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RED SEA PALACE HOTEL, JEDDAH SAUDI ARABIA

2011-06-24T18:08:00.000-07:00

Red Sea Palace Hotel is renowned as one of the leading hotels in Jeddah and pioneers of the hotel industry in this exciting city.

It was the only first class hotel, which was established in 1959 and was renovated in the year 1982. Today, we are delighted to introduce to you a completely new hotel! Not only have we our newly renovated guest rooms that offers you great comfort but we are determined to make your every stay with us an exciting experience.

ROOMS & SUITES

The hotel comprises of 277 well appointed guest rooms and suites. The guest rooms and suites of all floors have been very recently refurbished completely. The deluxe rooms and suites are very spacious and many offer sea views. All rooms are equipped with tastefully selected modern furniture, individually controlled A/C, mini-fridge, color TV with satellite channels, smoke detectors, direct dial telephone, attached bathrooms with a range of guest amenities and much more.

The "Executive Rooms" on the 6th and 7th floors offer a personalized service for VIP guests. A spacious Lobby with attentive service by a Lobby Attendant thus making it an ideal place for the deserving Business Traveler to meet his business partners over a cup of coffee, cappuccino or a fresh juice in a cozy atmosphere.

RATES

SINGLE SR 450

DOUBLE SR 585

JUNIOR SUIT SR 700

TERRACE SUIT SR 850

All rates are quoted in SR and are subject to 15% service charge.

DINING

The “Al Bouhaira” Restaurant offers a wide variety of International cuisines for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Every Tuesday our Chefs offer a side range of Italian specialties, on Wednesdays, a fabulous BBQ buffet including Mongolian specialties is on offer, and on Thursdays, a sumptuous Seafood Buffet await you to be discovered, with the Restaurant “Family Brunch” becoming fast the talk of the town again.

The Italian Restaurant “Pizzeria da Pino” serves daily the best in Pizza and Pasta, basta! The deserving business traveler can also arrange a meeting in the large lobby while enjoying a fresh cup of good coffee, cappuccino or just a glass of freshly made refreshing juice.

Lobby Café

Satisfy your sweet tooth in the pastry shop, or reward yourself at the end of the day with a refreshing cocktail and stimulating conversation in our lobby cafe, known to be a popular meeting place.

Outside Catering

“You invite the Guest – and we will do the Rest” is our motto of our multi-lingual speaking Catering Team who is always at your service with a smile. Menus of various international cuisines between the East and West can be prepared by our multi-national Chefs.

MEETING & CONFERENCES

We provide facilities for Conferences, Meetings and Seminars, Product Launch etc. The "Al Debaran" Tent on the 1st Floor adjacent to the Swimming Pool overlooking the Red Sea is one of the best venues in Jeddah for Lunch or Dinner Buffet functions. Also, at our Poolside we arrange special BBQ Parties.

Our three (03) Meeting rooms can cater for any meetings, conferences, seminars. These halls are well-equipped with the latest standard audio-visual equipments.

For more information, please contact us directly.

HEALTH & RECREATION

A comprehensive fitness layout for the enjoyment of an invigorating workout.

Whether you are in Jeddah on business or for pleasure, there is always time for you to relax and revitalize.

Our fitness center offers a beautifully-designed swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms as well as a fully-equipped gymnasium. A perfect place to rejuvenate the mind and body!

HOTEL HILTON MADINAH

2011-06-17T20:26:00.000-07:00

Take a short walk to the Holy Mosque from the Madinah Hilton hotel, in the heart of Madinah's shopping district. Buy perfume or jewelry in the ground-floor shops, and savor lobster thermidore in the Madinah Restaurant, with Holy Mosque views. Prince Mohammed Airport is 25 minutes’ drive away.

Savor a mixed grill in Marmara Restaurant or enjoy a light snack in Café Najd at the Madinah Hilton hotel. Get some retail therapy in the Taibah Mall, Anwar Al Madinah Mall and the Haram Mall, all within 3 blocks.

Guests at the Madinah Hilton hotel enjoy high-speed internet access in the 24-hour internet café. From Hilton Rooms to Suites, all hotel rooms have high-speed internet access. Upgrade to a Deluxe Room for a separate seating area. This hotel is located in a Muslim only district.

GUEST ROOMS

HILTON Guest Room
Choose this Art Deco-style 32m²/344sq.ft room for a partial city view, a separate working area and a seating area with sofa. Catch up on work at the desk, check your emails with internet access or re-energize in the marble bathroom.

Hilton Guest Room Plus
Welcome to this Art Deco-style 32m²/344sq.ft room with a partial city view, a separate working area and a seating area with sofa. Get to work at the desk, keep in touch with internet access or refresh in the marble bathroom. Special touches include slippers and mineral water.

Our choices include:

· KING HILTON DELUXE

· KING HILTON DELUXE PLUS

· KING HILTON GUEST ROOM

· KING HILTON GUESTROOM PLUS

· TWIN HILTON DELUXE PLUS

· TWIN HILTON GUEST ROOM

· TWIN HILTON GUESTROOM PLUS

Suites

Junior Suite
Enjoy a home from home in this Art Deco-style 52m²/560sq.ft suite with a view of theHoly Haram, a working area and aseating area with sofa. Catch up on work at the desk, surf the web with internet access or relax in the marble bathroom. Spoil yourself with fluffy slippers and mineral water.

Our choices include:

· JR SUITE PARTL HARAM VIEW

· JUNIOR SUITE TRIPLE BEDS

· JUNIOR SUITE TWIN BED

· PRESIDENTIAL SUITE

Deluxe and Executive Rooms

Deluxe Room
Spoil yourself in this Art Deco-style 35m²/377sq.ft room with a view of the Holy Haram, a separate working area and aseating area with sofa. Catch up on work at the desk, surf the web with internet access or pamper yourself in the marble bathroom.

Deluxe Plus Room
Soak up the view from this Art Deco-style 35m²/377sq.ft room located on a higher floor on the Haram side of the hotel, with aworking area and a seating area with sofa. Get to work at the desk, keep in touch with internet access or stimulate your senses in the marble bathroom. Special touches include slippers and mineral water.

Our choices include:

· TRIPLE HILTON DELUXE PLUS

· TWIN HILTON DELUXE

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GRAND ZAM ZAM, MEKKAH

2011-06-05T00:40:00.000-07:00

A high quality hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia , ZamZam Grand Suites boasts a peerless location and is the perfect Mecca pilgrim accommodation , excellent for families, groups and solo travellers alike. Overlooking Al-Masjid al-?aram (The Sacred Mosque), the largest mosque in the world, and Kaaba Al-Musharafa , the cube-shaped most sacred site in Islam, ZamZam Grand Suites is lodged in a luxury tower of the Abraj Al-Beit Complex. On the lower floors of the same tower, a shopping centre will welcome all guests. The in-house restaurant offers a rich buffet ranging from oriental to continental cuisine.

Know before you go

Check-in policy:

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Guests must show current government-issued proof of identity at the time of check-in.
Photo identification and credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
The credit cards listed here are accepted by this hotel for additional charges incurred during a guest's stay.

Terms & conditions

Rates displayed are for single or double occupancy per room per night based on the number of adults requested. Please note that extra people, children, rollaway beds and incidentals may be subject to additional charges at check-in.

DINING

Breakfast is served each morning from 7 a.m. until 10 a.m. in Al-Zahraa Restaurant .

Notification and fees

INCLUDED/NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE Wireless Internet access in public areas is not included in the price and costs SAR 100.00 per hour. Parking is not included in the price and costs SAR 200.00 per day. Breakfast is included in the price.

HOW TO SAVE UP FOR A CAR

2011-05-18T18:21:00.000-07:00

How to Save Up for a Car

Have your eye on that new or used car but you're not sure how to pay for it? This article will help you figure out a strategy to get you in the driver's seat, whether it be a used Toyota Camry or a brand new Audi R8.

1. Before you can decide how much you should save up for a car, determine which car fits your needs. Buying a car that doesn't do what you need it to do will end up causing you frustration and lost time/money. Do you commute to work every day and need something gas efficient like a Toyota Prius hybrid? If you haul lots of cargo, how about a Ford F150? Can you save more money buying it used? Buying a used car that is just 2-3 years old (or 10-40,000 miles) is very smart because it allows the first owner(s) to take the major depreciation hit during the first few years while the car still likely has 3/4ths of its lifespan left. Whatever you decide on, make sure this is a purchase that you won't regret. Do your research.

2. Now that you've done your homework, you know an estimate of how much the car will cost you total out the door (OTD). How much do you need to save for a down payment? Or maybe you want to save up for all of it? If you're going to finance the car with an auto loan, it is recommended that you pay at least a 20% down payment for no longer than 36 months. While longer loans reduce the monthly payments, they will cost you more in the end.

