Saturday, 30 January 2010

Bloemfontein, South Africa: World Cup 2010 city guide A guide to the best attractions, restaurants and bars of Bloemfontein ahead of South Africa's World Cup.

With one million residents, the provincial capital of the Free State is the sixth biggest city in South Africa and the country’s judicial capital; the Court of Appeal sits here. The city centre features some fine sandstone architecture dating from the late 19th century, when Bloemfontein was the capital of the small independent Orange Free State Republic.
What to see

Most buildings of note are within easy walking distance of each other along President Brand Street. The Tourist Centre (60 Park Rd; 051 405 8489; www.bloemfontein.co.za) produces a useful map showing “The Rose Walk through Bloemfontein”, which takes about 1½ hrs. With another spare hour, drive to the top of Naval Hill in the Franklin Nature Reserve, from where there are expansive views of the city’s skyline.

Related Articles
More on South Africa
More on the World Cup 2010
South Africa's highlights: Hector Pieterson Museum
Johannesburg: World Cup guide
Rustenberg: World Cup guide
Polkowane: World Cup guide

A long day or overnight trip could be made to Kimberley (116 miles to the west) to visit the fascinating Kimberley Mine Museum and Big Hole (053 830 4417; www.thebighole.co.za), easily the most popular tourist site in this region. South Africa’s fortunes were built on the diamonds found at Kimberley, and the Big Hole is the largest hand-dug hole on earth.
Where to eat and drink

Bloemfontein’s nightlife is concentrated at the Loch Logan Waterfront (www.lochlogan.co.za), an a lakeside shopping/eating complex close to the sports stadiums in King’s Park. Walk the boardwalk to choose from a variety of restaurants and bars. The Jazz Time Cafe (051 430 5727) is a good bet for late-night cocktails and lounge music.
South Africa city guide to Cape Town
South Africa city guide to Port Elizabeth
South Africa city guide to Durban
South Africa city guide to Nelspruit
South Africa city guide to Pretoria
South Africa city guide to Rustenberg
South Africa city guide to Johannesburg
South Africa city guide to Polkowane

Francisca Kellett and Lizzie Williams are the co-authors of the 2009 South Africa Handbook, published by Footprint (www.footprintbooks.com).

How To Create Your Own Personal Blackberry Themes

How To Create Your Own Personal Blackberry Themes
Article by BrileyKenney (1,517 pts )


A step-by-step guide on how to use the Plasmic Blackberry Theme Builder to create your own custom Blackberry themes.

Getting The Necessary Tools

The first step to building or making anything is, of course, collecting the right tools to do so. In this case the brick and mortar is a little easier to get a hold of and quite a bit cheaper. In order to create your custom theme you will need several things which are listed below.
A Computer-obviously.
A Mini-USB data cable- to connect your Blackberry to the computer.
The Plazmic Theme Builder
Photo Editing Software- To edit and change the theme files for your device.
Blackberry Desktop Manager- To install and remove existing themes and applications on the device.

The very first step we must take is to download the Plazmic Theme builder and the additional Java and Blackberry data files that are needed so your computer can recognize the themes.

Step 1: Download the Plazmic Content Developers Kit for the Blackberry. (You will have to give your name and address and an existing e-mail address, this is simply to register the software)

Step 1.5: Download and install Java JDK version 1.5 or higher on your computer, the latest release at the time this article was edited was Java JDK version 1.6.

Step 2: Download Blackberry JDE (You will have to register for Blackberry's development program in order to download this but it does not cost anything)

Step 3: Download the Blackberry MDS/Email simulator.

Step 4: Download the Blackberry Device Simulator.

Step 5: Install all the programs in that same order before starting Plazmic. It seems like a long and worthless process but I assure you once the theme builder is up and running you will have tons of custom themes on your phone all made by you!
Welcome To Plazmic

Once everything has been downloaded and installed correctly it's time to boot up the Blackberry Plazmic Theme builder. The Plazmic install will install a folder in the programs menu (If you didn't change default settings during install) called "Plazmic CDK 4.5 for Blackberry". Inside the folder (as seen below) will be two applications, one labeled "composer" and the other is named "theme builder".

Select the Theme Builder application and you will be greeted with the Plazmic load screen. Upon booting up you will then be prompted with a new menu box; it will be asking for the name you wish to designate for your new theme as well as the size and type.



The name that is chosen will always remain up to you, in this case however we're just going to leave it as Untitled because it can always be changed later.

The size depends on your Blackberry model number, there are only two sizes and it's rather obvious which size your screen is; *320*240 is wider than it is tall, and the 240*260 screen is opposite. The Blackberry I will be working with is the 8830 World Edition, so 320*240 is the correct resolution size in my case.

The final choice is the type of theme layout and there is a corresponding thumbnail of the chosen type included in the box; the type is basically the overall layout of the home screen for the custom theme. Once you have chosen the theme type you like best click the create button and you will be brought to the main theme creation screen.
Plazmic's Layout

The theme creation screen appears complicated at first but it is actually rather simple. Here is a basic breakdown of the program's layout.

On the left is a skin of the Blackberry device you are creating the theme for; this can be changed to any corresponding Blackberry model as you wish. Navigate to the VIEW menu across the top, and then select the Change Plastics option. You will then be prompted with a pop up box listing different Blackberry models and their matching skins; once you have found the model you wish to display choose it and then click the APPLY button in the bottom right. The skin on the left should refresh; and then you may click the OK button to close the prompt box.

The right side is known as the Inspector menu, where you can change the different screens of the theme. The buttons on the left will let you change each aspect of the them and are listed as follows from top to bottom; banner, home Screen and application Menu, home Screen background and icons, dialog buttons with menus and title bars, message list, call screens, lock screen, and of course the navigation and cursor buttons. A quick browsing through each of the sections proves that this program will completely allow you to customize your theme to your liking. Different pictures can be chosen for the background, lock screen, and incoming call screens. The buttons and icons can also all be altered, and swapped for those you designed specifically for your theme.
More Advanced Tutorial

For the more advanced users, who can now continue on their own; you are free to do as you wish with the program and experiment with the different settings on your own. Once a theme has been built you can click on the EXPORT button under FILE and then Plazmic will then begin building the theme once you have chosen wether you want it in ALX or JAD formats. The Blackberry desktop manager allows ALX files to be installed onto the Blackberry through the Application Loader program therefore ALX would more than likely be the best choice for export.

For beginners who are still lost and would like to know how to advance further with the theme builder you may continue on to the more advanced tutorial.(http://www.brighthub.com)

Friday, 29 January 2010

England to be best supported in South Africa and potential new phase for ticket sales to be introduced

England to be best supported in South Africa and potential new phase for ticket sales to be introduced



Tuesday, 26 January 2010 08:56


Rumour and speculation is trickling through that ticket sales for the World Cup in June are not going as hoped and that England supporters might get an increased allocation. Surely, if this is true, it just strengthens the England Bid for 2018?

The news comes after several countries announced that they have only sold a fraction of their tickets for the event starting in just over four months.

FIFA is due to announce today the results of the third phase of ticket sales tomorrow and the talk is that they will add an additional phase to allow national associations more time to sell their tickets.

England look set to be one of the best supported nations in South Africa as the Football Association announced recently that members of Englandfans, the official supporters' club, had bought 23,000 of the official allocation of 29,000 available with half of the unsold tickets an allocation to the third-fourth place play-off match, traditionally a match that doesn't sell very quickly.

