Keep Clean. Go Green!!

Populer Superstitions

Call them funny or call them weird, these popular superstitions or old wives' tales are still heeded and can make the most logical person behave in the most illogical ways!

These colourful beliefs just refuse to die and have been passed down from generation to generation.

Broken mirror Long long ago when there were no mirrors, people looked at their reflections in water. One's reflection was considered to be like one's soul and as such if the reflection appeared contorted then the soul was considered broken. Even after the advent of mirrors the practice continues. A broken mirror distorts your reflection and is thus considered inauspicious.

Black cat crossing your path One of the most popular and oldest beliefs, this one is attributed to various sources. One version goes that black cats forebode doom; another goes that black cats are demons in disguise; and yet another goes that they were once pets of witches that turned into witches and hence they are witches in disguise. Contrary to worldwide beliefs about the black cat, the Japanese consider a black cat lucky. So the next time you see a black cat you decide whether you want turn back or walk ahead.

Walking under a slanting ladder This age-old belief is believed to have originated from those days when convicts were hung from the seventh rung of ladders. The belief those days was that if one walked under such a ladder, there was every likelihood of coming into contact with the ghost of the man who was hung.

13 and Friday the 13th The number 13 has always been and is still considered to be sinister by many. For some, going to office or carrying out any auspicious task is out of the question on the 13th day of a month. Many others consider only Friday the 13th to be inauspicious. Friday the 13th's bad reputation goes back to the days when under pressure from King Philip IV of France, Pope Clement V had ordered his men to capture and burn all the Templar knights, a brigade of powerful crusaders who the king felt were a threat to him.

What do people buy most in online

With the advent of the World Wide Web, the face of how people function with the various facilities, products and services made available to them has changed drastically. Everything under the sun is available online and to lay your hands on it is just a single click of the mouse away. These transactions take place on a global platform and the usage of the internet is extremely economical than to physically travel around and shop for things you need to search vividly for. All you need is a credit card number or an online payment account and you are good to go. Time is precious to all and that is exactly what is conserved to great extents with the advantage of having to shop from home within a few minutes.

When it comes to computer software it is extremely profitable to buy online because they can be purchased at lower rates owing to the absence of costs incurred on packaging and shipping. All you have to do is buy the software from the websites and install it in your computers. Although in order to avoid piracy they do have some special regulatory precautions in place. When it comes to booking travel packages or holidays, doing so online is very economical since you gain access to virtual tours and a detailed list of multiple flights of different companies in a single website where you can easily compare the rates and save a lot of money on cheaper flights. Travel and tourism industry is booming thanks to the increase in the internet savvy individuals.

When it comes to fashion accessories there is a certain freedom to shop at your leisure from home rather than stand for hours in the departmental stores spending a lot of time on finalizing the product. Besides there are no dearth for the designer clothes, shoes, handbags, sunglasses, watches, jewelry available online. Moreover, for all those who do not want to spend a fortune on the big designer brands they can easily opt for exact look-alike designer replicas that are available in plenty on the internet. Thus all these factors make these products extremely popular with a lot of people shopping online around the world.

Beetroot juice for your stamina

Drinking beetroot juice boosts your stamina, concludes a new study, which adds that the magical drink can help you exercise for up to 16 percent longer.

A study reveals that drinking beetroot juice reduces oxygen uptake to an extent that cannot be achieved by any other known means, including training.

The research team conducted their study with eight men aged between 19 and 38. They were given 500ml per day of organic beetroot juice for six consecutive days before completing a series of tests, involving cycling on an exercise bike. On another occasion, they were given a placebo of blackcurrant cordial for six consecutive days before completing the same cycling tests.

After drinking beetroot juice the group was able to cycle for an average of 11.25 minutes, which is 92 seconds longer than when they were given the placebo. This would translate into an approximate 2 percent reduction in the time taken to cover a set distance. The group that had consumed the beetroot juice also had lower resting blood pressure.

The research has been published in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Somniloquy

Somniloquy is a sleeping disorder related with the talking aloud in one’s sleep, sleep talking. Somniloquy occurs at an unconscious level when the person doing so is not aware of the fact that he is doing it. Somniloquy or sleep-talking is a parasomnia which can be quite loud, ranging from simple sounds to long speeches, and can take place many times during sleep. A listener may or may not be capable to understand what the person is saying.

