Earth Day friendly dating ideas

April 22nd 2010 is Earth Day so do something different and plan an eco friendly date. Being ‘green’ or environmentally friendly is becoming more important to people as we are more aware of how our simple actions affect the environment.

You might think that an eco friendly date means a cheap one that you won't enjoy, but that isn't the case at all? Yes, some of our tips require less or no money involved but who says it won't be a fun date in the end? With a little bit of know how and effort you can go green on a date while having the time of your life.

Plan your own Earth hour
If you prefer staying in then get those candles out and turn everything off like you've done during Earth Hour. If it gets hot, especially without air conditioning, use some ice cubes to cool each other down, or brave that cold shower together. There's more than one way to keep cool at home and exploring some of these options are half the fun. Plus, you'll get the ultimate intimate session with nothing much around to distract you.

Getting ready
Instead of wasting energy by using the water heater, step into the shower and have a cold one instead. Make that shower and extra fun one by sharing it with your partner. Not only will you be getting wet and wild time, you'll be saving a lot of water at the same time. But if the moment gets too heated up, remember to turn off the shower before you proceed to the bedroom.
Another thing you can do is to resist that urge of blow drying your hair. Let it dry off naturally if you have a lot of time before heading out or, you can unwind the windows of your car on your way to that date. Nothing beats a natural and cost efficient way of hair styling.

Eco friendly undies
Yup, you read that right! Organic cotton, hemp silk, bamboo, and other renewable fibres make ultra-sexy lingerie and underwear. We suggest shelling out the extra bucks for something classy, sexy, and sustainable that can be donned when the mood is right for years to come rather than one off novelty panties that tatters in less than a year.

Ditch the car
Pack a couple of backpacks with an organic gourmet lunch for two, take those rusty bicycles out of the store room and head to the nearest park. When you reach your destination, find the best spot to sit on and whip out the picnic. Feed each other grapes, organic cheese and organic wine. Enjoy the peace and tranquility of nature and each other's company.

Green gifts
If you’re planning on giving that special someone a gift then try organic massage oils, fair trade chocolate or a bottle of biodynamic red wine. These items are available at organic shops which aren't a rarity in Malaysia.

Be crafty at home
Get crafty and use recycled paper and natural plant dyes to make one of a kind, green works of art. Use a scrapbook to put your first date pictures in or re-write those romantic emails on recycled paper. You can also find your inner child and play board games rather than watching TV. Don't stop there, dig out that old Twister board and make it a little more interesting. You never know what position you may find yourselves in!

Put on a green summer party!
Introduce your special someone to your friends and family, and show them what you stand for by being green. BBQ with 100% natural, additive-free charcoal or use gas or electric for a more environmentally friendly option. Choose organic, free range meats or go vegetarian. Portobello mushrooms are a great burger substitute. Use regular dishes, glass cups and cloth napkins. Go to a thrift store and buy an extra set of cheap dishes and napkins just for BBQ's and casual parties. Promote being responsible and eco-friendly, while having fun in your new relationship.

Eco friendly holidays
Eco resorts are a great way to minimize your carbon footprint. If you don't mind spending a bit more money, go on a holiday to these destinations.
Borneo Highlands Resort is a unique eco-friendly resort in Kuching and is also known as the home of The Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club, which has a world class championship golf course. If you are both golf fans, beginner or want to learn this resort offers the perfect eco-friendly date and after a day out on the fairway you can both take advantage of the jungle Spa.
If golf isn’t your thing then what about Bukit Merah? It is three hours outside of KL and boasts the only conservational orang-utan island in Peninsular Malaysia, a unique eco-park with educational walk-in enclosures and a lakeside camping ground for the more adventurous.

