ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Oasis Beach Tower Apartments

2011-03-09T05:57:00.001-08:00

Offering great views, the luxurious Oasis Beach Tower Apartments are along Dubai’s The Walk shopping promenade in Jumeirah Beach. The self-catering apartments are minimum 190 m² in size.
Each apartment includes an LCD TV, free Wi-Fi, luxury furnishing, and a fully equipped kitchen. Most apartments have a private balcony with uninterrupted sea and city views.
There are 2 outdoor swimming pools with sun decks and a fully equipped gym that includes a sauna and a steam room.
The public beach is a 5-minute walk from Oasis Beach Tower Apartments. Guests enjoy free access to Jebel Ali Golf Resort & Spa's private beach. A free shuttle bus service to the resort is provided.
Guests enjoy many dining options. The Tower’s Thyme Restaurant serves Mediterranean cuisine and features live cooking stations. Alternatively, guests can benefit from 24-hour room service that includes grocery and meal delivery services ordered from restaurants nearby.

Hotel Rooms: 180.

Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai

2011-03-09T05:56:00.001-08:00

This 5-star hotel is situated one km from Dubai’s World Trade Centre. It offers Arabian-inspired accommodation, and has a state-of-the-art gym, as well as, airport and city shuttle services.
Rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai are decorated in warm colours and have wood furnishings. They include luxury bathrooms which have deep soaking tubs, walk-in showers with rainforest showerheads, and L’Occitane products.
The Shangri-La has 5 restaurants that serve international cuisine and traditional Arabian specialties. Coffee, cigars and wine can be enjoyed at the elegant Balcony Bar.
Fully equipped cardiovascular and weight training systems are provided at the in-house gym. The holistic Spa at Shangri-La offers treatments inspired by the art of traditional Chinese medicine.
Hotel Shangri-La Dubai is located 500 meters from Financial Centre Metro Station, and is less than a 5-minute drive from Jumeirah Beach Park.

Hotel Rooms: 302. Hotel Chain: Shangri La.

Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates

2011-03-09T05:52:00.000-08:00

This 5-star Kempinski offers 24/7 concierge service and is connected to SkiDubai and Mall of the Emirates. It offers luxurious rooms with chandeliers, a vintage-style cigar bar and Ayurvedic spa.
Luxuriously furnished rooms at the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates include a marble bathroom, large LCD TV and dining area. Some overlook SkiDubai and feature Alpine-style décor.
Kempinski Hotel’s 6 dining options include Aspen Lounge, which serves high tea each afternoon. Poolside drinks and shisha are available at Mosaic Chill, while K Grill serves charcoal-grilled steaks and Tandoori barbecue.
On-site leisure options include the state-of-the-art K Wellness Health Club, which has a gym, infinity pool and tennis courts. Softouch Spa offers Ayurvedic wellness treatments, while Dessange Paris provides range of beauty services.
Staff at Kempinski Mall of the Emirates Hotel’s 24-hour concierge desk can arrange desert safaris, Dubai city tours or transfers to Dubai International Airport, a 20-minute drive. Wild Wadi Waterpark is 3 km away.

Hotel Rooms: 393. Hotel Chain: Kempinski.

The Monarch Dubai

2011-03-09T05:51:00.000-08:00

The exclusive Monarch Dubai is located just a few minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Finance Centre. The spacious rooms are luxurious and beautifully designed with an Arabic style.
All rooms and suites have a picturesque view over Dubai. Guests can enjoy some cable TV or a refreshing drink from the minibar.
The hotel offers a selection of 6 restaurants and lounges, from the finest seafood cuisine at the Empire, to a chic cocktail lounge and gentleman’s Cigar Lounge
Other facilities include Mandara Spa and Health Club, a gym with a trainer and shops in the hotel.

Hotel Rooms: 236.

Le Meridien Dubai

2011-03-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

Set in extensive landscaped gardens, this 5-star retreat is just 2 km from Deira City. It has 4 swimming pools and 18 restaurants and bars for guests to choose from.
All the rooms at Le Meridien Dubai are luxuriously furnished with floor-to-ceiling windows and 32-inch LCD TVs. The bathrooms include rainforest showers and bathrobes and slippers.
The wide variety of on-site restaurants cater to every taste, from wood-fired oven pizzas at Casa Mia to Teppanyaki prepared at your table at Kiku. Guests can even improve their own cooking skills at L’atelier des Chefs.
Nature Elements Spa offers more than 50 different health and beauty treatments, including hydrotherapy. Le Meridien also offers floodlit tennis courts, and a well-equipped gym with an aerobics studio and professional fitness instructors.
The Deira City Centre Shopping Mall is 2 km from Le Meridien Dubai, and the Gold Souk (Gold Market) is 8 km away.

Hotel Rooms: 383. Hotel Chain: Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts.

