شوشرة ** Disarrangement

Mesothelioma

2010-09-02T15:58:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.[1]

Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,[2] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.[3] Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced cancers.[4] Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).

The symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The diagnosis may be suspected with chest X-ray and CT scan, and is confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite treatment with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.
Signs and symptoms

Symptoms or signs of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years (or more) after exposure to asbestos. Shortness of breath, cough, and pain in the chest due to an accumulation of fluid in the pleural space (pleural effusion) are often symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity). Other symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

These symptoms may be caused by mesothelioma or by other, less serious conditions.

Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms:
Chest wall pain
Pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung
Shortness of breath
Fatigue or anemia
Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
Blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up (hemoptysis)

In severe cases, the person may have many tumor masses. The individual may develop a pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Tumors that affect the abdominal cavity often do not cause symptoms until they are at a late stage. Symptoms include:
Abdominal pain
Ascites, or an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen
A mass in the abdomen
Problems with bowel function
Weight loss

In severe cases of the disease, the following signs and symptoms may be present:
Blood clots in the veins, which may cause thrombophlebitis
Disseminated intravascular coagulation, a disorder causing severe bleeding in many body organs
Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes and skin
Low blood sugar level
Pleural effusion
Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots in the arteries of the lungs
Severe ascites

A mesothelioma does not usually spread to the bone, brain, or adrenal glands. Pleural tumors are usually found only on one side of the lungs.
[] Cause

Working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma.[5] In the United States, asbestos is the major cause of malignant mesothelioma and has been considered "indisputably"[6] associated with the development of mesothelioma. Indeed, the relationship between asbestos and mesothelioma is so strong that many consider mesothelioma a “signal” or “sentinel” tumor.[7][8][9][10] A history of asbestos exposure exists in most cases. However, mesothelioma has been reported in some individuals without any known exposure to asbestos. In rare cases, mesothelioma has also been associated with irradiation, intrapleural thorium dioxide (Thorotrast), and inhalation of other fibrous silicates, such as erionite. Some studies suggest that simian virus 40 (SV40) may act as a cofactor in the development of mesothelioma.[11]

Asbestos was known in antiquity, but it wasn't mined and widely used commercially until the late 1800s. Its use greatly increased during World War II. Since the early 1940s, millions of American workers have been exposed to asbestos dust. Initially, the risks associated with asbestos exposure were not publicly known. However, an increased risk of developing mesothelioma was later found among shipyard workers, people who work in asbestos mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople. Today, the official position of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the U.S. EPA is that protections and "permissible exposure limits" required by U.S. regulations, while adequate to prevent most asbestos-related non-malignant disease, they are not adequate to prevent or protect against asbestos-related cancers such as mesothelioma.[12] Likewise, the British Government's Health and Safety Executive (HSE) states formally that any threshold for mesothelioma must be at a very low level and it is widely agreed that if any such threshold does exist at all, then it cannot currently be quantified. For practical purposes, ther

efore, HSE assumes that no such "safe" threshold exists. Others have noted as well that there is no evidence of a threshold level below which there is no risk of mesothelioma.[13] There appears to be a linear, dose-response relationship, with increasing dose producing increasing disease.[14] Nevertheless, mesothelioma may be related to brief, low level or indirect exposures to asbestos.[6] The dose necessary for effect appears to be lower for asbestos-induced mesothelioma than for pulmonary asbestosis or lung cancer.[6] Again, there is no known safe level of asbestos to asbestos as it relates to increased risk of mesothelioma.

The duration of exposure to asbestos causing mesothelioma can be short. For example, cases of mesothelioma have been documented with only 1–3 months of exposure.[15][16] People who work with asbestos wear personal protective equipment to lower their risk of exposure.

Latency, the time from first exposure to manifestation of disease, is prolonged in the case of mesothelioma. It is virtually never less than fifteen years and peaks at 30–40 years.[6] In a review of occupationally related mesothelioma cases, the median latency was 32 years.[17] Based upon the data from Peto et al, the risk of mesothelioma appears to increase to the third or fourth power from first exposure.[14]
[] Environmental exposures

Incidence of mesothelioma had been found to be higher in populations living near naturally occurring asbestos. For example, in central Cappadocia, Turkey, mesothelioma was causing 50% of all deaths in three small villages — Tuzköy, Karain and Sarıhıdır. Initially, this was attributed to erionite, a zeolite mineral with similar properties to asbestos, however, recently, detailed epidemiological investigation showed that erionite causes mesothelioma mostly in families with a genetic predisposition.[18][19] The documented presence of asbestos fibers in water supplies and food products has fostered concerns about the possible impact of long-term and, as yet, unknown exposure of the general population to these fibers.
[] Occupational

Exposure to asbestos fibers has been recognized as an occupational health hazard since the early 1900s. Numerous epidemiological studies have associated occupational exposure to asbestos with the development of pleural plaques, diffuse pleural thickening, asbestosis, carcinoma of the lung and larynx, gastrointestinal tumors, and diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum. Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, brake linings, gaskets, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation.

Commercial asbestos mining at Wittenoom, Western Australia, occurred between 1945 and 1966. A cohort study of miners employed at the mine reported that while no deaths occurred within the first 10 years after crocidolite exposure, 85 deaths attributable to mesothelioma had occurred by 1985. By 1994, 539 reported deaths due to mesothelioma had been reported in Western Australia.
[] Paraoccupational secondary exposure

Family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos related diseases.[20] This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibres, asbestos workers are usually required to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace.
[] Asbestos in buildings

Many building materials used in both public and domestic premises prior to the banning of asbestos may contain asbestos. Those performing renovation works or DIY activities may expose themselves to asbestos dust. In the UK use of Chrysotile asbestos was banned at the end of 1999. Brown and blue asbestos was banned in the UK around 1985. Buildings built or renovated prior to these dates may contain asbestos materials.
[] Diagnosis

CT scan of a patient with mesothelioma, coronal section (the section follows the plane that divides the body in a front and a back half). The mesothelioma is indicated by yellow arrows, the central pleural effusion (fluid collection) is marked with a yellow star. Red numbers: (1) right lung, (2) spine, (3) left lung, (4) ribs, (5) descending part of the aorta, (6) spleen, (7) left kidney, (8) right kidney, (9) liver.

Micrograph of a pleural fluid cytopathology specimen showing mesothelioma.

Micrographs showing mesothelioma in a core biopsy.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history. A history of exposure to asbestos may increase clinical suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination is performed, followed by chest X-ray and often lung function tests. The X-ray may reveal pleural thickening commonly seen after asbestos exposure and increases suspicion of mesothelioma. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI is usually performed. If a large amount of fluid is present, abnormal cells may be detected by cytopathology if this fluid is aspirated with a syringe. For pleural fluid, this is done by thoracentesis or tube thoracostomy (chest tube); for ascites, with paracentesis or ascitic drain; and for pericardial effusion with pericardiocentesis. While absence of malignant cells on cytology does not completely exclude mesothelioma, it makes it much more unlikely, especially if an alternative diagnosis can be made (e.g. tuberculosis, heart failure). Unfortunately, the diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma by cytology alone is difficult, even with expert pathologists.

Generally, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. A doctor removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. Alternatively, the chest surgeon might directly open the chest (thoracotomy). If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Immunohistochemical studies play an important role for the pathologist in differentiating malignant mesothelioma from neoplastic mimics. There are numerous tests and panels available. No single test is perfect for distinguishing mesothelioma from carcinoma or even benign versus malignant.
Typical immunohistochemistry results

Positive

Negative

EMA (epithelial membrane antigen) in a membranous distribution

CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen)

WT1 (Wilms' tumour 1)

B72.3

Calretinin

MOC-3 1

Mesothelin-1

CD15

Cytokeratin 5/6

Ber-EP4

HBME-1 (human mesothelial cell 1)

TTF-1 (thyroid transcription factor-1)

There are three histological types of malignant mesothelioma: (1) Epithelioid; (2) Sarcomatoid; and (3) Biphasic (Mixed). Epithelioid comprises about 50-60% of malignant mesothelioma cases and generally holds a better prognosis than the Sarcomatoid or Biphasic subtypes.[21]
[] Staging

Staging of mesothelioma is based on the recommendation by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group.[22] TNM classification of the primary tumor, lymph node involvement, and distant metastasis is performed. Mesothelioma is staged Ia–IV (one-A to four) based on the TNM status.[22][23]
[] Screening

There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. Screening tests might diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients. The serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.[24] Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assay which measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells.[25]
[] Pathophysiology

Diffuse pleural mesothelioma with extensive involvement of the pericardium.

The mesothelium consists of a single layer of flattened to cuboidal cells forming the epithelial lining of the serous cavities of the body including the peritoneal, pericardial and pleural cavities. Deposition of asbestos fibers in the parenchyma of the lung may result in the penetration of the visceral pleura from where the fiber can then be carried to the pleural surface, thus leading to the development of malignant mesothelial plaques. The processes leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma remain unresolved, although it has been proposed that asbestos fibers from the lung are transported to the abdomen and associated organs via the lymphatic system. Additionally, asbestos fibers may be deposited in the gut after ingestion of sputum contaminated with asbestos fibers.

