Tuesday, December 28, 2010

New Year's Eve in Brussels and Paris

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Like every year at the same time, we are pleased to anounce the release of MetrO databases for the special New Year's Eve services in Paris (France) and Brussels (Belgium).
Comme chaque année à la même époque, nous avons le plaisir d'annoncer la publication de bases de données MétrO pour les services spéciaux du réveillon à Paris et Bruxelles.

Paris: a selection of subway and railway lines will operate after the end of the regular service as well as the "Noctilien" night bus lines (with some changes). All transportation will be free from 5PM on 12/31 to noon on 01/01.

Download the "Paris Nuit Festive" file / Téléchargez le fichier "Paris Nuit Festive" here/ici.

Brussels: the subway, a few trams and most of the "Noctis" night buses will run during the night from 12/31 01/01. All transportation will be free during this time.

Download the "Bruxelles Réveillon" file / Téléchargez le fichier "Bruxelles Réveillon" here/ici.

The files will also appear in the city list in your MetrO app for iPhone and BlackBerry.

Besides, these services are available on i-MetrO for the WEB, WAP and i-Mode.

These databases have been built in a rush and may contain errors despite my efforts to make them as accurate as possible. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience you may experience.

Source: http://metromobile.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-years-eve-in-brussels-and-paris.html

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Monday, December 20, 2010

Adam Christian Business Services: Americans Reject Credit Cards ...

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Many years ago people used that old fashioned item called cash and as we were all told " Cash Was King" and " Another Day Another Dollar" but then the days of the credit card were upon us , but it crept upon us very quietly without us knowing with the advent of the bankers card for use of cheques and at the bottom the word's Vis'a and we were given a small piece of paper with writing so small to the naked eye that very few people ever decided to read it, so the stealth bomber of debt was set.

Many years later and just when we needed it with the help of consumerism and the fact that any country was built on how much people spent the credit card companies started to rise, like a phoenix from the ashes and instead of the word -DEBIT [ meaning l have the money in my account] the word CREDIT [meaning buy now and pay later] and so we did in droves building debts up to points that took us into or closer than before to our so-called credit limit.

Now you would have thought at this point they would say enough was enough and limit us to only what we paid off, but know greed had set in and everyone climbed on the band-wagon as credit limits exploded and people were spending more than they could really afford.

So about time l say.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Source: http://aceworldwideservices.blogspot.com/2010/12/americans-reject-credit-cards-this_21.html

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Monday, December 6, 2010

Google Adsense

Post under google adsense

AdSense is a joint program of advertising through the Internet media held by Google. Through AdSense advertising program, Web site or blog owners who have signed up and approved its membership are allowed to put ad units that form and the material has been determined by Google in their web pages. The owner of the website or blog will get a profit sharing revenue from Google for each ad clicked by visitors to the site, known as a system of pay per click (ppc) or pay per click.

In addition to providing ads with pay-per-click system, also provides a Google AdSense for search AdSense (AdSense for Search), and referral ads (Referral). In the AdSense for search, web site owners can install the Google search box on their web pages. The site owner will get revenue from Google for every search conducted visitors through the search box, which continues to click on ads that are included in the search results. On referral ads, site owners will receive after clicking on an ad revenue continues with specific actions by visitors who have agreed on between Google and advertisers.

Publisher

Publisher is the person or site owners who have come together and put AdSense ads on their sites.

Ad Units

The definition of AdSense Ad Units is advertising itself. Ad Units consist of several types and sizes. The most common type of text ads. At the time the visitor clicks an ad unit, then (if valid) the advertiser will get the income in accordance with the CPC values its.

Link Units

Link Units similar to the Ad Units, except that the format is similar to the usual format of the menu we find in these websites. What distinguishes Link Ad Units by Units is at the user clicks on these ads, so it will be directed on search results pages in Google's search engine. New publisher will earn when visitors click on one ad unit on the page. In practice, Link Units proved to generate more revenue than usual Ad Units.

AdSense for Content

AdSense for Content is installed on the AdSense ads within a page. The ads that appear are the ads that are related to the contents page. Or phrase using contextual concept. Ad Units and Link Units are included in this AdSense for Content.

Alternate Ads

In the AdSense for Content, advertising does not always appear. Why, among others, could be because it's advertising inventory relating to the contents of the site is up or Google can not predict what the actual site. If this happens, by default, which is displayed is the public service ads or commonly known as PSA (Public Service Ads). Because type of donations, so if clicked, this ad does not produce anything for the publisher. To overcome this, Google allows us to install the Alternate Ads or alternate ad. If Ad Units are made has been set by using the Alternate Ads, so if Ad Units can not be performed, which appears is the alternative ads that have been arranged earlier.

Channels

Channels is a sort of label that can be given on Ad Units, Link Units, AdSense for Search, and Referrals. One ad unit can have more than one label, and vice versa, one label can be used for more than one ad unit. In Google AdSense reports page, the report will be grouped based on Channels, which will greatly facilitate the use of Channels publishers to analyze their AdSense performance. Generally, publishers will give the name of Channels on the same ad units on one site. If you want more details, okay to give a different Channels in each ad unit at each site. Remember, the maximum number of Channels allowed currently are 200 channels.

Page Impressions

Page Impressions is the number that shows how many times a page that contains the Ad Units opened by visitors. Its value is not affected by the quantity Ad Units that is in the relevant pages.