The Address, Dubai Mall Hotel

2011-03-09T05:46:00.002-08:00

Located next to Dubai Mall, this 5-star hotel features a full-service spa, a state of the art fitness centre and 5 restaurants. It offers deluxe rooms and fully equipped apartments.
All rooms at Hotel Dubai Mall are set in a 42 storey building and have expansive windows, some of which overlook Burj Khalifa. All rooms have a comfortable living area which includes a private balcony.
All rooms and apartments are fitted a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and an iPod docking station. Each en suite bathroom has a bathtub and designer bathroom amenities.
Guests can enjoy live jazz music as well as traditional and contemporary Arabic cuisine in Ember. Amatista boasts a selection of well-known cocktails and a cigar lounge specializing in vintage cigars.
Hotel Dubai Mall is one hour’s drive from Dubai Festival City Golf Club House and the watersports activities at Wild Wadi Park.

Hotel Rooms: 244. Hotel Chain: Emaar Hospitality,The Address Hotels and Resorts.

Jumeirah Zabeel Saray

2011-03-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

Situated on the famous artificial island of Palm Jumeirah and overlooking the Persian Gulf, this resort offers large, luxurious guestrooms with private balconies. Facilities include outdoor pool and 7 restaurants.
All the Turkish themed rooms at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray are decorated with parquet floors and high ceilings. They have flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. The private bathroom features a bath tub and luxury shampoo products.
Guests can enjoy a wide variety of treatments at the Royal Spa, which features the world’s largest Turkish bath. The active guests can choose from sports facilities such as the fitness centre, tennis and basketball courts.
The Jumeirah Zabeel harbours 7 restaurants offering worldwide specialties such as Turkish cuisine at Lalezar or French delicacies at Perles. Voda Bar offers an extensive selection of vodkas in chic surroundings.
All guests get complimentary internet access and Wild Wadi Waterpark entry.

Hotel Rooms: 405. Hotel Chain: Jumeirah.

Burj Al Arab

2011-03-09T05:44:00.000-08:00

Set in a sail-shaped 300 metre building, Burj Al Arab offers luxurious suites with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Dubai coastline. It features a full-service spa and 6 restaurants.
Decorated in warm colours and rich fabrics, each suite has panoramic views of the Arabic Gulf. Each one has a spacious dining area which can seat 4-6 people.
The Oyster Shell, which has an expansive glass wall looking into the aquarium, serves seafood specialities. Light snacks, whiskey tastings and a selection of cigars are available at Juna Lounge.
The property has access to its own beach which is fitted with parasols and comfortable sun loungers. It also offers unlimited access to the watersports activities at Wild Wadi Waterpark.
Guests can make use of the 24-hour butler service which caters to their various needs. Burj Al Arab provides a private shopping assistant to all its guests.
Burj Al Arab is a 5-minute walk away from Wild Wadi Park. It is a 15-minute walk away from Souk Madinat.

Hotel Rooms: 202. Hotel Chain: Jumeirah.

10 Inventions That Changed Your World

2011-02-25T20:53:00.000-08:00

Apple II computer; Courtesy of Apple Computer, Inc.

“Necessity is the mother of invention,” someone, possibly Plato, once said. And, in a new article for Britannica, the science writer and documentary producer James Burke, describes the variable characteristics of inventors.

They are observant, as in George de Mestral seeing tiny hooks on the burrs clinging to his hunting jacket and then inventing Velcro. They do it for money. They solve puzzles. They stumble upon it by chance or it may be unintended. But, most of all, “inventors are dogged,” says Burke, who goes on to say:

The American inventor Thomas Edison, who tested thousands of materials before he chose bamboo to make the carbon filament for his incandescent lightbulb, described his work as “one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” At his laboratory in Menlo Park, N.J., Edison’s approach was to identify a potential gap in the market and fill it with an invention. His workers were told, “There’s a way to do it better. Find it.”

Everyone has their own list of great inventors and inventions, but here are 10 of the top inventions of all time that changed the world, according to Rob Curley, Britannica’s senior science editor, who compiled a mammoth table of inventions in Britannica that lists many other inventors and inventions.

1. Stone tools, by Homo habilis some 2 million years ago
2. Dageurreotype (the first successful photograph), by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre in 1839
3. Saxophone (combining a reed mouthpiece with a brass bell), by Antoine-Joseph Sax in 1842
4. Bessemer process ( made steel cheap and plentiful), by Henry Bessemer in 1856
5. Celluloid (the first plastic), by John Wesley Hyatt in 1870
6. Edison cylinder phonograph (brought music to the masses), by Thomas Alva Edison in 1877
7. Wright flyer of 1903 (showed flight could be controlled), by Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903
8. Iconoscope television camera and Kinescope receiver (made electronic television possible), byVladimir Kosma Zworykin in the 1920s
9. Integrated circuit (made modern electronics possible), by Jack Kilby in 1958
10. Apple II personal computer (started the PC revolution), by Stephen Wozniak in 1977

Some pretty lofty achievements—the step pyramid, the automobile, Pasteurization, the Internet, and even basketball, just to name a few—didn’t make the cut. What would be in your top 10?

And, incidentally, no single table can list all the inventions of the world. But if you notice any we’ve missed that you think ought to make the grade, let us know, and we can consider it for inclusion.

