Living Life

Emmy Awards Winners

2009-09-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

As the 61st Emmy awards has finished the results of we were able to gather the list of winners.

Outstanding Lead actor in a comedy series
Alec Baldwin, as Jack Donaghy
30 Rock NBC

Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios

Outstanding Lead actress in a comedy series
Toni Collette, as Tara Gregson

United States Of Tara Showtime

Showtime presents in association with Dreamworks Television
Outstanding Lead actor in a Drama series
Bryan Cranston, as Walter White
Outstanding Lead actress in a Drama series
Glenn Close, as Patty Hewes

to see more on the list of nominees and winners see http://www.emmys.com/nominations
or check http://cdn.emmys.tv/awards/primetimeawards.php for details to watch 61st Annual Emmy awards night.

Los Angeles Ready for 61st Annual Emmy Awards

2009-09-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Ready for 61st Emmy's Awards with the red carpets in place what they need are the stars. They also have their new host Neil Patrick Harris. And a lot of stars these year are first time nominees.

Philippines former president, Corazon Aquino, died at 76

2009-07-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Former President Corazon Aquino, who swept away a dictator with a "people power" revolt and then sustained democracy by fighting off seven coup attempts in six years, died on Saturday 3:18 a.m (1918 GMT Friday), her son said. She was 76.

Aquino was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer last year and confined to a Manila hospital for more than a month. Her son said the cancer had spread to other organs and she was too weak to continue her chemotherapy.

Supporters have been holding daily prayers for Aquino in churches in Manila and throughout the country for a month. Masses were scheduled for later Saturday, and yellow ribbons were tied on trees around her neighborhood in Quezon city.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is on an official visit to the United States, said in a statement that "the entire nation is mourning" Aquino's demise. Arroyo declared a period of national mourning and announced a state funeral would be held for the late president.

TV stations on Saturday were running footage of Aquino's years together with prayers while her former aides and supporters offered condolences.

"Today our country has lost a mother," said former President Joseph Estrada, calling Aquino "a woman of both strength and graciousness."

source: news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_obit_corazon_aquino

Miss California Fired

2009-06-10T16:40:00.000-07:00

Carrie Prejean has been stripped of her Miss California title.

"The Miss California USA Organization, in conjunction with the Miss Universe Organization and with the blessing of its owner, Mr. Donald J. Trump, announced today the termination of Carrie Prejean as Miss California USA 2009, citing continued breach of contract issues," the Miss California Organization said in a statement to Access Hollywood.

Dont Worry, Be happy

2009-05-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

Check out this inspiring video.

In life no matter how many times you fall you must always strive to be back on your feet and move forward.

Ways to Relax

2009-03-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

Are you unable to make clear decisions? You tend to procrastinate, unable to focus?
Then you should find ways to relax. Relaxation will help you release your stress.

There are Common Ways of Relaxation Include these are:

Guided Imagery, Television / Movies, Music / Concerts, Exercises / , Meditation, Conditioned Muscle Relaxation, Deep Breath / Sighs, Puzzles, Social Conversation, Sleep, Sports, Dance / Aerobics, Knitting, Phone Calls, T'ai Chi, Massage, Warm Baths,

Finding ways to relax is one key to enjoying life. Having less pent up stress can be helpful for fighting disease and staying healthy.

If you haven't been good at relaxing, how do you start?
1. Spent time with friends having positive views of life.
2. Avoid people that would bring negative effect or let them join you for a relaxation session.

Here are other good ways to relax:

* Rent a funny movie or visit a joke Web site. Laughter releases tension and helps put life back in perspective.

* Get moving! Who said you need quiet to relax? Pop in your favorite CD or turn to your favorite radio station and dance for a few songs. This will revitalize your body and mind and you'll be ready to face anything.

* Do yoga. If you don't have time to join a yoga class at least once a week, then purchase a yoga video. Make time to do at least 15 minutes of yoga most days. This will help stretch and relax your muscles

* Take a bubble bath. Put on some soft music, light a candle and enjoy a nice warm bubble bath. If you don't want music, you can always take a book or magazine with you.

* Clean your inbox daily. No, not your e-mail. Your mind. Buy yourself a notebook or start a computer journal. Every night jot down happenings, thoughts and things accomplished that day, or even your frustrations. When your mind is "cleaned up," it is easier to relax and fall asleep.

* Clean your inbox weekly. Yes, this time we mean the computer. At least once a week, read and answer your e-mails and file, archive or delete the stuff you don't need anymore. Clutter in the computer can clutter your mind, so let's clean it up.

* Have you ever heard of the phrase "take 5?" Set aside 5 or 10 minutes to have "you" time. Try waking up a little bit earlier than the rest of the house and enjoy the quiet alone (or with a nice cup of tea).

Being able to unwind and relax is one step toward a happier, healthier life. Don't be shy about being happy, pass it on to your friends and co-workers, they'll thank you for it.

please feel free to add some more ways of relaxation.

Simple Pleasures of Life

2009-03-02T22:19:00.000-08:00

Simple things in life needs to be cherish
Signs

Live life with Pleasure

2009-02-11T17:49:00.000-08:00

RELAX
Watch the clouds roll by, soak in a bath, or retreat to a solitary place

BREATHE
Take a deep breath through the nose and release the soft exhalation slowly through the mouth

MOVE
Practice tai chi and dance, or just put on music and allow your body to move with the flow

LAUGH
Breathe gently and work your way up to a strong belly laugh. Sit down to a 10-minute laughter session

GET RID OF STRESS
Use those stressful moments to consciously face novel situations and create openness in your mind, body and emotions

EXPLORE PLEASURES
Ask for regular massages from your partner or give yourself massages. Zoom in on what feels good. Explore new ways of savoring sex, be it with a partner or solo. Focus on the connection between letting go and sensual pleasure. Explore neglected senses, such as smell and hearing. Pick up an instrument you haven't played in years

TAKE PLEASURE IN NATURE
Go for a walk, look around. Watch out for unnoticed sights and sounds, the chirping of a bird, the shapes in the clouds, the humming of a bee

SHARE
Give pleasure to others. Be generous with hugs and expressions of affection.

source. . .

25 most Awaited Movies for 2009

2009-01-14T00:12:00.000-08:00

Movies that will probably make a hit this 2009. Better set your free time for this dates and prepare some bucks for popcorns and tickets.

Bitch Slap (January 15)Talent: Julia Voth, Erin Cummings, America Olivo

Do yourself (and me) a quick favor by checking out the trailer for this red hot mess of a movie. If you do, I won’t even have to write any more. Three gorgeous, busty women spitting out pithy one-liners and kicking ass, shooting off cartoonishly large weapons, and a $200 million revenge plot. You might not recognize any of the talent involved, but from what I’ve seen so far it looks like it could be a fantastic, campy love letter to the Faster, Pussy Cat! Kill! Kill! School of Filmmaking. A film school I wouldn’t mind actually enrolling in. Be warned though - Bitch Slap is rated PG-DD, making it unsuitable for children under 17 and Gloria Steinum. - Cole Abaius

My Bloody Valentine 3D (January 16)Talent: Patrick Lussier (Director), Tom Atkins

An R-rated slasher film in 3-D? Hell yeah! This remake of the 1981 classic features a sadistic miner on the rampage mowing down twenty-somethings like blades of sexually active grass. Advance word from early screenings is that this is a bloody and awesome experience. 3-D is the new Smell-o-vision, and this is the first film (in a very long time) to take advantage of it for adult audiences. Only about 1/3 of the theater screens will actually be showing this in 3-D though, so check before you go. Be sure to duck if you see vomit heading your way… that may actually be real. - Rob Hunter

Taken (January 30)Talent: Pierre Morel (Director), Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace

You’ve probably been hearing a lot about this movie recently but more needs to be said. Released internationally a year ago, Taken is an action thriller in the Bourne mold with Neeson kicking ass all over Paris as he searches for his abducted daughter. Stellar fight scenes coupled with an energetic performance from Neeson make this a must see for fans of solid but fun action, hand to hand combat, morally ambiguous torture, car chases, and Schindler’s List. - Rob Hunter

Coraline (February 6)Talent: Henry Selick (Director), Neil Gaiman (Writer)

What happens when you combine the director who knocked us out of our seats with the brilliant and seemingly timeless The Nightmare Before Christmas with one of the greatest living sci-fi writers of all-time? The story of a little girl in an even littler world who opens a mysterious door and finds an alternate world and alternate family, that’s what. Full of life and brilliant dashes of creativity and uniqueness, Coraline appears to be 2009’s February surprise, a lovable work of stop-motion animation that should catch the attention of child and adult alike. Don’t be surprised if this one makes an impact felt all year long. - Neil Miller

Friday the 13th (February 13)

Talent: Marcus Nispel (Director), Jared Padalecki, Amanda Righetti, Derek Mears

The most recognizable and feared slasher in all of cinema is back in a big way this Valentine’s Day weekend. After a slew of sequels threatened to kill the unkillable, Michael Bay’s Platinum Dunes, with horror ace producers Brad Fuller and Andrew Form, is bringing a touch of realism and a healthy dose of bad-ass back to the franchise. From the team that successfully updated The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, I am thoroughly stoked for this film, which I believe will contain lots of kills, lots of boobs, and gallons of blood supremely spilled. Count me in. - Robert Fure

Watchmen (March 6)Talent: Zack Snyder (director), Carla Gugino, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Ackerman, Patrick Wilson, Billy Crudup, Jackie Earle Haley

After all the years of waiting, it feels a bit surreal to be anticipating this movie in a tangible way. For too long, fans (including myself) have kept this one on the list of Most Anticipated Movies That No One’s Making. Now it seems like a large amount of the puzzle pieces came together perfectly - an accomplished director who carried the graphic novel around set more than he did the script, a solid cast, and the technology needed to create the visual shock and awe that’s worthy of the source material. Legal troubles aside, this year may finally be the year that superfans can release the tantric-like tension they’ve built up waiting to geek out, and a larger audience might be exposed to a stirring social satire that still has something to tell us about the world around us. - Cole Abaius

This Side of Truth (March 20)Talent: Ricky Gervais (Director), Ricky Gervais, Jason Bateman, Tina Fey, Rob Lowe

Imagine a world without lies. A world where the very thought of telling a lie has never even occurred to anyone. A world where movies are simply footage of “actors” reading historical non-fiction to the camera. Now drop Gervais into the mix as an actor who decides to make up a story… to lie… and imagine the potential hilarity that follows as he exploits his newfound celebrity as the best actor in the world. Gervais is hilarious, and if you didn’t see his recent Ghost Town you’re a fool. Go rent it now. Or at least before March 20th. - Rob Hunter

Monsters v. Aliens (March 27)Talent: Rob Letterman, Conrad Vernon (Co-Directors), Seth Rogen, Reese Witherspoon, Keifer Sutherland

Remember when Disney had a Microsoft-esque monopoly on animated films? How the times have changed. DreamWorks Animation is looking to knock Pixar Studios down a peg, and it appears they may have a hit with this blob-led battle royale. Not only is Seth Rogen officially taking over the animated comedy world, but the film features the talent of Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert and the underrated Paul Rudd. Forget werewolves and vampires, Monsters vs. Aliens is the real duel we want to see. And we’re betting it will be superior to Alien vs. Predator. Bonus! – Adam Sweeney

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1)Talent: Gavin Hood (Director), Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds, Liev Schreiber, Taylor Kitsch

If you’ve ever been in a comic book shop, you’d know Wolverine is everywhere and now the big screen is no exception. Hugh Jackman returns as the cigar-chompin, bad-dude-slicin’ mutant with a healing factor as we take a look at his humble, ass-whuppin origins. Promising to deliver on the action, how can you not be excited for a whole slew of mutant cameos, including fan favorite Gambit and the expertly cast merc-with-a-mouth Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds)? We were amped for this movie before the official trailer. Honestly, Wolverine, you had us at “I’m going to cut your God damn head off.” - Robert Fure

Star Trek (May 8)Talent: J. J. Abrams (director), Robert Orci (writer), Alex Kurtzman (writer), Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana

I know that this franchise is about as ubiquitous as oxygen, so there’s a huge fanbase aching to return to The Enterprise, but I’ll admit that I have never seen a single episode or movie. So why am I anticipating this installment? I was lucky enough to see some advanced footage, and as a sci-fi fan and as an action fan, I’ve been converted to the brilliant potential that Star Trek has. If you’re a Trekker, you don’t need any more prodding, and if you’re not, I offer this as proof to watch out for this movie: In a time where everyone is complaining about franchise reboots, no one is complaining about another Star Trek being made. - Cole Abaius

The Brothers Bloom (May 15)Talent: Rian Johnson (Director), Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz

In his sophomore effort, Brick director Rian Johnson has set out to make another crime caper, though with a funnier twist. Where his previous work was this generations homage to noir, The Brothers Bloom appears to be a tip of the hat to films such as Ocean’s Eleven and The Italian Job (the originals). With a rock-solid cast and the waves he’s already made with his previous work, Johnson certainly has our attention. And with the buzz that this film has acquired in its run through multiple 2008 film festivals, I wouldn’t be surprised if it catches your attention soon as well. - Neil Miller

Terminator Salvation (May 22)

Talent: McG (Director), Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Bryce Dallas Howard

If you’re like us, you’d watch Christian Bale paint a fence, so it should be no surprise that if you exchange his paintbrush for an M4 Assault Rifle and the fence for robots from the future and paint with bullets, we’re so excited that we’re coming up with weird metaphors about how we’d watch Bale do anything. But seriously folks, McG was not the first choice of fanboys until we got a glimpse of the trailer, which gave us robots of all sizes and Bale being a badass. Add to that Bale’s demands for a great script before even signing on and the guarantee of sequels and epic action, this might just be the best movie ever, according to my checklist: Robots. Guns. Bale. Babes. Violence. - Robert Fure

Pixar’s Up (May 29)Talent: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson (Co-Directors), Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger

I’m tired of hearing the term old school. Finally we have an animated film that can live up to the phrase. Is there any character Pixar can’t make lovable? It doesn’t look like it, as they have now reached into the retirement home to create Carl Fredricksen, a 78-year-old man who decides to fulfill his dream of seeing South America, only to find out he’s not alone on the adventure. So pour a little Metamucil on the block and give it up for Ed Asner, a senior citizen so cool he did voice work on The Boondocks. And we never get tired of John Ratzenberger hamming it up in Pixar films. It’s a win-win for everybody. – Adam Sweeney

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26)Talent: Michael Bay (Director), Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Optimus Prime

Michael Bay is bringing giant f**king robots back to the big screen with the promise that even bigger and even better. They’ve added new robots, turned up the action and as we can only expect, blown more shit up. As a fan of the first film, I can’t see too many other films in ‘09 that will be bigger event movies than the second Transformers. If the first film proved anything, it is that the experience will be filled with big robots, big set pieces, long shots of Megan Fox’s abdomen and Shia LaBeouf laying down as many “No’s” as possible. Should be fun, at the very least. - Neil Miller

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (July 17)Talent: David Yates (Director), Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Alan Rickman

Tom Riddle me this, is there anyone that won’t be seeing this film? I certainly will. I know, I know. This film should have been released last November instead of the pseudo-shimmering vampire wonder that was Twilight. Count to three, breathe and tell yourself that Christmas comes in July with the sixth installment of the Harry Potter franchise. David Yates has brought the best out of our favorite wizards and Harry’s world is only set to get darker with the film setting its sights on the past of Lord Voldemort. Mix in the always dazzling character acting of Alan Rickman and Helena Bonham Carter, and we have plenty of reason to stop brewing and take another sip from J.K. Rowling’s goblet. - Adam Sweeney