But it isn't just England that are selling well, the United States also look like they will be one of the best supported teams at the World Cup and it is expected there will be large numbers travelling from the US.

If FIFA do add an additional phase to the ticket sales, there is every chance that the allocation for England fans will also increase for matches where they are over subscribed which means more tickets for supporters travelling to South Africa.

It is worth noting that the figures above are from the English FA and that tickets sold via the FIFA website are not added. So, while England fans have purchased 23,000 tickets of 29,000 available through the FA - there is every chance that they have sold another 23,000 through the FIFA website.

One thing you can be sure of and that is the World Cup will be a sell out, but don't think that means you can relax and take it easy. Phase four stars on February 9th - you have to get your tickets ordered or you might not get one.
http://www.worldcup2010southafrica.com

Cape Town stadium is ready and waiting for some football

Monday, 21 December 2009 15:11


The stadium to be used in Cape Town during the 2010 World Cup is now complete and the keys are now firmly in the pocket of Cape Town Executive Mayor Alderman Dan Plato.

“At a special ceremony to mark the completion of one of the world’s most spectacular stadiums, the ‘keys’ will be handed by the main contractors, Murray and Roberts and WBHO, to Cape Town’s Executive Mayor, Alderman Dan Plato,” the city said in a statement last week.

The stadium is a 68,000 all seater facility and construction began in March 2007 and it has been completed on schedule, if a little over budget.

During construction the stadium used 96,000 cubic metres of concrete, the roof has a total weight of 4,700 tons (about the same weight as 325 London double decker buses) and uses 9,000 glass panels to over 37,000 square metres of roof.

The stadium is also now officially named the Cape Town Stadium and will host eight matches during the World Cup including one semi final match.

http://www.worldcup2010southafrica.com

Articles: flower

Articles: flower essences

Below are the articles associated with this topic. Click on a title to read one.

Aquarius Flower Oils
by Simon France

Flower oils bridge the gap between orally taken flower remedies, such as the Bach Flower Remedies, and essential oils. Whereas flower remedies are made by floating flowers in water in direct sunlight, flower oils use oil as the medium.

Bach Flower 'Maintenance' Remedy - Astrologically Derived 'Personal Elixir'(tm)
by William Wilson

The author tells us that information has recently come to light that Dr. Edward Bach, in addition to his ‘reactive’ Rescue Remedy, had also developed a ‘pro-active’™ remedy, a preventative, or ‘Maintenance Remedy’™, unique to each individual.

Bach Flower - Case Studies
by Barbara Stanhope-Williamson

I will not repeat the history and background of the Bach Flower Remedies which was so well documented in the last Issue of Positive Health, except to say that the Remedies are added to a 30ml bottle containing spring water (not carbonated) and a teaspoonful of brandy as a preservative. Up to six Remedies can be used in one bottle. Dr Bach himself used eight Remedies on a few occasions, but rarely more than six are needed. The brandy is omitted for alcoholics and children, and these bottles should be kept in a refrigerator.

Bach Flower Remedies: Correspondences with the Chakras
by Anna Jeoffroy

It was in the early 1990s that I first came across the Dr Bach's Flower remedies. I was introducing a speaker from the Bach Centre to an Association of Reflexologists Meeting.

Case Study: Bach Flower Remedies for Pain Relief
by Manuela Malaguti Boyle

In this Case Study, the author discusses the findings of the possible therapeutic and psychological value of Bach Flower Remedies in pain relief as conducted at the Bach Centre in the UK, some years ago. The cases included 398 studies of which 384 were allowed to be examined.

Church Farm Rose Essences
by Val Boulting

The therapeutic qualities of the rose are esoteric, in the same way its esoteric qualities are therapeutic. Any explanation contains an undeniable mystery, as much as the mystery of – what is ill health? Ultimately the whole matter can only be resolved by intuition, trust and faith. One shouldn’t be distracted by any seeming paradox.

Dr Arthur Bailey Flower Essences
by Sue Ainley

This column focuses on Dr Arthur Bailey and his flower essence remedies, alongside those of the well-known Dr Bach and his remedies.

First Light Flower Essences of New Zealand
by Franchelle Ofsoske-Wyber and Anthony Wyber

The native flora of New Zealand has many extraordinary and unique characteristics, due to its protracted isolation and an absence of human habitation. First Light Flower Essences are made from ancient species of trees, such as the Rimu and the Kauri, and New Zealand ferns, which are particularly effective at releasing deep and extensive trauma. The flower essences embody the emerging Aquarian Age, with its fundamental essence in the quality of co-operation and non-competition – this is also reflected in the nature of New Zealand's plant life and eco-system, as the authors explain.

Flower Essence Therapy = Beauty + Science
by Sheila Balgobin

This article presents research data on the effectiveness of flower and vibrational essences therapy as a healing modality.

Flower Essences for Evolutionary Healing and Spiritual Growth
by Elizabeth Chandler

Elizabeth Chandler looks at flower essences and their therapeutic effects which can influence us on many levels. Flower essences can be used for many conditions including physical, neurological, emotional, realignment of subtle anatomy, improvement of psychic development and softening the response to anti-cancer treatment. Chandler reminds us that flowers have been used for healing for thousands of years.

Flower Essences for Personal Transformation
by Debbie Sellwood

The author points out that we are living ‘through a period of deep transition’, and that we are buffeted by an accelerating pace of life, and intensifying energies; the breakdown of traditions, and the changing face of many economic, political and social elements.

Flower Essences in General Practice
by Dr Andrew Tressider

To have a practitioner of Complementary Medicine (CM) as one's partner in General Practice has positive benefits for the entire practice by providing an opportunity for individuals to seek alternatives to standard pharmacological approaches to ailments of either mind or body.

Flower Remedies - How They Can Help in Arthritis
by Dr Rupa A Shah

Dr Shah was trained in allopathic medicine, but 16 years ago became interested in homeopathy and from there started to research and produce Indian flower remedies. In this article, she presents a case example of a 33-year-old woman severely crippled with rheumatoid arthritis who made a dramatic recovery following flower therapy.

Flowers - the Essence of Consciousness
by Peter Tadd

This article gives a detailed insight into the world of flower essences. The author is a clairvoyant healer and teacher who runs training courses on the chakra system and the auric fields, and also a new method of tactile healing that combines the Chinese five element theory, qi gong and numerous intra-meridial acupuncture points.

Flowers and Colour as a Healing Tool
by Suzy Chiazzari

Flowers have been used throughout history for their healing powers and today we still use them in many forms. As more people become disillusioned with the side-effects caused by many modern drugs, a return to the purer and simpler healing methods used in herbalism, aromatherapy, homoeopathy and flower essences is gaining in popularity.

Healing from the Heart
by Judy Griffin, Ph.D.

In many ancient cultures there are remedies to heal the body and cures to heal the heart. They balance and express our deepest feelings and desires, the part of us that no one else owns or can heal. Flowers are very sensitive instruments for measuring and expressing emotions.

Health Applications of Flower Essences
by Clare G Harvey

The author looks at the ancient and modern art and application of flower remedies which can be traced back to the Egyptian civilisation (who possessed knowledge of the therapeutic qualities and curative powers of flowers), the aboriginal people (who also developed a unique system of medicine and Swiss Alchemist Paracelcus who collected morning dew from blossoms to treat emotional imbalances.

