My media blog

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 19:23:44 GMT

Lisa Cholodenko

by Jeffrey M. Anderson



Lisa Cholodenko"s well-received 1998 debut High Art was a major landmark for lesbian filmmaking in the "90s, even if the writer-director makes films more to please herself than to fill any LGBT niches. After moving from New York to Los Angeles (where she shot 2002"s titularly set ensemble drama Laurel Canyon-which, coincidentally, was centered around straight people), dealing with distribution troubles and working in television (directing episodes of The L Word and the short-lived Push, Nevada), the 46 year-old auteur returns to the big screen with her finest and most widely released effort yet, The Kids Are All Right.

Julianne Moore and Annette Bening star as a lesbian couple raising two teenagers. It"s the final summer before their daughter (Mia Wasikowska) goes to college and her younger brother (Josh Hutcherson) wants to meet their sperm donor dad (Mark Ruffalo), creating more drama than anyone might"ve anticipated. (Life certainly imitates art: Cholodenko and her partner are raising a four year-old son, also helped by a sperm donor.) Working for the first time with co-writer Stuart Blumberg (The Girl Next Door), The Kids Are All Right is a superbly written, vivid character study with a genuinely erotic texture, a warmer and more humane summer movie amidst a slew of soulless blockbusters. While visiting San Francisco, Cholodenko sat down with me to discuss the film. Posted by: ahillis      Read more     Source

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 09:45:09 GMT

Restrepo

Although neither New York-based journalist Sebastian Junger nor Liverpool-born photographer Tim Hetherington are strangers to combat zones, feature filmmaking was indeed a new war to be fought. In their brave and riveting documentary debut Restrepo, which won the Grand Jury Prize at this year"s Sundance, the two seasoned professionals used their fact-finding instincts to depict an experience I had never before felt with such heart-in-my-throat immediacy:

RESTREPO is a feature-length documentary that chronicles the deployment of a platoon of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan"s Korengal Valley. The movie focuses on a remote 15-man outpost, "Restrepo," named after a platoon medic who was killed in action. It was considered one of the most dangerous postings in the U.S. military. This is an entirely experiential film: the cameras never leave the valley; there are no interviews with generals or diplomats. The only goal is to make viewers feel as if they have just been through a 94-minute deployment. This is war, full stop. The conclusions are up to you.

Sitting down with Junger and Hetherington this past week, the three of us discussed the risk and reward in making Restrepo, politics versus morality, why they should be seen as journalists instead of activist filmmakers, and how-in justifiable comparison to their doc-The Hurt Locker isn"t quite a fair portrayal of the soldier"s experience.

To listen to the podcast, click here. (16:52)


Podcast Music
INTRO: The Raconteurs: "Broken Boy Soldier"
OUTRO: Casualty: "Military Intervention"

[Restrepo is now playing in New York and Los Angeles, with more cities to follow beginning July 2. For more information, please visit the official site.] Posted by: ahillis      Read more     Source

July 15, 2010, 10:05 PM CT

Designer Purses: Neighbor's Envy, Owner's Pride

The highlight of every Red Carpet event is the apparel and accessories flaunted by the celebrities. And no cocktail dress is complete without the perfect designer purse. Today, the popularity of designer handbags has reached such a level that all the top designers are vying for attention, from Loius Vuitton to Prada and Jimmy Choo.

The good news is that the rest of us, who are not invited for most of these red carpet events, can feel like a celebrity with the perfect accessory. Designer-inspired or look alike bags mimic the real thing so closely that it would take a handbag connoisseur with a magnifying glass to tell the difference. And the best part is that these purses are available at a fraction of the cost of the original designer item.

Designer Purses: Tips on Choosing the Right Handbag
While keeping up with the latest trends might be one reason for buying a particular handbag, it is important to keep in mind that an accessory looks good only when it is used for the right occasion and when it complements your body type and personality well.

Here are some tips on choosing the right bag:

• For tall and slim women: If you have that enviable tall, slim figure, consider complementing it with an oversized handbag. You could also consider a clutch purse or a shoulder bag, as long as the bags are large. Small handbags are likely to make you look lanky.
• For short women: If you are below the height of five-feet and two inches, you will do best to choose a small handbag, since a large handbag could look overwhelming, set against your outfit and overall appearance.
• For voluptuous women: A medium sized bag that hangs just above the waste can do wonders for those with a curvy figure. This style not only accentuates your waist, the overall appearance is more flattering.
• For plus-size women: Purses with short straps are a bad choice for plus-size women. Larger, wider handbags will look the best for your body type.

