Mola mola is the heaviest known bony fish in the world with an average adult weight of 1,000Kg.
Mola mola is native to tropical and temperate waters around the globe. It resembles a fish head with a tail, and its main body is flattened laterally.
Mola Mola feeds mainly of jellyfish and it consumes large amounts in order to develop and maintain their great bulk.
Mola Mola Females can produce more eggs than any other known vertebrate. Their fry resemble miniature pufferfish, with large pectoral fins, a tail fin and body spines uncharacteristic of adult sunfish.
Mola mola adults are vulnerable to few natural predators, but sea lions, orcas and sharks will consume them.
Among humans, mola mola are considered a delicacy in some parts of the world, including Japan, the Korean peninsula and Taiwan. In the European Union, regulations ban the sale of fish and fishery products derived of the Molidae family.
Mola mola are frequently, though accidentally, caught in gillnets, and are also vulnerable to harm or death from encounters with floating trash, such as plastic bags.
A member of the order Tetraodontiformes, which also includes pufferfish, porcupinefish and filefish, the sunfish shares many traits common to members of this order. It was originally classified as Tetraodon mola under the pufferfish genus, but it has since been given its own genus, Mola, with two species under it.
The ocean sunfish, Mola mola, is the type species of the genus.
Friday, February 25, 2011
The Very Rare Long Nosed Gar Fish
The Gar Fish (Belone belone), or sea needle, is a pelagic, oceanodromous needle fish found in brackish and marine waters of the Eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltic Sea, etc.
The fish lives close to the surface and has a migratory pattern similar to that of the mackerel, arriving a short time before the latter to spawn.
It is long and slender, sometimes 2 or 3 feet (0.91 m) in length. (See a Picture of Long Nosed Gar Fish)
From the North Sea, Garfish migrate to shallow waters in April and May. They spawn in areas with eel grass in May and June. In the autumn they return to the open sea, including the Atlantic west of the British Isles.
Garfish are pelagic, they feed on small fish and leap out of the water when hooked.
The garfish are oviparous and the eggs are often found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface.
Garfish have unusually green bones (due to biliverdin) which discourages many people from eating them, but the green color is harmless.
They are caught mainly in fixed nets along the coast in shallow waters.
Garfish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The fish lives close to the surface and has a migratory pattern similar to that of the mackerel, arriving a short time before the latter to spawn.
It is long and slender, sometimes 2 or 3 feet (0.91 m) in length. (See a Picture of Long Nosed Gar Fish)
From the North Sea, Garfish migrate to shallow waters in April and May. They spawn in areas with eel grass in May and June. In the autumn they return to the open sea, including the Atlantic west of the British Isles.
Garfish are pelagic, they feed on small fish and leap out of the water when hooked.
The garfish are oviparous and the eggs are often found attached to objects in the water by tendrils on the egg's surface.
Garfish have unusually green bones (due to biliverdin) which discourages many people from eating them, but the green color is harmless.
They are caught mainly in fixed nets along the coast in shallow waters.
Garfish - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Little Story of Penguin Pete of The Pittsburgh Penguins
Penguin Pete was the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first mascot. He was an Ecuadorian-born penguin on loan from the Pittsburgh Zoo. Penguins officials even had special ice skates made for Pete by CCM in Canada. A skater from the University of Pittsburgh taught Pete at the arena how to ice skate.
Penguin Pete made his first appearance during the second intermission of a game against the Boston Bruins on October 19, 1968.
Penguin Pete made six more appearances. His last appearance was on November 16 of the same year during a game against the New York Rangers. He died of pneumonia only one month into his first season. It is believed that his death was due to the ice crew at the Civic Arena keeping his nesting area too warm.
Penguin Pete died on November 23, 1968 and was sent to an area taxidermist. He was later displayed in the lobby of the Penguins team offices at the arena. However, the stuffed Pete was later removed from the lobby when a few concerned callers objected to its presence there. (Here are some Pictures of Penguin Pete)
A second penguin mascot, dubbed "Re-Pete", was later loaned to the team and made it through the 1971–72 NHL season.
The team later adopted Iceburgh, a more traditional mascot, for the 1993–94 NHL season. While Iceburgh's name is a play on both iceburg and Pittsburgh, not reviving the Penguin Pete name was likely done to avoid confusion with the mascot of the same name at Youngstown State University in nearby Youngstown, Ohio.
Penguin Pete - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Penguin Pete made his first appearance during the second intermission of a game against the Boston Bruins on October 19, 1968.
Penguin Pete made six more appearances. His last appearance was on November 16 of the same year during a game against the New York Rangers. He died of pneumonia only one month into his first season. It is believed that his death was due to the ice crew at the Civic Arena keeping his nesting area too warm.
Penguin Pete died on November 23, 1968 and was sent to an area taxidermist. He was later displayed in the lobby of the Penguins team offices at the arena. However, the stuffed Pete was later removed from the lobby when a few concerned callers objected to its presence there. (Here are some Pictures of Penguin Pete)
A second penguin mascot, dubbed "Re-Pete", was later loaned to the team and made it through the 1971–72 NHL season.
