Esperanza Spalding - Beautiful, Soulful, Fun, Incredibly Talented!

I can't believe that I only discovered her a few days ago while she sang "If I was your Girlfriend" for Prince's tribute at the BET Awards.

It is so refreshing to hear this kind of music and singing. She's soulful, jazzy, she is a pro jazz bass player, and her voice is beautiful!

I was instantly drawn to her music and singing after seeing her at the BET Awards and have been listening to her music non-stop!

Check her her website and MySpace page! This is exactly the kind of artist I want to see live!

Joy Ike's Sophomore Album "Rumors"

It is easy to label an artist as soulful, but increasing difficult to find a real soul artist in today’s music scene. Joy Ike is the needle in the haystack. Her recently released sophomore album, 'Rumors', rises above the rest busting through with a soul sound that has drawn comparisons to Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, and Regina Spektor.

Her single "Sweeter" has received praise from NPR’s music critics with All Things Considered calling her, "a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop...a truly compelling act to watch."

'Rumors' has also racked up an incredible amount of attention in her hometown of Pittsburg, PA and has garnered new listeners across the country building a band of passionate new followers.

Joy released 'Rumors' her second full length album independently and continues a grassroots attempt to stay true to her values.

Joy Ike "Sweeter" MP3

More on Joy Ike:

www.joyike.com

www.myspace.com/joyike

Sonny Rollins Receives Miles Davis Award

Tenor sax player, Sonny Rollins won the Miles Davis Award last Sunday at the Montreal Jazz Festival. Previous recipients of this award include Ornette Coleman, McCoy Tyner and Mike Stern. It is meant to honour an international artist for the entire body of his or her work.

His nickname is the Saxophone Colossus and he has been performing for the past five decades! His original style is bebop, but he has also explored other genres such as calypso, funk, R&B and pop.

Sonny Rollins will be touring in various venues throughout Europe, Japan, and New York until November. Check out his touring dates here.

Check out Sonny's video library, including his Podcasts, peformance clips, interviews and special features about the Sonny Rollins Group on his website.

Here's one of the videos of this legendary saxophonist:

ahhika sorenstam

ahhika sorenstam
ahhika sorenstam
ahhika sorenstam
ahhika sorenstam

jojo

jojo
jojo
jojo
jojo
jojo

BET Awards Prince with Lifetime Achievement Award

Sunday night, BET awarded Prince with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Four incredible women, Janelle Monae, Esperanza Spalding, Alicia Keys, and Patti Labelle paid tribute to the music legend by performing "Let's Go Crazy", "If I was your Girlfriend", "Adore", and "Purple Rain". One could really not be moved after seeing these great artists perform for Prince, and moved he was. After their performance, Prince received the Lifetime Achievement Award and gave a great speech which you can listen to below.

BET Videos

Now Prince will be on his way to Europe, where he will be performing in several countries. Soon he will also be releasing his new album 20Ten through the Belgian newspaper "Het Nieuwsblad" and the German "Rolling Stone" magazine. I am very excited to see how it will be released in North America (in particular Canada :-))

In the meantime enjoy the tribute, the ladies were amazing and I got to discover a new amazing talent Esperanza Spalding, I can't stop listening to her music since Sunday!

ashley tisdale

ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale

ashley tisdale

How to Stop Snoring & Drooling

Snoring and drooling are unintentional, bothersome and in some cases embarrassing. There are physiological reasons for snoring and drooling, as well as solutions. Snoring may be caused by excessive tissue in your nose or throat, or the position of your tongue. Drooling may be caused by an excessive flow from the salivary glands or poor muscle tone. Conservative treatments may help or cure these problems. If all else fails, surgery is an option.

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Blocks to elevate your bed
• Tennis ball
• Continuous positive airway pressure mask and equipment
• Dental appliance
• Medication to inhibit the parasympathetic system   

How to Stop Snoring

1. 
   
   
   Step 1
   Place blocks under the head of your bed to raise your head higher. Sleeping on your side may help. If you consistently roll onto your back, sew a tennis ball into the back of a T-shirt to keep you from doing so.
   
