Logitech outs the G110 gaming keyboard

Personalization

Customizable backlighting: We put in red and blue backlighting LEDs and give you control in the Profiler software over how they are mixed together, so your G110’s backlighting can be red, blue, or pretty much any shade of purple you can imagine.


12 programmable G-keys and three M-keys: Give you the power to assign up to 36 single keystrokes, multi-key macros, or intricate LUA scripts. And, using the MR key, you can configure macros on the fly. The Profiler software also allows you to configure each M-key mode to have a different color backlighting, so you can know at a glance what mode you’re in.


Automatic game detection: Lets you create separate custom G-key programming profiles for every game you play.

Game mode switch: Easily disable the Windows and Context Menu keys, so that accidentally pressing them doesn’t kick you out of your game.

Connectivity



Integrated headset support: Works with any standard headphones or headset with 3.5mm plugs, like the Gaming Headset G330, and turns them into a high-quality USB audio device.


Hi-Speed USB 2.0 hub port: Plug your flash drive or favorite gaming mouse into this convenient low-power port.


One USB cable: Unlike other gaming keyboards with these features, the G110 gives you convenient audio jacks and a USB hub port without a tangled mess of cables at the back of your computer. All you need is one available USB port.

Mac and PC software included: Whether you’re a Mac or a PC, we’ve got you covered.

Source :http://blog.logitech.com

Alternative Energy Sources

Source :www.affordablesolarpanels.com

Alternative energy is no longer a secret. Most of the world’s energy needs are fulfilled by fossil fuels including gasoline and coal. It cannot be denied, however, that their supply is no longer in a stable state, their prices have gone up and they have been found to cause damage to the environment.


The negative effects of the use of fossil fuels are taking its toll on Mother Earth and mankind. Pollution mainly from the burning of fuels has long been pointed as a major cause of the earth’s deterioration and man’s health problems notably those related to respiratory illnesses. Additionally, world prices of fuel don’t show signs of going down to its original level forcing man to search for alternative sources of energy.

Alternative energy basically pertains to sources of energy other than those that involve the burning of fossil fuels or splitting of atoms. The earth has actually a huge supply of it which can be used free of charge and what’s great about this is that they’re environment friendly and renewable.


Today, there are a number of alternative energy forms that are clean to use and causes very little or no harmful effects to nature at all. These are solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, tidal energy, nuclear energy and biofuel.

1.Solar energy

Every year, the earth gets more than enough energy from the sun as much as 35,000 times the total energy needs of man. One-third of this solar energy is either absorbed by the outer atmosphere or reflected back into space. Today, this form of energy is used in furnaces for homes and for heating swimming pools. Its major applications are in power plants, space ships and in running cars.

2.Wind energy

The power of the wind is never harmful to people and the environment. It is one of the oldest and cleanest forms of energy. While it is dependent on the weather and location, wind energy is very helpful in a lot of ways specifically in generating electricity through the use of windmills. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the worldwide wind market will grow by more than 155 percent by 2012. The total capacity is expected to reach 240 GW.

3.Geothermal energy

This type of energy comes from the earth’s core where temperatures are high and constant all year round. This is ideally used in home heating systems because of its benefits. It can also be used to generate steam to operate a steam turbine.

4.Hydroelectric energy

This form of energy is also very old and a well developed one. It utilizes the potential energy existing in the water. Basically, this comes from the damming of rivers which helps in generating cheaper electricity. However, it still has a limited capacity for expansion.


5.Tidal energy

This is also useful in electricity generation and works in the same manner as that of the conventional hydroelectric dams. The natural motion of tides is used to fill water reservoirs which are then slowly released via turbines that produce electricity.

6.Nuclear energy

This used to be known as the “jewel in the crown” among the alternative sources of energy. However, due to the Chernobyl accident and the “Three Mile Island” incident, it has received negative feedback. While nuclear fission can be a good source of energy, many people are objecting to its use due to safety reasons. The only hope is nuclear fusion which poses no safety and waste issues. Unfortunately, no solution has been created to develop its potential.

7.Biofuel

This can be made from organic matters such as plants, wood and animals. Its main ingredients are ethanol from plant materials and methane from animal wastes. Today, its main use is in the transportation industry as an alternative gasoline to run land vehicles. While it is commonly used in developed nations, many developing countries are also now using biofuels.

Source:http://www.alternativeenergysecret.com

HTC Tattoo: Another Android phone with HTC touch LCD

On the webpage intended to give an overview of this new mobile phone, which is included on the official HTC website, we can read the following: “HTC Tattoo is all about you. It’s the first phone that can be customized inside and out. Decide how your phone looks, then decide what you want to look at. Texts? Twitter? Your photos? When you’re done customizing HTC Tattoo, you’ll have a phone that speaks loudly about who you are and what you’re into.”


HTC Tattoo is a latest-generation mobile phone with a lot of great features. With this phone, you will be able to chat, write and send text messages, make tweets of 140 characters or less, and use all the widgets you want in a very accessible way in order to be connected to a wide range of online services. If you want to play games, you can do it too: You only need to go to the Android Market and download all the games you want to play.

Are you a music fan? With HTC Tattoo you can group your music collection by album and artist, or create playlists, so you will be able to listen to your stored music at any time without needing to make an endless search process… yes, every song will be within your reach with a very easy access point. The same thing applies to the photos. Besides, you will also be able to access your or your friends’ photo collections on Flickr or Facebook.

HTC Tattoo was designed to be an extremely user-friendly mobile device. The search button will allow you to find any person in your contact list in a fast and easy way, or find a specific e-mail in your inbox folder, or search on the web, or find a task / appointment in the calendar application.

Specifications

Processor Qualcomm® MSM7225™, 528 MHz
Platform Android™ 1.6
Memory ROM: 512 MB
RAM: 256 MB
Dimensions (LxWxT) 106 x 55.2 x 14 mm ( 4.17 x 2.17 x 0.55 inches)
Weight 113 grams ( 3.99 ounces) with battery
Display 2.8-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen with 240x320 QVGA resolution
Network HSDPA/WCDMA:

Europe/Asia: 900/2100 MHz
Up to 384 kbps up-link and 7.2 Mbps down-link speeds
Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE:

850/900/1800/1900 MHz
(Band frequency and data speed are operator dependent.)

Device Control 4-Way navigation control with Enter button
GPS Internal GPS antenna
Connectivity Bluetooth® 2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate and A2DP for wireless stereo headsets
Wi-Fi®: IEEE 802.11 b/g
HTC ExtUSB™ (11-pin mini-USB 2.0)
3.5 mm audio jack
Camera 3.2 megapixel color camera
Audio supported formats MP3, AAC(AAC, AAC+, AAC-LC), AMR-NB, WAV, MIDI and Windows Media Audio 9
Video supported formats MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 and Windows Media® Video 9
Battery Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
Capacity: 1100 mAh
Talk time:
Up to 342 minutes for WCDMA
Up to 390 minutes for GSM
Standby time:
Up to 520 hours for WCDMA
Up to 340 hours for GSM
(The above are subject to network and phone usage.)

Expansion Slot microSD™ memory card (SD 2.0 compatible)
AC Adapter Voltage range/frequency: 100 ~ 240V AC, 50/60 Hz
DC output: 5V and 1A
Special Features G-sensor
Digital Compass
FM Radio

Source : http://www.myddnetwork.com,http://www.htc.com

Tips For Reducing Body Weight

Pic Source : http;//www.topnews.in

Whatever happened to just enjoying good food, in moderation, without guilt? These global tricks reveal it's possible, and show you how.

1. Stop eating before you're full. The Okinawans, whose average BMI is 21.5 for those who eat a traditional diet, call this hara hachi bu, or eating till you're 80 percent full. Of course, we're not suggesting that you leave the table hungry. But eating until the buttons pop stretches the stomach by about 20 percent each time you do it, so you inevitably need more food to feel satisfied, explains Bradley Willcox, MD, co-author of The Okinawa Diet Plan. He says that putting your fork down "when you feel that first twinge of fullness" gives your brain a chance to realize that you are full before you overdo it.

