Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Roomster.net - roommate finder #1

roomster.netRoomster.net is an interactive website to search roommates or room rental anywhere in USA, UK or Canada.

You can post your profile for free to be listed on this site so others can find and contact you if they find you are a perfect match to be their roommate, or you can straightly find a roommate who suitable for you by viewing their profiles on the listing.

Roomster.net can also help you to find an apartment or room to rent. They have a huge range apartments and available rooms for rent so you can find the perfect place that fit your needs and budget.

Just visit this site and find out yourself why roomster.net becomes a roommate finder #1 and the world's largest roommate community.

roommate finder

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Get professional assistance for your writing assignment!

research papers
Talking about students writing assignment, students nowadays are facing more and more frustrating deadline to complete all their essay writing assignment. They can be requested to write research papers, essay, term papers, course work, dissertations and many more.

Some students have try their best effort to finalize all their assignment but still some are not successful, particularly when it comes to specific writing that need extra attention like writing abstract for research papers.

What is an abstract in a research paper?


Abstract is a brief and come with maximum words requirement, at the bottom line it is a summary of the research paper writing. An abstract is about the purpose of your research paper, what have been performed and the results, so it summarizes the work done. Sound easy? This is one nightmare actually. But now you can order your writing assignment including your rearch papers at custom-writing.org. To find out more just visit the website!



Thursday, May 15, 2008

www.lifelock.com

Today’s world we will easily find things with guarantees, it’s definitely a good trend to follow. But what to ask next is how serious our provider will go to guarantee its products? Some come with guarantee but under too many terms and condition others just labeling!

Lifelock is one name widely trusted in the identity theft prevention industry as this program guarantee your good name and they guarantee your good name up to $1,000,000 total services! This is one real issue where we can see how lifelock seriously taking care their consumers! Visit www.lifelock.com to have more details.

With lifelock you can be sure your credit is lock and no body but you can have access to your credit, the program lifelock offer is to place a continuing fraud alert system to look after your credit your good name! The whole family can participate in this program, you and your spouse, and your kids too. Lifelock also come with others services within the same program where you are no longer receive tons of junk mails, or pre-approved credit cards, and you will get your annual credit report too, for free! Some new services are available just browse www.lifelock.com

www.lifelock.com is the website of this product. Now you can have your special discount rate as at this moment there are several discount rates programs available on the market. You can check all these discount rates, make comparison and if you have decided which promotional code that you are going to enroll with just simply visit www.lifelock.com. Follow just the good trend; protect your identity right now with lifelock!


Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Apple sells out of iPhones online, 3G model imminent?

Apple has announced that they are sold out of the iPhone at their online stores in both the US and UK, further fueling speculation that the company is getting ready to launch a new model of the coveted device featuring support for faster 3G wireless technology.

Customers looking for iPhones aren’t totally locked out, however. The company confirmed that its brick-and-mortar stores and its partners should still have units available, but the mere fact that Apple is pointing to its retail outlets suggests that it won't be stocking back up and could be clearing out product inventory ahead of a major upgrade. Though still unconfirmed, Apple’s 3G iPhone is widely expected to be unveiled in June at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Source @ T5

Opera releases Opera Mini 4.1

Opera Mini 4.1Yesterday, Opera released a new version of their “Mini” browser for mobile phones. Opera Mini 4.1 has left the beta stage, acting as the new successor to the Mini browser line as an alternative to other mobile browsers. Little has changed since the original beta release, but the features themselves are interesting and useful for cells. For instance, URL guessing based on search is available along with web page data highlighting.

It is easy to get this browser confused with Opera Mobile, which is a more potent but paid version of their mobile lineup. Opera Mini is, of course, completely free, and [url=http://www.operamini.com/is easily downloaded[/url] from Opera's site. If you happen to browse from your phone often, it's at least worth a try. Opera Mini has seen some very fast development, with the original release coming out just over two years ago.


Source @ T5

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Life is funny!

It’s a simple weblog and the rant man – this is how the owner of this web called himself – maintain things simple here, he lists his blog’s category, popular contents – today’s and all time, recent comments and some other links on the sidebar, no other complicated and confusing navigation on this blog. This web is just one good blend into today’s trend of weblog!

There were many entry's that made me smile, this is one funny blog and it really draws me in. The writing style of the author is interesting, funny in its natural way, readers do not have to think hard, what you read is what you get, you will find funny moments of the blog owner, funny emails and video he received from friends, and some facts he did not like he just perfectly know how to write them and make you smile! I believe the blog owner just want to share “hey… life is funny”!

One of his posts showing a pic of two wheels; read “Bike Thieves” and get ready to smile, want more? View video under title Mayday – it’s May Day; teaching evaluation in a German course class turn out to be a big disaster! You will get laugh so hard! Or take the reader’s quiz and guess the hard guess. Smile again on how he write and comment comic architecture about p***s shaped buildings dominating the skylines of London and Barcelona these days!

The owner definitely knows best on how to present his blog, he is a real funny. This blog is one recommended blog to cheers up your day!


Wednesday, May 7, 2008

A homey condominium with a 4 star service at SeaSide!

SeaSide is a condominium Myrtle Beach resort that brings you one of the finest accommodation facilities in North Myrtle Beach, its combining the comforts and conveniences of home and a first-class resort. Located directly on the ocean, SeaSide condominium’s services are an infinite source of endless excitement for your Myrtle Beach Vacation.

SeaSide still carries and values homey environment, but a 4 star services are wait to indulge you. The best thing about the 69 wonderfully laid out rooms of SeaSide condominium is that they do not cost a bomb and are most suitable for guests who have both budget and comfort in mind. Every room in SeaSide best speaks of the designer’s impeccable taste and his knowledge of hospitality. Each spacious condominium features one, two, and three bedroom with a complete service and amenity of a 4 start services resort.

True to its name, SeaSide just footsteps away along with all the endless excitement of North Myrtle, the view offered is beautiful beyond words. SeaSide has definitely become one of the most expected resorts among Myrtle Beach Hotels. SeaSide perfect oceanfront location in North Myrtle Beach is one sure thing to delight every vacationer.

Imagine having a complete white sandy beach and all the activities and entertainment that make Myrtle Beach a top vacation destination are located nearby and you are right in the middle of it! To find more visit seasidemb.com.


Colorful Sunglasses for Summer

This summer, as far as accessories are concerned, the word of the day is "colorful". This also – or rather, particularly – applies to sunglasses. If so far you thought (and for good reason, maybe) that colorful was cheap, this season the colorful sunglasses are any girl's best friend. Let your imagination run wild and pick out any pair that looks good on you – and in case you're in need of a little inspiration, have a look at how the stars do it and then get down to some mixing and matching of your own.

So, sunglasses 101: the more colored, the better. Whether we're talking Angelina Jolie slightly toned-down shades, white-rimmed Gwen Stefani style or Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie bright red, it's all about going big and blending in any bold shades that best match your hair, complexion and face structure. Always dreamed of going out to lunch with your friends wearing a red babydoll camisole dress (also a season must-have)and matching oversize green and red glasses? Well, now's the time to give up any and all style inhibitions and go for it.

