If I had unlimited money and time,
Scalini Fedeli: If you're in New York searching for some extraordinary Italian food restaurants, Scalini Fedeli is where you should go; not just for its tasty food, but also for its romantic atmosphere and friendly staff. This restaurant is located on 165 Duane Street, in Manhattan. One dish that I would have here is the Sauteed Ricotta Gnocchi in an arugula and sun dried tomato sauce finished This is a rather simple form of pasta, but I would still have it because its an original and traditional Italian dish which has not been modified in any way and also, just because its delicious. The Ricotta Gnocchi is slightly firm on the outside, soft and creamy on the inside. The sun dried tomato cream sauce has a rich toma-to flavor and the arugula adds a slightly crunchy texture.
Le Bernardin: This seafood restaurant is located on 155 West 51st Street, NY. Its a really famous restaurant and has been running for years. One dish that I would have at Le Bernardin is the White Tuna Poached in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Even though this sounds like a really common dish, its actually an improved version. The tune is set at a nice and warm temperature; not too hot not too cold. The overall quality of the tuna is excellent and was one of the best tuna's I've ever tasted. This is just one of Le Bernardin's many mouthwatering dishes. It is also knows for its soothing atmosphere and friendly staff.
ChicaLicious: When I'm in Manhattan, craving for some dessert, I'd deifinately go to ChicaLicious. This is a small but famous place focusing only on dessert and nothing else, is located on 203 E. 10th St., between 1st and 2nd street. Unlike other places, in its 3 course-meal, all the 3 courses are desserts! The dessert I would have at Chicalicious is one of its' speciallities; the Formage Blanc Cheesecake. Fromage blanc is a thick, yogurt-like cheese (similar to quark) with a unique and somewhat mild flavor. It is relatively low in fat compared to many cheeses with similar textures and can be used as a dessert topping, as well as an ingredient in other recipes. This cheesecake is something to die for; since its nearly fluffy and delicious. The atomsphere here is really nice, and one special aspect here is that the open kitchen is located right in the middle with tables surrounding it and you could see your delecious desserts being made right in front of your eyes.
Nirvana: This restaurant serves Indian cuisine, and is located on 346 Lexington Ave, in Manhattan. This is one of the most expensive and high-rated restaurants in Manhattan and combines great Indian food with a traditional Indian atmosphere. One dish that I would have here is the Paneer Makhanwala. This basically contains grilled Indian cheese cubes finished in a creamy tomato butter gravy. This is a delicious and sweet dish that is eaten with either naan or roti (oven baked flatbread which is crisp and fluffy). Overall I highly recommend this restaurant if you want to have some authentic Indian food and want an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're actually dining in India.
Sahn
Eddar: This restaurant is located in Burj Al Arab, a 7 star hotel, located off the coast of Dubai on a man-made island. It is on the ground floor; under the world's tallest atrium. The speciality of this restaurant is its chocolate fountain. I had heard about this but never tried it before so I thought I'd give it a shot. When I ordered it, a waiter walked to my table with a huge golden structure from which melted chocolate was flowing from the top. On the side of the fountain were many trays on which there were strawberries, almonds, marsh mellows, etc. which you can dip in the fountain. The melted chocolate was warm and thick. While I was enjoying the chocolate fountain, I was also amazed by the view outside the hotel. From almost all the seats in this restaurant, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Persian Gulf and Dubai's beautiful coastline.
Review of California Pizza Kitchen (CPK)
California Pizza Kitchen is a national chain restaurant specializing in pizzas, pastas, and salads. I think its a great restaurant since it doesn't only have a wide variety of food, but also has a very friendly and warm atmosphere. I have been to CPK numerous times, at different locations and I noticed that one bad aspect of CPK's service is a long wait no matter when or where you go. The first time I ever visited this restaurant was in Long Island on Old Country Road with my parents and cousins, and there was a long wait. My cousins had been there before and loved CPK so they were ready to wait, but I personally thought this would be a mere waste of time. But after my experience there, considering the service and the food quality, I must say that it was worth the wait.
CPK has a wide variety of food items to choose from and appeals to all types of people. I can say this because I'm a vegetarian and I found a lot of options at CPK, unlike most other restaurants where I find very few truly-vegetarian dishes. The menu is divided into appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. The appetizers are mainly Italian and Asian dishes; anything from Singapore shrimp rolls to Garlic cheese Focaccia to Mediterranean or Thai spring rolls. One of the salads that I've tasted and liked is the Caesar which is basically Crisp Romaine leaves, shaved Parmesan cheese and garlic-herb with Caesar dressing. In the pasta section, for people that love spicy food, is the Kung Pao Spaghetti which is classic Kung Pao sauce with garlic, green onions, peanuts and HOT red chilies.
The pizzas are obviously speciality of this restaurant, and CPK offers around 20 different types of pizzas. One speciality about the CPK pizzas is that no matter what kind of pizza you choose, you can select the special honey-wheat with whole grain crust for it. Their most famous pizza is the Original BBQ Chicken made with BBQ sauce, cheese, grilled chicken, cilantro, and red onions. Other types of pizzas include the Cheeseburger, Jamaican Jerk and Greek pizza. One pizza that I have tasted is the Italian Tomato and Basil pizza. Even though this is one of the more basic types of pizzas since it is topped with fresh tomatoes and basil, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, it is a great choice for vegetarians.
After eating all that food, you might not have room left for anything else. But for those who have a sweet-tooth, CPK offers some really nice deserts, such as the White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Red Velvet Cake. One desert that I have tried is the Chocolate Banana Royale Cake. This is basically moist cake, layered with banana cream, topped with chocolate mousse, and served with banana cream sauce and CPK's hot fudge.
Overall if I had to rate CPK out of 5 stars I would give it 4 stars. Even though the food is unique, with a wide variety, and the service is fairly good, CPK can still improve its restaurant atmosphere in some locations and minimize the long wait. I think CPK is a great restaurant and is worthy of at least one visit if not more. It has a great variety of food and appeals to all kinds of people.
CPK has a wide variety of food items to choose from and appeals to all types of people. I can say this because I'm a vegetarian and I found a lot of options at CPK, unlike most other restaurants where I find very few truly-vegetarian dishes. The menu is divided into appetizers, soups, salads, pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and desserts. The appetizers are mainly Italian and Asian dishes; anything from Singapore shrimp rolls to Garlic cheese Focaccia to Mediterranean or Thai spring rolls. One of the salads that I've tasted and liked is the Caesar which is basically Crisp Romaine leaves, shaved Parmesan cheese and garlic-herb with Caesar dressing. In the pasta section, for people that love spicy food, is the Kung Pao Spaghetti which is classic Kung Pao sauce with garlic, green onions, peanuts and HOT red chilies.
The pizzas are obviously speciality of this restaurant, and CPK offers around 20 different types of pizzas. One speciality about the CPK pizzas is that no matter what kind of pizza you choose, you can select the special honey-wheat with whole grain crust for it. Their most famous pizza is the Original BBQ Chicken made with BBQ sauce, cheese, grilled chicken, cilantro, and red onions. Other types of pizzas include the Cheeseburger, Jamaican Jerk and Greek pizza. One pizza that I have tasted is the Italian Tomato and Basil pizza. Even though this is one of the more basic types of pizzas since it is topped with fresh tomatoes and basil, Mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, it is a great choice for vegetarians.
After eating all that food, you might not have room left for anything else. But for those who have a sweet-tooth, CPK offers some really nice deserts, such as the White Chocolate Strawberry Cheesecake, Tiramisu and Red Velvet Cake. One desert that I have tried is the Chocolate Banana Royale Cake. This is basically moist cake, layered with banana cream, topped with chocolate mousse, and served with banana cream sauce and CPK's hot fudge.
Overall if I had to rate CPK out of 5 stars I would give it 4 stars. Even though the food is unique, with a wide variety, and the service is fairly good, CPK can still improve its restaurant atmosphere in some locations and minimize the long wait. I think CPK is a great restaurant and is worthy of at least one visit if not more. It has a great variety of food and appeals to all kinds of people.
Miss USA 2010, Rima Fakih, scandal
Like most Miss America pagents, this year's contest followed with controversy too. Whats different this time is that it also revolves around the fact that the winner is a Muslim. Soon after winning the Miss America title, and becoming the first Muslim woman to ever win the contest, scandals surrounded her. Her pictures were found in which she was strip dancing for a Detroit area radio station during a small radio show competition. Now the question is whether she should get to keep her tittle or not.
But whats funny about this is that Rima is actually wearing more clothes in the striping competition than in her pictures for the beauty contest. Also, this contest had taken place three years ago, and no stripping had actually taken place. A reason for the exaggeration of this issue is that many people think Morgan Woolard, Miss Oklahoma USA 2010, should have been crowned the champion. There might also be a racist reason since people might not want a Muslim girl to win an American competition. Others, like commentator and one time Bush appointee Daniel Pipes, are suspicious about women like Rima. Pipes lists five Muslim women who have all won beauty contests in the last five years, starting with Rima Fakih and ending with 2006’s Miss England, and 2005’s Miss Nottingham. He thinks that its suspicious how Muslim women have been winning some of the biggest beauty pagents in America and Europe. What people like Pipes need to understand though, is that women like Rima win only because of their beauty and their smartness; nothing else.
But whats funny about this is that Rima is actually wearing more clothes in the striping competition than in her pictures for the beauty contest. Also, this contest had taken place three years ago, and no stripping had actually taken place. A reason for the exaggeration of this issue is that many people think Morgan Woolard, Miss Oklahoma USA 2010, should have been crowned the champion. There might also be a racist reason since people might not want a Muslim girl to win an American competition. Others, like commentator and one time Bush appointee Daniel Pipes, are suspicious about women like Rima. Pipes lists five Muslim women who have all won beauty contests in the last five years, starting with Rima Fakih and ending with 2006’s Miss England, and 2005’s Miss Nottingham. He thinks that its suspicious how Muslim women have been winning some of the biggest beauty pagents in America and Europe. What people like Pipes need to understand though, is that women like Rima win only because of their beauty and their smartness; nothing else.