2. 
   
   
   Step 2
   Limit your consumption of alcohol and clear your nasal passages before going to sleep. Keeping your nasal airway open may prevent you from opening your mouth to breath while you sleep.
   
3. 
   
   
   Step 3
   Use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask if you have sleep apnea. Snoring is common with sleep apnea and wearing the mask will ensure that you are getting enough oxygen, eliminating the need for you to breath through your mouth.
   
4. 
   
   
   Step 4
   Use a dental device, similar to a mouth guard, that adjusts your jaw and tongue to keep your airway open.
   
   
   

   How to Stop Drooling

5. 
   
   
   Step 1
   Take a medication that your doctor can prescribe that inhibits the parasympathetic system that is part of the autonomic system that controls saliva production. Three medications that may help are glycopyrrolate, trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride and benztropine mesylate.
   
6. 
   
   
   Step 2
   Have an injection of botulinum toxin A into the parotid gland. The injection is given under anesthesia and lasts as long as eight months.
   
7. 
   
   
   Step 3
   Try biofeedback and hypnotherapy if you don't want to take medications or are looking for a less-invasion solution. Speech therapy may help children who drool.
   

Vegetarian Recipe - Moroccan chickpea soup

 

Vegetarian Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion , chopped
• 2 celery sticks, chopped
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 600ml hot vegetable stock
• 400g can chopped plum tomatoes with garlic
• 400g can chickpeas , rinsed and drained
• 100g frozen broad beans
• zest and juice ½ lemon
• large handful coriander or parsley and flatbread, to serve

Tuna steaks with chunky avocado salsa

 

Ingredients
• 2 tuna steaks , oiled and seasoned
• 2 tomatoes , chopped
• 1 avocado , chopped
• 1/2 red onion , finely chopped
• 1 chilli , deseeded and finely chopped
• 1 lime , 1/2 juiced, 1/2 wedges
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 handfuls rocket 

Choose a Tuna :

As tuna are oily, they go off quickly, so need to be very fresh. When buying tuna steaks, look for those that have been trimmed neatly, with firm, dense red or dark red flesh and a meaty aroma.

Avoid those with strong discolouration around the bone, or which have a dull, brownish cast. Thicker-cut steaks will stay juicier during the cooking process.

Among the best types of tuna are bluefin (which is particularly highly prized and also endangered, so think carefully before you buy), yellowfin, and albacore. Bonito, which falls into a category somewhere between tuna and mackerel, but which is generally classed as a tuna, is also highly sought-after.

Tuna is also available tinned. Albacore is one of the best types sold this way. Skipjack (which, like bonito, is a somewhere between tuna and mackerel, but classed as a tuna) is the most commonly tinned variety. Tinned tuna is available packed in water, brine, vegetable oil or olive oil (with the last being the best).

While it's important to make sure that your tinned tuna is marked as 'dolphin friendly' (which means that it was caught by line rather than by net, in which dolphins and other marine life can become tangled up) or even 'bird friendly' (unless tuna fishing lines are tagged with coloured 'scare tapes', birds fail to spot them and can become trapped), it's equally as important to see whether the tuna is bluefin, yellowfin, albacore or skipjack. 

Prepare Tuna :

Tuna steaks should not be washed before cooking - just pat them dry with some kitchen paper. Tinned tuna should be drained before use.

How to Choose a Wedding Dress

Things You'll Need:

• Wedding Gowns 

• Step 1

Cut out pictures from bridal and fashion magazines, shop online and look at old family photos to zero in on your preferred style.

• Step 2

Ask friends and family for references on dressmakers and designers if you are having the dress made

• Step 3

Bring a friend whose opinion you trust to shop with you at bridal stores. Include your mother if appropriate.

• Step 4

Bring shoes with the same size heel you expect to wear at the wedding.

• Step 5

Look through gowns on the rack and attend trunk shows. You could save a lot of money.

• Step 6

Try on a variety of dresses.