Clicks

Clicks is the number of clicks on Ad Units owned by publisher. In the AdSense report pages, publishers can view the total clicks that he can get, and based on Ad Units or patterns.

CTR (clickthrough rate)

CTR is the ratio in percent between the number of clicks received by an Ad Units with a total display the Ad Units. For example, an Ad Units are displayed 40 times and clicked 10 times has a CTR of 25% (10:40).

CPC (Cost Per Click)

The CPC is the amount of money to be earned by the publisher when a particular Ad Units clicked. The CPC value of each Ad Units vary and are determined by many factors, including performance and quality of the site's publisher. But in general, the maximum value possible is 20% of the value of dynamic bids offered by the advertiser.

eCPM (Effective CPM)

eCPM, or CPM (Cost Per Million) is the result of division between the number of publishers with a total income of page impressions (as of 1000) which he got from advertisements. For example, publishers who produce 50 000 to USD 200 from impressi will have the CPM value of USD 4 (USD 200 divided by 50).

AdSense program policies

Although the AdSense program provides a great advantage, Google set stringent rules to protect the interests of all involved parties, including advertisers who are often disadvantaged by the site owner acts improperly AdSense program members. Some restrictions that must be adhered to the Google website or blog owner AdSense program participants are:

    * Clicking on the ads that show their own sites, either manually or with the aid of special software
    * With the intent to encourage site visitors to click on ads shown, for example with the words "click the ads" or "visit this page"
    * Change the shape and size of ad units that have been determined Google
    * Create a direct link to the page of search results AdSense for search
    * Fill out automatically AdSense search box with a certain keyword
    * Manipulate target ads with keywords or with hidden IFRAME
    * AdSense ad unit code must be placed directly on a web site html code without changes. The site owner is not allowed to change the AdSense code for any reason, for example with the purpose of showing the results click on the pop-up or divert the target ad.

AdSense Revenue Optimization

Potential gains following the AdSense program made a lot of website owners to develop various methods to increase the number of clicks on ads that they publish. Some proven methods are illegal and against official policy AdSense program. Other methods are allowed, even encouraged its use by Google. Some methods are considered valid are:

    * Modifying the color of your ad unit using the provided color palette AdSense
    * Placing an ad unit on a particular position on web pages that are considered to have high levels of legibility
    * Eliminate the outline of the ad units and color matching the background with the background color so that the web page ad units appear to blend with the content of this page

Source: http://ll146.blogspot.com/2010/07/adsense-is-joint-program-of-advertising.html

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Saturday, September 18, 2010

T-Bear's 200 and Celebration Candy!

Post under blog candy, LOTV, tilda

This post will stay up until September 19th, so please scroll down to view newer posts! :)

Hey gang! I promised candy and here it is to celebrate my 200 followers and my new DT position over at Pink Cat Studio! I'm so grateful to everyone for their support! So, this candy is big, there's even a NEW Cinderella Tilda Stamp! Plus, there's double stamped images of the new stamps my friend Corry and I received last week from England from the Bon Voyage set: (mermaid, Chinese Tilda and East Indian Tilda) They're gorgoeus!!! There's also double stamped images of LOTV's 3 new Christmas Bears. (Super cute) Now on to the papers and other goodies:
6-8.5x8.5 K&Company Wild Raspberry papers(double-sided),4-8x8 October Afternoon-Go Fly A Kite papers, 5 -6x6 Origami papers, 3-square paper doilies, 3-New Martha Stewart Glitters in Garnet, Tourmaline and Crystal Fine, 3 pearl stickles and some crochet lace (1yard/metre).

Also, an added bonus: my birthday is in exactly two weeks, so if I hit 230 followers within that time, Iwill add some extra goodies, either in stamped form or punched form (leaves, ferns, snowflakes, butterflies)

So, what do you do to enter? First, please leave me a comment,with your URL, but number it at the beginning. (Ex; #3, Patty Green-http://green... )Next, put my candy up on your side-bar back-linking to my site. Last, but not least-I would LOVE if you became my follower,-not just for this candy, but because you like my creations!!(This part is optional) New followers and my already followers who post my candy, will be entered twice. Thanks so much!! Hope u like! xoxo

Source: http://tbearstouch.blogspot.com/2010/08/t-bears-200-and-celebration-candy.html

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Sunday, August 29, 2010

planning September 2

planning september 2

Exercises pages 4 and 5 + Correction;

Grammar: Past Simple - use of did (negative and interrogative sentences);

Recolher dinheiro R$ 6,00 livro Sherlock Holmes;

Recolher OSCAR - MOVIES: apresentações em Power Point (slides) + trailers;

Yesterday: Textbook pages 7 to 9 + Correction;

Vocabulary: Verbs in the past (slides);

Grammar: Explanation Past Simple (regular and irregular verbs, did in negative and interrogative sentences);

Music: Yesterday - John Lennon + Translation;

English: The Language we want to speak - Textbook pages 11 to 13 + Correction;

Video: English Language Origins;

HOMEWORK:

Oscar Movies: Entrega dos Painéis (via pen-drive), em 09/09;

Textbook 3 - pages 14 to 20;

Recolher dinheiro R$ 6,00 livro Sherlock Holmes;

Recolher OSCAR - MOVIES: apresentações em Power Point (slides) + trailers;