New York Post editorial.
Dear New York Post editor,
In your editorial "A firing Squad for Faisal" you are suggesting execution of Faisal Shahzad, the man who dropped off a car bomb in Times Square, through a firing squad. But would this really solve the problem of terrorism in the United States? Like you said, executing Faisal would only show the rest of the world our anger towards terrorism; but this is an emotion that the terrorists would love to see. The terrorists are only attacking us to cause chaos amongst us. We need to instead stand our ground and remain confident. If we trust our government and our security, we have nothing/nobody to fear.
Mayor Bloomberg said that he wouldn't abide any "backlash against Pakistani or Muslim New Yorkers." And I support him since taking action against all Muslims would be wrong and would worsen the situation. If we punish innocent Muslims for what a radical Muslim has done, we would end up making many more enemies. Also, if we murder innocent Muslims and/or ruin their lives, how are we any different from the terrorists?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/firing_squad_for_faisal_cDppiA9UbYxmsgo4eWXknI
In your editorial "A firing Squad for Faisal" you are suggesting execution of Faisal Shahzad, the man who dropped off a car bomb in Times Square, through a firing squad. But would this really solve the problem of terrorism in the United States? Like you said, executing Faisal would only show the rest of the world our anger towards terrorism; but this is an emotion that the terrorists would love to see. The terrorists are only attacking us to cause chaos amongst us. We need to instead stand our ground and remain confident. If we trust our government and our security, we have nothing/nobody to fear.
Mayor Bloomberg said that he wouldn't abide any "backlash against Pakistani or Muslim New Yorkers." And I support him since taking action against all Muslims would be wrong and would worsen the situation. If we punish innocent Muslims for what a radical Muslim has done, we would end up making many more enemies. Also, if we murder innocent Muslims and/or ruin their lives, how are we any different from the terrorists?
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/editorials/firing_squad_for_faisal_cDppiA9UbYxmsgo4eWXknI
Fox News Editorial
Dear Fox News Editor,
In your editorial named "5 Places You'll (Probably) Never Find a Supreme Court Justice" you cleverly emphasise what America will loose with the retirement of Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. With the admission of nominee Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, a lot of things will change in the US Supreme Court. For example, like you said, if Kenan is confirmed, single member of the Supreme Court will have attended Harvard or Yale. I agree with you that these 9 Justices will be making decisions involving healthcare, enviornment, terrorism, etc. even though they don't have much practical knowledge about these issues. Also, with the retirement of Stevens, the Supreme Court will loose its only US army veteran and a Protestant Justice. In United States, being a Protestant has a lot of significance as the earliest settlers and colonies were mainly Protestant.
You also mentioned the different ways to interpret the constitution by a Justice. One way could be by simply following what the constitution says and by believing that it cannot be "distorted" or open to any interpration. But if this was the case, the Court wouldn't really have much significance since its not doing anything special. The other way would be to interpret the Constitution in our own way and allow it to be ammended as scenarios change. To further strengthen your argument I would say that this is the real role of the Supreme Court and this is what the Founding Fathers themselves wanted. It can be seen in the Necessary and Proper Clause which allowed a broader interpration of the Constitution and allowed ammendments to be made as times change.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/12/peter-roff-horace-cooper-elena-kagan-supreme-court-harvard-yale-nascar-church/
In your editorial named "5 Places You'll (Probably) Never Find a Supreme Court Justice" you cleverly emphasise what America will loose with the retirement of Associate Justice John Paul Stevens. With the admission of nominee Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, a lot of things will change in the US Supreme Court. For example, like you said, if Kenan is confirmed, single member of the Supreme Court will have attended Harvard or Yale. I agree with you that these 9 Justices will be making decisions involving healthcare, enviornment, terrorism, etc. even though they don't have much practical knowledge about these issues. Also, with the retirement of Stevens, the Supreme Court will loose its only US army veteran and a Protestant Justice. In United States, being a Protestant has a lot of significance as the earliest settlers and colonies were mainly Protestant.
You also mentioned the different ways to interpret the constitution by a Justice. One way could be by simply following what the constitution says and by believing that it cannot be "distorted" or open to any interpration. But if this was the case, the Court wouldn't really have much significance since its not doing anything special. The other way would be to interpret the Constitution in our own way and allow it to be ammended as scenarios change. To further strengthen your argument I would say that this is the real role of the Supreme Court and this is what the Founding Fathers themselves wanted. It can be seen in the Necessary and Proper Clause which allowed a broader interpration of the Constitution and allowed ammendments to be made as times change.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/12/peter-roff-horace-cooper-elena-kagan-supreme-court-harvard-yale-nascar-church/
The New York times editorial
Dear New York times editor,
I am referring to your editorial, "What Haiti Needs Right Now". I agree with you that Haiti doesn't need to worry about money or any kind of aid for its reconstruction plan. After Haiti's disastrous earthquake on January 12th, it has been trying to reconstruct as fast as possible. This would usually be extremely hard for one of the poorest countries in America, but not for Haiti since it has supporters and donors all over the world. About $800 million has already been committed to relief efforts by more than 150 countries and organizations.
You said that Haiti needs a lot more money and it shouldn't be a problem. Well I agree with you but I think that most of the money that it receives in aid isn't being put to good use. Like you said, "Of the more than a million people displaced by the quake and living in fragile encampments, only a few thousand have been moved from the most flood-prone areas to new, sturdier shelter". I think the $800 million and the aid and materials that Haiti received, if put to good use, could have been more than sufficient for it reconstruction. But it careless government didn't move swiftly and decisively. After about 4 months, Haiti is still in a mess and this isn't because it doesn't have enough money or materials. But instead its because of corruption within the government itself.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/opinion/17sat1.html
I am referring to your editorial, "What Haiti Needs Right Now". I agree with you that Haiti doesn't need to worry about money or any kind of aid for its reconstruction plan. After Haiti's disastrous earthquake on January 12th, it has been trying to reconstruct as fast as possible. This would usually be extremely hard for one of the poorest countries in America, but not for Haiti since it has supporters and donors all over the world. About $800 million has already been committed to relief efforts by more than 150 countries and organizations.
You said that Haiti needs a lot more money and it shouldn't be a problem. Well I agree with you but I think that most of the money that it receives in aid isn't being put to good use. Like you said, "Of the more than a million people displaced by the quake and living in fragile encampments, only a few thousand have been moved from the most flood-prone areas to new, sturdier shelter". I think the $800 million and the aid and materials that Haiti received, if put to good use, could have been more than sufficient for it reconstruction. But it careless government didn't move swiftly and decisively. After about 4 months, Haiti is still in a mess and this isn't because it doesn't have enough money or materials. But instead its because of corruption within the government itself.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/opinion/17sat1.html
daily news editorial
Dear Daily News editor,
I agree with you that the "Curse of Our Times" is terrorism and that the United States is and always has been a major target for terrorists attacks. The 9-11 attacks, fort hood shooting, and attempted bombing at Times Square on Saturday are all examples of this. I also agree that the attempted bombing on May 1st, in one of the busiest streets in Manhattan, failed only because of a badly assembled bomb and the work of alert New Yorkers. It seems like you don't trust the government, whether state or federal, at all. But you said that "No police, not even the NYPD, can prevent acts of terror". I don't agree with this since I believe that our police is doing its best to stop terrorism, which is shown by their quick action on Saturday.
You blame all these attacks only on Islamists and Muslims, and that's not correct. Yes, radical Muslims are a part of many terrorist attacks. But its necessary to understand that not all Muslims are terrorists and that not all terrorists are Muslims. For example the attempted bombing in Manhattan on Saturday was done by an American Muslim and not just any crazy Muslim suicide bomber. Another example is the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995, done by Timothy McVeigh, an (white) American. My point is that terrorist are not just Muslims or Islamists. They could simply be people that dislike the government or want some kind of revenge.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/05/03/2010-05-03_the_curse_of_our_times.html
I agree with you that the "Curse of Our Times" is terrorism and that the United States is and always has been a major target for terrorists attacks. The 9-11 attacks, fort hood shooting, and attempted bombing at Times Square on Saturday are all examples of this. I also agree that the attempted bombing on May 1st, in one of the busiest streets in Manhattan, failed only because of a badly assembled bomb and the work of alert New Yorkers. It seems like you don't trust the government, whether state or federal, at all. But you said that "No police, not even the NYPD, can prevent acts of terror". I don't agree with this since I believe that our police is doing its best to stop terrorism, which is shown by their quick action on Saturday.
You blame all these attacks only on Islamists and Muslims, and that's not correct. Yes, radical Muslims are a part of many terrorist attacks. But its necessary to understand that not all Muslims are terrorists and that not all terrorists are Muslims. For example the attempted bombing in Manhattan on Saturday was done by an American Muslim and not just any crazy Muslim suicide bomber. Another example is the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma in 1995, done by Timothy McVeigh, an (white) American. My point is that terrorist are not just Muslims or Islamists. They could simply be people that dislike the government or want some kind of revenge.
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2010/05/03/2010-05-03_the_curse_of_our_times.html
Indian man claims to have had no food or drink for 70 years!
An 82 year old Indian man named Prahlad Jani (Mataji) claims that he hasn't had food or drink for seven decades. He is being held in isolation in a hospital in Ahmedabad, Gurjarat, where he is being closely monitored by India's defence research organization, who believe he may have a genuine quality which could help save lives.