Funny People (July 31)Talent: Judd Apatow (Writer/Director), Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann

What could be funnier than a man with a terminal, inoperable condition guaranteed to end his life? Well shit, I would guess lots of stuff. But then again, when you take Hollywood hotshot Judd Apatow and pair him with comedy’s highest paid actor (Sandler) and comedy’s next big thing (Rogen), you’ve got a project worth paying attention to. The film will follow the sickly Sandler as a stand-up comedian who takes the struggling up and comer Rogen under his wing. With Apatow attached, no doubt this movie will be too long for a comedy and have cameos from recognizable faces (Jonah Hill) and faces we’d rather forget (Andy Dick), but hey, laughs is laughs. - Robert Fure

Inglorious Basterds (August 21)

Talent: Quentin Tarantino( Director), Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Samuel L. Jackson

Has there been a project more wrapped in uncertainty than Inglourious Basterds? Up until this week we weren’t even certain Tarantino would be releasing the film this year. Now it appears that the basterds will be invading theaters in August, as curious a release date as the case of Benjamin Button. We know we will see blood and carnage, as Tarantino proved that he can bring the pain in the Kill Bill series. But what makes Inglourious Basterds worth watching is the chance to see if Tarantino can mix his usual flash with some substance. And who doesn’t want to see Brad Pitt scalp a few Nazis? – Adam Sweeney

9 (September 9)Talent: Shane Ackers (Creator), Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, CGI Ragdolls

One look at the recent trailer and you are instantly hooked… not bad for a movie that almost no one had heard of beforehand. Based on his own award-winning short, Acker’s 9 is a post-apocalyptic tale of living ragdolls, mechanical beasts, and a quest to save all of humanity. It’s also one of the most amazing and beautiful-looking CGI films yet, even if it is substantially darker than the usual CGI kiddie films. - Rob Hunter

Shutter Island (October 2)Talent: Martin Scorsese (director), Dennis Lehane (source author), Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Mortimer, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley

If you’ve read Shutter Island, you already know how gripping it is. Even if you haven’t read Lehane’s work, you already know that two of his books - Gone, Baby, Gone and Mystic River - have already been adapted into Academy Award nominated and winning films. Now, fans of his work will get to see his story about two U.S. Marshals hunting an escaped murderess during a cataclysmic storm handled by the iconic talent of Martin Scorsese and the strength of a stellar cast. In an interview, Lehane claimed that Shutter Island was his attempt at blending the work of the Bronte sisters and Invasion of the Body Snatchers. If that’s the case, expect a blend of Jane Eyre darkness with Cold War Era levels of paranoia. - Cole Abaius

Where the Wild Things Are (October 16)Talent: Spike Jonze (director/writer), Catherine O’Hara, Forest Whitaker, Catherine Keener, Paul Dano

After Max chases his dog around with a fork, he’s sent to his room without supper. But that room soon transforms into a jungle paradise of Wild Things. Other than an animated short from the 70s, fans of Maurice Sendak’s beautifully illustrated children’s book haven’t had much satisfaction in other mediums outside of opera, ballet and commemorative stamps. Luckily, the story will be brought to the screen by a director known for visionary work. Plus, literary giant Dave Eggers is taking his shot at screenwriting with this project, and if anyone can turn ten sentences into an entire film, it’s him. It’s been a long wait, which will make it all the sweeter when we all finally get to stare into a mythical world of mischievous eyes without blinking once. - Cole Abaius

The Fantastic Mr. Fox (November 6)Talent: Wes Anderson (director), Cate Blanchett, George Clooney, Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston, Jason Schwartzman

It’s a great year for Hollywood to reach out to the child inside all of us, and Wes Anderson is joining us on the playground by adapting Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr. Fox. It’ll be his first animated feature, but he’s bringing along the usual suspects that seem contractually obligated to appear in every project he does. The story is simple - three farmers square off against a clever fox who steals their poultry every night to feed his family. It may not be the most well-known Dahl book, but I’m looking forward to seeing what Anderson and company can do with stop motion animation and a light-hearted children’s story. - Cole Abaius

Sherlock Holmes (November 20)Talent: Guy Ritchie (Director), Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong

After his all-over-the-map performances of 2008, all of which beloved, Robert Downey Jr. is eyeing 2009 as his year to bring back the detective’s cap. He’s shedding the armor of Iron Man (for now, at least) and the ridiculous hilarity of Kirk Lazarus and heading back to the late-nineteenth century to sword fight, box, solve mysteries and undoubtedly get the girl. Better yet, he’s teaming up with Guy Ritchie, who should be able to mix some period piece details with his high-energy style to make for one wild ride. That, and Mark Strong as a bad guy is becoming a welcomed hot trend (see RocknRolla for proof). - Neil Miller

The Lovely Bones (December 11)Talent: Peter Jackson (Director), Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg, Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan, Stanley Tucci

Peter Jackson is best known for his spectacular directing of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, a special effects wonder. But Jackson is no stranger to strictly dramatic affairs, Heavenly Creatures proves that. Like Kate Winslet’s turn in the aforementioned film, the adaptation of Alice Sebold’s best-selling novel offers a chance at a breakthrough performance for Saoirse Ronan. Jackson penned the screenplay about this tale of murder and the balance between revenge and forgiveness, one of my favorite stories of the past decade. As if the chance to see Rachel Weisz on-screen wasn’t reason enough to see it, we will all get our chance to forgive Mark Wahlberg for his performance in The Happening. Don’t be surprised if this film and the term Oscar-worthy become synonymous in 2009. - Adam Sweeney

Avatar (December 18)Talent: James Frickin Cameron (Director), Sam Worthington

James Cameron is finally returning to feature film twelve years after Titanic, and that’s all that really matters. The man has yet to make a bad movie (including Pirahna 2: The Spawning… it had flying fish and it rocked!!) and Avatar looks to be the biggest film of the year. Mankind finds an inhabited planet and sends a soldier named Jake (Worthington) to plant the seeds of a peaceful conquest. Jake has other plans though and soon he’s leading the resistance against the invading humans. Epic, hardcore, sci-fi action guaranteed. - Rob Hunter

Ninja Assassin (TBA 2009)Talent: James McTeigue (Director), J. Michael Straczynski (Writer), Rain, Naomie Harris, Rick Yune

The movie is called Ninja Assassin, do I even have to say why we’re excited about this film? Hell, the film’s star is so badass his name is just Rain. Like Madonna, but if she were a ninja. And a dude. And Korean. But seriously, this film follows a super bad ass assassin out for revenge against those who trained him, but then made the mistake of killing his best friend. The stunt work and fights are coming to you courtesy of 87 Eleven, the same guys who did 300, The Bourne Films, and The Matrix. Expect this movie to have the most slice-and-dice sword action of the year as well as be a strong contender for a Best Fight nod at the end of the year, even against a lot of stiff competition. Sharpen your blades and hone your shuriken, because this is going to be bloody awesome. - Robert Fure

Honorable Mentions: Other films that caught our attention, but just missed the list include Richard Kelly’s sci-fi horror flick The Box (November 6), Johnny Depp as John Dillinger in Public Enemies (July 1), the Twilight sequel New Moon (November 20), Megan Fox’s nudeness in Jennifer’s Body (September 18), and Harold Ramis’ directorial team-up with the Apatow clan with Year One (June 19).

Whats Hot! - 2009 Gadgets

2009-01-12T23:54:00.000-08:00

The CES Show last January 8-11 2009 has set up what most of the techie guys will be looking forward for the year 2009.