Sleep talking causes are not completely known. Many times, the cause of this sleep talking can not be associated with any identifiable underlying problem or disease.

Sleep talking may be associated with sleep-related disorders, such as:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Sleep walking

Sleep-related epilepsy

REM (Rapid Eye Movement) behavior disorder (an unusual disorder in which individuals tend to act out their dreams while asleep)

Sleep apnea

Nighttime sleep eating syndrome

Justice??

Save the Trees

The modern tower of Pisa

We know about the architectural mistake of the famous leaning tower of pisa. But here is the modern architectural wonder - the modern leaning tower in Abu Dhabi.

It’s a perfect metaphor for the teetering global real-estate market: Capital Gate, the glassy tower at the center of Abu Dhabi’s $2.2 billion Capital Centre development, has just been submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records as the “world’s most inclined building,” according to the press release. Or more precisely — by about 14.1 degrees.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, which leans 3.9 degrees, was an engineering mistake – a 185-foot-tall, 16,000-ton tower that was rather stupidly placed on a 10-foot-thick foundation, with nothing but soft sand and clay beneath. Even before the third story of the tower was built, the structure had begun to tilt. It wasn’t settling properly on the unstable sand. Attempts to compensate for the tower’s slant by making walls on one side of the building taller than the other, didn’t work out. It wasn’t until the 20th century that soil beneath the tower was shifted around to level out the structure just a bit.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa looks like an elderly person who’s likely to break a hip. Capital Gate, on the other hand, looks like a sexy lady swaying her hips. It leans westward about 18 degrees. And it twists ever so slightly, an engineering feat that guarantees the building will look different from all angles, the Capital Gate’s Web site boasts. Its intentional lean is supported by a slanting core that actually pulls in the opposite direction that the building appears to tilt. In addition, the gravitational pull is offset by a reinforced steel foundation that extends 98 feet down into the ground.

Sounds pretty secure to me!

Refresh your ward robe

When was the last time you looked into your closet and thought — or said aloud as some of us do — “I have nothing to wear!” Last week? Yesterday? Just this morning? It always seems to happen when you have to be at work in 15 minutes or when someone (a friend, date or mate) is waiting for you to get ready to go out. And it’s not that your closet is empty, exactly — there definitely are clothes in there. But it could be that you’ve made some unfortunate purchases or you haven’t had the time or the money to make any recent changes or additions. So what’s a busy, broke, style-challenged gal (or guy — yes, I think the fellas could try this, too) to do? Throw a party. Say what? Yes, a party.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know — right now, you’re thinking, “Wait, where’s the money-saving style tip? Parties cost money and how’s a party going to revitalize my stale wardrobe?” Well, this isn’t just any party — it’s a sort of potluck-clothing swap hybrid. If you want to be fancy, you can call it a food and fashion fete.

Here’s what you do. First, call two or three of your closest female friends and fill them in on the concept. Even if they’re not in dire need of a fashion infusion, I’m pretty sure they’ll be in because who doesn’t like a party. Next, decide on your venue. Among my set, usually the person with the biggest entertaining space at home wins. As you’re compiling the list (a good number is anywhere from 10 to 25), be sure to include some acquaintances whose style you really admire.

After the invites go out, it’s all pretty much like planning any other party. Have one room set up with refreshments and have another room set up to serve as the swap center, where you can display everything. If you have a portable hanging clothes rack or two, set those up so that clothes can be displayed store-style. An empty bookcase can be used to display shoes and a coat rack works for scarves and bags. A nearby study or bathroom can serve as a fitting room. And if you have a freestanding, full-length mirror, set that up in the room, too.

If the group is small (fewer than 10 or so people), then the swap can be fairly informal — everyone just takes a turn picking out an item until everything has a new home. If you have a larger group (up to 20 or so), you might want to draw numbers and then take turns selecting items. Once you make it all the way through one round, go in the opposite order for the second round so people who had last pick the first time have an early pick for the second round. The great thing about this concept is that it’s not just reserved to items from your closets. You can also do this with your kids’ clothes, kitchen gadgets or books. And it makes a fun fundraiser, too. Instead of simply swapping the items, you could auction them off, raising money for a local charity.