America's Most Endangered Malls

Birmingham's Century Plaza mall was a consumer mecca when it opened in 1971, drawing shoppers from outlying suburbs and even from other states. Over the years, however, people moved outward from central Birmingham, and new shopping centers sprouted around them. Sales at Century Plaza declined. Three of the mall's four big "anchor" tenants eventually left, and smaller retailers followed. By 2008, Century Plaza was a shadowy hulk with more shuttered stores than open ones. Then the last anchor tenant, Sears, announced it was leaving. The mall finally closed for good in early June.
Malls have a natural lifespan, as population centers shift, architecture evolves, and shopping habits change. But a sharp recession is clearly accelerating the demise of vulnerable retailers--and some of the shopping centers they inhabit. Plunging sales are one obvious reason. Many retailers are also saddled with heavy debt taken on in recent years to fund aggressive growth. And the credit crunch has made cash scarce for firms that need it most.
Those tough conditions have already driven retailers like Circuit City, Linens 'N Things, and Steve & Barry's out of business. Other chains are closing stores and slashing costs as they fight to survive. General Growth Properties, a Chicago firm that operates more than 200 malls--and owns the remnants of Century Plaza--declared bankruptcy in April and is working on a restructuring plan.
[See America's most profitable malls.]
The churn is transforming America's retail landscape. "During times like this, good malls tend to get better and bad malls tend to get worse," says Steve Sterrett, chief financial officer of Simon Property Group, the nation's largest mall operator. The first sign of trouble is often the departure of department stores and other anchor tenants, especially if those spaces stay vacant. High-quality, name-brand merchants often follow, with discounters--or nobody--replacing them. Shoppers sense the ennui, and gravitate toward malls that feel more vibrant, which only deepens the distress at troubled properties. By some estimates, about 10 percent of the America's malls could close within the next few years.
To gauge which malls are in trouble, U.S. News analyzed data from Green Street Advisors, an investment research firm in Newport Beach, Calif., that specializes in publicly owned real estate companies. Their data includes occupancy rates, sales per square foot, and quality grades for about 650 of America's biggest shopping centers. The average property in the data set has sales of about $420 per square foot and an occupancy rate of 92 percent, good for an A- grade.
[See how to tell if a mall is in trouble.]
The malls at the bottom of the list earn grades of C- or D, with falling sales at many stores and a high proportion of discount retailers that tend to draw the least lucrative consumers. As a rule of thumb, malls with sales of $250 per square foot or lower are struggling. "It's hard for many retailers to be profitable at $250," says Jim Sullivan of Green Street. And nine out of 10 malls at the bottom of Green Street's list have sales at or below that threshold.
The data we used doesn't cover strip malls and other shopping centers owned by private firms, which tend to be smaller, less profitable, and more vulnerable to a bad economy than regional malls. But the following 10 malls still represent bleak snapshots of some of the weakest spots in the nation's retail economy.
Century III Mall, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Occupancy rate: 70 percent; sales per square foot: $200*). About 30 of the 120 stores at this suburban Pittsburgh mall have closed recently, including anchor tenant Steve & Barry's and KB Toys (both of which have declared bankruptcy), Old Navy, Ruby Tuesday's, and Macy's Furniture Outlet. The 30-year-old complex targets value shoppers but competes with nearby discounters like Wal-Mart and Kohl's. Other area malls with more upscale stores are doing better. Century's owner, Simon Property Group, may be looking to sell Century III.
Chambersburg Mall, Chambersburg, Pa. (62 percent; $234). Sales have held steady over the past year, but a bucolic location 60 miles southwest of Harrisburg makes this sleepy mall a perennial underperformer. K.B. Toys, Value City, and B. Moss closed their stores after declaring bankruptcy. Newcomers include discounters like Bolton's and Burlington Coat Factory, which are likely to generate little excitement.
Crossroads Mall, Omaha, Neb. (68 percent; $200*). Shoppers are fleeing this 50-year-old mall in central Omaha for suburban shopping centers that feel safer and more vibrant. The departure of Dillard's in 2008 left one of three anchor slots vacant. The Zales and Gordon's jewelry chains are also gone, along with Gap and most of the mall's food-court restaurants. According to press reports, owner Simon Property Group recently put the property up for sale. A buyer could try to resuscitate the mall or convert it to a different kind of retail or commercial complex.
Hickory Hollow Mall, Nashville, Tenn. (82 percent; $187). Dillard's has left, and other departed tenants include Linens 'N Things and Steve & Barry's, two of the biggest casualties of the recession. Two of four anchor slots are vacant, and the theater recently switched from first-run movies to late-run discount flicks. With a lack of retailers, the mall may convert some of its space to office use. One new tenant: the local police, who recently opened a recruiting station at the mall.
Highland Mall, Austin, Tex. (61 percent; $150*). While gleaming new stores have been springing up in some parts of Austin, this 38-year-old mall along I-35 has struggled to keep stores open--and avoid embarrassing controversies. Anchor JCPenney left in 2006, and this year Dillard's sued the mall's owners, claiming they let the mall become a "ghost town." The owners countersued, claiming that the suit is part of a scheme to help Dillard's get out of its lease early.
Palm Beach Mall, West Palm Beach, Fla. (82 percent; $250*). A year ago, the plan was to renovate this fading 42-year-old property. But that changed with the recession. Anchor tenants Dillard's and Macy's bolted within the last year, and in April, the mall's owners defaulted on a big bank payment, triggering a foreclosure lawsuit that could force the sale of the property. The power company even threatened to shut off the mall's electricity, but the bill was paid at the last minute. While remaining tenants like Sears and JC Penney await the outcome of litigation, other nearby malls are adding space and gaining customers.
[See why more companies are likely to fail this year.]
SouthPark Mall, Moline, Ill. (84 percent; $225). The owners spent a couple of years trying to sell this Quad Cities landmark, built in 1974, but they finally gave up late last year. Local officials would like to see the aging property converted to a more modern "lifestyle mall" with boutiques, lounging areas, and an upscale ambience. But modest local incomes probably can't support the major investment that would require. For now, the only upgrades at SouthPark are the construction of a few strip centers on "outlots" surrounding the mall, to be occupied by cheap restaurants and local service businesses.
Southridge Mall, Des Moines, Iowa. (84 percent; $168). The 2007 arrival of Steve & Barry's was supposed to mark a revival for this 34-year-old complex on Des Moines's South Side, which has been losing shoppers to more gentrified suburban malls. Then the discounter went bankrupt and closed its stores. The mall's owners have been trying to sell the property, and city officials have been working on ways to revitalize the entire area. They better hurry: At $168 per square foot, Southridge's sales are among the lowest for big malls.
Towne Mall, Franklin, Ohio. (49 percent; $207). This aging structure between Cincinnati and Dayton has been troubled for years, as the owner, CBL & Associates, and local officials have deliberated over whether to tear it down and build something more modern. Towne Mall has one of the highest vacancy rates of any operating mall, with more closed stores than open ones. A decision on the mall's fate is supposed to come soon.
Washington Crown Center, Washington, Pa. (70 percent; $265). Three of its biggest retailers--Macy's, Bon-Ton, and Gander Mountain--have suffered deep losses as consumers have cut spending. The mall's owner, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, is revamping some of its properties--but not Washington Crown Centre, one of the weakest malls in its portfolio. PREIT could end up selling some of its subpar properties, which leaves this mall vulnerable.

Big Blue Whale is Coming to Town

THE blue whale may be the largest animal on our planet, but it enjoys feasting on one of the smallest animals – shrimp-like crustaceans called krill.
However, it needs about 3,500kg of krill a day, which is equivalent to 64,000 hamburgers.
This interesting fact was disclosed at the Big Blue Multimedia Exhibition at Mid Valley Megamall, which runs until April 13.
A life-size sculpture of a two-month-old, 9m-long, female blue whale calf graces the East Atrium, while a low-frequency sound reverberates in the background.
“It’s to give you a feel of the sound made by a whale, but in reality, the frequency is so low that we can’t hear it,” whale expert and Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute director Dr Bruce Mate said.

