the unique info

Moustache Masterpieces: 10 Sculpted and Bizarre Facial Hair Styles

2010-05-06T02:41:00.000-07:00

shave or not to shave? With these people there’s no question; the real decision is how to style years worth of facial hair growth into an exotic design that will turn heads and inspire friends to throw away their razors and give a beard or mustache a shot. Some people derive their identity from their facial hair, while others use it as a fashion statement, or groom it for competition. Regardless of the reasoning, unique facial hair designs are rare and interesting. Here are 10 of the most jaw dropping moustache and beard designs.

(Images via neatorama, frunkey, dailymail, cnnas)

The large surface area of a person’s beard allows for intricate and voluminous designs not possible with moustache hair alone. Maintaining a shape requires braiding or heavy duty wax and sprays, but the increasing popularity of the World Beard and Moustache Championships helps motivate hesitant facial hair growers, and helps spur creative new designs.

(Images via brightbytes, outmedia, wadestoneandglassworks)

While facial hair is not socially acceptable on females in Western Society, it’s always been acceptable in the circus. The bearded lady has been a freakshow staple for just as long as the strong man and the sword swallower. Some women push the boundaries of social norms to help broaden societal acceptance of women (and men) who don’t conform to gender stereotypes. Despite changes in public opinion, women with facial hair are still a surprising sight to most.

(Images via adn, toastwife, bitsandpieces)

Moustache sculpting is often difficult because there’s less hair to work with, but mustache wearers are more than willing to tackle adversity and come up with stunning designs. The old fashioned wax moustache has evolved into something much more interesting and varied, as people push the limits of mustache sculpting.

(Images via tawonga, lostateminor, killchrissy, klearlly)

Facial hair envy is a common condition, and people are endlessly creative in hiding their lack of hirsuteness. Fake mustaches aren’t just for Halloween anymore! Slap on some felt or clumps of animal hair, and you can be as cool as the most manly man (or woman). Watch as people stop and stare in wonderment and awe (and envy of their own)!

(Images via zendirtzendust, sodahead, riverfronttimes, dibbledop)

The smooth faced look has become so common, that unique facial hair can become a huge part of one’s identity. There are a slew of famous faces that would be nigh unrecognizable without their iconic styles. From the famous to the infamous, a large bushy beard, or a slim and lengthy moustache can make you memorable long after your time in the limelight.

(Images via sheldon, duenos, theblossoms, mortalonline)

When a moustache doesn’t have enough volume, why not involve your beard as well? It can give your mustache the muscle to really wow the crowd. When letting your beard hang low doesn’t fit with your sophisticated style, it’s time to whip out the styling gel and get shaping!

(Images via listverse, desitwist, watchmojo)

Tiers! If they’re good enough for cakes, they’re good enough for facial hair. Creating an intricate facial hairdo can be managed by careful grooming of the length of your beard and moustache. Fluid curves and curls bring the old fashioned moustache twirl to a whole new level… several levels, actually.

(Images via strangedangers, brisbanetimes)

Few world records require as much perseverance as the title of having the world’s longest beard. Sarwan Singh is the current record holder, with a beard topping out at over 2 meters in length (7 feet). The longest beard ever? It measured over 5 meters in length (17 feet), but its owner is now deceased. If you’d like to tackle this record, I hope you’re patient, as it will take decades to come even close.

(Images via sceneinpa, cchumane)

Even animals like to get in on the fun, as they proudly display their own facial hair. Who could resist a cute kitten with a clearly defined moustache? Without the benefits of styling products, animals aren’t able to get very creative, but mother nature has done it for them – providing lush facial hair with an appeal all its own.

(Images via studentdoctor, egotvonline, grassvalleybrent)

Much like wild beasts clashing horns to achieve dominance, manly men challenge each other each year at the World Beard and Moustache Championships. With giant antlers made of hair, they stare each other down, with length, thickness, and style all taken into account. An elegant moustache or a dominating full beard explosion… which would you choose?

2leep.com

Lack of sleep linked to early death: study

2010-05-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

Wed May 5, 9:44 am ET

LONDON (AFP) – People who get less than six hours sleep per night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, researchers said on Wednesday.

Those who slumbered for less than that amount of time were 12 percent more likely to die early, though researchers also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours and premature death.

"If you sleep little, you can develop diabetes, obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol," Francesco Cappuccio, who led research on the subject at Britain's University of Warwick, told AFP.

The study, conducted with the Federico II University in Naples, Italy, aggregated decade-long studies from around the world involving more than 1.3 million people and found "unequivocal evidence of the direct link" between lack of sleep and premature death.

"We think that the relation between little sleep and illness is due to a series of hormonal and metabolical mechanisms," Cappuccio said.

The findings of the study were published in the Sleep journal.

Cappuccio believes the duration of sleep is a public health issue and should be considered as a behavioural risk factor by doctors.

"Society pushes us to sleep less and less," Cappuccio said, adding that about 20 percent of the population in the United States and Britain sleeps less than five hours.

Sleeping less than six hours is "more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift work"

The study also found a link between sleeping more than nine hours per night and premature death, but Cappuccio said oversleeping is more likely to be an effect of illness, rather than a cause.

"Doctors never ask how much one sleeps, but that could be an indicator that something is wrong," said Cappuccio, who heads the Sleep, Health and Society Programme at the University of Warwick.

Research showed no adverse effects for those sleeping between six and eight hours per day.

World's Richest Moms

2010-05-06T02:17:00.001-07:00

Only 70 mothers in the world have billion-dollar fortunes, and just eight of these built their own.

Margaret C. Whitman, better known as Meg, has had a storied career. A graduate of Princeton and Harvard Business School, she worked at Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG - News) before moving to California with her husband, a neurosurgeon who now works at Stanford Hospital. After successful stints at consulting firm Bain & Co., Disney (NYSE: DIS - News) and Hasbro (NYSE: HAS - News), she joined eBay (NasdaqGS: EBAY - News), then a small tech firm with 30 employees, as chief executive. In 2004 she debuted on Forbes' World's Billionaires List.

It was her own mother, Whitman writes in a book published by Random House this January, titled The Power of Many, who gave her "a bias toward action." In an interview with ForbesWoman earlier this year, Whitman discussed the relationship, explaining that her mother, who eventually learned Mandarin and visited China 80 times, had taught her that "you don't have to be perfect to be a leader, but you can't be timid."

Now that bias is leaning toward the governor's mansion, as Whitman campaigns to replace Republican California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. During her campaign she has highlighted her mother's adventurous spirit in driving Meg and her two siblings from their home in Long Island on camping trips to California. Today she includes her husband and her two sons as influences in her love of the West Coast. They are sporty California residents, according to her campaign website, and as such are reasons she is so dedicated to the economically ailing state. "If we let California fail, we all fail," she says. "And we love California too much to let it fail. We have to work together to make it the place of our dreams again."

For Whitman, motherhood was not a deterrent to her success, but an aid, lending what she now says is inspiration and support during her current political endeavors.

That makes her somewhat unusual. Whitman is one of just 70 billionaire moms in the world, and one of only eight mothers to have created her own billion-dollar fortune. (By contrast, there are 555 self-made billionaires who are fathers). The rest inherited fortunes from fathers or late husbands, including the world's richest woman and mom, Christy Walton, whose husband John, son of the founder of Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT - News), died in 2005 when his private plane crashed in Wyoming.

Some other enterprising moms include Zara's Rosalia Mera, whose two kids apparently watched her make dressing gowns, just before she and her now-ex husband Amancio Ortega launched the Spanish clothing line. The Gap (NYSE: GPS - News)'s Doris Fisher and Benetton's Guiliana Benetton also started clothing companies that went global and made their families among the richest in the world.

Joanne (JK) Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book franchise, has told the story of her difficult days in Edinburgh, Scotland, where she had moved with her first child after a painful divorce to be near her sister. Rowling now has two more children with her current husband. The advance from the manuscript for Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which she wrote in cafes in Edinburgh, paid rent on the meager flat she shared with her first child while they were subsisting on welfare.

Those who inherit opportunity often use it to continue their own ambitious climb. Abigail Johnson, with her father, controls Fidelity Investments. The mutual fund company, the largest in the U.S., was founded by her grandfather. She was promoted to chairman of the board of fixed income and asset allocation funds last year, and is believed by some to be her father's chosen successor. She has raised two children with her husband.

Asia's richest woman, Savitri Jindal, the widowed matriarch of OP Jindal Group, a steel and power conglomerate in India, has nine children, more than any woman on the list. While she is non-executive chairman, her four sons have divvied up the business and each run their own independent units. In the meantime she keeps herself busy with politics, having been re-elected in the assembly elections in her home state of Haryana last year.