Icelandic Flower Essences - Raising our Awareness
by Kristbjorg E Kristmundsdottir

This author shares the power of the flower essences found in Iceland's unique unpolluted and unspoiled nature.

Moon Flowers: Accessing the Past
by Simon France


This article focuses on Moon Flowers made under moonlight and explains the differences between the qualities that radiate from the Sun and the Moon. It also looks at why the absorption of moonlight into flower remedies allows their healing to reach down into our souls, helping us to release deeply held dysfunctional energetic patterns we have carried with us for many years.


Pacific Essences - Gifts from the Sea
by Sabina Pettitt

The greens and golds and persimmon of the Arbutus trees and the blue of the Pacific Ocean called us to this island in 1981. This jewel in the Pacific is the home and birthplace of Pacific Essences®. It feels like Avalon – a sacred and magical place.

Phytobiophysics - A New Philosophy
by Diana Mossop

Phytobiophysics is a new and relevant scientific approach to the problems of mankind that incorporates modern knowledge, traditional therapies and ancient wisdom. Above all it is a means of accurately assessing causal factors of disease.

Self-Mastery Through Flower Essences
by Lila Devi

If you want to improve your life physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually, consider flower essences: an extraordinary healing method both time-tested and dynamic.

The Healing Power of the Flower Essences
by Rosemary Williams

Rosemary ... sees the Flower Essences as a wonderful network that aims to bring the world together healing through nature.

The Healing Properties of Rosewater and Rose Oil
by Teresa Scarman

The value of rose has been recognized for centuries and today there are four main centres in Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran and France where roses are grown for the production of rosewater and rose oil. In Iran, rosewater is used for a wide range of ailments, and it is often drunk every morning to boost the system.

The Many Uses Of Flower Essences
by Cynthia Alves

The author, a certified essence practitioner, explains the history and meaning of flower essences and describes some of the myriad ways in which they can be used for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and well-being.

The Science of Flower Essence Therapy
by Richard Katz

Richard Katz, founder and associate director of the Flower Essence Society in California, explains how flower essence therapy works, based on the Society's research findings, the many reports the Society has collected from around the world over the last 20 years and case study evidence.

Understanding Flower Essences
by Cynthia Alves

This article takes both a scientific and more spiritual look at the use of flower essences, which are neither essential oils extracted from the plants nor homeopathic, but rather vibrational essences.

Predicting 2010: iPod and iPhone

Predicting 2010: iPod and iPhone
Written on December 07, 2009 by Darrell Etherington


The dawn of a new year never fails to make me excited about all the potential for new devices we’ll inevitably see released. This year is no different, and for Apple’s iPod and iPhone, there are some storms that have been brewing for quite a while that should break in 2010. Hope you packed a raincoat.

I recently came across my still functional (including decent battery life) 30GB iPod Video while rooting through my drawers looking for a proprietary USB cable. After I charged it and booted it up, the palpable feeling of the HDD platter spinning up, and the faint sound that accompanies said action reminded me of just how far we’ve come, and of how far we’ve yet to go with Apple’s portable devices. Here’s where I think we’re headed next.
The iPod

It’s long been the linchpin in Apple’s lineup of product offerings, and it deserves eternal respect for the role it had in reversing the company’s fortunes, but the iPod no longer enjoys the place of highest favor among Apple products, mobile or otherwise. I predict, as a general trend, a continued downplaying of the iPod’s role at Apple, and significant changes to the products on offer as a result of that trend.

Video Comes to the Touch

Probability: Guaranteed
The evidence all but guarantees that video is meant to come to the iPod touch sooner or later, and I predict it will be sooner, rather than later. Tear-downs of the most recently released iteration of the touch revealed a space perfectly designed for the same camera guts found in the new iPod nano, so unless Apple is just very interested in toying maliciously with Apple rumor hounds, this one is basically in the bag. It doesn’t hurt that it’s the next logical step for the rising star of Apple’s iPod lineup.

iPod Classic Gets Retired

Probability: Possible
It’s served long, and it’s served well, but the HD-based iPod Classic is not long for this world, in my opinion. Apple’s already streamlined the Classic to a single available model, and as the price of flash memory begins to trend downwards again in 2010, I think they’ll do away with the beast altogether and focus on turning Classic customers into iPod touch devotees.

Touch-based Control Returns to Shuffle

Probability: Possible
One of Apple’s most questionable decisions made in the service of sexy design is the loss of any and all buttons on the iPod shuffle. I think it will respond to mixed reviews and consumer skepticism by returning some form of manual (ie. non-voice) control to the device itself. That doesn’t necessarily mean buttons will return, if they can figure out some way to make use of the multi-touch tech it’s so clearly in love with.

Nano Gets Incremental Video Upgrades

Probability: Guaranteed
Look for the iPod nano to get steady improvements in the quality of its video camera, and in what you can do with said video on and off the device. Apple’s made its big changes to the device, and will now move into what amounts to a holding pattern in which it upgrades the upgrades it’s already introduced. And consumers will continue shelling out with each bump up.
The iPhone

Predicting where the iPhone will go is a bit more challenging than making calls about the iPod lineup. The upgrades made with the 3GS were logical enough, since many of them amounted to putting things in that should probably have been there in the first place.

The Usual

Probability: Guaranteed
There are the standard upgrades to be expected with any new model. These things include storage bumps (64GB next time around), improvements to the camera and video recording (bump up to 5 megapixels possible, but by no means a sure thing), and improvements to the processing and graphics rendering capabilities of the iPhone. They’re boring and we know they’re coming, so let’s not waste time on this.

New Look

Probability: Possible
The iPhone is incredibly recognizable, and that probably had something to do with the reason the 3GS still has the same distinctive look as the 3G. Other probable reasons include a rushed roll-out, and more emphasis on internal changes. I think next time around, we’ll be treated to a new look, and I wouldn’t exclude the possibility that we may have already seen some early prototypes of this design change.

Better Peer-to-Peer

Probability: Guaranteed
The future of mobile tech is in peer-to-peer interaction between devices. Apple knows this, and that’s why it opened up Bluetooth interaction between devices when it released iPhone 3.0. I think Apple will make further efforts to make P2P experiences technically better and more seamless in the next update. That might come via improved Bluetooth, or using the recently revealed Wi-Fi Direct tech that Apple’s thrown its support behind.

Physical Keyboard
this article from http://theappleblog.com

World Cup 2010 Football Betting Online

World Cup 2010 Football Betting Online

The World Cup 2010 draw has been made in Cape Town and we now know the eight groups as well as the times and dates for each match. England have been drawn in Group C with USA, Slovenia and Algeria in a good looking group for Fabio Capello's men in South Africa. With the Draw being made we also formulated the World Cup Fixtures for you to study with every game now mapped out, you can follow your teams route all the way to the final!

