Poor Jessica Simpson. Poor, poor Jessica Simpson. On Sunday, she suffered an awe-inspiring fashion meltdown at 99.9 KISS Country's annual Chili Cookoff in Pembroke Pines, Fla., thanks to an igly (definition: several steps beyond ugly) pair of high-waisted jeans, the likes of which haven't marred the sartorial landscape since this hiked-up disaster from a couple years back. The countrified starlet's Urkel-inspired ensemble, with its dastardly powers to destroy instead of enhance her curves, drew a quick reaction from armchair critics, who denounced her tragic trousers as mom jeans and maternity wear, leading mothers and stork-awaiting women everywhere to scoff that they'd never wear anything so monumentally unflattering. Simpson seemed in great spirits despite being shoehorned into her clothes, with escape impossible due to her ill-advised leopard-print double belt. "I am going to see my boyfriend tonight!" she bubbled to the nearly 30,000-strong crowd about her plans to rendezvous in Dallas with her Cowboys quarterback beau, Tony Romo (via People). Later, she introduced her Romo-centric song "You're My Sunday" by gushing, "My boyfriend is a football player, and he takes up my Sundays and now my Mondays. I am sooo happy!"

Is there anything more amusing than tales of celebrities tossing tantrums and scrambling to score free stuff? Didn't think so.

It's no secret that Mariah Carey requires more maintenance than an orchid growing in the back seat of a vintage Fiat, but the New York Post claims she expected treatment on par with the First Family during the inauguration.

Word is, the chanteuse was "furious" when she learned where she'd have to plant her posterior for the ceremony.

"Mariah was in the VIP area, where every celebrity, like Jon Bon Jovi, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys and Bruce Springsteen, was seated," a snitch alleges to the paper. "But somehow she thought she'd be up with the Obama family. When she realized she wasn't, she bailed."

But Mrs. Nick Cannon, who's winning raves for her de-glammed performance in the Sundance Film Festival fave "Push," regrouped after her supposed snit and performed "Hero" for the president and first lady at the Neighborhood Ball.

Freddie Roach didn’t waste his time laying out his plan for the Manny Pacquiao-Ricky Hatton fight on May 2 in Las Vegas.

“Knockout,” he told The STAR which caught today’s hottest trainer by phone yesterday noon (Friday evening in Los Angeles).

Roach said that like everybody else, he felt great that the fight, after all the negotiations and some useless debates, is pushing through.

“It’s great. Of course,” Roach said as he walked back to his apartment after closing the doors to his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.

It’s time to do the homework.

“We’ll open up training camp on March 1. We’ll get ready, be in shape and take care of this guy,” said Roach.

And probably fight Antonio Margarito later on.

Roach still hasn’t talked to Pacquiao despite persistent attempts on his part. Over the last two weeks he’s been trying.

“Manny hasn’t talked to me yet. I wanted him to know I’m on his side, not like some crooks,” he said without elaborating.

The Pacquiao-Hatton fight, which could be the biggest this year, almost didn’t push through due to disputes on the purse.

Now there’s a deal, and Pacquiao stands to earn as much as $20 million or close to a billion pesos. Hatton will get just a little less.

“Manny had a problem with one thing in the deal but we worked it out,” Bob Arum told ESPN.com. “I massaged something in the deal, which I’m not going to tell you about, but it didn’t cost me anything. We got it done.”

Insiders say that “massage” was worth at least $1 million, giving Pacquiao a guaranteed purse of $13 million and a 52-48 share of everything else.

Roach said the impasse was all part of the game.

“You negotiate first and that’s how it is. It only becomes a deal when everybody is happy,” said Roach.

Pacquiao has won his last nine fights, including great ones against Oscar dela Hoya, David Diaz, Juan Manuel Marquez, Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.

“And Hatton is the best fight for him right now,” said Roach, who sees Pacquiao catching Hatton in the later rounds..

“Nine is my favorite number,” he said, hinting of a stoppage inside nine rounds.

“Hatton is made for Manny. He’s a tough guy who comes forward. He’s a game guy looking to mug you. That’s the perfect style for Manny,” Roach told The Sweet Science.

“You don’t have to chase Hatton. You don’t have to look for Ricky. You know where he’s going to be. He’s right there in front of you, which is what Manny likes. He likes a guy who wants to try and make it a fight.’’

Here are the surprising signs a dude is being unfaithful:

1. He’s superprotective of his gadgets. “The main way that trysts are found out is through the discovery of incriminating e-mails, IM chats, cell phone texts or bills,” says Belisa Vranich, PsyD, a clinical psychologist in New York City. So if he’s being unfaithful, he may guard his gadgets or act really defensive when you innocently touch his phone or computer. It should be a giant red flag if he readily gave you passwords in the past, and now he’s more evasive.

2. He steps up the grooming. “This is so obvious, but it’s a sign many women miss: If your man starts grooming down there without you requesting it, that could be an indication that he’s spending more time naked,” says Vranich. You can actually thank porn for this tipoff. Guys today are used to viewing manscaped dudes onscreen, so if he has another chick to impress with his sexual prowess, he may emulate those ultra-trimmed guys. Another clue: He’s spending more time at the gym.

3. He smells different. “When he comes home, if he doesn’t smell the same as he did in the morning, and it isn’t the scent of soap in the gym or at your home, it may be because he’s showered at her place,” offers Vranich. So pay attention, because in this case, that old saying “the nose knows” might very well be true.

4. Nothing fazes him anymore. “If he was short-tempered before, a combination of added sex and attention could be making him way more relaxed, even downright giddy,” Vranich says. Adds Mira Kirshenbaum, author of When Good People Have Affairs: Inside the Hearts and Minds of People in Two Relationships: “If your guy is suddenly going around all happy and whistling, then you need to find out why.”

5. He becomes suspicious of you. “If he’s normally a mellow type, all of a sudden he may want to know where you are all the time and with whom,” says Vranich. “It’s the result of him realizing that if he’s cheating and it’s not that hard, you might also be getting away with it.” Also, beware of extremely detailed responses to even your most innocent “How was work today?” queries. He may be preparing epic answers because he’s terrified of getting caught.

One caveat: If your sex life hasn’t fallen off, that’s no guarantee that he’s faithful. “It’s a serious mistake to think that affairs are necessarily sexual. He may just be unhappy in other parts of the relationship,” says Kirshenbaum. In fact, an illicit relationship could even stoke his lust for you.

Monster Worldwide Inc, the popular global website for job hunters, said Tuesday that hackers have broken into its databases and stolen personal data.

Monster spokeswoman Nikki Richardson confirmed that sites around the world had been targeted, but said some regions, notably Asia Pacific and eastern Europe, were spared.

She said Monster was working with the "appropriate law enforcement agencies" but declined to say in which countries. In the United States, where the company is based, "an investigation is in progress."