2. Drizzle on the healthy oils. Healthy fats like olive oil, a staple of the Mediterranean diet, and canola oil, a staple of Okinawans, make vegetables tastier, so you're likely to eat more of them. And, as we know, eating a diet rich in produce is key to maintaining a healthy weight.


3. When you're eating, just eat. No other culture multitasks meals the way Americans do with our TV dinners, fast-food drive-throughs and grab-'n-go food that's designed to fit into a car cup holder and be eaten with one hand. In Japan, it's considered rude to eat while walking. And you'll never catch the French gulping coffee in the car. "In France, there are no car cup holders because you don't drink coffee while driving," explains Will Clower, PhD, author of The Fat Fallacy : The French Diet Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss. "Eating and drinking aren't errands. It's not what you do on the way to something else." Good advice. When you're distracted by work, traffic or the TV, you're apt to overeat without even realizing it, notes Dean Ornish, MD, author of Eat More, Weigh Less. "If you really pay attention to what you're eating, you enjoy it more fully and don't need as much food."


4. Get moving. People in Asian countries, France and the Mediterranean tend to be slim because they're more active. Not that they spend hours at the gym; they simply walk a lot.


5. Enjoy regular meals. One reason French women don't get fat is because French women eat three meals a day. You may think skipping meals cuts calories, but all it does is evoke a primal "fear of hunger response" that causes overeating later, explains Dr. David Katz, MD, author of The Way to Eat. "Throughout most of our history, we had too little to eat. So when you go for long periods without eating, you stir up all that native programming, which says eat like crazy when you can, because all too often you can't." Start with breakfast. Studies show that breakfast-eaters are slimmer than skippers.


6. Dine with others. Eating with family or friends vs. alone in your car, at your desk or on the couch is part and parcel of traditional cultures. Not only does camaraderie make the meal more enjoyable, it's slimming. "Eating with others restrains your own behavior," notes Dr. Katz. "You eat more slowly, which increases the likelihood that you'll register when you're full before you've eaten more than you should."



7. Chow down only when you're hungry. Americans eat for all sorts of reasons besides hunger, especially from boredom, loneliness, stress or fear, a foreign concept in other cultures. "You can't make food the solution to every issue in your life and expect to be thin," says Dr. Katz. "If you eat from boredom, find a hobby. If you eat to relieve stress, learn meditation or yoga."


8. Have a glass of wine. A staple of French and Mediterranean tables, wine adds joy to the meal, and because it contains potent antioxidants, is at least partly responsible for why these cultures traditionally have lower rates of cardiovascular disease and mortality despite their higher-fat diets. And while some studies show that we tend to eat more when we drink, a Finnish study actually found that male drinkers were leaner than abstainers.

Source :http://shine.yahoo.com/

Maintain Your PC

Source : http://www.pc-blog.info

Your PC represents a large investment for you. But hands up, those of you who worry about your PC crashing, the CPU overheating, the hard disk failing or the monitor goes off when you need it most.

Many computer users worry about these and more - so here are ten tips to help your PC hum along trouble-free.

Apply them on a routine basis and I'm sure you'll see a difference in your computing experience!



Source : www.scsplus.co.uk

1. Get Rid of Dust

One of the most common causes of overheating is dust and dirt. So you need to keep your system clean, inside and out. Try to clean it once a year using lint-free wipes. Make sure you use an antistatic wrist strap as well to protect your system when cleaning inside the case.


2. Get Power Protection

One of the saddest things in many PCs is that they are not surge protected. Surge protectors are a good investment - they protect your PC from that unfortunate power outage or lightning strike. Try to get one that has a warning indicator and is UL 1449 certified.


3. Turn Off the Monitor

One tip I always apply at home - turn off the PC monitor when its not in use. I treat the computer monitor like a TV - don't waste your monitor's power if you're not using it. This is especially important in LCD monitors, which may burn out or get bad pixels after long periods of use.


4. Keep the PC Running

Many people don't realize that its harmful to power up your computer from a cold state. This is especially true when done repeatedly within a short timeframe. Try to leave your PC running as long as possible - or use the Microsoft Windows' Power Management settings to put your machine into hibernation rather than completely shutting down.


5. Hard Drive Health Check

If you use Windows XP, you should regularly check your hard disk's health with an error-checking utility. In Windows Explorer, click on the drive's icon, select Properties -> Tools -> Check Now. If the check discovers several hundred errors, your drive could be full of bad sectors - you'd best backup your important data and then try to get it repaired.


6. Get an Anti-Virus Program

I still find it amazing that many home computer users do not have an anti-virus program installed. This piece of software is fundamental to any computer system. You should definitely consider getting a program like Norton Antivirus to protect against harmful attacks.


7. Check the CMOS battery

If you have a very old PC (four or five years old), the CMOS battery on the motherboard may need to be replaced. The first sign of a bad CMOS battery is when your system clock starts losing time.


8. Take Care when Opening the Case

Whenever you open the PC case, turn off the power and unplug your PC. Ground yourself first - by touching anything inside the PC to avoid destroying your circuit boards with a static charge. Another option is to wear a grounding wrist strap. I've destroyed my computer power supply before because I forgot about this point.


9. Maintain the Mouse

What's one of the dirtiest components in a PC that you come in contact with? Yes - it's the modest little mouse. Years of using a mouse will get it filled with dirt and grime.

If you have a mechanical mouse, you'll realize this when the mouse starts to move erratically. To clean it, unscrew the mouse and use a small scraper to scrape the dirt off the two plastic rollers inside. Also remember to clean the scroll wheel if there is one. If you have a optical mouse, you need not worry about any internal rollers but you still need to clean the scroll wheel.


10. Clean Up the Registry

If you always add and remove computer programs in your PC, you can be sure the entries in your Windows Registry are pretty much in a mess. A clogged Windows Registry increases the time your PC boot up time and hogs system resources. Try to get a tool to help clean the registry safely, such as Registry Mechanic. Do not try to clean the registry yourself if you're not sure what you're doing.


Source : http://www.build-your-own-computers.com

Basic Yoga For Beginners

Graphic Source : discover-yoga-online.com

Basic Yoga Session - Yoga Exercise and Pose

Set your gym equipment aside. Yoga Exercise will only require you 30 minutes each day, a Yoga Mat or blanket, and a small exercise space.

You might be surprised to learn that your body can actually do things you did not think possible. Take the wide range of Yoga Poses that can help an individual attain a high level of self-awareness, balance, and strength. The seven primary types of movements that your body can make through Yoga exercise are flexion, extension, hyperextension, abduction, adduction, rotation, and circumduction. You can do a combination of these movements to have a stronger, more flexible, and balanced body.

Yoga is one good way of relaxation. It can ease the tension building in your muscles and joints without experiencing fatigue and overexertion. The Yoga exercise is also believed to make a practitioner look younger. The basic yoga moves involved in the poses and exercises will provide inner peace and radiant health.

These are some of the things to keep in mind before indulging into Yoga Exercise:

* Know your body limits.
* If you want to enjoy the activity, don't push too hard. This could also avoid hurting yourself in the process.
* It is advisable to start with a teacher so you will be guided on the yoga basic positions. If that is not possible, good books or videos on Yoga Exercise can help you get started.
* Consult a health professional before starting to do the exercises, especially if you have certain medical conditions.

The Asanas or the Yoga Poses usually start in breathing slowly and deeply, concentrating your mind, and making yourself centered. Remember that your body movements and breathing must be coordinated until such time that they are one and the same. Your breathing will also be your guide on when to start or stop the Yoga Exercise. Coming into a pose, holding it, and coming out of it must be continuously done with gracefulness.

The Main Groups of Yoga Postures

The main groups of yoga postures are: standing, seated, reclining (prone & supine), forward bends, back bends, side bends, twists, inverted and balancing postures.\

Standing Postures


These poses invigorate the mind and body by eliminating tension, aches, and pains. Internally, these postures stimulate digestion, regulate the kidneys, and alleviate constipation, as well as improve circulation and breathing by developing the strength of the legs and the flexibility of the pelvis and lower back. Through regular practice, standing poses lend strength and mobility to the hips, knees, neck, and shoulders. On a psychological level, standing poses create confidence, enhance willpower, and strengthen character.