Israeli Invention Helps Elderly Vision

2011-02-25T20:48:00.000-08:00

Visioncare, an Israeli science company has once again brought the State of Israel to the forefront in technological development by creating the only solution for end-stage AMD, the most common form of blindness found in the elderly. Visioncare has invented a tiny pea-sized telescope implant that is placed inside the patient’s eye, which in return enlarges the central vision images over the damaged area allowing the patient to use the eye to provide peripheral vision for mobility. This development in technology has been described by an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, Kathryn A. Colby, as “a breakthrough technology” and will be introduced in both the United States and UK in the near future. (Israel21c.org)

Drill Baby Drill!

2011-02-25T20:47:00.000-08:00

Who would of ever thought that Israel, a tiny country the size of New Jersey, which was bereft of all
natural resources would be in the process of becoming not just self sufficient in the energy sector but
an exporter as well in the beginning of 21st century. Besides some Christians (the Bible states that Israel
has large amounts of petroleum deposits which the finding of will cause attacks on Israel and create the
final battle of Armageddon) no one thought it would be possible. However Israel proves ones again what
genius and innovative Jewish brain can accomplish.

I am speaking of the natural gas reserves found off shore of Haifa (a major city in Israel). This discovery
was made by a Texas based oil and gas producer called Noble Energy along with 3 other Israeli
companies which are Delek Drilling, Avner Oil and Gas and Ratio Oil Exploration. The first natural gas
reserve that was found in 2009 was Tamar. Tamar is 56 miles off shore of Haifa. It was thought that it
contained 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas but the later findings proved that it contained even more,
8.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Everyone involved and Israel supporters were quite thrilled with
this finding however there were more grand surprises to come especially when the Leviathan field was
discovered. The Leviathan gas field is 81 miles out to sea from Israel and the findings there were of
astounding amounts, 16 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to be exact. These findings were the largest
that the world has seen in a decade.

To put this into perspective we have to realize that Israel spends 5% of its GDP on importing natural
resources. It is surrounded by countries which are overflowing with natural resources which in theory
they can provide to this small but mighty Jewish state but because they view it as an enemy they refuse
to supply it. Therefore Israel has to go through other countries/continents to acquire the resources it
requires which obviously adds on to the cost and time. It is interesting to note a point in time in history
when Israel did not have to spend this chunk of its GDP on natural resources, that was during Israel’s
rule over the Sinai Peninsula. Israel had control over the Sinai Peninsula after the 6 Day War, in 1967,
until the peace Treaty that it signed with Egypt in 1979. By giving up Sinai Peninsula for peace (which is
shaky and can end at any moment in time) Israel gave up approximately over 100 billion dollars in oil.
Needless to say, the Sinai Peninsula has an exuberant amount of oil reserves.

It is estimated that the time needed to build the pipelines to on shore facilities will take a few years.
Tamar is scheduled to start producing gas in the year 2013, while Leviathan is scheduled to start
production in 2016. However full scale production is set to take place in 2020. This will not only make
Israel self sufficient but it will become an exporter of natural gas. Experts have predicted that these
incredible discoveries will add 300 billion dollars to the Israeli economy overtime which is 150% of its
GDP which will double Israel’s account surplus.

Another major issue to be decided by the Israeli government is the amount of taxes to be levied on the
energy companies involved. When this discovery was found Israel’s taxes on oil was just at 30%, the
same that it has been since 1952. This percentage was extremely low compared to what other countries

in the OECD charged. Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu created a committee called the Sheshinski
committee (headed by Eytan Sheshinksi who is a distinguished economist) to come to a conclusion as to
what tax percentage Israel should charge for drilling the reserves. The final decision was a tax hike to
62%, the average tax levied by other OECD counties. This tax was approved by the Israeli cabinet.

We should rejoice in this phenomenal discovery. This will minimize Israel’s reliance on other countries
and it will increase its wealth. What a phenomenal country that is just 62 years old. In the words of
Sarah Palin “Drill baby drill!”

66 YEARS AGO TODAY - Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated

2011-02-25T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Auschwitz main camp, the Birkenau death camp and the Monowitz labor camp were liberated by soldiers of the Soviet Union in the First Army of the Ukrainian Front, under the command of Marshal Koniev, on January 27, 1945.

May we do everything in our power to keep this in our memory and never let such an atrocity happen again.

EACH OF US HAS A NAME - ZELDA

Each of us has a name
given by God
and given by our parents

Each of us has a name
given by our stature and our smile
and given by what we wear

Each of us has a name
given by the mountains
and given by our walls

Each of us has a name
given by the stars
and given by our neighbors

Each of us has a name
given by our sins
and given by our longing

Each of us has a name
given by our enemies
and given by our love

Each of us has a name
given by our celebrations
and given by our work

Each of us has a name
given by the seasons
and given by our blindness

Each of us has a name
given by the sea
and given by
our death.

Muslim Mothers of Invention

2011-02-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

I was going to write an essay about the Muslim inventors showcase 1001 Inventions–the big, splashy exhibit at the New York Hall of Science till April–but then there was a massacre in Tucson. Since the attempt onCongresswoman Giffords’ life called to mind the ghastly and vicious intolerance that has come to describe American political discourse (no, I’m not blaming Caribou Barbie’s insane target map, though there’s a reason why she popped into everyone’s head when the catastrophe happened), I thought I might use the public’s positive reaction to 1001 Inventions as an example of tolerance. How long that tolerance is going to last I don’t know.