Monster operates in 36 countries with millions of users, including 4.5 million in Britain.

A statement on www.monster.com said: "We recently learned our database was illegally accessed and certain contact and account data were taken, including Monster user IDs and passwords, email addresses, names, phone numbers, and some basic demographic data."

The breach did not access resumes, social security numbers or financial data, Monster said.

The company advised clients to change their password and said it had taken its own "corrective steps."

Hackers could use email addresses to "phish" for further information, the company warned.

This is the second serious data breach at the company in 18 months, according to Computer Weekly magazine.

Earlier this month, payments processor Heartland Payment Systems, based in New Jersey, said that it had suffered a security breach in 2008.

"We found evidence of an intrusion last week and immediately notified federal law enforcement officials as well as the card brands," said Robert Baldwin, Heartland's president in a statement on January 20.

"We understand that this incident may be the result of a widespread global cyber fraud operation and we are cooperating closely with the United States Secret Service and Department of Justice."

The company processes 100 million payment card transactions every month for 175,000 businesses, USA Today daily reported.

Follow these steps then you will see that you're years back younger.

1. Smile Often
Do away with frowning, it is not only pointless but it also causes ugly frown lines.

2. Opt for Tea
There a lot of tea variants that offers various health benefits. Chamomile for example has natural soothing properties that help relieve tension and stress. Best taken at bed time.

3. Use Sunscreen
Make it a habit to wear sun protection factor (SPF) cream or moisturizer and all exposed areas of your body. Long exposure to the sun’s harmful rays can speed up aging.

4. Cut Down on Alcohol
Too much alcohol can dry up your skin and make you look haggard and old. It causes wrinkles too.

5. Eat Right
Load up on vegetables and fruits, beef, chicken, eggs, and milk. These contain natural vitamins that make your skin healthy and give you a youthful glow.

6. Quit Smoking
Smoking is bad for the heart and lungs. It also causes pucker marks around the mouth and squint lines around the eyes that grow deeper with age.

7. Get Enough sleep
Damages on your skin cells are repaired at night when you are asleep. An adult needs about eight hours of sleep everyday. It is also advisable to sleep on your back to avoid getting sleep lines on your face.

8. Practice a Skincare Routine
Cleansing, moisturizing, and toning are basic skin regimen that every woman should practice. They may just be simple skincare routines but the benefits to your skin are countless.

Hopefully, you and your significant other are treating each other well. Not sure if that's the case? Take a step back from the dizzying sensation of being swept off your feet and think about whether your relationship has these qualities:

Mutual respect. Does he or she get how cool you are and why? (Watch out if the answer to the first part is yes but only because you're acting like someone you're not!) The key is that your BF or GF is into you for who you are — for your great sense of humor, your love of reality TV, etc. Does your partner listen when you say you're not comfortable doing something and then back off right away? Respect in a relationship means that each person values who the other is and understands — and would never challenge — the other person's boundaries.

Trust. You're talking with a guy from French class and your boyfriend walks by. Does he completely lose his cool or keep walking because he knows you'd never cheat on him? It's OK to get a little jealous sometimes — jealousy is a natural emotion. But how a person reacts when feeling jealous is what matters. There's no way you can have a healthy relationship if you don't trust each other.

Honesty. This one goes hand-in-hand with trust because it's tough to trust someone when one of you isn't being honest. Have you ever caught your girlfriend in a major lie? Like she told you that she had to work on Friday night but it turned out she was at the movies with her friends? The next time she says she has to work, you'll have a lot more trouble believing her and the trust will be on shaky ground.

Support. It's not just in bad times that your partner should support you. Some people are great when your whole world is falling apart but can't take being there when things are going right (and vice versa). In a healthy relationship, your significant other is there with a shoulder to cry on when you find out your parents are getting divorced and to celebrate with you when you get the lead in a play.

Fairness/equality. You need to have give-and-take in your relationship, too. Do you take turns choosing which new movie to see? As a couple, do you hang out with your partner's friends as often as you hang out with yours? It's not like you have to keep a running count and make sure things are exactly even, of course. But you'll know if it isn't a pretty fair balance. Things get bad really fast when a relationship turns into a power struggle, with one person fighting to get his or her way all the time.

Separate identities. In a healthy relationship, everyone needs to make compromises. But that doesn't mean you should feel like you're losing out on being yourself. When you started going out, you both had your own lives (families, friends, interests, hobbies, etc.) and that shouldn't change. Neither of you should have to pretend to like something you don't, or give up seeing your friends, or drop out of activities you love. And you also should feel free to keep developing new talents or interests, making new friends, and moving forward.

Good communication. You've probably heard lots of stuff about how men and women don't seem to speak the same language. We all know how many different meanings the little phrase "no, nothing's wrong" can have, depending on who's saying it! But what's important is to ask if you're not sure what he or she means, and speak honestly and openly so that the miscommunication is avoided in the first place. Never keep a feeling bottled up because you're afraid it's not what your BF or GF wants to hear or because you worry about sounding silly. And if you need some time to think something through before you're ready to talk about it, the right person will give you some space to do that if you ask for it.

"American Idol" champ David Cook is going back to school, announcing a U.S. tour on Friday that will take him to colleges around the nation.

Cook's 37-date tour will begin on February 13 at Florida State University in Tallahassee and end on April 25 at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma, AOL music Web site www.PopEater.com said.

Most of the concerts will take place at colleges, including the University of Mississippi and the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. But Cook will also play at Seneca Niagara Casino in New York State and Ameristar Casino in Kansas City, Missouri.

Cook worked as a bartender while trying to make it in the business before winning "American Idol" in May 2008. He said he was keen to get back to his roots and promote the tradition of college tours.

"There's something inherently nostalgic about playing college shows. So many amazing acts used to do it, so it's nice to be able to bring that ideal back, in some small way," Cook said.

"Besides, touring on a bus beats what we used to do, which was cram five guys into a 7 passenger van for one show, 13 hours away," he added.

The rock singer's self-titled debut album came out in November and won the No. 3 spot on the Billboard charts. It is holding at No. 10 this week.

Cook said the inspiration behind the tour is superstar Irish rock band U2, whom he saw perform at the Super Bowl in 2002. "It was just very poignant," Cook said. "Not overdone, but definitely powerful."

The bad news: Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States. The good news: You can reduce your risk by 82 percent if you make the healthy lifestyle choices of being active, not smoking, eating well and managing stress. To help, we've gathered a list of some of the heart-healthiest foods out there. Bonus: They're yummy, too.

Grilled Salmon: The omega-3 fatty acids in oily fish like salmon and trout may reduce your risk of death from coronary artery disease. Experts recommend eating at least two four-ounce servings of fish a week.

Curry: Turmeric, the herb that gives curry powder its color, has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect on the body. So why should you care? Inflammation has been shown to play a role in the development of heart disease.

