Our unconscious brain makes the best decisions possible

Researchers at the University of Rochester have shown that the human brain—once thought to be a seriously flawed decision maker—is actually hard-wired to allow us to make the best decisions possible with the information we are given. The findings are published in today's issue of the journal Neuron.
Neuroscientists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky received a 2002 Nobel Prize for their 1979 research that argued humans rarely make rational decisions. Since then, this has become conventional wisdom among cognition researchers
Contrary to Kahnneman and Tversky's research, Alex Pouget, associate professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester, has shown that people do indeed make optimal decisions—but only when their unconscious brain makes the choice.
"A lot of the early work in this field was on conscious decision making, but most of the decisions you make aren't based on conscious reasoning," says Pouget. "You don't consciously decide to stop at a red light or steer around an obstacle in the road. Once we started looking at the decisions our brains make without our knowledge, we found that they almost always reach the right decision, given the information they had to work with."
Pouget says that Kahneman's approach was to tell a subject that there was a certain percent chance that one of two choices in a test was "right." This meant a person had to consciously compute the percentages to get a right answer—something few people could do accurately.
Pouget has been demonstrating for years that certain aspects of human cognition are carried out with surprising accuracy. He has employed what he describes as a very simple unconscious-decision test. A series of dots appears on a computer screen, most of which are moving in random directions. A controlled number of these dots are purposely moving uniformly in the same direction, and the test subject simply has to say whether he believes those dots are moving to the left or right. The longer the subject watches the dots, the more evidence he accumulates and the more sure he becomes of the dots' motion.
Subjects in this test performed exactly as if their brains were subconsciously gathering information before reaching a confidence threshold, which was then reported to the conscious mind as a definite, sure answer. The subjects, however, were never aware of the complex computations going on, instead they simply "realized" suddenly that the dots were moving in one direction or another. The characteristics of the underlying computation fit with Pouget's extensive earlier work that suggested the human brain is wired naturally to perform calculations of this kind.
"We've been developing and strengthening this hypothesis for years—how the brain represents probability distributions," says Pouget. "We knew the results of this kind of test fit perfectly with our ideas, but we had to devise a way to see the neurons in action. We wanted to see if, in fact, humans are really good decision makers after all, just not quite so good at doing it consciously. Kahneman explicitly told his subjects what the chances were, but we let people's unconscious mind work it out. It's weird, but people rarely make optimal decisions when they are told the percentages up front."
Pouget analyzed the data from a test performed in the laboratory of Michael Shadlen, a professor of physiology and biophysics at the University of Washington. Shadlen's team watched the activity of a pair of neurons that normally respond to the sight of things moving to the left or right. For instance, when the test consisted of a few dots moving to the right within the jumble of other random dots, the neuron coding for "rightward movement" would occasionally fire. As the test continued, the neuron would fire more and more frequently until it reached a certain threshold, triggering a flurry of activity in the brain and a response from the subject of "rightward."
Pouget says a probabilistic decision-making system like this has several advantages. The most important is that it allows us to reach a reasonable decision in a reasonable amount of time. If we had to wait until we're 99 percent sure before we make a decision, Pouget says, then we would waste time accumulating data unnecessarily. If we only required a 51 percent certainty, then we might reach a decision before enough data has been collected.
Another main advantage is that when we finally reach a decision, we have a sense of how certain we are of it—say, 60 percent or 90 percent—depending on where the triggering threshold has been set. Pouget is now investigating how the brain sets this threshold for each decision, since it does not appear to have the same threshold for each kind of question it encounters.
Source: University of Rochester

Mismatch Indeed!

While firmly stapling his place in boxing history Filipino phenom Manny “PacMan” Pacquiao, last night, a big nail into a golden casket, undoubtedly ending one hell of a career for the Golden Boy, Oscar De La Hoya. In front of a sold-out crowd of 15,001, what began as a partial De la Hoya crowd inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas watched as a Hall of Fame fighter whose done nothing but great things for the sport get soundly beaten to the point of quitting.
The Olympic Gold medalist and six division former champion entered the bout admittingly towards the tail end of a wonderful career, looking to finish strong by taking on the pound-for-pound best fighter in the sport.
To make this “Dream Match” a reality Pacquiao, who started his professional boxing career at the tender age of 16 fighting at 106 pounds, moved up two weight classes from where he last fought, at lightweight, in order to meet the legendary De La Hoya.
A heavy media and considerable sportsbook favorite, De La Hoya, who won his first title before Pacquiao ever stepped inside the ring, entered the bout with the pressure of being expected to win a fight against the much smaller man.

Promoter Bob Arum is making arrangements to be at Manny Pacquiao's birthday on Dec. 17 in General Santos, Philippines. "Manny's win on Saturday night was one of the most exciting and biggest in Top Rank history," Arum said. "I am thrilled. Manny and Freddie (Roach) convinced me they could win it and they came through. I cannot wait to get to the Phillipines and celebrate."

It was an antisipated Saturday night. Most people back in the Philippines were glued to their TV or probably flocked to a nearby Gym or a restaurant to view the “The Dream Match” between the Pacman and the Golden boy.
I was with my family and my sister with her boyfriend that afternoon in Des Moines to celebrated my birthday a day ahead since the fight would be in the evening. So it would be like a double celebration. My DVD recorder is already standing by to capture the mega fight.
Early this week I already received some email from my buddies on board asking me to get a copy since they can't watch it since they are still at high seases and besides If ever they get a copy back home in the Philippines it would be full of annoying TV ads.
As the first under card started around 8pm Central, I thought the main event would be early because most of the under card ended only in less than 2 rounds. Forget the under cards It was boring and not worth watching. They (Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotion) should have put a much interesting bouts especially that Lopez / Medina thing. Medina is no doubt a weekend paycheck fight so as Lares.
A lot of nervous Pacman fans comments just before this fight, It is so annoying to hear their comment that Manny have no chances against Oscar. Even one local government official in the Philippines would want the fight canceled because they value Manny so much that they don't want him to get hurt.
Yeah right, who got hurt now? ehey!
I even heard one prediction that that fight could have been Manny's last fight because he surely be in trouble against Oscar.

It was a mismatch indeed. But not for Oscar's favor but of Manny...

Well done Manny and advance happy Birthday!

Why XP

Here is the second part regarding Windows Vista. You will see here why XP user should not avail Windows vista instead. Again this is from a magazine I read and want to share here for more information to those who are not so technically-inclined people with regards to computers like myself but willing to experiment new and different things to their personal computer.