Of course, the piece that you choose will also be influenced by your personality, where a more conservative person will choose colors and designs that are more sober than someone who loves to dress to kill. Remember, your wardrobe will be incomplete without one classic black and one evergreen white bag.

If you are looking for the best quality designer purses at the most competitive rates, visit www.baginc.com. Baginc is an unparalleled record of serving satisfied customers. Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:46:18 GMT

Sony PlayStation Move Motion Controller

Good news for video gaming fanatics of the Sony PlayStation 3: The PlayStation Move, a motion-sensing game controller for the platform, is slated for commercial release this September 2010. North America, however, seems to have gotten the short end of the stick. Sony Computer Entertainment executives have scheduled the release of the PlayStation Move in Europe and Asia a full five days ahead (September 15th) of North America (September 19th).

Here's a list of the recommended retail price of the Sony PlayStation Move motion controller for the different territories:

• Europe/PAL territories: 39.99 Euro


• North Ameirca: 49.99 Dollars


• Japan: 3,980 Yen

© Sony Computer Entertainment
Posted by: Linda      Read more     Source

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 01:38:48 GMT

Which Digital Photo Editing Software?

The site I have linked for this posting poses the question: "Should digital photographers use image editing software?"

Well, the quick answer is, yes, of course, and the article presents many reasons why digital photographers should post process their photo files for best effect.

When you consider all the variables in the picture taking process it's nigh on impossible to get every one of these parameters spot on every time.

Differences among all the various types of digital image editing software also opens up a plethora of possibilities for modifying your images.

This is why I try to direct you to as many free digital editing programs as I can find. Keep the programs that work well for you and delete the others.

Check out this article about choosing a digital photo editing program and note that there are many other related links on that website.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.

Photo Source:www.digital-photography-school.com
Posted by: Karen      Read more     Source

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:33:30 GMT

What to Do When the Banks Say No

Working capital is the lifeblood of every business no matter how large or small. This is the key to growth and expansion. Large businesses with well established credit histories have many options when they need a capital injection.

However, small or newly formed companies don't have it so easy. The lack of adequate working capital prevents many small businesses from taking advantage of lucrative opportunities that come along.

Take for example, a small service company that is running well, but doesn't have much in the way of normal assets to pledge as collateral for a loan or a line of credit. In the door walks a new corporate contract that might double their sales. However, first, more personnel and equipment will be required to fulfill the contract and, secondly, the customer's payment terms are net 60 days. Where does the business owner do?

If they have no commercial credit available and no more personal credit available and all the friends and family are tapped out, they are stuck! Or are they? Instead of trying to take on more debt for this situation, the alternative of accounts receivable factoring can be the most powerful solution.

Accounts receivables, or invoices, are assets that can have immediate cash advances paid against them by someone called a factor. In short, the factor agrees to collect on the invoices and advances the company between 75-80% of the value of the invoices. When the invoices are paid to the factor, he pays the company the balance due less a fee.

The company has immediate working capital to carry out the contract and has no additional debt to pay off. This process can go on for as long as the company needs. At some point, they will have built up their creditworthiness and their working capital flow to an extent that they no longer need to factor their invoices. But for that interim period, this provides the perfect solution to growth and expansion.


Posted by: Webguru      Read more     Source

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 00:31:05 GMT

Corruption problem in Afghanistan

Gee, nine years after the US first sent in its soldiers to Afghanistan, America suddenly realizes it has a problem with corruption and profiteering. Oh really?

The Wall Street Journal reports that the Pentagon has set up a crack A team to investigate contractors who have been siphoning off cash and enriching Afghan power brokers. Of particular concern is the practice of construction firms using a string of sub-contractors to shift billions of dollars to shell companies. The money then disappears, usually into foreign bank accounts.And you can bet the problems are going to get worse. Instead of the US finding Osama Bin Laden there, we have reports of a US geological survey discovering that Afghanistan has $US3 trillion in reserves of lithium, iron, copper, gold, mercury, cobalt and other minerals. The New York Times reports that JP Morgan, fresh from helping to screw over the US financial system, has just sent a team of mining experts to Afghanistan to examine possible projects to develop.