Beans: There's a ton of fiber in beans, which can help ward off high cholesterol, a major risk factor for cardiovascular problems. (Black-bean burrito? Yes please!)

Pomegranates: Step aside, green tea! Pomegranate juice has four times the antioxidants of the much-lauded tea. All the better to fight heart disease, my dear.

Dark Greens: Folate, found in foods like broccoli and spinach, can slash your risk of high blood pressure. See, your mom knew what she was talking about.

Olive oil: Everyone loves butter, but in order to keep the richness in your food while also protecting your heart, try frying eggs and sauteing veggies in olive oil instead. The monounsaturated fats will serve your whole body better!

A few lucky people in the Indian Ocean will be treated to a rare event on Monday when an annular solar eclipse will transform the Sun into a dark disc with a blazing ring-shaped corona around its rim.

In solar eclipses, the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, casting its shadow on the terrestrial surface.

In an annular eclipse, a tiny shift in distance that results from celestial mechanics means the Moon does not completely cover the Sun's face, as it does in a total eclipse.

Instead, for those directly under the alignment, the Moon covers most of the Sun's surface, and a ring-like crown of solar light blazes from the edge of the disk.

For those watching from the fringe of the track, the Sun is partially obscured, as if a bite has been taken out of it.

According to veteran NASA eclipse-watcher Fred Espenak, the total eclipse track will run from west to east on Monday from 0606 GMT to 0952 GMT.

It will traverse the Indian Ocean and western Indonesia before petering out just short of Mindanao, the Philippines.

The partial eclipse will be seen in a much wider swathe, including the southern third of Africa, Madagascar, Australia, Southeast India, Southeast Asia and Indonesia.

It will be the only annular solar eclipse this year. The last was on 7 February, 2007, and after Monday, the next one will be on 15 January, 2010.

The big event for eclipse junkies this year is on July 22, when a total solar eclipse will be visible from India and China, the world's two most populous countries.

Half the problem of getting the right style and preventing damage is the type of hairbrush you use. Most damage happens when the hair is wet, and if you detangle with a steel comb, you are probably making most of the damage yourself. Do you have curly hair and no matter how your straighten it, you always have a wave?

Here are some Hair-Brush Solutions:

* When combing wet hair use a big tooth come and detangle your hair from end to root. Try not to touch the root at all.

* For short hair use a Paddington brush with soft protective bristles as you shape and blow dry your hair to your sought after look.

* If you need to tease your hair for a little height, use a pick.

* For medium length straight hair, use a Paddle Brush with soft protective bristles to help you comb out and blow dry your hair.

* For medium length wavy bobs use extra large round brush to blow out the kinks and curls.

* For longhair past your shoulders use a thick, loose toothed brushed or a big round ceramic brush to help you blow dry you long hair straight. Flip the ends out if you want to be a little sassy with the same brush, creating two looks.

Look good, feel better!

Like the Supreme Court and the College of Cardinals, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is an exclusive and obscure deliberative body that is prone to its own brand of weirdness. The Academy loves to reward actors who play endearing lunatics and actresses who hag it up for a part. It throws trophies at lavish historical epics and anything about the Holocaust. And for a long time, it had a strange aversion to Martin Scorsese. Though some times the most deserving film took home the top prize -- "Casablanca" won in 1943, "The Godfather" in 1972, and "The Last Emperor" in 1987 -- more often than not the Academy drops the ball. Here are just a few of the Oscar's worst Best Pictures.

Cimarron (1931)
Here is a flick that really hasn't stood the test of time. "Cimarron," a big-budget tale about how the West was won, racked up huge box office earnings and took home the big prize in 1931. So why have you probably not heard of it? It most likely has something to do with the film's ridiculous storylines, hammy acting, and overt racism.

How Green Was My Valley (1941)
John Ford's heart-warming tale about Welsh coal miners has earned the unfortunate notoriety of stealing the Best Picture Oscar from what many call the best movie ever made, "Citizen Kane." In some cinephile circles, the movie is regarded with a distain usually reserved for tobacco lobbyists and banking executives.

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)
Sure, this epic spectacle was shot in 70mm and featured lots of location footage, which was pretty impressive at the time, but it's also about as deep as the skin on tomato soup. James Dean's final movie "Giant" would be an infinitely better choice.

Rocky (1976)
The Academy couldn't possibly have foreseen "Rocky" IV, V or VI when they handed this film a trophy. That being said, Stallone's pugilist fairy tale seems pretty pale next to its fellow nominees, "Network," "All the President's Men," and of course Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver." Over the years, the Academy developed a fetish for nominating but not rewarding Scorsese's best work.

Ordinary People (1980)
Another example of the Academy hosing Scorsese. "Ordinary People," about emotionally-repressed suburbanites, is a well-crafted, well-acted movie. It just not even in the same ballpark as Marty's savage masterpiece "Raging Bull," a movie that many critics have dubbed the best of film of the 1980s.

Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
A well-meaning but muddle-headed Best Picture winner about rich white folk learning a little something about racism by talking to the help. The film's warm and fuzzy Hallmark card version of race relations is particularly galling since Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" -- the actual best pic of the year -- wasn't even nominated.

Dances With Wolves (1990)
In a perfect world, the poor would be fed, the Cubs would win the World Series, and "Goodfellas" would have won Best Picture. Instead, this steaming pile of self-congratulatory new-age twaddle got the nod. Director Kevin Costner went on to make "The Postman" while Scorsese would have to wait sixteen more years before landing the prize in 2006 for "The Departed."

Forrest Gump (1994)
Robert Zemeckis' manipulative, schmaltzy Boomer yarn made piles of cash and wowed about half the critics in the country, but the movie's sentimental platitudes and cheap nostalgia really don't hold a candle to "Pulp Fiction," the most influential and imitated film of the '90s.

Gladiator (2000)
A poor man's "Spartacus" tarted up with lots of CGI. For a director as talented as Ridley Scott, it's hard to understand why the action scenes in "Gladiator" were as incoherent as they were. It was as if the entire editing staff was hopped up on Red Bull and Twinkies. If you want to see better-constructed action scenes in a better movie, check out the flick that should have won, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."

Crash (2005)
One of the great "What were they thinking?" moments of Oscardom. Instead of choosing the best-reviewed movie of the year -- "Brokeback Mountain" -- the Academy picked this contrived, hectoring paean to liberal guilt. What made Ryan Phillippe shoot that guy? Racism. What made Ludacris jack that car? Racism. What made Sandra Bullock fall down the stairs? Racism. The movie is about as nuanced as a hammer blow to the head, as enjoyable as listening to your parents fight, and about as honest as your average Enron executive.

So this year, will the Academy get it right for a change or will it drop the ball once again? And what Oscar winners of the past do you think had no business taking home the gold?