"Netbooks"—small, lightweight, inexpensive laptops—are the hottest trend in personal computing. And judging by the size of the crowd at Sony's booth, the VAIO P may be the hottest netbook at CES this year. Sony is touting the tiny VAIO P as the lightest 8-inch laptop in the world, weighing just 1.4 pounds. It's small enough to carry around in a handbag, and can access the Internet on the go with its built-in 3G antenna. Netbooks generally come with a hefty tradeoff: they aren’t nearly as powerful as full-featured laptops, and are more suited for browsing the Web than running Photoshop. It’s not yet clear how the performance of the VAIO P will stack up, but it already stands apart from the netbook crowd with its dazzling high-resolution screen. Sony's VAIO P will be available later this month; pricing will start at $900.

TVs that connect to the Internet, allowing you to access content you could normally only receive through your computer or cell phone are this year’s hottest tech trend. A slew of manufacturers announced high-definition sets that display internet "widgets" from Yahoo, shrinking the TV picture to show news stories, personalized stock portfolios, photosfrom Flickr, and videos from YouTube right alongside your TiVO’d episode of Lost. Yahoo's platform is open to outside developers, as well, so your favorite websites can create their own widgets—eBay and USAToday.com are already on board. Look for widget-enabled TVs this spring from Samsung, LG, and Sony, among others.

In an apparent bid to corner the James Bond-wannabe market, LG unveiled its forthcoming Watch Phone to drooling crowds at CES this week. The compact wrist accessory incorporates features straight from Q Branch, packing in a touchscreen, music player, and Bluetooth. The thin, silvery enclosure is surprisingly stylish, with buttons and a small scroll bar tucked neatly below the screen. At first glance you might miss the built-in camera, which LG reps said can be used for video conferencing on the go—presumably with friends who also own Watch Phones. LG's Watch Phone will go into production later this year; pricing has not been announced.

The Organic Light Emiting Dioede (OLED) is also making a scene on the tech industry.

Like this new SONY OLED TV. It comes thinner than LCD's or Plasma T.V and has much higher contrast ratio. The Sony's XEL-1, the fi rst commercially available OLED TV in the world, will go on sale in the UK in the fi rst quarter of next year. The current model is only 11 inches across, although Sony is promising a 27-incher by May. It'll still be incredibly slim and bright.

also inline with OLED technology is the OLED Laptop and OLED Photoframe from samsung and Kodak respectively.

Samsung has shown off a 12-inch OLED laptop concept and is already talking about putting 14- and 15-inch versions on sale later in the year. The screen resolution on the 12-incher is an astonishing 1,280x768, with the usual, massive OLED contrast ratio. The concept model also has a touch-sensitive keyboard, which reminded us of our old ZX81

Just released, Kodak's slightly generically named OLED Wireless Frame is the world's first to use OLED technology. At £600 for 7.6 inches of photographic real estate, it's bloody pricey, but it is super skinny, very desirable and fitted with Wi-Fi and 2GB of internal memory. Expect plenty of imitations in the coming year, and thus a rapid descent in price. With a contrast ratio of 30,000:1, your friends and family are going to look better than ever.

Touchscreens will also be coming on the market

In and outs this 2009

2008-12-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

The year 2009 is comming, but what is it in store for us for this new year?

For our Chinese friends year 2009 the year of the OX is also known as the Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It consists of a period of celebOxions, starting on New Year's Day, celebOxed on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar. The Chinese New Year period ends with the Lantern Festival, the fifteenth day of the month. It will be celebrated at 26th day of January 2009.

As for the Americans, the sitting on position of presidential elect Barrack Obama. Also the expected tax cut for lower and middle class citizens.

But for the geek guys and intel fans the launching of Intels i7 chip will be a great deal for the new year to come. As it offers Quad core and hyperthreading technology.
This will open the way for much more bad-ass games and applications.

As for 2009 trends and fashion hmm trends and fashion ei i dont know im not into it let me think about it. But must haves and fashion trends is still out there waiting to be place here.

8 Lessons of Leadership of Mandela

2008-10-16T05:13:00.000-07:00

Have read this post from flickr while looking for some torch images.

8 Lessons of Leadership of Mandela
(by Richard Stengel, Time, July 21, 2008)

1. Courage is not the absence of fear --- it's inspiring others to move beyond it
2. Lead from the front --- but don't leave your base behind
3. Lead from the back --- and let others believe they are in front
4. Know your enemy --- and learn about his favorite sport 5. Keep your friends close --- and your rivals even closer
6. Appearances matter --- and remember to smile
7. Nothing is black or white
8. Quitting is leading too

Restart Blogging

2008-09-02T09:24:00.000-07:00

Wazzup!!!...

Its more than a year since i have stop posting here... And im still wondering what to write or post in here. but ei a power of copy and paste might do the job a couple of rephraising then its good to go right?...
Yeah...

But maybe i should put on a lot more time to this one so as to wake up my writing skills i might have one inside me.. ehehe...

So what now?

Since i've been employed on an outsourcing company and still working on the same client(for nearly 2yrs? i quess so...) as a programmer for creating php scripts to mine data from travels sites, i may as well start writing by focusing on topics with regards to traveling outdoors or somethin like that right?...

Ok... so i think i should start tommorrow...

Value One's Self: Personality vs. Character Ethics

2007-03-18T19:07:00.000-07:00

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

There have been two dominant theories of achieving success in the literature of the past 200 years, the personality ethic and the character ethic. The personality ethic has been in the forefront since World War I. Previously, the character ethic was dominant.

According to the character ethic, it is most important to focus on integrating the principles of effective living into one's character. This may be a long-term process, but working on the character, including an effective view of the world, is getting at the root from which behavior flows and so is fundamental. The character ethic sees individual development as a long-term process bearing results according to the law of the harvest.

According to the personality ethic, there are skills and techniques one may learn and a public image, personality and attitudes one may develop that result in success. The problem is, eventually we may be discovered as insincere and shallow. These ideas may be helpful when they flow naturally from a good character and the right motives, but they are secondary.

A paradigm is a model, theory or explanation of something else. It is the "lens" of our preconceived notions through which we view the world. If our paradigm is not close to reality, our attitudes, behaviors and responses will not be effective or appropriate. We will be as lost as a person trying to function in Chicago with a map of New York. We can only accomplish quantum improvement in our lives if we accomplish a paradigm shift resulting in a more accurate and effective view of the world. Some paradigm shifts may be fast (a blinding flash of the obvious), some are more slow (a change in character).

The Seven Habits is a principle-centered paradigm. Principles are guidelines for human conduct that are proven to have enduring, permanent value -- they are fundamental.

“A man is but the product of his thoughts what he thinks, he becomes.”

source:http://www.profitadvisors.com/

Value One's Self: From Dependence to Interdependence

2007-03-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

“We get so much in the habit of wearing disguises before others that we finally appear disguised before ourselves.”

Our character is a composite of our habits. Changing habits is hard, but can be done by tremendous commitment.

“Good habits, once established are just as hard to break as are bad habits”

A (good) habit can be defined as the intersection of knowledge, skill and desire. Change is a cycle of being and seeing (visualization).

Our objective is to move progressively on a maturity continuum from dependence to independence to interdependence. Although independence is the current paradigm of our society, we can accomplish much more by cooperation and specialization. However, we must achieve independence before we can choose interdependence.

Habits 1, 2 and 3 (Be Proactive, Begin With The End In Mind, Put First Things First) deal with self mastery. They are the "private victories" required for character growth. Private victories precede public victories.

Habits 4, 5 and 6 are the more personality-oriented "public victories" of Teamwork, Cooperation and Communication.

Habit 7 is the habit of Renewal, creating an upward spiral of growth.

Effectiveness lies in balancing our Production (P) with building Production Capacity (PC).

Organizationally, the PC principle is to always treat your employees as you want them to treat your best customers. We must understand that the best contributions of our employees - their hearts and minds - are as volunteers, because they want to.

This process of growth will be evolutionary, but the net effect will be revolutionary.

