Parents are always debating the pros and cons of a household pet for their children. Worries of potty-training, feeding, and walking these animals typically begs the questions of whether the commitment is worth while.

Sony's announcement for the new Eyepet may be a solution for the pet conundrum.

Beginning in 2009, Sony will offer a program called EyePet. Using the PS3 eye, families can enjoy a friendly, furry creature anytime they want.

The virtual, monkey-like creature, (yes monkey, not the poo throwing kind though), will bring amusement to any child, craving time with an animal.

For more information and to fall in love with the next new addition to your family, check out the link below:

Sony's EyePet

TapeOnline products are used around the world.... show us how!!

All you have to do is submit a photo showing a TapeOnline product in use. We'll post it in the Voting Gallery where others will judge its worthiness. Photos with the most votes will be awarded with fantastic prizes like a Wii, Sony Cybershot Digital Camera, iPod Touch or LaCie Rugged Hard Drive!

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Contest ends October 13, 2008

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East Nashville welcomes Courtney and Jarod Delozier's Ugly Mugs tea and coffee shop, located on 1886 Eastland Dr.

Right across from Rose Pepper Cantina, this chic shop provides plenty of room for lounging, studying, and chatting while sipping on a cup of joe.

After visiting the spacious shop a week ago, I've been craving a cup ever since, and I doubt I'm the only one who will walk away wanting more!

Plus, if you're a fan of local music, check out the line-up of singer-song writers being featured at Ugly Mugs in the near future.

UGLY MUGS MUSIC

For more information about Ugly Mugs visit their website:

UGLY MUGS

• Blu-ray disc.
• 20 layers.
• Single sided.
• 500 GB worth of capacity.
• All on one disc.

Pioneer revealed on August 5th, 2008 that it has developed a 500 GB blu-ray disc. One of the main technical issues addressed was the problem of ‘crosstalk’ between the separate layers of optical media. Due to the close proximity of the layers, data from one layer could interfere with that from another layer. By applying proprietary technology developed for its blu-ray products and by stacking two different thickness of layers alternatively, interlayer crosstalk was reduced, thus further confirming the feasibility of 20-layer optical discs.

The increased capacity could be problematic for holographic storage solutions which plan to offer 1 TB worth of capacity. Blu-ray discs will also be cheaper and they will be using an existing laser technology, while holographic will be using a new technology. Although, this didn't seem to be a problem for blu-ray while battling HD-DVD...

Official press release from Pioneer.

Sony is now offering its PS3 owners the ability to download movies and games to either rent or buy.

Right now, users can rent both SD and HD movies. However, the PS3 movies-to-own are only offered in SD for the time.

The prices range per movie, TV show, or game, but they are comparable if not cheaper than the average rented or bought media.

The PS3 will also be offering downloaded music in the near future.

All of these amenities give the PS3 user an unlimited amount of options to explore.

For more information about the new downloads check out the following links:

Macworld

PS3 Press Release

Nashville, Tennessee's Centennial Park consistently provides fabulous, and even better, free entertainment for middle Tennessee's residents. From big band dancing on Saturday nights to classic movies on Wednesday nights, the park begs for people to enjoy the summer on the stretch of green running along West End.

Then by the end of the summer, when everyone thinks it's time to roll up their blankets for fall, the park opens its grassy knolls to the Nashville Shakespeare Festival.

Now, I know for most people the name Shakespeare brings back memories of trudging through "boring" King Lear with twenty other classmates at the tender age of 16.

But as we all know, this man's work was meant to be watched not read. And, believe it or not, most of the plays deal with very real 21st century issues: being torn between lovers, trying to receive approval from fathers, fighting for an unjust political system, and on goes the list.

Well, the Nashville Shakespeare Festival provides Nashvillians with the opportunity to enjoy a rich part of history and language while being wildly entertained.

In 2006, 23,000 people beheld a young man named Hamlet revenge his father's death while his uncle married his mother, and his girlfriend drowns herself! (This was not on Jerry Springer)

This year starting August 14th until September 7th, the festival will feature the play Coriolanus.

Never heard of this play?

Director Marc Cabus explains that the play is about a group of uneasy citizens who are unable to trust their leaders. Neither the people nor the leaders are happy with the situation. They need someone who values the city, the people, and can present strong leadership to help... According to William Shakespeare, "The people are the city," and the play explores the possibilities.

The play begins at 7:30p, but there's pre-show entertainment starting at 6:30.

Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, a couple of friends, and be ready to find out how a man from 400 years ago can still resonate with the plight of today's average man and woman.

For more information check out the Nashville Shakespeare Festival official website

As a side note: the NSF also offers workshops for adults in business as means to improve communications, especially with public speaking and project directing.

The word community means:

A group of organisms or populations living and interacting with one another in a particular environment.

In essence, we are all a part of some sort of community. But,I have recently learned that the root meaning derives from the word common. In other words, when working or living within a community, the beauty of the mechanism is found when we learn what we have in common.

With an up-and-coming election, an ever-decreasing economy, and the quickly shifting social threads, the trend of today's society is to separate and notice the differences in the American community at large.

