As if ordinary stress wasn’t enough, some workplaces are additionally toxic to your health and happiness. While work is inherently stressful, there are some forms of workplace abuse and mistreatment you should avoid at all costs. If you encounter any or all of the following, you should not accept them as acceptable conditions. Contact a Human Resources officer, talk to other people about the problem, and if possible, find a better job. 

1. Verbal abuse and office bullying

Verbal abuse is more than just occasional profanity. Verbal abuse doesn’t even need to be vulgar or profane. Instead, abuse is defined by its hostile or belittling intentions. Verbal abuse, classified as workplace harassment, is reaching the new status of bullying under the latest thinking.

2. Unethical or dubious behavior

It can be difficult to take the higher road, but the consequences of fraud can be immense and severe. Suspect behavior leads to fishy finances, and you don’t want to be caught in the middle of a fraudulent enterprise. If you suspect someone of illegally altering facts or figures, discuss what you think or saw with someone you respect, to stop the fraud before it gets out of control. 

If you’re one of those who have always dreaded making client phone calls or cold calls, the following guide can help turn your fear of rejection into sales success. With these simple yet powerful tips, you’ll be right on your way to making your quota with fun and ease. 

Call with Purpose, Know What to Say

Before you dial, have a clear purpose, and know exactly what you want to say. This may seem like common sense, but more often than not people forget what they need to say right as someone on the other line says, “Hello?” Whether you draft it out in full dialogue, or make a bullet point listing of things you need to cover, write out what you need to say and have it in front of you as you make calls. Having this clear purpose written down or memorized will make a great difference to your effectiveness. On the other hand, you don’t want to sound like a robot. Be flexible and spontaneous, but get your message across.

Think Positive, Act Positive

If you’re the type who always thinks of the worst-case scenario, you need to reset how you approach sales calls. Those who have problems making sales calls think they’re going to fail even before they dial. 

Major league baseball has become a pitcher’s game, and most experts will agree that you can’t win divisions without excellent starting pitching. Several teams boast a great lineup that will put them in possible contention in the 2012 season. Here is a quick look at some of the best.

While it is important to have four or five good pitchers in your starting lineup, it is preferred to have at least one superstar on staff. No team has taken home the ultimate prize without an ace pitcher since 2005.

St Louis Cardinals

The loss of Albert Pujols, and the addition of a new rookie manager, makes some people wonder if the Cardinals stand any chance in the 2012 season. Nonetheless, the World Champions have a solid pitching lineup, and it is projected that they will start Carpenter, Wainwright, Garcia, Lohse, and Miller. If everyone can stay healthy, they may have a shot. 

Wainwright missed all of last season, so all eyes will be on him. Carpenter became their ace, leading them to the World Series and pitching outstanding games in the post season. Garcia is expected to have a breakout year after his improvement through the 2011 season.

Imagine that you are shopping, browsing the aisles for food, and you have a shopping cart following behind you and talking to you. This isn’t a science fiction comedy show, but an actual invention.

Who Thought of This?

Microsoft has teamed with Chaotic Moon, a developer from Austin, Texas, to create this innovative device. It will use Kinect technology, which is depth and voice sensitive, to design a shopping cart that does more than just hold your items.

Whole Foods is backing this endeavor to be the first to use the advanced technology that will change the customers’ shopping experience. There is no word yet whether the shopping cart will actually make it to the stores.

How does it Work?

The shopping cart is supposed to be designed to follow you around the store as you shop. You scan the items as you place them in the cart. It then provides a commentary on what you are buying based on dietary needs or health concerns. The information is stored in its database for your next shopping trip. Once you finish picking out what you want to buy, you are ready to leave; you do not have to go to a cashier to check out.

With spring just around the corner, love is in the air, and there are sure to be plenty of weddings on your social agenda. Whether you are a friend to the groom or friend to the bride, be sure to follow these easy dos and don’ts to have a fabulous time and be the perfect guest at weddings this year. 