But being a billionaire mom--or for that matter, the child of a billionaire mom--isn't always easy.

Liliane Bettencourt, heiress to the L'Oreal cosmetics fortune, and her daughter have reportedly been off speaking terms as a result of Bettencourt's patronage of a younger companion, an artist her daughter alleges accepted more than a billion dollars in gifts from the heiress. The relationship between Bettencourt and her 56-year-old daughter, Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers, is reflected in an unhappy light amid a legal complaint filed by Bettencourt-Meyers, who is dubious of her mother's judgment in spending her wealth. Liliane denies all, but has still been ordered to undergo psychological testing before a July trial.

A similarly unfortunate rift happened when Marilyn Carlson Nelson, chief executive of the Minnesota-based hospitality company Carlson Cos., relieved her son from his role as chief operating officer in 2007. Curtis Nelson, who reportedly used controlled substances and was arrested at least once for drunk driving, was terminated for "explosive," "inconsistent" behavior, derailing the trajectory he may have expected to follow to head the company himself.

The World's Richest Moms

There are 70 billionaire moms in the world, and only eight of those women--including Meg Whitman and J.K. Rowling--earned their own way to vast riches. But none of those self-starters are among the world's 10 richest moms, a group that is dominated by widows and daughters of the very rich.

Christy Walton

L. Matthew Bowler

$22.5 billion

U.S.

55. Widowed, 1 child

Became a billionaire in 2005 when her late husband John, second son of Wal-Mart Stores founder Sam Walton, died when his ultralight aircraft crashed. She is the richest of the Waltons thanks to John's early bet on alternative energy firm First Solar.

Liliane Bettencourt

Francois Durand/Getty Images

$20 billion

France

87. Widowed, 1 child

Makeup heiress inherited fortune from her father, the founder of cosmetic giant L'Oreal. Europe's richest mom is not on speaking terms with her only daughter, Francoise Bettencourt-Meyer. Daughter claims Francoise-Marie Banier, 61, a well-known photographer, writer and painter Liliane befriended, took advantage of her mother, who became a widow in 2007. Last year Bettencourt-Meyers petitioned courts to investigate reported $1.4 billion worth of cash and gifts that her mother allegedly gave Banier. Liliane denies all; has been ordered to undergo psychological testing before a July trial.

Birgit Rausing

Raymond Delalande/Newscom

$13 billion

Sweden

86. Widowed, 3 children

She and her three children inherited packaging giant Tetra Laval after her husband Gad Rausing died in 2000. The firm revolutionized the storing of liquids, such as juices and milk, by developing lightweight packaging that preserves the nutritional value and taste of products. Birgit is retired in Switzerland. Leaves family business to her children, all three of whom sit on board; Jorn, the youngest, also heads company's mergers and acquisitions division.

Savitri Jindal

The Hindu Photo Archives

$12.2 billion

India

60. Widowed, 9 children

Nonexecutive chair of the O.P. Jindal Group, a steel and power conglomerate founded by her late husband, Om Prakash Jindal, in 1952. Took over as group head after he died in a helicopter crash in 2005. In his lifetime the patriarch had handed down operations to their 4 sons, Prithviraj, Sajjan, Ratan and Naveen, who today run independent units. Savitri was re-elected in the assembly elections in Haryana, her home state.

Abigail Johnson

Courtesy of Fidelity Investments

$11.5 billion

U.S.

48. Married, 2 children

With her father she controls Fidelity Investments, America's largest mutual fund company, founded by her grandfather. She earned an MBA at Harvard and joined the family business in 1988. Abby got to run her first diversified fund at age 28. Now she runs personal and workplace investing division; believed by some to be father's chosen successor.

2010-05-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

seorang petani rusia memutuskan untuk melengkapi kandang sapinya dengan ... LED TV.

Ia telah mendapat informasi dari suatu tempat yang sapi mendapatkan lebih bahagia dan produktif jika mereka menonton film dengan ladang hijau segar. Jadi dia punya non-stop loop yang diakui dunia Alpen Swiss hijau ladang dan mendapatkan tvs lcd paling ramping pasar di Rusia dan kemudian disebut tim pekerja untuk menginstal bahwa semua.

Sekarang mereka pergi ke statistik untuk mengukur hasil. Mereka membandingkan hasil dari dua kelompok sapi, satu adalah menonton tv lain ini dirampas kemanusiaan ini hiburan hal yang paling tersebar.

Orang-orang meragukan bahwa salah satu pekerja pertanian bisa membeli jenis seperti tv di rumah mereka, jadi sekarang cerita lucu tua bahwa orang-orang yang benar-benar budak untuk para sapi bisa tampak lebih kredibel.

WEIRD .!!!!, FOUND 3 KG WORMS IN BOY'S ABDOMEN

2010-05-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

Bandung, indonesia,., WEIRD!! .. Found 3 Kg worm in boy's abdomen [FULL PICT + VIDEO] .. Last Day (27/4/10) there was quite a scene bolt at one hospital in Bandung Came a boy aged around 10 years to the Emergency Unit of the Hospital with a complaint could not defecate for four days, Patients with abdominal bloating and looks great ...

Diagnosis of Obstructive ileus as is (Obstruction of the small intestine) Immediately, we prepare a single operation into convulsions only way is by surgery. After anesthesia walk, opened the boy's abdomen, apparently ... ... .... (Go to Pic, watch out for some people who don't resistant)

DON'T LOOK AT THE PICTURE IF YOU DON'T RESISTANCE !!!

Results of Operations: estimated 3 KG-worm type of Ascaris lumbricoides

(Estimated around 500-1000 worms) :mad:

After surgery is completed, the patient's family was summoned.

Once children know about the condition, the father response was "Oh mah've had regular Doc, several times my child given worm medicine, if he defecate, always all the worms out. 've Often had Doc !!!!"..

Gentlemen, I add the explanation .. Diseases Worms / Ascariasis:

Ascariasis is a human disease caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. Perhaps as many as one quarter of the world's people are infected^[1], and ascariasis is particularly prevalent in tropical regions and in areas of poor hygiene. Other species of the genus Ascaris are parasitic and can cause disease in domestic animals.

Infection occurs through ingestion of food contaminated with feces containing Ascaris eggs. Thelarvae hatch, burrow through the intestine, reach the lungs, and finally migrate up the respiratory tract. From there they are then reswallowed and mature in the intestine, growing up to 30 cm (12 in.) in length and anchoring themselves to the intestinal wall.

Infections are usually asymptomatic, especially if the number of worms is small. They may however be accompanied by inflammation, fever, and diarrhea, and serious problems may develop if the worms migrate to other parts of the body.

Signs and symptoms

Patients can remain asymptomatic for very long periods of time. As larval stages travel through the body, they may cause visceral damage,peritonitis and inflammation, enlargement of the liver or spleen, toxicity, and pneumonia. A heavy worm infestation may cause nutritional deficiency; other complications, sometimes fatal, include obstruction of the bowel by a bolus of worms (observed particularly in children) and obstruction of the bile or pancreatic duct. More than 796 Ascaris lumbricoides worms weighing up to 550 g [19 ounces] were recovered at autopsy from a 2-year-old South African girl. The worms had caused torsion and gangrene of the ileum, which was interpreted as the cause of death.^[2]
Ascaris takes most of its nutrients from the partially digested host food in the intestine. There is limited evidence that it can also pierce the intestinal mucous membrane and feed on blood, but this is not its usual source of nutrition.^[3] As a result, Ascaris infection does not produce the anemia associated with some other roundworm infections.^{[citation needed]}
In Canada in 1970, a postgraduate student tainted his roommates' food with Ascaris lumbricoides. Four of the victims became seriously ill; two of these suffered acute respiratory failure.^[4]^[5]
Adult worms (1) live in the lumen of the small intestine. A female may produce approximately 200,000 eggs per day, which are passed with the feces (2). Unfertilized eggs may be ingested but are not infective. Fertile eggs embryonate and become infective after 18 days to several weeks (3), depending on the environmental conditions (optimum: moist, warm, shaded soil). After infective eggs are swallowed (4), the larvae hatch (5), invade the intestinal mucosa, and are carried via the portal, then systemic circulation and/or lymphatics to the lungs . The larvae mature further in the lungs (6) (10 to 14 days), penetrate the alveolar walls, ascend the bronchial tree to the throat, and are swallowed (7). Upon reaching the small intestine, they develop into adult worms (8). Between 2 and 3 months are required from ingestion of the infective eggs to oviposition by the adult female. Adult worms can live 1 to 2 years.
First appearance of eggs in stools is 60–70 days. In larval ascariasis, symptoms occur 4–16 days after infection. The final symptoms are gastrointestinal discomfort, colic and vomiting, fever, and observation of live worms in stools. Some patients may have pulmonary symptoms or neurological disorders during migration of the larvae. However there are generally few or no symptoms. A bolus of worms may obstruct the intestine; migrating larvae may cause pneumonitis and eosinophilia.
The source of transmission is from soil and vegetation on which fecal matter containing eggs has been deposited. Ingestion of infective eggs from soil contaminated with human feces or transmission and contaminated vegetables and water is the primary route of infection. Intimate contact with pets which have been in contact with contaminated soil may result in infection, while pets which are infested themselves by a different type of roundworm can cause infection with that type of worm (Toxocara canis, etc) as occasionally occurs with groomers.
Transmission also comes through municipal recycling of wastewater into crop fields. This is quite common in emerging industrial economies, and poses serious risks for not only local crop sales but also exports of contaminated vegetables. A 1986 outbreak of ascariasis in Italy was traced to irresponsible wastewater recycling used to grow Balkan vegetable exports^[6] .
Transmission from human to human by direct contact is impossible.[7]
The diagnosis is usually incidental when the host passes a worm in the stool or vomit. Stool samples for ova and parasites will demonstrate Ascaris eggs. Larvae may be found in gastric or respiratory secretions in pulmonary disease. Blood counts may demonstrate peripheral eosinophilia. On X-ray, 15–35 cm long filling defects, sometimes with whirled appearance (bolus of worms).

