13 Personal Effectiveness Lessons Form the Personal

Back in 2006, I wrote an article runescape gold about The Personal MBA, a project that helps you study business on your own without taking an expensive MBA program. Recently, Josh Kaufman – the founder of The Personal MBA – contacted me about his upcoming book and sent me an advance copy.
Personal Effectiveness LessonsThe title of the book is The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business and it aims to give you the fundamental principles of business that you can apply. In the author’s words:
Think of this book as a filter. Instead of trying to absorb all of the business information that’s out there – and there’s a lot out there – use this book to help you learn what matters most, so you can focus on what’s actually important: making things happen.
Interesting, isn’t it? I don’t have time to read many books, so having someone else do it for me and give me only the key lessons is definitely something I’m interested in.
Even better, the book contains not just pure business concepts but also concepts on personal effectiveness. Why? Because the author believes that you can only run your business well if you are also effective as a person.
In this post I’d focus on the personal effectiveness side of the book. Please read the book yourself for the business rs gold side. There are many personal effectiveness lessons in the book, but here are thirteen that I like the most (with additional explanations from me):1. Build mental models
To make good decisions, you need to understand how the system works. For that, you need to know the relevant mental models. Reading books, studying the best people in your field, and getting experiences in the real world can help you build those models.2. Iterate
Don’t try to be perfect the first time you do something. That will only lead you to failure. Instead, aim to build the first working version of what you do as soon as possible. Then get feedback on it, refine it, and repeat.
3. Create alternatives
The more alternatives you have, the stronger your bargaining power becomes. Having a strong bargaining power is important to have a good career. You can create alternatives by getting offers from several companies or having your own businesses. If you don’t have any alternative, you’ll have to accept whatever offer you get no matter how bad it is.
4. Focus on delivering more value
Whether you work for a company or work on your own, you need to compete runescape money with other people. But instead of focusing on the competition, focus on delivering more value. Do that and the competition will take care of itself.
5. Beware of opportunity costs
Whenever you make a decision, be aware of the opportunity costs involved. Taking one option over the others means you miss the opportunity to take the other options. So make sure that the value you get is bigger than the opportunity costs.
6. Beware of diminishing returns
Even if you make the best decisions, you still need to be aware of diminishing returns. Something that gives you good return in the beginning may give you less and less return as time goes by. At one point, the return you get would be less than the resources you put in so you should stop.
7. Beware of sunk costs
A common pitfall many people fall into is to stick with their decision though it obviously doesn’t work. They think that because they’ve invested runescape items a lot of money and time into something, they shouldn’t leave it. That’s a wrong decision that could cost you a lot. What you have invested are sunk costs and can’t be recovered. If something obviously doesn’t work, leave it rather than wasting more resources on it.
8. Break your psychological barriers
In the past, people believed that human can never run a mile in under four minutes. But once Roger Bannister proved otherwise in 1954, sixteen runners did it in just three years. What happened here? Roger Bannister’s achievement broke the psychological barrier about what is possible.
You need to do the same with yourself. What limitations have you put in runescape accounts place? Reading about other people’s achievements can help you break these barriers.
9. Do personal R&D
You need to constantly improve yourself. For that reason, you should allocate money for your personal research and development. You can use the money to buy books, attend conferences, and do other things that improve yourself.
10. Create checklists
If you do something frequently and want to make sure that you do it correctly every time, use a checklist. Document every step to complete the task. It might take some time to create, but you can be sure that you won’t miss anything the next time you do the task.
11. Delegate
One way to increase your productivity is delegation. Perhaps other people can’t do it as good as you, but if it’s still good enough then runescape power leveling delegation is something you should consider. Delegation is also good for tasks that are routine and those that someone else can do better than you.
12. Create a supportive environment
When you want to change a habit, don’t try to change the habit directly. Your willpower is limited and trying to change the habit directly will quickly deplete your reserve of willpower. Instead, use your willpower to change your environment so that it supports the new habit. In a supportive environment, it will be much easier for you to install the new habit.
13. Test and experiment
When are you most productive? In what kind of environment are you most productive? Answering these questions requires you to test different things in order to find the best combination.
You can do this with practically every aspect of your life. Whenever you want to improve yourself in a certain area, do testing and experiments there to find what works best for you.
Have you tried these techniques? Feel free to share your experience in rs power leveling the comments.

Dirty air triggers more heart attacks than cocaine

Air pollution triggers more heart attacks than runescape power leveling using cocaine and poses as high a risk of sparking a heart attack as alcohol, coffee and physical exertion, scientists said on Thursday.
Sex, anger, marijuana use and chest or respiratory infections and can also trigger heart attacks to different extents, the researchers said, but air pollution, particularly in heavy traffic, is the major culprit.
The findings, published in The Lancet journal, suggest population-wide factors like polluted air should be taken more seriously when looking at heart risks, and should be put into context beside higher but relatively rarer risks like drug use.
Tim Nawrot of Hasselt University in Belgium, who led the study, said he hoped his findings would also encourage doctors to think more often about population level risks.
"Physicians are always looking at individual patients -- and low risk factors might not look important at an individual level, but rs power leveling if they are prevalent in the population then they have a greater public health relevance," he said in a telephone interview.
The World Health Organization (WHO) describes air pollution as "a major environmental risk to health" and estimates that it causes around 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year.
Nawrot's team combined data from 36 separate studies and calculated the relative risk posed by a series of heart attack triggers and their population-attributable fraction (PAF) -- in other words the proportion of total heart attacks estimated to have been caused by each trigger.
The highest risk PAF was exposure to traffic, followed by physical runescape coin exertion, alcohol, coffee, air pollution, and then things like anger, sex, cocaine use, smoking marijuana and respiratory infections.
"Of the triggers for heart attack studied, cocaine is the most likely to trigger an event in an individual, but traffic has the greatest population effect as more people are exposed to (it)," the researchers wrote. "PAFs give a measure of how much disease would be avoided if the risk was no longer present."
A report published late last year found that air pollution in many major cities in Asia exceeds the WHO's air quality guidelines and that toxic cocktails of pollutants results in more than 530,000 premature deaths a year.
While passive smoking was not included in this study, Nawrot said the effects of second-hand smoke were likely to be similar to that of outdoor rs2 items air pollution, and noted previous research which found that bans on smoking in public places have significantly reduced heart attack rates.
British researchers said last year that a ban on smoking in public places in England led to a swift and significant drop in the number of heart attacks, saving the health service 8.4 million pounds ($13 million) in the first year.
Tim Chico, a heart specialist at the University of Sheffield who was not involved in this research, said it would help health authorities focus on which are the most important triggers.
"However, what triggers the heart attack should be considered the "last straw." The foundations of heart disease that lead to a heart attack are laid down over many years," he said in an emailed comment. "If someone wants to avoid a heart attack they should focus on not smoking, exercising, eating buy runescape gold a healthy diet and maintaining their ideal weight."

 

Walt Disney's "Gnomeo & Juliet," an animated 3-D runescape power leveling twist on "Romeo and Juliet," took in $14.2 million in its third week of release, leading the box office on Oscar weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. In a lighthearted, G-rated version of the Shakespeare drama, the film uses garden gnomes in roles usually reserved for heavyweights of the stage.
It was a surprising upset win for "Gnomeo," which bested underperforming debuts from Owen Wilson and Nic Cage.
The Farrelly brothers' R-rated comedy "Hall Pass" earned $13.4 million for Warner Bros. Cage's 3-D action film "Drive Angry" took in just $5.1 million for Summit Entertainment.
The Liam Neeson thriller "Unknown" earned $12.4 million in its second weekend of release, bringing its cumulative total to a solid $42.8 million for Warner Bros.
In its third week of release, Paramount's 3-D Justin Bieber concert documentary, "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never," took in  rs power leveling $9.2 million. To boost repeat business from die-hard Bieber fans, the film was re-edited by director Jon Chu in a "fan cut," made using suggestions from the teen pop star's rabid following.
But the weekend belonged to "Gnomeo," which didn't take no. 1 until this weekend. "Gnomeo," whose lead characters are voiced by James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, has now earned a total of $75.1 million.
"It is one of those wonderful little benefits that you don't see coming," said Chuck Viane, head of distribution at Disney.
Viane credited the unlikely success of the film to good word-of-mouth, the lack of family film competition in the marketplace and that a G-rated film built on afternoon moviegoing need worry less about audiences staying home Sunday night for the Academy Awards.
"When most people are sitting down to watch the Oscars, we will runescape coin have had the vast majority of our business," said Viane.
Academy Awards weekend is historically a weak moviegoing time, though some moviegoers use the chance to catch up on Oscar-nominated films still in theaters. The best picture favorite "The King's Speech," from the Weinstein Co., saw its grosses jump 17 percent over last weekend's. It added $7.6 million in its 14th week of release to boost its total to $114.5 million.
Results were poor for Cage's "Drive Angry," which follows the weak debut of his "Season of the Witch" in January. That film opened to $10.6 million. The heavily promoted "Hall Pass," which stars Wilson and Jason Sudeikis, also underperformed.
"It's a tough weekend because you don't really have a full Sunday," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution at Warner Bros. "It's very difficult to project on Academy Sunday."
Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian, however, notes: "Kids don't care about the Oscars. They just want to go to the movies."
Though the unexpected success of "Gnomeo" is good for the moviegoing business, it was still a down weekend for Hollywood, with the total box-office less than the corresponding weekend last year. That has been a common theme in 2011. Grosses are down 21 percent from last year.
"As the industry celebrates its best of last year, we're definitely still in this box-office malaise," said  rs2 items Dergarabedian.
 

Hollywood rarely crowns British monarchy at Oscars

It may seem as though Academy Awards rs2 gold voters would be a bunch of fawning monarchists, considering how often the ceremony has been a love fest for all things English. But British kings and queens generally wind up losers at the Oscars.
If "The King's Speech," a saga about Queen Elizabeth II's dad, makes good on its status as best-picture favorite on Sunday, it would become the first film with a British monarch as its central figure to win the top prize in the 83-year history of the Oscars.
Two films with a British king or queen as a supporting player — 1966's "A Man for All Seasons" and 1998's "Shakespeare in Love" — did win best picture. Yet past contenders with a monarch in a lead role have always lost: 1933's "The Private Life of Henry VIII," 1946's "Henry V," 1964's "Becket," 1968's "The Lion in Winter," 1969's "Anne rs2 items of the Thousand Days," 1998's "Elizabeth" (which lost to "Shakespeare in Love") and 2006's "The Queen."
Actors as British monarchs have fared a bit better, with lead-acting wins by Charles Laughton in the title role of "The Private Life of Henry VIII"; Katharine Hepburn as Henry II's captive queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, in "The Lion in Winter"; and Helen Mirren as Elizabeth II in "The Queen." Judi Dench won a supporting Oscar as Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love."
Best-actor front-runner Colin Firth as the current queen's father, George VI, is cheap runescape powerleveling expected to join the winner's list Sunday, though Helena Bonham Carter as his wife, the future Queen Mother Elizabeth, is a longshot for supporting actress.
Losers far outnumber winners: 13 of the 17 actors nominated for playing a British king or queen have lost (there would be one more loser if we throw in Vanessa Redgrave as best actress in 1971's "Mary, Queen of Scots," whose title character schemed but failed to take the English crown from Elizabeth I).
Two actors lost twice for playing the same monarch — Peter O'Toole as Henry II in "Becket" and "The Lion in Winter" and Cate Blanchett as Elizabeth I in "Elizabeth" and its 2007 sequel, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."
Laurence Olivier lost twice for playing two different kings in Shakespeare adaptations, 1946's "Henry V" and 1956's "Richard III." Kenneth Branagh runescape items for sale also lost for his 1989 version of "Henry V."
Henry VIII has gone one-for-three at the Oscars. After Laughton's win, two other actors lost for playing the same role — Robert Shaw as supporting actor in "A Man for All Seasons" and Richard Burton as best actor for "Anne of the Thousand Days" (the latter film also was a best-actress loser for Genevieve Bujold in the title role, as one of Henry VIII's queens, Anne Boleyn).
Before their wins, both Dench and Mirren lost at the Oscars for other roles as British queens. Mirren lost the supporting-actress race as Queen Charlotte in 1994's "The Madness of King George," for which Nigel Hawthorne also lost for best actor in the title role. Dench lost for best actress as rs power leveling Queen Victoria in 1997's "Mrs. Brown."
 

A truth that's stranger than fiction

Jiang Wen is at the top of the world - the world of Chinese runescape gold cinema, that is. His year-end release Let the Bullets Fly has just broken the box-office record for a domestic film with some 700 million yuan ($107 million) in gross receipts.
The actor-director clearly savors the moment, sitting in his less-than-spacious office cluttered with wooden furniture in Bejing's diplomatic compound while staff members shuffle in and out with all kinds of requests and announcements. His sangfroid is not disturbed even when told of an award for the film.
He does not need others to tell him how great he is - not any more.
Yet Jiang Wen is bitter - bitter about how his previous feature was received. He tries not to show it, but brings two members of his Bullets team into our conversation because "they were also involved in The Sun Also Rises".
And I suspect I have been granted this three-hour post-premiere rare interview mainly because I, as a movie critic, had praised runescape items The Sun Also Rises as the high point of his remarkable directing career - although it was not understood by most of its audience.
Most people would call the 2007 The Sun Also Rises an art-house film and the new one a genre movie, even though it does not fit neatly into an existing genre - gangster, heist or Chinese western.
Jiang laughs off such attempts at categorization. He uses a scene from Once Upon a Time in America in which Robert De Niro's character takes a girl to a fancy restaurant and overwhelms her with a live band and exclusive use of the venue.
"With The Sun, I gave my heart and soul. I thought the audience would appreciate it and would not mind sitting on the grass by the river, so to speak. But to my chagrin, they were just like the girl in the De Niro film. They wanted the limo and the band even though they may not have good taste in music. They tended to runescape accounts equate the bells and whistles with real love. So, with Bullets I gave them the treatment they preferred," Jiang says, changing his use of the term for "girl" from the folksy niu er to an ostensibly chic but innately tacky meimei before the end of the interview.
That does not mean he is not proud of Bullets. It's just that Bullets, for him, is fun while The Sun is dead serious. He is aware of all the political interpretations of his story that have sprung up across the Web and mainstream media. In 2007, I wrote a Freudian analysis of The Sun, and his response was condensed into a single word - "Sharp" - without elaboration. This time, I was intent on getting to the bottom of the affair.
"No, I did not mean to embed political meanings into the story," he says straightforwardly. When asked about one detailed reading that supplied a background link between the two characters and how they joined the 1911 Revolution together, Jiang pauses, saying he is fine with this kind of runescape power leveling creative annotation, but "the focus is too narrow".
The Goose Town, the central setting for the movie, has come to symbolize China for some film buffs with a political leaning. Yet, in our dialogue, Jiang repeatedly uses the location as an outing to the murky world of genre-film making.
One of his achievements in his limited directorial canon is genre busting. His debut feature In the Heat of the Sun has the look and feel of a coming-of-age drama, yet it is not like any of the numerous movies that deal with this subject.
His follow-up is a WWII story, which opened our eyes to three-dimensional portrayals of both Japanese invaders and Chinese living under occupation and their complicated mentality. Then came The Sun Also Rises, which is so bold in its expressive flourishes that people left the theater either dazzled rs power leveling or puzzled. 

Five Ways to Give Without Spending a Dime

You’d like to give more to charity, but your meager runescape items income won’t allow it. Fortunately, we’ve rounded up five great sites that let you contribute to charitable causes without spending a single dime.
Even if you write out a check to every charity that sends you a handwritten letter and a photo of a pleading child each Christmas, you can’t help thinking that it’s never enough—with the money you’ve got leftover after paying for all your bills and basic necessities, you’ll never be able to fund a school in Africa or give a family enough food to keep their bellies full for even a single week. Your paltry donation might buy a few extra pens and stamps for the nonprofit organization you sent it to, but that’s about it.
But don’t worry—even if you’re not in Donald Trump territory, you can still donate to a variety of great causes every day without spending a single penny. All you need is an Internet connection and you’re good to go. Here are a few of our runescape accounts favorite free ways to give.
The Hunger Site
This site features click buttons for six different causes: hunger, child health, breast cancer, literacy, the rain forest, and animal rescue. The concept is simple: just click the button for each cause once every day, and the site’s sponsors will make a charitable donation on your behalf. If you purchase an item from the site’s online store, they’ll donate even more. It takes just thirty seconds a day to make a difference in someone’s life without spending a cent—make this site a daily stop. Better yet, make it your home page, so you won’t start a single day without chipping in.
Ripple
Ripple works exactly the same way as the Hunger Site, funding clean water, food, education, and a $100 loan with your daily click. Ripple also features a Google-powered search bar, which makes a donation every time you use it. To get all your friends in on the giving act, add Ripple’s “give” buttons directly to your blog or runescape power leveling Facebook page
Free Rice
We’ve written about this one before, but it’s such a great concept that we had to bring it up again. The site features a vocabulary game, where every correct answer you choose donates twenty grains of rice to an impoverished country. Play as long and as often as you like—you’re bound to pick up a few SAT words while saving the world.
Free Poverty
Have you ever played the Facebook staple Traveler IQ, where you score points by locating cities and landmarks on an unmarked map? This game is just like that, but better—with every correct answer, the site donates ten cups of water to a poor country on your behalf. For the first few rs power leveling rounds, when you realize you can’t even locate the Statue of Liberty, it might make you feel like an idiot; but the fact that you’re making a difference should soften the blow a bit.
GoodSearch
Are you passionate about fighting poverty? Want to save the whales? Are you committed to curing breast cancer?
No matter what your cause is, you can find a way to support it through the philanthropic search-engine tool GoodSearch. Simply type in the name of the organization you want to support, and GoodSearch will donate 50 percent of its advertising revenue to your charity of choice. With fifty-four thousand organizations already registered, you’re bound to find a cause that you believe in. Once a few people hop on board, the funds add up fast: If a charity has ten thousand supporters who each use the search tool twice a day, that can add up to $73,000 in donations for the year.
Best of all, GoodSearch recently added a GoodShop tool, which allows you to donate a percentage of the cost of your purchases to the charity of your choice. The store choices include all the big names like Amazon, Best Buy, and Travelocity, so be sure to click through from the site whenever you’re planning a new purchase—you’ll finally runescape coin have an excuse to feel good about shopping!

Grammys sing the praises of independent labels

Independent labels reveled in their runescape money  success Monday after grabbing the spotlight and many of the biggest awards at the Grammys. It marked one of the biggest nights in years for indies, setting the stage for a surge in their online music sales.
Meanwhile, the rest of music industry is trying to figure out if the unsung acts from smaller labels are winning major awards because of the viral nature of the Internet — or in spite of it.
The presence of the indies during the annual awards show has grown in recent years as more bands appeal to fans directly through Facebook and YouTube instead of traditional sales channels.
A record number of nominations this year and the most wins in two years proved that a good band can break out despite lacking the resources of a major recording company.
"This was a major, major night for the independents," said David Glass, president of Glassnote Records, whose band Mumford & Sons performed during the show and was nominated for best new artist but didn't win.
Canadian indie band Arcade Fire won for album of the year — an unprecedented third straight time an indie label act has taken the top crown. In all, independent label artists won awards in 45 of 108 categories, the most since 2008, and they accounted 273 of the 542 nominations, up from 231 three years ago, according to the American Association of Independent Music.
Despite the critical acclaim, just 11 percent of the music cheap runescape powerleveling sold last year came from artists signed to labels other than the majors Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group Corp. and EMI Group Ltd., according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The relative obscurity of some acts left some Twitter posters stunned ("Album of the year goes to who ?" one tweeted) but with 484,000 albums sold since "The Suburbs" was released in August, according to SoundScan, Arcaade Fire has a solid following.
"There's a lot of great music being made outside of the major label system," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "It's created a window of opportunity for some very independent, forward-thinking, risk-taking entrepreneurs."
The most stunning victor of the night may have been Esperanza Spalding, a little known but well-loved jazz bassist and vocalist who topped Justin Bieber, the teen sensation with half billion video views, for best new artist.
Spalding's Concord Music Group, among the largest of the independent labels with more than $100 million in annual revenue, said votes might have split among the other popular nominees, Bieber, Drake, Florence + The Machine, and Mumford & Sons, allowing his star to runescape items shine.
"I think the truly sophisticated voters, the member base of (The Recording Academy) ... had no choice but to vote for her. This is an artist that really has undeniable talent and superior musicianship," said Concord's chief label officer, Gene Rumsey.
Portnow insists that the system set up for the Grammys' 12,000 voting members helps prevent results that only favor the most popular artists. Major labels have too few qualified voting producers to guarantee wins for their artists, and artists tend not to vote in lock-step with their label mates, he  said.
Instead, all of the voters gain equal access to the nominees' music online on a password-protected site. Sometimes during a listening session, the cream can unexpectedly rise to the top, he said.
For independent labels, a win can be transformative.
Google was flooded with "Esperanza Spalding" searches after her win was announced. Online album sales hit 3,000 over 12 hours on Sunday night up from an average of 300 the previous week, according to Mike Gillespie, Concord's senior vice president of sales. The company plans to ship up to 100,000 physical CDs this week, up from the normal 2,000 to 3,000 discs, as stores like Best Buy stock up on the winners. If sold, the amount would more than triple her sales so far.
Arcade Fire's Durham, N.C.-based indie label, Merge Records, was so buying runescape gold  unprepared for the win that its founders Mac McCaughan and Laura Ballance, of the band Superchunk, were in Japan on tour and didn't attend the live show.
Merge publicist Christina Rentz said there was virtually no campaigning for Grammy votes aside from a small ad in Billboard magazine.
"We don't play the game. We don't know how it's played. And this happened," she said. "Hopefully it'll encourage musicians to know that you can do it your way and have recognition from the bigwigs."
Courtney Holt, the president of MySpace Music and a voting member of the Academy, vouched for the legitimacy of the Grammy system. He thinks the ballot serves as a gut check among fellow artists, who aren't as swayed by what music is selling the most.
Holt hailed Arcade Fire as a "band's band" that earned the respect of other musicians. The group represented the closest thing to the archetypal rock band in a category whose other nominees were Eminem, Lady Antebellum, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry. Given the popularity of those artists, Arcade Fire also probably won support for being the underdogs.
"People talk about the rise of independents in the modern music business," Holt runescape accounts said. "Maybe this is an example of that being celebrated."

Lack of sleep 'raises your risk of stroke or heart disease'

It is the stuff of nightmares for those whose runescape power leveling  hectic work schedule or busy family life means getting up early and staying up late.
Sleeping for less than six hours a night greatly increases the risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke, a study has found.
Scientists claim that the modern tendency to delay going to bed in order to get through more of the items on the ‘to do’ list has serious health consequences.
But beware. Having the time and the tendency to retreat under the duvet for hours longer is not necessarily a health guarantee. Those who have too much sleep are also more likely to suffer a heart attack.
While the extra slumber is unlikely to be the cause, long-term illnesses such as heart disease often make sufferers feel tired, so sleeping for longer than nine hours a night may be an early warning sign.
Researchers found that those who slept for less than six hours were almost 50 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 15 per cent more at risk of strokes.
They believe that not having enough sleep disrupts the balance of two key hormones, ghrelin and leptin, which control the appetite.
Poor sleepers tend to eat more and are more likely to be obese, so are at greater risk buy runescape gold of high blood pressure and heart disease, which lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Experts recommend adults get at least six or seven hours’ shut-eye a night to stay healthy.
But as many as 60 per cent of us do not think we are sleeping enough, with a third suffering from insomnia. The researchers, from the University of Warwick, warned that trying to cram too much into one day by going to bed late and getting up early could lead to serious illnesses later in life.
They looked at the sleeping habits of almost 475,000 participants from 15 previous studies across eight countries, including the UK, the U.S., Japan, Sweden and Germany.
Their findings, published in the European Heart Journal, show that those who slept for less than six hours were 48 per cent more likely to develop or die from heart disease and 15 per cent more likely to develop or die from a stroke.
Not having enough sleep decreases runescape coin  the levels of leptin in our blood, which means we do not feel as satisfied after eating.
At the same time, it raises the levels of ghrelin, responsible for triggering our appetite, thus making us feel hungrier.
The scientists believe that our ‘work hard, play hard’ society encourages us to sacrifice sleep and compromises our health.
Professor Francesco Cappuccio, from the University of Warwick Medical School, said: ‘If you sleep less than six hours per night and have disturbed sleep you stand a 48 per cent greater chance of developing or dying from heart disease and a 15 per cent greater chance of developing or dying of a stroke.
‘The trend for late nights and early mornings is actually a ticking time bomb for our health so you need to act now to reduce your risk of developing these life-threatening conditions.
'There is an expectation in today’s society to fit more into our lives. The whole work-life balance struggle is causing too many of us to trade in precious sleeping time to ensure we complete all the jobs we believe are expected of us.
‘But in doing so, we are significantly increasing the risk of suffering a stroke or developing cardiovascular disease resulting in, for example, heart attacks.’
Co-researcher Dr Michelle Miller said: ‘Chronic short sleep produces hormones and chemicals in the body which increase the risk of developing heart disease and strokes, and other conditions like high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes and obesity.’
But the scientists also warned that sleeping more than nine hours every cheap runescape gold night may be an early warning sign of heart disease.
 

102-year old gospel singer wins lifetime achievement award

Canadian gospel singer George Beverly Shea runescape money   received a lifetime achievement award from the Grammys on Saturday — and then the 102-year-old proceeded to prove he still knows exactly how to mesmerize an audience.
After taking the stage to claim his award, Shea sang a couple bars from "Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho" and related a couple of anecdotes before eliciting a standing ovation from a gala crowd gathered on the eve of the 53rd Grammy Awards.
"It's a marvellous occasion," said Shea, who was raised near Ottawa. "God bless each of you."
Shea was recognized alongside Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, the Juilliard String Quartet, the Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton and the Ramones at Saturday's bash, held at the historic Wilshire Ebell Theater.
Born in the eastern Ontario community of Winchester, Shea was working at a Chicago radio station in 1940 when he met a young pastor named Billy Graham.
Graham asked Shea to sing at his sermons, which began a partnership that has spanned more than a half-century. Shea's booming baritone has set the stage for Graham in massive venues the world over, including New York's Madison Square Garden and London's Wembley Stadium.
Shea meanwhile developed a deep catalogue of original gospel music, including "I'd Rather Have Jesus," "The Wonder of it All'' and "I Love Thy Presence, Lord." His rendition of "How Great Thou Art" is considered a classic.
Though he's been nominated 10 times over his career, he last won a Grammy in  runescape accounts 1966 for best gospel or other religious recording, an honour he shared with Anita Kerr.
"It's been a long time since I won a Grammy," he pointed out onstage.
"They found me somewhere and then this happened."
That's just one example of Shea's dry sense of humour, evident again and again on this day.
Before the show, he was asked how he felt as he was about to receive the honour.
"Well, I'm alive," he said slyly.
And did he have any jitters about accepting the award?
"Oh, a little bit — I'm two years past 100, so I think I'd be a little nervous," he replied, a mischievous smile spreading across his face.
But clearly the honour meant something to Shea and his family, who accompanied the singer along with Karlene, his wife of 25 years ("25 years of bliss with a capital 'B,'" Shea said from the stage).
"I think (the award) probably just means the culmination of everything he's done in his life," said his son, Ron Shea, as they entered the gala.
Parton didn't necessarily want to view her own award the same way. Instead, the seven-time Grammy winner said in a video message she planned on winning "at least seven more."
"If you think I'm done, you're wrong," the country legend said.
Andrews also pointed out that the award wouldn't signal the end of her illustrious career.
"Thank you for allowing me to come full circle once again and for this wonderful lifetime (award)," said the "Sound of Music" star.
"It's been a great ride for me, and the adventure and the journey continues."
The evening seemed more like a catharsis for those runescape gold associated with the Ramones.
Since founding members Joey, Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone died over a three-and-a-half-year period last decade, the '70s punk icons were represented by various family members, as well as the group's three drummers: Marky, Tommy and Richie Ramone.
"This is amazing, I never expected this," Marky Ramone said.
Despite their innovative sound — a simplistic assault that stripped away all the bloated excess of '70s rock — the Ramones had actually never won a Grammy before.
So the lifetime achievement nod seemed to bring validation.
"It means that somebody finally woke up and opened their eyes and realized what a tremendous contribution the Ramones made to music," said Mickey Leigh, the brother of singer Joey Ramone, on the red carpet.
"(They) influenced people in music and fashion more than any other band I can think of other than the Beatles. ... I hate to speak for people, but I think I can safely say that it would have meant everything (to Joey)."
Linda Ramone, wife of the band's late guitarist, Johnny, called the group "one of the rock bands of all time" before adding: "God bless America and God bless Johnny Ramone."
Shea was, of course, a bit more modest. In recent weeks, the singer — who lives in Montreat, N.C. — has consistently expressed his surprise that he was chosen for the award.
"It's a real honour to be here," he said simply as he entered.
But his son was more willing to give his father credit for a career that has produced more than 70 recordings and allowed Shea to sing for 220 million people cumulatively — a world record, according to Guinness.
"He was surprised, I think we were all surprised," Ron Shea said.
"But after a while we thought about it and runescape accounts we knew he deserved it."
 

 Think a kiss is just a kiss?

Ever wondered about the political runescape accounts uses of a kiss, the kiss's changing status or legendary movie kisses? Do you find yourself needing to say the word in Albanian, Icelandic or even, perchance, Maori?
Fear not. "A Compendium of Kisses," the guide to everything oscular -- that's "of or pertaining to kissing" for the unenlightened -- tells all about one of the world's most universal gestures, whether simple greeting or sublime.
"When I came to look at the kiss, the romantic side is such a small part of it," said British novelist and actress Lana Citron, who compiled the book.
"I love how when you're born, the first thing is, you're kissed, you're welcomed into the world. It's this little gesture that follows you throughout life, through all the most important parts of your life."
Citron's interest in kisses began with a short story she wrote a decade ago about runescape gold a lonely woman who collected kisses in jars -- such as one for the lover who spurned her, one that was full of yearning -- and labeled them.
That led to her invitation to do an installation of kisses in jars, all labeled, as part of an art exhibition. The response of viewers sent her to the internet, searching out books on kisses and deciding to write her own when nothing seemed just right.
"It was almost like opening a Pandora's chest and just being overwhelmed by all the different ways a kiss is expressed, the meanings attached to it and the things it symbolizes," she said.
"I fell in love with it, I really did. I was submerged in the world of kisses for a year and came out of it with a book."
Her compendium mingles brief kiss anecdotes with kiss factoids and scraps of poetry to cover evolutionary kisses, bonding kisses, artful kisses, screen kisses, bike shed runescape money kisses or first kisses, passionate kisses, Kama Sutra kisses, animal kisses and even The Death Kiss, to name just a few.
She also traces the evolution of kissing through history, from its use in Christian religious ceremonies -- "greet ye one another with a kiss" -- to its social role as a greeting on many levels, including between kings and the vassals they ruled.
"Then the kiss suddenly becomes eroticized, also compounded by advances made in dentistry. Once it becomes eroticized, it also becomes highly contentious socially," she said.
While she finds it difficult to pick one favorite fact about kisses, Citron does acknowledge being fascinated about the use of kisses in politics and history, from its involvement in accusations about witchcraft down to the present day.
"Superficially, you have sex scandals, kiss and tell scandals, which many politicians fall prey to," she said.
Though most of the book is written in a tongue-in-cheek style, Citron becomes practical when asked for kissing advice.
"Basic hygiene, I think, is the only buy ffxiv gil thing I'd say."

 Marriage is good for physical and mental health

The 'smug marrieds' may ffxiv power leveling have good reason to feel pleased with themselves as experts today confirm that long-term committed relationships are good for mental and physical health and this benefit increases over time.
In an editorial published by student BMJ, David and John Gallacher from Cardiff University say that on average married people live longer. They say that women in committed relationships have better mental health, while men in committed relationships have better physical health, and they conclude that "on balance runescape gold it probably is worth making the effort."
Men's physical health probably improves because of their partner's positive influence on their lifestyle and "the mental bonus for women may be due to a greater emphasis on the importance of the relationship", they write.
But the journey of true love does not always run smoothly, maintain the authors, pointing to evidence that relationships in adolescence are associated with increased adolescent depressive symptoms.
And not all relationships are good for runescape money you, they add, referring to evidence that single people have better mental health than those in strained relationships.
They also confirm that breaking up is hard to do, saying "exiting a relationship is distressing" and divorce can have a devastating impact on individuals. Having numerous partners is also linked with a risk of earlier death.
They conclude that while relationship failures can harm health this is not a reason to avoid them. A good relationship will improve both physical and mental health and perhaps the thing to do is to try to avoid a bad relationship rather than not getting into runescape accounts a relationship at all.

The hottest sci-fi couples on film

Science-fiction films can range from runescape gold eerie and cerebral to good old-fashioned space opera or action flick. There is usually danger, futuristic technology and hopefully a hero to cheer for. What it doesn't always have is compelling romance, but there are some impressive exceptions. Here are some of my favorite couples--including two pairings you might not have expected. Who are your hottest sci-fi match-ups?
Princess Leia & Han Solo (Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford) -- Original "Star Wars" Trilogy
Who wasn't in love with Han and Leia? Sure, it was only a PG relationship, but there was plenty of playfully sarcastic banter and escalating sexual tension between the princess and her hero. One of their best moments is in "The Empire Strikes Back," in the Millennium Falcon engine room, when Han starts rubbing Leia's injured fingers. When Leia feebly protests that her hands are dirty, Han leans in and purrs, "My hands are dirty, too; what are you afraid of?" The whole exchange is hotter than hot, even if he is a scoundrel--well, because he's a scoundrel. Not convinced? Check out all the meaningful glances, passionate embraces and hot kisses in this fan-made YouTube video of Han ffxiv gil and Leia's best scenes in the "Star Wars" saga.
Neo & Trinity (Keanu Reeves and Carrie Ann Moss) -- "The Matrix" Trilogy
Have there ever been two people who looked hotter while shooting up and bombing an entire building? I don't think so. Not only are Neo and Trinity both gorgeous, they're tall, toned, clad in black leather, strapped up with sexy weapons and they know how to kick some serious a$%. Throw in a steamy sex scene at the start of "Matrix Reloaded," plenty of sensual eye contact and a true love that's been preordained, and you've got one seriously hot sci-fi couple. The most seductive thing about this pairing, however, is that they're equals. Trinity saves Neo's life just as often as he saves hers, and they're stronger when they're together than when they're apart. Now that's hot.
Sarah Conner & Kyle Reese (Linda Hamilton and Michael Biehn) -- "The Terminator"
Who ever had a better pick-up line than "Come with runescape money me if you want to live"? Sarah and Kyle had a passion born out of adrenaline, of Sarah depending on Kyle for her very survival, and Kyle depending on Sarah for survival of the species. You can't get any more intense than that. It doesn't hurt that Sarah and Kyle are both blond beauties, and Kyle makes his entrance to the world of the past completely naked. Then there's the love scene, all passionate kissing with an undercurrent of reverential tenderness. What makes it even hotter? The handsome Kyle has been lonely in his apocalyptic future world, and is most likely a virgin.
Richard B. Riddick & Carolyn Fry (Vin Diesel and Radha Mitchell) -- "Pitch Black"
Sure, they weren't exactly a couple, but you could cut the sexual tension with a knife. A really scary, sharp knife, the kind Riddick likes. It starts as merely pervy innuendo on Riddick's side, but his interest in Fry increases when she proves she's just as tough as he is. Their hottest scene in "Pitch Black" involves a wrestling match in the mud, with Fry still asserting her authority even while she's got a knife to her throat. Fry sees something good in him, that even he isn't sure exists anymore, and with his ethereal night-vision eyes gleaming in the darkness, Riddick looks at Fry in a whole new way. Aside from the hotness of too buff action heroes grappling physically and verbally on screen, this sci-fi couple affects us in deeper ways. Riddick's relationship with Fry shakes his sense of self completely to the core, and you'll be runescape accounts hearing "Not for me," ringing in your ears long after the movie is over.
Obi-Wan Kenobi & Anakin Skywalker (Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen) -- "Star Wars: Attack of the Clones" and "Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith"
Call it a bromance, or revel in the homoerotic subtext, but you have to admit these two had more chemistry than Anakin and Padme (who were hampered of course by Lucas' dreadful "romantic" dialogue.) Obi-Wan was all handsome nobility and valor, trying to mold his gorgeous young and passionate student into the perfect Jedi. That's hot. Anakin and Obi-Wan bicker like an old married couple, go on adrenaline-pumping missions together, and get each other's backs in a fight. There is a strong bond between the two, which makes it all the more heart-wrenching in their final duel, when Anakin screams out his hate for Obi-Wan--then shows a runescape money flicker of anguished regret when Obi-Wan declares his brotherly love.
 

Sedentary lifestyle blamed for rising adolescent obesity rate in U.S.

Despite suggestion by previous ffxiv power leveling studies that genes may play a role in adolescent obesity, a new study cited sedentary lifestyle as a major cause for most cases.
Poor eating and activity habits, not genetics, are the underlying causes for most cases of adolescent obesity, according to the study by researchers at the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center.
"For the extremely overweight child, genetic screening may be a consideration," study senior author Dr. Kim A. Eagle, a cardiologist and a director of the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center in Ann Arbor, said on Thursday in a news release.
"For the rest, increasing physical activity, reducing recreational screen time and improving the nutritional value of school lunches offers great promise to begin a reversal of current childhood obesity runescape gold trends."
The rising obesity trend would not be contained unless sedentary lifestyles and poor food choices are addressed, the researchers said.
The researchers based their conclusion on an analysis of more than 1,000 Michigan sixth-grade students who participated in the Project Healthy Schools program, which is in place in 13 middle schools across the state.
The study found that 15 percent of the participants were obese, and almost all had poor eating habits.
Major findings of the study included:
-- Nearly one-third of all the students said they drank a soda the day before, while fewer than half said they could recall having eaten two portions of fruits and vegetables in runescape money the same time frame;
-- While 34 percent of non-obese kids consumed lunches provided by their school, that figure rose to 45 percent among obese students;
-- Only one-third of all the kids reported exercising a half hour for five days during the previous week;
-- Obese children were much less likely than non-obese kids to participate in regular exercise and/or physical education classes, and less likely to be a part of a sports team; and
-- Among obese children, 58 percent reported watching two hours of TV in the past day, compared with 41 percent of non-obese kids.
The authors noted that the percentage of obese kids aged six to 11 in the U.S. rose runescape accounts from just 6.5 percent in 1980 to nearly 20 percent by 2008. 

Stephen King's "The Stand" heading to big screen

Stephen King's grand ffxiv gil opus "The Stand" is finally getting the big-screen treatment.
Warner Bros. and CBS Films are teaming to adapt the novel, which in many ways set the bar for a generation of post-apocalyptic stories.
One of the biggest books of all time, "The Stand" is a story of good vs. evil after a virus wipes out most of the American population. While it features dozens of characters (such as the Trashcan Man and Mother Abigail) and overlapping story lines running over many years, the struggle boils down to a group of survivors fighting the Antichrist-like Randall Flagg.
The novel was originally published in 1978, but by the time it was re-released in 1990 runescape gold with King adding and revising portions of the story, it had achieved cult-like status.
Horror director George Romero and Warners separately tried in vain to launch a movie adaptation in the 1980s, and a toned-downed version was produced as a six-hour miniseries by ABC in 1994. In recent years, Marvel Comics has been adapting the story to great acclaim.
King's stories made for popular Hollywood adaptations in the 1980s and '90s, but that love seemed to lose steam in the past decade. But with Universal mounting runescape money an ambitious take on "The Dark Tower," and now "The Stand," King may be getting ready to return to the throne as the novelist the town loves the most.
The studios and producers will sit down with writers and directors in the coming weeks in an attempt to find the right take on the material. One thing to be determined is whether to attempt the adaptation in one or multiple movies. King will be involved in some capacity.
CBS has held the rights for many years but recently realized the best way to undertake the project was with a partner. Warners beat out Fox and Sony in a tight bidding war for the gig, and will handle worldwide marketing and distribution.
CBS, meanwhile, gets a chance to be involved in an ambitious big-budget tentpole with little downside. The company just released its fourth movie, "The Mechanic," which performed better than expected this runescape accounts weekend with an opening of $11.4 million.

Fun facts about the Oscar nominations

Jeff Bridges could join ffxiv gil Spencer Tracy and Tom Hanks as the only winners of lead actor Oscars in successive years. Also, more fun facts.
— Jeff Bridges, who won the lead actor Oscar last year for "Crazy Heart," is up in the same category for his performance as Rooster Cogburn in "True Grit." Only two actors have won Academy Awards in the lead actor category two years in a row — Spencer Tracy won for 1937's "Captains Courageous" and 1938's "Boy's Town," and Tom Hanks earned Oscars for 1993's "Philadelphia" and 1994's "Forrest Gump"
— Two lead performer nominees — Jesse Eisenberg, 27, ("The Social Network") and Jennifer Lawrence, 20, ("Winter's Bone") — would be the youngest ever to win in their categories. Adrien Brody holds the record for youngest lead actor for his win for 2002's "The Pianist" at age 29; Marlee Matlin was 21 when she won lead runescape gold actress for 1986's "Children of a Lesser God."
— Joel and Ethan Coen's remake of the western "True Grit" earned 10 Oscar nominations, including best picture. The original 1969 version of the film received only two nominations — lead actor for John Wayne, who won the award, and best song.
— Speaking of westerns, only three films inthe genre have won the best picture Oscar: 1930-31's "Cimarron," 1990's "Dances With Wolves" and 1992's "Unforgiven."
— If Colin Firth wins for lead actor for his role as King George VI in "The King's Speech," he will be the first actor to win playing a king of England since Charles Laughton in  runescape money  1932-33's "The Private Life of Henry VIII."
— Before "Black Swan," only two films set in the world of ballet had been nominated for the best film Oscar — 1948's "The Red Shoes" and 1977's "The Turning Point."
— Scott Rudin, with "The Social Network" and "True Grit," becomes the first producer since 1974 to have two films in the best picture race. Francis Ford Coppola and Fred Roos did it with "The Godfather 2" and "The Conversation."
— Besides 14-year-old supporting actress nominee Hailee Steinfeld, several of this year's acting nominees began their careers as child or teenage actors, including Natalie Portman, Javier Bardem, Michelle Williams, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Eisenberg, Nicole Kidman, Helena Bonham Carter and Bridges.
—Composer Randy Newman picks up his 20th Oscar nomination for his original song, "We Belong Together" from "Toy Story 3." He won the original song Oscar for "If I Didn't Have You" from runescape accounts 2001's "Monsters, Inc." 

Italians enjoy exciting performance by Chinese artists

Colorful shiny costumes, melodic dreamlike runescape gold music and popular songs, acrobatic dances and incredible Peking Opera actors: Italians had a taste of the Chinese culture this week in cities of Rome, Milan and Brecia thanks to the unforgettable performance of students from the Beijing Foreign Studies University and some well-known Chinese artists.
Part of the events celebrating the Chinese Culture Year in Italy, the shows, titled "Return visit to the home town of Marco Polo", were presented by the Chinese art group at one of the most prestigious theaters in each city.
The goal of the spectacle was also to open the upcoming Chinese New Year festivity and give everyone best wishes. The theaters were literally packed with people of all ages, especially high school and university students who are eager to learn or study Chinese language and culture.
The Italian audience seemed to be left totally in awe admiring for the first time in their life the mimics and professionality of the Peking Opera warriors, fairy and concubine actors, the symphony of the traditional Chinese instruments like the erhu.
They were also attracted by the dances, the popular nature- linked and pastoral songs of runescape money several Chinese ethnic minorities including the Uygur, Mongols and Dai and the show of the Kungfu and Tai-Chi students who blended lethal body movements with modern Chinese music.
At the end of the performance, many Italians queued up in front of the stage to congratulate themselves with the Chinese artists and shoot a souvenir picture with them, especially with popular Peking Opera actress Sun Ping, who was indeed the queen on the stage.
Barbara Stellari, a Roman student of 24 learning Chinese, was fascinated and said she felt like visiting China at once
"I really enjoyed this performance," she told Xinhua . "I have always loved Chinese culture in general but this was a great chance to deepen my knowledge on different aspects of it, especially the beautiful Peking Opera actors who were fantastic, their facial expressions and physical agility were incredible."
But Simona Tonini, 50 years old from runescape accounts Naples, admitted she had some troubles following the show. "I must say that I liked it all but in some parts it was a bit hard for me to understand, because when you lack knowledge of the Chinese culture you can't fully appreciate for example the opera and what the characters are saying or trying to convey."
For Piero Servillo, 23, it was an exciting experience: "The best part was the Kungfu and Tai-Chi performance: those kids were awesome. But I also enjoyed the traditional dances with those weird musical instruments that I have never seen before in my life and the beautiful girls moving in a very sensual way. The show really ffxiv gil gave me a chance to better discover the Chinese culture. It was great fun."
It was a touching moment also for the visiting Chinese students who study Italian in the Beijing Foreign Studies University and for whom it was the first time in Italy.
Several of them personally greeted the public in Italian wishing everyone a happy new year.
"I wanted to see if Italy was really a beautiful country with beautiful girls and boys, and it is indeed,"said a Chinese young actor, apparently very moved.
Isabelle, a Chinese singer, said she finally had the chance to ascertain the many beauties of Italy and wishes runescape money everyone a happy new year.

 "Terri" a touching tale of a young outsider

Nobody watching the supposed runescape gold social rejects of the school halls congregate and rejoice on "Glee" is likely to confuse that fantasy with reality, especially since half of them are hot cheerleaders and handsome jocks. But the misfits drawn together in "Terri" might strike a few chords.
After making a splash in Park City with "Momma's Man" in 2008, Azazel Jacobs returns with a fresh example of a quintessential Sundance staple -- from the familiar focus on marginalized figures to the vaguely lyrical tone, punctuated by moments of darkness and bruising truth. Yet while we've been down this lonely, funny-sad path before, the soulfulness of writer Patrick deWitt's characters keeps them interesting.
The opening shot unequivocally shows how far the title character strays from the rigid template of high-school acceptability, unveiling obese Terri (Jacob Wysocki) in the bath. For reasons not divulged, he has been abandoned by his parents and lives on the wooded outskirts of an unidentified small town with his Uncle James (a touching Creed Bratton of "The Office"). A bookish granola type suffering from what appears to be Alzheimer's, James' windows of runescape money lucidity have grown increasingly infrequent.
The film tends to leave background details for the audience to fill in, which is elegant, if slightly mannered. And deWitt's screenplay is stronger on dialogue than emotional development.
From the tender forbearance with which Terri treats his uncle, we observe that he's kind-hearted. And from the fact that he wears pajamas to school for comfort, we gather he has absorbed enough cruel taunts to be numb to them.
When his chronic tardiness and decreased participation in class bring him to the attention of assistant principal Mr. Fitzgerald (John C. Reilly), Terri finds an unexpected friend.
Much of the film's core comedy comes via the interplay between these two characters. Reilly brings all his rough-hewn appeal and crooked humor to a man who still finds value in his role as an educator, shepherding his problem students with understanding reassurances, mock severity runescape accounts and cultivated cool.
The simple fact that Mr. Fitzgerald cares makes him a fellow oddball. Terri's hesitant friendships with two other school pariahs further feed the character's growth. One is Chad (Bridger Zadina), a detention regular due to his abrasive behavior; the other is Heather (Olivia Crocicchia), a pretty blonde ostracized after sexually surrendering to the class horndog (Justin Prentice) during home economics.
In a well-judged scene that represents the amorphous beginnings of Terri's coming of age, the insecurities of all three outcasts are fueled one evening by whiskey and a handful of Uncle James' pills.
Jacobs coaxes unselfconscious performances laced with both irony and pathos from his young cast. As the unguarded gentle giant, Wysocki, in particular, suggests a bustling inner life, his blank canvas masking layer upon layer of hurt.
It's not the most substantial movie and its delicate approach can seem rather studied, almost as if the director is trying on a style rather than adopting one that's an ideal fit. But there are many lovely, lingering moments. Tobias Datum shoots the leafy exteriors in soft natural light that enhances the melancholy mood.
If the lighter scenes sometimes lean toward sitcom cuteness, Jacobs has a sufficiently deft touch to get away with it. The territory often seems closest to that of NBC's unjustly short-lived "Freaks and Geeks," which is by no runescape money means a bad place to be.

 When I was a kid, I remember my mother runescape gold  coming back from the A&P with all my favorite canned foods: creamed corn, Bush’s baked beans, and those peaches drenched in delicious syrup. Granted, I may remember those canned foods more because they were really like desserts, but I remember the healthy ones, too: peas, asparagus, and kidney beans. Canned food was easy and delicious.
For so long, America’s focus has been on buying and eating only fresh fruits and vegetables that some old-fashioned ways of eating have fallen by the wayside. But now, when our economic woes are forcing many of us to be a little more cost-conscious in everyday life, we may be thinking of ways to cut back on the basics. One of the most critical places in which to monitor spending is at the supermarket, where canned food can be one smart alternative to consider. Canned fruits and vegetables are often less expensive and will last much longer than fresh ones. But while there are many advantages to choosing canned foods, there’s also a downside. Whenever you browse the aisles of your local grocery store, keep the following in mind.
The Good
The most obvious benefit of buying canned food is that it can be much less expensive than buying fresh. For example, in early 2010, Safeway.com was selling a 14.5-ounce can of green beans for $1.00 and runescape money a twelve-ounce bag of fresh green beans for $3.99. That’s $0.07/ounce for the canned green beans and $0.33/ounce for the fresh green beans. More important, the fresh green beans might keep in the refrigerator for about five days before they start to wilt and shrivel, but, according to the USDA, the canned beans will stay good for three to five years. Another advantage is that vegetables are usually picked at their peak ripeness and canned shortly thereafter, sealing in nutrients when they’re at optimal levels. Stocking up on canned food in one trip, versus making frequent weekly visits to the store for fresh fruits and vegetables, also saves a considerable amount of time. So buying canned food doesn’t just help you conserve money; it can also free up your schedule.
The Bad
Over the past few years, there has been a fair amount of public speculation over the possible health risks of bisphenol-A, or BPA. BPA.org describes the runescape accounts   chemical as “a key component used to make epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastic, which are used to make consumer goods.” The media has focused on BPA’s presence in plastic bottles, but studies have shown that it’s also included in the plastic lining of cans and may leach into the content over time. According to a study published in the December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, “Latest tests of canned foods, including soups, juice, tuna, and green beans, have found that almost all of the 19 name-brand foods tested contain some BPA.” The study also discovered BPA in products that were labeled “BPA-free.” In addition, more significant levels of BPA have been found in acidic foods, such as tomatoes and tomato paste.
While this information is disconcerting, the jury is still out on what may actually be runescape gold  considered harmful levels of BPA. According to a study by the U.S. National Toxicology Program and published in a September 2008 American Cancer Society article, BPA has been shown to affect both breast and prostate tissue in ways that could be linked to cancer. However, because tests have been done only on animals, the report concludes that there is not enough evidence yet to know whether BPA causes cancer in humans.
Along with BPA, canned foods most often also contain a number of additives to enhance flavor and preserve food, some of which include MSG, salt, corn syrup, and various food coloring and have been linked to a range of health problems, including everything from allergic reactions to more long-term disorders, such as high cholesterol and asthma.
Ways to Be Safe
Be conscious of what you’re buying—read the ingredients and try to buy organic when it’s possible. Rinse everything. If sugar or salt has been added to canned food, rinsing will help remove some of it. We can take solace in knowing that many large food companies, such as ConAgra Foods, Inc., have long been slowly reducing the amount of salt in their products. In fact, a January 2010 article in the Wall Street Journal  ffxiv gil  reports that “Chef Boyardee canned pasta will have decreased its sodium by about 35%” by next summer. Improperly storing canned food can pose yet another threat. Storing an opened can in the refrigerator may cause bacteria to grow or cause an uptake of metal into the food. Also watch out for cans that are bulging or leaking, have expanded bumps, or are misshapen in any way—all of which are signs that the can could be contaminated, which could result inbotulism for people who eat from the compromised container.
The Best of Both Worlds
For the really ambitious penny-pincher, there’s home canning. By growing your own fruits and vegetables and doing the canning yourself, the flavor and integrity of the canned food is in your hands—literally. According to a May 2009 Denver Post article, whenever the economy declines, the sales of home-canning products increase. The National Center for Home Food Preservation Web site is a great resource for everything from selecting the right processing time to the right temperatures.
Next time you’re mulling over the fresh fruits and vegetables in the grocery store, don’t forget to stroll down the canned-foods aisle, do some price comparisons, and maybe even try out some white beans, canned peas, or peaches in buy ffxiv gil syrup—for dessert, of course.

Tough Love, Chinese Style

Amy Chua’s email in-box has become runescape gold  the latest front in the mommy wars. Ever since Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, her warts-and-all book on parenting the Chinese way, inflamed the mommy-blogger universe with its publication last week, Chua has been under attack. “Oh. My. Gosh,” she says, when asked how many messages she gets each day. “I don’t know—300? 600?” Many of them are notes of praise and thanks, she says. But many are vicious. “There are death threats. And ‘Go back to China, you abusive monster.’ It’s much more overwhelming than I thought it would be.”
Broadly speaking, Chua’s book is about how she endeavored to raise her two American girls, now teenagers, the way her Chinese-immigrant parents raised her. For Chua, a professor at Yale Law School, the Chinese way includes lots of rules and high expectations—and disciplinary techniques that can come across as cruel and unusual. She makes one daughter stand outside in the frigid winter weather—at age 3—for not practicing the piano as instructed, and she berates both for the sloppiness of the handmade cards they created for her birthday. The book has come to be seen as an indictment of the kind of permissive parenting that permeates the country’s affluent neighborhoods, where kids get trophies even when they lose and ice-cream sundaes just for making their beds.
Now it’s Chua who’s enduring the admonishments. On Internet runescape money discussion boards (prompted by a piece in The Wall Street Journal with the headline WHY CHINESE MOTHERS ARE SUPERIOR) her critics saythat she has no regard for the plight of working families, that she values achievement and status above all, and that the parenting strategies she advocates produce weak-willed, self-loathing robots destined for the therapist’s couch. Chua, whose daughters enliven nearly every page of her book, tries not to take these attacks personally, but they upset her. Her girls are confident and happy, she says, but “I keep calling in, worried about them.” She’s glad her own mother, who advised against publishing the book and is on vacation in England, “doesn’t use the Internet very well.”
Chua wants to set the record straight: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is not a how-to book. It’s a memoir about her struggles with child rearing. She passes no judgment on anyone else. “I believe that there are many ways of being a good parent,” she says. “My husband”—who runescape accounts is Jewish American—“was raised in a very permissive, liberal family, and he came out great.” The chatterers, she says, fail to understand that her book acknowledges the limitations of the Chinese way. The narrative centers on Chua’s efforts to make musical prodigies out of her daughters by forcing them to practice three hours a day, minimum, starting in nursery school. With Sophia, the elder daughter, this authoritarian approach works beautifully: she begins winning competitions at 10. But Lulu, despite her musical gifts, rebels.
The climax of the book occurs in a restaurant, with 13-year-old Lulu screaming, “I hate the violin. I hate my life. I hate you, and I hate this family!” She throws a water glass to the floor, where it shatters. The tiger mother relents and gives Lulu permission to quit so she can spend more time playing tennis—a non-Chinese-mother-approved activity. “If there’s a takeaway from the book, it’s about a search for balance,” Chua says. “And maybe the dominant mainstream permissive Western model is not ideal, but nor is the extremely strict ‘only violin or piano.’ ” While she’s at it, Chua would also like people to know she’s funny and fun. “My kids actually quite  ffxiv gil   like me,” she says.

Gervais stands his ground over Globes performance

Academy Award hosts Anne Hathaway runescape gold and James Franco are unlikely to be seeking tips from Ricky Gervais.
The British comedian was brash, profane and cruelly funny at Sunday's Golden Globes, delivering his trademark humor as promised for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in his second go-round as host of the ceremony that has "butt-talking" appearances by Jim Carrey and Jack Nicholson in its history.
At its heart, pairing the right host with the right awards show is a delicate form of matchmaking. The relationship should be unpredictable but not self-destructive, capturing TV viewers and Nielsen ratings without alienating the stars who come to be celebrated.
More than a few brave hosts have discovered how daunting the brief affair can be. That includes David Letterman, who has yet to shed memories of his bumpy 1995 Oscar gig that included an oddball phonetics bit mocking the names of Uma Thurman and Oprah Winfrey.
"Ricky Gervais was the host of the (Globes) show — very funny guy," Letterman said on his late-night CBS show Monday. "But there's already talk that he'll never be invited back, and I say, `Hey, welcome to the club.'"
At the 2008 Emmy Awards, there was a misguided attempt to pay homage to reality TV by letting five of the genre's hosts, including Heidi Klum of "Project Runway" and Jeff Probst of "Survivor," share the emcee ffxiv power leveling job. Their dull joint act bombed, with presenter Jimmy Kimmel dryly complimenting them for being "sufficient."
Gervais was anything but boring. Unlike last year, however, when he slyly mocked actors as a class by calling them "the most important people on the planet," he turned very personal.
His targets Sunday included Bruce Willis, the stars of "Sex and the City" and Robert Downey Jr., who retorted onstage, jokingly or not, "Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited, with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, wouldn't you?"
One of the sharper jabs was at the Golden Globes' own expense: Gervais joked about a lawsuit by a former publicist for the HFPA that alleges the group engages in payola schemes for nominations and awards.
Gervais initially struck a brave tone on his website, saying he "enjoyed the Globes more this year. I think I had better gags." He also rejected as "rubbish" the rumor that he was censored as the show progressed. But on Tuesday, he admitted verging on self-doubt in the face of criticism.
"Thanks to the twitterverse, the blogosphere, all the journos and the coolest stars for coming to my rescue," he said in a posting at rickygervais.com. "It was heartwarming runescape money to realise I wasn't losing my mind. Some reactions nearly had me believing I'd gone too far too. Nearly."
Among his boosters was Elizabeth Banks ("30 Rock," "W"), who tweeted, "I thought RG was hilarious. Actors can take it. We have thick skins."
"Have you noticed that nobody remembers the winners of the Golden Globes — but they do remember Ricky Gervais," Regis Philbin said Tuesday on his daytime talk show (on which he also announced his retirement).
The HFPA largely stood by its man, issuing the merest squeak of official displeasure over Gervais zingers, which included, "It's going to be a night of partying and heavy drinking. Or as Charlie Sheen calls it — breakfast." HFPA President Philip Berk also told The Hollywood Reporter that Gervais was not warned about his performance or kept off-air during the broadcast.
"We loved the show. It was a lot of fun and obviously has a lot of people talking," the association said in a statement, noting that Gervais is expected to deliver "in your face, sometimes outrageous material. Certainly, in runescape accounts this case, he pushed the envelope and occasionally went too far."
But the group, which said "overall" it was pleased and called the show "among the best we've ever had," said it hadn't made a decision about whether Gervais would be invited back next year. Also facing the HFPA in the months ahead is a decision on who will broadcast the Globes next year. Its contract with NBC expired with this year's show.
Meanwhile, the producers gearing up for the Jan. 25 Oscar nominations announcement and Feb. 27 Academy Awards broadcast have signaled plans for a far different ceremony.
Choosing co-hosts who are respected actors, non-comedians and include a potential nominee — Franco for "127 Hours" — makes a decorous evening likely for the film awards that remain Hollywood's main self-congratulatory event.
"We have the reputation of the predominant American art form to protect and spread the message to the world," said Don Mischer, who is producing the ceremony with runescape money Bruce Cohen. "This will be watched by billions of people when you put it all together, so you do feel that sense of responsibility."
Filmmaker Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up," "Superbad"), who will host the Producers Guild of America Awards on Jan. 22, took a friendly jab at Gervais online and started a Twitter campaign to gather better jokes for his gig.
"I thought Joan Rivers did a wonderful job hosting the Golden Globes tonight," Apatow joked in a post-show tweet. "Ricky Gervais should do an episode of Extras where he hosts the Golden Globes and is out of tune."
Calling "mean too lazy for RG," Apatow invited followers to post jokes better than Gervais' and promised the "winners" a shout-out at the non-televised awards show. The entries, he tweeted later, demonstrate that "it's hard to be funny and not vicious. Steve Martin is king."
Whether Gervais gets a third call to headline the Globes may be determined more by a number than his one-liners. The broadcast attracted nearly 17 million viewers, according to "fast-national" Nielsen figures released Monday, and was NBC's most-watched prime-time entertainment telecast among advertiser-favored young adult viewers runescape accounts since last year's Globes.
 

Oscar race heats up: Who will go for the Gold?

This week, the Producers Guild runescape gold and the Writers Guild -- two of the three best known Hollywood guilds -- announced the nominees for their respective annual awards. The Producers Guild's picks for best picture: "127 Hours," "Black Swan," "Inception," "The King's Speech," "The Social Network," "The Kids Are Alright," "The Town," "True Grit" and "Toy Story 3."
The Writers Guild, which recognizes screenplay excellence, chose similar nominees: "Black Swan," "The Fighter," "Inception," "The Kids Are Alright" and "Please Give" for best original screenplay; "127 Hours," "I Love You Phillip Morris," "The Social Network," "The Town" and "True Grit" for best adapted screenplay.
Unlike the Golden Globes -- which were widely criticized for nominating films that were poorly received by critics ("The Tourist," "Burlesque") and snubbing those that won rave reviews ("True Grit") -- the picks of the Producers Guild, the Writers Guild and the Directors Guild (contenders for its awards will be announced runescape money next week) could offer a clearer picture of the upcoming Academy Awards nominees.
Below, ABCNews.com takes a closer look at the folks and films likely to dominate Oscar nominations day:
Natalie Portman: For MaryAnn Johanson, a movie critic and founder of the long-running www.flickfilosopher.com, Portman leads the list for her turn as the psychologically fragile ballerina in "Black Swan," the tour de force directed by Darren Aronofsky. Portman's "Black Swan" co-stars, Mila Kunis and Barbara Hershey, could both be shoe-ins for Best Supporting Actress honors.
Sally Hawkins has a good shot for her portrayal of a British factory worker who leads a strike for equal wages in "Made in Dagenham." "Hawkins' character undergoes a powerful transformation, which also evokes Sally Fields' Oscar-winning performance in 'Norma Rae,'" said runescape accounts Johanson, adding that her Golden Globe-winning performance in "Happy Go Lucky" makes Hawkins far from an unknown quantity.
Lesley Manville is another favorite for her role in "Another Year." "Manville's character is unhappily single – she's self-delusional, desperate lonely and clingy – but puts on a brave front," said Johanson. "It's a heartbreaking performance."
Nicole Kidman is also on Johanson's radar for playing the Oscar-bait grieving-mother role in "Rabbit Hole."
Michelle Williams plays a young wife whose marriage is disintegrating in "Blue Valentine."
Noomi Rapace may also have a shot for her work playing the facially grommeted punk hacker Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish movie "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." (Rapace also starred in the two subsequent films in the series.)
"You don't often see female characters like the one played by Rapace, who was a startling screen presence," said Johanson. "She made a huge impression on movie goers and probably on Academy members as well."
However, said Johanson, the fact that "Dragon Tattoo" contained subtitles may prove to be its undoing. "Academy voters often disregard foreign movies outside the 'foreign film' runescape money category," she said.

'Network' 'King's Speech' present duel of old and new

Colin Firth quaking before a radio runescape gold microphone. Jesse Eisenberg keeping friends in touch online.
The top prize at Sunday's Golden Globes sets old media against new media as the 1930s-era British monarchy saga "The King's Speech" and the up-to-the-minute Facebook drama "The Social Network" square off as front-runners.
"The King's Speech" leads with seven Globe nominations, including best drama and dramatic actor for Firth as Queen Elizabeth II's dad, George VI — who takes the throne at the worst-possible time for a guy with a stammer, as that newfangled thing called radio forces heads of state to become mass communicators.
Firth's competition includes Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network," which is tied with the Mark Wahlberg's boxing drama "The Fighter" for second with six Globe nominations. The film, which has dominated awards from key critics groups, chronicles Facebook's runaway success and Zuckerberg's legal conflicts as former friends and associates sue over the proceeds.
"It's just this incredible story about betrayal and power and greed and friendship," said co-star Andrew Garfield, a supporting-actor nominee as the best pal and Facebook co-founder that Zuckerberg casts aside as the Web site's riches pile up.
Along with "The Fighter," ''The King's Speech" and "The Social Network," best-drama nominees are Natalie Portman's psychosexual thriller "Black Swan" and Leonardo DiCaprio's sci-fi runescape money blockbuster "Inception."
The Globes also have a best-picture prize for musical or comedy. Nominees include the Lewis Carroll update "Alice in Wonderland" and the romantic thriller "The Tourist," each starring Johnny Depp, who earned best-actor nominations in the category for both films.
Other nominees for best musical or comedy are Christina Aguilera's song-and-dance extravaganza "Burlesque," Annette Bening and Julianne Moore's lesbian-family tale "The Kids Are All Right" and Bruce Willis' action caper "Red."
Conspicuously missing at this year's Globes ceremony are any nominations at all for one of the season's major critical and commercial hits — the Coen Brothers' reboot of the Western classic "True Grit." But stars Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfeld will be presenters.
Essentially a pre-party before Hollywood's main event — Feb. 27's Academy Awards — the Globes are a loose, boozy cousin to the stately Oscars. While Oscar organizers have been trying to liven up their ceremony from its traditional procession of stars and teary acceptance runescape accounts speeches, the Globes offer television audiences a peak at Hollywood letting its hair down as celebrities share a meal and plenty of drinks.
Winners occasionally have been caught in the bathroom when their names were announced, and Jack Nicholson once bent over to moon the crowd at the Globes.
"This is a party where you get drunk. It's a little more relaxed than the other ones and you celebrate with your team," said Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, director of foreign-film nominee "Biutiful," whose 2006 film "Babel" won the Globe for best drama.
Ricky Gervais returns as Globes host for the second-straight year, saying he wants to make amends because "I don't think I went far enough" last time.
"Obviously not, because they invited me back," Gervais said. "So, I'm going to do it again, do a proper job. And I guarantee they will not invite me back."
Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, a group of about 85 entertainment reporters for overseas outlets, the Globes have been, for most of their nearly 70-year history, a solid forecast for how the Oscars might play out.
But in recent times, the two shows have diverged. Only once in the last six years has runescape money  the winner of one of the Globe best-film prizes gone on to win best picture at the Oscars — 2008's "Slumdog Millionaire."
That came after a stretch of eight-straight years when a Globe winner in either the dramatic or musical-comedy category went on to claim the best-picture Oscar.
Last year, the sci-fi sensation "Avatar" won best drama at the Globes, while "The Hangover" won for best musical or comedy. At the Oscars, the best-picture prize went to the Iraq War drama "The Hurt Locker."
The Globes generally do better predicting the acting winners at the Oscars. A year ago, all four Oscar winners — Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side," Jeff Bridges for "Crazy Heart," Mo'Nique for "Precious" and Christoph Waltz for "Inglourious Basterds" — earned prizes at the Globes first.
Win or lose, actors like the awards attention because it can help them land more work.
"It's always nice to get a nomination, but my main thing with nominations and awards is, if my name is mentioned, my main ambition is just to get another part," said Helena Bonham Carter, a supporting-actress nominee as George VI's devoted queen in "The King's Speech." To make some director buy ffxiv gil or producer wake up and go, 'Oh, she's still alive.'"
 