Reading I: page 2 + Correction pages 2 and 3;

Vocabulary: Words and expressions about Law and Crime;

Grammar: Present Perfect;

Grammar: Past Perfect Tense + Correction pages 4 and 5;

Reading II: USA's presidential pardons + Correction pages 5 to 6;

Vestiba Time: page 7;

HOMEWORK:

Comics - Create a story with a crime, in a comic format. You have to consider the information in page 8 of your textbook. In groups with 2 to 4 people. Hand it in 16/09;

Textbook 3 - pages 9 to 16;

Oscar Movies: Entrega dos Painéis (via pen-drive), em 09/09;

Development texto sobre technology, para 09/09. Deve-se constar de 2 a 3 parágrafos. Cada um contendo uma ideia principal sobre o tema maior, technology;

Resolution of Commented Questions – Comics;

War on Terror: Video + Discussion about September 11th + Correction page 2;

Grammar: Relative Clauses + Correction page 3;

Resolution Vestibular UFSC 2010 - Part I;

Music: Black or White - Michael Jackson + Translation (textbook page 20);

HOMEWORK:

Textbook 3 - pages 12 to 20;

Resolver Vestibular UFSC 2010;

Source: http://english-gardner.blogspot.com/2010/08/planning-september-2.html

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Glenn Beck rally: A warning to Obama and Democrats?

Post under ibrabiga infos

There may have been some Democrats at the Glenn Beck rally Saturday, but even many of them aren't happy with the country's direction. Does the large turnout portend trouble for Democrats?
Glenn Beck’s “Restoring Honor” rally in Washington Saturday could not have been an encouraging sign for Democrats and the Obama administration.
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Related StoriesThe crowd was huge by any count – likely at least a couple hundred thousand people judging by aerial photos and the reported comments of some police officers – stretching from the Lincoln Memorial back to the Washington Monument.

And far from being a gathering of self-proclaimed rabble rousers carrying offensive signs insulting of President Obama, as has often been the case with “tea party” rallies spurred on by Mr. Beck, it was mostly a heartfelt and largely nonpartisan expression of civic concern, patriotism, and religious faith.

In other words, there may have been some Democrats in the crowd, but even they are likely not happy with the direction the country’s taking, according to recent polls – including the policies and programs pushed by the majority party in Congress and the White House.

The irony regarding Beck – a brilliant communicator whose talents earned him $32 million last year – is that much of what he told the crowd flies in the face of what he espouses in his Fox News broadcasts.
Beck's rhetoric more mellow

“We must get the poison of hatred out of us,” he told the crowd. “We must look to God and look to love. We must defend those we disagree with.”

This from a man who has called Obama “a racist” and likened Al Gore’s campaign against global climate change to “what Hitler did” in having scientists use eugenics to justify the Holocaust.

Which drives Beck’s critics nuts.

“You can’t profit from fear and division all week and then denounce them one Saturday on the National Mall in Washington and hope nobody notices,” complains John Avlon on the Daily Beast website.

Beck “knows how to manipulate an audience’s emotions,” writes Avlon, author of “Wingnuts: How the Lunatic Fringe is Hijacking America.” “He uses conflict, tension, fear and resentment to keep their attention day after day, buying his books, attending his rallies.”

But none of that was on display Saturday, when Beck sounded more like an evangelical preacher than a flame-throwing political provocateur. “Today we are going to concentrate on the good things in America, the things that we have accomplished – and the things that we can do tomorrow,” he said.
Voters increasingly unhappy with Democrat-run government

Meanwhile Americans of the type that gathered by the thousands to hear Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin (and other conservative speakers) are increasingly unhappy with their Democrat-run government.

A Rasmussen Reports survey this past week showed “voters now trust Republicans more than Democrats on all 10 of the important issues” – including the economy and taxes, national security, war in Iraq and Afghanistan, immigration, government ethics and corruption, health care, Social Security, and education.

An Ipsos poll (also last week) shows 62 percent of those surveyed “think that things in this country are on the wrong track” with more people (52 percent) disapproving of the way Obama is doing his job than indicating approval (45 percent).

A new Newsweek poll shows independent voters – many at the Saturday rally would characterize themselves this way – moving toward the GOP. “Forty-five percent of independents say they’ll vote for Republican candidates, compared with just 33 percent for Democrats,” reports Newsweek.
GOP should be nervous too

At the same time Republicans have to be nervous about the antiestablishment political ground swell, and some recent primary elections have given both parties pause. Establishment GOP candidates have been knocked off by tea party favorites Rand Paul in Kentucky, Sharron Angle in Nevada, and perhaps Joe Miller if he hangs onto his lead in Alaska.

“But to be more than a political movement that is tugging the Republican Party ever farther to the right, the tea party must show in November that its candidates are electable,” writes political analyst Rhodes Cook in the Wall Street Journal. “If not, the movement could lose much of the luster and attention that it has gained over the past year.

Source: http://ibrabiga.blogspot.com/2010/08/glenn-beck-rally-warning-to-obama-and.html

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GO TO JAIL FOR TELLING THE TRUTH

Go to jail for telling the truth.

