Go change your paycheck withholding if you live in California

Starting this November 2009 (tomorrow), the state of California will be increasing their state tax withholding. The income tax rate doesn't change so for November and December, you will get your money back (assuming you are owed) in April. That isn't so bad...okay, it's bad...but it isn't as bad when compared with an increased withhold in January 2010 that isn't refunded until April 2011?

If you want to keep your paycheck about the same, make sure you change your withhold. I'm not sure if other states are doing this as well.

Click here for the LA Times article.

NG Traveler: How to build a fire

This is from National Geographic's Adventure magazine that I'm currently getting for free. Just in case anyone gets selected for the "Survivor" show and doesn't win the first prize or more likely if you're camping and want to try this skill (without matches or a lighter) or if you get stuck somewhere and need to create fire.

I didn't know about the Vaseline cotton balls or the "fire pistons"...

The fire pistons sound neat.

Click here to read the article.

Presentation Resources

This is for anyone who uses PowerPoint or other presentation software. Here's a list of on-line resources I recently came across:

• Presentation Zen: http://www.presentationzen.com/
• World's Worst PowerPoint: http://www.slideshare.net/jdornberg/worlds-worst-powerpoint
• Ellen Finkelstein's Blog: http://www.ellenfinkelstein.com/powerpoint_tip.html
• PowerPoint Ninja: http://www.powerpointninja.com/

Happy creating....

Environmental Working Group: Radiation levels of wireless phones

The Environmental Working Group has recently released their ratings on radiation emissions for wireless phones. I have previously blogged on them regarding sunscreen here.

The maximum level needs to be less than 1.6 W/kg. It looks like the HTC Touch Diamond may be the lowest emitting model that is still in production at 0.86. The HTC Touch Pro is 0.91. The iPhone 3G S emits up to 1.19.

My Centro model emits up to 1.35.

There's a bunch of models that are not rated. You can view the complete list by clicking here. If you are interested in PDA/Smartphones you can click here.

GPS Coordinates for 3 Ansel Adams pictures

This is from the same September 2009 issue of Outside Magazine.

Here's a link for the GPS coordinates for 3 legendary pictures Ansel Adams shot in the 1930s and 1940s.

• Tetons and the Snake River (Grand Teton National Park)
  
• Clearing Winter Storm (Yosemite)
• Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake (Denali National Park)

Click here for the coordinates.

Photographers: add to your "to do" list

Here's a list of potential events/trips photographers may want to take. It's from Outside Magazine's September 2009 issue (yeah, I get this for free along with a bunch of others).

It includes trips to Mount Everest, Colorado, New Mexico, Antarctica, California, Great Plains, Yellowstone, Maryland/Virginia, and the Great Barrier Reef.

Click here for more details.

It does seem like Mergers and Acquisitions are picking up

Here's a recent LA Times article from September 21, 2009 listing three high-profile deals that were announced. Today on Yahoo! Finance there are two more deals listed by Cisco (click here) and Viasat (click here). Most of these are in the (low) billions.

Another sign that things are eventually turning around (hopefully).