www.yahoo.com

Mark Zuckerberg may be the face of Facebook. But Sheryl Sandberg can take much of the credit for the company’s success. As chief operating officer — and the self-described “grownup” in the room — she was also the highest-paid employee at the social networking site. Her salary and stock awards last year: a cool $30.87 million, putting her on pace to be one of the wealthiest self-made women in the world once the company goes public.
Sandberg, who’s second in command at Facebook, is often not just the grownup in the room, but also the only woman, which she finds mind-boggling. As she told an audience at TED in Washington, D.C., “One hundred and ninety heads of state; nine are women. Of all the people in parliament in the world, 13% are women. In the corporate sector, women at the top, C-level jobs, board seats, tops out at 15-16%. The numbers have not moved since 2002 and are going in the wrong direction.”
Sandberg, however, is moving in a trajectory that goes straight up: She studied economics at Harvard, where Lawrence Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary, took notice of her. He, as you may remember from “The Social Network,” was president of Harvard when Zuckerberg was a student.
Summers became her mentor, and after he left to lead the World Bank, he hired her, launching her stellar career. Sandberg eventually ended up at Google and was recruited by Zuckerberg in 2008. As described in a story for the New Yorker, the two met for dinner twice a week for six weeks. Sandberg’s husband described the courtship as “dating.” They were a match.
Facebook wasn’t always a Wall Street darling. When Sandberg started, the company had 70 million users and was losing money. Four years later, the company has reversed course, with 800 million-plus members; it’s profitable and soon to be a public company. She is said to be in charge of everything except the product — which is Zuckerberg’s baby.
Sheryl is married to David Goldberg, chief executive officer of Survey Monkey. They have two children and juggle the responsibility of parenting with the demands of work. The shared responsibility of child care made it possible for her continued success. As Sandberg told an audience last year, “The most important career choice you’ll make is who you marry.”
Not that she doesn’t feel pangs of guilt — far from it. The working mom admitted in the New Yorker profile: “I feel guilty working because of my kids.” But she advises women to take care of their careers and says “don’t leave before you leave.” As she said at TED, “Don’t leave the workforce to have kids and not return because you didn’t get that job you wanted before you left.”
To this end, the woman who stands to become a billionaire when Facebook goes public, also sees that she can’t succeed alone. In a commencement address to Barnard College graduates, she said, “We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women’s voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored.”
To be sure, Sandberg will not be overlooked or ignored.

www.takepart.com

How many of you let your dog sleep in the bed with you?

If you are among the 56 percent of dog owners and 62 percent of cat lovers who share pillows and sheets with their pets, a new study’s findings may cause you to reevaluate the sleeping arrangements.

The study was conducted by Drs. Bruno Chomel, a professor at the University of California Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Ben Sun, chief veterinarian for California’s Department of Health. The results will be published in next month’s issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Emerging Infectious Diseases.
AOL News reports that both Chomel and Sun are experts in zoonoses, diseases or infections transmitted from animals to humans. They explain the risk factors:

“The risk for transmission of zoonotic agents by close contact between pets and their owners through bed sharing, kissing or licking is real and has even been documented for life-threatening infections such as plague, internal parasites” and other serious diseases.

Anyone who’s paid close attention to their domestic beasts shouldn’t be too surprised by the warning. Dogs pick up diseases from fleas and other animals’ feces. Cats like to kill birds and rodents. The victims of this feline aggression can be covered with infectious bugs.

Here are some examples of diseases or infections that can be transmitted from man’s best friends:

1. Cat Scratch Disease: This bacterial infection comes from fleas and flea poop. Being licked or scratched by an infected cat can transmit the disease. The infection causes swelling and pain in the lymph nodes. Symptoms can be mild or severe and may include fever, achiness and loss of appetite.

2. Parasites: Puppies may pass the bacterium Campylobacter in their feces to humans, resulting in bouts of diarrhea in man and dog. The Centers for Disease Control warns that puppies and adult dogs may carry a variety of parasites that spread rashes or illnesses.

3. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus): In mild cases, this bacterial infection causes sores or boils on the skin. A 48-year-old man and his wife contracted this infection again and again and eventually traced the origin to a dog that slept in their bed.

Okay, so creepy diseases are among the risks that go along with having a pet. Don’t send dirty Fido and filthy Fifi off to the pound. A load of extenuating health benefits come along with your furry friend.

For example, the CDC reports pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels and feelings of loneliness. Also, pet owners are likely to exercise more.