• Step 7

Discuss alteration charges with the salon, once you choose your dress.

• Step 8

Allow six months for dressmaking, if the dress is being made for you.

• Step 9

Be ready to pay about 50 percent of the cost of the dress as a deposit.

• Step 10

Take home a fabric swatch to match with your shoes, veil and accessories

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid taking too many friends shopping with you. They might never agree on the same dress, and you might end up confused and frustrated.
• Expect to pay $1,500 to $5,000-plus for a dress from a designer.
• Alterations on a store-bought dress usually run about $200.
• If the dress is being made, give the salon a wedding date that is two weeks before the actual wedding. This trick will ensure that the dress will be ready in plenty of time.
• When asked to make a deposit on a dress, inquire about deposit refunds. Most deposits are not refundable.
• Avoid being talked into buying a dress that costs more than you can afford.

Tramontana : car modification : most expensive car brand

Tramontana the car modification : most expensive brand

This car brand is not famous in the world otomotif.but this car value is around 2 million euros, or about 2.6 million dollars. Tramontana's. The result of the European car manufacturers claim under the Costa Brava, Spain. Tramontana become one of the most expensive brand coupled with premium brands such as Bugatti, Rolls Royce or a McLaren.

Tramontanam expensive modif must be become a supercar

Tramontana most expensive car in the world

Tramontana most expensive brand

super car Tramontana modification

expensive modif Tramontana

expensive car Tramontana

This sports car has two seats open on the hood and top of the Spanish artist created, Fernando Leal-Audirac. Tramontana itself is a combination of Formula 1 cars with jet engines! great is not.
This car has tremendous power because of the emergence of twin-turbo V12 engine with 760 hp of power that can be drawn from 0-100 km / h in just 3.6 seconds. That's from the engine innards.
From the outside agency was awarded the Tramontana exotic appearance, the spirit of this art sapuhan Tramontana more clearly with colorful paint that has a chameleon effect, the alias can change the color-Audirac Leal claims.
Tramontana paint color can change and move from purple to blue and
from green to gold. Leal-Audirac goal is to create a statue of Silk and no doubt the visual effect is the core purpose of the creation of a car.

katrina kaif 2005

katrina kaif 2005
katrina kaif 2005
katrina kaif 2006
katrina kaif 2005

asshley tisdale

ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale
ashley tisdale

Cara Memikat Cowok or Cewek

Quote:

1.Dekati Sebagai Teman Biasa Yakin dech,dia gak akan langsung pasang wajah "serem’ bila kamu pasang target dia sebagai teman.Anggap dia teman biasa seperti yang lainnya.Iya,jangan menganggap dia lebih istimewa dari yang lain.

Quote:

2.Masuk Lewat Hobinya Sudah jadi teman biasa,tapi nggak juga punya bahan pembicaraan yang asyik?Cari tau hobi dan kesukaannya.Misalnya,dia gila membaca apa saja.Coba kamu bawa buku yang kataknya lagi dia suka.Pasti dia akan tertarik dan…dia pasti yang cerewet,tanya ini,tanya itu.

Quote:

3.Jangan Perlihatkan Perasaanmu Hmmm….meskipun kamu lagi suka banget sama dia,jangan sekali-kali kamu perlihatkan,kalau kamu suka.Tunjukan bahwa ada teman yang lain lebih penting dari dia(bukan pacar loh).Meki kamu deg-degan deket dia,jangan gugup yah.

Quote:

4.Biarkan Dia Aman Maksudnya begini,biarkan dia berpikir bahwakamu berteman,benar-benar murni berteman.Nggak ada maksud lain.Untuk sementara,hatinya ngerasa aman,karena "rasa" dia gak terganggu.

Quote:

5.Kenal Lebih Dekat Kamu bisa cari tahu,kenapa dia bersikap angkuh dan nggak butuh "seseorang" yang istimewa di hatinya.Caranya,kamubisa cerita terbuka tentang masa lalu dunia percintaanmu.Kamu bisa bisa juga ceritakan,isu yang berkembang di luar tentang dirinya.Pasti dia akan kaget dan mengemukakan alasannya mengapa bersikap seperti itu.