10 Reason Not to Deploy Windows Vista
by Alan Sugano

With a weak economy, businesses need to do more with less. When it comes time to consider upgrading a Windows XP environment to Windows Vista, many companies are choosing not to. Ultimately, upgrading has to make business sense, and many companies find the cost to upgrade outweighs any benefits they receive. Here are my top 10 reasons why companies are staying away from Vista.
1.Vista requires new hardware or significant hardware upgrades. To get acceptable performance on Vista, you're probably looking at significant hardware upgrades, if not a new computer. In my work environment, we've found the minimum requirement for a Vista Desktop is 2GB of memory, a dual core processor, 80GB hard disk drive, and a video card with at least 256MB of VRAM. For most users, these specs mean getting a new computer because upgrading an existing system isn't cost effective.
2.The additional cost of additional upgrades. There's a good chance you'll have to upgrade your applications as well. Unless you're running the latest version of your application, you'll probably need to upgrade – or at the very least install a patch – for Vista compatibility. Application upgrades could cost thousands of dollars per desktop, depending on the number and type of applications your company's running. Make sure you check for compatibility and upgrade problems before committing to upgrading your entire company.
3.Compatibility problems with applications. Even with the latest updates, you might still encounter compatibility problems with some applications. You might even be forced to change applications if the vendor doesn't plan to support Vista. VPN clients, accounting applications, faxing applications, and some graphics programs have caused problems in my environment.
4.Training cost. With the upgrade form Windows 2000 to XP, users could pretty much figure things out on their own. With Vista, you might not be so lucky. Many programs and utilities have been moved in Vista, and your users might have a difficult time location them. When I first started using Vista, I wanted to view my installed applications. I launched Control Panel and looked for Add/Remove Programs, but it wasn't there. I eventually found the applet – renamed Programs and Features – but the search added to the frustration of getting up to speed with Vista.
5.Vista requires significant tweaks. Changes to User Account Control (UAC), local user rights, and application settings might be necessary to get your company's applications to run on a Vista computer. Most of these settings can be controlled with Group Policy; however, finding which settings to change can be the real headache.
6.Boot times and the patch installation process. This is one of my pet peeves: Vevn with a fat computer, Vista is slow booting up. Vista SP1 has helped somewhat, but when I”m wainting for Vista to boot, all I can think about is how fast my machine would be if it were running XP. During some patch installations, Vista installs the patch, reboots, runs another process to complete the patch installations, I always seem to get hit with the double-boot patch installation at the beginning of meetings, so everyone has to wait while my machines completes the patch process before I can show my PowerPoint presentation.
7.Laptop performance problems. Properly configured, the current generation of desktop computers generally has acceptable performance running Vista. However, if you have a laptop – especially a sub notebook – you could encounter performance problems. You might need to disable some of the features on Vista, such as Aero, to obtain acceptable performance.
8.Windows XP works well. XP is stable, and it's more compatible with existing applications than Vista. Vista is arguably more secure, but some of the security features, such as UAC, can be so irritation that companies end up disabling them. XP isn't perfect, but it still works acceptably for most users, so many companies are hesitant to purchase an upgrade.
9.Limited payoff in productivity. Most people don't mind going through a learning curve if there's a significant payoff. Vista has some nice features; however, in my organization, we haven't experienced a big productivity payoff after getting up to speed with it. In contrast, there's a significant learning curve with Microsoft Office 2007 because of the changes to the UI. But after getting up to speed with office 2007, I can honestly say that I create documents faster and more easily than before. I haven't experienced any similar benefit with Vista. At the end of the day, upgrading has to make business sense.
10.Windows 7 isn't far away! In may opinion, Microsoft realized it missed the mark with Vista and is now scrambling to get the next release of Windows out. I think many companies are waiting to see the new features in Windows 7,currently scheduled to release in 2010, and might just skip Vista altogether. Vista is looking more and more to me like Windows Me all over again.

Deploy Windows Vista

A lot of us are skeptical about Vista and not to consider it rather we want the hassle-free XP in our OS. So here it is, I've found an article from a magazine that might pave way some Vista doubts perhaps an eye opener to what Vista could do in whatever business you're into. This is a two-part article. The battle between Vista and XP.

10 Reason to Deploy Windows Vista
by Mark Minasi, Windows IT Pro Magazine

At the tender age of a year and a half, Windows Vista remains the Rodney Dangerfield of Microsoft OSs – it don't get no respect. And that's a shame. Its biggest competitor ( no, not Leopard _ Windows XP SP3) is darned good, but a close look will show that Vista is better in many ways. If you're staying with XP because you're satisfied with it , then great , but don't avoid Vista just because your plumber's cousin's stockbroker heard that it was bad. Here are 10 reasons you should consider making the switch.
1. You won't need as many images. If, like most of us, you deploy your desktops with an image-based system such as Symantec Ghost or Microsoft's free ImageX tool, then you know that XP images tend to be hardware-specific: Create “the sales laptop image” on a Toshiba laptop, for instance, and it often won't work well on an HP or Dell laptop. Vista is much more accommodating; you often need only two images for your entire organization : a 32-bit image and a 64-bit image.
2. Finally, a desktop search that works! For nearly 10 years, Windows and Office have included tools that index the files on your computer to make searching for those files possible. Unfortunately, those tools have had a tendency to be clumsy and slow. In contrast, Vista's search index works unobtrusively and makes for lightning-fast searches.
3. A more complete backup tool. Ever tried to rebuild an XP box from scratch, using only a set of files created by XP's built-in backup routines? Ugh. Vista changes all that with its Windows Complete PC Backup and Restore, an image-based backup system that backs up your whole computer to one big file. My experience show that this system works quickly and allows bare-metal restores to quite dissimilar hardware – just make sure that the target hard disk is the same size or larger than the original.
4. Start great conversations. Next time you're out with your techie friends, tell'em that you're switching to Vista – there will be plenty to talk about after that! Seriously, if you are moving to Vista and people ask you why on Earth you'd do that, remind them that just about every Vista complaint – it's slower than the previous version, there aren't any drivers, it's not backward compatible – is a complaint that people leveled at XP when it was new. Look, XP's a great OS, and if you're happy with it, then by all means stay with it – but don't bypass Vista because of second-hand FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, & Doubt).
5. Windows BitLocker Drive Encryption protects your mobile data. Laptops are great for busy travelers... until they're accidentally left in a bar, on a plane , or in a cab, as reportedly happened to hundreds of thousands of systems last year in the United States. In contrast, absentminded folks who exploit BitLocker's encryption system might still lose their laptops, but no one will get their data. BitLocker is available on Vista Ultimate and Enterprise (although, incomprehensibly, not on Vista Business):
6. Get more out of Group Policy. Vista includes about 700 new Group Policy settings that let you control fleets of computers from one central location. Some new options include controlling power management settings, allowing nonadministrative users to lad approved drivers, and restriction which devices users can install on a Vista box.
7. Get a tougher Windows. Service programs wield great power in Windows, making them irresistible targets for malware writers: seize a Windows service, and you've often seized Windows itself. Vista uses a more secure way of building Windows services so that they have less potential to do damage and are isolated in their own little private universes, which makes a compromised service a much less juicy prize.
8. Confuse the bad guys with ASLR. Another Windows toughener is Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), a feature that rearranges the relative location of Vista's different components in memory. Past creators of Windows worms such as Code Red, Nimda, SQL Slammer, and Blaster relied on the fact that every copy of XP load each of its components in the same location from computer to computer. Shuffling the deck with ASLR makes it much harder for the bad guys to write a worm that targets every copy of Vista.
9. Centralize events with Event Viewer. XP's event logs are useful for keeping track of your computers, but every computer maintains its own logs. Managing dozens of desktops means either wearing out a lot of shoe leather or buying a third-party event log aggregator tool. Vista's Event Viewer , in contrast, lets you centralize any of group of system's events to a single system.
10. And lots more! Resize existing disk partition with Vista's Disk Manager. Put eight gigs of RAM on your system and see and use! - all of it. Easily tell Vista to send you an email message if a particular event occurs . Eliminate LAN Manager hashes, that persistent 1980s security
hole, once and Intel Turbo Memory for a system that comes out of hibernation in just 12 seconds. Give Vista a close look, and you'll find lots of things to like!

Scam Emails

A sweet-talk from scammers who sends bunch of junk email everyday. It is really annoying to receive such junk in our mailbox each day. You might have read one of these letter from stranger asking you to reply with your Name, Phone number, Bank Account, etc. because you have a cash waiting, not just a cash but millions of dollars or euros even gold bars deposited to some fictitious person. Animation at its best. Here's an example:

Dear Friend,
I am very happy to inform you about my success in getting that fund transferred. Now I want you to contact my secretary and ask him for a cheque worth of USD$900,000,00 which I kept for you as a compensationof your past assistance to me
Note that if you did not send him the complete information,he will not release the cheque to you because he has to be sure that it is you. Note also that I will not be reached by email or phone at thismoment because I am currently in London for investment trip with my share.
Regards,Eze Chinasa

What a jerk! The sender doesn't wish to be contacted because she is in London?! Here's another one.

Dear sir I am Mr JEFFERY M ANTHONY, a personal assistant to Mr Dirk ,who died in a car accident.I have contacted you as the beneficiary to the late Mr Dirk to claim the fund valued at €4.5 million euros and 150Kgs of Gold he deposited before he died.Your immediate/urgent response is needed now and dont hesitate to call me now.Please get in touch with me through the above email or my alternative email :(jefferymanthony@live.fr). My tel+229 976 72 880
Again what a stupid person.”Your immediate response is needed,” but DON'T CALL ME NOW?! And he leaves his number...Yeah great story huh?
A lot of this funny yet annoying stories I'm getting every day from my mailbox. I know that this is far, way far to be true. How I wish I can “unsubscribed”them. If I could but no, they will keep coming.