Basically, you need to spend lots of time with your pet, keep your hands and their paws clean, ensure they are flea-free, take them to the vet and learn the phrase, “I love you Sparky, but get out of my bed.”

CNN.COM

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — A long list of tech IPOs captured attention in 2011, but no company has been drooled over like Facebook. And finally, its debut looks to be imminent.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Facebook may file for an initial public offering as early as this Wednesday. It’s still not certain if Facebook will actually file this week.

But that hasn’t stopped people from speculating about how much Facebook might be worth.
Some experts have suggested that the social network could be worth anywhere between $75 billion and $100 billion once it starts trading. No matter what the valuation Facebook’s IPO is undeniably hot, says Max Wolff, chief economist at GreenCrest Capital.
He expects Facebook will be valued at $85 billion to $100 billion, and that the company will sell about 8.5% to 10% of its available shares in the offering. Based on those estimates, Facebook would raise between $7.2 billion and $10 billion from the sale of its stock.
But there’s a lot more riding on Facebook’s paperwork than wealth creation. The social network has become an entire ecosystem, supporting independent app makers and gaming platforms like Zynga (ZNGA).
Facebook’s filing will have implications for companies that depend on it, as well as the social media landscape at large. Until then, analysts are left to speculate about Facebook’s revenue streams and profitability — and whether it really deserves a $100 billion market value.
Michael Pachter, a research analyst at Wedbush Securities, says the rumored valuation range is reasonable — though he won’t cite a specific estimate of his own.
How Facebook makes money — and could make more: The vast majority of Facebook’s revenue comes from advertising: a combination of search and display ads. And the sales growth is incredibly robust.
Research firm eMarketer estimated last September that Facebook’s ad revenue would more than double in 2011 to $3.8 billion and increase another 52% to $5.78 billion in 2012.

Facebook has grown by grabbing market share from Google and Yahoo. Last year Facebook comprised 16.3% of the so-called display (i.e. banners and other graphical ads) market, eMarketer estimates — compared with Yahoo’s (YHOO, Fortune 500) 13.1% and Google’s (GOOG, Fortune 500) 9.3%.
Martin Pyykkonen, analyst at Wedge Partners, says Facebook is highly appealing to advertisers because about two-thirds of its users fall into the coveted age demographic of 18-49. He thinks Facebook’s ad targeting will become even more effective over time.
“The ‘Like’ button option is a basic example of targeting,” Pyykkonen wrote in a note to clients Monday. “[It's] likely that advertisers will be able to even better target their audiences as Facebook goes deeper with integrating apps, games, movies, music.”
Facebook’s other revenue stream is its payment system for purchases within apps and games: Facebook Credits. Facebook keeps 30% of the revenue from those payments, and passes the remaining 70% on to the app developer.
Facebook Credits now comprises 10% of the company’s total revenue, up from 5% in early 2010, Pyykkonen estimates.
Those estimates will soon be backed up — or refuted — by hard numbers from Facebook. Once its IPO filing does finally land, it will help answer questions about the overall social media market.
“People are extrapolating outcomes into an environment that’s hungry for missing details,” said Wolff. “It’s like all the guys in the class spreading rumors about the prettiest girl in the school.”

www.bankrate.com

Would you give a thief direct access to your checking account?

No? Unfortunately, you may be doing just that by regularly using your debit card. Debit cards may look identical to credit cards, but there’s one key difference. With credit cards, users who spot fraudulent charges on their bill can simply decline the charges and not pay the bill. On the other hand, debit cards draw money directly from your checking account, rather than from an intermediary such as a credit card company.

Because of that, even clear-cut cases of fraud where victims are protected from liability by consumer protection laws can cause significant hardship, says Frank Abagnale, a secure-document consultant in Washington, D.C.

He cites the example of the The TJX Companies Inc.’s T.J. Maxx data breach that exposed the payment information of thousands of customers in 2007. The incident resulted in $150 million in fraud losses, and much of it was pulled directly from customers’ bank accounts. While credit card users got their accounts straightened out and new cards in the mail within a few days, the case created major problems for debit card holders who waited an average of two to three months to get reimbursed, Abagnale says.

While debit card fraud is always a possibility, being careful where you use it can help keep your checking account balance out of the hands of criminals.

Skimming ATMs

The idea that outdoor ATMs are among the most dangerous places to use a debit card seems a little bit absurd. But some ATMs present a perfect opportunity for thieves to skim users’ debit cards, says Chris McGoey, a security consultant based in Los Angeles.

Skimming is the practice of capturing a bank customer’s card information by running it through a machine that reads the card’s magnetic strip. Those machines are often placed over the real card slots at ATMs and other card terminals.