The Bush government violated everything this country supposedly stood for. We all knew much of what they were doing, but we didn't have hard evidence. Like most criminals, the Bush government tried to keep their worst criminal acts secret. And they tried to keep the criminal acts of others secret. But the truth kept leaking out. Their crimes were so gross that they couldn't stay secret. Some of them--like attacking Iraq and the concentration camp at Guantanamo Bay--weren't secret at all; they were arrogant acts of illegal, unconstitutional, immoral violence. They tried to keep their world-wide kidnapping and torture program secret, but we found out. about it.

Now, thanks to a young man named Bradley Manning, we know a lot more. Thanks to Bradley Manning's patriotism and his heroism, we have a great deal of evidence. It is in the public domain.

Knowing what he knew--having the evidence that he possed--Private First Class Bradley Manning had two choices. He could keep his mouth shut, and join all the others involved in the cover-up. Had he done so, he would have committed a crime underArticke 78 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. In both civilian and military jurisdictions, this crime is called "accessory after the fact." His other choice was to make known what he had discovered.

Remarkably, Bradley Manning is now being held in prison, in solitary confinement, for obeying the law. By whom? Not by the Bush administration, but by the Obama administration.

Why is President Obama holding Bradley Manning? Because he told the truth? Because he made public the evidence for some of our crimes of violence? Of murder, of torture?

Now you and I have two choices. We can demand Bradley Manning's release from prison. Or we can keep quiet, and ourselves become guilty of being accessories after the fact. We can join the conspirators, and by our cowardice become criminals.

At present you and I can't be charged with crimes for supporting Bradley Manning and demanding his release. But if we keep quiet we might as well be living under such a threat--and maybe soon we will be. "Keep quiet," the tyrant says.

Unless President Obama wants to be the same kind of criminal join George Bush and his cronies were and are, he must release Bradley Manning immediately. The rule of law demands it. And without the rule of law, we are indeed what many in the world accuse us of being: a rogue state.

Bert Hornback

Source: http://hornbacksitsayshere.blogspot.com/2010/08/go-to-jail-for-telling-truth.html

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Turkey bombs PKK hideouts in Iraq

The Turkish Air Force has attacked northern Iraq, bombarding the positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) including their main mountainous hideout.

On Thursday and Friday, Turkish warplanes pounded Mount Qandil, from which the militants launch their operations against Turkey, as well as the Hakurk area, the military said in a statement, the Associated Press reported.

The statement did not mention the casualties.

Article

Source: http://countdowntoextinction2010.blogspot.com/2010/08/turkey-bombs-pkk-hideouts-in-iraq.html

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U.S. infantry probed in Iraqi contributor deathConflict in Iraq

BAGHDAD - U.S. infantry non-stop firea car in horse opera Baghdad, murdering an Iraqi publisher and her husband, a infantry central pronounced Thursday.

Morgue officials reliable the deaths and pronounced the bodies of Aseel al-Obeidi and her father were riddled with bullets in Wednesdays sharpened in the Tobchi neighborhood.

Al-Obeidi worked for Dijla television, an eccentric Baghdad hire that not long ago sealed given of monetary problems.

Story continues next ↓advertisement your ad here

The U.S. infantry pronounced it was questioning the murdering of dual Iraqis during a corner unit by American and Iraqi infantry in horse opera BaghdadWednesday, but it did not give any sum or endorse if that was the same sharpened that concerned the publisher and her husband.

The Iraqi infantry central spokecondition of anonymity given he was not certified to speak to journalists.

The Iraqi journalists" kinship laid open the killings and blamed U.S. troops. It demanded infantry examine and ventilate the resources of the shooting.

Click for associated contentIraqs politics: An bomb chess gameEarly results: Tight choosing in Iraq

U.S. killings of Iraqi civilians have often been a peep point in relations, but such incidents have ebbed as American infantry pretence a reduce form as piece of the Obama administrations withdrawal plans.

According to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, at slightest 140 reporters have been killed in Iraq given the U.S.-led advance in Mar 2003. That figure does not embody Wednesdays death.

Source: http://asthmafirstaid.blogspot.com/2010/08/us-infantry-probed-in-iraqi-contributor.html

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Lotus Evora 414: money, money, money ...

Develop, not develop? Produce, produce it? An early industrial future for the Lotus Evora 414, proposed hybrid discovered in March at the Geneva Motor Show, is for the time in brackets. The Hethel firm is seeking funds to accelerate development of its model. The money, the sinews of war do not they say ... but also nerve for further work in research and development.

The development and production of two new hybrid prototypes are hung on the goodwill of the Technology Strategy Board. Lotus them submitted a funding request still under consideration.The British government, which oversees the department, must provide an answer in the coming weeks.

Issue? A loan of 23 million pounds is approximately 28 million euros. When refusing an embodiment of the Lotus Evora 414 would not be illusory. But strongly questioned. To follow the response of the Technology Strategy Board.

Source: http://bestnewtech.blogspot.com/2010/08/lotus-evora-414-money-money-money.html

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Prices Review: Blazing Souls: Accelate

Blazing Souls: Accelate .