Check Out the World Cup Groups Right Here Now

The World Cup Odds are now also starting to take shape as we know the ful list of 32 teams who will be heading to South Africa in the summer.
Paddy Power Free £50 Bet For 2010 World Cup

Irish Bookmakers, Paddy Power have become one of the most respected names in online bookmaking and have developed many specialists sports betting markets. The 2010 FIFA World Cup is no exception and customers can be sure of the best possible prices for all matches. New customers are being offered a FREE BET facility of £50 for any bet that they care to make on any match, giving them a fantastic opportunity to profit from the outset. Just follow the prompts after clicking the banner

Claim a free bet of £50 For the World Cup From Paddy Power
World Cup Qualified Teams
S Africa
Brazil - Brazil World cup Odds
Paraguay
Chile
Australia
Japan
S Korea
N Korea
Denmark
Germany
Spain - Spain World Cup Odds
England - England World Cup Odds
Serbia
Italy - Italy World Cup Odds
Holland
USA
Mexico
Ghana
Ivory Coast
Slovakia
Honduras
Argentina - Argentina World Cup Odds
Switzerland
New Zealand
Cameroon
Nigeria
France - France World Cup Odds
Slovenia
Greece
Portugal
Uruguay
Algeria

http://www.world-cup-guide.com/

Netbook Smart Olive X107, Online Makin praktis aja

Netbook Smart Olive X107, Online Makin praktis
Posted by shiro in Featured Articles, internet


akhir-akhir ini banyak pengguna internet mencari referensi laptop atau nte book salah satunya adalah produk dari smart yaitu netbook smart olive x107

Tuntutan Online saat ini adalah kebutuhan bagia banyak kalangan. Bagi mereka yang memiliki mobilitas tinggi, peralatan yang mampu dipakai untuk online kapan dan dimana saja adalah sesuatu yang wajib dimiliki. Memamng beberapa gadget menawarkan kemudahan online dengan praktis seperti smartphone atau Ultra Mobile PC. Tapi bagi mereka yg butuh mengerjakan aplikasi kantoran dan tidak terbiasa dengan smartphone atau UMPC bisa menggunakan Netbook.



Tentunya cukup berbahaya jika anda online untuk kepentingan bisnis menggunakan Wifi gratisan. Siapa tahu si pemilik Wifi telah memasang kode-kode yang dapat mengintai akun-akun penting anda. Untuk itulah, sebuah koneksi internet dari modem saya rasa lebih aman untuk bekerja bagi mereka yang memang aktif online.

Modem masih memiliki satu kelemahan. Bagaimana jika modem tersebut tertinggal?? Bisa berakhir harapan anda terkoneksi jika sampai hal ini terjadi.

Seolah mengerti dengan kebutuhan pelanggan seperti ini, Smart telecom menyediakan sebuah paket bundling yang luar biasa hebat. Paket bundling yang saya maksud adalah paket gabungan antara Netbook Olive X107 dan Smart EVDO (paket platinum) selama 30 hari.

Netbook sudah ditanami modem dengan kemampuan koneksi maksimal adalah EVDO yang memiliki kecepatan sampai dengan 3,1 MBps. Untuk melihat jangkauan sinyal EVDO silahkan anda lihat disini.

Spesifikasi smart netbook Olive X107
- Prosesor Intel atom N270 1,6 GHz
- build in Modem CDMA 1X EVDO Rev 1900Mhz dan Wifi
- Layar 10,2 inchi
- Memory 1 GB RAM DDR II
- Hardisk 160 Gb (ukuran 1,8 inchi)
- web camera 1,3 Mega pixel
- kecepatan maksimal download adalah 3,1 MBps dengan jaringan EVDO, Setara dengan 3,5G
- 3 Buah slot USB dan internal card reader
- Tersedia dalam 2 warna (hitam dan putih)
- harga Rp. 4.690.000Rp. 4,398,900 (sudah termasuk PPN dan pulsa 10 ribu)
- Gratis Internet Unlimited 30 Hari dengan paket internet SMART platinum

dalam versi english atau inggris sudah pernah di posting terima kasih atas kunjungan setianya

Sunday, 24 January 2010

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    * البابا شنودة يرفض استقبال وفد أميركي أراد مناقشة مشاكل المسيحيين
    * أبو الغيط وسليمان في صنعاء: مصر ستدعم اليمن وستشارك في آليات أمنية أو اقتصادية
    * مستشار الرئيس اليمني لـ «الشرق الأوسط»: لا صلة بين الحراك الجنوبي و«القاعدة»
    * اليمن: اعتقال 36 من أنصار «الحراك» ومظاهرات في الجنوب
    * المنظمات الفلسطينية تنضم إلى «الاستنفار» اللبناني.. وتنفي «المناورات»

  

    * استياء من تهديدات أمريكية بمعاقبة وسائل إعلام عربية
    * 42 جريحاً باندلاع حريق في طائرة ركاب إيرانية أثناء الهبوط
    * كوريا الشمالية لسيؤول: أي ضربة استباقية "إعلان حرب"
    * نتنياهو: إسرائيل لا تخطط لمهاجمة لبنان
    * HRW: تدعو نيجيريا للتحقيق في أحداث عنف طائفية
    * العثور على جثث 20 جندياً سعودياً فقدوا بمعارك "جبل الدخان"
    * بايدن للعراقيين: إدارة أوباما ستطعن بقرار تبرئة "بلاكووتر"
    * الشباب يطيح بالجزيرة ليواجه الإمارات بنهائي كأس الرئيس
    * مصر: المحكمة تحيل 3 متهمين بـ"خلية حزب الله" للجنة طبية
    * 21 قتيلاً بينهم 15 مسلحاً وطفلان في هجمات بباكستان

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COCA COLA TAKES FIFA WORLD CUP TROPHY ON BIGGEST EVER WORLD TOUR

Article: COCA COLA TAKES FIFA WORLD CUP TROPHY ON BIGGEST EVER WORLD TOUR

  In some place in the world  are selebration for world cup champion in south africa 2010 asia, africa,america,australia,eropa....some factory is coca-cola with even is even with tropy world cup

Second Ever `FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola' to Visit 89 Cities in 86 Countries

During Nine-Month 134,017 Kilometer Journey Coca-Cola to Distribute Free Tickets to Fans in Every Country for a Chance to See the Authentic FIFA World Cup Trophy

maybe for special people for long place from africa


this tropy is long time 137 again for competition in south africa 2010

Top 10 techs of 2010


Top 10 techs of 2010

Posted on 8 Jan 2010 at 13:53 (http://www.pcpro.co.uk)

We predict the ten technologies everyone will be talking about in the year ahead – and find out how well we did with last year’s prophecies
1. AUGMENTED REALITY
Augmented reality is the process of overlaying the real world with additional information – bringing up book reviews when looking at a novel on your cameraphone, for example, or displaying historical facts when you’re staring at a monument. It’s a technology that companies from IBM to Microsoft have tinkered with over the years, although with no more success than a dog pawing at a Rubik’s cube.
However, 2009 brought a breakthrough, thanks in no small part to the iPhone. The combination of its camera, processing power, high-quality screen and GPS means that almost by accident, Apple has created the perfect device for running such services. This has left companies free to concentrate on developing the software, with impressive results.

How did we do in 2009?

How did our predictions pan out for 2009? Find out here.
Esquire magazine experimented with the technology to bring extra content to its articles, with barcodes beneath stories triggering videos and additional information when the smartphone’s camera was hovered over them. More useful in daily life, however, are the iPhone apps that overlay the street with directions to Tube stations and restaurants, but that’s barely the beginning.
The US military is developing an Android app that overlays engines with schematics, potentially turning anybody into a mechanic, while Nintendo’s Ghostwire game will overlay spooks and spectres on the real world with the DSi’s built-in camera. Swedish firm TAT is even developing an app that identifies people, and floods your screen with information scavenged from the internet.
If this breakneck pace of development continues, augmented reality could prove to be the standout technology of 2010.
2. MOTION TRACKING
Few tech demonstrations caused as much of a stir in 2009 as Microsoft’s Project Natal. Designed primarily for the Xbox 360 console, the full-body motion and audio sensor will provide a completely new way of interacting with games in 2010. Demonstrations of the technology included the rather creepy Milo, a virtual boy who can understand natural speech and read your body language, if Microsoft’s video is to be believed.