So, whether we're talking red, green or blue glasses, if they're colored and look good on you, don't think twice. One major advantage of this type of glasses is the fact that you can opt for a wide variety of styles and color combinations that best match your personal style and the shades that predominate in your own wardrobe. Also, you don't have to spend a fortune on your glasses to look great in them. Keep in mind that because they're so extravagantly colored, you're probably going to need more than one pair of glasses to match your summer outfits. Go for the basic colors – red, blue, even orange or yellow – a purple pair wouldn't go amiss either. Pick whatever color fits your mood better and hit the town – you're bound to turn heads wherever you go.


Source @ Softpedia

The Weight Loss Drug That Can Kill You

phentermineWeight loss pills have been a subject for heated debates and bitter controversies for decades. Praised by some as life-turning instruments for gaining self-esteem and looking good, diet pills are hailed by others as deadly chemicals that can wreck havoc inside our bodies and very likely kill us. Today, I'm going to talk to you about one of the most commonly used weight loss drugs out there, a little blue and white pill that goes by the name of phentermine.

Phentermine is closely related to amphetamines and works as an appetite suppressant. Its main function is to stimulate the release of brain chemicals that effectively reduce sensations of hunger, making us feel like we don't need to eat at all, or we have to eat very little. However, a report of the UN International Narcotics Control Board published last year warned that phentermine is one of the most commonly abused prescription drugs in the world, along with other amphetamine-type drugs collectively and ironically known as "anorectics". Another almost equally abused such drug is Ritalin, whose main purpose it to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children - however, one of its main side effects is also appetite suppression.

A quick search on the Internet will reveal thousands of pages stuffed full of glowing testimonials from "overjoyed" women who took phentermine and lost tens of pounds in surprisingly short intervals, something that would definitely not have happened if they had been trying to lose the weight the old-fashioned way, using diet and exercise. However, most women who share their experiences with the weight loss drug conveniently forget to mention its common side-effects, among which mood swings, chest pain, tremors and irregular heartbeat. A phentermine overdose can induce hallucinations, seizures, severe headaches, blurred vision and vomiting.

The scariest part of the story – along with the terrible side-effects of this drug – is that phentermine is readily available on the Internet and can easily be bought from online pharmacies, despite being banned in countries such as Great Britain. The catch is that the law banning the use of phentermine without a valid prescription doesn't apply to overseas pharmacies that sell via the web.

Professor Hamid Ghodse is a former president of the UN's International Narcotics Control Board and is currently the chairman of addiction psychiatry at St George's Hospital in London. In an interview with the Daily Mail a few months ago, he warns women all over the world about the dangers of phentermine and all other amphetamine-related diet pills used to cut weight. "They've been around in various guises since the Sixties and are highly addictive", he says. "Users can experience painful withdrawal symptoms, including nausea, headaches and convulsions, when they try to stop taking the drug".

"The drugs work by stimulating the central nervous system, mimicking the natural effect of adrenalin by increasing the heart rate and suppressing the appetite", Professor Ghodse explains. "Users also feel euphoric and have increased energy levels. However, this also leads to insomnia. Over time, sleep deprivation, coupled with weight loss caused by what basically amounts to starvation, can cause extreme changes in behavior. Users have hallucinations, mood swings, become anxious, paranoid and sometimes violent", he adds.

And finally, endocrinologists also warn that any weight loss achieved using phentermine is only temporary. "Most people simply put the weight back on once they stop taking the drugs", the Daily Mail quotes Endocrinologist Dr Nicola Bridges, who specialized in the medical treatment of obesity. "These are extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. They have to be prescribed by a doctor who has carefully assessed the risk versus benefit for the patient".

Whether we like it or not, there is no quick fix, no rapid solution for healthy weight loss. In an age where everything tells us that we have to be thin to be successful, the temptation posed by these drugs cannot be denied. Coupled with their widespread availability and relatively low costs, weight loss drugs are among the demons of our modern society and cannot be ignored. The best solution however is to protect your body and not try to cheat or cut corners. Go on a healthy, all-natural diet. Exercise. Take up running or dancing. Stay healthy and with enough determination, you can lose weight without killing your body in the process.

Source @ Softpedia

Dementia risk related to body size

People with shorter arms and legs are more prone to Alzheimer's disease, probably because of a low quality of nutrition in childhood, as revealed by a new study published in the Neurology journal.

"Arm span and knee height are indicators for how well nourished a person was in early childhood. All those factors that are involved with making a healthy baby are maybe also important in dementia and Alzheimer's disease risk," co-author Dr Tina L. Huang of Tufts University in Boston told Reuters Health.

The research team focused on the link between limb length and dementia risk because the part of the brain most affected by Alzheimer's disease develops at the same time when the limbs are growing most rapidly. The researchers used a poll made of 2,798 men and women involved in the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study who were monitored for about five years. During this time period, 480 of them developed dementia.

In the case of women, the team connected lower probability for dementia and Alzheimer's disease to larger knee height and arm span. Women in the category of the shortest arm span were 50% more exposed to develop dementia than the category with the longest arm span. Each supplementary inch of length cut down the chances of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease by 16%.

In the case of men, knee height had no relevance for vulnerability to dementia or Alzheimer's, but each inch added to the arm span decreased dementia risk by 6%. Limb length is a question of genes, embryo and childhood nutrition, but the food factor impacts more severely in developing nations.

"Studies in elderly South Korean people linked shorter arms and legs to greater dementia risk. It is surprising to find the association in an American population, for whom having enough to eat is probably not a major problem. We have to think about the quality of nutrition as well as making sure that people get enough food," said Huang.

Source @ Softpedia

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Discover the magnificent of Toronto!

Bed and breakfast Toronto is one way to discover the magnificent of Toronto! This is the introduction line on this site! From books to bars, from chocolate to celebrities, and of course the Toronto bed and breakfast, Hotels in Toronto, and many great articles you need to discover Toronto are available on this site, including Toronto latest trend and lifestyle. Find more by visiting Bed and breakfast Toronto!

Mood Food - What to serve to get you in the mood for love.

Romantic meals are a fabulous way to show him how much you love him. If you want to seriously kick up the heat at the dinner table, make sure you stock it with a full spread of sensual foods that will ignite a little extra passion between the two of you. Here’s a quick primer of culinary aphrodisiacs.

• Grapes.
They are the perfect sweet treat to hand feed your lover. One of the most powerful historical images of seduction involved this fruit being hand fed to Cleopatra by Marc Antony. Pop a few of these bite-size gems into his mouth and you’ve set the stage for an evening (or afternoon) of passion.

• Asparagus. This veggie is reported to have been served in the 19th century to grooms on their wedding days because of its potent aphrodisiac powers. Steam spears for a healthy and sensuous experience, dressing them with butter or olive oil to amp up the sexy flavour.

• Oysters. These little sea creatures are probably the first things that come to mind when thinking about food as an aphrodisiac. Comprised of water, protein and carbohydrates, plus small amounts of fat, sugar and minerals, it is widely thought that these have a powerful effect on the libido. Why not give this decadent treat a try to see if they get your motors running?

• Chocolate. Depending on who you ask, it is better than sex, but can it put you in the mood for love? It has long been revered for its romance-revving qualities and that is apparently thanks to phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring amino acid found in chocolate which has been considered to have special effects because it’s a substance released naturally in the human body when you're in love. Chocolate fondue, dipped strawberries or cake anyone?

• Red wine. When it comes to seduction, musky, masculine reds are best. You may also want to try an earthy Pinot or a burly Cabernet brimming with aromas of leather, tobacco and earth. Remember if you are using wine as an aphrodisiac the scent is key because those vintages containing masculine notes are believed to imitate the scent of male pheromones.