3. So now you know your savings goal. Take a look at your monthly budget and calculate how much you can spare per month for a car payment. Let's say it is $300 and your savings goal for a down payment is $3000, so that is 10 months. Each month, put this money into a savings account (preferably one with a high APY so you can gain some interest) as if you are already making payments on a car. After your down payment, what will your monthly payments be? It should be no more than $300 a month since that is all you can spare. Make sure you take insurance, gas, and maintenance into account.

4. After your savings goal is reached, you are ready to buy. Shop around banks like Bank of America, Capital One, or Wells Fargo, and credit unions for the best rate on an auto loan. Then shop around dealers for the best price on your car. Never fall for buying a car you can't afford. A few years later, after you have paid off your loan, it may be a good idea to continue putting the $300 in your savings account as though you are still making monthly payments. This will help in case you need it for car repairs or you can even pay off your next car in full, costing you no interest.

How Safe is my car

You think you've found the perfect car, It’s the right price, looks good and it’s the perfect size for what you need. But there are three important factors you may not have considered

1. Are your car’s safety and design features likely to protect you and your passengers?

2. Is your car likely to harm other road users?

3. Does it have ESC and Curtain Airbags ?

So How safe is it? Buying a safe car is one of the most important purchases we make and choosing the right one can be difficult. Whether you plan to buy a new or used car, make safety a high priority and do your homework. Compare the car's safety features and star rating to other cars in the same class.

Use the searches above to find your car and answer the question, How safe is my car?

A car can be stylish as well as safe, and it doesn't have to be a luxury model. A new car is not necessarily safer than older models - many used cars rate well in terms of safety and are affordable too. Older cars, particularly those with the right safety features, can be just as safe as or even safer than some new cars. read more a bout car.

CAR BULLETIN

2011-05-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

The Choice for Luxury Cars

In 1994 a new class name assigned to the Mercedes Benz W124 generation engine configuration, the E Class, was debuted. The E stood for Einspritzung which means "fuel injection". Since then, the E-class range has long been Mercedes' bread and butter lineup. The E-Class sedans and wagons are solid, safe, comfortable, luxurious, and fast.

The 2008 E-Class is a 4-door, up to 7-passenger luxury sedan, luxury sports sedan, or luxury wagon, available in 6 trims, ranging from the E350 Luxury Sedan to the E63 AMG Wagon. It is a luxurious sedan that has a refined interior, multiple capable engine options, and confident handling.

"The E350 Luxury Sedan is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 268-horsepower engine that achieves 17-mpg in the city and 24-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard, and a 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is optional. The E63 AMG Wagon is equipped with a standard 6.2-liter, V8, 507-horsepower engine that achieves 12-mpg in the city and 18-mpg on the highway. A 7-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard."

The E Class has a very prestigious look and most reviewers praise it for its refined exterior. It has improved well with its face-lift this year, with new bumpers, headlights, grille, and possibly even fenders and doors.

The 2008 E Class has an elegant and comfortable interior, with attractive features. The wagons in the class seat up to seven, while the sedans seat five. The E Class has a 12-speaker harman/kardon LOGIC7 digital surround-system with a subwoofer that produces 420 watts of sound.

Super Fast Seven

Have you ever heard of the Caterham Seven? If you haven't, try to search for photos of it on Google. One look at the results and you would immediately see that these Sevens looks similar but at the same time different.

That's the beauty of the Caterham Seven. The automaker has made it its goal to provide unique vehicles to their consumers even if it is of the same nameplate. Today, with more than 12,000 Sevens in the world, it is hard to find two Sevens which look exactly the same.

That philosophy is about to reach a whole new level as Caterham announced recently that it has entered into a working relationship with RS Performance. The said company has only one goal. And that is to provide a true-blue "built to order" vehicle. Join that up with Caterham's already extensive expertise on the development of unique vehicles and you would surely come out with really unique Seven.

The vehicles which will be produced under the relationship of the two forward thinking companies would be equipped with the RST-V8 engine. This is no ordinary V8 mind you. It has 40 valves and can produce as much as 500 bhp if turbocharged. A "less powerful" version is the naturally aspirated engine which produces "only" 400 bhp. That much power is produced by an engine which only weighs 90 kilograms.

Uhm, that means a power to weight ratio of 1,000 bhp per ton. That is twice as the power weight ratio of the Bugatti Veyron. Truly, the new Seven will be much faster than your Acura MDX with all its trappings including cold air intakes and

MORE CAR NEWS

commerce: World's Most Expensive Cars

2011-03-28T01:02:00.000-07:00

commerce: World's Most Expensive Cars

World's Most Expensive Cars

2011-03-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

What is the most expensive car in the world? The 1931 Bugatti Royale Kellner Coupe was sold for $8,700,000 in 1987. However, that car and many alike will not be included in this list because it is not available on the market today. It is hard to imagine someone would actually spend 8 million dollars on a car instead of using it for something more productive. However, if you have the money and the opportunity, you will definitely spend a small fraction of it to place a few of these supercars in your garage. Here are the 10 most expensive production cars on the market.

1. Bugatti Veyron $1,700,000. This is by far the most expensive street legal car available on the market today. It is the fastest accelerating car reaching 0-60 in 2.6 seconds. It claims to be the fastest car with a top speed of 253 mph+. However, the title for the fastest car goes to the SSC Ultimate Aero which exceed 253 mph pushing this car to 2nd place for the fastest car.

2. Lamborghini Reventon $1,600,000. The most powerful and the most expensive Lamborghini ever built is the second on the list. It takes 3.3 seconds to reach 60 mph and it has a top speed of 211 mph. Its rarity (limited to 20) and slick design are the reasons why it is so expensive and costly to own.

3. McLaren F1 $970,000. In 1994, the McLaren F1 was the fastest and most expensive car. Even though it was built 15 years ago, it has an unbelievable top speed of 240 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. Even as of today, the McLaren F1 is still top on the list and it outperformed many other supercars.

4. Ferrari Enzo $670,000. The most known supercar ever built. The Enzo has a top speed of 217 mph and reaching 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. Only 400 units were produced and it is currently being sold for over $1,000,000 at auctions.

5. Pagani Zonda C12 F $667,321. Produced by a small independent company in Italy, the Pagani Zonda C12 F is the 5th fastest car in the world. It promises to delivery a top speed of 215 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.5 seconds.

6. SSC Ultimate Aero $654,400. Don't let the price tag fool you, the 6th most expensive car is actually the fastest street legal car in the world with a top speed of 257 mph+ and reaching 0-60 in 2.7 seconds. This baby cost nearly half as much as the Bugatti Veyron, yet has enough power to top the most expensive car in a speed race. It is estimated that only 25 of this exact model will ever be produced.

7. Saleen S7 Twin Turbo $555,000. The first true American production certified supercar, this cowboy is also rank 3rd for the fastest car in the world. It has a top speed of 248 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.2 seconds. If you are a true American patriot, you can be proud to show off this car.

8. Koenigsegg CCX $545,568. Swedish made, the Koenigsegg is fighting hard to become the fastest car in the world. Currently, it is the 4th fastest car in the world with a top speed of 245 mph+, the car manufacture Koenigsegg is not giving up and will continue to try and produce the fastest car. Good luck with that!

9. Mercedes Benz SLR McLaren Roadster $495,000. A GT supercar, the SLR McLaren is the fastest automatic transmission car in the world with a top speed of 206 mph+ and reaching 60 mph in 3.8 seconds. It is a luxurious convertible with a really powerful engine, which results in outstanding performances and style.

10. Porsche Carrera GT $440,000. A supercar with dynamic stability control and a top speed of 205 mph+ and it can reach 0-60 in 3.9 seconds. The Porsche Carrera GT applies the absolute calibers of a true racing car to offer an unprecedented driving feeling on the road.

Skoda Vision D concept

2011-03-28T00:39:00.000-07:00

Geneva heralded a new badge and design language for Skoda. Forming one of the many VAG launches at Geneva was the Vision D.

Blending the boundaries between the VAG subsidiaries even further, the Vision D sports clear influence from others in the portfolio. The minimal, taught lines of the Octavia sized fast back Vision D are very much VAG, but the simplicity, and green hues are most certainly Skoda.

Hinted at being a new model to slide between the Octavia and Fabia, the Vision D will preview the face of the many new Skodas on the verge of the marker. With a new model being planned every six months.

Our initial thoughts from Geneva of the Vision D, can be found over on the CDN Live site:
Comment + gallery: Skoda Vision D concept - the wrong direction?

BAC Mono

2011-03-28T00:18:00.000-07:00

Another name to emerge amidst the numerous English niche manufacturers, are Briggs Automotive. Taking the fight to cars like the Aerial Atom and Caparo T1, the BAC Mono is a lightweight carbon fiber tubbed single seater, proving that once again less is more in terms of performance.