Yet, Natal is potentially much more than a plaything. The combination of RGB camera, depth sensor, multi-array microphone and dedicated software could make a difference in the workplace. “Face recognition, gesture control, watching what the user is actually doing… A small amount of this wizardry could make a significant improvement to the business desktop,” our own contributing editor Jon Honeyball speculated.
Indeed, Microsoft is already moving beyond the Natal concept and is now working on sensors that monitor muscle movements. These would allow you to pinch your fingers to change tracks on your MP3 player while jogging, for example, or squeeze your hand to open the car door when you can’t reach your keys. Most of this could turn out to be blue-sky nonsense, but if Natal does prove to be the gaming hit of 2010, it could really get the world in motion.
3. OLED
Since TFTs replaced CRTs, no earth-shattering advances have occurred in the field of desktop monitors. A steady decrease in response times, a move to widescreen and plummeting prices are all incremental steps, while the introduction of LED backlights makes little real difference to the viewing experience. Organic LED (OLED) technology – in which every pixel emits its own light and no backlight is required – will change all that.
OLED has already penetrated the handheld market, and its advantages – stunning contrast, high power efficiency, easy “printing” onto flexible materials – mean it will inevitably seep upwards into larger or more innovative devices. We’ve seen luxurious keyboards with dynamic OLED key labels; hi-tech watches with OLED faces; at Intel’s Developer Forum we even saw a laptop with three additional OLED screens beneath its main TFT.
We’re still some way from seeing OLED monitors or TVs at reasonable prices, but Samsung, the largest OLED manufacturer, has predicted that the technology will be commercially viable for laptop displays in late 2010. That remains an exciting day in the distance, but while we wait we can pass the time with any of the large number of smartphones, media players, digital cameras and photo frames sure to make the logical move to a display technology that perfectly suits their needs.
4. USB 3
USB 3’s final specification may have been confirmed in November 2008, but it isn’t until 2010 that the super-fast technology will begin to make waves, as component and peripheral manufacturers introduce products that can take advantage of the super-fast standard.
USB 3 cable
It’s ten times faster than the near-decade-old USB 2, with the new SuperSpeed mode running at 4.8Gbits/sec rather than the mere 480Mbits/sec offered by the old standard, meaning that a 25GB file can be transferred in only 1min 10secs. USB 3 cables can also power larger devices, with the new wires carrying 150mA of juice compared to 100mA from USB 2.
USB 3 may be backwards compatible, but firms are already preparing products that will benefit from the additional speed and power on offer: the first USB 3 motherboards have already landed in the PC Pro Labs, and a wide range of products – including external hard disks, IP cameras, DisplayLink devices and high-end flash drives – will be unveiled in the coming year.
5. ANDROID MARCHES ON
Nobody was particularly overwhelmed when Google Android made its debut in the T-Mobile G1 back in February, although as we stated at the time, that was more down to the lacklustre hardware than the operating system itself. A succession of vastly improved handsets later (such as the HTC Hero, Droid and more recently the Nexus One), and Android is now the most credible threat to the iPhone OS’s sheer desirability.
Android has one huge benefit over the iPhone OS: it isn’t tied to a single piece of (albeit magnificent) hardware. That’s why international analyst firm Gartner predicts it will overtake BlackBerry OS, Windows Mobile and the iPhone OS to become the world’s second biggest mobile operating system (behind Symbian) by 2012.
HTC Hero
There’s plenty to look forward to before then, however. The forthcoming Android 2 software will offer features such as multiple email accounts (including Exchange), improved camera support and social-networking synchronisation. Google has also lobbed a hand grenade into the back garden of satnav makers such as TomTom and Garmin by offering free turn-by-turn directions on Android 2, a feature that could arrive in the UK in 2010.
With Nokia still busy at the drawing board with the next version of Symbian, and Windows Mobile 7 unlikely to appear until the summer at the earliest, Android is poised to be the smartphone OS of the year. Just pray that it’s kept away from netbooks (see our review of the Acer Aspire One D250 to find out why).



Friday, 22 January 2010

Players Who Really Shouldn't Be At the 2010 World Cup...But Just Might

Players Who Really Shouldn't Be At the 2010 World Cup...But Just Might
You'll hear ex-players, with their cushy jobs as 'state-the-bloody-obvious' media pundits, bang on and on about needing experienced players in national squads who know what to do when the team is up against it.

And, I concede, it's a fair point. However, what often happens is that managers end up playing safe and picking players that are way past their prime. I expect this World Cup Finals to be no different, and here a few of the players that may end up in South Africa this summer, but really shouldn't be anywhere near the place.

1: Vincenzo Iaquinta (Italy)

Agreed, Iaquinta has scored plenty of goals in a decade long career in Serie A and seems to have had something of a rennaisance at Juve under Claudio Ranieri and Ciro Ferrara. This presumably is why Marcelo Lippi recalled Iaquinta to the Italy squad for the 2010 qualifying campaign.

The thing is, though, he's just not world class. He's scored only 5 goals in 35 international appearances and 2 of those were in a friendly against New Zealand.

At the 2006 World Cup, he got only one goal in five matches and looked out of his depth. Lippi really should say 'thanks, but no thanks' to Iaquinta.

2: Martin Palermo (Argentina)

Argentina have a fine array of attacking talent : Messi, Tevez, Aguero, Milito, Higuain. The names just roll off the tongue.

They also have Martin Palermo. You might remember that Palermo scored the goal that took Argentina through to the World Cup Finals and saved manager Diego Maradona' job.

What you probably don't know is that Palermo is 36 and, until his recent recall to the national team, hadn't played for Argentina in 10 years. The reason for that is: he's not a great player as his time in Spain showed and there are loads of others ahead of him in the queue.

However, who knows what goes through the mind of Maradona? And he did score 'that' goal.

3: Mark Viduka (Australia)

I suspect that Mark Viduka is sitting on a beach in Oz at this very moment, sipping a lager and counting his money. What he definitely isn't doing is playing football, as the 32 year old is currently without a club.

When he could be bothered, Viduka was a great centre forward, but mainly he couldn't be bothered. He couldn't even be bothered to play for Australia when specifically asked by manager Pim Verbeek.

So, it's very, very unlikely that Viduka will get anywhere near the 2010 World Cup, right? Well, answer me this question. Name me three forwards currently in the Australian national squad? No? OK, name me one?

You see my point. Currently, Australia doesn't have a single striker that is known outside of Australia itself. So, if Viduka does decide to play a little soccer again, it's just a very small possibility that the lazy bugger will be recalled for the 2010 World Cup Finals.

4: David James (England)

At the other end of the likelihood spectrum we have David James, currently at Portsmouth and still - when fit - England's number one goalkeeper.

How this state of affairs came to pass is a mystery to me. England used to churn out top class 'keepers like a production line : Banks, Shilton, Clemence, Seaman. There were loads.

Now, they've got a 'keeper whose nickname is 'calamity' and who still, despite a significant improvement in his overall game, makes stupid mistakes on a regular basis.