Mr. Jani claims that he left home when he was seven and lived as a wandering sadhu or holy man in Rajasthan. He is regarded as a 'breatharian' who can live on a 'spiritual life-force' alone. He believes he is sustained by a goddess who pours an 'elixir' through a hole in his palate.
India's Defence Research Development Organisation believe that if they learn Mr. Jani's "technique", soldiers and disaster victims could survive longer without food and water.
So far, he has spent six days without food or water under strict observation and doctors say his body has not yet shown any adverse effects from hunger or dehydration. He has not eaten or drunk anything for six days and therefore has not passed urine or stool. The urine appears to be reabsorbed by his body after it accumulates in his body. Doctors will continue observing him for 15 days in which time they would expect to see some muscle wastage, serious dehydration, weight loss,and fatigue followed by organ failure.
Many Hindus in India fast as a part of their religious worship. There are many different types of fasts, depending on how religious the person is (for example, some people fast for a day without food or water, some fast for several days without food only). But fasting for 70 years without food or water, sounds really unbelievable, since the longest a human can survive without food is 50 days. In fact Jani has already been dismissed as a "village fraud". Leading Australian nutritionist, Dr Joanna McMillan Price, said the study was a dangerous and pointless exercise and that Jani will eventually have a heart attack and die.
But, Dr G Ilavazhagan, director of the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, says that if these claims are verified, it will be a major breakthrough in medical sciences
Mr. Jani claims that he left home when he was seven and lived as a wandering sadhu or holy man in Rajasthan. He is regarded as a 'breatharian' who can live on a 'spiritual life-force' alone. He believes he is sustained by a goddess who pours an 'elixir' through a hole in his palate.
India's Defence Research Development Organisation believe that if they learn Mr. Jani's "technique", soldiers and disaster victims could survive longer without food and water.
So far, he has spent six days without food or water under strict observation and doctors say his body has not yet shown any adverse effects from hunger or dehydration. He has not eaten or drunk anything for six days and therefore has not passed urine or stool. The urine appears to be reabsorbed by his body after it accumulates in his body. Doctors will continue observing him for 15 days in which time they would expect to see some muscle wastage, serious dehydration, weight loss,and fatigue followed by organ failure.
Many Hindus in India fast as a part of their religious worship. There are many different types of fasts, depending on how religious the person is (for example, some people fast for a day without food or water, some fast for several days without food only). But fasting for 70 years without food or water, sounds really unbelievable, since the longest a human can survive without food is 50 days. In fact Jani has already been dismissed as a "village fraud". Leading Australian nutritionist, Dr Joanna McMillan Price, said the study was a dangerous and pointless exercise and that Jani will eventually have a heart attack and die.
But, Dr G Ilavazhagan, director of the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences, says that if these claims are verified, it will be a major breakthrough in medical sciences
Dubai: The Land of Deams
There is something more amazing about Dubai than the worlds tallest building, first seven star hotel, man made islands or indoor ski slope; it is the vision of the Emaritis who had an ambition to transform Dubai form a barren land to an something extraordinary and unique.
It might be hard to believe but almost a decade ago, Dubai was nothing more than a desert in the middle of nowhere, completely unknown to the rest of the world. And Dubai's growth from that barren land, to a unique place with a luxurious lifestyle has been unbelievable; I have witnessed this growth myself during the 7 amazing years that I spent there. Dubai is famous for its luxurious lifestyle, expensive cars on newly constructed roads, gold and spice souk, excellent preservation of Arabian culture, and many more.
Burj Al Arab: Standing at 321 meters high on its own artificial island out form Jumeirah Beach, the Burj Al Arab is the worlds tallest hotel in the world. Its structure resembles the sail of a ship and is the tallest tower with the outer portion made of a membrane which changes color every 30 minutes. It is also one of the most expensive hotels in the world to stay in with the least expensive suites ranging from $1,000 to over $6,000 a night while the most expensive suites can cost over $15,000 a night.
It might be hard to believe but almost a decade ago, Dubai was nothing more than a desert in the middle of nowhere, completely unknown to the rest of the world. And Dubai's growth from that barren land, to a unique place with a luxurious lifestyle has been unbelievable; I have witnessed this growth myself during the 7 amazing years that I spent there. Dubai is famous for its luxurious lifestyle, expensive cars on newly constructed roads, gold and spice souk, excellent preservation of Arabian culture, and many more.
Burj Al Arab: Standing at 321 meters high on its own artificial island out form Jumeirah Beach, the Burj Al Arab is the worlds tallest hotel in the world. Its structure resembles the sail of a ship and is the tallest tower with the outer portion made of a membrane which changes color every 30 minutes. It is also one of the most expensive hotels in the world to stay in with the least expensive suites ranging from $1,000 to over $6,000 a night while the most expensive suites can cost over $15,000 a night. 
Ski Dubai: Ski Dubai brings a chilly and snowy environment to a dry and arid Dubai. You have the option of skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing or just playing around in the snow. The slope is a 400 meter run, about 85 meters high and has a chair lift for getting to the top. Adjacent to it is a snow park, complete with toboggan rides, a snow tower, a snowman-building place, ice sculptures, and a coffee shop with ice chairs and tables.
Desert Safari: Even though it might not be as well known as the other attractions, the Desert Safari is truly an amazing experience where you get a glimpse of Arabian culture. This all day experience starts off with 2 hours of thrilling dune bashing, where you ride up and down the sand dunes in a 4x4 wheel drive in a desert on the outskirts of Dubai. Then, you will stop for a while to watch the sunset; a breathtaking view. Next, you will be taken to a camp where you can go for a camel ride, have henna put on by a local lady or simply relax with a drink on traditional Arab style seating. Then, you will be entertained by dances by male dancers as well as belly dancers while you enjoy you buffet style BBQ. The desert safari is a must-do if you visit Dubai and gives you a unique taste of Arabian culture.
Burj Khalifa (aka Burj Dubai): At 2,717ft (828 metres), the tapering, silvery tower ranks as not only the world's highest skyscraper, but also the tallest freestanding structure in the world, bypassing the Taipei 101 by about 1000 feet! It has 162 floors and houses 1,044 apartments, 160 hotel rooms, and 49 floors of office space, and an observation deck at the 124th floor. Its amazing and unique structure makes it look like a silver needle poking out of the Arabian desert. The Burj Khalifa is an emblem of Dubai's hard work and dedication, and proves its belief that the sky is the limit.Why is France banning the Burqa?
France's government on Thursday said that it would apply a proposed ban on the face-covering Islamic veils on tourists as well as residents. Next month, the cabinet will examine a bill that bans wearing a burqa in public; this could even become a law by as early as July.With a population of about 64 million and with about 5 million Muslims, France has the highest Islamic population in Western Europe. Out of these 5 million Muslims, only about 2,000 women wear the burqa. The French government says that this ban is not aimed at the Muslims but at the gender inequality that the burqa signifies.
The French believe that many Muslim women are forced to wear the burqa by their husbands. This is true in many cases, where Muslim men consider women their property and think that no part of a woman's body should be seen by anyone besides her husband (in many cases Muslim men refused to let their pregnant wives and daughters be treated by male doctors, even during an emergency when no one else was available). But since I have lived in a Muslim country I know that this isn't true for all Muslims and that not all Muslim women are forced to wear the burqa. Some women simply choose to wear it because they want to preserve their culture.
I personally don't support France's proposal about baning the burqa. In a democratic country like France, everybody has basic freedoms and rights; like the freedom of religion. And the burqa, being a strong part of the Muslim religion and culture, shouldn't and cannot be banned, as this violates basic rights of French citizens.
This situation is different when you look at it as a means of preventing crime. In numerous instances, people (men and women) have worn the burqa to hide their identity and commit crimes that they, otherwise, could not have committed. Terrorists have dodge arrests for days, even months, by disguising themselves with a burqa.
But no matter what reason is used, this proposal definately violates freedom of religion, and could be challenged in the European Court of Human Rights. If the European Court or domestic courts strike it down, French President Nicolas Sarkozy would suffer his second constitutional defeat in the space of a few months - last year, his plan for a carbon tax was rejected because its many loopholes violated the principle of equality.
The actual decision, about whether this will become a law or not, will only be known after a month. I believe that the French should let the Muslims have the liberty of wearing the burqa and treat them with equality; afterall their moto is "liberte egalite fraternite".
The Problem in Mexico
Mexican government is waging a drug war with so-called drug cartels in Mexico. President Felipe Calderon's war, which has been going on since 2007, is supported by the US government. This war is a major problem, not only for the Mexican citizens, but also for the United States because of the illegal immigration and drug trade in the US.
Mexico produces Marijuana, Heroin and Methamphetamine. Also, Cocaine produced in South American countries passes through Mexico. About 90% of these drugs are bound for the United States and are sold to American drug users by the Mexican drug cartels. Even though Cocaine is a lot more expensive, the real cash crop for the cartels is Marijuana, with a profit margin of nearly 3 times than that of Cocaine. With the money that the drug cartels make, they buy American guns; because gun laws in Mexico are too strict. The cartels also bribe all kinds of people with this money; everyone from local police officers to top government officials. With everyone on their side, and with the newly bought American guns, the cartels can murder people in the Mexican streets in broad daylight. One of the major reasons for this violence is the battle between US-born drug trafficker Edgar Valdez Villareal and Hector Beltran-Leyva for control of the Beltran-Leyva organization, which was left without a leader following the December killing of Arturo Beltran-Leyva by Mexican naval commandos.
But this problem is not contained within Mexico; rather, it has spread out to the US border states that share a 2200 mile border with Mexico. The Mexican citizens are too afraid to be on the Mexican streets anymore-because of all the violence and chaos caused by the cartels-and are therefore illegally entering the United States. With nearly 460,000 illegal immigrants, Arizona is the state with the most illegal border crossings. To combat this illegal immigration problem, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed a bill that requires police to question people about their immigration status — including asking for identification — if they suspect someone is in the country illegally. This new law, will take effect in late July or early August, and has led to numerous protests already.