Recently, however, I found a TV show that takes the stark differences we see within each other and works on sifting through to common grounds.

Morgan Spurlock, the director and actor of the startling documentary Supersize Me has now created a new show called 30 Days. Spurlock, who once ate McDonalds for 30 Days and showed America the gruesome affects, takes a new approach.

In an one-hour TV show, Spurlock takes a willing individual with firm social, political, or religious beliefs and places him in a situation that completely challenges this person's stance.

The intriguing part for me is that Spurlock presents no agenda other than to see what happens when worlds collide.

By the end of the show it seems that the conflicting sides, whether it be a Christian man with a Muslim family, an anti-fire arms female and an arms-bearing father, or a homophobic in a gay community, all parties walk away with a sense of understanding and appreciation for one another.

There's no cheesiness, just every-day people forming a community because they find something in common. It's a challenging and refreshing show to watch.

30 Days is in it's 3rd season. It airs on Tuesday at 10p on FX.

To check out more and to play catch up like me click 30DAYS

Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee lead the nation when it comes to obesity, a new government survey reported.

More than 30% of adults in each of the states tipped the scales enough to ensure that the South remains the nation's fattest region.

Top 10 Obese States

These are the 10 states with the highest levels of adult obesity, according to a 2007 survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

1. Mississippi, 32.0%
2. Alabama, 30.3%
3. Tennessee, 30.1%
4. Louisiana, 29.8%
5. West Virginia, 29.5%
6. Arkansas, 28.7%
7. South Carolina, 28.4%
8. Georgia, 28.2%
9. Oklahoma, 28.1%
10. Texas, 28.1%

Colorado was the least obese, with about 19% fitting that category in a random telephone survey last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Tennessee Residents

Get moving!

There are so many beautiful hiking trails. Check out our TN state parks and find a hike

Now you can appreciate our state AND you'll be exercising at the same time.

Buying the Wii was not my deliberate choice for working up to the complex PS3. I actually saw the console as childish, with its bobble head figures and bright colors.

Little did I know that games like Mario Kart, Smash Brothers, and Mario Galaxy would distract me from the "adult" world.

What I like most about the Wii are the remotes. Otherwise known as the Wiimotes, their shape and size, along with a manageable amount of buttons, allows me to conduct a game without feeling overwhelmed.

The Wiimote looks strange to some, but the idea of it's style gives a shout out to the old Nintendo controller. Likewise, it also maintains the ability to recognize the movement of your hands similar to the PS3's sixaxis. This combination allows me to swivel Mario into another galaxy with the flick of a wrist.

Now, I know the difference in complexity between Snake tracking down Liquid Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid 4 and Mario zipping from galaxy to galaxy is stark. Furthermore, I completely understand the necessity of a dual shock, sixaxis controller with fourteen buttons in order to play these multi-faceted PS3 games. But in the end, I find myself enjoying the lesser of the two.

In a common, non-gaming household, I think this will be the case. On the other extreme, the hyper-gaming world bows its knee to the graphics and capabilities of the PS3.

For more information about these two consoles check out Console Wars!

If you're like me and working your way up the gaming ladder, and you or someone in your household owns a PS3, check out these games for ways to start the climb toward the new generation of gaming.

1.Echochrome

2.The Orange Box

3.Folklore

I have recently realized that America is in the midst of war. And, like the good American I am, I did not realize its existence, until it was in my back yard. (Well, attached to my TV).

The battle between Sony's PS3, Microsoft's X-Box, and Nintendo's Wii, like most wars, is about the dollar. The way the dollar is made depends on the explosive graphics, the dynamic amenities, and of course, the fan following of particular games. But for me, a mid-twenties female from the generation of The Oregon Tail, Mario, and Sonic, what gets my dollars is the user-friendly controllers.

I must admit that the last time I was aware of the gaming world, prior to this year, was back when being "on fire" meant you could slam a basketball and shooting a harpoon into the chest followed by "get over here" were anomalies. The times have changed however, and like an old dog, I'm having a hard time learning new tricks.

About a year ago, our household purchased a PS3. The PS3 has a six-axis controller, which in layman's terms simply means you can spin it, jerk it, or twist it, as a way to create the same allusion on your screen. For me, this seemed perfect. I was always the person back in the day who, when about to jump or dodge would jerk my hands and jump and dodge with the character on the screen.

However, while jumping or twisting, with the PS3 controller, I still have 12 buttons and two analog sticks to maneuver.

So even playing simple games like Spyro the Dragon, have been an obstacle for my thumbs and fingers.

Then, when you add in the first person shooting phenomenon,(controlling both the visual and physical movement with the analog sticks) I find myself adamantly shaking the controller out of anger instead of enjoyment.

My great pride in multi-tasking quickly deflates after playing for thirty-minutes.

Forget games such as Assassin's Creed or Call of Duty. I cannot make it past Folk Lore, a role playing game with creatures reminiscent of those in The Labyrinth (minus David Bowie in tights). Why would I put forth the effort in playing PS3, when there are other, user-friendly systems and controllers with which I can play?

As an effort to "learn" how to use such a multi-faceted console and controller, we aided the enemy and bought a Wii...