“I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.”

Source: www.profitadvisors.com

Value one's self: Boost Self Esteem

2007-03-12T19:26:00.000-07:00

If you're tired of feeling bad about yourself, or just want some tips for those down days, these 7 practical strategies will help you take action to boost your self-esteem.

A person's worth in this world is estimated according to the value they put on themselves.

Think back to when you did something new for the first time.

Learning something new is often accompanied by feelings of nervousness, lack of self-belief and high stress levels, all of which are necessary parts of the learning process. The next time you feel under-confident, remembering this will remind you that it's perfectly normal - you're just learning!

Do something you have been putting off.

Like writing or calling a friend, cleaning the house, tidying the garden, fixing the car, organizing the bills, making a tasty and healthy meal - anything that involved you making a decision, then following through!

Do something you are good at.

Examples? How about swimming, running, dancing, cooking, gardening, climbing, painting, writing... If possible, it should be something that holds your attention and requires enough focus to get you into that state of `flow' where you forget about everything else. You will feel more competent, accomplished and capable afterwards, great antidotes to low self-esteem!

And while you're at it, seriously consider doing something like this at least once a week. People who experience `flow' regularly seem to be happier and healthier.

Stop thinking about yourself!

I know this sounds strange, but low self-esteem is often accompanied by too much focus on the self. Doing something that absorbs you and holds your attention can quickly make you feel better.

Get seriously relaxed.

If you are feeling low, anxious or lacking in confidence, the first thing to do is to stop thinking and relax properly. Some people do this by exercising, others by involving themselves in something that occupies their mind. However, being able to relax yourself when you want is a fantastic life skill and so practicing self-hypnosis, meditation, or a physically based relaxation technique such as Tai Chi can be incredibly useful.

When you are properly relaxed, your brain is less emotional and your memory for good events works better. A great 'rescue remedy'!

Remember all the things you have achieved.

This can be difficult at first, but after a while, you'll develop a handy mental list of self-esteem boosting memories. And if you're thinking "But I've never achieved anything", I'm not talking about climbing Everest here.

Things like passing your driving test (despite being nervous), passing exams (despite doubting that you would), playing team sport, getting fit (even if you let it slip later), saving money for something, trying to help someone (even if it didn't work) and so on.

Remember that you could be wrong!

If you are feeling bad about yourself, remember that you way you feel affects your thoughts, memory and behavior. So when you feel bad, you will only remember the bad times, and will tend to be pessimistic about yourself. This is where the tip `Get Seriously Relaxed' comes in!

Once you have tried out a few of these, consider making them a permanent part of your life. For most people, good self-esteem is not just a happy accident, it's a result of the way they think and the things they do from day to day.

Try to Remember If you put a small value on yourself, rest assured that the world will not raise your price.

Source: www.thehappyguy.com

To Space on Elavator

2007-02-25T23:02:00.000-08:00

Going to space through an elevator? I have read this article once from my brothers science magazine. At first i wondered how they are going to do it because theres nowhere they can connect the cables from the ground to the space but reading the article i was greatly fascinated of what science can do.

Target year for this project is 2010.
There still more to read about space elevator here
another article can be read from here

The Good Samaritan

2006-12-13T23:31:00.000-08:00

A very touching story I would like to share with all of you .....
from unknown author

Ever since it was diagnosed that I am having a posible heart
enlargement in the last APE, I have exerted more effort to do physical
exercises. I do jogging during week days and do long - ride mountain biking every
Sunday.

But this Sunday is a special Sunday to me. While I was on my way to
the mountains of Busay (cebu)hoping to strengtened my heart by this
exercise, instead, I personally encountered a heart-breaking scene
that changed me.

I already passed the Marco Polo Plaza ( formerly Cebu Plaza Hotel )
when I decided to stop to buy bananas at a small carenderia located along the
road. I haven't taken any solid food that morning so I need fruits to
have the needed energy to get to my destination - the mountain top. I
am almost done eating with the second banana when I noticed two children
across the street busily searching the garbage area. "Basureros" I said to
myself and quickly turn my attention away from them to sip a small
amount of water. I cared less for these kind of children actually; to make it
straight, I do not like them, and I do not trust them evenmore. You
see, several times I have been a victim to these kind of children who
are pretending to be basureros looking for empty bottles and cans when
in fact the 'plangganas' , 'kalderos', and 'hinayhays' are their
favorites.

I remember one afternoon while I was watching a Mike Tyson fight when
I noticed that the TV screen suddenly became blurred. I checked outside
and saw two young basureros running away with my newly installed
antenna. Hatred may be a little bit stronger word to describe my feeling towards
these basureros, but I do not like them honestly not till I met these
three children.

I was about to embark on my bike again when I heard one of the two
children, a girl of about 7 or 8 of age saying aloud to the other , a
12-yr old boy , " kuya si dodong kuha-a kay nag-sige'g tan-aw sa mga
nagkaon, mauwaw ta" (kuya si dodong kunin mo kasi tumitingin sa mga
kumain, nakakahiya), only then that I noticed a small boy standing near to me
biting slightly his finger. He's a few inches shorter if compared to my
5 years old son ( but I knew later that he's also 5 yrs. Old). Though he
did not asked for food to anyone in the carenderia, the way he looked
at the customers who were eating , enough to convinced me that he
intensely craving for it. The older boy then quickly crossed the street and
gently pulled out the little one who politely obeyed. As I watched the
two crossing back the street to the garbage area, I heard the tindera
saying " Lo-oy kaayo nang mga bataa uy, mga buotan ra ba na" (kawawa
naman yung mga batang yun mababait pa naman). I learned further from
the carenderia owner that the children are from a good family , both
parents were working before , and that their father got a stroke 3
years ago and became partially paralized and their mother died of
heart attack while their father was still confined at the hospital. The
parents were still in their early forties when the catastrophe happened , and
the children became basureros since then to meet their daily needs and for
their father's medication.

Deeply moved by what I heard, I went to a nearby bakery and bought
20 pesos worth of bread and gave it to the children who initially
refused including the little boy. " Sige lang noy, salamat na lang,
magpalit lang nya mi kung mahalinan na mi" (sige lang po, salamat na lang,
bibili na lang po kami mamaya kung makabenta na kami) the young girl said to me.
I explained that they need to go home because it started to rain . "
Naanad na man mi ani " (nasanay na po kami)the girl answered again.
Again, I explained that the rain can make them sick and if they'll
become sick there's no one to take care of their father. Upon mentioning
their father, they nodded and acccept the bread but I noticed that the older boy did
not eat. When I asked him if he does not like the kind of bread I bought for
them he smiled but as he's about to explain, the little girl, who is the more
talker of them interrupted, "Domingo man gud ron ,noy, basta Sabado ug Domingo
hapon ra siya mokaon kami ra ang mokaon ug pamahaw pero dili na pod mi mokaon inig
hapon, si kuya ra. Pero basta Lunes ngadto sa Biyernes, kay klase man , si
kuya ra sad ang seguro-on ug papamahaw, kami hapon na sad mi moka-on Pero
kung daghan mi ug halin mokaon mi tanan." (Linggo po kasi ngayon, pag
sabado at lingo hapon lang po sya kumakain, kami lang po ang kumakain
ng agahan pero di na po kami kakain pagdating ng hapon si kuya lang po.
Pero pag lunes hanggang biyernes, kasi may pasok, si kuya lang po nag-aagahan,
kami hapunan lang pero kung marami kaming benta kami pong lahat
kumakain) she continued. "Ngano man diay ug mokaon mong tanan,
bahinon ninyo bisan ug unsa ka gamay?" (bakit kung kumain kayong
lahat, hati-hatiin nyo na lang kahit kunti lang ang pagkain?) I countered.