Boasting a kerb weight of just 540kg, the single seat ‘ultra high performance, road legal sports vehicle' was produced using race-bred technology in order to deliver a purist driving experience. Built with the paradigm of design and engineering excellence in mind, the Mono utilizes extensive bespoke carbon fiber and CNC machined billet aluminum parts in its construction.

With a design that places function over form, parallels can be drawn to its contemporaries, but the single seat layout offers a more focused road racer experience than any other niche vehicle currently available.

Jaguar Overview

2011-03-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

For Jaguar, 2010 brings several significant changes to several significant models—most notably, the totally redesigned XJ flagship sedan. The interior and exterior both receive a complete makeover that resembles the XF midsize sedan. A standard panoramic glass roof, long-wheelbase XJL trim and three V-8 engines are just some of the tantalizing features of this restyled modern classic.

After breaking the classic Jaguar mold in 2008, the XF midsize luxury sedan boasts a modern, sculpted exterior, contemporary interior, a new XF Portfolio trim level and a XFR model that boasts a monstrous 510-horspower, 5.0-liter V-8 (one of four V-8’s). The XF competes with the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series, Cadillac STS and Lexus GS.

The sleek and refreshing Jaguar XK comes in coupe and convertible trims and receives a refreshed sleek exterior and luxurious interior. The XK also boasts a new 510-horsepower, 5.0-liter V-8 (same engine as the XF). An enhanced version of the XK, the XKR, features suspension and drivetrain upgrades that are akin to those of the XFR.

INFO MOBIL BEKAS

2011-03-02T09:11:00.000-08:00

INFO MOBIL SECOND BARU BEKAS MURAH MASIH BAGUS HARGA DAMAI BISA NEGO MAKASSAR JAKARTA INDONESIA INFO MOBIL KEREN TERBARU TERUPDATE BENGKEL MOBIL RENOVASI MOBIL MOTOR BEKAS BARU DENGAN HARGA TERJANGKAU DISINI TEMPATNYA

How To Save Gas

2010-03-10T17:03:00.001-08:00

18 Tips for Saving Money on Gasoline

by: Fisher Swanson

Gas prices are on the rise. Here are some tips to help you conserve gas and save money as we approach summer gas prices.

1. Keep your car tuned up. Cars in poor running condition use more gasoline.
2. Plan trips well to avoid unnecessary driving.
3. When you run your air conditioner you get much worse gas mileage. Use your air conditioner sparingly. If you have a lower setting, use it. Turn it on until the car gets cool, then turn it off and let the fan circulate the cool air. Never run your air conditioner with your windows open!
4. Keep your windows closed when traveling at high speeds. Open windows cause additional drag and lower your gas mileage. At high speeds, an open window can use more gas than many air conditioners (especially if they are on a low setting).
5. Check your tire pressure. Over-inflated tires can actually reduce your fuel efficiency, so don't overfill.
6. If at all possible, change your work start time to avoid gridlock. Stop and go traffic hurts your gas mileage.
7. Take unneeded items out of the car. You don't need to carry snow chains around with you in the summertime. Just make sure to put them back in when winter comes around.
8. Try not to idle your engine for long periods of time. If you are stuck in traffic and you don't think you are going to go anywhere in the next five minutes, you may want to turn your car off.
9. You no longer need to warm your car up for long periods of time, especially new cars. New cars are made to run when cold.
10. Don't travel at fast speeds in low gears unless you need the compression to slow down.
11. Try to drive the speed limit.
12. Try to accelerate slowly when leaving the stop light. It's not a competition with the driver in the lane next to you. The fastest person through the intersection just gets to spend more on gas.
13. No need to buy the highest priced gasoline. Most cars are built to run on regular unleaded. Check you owners manual or consult a mechanic. I have had many tell me that the more expensive gas is a waste of money.
14. Revving the engine needlessly wastes gas. There is no need to rev before you turn your vehicle off.
15. If at all possible, try to arrange car pools with co-workers to share the cost of commuting to work.
16. Walk, bike or run to your intended location whenever possible.
17. When the price is sky high, don't fill up. Wait for the price to go down before you fill up your tank. Filling up your tank when the price is peaking lets gas companies know that you are willing to pay ridiculous prices for gasoline.
18. And last, the biggest and most important step towards saving money on gas is always try to purchase vehicles that get good gas mileage. The difference between 20 miles-per-gallon and 40 miles-per-gallon is huge.

Fisher Swanson is a regular contributer to The www.ThriftyFun.com News. ThriftyFun publishes information about thrifty living.

2008 Ford Focus RS WRC

2010-01-14T09:33:00.000-08:00

2008 Ford Focus RS WRC Specifications

Chassis
Brakes F/R:	vented disc/vented disc
Tires F-R:	Gravel: R15 (magnesium) Asphalt: R18 (magnesium)
Driveline:	All Wheel Drive
Engine
Type:	Turbocharged Inline-4
Displacement cu in (cc):	123 (2000)
Power bhp (kW) at RPM:	300(224) / 6000
Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM:	406(550) / 4000
Redline at RPM:	n.a.
Exterior
Length × Width × Height in:	170.1 × 70.2 × n.a. (depends on the setup)
Weight lb (kg):	2711 (1230)
Performance
Acceleration 0-60 mph s:	n.a.
Top Speed mph (km/h):	n.a.
Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km):	n.a.

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept

2010-01-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept Specifications

Body
Wheelbase	111.7 in
Chassis
Brakes	four-wheel disc with electric park brake system
Wheels (F)	20-in
Wheels (R)	20-in
Front Suspension	four-wheel independent with Magnetic Ride Control
Engine & Transmission
Power bhp (kW) at RPM:	350 hp (260 kW)
Exterior
Length	203.5 in
Width	74.8 in
Height	59.1 in
Track (in., front/rear)	62.6 / 1589 (front); 62.8 / 1594 (rear)

2007 Ford Shelby GT500

2010-01-13T08:36:00.000-08:00

Ford Shelby GT500 specs
0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds
Engine: V8 5.4 liter Supercharged 500 hp

It is certainly one of the most powerful Mustangs to date. This is the new 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 muscle car. To give you a small preview of what this sports car has to offer, let me sum it up with a few numbers and words: 500 horsepower and 5.4-liter supercharged V-8. Did that got your attention? It should have, for someone who likes sports cars with brute strength, those numbers will get them at the edge of their seats. What can I say, this muscle car´s power is classic Shelby. The 5.4-liter, 32-valve V-8 engine has been the result of Ford´s years of tinkering with modular engines. The results are nothing less but remarkable.

The 5.4-liter, 32-valve V-8 engine is nice to read and surely nice to be heard, but how does it perform? Ford made sure that a mixture of air and fuel will be forced-fed into the engine via a "Roots-type" supercharger producing, are you ready for this, 8.5 pounds per square inch of boost. Imagine how the sudden power will affect your speed.

And in order to handle all that power, the Ford Shelby GT500 sports car used a cast-iron engine block drivetrain, reminiscent of the old Ford GT design. The old program aluminum, four-valve cylinder heads, piston rings and bearings system was the foundation for the 2007 sports car GT500' drivetrain. A 6-speed manual gearbox also equips the new Shelby. The heavy-duty transmission has been made to withstand both road and track conditions. Solid Mustang underpinnings and upgraded key chassis components born from a fusion of improved shocks, spring rates and stabilizer bars care-off SVT engineers made the new Shelby strong and stable especially during sudden stops and abrupt turns.

With that V8, you can imagine the sound this baby can make. This sports car roars. And as sinister as the engine sounds, the outside of the GT500 is almost as sinister. Have you seen a Mustang Cobra before? If yes then you´re familiar with the ominous front-end design, the wide upper and lower fascia openings and that functional air splitter. The same goes with the new Shelby. The look of this car can only be described as one mean machine. If you observe the sports car closely, you´ll notice that there´s the presence of an upper intake which made the Cobra logo float off-center. The logo takes the place of the traditional galloping pony that can be found in the center of older Mustangs. Also, the hood has those heat extractors sticking out near the leading edge. This is not just to make the look sinister but to provide engine airflow and create the perfect aerodynamics. Due to this design, the air from the engine compartment is sucked out through ducts that are attached to the hood extractors as the air from the outside passes through the hood.

Definitely, the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 sports car is more than one could hope for after the unique collaboration of legendary Carroll Shelby and Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT). Now being a product of a great union of minds, effort and money, the muscle car sports a "GT500" script on the gas cap emblem along side an updated Shelby classic Cobra logo.

When you look at the interior of the new GT500 racing car, chances are you will be a little surprised. Leather everywhere, that´s what you will see. You will find that the Mustang´s molded-plastic surfaces is covered by uninterrupted layer of stitched black hide. The trimmings found in the door panels are covered by leather as well. So is the steering wheel, the shifter, the parking-brake handle, the dash top, and even the console are covered by no less the genuine hide. The seat center panels themselves are made from red perforated leather, what else would you want? But strikingly different in the new GT500 is the usage of matte-aluminum finish on the shift knob, steering-wheel spokes, instrument rings, and vent registers. In the cars of yore, these parts were made of shiny bright metal decor.