Prevention includes: use of toilet facilities; safe excreta disposal; protection of food from dirt and soil; thorough washing of produce; and hand washing.
Food dropped on the floor should never be eaten without washing or cooking, particularly in endemic areas. Fruits and vegetables should always be washed thoroughly before consumption.

Believe It ..!!!, POWERFUL CREATURES FIGURE IS HERE

2010-05-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

The Strongest Man

The Strongest Eagle

The Strongest mouse

The Strongest Woodpecker

The Strongest Koala

Hehehe...!!!!

http://kaamil-info.blogspot.com/

10 Places You're Guaranteed to Meet Men

2010-05-01T20:13:00.000-07:00

Meeting the opposite sex isn't the easiest feat – especially when you work in femme-heavy fashion – but here's a compilation of some handy and perhaps unexpected tips to cross paths with Mr. Right.

1. Eat Out
Busy, single men don’t have time to cook. This is why they need a girlfriend! Just kidding. However, when they are tired and hungry after work, they dine out at restaurants. So if you want to meet a new man, try a new restaurant at least once a week.

2. Join a Gym
Gyms are places where all body conscious men go to let off some steam. If you meet a man at the gym you can see what he really looks like when he’s all sweaty. If he looks good in gym clothes, he’ll look great in real clothes. People who work out are also much happier (translation: a better partner to be with).

3. Pay Attention To Your Pet
The sun is out and love is in the air. People are outside enjoying the weather. Take the opportunity to give your dog some extra attention and go to the park. If you don’t have a dog, borrow one. Many men think of dogs as soul mates (who else better understands their zest for the simple things in life?) and will often frequent dog runs. If a man sees a woman walking a cute dog, he will most likely start talking to her.

A Guy Dishes: Dating Tips He Learned from His Sisters

4. Fix Things
To me, Home Depot is the worst place in the world. I would rather sit in an icebox and freeze than go to an oversized tool shed. But, guys consider it their inner handyman Mecca. Men love fixing and building things, so Home Depot (or Lowes) stores are always filled with an array of manly men.

5. Start To Love Toys
Men love toys. The bigger the boat and the faster the engine, the more powerful the guy will be. The same way women love fashion shows, guys love toy shows. Car and boat shows are places where single men are like a flock to a shepherd. If you attend a car or boat show, pick up on the finer things in life (um, Ferraris anyone?), while meeting a man to drive it.

6. Wash Your Car
Speaking of cars, most men love their four-wheelers and they like them to appear brand new. It could be a rut (pun intended, but I’ve always dated men who are car freaks and I’ve been taken to car washes much too often. But while I'm there (bored to death), I’ve noticed that they were usually filled with men, and pretty hot ones sometimes. Head to a car wash and remember, your car can never be too shiny.

7. Be Tech-Friendly
True or false? Men are into electronics. All the men I’ve dated (or known for that matter) have proved this statement to be true. Men love technology and are always looking for new phones. If you want to meet a tech-friendly type of guy, frequent a Verizon, Sprint, or AT&T store.

8. Pick Up a Sport
Do you like tennis or golf? Well, start to love them both! Being active will boost your confidence and help you stay fit. Golf courses and tennis clubs are places that men go to with their friends. If you join one, you can better your game and meet new people.

The Best Date Moments in Cinematic History

9. Start Reading
Reading is a great way to escape your day-to-day troubles. Go to a bookstore and kill two birds with one stone – find a book and a brand new man. Some men love to learn and are always looking for reading material. If you’re browsing the same aisle, then you know you have something in common.

10. Get Cultured
Experience a typical New York moment by going to a museum. There are new exhibits opening all the time. If you meet a man at a museum, chances are he is interesting and cultured. You can also brush up on some art history while looking for that prospective boyfriend or husband.

What do you think of the advice above? Any other places our dating expert missed? Let us know in

source: www.yahoo.com

the unique videos and imposible.., hehehe

2010-05-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

What does your sleep position reveal about your personality?

2010-05-01T04:26:00.002-07:00

What does your sleep position reveal about your personality?

by Jessica Ashley, Shine staff, on Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:55pm PDT

These days, the way that I sleep simply says, "I am happy to be single and spending five to seven hours sprawled out in the center of my bed alone."

At other points, my tightly squeezed eyes and curled-up body would have screamed, "I know the baby will wake up/someone will start snoring/the alarm will begin blaring as soon as I finally, finally, finally get to sleep."

Years and years ago, the corpse-looking college student still in her clothes would have mumbled something like, "Finals. Boys. Beer."

Our lives, the amount of sleep we get, and how well we actually rest during those nighttime hours may change drastically over time. However, one sleep researcher says that our body position in bed could say something about who we are, not just what else is happening in our lives.

Professor Chris Idzikowski, director of the Sleep Assessment and Advisory Service, says that a study of 1,000 Brits revealed that the six most common sleeping positions are indicative of personality types.

If this sounds ridiculous (and honestly, I'd love to see information on this study and the analysis fleshed out further than any of the reports I could find), consider that Idzikowski says it comes down to body language.

"We are all aware of our body language when we are awake but this is the first time we have been able to see what our subconscious posture says about us," Idzikowski said. "What's interesting is that the profile behind the posture is often very different from what we would expect."

The research also links certain sleeping positions with health risks. Some aid digestion while others spur on snoring and restlessness.

Here are the six common sleeping positions and correlated personality traits and health implications, according to this study.

[graphic via BBC.com]

Fetus position - A whopping 41% of participants sleep in this curled-up manner. Women are twice as likely to rest like this and it is listed as the most common position. These sleepers are said to have a tough exterior but are still sensitive and may appear to be shy but warm up quickly.

Log position - If you sleep on your side with both arms down, you are a social, easy-going person who is trusting, sometimes to the point of being gullible. The study showed 15% of people sleep like a log.

Yearner position - A close third is the side-lying position with both arms out in front of the body, with 13% of partipants sleeping like this. Yearners are noted to be open-minded and still cynical, suspicious, and stubborn about sticking to decisions once they are made.

Soldier position - These sleepers lie on their backs with arms down and kept close to the body. This 8% study is said to be reserved, quiet, without fuss, and hold themselves and others to a high standard. Soldier sleepers have a higher likelihood for snoring due to the flat-back position, which may not cause them to wake up often but may result in a less restful night's sleep.

Freefall position - Those people who lie on their bellies with arms under or wrapped around a pillow with head turned to the side, make up 7% of the population studied. Freefallers are brash, outgoing, and are very uncomfortable with criticism.

Starfish position - Sleepers who lie on their backs with arms up near their head or the pillow account for 5% of participants. These people are good listeners, helpful, and are uncomfortable being the center of attention. People who sleep in starfish position are more likely to snore and to suffer from a poor night's sleep more often.

If you think you are one of those people who move through all of these positions, that's not likely to really be the case. Idzikowski said the research reveals most people stay in the same position all night and only 5% lay differently night by night. Also interesting is that the study showed only one in ten people cover their bodies entirely with a blanket, with most people exposing an arm, leg, or both feet.

Let's see how the Shine readers are resting these days. No need to get yourself to a sleep lab or set up the video cam to run all night. We'll take your word for it on our own not-so-scientific but still fascinating research.