The young girl reasoned out that their father wanted that her older
brother to come to school with full stomachs so he can easily catch
up the teacher's lessons. "Inig ka trabaho ni kuya mo undang na man mi
ug pamasura, first honor baya na siya " (pag nagkatrabaho si kuya,
hihinto kami sa pamamasura, first honor kasi sya) the little boy added proudly.

Maybe I was caught by surprise or I am just overly emotional that my
tears started to fall. I then quickly turned my back from them to
hide my tears and pretended to pick up my bike from the carenderia
where I left it.

I don't know how many seconds or minutes I spent just to compose
myself; pretending again this time that I was mending by bike.

Finally I get on to my bike and approached the three children to bid
goobye to them who in turn cast their grateful smiles at me. I then
took a good look at all of them specially to the small boy and pat his head
with a pinch in my heart. Though I believe that their positive look at life
can easily change their present situation, there is one thing that they
can never change; that is , their being motherless. That little boy can
no longer taste the sweet embrace, care, and most of all , the love of
his mother forever. Nobody can refill the empty gap created by that
sudden and untimely death of their mother. Every big events that will
happen to their lives will only remind them and make them wish of their
mother's presence.

I reached to my pocket and handed to them my last 100 peso bill which
I reserved for our department's bowling tournament. This time they
refused strongly but I jokingly said to the girl " sumbagon teka ron
kung di nimo dawaton" (suntukin kita dyan pag hindi mo tinanggap yan). She
smiled as she extended her hand to take the money. " Salamat
noy makapalit gyud me ron ug tambal ni papa " (salamat po, makakabili
kami nito ng gamot ni papa) she uttered. I then turned
to the small boy and though he's a few feet away from me, I still
noticed that while his right hand was holding the half - filled sack ,
his left hand was holding a toy ? a worn out toy car. I waved my hands and
said bye bye to him as I drove towards the mountains again. Did he just
found the toy in the garbage area or the toy was originally his - when the
misfortune did not took place yet? - I did not bother to ask. But one
thing is crystal clear to me, that inspite of the boy's abnormal life,
he did not given up his childhood completely. I can sense it that way he
hold and stare at his toy.

My meeting with that young basureros made me poorer by 100 pesos. But
they changed me and made me more richer as to lessons of life are
concerned. In them, I learned that life can changed suddenly and may caught me
flat footed. In them, I've learned that even the darkest side of life,
cannot change the beauty of one's heart. Those three children, who sometimes
cannot eat three times a day, still able to hold on to what they
believe was right. And what a contrast to most of us who are quick to point
out to our misfortunes when caught with our mistakes. In them, I've
learned to hope for things when things seem to go the other way.

Lastly, I know that God cares for them far more than I do. That
though He allowed them to experience such a terrible life which our
finite minds cannot comprehend, His unquestionable love will surely follow them
through.

And in God's own time they will win.

World AIDS Day:: Get Involved

2006-12-01T16:56:00.001-08:00

World's AIDS Day is Friday, December 1 -- a day commemorating the millions of lives lost to this deadly disease, reminding us of the millions suffering from HIV or AIDS, and the millions still at risk. AIDS has killed more than 25 million people, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 3.1 million (between 2.8 and 3.6 million) lives in 2005 of which, more than half a million (570,000) were children.

Let these numbers sink in. They are huge. As YouthAIDS (youthaids.org) National Yoga Ambassador, Seane Corn points out, "There is no vaccine and there is no cure and the life-extending drugs that are available to us in this country are far out of reach for most of the 40 million people who currently live with HIV." She also points out some other harsh stats:

Two young people become infected with HIV every hour in the U.S.
50% of all new infections occur in young people between the ages of 15-24. Most of them don't know they carry the virus.
15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS -- that is the equivalent to every American child under the age of 5.
AIDS kills one child every minute.

What can you do? You can take action that shows you care:

Wear a red ribbon
Talk to people
Go to an event
Get involved

source

The Fuure: Prepare to Plug in for 100-mpg Hybrids

2006-11-01T16:40:00.000-08:00

A new strain of gas/electric hybrid vehicles called plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, represent the latest wave of fuel-efficiency-boosting technology being explored by carmakers and third-party firms. They promise to boost gas mileage to 100 mpg and beyond by running only on rechargeable electric batteries for limited distances. As the name suggests, they can be plugged in to recharge.

Unlike gas/electric hybrids on the market now, which can't be plugged in, PHEVs require more batteries in order to run on electric power alone. So part of the process of converting an existing hybrid, such as the Toyota Prius, into a PHEV is to add more batteries, particularly newfangled ones like lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter and hold a charge longer than lead-acid or nickel metal hydride batteries.

No PHEVs are currently sold by major auto manufacturers, but Toyota recently pledged to pursue the technology and independent companies are working to convert existing hybrids into plug-ins. A small Southern California company called EnergyCS hopes to offer kits to convert 2004 and newer Toyota Priuses to PHEVs by the end of the year for a target cost of $12,000 per conversion, including installation.

But execs at big car manufacturers, such as Toyota and Ford, have said that PHEVs are still a long way off. And with some evidence that consumer interest in hybrid vehicles is beginning to wane (see Hybrid Downturn? section), PHEVs could face even greater challenges than simply developing reliable technology at a reasonable cost.

Proponents argue that PHEVs offer the best of both worlds: an alternative fuel source with drastically reduced emissions without the worry of running out of juice. Many viable plug-in electric vehicles have failed over the past decade because of one thing: They can't get very far on a full charge.

And neither can PHEVs when running on electricity alone. But a PHEV has the advantage of behaving just like a gas/electric hybrid when the batteries have been exhausted, and this gives them unlimited range — meaning that once the batteries run down, they can keep running on gasoline.

The electronic display on the left of the dashboard on this plug-in Toyota Prius prototype built by EnergyCS for CalCars shows mileage and trip data. It might not be included on the final version to be sold to consumers because it's intended for research and development purposes.

Plug-in Priuses currently being tested routinely get more than 100 mpg when driven in the city, thanks largely to their ability to operate only on electric power at speeds under 34 mph. By comparison, the soon-to-be-discontinued Honda Insight is the most efficient gas/electric hybrid currently available and returns an EPA estimated 60 mpg city/66 mpg highway.

Existing hybrid models generally run on gas and electricity at the same time — except the Prius, Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid, which already can run on electric power alone, but only for very short distances and at low speeds.

An extension cord plugged into a simple 110-volt household outlet can effectively charge the batteries in PHEV systems currently being explored by EnergeryCS, a small engineering firm based outside of Los Angeles in Monrovia, Calif.

This is an important facet to PHEVs' success. "It's existing infrastructure, so you don't have to build new charging stations to make this technology available to people," said Peter Nortman, president of EnergyCS. "These outlets are in your garage … everyone from a 10-year-old to a 95-year-old can handle it."

Being able to run on electric power alone for extended distances and be plugged in to recharge the batteries are the key differences between PHEVs and conventional gas/electric hybrids, which cannot be plugged in. They instead rely on clever techniques to recharge the batteries, such as capturing energy dissipated during coasting or braking.

Although PHEVs appeal to environmentally conscious consumers, they wouldn't be as appealing to buyers of luxury vehicles, says Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research in Bandon, Ore. "Luxury hybrid buyers are looking for performance, they're not looking for fuel economy," he said.

Lexus promotes its hybrid GS 450h sport sedan, which is equipped with a gas/electric V8 powerplant, as offering performance comparable to that of a conventional V12. Toyota, which operates luxury division Lexus, wouldn't give specifics on PHEV plans, including whether it will explore Lexus PHEVs.

A major benefit of both current hybrids and future PHEVs is that their widespread use promises to not only reduce consumption of non-renewable fossil fuels but also curtail atmospheric pollution and greenhouse gases, which many scientists say cause global warming. A 2004 climate-change study by the California Air Resources Board found that gas/electric hybrid vehicles produce 62 percent fewer greenhouse gases than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
read more...