The US has shown a complete inability to control and monitor the contracts going out the different companies in Afghanistan and that's unlikely to change. You can be sure this latest discovery is going to make the corruption problem even worse and make this war even dirtier. Posted by: Bose      Read more     Source

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 23:23:34 GMT

Getting out before you want out

© heathbrandon
There are entrepreneurs who are in it for the dream, who foster their business because they believe it's going to be the next big thing and want to rule the world. Those with the big dreams and the drive are important to our economy and our culture, and you have to give them props and stand back as they take off for the stars.

Then there are the rest of us, who think we have a good idea or two, a way to bring it to market, and some chance of worldly success. We may be attached to our ideas, and they probably wouldn't ever amount to much if we weren't, but maybe not so much that the right company with a large enough check couldn't come along to take them off our hands.

What happens when the dreamers are forced into the same box with the rest of us? Tony Hsieh of Zappos explains how he was forced by his board of directors to sell the company to Amazon for $1.2 billion. Hsieh is philosophical and optimistic about the deal, but clearly would have preferred to continue building Zappos toward his own goals.

You might read this as another cautionary tale about accepting VC funding and giving up control of your business (and it is an interesting story in that respect, illustrating how even deal structured to retain control don't always work out that way) but I see it as a deeper lesson in building alliances. The fundamental issue is that whoever you are in business with has to share the vision. A VC falls into the second camp, and is usually better at it than the entrepreneur from the first camp, but it needn't be VCs that cause the problems.... employees, other partners, suppliers, all of them can introduce obstacles if they don't share the same vision. If you don't want to get out of your business before you're ready, make sure you choose wisely. Posted by: Mattew      Read more     Source

March 18, 2010, 11:00 AM CT

5 Tips for Efficient Employee Recognition

So you had been thinking that the workforce in your firm have been working like robots for the bonuses right? Wrong! Recent surveys have concluded that the single crucial factor that drives employees in an organization towards betterment and increased productivity, apart from money, is recognition. We have always had this inherent instinct of being regarded as the better among the best, and employee recognition is one of the best ways to kill two birds with one stone for the employers - please this craving and improve productivity in tandem!

Here are 5 tips to help improve employee recognition within your organization:

1. Set fixed standards and treat all employees as equal and eligible to be rewarded.
2. Make sure that the rewarded employee and the ones who had been in contention know why you have chosen him/her. Don't let choices remain ambiguous.
3. Identify drawbacks of the winning employee and mention ways to correct the same. (Achieving perfection is near-impossible!)
4. Try not to pick a single employee, as this may give rise to favoritism remarks among the ones who lost out on the opportunity.
5. Make sure you let your team know what you would be looking for the next year's (or a similar timeline) award set!
........


Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

February 27, 2010, 9:48 PM CT

Wireless Headsets: Advantage and Uses

The advancement of technology has resulted in an increased use of wireless headsets over the past several years. These help you in operating a radio, an Ipod, a cellular phone, and even a standard telephone. They simplify communication and also provide mobility. Convenience is one of their major advantages. With the elimination of the cords you can move about freely. Also they are incorporated with a wide signal range which is being increased frequently with all the advancements in technology.

Customer service and call center sectors are the most benefited areas of business which use these wireless headsets. Also there are several other offices are using them for their employees who have to use telephones frequently. These devices are apt for office environments because they allow both hands to be free. Hence, the employee can feed any information in the computer while on a call without disrupting the telephonic conversation. Moreover there are no cables strewn all over the floor. Hence, there are fewer chances of people tripping over the floor all the time. On the other hand the office also looks neat and impressive.

There are several other physical; benefits too. With the increase in use of wireless headsets less people are falling sick due to tiredness and work pressure. These devices allow people to stretch a while even during an important call. With the advent of the wireless Bluetooth headsets you can also walk down to the nearest printer to take a print out while going through a business conversation over phone. Studies have shown that with the increase in use of these devices over the past few years fewer people have complained of muscle strains. These devices actually help to reduce muscle tension up to 41 percent than what had been when people used a telephone. ........ Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:08:44 GMT

Latest Digital Photography News

If you're like me, when you really get into something, such as digital cameras and photography, you can't get enough of it.

Unfortunately, for me, that also includes food.

Well, I found a place on the net that has a plethora of digital photography information, and it's free and non-fattening.

Check out "Imaging Resource" and be prepared to spend lots of time there.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you'll find a picture somewhere.

