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People have long been fascinated with fire since time immemorial. In colder times, we gravitate to it for warmth; hence we have over 55 million U.S. households that have at least one fireplace. It would not be surprising then for people to invest time, money, and energy on having outdoor fireplaces as well. You can hire someone to make it for you, buy patio fireplace kits, or just build one of your own.

Here are some things to consider so you can safely build your own outdoor fireplace:

• Make sure that you are aware of your city ordinances and acquire the necessary permits or licenses that you need in order to have one.
• Check with your homeowner’s insurance company because it might affect your policy.
• Ask your utilities company about the pipes and cables that are underground.
• Your outdoor fireplace should have a safe distance from your house, and any other buildings.
• It should be a level ground that is free of trees and overhanging branches or vines.
• If you are going to construct it on an existing deck, make sure it can support the weight of the fireplace. If you have a wood deck, it could be a potential fire hazard, therefore it is important to surround the area with heatproof masonry.
• Consider the use of your outdoor fireplace. If it is mainly for ambiance, do keep in mind your home’s architecture style.
• There should be at least a three-foot distance between your seating area and the fire, regardless of the design you choose.

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Watch this 23-minute behind the scenes video to see how the number 1 movie of all time was conceptualized and created by James Cameron.

According to Box Office Mojo, as of January 26, 2010, Avatar earned approximately US $1,878,025,999 worldwide (that’s almost 1.9 billion US dollars). In the United States alone, the movie’s ticket sales for 40 days is a staggering $558,179,737. That domestic gross accounted for almost 30 percent of the revenue worldwide. Next to the US is China (with $103,113,774), Russia ($96,259,863), and South Korea ($79,691,558). The Philippines ranked in the bottom ten with only $5,197,803 ticket sales since the movie debuted on December 17, 2009. Maybe this figure was caused by the MMFF with almost all Philippine cinemas showing only local films from December 25 to January 6?

I predict that Avatar’s total box office sales will increase to 2 billion dollars in the middle of February 2010. And when this happens, the Pandora 3D movie will be the first film to reach the 2-billion-dollar mark.

FYI: The Titanic reached the 1.8 billion dollar profit in 70 days. Avatar did it only for 38 days.  I myself watched the movie 4 times. How many times did you watched it?

A carport can cover the path to and from your house or building, as it protects your vehicles. While carports are obviously made for (as its name implies) cars, its use is not limited to just that. It is an effective storage solution that can house garden tools, boats, or even airplanes.

Carport kits or portable garages come in different sizes and materials.

There are carport kits that are simply cloth canopies. They are not only cheap, but also easy to put up or take down. They can come in different colors and do its job: protecting whatever you are storing while at the same time adding beauty to your place.

There are metal versions of these portable garages. Expectedly, they are pricier but sturdier than its cloth counterparts. Metal carport kits are usually made of steel, which is heavy and of good quality, but you can get more or less the same protection with aluminum, which is lighter. A good one has a sturdy frame, steel sides, and roof.

Carport kits are not only limited to home use. They can be used for businesses, farms, factories, churches, and many more. When you are considering hosting an outdoor event, a portable garage is a welcome sight to your visitors. They can be protected from direct sunlight, and so does your vehicles when the party is over.

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Your brand can be a strong factor in whether you succeed online or not. One search at your company name or brand and a potential customer can make a decision whether to push through with buying from you or look at some other company.

Your brand is your identity. Your brand tells your customers why they should buy from you. It is what your brand connotes that makes you successful. Take a look at the world’s most successful brands and you will get an idea of why branding and protecting your brand is very important.

Brands are not just about the company logo, it is the emotional connection between your products and your customers. It is what your products are associated with. For example, Coke has been working hard to associate its beverages with fun and refreshment, while others like Louis Vuitton likes to make you think of luxury when thinking of their brands. McDonald’s, on the other hand, goes for inexpensive yet pleasant experience, while Nintendo goes for family friendly and can be suitable for the home.

The best brands are associated with great value and durability, value for money and reliability, great customer service along with a superior product.