“Any transaction you do outdoors at an open ATM is going to be higher risk exposure,” McGoey says. “If the public has access to it, then someone has the ability to add skimming devices to it, position cameras on it and position themselves in a way where they could surveil it.”

He says you’re better off using an ATM inside a retail outlet or other high-trafficked, well-lit place.

Julie McNelley, senior analyst for Aite Group LLC, a Boston-based financial services research firm, says even the card terminals that card users must swipe to get into ATM vestibules are being used as a skimming site by criminals. You can spot ATM skimmers by checking for ATM components that look beat-up or askew, she says.

Stealing PINs at gas stations

Gas stations are another danger zone for debit card use.

“You go to a gas station and you stick your debit card in there, and you swipe it through a machine,” Abagnale says. “I’m sitting across the street with a laptop and an antenna. I put a skimmer in there, and I’m picking up all the information. Before you even get home, I’ve debited your account.”

Gas station payment terminals have many of the characteristics card fraudsters love, McNelley says.

“In a gas station where you do have a whole bunch of pay-at-the-pump kinds of things and minimal supervision, it’s pretty easy for a bad guy to put a skimming device on and put a little pinpoint camera there and compromise debit cards that way,” McNelley says. Thieves often use small cameras to capture footage of debit card users entering their PINs so they can have free access to their money.

She says even if the thief doesn’t manage to get your debit card personal identification number, or PIN, from such a device, he still may be able to duplicate the card’s magnetic strip and use it for “sign and swipe” Visa or MasterCard transactions.

With the high potential for fraud in pay-at-the-pump debit transactions, it might make sense to use an alternative such as cash or credit cards the next time you fill up.

The Web is a risky place

Debit cards are a convenient way to buy products online, especially for those who don’t like to use credit cards. Unfortunately, the Web is one of the most dangerous places to make purchases, McNelley says.

“Online is the No. 1 place where consumers should not use their debit cards,” she says. “It’s susceptible at so many points. The consumer could have malware on their computer, so it could be at their endpoint that the data get compromised. It could be a man-in-the-middle attack where somebody is eavesdropping on their communications via the wireless network. And then at the other end, that data goes into a database at the merchant. As we’ve seen with some of the higher-profile breach events over the last year or so, that data is going to be vulnerable if (they’re) not properly cared for.”

Aside from the potential for hacking at many different points in a transaction, Abagnale says a fundamental problem with using debit cards online is it’s impossible to know who is handling your information.

“Buying stuff online, you have to be careful because you have to know who you’re doing business with. When you buy things online, what always kills me about that is people say, ‘This is a safe site,’” Abagnale says. “Who works there?”

Restaurants keep customer data on file

“Would you care for a side of debit card fraud with that?”

Restaurant servers don’t ask that question, but they might as well with the standard practice of taking customers’ debit cards to run them behind closed doors.

“Any place where the card is out of hand” can increase the chances of fraud, says McGoey. “The guy comes to your table, takes your card and disappears for a while, so he or she has privacy,” giving the person the opportunity to copy your card information.

Even restaurants without sit-down service can present a threat. McNelley says using debit cards to order delivery can be risky because cashiers tend to keep customer payment information on file. That may make future orders more convenient, but small businesses rarely take the steps necessary to safeguard payment information, she says.

Overall, she says, regardless of whether you use your debit card at a small restaurant or a big-box store, the possibility of fraud is always there. She cites the example of Michaels Stores Inc., which saw its customers’ debit card information stolen in May by debit card terminals doctored by thieves.

“Even if you do exercise caution … there are still the Michaels-type incidents that will happen,” McNelley says.

cnn.com

Rave-goers and visitors to Amsterdam before December 2008 may be intimately familiar with magic mushrooms, but there’s little scientific knowledge on what happens to the brain while tripping.

Now it appears that more research is warranted. A growing number of studies suggested that perhaps the mushrooms’ key ingredient could work magic for certain mental disorders.

New research in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences sheds light on why one of the mushrooms’ hallucinogenic chemical compounds, psilocybin, may hold promise for the treatment of depression. Scientists explored the effect of psilocybin on the brain, documenting the neural basis behind the altered state of consciousness that people have reported after using magic mushrooms.

“We have found that these drugs turn off the parts of the brain that integrate sensations – seeing, hearing, feeling – with thinking,” said David Nutt, co-author of the study and researcher at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom.

Nutt is also Britain’s former chief drug adviser, who has published controversial papers about the relative harms of various drugs. He was asked to leave his government position in 2009 because “he cannot be both a government adviser and a campaigner against government policy,” according to a letter in the Guardian from a member of the British Parliament.

