whathelife

MacHeist: Why You Should Choose The Nature Conservancy

2009-03-26T03:17:00.000+07:00

If you’re an Apple fan, you already know: The MacHeist 3 Bundle is here.* If you’re truly a Mac addict, then you’ve probably already ordered yours. But if you haven’t, let me make a quick pitch:

MacHeist is donating 25 percent of every sale to some amazing charities — and I humbly submit that you should choose The Nature Conservancy for your charity.

Here are five reasons why:

Accountability: The Nature Conservancy has a four star rating from Charity Navigator and an A- rating from the American Institute of Philanthropy. This means, when you contribute funds, nearly 80 percent of the money goes to programs.
Innovation: Whether it’s in our conservation work — check out our next Big Ideas in Conservation — or in how we communicate with members — see our blog (hey, you’re reading it now!), our Twitter feed, our Facebook Cause, our Flickr group, our Plant a Billion Trees campaign and our carbon offset program — we’re always looking to try something new. People who are down with MacHeist are down with trying new stuff.
Working at scale: The Conservancy has protected more than 119 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide — and we operate more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. We partner with everyone from indigenous people to governments and businesses and take a pragmatic approach that’s not based on political ideology — if you want to do what’s right for the environment, we want to work with you.
Science-based: The Conservancy doesn’t take on a conservation strategy because it’s popular or we think we can get contributions from it. We take on strategies because our 700-plus scientists tell us it’s the right thing to do. Once we make a decision based on science, we act quickly.
We need the money: Let’s not sugarcoat it: Times are tough, the economy is hurting and charitable contributions are down — way down. Programs like MacHeist are important to our mission and to ensuring great conservation work like the Santa Cruz Island bald eagle program continues.

So there’s my pitch. Now, head on over to MacHeist, load up on some great software and choose The Nature Conservancy as your charity.

*Right, I realize we’re not all Mac fans, so here’s the deal on MacHeist: The website offers a bundle of software, up to 12 programs at a deeply discounted rate and donates 25 percent of all proceeds to charity. The Nature Conservancy is one of eight charities that stand to benefit.

From:blog.nature

Tropical Forests

2009-03-25T23:30:00.002+07:00

Tropical forests evoke in our minds lush, verdant expanses alive with the sounds of birds and animals. Indeed, these forests are stunningly rich in biodiversity with unique and endangered species like the scarlet macaw, howler monkeys, capybaras and anteaters.

The region’s tropical forests also play crucial roles for humans. They were once home to rich ancient cultures like the Maya civilization. Today these forests provide water, food, medicines, shelter and sources of livelihood for the communities that live in and around them.

The forests also provide important environmental services for the planet. For instance, they function as temperature regulators by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, helping to mitigate the impacts of global warming.

How the Conservancy is Protecting These Forests

Unfortunately, these fragile ecosystems are under threat from deforestation, improper agricultural practices, tourism, development and forest fires.

With your help, The Nature Conservancy is working to protect the tropical forests of the Mesoamerica and Caribbean region — including the Maya Forest in Guatemala, Mexico and Belize; the Mosquitia in Honduras and Nicaragua; the Darien in Panama; the Amistad in Panama and Costa Rica; the Blue and John Crow mountains in Jamaica; and the Madre de las Aguas forest in the Dominican Republic.

Why These Forests are Important

They are home to almost one-half of the world’s species;
They help to mitigate the impacts of global warming;
They help recycle water and oxygen;
Scientists have identified thousands of plants found here to have anti-cancer properties;
They preserve ruins of ancient civilizations;
They provide precious wood for furniture, lumber and firewood; and
They are a source of jobs and income for the people who live around them.

What the Conservancy is Doing

Debt-for-nature swaps such as the recent debt-for-nature swap in Guatemala; and
Setting up national parks and protected areas.

From: nature.org

Floaters, Flashes & Retinal Tears

2009-03-25T23:30:00.001+07:00

Floaters

Retinal Detachment

Older people often notice occasional spots or opaque flecks drifting across their line of vision, particularly when they are looking at a page of a book, a computer screen, or a solid, light background. These floaters are tiny clusters of cells or gel in the vitreous cavity, where the clear jelly-like substance called vitreous humor fills your eyeball. What you actually see is the shadow these little clumps cast on the retina. In some cases, the vitreous gel may detach from the retina, causing more floaters, an event called posterior vitreous detachment.

About 25% of people have these vitreous detachments and floaters by their 60s, and 65% by their 80s. Floaters also appear more often in people who are nearsighted or have had cataract surgery. These phenomena are usually nothing more than an annoyance and often dissipate on their own. If they occur suddenly, however, consult an ophthalmologist. Certain eye diseases or injuries can cause them. Floaters can also be small drops of blood from a torn retinal vessel. Less commonly, new floaters are the sign of a retinal tear, which should be evaluated.

Once floaters have been checked and declared harmless, one of three things may happen. The floater may disappear as it breaks apart or settles; the floater may become less noticeable with time; or it may stay and become bothersome. Floaters can be removed, but the surgical risk is greater than the floater itself. If floaters become a nuisance to central vision, moving the eye up and down or left and right may shift the floaters and provide temporary relief.

Flashes

Seeing shooting stars — a phenomenon called photopsia — is not unusual as people age. Solitary flashes appear as sparks or minuscule strands of light, almost like streaks of lightning across the sky. They occur when the vitreous gel bumps, rubs, or tugs against the retina. Generally harmless, they require no treatment. In rare cases, they may be a sign of more severe retinal complications. If their appearance is sudden or accompanied by a shower of floaters or a loss of peripheral vision, see your ophthalmologist. These flashes of light are different from the flashing or zigzag lights that may precede migraine headache, which some people experience simultaneously in both eyes, typically for as long as 20 minutes, but sometimes for an hour or even longer.

Retinal tear or detachment

Occasionally, floaters and flashes can be a sign of something more serious: a retinal tear or retinal detachment. In a retinal tear, the vitreous gel pulls on the retina with enough force to tear the retina. Fluid from inside the eye may enter through this tear and separate the retina from underlying tissues that nourish it. Separation of the retina from the back of the eye is called a retinal detachment (see picture). People who are middle-aged and older are the most likely to experience this problem. Nearsightedness increases the chances for detachment, as do cataract removal and eye injuries.

Retinal detachment is a serious condition and can lead to a permanent loss of vision. If you suspect one, contact your ophthalmologist immediately; if you cannot reach your own doctor, go to an emergency room for evaluation. If a tear is caught early, treatment may prevent a retinal detachment. When not treated, the condition may worsen until the retina separates completely from the inner wall of the eye, remaining connected only at the optic nerve in the back of the eye and the ciliary body in the front of the eye. The worst cases cause blindness.

From:everydayhealth

How the Eye Works

2009-03-25T23:28:00.000+07:00

organ of sight is far more complex and efficient. Not only does the eye focus and snap pictures, but it also works continuously with the brain and nervous system to process ever-changing images and provide you with the visual information you need for doing everything from hitting a golf ball to preparing your taxes.

Eyeball Engineering

The conjunctiva is a thin, colorless membrane that lines the inner surfaces of the eyelids and the front portion of the sclera, the eye's white outer layer. The conjunctiva is so sensitive that when it becomes aware of a foreign body, it automatically triggers a protective reaction, such as tearing or blinking.

Six extraocular muscles regulate each eye's up-and-down, side-to-side, diagonal, and rotational motions. The muscles come in pairs and run from the back of the orbit to the sides of the eyeball, beneath the conjunctival membrane (see image "The Inside Story").

The middle layer, called the uveal tract, comprises the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. The iris — the pigmented segment, which might be blue, green, brown, or another color — forms a ring around the pupil, a black hole in the iris's center. Basically a circular curtain of muscle fibers, the iris controls how much light enters the eye. As with an automatic camera, which adjusts the size of its aperture (opening) to the available light, the involuntary muscles of the iris open to allow more light to enter the pupil in dim light, and close to make the pupil smaller in bright light. A good example of the eye's adaptation is the mildly painful change that occurs when you walk into sunlight after sitting in a dark movie theater. Even subtle alterations in light prompt a response from the eye, and the iris muscles are continually adjusting to the environment.

From:everydayhealth

Living With Low Vision

2009-03-25T23:26:00.000+07:00

Many people must live with vision that limits their daily activities, a condition known as low vision. Low vision may involve blurry vision, poor central vision, loss of peripheral vision, or even double vision. Whatever the symptom, the immediate consequences are often the same — difficulty performing day-to-day activities such as reading a newspaper, using a computer, watching television, cooking a meal, or crossing the street. Still, low vision is like many complicated medical conditions: While there may not be a cure, there often are ways to cope.

Optical aids. The magnifying lens remains one of the most common tools to help compensate for low vision. Most magnifying lenses are made to be held, but some can be incorporated into the lens of a pair of prescription glasses and used for reading or detail work. Special lenses that work like miniature telescopes can be mounted on a pair of glasses and used for driving or watching a movie. Glasses with special filters or stand-mounted magnifiers containing a light source may help with excessive glare or reduced contrast (less distinction between light and dark). An expensive option is a device similar to something once featured in Star Trek: goggles that consist of two tiny high-definition television sets that display images recorded and enhanced by a digital camcorder.

