The Strip: News and notes for guys

Friday, January 1, 1904

THINGS I WISH MY KIDS WOULD ASK ME

Editor's note: Barry Courter has a 22-year-old son who recently graduated from college and a 17-year-old daughter who is a senior in high school.

Q: Dad, what do I need to do if I'm involved in a little fender-bender?

A: Depends on the damage to either car. If there is no damage to either car and both you and the other driver agree, there is really nothing to do. If either of you dispute it, call for a police officer and exchange insurance information and take pictures of both cars with your cell phone. Look around for witnesses and get phone numbers. Don't admit to anything and don't sign anything. The insurance company will handle it. Call the agent as soon as possible.

-- By Barry Courter

TOP 10 GAMES

Game Informer Magazine ranks the top handheld games for July.

  1. "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," 3DS

  2. "Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D," 3DS

  3. "Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection," PSP

  4. "Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars," 3DS

  5. "Street Fition," 3DS

  6. "Radiant Historia," DS

  7. "Pokemon Black/White," DS

  8. "Monster Tale," DS

  9. "Okamiden," DS

  10. "Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation," DS

WOMEN GAMERS

In news that likely will crush male egos everywhere, a new survey says women enjoy playing online games more than sex, and they play as much as men. Of the 2,052 people surveyed by Doritos -- yes the snack chip -- 49 percent of women play online games compared to 50 percent of men, challenging the commonly held perception that online gaming is dominated by men, according to a story from Techland. Among the women who said they game online, 84 percent said they "enjoy" gaming, compared with 70 percent who said they enjoy sex, 75 percent who said they enjoy taking a bath, 71 percent who enjoy shopping and 62 percent who enjoy exercising. So really, women don't necessarily prefer games over sex, but some female gamers say gaming is more fun than sex, bathing, shopping and working out.

SAVE YOUR PENNIES

Once again, the B, United Arab Emirates, has been named the best hotel in the Middle East. The sail-shaped hotel describes itself as "seven-star" -- yeah, right -- but then again, with walls of gold-leaf, a brigade of butlers and prices of about $1,100 a night and up (www.jumeirah.com), it probably deserves it. The World Travel Awards also named other sites in the Middle East -- Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa in Dubai as best beach resort and the Makkah Clock Royal Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as best new hotel.

CELL SURVEY

One third of American adults own smart phones, according to a new survey from the Pew Internet Project. The survey, conducted in May, also found that 83 percent of U.S. adults have a mobile phone of some kind and that 42 percent of them own a smart phone, translating into 35 percent of all adults, Pew says. The project released its first standalone findings on smart-phone ownership and use based on new survey data. The findings include:

  • 35 percent of U.S. adults own a smart phone of. The financially well-off, college graduates, those under the age of 45 and nonwhites are especially likely to be smart-phone owners.

  • 25 percent of smart-phone owners say that they do most of their online browsing on their smart phone, and around one third of this group lacks traditional broadband access at home.

  • 35 percent of smart-phone owners have an Android phone, while iPhones and Blackberry devices are each owned by 24 percent of smart- phone adopters.

-- McClatchy Newspapers