Psilocybin is illegal in the United States and considered a Schedule 1 drug, along with heroin and LSD. Schedule 1 drugs “have a high potential for abuse and serve no legitimate medical purpose in the United States,” according to the Department of Justice.

But in the early stages of research on psilocybin, there’s been a bunch of good news for its medicinal potential: psilocybin has shown to be helpful for terminally ill cancer patients dealing with anxiety, and preliminary studies on depression are also promising.

Nutt’s study is also preliminary and small, with only 30 participants. His group used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at how the brain responds to psilocybin, from normal waking consciousness to a psychedelic state.

The study found that the more psilocybin shuts off the brain, the greater the feeling of being in an altered state of consciousness, he said. It’s not the same as dreaming, because you’re fully conscious and aware, he said.

The medial prefrontal cortex, the front part of the brain in the middle, appears to be crucial – it determines how you think, feel and behave. Damage to it produces profound changes in personality, and so if you switch it off, your sense of self becomes fragmented, Nutt said. That’s what happens when psilocybin decreases activity in it.

“Some people say they become one with the universe,” he said. “It’s that sort of transcendental experience.”

Another brain region that psilocybin affects is the anterior cingulate cortex, which is over-active in depression, Nutt said. Some patients with severe depression that cannot be treated with pharmaceuticals receive deep brain stimulation, a technique of surgically implanting a device that delivers electrical impulses directed at decreasing activity in that brain region. Psilocybin could be a cheaper option, Nutt said.

It’s counterintuitive that a hallucinogenic drug would de-activate rather than stimulate key brain regions, although other studies have shown a mix of results regarding psilocybin turning brain areas on and off, said Roland Griffiths, a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Griffiths was not involved in Nutt’s study, but has also researched the effects of psilocybin.

Even if this drug gets approved some day, don’t expect to be able to pick up a prescription for psilocybin at your local pharmacy, Griffiths cautioned. There’s too much potential for abuse, he said.

Although scientists have found many positive effects of psilocybin in experimental trials, there are of course potential dangers. Some people have frightening experiences while on psilocybin. The fear and anxiety responses of magic mushrooms can be so great that, when taken casually in a non-medical setting, people can cause harm to themselves or others. They may jump out a window or run into traffic because of a panic reaction.

The drug would have to be administered in a controlled setting in a hospital, if found in further research to be an effective and safe therapy for certain mental illnesses, Griffiths said. It would not be appropriate for people who already have psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, since psilocybin can exacerbate those symptoms.

But among healthy volunteers, Griffiths and others have found that people may have long-lasting positive effects from the vivid memories of being on psilocybin (in a controlled, experimental setting). People report mystical experiences of feeling the “interconnectedness of all things,” which can be life-changing.

“People claim to have an enhanced sense of self, more emotional balance, they’re more compassionate, they’re more sensitive to the needs of others,” he said. “They have more well-being and less depression, but they’re not ‘high’ in any conventional sense. They feel like their perceptual set has shifted.”

The memories of the psilocybin experience, and positive outcomes that users attribute toward them, can last as much as 25 years, research has shown.

Still, there’s just not enough known yet about the long-term safety of psilocybin to say whether it could also do damage to the brain, Griffiths said.

“There’d have to be changes in the brain for these long-lasting memories and attributions to occur,” Griffiths said. “We don’t know how those changes occur, and why.”

www.ryanseacrest.com

Your new guilty pleasure has arrived as Bravo has released the first look at video from “Shahs of Sunset” in a cold open for the highly-anticipated show.
The two minute clip sets the scene for the show which follows a group of young Persian-American friends who live and work in the area between Beverly Hills and West L.A. — nicknamed Tehrangeles (a combo of Los Angeles and Iran’s capital Tehran) — which is home to approximately 500,000 Iranians, the largest population outside of Iran.
First Look: Cast of Bravo’s ‘Shahs of Sunset’ Revealed [PHOTO]
“When the revolution happened, we had to pick up and flee the old country,” explains the cast via voiceover in the somber opening of the video. “We really didn’t get to take our wealth with us, we got out. I’ve been a refugee since I was eight. My parents sacrificed everything for me to be free…so we ended up in Beverly Hills!”