Yet, with the advent of the Internet, your brand’s image can easily be tarnished. It could be a customer warning other people not to buy your products, or some wrong move by your company. Mattel’s Barbie has long been known to be a safe toy for children, and its image was severely tarnished when it was found that its Chinese partner used toxic chemicals, causing it to issue a toy recall involving more than 9.5 million dolls. More than this, parents all over the world avoided buying Barbie dolls until the issue died down and only after Mattel assured the public of more stringent processes to avoid the same incident in the future.

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David Duchovny of X-Files – Hollywood’s Most Famous Sex Addict

The term "addiction" may vary in context. It may refer to an obsession, compulsion, or excessive psychological dependence. In medical terminology, “addiction is defined as a chronic neurobiological disorder with psychosocial, environmental and genetic dimensions”.

In no particular order, the most common types of addiction that people deal with are the following:

1. Alcohol Addiction
Considered a legal substance for adults and readily available, alcohol intake can be excessive or prolonged and lead to an addiction. More often than not, people may get addicted to alcohol as they consider intake of it as a way a way to self-medicate. Approximately 50% of accidents and crimes may be attributed to excessive alcohol drinking. Alcohol addiction is also a major factor to getting health problems such as liver or heart diseases, brain damage and cancer.

2. Smoking
Technically speaking, the act of smoking is not making people addicted to it, but it is the nicotine contained in cigarettes that smokers struggle to fight against. Nicotine is a substance that is naturally highly-addictive, which makes it difficult for most to quit smoking. To aid in the quest to end this addiction, modern society has become less tolerant of smokers by designating non-smoking areas. There are prescribed and over-the-counter drugs that help smokers control nicotine addiction. Also, several support groups have also been formed to help smokers quit.

3. Drug Addiction
Drug addiction does not pertain only to craving and abuse of illegal narcotics but also legal drugs. Contrary to the widely accepted perception, spotting a drug addict may not be easy due to different physical or behavioral drug symptoms. A good example is cocaine abuse which may be evident in persistent nasal problems, but may not affect others in the same way. Addiction to the marijuana substance may cause addicts chronic cough or memory loss, while others suffer no apparent ill effects.

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Outdoor hammocks provide you a way to enjoy a relaxing afternoon where you can enjoy the breeze outside your own home. And like any other object placed outdoors, hammocks can become dirty over time. Here are some tips on how to clean your outdoor hammocks such as rope hammocks or hammock chairs.

There are generally two types of outdoor hammocks available: those with the spreader bars and those without.

Outdoor hammocks without the spreader bars can be washed using washing machines or by hand. You should tie the ends of outdoor hammocks together with a string just beneath the hanging rings (while the hammock is folded in half), then at the other end. This would ensure that the outdoor hammock would not get tangled.

Next place the hammock inside an empty pillow case. Then tie it securely closed. Using a mild detergent, machine wash the pillow case with the hammock inside it.

You could also clean outdoor hammocks if they are without spreader bars using your hands. Do this by tying the hammock in the same manner as above and then immersing the whole thing in a tub full of water with mild detergent. Hang the hammock to dry before replacing it.

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The year 2009 was witness to the rise and fall of technology and gadget trends. It was characterized by intensified video gaming blow outs, a new approach to mobile phone use and computer portability, and an endless quest to create better and more advanced gizmos.

As the New Year unfolds, video game expert and technology analyst Scott Steinberg unveils at Digitaltrends.com a sneak peek on the “what’s what” in technology for 2010.

1. The year 2010 may be the time for eReaders and eBook Players — digital tablets designed to simulate the customary reading-on-paper experience — to come into their own. Expected innovations in 2010 include selections powered by Android OS, more affordable models and full-color eReaders with touch screen and wireless 3G support.

2. Smartphones will continue to shine in 2010, but with added surprises. Android-run and Windows Mobile-powered smartphones will create an established market. Cell phones will likely be run by applications that offer more power and flexibility, allowing these devices to evolve and potentially replace laptops. Adapting to lifestyles, Smartphones will be must-haves in 2010, and Google’s Nexus One Smartphone is to watch out for.

3. The household names in television manufacturing are keen at beginning a new era of TV viewership. Shops filled with a display of cutting-edge three-dimensional TVs, as well as Blu-ray players that power 3D flicks, will be anything but extraordinary in 2010.