The team later adopted Iceburgh, a more traditional mascot, for the 1993–94 NHL season. While Iceburgh's name is a play on both iceburg and Pittsburgh, not reviving the Penguin Pete name was likely done to avoid confusion with the mascot of the same name at Youngstown State University in nearby Youngstown, Ohio.
Penguin Pete - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Google Adds Recipe Search Engine
Google has been working on the technology for several months. To use the recipe view do a regular search for a dish (try lasagna or whatever), and in a column on the left side of your screen, right under the shopping view, will appear recipes, says Goel. Click on it to use the feature.
The new feature will enable Google users to search for all recipes that have appeared on the Internet.
A product manager for the search engine, says that on average Google gets 10 million searches a day for recipes.
Although it’s only 1 percent of Google’s overall searches, the numbers were large enough to entice Goel and his crew to add a recipe view feature. Although users have always been able to find recipes using Google, under the new system they can narrow down their searches.
People can now search recipes based on everything from calorie count and ingredients to cook time and what publication the recipe came from. They can even plug in a search for a special occasion — say Cinco de Mayo — and come up with recipes for that holiday.
Inside Scoop SF » Google launches new recipe finder and search engine
The new feature will enable Google users to search for all recipes that have appeared on the Internet.
A product manager for the search engine, says that on average Google gets 10 million searches a day for recipes.
Although it’s only 1 percent of Google’s overall searches, the numbers were large enough to entice Goel and his crew to add a recipe view feature. Although users have always been able to find recipes using Google, under the new system they can narrow down their searches.
People can now search recipes based on everything from calorie count and ingredients to cook time and what publication the recipe came from. They can even plug in a search for a special occasion — say Cinco de Mayo — and come up with recipes for that holiday.
Inside Scoop SF » Google launches new recipe finder and search engine
Gaming: PS3 Could Become a Harder Nut to Crack
Sony Manufacturer doesn't like it when gamers mess with its products.
The company's stance against PS3 hacking -- users altering the machine's programming to make it perform functions other than playing games -- continues to grow stronger, as Sony pulls out the legal guns and shows no signs of backing down.
When it comes to consumer electronics, unauthorized hacking and pirating seem like unavoidable hassles. Every product appears to get cracked eventually. According to a new rumor, though, Sony is working on a way to prevent it altogether.
Technology News: Gaming: PS3 Could Become a Harder Nut to Crack
The company's stance against PS3 hacking -- users altering the machine's programming to make it perform functions other than playing games -- continues to grow stronger, as Sony pulls out the legal guns and shows no signs of backing down.
When it comes to consumer electronics, unauthorized hacking and pirating seem like unavoidable hassles. Every product appears to get cracked eventually. According to a new rumor, though, Sony is working on a way to prevent it altogether.
Technology News: Gaming: PS3 Could Become a Harder Nut to Crack
Monday, February 21, 2011
Domino’s ends policy - INSIDE JoongAng Daily
Domino’s Pizza officially ended its “30 minutes or free” delivery pledge in Korea after a spike in road accidents involving fast food deliverymen.
Since 1990, Domino’s has offered a discount of 2,000 won ($1.88) on pizzas delivered after 30 minutes of placing an order, and the pizza is given for free if delivery takes longer than 45 minutes. The system has forced deliverymen, most in their early 20s, to speed and drive recklessly on their delivery motor bikes.
“Following recent concerns over the 30 minute delivery promise, we decided to abolish the system after careful consideration,” said Domino’s on its Web site yesterday. “
We will make efforts to educate employees thoroughly on road safety.”The Youth Community Union called for a nationwide boycott of Domino’s if the system wasn’t abolished by today.
The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency said there were 4,951 accidents involving food delivery bikes between 2005 and 2009.
Domino’s ends policy - INSIDE JoongAng Daily
Since 1990, Domino’s has offered a discount of 2,000 won ($1.88) on pizzas delivered after 30 minutes of placing an order, and the pizza is given for free if delivery takes longer than 45 minutes. The system has forced deliverymen, most in their early 20s, to speed and drive recklessly on their delivery motor bikes.
“Following recent concerns over the 30 minute delivery promise, we decided to abolish the system after careful consideration,” said Domino’s on its Web site yesterday. “
We will make efforts to educate employees thoroughly on road safety.”The Youth Community Union called for a nationwide boycott of Domino’s if the system wasn’t abolished by today.
The Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency said there were 4,951 accidents involving food delivery bikes between 2005 and 2009.
Domino’s ends policy - INSIDE JoongAng Daily
Domino’s beefs up its chicken line
Domino’s Pizza has added two new permanent items to its menu – boneless chicken and wings. This is the first time Domino’s has run a national promotion highlighting its chicken products since 2002.
The menu launch is part of a continued reinvention effort by Domino’s, which began in late 2009.