The exhibition is presented by the National Geographic Channel and supported by Astro and Mid Valley Megamall to encourage Malaysians to care for this beautiful creature and to raise awareness of marine conservation in Malaysia.
Aside from the accurate replica of the calf crafted by a team of model makers in Australia, the exhibition also features expert sharing session, conservation and education activities and multimedia exhibits on Samsung LCD TV sets.
It also features footage from National Geographic’s documentary Big Blue, which will be aired on the National Geographic Channel 553 on Astro at 8pm on April 12.
From the footage, one will learn many fascinating facts about the blue whale, such as it having no teeth and being able to travel 160km in one day.
Mate, who has been conducting marine life research since 1973, is keen on up-close encounters with the marine mammal because it is mysterious.
“It spends 95% of its life in the sea and surfaces only to take a breath.
“The mystery makes a great detective story. I always say that if children love detective story, they will love science, too. It’s like trying to find out what’s real and getting closer to the truth,” the 63-year-old said.
His most amazing encounter with the blue whale happened in 2001, near San Miguel Island in Santa Barbara County in California.
“It was after a big storm and the waves were about 6m tall. A blue whale was going with the waves, body surfing.
“I sensed that this animal was doing that for fun. Maybe the blue whales have a sense of humour, too,” Mate said cheekily.
Mate pointed out that the blue whale was an endangered species, no thanks to whaling, global warming and ship strike.
“The depletion of the blue whales is because of us. The blue whale needs our help and so we need to find out more about its mysteries.
“We can’t change them, but we can change ourselves,” he said.
Conserving energy and reducing the use of plastic bags and fossil fuel are some of the small steps every one should take.

Water With Healing Power

ALTHOUGH there is no scientific evidence that water from a hill in Jalan Baru Selayang-Ulu Yam, about 10km from the Batu Dam in Selangor, contains minerals and has curative properties, people are making a beeline to the place with bottles and plastic containers to collect the so-called healing water.
Many people are seen almost daily squatting or sitting next to six PVC pipes on the side of the road, causing a traffic jam, especially on weekends.
Some come with bottles, plastic containers and mineral water bottles to collect what many swear is miracle water, which can cure sickness and restore health.
Fresh from the hill: Kuaishah washing fouryear- old daughter Najwa Yusseri’s face with the water while Nabila Yusseri looks on.
Regulars visitors to this natural spring claim that the water that trickles from the pipe has got more health giving nutrients and minerals and tastes better than the usual pipe water that has chlorine.
Stories of many sick people restored to health by drinking the water has spread by word of mouth.
Those who drink the water have claimed that it feels much more fresh, without the chlorine taste of the pipe water.
Some people also mentioned that many with diabetes, backaches, gout and other chronic diseases have been healed.
Housewife Nor Mazila Uzain, 32, who lives in Batang Kali, said she also collected the water after learning about the miracle liquid.
“Almost everyone I had talked to here said that this water has healing power and I want to experience it for myself. That’s why I collected all the empty mineral water bottles and containers in my house and brought it here to fill it up and will try it,’’ Mazila said.
Contractor Chai Nyuk Choo, 59, said he had been visiting the site for the last four years and stopped by to fill his water containers about three to four times a week on his way home from work.
Waiting patiently: Nor Mazila collecting the water in containers.
“I stay in Ulu Yam and have to pass this place every day. After I drank this water without boiling it, my backache is lessened. I also feel much fresher compared with four years ago.
“I think it is the nutrients and minerals in the water and it is god’s gift to the people,’’ he said.
Housewife Suhana Shariff, 33, has been taking this water for her husband for the past one year and has heard many stories of people having lesser pain and being cured after drinking the water.
“Many of us squat and sit while queuing up to collect the water. Those who are here told me of people with high blood pressure, gout and diabetes being cured.
“It seems that many people believe this is miracle water. The water is cold and fresh as well as even more clear that tap water,’’ she said.
Kuaishah Ku Aziz, 40, has been collecting the water for six years for her 60-year-old mother Mah Yahaya, who is suffering from joint pains.
“After my mother drank the water, her joints pains were gone. The water is clean, fresh and tastes better than mineral water,” she said.
“Now, my whole family cannot drink tap water and come here about twice a week to collect the water.
“I also use this water for drinking and cooking. When I drink, it goes down smoothly in the throat and there is no contamination from this water,” Kuaishah said.
“A person from a laboratory tested the water and told me that it contains a lot of minerals,’’ said Kuaishah, who stays in Bukit Beruntung.

Mystery solved: How bleach kills germs

Bleach has been killing germs for more than 200 years but U.S. scientists have just figured out how the cleaner does its dirty work. It seems that hypochlorous acid, the active ingredient in bleach, attacks proteins in bacteria, causing them to clump up much like an egg that has been boiled, a team at the University of Michigan reported in the journal Cell on Thursday. The discovery, which may better explain how humans fight off infections, came quite by accident.
"As so often happens in science, we did not set out to address this question," Ursula Jakob, who led the team, said in a statement.

The researchers had been studying a bacterial protein called heat shock protein 33, which is a kind of molecular chaperon that becomes active when cells are in distress, for example from the high temperature of a fever. In this case, the source of the distress was hypochlorous acid or hypochlorite.

Jakob's team figured out that bleach and high temperatures have very similar effects on proteins. When they exposed the bacteria to bleach, the heat shock protein became active in an attempt to protect other proteins in the bacteria from losing their chemical structure, forming clumps that would eventually die off.