Blazing Souls: Accelate

Actions such as Chain, Charge, Hold, Original Skill, Chain Skill, Special Chain Skill, Break, Break Arts and Overkill are available during the battle

Position your forces on the battlefield and wait for the right moment to string together massive combo attacks using multiple party members – both in melee and at range

Blazing Souls gives the player plenty of fun elements like creating over 200 different items and skills! Players are given the ability to capture monsters and have them placed within the party

Players can choose in any order the way they proceed through game play. Search for towns and dungeons at the guild, explore uncovered areas, battle encountered enemies or watch animated events

Players now the battle map and adventure map are one and the same. What you do before battle affects the terrain, and vice-versa

It has been years since a war called the Seven Year War ended and peace finally arrived in the land. The story begins with Zero the protagonist making his living as an independent contractor. One day he is investigating a certain site. It is there that he finds a mysterious stone infused with a powerful magic known as the Core Elemental. As he takes on more and more jobs to investigate other locations, he discovers more and more Core Elemental stones. On his travels, he begins to encounter the Human Genomes – new creatures created by God to replace mankind. One thirsts for power, one desires only for the eradication of mankind and one hopes to retrieve what he has lost. To get what they desire, each one appears before our protagonist. Through his battles against the Human Genomes, our protagonist begins to learn the truth about the secret of his birth, and before long finds himself at the very place where he was born. Finally, he will learn the truth of his existence.

Rating: (out of reviews)

List Price: $ 39.99

Price: $ 39.99

Popularity: unranked

3dtvs
accessory
acrobat
adapter
adapters
affiliates
ago
aircraft
airports
ale

cooking
coolpix
cordless
cow
cybershot
ded
desktops
details
dictionaries
diets
digitalcamera

fireplaces
flashdrive
flashplayer
foot
fsb
fsk
gamestore
gardening
garminnuvi
gel

Source: http://yanivl.blogspot.com/2010/08/prices-review-blazing-souls-accelate.html

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Designing Characters - the Square Enix Way...

Although posted a few years back, I was recalling some of the nuances of developing art in Asia. While Japanese companies like Square Enix have this method down pat, other regional countries tend to emulated the styles (if not preferences) in their art as well.

The original article is posted HERE (warning: wear a flame retardant suit if you wish to post there. Obviously the humor was lost on many of those who replied).

Beyond the chuckle (truth) factor for those of use tasked with design art in Asia, the reality is that one must understand the target audience to make games that are readily accepted beyond the country from which you are making it. This applies not only to art, but game design as well.

Source: http://snacko.blogspot.com/2010/08/designing-characters-square-enix-way.html

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IT News HeadLines (HardOCP) 30/08/2010

Post under HardOCP, IT News

PC Industry's Woes Could Mean Bargains This Fall
Have you ever asked yourself the question; should I buy now or wait and see if the price goes down? Of course you have and now it looks like the time to wait is here. Prices are predicted to fall in the fall Barclays Capital analyst Ben Reitzes said another factor could cause PC makers to cut prices: In the past few months, the prices for parts such as hard disk drives and memory have fallen - to their lowest levels of the year in August. That gives PC makers the freedom to lower prices while maintaining profit margins. Comments
Read More ...

Pentagon Chooses Two Companies to Build Flying Humvee
Well, here's to the future. The Pentagon has approved the further development of a flying, armed, armored Humvee. Here's the topperÂ…..Codename: Transformer. Maybe we will be in for a larger surprise than we expect. The two companies are still a ways away from building flying Humvees; the first stage of the DARPA project is merely working on conceptual designs. The total funding available for Transformer is about $40 million. Officials from both companies declined to comment on the record about the negotiations, and DARPA did not respond to request to comment. Comments
Read More ...

No solution for BlackBerry in India
With only 3 days to go on the upcoming deadline of August 31st, it appears that both sides are at an impasse on negotiating the strong data encryption demands "These concerns have been addressed in other parts of the world, I see no reason why the Indian government and agencies should take any risk at all as far technology is concerned," Sachin Pilot, minister of state for communications and information technology, told reporters in New Delhi. Comments
Read More ...