Pleural contamination with asbestos or other mineral fibers has been shown to cause cancer. Long thin asbestos fibers (blue asbestos, amphibole fibers) are more potent carcinogens than "feathery fibers" (chrysotile or white asbestos fibers).[6] However, there is now evidence that smaller particles may be more dangerous than the larger fibers. They remain suspended in the air where they can be inhaled, and may penetrate more easily and deeper into the lungs. "We probably will find out a lot more about the health aspects of asbestos from [the World Trade Center attack], unfortunately," said Dr. Alan Fein, chief of pulmonary and critical-care medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Fein has treated several patients for "World Trade Center syndrome" or respiratory ailments from brief exposures of only a day or two near the collapsed buildings.[26]

Mesothelioma development in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibers. It has been suggested that in humans, transport of fibers to the pleura is critical to the pathogenesis of mesothelioma. This is supported by the observed recruitment of significant numbers of macrophages and other cells of the immune system to localized lesions of accumulated asbestos fibers in the pleural and peritoneal cavities of rats. These lesions continued to attract and accumulate macrophages as the disease progressed, and cellular changes within the lesion culminated in a morphologically malignant tumor.

Experimental evidence suggests that asbestos acts as a complete carcinogen with the development of mesothelioma occurring in sequential stages of initiation and promotion. The molecular mechanisms underlying the malignant transformation of normal mesothelial cells by asbestos fibers remain unclear despite the demonstration of its oncogenic capabilities. However, complete in vitro transformation of normal human mesothelial cells to malignant phenotype following exposure to asbestos fibers has not yet been achieved. In general, asbestos fibers are thought to act through direct physical interactions with the cells of the mesothelium in conjunction with indirect effects following interaction with inflammatory cells such as macrophages.

Analysis of the interactions between asbestos fibers and DNA has shown that phagocytosed fibers are able to make contact with chromosomes, often adhering to the chromatin fibers or becoming entangled within the chromosome. This contact between the asbestos fiber and the chromosomes or structural proteins of the spindle apparatus can induce complex abnormalities. The most common abnormality is monosomy of chromosome 22. Other frequent abnormalities include structural rearrangement of 1p, 3p, 9p and 6q chromosome arms.

Common gene abnormalities in mesothelioma cell lines include deletion of the tumor suppressor genes:
Neurofibromatosis type 2 at 22q12
P16INK4A
P14ARF

Asbestos has also been shown to mediate the entry of foreign DNA into target cells. Incorporation of this foreign DNA may lead to mutations and oncogenesis by several possible mechanisms:
Inactivation of tumor suppressor genes
Activation of oncogenes
Activation of proto-oncogenes due to incorporation of foreign DNA containing a promoter region
Activation of DNA repair enzymes, which may be prone to error
Activation of telomerase
Prevention of apoptosis

Asbestos fibers have been shown to alter the function and secretory properties of macrophages, ultimately creating conditions which favour the development of mesothelioma. Following asbestos phagocytosis, macrophages generate increased amounts of hydroxyl radicals, which are normal by-products of cellular anaerobic metabolism. However, these free radicals are also known clastogenic and membrane-active agents thought to promote asbestos carcinogenicity. These oxidants can participate in the oncogenic process by directly and indirectly interacting with DNA, modifying membrane-associated cellular events, including oncogene activation and perturbation of cellular antioxidant defences.

Asbestos also may possess immunosuppressive properties. For example, chrysotile fibres have been shown to depress the in vitro proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes, suppress natural killer cell lysis and significantly reduce lymphokine-activated killer cell viability and recovery. Furthermore, genetic alterations in asbestos-activated macrophages may result in the release of potent mesothelial cell mitogens such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) which in turn, may induce the chronic stimulation and proliferation of mesothelial cells after injury by asbestos fibres.
[] Treatment

The prognosis for malignant mesothelioma remains disappointing, although there have been some modest improvements in prognosis from newer chemotherapies and multimodality treatments.[27] Treatment of malignant mesothelioma at earlier stages has a better prognosis, but cures are exceedingly rare. Clinical behavior of the malignancy is affected by several factors including the continuous mesothelial surface of the pleural cavity which favors local metastasis via exfoliated cells, invasion to underlying tissue and other organs within the pleural cavity, and the extremely long latency period between asbestos exposure and development of the disease. The histological subtype and the patient's age and health status also help predict prognosis.
[] Surgery

Surgery, by itself, has proved disappointing. In one large series, the median survival with surgery (including extrapleural pneumonectomy) was only 11.7 months.[27] However, research indicates varied success when used in combination with radiation and chemotherapy (Duke, 2008). (For more information on multimodality therapy with surgery, see below). A pleurectomy/decortication is the most common surgery, in which the lining of the chest is removed. Less common is an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), in which the lung, lining of the inside of the chest, the hemi-diaphragm and the pericardium are removed.
[] Radiation

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of

Radiation Oncology/Lung/Mesothelioma

For patients with localized disease, and who can tolerate a radical surgery, radiation is often given post-operatively as a consolidative treatment. The entire hemi-thorax is treated with radiation therapy, often given simultaneously with chemotherapy. This approach of using surgery followed by radiation with chemotherapy has been pioneered by the thoracic oncology team at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston.[28] Delivering radiation and chemotherapy after a radical surgery has led to extended life expectancy in selected patient populations with some patients surviving more than 5 years. As part of a curative approach to mesothelioma, radiotherapy is also commonly applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall.

Although mesothelioma is generally resistant to curative treatment with radiotherapy alone, palliative treatment regimens are sometimes used to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel. Radiation therapy when given alone with curative intent has never been shown to improve survival from mesothelioma. The necessary radiation dose to treat mesothelioma that has not been surgically removed would be very toxic.
[] Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is the only treatment for mesothelioma that has been proven to improve survival in randomised and controlled trials. The landmark study published in 2003 by Vogelzang and colleagues compared cisplatin chemotherapy alone with a combination of cisplatin and pemetrexed (brand name Alimta) chemotherapy in patients who had not received chemotherapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma previously and were not candidates for more aggressive "curative" surgery.[29] This trial was the first to report a survival advantage from chemotherapy in malignant pleural mesothelioma, showing a statistically significant improvement in median survival from 10 months in the patients treated with cisplatin alone to 13.3 months in the combination pemetrexed group in patients who received supplementation with folate and vitamin B12. Vitamin supplementation was given to most patients in the trial and pemetrexed related side effects were significantly less in patients receiving pemetrexed when they also received daily oral folate 500mcg and intramuscular vitamin B12 1000mcg every 9 weeks compared with patients receiving pemetrexed without vitamin supplementation. The objective response rate increased from 20% in the cisplatin group to 46% in the combination pemetrexed group. Some side effects such as nausea and vomiting, stomatitis, and diarrhoea were more common in the combination pemetrexed group but only affected a minority of patients and overall the combination of pemetrexed and cisplatin was well tolerated when patients received vitamin supplementation; both quality of life and lung function tests improved in the combination pemetrexed group. In February 2004, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved pemetrexed for treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. However, there are still unanswered questions about the optimal use of chemotherapy, including when to start treatment, and the optimal number of cycles to give.

Cisplatin in combination with raltitrexed has shown an improvement in survival similar to that reported for pemetrexed in combination with cisplatin, but raltitrexed is no longer commercially available for this indication. For patients unable to tolerate pemetrexed, cisplatin in combination with gemcitabine or vinorelbine is an alternative, or vinorelbine on its own, although a survival benefit has not been shown for these drugs. For patients in whom cisplatin cannot be used, carboplatin can be substituted but non-randomised data have shown lower response rates and high rates of haematological toxicity for carboplatin-based combinations, albeit with similar survival figures to patients receiving cisplatin.[30]

In January 2009, the United States FDA approved using conventional therapies such as surgery in combination with radiation and or chemotherapy on stage I or II Mesothelioma after research conducted by a nationwide study by Duke University concluded an almost 50 point increase in remission rates.
[] Immunotherapy

Treatment regimens involving immunotherapy have yielded variable results. For example, intrapleural inoculation of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in an attempt to boost the immune response, was found to be of no benefit to the patient (while it may benefit patients with bladder cancer). Mesothelioma cells proved susceptible to in vitro lysis by LAK cells following activation by interleukin-2 (IL-2), but patients undergoing this particular therapy experienced major side effects. Indeed, this trial was suspended in view of the unacceptably high levels of IL-2 toxicity and the severity of side effects such as fever and cachexia. Nonetheless, other trials involving interferon alpha have proved more encouraging with 20% of patients experiencing a greater than 50% reduction in tumor mass combined with minimal side effects.
[] Heated Intraoperative Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

A procedure known as heated intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy was developed by Paul Sugarbaker at the Washington Cancer Institute.[31] The surgeon removes as much of the tumor as possible followed by the direct administration of a chemotherapy agent, heated to between 40 and 48°C, in the abdomen. The fluid is perfused for 60 to 120 minutes and then drained.

This technique permits the administration of high concentrations of selected drugs into the abdominal and pelvic surfaces. Heating the chemotherapy treatment increases the penetration of the drugs into tissues. Also, heating itself damages the malignant cells more than the normal cells.