Seated Postures

Generally, these poses are considered calming, as they soothe the nerves, eliminate fatigue, and refresh the brain. They also help regulate blood pressure and assist in recuperation from illness, as well as promote restful sleep. Some poses are beneficial in that they increase flexibility in the lower back, hips and hamstrings.

Reclining Postures

These poses fall into two categories: prone and supine poses. The prone poses are done facing the floor, either on the hands and knees or lying on the stomach. They rejuvenate and energize the body and can be especially strengthening for the arms and back. Supine poses are done while lying on the back. For the most part, these poses are more relaxing and restful. Reclining poses serve mainly to stretch the abdomen and increase the mobility of the spine and hips, thus opening the groin and strengthening the back, arms, and legs. The less strenuous of these poses traditionally are done at the end of a practice session to cool down the body and restore energy.

Forward Bends

Forward bends improve the blood circulation, aid digestion and calm the emotions. They stretch the lower back and lengthen the hamstrings

Back Bends

Back bends invigorate and encourage deep breathing. They open and energize the body and mind; they develop courage and lift depression. They open the chest, stimulate the nervous system, strengthen the arms and shoulders and increase flexibility of the spine.

Side Bends

Side bends stimulate the main organs, for example the liver, kidneys, stomach, and spleen.

Twists

These postures free, energize and balance the body. Sitting twists are the most intensive, as they increase the range of motion of the spine. They promote flexibility in the spine, hips and upper back, thus relieving backaches, headaches, and stiffness in the neck and shoulders. This group of postures also tones and stimulates the abdominal organs, thus aiding digestion and relieving constipation. Ideally, twisting postures are done after a series of sitting poses or forward bends, which gives the hips and spine a proper warm-up. When done after backbends, they tend to relieve any lower back discomfort.

Inverted Postures

Inverted postures reverse gravity, bringing fresh blood to the head and heart, thus revitalizing the mind and the whole body. These poses tone the internal organs and glandular system, stimulate brain function, improve circulation and refresh tired legs.

Balancing Postures

Balancing postures develop lightness, strength and agility. They also help develop body control, muscle tone, coordination, and concentration.

In yoga, the body is gently and skillfully maneuvered in all directions. Consequently every muscle is stretched and toned. The internal organs are massaged, squeezed, and expanded, improving their general function. The skeletal system is flexed, extended, rotated, and twisted, creating greater joint mobility. The spine is encouraged to maintain a healthy, upright, and pain-free condition. The circulation is improved. The breathing capacity and elasticity of the lungs is enhanced.

Source :http://www.abc-of-yoga.com,http://www.yogaforbeginners.com

Top 10 Tourist Destinations around the World

Graphic Source :www.wired2theworld.com

Paris

Paris tops the list of top 10 holiday destinations around the World. The capital of France, Paris or the City of Lights, is located by the River Seine and lies in the northern part of France and is a big city vibrant as well as attractive that is home to more than two million Parisians. Paris has some famous landmarks including the twelfth century cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris and of course, the world famous nineteenth century Eiffel Tower. Paris is also well known for the entertainment that one can savor including operas, of which the largest opera houses are the Opera Garnier as well as the more modern Opera Bastille.

Spain

Spain is a wonderful country that attracts many tourists thanks to its sunny climes and affordable holidays and there is also a lot to see and do in Spain. Spain is one of the most famous and popular holiday destinations in Europe. To name a few must see places in Spain include Estepona, Granada, Costa Calida, Valencia, Costa Blanca, and of course, Madrid the capital city!

United States

United States, or the United States of America, is one of the world’s wonderful tourist destinations, located in Northern America. United States boasts of such a great number of tourist attractions that it takes years to explore all of them! Few to mention are the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Grand Canyon, the Mount Rushmore, the former spot of the World Trade Center in New York, Disneyland, Lincoln Park, and Las Vegas - the Entertainment Capital of the World.

China

The third largest country in the world – China is one of the important places in Asia, with great ethnic as well as cultural diversities. Apart from being home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Wall, which can be seen even from the space, China has many fascinating tourist attractions from Shaolin Temple in Henan Province to Hong Kong to the gardens of Hangzhou.
Rome

Rome, a breathtaking city with a certain air of timelessness about itself, is the capital of Italy and the most populated commune in the country. The tourist season in Rome begins at Easter and continues up to October, spring and autumn being the peak periods when tourists pour in from various parts of the world. Some of the must see places in Rome include The Roman Forum, Concrete Roman Colosseum, The Pantheon, St Peterâ Square - The Colonnades.
Greece

Greece is a wonderful country that has a very rich history of culture as well as values and is home to the earliest civilizations and it also is the birthplace of the Olympics. Greece is a popular tourist destination that sees more than fifteen million tourists visiting the country every year to discover Greece for themselves. Greece has much to offer including the Acropolis, Peloponnese, Ancient Agora¸ Temple of Hephaestus, Athens, National Archaeological Museum¸ Andros Island, and several interesting festivals, like the Rockwave Festival.

Goa

Goa, with its charming beaches, thrilling nightlife, exotic cuisines, and historic edifices, and a unique blend of Konkani and Portuguese, it is one of the much sought after anytime summer holiday destinations in India. Another aspect you may note about Goa is the carnival atmosphere it wears all the time. This is a phenomenon you cannot sense anywhere else in India. For a vacation with a difference, this is the place you should visit.

Mexico

Mexico, or the United Mexican States as it is officially known, is a wonderful country located to the south of Texas and is a part of North America. Mexico is the seventeenth most mega-diverse country in the world having more than two thousand different species and it has ten to twelve percent of the biodiversity of the world.

Egypt

Popularly known as the land of pharaohs and pyramids - Egypt is one of the most popular tourist destinations in northeastern Africa. From attractions ranging from the red sea to the Sinai Desert and Cairo to Abu Simbel, Egypt is a magical destination which you must take a visit at least once in your lifetime!

Thailand

Thailand that was once known as the Kingdom of Thailand lies in Southeast Asia and it has been home to many indigenous cultures. The major influences in Thai culture are those of India and China as well as some of the other cultures from countries neighboring this beautiful country. Of special interests to tourists are the Island of Phuket, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, and of course the capital Bangkok.

Source : http://www.iho-ohi.org

Beautiy Tips

Some tips for fair skin


• Water. You need to drink a lot of water in order to replenish your skin and to wash away the toxins that have accumulated into the body. You must always remember that when you keep on drinking water, your skin will retain its health. With this, you will not have to worry about the wrinkles and other signs of aging.


• Wear Sun Protection. You could do this by wearing hats or sunscreen lotions. The natural health of the skin deteriorates when it is exposed directly to the sun. The UV rays of the sun cause the skin to age fast. If you are going outdoors, always bring a hat or wear sunscreen lotions particularly in the neck and face area.


• Healthy living. Stay away from unhealthy foods such as those that contains too much fats and calories. Too much intake of fats into the body causes the excessive production of oils which is not good for the skin. Eat more green and leafy vegetable for your daily supply of anti-oxidants.


• Good Hygiene. Most of all, you must practice good hygiene. Using beauty products and skin care products can be helpful but make sure that your skin will not react negatively to your products.

Tips for lips care

Lips are the most integral part of beauty. So it is highly essential to take care of the lips. Similar to other parts of the body our skin of the lips is made up of dermis and epidermis. Our lips are directly exposed to environmental conditions as the dermis of the skin on the lips does not have any sweat gland or hairs. Moreover our skin has only 3-5 layers of skin cells compared to other parts of the body. Since, the lubricant is absent chapped lips are caused. Here are some of the tips to make your lips attractive.

• Make sure you always apply a lip balm during cold and dry weather to avoid dry chapped lips.

• Don’t remove the skin from your lips which causes irritation and slows the effort we invest in lip care.

• Follow a proper method for applying lipstick. Choose a color that really suits you.

• Always keep your lips hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
• Increase the content of vitamins intake which avoids crack in the corner of the mouth.

• Lip augmentation surgery can be done to make the lips look attractive.

• Lip gloss helps to make your lips luscious as it brings a major change in the way your lips like.