What position do you sleep in? Use the poll to tell us and the comments to reveal whether the personality traits linked to the way you sleep are right on or really off.

source: yahoo.com

10 Tasty and Healthy Store-Bought Snacks

2010-05-01T04:26:00.001-07:00

Love to snack? Here’s some good news for all you grazers: Savvy nibbling in between meals can actually help youlose weight by keeping you satisfied, so when you sit down to lunch or dinner, you’re less likely to overeat. In fact, plugging your ears to a grumbling tummy will only set you up to overindulge later.

My favorite go-to filler is a small serving of almonds (I like the Starbucks kind, but any kind will do in a pinch.) We know anything that grows is a good bet—crudités or endive or a piece of fruit—but the other kinds of snacks are trickier. With all the bags and boxes of salty, sweet and often fatty temptations on grocery-store shelves, it’s difficult to know which bites are as healthy as they are satisfying.

To munch smartly, bring this list of 10 standout snacks on your next trip to the supermarket. They clock in at less than 200 calories per serving and are low in saturated fat, yet tasty to the extreme!

You’re craving...CRUNCHY!

Food Should Taste Good Tortilla Chips (The Works!)
Garlic, onion and poppy-seasoned chips pack plenty of taste. (140 calories, 6 grams of fat per ounce)
Blue Diamond Almonds Bold Lime ‘n Chili are chock-full of protein and vitamin E as well as citrusy zing and bold spice. (170 calories, 16 g fat per ounce)
Snyder’s of Hanover MultiGrain Pretzel Sticks are satisfying and low-sodium. (120 calories, 2g fat per 7 sticks)
Trader Joe’s Omega Trek Mix boasts pecans, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, cranberries and pumpkin seeds. (150 calories, 10 g fat per 1/4 cup)

You're craving... SALTY!

Trader Joe's 94% Fat Free popcorn has deliciously buttery flavor without the fat. (130 calories, 2 g fat per bag)
Kettle Brand Baked Potato Chips, 65% Less Fat, Lightly Salted dipperstaste like the real thing. (120 calories, 3 g fat per ounce)
Triscuit Rye Crackers with Caraway Seeds are mild enough to go well with anything from peanut butter to hummus, yet tasty enough to chomp on their own. (120 calories, 4.5 g fat per 6 crackers)

You're craving...SWEET

Edy's Light Slow Churned Rich & Creamy Neopolitan ice cream has a deceptively rich texture and three yummy flavors in one container. (100 calories, 3 g fat per 1/2 cup)
Sharon's Sorbet Mixed Berry is among the freshest and fruitiest in the freezer case. (110 calories, 0 g fat)
Dove Silky Smooth Dark Chocolate-Cranberry Almond bar is smooth, decadent and even heart-healthy, thanks to the flavonols it contains. (170 calories, 10 g fat per bar)

Get more nutritious, delicious finds everyday on the Healthy Bites blog at Self.com.

8 Questions for the Constantly Broke

2010-05-01T04:24:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself nervously checking your bank account balance before payday, then perhaps it's time to make some changes. Before swearing off restaurants or cutting up your credit card, ask yourself the following 8 questions, which are designed to help get you back on top of your finances.

Do I know where my money is going? Beyond a quick glance at our credit card statements each month, most of us don't bother tracking how we're spending money. That means we might not realize that our grocery expenses have suddenly skyrocketed, or our utility bills have doubled. Using an online personal financial management tool to automatically track your spending - www.Mint.com and www.Wesabe.com are among the most popular - allows you to figure out where money is going with minimal effort. The programs can also warn you once you get close to your target budget for the month.

Am I focusing too much on the month, instead of the year? Research suggests that people often fall victim to forgetfulness when budgeting by the month. They tend to overlook unexpected and one-time expenses, such as car repairs or gifts, so underestimate how much they'll need to spend. But when people budget by the year, they tend to factor in those costs. Research by University of Southern California's Gulden Ulkumen, Cornell's Manoj Thomas, and New York University's Vicki Morwitz found that college students were about 40 percent off-target when budgeting by the month, but only three percent off base when thinking by the year.

[See Benefits of Budgeting by the Year, Not the Month]

Do I do something everyday that wastes money? It might be a cab ride, lunches, or a six-pack of beer. These types of small, daily expenditures add up, and by the end of month, you could be out $100 or more. (In the case of a $10 lunch on each weekday, that's $200.) Finish Rich author David Bach famously coined the phrase "Latte Factor" to capture this idea. He argues that if you invested the money instead of spending it, you could eventually become a millionaire.

Do I know my own weakness? Almost everyone has one. It might be a golf habit, fancy jeans, or nice dinners. Perhaps it's simply buying more than you need when you're out running errands. Gwyneth Paltrow's budgeting expert for her GOOP newsletter, Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, offers the following advice: Carry a stopwatch with you on shopping trips. She also suggests bringing a loyal friend on shopping trips to remind you not to overspend.

Am I saving too much? This question might sound counter-intuitive - how could anyone be saving too much? But if you're going into debt to fund your lifestyle and you've already cut back wherever possible, then it's time to look at how much money you're funneling into your 401(k). While it always makes sense to take advantage of matching programs from your employer, it doesn't make sense to save additional pre-tax dollars at the expense of a hefty credit card bill that comes with a 10 percent or higher interest rate.

Is my relationship hurting my bank account? Even if you're on top of your own finances, your bank account won't reflect it unless your significant other is also on board. If you share credit, in the form of credit cards, auto loans, or a mortgage, then any late payment from your partner can also ding your own credit report. Marriage can intertwine your financial lives even further. Before tying the knot, be sure to review each other's credit histories, talk about whether you prefer joint or separate accounts, and make sure you are familiar with each other's long term financial goals. Couples also often get tripped up when it comes to handling money requests from needy family members. Make sure you're on the same page to prevent tension later.

[See 6 Money Talks to Have Before You Marry]

Are the big items dragging me down? According to Elisabeth Leamy, Good Morning America's consumer correspondent and author of Save Big: Cut Your Top 5 Costs and Save Thousands!, it's the big items, not the small ones, that hurt people's finances the most. She suggests focusing on minimizing your mortgage, car, health, debt, and grocery payments. Buying a used car instead of a new one, for example, can save drivers tens of thousands of dollars. Plus, she says, since "cars these days are really well built, the risk is lower than it used to be."

Am I wasting money by carrying debt? If you're paying down a $10,000 credit card bill with a 15 percent interest rate, then you're paying about $1,500 a year to carry that debt. If you're paying off a $10,000 car loan at 6 percent, then you're wasting $600 a year on interest. If you can find the extra cash, consider paying off those loans so you can stop throwing money away on debt payments.

Get more tips at www.usnews.com/alpha.

Dating Tips: 9 Ways to Make Your Relationship Last

2010-05-01T04:23:00.000-07:00

As a divorce attorney, I pride myself on having saved some marriages during my 25 years in practice. I would very much like to see people work things out, if they can. I have come to realize that if couples try one or more of the following 9 suggestions, they may be able to keep their relationship from hitting the rocks in the first place.

1. Delineate "yours," "mine," and "ours." If you have finances that should be placed in each of these three categories (for example, you have an inheritance and he has a savings account he accumulated before the marriage, and you also have a checking account to which you both contribute), have an upfront conversation about those assets and what belongs to whom. Moreover, talk about your time away from "together" activities, like he wants to bowl with the guys on Tuesday nights and you want to attend your yoga class on Wednesday. Respect these important delineations. Doing so will make the relationship stronger.

2. Carve out time to be together. Sure, you're busy working and attending meetings, but how important are those things if your relationship falls apart? Make time to do things together that you both enjoy. This could be anything from grocery shopping to taking in a movie. Take regular vacations together -- at least a couple of long weekends and, better yet, a couple of long vacations (more than a weekend jaunt). Commit to a weekly date night and make it as unbreakable as that all-important staff meeting at work.

3. Take care of yourself. Spend time every day on your appearance and your physical well-being. Work out regularly, eat healthy, and stay fit. Not only will your partner like looking at you, but you'll feel better about yourself.

4. Make sure communication goes both ways. Many relationships fail because of misunderstandings. Effective communication skills are necessary if your relationship is going to survive. If there is a hint or vibe that your partner is disconnected or you are unhappy about something, do not ignore those signals or feelings. Approach your mate and suggest an open discussion. You may be frustrated, angry, or hurt and so may he or she, but always stay calm and reasonable. Your goal should be to resolve differences, and the only viable way of doing so is through open and direct communication.

5. Criticize gently. Don't judge too harshly. If you criticize, do so in the same way you would want others to criticize you. Be kind and considerate.

6. Never stop courting one another. Gifts, compliments, and a loving embrace go a long way, especially when they are a surprise. Send unexpected greeting cards, slap a Post-It note where you know your mate will find it, keep those flowers coming in a "just because" way. Treat your partner with the same courtesies you did when you were dating. A terrific mindset is to pretend you are trying to win your partner all over again.