"Many of the proteins that hypochlorite attacks are essential for bacterial growth, so inactivating those proteins likely kills the bacteria," Marianne Ilbert, a postdoctoral fellow in Jakob's lab, said in a statement.

The researchers said the human immune system produces hypochlorous acid in response to infection but the substance does not kill only the bacterial invaders. It kills human cells too, which may explain how tissue is destroyed in chronic inflammation.

"Hypochlorous acid is an important part of host defense," Jakob said. "It's not just something we use on our countertops."

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10 top ugly buildings and monument

Travel can open your eyes to some of the world's most beautiful sights and buildings -- and to some of the ugliest. Web site VirtualTourist.com (www.virtualtourist.com) has come up with a list of "The World's Top 10 Ugliest Buildings and Monuments" according to their editors and readers.

"Some of these picks have all the charm of a bag of nails while others are just jaw-dropping in their complexity. Love them or hate them, the list is certainly entertaining," said General manager Giampiero Ambrosi.

1. Boston City Hall; Boston, Massachusetts
While it was hip for it's time, this concrete structure now gets routinely criticized for its dreary facade and incongruity with the rest of the city's more genteel architecture. Luckily, it's very close to more aesthetically pleasing attractions.

2. Montparnasse Tower; Paris, France
While it's almost universally agreed that this ominous stick is a blight on the landscape of the world's most stunning city, its detractors admit that there is one very good reason to take in the view from the building's observation deck: it's the only place you can go to get a view of the city without it.

3. LuckyShoe Monument; Tuuri, Finland
It may be over-the-top, but there is something to be said for the giant, golden horseshoe that looms over Finland's second-largest shopping center. The shoe, and, in fact, the entire town in which it is situated, is said to bring good luck.

4. Metropolitan Cathedral; Liverpool, England
The people who work here must be sick of the space capsule jokes. Even those who find the building's shell a bit "spacey," have to admit the circular interior is pretty spectacular.

5. Port Authority Bus Terminal; New York City, New York
Those who pass by this iron monstrosity might be tempted to ask about a completion date, but alas, this is the finished product.

6. Torres de Colon; Madrid, Spain
Like a set of giant salt-and-pepper shakers, these matching towers loom over the city to the dissatisfaction of many area residents. The buildings are also known as "El Enchufe" or "The Plug" for the plug-like structure that holds them together.

7. Liechtenstein Museum of Fine Arts; Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Some feel the building's minimalist box design is a triumph, others say it's an eyesore.

8. Scottish Parliament Building; Edinburgh, Scotland
Stone, oak, and bamboo are part of the make-up of the Scottish Parliament, a building that is the subject of much debate.

9. Birmingham Central Library; Birmingham, England
One look and it's easy to see how this genre of architecture came to be known as the "Brutalist" style. Not surprisingly, the issue of its possible demolition has been looming for years.

10. Peter the Great Statue; Moscow, Russia
Some 15 stories high, the larger-than-life monument was designed by controversial artist, Zurab K. Tsereteli, whose statue of Christopher Columbus was repeatedly rejected by the United States.

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Urban Robin Hood from Las Vegas

An expert Blackjack player in Las Vegas wants to use his skills to help a selected poor family, settle all his/her debts through gambling table in one of the Casino in Las Vegas. This man has set up a webpage http://robinhood702.com recently to welcome the candidates submitting him a 1 to 3 minutes short script, explaining their difficulties, and reasons why they deserve to be the one.

Once you are the lucky one, Robin Hood 702 will provide an all-expense paid weekend, which includes a true high-roller suite with 24-Hour butler service at a posh Casino, show tickets to the hottest shows in town, spa appointments and meals in the city's finest restaurants. You will live like the high roller Robin Hood 702 is, then watch him win the money you need to become debt-free. He has made a guarantee that if you're selected, at least half of your bills will get paid no matter what happens at the Blackjack table. The whole event will be documented by the Fox News crews.

I'd discussed this offer with friends, but most of them suspected it is only another form of scam. They believed there must be some criminal motive hidden unrevealed. Hmmm... what can I said? Are we too fear for adventurous? Well, you might ask me back. How about you? Will you submit your script? Hmmm.... I think I will not. May be I'm one of them, fears to adventurous. But, very funny. When it really happen one day, then we will blame ourselves for not participating, losing such a golden opportunity. May be we are too conservative, without seeing any success example, we won't take any action to risk. Therefore, after the lucky one is born, we will most properly turning 180 degree and become very aggressive on searching another opportunity similar to this. Then, unfortunately it is very high chances that many criminals will take this opportunity to set up a trap, and we will easily fall into the real coming scams. (Oh, don't get me wrong, I'm not here to convince you joining the event. As mentioned earlier, I won't participate too. Not because I'm debt-free, but just I'm not a good risk taker).

So, I would like to open this topic to you. What do you think? Is this a scam? Will you participate?


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Confused sea turtles march into restaurant

Here's a very odd news I'd pasted to share about the confusion baby turtles,

ROME (Reuters) - About 60 newly hatched sea turtles lost their way during their ritual passage to the sea and marched into an Italian restaurant instead, a conservation worker said on Monday.
The baby turtles -- which ended up under the tables of startled diners at the beachside restaurant -- were probably thrown off track and lured by the eatery's bright lights, said Antonio Colucci, who was called to help rescue the group.
"They saw the artificial lights and took the wrong route," said Colucci, who works on a turtle monitoring project for the conservation group WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).
"The diners were at first quite curious and then someone alerted the coastal authorities."
The stranded turtles, which had hatched on a beach in the southern Italian region of Calabria, were released into the sea.
Female sea turtles nest on beaches and their offspring instinctively head to the sea after hatching from their eggs.
(Reporting by Deepa Babington; editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Original posting in Yahoo News

Fuel Saver Tips from Helen Taylor

By traveling on normal roads, at realistic speeds and in a variety of weather and traffic conditions in an unmodified car, Helen offered the following tips and guidance on how motorists can obtain the best possible fuel efficiency from their vehicle.