The chicken wings are available in hot, BBQ and new sweet mango habanero, while the new boneless chicken come with a selection of dipping sauces. The new items are available for delivery and carryout.
"We want to continue innovating, and reinventing our menu and brand – and our new chicken is the next chapter of our story," said J. Patrick Doyle, Domino's Pizza president and chief executive officer.
Russell Weiner, Domino's Pizza chief marketing officer said customer feedback outlined a demand for more choice and customization with the boneless chicken, and a better texture and flavor for the chicken wings.
"Over 80 percent of our menu consists of new, permanent menu items introduced since 2008, so the desire to continue getting better goes well beyond just our pizza," said Weiner.
Domino’s beefs up its chicken line PizzaMarketPlace.com
The menu launch is part of a continued reinvention effort by Domino’s, which began in late 2009.
The chicken wings are available in hot, BBQ and new sweet mango habanero, while the new boneless chicken come with a selection of dipping sauces. The new items are available for delivery and carryout.
"We want to continue innovating, and reinventing our menu and brand – and our new chicken is the next chapter of our story," said J. Patrick Doyle, Domino's Pizza president and chief executive officer.
Russell Weiner, Domino's Pizza chief marketing officer said customer feedback outlined a demand for more choice and customization with the boneless chicken, and a better texture and flavor for the chicken wings.
"Over 80 percent of our menu consists of new, permanent menu items introduced since 2008, so the desire to continue getting better goes well beyond just our pizza," said Weiner.
Domino’s beefs up its chicken line PizzaMarketPlace.com
Friday, February 18, 2011
A Red Siamese Fighting Fish
The Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens), also known as the Betta and simply as the fighter, is a popular species of freshwater aquarium fish. The name is derived from Ikan Bettah, taken from a local dialect of Thailand (Siam).
Betta is pronounced /ˈbɛtə/. The wild ancestors of this fish are native to the rice paddies of Thailand, peninsular Malaysia and Cambodia and are called pla-kad or trey krem ("fighting fish") in Thai.
Siamese fighting fish have upturned mouths and are primarily carnivorous surface feeders, although some vegetable matter may be eaten. In the wild, they feed on zooplankton including crustaceans and the larvae of mosquitoes and other insects, such as flies, crickets, or grasshoppers. Fish who feed on a wide range of foods live longer, have richer colors, and heal fin damage more quickly.
For reproduction the male betta will flare his gills, twist his body, and spread his fins, if interested in the female.
The female will darken in color, then curve her body back and forth. Males build bubble nests of various sizes and thicknesses at the surface of the water. The act of spawning itself is called a "nuptial embrace", for the male wraps his body around the female; around 10-41 eggs are released during each embrace, until the female is exhausted of eggs.
The male, in his turn, releases milt into the water, and fertilization takes place externally. During and after spawning, the male uses his mouth to retrieve sinking eggs and deposit them in the bubble nest (during mating the female sometimes assists her partner, but more often she will simply devour all the eggs that she manages to catch). Once the female has released all of her eggs, she is chased away from the male's territory, as it is likely that she'll eat the eggs due to hunger.
Henceforth, the eggs remain in the male's care. He carefully keeps them in his bubble nest, making sure none fall to the bottom, and repairing the bubble nest as needed. Incubation lasts for 24–36 hours, and the newly-hatched larvae remain in the nest for the next 2–3 days, until their yolk sacs are fully absorbed. Afterwards the fry leave the nest and the free-swimming stage begins.
A Red Siamese Fighting Fish in an Aquarium - Pictures
Betta is pronounced /ˈbɛtə/. The wild ancestors of this fish are native to the rice paddies of Thailand, peninsular Malaysia and Cambodia and are called pla-kad or trey krem ("fighting fish") in Thai.
Siamese fighting fish have upturned mouths and are primarily carnivorous surface feeders, although some vegetable matter may be eaten. In the wild, they feed on zooplankton including crustaceans and the larvae of mosquitoes and other insects, such as flies, crickets, or grasshoppers. Fish who feed on a wide range of foods live longer, have richer colors, and heal fin damage more quickly.
For reproduction the male betta will flare his gills, twist his body, and spread his fins, if interested in the female.
The female will darken in color, then curve her body back and forth. Males build bubble nests of various sizes and thicknesses at the surface of the water. The act of spawning itself is called a "nuptial embrace", for the male wraps his body around the female; around 10-41 eggs are released during each embrace, until the female is exhausted of eggs.
The male, in his turn, releases milt into the water, and fertilization takes place externally. During and after spawning, the male uses his mouth to retrieve sinking eggs and deposit them in the bubble nest (during mating the female sometimes assists her partner, but more often she will simply devour all the eggs that she manages to catch). Once the female has released all of her eggs, she is chased away from the male's territory, as it is likely that she'll eat the eggs due to hunger.
Henceforth, the eggs remain in the male's care. He carefully keeps them in his bubble nest, making sure none fall to the bottom, and repairing the bubble nest as needed. Incubation lasts for 24–36 hours, and the newly-hatched larvae remain in the nest for the next 2–3 days, until their yolk sacs are fully absorbed. Afterwards the fry leave the nest and the free-swimming stage begins.
