Everything U Need

Easy way to speak in American accent...

2011-01-20T05:32:00.000-08:00

We know that English is spoken mostly in the western countries like USA, Canada, UK etc. English is the mother tongue of the people who live here. English became one of the most important languages because of the globalization. If you are dealing with business then speaking in English is very important to deal with the foreign issues. People in countries like India also speak in English but the accent is different from the westerners. So people try to improve their accent and try to speak in American accent but this is not possible if you just watch the English movies or read English news papers.
Phonetics is the basics for the western accent. If you are really motivated to speak in American accent or western accent then it can be done very easily by learning the phonetics. I too tried to speak in American accent many times by mimicking the dialogues of English movies but I never able to speak in real world in that way. There are several software which will train you to speak in American accent very easily. Recently I tried the software “Sephonic”. I want to say that, this is a wonderful software which helps in learning American accent. Through this software I learned all the basics of phonetics and with in less period of time I was able to speak in that slang.
This software starts with very basics of phonetics like phonetic alphabets then matching sound and phonetic sign then speaking the correct phonetic word (word in phonetic alphabets), spelling the correct phonetic sound, correct spelling and several other kinds of practice sessions which really helps us to speak in American slang. This is very easy to use, simple, small software but very much useful. Let’s see each feature separately.

The phonetic alphabet:
This introduces the phonetic alphabet. If you click the phonetic signs you will hear which sound they represent. You can also see a word that includes the represented sound and a transcription of the word will be shown on the screen.
Match sound and phonetic sign:
In this you will hear a sound that you are to match with the phonetic sign that represents it. The sound is repeated three times so that you will have enough time to hear which one it is.
Which spelling is correct?
Here you will see a transcription of a word along with three alternative ways to write the word with ordinary letters. The assignment is to choose which one of the alternatives is correct by clicking on it. If the clicked alternative is the correct way to spell the word the box will turn green or yellow based on the number of times you have tried. A correct answer on the first try generates a green box, the second or third tries generate a yellow box.
Which sound can you hear?
In this you will see a word and four phonetic representations of different sounds. Your task is to decide which of the four sounds that is pronounced in the given word. It is also possible to hear how the word and the alternative sounds are pronounced. To provide context a sentence that includes the given word is displayed on the screen.
How is the word spelled?
This gives you an opportunity to practice how to read transcribed text. You will see a transcribed word and when you know which word it is you type it in the box using the key board.
How is the word transcribed?
Here you get to transcribe text yourself. You will see a word spelled with ordinary letters that you are to transcribe using the signs in the charts to the left f the screen.
This is free software which you can download from the following URL: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Others/Home-Education/Sephonics.shtml. This software is really helpful to learn American accent and to speak without any shyness in your office. It gives you the much needed boost in your communication skills.

Editor's Review - YouTube Music Downloader

2011-01-08T02:00:00.000-08:00

Youtube Music Downloader is a neat utility you can use for downloading your favorite music videos from Youtube. And that's not all. The program ca be used for converting the files into various multimedia file formats.

The user interface is clean and carefully designed. The thing I liked a lot about this application was the fact that it's based on a browser engine and it allows you to browse directly the website (Youtube) for your favorite media. The in-built browser is designed to search directly among Youtube music categories. There's also a search engine included in case you search for specific items.

Downloading and converting media files is quite easy. You can either browse the clips using the inbuilt browser and download them directly or you can use the 'Add New Download' window.
Whenever you open a clip in a web browser (IE, Firefox, Opera, etc.) and copy the video's URL, it will be automatically pasted into the program window in order to be downloaded.

All you have to do is to select your output format and settings as well as select a name for the new file and start downloading and converting. When the conversion process is complete, you can set the program to automatically open the target directory.

Pluses: Direct browsing of video files using the in-built browser.

Drawbacks / flaws:

In conclusion: This is a very well designed music Youtube downloader. It was a pleasure testing it.
click here to download:http://get.soft32.com/download/index/id/219023

What Is Romance?

2010-11-21T02:39:00.000-08:00

Being romantic is hard work. Some people think that romance is easy, that anybody can be romantic with very little work. This is not true. To be romantic there are a lot of things you must know about romance and a lot of situations you must prepare for. For example, you and your beloved plan a date for next Friday night. You ask where she'd like to go. "Oh, I don't know," is her reply. "Surprise me. I know you'll think of something special." What do you do? Give up? Read on and learn the secrets of romance

What Is Romance?

Romance is a nebulous thing with the curious property of being describable but not definable. We won't muck with your head and try to suggest there's an ultimate definitive definition out there. Some people will try to do just that and come up with some tidy little definition, like, "Romance is showing you care." Sure, it sounds good at first, but although draping your coat over a puddle and asking if she remembered to brush her teeth that morning may be actions triggered by this same motivation, they rate distinctly differently on the romance scale.
Although it's not so much a definition, as it is no more precise than the word "romance" itself, one way to describe romance succinctly is "what women want out of a relationship." In other words, men aren't romantic, and if you're a man, that's why you need this guide. If you're a woman, of course, you were born with an innate knowledge of this stuff and need not read further.
But though romance may not be definable, there are still some hard fast rules. Below, we have documented many of the atomic elements of romance. Mix these ingredients up, and you've got it.

Intrinsic Romance
Some things are inherently romantic, like hearts. This is very useful, because you can pile things upon the object of your affections and win romance points without expending any additional effort or thought. The trick is to figure out what is romantic and what is not. There is a basic rule of thumb to follow: if it's cool, it's not romantic. For example, high powered rifles are not romantic. Science fiction is not romantic. DVD players are not romantic unless they're playing Sleepless In Seattle.
But a whole ton of things are intrinsically romantic, and you should use them to your advantage.
- Cute Things
  Teddy bears are romantic. Puppies are romantic. Cherubic baby archers are romantic. Those photographs where two little kids exhibit an unnatural affection for each other and only the roses are in color are romantic.
  Taking advantage of the intrinsic romance in cute things obviously depends upon recognizing which things are cute. The rule is simple. Small things are cute. If you see a food product in a grocery store that comes in a smaller package than usual, get it, because there's a very good chance it's cute. The same goes for travel size shampoo, toothpaste, and so on. Find a store that sells doll house stuff, and your supply of cute things can be limitless.
- Low Light
  Candles are romantic. Sunrises and sunsets are romantic. Any kind of low light, you see, is romantic, hence why dinner dates after dark are more romantic than lunch dates at noon. Combine low light sources, and it stands to reason that the air of romance will be so thick, your beloved will be blind to anything else but the radiance of her shimmering knight in armor. Open the curtains on a sunset and light some candles, and you might even be able to get away with watching a football game during dinner.
- Red
  Red is romantic, because red is the color of love and passion. Consider roses. Red roses mean, "I love you." Yellow roses mean, "Let's just be friends," which is synonymous with, "You are irritating, and I hate you." So you do not want to be wrong. Get her red roses, red ribbons, red balloons, red teddy bears, red puppies, and red tickets to the World Series, and she'll fall hopelessly under your spell.
- Background Music
  Background music is romantic, and note the word "background," because not just any music is romantic. For music to be romantic, it must be too soft to hear. Also, it may not be lively or funny or good. Elevator music is the most romantic genre of music out there.
- Chocolates
  Chocolates are not only romantic, they're complimentary. When you give a box of chocolates to your beloved, it says, "You could pig out on this tub of lard and bloat out to three tons, but you'd still be the apple of my eye." It doesn't matter if it's true -- it's the message that counts. But the real reason to give your loved one chocolates is because any loved one worth her salt will turn right around and offer you some. It's a win-win no matter how you look at it. Buy her a red one shaped like a heart, and you're in like Flynn.
- Fancy Curly Things
  Flair and flourishes are romantic. Whenever you get her a greeting card, get one of the ones with all the curly pink scribbles on it. When you write her letters, make the tails of the 'g's and 'y's really long and the loops in the 'd's and 'b's and 'p's really big. That's way romantic. Notice how romantic the title banner at the top of this page is? The 'R' is particularly romantic, because it's red.
- The Most Intrinsically Romantic Thing Ever
  Based on the data above, the single most romantic thing in the universe can be calculated scientifically. It is, simply, a small red candle made out of chocolate and shaped like a teddy bear holding a heart with scribbles all over it that plays a tune when you wind it up. Toss her one of these at sunset on your way to a frat party, and you'll be able to stay out all night and still strengthen your relationship.
Impracticality
Practical things are not romantic. Why do you think blenders and toaster ovens are so notoriously unromantic? Because they have an alternative use, of course. But get her a poofy thing that sits on her dresser behind her jewelry box, never to be touched or moved again, and she'll melt in your arms.
Personal Stuff
Romance is personal. To be romantic, you must be personal and do personal kind of things. It's sort of romantic to buy a mooshy greeting card for your loved one, but to be really romantic, you should sign it. As far as birthday presents and so forth go, you can make the gift personal by carefully considering your beloved's interests and choosing a gift uniquely suited to her personality. Flowers always works.
Your Time
One of the required ingredients of romance is your time. Nope, there's no way out of it.
Blindness
An important part of romance is selective blindness. You must not acknowledge anything about your beloved that could possibly be construed as a fault. If a nightmare suddenly woke her up from a twenty minute nap after four straight days of not sleeping at all, don't even say she looks "tired." If "radiant" isn't the least of your comments about her appearance, you're sunk. If she's rude to someone without cause, prattle on about how much nerve that other person had for being such a big fat jerk. If she spilled pizza sauce on her chin, don't say a word, nor give any other indication that her complexion is amiss. Paradoxically, if she gets home, looks in the mirror, and finds it still there, she'll hate you for not telling her, so you'd better find a surreptitious way of removing it without her ever noticing -- and afterward, keep that stray globule of pizza sauce your best kept secret to the day you die.
Remembering Birthdays and Anniversaries
Remembering your beloved's birthday and your anniversary isn't so much romantic as it is a stay of execution, for surely you'll forget someday, and when you do, you'll find out how not romantic cold shoulders and tears are. Your safest bet is to find someone whose birthday is on Christmas, then marry her on New Year's Day, because nobody forgets those days.
Pet Names
To be romantic, you have to call each other names carefully crafted to make yourself and everyone around you throw up. This romance technique doubles as a passion meter way more accurate than those quarter eating machines in arcades; if you use these pet names and don't throw up, you're genuinely in love.
Here's how to construct your own pet name. Mix up the syllables "pook," "wee," "hon," "oop," and "ums," (never use the syllables "skuzz" or "elch"), rhyme a lot, and make liberal references to baked goods. For example, (WARNING! WARNING! TURN YOUR FACE AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER!), "Sweetie Pumpkin Pookums" is a perfectly acceptable and effective pet name, as are "Moopsie Cutie," "Hunny Wunny Cakes," and, for the extravagant, "Snookie Wookum Weetie Bunny Pie." (It may seem odd to novices that cooked rodents would be romantic, but they are.) For best results, speak these pet names with a big dumb grin, an admiring gaze, and a high-pitched squeal, and follow it up with an exaggerated sigh of dreamy contentment. The most important thing to remember about this is never ever do this in front of me.
If you need help coming up with a suitable mooshy pet name, we at RinkWorks have provided a service to help. Visit Fantasy Name Generator and select "Mushy Names."
Style
Even if you get all the essentials of romance right, a lack of style could still foul you up. Try to be as "suave" and "debonair" as you possibly can, as this is the optimum romantic style. Be as much like James Bond as you can, except for the infidelity, compulsive gambling, chain smoking, and killing people parts. Be elegant, humble, refined, independent, thoughtful, responsible, compassionate, spontaneous, reputable, graceful, polite, literate, entertaining, discreet, funny, upstanding, sensitive, fun, sophisticated, pleasant, selfless, reverent, and genuine. And if you can't, fake it. And don't overdo it. Subtlety is essential. If she doesn't notice, you can always find an opportune moment to work a whispered pointer into the conversation, such as, "Notice how elegant, humble, refined, independent, thoughtful, responsible, compassionate, spontaneous, reputable, graceful, polite, literate, entertaining, discreet, funny, upstanding, sensitive, fun, sophisticated, pleasant, selfless, reverent, and genuine I am."
Better yet, follow the old adage, "Show, don't tell," and demonstrate these admirable attributes, each in turn, so she'll be sure to take notice. Wear a tuxedo, bow to the object of your affections, kiss her hand, and say, "Why did the chicken cross the road? But seriously, you are looking beautiful today, and may I suggest we adjourn and spontaneously give thanks to God while I empathize with your inner woman in private, if indeed you'd consent to receive the fervent attentions of my lowly self? And afterward, we could go to Disneyworld."
Not Having Food On Your Head
It's disturbingly common for romance counselors to neglect to mention this essential romance ingredient, in spite of how terribly important it is. Other romance guides blissfully skirt around this important tip, potentially leading their unwary followers to a fatal misstep. The unfortunate fact is that if you do everything else right but have a chicken pot pie oozing down over your ears, it's not romantic at all. It's embarrassing to the object of your affections, and embarrassment overrides romance. So when you've set the mood, the lighting, the background music, and put yourself in a chivalrous frame of mind, don't forget to make sure there are no edibles above the neck, or your efforts will be in vain.