This technique is also used in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.[32]
[] Multimodality Therapy

All of the standard approaches to treating solid tumors—radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery—have been investigated in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. Although surgery, by itself, is not very effective, surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation (trimodality therapy) has produced significant survival extension (3–14 years) among patients with favorable prognostic factors.[28] However, other large series of examining multimodality treatment have only demonstrated modest improvement in survival (median survival 14.5 months and only 29.6% surviving 2 years).[27] Reducing the bulk of the tumor with cytoreductive surgery is key to extending survival. Two surgeries have been developed: extrapleural pneumonectomy and pleurectomy/decortication. The indications for performing these operations are unique. The choice of operation depends on the size of the patient's tumor. This is an important consideration because tumor volume has been identified as a prognostic factor in mesothelioma.[33] Pleurectomy/decortication spares the underlying lung and is performed in patients with early stage disease when the intention is to remove all gross visible tumor (macroscopic complete resection), not simply palliation.[34] Extrapleural pneumonectomy is a more extensive operation that involves resection of the parietal and visceral pleurae, underlying lung, ipsilateral diaphragm, and ipsilateral pericardium. This operation is indicated for a subset of patients with more advanced tumors, who can tolerate a pneumonectomy.[35]

[] Epidemiology

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence rate varies from one country to another, from a low rate of less than 1 per 1,000,000 in Tunisia and Morocco, to the highest rate in Britain, Australia and Belgium: 30 per 1,000,000 per year.[36] For comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can have a lung cancer incidence of over 1,000 per 1,000,000. Incidence of malignant mesothelioma currently ranges from about 7 to 40 per 1,000,000 in industrialized Western nations, depending on the amount of asbestos exposure of the populations during the past several decades.[37] It has been estimated that incidence may have peaked at 15 per 1,000,000 in the United States in 2004. Incidence is expected to continue increasing in other parts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal.

Between 1940 and 1979, approximately 27.5 million people were occupationally exposed to asbestos in the United States.[38] Between 1973 and 1984, the incidence of pleural mesothelioma among Caucasian males increased 300%. From 1980 to the late 1990s, the death rate from mesothelioma in the USA increased from 2,000 per year to 3,000, with men four times more likely to acquire it than women. These rates may not be accurate, since it is possible that many cases of mesothelioma are misdiagnosed as adenocarcinoma of the lung, which is difficult to differentiate from mesothelioma.
[] Society and culture
[] Famous victims

Mesothelioma, though rare, has had a number of notable patients.
Malcolm McLaren, former manager of New York Dolls and Sex Pistols, died on 8 April 2010.
Hamilton Jordan, Chief of Staff for U.S. President Jimmy Carter and lifelong cancer activist, died in 2008.
Richard J. Herrnstein, psychologist and co-author of The Bell Curve, died in 1994.
Australian anti-racism activist Bob Bellear died in 2005.
British science fiction writer Michael G. Coney, responsible for nearly 100 works, also died in 2005.
American film and television actor Paul Gleason, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Principal Richard Vernon in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, died in 2006.
Mickie Most, an English record producer, died of mesothelioma in 2003.
Paul Rudolph, American architect, died in 1997.
Bernie Banton, an Australian workers' rights activist, fought a long battle for compensation from James Hardie after he contracted mesothelioma after working for that company. He claimed James Hardie knew of the dangers of asbestos before he began work with the substance making insulation for power stations. Mesothelioma eventually took his life along with his brothers and hundreds of James Hardie workers. James Hardie made an undisclosed settlement with Banton only when his mesothelioma had reached its final stages and he was expected to have no more than 48 hours to live. Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd mentioned Banton's extended struggle in his acceptance speech after winning the 2007 Australian federal election.
Actor Steve McQueen was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma on December 22, 1979. He was not offered surgery or chemotherapy because doctors felt the cancer was too advanced. McQueen subsequently sought alternative treatments at clinics in Mexico. He died of a heart attack on November 7, 1980, in Juárez, Mexico, following cancer surgery. He may have been exposed to asbestos while serving with the U.S. Marines as a young adult—asbestos was then commonly used to insulate ships' piping—or from its use as an insulating material in automobile racing suits (McQueen was an avid racing driver and fan).[39]
United States Congressman Bruce Vento died of mesothelioma in 2000. The Bruce Vento Hopebuilder award is given yearly by his wife at the MARF Symposium to persons or organizations who have done the most to support mesothelioma research and advocacy.
Rock and roll musician and songwriter Warren Zevon, after a long period of untreated illness and pain, was diagnosed with inoperable mesothelioma in the fall of 2002. Refusing treatments that he believed might incapacitate him, Zevon focused his energies on recording his final album The Wind, including the song "Keep Me in Your Heart," which speaks of his failing breath. Zevon died at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 7, 2003.
Christie Hennessy, the influential Irish singer-songwriter, died of mesothelioma in 2007, and had stridently refused to accept the prognosis in the weeks before his death.[40] Hennessy's mesothelioma has been attributed to his younger years spent working on building sites in London.[41][42]
Bob Miner, one of the founders of Software Development Labs, the forerunner of Oracle Corporation, died of mesothelioma in 1994.
Scottish Labour MP John William MacDougall died of mesothelioma on August 13, 2008, after fighting the disease for two years.[43]
Australian journalist and news presenter Peter Leonard of Canberra succumbed to the condition on September 23, 2008.
Terrence McCann, Olympic gold medalist and longtime Executive Director of Toastmasters, died of mesothelioma on June 7, 2006, at his home in Dana Point, California.
Merlin Olsen, Pro Football Hall of Famer and television actor, died on March 10, 2010, from mesothelioma that had been diagnosed in 2009.
[] Notable people who have lived for some time with mesothelioma

Although life expectancy with this disease is typically limited, there are notable survivors. In July 1982, Stephen Jay Gould was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. After his diagnosis, Gould wrote "The Median Isn't the Message"[44] for Discover magazine, in which he argued that statistics such as median survival are just useful abstractions, not destiny. Gould lived for another 20 years, eventually succumbing to metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, not mesothelioma. Author Paul Kraus was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in July 1997. He was given a prognosis of less than a year to live and used a variety of complementary modalities. He continues to outlive his prognosis and wrote a book about his experience "Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers: A Patient's Guide" in which he presented his philosophy about healing and the decision making that led him to use integrative medicine.
[] Legal issues

Main article: Asbestos and the law

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were in 1929. Since then, many lawsuits have been filed against asbestos manufacturers and employers, for neglecting to implement safety measures after the links between asbestos, asbestosis, and mesothelioma became known (some reports seem to place this as early as 1898). The liability resulting from the sheer number of lawsuits and people affected has reached billions of dollars.[45] The amounts and method of allocating compensation have been the source of many court cases, reaching up to the United States Supreme Court, and government attempts at resolution of existing and future cases. However, to date, the US Congress has not stepped in and there are no federal laws governing asbestos compensation.[46]History

The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. In 1960, an article published by Wagner et al. was seminal in establishing mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to asbestos.[47] The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. Prior to the use of advanced microscopy techniques, malignant mesothelioma was often diagnosed as a variant form of lung cancer.[48] In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australian asbestos worker.[49] The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.

In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.

Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos-related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.

By 1979 the first writs for negligence related to Wittenoom were issued against CSR and its subsidiary ABA, and the Asbestos Diseases Society was formed to represent the Wittenoom victims.

In Leeds, England the Armley asbestos disaster involved several court cases against Turner & Newall where local residents who contracted mesothelioma claimed compensation because of the asbestos pollution from the company's factory. One notable case was that of June Hancock, who contracted the disease in 1993 and died in 1997.[

tags
Mesothelioma

Conference Calling Companies

2010-09-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Conference Calling Companies

What is a conference Call?
A conference call is a telephone call where the one party initiates another call which allows a called party to either listen in on the call or to speak. Another phase which is often used in conference calling is "Three-way calling". Specific equipment which allows this call to work can sometimes be employed, although your local telephone company can simply provide this service to your telephone line.
Many small businesses which are based at home use three-way calling, which is provided at an extra charge, to speak with many of their customers and consultants. In many cases this technology allows for problem solving without wasting too much time in back and forth calling.
There are many players in this market which has brought the technology to a place which allows a person in Australia to speak with and see someone in the USA and China without traveling around the world to attend a business meeting. With recent developments, it is now a normal practice to have not only conference calls, but also have those calls recorded and played back.
Many of the new services also include live call screen, which is ideal for moderation; pre-conference/green room facility which allows persons attending the conference call to have private conversations before starting the conference and lecture mode which allows for the muting of all participants. Web conferencing can also be performed on these calls which allow participants to share PowerPoint Presentations, text chat or host a poll.
There is a very special feature of Conference Calling which I find quite interesting; International call out and blast dial which invites callers all over the world to join in a live call. This is truly a money saving feature.
Choosing a Conference Calling Provider
When choosing a Conference Calling Provider, there are a number of questions which you will need to look ask.
(1) Can your provider service any type of call?
(2) Is the line capable of handing the volume of calls based on the type of conference call you want to make. e.g. world wide?
(3) Are there any hidden fees for this service?
(4) What are the guarantees that you will have good service?
(5) Is your system voice over internet protocol (VOIP)?
(6) Does your company provide DTMF clamping?
There are obviously other questions which you will need to ask before choosing a provider since there are several providers in this arena and you will ask the questions to suit your particular requirements.
Conference calling companies can save you mega dollars in travel around the world, therefore when you choose a company, ensure that you have the facilities you require to make your online meetings beneficial to your company.

tags

Conference Calling Companies

ZamZam Water

2010-08-24T08:02:00.000-07:00

ZamZam Water

Allah Ta'ala has made all living creatures out of water. People require water for almost for everything but not all water carries the same value and significance.Muslims refer to the water of Zamzam as something revered and unique. They crave this mysterious liquid and love to drink it whenever they can. And for those who managed to go to the Hajj, they return home carrying it for thousands of miles as a prized possession and to give as special gift to their friends and families.