Computer aids. Many software programs can make the text on a computer monitor larger or more legible to people with vision problems. Options range from programs that enable you to change font size and background displays to specialized text-to-speech conversion programs that read online text aloud. Special keyboards, magnifiers for monitors, and other devices are also available. Most major computer supply stores carry these products.

Other aids. Electronic "talking" watches, alarm clocks, and calculators let people rely on their hearing rather than their vision. Listening to books on audiotape is another popular option.

A simple desk lamp with a metal shade is one of the easiest ways to improve vision if you use it properly. Position the lamp so that the light shines directly onto the materials in front of you, rather than over your shoulder or high above you.

Other inexpensive, low-tech vision aids include large-print versions of playing cards, bingo cards, and push-button telephone pads. And, of course, many books and newspapers come in large-print versions.

Rehabilitation. In addition to using various gadgets, people with low vision can learn a few simple tactics to compensate for their diminished sight. Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and occupational therapists can offer such advice. For example, dark coffee is easier to see when poured into a white mug, and a fried egg is more visible when served on a dark plate. You can rearrange furniture for easier navigation, and label your foods and medications with large print to make them easier to identify.

From: everydayhealth

Little Big Pine

2009-03-25T23:24:00.000+07:00

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no countries,
there’s but a single Earth endowed with many lands,
and every land is beautiful; there is no land I would not live.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native eye, and when they gave it back –
then I saw a world of many rival nations;
then it seemed to me my country was the best.

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no languages,
there’s but a single Tongue endowed with many sounds,
and every sound is beautiful; there is no sound I would not speak.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native ear, and when they gave it back –
then I heard a world of many strident dialects;
then it seemed to me my language was the best.

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no races,
there’s but a single Body endowed with many faces,
and every face is beautiful; there is no face I’d not embrace.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native face, and when they gave it back –
then I faced a world of many hostile tribes;
then it seemed to me my people were the best.

In my heart of hearts I hear a voice that whispers:
there really are no religions,
there’s but a single Spirit endowed with many paths,
and every path is beautiful; there is no path I would not walk.

But somewhere long ago they took away
my native feeling, and when they gave it back –
then I felt a world of many adverse deities;
then it seemed to me my god was the best.

Somewhere long ago they meddled
with my eyes and ears, my face and feelings;
and still they do not cease.

Yet all I really know
is what I hear that ever whispers
in my heart of hearts.

little big pine
los angeles county
hearing orpheus’ fine harp with naked eyes.

From: stateofnature.org

In my heart of hearts

2009-03-25T23:21:00.000+07:00

The Bard was a logical man, and he went about coining sensible phrases in a rational fashion. Thus, Hamlet does not say "in my heart of hearts," but "in my heart of heart"—that is, at the "heart" (center) of my heart. The phrase is in fact a synonym for "In my heart's core." And like the heart of an artichoke, the heart of Hamlet's heart is its most tender part. He reserves this region of his affection for men who aren't slaves to their passion, who are governed by reason, like his friend Horatio (whom he addresses here) and, indeed, like the phrase-coining Shakespeare.

We've perverted the phrase into "in my heart of hearts" by way of expressions like Ecclesiastes' "vanity of vanities." But where Ecclesiastes had a number of vanities from which to elect a chief or encompassing vanity—presumption—one doesn't have a number of hearts. Even granting that we use "heart" mostly as a metaphor and not with reference to the organ, we never mean to speak of having more than one.

From: enotes.com

When satire goes too far?

2009-03-25T23:16:00.001+07:00

A late-night Fox News TV broadcast recently caused controversy when its panelists mocked Canada:

Defense Minister Peter MacKay is demanding an apology from Fox News after a panel on of one of its late-night programs made “disgusting” comments about the Canadian military.

In the four-minute segment, Gutfeld asked the other three members of his panel: “The Canadian military wants to take a breather to do some yoga, paint landscapes, run on the beach in gorgeous white Capri pants. … Isn’t this the perfect time to invade this ridiculous country? They have no army!” (CTV News)

On Friday, four more Canadian peacekeepers were killed in Afghanistan, bringing the total Canadians killed during the country’s service in that country to 116. Popular Canadian political satirist Rick Mercer commented that “If you’re going to do satire, three of the most important rules are you have to tell the truth, you can’t be a bully and don’t be [a jerk]. Being a bully is not satire.” (Globe & Mail)

The full video of the four minute segment from Fox News’ 3am “Red Eye” program has been posted on YouTube.

What do you think of this segment? Is an apology necessary? Can some leniency be given due to the fact this late night talk show features comedians and other philistines?

From:thelife.com

Text Size Obama’s NCAA Picks

2009-03-25T23:15:00.000+07:00

Got “March Madness”? Then you may be interested in what the commander-in-chief of the United States thinks about your favorite team’s chances in the 2009 NCAA basketball tournament:

President Barack Obama, who can still go strong to the rim in pickup games, announced his NCAA picks just before leaving for California on Wednesday. In a first for an American president, he did it with an appearance on ESPN, the popular cable sports channel. It’s risky business, sure to please and anger sports fans around the country. Lucky for Obama, the election is long over.

The first fan will be trying to catch parts of tournament games as he travels, but here Obama has a big advantage. “Air Force One has DirecTV,” he told ESPN. [Mercury News

Beginning Again: I turned my life around
We’re here to listen: Talk with us anytime

Although it’s nice to see the president is in touch with popular cultural phenomenons and actually makes time in his busy schedule for a little recreation, a lot of people probably will react like Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski who commented that “as much as I respect what he’s doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets.” [ABC News]

Do you agree with his picks? (You can see Obama’s NCAA 2009 picks here on the ESPN site.) How do you feel about Obama’s recent ESPN appearance? Is it lighthearted and fun encouragement, or not taking the severity of the economic situation seriously enough?

From: thelife.com

Duc Ba Cathedral

2009-03-25T10:37:00.000+07:00

Duc Ba Cathedral

Location: Duc Ba Cathedral is located on Han Thuyen Street, facing down Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.
Characteristic: The resplendent Governorï¿½s Palace, completed in 1875, symbolized the regimeï¿½s political power in Asia. And five years later, the Duc Ba (Our Ladyï¿½s) Cathedral was inaugurated, and became the spiritual and cultural crucible of the French presence in the Orient.

After the first French colonizing force arrived in Vietnam in the mid - 19^thcentury, it took only 21 years before the country had a cathedral to match the hulking Gothic edifices of France itself. The cathedral is supposed to represent the glory of the French Empire. Yet, as is always the case with colonization, this attempt to import French traditions into Vietnam transformed the colonizersï¿½ culture in the process. Even though the cathedral is built in a Western architectural style, it has a uniquely Eastern aspect.

Several architects put forward design proposals for the cathedral, but in 1877 the authorities selected Mr Bourard, who was famed for his religious architecture. He envisaged, and executed, a basilica-like structure with a square plan. The cathedral is composed of two main central bays with two sidereal corridors, with tall pillars and light coming in through sets of high windows, and a semi-circular shrine. The style follows a Roman pattern, although the outside contains some modifications: the cathedralï¿½s vaults are Gothic, and a modern steel skeleton supports the whole building.

In 1894 a pointed minaret was added to the bell tower, at the behest of an architect named Gardes, who was also responsible for the Xa Tay Palace, the building that now houses the Municipal Peopleï¿½s Committee. The cathedral is a much smaller than those in France, but it was the largest in the French empire. The interior is very large: the principal shrine and two additional bays are 93m long, and reach 35m in width at one point. The semi-circular shrine at the rear seats a choir during services, and there are five chapels.

The walls are made of Bien Hoa granite, combined with red tiles from Marseilles, all without coating. Red tiles from France were also used on the roofs, but they were later replaced with tiles of equal quality from Phu Huu. Natural light streams in through stained-glass windows which were made by the Lorin Company from the French town of Sartre.

The whole building is well-ventilated thanks to a system of air-holes placed above and under the windows. The belfry is 57m high. For a long time it was the highest structure in the city centre, and was the first thing an arriving traveller would see when approaching the city by boat. Six bells weigh a combined 25,850kg. In 1885, the floor was taken apart and new pillars were added, because the original foundation could not bear the cathedralï¿½s weight. Stepping inside the cathedral, tourists see a line of Chinese characters eulogizing the Jesusï¿½ mother, "the innocent and unblemished Virgin Mother", and stained-glass portraits of Vietnamese believers amid Asiatic plants. On the square in front of the cathedral, there is a statue of the Virgin Mother made of white marble, symbolizing peace. All told, itï¿½s an unusual building: a Western architectural and religious style that has been transplanted into, and adapted to, the East. The colonizers were trying to impose French beliefs and customs onto Vietnam but once that culture arrived on Asiaï¿½s shores, it took on a life of its own. The cathedral is seen as a unique synthesis, adding an unmistakable Oriental flavour to an ancient Occidental recipe.

