Mood Enhancing Herbal Products

Running daily routine sometimes it's very saturated. But we must remain passionate to get through it. Sometimes, with a solid routine, our bodies require extra nutrients or vitamins for endurance. But what about the mood or mind?

If the body needs vitamins, then the mind will also need to 'nutrients' to re-excited mood. One example is the enhancers or aroma therapy. In fact, there're such things as Party enhancer used in pubs to keep Their visitor's fine mood, so, they Will keep excited over the night. There's so many of them which been used by people, but one the well known is the K6 herbal incense.

Lunch in Roppan

Weekend has arrived, it's time to hang out with friends.
This time I was with my friends visiting a big mall to search and checking price of new android phone.
After a while, we felt hungry and it's time for us to have lunch.

We saw a fairly attractive stall named 'Roppan' so we wanted to try the menu here.
This stall offers a wide range of menus, ranging from bread with ice cream toppings, Udon, rice and also some typical drinks of this stall.

Great movies to see with your family

This holiday weekend, three hotly anticipated family films hit theaters: 'The Muppets,' 'Hugo,' and 'Arthur Christmas.' Each flick is scoring with Web searches and the critics. Here's a quick rundown to help you decide which flick is the best fit.

The Muppets

It's been more than a decade since the Muppets have been on the big screen. From the looks of the reviews, their new movie, which stars Jason Segel and Amy Adams (as well as Kermit, Piggy, and company), was worth the wait.
The flick is earning strong marks across the board. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says the film "slaps a smile on your face you won't want to wipe off." Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwarzbaum remarks that "the movie's gentle, clever, unironic humor feels freshly, trendily retro now."
The film also features cameos aplenty. Emily Blunt, Neil Patrick Harris, and Jack Black all make appearances. Web searches on "muppet cast members," "muppets soundtrack," and "muppet movies in order" are all hopping. Plus, overall interest in the film is up over 100% over the past week. It ain't easy being green, but this movie is gonna make plenty of it.

Benetton ‘Unhate’ Ad Campaign Features World Leaders Kissing

At first, the images are shocking. President Obama planting a kiss on Chinese President Hu Jintao’s lips. German Chancellor Angela Merkel smooches French President Nicolas Sarkozy, her nation’s economic rival.

These images aren’t the latest political scandal. They’re a new ad campaign from Italian clothing company United Colors of Benetton called “Unhate.”

The images are digitally manipulated but they send a pointed message. The newly unveiled UNHATE Foundation seeks to promote a culture of tolerance and combat hatred around the world, the company said in a news release.

9 "diet" foods that make you hungrier

Put down that light yogurt, it may be making you fat. As it turns out, a number of foods that are commonly thought to be great for weight loss can actually stimulate the appetite. We spoke with Marjorie Nolan, R.D., National Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, to get the skinny on foods that can trigger hunger and sabotage your diet.

1. Light yogurt

The blast of sweet (often artificial) flavor causes the stomach to start producing gastric juices. With only four to six ounces of yogurt and no fat in a typical container, the body doesn’t have enough food to digest leaving the tummy rumbling for more.

Visiting Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

It was nice to have the opportunity to visit other countries once more. This time I visited Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The first impression when I arrived here was, the city was very crowded with motorcycles, and also most of the people here can't speak English, so you need to do 'body language' to communicate with the local people. (hahaha).
The currency values also very low, for 1 USD = 20,935 Dong (VD), so you can get more than 2 millions VD for $100.

During my visit, I stayed at Windsor Plaza hotel, a five stars hotel with a very low price compared to other hotels. But the services and amenities are very good. On my first day, I had visited New An Dong Market which is located under the hotel. I also had stopped in the supermarket and bought a few packs of Coffee and cakes which are very typical of this country.

I also had tried several restaurants in this hotel, it tastes good and the price is not too expensive. In the evening I went to the typical Vietnamese noodle restaurant called Pho 24, which is located on the opposite of the hotel. I ordered 'Pho All' which is a bowl of noodles with beef and meatballs, which is very delicious.

On the next afternoon, me and my friends went to the Ben Thanh market to buy some souvenirs. But I didn't buy too much stuff, because of the luggage capacity. So I just bought some key chains and some coffee. In this market there are also many foreign tourists, and you can bargain the price with the seller, I always bid the price up to 75%. Do not worry if the seller can't speak English, they can use a calculator for bargain.

In the evening, I was invited to have dinner at a restaurant called Ngon Restaurant in the district 1. In this restaurant I tried some Vietnamese dishes, although I do not know its name. The cuisine taste in this restaurant is quite nice, and the service is very nice as well. I also saw many tourists who dine at this restaurant.

Well, although it's quite a short trip, but it's enough for me to enjoy the hospitality and cuisine of this country. And the good news also I met some of my old friends from other countries (because I was here for business). Later in the day and I have to go back to the airport to return home.

New app may have caught cheating wife

When Apple released its new iOS 5 operating system to go with its iPhone 4S, it touted a new app called "Find My Friends" as a great way to track and meet up with friends. If they agree, you can see their locations on a map on your screen.

But the app's enterprising customers are apparently already finding other uses. If the online posts appearing on a chat forum at MacRumors.com are for real, "Find My Friends" may have already claimed its first marriage.

Saturday night on MacRumors, a man saying he lived in New York City posted this:

"Divorcing wife. Thanks iPhone 4s and Find My Friends.

"I got my wife a new 4s and loaded up find my friends without her knowing. She told me she was at her friends house in the east village. I've had suspicions about her meeting this guy who live uptown. Lo and behold, Find my Friends has her right there.

"I just texted her asking where she was and the dumb b---- said she was on 10th Street!! Thank you Apple, thank you App Store, thank you all. These beautiful treasure trove of screen shots [sic] going to play well when I meet her ... at the lawyer's office in a few weeks.

"thankfully, she's the rich one."

It has not been determined whether the story posted on MacRumors was, in fact, authentic, and the man did not immediately reply to a request from ABC News for comment. But more than 100,000 people have viewed the posts, according to MacRumors. More than 300 of them replied with expressions of sympathy, skepticism and -- this being the Internet -- a few less-than-savory jokes.

