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Facebook Quitting Pledge Gaining Thousands of Supporters

2010-05-24T02:30:00.000-07:00

As controversy swells around Facebook's latest changes to its privacy policy--which is now longer than the Constitution and offers some 50 settings and over 170 options--users' interest in deleting their Facebook accounts has soared.

A group of dissatisfied Facebook users have teamed up in an effort to organize a mass, coordinated exodus from Facebook--and they're using social networks to do it.

Their site, QuitFacebookDay.com, asks users to "commit to quit" Facebook on May 31 by signing their name or Twitter handle to the list of pledges.

The cause has attracted several hundred pledges--about 780 at the time of writing.

There's also a Facebook Page devoted to the planned exit.

"If you agree that Facebook doesn't respect you, your personal data or the future of the Web, you may want to join us," QuitFacebookDay.com explains.

For those who oppose Facebook's new privacy policy, but find "Quit Facebook Day" too extreme, there is an alternative that doesn't require immediately letting go of Facebook-based online social connections, photos or videos.

Facebook Protest seeks to challenge Facebook's recent push for more openness by proposing a boycott of Facebook services on June 6.

"Facebook's real customer is the advertisers that they work with: NOT YOU," Facebook Protest's official statement reads. The soon-to-be protesters also ask participants to:

commit to not logging in or interacting with Facebook in any way. Be sure to log out of Facebook in all of your browsers no later than the evening of June 5th. On the 6th, be sure to not use Facebook connect or click any "Like" buttons: basically refrain from ALL Facebook related activity.

The movement already has a following on Twitter (@FacebookProtest), and even has its own Facebook Event page.

On the other hand, if you want to delete your Facebook account without waiting until May 31 (or June) here's how.

Click here for a recap of Facebook's big privacy changes and what they mean.

Check out a list of Facebook's latest security features, and then watch a video of how to fix your Facebook profile's privacy settings in two minutes.

Bees See Your Face as a Strange Flower

2010-02-05T22:59:00.000-08:00

Bees can learn to recognize human faces, or at least face-like patterns, a new study suggests.

Rather than specifically recognizing people, these nectar-feeding creatures view us as "strange flowers," the researchers say. And while they might not be able to identify individual humans, they can learn to distinguish features that are arranged to look like faces.

The results suggest that, even with their tiny brains, insects can handle image analysis. The researchers say that if humans want to design automatic facial recognition systems, we could learn a lot by using the bees' approach to face recognition.

Training bees

The study was spurred by work conducted in 2005 by biologist Adrian Dyer from Monash University in Victoria, Australia, which showed that the insects could be trained to associate pictures of human faces with tasty sugar snacks.

Martin Giurfa from the Universite de Toulouse, France, was intrigued by the research and wondered what strategy the bees used to discriminate between faces. The pair of scientists teamed up to tackle the puzzling question.

The team first tested whether the bees could learn to distinguish between simple face-like images - stick drawings like a toddler might make, which consisted of two dots for eyes, a short vertical dash for a nose and a longer horizontal line for a mouth.

The bees were trained to distinguish between images in which the features were cramped together, and ones that had features farther apart, and the insects were rewarded with sugar snacks when they chose one particular pattern over another.

But when the researchers took away the sugary-prize, the bees still returned to the correct face, indicating they could learn to distinguish between the two patterns that were organized like faces.

More complexity

Next, the researchers tested whether or not the bees could tell the difference between "face-like" and "non-face-like" images, even if they had never seen the pictures before.

Indeed, they could.

The bees were able to learn the face images, not because they knew what a face is, but because they had learned the relative arrangement and order of the features, the scientists figured.

But how would the bees cope with more complex faces? The team upped the test difficulty by embedding the stick-and-dot faces into face-shaped photographs. While the bees were trained with the photographs as the background, they could still recognize the stick pattern once the background was removed.

However, when pictures of real faces were scrambled by moving the relative positions of the eyes, nose and mouth, the bees no longer recognized the images as faces and treated them like unknown patterns.

Although the bees seem to be able to recognize face-like patterns, this doesn't mean they can learn to identify individuals, the researchers say. The insects learn the relative arrangements of features that happen to make up a face-like pattern, and they may use this strategy to learn about and recognize different objects in their environment.