Meet M.J., Reza, Asa, Sammy, Mike and GG, the show’s young stars who sport expensive cars and designer clothing in their daily grind to juggle living and working in Los Angeles while balancing the demands of their families and traditions:

Golnesa “GG” Gharachedaghi | @GolnesaGG

GG is an exotic beauty with a fiery temper and very little filter. Fully supported by her father, this classic “Persian Princess,” goes out to lunch with her friends during the day and shops for Mr. Persian Right at night. More than ready to start a family, GG is definitely looking to settle down, but the 29 year old is having a hard time finding a man that can support the lavish lifestyle and handle herunapologetic personality.

Mike Shouhed | @MikeShouhed

Mike is part of the self-appointed “Persian Real Estate Mafia” in Los Angles. After being a high roller in the Vegas commercial real estate market, Mike lost his shirt in the crash and has moved back home to rebuild. The 33 year old reformed player has the best of intentions, but old habits are hard to break and Mike can’t seem to stop charming every girl in the room. His friends joke he’s looking for “the one” every night at the club, but ultimately he is looking for a woman he can bring home to his mother.

Mercedes “MJ” Javid | @MercedehJavid

MJ is a 30-something year old, luxury real estate agent living the high life in the Hollywood Hills. A known party girl, she sometimes struggles balancing her “networking” at night with her early mornings at the office. Coming from different sides of the spectrum MJ and her overbearing and unconventional Persian mother, Vida, fight over everything from the way MJ dresses to the boys she dates. MJ struggles to find out who she really is and what she really wants from her friends, from her work, and from her family.

Reza Farahan | @RezaFarahan

Born in Tehran, Iran, and raised in Beverly Hills, Reza is a 38 year old prominent player in the Los Angeles real estate world. Best friends since high school, Reza and MJ love to party, drink champagne and spend money on designer names. He is one of few openly gay Persians in the community and often struggles with gossip and prejudice regarding his sexuality. Reza’s family supports him in spite of the pressure they feel to ostracize him. Despite his untraditional style, Reza is an old fashioned guy at heart who wants a partner, a family, and the American White Picket Fence happy ending, but he is going to have to get past the baggage he carries from his upbringing to achieve it.

Asa Soltan Rahmati | @ASAjoon

Asa is a controversial singer/artist who prides herself on living the “Modern Persian gypsy bohemian lifestyle” and is prominent in the Venice artist scene. A refugee who fled Iran as a young girl Asa grew up in Europe before moving to Los Angeles as a teenager. The sassy 35 year old is often considered an outsider in the group doing whatever she wants, whenever she wants including dating outside her race and religion. With little desire to settle down any time soon, Asa’s main priority in life is staying true to herself and her career.

Sammy Younai

Sammy is a residential developer in Beverly Hills specializing in building multi-million dollar homes specifically for the Persian community. Constantly working to make a deal, Sammy feels the pressure from his family and culture to be wildly successful in his career. The 35 year old loves to spend his money and is often the first one to buy bottle service at one of LA’s hottest clubs. Sammy is a “ladies man” and is always on the prowl for his next fling, but recently began debating if it’s time to find the right Persian girl who appreciates what’s in his heart and not in his wallet.

Produced by Ryan Seacrest Productions, “Shahs of Sunset” will premiere on March 11 at 10PM on Bravo. Follow Ryan Seacrest Productions on Twitter at @RSP to keep up on details leading up to the premiere!

latimes.com

First, they could grow a mustache, just like Walt Disney. Now, they can grow a little more facial hair but not quite enough to be like one of the Seven Dwarfs.

Disneyland announced that it’s loosened up its dress code — known as the “Disney Look” — to now allow employees to grow more facial hair. Beginning Feb. 3, employees can show up for work with a beard or a goatee without worry, just as long as it’s shorter than a quarter of an inch and not a soul patch (a patch of hair just below the bottom lip).

“Disney Look guidelines are periodically reviewed in relation to industry standards, as well as the unique environment of our theme parks and resorts,” Betsy Sanchez, a Disneyland Resort spokeswoman, said in a statement.

“While we are careful to maintain our heritage and the integrity of our brand, a recent review of our guidelines led to a decision that an update was appropriate at this time.”

A number of changes have been made to the look in recent years. In 2010, Disney said women didn’t have to wear pantyhose with skirts and allowed sleeveless tops — so long as the shoulder straps were at least 3 inches wide — and men could wear untucked, casual shirts.

In 2000, Disney allowed employees to grow mustaches, overturning a 43-year-old ban.

Despite the wave of changes, there are still plenty of style choices off limits to Disney employees: visible tattoos, body piercings (other than the ears for women), “extreme” hair styles or colors, and muttonchops. A shaved head is acceptable for a man but not for a woman.

yahoo.com

It may be a buyer’s market when it comes to real estate, but there are still many things you’re often better off renting.