Arnold Kim, the editorial director of MacRumors, said it was "definitely a busy thread." MacRumors did not try to verify the man's story (if, in fact, it was a man), but said everyone who registers for its forums has to validate their email when they register.

"Find My Friends" uses the iPhone or iPad's built-in Global Positioning System to see your friends' locations on a map on the screen of your device. GPS can be accurate to within a few feet for civilian uses.

Apple says "The Find My Friends app is a great way to share your location with people who are important to you" -- whether you're trying to meet friends at a crowded concert or make sure your kids get safely home from school.

The man was back with a new post less than an hour later, including a couple of screen grabs showing the location of his wife was on East 65th St., though she sent him a text message saying, "Was hard to find stupid cab hate meat packing...."

The husband again: "She said she is in meat packing district which is on 12th street. I DONT THINK SO. Appreicate [sic] the support. not my finest hour here but going to get better soon."

The new iPhone 4S and operating system have been off-the-charts successes for Apple, which said this morning that it sold more than four million iPhone 4S in three days, and that 25 million people are now using iOS 5.

Technology watchers are particularly struck by Siri -- the voice-recognition "personal assistant" built into the new software that accepts spoken commands, answers questions, and is eerily intelligent in its responses.

There was a memorial service Sunday night for Steve Jobs on the campus of Stanford University, near Apple's corporate headquarters in California, amid widespread stories that he was deeply involved in the next iPhone -- the replacement for the iPhone 4S.

The presumably-jilted husband put up one last post Saturday night: "what really chaps my a-- is not the cheating but the fact that they were probably admiring and laughing over the new phone I BOUGHT. haha. well someone about to get the last laugh tonight."

And that was the last from him. The whole thing may have been a joke, or a domestic tragedy. Ben Crompton, who writes the Pocket Lint blog, said there have certainly been other apps before, such as Google Latitude, that let you track people through GPS signals, but Apple will make it trendy.

"The burning issue seems to be that it is a very powerful tool to have," he wrote, "bringing with it huge amounts of info to the user as well as delivering plenty of info about the user to others. For some this power will outdo the user's knowledge of how to use it properly."

"Still, on the up side," he concluded, "maybe Siri will be able to offer some marriage guidance advice."


info Yahoo

FORNAS - The National Recreation Sport Festival

Yesterday, my frinds took me to Senayan, Jakarta. They wanted to visit the FORNAS event (The National Recreation Sport Festival).
When we arrived, it was hard for us to find an empty parking slot, so we decided to park our car at GBK Stadium.

I never imagine that this even will be so crowded by people. There's a lot of tends for each recreation sport category. And also some tends and stands that offer you Indonesian traditional foods and fresh drinks.
Some of the sports are: Tai Chi, Kite, Street Basketball, Futsal, Roller skates, Lion Dance, and many more.

The one that interested me was the Lion Dance, which is known as 'Barongsay'. This Lion Dance competition was participated by 25 teams from nation wide, which is amazing.

But I couldn't watched the entire competition, since we have to go back before evening. Although the weather was pretty hot yesterday, but I did enjoy the festival.

Fans lay tributes of apples for Steve Jobs

Technology and design admirers flocked to Apple stores worldwide on Thursday to express their sorrow at the death of Steve Jobs, the visionary who transformed the daily lives of millions.

The Apple co-founder who inspired the Macintosh computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad died on Wednesday at the age of 56 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He stepped down as Apple chief executive in August.

Flags outside Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, flew at half mast as mourners gathered on a nearby lawn, where fans left flowers and a man played the bagpipes.

In New York City, an impromptu memorial made from fliers featuring pictures of Jobs was erected outside a 24-hour Apple store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, with fans snapping photos of it on their iPhones.

"As soon as I heard the news, I came out to this Apple store to pay my respects," said business professor Gary Hamel. "I saw tears in some people's eyes."

Grieving fans all over the world left flowers, notes and apples with a bite taken out, just like the Apple logo -- instantly recognizable despite being one of the few top brand logos that does not feature the company's name.

Many said their lives had been transformed by Apple.

"I wouldn't be able to run my business without Apple, without its software. I run a video production company. It's allowed me to have my dream business," said David Chiverton who was leaving Apple's flagship Regent Street store in London.

"I bought the iPod nano, in black. I wanted to buy something to remember the day by," Chiverton said.

At the Frankfurt Apple store in Germany, Wolfgang Kummer, ex-managing director of font design and desktop publishing services company Linotype, left a white rose.

"You recognize his hand in all Apple products and I expect we will continue to see his influence," he said, adding that Jobs had changed the world of desktop publishing. "But eventually it will fade."

In Tokyo, a group of fans brought together by Twitter gathered at sunset with candlelight apps turned on on their iPhones and iPads.

And at China's biggest Apple store, in Shanghai, mourner Jin Yi expressed regret that Jobs had not lived to see even closer links between humans and their devices.

"He created these gadgets that changed people's perceptions of machines. But he did not manage to witness the last step in which, through his gadgets, people's lives can be effectively fused with these machines."

Even Apple employees not allowed to give their names to the press because of Jobs's authoritarian style of leadership said they were saddened.

A somber-looking assistant at an Apple store in the northern English city of Manchester said: "We're carrying on doing our jobs as usual and we're not commenting on this. But at the end of the day it's our boss, and we're all pretty cut up about it."

At the Apple store in Sydney, lawyer George Raptis, who was five years old when he first used a Macintosh computer, spoke for almost everyone who has come into contact with Apple.

"He's changed the face of computing," he said. "There will only ever be one Steve Jobs."


info Yahoo

Adsense Blocked My Account (Again)

Yes, it's true. This 'shocking' tragedy was Happened last Thursday. When I checked my adsense account in the evening, like always, and suddenly in the welcome screen showed 'your account has been disabled'. I was very surprised and stunned for a while until I finally realized that my account had been blocked for the second time.

My first account was closed by adsense because it used a language that is 'not registered' yet in adsense. This I can understand, then I made my second account, which is this account. So far so good, after I received this closing information by adsense makes me wonder, because the e-mail from adsense mentioned that I was doing illegal click. Though I have never done this, in other words, I never click any ads on my own blog. And as you can guess, I lost my entire income by reason that they will be returned to the advertiser.