Source : Yahoo! Lifestyle

Indoor Sex Hot Spots; 12 sizzlin' locations to try around the house ...

If you and your sweetie’s sex life is only limited to the bed, perhaps it’s time to spice things up and try out some other indoor spots. If you’re lacking in ideas, we have a few places in mind. And, yes: you can try these at home!

Kitchen table
Why? To whet your appetite before a feast or help you burn a few calories after a heavy meal.
Tip: Remove the tablecloth to allow your body to slide across the tabletop freely and easily.

Running washing machine (or dryer)
Why? The dryer emits an intensifying heat, and the washer will add a little extra motion to your movements. Talk about a super-sized vibrator!
Tip: To save energy, be sure to try this when you’re already doing a load of laundry, so as to not run the machines uselessly.

In the closet
Why? It’s dark and all those coats will provide comfort.
Tip: Try and make love standing upright, practically falling into your clothes. You can even hold on to the bar for leverage as your legs are wrapped around your guy’s waist.

Bath (or shower)
Why? It’s warm, wet and sensual.
Tip: In the tub, your guy could sit on the edge for an easier—and more comfortable—position. In the shower, opt for a standing position with water running down your bodies.

Pool table
Why? It's hard to ignore--or resist--the 'balls & sticks' connotation.
Tip: Cleaning the felt material afterwards may be difficult, so use a blanket.

Wine cellar
Why? The cave-like feel will get the both of you hot and primordial.
Tip: Don’t lean against glass or a shelf full of bottles, for fear they could shatter. Opt for doing it against a stone wall instead.

The piano
Why? You’ll be making love to the sounds of your own ecstasy.
Tip: The best position is for you to sit on the keys while your guy stands in front of you.

On the floor
Why? When you need to be with your guy ASAP, you sometimes can’t make it to the bed.
Tip: The next time you’re having sex on the bed, just push him off and keep going at it.

The stairs
Why? The more unusual (and uneven) the terrain is, the more sexy and exciting it will be.
Tip: Don’t do it at the top of the stairs, lest you accidentally fall to the bottom.

The garage
Why? It’s a simple space, but can provide you and your guy with many possibilities, such as the hood of the car, or the workbench.
Tip: Be sure to pick the safest spot in the garage, and bring a blanket with you for comfort and hygiene.

In front of a fireplace
Why? It’s terribly romantic, and will keep your naked bodies warm and toasty.
Tip: Find a bear- or sheep-skin rug (fake, of course) to complete the effect

On the desk
Why? Because it’ll force you both to finally file all the papers that are strewn about afterwards.
Tip: Ideally, remove the computer before starting, to avoid disaster. Also, ensure the desk is stable enough to support your combined weight.

Source : Yahoo! Lifestyle

10 things you don't know about sex

1: Ready, set, go—there’s nearly no difference in the amount of time it takes healthy men and women to reach peak sexual arousal: roughly 10 minutes.

2: One per cent of adults have zero interest in sex and have never felt sexually attracted to anyone at all. Asexuality may be an under-the-radar sexual orientation, but researchers have only just begun to study it. On the other end of the rainbow, an estimated 3 to 6 per cent of the population have some form of sex addiction.

3: Straight, gay or flexible? Recent research suggests women may be “intrinsically bisexual,” and the higher their libido, the more they desire both sexes. In another study, the female subjects—whether they considered themselves straight or gay—were physically aroused by erotic films of both men and women. In contrast, the straight men were excited just by women, and the gay men only by men.

4: Canadian men have, on average, 23 sexual partners in total (notably more than the global average of 13), according to one recent worldwide survey. Their female counterparts reportedly have 10. The hitch? Number crunchers say the finding that men have substantially more bedmates on average than women is mathematically impossible.

5: Beyond its unsexy smell and taste, smoking appears to double a man’s risk of moderate or complete erectile dysfunction.

6: Once upon a time, doctors treated women suffering from “hysteria” by stimulating them to orgasm—a service dubbed “medical massage.” By the 1930s, it was abandoned in favour of psychotherapy.

7: Why do I bed thee? Let me count the ways. U.S. researchers who set out to catalogue all the reasons why humans have sex came up with 237 distinct ones. Among the top 10 motives, women and men had eight in common. A notable exception: “I realized I was in love” came in at number nine for women, but at number 17 for men.

8: Having sex regularly—at least once a week—may promote fertility in women by regulating hormones and menstrual patterns.

9: Male sweat contains androstadienone, a compound that enhances mood and sexual arousal in women. Alas, it also boosts levels of stress hormones. The chemical has been used as an ingredient in men’s fragrances.

10: What’s love got to do with it? Sexual arousal and romantic love activate quite distinct areas of the brain—and love is clearly the more powerful. The latter turns on dopamine-rich regions linked with motivation, and falling in love is not unlike the rush of taking cocaine, hence the addictiveness of a new crush, and the withdrawal-like symptoms of love lost.


Source : Yahoo! Lifestyle

10 Great Reasons to Exercise and 10 not-so-great reasons!

Need some motivation to get you exercising? Here are 10 great reasons that are sure to move (literally) you!

1. For more self confidence: when you feel more comfortable in your own skin, yougain self assurance and have a higher confidence in your abilities to surmount any obstacles that come your way.

2. For better sleep: Studies show that people who engage in moderate-intensity physical activity for 30 or 40 minutes on a regular basis, fall asleep twice as easily as their sedentary counterparts.

3. For more energy: your body absorbs and processes oxygen more easily, which releases tension from your muscles (and head).

4. For better sex: great sex depends on good overall health and high cardiovascular endurance (among other things, of course). Being comfortable with your own body also helps you feel more liberated and open with your partner.

5. For your savings: people who don’t exercise on a regular basis pay, on average, 10% more for their annual medical expenses. Tack on an additional 8% if they are obese.

6. For long life: by exercising on a regular basis, you reduce your risk of health problems and disease, thus increasing your life expectancy.

7. For friendship: by engaging in physical activity (particularly team sports) you create bonds with other people who share your interests.

8. For less stress: when you exercise, your body releases the day’s stress and tension, and allows you to clear your mind and stop thinking about your problems, if even for a little while.

9. For snack control: new studies show that exercise is your best ally in the fight against snacking. It’s simple, regular physical activity reduces stress; by reducing stress, you reduce cravings.
10. For fun: physical activity should be enjoyable, that’s main reason to get moving.

Here are 10 slightly less great reasons :
1. To stop your arm from jiggling when you wave goodbye.
2. To pick up the sexy trainer at the gym.
3. To have an excuse to buy an iPod.
4. To look like Anna Kournikova.
5. To strut around in a bikini with pride.
6. To make your ex really sorry that he dumped you.
7. To fit into your skinny jeans.
8. To look hot for your new beau.
9. To buy the cute Madonna track suit at H&M.
10. To run after the bus (or the garbage truck) without passing out.

Source : Yahoo! Lifestyle

Gaya Hidup Tak Sehat Sama dengan Maut

GAYA HIDUP sehat adalah menempatkan pola hidup sehat dalam keseharian. Yang menjadi perhatian adalah adanya keseimbangan antara bekerja dan gaya hidup yang dijalani secara sehat.