If you receive an unsolicited e-mail seeking you to receive a large sum of money or be presented as the next of kin of a large fortune from someone you never heard of (especially if that person resides overseas), don't believe it. This is almost certainly a scam where you will be asked to pay some type of fee before you can claim the money or you will be presented with a phony check and asked to return a share. Don't be fooled by official looking documents as scammers make a living forging these things. Also many scammers work in rings and have partners who may pose as lawyers, government officials, bank officials etc. Be aware!

Trick or Treat

Halloween is just around the corner. Kids and teens alike look forward this day for a trick or treat. So by now kids are busy looking for custome to wear. As parents, We too are excited to see our baby to enjoy her first trick or treat. Well, The Dark Knight movie kick the screen with a bang. Is my baby looks good on this costume? hmmm... guess not.

ahh.. Cow! Holy Cow! -- Melamine scare us much these days so I say, we may just pass on this one. Looks cute on her though. Or maybe one of these devil-looking guys (not the Batman). Jack-o-latern looks good, a bit bulky to carry her though. Again we just have to pass on this items.

Oh what this?! - Very refreshing for cars. Isn't this a famous car freshner eh?! She'd be wrapped tight and might be grumpy with this. I know there are still better for my baby.

Until I saw this one... The Pink Bunny. I think this will be perfect for my li'l one.

We've already prepared chocolates and candies for the kids that might come and visit us. If they don't then I have a whole lotta bags of Kit-kats and Snickers bar for snacks.

Fall and Walnuts

In our backyard, falling walnuts from its tree were scattering all around. I have a neighbor who likes to gather every Fall just before they leave for Winter. She painstakenly go through the process of peeling off the skin, drying it and breaking the shell just to get the meat, no bigger than a penny. Her nemesis are these smart crawling squirrels who will just wait for her harvest; sneaking a few dozen nuts.

Wherever she puts it outside, the squirrels follows her and wait when she'll get her eyes off her harvest.

Last year during my first Fall after i moved from my home country - The Philippines. I didn't know what a walnut looks like from the tree. Well of course, I've seen and ate this fruit but not while it is still fresh. Walnuts are good for salads, pies, cakes even in chocolates have this, too.

So my neighbor asked me to help her showing me the process how to do it. I have no idea how difficult to get a meat out of this of fruit. The shell after being dried for days gets hard to crack. Men, you need a hammer to pound it! What you'll get is a tiny broken pieces of it. No wonder this is expensive in our local grocery store.

Fall season is the time where creatures like the squirrels go and gather their food to prepare for winter. These tree-dwelling rodents with a bushy tail have their own weather channels so they know when to get some stuff like the expensive walnuts.

The Executioner has done it again

Bernard Hopkins has done another great on boxing last night by dominating the rest of 12-round against the younger champion, Kelly Pavlik. Though it was not a championship fight. Bernard not only showing great hand speed but also skills he always have through 20 years of experience.

There is an old saying in boxing that says every great fighter has one great fight left. Former two-time world champion Bernard "The Executioner" Hopkins, at age 43, proved that adage true after he turned in a masterpiece against his 26-year-old opponent, world middleweight champion Kelly "The Ghost" Pavlik last night in front of 11,332 fans at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, NJ. Fighting at a catch-weight of 170 pounds in a non-title bout, Hopkins, 170, of Philadelphia, PA took Pavlik, 169, of Youngstown, OH, to school, winning 33 out of a possible 36 rounds scored by the three judges.

It was indeed a different prospective last nights fight, Bernard was the more agressive, more resilient fighter while Pavlik was the slower one who took on the beating againts the old folk. A very different Kelly Pavlik I've seen.

After the fight, I can't help but wonder what might possibly happened to the much anticipated match againts Manny Pacquiao and Oscar dela Hoya on December 6, just a day before my 32nd birthday.

The world saw it last night that experience dominated againts a much younger opponent. Again, it would stir another debate to who will prevail; the bigger, heavier and older Oscar or the young, the flash, and the hard hitting Pacman.

Whatever the outcome of this fight there is one thing for me for sure, i would be infront of a TV or pc watching this megafight.

A suitcase worth remembering

A 2-moth-old baby whos life was extended after being rescued by ship 96 years ago sells treasured momento of what was left of them and her family. In 1912, baby Elizabeth Gladys "Millvina" Dean and her family were steerage passengers emigrating to Kansas City, Mo., aboard the Titanic. She is selling the rest of the stuff so she could pay for her nursing home.

Rescued from the bitterly cold Atlantic on that April 1912 night, Dean, her 2-year-old brother and her mother were taken to New York with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Before returning home to England, they were given a small wicker suitcase of donated clothing, a gift from New Yorkers to help them rebuild their lives.
Now, Dean is selling the suitcase and other Titanic mementos to help pay her nursing home fees. They are expected to go for $5,200 at an auction of Titanic memorabilia Saturday in Devizes in western England.

Early this year, another ship from the Philippines with around 900 souls onboard met their fate amids a tropical storm, less than a mile off Romblon island. Only less than a hundred made out of this sea tragedy not one of them are children; who could have tell us something about what had happened like Millvina today. Unlike her, those who survived who tell their tales were men and mostly sailors.

What i bought on my first Google cheque

It started last February when i saw an article regarding blog that earns. So with my curiosity sets in, well i said, "heck, why won't i give it a try." Without any background on how to do it; i stumble upon Blogger after a few Google searching and blog readings.





Here it is one day, I was able to set up my not so popular Blogger site (even now) LOL. Days past and it was earning. A few cents per week or a few bucks a month, it all sum up over a hundred, seven months later. I thought It was dormant but one day to my big surprise. A mailed cheque was on my mailbox. Wow, it was from my Google account!





I made a promise to my wife that if ever by chance i can get something out of this curiosity-blog thing, I will give my daughter her first portable DVD player. Last weekend i found this DVD player at Best Buy which is a perfect gift for my daughter. She loved it!



Together with that DVD player i found is a webcam. Our last one which was an A4 tech got broke so i bought a replacement. This Life Cam VX - 3000 has a good review so i took it. Me and my wife were not disappointed when we use it.

What i bought on my first Google cheque? -- A portable DVD player for my daughter and this sleek web cam plus a Big Mac. Laptop your next!

Ten Scariest New Car Features

10. Rain-Sensing Wipers
Rain-sensing windshield wipers have crept from high-end luxury cars to everyday models like the Toyota Avalon. They generally use infrared sensors to monitor a certain section of the windshield for moisture or dirt, then trigger the wipers to respond according to a threshold the driver sets. They usually work OK — until, invariably, they don't. When one editor's Volkswagen Jetta tester had its rain-sensing wipers suddenly spring to action one cloudless night, it was mildly frightening, to say the least.
9. Soda Can Cool Zone
Various automakers offer air-conditioned compartments to keep sodas and other sundries cool. Problem is, those cool zones get hot in the summer when the car is off; we had a couple sodas explode in a certain Dodge after a 90-degree weekend. A spokeswoman told us the car's so-called Chill Zone is not intended to be used as a refrigerator. All the same, we came away a bit steamed. And sticky.
8. Smart Transmission
The Smart ForTwo deserves its own category. The minicar's automated-manual transmission shifts gears with its own electronic clutch while the driver sees a traditional automatic setup. Drive the thing and you feel like you're on a bucking bronco. Once you're through first gear, the transmission stutters, shudders and very nearly takes a personal day before engaging second. The same thing happens on the way to third, and fourth, and fifth. Sorry, Smart, but this gearbox is anything but.
7. Power-Sliding Doors
Parents, rest assured the power-sliding doors on upscale minivans employ all sorts of electronic cutoffs to ensure they won't eat your Brownie troop. But we'll admit the prospect of power doors that can do their thing by remote 20 or 30 feet away can be a bit, um, dicey. They can also add hundreds of dollars to a car's out-the-door sticker. If you're feeling the pinch, go with manual sliders and open 'em yourself.
6. Multi-Manual Owner's Booklets
The thought of wading through an owner's manual to figure out how something works is daunting enough. Try wading through 10 of them or more; that's the number of pamphlets, manuals and quick-start guides included in some cars' libraries. With online directories only a click away, do you really need a state-by-state list of dealerships? Memo to carmakers: Just because it goes in the glove box doesn't mean it needs to be a box set.