It is very unfortunate. Is this what adsense doing because last August I have managed to achieve my minimum payout? In fact, this is the moment that I've been waiting for almost 2 years since I made this account. But when I will receive my payment this month, all by sudden, adsense closed my account just like that.


Honestly, this thing makes me down to continuing my blog. Moreover, I had an accident last Saturday, where my right hand exposed to chemical cleaning fluid, so my fingers sore and swollen (so I just manage to make this post right now, although still not 100% healed) it really completes my misery.

I just hope that all my friends did not experience any of this, and this would never be happened again to me.

Steps to Sudoku success

Love playing with numbers? Then we're betting you're a fan of Sudoku.

A staple of in-flight magazines, the pen-and-paper puzzler has become one of the most popular logic games in the world. Requiring no specialized know-how to play, it's a simply designed but tremendously challenging game. Yes, it involves digits, but it requires absolutely no math (and properly done, it requires absolutely no guesswork, either.)

It's a game of pure, cold, applied logic. Follow these tips, and your Sudoku career -- not to mention your brain -- will live long and prosper.

The rules

You're not going to get far if you don't understand the rules. Luckily, there are only three of them, and they're pretty straightforward.

-- Imagine the puzzle divided into nine horizontal rows. Each row has nine squares in it, and each number from one to nine should appear once -- and once only -- in that row.

-- Now picture the puzzle split into nine vertical columns. Again, each column has nine squares, and each one should contain all the numbers from one to nine.

-- Finally, you'll notice the puzzle is cut into nine three-by-three squares. Each of these larger squares contains nine small squares -- and each has to contain the numbers one to nine.

Easy, right? All those blank spaces might look daunting, but with just a few simple techniques you'll be equipped to handle just about anything those sneaky Sudoku masters throw at you. Read on.

The basics

Sherlock Holmes was fond of saying, "Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." He wasn't talking about Sudoku (though we suspect he would have enjoyed the game), but Holmes's principle works for Sudoku as well as it works for finding crooks.

There are only nine possible answers (or "candidates") for each blank square, and the answers already on the grid will eliminate some of them. Once you've eliminated eight, you can be sure the one that remains is correct.

So for the first step, grab your pencil -- you are using a pencil, right? -- and mark each cell with its possible answers. Just look across the cell's column and row, and the other cells in its three-by-three square, and jot down the numbers that don't appear anywhere else, nice and small in a corner.

Once you've done that, look for any squares that are left with just one candidate. Fill those in with the answer; you're done there. Then, look for any squares that are the only occurrence of a particular candidate in their row, column, or three-by-three. If you have a square with candidates 2, 3, and 6, but 6 doesn't appear as a candidate anywhere else in its row, you know that square has to be a 6. Whenever you pin down a number, go through its row, column, and three-by-three, and cross out any other occurrences of that number from the possible candidates. Repeat those steps until you get stuck.

Pick out the twins

Next, look for cells in the same column, row, or three-by-three that have the same two candidates, and no others. Find a match, and you can strike out those two candidates from all other cells in that row, column, and three-by-three. Often that'll be enough to nail down another few cells and start the cycle all over again.

Track down the triplets

Still stuck? The twins technique also works for triplets, but you need three cells that share the same pool of three (and only three) candidates. So if you have a cell with candidates 1 and 8, another with candidates 4 and 8, and another with candidates 1 and 4 that share a row, column, or three-by-three, you can strike out all three of those numbers in all other cells in that row, column, or three-by-three.

"Slice and dice"

Finally, here's a classic technique for filling out a three-by-three region. Suppose you have such a square, and suppose you have already pinned down the locations of the 1, 2, 4, and 7. Pick one of the numbers that's missing -- say, 6 -- and look for 6s in the three-by-three boxes to the left and/or right of the one you're trying to complete. If you find a six, strike out its entire line. Do the same for columns. If you find you've struck out all the numbers in the three-by-three except one, you've found your 6. If not, try another number.

Never, ever guess

Remember: Sudoku games don't require guesswork. If you find yourself tempted to fill in an answer "just to see where it gets you," resist it. You've missed something elsewhere on the grid.

Lines of reasoning that are based on uncertain answers or trial-and-error lead to rabbit-warrens of confusing possibilities, dead ends, and frustration. Yes, it's possible to play that way -- guessing an answer and seeing if that line of thinking leads to an unsolvable grid -- but it's rarely wise, and never necessary.


info Yahoo

Rhino horn thieves fooled by replicas in UK heist

Fake rhino horns, anyone? That's all thieves who broke into a British museum have to show after a misguided robbery early Saturday.

The thieves were seeking valuable rhino horns that can be sold in illicit markets for their purported aphrodisiac and medicinal use, but they left with worthless replicas instead.

Officials at the Natural History Museum at Tring had replaced the real horns with replicas because of a recent surge in rhino horn thefts at museums, galleries and auction houses throughout Britain and continental Europe.

Police believe organized crime gangs using mainly smash-and-grab techniques are behind the rash of rhino horn thefts.

"We have been made aware of approximately 20 thefts of rhino horn from museums and auctions houses across the UK and Europe in the past six months," said Ian Lawson, a Metropolitan Police detective specializing in arts and antiques.

"Additionally we have been made aware of incidents in the UK where premises that have rhino horn on display have been subject to hostile reconnaissance," he said, advising museums to consider removing authentic rhino horns from public viewing.

Rising demand for the horns and a crackdown on the illegal trade of them have made rhino horns extremely valuable. U.K. officials say the real horns sought by the thieves Saturday would have been worth about 240,000 pounds ($391,000) on the open market.

The horns are now twice as valuable as gold, police said. They are often used in powdered form by Asians or other people who believe they can cure serious diseases or boost sexual performance, claims that are strongly denied by rhino conservation activists.

Nothing else was taken from the Natural History Museum at Tring during the break-in between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. Saturday. The thieves apparently used a large hammer to remove the bogus horns from the two rhinos' heads.

The museum, located 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of London in the county of Hertfordshire, was closed Saturday while police investigated and museum workers repaired display cases. It planned to reopen Sunday.