Menurut Dr Phaidon L Toruan dari Perkumpulan Awet Sehat Indonesia (PASTI), kunci hidup sehat terletak pada olahraga dan diet yang rutin dijalankan. Penulis buku Fat Loss Not Weight Loss ini menilai, olahraga merupakan jalan menuju hidup sehat yang utama. Sayangnya, masih banyak masyarakat perkotaan khususnya yang antipati pada kata ini. Padahal, masyarakat yang tinggal di perkotaan, cenderung berisiko terserang penyakit lantaran gaya hidup tidak sehat dan segan berolahraga.

Terlebih lagi pengaruh ledakan makanan yang tersedia beragam, terutama makanan cepat saji, bukan hanya memanjakan orang tapi membuka peluang besar bagi berbagai penyakit untuk datang. "Di sinilah letak pentingnya olahraga, seperti diketahui jika malas berolahraga, lemak akan terus tertimbun dan yang bahaya kalau lemak tertimbun di organ dalam sehingga akan berakibat fatal," sebut bapak satu anak ini.

Sebenarnya, dokter sudah gencar menyosialisasikan pentingnya berolahraga minimal tiga kali seminggu dengan durasi 30 menit. Namun, anjuran ini rupanya masih sangat terasa berat. Dr Phaidon menyadari betul hal ini. Dia pun memberikan keleluasaan bagi para pasiennya untuk berolahraga hanya 15 menit.

"Saya bilang sesibuk apa pun mereka harus tetap berolahraga selama 15 menit, lama kelamaan mereka jadi terbiasa dan meningkatkan intensitasnya menjadi 30 menit," ujar pria yang meraih gelar dokternya dari Universitas Padjadjaran ini. Diet juga menempati hal yang tidak kalah pentingnya dalam menjalani pola hidup sehat. Yang terpenting menurut Dr Phaidon adalah mengontrol pola makan, bukannya tidak makan.

Source : okezone.com!

Kerusakan Mulut, Gejala Kanker Paru

KERUSAKAN sel-sel lapisan mulut mencerminkan kerusakan molekul yang disebabkan rokok pada lapisan paru-paru.

Pemeriksaan jaringan oral yang melapisi mulut dapat menyelamatkan pasien dan orang yang berisiko terserang kanker paru-paru. Pasalnya, dari perubahan molekul pada lapisan mulut, mengindikasikan kerusakan pada jaringan paru-paru akibat kebiasaan merokok.

Teknik baru yang ditemukan Dr Li Mao, ahli penyakit dalam dan paru-paru di MD Anderson Cancer Center, Universitas Texas, Houston, diharapkan mampu mendeteksi secara dini gejala kanker paru-paru. Karena itu, deteksi secara dini bisa menghindari berbagai ancaman penyakit dan kanker paru-paru.

"Penelitian kami memberi harapan bagi peningkatan kemampuan untuk meramalkan siapa yang memiliki kemungkinan lebih tinggi terserang kanker yang berkaitan dengan tembakau," kata Mao.

"Bukan hanya kanker paru-paru, melainkan juga kanker pankreas, kandung kemih, serta kepala dan tengkuk, yang juga berkaitan dengan penggunaan tembakau."

Merokok merupakan penyebab utama kanker paru-paru. Namun, hanya 10 persen perokok terserang penyakit tersebut. Kanker paru-paru biasanya hanya sedikit menunjukkan gejala awal sehingga baru diketahui jika sudah parah. Hal ini membuat penderita terlambat mendapat pengobatan yang tepat.

Ketika berbicara pada pertemuan "American Association for Center Research" di San Diego, Dr Mao mengatakan, penelitian ini memeriksa kerusakan dua gen yang dikenal membantu mencegah perkembangan kanker "p16 dan FHIT". Kedua gen itu diambil dari sampel paru-paru dan mulut 125 pencandu rokok.

"Sebelum timbul, biasanya ada kerusakan mendasar (pada kedua gen itu)," kata Mao.

Status dua gen penting yang menekan tumor dianalisis. Tim tersebut mengkaji jaringan oral dan yang melapisi paru-paru -yang disebut "epitelium"- pada 125 perokok berat. Perbandingan jaringan dasar mereka memperlihatkan persentase gen yang rusak sama pada sel-sel mulut dan paru-paru. Lalu, gen "p16" ditutup melalui suatu proses yang disebut "metilation" dalam paru-paru 23 persen sukarelawan.

Sementara itu, gen "FHIT" terpengaruh pada 17 persen. Di ketahui, gen "p16" yang rusak terdapat pada 19 persen perokok dan "FHIT" pada 15 persen perokok.

"Sekitar 95 persen orang yang mulutnya diketahui ada kerusakan dua gen itu, ternyata juga menunjukkan kerusakan pada paru-parunya," ujar Mao.

Doktor Manisha Bhutani -rekan Dr Mao-mengatakan, dengan penelitian ini diketahui bukti sistematis. Dengan diketahuinya jaringan yang rusak pada mulut melalui "oral epitelium", kerusakan molekuler pada jaringan paru-paru yang sulit dideteksi dapat dipantau.

"Ini memberi metode pemantauan bio yang sesuai untuk memberi pandangan ke berbagai peristiwa molekuler yang terjadi di paru-paru perokok kronis. Pemeriksaan itu memberikan informasi yang sama kepada kami seperti jika melakukan pemeriksaan paru-paru melalui "bronchoscope", ujar Dr Bhutani.

Source : okezone.com!

Youngest Billionaires

Nothing beats being young and rich. They include a former Enron oil trader, a German prince and China's richest woman. The youngest of all is 23-year-old Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is quite possibly the world's youngest self-made billionaire ever.


John Arnold, U.S. Age 34 $1.5 billion, self-made.

Raised by a lawyer dad and accountant mom, Arnold whizzed through Vanderbilt University in three years. He became an oil trader for Enron, supposedly earning $750 million for the company in 2001, when he was just 27. He went into business for himself after Enron collapsed a year later. Today he runs hedge fund Centaurus Energy.


Albert von Thurn und Taxis, Germany Age: 24 $2.3 billion, inherited

The German prince appeared briefly on our billionaires list at age 8, but he officially inherited his fortune on his 18th birthday. Lives in a family castle with his mother and older sister. Race car driver, tours with a German auto-racing league.


Yang Huiyan, China Age 26 $7.4 billion, inherited

China's richest person is also one of the world's youngest billionaires and a daddy's girl. Yang earned her degree from Ohio State University in 2005, the same year her father, Yeung Kwok Keung, the media-shy chief of real estate outfit Country Garden, transferred his stake in the company to her (not a bad graduation gift). Gold-diggers, beware: She's already married; her wedding video is posted on YouTube.


Mark Zuckerberg, U.S. Age 23 $1.5 billion, self-made

The youngest of all is 23-year-old Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, who is quite possibly the world's youngest self-made billionaire ever. Tech's newest golden boy founded addictive social-networking site Facebook in February 2004 from his Harvard dorm room. He left school for Silicon Valley that year. Microsoft paid $240 million last October for a 1.6% stake, giving the company an implied valuation of $15 billion. Some analysts and a few Facebook investors think that's high. We think Zuckerberg's stake is worth $1.5 billion. Regardless, Zuckerberg is the youngest billionaire on earth and possibly the youngest self-made billionaire ever.

Source : Forbes.com


Affordable and user friendly GPS based vehicle tracking device!