Do

-Respond promptly when you receive the invitation so that the bride and groom can get an accurate head count for the caterers.

-Editorialize your RSVP with comments like “will happily attend,” or include a congratulatory note in the envelope. 

-Celebrate your friend or loved one’s big day by arriving early- at least thirty minutes before the ceremony starts.

-Notify the hosts if you can’t make it at the last minute.

-Find the couple’s registry and purchase gifts early to have them sent to the couple’s address.

-If you’re also invited to the bridal shower, be sure to bring along a gift.

-Bring your best self to the party. Let go of all your troubles for a few hours so you can truly celebrate the special day with your friends and loved ones. 

-Introduce yourself to other guests and mingle during the cocktail and hors d’oeuvres.

If you’re a perennial procrastinator, don’t worry - you’re not alone. 75 million people just like you have yet to file their 2011 tax returns. Fortunately, they are due on April 17 this year, so you’ve got an additional two days to complete your taxes. To avoid common missteps and expensive penalties, follow the savvy tips below before you file your taxes.

New rules on capital gains

Be sure to set aside time to figure out the new rules on reporting capital gains and losses. When you sold stock purchased in 2011, your broker had to report the amount you paid for the shares to you and the IRS. Including this information on the 1099-B form should make accurately reporting gains and losses easier. The IRS has created another document, Form 8949, and a hefty stack of instructions along with it for reporting sales of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other assets. Depending on whether or not your broker sent you a form 1099-B and reported the basis of the shares, you may need up to three versions of the 8949 form.

It was a decade of variety in music, as American Idol became popular and younger generations became famous, while older artists still turned out albums for their fans. Here is a list of ten most popular albums from that decade.

The College Dropout

This was the debut album of Kanye West, the beginning of an incredible career. He took rap to a whole new level and introduced a new group of fans. He combined hip hop and R&B with rap to create a new sound that was unique and popular.

Stankonia

This album by Outkast was released in 2000. The album was their edgiest, and it gave a fresh look to hip hop. The music was fun while the lyrics could often be serious.

Modern Times

With this album, Bob Dylan showed that he was still a force to be reckoned with. The songs kept with his unique style and could have been hits from any part of his career. It proved that if something is great, it doesn’t matter what else is popular.

Recently, Apple invited select members of the press to preview its latest operating system, the OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion. Commonly referred to as just ‘Mountain Lion’, the new system closely follows the current Mac OS X 10.7 Lion. The preview of the operating system was made available for download for Apple’s developer community. 

More Integration

The newest in the Apple software line boasts more integration with its mobile system iOS, borrowing from key innovations on the mobile platform. Push notifications, pop-up messages, and iCloud blur the boundaries of mobile and desktop computing even further. Many speculate, especially since Apply dropped the Mac moniker (as in Mac OS X 10.7 Lion) for Mountain Lion, that eventually desktop and mobile will converge into using the same operating system; a hybrid of OS X and iOS.

Less Integration

Since the convergence of technologies hasn’t happened yet, there are some areas where the two operating systems remain distinctly separate. The mobile devices and tablet computers use touchscreen hardware for the optimal experience. Laptops and desktops, however, retain the track pad, as users may develop arm fatigue with desktop touchscreens. Siri, the virtual assistant on the latest iPhone, has yet to make an appearance on the desktop and laptop in Mountain Lion. 

There is over 1 billion dollars that the IRS is holding for people. Could you be one of them? It is estimated that 1 million people did not file a tax return in 2008, but were eligible for a refund. The IRS holds the money for three years, after which it becomes the property of the government. For those who did not file in 2008, their time is running out. April 17, 2012 is the last date that they can file their taxes for 2008 to receive their refund.

What You Should Do

If you think you are one of those who qualify for a refund from 2008, you must file your 2008 taxes. You will also have to file your 2009 and 2010 taxes if you have not done that yet. No refund will be given unless you are current on your filing status. Here are some tips to help you file your tax return:

-Previous years’ tax forms can be found on the IRS website. You can also call 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676) to get forms from previous years.