According to 1001 Inventions, while Europe was weltering in what they call the Dark Ages, Muslims from Spain to China were inventing just about everything. Then, for some reason, everyone forgot this, and a few centuries later Europeans reinvented the same stuff.

Some of the Muslim inventors were women, as back in the day the thorough education of boys and girls was encouraged.

Fatima Al Fihri founded Al Qarawiyin, one of the great universities in Fes, Morocco. The university is still in existence.
Merriam al-Ijliyah al-Astrulabi hand-crafted astrolabes for the ruler of Aleppo in northern Syria, so necessary for navigation and to keep track of prayer times.
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu wasn’t a Muslim, but she learned about rudimentary inoculations against smallpox in Turkey, where her husband was ambassador, and brought the technique back to England. There’s a reproduction of Charles Jervas’ quirky portrait of her, where she wears what she might have interpreted as harem threads.

Best of all, the exhibit is giddily interactive. Actors, dressed in traditional Muslim costumes, walk around and gently waylay visitors, relating their stories and answering questions. Videos of the various inventors, played by some of the same actors, beckon the viewer like vendors in a market till you mash a button, pick up the telephone and listen to their stories.

Best of all, there are no anti-Muslim picketers, much less wingnut Islamaphobes. Only fascinated children and their parents, who might just learn something. All’s well.

American Innovation: 13 Born-in-the-USA inventions

2011-02-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

There is a long history of innovation in America's relatively short existence; from lone inventors experimenting in garages to collaborating and competing with international scientists. Many of the following 13 inventions have become fixtures in daily life.

- Geoff Johnson, Contributor, Leigh Montgomery, Staff

Enlarge

A wood engraving from 1865, showing Eli Whitney's 'saw-gin' for cleaning cotton. (Newscom)

Cotton Gin

On March 14, 1794, Eli Whitney patented his invention, the cotton gin (“gin” being short for engine). The machine succeeded in making the growing of cotton profitable for farmers in the south by speeding up the separation of the cotton bolls (the fluffy part) from the seeds.

The unforeseen side effect of Whitney’s invention was that it made Southerners want to grow more cotton on larger plantations, and thus, bring more African slaves in to pick it. Between 1790 and 1808, when it became illegal to import African slaves, 80,000 slaves were brought to the American South.

Justin Bieber Cuts His Hair!

2011-02-22T02:33:00.000-08:00

AP Photo/Joel Ryan

Justin Bieber teased us on Twitter this morning saying, "thinking about getting a haircut....hmmmmmm." But he wouldn't actually do it, would he?!
Again we say, never say never.

plixi.com

Twitter confirms, "yeah so it's true...i got a lil haircut...i like it...and we are giving all the hair cut to CHARITY to auction. Details coming soon."
NOOOOOOOOO!
Oh wait, he's giving the proceeds to charity? Can't argue with that.
Biebs was filming a music video today with the country act Rascal Flatts for a song they collaborated on called, "That Should Be Me," and the band's Jay DeMarcus tweeted a photo of him and Bieber with his new do'.
In some less hairy Bieber fever news, it looks like a new version of Never Say Never will be out in theaters next weekend.
"Next weekend for ONE WEEKEND ONLY we are adding 40 minutes of NEW FOOTAGE to #NEVERSAYNEVER3D in Theatres!!" the 16-year-old tweeted.
Justin Bieber: Never Say Never Director's Fan Cut was actually on the building blocks during editing the original movie.
"I realized I had an embarrassment of riches when I was in the cutting room," Director Jon M. Chu said in a release.
So what can we expect from the revamped flick?
Some of the new footage includes more of Bieber's friends and hometown life, as well as new songs and special footage shot of the film's premiere at theaters across the country.
"This cut allows me to retain some of the best scenes from the original movie, while incorporating previously unseen footage and new material I shot during our extensive promotional tour on behalf of the movie. Justin's dedication to his fan base is unwavering and I was inspired as a filmmaker to attempt to provide them a unique experience that showed even more of his world."
Also: More of that fabulous hair.

Bachelor's Hometown Visits: The Good, the Bad and the Creepy!

2011-02-22T02:28:00.000-08:00

ABC/RICK ROWELL

We finally get to see the four remaining girls in their own habitats, and find out if bachelor Brad Womack fits in.

Let's recap what happened tonight on The Bachelor...

MORE: The Bachelor: Michelle refuses to be upstaged by other women's breasts

Brad started out in Chantal's hometown of Seattle, and after her recent emotional outbursts he seemed happy to see her in a lighter mood. Of course, that didn't last long. Before the waterworks began again, Chantal let us know that she lives four streets away from her parents, and told her possible future husband, "If they don't like you, you're out!" Pressure much? Then Brad had to complete the approval test with three other important figures in Chantal's life, that would surely make the move to Austin if they should get hitched: her pets. Lucky for him, Chantal's pup, Boca, enjoyed his company. That's one down. After throwing back a couple beers, the duo head to Chantal's parents massive house and made us wonder what her parents do and how we can do it too. In the end, Chantal's father gave Brad their blessing and we all got a little teary-eyed watching her heart-to-heart talk with Mom.