GPS North America is one name you should consider when it comes to affordable, user friendly GPS tracking devices. Imagine being able to locate all your vehicle regardless to number of your vehicle, from any computer with internet access, no matter where you are at anytime. What a piece of mind solution thanks to GPS tracking system where you are being able to see the exact point of your vehicle are located – worldwide. GPS is a great tool to achieve security, efficiency and now within easy reach for your business.

GPS North America offers many GPS based system products to track the location of your vehicles right from your pocket pc or laptop. By using GPS vehicles you are actually saving not only time but money as well, this system was proven to increase productivity, controlling your fuel costs, reducing overtime and vehicle maintenance. Speed limit is also one issue you can control over the GPS tracking device, therefore this is also one device to improve safety on your fleet.

GPS North America
not only offers you GPS tracking device to locate your vehicles, you can also find other GPS based tracking products such as anti-theft systems, mobile lock, and many others. While for the GPS vehicle tracking device, there are fleet management solutions, trailer tracking, portable indoor tracking, and heavy equipment locater. To find out more products just visit GPS North America official website. Improve your security and efficiency by using GPS tracking system now!


Friday, May 2, 2008

Sweat Away Stress!

It may sound surprising coming from the editor-in-chief of SELF, but one of the major reasons I exercise is to beat stress. Seriously, if I go more than 48 hours without my usual morning run around Central Park with my collie-retriever mix, Jenny, at my heels, I start to feel anxious and short-tempered. That's when I know I need to get outside and move, if even just for half an hour. After 30 minutes of heart pumping, I can feel my stress disappearing. And when I'm finished, I feel as if I can weather almost anything that comes my way, especially at work.

At SELF, we've reported on a raft of studies that support the idea that exercise has a powerful impact on mood. To name just a few:

1. A recent article in the journal Nature Medicine reported that cardiovascular activity stimulates a specific area in the brain that controls mood and stress (it was an animal study, but hey, I'm willing to extrapolate—we're all just animals with mortgages!).
2. People who suffer from panic attacks who took a 30-minute walk when they felt on the verge of a meltdown were twice as likely to dodge an anxiety episode as those who rested quietly.
3. Researchers at the University of Georgia at Athens found that the more workouts people managed to fit in each week, the more energetic they felt.

So how much exercise does it take to lift your spirits? As I mentioned, 30 to 45 minutes a day does it for me, and a study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas suggests that walking as little as 2 miles a day, every day, can help boost your mood.

But remember, every step counts. So next time you're feeling stressed or anxious, lace up your sneaks and get your body moving. The calorie burning is a nifty bonus!

Source : Yahoo Health!

De-Stress in Mere Minutes

I'm not necessarily the meditating type — sitting still and doing absolutely nothing is a personal form of torture for me. (I find this out every time I'm on vacation!) But I know I need to reconsider: Studies have shown that aside from reducing stress and boosting mood, meditation can ease chronic pain and improve your immune system. You don't have to spend hours on end to become calmer, either. Try these simple, quick ways to savor the moment. No "Om" required!

In the shower
Face the water, letting it cascade onto your head. Take three deep, slow breaths. Pay attention to the sensation of the spray, the smell of your soap and shampoo, and the sound of water hitting the tub. Imagine you're bringing your troubles to your skin's surface and washing them away. Close your eyes and slowly repeat, "I feel refreshed," aloud three times, focusing on each word and savoring your serene, clean feeling before stepping out.

At your desk

Close your eyes and take five deep, relaxing breaths, emphasizing the exhale. Try this visualization technique, which I learned in sports: Consider the task you're about to tackle. Call to mind a talent of yours (creativity, diligence, enthusiasm) that will be key to succeeding at the task. Evaluating your resources will help you marshal your efforts and succeed. Before you open your eyes and get started, envision the assignment completed and done well. It will be soon!

While walking
Before you set out (sans iPod and cell phone), straighten up and tuck your tummy and your rear end in to feel taller. Walk slowly, focusing on each body part in isolation. First tune in to your knees as each one bends and raises, then your hips as they shift and rotate, and next the heel and ball of your foot as it meets the ground. Then focus on your arms next as they pump, then your neck, which is elongated. Pay attention to your stride for at least 10 minutes. By reconnecting to your body, you'll arrive revived. Another great way to be mindful while you exercise is through yoga — take our "Find Your Yoga Style" quiz to figure out which kind compliments your lifestyle best.

On your commute
Raise your eyebrows and hold for a count of three. Let it go and take a deep breath. Do this twice. (Don't worry, the wrinkles won't stay!) Repeat with each body part, tensing and relaxing your shoulders, your arms, moving downward along your body. Sit quietly, noticing how relaxed your muscles — and mind — feel when you're through. Relaxed muscles require less oxygen, so your breathing will slow and your heart rate and blood pressure will also decline. As your body falls naturally into a state of calm, your mood will follow suit.

Source : Yahoo Health!

Thursday, May 1, 2008

Individual treatment for individual addictions

For many families and individuals, the process of recovery is a long, personal, and often painful journey. Making decision to change directions which is to recover requires strong courage and the support of those who truly understand what it takes to begin and sustain the effort.

Cliffside Malibu
is a residential drug rehab, alcohol rehab center and extended care facility committed to providing a way out for those who are truly searching to make sobriety a lasting choice in life. Cliffside Malibu is also a drug treatment center helps adults suffering from drug addiction.

The addiction treatment includes individual therapy, group therapy, depression treatment, alternative medicine, and detox, all are done in a relaxing, beautiful environment in Los Angeles County north of Zuma Beach and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Cliffside Malibu provides their residents with everything they need to learn how to live a healthy clean and sober life.

Cliffside Malibu understands how these behaviors are created, and how to break them. The team of caring professionals at Cliffside Malibu is here to help the transition from the chaos of drug and alcohol addiction, back to a happy and productive life.

Just visit Cliffside Malibu official website to learn more how they provide individual treatment for individual addictions.


Stop aging and get smoother skin

Sunlight and cigarettes aren't the only offenders capable of turning your mug into a catcher's mitt. Chronic inflammation is a serious, but easily overlooked, source of fine lines and wrinkles, says Carl Thornfeldt, M.D., a dermatologist and a visiting assistant professor at Oregon Health and Science University.

When the skin puffs up, the lattice of protein, fats, and oils tends to rupture, creating damage that is difficult to reverse. Dr. Thornfeldt outlines four ways to smooth out your skin.

Four Ways to Stop Secret Sources of Aging.

Watch your workouts. Sweating exposes your skin to salt water, which can break down the skin's defenses and allow more ultraviolet light and pollutants to reach skin cells. Working out indoors, or before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. outdoors, can eliminate 80 percent of UVB penetration.

Check the back of the bottle. Propylene glycol, an ingredient found in prescription cortisones and many moisturizers and cleansers, can irritate the skin and cause inflammation.

Say no to processed foods. A diet high in white flour and sugar can create so-called glycation reactions between molecules in the skin. This reaction binds collagen and decreases elasticity, so the skin becomes more susceptible to fracture.

Simmer down. Emotional stress causes the release of immune compounds called histamines, which can cause inflammation and disrupt the matrix of skin cells.

Source : Men's Health!

6 Secret Ways to Turn Her On

She's got her eye on you -- and these small gestures will awaken desires she never knew she had

Rest assured, every woman wants to be seduced.
We just don't like guys who go for the seduction jugular: the champagne, the Barry White, the walk on the beach. A man who has tried one of these, or, God forbid, all of them at once, is a man who knows well the face of humiliation and failure.