Quote:

6.Kenalkan Seseorang Kenalkan dia pada seseorang yang lebih segalanya dari dia.kalau kamu cewek,teman cowok dan sebaliknya.Kamu bilang saja teman.Perlihatkan kalau temanmu ini kayaknya suka sama kamu dan kamu gak menanggapinya.Pasti dia akan penasaran dan mulai membuka persoalan tentang "hati"

Quote:

7.Teman Yang Bisa Diandalkan Tunjukan padanya,kalau kamu adalah teman yang bisa diandalkan dan ringan tangan.Pasti dia gak ragu minta pertolonganmu.Buntutnya dia akan dekat sama kamu.Biasakan,kamu selalu ada.Hmm….sekali kamu gak ada,dia mulai kehilangan dech.

Quote:

8.SMS Mesra Meski terbiasa kirim-kiriman SMS,coba sesekali kamu selingi dengan SMS mesra.Lihat reaksi dan jawabannya.Kalau gak ada balasan alaias dicuekin,kayaknya mesti kamu persiapkan hati.Tapi kalau berbalas ok,jangan sampai geer.Tenang saja dulu.Jangan buru-buru.Siapa tahu dia hanya bingung dan nggak ingin kamu kecewa.

Quote:

9.Nggak Perlu Nembak Nah,kalau kamu sudah mendapat ‘angin’ dari dia,kamu bisa juga nyrempet pembicaraan soal hati.Kamu bilang saja ngerasa cocok bila bareng sama dia.kamu juga merasa nyaman bila ada dia.Nggak perlu nembak,Tinggal lihat reaksi dia.

Quote:

10.Ya, tidak atau,,,,,,, Hasil akhir dari setiap "penakhlukan"bisa positif bisa negatif.Selama proses penakhlukan sebenernya juga bisa dilihat sih.Nah,bila ada respon dan dia marasakan hal sama seperti yang kamu rasakan,tahu donk selnjutnya,,,,Nah,kalaupun hasilnya negatif alias dia gak punya rasa yang sama,janagn down juga.Tetaplah jadi teman atau bahkan sahabatnya.Sssst jangan salah,Tuhan sangat mudah membolak balikan hati manuasia.

demi moore

demi moore
demi moore
demi moore
demi moore

demi moore

How to Quit Facebook

Maybe your affinity for Facebook began with a simple desire to keep in touch with your friends, or make new ones online. Or perhaps you were just bored. But now Facebook is the thorn in your side, and possibly a bone fade addiction. If you're finding it difficult to spend an hour of your waking life without checking or thinking about Facebook, you may be looking for a way out. This is it.

Steps

1. 
   
   
   Admit you might have an addiction to Facebook. and keep track of what you actually do on Facebook. After every Facebook session, ask yourself: "What did I just accomplish by checking Facebook?" Odds are, you're probably just logging in to see if you've been poked, or for updates of when your friends change their profile image, write a new note, add a new song to their favorite music, and do other little things that you can really live without knowing. But those might be the little things that keep you on a very short leash. At first you're confirming a new friend, and next thing you know, you've spent an hour looking at all the new people you're connected to. Recording your Facebook activities can help you realize how much time you actually spend getting nothing constructive done.
   
   
2. Define your goals on Facebook. Make a list of what you really want from it. Why did you originally sign up? So you could remember friends' birthdays? Find and keep old friends? Meet people with similar interests? Whatever your goals may be on Facebook, you need to make sure that you devote your time there to accomplishing those goals, instead of going off track with activities that get you nowhere. If you have no goals (i.e. if you signed up just because you had nothing better to do), skip the next step.
3. 
   