Then it was off to Madawaska, Maine with Ashley. This tiny town near Canada made you question whether they were still in America. Between the French-speaking locals and the honor system for buying groceries, anyone would get a little confused. But the trip was very educational, especially for Brad. First, he learned that you don't reply to a French question in Spanish nor do you eat poutine (french fries topped with cheese and gravy) with a fork! Finally, after a mini PDA photoshoot, they headed off to meet Ashley's family who could pretty much be described as a minor league cheerleading squad. Brad simply described them as "such a happy family."

After that, Brad headed to Chico, CA to see Shawntel, where they met at her—wait for it—family-owned funeral home. It gets better. The two start their conversation by deciding whether Brad will be cremated or not, and if so where he will be placed. Then it moves into the embalming room where Shawntel mimics her procedure on Brad, showing him the steps she takes and all her nifty tools. Brad goes along as well as he can, politely saying that he doesn't handle death well. And when it was time to go meet the family, pressure mounted as Shawntel's father, Rick, explained that it is her duty to take over the business.

Finally, the bachelor landed in Charlotte, NC to visit Emily and meet her five-year-old daughter, Rikki. To say it began awkwardly would be an understatement. Rikki was shy and seemed less-than-interested in mommy's new friend, but luckily Brad brought her a gift. If it wasn't for that butterfly kite, there might've been no dialogue that whole segment. The three of them spent the day in the park and the night at Emily's house playing board games. Brad said he enjoyed the family scene. But after Rikki was tucked in for the night, Brad explained to Emily that he didn't feel comfortable kissing her out of respect for her daughter. Does this annoy Emily? Hell, yes. The two are finally alone, and he's taking the high road. She tries to play it down by saying she respects that he's being sweet, but that doesn't stop her from planting a big one by the door before he leaves. And he seemed to like it.

When it finally came down to the rose ceremony, it was between the two brunettes with the near-identical names: Chantal and Shawntel. As much as we would've loved to see them both walk up thinking their name was called, Brad very precisely enunciated that Chantal would receive the last rose. Apparently dealing with death as a living wasn't for him.

Prepare for some more lovin' next week, South African style!

Car Training...... Training for Your Role

2011-02-20T07:27:00.000-08:00

I-CAR training is structured around your role as a collision industry professional. Within each role, there are three expected levels of knowledge that build upon each other. I-CAR courses will help you achieve the knowledge that is required for your role at each of the three levels.

Training is available in a classroom setting, online, and through the Industry Training Alliance.

Collision Repair Professionals

Estimators inspect and analyze collision damaged vehicles to create a repair plan and apply pricing. Builds relationships with vehicle owners, repairers, and insurance personnel to negotiate costs and sell work. Uses computers to write estimates and interact with other computer software. Also known as a customer service representative, stays in contact with customer during entire repair process, and works to address all customer concerns, and insures satisfaction when repairs are complete.

A Steel Structural Technician restores structural dimensions and integrity to collision damaged vehicles. He or she uses measuring and frame equipment to diagnose damage and return damaged frame or unibody parts to manufacturer’s specifications. Hand tools and power tools are used to remove or repair damaged parts, weld as needed, and properly install new parts. This individual also works with a variety of metals and plastics, as well as glass, electrical, and mechanical parts.

An Aluminum Structural Technician restores aluminum structural dimensions and integrity to collision damaged vehicles. He or she uses measuring and frame equipment to diagnose damage and return damaged frame or unibody parts to manufacturer’s specifications. Hand tools and power tools are used to remove or repair damaged aluminum parts, weld, and properly install new parts. This individual also works with a variety of metals and plastics, as well as glass, electrical, and mechanical parts.

A Non-Structural Technician restores damaged vehicles to their original structural integrity, function, and appearance. This technician uses hand tools and power tools to remove or repair damaged parts, weld as needed, and properly install new parts. He or she works with a variety of metals and plastics, as well as glass, electrical, and mechanical parts.

The Electrical/Mechanical Technician diagnoses and repairs collision-related mechanical damage including steering, suspension, air conditioning, engine, brake, and electrical systems. This individual uses measuring and alignment equipment to diagnose damage and return front and rear wheel alignments to manufacturer’s specifications. Hand tools and power tools are used to remove or repair damaged parts and properly install new parts.

A Refinish Technician prepares and applies paint to repaired vehicles. Duties may include final sanding, masking, color mixing and tinting, spray booth operations, applying primers, sealers, color, and clear coats. He or she may need to blend color into adjacent panels for a better color match to existing vehicle paint. This individual works with potentially hazardous materials, so attention to safety and personal protection are essential. Vehicles must be correctly prepared and refinished to ensure proper adhesion, color match, and overall appearance.

Insurance Professionals

Auto Physical Damage Appraisers inspect, analyze, and evaluate damaged vehicles to create a comprehensive and accurate estimate of repair. These individuals travel to a vehicle’s location, which may include tow facilities, repair facilities, dealerships, and customer locations. They may work in a company drive-in claims center and use computers to write estimates and interact with other company computer software. Those in this role documents all aspects of claims investigation and processing and follows company claims processes that account for a fair and accurate settlement, customer satisfaction, and cost management.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tips for Joomla1.5

2011-02-19T08:19:00.001-08:00

Search engine optimization is a key element of online business, and today I am going to reveal the secret of Search Engine Optimization with Joomla 1.5

Joomla, which is one of the most popular and self optimized CMS, comes with many paid and free extensions. However, to make Joomla fully SE Optimized and SEF (I’m doing it at zero cost) please follow these guidelines and make your Joomla website SEF and SERP winner.

