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What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 07:30:09 PST

All of the new DVD releases hit stores (and Netflix) on Tuesdays. So each week in What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday, I sort through the best of the batch and tell you what to add to your queue. In addition to my picks below, you can also bring home the complete series of The Wire (one of my must haves for the month) as well as Deadwood in its entirety.

The Dark Knight
Oh my gosh, I kind of can't believe this movie is finally out on DVD and available to watch whenever I feel like it. Having loved it on the big screen (especially for Heath Ledger's mesmerizing - and bittersweet - performance), I definitely want to own The Dark Knight for myself.

As you'd expect, the special features are, as the kids say, off the hook. Among other things, they include a look at how director Christopher Nolan and his team developed the new Bat-Suit and the Bat-pod, and a chat with composer Hans Zimmer on musically characterizing the Joker's reign of chaos.

Two more up next, so

read more. Horton Hears a Who I almost forgot about what a box office success the adorable animated family flick Horton Hears a Who was at the start of the year. I really loved this movie, and I actually think it's a worthy adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss story. Part of what makes it so cute are the actors voicing the characters, including Jim Carrey as Horton the elephant, Steve Carell as the Mayor of Whoville, and Seth Rogen as Horton's dopey sidekick, Morton. Special features include commentary by directors Jimmy Hayward and Steve Martino, an all-new Ice Age Short: Surviving Sid, deleted footage, and animation screen tests. Lost: Season Four OK you lollygaggers, the fifth season of Lost doesn't start until next year (a.k.a. January, I still love that joke) so you've got time to catch up on the series if you fell behind in '08. The fourth season of the hit series was, in my humble opinion, an improvement over the third. Special features include one of the funniest featurette titles I've read in awhile, "The Right to Bear Arms - Check out the guns of Lost, and find out what it's like working with so much firepower." Additionally, there is one called "The Oceanic Six: A Conspiracy of Lies," which is described as a "controversial underground documentary questioning the survivors of Oceanic 815."

The Lost Season 4 Preview Is Here!

BuzzSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:34:05 PST

Well, we still have to wait until February to launch into the fourth season of Lost, but today we at least have something to whet our appetites.

This 30-second preview isn't particularly extensive, but there are definitely some intriguing glimpses. There are some vague references to the Losties getting saved and a highly dramatic assertion from Ben that everyone on the island "will be killed," and then a series of images flash quickly on the screen. Some of these are extremely interesting, such as a glimpse of Charlie (probably a flashback, but still), and a shot of a knife sticking out of someone's back.

Man, I can't wait for this show to come back. To check out the Season Four preview and tell me what you think,

10 Biggest Spending Excuses and How to Squash Them

LearnVest — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:15:12 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’re a clever gal.

Which probably means that your mind can have a, well, mind of its own.

You can talk yourself into things, out of things, even over things (he always did look kind of lame in his favorite fedora). When your mind is healthy, strong, and on the angelic side of your shoulder, talking you out of overspending, great. But when it’s a weak and flabby devil’s advocate, telling your better self, “But it’s on sale . . . and you’ll be getting that extra commission check soon,” then it’s time to bring in the big guns: a little combat training to beat those excuses into shape.

Below, your guide to creating a mind of anti-shopping steel: the top 10 spending excuses we use-and how to squash them. Think of these as squats for your spending “buts.” Now get to work, and repeat as necessary!

Excuse #1: But It's on Sale

(Also known as: It's really cheap; it's only $12.99; it's such a great deal.)

Ah, the lure of the deal. Retailers so understand that people want a deal that an entire Groupon-inspired industry has spawned from this, and outlets even create fake markdowns on their price tags. This will require a mind of steel, but you must train yourself to ignore the base price and focus only on the offered price. Your only considerations should be: (1) Whether you really need it, and (2) whether the price fits within your budget. Even big discounts can mean big spending.

Excuse #2: But I've Been Working so Hard, I Deserve It

We all work hard (unless you're born wealthy or won the lottery, in which case, um, good for you). Donna Summer put it best when she said, "She works hard for the money." That's right. We all work hard. It's not that you shouldn't use your hard-earned money to enjoy life-you should. It's just that "working hard" shouldn't be an excuse to spend. After all, it's not like your income automatically expands proportionally to how difficult work has been lately. Your budget trumps how you feel about your work stress. (But if it consistently doesn't add up, look for a job where you'll be compensated better-and check out our salary negotiating tips.)

Read on for more spending excuses.

Are Sore Muscles a Sign of a Good Workout?