A museum spokeswoman who asked not to be identified because of security concerns said the replicas, made of resin, were put in place three months ago as a precaution.

"Just looking at the quantity and spread of thefts since February shows that this is a real and serious threat to museums with rhino horns," she said.


info Yahoo

Tips for Longer-Lasting Laptop Batteries

Hardware budgets are feeling the pinch of our tepid economy, and many companies are making employees use their laptops longer. If you are starting to tell your folks to keep plugging along with their laptops for four or five years instead of just three, you might be running into an unexpected expense: dead laptop batteries.

Well, to be fair, your laptop's batteries probably aren't completely dead. But since Lithium Ion batteries tend to lose about 20% of their capacity each year, a typical three-year-old laptop might only get about an hour or so on a charge, which might not even get your folks through an entire meeting. Here are four simple tips to forestall the day that you need to replace those batteries:

Keep it cool.
Heat is the primary killer of batteries. Tell your employees to be careful not to let their laptops overheat. One common way that happens is packing a running laptop into a backpack or briefcase. If the laptop fails to go to sleep (and let's face it — sleep glitches are common), then the laptop can get crazy hot in an enclosed space. You can almost smell the loss of battery longevity.

Recondition your battery regularly.
Most laptop manufacturers (except Apple) don't generally tell you about this, but a simple process known as reconditioning (or occasionally, recalibrating) can breathe new life into your laptop battery and add capacity back. To do that, turn off your screen saver and any other power management tools which put your PC to sleep. Fully charge the laptop, and then let it run all the way down — right until it powers down due to lack of juice. Then charge it back up again and restore your power management stuff. Do this every few months (such as three times a year).

Remove it when you're not using it.
When you leave your laptop plugged in at your desk all day every day, the battery never gets a chance to discharge and recharge — which is critical to its long-term health. Thankfully, there's a simple solution: Remove the battery. As long as your laptop is connected to AC power, the battery isn't necessary; it'll run without it. Just remember to pop it back in before you take your laptop on the go.

Start with a super-sized battery.
When you purchase your next round of laptops, upgrade to the extended-life battery. Not only will it give you significantly longer runtime to start with — great for road warriors and anyone else who works away from the office a lot — but the inevitable loss of battery life will have a less pronounced effect. The added cost of the larger batteries is worth the investment, because they end up lasting significantly longer.


info Yahoo

Beer Festival in Germany

Actually, I don't have any idea what I have to write. Since I just got recover from my sickness. So I just want to share you my pictures when I visit Beer Festival in Nuremberg and Erlangen, Germany.

I hope you enjoyed it.

10 Things You Shouldn't Keep in Your Wallet or Purse

We all make sure we've got our keys, wallet and phone before we head out the door, but more often than not, we are carrying around things that are better left at home. Some items we carry on a daily basis can be virtually impossible to replace, and others may leave us at risk for identity theft in the event of loss. We checked in with the personal finance experts at LearnVest to find the top 10 things you shouldn't carry in your purse or wallet.

Social Security Card

"You may carry it around thinking you need a back-up source of ID, but these days you don't really need it," says Maria Lin, editor in chief at Learnvest. If your Social Security card gets in the wrong hands, someone could open a credit card, apply for a loan, or even buy a car with the information. It's nine digits, just memorize it.

Your Passport

If you're traveling internationally, of course you can't leave your passport at home, but you can leave it in the hotel safe. When you are abroad, make a photocopy of your passport to have in your wallet for identification along with your driver's license. "If you lose your passport or get mugged in a foreign country, it's such a horrible hassle," says Lin. "You have to go to the embassy, and it's a vacation nightmare." If you're traveling in the U.S., use your driver's license instead. "Your passport is such a primo document for your identity, if someone gets a hold of it, you can really put yourself at risk for identity theft," says Lin.

Passwords/Pass codes

Although most PIN numbers are only four digits long, some people still write them down so they don't forget. "If you store any type of ATM password or even a code for your home alarm in your wallet, you have basically gifted a thief with access to your life," says Lin. If you absolutely can't remember important pass codes, store them digitally on a password-protected phone, but never write them down and leave them in your wallet or purse.

A Non-Password Protected Phone

Today, many people have smart phones that allow them instant access to bank accounts, PayPal accounts, medical records, and more. Even if your phone only accesses e-mail, a thief could easily search for banking or ATM passwords or addresses, according to Lin. "Think about all the things you have digitally stored on your phone. You have to have it behind password protection. This way a thief can still erase your phone's memory and use it for themselves, but they won't have access to your data."

Your Checkbook

"As innocuous as it seems, your checkbook has your bank account number and routing number on it, your address, and possibly imprints of your signature," says Lin. Lin says that if you know you're going to need to write a check one day, peel off one check out of your book and take it with you. If you know you're going to need to write multiple checks in one day, go ahead and take your checkbook, but don't get into the habit of carrying it around with you all the time, Lin says. "You want to prevent someone's ability to just start writing out your blank checks and cashing them."

Too Many Credit Cards

"A lot of people put all their cards in their wallet and carry them with them at all times," says Lin. "But if your wallet gets lost or stolen, that means you're going to have to sit and cancel every single one, and wait a week without any credit cards before you receive a replacement." Only carry the one or two cards you use on a daily basis and a backup, and leave others at home. Also make sure you keep photocopies of the front and back of each card at home, Lin advises. The 1-800 number to call and report a lost or stolen card is very often on the back of your card -- which doesn't do you a lot of good once the card is no longer in your possession.

Too Much Cash

Lin offers the following rule of thumb when it comes to carrying cash: Bring only as much with you as you're willing to lose. "It's good to have a little cash on you at all times for emergencies, but you don't want to carry so much that you're going to feel a real hit if your wallet gets stolen." For people on a "cash diet," Lin recommends bringing only as much cash to cover the day's expenses.

Gift Cards/Certificates

"A lot of people carry these around thinking, 'I never know when I'm going to be passing this store,' but chances are, you're going to forget about it anyway, and if your wallet gets stolen, it's one of the first thing thieves are going to use," Lin says. Gift cards and gift certificates are just like cash -- they don't require ID for use. "Try to leave it at home and take it with you only when you are consciously going to shop at that store," Lin says. "Make it a special excursion; it's a treat to have free money to spend."