-Contact your employer for that year if you do not have a W2.

-Get free tax help through programs for low to moderate income people. This generally includes anyone who makes less than $50,000 per year.

Fashion doesn’t end until it gets to the feet. Stylish footwear is as hot in fashion shows as any other accessory. Here are the current trends for the hottest way to send your feet out in style.

Reptile Leather

Designers such as Balenciaga, Giorgio Armani, Donna Karan, and Louis Vuitton are using snake skin over crocodile leather this year.

Patent Leather

Classic, patent leather still reigns supreme when it comes to footwear. It is not as practical as regular leather, but it has always been popular and it looks beautiful. This season you will see patent leather shoes in a wide range of colors, instead of traditional black and brown. You will also find two-tone combinations, such as black and white, or blue and burgundy, to make your feet really stand out. Marc Jacobs has some hot designs in this style.

In the recent Grammy broadcast, pop star Adele stole the show, winning numerous awards for her album 21. Hers' was an unusually meteoric rise to critical acclaim, but generally the Grammys recognize artists with distinguished careers, who have been accumulating accolades for several years. Here are five stars set to release albums in 2012 that could steal the show in 2013. 

Green Day

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard something new from Green Day, but they have started recording their new album. There isn’t a release date set, but they have plenty of material to choose from. They have played 15 new songs in their recent live shows, so it is anticipated that we may get to see something new before the year is gone.

Alicia Keys

Alicia Keys has been working on her fifth album, which is expected to be completed sometime in the early part of the year. She’s already won a Grammy for her album Songs in A Minor, so it wouldn’t be out of the question for her to take home another one.

The Killers

The Killers exploded onto the scene in 2004 with their first album Hot Fuss, which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock Album. It’s been four years since we’ve seen anything new from them, but they have promised a new album by the end of 2012. Maybe they can take home that Grammy with the new album. Their two-year hiatus has made their fans anxious for new music.

For those who missed the initial hype, the Sony PlayStation Vita is the latest in handheld gaming consoles. Originally a follow-up to the Play Station Portable (PSP), the Vita was announced by Sony in 2011 as the future of portable devices. Sold out before the February 2012 release, the Vita First Edition Bundle features built-in Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity and a 4GB memory card. The other bundle package is the Vita (Wi-Fi and 3G) Bundle which offers a one-month AT&T data connection pass and an 8GB memory card. Priced between $249 and $299 (depending on the bundled package), the Vita brings together multiple touch screens, motion sensors, analog sticks, and cameras into an all-in-one gaming console and gadget.

Specs and Features

The clean and polished design of the Vita isn’t the only thing it can boast about. One of the most powerful and robust computer gaming systems, and rival to Nintendo’s 3DS, the Vita competes at the height of handheld computer design and power.

Physically, the Vita is a confluence of consumer desires. It combines touch capabilities with twin control sticks and a sliding control panel, allowing for maximum maneuverability in virtual worlds. The capacity of the Vita is also admirable, as many of its high-end games contain elaborate graphics that deliver an experience comparable to the Xbox 360 or PS3. For those avid gamers who are hungry for playing Xbox 360 and PS3-quality games on the go, the Vita is the essential new platform. 

Thanks to today’s technologies, getting work done from a remote location is a possibility for many employers. Businesses are not restricted to hiring people from within their region or even their country. They can look outside their local area to hire the best qualified candidates. Setting up an online work environment and making it work, however, takes foresight and planning.

Viability

You will have to consider your work situation to see if remote work is a possibility. This will depend largely on the amount of direct contact needed for staff. If they can do most of their work from home, this may be the ideal arrangement.

Consider also the individual requirements for each employee. Will they have to purchase computer equipment or will you provide it for them? What about internet connectivity and speed? Will they need phone setup to connect directly to the staff that works in the office?