Source : http://www.keralapals.com

10 Cool Things You Can Do With A USB Drive

Here's the list,

1. Run portable apps

2. Boot an operating system like Linux

3. Connect to a wifi network

4. Create a password reset disk

5. Boost computer performance

6. Manage your data using Windows XP app

7. Use it as an MP3 player

8. Password protect it

9. Run a website from it

10. Lock your PC

Source :http://bestflashdrives.com

Fashion Tips for Short Women

Graphic Source : http://www.divavillage.com


On Top

1. When it comes to tops and blouses, keep things streamlined. Any large shape can drown you, even if you have curves. Elongate your shape with blouses that hit no further than the top of your hips. If you want to play with proportion, do so with sleeves, versus the bodice of a blouse. A nipped waist will always create a slimmer, longer shape, so look for tops with darting or princess seams running through the front of the garment.

On Bottom

2. Keep the silhouette of your pants narrow. This doesn't mean a super tight, skinny pant, but just a clean, straight leg opening that skims the ankle. Avoid capri or cropped pants, as they will cut you off at the widest point of your calves, making you appear shorter and stubby. Dark or light denim doesn't make as much of a difference as the cut of jeans. Aim for pants that hit at the waist and have a continuous straight line through the hem. Anything severe, such as a bellbottom or flare will break the line and shorten you. Skirts should also be lean if the hem is longer than a mini skirt. Mini skirts do allow you to play with volume, and tulip skirts or bubble hems can be quite flattering on a short woman. Remember to sport a voluminous skirt with a sleek blouse and high heels for a trim look.

Footwear

3. Heels always help short women. They add height, and also make it look like you've dropped a pound or two in the process. If a stiletto won't do for working at the office all day, opt for a stacked heel or heels with a platform which adds support and distributes your weight more evenly. For a special event, opt for a metallic strappy sandal that is within a few shades of your own skin tone to create a long look that continues from the bare legs through the feet.

Colors

4. Dark colors can create a sleeker look, but the primary key is to keep the look somewhat monochromatic. Avoid stark, contrasting colors on top and bottom, which will break up your body and enhance how short you are. You don't have to wear all black all the time, but keep colors in the same family by opting for all warm or cool tones in a look. A little black dress worn with an eggplant cardigan creates dimension, as does a gold dress with a peach shawl. Keeping the colors in sync will help create that sleek line that will make you walk a little taller.

Source : http://www.ehow.com

Hybrid-electric vehicles Work

OVERVIEW

Hybrid-electric vehicles combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors to provide improved fuel economy.

The engine provides most of the vehicle's power, and the electric motor provides additional power when needed, such as for accelerating and passing. This allows a smaller, more-efficient engine to be used.

The electric power for the motor is generated from regenerative braking and from the gasoline engine, so hybrids don't have to be "plugged in" to an electrical outlet to recharge.

Some of the advanced technologies typically used by hybrids include

Regenerative Braking. The electric motor applies resistance to the drivetrain causing the wheels to slow down. In return, the energy from the wheels turns the motor, which functions as a generator, converting energy normally wasted during coasting and braking into electricity, which is stored in a battery until needed by the electric motor.

Electric Motor Drive/Assist. The electric motor provides additional power to assist the engine in accelerating, passing, or hill climbing. This allows a smaller, more efficient engine to be used. In some vehicles, the motor alone provides power for low-speed driving conditions where internal combustion engines are least efficient.

Automatic Start/Shutoff. Automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop and restarts it when the accelerator is pressed. This prevents wasted energy from idling.

Source : http://www.fueleconomy.net

iPod Nano 5th Gen Product Red 16GB

Video Source :http://www.youtube.com

iPod Nano 5th Generation on Amazon

Technical Specifications

Size and weight

Height:
3.6 inches (90.7 mm)
Width:
1.5 inches (38.7 mm)
Depth:
0.24 inch (6.2 mm)
Weight:
1.28 ounces (36.4 grams)1

Capacity

* 8GB or 16GB flash drive2
* Holds up to 2,000 or 4,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format3
* Holds up to 7,000 or 14,000 iPod-viewable photos4
* Holds up to 8 hours or 16 hours of video5
* Stores data via USB flash drive

Accessibility

* Spoken menus allow listeners to hear many of the names of menus, song titles, and artists without viewing the screen.
* An alternative large font can make menus easier to read.
* A high-resolution LCD display with adjustable contrast and backlight settings makes it easier to read in low light.
* Captions in video are displayed when they are present using a legible, high-contrast white-on-black font.

Environmental requirements

* Operating temperature: 32° to 95° F
(0° to 35° C)
* Nonoperating temperature: -4° to 113° F
(-20° to 45° C)
* Relative humidity: 5% to 95% noncondensing
* Maximum operating altitude: 10,000 feet
(3000 m)

Environmental Status Report

iPod nano embodies Apple’s continuing environmental progress. It is designed with the following features to reduce environmental impact:

* Arsenic-free glass
* BFR-free
* Mercury-free
* PVC-free
* Highly recyclable

Display

* 2.2-inch (diagonal) TFT display
* 240-by-376-pixel resolution at 204 pixels per inch

VoiceOver Kit

* Chinese (Cantonese)
* Chinese (Mandarin)
* Czech
* Danish
* Dutch
* English
* Finnish
* French
* German
* Greek
* Italian
* Japanese
* Korean
* Norwegian
* Polish
* Portuguese
* Russian
* Spanish
* Swedish
* Turkish

Audio

* Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
* Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
* User-configurable maximum volume limit

Headphones

* Earphones
* Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
* Impedance: 32 ohms

Languages

* Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Cantonese (Traditional Chinese), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Traditional Chinese, Turkish, and UK English
* Additional language support for display of song, album, and artist information: Bulgarian, Serbian, Slovenian, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese
* iPod nano supports 20 VoiceOver languages:
Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (U.S.), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; other languages are available with the purchase of a supported third-party text-to-speech engine
* iPod nano supports 20 spoken menu languages:
Chinese (Cantonese), Chinese (Mandarin), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (U.S.), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; other languages are available with the purchase of a supported third-party text-to-speech engine

Video Capture

* H.264 VGA video, 640 by 480 pixels, up to 30 frames per second with AAC audio
* 15 real-time special effects: Sepia, Black and White, X-Ray, Film Grain, Thermal, Security Cam, Cyborg, Bulge, Kaleido, Motion Blur, Mirror, Light Tunnel, Dent, Stretch, and Twirl

External buttons and controls

* Hold switch
* Click Wheel

Input and output

* Dock connector
* 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack

Battery and power6

* Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
* Playback time
o Music playback time: Up to 24 hours when fully charged
o Video playback time: Up to 5 hours when fully charged
Audio: 24 hours. Video: 5 hours. Recording Video 1.5 hours.
* Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter (sold separately)
o Fast-charge time: about 1.5 hours (charges up to 80% of battery capacity)
o Full-charge time: about 3 hours

Mac system requirements

* Mac computer with USB 2.0 port
* Mac OS X v10.4.11 or later
* iTunes 9 or later7
* iPhoto 6.0.6 or later recommended for use with Mac OS X Tiger8
* iPhoto ’09 recommended for use with Mac OS X Leopard or Snow Leopard8

Windows system requirements

* PC with USB 2.0 port
* Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later
* iTunes 9 or later7

Source : http://www.gadgetmadness.com

Baking Tips - Extraordinary Tips For Beginners!

Source :www.mexicandessertrecipes.net

Are you a beginner at baking? Getting cold feet about never having tried your hand at the culinary arts? Fear not, cooking is not as complicated as it sounds. It is only complicated when you have no idea about what you're doing. If you happen to be one of those people that needs help with cooking, here are some special cooking tips for you and voila! Before you know it, you'll be busy in the kitchen, rustling up a storm!

Tips for beginners
Here are a few cooking tips that'll help you prevent any kind of disaster in the kitchen.

Disaster Management

1. Always read the recipe thoroughly before embarking on the Herculean task of baking. This is of vital importance because it ensures that you have all the ingredients of your recipes up your sleeves before embarking on the task of actually cooking.

2. Check Expiry Dates. You don't want your cooking to be spoilt because of sheer carelessness.

3. Preheat the Oven with an oven thermometer. This should range from twenty-five degrees cooler to twenty five degrees warmer.