Wow! Too much Energy There is. . .

2006-10-29T20:58:00.000-08:00

More than 500 new energy drinks launched worldwide this year, and coffee fans are probably too old to understand why.

Energy drinks aren't merely popular with young people. They attract fan mail on their own MySpace pages. They spawn urban legends. They get reviewed by bloggers. And they taste like carbonated cough syrup.

Vying for the dollars of teenagers with promises of weight loss, increased endurance and legal highs, the new products join top-sellers Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar to make up a $3.4 billion-a-year industry that grew by 80 percent last year.

Thirty-one percent of U.S. teenagers say they drink energy drinks, according to Simmons Research. That represents 7.6 million teens, a jump of almost 3 million in three years.

Nutritionists warn that the drinks, laden with caffeine and sugar, can hook kids on an unhealthy jolt-and-crash cycle. The caffeine comes from multiple sources, making it hard to tell how much the drinks contain. Some have B vitamins, which when taken in megadoses can cause rapid heartbeat, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

But the biggest worry is how some teens use the drinks. Some report downing several cans in a row to get a buzz, and a new study found a surprising number of poison-center calls from young people getting sick from too much caffeine.

___

"Wow, this drink is some serious stuff. I mean about half the bottle is the warning label, and it is serious, this drink is INSANE. It says that you should not drink it unless you are over 18, which I would say is a good warning." Â— From a review of an energy drink by Dan Mayer on his Web site, http://www.bandddesigns.com/energy.

___

Danger only adds to the appeal, said Bryan Greenberg, a marketing consultant and an assistant professor of marketing at Elizabethtown College.

"Young people need to break away from the bonds of adults and what society thinks is right," he said. They've grown up watching their parents drink Starbucks coffee, and want their own version. Heart palpitations aren't likely to scare them off.

Most brands target male teens and 20-somethings. Industry leader Red Bull, the first energy drink on the market, is now the "big arena band" of the bunch "teetering on the edge of becoming too big and too corporate," Greenberg said.

"Monster is more of a hard rocker, maybe with a little punk thrown in, much more hardcore," he said. "Rockstar is the more mainstream, glam rock band that's more about partying then playing."

(Monster is produced by Corona, Calif.-based Hansen Natural Corp., and Rockstar, distributed by Coca-Cola Co., is made by Las Vegas-based Rockstar Inc.)

Greenberg said the fierce competition among hundreds of new drinks, with Austria-based Red Bull guarding the biggest market share, leads to a "ratcheting up" of taboo names as companies try to break out from the crowd.

Cocaine Energy Drink, which launched in September and now sells in convenience stores and nightclubs in six states, is the latest example, following a twisted logic set by drinks named Pimpjuice and Bawls.

Hannah Kirby of the Las Vegas company behind Cocaine Energy Drink said Greenberg has it right. Kirby and her husband, Redux Beverage founder James Kirby, wanted to call their drink by the ho-hum name Reboot. That name was taken, so they decided to get provocative.

They're getting the attention they craved, along with some canceled orders. Following complaints from parents, convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. recently told franchises to pull the drink from its shelves.

"We knew we would get noticed against a thousand other energy drinks," she said. "We knew kids would find it cool, but we also wanted to stress the idea that it's an energy drink, you don't need drugs." Their slogan is "The Legal Alternative."

The Kirbys are parents of an 18-year-old son, Kirby said. The boy grew up hearing he shouldn't drink energy drinks on a school night.

___

"Cocaine looks so freaking tight. I NEED THIS STUFF. Next weekend, me and 3 friends are going to take a 6 hour roadtrip to NYC just to get our hands on this stuff." Â— From a comment on the MySpace page of Cocaine Energy Drink.

___

Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz based his product on tonics sold in Asia. He started selling Red Bull in 1987 in Austria, his native country, and today 2.5 billion cans are sold a year in more than 130 nations. The industry leader grabbed more than 37 percent of the U.S. market last year, according to Beverage Digest.

Rumors have swirled around Red Bull for years. Contrary to hearsay, the ingredient taurine (an amino acid important in making bile to aid digestion) is not made from bull urine, and Mateschitz did not learn about Red Bull from rickshaw drivers in Thailand. The urban legends-debunking Web site http://www.snopes.com has a page devoted to exposing the false claim that Red Bull contains a banned substance linked to brain tumors.

No evidence was ever found that sudden deaths in Ireland and Sweden were caused by people drinking Red Bull. But it's true that the Swedish government studied energy drinks and recommended they not be used to quench thirst or replenish liquid when exercising. And they should not be mixed with alcohol.

Too late. Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing now produce several "energy beers" Â— beer containing caffeine. And Red Bull and vodka Â— mixed up by bartenders who call it a Friday Flattener or a Dirty Pompadour Â— has been popular for a decade. On Red Bull's MySpace page, the product's 11,000 "friends" include alcohol products, which also have their own MySpace pages.

A Brazilian study found college students didn't feel as drunk as they actually were after drinking vodka and Red Bull. Their perception of their coordination and reaction time didn't match objective tests.

The potential for accidents and alcohol poisoning worries Dr. Sandra Braganza, a pediatrician and nutrition expert at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore in New York. As she prepared to write an article about energy drinks for a pediatrics journal, she was surprised how little published research she could find on them.

"The truth is, we don't know what kind of effects these ingredients can have," Braganza said of taurine, glucuronolactone and guarana. "We have to start doing more studies on this."

___

"How much of your favorite energy drink or soda would it take to kill you? Take this quick test and find out." Â— From a "Death by Caffeine" calculator on the Web site, http://www.energyfiend.com. Fill in your weight and click the button marked "Kill Me."

___

Earlier this month, a new study found a surprising number of caffeine overdose reports to a Chicago poison control center. These involved young people taking alertness pills such as NoDoz or energy drinks, sometimes mixed with alcohol or other drugs. During three years of reports to the center, the researchers found 265 cases of caffeine abuse. Twelve percent of those required a trip to the hospital. The average age of the caffeine user was 21.

"Young people are taking caffeine to stay awake, or perhaps to get high, and many of them are ending up in the emergency department," said Dr. Danielle McCarthy of Northwestern University, who conducted the study. "Caffeine is a drug and should be treated with caution, as any drug is."

How much caffeine do energy drinks contain? A University of Florida study found that some products, although served in cans two-thirds the size of a standard can of Coke, contain two to four times the amount of caffeine as that Coke. Energy drinks are unregulated in the United States, but the authors of the University of Florida paper suggest warning labels for them.

And now energy drinks are moving toward bigger cans with some products raising the caffeine content to gain a competitive edge, said John Sicher of Beverage Digest. The biggest, so far, is 24 ounces.

Parents should think twice before sending their children out the door with an energy drink, said Molly Morgan, a dietitian in upstate New York who consults with schools and talks to students, parents and coaches about energy drinks.

"My message to parents is moderation," Morgan said. "That means one can a day or less, and view it as a treat, not part of a daily routine."

Full of sugar and caffeine, energy drinks share the same health problems as soft drinks, she said. But some parents and coaches have bought the message that the drinks can enhance kids' performance in sports and increase concentration in school.

The evidence is weak, involving tiny studies. British research by a scientist who has since received funding from Red Bull found that among 36 volunteers, those who drank the product improved aerobic endurance and recalled numbers better. A British study of 42 people found Red Bull had no effect on memory, but did improve attention and verbal reasoning.

A University of Wisconsin study of 14 students found that two energy drink ingredients, caffeine and taurine, didn't improve short-term memory but led to slower heart rates and higher blood pressure. Since some energy drink ingredients generally speed up heart rates, the researchers could only speculate on the cause.

Carol Ann Rinzler, author of "Nutrition for Dummies," examined the labels of the top three energy drinks.