Webby Awards

There's one big difference between the Webby Awards and other ceremonies, like the Oscars, Emmys and Grammys: Virtually no one who wins a Webby thanks the academy.

In spite of that difference, the Webbys have a lot in common with other industry awards. In addition to their similar names, statuettes and ceremonies, the Webbys, the Oscars, the Emmys and the Grammys all rely on groups of professionals to select their winners. Plus, the awards are among the most prestigious that people can receive in each of their respective fields.

Let's start with some Webby history. The Webby Awards made their debut in 1996, long before the Internet was as prevalent as it is today. A magazine called The Web used donations to fund the awards, which recognized sites in 15 categories. Around 700 people attended the first Webby Awards ceremony, which was held at a San Francisco nightclub.

In 1998, The Web folded, and the newly formed International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences took over the Webby Awards. The Academy still exists today -- it's a voting body of Internet experts, business leaders and others. Its purpose is to recognize and encourage high-quality Internet content as well as to provide education and networking for technology professionals and the public.

Today, the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences has more than 750 members, and the 2010 awards involved more than 100 categories. The winners aren't just be Web sites you can browse on your computer. The Academy expanded its scope, and it now recognizes the sites you can visit and services you can use from mobile devices. It also bestows awards in interactive advertising and online film and video.

Weirdos

Of all the weirdos in the world i think this piece will take the cake for the day. I came across this news item when i was researching for back posts. You will understand when i tell you the story.

A husband strangled his wife for voting in the election in India. It happened when the wife voted for one of her relatives rahter than the person he asked her to vote in the on going sarpanch elections in north india. Of all the most weird reasons you get to kill. I suppose the worth of a life has so demeaned to a standard that you kill your own wife and get away with it. I just hope the young woman gets her justice.

Cock fighting cruelty

You may or may not have heard of the horrible "sport" called Cock Fighting. If you haven't, then here's what it is:

Cock fighting is a group "activity" in which people take their roosters and force them to fight each-other. People usually bet on what rooster will win. Usually it's fight-till-the-death.

This cruel act is against the law (as it should be) but (like pit bull fighting) is still happening everywhere. Animals every day are put in a small ring and bet on.

To help, if you see a cock fight or know about one, call the police as soon as possible.

Transport

For those waiting for news from space front..

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden regarding Friday's launch of Space Exploration Technologies' Falcon 9 rocket, said "Congratulations to Space X on today's launch of its Falcon 9 launch vehicle. Space X's accomplishment is an important milestone in the commercial transportation effort and puts the company a step closer to providing cargo services to the International Space Station (ISS).

Preparations are proceeding for the first NASA-sponsored test launch under the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) project. Later this year. COTS is a vital development and demonstration partnership to create a commercial space transportation system capable of providing cargo to the station.

Online Distractions

People who spend most of their time online often get distracted by the huge range of online activities and applications vying to attract attention.

Now, RescueTime, a company that creates time management and productivity software, has come up with a list of such online distractions.

When Google posted the classic game Pac-Man on its home page, it guzzled about 4.8 million hours of work time and $120 million in lost productivity, as calculated by RescueTime, reports ABCNews.com

Montana Low, RescueTime senior software developer, said that the calculations give a view into how people spend time online.

Looking at his company's data, he was able to determine the websites people tend to spend the most time on as well as the ones RescueTime software users said were the most distracting.

The list of the top 10 online distractions include:

1. Facebook 2. YouTube 3. Facebook Applications 4. Twitter 5. Amazon 6. Hulu 7. Netflix 8. Flickr 9. Blogger 10. Reddit

Funny Spam titles

The Top 10 Unintentionally Funny Spam Email Titles

Inspired by Pink Biz, here is a list of the 10 funniest spam email titles that I have received so far this week -

1. Don’t get mad, get Valium!

2. nuclear cheese helmet

3. Improve sperm flavour

4. Chicks dig larger poles. Get one today

5. Bomb her womb with your huge cannon

6. Join the Malware Affiliate Program

7. Women love big and thick ice cream

8. Gays Banned From Owning Pets In New York

9. Nuke Gay Whales For Jesus!

10. BREAKING NEWS: Home Office To Deport Anyone With Iq Below 100

Hopefully I don’t have to explain what sort of product or service most of those were trying to promote, though the last three on the list are rather intriguing

Planet has enough for everyones need

and not for everyones greed.