From : vietnamtourism.com

Ho Chi Minh City

2009-03-25T10:35:00.000+07:00

Ho Chi Minh City

Area: 2,098.7 sq. km Population: 6,105.8 thousand habitants (2006)
Administrative divisions:

- Districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, District 5, District 6, District 7, District 8, District 9, District 10, District 11, District 12, Tan Binh, Binh Thanh, Phu Nhuan, Thu Duc, Go Vap, Binh Tan,Tan Phu.

- Rural districts: Nha Be, Can Gio, Hoc Mon, Cu Chi, Binh Chanh.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Hoa, Khmer, Cham...

Geography

In the core of the Mekong Delta, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon, is second the most important in Vietnam after Hanoi. It is not only a commercial center but also a scientific, technological, industrial and tourist center. The city is bathed by many rivers, arroyos and canals, the biggest river being the Saigon River. The Port of Saigon, established in 1862, is accessible to ships weighing up to 30,000 tons, a rare advantage for an inland river port.
Climate:The climate is generally hot and humid. There are two distinctive seasons: the rainy season, from May to November, and the dry season, from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27ºC. The hottest month is April and the lowest is December. It is warm all year.

History
Many centuries ago, Saigon was already a busy commercial center. Merchants from China, Japan and many European countries would sail upstream the Saigon River to reach the islet of Pho, a trading center. In the year of 1874, Cho Lon merged with Saigon, forming the largest city in the Indochina. It had been many times celebrated as the Pearl of the Far East. After the reunification of the country, the 6^th National Assembly in its meeting of the 2^nd of July, 1976, has officially rebaptized Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City. The history of city relates closely with the struggle for the independence and freedom of Vietnam.

Tourism

Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the big tourism center in Vietnam, attracting a large of visitors to Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City has various attractions as Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, system of museums, theatres, cultural houses... Recently, many tourist areas are invested such as Thanh Da, Binh Quoi Village, Dam Sen Park, Saigon Water Park, Suoi Tien, Ky Hoa..., which draw numerous tourists.

Despite its quite recent past, Ho Chi Minh City nevertheless possesses various beautiful buildings, displaying a characteristic combination of Vietnamese, Chinese and European cultures. These include Nha Rong (Dragon House Wharf), Quoc To Temple (National Ancestors Temple), Xa Tay (Municipal Office), Ho Chi Minh Municipal Theatre as well as many pagodas and churches (Vinh Nghiem, Giac Vien, Giac Lam, Phung Son pagodas...). After more than 300 years of development, Ho Chi Minh City presents many ancient architectural constructions, famous vestiges and renowned sights. It is remarkable for its harmonious blending of traditional national values with northern and western cultural features.

Transportation

Ho Chi Minh City is the main junction for trains, roads, water, and air transportation systems for domestic trips and for foreign destination.
- Roads: Ho Chi Minh City is 1,730km from Hanoi, 99km from Tay Ninh, 30km from Bien Hoa (Dong Nai), 70km from My Tho, 125km from Vung Tau, 168km from Can Tho, 308km from Dalat, and 375km from Buon Ma Thuot. The City has National Highway 13 which connects Vietnam with the rest of Indochina.
- Train: Thong Nhat express train connects Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, vie many provinces in Vietnam.
- Air: Tan Son Nhat International Airport, 7km from center of city, is the biggest airport with many domestic and international routes. There are flights from Hanoi and Danang to Ho Chi Minh City and between ?the City to many regions as well a lot of countries on over the world.

From: vietnamtourism.com

My Son Site

2009-03-25T10:14:00.000+07:00

My Son, located 69 km southwest of Danang, was an imperial city during the Cham dynasty, between the 4th and 12th centuries. My Son Sanctuary is a large complex of religious relics that comprises more than 70 architectural works. They include temples and towers that connect to each other with complicated red brick designs. The main component of the Cham architectural design is the tower, built to reflect the divinity of the king.

According to records on the stone stele, the prime foundation of the ancient My Son architectural complex was a wooden temple to worship the Siva Bhadresvera genie. In the late 16th century, a big fire destroyed the temple. Step by step, historical mysteries were unveiled by scientists. Through stone stele and royal dynasties, they proved My Son to be the most important Holy Land of the Cham people from the late 4th to the 15th centuries. For many centuries, the Cham built Lip, a mutually linked architectural complex, with baked bricks and sandstone. The main temple worships the Linga-Yoni, who represents the capability of invention. Beside the main tower (Kalan) are several sub-towers worshipping Genies or deceased kings. Although time and the wars have destroyed some towers, the remaining sculptural and architectural remnants still reflect the style and history of the art of the Cham people. Their masterpieces mark a glorious time for the architecture and culture of the Cham, as well as of Southeast Asia.

Each historical period has its own identity, so that each temple worshipping a genie or a king of a different dynasty has its own architectural style full of different impression. All of the Cham towers were built on a quadrate foundations and each comprises three parts: a solid tower base, representing the world of human beings, the mysterious and sacred tower body, representing the world of spirits, and the tower top built in the shape of a man offering flowers and fruits or of trees, birds, animals, etc., representing things that are close to the spirits and human beings.

According to many researchers of the ancient Cham towers, the architectural art of the Cham towers at My Son Sanctuary is the convergence of different styles, including the continuity of the ancient style in the 7th-8th centuries, the Hoa Lai style of the 8th-9th centuries, the Dong Duong style from the mid-9th century, the My Son and My Son-Binh Dinh styles, etc. Among the remnants of many architectural sites excavated in 1898, a 24 metres high tower was found in the Thap Chua area and coded A I by archaeologists and researchers on My Son. This tower is a masterpiece of ancient Cham architecture. It has two doors, one in the east and the other in the west. The tower body is high and delicate with a system of paved pillars; six sub-towers surround the tower. This two storey tower looks like a lotus flower. The top of the upper layer is made of sandstone and carved with elephant and I ion designs. In the lower layer, the walls are carved with fairies and water evils and men riding elephants. Unfortunately, the tower was destroyed by US bombs in 1969.

After the My Son ancient tower complex was discovered, many of its artifacts, especially statues of female dancers and genies worshipped by the Cham people, worship animals and artifacts of the daily communal activities, were collected and displayed at the Cham Architecture Museum in Danang city. Although there are not many remnants left, those that remain display the typical sculptural works of cultural value of the Cham nationality. Furthermore, they are vivid proof, confirming the history of a nationality living within the Vietnamese community boasting of a rich cultural tradition.

From: vietnamtourism.com

Hoi An-Viet Nam

2009-03-25T10:09:00.005+07:00

The ancient town of Hoi An, 30 km south of Danang, lies on the banks of the Thu Bon River. Occupied by early western traders, Hoi An was one of the major trading centers of Southeast Asia in the 16th century.

Hoi An has a distinct Chinese atmosphere with low, tile-roofed houses and narrow streets; the original structure of some of these streets still remains almost intact. All the houses were made of rare wood, decorated with lacquered boards and panels engraved with Chinese characters. Pillars were also carved with ornamental designs.

Tourists can visit the relics of the Sa Huynh and Cham cultures. They can also enjoy the beautiful scenery of the romantic Hoi An River, Cua Dai Beach, and Cham Island.

Over the last few years, Hoi An has become a very popular tourist destination in Vietnam.

Light Bright

NO FLUORESCENT LIGHTS. NO MOTORCYCLES. NO TELEVISION. ON THE 14TH DAY OF EACH LUNAR MONTH, THE RIVERSIDE TOWN OF HOI AN GIVES MODERN LIFE THE NIGHT OFF.

In a wood-fronted shops a woman in traditional dress sits at a desk, bathed in the light of a lantern made from a simple bamboo fish-trap. Outside, two old men are absorbed in a candlelit game of Chinese checkers. These scenes, straight out of the 19th century, still take place in Hoi An, a sleepy riverside town in the central province of Quang Nam.

Hoi An has long been a cultural crossroad. More than five centuries ago the Vietnamese nation of Dai Viet expanded its territory southwards, encroaching on the Indianized Kingdom of Champa, which covered much of what is now central Vietnam. Hoi An, located on the Hoai River, emerged when Japanese and Chinese traders built a commercial district there in the 16th century.

These diverse cultural influences remain visible today. Visitors will find Hoi An's Old Quarter lined with two-storey Chinese shops, their elaborately carved wooden facades and moss-covered tile roofs having withstood the ravages of more than 300 years of weather and warfare. These proud old buildings, which back onto the river, remind visitors of another era, when Hoi An's market was filled with wares from as far afield as India and Europe. Colourful guildhalls, founded by ethnic Chinese from Guangdong and Fujian provinces, stand quietly, a testament to the town's trading roots.

While Hoi An's old-fashioned charm is always visible, on the 14th of every lunar month modernity takes another step back. On these evenings the town turns off its street lamps and fluorescent lights, leaving the Old Quarter bathed in the warm glow of coloured silk, glass and paper lanterns. In ancient times, Vietnamese people made lamps out of shallow bowls filled with oil. Later, foreign traders introduced lanterns, ranging from round and hexagonal designs from China to diamond and star shaped ones from Japan.