These are considerable upgrades which makes the already legend GT500 sports car more infamous. Base price of the 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 has been pegged at more than $40,930.

More Ford cars:

2006 Ascari A10

2010-01-13T08:26:00.000-08:00

Ascari A10 specs
Top Speed: 220 mph / 354 km/h
0-60 mph: 2.8 seconds
Engine: 5 liter, V8 BMW M5 4941 cc 625HP

The Ascari A10 sports car, developed by British manufacturers and similar to the Spanish GT version, is rated in the top ten supercars for 2006. Its lightweight carbon fiber body of less than 3,000 pounds is designed more for the racetrack than the road. There were only a few models of this fast car built, somewhere between 10 and 50, and although expensive, it promises incredible speed and power.

The power of the Ascari A10 comes from the modified BMW 5.0 liter V-8 engine, with the standard six-speed sequential transaxle, where the gearshifts operate as paddles, similar to other race cars. Additions and modifications to the engine, however, include cams with advanced timing, new rods, and pistons, as well as a dry sump lubrication system. It has the same steel sub-frame for the power train and rear suspension as the KZ1 sports car, but the height of the coil spring units can be adjusted hydraulically on front and rear. This is a unique feature, not found on most other supercars, where adjustments can only be made manually. Handling should be easier than before, with front and rear anti-roll bars installed, which are also adjustable. The builders of the A10, not to be outdone by their competitors and to ensure adequate braking at such high speeds, have installed ventilated ceramic disc brakes, with 6-pot calipers on the front and 4-pot calipers on the rear.
The exterior design of this luxury race car is more dramatic than its predecessor the KZ1, with wider headlamps, a different grille, and higher wheel arches to accommodate larger rear tires. In addition, it features a splitter in the front, fixed rear wing, and five detachable body panels for added race trace utility. Even with standard features such as a battery isolator, rollover cage, electric windows, and air conditioning, it still weighs 55 pounds less than the KZ1.

Klaas Zwart, the owner of Ascari, may well have designed the fastest exotic car in the UK, outperforming the Ferrari Enzo as is claimed. The A10 is certainly a rare and distinctive car, one that is much desired to own. More Ascari cars:

Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Concept Specifications

2010-01-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept Design and technology come together to celebrate Corvette’s past, present and future

Source: General Motors

DETROIT – Chevrolet delivers a futuristic vision of technology and design with the 50th Anniversary Corvette Stingray Concept. A version of the model was first shown at the 2009 Chicago Auto Show and stars as “Sideswipe” in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. The Corvette Stingray Concept represents both the iconic legacy and an exciting future for Corvette.

The Corvette Stingray Concept was developed as an internal design challenge to combine classic Corvette cues with surprisingly high-tech features, modern materials, and a striking new appearance. The car is well-appointed with a clamshell hood, scissor-style doors, ergonomic seats, rear-view camera with night vision enhancement, and a high performance hybrid drive. Interactive touch controls allow the driver to customize the power and efficiency of his or her ride and share it with friends via the in-car camera system and advanced telemetrics.

The new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: Four seasons, four personalities

2010-01-13T08:11:00.000-08:00

Source: Media GM

o New CTS Coupe design combines with V-Series performance
o 556-hp (415-kW) supercharged 6.2L V-8
o Six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with paddle shift control
o Magnetic Ride Control and Brembo brakes
o New Saffron interior trim accent color
o On sale in early summer

DETROIT – Cadillac today announced the 2011 CTS-V Coupe, which debuts at the 2010 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It combines the new CTS Coupe’s dramatic design with the 556-horsepower (415-kW) supercharged V-8 engine from the CTS-V sedan. The result is a luxury sports coupe aimed at driving enthusiasts.

“The CTS-V Coupe marries our most potent and sophisticated technology with our most dramatic production design,” said Bryan Nesbitt, Cadillac general manager. “This combination of visual and technical attributes is designed to create a very compelling choice for luxury sports car consumers.”

The CTS-V Coupe begins production this summer. Its suite of technical and performance elements includes Magnetic Ride Control, racing-bred Brembo brakes and an available automatic transmission with paddle-shift control.

The V-Series Coupe includes a unique grille that doubles the car’s air intake volume, an important enabler for its high-performance capabilities. It is also visually identified by a raised center section of the hood that provides clearance for the supercharger, as well as specific front and rear fascias. Like the CTS Coupe, its exhaust is centered inside the rear fascia, but with unique twin outlets. The car rolls on 19-inch cast aluminum wheels, available in either painted or polished finishes, and Michelin Pilot Sport 2 performance tires.

The CTS-V Coupe’s rear track is nearly an inch wider than the CTS-V Sport Sedan, adding to the car’s aggressive stance and enabling an extra measure of handling capability. The current CTS-V Sport Sedan has quickly established itself among the world’s highest performing luxury sedans, becoming the first production four-door on street tires to break the legendary 8-minute barrier at Germany’s famed Nürburgring. The new V-Series Coupe’s sleeker shape and slightly lower mass ensure a similarly high level of performance.

Inside, the 2+2 cabin combines performance and luxury. A new Saffron interior trim color is offered, with contrasting microfiber seat inserts and stitching on the upper trim areas.

Form follows function

The CTS-V Coupe’s design is a clear visual statement of the technical precision and performance intent of the car.

The Coupe has the same wheelbase as the CTS-V Sport Sedan, but its overall height is about two inches (51 mm) lower and its overall length is two inches (51 mm) shorter. The two models share only the instrument panel, console, headlamps, front fenders and grille.

Key design features include:

* Classic hardtop styling, with no conventional B-pillar
* Touch-pad operation for the doors removes the need for conventional door handles
* Faster windshield angle (62.3 degrees) and a nearly horizontal backglass enable an aerodynamic profile
* Signature vertical lighting, highlighted with LED light pipes
* Signature center high-mounted stop lamp functions as a rear spoiler
* Aerodynamic roof-mounted antenna for OnStar and XM Satellite Radio

Supercharged powertrain

The CTS-V Coupe employs the LSA 6.2L supercharged V-8 engine also found on the CTS-V Sport Sedan. Rated at 556 horsepower (415 kW) and 551 lb.-ft. of torque (747 Nm), it is the most powerful engine offered in Cadillac’s history and propels the CTS-V Coupe from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds.

The LSA engine features an intercooled Eaton supercharger system, premium aluminum-alloy cylinder heads and numerous details designed to ensure it makes its power as quietly and smoothly as possible. The supercharger, for example, has a unique, four-lobe rotor design that enhances quietness while also optimizing the performance parameters of the engine.

A pair of six-speed transmissions is offered in the CTS-V Coupe: a Tremec TR6060 six-speed manual with a dual-disc clutch and a Hydra-Matic 6L90 six-speed automatic with paddle-shift control. Performance Algorithm Shifting is part of the 6L90’s programming and provides a performance-oriented shift pattern during sustained high-performance driving. As with many Cadillac models, the driver needs only to slide the shifter into the manual “gate” to put the transmission into that more aggressive mode.

The paddle shift control requires no shift lever movement. Steering wheel thumb controls allow immediate and quick tap up/tap down gear selection.

Magnetic Ride Control

The V-Series reaches elite levels of road-holding performance, but also maintains the poise of a luxury car in “regular” driving conditions. The technical enabler of that dual-mode driving character is Cadillac’s landmark Magnetic Ride Control. It is standard on the CTS-V Coupe and is the world’s fastest-reacting suspension technology. It uses shocks controlled by advanced magneto-rheological technology, rather than mechanical valves, to greatly accelerate response time and precision.

Electronic sensors at all four wheels literally “read the road” every millisecond, making constant adjustments to damping to create virtually instantaneous and extremely precise control of body motions. This is of particular benefit for a high-performance car because it helps keep the car very composed during hard cornering, acceleration, braking and other dynamic maneuvers.

The Magnetic Ride shocks also enable a broader range of damping control to optimize the ride and handling for all driving conditions. In the CTS-V Coupe, an extra measure of control is offered, with two selectable modes (Tour and Sport), enabling the driver to tailor the suspension for grand touring or more spirited performance driving.

Braking and tire systems

CTS-V includes sophisticated braking and tire systems, in partnership with two companies renowned for high-performance technology: Brembo and Michelin. Brembo brakes are at all four corners and include powerful, six-piston calipers in the front and four-piston calipers in the rear.

Slotted and vented rotors enable strong initial braking force while optimizing heat resistance and eliminating fade. The brake rotors from Brembo employ a “dual-cast” technology that combines cast iron and aluminum, resulting in excellent performance and weight reduction. CTS-V also includes an electric parking brake, enabling more legroom for the driver, key for high-performance driving.