Will this problem of illegal immigration and drug trafficking ever be resolved? Will the cartels be arrested and punished for all the crimes they have commited? In my opinion, this situation has gone out of hand. I think the Mexican government isn't taking the cartels seriously enough, because with all the aid and support from the US government, the cartels can easily be wiped off. It is rumoured that the Mexican government is considering making Marijuana legal to appease the cartels but that would mearly worsen the situation. The only way Mexico could regain its original state is if America would send in troops to fight directly with the cartels. This would wipe them off completely and ensure peace for citizens of both Mexico and the United States.
Mexico produces Marijuana, Heroin and Methamphetamine. Also, Cocaine produced in South American countries passes through Mexico. About 90% of these drugs are bound for the United States and are sold to American drug users by the Mexican drug cartels. Even though Cocaine is a lot more expensive, the real cash crop for the cartels is Marijuana, with a profit margin of nearly 3 times than that of Cocaine. With the money that the drug cartels make, they buy American guns; because gun laws in Mexico are too strict. The cartels also bribe all kinds of people with this money; everyone from local police officers to top government officials. With everyone on their side, and with the newly bought American guns, the cartels can murder people in the Mexican streets in broad daylight. One of the major reasons for this violence is the battle between US-born drug trafficker Edgar Valdez Villareal and Hector Beltran-Leyva for control of the Beltran-Leyva organization, which was left without a leader following the December killing of Arturo Beltran-Leyva by Mexican naval commandos.
But this problem is not contained within Mexico; rather, it has spread out to the US border states that share a 2200 mile border with Mexico. The Mexican citizens are too afraid to be on the Mexican streets anymore-because of all the violence and chaos caused by the cartels-and are therefore illegally entering the United States. With nearly 460,000 illegal immigrants, Arizona is the state with the most illegal border crossings. To combat this illegal immigration problem, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer signed a bill that requires police to question people about their immigration status — including asking for identification — if they suspect someone is in the country illegally. This new law, will take effect in late July or early August, and has led to numerous protests already.
Will this problem of illegal immigration and drug trafficking ever be resolved? Will the cartels be arrested and punished for all the crimes they have commited? In my opinion, this situation has gone out of hand. I think the Mexican government isn't taking the cartels seriously enough, because with all the aid and support from the US government, the cartels can easily be wiped off. It is rumoured that the Mexican government is considering making Marijuana legal to appease the cartels but that would mearly worsen the situation. The only way Mexico could regain its original state is if America would send in troops to fight directly with the cartels. This would wipe them off completely and ensure peace for citizens of both Mexico and the United States.
The worlds most expensive stuff!
Most Expensive Cell Phone: iPhone 3GS Supreme. $2.97 million
Stuart Hughes—who also designed the most expensive television—made headlines in 2009 when he crafted a 22-carat gold iPhone studded with 53 diamonds for an unnamed Australian businessman for £1.92 million. More recently, he says, he was commissioned to make an even pricier version of the phone in 18-carat rose gold with hundreds of diamonds, including a single-cut, 7.1-carat diamond for the main navigation button.
Most Expensive Television: PrestigeHD Supreme Rose Edition. $2.3 million
Swiss luxury television maker PrestigeHD asked Stuart Hughes of Goldstriker International to design a spectacular piece for the company, says Hughes. So he took a 55-inch PrestigeHD television and covered it in 28 kilograms of 18-carat rose gold and 72 diamonds. Alligator skin was hand sewn into the bezel. This limited edition TV, introduced just this year, surpasses Hughes' £1 million television for PrestigeHD, which uses 22-carat yellow gold and 48 diamonds. PrestigeHD CEO Simon M. Troxler says the company is close to closing its first contract for the Supreme Rose Edition and "we are very confident that the limited edition of only three TVs will be sold out soon."
Most Expensive Motorcycle: Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike. $700,000
The Dodge Tomahawk, a 1,500-lb. motorcycle with four wheels, has a Dodge Viper's V10 engine and can go from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, according to Edmunds.com. The top speed is estimated to be more than 300 mph. The vehicle, which made its debut at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, was reportedly priced at $550,000, but a Dodge spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg Businessweek that two units were sold at an even higher $700,000.
Most Expensive Speakers: Transmission Audio Ultimate System. $2 million per pair
With a total of 12 units—four dipole subwoofers, two dipole mid-woofers, four dipole medium-frequency and high-frequency ribbon panels, and two dipole high-fidelity super ribbon panels—Transmission Audio's Ultimate speaker system is a hefty piece of equipment, spanning 37 feet and weighing 5 metric tons. All units are made from aircraft aluminum and have stands in polished red or black granite. The set was introduced in late 2009, and so far two pairs have been preordered, says Bo Bengtsson, president of Transmission Audio. None has yet been delivered, as the assembly time is about six months.
Stuart Hughes—who also designed the most expensive television—made headlines in 2009 when he crafted a 22-carat gold iPhone studded with 53 diamonds for an unnamed Australian businessman for £1.92 million. More recently, he says, he was commissioned to make an even pricier version of the phone in 18-carat rose gold with hundreds of diamonds, including a single-cut, 7.1-carat diamond for the main navigation button.Most Expensive Television: PrestigeHD Supreme Rose Edition. $2.3 million
Swiss luxury television maker PrestigeHD asked Stuart Hughes of Goldstriker International to design a spectacular piece for the company, says Hughes. So he took a 55-inch PrestigeHD television and covered it in 28 kilograms of 18-carat rose gold and 72 diamonds. Alligator skin was hand sewn into the bezel. This limited edition TV, introduced just this year, surpasses Hughes' £1 million television for PrestigeHD, which uses 22-carat yellow gold and 48 diamonds. PrestigeHD CEO Simon M. Troxler says the company is close to closing its first contract for the Supreme Rose Edition and "we are very confident that the limited edition of only three TVs will be sold out soon."Most Expensive Motorcycle: Dodge Tomahawk V10 Superbike. $700,000
The Dodge Tomahawk, a 1,500-lb. motorcycle with four wheels, has a Dodge Viper's V10 engine and can go from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds, according to Edmunds.com. The top speed is estimated to be more than 300 mph. The vehicle, which made its debut at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, was reportedly priced at $550,000, but a Dodge spokesperson confirmed to Bloomberg Businessweek that two units were sold at an even higher $700,000.Most Expensive Speakers: Transmission Audio Ultimate System. $2 million per pair
With a total of 12 units—four dipole subwoofers, two dipole mid-woofers, four dipole medium-frequency and high-frequency ribbon panels, and two dipole high-fidelity super ribbon panels—Transmission Audio's Ultimate speaker system is a hefty piece of equipment, spanning 37 feet and weighing 5 metric tons. All units are made from aircraft aluminum and have stands in polished red or black granite. The set was introduced in late 2009, and so far two pairs have been preordered, says Bo Bengtsson, president of Transmission Audio. None has yet been delivered, as the assembly time is about six months.
iPhone 4g rumours may be true after all!
After a report from Spanish tech blog Applesfera surfaced this morning claiming the leaked pictures of Apple’s iPhone 4G/iPhone HD were actually of a Japanese counterfeit, everyone seemed to have moved on. But a recent development has swung momentum back to the “Yes, these are real” side.A new post by tech blog Engadget, originator of the iPhone 4G/iPhone HD pictures, offers proof the shots are indeed of Apple’s next iPhone. In the post, the site offers a picture initially received the night prior to Apple’s iPad revealing. That picture, allegedly from an Apple test lab, shows the iPad covered in testing materials. At the time, this was the only real leaked image of the iPad. Lying to the right of the iPad, however, is what appears to be the phone believed to be the iPhone 4G/iPhone HD. Squinting, it bears a striking resemblance to the device in the leaked pictures, with an aluminum, squared-off side complete with two distinct round volume buttons.
Engadget goes on to report a source who confirms the device is in fact the next iPhone backs up existing rumors of upgraded specs, including a higher-resolution screen, front-facing camera and upgraded rear camera with flash. In addition, the belief a SIM card slot is on the side of the phone is confirmed, making use of recently released micro SIM cards, which are used in the iPad, but not previous-generation iPhones.
New, beter version of the iPhone!! the iPhone OS 4.0 that can do many, MANY more things than your regular iPhone!
One thing that ive always hated about the iPhone is that it cannot run third-party apps in the background along with other apps (basically like minimizing stuff on a computer). But this is finally coming to an end with the major OS revision for the Apple iPhone. It will be coming with more than a 100 new, exiting features like multitasking, a unified email inbox, support for Apple's new iBookstore, a social gaming network, a series of interface enhancements (such as app folders and wallpapers for the home screen), and many more
Multitasking:
Here's how it'll work: If you're running an app on the iPhone — anything from the core Mail app to, say, a game like Tap Tap Revenge — you just double-click the Home key to pull up a small window shade at the bottom of the screen, which can show four apps at a time (just swipe to scroll through more running apps). Tap an app in the new multitasking "dock" and you'll switch to the app, with the first app's state saved in the background. So now, for example you could listen to music on Pandora, while browsing the internet, etc.
Multitasking:
Here's how it'll work: If you're running an app on the iPhone — anything from the core Mail app to, say, a game like Tap Tap Revenge — you just double-click the Home key to pull up a small window shade at the bottom of the screen, which can show four apps at a time (just swipe to scroll through more running apps). Tap an app in the new multitasking "dock" and you'll switch to the app, with the first app's state saved in the background. So now, for example you could listen to music on Pandora, while browsing the internet, etc.