In an ideal world, there is no way David James should be playing at the World Cup Finals. Unfortunately, unless Joe Hart makes an undeniable case for himself in forthcoming friendlies, he probably will be.

Labels: argentina, australia, david james, england, italy, mark viduka, martin palermo, vincenzo iaquinta

Thursday, 21 January 2010

Pele Vs Maradona By Brono Pisino

Going on forever, a conclusive answer as to who the best player in the history of the game is remains elusive, regardless of the exhaustive statistical comparisons conducted by soccer analysts. Though many have advanced arguments for one over the other, there is indeed no doubt that both have dazzled us with their abundant talent and stand as Soccer Gods, head and shoulders above numerous highly-talented predecessors and successors.
Dubbed as the Black Pearl, Pele boasts three World Cup wins, along with Copa Libertadores', Intercontinental Cups, a FIFA Player of the Century Award, among numerous other Brazilian and American titles. However, the stat mostly used by soccer pundits in favor of the Brazilian is his goal-scoring record of 1280 score in 1363 games. A mouth-opening stat by any standard, many "Pibe de Oro" lovers frequently downplay that stat by alluding to the quality of defenders in the leagues where Pele made a name for himself.
Arguments advanced in Maradona's favor, on the other hand, revolve around his sole-handed win of the Mexico '86 World Cup - a time when the modest talents of Valdano and Burruchaga were his only lifeline.
Lacking in the silverware department, he won league titles in Argentina and Italy, national Cups in Spain and Italy, and many individual honors, including best player at the '86 World Cup, FIFA Goal of the Century, and FIFA Player of the Century (People's Choice). Marred by numerous scandals and cocaine addiction, he remains a God in Napoli and Argentina.
With lots of statistics and skills lacking from this nutshell overview, we at Custom Soccer Uniforms cherish both Maradona and Pele for their sizzling performances and thank them for what they gave to a sacred game we revere. However, we understand that everyone is entitled to a personal opinion.
That is why we manufacture authentic and customized replica shirts of both players for you play a part in the debate and to voice your vote of confidence. Do you think Eusebio, Cruyff, Zidane or Ronaldo belong in their league as well? Then their soccer jerseys are yours as well! At Custom Soccer Uniforms, we simply live soccer; so check out our soccer uniforms, soccer equipment and soccer gear today!

Browse through Custom Soccer Uniforms extensive collection of replica soccer kits.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brono_Pisino

Guide To Buy A Laptop

Guide To Buy A Laptop
the future many people using laptop daily or weekly for support activity and job
This is a guide by me of how to buy a laptop. First of all.. I need to tell you guys i'm NOT a laptop fan because I'm hate not comfortable working with laptop but at least with a great a little knowledge of mine in computer i can guide you how to choose a laptop.

1. BUDGET
This is the most important thing when you want to buy not only laptop.. but everything you want to buy. You must first consider your budget before go to shop and make choice because the salesman will make sure you buy the CHEAPEST highest price laptop. You must make a range of your budget for example RM2000-RM2600  or maybe with dollar and rupiah rupee, yen or etc this multy ple choise is shep and efective and effisien. Don't be cheated by the free gift from buying the laptop because the free gift is usually the cheapest item on the market and you can purchase it yourself later.




2. PURPOSES
Purposes are also important point in buying a laptop. For example if you want to buy a laptop for presentation (eg. for lecturer) and travel a lot, you may need a small laptop like SONY VAIO P Series. If you're a student and do a lot of work and playing games with your laptop.. maybe you need a casual laptop that sell a lot nowadays.

3. Brands
Here 3 example of brands that in your budget.


There are a lot of brands nowadays with same price range with a different performance. For example
1. CompaQ are known because it is the cheapest brand with good hardware.
2. Toshiba are known as the highest price and long lasting laptop
3. Dell are known as the BEST after service provider.



4. Hardware and Performance
From the three example above.. you can compare the spec of all the three item. You can ask someone who knows about computer hardware and suggest it to you OR you can search the internet for people's review about the item. A lot of people like to write review about laptop or computer hardware so you can easily find a nice review.

(http://astroxknot.blogspot.com/)

axioo zetta

Processor
    Intel � Core � 2 Duo Processor P9500 ~ (2.53 GHz, 45nm, 6MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Intel � Core � 2 Duo Processor T9400/ T9600 ~ (2.53/2.80 GHz, 45nm, 6MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Chipset
    Intel GM45 (MCH) + ICH9-M (ICH)
Memory
    2x 200 Pin SO-DIMM Socket
Memory Expandable up to 4GB (1024/ 2048 MB DDR2 Module)
Support DDR2-667/ 800 MHz (Known As PC5300/ PC6400)
Graphics
    Intel� GMA 4500MHD
Memory Shared up to 256MB
Support Microsoft� DirectX� 10
Processor
    12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT LCD
Storage
    1x HDD 2.5" SATA
1x DVD Writer Dual Drive SATA
Keyboard
    Winkey Keyboard
Built-in Touch Pad
Audio
    High Definition Audio
Direct Sound 3D Compatible
Built-in Microphone & 2x Speaker
IO
    3x USB 2.0 Ports (USB 1.1 Compatible)
1x External CRT
1x Headphone Jack
1x Microphone Jack
1x Internal Microphone
1x RJ-45 Jack for LAN
1x RJ-11 Jack for Modem
1x DC-In Jack
Slots
    7 in 1 Card Reader Support (MMC/ RSMMC/ SD/ Mini SD/ MS/ MS Duo/ MS Pro)
1x Express Card 54(34) Slot
2x Mini-Card Slot with USB & PCIe Interface
(1st for WLAN Module, 2nd for Intel� Turbo Memory)
Communication
    Gigabit Ethernet (10/ 100/ 1000 Mb)
Intel� WiFi-Link 5100 1x2 802.11AGN/ Intel� WiFi-Link 5300 3x3 802.11AGN
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g Minicard with USB Interface
56K FAX/Modem
Bluetooth� V2.1 + EDR Module With USB Interface
Camera
    2.0 MP Video Camera Module
Power
    Full Range 65Watt AC Adapter
8 Cells Smart Battery Li-ion 14.8V/4400mAh (Removable)
Standby Time : 234 Min & Work Time : 157 Min*
Security
    Kensington� Lock
FingerPrint Securitysupport
BIOS
    Insyde Bios Technology
OS
    Windows� XP SP2 & Windows� VistaTM
Dimension
    299(W) x 219(D) x 26.5~35.7 (H)mm
2.24 kg With 8 cells battery + ODD