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has said no nation is more important to the United States than China. But ties between the two powers may be off to a rocky start just days into the Obama administration.

In his inaugural address Tuesday, President Barack Obama spoke of how earlier generations of Americans had "faced down fascism and communism." China's state broadcaster quickly faded out the audio of its live broadcast, the camera cutting back to a flustered studio anchor.

Then, on Thursday, Obama's choice to lead the Treasury Department, Timothy Geithner, wrote that Obama believes China is "manipulating" its currency, which American manufacturers say Beijing does to make its goods cheaper for U.S. consumers and American products more expensive in China.

Geithner's comments could anger Chinese officials, who closely follow U.S. political rhetoric and frequently decry what they consider foreign interference in China's internal affairs. The United States often criticizes China about human rights and trade abuses, but Washington and Beijing find themselves increasingly intertwined in a host of crucial economic, military and diplomatic efforts.

China's foreign minister, Yang Jiechi, said his country was committed to working with the Obama administration to strengthen ties and cooperation.

"China-U.S. relations are one of the most important bilateral relations in the world," the official Xinhua News Agency cited Yang as saying.

Selig Harrison, director of the Asia program at the U.S.-based Center for International Policy, said it was "very ill-advised for the new administration to confront China as if this were 10 years ago and we were in a strong financial position internationally."

"We are dependent on Chinese goodwill for our economic survival and viability, and, therefore, it seems to me that this type of posture is very risky," he said.

Despite an early face-off with China over an intercepted U.S. spy plane, former President George W. Bush made it a priority to strengthen relations with China while also pushing the country to live up to what he considered its duties as an emerging global superpower and a veto-holding member of the U.N. Security Council.

Trade ties between the United States and China often are tense. China says it has made progress on currency changes and worries about bills introduced in Congress that would impose economic sanctions on China unless it moves more quickly to let its currency rise in value against the dollar.

Although Geithner said China is "manipulating its currency," he suggested Thursday that now might not be the right time to brand Beijing as a currency manipulator under U.S. trade law, which could lead to U.S. trade sanctions against imports from China.

His testimony may not have been a complete shock to China. Yang, the foreign minister, has said he studies American television and newspapers. Obama and Clinton, during their long campaigns to secure the Democratic nomination for president, made no secret of their desires for a tougher position with China about its human rights record and its trade practices.

Still, Obama's young administration is not complete: he has yet to name many of the officials who will be dealing with China issues; he also has not yet decided whether to continue the high-level economic discussions the Bush administration has held twice a year with China since late 2006.

Bonnie Glaser, an analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said the Chinese have said during the past few months that they want a good start to their relationship with the new U.S. administration.

"Everybody just needs to be a little patient on this," Glaser said. "I would not draw any premature conclusions that the administration has decided to take a tougher stance, and hopefully the Chinese will be patient while the administration works this out."

Fujitsu Lifebook N6420 Technical Specifications

* Processor 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7200, 667MHz FSB
* Memory 2GB DDR2, 667Mhz
* Harddrive 200GB 4,200rpm SATA x 2
* OS Windows XP MCE
* Weight 9.7 pounds (4.4 kg)
* Screen 17 inches
* Screen resolution 1400x900
* Graphic Card ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
* Battery Life 1.5 hours

Product summary

The good: Includes HD-DVD drive and Core 2 Duo processor; full keyboard with number pad; cheaper than many other HD-DVD laptops.

The bad: Poor battery life; visual optimizer function didn't deliver; could use more RAM and a faster hard drive; lacks DVI-out port.

The bottom line: The Fujitsu LifeBook N6420 is one of the cheaper HD-DVD laptops out there, and it delivers a fine multimedia experience, but its weak battery life means you'll have to keep it anchored to a wall outlet to get through even a single movie.

The romantic fantasy "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" led Academy Awards contenders Thursday with 13 nominations, among them best picture and acting honors for Brad Pitt and Taraji P. Henson, and a directing slot for David Fincher.

Other best-picture nominees are "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "The Reader" and "Slumdog Millionaire."

As expected, Heath Ledger had a supporting-actor nomination for "The Dark Knight" on the one-year anniversary of his death from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs. But the Batman blockbuster was shut out for other top categories such as best picture and director.

"Slumdog Millionaire" lived up to its rags-to-riches theme, coming in second with 10 nominations, including a directing spot for Danny Boyle and two of the three song slots.

Real-life couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie both will be going to the Oscars as nominees. Jolie had a best-actress nomination for the missing-child drama "Changeling."

The acting categories were loaded with surprises. Kate Winslet won two Golden Globes, best dramatic actress for "Revolutionary Road" and supporting actress for "The Reader." But she was nominated for lead actress at the Oscars for "The Reader" and shut out for "Revolutionary Road."

Actors considered longshots also sneaked in, among lead-actor nominee Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor," best-actress contender Melissa Leo for "Frozen River" and supporting-actor pick Michael Shannon for "Revolutionary Road."

Winslet reunited with "Titanic" co-star Leonardo DiCaprio for "Revolutionary Road," but he also was shut out for a nomination on that film.

Other best-actress nominees were Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married" and Meryl Streep for "Doubt."

Joining Pitt and Jenkins in the best-actor category were Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"; Sean Penn, "Milk"; and Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler."

Other acting snubs included Clint Eastwood for "Gran Torino," Sally Hawkins for "Happy-Go-Lucky" and Kristin Scott Thomas for "I've Loved You So Long."

But perhaps the biggest surprise overall was the so-so results for "The Dark Knight," which had been picking up momentum as one Hollywood trade guild after another picked it as one of the year's best films.

The largest blockbuster in years, "The Dark Knight" had eight nominations, but other than Ledger's honor, its scored only in technical categories such as cinematography, visual effects and editing.

The Philippine Government is looking to require content licenses for people who create content online. If you blog, write a comment, post pictures on Facebook and Flickr, publish online games, upload ringtones, or any similar activity then you MAY be covered by the broad definition of “contents developers” found in this NTC document. Curiously, the NTC document is also entitled “electronicgames.html“.

A PUBLIC hearing is set for today at the NTC Executive Conference Room, 3rd Floor, NTC Bldg., BIR Road, East Triangle, Diliman, Quezon City.

It costs 6,000 pesos to get a license. What do you think?

Mike Abundo also wrote about this content license BS saying “This is the most unenforceable proposal I have ever seen. What are they going to do, require five million Filipino Friendster users to get a license before posting pictures? This proposal clearly comes from the outdated mindset that only corporations can develop content”.

U.S. Senator Barack Obama won his bid to become President of the United States of America on November 4, 2008. He was sworn into office on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. (He resigned his senate seat after winning the election.)

Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States and the first African-American to hold this high office.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) was officially formed on November 25, 2008. It was led by five co-chairs: William Daley, Penny Pritzker, John W. Rogers, Patrick Ryan, and Julianna Smoot.