A universal e-mail box:
In iPhone OS 4.0 users will get a single, unified in box, just like BlackBerry users have enjoyed since ... well, forever. You'll also be able to "fast switch" between accounts, sort messages by thread, and open attachments with a third-part app (nice). Also, good news for Exchange users: No longer will you be restricted to a single Exchange account.
In iPhone OS 4.0 users will get a single, unified in box, just like BlackBerry users have enjoyed since ... well, forever. You'll also be able to "fast switch" between accounts, sort messages by thread, and open attachments with a third-part app (nice). Also, good news for Exchange users: No longer will you be restricted to a single Exchange account.
Home screen changes:
Untill now, users couldnt really do anything special to their homescreens. But now, users can set up a "folder" icon that contain simillar apps (for example, a folder for all games). This will not only sort your apps out, but also boost the number of apps that can be displayed on the iPhone's home screen from 180 to more than 2,100.
Untill now, users couldnt really do anything special to their homescreens. But now, users can set up a "folder" icon that contain simillar apps (for example, a folder for all games). This will not only sort your apps out, but also boost the number of apps that can be displayed on the iPhone's home screen from 180 to more than 2,100.
Social gaming network:
Social gaming networkThe Xbox 360 has Xbox Live, the PS3 has the PlayStation Network, and now the iPhone will have Game Center, a new social gaming system that'll let you earn achievements, invite pals to your personal gaming network, compare top scores on leaderboards, and square off with other players via matchmaking.
Social gaming networkThe Xbox 360 has Xbox Live, the PS3 has the PlayStation Network, and now the iPhone will have Game Center, a new social gaming system that'll let you earn achievements, invite pals to your personal gaming network, compare top scores on leaderboards, and square off with other players via matchmaking.
So, do you like these new features in the iPhone OS 4.0? And if so which one do you like best?
The Rarest Video Games!!
Think some games nowadays are getting way too expensive? Think youve seen the most expensive and rare video games? Well, there are some games out there that are so rare that only a few copies exist, and those few are ridiculously expensive.
NTSC Stadium Events: $40,000 (sealed box)!!!A sealed Stadium Events sold for $40,000 in March 2010, which makes it the most expensive game ever sold. The game was recalled by Nintendo soon after release so they could market it as World Class Track Meet. Collectors need to be careful they don't mistake the [much less valuable] PAL version of the game for the NTSC version.
Nintendo World Championships Gold: $18,00026 of these were given out in a Nintendo Power contest after the 1990 Game Championship took place in Universal Studios. These were the same games used during the video game competition, but they are in gold colored cartridges like the original Zelda for NES. The games include Super Mario, Rad Racer, and Tetris and limits game play to 6 minutes and 21 seconds. Only 13 of these are accounted for, so another 13 are out there somewhere.
1994 Powerfest Cartridge: $20,000There is only one of these known to exist. This game was used at the last national video game competition Nintendo ever held...Nintendo made 33 of these for the competition, so there could be more somewhere in the wild, but they were all supposed to be destroyed after the event.
Nintendo Campus Challenge: $20,100Only one of these is known to exist in the world -- the one copy was found at a garage sale in New York in 2006. Like Nintendo World Championships, it was used in a video game competition held by Nintendo. The game includes Super Mario 3, PinBot, and Dr. Mario on the same cartridge and stops the game after six minutes.
Rivals to the iPad
Ever thought of buying an iPad but can't because it's too costly. Well, here's some Pad's and Slate's that work very much like the iPad but are sold at a much cheaper price.
Plastic Logic QUE pro Reader: Developed by Plastic Logic, the QUE proReader caters to business professionals and is presented mostly as an eReader. The QUE comes in two models, priced from $649 to $799, featuring full color on its 8 1/2" x 11" display and Wifi connectivity, the device is 1/3" thick and is operated using a touch screen interface.
The QUE is expected to launch in April 2010 and plans to use the Barnes & Noble bookstore for its eBook sales.
HP SlateExhibited as a prototype in the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, HP's iPad competitor is scheduled to come out later this year.
A model was exhibited during the CES keynote by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who demonstrated how the "Slate PC" can utilize the Windows 7 operating system, a webcam and USB ports, as well as "Kindle for PC" applications and various other video functions. The touch screen device is expected to cost about $550, although there has been no official announcement on price.
ICD Vega: Another potential competitor to the iPad is the Vega, which was announced in November 2009 and is expected to hit the market in the first half of this year. Produced by Innovative Converged Devices, the Vega is expected to run the Android 2.0 operating system and features a large, 15.6" touch screen, although two smaller sizes will be available. The device will have 32 GB of internal SD storage, a removable charging dock/stand and the ability to play on-demand Web TV, according to the company.
Plastic Logic QUE pro Reader: Developed by Plastic Logic, the QUE proReader caters to business professionals and is presented mostly as an eReader. The QUE comes in two models, priced from $649 to $799, featuring full color on its 8 1/2" x 11" display and Wifi connectivity, the device is 1/3" thick and is operated using a touch screen interface.The QUE is expected to launch in April 2010 and plans to use the Barnes & Noble bookstore for its eBook sales.
Notion Ink Adam: Expected to be released mid-summer 2010, the Ink Adam will start at $327, with the more robust models priced up to $800. The device can support 1080p high definition video on its 10" screen and also features a 3 megapixel camera, according to the company.
It promises 3G connectivity, as well as a multitasking interface that utilizes the Android operating system, which allows the user to run applications concurrently.
It promises 3G connectivity, as well as a multitasking interface that utilizes the Android operating system, which allows the user to run applications concurrently.
HP SlateExhibited as a prototype in the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show, HP's iPad competitor is scheduled to come out later this year.A model was exhibited during the CES keynote by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, who demonstrated how the "Slate PC" can utilize the Windows 7 operating system, a webcam and USB ports, as well as "Kindle for PC" applications and various other video functions. The touch screen device is expected to cost about $550, although there has been no official announcement on price.
New Nintendo DS in 3-D!
Nowadays, everythings coming out in 3-D; whether its a new movie, a TV or a camcorder. But it was quite interesting to learn that video-game consoles, like the Nintendo DS, will be coming out in 3-D as well. And whats even more surprising is that you don't require 3-D glasses!
Nintendo made it official on Tuesday that it will soon be releasing a new version of its handheld video game console, in 3-D. This new version, which has been nicknamed the 3-DS, is not only going to change the gaming industry, but would also boost the 3-D feature (without glasses) in other technology fields. Nintendo said that the sales for the DS were slowing, even though they were more than its rival, Sony's PSP. But having the first 3-D feature in a portable device would really help in boosting DS's sales.
To me its quite interesting how this technique (3-D without the glasses) works. Its never been done before and honestly I wasn't expecting it to be done by Nintendo. I thought a TV company would probably come out with a 3-D TV that wouldn't require the glasses. And its not just the name of the company thats shocking, but the fact that its being done on a small portable handheld gaming console. Also, I'm expecting the new DS's price to rise up a lot. But, it is obviousy worth the money since you would be experiencing something that never been done before; playing games in 3-D without the 3-D glasses.
Nintendo would not say how it employs this 3-D technology in a handheld console, or how much it would cost. But Nintendo did announce that the 3-DS would support old and new DS games. They also said that the 3-DS would be on exhibition at E3, and would start selling them by March or April, 2011.
Google moves its China search to Hong Kong
Just this Monday, Google announced that its going to shut down it's google.cn site (in China) and will redirect its users to the google.hk (in Hong Kong). Until now, Google has been censoring search results in China because the Chinese government, as always, wanted to keep the people isolated and wanted the search results censored.
It is said that Google had two conferences with officials from the Chinese government about this censorship issue, and that the second one was a "disaster". Google announced in January that it no longer intended to censor its users search results and will soon be doing something about it. Google also disclosed that there was a cyberattack, and which they believe was caused by hackers working for the Chinese government. Googles database and at least 30 other U.S. companies had been targeted by them. So now, Google has decided to redirect its users in China to its uncensored Hong Kong site. This way, its wouldn't be illegal and its user's searches wouldn't have to be censored.
This decision of Google was supported by the U.S. government wholeheartedly. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a policy speech in January praising Google for its actions and urging Internet companies to do their part in upholding freedom on the Internet.
I believe that Google has made the right decision. The people in China should be given that same freedom of the Internet that everyone else receives. This allows the people in China freedom of expression and information that they deserve. Also, its an important decision to challenge the censorship of the Chinese government and shows that they have no right to keep their citizens isolated from the rest of the world.
Russian cows watch LED TV's!!
Some lucky cows in a Russian barn get to watch TV all day; something that we long for. And these are no small, old TVs, but brand new Samsung 7000 LED TVs.
All this started when a Russian farmer learnt from somewhere that cows that watch videos and movies and are happy, are more productive than others. So, he got them a non-stop loop of Swiss Alps, showing green pastures and trees, and played them on brand new Samsung TVs. But only half the cows has this golden opportunity while the other half had to live the same boring life. The farmer did this to compare the cows and see whether this technique actually works on them, and whether they become more productive.
All this started when a Russian farmer learnt from somewhere that cows that watch videos and movies and are happy, are more productive than others. So, he got them a non-stop loop of Swiss Alps, showing green pastures and trees, and played them on brand new Samsung TVs. But only half the cows has this golden opportunity while the other half had to live the same boring life. The farmer did this to compare the cows and see whether this technique actually works on them, and whether they become more productive.
So what was the result of this? Though a person would love a life where he/she could watch TV all day, the cows have no effect of television on them and don't show any change. They weren't amused by these beautiful pictures and weren't any more productive than the other cows.
But even though these cows didn't show any change, I don't think this 'experiment' was a waste. It benefited the farmer because he got all the media attention that he probably wanted. And the cows obviously benefited because they got to watch unlimited TV. And even though these cows might eventually end up in someones burger, at least they can say that they lived the good life.