7. Keep the flame burning. Keep your romance alive despite the chaos and craziness life can present from living in the midst of sheer reality. Resolve to offer up romantic suggestions for your partner's pleasure, even if only occasionally, like cooking her favorite meal when you know she's had an impossible day, or entice him into a bubble bath with you just for the fun of it. Little gestures like these from time to time can ensure that the flame you once had burns forever.

8. Spell out your terms of endearment. Call out the expectations for one another in the form of the "terms" of your relationship together. Put them in a contract, if you like. This contract will simply clarify and document those needs and wants that mean a lot to you. For example, though he typically runs late, your agreement might specify those times when he agrees not to be late; she may agree to keep her spending at a certain limit, though she typically has little restraint as she traipses through the mall. Discussing these boundaries, as well as your needs and wants, can prevent either of you from stepping over the line and causing irritation. It is often the disappointments (needs and wants, gone unexpressed) that bring down a relationship.

9. Renegotiate your contract. Your relationship will evolve, and your needs and wants will change right along with it. Once a year, it's a good idea to review, update, or revise your contract with each other -- whether it is verbal or written. Be mindful, however, not to allow such a "contract" to ruin your relationship.

Read more articles from Hitched at hitchedmag.com.

Got a video game goldmine in your garage?

2010-05-01T04:20:00.000-07:00

Could you be sitting on a $40,000 windfall? Fueled by a surge in interest from collectors, a string of high-profile, high-dollar sales of collectible video games have been making headlines -- but how can you tell if the long-forgotten stash of gaming treasure you found in your garage is going to make you rich?
First things first: if you bought it in a regular store -- and all your friends bought one too -- it's probably not worth anything. Although some games (and, to a lesser extent, consoles) are indeed worth many thousands of dollars, the vast majority are widely produced consumer items, and that means they're unlikely to be hard for collectors to find.
Find this Nintendo cartridge in your attic, and you're sitting pretty.
Take the comparatively esoteric Mattel Intellivision, an early competitor to the Atari 2600. Although it released over 30 years ago, worldwide sales were over 3 million, and today it simply isn't worth all that much. You might be able to squeeze $50 out of one if it's in nice condition and includes some desirable games. That's not a whole lot of money, considering it's about as close as the video game world gets to a genuine antique.
Even trendier, higher-demand machines like the original NES fetch comparable money, although if you have some desirable blast-from-the-past accessories you'll do better. Unusual versions of popular consoles can be worth substantially more than regular ones, though: a top-loading NES commands a premium over the more common front-loading variant, pushing prices up closer to the $100 mark.
Sounds kinda paltry next to $40,000, no? It's the games themselves where most of the real money is. But if you're sitting on a stack of games that are (or were) popular, critically acclaimed, or top-selling, forget it. You could probably pick up a lot of every Mario game released on the NES for less than $60 or so. But there's a thriving trade in older, more obscure games, especially for the NES, which is where you'll find most of the real highly sought after rarities.
How about more modern gear? Being newer, and consequentially more plentiful and less collectible, anything made within the last 10 or 15 years is unlikely to be worth anywhere near as much as you paid for it (with the notable exception of a handful of collectible specials, like Uncharted 2: Fortune Hunter Edition, which is worth well over a grand). In general, anything bearing the words "Playstation" or "Xbox" should go back in the attic for another decade or two.
So what is going to open the door to early retirement -- or at least foot the bill for a nice meal?
Obscure peripherals
Nintendo power glove
Collectors have an insatiable appetite for failure. It stands to reason: success leads to popularity, popularity leads to high sales, which leads to the dark side. No, wait, it leads to low used prices. Conversely, unpopular hardware has lower supply and consequently fetches higher prices. In short, if you played with it twice, decided it was a waste of money and stashed it away in the attic, it could be worth big bucks --and the more terrible and useless it is, the better. If you were so horrified that you never even opened the box, that's best of all.
Remember the Nintendo Power Glove? What a piece of junk that was -- but today, in good condition, it's worth upwards of $50. Well-kept examples of Nintendo's even more terrible Virtual Boy are also worth significant cash. Even third-party peripherals, like Konami's head-mounted lightgun, the Laserscope, can yield prices out of all proportion to their, you know, quality.
Obscure games
It's big-ticket games like Stadium Events and Atari Air Raid -- both of which fetched auction prices in excess of $30,000 in recent months -- that make the headlines. Unfortunately, you're extraordinarily unlikely to find any of them. Most seriously high-priced collector games were produced in vanishingly small quantities, and many were never available at regular game stores at all.
But they're out there, says top game collector JJ Hendricks. "26 Nintendo World Championship Gold cartridges were made and only 13 have been accounted for," he told us. "That means there are 13 still in the wild."
Air Raid
Fortunately, there's an easy way to determine the price a particular game is currently fetching. Hendricks keeps track of the average selling price of a bewildering number of old games at his website, and there's no better place to get an impression of the value of that box of old NES games you've been hoarding.
Just be careful: it's not necessarily as simple as looking up the game's name. Sometimes, games that were released in unusually colored cases are worth considerably more than their regular counterpart: the rare gold-colored version of NES bestseller Punch Out is worth north of $400, for example, compared to just $10 or $15 for the regular release. But color is by no means a guarantee -- the gold version of the original Legend of Zelda isn't worth much of anything, other than really good times.
And even if you don't happen to be sitting on your own goldmine, you might be able to snag someone else's. "Go to garage sales and pawn shops and thrift stores to look for games," JJ suggests. "I've heard many stories of people finding games worth a couple hundred dollars, and even one person who found a game worth $20K by rummaging through games at places like these."
Obscure...junk!
Would you believe a box of 20-year-old Nintendo cereal recently sold for over $200? Random consumables branded with game-related imagery can often be worth surprising amounts of money to the right buyer -- and here's one area where better-known characters are likely to command better prices. Think Mario or Donkey Kong, rather than, say, fellow NES star Kid Icarus. Still, there's such a wide variety of licensed spin-off consumer products out there, you might just want to throw it on eBay and see what happens.
Navigating the eBay minefield
And when it does come to making a sale, make sure you do everything you can to stack the odds in your favor. Hendricks passed on his top tips for a smooth -- and, most importantly, profitable -- auction experience.
-- "Take lots of high-quality pictures of the game, game box, and manual, if you have them. Collectors want to see the condition of the item before they'll pay big bucks. Take a picture of the game being played on a TV if you can, a picture of the game next to a note showing the date and your eBay name (so people know you didn't copy the pictures from somewhere else), take pictures of every side of the game. The better the pictures, the better the chances you'll get bidders."
-- "Start the bidding off low. $0.99 is always good. If you have something that is valuable the item will get bid up to a higher price really quickly, but starting the auction at a high price will discourage people from placing any bids."
-- "Write a good description. You don't need to write an essay, but make sure people know what you have, its condition, and any shipping or payment terms you might have."
-- "Answer people's questions. No matter how good your description is, you will probably get questions from people asking for more details. You don't want to ignore any questions, because they probably won't bid unless you answer."
source : www.yahoo.com

10 Reasons Guys Aren't Approaching You

2010-05-01T04:18:00.001-07:00

Recently, at a wedding, I witnessed a dance floor scene with a friend who is an ecologist. In the middle of this dance floor, a girl approached a guy in a pretty provocative way, all the while looking him in the eye.

My ecologist friend, in his Darwinian mindset, jokingly exclaimed: Oh wow, she's presenting!

You don't have to emulate an Animal Planet mating documentary to get a guy approach you when you're out, but body language is important. You have to give a guy an opening, and make yourself available.

I want my approach to appear to be well-timed, and I don't like it when I feel like I'm interrupting. Sometimes the situation lends itself to an approach: there's something extraordinary to talk about, or we just bump into each other. Pay attention to your actions when you're out. If you want guys to approach you, are you making it easy on them-are you available ?

Some girls might want the guy to work as part of the approach; but, for every one of you that make it tough for a guy to approach, there are women who make it easier to approach that a guy might go for instead.

Here are a few things women do, that prevent guys from approaching them:

1. You're Surrounded by Lots (I mean LOTS) of Friends

When girls are in a group, I know that I'm going to be evaluated as soon as I walk away. It's tough enough to walk up to one girl, let alone a group.

2. You're Too Hot

If she's super hot, sometimes I assume I have no chance or I'm just plain intimidated. Most guys will give it the old college try though. This, by the way, is the best reason for your ego why guys aren't approaching: "I'm just so hot I'm intimidating."

