SHAQ RARING TO GO

PHOENIX - Shaquille O'Neal watched the Phoenix Suns from afar and knew what they were missing. "A big man," he said.

They don't come much bigger than Shaq. The question that hangs over the stunning trade that brought him to the Suns from Miami is how much he has left after dragging that big body up and down the court for 15 1/2 NBA seasons.

"I have a lot left," he insisted at a Thursday news conference to introduce him as a Sun.
As for the many critics of the trade, he said, "I look forward to making people eat their words."
Wearing a Suns' purple shirt and tie with his immaculate dark suit, O'Neal charmed the jam-packed room at US Airways Center.

Someone asked if he knew he looked good in purple.
"I already knew that," O'Neal said. "But thank you very much."
He acknowledged a new motivation after going from a team with the worst record in the NBA to one with the best record in the Western Conference. Widespread criticism of the deal has not gone unnoticed.

"I'm very upset," he said. "You just don't really want to get me upset. When I'm upset, I'm known to do certain things — like win championships."
Phoenix is without a title in the team's 40-year history.

The Suns have had the most entertaining team in basketball since Steve Nash arrived three-plus seasons ago to orchestrate coach Mike D'Antoni's ultra-fast style. But they have never made it to the finals, and the trade confirmed the belief that this version of the Suns, despite its record, wasn't going to be able to do it, either.

"I think with the addition of me it gives the guys the extra that we can make it," O'Neal said. "The first thing it takes in winning a championship is belief. If you can believe that you can do it, you can get it done. If there's ever a doubt that `Hey, we can't do it,' you will never win. Now I think the guys really, really believe that we have a shot."

The presence of a 7-foot-1, 325-pound man in the middle should go a long way toward erasing Phoenix's image as a "soft" team. His four championship rings give him extra credibility, and his personality should, as he put it, "amp up" what has been a joyless Suns team this season.
He will energize the locker room, he said, "just by being me."

O'Neal, out for two weeks with a hip injury, said his new teammate Grant Hill, who has a long history of injuries, told him how good the Suns' training staff is.
"I've given a full commitment to the medical staff that I will be there every day before and after practice, doing whatever it takes to keep me going for the next 10 years, he said. "And I look forward to my next $200 million contract."

D'Antoni stepped in to assure owner Robert Sarver that Shaq was kidding about that last part.
O'Neal said he hopes to be able to play before the All-Star break (Feb. 15-19). His streak of 14 consecutive All-Star appearances ended this season.

"Nothing really hurts," he said of his current health. "If you want to take me in a room and examine me yourself, you could see for my age I have a fabulous body. I was having some hip trouble but the medical staff assured me that if I stick with them every day I'll feel like Grant."
A more realistic timeline would have him coming back after the break. Phoenix's first game back will be at home against the Los Angeles Lakers, the franchise he helped win three titles. He brushed aside any talk of "silly rivalries."

"I'm not concerned with other teams. I'm the assistant vice general manager of this team," he said to laughter, then he added. "They (the Lakers) have been playing well all year. Kobe's one of the best players in the league, and he's always been. They're playing well and Pau Gasol is a great, fundamentally sound big man."

One of the reasons the trade was widely lampooned is because O'Neal, who turns 36 next month, has two years remaining on his contract at $20 million per season.
He dismissed the notion that he can't fit in with the Suns' running style.

"I've been hearing a lot of, `He can't run, he can't do this,'" O'Neal said. "You're going to be very surprised. You know in traditional basketball, when a team runs a lot, there's always been somebody to ignite the break. If I'm getting that rebound I'm going to be igniting that break. If I don't get the rebound, I'm going to try to be the first one down, because I know Nash is going to look for me."

He is not looking to be a star.

"I'm not a ball freak. I'm not going to be asking for 30-40 touches. I just want to fit in," O'Neal said. "This team has always been there in the Western Conference. They just couldn't quite get over the hump. I think with my experience and my on the court-off the court leadership, I can help them get over the hump."

Of course, this man of many words already has thought up a slogan.

"Start selling the T-shirts now, all the marketing people," he said. "I'm giving you this one for free: `The Sun will rise in Phoenix.' Start selling them now, $9.99 at the Phoenix Suns store."

source: Yahoo sports

Amazing turtle

BANGKOK, Thailand - A leatherback turtle has been tracked swimming from the coast of the Papua province in Indonesia to Oregon, researchers said, in what may be the longest trip for marine vertebrae between breeding and feeding sites.

"This is an animal perfectly suited for doing this kind of journey," said Scott Benson, research fishery biologist for the U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, who helped track the turtle and presented details of the journey at a sea turtle symposium last month.
The longest distance of nine turtles tagged in 2003, Benson said, was the leatherback that reached Oregon and then headed to Hawaii before the battery on the satellite transmitter gave out. The 12,774-mile journey took 647 days, he said.