The results were published in the Jan. 29 issue of the Journal of Experimental Biology.

10 Best and Worst Foods for Blood Pressure

2010-01-25T00:26:00.000-08:00

By Dr. Maoshing Ni

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is estimated to be responsible for 7.1 million deaths every year worldwide. Are you about to become a statistic? What are you eating?

According to research, Western-style dietary habits are the number one reason for essential hypertension, or high blood pressure. Think about it: People living in rural areas of China, Brazil, and Africa show no signs of essential hypertension, even with advanced age.

There are foods that can help this condition and then there are foods that should absolutely be avoided. Read on to find the foods that improve your blood pressure!

Top 6 foods to choose

Every day, you should eat a balanced array of fresh wholesome fruits and vegetables of all colors. The foods below will bring your blood pressure extra benefits!

1. Fish: Of all animal products, fish is the healthiest, owing to its high protein and low fat content. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish, along with other nutrients, protect blood vessels from plaque, reduce inflammation, and prevent high blood pressure.

2. Flaxseed oil: Flaxseeds, like fish, are full of omega-3 fatty acids that protects your blood vessels from plaque.

3. Celery juice: A time-tested Chinese remedy for high blood pressure is celery juice, which can be made with a blender or a juicer. Two to three 8 oz glasses a day for a month can help prevent high blood pressure or restore it to normal. In addition, celery is known to prevent gout and other arthritic conditions. Studies have found that this stalk is packed with over a dozen anti-inflammatory agents, including apigenin, a cox2-inhibiting compound similar to some anti-inflammatory drugs. Who knew celery was more than just a garnish?

4. Olive oil: Olive oil, long a staple of the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to have beneficial effects on blood lipids and may also lower blood pressure. According to a recent study, "Olive oil intake is inversely associated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressure." Translation: consuming more olive oil is linked with lowered blood pressure. Use olive oil for cooking and on salads.

5. Apple cider vinegar: Vinegar alkalizes the body and lowers your blood pressure. First thing in the morning, when your stomach is empty, drink 8 ounces of warm water mixed with 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar and 1 tsp honey regularly. The honey ensures regularity of bowel movement, which is helpful since constipation may aggravate high blood pressure.

6. Cucumber: A natural diuretic, cucumber will help hydrate and lower the pressure in the arteries. Eat 2 fresh cucumbers every day for 2 weeks.

Also, an extraordinary blend of Chinese herbs that supports your circulatory and heart health is Super Clarity.

Top 4 foods to avoid — and what to choose instead

In general, for healthy blood pressure cut back on salt, caffeine, white flour, alcohol, deep-fried food, nicotine, preservatives, sugars, and artificial flavoring and coloring. Specifically, here are the main offenders to avoid:

1. Salt: Sodium has long been implicated in chronic ailments such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis. Additionally, recent studies have shown that increased salt intake is proportional to an increase in cancers of the stomach, esophagus, and bladder.

Swap for: Herbs and spices.

Your best choices are fennel, garlic, ginger, oregano, black pepper, basil and tarragon, all of which possess active ingredients that are beneficial for hypertension. Vinegar is another flavorful option.

2. Coffee: For people who don't consume caffeine on a regular basis, caffeine can cause a temporary but sharp rise in blood pressure. Exactly what causes this spike in blood pressure is uncertain. Some researchers have suggested that caffeine narrows blood vessels by blocking the effects of adenosine, a hormone that helps keep them widened. Caffeine may also stimulate the adrenal gland to release more cortisol and adrenaline, which causes your blood pressure to increase.

Swap for: Green tea

Scientific studies point to green tea as a food that can help reverse some of the risk factors associated with heart disease, including high blood pressure and abnormal blood clotting. Much of the research on green tea has been conducted in Japan, where men and women drink a high daily intake of green tea, and also have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease in the world.

3. Refined Sugar: The average American consumes nearly 240 pounds of sugar per year. Most of the excess sugar ends up being stored as fat in your body, resulting in weight gain and elevating heart disease and cancer risk. Sugar makes blood pressure rise, especially in people who are overweight.