Drive Smoothly
Aggressive driving can use as much as a third more fuel compared to conservative driving. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard, and try to keep the steering action as smooth as possible.

Use Higher Gears
The higher the gear, the lower the engine speed. This can improve fuel efficiency, so use the highest gear appropriate, without causing the engine to labour at an ultra-low rpm. Automatic transmission vehicles will upshift through the gears more quickly and smoothly if the driver eases back slightly on the accelerator when the car has gathered sufficient momentum.

Tune and Service the Engine
A well tuned engine can improve fuel economy by up to four percent. Change the oil and always follow the car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

Keep the Tyres at the Correct Pressure
Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer, and they also reduce the amount of energy required to keep the vehicle rolling. A tyre that is under inflated by one psi can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as three percent.

Avoid Carrying Excess Weight
For every extra 45 kilograms (100 pounds) carried in a vehicle, the fuel efficiency can drop by two percent, so keep the trunk and rear seat clear of any unnecessary items that just add weight to the vehicle.

Take the Roof Rack Off
If the roof rack or roof bars are not being used, then remove them. They adversely affect the aerodynamic efficiency of the vehicle and create drag, reducing fuel economy by as much as five percent.

Use the Correct Engine Oil
Always use the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended lubricant can improve fuel efficiency by one or two percent. Higher quality motor oils can also help your engine operate more efficiently.

Avoid Excess Idling
Idling gets a vehicle nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue, or waiting for someone, until you need to drive.

Avoid High Speeds
The faster you travel, the more wind resistance you’ll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. Driving just eight km/h (five mph) over the speed limit can affect fuel economy by up to 23 percent.

Maintain the Distance
Leaving a sensible distance between your car and the vehicle in front gives the driver ample time to anticipate obstacles and to brake evenly.

Use Air Conditioning Sparingly
Air conditioning puts added strain on the engine and uses additional fuel when operating, so limit its use to particularly hot days. On temperate days, use the fan instead of air conditioning.

Check the Air Filter
The air filter keeps impurities from damaging your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve fuel economy by as much as 10 percent while helping to protect your engine.

Avoid Rush Hour or Traffic Jam Hotspots
If you can travel outside of peak times and avoid known areas of heavy traffic, you’ll spend less time stuck in queues and slow-moving traffic, thus consuming less fuel.

Conserve Momentum
Think ahead when driving. For example, slow down early to let red traffic lights change to green, rather than stopping completely. Also, speed up a little before reaching the start of a hill and then allow the vehicle’s momentum to carry the vehicle up the hill without working the engine harder.

Keep Calm
When drivers are not calm, they are more likely to make judgement errors. Fuel efficiency is all about smoothness. Judgement and keeping calm is absolutely crucial to achieving fuel economy.

Use Handbrakes on Slopes
Some motorists do not use the handbrake when stopping their vehicle on a slope. Instead, they either partially disengage the clutch (on manual transmission vehicles), or use the accelerator (on automatic vehicles), to keep the vehicles from rolling back. Both actions use fuel unnecessarily.


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PRO-ACTIVE ATTITUDE CAN SLASH FUEL COSTS

A couple holding the world record for fuel efficiency driving say that having a pro-active stance can go a long way to help reduce fuel costs."You don’t need rocket science to achieve fuel efficiency," says Helen Taylor, who together with her husband, John, is now in Malaysia to impart their knowledge on fuel savings."Stop complaining about higher fuel prices, think and do something constructive by being proactive, save fuel and give the money back to the Malaysian community," she told Bernama after a demonstration on "fuel economy simulator" organised by Shell Malaysia at Wisma Bernama lobby here Tuesday."We hope our lessons will help all drivers reduce fuel consumption by at least 10 percent, resulting in much lower carbon emissions and more money in the people's pockets," said Helen.John and Helen set the Guinness World Record for fuel efficiency in 2006 for using less of 40 tanks of fuel to drive 28,970 kilometres around the world in 78 days.They are officially the world’s most economical drivers. In recent years they have dedicated their lives to proving it and have notched up an impressive list of 35 fuel economy records.Their next goal is fuel economy endurance drive across 48 states in the mainland of the United States to break another record as "records are meant to be broken," said John.He also revealed that an under-inflated tyre at just one pound per square inch or psi lower can negate fuel efficiency by three percent."Check tyres regularly to keep all of them at the right pressure," said John.The fuel economy simulator, which has been designed to show the effect of a cars acceleration on the mileage and fuel usage, is timely as it comes when most Malaysians are griping about the price of fuel, which was raised by 40 percent in June this year.John and Helen will also conduct similar demonstrations at the Sunway Pyramid in Petaling Jaya this weekend and later across the country.By implementing one or two recommended tips, they said motorists could already save 10 percent and "when millions of motorists do it, the results can be highly significant".The Taylors, who have driven in over 20 countries, have also established a Fuel Academy to take this message directly to the motoring public, which contains a list of tips to improve fuel efficiency.According to their website at www.fuelacademy.com, they have laid down some 30 "Taylor’s Tips” such as getting the car into higher gear quickly as this would help save fuel.In urging motorists to drive smoothly, they also advised motorists to avoid carrying excess weight, remove the roof rack when not in use, use the correct lubrication and fuel, ensure a clean air filter and avoid excess idling, which means turning the engine off when one is stationary.Motorists should plan trips carefully to avoid rush hour driving and over revving.One should keep also use air-conditioning sparingly, conserve momentum, ensure that the fuel cap is airtight, be calm while driving and moderate the speed when driving against a headwind.John and Helen said motorists of manual transmission cars should also use the handbrake when stopping on a slope rather than riding their clutch to balance.They also advocate -- travelling light, preparing to ensure a relaxed journey, planning the route, avoid using a handphone while driving and accelerating gradually.The couple emphasised that the driver was by far the most important factor in fuel consumption, adding that the rule should be to drive slightly below the speed limit."There is no need to stomp the accelerator into the carpet to the next red traffic light. It is (still) possible to achieve the same speed using far less fuel by simply being patient. If you’re using your brakes unnecessarily, you’re essentially wasting energy," added Helen

Toyota's Stand-Up-and-Ride Segway

Toyota has developed a motorized stand-up-and-ride Segway lookalike designed to help people scoot around at malls and airports.