Photo Source:www.jimippolito.com Posted by: Karen      Read more     Source

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:33:50 GMT

LGBT Capital Launch

Galileo Capital Management has launched LGBT Capital, a specialist Corporate Advisory and Investment Management Unit focused on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) consumer market.

LGBT Capital provides corporate advisory and business development services for companies that serve the LGBT consumer sector. In addition, LGBT Capital is preparing to launch a fund that will invest in companies worldwide that provide products and services to the LGBT community.

The power of the 'pink dollar' is now well understood by mainstream global marketers. LGBT Capital believes that as LGBT freedoms continue to develop, growing companies will increasingly look to raise capital, merge and acquire, which will require specialist advice and capital raising options.

Read Complete Article
Posted by: Aaron      Read more     Source

February 12, 2010, 6:07 PM CT

Hotel Booking: Most Hotels Are Coming Up With a Website to Cater To Online Customers

Most of must have experienced how to book a hotel online and it must have been quite an easy task. It gives you a sense of satisfaction when you are able to do such an uphill task at such a short time. This has become very popular trend and hence people prefer to do it themselves rather than going in for a middleman or a travel agent. In fact, to stay ahead in the world of competition, most hotels are coming up with a new website to cater to their customers online.

The best time to get hotel bookings done is during the off season. During peak season when all the hotels are full, the charges are high even if you book 6 to 8 months in advance. On the contrary if you book rooms for the off season you can avail of discounts up to 40% or even 50%. Many hotels will also offer you complimentary packages during off peak seasons since they do not have many visitors and guests. These complimentary packages may include a free spa therapy, complimentary wine, or even pick and drop from the airport.

In case you have missed out on the off season, do not be disheartened since discounts are available throughout the year if your book your tickets well in advance. The discounts for hotel booking are even higher if you book a non-refundable room. This is applicable since most hotels are looking forward to fill in their rooms as quickly as possible. Another way of finding a discount hotel is to go in for a no frills hotel. These hotels do not have as many facilities as luxury hotels do, but they offer a comfortable accommodation for their guests. These hotels do not have a big budget with which they advertise everywhere. So they have a tie up with the travel websites which help them in attracting customers......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

January 28, 2010, 0:23 AM CT

Bullying among adolescents

The act and victimization of bullying continues to be a problem among today's youth. While a number of children are experiencing this form of violence, it is more prevalent in children that are different from the social norm. As medical professionals continue to further their understanding of bullying, research shows a high rate of sexual minority youth who experience this harmful activity.

A newly released study conducted by doctors at Nationwide Children's Hospital observed that sexual minority youth, or teens that identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual, are bullied two to three times more than heterosexuals.

As per the study that is now available online in the Journal of Adolescent Health, sexual minority youth are more vulnerable to a variety of physical and mental domains such as bullying or suicidal thoughts. Plus, the study observed that a number of older adolescents reported being bullied.

"There is a need for health care professionals, and others who work with children, to be aware that sexual minority youth are more likely to be victims of bullying and other forms of violence," said Elise Berlan, MD, main author and doctor in Adolescent Medicine at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "Parents should also take time to communicate with their children about sensitive topics such as sexuality, peer relations and violence"......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 05:06:11 GMT

Aniston in a raunchy photoshoot

After sparking rumours of revived romance, Hollywood star Jennifer Aniston and Scottish actor Gerard Butler have set tongues wagging with a raunchy photo-shoot together.

The pair will appear on the cover of US fashion magazine W in its future edition. The pics, taken in the desert outside LA, reveal slender Aniston in skimpy underwear while burly Butler poses as a leather-clad New York policeman.

The 40-year-old former Friends star and The Ugly Truth star Gerard, also 40, put on a flirty display at the Golden Globes last weekend, fuelling speculation that time spent filming upcoming thriller The Bounty Hunter together has led to an off-screen affair.

And the images are sure to provoke yet more comparisons between Aniston and Jolie, who posed with Brad Pitt for the magazine in 2008.

"For two days Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler were in the desert outside LA -creating these really hot pictures. The result is the raciest cover in the history of W. Those pictures of Brad and Angelina? Forget it," the Daily Express quoted a source at the magazine as saying.