Fish Oil Maximum Dose for Cholesterol

Omega-3 fatty acids found runescape gold richly in it are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for the body's normal functioning. Many research studies have suggested the benefits of omega-3 in fish oil in promoting a healthy heart. Many studies have also confirmed that fish oil can help decrease risk for heart attack and stroke.
The Normal Dosage
The usual dose used in these clinical trials range from 900 mg to no more than 5 grams per day. These amounts have been established to be sufficient to bring about good results. However, if you rely on this supplements for your daily supply, note that you need to pay attention to the amount of EPA and DHA contained in the supplement you are taking. Ideally, getting active ingredients of more than 50% omega-3 DHA and EPA is runescape money sufficient.
What is the Right Dosage for You?
The question as to how much of this one should take daily is relative. Generally, healthy adults with no pre-existing condition can stick with 300 to 400 grams of this to meet their daily needs. For those who have high cholesterol, suffer from cardiovascular problems or have high blood pressure, a recommended intake of 900 to 1 gram per day is sufficient, and sometimes doubling the dosage may runescape accounts lead to better results for high cholesterol patients.
How much is too much?
Is there a maximum dose for cholesterol? Well, no matter how healthy, too much of anything can prove harmful. In fact, it is recommended that those who take high doses of this (that is, more than 3 grams daily) must be under the supervision of a medical expert or health care provider. High dosages of omega-3 fatty acids in the blood can, for instance, decrease the aggregation of platelets because of its blood thinning effect. This can cause bleeding to happen more easily, and can pose as a health risk for those who suddenly have injuries or need to undergo operation.
Today, the safest way to get the right amount of this is through these supplements. Taking these supplements lessen the need to eat high amounts of fish, which can lead to mercury overexposure buy ffxiv gil and intoxication. Luckily, there are now dozens of choices for fish oil caps. They come in different dosages per tablet, and different amounts of active ingredients. To get best results, make sure to choose a fish oil brand that contains high amounts of EPA and DHA. More importantly, choose a trusted brand that contains ultra-refined fish oil, and certified by the International Fish Oil Standards.
Finally, the best person you should talk to about fish oil maximum dose is your physician. Make sure to consult with a medical professional before taking runescape money fish oil for cholesterol. 

Could Vitamin D Deficiency Make Kids Fat?

Is it possible that lack of a key ffxiv gil nutrient could actually put a child at risk for obesity? Vitamin D is important for healthy growth and development particularly of bones throughout childhood. But could a deficiency of this important nutrient affect more than just the skeleton? A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examines the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and risk of childhood obesity. Obesity in childhood is a risk factor for adult obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
This study followed 479 school children in Bogota, Colombia, aged 5 to 12 years for about two-and-a-half years on average. They took fasting blood samples and a variety of physical measurements. At baseline, 10 percent of the children were considered vitamin D deficient by prevailing clinical standards, and runescape gold another 46 percent were considered vitamin D insufficient.
The researchers found that vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency was associated with a 0.1-point yearly increase in BMI and a substantial 0.8 cm yearly increase in waist circumference compared to vitamin D sufficiency. While these numbers may seem modest, bear in mind that they are annual figures, meaning that the effects add up over the course of childhood and can translate into significant overall body fatness. The researchers also saw slower increases in height among girls, but not boys, who were vitamin D deficient. These findings were independent of whether the children were considered thin, normal weight or overweight at the runescape money beginning of the study.
The key caveat of these findings is the old chicken and egg argument: Were heavier kids more likely to have lower blood levels of vitamin D as the study progressed due to the tendency of this fat-soluble vitamin to be stored in body fat rather than circulating around in the bloodstream? Or did the vitamin D deficiency actually cause the increase in body fat? Only more research studies with different designs will be able to clear up this question for sure.
Previous studies suggest that vitamin D may influence fat mass accumulation through its influence on calcium regulation within the cells. Since calcium has been shown to influence the breakdown of fat cells and storage of fat within these cells, it is thought that vitamin D might influence Body Mass Index (BMI) and metabolism via this mechanism. Other research suggests vitamin D status in kids can affect risk of conditions as variable as asthma attacks to the seasonal flu.
Here in the U.S., the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a daily intake of 400 IU of vitamin D for infants, children and teens. Since this important nutrient is not widely available in the food supply, many experts suggest using dietary supplements to meet vitamin D needs. Nonetheless, some runescape accounts food sources of vitamin D include 

High Cholesterol Levels Cause Depression for the Elderly

Researchers already know runescape gold that high cholesterol levels are a big risk factor for heart disease and that heart disease is a serious risk factor for depression in the elderly. A study from French researchers now shows new links between cholesterol levels and depression later in life; it also shows there are gender differences and genetic factors that haven’t been taken into account in previous studies.
Researchers followed nearly 1,800 men and women 65 years of age and older, beginning with an assessment of participants’ cholesterol levels and related genotypes. This study enhances a number of previously published related studies by proving that sex differences and genetic susceptibility play major roles in the relationship between cholesterol levels and depression in men and women over 65.
Total cholesterol is comprised of both”bad” cholesterol (LDL) and “good” cholesterol (HDL). Among male study participants, low levels of bad cholesterol were significantly associated with an increased risk of depression. In women, an increased risk of depression was seen with a low level of good cholesterol. Furthermore, female ffxiv power leveling participants who had no history of stroke or heart attack were at even higher risk for depression than those with a history of such health issues.
Of five genes linked to depression, two are associated with cholesterol and strongly determine the development of major depression. Furthermore, the researchers found that for men, in addition to the risks associated with high cholesterol levels, they may be more vulnerable to developing depression based on the makeup of their genes.
For women, depression later in life was most strongly linked with high total cholesterol, high LDL-cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol and high triglycerides. Having a low level of the “good” HDL-cholesterol is a major risk factor for vascular disease and women are especially runescape money vulnerable to these effects.
Essentially, the researchers discovered that cholesterol profiles are major factors in the development of depression in elderly women, while, for elderly men, their genetic vulnerability is the major factor. A clearer definition of “normal” lipid levels is also important. While physicians and nutritionists recommend that those over 65 years of age meet the lower threshold for LDL-cholesterol, male study participants with especially low levels of LDL-cholesterol had double the risk of developing depression, and the risk was six-fold if these men had high genetic vulnerability.
These results raise important questions related to depression.  Can high cholesterol management help decrease the incidence and prevalence of depression in the elderly? Should physicians use different strategies to deal with depression in elderly men and women, given the gender differences found in this new research? Further research will be necessary to find answers, but it gives us one more reason to eat right runescape accounts and watch our cholesterol carefully.

5 Things To Consider When Buying Men's Watches

A watch is an important ffxiv power leveling accessory that is owned by most men. Apart from enhancing a person's outfit, watches helps keep track of time that makes it a definite must-have accessory. If you are planning to buy a men's watch in India, here are some things that you need to consider.
1. Lifestyle - if you like having variety, then it is important that you have different watches for both office and play. When buying a dressier watch, you must make sure that you are choosing something that is classic and something that will be long-lasting. Technical watches like those worn by sporty people are less expensive and since they are less stylish, they can be purchased along with a dressier watch for suitable occasions. When buying watches, you must have a look at the different features that it comes with. If you are buying the watch for formal occasions, parties and for office use, you must make sure that they do not have features such as a rubber strap, night vision, distance runescape gold and altitude calculator, compass, etc.
2. The Bracelet - stainless steel is a popular choice when compared to leather and they are also more durable. Watches that come with a stainless steel bracelet are suitable for a number of occasions including business meetings, parties, office work and for casual use as well. Quality watches are not only versatile, but they are waterproof as well and you have the option of choosing between gold and silver bracelets.
3. The Face - watches come in a range runescape money of sizes and it is important to choose a size that is appropriate for your wrist. If you are huge, you can consider buying watch that has larger face. Wearing standard size watch can make bigger men look as if they are wearing ladies watch. So it is really important to choose the size that will go well with your wrist size and your personality.
4. Water Resistance - watches that come with this feature is a great choice because if you forget to take your watch off while having shower or if you happen to get caught in the rain someday, you will not have to worry about your watch.
5. Color of the Face - always choose watches that you know will blend well in a formal and business setting if you are trying to build a classic wardrobe.
These are some of the essential things that you need to consider runescape accounts when buying men's watches India.

After latest rehab, more uncertainty for Lohan

There were conflicting reports Monday runescape gold about whether the 24-year-old actress was released from the Betty Ford rehab center near Palm Springs, the latest bout of uncertainty for Lohan.
TMZ reported that Lohan was still taking sobriety classes at the center and would come back to Los Angeles on Tuesday, though E! insisted that she had departed the facility, citing Lohan's mother, Dina, who called it "a great day."
Lohan herself remained silent on Twitter on Monday. Messages for Lohan's attorney, Shawn Chapman Holley, were not immediately returned. A spokesman for Betty Ford said the facility does not comment on its patients.
Lohan's father, Michael, was also mum on whether Lohan was actually leaving rehab Monday.
"I'm not going to say it's today, but it's a very controlled move," he said during an interview Monday morning on CBS' "The Early Show."
"She needs all the right elements in place when she gets out ... she's being ffxiv power leveling very patient about it," he added. "I'm so proud of where she is now, and I don't want that to falter."
Lohan has been receiving treatment at Betty Ford, about 120 miles east of Los Angeles, since late September. A judge overseeing her probation for her 3 1/2 year-old drunk driving case required Lohan to remain at the rehab center until Monday.
Whether she's in or out, Lohan faces an uncertain career and looming legal issues. For months, she's been haunted by her inability, or unwillingness, to shake the drunken driving case that resulted in Lohan's two separate trips to rehab and jail in 2010.
And now she also remains under runescape money investigation for alleged misdemeanor battery on a Betty Ford worker and needs to satisfy a criminal judge that she's been in compliance with her probation terms during her stint at the center.
Still, experts say Lohan has a good shot at recovery. Provided, of course, that she wants it, changes her party girl lifestyle and remains in continued therapy.
If a New Year's Day message posted on her Twitter account is any indication, the "Mean Girls" star seems ready to do just that. "Today is the first day of the rest of my life," it said. '"The future depends on what we do in the present.' -Mahatma Gandhi... One runescape accounts step at a time..."

The secret is to think you're beautiful just the way you are right now

There’s nothing like the first week of the buy ffxiv gil new year to start a diet and exercise regime, but if your motivation is disgust at the size of your waistband, you could be setting yourself up to fail.
Successful slimming, according to Lisa Jackson, is all about banishing negativity and concentrating on loving everything you possibly can about yourself — even the Christmas excess.
In her new book, Adore Yourself Slim, she sets out a sensible eating and exercise plan packed with clever tips to ensure weight loss is steady and effective.
But the real twist that makes her plan promise to work where so many others fail, she insists, is her emphasis on getting yourself in the right frame of mind before you start.
Here, she explains how you can:
PRE-DIET PREPARTION
Before you start on any diet, make sure you feel really good about yourself. If you don’t adore yourself for the person you are before you lose weight, you’re not going to be able to do so when you’re slim.
So sit down and write a list of the ten things you most love about yourself — whether it’s runescape gold the way you laugh, your generous nature or the way you always say ‘Thank you’ when you get off a bus.
Now write down ten things other people adore about you — all the things your friends, family and colleagues might have mentioned (feel free to prompt them). Do they think you’re loyal? A sassy dresser? Witty? A good cook?.
This should give you a boost. Keep these lists safe and bring them out if a ‘What’s the point?’ day should strike.
ADORE YOUR BODY
When you’re slimming it’s easy to get fixated on the body parts you dislike, rather than making time to appreciate those for which you should be grateful. But for any diet to work, you need to fall in love with your body — the one you’ve got right now — before you start.
Simply take a good look at your body and write down a description of the bits you love (such as: ‘I love my hair, because it’s glossy’). Now, as you move through your weight loss plan, whenever you feel discouraged, take out this list and remind yourself of everything you love about your body.
Your mind is like a DVD player and you can choose which disc to play. If you find yourself watching a DVD that depicts your frustration, your list should help you chose a runescape money different one
SET YOUR SLIMMING GOALS
Find a quiet place where you are unlikely to be disturbed and make yourself comfortable. Relax.
Now focus all your attention on the reasons why you want to lose weight. Think about how you’ll feel when you’re slimmer, what you’ll look like, what outfits you’ll wear and the activities you’ll be participating in.
Draw up a list of your short-term goals (to buy gorgeous new clothes for the summer, for example), medium-term goals (to look better at 40 than you did at 25) and the lifelong reasons why you’d like to be slimmer and healthier (to look good and feel great).
Now that you know why you want to be slim, choose the rewards that will help spur you on to achieving those goals:
Promise yourself daily treats for sticking to the program (an invigorating body scrub, fake tan or pedicure).
Promise yourself weight-loss rewards for every time there’s a drop on the scales (a massage, facial, new lipstick or new outfit — in a smaller size).
Promise yourself something spectacular when you reach your target weight.
BOOST YOUR SELF BELIEF
The road to weight loss has its ups and downs, but you’ll sail through if you can keep your self-belief high. Super-charge it before you start by incorporating the following tricks into your life:
Spend the first precious minute runescape accounts of every day praising yourself. That way, even if no one else does (though they will, once the weight starts falling off), it matters less.
Stop striving to be perfect — you don’t have to do everything right in order to love yourself and for others to love you. Instead of berating yourself if things don’t go to plan (the chocolate biscuit that jumped into your mouth, the day without exercise), start practising a bit of unconditional self-acceptance.
Get in touch with your body — show it how much you adore it (rolls and all) by lavishing it with care and attention. Treat yourself to a scented body lotion and massage it in after a shower as a way of saying thank you for what your body does (carries you around, allows you to enjoy all the wonderful things life has to offer), not just for the way it looks.
Banish evil thoughts — most women are plagued by a negative inner voice, belittling, sneering and criticising everything they do. But every time you catch yourself thinking something unhelpful (such as ‘I’ll always be overweight’), just imagine a giant STOP sign in front of your face. Then consciously turn that thought into a positive (‘Every day in every way I’m becoming slimmer and fitter’).
Act like a Girl Guide — it’s far easier to believe you are a good person if you behave like one, so start committing acts of kindness and get in the habit of doing a daily good deed.
Be grateful — every time you brush your teeth at night think of three things you’re happy to be (funny, determined, enthusiastic), three things you’ve done well that day (not lost your temper with the children, cooked a healthy meal, made others feel good about themselves) and three things you’re grateful to have (your health, a loving partner, a comfy bed).
Fake it to make it — think of the most confident and successful person you know and analyse how they dress, look and behave, and then ffxiv power leveling start copying them. 

The year's most outrageous outfits

From gowns made of meat runescape gold and trash bags to jumpsuits made of practically nothing at all, see the looks that got us buzzing in 2010.
LADY GAGA'S MEAT DRESS
How many people can say that their red carpet look is being archived as beef jerky? The ever-outrageous singer picked up her Moonman trophies at the VMAs in a custom dress made of fresh meat to underscore the importance of human rights.
KE$HA'S GARBAGE BAG DRESS
The singer has explained her style as being "a celebration of being broke" but she took her trash- inspired outfits to the limit at the MTV Video Music Awards with a dress made from garbage runescape money bags.
KATY PERRY'S LIGHT-UP GOWN
The singer said she wanted to "lighten things up" at the Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala in her glowing LED lights gown designed by British designers CuteCircuit.
RIHANNA'S MIX 'N' MATCH
We can probably agree that the gorgeous singer is indeed the "only girl in the world" who could carry off a riotous mix of prints and patterns over skin-colored biker shorts.
LEIGHTON MEESTER'S PEEKABOO ONESIE
The often-daring actress runescape accounts pushed the boundaries in her sheer lace Marchesa jumpsuit, which offered a flash of her toned bootie from the back.
TAYLOR MOMSEN'S LUCITE HEELS
The 17-year-old has embraced her rock-star persona as frontwoman of The Pretty Reckless, but her Lucite heels that took in cash tips raised more than a few worried eyebrows.
CHRISTINA AGUILERA'S FLASHING HEART
The singer isn't known for subtlety in her stage costumes, but some felt that the strategically-placed light-up heart on her crystal bodysuit at the MTV Movie Awards went just a buy ffxiv gil little too far.
 

Blue Valentine a dreary look at a decayed marriage

"Blue Valentine" is a black-sympathy card to a runescape money marriage on the rocks.
The Weinstein Co. awards contender, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams as an ill-starred young couple, opened Wednesday in the wake of a ratings hubbub over a bout of drunken, hotel-room sex. The studio successfully appealed the restrictive "NC-17" tag, receiving a softer "R" instead.
The film will generate some initial interest based on the aforementioned elements and glowing reviews, but the grinding regurgitation of the dissolution -- we're sick of this couple long before the film is over -- will stimulate viewers to file (out) for an annulment midway  through.
"Blue Valentine's" best prospects may be on DVD, targeting Cassavetes admirers, and buy ffxiv gil Europeans who are stimulated by the aesthetics of hand-held cinema over-punctuated with close-ups.
In this done-love story of Dean (Gosling) and Cindy (Williams), director/co-writer Derek Cianfrance intercuts the relationship: He shows it in is flat last days, while flashing back to its puppy-love beginnings. In essence, Dean and Cindy now hardly recognize the person they once married: Dean is balding, lazy and combative, while Cindy is frustrated that she gave up on her intellectual potential by getting pregnant.
Cianfrance further counterpoints the drastic differences by the production aesthetics. The flirty-early days are enlivened by the bounce of a hand-held camera and a runescape accounts vibrant visual pallet, while the death-gurgle days are hardened by a unrelenting succession of close-ups and dim lighting. Ultimately, the heavy-handed and annoyingly obvious aesthetic wears thin.
Further enervating the story's potency is the narrative redundancy. Several scenes could be cut without sacrificing the film's acute, clinical depictions.
Fortunately, the performances are fleshed out and telling. Gosling layers his character's charm with an eruptive and credible anger. In his down-spiraling antics and tantrums, he is understandable and sympathetic. Williams stirs her performance splendidly: Her contained actions powerfully reveal the despair and hopelessness of a runescape gold woman who was once a vibrant bride.

Simple Diets That Work for Busy People

There are a lot of problems ffxiv gil in the western world these days regarding the health of the general population. One particular group of individuals that seem to forget the basics of healthy living and consequently are the people who seem to be most affected are businessmen. This is because this group of people, especially the ones who work at all throughout the week without ever resting properly, could actually severely damage their bodies. You might think that you are still young and everything is fine but there will be a time when your body will suddenly fail to support itself due to fatigue.
However, with the threat of closure and redundancy hanging over people heads these days, more and more people are working harder and longer to either earn extra cash or fighting harder than ever to complete business deals without too much thought as to what they will be eating later in the day. However, the day will come when you just can't seem to "get it together" and you will most probably "call in sick" because your body is also weak to perform as it should. You will then need to regain your strength by eating the right food and resting on time. The point is, it's not a matter of whether your body can handle the pressure or not, but it's how you take care of it to avoid any threats runescape gold  to your health. Remember that rest is an essential part of your daily life, and if you go on with your day having an insufficient rest you will definitely have health problems in the distant future, if not some day soon.
Another serious health problem related to having a busy career is being overweight. What with having to eat in the car, or while you are typing at the office computer, being stuck in a meeting, or commuting back and forth to work and whatever else it takes, there is little to no time left for you to be able to engage in physical activities such as sports. The advancement of modern technology like the internet and the computer can be partially blamed for this. This is because the disadvantage of having technology by your side is that you tend to be lazy in the long run, which results in a lack of physical activity that your body needs.
Don't worry though for there is a solution to this problem such as simple diets that work. It may be true that it is quite hard to find real diets that work nowadays with all runescape money those scams out there so I will be sharing a diet that you can do all by yourself with no strings attached
One of the best diets that work is the vegetarian diet. The name might be a little misleading so to clear things up. You can still eat meat and other kinds of food not related to vegetables. However, you will be mostly consuming fruits and vegetables in this diet. Of course, you will also have to control your eating habits and avoid junk food and sweets. The great thing about this diet is that you will be able to lose weight while strengthening your immune system. This is because fruits and vegetables are naturally low in calories and sugars yet high in nutrients and vitamins needed by your body. That is why the vegetarian diet is perfect, especially for those businessmen who lack energy, rest and nutrition.
Although this type of diet is effective, it is important to keep in mind that its benefits would only take effect if you make sure that you maintain the diet. Otherwise, everything would be useless if it is not runescape accounts done properly.
 

Could Eating Peanuts While Pregnant Cause Allergies?

For decades, experts have gone back ffxiv power leveling and forth on whether infant feeding practices can affect the risk of a child developing food allergies, and despite a growing body of research, definitive guidelines remain elusive. Even less evidence is available to address a related question: can a woman’s diet during pregnancy play a role in her child’s food allergy risk? Recently, an observational study was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, seeking to shed some light on this very question.
In this study, the research team was specifically interested in whether a mother’s consumption of peanuts during pregnancy might influence her child’s risk of developing peanut allergy. They looked at 503 infants (average age 9 months) who already had a convincing history of food allergy to either eggs or milk. Importantly, the runescape gold  subjects were not a random sample, but rather a group that would be considered “high risk” for food allergy, both because the infants already demonstrated signs of allergy to at least one food, and because the majority of their parents had a history of allergic disease (67% of moms and 60% of dads), itself a risk factor for developing food allergy.
Blood samples were drawn from the infants to test for the presence of “IgE” antibodies to peanuts above a threshold level that the researchers assumed would indicate a high risk (70%) of developing peanut allergy, based on studies of older children. At this time, there is no data to validate whether this threshold is equally predictive of peanut allergy risk in infants. They also recorded dietary patterns of the mothers during pregnancy, and divided them into groups based on frequency of peanut consumption: infrequent (less than twice per week) and frequent (twice per week or more).
The analysis revealed that the infants born to runescape money moms who ate peanuts frequently during pregnancy were about 3 times more likely to have elevated levels of peanut antibodies compared to infants of moms who ate peanuts infrequently during pregnancy. Because the presence of elevated antibody levels is not the same as a confirmed peanut allergy, the authors caution that following these children over time is the only way to know whether these results truly suggest a relationship between higher peanut consumption during pregnancy and a higher risk of developing an actual peanut allergy. The presence of elevated blood levels of peanut antibodies was even higher among infants of moms who frequently ate peanuts while pregnant but were never breastfed compared to those who were breastfed.
It would be premature to draw any sweeping conclusions for the general population of pregnant women, given that (1) the subject pool was one predisposed to developing peanut allergy, and (2) the study did not actually measure the development of a confirmed, clinical peanut allergy. Indeed, a previous study that looked at women and children from the general population (not a specifically high-risk group) found no association between maternal runescape accounts peanut consumption in pregnancy and the risk of having a clinically-verified peanut allergy in her children, though the analysis was limited to a subset of only 48 children.
Nonetheless, this new research raises important questions about whether pregnant women who might be considered high risk for having food-allergic children based on their own or their partners’ history of allergic disease could protect their unborn children from developing peanut allergy by avoiding peanuts during pregnancy. The controversy continues, and until more research is available to shed light on this vexing question, expert authorities offer no guidelines in either direction on maternal diet for the buy ffxiv gil prevention of food allergy in children.
 

Is Optimism Good For You?

Several studies suggest optimists live runescape accounts longer and enjoy better health than pessimists. The real mystery is why.
But is it optimism that makes people healthy, or do healthy people understandably have a brighter outlook?
To get a better handle on things, scientists have adjusted their analyses in recent years to account for pre-existing medical conditions. Studies that made these adjustments found that existing illnesses don't negate the benefits of optimism, according to the May 2008 issue of Harvard Men’s Health Watch.
In one example of how humans keep their spirits up no matter what, researchers runescape gold  found older people suffering various illnesses still said they thought they were aging well. Another study found that the sick and disabled don't wallow in misery as is commonly believed.
Optimism, another study found, triggers activity in the same brain area that is known to malfunction among the depressed.
But why is optimism so beneficial?
Perhaps optimists enjoy better health and longer lives because they lead healthier lifestyles, build stronger social support networks, and get better medical care, the Health Watch article suggests.
Also, stress is known to kill, releasing buy ffxiv gil hormones that cause deterioration of everything from your gums to your heart. Optimists might have lower levels of stress hormones.
Heredity could play a role, too. It is possible that genes predispose some people to optimism, and that the same genes affect health and longevity.
More study is needed, the Health Watch article contends, because it’s likely runescape money that multiple mechanisms are involved.

'Gulliver's Travels' relies too much on effects

Increasingly, studios are slapping runescape accounts 3D on movies not to add entertainment value but to conceal a lack of dimension in a movie's story or characters. While not the worst in recent 3D films, "Gulliver's Travels" is more gimmicky than a crackling good yarn.
The film feels rushed and slight at every point. Thanks to inspired clowning by Jack Black and a solid cast that breathes life into an inert story, the movie works as a moderately entertaining children's movie. Opening domestically on Christmas Day via Fox, "Gulliver's Travels" should enjoy a brief burst of box-office activity.
The great irony about Jonathan Swift's 1726 novel, "Gulliver's Travels," is that librarians and schoolteachers have forever relegated to the shelves of children's books what is, in fact, a scathing moral satire of the corrupt English society of his time and mankind's proclivity for irrationality and vice over common sense and virtue. (Mark Twain's equally satiric, "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," suffers a similar fate.) There is something about the comical idea of a normal-sized human striding through a kingdom of tiny people -- an image derived entirely from Gulliver's first voyage to Lilliput -- that consigns his literary masterpiece to the world of elves, trolls and fairy princesses.
The latest version, which comes from several filmmakers with backgrounds in animation, casts Black as a shy, ambition-challenged mailroom clerk for a New York newspaper. This opening setting is runescape money a nostalgic one, mind you, as its busy newsroom is crowded with employed journalists, and a travel editor occupies an office fit for a managing editor.
Black's Gulliver has a long-standing crush on that travel editor (Amanda Peet) but can never bring himself to ask her out. Goaded by a colleague into approaching her, he winds up not with a date but with a travel assignment.
That takes him to the Bermuda Triangle, where a storm washes him into an inter-dimensional portal that carries him to Lilliput, where remnants of Swift's tale take over. The kingdom is made to look somewhat like 18th century England and features mostly British actors.
The tiny Lilliputians struggle to imprison this "giant," but when he escapes, he performs heroic deeds that save the people. Among these displays of bravery, one actually borrowed from the original story, is the day when he puts out a fire in the royal palace by urinating on the flames.
Emboldened by his newly acquired size, Gulliver now exaggerates his past, drawing on film culture to cast himself as the victorious hero of stories ranging from Star Wars to Titanic. This kernel of an idea -- a small man suddenly talking big -- never develops beyond a few gags runescape gold involving contemporary movies, however. In the tiresome manner of most studio-generated comedies, its protagonist must undergo a trajectory that confronts him with his character flaws and improves his defective personality.
Gulliver also inserts himself into a romantic triangle featuring the island's princess (Emily Blunt), her military suitor (Chris O'Dowd) and the commoner (Jason Segel) who really loves her. Here again a conspicuous lack of imagination finds director Rob Letterman ("Shark Tale," "Monsters vs. Aliens") and writers Joe Stillman ("Shrek," "Shrek 2") and Nicholas Stoller ("Forgetting Sarah Marshall") pillaging ideas from Cyrano de Bergerac to "Transformers," "Iron Man" and even Black's "School of Rock."
When Peet's character somehow turns up in Lilliput -- that's one busy inter-dimensional portal -- the movie truly loses its mooring. There is even a sequence, borrowing loosely from Gulliver's second voyage to ff14 gil Brobdingnag, where Black, a tiny friend and a giant child all occupy the same frame in a CGI shootout. Any sense of fun slowly drains away as the movie insists on highlighting effects over character and story.
Black does his best to keep you entertained, and the rest of the cast, which includes a dignified Billy Connolly and an aloof Catherine Tate as Lilliput's king and queen, keep tongues firmly planted in cheeks as they maneuver around the CG effects. Blunt amusingly spoofs some of her serious films, such as "The Young Victoria," while O'Dowd and Segel achieve a farcical rivalry.
The production is smooth given how it's pieced together from so many elements. But there is something cheesy about the overlit kingdom of six-inch humans and the way Black prances around with no thought for the countless creatures he must be trampling ffxiv power leveling to death.
 

A Guide to Effective Wrinkle Removal

Wrinkle is a mark that ffxiv power leveling signifies one's chronological advancement. No one can stop oneself from getting older. This is why if one cannot stop getting older, then at least, one can prevent looking older. To help prevent early aging, anti wrinkle cream is created to erase that old age mark.
Anti Wrinkle Cream Components
Several brands of anti wrinkle cream have come out in the market since the quest of rejuvenating started. However, to be assured that the product that you use is really effective in wrinkle removal, you should be aware of the essential ingredients every anti wrinkle cream must have.
Hydroxy Acid. Hydroxy acid helps remove the upper layer of dead, old skin and invigorates the development of smooth and new skin. However, you must use sunscreen for at least one week after runescape gold application. This is because of its vulnerability to sun damage.
Retinol. As an antioxidant, retinol neutralizes free radicals such as unstable oxygen molecules that cause wrinkles. Vitamin A derivatives, however, must be avoided by pregnant women.
Copper Peptides. Copper peptides improve the healing of wound. Other plus points would be the stimulation of collagen production and the enhancement of antioxidant motions.
Coenzyme Q10. Studies show that runescape accounts applying Coenzyme Q10 before being exposed to the sun has significant positive effect in protecting against sun damage.
Kinetin. By encouraging collagen production, retaining skin moisture and being a potent antioxidant, kinetin may help decrease wrinkles.
Tea Extract. Tea extract help lessen wrinkles through its anti-inflammatory and runescape money antioxidant properties.

"Rabbit Hole" director inspired by personal tragedies

John Cameron Mitchell, the man ffxiv power leveling behind the campy rock 'n' roll musical-turned-feature "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" and the sexually laced ensemble drama "Shortbus," received a lot of lucrative offers following his successes -- including a role in an "X-Men" film and directing a Target commercial campaign.
But he declined most of them in favor of developing his own projects and decided to hold out for something extra special. That came in the form of the adaptation of David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway play "Rabbit Hole." After Sam Raimi dropped out, producer-star Nicole Kidman called Mitchell with an offer to be a director for hire.
Mitchell had a couple of concerns. He had never shot a film he did not pen himself, and he would not have the luxury of complete creative control the way he had previously. However, the drama about a grieving married couple (Kidman and Aaron Eckhart) learning to live eight months after the death of their 4-year-old son deeply affected Mitchell. When Mitchell was 14, his younger brother Samuel died of a heart problem.
"Samuel was an event that defined our family. That happened in 1976 when I was in Kansas, and the woman who inspired Hedwig was his babysitter," recalls Mitchell, who won best director at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival for "Hedwig" and scored a Golden Globe nod for his performance in the title role.
"I think I lost my faith in the kind of God that I was taught existed when my brother died. It kind of didn't make sense after that. I dedicate the film to him and to my boyfriend who passed away in 2004. ('Rabbit Hole') has runescape gold  a lot of resonances in my life."
The end result is a beautiful, touching film that is, surprisingly, much more uplifting than depressing. As the steely and sensitive Becca, Kidman gives her finest performance since "To Die For," the actress looking all 43 years of her age.
BACK STAGE: YOU'VE SAID IN A FEW INTERVIEWS THAT EACH OF YOUR THREE FILMS HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME UNDERLYING THEME -- ISOLATED PEOPLE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO BE ALONE. WHAT IS IT
ABOUT ISOLATION THAT SPEAKS TO YOU?
John Cameron Mitchell: I was an Army brat, so I was always the new guy in town. You find a way to fit in quickly but you never feel like you really belong. Until I got to New York, I didn't really know what it meant to have a friend for more than a couple years, so you just feel isolated. You feel self-sufficient too, but you have to remind yourself that you're not alone. And also being gay, at the time that I was growing up it had to be a secret thing, so that kind of makes you feel more like an outsider. So I'm drawn to outsider characters.
BACK STAGE: WHAT WAS THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF MAKING THIS FILM?
Mitchell: It was challenging not to be fully in control, creatively, because "Shortbus" and "Hedwig" I was very lucky to pretty much do it my way and finish it my way. I didn't have final say. It was basically two producers and me who triangulated the film, but I think that it wouldn't have been runescape money as good a film without them. They forced me to exhaust all possibilities to make it better even though the amount of time it would take for everybody to approve was frustrating. The bigger the budget, the more trouble there is.
BACK STAGE: I READ THAT, ASIDE FROM A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH AN UNNAMED FEMALE STAR DROPPING FROM ONE OF YOUR PROJECTS, YOU HAVE NEVER WORKED WITH A STAR BEFORE. DID YOU ACTUALLY CALL
SEVERAL DIRECTORS BEFOREHAND WHO HAD WORKED WITH KIDMAN?
Mitchell: I do that with everybody, with all films. Investors, producers, actors -- a lot of people don't and they have a terrible experience with someone. It's part of your responsibility to find out how it is to work with someone if you can. Certainly some people have better chemistry than others, but you get as much information as you can because I'm too old and life is too short to work with an asshole no matter how good they are; there's always someone who's as good who's a nicer person. I did do my research (on Kidman) and it bore itself out. I was very happy. I loved Nicole in "Dogville" (with whose director, Lars Von Trier, she had a three-hour screaming match during filming.)
BACK STAGE: I KNOW KIDMAN WAS ATTACHED FIRST AND SHE ASKED ECKHART TO PLAY HER HUSBAND. BUT WERE THERE ANY INTERESTING STORIES BEHIND CASTING ANY OF THE REST OF THE PARTS?
Mitchell: We offered the role to Dianne (Wiest). She was our first runescape accounts choice. The other three main characters -- Izzy (Tammy Blanchard), Jason (Miles Teller), and Gabby (Sandra Oh) were exhaustive auditions actually. A lot of people wanted to be part of it because of the reputation of the play and Nicole and everything. So I just said straight out that everybody has to audition who wants to be considered for those roles. Sometimes in Hollywood, agents say, "My client doesn't audition," and I just thought it'd be easier to have everybody audition so no one's feelings were hurt.
BACK STAGE: WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHILE CASTING? WHAT TYPES OF ACTORS EXCITE YOU?
Mitchell: It's the same as anybody -- people who can take direction, people who have a quality that's close to the character, and people who can surprise you. I know what it's like to audition, so it's very important to me that everybody who auditions, even if I know right off that they're not right for it, has a good experience. So I'll never just have someone do one pass at it and say, "Thank you." I would always give some direction, so that they feel good that they did the best they could.
If there's anything I know about directing, it's how to make actors comfortable. It's where I started and it's what I know and it's what I love. My favorite directors are actors' directors. I can appreciate (directors like Robert) Bresson and (Michelangelo) Antonioni but, as filmmakers, acting is not their priority, so you often have kind of bad actors in those movies or just blank, model-like people, which doesn't interest me. I like when the actors are really partners and I want them to be excited and I want them to surprise ffxiv gil me. I don't want them to be puzzle pieces.

The Next Frontier for Younger Looking Skin

When it comes to younger ffxiv power leveling looking skin, many people look to dramatic solutions like Botox? or plastic surgery, or try unproven topical creams that make dramatic claims.
However, ask any dermatologist and they will tell you one of the best ways to slow the effects on aging on your skin lies in just providing the right nutrition to your skin. Wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin are caused by sun, pollution and the breakdown of collagen in your skin. One of the best things we can do for our skin is to give it powerful anti-oxidants to fight the effects of free radicals caused by sun and pollution.
Vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid, is one of the most powerful anti-runescape gold  oxidants. You may have heard that Vitamin C can strengthen your immune system. But ascorbic acid has another major benefit: healthier skin. Many sun protection products already use ascorbic acid to counter the harmful effects of UVA exposure.
Studies show that applying the right product containing ascorbic acid to the skin can help to repair the damage that occurs as the skin ages, reducing the number of visible fine lines and wrinkles. Ascorbic acid also stimulates your body's production of collagen, the substance that keeps your skin strong and elastic. As we age our skin naturally loses collagen. The result: wrinkles, fine runescape money lines and crows feet.
The problem with using topical absorbic acid is that when exposed to air it oxidizes which greatly reduces its effectiveness.
However a new product from SuperFoodsRx has apparently solved this problem. SFRx Complex Age Defying Serum uses a new patented formulation of vitamin C that maintains its potency and provides your skin with the full benefits of vitamin C infusion. It is also formulated with high concentrations of other powerful antioxidants for maximum effectiveness.
The results are a testament to the power of nutrition when it comes to turning back the clock on wrinkles and fine lines.
Over 90% of people in a test study saw a significant improvement in the appearance runescape accounts of their fine lines and wrinkles when using SFRx Complex.

Just Another Year, or the End of the World?

For many people, the week leading up runescape gold to Christmas is a blur of last-minute holiday shopping, parties, and quality time with loved ones. But for some in 2012, it will signify the end of the world—literally. On December 21 of that year, say these doomsday prophets, our planet will undergo mass destruction that will cause its operations to cease forevermore.
Apocalyptic predictions have existed on the fringes of popular culture for centuries: some ancient Romans believed that the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in the year 79 foretold cataclysmic events; Pat Robertson preached that Jesus would return to Earth for the Rapture in the 1980s and trap unbelievers (and Satan) in a lake of fire; in 1997, members of the Heaven’s Gate cult committed mass suicide, based on the idea that humanity was about to perish and that a UFO hooked to the then-nearby comet Hale-Bopp would rescue the group from certain ruin. (And the list goes on and on—who can forget Y2K?) With 2012 just two years away, how did this particular end-of-the-world concept originate, who’s espousing it now, and just how afraid should we be?
The History
According to NASA’s Ask an Astrobiologist website, the theory that the world will end in December 2012 is a conflation of two ideas, one derived from the Sumerians, the other from the Maya. An author named Zecharia Sitchin claims to have translated documents describing the Sumerians’ discovery of a planet called Nibiru runescape money that orbited the sun every 3,600 years. Then psychic and self-proclaimed alien channeler Nancy Lieder took up the cause, reporting that she had received word from aliens that Planet Earth was in danger of being attacked by Nibiru in May 2003. When that month came and went without incident, the time frame was revised to December 2012.
Meanwhile, the ancient Maya, who reached their cultural apex between 250 and 900 in Mexico and Central America and who were renowned for their astronomy skills, created an elaborate time-keeping system and circular calendar called the Long Count. Based on the Maya’s calculations, December 12, 2012, is a crucial date on which the current era of the calendar, which began on August 11, 3114 BC, and extends 1,872,000 days, will terminate and a new era will dawn to renew the earth. Perhaps it’s no coincidence, then, that Sitchin and Lieder (or the legions of followers they amassed) hitched their wagon to this particular day when it came time to revise their own doomsday timetable.
The Believers
On NASA’s Ask an Astrobiologist website, senior scientist David Morrison stated that as of June 2009, Amazon.com was selling more than 175 books pertaining to 2012 apocalypse theories, and that believers were flocking to experts for answers. In November 2009, Morrison told National Geographic News that runescape accounts the NASA site had already received approximately one thousand questions related to the topic, many from people who were “genuinely frightened.” He was alarmed to report, “I’ve had two teenagers who were considering killing themselves, because they didn’t want to be around when the world ends. Two women in the last two weeks said they were contemplating killing their children and themselves so they wouldn’t have to suffer through the end of the world.”
Proponents of 2012 disaster hypotheses have widely varying visions—often characterized by hysteria surrounding scientific phenomena—of what occurrences, exactly, the end of the world will entail. Some, including the creators of the cinematic saga 2012 (released in 2009), foresee a planetary “pole shift,” in which the earth’s crust and mantle will disengage from its liquid outer core, thus causing monumental disruption to landmasses’ current arrangement and giving rise to all manner of natural disasters. Others, writing for ultra-alarmist websites, warn of life-ending catastrophes, such as the sun’s producing deadly solar flares that incinerate earthlings where they stand, or Nibiru’s colliding directly with Earth in a massive explosion. But more often than not, these warnings are worded so nebulously that they’re difficult to comprehend, let alone heed. One example, from 2012Warning.com, reads as follows: “The 11 1/2 year solar flare cycle will peak on 2012 causing solar flares that can knock out power grids around the world. These solar flares in conjunction with the return of [Nibiru], will cause  devastation on the earth. The sun, earth, and milky way will align at the galactic equator, on December 21, 2012, the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, and the end of the Mayan calendar. This only happens every 25,800 years! For the first time in recorded history, our entire solar system will move BELOW the milky way galaxy. These combined cosmic events, will be the end of the world as we know it.”
The Facts
According to scientists at NASA and other, like-minded ff14 gil organizations, these fire-and-brimstone fantasies are easily explained away. Certainly, some of the facts at hand are valid; for example, the Maya did have a Long Count calendar, pole-shift theory does exist, and solar activity does wax and wane. None of these concepts is earth-shattering unto itself, however; it’s the extreme sensationalization of these ideas, coupled with their propagation by individuals who may be predisposed to paranoia or fixated on world-ending events, that continues to give rise to the current propagation of 2012 death-and-destruction forecasts. In short, as Morrison explains it, “ordinary astronomical phenomena are imbued with a sense of threat by people who already think the world is going to end.”
And what of the original foundations of the 2012 myth? They’re largely unfounded, say top astronomers, who roundly dismiss Zecharia Sitchin’s “evidence” to the contrary; Morrison asserts, “The claims that Nibiru is a planet and was known to the Sumerians are contradicted by scholars who (unlike Zecharia Sitchin) study and translate the written records of ancient Mesopotamia. Sumer was indeed a great civilization … [However, claims] that Sumerians had a sophisticated astronomy, or that they even had a god named Nibiru, are the product of Sitchin’s imagination.” As for the Mayan calendar, Morrison says, “Ancient calendars … cannot match the ability we have today to keep track of time, or the precision of the calendars currently in use. The main point, however, is that calendars, whether contemporary or ancient, cannot predict the future of our planet or warn of things to happen on a specific date such as 2012. I note that my desk calendar ends much sooner, on December 31, 2009, but I do not interpret this as a prediction of Armageddon. It is just the beginning of a new year.”
So, as we kick off what some fearmongers believe are the last couple years of life on Earth, rest assured that December 21, 2012, will most likely not be a day on which you will have to run from a global flood, become a human fireball, or be swallowed up by the Milky Way. Chances are, you’ll be doing the same things you may be planning for this year: sitting by the fire with your family, sampling the new holiday beans at your favorite coffee shop, or wrapping gifts to stack under the tree. Oh, and if that date rolls around and you haven’t written your annual letter to Santa yet, you should still be able to reach him at ffxiv power leveling the North Pole.
 

Alice Cooper, Darlene Love, Neil Diamond in Hall

"I thought about it runescape accounts ccasionally, but I kind of figured they'd get around to me at some point," he said in a phone interview.
That point came on Tuesday, as the 2011 class for the Cleveland hall was revealed. Diamond, whose hits include "Sweet Caroline," made the list, along with the Alice Cooper Band, New Orleans musician Dr. John, Darlene Love and singer-songwriter Tom Waits.
Piano man Leon Russell was honored with a musical excellence award, previously the sideman category. Executives Jac Holzman and Art Rupe were given the Ahmet Ertegun Awards.
It took three tries before Love, best known for hits such as "(Today I Met) The Boy I'm Gonna Marry" and her work with producer Phil Spector and the Blossoms, was approved for the hall. When reached on Tuesday, an enthusiastic Love said: "I can actually breathe."
"Finally it's done," she added. "It still hasn't hit me yet. I still have that nervous stomach, and I'm still excited."
The excitement will have to wait for some: Bon Jovi, nominated for the first time, was turned runescape money away from the hall, as was LL Cool J, the J. Geils Band, the Beastie Boys, Donna Summer and more.
Alice Cooper's name had been mentioned in conjunction with the Rock Hall for years, but the shock rocker hadn't been nominated until this year. Like Diamond, Cooper said he wasn't anxiously waiting.
"You know it crosses your mind, but then you think of all the guys who aren't in there, some of them before you, and you go, 'Wow.' ... You realize that it's a waiting game," he said in a phone interview. "I don't think you sit around holding your breath on it."
Cooper, a heavy metal rocker best known for his dark horror themes, said his band was responsible for bringing show business into rock 'n' roll.
"There was no spectacle in rock 'n' roll, and I think what we did was we kind of brought theater to rock 'n' roll," said Cooper, known for a goth look, heavy eyeliner and black shaggy hair. "It was sort of Cirque du Soleil before Cirque du Soleil. It was kind of a weird vaudeville that we did. But it all connected back to the lyrics. ... If we do a 10-hour rehearsal back then, nine hours was on the music, and runescape gold  one hour was on the theatrics."
Diamond was on the other end of the spectrum, a singer-songwriter whose first hit came in the form of a song he wrote for the Monkees, "I'm a Believer." His early hits in the 1960s included "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" and "Cherry Cherry."
"The music I was doing was not in vogue. ... I was like a lone voice out there with a guitar, and it was different than what was going on because it was the English invasion and I wasn't doing that," Diamond said. "I think I've had so many hits because what I was putting out and what I was writing was very different for what was being played on the radio."
He's kept producing relevant material through the decades; he released his latest album this fall. Diamond said he was gratified to be in the hall and said his first choice to induct him would be a fan. Of his induction, he joked: "I'm glad they did it before I'm dead."
Love said she thought two of her biggest boosters for the hall — Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's Stevie Van Zandt — would likely do the honors at the March 14 induction ceremony in New York City.
She was also happy for some of the other inductees, including Russell, who used to play on some of her sessions.
"This is going to be a helluva jam session," she quipped about the upcoming ffxiv power leveling festivities.The induction ceremony will be aired on Fuse.

Olivia Wilde transforms herself for "Tron: Legacy"

To play the female lead of runescape accounts Quorra in "Tron: Legacy," actress Olivia Wilde underwent the biggest physical transformation of her life.
The 26-year-old actress with a shapely body and cover model looks became, what she called, "a little warrior" by working with trainers who put her through rigorous workouts, including weight-training, cardio and martial arts training.
"I was ripped!," Wilde told Reuters. "Never been that way before; never will be again!"
Wilde is perhaps best known for her work on TV shows "The O.C.," which revolved a group of good-looking, wealthy Californians, and "House," where she portrayed a bisexual doctor. But in "Tron: Legacy," which debuts in U.S. theaters on Friday, she is suited up in all-black and lives in a futuristic world called the "Grid."
"It's interesting because I am drawn to those kick-ass roles," said Wilde. "I always knew that eventually I'd get to play a really great one. It didn't happen with Bond, but it happened with 'Tron.'"
Quorra is not unlike a butt-kicking Bond girl, which is ironic since only a few years back, it had come runescape money down to Wilde and French actress Eva Green to star as Vesper Lynd opposite Daniel Craig in 2006 James Bond movie, "Casino Royale."
"Tron: Legacy" stems from 1982 movie "Tron," which spawned an arcade game of the same name that featured some of the same characters in the film. The new movie is billed as a continuation of the old story, but with updated special effects for release in 3D.
Jeff Bridges reprises his role from the 1982 movie as Kevin Flynn, a technology visionary who helped create video games, but now is being held in a digitally-created virtual world from which he cannot escape.
WILDE GOES WILD
In the new film, Flynn's adult son Sam (Garrett Hedlund), is determined to find his father, who went missing when he was just a boy. Investigating the old Flynn's Arcade, where Kevin once worked, Sam is suddenly pulled into the digital grid where his father is trapped.
With the help of fearsome fighter Quorra, Kevin embarks on a journey across a digital landscape to find his father and get him back to the real world.
Until now Wilde, who was born in New York City runescape gold and is the daughter of journalists, has been best known for her TV roles, despite enjoying a smattering of mostly supporting roles in movies, such as "Alpha Dog" alongside Justin Timberlake."
She also appeared in small roles in the Judd Apatow-produced comedy "Year One," starring Jack Black, and in the recent thriller "The Next Three Days," which was written and directed by Paul Haggis and starred Russell Crowe.
But with big-budget "Tron: Legacy" and other major motion picture releases on the horizon, that may be about to change.
Next summer Wilde plays the female lead opposite Daniel Craig in sci-fi thriller "Cowboys & Aliens." She's currently shooting Apatow's comedy "The Change-Up" starring Ryan Reynolds, Jason Bateman and Leslie Mann, and has reunited with Timberlake on the futuristic sci-fi thriller "Now."
As Wilde finds herself in ever bigger roles, so too does Timberlake after the positive reviews and Oscar buzz he has earned in this year's "The Social Network." It's something the two, former co-stars discussed while shooting "Now."
"When we shot 'Alpha Dog,' we were both kind of new in the acting world. I was very inspired by his fearlessness on that movie and loved his performance so much. I never imagined I'd be in this position only a few years later, working with him again and in all of runescape money these big movies."

5 Things to beg your boss for this week

Unless you’re one of the nomads who has runescape gold broken free of every attachment to the office but an internet connection, this short talk from 37 Signals’ Jason Fried will resonate with you.
It’s great for managers to hear that they should minimize meetings, hire people they really trust to do great work, and work to empower instead of frustrate.
But what can you do as an employee to make a difference at your workplace? Request one of the following to start.
1. Extended lunches – You’re probably eating lunch at your desk these days so this will be a game-changer. Ask for a 2 hour lunch and make it a working lunch. Get out, stretch your legs, and settle into a quiet place for a solid hour of uninterrupted work time. You’ll kick yourself for not asking sooner!
2. Meeting agendas – If a meeting doesn’t have an agenda, you can argue that you won’t be able to prepare properly and won’t be able to bring your best contribution. In reality, agenda-less meetings runescape money tend to be a huge waste of time and using the “I want to give my best” argument is your quickest ticket back to productivity.
3. To be excused – If the portions of a conversation relevant to you have been covered in a meeting, excuse yourself. Being in-demand is a huge asset and so long as you’re gracious and apologetic, you’ll get away with murder so long as you’re outproducing the people who stay for entire meetings.
Note: Perhaps that’s the key to anything like this? If you’re making the requests but not following up with a boost in productivity, you’re just spoiling things for others. On the flipside, if you put the work in and set a precedent for a more flexible view of scheduling based on your results, that’s good for everybody.
4. For more work – If you’re getting runescape accounts more work done because of the changes you’ve made in your process, ask for more work. You’re ringing the cash register now!
5. For objective feedback – While being free of meetings and running around outside the office might improve your short-term productivity, make sure it doesn’t affect the long-term quality of your work. Especially for creative types, it’s important to get quality interaction with different perspectives and process-driven types who force you to think in new ways and try new things.
If you’re not getting face time at the office and chit-chatting at meetings, you’ll need to put the time in other places to stay on the same page with coworkers. Make sure your manager knows you care about making that happen and that you want her help and feedback on how you’re doing.
What else could you ask your boss for that I ff14 gil haven’t listed?

Master of farce and slapstick, Blake Edwards, dies

When Julie Andrews began ff14 gil writing her 2008 autobiography, "Home," her husband Blake Edwards had just one piece of advice: "Characters make your story."
In an up-and-down career that spanned writing, directing and producing nearly 50 films, Edwards, who died late Wednesday, cultivated more than his share of indelible characters: Peter Sellers' bumbling Inspector Clouseau of the "Pink Panther" movies, Dudley Moore's equally clueless George Webber from "10," Audrey Hepburn's high fashion wild child Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
He knew laughter and sadness, making alcoholism seem hilarious in "10" and desperate in "Days of Wine and Roses." But his strength was comedy, farce and slapstick that he captured in a visual style trained on silent comedies. It was, after all, in his blood.
Edwards' stepfather, Jack McEdwards (the family name), was an assistant director, and his stepfather's father, J. Gordon Edwards, was a pioneering director of silent films. Though born in Tulsa, Okla., Edwards was raised on movie sets. He was an extra and supporting actor before he was a filmmaker.
A child of Hollywood who made his home there, he would forever have a conflicted relationship with the industry he assailed, but to which he kept returning. He dropped in and out of favor, feuded with producers and famously satirized Hollywood in 1981's scathing "S.O.B."
"I was certainly getting back at some of the producers of my life," Edwards once runescape accounts remarked, "although I was a good deal less scathing than I could have been. The only way I got to make it was because of the huge success of `10,' and even then they tried to sabotage it."
But he also made movies that added to Hollywood's bottom line, particularly in the "Pink Panther" films.
In one of his last public appearances at a tribute from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in October, Edwards opened his remarks with fitting sarcasm: "Can I go now?"
When the academy gave him an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement in 2004, he accepted the award with a slapstick gag right out of his own movies: He careened across the stage in a wheelchair, snagging the statue from Jim Carrey and crashing into the set.
"That felt good," he said, dusting himself off.
Edwards, 88, died from complications of pneumonia at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif., after being hospitalized for about two weeks. He had knee problems, had undergone unsuccessful procedures and was "pretty much confined to a wheelchair for the last year-and-a-half or two," said publicist Gene Schwam, who knew him for 40 years.
At the time of his death, Edwards was working on two Broadway musicals, one based on the "Pink Panther" movies. The other, "Big Rosemary," was to be an original comedy set during Prohibition, Schwam said.
"He was the most unique man I have ever known-and he was my mate," Andrews said in a statement Thursday. "He will be missed beyond words, and will forever be in my heart."
A third-generation filmmaker, Edwards was praised for evoking classic performances from Sellers, Moore, Hepburn, Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick and Andrews, his runescape money wife of nearly half a century.
Steve Martin, who played Clouseau in the 2006 and 2009 "Pink Panther" productions, said Thursday that Edwards "was one of the people who made me love comedy."
Edwards directed and often wrote a wide variety of movies including "Days of Wine and Roses," a harrowing story of alcoholism; "The Great Race," a comedy-adventure that starred Lemmon, Tony Curtis and Natalie Wood; and "Victor/Victoria," his gender-bender musical comedy with Andrews.
Although many of Edwards' films were solid hits, he was nominated for Academy Awards only twice, in 1982 for writing the adapted screenplay of "Victor/Victoria" and in 1983 for co-writing "The Man Who Loved Women." Lemmon and Remick won Oscar nominations in 1962 for "Days of Wine and Roses," and Hepburn was nominated for "Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961.
Edwards had entered television in 1958, creating "Peter Gunn," which established a new style of hard-edged detective series. The tone was set by Henry Mancini's pulsating theme music. Starring Craig Stevens, the series ran until 1961 and resulted in a 1967 feature movie "Gunn."
"Peter Gunn" marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration between Edwards and Mancini, who composed melodic scores and songs for most of Edwards' films. Mancini won Oscars for the "Breakfast at Tiffany's" score and the song "Moon River," the title song of "Days of Wine and Roses" and the score of "Victor/Victoria."
William Blake McEdwards was born July 26, 1922, in Tulsa, Okla. The family moved to Hollywood three years later.
Edwards began in films as an actor, playing small roles in such movies as "A Guy Named Joe" and "Ten Gentlemen From West Point." After 18 months in the Coast Guard in World War II, he returned to acting but soon realized he lacked the talent. With John Champion, he wrote a Western, "Panhandle," which he produced and runescape gold in which he acted for the quickie studio, Monogram. He followed with "Stampede."
In 1947, Edwards turned to radio and created the hard-boiled "Richard Diamond, Private Detective," which was converted to television in 1957.
Tiring of the TV grind, Edwards returned to films and directed his first feature, "Bring Your Smile Along." After a few more B movies which he usually co-wrote, he made the big time in 1958 with "The Perfect Furlough," starring Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, and "Operation Petticoat" with Cary Grant and Curtis.
"Breakfast at Tiffany's" in 1961 established Edwards as a stylish director who could combine comedy with bittersweet romance. His next two films proved his versatility: the suspenseful "Experiment in Terror" (1962) and "Days of Wine and Roses" (1963), the story of a couple's alcoholism, with Lemmon in his first dramatic role.
"The Great Race," about an auto race in the early 1900s, marked Edwards' first attempt at a big-budget spectacle. He spent Warner Bros.' money lavishly, raising the ire of studio boss Jack Warner. The 1965 release proved a modest success.
Edwards' disdain for the studios reached a peak in the 1970 "Darling Lili," a World War I romance starring his new wife, Andrews, and Rock Hudson. The long, expensive Paris location infuriated the Paramount bosses. The movie flopped, continuing Andrews' decline from her position as Hollywood's No. 1 star.
For a decade, Edwards' only hits were "Pink Panther" sequels. Then came "10," which he also produced and wrote. The sex comedy became a box-office winner, creating a new star in Bo Derek and restoring the director's reputation.
"It was my greatest fortune, my life-changing fortune, that he believed in me," Derek said in a statement. "He selected me for the role which shaped everything that ever happened to me. He was a loyal friend and I will miss him and that mischievous expression that would come over his face when he was about to come up with something hilarious."
Edwards scored again in 1982 with "Victor/Victoria," with Andrews playing a woman who poses as a (male) female impersonator. His later films became more ffxiv power leveling personal, particularly the 1986 "That's Life," which he wrote with his psychiatrist.
After Sellers' death in 1980, Edwards attempted to keep the "Pink Panther" franchise alive. He wrote and directed "Curse of the Pink Panther" in 1983, starring David Niven, and "Son of the Pink Panther" in 1993, starring Roberto Benigni. Both were failed efforts.
A 2006 remake of the original with Steve Martin as Clouseau was modestly successful; its 2009 follow up was less so. Both had new directors, with Edwards credited as a writer.
He continued to supervise Andrews' career, which included a short-lived television series and her 1996 return to Broadway in a $8.5 million version of "Victor/Victoria." Edwards directed the show, which drew mixed reviews. When Andrews was the only one connected with the musical to be nominated for a Tony, she announced to a matinee audience that she was declining the nomination because her co-workers had been snubbed.
Andrews and Edwards married in 1968. She had a daughter, Emma, from her marriage to Broadway designer Tony Walton. Edwards had a daughter, Jennifer, and a son, Geoffrey, from his marriage to Patricia Edwards. He and Andrews adopted two Vietnamese children, Amy and Jo.
A longtime painter, Edwards began sculpting in mid-life, and his bronze works in the style of Henry Moore drew critical praise in shows in Los Angeles and Bucks County, Pa.
Edwards is survived by his wife, five children, seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. His family says a private memorial is planned and a public memorial will be scheduled runescape accounts in the new year.

Walking helps hospitalized seniors

Hospitalized elderly patients who take runescape accounts even short walks around a hospital unit tend to leave the hospital sooner than their more sedentary peers, a new U.S. study published on Friday suggests.
In the study, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) collected data from 162 hospitalized patients over age 65, each patient fitted with a pager-sized "step activity monitor" attached to his or her ankle -- an electronic device capable of counting every step the patient took.
"Using these monitors, we were able to see a correlation between even relatively small amounts of increased mobility and shorter lengths of stay in the hospital," Steve Fisher, a UTMB Health assistant professor, said in the study published by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on its website.
"We still found this effect after we used a statistical model to adjust for the differing runescape money severities of the patients' illnesses," said the study.
Clinicians have long recognized the importance of getting patients with orthopedic or neurologic conditions up and walking as soon as possible, but no such "standard of care" currently exists for older adults admitted for acute medical illnesses, the AAAS said.
It said the UTMB study could serve as a first step toward that goal and may also open the door to other improvements in hospital care for the elderly.
"Mobility is a key measure in older runescape gold  people's independence and quality of life generally, and this study suggests that's also true in the hospital setting," said Fisher. "When we hospitalize elderly people, we set up a paradoxical situation: you can have a positive outcome of the acute problem that brought them there, but still have negative consequences as a result of extended immobility."
Mobility in the hospital as measured by an activity monitor could potentially become a kind of vital sign for the elderly as well as a tool that would help researchers find the minimal levels of activity necessary to protect elderly patients from long-term declines in function, said Fisher.
"This is very preliminary, but it's leading to a lot of questions right now that I think need to be answered," said UTMB Health professor Glenn Ostir, who also took part in the study.
"We know from other research that mobility is linked to older people's quality of life, independence, maintenance of healthy muscle mass, all these things. And so we need to look at this and say what is the impact of mobility in the hospital on the overall health of the older person once they leave runescape money the hospital," said Ostir. 

Gwyneth Paltrow to return to 'Glee'

The Oscar winner will reprise runescape accounts her role as McKinley High's favorite substitute teacher, Holly Holiday, for a second episode, Gwyneth revealed to Access Hollywood on Sunday during the press junket for her new film, "Country Strong."
No word on when her second episode will be taped or air.
While Gwyneth was ecstatic to rejoin the cast, calling her "Glee" gig "the best job ever," at least runescape money one of her co-stars is sure to be equally thrilled to have her back.
"Gwyneth Paltrow is a genius," Matthew Morrison told Access in November after the actress' first episode aired. "Who knew that she was such a triple threat? Great dancer, great singer, obviously a great actress -- I just had the best time."
In her first "Glee" go-around, Gwyneth performed a rousing version of Cee Lo Green's hit, "Forget You," then joined Matthew for a splashy mash-up of runescape accounts Rihanna's "Umbrella," and the timeless "Singin' in the Rain."
"Our set is kind of like a playground -- especially [for] the 'Singin' in the Rain' number," Matthew said, of filming the aquatic-themed track with Gwyneth on a water-filled stage. "We were just having so much fun like, splashing each other, getting each other wet. It was fun!"
"Glee" will return with all new episodes following the Super Bowl, when Katie Couric ffxiv gil will join the cast for a cameo.

I Am Ready to Love - How to Find Out If You Are

Have you been into a bad relationship buy runescape gold in the past? Did you feel like your world has tumbled down and you don't want to love again? Have you moved on from it now? Are you ready to love again? There are so many things to consider and realize before you can say, "I am ready to Love again". You have to see it in yourself if you have indeed picked up the pieces and made yourself whole again. Anyone can say "I am ready to love" but deep inside, it is just their excuse sometimes to save themselves from the pain and humiliation of coming from a failed relationship.
Before you can say "I am ready to love again", examine yourself properly first. There are times that you can say this immediately but when your old flame comes back, you will crumble down and feel the pain again. You have to be sure because when you are going to declare this to all the eligible bachelors and bachelorette in the world, you're sure of it you will not hurt anyone you are dating along the way.
How will you find out if your heart is ready to open itself to someone who deserves your rs gold love? You will know it if you continue reading below.
You are Happy with your Life and you are Contented
Even if your past partner is just around the corner and you see him or her oftentimes but they don't affect you anymore, then you have moved on. Now, if you are happy with what you are doing and you feel contented with yourself and what you do, then you have to open your heart now to someone and love him or her.
You can go out and Meet other People Confidently
If you feel good about yourself and you go out and meet people then you are conditioning yourself to find a potential partner. But, how will you know if you are ready to love him or her? You will know it if you do not hesitate to go out with them, do things with them and allow yourself to enjoy every moment being with them. You are not holding back and having inhibitions means you say to the world "I am ready to love".
You are not scared to be with someone
Sometimes, when one is not ready to open buy runescape money up his or her heart to someone, they often hold back there feelings and emotions. They put boundaries between the person they are currently dating for fear that they will get hurt again. Fearing that you are too happy being with someone at the moment means that you are not yet ready and you have not yet opened you heart to the world.
You Accept Faults and don't Criticize
Loving is accepting other people and loving them for who they are. If you are on the process of looking for potential partners and are participating in arranged dates but you always find yourself criticizing the person before he or she can show you who they are, then you are not ready to love yet. If you find yourself comparing your date with your ex then you have not yet moved on. Therefore do not declare the "I am ready to love" statement to the world. It is because it is clear that you are not ready to runescape money love yet.
 

'Narnia' should sail to No. 1

During this, the runescape accounts most family-intensive period at the nation's theaters, the timing couldn't be better for Fox's "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" to go after the kids and parents who have made both "Tangled" and "Harry Potter 7" such huge holiday season hits.
So look for the third installment of the "Narnia" film franchise to follow its two predecessors and debut at the top of the domestic box office chart this weekend with a gross in the low $30 millions — respectable business but somewhat lower than the $66 million and $55 million respectively earned for the previous pair of "Narnias" — "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "Prince Caspian."
Expected to place a strong second this weekend is the runescape money pairing of Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp in Sony's "The Tourist." A remake of a 2005 French film, the mere presence of these attractive superstars — not to mention the exotic locations, action sequences and comedic bits — will be enough to send older fans scampering to the theaters for a gross in the low $20 millions.
A film that debuted better than expected over Thanksgiving weekend and continues to draw family audiences across the board is Disney's "Tangled," which ascended to the No. 1 spot last weekend and will grab a runescape accounts solid third place in its third outing with a gross of just over $10 million. Total receipts for the "Rapunzel" tale should cross the $110 million mark by the end of the weekend.
Certainly no holiday movie weekend would be complete without a solid dose of "Potter-mania" and fourth place will find "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1" charming another $8 million to $10 million from weekend audiences as it closes in on the $260 million mark in overall domestic revenue.
The battle for fifth place will pit a burlesque dancer against a runaway train, with Sony's "Burlesque" in its third weekend and Fox's "Unstoppable" in its fifth weekend each runescape gold  expected to earn less than $5 million at the box office.

Alcohol and romantic relationships

rinking plays an important and runescape accounts sometimes unexpected role from one day to the next in young couples' romantic relationships, according to a new study by University at Buffalo and University of Missouri researchers.
The study extends past research by showing that alcohol use can have both positive and negative effects, and documents the circumstances in which these effects are more likely to occur.
Published November 29 in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, these results may prove helpful in providing clues about who might be at risk from the adverse consequences of alcohol use within committed relationships.
"We really can't make the blanket statements about drinking and romantic relationships that people have come to expect," according to Ash Levitt, PhD, lead author on the report and postdoctoral fellow at UB's Research Institute on Addictions. "For instance, it turns out that drinking together rather than apart is clearly runescape money good for relationships. Individuals who drink with their partner report feeling increased intimacy and decreased relationship problems the next day, compared to individuals who drink apart from their partner or do not drink at all."
The beneficial outcomes for relationships were associated with relatively lower levels of drinking, one to three drinks, whereas harmful outcomes – decreased intimacy and increased relationship problems – were associated with heavier levels of drinking, as in four or more drinks.
The study included 69 heterosexual couples who averaged 20-21 years of age. The majority of the participants were white and over 90 percent were college students. Most were dating seriously and seven of the couples were married.
Levitt's colleague on the study was runescape gold M. Lynne Cooper, PhD, of the University of Missouri.
Interestingly, heavy alcohol consumption was not always harmful to relationships, according to Levitt. "The harmful effects of heavy drinking were buffered when partners drank together vs. apart," he explained. "Also, when both partners drank either heavy or light amounts, as long as they were similar amounts compared to their partner, it was better for the relationship than when one drank heavily and the other lightly."
Finally, the associations between drinking and relationships were stronger and more numerous for women than for men, suggesting that alcohol use plays a larger role in romantic relationships for women than it does for men. Women appeared to drink with their partner in response to relationship problems, feeling disconnected from him, or when they perceived that he had behaved negatively toward them the day before. Also, only women were runescape money protected from the harmful effects of heavier drinking when they drank with their partner; men did not benefit in the same situation. Women also drank significantly more on days following negative events with their partners than men did after negative events.
"Using computerized or online daily diary methods to compile day-to-day variations in thoughts and behaviors provided us with very accurate sequences of events," according to Levitt. "This reliable record of effects for each gender, the nature of the drinking, and the processes occurring between the partners provided information about factors that may make or break relationships runescape gold over time."