Of course, there’s no substitute for ownership if you truly need an item for repeated use, but if you’re only going to use something once in a while, why pay full price when you can borrow it for a lot less?

For Americans on a budget, here are 10 examples of when renting might be the more cost-effective choice.

Designer Dresses

Designer gowns and dresses were once out of reach to most of us, affordable only to glitzy celebrities and those with a healthy cushion of disposable income. Now thanks to some hip rental companies, women with more modest means can wear red-carpet-worthy pieces for a fraction of the retail price.

Wear Today Gone Tomorrow rents out dresses and accessories by top designers, many for 90% off the retail price, such as this Kay Unger strapless silk ruched dress for $57 for a seven-day rental (retails for $570). Just keep in mind that the company tacks on a $10 cleaning fee for all dresses.

Rent the Runway also lends out dresses by more than 100 designers, including Vera Wang, Missoni and Diane von Furstenberg, plus accessories such as jewelry and shawls.

Both companies send the rental dress of your choice by mail, and Rent the Runway throws in a second size for free just in case the first one doesn’t fit.

Tools

While everyone should probably own a basic toolbox, when it comes to bigger power tools that you may only need for a special project, you can save money by renting.

The Home Depot rents out a variety of tools for the occasional home repair or maintenance project. For instance, I can rent a 20-inch gas chainsaw from my local Home Depot for $63 a day — a good value, considering that buying one from the store can cost from about $200 to $570, according to HomeDepot.com.

You can also rent a carpet cleaner from most Home Depot locations for $18 for four hours, or $24.97 for the day. According to HomeDepot.com, most carpet cleaners at the store cost $150 or more to purchase.

Handbags

Like dresses, you can rent designer handbags for a considerable amount less than the retail price.

If you’re wondering when it makes more sense to borrow a bag than buy one, consider these situations: You have a special event, such as a wedding, that may call for a specific color or style to match your dress, but you don’t want to spend a bundle on something you may not wear again (how many “lilac” colored outfits do you normally wear?). Or say you’re looking to dress to impress for a job interview, date or charity function. Or you want a new handbag for this season, but don’t want to spend too much and get stuck with a bag that may end up in your closet when the season changes.

Bag Borrow or Steal rents out handbags by hot designers like Tory Burch, Prada, Michael Kors and Fendi on a weekly, monthly or seasonal basis. Another service is Handbag Envy, which rents bags for the week or month by designers such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Gucci.

Caskets

The only thing spookier than a funeral is the price tag that comes along with it. Purchasing a casket alone can cost an arm and a leg, with the average metal casket priced at $2,295 and the average wooden casket costing $2,865, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.

Believe it or not, though, buying a casket isn’t your only option — many funeral homes actually offer casket rentals for the funeral services, which can save you a good amount of money. Rental caskets look like any other to the casual observer, but inside they contain an insert where the body is placed that is removed after the services.

“You normally don’t see rentals used with burials — they’re typically used for cremation,” says funeral director Michael Krill, spokesperson for the NFDA and owner of three funeral homes in northwest Ohio. Krill adds that rentals at his funeral home, which are included in package deals, can save customers

Textbooks

As if college tuition fees aren’t high enough these days, the cost of books can also make a dent in your savings. According to the College Board, books and other course materials at a four-year public college cost students $1,168 on average for the 2011-2012 academic year.

One way to save money is by borrowing textbooks by services such as CampusBookRentals.com, which rents new and gently used textbooks for a good amount less than the cost of buying the book new and, in many cases, used. For instance, the Longman Anthology of British Literature, Volumes 1A, 1B and 1C rents for $23.13 for the semester — about a third of its list price of $66.67.

Other sites that offer book rentals include Half.com and Chegg.com.

Camping Gear

Ahh, the great outdoors. Many of us daydream about spending more time with Mother Nature, but few of us get around to actually going on regular camping trips. For those who can only go camping once or twice a year, it’s probably best to rent your equipment.

The popular sporting goods store REI offers rentals for a variety of camping essentials, including tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, paddling gear and camping stoves. At my local REI, for instance, you can rent a four-person tent for $45 the first day and $10 for every additional day — which equals $55 for a weekend. Meanwhile, most four-person tents on REI.com cost in the $200 and $300 range.

Trucks

When it comes to that occasional home improvement project that requires you to transport a heavy load, it’s probably not worth it to buy your own pickup truck — and you certainly don’t want to risk damaging the car you already own.