3. Getting Too Tipsy

One night, we were out and a girl intermittently stood up on the seat of her booth and did stripper-type dances. The guys in the bar looked, but never approached. It's tough to approach a whirling dervish and no one could take her seriously. And sometimes the "too drunk" girl gets approached by guys who are interested in one thing only.

4. Looking Sloppy

I don't usually approach girls who don't look stylish and put together. Now, if you want to keep guys away from you, doing the celeb in public homeless look might be a good strategy.

5. Downer Demeanor

Smiling and eye contact is inviting, while anger, and looking like you're too good for everyone drives people away. Try to give off positive vibes, and more people will approach.

6. You're With Another Guy In Any Capacity

You appear to be taken if you arrive with guys, or meet guys while you're out. Guys have no way of knowing if you're with a guy. Some guys might ask, but some might just move on to someone who looks more available.

7. You have a Ring

Now I'll admit that I'm clueless, even for a guy. I'm not sure about the wedding ring/engagement rules: which hand/finger gets the ring? I know one has a big diamond, and one looks like a simple ring. But unmarried women wear all sorts of rings. Your ring that looks like a wedding ring might be keeping guys away (or maybe stupid guys like me, which is probably a good thing).

8. You seem Busy

It's easier to approach a girl who looks bored, like she wants someone to talk to. In a caf , if she's reading a book, or has her face in her laptop, I assume she's busy and doesn't want to deal with my stupid pick up attempt. In a bar, if she seems content doing whatever she's doing, I won't want to interrupt.

9. You're Literally Tough To Catch

I've devised strategic plans to make a move, waiting for a girl to go to the bar, or bathroom. But when she finally gets up she walks too fast, or takes bodyguards (tons of friends) with her. Bottom line, some women just don't give that opening physically for the approach. Remember, your migratory patterns might be exactly what that guy is waiting for, so be on the lookout when you're on the move.

10. You're a Wall Flower

If you're in the corner all night, or buried behind chairs and tables, you not only cut yourself off from the rest of the world, but some guys don't want to slalom obstacles to get to you. If you want guys to approach you, you might want to move or try out some other spots.

Do you agree with my list above? What actions do you think deter guys from approaching you? What actions make a guy tough to approach?

Follow me on Twitter: twitter.com/richravens

7 Spring Fixes to Boost Your Home's Value

2010-04-29T06:06:00.000-07:00

At this time of year, many people dive into their spring cleaning. But this is also the perfect time to tackle home improvements tasks you put off during the cold winter weather. There are lots of relatively simple and affordable things you can do to give your home a spring facelift. Your house will look better and your family will feel happier in it. As a bonus, you will also boost your home's value at the same time.

Add the Perfect Touch with Paint

"A fresh coat of light pain on the interior walls can work wonders," says Kelly O'Ryan of Coldwell Banker in Lexington, Massachusetts. "Paint will always clean up dirty walls and give a room a better image."

Although dark colors can be stylish, O'Ryan advises going for lighter shades to brighten things up in warmer seasons. Karol Nickell, editor-in-chief of Fresh Home magazine, offers this advice: "Smart color selections can make a small or cramped room appear dramatically larger. In the foyer, make a good first impression with similar tones mixed at different strengths. In the living room, a bold color paired with a white ceiling makes the room seem taller than it really is."

2. Focus on the Flooring

Good, well-maintained flooring can set a positive tone for the entire interior of your home. Take proactive steps to protect your biggest investment.

"Like paint, flooring can help create an impression of spaciousness and airiness," Nickell says. "Whether it's a floating laminate floor, tile or a natural 'green' alternative, lighter-tone flooring can make formerly drab areas appear modern and streamlined."

3. Lighten Up the Accents

"Spring is a great time to change your window treatments and area rugs," O'Ryan says. "Once again, dark colors are associated with winter months; a lighter airy curtain will give any room a brighter and more pleasant appearance. If your floors are in great shape, you may want to remove the area rug(s) and leave the floors bare. Eliminating the rugs will open up the room and make it appear larger."

4. Update the Windows

Old windows aren't just ugly - they can also let your heat and air conditioning escape, costing you big bucks.

"While window treatments are typically a focus in many home makeovers, the actual windows themselves are often overlooked," says Victor Gonzales Maertens, an energy efficiency expert with Lennox Industries. "However, upgrading old single-pane windows with new ENERGY STAR-qualified windows can save an average of between $126 and $465 per year on energy bills, and some new windows qualify for the federal tax credit."

5. Weed Out Bad Landscaping

Neglected bushes and overgrown lawns can kill a home's curb appeal. Don't worry - you don't need a green thumb to spruce up your yard. Going green doesn't have to damage your finances.

"Clean up the site by removing any dead or dying plants, branches and flowers," suggest Jennifer Hoxsie, landscape designer with Greenhaven Landscapes in Lake Bluff, Illinois. "Prune overgrown shrubs along the home's foundation so they are below the window sills and off walkways and driveways. Fill empty holes with site-appropriate plants. Have all the planting beds weeded, edged and mulched for a clean, crisp look. Finally, weed and fertilize the lawn and provide supplemental watering if necessary to maintain a lush green carpet."

6. Add Decorative Touches to the Yard

We're not talking about plastic pink flamingos or creepy garden gnomes. Taylor Graves, representing CertainTeed building products, says, "Adding benches, stepping stones, fountains or other garden accents could go a long way in making your outdoors a visually appealing and welcoming environment."

7. A Few Final Exterior Touches

While you're outside, there are a few other quick moves that can make a big difference. (If you only have $1,000 to spend, what can you do that will get you the most bang for your buck?

"Add color with paint to outdoor features such as window frames, decorative beams and porches," says Kurt Gleeson, national vice president of sales for RealEstate.com. Stick with calm colors that complement the home's exterior color scheme, avoiding shocking shades and drastic contrasts.

"Clean external brickwork or concrete slabs with a liquid masonry cleaner to make them look new and neat. Power washing can give external stonework, walkways and front stoops a quick makeover."

Spruce Things Up

By investing a few bucks and some elbow grease, you can boost your home's image - and value - quickly this spring

source: http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-109373-4962-2-7-spring-fixes-to-boost-your-homes-value?ywaad=ad0035

it's animal ways angry to you

2010-04-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

some unique pictures of obese women

2010-04-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

5 world's fastest train

2010-04-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

1. Shinkansen - Japan.
300 km/jam (186 mph), top speed 581 km/jam (361 mph)

Japan with its technology has been able to realize the gifts of high-speed railway system that covers the entire country. Shinkansen, also known as bullet train, the train is one super fast, super safe (because, 40 years of operation without an accident that means) and super comfortable. In 2003, three JR-Maglev train carriages have been able to achieve speeds of 581 km / h (361 mph) on a magnetic track-tech Magnetic Levitation.

2.TGV. France.
320 km/jam (199 mph) top speed 574.8 km/jam (357.2 mph).

TGV is the best selling products from France, almost the same as the Eiffel tower and Baguettes icon. This speeds the train service was originally developed in the 1970s and opened to the public in 1981. At this time reaching 150 cities and towns in France and several foreign cities located in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Italy and Switzerland.

Among the kinds and types of TGV, which is the most high-speed TGV Réseau Duplex and TGV, which is speed around 320 km / h (199 mph). In 2007, which is the operator SNCF and Alstom TGV TGV which is the Builder, has conducted a series of experiments. Official speed record held on April 3, 2007, when it reaches top speed TGV 574.8 km / h (159.6 m / s, 357.2 mph). This is the fastest conventional trains that use metal wheels on metal rails.

3. Shanghai Maglev Train. china
250 km/hours (160 mph), top speed 431 km/hours (268 mph)

("Shanghai Magnetic Levitation Demonstration Operation Line") is a magnetic levitation train (maglev) line near Shanghai, China. It is notable for being the first commercial high-speed maglev line in the world—during a test run on November 12, 2003, a Maglev vehicle achieved a Chinese record speed of 501 km/h (311 mph). The journey was designed to connect Shanghai Pudong International Airport quickly to the outskirts of central Shanghai where passengers could interchange for their final destinations in the city centre. Construction of the line began in March 2001 and public service commenced on January 1, 2004.
4. CRH. China.
350 km/jam (217 mph), top speed 394.3 km/jam (245 mph)

China Railway High-Speed, is the designation for high-speed trains running on this rail system. At the beginning of the run, all trains were marked "CRH" on the central of the head vehicle and the side of the walls of each vehicle. Soon however, it was changed to the Chinese characters on all of the train. CRH1/2/5 are expected to have a maximum speed over 200 km/h.^{[citation needed]} CRH3 has a normal operating speed of 350 kilometres per hour (220 mph).^[1] and the next generation of CRH2 is in development. CRH was a major part of the sixth national railway speedup which was implemented on April 18, 2007. However, not all high-speed trains in China are named CRH. Each train is formed of eight coaches with a capacity of between 588 to 668 people, depending on the formation of the train. CRH1 are built by a joint venture, Bombardier Sifang Power Transportation in Qingdao, Shandong Province. China Northern Locomotive and Rolling Stock Industry (CNR), China, is supplying 60 CRH5 200 km/h eight-car trains based on Alstom technology. These trains are designed to meet UIC and EN international standards and each vehicle utilises a high-strength aluminium alloy bodyshell weighing just 8.5 tonnes.