So what is so special about Zamzam water? In a word: Everything! There is nothing ordinary about it. The miracle of how it came to being in the middle of a desert, its consistency throught out 1000s of years, the beneficial qualities it has, the fact that it never dries up. This water is special.

The fact is, this small and only ' 5 ft deep well ' is far away from any other source or body of water. It is self replenishing. It is constantly replenishing itself in order to produce gallons upon gallons of water for the consumption of thirsty pilgrims plus the additional amount that is bottled up and also the amount that is taken as gifts and distributed worldwide to millions. SubhanAllah!

Zam zam water has scientifically been proven to contain healing qualities due to its higher content of Calcium and Magnesium Salts and also natural fluorides that encompass a germicidal action.

It is also an established scientific fact that pools or water wells tend to grow vegetation such as algae-- especially in warm climates. Amazingly this is not the case in the well of Zamzam. It has remained free from bilogical contaminations.

History of Zamzam Water

Zamzam is the name of a famous well in al-Masjid al-Haraam [the Sacred Mosque in Makkah], which is thirty-eight cubits away from the Ka’bah. It is the well from which Allah quenched the thirst of Ismaa’eel the son of Ibraaheem (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both) when he was an infant. His mother(Haajra(peace and blessings of Allah be upon her) looked for water for him, but could not find any. She climbed to the top of Mount al-Safaa, praying to Allah to help her and give her water for Ismaa’eel, then she climbed to the top of Mount al-Marwah and did the same. Allah sent Jibreel(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , and he struck the earth, and water appeared.

The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) agreed that it is mustahabb (recommended) for pilgrims on Hajj and ‘Umrah in particular, and for all Muslims in general, to drink Zamzam water, because of the saheeh hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have drunk the water of Zamzam. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/492). According to the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said concerning the water of Zamzam, “It is a blessing, and it is food that satisfies.” (Reported by Muslim, 4/1922). Al-Tayaalisi added, in a version that he narrated: “and a cure for the sick. – but this is when he drinks it with faith and sincerity, as proven in the hadeeth of Abu Dharr al-Ghifaari who stayed in Makkah for a month without any nourishment except Zamzam water.

Al-‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The people used to compete over Zamzam during the time of Jaahiliyyah(ignorance). People who had children used to bring them and give them to drink, and this was their early-morning victuals. We used to used to think that it was a help for people who had children.” Al-‘Abbaas said: “During the Jaahiliyyah, Zamzam was known as Shabaa’ah (satisfaction).”Al-‘Allaamah al-Abbi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “(The water) is for whatever purpose it is drunk for, and Allaah made it food and drink for Ismaa’eel and his mother Haajar.”Ibn al-Mubaarak entered Zamzam and said, “O Allaah, Ibn al-Mu’ammal told me, from Abu’l-Zubayr from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for,’ so, O Allaah, I am drinking it (to quench) my thirst on the Day of Resurrection.”

Virtues and characteristics of the water of Zamzam

The two angels washed the heart of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was a child, after they had taken it out, then they put it back. Al-Haafiz al-‘Iraaqi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The reason why the Prophet’s chest was washed with Zamzam water was to make him stronger so that he could see the kingdom of heaven and earth, and Paradise and Hell, because one of the special qualities of Zamzam is that it strengthens the heart and calms the soul. The report about the chest of the Prophet (peace be upon him) being washed with the water of Zamzam is proven in the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), who reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My roof was opened when I was in Makkah, and Jibreel (peace be upon him) came down and opened my chest, then he washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a gold basin full of wisdom and faith, poured it into my chest, and closed it up again. Then he took me by the hand and ascended with me into the first heaven.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/429).

It is sunnah to drink one’s fill of Zamzam water and to quench one’s thirst.The fuqaha have mentioned the etiquette that is mustahabb (recommended) when drinking Zamzam water, such as facing the Ka’bah, saying Bismillah, pausing to take a breath three times, drinking one’s fill, praising Allaah after one finishes As regards the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said, “I gave the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) Zamzam water to drink whilst he was standing,” (reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/492), it is taken to mean that it is permissible to drink zamzam whilst standing; showing the utmost respect. The scholars also recommended that the person who drinks Zamzam water should sprinkle some of it on his head, face and chest, make lots of du’aa’ when drinking it, and to drink it for a purpose that will benefit him in this world or the next, because of the hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2/1018; see Al-Maqaasid al-Hasanah by al-Sakhaawi, p. 359).

It was reported that when Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) drank from the water of Zamzam, he said: “O Allaah, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, plentiful provision and healing from every disease.”

Al-Daynoori reported that al-Humaydi said: “We were with Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah, and he told us the hadeeth about the water of Zamzam being drunk for whatever purpose it is drunk for. A man got up and left the gathering, then he came back and said, ‘O Abu Muhammad, is the hadeeth which you told us about the water of Zamzam saheeh?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ The man said, ‘Just now I drank a bucket of Zamzam so that you would tell me one hundred hadeeths.’ Sufyaan said, ‘Sit down,’ so he sat down and he told him one hundred hadeeths.”

Some fuqaha’ recommended that people should take some Zamzam water back with them to their countries, because it is a cure for those who seek healing. ‘Aa’ishah(R.A.) reported that she took Zamzam water home with her in bottles, and said, “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) took some of it away with him, and he used to pour it on the sick and give it to them to drink.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 4/37).

Al-Haafiz al-Sakhaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Al-Maqaasid al-Hasanah: “Some people said that the virtue (of Zamzam water) remains only so long as it is in its place (of origin), and that when it is taken away,it changes. This is an idea that has no basis. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wrote to Suhayl ibn ‘Amr: “If my letter reaches you at night, do not wait until morning, and if it reaches you during the day, do not wait until evening, to send me some Zamzam water.” He sent him two containers full, and at that time he was in Madeenah, before the Conquest of Makkah. This hadeeth is hasan because of corroborating evidence. ‘Aa’ishah also used to take Zamzam water away with her, and she reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do this; he used to carry it in small vessels and buckets, and pour it onto the sick and give it to them to drink. Whenever a guest visited Ibn ‘Abbaas he would honour him by giving him Zamzam to drink. ‘Ata’ was asked about taking Zamzam water away, and he said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him), al-Hasan and al-Husayn all took it away with them.”And Allaah knows best. (See: Fath al-Baari,3/493; al-Mughni, 3/445; Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj, Shifa’ al-Gharaam bi Akhbaar al-Balad al-Haraam, by al-‘Iraaqi, 1/258)

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Myself and others tried seeking healing with Zamzam water and saw wondrous things. I sought healing with it from a number of illnesses, and I was healed by the permission of Allaah. I saw someone who nourished himself with it for a number of days, half a month or more, and he did not feel hunger; he performed Tawaaf along with the other people just as they did. And he told me that he consumed nothing but Zamzam water for forty days and he had the strength to have intercourse with his wife, to fast and to perform Tawaaf numerous times. (Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/319, 320).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah preserve him) said:So you should have the intention of what you want to gain by drinking this water. He should drink his fill, ie. fill his stomach with it until it is filled to the ribs, because this water is good. A hadeeth has been narrated concerning this: the difference between the believers and the hypocrites is drinking one’s fill of Zamzam water.(Narrated by Ibn Maajah)

It was reported in Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Abu Dharr, who had stayed near the Ka’bah and its coverings for forty days and nights with no food or drink other than (Zamzam): “How long have you been here?” Abu Dharr said: “I have been here for thirty days and nights.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Who has been feeding you?” He said, “I have had nothing but Zamzam water, and I have gotten so fat that I have folds of fat on my stomach. I do not feel any of the tiredness or weakness of hunger and I have not become thin.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Verily, it is blessed, it is food that nourishes.” (Narrated by Imaam Muslim, 2473).

Some incidents relating to the Miracles of ZamZam

Yusria Abdel-Rahman Haraz said that she was affected by a ulcer in her eye. It affected her by a severe headache which could not be cured by tablets. She was about to become blind in the affected eye. She went to a famous doctor who suggested to give her an injection which will stop the headache but it will also dysfunction the affected eye and consequently she will loose the sight in the affected eye. Mrs.Yusria was confident of the mercy of Allah. She thought of performing Umra and supplicated to Allah to cure her. She come to Makkah and performed Tawaf, there were not many people and the areas not crowded, therefore, she could be with the Zamzam water for long time. She washed her eyes. When she came back to the hotel she found that her affected eyes was cured and the ulcer disappeared. This event proves that it is a confirmation of the Hadeeth which says, “Zamzam water fulfils the purpose for which it has been drunk, if you drink it for getting cured Allah cures you, if you drink it for stomach satisfaction Allah will satisfy you and if you drink it for quenching thirst Allah will quench your thirst.” [Refer to El-Dar Gatni and El-Hukm and Zad]

There are many of such events, which proves the truth of what Prophet Muhammed(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said and the holy nature of Zamzam water. Dr. Farooque Antar tells his own story. He says that he had been affected by a stone in his ureter and the doctor could not remove or destroy it without a surgical operation. But he postponed the operation two times. Meanwhile he performed Umra and supplicated to Allah to cure him without undergoing operation. He drank from Zamzam water and prayed two Rakaats. Then he felt a benching in his ureter and hurried to relieve himself, only to see the stone come out and he was cured without undergoing a surgical operation. The doctors who were treating Dr. Farooque were surprised at this.