Let there be light

When developing plans to preserve their town's ancient character, Hoi An residents decided to revive the practice of using coloured lanterns. Starting in the fall of 1998, one night each month is declared a "lantern festival". On the 14th day of each lunar month, residents on Tran Phu, Nguyen Thai Hoc, Le Loi and Bach Dang streets switch off their lights and hang cloth and paper lanterns on their porches and windows. Television sets, radios, street lights and neon lights are turned off.

In the ensuing quiet the streets of Hoi An are at their most romantic, the darkness broken only by jeweltoned lanterns in all manner of shapes and sizes.

Strolling through the lantern-lit streets is like walking into a fairytale. It is all the more picturesque since motor vehicles are banned from Hoi An's Old Quarter. On Trai Phu Street, stop at the beautifully preserved Faifo Restaurant to sample some traditional Chinese-style pastries. Or walk on to the Treated Café, where bamboo baskets, commonly used to wash rice, have been transformed into unique lanterns. These basket lamps are but one example of people's creativity as they experiment with new shapes and materials, including lights made from hollow bamboo tubes.

A Warm Glow

The 14th day of the lunar month is a Buddhist day of worship. Residents place offerings of food and incense on their ancestral altars and visit one of Hoi An's many pagodas. The scent of incense and the sounds of people singing add to the town's enchanted atmosphere. On these evenings, visitors will get a rare glimpse into another era. These nights are a welcome reminder of life's unexpected beauty.

From: vietnamtourism.com

Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, world heritage

2009-03-25T10:01:00.002+07:00

Viet Nam's Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park has been recognised as a world natural heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) at its 27th general assembly session being held in Paris from June 30-July 5.

At the session, delegates from over 160 member countries of UNESCO World Heritage Convention agreed to include Phong Nha-Ke Bang park and 30 others worldwide to the list of world heritage sites.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang park is now the fifth UNESCO recognised site in Viet Nam after Ha Long Bay, the imperial city of Hue, the ancient quarter of Hoi An and the My Son historical site.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, located to the north of the majestic Truong Son range in central Quang Binh province, is one of the world's two largest limestone regions.

The over 200,000 ha of parkland includes beautiful limestone formations, grottoes and caves, and boasts lush forestland covering 95 percent of the park area.

The area is considered a paradise for researchers and explorers of grottoes and caves, and Vietnamese and British scientists have so far surveyed 20 with a total length of 70km. Of them, 17 are in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area.

The Phong Nha cave itself which lends its name to the whole system is probably the most beautiful of all, containing many fascinating rock formations, enchanting visitors with evocative names such as Lion, Fairy Caves, Royal Court and Buddha.

Besides the grotto and cave systems, Phong Nha has the longest underground rivers, the largest caverns and passageways, the widest and prettiest sand banks, and the most astonishing rock formations in the world.

According to initial statistics, the primitive tropical forest in Phong Nha-Ke Bang houses 140 families, 427 branches, and 751 species of high-rated plants, of which 36 species are endangered and listed in the Viet Nam Red Book. The forest is also home to 32 sets, 98 families, 256 races and 381 species of four land backboned animals. Sixty-six animal species are listed in the Viet Nam Red Book and 23 other species in the World Red Book. In general, Phong Nha-Ke Bang's animals are more diverse than in other natural reserves and national parks.

Phong Nha-Ke Bang also boasts dozens of mountain peaks of over 1,000 metres still unexplored by men and seen as ideal sites for activities like climbing and exploration. Worthy of note are Peak Co Rilata with the height of 1,128 m and Peak Co Preu, 1,213 m. Lying between these peaks are valleys which promise tourists exciting eco-tours.

In addition to the diversity in the ecosystem, Phong Nha-Ke Bang is home to archeological and historical relics, such as an ancient hieroglyphic script of the Cham ethnic minority, King Ham Nghi's base built for the resistance war against French colonialists in the late 19th century, and the Xuan Son ferry station, Ho Chi Minh Trail and Road 20 used during the US resistance war.Central Quang Binh province has poured heavy investment into upgrading the Phong Nha-Ke Bang visitor site to turn it into the country's major tourist destination.

From:vietnamtourism.com

Ha Long - Bay of the Descending Dragon

2009-03-25T09:55:00.002+07:00

The end of the Vietnam war, and the advent of "Doi moi", Vietnam's policy of opening its economy to foreign trade, means that Westerners and South Vietnamese now have a chance to visit Ha long. Vinh Ha Long or Bay of the Descending Dragon is often touted by proud Vietnamese as the world's Eighth wonder. One of the main attractions of Ha long is the bay's calm water and the thousands of limestone mountains dotting the seascape. The Bay's water is clear during the spring and early summer. Some of the islands are quite large and there are small alcoves with sandy beaches where swimming is possible. Ha Long bay lies in the northeastern part of Vietnam and is 165 Km from Hanoi.

Ha Long literally means descending dragon(s) and according to local myth, the story goes as follows:
Long ago when their forefathers were fighting foreign invaders from the north, the gods from heaven sent a family of dragons to help defend their land. This family of dragons descended upon what is now Ha Long bay and began spitting out jewels and jade. Upon hitting the sea, these jewels turned into the various islands and islets dotting the seascape and formed a formidable fortress against the invaders. The locals were able to keep their land safe and formed what is now the country of Vietnam. The Dragon family fell so much in love with this area for its calm water and for the reverence of the people of Vietnam that they decided to remain on earth. Mother dragon lies on what is now Ha Long and where her children lie is Bai Tu Long. The dragon tails formed the area of Bach Long Vi known for the miles of white sandy beaches of Tra Co peninsula (see map).
This myth is in line with the Vietnamese myth of their origin Con Rong Chau Tien. This myth describes the union between a king (representing the dragon) and his bride (representing a goddess) giving birth to 100 children which are the ancestors of the Vietnamese people. The Ha Long myth illustrate the Vietnamese belief of their origin and the fact that throughout their history, they are aided by their ancestors, the dragon and the gods, in the defense of their land.

Smart Travel Tip: 7 Things To Look Out For When Dealing With A Travel Agency

2009-03-25T09:53:00.000+07:00

Many people are looking at price when searching for a discount travel agency, however, there are some other things you need to watch out for that can save you time, money and headaches when using a travel agency to plan your trip.
1) Check to see if the agency is a member of ASTA (American Society of Travel Agents). Agencies who are members must follow strict rules of conduct. If you should have a problem with your agency, it will be easier for you to file a complaint.
2) Make sure their offer isn’t too good to be true. The travel industry is very competitive and some agencies will promise you the moon. Make sure they can deliver what they promise before signing up.
3) The agency should disclose their full contact information. You should easily be able to find their name, address, phone number and email address. Call the phone number and see if a real person answers. If their contact information isn’t readily available, you should take your business elsewhere.
4) Some discount agencies will promise you low rates to get your business, then hit you with hidden fees. Since you are budgeting for your trip, you don’t want to be hit with a larger bill than you planned on. Be sure to get all agency rates and fees on paper to avoid surprises.
5) Respectable travel agencies will bend over backwards to make sure you are well taken care of, especially if you have medical needs while traveling. An agency out for a quick buck will not provide you with great customer service, so ask questions about how they will accommodate your special requests before signing.
6) A good travel agency will be there to help you during and after your trip to make sure everything is going smoothly. If you have a problem during your trip, the agency will be available to assist you. Fly by night services will disappear after you’ve handed over your money. Check out the agency’s reputation before you commit to a deal.
7) A good travel agency will have access to all kinds of information about the city and/or country you are visiting. They are one of the best insider travel tip resources around whether you need a business travel tip, family travel tip, an air travel tip, or a travel packing tip.

From:responsible-travel-i-see

How To Choose A Travel Agent You Won't Regret

2009-03-25T09:49:00.001+07:00

When it comes to making travel arrangements a travel agent can either make the process a dream or a nightmare. If you travel on a frequent basis finding a good travel agent that is reliable and trustworthy can be as important as a financial planner or a dentist. Here are a few tips to help you find a good one that won?t have you pulling your hair out while you are trying to plan a relaxing vacation.

One of the reasons for enlisting the services of is the fact that they can generally get better deals than the public due to the relationships they have formed with travel related companies such as airlines, hotels, and rental car companies. Their ability to get better deals is a great reason to use them but I like to use a travel agent just for the convenience. I can just call them up and tell them where I want to go and they will call me back with three or four choices to consider.

Like anything else, the key to finding a travel agent you can rely on is research. You can start out by asking friends and family for referrals of travel agents that they have enlisted the services of. Another excellent tool at your disposal of course, is the internet. With the internet you can find a list of agencies in your area and peruse their sites along with reviews and testimonials of their service. Look for forums and message boards where travelers talk about traveling and their experiences with travel agents. Even though everyone will have different opinions you can rest assured that a travel agent that gest good remarks from most people will be someone you can work with.