4. Make sure that the optimum temperature is obtained for the recipe.

5. Follow directions on adjusting oven racks and prepping baking sheets.

6. Measure ingredients accurately. In case of liquids, hold them up to the eye level.

7. Use the right Baking Pan. All your efforts will come to nought if you are using a bad baking pan.

8. To measure dry ingredients, over fill the container or baking pan that you are using and then level off with the flat edge of a knife.

9. Measure ingredients accurately. In case of liquids, hold them up to the eye level.

10. And last, but most certainly not the least, bake with love. If you pour your heart and soul into the baking, you're sure to come up with a winner.

Ingredients for Baking


1. When baking different things, different kinds of flour are used. For instance, wheat flour is important for all yeast bread but if you use wheat flour in yeast bread, it'll turn into a heavy cake and you sure don't want that.

2. Cake flour is also a good deal if you're baking a cake while the "all-purpose-flour", true to its name, can be used for almost anything and everything. It is a boon in disguise for all you Bakers out there!

3. Bleached and unbleached flours can be used interchangeably. You can put your brains aside for once because this time, you don't have to use your discretion and pick and choose what you have to use.

4. Always store flour in an airtight container, and keep it in a spot that is cool and dry for up to six months.

5. If you think baking powder and baking soda are interchangeable, get rid of this misconception immediately. They are not. Baking powder is a combination of baking soda and an acid. Its leavening power works only when it is mixed with wet ingredients and put into the oven.

6. In contrast, Baking Soda is nothing but Sodium Bicarbonate. When mixed with an acid like buttermilk, it produces carbon dioxide bubbles, making the baked goods light, airy and delicious.

Now handling chocolate is a different ball game altogether so an entire section has been dedicated on how to handle chocolate. Chocolate, as we all know is wonderful and melts in the mouth. But let us not forget that when we are baking something with chocolate in it, it can turn out to be an utter disaster if we are not aware of what we are doing.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

10 Tips For Beginners Cooking

1. Turn off the television at cooking time and mealtime. TV is a big distraction when you want family conversation and interaction.

2. Share responsibility for all aspects of the meal with your children. Start by deciding together what you'll be having.

3. Shop for ingredients with your children. Give them an opportunity to pick the vegetables, meats and starches for themselves.

4. Establish a budget and make them stick to it. Have kids compare prices of fresh and prepared foods.



5. Start with recipes you know they love. They are more likely to be interested.

6. For apathetic eaters, start by having them make dessert. While they are working on that, engage their help with the main meal.

7. Make the dinner table sacred by keeping it permanently set with a tablecloth and cloth napkins (all washable). Be sure not to let the table get piled with mail and things that need to get put away.

8. Give dinner a ceremonial aspect. Wait until all family members are seated and served before permitting anyone to eat.

9. Make it clear to your children that they can have your attention, but only if they are in the kitchen. Don't let them call to you from all parts of the house.

10. Keep dinnertime discussion (during cooking and eating) to topics that will be of interest to your children. This is not the time to get down on them about homework or problems in school



Source: http://parenting.ivillage.com

Top killer diseases in the developing world

1. Lower respiratory infections

Death toll: More than 4 million people each year.

What are they? Mostly pneumonia and other diseases of the lungs, windpipe or bronchial tubes, including Legionnaire's disease.

How are they spread? Coughing, sneezing, laughing or exhaling.

Facts:
• Most victims are under five.
• Tuberculosis and whooping cough are also lower respiratory infections, but death tolls are tallied separately by the U.N. World Health Organisation (WHO).
• Often associated with AIDS.
Treatment and prevention: Virus usually runs its course after seven to 10 days, but sometimes antibiotics are needed.

Target: Goal number four of the U.N.-sponsored Millennium Development Goals aimed at cutting global poverty calls for a reduction in child mortality by two-thirds by 2015.

"If you look at the resources going into child health compared to the resources going into other areas, really it is very, very small and we need to increase the resources going in both from within national budgets and from external donors."
Elizabeth Mason, director of Child and Adolescent Health, WHO

2. HIV/AIDS

Death toll: More than 3 million deaths attributed to AIDS in 2004.

Infection rate: Some 39.4 million people in the world live with HIV.

What is it? HIV stands for "human immunodeficiency virus". It erodes the immune system. Infection with HIV has been established as the underlying cause of AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Most people with HIV develop signs of AIDS within eight to 15 years unless they receive treatment. AIDS-related deaths are often caused by pneumonia or tuberculosis.

How is it spread? Unprotected sex, blood transfusions or contaminated needles, or from mother to child during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding.

Facts:
• 65 percent of HIV cases are in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Teenage girls are at high risk in sub-Saharan Africa, where three-quarters of 15-24-year-olds living with HIV are female.
Treatment and prevention: There is no vaccine for HIV, but HIV-positive people can live on life-prolonging antiretroviral drugs for decades.

Target: The "3 by 5" initiative by WHO and UNAIDS aims to provide antiretroviral treatment to 3 million HIV-positive people by the end of 2005. As many as 6 million people need treatment. By the end of 2004, some 720,000 were receiving therapy, prompting UNAIDS to say it was on track to meet its goal.
"It will be difficult to reach 3 million people with these drugs but what this campaign for "3 by 5" has done is (ensure) treatment for HIV is now on the agenda in every developing country." Dr Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director

3. Malaria

Death toll: Between 1 million and 5 million each year.

Infection rate: WHO puts the number of people affected annually at 300 million, but the Kenyan Medical Research Institute says there are actually 515 million cases a year of the deadliest form of malaria alone.

How is it spread? Mosquitoes.

Facts:
• Malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds.
• Malaria is transmitted to humans by the female anopheles mosquito.
• Ninety per cent of deaths are in Africa, home to the most deadly form of the virus.
• Malaria is responsible for 20 percent of Africa's under-five mortality and 10 percent of the continent's overall disease burden.
• Less than five percent of people at greatest malaria risk have insecticide-treated mosquito nets to sleep under.
Treatment and prevention: Insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor insecticide spraying. There are a variety of anti-malarial drugs, but the malaria parasite has developed immunity to many of them. For short-term prevention, travellers take daily or weekly pills.

Target: Millennium Development Goal number six includes a call for the international community to halt and begin to reverse the incidence of killer diseases, including malaria.


4. Diarrhoea

Death toll: Kills around 2.2 million people each year.

Infection rate: 4 billion cases a year.

What is it? Diarrhoea - caused by dysentery, cholera and a host of lesser-known scourges - is a symptom of infection from bacterial, viral and parasitic organisms like microscopic worms. Most diarrhoea-related deaths, particularly in children, are due to dehydration.

How is it spread? Contaminated water and food.

Facts:
• In Southeast Asia, diarrhoea is responsible for up to 8.5 percent of all deaths, and in Africa for 7.7 percent of deaths.

Treatment: Diarrhoea can be treated with oral re-hydration salts. Zinc is also now advocated as an accompanying treatment.



Target: Goal number 10 of the Millennium Development Goals is to halve the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.


5. Tuberculosis

Death toll: Two million people die every year.

Infection rate: About 2 billion people are infected with TB and over 8 million new cases develop each year.

What is it? Symptoms of tuberculosis (TB) include a chronic cough, fever, chills, weakness and weight loss.

How is it spread? Coughing or sneezing.

Facts:
• One-third of the world's population is infected with TB.
• TB is a frequent killer for people with AIDS. African states suffering from the HIV pandemic have experienced an annual 10 percent rise in TB cases.
• Has suffered a re-emergence in Eastern Europe, largely due to patients failing to complete courses of treatment. This has contributed to drug-resistant strains evolving.


Treatment and prevention: The Bacille Calmette-Guerin - BCG - vaccine is the most commonly used preventative measure against TB in the developing world, but drug-resistant strains are on the rise.
Directly Observed Therapy Short-course - DOTS - is the internationally recommended approach to TB control. Under DOTS, health workers closely monitor treatment to ensure that patients complete the full course of medication, thereby helping to prevent new strains of drug-resistant TB developing. The method has cure rates of up to 95 percent, even in the poorest countries.