Enamoured by Elephants in circus

Cheers, laughter, and applause filled the big top tent at the Ringling Bros. Circus Saturday as children of all ages were captivated by the savage enslavement of Topsy the elephant.

Whether young or just young at heart, thrilled audience members watched with glee as a circus trainer forced the frightened Topsy to perform tricks by brutally poking and prodding the traumatized 4-year-old pachyderm.

The crowd reportedly let out loud gasps and vigorously clapped when Topsy stood up on his hind legs, an unnatural and excruciatingly painful movement that stresses and permanently damages the 8,000-pound elephant's joints.

Topsy also delighted the audience after the trainer repeatedly thrust a hooked rod into his skin, causing the miserable animal to lift one leg and his trunk to simulate waving.

"Aww…" said the assembled circus-goers, who were taken by the cuteness of the barbaric spectacle.

Topsy and the other elephant performers, who are separated from each other at all times, preventing the socialization that's so crucial to their well-being, received a standing ovation from the crowd when they marched into the center ring, nervously rocking back and forth.

Unaware that the elephant was terrified of the glaring stage lights, deafening crowd noise, and constant beatings, Phil Wingren, who brought his family to the circus, remarked that Topsy must relish being a star.

Eyewitnesses who spotted the trainer patting the side of Topsy's body during the final trick were convinced the elephant and the man were best friends, though in fact the look of reverie on Topsy's face was the result of his daydreaming about stomping and crushing the cruel asshole's head like an overripe melon.

Egyptian Pyramids Actually Early Attempt At Camping

Once shrouded in mystery, the pyramids of Giza are now believed to be the earliest known attempt at camping out, a team of archeologists reported Monday. "It appears that around 400 BC, the pharaohs of Egypt began packing up all of their earthly possessions for some recreational camping on the banks of the Nile," said Dr. Tarek Hilal of Alexandria University, noting that the pyramids' dense outer walls and sharply angled faces would have been perfect for keeping rain out. "Furthermore, it seems that the extensive hieroglyphics showing spirits embarking on a journey to the afterlife was their way of telling spooky ghost stories." Despite the remarkable discovery, Hilal and his team are still unsure why so many ancient Egyptians decided to remove their inner organs before getting inside their stone sleeping bags at night.

Shocking oil spill estimates

As much as 40,000-plus barrels of oil per day are pouring from BP's ruptured well in the Gulf of Mexico, a US official has said, more than doubling the previous government estimate.The lowest estimate that we're seeing that the scientists think is credible is probably about 20,000 barrels, and the highest that we're seeing is probably a little over 40,000.

The figures — which estimate the flow rate prior to BP cutting a busted riser pipe June 3 in order to attach a containment device — are more than double the previous estimate of 12,000 to 19,000 barrels per day.

In health related issues seventy-one people in Louisiana have suffered health problems that officials believe are linked to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Fifty of those who have reported symptoms including throat irritation, cough, shortness of breath, eye irritation, nausea, chest pain and headaches, worked on oil rigs or were part of the effort to clean up the spill.The most common symptom associated with the spill was headache, followed by nausea, cough and throat irritation.

On the clean up front BP Plc is to begin testing additional methods over the weekend to capture oil gushing out of a well in the Gulf of Mexico, as President Barack Obama travels to the region again next week to get a first-hand look at clean-up efforts.The second system will route the captured oil to a floating rig through hoses that were already installed for the failed “top-kill” operation, which was unable to plug the well.

Selling cheap-Shocker justice

Around 22,000 dead. More than 1,20,000 injured. Rs 1 lakh for each body. Rs 25,000 for every poisoned lung and damaged heart and blinded eyes. 26 years of long wait. And just 2 years in jail for the men who committed the worst crime against the people of this country.Thousands more are still waiting to be accepted as victims. People of Bhopal are still drinking toxic water poisoned by Union Carbide in December 1984. And the main culprit is living life kingsize in a mansion in New York.