Boeing Moves Forward With Commercial Space Capsule
Boeing is developing a reusable spacecraft to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station and future private ventures, replacing the retiring fleet of Space Shuttles. As one of the leading suppliers of human space systems and services, Boeing already has a strong heritage in the industry. "It was an enormous advantage," Reiley told SPACE.com. "A lot of the equipment we're looking at has ISS heritage. About half of our team were designers that came from ISS and had experience with the flight hardware. The other half were space shuttle designers." Comments
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USA Today to Digitally Remake Itself
Citing plunging circulation and loss of advertising revenue, USA Today will restructure its operation to focus on digital news operations. The paper's focus will now be on its digital operations. It will emphasize breaking news on its Web site, aiming to post articles within 30 minutes of a breaking news event. Comments
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Google Squashes Gmail Bug
You may not have noticed, but there was a bug in Gmail for about 3% of its users. The glitch allowed Gmail to resend messages multiple times. A little over two hours after the initial bug-warning post on the Google App Status Dashboard, Google reported that Gmail service had been restored for some users. By 10:27 p.m. (U.S. Pacific), the problem was fully resolved.. Comments
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Dark Matter Detector Poised for Shuttle Launch Next February
Scientists working out of the CERN Labs in Switzerland have transported the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to NASA for preparation for space flight. The detector will aid the scientists in locating two elusive types of matter. When the space shuttle program's final flight launches next February, it will carry on board the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a device designed to scan space. Using the AMS as it's parked in orbit, scientists hope to find evidence regarding two types of mysterious matter about which they've hypothesized for years: dark matter and antimatter. Comments
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Commodore USA to Revive Commodore 64
A trip back in time is about to happen and the time machine is a Commodore 64. For those of us old enough to remember the original, this will look and feel like the real deal. The device will feature an exact replica of the original beige Commodore C64 chassis, but under the bonnet it will house more modern specifications that include a dual-core Intel Atom 525 CPU with Nvidia Ion2 graphics, 4GB DDR3 memory, 1TB hard drive and a CD/DVD drive. A Blu-ray drive is available as an optional extra. Comments
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Lenovo To Launch Chinese Gaming Platform Called Ebox
Lenovo will be manufacturing a new gaming console for the Chinese market. It is expected to debut in about 3 months and widely available on the Chinese market 1Q 2011. So far no images or video of the new platform have been provided. The Ebox will be targeting casual gamers rather than hardcore players, with particular emphasis on the so-called urban families which account for 120 million households in China Comments
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Research Experiment Disrupts Internet
If your internet connection was a little wonky yesterday, you can blame it on an experiment run by Duke University and RIPE NCC in Europe. It only lasted about half an hour, but shows the vulnerability and fragile nature of the internet as a whole. "Over 3,500 prefixes (announced blocks of IP addresses) became unstable at the exact moment this 'experiment' started," wrote Earl Zmijewski, a general manager with Internet security firm Renesys. "Not surprisingly, they were located all over the world: 832 in the US, 336 in Russia, 277 in Argentina, 256 in Romania and so forth. We saw over 60 countries impacted." Comments
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AMD's Upcoming Bobcat Mobile Architecture
AMD will launch a new series of products based on its new mobile technology, codenamed Bobcat, joining Intel in the two separate architecture family With the launch of products based on its new mobile architecture, codenamed Bobcat, AMD will finally join Intel in having two separate architectural families: one for servers and desktops, and another ultra-low-power design for mobiles. Bobcat, then, is AMD's answer to Intel's Atom, but instead of targeting where Atom is now, the company has chosen to target where Atom is likely to be in the not-so-distant future. Comments
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Steve Jobs Reintroducing Apple Computers
This is your shot at seeing Steve Jobs in his heyday rallying support and introducing the concept of the "Think Different" ad campaign back in 1997. You can see by the attire of shorts and sandals, Jobs is getting his point over to his audience. Be sure to check out the actual commercial at the end of the video. Times have really changed. Comments
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Best Buy Expands Game Trade-in Program to Stores
Best Buy is following the lead of Target Corp by expanding the trade-in program to include video games exchange for store credit. Best Buy plans to roll out the trade-in program to the rest of its 1,089 stores by October. The company also said it will start selling used video games in its stores soon, but it provided no specifics. Comments
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Video Game Addict's Lawsuit Moves Forward
The lawsuit against NCSoft, makers of the video game Lineage II, is moving forward in Hawaii despite petitions to dismiss the case entirely on grounds of lack of subject matter jurisdiction. At least they get credit for creative use of legalese. "People with compulsive-addictive personalities can get addicted to all kinds of substances and/or activities," she told the E-Commerce Times. "Anything that triggers the pleasure centers in the brain can become an addiction to someone with addictive tendencies." Comments
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Source: http://it-code-news.blogspot.com/2010/08/it-news-headlines-hardocp-30082010.html

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Obama says he's on track to end Iraq war

US president affirms troops' return home from Iraq. During an address to the Disabled Veterans Convention in Georgia, USA President Obama reiterated plans to withdraw all of the remaining 15,000 combat troops from Iraq by August 31. This brings the total reduction of troops to 94,000 who have come home since the President assumed office in January 2009. The remaining 50,000 non-combat personnel will serve in training and advisory roles only until the end of 2011. President Obama stated, "Make no mistake: Our commitment in Iraq is changing - from a military effort led by our troops to a civilian effort led by our diplomats." The president also pledged to improve health care for veterans of both Iraq and Afghanistan, especially benefits for the disabled.

Our respectful appreciation, Your Excellency and United States, for your continued advancements toward peace. Wishing the returning soldiers a swift journey home to eagerly awaiting loved ones as we pray for lasting harmony among the people of Iraq, Afghanistan and the world.

Source: http://bejiitaswrath.blogspot.com/2010/08/obama-says-hes-on-track-to-end-iraq-war.html

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1st Nationwide Cyberzone Cosplay Tour Championship - 2010

Championship Highlights at the 1st Nationwide Cyberzone Cosplay Tour at SM megamall last August 28, 2010.

Alodia Gosiengfiao as Amanda Werner on anime Blassreiter aired on Animax Asia.
Cropped image of Alodia from Richie Dela Merced.

Grand Winner Optimus Prime - Lexter Jaudlian of SM Cagayan de Oro, SM Davao Live telecast via Flippish.com

2nd place - Jetfire Prime of SM Megamall - Pablo Bairan

3rd place - Spawn Mandarin of SM Fairview - Guy Singson

Alodia Gosiengfiao on judge seats via live telecast on Flippish.com

War Machine

Tarantula Man of SM Tarlac - Carlo Dizon

Poseidon of SM Manila - Christian Teofisto

Jungle Fury Red Ranger Striek Rider of SM Marikina - Zire Salazar

Cain Nightroad of SM Clark - Sean Garcia

Andi Manzano of Magic 89.9 as the Cyberzone Cosplay Host

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Alodia Gosiengfiao with the Collab Crew dance in the tune of 4 minute - Hot Issue
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Alodia and the Collab Crew

Group Heart Shape Pose

Andi9 with male Costrippers

Alodia9 and Andi9 with the female costrippers

reference:
many thanks to Jarren Repedro's & Jnthn Rmrz

Source: http://weareanime-cosplay.blogspot.com/2010/08/1st-nationwide-cyberzone-cosplay-tour.html

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Saturday, August 28, 2010

Is it the Ring?