5. AVE. Spain.
300 km/jam (186 mph)

AVE, yang berarti Spanish High Speed (Alta Velocidad Española),

the beauty of a nuclear bomb from a distance

2010-04-28T08:40:00.000-07:00

America's Most Stressful Jobs 2010

2010-04-27T04:51:00.000-07:00

With unemployment high, many people with jobs are grateful to get their weekly paychecks, but that feeling alone doesn't take the stress out of the daily grind.

To get a sense of the most stressful jobs in America, CareerCast.com looked at 21 different factors that can cause stress on the job, and ranked 200 professions by how significantly these demands factor into the average workday. Factors that weighed into stress levels included work environment, job competitiveness, opportunity for advancement and even perceived risk of unemployment.

CareerCast has also included a range of unemployment each profession faces around the country, a number which contributes to perceived risk of unemployment.

Here are the most stressful jobs in America:

1. Firefighter

Stress Rank: 200
Stress Score: 110.936
Unemployment: 0%-4%
Hours Per Day: 11
Time Pressure: Very High
Competition: Low

"Firefighters frequently work irregular or unusual hours, or remain on call throughout the night. They risk heat exhaustion, smoke inhalation, and serious injury while on the job, and even the state of anticipation preceding a major threat can be highly stressful in itself. Firefighters are also sometimes required to spend long hours outdoors in bad weather," says CareerCast.com.

2. Corporate Executive

Stress Rank: 199
Stress Score: 108.625
Unemployment: 0%-4%
Hours Per Day: 11
Time Pressure: High
Competition: High

"This highly competitive field requires detailed knowledge of the financial community, economic trends as well as technological developments and implications. Senior executives are expected to excel in many different fields at once, and face daily pressure to make far-reaching decisions that can affect numerous employees and their company’s bottom line," says CareerCast.com.

3. Taxi Driver

Stress Rank: 198
Stress Score: 100.491
Unemployment: 14%+
Hours Per Day: 9.5
Time Pressure: Moderate
Competition: Moderate

"Taxi drivers generally work erratic hours, including late nights and weekends. High speed driving in traffic, especially in major cities, is quite dangerous, and they frequently drive in bad weather conditions as well. In addition, taxi drivers are confined to their vehicle all day with a supply of cash, making them vulnerable to criminals," says CareerCast.com.

4. Surgeon

Stress Rank: 197
Stress Score: 99.463
Unemployment: 0%-4%
Hours Per Day: 11
Time Pressure: Moderate
Competition: High

"Surgeons can be required to work at odd hours, and many operations take hours to complete. Operating calls for extreme precision and attention to detail, and can require quick decision making with life or death consequences. In addition, rising malpractice insurance costs are a major cause of stress for many surgeons," says CareerCast.com.

5. Police Officer

Stress Rank: 196
Stress Score: 93.893
Unemployment: 0%-4%
Hours Per Day: 9.5
Time Pressure: Moderate
Competition: Low

"Police officers face potentially life-threatening situations daily. Shifts can be long and strenuous, especially in emergencies, and work requires both physical and emotional strength.

Other possible stress factors include interacting with the public and providing medical attention to injured parties," says CareerCast.com.

5 Biggest Allergy Myths

2010-04-27T01:48:00.000-07:00

1. Myth: The cleaner, the better.

Fact: As we mentioned, a little dirt and germs help build up your immune system, so you don't have to endlessly dust and bleach. But experts do say that you should follow some basic guidelines. For starters, try to vacuum once or twice a week with a model that has a HEPA filter; this will trap pollen particles and other irritants instead of sending them back into the room through the exhaust. (Using a double bag-available for most vacuums-also works well.)

To reduce other irritants that tend to hang in the air, equip your furnace with a heavy-duty filter (look for ones with a rating between MERV 8 and MERV 11) and change it at least every 2 months, advises Stanley Fineman, MD, an allergist with Atlanta Allergy & Asthma Clinic in Georgia. If you can, keep your windows closed to cut down on pollen coming in, and leave your shoes at the door to avoid tracking allergens through your house. Wash your bedding once a week in hot water (130°F), and use allergen-proof encasings that zip around your mattress, box spring and pillows, advises Anne Miranowski, MD, a pediatric allergist in Fairfax, Virginia. Showering at the end of the day will also help cut down on the pollen particles that you bring into bed with you.

2. Myth: You don't need to take medication until your symptoms flare up.

Fact: Most allergy meds work best if you start them before symptoms kick in. "You want to have them in your system when you're first exposed," says Richard Honsinger, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. When you come in contact with an allergen like pollen, grasses or weeds, the cells in your respiratory tract release histamine and other chemicals like leukotrienes, which cause the itching, sneezing and other symptoms. If you already have a drug in your body when you're first exposed, you'll prevent histamine (or leukotriene) from triggering an allergic reaction. If you know you get sneezy and wheezy at the same time every year, consider taking meds a week or two before pollen season starts.

If what you're doing isn't helping your symptoms and you can't pinpoint the cause, ask your doctor about seeing an allergist and getting tested. Also, if you repeatedly get sinus or other respiratory infections, finding out your specific triggers can help you avoid them.

3. Myth: Allergy shots are only for kids.

Fact: They can work at any age. In fact, research shows that allergy shots reduce symptoms in about 85 percent of people who have hay fever. Typically, the shots (a.k.a. immunotherapy) are a blend of small amounts of various allergens that you react to. The theory is that by exposing yourself to them gradually, you'll build up tolerance and decrease your sensitivity so that when you come across the allergen naturally, you won't react, explains Dr. Miranowski. Often, in the initial phase, you'll get shots once or twice a week with increasing doses of allergens for 6 or more months. Next is the maintenance phase (shots every 2 to 4 weeks for the next few years). Can't stand needles? Ask your allergist about sublingual immunotherapy, in which drops are placed under your tongue daily. "It's probably not as effective as the shots and insurance doesn't always pay for it, but it's convenient," Dr. Horne says.

4. Myth: If you didn't have allergies as a kid, you won't as an adult.

Fact: This misconception often stands in the way of adults figuring out that their itchy throat and sneezing isn't a cold. While the vast majority of allergies develop before age 30, "it's very common for people to get them later in life," says Dr. Honsinger. "Plus, some young people's allergies go away but then they crop up again later." If you had eczema (atopic dermatitis) as a child or if allergies or asthma run in your family, you're on notice: You could develop an allergy to anything, anytime. If you've never had allergies but are now a sneezy, drippy mess, here are some clues it's probably not a cold: Your nose, eyes and throat are itchy; your nasal discharge is clear and thin; and your symptoms have lasted more than 2 weeks.

5. Myth: An allergy to one thing means you'll react only to that thing.

Fact: Having certain allergies makes you more prone to developing others. For example, people who are sensitive to certain pollens can also react to plant-based foods and beverages with similar proteins. So if you're allergic to birch tree pollen, eating raw apples, peaches, pears, cherries, carrots, hazelnuts or almonds could cause itching in your mouth or throat, particularly during pollen season. Similarly, if you're allergic to ragweed, having cantaloupe, bananas, cucumber, zucchini, sunflower seeds or chamomile tea could trigger these symptoms. Not everyone will have this kind of crossreaction, so there's no need to go out of your way to avoid these foods if you haven't had a problem before, but keep it in mind. Peeling the fruit or vegetable (proteins are often in the skin) or cooking it (which can change the proteins) can also help.

5 Money Mistakes You Might Be Making (and How to Avoid Them)

2010-04-27T01:47:00.000-07:00

If you could have more money in your checking account, you'd definitely take it, right? It probably comes as no shocker to you that it's really easy to let your funds slip away. But what you might find surprising is how simple it can be to turn things around for the better. Here are 5 common money mistakes with doable solutions.

Money Mistake #1: My Money Is Disappearing

No one starts the month planning to fritter away a small fortune, but that’s what can happen when minor expenses spiral out of control. It’s not just shopping at Saks that gets you into trouble. Seemingly innocent purchases — $15 jeans at Target, a few things for the kids at a two-for-one sale, the occasional Frappuccino — can do real damage to your bottom line.