Jewelry or USB Devices

"It may sound silly, but if you're changing earrings or heading from a business meeting, it's very possible you may forget and toss these things in the zipper compartment of your wallet," says Lin. USB devices can be bad news in the hands of thieves if they contain confidential files. "It would be horrible to get your wallet stolen any day, but if you're also losing your grandmother's earrings or a presentation you've been working on for months, it's even worse!"

Receipts

Sometimes receipts can have your credit card information on them, as well as your signature, which thieves could do a lot of damage with. Additionally, if you've just purchased a big-ticket item like a new computer or jewelry, you may need that receipt for warranty purposes. "If you're planning to use your receipts for expense purposes at work, those few hundred dollars of business receipts can just vanish and your employer might not be so understanding," says Lin. "Get in the habit of taking out your receipts every night instead of carting them around with you."


info Yahoo

Record-breaking heat smothers eastern US

Temperature records tumbled on the US East Coast Friday, sending wilting Americans to swimming pools and air-conditioned malls to seek respite from the searing heat.
Newark, New Jersey saw an air temperature of 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius), the highest ever recorded in the city since records began there in 1931, and the hottest reported by the National Weather Service on the East Coast.

At Dulles Airport near Washington, temperatures hit 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 Celsius), the highest since the facility opened in 1962. Two cities in Connecticut, Hartford and Bridgeport, also set all-time temperature records as the mercury touched the 103 Fahrenheit (39 Celsius) mark.

A dozen other towns, cities and airports up and down the East Coast set triple-digit Fahrenheit records for the calendar day, as did New York's Central Park, where the read-out on thermometers showed a temperature of 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius). Inside the old townhouse in northeast Washington that Ben Dooley shares with two housemates, the temperature was pushing 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius).

That was the temperature indoors.

Outdoors in Washington, the mercury climbed to 101 Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) Friday, but high humidity made temperatures in the US capital feel more like 116 Fahrenheit (47 Celsius) -- hotter than Death Valley at daybreak. From Texas in the southwest to Maine in the far corner of the northeast, more than half of the 50 US states were under extreme heat warnings with the record temperatures and high humidity reportedly claiming at least 22 lives in the past week.

"Bullseyes of high heat and humidity" were affecting the central states and most of the East Coast, said Chris Vaccaro, a spokesman for the National Weather Service.

Triple-digit temperatures were recorded in Islip, Long Island, which is usually cooled by Atlantic breezes; Philadelphia, Allentown and Reading in Pennsylvania; Georgetown in Delaware; Boston, Massachusetts; the East Coast gambling mecca of Atlantic City in New Jersey, and Baltimore in Maryland.

Even Bangor, Maine, which lies at the same latitude as Montreal in Canada, reached a record for the calendar day of 97 Fahrenheit (36 Celsius).
To beat the heat, people streamed to swimming pools, spent long hours in air-conditioned museums or shopping malls, or sat inside the foyers of public buildings that were opened as cooling centers.

Philadelphia, the "city of brotherly love", became the city of smothering heat, with temperatures at 102 Fahrenheit (39 Celsius) by late afternoon.
Public swimming pools in the Pennsylvania city were so crowded that swimmers were asked to leave every 30 minutes to allow a new crowd to enjoy a cooling dip.

Maryland's Hidden Spring camp for kids aged up to 14, called off a much-anticipated hike to a waterfall and took the 45 campers bowling instead.
"It didn't seem wise to take the kids hiking. They're disappointed and so are we, but an air-conditioned bowling alley seemed a good trade-off for triple-digit heat," camp director Eric Fishman told AFP.

In New York City, the Office of Emergency Management opened cooling centers in air-conditioned public facilities for people "experiencing physical discomfort in the heat wave."
And the Washington public transportation system lifted its ban on drinks in trains and buses -- although it stressed that the exception to the rule applied to bottled water only and would end after Sunday night.

Nightfall has brought little respite from the heat, with temperatures only falling to lows in the 70s or 80s Fahrenheit (20s Celsius).
"That's one of the unhealthy aspects of this heatwave: temperatures aren't retreating at night, and that taxes the body. Last night in DC, the low was 82," Vaccaro said.

Dooley described the previous night in his room without air conditioning in northeast Washington as "unbearable" and admitted that, although not a fan of airconditioning, he was considering "camping" in his housemate's room, equipped with a window air conditioner."

As many as 34 states at a time have been under heat advisories since the latest surge in the heatwave began a week ago in the Midwest before moving eastward.
The high temperatures and humidity are expected to continue into the weekend until a cold front -- or less-hot front -- is forecast to move in.


info Yahoo

Mt. Lokon erupts, locals flee for safety

Mt. Lokon in Tomohon, North Sulawesi, erupted on Thursday evening after several days of increased activity, forcing more than 2,500 residents to evacuate and seek refuge in safer areas.

According to residents of the nearby city of Tomohon, the initial eruption at 10:30 p.m. local time (9:30 p.m. Jakarta time) sounded like thunder, tribunnews.com reported Friday.

“People started to panic. We also felt the temperature rise,” said Aprilia, a student of a private university in Tomohon. “We could see the smoldering hot lava spewing from the volcano. It's was a big fire. We also felt the tremor,” she said.

Several areas in the surrounding district were reportedly showered in volcanic ash.

“Ash is everywhere, covering my house,” said Jhon Pangemanan, a resident of Mokupa, Tombariri, Manado, adding that ash was also covering the streets.

North Sulawesi Disaster Mitigation Center chief Hoyke Makarawung said his office had evacuated around 2,510 residents living within a 3.5-kilometer radius of the volcano, from 9 p.m. local time.

"We led them to designated temporary shelters at PPWG Kaaten and Tomohon city park,” he said.


info The Jakarta Post

5 Foods that Keep You Thin

Apples

Apples are a good source of dietary fiber. Dietary fiber not only contributes to a healthy digestive system and reduced cholesterol, but it also benefits smart eaters by yielding no calories while keeping them satisfied.