Rolling Stone releases Lennon's final interview

Three days before he was gunned runescape accounts down, John Lennon complained about his critics — saying they were just interested in "dead heroes" — and talked optimistically about his family and future, musing that he had "plenty of time" to accomplish some of his life goals.
Lennon's final interview was released to The Associated Press by Rolling Stone on Wednesday, the 30th anniversary of the musician's death. The issue using the full interview will be on magazine stands on Friday. While brief excerpts of Jonathan Cott's interview with Lennon were released for a 1980 Rolling Stone cover story days after Lennon's death, this is the first time the entire interview has been published.
"His words are totally joyous and vibrant and hopeful and subversive and fearless," said Cott in an interview on Tuesday. "He didn't mince words."
Lennon saves some of his harshest words for critics who were perennially disappointed with Lennon's path, in both music and in his life, after leaving the Beatles.
"These critics with the illusions they've created about artists — it's like idol worship," he said. "They only like people when they're on their way up ... I cannot be on the way up again.
"What they want is dead heroes, like Sid Vicious and James Dean. I'm not interesting runescape money in being a dead (expletive) hero. .. So forget 'em, forget 'em."
He also predicted that Bruce Springsteen, then hailed as rock's bright future, would endure the same critical barbs: "And God help Bruce Springsteen when they decide he's no longer God. ... They'll turn on him, and I hope he survives it."
But Lennon also talked about trying to be a good father to his youngest son Sean, learning how to relate to a child (he admitted he wasn't good at play) and spoke of his strong bond with wife Yoko Ono: "I've selected to work with ... only two people: Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono. ... That ain't bad picking."
At 40, he was also reflective of what he had accomplished so far in life and exploring life's themes, and remained committed to his goal of peace and love on earth.
"I'm not claiming divinity. I've never claimed purity of soul. I've never claimed to have the answers to life. I only put out songs and answer questions as honestly as I can ... But I still believe in peace, love and understanding."
Cott interviewed Lennon at his apartment and at his record studio. The interview was originally planned for a cover story for Lennon and Ono's upcoming album "Double Fantasy," but in the rush to put out a story after Lennon was shot to death by Mark David Chapman, only snippets were used.
Cott said he never went back to the three hours worth of tapes until a few months ago when he was cleaning out his closet.
"On a strip of magnetic tape, it was sort runescape gold of a miracle that first of all, the tape had not degraded after 30 years," he said. "All of this sudden, this guy's voice, totally alive ... just made me feel so inspired that I felt that I should really transcribe the whole thing."
Cott said he was struck by how much he was thinking about his life and mortality.
"There were a lot of strange consideration of where he was and what he felt like sort of in the middle of his journey," Cott said. "I think it was like a mid-life meditation, I was struck by that."
The magazine also included an essay by Ono recalling her final days with her husband.
Ono released a statement Tuesday night in tribute to Lennon.
"On this tragic anniversary please join me in remembering John with deep love and respect," Ono said. "In his short lived life of 40 years, he has given so much to the world. The world was lucky to have known him. We still learn runescape money so much from him today. John, I love you!"
 

"Tangled" edges out "Harry Potter 7" to rule box o

A Disney princess has edged out a young runescape accounts wizard in the latest battle for power at a time of doldrums which reined the post-Thanksgiving North America box office this weekend, ending the three-day weekend as the top grosser with 21.5 million dollars.
The latest retooling of the Rapunzel tale, "Tangled" has accumulated a projected haul of 96.5 million dollars in 12 days, and much of the sales come from the higher-than-ever 3-D theater houses in the United States and Canada, the North America box office authority said. It is expected to surpass the haul by "The Princess and the Frog," Disney's last Thanksgiving release which ended its screening with 104.4 million dollars in sales receipts.
As true as the past post-Thanksgiving cinema showed, this year' s North America box office was reigned by a drop of audiences which resulted in the dethronement of "Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1." The seventh installment on the Harry Potter franchise has taken in 16.7 million dollars this weekend, a dramatic runescape money drop of 66 percent over the previous period, ending in No. 2 in the derby.
Oscar-winner Denzel Washington and director Tony Scott's latest collaboration, Fox's "Unstoppable" was third, with an estimated 6. 1 million dollars gate this weekend and four-week running total of 68.9 million dollars.
"The Warrior's Way," a modern martial arts western starring Korean actor Dong-gun Jang who plays an Asian warrior assassin forced to hide in a small town in the American Badlands, was the sole nationwide release in the Post-Thanksgiving period as Hollywood runescape gold has traditionally shunned the timeframe to release new films. The New Zealand release is estimated to take in 1.12 million dollars at 1,622 theaters. It is produced by Barrie Osborne, who also produced "Lord of the Rings."
Fox Searchlight's highly-advertised "Black Swan" ballet drama opened in just 18 theaters, but grossed an average of 77,459 at each venue for a 1.4 million dollars opening weekend.
Rounding out this weekend's top ten are:
-- No. 4: "Burlesque," Sony/Screen Gems, 6.1 million dollars this weekend, 27 million dollars over two weeks;
-- No. 5: "Love And Other Drugs," Fox, 5.7 million dollars this weekend, 22.6 million dollars over two weeks;
-- No. 6: "Megamind," Paramount/Dreamworks, 5 million dollars this weekend, 136.7 million dollars over five weeks;
-- No. 7: "Due Date," Warner Bros., 4.2 million dollars this weekend, 91 million dollars runescape money over five weeks;
-- No. 8: "Faster," CBS Films, 3.8 million dollars this weekend, 18.1 million dollars over two weeks;
-- No. 9: "The Warrior's Way," a martial arts drama from Relativity Media, opening with 3 million dollars in sales this weekend; and
-- No. 10: "The Next Three Days," Lionsgate, 2.7 million buy wow gold dollars this weekend, 18.4 million dollars over four weeks.

Rodarte dances onto film with ‘Black Swan’

Film critics are abuzz over actress runescape accounts Natalie Portman's work in the new big-screen "Black Swan," but fashionistas are flipping over something else: the film's forward-thinking ballet costumes by Rodarte, the insider-favorite label by sisters Laura and Kate Mulleavy.
"Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky said he and the costume designer Amy Westcott wanted to use a contemporary fashion designer "to take it to a new level."
"We wanted to reinvent the whole sense of 'Swan Lake,'" he said.
Portman, who has been spotted in the front row of Rodarte runway shows during New York Fashion Week, had a relationship with the designers.
"I remember seeing a dress of theirs at a photo shoot, and just going, `What is that?'" recalled Portman. "I don't have that reaction to clothes very often. It is not something that I really pay attention to that runescape money  much. But it was just so beautiful. When we were doing this film, I just knew how balletic their clothes were."
Rodarte had, coincidentally, already tapped into horror films and ballet — the same elements that are the foundation of "Black Swan" — as inspiration for past collections.
"We had an affinity for the subject matter," noted Kate Mulleavy. "We had never done a film. ... This would be a dream job in terms of just getting to make tutus. But, then we had, I think, something that allowed us to add to access the psychology of the film in a different way, which was understanding the darker nature and more of the twisted kind of underbelly of that world."
Nevertheless, producing fashion-forward ballet runescape gold costumes proved a challenge. "Well, I think that the big question was, `How do you make something look realistic as a tutu and function?'" explained Laura Mulleavy.
Sometimes style took precedence over function. "You would never go and do `Swan Lake' and wear a full-on swan outfit without having a strap" to hold the outfit up, said actress Mila Kunis. "Given that it is in a movie and it is a certain form of disbelief. They had no straps. So, the busts kept constantly falling, you know. And so you make it work. You figure it out. But they were beautiful."
Portman remains a fan and friend of the designers. "They are really kind," Portman said. "They are really curious about every sort of area of the world. They know everything about ecology and art and modern science. You are like, `I don't understand how they have so much room in runescape money their brains.' It's amazing."

Shanghai's special art transplants

I empathized with Mr Wang's runescape accounts story in "A talent trampled by the GDP," on the Two Cents page on November 4. It is a familiar tale in the US, where I come from. A child submits to the will of his parents and forgoes his artistic dreams, only to find himself middle-aged and unfulfilled, with hobbies unable to counterbalance the drudgery of a hated-yet-gainful career.
The writer used this story as a springboard to support a proposed change in national econometrics from GDP to a formula incorporating non-monetary factors. While I support such a formula and welcome the social changes envisioned, I doubt whether it alone can lead to the changes in China that could significantly help future Mr Wangs. For that to happen, a paradigm shift may be necessary, not simply in national perception, but to an ideal where personal desires and ideals outweigh communal judgment.
Even in my country, where tales of against-the-odds success underlie our national runescape money narrative, a child's decision to pursue a financially risky dream such as art is often met with the concern and sometimes opposition from family. Following that path may require qualities that I find especially rare in China: the courage to stand up to your family and to stand tall against those in society who deem such pursuits as wasteful and to delay if not abandon such universal ideals of a stable wage, devotion to runescape accounts family, and direct material contribution to society. Moreover, such success often requires a creative destruction that overturns tradition - this seems especially formidable in a country whose sense of style largely resides in forms perfected over centuries.
Perhaps I am wrong, and if so, I have no doubt that China will find its own middle way. Ironically, though, for those who would brave this path, they need not look far for trailblazers to emulate. Shanghai is fortunate to boast among its residents an array of immense talent both international and, in a few notable cases, local musicians of every style, DJs, photographers, painters, poets and novelists. For expats, Shanghai offers opportunities for wow gold what could be called cultural arbitrage: to earn a livable wage pursuing creative aspirations, instead of submitting back home to a fate similar to Mr Wang's. This path is afforded for many reasons: their foreignness increases their marketability in China, while they also fill the vacuum left by those whose life decisions keep them in the audience rather than on the stage.
It is not an easy life for these artists, who work for an uncertain paycheck, in surroundings less familiar and comfortable than would be found back home, at the opportunity cost of experience and earnings in a more socially acceptable day job. Yet I am grateful for them. I count myself fortunate, and hope that my neighbors do as well, to live in a city where I can immerse myself in the output runescape gold  of these intrepid artists.
 

Giamatti is a gem in 'Barney's Version'

Paul Giamatti doesn't runescape gold  spring right to mind as the guy to play the title character of Mordecai Richler's sardonically funny and bitterly sad novel "Barney's Version."
After seeing director Richard J. Lewis' sparkling film adaptation, which moves effortlessly between churlish hilarity and aching melancholy, it's hard to imagine anyone but Giamatti as lovably self-destructive curmudgeon Barney.
For all his coarse behavior, Barney on the page seems more conventionally attractive than the schlubby Giamatti. Yet as he did playing the sad-sack romantic in "Sideways," Giamatti just becomes Barney Panofsky, Canadian producer of schlock TV, wooer of women way out of his league, self-righteous and self-loathing arbiter of all that is wrong with the world and the people around him.
This is another Academy Awards-worthy performance for past nominee Giamatti, while co-stars Dustin Hoffman and Rosamund Pike also deserve serious Oscar consideration.
Producer Robert Lantos, a friend of the late Richler, spent a decade trying to runescape money adapt the sprawling novel, which hurtles back and forth over 30 years of Barney's life and is told by the most unreliable narrator — Barney himself, as he savages friends and enemies alike while his memory fades from Alzheimer's disease.
Director Lewis, a writer, director and executive producer on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," was among those who took a pass at the screenplay before Lantos and Richler's fellow Montreal native Michael Konyves wrote the winner.
The filmmakers have done a terrific job compacting the novel, diminishing or dropping some characters and combining others to present a faithful rendition of Barney's rich, sordid and always interesting life story.
The film still shifts about in time quite a lot, from the 1970s to the present day, as Giamatti's Barney progresses from Canadian expatriate living among bohemians in Europe to rich, gruff, boozy TV producer back in his home city of Montreal.
Along the way, Barney is shamefully cuckolded by his first wife, artistic spitfire Clara (Rachel Lefevre), driven to despise his shrewish, Jewish princess second wife (Minnie Driver, her character known only as the "second Mrs. P."), and smitten for life by his third wife, Miriam (Pike), who runescape accounts also is coveted by a family friend (Bruce Greenwood).
Amid the ups and downs of his romantic and professional life, he copes with conflicting feelings about best friend Boogie (Scott Speedman), a writer whose mysterious fate taints Barney with scandal.
Hoffman is a perpetual scene-stealer as Barney's dad, Izzy, who regales and horrifies listeners with tales of his life as a rare Jew on the Montreal police force.
The heart of Richler's novel is the love story between Barney and Miriam. The filmmakers wisely keep their story focused there, too, scaling back Barney's relationships with his first two wives.
Partly through great costume design and makeup, but mostly through the actors' deft changes in carriage and body language, Giamatti and Pike age authentically through the years. Pike's Miriam grows older with grace and beauty, while Giamatti's Barney gradually goes sour, lamenting the things he's lost, the things he did, the things buy wow gold he failed to do.
Giamatti and Pike create a wonderful portrait of mismatched lovers, she an embodiment of virtue and devotion, he an outrageous, blustering yet big-hearted buffoon that Miriam — and the audience — just cannot help but love.
It's a joy to watch Giamatti rail and plot and scheme, and it's heartbreaking to see him falter and ultimately fade as his life, body and mind unravel.
Literary works inevitably have to lose a lot when adapted for film. Yet the filmmakers have preserved so much of Barney's spirit that Richler probably would be very pleased with how the version he wrote was translated to the version on screen.
"Barney's Version," a Sony Pictures Classics release, is rated R for language and some sexual content. Running time: 132 minutes. Three and a half stars runescape accounts  out of four.
 

How many stars are there? More than you thought
Red dwarf stars are far more common runescape gold than astronomers have believed -- in fact, they may make up 80 percent of the star population, scientists said in a study on Wednesday that triples the number of stars in the universe.
They analyzed the light coming from galaxies known as elliptical galaxies and found they were chock full of these red dwarfs, which are small, cool stars.
"There are possibly trillions of Earths orbiting these stars," Pieter van Dokkum of Yale University, who led the research, said in a statement. "It's one reason why people are interested in this type of star."
The findings, published in the journal Nature, also suggest there is far less dark matter in these galaxies than had been proposed -- something that may be good as astronomers understand stars far better than they do dark matter.
"What we already knew was that these galaxies had a lot of unseen matter at their runescape money  centers," van Dokkum said in a telephone interview.
"What we didn't know was whether the matter was dark, this mysterious matters we don't know much about, or whether it was in the form of stellar bodies."
The team did spectral analysis, examining the light that comes from the galaxies. Red dwarfs don't emit enough visible light to be seen from the Earth but they affect the overall glow from a galaxy.
"In these galaxies there are little pieces runescape accounts of the rainbow that are missing, wavelengths that have much less strength than the rest," van Dokkum said. His team looked for these so-called absorption lines that are known to be made by red dwarf stars.
The data indicated they were abundant.
"We usually assume other galaxies look like our own. But this suggests other conditions are possible in other galaxies," said Charlie Conroy of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, who was also involved in the research.
"So this discovery could have a major impact on our understanding of runescape money galaxy formation and evolution."
 

Soyuz carrying Americans, Russian lands 

A Soyuz spacecraft carrying runescape accounts two Americans and a Russian from the International Space Station touched down Friday in Kazakhstan in a landing that the Russian space program's chief described as ideal.
The Russian capsule carrying cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and astronauts Shannon Walker and Douglas Wheelock landed in the sprawling steppes of the Central Asian nation about 3 1/2 hours after separating from the space station. The landing was close to its target point, said Roscosmos head Anatoly Perminov.
In some Soyuz landings, the capsule hanging from parachutes drifts far from the target point, but Friday's landing was within 1.5 kilometers (1 mile).
"It was the ideal scenario," Perminov was quoted as saying by the ITAR-Tass news runescape money agency.
Video from the site showed the capsule, blackened by the intense heat of re-entry, lying on its side as the space fliers were extracted, still strapped into their seats. They appeared happy, but typically moved their hands slowly as they adjusted to gravity after five months of floating free in space.
"The condition of the crew is completely satisfactory — blood pressure, pulse, oxygen are all in the allowable limits," Vyacheslav Rogozhnikov of runescape gold  the Institute of Medical-Biological Problems said at Russian mission control just outside Moscow, according to ITAR-Tass.
The landing took place four days earlier than initially planned because Kazakh officials have requested air space be kept clear for the Dec. 1-2 summit by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Three crew members remain on the space station — American Scott Kelly and Russians Alexander Kaleri and Oleg Skripochka. The blasted off in early October for a runescape money five-month mission.
 

17 Incredible Gifts Made from Recycled Materials 

These unique gift ideas are "upcycled" from buy wow gold used objects in wonderful and inspirational ways. They're sure to wow everyone on your shopping list.
From Glam Gam to Pretty Planter
Perfect for fashionistas or fans of Sex in the City, this size 8 gold stiletto has been reimagined as a pretty planter. The Berkeley-based designer removed the top of the old shoe, drilled some holes for drainage and then planted it with a blue-green succulent in organic fertilizer. "The shoe's gold glamour, originally intended to shine at night on a dance floor, now gives off a warm gold glow in the sunshine," explains the creator. Just be sure the plant gets bright light and a little water.
$70 at giddyspinster.etsy.com
Chalk It Up to Father Time
In a world of PowerPoint presentations and flat-screen TVs, it's easy to wax nostalgic about the tactile experience of old-fashioned chalkboards (although it wasn't much fun to clean the erasers!). Rekindle some of that charm with this reclaimed slate wall clock. The pieces are handmade in Wisconsin from used school chalkboards and reclaimed Douglas fir.The blank face encourages you to scrawl notes for loved ones, or to simply doodle (without getting in trouble). $95 at uncommongoods.com
Pump Up the Recycled Jam
Innovative New Jersey-based company Terracycle has made a name for itself by collecting and cheap wow gold recycling literally tons of trash into an ever-growing array of fun, unique consumer products, from plant food for gardeners to clocks, coasters, bags, office products and much more. These colorful speakers are made from discarded chip bags, and they don't require any additional power source (they are designed to plug directly into an MP3 player or other audio source).
Terracycle receives permission from every brand it repurposes, and it works with companies to collect their packaging and reduce waste, from boutique green businesses to the largest international brands. Check out the Frito-Lay speakers for $13.99 or the Skittles or Starburst boombox for $18.99.
(Recycled) Coffee Couture
After being frustrated that she couldn't recycle used bags from whole bean coffee, one Etsy crafter decided to turn them into adorable purses. "A lot of coffee bags have cool designs on them," she told The Daily Green. We agree!
The purses also contain material recycled from old gift cards, and they are lined with cotton print fabric. A magnetic clasp holds them closed. $38 at coffeebaggs.etsy.com
Belt It Out, Then Walk All Over It
A good floor mat can really tie the room together — especially runescape gold  when it is made of belts. This unique, rugged mat by Inghua Ting is handmade from recycled vintage leather belts, which are mounted on a backing of reconstituted leather and water-based glue. The mats are naturally antislip and have a timeless appeal that should complement almost any space. $688 at branchhome.com
Enlightened Accents
Light bulbs are rarely recycled, unfortunately, so Etsy crafter Ecohead got a bright idea: The artist takes burned-out bulbs and recycled wire and turns them into whimsical showpieces. Some of the "peace spiders" come with a small LED (light emitting diode) inside for soft illumination and color, making them perfect for night-lights or accents. They are powered by a replaceable 3V button lithium battery.
If you or a loved one is afraid of spiders, Ecohead also offers other unique designs, from an octopus to a firefly and a funny face on a wine bottle. $15 and up at ecohead.etsy.com
Recycled Silk Style
Give the gift of flair — and support independent women — with a recycled silk scarf from Ten Thousand Villages. These richly textured, multihued accessories are woven by women artisans in Nepal. The women are supported by the nonprofit Manushi organization, which promotes women's empowerment through sustainable development.
Manushi means "energetic woman," and this scarf is the perfect gift for an energetic woman in your life. $18 at tenthousandvillages.com
Tupper Time
Plastic containers can be difficult to recycle, but that doesn't mean they can't make great gifts...if they are turned into whimsical clocks. Who can't relate to having a few extra containers around? $28 at imotime.etsy.com
From Windshields to Whiskey
It's increasingly easy to find products made with recycled glass content, but it's less common to find glassware made directly from salvaged windshields and car windows. These unique pieces are handmade in Colombia and retain a slight green cast from the original tinting. Styles include bowls, beer glasses, wineglasses and the classic old-fashioned.
$28 for a set of two at uncommongoods.com
Jewelry Goes Postal
"For me, stamps are a small piece of runescape money underappreciated art that is delivered right to my door," explains Perth, Australia-based Etsy crafter CuriousTuesday. The artist turns the miniature designs into unique creations, such as this pendant necklace. The back of the piece is the envelope the stamp had been sent on, and it is covered with a waterproof resin.
CuriousTuesday offers numerous conversation-starting designs for $17 at curioustuesday.etsy.com
Let the Wind Spin Your Records
The pinwheel is a classic toy and teaching tool that demonstrates the power of wind energy. This new "spin" on the ancient design also inspires creative reuse, since these colorful items are handmade in Oregon from reclaimed records.
Available in three colors. $65 at uncommongoods.com
Let Words Take Wing
Paper dictionaries aren't as relied upon as they once were, thanks to the Internet and smartphones. So one Etsy crafter has found a creative reuse for vintage dictionary pages by illustrating them with gorgeous, colorful designs. There is a wonderful selection of natural history designs, as well as antique devices such as sewing machines and typewriters. Some of the pages even come from old Spanish dictionaries.
Each print comes matted on acid-free board. $10 at kiintage.etsy.com
A Recycled Bag with High-Flying Style
Messenger bags are hip and functional, and this one from Tierra Ideas comes with a high-altitude twist. The Desert Hybrid Messenger Bag is made of recycled Delta aircraft seat covers, old bike and tractor inner tubes and an auto seat belt for the shoulder strap. The bag is cushioned and has a nylon liner inside. But beware: Once runescape accounts the reclaimed aircraft fabric is used up, that's all for this edition.
$219 at tierraideas.com
For Andy Warhol (and Soup) Fans...
These funky pendant lights are made by Dublin's FUSE from used Campbell's and Heinz cans collected from area restaurants. According to Mac Innes, managing director of FUSE Interiors, "By taking mass-produced everyday waste objects and upcycling them, the lights represent how inventive recycling can result in new design."
$115 each or $285 for three, plus shipping from Ireland, at fuseinteriors.ie
Cleaning Up with Newsprint
A unique gift for readers or those who like to entertain is the woven newspaper placement from Ten Thousand Villages, the online and retail purveyor of fair trade crafts from around the world. These functional placemats are woven out of used papers by Indonesian artisans, many of whom are supplementing their subsistence-farming incomes. To clean the placemats, simply wipe with a damp cloth. $6 at tenthousandvillages.com
Pop-Top Purses
Not your grandma's crochet, this eye-catching shoulder bag is hand-crocheted from more than 700 recycled aluminum flip tops. The stylish bag has a nylon liner, zipper closure and inside zippered pocket perfect for a cell phone. $125 ($112.50 for museum members) at momastore.org or in the Museum of Modern Art's New York City gift shops
Record Individuality
Give someone sassy style that's off the rack and from the crates. This Roman cuff bracelet is made from an upcycled record that's been sanded and smoothed for comfort. The flexibility of the piece means it can be sized somewhat, and it is easy to snap on and off. As the designer puts it, "It's basic black, so it goes with everything, and it's so cool to see the grooves in the record and know there's music in there!" $16 at wow gold eyepopart.etsy.com
 

World's lakes getting hotter, more than the air

A first-of-its-kind NASA study is finding nice cool runescape accounts lakes are heating up — even faster than air.
Two NASA scientists used satellite data to look at 104 large inland lakes around the world and found that on average they have warmed 2 degrees (1.1 degree Celsius) since 1985. That's about two-and-a-half times the increase in global temperatures in the same time period.
Russia's Lake Ladoga and America's Lake Tahoe are warming significantly and the most, said study co-author Simon Hook, a scientist at the Jet Propulsion Lab in Pasadena, Calif. Tahoe has heated up by 3 degrees (1.7 degrees Celsius) since 1985, while Ladoga has  been even hotter, going up by 4 degrees (2.2 degrees Celsius).
The study was published Wednesday in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.
Hook and his colleague used  several satellites and looked at thermal infrared runescape money images of the lakes in winter and summer. They also confirmed the numbers by comparing them to buoy data.
"It fits with what we see with air temperature measurements," Hook said. "We were surprised that in some places the lakes appear to be warming more than the air temperature."
The next question to look at is why the lakes seem to be warming faster than the air or land, Hook said. One reason could be the way lakes warm — in a runescape gold   more gradual manner than land but also slower to cool.
NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt, who was not part of the study, said the research made sense and adds another independent measuring system to show that the world is warming up. Eleven different indicators — including air temperature, humidity, snow cover, ocean heat content — show statistically significant man-made global warming, while no environmental measurements show otherwise, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Warming lakes is No. 12 and "another brick in the wall," said University of Victoria climate scientist Andrew Weaver.
Overall, 41 lakes increased temperatures in a statistically significant way, with another 59 individually warming but not enough to be considered significant. Only four showed runescape gold  temperature drops, but not significantly, Hook said.
 

The play's the thing

While movie blockbusters grab runescape gold  our attention the core of the nation's performing arts is live theater.
A few hours before the last show of Li Lei and Han Meimei opened, I got a call from Jiang Xiaohan, the female lead. She had fractured her hand and had to wear a glove-like thing that "affected the body language of my character". She would "understand" if I decided to opt out. As a matter of fact, she'd be willing to refund anyone who felt dissatisfied with her hand-impaired performance.
For me, live theater always holds a special fascination exactly because of such unexpected happenings. I go to a show not for perfection, but for a kind of magic only possible when the cast and the audience inhabit the same space and share the same dream.
Judging from the audience response that night - with applause and laughs all the way, nobody was about to take up the offer of a refund.
Li Lei and Han Meimei started its life as a series of high-school textbook illustrations. I did not learn of the inside jokes about the two characters secretly in love because the books were used in the 1990s. That means its target readers were those born in the 1980s, the "it" generation of our era. When they recall these runescape money illustrations, they come to realize they have this collective memory.
The play fleshes out what was only hinted at, or more accurately, draws out what fantasies the original readers had about these characters.
Jiang plays Han Meimei, a no-nonsense class president whose biggest headache is the class rebel, Li Lei. It has a neat structure of two timelines running in parallel, one set on the eve of the millennium and the other a decade later, crosscutting into a web of contrast between aspirations and reality.
Jiang is something of a Shirley Temple. She grew up singing and acting on TV. After graduating from Manchester University, she hosted TV shows on CCTV's movie channel. But her versatility comes across in her stage appearances.
In A Midsummer Night's Dream, she played Helena with perfect comic timing, which is a world away from Han Meimei's loneliness, hidden behind a serious facade.
It is the rule more than an exception that performing talents take the stage. You can regularly spot big movie and TV stars give full play to their acting runescape accounts chops in the theater. China's theater scene could be one of the best-kept secrets, with its wide spectrum of offerings and rather limited media exposure.
Li Lei and Han Meimei is just one of a dozen plays I have seen on the subject of the post-80s, and created by the same generation. They invariably tell of the angst and ambitions of youth, but in a language and style uniquely their own.
It may come as a surprise then, that the National Center for the Performing Arts, the nation's 2-year-old national theater, did not dip into contemporary repertory for its latest productions. Instead, it picked Jane Eyre, a literary classic, for stage adaptation.
It is a touch of ingenuity, the relevance of which only becomes apparent when you hear the English governess expound on love and self-respect. Here is a 19th-century personality who forsakes Thornfield Hall when she finds out Mr Rochester already has a wife.
What an antithesis this is to the most talked-about TV drama in China, Dwelling Narrowness, in which attractive women consign themselves to the position of concubines so they can have a place of their wow gold own in this age of skyrocketing housing prices.
No wonder the play has clicked with audiences in present-day China.
Jane Eyre has a movie-like fluidity and constant set changes that require modern stage wizardry. On the other hand, Lin Zhaohua, the country's most eminent stage director, advocates the stripping away of all superfluous stage business. He feels that realistic and lavish sets are essentially 19th-century European.
"We don't really have a theatrical tradition, in the academic sense of the word," he said at a recent forum on theatrical art. But it's obvious he wants to create a new tradition - one that fuses the old Chinese style of minimalism, with modern Western abstractness.
Lin, born in 1936, has handled all kinds of productions with equal aplomb, but his penchant for the avant-garde has made him appear to be controversial. He  strives to bring the cast closer to the audience, and sometimes the audience complains of not being able to understand what's going on.
Suffice it to say, one goes to a Lin production not for the solace of the familiar but for the challenge of the new. In that sense, he is among the youngest of China's theater directors, as he is constantly reinventing himself.
Stan Lai may have solved the puzzle of experimentation versus popular acceptance. His works are mostly created by his cast, in a creative process rarely seen in mainland theater.
The United States-trained, Taiwan master of theater hit a home run with The Village, which is holding its second mainland tour this year. Spanning 60 years and three families, this panorama of history is the best Chinese-language play I have seen in many decades. It is at once tragic and buy wow gold comic, sweeping and intimate, bold and populist.
The story of Kuomintang soldiers and their families retreating to Taiwan after their 1949 defeat is relatively unfamiliar to mainlanders, but there is never a dry eye in the theater wherever it is presented. The humanity in this play is so life affirming one could be forgiven for missing all the wonderful craft that has gone into it.
Like Lai's more famous Peach Blossom Land, The Village is an archetypal theatrical piece that turns the limitations of the stage into an expressive platform. You won't see a film adaptation any time soon, and even if there is one, it's going to lose much of its magic.
I once asked Lai why Chinese cities do not have a theater tradition a la Broadway. His immensely popular plays could have permanent runs in metropolises like Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei, and the same goes for Chinese classics such as Thunderstorm and Teahouse. He said that day would come.
When he first started in Taiwan, in the 1980s, some doubted anyone would show up. Now he is the preeminent Chinese playwright and stage director of this generation and his productions are often sold out throughout Asia.
I am less optimistic that this will happen in the near future, as producing long-running shows and grooming an audience of educated locals and tourists takes time and endlessly rich crops of repertory pieces.
A new theater-going habit is required. Perhaps, the post-80s cheap wow gold generation can make that happen. 

Broadway's 'Elling' takes a skewed look at life

The story of two recently released mental patients bunking together in an apartment in Oslo doesn't sound like perfect fodder for a Broadway comedy. But there's something relentlessly charming about "Elling."
The comedy, which opened Sunday at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, stars Denis O'Hare and Brendan Fraser as a 21st-century "The Odd Couple" — that runescape gold is, if neurotic Felix was also mother-fixated while messy Oscar was also obsessed with sex.
O'Hare plays the title character with typical pathos and droll wit. His Elling is a hyper-intellectual, hyper-nervous, self-important, paranoid know-it-all who reveres his dead mom and suffers from agoraphobia, among other problems.
Fraser is a huge unhousebroken puppy in the part of Kjell Bjarne, a hairy, slovenly virgin in his 30s who would dearly love to consummate a relationship with a woman — any woman. He's referred to as an orangutan — always hungry and easily aroused. Fraser uses his skills at being the wide-eyed naive to good use.
The two, roommates in a modern-day asylum when the play opens, are released to their own apartment and can stay independent as long as they demonstrate progress. They must learn to use the phone, find friends and go shopping.
Elling is resistant at first. "Why have an apartment if we have to leave it all runescape money the time?" he asks. Kjell, for his part, just wants to go out and meet "chicks," although he is afraid to do it alone.
These are innocents released into the world — they are delighted to find that pizza gets delivered — and along the way must navigate a few other characters: a stern social worker (Jeremy Shamos); an eccentric artist (a wise and elegant Richard Easton); and a very pregnant neighbor (the criminally funny Jennifer Coolidge).
The story has hit some sort of trans-Atlantic sweet spot. Based on the novels by Ingvar Ambjornsen, the tale was made into a cult, Oscar-nominated foreign-language film and adapted in Norwegian for the stage by Axel Hellstenius and Petter Naess. This English-language version by Simon Bent comes to Broadway after a well-received run in London and with a new cast.
"Elling" never falls into the trap of slapstick, a dangerous prospect with two leads suffering from an illness. (What exactly their diagnoses are is unclear, but they may involve touches of autism and Tourette's syndrome.) The characters, under the sensitive touch of director runescape accounts Doug Hughes, are introduced as odd misfits and then gradually win us over. By the end, the audience is rooting for them to succeed.
The production wrings much suspense in a thin, feel-good story that is essentially a character piece. There is also a slight biblical theme — a pregnant woman on Christmas, mistaken angels, a virgin mother and a reference to Kjell as "one of life's simpler Apostles." But they're just a motif and really don't go anywhere.
Rather, the play is more a "bromance," and it tries to show there is real jeopardy attached to these men — a trip back to the asylum and likely their last chance at freedom. Frightened and nervous, Kjell and Elling often just wait in their apartment, babbling existentially — "Logic is the enemy of reason," Elling says at one point — and seemingly anticipate the other shoe to drop.
In that way, the play strives for shades of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" and, with Fraser's massive, stout character looming over a thin, thoughtful O'Hare, recalls John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men." The depth of those works, though, aren't present in this light, sentimental comedy.
Scott Pask's sets are simple — two beds, a telephone, a few chairs and an armoire, really. But runescape money because O'Hare and Fraser push them about between scenes works on a meta-level: Both characters are fitting the pieces of their lives together.
Sound designer David van Tieghem has a neat trick in having the radio play in the apartment and then moving the music to the front-of-house speakers, pulling the audience into this world. The stage is also constructed slightly askew, adding to the offbeat perspective.
Goosed by the social worker, the two less-than-heroic duo spread their wings, helping each other. "I have made a friend. On my own. Without the aid of the Norwegian government," Elling says proudly at one point. In fact, each man finds a sort of angel, though damaged and odd.
The whole thing is pretty odd, and yet oddly fun. Or, as Elling likes to say whenever people catch on that he is a little odd, "I prefer the English wow gold expression 'rare.' As in uncommon."

 

How to Buy a Home 

Mortgage interest, closing runescape accounts costs, property taxes, escrow accounts: If you don't know how to navigate it, home-buying can seem like a wild, perilous pastime.
Sure, buying a home should be as easy as plunking down a boatload of cash. The actual process, though, is loaded with stressful paperwork. But the worry that one false move could cost you more than you bargained for might be easier to take if you think of buying a home as a five-step process.
Step One: Get Approved
Before you start shopping for your dream home, you need to know your budget. If you're a first-time buyer, start the process by shopping around for a lender and applying to get pre-approved for a home loan.
"Getting pre-approved lets the seller know that you have the money to pay for the house," says Nancy Clement, a mortgage broker with Mortgage Partners in San Diego. "If you're not pre-approved and the seller gets more than one offer, they're not going to look at yours, because they don't know if you can buy."
Step Two: Find the House
Now it's time to get into the hardcore shopping. You can research open houses on your own, but you'd be smart to enlist professional help.
"Real-estate agents used to be there to help you find open properties. Now they're there runescape money to point out the pros and cons of buying a certain place," says Michele Lerner, author of Homebuying: Tough Times, First Time, Any Time. "A real estate agent can point out things like, 'Gee, you're buying the most expensive house on the street,' which may not be good since it probably won't go up in value as much as the house around the corner."
For a first-time home-buyer, a good agent can be particularly helpful as a guide through the negotiation process. Once you've found your ideal home, you should make an offer as soon as possible, one that includes the total purchase price you're willing to pay, and how much you're willing to offer as a deposit to ensure that the contract goes through.
That deposit gets placed in a third-party escrow account, to prevent either party from pulling out until the deal has either gone through or officially been canceled.
Step Three: Get the Loan
Beware the pre-approval trap. Just because you've been pre-approved for a mortgage doesn't mean you automatically qualify for a loan. Beyond knowing runescape gold everything you need to get a loan, you'll need to meet a few qualifications.
You need a good credit score (above 680), proof of at least two years of work experience, and debt levels less than 40 percent of your income (including your new monthly mortgage payments).
You also won't get a loan if you've declared bankruptcy less than two years ago, or filed for foreclosure less than four years ago. But if you satisfy all those measures, getting a loan after you're pre-approved should be easy.
Step Four: Let the Negotiations Begin!
If the seller accepts your purchase offer, get ready to nitpick. You, your agent and your seller's agent, and your lawyers will spend the next month or two negotiating everything: how solid the property's foundation is, whether a carpet needs to be replaced, and everything in between.
Luckily a team of third-party experts will help make sure the house is as good as the runescape money buyer says.
"Buyers can expect to have an appraisal, home inspection, and termite inspection done, at minimum," says Heidi Cassel, regional escrow administrator for the state of California. Once inspections are out of the way, the buyer and seller agree on which party will pay which costs, and sign off.
Step Five: Close Your Deal
The only thing left now is to get title insurance—the piece of paper that ensures that the property is free of liens that could prevent it from legal sale—and to officially transfer the funds.
"When you think about how much goes into the home-buying process, it's exhausting, which is why buyers need to be educated before starting," Clement runescape gold  says. "Otherwise, it's easy to get lost."
 

Weight loss in pregnancy linked to benefits, risks  

Obese women who lose weight runescape accounts during pregnancy may have a lower risk of certain pregnancy complications, but -- with the exception of extremely obese women -- those benefits may be outweighed by negative effects on the baby's birth size, a new study suggests.
The findings, published in the obstetrics journal BJOG, add to the fairly controversial idea that it can be healthy for obese pregnant women to maintain their pre-pregnancy weight, or even lose a few pounds.
Currently, the Institute of Medicine (IOM), an advisory body to the U.S. government, recommends that normal-weight women gain between 25 and 35 pounds during pregnancy. Underweight women are advised to gain 28 to 40 pounds, while those who are overweight should put on 15 to 25 pounds.
Obese women are given the narrowest weight-gain range, with 11 to 20 pounds considered optimal.
Obese women are at elevated risk of pregnancy complications like gestational (pregnancy-related) diabetes; pre-eclampsia, a potentially dangerous disorder marked by a sudden increase in blood pressure and protein in the urine; emergency cesarean section; and having a larger-than-normal baby.
Some studies have suggested that obese women can safely gain less than the runescape money  recommended amount of weight, or possibly even lose weight, and lower their risk of such complications.
For the new study, researchers led by Dr. Andreas Beyerlein, of Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich in Germany, reviewed the records of more than 700,000 women who delivered a baby between 2000 and 2007.
The women were divided into pre-pregnancy weight categories according to body mass index (BMI), a measure of weight in relation to height. Women with a BMI of 30 to 34.9 fell into the category of class 1 obesity; those with a BMI between 35 and 39.9 had class 2 obesity; and those whose BMI stood at 40 or above -- weighing some 100 pounds above their ideal body weight -- fell into the class 3 category, often referred to as morbid obesity.
Overall, those women who shed pounds generally had lower risks of emergency C-section and pre-eclampsia than obese women who gained weight during runescape gold pregnancy. They were also less likely to have a larger-than-normal baby.
Among women with class 3 obesity, for example, 10 percent of those who gained weight developed pre-eclampsia. That compared with a rate of seven percent among those who lost weight during pregnancy.
When Beyerlein's team accounted for a number of other factors -- including the mother's age and smoking habits -- weight loss was associated with a 36 percent lower risk of pre-eclampsia among women with class 3 obesity. A similar reduction was seen among those in the class 2 category.
Meanwhile, women with class 1 or class 3 obesity had lower risks of emergency C-section if they lost weight. Of women in the former group, for example, 13 percent of those who gained weight ended up needing an unplanned C-section, versus just under nine percent of those who lost weight during pregnancy; the weight loss itself was linked to a 35 percent reduction in C-section risk.
However, among women with class 1 or 2 obesity, weight loss was also tied to an increased risk of having a smaller-than-normal baby.
In the class 1 group, for example, 13 percent of those who lost weight had a small newborn, compared with eight percent of those who gained weight. The same risk was not seen among the most severely obese women.
Exactly what should be made of the findings is not yet clear.
The study had a number of limitations. Since it was a retrospective study based on women's medical records, it can only show associations between weight changes and the odds of pregnancy complications -- and buy wow gold cannot prove cause-and-effect.
So it is difficult to translate the results into guidelines for women, Beyerlein told Reuters Health in an email. That said, the researcher added, the findings do suggest that, with the possible exception of women with class 3 obesity, most women should not lose weight during pregnancy, due to the potential effects on fetal growth.
A researcher not involved in the study said he disagreed with that interpretation.
Dr. Raul Artal, an obstetrician at Saint Louis University in Missouri who has studied the question of weight loss in obese pregnant women, said the findings do not mean that more-moderately obese women cannot safely shed pounds.
In an interview, he noted that the researchers did not have information on certain health factors -- like the presence of chronic high blood pressure -- that can affect a woman's odds of having a smaller-than-normal newborn.
The inability to account for such variables makes it more difficult to conclude that weight loss, per se, was responsible for the higher risk.
In a small 2007 study, Artal and his colleagues followed 96 obese pregnant women with gestational diabetes who either self-enrolled in a diet-and-exercise program designed to help them control their weight gain, or followed the diet typically prescribed to women with gestational diabetes.
The researchers found that women in either group who maintained or runescape accounts lost weight were less likely to have a larger-than-normal newborn. And there was no evidence that weight loss harmed fetal growth.
Artal, who was also the lead author on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists current guidelines on exercise during pregnancy, contended that obese women "can safely maintain or even lose weight, under close medical supervision."
Artal has been critical of the IOM recommendations that obese women gain 11 to 20 pounds during pregnancy, arguing that such weight gain not only raises the odds of pregnancy complications like pre-eclampsia, but also contributes to women's lifetime weight problems and the associated health risks. Obese women commonly retain excess fat that they gain with each pregnancy.
In an article published earlier this year in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, Artal and colleagues at Yale University and Duke University also criticized the IOM guidelines for not considering the different classes of obesity when advising pregnant women on weight gain.
So with the messages on weight gain differing, what should obese pregnant women do?
Artal said his general advice is for women to eat a "nutrient-rich" diet -- which would include plenty of fruits, vegetables, legumes and high-fiber grains -- and to aim to take a 30-minute walk everyday as a form of low-impact physical activity.
He also advised all obese pregnant women to manage their weight only under the guidance of their obstetrician -- if possible, one with experience in wow gold managing high-risk pregnancies.

Beta blockers help boost bone density 

With the final Harry Potter runescape gold book coming to the screen this week, the Potter pipeline's about to run dry. Many people have been clamoring for J.K. Rowling to write more Hogwarts epics — but that would be a dreadful mistake.
Rowling stoked the speculation when she told Oprah a while back that she wouldn't rule out an eighth or ninth Potter tome — even though she tacked on an epilogue to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, whose only purpose seemed to be closing the door on sequels with a firm slam. It was like ending the last book with, "The End. Really. I MEAN IT. FOR REALZ."
I understand why Hollywood would love to have more plucky young wizard stories to turn into three-hour movies starring underfed British teenagers with improbably nice skin. But why would Rowling want to do that? She doesn't need the money. The only reason would be if she's tried to start another series and just hasn't been able to make it work. Maybe the work of world-building and creating a new hero from scratch, with so much pressure on her to get it right, has proven to be harder than it was when she was an unknown single mom scribbling in obscurity.
But even if that's the case, she should resist the temptation to bring back Harry Potter, runescape accounts or do a new set of books in the Potterverse.
There's no way Harry Potter book eight (or a new Potterverse series) could be as good as the original seven books. None. Because a huge part of what makes the Potter books so addictive is the fact that they're part of a saga, with a beginning, middle and end — if they'd been open-ended, they wouldn't have been nearly as thrilling. It would have been just an unending stream of "same wizard shit, different day." Plus, you can't do an open-ended series with just one main villain — people will start wondering why Voldemort is still trying to take over the world. ("Oh, he who must not be named, again?")
Here's a wee bit of a personal share. When Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows came out, I was fairly determined to wait until a friend finished it, and then borrow their copy. But then I walked past a bookstore on release day, and I was struck with a jolt of temptation, like an impulse-buy lightning bolt to the head. I bought it and got totally sucked into reading it. I was so engrossed in the story, even the dodgy camping bits, I almost missed my bus stop — and I jumped off the bus, leaving my backpack behind. With my laptop computer in it! Containing a ton of not-backed-up files. I freaked out and even begged a friend with a car to come get me, so we could chase that bus — but no use. Despondent, I read the Deathly Hallows in a pizza place, where the runescape money counter girl was sad that she couldn't afford a copy and wasn't going to be able to borrow a copy for ages — so I came back the next day and gave her my copy after I was done reading it. Shortly afterwards, I got word that the bus driver had turned in my backpack, with everything still in it, to the lost and found. Proof that magic works! In any case, I wouldn't have been so caught up in the book I forgot my backpack, if it hadn't been the Final Chapter.
People sometimes say that we shouldn't put too much emphasis on endings — who cares how a story ends, if the middle bits are good? But if anything, we don't put enough emphasis on endings. The ending makes the story work, or not. All of the beautiful bits of character and plot and ideas that a story builds up in the middle? They're all being stored up to use in the ending. There are plenty of mediocre endings in the world, and far too many hideously bad endings — I'm not going to mention that show whose name rhymes with "Bossed." When you get a great ending, it should be protected. And I am quite fond of the ending of Deathly Hallows, I think it's a fitting end for a great series.
But wait, I hear you say — who says a continuation has to cheapen a good ending? And it's true — an ending can stand on its own, even if the story picks up again, as Supernatural is proving this season. But that's the exception to the rule — most of the time, you can't carry on a saga without going back and chipping away at the integrity of the ending. Inevitably, characters who got a nice resolution will get stirred up again, ideas that were set to rest will be brought up — and most of all, any supposedly "final" victories will turn out to have been pyrrhic or partial.
We know that's how it works in real life — but we read books like the Harry Potter series runescape accounts precisely because they aren't like real life.
And then there's the question of what an eighth Potter book would be about. There are a few choices:
1) A book that takes place now, or at least before the epilogue, showing how Harry and the gang got to the places where we see them in that final scene. In other words, a story where we already know how it's going to turn out.
2) A book that picks up after the epilogue, with grown-up Harry. Note that this would be set in the near future, since the Potter books take place "now." (Update: Various people have pointed out the books take place in the 1990s, which would put the epilogue in 2016.) Plus, does anybody want to read about a married Harry staring down middle age? All of the qualities that were sort of endearing about young Harry would quickly grate in an older version — and the propensity for self-pity would be intolerable.
3) A fresh start, with a new main character. Maybe Albus Severus or one of the other kids, maybe someone else. The main problem here is that you either have another Chosen One, facing another Ultimate Evil, or you settle for a smaller story about someone who's quite heroic in their own minor way, facing a villain who's no Voldemort but is quite irksome nonetheless. So you either cheapen Harry by making him just one of a handful of Chosen Ones, or you create a more low-key follow-up that will probably runescape gold be a bit of an appendix.
But this isn't just about what we don't want to see J.K. Rowling do. I'm personally dying to see her create a new world. I bet it would be brilliant. In many ways, the Potterverse is like a starter universe — it's cozy and familiar and cute, wrapped around a metaphor for class oppression (that doesn't prevent you from fantasizing about going to an elite boarding school.) Wouldn't it be cool to see Rowling try her hand at creating another new world, knowing everything she learned from the world-building in the Potter books? She might do something more urban, or a fantastical world more removed from our own. Either way, I'm game.
I'd also quite like to see Rowling develop a new hero who isn't living in the shadow of Harry — and please give us a girl hero this time! I love Hermione to death, but I'd love to see Rowling use her considerable powers of character-development to create a new archetypal female hero who grows into leadership the way Harry does in the Potter books.
And finally, Rowling also has a responsibility to be bold. How many authors are in the position she's in? She could write anything and it would be an instant sensation. Most of us would read her next book, whatever it is. Unlike the majority of authors, who struggle to push a boulder up a hill any time they want to do something genre-defying or unexpected, Rowling is such a brand that she can make anything she wants happen. She owes it to herself — if not to us — to use her power instead of letting it use her. She's already left a legacy, but she can make it much deeper if she goes in a new direction.
Harry Potter helped breathe new life into fantasy books and bring a whole generation to bookstores. Now J.K. Rowling has the chance to do it all over again. Or she could just dwell runescape accounts on her past glories.
 

Beta blockers help boost bone density

The bane of many old people  runescape accounts is the fear of falling and the breaking of bones made thin and brittle by osteoporosis.
It is a condition that in many rich countries affects a third of older women and 20 percent of older men, and half of those treated in hospital for a fracture will be back again with another. Osteoporosis is costly for sufferers and the community.
Doctors prescribe calcium supplements for patients with osteoporosis - and also recommend lifestyle changes, such as more exercise and greater exposure to the sun.
But it is likely that some patients are inadvertently taking medications that are helping runescape money to keep their bones strong.
At Sydney's Garvan Institute, researchers came across data that suggested pills for high blood pressure, commonly called beta blockers, are increasing bone density, as well as staving off strokes and heart attacks.
Tuan Nguyen, a professor runescape gold at the institute, looked at research from New York's Columbia University that showed mice given beta blockers also increased the thickness of their bones.
"What we don't know is whether giving people beta blockers will actually reduce their fractures in sort of a randomized control situation," Nguyen says.
Further research is needed to show conclusively that bones are benefiting from beta blockers. If they are, doctors might have to look again at their choices when they see older runescape money people with high blood pressure.
 

Flirting can be more than fun, researchers say  

There is a lot more to flirting runescape money than fun, according to a new research study that says finding success in romance depends in part on understanding your own personal "flirting style."
Whether or not you prefer sidling up to a stranger in a bar or you'd rather sit back and wait for an object of attraction to approach are distinctions that once recognized can help people navigate the rocky seas of relationships, according to Jeffrey Hall, assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas.
Hall recently completed a study into styles of flirting among dating adults, surveying more than 5,100 people regarding their methods of communicating romantic runescape accounts interest.
"Knowing something about the way you communicate attraction says something about challenges you might have had in your past dating life," Hall said. "Hopefully, this awareness can help people avoid those mistakes and succeed in courtship."
Hall said there are essentially five styles of flirting: physical, traditional, polite, sincere and playful.
In physical flirting, people express their sexual interest in a potential partner and, he says, often quickly can develop the relationships, have more sexual chemistry and have a greater emotional connection to their partners.
Traditional flirts tend to believe that men should make the first moves, with women assuming more passive roles. Both sexes comfortable with this style seem to prefer more "intimate" dating runescape gold  scenes,, he said.
There are many people whose flirting styles fall into the category of "playful" and are aimed largely at enhancing their own self-esteem, Hall said. These people are less likely to have lasting and meaningful relationships, he added.
"In some ways, the very early part of developing relationships is important to the success of long-term relationships, including marriages," he said.
Hall co-authored the article with Steve Carter, senior director of research and product development at online dating site eHarmony.com and runescape accounts  other researchers.

Chili Peppers dig up roots in "Oral/Visual History" 

With a great location runescape money and simple, reasonably priced homestyle food, The Butcher’s Steakhouse is the kind of place that’s ideal for everyday, casual dining. Unless, that is, you’re a vegetarian. This restaurant is all about meat, with a carnivore’s menu and an impressively stocked butcher’s shop. And while the waitstaff seemed a little confused at times, they were in general eager and friendly, and dishes were all served quickly.
We’ll have to wait until next spring to sit on the great second-story patio, but the restaurant’s generously portioned, meat-and-potatoes fare is well suited for cold weather. The 200g filet mignon (￥98) offers runescape accounts  better value than Flamme, even without the side dishes that come with it. You get your pick of three sauces that are all made in-house, a choice of three kinds of potatoes and a trip to the salad bar. Both the whisky sauce and the béarnaise are excellent, and we preferred the potato salad to the mashed potatoes. The lamb chops (￥98) are huge, and of very good quality. The Australian meat is tender and flavorful, and even the fat is delicious. There are a number of international wines on offer, starting with a very young Spanish house wine (￥118) runescape gold that’s an affordable sidekick to the red meats but doesn’t do much on its own.
Apart from the meat, the food can be a little onion-heavy, which we found with both the mashed potatoes and with the salmon tartare (￥98). The latter comes with a side of fairly standard creamed spinach and toasted bread and butter. The dessert list offers more than the expected selection, with a very light mango mousse cake (￥38), complemented surprisingly well by the caramel sauce it’s runescape accounts  served with.
 

Chili Peppers dig up roots in "Oral/Visual History" 

Most artists cringe at the runescape gold idea of showing compromising photos taken in public, but rockers the Red Hot Chili Peppers relish the idea.
In fact, they've compiled many of those moments in their first book, "The Red Hot Chili Peppers: An Oral/Visual History."
The coffee table hardback, which recently hit bookstores worldwide, examines the band's storied career, starting with their early days in the Los Angeles underground punk rock scene through their rise to arena favorites in the 1990s and 2000s.
Known for alt-rock hits such as "Under the Bridge," "Give It Away" and "Scar Tissue," the band's early days were steeped not only in music, but in drug use, nudity and cross-dressing.
Chili Peppers bassist Michael "Flea" Balzary told Reuters that along with serving as a biographical account of the band, the book revels in a past where culture still existed within a localized scene and the band was just one more act among many.
"We started our band in 83 -- the Internet phenomenon of constant documentation didn't exist then," Flea said. "But still, we took pictures and we were a part of a scene that people took pictures of. (It) was a real colorful situation. There was a vibrant underground music scene, and it was very creative and not regimented or divided runescape accounts up into a bunch of different cliques, like it is now."
Throughout the band's early days, they had a few key personnel changes -- notably original guitarist Hillel Slovak died in 1988 of a heroin overdose. Original drummer Jack Irons permanently left the band soon after.
Lead singer Anthony Kiedis and Flea then recruited guitarist John Frusciante and drummer Chad Smith, the lineup that would record their first Gold album, 1989's "Mother's Milk" and 1991's breakout, "Blood Sugar Sex Magik."WILLING TO TAKE TIME
For their success, Flea credits not only the band's willingness to incorporate a variety of musical influences into the group's sound, but also the record industry's willingness to nurture and develop artists over the course of many albums.
"When we first signed with Warner Bros, they believed that when you sign a band, it was because you believed in them," he said. "And it made your company better, because it gave your label depth and integrity. Those days are over, and that's a shame. It bread a much more interesting style of music, especially in the big corporations."
"As fate would have it, our career runescape money continued on in a pretty dynamic way," Flea continued. "We've been through a lot of different aesthetics and scenes."
As the Chili Peppers' ascent into the mainstream continued after the release of "Blood Sugar," they continued to wrestle with Kiedis's drug use as well as Frusciante's disdain for the fame that surrounded the band.
Frusciante left in 1992, but rejoined in 1998; in July 2009, he quit again and was replaced by Josh Klinghoffer.
Now, as they approach their 50s, the Chili Peppers are currently working on their 10th studio album, and look at their "Oral/Visual History" as a nostalgic window into their future.
"A picture book by its nature is a nostalgic thing," Flea said. "Going back through time and looking at those memories, it's very emotional. It gives you a bigger picture of the future and what's important.
"Looking a picture of Hillel Slovak, who we loved so much and was such a huge part of our creative existence. You look at that and think about the times I was being petty about stuff, I could've been runescape accounts spending beautiful moments. So I'm grateful for it in that way."
 

Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Puducherry, India 

Puducherry, a small town runescape gold on southern India's Coromandel coast, woos visitors with its easy French colonial charm, food and laid-back calm.
Formerly known as Pondicherry, the town provides an escape from hectic city life. With the nearest airport in Chennai, 160 km away, it is best reached by bus or cab.
The town offers luxury and mid-range hotels and, for those who prefer simplicity, a guesthouse run by the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. Puducherry is small enough to walk around but you can also hire bicycles or scooters to get about.
Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help you get the most out of a stay in Puducherry:
SATURDAY
6 a.m. - Catch the sunrise above the Bay of Bengal with coffee at Le Cafe, a former port office, on Beach Road, also known as Goubert Avenue, as the fishermen set out.
7 a.m. - Stroll down Beach Road, past the statues of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, and the town's former Governor General Marquis Joseph Francois Dupleix to the French war memorial runescape accounts honouring those who fell in World War I.
7.30 a.m. - Don't miss the 19th century lighthouse before heading to the boutique Promenade hotel for a lavish breakfast overlooking the beach. A must-try is a South Indian breakfast of idlis -- steamed rice cakes with coconut chutney -- and sambhar, a tangy-spicy lentil dish.
10 a.m. - Head to Auroville, or the "City of Dawn," a Utopian settlement envisioned by Sri Aurobindo Ghose's French companion and disciple, Mira Alfassa, known locally as "The Mother." The township has many expatriates running small industries that make aromatic products, hand-knit wear, and small restaurants. Collect a pass from the visitor's center for Matrimandir, the spiritual center of the city.
11 a.m - Tease out the shopaholic within at the boutiques at the Auroville visitors center, offering handicrafts such as glazed pottery, candles, oils, incense sticks and paper products.
1 p.m. - Take your pick for lunch runescape money from the visitor's center cafeteria -- the Solar Kitchen, Lhasa, a Tibetan shack, or Paradise Pizzeria.
4 p.m. - Go for a cooling dip off Serenity Beach or Auroville Beach or catch a boat to Paradise Beach near the mouth of the backwaters, about 8 kms away.
7 p.m. - Ride to Hotel De L'Orient on Rue Roman Rolland for dinner at the former Directorate of Education building, now restored as a hotel. The hotel is famous for its Creole cuisine that infuses local Tamil spices with French ingredients. Try the Creole fish curry or prawn curry with rice.
SUNDAY
9 a.m. - A visit to the French Riviera of the East is not complete without some French bread and pastries at a local bakery. Baker Street offers a good assortment.
10 a.m. - Pondy, a town built in a grid formation, is divided into two parts -- the French Quarter and the Indian Quarter. Walk through the "Ville Blanche" with colonial mansions. The Tamil Quarters host the popular morning bazaar or visit beautiful temples and old-style Tamil homes.
11 a.m - Pay homage to Sri Aurobindo and The Mother at their Samadhi, or resting place, at the Aurobindo Ashram. Visit the ashram's handmade paper factory to see how a variety of colourful paper is created. Pondy cheap wow gold is home to many churches and temples but a highlight at the Notre Dame des Agnes is an oil painting of 'Our Lady of Assumption,' which was a gift from Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Prefer the blessings of an elephant god? Then go instead on a trip to Ganesha's temple, Manakula Vinayagar Koil.
1 p.m. - For lunch try Satsanga, situated in a rambling colonial house, and catering to the European palette with its French and Italian cuisine.
3 p.m. - Take an afternoon walk and shop around Mission Street, starting at Casablanca, a two-storey building selling everything from funky jewelry to traditional kurtas. Cross the street to Kalki and stock up on candles, handmade soaps, perfumes, silk clothes and shoes. The Hidesign factory outlet offers cheap deals on leather bags, wallets and jackets.
5 p.m. - Relax at Coffee.com with wi-fi, books and magazines. Choco-La is another option with delicious pastries.
8 p.m. - Have a drink at the Governor's Lounge at Le Dupleix, originally built to be the French Mayor's residence, or go to Le Club and sit under a thatched roof overlooking a French villa and listen to some Caribbean music. For dinner, you can dine at Le Dupleix's Gourmet Restaurant or at Le Club itself.
11 p.m. - Take a final walk down Beach Road runescape accounts because you can never get enough of this view.
 

 How To Feel Great Every Time You Get Dressed 

Did you know you can instantly feel runescape money a lot better about your body simply by choosing clothes that fit and flatter you now, rather than putting it off until you reach some ideal weight?
Or that the best way to exude sexuality and confidence is not by squeezing into skin tight clothes but finding outfits that work with your body?
Perhaps you feel like it would be shallow or frivolous to worry too much about the way clothes look on your body. There are no laws insisting you have to care much about clothing to be happy and confident.
However, most of us do feel better if we spend just a little time on our appearance.
Many people find themselves stuck in a perpetually low cycle of self esteem. When we don’t feel good about ourselves, we either:
Buy clothes that completely hide our bodies. Modesty is one thing, but you can choose clothes you find tasteful that don’t swallow you.
Buy clothes that are too tight or revealing. Again, it’s wonderful to be comfortable in your own skin, but make sure you’re dressing this way because it makes you feel good, not because you believe it’s the runescape accounts  only way you’ll get attention.
Don’t buy any clothes at all, neglecting to replace items that are torn, stain or threadbare. The classic example is the mom that goes around in faded sweats while her kids are dressed to the nines.
By doing these things, we end up feeling worse because part of us feels as though we don’t measure up and are constantly reinforcing our poor self image and lack of self worth. A new, flattering wardrobe is not a quick fix for self esteem problems, but it can help get you back on the right track as you begin your self improvement journey.
Think of it as sending a message to yourself that you do matter and that it’s okay to invest time into looking your best. If you are unhappy with your body, don’t wait until you have “solved” the problem by losing or gaining weight to buy clothes that will make you look and feel good now.
Even if it seems wasteful to buy clothes when you are planning on changing your body size, doing so will reinforce the idea that you are worthwhile at any size or shape.
Buying clothes that fit is one way to runescape gold take care of yourself. It might not seem like a big deal, but it can have a profound effect on how you see yourself and how others see you. It’s not that you’ll be more worthy if you look better, rather that taking the time to care for yourself will reinforce the idea that you are a person who deserves it.
This can be one step to get you started on a perpetual cycle of happiness and confidence and end the low self esteem cycle once and for all.
Tracy O’Connor blogs blogs about ghostwriting and living a better life. Follow her on Twitter.
It’s never too late to meet the brand new you.
You can transform your life in just 90 Days.
In less than three months, you can see a more capable, confident you, every runescape accounts  time you look in the mirror.

New Springsteen concert flick proves it all nigh 

A uniquely crafted runescape accounts  new Springsteen concert video promises to stoke the souls of insatiable Bruce buffs. And, judging from the wild response at its big-screen premiere, film fanatics may be captivated as well.
Grammy and Emmy award-winning director Thom Zimny made the film last December at the historic Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, N.J. It gives viewers an up-close-and-personal view of the stark stage, from every conceivable angle, as Springsteen and the E Street Band perform an entire album just for themselves, with no live audience.
The "Darkness on the Edge of Town" video is being released to fans Nov. 16 as part of a deluxe CD and DVD set that also includes "The Promise: The Making of `Darkness on the End of Town,'" a documentary on the 1978 album.
The concert video's recent DOC NYC film festival premiere was met with unbridled enthusiasm. Shouts of "Yeah!" and "Wooooo!" ricocheted through Manhattan's stately Ziegfeld Theatre as the crowd got swept up in the musical and visual moments, beginning with a rousing rendition of "Badlands."
The cameras bring the viewers eyeball to eyeball with the band, capturing Springsteen's taut upper torso, a bead of sweat, the arching eyebrow, the veins popping out on his neck as he becomes lost in the angst. Even the pores on his skin are detectable on the big screen, amid a hint of facial stubble.
Zimny said he was struck by how simultaneously focused, relaxed and in perfect synch the runescape money musicians are. He and E Street drummer Max Weinberg said the film captured small, unconscious cues, the way the musicians communicate with small gestures.
There's the "twitch of his leg," Weinberg marveled after seeing the video for the first time. "The shoulder comes up ... to indicate where to go."
Weinberg, who performs behind The Boss, joked that it was the first time he'd seen Springsteen's eyes.
Those eyes are often closed, or the eyelids fluttering. When they're open, they stare into some other world.
"When we're playing, we're not aware," even when hemmed in by a camera crew, said Weinberg. "You don't let distractions in."
Steven Van Zandt is seen pressing his lips right against the microphone, hunching over while digging into a guitar riff, impishly giving a coquettish flip of his scarf-covered head.
In "Prove it All Night," the camera circles Springsteen and Van Zandt, to a dizzying effect, as they stand toe-to-toe, heads bobbing rhythmically, trading the cry "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "Yeah!"
"Professor" Roy Bittan hammers the piano keys with the side of his hand.
The Ziegfeld audience cheered for Clarence Clemons: The Big Man coolly blows solos, then beams, giving fist pumps and appreciative shout-outs to runescape gold bandmates. The camera scrutinizes his face, his fingers on the sax keys.
Then there's the start of "Racing in the Street." The achingly beautiful instrumentals, simultaneously sweet, sad and wistful. Enter the tough guy — a husky-voiced Springsteen — pouring his heart out in song.
The emotion remains racheted up in "The Promised Land" and "Factory" — little frown lines appearing between Springsteen's eyebrows — and the explosive "Streets of Fire."
"When Bruce rehearses, even in his living room," he maintains the intensity of a big concert venue like "the old Giants Stadium," said Weinberg.
In a visual play on the "Darkness" theme, one shot shows Springsteen's otherwise darkened figure, with a halo effect around his shoulders.
"You come out there in that dark and you make that magic," Springsteen says in "The Promise" documentary.
"You pull something that doesn't exist out of the air. It doesn't exist until, on a given night ... you're standing in front of your audience.
"Nothing exists in that space until you go, `1, 2, 3, 4, vroom!'"
"Then you and the audience together manifest an entire world, an entire set of values, an entire way of thinking about your life and the world around you — an entire runescape money set of possibilities."