5. Self-Parking Cars
Ian Merritt, Cars.com
Lexus' self-parking feature is optional on the LS sedan. Line up the superimposed square in the backup camera with your intended parking spot, gently let off the brakes and the LS will slowly steer around adjacent cars as it backs into the spot. You have to press the brakes to bring the car to a stop at the end. We didn't know Big Brother had a valet job, either.
4. iDrive
Even among the trio of similar dashboard interfaces from Audi and Mercedes, BMW's iDrive is utter knobsense. Directional inputs send you to various submenus, but in most models there are no shortcut or previous-screen buttons around the knob. In many models, street labels sit on a horizontal plane no matter the direction of the street, and if you need to scroll along the map you have to spin the knob to move east/west, then click it down and spin it again to move north/south. If you get the hang of it, you'll be ready for "Survivor" tryouts.
3. Voice Turn-by-Turn Navigation
Navigation systems have been barking out orders for years. With the exception of Land Rover's charming Brit, most of them employ a female American voice whose intonations range from casually disinterested to downright annoyed. Some systems try gamely to pronounce street names, but the result is usually anything but clear: You're cruising along, and she suddenly directs you to turn left on ... what was that? Ah, Fockner Ave.
2. Heart-Rate Monitor
You read correctly. Volvo's Personal Car Communicator monitors the cabin and pulses a light on your keyfob if your car has an unexpected visitor inside. TV ads show a woman approaching her S80 in a deserted parking garage, seeing the warning and hightailing it away. The thought of having this feature is scary in and of itself — not for fear of being carjacked, but because we wonder what sort of paranoia would drive you to want it.
1. Overly Aggressive Seats
Driver's seats run the gamut, from flat benches to the sort of hip-huggers you'd get in an F-15, and some of the more extravagant ones don't sit so well with us. The BMW 7 Series offers a massaging driver's seat, but its throbbing motions feel downright Frankensteinian compared to a real massage. In some of Mercedes-Benz's pricier models, active side bolsters automatically inflate to hold you in as you take a corner. They're convenient on highway offramps and winding roads, but 90-degree city turns can result in sudden rib pinching as the seats go hog-wild to keep up. Avoid large spicy meals beforehand — or wade through the Benz's onboard computer menus to turn the feature off.

From Yahoo Autos

US Presidential debate

The last Presidential debate on Tuesday stir some mind-puzzling thoughts. Still undecided, who among these great men, Sen. Obama or the Senator from Arizona, John McCaine will have the right to sit in office this November.

Both have different ideas to shape back America into the 21st century. There is this economic issues that both parties trying to resolve. Deviating to issues the McCaine camp is doing which i think doesn't do any good to prosper his campaign. In fact, he has never been on top to any surveys. With few more days left to go before election. The strong Democratic party, though behind campaigning has the most votes in the survey.

I could only wonder, Does every thing these two candidate says will be true? Can America really recover from this fox whole made by the present administration? I would never know for sure until the day will come. Only these great men know how they will run the nation.

Next week, i'm sure i'll be in front of my tv to listen the two battle there way into the Whitehouse. The way i see it,this debate will be as the same as the last two. The same old attacks and denial thing.

8 Ways to Cross the English Channel (without a boat)

When people attempt new ways of crossing the channel, they do it at the Strait of Dover, which is the narrowest point of the channel at only 34 kilometers between Dover and Calais. The cachet of crossing the channel is way out of proportion to its distance. There is something symbolic about making the trip, particularly if you do it in a new way.The English Channel (La Manche) is the part of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Britain from France. The actual channel is the length of the entire southern coast of England, and contains many inhabited islands. When people attempt new ways of crossing the channel, they do it at the Strait of Dover, which is the narrowest point of the channel at only 34 kilometers (21 miles) between Dover and Calais. The cachet of crossing the channel is way out of proportion to its distance. There is something symbolic about making the trip, particularly if you do it in a new way.

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HARRY POTTER: Half Blood Prince

Chapter 1: The Other Minister
It was nearing midnight and the Prime Minister was sitting alone in his office, reading a
long memo that was slipping through his brain without leaving the slightest trace of
meaning behind. He was waiting for a call from the President of a far distant country, and
between wondering when the wretched man would telephone, and trying to suppress
unpleasant memories of what had been a very long, tiring, and difficult week, there was
not much space in his head for anything else. The more he attempted to focus on the print
on the page before him, the more clearly the Prime Minister could see the gloating face of
one of his political opponents. This particular opponent had appeared on the news that
very day, not only to enumerate all the terrible things that had happened in the last week
(as though anyone needed reminding) but also to explain why each and every one of them
was the government's fault.

http://www.hotlinkfiles.com/files/1873579_mp3nf/6%20-%20Half%20Blood%20Prince.pdf

Omega released Phelps' photo on 100m Fly

Official timekeeper Omega released a digital photo sequence of last week’s riveting 100-meter butterfly finish at the Olympics—and it’s still not clear to the naked eye just who won. However, according to Omega timer Silvio Chianese, the results are clear. “In the third set of images, with Phelps on the left, it is clear he is really pushing hard, while Cavic, on the right, is just arriving,” Chianese told The Associated Press on Saturday. He explained that it requires 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of pressure to activate the touchpad. “Any less and waves would set it off,” Chianese said. “You can’t just put your fingertips on the pad, you really have to push it. We explained all this directly after the race to (Cavic) and his coach.” Serbia coach Kapor Mladen filed an appeal but accepted the results after reviewing the photos immediately after the race.

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US TEAM 4x200M FREE RELAY

INTERVIEW

20/20: Sex in America

Watch this episode from 2o/2o about the way Americans deal their sex life and where the law sits in.

Click July 18, 2008: 9pm
http://www.justin.tv/rudjard/archive

pacman vs diaz final rd - diaz interview

Soto vs Lorenzo

Lorenzo won by disqualification then a thorough review by the commission, it was ruled out to no contest and Lorenzo was fined and the proceeds was given to a charity in his country.

Fields vs Barret

theme park in Iowa

One amazing yet crazy ride i saw in my first visit in Adventureland here in Altoona, Iowa is this one in the video. This maybe one hell of a ride you wouldn't forget.

Then this one, if you still have some guts left in you to try this spinning ride while being splash with squirting water. But as you can see those people in it doesn't seems to care about falling. They really enjoy it. My sister is in that ride.

The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth

According to a recent study by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, 73 percent of California drivers change their oil more frequently than required. This same scenario no doubt repeats itself across the country. Besides wasting money, this translates into unnecessary consumption of $100-a-barrel oil, much of it imported.

Using 2005 data, the Board estimates that Californians alone generate about 153.5 million gallons of waste oil annually, of which only about 60 percent is recycled. Used motor oil poses the greatest environmental risk of all automotive fluids because it is insoluble, persistent, and contains heavy metal and toxic chemicals. One gallon of used oil can foul the taste of one million gallons of water.

It’s been a misconception for years that engine oil should be changed every 3000 miles, even though most auto manufacturers now recommend oil changes at 5,000, 7,000, or even 10,000 mile intervals under normal driving conditions.Greatly improved oils, including synthetic oils, coupled with better engines mean longer spans between oil changes without harming an engine. The 3000 mile interval is a carryover from days when engines used single-grade, non-detergent oils.

For several years, automakers like General Motors, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have installed computerized systems that alert drivers via an instrument panel light when it’s time to change oil. As an example, the General Motor Oil Life System (GMOLS) analyzes the engine temperature, rpms, vehicle speeds, and other driving conditions to calculate the rate of engine oil degradation. Then, software calculates when the oil needs to be changed. Other systems work similarly.

Because of the many external conditions and parameters that have to be taken into account, calculating the precise maximum service interval using mathematical models alone is difficult. Now, Daimler AG has developed a more direct and precise way to monitor oil quality directly on board a vehicle.