"Jen has a natural and effortless sexiness compared to Angelina"s very stylised look. And you have Gerry who is just the epitome of a manly man, dressed in a cop uniform. These photos will do nothing to quell the rumours of their romance - quite the opposite in fact," the source added. Posted by: Melissa      Read more     Source

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 04:04:05 GMT

Do Not Pass Go

Sorry I"m a little behind with my photocapping duties. Last week"s double episode of Jersey Shore was a lot for me to take in. Granted, it was sort of the usual stuff: fist fights, booty calls, wide-scale butchering of the English language. This time, however, we got the added bonus of an Israeli stalker, and let me tell you something: no one hunts down people better than the Israelis. You ever see Munich? Exactly.

Poor Pauly D was the unlucky recipient of this psycho beach prowler -- a humorless woman who adamantly insisted she didn"t want to be made to look the fool. Her first mistake: trolling after a guy with a giant Italian flag on his back and a blow-out on his head. I"m not sure she"ll ever be able to live this one down, especially when Pauly finally told her off on the insufferable duck phone. He laid it out to her pretty harshly, and you"d think she would have taken the hint when he up and hung up on her, but alas, she sought him out once again at a club (Karma? Bamboo? Pepperoni?) and again insisted she was NOT a stalker. Pauly probably should have simply marched away, but instead he humored her presence, seemingly acquiescing to her demands that they continue to hang out. Kind of poor form on his part. You can"t complain about a stalker if you"re willing to string her along.... Posted by: B-Side      Read more     Source

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 04:57:51 GMT

Wine Resolutions for 2010

© Stewart


Its a new year, I'm a year older (and hopefully wiser) and as I drank a cheap White Merlot in a Vegas hotel with a group of girl friends, I thought, "Maybe I should make some resolutions besides the old stand-bys." Every year we want to be better, look better and feel better. But what about drinking better?

It may say a lot about me, or at least a lot about me in Las Vegas, that I thought about this but I thought it might be a fun exercise. So here are my wine resolutions for 2010:

1. Try new things. Every year I try to pick crazy looking bottles or labels as my way of being adventurous. But I stick to the same kinds of wine. My safety-net wines if you will. For me its Riesling and Pinot Noir. This year I want to experiment with wine types that I've never heard of.

2. Savor More. I don't know about you, but sometimes I rush my wine. I buy a glass and drink it with savoring all the little nuances that make each glass unique. I consider how it blends with my food, but only for the first few sips.

3. Write it down. Sometimes I try a new wine, or test a wine with a meal (I love to pair wines and foods together), and its fantastic. Or maybe not so fantastic. And then I forget. Later I'll make the dish again and rack my brains trying to remember the label I loved so much. I bought a book over a year ago to take wine-tasting notes in. I plan to actually use it this year.

4. Drink with friends. I buy bottles of wine just to have on hand for myself, or to take to a party or share with a date. Rarely do I share a wine with a group of friends that are all interested in wine. But when I do, I love it. I enjoy everyone's thoughts and opinions and pairing suggestions. Something about a group of people all experiencing the same thing but throwing in their opinions creates an energizing atmosphere for me.

Do you have any wine resolutions for the new year?
Posted by: Doreen      Read more     Source

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:43:32 GMT

Awesome free tool to check your Internet connection

The new ICSI Netalyzr is an awesome new online service which runs a Java test of your Internet connection and feeds back all sorts of tech information, along with explanations. The results are also colour coded so you can tell which are serious and which not so much.

It comes from Berkeley U., so you can be sure the tech is top slice and it’s a superb way to check if your connection is all it should be. A must-have tool to bookmark! [Via]

 Please note: Netalyzr is not only a debugging tool — it is also the foundation of a comprehensive measurement study compiling a survey of the health of the Internet’s edge. By running Netalyzr and helping us spread the word you are contributing crucially to the quality of our study. Thanks for your help! Posted by: Redferret      Read more     Source

January 13, 2010, 8:18 AM CT

When work interferes with life

As a number of as 50 per cent of people bring their work home with them regularly, as per new research out of the University of Toronto that describes the stress linked to work-life balance and the factors that predict it.

Scientists measured the extent to which work was interfering with personal time using data from a national survey of 1,800 American workers. Sociology professor Scott Schieman (UofT) and his coauthors Melissa Milkie (University of Maryland) and PhD student Paul Glavin (UofT) asked participants questions like: "How often does your job interfere with your home or family life?"; "How often does your job interfere with your social or leisure activities?"; and "How often do you think about things going on at work when you are not working?".

Schieman says, "Nearly half of the population reports that these situations occur 'sometimes' or 'frequently,' which is especially concerning given that the negative health impacts of an imbalance between work life and private life are well-documented."