No, the key to turning her on for sex is not to advertise how much you want her, but, rather, to quietly make clear why she should want you. When it comes to sex, in other words, you don't need a billboard--you need sneaky subliminal messages.

They used to use tricks like these to sell more Coke at the movies. Now you can use them to get more women.

1. Ditch the cell.
(Wait. You'd better not be wearing one, because if you are, you're a walking seduction-free zone. This includes beepers.) First of all, women are very serious about our schedules, and if we've set aside time to spend with you, we're not keen on sharing it with your free minutes. Second, when chatting on the phone, you can't help but reveal some of the ins and outs of your work or private life, and that kind of openness is girly, creepy, and not sexy.

But here's the biggest problem: Any guy who can't go 2 hours without checking in with his friends, his job, his family, comes across as desperately insecure. Go ahead and actually turn it off in front of her. She will recognize you as the man who is comfortable and at peace with what's in front of him, and thank her stars you're not the guy who's always wondering what and who is next.

Watch out: Putting your phone on vibrate and repeatedly checking to see who's calling without answering not only is not seductive, but also shows you're kind of an arrogant jerk.

2. Fix something.
Men fixing broken things--light switches, toasters, clogged toilets--is a tradition that dates back to, well, a time when men did things besides nod, point, and hand other men their debit cards. We know that you probably can't gap your points or replace the alternator in your Hyundai. But with a little practice, and some very basic, moron-friendly manuals, you can do plenty of other tasks that would establish you as a Competent Male. If you're going to do this, though, try to do it in her presence. And it's okay, even advisable, to swear if you can't find the right tools, as long as you don't complain.

Danger zone: Don't get dirt on your face unless you're doing something fairly complicated. There's a fine line between looking manly and looking like a doofus with dirt on his face.

3. Read a book.
Allow me to interrupt that thrilling game of Ghost Recon to pose the following question: Do you have any idea of the mass quantity of ass you could get just by reading one book? Women read a lot, and, like pretty much everything else we do, we like to talk about it. Only we can rarely talk about it with guys, because, well, many of you (although not necessarily you personally) are Neanderthals growing slowly illiterate in front of an Xbox. But imagine yourself talking to a pretty woman, and she mentions that she's reading a book, and you've actually read it, too! So if this pretty woman thought you were cute, now she thinks you're smart, too.

Also: Reading in public is a great way to give women an excuse to talk to you.

4. Replace the bottles on the office watercooler.
Modern life, what with its dearth of catapults, marauding wolves, and barn raisings, doesn't provide men with many opportunities to show off their brute strength. It's a very lucky accident that in the midst of all this ease-making progress, we've managed to poison our drinking-water supply.

And since somebody has to replace those unwieldy 5-gallon plastic containers on the office cooler, it might as well be you. It's such a quick, easy way to make the chicks in the office sit up and take notice of your athletic prowess. You know those bottles aren't that heavy, but who cares, because women think they are, Hercules.

Alternative: If you don't have a watercooler in your office, be the first to offer your man power when a stalled or stuck-in-the-snow car needs a push. You want to make your point and then get back to work. There's a reason they call it "the strong, silent type."

5. Write e-mails that are more than five syllables long.
If you're dating a woman, really like her, and yet insist on writing her e-mails that read "ok cu later," you are such an idiot that I don't even know why I'm trying to help you. Men are all about keeping things short and to the point. And when it comes to business correspondence or letting your friends know where you're watching the Dolphins game, that's fine. But short and to the point, in chick world, translates into BORING and UNIMAGINATIVE and--the worst sin of all--UNINTERESTED.

You don't have to get all Cyrano de Bergerac on her ass. But an interesting sentence or two, please, is so easy and so, so point scoring. Examples? She writes, "How was your night?" DO NOT write back, "It was okay." Even if all you did was drink two beers and watch CSI, have something to say. Like, "Do you think real female forensic investigators all wear those low-cut pants?" Just some evidence, please, that you are a living, breathing, thinking human being who doesn't spend all his time away from her staring at a wall. Because that's the image "It was okay" evokes.

Oh, and: "It was okay, how was yours?" is not an improvement over "It was okay." Cop-out is written all over it.

6. Disagree with her.
I have a friend, Nancy, who is extremely beautiful. She is the sort of woman for whom men will do just about anything. She sort of knows this, so she has a tendency to test the limits of their patience and generosity. One day, she was going on and on to her boyfriend about something he had done wrong. He apologized. He apologized twice. And she still went on and on. Finally, he looked right at her, at her perfect arms crossed self-righteously across her perfect breasts as her perfect mouth issued forth criticism after criticism, and said, "Would you please shut the fu-- up?"

She made passionate love to him thereafter and, basically, hasn't stopped since. We're not saying you should shoot down all our complaints by dropping f-bombs, but appeasement isn't always your best move, especially when we've gotten out of hand.

Source : Men'sHealth

Make her seduce you!

We wish every woman treated sex as if it were a Jason Statham movie -- nonstop action, lots of screams, 20 explosions per minute. If you feel the same way, maybe it's time you traded in your silent partner for someone a bit more adventurous. Someone who knows enough sex tricks to write her own HBO series. Follow our advice and you won't have to look far. She's sleeping next to you. Yeah, that's right, the very same woman in the long flannel nightgown, who nodded off during The Office at 8:30. Well, it's time for a wake-up call.

PROBLEM: She initiates sex about as often as Libya initiates peace
While one survey showed that nearly two-thirds of women say they initiate sex at least sometimes, the bad news is that she counts occasional hair-flipping as initiation. At least once every few weeks, it'd be nice to have our shirts torn apart by someone other than the dry cleaner.

SOLUTION: Buy her new shoes
It works two ways. One, you're playing into her idea of foreplay: Doing something terribly nice and out of the ordinary makes her want you more. And, even more important, it gives you the chance to work all of those sensitive nerve endings in her feet. When you check her for fit, linger around the tips of her toes. Don't be surprised if she kicks off her shoes as soon as you get home.

PROBLEM: She hides her body under sheets, pillows, and you
You've spent your life imagining your body next to airbrushed babes from beer commercials. She's spent the same time comparing herself with them. If she doesn't like to reveal flesh, it's probably because she's not comfortable showing it off to you.

SOLUTION: Stop telling her how much you love her legs
Women are weird this way. "If you say something nice about her breasts, she'll just wonder why you don't like her butt," says Pamela Regan, Ph.D., a psychologist at California State University in Los Angeles. Go for general compliments. Tell her, "Your body is incredible."

PROBLEM: Your bedroom sounds like high-school detention -- silence, with maybe a few giggles
Men love it when women moan, scream, and pant. It makes it sound -- to the flight attendants, anyway -- as if we know what we're doing.

SOLUTION: Create chaos
If she's quiet, it's probably because she's afraid of waking the guards. So create background noise to make her feel relaxed -- run the dishwasher, have sex in the shower, drop a CD. You can even sing a little: When you're giving her oral sex, hum along. The low vibrations from your vocal cords will feel incredible to her. Press firmly with your lips; that's where you'll generate the most vibration.

Source : Men'sHealth!

18 salad-bar survival tips

Mushrooms
Not poisonous, hallucinogenic, or nutritious.