But the "Winglet," shown Friday in Tokyo, takes some getting used to. A demonstrator was visibly worried about its safety while accompanying a reporter who cautiously tried it on a short course in a Toyota showroom.
Toyota officials insist anyone can learn to ride it with some practice, including the elderly — its major target buyer.
Still, Toyota Motor Corp. has no plans yet to turn the Winglet into a commercial product. The Japanese automaker will start testing the two-wheeler this year at an airport and resort complex and next year at a shopping mall, all in Japan, to get user feedback. Overseas test plans are undecided.
The Winglet goes up to 3.7 mph, about the same speed as pedestrians, far slower than 12.5-mph Segway, which costs $5,000. The Winglet can go about 3 miles before needing to be recharged.
It is designed to stop easily with little pressure, pivot full-circle and go smoothly over bumps on roads. And it is designed to respond almost intuitively — moving forward when you lean to the front, and turning when you sway to the right or left, similar to skiing. One of three models shown comes with a protruding handle that can be grabbed and used like a steering wheel.
Toyota executive Takeshi Uchiyamada, who zipped around on a Winglet as though he was on a skateboard, said the company is experimenting with new ways of mobility as part of a company strategy to spread robotics.
"We hope to create friendly robots that can exist side by side with people," Uchiyamada said. "Winglet will help everyone move around safely and stay active."
Winglet evolved out of Toyota's takeover of parts of Sony Corp.'s robotics division last year. Sony, reshaping itself under Chief Executive Howard Stringer, decided to focus on electronics and wipe out its Aibo pet robot and other peripheral businesses.
Toyota envisions a future in which Winglet will be packed with wireless technology so it relays shopping information at stores. Or it may move on its own, Uchiyamada said. So it might go recharge its batteries itself, or come pick you up when you beckon it, toting your luggage.

Roger Federer Will Be In Kuala Lumpur Soon

World number one Roger Federer and two tennis legends, Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe, will be in Kuala Lumpur for the Showdown of Champions 2008, to be be held at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Nov 18.

The trio will be joined by a fourth player who will either be the newly crowned Wimbledon champion and world number two, Rafael Nadal, or American ace James Blake to complete the cast of this star-studded show.

"The decision as to who will play in Malaysia will hinge on the outcome of the Davis Cup semi-final clash between Spain and the United States (US) in Madrid on Sept 21," said Nick Freyer, senior vice-president and head of tennis of IMG Asia, the event organisers, at a news conference, here today.

He said if Spain were to lose, Nadal will travel to Kuala Lumpur but if the US were to lose the clash, Blake, who is currently world number 8, will make the trip here.

The launching of the showdown was performed by the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is patron of the tournament, and Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

The Dark Night Hits $300 Million in Just 10 Days

"The Dark Knight" continues to obliterate box office records, crossing the $300 million mark in just 10 days. The epic Batman saga grossed $75.6 million in its second weekend in theaters, pushing its domestic total to $314,245,000, Warner Bros. head of distribution Dan Fellman said Sunday.

That surpasses the record set in 2006 by "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," which took 16 days to make $300 million.

The latest Batman installment already had broken records for best opening weekend at $158.4 million and best single-day with $66.4 million. It's also busted records in its showings on IMAX screens, making $16.3 million in its first 10 days.

Fellman expects that "Dark Knight" could reach $400 million in about 18 days, which would beat the record "Shrek 2" set in 2004 when it made that much money in 43 days.

"What can you say? We've been getting a lot of repeat business coming in," Fellman said. "Our audience is expanding, like you would expect with terrific word-of-mouth and strong reviews. Our audience is getting a little bit older, that's the good news. We're finding the younger demographic, male and female, coming back."

He called it "a big surprise," adding: "To do $300 (million) plus in 10 days, we just couldn't have predicted it."

"The Dark Knight" could pass "Titanic" as the highest-grossing film in U.S. history, said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Media By Numbers. James Cameron's 1997 extravaganza made $600,788,188 domestically, a record no other movie has come close to touching.

"The `Titanic' record has sat in a lock box for 10 years. It's a tall order but if any film has a chance to surpass that number, it's got to be `Dark Knight,'" Dergarabedian said.

Director Christopher Nolan's follow-up to his 2005 origin story "Batman Begins," which again stars Christian Bale as the tormented comic-book crime fighter, initially benefited from the mystique of the late Heath Ledger giving his masterful, last performance as the Joker, Dergarabedian said.

"Now, it's all about word-of-mouth," he said. "The first weekend, there was this huge, pent-up demand and eagerness by audiences to see this movie. Now, it's like a freight train it seems to be unstoppable."

Part of the film's visual allure comes from the fact that 30 minutes of it were shot with IMAX cameras, including an elaborate bank-heist scene at the start.

"Chris (Nolan) has clearly hit upon something," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "There are many important filmmakers who we've spoken with in the last couple of weeks about shooting with IMAX cameras."

