BuzzSugar

Buzz News Roundup, 8/22

BuzzSugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:30:53 PDT

Paul "Pee-Wee" Reubens will guest-star on ABC's "Pushing Daisies," TV Guide reports. Meanwhile, Aidan Quinn is headed to "Canterbury's Law" to play Julianna Margulies' husband.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Eva Mendes will be playing a femme fatale with "dangerous curves" in the Frank Miller movie Will Eisner's The Spirit.
Ventriloquist Terry Fator has won "America's Got Talent," the Associated Press reports.
Variety reports that Tim Allen will write and star in a Disney comedy titled Brothers about a racially mixed pair of adopted brothers who are framed for a crime.
Billboard reports that the soundtrack to High School Musical 2 is No. 1 on The Billboard 200.
Margaret Nagle, creator of Lifetime's original series "Side Order of Life," has sold her movie script New York State of Mind, a fantastical love story filmed entirely in New York, reports ComingSoon.
"Nip/Tuck" creator Ryan Murphy is creating a pilot for FX about the life of a man who decides to get a sex change, Zap2it reports.
E! Online states that Lily Allen will not be performing at this year's MTV Video Music Awards due to problems with her American work visa.
Ice Cube and Fred Durst are making an inspirational sports movie titled Comeback, Variety says.
A Seattle woman punched a man to prevent him from singing Coldplay's "Yellow" at a karaoke bar, NME reports.

10 Really Surprising Things That Hurt Your Credit Score

LearnVest — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:15:05 PST

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

Most people know the typical credit no-nos:

Don't make a late payment. Don't allow an account to go into collections. Avoid tax liens, bankruptcies and foreclosures.

And of course, paying off credit card debt should be one of your top financial priorities. (To find out your other top financial priorities, use this simple tool.)

But there are also lesser-known ways you could unintentionally damage your credit score.

Here are ten actions-from least to most harmful-that could make your number take a plunge.

10. Renting a Car With a Debit Card

While many rental agencies require that you pay your deposit with a credit card, some will accept your debit card instead. However, agencies typically have a clause in the contract stating that they can pull your credit report if you choose to pay with a debit card. That credit check causes a hard inquiry, which will ding your score a few points.

A hard inquiry is when a lender, credit card issuer or other financial institution requests a credit check in order to decide whether or not to extend a line of credit to you, such as a credit card or home loan. Each hard inquiry usually drops your credit score by a few points and will remain on your credit report for two years. The other kind of inquiry, soft inquiries, are made by people who don't intend to take action, such as your landlord checking your credit, and won't have any effect on your credit score.

Read on to find out more.

6 Questions to Find the Best City For Generation Y

Kiplinger — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 03:05:51 PST

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

As young adults, many of us enjoy a unique time in our lives when we can relocate wherever we like. We’re often free from any significant ties, such as kids or a mortgage, that can tether us to a certain location. Plus, with the technological advances of the past decade, we need not fear losing touch with family and friends; we can stay connected with the touch of a button - regardless of distance.

So when the world is your oyster, how do you decide in which part to settle? Here are six questions to ask when figuring out which city is best for you:

Will I find good work there?

In today's tough market, Generation Y has had a particularly difficult time finding and keeping a job: While the job market struggles to regain its footing, with the national unemployment rate at 9.5% as of June, 25- to 34-year-olds suffer joblessness at a 10.3% rate, and 20- to 24-year-olds are unemployed at a staggering 15.3% rate. But some areas have held up better against the recession. Austin, Tex., Salt Lake City and Washington, D.C., for example, have experienced lower unemployment than the rest of the country.

Jobs in certain industries are more prevalent in some areas. For example, if you’re interested in politics, the nation’s capital is the obvious choice. Or if you aspire to “make it work” as fashion’s next hot designer, the Big Apple might suit you best. If you have no particular trade in mind yet, look to big cities with opportunities in a wide range of fields. (For career ideas that promise a bright future, see 13 Careers for the Next Decade.)

Read on for more.

How to Save Money on Health Insurance When You're Young

Kiplinger — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 11:57:00 PDT

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

I recently asked my twentysomething friends what they'd like to know about getting health insurance. The most common response? "Everything." Evidently, and understandably, those of us navigating the maze of health insurance for the first time are less than clear on the ins and outs. Plus, paying for health insurance coverage can be a drag when you don't have much cash to spare. SEE ALSO: Our Quiz on What Young Adults Need to Know About Health Insurance

But skipping it could be even more costly. Although the number of uninsured young adults is falling, thanks to new federal rules requiring most insurers to allow children on parents' health plans up to age 26, more than one-fourth of young people remain without coverage. In 2010, about 27% of 18-to-24 year olds and 28% of 25-to-34 year olds had no health insurance, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. "I have seen so many stories about young people who ended up saddled with enormous medical bills," says Kathleen Stoll, deputy executive director of Families USA, a health-coverage advocacy organization. "It's not a risk you want to take if you can find an affordable source of coverage." Here's how to get good coverage without going broke:

Individual Coverage

Even if you have the option of employer or parental coverage, you may be able to find less-expensive coverage on your own. In most states, healthy, young people can find individual policies in the private market with premiums of about $150 to $200 a month, says Ankeny Minoux, president of the Foundation for Health Coverage Education. A high-deductible policy may run closer to $100 a month. On average, single coverage through an employer costs an employee $921 a year in premiums, or about $77 per month, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. But the cost varies widely by employer. You can shop for and compare policies at sites such as eHealthInsurance.com. Or find a broker who will help you get coverage through www.nahu.org.

Check your plan options carefully, says Aaron Smith, executive director of Young Invincibles, an organization that advocates for health care for young people. You may find that, say, certain prescriptions or doctors you visit regularly aren't covered. And keep in mind that premiums you pay through an employer will be deducted from your paycheck before taxes, a perk you won't have with individual coverage.