Processor
    Intel ® Core ™ 2 Duo Processor T8300 ~ (2.4 GHz, 45nm, 3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz FSB)
Chipset
    Intel GM45 (MCH) + ICH9-M (ICH)
Memory
    2x 200 Pin SO-DIMM Socket
2048MB Memory Expandable up to 4GB
Support DDR2-667/ 800 MHz (Known As PC5300/ PC6400)
Graphics
    Intel® GMA 4500MHD
Memory Shared up to 256MB
Support Microsoft® DirectX® 10
Processor
    12.1" WXGA (1280 x 800) TFT LCD
Storage
    1x HDD 2.5" SATA 320GB
1x DVD Writer Dual Drive SATA
Keyboard
    Winkey Keyboard
Built-in Touch Pad
Audio
    High Definition Audio
Direct Sound 3D Compatible
Built-in Microphone & 2x Speaker
IO
    3x USB 2.0 Ports (USB 1.1 Compatible)
1x External CRT
1x Headphone Jack
1x Microphone Jack
1x Internal Microphone
1x RJ-45 Jack for LAN
1x RJ-11 Jack for Modem
1x DC-In Jack
Slots
    7 in 1 Card Reader Support (MMC/ RSMMC/ SD/ Mini SD/ MS/ MS Duo/ MS Pro)
1x Express Card 54(34) Slot
2x Mini-Card Slot with USB & PCIe Interface
(1st for WLAN Module, 2nd for Intel® Turbo Memory)
Communication
    Gigabit Ethernet (10/ 100/ 1000 Mb)
Intel® WiFi-Link 5100 1x2 802.11AGN/ Intel® WiFi-Link 5300 3x3 802.11AGN
Wireless LAN 802.11b/g Minicard with USB Interface
56K FAX/Modem
Bluetooth™ V2.1 + EDR Module With USB Interface
Camera
    2.0 MP Video Camera Module
Power
    Full Range 65Watt AC Adapter
8 Cells Smart Battery Li-ion 14.8V/4400mAh (Removable)
Standby Time : 234 Min & Work Time : 157 Min*
Security
    Kensington® Lock
FingerPrint Securitysupport
BIOS
    Insyde Bios Technology
OS
   


Windows® XP SP2 & Windows® VistaTM
Dimension
    299(W) x 219(D) x 26.5~35.7 (H)mm
2.24 kg With 8 cells battery + ODD

Saturday, 16 January 2010

Beckham vs Ronaldo: No Contest on Any Scale



For years, if you were to ask the average Joe on the street to name the best soccer player in the world, those who do not follow soccer closely would probably say something to the effect of, “David Beckham.  He’s the only one I know.”
Times have changed, and it appears there’s a challenger for the world’s most famous soccer playboy.
Cristiano Ronaldo is quickly becoming the new Hollywood-style soccer pro who is stirring up the buzz on and off the field.  The 23-year-old is the first since Beckham to draw the attention of the world outside of futbol with a tabloid and paparazzi following that is starting to rival that of the decade-older Beckham.  He nabbed yet another individual award when he comfortably won the iconic Ballon d’Or trophy Tuesday and his sponsorship deal with Nike is making headlines of its own.
Another sign of the attention he is receiving can be seen in the way that the two compare on Google Trends:

While Beckham still holds the edge on the number of total search results for his name with 18.4 million versus 16.2 million for Ronaldo, a Google search for news about each stacks up differently:
  • Google News Results for “Cristiano Ronaldo” - 22,839
  • Google News Results for “David Beckham” - 12,211
Both are talented players.  One is rising to prominence on the field while the other is in the twighlight of his career.  Regardless of how Ronaldo fairs in the future and what Beckham does next, the pictures below say a lot about both… they’re in the spotlight, and they know it.  Whether they are in their soccer apparel or not, the pictures will keep on coming.
On the field, their personalities are as bright as they are off the field.
On the field, their personalities are as bright as they are off the field.


While Ronaldo is in the tabloids regularly with new relationships, Beckham has maintained a long-term marriage.
Any time the shirts come off, the flashbulbs start popping.
Even though they both have Hollywood glamour surrounding them, it's their skills on the field that have propelled them to stardom.
Even though they both have Hollywood glamour surrounding them, it's their skills on the field that have propelled them to stardom.
Read more about soccer stars on this soccer blog.

Association football


Association football

Dimensions

Law 2 of the game specifies that the ball is an air-filled sphere with a circumference of 68–70 cm (27–28 in), a weight 410–450 g (14–16 oz), inflated to a pressure of 0.6 – 1.1 atmosphere (600 – 1,100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in –15.6 lbs/sq in), and covered in leather or "other suitable material".[1] The weight specified for a ball is the dry weight, as older balls often became significantly heavier in the course of a match played in wet weather. The standard ball is a Size 5, although smaller sizes exist: Size 3 is standard for team handball and Size 4 in futsal and other small-field variants. Other sizes are used in underage games or as novelty items.

[edit] Construction

A classic truncated icosahedron football
Glass football trophy
A truncated icosahedron (left) compared with an association football (soccer) ball
Most modern footballs are stitched from 32 panels of waterproofed leather or plastic: 12 regular pentagons and 20 regular hexagons. The 32-panel configuration is the spherical polyhedron corresponding to the truncated icosahedron; it is spherical because the faces bulge due to the pressure of the air inside. The first 32-panel ball was marketed by Select in the 1950s in Denmark. This configuration became common throughout Continental Europe in the 1960s, and was publicised worldwide by the Adidas Telstar, the official ball of the 1970 World Cup.
The familiar 32 panel soccer ball design is sometimes referenced to describe the truncated icosahedron archimedean solid, carbon buckyballs or the root structure of geodesic domes.
The official match ball of the 2006 FIFA World Cup
Older balls were usually stitched from 18 oblong non-waterproof leather panels, similar to the design of the modern volleyballs and Gaelic footballs, and laced to allow access to the internal air bladder. This configuration is still common.
The official FIFA World Cup football for Germany 2006 matches was the 14-panel Adidas +Teamgeist. It was made in Thailand by Adidas, who have provided the official match balls for the tournament since 1970, and is a "thermally bonded" machine-pressed ball, rather than a traditionally stitched one. Adidas will continue to supply the official football for the 2010 and 2014 World Cups.[2]
Another ball with an innovative pattern is the 26-panel Mitre PRO 100T.
There are also indoor footballs, which are made of one or two pieces of plastic. Often these have designs printed on them to resemble a stitched leather ball.

[edit] Oldest

The oldest discovered football was discovered in the roof of Stirling Castle in 1981 [3] and is made of leather (possibly deer [4])and pig's bladder. It has a diameter of between 14-16cm, weighs 125 grams and is currently on display at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum [5] in Stirling, Scotland.

[edit] Child labour

About 80% of association footballs are made in Pakistan. 75% of these (60% of all world production)[6] are made in the city of Sialkot. Child labour was commonly used in the production of the balls. In 1996, during the European championship, activists lobbied to end the use of child labour. This eventually led to the Atlanta Agreement, which seeks to reform the industry to eliminate the use of child labour in the production of balls.[7] This also led to a centralisation of production, which on the one hand would make it easier for the Independent Monitoring Association for Child Labour (IMAC[8]) - an organization created to watch over the Atlanta Agreement - to make sure no child labour occurred, on the other hand often forced workers to commute further to get to work. According to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the problem of eliminating the use of child labour is extremely complex, and that FIFA itself has neither "the experience nor the means to eradicate this wide-reaching problem on its own.".[9]