Another key indicator that can help in your search to find a good travel agent is whether they belong to the American Society of Travel Agents. The reason this is important is that allows the travel agents the ability to network with other members of the group such as cruise lines, airlines, hotels, and many other travel related companies. There are also certain minimum qualifications that must be met and maintained which means that the person involved will be more conscientious than one that is not a member.

It is perfectly right and acceptable for you to interview the prospective agent and ask questions of their qualifications and experience in order to make up your mind if they are the right agency for you and that they will be able to satisfy your travel needs. You should also ask them for references of clients who have used their services so you can get a third part?s take on them. By doing these things as you look for a travel agent it should help you to find one that will be good for you.

2009-03-25T09:48:00.000+07:00

The Mower Against Gardens

by Andrew Marvell
(1621-1678)

Luxurious Man, to bring his Vice in use,
Did after him the World seduce:
And from the Fields the Flow'rs and Plants allure,
Where Nature was most plain and pure.
He first enclos'd within the Gardens square
A dead and standing pool of Air:
And a more luscious Earth for them did knead,
Which stupifi'd them while it fed.
The Pink grew then as double as his Mind;
The nutriment did change the kind.
With strange perfumes he did the Roses taint.
And Flow'rs themselves were taught to paint.
The Tulip, white, did for complexion seek;
And learn'd to interline its cheek:
Its Onion root they then so high did hold,
That one was for a Meadow sold.
Another World was search'd, though Oceans new,
To find the Marvel Of Peru.
And yet these Rarities might be allow'd,
To Man, that Sov'raign thing and proud;
Had he not dealt between the Bark and Tree,
Forbidden mixtures there to see.
No Plant now knew the Stock from which it came;
He grafts upon the Wild the Tame:
That the uncertain and adult'rate fruit
Might put the Palate in dispute.
His green Seraglio has its Eunuchs too;
Lest any Tyrant him out-doe.
And in the Cherry he does Nature vex,
To procreate without a Sex.
'Tis all enforc'd; the Fountain and the Grot;
While the sweet Fields do lye forgot:
Where willing Nature does to all dispence
A wild and fragrant Innocence:
And Fauns and Faryes do the Meadows till,
More by their presence then their skill.
Their Statues polish'd by some ancient hand,
May to adorn the Gardens stand:
But howso'ere the Figures do excel,
The Gods themselves with us do dwell.

Lines Left upon a Seat in a Yew-tree

2009-03-25T09:47:00.000+07:00

Lines Left upon a Seat in a Yew-tree

William Wordsworth (1795)

Lines Left upon a Seat in a Yew-tree which stands near the lake of Esthwaite, on a desolate part of the shore, commanding a beautiful prospect. Nay, Traveller! rest. This lonely Yew-tree stands Far from all human dwelling: what if here No sparkling rivulet spread the verdant herb? What if the bee love not these barren boughs? Yet, if the wind breathe soft, the curling waves, That break against the shore, shall lull thy mind By one soft impulse saved from vacancy. --------------------Who he was That piled these stones and with the mossy sod First covered, and here taught this aged Tree With its dark arms to form a circling bower, I well remember.--He was one who owned No common soul. In youth by science nursed, And led by nature into a wild scene Of lofty hopes, he to the world went forth A favoured Being, knowing no desire Which genius did not hallow; ’gainst the taint Of dissolute tongues, and jealousy, and hate, And scorn,--against all enemies prepared, All but neglect. The world, for so it thought, Owed him no service; wherefore he at once With indignation turned himself away, And with the food of pride sustained his soul In solitude.--Stranger! these gloomy boughs Had charms for him; and here he loved to sit, His only visitants a straggling sheep, The stone-chat, or the glancing sand-piper: And on these barren rocks, with fern and heath, And juniper and thistle, sprinkled o’er, Fixing his downcast eye, he many an hour A morbid pleasure nourished, tracing here An emblem of his own unfruitful life: And, lifting up his head, he then would gaze On the more distant scene,--how lovely ’tis Thou seest,--and he would gaze till it became Far lovelier, and his heart could not sustain The beauty, still more beauteous! Nor, that time, When nature had subdued him to herself, Would he forget those Beings to whose minds, Warm from the labours of benevolence, The world, and human life, appeared a scene Of kindred loveliness: then he would sigh, Inly disturbed, to think that others felt What he must never feel: and so, lost Man! On visionary views would fancy feed, Till his eye streamed with tears. In this deep vale He died,--this seat his only monument. If Thou be one whose heart the holy forms Of young imagination have kept pure, Stranger! henceforth be warned; and know that pride, Howe’er disguised in its own majesty, Is littleness; that he, who feels contempt For any living thing, hath faculties Which he has never used; that thought with him Is in its infancy. The man whose eye Is ever on himself doth look on one, The least of Nature’s works, one who might move The wise man to that scorn which wisdom holds Unlawful, ever. O be wiser, Thou! Instructed that true knowledge leads to love; True dignity abides with him alone Who, in the silent hour of inward thought, Can still suspect, and still revere himself In lowliness of heart.

William Wordsworth: The World Is Too Much with Us (1807)

2009-03-25T09:42:00.001+07:00

Wordsworth was born and lived most of his life in the rural northwest of England known as the Lake District. Like many other Romantic writers, he saw in Nature an emblem of god or the divine and his poetry often celebrates the beauty and spiritual values of the natural world. He revolutionized English poetry with the publication of Lyrical Ballads (1798), co-authored with his friend Samuel Taylor Coleridge who contributed "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" for the volume. In this book Wordsworth sought to break the pattern of artificial situations of eighteenth-century poetry, which had been written for the upper classes, and to write in simple, straightforward language for the common man. Other English Romantic poets would follow Wordsworth's lead in taking apparently insignificant moments and, by observation and contemplation, raising them to illuminations of experience. Wordsworth defined poetry as the "spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings," intense "emotion recollected in tranquillity." In the sonnet "The World Is Too Much with Us" the poet contrasts Nature with the world of materialism and "making it." Because we are insensitive to the richness of Nature, we may be forfeiting our souls. To us there is nothing wonderful or mysterious about the natural world, but ancients who were pagans created a colorful mythology out of their awe of Nature.

What does Wordsworth think is wrong with the modern world?

The world is too much with us; late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in Nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon!
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon,
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.--Great God! I'd rather be
A Pagan suckled in a creed outworn; (1)
So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, (2)
Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn;
Have sight of Proteus (3) rising from the sea;
Or hear old Triton (4) blow his wreathed horn.

(1) Brought up in an outdated religion.

(2) Meadow.

(3) Greek sea god capable of taking many shapes.

(4) Another sea god, often depicted as trumpeting on a shell.

From:wsu.edu

English Grammar Guide

2009-03-24T23:40:00.001+07:00

How to use this guide

Read This! Click here to read an explanation of the grammar.

Picture This! Click here to see examples of the grammar.

Test This! Click on this button to test your understanding of the grammar.

Rate it - you can rate these pages.

Adjectives

Comparative

Order
Possessive
Superlative
Used to
Common Adjectives
Personality Adjectives

Adverbs

Degree
Duration
Frequency
Manner
Place
Probability
Time
Comparative
Superlative

Articles

Case

Objective/Accusative
Possessive/Genetive
Subjective/Nominative

Clauses

Conditionals

Type I
Type II
Type III
Zero

Conjunctions

Coordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating Conjunctions
Correlatives

Determiners

Some vs Any

Gerunds and Infinitives

Nouns

Abstract Nouns
Collective Nouns
Common Nouns
Compound Nouns
Concrete Nouns
Countable/Uncountable Nouns
Gerunds
Plural Nouns
Predicate Nouns
Proper Nouns

Participles

Past Participle
Perfect Participle
Present Participle

Prepositions

Prepositions of Movement
Prepositions of Place
Prepositions of Time

Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns
Personal Pronouns
Possessive Pronouns
Reflexive Pronouns

Questions

Closed Questions
Open (Wh ..) Questions
Tag Questions

Reported Speech

Simple Capitalisation Guide

Simple Pluralisation Guide

Simple Prefixes Guide

Simple Punctuation Guide

Simple Question Guide

Simple Sentence Construction Guide

Simple Spelling Guide

Simple Suffixes Guide

Tenses

Simple

Past
Present
Simple Present as Future

Continuous

Past
Present
Present Continuous as Future

Perfect

Past Perfect Simple
Past Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Continuous
Present Perfect Simple as Future
Present Perfect Continuous as Future

Future

The Future using going to
The Future using shall/will

Verbs

Action Verbs
Auxiliary Verbs
Finite / Non-finite Verbs
Irregular Verbs
Modal Verbs
Phrasal Verbs
Regular Verbs
Conjugation and Contraction

Some Very Important Verbs

To be
To do
To have
Do or make
Used to
List of Irregular Verbs

Voice

Active Voice
Passive Voice
From:learnenglish.de

Online advertising and Google AdSense

2009-03-24T20:58:00.002+07:00

Soon after the advent of internet, it was realized that the website real estate (or the space on websites) had commercial value in the advertising world. The simple reason behind this was the soaring popularity of internet and the increasing number of eyeballs received by various websites. Thus, internet advertising (or online advertising) came into being. Today, internet advertising is treated as one of the most effective and most economical means of advertising. In fact, a lot of businesses, especially small businesses, use only this (affordable) medium for advertising their products and services. As technology progressed, so did the online advertising methodologies. Graphics based banner Ads and text Ads got their due recognition and were used quite extensively for online advertising. Even now banner advertising is one of the most popular forms of online advertising.