Michelin partnered with Cadillac engineers to develop its acclaimed Pilot Sport PS2 summer tire for CTS-V and its exclusive 19-inch alloy wheels. The tires support high levels of grip in track conditions, while also affording good performance on the road.

Interior amenities

Recaro performance driving seats are optional in the CTS-V Coupe and provide excellent support for spirited driving. These 14-way adjustable performance seats include pneumatic bolster controls in the seat cushions and backrests.

The CTS-V Coupe also includes an exclusive new Saffron color option for the interior, providing a contrasting color accent carried on the seat inserts, as well as the stitching, which highlights the craftsmanship of the instrument panel, center console, door trim and seats.

The steering wheel, seat inserts and shifter are covered in microfiber, providing the luxurious character of suede without suede’s inherent drawbacks of difficult care and moisture sensitivity. These accents are standard, elegant to the touch and help support high-performance driving.

The car’s integrated center stack is trimmed in Obsidian black material that is also applied to the center console and door trim. Just like every CTS, the V-Series includes a hand-stitched instrument panel, door trim and center console. Leading-edge infotainment features extend to the V-Series. They include a 40-gigabyte hard drive, advanced navigation system with a deployable screen and Bose digital surround audio, as well as factory-installed Bluetooth phone integration, all standard features on the V-Series.

About Cadillac

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and global expansion. More information on Cadillac can be found at media.cadillac.com.

NEW CAR 2010

2010-01-13T08:04:00.001-08:00

Ford Motor Co.

Ford Fiesta: A feisty import from Europe could erase memories of the last U.S. version of the Fiesta. Those of us old enough to remember it recall an econobox with a festive name, but poor reliability. Ford's new version claims to get around 40 mpg, and the Euro version that we drove has a great interior to boot. Its price starts just north of $13,000, which sure helps in the current economy; it could build a new generation of Ford fans from teens to 20-somethings.

Ford Taurus: While the Fiesta could make a big splash with its quality and high mileage, in reality, Ford needs a car like this to appeal to baby boomers looking to downgrade from expensive luxury makers and still generate profits. The Fiesta's dirt cheap price likely means a narrower profit margin. The Taurus, though, has a name with equity and enough extra features that could make it a big moneymaker for Ford. Despite its sharp looks, the Taurus' cramped cockpit may put off some family shoppers, although Ford's ridiculously powerful EcoBoost engine could make dads overlook the tight fit. Boomers will appreciate the huge trunk that can store more golf bags than the car can carry passengers. Could the Taurus be the once and maybe future king of sedans? Ford sure hopes so.

Ford Explorer: Speaking of nameplate equity, the Explorer practically invented and owned the SUV segment during the 1990s. It's moving to a unibody platform, which should help it drive more like a car and get more carlike mileage. Although the SUV category has slumped, a new Explorer could help cement Ford in the family car business, where it has seen modest success with the Flex and the Edge. It'll go head-to-head with Jeep's revamped Grand Cherokee.

What's Missing: Ford hasn't given the Escape compact SUV a full redesign since it debuted in 2000, and it doesn't hold up well to new entries like the Hyundai Tucson and Chevy Equinox. Yet it's one of the best- selling vehicles in the country. Ford better not drop the ball on this like it did with the Taurus two generations ago.

Jeep Grand Cherokee: Chrysler is wise to kick off its rebirth with a unibody family hauler that has an advanced off-road system to satisfy the broadest swath of consumers. But given its recent history, the Cherokee's mileage is likely to lag its competitors despite an estimated 11 percent gain in mileage — and Chrysler desperately needs to solve the reliability problem that has dogged the Grand Cherokee for years. Still, the Cherokee is one of only two new models for Chrysler next year. It needs to sell well to help get Chrysler to the rest of its recovery plan. However, even well-executed redesigns or new models like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge have not been huge successes.

Fiat 500: Chrysler today doesn't have a single model that gets better than 31 mpg; will this small car, already popular in Europe, give the company enough cache to get young buyers into the shop? Once there, will those shoppers even look at anything else on the showroom floor? The company plans to start selling the 500 in January 2011 at "salons" in select urban dealerships. While it could become as successful as the Mini Cooper, that level of sales volume won't be enough to help Chrysler pay off its government debt, much less reach profitability.

Chrysler 300: Whereas the Fiat 500 might not pave the road to cash flow, the 300 may. This style-centric rear-wheel-drive sedan helped revive Chrysler in the early 2000s, and it's getting a redesign for the 2011 model year. Like the Taurus for Ford, the 300 could provide plenty of profit margin, along with a huge cabin. Mileage could be a concern, but with an improved interior expected and lots of space, the 300 could win back fans of flashy looks while the masses focus on value.

What's Missing: The Fiat 500 may make a splash in the subcompact market, but Chrysler needs a successful compact car that the Dodge Caliber never was. The company also can't figure out the vital compact SUV market with various entries that are either too small — Jeep Patriot — or too big — Dodge Nitro.

Chevy Equinox/Traverse: OK, so these are two cars masquerading as one entry on our list, but these models are already in production, have sold well and made the brand a true innovative player in the family car market. The Traverse is now the top large crossover, beating out Toyota's Highlander and Honda's Pilot for a few months now. The Equinox sports a top-class cabin and class-leading gas mileage. Yes, a Chevy has the best mileage of its class.

Chevy Cruze: Like Ford with the Fiesta, the Cruze is GM's effort to get a 40-mpg small car on the market, although the Cruze is more a competitor for Toyota's Corolla or the Honda Civic, where the Fiesta goes up against the subcompact Toyota Yaris and the Honda Fit, among others. For GM, there's a PR move behind this car as well. Now owned in part by U.S. taxpayers, GM sees the Cruze as a shot at making its case that it can build a desirable, fuel-efficient car, proving that the federal bailout was worth the money and effort. The company's current compact, the Cobalt, has the best fuel mileage in the class and has not been a success.

Chevy Volt: Speaking of symbolic moves, a lot rests on the Volt. Could the electric-gas hybrid be GM's opening shot in the electric-car wars, or will it be outmoded the moment it arrives? It's reasonable to ask why consumers would pay upward of $40,000 for a car that gets great mileage when they can buy another car that gets great mileage for closer to $20,000, say the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight. Of course, there's a halo effect that GM will expect from having the Volt in its lineup, and federal tax credits should chop a hefty $7,500 off the Volt's MSRP. Pro-U.S. green types could rally around the Volt. The next question for GM: How long till your plug-ins make it to market?

What's Missing: There are plans for a new Chevy Aveo subcompact, but the current generation shouldn't even be in the consideration set of shoppers who can pick up a new Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa. Chevy needs to get a new Aveo on the market quickly or lose domestic shoppers to Ford's Fiesta.