Today has been an awesome day full of good fun stuff! I went to Chip's Sunday school class and it was awesome. I love the way he teaches. Kyle asked me if I was 30! lol That's supposed to be the 30's class, but it's all good they like me there and to be honest I'm not that far from 30 anymore. Its weird tho, I'm not sad about that anymore, however I am hopping that by that time I'm already married, so will be even more fun to have someone to share my getting old with. lol

We talked about death and it was really interesting to hear what people had to say about the subject. For me, I used to be afraid of dying! I used to be terrified of dying... I remember when I used to date this girl in H.S. she would start talking about how she wanted her funeral to be and stuff, well I mean that's kind of morbid as is, but I remember being so afraid to even talk about that. I would start listening to her talk and after a few mins I would ask her to be quiet and talk about something else. Fast forward 10 years later, I mean to today lol, and I can honestly say that I am not afraid of dying anymore. Why? Well, that is simple to answer. I know where I'm going and I know that I will not be missing anything from this life! I will be in the presence of my precious Savior and my Father, and really there is no words to describe how I feel every time I think about it, because I know that to be true!... The only reason why I would say I'm not ready to die, would be that I'm not sure most of my family members will be in the same place. But what am I doing about it? Well, to tell you the truth, I haven't done much till now. Today I'm writing a letter to my mom and my aunt and my sister, explaining them where I am in life and the hope that I have in Christ. I will tell them how I want them to have the same hope and joy for life. All this was part of the Sunday school lesson. Chip talked about Crazy Love for a little bit and about one of the stories in the book, where this guy was talking about Jesus in a funeral and the next thing you know he is dead. Francis Chan said it best: "can you imagine what it was like? He was introducing people to Christ one minute and then next Christ was introducing him to His Father!" WoW! Do you ever think what you're going to be doing when you die? I hadn't really thought about that! I want to die while I'm doing God's work, not while I'm sining! That would be awful! What am I going to say to Christ when I meet Him face to face knowing that one second before that I was breaking one of His commandments? It would really suck!

The sermon was awesome! I wish tiny hands had been there, well because of the title not that I think she needed to hear that or.... well I think I'm digging a hole here, I better crawl out of it. lol So the sermon was titled: Spiritual Angioplasty. Dr. Dortch asked a few questions that I think have a lot of weight:

---What spiritual blockages do I have?
---What is keeping me from experiencing the real power of God?

The point was that I need to align my heart with the heart of God, no matter what the cost is. This is really hard to do, especially when you think about losing stuff that make you comfortable or letting go of someone who means so much to you. But the truth is that Gos will not allow anyone or anything to stand in the way of what He purposes to do... I am powerless before Him, so there is no reason to try and fight His purpose.

Then he gave 3 points to make sure that my heart aligns with God's heart.
1.-Tell yourself the truth about what is holding you back in your relationship with God.
2.- Center God's purposes on my life. Don't be distracted by everyday life!
3.-Keep my commitments I make to God and to others in the name of the Lord.

So I have a bunch of notes on this sermon, but I put here the one's that got me the most.

Soccer Game!!!
Last night my friend Public Brent called and invited me to a volleyball game. I had to work and had so much to read that I had to say no, so he invited me today to the FSU soccer game at 2pm. I told him it would be fun and I would go. Well, today after church I went to lunch with Adam, Kyle and Megan to the Pitaria. It was sooo good! I forgot how much I like that place! After lunch Kyle asked what I was doing so I told him I about the game and after I told him it was at 2, he was like : "oh, that's nap time for me!" lol So I started driving home to maybe change into some shorts and a tshirt, but then I knew that as soon as I got here, I wouldn't want to leave anymore. I was really ok with that, sadly I have to admit that at one point I was thinking to myself: "I really don't want to hangout with Brent and his friends." How awful is that? Who Am I? It really hurts me to know how selfish I can be even after knowing how much God has done for me! So I made a U-turn on Jefferson and started heading back towards the stadium, but then I realized that I was wearing a long sleeve shirt that TH got me for Christmas, so I went to Bill's and got me a nice FSU shirt. I don't think I had one till now. I got my new shirt changed in the car and drove to the soccer field. There Brent introduced me to his friends and thanks to him I got to meet a few of the softball girls. I guess Brent told them that I would be going with him to watch their games.

At the game I sat on a pony wall behind the bleachers and watched the match, but I also was watching Brent interact with his friends. That got me thinking that most people I know at church and yes that includes myself, don't really know Brent that well... I mean he was there with his neighbor who has to be about 20 years older than him and they were having a really good conversation. This guy and his girlfriend seemed like really nice people. He also knew the softball girls and they enjoyed talking to him it wasn't like they couldn't find a way to get away from him or something. I realized that most people I know at church when we talk to him, we laugh at what he says and sometimes don't think very highly of him, but this people enjoy being with him! Not only them, but there were about 5 more men and women who showed up late and they were going to say hi to him and they were having a great time hanging out with Brent! That really pisses me off!!! Not because they treat him well, but because it got me wondering how many times do his friends who might or might not be Christians, treat him better than his "Christian" brothers and sister?