However, the real breakthrough in online advertising came with Google AdSense advertising program. This program helped in connecting advertisers to several website owners who were ready to offer advertising space on their websites. Through Google AdSense program, the advertisements were floated on the websites that had some relevance to the products or services offered by the advertiser. This type of advertising is also called targeted advertising since the Ads are served only to the interested audience and not just anyone or everyone. Soon, Google AdSense became a very effective form of targeted advertising. On Google AdSense program, webmasters are paid on per-click and per-thousand-Ads-displayed basis. And the advertisers can control the amount of money they wish to spend on advertising through Google Adwords program that works in conjunction with the AdSense program.

Google AdSense program has caught the fancy of a lot of advertisers and webmasters and its popularity continues to soar everyday. Until another, better advertising program comes into being; Google will continue to hold its place at the core of online advertising.

Google Adsense - The Easiest Money To Make Online?

For the last couple of months, Google Adsense has dominated forums, discussions and newsletters all over the Internet. Already, there are tales of fabulous riches to be made and millions made by those who are just working from home. It seems that Google Adsense have already dominated the internet marketing business and is now considered the easiest way to making money online.

The key to success with Adsense is the placing of ads on pages that are receiving high traffic for high demand keywords. The higher the cost-per-click to the advertiser, the more you will receive per click from your site. Obviously, it does not pay to target low cost-per-click keywords and place them on pages that do not receive hits.

With all the people getting online and clicking away everyday, it is no wonder why Google Adsense has become an instant hit.

For some who are just new to this market, it would be a blow to their pride knowing that their homepage is buried somewhere in the little ads promoting other people’s services. But then, when they get the idea that they are actually earning more money that way, all doubts and skepticism is laid to rest.

There are two major, and clever, factors that some successful webmaster and publishers are learning to blend together in order to make money easier using Adsense.

1. Targeting high traffic pages on your website. If you check on your logs, you will discover that many of your visitors are taking advantage of the free affiliate marketing resources and ebooks that you are offering on your site. In simple words, your ads are working effectively and are generating more clicks. It also means more money for you.

2. Placing Adsense links on pages that are producing little, or better yet, no profit. By placing Adsense on a free resources page, you will reduce the amount of potential customers being lost to other sites. Tricky, but effective nonetheless.

When learned to work effectively, these two factors are actually a good source of producing a minimal amount of revenue from a high traffic page. Many people are using this strategy to pick up some extra and cash with Adsense. This is also especially rewarding to informational sites that focus their efforts on delivering powerful affiliate link free content to their visitors. Now they can gain a monetary return on their services.

With the many techniques that people are now learning on how to make the easiest money by their Adsense, it is not surprising that Google is trying everything to update and polish their Adsense in order to maintain their good image.

The possibility of adding is 2nd tier in Adsense is not impossible. With all the people spending more time in their Adsense now and still more getting into this line of marketing, there is no doubt about the many new improvements yet to be made. Imagine the smiles on the faces of the webmasters and publishers all around the world if ever they sign up for sub-affiliates and double or even triple the amount that they are already earning. The one particularly handy money-making feature that is available with Adsense now is the ability to filter out up to 200 urls. These gives webmasters the option to block out low value offers from their pages as well as competitors to their websites. Talk about taking only those that are advantageous and discarding the ones that seem useless.

With Google Adsense, the possibilities are limitless. Yet there is also the possibility of someone taking advantage of the easy money process that this internet marketing is doing. If you think more about it, these negative factors may force Google to break down and thrash Adsense in the process. If that happens, people would have to go back to the old ways of internet marketing that does not make money online as easy as Adsense.

For now, however, Google Adsense is here to stay. As long as there are people wanting to earn some easy cash online just using their talents, the future ahead is looking good. Besides with all the strict guidelines that Google is enforcing over Adsense, it will take awhile for the Adsense privileges to be spammed and even terminated.

From:members.rediff.com

Here are a few tips

2009-03-24T20:47:00.000+07:00

Here are a few tips:
- start with "monolingual" consecutive translation. Listen to a speech in your native language, write down your notes, then try to do some reformulation exercises into your native language. This will increase your confidence in reading your notes quickly and broaden your vocabulary.
- take a moment to think about your note-taking technique. You can write a lot, or use only a few written elements - the important thing is that what you write is CLEAR to you. it's easy to get confused with similar words (like "project", "plan", "process") but you need to make your own way through them with your own system of symbols.
- sight translation is also very useful. try to use a tape recorder and listen to yourself afterwards, or ask a friend to help you.
- another useful technique to begin with consecutive interpreting is to start listening to one single sentence at a time. listen to it, take your notes, then STOP the tape recorder and try and translate the sentence. seems like a "slow" way to begin, but you gain confidence in what you're saying, you feel no pressure to take notes hastily, and you learn how to do it THINKING about what you're writing down.
scribbling a few words on the paper is useless if you have not understood the concept itself.

From:vopham-hippy

I can't

2009-03-24T20:45:00.001+07:00

I can't express my emotion now! too grieved! u tried to be humor, tried to be joyful when we came. Actually, I could see the pain behind your eyes. I also tried not to be touched because I knew that u didn't want to be compassionated. I wish I could help u more than that. I used to be in the situation that u r in now.
Everything seems to be collapsed inside u. I know u r worrying a lot, u have to shoulder more. It's unfair for u in the very important time now. I hope I can help u more and u can overcome this serious situation.Hope that ur mother will be healthy as normal.! To painful!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm hesitating!

2009-03-24T20:44:00.001+07:00

I'm hesitating! Will I unlearn about joining this group? if I gave up, I would regret about a lot of things. I would mislay a lot of nice friends. I know that they will stand by my side whenever I need a help. However, I feel really bored when I get information and I feel that I'm wasting my time. OK! I'm gonna taking final examination.And then I'll come back my home.How happy I am when I think of.....8->

It's fair for both of us

2009-03-24T20:43:00.001+07:00

I haven't cared my diary for several days. Hix! because I have to look back all my lesson before the final test. Moreover, there is no special thing on these past days. However, today is a special day for me and I decide to mark it on my diary. For long time ago, I thought that I did hurt someone and this was reason why I didn't totally feel comfortable. I thought that it's unfair for my friend. Until today, I feel that it's fair for both of us when I was retold that the person had something new. Though I feel a little bit sad, this is really a good news. Wishing my friend to be happy.

AHAH

2009-03-24T20:41:00.000+07:00

TOO TIRED & TOO BORED
I really don't know how to deal with a matter of mine
people say that it's too dangerous for me to keep going
I know, I know previously all but I truly have no choices
I tried to ignore but I couldn't!
no warning & coming unexpectedly.
I do not like this behavior
I know that I'll be....after, I tried my best but there r no success!
sometimes I wish...
If only....
how?
the worst thing that waste time without necessity!
how can I deal with is a big ? up to now!
this make me feel tired & I really want to postpone all

True love

2009-03-24T20:36:00.001+07:00

Moses Mendelssohn, the grandfather of the well-known German composer, was far from being handsome. Along with a rather short stature, he had a grotesque hunchback.
One day, he visited a merchant in Hamburg who had a lovely daughter named Frumtje. Moses fell hopelessly in love with her. But Frumtje was repulsed by his misshapen appearance.
When it came time for him to leave, Moses gathered his courage and climbed the stairs to her room to take one last opportunity to speak with her. She was a vision of heavenly beauty, but caused him deep sadness by her refusal to look at him. After several attempts at conversation, Moses shyly asked, "Do you believe marriages are made in heaven?"
"Yes," she answered, still looking at the floor. "And do you?"
"Yes I do," he replied. "You see, in heaven at the birth of each boy, the Lord announces which girl he will marry. When I was born, my future bride was pointed out to me. Then the Lord added, 'But your wife will be humpbacked. Right then and there I called out, 'Oh Lord, a humpbacked woman would be a tragedy. Please, Lord, give me the hump and let her be beautiful.'"
Then Frumtje looked up into his eyes and was stirred by some deep memory. She reached out and gave Mendelssohn her hand and later became his devoted wife.
- Barry and Joyce Vissell
In love the paradox occurs that two beings become one and yet remain two.

From: vopham-hippy

How To Make Money Online

2009-03-24T20:31:00.001+07:00

Fifteen billion smackers: That's the value Microsoft recently slapped on Facebook when the computer giant invested $240 million for a 1.6% stake in Mark Zuckerberg's online social-networking site.