And there's something else about the fruit that might help you feel full. A study in the journal "Appetite" found that when women added either three apples or three pears to their daily meals, they lost more weight than people who added three oat cookies to their diets -- even though the fruit and the cookies contained the exact same amount of dietary fiber.

Although the reason behind this finding may be a mystery, there is something to be said for the findings. According to Alan Aragon, a nutritionist and author of "Girth Control: The Science of Fat Loss & Muscle Gain," crunchy foods in particular can trick a person into feeling fuller. The act of chewing may send satiety signals to your body, he says, making you think you've eaten more than you really have and keeping hunger at bay.

Almonds

If you're looking for a tasty midday snack, a handful of almonds are a well-regarded option. A study in 2009 in "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" found that women who ate nuts at least two times a week were more successful at keeping weight off than those who didn't eat this food.

One particular favorite among some nutritionists is almonds, says Aragon. One ounce of this food contains only 167 calories, plus it packs roughly 6 g of protein and 3 g of fiber, both nutrients that can make you feel full. Furthermore, like apples, almonds are crunchy and require a lot of chewing, so they, too, can make you feel like you've eaten more than you actually did and keep you fuller longer.


Salmon

If you're uncertain about fish, there's no need to fear. Seafood can be part of a healthy diet. And there's some evidence that the fat in foods such as salmon can boost satiety levels, says Aragon. For example, a study published in the "International Journal of Obesity" found that when dieters ate salmon a few times a week, they lost about two more pounds than those who didn't include seafood in their meals.

And in spite of the mention of salmon's fat content, the food is relatively low in calories. One 3-oz. serving has just 175 calories. Salmon is a good source of protein as well.


Eggs

There's no doubt that protein, like fiber, has impressive satiating powers. And while eggs seem to have a bad reputation in some circles, there can be no contesting their ability to help keep your weight in check.

Research has shown that eating eggs at breakfast can help you fight weight gain all day long. A study reported in 2008 in the "International Journal of Obesity" found that when dieters ate two eggs for breakfast for five days out of the week, they lost 65 percent more weight than dieters who consumed a bagel in the morning. Although protein is likely to fill you up whenever you eat it, some scientists suspect that having more in the morning can keep you feeling fuller all day long.


Tomatoes

It's true that most veggies make for great diet fare. Non-starchy vegetables in particular, such as carrots, celery and spinach, are filled with fiber. Like other foods high in fiber, they can help keep you feeling satiated.

Plus, they're pretty self-regulating, says Aragon. You can't really overeat with nonstarchy vegetables. After all, how many baby carrots can a person eat without needing to dunk them in some ranch dressing?

So while there are many veggies that can help you stay slim, tomatoes might be a particularly good option because they're so tasty. And, besides, with that whole a-tomato-is-a-vegetable-no-it's-a-fruit argument, you might have forgotten all about eating them. One cup of cooked, red tomatoes contains just 43 calories, but tastes just as delicious as any number of high-calorie foods.

And that's at least half the secret, finding foods that are both healthy and tasty. The good thing is, they do exist. Over time, you'll discover what wholesome, filling foods you prefer, expanding your choices while shrinking your waistline.



info Yahoo

Variety of German Cuisine

First of all, I would like to say Big Sorry to all my friends, because I was away last week for a business trip so I couldn't reply all your visit. But I'm trying my best to reply them all now.

Well, during my business trip last week, I also try many different type of German cuisine. Although some of them are served in a very big plate for large portion, and of course it's too much for me, but they are all delicious.

For this time, is almost the same like my previous visit, I just visit Herzogenaurach, Erlangen and also Nuremberg. But these towns are still amazing for me, specially this summer when you can still see the sun at 9.30 pm.
I guess, that's all from me, hope you could enjoy it... :)

Dinner at Uno Cafe

This time, I have my friend who just came from Germany, I took him to dinner at a restaurant in the Karawaci Tangerang named Uno Cafe.
Despite of its name, you maybe think that this cafe just served italian food, but from the menu they have many, from western food to Indonesian food.

We ordered some appetizers first and typical drinks of this cafe. After that we ordered a main menu, like steak, salmon and mushroom soup too. And also the fresh dessert like ice cream and beer.

The taste of the food in this cafe is tasty, but quite expensive. But it's all supported by good service and also a very comfortable atmosphere. This cafe also offers live music every weekend.

Flowers Blossom in My Garden

Weekend is here... And I'm very glad that I can 'retire' for a while from my work.
Spending my time this weekend at home, I just noticed that many flowers which had bloomed in my garden.
So, I took my camera and have some pictures of them. So beautiful.

So, what's your plan this weekend..?

Is Warcraft in trouble?

Subscriber numbers tend to ebb and flow with massively multiplayer games. No matter how high they get, people generally expect them to come down -- unless that game is World of Warcraft.

So when Activision-Blizzard announced earlier this month that subscriptions of its crown jewel had fallen 5 percent, heads turned. Was the mightiest title in the persistent world universe finally showing signs of weakness?

The answer really comes down to perspective. While the loss of 600,000 subscribers in one quarter would be catastrophic to virtually any other game, WoW is hardly struggling, as it still has a healthy 11.4 million people paying their monthly fees.

The drop-off has sent a message to the developers, though. The slow pace at which expansion packs have rolled out to date has to change, something that puts Blizzard in very unfamiliar territory.

Blizzard, historically, has been a company that has never rushed on games. It typically takes as long as it feels necessary to finish a title, and, as a result, has become one of the most adored developers in the industry, with no critical or commercial flops to its name.

But because players have become so well acquainted with Azeroth, they're getting antsy when there's no new level cap to hit -- and they're burning through expansion packs faster than anyone expected.

"As our players have become more experienced playing World of Warcraft over many years, they have become much better and much faster at consuming content," said Blizzard president Mike Morhaime during a conference call with analysts. "And so I think with [the most recent expansion] Cataclysm they were able to consume the content faster than with previous expansions, but that's why we're working on developing more content."

Rather than paying $15 per month as they wait on that new content, players are putting their accounts on hold and sampling the competition. That's proving to be good news for new entrants in the field, like the surpsingly successful Rift from Trion Worlds. And it bodes well for upcoming titles, including the EA's highly-anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic.

