(ARA) - Pets are members of our families. They are our best friends and love us devotedly.

The tiny, no-frills automobile imported from communist Yugoslavia during the 1980s is known to most Americans as the butt of many car jokes. Author Jason Vuic’s book about the car, The Yugo: The Rise and Fall of the Worst Car in History, reveals why it’s the most famous lemon in automotive history.

A survey of 1,000 shoppers last year by Consumer Reports indicated that, in the previous six months, more than two-thirds of Americans tried to bargain for a better deal and that, in most of those cases, the hagglers got retailers to lower prices.

DAY after day in January, the rain poured down on the California coast without pause or pity — some of the worst storms to hit the state in a decade. High winds took out power lines and overturned SUVs. Garbage washed up on beaches.

A few things I didn’t post while sneezing my head off this week:

Large corporations spend millions on sophisticated surveys and focus groups from established researchers such as Harris Interactive ( HPOL ) and Survey Sampling to determine whether their products or services will appeal to customers at a price they’re willing to pay.

Chances are, if you have a newer mobile phone, it’s a television screen in your pocket. These tiny smartphones are truly smart, and the latest mobiles are connected to the internet and sport a sharp small screen.

With unemployment soaring, incubators can help people move into self-employment–and create jobs.

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What to eat?It’s one of our most basic and yet most vexing questions. There are scores of articles, Web sites and books written on the topic, and still many of us remain confused about how to maintain a healthy diet.It’s no wonder.