If there is a failed state in the world, it’s India. It’s not Iraq. It’s not Somalia. It’s not Sudan. It’s India.

In all these three decades, the poor victims have done everything they could to get justice and compensation. They have cried and died on streets, sat hungry and faced police lathis on roads and filed court cases in the hope that one day they will get justice. And this!!. Justice- if we can it one.

Today, it was proved all over again that those who do politics in the name of poor in this country, always rule for the rich. The chairman of UC at the time of the gas attack (it was not an accident, the gas leak was caused because of cost-cutting steps taken by him) on the people of Bhopal, Anderson was arrested and later released on bail. He ran off to US in 1986 and we have not been able to find him or ask the US to extradite Anderson to India. Why?

*Why did Union Carbide not apply the same safety standards at its plant in India as it operated at a sister plant in West Virginia, US?

*On the night of the disaster, why did the six safety measures designed to prevent a gas leak fail to function?

*Why was the safety siren, intended to alert the people living close to the factory, turned off?

The people are entitled an answer for these questions.

Can an American come to India kill people in this country and run away with no consequences? That seems to be the case. We are still struggling to get a chance to question David Headley Coleman, an American citizen responsible for the worst terror attack on an Indian city in 2008. Will we succeed in getting Headley extradited to India?

Rs 1 lakh for every body. Rs 25,000 for every blinded eye. This is the cost of poor life in a failed state.

No country sells its people so cheap.

Heros of football

Superstars who pushed the limits of the game to make it the sport that it is today.

Pele: If anyone epitomises the spirit of the World Cup, it is Edson Arantes Do Nascimento — popularly knows as Pele. The limelight, vacated because of Ferenc Puskas-less Hungary, was seized by Pele. An upstart, which the football world loved to watch and talk about, Pele started off as a precocious 17-year old in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, scoring six goals, including a hat-trick against France in the semi-finals and a brace in the final against Sweden. He continued to torment defenders till the 1970 World Cup, where he was part of an incredible team which helped Brazil win their third Trophy.

Maradona: Images of a short, stocky man slaloming past defenders immediately come to our mind whenever we hear of Diego Armando Maradona. Two moments best describe the Argentine superstar. The first: raising his hand to score what is dubbed as “The Hand of God” goal against England to bring Argentina level in their crucial quarterfinal in the ‘86 World Cup. The second: His mazy run and finish - twisting, turning and leaving anything non-Argentine lying on the mat in his wake to score the “Goal of the Century”— in the same match to take Argentina into the semi-final. In 1994, his career ended the way it had started – with an enforced eviction--Maradona was banned for failing a drugs test in the 1994 edition in the US.

Ronaldo: There was nothing more terrifying in world football for goalkeepers than seeing Ronaldo, ball at his feet, dodging defenders, sidestepping them like he was gaming on a playstation. Performing step-overs for fun, Ronaldo usually completed the misery by rounding the keeper and scoring. The Brazilian's World Cup career was a curious tale of agony and ecstasy. After being selected, but not played, in the ‘94 edition, he was let loose in France four years later and was, along with Rivaldo, at the heart of the Brazilian team that marched into the finals. But due to massive seizures he suffered hours before the final, his game was well below par in the summit clash. But a rejuvenated and a fit-again Ronaldo returned - to torment defenders in Korea and Japan in 2002. While playing in the 2006 World Cup, he also overtook Gerd Muller, scoring 15 goals in World Cups, the most in the history of the tournament.

Beckenbauer: It was the 1974 World Cup final and the Netherlands, who were in their element playing what was known as “Total Football” was up against West Germany. Franz Beckenbauer, controlling the attacking instincts of Johann Cryuff, was instrumental in inspiring West Germany's famous come-from-behind victory (2-1).‘The Kaiser' epitomised the German spirit; in the semifinal of 1970 World Cup against Italy, a match which finished 4-3 to the Italians, he played on with a dislocated shoulder.