Daimler uses a special sensor integrated into the oil circuit to monitor engine oil directly. Oil doesn’t wear out, but rather dirt and impurities cause oil to lose its ability to lubricate properly, dictating the need for a change. Daimler uses the oil’s “permittivity,” that is, the ability to polarize in response to the electric field. If the engine oil is contaminated by water or soot particles, it polarizes to a greater extent and its permittivity increases.

To evaluate the quality of the oil, permittivity is measured by applying an AC potential between the interior and exterior pipes of an oil-filled sensor to determine how well the oil transmits the applied electric field.

Because not all impurities can be measured with sufficient precision via the electric field method, Daimler also measures the oil’s viscosity to detect any fuel that may have seeped into the oil. Daimler researchers measure viscosity while the vehicle is in motion by observing the oil's side-to-side motion in the oil sump. The slower the oil moves, the higher its viscosity. This movement is registered by a sensor and the viscosity is calculated on this basis.

A single sensor, along with the information already monitored by on-board computers, is sufficient to determine the various parameters of the engine oil. Daimler will likely use the technology first on its commercial vehicles. Here, large oil reservoirs mean larger quantities of oil can be saved. Plus, a predicted 25 percent increase between service intervals and reduced downtime will be of interest to fleets, and thus justify the added cost of installation.

Is Manny Pacquiao on the Decline?

By Don Leopoldo: Boxing Herald .com

The Filipino Star's Dominance Has Been Debated; We Set the Record Straight

There’s been a lot of talk amongst boxing fanatics that Filipino idol Manny Pacquiao is on his way down. Critics usually point out that he peaked in that rubbermatch against Erik “El Terrible” Morales, and that his string of ring performances has dipped since that lackluster knock-out victory over Jorge “Coloradito” Solis. But what is really the score? Is Manny really on the inevitable downward spiral? Well, let’s tackle the issue based on his individual performances from his spectacular third round knockout victory over Erik Morales to his controversial split decision win over Juan Manuel “Dinamita” Marquez.

MANNY PACQUIAO VS ERIK MORALES III “THE GRAND FINALE” (W - KO 3) If Pacman’s career can be summarized in one bout, this is it! He was an absolute wrecking machine in this fight. At the very first round of “The Grand Finale” main event, Morales was already getting hit by explosive shots to the head. It was punctuated by a perfectly placed right hook that landed square on "El Terrible’s" temple. The action just got more intense in round two. In one furious sequence, Morales went on the attack and trapped Pacquiao in the ropes. But Manny countered with a hard left hook that caused Erik to touch the canvas. Although the brave Mexican was able to beat the mandatory count, his impending doom was already sealed. In round three, it was all too clear that the proud warrior from Mexico was living on borrowed time. He kissed the canvas twice in round three. The second time he was decked, he gave his corner a dejected look and never bothered to stand-up to beat the mandatory count. NO MAS.

FIGHT ANALYSIS:This fight gave us the CLASSIC MANNY PACQUIAO -- aggressive, explosive, ferocious and absolutely merciless. It was a total destruction of the great Morales. Pacman’s knockout power, dynamic hand speed and accurate counter-punching were very evident in this fight. If there is one single fight that will qualify the Filipino fighter for the Hall of Fame – remember the main event of “The Grand Finale”.

MANNY PACQUIAO VS JORGE SOLIS “BLAZE OF GLORY” (W – KO 8) Critics usually point to this fight as the start of a downward trend in Pacquiao’s reign-of-terror. To set the record straight, this was a one-sided performance in favor of the Filipino fighter. But he started the fight slow and was seemingly lackluster for long stretches of the match. Unluckily for the Mexican, a Pacquiao cut over the left eye made the Filipino pick up the tempo. The faster pace troubled the Mexican and caused two knockdowns in round eight.

FIGHT ANALYSIS: Was there an obvious decline in Manny’s capabilities in this fight? I would have to say no. It was quite clear that the Filipino boxing hero was merely trying different styles against the Mexican. He was probably using several techniques that he has practiced in the gym, and applied those methods in an actual fight. But a nasty cut had to stop his experimentation and decided to knockout Solis instead. The vaunted power and speed was very much present in this fight.

MANNY PACQUIAO VS MARCO ANTONIO BARRERA “WILL TO WIN” (W – UD) A big percentage of fight fans were expecting a knockout in this duel. Most of them were disappointed that it never came. Not even a knockdown was scored by Pacman.Barrera’s strategy in this fight was to box Manny from a distance. He was particularly defensive minded in this duel. Most of the time, it would seem that he was merely on survival mode. When Pacquiao initiates an attack, he would either backpedal or clinch. Most critics of Pacman often pointed out that there was no sustained offensive barrage from the Filipino fighter. he only time that the Mexican was truly in trouble was in round eleven when he buckled after he was hit by a solid punch.

FIGHT ANALYSIS:Were there signs that Manny’s inherent boxing capabilities declined in this fight? My answer is NO. In fact, he got better and showed different aspects of his game that weren’t there before. In this fight, Manny out-boxed, out-fought and outworked the boxer. He showed to the boxing fanatics that he can win fights on points by landing the cleaner shots. He showed patience and finesse. His defensive capability improved. He displayed his punching accuracy. A lot of new facets in his game surfaced in this match. Manny Pacquiao actually improved in this fight.

MANNY PACQUIAO VS JUAN MANUEL MARQUEZ “UNFINISHED BUSINESS” (W – SD) I always felt that Juan Manuel Marquez had the style to make Manny look ordinary. That’s just what the Mexican did in their rematch last March 15, 2008 at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. "The Dinamita" caught Manny with a huge left hook towards the end of round two and the latter buckled from that punch. Round three was the most important round of the match and proved to be the difference. In the last few seconds of the round, Manny caught his opponent with a powerful left cross and the Mexican dropped to the canvass.

FIGHT ANALYSIS: Marquez’s orthodox counterpunching style is the perfect antidote to Manny’s in-ring explosiveness. The Mexican proved to the boxing world that lightning hand speed and knockout power can be contained with perfect timing and punching accuracy. Even though he lost that fight, he gained respect with the spirited performance.On the other hand, Pacquiao had great difficulty figuring out the style of his opponent. But he showed maturity by picking his spots and not forcing the issue. In fact, he was able to stun Marquez once again in the tenth round by landing a wild left into the Mexican’s face.So, was there a decline in Pacquiao’s performance in this fight? The truth is – NO. Marquez just happens to be a stylistic nightmare for Pacquiao.

SUMMARY: Manny Pacquiao is definitely still at his peak. He has added several dimensions to his game. He is becoming more of a boxer as of late, which is a big plus to his arsenal.In that rubbermatch against Erik Morales, he displayed his much improved right hand to compliment his main-weapon left hook. Against Jorge Solis, he added patience to his fight game. He didn’t immediately go all-out for the attack and studied his opponent first. In his rematch against Barrera, he finally evinced that he can be an effective boxer -- that he does not have to endanger himself all the time by committing to an all-out attack. This shows his maturity and development as a fighter. The Juan Manuel Marquez rematch showed to the world that the Filipino fighter is capable of adapting his the style to his opponent. He knew that the Mexican was the best counterpuncher in the business, so he changed his style accordingly.A great fighter is the one who can adapt to his changing environment. He must be able to add to his repertoire of skills. If you stick to the same style, your opponents will eventually solve your puzzle and beat you. Manny Pacquiao is changing for the better. He is trying to prolong his career by fighting smart. His style now is about CONTROLLED AGGRESSION and not the reckless aggression that he used to possess.