PIC is the committee that was responsible for administering the inaugural events for President-Elect Obama. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is a non-partisan committee responsible for managing the swearing-in ceremony.

So, roughly, the former committee represents the incoming Obama team and the latter committee is responsible for the orderly transition of government through the swearing in ceremony. Although, both committees certainly work together.

Microsoft Corp. said Thursday it is cutting 5,000 jobs over the next 18 months — more than 5 percent of its work force — a sign of how badly even the biggest and richest companies are being stung by the recession.

The layoffs appear to be a first for Microsoft, which was founded in 1975, aside from relatively limited staff cuts the software company made after acquiring companies.

The company announced the cuts as it reported an 11 percent drop in second-quarter profit, which fell short of Wall Street's expectations. Microsoft shares plunged 8 percent in morning trading.

Microsoft said it was being hurt by deteriorating global economic conditions and lower revenue from software for PCs. The holiday quarter of 2008 was the worst the PC market had seen since 2002, with computer shipments declining about a half of 1 percent, according to IDC, a technology research group.

Making matters worse, the one type of PC consumers have warmed to in tight times — the low-cost, low-power "netbook" — actually cut further into Microsoft's earnings, the company said. The tiny portable computers run on Windows XP, which is older and less profitable for Microsoft than Windows Vista.

In a memo to employees released Thursday, Chief Executive Steve Ballmer acknowledged that Microsoft is "not immune to the effects of the economy. Consumers and businesses have reined in spending, which is affecting PC shipments and IT (information technology) expenditures."

Ballmer said Microsoft cut operating expenses by $600 million in the quarter, but that it wasn't enough.

The layoffs, starting with 1,400 on Thursday, will affect workers in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal and corporate affairs, human resources and information technology. Ballmer also said changes would occur in departments that handle support, consulting, operations, billing, manufacturing, and data center operations, but he did not say whether layoffs are planned.

Microsoft won't stop hiring entirely. Ballmer said the company will add new jobs to support "key investment areas" over the next 18 months, so the total number of employees will drop by only 2,000 to 3,000. Microsoft employs 94,000 people overall.

The software maker is also making cuts to travel costs, contractors and vendors, and scaled back a massive expansion to its Redmond, Wash., headquarters.

Microsoft said profit fell to $4.17 billion, or 47 cents per share, from year-ago earnings of $4.71 billion, or 50 cents per share.

Total revenue edged up 2 percent to $16.63 billion, as software for corporate computer servers helped offset an 8 percent drop in revenue for PC software.

The results missed Wall Street's forecast for earnings of 49 cents per share on sales of $17.08 billion.

Microsoft said the job cuts will reduce operating costs by $1.5 billion as it prepares for lower revenue and earnings in the second half of the year. The company says it is unable to offer profit and revenue guidance for the rest of the year, because of the market volatility.

Its shares fell $1.57, or 8.1 percent, to $17.81 in morning trading.

Even though Akon has a birth certificate, he says his age is still a mystery — and he'd rather keep it that way.

"All it's going to do is depress me," he told The Associated Press in a recent interview. "I don't want to know I'm getting older. Then I'll start to think about getting checkups and insurance. I don't want that."

Numerous reports have put his age between 25 to 35 years old. In 2006, he gave his age as 25. But now, he claims his birth certificate shows he was born on April 16, 1977, which would make him 31.

Some have accused Akon of trying to push back his age. But the singer, who was born in the United States but spent his early life in Senegal, where his family is from, says he never knew it.

"In Africa ... age is not important over there. They don't care. People only focus on it here (America) and in Europe."

Akon says when people ask, he just gives him a figure that comes to mind.

"I feel like I'm 21 right now," he says. "And I'll be 21 for the next 10 years."

Akon went multiplatinum with his 2006 CD "Konvicted," which included hits such as "Smack That" with Eminem and "Don't Matter." His most recent album, "Freedom," was released in December.

The new Audi GT3 R8 sports car is a race car that will enter into some of the great races of the world sometime next year.

Power for the Audi GT3 has been boosted to 500hp and the engineers digged deep into the technics to conform with GT3 standards. The four-wheel-drive system had to be replaced with a more conventional GT rear-wheel drive system and it is also equipped with a newly developed six-speed sports sequential gear box.

The Audi GT3 is a super sports car indeed.

HP EliteBook Technical Specifications

* Processor 1.86GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400
* Memory 3GB DDR2
* Harddrive 120 GB
* OS Microsoft Windows XP Pro
* Weight 3.19 lbs
* Screen 12.1
* Screen resolution 1280 x 800
* Graphic Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500 MHD

I took a lot of random courses in college, but the on of the most random was "Religion and the American Wilderness". This History course was based on the early settlers and their fear of the American wilderness as they pioneered into the unknown. In European folklore, the wilderness represented the unknown and was an extension of mystery, magic, and even evil (see Hansel and Gretel).

In reflection, I realize that the European stereotype of the wilderness mirrors our stereotypes of the opposite gender. In a sense, the opposite gender is the unknown, and it's mysterious.

We spend a lot of time trying to figure out what the opposite gender is thinking and doing. Stereotypes grow out of lack of understanding of a group of people.

Looking back, I realize that my "8 Ways I'm Like a Woman" post was based on stereotype. Men and women fall into the trap of stereotyping one another because they will never truly understand one another-but this mystery also keeps us intrigued.

In this post, I'm going to explore some stereotypes that women have about guys. Then, in the next post, I'll take a look at stereotypes that guys have about women.

What women think about us...

We are all out for sex.
Sadly, sometimes this is true. A lot of guys are after one thing, and they can be very transparent about that. From the time I was in middle school, the older guys talked about conquest and "getting laid" as a measurement for how much of a man I was. This belief is passed down again and again. Luckily, at some point, I figured I'd use other things to define my manhood, or I just didn't care about being a "man" in the eyes of other men.

We like to be in control.
This is an intimidating proposition for single women who are trying to find their way. Tradition states that men are the ones who ask out the women, men choose where to go for the dates during fledgling relationships, and men pay more of the time. Personally, I don't feel like I need to be in control all the time-I like to be in control of my own life, but not other people's lives. Control will always be a major issue in relationships.

We Fear Commitment
I can tell you that I do fear commitment. Commitment means that I've decided that the woman I'm settling down with is perfect and there is no one else out there for me. Commitment means I've found my soul mate, that I am completely secure with myself, and that there should be no going back. I don't know about you, but all of that is pretty heavy. I think the old adage: "girls mature faster than boys" comes into play here. Commitment is a sign of maturity and it just takes some of us longer.