Lady Gaga, other U.S. acts dominate MTV Europe Awards

Lady Gaga dominated the runescape gold MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid on Sunday, picking up prizes for best female, best pop act and best song ("Bad Romance").
The 24-year-old songstress was in Budapest for a concert and so accepted her awards via video link. On the third occasion she appeared to be wearing little more than a folded piece of plastic, enhancing her reputation for outlandish outfits.
"I wish so much that I could be there," she said, before launching into a song for the MTV crowd in the Caja Magica venue in Madrid. "Get off my stage!" she shouted at the end.
Lady Gaga and Katy Perry went into the annual awards ceremony -- one of pop music's biggest nights outside the United States -- leading the field with five nominations apiece.
Perry was also recognised, winning the best video category for "California Gurls."
Both Americans, the singers underlined the dominance of U.S. music on the night even though most prizes were decided by a popular vote on MTV's Europe Awards website.
Of the main winners, only one was not American. That was 16-year-old Canadian runescape accounts  chart sensation Justin Bieber, who beat out the likes of Eminem and Kanye West to pick up the coveted best male prize.
WIDE RANGE OF PERFORMERS
Colombian singer Shakira opened the show with British rapper Dizzee Rascal, and there were performances by acts including Kings of Leon, Kid Rock and Miley Cyrus.
Among the highlights was Barbadian star Rihanna, who sported red hair, a tiara and a short white wedding-style dress when she sang "Only Girl."
Bon Jovi were the closing act, after the band picked up the inaugural Global Icon title.
"Thanks for making us icons," Jon Bon Jovi told the cheering crowd. "I want to thank everyone at MTV for this unbelievable ride over a quarter of a century. We're still buy wow gold doing what we do and we're doing it well."
According to MTV, the group has sold more than 125 million albums, performed over 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries to 35 million fans and were the number one touring act in 2008.
Rounding out the prizes were U.S. performers Ke$ha (best new act), Eminem (best hip hop), Paramore (best alternative), Linkin Park (best live act) and 30 Seconds to Mars (best rock).
"Hopefully I can inspire you guys to give the finger to the cynics," Ke$ha told the screaming crowd.
"Desperate Housewives" actress Eva Longoria hosted the event, and managed eight changes of costume, all designed by Victoria Beckham.
At one point she was joined on stage by last year's host Perry, who tore at the shoulder straps of her successor's black dress revealing a runescape money tight-fitting bodice.

5 Career Lessons From Shakespeare

 No master of the runescape money  word, living or dead, sheds light on human behavior more eloquently than  the Bard, William Shakespeare. With an unquestionable ability to  pinpoint ambition, revenge, lust, desire, and need, the Bard creates  figurative blueprints for how to manage the ladder rungs to success,  leadership and passion in your career.
Being able to use a  sharp-tongued wit or the utterly demanding presence of silence as  Shakespeare does in his writing can and will place you in the position  you demand and desire. It is a matter of timing and knowing when and how  to pick your poison. And much like the characters in Shakespeare’s  plays, success comes in varying forms and we can draw a number of  business lessons from his writings.
In As You Like It, a rather  melancholy Jacques lamented the following: “All the world’s a stage, and  all the men and women merely players; And one man in his time plays  many parts.” He gives advice with these words that the reader should  take to heart. Playing these many parts (including that of silent yet  active listener) will, at times, gain you the most traction as you make  your vertical move.
With Jacques’ musings in mind, another of  Shakespeare’s characters, Polonius, from Hamlet, gives his son Laertes  some sound guidance as Laertes traveled off to school. This counsel  establishes a baseline for young professionals and executives finding  their way in the new, volatile and unpredictable corporate world.
What  follows are five valuable business lessons from Shakespeare, embedded  in a father’s pearls of wisdom delivered to his son in one of  Shakespeare’s timeless masterpieces.

 1- “Give thy thoughts no tongue”
Basic  as it may be as far as business lessons go, keep in mind the idea of  thinking before you speak; it looms large when you are just starting to  feel your way through your career. You must pick your battles wisely and  with caution. Know your audience, when you have one, and cater to their  needs, not your own. Remember, early on in your tenure at least, to  check your ambition at the door unless ambition is paramount in the  job’s requirements or expectations.

 2- “But do not dull thy palm with entertainment of each new-hatch’d, unfledged comrade.
Stay away from misguided individuals in the workplace who thrive on negative runescape accounts   gossip. Attempt also to steer clear of office politics and maintain  constant focus on your objectives (once you actually know what those  objectives will be). Do your job, but also be flexible when good  opportunities present themselves. In the words of another language  master, hip-hop mogul and prep-revolutionist Pharrell Williams, think  “boxlessly.”

 3- “Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice”
Regardless  of the person, be it the CEO or head custodian, practice active  listening. Actually listen to the words and understand those words  before you retort. Hard though it may be, try not to form your responses  until you have let the speaker speak. That way you will continue to  follow the speaker’s intended message. Use what you hear by  disseminating what is useful and what can be tossed aside as unimportant  (at least right now). Make intelligent decisions about with whom you  plan to share ideas and information; moreover, be careful about the  information you share.

 4- “Neither a borrower nor a lender be”
Depending  on your role and responsibilities, be careful of the information you  give to a manager, supervisor or CEO, especially if you care about  credit. It may be wise to put your head down and work without ruffling  too many feathers, and when you do dole out jewels and nuggets of  wisdom, do not give away the farm. It is also crucial to remember that  your personal life is personal. Be runescape gold protective and vigilant. Stay away from cliques and group alignments.

 5- “This above all: to thine own self be true”
This  particular comment by Polonius sums up the totality of his fatherly  advice, as well as a major component of realizing and maintaining power  for a satisfying and lengthy career. Be true to yourself and your work,  and if you believe in your hard work, fight for it intelligently with  deference and without arrogance. Be clear about your role,  responsibilities and objectives, and stick to them until your time  comes. If your time does not come in your current job or career, be  patient — it will. And most importantly, contrary to Shakespeare’s true  genius, do runescape accounts  not deceive or lie. It will only hurt you later.

Law curbs McDonald's Happy Meal toys

San Francisco has become runescape money the first major U.S. city to pass a law that cracks down on the popular practice of giving away free toys with unhealthy restaurant meals for children.
San Francisco's Board of Supervisors passed the law on Tuesday on a veto-proof 8-to-3 vote. It takes effect on December 1, 2011.
The law, like an ordinance passed earlier this year in nearby Santa Clara County, would require that restaurant kids' meals meet certain nutritional standards before they could be sold with toys.
Opponents of the law include the National Restaurant Association and McDonald's Corp, which used its now wildly popular Happy Meal to pioneer the use of free toys to market directly to children.
"We are extremely disappointed with today's decision. It's not what our customers want, nor is it something they asked for," McDonald's spokeswoman Danya Proud said in a statement.
"Getting a toy with a kid's meal is just one part of a fun, family experience buy wow gold at McDonald's," Proud said.
The San Francisco law would allow toys to be given away with kids' meals that have less than 600 calories, contain fruits and vegetables, and include beverages without excessive fat or sugar.
Backers of the ordinance say it aims to promote healthy eating habits while combating childhood obesity.
"Our children are sick. Rates of obesity in San Francisco are disturbingly high, especially among children of color," said San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar, who sponsored the measure.
"This is a challenge to the restaurant industry to think about children's health first and join the wide range of local restaurants that have already made this commitment," Mar said.
HAPPY MEALS IN THE HOT SEAT
Fifteen percent of American children are overweight or obese -- which puts them at risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and cancer, according  runescape money  to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In some states, the childhood obesity rate is over 30 percent.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest this summer threatened to sue McDonald's if it did not stop using Happy Meal toys to lure children into its restaurants. A lawyer for that group said it is on track to file the lawsuit in the next several weeks.
McDonald's debuted the Happy Meal in the United States in 1979 with toys like the "McDoodler" stencil and the "McWrist" wallet. Modern offerings have included themed items from popular films like "Shrek" or sought-after toys like Transformers, Legos or miniature Ty Beanie Babies.
In 2006, the latest year for which data is available, fast-food companies led by McDonald's spent more than $520 million on advertising and toys to promote meals for children, according to a U.S. Federal Trade Commission report.
When the efforts of other food and beverage companies were included, promotional runescape accounts  spending aimed at children topped $1.6 billion.

 

 6 Time Management Tips That Will Get You Promoted 

Being more efficient and more runescape accounts  valuable to your company is the best way to put your career on the fast track. If you are always working hard, getting more done and bringing more value to your company than your peers, you will get noticed.
My wife is a great example of this. She is working as a writer, working on her first book. When we moved to Norway (we moved about 6 months ago for my job) she decided that she wanted to take a part time job.
She looked around and before long she was working as a salesman for a local gym chain. She worked 3 times a week. Every time she was at work she would work hard. She made about twice as many sales as the other salesmen because she was talking to 3 times as many people.
She also helped update their signs, their offers and presentations to make it easier for customers to understand the offer and buy a membership.
After three months she was promoted. Even though most of the staff had worked longer then she, she got the job and no one was surprised, she was doing the best work.
My wife and thousands of others practice time-proven techniques that make sure runescape money you move forward:
1. Ask yourself and your boss what the best use of your time is
If you don’t know exactly what your boss feels is the best use of your time and what the highest value activity is for you, ask! It is by doing that or those tasks that you can move forward quickly. Building the most value will get you noticed and to do that you have to find out what it is you are expected to do.
2. Ask your boss to help you clear away other tasks so that you can focus on the highest value task
Once you have found out what your most important task is you will probably notice that only a small portion of your time is spent on it. Talk to your boss about it and see if you can get rid of or delegate some of the tasks to other people so you can spend your time building as much value as possible to the company.
3. Plan your week so that you spend as much time as possible working on the most important task
Make a weekly plan trying to free up as much time as possible to your important task. List everything you do in a week and figure out how you can get the most possible out of your workday.
4. Organize each day
Once you have planned your weeks you can start organizing each day. What is most important? What needs to be done first? What second? Once you have that daily plan, get to it and start checking them off one by one.
5. Get in earlier, work harder, stay later
By working focused you will get a lot more done then your peers. But if you also make the great impression of being first to the office and the last to leave runescape gold whilst all the while producing at a high rate, you will get noticed, appreciated and promoted.
6. Be proactive
Don’t let the circumstances control you. Instead, control the circumstances. If you want to be promoted you have to show that you can shoulder the responsibility. Ask for more responsibility and when you get it, do it well and do it fast!
Even if you aren’t given responsibility, you can do like my wife. She noticed that the signs weren’t working; the customers didn’t know instantly what they were offering. So she made new ones and presented them to her bosses, they liked them and before weeks end they were using her ads.
The fact that she proved she could take more responsibility is one of the reasons she was promoted over the others.
Conclusion
Your career is your choice. If you want to move forward quickly you have it within you. If you don’t do what it takes, you will not get promoted. Don’t be reactive and let others control your life. Take control of your future and do all that you can to be the best employee and the obvious choice to runescape accounts  advancement.

Peanuts during pregnancy may lead to later allergy  

The children of mothers runescape accounts who ate a lot of peanuts while pregnant may be at an increased risk of developing an allergy to the nut -- and the more peanuts the mothers ate, the greater the chances, a study found.
But it still is not yet clear if a mother's consumption of peanuts can actually cause the serious and potentially fatal allergy that appears to be on the rise, currently affecting about 1 percent of children.
Scott Sicherer of Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and a team of colleagues at five locations across the United States studied more than 500 infants between 3 and 15 months old who likely had a milk or egg allergy but no known peanut allergy. Most had not yet tried to eat peanuts.

The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, found that more than a quarter displayed a strong reaction in a peanut "sensitivity" test, with children of mothers who had consumed peanuts during pregnancy having nearly three times the odds of showing this potential indication of runescape money an allergy.

The more peanuts a woman ate while pregnant, the greater her child's chance of a positive test -- although consuming peanuts while breast-feeding did not appear to have a significant impact.
Sicherer and his team noted that the research did not show a clear cause and effect relationship, and that the children in the study only underwent blood tests for peanut sensitivity, which isn't the same as an allergy diagnosis.
His team is continuing to follow the children to determine what allergies might come and go.
The lack of clarity on the issue has left many women confused.
"I have had mothers say runescape gold they ate a lot of peanut and think they caused a peanut allergy, and I have had other mothers say they avoided and wonder why their child has an allergy," Sicherer told Reuters Health in an email.
"I think that we unfortunately have to say that we do not yet know a certain answer. But the good part of that conclusion is that mothers should not necessarily have a guilty feeling about their past diet decisions."
Guidance on maternal peanut consumption has varied over the last decade.
The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a recommendation in 2000 that women consider avoiding peanuts during pregnancy and breastfeeding if one of the parents or a sibling had runescape money allergies, but withdrew it in 2008.

How Much Are You Over-Paying For Your Auto Insurance  

To keep or let go?  

What if you were in a hotel bathroom runescape gold and you saw a notice that said, "take care of the landslide". Could you possibly have guessed what it meant?
The Chinese call it Chinglish and many foreigners have had the experience of reading such confusing Chinese translations of English words and phrases.
To help foreigners better understand Chongqing, a translation center was set up under the foreign affairs office of the municipality in southwest China. It released standard translations to some widely-used words on Wednesday.
The standard translations included "livable Chongqing", "traffic-smooth Chongqing", "forest Chongqing", "safe Chongqing", "healthy Chongqing", and "crime crackdown", which referred to the efforts of the city, notorious for its mafia, in clamping down on gang crimes.
"Different or even wrong translations can trouble foreigners," an official was quoted by the Chongqing Morning News as the reason for the move.
"The phases we translated are all widely used," he said. "For instance, 'gang crime crackdown' has been searched by netizens on Baidu.com 152,597 times in the past seven months."
However, these standard translations were still not "standard" enough in the eyes of foreigners.
Daniel Cotterall, who had been an editor at a Beijing-based news organization and has runescape accounts spent several years learning Chinese, pointed out that "forest Chongqing" could be "green Chongqing" and native English speakers wouldn't say "traffic-smooth Chongqing".
But Cotterall said the translations were still better than others he had seen.
"The funniest one I saw was in the bathroom of a hotel in Heze," he said. Heze is a city in east China's Shandong province. "Take care of the landslide," it said, when it actually meant "be careful of the slippery floor."
According to a report on China's portal website Netease.com, journalists from the New York Times and the Mirror Weekly collected many amusing mistranslations in Shanghai during the World Expo this year.
One example: at a shuttle bus stop outside an airport, a sign read: "Please be well seated and always make yourself safe. Thank you".
Another one was at a construction site: a yellow sign read "Execution in progress" which actually meant construction was underway.
In the menu of a restaurant, a soup cooked with mushroom and black-bone chicken was translated as "bacteria wu chicken soup", as the character of wu translates to black in Chinese.
And as the 16th Asian Games draws near, a slogan at the metro station in Guangzhou was rated by netizens as the "most shocking slogan". It said "Ying-Asian Games". Ying in runescape money Chinese characters means welcome.
More than 600 volunteers from the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies collected more than 4,800 mistranslations on signboards, menu cards and shop fronts in the city and handed in the result to the Organization Committee of the 16th Asiad. The government of Guangzhou also made efforts to improve translations in public places before the event.
"During the Asian Games, there will be many foreigners in Guangzhou. Wrong translations could damage the image of our city," said Li Wenhui, a volunteer.
A foreign national, who called himself a linguist and worked at an international business school in China, said on the website of Guardian.co.uk that he "whole heartedly backed the Chinese authorities' plan to reduce mistranslations".
The netizen, nicknamed Ruptured, said that mistranslations could be the result of "poorly written and poorly used pocket translators".
"The Chinese authorities have every right and responsibility to prevent the Chinese people as a whole from becoming a laughing stock in the West," he said.
Chen Dezhang, a renowned linguist from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, believed the efforts by the authorities were necessary, although he agreed that the standard translations in Chongqing could be improved.
"In official international communications, Chinglish and mistranslations must be eliminated," said the professor, who had worked in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
"There is no such thing as 'English with Chinese characteristics'," he said. "Language is serious business."
Yet foreigners seem to appear tolerant to wrong translations or Chinglish.
"I think a lot of Westerners enjoy Chinglish -- it is charming," Cotterall said.
"After all, the Chinese are not native speakers," he said. "If I make a mistake when speaking in Chinese, you can understand it as well."
He said that standard English was like a metropolis while Chinglish was akin to small cities with a certain flavor.
"I like the 'small cities' more," he said. Chinglish reflected the Chinese way of thinking, which he believed was very interesting.
In fact, some Chinglish phrases runescape accounts have even become accepted English phrases, said Zhao Jianhui, an English teacher with the School of Business Foreign Languages in the Shanxi University of Finance and Economics.
"For example, 'long time no see' is a word-by-word translation of a Chinese greeting, but foreigners use it too, now," she said.
The teacher believed that the  change was a result of China's growing influence in the world.
She hoped that more Chinese words could be accepted in the English language.
Some universities have also begun to adopt Pinyin in the translation of their names. A good example is Beihang University, which used to be called the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.
On the social networking website Facebook, there is a group calling for "saving Chinglish", which has attracted thousands of members.
Oliver Lutz Radtke from Germany has also called for preserving Chinglish and has even written a book about it.
"A lot of the Chinglish signs carry a certain Chinese notion in them which enriches the English language and runescape money makes English more Chinese," he was quoted by AFP as saying.

Opera's new voice

This year's Beijing Music Festival runescape gold  will wrap up Sunday with its closing gala the world premiere of opera Song of Farewell. The Chinese production is being hailed as a milestone work for the new era of Chinese opera.
Inspired by the film Farewell My Concubine, Song of Farewell is set in Beijing in the 1920s. With a traditional Chinese backdrop and performed in Mandarin with English subtitles, the Western opera is about a young talented screenwriter Tang Qisheng who falls in love with Peking Opera actor Yang Shaoshan and writes the screenplay Farewell My Concubine for Yang. The opera elevates Yang to fame, but ends with the tragic death of Tang.
"Chinese opera should not just follow the way of Western opera, but should be China's own and introduce Chinese art to the world," commented Yu Long, acclaimed conductor and founder of the festival. According to Yu, Song of Farewell is a world-class opera with professional production, aesthetics, a rich culture and an international vision.
"What's more important, it is a pure Chinese opera production," he added.
Co-produced by Beijing Music Festival Art Foundation, Shanghai Opera House and Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the work is a seemingly fitting end to the 21-day, 13th Beijing Music Festival.
"It is the most important Chinese opera so far and will certainly start a new era for runescape accounts  Chinese opera," commented Zhang Guoyong, conductor of the opera and vice president of the Chinese Musician's Association.
"About three or four years ago, I had the idea of an original Chinese opera, especially with a Peking Opera element, therefore we wrote Song of Farewell with a Peking Opera story and a love theme, which is universal. There are no boundaries between Peking Opera and Western opera or any art forms," Ye Xiaogang, composer of Song of Farewell, told the Global Times.
"I believe it is the first clear and bold demonstration of gay love and human love in the history of Chinese opera. Although the love ends in a tragedy, the purity of true love is well presented," Ye added.
According to Ye, the opera appears to be conservative and traditional with its 1920s Peking Opera storyline, but it actually has radical and pioneering elements, a mix of old values with avant-garde spirit and behaviors.
"It is about a strong romantic character fighting with his time and its values, eventually choosing death to farewell his lover and also his time. It is very bold and radical even in present day," Ye said.
Running for two hours with an intermission, the opera consists of four acts: Meeting, Commitment, Wandering and Farewell. According to Zhang, the opera is different from those of Verdi and Puccini's and it is rather Wagner in style with Chinese music elements.
"It is hard to mix Peking Opera with Western opera, for instance, Peking Opera sings with dancing and body movement, Western opera sings runescape money with exaggerated hand movements; there is also no conductor in Peking Opera. Therefore, it is a real challenge to have Peking Opera actors and Western opera actors on the same stage," Ye explained.
Ye said that he avoided Peking Opera singing, but kept the body movements. "The leading actor Yuan Chenye (Yang Shaoshan), a Western opera singer, actually went to a professional Peking Opera house to learn Peking Opera's body movement and adjust his previous Italian way of stage performance," Ye explained. "After all, Song of Farewell is still a Western opera, only with a Peking Opera writer's story."
Song of Farewell also uses traditional Chinese instruments such as the pipa, erhu and dizi.
The opera will stage tomorrow and Sunday at Poly Theatre before touring major Chinese cities wow gold  and playing at the top European opera houses.

 

Country duo Sugarland tops U.S. pop chart

Country duo Sugarland claimed runescape gold the No. 1 spot on the U.S. pop album chart Wednesday, beating rockers Kings of Leon for the honors.
Elton John, meanwhile, achieved his highest charting set since 1976, but Rod Stewart's "Great American Songbook" series is running out of steam.
Sugarland sold 203,000 copies of "The Incredible Machine," its third chart-topper, during the week ended October 24, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
The duo, Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, previously topped the Billboard 200 with 2008's "Love On the Inside," which debuted at No. 2 with 313,000 copies and claimed the top spot the following week with 171,000. The Walmart-exclusive CD/DVD package "Live on the Inside" debuted at No. 1 in August 2009 after selling 76,000 copies.
Kings of Leon's "Come Around Sundown" started at No. 2 with 184,000, earning the band both its highest charting album and best sales week.
Its last set, 2008's "Only By the Night," bowed at No. 5 with their best sales week (74,000 copies), but peaked at No. 4 nearly a year later, in September 2009. Each of the band's albums have posted runescape accounts successively higher peaks: its 2003 debut, "Youth & Young Manhood," topped out at No. 113, 2005's "Aha Shake Heartbreak" hit No. 55, and 2007's "Because of the Times" halted at No. 25.
Five other new entries made the top 10: Elton John and Leon Russell's collaboration album, "The Union" (No. 3, 80,000), Rod Stewart's "Fly Me To The Moon" (No. 4, 79,000), "Glee: the Rocky Horror Glee Show" (No. 6, 48,000), Shakira's "Sale El Sol" (No. 7, 46,000), and Third Day's "Move" (No. 9, 37,000).
For John, "Union" is his highest charting set since 1976's "Blue Moves" peaked at No. 3. John last reached the top 10 with the greatest hits set "Rocket Man: Number Ones" in 2007, when it debuted and peaked at No. 9. And, with "The Union's" 80,000 start, it marks John's best sales week since December 2002, when "Greatest Hits 1970-2002" shifted 108,000 units.
As for Russell, he last went higher with the No. 2 set "Carney" in 1972, which spent four weeks in the runner-up slot.
Stewart's new disc marks the fifth installment in his smash "Great American Songbook" series. But its 84,000-unit start marks a hefty drop from the previous edition, which started at No. 2 in October 2005 with 193,000 units. He topped the chart with the third edition in 2004.
For the cast of "Glee," the "Rocky Horror" set is both their lowest sales start and chart debut so far. However, since this album came out a week before its songs runescape money aired on its companion episode on October 26, it could gain on next week's chart.　
Shakira's "Sale" is the Colombian diva's second Spanish-language effort to reach the top 10. In 2005, "Fijacion Oral: Vol. 1," debuted and peaked at No. 4 with 158,000.
Christian act Third Day's last studio set, 2008's "Revelation," begin at No. 6 with 75,000.
Last week's champ, Lil Wayne's "I Am Not a Human Being," fell to No. 5 with 65,000. Eminem's "Recovery" slipped three to No. 8 with 43,000. Darius Rucker's "Charleston, SC 1966" tumbled eight to No. 10 with a little under 37,000.
Overall album sales totaled 5.2 million units, up 3% compared to the previous week, but down 10% compared to the comparable sales week of 2009. Year to date album sales stand at 236.14 million, down 13% buy wow gold  compared to the year-ago period.

Kids breathe new life into old rubbish  

Frying chicken is fairly runescape money simple, if a little messy. You dip pieces of chicken into a mix of egg and milk, roll them around in flour and spices, then cook the chicken in sizzling hot oil until the pieces are brown, crispy and delicious.
But wait! Don%u2019t forget to add a dash of dimethylpolysiloxane, an anti-foaming agent made of silicone that is also used in Silly Putty and cosmetics.
Now add a heaping spoonful of tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), which is a chemical preservative and a form of butane (AKA lighter fluid). One gram of TBHQ can cause %u201Cnausea, vomiting, ringing in the ears, delirium, a sense of suffocation, and collapse," according to A Consumer%u2019s Dictionary of Food Additives. Five grams of TBHQ can kill you.
Sprinkle on thirteen other corn-derived ingredients, and you're only about twenty shy as many ingredients as a single chicken nugget from McDonald%u2019s. And you were using pulverized chicken skin and mechanically reclaimed meat for your chicken, right?
No one in his or her right mind would cook chicken like this. Yet every day, hoards of Americans consume these ingredients in Chicken McNuggets, which McDonalds claims are %u201Cmade with white meat, wrapped up in a crisp tempura batter.%u201D
However chicken only accounts for about 50% of a Chicken McNugget. The other runescape accounts  50% includes a large percentage of corn derivatives, sugars, leavening agents and other completely synthetic ingredients, meaning that parts of the nugget do not come from a field or farm at all. They come from a petroleum plant. Hungry?
Scariest perhaps is the fact that this recipe is a new and improved, %u201Chealthier%u201D Chicken McNugget launched in 2003 after a federal judge called the deep-fried poultry bites %u201Ca McFrankenstein creation of various elements not utilized by the home cook.%u201D Also terrifying is the fact that these McFrankenuggets are overwhelmingly marketed to children who love their fun shapes and kid-friendly size.
While McDonald%u2019s is of course the poster child for fast food ire, if you look at the nutritional information for chicken at any fast food restaurant, the ingredient list will be dozens of items longer than the egg, flour, chicken and oil recipe you might use at home.
Eating fast food is a habit, but it is one that you can break? No doubt you rarely plan to have a delicious meal at Arby%u2019s for dinner, a lingering lunch at runescape gold  Carl%u2019s Jr. or a special breakfast at the Burger King in the airport. It just happens. You are late, tired, hungry, broke, or all of the above. You have no time, and you must find something to eat before you crash. All of a sudden a bright, friendly sign beckons from the side of the road: Drive-through!
In five minutes you are happily chowing down on an inexpensive, filling meal. But don%u2019t be fooled %u2013 the true cost of fast food does not come out of your wallet, but out of your body, your health, and your years on this earth.
You can break the unhealthy fast food habit: educate yourself about the true ingredients of fast food items, plan ahead for your meals, carry healthy snacks like nuts to ward off hunger and cook healthy chicken recipes at home. Convince yourself that fast food is the most disgusting stuff on the planet and is harmful to you and runescape accounts to those you love. After reading this, that shouldn%u2019t be too hard.
Full ingredient list for a Chicken McNugget (from McDonald%u2019s website):
White boneless chicken, water, food starch-modified, salt, seasoning (autolyzed yeast extract, salt, wheat starch, natural flavoring (botanical source), safflower oil, dextrose, citric acid, rosemary), sodium phosphates, seasoning (canola oil, mono- and diglycerides, extractives of rosemary). Battered and breaded with: water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch. Prepared in vegetable oil (Canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil with TBHQ and citric acid added to preserve freshness). Dimethylpolysiloxane runescape money added as an antifoaming agent.

Kids breathe new life into old rubbish

Caricaturist shows students runescape accounts at an international school that trash can be recycled into art, Wang Wei finds out
Over the past month, the place with the greatest appeal for Annie Chen, an 11th grader at Beijing BISS International School, was the rubbish bin at her home.
Her plan was simple - to collect a stack of junk and rebuild it into something beautiful.
Using paper, chunks of wood, knotted knitting wool and other expired materials, Chen created the face of popular US TV host, Oprah Winfrey.
"It was fun," she said. "I never thought I could make a person's face with junk. I learned to think out of the box and be creative."
Chen's masterpiece was part of a workshop, called "Creativity Development Through Art and Junk", from lecturer and artist Hanoch Piven.
Piven, an Israeli born in Uruguay who is best known for his celebrity caricatures, gave the workshop to primary and secondary students at Beijing BISS International School last week.
He worked with students on how to turn "found materials", which are more runescape gold commonly known as "junk", into magnificent and meaningful pieces of art.
Piven said when participants look at objects in a different way, by forgetting their names and their use and instead concentrating on their shapes, they can expand their capabilities.
"Art teaches us to look at the world with fresh eyes," he said. "It teaches us to do the same thing again and again, but differently."
Scientific research has shown that studying art can develop a student's right brain and ignite imagination and creativity, which can then energize learning in all subject areas.
But while students at the international school are enjoying a chance to amplify creativity under the guidance of the professional artist, most local students are in the midst of intense academic pressure.
According to the curriculum plan for China's compulsory education, primary and middle schools have between 857 and 1,470 class hours in all - subjects relating to art account for only 9-11 percent of the total.
But Wang Siyi, a senior runescape money high school student, has access to even less time to practice her hobby after entering her final year of high school.
Wang said she had about 35 classes each week, of which one was reserved for drawing. Even this though was often replaced by math or English.
Over the past three years, Wang's drawing time, which she describes as a "happy hour", has been dominated by endless examinations and homework. Worse still, she has one more year to go before the dreaded gaokao (university entrance examination).
"When I told my parents that I wanted drawing to be my future, they frowned and said the wow gold chance for success as an artist was like winning the lottery," said the student of No 57 Middle School.
"They told me that the best path was to get a university degree and then find a government job."
For many other parents and educators in Beijing, a good student is all about the grades.
Art and music, which are not tested under the gaokao system, give way to subjects such as mathematics and English.
Chen Yanfei, president of the Sports and Arts College at the Beijing Institute of Education, said there are many loopholes in China's system of art education.
Chen said schools don't put enough emphasis on art. Subsequently, the subject faces a shortage of teachers and a lack of facilities.
"Art education is an important criterion when it comes to evaluating the quality of a country's education," she said.
But for most students, academic goals are much simpler to understand.
"I just wish my parents could pay for me to study abroad so I wouldn't need runescape gold to worry about these endless exams," Wang said.

Kristen Stewart enjoyed stripping 

The 20-year-old actress - who runescape gold plays a teenage runaway who becomes a stripper in new film 'Welcome to the Rileys' - wasn't scared about peeling off her clothes or walking around in raunchy outfits because she believes she has matured and was ready for the role.
She said: "I think what surprised me most is probably the fact that I was so unaware of the fact that I was walking down the street with my robe opened and fishnets and beyond caring at all. I wasn't scared.
"I had known about this for a while before it got up and running. I'm really glad that it took awhile to do so, because I think I was old enough to play the part - as opposed to not ready. I think I would have shied away from too much, so it was shocking to find myself in situations like that, being completely fine runescape accounts with them."
Kristen had no preconceptions about lap dancers or how they should act but says shooting the movie in New Orleans really helped her get into the role as did the revealing clothes she had to wear.
She added to America's OK! magazine: "I think what is cool about the costume is you think stripper . I don't think a whole lot when I think stripper, to be honest. A lot of people have certain ideas about how they must be but I didn't really have any. But I always imagined they'd be sexy at least or something because that's sort of their job but it's on the contrary."
Kristen visited a strip runescape money club for the first time to research her role, and even took pole-dancing classes - which she admits "hurt".
She added: "I learned how to pole dance, although you never really see it. You do for a second; it's like in silhouette. It really hurts and you don't realise, of course, it's really going to runescape accounts show."
 

Greece seeks Marathon boost on 2,500th anniversary 

The promotion and prize money for the $2.1 runescape money million event has been limited by Greece's serious financial crisis, organizers said Tuesday. Only about 20 elite runners are expected to compete in the race, whose hilly course virtually rules out the possibility of a world record.
The Greek race traces the run of the messenger Pheidippides in 490 B.C. from the plain of Marathon to Athens, where legend says he collapsed and died after announcing the victory of the Greeks over Persian invaders.
The battle is seen as a turning point in the history of ancient Greece.
The marathon was first run as a competitive race when the Olympics were revived as modern games in 1896 in Athens. The annual race in Athens still ends at the marble Panathenian stadium where those games were held, but it has only been upgraded to a major sporting event in the past decade.
"Millions of people know what the marathon race is, but many of them do not know what the origin of that race is," said Nicolas Kanellopoulos, head of runescape accounts the Greek National Tourism Organization, an event sponsor.
"Not every marathon runner dreams of running the classic course ... That is something we're working to change."
A series of events arranged by organizers and private sponsors will be held in late October to highlight this year's race, including an outdoor concert and a conference by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
Vassilis Sevastis, head of Greece's Amateur Athletic Association, said the number of participants — more than double the previous record in 2008 — had "reached its physical limit" this year, because of lack of space at the starting point of the race in Marathon and narrow sections of the race route itself.
"We are trying to have more elite runners every year ... but a runescape gold finishing time of 2 hours and 10 minutes on the Athens course, would mean 2:06 on a (flatter) course," he said. "And of course luring elite athletes requires a lot of money — and that's difficult in the current circumstances."
Greece was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy this year with international loans from  European countries and the International Monetary Fund worth $152 billion over three years.
African runners have made up the bulk of elite runners in Athens in recent years, and again lead the rankings in the 2010 race — with Kenyans Jonathan Kosgei Kipkorir, Jackson Koech and Jacob Kiplagat Yator for the men, and Ashu Kasim of Ethiopia and Russia's Irina Permitina and buy wow gold Kenyan Mary Ptikani for the women.

Australian study rejects benefits of fish oil capsules in pregnancy 

A University of Adelaide study runescape gold  has found no evidence that taking fish oil capsules during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of post-natal depression, contrary to international recommendations.
In an article published on Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers say a study of 2,400 pregnant women in five Australian maternity hospitals between 2005 and 2009 supports this finding.
Professor Maria Makrides, who is Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Adelaide and Deputy Director of the Women's and Children's Health Research Institute, says the results also contradict existing recommendations that fish oil capsules taken in pregnancy help newborn babies' language and cognitive development.
In a five-year study led by Makrides, half the women in the later stages of pregnancy runescape accounts  were given fish oil capsules and the other half vegetable oil capsules. There was no significant difference in either the incidence of post-natal depression or neuro developmental outcomes of their children.
While depressive symptoms were more common among women with a previous or current diagnosis of depression, there was no difference buy wow gold  between the control group and those taking fish oil capsules.
Similarly, 700 children from the study group who were assessed for cognitive and language development at 18 months of age showed no marked differences.
"These results show that recommendations to increase omega 3 fatty acids in pregnancy are being made without sound evidence," Makrides says.
She says previous findings from the United States and Europe runescape money suggesting the benefits of fish and seafood during pregnancy were based on observational studies that could not separate the influence of social variables from the intake of fish and seafood.
"Despite the paucity of hard evidence, women are being recommended to increase their intake of fish oil fats in pregnancy and the nutritional supplement industry is successfully marketing products with fish oil, claiming they optimize brain function in both mother and infant," Makrides says.
"Before omega 3 supplementation in pregnancy becomes widespread, it is important to establish not only any benefits, but also any risks to mother or child," she adds. 

Sugarland takes musical journey into steampunk 

Country-pop duo Sugarland have never runescape gold seemed punk, but that perception has been changing in recent months and could be further heightened this week with the release of their fourth album, "The Incredible Machine."
It's not that they are punk in the 1970s Sex Pistols spit-at-the-audience way, or even the post-punk Green Day mosh pit way. No, Sugarland has strayed into a branch of sci-fi literature known as "steampunk," which encompasses a romanticized vision of a society that's evolved intellectually but remains stuck in the Victorian Age, technologically.
Sugarland guitarist/vocalist Kristian Bush told Reuters that while steampunk, which first gained a cult-like popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s, influences "The Incredible Machine," the album is not by itself a steampunk piece of work.
But the subculture and the album's music are connected in the way they both tell stories, visually, as much as in words.
"Lyrically, the place where (steampunk) has its closest relation is imagery. Country music is traditionally based on the narrative. This album has a different approach...the way we're telling the stories is by showing rather than telling. Images are clear. You observe them, rather than being told by a narrator."
Even with this new direction, "The Incredible Machine" retains familiar pop elements of the group's past catalog.
Lead singer Jennifer Nettles tackles ideas surrounding romantic runescape accounts relationships -- in particular, sticking with them despite problems -- on the pop tinged "Stuck Like Glue" and the mid-tempo "Every Girl Like Me."
This July, Sugarland released "Stuck Like Glue" as the first single off the album, and it peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Last week, they released the second single, an inspirational piano song called "Little Miss."
STEAMPUNK TOUR
Sugarland rolled out their "steampunk" concept on tour last spring and summer with a theatrical set design and costumes worn each night on stage. Not only did the shows introduce fans to new songs, they served to promote "The Incredible Machine" months before the release date.
"The way steampunk works -- it's just different ways to augment rock wear," Bush said. "Even though we're dressed a certain way, it gives a heightened sense this is a show."
The band worked with costume designer Tiffany Terranova, who dressed Nettles and Bush in mostly all black outfits that put a modern twist on runescape money 19th century-style apparel. Stage designs mirrored the inner workings of an old machine.
For a pair of country stars, it creates a rather unique experience, Bush said, but added that "what we found by looking into the audience is people who are asking not 'is it country?' but 'do you like it?'
Since their formation in 2003, Sugarland has dominated country sales charts. Their first three albums went multi-platinum, which is a rare feat these days for any artist of any genre. So, delving into the world of sci-fi steampunk wasn't a decision Sugarland took lightly.
But Bush said their direction on "The Incredible Machine" reflects a willingness for the duo to look outside the confines of traditional country sounds.
"There's a very long history of reinvention in country music, maybe more than any other genre," Bush said. "Every time, country music survived. The genre not only needs it, but it's part of its hall of fame. I get nervous, but I can't wait to find out what people think. Add a dash of Blondie, Simple Minds, the Clash and Johnny Cash -- this is buy wow gold what you're going to come up with."
 

Many obese people see no need to lose weight

Among more than 2,000 runescape gold  obese Dallas County residents surveyed in 2000-2002, 14 percent of African Americans and 11 percent of Hispanics -- but just 2 percent of whites -- believed that they did not need to lose weight, Dr. Tiffany M. Powell of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and her colleagues found.
People who misperceived their body size were happier with their health, and felt healthier, than those who did recognize their obesity; they were also more likely to think they were at low risk of developing high blood pressure or diabetes or having a heart attack during their lifetimes. In fact, two-thirds of people with body size misperception thought they were at low risk of becoming obese.
The study "points to really a lack of understanding about the effects of obesity," Powell told Reuters Health. At the same time, she added, "you walk a fine line, because you don't want people to necessarily have an unhealthy body image, but you also want people to understand that they need to lose weight."
Powell and her colleagues investigated body size misperception among 2,056 men and women participating in the Dallas Heart Study. All were obese, meaning that they had a body mass index (BMI; a measure of weight in relation to height used to gauge obesity) of 30 or greater. For a woman 5 feet 5 inches tall, this translates to weighing at least 180 pounds; for a 6-foot-tall man, this would mean weighing at least 221 pounds.
The researchers gauged study participants' body perception by having them look at a runescape accounts  series of nine figures in a row, from very thin to very obese, and asking them first to choose their ideal figure, and then to choose the figure that looked like them. People who chose ideal body sizes that were the same or bigger than their actual body size were classified as misperceiving their body size.
Eight percent of the study participants overall did not consider themselves to be obese. More educated people or those with higher incomes were no more likely to perceive their weight accurately than less-educated people or those who made less money, the researchers found.
But there were major differences in how people with body size misperception saw their own health risks, even though their actual health risks -- for example, whether or not they had high blood pressure -- were no different from people with accurate perception of their body size. For example, half thought they were healthier than most people their age, compared to a third of people who perceived their weight accurately.
Forty-four percent runescape money had not seen a doctor at all in the past year, compared to a quarter of those who accurately gauged their weight. When the "misperceivers" did see a health care provider, they were less likely to discuss their diet, physical activity level, or whether they needed to lose weight.
Based on the findings, Powell said, physicians may want to take a step back before discussing lifestyle habits with their obese patients, and asking them first about how they perceive their weight and whether or not they think they need to lose weight. The fact that many of these people may not see a doctor at all also makes it important to reach out to them in the community, she added, for example at church health fairs.
It's possible, according to Powell, that heavy people's self-perceptions are changing because overweight and obesity are becoming so much more common. "There is this tendency that if everyone around you looks a certain way, you either want to look that way or you're comfortable looking the way you buy wow gold are," Powell said.
 

8 great reasons to fly to Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh might not be on runescape gold your list of 1000 places to fly to before you die, but perhaps it should be. With the opening of a swank new Fairmont Hotel, a cultural scene that rivals that of many larger cities, and its proximity to an architectural gem that everyone should see before they head for the great beyond, this city of rivers and bridges deserves a visit. Plus, of course, now that Southwest Airlines and JetBlue fly here, airfares to Pittsburgh are amazingly cheap.
There's no place quite like Pittsburgh, an implausible and affable place of distinct and likeable neighborhoods, littered across a series of steep Southwestern Pennsylvania hills and secluded hollows, perched on cliffs and huddled down by its famed three rivers. Once at the forefront of the industrialized world, the still blue-collar city is shedding its old skin and growing into a new identity, as a knowledge center and a place of creativity.
That's not to say that Pittsburgh's gone pretentious or anything. This is still the home of the Steelers and the Pirates, though the latter ended a depressing season with a lower approval rating than their Somali namesakes. But football season's just heating up, and there are also the Penguins, just now getting out on the ice. Hate sports? No matter – this is still a great place to kick back and knock back a few (local) beers, make some new friends maybe; it's a perfect city for slowing down and just enjoying life for a couple of days. We've got eight great reasons to runescape accounts visit Pittsburgh (or, rather, da Burgh) right now.
GET IN THE ZONE There are plenty of cool neighborhoods in town, perhaps none quite as nifty as Lawrenceville. Located not far from downtown, this industrial center along the Allegheny River that served as arsenal to the Union Army during the Civil War is now a magnet for young creatives, lured in by Lawrenceville's charming vibe. The neighborhood is part of the city's 16:62 Design Zone, an area that features more than 100 home decor-related businesses catering to all tastes and budgets. While in the area, stop in at Dozen, the neighborhood bakery that's the rage around town right now.
$10 OPERA TICKETS! One thing a lot of first-timers don't know about Pittsburgh is that while the city isn't as big as it used to be, it still retains a vibrant cultural scene from its heyday. From ballet to world-class art museums, a marvelous symphony and a healthy theater scene, Pittsburgh has just about everything you could want a city to have, arts-wise, while, for the most part, keeping everything super accessible. Curious newbies can take advantage of $10 main floor tickets to the Pittsburgh Opera, home-based at the historic (and breathtaking) Benedum Center. Next up, in mid-November? Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor.
GOOD EATS Pittsburgh has long been a town of simple tastes; for far too long, it seemed like the dining scene was content to hide out at least a couple of decades back from the present time. Recently, things have been changing, and rapidly; we're nuts for the ingredient-conscious, New American dinners at Eleven, the hardcore farm-to-table Legume Bistro in the Regent Square district and the sleek look and feel – not to mention the tasty American contemporary food and cocktails at the loungy Spoon in East Liberty. In wow gold short, you can eat really well here now, and not a moment too soon.
BE AFRAID Around these parts, you don't really need to spend a lot of money on a haunted house to scare yourself half to death; all up and down the Monongahela River are terrifyingly empty towns and industrial sites that make you wonder if the apocalypse has already come and gone and you're the last one to hear the news. But for those who like their scariness to come with an admission fee, there's the awful (and awfully fun) Phantom Fright Night program at the city's vintage Kennywood amusement park, also located down along the Mon. The excitement unfolds each Friday and Saturday through the end of October.
TRY THE COFFEE Pittsburgh is full of surprises; you probably didn't know it had a killer little caf culture brewing, did you? From the locally-roasted liquid happiness at La Prima Espresso Bar (205 21st Street) to the sleek and sophisticated 21st Street Coffee down the block at #50 – they use beans from Chicago's famous Intelligentsia – to the cozy, sit down and stay awhile scene at Enricos Tazza dOro in the heart of residential Highland Park (1125 N. Highland Ave.), coffee lovers are covered.
PLAY THE MARKET The city's Strip District is famous as the home of its wholesale markets, late-night gin joints and the obscene sandwiches at the skankeriffic Primanti Brothers, but lately it's buy wow gold been showing signs of joining the 21st Century. This fall saw the inauguration of the ambitious Pittsburgh Public Market, a Friday, Saturday and Sunday affair on Smallman Street between 16th and 17th Streets that showcases the region's bounty. A must-stop on any weekend visit.
HIT THE MATTRESS Pittsburgh is full of museums, some of them quite famous; if you visit just one, it should be the off-the-grid, awesomely unusual Mattress Factory. Tucked away in the back streets of the often-ignored North Side, artists have been creating installations in the space since the late 1970s. The museum offers a unique residency program, which allows the artists to live on site while dreaming up and then executing the installation, or work of art. The museum is currently hosting an intriguing exhibit from the Lam Center of Contemporary Art in Havana, Cuba; the show deals with issues of race and racism in contemporary Cuban art.
SQUARE OFF Speaking of mattresses – we're loving the sparkly, zen-like new Fairmont Hotel that's popped up right off Market Square in the heart of Pittsburgh's walkable downtown. After test-driving plenty of local hotels over the years, it's safe to say that with the arrival of the Fairmont, we're already mostly done forgetting about the competition. Like there is any real competition. Did we make ourselves clear? There's nothing nearly as nice. Don't stay anywhere else. A vast fitness center, a happening lobby bar and quiet, contemporary rooms, nearly all of them with great views (request one overlooking the skyline's crown jewel PPG Building), make this a great hotel just to waste a weekend in, never mind the city. We didn't try the restaurant, Habitat, on our two recent weekend visits but will next time.
We might also add that Pittsburgh just an hour's drive or so to Fallingwater, the weekend home Frank Lloyd Wright designed for a runescape money wealthy Pittsburgh family.

Kuwaiti woman writer quizzed over TV comedy show 

Kuwaiti writer-director runescape gold Fajer al-Saeed has been questioned over accusations that she tried to overthrow the Gulf state's government through a television comedy show, her lawyer said on Sunday.
"She was questioned by the public prosecutor on Thursday over a complaint by the information ministry and was released without bail," Faisal al-Enezi told AFP.
The prosecutor accused Saeed of attempting to overthrow the government, change the country's economic and social systems and demolish the foundations of society using illegal means, Enezi said.
"My client categorically denied the accusations and said they were politically motivated," he runescape accounts said.
The accusations were based on a comedy show titled "Sawtak Wasal" or "Your Voice Has Been Heard," aired in August by the local satellite channel SCOPE which is also owned by Saeed, he said.
Saeed both writes and directs the show.
One episode spoke about "privatising and exporting Kuwaiti democracy" in a comic way to highlight continued wranglings that have rocked runescape money politics in the oil-rich emirate for years, Enezi said.
On Monday the public prosecution is scheduled to interrogate the satellite station's director Talal al-Saeed, a former MP and Fajer's brother, the lawyer added.
MPs have lashed out at the government over the accusations.
"Referring the SCOPE channel to the public prosecution on state security charges over a comedy show is a catastrophe and a silly act by the information ministry," parliament speaker Jassem al-Khorafi told reporters.
Liberal MP Aseel al-Awadhi said the ministry was trying to stifle freedom of speech, and former liberal MP Mohammad al-Abduljader called on the information buy wow gold minister to resign.

How To Break Bad Habits  

Do you talk over people runescape gold during conversations?Do you bite your nails when you are nervous?Do you drink like a fish or pop pills like a pharmacist?Have you ever told a lie to get a point across?Have you ever ignored the people you were with for a better conversation with someone on your cell phone?Has your recent predicament made you so worried that you can’t focus on anything?
Good, you are human. Each and every person on this earth has habits rather good or bad. There are just some things that we tend to do automatically. They have become so repetitive that they almost seem natural. Habits are inherently neutral but speaking for myself I seem to have more bad ones than good and I think I would greatly benefit from turning the tables. So how do you break bad habits?
WHAT IS A HABIT?
Now in order to break a bad habit you must have a clear understanding of what a habit is. Habits are behaviors that are repeated automatically without any thought or intent. They are so routine that they happen subconsciously. Many of them are created by repetition of a reaction to a specific situation or a measurable runescape accounts amount of positive stimuli.
We all have habits, good and bad, that effect how we respond in various situations. Take me for example. Whenever I get a chance to watch my favorite show Man vs. Wild I must have an ice cold glass of milk and Oreos. That is my good habit. J My bad habit is throwing my dirty clothes on a recliner chair in our bedroom that drives my wife nuts. She thinks we should use the chair for sitting. I use it as a dirty clothes hamper. We have agreed to disagree.
THE STEPS
In an attempt to stay married, for at least another year, I have decided it would be best to get rid of my unproductive habit. Here are a few steps that I have taken on my long road to self improvement that I think will help you as well. Some are easier than others. Good Luck.
Step One
Recognize your habits
You might not notice runescape money that every word that comes out of your mouth is negative. Maybe your compulsive drinking habit doesn’t bother you at all. The nature of habits makes them sometimes difficult to detect. They happen on a subconscious level. So if you don’t have your wife screaming at you to stop leaving your clothes in the chair they may require some personal reflecting to identify them. Others may stick out like a person wearing a ‘Go Lebron’ t-shirt at a Cleveland Cavaliers game. Take some time and examine yourself to recognize you habits, good and bad.
Step Two
Replace bad habits with a positive alternative
In my own progression towards becoming a better me and avoiding annoying my wife I have decided to put my dirty clothes in the – wait for it – dirty clothes hamper. This has done some amazing things at my home. For one I don’t have to get screamed at for throwing my clothes in the chair. Secondly I have a comfy chair to drink my ice cold milk and eat Oreos in. It was win-win scenario.
It is best to select an alternative that will have benefits that are apparent and numerous. This will wow gold help you maintain the momentum and create a good habit instead of a bad one.
Ex: If you sit in a chair and eat Oreos while watching TV it might be better to run on a treadmill while you watch TV and eat you Oreos. By using this technique you will burn the calories that you gain from eating cookies and improve your endurance for other things.
Step Three
Focus on the positive alternative instead of avoiding the negative one.
Spend your energy and focus on creating positive habits that will benefit you. I don’t know about you but when I try to avoid something intentionally I usually buy wow gold end up doing it because it is always on mind. Alter your focus on modeling good behaviors. In my situation I started by trying to avoid throwing my belongings in the chair. Now I try to make sure I clean up the room every night before I go to bed. Guess what happens when I clean up? The chair often ends up empty until Man vs. Wild comes on.
Bad habits can be broken and good ones acquired but they require the same amount of repetition and consistency that you put in the negative ones. I hear it only takes 21 days to form a habit. I will let you know I am on day 2.
Now it is your turn. I am looking for some help on breaking a bad habit. Share your thoughts and links below I can’t wait to read them.
Frank Jennings is a freelance writer and the founder of A Spark Starts - ‘All it takes is one cheap wow gold spark to start a fire that can change your life!’

"Breaking Dawn" coven members cast 

Vampires are truly going runescape gold  international in "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn."
Summit Entertainment announced a selection of actors to populate the vampire sects in the two-part conclusion to the "Twilight" franchise.
The studio covered the blood-sucking world in one sweep, listing the casts for the Amazon, Egyptian, Irish and Romanian covens as well as the American and European Nomads groups.
* Representing South America, the Amazon Coven will comprise Tracey Heggins as Senna and Judi Shekoni as Zafrina.
* The Egyptian Coven: Omar Metwally as Amun, Andrea Gabriel as Kebi, Rami Malek as Benjamin and Angela Sarafyan as Tia.
* The Irish Coven: Marlane Barnes as Maggie, Lisa Howard as Siobhan and runescape accounts  Patrick Brennan as Liam.
* The Romanian Coven: Noel Fisher as Vladimir and Guri Weinberg as Stefan.
* The American Nomads: Lee Pace as Garrett, Toni Trucks as Mary, Bill Tangradi as Randall, Erik Odom as Peter and Valorie Curry as Charlotte.
* The European Nomads are headed up by Joe Anderson as Alistair.
The vampire sects will serve varying roles in both films, which begin filming in November under director Bill Condon. Part one will be released in theaters runescape money November 18, 2011, with the second coming to theaters November 16, 2012.
Earlier this month, "Twilight" author Stephenie Meyer confirmed that 9-year-old Mackenzie Foy would play the coveted role of the daughter of Bella (Kristen Stewart) and vampire Edward (Robert Pattinson) daughter.
In September, Summit announced the Denali clan casting, with MyAnna Buring, Mia Maestro, Maggie Grace and Casey LaBow as the female members of the undead family. Christian Camargo wow gold  is the clan's patriarch.

10 Things That May Replace Vampires As Hollywood’s Next Genre Craze 

Vampires have taken a runescape gold  hold of America’s hearts and minds in their firm, pasty grip. Which is great news if you’re a fan, or a hormone-driven tween. But if you’re like me, you’re waiting for the next big genre craze to come from fantasy, or sci-fi, or anything-at-all to come and knock these bloodsuckers out of the mainstream pop-culture throne. Let’s look at some contenders…
10. WIZARDS
The once-reigning champion, wizards and witches were on everyone’s minds when Harry Potter exploded onto the scene at the turn of the century. They dominated the first half of the decade, before vampires reared their sparkley heads. But even shows like Charmed and Wizards of Waverly Place couldn’t defend the dark arts from vamp-mania. We’ll see if The-Boy-Who-Lived can take back the throne when Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 comes out later this year. Personally, I hope he vanquishes the vamp fad faster than*BLANK* did to *BLANK* in Harry Potter and The *BLANK* of *BLANK* (Spoilers censored. You’re welcome.)
9. WEREWOLVES
Once a legend in their own right, werewolves have now become the less-appreciated little brother of vampires, tagging along in all of their movies, riding on their coattails, and playing the Sharks to their Jets whenever a jazzy rival-gang dance-off was needed. I don’t know too many people who saw this year’s The Wolfman, but SyFy is premiering two lycanthrope-themed movies this year: Monster Wolf (exactly what it sounds like) and Red: Werewolf Hunter, starring geek goddess Felicia Day. Here’s to hoping little brotherfinally starts kicking some ass.
8. COWBOYS
I know what you’re thinking. Cowboys are nothing new, and a whole other genre unto themselves. But it’s hard to ignore the buzz that True Grit is getting, and even mainstream TV shows like FX’s Justified have a heavy gunslinger style and sensibility to them (at first glance, the show has no discernible premise, other than there’s a US Marshall who wears a cowboy hat). It may be a longshot, but we’ll see if the west wins its way back to the runescape accounts  mainstream this Christmas, when the Cohen brothers’ True Grit comes to theaters. It’ll be nice to have some icons that kick ass and take names instead of suck neck and take naps.
7. SPIES
Spies do have a few things in common with vampires. They both operate in secrecy, alternating between killing and seducing their prey. But spies are a little less emo, more scheme-o. Also, they get the occasional gratuitous tango scene. Special agents of all kinds are gaining steam this year, with the return of Chuck, the premieres of Nikita and J.J. Abrams’ Undercovers, and the possible return of Locke and Ben Linus in Abrams’ project, Odd Jobs.
6. ALIENS
One thing about vampire stories is that everything has a forced sexual undertone to it. And admittedly, aliens have never been real big on the sex appeal. But the ABC miniseries V, with Morrena Baccarin and Laura Vandervoort, proved that space invaders, too, can be hot. Or at least wear hot, human disguises over their hideous reptilian skin. Keep your eyes to the skies for J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 (that dude’s all over this countdown) and the upcoming mass invasion flick, Skyline. And not to jinx it, but the colossal gaming franchise Halo may finally come to the big screen.
5. ROBOTS
Why give in to the seduction of an eternal life of bloodlust and endless night, when you could just hop in a big fuckin’ robot and kick giant monster ass? The two Transformers movies have shown that we have the effects to make great looking robot films, and the first Transformers runescape money movie showed us that some of those films can have alright stories. Even Steven Spielberg himself has graced the script for Robopocalypse with his midas touch. With a litle luck, and millions of dollars worth of property damage, the Voltron movie may raise the giant, giant bar even further.
4. THE APOCALYPSE
All things must eventually come to an end. Vampires. Fads. And eventually, the world. But if it’s anything likeThe Book of Eli, or the crazy things that volunteers go through on the Discovery Channels’ post-apocalyptic simulation, The Colony, the end will at least be entertaining as hell to watch. Director Edgar Wright and actor Simon Pegg are reportedly joining the bandwagon as well, with plans for their comedy, The World’s End. Let’s hope apocalypse-fever goes epidemic.
3. MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Tales of gods and warriors aren’t just for box office blockbusters like Clash of the Titans anymore (and I use the term “blockbuster” loosely in this instance). Ancient lore has proven adaptable to family movies, likePercy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief, as well as the uber-violent, sexed-up realm of HBO, with Spartacus: Blood and Sand (whose prequel series is currently in production). Top it off with the God of Thunder himself in next year’s Thor, and you have a genre of heroes whose “immortality” comes from glory and legacy, not from that one time your boyfriend tried to eat you.
2. SUPERHEROES
Speaking of Thor, the caped crowd is rapidly cementing its hold over American cinema. Marvel Studios has a powerhouse slate lined up, including Thor, Captain America, and The Avengers. Meanwhile, DC just happens to have one of the greatest superhero films of all time (The Dark Knight) under its belt, with aGreen Lantern and Superman flick in the pipeline. And while Heroes definitely fizzled out, TV execs are trying at the genre again with wow gold No Ordinary Family. Great power and great reponsibility don’t always come with great melanin deficiency.
1. ZOMBIES
There was a time when monsters were monsters, when horror and peril couldn’t be glittered up and repackaged as romance. You could laugh, or you could cry, but the horde will always advance. And advance it has, with action-comedy Zombieland, the legendary George Romero’s Survival of the Dead, and now, with the upcoming AMC television adaptation of The Walking Dead. The zombie genre has spread its reach across every medium, from literature to video games, and this long awaited breach into television may be the final nail in the coffin that solidifies zombies as a mainstay of mainstream entertainment.
Now before the Twi-hard’s tear me apart, let me say there’s nothing wrong with the vampire craze (despite my bitter, biased tone implying otherwise). If anything, it’s opened audiences up to exploring new genres they might never have before, and I’m thankful for that. Because as long as they’re ogling cardboard cutouts of Edward Cullen, they can’t make fun of me for stockpiling ammo for buy wow gold the zombie uprising.
 

J. K. Rowling most influential woman in Britain

Leading magazine editors runescape gold   named J. K. Rowling the most influential woman in Britain, judging the Harry Potter author more powerful than Queen Elizabeth II.
Rowling, who has won global fame with her series of popular children's books about the boy wizard, topped the list compiled by editors from the National Magazine Company, which publishes 20 magazines in Britain.
They cited her writing skills, tenacity to succeed and philanthropic nature, said the company.
In second place was pop star turned fashion designer Victoria Beckham -- wife of footballer David Beckham -- with runescape accounts  the queen pushed into the third spot.
Other women who made it into the top 10 were Prime Minister David Cameron's wife, Samantha Cameron, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.
The list was compiled to mark the centenary of the National Magazine Company whose publications in Britain include Good Housekeeping, Country Living and Harper's Bazaar.
US First Lady Michelle Obama last week topped this year's Forbes magazine list of powerful women, replacing runescape money German leader Angela Merkel.

10 places for Christmas shopping 

It's official -- there are fewer than runescape gold  100 shopping days left until Christmas.
Online travel company, has created a list of the Top 10 shopping destinations around the world.
New York City -- In one day go from discovering vintage fabrics and one-of-a-kind pieces in NoLita and SoHo to browsing the high-priced designer fashion of Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co. Find killer knock-offs along Canal Street but, for a more authentic (albeit pricey) experience, check out the original artwork for sale in Chelsea.
Dubai -- Choose between lavish malls and local crafts. Maybe a sheesha (water pipe) at Al Karama or designer clothes in the swish boutiques.
Paris -- Find international haute-couture labels along rue du Faubourg St-Honoréand avenue Montaigne or check out the Galeries Lafayette and Printemps. For something more bohemian head to the maze of boutiques in Le Marais.
London -- Portobello Market is perfect for antique shopping and digging for hand-me-downs, Covent Garden offers trendy boutiques in a clustered handful of side streets, and Oxford Street balances that with a straight runescape accounts shot of constant bustle and big businesses like Top Shop and Selfridges. For a one-stop shop head to Harrods.
Hong Kong -- Popular artists like Vivienne Tam, William Tang and Walter Ma fill enormous malls, and the streets of Li Yuen East and West offer street vendors selling porcelain vases, silk garments and Chinese artworks at Stanley Market. Stroll through the Jade Market in Yau Ma Tai for traditional jewelry that represents good health and fortune.
Milan -- A surefire first stop runescape money  should be Via Montenapoleone or Via della Spiga, where you'll find both boutiques and outlets (think: 50 percent off designers like Marni and Prada). If antiques are more your style, head for the street markets.
Tokyo -- The modern metropolis is ground zero for emerging designers to flex their muscles, which you'll find anywhere from flea markets to boutiques. For more traditional Japanese items, street vendors are your best bet.
Salzburg -- Try the Christkindelm?rkt, which opens five weeks before Christmas. Enjoy hot chestnuts, mulled wine, gingerbread hearts and other specialties while you meander through the stalls of Dom and Residenz Squares.
Zurich -- Europe's largest indoor Christmas market is hosted in Zurich's main railway station. Walk up Bahnhofstrasse, the mile-long stretch that glitters with 20,640 Christmas lights and see the tree illuminated with more than 5,000 crystal ornaments. Shopping and festivities start on November 25th.
Los Angeles -- High-end paths like Rodea Drive and Melrose Avenue are complimented by downtown's Santee Alley, where you can score affordable knock-offs, and the outdoor shopping plazas like The Grove, provide more approachable brands. For a taste of interesting west coast boutiques, walk along wow gold  the pedestrian-only Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica.

A journey deep into the heart of Turkey
Wang Zhaopeng has just wow gold  returned to Beijing after spending a year as an exchange student in Turkey's Ankara University.
Of his many cherished memories the one that is still fresh in his mind is of the Shanghai Cultural Week held there.
Wang, whose major is the Turkish language, recalls how the stunning acrobatics and Shaolin martial arts wowed Ankara's audience.
"The very next day, my Turkish friends were asking me to teach them kungfu," he says.
Despite the Xinjiang Cultural Week of 2006 and Henan Culture Week of 2007, Wang says Turks know little about China. He says he and his classmates were often asked basic questions about the country by other Turkish classmates.
Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), one of the nation's most prestigious foreign universities, has 20 students majoring in Turkish, including Wang. The university recruits Turkish major students every four years.
Li Zhiyu, one of BFSU's teachers of Turkish says their four-year Turkish-language major program was begun in 1985.
The first two years are devoted to picking up basic language skills, with students being runescape gold  put through classes in Turkish history, politics and culture, from the third year. Outstanding students are given the opportunity to study in Turkey for one year.
"While the 2003 batch of graduates work mainly for the government, those graduating in 2007 are mostly with trade corporations. Increasing bilateral trade holds even better prospects for the 2011 graduates," Li says.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics of Turkey, in the first seven months of 2010, Turkish exports to China totaled $1.24 billion and imports $9.01 billion, a respective increase of 76 and 36.8 percent over the previous year.
According to Li, besides BFSU and the Communication University of China, the Shanghai International Studies University too will soon be offering a major in Turkish.
Zhou Jiang, a BFSU runescape accounts  graduate, has warm memories of the time she spent in Ankara and particularly of the Turks' friendly and helpful nature.
Guan Bo, another graduate, has similar stories. Guan worked as Chinese teacher for a 10-year-old girl named Deniz Imanci, whose father, a lawyer named Ali Imanci, is interested in Chinese antiques. When Guan showed the family pictures of China, they were amazed by how modern it looked. "It was very different from what they runescape money thought," Guan says.
At his farewell party, Ali's family made traditional Turkish food, and Guan and his classmate Mao Jingsong showed off their Chinese dishes.
Li Zhiyu and her students admit that most Turks often mistake the Chinese for Japanese or Korean but hope more cultural exchanges will create better understanding. "Two thousand years ago, our ancestors built relations with the Turks through the ancient Silk Road, and now we feel honored to be cheap wow gold the bridge between the two nations," Li adds.
A journey deep into the heart of Turkey

Simple art of cooking woos top Aussie chef  

When it comes to foreign runescape gold dishes, Neil Perry, one of Australia's most influential chefs, is all for Chinese cuisine.
"I love how the Chinese play textures off each other, and I love how they get intensities of flavor," says Perry on a recent trip to the Shanghai Expo.
"They really are the masters of creating different textures from the same product. So, as a chef, that really fascinates me."
Perry is best known for his Rockpool group of restaurants, and his in-flight menus for the Australian airline Qantas.
His introduction to Chinese food came when he was very young. In the 1960s and early 70s, his father befriended the owners of The Shanghai Village restaurant in Sydney and they were often guests in the Perry home.
"They used to cook for us, and we'd eat red braised pork shoulder, really fantastic chili mud crab, and steamed egg plant - the sort of stuff that people weren't eating in Australia back then."
Perry then started experimenting with Chinese food himself.
"Then I read everything that I possibly runescape money could, and cooked as much as I could with Chinese techniques. It's something that has come to me through reading, watching and looking at guys with woks, eating in restaurants."
The vast array of flavors and textures he discovered in Chinese food quickly captivated him.
"There's an incredible difference between regional food in China, which is wonderful. Many regions share some dishes. You see them throughout the country in various guises, but certain dishes are just unique to that region and they're quite exciting."
Perry's passion for chili makes Sichuan and Hunan provinces his favorite regions, as both are steeped in the fiery spice.
"I do love the whole idea of seasoning the way that Sichuan does it, with beautiful aged vinegars or black vinegars, sesame oil and chili oil, and the pickled and brine chilies together. They use them to create a  buy wow gold myriad of different flavors, almost using the same ingredients, but everything manages to taste extremely different."
It's not just spicy dishes he loves, but other, simpler, dishes as well - classic dishes, like former leader Mao Zedong's favorite red braised pork made in his hometown of Hunan.
"To turn pork and fat into such an amazing delicacy, from such humble ingredients - I think that's wonderful."
Chinese cuisine is enjoying a new surge of popularity in Australia, with more people starting to experiment with it. When it comes to making Chinese food in a kitchen at home, Perry has one key piece of advice.
"My biggest tip is just not to be frightened of it, because most Chinese cooking is very simple."
In the coming year, Perry will open a new Spice Temple restaurant in Melbourne and a bar called The Waiting Room.
"From there, I'd like to think about maybe doing something in China, in 2012, something runescape accounts   like that would be pretty exciting," he says.