A man from Yemen was fond of reading Quran from a small Mushaf. As he became old he found that he couldn’t read Quran easily from that book because his sight was becoming weak. He heard about the water of Zamzam and its advantage of fulfilling the purpose for which it has been drunk. He came to Haj and he drank from Zamzam. He started reading from that small Mushaf of Quran easily and without any sight problems. He achieved what he wanted because he was confident of that and had deep faith in the saying of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), “The water of Zamzam fulfils the purpose for which it has deep drunk” He was also confident and had deep belief in the Quranic sign in which Allah says, “When my servants ask thee concerning me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he collect on me, let them also with a will listen to my call, and believe in Me. That may walk in the right way”. [2:186] Source: “You ask about the scientific miracles of Quran an Sunna and Shaikh Zindani answers” By Shaikh Abdel Majeed El Zindani

SOME AHAADEETH:

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; it is a kind of food and a healing from sickness.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3302).

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) drank it, did wudoo’ with it and poured it on his head. He used to carry Zamzam water in small vessels and large containers in order to pour it on the sick and give it to them to drink. (al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 883).

One of the Sahaabah said: we used to call it al-Shabbaa’ah (satisfying) and it helped us to take care our families (ie. it was filling and helped them to do without food, it was also sufficient to nourish children). (al-Silsilat al-Saheehah li’l-Albaani, 2685).

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah)

The Messenger of Allah, salallahu alayhe wa sallam has said:" The most sublime of all earthly waters is that of zamzam; therein one finds food for the hungry and medicne for the ill." [ At- Tabarani ]

"Zamzam water is what one intends to drink it for. When one drinks it to be healed, Allah heals him; when one drinks it to be full, Allah makes him full; and when one drinks it to quench his thrist, Allah quenches it. " [ Ahmad, and Ibn Majah]

Since Zamzam water serves whatever purpose and intention for which it is drank; provided it is with sincerity: The scholars and the righteous have tried this and they drank from it with the intention of fulfilling their needs and seeking cure for the sick or relief from poverty or catastrophe and surely Allah eased for them achieving their needs. So next time when one gets the opportunity to drink Zamzam, one should grab the opportunity to pray for: a healthy body, sharp mind, forgiveness for sins, life in Jannah after death, an honorable death on the day of Jummah, and all one's physical and spiritual needs of this world and Hereafter.

The World Of Warcraft Phenomenon

2010-08-20T13:40:00.000-07:00

Class of Warcraft is an tremendously general business that has older success beyond what anyone power individual expected. It has embellish a mainstream blow and has widened the opportunity for its music and for gaming in pervading. It has also had an signification on the line business, and in many slipway is a unexpected and significant heading.

What Class of Warcraft has through is to act the multi-player gallinacean more favorite. Before it arrived, the majority of group playacting multi-player online games were ordinarily teenage and bill something males. Experience of Warcraft has broadened the diversion opportunity substantially. All sorts of age groups and individuals are now activity it. In primary, it has brought such younger gamers towards the genre.

Domain of Warcraft has appealed to people who aren't unremarkably into vice. It is quite grassroots for someone to try it because they know a roommate or a somebody who has it, and then they themselves transmute crooked. An educator cerebrate, The Daedal Impute by Nick Yee, has examined group who measure the multi-player music. Nigh 20% of grouping now playacting these games change had minuscule prior undergo in recording play.
Mankind of Warcraft's personation in attracting specified people can not be underestimated.
Man of Warcraft has appealed to women, who are not the typical interview for multi-player titles. Women either actively attempt the line out, or try it because their man or husband is a fan. Around half of the women who drama games suchlike Warcraft are playacting with their partner. In indiscriminate, women now attain up around a tierce of the boilersuit company of people who roleplay online multi-player games. Concern of Warcraft is oftentimes the key claim in introducing them to the music.

Grouping of Warcraft has prefabricated vice a multiethnic undergo. Group frolic the gamey unitedly in groups. Couples music it unitedly, and around 25% of fill who endeavor games equal Warcraft are activity with their artist mate. Families also movableness unitedly, and it is frequent for grouping to participate it with a fellowship member. Parents measure Man of Warcraft with their children, and brothers movability alongside each different in the brave. It has a crystalline interaction.

One figure that has assisted the popularity of Humanity of Warcraft is the availability of release trials for the gritty. Time it was in process there were beta tests that introduced the game to players. Most significantly, tho', the gallinacean's developer Blizzard has held extricated trials for the business since its termination. This has ensured that anyone can try it and movability it. Most grouping who ingest the line require to travel with it, and are possible to buy the scheme and formalize up for the monthly subscription.

The vast opportunity for Humans of Warcraft has been of portion to the brave industry. Before the game came along, brave companies mat that the multi-player music was increase and that there was no more people for a new rubric. The brave has proven otherwise and has shown that the mart can actually modify and colour. Game companies possess been impressed by its success, and are rattling fascinated in why it has assumed off to the extent that it has. They had not realised the voltage in the online role-playing style.

Humans of Warcraft has shown that there are actually many possibilities for the music. Spirited companies are now superficial to pretend multi-player games that are author accessible and easier to change. They require to invoke to many everyday players who may not score the example or motility to pass all their time on a line. They are also examining how multi-player games are organized. They used to be sensible and overly difficult titles. Warcraft has shown that they can be purely amusing and fun.

Humankind of Warcraft then is a claim that has fitful new fix and multiplied the marketplace that multi-player games can possess. It has been popular with distinct types of people and has made the gamey industry rethink their undivided coming to the genre. It is a rattling getatable occupation and it has mature a high, mainstream bespeak as a ensue.

Ford Edge - Front Angle, 2011

2010-08-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Style and technology - the hallmarks of Ford Edge since it took the midsize crossover segment by storm starting in 006 - come together in an all-new way, offering customers even more of what they love for the 2011 model year.
"Customers told us how much they like Ford Edge's design and dynamic driving quality," said Mark Fields, Ford's president of The Americas. "We listened and made sure the new 2011 Edge delivers that and more - including fuel economy leadership, unexpected levels of quietness, a strong new design with quality materials, and MyFord Touch driver connect technology that will change how people experience their vehicles."
Customers made the Ford Edge the No. 1-selling vehicle in its segment in its first full year on the market, and more than 330,000 have been sold since its launch in late 2006. The 2011 Ford Edge now aims to redefine the segment with a wide-ranging scope of improvements.
"The new Ford Edge demonstrates how a refresh at Ford has become more than just a few design and interior tweaks," explains Elaine Bannon, chief engineer. "We have taken every element of the Ford Edge and completely reworked it, including three new powertrains, two new transmissions, a bold new exterior design and a completely new interior. If you add in our industry-exclusive MyFord Touch system, you have a vehicle that will continue to stand out above all the competition on the road."

Improved power; expected to be a fuel economy leader
In addition to delivering customer-focused technology, the new Edge also showcases Ford's impressive drive to bring new powertrain options to the customer. Both the Ford Edge 3.5-liter V-6 and Ford Edge Sport 3.7-liter V-6 use advanced engine valvetrain technology (Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing, or Ti-VCT) and clever control strategies to increase horsepower and torque to best-in-class levels. This beats competitors such as the BMW X5,Lexus RX350 and Audi Q5, all while delivering unsurpassed fuel economy of 27 mpg (3.5-liter V-6 highway).The 3.5-liter V-6 produces 285 horsepower and 253 ft.-lb. of torque while the 3.7-liter V-6 delivers 305 horsepower and 280 ft.-lb. of torque - all on regular fuel. Ford Edge's unsurpassed fuel economy is not at the expense of power and performance. For example, the 3.5-liter V-6 with Ti-VCT technology delivers highway fuel economy that is 15 percent better than the Nissan Murano but produces 20 horsepower more.
Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The SelectShift Automatic™ transmission is standard on the 2011 Ford Edge SEL and Limited series, with class-exclusive paddle activation of the SelectShift standard on the 2011 Ford Edge Sport.
In addition, the arrival of the new 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine in the months ahead will give customers still more choice and will deliver class-leading fuel economy with impressive power and torque.
The new EcoBoost I-4 will be mated to a six-speed transmission that will help channel the impressive performance from the new EcoBoost engine. With the introduction of the 2.0-liter EcoBoost I-4, fuel economy on the new Ford Edge will be 30 percent better than it was in 2006. Plus, Ford's newest EcoBoost engine will deliver on the promise of 15 percent fuel economy improvements versus the Ford Edge's current 3.5-liter V-6 engine while offering the performance feel of a six-cylinder.
In all, the Ford Edge will go from one engine and one transmission to three powertrains - all delivering what's expected to be class-leading or unsurpassed fuel economy and class-leading power and torque for a real win-win for the customer.
A more connected driving experience
New 18-inch tires, standard on the Ford Edge SEL and Ford Edge Limited, and new wheels that are one-half inch wider than the outgoing product provide a more engaging steering feel. Twenty-inch tires with new wider wheels are optional on the Ford Edge Limited while the Ford Edge Sport has class-exclusive 22-inch wheels standard.
Complementing the new tire and wheel lineup is a retuned suspension. Shocks, springs and stabilizer bars were adjusted to tighten handling. The shocks now feature a high-flow piston, which allows engineers to tune for both road loads and driving dynamics, without compromising ride for handling or vice versa. The result is a flatter response through turns and over hills while still providing a comfortable ride.
New four-wheel disc brakes provide enhanced stopping power. Key brake system upgrades include steel pistons, larger rear rotors, revised brake friction materials, revised brake booster gain and revised pedal ratios, all of which enable more initial bite and a firmer, more confident feel when customers press on the brake pedal.
The 2011 Edge offers several new brake-related features: Hill Start Assist, which reduces rollback on hills; Trailer Sway Control, which provides greater towing stability when equipped for trailer tow; Hydraulic Brake Assist, which provides greater braking force in emergency stops; and available segment-first Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support, which helps reduce speed and automatically pre-charges brakes and engages an electronic brake assist system to help drivers stop more quickly when the system detects a collision is imminent.
New subframe mounts enhance drivability, help reduce road noise
The original Ford Edge set numerous benchmarks in overall quietness, and that tradition continues as the 2011 Ford Edge has better wind noise than many premium vehicles such as the Lexus RX350, Audi Q5 and Acura MDX. Both the front and rear subframe mounts have been upgraded, adding to the increased tunability of the suspension and improving NVH (noise, vibration, harshness). The larger rear subframe bushing's rubber volume was increased by more than 500 percent compared with the outgoing bushings, improving the isolation between the subframe and the body, which in turn helps decrease road noise.
Both road noise and wind noise are significantly decreased in the 2011 Ford Edge because of improvements found throughout the interior and exterior, including powertrain. Here's a look at some of the other actions:

Sound pack and acoustic glass: A more absorptive sound pack is found throughout the interior, which reduces high-frequency noise more effectively than material that acts merely as a barrier. The result is an improved articulation index, which measures how easy it is to hear and understand someone in the vehicle. The 2011 Ford Edge also features an acoustic headliner, and the microphone for the SYNC® system has been relocated so it is closer to the driver for improved voice recognition. The windshield also is thicker and now acoustic-laminated on all Ford Edge models. Finally, baked-on expandable foam baffles in the fenders and D-pillars help seal out unwanted road noise.
Powertrain NVH improvements: Three main actions contribute to a quieter 2011 Ford Edge from a powertrain NVH perspective. One is the more robust engine cover. The intake and exhaust systems have been completely retuned for a crisper note corresponding to Ford powertrain DNA. Finally, a "tighter" torque converter reduces engine rpm on launch and tip-in events, reducing engine noise.
Aerodynamic improvements: Both the lowered front fascia and new underbody shields contribute to improved wind noise.

Bold, flowing design makes Ford Edge the can't-miss crossover
The bolder, more seamlessly flowing exterior design freshening is mirrored by a complementary interior, characterized by increased craftsmanship, improved materials and overall better execution. Improved fit-and-finish, softer touchpoints, and flexibility in terms of stowage in the cabin and throughout mark the 2011 Ford Edge.
"To me, craftsmanship isn't just fit-and-finish," said Bannon. "It's also the layout and the ergonomic experience. It's where we put the material - the stitching, the cutlines - and all the attention to detail to give the customer a great experience."
Increased presence is announced through a bolder grille and a chin spoiler that appears more crafted. The A-pillar flows into the hood, which adds subtle undulations to create a heightened sculptural quality. The wrapping lines emphasize both the front end and the new wheel lineup.
2011 Ford Edge Sport adds more power, distinctive look
The 2011 Ford Edge Sport is powered by a 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V-6 engine that produces 305 horsepower and is similar to the one added to the 2011 Ford Mustang. The 2011 Ford Edge Sport includes all of the content found on Ford Edge SEL as well as a specially tuned suspension, paddle shift transmission and its own unique style.
The Ford Edge Sport's class-exclusive 22-inch polished aluminum wheels have distinctive Tuxedo Black spoke accents. Other unique styling cues include a Tuxedo Black grille, smoked headlamp and taillamp treatment, body-color rocker moldings, oval chrome exhaust tips, body-color door cladding and revised body-color lower front and rear fascias.
Key interior differentiators are liquid silver smoke appliqués that are echoed in the silver smoke metallic leather seat inserts, aluminum pedals and class-exclusive paddle shifters, which activate the six-speed SelectShift Automatic transmission to give customers the option of a fun-to-shift manual experience.
In SelectShift mode, the transmission doesn't second-guess the driver, offering total control over gear selection and performance feel. Upshifts, for instance, are not commanded at redline, and downshifts are allowed at the lowest gear possible as defined by the engine speed.
When the system is in manual mode, engine speed matching provides faster and smoother downshifts, and customers get the gear they request within the limits of the rev limiter.
When a lower gear is selected while descending a long downhill grade, the 2011 Ford Edge Sport in SelectShift mode will hold that gear until the driver manually upshifts or returns to the fully automatic setting. To ensure safe shifting, the transmission will downshift to the lowest acceptable gear, based on a calculated maximum speed. That means if a vehicle were traveling at highway speeds, the driver could not downshift to first gear in SelectShift mode.
"The 2011 Ford Edge Sport, with its exceptional powertrain, specially tuned suspension and unique style, offers a driving experience not seen in other crossovers, and really appeals to the driving enthusiast," said Bannon. "Like the rest of the 2011 Ford Edge lineup, it perfectly blends technology and style."
MyFord Touch ushers in new era of interaction
The industry-first MyFord Touch driver connect technology provides a smarter, safer, simpler way to connect drivers with in-car technologies and their digital lives. It replaces traditional vehicle buttons, knobs and gauges with clear, crisp LCD screens and five-way controls like those found on cell phones and MP3 players.
Standard on the 2011 Ford Edge Limited and 2011 Ford Edge Sport, the MyFord Touch system displays information using two 4.2-inch full-color LCD screens flanking an analog speedometer and an 8-inch touch-screen LCD at the top of the center stack. A five-way switch on each side of the steering wheel crossbar controls the information displayed on the corresponding instrument panel screens. The screens can be personalized to display information relevant to each individual driver using a simple button click, voice command or touch-screen tap.
The steering wheel has all the necessary functions available in a very compact area, right where the driver's hand falls as he or she grabs the wheel. The five-way buttons feel familiar to anyone who has used a mobile phone or MP3 player.
Like the song? You can tag it
Also new on the 2011 Ford Edge is the world's first use of iTunes® Tagging in an available factory-installed HD Radio™ receiver. iTunes Tagging provides customers with the ability to "capture" a song they hear on the HD Radio receiver for later purchase from iTunes. With a simple push of a "TAG" button on the MyFord touch-screen display, the song information will be stored in the radio's memory.
Once a song is tagged and customers dock their iPod to the SYNC system, the tagged song information will transfer to that iPod. Up to 100 tags on SYNC can be stored until the iPod is connected. When the iPod is then synced to iTunes, a playlist of tagged songs will appear. Customers then can preview, and if they desire, purchase and download tagged songs from the iTunes Store.
One significant benefit of HD Radio technology is that the sound quality of the broadcast is dramatically better because of the digital transmission - FM sounds like a CD and AM sounds like today's FM broadcasts. Unlike analog broadcasts, digital broadcasts aren't susceptible to interference, fadeout and other issues.
2011 Ford Edge brimming with standard and class-exclusive technologies
MyFord driver connect technology headlines the list of 12 class-exclusive standard and available features and technologies for the 2011 Ford Edge, joining SYNC; Easy Fuel® (standard); SecuriCode keyless entry keypad; Blind Spot Mirrors (standard); MyKey™ (standard); AdvanceTrac® with RSC (Roll Stability Control™, standard); Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support; Cross Traffic Alert; and 22-inch wheels and paddle activation on the 2011 Ford Edge Sport.
Here's a closer look at some of the technologies:

Adaptive Cruise Control and Collision Warning with Brake Support allows the driver to set the vehicle's speed and maintain it without using the accelerator pedal, and warns the driver of a potential collision risk. It also helps reduce speed and automatically pre-charges brakes and engages an electronic brake assist system to help drivers stop more quickly when the system detects a collision is imminent.
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS®) with Cross Traffic Alert is a feature that can help detect vehicles in blind spots during normal driving and traffic approaching from the sides when reversing out of parking spots.
MyKey is designed to allow parents to encourage teenagers to drive safely and more fuel efficiently, and increase seat belt usage. The standard MyKey feature allows owners to designate keys that can limit the vehicle's top speed and audio volume.
Easy Fuel Capless Fuel-Filler System is a standard Ford-exclusive feature that uses an integrated spring-loaded flapper door to eliminate the need for a fuel tank screw cap.

"You can jump in the 2011 Ford Edge and bring your technology - your lifestyle - with you and have everything at your fingertips," said Bannon. "The 2011 Ford Edge gives you all the capability and flexibility you want along with great style."
The 2011 Ford Edge will be built at Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario, Canada, and will be available in dealers from the summer of 2010.