More than 1.5 million people have signed up to participate in the beta for the upcoming game, which some industry observers see as the title that stands the best chance of giving WoW a real run for its money in subscribers.

EA certainly is hoping to live up to those expectations.

"For us it's about creating the right experience for expanding from tier 1 and the tier 2 users to getting people who have never played an MMO before, but are interested in Star Wars, to engage and give it a try," says Eric Brown, CFO at EA. "If we do that, our addressable market is well beyond 12 million people ... into more of a general gamer population, pretty much anyone that has a minimum spec personal computer."

The exodus from WoW is also giving an opening for several free-to-play MMOs that make their money on microtransactions. Titles like Vindictus and Lord of the Rings Online scratch a similar itch as WoW, and fans are getting excited about the forthcoming Guild Wars 2, which will carry an upfront retail charge, but no monthly subscription fees.

Of course, before anyone starts working on the obituary for WoW, they might want to first do some homework.

The Cataclysm expansion sold over 3.3 million copies in its first 24 hours on shelves, according to Mike Hickey of Janco Partners. That's 18 percent better than the previous expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. In its first month, Cataclysm sold 4.7 million copies in its first month of release -- again, an 18 percent improvement.

And while the numbers are down now, they'll spike again later this year when Activision-Blizzzard releases Cataclysm in China, a ripe market for the game.

Meanwhile, the first round of tickets for BlizzCon, Blizzard's annual convention/lovefest -- and the spot where the company often announces new WoW expansion packs and gives away all sorts of WoW tsotchkes -- went on sale Saturday and sold out in minutes, with queues reportedly reaching into the 12,000-15,000 range. A second round, which will be available Wednesday the 25th, will likely go just as fast. Even with subscribers down, the company's rabid fan base will ensure that, for the time being, the king of Azeroth will keep its throne.


info Yahoo

Casino... getting there

What did you think when you hear the word Casino? Hhmm, maybe all you can think are: gambling, cards, chips, jackpot, Las Vegas ...
Indeed many negative things attached with this place, but it also could be as the 'embodiment of dreams' for you.
Well, but this time I do not want to discuss about 'gambling' casino or online casino, but a film based from the Nicholas Pileggi book which has the same title 'Casino'.

This film, starring Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone and Joe Pesci, will definitely good quality film. You are all know that Robert De Niro is a senior actor who has won multiple Oscars and Golden Globes award. So also with Sharon Stone, beside to be a model, she also won the Best Actress Golden Globe award for this film. If you're still curious and want to know more, you can follow its development in the Spotlight.

Royal Couple's Honeymoon in Paradise

If there was ever a time to abuse their power, it's on their royal honeymoon. Kate and William can go anywhere in the world now that they're newlyweds and they've chosen North Island: a small, isolated archipelago in the Seychelles owned by a guy named Farhad Vladi. "Yes, we rented the island to the British royal family," Vladi told a Hamburg newspaper. "Prince William and his Kate are spending their honeymoon there. But you will understand that we are not saying anything further."

Actually, he's already said enough. You'd think after brokering deals with Diana Ross and the Shah of Iran, Vladi would know how to keep a secret. Now that he's shared, we don't feel so bad poring over the details of their destination love-nest. Here are some factoids William is probably reading in his Frommer's right now.

# North Island is about 600 acres and it's surrounded by cliffs and coconut trees.
# There are more tortoises than people on the island. Some are as old as 150.
# It's only a boat-ride away from Kate and Will's vacation destination in 2007. They reportedly patched up their relationship at Desroches Island Resort, another luxury escape, which they checked into as "Martin and Rosemary Middleton."
# Other celebrities who have vacationed here include Roger Moore (aka James Bond) and Posh and Becks.
# P&B chose the location for their getaway in 2009, because "the security makes it like a spy base," a source told the Press Association. Since when do spy bases have thatched roofs?
# There are 11 villas that overlook the beach on North Island
# Each villa has a plunge pool
# And a butler type...not that that's anything new for William.
# It's an ethically conscious resort. Here's an example of what that means: the villas are set back from the beach to provide enough distance that they don't disorient the tortoises that lay their eggs in the sand.
# That also means you can watch tortoises give birth as you lounge by the ocean. Talk about entertainment.
# Guests receive a 20 minute massage upon arrival to "ease" them into island life, according to the North Island website. I'd love to meet the person who's having trouble relaxing.
# A movie called "Thunderbirds" was shot there . Bill Paxton is in it, case you're wondering.
# The bar and restaurant in the villa is built on an upturned tree.
# An ecologist who lives on the island offers nature tours for guests. He has a good job.
# The gallery attached to this post will make you relaxed at first and then outraged at the fact that only royalty, ecologists and giant turtles get to enjoy this island.
# Back in the '70s, the island was only inhabited by rats and cats.
# That sounds a lot like most New York City apartments. Maybe there's hope for us yet.


info Yahoo

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Used Car Buyers Make

Making a mistake buying a used car can cost you hundreds, even thousands of dollars more than necessary. That doesn’t take into account the added time and stress to make things right.

When I was Internet Manager for a major car dealer, I compiled a list of the most common mistakes my customers made when buying used cars. I’ve been giving it away for free for the last few years in hopes that it will save others unnecessary suffering.

Mistake #1 – Not checking the vehicle history report
This is a no-brainer when buying privately or from a dealer. You want to make sure the vehicle has never been in an accident, a hurricane, or had the odometer rolled back. Was it a rental unit or a lease return? Many buyers don’t like rental cars, but know that lease returns are preferred over even trade-ins at major dealerships.

Most dealers make the vehicle history report available on any car they're selling. Not so with private sellers. There are two vehicle history reports available: Carfax.com and AutoCheck.com. Both do a good job; however AutoCheck will be less expensive if you’re running a lot of reports.


Mistake #2 – Not checking the vehicle inspection report
If buying from a car dealer, simply ask to see the mechanic’s inspection report on the vehicle you want to purchase. If they won’t show it to you, you’ll need to choose between walking away from the deal and having your own mechanic check the vehicle out.

What do you do when buying from a private seller? Always have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection. This can be time-consuming and you’ll need to pay for it yourself. However, you don’t want to wake up a month down the road to find out the transmission is falling apart and that it’s going to cost you $4,500 to put it back together.