The authors describe five core sets of findings:

• People with college or postgraduate degrees tend to report their work interferes with their personal life more than those with a high school degree;.
• Professionals tend to report their work interferes with their home life more than people in all other occupational categories;.........
  
  
  Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source
  
  

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:08:49 GMT

Smart Umbrella Tells the Weather

The umbrella receives local updates from Accuweather.com. Not sure how the umbrella itself will hold up in rough weather. The website says that it was constructed with a "top-quality "gust-buster" umbrella canopy design." If you"re interested in owning a smart umbrella, you can pick one up for $129.

Via Technabob Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

January 6, 2010, 8:22 AM CT

Ferropaper for small motors and robots

University have created a magnetic "ferropaper" that might be used to make low-cost "micromotors" for surgical instruments, tiny tweezers to study cells and miniature speakers.

The material is made by impregnating ordinary paper - even newsprint - with a mixture of mineral oil and "magnetic nanoparticles" of iron oxide. The nanoparticle-laden paper can then be moved using a magnetic field.

"Paper is a porous matrix, so you can load a lot of this material into it," said Babak Ziaie, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and biomedical engineering.

The new technique represents a low-cost way to make small stereo speakers, miniature robots or motors for a variety of potential applications, including tweezers to manipulate cells and flexible fingers for minimally invasive surgery.

"Because paper is very soft it won't damage cells or tissue," Ziaie said. "It is very inexpensive to make. You put a droplet on a piece of paper, and that is your actuator, or motor".

Once saturated with this "ferrofluid" mixture, the paper is coated with a biocompatible plastic film, which makes it water resistant, prevents the fluid from evaporating and improves mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness and elasticity.

Findings will be detailed in a research paper being presented during the 23rd IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems on Jan. 24-28 in Hong Kong. The paper was written by Ziaie, electrical engineering doctoral student Pinghung Wei and physics doctoral student Zhenwen Ding......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

December 21, 2009, 8:06 AM CT

Mystery of golden ratio

The Egyptians supposedly used it to guide the construction the Pyramids. The architecture of ancient Athens is thought to have been based on it. Fictional Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon tried to unravel its mysteries in the novel The Da Vinci Code.

"It" is the golden ratio, a geometric proportion that has been theorized to be the most aesthetically pleasing to the eye and has been the root of countless mysteries over the centuries. Now, a Duke University engineer has found it to be a compelling springboard to unify vision, thought and movement under a single law of nature's design.

Also know the divine proportion, the golden ratio describes a rectangle with a length roughly one and a half times its width. A number of artists and architects have fashioned their works around this proportion. For example, the Parthenon in Athens and Leonardo da Vinci's painting Mona Lisa are usually cited examples of the ratio.

Adrian Bejan, professor of mechanical engineering at Duke's Pratt School of Engineering, thinks he knows why the golden ratio pops up everywhere: the eyes scan an image the fastest when it is shaped as a golden-ratio rectangle.

The natural design that connects vision and cognition is a theory that flowing systems -- from airways in the lungs to the formation of river deltas -- evolve in time so that they flow more and more easily. Bejan termed this the constructal law in 1996, and its latest application appears early online in the International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics........ Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

December 18, 2009, 6:27 PM CT

Economic freedom to benefit from natural resources

States with small governments, low taxes and labor market freedom enjoy greater benefits from natural resource development than states with large and intrusive government policies, as per a newly released study by a Florida State University researcher.

"The size of government and level of regulation are two of the cornerstones of economic freedom," said Joab Corey, the study's author and a lecturer in Florida State's Department of Economics and the Gus A. Stavros Center for the Advancement of Free Enterprise and Economic Education. "When it comes to resource development, research shows that states with higher levels of economic freedom enjoy greater benefits from resource development".

Louisiana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming are singled out as states with high levels of economic freedom that have benefited from resource development. Conversely, Alaska, Montana and West Virginia have failed to fully benefit from their natural resources, due in part to government policies that limit economic freedom, as per Corey's peer-evaluated study, "Development in U.S. States, Economic Freedom, and the 'Resource Curse.' " The Fraser Institute, a leading free-market think tank, released the study, which can be accessed at http://www.fraserinstitute.org/commerce.web/product_files/Economic-Freedom-and-Resource-Curse-CA.pdf......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

December 15, 2009, 0:26 AM CT

Handicap Scooter

Handicap scooters, also known as mobility scooters, are highly essential mobility aids for people who have limited mobility and problems with slopes or long distances. These scooters enable people to move around with ease and without physical pain. They can restore the much needed self esteem in those who are deeply affected by their difficulty in terms of mobility and begin to feel they are liability for others.