A Red Siamese Fighting Fish in an Aquarium - Pictures
What are Coral Reefs
Often called “rainforests of the sea”, coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy very small percentage of the total sea surface on earth, yet they provide a home for twenty-five percent of all marine species.
Coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water corals also exist on smaller scales in other areas.
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals.
Corals are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, and are formed by polyps that live together in groups. The polyps secrete a hard carbonate exoskeleton which provides support and protection for the body of each polyp. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters. Also coral reef is a reef consisting of coral consolidated into limestone.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
How to Install Windows XP on Computers with SATA Hard Drive - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
SATA is a new type of interface that connects hard drives to computers' main board (Motherboard) and replaces the older IDE standard. As of 2009, SATA has replaced IDE in most desktop and laptop computers. The difference between a SATA hard drive and the old IDE drives, among other things, is that SATA can provide for a faster data rate and speed.
How to Install Windows XP on Computers with SATA Hard Drive - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
How to Install Windows XP on Computers with SATA Hard Drive - Associated Content from Yahoo! - associatedcontent.com
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Why Van Gogh Paintings Are Turning Brown?
The works of painter Vincent van Gogh are some of the world's most prized pieces of art, partly for their vibrant tones, but some of those colors have been fading in recent years. Art researchers and scientists have been using X-ray microscopes to examine Vincent van Gogh paintings that have been losing their color and determine why once brilliant yellows have been turning brown in several key works of van Gogh and other artists of the late 19th century.
The results of the study were published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. The problem comes down to the chromium in a yellow pigment called yellow chrome which undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to ultraviolet lighting (including sunlight), turning the painting brown. The paint, which gave works including van Gogh's Sunflowers paintings, their sun-splashed beauty has been known to darken under sunlight since the early 19th century. What's new is that now scientists have uncovered why this happens and can work to gain potential clues as to how to prevent it.
Pigments were far from standardized in van Gogh's era and paints used varied both from painter to painter and time to time. Researchers had to track down historic tubes of chromium yellow in order to conduct their tests. Chromium yellow is toxic and no longer used. Artists switched from using the paint in the 1950s. The researchers were able to find three tubes of the yellow paint and hastened the aging process by exposing it to 500 hours under a UV lamp. They found that only one of the paint samples turned brown, one belonging to Flemish artist Rik Wouters. The color change was similar to that seen in the Van Gogh painting. During the course of the hurried-up aging process the color became darker and darker. Within three weeks, the bright yellow had become chocolate brown.
New Chemical Research Uncovers Why Van Gogh Paintings Turning Brown
Related Subjects:
Almond Blossom by van Gogh
The results of the study were published in the journal Analytical Chemistry. The problem comes down to the chromium in a yellow pigment called yellow chrome which undergoes a chemical reaction when exposed to ultraviolet lighting (including sunlight), turning the painting brown. The paint, which gave works including van Gogh's Sunflowers paintings, their sun-splashed beauty has been known to darken under sunlight since the early 19th century. What's new is that now scientists have uncovered why this happens and can work to gain potential clues as to how to prevent it.
Pigments were far from standardized in van Gogh's era and paints used varied both from painter to painter and time to time. Researchers had to track down historic tubes of chromium yellow in order to conduct their tests. Chromium yellow is toxic and no longer used. Artists switched from using the paint in the 1950s. The researchers were able to find three tubes of the yellow paint and hastened the aging process by exposing it to 500 hours under a UV lamp. They found that only one of the paint samples turned brown, one belonging to Flemish artist Rik Wouters. The color change was similar to that seen in the Van Gogh painting. During the course of the hurried-up aging process the color became darker and darker. Within three weeks, the bright yellow had become chocolate brown.
New Chemical Research Uncovers Why Van Gogh Paintings Turning Brown
Related Subjects:
Almond Blossom by van Gogh
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wael Ghonim: Proud To Be Egyptian
I'm proud to be Egyptian. I just want to say, you know, from the bottom of my heart congratulations to all egyptians and, you know, I want to say welcome back, Egypt. To me I've read about egypt in the history books and, you know, they convinced us for 30 days - for 30 years that egypt died and there's no more Egypt. We are just, you know, a generation that need to eat and sleep. You know, so many of the thousands decided to start a journey for Egypt and then they convinced hundreds of thousands then they convinced millions of people. We were all looking for Egypt and thank god that we found her today. I just want to say, welcome back Egypt.
I just want to say to Hosni Mubarak and to Omar Suleiman and to all those people who thought that being in power means you can oppress people, you know, hard-luck guys, you know, at the end of the day, we have a choice and we've made our choice, by the way very early enough and you should have respected that. You are responsible of the killings of 300 innocent Egyptians. You guys paid the price, are still going to pay the price. It's enough, it's enough for you guys that in history books they're going to talk to you - they'll say one word to describe you, a dictator.