Mistake #3 – Ignoring fuel consumption
As a dealership employee, I was always surprised at how many customers arrived asking for a car that was good on gas, but then drove away in a gas-guzzling SUV they had always wanted.

It’s more difficult to ignore a vehicle’s EPA fuel mileage rating when gas prices are at $4 per gallon. The best place to research fuel consumption is a user-friendly, government website: FuelEconomy.gov. You can use this site to discover the miles-per-gallon for older model vehicles, or new ones.

Mistake #4 – Ignoring certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles
I frequently steer friends and family toward certified used cars. These vehicles not only meet a higher standard—only a few years old with a limited number of miles—but they are put through a comprehensive inspection with deficiencies repaired. Then, the manufacturer—not the dealer—provides an extended warranty and other benefits. You’ll pay a bit more for a certified pre-owned vehicle, but those benefits won’t diminish if you make a great deal on the selling price.

CPO cars, trucks, and SUVs are an especially smart buy if you’re busy and don’t have the time it takes to shop for a safe, usually less-expensive vehicle from a private seller.

Mistake #5 – Don’t comparison shop
The Internet has changed how new and used cars are bought and sold. There are now ample tools online to comparison shop. Begin on websites such as Kelly Blue Book or Yahoo! Autos to find out what a specific, pre-owned vehicle should sell for in your area. Then check sites such as Craigslist.org or Cars.com to see how similar vehicles are priced.

Remember that dealer prices are virtually always higher than the price offered from a private seller. In theory, a dealer offers more value to the end-user by taking at least some of the risk out of buying a used vehicle.


info Yahoo

Prince William and Kate Middleton honor Diana’s memory

Five months ago, when Prince William first announced to the world he’d given a ring to Kate Middleton, he made it clear that only one other woman mattered as much to him.
"It's my mother's engagement ring,” he told the press of the sapphire and diamond engagement heirloom. “Obviously she's not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all -- this was my way of keeping her close to it all."

During every step of their path down the aisle, Kate and William have made a point to keep Lady Diana’s memory alive. Today’s wedding was no exception. They recited their vows at the Westminster Abbey, the historic church where Diana’s memorial was held for 3 million mourners in 1997. Then, William was just a teenager, and his solemn march behind his mother’s coffin was in stark contrast to the beaming stride he took down the aisle today.

But the church itself wasn't the only reminder of Diana's parting. Bishop of London Richard Chartres, who also spoke at Diana's memorial, gave the wedding sermon. And during the musical portion of the ceremony, the first hymn sung was "Guide Me Thou, O Great Redeemer," the same song that concluded Di's funeral service and memorial service, 10 years after her death.

The focus wasn't only on Di's absence, but on the memory of her vibrant life. As Kate walked down the aisle in Alexander McQueen , every bit the breathtaking bride her mother-in-law was in 1981, she clutched a bouquet of Sweet William dotted with Lily of the Valley, a staple of Diana's wedding bouquet. And when it was time to say her vows, she again summoned Di’s independent spirit, by omitting the term “obey”. It was the one battle Diana Spencer picked when she agreed to marry Prince Charles. At the time, the break in tradition caused outrage among royal-watchers. Today it’s a testament to Di’s courage and trail-blazing choices.

Perhaps the biggest homage to Di’s legacy has been the subtle nods to lessons she taught both her immediate family and the royalty she’d forever be linked to. Diana’s tragic death, often blamed on a stalking paparazzi, may have influenced the couple and the royal court to keep their guard up with both paps and press during the wedding planning. When Di’s bridal dressmaker was announced, reporters famously rifled through the designer’s dumpsters hunting for information. Lesson learned, Kate kept her dress a secret despite pressure from media outlets and with souvenir factories at a standstill. It helped to have the firm backing of Clarence House, the royal press office, which closely guarded information in accordance to Will and Kate’s wishes. They’ve also accommodated the couple’s desire to have Diana’s favorite fashion photographer, Mario Testino, snap their engagement photo.

For Diana, whose outspoken voice was sometimes muffled by royal etiquette, fashion as a way to communicate with the public. Today, Carole, Kate's mother, stood in solidarity with her fellow mother-in-law. Her sky blue shantung dress was designed for the occasion by the house of Catherine Walker, Di's favorite designer. Walker, who died last year, designed at least 1,000 looks that defined Diana's style in her lifetime, including the black dress she was buried in.

Just skidding off of her teenage years, Diana became a figurehead the instant she said her vows. “At the age of 20 she has renounced forever spontaneity and privacy, freedom and independence, her red Mini Metro and her Chelsea apartment, past friendships and future intimacies other than those deemed appropriate for royal confidences,” a reporter wrote in the New York Times, the day after her July 29 nuptials. Both William and Kate, nearing the end of their 20s, were able to come into their own as individuals before they settle down with children, as they’re swiftly expected to do upon marriage. Their decision to wait, and to forge a 10-year bond, was no doubt a reaction to young Diana’s marital struggles which she claimed in Andrew Morton’s biography, started by “day two.”

For her wedding in 1981 Diana had little say in the guest list. But after her divorce, the people’s princess kept herself surrounded with a close-knit circle, some of them in attendance today, including dear friends Tessa Green and Elton John, who refashioned his song Candle in the Wind in her memory. John, along with over 1,000 other official guests, were asked by the couple to make charitable donations in lieu of gifts. Of all the bricks that built Diana’s legacy, her humanitarian work was a cornerstone.

Nine days ago, while the rest of the world fixated on every last detail of their impending nuptials, Will and Kate took a boat to his mother’s final resting place. The couple spent a quiet day at Lady Di’s remote burial site, and walking the grounds of the nearby arboretum where Will and Harry planted trees alongside their mother as boys. “It was very important for William to take Kate to visit his mum just before their wedding day," a royal insider told the Daily Mirror. “Diana is still a huge part of her boys' everyday life and always will be." This was particularly true today, as William bit his lip nervously, standing at the altar with his bride, just as his mother did on her wedding day. It was a reminder to the millions of viewers who've watched the prince become a man, he's still his mother's son.


info Yahoo