Nine Ways Self-Esteem Affects Your Relationship

I often say that, from the most hardened wow gold  criminal to the gentle elderly woman who lives next door, the one thing we all want is love. Frequently, the women who come to me for guidance and support are struggling with their relationships. Some got married before they really knew themselves and are now “waking up” in marriages that no longer work. Others have been through multiple relationships that either become destructive or just don’t seem to last. And then there are women flourishing in relationships that are as solid today as they were back when they started. In examining them all, it is clear that a critical correlation exists between self-esteem and the ability to make choices from a place of strength and clarity in life and in love. As our self-value grows, so does our ability as women (and I would argue, as people in general) to cultivate and foster wonderful, meaningful relationships. The reasons are many.
1. You are more likely to choose a partner who also values you just as you are. There is nothing like being loved and appreciated to inspire continued growth, whether you are five or fifty-five. Having a healthy buy wow gold  dose of self-value in place when choosing a partner has the extraordinary benefit of not only making your chances of creating a healthy relationship that much better, it also ensures the continuation of your own personal growth. On the flip side, being in a state of diminished self-esteem when choosing a partner can plop you square in the middle of an unhealthy relationship, while curtailing your own individual growth.
2. You will choose a partner from a place of clarity. Positive self-esteem generally translates to an ongoing commitment to self-discovery and the honoring of one’s own path. This brings clarity to all the major decisions you make in life, including the choice you make in a partner. How can you communicate to another what you want in life—your values, loves, challenges, strengths and so on, if you don’t know yourself?
3. The better you feel about yourself, the more attractive you are to others, especially your partner. Often, the confidence you exuded when your partner first met you was the very thing that drew him/her to you. It is beautiful and powerful to watch and be around cheap wow gold someone who is in tune with her/himself.
4. It’s easier to receive love if you feel worthy. A healthy, lasting relationship requires that the fire between you and your partner is constantly being fueled. On a tennis court, if the person on the other side of the net doesn’t receive and then return the ball, you are essentially playing with yourself. This is neither fun nor invigorating. Making sure you have chosen someone who consistently gives you love, believing you are worthy of receiving the love your partner gives and then returning it, are all prerequisites to creating and maintaining a healthy relationship.
5. When you feel good about yourself, communication comes more easily. Obviously, open, honest communication is essential to a healthy, lasting relationship of any sort. In a romantic context, the relationship ceases to be in any healthy, meaningful form unless both parties are committed to and capable of genuine communication with each other. Self-value is necessary for authentic communication because it translates into believing that what you have to say holds value and is worthy of being spoken (or written, painted, sung, etc.) to your partner.
6. Valuing yourself is a prerequisite for believing in your ability to make life runescape gold  decisions, small and large. A partnership is about shared decision making. When one or the other partner is not contributing to this process because they feel unsure of their decision-making ability, it can begin to feel like a dictatorship. This often leads to resentment for one or both parties. Further, your ongoing value of your own personal journey within the relationship will ensure that you continue making decisions, throughout your relationship, that honor your own path and personal growth.
7. The happiness bar you set and achieve is directly related to your self-esteem. There is a strong correlation between your positive self-esteem and the belief that you are worthy of having and capable of creating happiness in your life. This, in turn will runescape accounts  greatly influence the criteria you set for choosing a partner and creating a relationship that supports your happiness. It will also raise the bar for what you both can and will achieve together as a couple.
8. The small stuff feels small when you feel good about who you are. Even the perfectly matched couple runs into the trials of daily life and the challenges of maintaining a healthy relationship. Self-confidence goes a long way in leading you to feel that no matter what life throws you, you can handle it by yourself or, when appropriate, as a team.
9. Self-value and good health go hand-in-hand. How can you have a healthy relationship without that? Studies have confirmed a direct correlation between low self-esteem and the willingness to engage in health-compromising behaviors. These behaviors include everything from allowing one’s self to stay in a stressful or abusive personal or professional situation to poor eating habits, exercise habits, and substance abuse. The desire and ability of each person in a relationship to be her/his best self is essential to building a strong, healthy, lasting runescape money relationship.

Antiperspirant and Breast Cancer

From bottles and microwaves wow gold  to phones and McNuggets, it seems everything is giving us cancer. While I refuse to run from my car when pumping gas or stop using my cell phone, there is one allegedly carcinogenic item that I fear: deodorant. I used to be a fan of the clinical strength stuff; however I started getting a bit wary when I wouldn’t perspire for days on end. It just didn’t seem natural to have such incredibly dry pits. I started questioning if it was harmful that my deodorant was preventing my body from a natural process—sweating.
A popular email that circulated a few years back stated that antiperspirant causes cell mutations and leads to cancer. The explanation behind the assertion was that because we aren’t perspiring (thanks to our antiperspirant), our body has no way to rid itself of toxins. Since the toxins have nowhere to go, they deposit themselves in the lymph nodes and build up, leading to a higher likelihood of us developing breast cancer.
Subsequent research has proved the link between breast cancer occurrences and antiperspirant to be highly debatable and not necessarily true. Still, many consumers have switched from standard brands to buy wow gold the all-natural, aluminum-free stuff (myself included).
What’s the Alleged Link?
Cuts, nicks, and raw skin created by shaving supposedly leave skin more vulnerable to the absorption of harmful substances—specifically aluminum. Aluminum, short for aluminum chloride, is one of the most common environmental elements and a key ingredient in antiperspirants. If we absorb even more aluminum than normal into our bodies through nicks or cuts, it gets added to the natural toxins that our body is unable to release and increases our odds of developing breast cancer. Underarms are full of white-blood-cell-rich lymph nodes that aid in the removal of cancer-causing agents (including aluminum). Antiperspirants block the skin’s ability to sweat. When you can’t sweat, you can’t rid yourself of harmful cancer-causing toxins. These toxins need to go somewhere and they end up attaching to the lymph nodes under your arms, which, logically speaking, could cause breast cancer. Antiperspirant is allegedly a carcinogen because it both prevents the body from releasing toxins and implants the toxins themselves.
Aluminum may also cause a hormonal effect similar to estrogen. Estrogen causes the production of breast cells—both normal and cancer-causing—to grow and multiply. Some scientific research does indicate that this could be a contributing factor, however the National Cancer Institute refutes these claims. Studies show that many naturally occurring compounds in the environment can mimic runescape gold the production of estrogen and cause breast cancer, so antiperspirants can’t necessarily carry all the blame.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), most breast cancers develop in the upper fourth quadrant of the breast—the part closest to where the arm is attached. This is the area where deodorant is applied, further fueling the debate that antiperspirants are linked to breast cancer. Those who believe there’s a link say that men have lower incidences of developing breast cancer from using antiperspirant because they don’t shave. The hair under their arms allegedly helps prevent the absorption of harmful chemicals by the skin.
What About Parabens?
Parabens are a type of preservative frequently used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, including deodorants and antiperspirants. They’re found in everything from toothpaste to shampoo and are largely considered quite safe due to their low toxicity profile. A 2004 study by the American Cancer Society found traces of parabens in some breast cancer tumors. In their study of twenty tumors, researchers found high concentrations of parabens in eighteen samples. It’s possible in this case that they may have entered breast tissue through the underarms. However, the ACS still ruled that all studies conducted on parabens have not shown any direct scientific link.
Luckily, deodorants and antiperspirants made in the United States rarely contain parabens. Just to be on the safe side, consumers can look at labels and avoid any antiperspirants or deodorants with parabens, commonly called: methylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, or benzylparaben.
When it comes to parabens, the verdict is still out. It’s not possible to directly link them with breast tumors, but it’s also not possible to say they’re entirely safe. More research is needed to see if using a deodorant or antiperspirant with parabens can cause changes in tissue that could lead to breast cancer.
So, Go Natural or Not?
The National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, and FDA have all emphatically said there are no conclusive findings linking deodorant to breast cancer. A 2002 study conducted by the American Cancer Society comparing women with and without breast cancer found no link between antiperspirant and breast cancer, either.
The National Cancer Institute says, “Because studies of antiperspirants and deodorants and runescape accounts  breast cancer have provided conflicting results, additional research is needed to investigate this relationship and other factors that may be involved.”
With regard to the shaving connection, while razor nicks and the friction from a roll-on deodorant or antiperspirant can increase skin infections and irritations, it’s highly unlikely that a significant amount of carcinogens can reach breast cells.
The American Cancer Society states that the exact cause of breast cancer still remains unclear. They further state that the most direct link they have found is due to changing hormone levels, which are often tied to obesity and post-menopausal hormone replacement therapy. Our best bets for lowering our risk of contracting breast cancer are regular exercise, managing our weight, avoiding smoking and drinking, and not taking hormones unnecessarily.
While I’m no oncologist, even though the ACS and NCI refute any link between breast cancer and the use of antiperspirant, I’m still sticking to the natural (and sometimes smelly) stuff. I apologize in advance for cheap wow gold any unappealing odors.
 

Four Foods That Can Never Go Green

 Some U.S. colleges blend wow gold architecture and nature so seamlessly, you might forget that they%u2019re primarily places of learning and not backdrops to your next adventure. But if you%u2019re going to spend four years anywhere, why not opt for the most spectacular surroundings possible?
University Of Colorado At Boulder: Boulder, Colorado
Students here walk to class with an ever-present view of the majestic Rocky Mountains. When it snows, the rustic buildings almost look like part of a ski lodge, which fits right in with Boulder%u2019s culture.
University Of California, Santa Cruz: Santa Cruz, California
At UCSC, you have the best of both worlds: a gorgeously lush forest leading to the mountains and numerous trails with dazzling ocean views. And what better way to revive yourself after a long day of learning than with a walk among the redwoods?
University Of Washington: Seattle, Washington
The entire campus is dotted with huge, beautiful runescape gold trees and rests on the shores of both the Union and Potage bays. Visitors can see Mount Rainier in the distance or experience nature up close by checking out the school%u2019s botanical gardens, wetlands, or grasslands.
College Of The Atlantic: Bar Harbor, Maine
This liberal arts college is located on Mount Desert Island, just off the coast of Maine. The school itself is small (only thirty-five acres), but Acadia National Park%u2019s tranquil greenery, as well as the vast expanse of the ocean, are just a short drive away.
Evergreen State College: Olympia, Washington
Recently voted the third greenest college in the country by the Sierra Club, Evergreen takes up one thousand acres of forest, giving students easy access to Washington%u2019s wealth of natural beauty. There are trails from campus that lead to beaches in Puget Sound, or you can stick around and visit the school%u2019s organic buy wow gold farm or Japanese Garden.
University Of The South: Sewanee, Tennessee
Also called %u201CThe Domain%u201D or simply %u201CSewanee,%u201D this university is found on top of Cumberland Plateau and spans thousands of acres. Thanks to the surroundings%u2019 natural resources, active students enjoy everything from rock climbing and caving to mountain biking and hiking.
Pepperdine University: Malibu, California
As if living in sunny, breezy Malibu isn%u2019t enough of a treat, this private school is situated up high in the Malibu hills (where the celebrities live). You can see the Santa Monica Mountains and the Pacific Ocean from campus, or go down the hill and travel along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway.
Aquinas College: Grand Rapids, Michigan
The school%u2019s one-hundred-plus acres are traversed by small streams that you might encounter while walking along one of the many trails that lead around the runescape money surrounding woods. There%u2019s also a park right next door that offers basketball and tennis courts and a playground.
University Of Arizona, Tucson: Tucson, Arizona
True to the surrounding region%u2019s hot, arid atmosphere, the buildings that span this school%u2019s four hundred acres have a very desert-like feel. The palm trees and cactus gardens covering the grounds contribute to that effect, as well. The university also has a huge Campus Arboretum, in which you can view hundreds of desert plants from all over the world.
Mount Holyoke College: South Hadley, Massachusetts
Just ninety minutes outside of Boston, Holyoke%u2019s sprawling lakes, waterfalls, and grounds feel worlds away from the big-city bustle. With its idyllic setting and classic Gothic architecture, is it any wonder that the Princeton Review Guide recently named it America%u2019s seventh most beautiful campus?
Cornell University: Ithaca, New York
Like UCSC, Cornell is situated on a hilltop that offers visitors and students alike a breathtaking view of Cayuga Lake. You can also find waterfalls, gorges, gardens, and cheap wow gold nature trails throughout its 745 acres.

Flamenco! Work out with a passion

For people who take Flamenco runescape gold classes, it's not just about developing the body of a speed skater, it's about channeling the soul of a Spanish dancer.
"Flamenco is a great cardio vascular workout because it's nonstop," said Cal Pozo, a dancer, choreographer and fitness expert. "It was probably Spain's step aerobics of its time."
But above all, he added, flamenco dance is about self-expression.
Pozo, who produces DVDs for the television shows such as Dancing with the Stars and Biggest Loser, said the flamenco workout resembles speed skating.
"You're constantly in a knee-flex position. Flamenco dancers have the most incredible legs, butts and thighs of any dancer."
In some cultures young girls take flamenco lessons as commonly as they do ballet lessons in the runescape accounts  United States, according to Pozo, whose first dance lessons were flamenco, courtesy of his Spanish-born parents.Jackie Kalata, a flamenco teacher at Ballet Hispanico School of Dance in New York City, instructs adults as well as children.
"It's usually a person who doesn't just want to do an aerobics class," she says of the adults who attend her group classes, adding that they are attracted by the culture.
"I have students do a whole warm-up, including shoulders, torso, legs, squats," she said. "Some movements are foreign to the non-Spanish culture so I use exercises to break it down. It's gradual because its complex."
Kalata said with regular practice the adult chest opens up and the back, the legs become very toned, "and the arm work really trains the triceps."
If the moves are initially alien, the passions are universal, according to Kalata.
"With most people it kicks in right from the first lesson. "Everybody feels loneliness, sorrow, happiness."
Flamenco music and dance is thought to have originated in 15th century Andalusia when Spain was under Arab domination. Gypsies, Christians, Moors, and Jews, are among the many groups who've shaped modern flamenco.
Kalata says flamenco shoes, which runescape money  have nails hammered into their heels and toes, are thought to derive from the tap shoes of touring 19th century American dancers.
Flamenco has become such a hybrid that even flamenco historians, called flamencologists, disagree about the origins of the word.
Sara Erde has been a flamenco dancer since her parents took her to Ballet Hispanico when she was six years old.
"That's what I loved since I was a little kid," said Erde, who is an assistant choreographer for the Metropolitan Opera's production of Carmen.
As an adult she had moved to Spain.
"Dance there is much more integrated into life there. Here people go to a dance class. There housewives dance in their kitchens."
Erde believes flamenco holds a potent appeal for women.
"You stand up straight and tall and proud and you make noise. There's this sense of empowerment. It's sort of a defiant 'this is who I am.'"
She is currently developing a flamenco class for business women to enable them to feel a sense of empowerment and strength, while at the same time feeling sexy and sensual.
"When you're dancing you don't feel like you're exercising," said Erde. "Your spirit feels good. You're allowed to express anger. You're allowed to express wow gold  every emotion."
 

Heart-healthy diet doesn’t have to be costly

 Spending more on food isn't the only runescape gold  way to buy the healthiest diet, new research shows.
"Increased spending on nuts, soy and beans, and whole grains, and less spending on red and processed meats and high-fat dairy, may be the best investment for dietary health," Dr. Adam M. Bernstein and colleagues from the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston and colleagues conclude.
The trick, according to the researchers, is to spend more on plant-based foods.
Several studies suggest that living on junk food can be cheaper than eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, the researchers note in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Research from the UK, France, Spain, and the Netherlands has also found that eating a healthy diet costs more. However, there is some evidence runescape accounts  that "healthy diets can be obtained at different levels of spending," the authors write.
To compare the relationship between food spending and diet healthfulness, the team assessed diet and spending data for 78,191 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study. They rated the women's eating habits and multivitamin intake according to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI), a tool they developed, with points awarded for consuming healthier items.
Those with the healthiest diets, whose average AHEI score was 59, spent about $4.60 per day on food, compared to about $3.70 per day for the women with the least healthy diets, who had an average AHEI score of 30.
But when the researchers divided the women into five groups based on how much money they spent on food, they found a wide range in AHEI scores within each spending group. The AHEI score difference between the bottom 10 percent and the top 10 percent within runescape money each spending group ranged from 25 to 29, the researchers point out.
In previous research, they add, a 20-point AHEI score increase has been linked to a 25 percent lower risk of heart disease.
Spending more on nuts, soy and beans, and whole grains was associated with a higher AHEI score, the researchers found, while spending more on red meat, processed meat and high fat dairy were associated with a lower score. "Fish and poultry, vegetables, and fruit and fruit juice offer the next best investment," Bernstein and his colleagues say.
They conclude: "Although spending more money is associated with a healthier diet, large improvements in diet may be achieved without wow gold  increased spending."

No time? Less money? Time for a mini-vacation  

If this languishing economy has left runescape gold  you pressed for time and short of money, you might consider stretching that relaxing getaway into bite-sized breaks.
Experts say mini-vacations, brief holidays of four days or less, offer today's traveler a restorative pause without the pressure or expense of a long journey.
"The mini-vacation is a fantastic way of changing the scene without breaking the bank," said Amelie Hurst of travel website TripAdvisor.
"The trip you spend 12 months planning and pouring all your budget into has to live up to a dream," she explained. "With a mini-vacation travelers can find themselves more ready to go with the flow."
In a recent Trip Advisor poll of almost 1,700 Americans, 22 percent said they opted to take shorter vacations of two-to-four days due to finances and six percent said it was due to vacation time.
Peter Yesawich, CEO of Ypartnership, which tracks travel trends, said the weekend getaway runescape accounts  has reigned as the most popular American leisure trip for over a decade.
Last year, with the economy still stuck in the doldrums, it accounted for almost half of all U.S. vacations.
"To Americans a vacation is a birthright," said Yesawich. "It doesn't matter how low the Dow goes, how high the unemployment, the majority Americans are still taking vacations."
Yesawich said work habits reinvented vacation habits in the prosperous 1980s and 1990s, when employment rates were rising, along with the number of two-income households.
"Work habits began to constrain vacation habits," he said. "We became more beholden to work and that drove vacation around weekends."
Yesawich said the Internet accelerated the trend and the latest economic downturn sealed it.
"Prior to 1996 there was a sanctity to Saturday, but that has disappeared in this 24/7 environment," he said.
Genevieve Brown, of Travelocity, said autumn is traditionally a popular season for mini-vacations because the kids are back in school and families have less time.
"People are still committed to taking vacations, but they're watching travel dollars closely," Brown said. "Shorter vacations make sense."
Brown said hoteliers have come up with creative ways to keep their price points strong as clients downsize. Many hotels tack on an extra day.
Margie Jordan, of ASAP Travel in Jacksonville, Florida, says mini-vacations seem to be gaining particular traction among busy executives who can't afford runescape money to flee the office for extended periods.
"It does take careful planning because you have fewer days," said Jordan, who suggests mini-vacationers decide in advance what's on their must-do-and-see list.
Yesawich believes that as technology continues to define work habits, vacations are growing shorter worldwide.
"It's not just unique to the United States," said Yesawich. "It's cascading around the world. The Germans, the Italians, the Japanese are all taking shorter vacations."
He thinks the trend will persist even after the economy recovers.
"The culprit here is time and that's not changing," he said. "The pace of life cheap wow gold continues to quicken."

'Town' is talk of box office, opening with US$23.8M

"The Town" is the talk of the box runescape gold  office, opening with $23.8 million to take the No. 1 spot.
The intense Warner Bros. drama about bank robbers in an insular section of Boston earned rave reviews. This is the second movie directed by Ben Affleck, who stars alongside Jeremy Renner, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm and Chris Cooper.
It was a crowded field this weekend as the fall film season began in earnest: Three other movies opened nationwide, with several more in limited release.
The high-school comedy "Easy A" from Columbia Pictures came in second place with $18.2 million, according to Sunday estimates. And the Universal Pictures thriller "Devil" from producer M. Night Shyamalan, about strangers trapped in an elevator, landed in third with $12.6 million.
Most box-office projections showed "Easy A" coming out on top. But as Warner Bros. distribution chief Dan Fellman explained, everything came together for "The Town" over the past 10 days, including runescape accounts  playing well at the Toronto International Film Festival.
"The campaign was always great. We positioned it to open in early fall. We had confidence in the movie — we felt if we could get in early and give it an opportunity to run, it would," Fellman said. "It performed extremely well, had great word of mouth and good reviews."
Sort of "The Scarlet Letter" set in a Southern California high school, "Easy A" stars Emma Stone in a hugely charismatic performance as a whip-smart student who takes pity on geeky guys by letting them say they've had sex with her. Eventually she wears this pseudo-promiscuity like a badge of honor.
"She really, really is on her way," Rory Bruer, Sony's president of worldwide distribution, said of the 21-year-old Stone. "For us, this is the third movie we've had her in, and whether it's 'Zombieland' or 'Superbad,' she's a great comedienne."
Plus, "Easy A" cost just $8 million to make, Bruer said, "so it's already an incredible success for us."
The critical and commercial success of "The Town" shows Affleck's directorial debut, the Oscar-nominated "Gone Baby Gone" from 2007, was no fluke, said wow gold  Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.
"Ben Affleck is taking a page right out of the Clint Eastwood handbook. Obviously, he was known for being an actor but he's very quickly gaining a reputation as a first-class director. He's made a great movie," Dergarabedian said. "His acting comes under fire every once in a while, but he was really good. He's surrounded himself with the best possible people, and the adult drama is back."
Last week's No. 1 movie, the 3-D horror sequel "Resident Evil: Afterlife" from Sony-Screen Gems, dropped to fourth place with $10.1 million.
The week's other new wide release, Lionsgate's "Alpha and Omega," opened with $9.2 million for buy wow gold   fifth place. The 3-D animated wolf tale, which received just 15 percent positive reviews on the Rotten Tomatoes website, features the voices of Justin Long, Hayden Panettiere and Danny Glover.
In four theaters, Fox Searchlight's "Never Let Me Go" made $120,830 in its first weekend for a strong per-screen average of $30,208. The sci-fi drama starring Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield and Keira Knightley has made $165,331 since opening Wednesday.
And playing in 12 theaters, the documentary "Catfish" opened with $178,267 for the weekend, or a per-screen average of $21,271. From Universal's Rogue label, "Catfish" follows a mysterious online relationship that develops between a New York photographer and a family cheap wow gold in Michigan.
 

Italy's art gallery opens amid splendor

Italy's Cultural Heritage Minister Sandro Bondi runescape gold  on Thursday inaugurated the national gallery of ancient art, set to become the Italian version of the Louvre and one of the world's leading museums.
"This is a memorable day for Italian culture, an important step towards further boosting Rome's tourism,"said Bondi, who praised the excellent work done by the center-right government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in finalizing the restyle and opening the gallery to the public.
After decades of restoration works, Rome's baroque Palace Barberini (once owned by a famous papal family) thus regained its splendor amid forgotten masterpieces of Italian painters.
Rome was waiting for this cultural center ever since it was proclaimed the capital of a runescape accounts   unified Italy 140 years ago but due to limited exhibition spaces, local controversies and former areas of the palace being occupied by the military, the gallery's birth had always been postponed, pointed out Undersecretary of State Francesco Giro.
"Finally even Rome, as wow gold  all other European capitals, will boast its own artistic venue where the leading masterpieces of its entire artistic history dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries are to be displayed, which up to today have been stowed away in the dusty cellars of museums scattered across the country and hidden to the public's view,"observed Giro.
The gallery is much more than an exhibition area, it represents Italy's artistic history, he added.
Raphael's La Fornarina chef d'oeuvre, among the works displayed, will be the symbol of the buy wow gold  renovated gallery and expected to play the same role as the Mona Lisa for the Paris Louvre -- both symbolically and in the attraction of thousands of tourists each year.
Bondi invited Italians and foreigners to come and admire the breathtaking painting, announcing an upcoming reform of Italy's museum circuit aimed at increasing its autonomy and global competitiveness.
More than 300 works of art are on show inside the gallery, including paintings by Caravaggio. The restyle work was worth a total of 20 million cheap wow gold euros.

Don’t Be a Boob: Six Indicators of an Ill-Fitting Bra

I used to assume that the oft-cited runescape gold  statistic about 80 percent of women wearing the wrong size bra was a scare tactic by the lingerie industry to sell more goods. Then I got measured on a whim recently and realized I’ve been wearing the wrong cup and band sizes for years. Others I know also found out after being fitted that they’ve been wearing too-small cups and too-large bands—no surprise, since experts say this combination is the most common mistake women make when bra shopping.
How is it possible that so many of us are walking around in ill-fitting undergarments? In a word, ignorance—we don’t know what indicators to look out for, so we opt for bras that fit somewhat well instead of seeking out comfortable ones that also flatter our bodies. If you suspect that your bra isn’t doing everything for your breasts that it could or should be doing, see if you recognize any of these telltale signs of an ill-fitting bra.
The center panel in the front doesn’t rest against your skin.
Again, this means that your breasts are too big for the cups you’re trying to fit them into, which results in the whole bra resting against your breasts instead of against your upper rib cage and sternum. “The front middle of the bra should sit firmly against your skin,” advises Madeline, a bra stylist based in Australia. “This means runescape accounts that your bust will be lifted and separated.”
And if you can feel your underwire—as in, it sits on the bottom part of your breasts rather than fitting comfortably underneath them—you have the same problem. “Underwire should not sit on the breast tissue at any time. If you see skin pinching from under the wire, you may need to go up a cup size,” she says.
You’ve got four smaller breasts or a uniboob.
If your breasts spill over the cups, you definitely need to go up a cup size. After trying on a bra, put a T-shirt on to see if there are any obvious bulges (the kind that look like you’ve got smaller breasts growing out of your other ones, or “double boob,” as my friend calls it) over the top of the cup.
The same goes if your breasts are so squished together that it looks like you’ve got one wide boob. A heaving chest looks fabulous on Victoria’s Secret models in catalogs, but the sexy effect is lost the minute they put on shirts. Since we all have to cover up in public, get the right cup size for your breasts and banish the uniboob.
The cups are wrinkled and/or there’s space between the cups’ edges and your breasts.
This indicates that your cups are too big and you should go down a size. While your breasts shouldn’t spill over the cups, they shouldn’t leave much room wow gold  within the cups, either. The edges should lie flat against your skin; if they don’t, it means you need a smaller size.
Your bra causes back fat.
Many women mistakenly think that back fat is caused by bands that are too small. (I know I did.) But bands that are too big are actually to blame. According to Madeline, when they’re too big, they don’t stay in the right place on your back, which is parallel to or a little lower than where it is in front; the bands ride up and create dreaded back lumps.
Not sure if the band size is right? Hook the bra on the loosest hook (“We fit on the loosest hook because when the bra gives and stretches with wear and tear, you still have two rows of hooks in the back to move in,” Madeline explains) and put two fingers underneath your band in the back. If you feel like you can fit more, or if you can stretch the band more than a few inches from your back, try a smaller size. If you can’t fit any fingers back there, you might be wearing a size too small. You can also lift your arms or lower the straps to see if that affects band placement. “If you raise your arms in the air, the bra shouldn’t move on or away from your body,” Madeline says.
The straps dig into your skin or fall down your shoulders.
According to experts, straps should do only 10 percent of work; the band is responsible for 90 percent of a bra’s support. So if you have to keep straps super tight to lift up your breasts, that means your band’s too big to give you proper support. Straps become loose and fall for the same reason (the ride-up factor), though it might also mean that the strap hasn’t been adjusted for your height.
You’ve got armpit boob.
Some call it armpit fat, but I think armpit boob sounds kinder. But either way you say it, if you’ve got it, that means your cups are probably too small. Cups digging into your skin, whether it creates bulges buy wow gold  over them or to the side, indicate a need for a bigger cup size.
Here’s something important to remember when bra shopping: going up or down a band size makes a much bigger difference than doing the same with cup size. According to HerRoom.com, a lingerie Web site started by industry expert Tomima Edmark, going up a cup size with the same band size (for example, going from 34B to 34C) increases the bust line by an inch only. But if you raise the band size within the same cup size (switching from 34B to 36B), it raises the band circumference and the bust line by two inches.
Women should get properly fitted in a lingerie shop every one to two years, especially if they’re on birth control, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have lost or gained a significant amount of weight. That much bra shopping sounds like torture, but it’s worth it to find the right one. During particularly low moments in the dressing room, it’s easy to assume that there’s something wrong with our bodies when the bras don’t fit well. But bras should work for us, not the other way around. The right bra should make you feel as beautiful as you are, and lift your breasts—and your spirits—up high. Well, your breasts should go about as high as the midpoint cheap wow gold between your shoulder and elbows. Your spirits can soar as high as they want.
 

Skeleton may be Alexander the Great’s father

A cremated male skeleton in a lavish ancient runescape gold Greek tomb is not Alexander the Great's half-witted half-brother, according to a new study.
The research reignites a 33-year-long debate over whether the burned bones found in the tomb belong to Alexander the Great's father, Philip II, a powerful figure whose years of conquest set the stage for his son's exploits, or Alexander the Great's half-brother, Philip III, a figurehead king with a less successful reign.
The researchers argue that a notch in the dead man's eye socket is consistent with a battle wound received by Philip II years before he died, when an arrow pierced his eye and left his face disfigured. They also dispute claims by other scientists that the bones show signs of having been buried, exhumed, burned and re-interred — a morbid chain of events that would fit with what is known about the murder and burial of Alexander the Great's half-brother and successor, Philip III Arrhidaios.
The study is unlikely to settle the debate over whether the body is Philip II's or Philip III's, which has raged since the treasure-filled tomb was excavated in 1977. But identifying the tombs' occupants would complete the last chapter in at least one royal couple's sordid life story.
Ads by GoogleInduction Lighting SOLARAmade in taiwan, not china the world's favorite induction lamp www.amkosolara.comWelsh Genealogy Records3,600,000,000+ Records. Hurry-Find Your Ancestors. Get Instant Access! FamilyLink.com/AncestorSearchMurdered monarchs
Philip II was a powerful king with a complicated love life. He married between five and seven women, though the exact number is disputed, causing intrigue over the line of succession. In 336 B.C., Philip II was assassinated at a celebration of his daughter's wedding, perhaps at the behest of a former wife, Olympias, the mother of Alexander the Great. Or the assassination could have been spurred by an ugly rape case involving members of the runescape accounts royal family. In either case, Philip II's last wife, Cleopatra (not the famous one), was murdered or forced to commit suicide soon after by order of Olympias.
Alexander the Great succeeded his father as king. After he died, his half-brother Philip III Arrhidaios ascended to the throne. Philip III was a figurehead king who was likely mentally disabled (ancient historians blamed a childhood poisoning attempt by Olympias, who seemed to have a reputation for that sort of thing). His wife (and niece) Eurydice, on the other hand, was "what you would call feisty," said anatomist Jonathan Musgrave of the University of Bristol, who co-authored the current study.
Eurydice was a warrior queen who led an army into battle in 317 B.C. During that fight, she and her husband were captured by Olympias, who put Philip III to death and forced the 18- or 19-year-old Eurydice to commit suicide. Ancient historians reported the couple was buried but then exhumed for a royal funeral four to 17 months later to shore up the legitimacy of the next king.
"You couldn't make this story up," Musgrave said.
Who's in the tomb?
When the mystery tomb was first excavated near Vergina, Greece, archeologists were stunned to find it undisturbed and full of priceless jewelry, weapons and statues. Amid the riches lay the cremated remains of a man and a young woman. The woman's skeleton had been reduced to bone fragments, but the man's was nearly complete.
Based on the evidence at the site, the archeologists announced the male remains belonged to Philip II. That would make the woman in the tomb his last wife, Cleopatra. But other researchers soon challenged that claim, arguing the treasures in the tomb dated a generation later. That would make the male skeleton Philip III and the female skeleton Eurydice.
In the 1980s, Musgrave and his team examined the bones and created a reconstruction of the face of the man whom they'd concluded was Philip II. Among their evidence for the identification was a notch in the skull's right eye socket, which seemed consistent with Philip II's wow gold blinding battle wound. They also argued that asymmetry of the skull may have been caused by trauma.
Their analysis did not go unchallenged. A 2000 paper published in the journal Science argued the notch in the eye socket was normal anatomy, and that the skull's other oddities were leftovers from cremation and reconstruction of the skull.
Antonis Bartsiokas, a paleoanthropologist at the Anaximandrian Institute of Human Evolution in Greece argued in the paper that the bones showed little evidence of warping, suggesting they were cremated "dry" instead of "green," or flesh-covered. In other words, the researcher wrote, the flesh had rotted away and the bones dried out before the bodies were cremated. The findings suggested that the bones were Philip III's, who was buried, exhumed, cremated and reburied, they wrote.
Burned bones
Musgrave said the two camps are probably at an impasse when it comes to arguments over the skull's injuries. But, he said, Bartsiokas is wrong about the timing of the cremation. Photos taken during the 1980s examination of the bones show warping in the long bones of the arms and legs, Musgrave and his co-authors contend in the new paper. The skull is also warped, with one large flap of bone peeled away and sticking out at an angle. Compared with dried bones burned at 1,652 degrees Fahrenheit (900 degrees Celsius), the researchers report, the colors and shape of the ancient skull suggest a fully fleshed cremation.
Ancient Greeks would have found the idea of exhuming a putrefying corpse disgusting, Musgrave said, so it's more likely that Eurydice and Philip III would have been cremated just like Cleopatra and Philip II and buy wow gold other royalty — soon after they died. The reburial, then, would have been of their pre-cremated bones.
Even if the bones were burned dry, Musgrave said, studies of modern murder victims suggest that 17 months in the ground isn't enough to dry out a skeleton.
"[Philip III] Arrhidaios' body would still have had putrefying skin and muscle attached to his limb bones, and rotting viscera filling his thoracic, abdominal and pelvic cavities after even 17 months in the ground," Musgrave and his colleagues wrote. "It would not have become a dry and degreased skeleton."
Unsolved mysteries
Bartsiokas said that even if Musgrave and his colleagues are right about the fleshy cremation, it doesn't rule out the skeleton belonging to Philip III Arrhidaios.
"They argue that the skeleton was cremated fleshed, and that the flesh would be preserved even after 17 months in the ground," Bartsiokas wrote in an e-mail to LiveScience. "Then, in their way of thinking, these circumstances could well apply to [Philip III] Arrhidaios."
Musgrave and his colleagues also argue that the placement of the remains and the absence of the body of Eurydice's mother, who was said to have been buried with her, point away from the tomb being the burial place of Philip III. But years of study of the tomb's construction and contents have yielded conflicting interpretations from different researchers, prompting one historian to write in 2007 that "a consensus on the identity of its occupants will probably never be reached."
"It's definitely not the last word," Musgrave cheap wow gold said. "Somebody will challenge what we've written."

Badgley Mischka: Sweet Debauchery 

If successfully combining runescape gold couture and casual pieces on the same runway is a fashion feat, than Badgley Mischka hit a homerun at their New York fashion week show at Lincoln Center on Tuesday, Sept. 14. Alongside looks from their main line and couture gowns, they mixed in styles from their more contemporary Mark + James collection. Adding a much needed variety to the upcoming spring, the three in-house labels showed together this season for the second time.
Inspired by the 1987 film "White Mischief," which takes place in a colony in Africa, the pair took creative cues from the movie's idea of a woman "with a very languid, proper veneer, with a smoldering sensuality just beneath the surface," as program notes read. Pink-lipped and sweet on the outside was the uniform, while mystery and debauchery leered through from the lean silhouettes.
Couture hemlines were dropped and collars were modestly high, but there was no runescape accounts  shortage of skin. The back is back as the body part of choice for spring. Exposed with plunging backlines, the bold touch added understated sensuality when merely covered by hanging beads or just simply bare.
Casual looks included loose-sleeved and boxy shaped georgette tops, which made the perfect complement to the high-waisted denim shorts and pants that reinvigorated the 70s vibe commonly seen this season. A desert suede vest over a gold tulle and chiffon camisole was both retro and yet modernized with a chunky gold necklace.
"By watching how people shop, we saw the same person buying both Badgley Mischka and Mark + James but for different occasions," James Mischka said after the wow gold show, thus leading to the sartorial assortment.
Even with all the less formal options, the show featured all the chiffon gowns and organza dresses expected from this duo, famously known for their dresses and bridal wear. Front row frequenters such as Gabrielle Union, Kristin Cavallari and Denise Richards will still have plenty of new looks to chose from.
The show ended with a praiseworthy one-shouldered white and ebony couture gown, and as the lights lifted the buzz of enthusiasm began and it seemed this collection was what many were waiting for. Mark Badgley's response to the lauded show was similar. "I was watching the monitor as the girls were coming out and it all buy wow gold  looked great," he said. "It felt good, very good."

Drink Wine and Eat Fish? Pregnancy Rules Around the World

When I was seven years old, my parents took runescape gold  me to Europe for an entire summer, and I quickly realized that the rules abroad were different from the ones at home. For example, my family’s rules about alcohol changed once we crossed the Atlantic: suddenly, I was allowed to drink wine (watered down, of course) at dinner, something I had never been permitted to do before. And I clearly remember seeing a Frenchwoman, baby bump bulging from her slim figure, drinking a glass of red wine and smoking a cigarette. Even at seven, I knew her habits would not have been okay at home in the United States. Indeed, the health guidelines doctors urge pregnant women to follow—and that some countries even require by law—change significantly from culture to culture.
From Bottles of Wine to Baby Bottles
The rules about what pregnant women can and can’t do—emphasis on can’t—are pretty prohibitive. For starters, a lady with a baby bump should say no to all forms of alcohol if she wants to avoid legal troubles and social stigmatization. It’s not illegal for a pregnant woman to drink, but according to DrugPolicy.org, a law enforcement officer can take her into custody if he feels that her alcohol use is harming the baby. And if that weren’t enough to stop a mom-to-be from drinking, the looks she gets when she even sets foot in a bar will make her order a seltzer instead.
Pregnant European women look askance at their American counterparts, too, over their pints of Guinness (a traditional remedy for increasing breast milk supply) or glasses of wine. But the American attitude of abstinence is reaching across the Atlantic, where European countries are runescape accounts becoming more and more aware of the risks of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), at least at the governmental level. An article in the San Francisco Chronicle’s “Mommy Files” reports that in 2007, the British government ruled against even occasional alcohol consumption during pregnancy, and in France, “American-style” warning labels have been slapped onto all alcohol bottles. Even Ireland, home of that lactation-inducing Guinness, has introduced a public-awareness campaign against drinking during pregnancy.
But Rachelle Atkins, an American  writer who chronicles raising her children in France for Babble.com, reports, “There are government campaigns here to get pregnant women to stop drinking alcohol and smoking, but they seem to be about as successful as the campaign to get Parisians to curb their dogs.”
And while Frenchwomen resist government infringement on their right to pinot noir, research is emerging in the United States that moderate drinking during pregnancy might actually be a good thing. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse in Detroit, Michigan, now argues that light drinkers have easier births and healthier, smarter babies.
Something Fishy About Pregnancy Guidelines
The American Pregnancy Association—a national health organization focused on promoting prenatal wellness through research, education, and advocacy—recommends that pregnant women avoid all raw seafood, especially shellfish, because of the risks of contracting coliform bacteria, toxoplasmosis, and salmonella. The organization also urges women to avoid fish containing mercury, which it says sushi and sashimi contain a great deal of.
What do pregnant Japanese women eat, then? Amos Grunebaum, MD FACOG, an obstetrician and gynecologist specializing in high-risk pregnancies, writes on BabyMed.com that wow gold  the sushi stigma has had no effect in Asia. Dr Grunebaum argues that “there is no scientific evidence that eating sushi in pregnancy increases pregnancy complications. As long as you take certain precautions and eat low-mercury fish, then it should be safe to eat.
“In Japan, pregnant women do not generally stop eating sushi when they become pregnant, and many Japanese pregnancy books suggest eating sushi as part of a healthy, low-fat diet during pregnancy,” he adds. “Japanese tradition has it that postpartum women get certain kinds of sushi in the hospital during their recovery.”
Dr. Grunebaum doesn’t mention that Japan is the home of mercury poisoning, aka Minamata disease, but he makes the point that there is a cultural divide over this recommendation, and that maybe American pregnant women shouldn’t worry so much about eating low-mercury fish like those the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) recommends: anchovies, catfish, flounder, mackerel, salmon, whitefish, and tilapia.
Frenchwomen Say Cheese
Pregnant women buy wow gold  shouldn’t be eating Brie, Camembert, or Roquefort, either, says the American Pregnancy Association. The organization reports that these imported soft cheeses are made from unpasteurized milk and may contain the bacteria listeria, which can cause miscarriage and fetal infection or blood poisoning.
To this Frenchwomen say, “Non!” for the same reason Japanese women keep eating their sushi: cheese is a staple of the French diet. Asking une femme to avoid Brie is like asking an American woman not to eat ice cream—it’s just not going to happen. And apparently, Frenchwomen haven’t had enough personal experience with listeria to make them stop. Atkins adds, “For plenty of French women, the notion of going without wine, cheese, cigarettes, or caffeine for nine months is as crazy as saying a French man must go through forty years of marriage without taking a mistress.”
Relaxation Nation
The lesson pregnnt women in the United States should take from these cultural comparisons is that there’s being careful, and then there’s being too careful. Healthy babies are born all over Europe and Asia every day, despite the fact that their mothers have eaten sushi and cheese and drunk the occasional glass of wine during their pregnancies. Worry just enough about mercury poisoning and FAS, and then cheap wow gold remember to relax and enjoy yourself.

 

Steam trains reappear on Swiss mountain pass 

After a gap of 60 years, steam runescape gold  trains are again chugging over the historic Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps thanks to an army of rail enthusiasts and a rescue mission into the jungles of Vietnam.
And with the reopening of the old line between Oberwald and the village of Realp on the other side of the 2,490-meter-high crossing, the region is looking for a return of the tourists for whom it was a big draw since the middle of the 19th century.
"We have waited nearly 30 years for this," said railway buff Thomas Meier as a sparkling black engine with crammed-full olive-green carriages behind emitted a high-pitched whistle as it pulled out of the station of this Rhone valley town.
The last time a train, by then electricity-powered, left Oberwald to head up the steep climb into pine forests and the snow-capped peaks, scene of ski-and-spying escapades in the James Bond film "Goldfinger," was in 1982.
That year the famed Glacier Express, which links the up-market mountain resort of Zermatt to the equally posh St. Moritz some 170 km (106 miles) across the heart of Switzerland, was diverted through a newly built tunnel.
The Furka line, which first started running under steam power through some of Switzerland's most stunning Alpine scenery in 1914, was  abandoned to the elements -- or would have been had rail buffs from all over Europe not stepped in.
A team of enthusiasts, many of them retirees from the Swiss state-run train transport system, quickly set up The Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway Club and started gathering funds to refurbish runescape accounts  the track and rolling stock.
Financial support, says Meier who is still an employee of the SBB/CFF national rail network, came pouring in, especially from nostalgic Swiss emigres in the United States.
But a major challenge was the disappearance of most of the locomotives that had once plied the route up through the town of Gletsch with its imposing Hotel Glacier du Rhone, but had been dispersed when electricity replaced steam on the Swiss railway network some 70 years ago.
Perusing the archives, the Furka Club found several of the old Swiss-built engines had been sold to then French-ruled Vietnam in the late 1940s, operating throughout decades of fighting there and finally being put out to grass -- or to rust -- in the mid-1970s.
A mission was despatched to scour the country for them, and in 1990 it returned with news that four dilapidated survivors had been found, secured and loaded onto a cargo boat for return to Switzerland.
Another -- which from 1902 to 1941 had wow gold served to take visitors up to Zermatt and the Matterhorn from the town of Visp in the canton of Valais -- was spotted embellishing a school yard in Chur, in the Grisons canton east of the Furka.
These were all repaired, as a labor of love by old railwaymen who had once served in their cabs and stoked the coal into their boilers. Two or three began limited service on what had become the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway in the 1990s.
But it was not until this August that the final link, from Gletsch down to Oberwald was opened to great fanfare and celebrations with local residents and train crews donning early 20th century costume to mark the occasion.
In Gletsch, ladies in crinoline strolled along the platform with their menfolk in historically-matching gear -- just as local historians buy wow gold say Britain's Queen Victoria and her manservant John Brown once promenaded through the town in the 1870s after taking a horse carriage up from the valley.
As one of the 42-ton engines -- seen from afar winding down from the Furka through mountain pastures past the inevitable Swiss cows -- entered Gletsch, an elderly lady enthusiast waved the national flag from a station building window.
"She will be doing that every time a train comes or goes," said Meier proudly. On the trains, and along the tracks, all the personnel are working without pay -- including some from Belgium, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands.
The Club, now owners of the railway, hope that tourists paying 200 Swiss francs ($198) for a First Class return for the 2 hours 20 minutes journey between Realp and Oberwald will make a major contribution to keeping the service going.
The Second Class return is 121 francs ($120).
The line will only operate in the spring and summer, closing down in October when winter snows start sweeping across the tracks up near the peaks. "Keeping it running every year will be cheap wow gold a challenge," said Meier, "but we are sure we can do it."
 

'Resident Evil' movie capitalizes on slow weekend

On a weekend that Hollywood  runescape gold was largely content to cede to football and late-summer barbecues, Sony-Screen Gems' "Resident Evil: Afterlife" led the box office.
The 3-D horror film earned $27.7 million over the weekend according to studio estimates Sunday, a total that exceeded expectations. It's the fourth "Resident Evil" film, all of which have starred Milla Jovovich. This installment opened better than the three previous movies.
"Resident Evil" was the only film in new release on the historically slow moviegoing weekend following Labor Day. With an estimated box-office total of $82 million, it was the lowest grossing weekend of the year.
Screen Gems' "Takers," in its third week of release, came in second with $6.1 million. Last runescape accounts weekend's top film, the George Clooney thriller "The American," took in $5.9 million for Focus Features.
With little competition, "Resident Evil" was able to capitalize on the post-Labor Day weekend, when two of the previous entries to the franchise were also released.
"It had all of what its core audience was looking for and more," said Rory Bruer, president of worldwide distribution for Sony.
Bruer credited the marketing of the film and the draw of its 3-D, which he said "was made to be that way." The film also got a boost from IMAX, where it was released on 141 digital screens and earned $2.6 million.
That the fourth "Resident Evil" performed so well suggests that a fifth is likely. Asked if he expects one, Bruer said he didn't know, as it's produced by Constantin Film. But he acknowledged: "It wouldn't surprise me."
Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian said the weekend's low performance wasn't reflective of any industry malaise but merely a historical trend. The wow gold same weekend last year performed similarly, with Tyler Perry's "I Can Do Bad All By Myself" debuting with $23.4 million.
"This is never known as a high grossing weekend, but it can be the land of opportunity for a film buy wow gold like `Resident Evil,'" said Dergarabedian. "That's turning lemons into lemonade if I've ever seen it."
Next weekend begins the fall moviegoing season in earnest, with releases such as the potential Oscar-contender "The Town" from Ben Affleck, "Easy A," the Emma Stone-starring update of "The Scarlet Letter," and  the limited release of "Never Let Me Go," another film being positioned for awards contention.
After a bumpy summer of lower attendance and a crop of disappointing cheap wow gold movies, many are glad to see the season come to a close.
 

BCBG Max Azria: Glamorous Understatement 

If any label is a bellwether of what's runescape gold  next in modern glamour, it is arguably BCBG Max Azria, an edgily minimalist collection whose show in New York on Friday, Sept. 10, was a clever warning to expect understatement to be the leit motif for next spring's styles.
The BCBG Max Azria Group's successful junior line is in many ways the more adventurous kid sibling, with a larger dash of fashion forward wit that makes its runway shows often memorable affairs.
Staged in the Theatre, the largest catwalk space inside the custom-built show space of Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park, this spring 2011 collection show began brightly with a series of white crepe and silk seersucker sheathes and embroidered mini dresses that were sexy without ever being cheap.
BCBG Max Azria's design team of designer and CEO Max Azria and his muse and wife, Lubov, then runescape accounts segued into some semi-sheer layered looks, that were suitably delicate and whispered good taste. Making sexy dresses that never tumble into vulgarity is a delicate balancing act that this duo always manages to bring off, and it's a doubly tricky maneuver when most skirts end seven inches above the knee, as they did in this collection.
"We wanted beautiful clothes that were easy to wear and understand," said Azria backstage post-show in his native French language.
The designers' other smart trick was their toned down palette of faded pastels that included sandy yellows, bright corals and ashy hazelnuts.
On the catwalk, model Shu-Pei gained wow gold   the distinction of wearing the show's two best looks. Her opening ensemble, a silvery moonlight silk mini dress cut with just the right dash of asymmetry summed up the delicate wit of this collection, while her second outing was in a head-turning black silk dress, laser cut with an industrial pattern.
The casting overall, though composed of younger, less known models, was impeccable, thanks to casting director Russell Marsh. Adding to the successful moment was the smartly judged styling by Laura Ferrara, who wisely stripped the looks down - there were no handbags, bracelets cheap wow gold or jewelry of any sort.

Need a vacation? Many Americans don't take them

New Year, New Start: Five Vital Study Habits for Teens

Ah, the start of another school year: pencils runescape gold and notebooks purchased, sensible shoes broken in, and backpacks pulled out from their summer hiding places under the bed. Young children may associate the allure and promise of a new school year with new supplies and a new seat assignment in homeroom, but older students face more pressing challenges. There are minimal consequences when a first-grader performs poorly on a spelling quiz, but for teenagers, school matters and grades matter. Failing a single test can drastically affect a student’s grade in the class, thereby affecting his or her chance to get into college.
That’s why it’s so important for high school students to start the year right, not just with new textbooks and binders, but also with study habits that will help them do their best in class. Parents may no longer be able to assist with trigonometry homework or remember the plot of Great Expectations, but they can still help their kids develop study habits that will carry them through secondary school to their education beyond.
Develop Strategies for Better Writing
Writing has become a much more integral part of high school curricula, but effective strategies for writing papers and essays are too often not taught in middle school. Too many students put off papers until the night before they’re due, thus never developing the skills required to be a clear, concise, and organized writer. If your child doesn’t already, encourage him to start developing outlines for each paper, which will help him visualize the structure of the essays and stick to the important topics. No writing assignment should be poured onto paper at the last minute; help your child learn to start papers early so that he has wow gold  time left over for multiple revisions. Learning how to edit his own work will help him develop into a more skilled and confident writer. Also, encourage your child to get into the habit of asking somebody else to look over each writing assignment before he turns it in—a friend or parent with good grammar, a trusted teacher, a tutor—to catch typos, grammatical errors, and punctuation mistakes.
Establish Good Study Skills
Being able to self-motivate and study on a schedule is an important skill that will serve any student far beyond high school. If your high schooler doesn’t already have a set schedule for homework and studying, encourage her to identify her most alert and motivated time of day—whether it’s immediately after school, after dinner, or in the early morning—and set aside that time for schoolwork. A study area should be separate from eating, sleeping, or lounging areas and should be organized, quiet, and free of distractions—including cell phones and email. Some students claim that music or television helps them concentrate, but a study published in the July issue of the journal Applied Cognitive Psychology found that information retention and memory recall were poorest when study participants listened to music or variable sounds; the best performance came from those who worked in quiet environments or in environments with steady, repetitive sounds. Help your child gather all necessary materials at the beginning of a study session, in order to avoid distractions later.
Manage Time Effectively
High school students are old enough that they shouldn’t have to be reminded of each task, chore, and school deadline. Make sure your child has a planner that he uses to keep track of academic deadlines, family and social obligations, and his job schedule (if necessary). He must learn to maintain a to-do list, prioritize assignments, and manage time to accommodate school, friends, family, work, and other activities in order to prepare for the runescape accounts  independence of college life.
Another big part of learning to manage time is learning to mitigate procrastination. Help your child learn to set small, easily accomplished goals, instead of large, difficult ones, so that projects and assignments are less unwieldy and he in turn learns the rewards of completing tasks.
Ease Test-Taking Anxiety
Being nervous about tests has nothing to do with intelligence and everything to do with preparation and confidence. If your child has a tendency to test poorly, remind her that practicing good study habits will better prepare her for exams than pulling an all-nighter ever will. Instead of offering support by saying, “You’ll do great,” encourage your child’s confidence by saying, “You worked and studied hard. You have every reason to think you’ll do well.” Before big tests and exams, make sure your child has had a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast.
Relate to Teachers
Many students are afraid to approach teachers for extra help or advice, but a teacher can be their best resource. Whenever material is unclear, whenever notes are vague, and whenever your high schooler needs extra help, encourage him to approach his teachers. They’re often happy to make themselves available to clarify the day’s lessons or recommend tutors who can give buy wow gold more intensive one-on-one assistance. Also, remind your child to ask questions in class whenever he doesn’t understand something, and to participate in class discussions. A student who participates and asks questions is more likely to absorb and understand information than a student who takes notes passively is.
If you suspect that your child is still falling behind or even simply not doing as well as he could, don’t wait until you see Fs on his tests or failing marks on his report card. Contact your child’s teacher and find out how you can help, whether by finding a specialized tutor or by simply monitoring your child’s work and study habits more closely. An important lesson for teenagers to learn is that engaging with teachers will help them take control of their education and can serve as a model for how to interact with college professors.
When your teenagers were small children, you could watch them do their homework, then check it for them and be sure they turned it in. Once the kids are older, though, parents have no choice but to let them go and hope that they’re armed with the skills they need to do their work well. As a parent, you may have to sit back and watch your high school student figure out life on his or her own, but there’s no teenager who doesn’t do cheap wow gold better with a little help from Mom or Dad.

Creator of TV western "Bonanza" dead at 93

David Dortort, who  runescape gold  created "Bonanza," the top-rated western that aired for 14 years on the NBC television network, died September 5 at his Los Angeles home. He was 93.
Debuting in 1959, "Bonanza" was the most-watched show on U.S. television from 1964 to 1967 and maintained a place in the ratings top 10 for a decade.
Dortort also created "The High Chaparral," which originally followed "Bonanza" on Sunday nights on NBC and ran for three seasons.
Dortort pitched "Bonanza" in 1959 as a way of helping to promote the sale of color television sets manufactured by the U.S. electronics company RCA, then the parent company of NBC.
"Bonanza" would be filmed in color in scenic Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and feature a cast of runescape accounts relative unknowns -- Michael Landon, Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts -- as members of the fictional Cartwright family.
Departing from the typical TV western formula of the day that focused on lone gunslingers and drifters, Dortort chose instead to depict the lives and adventures of a widowed rancher and his three sons living together on the Ponderosa Ranch.
"Our scripts delve into character and deal with human relationships, which is where the best stories are. And we try to teach something about human wow gold  values like faith and hope," the Brooklyn native told Look magazine in 1965.
Bonanza premiered at 7:30 p.m. on a Saturday in September 1959 and initially failed to attract much of an audience going up against "Perry Mason" on U.S. network CBS.
In the fall of 1961, NBC shifted the show to 9 p.m. Sundays, and it became a huge success.
"Bonanza" was canceled in 1973, a year after the beloved Blocker, who played buy wow gold Eric "Hoss" Cartwright, died unexpectedly after complications from gall bladder surgery.
Dortort went on to produce several "Bonanza" spinoffs including "Bonanza: The Next Generation" (1988), a prequel for cable network Pax TV and other Old West-based projects.
Before "Bonanza," Dortort wrote episodes for such series as "Lassie," "The Restless Gun," "Climax!" and "Waterfront" and contributed to the screenplay for the 1952 Nicholas Ray film "The Lusty Men."
A three-time Emmy nominee, he cheap wow gold  got his start as a producer on "Restless Gun."
 

Foreign Friends with Benefits: Perks of Working Overseas

In America, if you work hard runescape gold  enough, you can aspire to a gold-plated grille for your car or your teeth. You can sport hundred-dollar cuff links or arrive at work in a helicopter. This is the Land of Golden Opportunity, after all.
While on the job, slaving away for those cuff links, I’ve always wondered if the happiness factor at work correlates with our specific job specs or with the amount of appreciation we receive for fulfilling them. Employee benefits are just one of many elements that make workers feel happy to be part of the team, but with only a few months of maternity leave here, a meager travel stipend there, how are we hardworking Americans faring on a global scale in terms of job perks? I can’t help but wonder whether the grass is greener for worker bees abroad. Turns out, a few foreign lands provide benefits that the American Dream hasn’t even begun to dream of yet.
My Big Fat Greek Bonus
True, our Mediterranean friends are in the midst of a recession just like the rest of us are right now. But before the debt crisis, according to TheStar.com, Greek companies were rife with working pleasures:
Christmas Come Early. For the Greeks, Christmas bonuses come three times a year: half a runescape accounts   month’s extra salary is paid to employees at Easter, then again during summer, and once again at Christmas. Even employees who aren’t strapped down to a nine-to-five job are entitled to a tip from Santa: as a “Christmas present,” taxis, restaurants, and hairdressers are legally allowed to charge extra during the holiday season.
A Raise, Per Favore? All Greek public- and private-sector workers get fourteen monthly salary payments annually, a structure aimed at keeping basic monthly salaries, and the pensions stemming from them, low. However, it’s also a system of bonuses that would make most American workers faint in their cubicles. For example, some civil servants are paid extra for using a computer; others, for wow gold  simply arriving at work on time. Speaking a foreign language can also put extra money in an employee’s pocket, while many foresters get a bonus for working outdoors.
Round-the-World Ticket for One, Please. For decades, labor unions squashed government attempts to sell the debt-ridden Olympic Airways. At the cost of millions for Greek taxpayers, employees of the airline enjoyed possibly the most generous benefit imaginable—their family members could fly around the world for free. But alas, even a free plane ride must come back down to Earth eventually: the EU took disciplinary measures against Athens for pouring state money into the loss-making airline, even after private local airlines began serving similar routes for less. Olympic was sold in 2008, but only after the state lavishly compensated or rehired about 4,600 employees.
Norway and Germany: The Benefits of Baby Making
Norwegian Daddy Quota. In Norway, generous employee benefits have actually done wonders for the birth rate, according to BBC News. One parent is entitled to twelve months off work with 80 percent pay, or ten months off with full pay. Husbands are also encouraged to take off as much time as possible and must, at the very least, take four weeks off after the baby is born (or else those weeks will be lost for both parents). This is known as the “daddy quota”; the government has even proposed to expand it by one more week.
This paid leave is guaranteed by Norway’s National Insurance Act, which began back in 1956. Because the leave is financed through taxes, employers don’t lose out financially when people take their parental leave. The present system of ten or twelve months’ leave with 80 to 100 percent pay has been in effect since 1993. Since then, according to the BBC’s research, the Norwegians’ birth rate has been a steady 1.8 percent higher than in most European countries—and who can blame them? Of course, the government doesn’t propose these benefits to bolster the birth rate, but it does believe in securing greater gender equality and increasing workers’ rights.
Bring Out the Baby Lederhosen. While baby-making conditions are good in Norway, they’re even more promising in Germany. When a woman becomes pregnant, her employer must pay her six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. Additionally, once the parents decide which of them will be taking parental leave, the employer must reserve the mother or father’s job for twenty-four months. That’s right—two years’ worth of parental leave! (Not to mention the six weeks’ vacation time to which all German employers are entitled.)
Hungary? Have a Food Stamp
In addition to receiving a lengthy maternity leave like the Germans and Norwegians do, Hungarian workers get monthly food stamps atop their salaries, but these coupons differ from the American version. The stamps, called a sodexo pass, are the equivalent of about $60 worth of tax-free money and can be spent at supermarkets and restaurants. During the holidays, workers also receive shopping stamps, called an ajándék pass, that can be buy wow gold  spent at most retail stores, along with travel stamps (udelesi csekk) that can be redeemed at certain resorts around the country. The stamps are win-win for the employee and the Hungarian economy: the money is tax-free and promotes domestic purchases on food and travel.
Israel: The Value of an Internship
Masa Israel—a company headquartered in Israel and a funded partnership between the Israeli government and the Jewish Agency for Israel—offers internships to college graduates (approximately ten thousand participants per year) around the world and paves the path for full-time employment in Israel or back home. If you consider the average American-based internship, which typically includes menial duties ranging anywhere from data entry to wiping down windows, this internship offers the benefits of employment even under a volunteer/tourist visa.
Interns are given a health insurance package, travel benefits throughout the country, Hebrew language courses, seminars and housing in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv with peers, free extracurricular activities (theater outings, films, lectures, weekend trips), and the opportunity to create an immersion program on the interns’ terms, which for many means being set up with a full-time job immediately following the internship.
Dream On
Although America falls short as far as these foreign benefits go (when was the last time you heard of someone in the United States receiving free airfare, free health care, and bonuses for showing up on time?), perhaps in the current market, the best benefit is just having any job to wake up for. At the end of the workday, what might be the best thing about America is that we can always keep on cheap wow gold dreaming of bigger, brighter things to come.

Travel Postcard: 48 hours in Paris

Got 48 hours in Paris? The city mesos  of revolution and love has endless things to do. If it's the end of a busy business week and your first time then throw yourself into the heady mix of heritage, culinary delights and entertainment.
Reuters correspondents with local knowledge help visitors get the most out of a visit to the French capital.
FRIDAY
5 pm - So where best to start than overlooking the city. Perched 130 meters above Paris, Montmartre in the north will give you ample scope to build your appetite. From Pigalle metro wander up to the Basilique de Sacre Coeur, a Byzantine-inspired cathedral originally planned as a memorial for the lost soldiers of the Franco-Prussian war. The views from the top will give you a taste of what the city is all about. Head north to Place du Tertre to encounter artists sketching away, bustling cafes and a rabbit warren of cul-de-sacs with aging edifices.
7 pm - At the steps of Montmartre in the red-light district of the boulevard Clichy, lies the infamous Moulin Rouge. While a little touristy these days, the once favorite hangout of French society has a pricy menu that includes foie-gras trimmings, the finest bubbly and, of course, the famous dancers.
SATURDAY
8 am - It's an early start, but how often are you in Paris? Exit your hotel, enter the first bakery, pick-up a mix of croissants, pain aux raisins and a brioche and take a seat in a cafe. Enjoy a creme or noisette with people-watching.
9 am - It will be a long day, but well worth it. Take a metro to Bir-Hakeim. Book your ticket online to avoid the hordes of tourists at the Eiffel Tower and then, be it by lift or foot, head up the 324-meter high structure. Originally supposed to be a temporary fixture for the Universal Exhibition in 1889, the tower remains the emblem of France.
11 am - Time for a cruise along the Seine river. Pick your transport. The options depend on your level of laziness: City bikes (Velib) are spread across the city and are much like a hop-on-hop-off system. The Batobus or traditional Bateaux Mouches moored by the quay at the foot of the tower stop at major sites along the river. Or go on foot to give yourself versatility to roam.
11.30 am -Head along the river's edge by the Quai Branly. The museum of the same name on the right hand side and a pet project of former president Jacques Chirac offers collections from wow gold Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Wander about 10 minutes further down on the right to Les Invalides. The complex of buildings houses museums and monuments relating France's military past, including the tomb of Corsica's most famous son Napoleon Bonaparte.
Continue along the Quai d'Orsay past the Foreign Ministry and the Assemblee Nationale (Parliament) before turning left and crossing over the Louis 16th-built Pont de la Concorde on the Right Bank. From here enter the Jardin des Tuileries and amble through the gardens leading up to the Louvre Museum.
If you fancy a slight shopping detour, turn left at rue de Castiglione. The Westin hotel has an antique-styled courtyard for a tea or a glass of fine wine, while a bit further down toward the Place Vendome and rue Saint Honore the fashion conscious have a chance to experience the likes of Christian Lacroix, Hermes or Pierre Cardin first hand.
If shopping isn't your thing, then carry on through the gardens to the Louvre and its controversial glass pyramid. Remember queues are often long and it's best to pick one or two exhibitions of the time or select a specific collection such as the jaw-dropping ancient civilizations of the Near East.
Favorites such as the Mona Lisa or the Venus de Milo will mean hours of queuing no matter how early you get there and for many De Vinci's smiling 'La Jaconde'is often a disappointment.
3 pm - Time for a late lunch. Cross the Pont des Arts at the end of the Louvre, where the lovestruck often attach padlocks on to the bridge showing their deepest affections. You're now in the St Germain des Pres area. Stroll along the river and then turn right heading toward the Notre Dame metro.
On rue Saint Andre des Arts is the Creperie Saint-German. A cozy atmosphere with an eclectic selection of music welcomes you to a world of sweet and savory pancakes and a goblet of cider.
4 pm - Cross over Paris' oldest bridge the Pont Neuf dating back to the early 17th century and made famous by the film Les Amants du Pont Neuf starring Juliette Binoche. It takes you on to l'ile de la Cite, one of two mini islands home to some of Paris crown jewels.
About 200 meters ahead buy wow gold  on the left is Sainte Chapelle with its unforgettable stained glass windows, while on the right is the Cathedral of Notre Dame tracing its history back to the 12th century. Behind the cathedral, its gardens lead to the second island l'ile Saint Louis where often the bridge linking the two islands will have accordion players and a raft of free entertainment. Have a seat and soak in the atmosphere.
From here head north into the Marais district. The heart of Paris' Jewish community includes the Picasso museum, lots of trendy craft and fashion boutiques and an increasingly vibrant Chinese community. Once at the rue des Francs-Bourgeois, turn left toward rue Rambuteau and the futuristic Pompidou Center. The vibrant Beaubourg area is a den of restaurants, cafes and bars so the choice is vast for an evening out, but for dinner why not try something completely different on the rue Quincampoix - Dans le Noir? (In the dark?). The restaurant, bar and lounge offers top notch food served entirely in the dark. The waiters are blind and without their help you're not allowed to move anywhere within the restaurant.
SUNDAY
9 am - A trip to France wouldn't be complete without seeing the finest food on display. Take the metro to Denfert Rochereau in the 14th and amble through rue Daguerre. From oysters to horsemeat and the fruits of the season, some of the freshest foods are delivered to this market street often ahead of their local communities. Try some of the delicacies.
11 am - A stone's throw away from rue Daguerre is the entrance to the underground Catacombes, an ossuary that fills a section of caverns and tunnels that once were Paris' mines. Skulls, bones and tombstones adorn kilometers of passages.
1 pm - Keeping to the same theme, once out of the Catacombes take the metro to the north east to Pere Lachaise. Paris' biggest cemetery is home to the likes of Oscar Wilde and Doors lead singer Jim Morrison and its multiple alleyways offer the odd pastime of tomb-spotting. Just a few hundred meters away on rue du Chemin Vert is a little Kurdish restaurant Zagros. It offers simple, but tasty food from a family whose offspring starred in the 2009 film "Welcome" about a Kurdish refuge looking to swim across the English channel to reach his El Dorado.
4 pm - One last port of call -- the world's most famous avenue the Champs Elysees. Why not drop into the Citroen showroom, the first new building on the road in more than 30 years. If cars aren't your thing, then fight the hordes to get into Laduree to taste the creative pastries of some 40 chefs cheap wow gold  and where most walk away with at least a box of macaroons. 

House Hunting for Good Feng Shui

Looking for just the right new home is an mesos  overwhelming task! There are so many considerations, so many things to think about that it’s easy to get distracted and not notice features of the home and its location that could be problematic. And, if you’re not very sensitive to energy, you could inadvertently buy a home that is a feng shui nightmare–a place where it would be very difficult to feel comfortable and thrive.
Following are some suggestions for insuring that your house has good feng shui.
Look for a house with a square or rectangular floor plan. Houses with irregular plans may be dramatic and interesting to visit, but ultimately have serious energy challenges and may not be optimal places to live. Those with square or rectangular plans are easier to arrange, have better energy and fewer major energy problems.
Look for a house that is set squarely on its lot so the front of the house is parallel wow gold  to the road. Houses set at an angle to the road look charming, but a dissonance is created when the main axis of the house runs at an angle to the street.
Avoid houses located at the end of a street. The road ends in front of the house, but the energy flowing down the road keeps coming and slams into the house with great force. The intensity of the energy can be harmful to the occupants.
Avoid houses with the main door located on the side of the structure. The front door is the main mouth of life nurturing chi (energy). It is best if the mouth is easy for energy to find. A house with a door on the side is like a face without a mouth.
If you are looking for a garage built into the house, a house with garage doors facing the side or rear of the house are preferable to garage doors facing the street. When garage doors are the main feature of the front of the house, occupants of the house find themselves on the go all the time.
Avoid houses where a central stairway runs directly to the front door. Energy coming down the stairs rushes right out the front door, depleting the home of life affirming energy.
Look for a house that is on level ground or slopes from the back of the lot down toward the front of the lot. Avoid houses where the lot falls off behind the house creating an energy sink and lack of support in the areas associated with wealth and prosperity, fame and reputation and love and marriage.
Avoid houses that have heavy beams overhead. Unless the ceiling is extremely high, beams create a heavy negative energy, an buy wow gold  uncomfortable weight overhead.
Avoid houses with bedrooms that have slanted ceilings or walls built on an angle. Slanted ceilings, like beams, have a weight that makes restful sleeping difficult. Walls built at an angle tend to spin the energy of the space setting up the potential for the occupants to experience  accidents. People sleep best in square or rectangular rooms that have a human scale, typically 8 feet high with flat ceilings.
Avoid houses that are mostly glass. It is difficult to place furniture in those houses so that people feel comfortable. People are most comfortable and empowered when they can sit or sleep in spaces where they have a solid wall behind them and a full view of the main door of the room.
If you live in a house that has one of the problem features listed above or if you’ve found the house of your dreams and it has some of the above issues, know that in many cases there are actions that can be taken to mitigate the problems. Check out some feng shui books cheap wow gold available in bookstores or hire a feng shui consultant to assist you.