How To Propose

Unfortunately romantic comedies and sappy sitcoms have taken most of the corn--uh, good ideas already. But there are still a lot of options remaining to you. And you want it to be perfect, because you own the moment -- you have as close to total control over it as you could possibly imagine. I will refrain from making the obligatory marital poke about how it might be the last such moment of your life. But you have a lot of options. If you're fond of a good adrenaline rush, I recommend the "sweep her off her feet" option, whereby you rent a trampoline, fire yourself out of a cannon when she's not looking, catch her in midair, and as you're both landing in a tangled heap on the trampoline, slip the ring on her finger before she knows what hit her. If you're looking to surprise her with your proposal, this will most likely do the trick.
On the other hand, if you're a more reserved sort of person who prefers not to be propelled by gunpowder any more than absolutely necessary, you may prefer a different option that suits your personality better. Sit your fiancee down in one of those chair desks they have in schools and, using a blackboard, slide projector, and laser pointer, give a brief but well-prepared lecture on why it would be to your mutual benefit -- legally, financially, and otherwise -- to get hitched as quickly as possible. Try to use the phrase "...and it is a remarkable fact..." somewhere in your presentation. Make an indisputable argument. How could she turn down such cool-headed rationality?
Then again, perhaps your fiancee is not quite as studious as you are. Perhaps she is something of a "party girl," as those who enjoy swift punches from zealous feminists might say. Perhaps she would prefer to share such a wondrous moment with a dozen or two of her very best friends. In that case, I would recommend taking her and a small throng of her friends out to a fine, elegant restaurant -- the kind where there is a different waitperson for each course and three for the wine. Sometime between the Chicken Teriyaki Vinaigrette Caesar Salad a la Mode and the Fettucini Tortellini Lamborghini Schnitzel Alfredo on the Rocks, clear your throat to get everyone's attention (in a gentlemanly way, of course, which means, among other things, that your napkin be involved in the maneuver). Stand up, bow to your beloved, take her hand, kneel before her, and burst into deep, resonating song. No matter if your singing voice is not so much like Luciano Pavarotti as Gilbert Gottfried; it's your exuberance and noble intentions that count. You own the moment, so milk it for all it's worth. Sing of love and pink bunny rabbits and whirlpools of thundering sweetness until your voice can't take it anymore. By the end, she'll be so moved to tears, she just might not recover until the wedding.
Whatever your method of proposing turns out to be, you must incorporate one key element, namely the element of not proposing like any other human being has ever proposed before. Any romantic proposal you see in the movies is definitely out, as are all the suggestions I've made in this section. So, just to be on the safe side, try proposing in some outrageous situation. Don't let her know what you're doing, of course. Maybe you could sneak your beloved into a parachute and onto a plane for a surprise mid-air skydiving proposal. If you have connections at NASA, the zero-gravity proposal technique is bound to succeed, as long as you figure out a way to kneel in mid-air.

Conclusion

To sum up, the fundamental message of this guide is that, no matter how hard you try, you can't be romantic enough. But if you study the pointers given above, learn them by heart, remain conscientious of them at all times, you might be able to buy yourself a temporary reprieve now and then. The next step is to coordinate when these moments occur, such as just before the World Series. Good luck

How to Create a Photo Album on the iPhone

2010-08-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

Using the photo album for storing and viewing images on your new iphone is similar to the way Tom Cruise looks through the pre-crime video streams from the Precogs, in the movie "Minority Report", except you don't need gloves or judges!
It's really cool!

The great news is, although it may seem like a complicated piece of technology to work, if you have fingers you can work it! Actually, I take that back, if you don't have fingers, you can still work it!

Personally I love the idea of having my phone, ipod (mp3 player for music or videos), internet access, e-mail, and all my photos in one state-of-the-art cool looking gadget!

WORD Of THE WISE: although grandparents love photos, I would stick to a good old fashion photo album as a present if I were you, that is unless yours is ther very techno-savy type of grandparent...mine is not. I never could get grandma to use the speed dial or the scroll for looking un numbers on her phone: she had me put a sticky note with our numbers instead.
Get my point?

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

    * iphone
    * fingers (or pointing object)
    * photos (or desire to take some)


      1. Click on the Add button
      (This button looks like a plus sign, it is located in the bottom left hand corner of you iphoto window)

      2.Choose Album from the pop-up menu.

      3.Type in a name for your album.pointer: it is always useful to use names you will easily associate to the content inside your album.

      4.Click create.The album appears in your source list.
      Guess what? you are ready to start your photo album.


      5.Click on Library, when all your photos appear, just drag them to your new album.

Tips & Warnings
     * How do you get the photos: 1- Apple iphone comes with a 2 megapixel camera. You take them! 2- You can easily upload the photos from your computer (basically you will be using iphoto).

     * To change perspective to match the photo on your screen; simply rotate your iphone to horizontal or vertical position and voila everything inside your view rotates and reframes itself.

     * Other things you need to know: 1- You zoom in by pinching inwardly...the oposite motion zooms out. 2- You can move around a picture my dragging your finger around 3- You zoom back out to original size by double tapping on the screen again

     * The apple phone does have a downside; your fingers better be clean and grease free!

50 Interesting Facts.

2010-08-23T10:11:00.000-07:00

1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.

2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.

3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.

4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it.

5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”.

6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.

7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing.

8. The average person who stops smoking
requires one hour less sleep a night.

9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.

10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.

11. Dalmatians are born without spots.

12. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.

13. The ‘v’ in the name of a court case does not stand for ‘versus’, but for ‘and’ (in civil proceedings) or ‘against’ (in criminal proceedings).

14. Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right, but women’s shirts have the buttons on the left.

15. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids.

16. The reason honey is so easy to digest is that it’s already been digested by a bee.

17. Roosters cannot crow if they cannot extend their necks.

18. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones.

19. Every time you sneeze some of your brain cells die.

20. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.

21. The verb “cleave” is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate.

22. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.

23. When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red.

24. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in 1903, and used a tomato can for a carburetor.

25. The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named Volney.

26. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.

27. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan.

28. It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and 200 million to make a film about it.

29. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples.

30. There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

31. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.

32. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.

33. It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.

34. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

35. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game.

36. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.

37. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die.

38. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch (and make it look like it
is smiling).

39. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang yourself.”

40. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot.

41. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

42. The average person laughs 13 times a day.

43. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are:Mizaru(See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil)

44. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

45. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.

46. Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.

47. Whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound.

48. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.

49. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural cause.

50. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!!

HD Video Recording.shoot, edit, share all in HD.

2010-08-23T09:22:00.000-07:00

Because your iPhone goes with you everywhere, you’re always ready to capture every moment. And with iPhone 4, you can do it in stunning high definition. Its advanced backside illumination sensor delivers great-looking video in both bright and low-light settings. And in dark environments, you can brighten the scene with the built-in LED light.

Edit video right on iPhone.

No need to wait until you’re back at your computer to edit video. You can perform basic editing right in the Camera app. Just drag to select start and end points on a filmstrip.

Turn your video clips into a finished movie. With iMovie on iPhone 4.

You’re on vacation, and you want to create a video postcard of everything you did that day and share it with your family. Just use the iMovie app — available on the App Store for just $4.99. Built just for iPhone 4, iMovie lets you combine and edit video clips, polish your movies with dynamic themes and transitions, add music and photos, and share your finished movies with the world.

Tap to focus video.

Say you’re recording a scene with subjects in both the foreground and the background. How do you make sure the camera focuses where you want? Just tap that part of the image on the iPhone 4 display. The camera immediately focuses on it and adjusts exposure to match the lighting. When you want to focus on another part of the scene, just tap again.

Make a video self-portrait.

In addition to the high-definition camera on the back, iPhone 4 has a VGA-quality camera on the front, above the display, that lets you see yourself while you record. So it’s perfect for taking a video self-portrait — no more guessing if you’re in the frame or accidentally cropping yourself out altogether.

Share video anywhere.

Say you’re in the middle of a text message conversation when you see something video-worthy. Tap the camera icon in Messages to record on the fly and send it to your buddy via MMS. Or select some video from the Camera Roll and attach it to a new email message, ready to send. Publishing to your MobileMe gallery or to YouTube is also just a tap away. And you can easily sync all the video you shoot on iPhone 4 back to your Mac or PC.

How to Go Natural: 10 Lifestyle Tips

2010-08-22T03:24:00.000-07:00

Over the years I have become convinced that the vast majority of people are well intentioned about being eco-friendly, natural consumers, both for the sake of their families and the environment.

The obstacles keeping them from making eco-friendly consumer choices are usually lack of time to do the research, not knowing where to find the research to begin with, and the lack of convenient access to the products.

In response to this awareness I thought it might be helpful to tell you how I manage to live this lifestyle in my everyday life. Here are my tips about how I buy clothes, food, personal care products and furnishings; manage cleaning and pest control; and take care of my pets.

1. Natural Clothing
Fibers made from animals and insects include wool, silk, mohair, cashmere, camel hair and angora. Animal fibers usually have attributes not found in manmade or plant fibers. For example, a sheep’s wool fleece is designed to wick perspiration from the animal, thereby helping to regulate its body temperature, and wool provides the same benefit as human clothing or bedding.

Plant fibers include cotton, hemp, linen, jute, kenaf, and ramie. Plant fibers breathe, enabling the release of perspiration through natural fiber clothing. Plant fibers also usually are very good at absorbing moisture. Linen tea towels are excellent for drying dishes for this reason, for example.

Read labels to find clothing made of 100 percent natural fibers such as from those mentioned above. Common names of synthetic fabrics are polyester, acetate and nylon. Rayon is a manmade fabric made of natural materials, but the widespread practice in gathering the fiber is to use virgin tree pulp, which is not sustainable.

2. Natural Food
Read labels. Look for food words you recognize, and always opt for the product that that has the fewest unrecognizable words. This rule of thumb may seem simplistic, but it works, since food manufacturers do not translate commonly known food names into a chemical name on packages. The spice turmeric is called turmeric and is a welcome natural yellow dye substitute to find on a label instead of an FD&C dye.

3. Natural Personal Care
Just because a personal care product is sold in a natural foods store doesn’t mean that it is a product made of natural materials. (This scenario doesn’t apply to cleaning products as those found in natural food stores are usually genuinely green products.) The rule of thumb for finding natural personal care products is the same as for food: Read the labels for ingredients you recognize as being real, and buy those. Aubrey Organics and Weleda are two brands that are genuinely natural.

4. Natural Cleaning
Health food stores are also very good sources of green cleaning products. Get to know some of the brands found there (Seventh Generation, Ecover) and then search them out in bigger supermarkets, or ask your supermarkets to begin to carry the brands. Mix and match green cleaning products with simple do-it-yourself formulas using kitchen cupboard ingredients.
Click here for a collection of my favorite formulas.

5. Natural Pest Control and Repellents
Most people don’t realize that if a pesticide is registered by the Environmental Protection Agency, it means that it has been approved by the EPA to be effective. The registration does not mean that the product has been approved to be safe. Many pesticides are highly neurotoxic, and all are designed to kill. Choose natural and preventative alternatives instead. Here are some excellent resources for alternatives to pesticides:

    * The Bio Integral Resource Center
    * Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides
    * Beyond Pesticides
    * National Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides

6. Natural Bedding
You can readily buy sheets, mattresses, comforters, and blankets made of natural materials. Organic wool and cotton mattresses are highly recommended to avoid sleeping on mattresses made of synthetic ingredients including formaldehyde, biocides, stain protectants, fire retardants, and materials containing neurotoxins. In general, my experience is that it is hard to find a wide range of organic natural fiber bedding locally, so instead I tend to buy these products online or through catalogs. A good resource for finding current natural bedding companies is Natural Home and Organic Style magazines.

7. Natural Furnishings
All the same suggestions apply to natural furnishings as they did to bedding in regards to cushions and fiber-based furnishings. Additionally, look to natural carpets and carpet backing, wood furniture that has been finished with natural sealants, and avoid pressed wood furniture because it contains formaldehyde. My experience is that online and catalog shopping provides the widest selection. A good resource for recommended products is The Green Guide.

8. Natural Renovating and Building Supplies
Every time you renovate, paint, or build, choose the least toxic, most natural, inert materials. One online store that is an excellent resorce is The Environmental Home Center. Another is NEEDS. A good resource for finding recommended brands is The Green Guide.

9. Natural Pet Care
My rules of thumb for pet care is to never use synthetic pesticides of any kind, give them food that doesn’t contain animal byproducts, and to use natural shampoos.

10. Natural Consumer Choices —General
Always choose the most natural, inert ingredients, and read labels. I’ve found that even products for teens, such as cosmetics, usually have at least one more natural version.
Always look to label’s signal words, and don’t buy anything with a label stronger than the word caution.

All About Abs – Everything You Need to Know About Abdominal Exercises & Workouts

2010-08-22T02:50:00.000-07:00

Getting perfect abs is nothing short of an obsession for many people. Tons of programs, products and gimmicks promise “six pack abs” by confusing and misleading consumers. The right ab workouts can help, but in the end, there is only one way to get the abs you want! You need a consistent, effective workout program that will help you burn fat and tone your abs. When it comes to abdominal workouts, here are the most essential things to know:

TARGET ALL FOUR ABDOMINAL MUSCLE GROUPS

One mistake many people make is to only work one or two sections of their abdominal muscles. There are FOUR layers of muscles in your abs! You need to work each layer/muscle group to effectively tone your abs.
Abdominal Exercises

    * Rectus Abdominis – This is the “six pack” muscle. This paired muscle runs from the front of your ribs down to your pelvis. This the muscle referred to when people say “upper abs” or “lower abs”, but it is actually one big muscle – of which different areas can be targeted. Typical “ab workouts” usually focus on this muscle.

    * External Oblique – The external obliques are the muscles that run along the sides of your ribcage, on each side of the rectus abdominis. The external oblique muscles allow the trunk to twist – contracting one of your external obliques twists your body to the opposite side. For example, contracting the right external oblique will turn the body to the left.
    * Internal Oblique – Your internal obliques are located just inside your hip bones – just below the external obliques. They work in the exact opposite way as the external oblique muscles. When you do a twisting motion, one external oblique contracts while the opposite side’s internal oblique contracts. For example, twisting or crunching the trunk to the left requires the left internal oblique and the right external oblique to contract together.
    * Transverse Abdominis – The transverse abdominis is the deepest abdominal muscle layer. The muscle reaches from each side of your lower abdomen towards the middle. It is primarily responsible for stabilizing your trunk and maintaining internal abdominal pressure. This muscle is especially worked when you do stabilization exercises like planks or other similar ab exercises.

Abdominal Exercises

VARY YOUR AB ROUTINE

In addition to working all four layers of your abs, you also need to change up your ab routine so that your muscles are continually being challenged. If you do the exact same ab exercises for weeks on end, your muscles will adapt and plateau – and you will miss out on some of the benefits of your training program.