Swap for: Honey

Honey contains vitamins and minerals that are lacking in refined table sugar, making it much healthier for you. Instead of refined sweets, go for the natural delicious flavors of fresh fruit and berries.

4. Alcohol: Several studies have found that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Also, keep in mind that alcohol contains calories and may contribute to unwanted weight gain — a risk factor for high blood pressure. Worse still, alcohol can interfere with the effectiveness and increase the side effects of some blood pressure medications.

Swap for: Non-alcoholic drinks

Filtered water with a lemon or lime is going to be much better for your health in the long run.

High blood pressure is a condition with serious consequences; don't stop taking any prescribed medications and work with your physician before making drastic changes to your diet.

I hope you find which foods to choose and which foods to lose! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

-Dr. Mao

Cola's health hazard

2010-01-22T05:43:00.000-08:00

In people with hypokalemia, a drop in blood potassium levels results in problems with vital muscle functions. Symptoms can range from mild weakness to serious paralysis, say Greek researchers who conducted a review of people who drank between two to nine liters of cola a day.
Two of the patients were pregnant women who were admitted to hospital with low potassium levels. One was a 21-year-old woman who drank up to three liters of cola a day and complained of fatigue, appetite loss and persistent vomiting. Anelectrocardiogram revealed she had a heart blockage, and blood tests showed she had low potassium levels, the researchers explained in a news release.

The second pregnant patient, who'd consumed up to seven liters of cola a day for 10 months, had low potassium levels and was suffering from increasing muscular weakness, the researchers noted.

Both patients made a rapid and full recovery after they stopped drinking cola and took oral or intravenous potassium. The case studies are described in the June issue of the International Journal of Clinical Practice.

"We are consuming more soft drinks than ever before, and a number of health issues have already been identified including tooth problems, bone demineralization and the development of metabolic syndrome and diabetes," and there's increasing evidence that excessive cola consumption leads to hypokalemia, Dr. Moses Elisaf, of the University of Ioannina, said in the news release.

Elisaf said the three most common ingredients in cola -- glucose, fructose and caffeine -- can contribute to hypokalemia.

"The individual role of each of these ingredients in the pathophysiology of cola-induced hypokalemia has not been determined and may vary in different patients," Elisaf said. "However, in most of the cases we looked at for our review,caffeine intoxication was thought to play the most important role. This has been borne out by case studies that focus on other products that contain high levels of caffeine but no glucose or fructose."

However, "caffeine-free cola products can also cause hypokalemia because the fructose they contain can cause diarrhea," Elisaf said.

Saturn's Rings to Disappear

2010-01-22T03:44:00.000-08:00

Saturn's rings, loaded with ice and mud, boulders and tiny moons, is 170,000 miles wide. But the shimmering setup is only about 30 feet thick. The rings harbor 35 trillion-trillion tons of ice, dust and rock, scientists estimate.

The rings shine because they reflect sunlight. But every 15 years, the rings turn edge-on to the sun and reflect almost no sunlight. The light reflecting off this extremely narrow band is so small that for all intents and purposes the rings simply vanish.

Mysterious rings
The rings remain a bit of a mystery. Scientists are not sure when or how they formed, though likely a collision of other objects was involved.

Saturn's equator is tilted relative to its orbit around the sun by 27 degrees – similar to the 23-degree tilt of the Earth. As Saturn circles the sun, first one hemisphere and then the other is tilted sunward. This causes seasons on Saturn, just as Earth's tilt causes seasons on our planet.

While Earth goes around the sun once every 365 days or so, Saturn's annual orbit takes 29.7 years. So every 15 years, the attitude shift puts the gas giant planet's equator, and its ring plane, directly in line with sunlight. Scientists call it an equinox, and this one marks the arrival of spring to the giant planet's northern hemisphere. (On Earth, equinoxes occur in March and September.)

Galileo puzzled
Galileo Galilei was the first to notice the rings and their then-mysterious transformation in the 17th century. Through one of the first telescopes, which he built himself, Galileo discovered Saturn's rings. He didn't know what they were, though, since all he could see were two lobes attached to the planet like ears. He entered the newfound setup in his notebook as a tiny drawing, mid-sentence, to serve as a noun.