Shape — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:29:57 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

If your New Year's resolution to get in shape stalled out fast, you might be panicking right about now since bikini season is right around the bend. Making up for lost time with an aggressive workout routine will likely leave you sore, but begging for more once you see your thighs trim down and take form.

That burn you feel 24 to 48 hours after an intense workout is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and it's enough to make you want to put down the Kettlebell and pick up a cocktail. But press on! We talked to fitness and nutrition expert Harley Pasternak, M.Sc., author of The 5-Factor World Diet, and trainer to celebrities like Lady Gaga, Megan Fox, and Halle Berry, about why (some) pain is good.

"The idea behind resistance training is that you're basically tearing something and creating a micro trauma in the muscle," Pasternak says. "When the muscle recovers, it's going to recover stronger and denser than it was before." So that soreness you feel the day after an upper-body workout-when you're hauling groceries into your car and you can hardly lift your arms-is good.

See Harley's tips for reducing DOMS after the break!

5 Things We Already Know About True Blood Season Four

Shannon Vestal — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:40:53 PDT

Are you aware that the True Blood season premiere is a mere month away? The excitement has been heating up, but it reached a boiling point with the recently released photos from season four. But I know what you want besides pictures and previews: details. So gathering what we can from the pics and promos from the upcoming season, I've put together a list of a few things that we can expect when season four starts.

1) Eric has lost his memory. We had a sneak peek of a scene of Eric stumbling around, and then Alexander Skarsgard confirmed at PaleyFest that Eric has amnesia. Sexy, confused Eric? Still hot.

2) Tommy is still alive. At the end of season three, we saw an angry Sam go after his brother Tommy and then shoot at him, but the finale ended on a cliffhanger. From this picture, we know he survived (or is dead and making an appearance as a ghost, but let's err on the side of optimism, shall we?). Since Tommy turned against Sam at the end of the season, I wonder if he's going to keep making trouble for his brother, or if he'll straighten out.

To see the next three, just

read more. 3) Witches have invaded Bon Temps. Fiona Shaw joins the season as witch Marnie, and we've also viewed a scene of Bill and Eric discussing the new coven of witches. It's looking like witches will be to season four what werewolves were to season three, so gas up your broomsticks. 4) Bill won the fight with the vampire queen. It was obvious Bill would survive the fight he picked with Queen Sophie-Anne, because he's Bill, duh. And unless they went back on their agreement that the brawl was "to the death," then we have a great, bloody battle to look forward to in the season premiere. But will Sophie make it out alive? And if she doesn't, with Russell also gone, who's going to be the next big bad vampire leader? 5) Sam will get a new love interest. The sensitive shapeshifter has the worst luck when it comes to love (like a lot of people on this show), but this season, he may get to be happy for a while. His new sweetie is Luna, played by Janina Gavankar, though their bliss may be short-lived. As you can see from this clip, she's got some baggage in the form of a werewolf ex. Of course, there will be so much more to look forward to in the fourth season. I can't wait to see where Sookie's romantic life goes, now that she's a swingin' single after kicking Bill to the curb (I'm split between Eric and Alcide). Plus, there are more than a few cliffhangers to be resolved, like Jason's new role as leader in the werepanther community of Hotshot, or what's up with the creepy baby doll in Jessica and Hoyt's new house. What are you looking forward to seeing most when True Blood comes back? Photo courtesy of HBO

Friday Comic-Con Must Sees

GeekSugar — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 05:21:03 PDT

2011 Comic-Con is in full swing! If you're struggling with which panels to see and which to skip, we've got a rundown on some of the most interesting, engaging, and highly anticipated panels and discussions right here. Check our our must-see list for Friday, then tell us what you're most excited to see at the convention in the comments below!