We think we are good in bed.
Men are taught that confidence solves just about anything. You can be making a total mistake, but as long as you're confident it will turn out ok. This may explain why we are so clueless at what we are doing in bed, but we act like we know. I, for one, am the first to admit to a girl that her body/mind mystify me and I am humble before them. The whole time I'm doing stuff, I'm saying to myself: "I hope she likes it..." But I have a feeling that a lot of guys are thinking: "there's on way she doesn't like what I'm doing".

If it weren't for society, we wouldn't change our underwear.
OK, you're right. We wouldn't.

We like big boobs.
Yes, we are fascinated with them-again-because they are the unknown. We don't have them! I know plenty of guys who like big boobs; I like checking out big boobs, but I don't know many guys who have big boobs on their list of requirements for their soul mate. In fact, there are plenty of guys out there that prefer smaller boobs.

What stereotypes do you and your girlfriends have about guys? Are there any that you think are truer than others?

The good: The Samsung Behold has an attractive design with a responsive touch screen. The feature set offers a range of options and call and photo quality meet the mark. Also, T-Mobile's 3G network is lightning fast.

The bad: The Samsung Behold lacks Wi-Fi and its memory card slot is in an inconvenient location. Speakerphone quality was just average and the Web browser wasn't quite up to par.

The bottom line: Though it lacks Wi-Fi, the Samsung Behold is a sleek touch-screen phone with a range of features and an easily understood interface.

Specifications: Band / mode: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 (Quadband) / UMTS 1700/2100 ; Talk time: Up to 300 min ; Combined with: With digital camera

See full specs : CNET Reviews

Like a good many people I have been the victim of acne vulgaris (what an appropriate name) the medical term for pimples. It has made me aggravated, made me cry, and made me angry. Thousands of people each year are afflicted by it, and it makes recluses out of a good many teenagers.

It is caused when your pores get clogged and the fatty material made by the sebaceous gland accumulates, and a "bump" appears under the skin-or perhaps a whitehead or a blackhead (a comedone). Blackheads are not caused by dirt but by the discoloring effect of air on the fatty material in the clogged pore. If this substance becomes infected a pimple results.

As anyone can tell you the worst thing to do is to push or "pop" a pimple. Because this will not only cause more, but can result in life long scars. No matter what you see on TV or a friend tells you, don't pop a pimple. I know, I made the mistake and I'm still regretting it.

But not too long ago I discovered a way to lessen the intensity of my outbreaks, although it stops short of completely curing them.

I totally avoid grain products, most especially bread, corn, cereal, and other pastries, (also potatoes) and to still get all my vitamins I add wheat germ and brewer's yeast to yogurt or milk and fruit. Brewer's yeast does take time to acquire a taste to however, and can be found at most if not all Health food stores.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC), the largest food and beverage company in Southeast Asia, has taken over control of Petron Corp. following a shakeup in the board of the biggest oil firm in the Philippines.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange yesterday, Petron corporate secretary Luis Maglaya said three SMC officials – led by chairman and CEO Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. – and an independent director gained seats in Petron’s 10-man board during a special board meeting Thursday.

Aside from Cojuangco, the other SMC executives include its president and COO Ramon Ang – who was elected as the new chairman of Petron – and SMC counsel Estelito Mendoza.

Ang took the chairmanship from Nicasio Alcantara who, however, remains a director in Petron’s board.

Petron president Eric Recto, meanwhile, will likewise hold on to his post as president.

Completing the new entrants in Petron’s board is independent director Angelico Salud.

Besides Alcantara and Recto, the other holdovers in Petron’s board consist of Bernardino Abes, former Trade Minister Roberto Ongpin, former Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin and Ron Haddock.

Maglaya also disclosed that along with the board overhaul, two new managerial positions in Petron were also created. Emmanuel Eraña will now sit as the company’s chief finance officer and Lubin Nepomuceno as general manager.

According to Petron insiders, there are still no major movements in the rest of management from the vice president level while SMC sources, on the other hand, confirmed there would be a “status quo” in Petron’s rank-and-file.

Meanwhile, SMC has committed to pay the Ashmore Group $10 million to retain an exclusive option to buy the British investment firm’s 50.1 percent stake in Petron, Ang said.

The new Petron chairman said the $10 million covers the cost of the option agreement, and will be deducted from the cost of acquiring the Petron shares if the deal goes through.

“If you exercise (the option), it ($10 million) forms part of the payment, if you don’t, you lose it,” Ang said in a mobile phone text message to Reuters.

SMC said it has two years from Dec. 24, 2008, to exercise the option to buy the Petron stake.

It had signed the option agreement with SEA Refinery, a wholly-owned subsidiary of London-listed investment manager Ashmore, to buy a unit that owns 50.1 percent of Petron.

Ashmore owns a total of 90.57 percent of Petron after buying the government’s 40 percent interest for around $544 million last month.

SMC, partly owned by Japanese brewer Kirin Holdings, is cash rich after selling major beverage businesses in recent years.

The deal with Ashmore is the third foray for SMC out of its core food and drinks businesses — a move aimed at fuelling growth.

Last month, SMC signed a deal with Qatar Telecom to offer wireless broadband and mobile services in the Philippines.

That followed its purchase of a 27 percent stake in power retailer Manila Electric Co. for about $607 million in late October.

Maybe you’re having fun, but it’s a restrained and productive kind of fun. And if you constantly check your actions against the long-range aim, you’re not alone. The dominating energy is Capricorn with the sun, moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Pluto all in the sign of tradition, careers and social standing. The end goal is ever present.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). Solemnity does not come to mind when your name is mentioned. But as you tire of the partying that once held your attention, you uncover a new layer. Peace and quiet will become welcomed, not just tolerated.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Because you have dealt with so many health issues lately you were beginning to wonder if you would ever again know tranquility. Due to your change of habit, you now reap the reward, smooth sailing.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Though you can’t please the entire crowd at once, you can be just what the doctor ordered for the central person in your life. You’ll expertly point the way to avoid hurdles ahead and your loved one follows.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). You know what you want the instant you lock your eyes on it. Do what it takes to quiet your doubts. From a mentally cool and still place you are free to make the decisions that will attract your object of desire.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Just as the romance of owning a horse is tempered with the responsibility of cleaning its stall, so it is with love. Nothing worthwhile is easy. Your partner gives you an example of imperfection and without worries you accept it.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (JAN. 10). The right decisions put you on a path that feels natural and easy. For instance, you resolve to banish a certain kind of stress from your life and suddenly get positively lighter. Work requires imagination in February. You give a stand out performance in March. You’ll be popular in new circles. Taurus and Aquarius are especially adoring. Your lucky numbers are: 5, 20, 33, 19 and 50.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). An advocate of the free market, you feel pleased to have options. You believe your solid reputation will support your move forward in business. It will. Be certain that the financial backing you find is just as solid.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You’ll be teaching others. Positive energy has its own exceedingly useful qualities. Let the less experienced one win the game and know the feeling of pride. Groom the mind and the spirit of your charge.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). At the moment it is wise to trust the keen insight of the youngest people around you. Speak freely with them. Share details of business concerns. Their wisdom will shock you. Weigh their view against professional advice.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Your friends are like an extended family. It’s crucial that you support them now in their various endeavors, even the ones you don’t find to be particularly relevant to you. Leave yourself reminders if you must.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The opportunities are so tasty, easy and just for you. It feels like you’re the first one in the supermarket for the day and that everything has been shined up and lined up for your inspection and purchase.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). To you, family is first. Seek out those with a shared philosophy. Milk and apple pie resonate with you. Singles, look for love in places it can be found: friends’ homes, religious centers, etc.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Look deeply into the issues that stimulate your imagination. Where your passions reside there is money to be made. Pursue anything connected to helping you find your dearest interest.