By December 1612, Galileo had studied the phenomenon for more than two years, and the lobes (he thought they might be moons) were getting thinner. Then they disappeared.

"I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel," he wrote in a letter.

Dutch mathematician Christiaan Huygens, using a better telescope, figured out what the rings were in 1655.

Up-close view
The edge-on setup casts shadows across the rings in a unique way that can reveal moonlets and other structures otherwise not visible.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has a front-row seat to the event.

Cassini is watching for topographic features – perhaps some tiny moons or warps in the rings, and it has already spotted some mystery features in the days leading up to the equinox. In one new image, an object seems to have punched through one of the rings, dragging material with it to leave a visible scar. The craft's near-infrared and ultraviolet instruments will be on the hunt for signs of seasonal change on the planet.

Ford creates a seat belt that inflates

2010-01-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

Air bags have long been mounted in the steering wheel, dashboard and sides of vehicles. Now, they're in the seat belts.

Ford Motor Co. plans to introduce seat belt-mounted air bags in the back seat of the 2011 Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle, which will hit the market next fall. Ford says it's the first automaker to mass produce the technology.

The belts have a cylindrical air bag that stretches from the buckle to the shoulder and fits inside a pocket sewn into the belt. If the air bag is needed, the car sends a signal that releases the bag. It inflates more gently than a front air bag, and with cooler air, so it's safer for children.

Srini Sundararajan, the Ford engineer who was chiefly responsible for developing the seat belts, says the wider belts and bags help distribute crash forces across the occupant's chest, so there's less chance of a serious injury. They also help support the occupant's head and neck.

"The top two lifesaving devices today are the seat belt and the air bag. This combines them into one great feature," Sundararajan said.

Ford has been working on the technology for a decade and had to overcome numerous challenges bringing it to market.

For example, front air bags are powered by a pyrotechnic device that generates hot gas. They also deploy very quickly because they need to cover a greater distance before they reach the driver or passenger. Seat belt air bags don't have that distance to cover, so they can deploy more gently, although Srini said they're still fully deployed in a tenth of a second. They also use cold gas technology.

Ford introduced a back-seat air bag concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in 2001, but the inflator was located in the trunk and it rattled around too much, bothering drivers, Sundararajan said.

Ford also did a significant amount of testing to make sure the bags would protect children, even if they're sleeping and their heads are drooping. The belt also works with booster seats.

Sue Cischke, Ford's group vice president for sustainability, environmental and safety engineering, wouldn't say how much the belts with air bags will cost, but she did say the technology is expensive. They will be available as an option at first, since some drivers -- particularly those without children -- may not feel they need them.

"With any new safety technology, you have to do a lot to educate the consumer," she said. "We're not sure what people will value with this."

Cischke said the Explorer was chosen for the new seat belts because it's popular with families and has also been a platform for other safety introductions, such as side-curtain air bags and stability control. Cischke said the price could come down substantially if Ford decides to put the seat belts on other vehicles.

Edward DeSmet, a technical seat belt specialist at Ford, said test subjects found the padded belts even more comfortable than regular ones. He hopes that leads more people to use them. U.S. seat belt usage in back seats is still at a dismal 60 percent, compared with 83 percent in the vehicle as a whole, DeSmet said.

8 Mind-Boggling Optical Illusions

2010-01-21T23:28:00.000-08:00

If you’ve ever felt like you go a little cross-eyed after taking a peek at an optical illusion, then you know they can be a pretty intense phenomenon. What your eyes perceive when looking at one of these images is actually a visual illusion; you see the image as something different than what it is because the different cells and receptors in your eyes distinguish images and colors at dissimilar speeds. The eye can only receive a limited amount of visual stimuli, but as your brain constantly processes the visual information, it gives you the illusion of continuous sight. Whether it’s an optical, physiological or cognitive illusion, the design plays a trick on your eyes (and mind). Check out some of the interesting illusions below—but beware, you may not be able to absorb them all in one sitting

Flowing Leaves

The brown leaf shapes against a green background make this look as if the entire group is flowing—making waves if you focus on the picture as a whole.

Pulsing Vortex

If you stare at this one long enough you’ll notice a fast and pulsing multicolored vortex.