Read on for more.

Lil Community: Toy Box Makeover

Lil Community — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 03:15:06 PDT

Here's a post from a CasaSugar Community member, h2urHome from their Su Casa group:

This was a super easy project to do in a day. I started off with an old toy box that was sitting in my garage.

I painted it blue or more specifically Benjamin Moore's New York State of Mind and then I modge podged some maps I had laying around.

Keep reading to see the final product!

Pre-Fashion Week Profile: Elie Tahari Talks Guilty Pleasures and Favorite Songs, Plus See an Exclusive Sketch!

Chi Diem Chau — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 11:00:08 PDT

As we prepare ourselves - and our wardrobes - for New York Fashion Week, designers are in final preparations to present their Spring 2012 collections, and that final stretch can be wildly chaotic. We interrupted the madness long enough to get the skinny on designers' guilty pleasures, what they love and hate most about Fashion Week, current favorite songs, and more. First up: Elie Tahari, the man known for creating simultaneously modern and elegant confections worn by Hollywood hotties such as Leighton Meester and Emmy Rossum.

Guilty pleasures during Fashion Week: I try to take the morning for myself, because once I get to work it never stops . . .
Top songs in constant rotation: Sexy love songs and Alicia Keys's “Empire State of Mind”
Favorite thing about Fashion Week in September: I love the excitement, you can feel it all over the city and except for the occasional hurricane - the weather is usually amazing. In September it’s like starting all over . . . “back to school.”
Most hated thing about Fashion Week: I don’t like NYC traffic!

Check out another sketch from his Spring '12 collection, plus Elie's FNO plans, and how he's celebrating the end of Fashion Week.

When Love and Money Collide: To Prenup or Not

LearnVest — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:15:08 PST

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

Prenups: Not romantic, but neither is battling over money when you’re already heartbroken. Since the recession, more couples are opting for this once-taboo cherry on top of their proverbial wedding cake, says Sandra Schpoont, a New York matrimonial attorney and a member of the New York State Bar Association Family Law Section. Should you get one? What if you’re already married…is it too late?

What’s in a Prenup?

With their growing earning power and assets, more women are seeking prenups than ever. A prenuptial agreement is a contract that a couple signs before getting married to figure out finances in case of divorce. (Unmarried partners living together can sign a cohabitation agreement.) Prenups can cover:

How to split finances
Who gets to keep certain items
How to divide a home fairly
How debt gets divvied up
Financial support for a spouse who gives up a career to raise kids
How long a spouse and/or kids can stay in the house afterward
Support payments including settlement or alimony
Inheritance for kids from a previous marriage

Basically, anything that involves finances or possessions can enter a prenup. Schpoont remembers one client who aggressively fought for a “cheating clause”- whereby she’d be entitled to more if her husband cheated. The couple never made it to the aisle, though we applaud her pluck.

Read on to see if what you know about prenups is myth or reality.

Yoga Styles Decoded

Shape — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 13:34:24 PDT

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

Hatha Yoga

Origin: Introduced in 15th-century India by Hindu sage, Yogi Swatmarama, Hatha poses - Downward Facing Dog, Cobra, Eagle, and Wheel, for example - make up most yoga sequences practiced today.
Philosophy: The goal of Hatha yoga is to bridge the body and mind with the breath in a series of physical poses called asanas.
What to Expect: Prepare for a gentle routine that often includes Sun Salutations, balancing poses, forward bends, and back bends to work the body and focus the mind. These movements all lead up to the final relaxation - the blissful Savasana at the end of class.

Try it if…
… you want an easy-going class that will challenge without overwhelming.

Ashtanga Yoga

Origin: One of the oldest forms of yoga, Ashtanga yoga was first recorded in ancient Indian manuscripts, but brought to life by K. Pattabhi Jois, who has been teaching it since 1948. Ashtanga (which literally translates to eight-limbed yoga) is influenced by Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, a yogic guideline for a meaningful life.
Philosophy: The Ashtanga technique is concerned with linking breath and movement - also known as Vinyasa. The advanced practice utilizes the dristi (the gaze) and the bandhas (internal body locks), which assist in holding the challenging poses of the sequence.
What to Expect: Think of traditional Ashtanga as the zen form of yoga. You'll flow from pose to pose with your breath - no props, no music, and no self-help lecturing - staying present in the moment. You'll earn your Savasana, the final relaxation pose, with plenty of arm strengthening chaturangas, inversions, and other advanced poses.
Try it if…
… you're looking for an old-school, kick-ass practice that's rooted in tradition rather than trend.

See even more styles of yoga decoded after the break!

You Asked: Running in Polluted Air

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:07:37 PST

Hi FitSugar, Has the topic of running and pollution been raised recently? I live in Los Angeles and gave up running in the morning because my lungs would burn afterward and I'd be coughing the rest of the day. I wouldn't have the symptoms when I ran before rush hour, at night, or at the gym. I am a non-smoker, typically running 3-5 miles at an easy pace, 2-3 days per week. Have other readers had the same experience, or do you have some thoughts on avoiding pollution-related lung or heart damage for city runners? -Secondhand Smog Sucks

This is a great question, and one that extends to international proportions. Training in pollution was a huge topic during the Beijing 2008 Olympics due to the city's high level of air pollutants. Individuals noted that running in Beijing was a nightmare on the lungs, and many athletes refused to train there before the games. And though air pollution in Beijing is a whopping five times higher than the World Health Organization's standard, it got people thinking about what harmful effects they might be exposing themselves to when exercising outdoors.

To find out what risks are associated with exercising outdoors,