The Captains, 10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. - Start your Friday off right with a dose of William Shatner as he presents an exclusive preview to his new documentary, in which he travels the globe to interview all actors who have played Starfleet captains on screens big and small. Plus, it's moderated by Kevin Smith. Location: Room 6BCF
The Walking Dead, 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. - The cast of the hit AMC show take the stage to talk about what's next for the show's survivors in season two airing this Fall. Also joining them is the executive producers and makeup artist, which could give you some interesting insights to how the show all comes together. Location: Ballroom 20
Raven, 12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. - Literary fans can get a sneak preview of Raven, a thriller in which Edgar Allen Poe joins forces with a detective to hunt down a serial killer, during this presentation. Stars include John Cusack and Luke Evans. Location: Hall H
Legendary Pictures: Preproduction Preview, 12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Stars cram the stage during this panel, which shows off some upcoming films on the studios production slate, including Pacific Rim, Seventh Son, Paradise Lost, and Mass Effect. Stars on hand to discuss the films and introduce sneak peeks include Jeff Bridges, Bradley Cooper, and Guillermo del Toro. Location: Room 6BCF
3D Comics Panel, 1 p.m. - 2p.m. - Get a free pair of 3D glasses during this 3D presentation of the history of 3D comics - from invention in 1953 and beyond. 3D enthusiasts, mark your calendars! Location: Room 4
Underworld: The Awakening and Attack the Block, 1:30 p.m - 2:30 p.m. - Kate Beckinsale, Len Wiseman, and Michael Ealy take the stage during this panel to discuss the film franchise's leap to 3D filming, and take Q&A from the audience. Partnering up with Underworld is Attack the Block, a film about a group of inner city kids battling aliens from outer space. It's not your typical alien invasion story, since these kids actually fight back! Location: Hall H
Writing Seminar With Marv Wolfman and Neo Edmund, 2 p.m - 3 p.m. - You're going to Comic-Con because you love story, right? So if you're an aspiring comic or screenwriter yourself, this back-to-basics session will help you master the building blocks of story - from learning the "three-act structure" to character development and creating tension. A Q&A portion with panelists Marv Wolfman (God of War) and Neo Edmund (Windy Hollows Solitary) will also be included. Location: Room 30CDE

See the rest of our must-see list from day two after the break!

Harley Pasternak Explains When Sore Muscles Are a Good Thing

Shape — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:11:21 PDT

We are excited to share one of our fave stories from Shape here on FitSugar.

That burn you feel 24 to 48 hours after an intense workout is called delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and it's enough to make you want to put down the Kettlebell and pick up a cocktail. But press on! We talked to fitness and nutrition expert Harley Pasternak, M.Sc., author of The 5-Factor World Diet, and trainer to celebrities like Lady Gaga, Megan Fox, and Halle Berry, about why (some) pain is good.

"The idea behind resistance training is that you're basically tearing something and creating a micro trauma in the muscle," Pasternak says. "When the muscle recovers, it's going to recover stronger and denser than it was before." So that soreness you feel the day after an upper-body workout - when you're hauling groceries into your car and you can hardly lift your arms - is good.

Just make sure what you're suffering from is DOMS and not an injury. "A good way to tell the difference is if the pain is bilateral," Pasternak says. Having one very sore shoulder after you've worked both shoulders could spell injury.

If you feel normal soreness in a muscle, ligament, or tendon, it's DOMS and you can continue working out around it, Pasternak says. In the case of arms and shoulders, you can work your quads, abs, or glutes and then move back to your upper body in a few days.

Now learn how to avoid post-workout pain with more tips from Harley.

25 Ways to Waste Your Money

Kiplinger — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:15:53 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart Kiplinger story here on Savvy!

Has your budget sprung a leak?

Nearly everyone has spending holes. And as with other kinds of leaks, you may have hardly noticed them. But those small drips can quickly add up to big bucks. The trick is to find the holes and plug them so you can keep more money in your pocket. That extra cash could be the ticket to finally being able to save, invest, or break your cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck.

Here are 25 common ways people waste money. See if any of these sound familiar, then look for ways to plug your own leaks:

1. Carrying a balance. Debt is a shackle that holds you back. For instance, if you have a $1,000 balance on a credit card that charges an 18% rate, you blow $180 every year on interest. Get in the habit of paying off your balance in full each month.

2. Overspending on gas and oil for your car. There’s no need to spring for premium fuel if the manufacturer says regular is just fine. You should also check to make sure your tires are optimally inflated to get the best gas mileage. And are you still paying for an oil change every 3,000 miles? Many models nowadays can last 5,000 to 7,000 miles between changes, and some even have built-in sensors to tell you when it’s time to change the oil. Check your manual to find the best time for your car’s routine maintenance.

3. Keeping unhealthy habits. Smoking costs a lot more than just what you pay for a pack of cigarettes. It significantly increases the cost of life and health insurance. And you'll pay more for homeowners and auto insurance. Add in various other expenses, and the true cost of smoking adds up dramatically over a lifetime - $86,000 for a 24-year-old woman over a lifetime and $183,000 for a 24-year-old man over a lifetime, according to The Price of Smoking (The MIT Press).

Another habit to quit: indoor tanning. There is now a 10% tax on indoor tanning services. As with cigarettes, the true cost of tanning - which the World Health Organization lists among the worst-known carcinogens - is higher than just the price you pay each time you go to the salon.

Read on to find out what other budget leaks you should avoid.