   
   Make and follow a Facebook schedule. After each Facebook goal, write down how much time and at what frequency you'll need to be on Facebook to achieve that goal. Then write down the total number of hours, per week, that you should be spending on Facebook. If it seems like too much time, adjust your activity times accordingly. Following this schedule might bring your Facebook addiction under control without requiring you to quit altogether. Some examples:
   
   
   
   
   • Stay in touch with college friends - Check every other day, spend no more than 15 minutes responding to messages only from college friends. (1 hour per week)
   • Maintain my group - Check every morning and evening for 10 minutes each, only to remove any spam or junk. Note to self: do not respond to posts, comments or messages during this time. (2 hours, 20 minutes per week)
   • Keep my group interesting - Spend 30 minutes every other day reading all of the comments and responding. (2 hours per week)
   • Finding new friends - Browse profiles for 30 minutes, twice a week. (1 hour per week)
   • Total maximum time I plan to spend on Facebook: 6 hours, 20 minutes.
4. 
   
   
   
   Think of other things you could be doing with your time spent on Facebook. If you find yourself spending, say, 10 hours a week on Facebook, make a list of all the other things you could accomplish in that time. You could:
   
   
   
   • pick up a part time job and invest that money in stocks
   • teach a child how to throw a football
   • get fit
   • get a girlfriend
   • build a gas scooter or an adobe wall
   • clean your room
   • calculate the center of gravity
   • volunteer
   • Read a book
   • teach yourself a new language
   • make a papasan chair cushion
5. 
   
   
   
   Block the time you spend on Facebook using parental controls. Use such controls as EzInternetTimer or TimeUpKidz.
6. 
   
   
   
    

   Goodbye, Facebook account
   Leave Facebook. If you've created a schedule and couldn't stick to it, or if you've decided that any time spent on Facebook is wasted, then you may need to quit cold turkey. This is a last resort, and is easier said than done. There are two options here. You can deactivate your account or delete your account:
   
   
   
   
   • Deactivate your facebook Account - this lets you take a breather without losing the information; or
   • Permanently delete your Facebook account - this is the real end, everything will go!
   • If you've started any groups, transfer admin rights to someone you trust.
   • Clear every last bit of information from your profile. Don't forget to remove your photo!
   • Send an email to your Facebook contacts explaining your decision to leave. Include your current contact information so they can get in touch with you without Facebook.
7. 
   
   
   
   Find alternatives to using Facebook. If you've gotten into the habit of using Facebook messages instead of email, update your email address book so you can get in touch with your friends next week and continue your correspondence outside of Facebook.
8. 
   
   
   
   Turn your profile into a pile of useless data! This is another way to "delete" a Facebook account, and you might have fun doing it. When you wake up the next day, your profile is gone. For good. Amen.
   
   
   
   
   • Delete all your "friends" - unless you want to show the World you're quitting for good.
   • Change the profile’s name - you can do that. Be sure to choose something really lousy.
   • Fill it up with offensive content - texts, dubious pics and all.
   • State clearly that Facebook employees are just a bunch of - beep - beep - beep - fill in the beeps with the most politically incorrect insults.
   • Invite lots of randomly picked people to become your “friends”.
9. 
   
   
   
   Find a Facebook substitute. A lot of people get addicted to Facebook because they check it when there's nothing else to do, like in between classes, or during a lunch break; then the curiosity spills over into time that should be spent doing other things, like studying or working. You need to find something to do during those little windows of time in order to prevent relapse. There are several ways to give yourself a "Facebook patch":
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • Stay away from the computer as much as you can. For many of us, getting in front of a monitor is a default activity. Try to find other things to do that'll keep you away from the computer and therefore, Facebook. Keep a notebook. Meditate. Finger weave. Learn to do impressive tricks with a tech deck. Call your friends on the phone or do something fun with them in person. Anything that you can do anywhere and for short periods of time is good.
   • If you're at a computer during critical relapse times, find another website to log onto and read instead of Facebook. Yes, you may get addicted to that instead, so try to find something that's actually a constructive pursuit, like checking news websites, learning a new word each day, sharpening your mental skills by solving a sudoku, practicing that foreign language you decided to learn, or contributing to the How-to Manual Anyone Can Edit.
   10. Buy a new "Game" like Iphone, Wi-i, PS 2, Black Berry, Ipad, Itouch or you can buy new electronic product
   
   
   
   

Virginity and First-Time Sex: Ready or Not?