7 Inspiring Success Lessons

Today I want to talk about mesos  seven inspiring success lessons.  If you’re going to succeed you must first master the lessons of success.  You must pass the test and qualify for success.  Marva Collins said, “Success doesn’t come to you, you go to it.”  With that, here are seven lessons to help you “go to” success.
1. Work
“The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work – if you won’t.”
– Zig Ziglar
You can listen to and read all of the self-development in the world, but if you don’t put what you’re learning into action, things won’t change.  There’s a Swedish proverb that goes, “God gives every bird a worm, but he does not throw it into the nest.”  You have the potential to succeed, but you’re going to have to work the principles that you know.
2. Change
“Unless you change how you are, you will always have what you’ve got.”
– Jim Rohn
In order for your life to change, you must change.  To the degree that you change your thoughts, will be to the degree that your life changes.  Don’t expect anything to change if you’re not changing.  Don’t expect your marriage to get any better, if you’re not changing.  Don’t expect your health to get any better if you’re not changing.  If you want massive change, you must make massive wow gold  change.
3. Stumble
“A stumble may prevent a fall.”
–English Proverb
It’s okay to stumble.  When you reach for great things you will stumble; just be sure to learn from the stumble.  A stumble could be the best thing that ever happened to you.  A stumble may prevent total chaos in your life, if you learn from it.  Learn to value stumbles and to learn from the stumbles.
4. Become
“Success is not so much what we have as it is what we are.”
– Jim Rohn
Success does not come from what you attain, but from who you become.  Success is not a big car; success is you being big on the inside.  When you’re big on the inside, you can attract a big car, but  the car does not make you, you make buy wow gold the car.  If you decide to grow up, you will succeed.  Jim Rohn said, “We can have more than we’ve got because we can become more than we are.”
5. Take Charge
“Possession of the ball is the key to winning in football, basketball, and the game of life.”
–Laing Burns, Jr.
The good news is you always have possession of the ball in the game of life.  Unfortunately, most people don’t realize that they have possession of the ball.  They’re waiting around for someone to pass them the ball, and they already have it.  Take charge of your life, you got the ball, it’s in your court, what are you going to do?
6. Push
It is easy to get to the top after you get through the crowd at the bottom. – Zig Ziglar
The hard part is always the beginning, the push through the crowd.  But if you make it through the crowd, you can make it to the top.  I said, “If you can make it through the crowd, you can make it to the top.”  Commit today, to push through the crowd.
7. Vision
“Success often comes to those who have the aptitude to see way down the road.”
–Laing Burns, Jr.
Vision is your ability to see down the road.  Use your imagination to see all the way down the road.  I like what Robert Collier said, he said, “The great successful men of the world have used their imagination, they think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building – steadily building.”
Keep on building, and your vision will become your reality.  Keep on building and success will be yours.
Thank you for reading and be sure to pass cheap wow gold  this article along!

Can animals save mainstream media?

When it comes to making his own mesos products a success, however, Jobs turns to something too many media companies have forgotten about: animals.
When Jobs wanted to show off his new tablet computer, the iPad, during its first appearance, he turned to National Geographic. Flipping through images of critters on the new device showed the world what the iPad does best: Web browsing.
And what do people really want to browse? Yes, the Internet is for critters, and when it comes to critters, National Geographic delivers pictures, in-depth stories and hard news.
To seal the deal, Jobs played a YouTube clip of a surfing Jack Russell terrier. The result: So far, Apple has sold millions of the devices.
Sensationalism and shamelessness, of course, have been a formula for media wow gold success that worked long before William Randolph Hearst turned a huge mining fortune into an even huger newspaper empire.
Media newcomers, such as entrepreneur Meg Frost, however, have found a more compelling formula. Her business, cuteoverload.com, is built on pictures of kittens, puppies, rabbits and the occasional "Corgi flop."
The material is then rolled up into blog posts, or "happy pills," and flung onto the Web, where they're passed among friends and coworkers.
The media may be new, but sharing information about animals is an old instinct. Mythologist Joseph Campbell explored the hold animals have on the human spirit in The Way of the Animal Powers, the first book in his planned four-volume work on world mythology.
Campbell says the human impulse to understand the world began in the Paleolithic era with observations and dreams about animals. Sharing tales of animals is an age-old way to connect.
And to this day, animals remain a source of mystery and wonder. Those looking for hardcore science on the reproductive habits of egrets can peruse dense, scholarly articles in Nature. The rest of us suck down content from television's Animal Planet and National Geographic's online animal news feed.
The more adventurous can read tales of animals that seem tantalizingly out of reach on cryptozoologist Loren Coleman's Cryptomundo, a website specializing in tales of lake monsters, wild men living in the forest and other creatures whose existence remains unverified.
It's hard to scoff, buy wow gold considering zoologists are still discovering new species of primates, such as the Callicebus caquetensis titi monkey found earlier this year in Colombia.
Wilder fare still lurks on Fortean Times, with its tales of mysterious civilizations, weird creatures and aliens. What are aliens, however, if not just the most exotic possible form of animal?
It doesn't hurt that there's still no need to connect most critters--real, imagined or rumored--with royalty checks. Or, as Matthew Gasteier found, that animals will absorb endless amounts of verbal abuse.
The one time rock critic turned his blog, F--- You, Penguin, into a book deal with, um, Penguin. His formula: profanity-laced monologues that often collapse under the weight of a cheap wow gold critter's cuddliness.

Alternative tours draw travelers to Mexico 

While most travelers flock to Mexico mesos to sip margaritas on white-sand beaches, a hardy few choose lesser-known tourist sites where they are chased down by immigration agents or risk their lives in dangerous slums.
Escalating violence in Mexico's war on drugs may be prompting some would-be tourists to think twice about Mexico, but agencies offering alternative tourism are thriving among those seeking not just a break, but a break from the ordinary.
Innovative tourist agencies offer trips to remote mountain areas home to leftist Zapatista rebels and to the most crime-ridden neighborhoods of Mexico City.
It is uncertain whether the trend can provide a boost for Mexico's tourism sector, which accounts for about 9 percent of Latin America's second-largest economy.
But foreign tourists, mostly from Europe, are signing up for undercover tours in Tepito, a sprawling market area in Mexico City notorious for drug deals, underage prostitution and pirated goods, said Cesar Estrada, head of Universal Travel.
Another community center runs what they call a 'safari' in this historic area, where many Mexicans refuse to set foot for fear of being robbed at gunpoint.
"We tell visitors to dress simply. If they want pictures, our guides take them discreetly," Estrada said.
Donata Von Salviati, a German tourist, said she prefers such tours because they provide wow gold the kind of insight into the real Mexico one could not get in a beach resort like Cancun.
"Things like this don't exist in Germany," she said.
Domestic tourists are taking to reality tourism in the central state of Hidalgo, where one agency run by local residents simulates the dangerous trek Mexicans and Central Americans undertake as they cross the U.S. border illegally.
Tourists pay about 200 pesos ($15) for a nocturnal trek through a state park where they struggle to keep up with guides posing as "polleros" -- ruthless traffickers charging thousands of dollars to usher poor would-be migrants across the border.
In order to help tourists understand migrants' plight, guests are prohibited from carrying food and water as they wade through a river in the darkness and hide in bushes to elude the "migra," or U.S. immigration authorities.
The tour ends quickly for those who don't run fast enough -- they are thrown in the back of a mock border patrol truck.
The trips began six years ago in a bid to draw attention to the plight of undocumented immigrants -- nearly 7 million Mexicans lived illegally in the United States as of January 2009.
Originally offered in northern Mexico, they were moved to the center of the country as security deteriorated in northern Mexico.
More than 28,000 buy wow gold people have been killed in drug violence since President Felipe Calderon declared war on powerful cartels when he took office in 2006.
Global Exchange Reality Tours, a U.S.-based tour operator that seeks to educate tourists about social conditions in developing countries, brings travelers to meet with leftist rebels in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas.
There, tourists visit remote mountain areas that are home to members of the Zapatistas, the rebel group that spurred a largely bloodless peasant revolt in 1994 in support of indigenous rights.
Travelers may not get a glimpse of the Zapatistas' elusive leader, the iconic Subcomandate Marcos, but they get acquainted with the food and culture of Mexico's indigenous south.
"People want to see the Zapatista movement personally," said cheap wow gold Sneh Rao, regional director of the Global Exchange.
 

24 Things You Might Be Saying Wrong 

You never mesos mean: Could care less
You always mean: Couldn't care less
Why: You want to say you care so little already that you couldn't possibly care any less. When the Boston Celtics' Ray Allen said, "God could care less whether I can shoot a jump shot," we know he meant exactly the opposite because 1) God has other things on his mind, and 2) God is a Knicks fan.
You might say: Mano a mano
You might mean: Man-to-man
Why: You don't speak Spanish by adding vowels to the end of English words, as a columnist describing father–teenage son relationships seemed to think when he wrote, "Don't expect long, mano a mano talks." Mano a mano (literally, "hand to hand") originated with bullfighting and usually refers to a knock-down, drag-out direct confrontation.
You might say: Less
You might mean: Fewer
Why: In general, use fewer when you're specifying a number of countable things ("200 words or fewer"); reserve less for a mass ("less than half"). So when you're composing a tweet, do it in 140
characters or fewer, not less.
You never mean: Hone in
You always mean: Home in
Why: Like homing pigeons, we can be single-minded about finding our way to a point: "Scientists are homing in on the causes of cancer." Hone means "to sharpen": "The rookie spent the last three seasons honing his skills in the minor leagues." But it's easy to mishear m's and n's, which is probably what happened to the Virginia senator who said, "We've got to hone in on cost containment." If you're unsure, say "zero in" instead.
You might say: Bring
You might mean: Take
Why: The choice depends on your point of view. Use bring when you want to show motion toward you ("Bring the dog treats over here, please"). Use take to show motion in the opposite direction ("I have to take Rufus to the vet"). The rule gets confusing when the movement has nothing to do with you. In those cases, you can use either verb, depending on the context: "The assistant brought the shot to the vet" (the vet's point of view); "the assistant took the shot to the doctor" (the assistant's).
You might say: Who
You might mean: Whom
Why: It all depends. Do you need a subject or an object? A subject (who) is the actor of the sentence: "Who left the roller skates on the sidewalk?" An object (whom) is the acted-upon: "Whom are you calling?" Parents, hit the Mute button when Dora the Explorer shouts, "Who do we ask for help when we don't know which way to go?"
You almost never mean: Brother-in-laws, runner-ups, hole in ones, etc.
You almost always mean: Brothers-in-law, runners-up, holes in one, etc.
Why: Plurals of these compound nouns are formed by adding an s to the thing there's more than one of (brothers, not laws). Some exceptions: words ending in ful (mouthfuls) and phrases like cul-de-sacs.
You almost never mean: Try and
You almost always mean: Try to
Why: Try and try again, yes, but if you're planning to do something, use the infinitive form: "I'm going to try to run a marathon." Commenting on an online story about breakups, one woman wrote, "A guy I dated used to try and impress me with the choice of books he was reading." It's no surprise that the relationship didn't last.
You almost never mean: Different than
You almost always mean: Different from
Why: This isn't the biggest offense, but if you can easily substitute from for than (My mother's tomato sauce is different from my mother-in-law's), do it. Use than for comparisons: My mother's tomato wow gold sauce is better than my mother-in-law's.
You almost never mean: Beg the question
You almost always mean: Raise the question
Why: Correctly used, "begging the question" is like making a circular argument (I don't like you because you're so unlikable). But unless you're a philosophy professor, you shouldn't ever need this phrase. Stick to "raise the question."
You might say: More than
You can also say: Over
Why: The two are interchangeable when the sense is "Over 6,000 hats were sold." We like grammarian Bryan Garner's take on it: "The charge that over is inferior to more than is a baseless crotchet."
You almost never mean: Supposably
You almost always mean: Supposedly
Why: Supposably is, in fact, a word—it means "conceivably"—but not the one you want if you're trying to say "it's assumed," and certainly not the one you want if you're on a first date with an English major or a job interview with an English speaker.
You might say: All of
You probably mean: All
Why: Drop the of whenever you can, as Julia Roberts recently did, correctly: "Every little moment is amazing if you let yourself access it. I learn that all the time from my kids." But you need all of before a pronoun ("all of them") and before a possessive noun ("all of Julia's kids").
You might say: That
You might mean: Which
Why: "The money that is on the table is for you" is different from "the money, which is on the table, is for you." That pinpoints the subject: The money that is on the table is yours; the money in my pocket is mine. Which introduces an aside, a bit of extra information. If you remove "which is on the table," you won't change the meaning: The money is for you (oh, and unless you don't want it, it's on the table). If the clause is necessary to your meaning, use that; if it could safely be omitted, say which.
You never mean: Outside of
You always mean: Outside
Why: These two prepositions weren't meant for each other. Perfectly acceptable: "Wearing a cheese-head hat outside Wisconsin will likely earn you some stares and glares (unless you're surrounded by Green Bay Packers fans, that is)."
You might say: Each other
You might mean: One another
Why: Tradition says that each other should be used with two people or things, and one another with more than two, and careful speakers should follow suit: "The three presenters argued with one another over who should announce the award, but Ann and Barbara gave each other flowers after the ceremony." (By the way, if you need the possessive form of either one when writing that buy wow gold business letter, it's always each other's and one another's; never end with s'.)
8 Confusing Pairs
leery, wary: suspicious
weary: tired
farther: for physical distance
further: for metaphorical distance or time
principle: rule
principal: of your school
compliment: nice thing to say
complement: match
continual: ongoing but intermittent
continuous: without interruption
stationary: stands still
stationery: paper
imply: to suggest a meaning
infer: to draw meaning from something
affect: typically a verb, meaning "to act upon or cause an effect"; as a noun, it's "an emotional response"
effect: typically a noun, meaning "something produced," like a special cheap wow gold effect; as a verb, "to bring about," as in "to effect change" 

Experts: Gators in northern waters probably pets

Two gators in the Chicago River. One strolling mesos  down a Massachusetts street. Another in bustling New York City. And that's just in the past few weeks.
From North Dakota to Indiana, alligators are showing up far from their traditional southern habitats — including a 3-footer captured Tuesday in the Chicago River.
But experts say it's not the latest sign of global warming. Instead the creatures almost certainly were pets that escaped or were dumped by their owners.
"People buy them as pets and then they get too big and at some point they decide they just can't deal with it," said Kent Vliet, an alligator expert from the University of Florida who tracks media reports about the reptiles.
In the past three years, he said, there have been at least 100 instances of alligators showing up in more than 15 states where they're not native. North Carolina is the farthest north that alligators are found wow gold naturally, Vliet said.
A 3-foot-long, collar-wearing alligator was found Sunday strolling down a street in Brockton, Mass. On Monday, a 2-foot-long gator was spotted under a car in New York City. In fact, since spring, gators also have been found in Fargo, N.D., eastern Missouri, upstate New York, rural Indiana, Ohio and a Detroit suburb.
After being spotted by boaters on Sunday, Chicago's rogue gator drew scores of gawkers to the banks of the river. It peered from the water at the people staring back through binoculars, and swam away when a duck got too close.
"It's not scary," 8-year-old Caleb Berry said Monday. "It was a baby and it wasn't eating anything."
The alligator eluded capture and apparently ignored traps baited with raw chicken until Tuesday, when a volunteer from the Chicago Herpetological Society was able to snare it with a net. Three weeks ago, the volunteer captured a 2 1/2-foot gator in the same area.
Vliet said such small alligators don't pose much of a threat to humans — preferring to dine on fish, snails, crayfish, frogs and small snakes — though buy wow gold they probably would bite if handled.
"It's not like it's going to hunt you down," he said.
The greater risk is to the reptiles, which probably wouldn't survive long in northern climates, experts said.
"The animal is going to die a slow death," said Franklin Percival, a wildlife biologist for the U.S. Geological Survey in Florida who says alligators most often are abandoned when they reach 3 feet or so and "people wonder why they made the early decision" to buy them.
"Ecologically, it's not responsible and maybe ethically it is not a good idea, either," Percival said.
Alligators can be kept as pets in some states as long as the owner gets the proper permits, though some municipalities — like New York City — ban them outright. Illinois stopped issuing such permits three years ago because of problems with illegal ownership and people releasing unwanted pets, said Joe Kath, endangered species manager for the state Department of Natural Resources.
Cherie Travis, executive director of Chicago Animal Care and Control, said owning an alligator is a bad idea.
"No one in Illinois needs to own an alligator cheap wow gold Period," Travis said.
 

Tokyo, old and new, can be enjoyed on the cheap

One of the most fascinating things about Tokyo mesos is the way it combines both the ancient and the modern. Or rather, the way it doesn't combine them at all, so the new and the old are side by side everywhere you turn.
Take the metro to the Chiyoda Ward in central Tokyo and you'll find yourself surrounded by a tangle of glass and steel skyscrapers — until out of nowhere appears a moat, a pavilion of neatly trimmed grass and the hulking stone walls of the imperial palace. There's hardly a guard in sight and entrance to the surrounding gardens is free and open to the public.
That's another fascinating thing about Tokyo: Despite its enormous size and high-tech opulence, much of the city is remarkably affordable for budget travelers. Just know the right sites to visit and the best spot for a cheap sushi meal.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Unless you speak Japanese, you won't make it very far cold-calling Tokyo's budget-priced hotels. Good English is generally spoken only at top-of-the-line accommodations and pricier business hotels.
A good place for budget travelers to start is Agoda.com, an English-language website that specializes in travel bookings in Asia. A search for Tokyo hotels turns up hundreds of hits, including quite a few for under $70 a night — a steal by Tokyo standards.
A recent three-night stay at a comfortable, quiet — albeit small — one-bed room at the Dormy Inn Hatchobori ran $72 a night for three nights. This was well below the hotel's $100 standard nightly rate.
More adventurous travelers can choose between two more budget-minded routes: a traditional ryokan hotel (akin to a bed-and-breakfast) or, cheaper still, a capsule hotel, where the units are little more than beds with doors. Expect lots of noise and little English, particularly at the latter.
GETTING AROUND: Tokyo has one of the finest underground train systems in the world. It's cheap, safe and oh-so-fast.
The downside is that, for first-time visitors, the tangled web of train lines can be extraordinarily confusing. Mercifully, stations have signs in both English and Japanese. Pick up a free map from any station upon your arrival and study it as best you can.
If you plan to hit a lot of sites in one day, your best bet is a one-day metro line pass, which can be bought at the bilingual ticket terminal at any station. These will run you 710 yen ($8.31). For a bit more, you can get passes that give you access to additional train routes circling the city, called Toei lines, but it's not necessary.
If you prefer to pay as you go, you can try to guess your fare each time you enter a train station, but this is likely to be an exercise in futility. Fortunately, riders can enter stations by paying a minimum 160 yen ($1.87) fare, then pay the difference upon arriving.
Taxicabs can be hailed around the city in a pinch, but they are expensive and the fares can quickly add up.
OLD TOKYO: One of the first stops for budget-minded travelers should be the sprawling wow gold Tsukiji fish market. You can spend hours roaming the market's corridors, ogling ice troughs full of arm-sized fish and chowing down on some of the freshest sushi on the planet. It's best visited early in the morning, when the vendors are still well-stocked.
Another piece of old Tokyo not to be missed is the Meiji Jingu shrine. This Shinto shrine was constructed 90 years ago under Emperor Meiji, who led the way in opening Japan to the rest of the world. The gardens, lily ponds and temple grounds are a pleasant respite from noisy Tokyo. Entrance is free, but it costs 500 yen ($5.85) to visit the iris garden, a fee worth paying.
You could kill a whole day at the Asakusa temple if you wanted, where you are likely to encounter the curious sight of groups of quiet worshippers praying just steps away from a bustling souvenir shop. Be sure to drop a few coins into a donation jar here and take a fortune that spells out your fate in great detail.
The Asakusa temple is also an excellent budget shopping area, where the sprawl of small shops offers an abundance of inexpensive Japanese goods.
Round out your tour of old Tokyo with a visit to the Imperial Palace in the city center. Only the gardens surrounding the palace are open to the public on a regular basis, but they make for an enjoyable walk and the high stone walls and wide moats offer a glimpse into life in feudal Japan.
NEW TOKYO: Take in all of Tokyo's vastness from high up with a visit to the Tokyo Tower, which offers a panoramic view of all the sprawl. A ticket to the buy wow gold main observatory costs 980 yen ($11.47) and takes you 492 feet high, offering a view that stretches to Mount Fuji on a clear day. Another 600 yen ($7.02) gets you into the 820-foot-high special observatory.
Tokyo from the ground is best seen with a visit to the Shibuya neighborhood. Shibuya is quintessential Tokyo, where neon lights, electronics shops and rivers of pedestrians are the defining features. Be sure to stop by Shibuya Crossing, the city's answer to Times Square in New York.
Lastly, the Ginza shopping district is worth a visit, even if you don't plan on buying anything from its glitzy, high-end department stores. It's a great place to ogle Tokyo's fashion-conscious residents, while the cavernous stores offer excellent — and cheap — food options.
EATING: One of the best parts about Tokyo is the food — its abundance, quality and affordability. Staples for the budget traveler will include rice, noodles, fish and miso soup. Expect to find one of these items in nearly every meal you eat — including breakfast.
Most of this stuff is surprisingly cheap. A healthy-sized bowl of noodles and soup, sometimes with some vegetables thrown in or tempura on the side, can be had for between 500 and 1,000 yen ($5.85 to $11.70) at many of the city's small, anonymous noodle shops. (Ginza's department stores have an abundance of these.) It sounds boring, but a bowl will prove a good deal more satisfying, and tasty, than the stringy ramen you lived on in college.
First-time travelers might expect sushi to be consumed in abundance in Japan, but most of the fish eaten here is not raw. Like in the U.S., sushi in Japan is consumed sparingly and is something of a delicacy. It also commands a price premium similar to that in the U.S.
That said, you should still sample as much raw fish as your bank account allows because it's sure to rank among the best you'll ever eat. The best place to do it is the Tsukiji fish market, where seemingly around every corner lurks an affordable eatery. A bowl of raw tuna and rice with a side of miso soup and tea will run you around 1,100 yen ($12.87) at most restaurants here. If you're feeling adventurous and you enjoy the cheap wow gold texture of Jell-O, a bowl of plain fish eggs will cost you half that much.

NZ rescuers save 9 whales stranded on beach 

Crews with bulldozers buried 49 mesos pilot whales in sand dunes on an isolated northern New Zealand beach Sunday after rescuers managed to save only nine from a group that was stranded on the beach for two days.
Indigenous Maori elders chanted prayers over the carcasses before bulldozers stripped open a trench above the waterline to bury the mammals, which died despite efforts by more than 200 rescuers.
The rescuers refloated 13 of the beached whales Saturday after a mass stranding of 58 of them on remote Karikari Beach. Four of the 13 survivors later were euthanized after they beached again, bringing the overall death toll to 49.
The survivors had headed out to sea Saturday afternoon and were monitored to ensure they did not return to the beach, Conservation Department spokeswoman Carolyn Smith said. But within an hour four wow gold of them became stranded again, Smith said.
Rescuers spent two hours trying to help them, but as darkness fell officials decided to kill the distressed whales to prevent the nine survivors from being lured back by their distress calls.
The remaining nine were later observed swimming strongly and steadily back out to sea.
The full pod of pilot whales that beached Thursday night on the storm-tossed Karikari Beach were stranded for up to 12 hours before they were discovered — the reason so many died, Smith said.
On Friday, conservation buy wow gold department workers and trained volunteers from the Far North Whale Rescue group struggled unsuccessfully to refloat the survivors, hindered by heavy seas and wind. On Saturday they used a crane and body sling to lift and then transport them half a mile (a kilometer) to Matai Bay, a sheltered location with calmer waters.
A pod of 101 pilot whales was stranded on the same beach in 2007.
New Zealand has one of the world's highest rates of whale strandings, mainly during their migration to and from Antarctic waters.
Since 1840, the Department of Conservation has recorded more than 5,000 strandings of whales and dolphins around the New Zealand coast. Scientists have not been able to determine cheap wow gold why whales become stranded.

The rich have more money but the poor are rich in heart: study

The world could one day be mesos an economically equal place, if the lower-income population have anything to do with it. In an interesting yet disheartening series of socioeconomic experiments, led by a team of UC Berkeley researchers, the findings are that those on the lower-income levels are more likely to give and be charitable than their higher paid counterparts.
In one experiment in particular, led by doctoral student, Paul Piff and his researchers, participants completed a questionnaire reporting their socioeconomic status and a few days later were provided with $10 to share anonymously. The findings concluded the more generous of the income brackets were on the lower-income scale. A recent national survey reiterates the results, revealing lower-income people give more of their hard-earned money to charity than the wealthy.
At a time when the richest one percent of Americans own more than the bottom 90 percent combined, Piff and his colleagues' findings are more than a little timely. "Our data suggests that an ironic and wow gold self-perpetuating dynamic may in part explain this trend," the study researchers write, to be published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. "Whereas lower-class individuals may give more of their resources away, upper-class individuals may tend to preserve and hold onto their wealth. This differential pattern of giving versus saving among upper--and lower-- class people could serve to exacerbate economic inequality in society."
Piff and his researchers, including Greater Good Science Center Faculty , Dacher Keltner, conducted a second experiment based on the definitive psychological evidence that the less people have, the more they give. The participants did an exercise stating how they felt people should divvy their annual income. They were able to choose from charitable contributions, recreation, food, and other miscellaneous things. The point of the activity was to make them feel higher or lower buy wow gold on the status bar . It showed, again, those on the lower end, thought a higher percentage should be charitable.
The researchers also found evidence that the likelihood of executing other compassionate, generous tasks and behaviors might be explained by their higher concern for equality and empathy for others. Though on the other end, when researchers provoked compassion in the higher-class participants, they were just as much -- if not more -- socially conscious as the lower-class participants. The researchers felt being "rich or "poor" wouldn't necessarily indicate social behaviors, but it is the starting level of compassion they might feel for others.
Prior research, found by Piff and his colleagues, suggests lower income people might be more compassionate because they're more closely rooted to and dependent on others, therefore more empathetic. It's also thought the more money the lower-earning people make in their lifetime and the higher their status becomes. As a result of it, the ability to connect with others' point-of-view disappears, including the low-income cheap wow gold population they were once ties to.

Stem cells Successfully used to treat PD in rodents

Researchers at the Buck Institute for mesos Age Research in California have successfully used human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to treat rodents afflicted with Parkinson's Disease (PD), according to a research published Monday in on-line edition of the journal Stem Cells.
The research can be used to manufacture the type of neurons needed to treat the disease and paves the way for the use of iPSC' s in various biomedical applications.
Researchers used human iPSCs that were derived from skin and blood cells and coaxed them to become dopamine-producing neurons. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter produced in the mid-brain which facilitates many critical functions, including motor skills. Patients with PD lack sufficient dopamine; the disease is a progressive, incurable neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1.5 million Americans and results in tremor, slowness of movement wow gold and rigidity.
They transplanted the iPSC-derived neurons into rats that had mid-brain injury similar to that found in human PD. The cells became functional and the rats showed improvement in their motor skills. Leader author of the study Jianmin Zeng said this is the first time buy wow gold iPSC-derived cells have been shown to engraft and ameliorate behavioral deficits in animals with PD.
Dopamine-producing neurons derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been demonstrated to survive and correct behavioral deficits in PD in the past. "Both our functional studies and genomic analyses suggest that overall iPSCs are largely similar to hESCs," said Zeng.
"The studies are very encouraging for potential cell therapies for Parkinson's disease," said Alan Trounson, president of the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. "The researchers showed they could produce quantities of dopaminergic neurons necessary to improve the behavior of a rodent model of PD. We look forward to further work that could bring closer a new treatment for such a debilitating cheap wow gold disease," Trounson said. 

Robot to Expose Hidden Secrets of the Pyramids

Following in the footsteps of mesos  Howard Carter and Abbot and Costello, a specialized robot will penetrate deeper into the Great Pyramid of Giza than ever before. The robot, part of a years-long exploration called the Djedi Project, will explore a shaft inaccessible to a previous robot, unlocking a room that has remain sealed for 4,500 years.
The robot explorer, built by researchers at the Leeds University, England, in collaboration with French aviation company Dessault and British robotics company Scoutek, will incorporate a small fiber optic camera for looking around corners, an ultrasonic probe for testing the quality of the rock and a releasable mini-robot that can fit through spaces as small as 0.7 inches in diameter.
Additionally, the robot uses special nylon and carbon fiber wheels that won't deface wow gold   the pyramid's sensitive rock.
"All the robots were designed from scratch to do as little damage to the shafts as possible," Shaun Whitehead, Systems engineer and mission manager, told TechNewsDaily. "The previous robots both used tracks that scrubbed away at the floor and ceiling as they moved. We use soft brace pads to grip the walls, like an inchworm or the technique that rock climbers use for ascending 'chimneys.' The wheels don't need to grip, they need to slip as much as possible."
Whitehead designed the robot so that the team could easily swap out different components, depending on what they find down the shaft. To buy wow gold  create the different components, Whitehead and his team used 3-D software provided by Dessault, and then "printed" out the parts on a 3-D fabricator at Leeds University.
The robot will travel down a shaft located in the tomb of the Queen. Unlike the King's tomb, where shafts lead to the outside of the Great Pyramid so his soul could escape into the afterlife, the shafts leading from the Queen's tomb borrow deeper into the pyramid.
This is the third time a robot has tried to find the end of the Queen's tomb shaft. The first expedition found that a giant stone door blocked the tunnel, and the second robot discovered another door behind that one. With its microbot and drill, the Leeds University researchers designed this new robot  cheap wow gold   specifically to breach those obstacles. 

Insomnia, work and money
Peg Boorse, 50, the mesos director of supply chain management for a large cosmetics company near Philadelphia, says she sleeps well only on vacation, when she can escape her constant stream of work worries. Trying to balance her often changing shift-work schedule at 24/7 television news production company is where 24-year-old Jill Goldstein's sleep troubles arise. For Brittany Shoot, 27, an under-employed freelance writer based in Copenhagen, Denmark, it's all the work she could be doing or should be seeking.
"There is a two-way tie between sleep and mental health," says Lawrence J. Epstein, M.D., former president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and author of The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night's Sleep. "Good sleep allows you to function at your best, but if you're not feeling your best, that affects your sleep."
According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, primary insomnia--a sleep disorder unrelated to another medical condition--can result from long-lasting stress, work schedules that affect your sleep habits or emotional upset. If you have trouble falling or staying asleep at least three nights a week for more than a month, you could have chronic insomnia. These symptoms, along with daytime fatigue and poor focus, occur less frequently in acute insomnia.
The statistics aren't good: One in three adults experiences insomnia--women more so than men--and risk increases with age. And given recent reports of sleep patterns, the economy certainly isn't helping. In the National Sleep Foundation's 2010 Sleep in America Poll, one-third of adults indicate they're getting less sleep on workdays and weekends than they feel they need, and one-fourth say their current work schedule doesn't allow them to get enough sleep.
Experts agree that while requirements are variable, the average adult should sleep somewhere between seven and nine hours per night. Slumber is a daily necessity alongside food and water but, according to Nancy Collop, M.D., the director of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center, most Americans wow gold  shortchange themselves. This can have short-term and long-term ramifications on health, happiness and work performance.
"Some nights I get so anxious about wanting to fall asleep as soon as possible, I psych myself up so much that I end up barely sleeping," says Goldstein, the television shift worker, adding that her body takes a month to adjust to a new work schedule, often only to have her hours change yet again--to earn overtime, help out a co-worker or fulfill a supervisor's request.
Shoot, who works more than 40 hours a week but spends 25% of that time seeking paid freelance assignments, says, "I'll be so wound up about work and money that I won't sleep well."
With the current trends in joblessness, company cutbacks and financial insecurity, Collop says an increase in work-stress-related sleep issues is logical. An irony, though, is that "sleep deprivation makes you less interested and less motivated to do work."
One California mother of a three-year-old, Aimee, 32, says she feels pressure to move up the corporate ladder to better provide for her child. In fact, the product quality assurance manager is going to graduate school part-time in hopes of career advancement. The result, she says, is that she sleep-walks during times of stress and says she finds it difficult to focus the next day at work.
Quality rest works to repair, revise and renew brain function; it is crucial for performance, learning and memory, says Archibald D. Hart, Ph.D., senior professor of psychology at Fuller Graduate School and author of Sleep, It Does a Family Good: How Busy Families Can Overcome Sleep Deprivation. "If you under-sleep by one hour a night, you will see a cumulative decline in job performance by as much as 30% to 40%, the same effect as being drunk," he cautions. Over time this adds up to a higher risk for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, weight gain and obesity, and a shorter lifespan.
"Depression and anxiety can increase your risk of insomnia," adds Epstein. "Your body gets revved up, which makes it hard to relax--and you need to relax to get restful sleep. In turn, insomnia can increase your risk for anxiety and depression."
It's a catch-22 that only you can disrupt. One solution is to only take on what you can reasonably manage at work. "Make it clear that you buy wow gold  want to be a better worker and that your job is important to you," says Hart. He recommends learning effective ways to say "no," either through assertiveness training classes or a therapist's help. "Make sure your boss really knows how much you are doing," he adds. "It's amazing how ignorant they can be."
But Marshall Brown, a certified career and executive coach, warns: "Because there have been so many furloughs and layoffs, there are more assignments to take on. A manager doesn't want to hear, 'I'm stressed out. I can't do this.' So what can you say no to? For a lot of people, it's their personal lives. That's a huge mistake. You need to have a balance."
Being overworked, underpaid and flat-lined for fun doesn't stop at lights out, the primetime for worrying about what didn't get done and what you still have to do. Rather than staying awake trying to solve everything, Epstein recommends jotting notes in a journal that you can review in the morning.
Alternatively, Collop suggests setting aside time about an hour before bed to write out your "worry list" to clear your head. If you wake up in the middle of the night, she recommends going to relax in a relatively dark room, with no TV or computer, for 10 to 15 minutes.
While persistent sleep issues won't disappear overnight, you can take care of yourself first thing tomorrow: To boost your alertness in the morning, Collop recommends exposing yourself to a bright light. If sunlight isn't available, she says light therapy products can cheap wow gold  be effective too.

The best goal is no goal

“With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the mesos future. I live now.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
The idea of having concrete, achievable goals seem to be deeply ingrained in our culture. I know I lived with goals for many years, and in fact a big part of my writings here on Zen Habits are about how to set and achieve goals.
These days, however, I live without goals, for the most part. It’s absolutely liberating, and contrary to what you might have been taught, it absolutely doesn’t mean you stop achieving things.
It means you stop letting yourself be limited by goals.
Consider this common belief: “You’ll never get anywhere unless you know where you’re going.” This seems so common sensical, and yet it’s obviously not true if you stop to think about it. Conduct a simple experiment: go outside and walk in a random direction, and feel free to change directions randomly. After 20 minutes, an hour … you’ll be somewhere! It’s just that you didn’t know you were going to end up there.
And there’s the rub: you have to open your mind to going places you never expected to go. If you live without goals, you’ll explore new territory. You’ll learn some unexpected things. You’ll end up in surprising places. That’s the beauty of this philosophy, but it’s also a difficult transition.
Today, I live mostly without goals. Now and then I start coming up with a goal, but I’m letting them go. Living without goals hasn’t ever been an actual goal of mine … it’s just something I’m learning that I enjoy more, that is incredibly freeing, that works with the lifestyle of following my passion that I’ve developed.
The problem with goals
In the past, I’d set a goal or three for the year, and then sub-goals for each month. Then I’d figure out what action steps to take each week and each day, and try to focus my day on those steps.
Unfortunately, it never, ever works out this neatly. You all know this. You know you need to work on an action step, and you try to keep the end goal in mind to motivate yourself. But this action step might be something you dread, and so you procrastinate. You do other work, or you check email or Facebook, or you goof off.
And so your weekly goals and monthly goals get pushed back or side-tracked, and you get discouraged because you have no discipline. And goals are too hard to achieve. So now what? Well, you review your goals and reset them. You create a new set of sub-goals and action plans. You know where you’re going, because you have goals!
Of course, you don’t actually end up getting there. Sometimes you achieve the goal and then you feel amazing. But most of the time you don’t achieve them and you blame it on yourself.
Here’s the secret: the problem isn’t you, it’s the system! Goals as a system are set up for failure.
Even when you do things exactly right, it’s not ideal. Here’s why: you are extremely limited in your actions. When you don’t feel like doing something, you have to force yourself to do it. Your path is wow gold chosen, so you don’t have room to explore new territory. You have to follow the plan, even when you’re passionate about something else.
Some goal systems are more flexible, but nothing is as flexible as having no goals.
How it works
So what does a life without goals look like? In practice, it’s very different than one with goals.
You don’t set a goal for the year, nor for the month, nor for the week or day. You don’t obsess about tracking, or actionable steps. You don’t even need a to-do list, though it doesn’t hurt to write down reminders if you like.
What do you do, then? Lay around on the couch all day, sleeping and watching TV and eating Ho-Hos? No, you simply do. You find something you’re passionate about, and do it. Just because you don’t have goals doesn’t mean you do nothing — you can create, you can produce, you can follow your passion.
And in practice, this is a wonderful thing: you wake up and do what you’re passionate about. For me, that’s usually blogging, but it can be writing a novel or an ebook or my next book or creating a course to help others or connecting with incredible people or spending time with my wife or playing with my kids. There’s no limit, because I’m free.
In the end, I usually end up achieving more than if I had goals, because I’m always doing something I’m excited about. But whether I achieve or not isn’t the point at all: all that matters is that I’m doing what I love, always.
I end up in places that are wonderful, surprising, great. I just didn’t know I would get there when I started.Quick questions
Question from a reader: Isn’t having no goals a goal?
Quick answer: It can be a goal, or you can learn to do it along the journey, by exploring new methods. I’m always learning new things (like having no goals) without setting out to learn them in the first place.
Another question from a reader: So how do you make a living?
Answer: Passionately! Again, not having goals doesn’t mean you stop doing things. In fact, I do many things, all the time, but I do them because buy wow gold I love doing them.
Tips for living without goals
I am not going to give you a how-to manual for living without goals — that would be absurd. I can’t teach you what to do — you need to find your own path.
But I can share some things I’ve learned, in hopes that it will help you:
* Start small. You don’t need to drastically overhaul your life in order to learn to live without goals. Just go a few hours without predetermined goals or actions. Follow your passion for those hours. Even an hour will do.
* Grow. As you get better at this, start allowing yourself to be free for longer periods — half a day or a whole day or several days. Eventually you’ll feel confident enough to give up on certain goals and just do what you love.
* Not just work. Giving up goals works in any area of your life. Take health and fitness: I used to have specific fitness goals, from losing weight or bodyfat to running a marathon to increasing my squat. Not anymore: now I just do it because I love it, and I have no idea where that will take me. It works brilliantly, because I always enjoy myself.
* Let go of plans. Plans are not really different than goals. They set you on a predetermined path. But it’s incredibly difficult to let go of living with plans, especially if you’re a meticulous planner like I am. So allow yourself to plan, when you feel you need to, but slowly feel free to let go of this habit.
* Don’t worry about mistakes. If you start setting goals, that’s OK. There are no mistakes on this journey — it’s just a learning experience. If you live without goals and end up failing, as yourself if it’s really a failure. You only fail if you don’t get to where you wanted to go — but if you don’t have a destination in mind, there’s no failure.
* It’s all good. No matter what path you find, no matter where you end up, it’s beautiful. There is no bad path, no bad destination. It’s only different, and different is wonderful. Don’t judge, but cheap wow gold experience.

Netflix to stream Paramount, Lionsgate, MGM movies

Netflix Inc. will pay nearly $1 billion during the next five years for mesos the online streaming rights to movies from Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM in a deal that could help convert even more people to the idea of getting their entertainment piped over high-speed Internet connections.
The agreement announced Tuesday marks another breakthrough in Netflix's bid to stock its online streaming library with more compelling material, so it can keep its subscription service relevant as on-demand video systems supplant its core business of renting DVDs through the mail. The online streaming push also helps the company reduce its postage bill for mailing DVDs.
The deal also makes the three studios' joint pay TV venture, Epix, immediately profitable.
Streaming movies provide more instant gratification than renting DVDs through the mail or from a store because the video can be delivered within 30 seconds over a high-speed connection. The video isn't stored on the computer hard drives owned by subscribers; it's just shown on a connected device, such as video game consoles. The concept has become more popular as more households have gotten high-speed Internet access and Netflix has obtained the streaming rights to more recent movies and TV shows.
Analysts believe the influx of newer movies available for Internet streaming will enable Netflix to maintain its rapid growth of the past two years, lifting its earnings even higher despite the hefty licensing fees. That expectation helped lift Netflix shares $8.11, or nearly 7 percent, to close at $125.01.
Netflix's stock price has quadrupled during the last two years as the number of the company's subscribers has nearly doubled to 15 million. Meanwhile, traditional video stores have been closing, a trend reflected by the collapse of Movie Gallery Inc. and the struggles of Blockbuster Inc., whose shares are worth so little now that they were recently de-listed from the New York Stock Exchange.
Epix, a pay TV channel launched last October by Viacom Inc.'s Paramount, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., holds subscription pay TV rights to new releases and movies from its partners' libraries. The pay TV rights typically start about a year wow gold after a movie's theatrical release. Netflix is getting the rights to stream movies 90 days after they appear on Epix, which is offered through subscription TV providers such as Dish Network Corp. and Cox Communications Inc.The first crop of movies to be released in Netflix's streaming library on Sept. 1 include "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra," "The Pink Panther 2" "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and all of "The Godfather" movies. Over the next few months, "Iron Man 2" and "Star Trek" will also be available for streaming.
The movies will be available for streaming on Netflix for 16 or 17 months, after which the rights will shift to basic cable channels.Netflix now has streaming rights that cover about 46 percent of the movies that have be shown in U.S. theaters this year, said Ted Sarandos, Netflix's chief content officer. He says that's comparable to what Time Warner Inc.'s HBO gets for its pay TV channel, although HBO appears to still hold the edge in the number of movies that made the most money in theaters.
"We are giving people more and more reason to stream instead of waiting to get their DVDs through the mail," Sarandos said.
Just over 60 percent of Netflix's subscribers streamed at least 15 minutes of video in the April-June period, up from 36 percent at the end of last year.
Mark Greenberg, the president of Epix, told The Associated Press that the channel had discussed a digital distribution deal with many potential partners including the online video site Hulu, Amazon.com Inc buy wow gold and Google Inc.'s YouTube, but the Netflix deal made the most sense because it had healthy subscriber revenues.
"We're putting our bet on Netflix. They've done a great job and they're a great brand," Greenberg said.
Mailing DVDs remains Netflix's bread and butter, so the Internet isn't in immediate danger of choking from Netflix' expanded online streaming. Still, it represents the company's growth engine. Netflix management believes the streaming service is the main reason Netflix has added more than 6.5 million subscribers in the past two years.
Netflix, which is based in Los Gatos, Calif., offers unlimited Internet streaming along with DVD mailing for as little as $9 per month, a price that has held steady even as the company has substantially increased its spending to expand its online library beyond 20,000 titles, up from 2,000 just a few years ago.
The company spent $117 million on streaming rights during the first half of this year, up from $31 million during the first six months of 2009.
The new deal adds roughly $200 million a year to that tab. That's on top of the more than $100 million annually that Netflix will pay Relativity Media LLC for the streaming rights to 12 to 15 movies annually starting in 2011. Netflix finalized that exclusive deal last month. The price for streaming rights has been escalating as more people sign up for Netflix.
Susquehanna Financial Group analyst Marianne Wolk estimates Netflix will spend $360 million on Internet streaming rights next year. But Sarandos said his company can afford those costs because more streaming means fewer DVDs to mail out, thereby reducing the company's postage costs, which now run about $600 million a year.
Viacom owns about a 50 percent stake in Epix, while Lions Gate holds about 31 percent and MGM has about 19 percent. Epix lost $90 million in the first half of the year. Lions Gate CEO Jon Feltheimer told analysts Tuesday that combined with other distribution deals, the Netflix licensing fees will make Epix profitable.
Barclays Capital analyst Anthony DiClemente estimated the deal is worth about 75 cents per share to Viacom. Shares of Viacom rose 29 cents to close Tuesday at $33.96 while cheap wow gold Lions Gate's stock edged up 2 cents to $6.60.
 

The Myth of More: Why It Won’t Make You Happier

We’re taught that, in almost every area mesos of life, having more is the key to happiness.
Not satisfied with your job? That’s because you want more money.
Unhappy with your home? You want more space.
Bored of your gadgets and DVDs and computer games? You want more of them.
As you’ve probably experienced in your own life, though, simply having more doesn’t tend to make you any happier. If you’ve ever received a pay raise – only to end up increasing your spending too – you’ll know that if you aren’t satisfied on $40,000 you’re unlikely to be satisfied on $50,000.
And if you’ve ever bought a new gadget or game, convinced that it’s going to make you happy, you’ll have noticed how quickly the thrill of “new” wears off.
More Isn’t Always Better
Our society promises that more is the way forwards – particularly when it comes to countables, like money, possessions, and rungs of the career ladder.
Sometimes, though, heaping up more just isn’t going to help. For instance, if you’re in a career that you don’t like, every step you take up the ladder is just taking you further and further in the wrong direction. You’re not getting any happier.
Other times, although more might seem good at first, it’s not really a fix for any underlying problems. If you’re a gambling addict, you might believe that all you need to be happy is more money … but the more you get, the more you’ll gamble away.
On a more everyday level, if you have more money you might upgrade to a bigger wow gold house with better furnishings … but you’ll also end up paying out more for home insurance, bills and maintenance, and working long hours just to keep up with your new lifestyle.
Even if you achieve the “become a millionaire” dream, you might find yourself dissatisfied: cut off from former friends, facing new hassles, worries and demands.
People assume that if you have accumulated money, then you are either using it in some unworthy way or you’re a miser, both of which are negative stereotypes.
How to Be Happy With Less
The secret, then, isn’t to keep chasing after more. It’s to figure out what you already have which is valuable, and make the most of that.
One easy way to start is with a gratitude journal. You’ve probably seen “gratitude” being mentioned all over the place in recent years – for a good reason. It works. Studies have shown that writing down what you’re grateful for really does make you happier: in one, led by Robert Emmons and Michael McCullough, participants spent a few minutes each week writing.
The first group listed five things for which they were grateful, the second noted down five things that annoyed them and the final group jotted down five events that had taken place during the previous week. [...] The results were startling. Compared to those in either the ‘annoyed’ or ‘events’ groups, those expressing gratitude ended up happier, much more optimistic about the future, physically healthier and even exercised significantly more.
You can also deliberately go against the cultural pressure for more – and start thinking about how where less might make you happier, and how you buy wow gold can move towards that. For instance:
    * Less clutter: sell unwanted items on eBay, give them to charity, or recycle.
    * Less stress: consider a career switch, or taking a slightly lower-paid but more relaxed job.
    * Fewer commitments: stop saying “yes” to everything, and start only taking on the things which you can do wholeheartedly.
    * Fewer health issues: how about quitting smoking or drinking less?
And finally, look at what you value. If you’ve been chasing more money, or a fancier job title, what’s the motivation behind it? Perhaps what you really want is to feel that you’re making a contribution (and maybe volunteering is a better way forwards). Or perhaps you want to be certain that your family are safe and secure (and shifting to a smaller home would give you some financial breathing space and peace of mind).
Don’t get caught up in the trap of chasing after more in the belief that it’ll make you happy. Instead, look at all the good things you already have – and all the wonderful parts of your life, like your family and friends, which can’t be totted up on a balance sheet.
Take the time to enjoy all that, and you’ll be far happier than if you cheap wow gold spent every spare minute trying to cram in more.
 

Martha Davis: Industrial Design Meets Shoes 

Martha Davis may not yet be mesos a household name when it comes to shoe design. But in the world of industrial design, her specialty of 20 years, she made her mark in a way that has since affected millions of women: dial pack birth control packaging for Johnson & Johnson. Now she hopes to change the lives of millions more, but this time, with her shoes.
It's Davis' keen industrial designer eye for a clean, functional and modern product that makes her such an intriguing shoe designer. She has a product designer's understanding of problem solving and the nuts-and-bolts knowledge of the mechanics of elegant design.
As a devoted consumer of shoes herself, Davis, whose studio is currently based in San Francisco, felt she couldn't quite find what she was looking for - a shoe that was practical, understated and unique, but not intimidatingly radical.
"I wanted to get back to making things," she said, "so I decided to give shoes a try."
So she booked a trip to Italy, took a shoe design course in Milan and now two years and four collections later, Davis is making comfortable, yet highly stylish shoe that fuse traditional hand-made Italian shoemaking techniques with a distinctive modernist design and a bold color sensibility.
The result are shoes that leap into the future. Wedges have an almost spaceship-like aerodynamic curve, and the glove leather she uses is so soft and molds so perfectly to the foot that the shoes wow gold  wear as though they were custom made.
Even within the limitations of doing such a small run in a factory, Davis has also managed to tweak the design of the heels to create a signature wooden heel that is sculptural and sleek, and never clunky. It's slim and narrow from the side, but sturdy and strong, giving the wearer a sense of perfect balance. There are no unwearable skyscraper heels here - these are shoes that are meant to be worn from day to night. This type of careful attention to structure makes Davis something of a "shoe architect."
Not surprisingly, architecture has been a source of inspiration for Davis. For her fall collection, she focused on classic mid-century architecture with its "simple, yet textural" qualities. A block of gritty, industrial cement, for instance, is represented in buy wow gold   the form of a textured metallic boot. Davis succeeds in making the Modernist movement, usually associated with severity, look more feminine. And while there's this slice of the past in the design, they never look discernibly retro.
For Spring 2011, Davis designed a range of styles that satisfy a range of sandal season scenarios, whether a person wants to cover up a certain part of their foot (an open-toed wedge with soft, bubble-thick laces, for instance) or bare all (a strappy high-heeled sandal with a simple center knot). And a ruched sandal that wraps around the foot and ankle like a bootie also looked surprisingly delicate and pretty.
Inspired by Cubist artists like Picasso, Alexander Calder and Joan Miro, Davis was namely interested in "the way they played with color, form, volume, line." She pointed to a spongy, tube-like sandal strap and explained: "It's like a drawing or a sketch."
Also new for Davis is a men's collection. For now, it's one style in a range of her modernist color palette, from cool grey to a luscious orange, based on a simple slip-on design that a friend of hers brought back from Japan years ago that quickly became his favorite pair of shoes.
Though current distribution of the Martha Davis collection is limited to a few stores in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Japan, along with direct orders, expect to see Davis explode cheap wow gold  on the footwear market very soon.

Woman With New Heart, Lungs, Liver and Kidney Gets Her M.D.

The first woman in the United Kingdom to have all mesos her major organs transplanted has now signed on to a lifetime of hospital visits -- but this time as the doctor.
Allison John, 32, made medical history in 2006 after she received her fourth organ transplant -- a kidney from her father, 61-year-old David John, to add to her previous heart, lung and liver transplants.
A life plagued by illness and frequent hospital visits has not deterred John from her dream of becoming a doctor, however. After 14 years of interrupted study, she finally received her medical degree from Cardiff University last month, according to the U.K. press.
John will begin rounds as a junior doctor at Neville Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, England.
Considering that her combined heart-lung transplant alone has only a 40 percent survival rate in the first five years, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing, John is extremely fortunate to have survived three separate transplant operations.
"At the moment, I feel I'm in the best shape physically that I've ever been and I'm so excited about the future," John told the U.K. press.Doctor-to-Be Survives Full Major Organ Transplant
Why would one person need so many organ transplants?
Just weeks after her birth, John was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, an incurable genetic condition that results in the formation of thick mucus that wow gold plugs up the tubes leading to the lungs and liver -- though other organs also can be affected by it.
"Cystic fibrosis can result in lung and liver damage, as the thick mucus causes inflammation and infection that destroys [organ] tissue," said Dr. David Cronin, associate professor of transplant surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin.
According to the U.K. press, John's liver was transplanted first, at age 15, but just a year later, doctors told her she would also need a lung transplant and she received a combined heart/lung transplant less than a year later.
The Miracle of Multiple Transplants
Given she already had undergone a liver transplant, it might sound strange that doctors would give John a lung and heart transplant once her lungs failed, but there are advantages to adding the heart into the mix, Cronin said.
"At the time that transplant was done, doing heart and lung transplants together was much safer and easier than doing an individual lung transplant," he said. "When you do both, you take the heart and lung out as one unit from the donor and put it into the recipient. Basically, you're doing a heart transplant and the lungs come along for the ride."
Also, the liver failure experienced by those with cystic fibrosis can put extra stress on the heart, so transplanting the heart, as well can be beneficial to survival, said Dr. Fredric Gordon, medical director of liver transplantation at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Massachusetts.
Would each successive transplant surgery be riskier than that last?
Not necessarily, Cronin said. While risk of infection would be there with each operation, the past transplants, once established, would not necessarily increase the risk of the next ones.
She also already would be on immunosuppressive drugs, so she wouldn't have to start those buy wow gold or increase the dosage for the subsequent surgeries, Gordon said.
Ironically, but not surprisingly, John's final organ transplant actually was a product of her first three. Organ recipients must be on a lifetime regimen of drugs to suppress their immune system in order to stave off the body's rejection of the new organ. The drugs however, have side effects that can slowly weaken the kidney.
"John had what 30 percent of liver transplant patients and 40 to 50 percent of heart transplant patients develop in the five years after transplant: kidney failure as a side effect of the immunosuppressive drugs," said Cronin.
Given that John will have to remain on immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of her life, her donor kidney may suffer the same fate as her original one because of the drugs, Gordon said.
It is a problem that transplant surgeons only have been able to detect in more recent years, as patients survive long enough to experience that particular side effect five, 10, 20 years down the road, Cronin said.
"[John] has done miraculous[ly]," Cronin cheap wow gold said. "It's more than 10 years and it looks like she's full steam ahead."

40 billionaires pledge to give away half of wealth

Bill Gates, left, and Warren Buffett, seen in this mesos 2007 photo during the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, are trying to persuade other American billionaires to give at least half their wealth to charity.
A little over a year after Bill Gates and Warren Buffett began hatching a plan over dinner to persuade America's wealthiest people to give most of their fortunes to charity, more than three-dozen individuals and families have agreed to take part, campaign organizers announced Wednesday.
In addition to Buffett and Gates — America's two wealthiest individuals, with a combined net worth of $90 billion, according to Forbes — 38 other billionaires have signed The Giving Pledge. They include New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, entertainment executive Barry Diller, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens, media mogul Ted Turner, David Rockefeller, film director George Lucas and investor Ronald Perelman.
"We're off to a terrific start," Buffett, co-founder and chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, said in a conference call also attended by Bloomberg and San Francisco hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer and his wife Kat Taylor, founder of OneCalifornia Bank.
Buffett said he and Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, and Gates' wife Melinda made calls to fellow billionaires on the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest Americans — in many cases, people they had never met — to try to persuade them to join the giving pledge.
"We contacted between 70 and 80 people to get the 40. A few were unavailable. We don’t give up on them. Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future. We’ll keep on working," Buffett said.
Bloomberg, who made the bulk of his estimated $17.5 billion fortune from financial news and information services company Bloomberg L.P., said it didn't make sense to leave everything to his children and have them wow gold go through life as members of "the lucky sperm club."
"You don’t want to leave them so much money that it ruins their lives," Bloomberg said. "You want kids who can look back and say, 'Yeah my family helped me but I did something on my own.'"
Added Steyer: "We need to support each other. I look at this as replanting your garden so that future generations will have a full bounty of crops."
The United States has roughly 400 billionaires — about 40 percent of the world's total — with a combined net worth of $1.2 trillion, according to Forbes. If they all took the pledge, that would amount to at least $600 billion for charity.
The 40 names that have pledged to date have a combined net worth surpassing $230 billion, according to Forbes. Several of them have said they plan to give away much more than 50 percent of their wealth. Buffett has promised to donate more than 99 percent of his wealth.
The pledge is a moral commitment to give, not a legal contract. It does not involve pooling money or supporting one cause or organization. It's up to each person who signs the pledge how to divvy up their wealth.
In letters on the givingpledge.org website, the 40 billionaires explain what motivated them to follow in the footsteps of Gates and Buffett.
"I’m particularly thankful for my father’s advice to set goals so high that they can’t possibly be achieved during a lifetime and to give help where help is needed most," CNN founder Ted Turner said. "That inspiration keeps me energized and eager to keep working hard buy wow gold every day on giving back and making the world a better place for generations to come.”
“My pledge is to the process; as long as I have the resources at my disposal, I will seek to raise the bar for future generations of students of all ages," filmmaker George Lucas said. "I am dedicating the majority of my wealth to improving education.”
Gates and Buffett hatched the idea of a giving campaign in mid-2009 at a secret dinner meeting in New York with a few select billionaires. The campaign went public this June.
Buffett acknowledged that some wealthy people may find it beneficial to donate more so they can avoid or write off more taxes. But he said that's not the reason billionaires are taking the pledge.
"Of the 20 or so people that I have talked to that have signed, not one of them has talked to me about taxes," Buffett said.
"It may be a consideration but I think the motivation goes far, far beyond taxes."
And of the billionaires contacted who didn't join the pledge?
"There were a few people who gave answers that indicated their various dissatisfaction with government," Buffett said. "A few had dynastic ideas about wealth … an intergenerational compact with family to keep that going. And there were others who said, 'I’ve got a plane to catch and I'll cheap wow gold have to hang up.'"

Baidu celebrates 5-year IPO on Nasdaq

Nasdaq held a special ceremony mesoson Thursday to celebrate the five-year listing anniversary of BaiduInc., the largest Chinese company listed on the New York-based stockexchange.
Robin Li, founder, chairman and CEO of Baidu, received the award ofNasdaq Global Distinguished Entrepreneur from Sandy Frucher, vicechairman of NASDAQ OMX Group, at the celebration held in Beijing,China. They then jointly rang the opening bell remotely for Nasdaq.
"Like Baidu every enterprise has a drive to succeed, but very fewcompanies reach the pinnacle of achievement," Bob Greifeld, CEO ofNasdaq OMX Group, said in a video congratulatory message. " Throughyour persistence, innovation and hard work, Baidu's dream has cometrue."
"We are honored that Baidu chose to list on Nasdaq five years ago. We are also wow goldvery proud that Baidu was the first and is currently the only companyfrom China which is included in the very prestigious Nasdaq 100 Index."
The whole ceremony was broadcast live on the Nasdaq MarketSite tower in Times Square of New York.
This "is a ceremonial event that represents Nasdaq's virtual market model," a statement from Nasdaq said. "As a result, Nasdaq buy wow gold canbe opened from any location bringing together investors and marketparticipants from around the world to mark the opening of the tradingday."
Baidu successfully debuted on Nasdaq on Aug. 5, 2005, with an initialoffering price of 27 U.S. dollars per share. It currently trades around86 dollars per share after a 1:10 shares split earlier this year, whichmeans its stock price soared more than 30 times within the five years.
With a market value of over 30 billion dollars, Baidu now is among the top three Internet stocks in the U.S. equity market.
China is now the largest overseas market for the Nasdaq Stock Market,with a total of 148 listed companies, more than any other U.S. exchange.
There were a total of 33 Chinese companies that landed on Nasdaq in2009. By the end of July this year, there had already been 25 newlistings on Nasdaq from China, including nine IPOs, 12 cheap wow gold over-the-counter bulletin board (OTCBB) upgrades and four switches.
 

Octogenarians have more heart surgery, live longer

Heart surgery and the use of other mesos invasive treatments have risen sharply in elderly people who've suffered a heart attack, Canadian researchers said Tuesday.
In addition, the number of deaths within one year of those heart attacks dropped by almost 10 percent between 1996 and 2006, data from Quebec hospital patients aged 80 and older show.
"Over the last decade we are doing procedures in patients once believed to be too old for these procedures," said chest surgeon Dr. Mark R. Katlic, of Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, who was not involved in the new study.
"It's my belief that this is a positive development," he said, cautioning that the study didn't prove the new treatment had reduced the number of deaths.
An earlier study found that U.S. heart patients of all ages are more likely to undergo procedures to clear blocked coronary arteries than are Canadians.
The current study, published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, was carried out by Dr. Louise Pilote and colleagues of McGill University in Montreal.
Over a 10-year period, the researchers found that nearly 30,000 octogenarians in Quebec had wow gold suffered a heart attack.
In 1996, most of the patients received standard medications such as beta-blockers and cholesterol-lowering drugs, and only a few percent underwent invasive procedures.
Ten years later, however, that number had ballooned: A quarter of all patients were undergoing angioplasty, a procedure in which the doctor cleans out the blocked arteries that caused the heart attack.
Overall, almost half the patients died within a year of their heart attacks in 1996, while fewer than four in ten died in 2006.
The drop in mortality buy wow gold only occurred in patients who had undergone invasive procedures, suggesting those treatments might help patients survive longer. But it's possible that other changes in how doctors managed the patients could also have been involved.
Heart attacks kill more than 400,000 people in the U.S. every year according to the American Heart Association, and heart disease remains the leading cause of death.
Dr. Katlic, who wrote an editorial about the new study, said it was important to consider the cost of the procedures, which may amount to tens of thousands of dollars.
Medications are much less expensive, he told Reuters Health, but it's unclear if they are equally effective at preventing another heart attack.
"We should also study whether the quality of life is better after cheap wow gold these procedures," he said.

Rihanna talks Eminem Duet

 Rihanna's crowd at the Staples Center in mesos Los Angeles last week erupted when Eminem surprised the audience by joining the singer on stage during her Live Nation concert tour.
The two sang their duet, "Love The Way You Lie," about an abusive relationship.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Latest Star Sightings
After the show, Access Hollywood was exclusively backstage with Rihanna as she opened up about why she chose to be a part of the emotional song.
"It's something that, you know, we've both experienced, you know, on different sides, different ends of the table," Rihanna told Access of her reasons for taking part in the song.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Guess Who's Back? Hot Shots Of Eminem!
"He pretty much just broke down the cycle of domestic violence and it's something wow gold that people don't have a lot of insight on," Rihanna said of Eminem's track.
Despite her own volatile relationship with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown, Rihanna did not shy away from the chance to be a part of the explosive lyrics of Eminem's "Love The Way You Lie," which includes the lyrics from the rapper, "I laid hands on her/I'll never stoop so low again/I guess I don't know my own strength" and Rihanna singing, "Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, but that's alright because I like the way it hurts."
"I knew if he sent me a record there must be something to it," Rihanna explained of how she was brought on board. "It couldn't just be, 'Oh, Duh! She was in that relationship so we have to get her.'
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Rihanna: Music's Style Superstar
"The lyrics were so deep, so beautiful and intense. It's something that I understood, something I connected with," Rihanna added.
In other Rihanna news, the singer revealed she has become party planner for pop star pal Katy Perry's bachelorette party. Katy is buy wow gold set to marry British funnyman Russell Brand on an undisclosed date.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Crazy! Sexy! Cool! The Planet's Hottest Pop Stars Take The Stage
"It's taking up way more time than my tour," Rihanna laughed. "It's so much pressure. Her wedding is probably going to be the best wedding I've ever been to and now I have to match the bachelorette party to that."
Rihanna said she's taking inspiration from Katy's stylized look for the event.
"I could have balloons and Disney characters there and she'll still make it wild. That's just Katy Perry. There's no way around that with her," Rihanna said.
In more Rihanna news, on Monday night it was revealed that the singer has signed on to star in her first feature film. Variety reported that the beauty will star in Universal's "Battleship," inspired by the game of the same name.
"True Blood's" Alexander Skarsgard and "Friday Night Lights" hunk Taylor Kitsch cheap wow gold are also a part of the cast.

On the road again

Summer is road trip time, and for our most recent excursion mesos we packed up the car, set out at daybreak, and headed into Inner Mongolia. We passed the border of Hebei Province and drove north to the Xinlin Gol League, and the landscape stretched out before us, shifting from the concrete jungle to rural bungalows and on to the seemingly endless green grassland.
As we traveled, the sky became clear and blue, with low clouds scattered like fluffy marshmallows. Herds of sheep, bulls and horses came into our view once in a while, eating grass with ease. The wind became cool and refreshing as we escaped the sauna of Beijing.
By lucky chance, we timed our trip so we were near the Pingding Mountains at sundown. The mountain range was formed by a volcano, and each mountain has a perfectly flat top. Behind them, the sun looked like an orange egg yolk in the pink and purple sky.
After the brief but stunning sunset, we got caught in some sudden rain on a road that was in the process wow gold of being repaired. Our car bucked between the slushy mud and bumps in the road. After the more-than-10-hours drive, it was almost midnight when we got to Dongwuqi, which is to the northeast of Xilin Gol League. Our stomachs were rumbling with hunger, and luckily our Mongolian hosts were waiting for us in a local herdsman's yurt. There were three long benches as the serving tables, and each had a basin of lamb chunks. That's the famous Mongolian "meat in hand," where you use one hand to hold the meat, and the other to chop and eat. The lamb is simply boiled in water, with no seasoning except some salt. Surprisingly, the mutton did not have a strong mutton odor. There's also spicy sauce you can dip it in. "The mutton from Dongwuqi is well-known. You can look it up," said a local Mongolian girl proudly. "I've been to Beijing. The mutton there is not good at all! And they claim it's from Dongwuqi!" Indeed, evn those of us who don't normally eat mutton gobbled down quite a few chunks of meat.
The host poured hot and fresh milk tea from an old-fashioned bottle into our bowls and filled our cups with Caoyuan Bai (Grassland White), a well-known Mongolian buy wow gold  baijiu. "We call it 'smother the donkey,'" Su He, our local friend, joked. "The traditional Caoyuan Bai is 62 degrees, but this is a modified version, only 38 degrees." Then he taught us the Mongolian way to drink your first cup: Dip your right forefinger into the wine, toast to the sky, toast to the earth, and onto your forehead, then drink the whole glass. Mongolians drink like fishes; after a couple of glasses, even the best drinker among us got tipsy.
The rain stopped after our big feast. The clear sky was full of stars, so many and so shiny that it looked like a huge black silk cape densely studded with different sizes of diamonds.
We kept heading north to the Arxon the next morning, and the grass around us got taller and taller as we drove. As we approached the mountains, the scenery became colorful. Dark green pinewoods covered the top of the mountains, and the lower part was forests of white birch trees. Yellow, purple and red flowers ornamented the grass. It seemed like even the most amateur of photographers could easily take a stunning postcard picture there.
Arxan Mountain didn't get its name from the mountains, but was transliterated from the Mongolian phrase "hot holy water." We didn't get a chance to try out the  famous hot spring, but went to the heavenly lake on the mountain. The heavenly lake of Arxan is about 70 kilometers northeast of the city. It is said this heavenly lake ranked the third in China, just after the lakes on Tianshan and Changbai Mountain.
We drove more than 3,000 kilometers in our five-day road trip. But there's much more in Inner Mongolia than what we have seen; the Hulun Buir grassland, Hailar and Manzhoulicheap wow gold  are all said to have even more breath-taking views, and we'll definitely come back again.