Waves

The blue almond-shaped objects look as if they’re all passing over three separate columns.

Bull’s-Eye

If you stare at the center of the image, it looks as if the outer rings are rotating in alternating directions—an effect meant to mesmerize the viewer.

Hypnosis

Although this image is comprised of simple purple and green squares outlined in black, it looks like it is bulging out in the center.

Kaleidoscopes

A collection of black, blue, green and white shapes appears to be five different kaleidoscope-type figures—each swirling toward their centers.

Wormhole

The black and white circular lines make this illusion seem as if there are various depths in the image, creating different entryways and tunnels.

I Cheated: Hubby Signs Up To Be Punished

2009-08-29T02:30:00.000-07:00

By Fiona | Story From Sky News

An American man who was unfaithful to his wife has resorted to a humiliating act to win her back - wearing a sign saying "I cheated".

William Taylor was desperate to make up with his spouse Karen after she found evidence of his affair on his mobile phone.
She caught him texting "intimate pictures" to another woman.
Mr Taylor, of Centreville, Virginia, said the only way she would forgive him was if he wore the sign at a busy junction.
He agreed and stood looking suitably ashamed on the corner near Tysons Corner Mall with the large home-made sign draped around his neck.
It read: "I cheated. This is my punishment."
Unemployed Mr Taylor said his wife had wanted him to stand with it for a week.
But after a couple of hours he received a call to say his punishment was over.
He said he thought his wife was joking when she suggested the idea.
He explained: "It kind of came out in an argument. I said, 'What do I have to do to show you that I love you to death?'
"She said, 'How about you go and stand out on the street and tell everybody that you know what you are.'
"I thought she was kidding, but she was serious.
"I figured I got to do what I got to do to makes things right. So here I am."

Watermelons 'to power' cars

2009-08-29T01:34:00.000-07:00

By Jex

A US-based study by the Department of Agriculture has found that waste watermelons can be used to produce millions of liters of bio-fuel every year, making the fruit an eco-friendly way to power our cars in the future. It's estimated that around one fifth of the annual watermelon crop is rejected because of being misshapen or having surface blemishes. Currently they are simply left to rot.

But a team of scientists has found that the unused fruit can be easily converted into bio-fuel, with around 20 gallons of the green fuel recoverable per acre of land from rejected watermelons. In total, American farmers reject 360,000 tones of fruit every year, which means that theoretically it’s a vast, untapped resource if the waste can be fermented and turned into fuel cost-effectively. With watermelons, trials have proved a success because the fruit is "a source of readily fermentable sugars," according to leading researcher Dr. Wayne Fish.

Bio-fuel production will prove highly lucrative for anyone able to make it cheaply and efficiently in the near future.

The Do's and Don'ts of Perfect Spaghetti

2009-08-27T06:15:00.000-07:00

By Ed Levine

Pasta may be the most fabulously cheap and simple meal, but it's also the most misunderstood according to chef Scott Conant of the restaurant Scarpetta (locations in both Manhattan and Miami), named one of America's best new restaurants by Esquire. He shared some secrets with us at Serious Eats, so we'll never again find ourselves with a plate of soggy spaghetti and lifeless, loser tomato sauce.

1. DO Read the Instructions: Spaghetti packaging recommends certain cooking times for a reason. Follow their advice! This is not an area where creativity is encouraged. Pay attention to the clock and don't overcook pasta—it's one of the most committed pasta faux-pas. (And here are some tips on which pasta shapes go with which sauces.)

2. DON'T Add Too Much Water: The ratios of water-to-pasta are important. You want about 1 to 1.5 gallons of water for every one-pound box of dry pasta.

3. DO Salt the Water: Add about one teaspoon of salt per quart of water before sticking the dry spaghetti into the boiling water. The salt and water should almost reach a broth-like consistency. The saline content in the water is important. Salted water for boiling is actually a very heated debate online. It remains the most commented-on recipe on Epicurious.com.

4. DON'T Parcook Pasta: Parcooking, or partially cooking foods early so they take less time to cook when you're preparing to serve them, is definitely not recommended with pasta. But if you must, as in an emergency dinner party situation, put the pasta on a large tray (but don't stack it), let it cool, and drizzle olive oil on top.