Rat Droppings

A stock clerk was sent to clean up a storeroom in Maui , Hawaii . When he got back, he was complaining that the storeroom was really filthy and that he had noticed dried mouse/rat droppings in some areas.! A couple of days later, he started to feel like he was coming down with a stomach flu, complained of sore joints and headaches, and began to vomit. He went to bed and never really got up again. Within twodays he was severely ill and weak. His blood sugar count was down to 66, and his face and eyeballs were yellow. He was rushed to the emergency at Pali-Momi, where he was diagnosed to be suffering from massive organ failure. He died shortly before midnight. No one would have made the connection between his job and his death, had it not been for a doctor who specifically asked if he had been in a warehouse or exposed to dried rat/mouse droppings at anytime. They said there is a virus (much like the Hanta virus) that lives in dried rat and mouse droppings. Once dried, these droppings are like dust and can easily be breathed in or ingested if a person does not wear protective gear or fails to wash face and hands thoroughly .
An autopsy was performed on the clerk to verify the doctor's suspicions... This is why it is extremely important to ALWAYS carefully rinse off the tops of canned sodas or foods, and to wipe off pasta packaging, cereal boxes, and so on.

Almost everything you buy in a supermarket was stored in a warehouse at one time or another, and stores themselves often have rodents. Most of us remember to wash vegetables and fruits but never think of boxes and cans. The ugly truth is, even the most modern, upper-class, super store has rats and mice. And their warehouse most assuredly does! Whenever you buy any canned soft drink, please make sure that you wash the top with running water and soap or, if that is not available, drink with a straw. The investigation of soda cans by the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta discovered that the tops of soda cans can be encrusted with dried rat's urine, which is so toxic it can be lethal. Canned drinks and other foodstuffs are stored in warehouses and containers that are usually infested with rodents, and then they get transported to retail outlets without being properly cleaned.

EARN ON EMAILS READ

I have been a member of some site who paid me by jst clicking the email they send me. One of this which offers considerable amount of compensation is "Sendearnings." Every day they send couple of emails to my email address and by just clicking on it, they will pay me.

By signing alone they already give you bonus. There you can shop online and earn even more rebates. IF you are an ebay shopper then this site is definitly for you.

There are even more surprises coming as you answer surveys, Your opition really count there.

Here are some testimonies who already tried and even gain more than what i'm earning:

"I’ve been a member of SendEarnings for just about a year now. I just had to write and tell you how pleased I am. My experiences this past year have been sufficient for me to recognize an operation that absolutely rocks! Your customer service has been top‒notch and I thank you all for a job exceptionally well done. -- Danny L."

"I just wanted to comment on how much I love your program. I’ve been reading email offers, signing up for trial offers and taking online surveys. I can’t believe how easy it is. Thanks so much for developing such an honest and REAL program. --Robin D."

"SendEarnings.com is fun, educational, and you really can make some extra money while getting the things you need from their great offers. I am glad I am a member. -- "Richard S."

TEXT TIPS

*Don't ever text personal information such as your PIN number, password, or banking information to anyone. Remember, once you send that information to another person, it gets stored in their cell phone and you don't want that.

*Put a password on your phone to keep others from accessing your text logs or email. This will also prevent thieves from stealing information stored in your phone.

*iPhone owners may want to change their SMS preview settings to make incoming text messaging more private. Apple iPhone Review has instructions on how to do this.
*Those concerned about privacy, can send anonymous text messages with services like AnonTxt.com.

*Don't forget to erase all your personal data before selling, recycling or donating your old phone. Many people are still under the impression that taking out your SIM card will do the trick, but that's not true. You'll need a series of codes to permanently delete stored information in one step, instead of manually. For this, you'll need to find out if your phone has a "master reset" feature, which wipes out all the stored data at once. Since every phone has a different set of "master reset" instructions, you'll need to either look them up online or on your phone's manual. Recellular has a database of these codes with step-by-step instructions. You'll need your phone's make and model to get started, so if you don't know it, check the back of the phone or the box.

*And last but not least, remember that no matter how secure you think your carrier's SMS servers are, the ultimate security of private text messages depends on the recipient.

TIPS ON HOW TO COMPLAIN

Here are 10 tips—from the beginning of the process to resolution—to make sure that your complaint squeaks the loudest and gets the most metaphoric grease.