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The year 2009 underscored an enormous economic meltdown that brought many United States businesses to their knees. But for some of America’s most famous moneymakers, the year brought enormous luck and vast gains. America’s top 25 stock gainers — composed of large stakeholders in publicly traded companies — made a combined $81.5 billion in 2009, Forbes.com reports.

Check out Forbes’ esteemed list of the ten biggest gainers in 2009:

1. The founder of Google, Inc., Larry Page raked in a whooping $8.4 billion between January and mid-December 2009. At 36, Mr. Page is ranked as the 26th billionaire in the world and the 11th wealthiest person in the United States. Technology stocks are enjoying broad boost with the economic rebooting, according to Forbes. As such, Google made a rise of 90% since January 2009.

2. Sergey Brin, the Russian-born American co-founder of Google, Inc. gained $8.2 billion in 2009. The 36-year old Internet titan gets a rebound after losing $11.7 billion in 2008 amid the collapse of Internet companies’ shares.

3. Oracle Corporation and NetSuite gave 65-year-old founder Larry Ellison a $7.9 billion gain in 2009. He made it to fourth spot of Forbes’ list of richest persons as of September 30, 2009.

4. Microsoft magnate Bill Gates generated $7.6 billion in 2009. The computer software company he founded with Paul Allen consistently places him on the list of the world’s richest. Over half of Mr. Gates’ fortune, however, is held outside of Microsoft. At 54, Mr. Gates grabbed the top spot overall as the wealthiest person in 2009.

5. At barely 46 years old, Jeffrey Bezos has made Amazon a household name. The online retail company gained $7.3 billion in 2009 amid a 175% surge during the past 12 months. Amazon’s shares hit an all-time high in early December 2009.

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Waterfall fountains are a great addition to your living space. Not only do they beautify your garden or living room, they also add to the sense of peace and tranquility. But did you know that caring for indoor fountains and outdoor garden fountains are not quite the same?

Properly constructed and well designed indoor fountains are worth the time and money you spend in selecting them. In fact, indoor waterfall fountains are virtually maintenance free due to the fact that they are well protected and designed to circulate the water well. These indoor fountains have cutting-edge water circulation system that helps you avoid valve clogs and similar problems.

Just make sure that your fountain has an anti-microbial coat to avoid the growth of molds and algae. It is also wise to use distilled water instead of tap water to make sure that there are no added minerals that could clog the valves.

Caring for Outdoor Fountains
Outdoor fountains, on the other hand, may be a nightmare to maintain and clean. Because a lot of things like dust, leaves and mud, can fall into outdoor fountains, you can easily have clogged or dirty outdoor fountains in no time. Your first line of defense would be to use skimmers and filters that would help you keep the small debris and residue out of the water or the reservoirs.

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Every New Year marks a celebration of new beginnings. Most people associate this occasion with commitments to reform old habits or make lifestyle changes, usually for the better, effective January 1. As 2009 comes to a close, people make pledges to resolve certain practices or issues and experience a fresh start as they welcome 2010.

Check out this prominent list of recurring New Year’s resolutions. Is yours one of them?

1. Get fit.
People vow to put on the right weight by paying attention to what they eat and exercising more. Depending on a person’s need, getting in shape may mean losing or gaining weight. However, this drive for healthy living sparked by the freshness of the New Year normally takes a backseat as people start leading their busy lives. As weight loss or weight gain becomes less of a priority, fitness becomes a lifelong underachieved goal.

2. Quit drinking and smoking.
Stamping out of the drinking and smoking habit is easily one of the more difficult commitments to make. Fact is, not everyone is equipped to make drastic lifestyle changes all at once. Over the years, the availability of over-the-counter nicotine replacement drug and a world of quit-drinking therapies are proving to be effective as vice-quitting aids. However, About.com says that on the average, drinkers and smokers make at least four attempts before finally quitting for good. People repeatedly commit to quit and fail, keeping this New Year’s resolution always on the list.

3. Manage finances wisely.
To say that money is a source of stress is an understatement. The year 2009 was plagued by unstable and unpredictable global economies, thus getting a handle on finances was no easy job. Spending less, spending just right, paying debt or securing the finances for oneself or for the family is a promise that makes it to the top yearly resolutions. It is expected to be part of the list many times over in the coming years.

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Go to http://www.google.com and click the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button to see Google’s unique Happy New Year greeting…