One of the most reported issues with Joomla 1.5 websites that they have duplicate meta descriptions in search engines. Majority of the data entry persons or webmasters are not aware of this issue which leads to their website being placed at lower ranks in search engines.

Please open head.php located at (yourjoomlawebsite.com\libraries\jomla\document\html\renderer\head.php) in edit mode Find (Ctrl+ F):

$strHtml .= $tab.'<meta name="description" content="'.$document->getDescription().'" />'.$lnEnd;
$strHtml .= $tab.'<title>'.htmlspecialchars($document->getTitle()).'</title>'.$lnEnd;</li>
 <li>

Replace With:

$doc_desc=htmlspecialchars($document->getTitle()).". ".$document->getDescription();
$strHtml .= $tab.'<meta name="description" content="'.$doc_desc.'" />'.$lnEnd;
$strHtml .= $tab.'<title>'.htmlspecialchars($document->getTitle()).'</title>'.$lnEnd;
$strHtml .= $tab.'<meta name="title" content="'.htmlspecialchars($document->getTitle()).'" />'.$lnEnd;

Please install the following joomla extensions
SC Meta – Section Category Meta Manager:
This extension actually enhances the scope of optimization of your website; it gives you the power to edit meta tags of Joomla sections and categories, generally, by default you don’t have access to edit meta tags of sections and category.

SEO Boost:
This plugin will add a small code if anyone copies and pastes your content; this plugin will automatically give your website credit with a back link. This technique is used as advanced level link building; it’s much more powerfull than any other link population techniques such as directory submissions, link baiting, reciprocal link building etc because it saves the time and money you would otherwise spend on link building.
Social Widgets:
This module helps your visitors to share you content with a single click.
Add Google Analytics tracking code and Google Webmaster tools to keep track of your website.
Pick some of the high traffic keywords and generate catchy content.
Share your content using social bookmarking websites and start getting organic traffic from search engines.

I follow these practices and get amazing SEO results, with no meta duplication, no crawler errors.

Tablet Wars

2011-02-19T08:18:00.000-08:00

Let’s face it, the iPad dominated 2010. However, we have Google entering the ring with an as-yet-un-appraised contender in the form of Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). All that’s really required for android tablets to become a major competitor for Apple is that the volatility of the OS is decreased. Apple boasts (and delivers) a distinctive feature set whereas Google so far has pretty much been saying “Wait for it, waaaiit for the next version, it’ll be awesome!”

Also, the iPad 2 will inevitably upgrade some of the aspects that weren’t so appealing last year. Second generation android tablets are, however, built up as a tablet OS from scratch, and Honeycomb has almost brought it at par with the iPad. And then there’s the fact that it still looks and functions differently from anything on the market so far.

However, this battle fought between fan bases on forums and the like means one thing at the end of the day; better more competitive products for the regular consumer! Tablets wars = happy consumers

Google Vs Bing – “Let’s Keep This Fight Clean, Gentlemen”

2011-02-19T08:15:00.000-08:00

One week after the net exploded with news of Google’s “Bing Sting” and Microsoft’s subsequent vague roundabout answers (which later became a firm denial, which later became an explanation), we’re going to take you through what actually happened.

So Google caught its competitor with their hands in the proverbial cookie jar. And here’s how. (In very basic terms, for the non techie readers) In a nutshell: last summer, Google’s search results were showing up on Bing’s page after a minor time lag. Normally, that has nothing to do with anything except the web pages’ listing/ranking. However, these were no ordinary results, they were the results for misspelled queries!(images courtesy: googleblog.blogspot.com)

Lo and behold, the same result for said misspelled unusual query later on started showing up on Bing’s results without the corrected query as was the case with Google.

Short of employing super-sensitive psychics whose job it is to predict the correct spellings for a misspelled query AND then magically shovel out the same results as Google’s searches; there is no explanation for Bing’s results except they cheated.

Now Google, being the tech-savvy pirates they are, verified this by generating about a 100 “synthetic queries” (search queries that users would not type in, like hybbprqag) and linked with each a unique and unrelated web page as the top result. Imagine their surprise (I trust there was no dismay, just a victorious “Gotcha!” in their minds) when the same unrelated page later showed up as Bing’s top result for the same synthetic query.

Google topped off their Bing Sting accusation with a high handed “at Google we believe in innovation etcetera etcetera” sermon, which later prompted Microsoft’s denial. Initially, Bing said “We use multiple signals and approaches in ranking search results” which said nothing about anything, until it later became a categorical “We do not copy Google’s results.”
Here is an excerpt from Bing’s explanation later about their “multiple signals” for ranking search results.