Targets: The Global Plan to Stop TB ran from 2001 to 2005. The target was to detect 70 percent of new TB infections, but the programme only achieved 45 percent case detection. However, 82 percent of detected cases were treated, almost up to the 85 percent cure target. A new Global Plan will run to 2015 from 2006, aiming for Millennium Development Goal number six, which is to halt and begin reversing the spread of major diseases like TB.
"The DOTS strategy is one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions."
The World Bank

6. Measles

Death toll: An estimated 530,000 measles deaths annually, mostly children.

Infection rate: More than 30 million people are infected with the virus each year.

What is it? Measles can cause blindness, brain damage and make children susceptible to pneumonia and diarrhoea. Potentially fatal if left untreated.

How is it spread? Coughing and sneezing. It is highly contagious.


Facts:
• 1,400 people die from measles every day.
• It costs $1 to immunise a child.
• Africa and Southeast Asia account for 82 percent of the global death toll.

Treatment and prevention: Vaccination is effective. The disease can be treated with drugs, but strains of drug-resistant measles have developed.

Targets: The Measles Initiative and the WHO/U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF) Strategy for Sustainable Measles Mortality Reduction aim to reduce measles deaths with comprehensive vaccination programmes. Global measles deaths have fallen by 39 per cent since 1999, while Africa has witnessed a drop of 47 percent.
"We can take a country that is endemic for a leading cause of child death and, almost at will, take it to zero percent and keep it there. Now we are just trying to get the resources and the political cooperation to do it everywhere."
Dr Mark Grabowsky, Technical Advisor, Measles Initiative & American Red Cross

7. Whooping cough, or pertussis

Death toll: 200,000 to 300,000 die each year.

Infection rate: 20 million to 40 million cases annually.

What is it? Highly contagious acute bacterial disease of the respiratory tract.

How is it spread? Coughing, sneezing or talking.

Facts:
• 90 percent of pertussis cases occur in developing countries. Most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa.
• The Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunisation (GAVI) immunised 294,000 children against whooping cough last year.

Treatment and prevention: Can be treated with antibiotics, but vaccines are the most effective way to control it.


Targets: GAVI aims to introduce pertussis vaccine into routine childhood vaccination programmes all over the world.


8. Tetanus

Death toll: 214,000 deaths a year.

Infection rate: 500,000 cases a year.

What is it? Also known as lockjaw, tetanus is a potentially fatal disease of the central nervous system.

How is it spread? Caused by a wound becoming infected with bacteria. Clostridium tetani spores live in soil, so are present everywhere.

Facts:
• Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia bear the brunt of tetanus deaths, with 84,000 and 82,000 respectively.
• Neo-natal tetanus - passed from mother to child - is a leading cause of infant mortality in some regions.
• One in 10 Haitians projected to have HIV/AIDS by 2015.
• Since WHO called for global elimination of the disease in 1989, neo-natal tetanus deaths have decreased to 180,000 worldwide in 2002 from 800,000 in the 1980s.

Treatment: Can be prevented with a vaccine


9. Meningitis

Death toll: 174,000 deaths a year.

Infection rate: Over a million people contract a form of meningitis every year.

What is it? A frequently fatal infection of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord. Even with early diagnosis and correct treatment, five to 10 percent of patients die.

How is it spread? Droplets from the throat or breath. Close contact or sharing eating and drinking utensils can spread the disease.

Facts:
• The "Meningitis Belt" with the world's highest incidence rates stretches from Senegal in western Africa to Ethiopia in the east.
• 10 to 20 percent of survivors suffer brain damage, hearing loss, or learning disability.

Treatment and prevention: Vaccines are available. Antibiotics for treatment include penicillin and ceftriaxone. Oily chloramphenicol is the drug of choice in areas with limited health facilities because a single dose is effective.

Target: The International Coordinating Group on Vaccine Provision for Epidemic Meningitis Control supports research to develop a new vaccine.


10. Syphilis

Death toll: 157,000 deaths a year.

Infection rate: Around 12.2 million cases worldwide.

How is it spread? Syphilis is primarily spread by sexual contact, though it can be transmitted internally from an infected mother directly to her baby.

Facts:
• Many common antibiotics do not work against syphilis.
• Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America -- in that order -- experience the highest rates of syphilis.

Treatment: Penicillin.

Source : http://www.alertnet.org

10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World

10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World

1. Box Jellyfish




The top prize for The World Most Venomous Animal,would go to the Box Jellyfish. It has caused at least 5,567 recorded deaths since 1954. Their venom is among the most deadly in the world. Its toxins attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. And the worst part of it is that jelly box venom is so overpoweringly painful, that human victims go in shock, drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors experience pain weeks after the contact with box jellies.

You have virtually no chance to survive the venomous sting, unless treated immediately. After a sting, vinegar should be applied for a minimum of 30 seconds. Vinegar has acetic acid, which disables the box jellys nematocysts that have not yet discharged into the bloodstream (though it will not alleviate the pain). Wearing panty hose while swimming is also a good prevention measure since it can prevent jellies from being able to harm your legs.


Jelly box can be found in the waters around Asia and Australia.

2. King Cobra




The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the worlds longest venomous snake - growing up to 5.6 m (18.5 ft) in length. Ophiophagus, literally means snake-eater as it eats other snakes. One single bite of this deadly snake can easily kill a human. This snake is even capable of killing a full-grown Asian Elephant within 3 hours if the larger animal is bitten in a vulnerable area such as the trunk.

Its venom is not as toxic as other venomous snakes, but King Cobra is capable of injecting 5 times more venom than black mamba and can result in mortality up to 5 times faster than that of the black mamba. It is quite widespread, ranging across South and South-east Asia, living in dense highland forests.

3.. Marbled Cone Snail




This little beautiful looking Marbled Cone snail can be as deadly as any other animal on this list. One drop of its venom is so powerful that it can kill more than 20 humans. If you ever happen to be in warm salt water environment (where these snails are often found) and see it, dont even think of picking it up. Of course, the true purpose of its venom is to catch its prey.

Symptoms of a cone snail sting can start immediately or can be delayed in onset for days. It results in intense pain, swelling, numbness and tingling. Severe cases involve muscle paralysis, vision changes and breathing failure. There is no antivenom. However, only about 30 human deaths have been recorded from cone snail envenomation.

4. Blue-Ringed Octopus




The Blue-Ringed Octopus is very small, only the size of a golf ball, but its venom is so powerful that can kill a human. Actually it carries enough poison to kill 26 adult humans within minutes, and there is no antidote. They are currently recognized as one of the worlds most venomous animals.

Its painless bite may seem harmless, but the deadly neurotoxins begin working immediately resulting in muscular weakness, numbness, followed by a cessation and breathing and ultimately death.

They can be found in tide pools in the Pacific Ocean, from Japan to Australia.

5. Death Stalker Scorpion




Contrarily to the popular belief most of the scorpions are relatively harmless to humans as stings produce only local effects (pain, numbness or swelling). However, the Death Starker Scorpion is highly dangerous species because its venom is a powerful cocktail of neurotoxins which causes an intense and unbearable pain, then fever, followed by coma, convulsions, paralysis and death. Fortunately, while a sting from this scorpion is extremely painful, it would be unlikely to kill a healthy, adult human. Young children, the old, or infirm (with a heart condition) are at the biggest risk.
Death stalker scorpions are spread in North Africa and Middle East.

6. Stonefish




Maybe Stonefish would never win a beauty contest, but it would definitely win the top prize for being The World Most Venomous Fish. Its venom causes such a severe pain that the victims of its sting want the affected limb to be amputated. It is described as the worst pain known to man. It is accompanied with possible shock, paralysis, and tissue death. If not given medical attention within a couple of hours It can be fatal to humans.

Stonefish stores its toxins in gruesome-looking spines that are designed to hurt would-be predators.

Stonefish mostly live above the tropic of Capricorn, often found in the shallow tropical marine waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans, ranging from the Red Sea to the Queensland Great Barrier Reef.

7. The Brazilian wandering spider




The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria) or banana spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records 2007 for the most venomous spider and is the spider responsible for most human deaths.