Virginity and First-Time Sex: Ready or Not?

Sometimes it seems like "everyone" your age is having sex. Forget It! What other people do doesn't matter. Only you can answer the question: Is this the right time for me?

Asking questions of yourself and your partner, talking to people with experience, getting prepared and understanding what the first time might be like can help you decide whether you are ready for sex. What won't help you is making the choice while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or pressure from a partner or peers.

• Question Yourself
• Talk With Your Partner
• Talk to Others

Question Yourself

What are your own attitudes toward sex, and what do you really know? Getting to the heart of that answer can be harder than it seems. Figure out how you feel first, even before you talk to your partner. As a guide, run through the following questions and write down your responses.

• What do you know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
• What do you know about pregnancy?
• Do you know how to lower the chance of pregnancy and STIs?
• Can you and your partner talk openly about sex, and prevention of pregnancy, STIs and HIV?
• How does having sex fit in with your personal values?
• How does sex fit in with the values of your culture, family and religion?
• Do you trust and respect your partner?
• Does your partner trust and respect you?
• Do you or your partner feel pressured about sex?
• What will you and your partner do if sex results in pregnancy and/or disease?

If you don't know much about pregnancy and STIs, and don't know how to prevent them, you aren't ready.


If you can't talk with your partner about pregnancy, birth control and/or STI protection, trust, respect, your likes and your dislikes, you aren't ready. If you and your partner are not sure about how you like to be touched and your likes and dislikes, you aren't ready.

Having sex for the first time can be a wonderful experience, but only when you are ready.

Talk With Your Partner

Once you know your own mind, you need to be able to discuss sex -- and whether or not to have it -- openly and confidently with your partner. Both of you must feel this is the right time to introduce sex into your relationship and reach that decision without any pressure. And you must be able to agree on issues such as birth control and STI prevention.

Talk with your partner about the following areas.

Feelings About Sex

      Sample questions:

• Do you and your partner both want to have sex?
• Do you both feel ready and prepared to have sex?
• How will having sex affect your relationship?
• How will having sex affect your values?
• Do you feel any pressure or concerns about sex?

Sexual History

Talking about sexual history is difficult for many people -- but it's very important. You and your partner need trust each other in order to be honest about sexual history. Be open and truthful with your partner, and express your need for the same from him or her. Be supportive if your partner has had an STI and take the time to better understand his or her situation.

Sample questions:

• Have you and your partner had previous partners? If so, was protection from STIs used?
• If you or your partner has had sex, have you been tested for STIs? If so when? (Please note that HIV may take up to six months to show up in a blood sample. Genital warts may take up to eight months to be detectable. Read the STI section for more information.
• Have you or your partner had a STI? If so, which one and what was the treatment?

Possible Consequences
Only abstinence is 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and STIs. You and your partner need to discuss what you will do in case of pregnancy or STI transmission. You also need to discuss how having sex will affect your relationship.

Sample questions:

• What if you or your partner becomes pregnant?
• What if you or your partner acquires an STI?
• What if you break up?

Expectations
What do you hope for during and after the big event? You or your partner may have opposite wishes for the first time -- from just getting it over with to making love. Make sure you are on the same page. Also discuss what you expect afterwards: Do you want to be held? Do you want sex to continue in your relationship? Do you want an exclusive relationship?

Sample questions:

• Do you and your partner expect to continue having sex with each other?
• What do you want sex to be like?
• Do you and your partner want to have sex exclusively with each other (be monogamous)?
• What if one of you has sex with another person?
• Do you or your partner expect marriage or a lifetime commitment?
• Are you and/or your partner in love?

Protection
There are many ways to reduce the risk of pregnancy and STIs, and finding the method that fits you best is like finding a good pair of jeans. Some people prefer condoms (the best protection for penis-to-anus or penis-to-vagina protection), while others prefer other protection methods. Talk with your partner about your choices.