Uncontacted tribe

Members of one of the world’s last uncontacted tribes have been spotted and photographed from the air near the Brazil-Peru border. The photos were taken during several flights over one of the remotest parts of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil’s Acre state.
‘We did the overflight to show their houses, to show they are there, to show they exist,’ said uncontacted tribes expert José Carlos dos Reis Meirelles Júnior. Meirelles works for FUNAI, the Brazilian government’s Indian affairs department. ‘This is very important because there are some who doubt their existence.’
Meirelles says that the group’s numbers are increasing. But other uncontacted groups in the region, whose homes have been photographed from the air, are in severe danger from illegal logging in Peru. Logging is driving uncontacted tribes over the border and could lead to conflict with the estimated five hundred uncontacted Indians already living on the Brazilian side.
‘What is happening in this region [of Peru] is a monumental crime against the natural world, the tribes, the fauna and is further testimony to the complete irrationality with which we, the ‘civilised’ ones, treat the world,’ said Meirelles.
There are more than one hundred uncontacted tribes worldwide, with more than half living in either Brazil or Peru. All are in grave danger of being forced off their land, killed and decimated by new diseases. Survival has launched an urgent campaign to get their land protected, and a unique film narrated by actress Julie Christie.
Survival’s director Stephen Corry said today, ‘These pictures are further evidence that uncontacted tribes really do exist. The world needs to wake up to this, and ensure that their territory is protected in accordance with international law. Otherwise, they will soon be made extinct.’
source: Survival International

Starving may fend off jet lag

Humans have second internal clocks that take over their circadian clocks when deprived of food.Normally, the body's natural circadian clock in the brain dictates when to wake, eat and sleep, all in response to light. But it seems a second clock takes over when food is scarce, and manipulating this clock might help travelers adjust to new time zones, they said."A period of fasting with no food at all for about 16 hours is enough to engage this new clock," said Dr. Clifford Saper of Harvard Medical School, whose study appears in the journal Science.He said a person from the United States traveling to Japan must adjust to a 11-hour time change.

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Find Sunglasses that Complement Your Face

Choosing a haircut for your face shape can be a challenge - particularly because you don't quite know what you're buying until you've already bought it - but sunglasses offer a whole different set of shopping parameters. Most importantly, you can see what you're getting before you buy. To help steer you towards the perfect pair, below are some guidelines for finding sunglasses that tend to flatter four common face shapes.

Face Shape: OblongFrames to try: Round or Square.
Frames that are the same length vertically as horizontally will cover a good portion of your face and give the illusion that it's shorter.

Face Shape: SquareFrames to try: Oval
Choosing a frame shape that contrasts with the lines of your face will soften an angular jawline and hairline, creating a more proportioned silhouette.

Face Shape: RoundFrames to try: Rectangular.
The angles will downplay your face's roundness and make it appear longer.

Face Shape: Heart-ShapedFrames to try: Rimless or Aviator.
They'll accent your eyes and play down the angles on the lower half of your face. Colored lenses will draw even more attention towards the eye area.

Find Sunglasses that Complement Your Face

Marvel to unleash 'Iron Man 2'

Marvel Studios announced Monday it will release “Iron Man 2” on April 30, 2010, following the success of the first in the comic-book franchise, which pulled in $104.2 million domestically since opening last Thursday and $201 million worldwide.Four other films based on Marvel superheroes also were announced: “Thor,” due out June 4, 2010; “The First Avenger: Captain America,” May 6, 2011; “The Avengers,” July 2011; and “Ant-Man,” which is in development but has no release date.Marvel also has “The Incredible Hulk,” starring Edward Norton, coming out this June 13.Just as Robert Downey Jr.’s character, Tony Stark, makes an appearance in “The Incredible Hulk,” the Hulk could turn up in “Iron Man 2,” said David Maisel , Marvel Studios chairman. And “The Avengers” consists of a rotating roster of Marvel heroes that could see the return of virtually any of the franchise’s characters.

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15th-century shipwreck found full of treasures

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) -- The ship was laden with tons of copper ingots, elephant tusks, gold coins -- and cannons to fend off pirates lurking off Africa some five centuries ago.It had nothing to protect it from the fierce weather off a particularly bleak stretch of inhospitable coast. It sank, only to be found last month by men seeking other treasure."If you're mining on the coast, sooner or later you'll find a wreck," archaeologist Dieter Noli, who is researching the ship's origins, said in an interview Thursday, describing De Beers geologists stumbling on the wreck April 1 as they prospected for diamonds off Namibia's southwest coast.Namdeb Diamond Corp., a joint venture of the government of Namibia and De Beers, had cleared and drained a stretch of seabed, building an earthen wall to keep the water out so geologists could work. Noli said one of the geologists first saw a few ingots, but had no idea what they were. Then they found what looked like cannon barrels, but weren't sure.The geologists stopped the brutal earth-moving work of searching for diamonds and sent photos to Noli, who had done research in the Namibian desert since his university days in Cape Town in the mid-1980s and since 1996 has advised De Beers on the archaeological impact of its operations in Namibia.The find "was what I'd been waiting for for 20 years," Noli said. "Understandably, I was pretty excited. I still am."Noli's original specialty was the desert, but because of Namdeb's offshore explorations, he had been preparing for the possibility of a wreck, even learning to dive. He had also studied maritime artifacts with an expert from his university days, Bruno Werz, whom he has brought in to help research the Namdeb wreck.Judging from the notables depicted on the hoard of Spanish and Portuguese coins and the type of cannons and crude navigational equipment, the ship went down in the late 1400s or early 1500s, around the time Vasco de Gama and Columbus were plying the waters of the New World, "a period when Africa was just being opened up, when the whole world was being opened up," Noli said.Noli compared the remnants found -- the ingots, ivory, coins, coffin-sized timber fragments -- to evidence at a crime scene."The surf would have pounded that wreck to smithereens," he said. "It's not like `Pirates of the Caribbean,' with a ship more or less intact."He and Werz are trying to fit the pieces into a story. They divide their time between inventorying the find in Namibia and researching in museums and libraries in Cape Town in neighboring South Africa, from where Noli spoke by phone Thursday. Eventually, they will go to Portugal, whose ships were particularly active in the area 500 years ago, or Spain to search for records of a vessel with similar cargo that went missing."You don't turn a skipper loose with a cargo of that value and have no record of it," Noli said.The wealth aboard is intriguing. Noli said the large amount of copper could mean the ship had been sent by a government looking for material to build cannons. Trade in ivory was usually controlled by royal families, another indication the ship was on official business.On the other hand, why was the captain still holding so many coins? Shouldn't they have been traded for the ivory and copper?"Either he did a very, very good deal. Or he was a pirate," Noli said. "I'm convinced we'll find out what the ship was and who the captain was."What sent her down may remain a mystery. But Noli has theories, noting the stretch of coast where it met its fate was notorious for fierce storms and disorienting fogs. In later years, sailors with sophisticated navigational tools avoided it. The only tools found aboard Noli's wrecks were astrolabes, which can be used to determine only how far north or south you have sailed."Sending a ship toward Africa in that period, that was venture capital in the extreme," Noli said. "These chaps were very much on the edge as far as navigation. It was still very difficult for them to know where they were."Noli has found signs worms were at work on his ship's timber, and sheets of lead used to patch holes, indications the ship was old when it set out on its last voyage.Imagine a leaky, overladen ship caught in a storm. The copper ingots, shaped like sections of a sphere, would have sat snug. But the tusks -- some 50 have been found -- could have shifted, tipping the ship."And down you go," Noli said, "weighed down by your treasure."Spanish gold coins, Portuguese silver coins minted in the late 1400s or early 1500s were found, as well as dividers used for measuring distance on a map during navigation. The reverse of the some of the gold coins depicts Ferdinand and Isabella, two Spanish monarchs of the time.

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U.S. surfer dies in shark attack in Mexico

Just less than a week when we heard of a fatal shark attack in the coast near San Diego, CA. Now Here's another attack this time in Mexico. Could this be the same great white who severed the limb of a thriathlete man?The U.S. Embassy in Mexico could not immediately confirm the man's name, but local authorities identified him as a 24-year-old who was surfing with a fellow American. The other man was not injured.The attack occurred at the Troncones beach, about 45 minutes west by car from the beach resort of Ixtapa.The statement said the victim suffered wounds "that reached from the hip to the knee, exposing the femur."The victim was still alive when he was brought back to the beach. It took so long for the ambulance to reach the relatively isolated, undeveloped beach that a bystander took the victim to a local hospital in his car.The man died from loss of blood a few minutes after reaching the hospital, according to the statement.Shark attacks are relatively rare in Mexico. In 2006, the International Shark Attack File at the Florida Museum of Natural History reported only one attack in Mexico, which was not fatal.