[edit] American and Canadian football

Early American footballs were essentially rugby balls, later redesigned to make them easier to throw. In this 1907 photo, Bradbury Robinson, who threw the first legal forward pass, demonstrates an "Overhand spiral—fingers on lacing"[10]
In North America, the term football refers to a ball used to play American football or Canadian football (both of which developed from Rugby football). It is also referred to as a "pigskin", because of their early use of pig's bladder to cover the ball (see Medieval football).
Nearly a prolate spheroid, the ball is slightly pointed at the ends, unlike the more elliptical rugby ball. The purpose of this design is to make the ball the most efficient shape to facilitate the forward pass. The Canadian football is slightly less prolate than the American ball and has a closer resemblance to a rugby ball.
The ball is about 11 inches (28 cm) long and about 22 inches (56 cm) in circumference at the center. American and Canadian footballs have different size standards, but those standards do overlap, making it possible for one ball to be used in either sport. The exterior of the ball is made of leather, which is required in professional and collegiate football. Footballs used in recreation, and in organized youth football, may be made of rubber or plastic materials (the high school football rulebooks still allow the inexpensive all-rubber footballs, though they are less common than leather).
Leather panels are usually tanned to a natural brown color, which is usually required in professional leagues and collegiate play. At least one manufacturer uses leather that has been tanned to provide a "tacky" grip in dry or wet conditions. Historically, white footballs have been used in football games played at night so that the ball can be seen easier; however, this practice is no longer commonplace, as artificial lighting conditions have improved to the point where they are no longer necessary. At most levels of play (but not, notably, the NFL), white stripes are painted on each end of the ball, halfway around the circumference, to improve nighttime visibility. (The UFL uses a ball with lime-green stripes.) The XFL used a novel color pattern, a black ball with red curved lines in lieu of stripes, for its footballs; this design was redone in a brown color scheme for the Arena Football League in 2003.
The leather is usually stamped with a pebble-grain texture to help players grip the ball. Some or all of the panels may be stamped with the manufacturer's name, league or conference logos, signatures, and other markings.
Four panels or pieces of leather or plastic are required for each football. After a series of quality control inspections for weight and blemishes, workers begin the actual manufacturing process.
A modern American football
Two of the panels are perforated along adjoining edges, so that they can be laced together. One of these lacing panels receives an additional perforation and reinforcements in its center, to hold the inflation valve.
Each panel is attached to an interior lining. The four panels are then stitched together in an "inside-out" manner. The edges with the lacing holes, however, are not stitched together. The ball is then turned right side out by pushing the panels through the lacing hole.
A polyurethane or rubber lining called a bladder is then inserted through the lacing hole.
Polyvinyl chloride or leather laces are inserted through the perforations, to provide a grip for holding, hiking and passing the football.
Before play, the ball is inflated to an air pressure of 12.5–13.5 psi (86–93 kPa). The ball weighs 14–15 ounces (397–425 g).
According to NFL.com:[11] The home club shall have 36 balls for outdoor games and 24 for indoor games available for testing with a pressure gauge by the referee two hours prior to the starting time of the game to meet with League requirements. Twelve (12) new footballs, sealed in a special box and shipped by the manufacturer, will be opened in the officials’ locker room two hours prior to the starting time of the game. These balls are to be specially marked with the letter "K" and used exclusively for the kicking game.

[edit] Rugby football

Richard Lindon and William Gilbert started making balls for Rugby school out of hand stitched, four-panel, leather casings and pigs’ bladders. The rugby ball's distinctive shape is supposedly due to the pig’s bladder though early balls were more plum shaped than oval. The balls varied in size in the beginning depending upon how large the pig’s bladder was.[12]
Until 1870, rugby was played with a spherical ball with an inner-tube made of a pig's bladder. In 1870 Richard Lindon introduced rubber inner-tubes and because of the pliability of rubber the shape gradually changed from a sphere to an egg. In 1892 the RFU endorsed ovalness as the compulsory shape. The gradual flattening of the ball continued over the years.[13]
A rugby league football, as used in the NRL.
A Gilbert rugby football as used in rugby union.
The introduction of synthetic footballs over the traditional leather balls, in both rugby codes, was originally governed by weather conditions. If the playing surface was heavy, the synthetic ball was used, as it didn't absorb water and become heavy. Eventually, the leather balls were phased out completely.

[edit] Rugby league

Rugby league is played with a prolate spheroid shaped football which is inflated with air.[14] A referee will stop play immediately if the ball does not meet the requirements of size and shape.[14] Traditionally made of brown leather, modern footballs are synthetic and manufactured in a variety of colours and patterns. Senior competitions should use light coloured balls to allow spectators to see the ball more easily.[14] The football used in rugby league is known as "international size" or "size 5" and is approximately 27 cm long and 60 cm in circumference at its widest point. Smaller-sized balls are used for junior versions of the game, such as "Mini" and "Mod". A full size ball weighs between 383 and 440 grams. Rugby league footballs are slightly more pointed than rugby union footballs and larger than American footballs.
The Australasian National Rugby League and European Super League use balls made by Steeden. Steeden is also sometimes used as a noun to describe the ball itself.

[edit] Rugby union

The ball used in rugby union, usually referred to as a rugby ball, is a prolate spheroid essentially elliptical in profile. Traditionally made of brown leather, modern footballs are manufactured in a variety of colors and patterns. A regulation football is 28–30 cm (11–12 in) long and 58–62 cm (23–24 in) in circumference at its widest point. It weighs 410–460 grams (14.5–16.2 ounces) and is inflated to 65.71–68.75 kPa (or 9.5–10 psi).[15]
In 1980, leather-encased balls, which were prone to water-logging, were replaced with balls encased in synthetic waterproof materials.[13] The Gilbert Synergie was the match ball of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

Three Portable MP3 Players That Support FLAC


Overview of Devices with Manufacturer Support for Lossless Audio

Dec 27, 2009 Mark W. Kidd
Finding a portable music player with official support for the FLAC format can be tricky. Here are players from SanDisk, Samsung, and JetAudio which fit the bill.

Whether you are interested in FLAC (Free Losless Audio Codec) because it is open-source and unencumbered by software patents or because it offers total fidelity to the original recording, finding portable players which support the FLAC format can be tricky.
Unfortunately, Apple's iPods can only play FLAC media with the aid of third-party firmware which can be a steep learning curve and may jeopardize your warranty. If you already own an iPod and are interested in adding FLAC playback, check at rockbox.org to see if your model is supported and to learn more about the process of flashing third-party firmware on your iPod.
The good news for consumers in the market for a new portable audio player is that several manufacturers are heeding the growing interest in lossless audio playback, giving consumers choices at a variety of price points.
Three units in particular, SanDisk's Sansa Fuze, Samsung's P3, and JetAudio's Cowon S9, are certainly worth the attention of the music enthusiast. There are other units out there which can play FLAC media -- and more are coming onto the market all the time -- but these three have established themselves early on as providing a satisfactory user experience in addition to a commitment to lossless audio.

Sansa Fuze

Starts at about $70

How to Make Your iPod Go Faster

  1. How to Make Your iPod Go Faster

    originated by:Anonymous, Ben Rubenstein, Axiom, Galen (see all)

    This will make your iPod load music, photos, videos, etc. faster by defragging its hard disk using the Windows Disk Defragmenter.
     
    1
    Enable disk use must be checked.
    Enable disk use must be checked.
    While iPod is connected, go to iTunes and select your iPod in the sidebar on the left. Then in the right panel, scroll down and make sure "Enable disk use" is checked under "Options."
  2. 2
    Go to My Computer.
  3. 3
    There should be an icon named after your iPod. Right click this icon and select "Properties."
  4. 4
    Click the "Tools" tab in the window that pops up, and then click "Defragment Now."
  5. 5
    Defragmenting.
    Defragmenting.
    You will get another window. This is the windows disk defragmenter utility. Click on the "Defragment" button in the bottom of the window.
  6. 6
    This may take a while, and will make your computer go slow. It's best not to bother it, so go out and read a book or take a nap or something.
  7. 7
    When it's finished, your iPod will now access everything and start up faster.