 

A sneak peek of Disney's new Hawaii resort

More than 80 years after Mickey Mouse mesos piloted "Steamboat Willie" and whistled his way into the hearts of children across the world, he has finally reached the shores of Hawaii.
The Walt Disney Co. on Friday gave a peek of its sprawling, beachside Hawaiian resort that is under construction and scheduled to open next year.
"Aulani" is Disney's first major standalone resort away from a theme park and could serve as a model for future projects as the company diversifies and expands its vacation offerings.
"This is a very special project for us," said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. "It's unlike anything that Disney has done before; at the same time, it's very like many of the things we do."
Aulani will have 359 hotel rooms, 481 time-share units, restaurants, a convention center, a 15,000-square-foot spa and a massive water play area that includes a volcano tube slide and snorkel lagoon.
It sits on 21 acres on Oahu's Leeward Coast in the Ko Olina development, known for its white sand lagoons, scenic golf course and colorful sunsets. Ko Olina is about an hour west of Waikiki, where most of the hotels and tourists are.
Jim Lewis, president of Disney's time-share component, said Hawaii makes "perfect sense" with its rich culture, traditions, warm greetings, family values, friendships and storytelling.
"Those are also terms synonymous with Disney," he said. "And by the way, Hawaii also happens to be one of the most popular wow gold  vacation destinations on the planet, and that's the business that we're in."
Most of the resort is currently a jungle of concrete, steel, wires and pipes with no Mickey and Minnie in sight. Aulani is scheduled to open Aug. 29, 2011, with hotel reservations to begin next month. Time-share sales started three weeks ago.
With the construction phase alone costing more than $600 million, Aulani represents a huge investment for Disney amid a sharp tourism downturn.
Staggs, who previously served as Disney's chief financial officer, wouldn't comment on the final cost.
"Are we nervous about this investment right now given this economy? The answer is we really aren't," he said. "We really do have a fundamental belief in this location and Hawaii in general."
Staggs called the project "a tremendous opportunity," giving Disney a permanent presence in the islands. He wouldn't say what other areas Disney was considering because "right now, our focus is right here and making sure we get this right."
According to an economic impact study commissioned by Disney, Aulani is expected to generate 4,800 jobs during construction. When completed, 2,400 jobs will be created, with about half working at the resort. More than $271 million annually in economic activity will be generated.
The largest units at Aulani are 3-bedroom "Grand Villas" — 2,300-square-foot timeshare units that are larger than most Hawaii homes, sleep 12 and have sweeping views of the Pacific.
All the hotel and timeshare units have more of a traditional Hawaiian flair with touches of Disney that generally are subtle — other than the surfer Mickey lamp in each room.
David Uchiyama, of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Disney's arrrival is a "validator" of the Aloha state as a family destination. He was impressed by Disney's efforts in trying to connect with Hawaiian culture.
"(Others) usually lay out a structure, put pictures up and put a buy wow gold canoe here. These guys went way beyond that," Uchiyama said. "The extent that they took to connect with the host culture should be commended."
While this may be Disney's first big push into Hawaii, the company has had a long and growing relationship with Hawaii. One of the most notable is the animated film "Lilo & Stitch," the centerpiece of a $1.7 million marketing deal between Hawaii and Disney.
Other projects have included the 2001 film "Pearl Harbor" and ABC's castaway drama "Lost," which filmed here for six seasons. ABC is owned by Disney. In addition, "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" began shooting here this summer.
"We couldn't find a more perfect cheap wow gold  place in putting a resort like this," Staggs said.

Pilotless drones show new face of war at Farnborou

Pilotless drones, remote-controlled mesos military aircraft destined to play a vital role in combat, took a high-profile place at the Farnborough air show this week.
With unmanned aircraft already being used by NATO forces in Afghanistan for intelligence-gathering but also increasingly in an offensive role, aerospace manufacturers at Farnborough reported brisk sales last year.
Although defence budgets worldwide are being squeezed this year by the fragile economic recovery, companies and analysts said they expected sales of drones to slow less than in other defence aviation sectors.
One machine with a potentially strong commercial future is US defence group Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk, a high-altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), seen as a potential replacement for the venerable U-2 spy plane.
"The planned date (for U-2 decommissioning) is by 2012, but it is unlikely the U-2 will just drop dead. More likely there will be a draw-down," Northrop Grumman's Director of Business Development Ed Walby told AFP at the Farnborough show near London, a key get-together in the aviation world.
Northrop claimed at the show to have clocked up total sales of 33.8 billion dollars in 2009.
But in a sign of the growing importance of unmanned aircraft, it expected the sector to account for around 3.5 billion dollars of sales in the next 10 years.
However, with drones playing an increasingly prominent role in warfare, some manufacturers forecast that sales of unmanned aircraft would remain buoyant despite the pressure governments are under to cut defence spending.
US consultancy Forecast International's senior unmanned systems analyst Larry Dickerson wow gold predicts the market for UAV procurement will be worth almost 18 billion dollars by 2018.
"Western European defence budgets are under a lot of pressure," said Paolo Carmassi, a leading executive at Honeywell Aerospace.
"I wouldn't be surprised to see a reduction in hardware acquisition in the short term and this is something I think the entire industry has to be prepared for."
However a spokesman for US aerospace giant Boeing was far more upbeat.
"UAVs have always been in high demand and we expect the market to continue to grow even with the decrease in spending in the (US) Department of Defense," he told AFP.
Flying at an altitude of 60,000 feet (18,300 metres), UAVs can look down through a sandstorm and destroy unsuspecting targets with clinical precision. All this, while the pilot is nowhere near the aircraft or even the battlefield.
Yet despite the unique combat role played by drones, industry experts stress the need to maintain the man in the cockpit.
"They don't take over. Manned aircraft, at least for the next 40 years, will continue to dominate despite the progressive injection of remotely piloted vehicles buy wow gold  in air forces around the world," said Howard Wheeldon, a defence analyst with BGC partners.
Alan S. Colegrove, a senior official at US drone manufacturer AAI added: "Most of the unmanned systems out there are not exactly unmanned, they are remotely controlled."
The emergence of unmanned vehicles that carry out strike missions on enemy targets, as opposed to mere surveillance is taking drone technology to the next level.
The Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) are already being used in conflict zones across Afghanistan.
"I think they are extremely important and here to stay," said Wheeldon.
"They are already with us and playing a crucial role in Afghanistan and they played a role in Iraq. They will save lives and are a cheap form of defence fighting equipment."
US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter now in production, "may be the last combat aircraft the US Air Force will buy that carries a pilot," signalling a paradigm shift in how the US plans to craft its 21st century battle strategy.
Ahead of Farnborough, a drone manufacturer claimed that its ultra-light UAV powered by solar energy stayed in the air for a record seven days.
The British-based firm QinetiQ said its 22.5 metre (cheap wow gold  74-foot) long Zephyr, weighing just 50 kilogrammes (110 pounds), flew over a US military testing ground in Arizona.

 

Sister monument to Stonehenge may have been found

Scientists scouring the area around Stonehenge said mesos  Thursday they have uncovered a circular structure only a few hundred meters (yards) from the world famous monument.

The prehistoric Callanish or Calanais standing stones in Lewis, in Scotland's Outer Hebrides islands, which are older than Stonehenge, are shown in wow gold  thisAugust 2005 photo. (AP Photo/Hugh A. Mulligan)

An artist?s reconstruction of what the henge might have looked like. Archaeologists said Thursday they have discovered a monument similar to Stonehengenear the ancient stone circle, dubbing it the most exciting find at the site for 50 years. (University of Birmingham)

There's some debate about what exactly has been found. The survey team which uncovered the structure said it could be the foundation for a circle of freestanding pieces of timber, a wooden version of Stonehenge.

But Tim Darvill, a professor of archaeology at Bournemouth University in southern England, expressed skepticism, saying he believed it was more likely a barrow, or prehistoric tomb.

Darvill did say that the circle was one of an expanding number of discoveries being made around Stonehenge which "really shows how much there is still to learn and how extensive the site really was."

"In its day Stonehenge was at the center of the largest ceremonial center in Europe," he said.

The stonehenge that is visible today is thought to have been completed about 3,500 years ago, although the first earthwork henge on the site was probably built more than 5,000 yeas ago.

Although antiquarians have been poking around the area since the 18th century, excavations are now tightly restricted. So archeologists have been scanning the surrounding fields and pastures with magnetic and radar sensors pulled across the grass by tractors or quad bikes.

The new structure was found when scans identified a cluster of deep pits surrounded by a ring of smaller holes about 900 meters (a little over half a mile) from Stonehenge and within sight of its famous standing stones.

University of Birmingham archaeologist Henry Chapman said he was convinced the small holes were used to secure a circle of wooden poles which stood "possibly three or more meters (10 or more feet) high."

The timber henge — a name given to prehistoric monuments surrounded by a circular ditch — would have been constructed and modified at the same time as its more famous relative, and probably had some allied ceremonial or religious function, Chapman said in a telephone interview from Stonehenge.

Exactly what kind of ceremonies those were is unclear. The new henge joins a growing complex of tombs and mysterious Neolithic structures found across the area.

The closest equivalent is probably the nearby Woodhenge, a monument once composed of six rings of wooden posts enclosed by an earth embankment. Excavations buy wow gold there in the 1970s revealed the body of child whose skull had been split buried at the center of the henge — hinting at the possibility of human sacrifice.

A stone's throw from the newly found henge is a formation known as the Cursus, a 3-kilometer-long (1.8-mile-long) earthwork whose purpose remains unknown. Also nearby is a puzzling chunk of land known as the Northern Kite Enclosure; Bronze Age farmers seem to have avoided cultivating crops there, although no one is sure quite why.

The whole area around Stonehenge is dotted with prehistoric cemeteries — some of which predate the monument itself — and new discoveries are made occasionally.

Last year, researchers said they had found a small circle of stones on the banks of the nearby River Avon. Experts speculated the stone circle — dubbed "Bluehenge" because it was built with bluestones — may have served as the starting point of a processional walk that began at the river and ended at Stonehenge.

Chapman's team is still in the early stages of its work, having surveyed only about four square kilometers (1.5 square miles) of the 16 square kilometers (six square miles) it eventually plans to map.

The survey is being led by the University of Birmingham and the Austria-based Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, with support from other institutions and researchers from Germany, Norway and Sweden.

Henges of various descriptions exist throughout Britain — from the Standing Stones o' Stenness on the northern island of Orkney to the Maumbury Rings in southern cheap wow gold England county of Dorset.

'Improving' Simatai will just destroy it

Several years ago I visited the mesos Badaling section of the Great Wall. The first moment that one sees the wall high above and snaking up to tower-topped peaks is unforgettable. Getting closer however, drains a bit of the excitement as trudging along the fume-filled parking lot toward a gate means being among thousands of others who all seem to need to get their ticket at the same time. Hawkers chased us and the noise and chaos were disconcerting and disorienting.
At the gate, there was still more pushing and shoving as there were seemingly thousands trying to go up and thousands trying to get down. It was my first experience of having people hold the whole works up so that they could take the mandatory photos, each member of the group, in turn, apparently oblivious that massive groups of people were pressing to go up or down.
I almost gave up, but the thought of spending my allotted time in that parking lot seemed even worse, so I pressed on, desperately hoping to not get shoved off balance. One tower, then two, then the miracle of Badaling! Fewer and fewer were willing to climb further on those very steep and small steps. At tower three, the air freshened and by tower four there were only a handful wow gold of us. The blessed quiet and magnificence of the view made me realize why this incredible structure inspires the poets.
This year I chose to go to the World Heritage Simatai section. Good choice. This section of the wall has a small village which offers souvenirs, but no one chases after you. The wall beckons in a very different way. It is not "picture perfect" like the fully restored Badaling section, so it gives a better feel how the wall was constructed and a sense of the people who built and populated it.
There were no crowds climbing, and all those who met on the way exchanged a bit of  a greeting or smiles. There was a great feeling of the shared pleasure and camaraderie of those who are doing something wonderful together. Photographers were in heaven because here it is the views, not the crowds, that prevail.
Having conquered eight towers and buy wow gold feeling quite heroic indeed, we found the restaurant back at the village very welcome. The driver, though, had received disturbing news from the villagers. They said that the area would be closed shortly for an indeterminate time. They didn't know where they were to go.
Back home, stories in the paper confirmed that the Minyun county government was evacuating them for "reconstruction to develop tourism".
Oh dear. Here is the conundrum that occurs all over China. People like me prefer the quieter, less developed places to visit. "Reconstruction" often removes the very charm and unique culture of the area. As spectacular as Badaling is, it has a feeling of being a bit too perfect and prettified and the crowds can detract from any real experience of the place. Simatai goes deep into the traveler's soul. The charming village and villagers seem as eternal as the wall itself.
Can reconstruction with the attendant revenues it will bring be stopped? The answer is clearly no, but will this reflect progress or simply pave over a priceless heritage? A question for the times.
Well, all this will be decided without my opinion holding sway. Let's just say that sometimes one is in the right place at the right time as I was this summer at spectacular, serene, Simatai -cheap wow gold  before its "improvement".

Belgium: More than just chocolates

Chocolate, waffles, beer, and diamonds have made mesos Belgium famous.
Interestingly, none of the raw products are of Belgian origin, but people are so talented that the finished product bears a memorable Belgian label.
Few people take enough time to look beyond the surface, but those who are willing to slow down and spend four or five days in the relatively small country are well rewarded.
Belgium offers the perfect combination of old and new, casual and serious. The beauty and charms are low key.
Manneken Pis
A Brussels landmark, Manneken Pis (Dutch for little man urinating) holds a cultural significance similar to that of Copenhagen's Little Mermaid.
The 60-centimeter high bronze statue of the naked boy peeing into a fountain basin stands in a modest corner where it was placed in 1618. It's unguarded and thronged with hundreds of people from around the world.
Several times a week, he wears different costumes signifying different events, such as a cycling costume for the Tour de France.
His wardrobe contains more than 800 gift costumes, some dating to the 17th century.
China delivered a "panda costume" in June to Manneken Pis to mark Chengdu Day at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.
Visitors are lucky if they can actually see the naked statue. The changing of costumes is a colorful ceremony, with a loud brass band.
Many legends surround the character of Manneken Pis. A favorite story goes that a little war hero saved the city by peeing on a burning fuse of explosives.
Diamond city
Belgium's second largest city Antwerp is a bit more serious than casual Brussels, and is known as the diamond city because around wow gold  eight of 10 rough diamonds mined worldwide are sent here for cutting.
More than 80 percent of the world's diamonds are traded in Antwerp, representing an annual turnover of US$39 billion.
Much of the business is conducted surrounding DiamondLand, a large showroom in central Antwerp.
The Diamond Museum provides a look at the world's hardest stone and how it is cut and fashioned into jewelry.
Medieval heritage
In the small city Brugge, about 105 kilometers from Brussels, visitors find many well-preserved world heritage sites, most dating to medieval times.
The churches, squares, bridges, houses and even carriages are reminders of a very old Europe.
Strict preservation of exteriors is enforced. No one is allowed to change the original facade of a building.
Gent
This city feels less like a museum. You can find a very special Marriott hotel in a former brewery. The entrance is small and unobtrusive.
Inside, it's all 21st century, with a high, white ceiling and ultra modern decor.
A restaurant in the city center is nestled in a former meat market. At the buy wow gold entrance, legs of salted ham remind visitors of its origin.
Tips For The Trip
People in Shanghai and Jiangsu, Anhui and Zhejiang provinces can apply for a Schengen Visa (covering 25 European countries) at Belgium's Visa Application Center in Shanghai.
Spend euros in Belgium.
People speak Dutch, French and German. English is also widely used.
Time difference between Beijing and Brussels is six hours in summer and seven hours in winter.
Transport is very convenient. You can reach any major city from Brussels in less than a two-hour drive. It's easy to reach Paris, Berlin and Amsterdam by train.
Belgium's summer temperature: 12-22 degrees Celsius. Winter: 0-6 degrees Celsius. Don't forget to take an umbrella.
Electric current: 220V. You sill need an adapter to use Chinese electric appliances, like hair dryers, because outlets have two holes.
Most department stores close at 6pm.
Hainan Airlines offers direct flights daily
If you want to travel to Belgium or start a trip to cheap wow gold   Europe, Hainan Airlines offers frequent direct flights.

Eating fish weekly may lower risk of age-related eye disease

Older adults who eat fatty fish at least once a week may mesos  have a lower risk of serious vision loss from age-related macular degeneration, according to a U.S. study.
The study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore does not prove that eating fish cuts the risk of developing the advanced stages of age-related macular degeneration, or AMD.
But researcher Bonnielin K. Swenor said the findings add to evidence from previous studies showing that fish eaters tend to have lower rates of AMD than people who infrequently eat fish. They study, reported in the journal Ophthalmology (http://link.reuters.com/xut38m), also supports the theory that omega-3 fatty acids -- found most abundantly in oily fish like salmon, mackerel and albacore tuna -- may affect the development or progression of AMD.
"While the current research indicates that a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can reduce the risk of late AMD in some patients, more research is still necessary," Swenor told Reuters Health.
For the study, Swenor and her colleagues analyzed data from 2,520 adults wow gold aged 65 to 84 who underwent eye exams and completed detailed dietary questionnaires.
Fifteen percent were found to have early- or intermediate-stage AMD while just under 3 percent were in the advanced stage of the disease. Study participants who ate one or more servingsof such fish each week were 60 percent less likely to have advanced AMD than those who averaged less than a serving per week.
Overall the researchers found there was no clear relationship between participants' reported fish intake and the risk of AMD but there was a connection between higher intake of omega-3-rich fish and the odds of advanced AMD.
AMD is caused by abnormal blood buy wow gold vessel growth behind the retina or breakdown of light-sensitive cells within the retina itself -- both of which can cause serious vision impairment. AMD is the leading cause of blindness in older adults.
There is no cure for AMD, but certain treatments may prevent or delay serious vision loss. A U.S. government clinical trial found that a specific high-dose mix of antioxidants -- vitamins C and E, beta- carotene and zinc -- can slow the progression of AMD that is in the intermediate stages, and doctors now commonly prescribe it for such patients.
Whether fish or omega-3 supplements can stall AMD progression is not yet clear but a follow-up to the U.S. antioxidant trial is now looking at whether adding fish oil and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin to the original supplement regimen cheap wow gold brings additional benefits.

Bono's back: U2 rocker ready to roll after surgery

 The 50-year-old frontman for Dublin supergroup mesos U2 has announced he's fully recovered from emergency back surgery in Munich in May — and has apologized to ticket-holding North American fans who must wait an extra year to see the band return to action.
In a laid-back hand-held video posted Wednesday on U2's Web site, drummer Larry Mullen Jr., bassist Adam Clayton and guitarist The Edge playfully suggest they've been auditioning new singers — but can't quite replace the middle-aged lad who's been the face of U2 since 1976.
The camera then pans to a Bono in rose-tinted lenses.
"I can sit. I can stand. I wow gold can move around a bit. Feeling strong, feeling confident," Bono says as he walks about an unidentified recording studio. "And I'm ready — rebuilt by German engineering, better design I'm told — and I'm going to be fighting fit next summer in the U.S."
Bono sheds no light on how he hurt his back, which his German neurosurgeons in May described as sudden partial paralysis. The health scare forced U2 to cancel the entire sold-out, 16-city North American tour this summer. All those dates have been rescheduled for May-July 2011 with the original buy wow gold tickets still valid.
Bono said he "wanted to apologize for the trouble that this injury has put you all through, those of you that bought tickets, and organized hotels and travel plans. It's a very big deal. People go to a lot of trouble to get U2 tickets and we don't take it for granted. Thank you for standing by us in our hour of need."
The singer said his injury, surgery and convalescence "was not a lot of fun for me. The injury was quite serious ... but staring at the ceiling has some advantages — forced indolence." He said he used the time to write new lyrics and tunes.
The 2009 swing of U2's ongoing 360-degrees World Tour was the biggest financial earner of the year, grossing more than $300 million — but U2 manager Paul McGuinness says the colossal show struggles to break even because it costs $750,000 cheap wow gold daily to keep on the road.

Man's New Best Friend: The Teacup Pig

 Why settle for a dog when you can have your very mesos own pig? Why miniature potbelly pigs, affectionately known as teacup pigs, are fueling the latest pet craze.
Pigs get a bad rap for being messy, but a new trend is emerging that'sturning homes all over America into literal pigsties. Teacup pigs -- anendearing name for a miniature potbelly pig -- have wiggled their wayinto the hearts of pet lovers with their curly tails, turned-up nosesand especially small stature. And entrepreneurs in the teacup pig gameare starting to capitalize.
The latest pet trend started in Britain, where celebrities like David and Victoria Beckham and red-headed Harry Potter wow goldstar Rupert Grint purchased teacup pigs. Now the little piggies havecrossed the pond. Florida's Angel Enterprise Farm markets the pigs as"the fine little swine," and describes them as "a friendlier version ofa cat." Like cats, the pigs can be trained to use a littler box. Unlikecats, they have trouble moving their stocky bodies up a flight ofstairs and rarely land on their feet. But by most accounts, they're anaffectionate breed.
Teacup pigs have a lifespan of 15 to 20 yearsand a price tag up to $1,600, depending on just how small the oinkeris. Teacup pigs are known by other names, too, including micro-pigs,mini-pigs and teacup piglets, but they're all the same -- a downsizedversion of a potbelly pig.
But the Animal Rescue Site warns thatthe "teacup" trend is a marketing ploy -- these pigs may fit in ateacup when you buy them, but within five years they can weigh up to 80buy wow goldpounds. While that's "teacup"-size relative to 800-pound full-sizepotbellies, many consumers are unprepared to care for the pigs whenthey mature, and pig sanctuaries are overflowing with 300,000 discardedpotbellied pigs that grew to 150 pounds or more.
Dave Fox, owner ofAquapawrium in Waretown, N.J., says he has seen rising demand forteacups in his shop. He knows that having the pigs in stock would begood for business, but so far, he's only come across micro-pigs forsale in the Midwest. Shipping them to his shop in New Jersey can cost$400 and could also damage or scare the pigs.
"If I could find someone locally who would bring me them, I would bring a cheap wow gold couple in, because I've had a lot of people inquiring," Fox says.

Mel Gibson is focus of domestic violence inquiry

Mel Gibson was named Thursday as a potential mesos  suspect in a domestic violence investigation involving his ex-girlfriend, Russian singer Oksana Grigorieva, earlier this year, sheriff's officials said.
The disclosure came after detectives interviewed Grigorieva about the alleged attack at an undisclosed location in Malibu.Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said Grigorieva was the only person interviewed so far in the case.
Gibson and Grigorieva have been involved in a nasty custody dispute over their infant daughter — the subject of a confidential court case.
Whitmore declined to disclose further details of the domestic violence investigation or any potential evidence.
"We're in the process of verifying, verifying, verifying," Whitmore said. "All the allegations that have been put forth will be thoroughly investigated."
A phone message left for Alan Nierob, Gibson's spokesman, was not immediately returned.
The actor has not publicly discussed the breakup with Grigorieva, 40. The former couple first revealed their relationship shortly after Gibson's wife,
Robyn, filed for divorce last April. The divorce is pending.
Court proceedings in the case involving  wow gold  the 8-month-old daughter of Gibson and Grigorieva have been conducted in closed session.
Gibson's attorney, Stephen Kolodny, previously said the actor has paid Grigorieva "tens of thousands of dollars" and provided her with a home, vehicle and nanny since their breakup.
He also accused the singer of violating the terms of a confidential custody agreement reached in May.
Grigorieva has said she cannot discuss the case.
Attorneys handling the matter for Gibson and Grigorieva did not respond to e-mails seeking comment Thursday.
The Sheriff's Department said the alleged attack on Grigorieva occurred Jan. 6, and the investigation was in a preliminary stage. It could take a month before the inquiry is concluded and the results are turned over to the district attorney's office, which will decide whether to pursue charges.
The investigation was being conducted by the same sheriff's substation that arrested Gibson in 2006 on suspicion of drunken driving. The station is located in suburban Agoura and also covers Malibu, where buy wow gold  Gibson lives.
Gibson eventually apologized for making a series of anti-Semitic and sexist remarks during his arrest. He also said he had battled alcoholism for all of his adult life.
Gibson is no longer on probation for the drunken driving case and his conviction has been expunged.
Gibson, 54, won an Academy Award in 1995 for directing "Braveheart," which won that year's best picture Oscar.
His remarks in 2006 led to a lengthy cooldown period for the actor, who was once one of Hollywood's most bankable stars. "Edge of Darkness," released earlier cheap wow gold this year, represented Gibson's first starring role since 2002.

Loew leaves future open after semi-final defeat

In the wake of his side's mesos World Cup semi-final defeat to Spain, Germany coach Joachim Loew remains tight-lipped on his future plans despite now being out of contract.
The 50-year-old's four-year deal with the German Football Federation (DFB) officially expired on June 30 and Loew has said nothing about his own future while his side has played some of the World Cup's best football.
"Any talk about the position will only be spoken about after the World Cup," said Loew after his side lost 1-0 in Durban on Wednesday thanks to a 74th-minute goal by Carles Puyol.
"This team will get stronger over the next two years, irrespective of which coach is in charge."
Despite losing several key players before coming to South Africa, Loew's young side has impressed with fast-flowing, attack-minded football and now face Uruguay in Saturday's third-place play-off in Port Elizabeth.
Attacking midfielders Mesut Ozil, 21, and Thomas Mueller, 20, will deservedly wow gold leave South Africa as household names, while Mueller is a favourite to win the tournament's best young player award.
Loew must now decide -- if he has not already -- whether he wants to lead Germany into Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and the Ukraine, with the first qualifier against Belgium in Brussels on September 3.
Loew and his entire back-room staff will need to re-open negotiations with the DFB after talks broke down in February.
Both Loew and Zwanziger have repeatedly said they are keen to continue working together, but the head coach has dropped no hints about his plans.
Having succeeded Jurgen Klinsmann after the last World Cup hosted in Germany, Loew has built a deserved reputation as a master tactician -- guiding them to the Euro 2008 final where they lost 1-0 to Spain -- and has stood firm when dealing buy wow gold with rebellious players in the past.
But there is speculation in the German media about Loew's possible replacement, if he decides to walk away.
A possible candidate for the head coach job has been tipped to be the DFB's director of sport Matthias Sammer, who has been in the job since 2006.
The former Dortmund and Stuttgart coach played in the team which won Euro '96 and cheap wow gold Zwanziger has hinted he would be a suitable candidate.

Spain beats Germany 1-0 in World Cup semifinal

Spain will play for the World Cup title for mesos  the very first time, thanks to Carles Puyol's goal on a powerful header in the second half Wednesday night. The 1-0 victory over Germany was a repeat of the teams' meeting in the European Championship final two years ago, which gave Spain its first major title in 44 years.
"This is one of the greatest moments for Spain, for us to be in the final of the World Cup, it's history," said David Villa, who remains tied with the Netherlands Wesley Sneijder for tournament scoring leader at five goals. "And we want to make more history in the final."
Somebody will.
Spain faces the Netherlands on Sunday at Soccer City in Johannesburg, ensuring a first-time champion. The Dutch, who beat Uruguay 3-2 on Tuesday night, have lost in their only two trips to the final. The two teams have never met in the World Cup.
When the final whistle sounded, the Spanish players on the field thrust their arms in the air while the substitutes raced onto the field. Two teammates grabbed Villa, who has scored all but two of Spain's goals here, and carried him on their shoulders.
In the stands, Spanish fans partied deep into the night, waving flags, banging on drums and singing chorus after chorus of "Ole! Ole! Ole!"
"We worked hard to get here and now we have made the final," Villa said. "It's a great thing."
For Germany, it's yet another disappointment. The three-time champs were making their third straight trip to the World Cup semifinals. Yet just like in 2006, they are headed for the third-place game.
"The disappointment is very big. We had a lot as our goal and we didn't succeed," said captain Philipp Lahm, who was in tears after the game. "Right now, I really don't feel like playing for third place."
Indeed, the Germans looked devastated. Bastian Schweinsteiger was on his wow gold knees for several minutes, and not even a consoling pat on the back from Puyol helped.
The Germans retooled their team after the Euros loss in Vienna, bringing in youngsters such as Mesut Oezil, Sami Khedira and goal-scoring machine Thomas Mueller, who was suspended against Spain after picking up a second yellow card in the quarters. The newcomers infused Germany with a speed and smoothness few other teams could match, and it rolled over old rivals England and Argentina by a combined score of 8-1.
But there's something about Spain that brings out the worst in the Germans, and they looked as if they were back in Vienna for much of the night.
Those counterattacks that were so devastating against England and Argentina never really materialized, and the midfield spacing that had been so impressive was almost nonexistent.
Then again, making opponents look bad is becoming Spain's trademark.
"We can say Germany wasn't as good as we thought they'd be today," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "But that is due to the excellent performance of our team."
Spain has been the best team in Europe — all the world, really — for much of the last four years. It's lost all of two games since November 2006, one a shocker to Switzerland in the group-stage opener. With all but two of the starting lineup playing for either Barcelona or Real Madrid, the Spanish play with a seamlessness and fluidity that's almost intuitive.
"They have been playing together for several years, they are very cohesive, their moves come automatically," German striker Miroslav Klose said. "They were simply the better team."
Granted, Spain hasn't had its usual polish in South Africa, with injuries taking a big toll. Fernando Torres, normally so devastating offensively, is still struggling to recover from knee surgery in April, and was dropped from the starting lineup Wednesday night. Cesc Fabregas buy wow gold played all of two games before the World Cup after breaking a bone in his leg in March.
But with the World Cup title so close — not to mention Queen Sofia on hand — the Spanish came through with their best game yet.
"We've shown that in the big moments we can grow even more," Villa said. "We should have scored more goals, but one from Puyol has put us in the final."
They dominated possession the entire night, and they peppered Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer so many times that a goal seemed inevitable.
Finally, they did.
Xavi swung a corner kick right into the scrum in front of Neuer in the 73rd minute. With fellow defender — and Barcelona teammate — Gerard Pique next to him and screening Neuer's view, Puyol leaped up and got the ball. He gave one mighty swing of his head, his long curls flying. Neuer dove to his left, but had no chance to stop the ball as it thundered into the net.
The Spanish players gathered for a group hug at the edge of the box, bouncing up and down and rubbing each other's heads as Lukas Podolski barked at his teammates in frustration.
"I am sure the Spanish can win any game," Germany coach Joachim Loew cheap wow gold said, "because they are dominant and it's hard to contain their attack."

Is bug spray dangerous?

A summer necessity, bug spray keeps mesos insects away - but is it also bad for our health? Researchers are debating whether the anti-pest sprays with which we douse ourselves are putting our health in danger.
One chemical found in many repellents is DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). Developed and tested in the 1940s and 1950s by the U.S. Army for use in jungle warfare during World War II, DEET is extremely efficient at repelling mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, chiggers and blood-feeding flies such as black flies and deer flies.
In addition to popular forms such as aerosols and pump sprays, DEET is also found in towelettes, lotions, creams and gels. The chemical keeps insects away for hours after application and can be applied over sunscreen.
But as long as DEET has been around, it has raised questions over its safety from citizens and scientists alike. Some are bothered by the smell, while others worry that it may irritate skin; many have felt the burning sting of accidentally spraying bug repellent over a minor cut.
Although the Environmental Protection Agency re-approved the use of DEET in 1998 after an extensive safety review, new data suggests that the substance may affect our cells in unintended ways.
A 2009 study found that DEET can interfere with the activity of enzymes wow gold that are vital for the nervous system to function properly. In the study, the researchers found that DEET blocked the enzyme cholinesterase, which is essential for transmitting messages from the brain to the muscles in insects. The researchers noted that DEET may also affect the nervous systems of mammals, and that more research in this area is needed.
The study, conducted by the Institute of Development Research in France, and published in the journal BMC Biology, found that chemicals that interfere with the action of cholinesterase can cause excessive salivation and eye-watering in low doses, followed by muscle spasms and ultimately death.
However, based on a 1998 review, EPA officials determined that DEET, if used as directed, does not pose significant health risks to consumers.While the recent DEET study may deter some people from using bug spray altogether, other scientists have suggested that people keep in mind that the purpose of bug repellents is to prevent being pricked by biting insects that may transmit disease, including Lyme disease, malaria and encephalitis.
So what are some alternatives to DEET?
One of the newest arrivals on store shelves is picaridin, a substance derived from pepper that is popular in Europe and Australia. Studies by its manufacturer suggest that picaridin lasts for two to eight hours and is just as effective as DEET, but is less oily and completely odorless. Independent studies by the EPA are underway.
Another bug repellent on the market is the chemical IR3535, which has also been growing in popularity since its approval in the U. S. about adecade ago. Available in Europe for 20 years, numerous studies have confirmed the buy wow gold effectiveness of IR3535, which can offer protection for up to 10 hours.
A formulation that consists of 20 percent IR3535 is "very effective," entomologist Daniel Strickman of the U.S. Department of Agriculture told LiveScience, a sister site of Life's Little Mysteries. "It's the only repellent active ingredient that has never caused an adverse effect."
The EPA strongly recommends that consumers carefully read the instructions on bug spray products before applying them in order to ensure that they are applied safely, particularly on children.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises that DEET be sprayed over clothing, rather than directly onto the skin. Other steps to ensure that you're applying bug spray in the safest way possible include:
Never apply bug sprays over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.
Do not apply on hands or near the eyes and mouth, especially of young children.
Do not allow young children to apply DEET products themselves.
After returning indoors, wash bug spray-treated skin with soap and water.
Heavy application is not necessary to achieve protection, so apply it sparingly.
Do not spray in enclosed areas.
Some bug spray products cannot be used on children cheap wow gold under three years old, so always check the label to make sure.

NBA's free agent fireworks could come next week

From Cleveland to Chicago, South Florida mesos  to the New York area, it was a mostly quiet Fourth of July in the NBA.
The real fireworks could come next week.
With LeBron James and other big names taking time to ponder their futures, the free agent market was in many ways on hold for the holiday — though Joe Johnson did agree to a maximum contract to stay in Atlanta.
Once the others reach their conclusions, things will start to heat up again.
"I'm sure everyone is ready to get a decision going," Dwyane Wade told Chicago's NBC-Channel 5.
Wade said he planned to use the weekend to think after meeting twice with the Bulls, plus getting visits from the Knicks and Nets. He's scheduled to be at a charity function outside Miami on Tuesday, but it would be surprising if he used that event to announce his plans, because it's believed he will not have had his formal sitdown with Heat present Pat Riley until later in the week.
James was expected to spend the holiday relaxing at his Bath, Ohio, home with family and friends. It will be a chance to catch his breath after a whirlwind three days during which six teams gave him reasons why he should continue his career wearing a new No. 6 jersey in their colors.
Not surprisingly, the Cavaliers' pitch focused on his allegiance and loyalty to home, and included a video presentation that included highlights from James' seven seasons in Cleveland and testimonials from wow gold fans asking him to stay in Northeast Ohio. The team posted a portion of the video on its website on Sunday.
Beyond his decision, James has a busy week ahead. He is hosting a Nike camp at Akron University, where he recently accepted his second straight MVP award and was honored by the city with a day of appreciation in an outdoor event at the school's football stadium.
It's possible James could announce his decision in his hometown during or following the camp, which will feature some of the nation's top high school players.
Besides the Cavs, the other teams anticipating word from James are Chicago, Miami, New Jersey, New York and the Los Angeles Clippers. Some of them spent the past two seasons clearing around $30 million of salary cap space so they could afford to sign James and another marquee free agent.
Now they're asking him to walk away from $30 million, roughly the difference between a six-year deal to stay in Cleveland and the five-year contract the competitors can offer him under the collective bargaining agreement.
The messages on lebronjames.com are simple: "Getting closer" and "You'll be the first to know."
The teams aren't the only ones waiting.
Players such as Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer, who in some years might be the best free agents available, are in a holding pattern while James, Wade and Chris Bosh, considered the head of the class, come to their decisions.
"My guys are simply taking a step back and evaluating all of the info that they received over the past few days," Henry Thomas, the agent for Wade and Bosh, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
Stoudemire arrived in New York on Saturday and was scheduled to meet with the Knicks on Monday. They've discussed a deal that would pay the All-Star power forward nearly $100 million over five years to reunite with former Phoenix coach Mike D'Antoni, but the Knicks may be hesitant to finalize things since they believe they're still in the running for the top three.
There has been some action since this highly awaited free agency period opened on Thursday. Paul Pierce and Dirk Nowitzki are staying right where they were expected to, agreeing to multiyear deals to remain in Boston and Dallas, respectively.
Rudy Gay will get around $80 million to continue his career in Memphis and some lesser players hit it big, with Drew Gooden (Milwaukee) and Amir Johnson (buy wow gold Toronto) getting multiyear deals for more than $30 million. Darko Milicic will get at least half that to stay with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who are among the teams who have talked to the Knicks' David Lee.
The Heat have been busy trying to build a team around Wade — and they hope James and/or Bosh. They visited Dallas center Brendan Haywood before returning to Miami.
But the focus remains on the guys who haven't signed — just as it's been for nearly four years. James, Wade and Bosh designed contracts in 2006 that gave them the option to become free agents this summer, creating more hype for their courtship than some real sporting events could ever dream of.
There have been daily updates from the streets of Cleveland, where James hosted his suitors. Cameras have followed around Wade and Bosh, who have taken to Twitter to update fans of their free agency pursuits.
After all that buildup, the end is finally in sight.
"It's been a little bit more than we expected I believe," Wade said in the TV interview. "We knew a couple of years ago when we signed these deals it would be something totally different, that the free agency world or the sports world haven't seen when you've got these kind of players up at the same time.
"We've enjoyed it, but at the same time we're ready to hopefully cheap wow gold  get to a decision real soon and get this behind."

Gulf Coast is expecting a glum Fourth of July

Fireworks displays have been mesos canceled. White-sand beaches that should be crowded with sunbathers are instead dotted with cleanup workers, booms and sand-sifting equipment. Normally packed hotels are trying to fill rooms ahead of what is a crucial weekend for beach businesses.
Across the oil-stained Gulf Coast, it's going to be a glum Fourth of July.
"We got hit right between the eyes in June. July is starting to look like a total disaster," moaned hotel owner Julian MacQueen, who said his 181-room Hampton Inn in Pensacola Beach, Fla., should be booked solid but is only 70 percent occupied, even with rooms reduced from $225 a night last year to as little as $150.
And those who make their living from tourism have a longer-term fear: that the vacationers who find other destinations this year will never return.
At Souvenir City in Gulf Shores, Ala., owner Paul Johnson said the number of customers walking through the giant shark's-mouth entrance of his store to buy such things as T-shirts, flip-flops, hermit crabs, seashells and other beach kitsch is down by about half from last year.
"People who have been coming here for 20 or 30 years and went to Destin or Myrtle Beach or wherever may say, `Hey, we went there and really liked it. That's our wow gold  place now,'" Johnson said, referring to spots in Florida and South Carolina.
The stakes are high for the hotels, motels, restaurants, souvenir shops and ice cream stands along the beaches of what is affectionately known as the Redneck Riviera.
"The Fourth of July is a key, key component," said Chris Thompson, president and CEO of Visit Florida, which promotes tourism in the state. "It's one of the most critical weekends," when many businesses make the bulk of their summer tourism income.
Tourism officials say there have been numerous hotel cancellations across the coast. About 25 percent of all rooms in the Pensacola Bay area were still vacant on Friday, said Ed Schroeder, director of the convention and visitors bureau. Last year, hotel occupancy was 100 percent at the start of the holiday weekend.
The oil spill will probably ruin the holiday for Kenny DiNero, who runs a dockside bait and tackle shop in Ocean Springs, Miss. Normally on the Fourth, the waters off Mississippi are full of boats. People fish and stop on islands to swim and have cookouts.
This year, "all the islands are closed because of the spill. There won't be any fuel sold. There won't be any ice sold. There won't be any bait sold. And there won't be any damn fishing," DiNero said. "Normally on the Fourth buy wow gold   I do $10,000 to $15,000 in sales. This weekend I'll be lucky to do $500."
Many businesses are fighting the misperception that every stretch of beach is coated in oil.
Pensacola Beach is doing its best to make its sands presentable. About 1,300 BP employees and county crews are working overnight to clean whatever oil washes up during high tide. By most mornings, the tourist sections are largely clean, with only orange and brown stains in the sand left behind.
Visitors like Laura Barbier of Dallas said they have been pleasantly surprised. She said her family has been visiting the Gulf Coast every summer for 15 years. They almost didn't come this year because of the oil.
"I'm glad we did," she said, stepping on a gooey tar ball that rolled in with a wave. "It's not as bad as the news made it sound."
In Alabama's Bayou La Batre and Dauphin Island, there isn't much to celebrate this Independence Day, with tar staining the beaches and livelihoods on the brink. Dauphin Island's new public beach has been converted into a staging area for the cleanup. Both communities have canceled their fireworks displays.
"With this happening, tourism is dead. We just didn't feel the whole atmosphere was conducive to a fireworks show," said Dauphin Island Mayor Jeff Collier. "People just aren't in the mood."
He added: "Maybe when this is over we'll have something cheap wow gold to celebrate. Maybe Labor Day?"

LA show has largest traveling exhibit of mummies

Inside the 'Twilight' empire

Paraguay and Japan played out  mesos a 0-0 stalemate to become the first match this year to go to penaltiesin their World Cup last 16 clash at the Loftus Versfeld stadium here onTuesday.
Both teams came into the match on the brink of making history as neither nation has ever qualified for the quarter-finals.
After a sterile clash in regulation time, even an extra 30 minutes wasnot enough to produce a goal as the occasion and weight of expectationseemed to get to both sets of players.
Yoshito Okubo had an early chance for the Asian side but shot well widewhile at the other end Edgar Benitez couldn't keep his header down fromRoque Santa Cruz's inviting cross.
The game briefly exploded into life on 21 minutes as Paraguay strikerLucas Barrios sneaked in behind the defence with a lovely little dragback to beat his marker but then he prodded his shot straight atgoalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
Less than 60 seconds later Daisuke Matsui ran onto a loose ball andtried his luck from distance only to see his curler crash against theParaguay crossbar.
On 29 minutes Manchester City striker Santa Cruz should have donebetter when the ball dropped to him 12 yards out, but he rushed hisleft foot volley and dragged the ball wide.
Japan star Keisuke Honda set his sights five minutes from the break but his left-foot wow gold effort from 20 yards drifted wide.
At the start of the second period Nestor Ortigoza seemed to have openedup the Japanese defence to create a shooting opportunity but YutoNagatomo slid in to make a goal-saving block.
Yuji Nakazawa was next to dive in and block a goalbound effort from Benitez as Paraguay started to turn the screw.
Cristian Riveros then met a Claudio Morel cross with a firm header but it went straight at Kawashima.
Five minutes into extra-time there was finally a shot on target asBarrios's header from Morel's cross landed in Kawashima's arms.
Nelson Valdez then turned sharply on the edge of the box to create ahalf chance but Kawashima darted out to smother his poked effort.
Up the other end Paraguay captain Justo Villar palmed away a fizzing Honda free-kick.
Japan had a late opportunity on the counter attack but after ShinjiOzakazi's backheel released Keiji Tamada the Nagoya Grampus Eightforward inexplicably opted cheap wow gold to cross instead of shoot and the chance went begging.

Santorini: Cliffs, beaches and the sapphire sea

The afternoon crowd flowed down among mesos the shops, cafes and picture-postcard lookouts on the Greek island of Santorini, speaking at least a half-dozen languages.
It spread along the clifftop village of Oia's cobblestone walkways, drifting into storefronts or up the stairs to open-air restaurants, eddying to photograph scenes of white buildings with blue doors and blue-domed churches.
The crowd thinned to little more than a trickle down the 214 broad steps to Ammoudi Bay. There, seaside tavernas grilled the day's catch of fish and octopus. People lingered at outdoor tables, while a dozen small pleasure and fishing boats rocked gently on the Aegean. A cliffside pathway wound beyond to a cove, where you could lie in the sunshine amid the black volcanic rocks and swim in the sapphire sea.
"What is Santorini? It is an island of black rock," said Nicos Plevrakis, manager of the Hotel Belvedere, where my wife and I stayed. "It attracts sunbeams."
This "island of black rock" owes its unique, dramatic landscape to volcanic eruptions. A volcano, still active, stands at the center of a ring of islands, Santorini wow gold  the longest. In between them is a vast, deep caldera, filled with water, surrounded by the islands' cliffs, volcanic rock, and black and red sand beaches. Geologists say an early blast created a tsunami that washed over Crete 60 miles away, wiped out Minoan civilization and reshaped this landscape.
The Belvedere, a clifftop boutique hotel in the main city of Fira, overlooks the caldera, a huge basin of dark blue water 500 feet below. You can even visit what's left of the still-smoldering volcano. Today it is an uninhabited island at the center of the caldera, reachable by boat.
Santorini is about a 45-minute flight from Athens. While tourism is down in Greece this year partly due to a financial crisis that has led to protests and strikes, the disruptions have had little impact on areas outside Athens.
Santorini's capital, Fira, with narrow cobblestoned alleys lined with storefronts selling clothing and jewelry, perches high at the heart of crescent-shaped Santorini. The island is about 30 miles long, with Oia and Ammoudi Bay at its northern tip, Akrotiri and a red sand beach at the southern end, and miles of  black sand beaches along its southeastern shore.
The sea was startlingly blue up close. We rode to Oia on a public bus packed with day-tripping cruise passengers. But down at the seaside it was much quieter, and the sea was so clear you could see the small fish. Diving underwater it was the same, entirely blue and translucent, with dark blue minnows darting by.
Temperatures on the island are in the 80s in July and August and in the 70s in September. Tourist businesses close from November through March, including the Belvedere, where Plevrakis ran a tiny office, offered advice and made arrangements. He recommends July as the best time to visit.
My wife and I rented a two-seat SmartCar for 40 euros and spent a day driving the tight two-lane roads among motor scooters and four-wheelers with helmeted tourists, other subcompacts, speeding taxi sedans and large buses. We visited the monastery at the central promontory with a commanding vista and the large Santo winery nearby; photographed the dramatic red sand beach under a red cliff, and buy wow gold cruised the low coast road along the black sand beaches.
After an hour lying on two of the hundreds of lounge chairs under thatched umbrellas, and wading out into the surf, we had gelato and Greek coffee at a cafe and drove north back to Oia, and down to Ammoudi Bay for grilled fish and another swim. The water sparkled in the sunshine, and my wife said it was "like swimming in Perrier."
We also visited the Archaeological Museum of Fira, which has artifacts that include murals reconstructed from Akrotiri, an ancient settlement that was buried by the volcanic eruption some 3,600 years ago. Like Pompeii, it was preserved by the ash. It's now a major archaeological site (though the excavation site is not open to the public). Some believe Plato's storied Atlantis has roots here.
We took a sailboat from Fira's port, which can be reached by a staircase of 600 wide steps, via cable car, or by donkey. The sailboat, loaded with tourists, motored to the volcano for a hike and to an island where we swam in sediment-brown water heated from underground and then to the island of Thirassia for lunch, with a half-dozen tavernas lining its bay.
Thirassia's cafes were somewhat poorer cousins to the Santorini eateries that ranged from backstreet tavernas attracting mainly Greek customers to upscale restaurants with breathtaking vistas and long wine lists. Some restaurants took only cash.
Unexpected pleasures included the friendliness of the locals, and the fact that nearly everyone spoke English. At the hotel, we were upgraded to a room with a balcony and given a bottle of local wine, both free.
We watched the hourlong sunsets from our balcony or lingering at rooftop cafes. After the last direct rays disappeared behind the volcano, the spray of clouds high overhead turned dramatic shades of red, purple and blue.
Then the lights came up and shone from the windows of the neat white buildings, creating a glittering cascade along the cliffs in either direction under a cheap wow gold  midnight blue sky.

Travel Picks: 10 wacky summer U.S. events

Fancy some mashed potato wrestling mesos ? Or what about the world's largest chicken dance or an Ernest Hemingway look-alike competition?
For travelers looking for fun event this summer, travel website TripAdvisor has come up with the top 10 wackiest summer events in the United States this summer.
"These offbeat events are sure to create lasting memories, without breaking the bank," said Karen Drake, senior director of communications for TripAdvisor.
1. Summer Redneck Games - July 10, Dublin, Georgia
The 15th annual Summer Redneck games, a one day extravaganza, features a mud pit belly-flop contest, armpit serenade, watermelon seed spitting contest and Redneck Horseshoes, in which toilet seats are thrown. A coveted prize trophy is awarded for each of the day's events: a half crushed, empty mounted beer can.
2. Barnesville Potato Days - August 27/28, Barnesville, Minnesota
This annual celebration attracts over 16,000 potato lovers who feast on potato produce and can enjoy over 40 unique events, including mashed potato wrestling, a potato wow gold   peeling competition, mashed potato sculpturing, and a mashed potato eating contest.
3. Mid-Atlantic Hermit Crab Challenge - July 10, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Competing hermit crabs are showcased in uniquely decorated displays, with prizes for the Friendliest Crab, Shyest Crab, Most Unique Crab Display, and more. Those wanting more adrenalin can also enjoy the Crustacean 500 race, in which hundreds of crabs "race" along an eight-foot track on the beach.
4. The Wayne Chicken Show - July 9/11, Wayne, Nebraska
This is a must for chicken-loving travelers with the three-day event including the world's largest chicken dance, the best chicken legs competition, and the National Cluck Off, in which competitors have 15 seconds to win over the judges with their best chicken impersonation.
5. Roswell UFO Festival - July 1/4, Roswell, New Mexico
From promoting extraterrestrial education through expert speakers and workshops, to an alien pet costume contest and a July 4 fireworks show, festival goers are sure to experience a healthy dose of paranormal activity.
6. Weird Contest Week - August 16/20, Ocean City, New Jersey
This five-day extravaganza of eccentricity will see a quirky contest held at 11 a.m. daily in front of Ocean City's Music Pier, Boardwalk and Moorly Terrace. Try taffy sculpting, biting a cookie to create an artwork, or French Fry sculpting.
7. Wisconsin State Cow Chip Throw - September 3/4, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Dried dung takes on an altogether different use at this annual event, held in Marion Park and attended by some 40,000 people each year. Travelers  buy wow gold  can vie to secure the longest throw in the Chip Chuckin' competition, with the current record of 248 feet the mark to beat, and enjoy clog dancing, live music, a 10 km run and more.
8. Hemingway Days Festival - July 20/25, Key West, Florida
The 30th annual Hemingway Days Festival, honoring the life and works of former Key West resident and author Ernest Hemingway, offers entertainment galore with more than 125 burly, bearded contestants expected to compete in the "Papa" Hemingway Look-Alike Contest. There is also the annual "Running of the Bulls" -- a quirky take-off on Pamplona's famous run, featuring liquor barrels on wheels.
9. World Championship Cardboard Boat Races - July 31, Heber Springs, Arkansas
These races are set on Greers Ferry Lake where some 4,000 spectators gather to cheer on the competing corrugated cardboard craft racing to be first across the 200-yard course. Awards include the Pride of Fleet trophy for the best looking boat and the Titanic Award for the vessel that makes it at least 50 yards before meeting the most dramatic watery end.
10. National Tom Sawyer Days - July 1/4, Hannibal, Missouri
Now in its 55th year, this annual celebration of the works of Mark Twain takes place in the riverside town of Hannibal, where the novelist spent his childhood. Some of the festival's events are pulled straight from the pages of classic Twain tales, such as the National Fence Painting Competition, the frog jumping contest -- with amphibians cheap wow gold  available to rent -- and mud volleyball.

Luxury resort opens at Disney World -- for pets

Texas' mystical Caddo Lake beckons visitors

As Capt. Ron Gibbs navigates his pontoon boat mesos down a narrow waterway lined with bald cypress trees dripping Spanish moss, he shuts off the motor. The only noise punctuating the silence is birds calling as the boat glides under the bright summer sun on Caddo Lake.
Visitors to this lake tucked away in Texas' forested northeast corner find a mysterious labyrinth of swamps, sloughs and bayous, home to a vast array of wildlife from owls to eagles to alligators. A boat tour of the lake takes visitors through seas of bright green water lilies, down shaded watery avenues and past islands of dense forest.
"There are some areas that are so primeval it'll make the hair on the back of your neck stand up," said Gibbs, whose Graceful Ghost Steamboat Company Inc. is one of several outfits offering boat tours of the lake. "It's a supernatural feeling. It's downright spooky in some areas."
"It's hauntingly beautiful. It's an enchanting lake," Gibbs said.
The lake's "flooded forest," which has trees that are more than 400 years old, was created when the lake level rose after bald cypress trees germinated on the dry lake bed in a low-water period, said Todd Dickinson, park manager of the state's 484-acre Caddo Lake State Park.
Tourists are drawn to the lake and state park, which is bordered by the 8,000-acre wow gold Caddo Lake Wildlife Management Area and the 7,000-acre Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge, for the camping, boating, kayaking, bird watching, hiking, fishing and hunting.
The 27,000-acre lake about 170 miles east of Dallas straddles the edge of Texas and Louisiana, where it becomes open water.
Dickinson said each season offers something new on the lake. In the summer, the lake shimmers under the hot sun and the vegetation is in full bloom, showing off bright greens and colorful flowers. By fall, the bald cypress trees are turning a rusty red, and when the temperature drops in the winter, the lake takes on a silvery glow as the trees lose their leaves. In the spring, more fisherman appear and the lake begins getting greener.
"This lake just comes alive with something new each week," Gibbs said.
A first glimpse of the lake can be bewitching.
"It looks very prehistoric. Really magical, enchanting, otherworldly," said Vanessa Adams, a biologist for the wildlife management area.
Bird watching can be especially interesting, said Adams. One a recent summer afternoon, there were great blue herons wading in the water.
Adams said that in the fall, when buy wow gold  wading birds are doing their "post-breeding wandering," there can be some unexpected sightings in the swampy lake.
English sisters Marilyn Jones and Anita Harris from Liverpool made a stop on Caddo Lake as part of a tour of Texas after reading about it in a guidebook. They said the lake did not disappoint, with Jones describing it as "brilliant, beautiful."
"The atmosphere is just completely different," Harris said.
About 17 miles west of the lake, visitors will find the genteel town of Jefferson, which has its own historical ties to the flooded forest.
Now a small community of elegant homes, antique stores and bed and breakfasts, Jefferson was once a bustling river port, with steamboats traveling up the Mississippi River from New Orleans to the Red River, through Caddo Lake and down Big Cypress Bayou to Jefferson. But in the 1870s, a "log jam" on the Red River above Shreveport, La., was broken up, opening up the main course of the river and lowering water levels so much that steamboats could no longer make it through to Jefferson.
With its tree-lined lanes of antebellum homes and a downtown square near the Big Cypress Bayou, the town makes a relaxing stop. For elegant dining after a day on the lake, try the Stillwater Inn, located in an old Victorian home.
"The beauty of coming to Jefferson is you can come in, park the car, throw away the keys and walk everywhere," said Juanita Wakefield Chitwood, executive director of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.
Far away from the bustle of Texas' big cities, and a marked difference from the open prairie and desert that people often associate with the state, Caddo Lake and its surrounding forests offer something different.
"It's not like anything else in Texas, that's for sure," said Rick Lowerre, president of the Caddo Lake Institute, a nonprofit founded by musician Don Henley to help protect the lake.
"That flooded cypress forest, thousands of acres of it, is pretty cheap wow gold  magical," Lowerre said.

 

Tips To Run Wow Better

When playing wow, players want to earn more wow gold  to level up. However, many players find it difficult to level up in themost effective way. This is caused by many factors. For example, notknowing the deep rules of the game, some of them will not choose thecorrect way. Also, the players need to spend time and patience on thegame; this will cause some negative emotion among the players. Some ofthem will find it boring to play.
To play the game effectively, you should learn how to run the game to earn more wow gold. Also, you can buy wow gold from some professional websites, such as http://www.withgames.com . Thefollowing are some tips: first of all, you can get a new card. This canmake a huge difference for anyone who is having computer slowdown whileplaying Wow. And Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT is highly recommended to you.This can make you earn 80 to 110 dollars. Also, you can use the two tomake a wonderful performance.
Secondly, you should get the newest drivers. After finding the cheapworld of warcraft gold you have, you should go to the manufacturer’swebsite, where you need to find the link that says “Drivers”,“Download”, and “Support”. Then you can find the newest drivers foryour graphics card there. And you should notice that you should alwayskeep up to date of the mesos video card drivers, while updating your soundcard and other drivers are also very important. For more information,you can click the above website, which can provide cheap wow gold for your leveling up.

Raiders Instinct Tips For Wow Players 

The first two things that you need to learn to get the world of warcraft gold  raiding instinctreally have nothing to do with raiding. What they do have to do with isabsolute core basics of the game. The first is to master yourcharacter, their rotation, understand their stats and benefitscompletely and to constantly looking for the best info on your class.While this really should apply to everyone that plays the game, itapplies doubly or triply so to a wow goldraider, since you have so many other relying on you to be your cheap wow gold best. Ifyou don’t know if haste, crit, or hit is a better improvement for youat your current gear level, you shouldn’t be raiding until you take thetime to learn the differences between them.
The second basic element is to understand what each and every otherclass is best at and how they do it. This includes understanding thebasics about their gear, stats, abilities, and cooldowns. Again, it isbest for everyone to know this mesos anyway, but as a raider you are expectedto. This is especially important so that you know who can buff withwhat, who can remove which debuffs, and more.
Two things that help with this are setting a further camera cheap world of warcraft golddistance than the default. This is normally turned on and off with theV key, but if you have played with keyboard bindings it may besomething else. While seeing them all the time wrecks some of thevisuals of the game, seeing them is easier at times than seeing newadds pop up. They stand out sharply against the background, so get usedto turning them on in any fight that may have adds.
Next up on the wow power levelinggaming basics is learning how to mouse move and to key bind abilities.These two things will do more for your game than almost anything else.Not many players can move with WASD while activating abilities as wellas players that mouse move. While it is possible, it is much moredifficult. In an MMO where you have so many different abilities thatyou need to activate at any given time it really helps to have yourfingers free to activate them. Learning to mouse move buy wow goldand free up yourfingers for those abilities usually improves your game substantially.

Bonus Of Luke’s Secret Guide In Wow

Luck’s secret leveling guide is very helpful for you to level up fast. You can gain a lot of information about how to earn more wow gold.Moreover, for a new beginner, it is very difficult to level up fast.Thus, using a leveling guide is your best choice. It can provide youwith cheap wow gold, in which way you can save a lot of real money. The following the bonus you can get from the luck’s secret leveling guide.
Firstly, you can get the profit chart. Luck will provides its readers aliteral treasure map of the most profitable secret locations where youcan maximize the gold and items. You can farm mobs with a higher droprate of rare and epic loot. Also, you can save a lot of time.
Secondly, you can get the fishing facts guide. Through this guide, youwill find fishing is not so boring. And you can literally reel inthousands of mesos gold every day at a high level location.
Thirdly, you can get twink profits chart. After reading twink profitchart, you will realize that some high level players will pay attentionto the best items for their low level characters. Once you know how tocater this growing market, you can easily earn a hundred wow gold toyou bank every day.
Besides, you can buy wow gold to earn more mesos. For more information, you can click http://www.withgames.com.
This article comes fromhttp://amberchen.blogono.com/201 ... secret-guide-in-wow
 

Top 10 greatest Apple Cup games

In 1982, Italy alone a Brazilian mesos ancillary that had addled assemblage with its flair
West Germany's win in the 1954 final accustomed a bequest of abundant comebacks
Uruguay vs. Brazil in 1950 was watched by a world-record army of 205,000
There accept been 710 Apple Cup matches aback the affray began in 1930. Some accept been absolutely forgettable; others accept austere themselves into the memory, accouterment moments that we will yield to the grave. Here is an absolutely abstract account of the 10 greatest Apple Cup amateur of all time:
1. Italy 3, Brazil 2, Accumulation C, 1982
Never apperception the Apple Cup; this has a able affirmation as the greatest football bout ever. Tele Santana's breathtakingly accomplished Brazil side, which seemed to be hurtling adjoin aeon with the above of its advancing play, bare alone a draw to authorize for the semifinals. Italy, which had alive itself afterwards a afflictive aboriginal accumulation stage, bare a win. In a bold of connected drive shifts, Italy alert led through dissipated son Paolo Rossi, who had just alternate from a two-year ban for match-fixing; alert Brazil equalized, through abstract goals from Socrates and Falcao, afore Rossi closed his hat ambush from abutting range. Italy's above aegis was the aberration --- Brazil's was on the hopeless ancillary of bare -- but, on this unforgettably mild afternoon in Barcelona, the Azzurri's advance was every bit as acceptable as wow gold their opponents'.
2. Uruguay 2, Brazil 1, final pool, 1950
They still allocution about the silence. A army of 205,000 at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, a almanac for a football bout that will absolutely never be beaten, was algid into the a lot of absolute calmness if Alcides Ghiggia denticulate Uruguay's champ with 11 account to go. This was the Apple Cup final in attributes if not name -- uniquely, there was no absolute final, and the aggregation that accomplished top of the final accumulation date would be apple champions. A aggressive Brazil (13 goals in the aboriginal two accumulation games) bare alone a draw. It was apparent as a formality. Throughout, Brazil rained shots on ambition -- about 30 in all -- but Uruguay captivated its nerve, even if it went abaft just afterwards halftime, and amid a ahead unappreciated weakness in Brazil's system: Left aback Bigode was accustomed no support, and pencil-thin Uruguayan accompaniment Ghiggia stabbed Brazil in the heart. He created the aboriginal and again denticulate one of the a lot of acclaimed Apple Cup goals. It was the absolute payoff, a anecdotal aberration that not one person, never apperception 205,000, saw coming.
3. Hungary 4, Uruguay 2, semifinal, 1954At the best of times, there is a different frisson to matches amid the arresting champions and the tournament's best side, but this was a affray of two adamant objects. Hungary had not been baffled for three years; Uruguay had never absent a Apple Cup match. Both abandon were afterwards their best players -- Ferenc Puskas for Hungary, Obdulio Varela for Uruguay -- yet there was no faculty of what ability accept been. This was a stone-cold classic, accustomed abundant desolation by the sad abatement of both abandon in avant-garde times. Hungary seemed to be canoeing at 2-0, but Uruguay absolute its way aback into the bold as Juan Hohberg denticulate alert in the endure 15 account and again hit the column in a pulsating added time. That near-miss was the axis point, and Sandor Kocsis denticulate alert in the final 10 account to put Hungary through.
4. West Germany 3, Hungary 2, final, 1954
This was the bold that fabricated West Germany's acceptability as a ancillary that is never, anytime beaten. In the accumulation stages, a attenuated Germany had been thrashed buy wow gold 8-3 by Hungary, which was best in a world-record 32 games. Afterwards falling abaft 2-0 central the aboriginal 10 account of the final in Switzerland, Germany showed the will and underappreciated accomplishment that would become hallmarks of all of the nation's abundant sides. The Germans were akin by the 19th minute and won it with 5 account to additional acknowledgment to Helmut Rahn's additional goal. The bout became accepted as "The Miracle of Berne," but, as time went on and Germany produced this array of improvement with regularity, the 1954 final fabricated added and added sense.
5. West Germany 3, France 3 (5-4 penalties), semifinal, 1982
A celebration for angry over good. That's how this bold was perceived because of France's admirable midfield play, so artful that it angled up as beheld Valium; because of the allegedly unsatisfactory cessation (this was the Apple Cup's aboriginal amends shootout); and decidedly because of West German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's infamous, unpunished cheap wow gold advance on Patrick Battison, who absent teeth and suffered a concussion. Germany looked down for the calculation itself if it trailed 3-1 in added time, but it produced yet addition of its famous, soul-crushing comebacks afore acceptable on penalties.
6. West Germany 2, Holland 1, final, 1974
From amazing alpha -- Holland's artists denticulate afore West Germany had even affected the brawl -- to apricot finish, this was a bold of absurd intensity. Apple War II casting a huge adumbration over a bout amid two teams that had added in accepted than they would anytime cartel to admit, and some feel Holland's captivation with the war, and consistent admiration to abase the Germans, amount them this match. Others acquainted that the key aspect was the non-performance of Dutch brilliant Johan Cruyff, who, afterwards acceptable a first-minute penalty, was tossed about like a rag baby by his marker, Berti Vogts. In the end, it was addition accurate abundant -- arresting ambition poacher Gerd Muller -- who had the final say with the champ just afore halftime.
7. France 1, Brazil 1 (4-3 penalties), quarterfinal, 1986
Brazil's access is such that its abandonment from the Apple Cup is usually a moment of silence. It absolutely was in 1986, if the Brazilians absent on penalties in an ballsy quarterfinal adjoin France. In truth, both abundant midfields were accomplished their best -- France's ailing in 1984, Brazil's in 1982 -- but with age came the acumen and calmness of adeptness veterans and that fabricated this, in agreement of abstruse quality, a bold with few peers. Brazil was a little unfortunate: It hit the column twice, absent a amends and an accessible goal, and had led through a attractive aggregation goal. But France had affairs of its own, and afterwards the agony of its defeat to West Germany 1982, few could begrudge the French their moment -- decidedly when, in an awesome reprise of that 1982 match, Brazilian goalkeeper Carlos got abroad with the a lot of contemptuous of fouls on Bruno Bellone.
8. Romania 3, Argentina 2, additional round, 1994
Even afterwards Diego Maradona, who was abeyant for declining a biologic test, Argentina was a formidable, acclimatized side, but Romania was acceptable the awareness of the tournament. In the mesos Pasadena, Calif., oven, Romania conserved its activity smartly, sitting abysmal and acerbic Argentina with a beck of cantankerous counterattacks, accordingly aggressive by the absolute Gheorghe Hagi. He denticulate one and fabricated one for Ilie Dumitrescu, who aswell denticulate the first. Maradona's absence was felt, but it was the attendance of the Maradona of the Carpathians, as Hagi was known, that absolutely absitively this game.
9. Italy 4, West Germany 3, semifinal, 1970
Goals are declared to be deficient at the actual accomplished level, so six in 21 account amounted to the a lot of absurd acoustic overload. It started if West Germany alike in abrasion time and swung berserk throughout added time afore Italy eventually sneaked through acknowledgment to Giannia Rivera's 111th-minute winner. It was christened the "Game of the Century," yet others absolved it as a basketball match. A lot of of the goals came from afflictive defending. The players were artlessly beat by the Mexican heat, while the abundant Franz Beckenbauer was arena with his confused accept in a sling. The abjection of the arresting pushes it down our list, but, even so, a seven-goal action amid two superpowers is not to be sniffed at. We would absolutely yield one this summer.
10. Argentina 2, England 2 (4-3 penalties), additional round, 1998
England admirers ability adduce the 4-2 win over West Germany in the 1966 final, but celebration has never become the English absolutely like august failure. Besides, this was a abundant bigger game, which thrillingly antipodal accustomed attempt by starting manically and catastrophe cagily. A viscerally acute aboriginal half, in which the abandon swapped four goals, was followed by a alluring appropriate action already David Beckham was agonizingly beatific off in the 47th minute afterwards getting suckered by Diego Simeone. England's 10 men captivated on for penalties adequately comfortably, but their boldness was choleric by the ability that penalties beggarly alone one affair for wow gold England: august failure.