This spider is believed to have the most potent neurotoxic venom of any living spider. Only 0.006mg (0.00000021oz) is sufficient to kill a mouse. They are also so dangerous because of their wandering nature. They often hide during daytime in highly populated areas inside houses, clothes, boots, and cars.

Its venomous bite causes not only intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause priapism - uncomfortable erections lasting for many hours that lead to impotence.

8. Inland Taipan




The prize for The Worlds Most Venomous Snake goes to the Inland Taipan of Australia. Just a single bite from this snake contains enough venom to kill 100 human adults or an army of 250,000 mice. Its venom is at least 200 - 400 times more toxic than a common cobra. The Inland Taiwans extremely neurotoxic venom can kill an adult human in as little as 45 minutes. Fortunately this snake is very shy and there have been no documented human fatalities (all known bites were treated with antivenin).

9. Poison Dart Frog




If you ever happen to be running through the rain forests somewhere in Central or South America, do not ever pick up beautiful and colorful frogs - it can be the Poison Dart Frog. This frog is probably the most poisonous animal on earth.The 2 inch long (5cm) golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 adult humans or 20,000 mice. Only 2 micrograms of this lethal toxin (the amount that fits on the head of a pin) is capable of killing a human or other large mammal. They are called dart frogs because indigenous Amerindians use of their toxic secretions to poison the tips of their blow-darts.. Poison dart frogs keep their poison in their skins and will sicken or kill anybody who touches or eats it.

10. Puffer Fish









Puffer Fish are the second most poisonous vertebrate on earth (the first one is golden dart Frog). The meat of some species is a delicacy in both Japan (as fugu) and Korea (as bok-uh) but the problem is that the skin and certain organs of many puffer fish are very poisonous to humans.

This puffy fish produce rapid and violent death..Puffers poisoning causes deadening of the tongue and lips, dizziness, vomiting, rapid heart rate, difficulty breathing, and muscle paralysis. Victims die from suffocation as diaphragm muscles are paralyzed. Most of the victims die after four to 24 hours. There is no known antidote, Most deaths from fugu happen when untrained people catch and prepare the fish.

Statistics show that there were 20 to 44 incidents of fugu poisoning per year between 1996 and 2006 in all of Japan and up to six incidents per year led to death. Since Fugus poison can cause near instantaneous death, only licensed chefs are allowed to prepare it.

The Top 10 Green Cars Coming in 2009

The Top 10 Green Cars in 2009


Thinking of buying a new green car? Before you place that order, take a look at this. These are the top ten green cars in 2009 that you need to know about.



Honda Insight hybrid

Price from £15,490 for SE
On sale April 2009
The Insight is an ‘affordable’ hybrid family saloon with five doors and five seats and an evolved version of the current ‘IMA’ hybrid system current in the 1.4 litre petrol Civic, with nickel metal hydride batteries. The aim is to be significantly cheaper than the Prius in order to get more people into low CO2 cars, although the CO2 levels won’t be as low as the next Prius – expect around 100g/km CO2 and 65mpg. Honda has focused on making the hybrid system cheaper to manufacture, in order to pass the cost saving on to the customer. The image is of a US spec car, however the UK version will be very similar. It’s a shame that the production car isn’t as bold as the original concept.



Toyota Prius

Price £18-£20,000 (estimated)
On sale June 2009
Toyota is developing its hybrid system to the new level, with CO2 emissions expected to be around the 90g/km mark – if so, this almost matches the CO2 of the Smart diesel, so this is very impressive for a family saloon. Both Toyota and Honda have decided to stick with nickel-metal hydride batteries rather than the mobile phone style lithium-ion batteries as they don’t have sufficient faith in them. Other body versions based on the hybrid powerplant such as people carriers are to follow this time round, along with a plug-in Prius in due course, which will dramatically improve its green credentials. Note from this official, but leaked, photograph that the Honda Insight and the new Prius have ended up with very similar aerodynamically-driven shapes.



Toyota iQ

Price from £9,495
On sale January 2009
Innovative interior packaging design means that you can fit three adults and one child (a ‘3 plus 1’ seating layout) into a car that is less than 3 metres long. This makes the iQ the world’s smallest four seater. The main engine on offer will be the 998cc 3 cylinder unit from the Aygo, with resulting emissions of 99g/km CO2, and 65.7mpg. The iQ comes with a manual or a CVT transmission, the manual being recommended, and the more economical choice. The iQ is relatively expensive for a car of this size, and although described by Toyota as a premium car, the interior is hardly the lap of luxury.




Ford Ka ECOnetic

Price £8500 (estimated)
On sale January
Eco version of Ford’s already economical Fiat 500-based city car. We’re still waiting for details of emissions and economy for the ECOnetic version, but if the Fiesta ECOnetic with a 1.6 litre engine is emitting just 98g/km CO2, we’re hoping that the smaller Ka with its 1.3 diesel as used in the Fiat 500 will surprise us with even more impressive figures.



VW Golf BlueMotion

Price £16,000
On sale September 2009
The new Mk6 Golf BlueMotion is promising CO2 emissions that match the current Polo, at 99g/km CO2, with 74mpg. It has a smaller engine, at 1.6 litres rather than the current 1.9 unit. The current Golf BlueMotion emits 119g/km, so a drop of 20g/km CO2 is huge news. Expect the solidity of the current Golf.



Honda CR-Z

Price £16,000 (estimated)
On sale December 2009
The great looking CR-Z concept is now being built, with a hybrid version definitely on the cards. A sexy hybrid sports coupe will create a great image for Honda. Even a non-hybrid version of this front-wheel drive, 2 plus 2 sports coupe should still be efficient due to its small size and light weight.



Lexus RX450h

94% of Lexus RX models that are sold in the UK are hybrids, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the petrol-only version is disappearing and the new model is being sold as a hybrid only in the UK. The new model should improve on the current 35mpg, which is currently beaten by many diesel 4x4s. The exterior doesn’t look much different, although it has gained a slightly American bloated look, but the interior is much improved.



Mitsubishi iMIEV

Price £20,000+ (estimated)
Out of all the electric cars we’ve driven, the iMIEV, with its lithium-ion batteries, is the best to drive by a huge margin. It feels a like a real car, it’s very well put together, extremely smooth, with well weighted steering and good handling. However this pioneering car may come with a price that reflects this previously unseen quality in this segment.



Tesla Roadster

Price £92,000
On sale May 2009
The car that made electric cars sexy. Available in the US already, and in Europe in 2009. Based on a Lotus Elise, but full of mobile phone batteries instead of a petrol engine, giving the Tesla excellent acceleration of 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, a top speed of 125 mph, and a potential range of 225 miles. Recharging time is around 8 hours. Best of all it can claim tailpipe emissions of just 0g/km CO2.



MINI E

It’s a MINI, but an electric one. The vital statistics of the MINI E include an electronically-limited top speed of 95 mph, 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, a 150 mile range and, crucially, a full recharge time of just two and a half hours. Based on the current MINI Hatch, the car will initially be available as a two-seater; a lithium-ion battery will go where the rear seats are on a standard MINI. Before you get too excited, the electric MINI will only be available in America in 2009, where 500 of them will be leased, and there’s no word on cost at the moment.

Source :http://www.green-car-guide.com

World famous beautiful beaches in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is surrounded by golden beaches and the beaches in Sri Lanka are the best in the world. Sri Lanka is the ideal holiday destination, and is a land of many appealing beaches, which are a major tourist attraction. Being a tropical island, it is endowed with an idyllic setting with swaying palms bending over the white sands lapped up by blue waters coral growths, pearl banks (North West) etc. So pull off your sandals and dip your toes into the clear, soft sands of the beach. As one travels along the western, eastern and southern coastlines one will come upon yet another identical and tempting tropical and panoramic view, which proves that this unique isle is the best place to relax and enjoy a perfect holiday.





With smooth velvety sands, ebb and flow of the tides, calm waters around the island there is everything that anyone to be entertained by. If you are keen on water sports, discover what an aquatic playground the beaches of Sri Lanka would provide. Snorkeling, windsurfing, angling and sailing are just a few activities if one wants to indulge in, Swimming diving, sunbathing and just relaxing are some of the favourite pastimes of the tourist. By the way, you would never miss beach seining still a favourite form of fishing in Sri Lanka and also stilt- fishing, a popular sight along the coast to the deep south.

