by numerous movies, books, songs, and television shows more than any other highway in the world. The 2,400-mile drive starts in the states of Missouri, Texas, New Mexico, and finally ends in California at the stunning beaches of Santa Monica in Los Angeles.

2. Amalfi Drive, Italy

The Amalfi Drive is considered to be one of the best and thrilling roads not only in Italy, but also in the world. It stretches from the peaceful village of Amalfi to Sorrento. The route passes through wonderful hillside villas, historical buildings, and small historical towns. It offers stunning views of the expansive Mediterranean from its highest points.

3. Ring of Kerry, Ireland

The ring of Kerry is one of the most scenic and famous drives in the world. Found in the south-western region of Ireland, the circular drive starts in Killarney, winding gracefully through the beautiful historical towns of Kenmare, Waterville, Cahersiveen, and Killorglin. It offers very beautiful sceneries and attractions including Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Killarney National Park, Killarney Golf Club, Stone Age ruins, shimmering lakes, glaciated valleys, and unspoilt beaches.

4. Icefields Parkway, Canada

Also referred to as Highway 93, the Icefields Parkway starts from Lake Louise Town in the south and stretches for about 230 kilometres to Jasper Town in the north. Traversing the rugged landscape of Rocky Mountains, and Banff National Park, the route offers excellent views of impressive wildlife including bighorn sheep, grizzly, moose, black bears, elks, and mountain goats. It also offers stunning views of snow-capped peaks, emerald lakes, magnificent waterfalls, and alpine meadows.

5. Ring Road, Iceland

The Ring Road is the highest highway in Iceland. Circling its way through the country for about 1,400 kilometres, the highway connects many major towns and cities including Reykjavik, Isafjorour, Blonduos, Akureyri, Husavik, Egilsstaoir, Hornafjorour, Vik, and Vestmannaeyjar. It passes through wonderful plateaus, thundering waterfalls, rugged fjords, and volcanic mountains. It also passes through Blue Lagoon, Myvatn, Dettifoss, Jokulsarlon, and Skaftafell national parks.