You could seethe with envy--or you could chase your own fortune on the Web.

Some online businesses require only a few hundred dollars in equipment, while others demand significant hardware and perhaps even a warehouse. Some might make you rich; others might just cover beer money. And all involve various levels of time, capital and technological skill.

In Pictures: Eight Ways To Make Money Online

"Some people have dreamed about owning their own business and have not followed through because of the investment in resources," says Jim Griffith, head of eBay University, for those aiming to set up shop selling goods at the online auctioneer's site. "The Internet allows people to at least try without making a large initial investment."

Army veteran Brandi Ramos of Springfield, Ill., did it. As a single mom in need of extra income, she started her online retail career peddling "big and tall" men's clothing on eBay.

Three years later, Ramos, 32, makes a good living working online out of her 600-square-foot basement packed with hanging displays and baker's racks piled with tupperware containing underwear and belts. Ramos aims to offer quick service, answering all e-mails within four to six hours. She claims to net $25,000 on $100,000 sales a year, and even earns a few bucks per order on shipping.

If managing inventory seems too big a chore, play virtual landlord and charge other retailers monthly fees (or per-transaction fees) for the opportunity to market their products on your site. Amazon.com (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ) nabbed 28% of its revenues this way in 2006.

Craigslist is another take on this model: The 25-person company, worth a reported $2 billion, charges businesses to post help wanted ads in San Francisco, New York and L.A.; it also collects fees for apartment listings in New York City. Total page views per month: about 5 billion.

Then there's every pajama-clad blogger's dream: producing content supported by advertising dollars. Selling advertising is how thousands of established online media outlets pay their electric bills. They charge advertisers two ways: by the number of overall Web pages (called "impressions") served up, and by the number of people who click on the ads.

Setting up a blog requires not much more than a basic publishing program, a server and software to track ad clicks. The hard part, though, is attracting enough eyeballs to make it worth someone's while to pay to advertise on your site.

To have any prayer of attracting large advertisers, sites need to attract at least 500,000 unique visitors per month, says David Hauslaib, publisher of Jossip.com, a media and gossip blog that counts Coca Cola (nyse: KO - news - people ) and Sketchers among its advertisers. Sadly, even if you do generate enough traffic, the "click-through" rates on ads tend to be quite low--in the neighborhood of one half of 1%.

Subscription-based models are even harder to crack. Unless your site fulfills an urgent need (for tangible investment ideas, a potential mate, etc.), users aren't likely to pay for the content.

One way to garner subscription revenue is to run a virtual marketplace. These sites collect by allowing buyers and sellers easy access to each other. Many of these marketplaces flamed out in the dot-com bust, but some persist. Mfg.com, for instance, matches equipment manufacturers with smaller component suppliers. Dating sites like Match.com charge subscription fees for access to their members. And H2Bid.com links municipalities with wastewater-equipment vendors.

As with tangible real estate, you can buy virtual plots (URL addresses), flip them and make a buck. GoDaddy.com sells unused domain names for under $10 dollars apiece. To attract buyers, run tests to determine how often certain key words are searched so that you can demonstrate the likelihood that your URL will show up in a Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) or Yahoo! (nasdaq: YHOO - news - people ) search. One tip: The best domain names are short, sweet, specific and easy to remember. (For more on this model, check out "Meet Noah Of The Internet" and "The Most Expensive Web Addresses.")

As Internet usage grows, so too will the sophistication of online business models. Take 3-year-old Yoonew.com, which sells futures contracts on sports tickets.

Fans buy the right to take delivery of tickets if their teams make it to a coveted playoff game, perhaps months away. Given the uncertainty of the bet, those contracts sell for a fraction of the future market value of the underlying tickets. If your team makes it to the big game, you've locked in a cheap seat; if it falls short, you lose that insurance premium.

Yoonew makes money when the revenue it collects from selling all those contracts exceeds the cost of delivering a small number of very expensive tickets on game days. The danger: If ticket prices spike, or there are no seats available, the company could suffer a loss or alienate its customers.

Sure, you can make money online. But no one said it was easy.

From: forbes.com

To Make Money Blogging, Don’t Start A Make Money Blog

2009-03-24T20:30:00.000+07:00

The fastest way to fail at making money blogging is to start a make money blog. The make money online niche is one of the most competitive and saturated. Making money blogging isn’t as easy now with Google’s penalty on paid links. Many who have been minding their own business happy to have found a way on how to make fast money online for beginners doing paid reviews have quit since their newly downgraded PR0 blogs no longer offer SEO benefits for advertisers.

Why It Is So Hard To Make Money Blogging

People with make money blogs are internet savvy. They know all about pay per click, affiliate marketing and other ways to make money blogging. These people are blind to ads and can smell an affiliate link a mile away. You’d have a much better rate of success if your blog is in a market where the audience is still relatively unfamiliar with such ways of making money blogging.

Can I Still Make Money Blogging?

You can still start a blog but in other niches that are far less competitive than the make money blogging niche. Start off with assessing your own interests and topics on everyday living you can relate to. It could be home furnishings or health related. If you live in a small city, how about finding something that people in your city need and build a blog around that. Sure your audience base will be small but it will be laser targeted.

Make Money Blogging With Keyword Research

Newbies hate it because it is confusing and seems meaningless. But it is an absolutely essential process to find which topics people are interested in so you can build a blog around that topic. No point in starting a blog that no one is interested in.

Use free online keyword tools such as Google Adwords to find out which words are getting searched most and how much advertising there is for it. You will also get a sense of how competitive a keyword phrase for your topic is and perhaps select a phrase that is less competitive but still has an interested audience.

Make Money Success With Your Blog

The reason why so many bloggers give up soon after starting a blog to make money because they failed to make any money blogging is due to WRONG NICHE selection. At the most basic level, the factors that contribute to failure are:

1. The niche is too competitive.
2. The niche does not have enough interested people.
3. Poor keyword selection - too competitive or too little searches.

The make money blogging niche is one of the toughest to start a blog to make money but it is also the best niche to learn about making money online. This niche exposes you to the world of SEO, keywords, social bookmarking and blog monetization.

So don’t think you’ve wasted your time and effort in blogging to make money because you would’ve learned a ton in the process which will no doubt help you make the next blog more successful.

From: someuseless.info

Make Working from Home Work for You

2009-03-24T20:27:00.000+07:00

Since many of you want to know how to make fast money online for beginners, today’s post will be useful to you. This is a guest post by Sarah Scrafford.

It seems like an ideal situation, especially in these times of rapidly rising gas prices and emphasis on balancing both family and work working from the comfort of your home. Your schedules are flexible, you are around when your spouse and kids need you, and best of all, you don’t have to make the stressful and expensive commute to and from work day after day.

But working at home is not all it’s hyped up to be, not if you do not enforce a strict circle of fire demarcating your personal and professional lives. There are problems aplenty, a few of which I detail below:

Your concentration is shot to pieces by doorbells, phones ringing, family demanding attention and various other intrusions.

It’s tough to make your kids understand (especially if they’re very young) that your work is important and that you should not be disturbed while in your office.

The lack of colleagues and the informality of a home environment make it difficult to focus on work, especially if you’re not in the best of moods.

There’s no one to talk to (unless you pick up the phone) about a problem in the line of work.

With no boss peering over your shoulder, the incentive to work harder is less.

The refrigerator and the television are distractions that interrupt work constantly, if you’re the kind who snacks a lot or does not want to miss a game (or soap opera) on TV.

Unexpected guests could really tear your schedule apart.

It’s sad but true, most people do not take you seriously when you say you work from home, no matter how important your work is.

In spite of all these issues, there are professionals who have made working from home really work for them. Following in their footsteps is easy, if you can be disciplined and dedicated to your work.

Set fixed work times, no matter what the rest of the household is doing at the time. Make sure that your family members and outsiders know you are not to be disturbed during “office hours”.
If that does not work for you, set yourself a target - do not leave your desk till you complete a certain set of tasks or a particular assignment.

Switch off the phone and doorbell if you’re alone at home and do not want to be disturbed while working.

Do not waste valuable time in idly browsing the Internet, watching TV or fixing a snack or a drink. Pretend you’re at a regular office with the boss breathing down your neck.

Set targets and reward yourself when you achieve them. Even better, get your boss to pay you on an incentive basis - the more work you do, the more money you make. Money is one of the best motivators to stay focused on the job at hand.

Maintain a circle of friends and co workers whom you can call or email if doubts and questions plague you.

Set fixed time for coffee and bathroom breaks.
If your work involves a lot of sitting down or typing on the computer, make sure you set aside time for exercise. Work outs boost your efficiency and rid you of that sluggish feeling you get from staying indoors all day. Get out in the fresh air and sunlight to avoid feeling blue and depressed sitting and working all by yourself with no colleagues to talk to and banter with.

Working from home is an opportunity most people would kill for, but it works only if you have the discipline to stick to a schedule and a sense of devotion to the work you do.