Today is the day for celebration. It's very hard for me now to even think. We have been - we haven't been sleeping for a few days. We've been under a lot of war - among the media war. I'm also in the morning - a lot of people saying, wael, you have been logical and not emotional. What's going on with you, so I need to refer - restore my calm attitude. I'm not an angry person, and I became an angry person. I need to get some sleep so does my friends, there are a lot of grateful Egyptians. These guys - there are a lot of people who care about egypt and today I think the problem is solved.
At the moment you break the psychological barrier of fear, The moment you break the fear, the moment you convince people that if they die it's better for them to die for a good cause than to live without dignity which is something that we all worked on in our message at the very beginning. Then you should be sure that you are going to win because these guys are so corrupted, these dictators don't care about the people. They care about their lives and for them life is much, you know, life is much worth it and shame for us - I love my life. We all want to live. We don't want to die. We all want to make - survive free and open-minded. We all want this country to go where it should be. We should be among the countries in the world. We can do it and we will do it.
I want to go back to my company and work. I think it would be a big mistake for me to be involved. Also if you read history, you know, the people who helped the revolution should not be part of the revolution afterward. I think my mission has been accomplished. I just need to work for a few days to make sure that the country is in safe hands and then i need to disappear from the scene.
My mission is over. I want to go back to see my kids. I want to go back to start working. I want to be a normal person and this is about the Egyptians. Those guys - I'm not worried about this country seeing all these people in the street right now.
We are dreamers and we made it happen and it's time now to celebrate for a couple of days and then go back and start thinking about how can we develop the strategy and what's the best for us.
I was actually at my mom's house with a lot of, you know, in my mom's house a lot - like a lot of activists and having sort of like the center of my plan, my - so I was there and we were all of a sudden like I heard my mom screaming. I went out and, you know, it was amazing. She started hugging me and kissing me and started crying and it was, you know, the rest of the family came. It was really good.
Thanks to you and you folks on Tahrir Square. You guys have played a great role in saving the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people. This regime did not care about the people and they would have killed a lot of people if there was no international media. CNN did a great job. You guys deserve a great recognition from all the Egyptian people. We're not going to forget your role
Wael Ghonim: "I'm proud to be Egyptian" – Parker Spitzer - CNN.com Blogs
I just want to say to Hosni Mubarak and to Omar Suleiman and to all those people who thought that being in power means you can oppress people, you know, hard-luck guys, you know, at the end of the day, we have a choice and we've made our choice, by the way very early enough and you should have respected that. You are responsible of the killings of 300 innocent Egyptians. You guys paid the price, are still going to pay the price. It's enough, it's enough for you guys that in history books they're going to talk to you - they'll say one word to describe you, a dictator.
Today is the day for celebration. It's very hard for me now to even think. We have been - we haven't been sleeping for a few days. We've been under a lot of war - among the media war. I'm also in the morning - a lot of people saying, wael, you have been logical and not emotional. What's going on with you, so I need to refer - restore my calm attitude. I'm not an angry person, and I became an angry person. I need to get some sleep so does my friends, there are a lot of grateful Egyptians. These guys - there are a lot of people who care about egypt and today I think the problem is solved.
At the moment you break the psychological barrier of fear, The moment you break the fear, the moment you convince people that if they die it's better for them to die for a good cause than to live without dignity which is something that we all worked on in our message at the very beginning. Then you should be sure that you are going to win because these guys are so corrupted, these dictators don't care about the people. They care about their lives and for them life is much, you know, life is much worth it and shame for us - I love my life. We all want to live. We don't want to die. We all want to make - survive free and open-minded. We all want this country to go where it should be. We should be among the countries in the world. We can do it and we will do it.
I want to go back to my company and work. I think it would be a big mistake for me to be involved. Also if you read history, you know, the people who helped the revolution should not be part of the revolution afterward. I think my mission has been accomplished. I just need to work for a few days to make sure that the country is in safe hands and then i need to disappear from the scene.
My mission is over. I want to go back to see my kids. I want to go back to start working. I want to be a normal person and this is about the Egyptians. Those guys - I'm not worried about this country seeing all these people in the street right now.
We are dreamers and we made it happen and it's time now to celebrate for a couple of days and then go back and start thinking about how can we develop the strategy and what's the best for us.
I was actually at my mom's house with a lot of, you know, in my mom's house a lot - like a lot of activists and having sort of like the center of my plan, my - so I was there and we were all of a sudden like I heard my mom screaming. I went out and, you know, it was amazing. She started hugging me and kissing me and started crying and it was, you know, the rest of the family came. It was really good.
Thanks to you and you folks on Tahrir Square. You guys have played a great role in saving the lives of hundreds if not thousands of people. This regime did not care about the people and they would have killed a lot of people if there was no international media. CNN did a great job. You guys deserve a great recognition from all the Egyptian people. We're not going to forget your role
Wael Ghonim: "I'm proud to be Egyptian" – Parker Spitzer - CNN.com Blogs
Google’s Wael Ghonim Thanks Facebook For Revolution
Google’s Middle East and North Africa Marketing Manager Wael Ghonim, credited with organizing the demonstrations in Cairo, thanked Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg for the social network’s role in helping achieve freedom in Egypt.