Samsung's new 3-D TV
Samsung's C9000 series LED HDTV, measuring nearly 0.3 inches, is the worlds most thinnest tv. And sleekness is only the beginning. These C9000's come in 3D!! What can you watch on 3D? Well, the Samsung 9000's have the ability to convert 2D to 3D, so you can watch your home videos, your DVD collection or absolutely anything you put up on the TV.Besides the sleekness and the 3d feature, another cool thing is the Internet on TV. You can stream videos straight from the Internet. Also, just like every things got an app store nowadays, so does Samsung. You can access the app store and make purchases directly from your C9000 TV.
Another exiting feature is its remote; a 3 inch touchscreen full color remote. Why would you need a touchscreen full color remote? Well because on this remote you can preview a channel before switching to it, watch blu-ray on the TV and cable on the remote; basically this remote helps you not miss a single second of your favorite show. But what if you have to run to the kitchen, won't you miss the programming then (like always)? Not at all, because now you could take the remote with you, and watch the programming on it, without having to miss a single second. Also, through this remote, you could stream up music, videos and photos wirelessly into the TV.
This TV is available in numerous sizes and prices listed below. So is it worth it? Well, absolutely. If you are looking for a new TV with the latest features this is what you might want. Even though the prices might look a little too high, you should also see the amount of features that this TV offers; the sleekness, the 3D feature, internet compatibility, touchscreen remote and many more. 
A Dog-Washing Machine!
Have you ever had a hard time washing your dog, because they smell, are dirty and don't want to be washed. Well, the Japanese are here with their solution (like always).
In Japan, where buzy Japenese are always inventing something to save time and effort, the dog washing machine is nothing new. Well, but for us it is. This machine doesn't just look like an industrial washing machine but works like one too. The pets are put inside a small cabin in which water is sprayed form 37 nozzles for about 4 minutes, which is followed by a 20 minute drying cycle. The water is set to a temprature that is comfortable to most pets, and the shampoo doesn't hurt their eyes.
But imagine yourself as that dog for a moment. Would you like being forced to sit inside a small cabin where water is sprayed on you (you can't even set the temprature yourself), and where you are treated like a piece of garment?? I don't think so. Even though this machince looks really time saving and helpful, they only help the pet owners and not the pets; the pet owners are saved from the dirty and smelly task of washing their pets.
But imagine yourself as that dog for a moment. Would you like being forced to sit inside a small cabin where water is sprayed on you (you can't even set the temprature yourself), and where you are treated like a piece of garment?? I don't think so. Even though this machince looks really time saving and helpful, they only help the pet owners and not the pets; the pet owners are saved from the dirty and smelly task of washing their pets.
In my opinion, this machine is really harsh on the pets and, even though it might be attractive in buzy Japan, I don't think the Americans or even the Europeans are going to accept it.
What is my blog about?
My blog is mainly about the latest updates on the electronics and technology. You can find news and reviews about the latest gadgets; whether its about an apple iphone, a panasonic 3-D TV or a new HP laptop. And right now, when new gadgets are made every second, I will keep you informed and updated on tech news. I will tell you the pros and cons of these new gadgets and whether they are worth buying or not. Also, you could ask me questions, if you want to know more about a gadget, or if you have problems with it. (for example you can ask me how to jailbreak you itouch or iphone, etc). I will keep you informed and updated on whats new in this gadget filled world.
Blogs you should visit
There are many amazing blogs out there that talk about many interesting things. But according to me, there are 3 blogs that you should definitely visit. So, visit these blogs if you want to know more about:
Sports (Football) and latest events in school: http://nightdreamz04.blogspot.com/ by Jenie James. Her blog talks about the latest happenings in national sports, mainly football. In one post, Jenie gave us a detailed review of the Saints vs. Vikings and the Jets vs. Colts game. She also explained why the Jets and the Vikings lost and gave her own opinion as to who should win the Superbowl. Jenie not only talks about sports, but also the latest events in school. In another post of hers, she talked about her experience as a teacher when she did Junior Achievement. So, if you are a football fan or if you want to know whats new in school, visit Jenie's blog.
Everything: http://mohammadsayz.blogspot.com/ by Mohammad Rahman. As the name tells us, this blog is about everything, from latest technology and gadgets to celebrity gossips to national news. He also gives his own opinions about what gadgets are worth buying or about what celebrity gossip is only a rumour, etc. In one recent post, Mohammad tells us about a rumour that Trey Songz is bisexual. He tells us that along with dating women, Trey was also in a relationship with industry professional Brandon Hines for 6 to 7 months! He also tells us that many of Treys fans would start hating him for this and would not accept his music like they did before. In a more recent post, Mohammad blogged about the Archos 5 Internet tablet. He told us why the Archos 5 is an amazing new gadget and reviewed some of its features (HDMI port, Internet library for downloading apps, external keyboard, etc). So, if you want to know the latest gossips in the celebrity world, or if you want to know more about latest gadgets in the market and whether they are worth buying or not, take a look at Mohammad's blog.
Sports (Basketball): http://rockstar-100.blogspot.com/ by Tauhidul Ovik. Tom's blog focuses on news about basketball teams, mostly the Lakers. He also has his own opinions on the outcome of basketball games and blogs a lot about the famous Laker player, Kobe Bryant. In one of his recent posts, Tom talks about the game between the Lakers and the Toronto Raptors. He gave us a detailed review of the game and its players; Kobe particularly. He told us that Kobe scored 32 points in the game and the Lakers won the game by just 2 points. He also gave us his own opinion as to which teams he would like to see in the finals; the Lakers and Cavs. So, if you are a big basketball fan (and who isn't), make sure you visit Tom's blog.
Sports (Football) and latest events in school: http://nightdreamz04.blogspot.com/ by Jenie James. Her blog talks about the latest happenings in national sports, mainly football. In one post, Jenie gave us a detailed review of the Saints vs. Vikings and the Jets vs. Colts game. She also explained why the Jets and the Vikings lost and gave her own opinion as to who should win the Superbowl. Jenie not only talks about sports, but also the latest events in school. In another post of hers, she talked about her experience as a teacher when she did Junior Achievement. So, if you are a football fan or if you want to know whats new in school, visit Jenie's blog.
Everything: http://mohammadsayz.blogspot.com/ by Mohammad Rahman. As the name tells us, this blog is about everything, from latest technology and gadgets to celebrity gossips to national news. He also gives his own opinions about what gadgets are worth buying or about what celebrity gossip is only a rumour, etc. In one recent post, Mohammad tells us about a rumour that Trey Songz is bisexual. He tells us that along with dating women, Trey was also in a relationship with industry professional Brandon Hines for 6 to 7 months! He also tells us that many of Treys fans would start hating him for this and would not accept his music like they did before. In a more recent post, Mohammad blogged about the Archos 5 Internet tablet. He told us why the Archos 5 is an amazing new gadget and reviewed some of its features (HDMI port, Internet library for downloading apps, external keyboard, etc). So, if you want to know the latest gossips in the celebrity world, or if you want to know more about latest gadgets in the market and whether they are worth buying or not, take a look at Mohammad's blog.
Sports (Basketball): http://rockstar-100.blogspot.com/ by Tauhidul Ovik. Tom's blog focuses on news about basketball teams, mostly the Lakers. He also has his own opinions on the outcome of basketball games and blogs a lot about the famous Laker player, Kobe Bryant. In one of his recent posts, Tom talks about the game between the Lakers and the Toronto Raptors. He gave us a detailed review of the game and its players; Kobe particularly. He told us that Kobe scored 32 points in the game and the Lakers won the game by just 2 points. He also gave us his own opinion as to which teams he would like to see in the finals; the Lakers and Cavs. So, if you are a big basketball fan (and who isn't), make sure you visit Tom's blog.
HTC Legend Android phone reviewed
With a sparkling 3.2-inch AMOLED, five megapixel camera with flash, running on a 600 MHz CPU and Android 2.1 and of course all possible connectivities you can imagine, the HTC Legend has the potential to be an outstanding smartphone.
It sports a touchscreen rather than a full QWERTY and has pretty much the characteristics of its predecessor, the HTC Hero. However, compared to the Hero, almost every feature and hardware specification has received an upgrade, supposedly making it much less buggy than first generation HTC Android phones.
America's obsession with celebrities
"Tiger Woods had an affair with a cocktail waitress... so his wife beat him up!! Naomi Campbell slaps her driver!! Who was wearing what at the Oscars?? Which celeb is dating who?? Read and find out all about it"
When we usually see these headlines in magazines such as Star and People, we are tempted to read about them. But why do we even care about whats going on in celebrity's lives? Why do we take their problems more seriously than our own? Its because we are obsessed with them and their fame. In my opinion, Americans love the "celebrity life" where you could be famous and have absolutely anything that money can buy. They want to be celebrities, and if not, something very much like celebrities. We think that celebrities are just perfect; they look perfect and live a perfect life. And its this "perfectness" that we want to achieve too.
One thing I don't understand is why celebrities receive so much attention when they are people just like us. They are just more richer, famous and better looking than us. But they are normal people, and they have normal lives too. So why do people go crazy about what's going on in their personal lives; who they are dating, where they go to have dinner, etc. And if they are just normal people like us, why do they influence our lives so much. Yes, even though we might not admit it, we know that celebrities influence our lives more than anything. For example, teens nowadays want to be like modern rappers; they want to dress like them, look like them and even talk like them. Girls, on the other hand, wonder how they could be as beautiful or as skinny as Paris Hilton.