QUALITY VS. QUANTITY

Have you ever heard someone brag about how they do 800 crunches/situps every day? You do not need to do anywhere near hundreds of reps! You will actually see better results by doing fewer repetitions of the right exercises with correct form.

When it comes to number of reps when weight training, the same rules apply to ab workouts. For longer, leaner muscle, you should do more reps (we’re talking sets of 12, 20, or sets of 30 seconds… not sets of 800!), and for building size (and deeper cuts), you should do fewer reps with more weight resistance (ie: sets of 5 or 8). An exception to this rule is for stability exercises, such as planks, where you will hold a single position for anywhere from 20 seconds to a couple of minutes.

And, just like other muscle groups, you shouldn’t train your abdominal muscles every day – which brings me to my next point:

TAKE TIME TO RECOVER

Your ab muscles are just like any other muscle – they need to be worked hard, and then given adequate time to rebuild and recover before then next workout. Depending on how hard your muscles are worked – as well as whether you are focusing on strength or endurance – you will need anywhere from 36 hours to 2 or 3 days recovery time between workouts.

And finally, (but most importantly)…

BURN FAT!

Most people focus only on doing tons of crunches and other abdominal exercises in an effort to get flat, defined abs. What many people don’t realize is that no matter how many crunches, situps or other ab exercises you do, you will never see improved definition unless you can minimize the layer of fat that covers your abdominal muscles. The muscles are already there – the key is getting to the point where you can see them! Yes, ab exercises can help improve muscle strength and tone, but burning fat is more effective BY FAR when it comes to overall improvement in the look of your midsection.

When it comes to burning fat, remember that there is no such thing as spot reduction! There just isn’t! This isn’t what most people want to hear, but it’s simply a fact. No product, ab workout or ab exercise alone will make you lose inches solely from your waist – so when someone tries to convince you otherwise, don’t fall for it! The bottom line is that in order to gain greater definition in your abs, you need to have a fitness program that will help you burn overall body fat. In order to burn fat most effectively, your fitness program needs to include regular cardiovascular exercise AND strength training – stay tuned for our next post, which will explain why both are so important! Pair that with healthy, well-balanced eating habits, and you are well on your way to effectively burning fat – and getting flatter, tighter abs.

SO…
Following these tips will help you to get the best results possible. In addition to great looking abs, you’ll enjoy other benefits as well. Stronger abs can make a huge difference in your posture and overall core strength, and can also improve your form and effectiveness during other weight training exercises. Minimizing excessive body fat will not only make a huge difference in your abs, but will also improve the rest of your body. Training your body the right way will allow you to get the abs you want and improve your overall health.

Top 10 Bewafai Shayari...

2010-08-21T20:43:00.000-07:00

1.Manzilein bhi uski thi, raasta bhi uska tha;
Ek hum hi akele thei, kafilaa bhi uska tha;
saath chalne ki soch bhi uski thee, Fir raasta badalne ka faisla bhi uska tha;
aaj akele hain…dil sawaal karta hai…
Log to uske the, …kya khuda bhi uska tha????

2.muhobat ke bhi kuch andaj hote hai,
jagti nkho ke bhi kuch khwab hote hai,
jaruri nahi ke gam me hi ansu nikle,
muskurati ankho me bhi sailab hote hai.

3.Us bewafa ne mujhe pyar karke bhi chhod diya,
mujhe akela kar tanhaiyon se naata mera jod diya,
jab aai mout apni to usse raha na gaya,
aaya vo laas par meri or mujhe bina jalaye hi chhod diya…………..

4.Dard ko jaaan sake aisa koi insaan nahi mila hume is dunia se,
jo humne pura na kia ho aisa koi armaan nahi mila hume is dunia se,
saath de sakte the unki khusi ka unki mahfil me hum,
unki mahfil ka bhi waqt tha tab jab hume jaana tha is dunia se………..

5.teri aankhon se kaash koi ishara to hota,
kuch to meri jaan jeene ka sahara to hota,
tod dete hum har ek rasam zamane ki,
tune ek baar mohabbat se pukara to hota!!!!!!

6.taras jaoge tum mehfil-e-wafaa ke liye,
kisi se pyaar na karna KHUDAA ke liye,
jab lagegi ishq ki adalat ek din,
tum hi chune jaaoge ae zaalim SAZAA ke liye…

7.Ek kasak dil ki dil main dabi rah gayi
Zindagi main tumhari kami rah gayi
In honto par to hansi hi hansi hai
Par aankho main todi si nami rah gayi
Jin sapno ko kabhi dekha tha humne
Woh zindagi wahi par thami rah gayi
Ek kasak dil ki dil main dabi rah gayi
Zindagi main tumhari kami rah gayi..

8.tere pyar main ruswa hokar jaye kahan diwane log
jane kya kya puch rahen hain ye jane pahchane log
jaise tumhen hamne chaha tha kaun bhala yun chahega
mana aur bahut ayenge tum se pyar jatane log..

9.ja bewaffa tere wade ka aitebar nahi
tere sine me dil hai magar pyar nahi..

10.pyar karne ke bhi kuch aadab hua karte hai
band aankho me bhi kuch khawab hua karte hai
har koi rokar bataye yeh zroori nahi
khusk aankho me bhi kuch khawab hua karte hai

2010-08-21T20:26:00.000-07:00

1.A Girl n a Boy loved very much but suddenly girl dead.
After sometime girl her voice came from the sky ” Ek Wada Tha Har Wade Ke Peeche… Tu Milega Mujhe Har Gali Har Darwaze Ke Peeche… Tujhe Pyar Bahut Kiya Tha Par Tu Hi Nahi Tha Mere Janaze Ke Peeche”
Suddenly Voice Of The Boy Came ” Ek Wada Tha Har Wade Ke Peeche, Main Miluga Tujhe Har Gali Har Darwaze Ke Peeche, Tune Hi Mud Kar Nahi Dekha Ek Aur Janaza Tha, tere Janaze Ke Peeche”

2.Hum to lut gaye unki ek muskaan pe,
Adayein dekhkar phas gaye mohabbat mein,
Gar khuda bhi punche qayamat pe,
To keh denge ki mit gaye sharafat mein.

Romantic Love Shayaris

2010-08-21T20:18:00.000-07:00

Tumhari is ada ka kya jawab du,
Apne dost ko kya uphar du,
Koi acha sa phool hota to mali se mangwate,
Jo khud gulab hai usko kya gulab du…
Rab ne jab tujhe banaya hoga
Ek surur uske dil mein aya hoga,
Sochta hoga kya doonga tohfe mein tujhe,
Tab usne mujhe banaya hoga.
Kaash ham SMS hote,
Ek click mein tumhare paas hote,
Bhale tum hame delete kar dete,
Par kuch pal ke liye ham tumhara ehsas to hote…!
Tanhaion me unko hi yaad karte hain,
Wo salamt rahe yahi fariyad karte hai,
Ham unke hi mohabbt ka intzar karte hai,
Unko kya pata hum unse kitna pyaar karte hai.
Ek din hamare annsoon humse pooch baithe,
humey roz -roz kyon bulate ho,

Humne kaha hum yaad to unhe karte hain tum kyon chale aate ho.
Har phool ki ajab kahani hai,
chup rehna bhi pyar ki nishani hai,
kahin koi zakhm nai phir bhi kyun dard ka ehsas hai,
lagta hai dil ka ek tukda aaj bhi uske paas hai
Kismat par aitbar kisko hai,
Mil jaye khushi inkaar kisko hai,
Kuch majburian hain mere dost,
Warna judai se pyaar kisko hai
Kal mila waqt to zulfein teri suljha doonga,
Aaaj uljha hoon zara waqt ko sulajhane mein,
Yun to sulajh jatee hain uljhi zulfein,
Umar kat jati hai waqt ko sulajhane mein.
darte hai aag se kahi jal na jaye
darte hai khwab se kahin toot na jaye
lekin sabse ziyada darte hai aapse
kahin aap hume bhool na jaye..

Nice Romantic Love Shayaris Collections..

2010-08-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Aisa nahi ki aap ki yaad aati nahi,
Khata sirf itni ki hum batate nahi,
DOSTI aap ki anmol hai hamare liye,
Samjte ho aap isliye jatate nahi.
——————————–
Mohabbat ka matlab intzaar nahi hota,
Har kisi ko dekhna pyar nahi hota,
Yu to milta hai roz mohabbat-e-paigam,
Pyar hai zindgi jo har baar nahi hota !!!
——————————–
Dekhi jo surat aapki
Ye dil bechara machal gaya
Rakhna hifajat se apni adaa ko
Adaa pe aapki ye dil ghayal ho gaya
——————————–
Ek pyari si kali thi jo phool ban gayi
Ek nanhi si muskan thi jo hasi ban gayi
Ye choti choti si mulakat ab toh pyar ban gayi
Aur aapka har pal saath toh jaise bahar ban gayi
——————————–

Hichkiyon se ek baat ka pata chalta hai
Ki koi hume yaad toh karta hai
Baat na kare toh koi gham nahi
Par Koi aaj bhi hum par apne
Kuch Lamhe barbad toh karta hai
——————————–
Nazrein mili toh laga jaise sapna
Pass dikhi toh laga koi apna
Dil ko aapse bas yehi hai kehna
Ki aapka pyar toh hai dil ka gehna
——————————–
Tammana-e-ishq to hum bhi rakte hain,
Kisi ke dil me hum bhi dhadakte hain,
Na jane woh kab milenge
jin ke liye hum roz tadapte hain.
——————————–
Palkon me qaid kuchh sapne hai,
Kuchh begane kuchh apne hai,
Na jane kya KASHISH he in khayalon mai
woh gair hoke bhi kitne apne hai.