Let Your Customers Find Your Website With Search Engine Optimization

2010-08-17T13:56:00.000-07:00

Let Your Customers Find Your Website With Search Engine Optimization

Getting customers' comments and suggestions is essential. Successful businesses take importance to this because it gives them a great opportunity to satisfy their customers and build a long term relationship with them.
You may have heard the phrase before "Customer is King" for if businesses disregard their customers' viewpoints, they will surely lose their existing customer base to other competitors and cause their businesses to flop.
Everything revolves around the internet nowadays and each year, there are more internet users. Wise marketers who saw this trend now focus on attracting new and existing customers to their website. However one of the challenges they faced was how to make their website stand out among the millions of websites on the Internet.
If you allow yourself to think questions such as these, you are on your way to take action on what works best for your website in order to make sure it gets good visitor response and not just wasting your resources.
The power of keywords. Most web browsers allow Internet savvy customers to save the URLs of their favorite web pages.
There are many website addresses available around the world. It is easier to just type out what you are looking for in the search box of search engines which are called "keywords".
Anticipating the keywords they would type in the search box may give you an edge on how to increase the visitors on your website.
This method is known as Search Engine Optimization. It involves various strategies to increase your website visibility among search engines based on the keywords your target customer would type in. Keywords would need to be well-research for each keyword can bring over 50 million results.
Because of the millions of links search engines generate, it is tedious and almost impossible to go through them all in one lifetime. Your goal would be to make your website appear in the top ten spots once a customer does a search. Having your website be among the top three links would be fantastic.
Having your webpage listed outside of the top 10 does not give you great results for your business. Without visitors to your website, there is no sale or business. It also makes your website a waste of space and your money.
You can start a basic technique on web marketing by researching potential keywords your customers would type. If you can get into the mind of the customer, you may have an accurate idea on which keywords to focus on for your website.
Find out how search optimization techniques can do wonders for your business.

Believe it or not, no matter how many times you inform your website link to your customers, they would still use search engines when they want to find your website. It is essential for your business's website to appear conveniently at the first page when they do a search. The worst thing that could happen is that your competitors website appear instead and yours fall into the bottom pages. Prevent this by using search engine optimization.

what abridge

2010-08-17T13:54:00.000-07:00

الكوبرى ده عجبنى اوى
فعلا فنان اللى عمله مش مهندس
اتعلمو يا مهندسين الموقع

Kindle VS Real Books - Will E-Books Replace Real

2010-08-16T16:30:00.001-07:00

Reading e books on Kindle or iPad is the biggest thing since Gutenberg invented the printing press. Or is it? The relatively new phenomena of ebooks and the success of Amazon's Kindle is throwing the world of publishing and reading into a whole new age of controversy and turmoil.

Now, I will admit to being the type of person who may seem a bit backward to some, but technologically knowledgeable to my more neolithic type friends. Like (I suspect) a lot of people, especially Baby Boomers and older folks, I am not a tech head. I do not own a lot of electronic gadgetry, but I am no troglodyte. Instead of plunging into the electro-techno revolution, I pick and choose between convenience and what looks to me like rampant consumerism, attempting to find a middle ground.

Sure, I have a cell phone. And understand something of the Internet, but I am just not ready to jump in feet first and plunk out two hundred bucks on what can be perceived as a new toy. But I do love books and love to read. I decided to share my investigations with you.

Kindle - Several Versions

So, when Amazon released Kindle 1st Generation in 2007, I thought that I would wait awhile before I made up my mind about the whole ebook business. But, when Amazon recently claimed to sell 80% more digital books online than hardback books, I decided to find out more about the whole scene.

Amazon originally introduced the 1st Generation Kindle in 2007 with a 6' display screen that cost nearly $400.00 with a 250 MB internal memory capacity, enabling it to hold 200 titles of non-illustrated books. In 2009, Kindle 2 with its longer battery life, and a thinner body, was able to hold 1500 non illustrated books. you can fit an entire private library in your pocket book!

In May of 2009, Amazon released Kindle DX, which can display landscape or portrait payouts when turned sideways! Holy cow! It is like magic.

Not only that, but the price of Kindle has come down. In order to compete with Barnes and Noble's Nook, Amazon reduced the price of Kindle from $259.00 to $189.00.

The digital text platform of Kindle reduces waste, transportation and delivery costs, and cuts down on cutting down trees. And it's the perfect union of the literary life and the electronic revolution.

For book lovers, new releases and best selling ebooks on Kindle cost about ten dollars. Book buyers will be able to afford more books, but publishers are concerned that the low price will lower their profits.

Another bonus for readers is the Gutenberg Project which offers nearly 20,000 books that have expired copyright in the United States of America - for absolutely free! That comes close to convincing any reader to join the ebook craze.

Imagine - All These Books Compressed Onto Something the Size of a Dress Purse!

(wikimedia commons; photo by Denis Barthel)

Girl Reading - Would the Picture be as Pretty if She Was Reading an E Book?

(wikimedia commons)

Speakng of Gutenberg...

Before Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in 1440, books were hand written. Each book was a work of art, often featuring beautiful illustrations and elaborate calligraphy. In other words, books were real expensive treasures for the wealthy.

People often read books aloud, back then. Let's not forget that the first book that Gutenberg printed was the Bible. Previously, few people actually read the Bible. It was read to them. Scholarly men, clerics, priests, and theologians would read and interpret the bible for everybody else. But the printing press created the ability for anyone who could read to actually read the Bible for themselves. Eventually, the printing press widened the availability of books and, like Kindle, and every other newly introduced technological advance, the prices of books eventually came down.

But, critics worried that people would no longer read aloud and that wonderful experience of sharing books would pass out of fashion. Religious leaders feared that regular people who read the Bible for themselves might come up with their own interpretations of the Bible, producing a whole host of heretics. And, the printing press would put scribes out of work!

Plus, the new books created on a printing press just were not as pretty as the hand made ones. An art form would be lost. And they were right about that.

But the availability of mass made books encouraged a whole new age of education, science, the arts, and religion. It has been called the greatest invention of all time.

Textbooks

As anybody with a kid in college knows, textbooks are hugely expensive. Perhaps ebooks could cut down on the cost and weight of texbooks.

It looks like Apple's iPad may provide the best format for texts. Apples' iPad has a larger color touch screen and integrated WiFi and is better for presenting textbooks with color pictures, diagrams, and charts than Kindle.

Kindle VS Real Books

So, my friends, here are my comparisons between Kindle (or any book on a digital format) and traditional books, the advantages and disadvantages of each:

E-books are great for travel. They a light weight, compact, and easy to carry. You can take several books with you to the beach with no fuss at all. And unlike laptop or cell phone screens, the display screen on a Kindle reduces glare and can be easily read in strong sunlight. However, when the plane takes off and lands, flight attendants will ask you to turn it off.

If you drop your book in the bath tub, down a flight of stairs, or into a vat of boiling molasses, you lose one book. If your Kindle meets with the same fate, there goes $189.00 (or a teensy bit more for the DX version), not to mention the library that you have amassed.

You can't use a stack of Kindle ebooks to hold up a corner of the sofa if one of the legs has broken off.

Regular books do not include a dictionary or keyboard.

You can't cut a hole in an old ebook to hide your stash.

Hitting someone in the head with a Kindle does not pack the same wallop as it does if you bop them with a good old fashioned hard back book.

You can't slip some papers into a Kindle for ease of carrying.

The battery on your traditional book will not crap out just as the hero is dangling off the cliff and you have to send it off somewhere for repair or buy a new battery online before you find out what happens.

You can't use a pile of Kindles to smooth down papers. Well, you could but that would entail purchasing quite a lot of them.

If you become lost in the wilderness with your Kindle, you can't use it as kindling for a fire on a cold night. (But, if you also have a GPS, you can find your way back to civilization)

With a Kindle, you can't switch book jackets to make it look like you are reading something significant and so impress strangers at the dentist's office or on the bus.

Crack pot political groups can burn a pile of Kindles with the same affect as burning a pile of real books.

You can't collect old or rare Kindles.

You can't press flowers with a Kindle.

Kindles do not lend themselves to secretive or clandestine exchanges which could harm espionage.

And there is, of course, the ultimate question - how cozy is it to curl up with a Kindle and a cup of tea on a chilly night? In that case, I guess it depends on what you are reading.

Chocolate Orange Torte Recipe

2010-08-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Flourless chocolate cake is spiked with orange juice and orange liqueur. The addition of the coffee intensifies the flavor of the chocolate. Great for Passover or any special occasion. Plan ahead to refrigerate the torte at least 4 hours or overnight before serving. This is quite rich, so cut the slices thin.

Prep Time: 20 minutesCook Time: 45 minutesTotal Time: 65 minutesIngredients:

Strawberry Sauce:
2 cups fresh strawberries, cut in half, divided use
1/2 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
.
Torte:
3/4 pound margarine, unsalted or pareve
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 Tablespoons orange liqueur
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee, cooled
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/8 cup miniature chocolate chips for garnish, optional

Preparation:Place 1 cup of halved strawberries (retain the rest for garnish) in a ziptop bag. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar and shake to coat. Refrigerate while you make the torte.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9-inch springform pan with parchment paper.

Place margarine, sugar, orange juice, orange liqueur, and coffee in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir until combined and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Add chocolate and stir until completely melted and blended. Let cool.

When chocolate mixture is cool, whisk in the eggs until thoroughly combined. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 35 to 45 minutes until top has a slight crust and center is set.

Let chocolate torte cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

When ready to serve, place sugared strawberries in a blender or food processor and pulse to puree. Pour strawberry sauce over the cake, sprinkle with chocolate chips, and decorate with remaining strawberry halves.

Green screen

2010-08-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

Using the Green Screen Technique

‘The world is but a canvas to the imagination.’

This quote reflects the fact that with a little leap of imagination, you can go to places that never were, do things that were never done and bring your dreams closer to reality. Unfortunately, imagination without the right tool is limited only to remain its creator's fantasy. Whether it is the right brush while you paint, or the right software while editing videos, you need the right tools to do the right things.