What does it take to waste $10,000 a year? Just $27.40 a day. “You can undermine some of your most important goals with purchases you’ll never remember,” says Suzanna de Baca, president of Private Capital Solutions Group, a Des Moines, IA, investment advisory firm.

The fix: Know thyself financially. First step: Take five minutes and read through your latest bank statement. If the transactions seem unrecognizable and you have no idea why you went to the ATM a dozen times, spend a week tracking your spending (longer, if possible).

You can use a notebook, keep receipts in an envelope, try software like Quicken, or check out an online budgeting tool, like these two money sites we tested. Whichever you choose, find a money-tracking method that lets you see your purchasing patterns with fresh eyes.

Tip: Simple Ways to Save on Groceries

Money Mistake #2: I Throw Away Cash

Who would pass up free money? Maybe you, if you make only the minimum contribution to your employer’s 401(k) savings plan — or opt out of the plan on the grounds that money is tight. According to the 2008 Wachovia Retirement Survey, only about a quarter of women with 401(k)s contribute the maximum allowed. Puny 401(k) contributions mean you aren’t taking full advantage of any free matching funds your company offers. Says De Baca: “If your boss offered to add $25 to your weekly paycheck, would you turn it down? Of course not.” Most employers match all or part of the first 3 to 6 percent of pay employees contribute.

That might not sound like much, but take a look at the math: Assume your company will kick in 50 cents for every dollar you put in, up to 5 percent of your salary. If you’re 40 and making $40,000 but decide not to fund your 401(k), you could be giving up almost $230,000 over 25 years.

The fix: If money is so tight you can’t imagine saving two bucks, start small. You don’t have to put in the maximum $15,500 annual contribution ($20,500 if you’re 50 or older). Instead, increase your contribution by 1 percent of pay a year, until you get the full match. One painless way to save: When you get your next raise, use all or part of it to bump up your 401(k) contribution.

If your employer doesn’t offer a match, that doesn’t mean you should skip making contributions. Remember, a 401(k) lets you put away money tax-deferred. This doesn’t just lower your current tax rate; your earnings can really grow, because Uncle Sam isn’t taking a bite out of them.

Tip: Learn How to Protect Your Savings, Stock, 401(k), and Other Assets

Money Mistake #3: My Kid’s Budget Runneth Over

Many parents find themselves wrestling with financial discipline when it comes to their children, says Galia Gichon, creator of “My Money Matters” Kit, a box of financial tips and workbooks. Whether it’s snacks for the little ones at the market or new skate shoes for your tween, “it’s amazing how quickly saying yes can add up,” says Gichon, a New York City financial planner and mother of two.

Tip: How to Get the Best Deal on Absolutely Everything

The fix: Rather than simply saying no to your kids’ endless wish lists — which can lead to wrenching battles — protect your budget and sanity by teaching your children Money Management 101. “Distract and delay” tactics work especially well for children age 6 and under. If your young daughter is jumping up and down for something she wants at the store, says Gichon, “try focusing her attention on something else, or acknowledge what she wants and say that you can talk more about it later when you’re home.” You may have to endure a little complaining, but your child gets an important message about not buying things on a whim.

Tip: Need Help Sticking to a Budget? Try These Tips

Money Mistake #4: I Never Saw a Windfall I Couldn’t Spend

Whether you receive a raise, a tax refund, or a generous birthday check from Aunt Dotty, it’s hard not to view a windfall as an excuse to go shopping. Splurging can be fun, but that’s rarely the best use of your extra cash. “Few Americans are saving enough to cover day-to-day crises, never mind the future,” says Jonathan Pond, author of Grow Your Money!

The fix: To make sure you don’t feel deprived, earmark some of the newfound money for a modest treat (Aunt Dotty would want it that way). Gichon suggests using 5 or 10 percent for something fun: “That way you do something for yourself — while deciding what to do with the rest.”

Put the remainder of the money where you won’t be as tempted to touch it. Consider an FDIC-insured, high-yield online savings account such as the one offered by ING Direct. It has no minimum balance requirement or fees, and this account typically pays higher-than-average interest rates.

Next, consider where the money would do you the most good. Tackle any small, urgent problems first — a sore tooth, the clunking sound your car makes, leaky windows. This will help avert the hardship of paying for a string of bigger expenses later on as little problems snowball into debt.
Set aside some of your windfall for expenses that you can’t predict precisely but you know will be coming sometime. “You may not know when your cell phone will quit or the water heater will break, but they will,” Pond advises.

Tip: Check Out 25 Ways to Save More Money This Year

Money Mistake #5: I Forget What I’m Worth

If you’re a stay-at-home mom or you work part-time, you may not have enough life insurance. Many women are underinsured because they’ve underestimated their income or the value of their contributions to the household. De Baca recalls one client whose wife died in her 30s and had only a $100,000 life insurance policy, which didn’t cover the need for child care for the couple’s young children or the housekeeping chores the client then required.

The fix: A rule of thumb to determine the amount of insurance coverage that you need — multiply your annual expenses by the number of years until your youngest child will turn 18. (Some parents may also want to factor in the future cost of their kids’ college.) Life insurance premiums actually have plummeted in recent years. So if you’re a healthy nonsmoker in your 30s or 40s, you can now buy a $500,000 term insurance policy for about $40 a month.

You and your partner should revisit your insurance coverage annually — or at least after a major event, like the birth of a child. “It takes a lot to run a household, and you want to be covered,” says De Baca.

Tip: Learn How You Can Pay Less for Insurance

What are your biggest hurdles when it comes to savings? Have you discovered any tips for stashing more in the bank?

Foal may be world's smallest horse

2010-04-27T01:42:00.000-07:00

In Photos: Newborn stallion weighs in at just six pounds

If baby animals are "cute," then how does one describe Einstein the newborn pinto stallion? Super-incredi-adora-cute? Weighing in at just six pounds, the New Hampshire-born foal may be the world's smallest horse. Dr. Rachel Wagner, Einstein's co-owner, says the Guinness record for the smallest newborn horse is 9 pounds. Wagner notes Einstein shows no signs of dwarfism, unlike the current record holder. Photos of Einstein standing next to a young child and a bemused Saint Bernard really put the horse's 14-inch frame in perspective. All together now: "Awwww!"

Bad habits can age you by 12 years, study suggests

2010-04-27T00:31:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO - Four common bad habits combined — smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet — can age you by 12 years, sobering new research suggests.

FILE - In this Tuesday, June 3, 2008 file photo, an employee takes a drag on a cigarette at Morgan's Place bar and restaurant in Harrisburg, Pa. Four common bad habits combined — smoking, drinking too much, inactivity and poor diet — can age you by 12 years, sobering new research suggests. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

The findings are from a study that tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years, and they highlight yet another reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Overall, 314 people studied had all four unhealthy behaviors. Among them, 91 died during the study, or 29 percent. Among the 387 healthiest people with none of the four habits, only 32 died, or about 8 percent.

The risky behaviors were: smoking tobacco; downing more than three alcoholic drinks per day for men and more than two daily for women; getting less than two hours of physical activity per week; and eating fruits and vegetables fewer than three times daily.

These habits combined substantially increased the risk of death and made people who engaged in them seem 12 years older than people in the healthiest group, said lead researcher Elisabeth Kvaavik of the University of Oslo.

The study appears in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.

The healthiest group included never-smokers and those who had quit; teetotalers, women who had fewer than two drinks daily and men who had fewer than three; those who got at least two hours of physical activity weekly; and those who ate fruits and vegetables at least three times daily.

"You don't need to be extreme" to be in the healthy category, Kvaavik said. "These behaviors add up, so together it's quite good. It should be possible for most people to manage to do it."

For example, one carrot, one apple and a glass of orange juice would suffice for the fruit and vegetable cutoffs in the study, Kvaavik said, noting that the amounts are pretty modest and less strict than many guidelines.

The U.S. government generally recommends at least 4 cups of fruits or vegetables daily for adults, depending on age and activity level; and about 2 1/2 hours of exercise weekly.

Study participants were 4,886 British adults aged 18 and older, or 44 years old on average. They were randomly selected from participants in a separate nationwide British health survey. Study subjects were asked about various lifestyle habits only once, a potential limitation, but Kvaavik said those habits tend to be fairly stable in adulthood.

Death certificates were checked for the next 20 years. The most common causes of death included heart disease and cancer, both related to unhealthy lifestyles.

Kvaavik said her results are applicable to other westernized nations including the United States.

June Stevens, a University of North Carolina public health researcher, said the results are in line with previous studies that examined the combined effects of health-related habits on longevity.

The findings don't mean that everyone who maintains a healthy lifestyle will live longer than those who don't, but it will increase the odds, Stevens said.

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