1. Go for Immediate GratificationThe best complaint letter is the one you never have to write, so do whatever you can to solve the problem on the spot. If you can’t get instant gratification from the person with whom you’re dealing, speak to someone higher up the food chain. Schedule permitting, it’s worth investing some time in an on-site, ad hoc arbitration session.
2. Take Good NotesAs a business traveler, you’ll often have a sense very early in the process when something is amiss. Start taking notes immediately: Get times, places, names, and as many specifics as you can. Hold on to all receipts, tickets, boarding passes, and anything else that is part of the paper trail. And think like a businessperson: Keep track of anything and everything you’d want to know if it were your job to resolve the situation retroactively.
3. Act FastDon’t throw your grievance file in the corner with your expense account. The longer you wait, the less likely it is that you’ll get any satisfaction. Initiate your complaint as soon as you get home.
4. Go With PaperDespite how reliant we all are on email, most airlines and hotels are unwilling or unable to resolve problems electronically. Rely on an old-fashioned paper letter and snail mail. Use company stationery and never send a handwritten note. Make sure to attach copies, not originals, of all relevant pieces of the paper trail.
5. Send the Complaint to a Specific PersonLetters generically addressed to customer service will be handled generically. If your problem is with a particular hotel or specific airport station, find out the name of the general manager or station manager and address the letter to that person. Unhappy with the frequent-travel program? Write to the vice president of marketing. If your problem is with a hotel chain, airline, or car-rental firm, write to the chief executive. You probably won’t get a response directly from the top dog, but most C-suite executives have staff specifically charged with handling letters addressed to them. (An interesting side note: A lot of business travelers I know have resolved their complaints by writing to the firm’s assistant general counsel. I don’t know why, but it seems to work.)
6. Keep It Short and PoliteLong missives that begin with the dawn of the millennium aren’t a good approach. Think of your complaint letter as a memo to your own C.E.O. Keep it brief, firm, and polite. Don’t clutter your letter with small indignities or frivolous complaints. Don’t go for revenge. It isn’t worth it—and anyway, you won’t get it.
7. Use Your CloutDon’t bludgeon the airline or hotel with your clout, but don’t run away from it either. If you are an elite-level frequent traveler, put your account number and status on the letter. If the complaint is so serious that you’re thinking of moving your business elsewhere, say so. If you can impact your company’s travel policy and sway business away from the airline or hotel, say so. But don’t bluff. Only threaten what you are actually prepared to do. And don’t tell the company that you’ll never fly with them or rent a room from them again. If you proclaim yourself a lost customer, there’s very little incentive for the company to try to make amends.
8. Ask for SomethingWriting a letter of complaint without asking for some sort of tangible make-good is guaranteed to generate little more than a form-letter apology. Tell the airline, hotel, or car-rental firm exactly what is required to make you happy. But have a sense of proportion. A one-hour flight delay does not entitle you to a refund. A rude front-desk clerk isn’t grounds for a free night at a hotel. The punishment, so to speak, should fit the crime. Asking for hard cash is always tricky, although sometimes a refund is the only fair resolution. However, if you’d be happy with bonus miles or points, room or flight upgrades, or discount coupons, ask for them. If you’re a frequent traveler, elevation to the next level of elite status might be the best compensation of all.
9. Use Your Big Plastic StickI assume you know that you should never pay cash for travel services. That’s because you do have legal recourse if you charge your travel purchase. Under federal fair-credit laws, you have the right to contest any charge that you do not consider legitimate and that includes a travel purchase gone awry. If you’re in a row with an airline, hotel, or car-rental firm over a service they didn’t provide, immediately contest the charge with your credit card company.
10. Don’t Give UpIf the airline or hotel’s first response is insufficient, tell the person who responded to your letter that you aren’t satisfied. (By the way, don’t return any coupons, discounts, or checks they sent.) You’ll be surprised how often a second letter yields a better offer. The Fine Print…As I warned in a recent column, the travel industry will continue to slap surcharges on published prices. During the past week, for example, airlines have attempted to impose a fuel surcharge of $50 round-trip on domestic fares. It fell to $40 and is now $10. And some Dollar Rent a Car franchises in New England are testing a $2 “top-up” fee if you return your rented car with a full tank of gas.

what happened to our jobs?

John Smith started the day early having set his alarm clock

(MADE IN JAPAN) for 6am.
While his coffeepot

(MADE IN CHINA)

was perking, he shaved with his

electric razor

(MADE IN HONG KONG).

He put on a

dress shirt

(MADE IN SRI LANKA),


designer jeans

(MADE IN SINGAPORE)

and

tennis shoes

(MADE IN KOREA)

After cooking his breakfast in his new

electric skillet

(MADE IN INDIA)


he sat down with his

calculator

(MADE IN MEXICO)

to see how much he could spend today. After setting his

watch

(MADE IN TAIWAN)

to the radio

(MADE IN INDIA)

he got in his car

(MADE IN GERMANY)

filled it with GAS

(from Saudi Arabia)

and continued his search


for a good paying AMERICAN JOB.

At the end

of yet another discouraging

and fruitless day

checking his

Computer

(Made In Malaysia),

Joe decided to relax for a while.

He put on his sandals


(MADE IN BRAZIL)

poured himself a glass of

wine

(MADE IN FRANCE)


and turned on his

TV

(MADE IN INDONESIA),

and then wondered

why he can't find

a good paying job

in AMERICA . Y'all gotta stop sending jobs overseas!