The Home Depot lets you rent a pickup truck for $19 for the first 75 minutes, or $69 for a day, which is available at most of its retail locations. All you’ll need is a driver’s license, a valid vehicle insurance card and a major credit card.

Parking Spots

One of the most frustrating things about driving is finding a place to park, especially in a busy city or a congested town square. Luckily, there are a variety of services out there that allow you to rent spots, often at a rate significantly lower than commercial car parks or on-street meters.

You can book a spot with the click of a mouse through sites such as ParkatmyHouse and Craigslist — whether you need a spot on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Bikes

If you only go biking once in a while, or are an avid cyclist but don’t feel like transporting your bike every time you travel, renting could be a good option.

You can rent bikes at low rates from services such as RentaBikeNow.com, which partners with more than 250 bike shops around the country to help people find a bike near their current location. Just head to the site and choose your state from the drop-down menu, and a list of bike shops that offer rentals will appear on a map, allowing you to find the nearest one. Simply click the bike shop you’re interested in, choose the date(s) you want to rent, and make your reservation. Your thighs will thank you.

Furniture

If you’re decorating a house you plan on living in for years to come, we won’t argue with you if you choose to buy your furniture. But if you are hosting a special event at your home that requires some additional seating and tables, are living somewhere temporarily or are selling and want to stage your home with fresh pieces, renting might make the most sense.

Cort provides a host of stylish choices, including sofas, accent chairs, dining tables and rugs, as well as complete sets for your living room, bedroom and dining room. This living room set, for instance, includes a sofa, accent chair, cocktail table, end table and silver tear-drop table lamp for $265 per month.

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George Clooney has had many ladies during his career, and most of his girlfriends are hotter than any woman you will ever touch. It’s okay, don’t be sad. After all, the man played Danny Ocean! No woman could resist a man who’s that smooth. Whether he was working soap operas, rescuing people in the emergency room, or running from the law, George Clooney has managed to snare hot girlfriend after hot girlfriend with the greatest of ease. Which one’s are the hottest of the hot, though? Check out this list, in no particular order, of the five George Clooney girlfriends who are too hot to handle.

Stacy Keibler. Keibler is a somewhat recent entrant in the George Clooney Hot Girlfriend Hall of Fame. Once a Baltimore Ravens cheerleader as well as a former WWE diva, Stacy’s best attributes are perhaps her ridiculously toned, tanned and luxurious long legs. If George stopped looking for a new woman, no one would blame him for sticking with Stacy.

Kelly Preston. Before she married John Travolta, Kelly Preston dated around Hollywood quite a bit. In the late 1980s she hooked up with the then soap opera heartthrob George Clooney. Why is she hotter than any woman you will ever touch? Because she is a Hawaiian-born fashion model, who later became an actress. And you can bet that her acting career wasn’t based on her acting talent (watch “Battlefield Earth” if you want proof). She still looks good now, even at 52. But in 1988, she was smoking.

Krista Allen. Do you remember the hot chick in the elevator with Jim Carrey in “Liar Liar”? Yeah, that’s Krista Allen. She and George met when they were cast together in the film “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” and they dated for almost two years after that. Allen has been featured on countless “hottest women in Hollywood” lists, and now she’s also on Clooney’s list of accomplishments. Allen serves as yet another example of why it’s good to be George Clooney.

Lisa Snowdon. This British model is off the charts—she could probably melt steel. She met Clooney on the set of a commercial, and he swept her off her feet—probably by using the unbeatable pick-up line “Hi, I’m George Clooney.” Snowdon is so hot that even other famous, rich, good-looking men will probably never touch her. Only Clooney could pull this one off.

Sarah Larson. She was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar when she met Clooney. It seems George took a break from scoring models left and right, and decided to pick up a waitress, just because he can. Sarah went on to sign a modeling contract after breaking up with Clooney, affirming her status as a girl hotter than any woman you will ever touch. Imagine that, she only had to date George Clooney, and now she’s a celebrity. No man has a pick-up line that good. “Hey, you should date me, there are career advancement opportunities if you do.”

For you mortal men, this list represents women that are essentially unattainable, and that’s why you should live vicariously through this man. Unless you’re able to channel the Cloon-sters charm, coolness, wealth and ability to get better looking the older you get, it may be the only way you can hope to get close to women this gorgeous. Don’t take it personally, it’s just Clooney being Clooney.

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Ian Kerner, a sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author, blogs about sex on Thursdays on The Chart. Read more from him on his website, GoodInBed.

“If I hadn’t gotten divorced, I never would have had the top five sexual experiences of my life,” gushed Tom, a friend of a friend at a recent holiday party.