ASTROLOGICAL QUESTIONS: “I feel let down after the holidays. It’s such a lot of excitement, and then suddenly it’s over. Can I avoid the holiday postpartum?”

Yes! ARIES: Exercise. A brisk walk in the cold gets the endorphins pumping. TAURUS: Sort through your gifts, organize and then donate old items. GEMINI: Your heart becomes lighter as you call and thank the people who contributed to making your holiday great. CANCER: Stay in. You get your zest back after you play it low key until the end of the year. LEO: Figure out when your next party, visit or performance will be so you have something big to look forward to. VIRGO: Do an end-of-the-year cleanup mission. LIBRA: Plan and ready yourself for a romantic New Year’s Eve. SCORPIO: Write in your journal about all you learned last year. SAGITTARIUS: Organize the pictures you took last year as you dream of all the new places you’ll see in 2009. CAPRICORN: Make a career or social goal for the new year and start figuring out the steps it will take to get there. AQUARIUS: Get together with three friends to reminisce and brainstorm. PISCES: Go to a religious ceremony (or create one) to tribute last year and party for the next.

The good: The LG Dare has an intuitive touch-screen interface, an advanced 3.2-megapixel camera, a full HTML browser, EV-DO Rev. A, and plenty of other powerful features. It also has excellent call quality.

The bad: The LG Dare's touch interface has a slight learning curve, and we weren't too pleased with the handwriting interface. Also, the Web browsing experience was quite disappointing.

The bottom line: The LG Dare is an innovative and feature-rich handset with several surprises that sets it apart from other touch-screen phones.

Specifications: Band / mode: CDMA2000 1X 1900/800 ; Talk time: Up to 280 min ; Combined with: With digital camera / digital player

See full specs : CNET Reviews

Regardless how much we try to hide it from the world, our skin always will show exactly what type of life that we live. It will show our habits, how often we exercise, the foods we eat, and whether or not we sleep enough. Eventually, everything that we do will be disclosed in the condition of your skin. While these effects may not show in your early youth, at some point you are going to have to stop ignoring them and start living a healthier life. Here are some basic steps to follow to keep your skin young and firm.

Moisturize your face daily – No matter what you have going on, take the time to add moisture to your skin. This twice daily habit is usually done first thing in the morning as well as right before bed. Do not stop just at moisturizing cream. Make sure that you drink at least 64 oz of water every day. Many people think that they are done moisturizing their skin once they apply their cream. This is not the case. You must drink plenty of water each day to ensure your skin has the appropriate moisture content it needs to remain healthy and firm.

Use spf – Many of us like to look tan and spend time out at the pool. Taking care of you face does not mean that has to end. It does, however, mean that you have to take precautions. You may be aware that 15 minutes of sun every day provides you with a healthy portion of Vitamin D, which is fantastic for your skin. But limiting your skin to only 15 minutes is the part that most of us struggle with. That is where protection comes in. SPF allows you to avoid the damaging UV rays and still get that glow of tanned skin. Most of us use sunscreen in an attempt to avoid dangerous skin conditions, but rarely are concerned about the rapid acceleration of the aging process also caused by UV rays.

Exercise daily – Regular workouts are an essential part of keeping yourself healthy. By increasing your blood flow you are also giving your face and neck the necessary oxygen to keep your skin looking young and refreshed. Aside from the increased energy you will feel in all aspects of your life, this healthy regement will give your skin the elasticity it had during your youth.

Try a contrasting shower – This rarely known approach is fantastic for stimulating skin elasticity. This is how you do it. When you are in the shower, before you get out, begin to alternate hot and cold rinses. Rinse yourself under only cold water for 5 minutes and then under hot water for 5 minutes. Repeat. By doing this you are causing your skin to expand and contract, therefore stimulating elasticity.

Dieting and nutrition – This is a very difficult aspect of many people to maintain in control of. The binge dieters out there, you are making it very difficult for your skin to remain healthy. While you are dieting to ultimately enhance your appearance, you are putting your skin through a harmful experience. Avoid rapid weight loss. Your skin will not shrink as quickly as you might think, and therefore you may leave yourself with loose skin, which without proper nutrients will cause wrinkles. On the opposite end of the spectrum, watch your refined carbohydrates and fats. If you prefer fast food to a home cooked meal, be sure to enhance your diet with the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep your skin looking healthy. Better yet, try to cook at home more often if you schedule permits.

These basic tips will help you reduce the damage you are putting your skin through on a regular basis. By eliminating self inflicted damage and being more aware of the repercussions caused by our actions, we stand to benefit tremendously. Remember, your face is a direct reflection of the life you live. If you have lived at all like me, now sounds like a pretty good time to start taking care of it.

Dell Studio 15 Technical Specifications

* Processor 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
* Memory 2GB
* Harddrive 250GB
* OS Windows Vista Home Premium
* Weight 6.11 lbs
* Screen 15.4 in
* Screen resolution 1280x800
* Graphic Card ATI Mobility Radeon HD3450
* Battery Life N/A

The Porsche 911 GT2 has a 50 hp upgrade over the standard 997 Turbo for a total of 530hp. This power increase is courtesy of two turbochargers with a larger compressor wheel and a flow-optimized turbine housing.

The GT2 is only available with a 6 speed manual gearbox and RWD to cater to the real car enthusiasts and provide the best performance possible. The new Porsche GT2 does 0-60mph in 3.6 seconds and top speed of 204mph.

It is scheduled to make its North American debut in early 2008 at a US price of $191,700.

Whether they're recovering from their quarter-life crises or still getting carded at the bar, these precocious celebs won't be worrying about their retirement funds anytime soon.

Collectively, these 20 upstarts brought in $435.5 million between June 2007 and June 2008 -- though non-'tween actors made a somewhat paltry showing in the top 10. The list belongs to the entertainers and athletes, who cornered the market with heavy branding and juicy endorsement deals.