Garrincha: Going for back-to-back World Cup titles in 1962, Brazil was rocked by an injury to Pele, who was ruled out of the tournament after the initial stages. Garrincha seized the initiative and brought home the Selecao's second consecutive World Cup. Widely regarded as the world's greatest dribbler, he was a constant thorn in the opposition defence. He was, perhaps, the true embodiment of the hedonistic, all-round displays that characterised the double-winning ‘Samba' side of 1958 and 1962.

Stop this now

Have a healthy smoke..

Executives at Philip Morris USA this week unveiled Marlboro Earth, a new eco-friendly cigarette that gradually eliminates the causes of global warming and environmental destruction at their source.

"By killing off the No. 1 threat to the environment, new Marlboro Earths will have a long-term effect on the overall health of our planet," Philip Morris spokesperson Janet Weiss said. "If everyone in America does their part and joins our new green-smoking movement, then together we can eradicate man's destructive practices once and for all."

According to a press release from Philip Morris, the new environmentally friendly cigarettes work by employing powerful carcinogens that accumulate in the lungs of smokers, slowly breaking down their vital organs and eliminating the danger posed to the overpopulated planet by the human race.

Because Marlboro Earths take decades to work, the company stresses that people should start using them as early as possible, ideally during childhood or adolescence, in order to maximize the product's effectiveness.

"We've got to get everybody on board, the sooner the better," said Weiss, stressing that nothing less than the fate of the planet was at stake. "It doesn't take much. As few as two packs of Marlboro Earths a day can make all the difference in the world."

"Go ahead," Weiss continued. "Light up, breathe in, and help save Mother Earth."

The new cigarettes, released in limited test-market cities over the past two months, will be ready for a national rollout in mid-June. An ad campaign with the slogan "Marlboro Earth: Saving the Environment One Customer at a Time" has already been launched, and the product's iconic new packaging, which is similar to the traditional Marlboro design but also features a tree, is reportedly testing "through the roof" with consumers.

Philip Morris executives stressed that the new cigarettes, which contain the same great taste smokers have come to expect from Marlboro, but with nearly three times the tar and carbon monoxide, could make a huge difference in as little as 40 to 50 years, cutting down on urban sprawl, overpopulation, and eventually helping to enrich the soil with powerful fertilizers.

Eye contact with the president

I read in a recent article that U.S president Obama is making rounds trying to catch the eye of every citizen in an attempt to convince the anxious populace that his legislation is working fine and that everything is going to be ok. President Barack Obama has embarked on a 50-state, 30,000-town tour during which time he plans to gaze assuredly into the eyes of each American citizen, one at a time.

Well this is quite a noval approach not to mention a sure way of connecting with people. I was surpised nevertheless when i read the article. But i was wondering about the enormous security issues that might arise with this tour and the costs that might come along.

In their announcement of this "2010 Eye-to-Eye Tour," the White House officials have said that Obama will first spend two weeks making eye contact with the 55 million residents of the densely populated Northeastern states, looking into their eyes and, if necessary, offering them an encouraging head nod. Obama will then continue down the East Coast before taking on the tour's biggest challenge: gazing with confidence into the eyes of a hostile Southern electorate that largely rejects his policies.

According to the article patrons at the Beefside Family Restaurant in Concord, NH, many of whom expressed concern that the country was more divided than ever, were placated Tuesday when the president went from booth to booth making eye contact with every man, woman, and child present. If diners attempted to avoid his glance, Obama maneuvered his head quickly but confidently until he made direct eye contact and held their gaze.

Recent poll numbers indicate that Obama is slowly earning the trust of Americans throughout the country and we only hope this tour has positive effects on the intended recipients.

Save Tigers

Food culture

The hunt for food is the most dominant activity in the lives of all animals, and the collection, growing ,hunting of food was the primary occupation of all human beings for thousands of years.Although technological advances mean far few people take part in the production these days, the preparation, consumption and the enjoyment of food remains a significant factor in our lives.

The food we prepare may vary from culture to culture. Sometimes we prepare food in what may be considered disgusting in other cultures. And many may feel the same way about ours..

Africans were horrified by an American baby food company's product packaging.

The Chinese are raising St. Bernard dogs for food.