“We use over 1,000 different signals and features in our ranking algorithm. A small piece of that is clickstream data we get from some of our customers, who opt-in to sharing anonymous data as they navigate the web in order to help us improve the experience for all users.
To be clear, we learn from all of our customers. What we saw in today’s story was a spy-novelesque stunt to generate extreme outliers in tail query ranking. It was a creative tactic by a competitor, and we’ll take it as a back-handed compliment. But it doesn’t accurately portray how we use opt-in customer data as one of many inputs to help improve our user experience”

In other words, Bing says they get a small amount of their data from users, but they very neatly avoid stating where the rest of their data comes from. Kudos. Also, they’ve very wisely taken the tolerant wiser person approach, calling Google’s moves a “back-handed compliment from a smart competitor”.

Words, may I add, to talk around some very compelling evidence. Well, we don’t know how much of a compliment it really is, but here’s what our scoreboard looks like this:

Which Smart Phone Are You?

2011-02-19T08:12:00.000-08:00

So a couple of friends gave in to the dark side. They’ve gone the smart-phone way, while I sat down to take notes and document their journey. Three people sharing their opinions on the BlackBerry Bold, the iPhone 3GS, and the Motorola Droid.

At a relatively higher price than its counterparts, does the BlackBerry Bold offer value for money? The design is pleasing, with the display very sharp and detailed. Also, it comes with a leather backing that may appeal to some users who want their handset to look more sophisticated than just modern. The call quality is good, and browsing the web is speedy and efficient. Like all BlackBerry smartphones, it can handle up to 10 separate accounts (personal or professional). There’s a pricey upgrade for the software capability to create new Microsoft Office documents, however. The verdict: while it will cost you extra, it does deliver the functionality and ease of use which is associated with BlackBerrys, of which this is the crème-de-la-crème’.

How impressive is the iPhone 3GS? Well, for starters, it’s faster than a first generation iPhone by far (or so my friend swears) along with some nifty voice controlled call features. Web access is also noticeably faster, and of course, with Safari, viewing web pages is smoother. Also, the iPhone 3GS is not a necessary upgrade, iPhone 3G users can download the iPhone software, version 3.0, for a free upgrade. And of course, it retains and upgrades the excellent iPod feature, which now allows users access to iTunes to download music and movies. The verdict? This may very well be the best smart phone in the market at this point.

The Motorola Droid (with the Android OS) apparently takes some getting used to. It’s not as visually sleek as, say, its Apple counterpart. Also, the OS gets confusing, since there are many versions out there which don’t always run on every handset. However, no other OS provides the same leverage for customization, as long as you are willing to put in the time and effort to get comfortable with Android. Verdict: It’s a great phone, if you’re into the slightly geeky side of technology as opposed to just the “ooh shiny” variety.

So which smart phone are you?

The NEW iPhone 5 Is Released THIS YEARThe NEW iPhone 5 Is Released THIS YEAR

2011-02-16T21:59:00.000-08:00

Not An iPhone 5 - Just a picture to make the hub look pretty

The NEW iPhone 5 Is Released THIS YEAR

Are you as excited about the release of the new iPhone 5 as I am? Probably not, because I'm the one writing this hub and you're the one reading it (hopefully). I hate to admit it but somehow I've managed to become one of those Apple fangirls that you see walk into the Apple store and spend 30 minutes asking the employees all sorts of uber geek questions.

For one reason or another I've taken it upon myself to find out as much as possible about the new iPhone 5 so that I could spread this knowledge. What do I get out of it? The benefit of knowing I'm helping rid the world of lesser non-Apple phones (*cough HTC Evo cough*).

As if the iPhone 4 wasn't groundbreaking enough, the iPhone 5 is going to revolutionize the world of cell phones. Here's why:

One of the biggest benefits of owning a new iPhone 5 is that it'll come with dual core processors that will make it load at super fast speeds. Not only that, but it will be incorporating even more powerful graphics chip cards, which will provide you with better video and still images. As if the 20 gigawatt gazillion megapixel already in the iPhone 4 wasn't enough...

Right now it looks like the new iPhone 5 will be running on a 4G network (instead of the usual 3G). That means that some of the most likely network carriers to get a plan under are Sprint, T-Mobile, and maybe AT&T and Verizon. But we've all heard a lot of complaints about AT&T's network in the past, so I'm not sure how many people would opt to go with them for the new iPhone.

In fact, one of the reasons behind the increase in Jailbreaks of the iPhone 4 was that AT&T's network had way too many problems with it. Rather than deal with AT&T a lot of people ended up jailbreaking their phones instead, a fair deal considering you can get free ringtones, themes, and apps when you jailbreak your phone.

Also, anyone who says Android based cell phones are going to be able to compete with the new iPhone 5 are completely delirious. They won't even come close to the capabilities offered by the new iPhone when it comes out.

If you're thinking about buying the iPhone 4, you'll be better off waiting for the iPhone 5 instead, as it should be coming out really soon this year. Here are some of the expected features:

The new iPhone 5 is expected to have Face Recognition Security so that you don't have to worry about other people stealing your phone and trying to use it... That is, unless they steal your face too. (Anyone seen Face Off?)
Video Chat on a 4G network instead of a slow 3G one
Much nicer overall body design of the phone. It's going to be even thinner and have a shiny black piece.
Shatter Resistant and Scratch Resistant Screen
The lowest model will come with 32G of space and 64G of memory. I'll be able to store my whole computer on the lowest model of the iPhone 5. Yippeee for me.
Longer Battery Life - Up to 14 Hours of Talk Time On The 3G and 7 Hours on the 4G. With 14 hours of talking to my girlfriends, I'm only going to have 10 hours to sleep =(
HD Audio - The quality of sound is going to be extra crisp.
Built In GPS - You'll never get lost or have to download one of those stupid GPS apps.