Beruwala beach in Sri Lanka is ideal for swimming almost throughout the year
Here is a very good example of how a small sleepy fishing village with only a bay nearby is transformed into a grand holiday resort with numerous luxury hotels and other amenities inviting the tourist. This small town situated 56 kms south of Colombo possess a stretch of coastline dotted with palm trees, white sandy tracts and clean blue waters nearby. The bay remains ideal for swimming almost throughout the year and there is heavy tourism development centred around Beruwala

Galle

116 Kms South of Colombo, Galle is the chief city and one of prime importance in the south. It has an old-world charm pervading its air. This natural harbour was a famous landing place for foreign trades in the delays of yore. Today the place holds fame for its Dutch fort, lace making, ebony carving and gem polishing. Primarily built by the Portuguese and extended by the Dutch, this is now a WORLD HERITATGE SITE. Oldest building constructed by the Dutch here is occupied by the national Museum in Galle. A pleasurable activity one could occupied in while in Galle would be a stroll along the circuit of the walls of the fort and inside it. The latest addition to Galle is the SANATH JAYASOORIYA Cricket grounds.

Hikkaduwa beach in Sri Lanka is one of the beautiful destinations
Hikkaduwa is one of the famous tourist destinations in southern Sri Lanka. It is 98 kms south of Colombo and its beautiful beaches a lot of glamour to this town. It is the place where you can have a glimpse of the fascinating underwater world and see the creatures that inhabit the unfathomable depths of the sea. The famed coral gardens are located here. Just get hold of a glass bottomed boat or goggles and flippers and plunge into the ocean!.

Unawatuna beach in Sri Lanka, rank amongst the twelve best beaches in the world
Unawatuna Beach is located just south of Galle, the chief city in the south and 125km from Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. This 4km expanse of palm-fringed sand is said by some to rank amongst the twelve best beaches in the world. This beach is a paradise for all those who yearn to enjoy the silence of the sea and dive deep into the blue waters of the ocean. There is a reef protecting the beach, which makes it perfectly a safe haven for bathing. Other major attractions of this southern beach include shallow waters for swimming, and diving. Within its reach there is an accessible, reasonably well-preserved coral reef that serves as the base for snorkelling. For all those who fancy scuba diving, this tropical bay in the south will definitely catch your fancy since for the scuba divers; there are several wreck dives only 20-30 minutes away from the beach by boat. Thus it is the most favoured beach for all those looking for some exciting water sport activity like swimming, scuba diving or snorkelling.

Mount Lavinia

Just 12 km. south of Colombo, Mount Lavinia is the most popular beach because of its close proximity to the capital. It is situated beside a wind swept headland jutting into the waters of the Indian Ocean. Mt-Lavinia beach is noteworthy in historical value as well as in beauty. It is an ideal place to indulge in relaxation and enjoy the sea. The Governor's House built in 1805 by Sir Thomas Maitland now forms part of the famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. Mt-Lavinia Beach is quite busy on Sundays and public holidays with large crowds gathered to participate in many beach sports activities such as swimming, wind surfing, beach volleyball, beach rugby, etc. Music by Live bands & Entertainment by DJs keep the toes of the crowd tapping.

Negombo

Negombo is located 37km. North of Colombo and 6 km. from the Katunayake International Airport, Negombo is an ideal fishing town as well as a paradise for the seafood buffets. You can enjoy watching the old -world fishing crafts like outrigger canoes and the catamarans bringing a variety of marine fishes like seers, skipjacks, pomfrets and amber-jacks. In the lagoon lobsters and prawns are caught and served as fascinating delicacies in the nearby restaurants. There's much more in Negombo than just a sandy stretch of beach, where much history has been witnessed. During the time when Dutch were ruling the coastal areas of Sri Lanka, a fort, a canal and many a church was built and cinnamon cultivation took high priority. Remains of these provide a glimpse of the past and adorn the beach in Negombo along with fishing villages, which are sprinkled in the area.

Bentota beach in Sri Lanka is an ideal romantic beach holiday
If you are looking for an ideal romantic beach holiday Bentota located 62 kms south of Colombo is the ideal place to go. The place is a small town fast developing, teeming with growth of hotels, shopping arcades and cafeterias. There is also an open air theatre where folk and mask dancing is performance. This section of the southwestern coast gives a typical picture of a tropical beach dotted with palm trees; white sandy drenches and blue waters.

Ambalangoda beach in Sri Lanka has a beautiful stretch of sandy beach
Ambalangoda, on the southwestern coast about 85 Km from Colombo, has a beautiful stretch of sandy beach and a captivating rocky little islet off its coast. Ambalangoda is most famous for its mask carving a traditional cottage craft. You can find many types of traditional Sri Lankan masks beautifully painted with attractive colours in ambalangoda. These masks are used in sorcery and some traditional rituals.

Weligama

27 km. from Galle, Welingama is blessed with its picturesque shallow bay; broad sandy beach provides fantastic scenes for the eyes of a visitor. Weligama is also the home of the famous stilt fishermen, who standing on stilts closer to the beach wait patiently for their catch; look out for curd and treacle, which are in plenty here.




East Coast

The east coast has a lot to offer to the tourist. The uneven coastline is dotted with many bays and sheltered coves. In some beaches one can walk even a mile into the sea.

Trincomalee

Trincomalee is regarded as on of the most magnificent harbours in the world. Its exceptional beauty is commented by many a traveller for the island in the past. Horatio Nalson, Great Britain’s greatest Admiral and naval hero of the 18th Century described Trincomalee as the finest harbour in the world. The British, at one time wanted to use this as their chief naval base in the east. Trincomalee, 257 kms away from Colombo is also endowed with excellent beaches and perfect hang-outs for beach buffets and offers some of the best sea- bathing places in the country.

Nilaveli beach in Sri Lanka is ideally suited for sun bathing and diving
Nilaveli-situated at a distance of 271 km from Colombo-is a prime beach resort on the East coast. In the northern stretch of 'Trinco', known as Nilaweli, shallow beach goes up to half a mile into the sea. The hot wells and the Pigeon Islands are the important places of tourist interest in the vicinity. There is an old Portuguese/Dutch fort reminiscent of the Colonial era. The beach has ample water sports facilities including fishing and sea angling. Nilaveli is ideally suited for sun bathing and diving. A few metres from the coast are a small rocky island good for snorkelling. This, only 8 miles from Trincomalee once possessed the chief slattern in the South- East of Sri Lanka.

Batticaloa

It is the famous 'singing' fish and is at exit point of a picturesque lagoon made up of a series of connected lagoons filled with mangrove swamps that attracts tourists to this serene beach. Situated at a distance of 314 km from Colombo, Batticaloa is famous for its `Singing Fish' and picturesque lagoon. On full moon nights a faint but distinct musical sound rises from the lagoon waters. This is attributed to a noise emanated by a kind of fish found in the lagoon. A Dutch Fort near the lagoon is another tourist attraction and the whole area around bears signs of European occupation, by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British.

Kalkudah beach in Sri Lanka is a popular tourist centre with the fine bay Passekudah lying close by
32 km. from Batticaloa, Kalkudah is a popular tourist centre with the fine bay Passekudah lying close by. The calm reef-protected sea is an ideal place for having a sea bath. There is also a popular hotel along with other amenities required for the tourist. Kalkudah & Passekudah are two very fine beaches in the East Coast. Kalkudah Bay, a 2 km long wide stretch of beach-located 32 km north of Batticaloa-is well protected from the monsoons by an offshore reef. Passekudah Bay is another wide beach 4 km long, just south of Kalkudah. The two beaches form an ideal stretch for bathing, windsurfing and water-skiing.

Arugam Bay beach in Sri Lanka is one of five best places in the world for wind surfing

Located 314 Km to the East of Colombo, Arugam Bay is a fishing village. The town has a sweeping beach and a beautiful bay that is excellent for wind surfing, which is regarded as one of five best places in the world for wind surfing. The bay offers numerous possibilities for water sports and underwater photography. The many shipwrecks off the coast offer a tempting challenge to the divers.

Source :http://www.scenicsrilanka.com