Coming in second place was "Step Brothers," which had a strong opening of its own with $30 million. The comedy reunites Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, co-stars of "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby," as 40-year-olds who've never left home and are forced to share a bedroom when their parents get married.

Rory Bruer, head of distribution for Sony, said this was at the high end of the studio's expectations.

"We'd hoped to be in the mid-to-high $20 (millions), so to hit $30 (million) is a great start," Bruer said. "Having the chemistry of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly together again, reuniting with (director) Adam McKay who did `Talladega Nights,' it's great. They both immerse themselves and the humor comes from their connection."

Sony also has the Will Smith superhero flick "Hancock," which made $8.2 million this past weekend to cross the $200 million mark.

The weekend's other big release was "The X-Files: I Want to Believe" which made an estimated $10.2 million. Ten years after the first "X-Files" movie and six years since the pioneering sci-fi show went off the air, this latest installment finds Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) re-teaming to solve a missing-persons case.

"The hardcore `X-Files' fans, they're happy. And frankly, that's who the movie was made for," said Chris Aronson, distribution executive for 20th Century Fox.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Media By Numbers LLC. Final figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Dark Knight," $75.63 million.
2. "Step Brothers," $30 million.
3. "Mamma Mia!" $17.9 million.
4. "The X-Files: I Want to Believe," $10.2 million.
5. "Journey to the Center of the Earth," $9.4 million.
6. "Hancock," $8.2 million.
7. "WALL-E," $6.3 million.
8. "Hellboy II: The Golden Army," $4.9 million.
9. "Space Chimps," $4.4 million.
10. "Wanted," $2.7 million

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Samsung Anycall Haptic Technology

­If you thought the Apple iPhone was amazing, then feast your eyes -- and fingers -- on this phone from Samsung. Dubbed the Anycall Haptic, the phone features a large touch-screen display just like the iPhone. But it does Apple's revolutionary gadget one better, at least for now: It enables users to feel clicks, vibrations and other tactile input. In all, it provides the user with 22 kinds of touch sensations.

Those sensations explain the use of the term haptic in the name. Haptic is from the Greek "haptesthai," meaning to touch. As an adjective, it means relating to or based on the sense of touch. As a noun, usually used in a plural form (haptics), it means the science and physiology of the sense of touch. Scientists have studied haptics for decades, and they know quite a bit about the biology of touch. They know, for example, what kind of receptors are in the skin and how nerves shuttle information back and forth between the central nervous system and the point of contact.

Unfortunately, computer scientists have had great difficulty transferring this basic understanding of touch into their virtual reality systems. Visual and auditory cues are easy to replicate in computer-generated models, but tactile cues are more prob­lematic. It is almost impossible to enable a user to feel something happening in the computer's mind thro­ugh a typical interface. Sure, keyboards allow users to type in words, and joysticks and steering wheels can vibrate. But how can a user touch what's inside the virtual world? How, for example, can a video game player feel the hard, cold steel of his or her character's weapon? How can an astronaut, training in a computer simulator, feel the weight and rough texture of a virtual moon rock?

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High Tech New Motorola Handphone

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When will this cool Motorola Handphone

release in Market????

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Hyundai's Genesis Coupe Concept is Coming

The sporty new Genesis Coupe concept of Hyundai will become a reality in the spring of next year, 2009.

According to "Road & Track", the gloves are off at Hyundai, determined to convince the world that it's ready to go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest manufacturers in the industry, is showing off its sporty new Genesis Coupe concept that is to become a reality in the spring of 2009.

Here's the more details of the articles,

"The Genesis Coupe, despite circulating rumors, will not succeed the Tiburon since Hyundai has no plans to stop production of its front-drive sports coupe. Instead it will enter Hyundai's line up as an entry-level rear-driver powered either by a base turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, or more powerful all-aluminum 3.8-liter V-6 that is estimated to make over 300-bhp, and over 250 lb-ft of torque.
The curvaceously raked body design is said to have been inspired by LeMans race cars, drift cars and of all other things, some die cast models by Jada Toys Dub City. Extensive use of carbon fiber can be seen throughout the entire body including the hood, roof, front fascia, rocker panels and various other details. This is no doubt an expensive setup which will most likely not make it into the sub-$30,000 production version.
Mated to either a 6-speed automatic or ZF-made 6-speed manual transmission, power will then be transmitted through a limited-slip differential and ultimately to a pair of the large 20-in. polished aluminum wheels. Hankook Ventus tires measuring 255/35ZR-20 in front and 275/35ZR-20 at the rear, are assigned the duty of managing traction under acceleration and cornering, and when the 4-piston monobloc Brembo brakes are called upon, stopping.
This 2 + 2 seater measuring 183.7-in. long, 74.9-in. wide, 54.5-in. tall and with a wheelbase of 111.0-in, upon entering the market in 2009 will have a specific mission, according to V.P. John Krafcik, and that is to "deliver a driving experience that challenges cars like the Infiniti G37, at prices more like a Mitsubishi Eclipse."

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Ian Usher - Selling His Life in eBay

Have you heard of Ian Usher? The British guy from Perth, Australia who's going to sell off his life in eBay. The auction in eBay will be closed at noon on this coming 29th.June. Usher hoping the final beat will hit up to $500,000 for him to fund a new life.

Usher, who is from County Durham in Britain but moved to Perth in 2001, set up a website (http://www.alife4sale.com) for the sale. The site opens cheerily: "Hi there, my name is Ian Usher, and I have had enough of my life! I don't want it any more!". His decision followed the break-up of his five-year marriage and the end of a 12-year relationship with Laura. He has declined to give details of the break-up but Laura is now with someone else. She has not commented publicly on the auction.

Usher said he got the idea from a friend who had the notion of selling his life through a newspaper advertisement during a bleak period but never did it. He says he's not the first person to put his life on the block.