With 10 Grammys, three solo albums, four movies and a pret-a-porter line under her belt, it's no surprise Beyonce Knowles blows away the rest of the list, raking in $80 million -- almost double the $44 million runner-up Justin Timberlake pulled in this fiscal year. The former Destiny's Child lead released her latest album "I am ... Sasha Fierce" Nov. 19, which sold nearly half a million copies in its first week.

Next up for Beyonce? Set for release in December, "Cadillac Records" features Knowles opposite Adrien Brody as famed soulstress Etta James. Her thriller debut, "Obsessed," hits theaters January 2009. The platinum-piped diva plans a worldwide tour next year as well.


Former *NSYNC heartthrob Justin Timberlake found similar success taking his act solo: His 2002 debut album, "Justified," went platinum three times over and sold more than 7 million copies worldwide.

Like Knowles, J.T. diversified his portfolio: With an Emmy, six Grammy awards, and three restaurants to his name, Timberlake is also co-producing NBC's adaptation of the Peruvian TV series "My Problem with Women."

Hot on Timberlake's heels? Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant. With deals from Coca-Cola, Sony and Nike, the 2007-2008 MVP pulled in $39 million just last year.

Off the court, Bryant heads up mixed-media ad house Zambezi Ink, which recently produced the promotion for Kobe's Nike Hyperdunk shoe. It's a full media makeover for Bryant, who found himself embroiled in accusations of sexual assault three years ago, scaring some major companies like McDonald's into abandoning endorsement deals.

Bryant leads a quick succession of athletes -- Cleveland Cavaliers point forward LeBron James and tennis champs Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova. In fact, athletes take nearly half the top 10 celebs under 30 -- indicative of the power of endorsement deals and testament to the fact that they reach their peak much faster than actors, who gain recognition and fatter paychecks over time.

The average age of the top ten best-paid actors is a solid 43-and-a-half, while women skew somewhat younger at 38. Nonetheless, according to employment data from the Screen Actors Guild, women over 40 received barely a quarter of all roles surveyed, while older men made out with 40%.

That may help explain why only one bona fide non-'tween actress makes it into this top 10: Keira Knightley. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" bombshell, who first drew international attention for her role in the soccer flick "Bend it Like Beckham," has since starred in more serious fare such as Oscar-winning "Atonement" and the remake of "Pride and Prejudice."

Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame owes his spot in the top 10 to the magical powers of J.K. Rowling's quill: The fifth movie in the seven-book series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," grossed $292 million. Now 19, the boy-wonder is wrapping up his run in the Broadway staging of "Equus," which won quite a few double-takes for the young star's nude scene. He's a long way from Hogwarts, Hedwig.

'Tween superstar Miley Cyrus may have the most meteoric rise to fame -- her Disney Channel show "Hannah Montana" debuted in 2006, but it has since evolved into a formidable preteen franchise. Both her albums, "Meet Miley Cyrus" and "Breakout," have taken top spot on the Billboard 200. Listed among Time's top 100 most influential people of 2008, the 16-year-old most recently closed Disneyland for her birthday and lent her voice to the animated film "Bolt," which debuted at No. 3 on Nov. 28.

Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen round out the top 10--the waif-like media duo have made some recent and relatively unsuccessful forays onto the big screen (think floptastic "New York Minute"). Now best known for their fashion choices and tabloid appearances, the former "Full House" stars reign over vast pan-media company Dualstar, whose clothing and accessories lines cater to the lucrative preteen demographic.

In a testament to the profitability of 'tween sensationalism, the Jonas Brothers and the "Harry Potter" and "High School Musical" crews cluster in the bottom half of the top 20. Whether any of them will have the staying power to remain on the list next year -- or even climb up a few notches -- will depend on their ability to brand themselves and diversify their resume--trademarks of their successful top-10 elders.

Here are some of the stereotypes that guys have about women:

Women are crazy.
I tried for a long time to make sense out of women's actions and statements. Once I accepted that women were "crazy," (many older guys had insisted they were for years) it seemed to take a huge load of pressure off me. No longer was I trying to rationalize moves that women made that got me into crazy analysis cycles. When I just throw it all out the window and dismiss it as "crazy," it makes it easier to deal. We don't really think women are insane, we just say it so we can be done thinking about their antics and move on.

PMS makes women angry.
One time when I was working at a café over the summer in college with a guy and a girl who were friends of mine, the girl was clearly cranky early on morning while she cut bread. My friend and I, always eager to annoy her, swooped in. Eventaully my buddy said what every guy has said at some point in his life:

"Uh oh, Rich, must be that time of the month."

She turned to him, brandished the bread knife in his face and said:

"GET A LIFE."

But sometimes when we've done wrong or want to make sense out of why a girl is mad at us, we try to blame it on possible PMS. Honestly, sometimes a woman's anger does look hormonal. I have said something to a girl one day that she laughs at, but then a week later she bites my head off when I say the same thing. But I've learned not to make things worse by suggesting that she's PMSing.

Women want to settle down.
Guys keep a close tab on their friends and how much pressure they are getting to marry their girlfriends. We also notice our friends that are girls who seem to panic as their girlfriends get married one by one. So, guys are very sensitive to the fact that women want to settle down and are more vocal about it than guys. There is even a biological argument: guys sometimes assume that women want to have children more than anything, especially as they get older. We meet plenty of women who don't project that they want to settle down, but we assume most women really want to settle down.

Women are impractical.
The day after Christmas, my sisters, mom, and nieces packed up the car and went shopping with their gift cards. The guys in my family could think of nothing worse than smacking up the mall the day after Christmas. I have four pairs of shoes: ranging from casual to dressy. My sister had about ten boxes of shoes when I helped her move. Who needs all those shoes? You get the point-sometimes we look at what women like to do and we just think it's impractical.

Women don't understand sports.
Luckily, I grew up with two sisters who were Division I college athletes and my mom is still obsessed with the Baltimore Colts (they left Baltimore in 1984). Gossip GirlSo, I know women love sports. But are they as obsessed with sports like guys are? I read about sports every day, and go over stats. And I do find myself telling my sisters about University of Virginia and Boston College teams-where they went to school. There is no reason women wouldn't understand or know sports like guys do if they were as obsessed. I just think guys across the board are more sports obsessed than women are.

Women like bad entertainment.
When I come into the apartment and my sister is sitting there watching Real World versus Road Rules challenge, I implore her to lower the volume. I can't stand to hear those people speak. I love History Channel and Discovery Channel and important sporting events. My sisters love Us Weekly and websites like OMG. I like to read Wikipedia and read about music. Well, maybe I find Gossip Girl strangely intriguing when my sister is watching it, and I like Us Weekly too. And sometimes I get stuck watching terrible Lifetime movies for hours...OK, maybe everyone secretly likes all this stuff.

What are some of the stereotypes that men believe about women that bother you? Did I miss any, and do you think any might be truer than others?