Labon pe aaj unka Naam aa gaya,

2010-08-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Labon pe aaj unka Naam aa gaya,
Pyase pass jaise Jaam aa Gaya,
Dole kadam to gire unki Bahon mein ja kar,
Aaj Hamara Pina hi Hamare Kaam Aa Gaya.
`
Nafrat tum Kabhi na Karna Humse,
Hum yeh she nahi payenge,
Ek Baar Keh Dena Humse Jarurat Nahi ab Tumhari.
Aapki Duniya Se hans Kar Chale Jayenge.
`
Tere Dil Ko Sajayange apne armaan deker,
Tere labon ko Hasayange apni Muskaan dekar,
Dosti ki Kasam Tuje Kafan Se Utha le aayenge,
Tere Jism Mein Apni JAAN dekar.

`
Phool Hote to teri Rahon mein bichh jaate hum,
Gum hote to tuje Kabhi na Satate hum,
yeh or baat hai ki teri Jaan Hai Hum,
na hote to bhi tum pe JAAN lutate hum
`
Jaan hai mujhko zindagi se pyaari,
Jaan ke liye kar doon kurbaan yaari,
Jaan ke liye todd doon dosti tumhaari,
Ab tumse kya chhupaana,
Tum hi toh ho jaan hamaari
`
Tumse doori ka ehsaas sataane lagaa,
Tere saath guzaraa har lamha yaad aane laga,
Jab bhi tujhe bhoolne ki koshish ki aye dost,
Tu dil ke aur bhi kareeb aane laga !
`
Zindagi nahin humein doston se pyaari,
Doston pe haazir hai jaan hamaari,
Aankhon mein hamaari aansoon hai toh kya,
Jaan se bhi pyaari hai muskaan tumhaari !
`
Jasbaate ishq naakaam naa hone denge,
Dil ki duniya mein kabhi shaam naa hone denge,
Dosti ka har ilzaam apne sar par le lenge,
Par dost hum tumhe badnaam na hone denge !
`
Tuje Ansu bhari who Dua mile Jise Kabhi
na inkar khuda kare, Tuje
Hasrat Na Rahe Kabhi Jannat ki Tere
Aangan mein Mohabbaton ki aisi hawa chale
`
Lab Khulte Hai Band Ho Jate Hai,
Sacche Dost Milte Hai Bichad Jate Hai,
Per Jab Saath Bitaye Din Yaad Aate Hai Toh
Hasti Aankhon Se Bhi Aansoo Nikal Aate Hai.
`
Aapse Dur Bhala Hum Kaise reh paate,
Dil Se aapko Kaise Bhula paate,
Kaash ki aap sanso ke alava aaine mai bhi base hote.
Khud ko bhi dekhte toh aap NAZAR aate.
`
Kisi Khush Naseeb ki Taqdir hai aap,
Khwabo ki sachchi tasvir hai aap,
Aur kya kahe aapki shaan main,
Mere hathon main dosti ki lakeer hai aap.
`
Kisi Khush Naseeb ki Taqdir hai aap,
Khwabo ki sachchi tasvir hai aap,
Aur kya kahe aapki shaan main,
Mere hathon main dosti ki lakeer hai aap
`
Rishton ki Dori Kamjor Hoti Hai,
Aankhon ki baaten dil ki chor hoti hai,
Khuda ne jab b puchha dosti ka matlab
Hamari ungli Hamesha aapki orr hoti hai
aapki ungli ???????
`
Dil ma umang chhe, pan umang ma tu nathi,
Chandra ni chhe chandni pan poonam ni raat nathi,
Sagar ma moti gana chhe pan teni mane jaroor nathi,
Hu tane kai kehva mangu chhu pan mara ma himmat nathi,
`
Tu kahi sake tem chhe pan tu kehva ni nathi,
Mara Dil ma tu ne tu j chhe pan tara Dil ma hu jnathi
ek hi nazar main aap dost ban gaye,
do baatein hamne ki, ke sara jahan ban gaye,
Pass rehkar bhi log hamare ban na paye,
Door rehkar bhi aap khaas ban gaye

Love At First Sight

2010-08-21T19:49:00.000-07:00

Jabse tumko dekha hai,
Ek leher si ooth rahi hai mann mein mere,
Kyu dil yeh mera bekaraar hai,
Kya yeh sirf mere dil ki pukaar hai,
Ya isi ka naam pyaar hai?
Tumhe dehkti hoon to lagta hai tum mere liye banaaye gaye ho,
Tum yaad karti hoon to lagta hai ke tum sirf mere khwab banaaye gaye ho,
Tumhe paane ke liye jaan dene ko mann karta hai,
Tumhari yaad mein dil baar baar aahe bhartaa hai,
Lagtaa hai ke main jaan gayi hoon ke pyar kya hotaa hai,
Par tum bhi yeh jaan lo sanam,
Woh tum hi ho jise mera dil baar baar pyar kartaa hai.
1. Zindgi Mohtaaj Nahi Manzilo Ki
   Waqt Har Manzil Dikha Deta Hai
   Marta Nahi Koi Kisi Ki Judaai Mein
   Waqt Sabko Jeena Sikha Deta Hai...

2.Waqt ne kaha ab to muskura de

Chahat ka mausam lauta usse to gale se laga le

Mene tere saath jo kiya who to ek sharahat thi

Shyaad dekhne tha tere pyar mei kitni kurbat thi

Pyar tere muje bhi pyara hai

Tere dard ke samne mei bhi hara

Preet teri jag se nirali hai

Phir bhi teri dil kyu sawali hai

Phir se meet milaya mene uska kuch to sila de

Tere dard ka sisila ab to mita de

Tab mene waqt se kaha,Tu kuch muje bhi bata

Kaise karu mei tera itebar

Kyo kehte hai log waqt nahi tharta

Chaho na chaho tu hai badalta

Tune dal di meri Zindagi kasmkash mei

Zindagi leke chod diya Zinda muje

Mei who dard O gum kaise bhul jao jo tune muje diye

Bhul bhi jau to phir se tere pass kyoi au

Tere kya tu waqt ha sab kuch tere saath hai

Zindagi lena aur Zindagi dena tere haath hai

Tu karta reh sitam jo karne hai

Mei to who lamha hu jo aj hai kal shyaad guzar jau………..

3. Najar Ko Najar Ki Najar Se Na Dhekho.
   Najar Ko Najar Ki Najar Lag Jayegi.
   Jab Najar Ko Najar Se Najar Lag Jayegi.
   To Najar Ko Najar Se Najar NahiAyegi...

4. Bighi Palkon Tale Hum Ne Chupae Ansoo,
   Hasna Chaha Maghar Ankh Me Ae Ansoo,
   Tum Ko Malum Shaed Ho K Na Ho,
   Tere Jane Pe Bhohat Hum Ne Bahae Ansoo..

How to Tune Up a Car

2010-08-21T19:37:00.000-07:00

Your car should receive a tune-up (often referred to as a "major service") every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. During this tune-up your car will receive some new parts that will hopefully keep it out of the shop for a while. Here's what needs to be done

Instructions
Things You'll Need:

    * Fuel Filters
    * Car Parts
    * Spark Plugs
    * Car Manuals
    * Oil Filters
    * Phillips-head Screwdriver Sets
    * Distributor Caps
    * Air Filters
    * Spark Plug Gapping Tools




     1. Replace the fuel filter. If you have a fuel-injection system, regular cleaning isn't necessary unless the injectors are clogged.



     2. Change the spark plugs (unless they're platinum, in which case you have 30,000 more miles to go). Also examine the spark plug wires and replace as needed. A new set of high-quality wires is worth the cost. They may be permanently attached to the distributor cap, so it will have to be changed as well.



     3. Replace the distributor cap and rotor if your car has them (some newer models with distributorless ignition don't).



     4. Change the points and condenser if you have an older car (roughly 1978 or older) that doesn't feature electronic ignition. You'll actually want your points changed, or at least adjusted, every six months or so (if they're changed, check the ignition timing as well).



     5. Check the ignition timing and adjust as needed (rare for a car with electronic ignition--post-1980--and some cars don't allow this at all).



     6. Adjust the valves as needed (unless your car has hydraulic valves). Be sure to replace the valve-cover gasket as well, especially if you see oil on top of your engine.



     7. Check the belts. Replace if worn.



     8. Check the fluids under the hood and replenish as necessary. Change the oil and oil filter if it's been 3,000 miles since the last oil change.



     9. Replace the air filter, which should be changed between major services--every 15,000 miles--as well.



     10.Adjust the clutch, if you have a manual transmission (although some cars now sport self-adjusting clutches).



     11. Service the battery, adding distilled water (if required), cleaning terminals and cable ends.

     12. Replace the PCV (positive crankcase ventilation) valve. It can make your car run rough or stall if it gets clogged, and it's cheap and easy to replace.

Engadget app for the iPhone and iPod touch

2010-08-21T02:09:00.000-07:00

Application Description
Engadget is the definitive source and final word for news on gadgets and technology. The site's team of expert editors and columnists cover the world of consumer electronics with unmatched passion and an obsessive attention to detail. From the latest smartphone news, to reviews and hands-on looks at laptops, HDTVs, gaming, and more, Engadget brings you all the tech news you need. The iPhone app delivers that experience straight to your iPhone or iPod touch, instantly.