5. DON'T Try the Toss-Against-the-Wall Trick: Throwing food against a wall should be avoided, just generally speaking. "It's an old wive's tale," said Conant of this projectile method of checking pasta doneness. He recommends letting it cool for a second, then sticking it in your mouth. It should be firm, but not difficult to eat in any way.

6. DO Gussy Up Packaged Sauces: There's no shame in cheating a tad with store-bought sauces. They provide a great base, but you should add your own flair. Try sauteing a couple cups of cherry tomato halves with salt, crushed red peppers, garlic, and extra-virgin olive oil. Add this to the pre-made sauce. The cherry tomatoes will release fresh flavors and create a nice balance with the tastes from the prepared sauce. Plus, you can easily throw this together during the pasta-boiling time frame.

7. DO Toss Pasta with Sauce: Once the pasta is two minutes shy from being done, drain the pasta and add it to your tomato sauce creation. This will allow the noodles to finish cooking while soaking up the good tomato flavors. Plus, a fun chemical reaction will happen where the pasta releases starch to thicken the sauce. Watch this video with Mario Batali on how to sauce pasta for further guidance. Or listen to Mark Bittman, who takes a slightly different pasta-saucing approach.

8. DO Finish the Dish with Fresh Toppings: Fresh basil takes the flavor to the next level, or try the garbage-pail sauce approach with nuts, raisins, and capers or kale and white beans.

7 Cars to Drive Before You Die

2009-08-27T02:27:00.000-07:00

By Jeff PK

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Different cars are remarkable for different reasons, and we've gathered a list of cars that all stand out in their own way. There are classic cars with timeless styling, game-changing cars that you'll be able to drive in the future, and cars that are simply just very cool.

Without further ado, here are the cars that you absolutely must drive before you leave this earthly plane:

Volkswagen Type 2 (aka "VW Bus")
If any auto has ever represented counterculture, it is theVW Bus. And it still resonates -- pull up curbside in one and you're sure to get a reaction out of people. "Any Baby Boomer with a still-intact memory recalls the anthem of the 60s, a VW bus, most likely painted in psychedelic colors and outfitted with a mattress in the back," says BusinessWeek. These are highly prized among collectors, so plan on spending a pretty penny for one in decent shape. However, if you have some mechanical knowhow, you can find some good prices on VWs that just need a little love. Check out AutoTrader Classics or eBay Motors.

Buggati Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport
The fastest production car in the world, the Grand Sport can hit 60 mph in a whiplash-inducing 2.5 seconds. The classic Buggati brand was brought back to life in 2000 and is now a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group. For the $2.1-million price tag on the Veyron Grand Sport, you "could buy sevenFerrari 599s or every single 2009 model Mercedes. You could snap up a top-shelf Maybach and employ a chauffeur until well past the apocalypse," says Wired. "But don't. Buy a Grand Sport... more than being a blast to drive, it is the greatest gasoline-powered vehicle that has ever been, or will ever be, built. Seriously." There's not much more you can add to that level of praise.

1968 Ford Mustang G.T. 390 Fastback
We are all familiar with the ubiquitous car chase sequence in modern film. But then there is THE car chase scene: Steve McQueen in "Bullitt." Complete with a 1968 Mustang, the scene set a standard that has never been surpassed. Take a ride in one of these (in dark highland green, of course) and channel McQueen's unfettered sense of cool. If you can't get hold of an original, Ford paid tribute to it with special Mustang Bullitt trims in 2001, and then again in 2008 and 2009.

KITT (the original 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am)
Michael Knight's "futuristic" whip still holds a place in the hearts of those of us born before 1985. The idea of having an actual friendship with your car is an appealing notion to a lot of people. It's also kind of neat that the thing could fire rockets. This car makes this list on nostalgia alone. If you're trying to get into a replica or would like to get advice on making your very own KITT, a good place to start is Knight Registries, a Knight Rider replica community.