Ghonim told CNN:
We think that Ghonim’s desire to thank Mark Zuckerberg in person seems like a great marketing opportunity for both companies, and would also help promote any book that the activist might actually write based on recent events in Egypt. The former would certainly jibe with Ghonim’s intention of returning his focus to his day job.
Readers, what do you think about this set of developments?
Google’s Wael Ghonim Thanks Facebook For Revolution
Ghonim told CNN:
I want to meet Mark Zuckerberg one day and thank him…. I’m talking on behalf of
Egypt. This revolution started online. This revolution started on Facebook. This revolution started in June 2010 when hundreds of thousands of Egyptians started collaborating content. We would post a video on Facebook that would be shared by 60,000 people on their walls within a few hours. I always said that if you want to liberate a society just give them the Internet…. The reason why is the Internet will help you fight a media war, which is something the Egyptian government regime played very well in 1970, 1980, 1990, and when the Internet
came along they couldn’t play it. I plan to write a book called Revolution 2.0… that will highlight the role of social media.
We think that Ghonim’s desire to thank Mark Zuckerberg in person seems like a great marketing opportunity for both companies, and would also help promote any book that the activist might actually write based on recent events in Egypt. The former would certainly jibe with Ghonim’s intention of returning his focus to his day job.
Readers, what do you think about this set of developments?
Google’s Wael Ghonim Thanks Facebook For Revolution
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Google introduces 2-step Verifications for google account and Gmail
Google just launched a new, secured login for Gmail and other Google services. It can greatly increase a Google Account's defenses.
Google calls this option "2-step verification," although it's often referred to as "two-factor authentication." By either name, it adds an extra line of defense beyond your password: a numeric code generated on the spot for each login and then discarded.
Google calls this option "2-step verification," although it's often referred to as "two-factor authentication." By either name, it adds an extra line of defense beyond your password: a numeric code generated on the spot for each login and then discarded.
It's an extra step, but it's one that significantly improves the security of your Google Account because it requires the powerful combination of both something you know—your username and password—and something that only you should have—your phone. A hacker would need access to both of these factors to gain access to your account. If you like, you can always choose a "Remember verification for this computer for 30 days" option, and you won't need to re-enter a code for another 30 days. You can also set up one-time application-specific passwords to sign in to your account from non-browser based applications that are designed to only ask for a password, and cannot prompt for the code.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Ken is Tweeting. But they wouldn’t dare let Barbie talk
Suddenly alert to the wide world of social networking and the concomitant preternatural maturity of girls, Mattel has slammed the Net with a Ken and Barbie site (barbieandken.com) and a number of pages for the 50-year-old teen lovers estranged since 2004. Its pre-Valentine’s Day campaign asks Net users to help Ken win back his girlfriend.
The company has, further, introduced yet another Ken doll, who now looks much less like a thinner George Michael, or a better-structured version of Hollywood Squares comic Paul Lynde. His hair is a windswept, surfer mullet; he has ripped arms and shredded abs. And he speaks.
Ken is Tweeting. But they wouldn’t dare let Barbie talk - The Globe and Mail
The company has, further, introduced yet another Ken doll, who now looks much less like a thinner George Michael, or a better-structured version of Hollywood Squares comic Paul Lynde. His hair is a windswept, surfer mullet; he has ripped arms and shredded abs. And he speaks.
“Sweet Talking Ken” records one’s voice then repeats the words in three
different voices, the best of which is a sexy Barry White-ish purr.
Ken is Tweeting. But they wouldn’t dare let Barbie talk - The Globe and Mail
5-Year-Old who created "The Thanksgiving Coat"
Some children’s book characters have been around for half a century and more, but rarely do we find one that moves children, people and schools to commit large, organized acts of compassion and humanitarian gestures. Kailee and Elizabeth Hoadley, mother and daughter children’s book creators were moved to see that their book series sparked a school children’s led movement of charitable giving, saving hundreds of underprivileged people, from babies to adults, from being cold this winter.
A child’s book was read to children. A flyer was handed out. Very normal activities for elementary schools across North America.
However, this was no ordinary book, nor flyer. It was a book illustrated by 5-Year Old Kailee and written by her mother, Elizabeth Hoadley, about a little girl named “Sweet Zara” who is having a difficult year.
The book, “The Thanksgiving Coat” (one of 14 published by this mother/daughter team) is also being animated by Spider-Man 2 Oscar Winner, Anthony LaMolinara (release date, summer, 2011) and being transformed into a children’s Theatrical Musical Performance to be launched in 2012.
The story touched a chord with both the children and parents and in this small school of only 250 students, over 300 coats were generously donated and collected for their first annual “Thanksgiving Coat” Drive.