Creamy salads
A.k.a. the white death. If you must have some slaw or, worse, macaroni salad (3/4 cup = 26 grams of fat!), at least place it over raw vegetables. The mayo will double as salad dressing.

Radishes

No matter how you slice 'em, these are roots. What's worse, they're roots without a nutritional leg to stand on. You'd need to eat half a cup to take in a gram (g) of fiber, which isn't enough to keep even a rabbit regular.

Alfalfa sprouts
Don't bother with these little health-food frauds. Half a cup provides only traces of nutrients. But they are virtually calorie-free, so if you actually like their dank flavor, knock yourself out.

Carrots
Shredding gives raw carrots a whole new quality: They become edible. Mix, don't top, your salad with a quarter cup of them, and you'll be eating nearly a whole day's worth of beta-carotene.

Cauliflower
Broccoli's bleached cousin has only a fraction of the vitamin C and beta-carotene. You're better off doubling up on broccoli and skipping this pale imitator.

Sunflower seeds
A few spoonfuls have potassium and magnesium to lower blood pressure, plus folate to help prevent heart disease.

Black olives
While these little fat bombs won't hurt your heart, they won't help it much either. You'd need to eat 10 to get just 3 g of cholesterol-lowering monounsaturated fat.

Chickpeas
Despite the name, this isn't something you'd find in Penthouse. Half a cup has 6 g of protein, 5 g of fiber, and some B vitamins.

Hard-boiled eggs
One has 6 g of protein and some lutein and zeaxanthin, phytochemicals that may cut your risk of age-related vision loss.

Cherry tomatoes
Ounce for ounce, these little suckers have as much prostate-protecting lycopene as their big brothers.

Cucumbers
Low in nutrients, fiber, and taste. Maybe that's why people drown 'em in vinegar and call them pickles.

Iceberg lettuce, mesclun salad greens
Nutrient-wise, iceberg lettuce helps your diet as much as real icebergs helped the Titanic. But mesclun greens contain folate, to fight heart disease, and fiber, to spit shine your colon walls.

Cottage cheese
The best cheese choice on the bar. Half a cup of the full-fat stuff has only 108 calories and 5 g of fat, and gives you 13 g of protein.

Broccoli
Six florets give you a day's worth of vitamin C and 20 percent of your beta-carotene. Bonus: Broccoli is rich in a number of polysyllabic compounds that seem to have anticancer properties. Eat all you can stand.

Shredded Cheddar cheese
One half cup of shredded Cheddar has 19 g of fat--about what you'd get in a fast-food taco. Try to limit yourself to a tablespoon.

Mysterious extras (bacon bits, croutons, Chinese noodles)
They're salty, they're crunchy, they're more like pretzels than vegetables. Of the three, the croutons are best. Ten croutons add up to about 50 calories and 2 g of fat. Chinese noodles tend to be greasier. And bacon bits? Well, they're bacon, and we all know how healthy that is.

Dressing
Low-fat dressing isn't low-cal, so go easy on it. A better bet? Canola oil and red wine vinegar. The oil contains omega-3 fatty acids to reduce your heart-disease risk. The vinegar adds flavonoids to keep your blood flowing smoothly.

Source : Men'sHealth!

Greening your event!

Whether it's a wedding, a conference, a launch party or a sleepover, you can take a few easy steps to make your event greener. You'll impress your guests with your creativity and your conscience.

Pick an Easy Location
When you're looking for that perfect setting, keep convenience, and global warming pollution, in mind. Choose a spot that your guests can get to without a Jetstream, and encourage them to leave their limos behind. Help arrange for your guests to carpool to the event, and let them know their public transportation options.

E-vite Your Guests
Emailing invitations saves paper (and money), especially if you have a long guest list. If a printed invitation is an absolute must for your event, use post-consumer recycled paper -- easily available in stores and online -- and give a phone number for RSVPs instead of reply cards.

Serve Local Food (and Feed the Locals)
Look for a restaurant or caterer that uses fresh, local or organic foods. If you're planning on serving seafood, make sure it's sustainably caught or farmed and low in mercury. (See our guide to mercury in fish and sustainable seafood recipes for ideas.) Make arrangements with a local food bank to pick up any leftovers at the end of the day.

Use Reusable or Biodegradable Tableware
Stick to cloth napkins and real tableware to reduce the amount of resources your event consumes and the amount of garbage you'll need to dispose of at the end of night. Many caterers can provide everything you need for serving, eating and drinking. For a gathering at home, use your own dishes, and borrow more from your friends if you need to.

If you have to go for the take-and-toss variety, look for post-consumer recycled content paper napkins and biodegradable plates, cups and utensils made from corn starch or agricultural waste. They'll degrade in just a couple of months in a commercial composter.

Decorate Naturally
Try using "living" décor such as moss, stones and succulent plants, or organic flowers instead of traditional pesticide-laden bouquets. Send your decorations home with your guests at the end of the night, or reuse them for another event.

Dazzle With Energy-Efficient Lighting
A daytime event -- held outdoors or in a place with plenty of windows -- lets you save big on energy costs and global warming pollution from conventional lighting. For additional lighting, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. They use only about one-third of the energy that regular light bulbs do. Look for energy efficient bulbs and fixtures marked with the Energy Star label.

Make Recycling Easy
Don't rummage through trash bins the next day looking for stuff that shouldn't have been thrown away. Make recycling easy by setting out clearly labeled recycling bins for items such as bottles, paper and cans.

Offset Your Output
At the end of the day (or evening), your event is still going to produce some global warming pollution. You can help ease the burden by purchasing a renewable energy credit from a green energy company such as Native Energy or the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Each credit represents an investment in 100 percent clean, renewable energy that will offset the global warming pollution produced by your event.

Source : Green Yahoo!

Easy Energy-Saving Habits (Free!)

Don't forget the basics. This simple stuff will save energy -- and money -- right now.

1. Unplug
* Unplug seldom-used appliances, like an extra refrigerator in the basement or garage that contains just a few items. You may save around $10 every month on your utility bill.

* Unplug your chargers when you're not charging. Every house is full of little plastic power supplies to charge cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, cordless tools and other personal gadgets. Keep them unplugged until you need them.

* Use power strips to switch off televisions, home theater equipment, and stereos when you're not using them.

Even when you think these products are off, together, their "standby" consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously.

2. Set Computers to Sleep and Hibernate

* Enable the "sleep mode" feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity.

In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu.

* Configure your computer to "hibernate" automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The "hibernate mode" turns the computer off in a way that doesn't require you to reload everything when you switch it back on.

Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch.

3. Take Control of Temperature

* Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before going to sleep (or when you're away for the day).

During the summer, set thermostats to 78 degrees or more. (Click here for a more detailed summer energy-saving tip.)

* Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows.

Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day.

* Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees.

Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher.

4. Use Appliances Efficiently

* Set your refrigerator temperature at 38 to 42 degrees Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Use the power-save switch if your fridge has one, and make sure the door seals tightly.

You can check this by making sure that a dollar bill closed in between the door gaskets is difficult to pull out. If it slides easily between the gaskets, replace them.

* Don't preheat or "peek" inside the oven more than necessary. Check the seal on the oven door, and use a microwave oven for cooking or reheating small items.

* Wash only full loads in your dishwasher, using short cycles for all but the dirtiest dishes. This saves water and the energy used to pump and heat it.

Air-drying, if you have the time, can also reduce energy use.