Oral Sex: Many overlook the fact that it is possible to get a STI from oral sex. Don't forget to talk about protection and oral sex.

Sample questions:

• Is there a birth control and/or STI protection method that you prefer?
• How do you feel about using condoms?
• How important to you is STI protection?
• How important to you is pregnancy protection?
• Do you know how to use the method you plan to use?
• Can you show each other or explain to each other how it works?
• Who will pay for the birth control/STI prevention method?
• Will you help each other use the method?

The Right to Stop During Sex
It is not uncommon for one partner to want to stop having sex during the first time, perhaps from pain, nerves, or insecurity. If you or your partner needs to stop, you have the right to do so even if you are in the middle of having sex. You both need to be prepared ahead of time. Discuss it, and discuss not blaming each other or feeling guilty if one of you wants to stop. Watch for your partner's body language during sex. If your partner looks uncomfortable, ask about it.

Sample questions:

• How will you feel if you need to stop during sex?
• Would you be open to discussing what happened?

Talk to Others

The decision over whether to have sex or not is ultimately up to you and your partner. However, it's a big decision -- and it's helpful for many to seek out the advice or others to help them in this choice. Here are a few sources you might want to ask:

• Parents/guardians
• Older sister(s) or brother(s)
• Older friends
• Priest, rabbi or pastor
• Close relative or neighbor
• Doctor

10 Tips for Holiday Travel

With the global economy in crisis and both travelers and airlines feeling the pinch, it may not seem like 2010 will be the cheeriest of holiday travel seasons. Airlines have cut flights, raised fares and added a surge of surcharges for everything from checked bags to phone bookings. Meanwhile, many travelers are postponing or canceling their holiday plans to save money.

But for travelers still planning to visit Grandma's for Thanksgiving or spend Christmas weekend in Paris, the news isn't all bad. There are still deals to be found, provided you shop carefully and plan ahead. Check out our 10 tips for holiday travel and find some joy this holiday season.

Avoid peak travel dates
At Thanksgiving, Wednesday is the critical outbound "avoid" day as a rule. Traveling on Thanksgiving day proper is often a breeze and more affordable; there are often cut-rate airfare deals on Thanksgiving day. 

On the return, Friday morning isn't bad at all, with each successive day getting a little busier, more difficult and more expensive through Sunday evening. The bottom line: If you are looking for a deal, you won't find one on the peak travel days. Travel off-peak whenever possible.

Christmas and New Year's Day fall on Thursdays this year, which means that the same advice for Thanksgiving will apply to both of these holidays — fly on the holiday itself if possible, and avoid Sunday evening at the end of the long weekend.

Book early

Haven't booked your holiday travel yet? It's time to stop waiting and start booking. Fares are only rising as Thanksgiving approaches, so those who hold out in hopes of a late-breaking sale are likely to get left out in the cold or pay a very steep price for their procrastination. The same goes for the Christmas holiday; book sooner rather than later, particularly if you require very specific travel dates or times. With the current state of the airline industry, it is never too early to book your holiday travel flights.

While many of the best deals are probably already gone, keep an eye on our Holiday Deals section for any last-minute bargains. Be prepared to be flexible with dates and flight times.

Shop around
Whether you're using booking sites like Travelocity, bid or auction sites such as Priceline, aggregator sites or our very own Bargain Box, comparison shopping has never been easier than it is right now. During peak travel season, casting the net as wide as possible will help you understand all of your options.

For many travelers, price isn't the only or even the most important factor, especially during the holidays. Thoughtful, deliberate use of the "search adjacent days or airports" features found on many Web sites may also surrender greatly improved fares and travel times.

Know your airports

 Checking alternate airports is a pretty standard tactic, but at this time of year it can really make a difference. At no time can the alternate airport gambit pay off better than during the holiday crush. You can score on almost every front — parking, rental cars, traffic to and from, nearby hotels — and save both time and money.