What a turnaround! In 2010, at the same party, Tom* had been in the midst of splitting up with his wife of 12 years and I was offering him the names of marriage counselors. Now he was bankrupt and only saw his kids every other week, but he was exuberant about the change to his sex life.

“I’d given up on sex and fooled myself into thinking that I wasn’t even a particularly sexual person,” he explained. “I didn’t want to be the sort of guy who cheated, so I resigned myself to lackluster sex every other week… if I was lucky. We were so young and inexperienced when we got married. Now, for the first time in my life, I feel like I’m approaching sex as a confident adult.”

Does sex get better after divorce? Unfortunately, there haven’t been any formal studies that explore levels of post-divorce sexual satisfaction, but intrigued by Tom’s exuberance, I spoke with a handful of recently divorced friends, colleagues, and former patients. To my surprise, I found that many echo Tom’s enthusiasm.

While divorce and its adjustments aren’t easy, many newly single people say they are seeing its silver lining … in sex.

Dr. Andy Trees, author of “A Scientific Guide to Successful Dating,” says Internet dating has really changed the game.

“Divorced people find it much easier to get back in the saddle so to speak,” Trees said. “I also think this is a classic case of the power of chemistry in the early months. Sex with someone new is always exciting in a way that sex with a familiar partner isn’t (which isn’t to say that long-term sexual intimacy doesn’t have pluses as well).”

“At first I was cautious,” said Sandra*, 38. “Our culture treats divorced people like babies or wounded birds. Everyone says things like ‘Take it slow, be careful, you’re still getting over a painful situation.’ And all this advice made me feel unsure of myself. But after my first post-divorce hookup – and first orgasm in years – I realized that this bird has wings and it’s time to soar!”

Says Dr. Kristen Mark, a sex researcher at Indiana University, “When sexual desires aren’t being met for a long period of time, you can feel really trapped, like the real you isn’t able to shine.”

Adds psychicatrist Gail Saltz, “Embedded in divorce sex is the knowledge that your partner has in essence rejected you, or at least let you go, and part of hot sex is the unconscious desire to show them what a mistake they made by not keeping you.”

Sometimes life after divorce can reinforce a person’s libido type or help them discover what they like and don’t like, as is the case with David*, 39, twice married and divorced: “It took me two marriages to realize that I like a lot of sexual excitement and experimentation, but I’m also a romantic. I believe in marriage and monogamy, but if and when I get married again … it’s going to be with a woman who enjoys the kinkier side of life.”

The enjoyment of sex after divorce may also have something to do with a sense of deserving a bit of hard-earned sexual selfishness.

Take Karen*, 38, who says, “I’d always heard that women experience their sexual prime later in life, but I never understood that. The more I was in my marriage and the older I got, the less sexual I felt. Then I got divorced and started having casual sex again. For the first time in a long time I was with men who were making an effort to pleasure me and discover what I liked, and I wasn’t shy or bashful about letting them know. I am having a sexual peak, but it’s not physical, it’s mental.”

With all the fun to be had, is there a downside? And are there any best practices for sex after divorce?

“Watch out for too much too soon,” says, Lance*, 42. “After my divorce, I was like a kid in a candy store. There were women everywhere. And a lot of them were willing to have sex. Suddenly, I was a womanizer.”

He continues, a bit remorseful: “Be honest with the person you’re with. What are you looking for from the sex? I don’t want to get married again, or be in a serious relationship right now, and I need to be clearer about that up front before having sex with someone.”

Remember, too, that just because you’re divorced doesn’t mean you’re necessarily wiser. “Practice safe sex,” says Mara*, 58. “My best friend and I both got divorced at the same time and were there for each other. We’re both well past the age of having kids. But I always use protection, and she doesn’t. I try to tell her that STDs are still a real possibility.”

Sex educator Amy Levine confirms that advice. “When ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ a lack of sexual knowledge can put someone at risk for a range of STDs. For those that were married for quite a while, sex ed after divorce is imperative!”

And be cautious if you have children. “Don’t bring your fun home if there are kids in the house,” says Trish*. “I want to get married again, and I want my daughter to have a loving stepfather someday. But I’m going to make sure he’s really the one before I bring anyone home.”

There’s one thing everyone agrees on, in theory, if not always in practice: Avoid sex with your ex. Says Tom, who got this whole ball rolling, “I couldn’t believe it. Jackie* and I would be with our lawyers, fighting viciously about money or kids – and then we’d leave and go have hot crazy sex. It was really confusing. Why couldn’t it have been like that when we were married?”

*Names have been changed