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Triathlete Killed By Shark While Swimming Off Solana Beach

A group of nine swimmers entered the water near Fletcher Cove at about 6:30 a.m. for their daily ocean swim, according to witnesses. They swam northward. While they were swimming, a 66-year-old man was bitten on both thighs, the spokesman for the San Diego County Sheriff's Department said. Other swimmers looked back and saw the man flailing before he was pulled under the water, the spokesman said.Witnesses said the victim resurfaced screaming. Several other swimmers pulled the man to shore.Lifeguards arrived and a helicopter ambulance was called, but the victim bled to death on the beach.Helicopter video showed lifeguards, firefighters and police gathered at the main lifeguard station in Solana Beach. What appeared to be the victim's body covered by a yellow tarp was visible under a portable shade structure behind the headquarters.The victim's family was notified, but his identity was not immediately released.Lifeguards did not know what kind of shark attacked the man, but they speculated that it was a great white.
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Evil is the absence of God

A science professor begins his school year with A Lecture to thestudents, "Let me explain the problem science has with Religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before hisclass And Then asks one of his new students to stand. "You're a Christian, aren't you, son?" "Yes sir," the student says. "So you believe in God?" "Absolutely. " "Is God good?" “Sure! God's good." "Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?" "Yes." "Are you good or evil?" "The Bible says I'm evil." The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He Considers for amoment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick PersonOver here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him?Would You Try?" "Yes sir, I would." "So you're good...!" "I wouldn't say that." "But why not say that? You'd help a sick and Maimed Person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't." The student does not answer, so the professor Continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of Cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus Good?Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"The student remains silent. "No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He Takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time To Relax. "Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?" "Er...yes," the student says. "Is Satan good?" The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No." "Then where does Satan come from?" The student falters. "From God" "That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell Me, Son. Is there evil in this world?" "Yes, sir." "Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make Everything, correct?" "Yes." "So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and According to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is Evil."Again, the student has no answer. "Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do They Exist in this world?"The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?" The student does not answer again, so the Professor Repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly The lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is Mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you Believe in Jesus Christ, son?"The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, Professor, I do."The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have Five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have You Ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him." "Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?" "No, sir, I have not." "Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or Smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, Or God for that matter?" "No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't." "Yet you still believe in him?" "Yes." "According to the rules of empirical, testable, Demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you Say To that, son?""Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my Faith.""Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that Is The problem sciencehas with God. There is no evidence, only faith." The student stands quietly for a moment, before Asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?" "Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat." "And is there such a thing as cold?" "Yes, son, there's cold too." "No sir, there isn't." The professor turns to face the student, Obviously Interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to Explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, Mega-heat, Unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have Anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which Is no Heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."
"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmitsenergy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it." Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom,sounding like a hammer. "What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?" "Yes," the professor replies without hesitation.
"What is night if it isn't darkness?" "You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word." "In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This willbe a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?" "Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed tostart with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed." The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?" "You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as somethingfinite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought." "It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it." "Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your studentsthat they evolved from a monkey?" "If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man,yes, of course I do." "Have you ever observed evolution with your owneyes, sir?" The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizeswhere the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed. "Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?" The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided. "To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean." The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter. "Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No oneappears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir." "So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, hisface unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guessyou'll have to take them on faith." "Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists withlife," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?" Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course, there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It isin the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. Thesemanifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least itdoes not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It isjust like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."
The professor sat down.

Germans to swim without high-tech suits

BERLIN (AP)-German swimmers are concerned about a disastrous performance at the Beijing Olympics because they will be wearing the wrong swimsuits.The country’s Olympic trials have been overshadowed by the swimmers’ demands to be allowed to compete in the Speedo LZR Racer. Twenty-two world records have been shattered in the high-tech suit since its February introduction.The Germans say their medal chances are bleak at the Aug. 8-24 games unless they can wear Speedo instead of Adidas.“The German swim federation has to seriously consider it, otherwise we will sink completely into mediocrity,” Thomas Rupprath, one of Germany’s top swimmers, said Saturday.Rupprath lost his 50-meter backstroke world record two weeks ago to Liam Tancock, who swam in a Speedo. If you listen to U.S. head coach Mark Schubert, an outspoken supporter, that just shows every record could fall at the Beijing Games because of the suit.But many swimmers, some contractually bound to other sportswear companies, argue that the Speedo is unfair and gives athletes added buoyancy in the pool. World governing swimming body FINA says no scientific evidence supports the claims and has refused to ban the LZR Racer.Whether the German swimmers are disadvantaged against Speedo-clad rivals is real or not, coach Orjan Madsen thinks the belief is now firmly stuck in their heads and won’t be easily dislodged.“I don’t believe the best psychologists in the world can accomplish that,” Madsen said.The swimming federation won’t end a four-year contract with Adidas worth $6.2 million. It runs until 2009, with an option for the sportswear company to extend two more years.“We won’t break the contract. It’s also a question of principles,” federation general secretary Juergen Fornoff said.Massimiliano Rosolino, an Italian who has won 17 medals in Olympics and world championships, is among those calling the suit unfair and a distortion of competition.“It’s not a matter of technology,” said Rosolino, whose team wears Arena. “The matter is one suit has much more flotation. If I were to go out there in a scuba suit it wouldn’t be fair either. There’s something not right about it.”Despite the swimsuit debate, Germany set a pair of European records two days into its Olympic trials. Sarah Poewe swam 1 minute, 7.10 seconds in the 100 breaststroke and Helge Meeuw finished the men’s 100 backstroke in 53.10.Some Germans refuse to believe that the LZR Racer will bust every record and win every medal.“I swim in Adidas and set my world record in the 100-meter freestyle in it two years ago,” Britta Steffen said. “With all this discussion, people shouldn’t forget the suit doesn’t swim alone. Inside is a person that has a good or bad day, and trained well or badly.”

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Toddler Forced To Smoke Pot

In a video that has recently surfaced, cops say that a pot pipe is being forced on a reluctant toddler. A woman in the room laughs as the little girl coughs. Then a man can be heard saying, "This is some good stuff!"The squirming child being subjected to the ordeal is only 18-months-old, according to cops. Even hardened drug-abuse expert, Dr. Harris Straitner, is horrified at the awful images. "That's got to be one of the sickest things I've seen in a 30-year career," says Straitneruthorities say the man forcing the pipe on the child as a camera rolls is Melvin Blevins, an alleged drug dealer from outside Columbus, Ohio. Incredibly, they say Blevins later sold the camera to a pawn shop, forgetting that the damning video was still in it. The staff played the tape."I wish I hadn’t seen it. You just couldn't believe somebody could do that," said Shannon Sprouse, assistant manager of the pawn shop where the camera was sold. "The next thing we did was contact the local authorities, the Columbus Police Department...they couldn't believe it either," said Sprouse. Police traced the camera to Blevins, who is reportedly the toddler's uncle. He and a female teenager were apparently babysitting the child when the incident occurred. Blevins was charged with providing marijuana to a minor; the young woman was also charged. Dr. Straitner, a New York psychologist, struggled to maintain his professional detachment. "The thugs and creeps who did this should, as far as I'm concerned...I can't even say, I'm just disgusted."As for the baby...police know who the child is, but they've released no information about the toddler's current condition.
video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLdOy2mMWbI

Connect your Computer to your TV and stereo

Now I know that many of you would like to connect your computer to your TV and stereo system.You may want to watch a movie or video on your TV instead of staying in a chair in front of your PC.
You also may want to play your music with real surround sound speakers instead of tiny PC speakers.It is quite easy to set up and may require only a little expenses. RequirmentsA Computer with an extra output from your video card A TV with some kind of AUX input. A Stereo with some kind of AUX input. Connecting your VideoWe are going to deal with video first because it is much more challenging than audio.The quality depends mostly on your actual television set.It may be difficult to see the icons and text appearing on the TV.
Regardless whether your TV is old or new you still can watch videos and movies on it. Find your connection. First we must figure out what kind of inputs you have on your TV. Certain connections perform better than others. We will make the list starting with the best...

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rey boom boom bautista vs camargo (world invasion @ araneta)

boom boom is back!