Download from App Store Now!

Key Features

    * A non-stop, daily stream of all the news on Engadget, Engadget Mobile, and Engadget HD
    * See features, reviews, unboxings, and hands-on coverage as it happens
    * Check out photo galleries of the latest gadgets
    * Watch streaming video of "The Engadget Show" without leaving the app
    * Share news, photos, videos, and other tech stories via Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail
    * Get quick access to the Engadget Podcast
    * Use the in-app option to tip Engadget on breaking news
    * Commenting fully supported
    * Saving feature to bookmark articles and view while offline
    * Integrated mini web browser for viewing web content without leaving the app
    * Intuitive and clear interface

Details
Category: News
Released: December 30, 2009
Seller: AOL
Copyright: 2009, AOL, Inc.
Version: 1.0.1 (iPhone OS 3.0 Tested)
Size: 1.8 MB
Requirements

    * An original iPhone, iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, or iPod Touch
    * iPhone OS 3.0 or higher
    * Data connection (WiFi, 3G or EDGE)

Xbox 360 S 250GB hard drive sneaks into stores, Microsoft cackles as you fall into its trap

2010-08-20T22:51:00.000-07:00

Yeah, you thought you were so clever waiting for the 4GB Xbox 360 to come out. A mere $199, while all your sucker friends had already sprung the $299 for the hard drive-equipped model. You thought you could live a happy, fulfilling life swapping thumb drives and carefully cropping your download collection. But you can't, can you? Night sweats, day sweats, you've got it bad. You need a hard drive, and now Microsoft's got a $130 250 gigger just for your wreck of a self.
The drive has started popping up in GameStop stores and on GameStop.com, and while Microsoft still hasn't actually officially announced the accessory, when has that stopped you before?

Fearless First: A Quick Guide For First Date

2010-08-20T19:00:00.000-07:00

First dates are always nerve wrecking. In addition to choosing the right place to take your date, you’ll want to try to impress them if you’re really interested in making a great impression. So where exactly do you take someone out on the date? And how do you ensure you’ll impress that person? Here’s a guide to make your first date more memorable

The first thing you’d have to think about is your itinerary. There are, of course, a lot of options, but I think that safest thing to do is to go to the movies first before having dinner. This is because both of you wouldn’t really mind going to the movies, and there are bonuses attached to it which I will discuss later.

The objective of seeing the movie is simple. It’s not just safer, but it also allows you to know how intellectually capable your date is. Even choosing what movie to watch will tell you a lot of things. If they pick out mainstream movies, then it’s up to you to judge why they picked that one. Maybe it has to do with their tastes, or perhaps they simply want to pick out something that might work for both of you.

The whole screen time would also give you tell tale sign of your date’s personality. You’d get to know if they’re the silent type or not, and more importantly if they understand what they were watching. You’d also gauge if they’re comfortable with you or not depending on how they react with you in the theatre.

While the movie gives you subtle hints about your date’s personality, it also gives you a chance to jumpstart a conversation later during dinner.

Dinner is the perfect place to get to know your date better. Choosing the place to eat gives you hints on their likes and dislikes as well as if they’re high maintenance or not.

You’d know if your date is already comfortable with you depending on where they’ll sit at the table. If the person is already comfortable they’ll sit right next to you, although typically on first dates they’d sit right across of you, signifying that they want to know you better.

During the dinner you could use the movie to jumpstart the whole conversation. The discussion could basically lead you anywhere depending on your interests. This is where the fun starts.

What’s most important is to act normally when you’re on a date. Worrying about what your date will think about you could take all the fun out of the activity. Remember that the best way to impress them is to simply be yourself.

Everythng U Need: Good Tips To Make Friends Online at Free Penpals S...

2010-08-20T18:37:00.000-07:00

Everythng U Need: Good Tips To Make Friends Online at Free Penpals S...: "You can make new friends at free penpal sites easily. Making new friends online is good because you and your friends can learn from each oth..."

Good Tips To Make Friends Online at Free Penpals Sites

2010-08-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

You can make new friends at free penpal sites easily. Making new friends online is good because you and your friends can learn from each other. The process of making online friends is easy and simple. You simply sign up for a profile to introduce about yourself. You can even add some photos. The next step is to wait until your profile is approved. You can then search for local friends and international friends you want. Then, you send a message to new friends you’ve found online. If they respond to your message, so you can write them back and go from there. There is no limit to how many friends you can contact one day. Free penpals online service is what you need to look for new friends on the Internet.

Meeting new friends on the free pen pals sites are common in those days. You can connect with many people by sending them a message
. A pen pals service is not about dating, because it’s only focused on friendship. You can make new friends easily and conveniently. There is no fee to register a profile, search for friends, and interact with them. Caution is a must when you meet new friends in real life. Don’t go to see your new friends if you are not comfortable with. You can meet local friends in real life, but you must be comfortable at first. Some people like to make international friends to gain knowledge about other nations, such as language, culture, etc. Free online penpals service is the tool to find new friends.

A profile is the key factor in the process of getting new friends on the Internet. Whether people want to be friends with you or not depends on your profile. We recommend that you list your interests, hobbies, career, marital status, family, residence, age, etc. When people read your profile, they will contact you if they like it. You can do the same by reading other profiles and contact if you want to be friendship with them. Free penpals service is what you need to connect with, because you don’t pay the membership fee. You can make new friends in the comfort of your home. You don’t go anywhere to look for friends. You just turn on your computer and start searching for friends online.

Making friends online at free penpals sites has become a phenomenon in the past recent years. There are people who don’t like being in a crowd. There are also people who are shy when meeting friends in public. Free penpals site is the best way to meet new friends online for these people. You don’t have to meet face-to-face with your new friends. You don’t have to talk with your new friends. You only need to write what you will say in a message and send it to your friends. Some long-term friends may go for relationship and even marriage. What you need is a profile for making online friends. A profile is a description of who you are. Basically it is an introduction you write online to let people know about yourself. You are free to write what you want. Seeking online friends is easy and simple.

Underwear Made From Bananas Hits Australian Shops

2010-08-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

Eco-friendly underwear? Australian underwear company AussieBum has launched it new range of men’s underwear made with Banana.
The new organic underpants are made with 27 percent banana fibre from the weave of the bark from banana tree, and 64 percent cotton and nine percent of spandex.
The company noted on its website that it will provide “ultimate comfort with eco friendly flavor.”
One pair of the underpants is priced at $29.04, according to the website.
The company’s official told Reuters that “Naturally you can’t really add any more banana fibre than that because it might be a bit squishy.”
He added that wearers did not have to worry about real monkeys because the underwear did not smell like a banana.
T

Understanding Your Depression

2010-08-20T17:57:00.000-07:00

Loneliness is a part of our life. We have experienced pain one way or another but after a few days, it subsides. We move on and find happiness again. This kind of cycle is not applicable for people who experience depression. For them, hope is non-existent. They just bask in their sadness and cease to move on.

Depression or Major Depressive Episode according to Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM) is characterized by a feeling of emptiness, sadness, and irritation. People who experience this episode appear tearful or easily move to tears. It usually last for 2 weeks or more. Depression can easily recur if it’s not attended properly.

The effect of this disorder intensifies to a point that a person has trouble sleeping.
Insomnia seeps in making it very difficult for a depressed person to recharge and relax. Hence, the symptoms’ effect intensifies. A significant weight loss or weight gain can also be observed. For some people, loneliness drives them to eat more, as a deviation for their feeling of emptiness. On the other hand, some lost their appetite due to their sadness.

The worst outcome of depression is suicide. This is the part where a person feels worthless that they would rather cease living. For the prior signs I’ve mentioned, its best to consult the experts for treatment. Most of all, for the state of suicide attempt. In this period, it really is the experts, such as psychologist and counselors who should take the lead.

For parents, teachers or guardians, being keen is a huge factor. One of the signs can be an indication of depression. To ensure the safety of children and the people you love, the mere attention can already alleviate the pain from depression. Sometimes, it’s the common question of “How are you?” that can save lives.

Kenny's Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9

2010-08-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Kenny Pryde

Suzuki UK has loaned SuperBike magazine a GSX-R1000 K9 to use as a long term test bike through 2009. In the course of the year, we'll be doing all sorts with it, fitting performance parts, new tyres and all manner of tat to it. Needless to say if you've got questions, suggestions or abuse, send it here: Kenny_Pryde@ipcmedia.com and I will respond.

October!

Finally, five months into ownership, I get to take the K9 to a proper track (Castle Combe was fine but it's never going to please the ACU or the FIM when it comes to safety and run-off, is it?). Luckily, given our hit and miss summer, the bike and I arrived at Brands Indy circuit with sunshine and 21 degrees showing.

So I was all set. The Metzeler Racetec Interact K3 tyres needed to be put to the sword and the Crescent-fettled Power Commander and Translogic QS2 quickshifter were in dire need of being tried in rather more testing conditions than the roads of Surrey.

I mentioned previously that the bespoke fuelling map loaded into the Power Commander V down at Crescent Performance in Verwood had made a significant difference to the bike on the road. Which is to say that the throttle response is crisp and accurate, particularly at small throttle openings. On the track, it felt just as good, which isn't any kind of a surprise, is it? In fact, even when you're slowly winding on the gas around Clearways, heading for the start-finish straight, the slightest tweak on the throttle brought about a very precise increase in acceleration – which is impressive.