Video Porno Anak Kian Merebak

2009-04-16T23:17:00.000-07:00

Usaha pemerintah untuk menekan pornografi di negara kita tampaknya belum maksimal. Ini terbukti dengan masih banyaknya media yang berbau pornografi yang beredar terutama lewat internet, walaupun sudah dikeluarkan undang-undang anti pornografi. Bahkan kini sudah merambah keanak-anak.
Benda-benda berteknologi tinggi seperti telepon seluler dan komputer kini sudah tidak asing lagi bagi anak-anak usia dini. Apalagi sudah banyak Sekolah Dasar (SD) yang memperkenalkan teknologi ini kepada murid-muridnya. Tak heran jika anak-anak sekarang rata-rata tidak canggung lagi saat berhadapan dengan gadget modern seperti ponsel, VCD, komputer, bahkan internet.
Pemandangan dari anak-anak yang menghabiskan waktu di warung internet (warnet) seolah sudah menjadi hal yang lumrah. Ada yang gemar bermain games secara online, sampai sekedar membuka situs-situs. Mereka juga sudah biasa mengakses situs-situs pertemanan yang sekarang sedang marak seperti friendster dan facebook. Sayangnya kemajuan teknologi ini tidak selalu membawa dampak positif bagi perkembangan anak.
Demikian menurut “Reportase Investigasi” yang ditayangkan oleh Trans TV hari Sabtu, 21 Pebruari 2009 lalu.
Dalam tayangan yang dimulai pukul 16.30 WIB itu, tim investigasi menemukan beberapa anak yang baru duduk di kelas 5 SD, yang mengaku bahwa salah seorang temannya memperlihatkan gambar porno yang tersimpan di dalam telepon seluler miliknya.
Melalui situs pencari di internet, anak-anak seusia belia ini biasa mencari dan mengunjungi situs porno. Bahkan mereka hafal nama situs yang harus diketik di kotak pencarian. Kita ketahui bersama bahwa saat ini di internet beredar ratusan bahkan ribuan video-video porno yang sangat mudah di download karena ukuran filenya yang relatif kecil misalnya jenis 3gp, file rm, mp4 dsb.
Di sekolah mereka tidak ada mata pelajaran pengenalan internet dan cara menggunakannya, namun tanpa itupun anak-anak ingusan ini sudah bisa mengakses situs-situs tersebut lewat warnet. Kebanyakan dari mereka mengaku bisa karena diajarkan oleh teman-temannya.
Lantas tim investigasi mencoba membuktikan sendiri, apakah situs tersebut benar-benar bisa diakses atau tidak. Hasilnya situs tersebut memang ada dan bisa dibuka. Tampilan pertama langsung disuguhi gambar-gambar yang sungguh tidak layak dilihat dan ditonton oleh anak-anak.
Selain lewat warnet, telepon seluler atau handphone (HP) bisa menjadi salah satu media untuk mengakses situs porno. Tim investigasi menemui seorang anak yang duduk di bangku kelas 2 Sekolah Menengah Pertama (SMP), sebut saja namanya Opak. Ia mengaku telah mempunyai ponsel atau HP sejak duduk di kelas 6 SD.
Kebanyakan orang tua membelikan anaknya ponsel atau HP hanya karena alasan sepele, demi gengsi atau status sosial. Alasan lain karena tidak tahan mendengar si anak merengek minta HP yang sedang trend. Ada pula yang beralasan fungsional, untuk memudahkan komunikasi dengan anaknya.
Sayangnya HP ternyata bisa disalahgunakan oleh anak-anak. Apalagi jenis HP yang dilengkapi dengan fasilitas multimedia, seperti kamera, infrared, atau bluetooth.
Bahaya HP ini bukan tidak disadari oleh para orang tua. Salah satu orang tua bahkan mengaku anaknya pernah mendapat masalah dengan pihak sekolah karena kedapatan menyimpan video porno di HP miliknya.
Banyak orang tua tidak sadar, perangkat komunikasi ini bisa membuat anak terkontaminasi pornografi. Masalah lainnya adalah bebasnya peredaran VCD porno. Anak-anak pun dengan gampang bisa mendapatkannya.
HP atau telepon seluler memang bukan lagi barang langka di kalangan anak-anak. Bahkan penggunakan HP seolah sudah menjadi trend bagi mereka. Sayangnya, alat komunikasi yang sedang ngetrend saat ini disalahgunakan. Jadi langkah cepat yang harus diambil adalah hindarkan anak anda dari hal-hal yang berbau pornografi, awasi pergaulan generasi anda setiap saat. Cukup Bandung Lautan Asmara, Sungguminasa bergoyang, Perawat Manado, bocah Medan, mesum SMP Tulung Agung, SMA Bandung Bugil, Celebritis Bugil menjadi sejarah dan pelajaran buat kita dalam membina generasi muda.

Social Networking and Your Home Business

2009-01-15T07:54:00.001-08:00

If you have been in business at any time in your life then you have been involved in some type of networking. In decades past it was cocktails or dinner with a client or potential client. Networking has always played a role in marketing a business or business opportunity.
The latest marketing tools, are the social networking sites, such as MySpace, Facebook or the newest Twitter. More than half of all Americans from those in their early teens to those heading for retirement are active on one or more social networking site. More and more individuals are hosting their own blog to talk about themselves, the family or their business.
With technology and software becoming more user friendly, more people are using the Internet to stay connected with family and friends. They are blogging and using social networking sites to meet people around the globe. Individuals are using these sites to learn about products and services. It is similar to talking to friends and family for recommendations for everything from where to have dinner, shop or visit. It's the "word of mouth" advertising that business crave and need to grow and prosper.
Business and marketers continually look for ways to improve and expand their client base. Social networking sites and blogs provide an avenue for these individuals to learn who their potential clients are on a personal level. You get to know them as individuals first and then as clients. It allows that personal touch which as been missing from business and from corporate America.
To use social networking sites effectively and to grow your business, individuals must remember that words have meaning and impact those reading them. How you use words can directly impact the growth or decline of your business. Many social sites promote a "free wheeling" atmosphere in conversations, therefore caution is advised in your conversations on those sites. It is important to remember that words linger on the Internet long after your "log off" a site. This written word is the presentation you have given of you and your business. It's how you are representing yourself.
Social networking is about getting to know your potential clients and in turn letting them know who you are and what your business has to offer. It's that human touch that, we as social creatures crave.
Many traditional marketers underestimate the power that social networking sites and blogs have on consumers. They also underestimate the role that these sites will continue to play in business and with the growth of businesses. With the growth of Blogs, Twitter, Squidoo and other social sites, those with online business or who are contemplating starting an online business must learn how to leverage these social networking sites to their advantage.
While more conventional marketing will continue to play a role in business and a marketing budget, marketers will need to be more fluid in their thinking and in their marketing techniques.

Why Collagen Facial Creams Are a Waste of Money

2009-01-15T07:46:00.000-08:00

You might pay $100 or more for a jar of collagen facial cream. But, what are you really paying for? The cost of collagen creams has a lot to do with the advertising and marketing campaigns that the company uses. The ingredients in them are relatively cheap. Here are some things that you might not know.

Collagens are simple proteins found in the fibers that compose the dermis layer of the skin. There are four to five layers of keratin-rich cells, before you get to the dermis. So, if collagen facial cream was to be effective, it would need to penetrate through four to five layers of skin.

Even if they did penetrate, collagen creams would not help to replace the collagen-fibers that are lost with age. There are ways to do that, which I'll get to in a moment, but collagen creams won't do the job. Not to mention the fact that the manufacturers only include very small amounts.

When you read the list of ingredients on a product label, they are listed according to the percentage of the product that they make up, from highest to lowest. If there are any "active" ingredients, they will be listed first.

In the US, the only ingredients that are considered active are pharmaceuticals and sunscreens. They don't consider protein an active ingredient. So, as you scan down the list of ingredients on a collagen facial cream, you are likely to see water or "aqua" listed first.

I've looked at a lot of products over the years and in many cases, the ingredient "collagen" is the 20th ingredient listed. The artificial preservatives are far above. Since, there is a maximum amount of an artificial preservative that can be included in a cosmetic and the percentage is very low, that tells us something.

It tells us that the amount of the protein that is actually included in collagen creams is not nearly enough to provide any benefit. Luckily, we have alternatives.

To delay and counter the signs of age, a skincare product must address three issues. They are low levels of hyaluronic acid, free radical damage and decreased production of skin cells and fibers.

To improve levels of hyaluronic acid, the enzymatic activity that breaks it down must be inhibited. Extracts from wakame kelp will do that.

To prevent and repair free radical damage, the antioxidant coenzyme Q10 is needed, but it must be properly formulated using expensive nanotechnology or it will not penetrate through the skin's layers. There is no collagen facial cream that contains that ingredient.

To stimulate the production of new cells and fibers, scientific research has shown that zinc and copper bound to protein perform that service. But, you have to be careful. There are some companies that are aware of the benefit of copper, but they use too much and it can cause a serious allergic reaction.

Basically, collagen creams are a waste of money and even time, because it takes so long to read the long list of artificial ingredients. Now, you know that a collagen facial cream is not your best option, regardless of how much it costs.