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Elton John in Singapore May 7

Legendary Sir Elton John and his band will perform live in Singapore as part of The Rocket Man Tour on Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 8pm at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Tickets will go on sale on Friday, March 28, at 9am.

Elton John will be performing with his long-time band, Davey Johnstone (Musical director, guitars, mandolin, vocals), Guy Babylon (keyboards), Robert Birch (bass, vocals), John Mahon (percussion, drums, vocals) and Nigel Olsson (drums, vocals). The extraordinary career of Elton John has spanned more than three decades and he has sold more than 200 million records worldwide, making him one of the most popular artists of all time. His numerous hits include "Your Song," "Rocket Man," "Crocodile Rock," "Daniel," "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Candle In The Wind," "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me," "Philadelphia Freedom," "Tiny Dancer," "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" and many more.

The release of "Rocket Man" marked a huge anniversary for Elton - on March 25, 2007, he celebrated his 60th birthday while breaking his own record with an unmatched 60th concert at the legendary Madison Square Garden in New York. No other entertainer has come close to matching this record.

Elton John's achievements include: first popular Western singer to perform in USSR, 1979; playing to over 2 million people across 4 continents, 1984-86. Made Commander of the Order of the British Empire, 1996; received knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II, February 24, 1998. Released biggest selling single of all time, "Candle In The Wind 1997" (over 33,000,000 copies sold), 1997. Received Honorary Doctorate, Royal Academy of Music, 2002, became Fellow of the British Academy of Songwriters and Composers, 2004.

The superstar has also won numerous awards which include The Best British Male Artist Brit Award 1991, inducted into Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, 1994, 5 Grammy Awards 1986-2000, Grammy Legend Award, 2001, Kennedy Center Honor, 2004, 11 Ivor Novello Awards, 1973 - 2000.

Tickets: $348, $248, $188, $148, $98
Premium Seats: $475
Tickets on sale at 9am, March 28, 2008
Website: www.livenation.asia

For more information on ticket sales, please visit www.sistic.com.sg or call SISTIC hotline at (65) 6348 5555. Please note that ticket price is non-inclusive of SISTIC booking fee.

Magic Babe Ning from Singapore

Cai Wei Ning who was born in Singapore on Oct 16, 1982, or better known as Magic Babe Ning, is a Singaporean entrepreneur magician. She is best known for being Singapore’s only professional female magician, with her good looks and entrepreneurial spirit.

Ning’s first contact with magic was when she was 5 years old and watched David Copperfield on TV. Her interest was revived in 2004 when she was involved with charity work for the Children’s Cancer Foundation and performed magic at their events. At the same time, she became one of the founding members and moderators of Singapore Magic Circle, an on-line magic community and forum.

In 2006, she joined a local magic competition and came in 3rd place. This led her to join J C Sum’s magic production house as a performer and marketing communications manager; after graduating with a degree in Mass Communications from RMIT. Currently, Ning performs with J C Sum in their illusion show across Asia. She also performs a ‘One-Gal’ show that features her signature acts like her Linking Coat Hangers and Straight Jacket Striptease.

In 2007, Ning & J C staged Singapore’s largest illusion ever for a private event which included multiple large illusions including a motorcycle production, sports car vanish, appearance of 12 girls in cultural costumes and an escape from a bed of spikes. In August 2007, she played an integral role in J C Sum’s “The Impossible Teleportation” mega illusion where she headed the team on the roof that saw J C magically reappear 5 seconds after vanishing from street level.

Starting in Aug 2008, Ning & J C will be starring in their own Illusion Show at The Arena in Clarke Quay, the top entertainment district in Singapore. In one act, Ning will be bound in chains and handcuffs within a box and attempt to free herself while a flaming spear is plunged through the box. She not only escapes but also pops up at another location in the club. Ning has been invited to headline the gala show for the South England Magic Convention (http://www.semagicconvention.com) on 31 Jan 2009. This is the first time in history that a Singapore magician is headlining an international magic convention.

According to J C Sum’s official website, Ning will be attempting South East Asia's first ever mega escape from "The Impalement Cage" on 5 Jul 2008. Ning will have to pick all the locks and shackles that secure her hands, legs and neck to the inside of the cage and then roll out to safety before the spikes fall. To add to the difficulty and danger of the mega escape, Ning will also be completely blindfolded. Ning dislikes being typecast as a typcial female in magic who plays submissive roles to males and only perform magic with silks, flowers, umbrellas or rabbits. Her influences in magic include David Copperfield, Princess Tenko and J C Sum.

Olympic Flame Arrive Kuala Lumpur

Finally, the Olympic flame had arrived KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) from Bangkok in 20th.April early morning. The Beijing Olympic torch relay will be started today (21st.April) 2:00pm from Dataran Merdeka until KLCC. The flame will also be carried to the top of Kuala Lumpur Tower before ending at KLCC. The Kuala Lumpur leg would properly take about 4 hrs to complete and about 80 selected runners will be involved in this 16.5km run, after the launching ceremony in Dataran Merdeka. Meanwhile most of the major road entrance will be temporary blocked until the event is successfully completed.

This time, only 21 cities outside China were given the privilege to host a leg of the Olympic torch relay and it is only the second time Malaysians will get to witness the historic event up close.
Malaysia last hosted a leg of the torch relay in 1964 when Japan became the first Asian country to host the Olympics.

Since the pro-Tibetan independence activists had disrupted the run in London and Paris, security has become an issue at each leg of the torch relay. In fact, the relay route was also been modified in San Francisco because of security concerns. Thus, Malaysia would also pay extra attention on the security to ensure smoothness of the torch relay. About 1,000 policemen would be in the torch run group to ensure that nothing untoward happens during the relay. The Special Action Squad will form a cordon around the torchbearers throughout the route.