* In your clothes washer, set the appropriate water level for the size of the load; wash in cold water when practical, and always rinse in cold.

* Clean the lint filter in the dryer after each use.

Dry heavy and light fabrics separately and don't add wet items to a load that's already partly dry. If available, use the moisture sensor setting.

(A clothesline is the most energy-efficient clothes dryer of all!)

5. Turn Out the Lights

* Don't forget to flick the switch when you leave a room.

* Remember this at the office, too. Turn out or dim the lights in unused conference rooms, and when you step out for lunch.

Work by daylight when possible. A typical commercial building uses more energy for lighting than anything else.

Source : Yahoo Green!


Green Lifestyle - Spread the Word

Want to shake some sense into people? Use the web as your own personal bullhorn to make the world a greener place. Inform your inner circle about good causes or upcoming legislation via e-mail.

You can also direct friends to Live the Change to familiarize themselves with personal impact calculators, simple tips, activism options, and blogs of others in the community who are trying to make the planet a little greener.

If you have a blog or website, start posting information about the issues that matter to you. Awareness is the key to a sustainable planet, and the web gives you a powerful way to be part of the solution.

Source : Green Yahoo!

Green Lifestyle - Switch to "Green" Power

In many states, you can opt to purchase renewable energy from your local power company, and then rest easy knowing you just sent that email from your wind- or methane-powered computer.

To find out if your local utility has a green power source, check the Green Power Network's U.S. map. Austin Energy generated the most green power last year, followed by Portland General Electric. Xcel Energy (in Colorado and elsewhere) had the highest number of customers who purchased renewable energy (more than 49,354).

Help nudge your local utility toward a deeper shade of green by opting into their renewable energy program.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Recycle More

Savvy shopping and a little creativity can keep your trash pile from mounting. Judge products by their recycled packaging, such as bottles, cans, paper wrappings, and cereal boxes. Choose stationery and other supplies made from recyclable materials that are better the second time around.

Take your used car batteries, antifreeze, and motor oil back to participating mechanics. Return plastic bags to the grocery store. Give old cell phones and cars to your favorite charity. Compost your leftovers and keep your lawn well fed by letting grass-mown clippings lie.

Think outside that empty cardboard box: It's a fairytale fort for a five-year-old. Finally, hang an old flat tire to a tree and make a swing for green-minded folks of all ages.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Plant a Tree

No gardening project offers quite such instant gratification as planting your own tree. You get exercise, immediate visual stimulation, and some serious self-satisfaction. Your tree will convert nasty pollutants to pure oxygen and offer a welcome to wildlife -- and tree roots can help stay erosion. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, helping to reduce global warming.

Depending on what kind of tree you choose, and where you plant it, the shade can gradually help to cool your home as well as offer a perfect spot for contemplation, meditation or recreation. Trees are charming planted for a child as a living growth chart, or in memory of a loved one.

You can also donate money to have trees planted all over the world, at brownspaces or devastated places where they are most needed.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Drive Less

A daily car commute of 20 miles round trip can add up to more than $2,000 per year, parking not included. If you work in an office, ask the HR department about any carpooling hookups and free or deeply discounted bus, train or subway passes; check your city's website for relevant routes. (Use the commute to read up on peak oil theory.)

Better yet, buy a basket and some decent rain fenders for your bike and ride to the office -- and to the post office, your dentist appointment, the grocery store. Sure, you can't fit as much on a bike as in a car, but shopping more often means fresher produce, thus tastier meals -- which you'll need after burning all those calories.

Replacing even one or two car trips a week will trim your fuel bill (and probably your waistline), but driving smarter can also help. Combine multiple errands into one trip, frequent nearby shops, and try to group your family's appointments together. Think about the most efficient route before heading out, and try to avoid busier traffic times.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Buy Organic and Local Foods

Did you know that the blueberries you ate on your breakfast cereal might have traveled as many as 1500 miles to get to your bowl? Buying locally grown produce, whether it's from a greenmarket, a farm stand, or a conscientious supermarket, can conserve fuel, reduce pollution, and support your local economy ... not to mention, produce grown nearby doesn't require preservatives and waxing to keep it fresh.

Likewise, spending the extra money on organic produce will not only keep you from potentially ingesting toxic pesticides, but it's good for the environment. Support organic farmers, and you'll be helping to protect water from pollutants, cut down on soil erosion, and conserve the energy and expense it takes to produce synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Plus, there's no doubt about it-organic and locally grown produce just tastes better.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Choose Products With Less Packaging

Think of the layers of armor that separate you from a new consumer good. The precious cargo is placed inside a pouch inside a plastic exoskeleton inside a paper sleeve, then bagged for easy transport. Sounds cute for Russian dolls. But for a stick of gum or a fresh razor blade, it's infuriating, time-consuming, and a waste of resources.

With so many similar products crowding store aisles, try choosing one that sports less packaging. (You'll find that companies that give careful thought to packaging waste are probably considerate of, say, pesticide-free agriculture or humane working conditions, too.)

Don't have time to comparison-shop? Simply buying product refills can assuage your conscience, and save a few cents. Bring your canvas tote to the grocery store to get everything home.

Think similarly for restaurants: that pile of plates, napkins, plastic utensils and condiments could easily be spared by making your takeout eat-in.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs

Don't even try to front: You've been avoiding fluorescent bulbs because you fear flashbacks to the industrial pallor and buzzing tubes of your grade school. But fluorescent bulbs have come a long way, baby.

Watch for ones with higher lumens (not watts) for brighter light; read carefully for a color rendering index (CRI) over 80, or cues like "warmer light," to get closer to incandescence while saving $30 in energy costs over the life of each bulb.

Not to mention the benefit to the planet: EnergyStar has dozens of similes to tell you how much less pollution you generate by simply replacing your feverish incandescent bulbs with chill fluorescent ones, but they all add up to a huge benefit for the earth.

Source : Yahoo Green

Green Lifestyle - Use less water

Did you know that in the average home, the water heater is second only to the heating system in energy usage? Here's how to use less.

Go ahead and turn the water heater down to 120°. Wash full loads of laundry in cool water. If you've just got to use hot, rinse in cold. In the bathroom, skip the water-wasting steam bath and opt for the quick shower. Install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators, and turn the water off when you're shaving or brushing.

Have to let it run to heat up? Catch it and water the plants later. In the kitchen, remember that you don't need to scald every plate and pot to get them clean, and don't forget to turn the water off when you're scrubbing!

Thinking about the long haul? Try setting up a solar powered water heating system.

Source : Yahoo Green!

Green Lifestyle - Unplug

Taking a few minutes to turn off electrical devices won't just help you save the planet, it can also help you save a few bucks off your electric bill each month. At home, go ahead and turn off the lights when leaving a room (chances are the walls and floor won't mind the dark)!

Take an extra few seconds to shut down your computer and printer instead of letting them idle, and-annoying as it sounds-make morning a routine of unplugging TVs, fans and stereos before leaving for work. Like any routine, you'll get used to doing it in no time flat.

When you're looking to buy new major appliances, go for energy efficient models with fewer frills-that icemaker requires more power than you think! Check out Energy Star and Greener Choices for efficiency ratings for new purchases.

If you already own an appliance, remember to clean AC filters, insulate water heaters, and do other simple maintenance to maximize energy savings. Simply put, less energy = less pollution.

Source : Yahoo Green!