Sarah Scrafford is an industry critic, as well as a regular contributor on the subject of making smart money decisions. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

How to Effectively and Efficiently Make Money Online With Article Marketing

2009-03-24T20:26:00.000+07:00

One of the most effective ways of making money online is article marketing. It is also a very effective means to promote your online business and other sites. The process involves submitting your articles to various web properties that publish them on their sites and this allows you to build links back to your own sites. This then increases your exposure to both internet surfers and search engines, and thus helps in driving traffic to your site which you use to convert into sales, leads, clicks, etc.

Article Directories are not the only way.

There was a time when article directories were the best way to do article marketing. Today it is no longer the case, and article directory submission has become only an arm of the article marketing engine, whereas it used to be the primary means to do it. Don't get me wrong, it is still an effective way on it's own but now there are other equally powerful means to do it.

The sheer quantity of article directories, however still make it a viable means to get good relevant one way backlinks. It is best to start off with the most popular ones such as EzineArticles and GoArticles among others, as they already have good foothold in this niche. You can then extend to the other smaller article directories to diversify your reach.

The Web 2.0 Revolution

Sites such as Squidoo, Hubpages, Wetpaint, and others have opened up many opportunities for article marketing. With some of these sites alone you can already make money online selling products, either of your own or as an affiliate without having your own website. All you need is good quality content, a good product to promote and a well structured page on these Web 2.0 sites. As far as article marketing is concerned, it is also a very powerful way to get links back to your online business or websites.

The popular Web 2.0 sites already generate a lot of traffic and building your own pages on them allows you leverage the popularity of these sites to promote your own sites, through backlinking and RSS feeds. If you create content on these sites that are relevant and compelling your page may become more popular and increases the possibilities of readers looking at the sites you are linking to for more information.

The Rise of the Blog Networks

How do you get other blogs on related topics to your site link back to you? First of all, you will need very good and unique content, with information that other site owners like and will gladly link back to. Easier said than done, as it is not always easy to come up with great content on a consistent basis. This limits the amount of link you may get. What if I told you that there are blog networks that exist where members are able to submit versions of their articles to certain blogs on specific niches within these networks thereby getting one-way, targeted, keyword backlinks to their own sites.

A number of networks such as these have existed for the past few years, however a majority of them are only accessible to members who pay a fixed monthly fee to access the blogs in each network. Each of these networks can have from as little as 100 blogs to as many as 10,000 or even more, with a wide variety of niche blogs in their networks. This is a very powerful article marketing strategy as it can target a specific niche with highly relevant keyword links, and when used over various networks increases it's effectiveness. An example of such membership based blog networks is the one from Portal Feeder.

Promoting your online business or website with the use of article marketing is not hard, however you need to keep a few things in mind when doing it.

The best results come with the use of all these methods of article marketing together as a cohesive article marketing strategy. Sticking to one method limits the potential the areas that a particular method can cover. If you believe that search engine rankings, Google in particular rely a lot on the number quality backlinks to a site in order to rank them on their indexes, then it would be foolish not to utilize every article marketing method available as it will increase the number on links you can potentially have.

The quality of your content plays as much a part of your success in article marketing as the number of links you get. Using any of the methods above still require you to create content that is worthy of being read. Your authority on a specific topic determines whether or not you will get the most out of your article marketing campaign. Remember, you are marketing articles to provide information, and the search for good information is what makes people read your articles. Make your articles good, compelling and unique, make them stand out and you will get both search engine and human interest traffic coming your way.

So now you know that these are methods exist for you to use in promoting your online business or websites. If you need more information on the Article marketing you can read more at http://www.services.ph.

Browser CRM 5.000.02 Publisher's description

2009-03-24T18:33:00.000+07:00

Browser CRM is web based customer management & integrated email. Flexible and powerful CRM - Customer Relationship Management - and Collaboration tools, running in any web browser. Browser CRM is a commercial CRM application, backed by a company with 3 years experience in the sector and with significant expertise in web-enabling small businesses, including migrating from desktop products such as ACT, Goldmine and Maximiser. Why does your small business need Browser CRM? 1. you can have a single, comprehensive CRM and Collaboration application accessible from anywhere. 2. you can centralize your customer information from multiple applications and individual computers. 3. you can build a complete, real-time customer history. 4. your people can always access live business data and up-to-date documents from any web browser. 5. you can install the download on your own server or ISP, or use Browser CRM Hosted in our data center.

Requirements: PHP & MySQL

• Download Browser CRM 5.000.02 (2.39 MB)

TheWorld Browser 2.4.0.5 Publisher's description

2009-03-24T18:32:00.000+07:00

TheWorld Browser is compatible with Internet Explorer and it can run in most Miscrosoft Windows OSs.
TheWorld Browser has a new, powerful multi-threaded window frame, which can avoid web page being out of response. TheWorld Browser is optimized to avoid any case of out of response.
In any test case, if a web page's browser window is out of response, the other windows will not be infected. With experience of TheWorld Browser serious, all code rewritten, all module rebuild, the new frame can take more effective experience.

• Download TheWorld Browser 2.4.0.5 (0.58 MB)

Flash MP3 Player Builder 3.1.23 Publisher's description

2009-03-24T18:31:00.000+07:00

Flash MP3 Player Builder is an easy and fast way to batch convert MP3 and WAV to small Flash SWF without losing quality, generate Flash MP3 Player for your website and blog (MySpace, Google Blog, MSN Blog and all other popular blogs) with ease.
With a step by step user friendly wizard style interface, the software can batch convert MP3 and WAV files to Adobe Flash SWF files. By re-encoding audio data, you can convert a large size MP3 or WAV file to a small SWF file without losing quality. You can also customize style and color of the Flash Music player, output HTML souce code to quickly include Flash MP3 Player to your webpage.

Requirements: Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista

• Download Flash MP3 Player Builder 3.1.23 (1.51 MB)
• Buy Flash MP3 Player Builder's full version ($39.95)

Flash Player Pro 3.9 Publisher's description

2009-03-24T16:56:00.002+07:00

Flash Player Pro is a handy flash tool kit designed as Adobe flash player and manager. It has several powerful flash tools: download flash movies, preview and browse flash movie, capture flash image and set it as wallpaper, create flash screensaver with ease, make conversion between SWF and EXE flash movies etc. All of these features will help you enhance and extend the using possibility of existing flash files. And with friendly user interface, Flash Player Pro offers you a fantastic animated flash world!
With Flash Player Pro you can:
Browse Macromedia flash movies with built-in viewer.
View or play flash movies with built-in player.
View or play movies in full screen model.
Make flash screensaver with a few mouse-click.
Make flash screensaver installer and distribute it with ease.
Capture flash movie image and save it.
Capture flash movie image and set wallpaper.
Build your own favorite folder, and browse flash movies in it.
make conversion between SWF and EXE flash movies.
Copy or move flash movies to another folder.
Rename flash movies.
Requirements: Windows 98, SE, ME, 2000, XP, 2003, Vista

What's new in this version: Support Windows Vista

• Download Flash Player Pro 3.9 (3.28 MB)
• Buy Flash Player Pro's full version ($29.95)

Flash MP3 Player 1.0 Publisher's description

2009-03-24T16:56:00.001+07:00

Free flash-based web application for playing music on web pages. The best way to share music online. The main features: easy installation (no programming skills required), forms playlist automatically (scans specified folder for mp3-files and uses ID3v1/ID3v2 tags for naming), saves playing position (when user moves from page to page, refreshes or reopens the page), fully customizable design, and of course, it's free... ;)

Requirements: Web Server, PHP

What's new in this version: none

• Download Flash MP3 Player 1.0 (1.5MB)

Adobe Flash Player (IE & AOL) 9.0.28.0 Final Publisher's description

2009-03-24T16:55:00.001+07:00

Macromedia Flash Player lets you view the best animation and entertainment on the Web. It displays Web application front-ends, high-impact Web site user interfaces, interactive online advertising, and short-form to long-form animation. Since it is free of the design restrictions of more traditional Web display options, you can use it to clearly and exactly express your brand and company identity.

Requirements: IE or AOL

• Download Adobe Flash Player (IE & AOL) 9.0.28.0 Final (1.00 MB)

WinRAR 3.80

2009-03-24T16:42:00.001+07:00

Publisher's description of WinRAR

WinRAR is a 32-bit Windows version of RAR Archiver, an archiver and archive manager. RAR files can usually compress content by 8 percent to 15 percent more than ZIP files can. WinRAR's main features include strong general and multimedia compression, the ability to process non-RAR archive formats, ZIP compression and decompression, support for long filenames, programmable self-extracting archives (SFX), repair of damaged archives, authenticity verification, embedded file comments, and encryption. Unicode is supported in archive filenames, allowing non-English filenames to be handled painlessly. You can manipulate the parameters of many archives at once and view a volume sequence as a single archive. WinRAR can convert other archive formats to RAR and search for specified text and files in archives.

Version 3.80 adds decompression support for AES-encrypted ZIP files, improved display information, more context-menu options, and a more secure method of deleting temporary files.

Download Now (1.18MB)