A standard handicap scooter has three or four wheels and runs on electrical power. Being a rechargeable vehicle, one needs to be careful at the time of purchasing them. If their usage is limited to outdoors, it is best to look out for scooters that have a longer battery life and can run faster. For added suspension, opt for a scooter with a bigger wheel diameter.

When to Get a Handicap Scooter

For making the right choice for elders and stroke survivors, many factors must be considered while buying a handicap scooter as the older persons may have conditions such as:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscular dystrophy
• Cerebral palsy

As these scooters come in a variety of sizes and shapes, finding the best match becomes a responsibility for the buyers. Remember, a small scooter for a bigger body or too high seat for a small man can be misfits and can get prone to flips as well. Therefore, look for the right size and sufficient customizability in the range of handicap scooters before finalizing. ........ Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

December 8, 2009, 8:44 AM CT

Rising trend in religious search

Religion is not just for churches, synagogues or mosques anymore -- it's a topic that is being actively searched for online, as per scientists at Penn State.

The scientists examined how people use search engines to locate religious information online. They analyzed more than 5.5 million searches collected from three Web search engines between 1997 and 2005 to investigate attributes of religious searching on the Web.

The religious landscape within the United States has been described as increasingly secularized and factionalized. However, Jim Jansen, associate professor, information sciences and technology and colleagues, Andrea Tapia, assistant professor, information sciences and technology and Amanda Spink, professor, Queensland University of Technology, Australia, found from looking at religious Web searching behaviors that no evidence of secularization exists, and that religious and religious-related interests held steady and were generally mainstream.

They also observed that the results dispelled the stereotype that religious people are not as accustomed to technology as non-religious people.

"Our results showed that people searching for these religious topics were just as tactically skilled as the general Web population," said Jansen. "This actually fits well with the historical use of technology by religious groups and organizations"......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

December 1, 2009, 0:01 AM CT

Pirate Costumes

Pirate costumes is one range of clothing that has always been genderless and ageless. Although most ancient pirates were men, women's pirate costumes have more experimental potential than men's. You can emulate female pirates such as Anne Bonny or Mary Read. If you want to look mysterious, fierce and sexy at the same time, the garb of a pirate is just the right choice for you.

Pirate Costumes: Suggestions about the Apparel

Before investing in pirate costumes, you must make up your mind whether you would like to dress up as a traditional or a modern, sexy pirate.

Traditional pirate costumes include black pants, slit at the sides along with a black and white top. Black ankle or knee length boots would add to the look. A little makeup along with the right accessories would complete the rugged, sea-faring pirate look.

For a modern pirate costume, a mini skirt with an uneven hem would be a good choice. You might or might not choose to sport cropped pants or legging with ragged edges below the skirt. For a blouse, you can consider wearing a peasant top with a corset. Pirates are known to be untidy and generally sport unruly locks of matted hair. Women can sport the unkempt look for the same purpose. You must team up the dress with a pair of knee length boots. You can also choose to add turned-down boot cuffs to your footwear......... Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source

November 19, 2009, 10:25 PM CT

Credit Card Debt Elimination Made Easy

You can achieve credit card debt elimination quite easily with the help of a good credit card debt management company. A debt management company can negotiate on your behalf with your creditors for a significant reduction in your debts and interest rates. You can also eliminate your debts completely within two to three years through a debt consolidation loan.

Credit Card Debt Elimination: Methods

There are various ways and means with which you can pursue the process of credit card debt elimination. However, debt consolidation remains one of the most popular ways to get credit card debt relief.

Debt Consolidation: A process of merging all your credit card accounts into one single account. This way, you need to pay only one monthly installment. A reliable debt management firm can do this process for you. They will contact all your creditors and negotiate for lower debts and interest rates. Next, they will create a new savings account to which you will pay your monthly installments. The consolidation company distributes your monthly payments to all your creditors until all accounts are settled. During negotiation, a good debt management company can help you reduce your total debts by 30% to 60%.

Credit Card Debt Elimination: Consolidation Loans........ Posted by: Ethen      Read more         Source