The Otis and I are celebrating our 7th anniversary (and my 28th birthday) with our 2nd annual Karaoke Idol competition. Last year's was a blast. And I was truly honored that I wasn't one of the Bottom Three. (Though I thought I was deserving). My song is "Fancy." I've Athol-fied the lyrics, which should help me get in the judges good graces. Because I can tell you right now that my vocal stylings definitely won't help me win that shiny 1st place trophy. (Yes, folks, we are doing trophies this year). And I'm thinking of dressing the part. Maybe some Wranglers and a Stetson? -- Mommy Dearest/BrodH20.

Mommy Dearest's Quandry: We have an awesome panel of judges: The Paula-licious Leenda the Ball, Megs Cowell and newbie Orange TV. Based on last year's judging, I haven't decided whether it's better to perform early when the judges are still stone-cold sober, or if it's better to wait until they've got that warm and fuzzy feeling in their veins.

Trane Directors Declare Quarterly Dividend of 16 Cents Per Share of ...

PISCATAWAY, N.J., Feb. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The board of directors of Trane Inc. (NYSE: TT) today declared a quarterly dividend of 16 cents per share of common stock. The dividend is payable on March 20, 2008, to shareholders of record on March 3, 2008.

Trane Inc. provides heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and services that enhance the quality and comfort of the air in homes and buildings around the world. The company offers customers a broad range of energy-efficient HVAC systems; dehumidifying and air cleaning products; service and parts support; advanced building controls; and financing solutions.

The Outlook and Strategy of Marketer-in-Chief in Korea¡¯s Top 3 Home ...

Marketers-in-chief in Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Daewoo Electronics are confused. Although their strategies for stronger marketing activities that they began in 2006 made fruitful results in last year, they cannot make clear prediction over the market situation for this year.

In the electronic goods market, the competition is getting fierce. Display and IT products are becoming so cheaper that they cannot guarantee higher profit. In addition, the external factors like the instability in the financial market, due to the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the weak dollar phenomenon, and the increase in oil prices as well as commodity prices are likely to affect the domestic consumption.

Marketers-in-chief in the three companies plan to enhance the R&D activities as well as the marketing activities.

Homeowners' big question: How low will prices go?

Southern California home prices have fallen for five straight months, according to data released this month, and are now down 12% from their peak last spring and summer.

For most of this decade, skyrocketing home values were a frequent topic whenever people gathered along soccer sidelines or at backyard barbecues. But the conversation has taken an about-face, noted Jeff Vendley, a Ventura mortgage broker who is trying to sell two Oxnard town houses he bought in 2004 and 2005.

Now, he said, people are wondering, "How low we can go?"

No one knows how severe the slump will be, but economists and real estate experts interviewed by The Times, and who were willing to make predictions, said prices could fall 15% to 25% before turning back up.

Most said values would continue falling through at least next year, and some thought the market wouldn't reverse course until 2010.