How much will the new iPhone 5 cost? I can't speculate on that, but I'm going to assume it'll run you over $500. It's definitely going to be worth it though, and I can't wait for it to come out.

Style Superstar: Selena Gomez Shines In Justin Bieber’s Favorite Color

2011-02-12T04:06:00.001-08:00

This week saw many fashion highs and lows, from the start of New York Fashion Week to the style-deprived purple carpet at Justin Bieber's "Never Say Never" movie premiere in L.A. Amidst the abundance of looks to choose from, two gorgeous young ladies stood out for sporting two purple dresses that yielded two very different results. Keep reading to find out which starlet ruled the Scene and which songstress should have left her "California Gurl"s at home.

Our Style Superstar is a no-brainer: Selena Gomez. She was definitely the highlight of rumored BFJustin Bieber’s "Never Say Never" premiere on Wednesday. Selena’s jewel-tone Reem Acra satin dress was knee-length on the runway, but this shorter version paired with nude heels gives her enviably long legs. Splashes of sparkle on her shoes, belt and jewelry keep the ensemble young, fresh and festive. Plus, is that a glowing tan we see? In her transition from small-screen queen to movie star, Selena proves she has the style savvy to rule a red carpet.

Super Bowl Sunday: 5 Things To Do Instead Of Watching The Steelers vs. The Packers

2011-02-12T04:05:00.000-08:00

We couldn't be more excited for Super Bowl Sunday. After all, "Glee" will make its triumphant return with an episode jam-packed with song-and-dance goodness ("Thriller"! Katy Perry!). But what we could do without is all that football nonsense beforehand. Sure, we're big fans of noshing on nachos and belly-laughing at hilariously silly commercials, but all those sweaty men running around in tights? We'll pass (football pun, huzzah!). If you're feeling a bit like us and need to pass the gridiron-filled hours until William McKinley High takes the stage, check out our list of five things to read, watch and play.

Watch: TV marathons
We recommend flipping to MTV (synergy!) for a marathon of the network's hit series "Teen Mom 2." Or if you're more in the mood for a bit of escapism, why not get Carried away? The brains behind E! scheduled a slew of "Sex and the City" re-runs for the Super Bowl timeslot. E!, the nation's women salute you!

Read: "The Demon Trapper's Daughter" by Jana Oliver
Instead of a pigskin, 17-year-old demon-hunter-in-training Riley tackles otherworldly beings run amok in Atlanta. We just started this first novel in a proposed series, but we can't wait to keep turning the pages!

Watch: "The Roommate"
Opening today, "The Roommate" stars Leighton Meester as a college-co-ed-turned-crazy-lady who becomes obsessed with her look-alike dormmate (played by Minka Kelly). And that girl fight? Unnecessary roughness, indeed!

Play: "Karaoke Glee Revolution" for Wii
Warm up your windpipes for a new episode of "Glee" by singing along to the cast's previous hits like "Proud Mary," "No Air" and "Gold Digger." If you don't own a Wii, you can do the same thing with your iPod and a hairbrush. Consider it your own personal half-time show.

Honeymoon

2011-01-30T09:56:00.000-08:00

Weddings are stressful. No matter how much planning and preparation you do the stress levels never seem to go down. There always seems to be that opportunity for things to go wrong. So why not reward yourself with a fantastic holiday at the end of it?

One of the biggest things the bride and groom have to look forward to is their Honeymoon. Personally I would never recommend delaying the honeymoon particularly for work commitments. You will find you need this time to chill after an enjoyable but stressful period.

The Wedding Day takes so much preparation and planning that the Honeymoon is the ideal way for the bride and groom to relax, de-stress and enjoy their first few days or weeks of married life together.

Where to go on your Honeymoon can be as big a decision as any of the other Wedding Day decisions you have just spent weeks if not months making. Do you both like the same things when on holiday or are you going to have to find compromise with your Honeymoon destination?

Some of the more popular Honeymoon choices are all-inclusive resorts where everything is paid for in advance. For a Honeymoon this can be the ideal choice after the expense of the Wedding. You can order snacks, meals and refreshments without worry about a final bill.

Many people envisage themselves on Honeymoon relaxing surf side with a cocktail in hand, the sun high in the sky and everything done for you. But if that's not your idea of a good time then why not Honeymoon somewhere that little bit different. Honeymoon in the mountains at a secluded ski resort has a certain appeal.

What time of year your Wedding takes place can have a bearing on where you choose for your Honeymoon destination. If you have chosen a winter wedding then you may want to continue the theme whilst on Honeymoon and a ski resort with roaring fire is ideal. Maybe you want the complete opposite and are looking for some winter sun on Honeymoon.

Whatever it is that you are looking for on Honeymoon spending time with your partner after the stress of the Wedding is the most important thing. Use your Honeymoon to unwind and relax and wherever you go.....have a ball!