Insya Allah Kami Golput

2009-01-09T00:08:00.000-08:00

Pemilu 2009 yang tinggal hitungan bulan lagi membuat para Pelaksana, pengawas dan kontestan pemilu bekerja lebih keras, demi melaksanakan tugas masing-masing. Dan untuk parpol bukan sekedar untuk melaksanakan tugas, tapi lebih dari itu berusaha untuk menjadi kontestan yang memenangkan simpati rakyat. Singkat kata KPU sibuk dengan sosialisasinya, Panwas sibuk dengan pengawasannya dan partai politik sibuk dengan kampanyenya.
Jauh dari hiruk pikuk kerja keras itu, ternyata di luar sana ada sekelompok warga yang tidak mau peduli dengan apa yang dikerjakan oleh pelaksana dan parpol peserta pemilu. Mungkin tidak bayak yang tahu, sebuah dusun yang bernama Dusun Batu Tanre yang meliputi Kampung Batu Tanre dan Kampung Daeng. Dusun ini berada di Wilayah Desa Cakkeware, kecamatan cenrana, Kab. Bone, Prov. Sulawesi Selatan. Letaknya berada disbelah utara kota Watampone dan jaraknya kurang lebih 35 Km.
Sebagian besar warga di dusun ini menyatakan tidak mau peduli dengan pemilu mendatang dan mereka ingin golput saja. Pernyataan ini bukan muncul akibata adanya provokasi dari pihak-pihak tertentu, melainkan ini adalah sebuah inisiatif yang muncul dari mereka sendiri sebagai bentuk perlawanan terhadap pemerintah yang tidak mau peduli dengan nasib mereka.
“kalau begini terus jalananta, lebih baik tidak usah kita memilih di pemilu nanti, kuda sama sapi saja takut lewat, apalagi kita” Itu adalah salah satu petikan kalimat yang diucapkan oleh warga saat saya berada dikampung tersebut beberapa hari yang lalu. Seorang warga menambahkan pula bahwa jika kondisi jalan raya mereka tetap seperti ini hingga pemilu nanti, maka mereka akan mengacuhkan pesta demokrasi tersebut.
Apa yang mereka alami saat ini memang sangat memprihatinkan, kondisi jalanan dikampung itu lebih mirip kubangan kerbau, disepanjang badan jalan yang panjangnya kira-kira 1,5 km itu terdapat kubangan sehingga kendaraan apapun tidak bisa lewat. Bahkan beberapa warga merasa takut lewat dijalan itu dengan alasan bahwa kuda sama sapi saja takut melewatinya.
Keadaan di atas cukup berdampak terhadap kehidupan masyarakat. Akses ke dusun tetangga terputus jika harus ditempuh dengan kendaraan, Mereka sulit ke pasar untuk berbelanja dan memasarkan barang dagangan, anak-nak sekolah pun sering terlambat karena kendaraan yang mereka tumpangi harus berhenti sebelum sampai di sekolah.
Saat saya menyempatkan diri untuk berbincang-bincang dengan salah satu tokoh masyarakat di dusun tersebut, Dia mengatakan bahwa perbaikan jalanan ini sebenarnya adalah tanggung jawab Pemda, tetapi jika ada caleg yang terbuka hatinya untuk membantu kami memperbaiki jalanan ini maka insya Allah suara kami yang awalnya akan di Golputkan akan kami alihkan ke Dia (Baca: caleg) seratus persen. Tetapi jika kondisi jalanan kami masih seperti ini hingga pemilu maka warga disini akan bersatu untuk Golput.
kami sudah bosan dengan janji-janji para caleg, dulu waktu kampanye caleg 2004 kami dijanji dengan perbaikan jalan, tapi sekarang sudah menjelang pemilu lagi kondisi jalanan kami malah makin parah. Jadi kalau bisa perbaiki jalan dulu baru kami memilih.

Bentuk Pemerintahan

2009-01-05T20:17:00.000-08:00

Bentuk pemerintahan adalah suatu istilah yang digunakan untuk merujuk pada rangkaian institusi politik yang digunakan untuk mengorganisasikan suatu negara untuk menegakkan kekuasaannya atas suatu komunitas politik [1]. Definisi ini tetap berlaku bahkan untuk pemerintahan yang tidak sah atau tidak berhasil menegakkan kekuasaannya. Tak tergantung dari kualitasnya, pemerintahan yang gagalpun tetap merupakan suatu bentuk pemerintahan. Beberapa bentuk pemerintahan yang pernah ada antara lain sebagai berikut:
1. Aristokrasi berasal dari bahasa Yunani kuno aristo yang berarti “terbaik” dan kratia yang berarti “untuk memimpin”. Aristokrasi dapat diterjemahkan menjadi sebuah sistem pemerintahan yang dipimpin oleh individu yang terbaik.
Sebagai salah satu istilah bentuk pemerintahan, aristokrasi dapat dibandingkan dengan:
• otokrasi - “pemerintahan oleh seorang individu”.
• meritokrasi - “pemerintahan oleh individu yang paling pantas untuk memimpin”.
• plutokrasi - “pemerintahan oleh orang-orang kaya”.
• oligarki - “pemerintahan oleh segelintir individu”.
• monarki - “pemerintahan oleh seorang individu”.
• demokrasi - “pemerintahan oleh rakyat”.
2. Demokrasi adalah bentuk atau mekanisme sistem pemerintahan suatu negara sebagai upaya mewujudkan kedaulatan rakyat (kekuasaan warganegara) atas negara untuk dijalankan oleh pemerintah negara tersebut.
Salah satu pilar demokrasi adalah prinsip trias politica yang membagi ketiga kekuasaan politik negara (eksekutif, yudikatif dan legislatif) untuk diwujudkan dalam tiga jenis lembaga negara yang saling lepas (independen) dan berada dalam peringkat yg sejajar satu sama lain. Kesejajaran dan independensi ketiga jenis lembaga negara ini diperlukan agar ketiga lembaga negara ini bisa saling mengawasi dan saling mengontrol berdasarkan prinsip checks and balances.
Ketiga jenis lembaga-lembaga negara tersebut adalah lembaga-lembaga pemerintah yang memiliki kewenangan untuk mewujudkan dan melaksanakan kewenangan eksekutif, lembaga-lembaga pengadilan yang berwenang menyelenggarakan kekuasaan judikatif dan lembaga-lembaga perwakilan rakyat (DPR, untuk Indonesia) yang memiliki kewenangan menjalankan kekuasaan legislatif. Di bawah sistem ini, keputusan legislatif dibuat oleh masyarakat atau oleh wakil yang wajib bekerja dan bertindak sesuai aspirasi masyarakat yang diwakilinya (konstituen) dan yang memilihnya melalui proses pemilihan umum legislatif, selain sesuai hukum dan peraturan.
3. Demokrasi totaliter adalah sebuah istilah yang diperkenalkan oleh sejarahwan Israel, J.L. Talmon untuk merujuk kepada suatu sistem pemerintahan di mana wakil rakyat yang terpilih secara sah mempertahankan kesatuan negara kebangsaan yang warga negaranya, meskipun memiliki hak untuk memilih, tidak banyak atau bahkan sama sekali tidak memiliki partisipasi dalam proses pengambilan keputusan pemerintah. Ungkapan ini sebelumnya telah digunakan oleh Bertrand de Jouvenel dan E.H. Carr.
4. Diktatur adalah suatu bentuk pemerintahan otokratis yang dipimpin oleh seorang diktator. Kata ini mempunyai dua kemungkinan arti:
• Diktator Romawi yaitu suatu jabatan politis dari Republik Romawi. Para diktator Romawi diberikan kekuasaan mutlak pada saat-saat darurat. Namun kekuasaan mereka tidak sewenang-wenang ataupun tidak dipertanggungjawabkan, karena mereka takluk kepada hukum dan membutuhkan pembenaran di kemudian hari. Setelah awal abad ke-2 SM, tidak ada lagi bentuk diktatur seperti itu, dan para diktator di kemudian hari, seperti misalnya Sulla dan Kaisar Romawi menggunakan kekuasaannya dalam cara yang jauh lebih besifat pribadi dan sewenang-wenang.
• Dalam penggunaan masa kini, diktatur merujuk kepada suatu bentuk pemerintah absolut yang otokratis oleh suatu kepemimpinan yang tidak dibatasi oleh hukum, konstitusi, atau faktor-faktor sosial dan politis lainnya di dalam negara.
5. Emirat (bahasa Arab: imarah, jamak imarat) adalah sebuah wilayah yang diperintah seorang emir, meski dalam bahasa Arab istilah tersebut dapat merujuk secara umum kepada provinsi apapun dari sebuah negara yang diperintah anggota kelompok pemerintah. Contoh penggunaan dalam arti yang terakhir disebut adalah Uni Emirat Arab, yang merupakan sebuah negara yang terdiri dari tujuh emirat federal yang masing-masing diperintah seorang emir.
6. Federal adalah kata sifat (adjektif) dari kata Federasi. Biasanya kata ini merujuk pada pemerintahan pusat atau pemerintahan pada tingkat nasional. Federasi dari bahasa Belanda, federatie, berasal dari bahasa Latin; foeduratio yang artinya “perjanjian”. federasi pertama dari arti ini adalah “perjanjian” daripada Kerajaan Romawi dengan suku bangsa Jerman yang lalu menetap di provinsi Belgia, kira-kira pada abad ke 4 Masehi. Kala itu, mereka berjanji untuk tidak memerangi sesama, tetapi untuk bekerja sama saja.
Dalam pengertian modern, sebuah federasi adalah sebuah bentuk pemerintahan di mana beberapa negara bagian bekerja sama dan membentuk negara kesatuan. Masing-masing negara bagian memiliki beberapa otonomi khusus dan pemerintahan pusat mengatur beberapa urusan yang dianggap nasional. Dalam sebuah federasi setiap negara bagian biasanya memiliki otonomi yang tinggi dan bisa mengatur pemerintahan dengan cukup bebas. Ini berbeda dengan sebuah negara kesatuan, di mana biasanya hanya ada provinsi saja. Kelebihan sebuah negara kesatuan, ialah adanya keseragaman antar semua provinsi.
7. Meritokrasi Berasal dari kata merit atau manfaat, meritokrasi menunjuk suatu bentuk sistem politik yang memberikan penghargaan lebih kepada mereka yang berprestasi atau berkemampuan. Kerap dianggap sebagai suatu bentuk sistem masyarakat yang sangat adil dengan memberikan tempat kepada mereka yang berprestasi untuk duduk sebagai pemimpin, tetapi tetap dikritik sebagai bentuk ketidak adilan yang kurang memberi tempat bagi mereka yang kurang memiliki kemampuan untuk tampil memimpin.
Dalam pengertian khusus meritokrasi kerap di pakai menentang birokrasi yang sarat KKN terutama pada aspek nepotisme.
8. Monarkisme adalah sebuah dukungan terhadap pendirian, pemeliharaan, atau pengembalian sistem kerajaan sebagai sebuah bentuk pemerintahan dalam sebuah negara.
9. Negara Kota adalah negara yang berbentuk kota yang memiliki wilayah, memiliki rakyat,dan pemerintahan berdaulat penuh. Negara kota biasanya memiliki wilayah yang kecil yang meiliki luas sebesar kota pada umumnya.
Negara-negara kota dewasa ini adalah Singapura, Monako dan Vatikan.
10. Oligarki (Bahasa Yunani: Ὀλιγαρχία, Oligarkhía) adalah bentuk pemerintahan yang kekuasaan politiknya secara efektif dipegang oleh kelompok elit kecil dari masyarakat, baik dibedakan menurut kekayaan, keluarga, atau militer. Kata ini berasal dari kata bahasa Yunani untuk “sedikit” (ὀλίγον óligon) dan “memerintah” (ἄρχω arkho).
11. Otokrasi adalah suatu bentuk pemerintahan yang kekuasaan politiknya dipegang oleh satu orang. Istilah ini diturunkan dari bahasa Yunani autokratôr yang secara literal berarti “berkuasa sendiri” atau “penguasa tunggal”. Otokrasi biasanya dibandingkan dengan oligarki (kekuasaan oleh minoritas, oleh kelompok kecil) dan demokrasi (kekuasaan oleh mayoritas, oleh rakyat).
12. Plutokrasi merupakan suatu sistem pemerintahan yamg mendasarkan suatu kekuasaan atas dasar kekayaan yang mereka miliki. Mengambil kata dari bahasa Yunani, Ploutos yang berarti kekayaan dan Kratos yang berarti kekuasaan. riwayat keterlibatan kaum hartawan dalam politik kekuasaan memang berawal di kota Yunani, untuk kemudian diikuti di kawasan Genova, Italia.
13. Republik Dalam pengertian dasar, sebuah republik adalah sebuah negara di mana tampuk pemerintahan akhirnya bercabang dari rakyat, bukan dari prinsip keturunan bangsawan. Istilah ini berasal dari bahasa Latin res publica, atau “urusan awam”, yanng artinya kerajaan dimilik serta dikawal oleh rakyat. Namun republik berbeda dengan konsep demokrasi. Terdapat kasus dimana negara republik diperintah secara totaliter. Misalnya, Afrika Selatan yang telah menjadi republik sejak 1961, tetapi disebabkan dasar apartheid sekitar 80% penduduk kulit hitamnya dilarang untuk mengikuti pemilu. Tentu saja terdapat juga negara republik yang melakukan perwakilan secara demokrasi.
Konsep republik telah digunakan sejak berabad lamanya dengan republik yang paling terkenal yaitu Republik Roma, yang bertahan dari 509 SM hingga 44 SM. Di dalam Republik tersebut, prinsip-prinsip seperti anualiti (memegang pemerintah selama satu tahun saja) dan “collegiality” (dua orang memegang jabatan ketua negara) telah dipraktekkan.
14. Sistem parlementer adalah sebuah sistem pemerintahan di mana parlemen memiliki peranan penting dalam pemerintahan. Dalam hal ini parlemen memiliki wewenang dalam mengangkat perdana menteri dan parlemen pun dapat menjatuhkan pemerintahan, yaitu dengan cara mengeluarkan semacam mosi tidak percaya. Berbeda dengan sistem presidensiil, di mana sistem parlemen dapat memiliki seorang presiden dan seorang perdana menteri, yang berwenang terhadap jalannya pemerintahan. Dalam presidensiil, presiden berwenang terhadap jalannya pemerintahan, namun dalam sistem parlementer presiden hanya menjadi simbol kepala negara saja.
15. Sistem presidensiil (presidensial), atau disebut juga dengan sistem kongresional, merupakan sistem pemerintahan negara republik di mana kekuasan eksekutif dipilih melalui pemilu dan terpisah dengan kekuasan legislatif.
Menurut Rod Hague, pemerintahan presidensiil terdiri dari 3 unsur yaitu:
• Presiden yang dipilih rakyat memimpin pemerintahan dan mengangkat pejabat-pejabat pemerintahan yang terkait.
• Presiden dengan dewan perwakilan memiliki masa jabatan yang tetap, tidak bisa saling menjatuhkan.
• Tidak ada status yang tumpang tindih antara badan eksekutif dan badan legislatif.
16. Semipresidensiil adalah sistem pemerintahan yang menggabungkan kedua sistem pemerintahan: presidensiil dan parlementer. Terkadang, sistem ini juga disebut dengan Dualisme Eksekutif. Dalam sistem ini, presiden dipilih oleh rakyat sehingga memiliki kekuasaan yang kuat. Presiden melaksanakan kekuasaan bersama-sama dengan perdana menteri. Sistem ini digunakan oleh Republik Kelima Perancis.
17. Totalitarian Sebagai lawan dari sistem demokrasi, sistem totalitarian adalah bentuk pemerintahan dari suatu negara yang bukan hanya selalu berusaha menguasai segala aspek ekonomi dan politik masyarakat, tetapi juga selalu berusaha menentukan nilai-nilai ‘baik’ dan ‘buruk’ dari prilaku, kepercayaan dan paham dari masyarakat. Sebagai akibatnya, tak ada lagi batas pemisah antara hak dan kewajiban oleh negara dan oleh masyarakat.
18. Khalifah adalah gelar untuk pemimpin umat islam setelah wafatnya Nabi Muhammad SAW (570–632). Kata “Khalifah” (خليفة Khalīfah) dapat diterjemahkan sebagai “pengganti” atau “perwakilan”. Pada awal keberadaannya, para pemimpin islam ini menyebut diri mereka sebagai “Khalifat Allah”, yang berarti perwakilan Allah (Tuhan), tetapi pada perkembangannya, sebutan ini diganti menjadi “Khalifat rasul Allah”, yang berarti “pengganti Nabi Allah”, yang kemudian menjadi sebutan standar untuk menggantikan “Khalifat Allah”. Meskipun begitu, beberapa akademis memilih untuk menyebut “Khalīfah” sebagai pemimpin umat islam tersebut.
Khalifah juga sering disebut sebagai Amīr al-Mu’minīn (أمير المؤمنين) atau “pemimpin orang yang beriman”, atau “pemimpin umat muslim”, yang terkadang disingkat menjadi “emir” atau “amir”.