A video of the event was released this week on the YouTube Channel: ‘elizabethhoadley’ and named “The Thanksgiving Coat Drive.”
The coats were as varied as the donors: tiny baby ‘ones-ies’, pink furry coats, trench coats, hockey coats, leather coats, work coats, new and old coats alike.
The one unifying factor was the generosity of their donors and the good intentions with which they were sent to their future owners. It is hoped that, like Sweet Zara, they will feel the love of the anonymous person who donated it as the Thanksgiving Coat is worn, which is the premise of the book.
Kailee and Elizabeth have written and illustrated 14 children’s books to-date. Their International Musical Talent Search for the “The Thanksgiving Coat” Musical is still underway until the end of April, 2011.
Barbie Didn’t Start This, a 5-Year Old Did
A child’s book was read to children. A flyer was handed out. Very normal activities for elementary schools across North America.
However, this was no ordinary book, nor flyer. It was a book illustrated by 5-Year Old Kailee and written by her mother, Elizabeth Hoadley, about a little girl named “Sweet Zara” who is having a difficult year.
The book, “The Thanksgiving Coat” (one of 14 published by this mother/daughter team) is also being animated by Spider-Man 2 Oscar Winner, Anthony LaMolinara (release date, summer, 2011) and being transformed into a children’s Theatrical Musical Performance to be launched in 2012.
The story touched a chord with both the children and parents and in this small school of only 250 students, over 300 coats were generously donated and collected for their first annual “Thanksgiving Coat” Drive.
A video of the event was released this week on the YouTube Channel: ‘elizabethhoadley’ and named “The Thanksgiving Coat Drive.”
The coats were as varied as the donors: tiny baby ‘ones-ies’, pink furry coats, trench coats, hockey coats, leather coats, work coats, new and old coats alike.
The one unifying factor was the generosity of their donors and the good intentions with which they were sent to their future owners. It is hoped that, like Sweet Zara, they will feel the love of the anonymous person who donated it as the Thanksgiving Coat is worn, which is the premise of the book.
“For me, there is no bigger happiness and satisfaction I can achieve in seeing how a small gesture of care and love can place a smile on a child's face,” said Marina M., a representative from the school’s Governing Board who helped make this possible. “A simple, everyday coat for us can symbolize an eternal amount of warmth and love for a needy child, symbolically as well as physically.”
“I can’t imagine being like Sweet Zara and I am so happy that the coat changed her life.” said Gabriel, a 9-year old volunteer from the school. “Things weren’t going well for her and the coat reminded her that there is also good in life and to keep on trying until things get better.”
“This book and coat drive made me realize how we all can make a difference in someone’s life,” Gabriel continues, “it made me feel really happy knowing we were able to help. We should do this every year.”
Kailee and Elizabeth have written and illustrated 14 children’s books to-date. Their International Musical Talent Search for the “The Thanksgiving Coat” Musical is still underway until the end of April, 2011.
Barbie Didn’t Start This, a 5-Year Old Did
Dual-Screen Touch Smart Phone
Sprint is unveiling a two-screen smart phone. It's the Echo, made by the Japanese company Kyocera. The Echo, which uses Android software, allows users to multi-task or drag elements from one screen to the other.
TechBytes: Dual-Screen Touch - ABC News
TechBytes: Dual-Screen Touch - ABC News
Amazon Kindle Software Update - Kindle Sales expected to increase
Research firm Gartner estimates that e-reader sales will increase 68.3 percent in 2011, to more than 11 million units.
Amazon.com is tweaking its Kindle e-reader software with the addition of new features such as public notes and e-book page numbers that match those in the print editions.
Amazon has grouped these free updates together as Kindle Software Update Version 3.1, downloadable via a page on its Website. In addition to public notes, a feature that opens Kindle users’ book notes and highlights to an audience, and “real” page numbers, presumably good for classes and book clubs looking to reference and sync their reading, the new software includes a new layout for newspapers and magazines.
Kindle users who are dead-set on sharing (or over-sharing) their reading experience with everyone in the vicinity can also use the software update to immediately rate an e-book upon finishing, share messages about that book with their social network, view more books by the same author and receive “personalized” recommendations for their next book to read.
Although Amazon remains reluctant to share any hard data related to sales of Kindle e-readers, the online retailer perpetually claims the device is among its bestselling. In late January, it reported sales of 115 Kindle books for every 100 paperbacks moved through its Web storefront, a number that apparently includes sales of books without an equivalent electronic edition, and excludes free Kindle e-books. Kindle e-book sales had already surpassed that of hardcovers, according to the company.
Research firm Gartner estimates that e-reader sales will increase 68.3 percent in 2011, to more than 11 million units.
Amazon has kept the Kindle a grayscale device, essentially betting its e-reader empire on the theory that most customers will want a device exclusively for reading in addition to their other gizmos. In addition, Amazon offers Kindle software for a variety of devices, including PCs and the iPad, along with an in-development Kindle for Web application, which will allow users to purchase e-books via a Website and read them within the browser.