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Aj Banal vs caril Herrera ROUND 4 TKO

php vs the world from uruguay

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Aj Banal vs caril Herrera ROUND 3

battle between BANAL and HERRERA declaring AJ as a winner by KO. INVASION! Philippines vs the World from Uruguay. held in Araneta Colesium MLA. PHILIPPINES ( APRIL 06 2008 ). It was 4-0 in favor of philippines...great pinoy boxers.

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Aj Banal vs CARIL Herrera ROUND 2

BAZOOKA winner by ko. boxing tko ko pinoy filipino sports golden boy promotion ala gym manny pacquiao boxer invasion philippines vs. world.uruguay boxer

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AJ Banal vs Caril Herrera

Spectacular knockout of AJ to Caril Herrera who is never been beaten yet till he Invades Manila. Pls watch it and enjoy!

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Getting rid of spyware and viruses, 2008 guide

Here's what to do if you suspect an infection on your Windows PC. (Please note these steps apply to both Windows XP and Vista.)
1) Are you sure it's spyware or a virus? Windows pop-ups and alerts can often seem invasive enough to be viruses, especially with Vista. Try searching the web for the exact text you see on the screen to make sure you aren't dealing with an aggressive Windows message. (Many of these can be turned off, so try whatever instructions you find.) On the other hand, some viruses masquerade as Windows alerts, so tread lightly.
2) Boot in safe mode. If you have a virus, first step is to try booting in safe mode. You can get to safe mode (a simplified version of Windows that disables a lot of extra gunk, possibly including some spyware apps) by restarting your PC and tapping F8 during boot. Soon you'll get a menu of options. Select "Safe Mode" (it's at the top of the menu) and wait for the machine to fully boot. The system will look funny (with a black background and larger icons, probably), but don't worry about it. This is only temporary. (Also note that many spyware applications can disable safe mode, so if you find this doesn't work, just boot normally.)
3) Run your antivirus application. This is of course assuming you have an antivirus application. (Need one? Check here.) You're in safe mode now, so run a full scan of your PC at maximum security levels (include the option to scan within compressed files, for example). This will probably take an hour or more, so be patient. Fix any problems the virus scan turns up. Then reboot into safe mode again using the procedure in step 2.
4) Run one or two anti-spyware applications. I used to recommend running multiple anti-spyware apps, but virtually all antivirus apps now do a pretty good job at getting rid of spyware too, so you don't need an army of additional applications just for spyware. Also, I now recommend starting with AdAware (which is free) and moving on to Spyware Doctor (free as part of the Google Pack) if you feel you need additional help. (Please note that recent versions of Spyware Doctor and Norton Antivirus have some trouble with each other.) You can try other apps too, but the once-recommended SpyBot Search & Destroy is no longer very effective, sadly. (Neither is Microsoft's own Windows Defender.) Of course, fix anything and everything these apps find.
5) Reboot normally. (Not in safe mode.) Now take stock. Still got spyware? It's time to move along to my more advanced techniques for removing the nasties.
6) Run HijackThis. HijackThis is a free software tool that scans your computer to find malware that other apps might miss. Scroll down to "Official downloads" to download the tool. Next, simply open the ZIP file you downloaded, extract the application, and run the tool (you don't need to install it). Click the "Do a system scan and save a logfile" button. You'll receive a large text file as well as a dialog box which gives you a list of active software processes, which you can then choose to delete. Unfortunately, this list includes both helpful and unhelpful software, so don't just start deleting items. Continue in step 7 to figure out how to fix your spyware infection.
7) Post your log file online. Visit this page, which offers a list of forums staffed by volunteers who can help you interpret your HijackThis log. The SWI Forums are especially busy, but most of the forums on the list are equally apt. Go to SWI and visit the "Malware Removal" forum which has over 50,000 topics listed: Those are all people like you who are seeking help getting rid of spyware. Register for an account, read the FAQ, then visit that Malware Removal forum, and post a new topic. Paste the content of the text file you created in step 5 into this topic and (politely) ask for help. You will get a response from a volunteer helper, typically within 3 days. You'll be given specific advice on what entries to remove with the HijackThis tool, and you might be pointed to additional software to run to help remove common spyware infections. Follow all the instructions and keep working with the forum helpers until either you or they give up. (And no, don't send your log file to me or post it here. I am not nearly the spyware removal expert that these guys are.)
7a) Alternately: Paste your log file into an automated tool. Don't have three days? Try simply pasting your HijackThis log file into this form. It does a pretty good job at auto-analyzing what's wrong with your machine, with no waiting. As well, if that doesn't work, you can search for the items you find in the HijackThis log by name to see what they are and how to remove them, if they're spyware. This can be quite time consuming, though.
8) Try System Restore. If that doesn't work, you might try running Windows System Restore to roll back your OS to a time before the infection happened. This isn't foolproof: You might not have System Restore turned on, or the spyware might have shut System Restore off, as well. But it's worth a shot. With either XP or Vista, System Restore can be found under Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Restore.
9) Give up and wipe your hard drive. At this point, you've exhausted all the options I know of. You might try again at steps 6/7 to make sure you've done everything you can to salvage the PC. Forum helpers will often work with you for weeks to help fight a spyware infection, but there are tens of thousands of possible variants out there, with new ones cropping up every day. It's just not possible to clean them all, every time. Sometimes the only thing you can do is call it quits, reformat your hard drive, and reinstall your OS. Again, make sure you have your backups ready and verified. Once you're up and running, reinstall your antivirus and anti-spyware applications, and stay vigilant against infection. Good luck.

New Speedo Suit: LZR Racer

A space-aged swimsuit is causing a wave of controversy!
Designed with help from NASA scientists, the underwater spacesuit is changing the way Olympic swimmers glide through the water...and with big results. Swimmers wearing the Speedo™ LZR Racer, a super-slick suit made of ultra-thin lycra and spandex, have broken 18 world swimming records!
Now some in the sport are wondering if the super swimsuit, which took four years to design, is giving athletes an unfair advantage, saying it keeps swimmers buoyant in the water and makes them faster.
INSIDE EDITION's Megan Alexander had the opportunity to try the swim suit on and take it for a test lap. After 25 minutes, Alexander was finally able to tug it on because it fits so tight to the body.
The ultra sleek and super tight suit makes our INSIDE EDITION correspondent almost look like a seal slicing through the water.
INSIDE EDITION spoke with Olympic swimmer and SwimNews.com writer Nikki Dryden about the new suit. "I think this suit is definitely going to give people a slight advantage."
Now the International Governing Body (FINA) for the sport of swimming says they're reviewing the suit. "There are buoyancy issues. Any device that makes the body more buoyant is banned."
Speedo says their goal is to make swimmers faster and that the suit meets all competitive swimming guidelines.

The suit costs starting from $200 - 550

SPEEDO LZR RACER WORLD RECORDS
16th Feb 08
200m Backstroke Kirsty Coventry (ZIM) 2.06.39
17th Feb 08 50m Freestyle Eamon Sullivan (AUS) 21.56
17th Feb 08 100m Backstroke Natalie Coughlin (USA) 59.2
17th Mar 08 50m Backstroke Hayley McGregory (USA) 28.00
18th Mar 08 Wm 4 x 100m Freestyle Netherlands 3.33.62
21st Mar 08 100m Freestyle Alain Bernard (FRA) 47.60
22nd Mar 08 400m Ind.Medley Stephanie Rice (AUS) 4.31.46
22nd Mar 08 50m Backstroke Emily Seebohm (AUS) 27.95
22nd Mar 08 100m Freestyle Alain Bernard (FRA) 47.50
23rd Mar 08 50m Backstroke Sophie Edington (AUS) 27.67
23rd Mar 08 50m Freestyle Alain Bernard (FRA) 21.5024th Mar 08 50m Freestyle Marleen Veldhuis (NED) 24.09
25th Mar 08 200m Ind.Medley Stephanie Rice (AUS) 2.08.92

source: Inside Edition and Speedo.com
http://www.insideedition.com/news.aspx?storyId=1513
http://www.speedo80.com/lzr-racer/results/13%20World%20Records%20Smashed%20by%20Speedo%20Stars/2008-3-26/