I think that this obsession with celebrities is, in part, because of the technology and the media. The media knows what the people want to hear and try to gossip about celebrities as much as they can. They know that more people would read or watch their news if it was about celebrities than if it was about something else like politics. And they do their job so well that we cannot wait for our issues of People or US Weekly, so that we could read all the gossips and rumours. Its this media that made a big deal out of Micheal Jackson's incident, and called him a "pedophile". The Internet is another reason for this obsession. There are millions of websites that keep you updated on all the latest celebrity news; even if the news were as small as who is Miley Cyrus's new crush. Even celebrity fan pages on Facebook gossip about celebrities personal lives.
In my opinion, its okay to keep ourselves informed about whats going on in the celebrity world, but we shouldn't let ourselves become so obsessed with them that we want to know every small detail about their personal lives. Also, the celebrities that really deserve this obsession and fame are the ones that have made efforts to make a difference and are not just fame and money seeking celebrities. For example Oprah Winfrey, Green Day, Angelina Jolie, etc. These are the people that have stepped out out of their celebrity lives, and become "normal" people like us. They know the pain that "normal" people go through in our everyday and show it to us through the charities they make. (For example, Angelina Jolie visited Haiti and donated money after the disastrous earthquake there.) These are the influential celebrities that really connect with us, and they are the ones that we should aim on becoming like. Also, we don't necessarily have to be rich and famous to become celebrities. We could do something good and help someone out to become celebrities in our own society.
When we usually see these headlines in magazines such as Star and People, we are tempted to read about them. But why do we even care about whats going on in celebrity's lives? Why do we take their problems more seriously than our own? Its because we are obsessed with them and their fame. In my opinion, Americans love the "celebrity life" where you could be famous and have absolutely anything that money can buy. They want to be celebrities, and if not, something very much like celebrities. We think that celebrities are just perfect; they look perfect and live a perfect life. And its this "perfectness" that we want to achieve too.
One thing I don't understand is why celebrities receive so much attention when they are people just like us. They are just more richer, famous and better looking than us. But they are normal people, and they have normal lives too. So why do people go crazy about what's going on in their personal lives; who they are dating, where they go to have dinner, etc. And if they are just normal people like us, why do they influence our lives so much. Yes, even though we might not admit it, we know that celebrities influence our lives more than anything. For example, teens nowadays want to be like modern rappers; they want to dress like them, look like them and even talk like them. Girls, on the other hand, wonder how they could be as beautiful or as skinny as Paris Hilton.
I think that this obsession with celebrities is, in part, because of the technology and the media. The media knows what the people want to hear and try to gossip about celebrities as much as they can. They know that more people would read or watch their news if it was about celebrities than if it was about something else like politics. And they do their job so well that we cannot wait for our issues of People or US Weekly, so that we could read all the gossips and rumours. Its this media that made a big deal out of Micheal Jackson's incident, and called him a "pedophile". The Internet is another reason for this obsession. There are millions of websites that keep you updated on all the latest celebrity news; even if the news were as small as who is Miley Cyrus's new crush. Even celebrity fan pages on Facebook gossip about celebrities personal lives.
In my opinion, its okay to keep ourselves informed about whats going on in the celebrity world, but we shouldn't let ourselves become so obsessed with them that we want to know every small detail about their personal lives. Also, the celebrities that really deserve this obsession and fame are the ones that have made efforts to make a difference and are not just fame and money seeking celebrities. For example Oprah Winfrey, Green Day, Angelina Jolie, etc. These are the people that have stepped out out of their celebrity lives, and become "normal" people like us. They know the pain that "normal" people go through in our everyday and show it to us through the charities they make. (For example, Angelina Jolie visited Haiti and donated money after the disastrous earthquake there.) These are the influential celebrities that really connect with us, and they are the ones that we should aim on becoming like. Also, we don't necessarily have to be rich and famous to become celebrities. We could do something good and help someone out to become celebrities in our own society.
Brizzly: the new best (free) twitter app
It's not that Brizzly's perfect, or that it does justice to its source material (the unassailably pretty, wonderfully lean Birdfeed)—it's that it comes close enough, and it's free.
First, a quick lesson in the history of iPhone Twitter apps! Once, there was an app called Birdfeed. It was clever, fast, and visually distinctive. In fact, it was (up until just now) quite possibly one of the best Twitter apps available. It was also expensive, at $5. The developer, who was tired or something, sold the app to a little startup called Brizzly, which aggregates Twitter and Facebook feeds into a single interface (it's actually kinda neat, as an online service.) And so here we are.
First, a quick lesson in the history of iPhone Twitter apps! Once, there was an app called Birdfeed. It was clever, fast, and visually distinctive. In fact, it was (up until just now) quite possibly one of the best Twitter apps available. It was also expensive, at $5. The developer, who was tired or something, sold the app to a little startup called Brizzly, which aggregates Twitter and Facebook feeds into a single interface (it's actually kinda neat, as an online service.) And so here we are.
Brizzly's rerelease (not an update; Birdfeed is no longer in the store) of Birdfeed changes the name, tweaks the UI, and slashes the price down to zero. The interface isn't as dazzling as it was before, and Birdfeed's trademark lack of a menu bar has given way to a standard row of icons. Brizzly actually adds a few new features, including a trending topics-esque News tab, for explaining what's going on in your feeds, and the same lovely pull-down feed refreshing as the other best iPhone Twitter app, Tweetie.
Even its apparent shortfallings aren't so bad: Yes, you have to sign up for a Brizzly account in order to use the app, but one you have, it's completely transparent. It's like Meebo in that sense. And no, the app doesn't have push notifications of its own, like Echofon does, but premium Twitter apps have long offloaded that responsibility to dedicated push apps like Boxcar. (Which is great beyond Twitter, by the way.)
In short, if you need a Twitter app but don't want to pay, Brizzly's the one.
Naomi Campbell's misbehavior
Supermodel, Naomi Campbell, was claimed to have assaulted her driver. Miodrag Mejdina, 27, claimed that Naomi slapped and sluggard him while he drove in Manhattan on March 2nd, 2010. He said that Naomi was upset about how her boyfriend, Russian Vladimir Doronin. And she slapped him on the back of his head and neck causing him to hit his head on the steering wheel. Then, Naomi fled when her driver stopped her Cadillac Escalade, and police have not yet found her. This isn’t the first time that Naomi Campbell has been in trouble for assaulting. In 2008, she pleaded guilty to assaulting a pair of police officers during a foulmouthed fit at Heathrow Airport. She was sentenced to 200 hours of community service and fined $4,500. The previous year, she pleaded guilty to tossing her crystal-studded Blackberry at housekeeper Ana Scolavino at her Manhattan pad. She was ordered to attend anger management classes and serve five days of community service at the city Sanitation Department garage in lower Manhattan.The main point to see here is the amount of attention that celebrities receive. And this attention is not always good. For example, Tiger Woods incident with his car crash put him in the limelight for a long time and affected his career. He was taken out from all the commercials that he was doing and was in a lot of trouble. So as you can see, even though everyone wants to be a celebrity, and even though celebrities are very successful, they receive unwanted media attention.
Cool Leaf flat input devices
Cool Leaf is an input system that's perfectly flat, and wonderfully mirrored. A Japanese company called Minebea pioneered it, and they're demonstrating it with a keyboard, calculator, and remote control that are complete key top-free.The immediately apparent benefit—other than the crazy-futuristic look— is that the devices would be easy to clean: no keys for dust or crumbs to get stuck behind or under. The reflective surface also looks great, although I'd be worried about smudging.
Technologically, what Minebea has done is pretty fancy: they've combined backlights, force sensors, and a new film from a company called Toray Industries to create the world's first "electrostatic capacity type touch panel and a load sensor." Which to me reads "ooo, shiny!" No word yet on when products like this will be commercially available, but when they do I'll be ready with my wallet and a chamois cloth.
5 google secrets
Google, as we all know, is one of the best search engines on the internet. Its always finding new ways to make your searching easier. Heres 5 search techniques or secrets that might help you with you day to day searches.Expanding or shortening search: Adding symbols before words: add a '+' sign before a word to make google search for more common word or phrases that it would normally exclude. Add a '-' sign to exclude certain words form your search. Add a '~' sign in front of a word to search for that word and its synonyms.
Calculator: just type in any equation and google will show you the answer right in the suggestions box. Dictionary lookup: type in define and a word in google and it will show you accurate definitions.
Weather: If you want to know the weather, just type in the word "weather" in google and it will show you your local weather in the search suggestions. You could also type in your zip code or name of city after wether. Why Haiti recieved more attention than Chile did
A massive earthquake that struck Chile on February 27th, is the fifth strongest earthquake in around 100 years. The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th was much weaker, yet it received more attention than Chile's earthquake. Why??
Firstly, Haiti's earthquake was a major one in a quiet some time and therefore received much more sympathy and media attention. The Chile earthquake, on the other hand happened later and was nothing new for the public. Also, Chile has had a history of earthquakes and was well prepared for it, whereas the last one to hit Port-au-Prince in Haiti was 250 years ago. The Haitian government was not expecting an earthquake and was not prepared while Chile is used to getting hit by major earthquakes.
Another reason is that even though the earthquake in Haiti was not as strong as in Chile, Haiti suffered much more destruction and loss of lives. The earthquake in Haiti was of 7.0 magnitude and killed around 200,000 people while the one in Chile was 8.8 magnitude that killed only around 1000 people. Since Haiti suffered more loss, it recieved much more attention from, not just media, but also other donors and international agencies.
The richness of the two nations is another reason. It is believed that richer nations suffer fewer deaths from the "same quality" shock. When Haiti, the most poorest nation in the Americas, was hit by an earthquake, everyone ruched to help it and it therefore recieved a lot of attention. Whereas Chile on the other hand is relatively rich and can support itself and doesnt really need all that help and media attention. Also, Chile has strict building codes unlike Haiti. In Haiti, the buildings are made out of poor building materials and are not able to withstand earthquakes. Chile is used to getting hit by earthquakes and has its buildings and offices built to withstand earthquakes.