The sound of a quickshifter banging through the gears on a high-revving bike on a circuit is one of life's aural pleasures and mine sounds lovely. The Translogic QS2 shifter never missed a beat on track and must have been worth – oooh, what – a tenth of a second a lap? Seriously though, it's a flash bit of kit, but if I was forced to justify it on performance grounds alone, I might struggle…

It feels like years since I've been on a trackday. Or that's what it felt like. I've been on track with Thundersport GB participating in club races and test days, but a trackday gives off a different vibe – it's more relaxed, less stressful and overall it's much more 'fun' than a race weekend where the focus is always on 'go as fast as you can'.

So the Suzuki and I had a great time, even if I had to recalibrate my brain to the speed, weight and brakes of the 179.8hp and 202kg missile that I was hanging on to – it's a lot different from the CBR600RR I've spent most time with in recent months! I left Brands Hatch with an increased appreciation of the fitness required to handle a race-prepped GSX-R1000 around Brands Hatch. I was trying fairly hard and each 20 minute session left me in a sweaty lather, arms and shoulders aching with the effort of braking going down into Graham Hill bend. And that was me, going quite slowly for less than half the number of laps that the BSB and superstock riders race around the demanding Indy circuit. Fair play to them all.

I've previously mentioned how underwhelming the brakes are on the Suzuki – the Achilles heel of the package as far as I'm concerned – but reckoned it was no big deal on the road. Well, when you're braking from 220kph into Paddock Hill bend, you want better performing brakes than these. So the quest for improved (less sponge, a bit more initial bite and a more positive feel once you are braking) is on once again so it looks like some new fluid and some braided hoses are on the agenda (although I'm not convinced either will make a significant improvement).

I made some suspension tweaks to the bike after the first session when the back end felt a little loose and vague, with the Showa BPF fork needing a bit more support under heavy braking too. So I added one and a quarter turns to the rear rebound and a half a turn of rebound to the fork. Given the way that the Showa BPF internals work, an adjustment to the rebound also increases the compression damping circuit, so I got what I needed. That calmed things down enough for me to get on with the job of enjoying the track.

Also on the agenda was to see how well the road-spec Metzeler Racetec Interact tyres (33psi front and 29psi rear: hot) would cope with the long right hander of Clearways and the two left handers on the circuit. Clearways exit (onto the start-finish straight) asks a lot of a tyre when it's on a 179hp bike accelerating hard at relatively high speeds. Equally the warm-up required to cope with the (two) left handers, especially Graham Hill bend, means that slips and slides will show up on the exit if the tyre isn't up to temperature. (The second left hander, at Surtees, asks less of the tyre because you're not on the gas as hard on the edge of the tyre as you are at the exit of Graham Hill).

Long story short, I had no problems, taking three laps fairly steady on cold tyres before feeling ready to push on a bit. The overall results were impressive, both in terms of a secure feeling from the front and in terms of wear to the rear right shoulder of the tyre. Through the day the tyres did around 95 laps and had already done a couple of hundred miles on the road beforehand. Two thumbs up, as they say…

Skidmarx screen
The standard screen is, as far as I'm concerned, too low. Aesthetically it might match the front of the bike a bit better than the Skidmarx 'double bubble' design, but in terms of protecting you from wind blast and rain, it's half as good (is that why such designs are called 'double' bubble?)
Seriously though, six wee screw fixings, loosen off the mirrors a bit, slip your new screen in and make sure you screw everything up nice and tight again (unlike me). Everything lines up nicely, there's no need for bending or coaxing and off you go. The downside is that the wind blast that hits you with the OE screen acts as a 'speedo' so now, when you feel less wind on your head and chest, you assume you're not going that quick. That's not going to stand up in court either, is it?

CONTACTS:
Skidmarx: www.skidmarx.co.uk
Metzeler: www.metzelermoto.co.uk
Crescent Performance: www.crescent-motorcycles.com
Translogic: www.translogicuk.com

July 28:
After a couple of months of dicking about, I finally got round to business. Or rather I took the bike and some bits down to Crescent Performance down in Verwood for a serious makeover.

I had a Yoshimura R&D R-77 stainless and carbon full system to go on – its four into two into one configuration looking much better in my eyes (and indeed the eyes of anyone who can see), allied to a new Power Commander V (five, if you will, or Power Commander 5), a Translogic QS2 quickshifter and an R&G Racing tail tidy.

My man Mitchell rolled the bike into the Crescent Dynojet dyno and after a few runs, the stock bike running stock everything (including pump fuel and Metzeler Racetec Interact K3 tyres) produced 166.02hp@11,750rpm and 81.13ft llbs of torque at 10,000rpm.

When the Yosh R-77 system was bolted on, without a Power Commander, running the same stock fuel map, the figures were 174.40@12,000rpm and 82.32 ft lbs of torque.

When Alan 'APC Racing' Cook re-mapped the fuelling and plumbed in the Power Commander V, the bike rolled out of the dyno room with 179.78hp at 12,100rpm and 84.27 ft llbs of torque. I didn't need more power, obviously, but I've got it now and very nice it is too. But, far more importantly, the throttle response is crisp and accurate, there's no fluffiness anywhere and, higher in the revs, small increases in throttle mean incremental increases in speed. The fuelling is faultless, bog-free, responsive and precise.

The other thing you notice is the weight loss. The standard system – even with its titanium header pipes and surprisingly light end cans – is crippled by a boxy lump of catalytic converter (3.8kg on its own!) and losing that lot and replacing it with the R-77 means the bike is 10 kilos lighter. And believe me, you can feel the difference.

I've been laughing like a maniac inside my lid and sometimes – just sometimes – being riding fit to be locked up. In all honesty, there are times when I know that if I saw someone riding the way I had been, I'd have been disgusted. 'It was the bike wot made me do it yer honour, I don't know what came over me'... It's not going to stand up in court, is it?

July 7:
Finally I make it up to Simon Tonge's SNS workshop in the picturesque and roasting hot Surrey Hills (no, really) to get those Metzeler Racetec Interact K3 (yellow) hoops fitted. Praise be to the patron saint of German rubber. Not that I want to be irrational about this, but I'm so much happier on the Metzelers. Short of carrying out a rubbery autopsy, I'm convinced that the construction, the tyre architecture if you will, is softer in the front Ractec Interact tyre than it is on the OE Bridgestone BT-016. That increased feel from the front puts a smile on my face and a bit more confidence in my heart. I fitted the Metzelers with 2398 miles on the clock, let's see how long they last.

July 1:
I was up at Donington WSB last weekend, pestering the Alstare Suzuki European superstock team mechanics and rider Claudio Corti (for an article in the mag) and I was asking the chief tech about the K9 brakes. He agreed they weren't as good as the previous models and, apart from fitting Fren Tubi brake lines, insisted that Yoshimura brake pads were the best on the market and that Corti, who had been a fan of SBS pads, had quickly seen the light and made the switch. I was a bit embarrassed because I had never even heard of them. But I contacted Yoshimura in Japan and, sure enough, they do exist.

Better than that, I learned that in Japan, the pads are known as 'Katsuaki specials', because when world supersport rider Katsuaki Fujiwara was riding with Alstare Suzuki, he had a special batch and compound made up for him and that compound is still made today. They are distributed in the UK by Crescent Performance.

June 30:
In between my last post I had a spin on the Worx Crescent replica (which you can read about here) but since I took this bike to Castle Combe circuit, I was able to compare them with back to back rides on the same OE tyres. After one session I realised that my compression-free road settings were, surprise, surprise, no good at all for the track. So I put the front and rear compression settings back to standard (as per the owner's manual) and the bike was much improved (more composed, less prone to wallowing, better turn-in and steering, just...better).

Which is what you would expect on a track. But I've not changed them since for my road riding. The bike 'handles' better on the road with some damping. Of course it's a compromise. On bumpy roads, it doesn't feel comfy or composed, but on smoother roads, yes, it feels like a taut, responsive bike. Of course suspension settings are a compromise between comfort and performance but the Suzuki has enough adjustability in stock suspension units for you to find settings that suit you, your tyres, your roads and your riding style. Me? I think I'm a stock kind of a guy after all. Or maybe the suspension bushings, bearings, seals and linkagaes have just 'bedded in' after 2,000 miles?

June 15:
In truth, I have nothing to report other than I'm more convinced than ever that the the Suzuki is the best roadbike of the crop of litre bikes (I'll maybe ride the Fireblade later...). I say that because I had Bob's 2009 R1 for a couple of days and it didn't float my boat. It feels like a barge at low speed, it weighs a ton (not really) and I'm not convinced by the throttle smoothness at low revs. In short, I'm still in love with the Suzuki.
I also had a spin on the roads on the new Aprilia RSV4 and, while it is an astonishing bike, as a road bike, it's harder work than the Suzuki. To be fair, maybe with more time on it I'd get my head around it, but it's not a bike I felt able to hop on and get on with straightaway, unlike the Suzuki. Bikes....still great.

June 1:
Oh god, get me, I've turned into some sort of fuel consumption nerd. I rode to Thruxton BSB and back and, since my 'brush' with the traffic police and three-point penalty, I've definitely calmed down. Which means I've been riding like...well....I don't know how to describe it. Maybe like a member of the Christian Sportbike Fellowship with nine points and the threat of eternal damnation? Anyway, long story short, I got 180 miles out of a tank. Stone me, it's a sports-tourer right enough! Mind you, it must have been close, since I brimmed it and it took 16.97 litres.