How To Maximize Your Income By Building A List

2009-01-05T04:19:00.000-08:00

So you have put together a website and sales are good... but are you fully maximizing your income? One thing is for sure, if you are not building a list by collecting your visitors name and email address, then you are definitely leaving money on the table. And it could be a lot!Why is this? Well, when someone signs up for your newsletter or ezine, they are telling you that they want to receive more information from you. This is the best kind of targeted traffic that you could have. Building a list also gives you opportunities to sell them on other products that you recommend to them. And the best thing is that you can reach them anytime that you want to by simply sending out an email... which by the way is FREE!People that do not build a list of subscribers are losing untold amounts of money that could easily have been taken advantage of.So what do you need to do?First, to build a list you need a autoresponder system such as aweber, icontact, getresponse or another. There are also free autoresponder systems available but these are the better ones. The main thing is that you use one.You then need to get your signup code from your autoresponder system and utilize it in one of the following ways:The most common way of building a list of subscribers is to add an autoresponder form to the side of your page - something that might say, enter your name and email address to sign up for my free newsletter or to receive more information from me. You know, something like that. You've undoubtly seen this on other's website.Drop-in form - This is another very popular way of building a list. Have a from that drops in from the top or slides in from the side when people access your page. The drop in form will offer them something like a free report, an ebook, or maybe just the option to sign up for your free newsletter.Squeeze page - This is a short webpage that has a compelling headline, some bullet points about what you will give in exchange for their information (free report, audio, dvd, ebook, etc...), and then the form for them to enter their name and email address. This form of internet list building is very effective.Many people see squeeze pages as the best way to go because the correct way to setup a squeeze page requires the visitor to enter in their information in order to view anymore of your website. This way you have the highest percentage of people to signup on your list.You want to know how important building a list is?Building a list of subscribers is often viewed as THE most important aspect of marketing online. It is even seen as MORE IMPORTANT than making the initial sale.The reason for this is because not only can you sale them for the initial product, but you also are setting up the opportunity to sell them many times down the road before they choose to be removed from your mailing list.There have been many millioniares made by simply building a list and without a doubt everyone of them will tell you that building a quality list of subscribers is more important than any other aspect of online marketing.I don't know about that... but one thing I WILL say... building a list DEFINITELY ranks up there with THE MOST IMPORTANT!So tell me this... are you building a list or do you think you know more than the most experienced online marketers out there?