Then that just takes me back to what another friend from FBC was telling me about how she feels out of place sometimes! Really? What the heck are we doing at church? What Am I doing to make this people feel welcome and loved? I am seriously not doing enough! I don't believe I am and that changes today! It is my responsibility to show my brothers and sisters in Christ more love than what they get from people who don't know Christ!

It must be the ring...
Or is it the bald head? haha, so I've hear before how married men attract more women. I hope that is not true! No ONE should be attracted to someone who is already married to someone else! There is a whole new blog in the subject, so I'm not even gonna start with that, but since I have been wearing my ring, I have noticed that more ladies notice me. lol Well, today it was funny because It was a Sheriff deputy who was trying to get my attention. haha, I was driving to the Kia dealership, after Brent told me to go there apparently he is also "Kia Brent" lol. So when I got to Appleyard I had to stop at the red light and in the blue mustang next to me was a really good looking girl who was wearing the SD uniform. I looked over and back at the road then I move a little up. Then I noticed that she moved up too, so I looked over again and she had this huge smile, from ear to ear! lol So she waved and I did something I always wanted to do! I waved back and then pointed out to her that I was wearing a ring. hahaha, I felt like I was in one of those Chevy Chase movies when the hot chick in the red Ferrari drives up to him. hahaha, So the officer just moved her head as to say she was a little disappointed and waved again as she was driving off. hahaha, it was awesome... for some reason. lol Oh well, maybe it would have ended different if I was available, but even tho I'm single I will not be available to date for quite a while. Then I started thinking about all the benefits I would get by dating a cop, no more tickets!!! hahaha

Other things I've done?
Well, last night I finished "to own a dragon" it was amazing and I will keep going back to it on a regular basis. Like I said before, I can't thank TH enough for getting me that book! Then I went to look for "After the Affair: Healing the Pain and Rebuilding Trust When a Partner Has Been Unfaithful" by Janis Spring, but Borders didn't have it, so I ended up buying another book: "Be a man! Becoming the Man God created you to be" by FR. Larry Richards. I will just order the other book online and read this one while I get it... The love dare keeps getting better and better everyday! I really am learning so much from it.... I'm trying to think of other stuff that happened today... Oh, yeah I was walking in to church this morning and there were a few college students standing out side around this welcome table for the college ministry. I walked around them and one of the guys was like: Hey what's going on Eddie!?.. I looked back and said hi too, but I have no idea who that guy was! haha, I felt bad about it, but good that people know who I am... I hope he knows my mane for a good reason! lol

Kia Soul!
I love.... LOVE, that car! I left the soccer game at half time, FSU was beating Stetson 3-0 so I didn't expect it to get any better. I drove over to the Kia dealership to see if they were open and they were, so I told the salesman about my situation and how I need to find something around 13 or maybe not more than 15K so he showed me the Soul. He gave me a detailed explanation on all the features and stuff. That guy really knows his cars! I was really impressed by all the options and safety features of the standard model. I think the price is around 14K. I looked at just the basic model, no extra features, but this car had cd player with mp3 and usb imputs. It has power lock and power windows. The one I liked was black with black interior, the gas millage is great around the 25/31 or something like it. Then it has a lot of storage space in the back, enough for all my tools! I would just have to spend some extra money on a roof rack so I can strap my ladder, but I don't think that would be a big issue. I'm really thinking about getting that car! I mean, I been very convicted lately about how I spend my money and I was thinking that God didn't like that I had a 20K loan and payments of 435 a month, so that has to be the reason He took my truck away. I really appreciate that by the way! So I really don't need anything fancy. Just enough room for my tools and ladder, low payments and then I can use more money for the Kingdom. I like that! I know that I want something bigger for selfish reasons, but I really don't need it.... We'll see what happens. My dad is supposed to be talking to some guy in Houston who sells cars, but he hasn't called me back. Just keep praying for me to have faith in God while all this is happening. I mean no matter how strong my faith is, there are times when I can't help but let my human nature take over and I start worrying and freaking out about it. I also do the same with the personal problems I been having lately, so I guess pray for that too!

Ok! I have to do some reading and then head over to E3 for evening praise and worship. Then I have to read for my History class before I go to bed. Dang it! I forgot about that! Oh, well.....

Source: http://outoftheroundtable.blogspot.com/2010/08/is-it-ring.html

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Beach Trip 2010

I promised pictures of our trip, so here you go! A full scrapbook's worth of them :)! We had so much fun! The Cookes even got to join us for the beginning of the week!

Can you figure this out?

Our living room

Every morning, we had a HUGE breakfast!

One day, when I was swimming, I found this tangled in my hair! Yikes!!!!!

Baby sea turtles were hatching near us....They were soooo tiny! This one was still buried for two days after all of the others had hatched and swam out. His little flipper was bent because of a ghost crab that had pinched it while it was buried. The Sea Turtle patrol told us that he wouldn't have made it in the wild, so he took him to the Aquarium to do "Sea Turtle Rehab". :D

This is a neat story! There was a little pelican that got all tangled up in a fishing line (Like me :) but he couldn't get loose, so he was out on the ocean for two days! After a while, all of his pelican buddies came out and floated with him for a while. I thought that was so sweet!!!!!

We named the pelican Pete.