Therefore the earthquake in Haiti received much more attention from the media and the people, than the earthquake in Chile. For more information:
CNN http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/28/stark.chile.quake.haiti/index.html?hpt=C2
The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/27/chile-haiti-earthquake-co_n_479705.html
MSNBC http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35623502/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/
A review of my day as a teacher.
Yesterday I taught a class of 4th graders in P.S. 33 and the experience was just great. I took part in an event called Junior Achievement that the Scholars Institute offers. This event lets high school students teach elementary school children for one whole day. Since this event had already been postponed once because of the snow day, I was really looking forward to it and hoped that this time it would be 'for real'.
When we reached there, we were taken to the auditorium and the children gave us some information about Martin Luther King Jr.'s achievements. The children spoke very softly and weren't in sync, but overall they did good and even sang a nice song. When me and my partner, Ramanit, reached the class that we were supposed to teach, we found the children very welcoming. It was a really good class, except for some children that wouldn't stop talking (what else would you expect from elementary school children). But the teachers have good techniques to keep the children quiet such as the call bell, the countdown from 5 to 1(no one would dare talk after 3!), etc.
There were some kids in that class who knew almost everything that we were going to teach them, which became a little annoying after a while. But the children were all well behaved (They form two straight lines when going to lunch and gym) and have good manners. Also, once they know you, they will talk to you about anything and everything and are really fun to be with. Another amazing thing is that the children will get so attached to you and will love you so much that by the end of the day they won't want you to leave.
I think Junior Achievement is an absolutely amazing event. You go there to teach the children and you come back having learnt something yourself. It makes you realize that being a teacher is not easy at all and that they play such an important role in our lives. I always envied teachers because, I thought that while the students spent all their time doing homework and studying, the teachers simply sat in class, talking (they got to talk in class!!) about stuff that we never understood. But now I know what it takes to be a teacher (I was so exhausted by the end of the day that when I reached home I slept for at least 3 hours and was thinking of not going to school the next day).
I would love to do Junior Achievement again and I strongly urge you to do it if you have a choice. Its an amazing and a memorable experience.
When we reached there, we were taken to the auditorium and the children gave us some information about Martin Luther King Jr.'s achievements. The children spoke very softly and weren't in sync, but overall they did good and even sang a nice song. When me and my partner, Ramanit, reached the class that we were supposed to teach, we found the children very welcoming. It was a really good class, except for some children that wouldn't stop talking (what else would you expect from elementary school children). But the teachers have good techniques to keep the children quiet such as the call bell, the countdown from 5 to 1(no one would dare talk after 3!), etc.
There were some kids in that class who knew almost everything that we were going to teach them, which became a little annoying after a while. But the children were all well behaved (They form two straight lines when going to lunch and gym) and have good manners. Also, once they know you, they will talk to you about anything and everything and are really fun to be with. Another amazing thing is that the children will get so attached to you and will love you so much that by the end of the day they won't want you to leave.
I think Junior Achievement is an absolutely amazing event. You go there to teach the children and you come back having learnt something yourself. It makes you realize that being a teacher is not easy at all and that they play such an important role in our lives. I always envied teachers because, I thought that while the students spent all their time doing homework and studying, the teachers simply sat in class, talking (they got to talk in class!!) about stuff that we never understood. But now I know what it takes to be a teacher (I was so exhausted by the end of the day that when I reached home I slept for at least 3 hours and was thinking of not going to school the next day).
I would love to do Junior Achievement again and I strongly urge you to do it if you have a choice. Its an amazing and a memorable experience.
What to do if you upgraded itouch or iphone to 3.1.3 firmware
Okay so recently many people told me that they fell for Apples firmware update to 3.1.3. Meaning that you accidently upgraded your itouch or iphone from w.e. firmware you had to 3.1.3. Once you upgrade your itouch or iphone, all the stuff that you downloaded "illegaly" will obviously get erased. But that doesnt mean you cant jailbreak it again. For the iPhone 2G,3G & iPod Touch 1st,2nd gen NON MC models you can jailbreak using redsnow.
But unfortunately, there is no jailbreak for the MC models. (If you dont know wether youve got an MC model, go to settings-general-about-model. ) Some people said that you could downgrade to 3.1.2 but thats not possible and Apples not gonna let you do that. So basically if you have an MC model, you have to wait for another jailbreak to come out for it.
But if you have a NON MC model, then you could look up the videos on youtube for jailbreaking 3.1.3 firmware. The one link I have is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rklxwqpKAVs
But unfortunately, there is no jailbreak for the MC models. (If you dont know wether youve got an MC model, go to settings-general-about-model. ) Some people said that you could downgrade to 3.1.2 but thats not possible and Apples not gonna let you do that. So basically if you have an MC model, you have to wait for another jailbreak to come out for it.
But if you have a NON MC model, then you could look up the videos on youtube for jailbreaking 3.1.3 firmware. The one link I have is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rklxwqpKAVs
Killer whale kills its trainer!
This killer whale killed a trainer in Sea World, Orlando. And guess what? I've actually seen this whale and the trainer when I went to Sea World in Florida last year. They are called Shamus and the Shamu show is a must see if you go to Sea World. They are really well trained and the show is a lot of fun.
One whale, named Tilikum is also very well trained but i guess it was in a bad mood when it killed tranier Dawn Brancheau. This happened after a Shamu show, when Brancheau was massaging Tilikum and she slipped into the water. Tilikum then held Brancheau in its jaws and started swimming really fast around the tank. Just then the alarm sounded and the staff members rushed the audience out of the stadium. The park was also immediately closed. By the time help arrived Brancheau was obviously dead.
This isn't the first time that Tilikum was involved in a murder. In 1991, Tilikum was blamed for killing a trainer when the woman lost her balance and fell in the pool at Sealand of the Pacific in Victoria, British Columbia. Then in 1999, a man who sneaked in, was found dead in the Tilikums pool. He died of hypothermia but there were bites and scratches on him also.
But this doesn't mean that all Shamus are agressive and bad. When you see their show, they are so well trained, they perform tricks that you've never seen and that you will never see because only those Shamus can do them.
Schools spies on students!!
There have been numerous cases where a school was spying on its students through school-issued laptops; this is absolutely unacceptable. One example is Harrison High School in Pennsylvania. This school captured pictures of students and even their family members as they undressed!! The Macbooks that the school had given every student had security features that could let the school remotely activate the webcams to "track lost or stolen laptops". But the school used these laptops to spy on students and everybody is very upset about this.
But how did everyone find out about this? It started when the assistant principle of Harrison High School told a student, Blake J. Robbins, that he was doing "improper" stuff. She thought Blake was selling drugs because of what she saw on the laptop. But it turns out that Blake was just holding Mike-N-Ikes. Blake then filed a lawsuit against the school and when the other parents and students found out about this, everybody was really really upset. And they should be because a school can't interfere in your personal lifes and spy on you.
To read more about this article go to http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/tech/School-Spies-on-Students-at-Home-with-Webcams-Suit-84712852.html
But how did everyone find out about this? It started when the assistant principle of Harrison High School told a student, Blake J. Robbins, that he was doing "improper" stuff. She thought Blake was selling drugs because of what she saw on the laptop. But it turns out that Blake was just holding Mike-N-Ikes. Blake then filed a lawsuit against the school and when the other parents and students found out about this, everybody was really really upset. And they should be because a school can't interfere in your personal lifes and spy on you.
To read more about this article go to http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/tech/School-Spies-on-Students-at-Home-with-Webcams-Suit-84712852.html
Haitian man survives under earthquake rubble for nearly 4 weeks!
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th, left many survivors deep under the rubble of buildings and houses.
One such survivor has now been found, 4 weeks after the earthquake hit Haiti! 28 year old Evans Monsigrace, a rice vendor, had just finished selling rice when the earthquake took place. He was rescued on Monday by some people digging under the rubble of the Croix Bossal market in Port-au-Prince. He was first taken to a Salvation Army medical center. He was then moved to the University of Miami hospital because of his critical condition. Evans suffered from extreme dehydration and malnutrition, but did not appear to have significant crushing injuries, the doctors said. He reported receiving water form a man in a white coat. But doctors cannot confirm this and say that he was probably suffering form hallucination. Scientists say that survival beyond 10 days, for someone who is trapped, requires an unusual combination of circumstances, including an uninjured, healthy victim and access to water and air. If Evans' claims are ture, it would make him the longest survivor so far in the Haiti earthquake.Haiti is part of the island of Hispaniola, that it shares with Dominican Republic. It is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. More than 150,000 people were killed and 1.5 million left homeless in the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th. Since then, aid from numerous countries and International aid agencies has arrived, and many survivors have been rescued.
For more information regarding Evans visit http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/08/haiti.rescue/index.html
For donating to Haiti victims visit http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article6987704.ece
Spammers are exploiting users through mails about sensational new stories.
"Bomb Blast." "Jackson is still alive: proof." "Obama cursed by Pope." These are just a few of the subjects used by cybercriminals last year to trick people into opening malware-infected e-mails.
Spam that uses the latest news headlines was just one of the hot trends last year in the world of cybercrime, according to McAfee's "Q4 Threats Report", released Tuesday. The latest threat assessment also noted a rise in "hacktivism," or politically motivated cyberattacks.
The crash of an Air France plane and the death of Michael Jackson in June continued to be top themes for spammers to exploit throughout 2009, notes McAfee. The swine flu also triggered a slew of e-mails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control but which actually carried viruses in the form of Zeus Trojans. The surge in unemployment led to a rise in spam touting get-rich-quick schemes. And as always, terrorism and unrest around the world contributed to subject lines designed to scare people into opening malware in their in-box.
So learn to recognize these e-mails and do not be prompted to open it.
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