"The labels simply don't deliver all the facts," she said. "For example, while all list caffeine as an ingredient, and most tell you exactly how much caffeine is in the drink, they also list guarana, a caffeine source, as a separate ingredient but don't tell how much caffeine one gets from the guarana."

Rinzler said energy drinks also deliver a huge hit of sugar.

"Drink more than one and you get lots of sugar Â— 14 teaspoons in two cans, 21 teaspoons in three," she said. Add in megadoses of some vitamins; unnecessary nutrients (taurine) and more caffeine than plain sodas and you get "a fast up-and-down sugar high and a really rough caffeine buzz," she said. "And drinking two or three cans a day for a period of weeks or months might trigger some side effects from the vitamin megadoses."

New brands are appearing at the rate of almost one per day, making it difficult for Denver blogger Dan Mayer to keep up. As a hobby, Mayer reviews each new energy drink he can find. His is not the only energy drink review site, but it's one of the most popular.

"I've reviewed a little over 200 now. For most of these, the companies contact me. I'll find something new at 7-Eleven once in a while, but that's kind of rare," he said.

When Mayer meets an energy drink he doesn't like, his words can sting: "This is the kind of drink that was created by a bunch of rich fat people that have never had an energy drink in their life and really don't understand why this fad is around, they just know they want to be a part of the profit from it."

A Los Angeles company has asked him to design a new drink, but Mayer hasn't quit his day job yet. Pressed to explain the appeal of energy drinks, the 24-year-old spokesman for the buzzed generation said: "It's Starbucks for kids. With the tons of caffeine they put into these things, it gives you a little legal form of speed essentially."

Don't Walk Alone

2006-10-18T17:30:00.001-07:00

Cancer news: Sharing it with Your Family

by:Elizabeth Edwards

Part of what is so hard about having cancer is sharing the news with your family. The difficulties are compounded when your family includes small children, as mine did in November 2004 when my diagnosis was confirmed.

Our youngest children were six and four. I had to tell them: I knew that I would lose my hair; it was going to be hard to keep it a secret. (I thought, naively, that that would be the only way they could tell.)

In my battle against victimization, I decided to cut my hair off before it fell out. I told the children about the cancer before the scheduled haircut day. “Mommy has a bump,” I said. “And that bump is called cancer. Cancer is very bad, but I will get rid of the bump and the cancer by taking really strong medicine.”

They looked bored. Somber, but bored. Or maybe just bored. “And that medicine is so strong that it will make my hair fall out.” I think it cheered them up.

“Your hair’s gonna fall out? All of it? When? Can I see?” When Kevin, the fellow who cut my hair, came over, the children watched and then rubbed their hands on the little fuzz that Kevin had left.

Jack and John volunteered to let Kevin cut theirs off, too, but I convinced them it wouldn’t help me to see more bald people in my family. I felt they were a part of this fight without going through this sweet gesture of solidarity.

The children never acted scared, and we never talked about the fact that some people die of cancer. When, on the news, they were announcing somebody’s death from cancer, as when Peter Jennings died or when Dana Reeve lost her fight, we’d switch the channel immediately. Cancer can still kill me, but there’s no reason for them to spend their days – or nights – thinking that it will.

I thought, wrongly it turned out, that we had painted a rosy, even funny picture of the upcoming fight with cancer. The not-so-unhappy first grade picture of a terrible disease. Maybe, like the death of Bambi’s mother, the sad fact was lost in the storyline they enjoyed: in our case, my baldness.

But they were knocked more off balance by my primary school rendition of my disease than I had suspected, particularly Emma Claire, who was six years old. It would show up in a letter she would write or in the answer to a teacher’s question.

There, her Christmas wish would be for me to be better, for cancer not to hurt me anymore. But with me, she was always stoic. If we all acted strong with one another, it was easier for each of us to actually be strong. So we did. Even Emma Claire, at age six.

Read more about Elizabeth Edwards in her new book, Saving Graces.

How to get best out of your LPG kit

2006-10-02T00:03:00.000-07:00

LOSS OF POWER / LOW MILAGE , LOSS OF COOLENT, KNOCKING WHILE FILLING-IN THE GAS, BEST TIME TO FILL-IN GAS... Read it here. . .

LPG Friend or Foe

2006-10-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

Drive A Car Using LPG - Turn It Over Regularly

Reports of possible valve sticking on vehicles using liquid propane gas (LPG) have come to the notice of the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Authority.

The Authority warns that if such vehicles are not run for more than two weeks, valves can seize in the head. If this happens the valve train, pistons and possibly the head can be damaged.

In a situation where the engine has been left for an extended period without running then it should be turned over by hand to make sure everything works before the engine is started.

Alternatively, run the engine for a few minutes at least once a fortnight.

LPG -Friend or Foe?
Liquefied petroleum gas is considered by some motorists to be a dangerous fuel.

But LPG-fuelled vehicles in NSW are subject to extensive fuel system safety checks at each registration renewal, says the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Authority. In some countries vehicle insurance rates are lower on LPG-fuelled vehicles than on petrol-fuelled ones.

In NSW, installation, repair or service of LPG systems can only be carried out by motor mechanics who have completed a two-week full-time course and who hold an LPG mechanic certificate issued by the Authority.

Vehicle owners are not permitted to touch their LPG system and face severe penalties if they attempt to do so.

There are not nearly as many accidents with LPG cars as there are with petrol-powered vehicles.

LPG and the Travelling Salesman
There are many misconceptions surrounding the installation, use and effects of LPG, the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Authority says.

A travelling salesman wrote to the Authority saying he had fitted LPG to his car because of the distance he travelled in his job. It had proved very economical. But now he needed to replace his car and all the suitable replacements had fuel injection instead of a carburettor, like his old vehicle.

"Many people do not realise that LPG can be fitted to a vehicle with fuel injection very successfully," says Authority spokesperson Colin Brown. "There are two types of normal fuel in use, diesel and petrol. All diesel engines are fuel injected and they use a system of LPG fuel enrichment, whereby both the diesel fuel and LPG are used together to provide power and economy.

"In a petrol engine you use one fuel at a time, either LPG or petrol, not both. "There is a difference in the ignition settings and with the older cars, it required a modification to the distributor resulting in a compromise between the best setting for each fuel.

"In terms of electronic ignition and fuel injection, it is easier to get maximum performance from either fuel because the electronics can be modified to get maximum power from either fuel."

Mr Brown advises motorists to make sure a licensed LPG mechanic fits and maintains the equipment to ensure long life and maximum performance. read more . . .

Converting Petrol Car to LPG

2006-10-01T23:14:00.000-07:00

Running your car on LPG
By: suresh_ponnan

A whole lot of LPG conversion kits are available in the market to convert your petrol car to LPG. Most of these kits are made in Italy. Italians are the pioneers in using LPG in automobiles and they have been using it in Public Buses for the last 30 years or so with a single mishap.
Unfortunately a lot of duplicates of these Italian brands are now available in the Indian market. Basically there are 2 models. The electronic model and the vacuum model. the vacuum model is the most common. Costs about INR 7000/- for an all imported kit (Italian Solenoid valves and vaporiser and locally made control panel switches, plumbing and pressure gauge). If you settle for indian solenoid valves and Italian Vaporiser it would be about Rs 1000 less.

The conversion involves provision for belting down a LPG cylinder horizontally in your boot. Plumbing the gas to the vaporiser via a copper tube running either under the car or under your carpet to engine compartment and into the vaporiser via a solenoid valve. Another solenoid valve is fitted on your petrol line just before the inlet to the carburator. The vaporisor does what the name suggests, vaporiser the liquid gas and releases it as gas in the air intake of the carburator. It takes the heat input from the hot radiator water (coolant is re-routed through the vaporiser for this) to vaporise the gas and regulates the flow using the engine vacuum as the input in the case of the vacuum model or the unregulated alternator voltage as an input for the electronic version. read more. . .

Pros: Economical

Cons: Very Unsafe when done unprofessionally