Amazon Kindle Software Update Includes Public Notes, Recommending - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com
Amazon.com is tweaking its Kindle e-reader software with the addition of new features such as public notes and e-book page numbers that match those in the print editions.
Amazon has grouped these free updates together as Kindle Software Update Version 3.1, downloadable via a page on its Website. In addition to public notes, a feature that opens Kindle users’ book notes and highlights to an audience, and “real” page numbers, presumably good for classes and book clubs looking to reference and sync their reading, the new software includes a new layout for newspapers and magazines.
Kindle users who are dead-set on sharing (or over-sharing) their reading experience with everyone in the vicinity can also use the software update to immediately rate an e-book upon finishing, share messages about that book with their social network, view more books by the same author and receive “personalized” recommendations for their next book to read.
Although Amazon remains reluctant to share any hard data related to sales of Kindle e-readers, the online retailer perpetually claims the device is among its bestselling. In late January, it reported sales of 115 Kindle books for every 100 paperbacks moved through its Web storefront, a number that apparently includes sales of books without an equivalent electronic edition, and excludes free Kindle e-books. Kindle e-book sales had already surpassed that of hardcovers, according to the company.
Research firm Gartner estimates that e-reader sales will increase 68.3 percent in 2011, to more than 11 million units.
“The connected e-reader market has grown dramatically during the past two years,Gartner viewed full-color tablets such as the iPad as the greatest threat to the e-reader market, one that some e-reader manufacturers are trying to anticipate with the introduction of color screens. Barnes & Noble’s Nook Color, arguably the most prominent example, includes a full-color 7-inch display, WiFi capability, Web surfing and the ability to share selected passages from e-books via Facebook and Twitter.
driven by sales of Amazon e-readers, primarily in North America,” Hugues De La
Vergne, principal research analyst at Gartner, wrote in a Dec. 8 statement
posted on Gartner’s corporate Website. However, “growth in North American and
other markets will remain constrained by the success of media tablets, such as
the Apple iPad.”
Amazon has kept the Kindle a grayscale device, essentially betting its e-reader empire on the theory that most customers will want a device exclusively for reading in addition to their other gizmos. In addition, Amazon offers Kindle software for a variety of devices, including PCs and the iPad, along with an in-development Kindle for Web application, which will allow users to purchase e-books via a Website and read them within the browser.
Amazon Kindle Software Update Includes Public Notes, Recommending - Desktops and Notebooks - News & Reviews - eWeek.com
Monday, February 7, 2011
Barbie and Ken mark 50 years of complicated romance - NorthJersey.com
Ken Carson — better known as the Ken doll — is a man on a mission as Valentine's Day approaches.
He's had New York's famed Magnolia Bakery customize a cupcake for his lost love. Though a fellow of few to no words, he stands ready, willing and able to whisper sweet nothings into her tiny ear. He's even taken out billboards in Manhattan and Los Angeles to proclaim his ardor, making heartfelt declarations like "Barbie, we may be plastic, but our love is real."
Theirs is a complicated love story, to be sure, which has played out over half a century, and involved some fashion gaffes (both sides), ill-advised personas (Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken?) and bad-hair decades (his, the 1960s through the '90s).
But things are looking up for toydom's most famous sidekick.
Barbie and Ken mark 50 years of complicated romance - NorthJersey.com
He's had New York's famed Magnolia Bakery customize a cupcake for his lost love. Though a fellow of few to no words, he stands ready, willing and able to whisper sweet nothings into her tiny ear. He's even taken out billboards in Manhattan and Los Angeles to proclaim his ardor, making heartfelt declarations like "Barbie, we may be plastic, but our love is real."
Theirs is a complicated love story, to be sure, which has played out over half a century, and involved some fashion gaffes (both sides), ill-advised personas (Palm Beach Sugar Daddy Ken?) and bad-hair decades (his, the 1960s through the '90s).
But things are looking up for toydom's most famous sidekick.
Barbie and Ken mark 50 years of complicated romance - NorthJersey.com
The popular mobile game Angry Birds is launching on game consoles, in board game format, and is airing its own Super Bowl commercial.
Now the app that features little birds being catapulted through the air to cause destruction is coming out with a Valentine’s Day edition.
Keeping with the rhythm of other “holidays,” the game has previously been made available with special Halloween and Christmas editions.
The blog All Thing Digital says an update will be pushed out this week to iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones. The game is also expected to come out with an Angry Birds Rio edition sometime in March, to coincide with the release of the animated feature from 20th Century Fox.
Now the app that features little birds being catapulted through the air to cause destruction is coming out with a Valentine’s Day edition.
Keeping with the rhythm of other “holidays,” the game has previously been made available with special Halloween and Christmas editions.
The blog All Thing Digital says an update will be pushed out this week to iPhone, iPad and Android smartphones. The game is also expected to come out with an Angry Birds Rio edition sometime in March, to coincide with the release of the animated feature from 20th Century Fox.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)