Guides To Create A Wow Impression

Similar to other online games, every players want to earn more wow gold to level up fast. You can buy wow gold in some professional websites. And http://www.withgames.com is highly recommended to you. This website provides  buy wow goldand service. Besides, you can use a power leveling guide for you to make more wow gold.
Thisguide will give you the full information about how to make moregoldwhen you play warcraft, moreover, it shows mesosyou how to play it. Theguidewill give you detailed instructions andmaps about where youshould goand what you should do. In this way, youcan make largeamount of  cheap wow gold easily.
Inaddition, if you want to buy some high level items or yourflyingmount,then this guide will help you a lot. At the same time, withthisguide,you do not have to the boring work, such as grinding mob.
Moreover,some cheap wow goldguides will give you some bonuses that are useless.Instead, thisguideprovides you useful bonuses that you can use tohelp you level upfast.
If you want more information about how to use mesos and apply this guide, you can visit the above website for more details.
This article comes from  amberchen.atblogs.org/2010/05/20/guides-to-create-a-wow-impression

How To Choose WoW Gold Guide

With a wow gold guide, you can make more cheap wow gold and level up fast. Actually you will be left out in the cold without a good wow gold guide. Besides, there are many websites that supply this kind of guide. And http://www.withgames.com is highly recommended. The following are some tips you should notice to find a good guide.
First of all, you should do some research to find which website is the good one. As a green hand, maybe you do not know the information about the guide. And there are too many websites that supply this kind of mesos guide. Therefore, you should ask the skilled players which guide is worth the cash.
Secondly, you should know exactly the qualitiesof the guide. You should be clear that whether the guide can get the results and what things you can use. And the guide should be easy to implement and get going. You had better keep these in mind before you take the dive and use a gold guide.
Thirdly, you should be clear whether it is a print version. The guides are classed in to a print version guide can and a digital guide. Different people want different guide. You should do some research and make sure that the guide can satisfy your needs.
In addition, you can buy wow gold , which can make you level up fast. If you want cheap wow gold , you can visit the above website for more information.

This article comes from  amberchen.blogsarena.com/1188549/How+To+Choose+WoW+Gold+Guide.html

Tips On Fast Progress In Aion Online

As a player in aion power leveling,most important tasks for you to do are gain more  aion kinah and level up fast. On one hand, you can buy aion gold in order to gain more aion gold.On the other hand, you can use a leveling guide for you to level upfast. With these two ideas, you can make the progress fast. And you canlearn much knowledge from these guides.
The following are some wisdom you can get from the guide.
Firstof all, maybe you have found that when you have leveled up to level 30,without grinding, you can not level a toon in Aion. However, you shouldnotice that you should not do any grinding until you finish all thequests in an area. Besides, you had better try your best to work on atleast 2-3 quests one time in an area to maximize buy aion kinah your XP rate.
Secondly,you should keep your quests 1-2 levels below your character’s level.But you should not try to die. Otherwise, you will lose your valuabletime. Besides, you should pick up every piece of resource that you comeacross, for it will amount to XP in time.
In addition, flight is another important content for Aion, which will make you gain more aion kina.After leveling up to level 10, you should do your Ascenssion quest toget your wings. And you can use the leveling process to fly longer.
If this guide is not helpful enough, you can visit our website: http://www.uraion.com for more information about the leveling guide.

This article comes from  amberchen.blogsarena.com/1180654/Tips+On+Fast+Progress+In+Aion+Online.html

Basic Information About Gladiator In Aion

As one of the career paths you can choose as a aion power leveling warrior, the gladiator are trained to wield most weapons and are especially proficient using polearms. For example, you can earn more aion kina, and level up in the fastest way. They wear plate as they are in front of the line units.
Gladiators can use a variety of items in Aion, and they can master everything in aion kinah. For example, from level 1 to level 9, the gladiators can use swords and maces. And they owe Cloth, Leather, Chain Armor and Shields. From level 10 to level 50, they can use Daggers, Bows, Polearms, and Greatswords. Also, they can use Plate Armor.
In addition, gladiators can have more combat roles and abilities. It can use sword and board while it is primarily a front line soldier. Since the buy aion kinah gladiator uses plate armor, it is possible to take damage from multiple enemies. Moreover, it has different kinds of abilities. Their abilities can help you increase your own power and make you earn more aion gold. It has abilities to handle the damage that is made by the multiple enemies around you.
Also, it has many different weapon choices, which make it able to swap to the appropriate weapons for a tricky combat situation. With a superior defense capacity, gladiators are powerful in melee. It is the most effective way to gain gold; you can also buy aion gold in the professional website to level up fast. And http://www.uraion.com is highly recommended to you.

This article comes from amberchen.atblogs.org/2010/05/17/basic-information-about-gladiator-in-aion

15 Greatest Foods for When You’re Hungover

Almost all of us who booze will action mesos the barbarian that is the hangover at some point — some of us added generally than not. A anguish headache, churning stomach, and acute appetite are the endure things we wish to feel in the morning afterwards a crazy night out, but abounding affirm by their own cures as they blunder through life, weekend afterwards weekend. From the basal (crackers and water) to the crazy (drinking even more), we’ve sifted through all kinds of “cures.” A lot of of what’s out there may be actually bogus, but these are the 15 greatest foods for if you’re hungover that will accomplish a difference.
Breakfast Sandwich
The breakfast sandwich is a archetypal hangover food, whether your admired runescape money is an egg McMuffin, a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit or even something homemade. There’s little to no plan on your allotment — this grease bomb will affluence your suffering. It covers the carbs and protein bare to bright your arch and get aback to work.
Pho
While pho (pronounced “fuh”) may not be the aboriginal affair that comes to apperception if because how to cure a afflicted hangover, this Vietnamese brainstorm soup does wonders. The borsch in pho is a constant, but there are abounding choices accessible on the meat front, admitting broken attenuate beef and craven are surefire, appetizing choices. The acceptable key to pho is the borsch admitting — it helps alter the alkali and potassium your physique loses by the boatload runescape accounts if you drink.
Macaroni and Cheese
There’s annihilation like the amore of acceptable abundance food, and macaroni and cheese actually hits the atom if you’re hungover. It doesn’t bulk if it’s from Kraft in a box or if it’s that compound your mom beatific you, macaroni and cheese is a abundant option. The noodles acquiesce simple assimilation and accommodate affluence of carbs, while the cheese gives a appropriate bulk of protein to advice your physique adjustment all the accident you caused.
Pizza
Pizza is addition archetypal hangover aliment for those that affirm by the anointed cures. It’s aswell one of the few hangover foods that’s acceptable to already be on your table if you deathwatch up. Carbs are in no abbreviate accumulation with pizza, admitting things like macaroni and cheese will accord you added — but pepperoni will addition that protein and even add to the grease factor. Pizza is simple and bargain to appear by — cue the charge of academy acceptance — so we don’t see it accident its acceptance amidst added hangover foods any time soon.
Peanut Adulate and Clabber Sandwich
Yes, it’s a simple solution, but sometimes simple is all you need. This aion gold little sandwich is a brew of some assertive hangover fighters — peanut adulate for protein, aliment for carbs, and clabber for sugars. It’s simple on the stomach, affectionate to the aftertaste buds, and acutely quick to prepare. On accomplished wheat, it aswell has the “healthy” aftereffect on your already accusable conscience.
Full English Breakfast
Enjoying a abounding English breakfast, if you accept the time, is awful recommended if hungover (and even if you’re not). Breakfast sandwiches are a quick solution, but the abounding English breakfast will awning all your bases, and again some. A abounding English breakfast commonly consists of: Bacon, eggs, absurd or broiled tomatoes, absurd mushrooms, absurd aliment or acknowledgment and sausages, atramentous pudding, absurd potato cakes, and is usually served with a mug of tea. Granted, this may not be the easiest affair to appear by if you’re alfresco the UK and not in a big city-limits elsewhere, but if it’s accessible it’s a acceptable choice.
Bananas
Yes, really. Bananas are like nature’s own little hangover cures. Not alone are bananas abounding of fructose (natural bake-apple sugar), to advice with aion kinahenergy, they accommodate a nice bulk of potassium. See, if you booze excessively, potassium is one of those minerals that gets depleted. Bananas are aswell accustomed antacids — which will advice your abhorrence and abdomen affliction — and they aswell accommodate magnesium, which helps to relax anguish claret argosy in your head. Don’t be abashed to go the sandwich avenue either — peanut adulate and aliment alone help.
Crackers
Though not the a lot of aged aliment of the bunch, absurd can be a activity saver to those association who are so bad off that they’re clumsy to accumulate annihilation down. Absurd are mostly carbs — with a teensy bit of protein — and will advice to calm a disorderly bender of abhorrence while alms some anatomy of sustenance. It’s abundant to brace saltine absurd with some amber ale or added carbonated, caffeinated cooler to both affluence abhorrence and advice with that hangover headache.
Bacon
We adulation to adulation bacon, and the Internet has ambrosial abundant gone bonkers over these slices of pork — now we accept yet addition acumen to sing its praises. Bacon has been, yes, accurate to advice action hangovers. Not alone is bacon arranged with proteins that breach down into amino acids your physique needs to recover, but the top bulk of aminos independent aids in allowance your arch altogether. So go ahead, accomplish that bacon sandwich you’ve consistently dreamt of. It’s one case area it’s actually advantageous to do so.
Bagel with Chrism Cheese and Lox
A warm, broiled bagel is ambrosial abundant to the acutely hungover, but add chrism cheese and lox — you’ve got a acceptable combo. The bagel acutely satisfies the charge for carbs, but the chrism cheese and lox (cured apricot fillet) accord a basic protein boost. If you’re not into salmon, or if your abdomen can’t handle the ambiguous smell, again artlessly leave aion power leveling it out — the chrism cheese can authority it’s own.
Chinese Take-Out
Tried and true, any affectionate of Chinese take-out is usually a admired amidst boozers. Opening up a box of Chinese take-out would acknowledge annihilation from rice or noodles to a array of chicken, beef, pork or shrimp in anointed glory. Both rice and noodles advice bang alpha the metabolism into gear, dispatch up the assimilation of that angry alcohol, while chicken, beef, pork and shrimp all accommodate the protein any hungover physique craves.
Biscuits and Gravy
Biscuits and gravy is addition abundance aliment that serves as an amazing analogue to a hangover. Again, carbs appear to the accomplishment actuality — biscuits accept a appropriate amount. The sausage gravy provides a tiny bit of protein, but endless on the fat that abounding acquisition accessible in abating hangovers. It’s a abundant dish, so be alert if your abdomen is activity queasy.
Cheeseburger
Cheeseburgers are a accepted best if allurement for admired hangover foods, but the buy aion gold McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger — and abounding added varieties — assume to win (just ask for a Drunk Special). Admitting the buns accommodate some carbs, we doubtable that the greasiness (instead of the meat protein) is what does it for a lot of people. They’re bargain and fast, so if you’re not queasy, a cheeseburger is the way to go.
Mexican Food
Mexican aliment can be annihilation from Taco Bell and arctic burritos, to absolute Mexican food, like beginning Craven Mole or Menudo. The key with Mexican aliment is that it’s dense, sometimes greasy, and arranged with protein and carbs. While Taco Bell and arctic burritos assume to be the safer choices, if you’d rather action angry with a greater evil, Menudo (tripe soup) will do just the trick.
Water
Alright, so baptize isn’t absolutely a food, but it is the affair you charge if angry a hangover. No bulk what foods you accept to advice action your churning abdomen and anguish head, baptize is still the ace in the hole. Bubbler booze drains your physique of all sorts of things, and that cephalalgia you’re activity has a lot to do with a bad case of dehydration. So accomplish it easier on yourself and booze baptize afore you canyon out, accumulate it next to your bed, and accumulate bubbler it in the morning. If apparent old baptize isn’t your thing, try some adherent water, like Vitamin Baptize or Gatorade. However you dress it up, the baptize is the key, so get aion kina drinking.

80 Afghan schoolgirls fall ill; poison feared

Dozens of Afghan schoolgirls mesos have fallen ill in recent days after reporting a strange odor in their classrooms in northern Afghanistan, prompting an investigation into whether they were targeted by militants who oppose education for girls or victims of mass hysteria.
Either way, the reports from three schools within 2 miles (3 kilometers) of one another in Kunduz province have raised alarm in a city threatened by the Taliban and their militant allies.
The latest cases occurred Sunday, when 13 girls became sick, Kunduz provincial spokesman Mahbobullah Sayedi said. Another 47 complained of dizziness and nausea the day before, and 23 fell ill last Wednesday.
All complained of a strange smell in class before they fell ill.
"I came out from the main hall, and I saw lots of other girls scattered everywhere," Anesa, a 9-year-old who was hospitalized briefly Sunday, told The Associated Press. "Then suddenly, I felt that I was losing runescape money my balance and falling."
None of the illnesses was serious and the girls were only hospitalized for a short time. The Health Ministry said blood samples were inconclusive and were being sent to Kabul for further testing to determine the cause of the illnesses.
"This is a matter of concern not only for us but for the families," Sayedi said, blaming the sicknesses on "enemies" who oppose education for girls.
In the capital of Kabul, President Hamid Karzai's spokesman, Waheed Omar, said any attempt to keep girls out of school is a "terrorist act."
Kunduz had been relatively quiet runescape accounts until a few years ago when Taliban activity began to increase, threatening NATO supply routes south from Central Asia. Late Saturday, NATO and Afghan troops killed one militant and detained several others in Kunduz province.
Girls were not allowed to attend school when the Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan. The group was ousted from power in the 2001 U.S.-led invasion. The Taliban and other conservative extremist groups have been known to target schoolgirls.
In one of the most chilling attacks, men on motorbikes sprayed acid from squirt guns and water bottles onto 15 schoolgirls and teachers in 2008 as they walked to a girls school in Kandahar, the southern city that is the spiritual birthplace of the militant movement.
Previous cases of sudden illness in schools have left families too frightened to send their daughters to school.
Last year, dozens of girls were hospitalized in Kapisa province, just northeast of aion gold Kabul, after many collapsed with headaches and nausea following reports of a strange odor in their schoolyard. The Taliban was blamed, but research into similar mass sickenings elsewhere has suggested that some might be the result of group hysteria.
Elsewhere in Afghanistan on Sunday, hundreds of people blocked a main road in Logar province, west of Kabul, and burned several trucks to protest what they said were civilian deaths in NATO operations. They gathered hours after NATO said coalition troops killed several insurgents and captured a Taliban sub-commander.
"The man they killed was a schoolteacher and a mullah," said businessman Jan Mohammed. "They killed him inside his house and because of that the people came and burned my gas station, my car and my house."
He complained that if NATO thought the mullah was with the Taliban, "they should have arrested him at his school not gone to his house at midnight."
"The people are very angry. They are saying these people killed are innocent civilians," provincial spokesman Din Mohammad Darwesh said.
Civilian deaths caused by U.S. and other international forces are highly sensitive in Afghanistan. Public outrage over such deaths prompted the top commander, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, last year to tighten the rules on the use of airstrikes and other weaponry if civilians are at risk.
Last week, hundreds of residents in Logar protested another NATO operation, saying they were not convinced the victims were actually Taliban fighters. Logar aion kinah is a strategic province because it controls southern land routes into Kabul, allowing weapons, explosives and fighters to move into the capital.
Also Sunday, NATO said a helicopter belonging to a civilian contractor made an emergency landing in aion power leveling Farah due to mechanical problems. There were no reports of injuries, NATO said. The Taliban claimed they shot down the helicopter.
In southeastern Afghanistan, a suicide bomber attacked private security guards while they were at a bazaar, killing four Afghans and wounding 12, the government said.
Two of the dead and five of the wounded worked for the U.S. Protection and Investigations security firm, an Interior Ministry statement said. The other victims were civilians.
The Houston-based company could not immediately be reached for comment.
The suicide attacker, who was on foot, targeted buy aion gold the guards at a bazaar in Sahjoy district of Zabul province, the ministry said.

SKorea targets Internet addicts; 2 million hooked

Day and night, Lee Mi-hwa's son mesos stays on his computer, slaying dragons in his online fantasy world while his dinner and homework sit untouched.
Lee says the 15-year-old fights her attempts to get him to log off, screaming and physically lashing out at her entreaties. She pulls up her sleeves to reveal bruises she says come from his blows.
Her son is among some 2 million people classified by the government as "Internet addicts" in South Korea, a nation of 49 million considered one of the most technologically wired in the world.
Some are becoming increasingly violent. Last month, a couple let their 3-month-old starve while they raised a virtual child in an online game, spending most of their days at an Internet cafe instead of caring for their newborn, police said.
The baby looked like "a mummy" because she had not been fed for so long, according runescape money to a Suwon police officer who investigated the case. He asked that his name not be used because the investigation was still under way.
In February, a 22-year-old bludgeoned his mother to death for "nagging" him about playing Internet games, police said. He then played games online for hours, paying with his mother's credit card, a police statement said.
Such incidents have alarmed the country, with the public calling for better measures against gaming addictions. The government announced last month it runescape accounts would take action by restricting access to popular online games, and is sending counselors to elementary schools to teach children about healthy Internet usage.
"It's a little ironic that what was invented to make our lives better has come to make it worse for some," said Park Hye-kyung, director of the I Will Center, a government-funded counseling center created in December to focus on the growing issue of Internet addiction.
"Internet addiction" may not be recognized as a medical condition or psychiatric disorder, but it often serves as a symptom of more serious underlying mental disorders such as attention deficit disorder and depression, said Dr. Kim Tae-hoon, a psychiatrist who treats teenagers.
Kim said the Internet is almost too readily available in South Korea. More than 90 percent of homes have broadband Internet access, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In aion gold addition to widespread aion kinah broadband, Internet cafes known as "PC rooms" are open 24 hours throughout the country.
"In South Korea it's easier for citizens to play online games than to invest in their offline personal relations through face-to-face conversations," he added. "People are becoming growingly numb to human interaction."
Three out of 10 adults and some 26 percent of teenagers are addicted gamers, according to Eo Gee-jun, president of the Korea Computer Life Institute.
"Children start to play Internet games when they become fourth- or fifth-graders," Eo told The Korea Times newspaper last month. "They tend to be more attached to them as they grow up."
The Culture Ministry announced a joint project with major South Korean gaming companies earlier this month to implement a "late-night shutdown" on Internet games popular among young users. Access to three games will be blocked from midnight until 8 a.m. to users under age 18 when the program goes into effect later this year.
The ministry urged top game providers to monitor users by their national ID numbers, which aion power leveling include their ages, and to allow parents to check whether their children are using their IDs to play after hours.
And starting next year, gamers will be able to install free programs onto their computers that limit their access to the Internet, the government said last month.
"Government policies are important but it's also crucial for the public to take charge as well," said Lee Young-ah, an official at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "We want to alert as many people as possible on the seriousness of Internet addiction so that individuals can start monitoring themselves."
Nexon, a major South Korean gaming company, says the curfew is a first step in the battle against Internet addiction.
"We want to create a healthy culture of buy aion gold enjoying our games and not suffering from them as an illness," said Nexon spokesman Lee Young-ho.
The government has earmarked 10 billion won ($9 million) to educate the public about the dangers of Internet addiction and to fund counseling centers for the web-obsessed.
Park, the director of the I Will Center, warned precocious school-age gamers will find a way to get their fix.
"Clever kids know how to work their way around any hurdles to gaming, and I am sure they can quickly find a way to get around this one as well," she said. Her counselors visit elementary schools to teach children about buy aion kinah safe Internet usage in hopes of preventing Internet addiction early on.
Lee Mi-hwa says she is counting the days until the curfew goes into effect in the fall.
She said her son stays up most nights posing online as "Julian," a handsome, dragon-slaying superstar who saves his beautiful princess girlfriend from fire-spitting monsters.
By day, he's sullen and unresponsive, flunking his classes and unable to communicate with his family except with screams and blows, she said as her son sat nearby, immersed in his computer game.
Lee says she's desperate for any measure that might bring her son out of his Internet bubble.
"I'm hoping that this new curfew will be (his) saving grace," she said, wiping rs gold away tears with her sleeve.
 

Heidi Klum debuts new bob

Throughout her mesos supermodel career, Heidi Klum has been known for long, glossy honey blonde hair tumbling as far as her famous assets.

Mother of four Heidi Klum stepped runescape money out with a brand new easy to care for crop

Heidi shows off her ash blonde crop on the Tonight Show

In contrast to her runescape accounts previous lighter, longer hairstyle

Klum looked ready for business aion gold in her cream shift dres and Christian Louboutin high heels

Heidi Klum spruces up Jay Leno’s old-fashioned hairdo

But the German mother-of-four has decided it’s time for a change - and with four children to look after her new short bob is certainly more practical.
Klum, 36, debuted aion kinah the look yesterday on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, wearing a cream shift dress and Christian Louboutin peep-toe heels
She told Leno: ‘I got bored as we all do once in a while as girls. Whenever I get bored I change it. I grow it then cut it, grow it then cut it.
‘For some people they never change it and it works for them but for me I get bored.
Clearly in a fun-loving mood after her trip to the stylists, the Project Runway aion power leveling host then turned the table on the host and decided to give him a new look.
‘You have hair, not like my husband (Seal),’ she said. ‘You can actually do something with it.’
Klum’s spontaneity may drop her in trouble with her sponsors, however, the German haircase brand Drei Wetter Taft.
But with celebrities with hair extensions such as Cheryl Cole and Beyonce representing L’Oreal hair products, Klum can simply get buy aion gold extensions when required.

Astronauts mark anniversary of Apollo 13 drama

 Surviving Apollo 13 runescape money  astronauts and several flight directors reunited on Monday to remember a failed moon mission 40 years ago this week that they managed to turn into one of the greatest triumphs in the history of space exploration.
Those who gathered included Apollo 13 commander James Lovell, fellow crew member Fred Haise and NASA's legendary flight director, Gene Kranz — all three of whom were immortalized in the 1995 movie "Apollo 13," which starred Tom Hanks as Lovell.
"There's truly a unique bond. There is a brotherhood," Kranz said about how the crisis forged a lifelong bond between everyone involved.
The Adler Planetarium, where the reunion took place, is runescape accounts holding a series of events this month commemorating the Apollo 13 flight. One exhibit includes a lunar helmet and gloves that Lovell was supposed to wear on the moon had the mission gone as planned.
On April 13, 1970, an oxygen tank exploded as the spaceship was four-fifths of the way to the moon. The crew, which included Jack Swigert, who died in 1982, was forced to scrap the moon mission runescape gold and focus solely on getting back to Earth alive.
Lovell's calm if unsettling words to Mission Control following the explosion that, "Houston, we've had a problem" — now widely recited as, "Houston, we have a problem" — belied his quick internal calculation that their chances of survival were slim.
"But you don't put that in your mind," he said Monday. "You don't say how slim they are but rather how you can improve the odds."
In Houston, Kranz led hundreds of flight controllers and engineers in a aion power leveling furious rescue plan. He insisted on Monday that he never allowed himself to believe that the plan could fail.
Still, he quickly added, "there is some point when you do the best you can and then it's up to a higher authority to steer this mission to its ultimate conclusion."
The plan involved the crew members moving from rs gold  the service module, which was hemorrhaging oxygen, into the cramped, frigid lunar lander while they rationed their dwindling oxygen and electricity. Using the lunar module as a lifeboat, they swung around the moon and aimed for Earth.
In the process of turning what seemed routine into a life-and-death struggle, the entire flight team had created one of NASA's finest moments, ranking with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin's walks on the moon.
In 1994, Lovell aion gold and Jeff Kluger wrote "Lost Moon," the story of the Apollo 13 mission and the basis for the movie. The movie, Lovell and Kranz concede, helped renew the public's interest in Apollo 13 at a time when it had started to fade.
Kranz, who was played by actor Ed Harris in the movie, said Hollywood provided a largely accurate account of what happened. The one thing he took issue with was his character sometimes raising his voice in the control room.
"The fact is, controllers very seldom raise their voices, not in that control room," he said. "If you lose your temper, people recognize it and they aion kinah  start (thinking) that you are closer to the edge then you really are."

Barca wins in Madrid to take huge step towards Spanish title 

Leo Messi and runescape money Pedro Rodriguez scored to give FC Barcelona a 2-0 win in Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu, taking them to the top of the Spanish Primera Liga table.

The victory leaves Barca three points clear of Real Madrid and with the added advantage of superior individual goal difference.

The result was no less than Barca deserved after outplaying their runescape accounts rivals for the majority of the match.

FC Barcelona beats Real Madrid 2-0.

FC Barcelona runescape gold beats Real Madrid 2-0.

FC Barcelona beats Real Madrid 2-0.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola surprised rs gold many with his starting lineup, playing just two strikers and pushing right back Dani Alves into an advanced role on the right of midfield with Carles Puyol covering behind him.

Real Madrid meanwhile continued to show faith in Fernando Gago in a central midfield role with Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo in attack.

With the game likely to decide the destiny of the Primera Liga title, both teams were clearly nervous in the aion gold opening minutes in front of a packed house in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Messi went down in the Madrid penalty area after 12 minutes, but his appeals for a penalty were waved away by referee Mejuto Gonzalez.

Barcelona was looking to control the ball, but struggling to find space with Real Madrid pressing forward to close them down, while looking for the aion kinah pace of Ronaldo to hurt their rivals.

Chances were few and far between, although Xabi Alonso fired well wide from 25 yards for Madrid.

It was down to Messi to break the deadlock. The Argentinean, who had scored four goals against Arsenal in midweek, had suffered a night of continued fouls, but was the first to see Xavi's smart chip. Messi aion power leveling controlled the ball, turned inside Raul Albiol and beat Iker Casillas with a right foot shot.

Higuain should have done better than fire high and wide on 40 minutes after Pique misread a long Ramos pass, while Marcelo wasted a good chance to launch a counter attack before the break.

The second half started with Real Madrid looking to take the buy aion gold game to Barca, but Victor Valdes was equal to shots from Marcelo and Ronaldo.

After 55 minutes Xavi was again the creator for Barcelona with another through ball for Pedro. The youngster latched onto his pass before coolly beating Casillas with a low shot.

Valdes then produced fine saves from Van der Vaart, who was clean through on goal and also from Ronaldo, who again failed to score against Barca.

At the other end Casillas was at his best to twice deny Messi, but the 2-0 final score made clear just which is the best buy aion kinah team in Spain.

USA tops cable networks in weekly ratings 

Fresh off a decisive runescape gold first-quarter ratings victory, USA Network showed no signs of letting up in the first week of April, outdistancing its nearest ad-supported cable rival by 1.18 million viewers.
For the week ending April 4, USA averaged 3.14 million viewers in primetime, besting second-place Fox News Channel's delivery of 1.96 million viewers. USA also swept the three core TV demos, averaging 1.37 million adults 25-54, 1.27 million viewers 18-49 and 553,000 viewers 18-34.
All told, USA played host to six of the 10 most-watched programs on ad-supported cable, earning its best number with Monday night's "WWE Raw." The rs gold wrestling showcase drew 5.5 million total viewers.
In addition to the three episodes of "NCIS" that scared up 4.5 million viewers or more, USA scored with the Season 3 premiere of "In Plain Sight," as the Mary McCormack vehicle drew 3.82 million viewers in its Wednesday 10 p.m. slot.
History accounted for three of the week's most-viewed programs in primetime, including a new installment of "Pawn Stars" (4.99 million), which on Monday led out of a two-episode block of "American Pickers." The 9:30 p.m. "Pickers" drew 4.53 million viewers, improving on its lead-in by 20 percent.
ESPN's coverage of the "Women's Final Four" basketball game between Baylor and UConn rounded out the top runescape money  10, drawing 3.77 million viewers Sunday night. In line with its agreement with the NCAA, Bristol slotted the semifinal on the flagship network; while the MLB season opener was relegated to ESPN2.
The Yankees-Red Sox grudge match was blacked out in the New York and Boston markets, but the return of baseball still drew a respectable audience, as some 3.23 million fans tuned in Sunday night.
Nick at Nite edged out TBS for a third-place berth among ad-supported channels, 1.67 million viewers to 1.65 million. History also drew within shooting distance, with a nightly turnout of 1.63 million viewers. Non-ad-supported Disney Channel closed out the week second among all basic-cable networks, drawing runescape accounts 2.44 million primetime viewers.

How To Be In The Right Place At The Right Time More Often 

Ever wonder how some people runescape money seem to have all the luck? Whether or not you believe in luck, there’s something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. For example, say we were walking together and saw a sign offering $5,000USD to any responder who could write a 250-word article on a topic revealed at the start of a 20-minute time window.
We’re both decent writers and the price is right so we follow up on the sign. Within minutes, we’re each sitting before a computer. The monitors blink on, the countdown starts, and our assigned topic is displayed. “Write about the development of cold-hardy peach varietals.” I stare at my runescape accounts  monitor, deflated. I type a few lines about liking peaches but that’s it. Today wasn’t my lucky day.
Your story is different though. You know the guy who developed the premier cold-hardy strain of peach tree. You know enough about the topic to produce a satisfactory article in the given time and walk away with a check for $5,000USD. It’s your lucky day! But it wasn’t really luck, was it? We were both in the same place at the same time with the right skills to make the most of the situation. You just happened to have that extra bit of information that allowed you to succeed while I lost out. Why does that happen? How was it that you had the right information at the right place and at the right time? Why were you lucky?
Your good luck, as well runescape gold as the luck enjoyed by most successful people, can be attributed to the combined force of three simple elements:
1. Proximity
“You cannot catch a fish without being near the water.”
The people you think of as lucky often put a lot of effort into being near as many pertinent opportunities as possible. In my example, we both had a shot at getting lucky because we weren’t just two idiots reading a random sign. We were skilled writers looking at a writing opportunity. We were both close to the opportunity. Not just in skill or location but in timing as well. Most of life is less random than my example. You can put yourself in the right place at the right time more often by identifying an area in which you have the necessary skills and knowledge to capitalize on sudden opportunities.
Questions: What are you doing to make timing right for you? What area have you put yourself in a position to “get lucky” in? Is there a skill you can improve for knowledge you can gain that will allow you to better capitalize on opportunities you discover?
2. Practice
“The fish not caught on the first try is larger when finally rs gold caught.”
Ask any professional athlete about a shining moment in their athletic experience and they’ll tell you that “luck” came only after long hours of practice. Wide receivers practice catching the ball thousands of times for every touchdown catch they make. Web developers create hundreds of applications before bringing the perfect one to market. And you? You read (possibly) millions of words before arriving at this article. In every case, the practice that precedes the instance of “luck” is just as important as the crowning moment itself.
Questions: Have you given up on practice only to wonder why you’re not improving in your field and experiencing the same luck as others? What steps can you take today in order to hone your senses and polish your skills so the aion power leveling next opportunity can be turned into a lucky moment?
3. Persistence
“If you do not fish often, the fish have little chance to bite.”
One sad truth of existence is that most people give up long before they should. Being in the right place at the right time involves being in a lot of places at a lot of times that might seem inconvenient or even painful. You’ve heard that luck favors the well-prepared but what about luck favoring the tenacious? Ever successful (you might say “lucky”) person I know has come very close to giving up many times. They’ve looked failure directly in the eyes and said, “not yet.” Sure, they’ve closed businesses, buy aion gold  lost clients, and left relationships. But they never stopped trying. They never gave up.
Questions: Do you have a tendency to give up on things too early? Think of the last project you gave up on. What might have happened had you stuck with it? Are you currently giving your everything to the project or relationship at hand?
Ever wonder why some people seem to have all the luck? By paying close attention to your proximity to opportunities and following through with practice and persistence, you may soon become one of the people we look at and wonder buy aion kinah  how you got to be in the right place at the right time. Just luck, right? =)

Mexico to host two FINA major events in April

Mexico will host two major runescape money FINA events this month, the fourth leg of the FINA Open Water Swimming Grand Prix and the second meet of the FINA/Li-Ning Diving World Series.
The Open Water GP will take place in the Sumidero Canyon on April 17 and Veracruz will stage the Diving World Series on April 16-17, said the sport's world governing body FINA on its website.
Kiril Todorov, president of the Mexican Swimming Federation, said that Mexico is ready to welcome runescape accounts the world's best open water swimmers and divers and help raise the skill level of swimmers and divers in the country.
The FINA/Li-Ning Diving World Series will feature four events for both men and women: 3m springboard, 10m platform, 3m springboard synchro and 10m platform synchro.
The event will be the second of three that make up the 2010 FINA/Li-Ning Diving World Series 2010, with the first leg in runescape gold Qingdao, China on March 27-28 and the last to be taken place in Sheffield, Britain on April 23-24.
The Mexican team will be led by 10m platform world champion Paola Espinosa, who ranked fifth in the 10m platform event and fourth in the 3m springboard event in Qingdao.
Meanwhile, the world's rs gold best swimmers will fight for victory in the waters of the Grijalva River, located in southeastern Mexico.
The organising committee has registered 25 athletes but more than 40 athletes are expected to swim on April 17, and an overall  aion gold prize money of 15,000 US dollars will be divided among the winners.

Nicollette Sheridan sues producer of 'Housewives' 

Nicollette Sheridan, the actress who runescape money played a divorced real estate agent in ABC's "Desperate Housewives" filed suit Monday against the show's creator and producer alleging assault and wrongful termination.
In the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, Sheridan claims that producer Marc Cherry hit her in the face on the Wisteria Lane set in September 2008.
Sheridan had asked Cherry about a line in the script, and he "took her aside and forcefully hit her with his hand across her face and head," the suit said. After she stormed off to her trailer, he came to "beg forgiveness."
When she reported the incident to ABC, Cherry retaliated by killing off her character, Edie Britt, in the popular series, Sheridan claims.
The lawsuit, which also names ABC, accuses Cherry of creating runescape accounts  a hostile work environment on the set and behaving aggressively and abusively toward the cast and the writers.
When Teri Hatcher, who plays Susan Meyer on the show, spoke to ABC executives about Cherry's behavior, Cherry told Sheridan, "I hope Teri Hatcher gets hit by a car and dies."
Sheridan argued that her character was one of the lead characters of the show, and was getting more airtime that runescape gold season. Edit Britt is not featured in the show's opening credits.
Cherry and ABC retaliated against her by killing off her character in a car accident, the court document said.
"It is exceptionally unusual for a popular character to be killed off or written out of a television series unless the actor has requested to be released from his or her contract," is how Sheridan's lawyer sees it.
Calls to Cherry's company, Cherry Alley Productions, and to ABC Studios were not immediately returned Monday night.
The lawsuit seeks $20 million in sustained rs gold damages.

Artificial skin can't fool the human touch

skin covering prosthetics runescape money and humanoid robots might look like the real thing, but grasp an artificial hand in yours and the difference is apparent.
Fake skin responds very differently to being touched, discovered John-John Cabibihan at the National University of Singapore and colleagues from Italy, Norway and France (www.arxiv.org/abs/0909.3559).
They subjected silicone or polyurethane fingertips to a battery of physical tests to explore how they stretch, deform and spring back into shape when runescape accounts compared to real fingertips. The tests involved tapping the fingertip on a surface, and deforming it with a probe.
Results showed that the two artificial materials, like real skin, can deform to closely match an outside force. The runescape gold difference is that much more force is needed to achieve the same effect.
What's more, probe artificial fingertips and they spring back into shape in a much more predictable manner than human skin does.
For a truly human feel, Cabibihan and colleagues say that designers of artificial skin need to start using similar experiments to inform their choice of materials rs gold and fingertip design.

Jennifer Hudson becomes Weight Watchers rep 

Jennifer Hudson didn't gain runescape money  a huge amount of weight when she was pregnant with her son, but it was enough to make her do a double-take when she saw a picture of herself.
"I didn't realize it was me," the singer and actress said Thursday. "I was like, 'Who? ... Oh, my God, this runescape accounts  is me.' And now when I look back, wow, look at the difference from then to now."
Hudson, a former "American Idol" finalist who won a best supporting actress Academy Award for "Dreamgirls," has lost the baby weight and more, and she says it's because of Weight Watchers — for which she is the new spokeswoman.
Hudson said she has always been happy with runescape gold her curves but after she gave birth to David Daniel Otunga Jr. last August she felt the need to take control of her body and her eating habits.
"How can I make a better me, or grow or do some changes, anything, just experiment, because I have me back now," she said. "And then at the same time, having the baby ... it's like, OK, this is a good way of how I would want my child to grow up, because so many times in growing up, you gain really bad habits ... so I want to make sure that he's going into this and I'm being a good example for him."
She said that her lifestyle change has even rubbed off on her fiance, David Otunga, who has recently been wrestling for World Wrestling Entertainment.
"Now he's in the habit of writing down what he's eating," she said. "He's doing weigh-ins. He's super  rs gold healthy, and he's a bodybuilder type, but he is inspired by it."

High fat bacon and eggs could be healthiest start to the day

A high-fat breakfast of bacon runescape money and eggs may actually be the healthiest start to the day, a new university report showed yesterday.
For the first meal eaten when you wake up appears to programme your metabolism for the rest of the day, researchers in the U.S. have found.
It means the maxim, 'Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper', could well be the best advice to follow to prevent metabolic syndrome, according to the University of Alabama at Birmingham study.
Metabolic syndrome is characterised by obesity, insulin resistance and other heart disease-risk factors.
The study, published runescape accounts online in the International Journal of Obesity, examined how different types of food affected the development of metabolic syndrome depending on when they were eaten.
The UAB research revealed that mice fed a meal higher in fat after waking had normal metabolic profiles.
In contrast, mice that ate a more carbohydrate-rich diet in the morning and consumed a high-fat meal at the end of the day saw increased weight gain, glucose intolerance and other markers of the metabolic syndrome.
'Studies have looked at the type and quantity of food runescape gold intake, but nobody has undertaken the question of whether the timing of what you eat and when you eat it influences body weight, even though we know sleep and altered circadian rhythms influence body weight,' said study lead author Dr Molly Bray from UAB.
Dr Bray said the research team found that fat intake at the time of waking seems to turn on fat metabolism very efficiently and also turns on the animal's ability to respond to different types of food later in the day.
When the animals were fed rs gold carbohydrates upon waking, carbohydrate metabolism was turned on and seemed to stay on even when the animal was eating different kinds of food later in the day.
'The first meal you have appears to program your metabolism for the rest of the day,' said study senior author Dr Martin Young.
Dr Bray and Dr Young said the implications of this research are important for human dietary recommendations.
'Humans eat a mixed diet, and our study, which we have repeated four times in animals, seems to show that if you really want to be able to efficiently respond to mixed meals across a day then a meal in higher fat content in the morning is a good thing,' Dr Bray said.
The authors said further tests were needed to aion gold check that the positive changes in rodents also work for humans.

Embark on romantic journey with robot

British female runescape money photographer Gemma Booth took a group of photos titled "Robot Love."

British female photographer Gemma Booth took a runescape accounts group of photos titled "Robot Love."

British female photographer Gemma Booth runescape gold took a group of photos titled "Robot Love."

British female photographer Gemma Booth took a group of photos titled "Robot Love."

British female photographer Gemma Booth took a group of photos titled "Robot Love."

British female photographer Gemma Booth took  rs gold a group of photos titled "Robot Love."

US concerned by Australian Internet filter plan 

The United States has raised runescape money concerns with Australia about the impact of a proposed Internet filter that would place restrictions on Web content, an official said Monday.
The concerns of Australia's most important security ally further undermine plans that would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among the world's democracies.
"Our main message of course is that we remain committed to advancing the free flow of information which we view as vital to economic runescape accounts prosperity and preserving open societies globally," a U.S. State Department spokesman Michael Tran told The Associated Press by telephone from Washington.
Tran declined to say when or at what level the U.S. State Department raised its concerns with Australia and declined to detail those concerns.
"We don't discuss the details of runescape gold specific diplomatic exchanges, but I can say that in the context of that ongoing relationship, we have raised our concerns on this matter with Australian officials," he added.
Internet giants Google and Yahoo have condemned the proposal as a heavy-handed measure that could restrict access to legal information.
The plan needs the support of Parliament to become law later this year.
Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy says the filter would block access to sites that include child -bleep-, sexual violence and detailed instructions in crime or drug use. The list of banned sites could be constantly updated based on public complaints. If rs gold adopted into law, the screening system would make Australia one of the strictest Internet regulators among the world's democracies.
Conroy declined to comment on the U.S. concerns.
"The Australian and U.S. governments liaise regularly on a broad range of issues. It would be inappropriate to discuss the details of these consultations," said his spokeswoman aion gold, Suzie Brady.

 Pregnancy safe for breast cancer survivors

Women who survive breast cancer and have children runescape money afterwards don't appear to be at any higher risk of dying from cancer, a new study says.
Doctors have long worried pregnancy might spark hormonal changes in breast cancer survivors that could spur the disease's return, and many breast cancer patients are counseled against getting pregnant after they recover.
In research presented Friday at a European breast cancer conference in Barcelona, experts said pregnancy in women who have been treated for breast cancer is safe and does not seem to be linked with the disease's recurrence.
Among women in the general population, those who have early and multiple pregnancies have a lower risk of getting breast cancer than women who don't.
Dr. Hatem Azim of the Institute Jules Bordet in Belgium and colleagues analyzed results from 14 previous trials that followed more than 1,400 pregnant women with a history of breast runescape accounts cancer. Those women became pregnant several months to several years after finishing treatment. Azim and colleagues compared those women to more than 18,000 women who had had breast cancer and were not pregnant.
"I hope this changes what doctors tell their patients," Azim said. "There's no reason to tell women who survive breast cancer not to get pregnant."
Azim and colleagues found that the women who got pregnant had a 42 percent lower risk of dying compared with breast cancer survivors who did not get pregnant. He said part of that benefit might be due to the fact that women who were naturally healthier were those that later had children.
But in some studies, women with breast cancer who became pregnant were compared to women who remained free of the disease, i.e. the healthiest of the breast cancer survivors.
"For many years, pregnancy was considered a risk for women who had breast cancer," said Maria Leadbeater, a cancer expert at Breast Cancer Care, a British charity. "But this study seems to show the risk is not an issue once you've been treated," she said. Leadbeater was not connected to Azim's study.
Leadbeater said the advice for patients might vary depending on the type of breast cancer they've had and how runescape gold they responded to treatment. Women who need hormone therapy for breast cancer typically need to be on it for five years — during which time doctors recommend against getting pregnant.
Leadbeater and others said women should try to wait until two years after their diagnosis to try for a baby, since that is thought to be the riskiest time for a relapse.
Azim, who led the study, hypothesized that the relationship between hormones and breast cancer might be more complicated than doctors initially thought. Estrogen is known to trigger breast cancer and women typically have more estrogen when they're pregnant. But very high doses of the hormone can also kill cancer cells, Azim said.
Other hormones that are elevated in pregnancy, like the one for breast-feeding, have been proven to protect against breast cancer. "What we are seeing is only the tip of the iceberg," Azim said. "It's too simple to say that pregnancy stimulates hormones and that's bad for breast cancer."
Dr. Sibylle Loibl, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Frankfurt said Azim's study should change what doctors tell patients.
"There's no reason for a breast cancer survivor not to have children if she wants to," Loibl said. She was not linked to Azim's study.
"As long as a woman completes her treatment for rs gold breast cancer, it should not be an issue," she said.

Bees in more trouble than ever after bad winter 

The mysterious 4-year-old crisis of disappearing runescape money honeybees is deepening. A quick federal survey indicates a heavy bee die-off this winter, while a new study shows honeybees' pollen and hives laden with pesticides.
Two federal agencies along with regulators in California and Canada are scrambling to figure out what is behind this relatively recent threat, ordering new research on pesticides used in fields and orchards. Federal courts are even weighing in this month, ruling that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overlooked a requirement when allowing a pesticide on the market.
And on Thursday, chemists at a scientific conference in San Francisco will tackle the issue of chemicals and dwindling bees in response to the new study.
Scientists are concerned because of the vital role bees play in our food supply. About one-third of the human diet is from plants that require pollination from honeybees, which means everything from apples to zucchini.
Bees have been declining over runescape accounts  decades from various causes. But in 2006 a new concern, "colony collapse disorder," was blamed for large, inexplicable die-offs. The disorder, which causes adult bees to abandon their hives and fly off to die, is likely a combination of many causes, including parasites, viruses, bacteria, poor nutrition and pesticides, experts say.
"It's just gotten so much worse in the past four years," said Jeff Pettis, research leader of the Department of Agriculture's Bee Research Laboratory in Beltsville, Md. "We're just not keeping bees alive that long."
This year bees seem to be in bigger trouble than normal after a bad winter, according to an informal survey of commercial bee brokers cited in an internal USDA document. One-third of those surveyed had trouble finding enough hives to pollinate California's blossoming nut trees, which grow the bulk of the world's almonds. A more formal survey will be done in April.
"There were a lot of beekeepers scrambling to fill their orders and that implies that mortality was high," said Penn State University bee researcher Dennis vanEngelsdorp, who worked on the USDA runescape gold snapshot survey.
Beekeeper Zac Browning shipped his hives from Idaho to California to pollinate the blossoming almond groves. He got a shock when he checked on them, finding hundreds of the hives empty, abandoned by the worker bees.
The losses were extreme, three times higher than the previous year.
"It wasn't one load or two loads, but every load we were pulling out that was dead. It got extremely depressing to see a third of my livestock gone," Browning said, standing next to stacks of dead bee colonies in a clearing near Merced, at the center of California's fertile San Joaquin Valley.
Among all the stresses to bee health, it's the pesticides that are attracting scrutiny now. A study published Friday in the scientific journal PLOS (Public Library of Science) One found about three out of five pollen and wax samples from 23 states had at least one systemic pesticide — a chemical designed to spread throughout all parts of a plant.
EPA officials said they are aware of problems involving pesticides and bees and the agency is "very seriously concerned."
The pesticides are not a risk to honey sold to consumers, federal officials say. And the pollen that people eat is probably safe because it is usually from remote areas where pesticides are not used, Pettis said. But the PLOS study found 121 different types of pesticides within 887 wax, pollen, bee and hive samples.
"The pollen is not in good shape," said Chris Mullin of Penn State University, lead author.
None of the chemicals themselves were at high enough levels to kill bees, he said, but it was the combination and variety of them that is worrisome.
University of Illinois entomologist May Berenbaum called the results "kind of alarming."
Despite EPA assurances, environmental rs gold groups don't think the EPA is doing enough on pesticides.
Bayer Crop Science started petitioning the agency to approve a new pesticide for sale in 2006. After reviewing the company's studies of its effects on bees, the EPA gave Bayer conditional approval to sell the product two years later, but said it had to carry a label warning that it was "potentially toxic to honey bee larvae through residues in pollen and nectar."
The Natural Resources Defense Council sued, saying the agency failed to give the public timely notice for the new pesticide application. In December, a federal judge in New York agreed, banning the pesticide's sale and earlier this month, two more judges upheld the ruling.
"This court decision is obviously very painful for us right now, and for growers who don't have access to that product," said Jack Boyne, an aion gold entomologist and spokesman for Bayer Crop Science. "This product quite frankly is not harmful to honeybees."
Boyne said the pesticide was sold for only about a year and most sales were in California, Arizona and Florida. The product is intended to disrupt the mating patterns of insects that threaten citrus, lettuce and grapes, he said.
Berenbaum's research shows pesticides are not the only problem. She said multiple viruses also are attacking the bees, making it tough to propose a single solution.
"Things are still heading downhill," she said.
For Browning, one of the country's largest commercial beekeepers, the latest woes have led to a $1 million loss this year.
"It's just hard to get past this," he said, watching as workers cleaned honey aion kinah from empty wooden hives Monday. "I'm going to rebuild, but I have plenty of friends who aren't going to make it."

Gospel, blues artist Marva Wright dead at 62

New Orleans blues and gospel singer Marva Wright died Tuesday at age 62, her former manager said.Adam Shipley confirmed that Wright died of runescape money complications from a stroke she suffered last year.She sang runescape accounts traditional jazz and gospel standards but was better known for sultry, sometimes bawdy  blues songs. Among her best known songs were "Heartbreakin' Woman" and "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean."
She released a series of albums on local and international record labels, and frequently performed in Europe and at blues festivals around the country. With her band, the BMWs, she drew large crowds for performances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
As a child, Wright listened to her mother sing and play piano at church. Among her childhood memories were visits to Chicago, the adopted home of New Orleans gospel great Mahalia Jackson, who had grown up with Wright's mother.
"My mother would go to the national runescape gold  Baptist convention," Ms. Wright once said, according to an account in The Times-Picayune newspaper. "When it convened in Chicago, Mahalia would say, 'Girl, you don't need to get no hotel. Stay with me.' That's what my mother would do. I met Mahalia when I was 9 years old, but I never realized she was that popular until I got older."
But Wright didn't start singing professionally until she was almost 40, according to a biography on her Web site.
Wright was hospitalized last June after suffering a serious stroke following rs gold a gig at the CoCo Club on Bourbon Street. Relatives said then that she had just recovered from an earlier, less serious stroke.

Can Eating Slowly Help You Lose Weight? 

The endless parade of diet advice can be maddening. Cut the fat. Avoid sugar. Banish carbohydrates. Whoops—now some runescape money carbs are okay; just watch out for refined flour. Do less cardio. Don’t eat after dark. Fast before you exercise. Don’t eat white food. Don’t buy ingredients you can’t pronounce. Don’t cook anything to above 104 runescape accounts degrees …
Thunk.
That was the sound of my face hitting my desk.
How can anybody win? When any given food item is bad for you one day and good the next, and when scientists and dieticians can’t seem to agree on what or how we should be eating, it’s hard not to get frustrated. Luckily, there’s one way to manage food intake and weight that requires no diet books, no special equipment, and no extra money or effort. In fact, the only thing you need is time.
Mother Knows Best
Ever since the 1970s, some people have claimed that the speed at which we eat has a big effect on how many calories we consume. This theory proposes that when we eat quickly, our stomachs don’t have time to tell our brains we’re full, and that lost signal leads to overeating. By eating slowly and deliberately, on the other hand, we give the hormones that indicate satiety a chance to function properly.
Until recently, the theory was unproven—an old wives’ tale—but several recent studies have confirmed that your mom and grandma have been telling the truth: runescape gold  when we eat more slowly, we eat less.
A 2006 study at the University of Rhode Island (URI) monitored thirty women as they ate two meals. They were instructed to eat the first meal quickly, and for the second meal, they were asked to chew each bite at least twenty times before swallowing. During the fast meal, the women consumed an average of 646 calories in nine minutes, while at the slow meal, it took them twenty-nine minutes to eat only 579 calories.
Another study, from 2004, turned up similar results. The female participants ate meals at varying speeds, and during meals at which food intake was regulated, they ate less than when they were allowed to eat quickly.
The author of the URI study found that not only did the women who ate slowly end up consuming fewer calories, but they also reported feeling fuller after eating, and that feeling lasted longer. Eating slowly has been shown to increase the body’s response to hormones produced in the digestive tract. These hormones, glucagonlike peptide-1 and peptide YY, have a more pronounced effect when we eat slowly and can more easily signal the brain that it’s time to stop eating. When we wolf down our food, these hormones don’t get released as quickly, and  their effect is diminished. All in all, it takes at least fifteen to twenty minutes for the gut to signal fullness and for the brain to get the right message.
The Diet Downer.For every rs gold piece of diet advice, there’s always a naysayer. One researcher at the University of Pennsylvania claims that although eating slowly may translate to eating less, it’s not so effective as a weight-loss method. Her study, conducted in 1991, showed that in the initial stages of weight loss, eating slowly makes a difference, but after several months, there is no distinction between slow eaters and quick eaters. The UPenn team also hypothesizes that even though eating slowly can reduce the number of calories per bite, most people still end up eating the same number of calories in the end—they just take longer to do it.
If the many studies confirming the benefits of eating slowly are to be believed, consuming just slightly fewer calories at each meal can really add up over time. The numbers from the URI study may have shown only a 10 percent decrease in caloric intake, but that 10 percent can be significant, especially in conjunction with a healthy, low-fat diet and moderate exercise. Eating slowly is better for digestion, too.
The truth is that there’s probably no “magic bullet” for weight loss. The cabbage soup diet, the grapefruit diet, the caveman diet, and all the other fad eating programs are buy aion gold unsustainable and unrealistic. Eating slowly may seem elementary, but it’s a small lifestyle change that can make a big difference.

The father lets me dish washing

On Sundays my father always wore that dull gray apron – the runescape money one with the race cars all over it. The ritual began after breakfast when Dad always announced: "Go ahead everyone. I'll take care of the dishes!" With that my mother disappeared into the folds of the Sunday paper. Off came the suit coat he had worn to church that morning. Up went the shirtsleeves. On went that apron. For the next hour Dad did the dishes, singing ballads like "I Had a Hat When I Came In" and "Who Put the Chow in Mrs. Murphy's Chowder?"
I suppose it was strange for a boy's father to wear an apron – even one with race cars – but I never thought much of it until the day that Dad broke with tradition. It was the last Sunday in August. My father seemed in an expansive mood as we walked home from church together.
"Tommy," he said letting runescape gold  my name roll off his tongue. My mind raced ahead of his words: The birds and the bees? A new bike? A part-time job?
"There comes a time in every boy's life when he must take on responsibilities." This was important. I might even get to back the car out of the driveway.
"Responsibilities?" I asked.
"Yes. It's time you took a greater role in the household." Power tools? Boss my baby brother?
"Starting today, I want you to do the dishes on Sunday morning so your mother and I can work the crossword puzzle together."
"The dishes!?"
"Anything wrong with taking over the dishes, son?"
I started to say something about a man's job or woman's work, but I knew immediately rs gold that my protests would fall on deaf ears.
I didn't taste a bit of breakfast that morning. Dad seemed in a jovial mood as he described an exceptional Yankee game seen through the eyes of Mel Allen on the radio last night.
"Mickey Mantle drove the ball right over the center field wall," he said. "Just a straight line climb in right out of the stadium." He looked out the window as if trying to pick the ball out of the cloud formations. I tried to imagine Mickey Mantle wearing an apron.
Suddenly, everything grew quiet. My sister began to clear the table. My brother was scraping the last of the egg from his plate. And then that ancient aion gold family ritual that had filled so many Sunday mornings came to an end. My father announced: "Let's go read the paper, Hon."
"Aren't you doing the dishes?" my mother asked fretfully.
"Your oldest son has generously offered to fill the position."
My brother and sister stopped cold. So this was what my life had come to. A dark angel sat on my left shoulder and reminded me that I could hit a baseball farther than anyone in my class. I could bench-press aion kinah my weight. I knew three declensions in Latin, the language of Caesar. Ask me to run through a rainstorm. Command me to ride the roller coaster – backward. These things I would do. But I could never do those dishes. There was nothing left but to refuse.
People often say there is a special chemistry between a father and a son. He came back into the kitchen just as I was about to storm out. He had buy aion kinah loosened his tie and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt – ready to relax. In his right hand was the old apron.
"I want you to have this, Tommy. It'll keep your clothes from getting wet." And before I could mount a protest, he had put the thing on me. "Thanks, Son. Your mother and I appreciate this."
With that he disappeared into the Sunday paper. I looked down at the plastic. It had seen better days. I could see my dad reaching for the dishes. The dark angel flew off. Soon I was singing about Mrs. Murphy's chowder. The words came out of nowhere. And out of nowhere I knew the  runescape accounts  kind of man I wanted to be.

• 2010-Mar-21 - Nine Ways to Chop Onions, Tear-Free

To see how the 12 constellations Gaidiao bad habits

TAURUS (Apr. 21 - May 21)
Bulls love clutter. Being surrounded by all their possessions gives them a sense of security. It also creates headaches, confusion, and chaos. Storage runescape accounts systems that keep their stuff on display will prevent this sign from strewing their stuff all over the house. Stacking baskets, glass jars, and open shelving can promote organization.
GEMINI (May 22 - June 21)
While bountifully blessed with the gift of gab, Gemini are notoriously bad listeners. A good way to become more attentive is to practice staying silent.
Eventually, however, even the biggest blabbermouth will learn how to button their lips and open their ears.
CANCER (June 22 - July 22)
If you've ever wondered how Cancers stay so sweet, take a look at their sugar intake. This sign loves cookies, candy, and ice cream. An occasional indulgence is fine, but too much dessert can rs gold take a toll on waist lines and energy levels. What Crabs are really seeking is oral gratification. Sugar-free gum or dried fruit provides a healthy distraction from candy crunching.
LEO (July 23 - Aug. 22)
The guy who's sitting next to you in the elegant restaurant, shouting to his personal assistant on his cell phone? Probably a Leo. It's only natural that a sign that is blessed with creativity, charm and wit feels tempted to show off. Actually, this desire to brag is rooted in insecurity. The sooner Lions learn to compliment others, the quicker they'll receive the praise they crave.

Women ready for space

Ethnic participants attending the two sessions pose for picture. Women make up 21 percent of NPC deputies and about 18 percent of CPPCC aion gold members. Women are making inroads in politics as the 100th anniversary of the International Women's Day is observed today. Photo: AFP

China's space program may send its first female astronauts into space in the near future, a published report said.

Hong Kong-based Wen Wei Po newspaper Saturday quoted unnamed aion kina military officials, who attended the National People's Congress (NPC) and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), as saying that the country has selected five men and two women candidates from among 30 men and 15 women for upcoming space missions.

It will be the first time for China to put female astronauts into space.

The candidates are required to undergo five years of training. The timetable of sending them to the space was not released, said Qi Faren, a space technology expert and the chief designer of the "Shenzhou" manned spacecraft.

The names of the two female aion kinah candidates were also not disclosed, but the report said that at least five out of the 15 women were from Shandong Province. They are between 27 and 34 years old.

Wang Yaping, who participated in rescue efforts after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, is among them. Xing Lei did outstanding at flying school. Liu Lu is good at literature. The husband of Cao Yanyan is considered an outstanding pilot, and the last one is Sun Qing.

Astronaut Yang Liwei, who was part of the country's first space voyage in 2003, said he believes Chinese women would be seen in space in the near future.

Hu Shixiang, deputy commander-in-chief of China's Manned Space Program, told the Xinhua News Agency earlier that "healthy people can become astronauts after specialized training, thanks to China's improved space training skills, including women."

"Our selection of women astronauts will not merely be a symbolic image project," Hu was quoted as saying.

He said female astronauts might conduct some experiments aboard the spaceship.

Hu Xingdou, an economics professor at Beijing Institute of Technology, told the Global Times Sunday that selecting female astronaut can help improving sexual equality.

Valentina Tereshkova of the former Soviet Union is the world's first female runescape gold astronaut in 1963.The former Soviet Union, the United States, Japan and Korea have sent women into space.

Vancouver Winter Olympics lowers curtain with joy and sorrow

Artists perform during the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver's BC Place, Canada on Feb. 28, 2010. The Vancouver Winter Olympics concluded here on Sunday.(Xinhua/Wu Wei)

An artist performs during the closing ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver's BC Place, Canada on Feb. 28, 2010. (Xinhua/Xu Jiajun aion kinah )

VANCOUVER, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- As the Vancouver Olympic Flame was extinguished by "snow" falling from the ceiling of the British Columbia Place, the 17-day winter sports gala went to a touching ending here on Sunday evening in downtown Vancouver.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge declared the 21st Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver closed.

"And now, in accordance with tradition, I declare the XXI Olympic Winter Games closed, and I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Sochi to celebrate the XXII Olympic Winter Games," said the IOC chief at the closing ceremony.

Labelling the Vancouver Games as "excellent and very friendly", Rogge praised the Games has presented those glorious days to be cherished forever by the whole world.

Starting with tears wept over the shocking death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, the Games went on in a roaring style with the organizers taking prompt reaction and the International Luge Federation deciding to shorten the course.

At the last IOC press conference, Rogge urged people not just to remember the Vancouver Olympics with the tragedy.

"The Games, from the point of view of VANOC, went through teething pains," he said. "It would be unfair, however, not to judge the Games and VANOC on their own merit."

The IOC chief, who failed to fall asleep for two nights after Kumaritashvili died of the training tragedy, said the Games should be remembered for its great atmosphere and sports performances.

"There was an extraordinary embrace by the city of Vancouver, something I've never seen before," he said. "I spoke to our broadcasters and they were overjoyed with sky high ratings."

Run through Feb. 12-28, the Games witnessed athletes aion power leveling from 26 countries winning medals from the 86 events of 15 disciplines in seven sports, as around 2,500 athletes from 78 countries and regions competed in Vancouver, Richmond and skiing resort Whistler.

After winning the Games' last gold in the men's ice hockey, Canada not only shook off the nagging scar of being the Olympic host country twice without winning a single gold medal either, but also set a record of 14 gold medals from a single Olympic Winter Games.

The previous record was held by the Soviet Union in 1976 and Norway in 2002 who each won 13 golds.

Despite losing the last final 3-2 of ice hockey in overtime to the hosts, the United States, however, collected 37 medals, including nine golds, to break Germany's 36-medal record at the Salt Lake City Games eight years ago.

Failing to top the tally for the fourth straight time, Germany still clung to the second with 10 golds and 30 medals overall, becoming the only NOC to win medal every day as Axel Teichamann placed second in the men's 50km cross-country classic skiing on Sunday morning.

Vancouver will also be remembered as the harbour where Asian powers made breakthrough and traditional winter sports leader Russia suffered a shocking fall.

China reaped brilliant achievement with five titles plus two silvers and four bronzes for an epoch-making seventh place, the first time into top-eight of the Winter Games medal table.

In both Salt Lake City and Turin, China finished consecutively with two golds apiece after making its Winter Olympic debut in 1980.

"We have made important breakthrough at these Games," said Xiao Tian, deputy chef de mission of China's largest ever winter sports delegation.

Comeback star couple Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo awarded China's first figure skating gold in 30 years, and the women skaters swept the four golds from the short track rink as Wang Meng became the first Chinese to win three golds at one single Winter Games.

Among the silver and bronze medals for China are figure skaters Pang Qing and Tong Jian, freestyle aerials skier Li Nina, speed skater world champion Wang Beixing and the women curlers, who won the first medal for China in any team event at the Winter Games.

South Korea tied Switzerland on the fifth place, with three runescape gold speed skating titles and two from the men's short track, as well as the most coveted women's figure skating gold through Kim Yu-Na.

The 19-year-old wrote her name into the Winter Olympic history after beating Japanese teenage sensation Mao Asada with all record scores for her touching performance of elegant sequences and crispy jumps.

Russia, however, fell from a top-four in Turin to the 11th place with three victories and 15 medals. The winter sports powerhouse only stamped its reign in biathlon and cross-country skiing.

For figure skating, where Russia had its prodigies topping podium at every Olympics since 1960, including three golds in Turin, backed home with a mere silver through comeback hero Evgeni Plushenko and a bronze from ice dancing world champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin.

The Russians, however, declined to admit the failure as Plushenko's coach Alexey Missin said: "There's always been ups and downs for athletes and teams. Russia will come back to the podium in another four years."

Asian entries, however, were still hunting for the status in winter sports against superficial boom in medals achieved in Vancouver.

Fielding in 90 athletes, China merely tied own 11-medal performance in Turin and failed to make noise in skiing, a phenomenon shared by South Korea and other Asian delegations.

"We still have a long way to go in the development of China's winter sports," said the Chinese deputy chef de mission Xiao. "It's impossible for us to reach the same level as we have done in summer sports, but we will try to minimize the gap as much as we can."

However, Xiao is not in pessimism, saying that "the Chinese athletes' good performance at the Games has aroused great interest to winter sports of the runescape money people back home. We should try our best to transfer their enthusiasm into participation in the sports."

The Mesir festival celebrates the most ancient old city

The eight-day-long Mesir Festival wrapped up here on runescape money  Sunday. Being one of the oldest ancient cities of Anatolia, cradle of civilizations, people feel a meaningful charity and holiday mood in Manisa with Mesir tradition.

Turks gather to get Mesir candy under a mosque during the Mesir Festival in Manisa, Turkey, March 28, 2010. The eight-day-long Mesir Festival wrapped up here on Sunday. Being one of the oldest ancient cities of Anatolia, cradle of civilizations, people feel a meaningful charity and holiday mood in Manisa with Mesir tradition.

Turks dress in traditional Ottoman costume drive carriages during the Mesir Festival in Manisa, Turkey, March 28, 2010. The eight-day-long Mesir Festival wrapped up here on Sunday. Being one of the oldest ancient cities of Anatolia, cradle of runescape accounts  civilizations, people feel a meaningful charity and holiday mood in Manisa with Mesir tradition.

A Turkish man dresses in traditional Ottoman costumes celebrates the Mesir Festival in Manisa, Turkey, March 28, 2010. The eight-day-long Mesir Festival wrapped up here on Sunday. Being one of the oldest ancient cities of Anatolia, cradle of civilizations, people feel a  runescape gold meaningful charity and holiday mood in Manisa with Mesir tradition.

Turks dress in traditional Ottoman costumes drive carriages during the Mesir Festival in Manisa, Turkey, March 28, 2010. The eight-day-long Mesir Festival wrapped up here on Sunday. Being one of the oldest ancient cities of Anatolia, cradle of civilizations, people feel a meaningful charity and holiday mood in Manisa with Mesir tradition.

A Turkish man dresses in traditional Ottoman costumes celebrates the Mesir Festival in Manisa, Turkey, March 28, 2010. The eight-day-long  rs gold Mesir Festival wrapped up here on Sunday. Being one of the oldest ancient cities of Anatolia, cradle of civilizations, people feel a meaningful charity and holiday mood in Manisa with Mesir tradition.