Family mistakes cremated remains of relative for food product.

Roast fetus is the latest gourmet food in Taiwan.

Chinese restaurants use cat meat in their entrees.

Korean company solicits American shelters for dogs to turn into soup.

Tourists dining at a Chinese restaurant are served a dish made from their own dog.

Cultural differences lead to humorous incidents.

Kit Kat chocolate bars bring luck to Japanese students during exams.

Automobile Fauxpas

Handheld police radar unit inadvertently tracks a military aircraft on maneuvers.

A pair of Arkansas rednecks are injured using a .22 caliber bullet in place of a burnt-out automobile fuse.

People shouldn't wear seat belts because they might not be able to escape their vehicles in car fires.

Cars equipped with remote keyless entry systems can be unlocked via cell phone.

Adding acetone to gasoline in an effort to improve gas mileage is a good idea.

Dashboard gas pump icon tells which side the vehicle's fuel door is on.

Skinput Keyboards

Easily something Steven Spielberg could have thought about. Keyboards are the new creepy crawlies. A team of 3 researchers working with Microsoft, Chris Harrison, Dan Morris and Desney Tan are studying a human touchscreen named Skinput.

The touch screen will be projected with a laser on the hands and forearms that can be used as keyboards or remote controls. It would seem a very complex system but Skinput unites only 2 factors: the low frequencies of sound produced by finger touch on the skin and micro projectors that transmit the image. Skinput would offer the possibility of using the skin as a keyboard or controller for games and applications.Through a strip wound in the arm with a mini projector and a microphone shows a drop down menu on the skin or a digital keyboard.

With Skinput you can control everything remotely without using any remote control, just as if the skin had a touch screen display.The image of a keyboard is projected from a laser on a body part and you will only have to wear a belt with micro transducer sensitive touch of fingers on the skin. New Scientist reported the testimony of the 20 volunteers who have tested and found it "innovative and simple" .The buttons and icons have been running without problems.

get maximum off your laptop battery

When laptops came into existence more than a decade ago, other than the obvious advantage of size and weight over a regular PC, they also served another important purpose - freedom from wires. A fully charged laptop of today runs for two hours at least. Netbooks, due to the use of low-power consuming internals, stretch that uptime to more than four hours on an average.

Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use

This is a common mistake many tend to commit - leaving Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on even when not in use. These two wireless modules (especially Wi-Fi) can eat up your battery life pretty fast, as they keep searching for new networks and devices to connect.

Decrease screen brightness

A considerable chunk of power is used to illuminate your laptop's display. By having a conservative approach towards screen brightness, one can shoot those battery life figures upwards. For the uninitiated, brightness controls are typically on the Function (F1-F10) keys.

Improve your power-saving etiquettes

Now that you've selected the right kind of settings in your power profile, it's time to make good use of them. For example, when you're walking away from the laptop, close the lid, so that the laptop goes to "Sleep" mode (in Vista/7) or "Stand-by" (in XP).

Replace the battery

Laptop batteries, like cell-phone batteries, lose their capacity to hold power as years pass by. That's why you may see that your new laptop back then used to give you two to three hours of life, but after a few years struggles to run for even one hour.

The Best Fantasy Movies of All Time

Fantasy movies are included with fantastic themes, generally relating with magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, or exotic fantasy worlds. Fantasy movies unlike science fiction films that base their content upon some degree of scientific truth, take the audience to netherworld, fairty-tale places where events are unlikely to occur in real life. Hollywood produced number of fantasy movies, here is provided some of them. Fantasy can be scary but its purpose is to do more than scare you.

Lord of the Rings (2001)

The Princess Bride (1987)

The Wizard of Oz (1939)

Jason and the Argonauts (1963)

King Kong (1933)

The Dark Crystal (1982)

Clash of the Titans (1981)

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Time Bandits (1981)

Save Dolphins

We all say we love animals and that we want to save them, but why? Some people don't know. Here's my opinion:

I love animals bcause they are living, breathing beings that should be treated right. Such as dolphins. Anyone realize how beautiful they are? Also, every animal serves a purpose in this world. Dolphins keep the fish population down. Just a little opinion since I haven't posted in a while.