The Chroma Key Color Transition in Video Edit Magic is one such tool. Also known as the Green or Blue Screen technique, it can help you create truly startling illusions. You may never have visited the Taj Mahal or the Pyramids of Egypt but with this technique you can at least make it seem that you actually did.

Basically, in this technique a subject is shot in front of a green or blue screen. (Any solid color will work, but these two are the most common.) Video Edit Magic then removes this color from the video clip, and fills in the empty space with the picture from another video clip, or a still picture. A good example is the weather reports shown on television. The video is created by combining a video with an animation. The video shows weatherman standing in front of a green screen while the animation displays maps and graphics. The green background of the video is replaced by the animation.

Things you need

The beauty of this technique is its simplicity. To achieve this effect, all you need are 2 videos or images, a green/blue screen and Video Edit Magic.

Green/ Blue Screen

You can purchase a ready made screen. No matter which color you are using, Green or Blue, care has to be taken that the screen is uniform in color and shade. You can also make an inexpensive screen by using a table cloth or even a wall that is evenly painted and lit. Spend some time to remove dirt, discolorations, folds and wrinkles. Uneven colors in the screen will result in a video with floating objects and blotches.

One cannot conclusively say that the blue color is better than the green color or vice versa. The choice mainly depends upon the subject (the person or object in the foreground video). It is important that the subject contains as little of the screen color as possible whether in their clothing or as part of an object. For example, if the person has blue eyes, choose a green screen. Another handy hint while deciding the color is analyzing the color scheme of the video which will be inserted as the background. For example, if the background you are going to insert contains images of the sea, then use a blue screen. If the background contains an image of a park or trees, use a green screen. This way you can hide and minimize the impact of the edges that appear due to non uniform or unevenly lit screens.

Proper lighting

Once you have decided on the color of the screen, the next step is to shoot the subject standing in front of it. If you are aiming for perfection, make sure that the subject has a well defined outline. There should not be small parts of the clothing or even hair hanging loose as you want a sharp separation from the background. The camera's focus should be on the subject (and not the background), to prevent a blurry effect. Be sure no one's clothing matches the background color—if you're using a blue screen, and a man is wearing a blue tie, in the final movie it will seem that he has a hole right through his chest!

The lighting of your background is very important. It should be evenly lit. If it is too brightly lit, then some light will reflect off the background producing visible circles in the final combined movie. Also, make sure that the subject is not too close to the background screen. This is to avoid shadows, which disturb the uniform color of the background.

Since getting the lighting absolutely right is challenging, the easy thing to do is to shoot outdoors. The Sun is a great light source, as the distribution is even. Just make sure that no shadows fall on the screen.

Applying Chroma Key Color Transition

Now, that you have created your video with the green/blue background, the next step is to use the Chroma Key Color Transition in Video Edit Magic. This transition replaces the green/blue background with another video or image.

Superimposing two videos:

Add the video / image with the blue background to the Video 2 track on the Timeline.
Add the video / image you want to superimpose to the Video 1 track on the Timeline.
Position the Seek Slider so that it coincides with the point on the two videos from which you want the superimposition to begin.
Select the Transitions tab in the Collections window. Right-click on the Chroma Key Color icon and select Add Transition to Timeline.

Configuring Chroma Key Color Properties:

To configure the Transition properties, right-click on the Chroma Key Color Transition in the Transition track of the Timeline and select Transition Settings.
You will see the following window:

Select the color that you want to make transparent. Drag the eye dropper icon from Select Color and move it over the color you want to select. Alternately, you can also select a primary color to be made transparent from the Primary Color array, or specify the RGB values by entering them in the Red, Green and Blue boxes.
It is quite impossible to get an perfectly uniform green or blue color as the background of your videos. It will typically contain varying shades of green or blue. To make more shades of the same color as transparent, you can increase theSimilarity. Keep increasing the Similarity gradually until you get a well-defined superimposed image.
Click on OK.

A final word

The Chroma Key Color Transition can help you bridge the gap between reality and illusion. Not only can you superimpose videos of a person against a backdrop, you can also use it to remove or add objects inside a video. The overall illusions and possibilities offered are so stunning and so vast, that once you are enchanted, you just won’t be able to get over your romance with the Green Screen.

This technique gives you the ability to do the impossible, and most importantly do it with grace. Like with all creative projects, the overall look of the video will largely depend upon your creativity and attention to detail.

Before starting, do a bit of planning and identify what you are trying to achieve. Then let the world be your canvas. After all, imagination takes cues from the real world

How to Get Real at Home Work or Employment

2010-07-31T11:56:00.000-07:00

Want to know how to get at home employment? Are you searching for that at home position but running into scams?

Legitimate home employment does exist. That is what this particular "Hub Page" is about. However it does take work to get to the point where you have at home employment. The information in "How to Get at Home Work Jobs"
Try the temporary employment agencies where you live. Tell them what your skills are. Ask if there is any employment that you can put these to use in telecommuting.
Advertise in the local supermarkets, wherever there is a bulletin board, etc.
Can you do desktop publishing? Put up a web site illustrating what you can do in desktop publishing. You can also ask to local publishers, printers or places like Office Max if they have a need for your skills or could refer you to their customers.
Charities sometimes have at home positions. I, at times, do at home calling for a local charity. A friend of mine makes phone calls for the Salvation Army. This is not a way to get rich but it is at home.
Start your own free web site that advertises for at home work or advertise for at home work through the local bulletin boards at the super markets, etc. ( Give only a disposable email address here or create a contact page. Ask them to give you their address, email, and phone number. If they claim to be a company then you can ask for the company name so you can check them out.)
Check local and major companies on the Internet. See if they advertise anything that can be done by telecommuting. If not, then try submitting a resume anyway with a suggestion or more as to how you telecommuting work can be of benefit to the company.
Check the freelancing boards on the Internet. All you have to do is put in freelancing in the field for which you are qualified or in which you have the skills.
Another way to create at home work or find at home work is to put into the search engine of your choice like, Google, Yahoo, etc. the following: "How to get at home work" I did and got over eleven pages on which to do research.
However a word of warning is needed here! Do not pay for a job! This includes positions that are not at home. The only time you should pay out anything is your own expenses for a computer, Internet or for supplies like if you are going to sell crafts or something like that. Be careful when you do decide to make an investment in your own work. Be careful not to pay out more than what you will make. However when working for someone else stay away from paying fees. That is not necessary. Fees from the worker are often a scam by the respective company that charges the applicant a fee. Prospective workers should not have to pay fees. An example of this is you pay for the envelopes and stamps to the company. Well that is how the company makes their money. So this may be good thing to stay away from: anything that requires fees or payment for supplies to the company that hires.
For more suggestions on how to avoid scams in at home employment or work just put in the search window of your favorite search engine the following: How to avoid scams in at home work and employment. Another search that may aid you in successfully finding at home work is: How to successfully find at home work. Here is another suggestion to put in the search box of your favorite search engine: How to create an at home job or employment. These suggestions in this paragraph should help you avoid some of the pit falls that so many people get into when trying to find work they can do at home.
If you already have a job it is wise to keep it until you successfully find at home work that you can be happy with and can do. Keep in mind there may not be benefits such as health insurance, retirement, etc.
I started my own at home job with Google ad sense and also other affiliates. I also worked for the American Veterans at home. I also write online and design web pages. Since I am retired and get Medicare which I back up with Humana Gold I do not have to worry about health insurance benefits.
To get legitimate at home work takes a lot of research. Think of this research as part of your employment. Take it easy. Keep from doing anything rash. Keep a positive outlook. That does help.

Drawing Fantasy Art: How To Draw A Robot

2010-07-31T11:53:00.000-07:00

First Sketch Of A Robot

Constructing your robot design from circles and cylinders.

Drafting The Robot

Here we try and go for the framework of a robot design, we want to just capture the basics of our robot and we do this as mentioned above sausage and balls circles and cylinders, these create the arms, legs and all the joints, it's only the body that is another shape entirely.
Try drawing your robot design with fatter or thinner circles and cylinders or even larger, this could create a totally different robot design altogether, right now at the drafting stage anything goes!!

Building Up Your Robot Drawing

By adding slight robot designs here you are building a robot the easy way.

Developing The Robot Drawing Further

The further development of your robot becomes easier when you just go with the flow, robots are clunky looking things, but if you follow the steps of using the circles and cylinders you can end up with humanoid looking figures for your robot which looks more better, but really that's not important, it's the structure of your robot design that matters at the very beginning.
I have added a gun on the robots left arm and other design elements that make it look like a robot.

Finalising Your Robot Design

Everything comes together here and you should be happy with your robot!

Fix Your Robot!

Fixing your robot is just a matter of straightening up the legs and the head and a few other bits and pieces, this is the final details of your robot drawing just to try and get it right.
Your drawing however may be slightly different and I encourage you not to draw the way I do, more like take your own ideas and concepts and turn them into something totally original.
Your robot sketch should start to look a little clearer now.

Fully Inked Robot Drawing

Black Ink robot drawing.

Black And White Line Art Robot

Inking a drawing is one of my last steps that I do to cement the line art and the initial concept in a more permanent form, adding black ink doesn't have to be complicated with multiple cross hatching or anything like that, we just need to go over the pencil lines and improve on them if possible.
If you look at the previous robot sketch, there are slight differences to the final version here, just remember that even though this is the final drawing, you could possibly alter it some more if you have a good computer art software package such as photoshop.
Well I hope you enjoy drawing robots!