May 12:
I've been away for the best part of a week racing the MidLife Crisis Chicana Mobile Honda at Pembrey, so had some time off the Suzuki. As an update on the rather dull topic of fuel consumption, I pushed my luck to 24 miles on reserve (mostly first and second gear riding in town) and saw 167 miles on the total trip meter. It took 17.4 litres of fuel, which meant that I had around half a litre left. I reckon that's not bad, although bear in mind there were at least 120 miles of 'steady' motorway miles in that total.

May 6:
I have never bought a bike on the basis of its fuel consumption in my life. It's not something that weighs heavy on my mind. However, in the interests of, I dunno, 'science' or just passing interest, I have to say that my last tank of fuel saw me reach 135 miles on the trip meter before the amber fuel light started blinking at me. 135 miles which involved a chunk of 'steady' motorway riding in top gear. I dare say now that I'm on what car wallahs might call an 'urban cycle' I might get about another 30 miles till I burn the three litres on reserve, but I'm not sure I want to run out and face the push...

And, following my last post here, I've decided to give a set of Metzeler Sportec M3 hoops a run. I was well impressed by them on a recent bike test (the BMW F 800 R) where I was able to back to back compare them on a track with Bridgestone BT-14 and the otherwise excellent Dunlop Roadsmart tyres. It could be that the Sportec M3 is an overlooked tyre that deserves a run out. That's my story. If anyone else has any experience of them, let me have it!

May 1:
The good news is that the K9 survived a wet, cold and windy Anglesey Trac Mon circuit. On the ride home, alas, my driving licence took a bit of a dent, but that's another story.

Since the track barely dried, I don't have too much to say about the performance of the K9 on the circuit, which is probably a good thing. We (the magazine) were up at the track finishing off our 1000cc sportsbike group test and the four test bikes were all put on Dunlop D209GP tyres, which was interesting.

Basically, I rode around and around, trying to get a feel for the track (ie, go slowly and not crash) and stayed out for a chunk of laps. Then I came in and took out the Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9 with the Dunlop D209GP hoops on. Now, bearing in mind there was only a dry line on some corners, bearing in mind the air temperature was 10 degrees Celcius, you wouldn't have thought that a track/race Dunlop would be significantly better than the OE Bridgestone BT-016 would be, would you? Well, I went out for one session on the Dunlops and never came back in. Miles better. Miles and miles and miles. I'm junking those OE BT-016 hoops asap.

And let's get this straight. I wasn't riding fast, I wasn't really trying to ride fast, I was riding not to crash. In any case, I'm not a particularly fast rider and I'm not always looking for the last scintilla of grip from the rear; but I felt more comfy (and went quicker) on the Dunlops than I did on the OE BT-016 tyres. And that's all I can say. I felt more comfy and I went quicker. The Dunlop felt 'softer' with a more positive feeling when I got on the brakes and I was more confident when turning into corners than on the Bridgestone – and that's what helped me, that feeling.

April 27:
The good news is that crash protection specialists R&G Racing Products has just delivered three (or four) items of crucial importance to the office. There's a left hand side engine case slider; a right hand side engine case slider and two cotton reel swinging arm bobbins to facilitate chain adjustment and lubrication.

The good news is that this level of protection doesn't require the cutting of the fairings, just a dab of grease to ease in the longer bolts and all of a sudden, the bike doesn't feel so exposed anymore.

This is good news because the bike is off to Trac Mon, the Anglesey circuit on Wednesday this week and there's no point in tempting fate, is there?

Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Quieting the Mind

2010-08-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area. The practice comes with a myriad of well-publicized health benefits including increased concentration, decreased anxiety, and a general feeling of happiness.

Although a great number of people try meditation at some point in their lives, a small percentage actually stick with it for the long-term. This is unfortunate, and a possible reason is that many beginners do not begin with a mindset needed to make the practice sustainable.

The purpose of this article is to provide 20 practical recommendations to help beginners get past the initial hurdles and integrate meditation over the long term:

1) Make it a formal practice. You will only get to the next level in meditation by setting aside specific time (preferably two times a day) to be still.

2) Start with the breath. Breathing deep slows the heart rate, relaxes the muscles, focuses the mind and is an ideal way to begin practice.

3) Stretch first. Stretching loosens the muscles and tendons allowing you to sit (or lie) more comfortably. Additionally, stretching starts the process of “going inward” and brings added attention to the body.

4) Meditate with Purpose. Beginners must understand that meditation is an ACTIVE process. The art of focusing your attention to a single point is hard work, and you have to be purposefully engaged!

5) Notice frustration creep up on you. This is very common for beginners as we think “hey, what am I doing here” or “why can’t I just quiet my damn mind already”. When this happens, really focus in on your breath and let the frustrated feelings go.

6) Experiment. Although many of us think of effective meditation as a Yogi sitting cross-legged beneath a Bonzi tree, beginners should be more experimental and try different types of meditation. Try sitting, lying, eyes open, eyes closed, etc.

7) Feel your body parts. A great practice for beginning meditators is to take notice of the body when a meditative state starts to take hold. Once the mind quiets, put all your attention to the feet and then slowly move your way up the body (include your internal organs). This is very healthy and an indicator that you are on the right path.

8) Pick a specific room in your home to meditate. Make sure it is not the same room where you do work, exercise, or sleep. Place candles and other spiritual paraphernalia in the room to help you feel at ease.

9) Read a book (or two) on meditation. Preferably an instructional guide AND one that describes the benefits of deep meditative states. This will get you motivated. John Kabat-Zinn’s Wherever You Go, There You Are is terrific for beginners.

10) Commit for the long haul. Meditation is a life-long practice, and you will benefit most by NOT examining the results of your daily practice. Just do the best you can every day, and then let it go!

11) Listen to instructional tapes and CDs.

12) Generate moments of awareness during the day. Finding your breath and “being present” while not in formal practice is a wonderful way to evolve your meditation habits.

13) Make sure you will not be disturbed. One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is not insuring peaceful practice conditions. If you have it in the back of your mind that the phone might ring, your kids might wake, or your coffee pot might whistle than you will not be able to attain a state of deep relaxation.

14) Notice small adjustments. For beginning meditators, the slightest physical movements can transform a meditative practice from one of frustration to one of renewal. These adjustments may be barely noticeable to an observer, but they can mean everything for your practice.

15) Use a candle. Meditating with eyes closed can be challenging for a beginner. Lighting a candle and using it as your point of focus allows you to strengthen your attention with a visual cue. This can be very powerful.

16) Do NOT Stress. This may be the most important tip for beginners, and the hardest to implement. No matter what happens during your meditation practice, do not stress about it. This includes being nervous before meditating and angry afterwards. Meditation is what it is, and just do the best you can at the time.

17) Do it together. Meditating with a partner or loved one can have many wonderful benefits, and can improve your practice. However, it is necessary to make sure that you set agreed-upon ground rules before you begin!

18) Meditate early in the morning. Without a doubt, early morning is an ideal
time to practice: it is quieter, your mind is not filled with the usual clutter, and there is less chance you will be disturbed. Make it a habit to get up half an hour earlier to meditate.

19) Be Grateful at the end. Once your practice is through, spend 2-3 minutes feeling appreciative of the opportunity to practice and your mind’s ability to focus.

20) Notice when your interest in meditation begins to wane. Meditation is
hard work, and you will inevitably come to a point where it seemingly does not fit into the picture anymore. THIS is when you need your practice the most and I recommend you go back to the book(s) or the CD’s you listened to and become re-invigorated with the practice. Chances are that losing the ability to focus on meditation is parallel with your inability to focus in other areas of your life!

Meditation is an absolutely wonderful practice, but can be very difficult in the beginning. Use the tips described in this article to get your practice to the next level!

Read more about personal development from Todd Goldfarb on his blog, We The Change.

Going for Cosmetic Surgery – Guide

2010-08-20T09:37:00.000-07:00

Those who are considering cosmetic surgery such as breast augmentation in Melbourne should research the topic to make sure they know all the risks involved as well as the benefits. It can certainly change and improve your shape and may well boost your confidence and self-esteem, but it does not change who you are on the inside – and therefore may not meet all your expectations. You need to be realistic rather than idealistic.

That said, if you live in the southern parts of the country and are a good candidate for this kind of cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation specialists in Melbourne are some of the best qualified to do the work. Having cosmetic surgery in Melbourne can improve your size and shape and make you feel better able to face the world.

Of course, plastic surgery in Melbourne is not only about breast augmentation; you could need a nose job for some reason. Maybe your nose was broken in an accident and you now find it hard to breathe easily.
This can be a real health hazard and cause tiredness or sleep apnoea at the very least. Or it could be that you feel your nose is the wrong size or shape for the rest of your face. In some cases, people are born with a defect that needs surgery to fix it.

Rhinoplasty surgery can help with all these problems, but this kind of plastic surgery may not be the answer to your specific problem. Only a plastic surgery specialist will be able to tell you.

Cosmetic surgeons prefer to operate only on those who are psychologically stable and have no other health problems that could interfere with the surgery. They also like to make sure the patient does not expect to come out of surgery looking like a movie star. Cosmetic surgery will improve the looks in most cases, but it won’t make you perfect.

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Understanding Your Depression

Kenny's Suzuki GSX-R1000 K9

Meditation for Beginners: 20 Practical Tips for Quieting the Mind

Going for Cosmetic Surgery – Guide