Chevrolet Volt
Many people believe that a big factor in General Motors' future is the upcoming eco-friendlyChevrolet Volt. With an expected release date of late 2010, the Volt is breaking new ground as the first Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV). Its distinction from traditional hybrids is important. Every hybrid you can buy today, including the Toyota Prius, is a parallel hybrid -- essentially a gasoline-powered car with an electric motor to boost gas mileage. The Volt is the opposite. It is a series hybrid -- an electric car with a small gasoline engine to boost its range. With an expected price around $40K, the Volt may find its way into a lot of driveways.

Tesla Roadster

2009 Tesla Roadster
The Tesla Roadster features a 375-volt AC induction air-cooled electric motor that goes from 0 to 60 mph in less than four seconds -- and that's not even the best part. Regarding the Tesla's aesthetic appeal, Detroit News puts it best: "It's stunning. The crisp lines across the carbon fiber body give it a futuristic look...The two sharp vents cut across the hood, and big air intake and oval eyes give the roadster a high-end feel. There's a minimalist approach to the car's body that combines form and function into fine art." Despite some production snags along the way, demand remains high for the Roadster, so interested buyers must take their turn on a waiting list. The Roadster starts at $101,500, if you include the $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit.

Fisker Karma
Okay, so it may be somewhat dicey to throw a car on here mainly for its looks and mystique. But the highly-anticipated Fisker Karma will sport high-end performance on top of its outstanding exterior. "On styling alone, the $87,900 Karma seems a steal. It looks like an Italian GT design study; the headlights are pure Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, while the rest could double for a Maserati GranTurismo or an Alfa Romeo 8C," says Motor Trend. Its 408 horsepower and insane 959 pound-feet of torque will just be an added bonus. Even more impressive is that the Karma relies primarily on an electric powertrain to produce all this performance. Initial deliveries of the Karma are expected in the second half of 2010.

Drive Without Buying
For most of us, purchasing most of these vehicles is probably not a realistic proposition. But those of you with an appetite for exotics may want to consider joining a Super Car Club. For hire or a membership fee, you get a certain number of points to use the club's stable of rides -- sort of like a luxury car timeshare for the rich and commitment-phobic. There are also several scattered all over the world, from England to Hong Kong and also Nairobi.

Wrist Watch - CASID G555

2009-08-27T00:42:00.001-07:00

By Jeff PK

Check out the CASID G555+, it is a watchphone that comes with 1.2 inch display screen, 1.3-megapixel camera, integrated audio and video player, FM radio, Bluetooth, microSD slot and a compass. The watch is removable from the band. It also has the basic functions such as calculator, calendar, memo and alarm. The CASID G555+ is running on GSM 900 / 1800 MHz and it is available at $145.28. More pictures after the break

Transparent Phone

2009-08-26T22:37:00.000-07:00

By Jeff PK

Here is something new that we haven’t seen before, a concept phone which is completely transparent and see through.
This mobile phone comes in a see-through body and a basic LCD display, sharing the same dimensions as a credit card.
Although you’re probably scratching your head and wondering how the electronics and other stuff like a battery and camera fits in, we have to go by the assumption that technology in the future will be able to compress electronics to such a size.

Also on Mafans Technology:

Watch Phone - Cassid G555

Ferrari Novitec

Dating Question: Can a Guy Be Too Nice?

2009-04-16T22:26:00.002-07:00

Submited By Fiona

Four ways that single men blow their chances with women and become friend material instead

By dating blogger Rich Santos for Marie Claire

Single women say they want the nice guy. But I'm not so sure. I recently had the following IM conversation with my friend Jill:
RICH (11:09:02 AM): punks, and rock stars
JILL (11:09:12 AM): pretty much
RICH (11:09:21 AM): hence Dave and you will never be together
JILL (11:09:27 AM): he's a good guy
RICH (11:09:30 AM): haha too clean cut and nice
JILL (11:09:35 AM): pretty much

Poor Dave! He's losing out to punks, bartenders, and rock stars! Nothing against these occupations (not that being a punk is an occupation), but the more important part of this conversation is that Jill stated that Dave (who adores her) is too nice.
A little more about Dave: He is well-off, takes care of Jill as a friend, and asks her to do fun things all the time... you know... dates? Imagine!

I had a friend who is now married who suffered from the "nice guy syndrome." On one occasion, we were standing in a bar and he announced that he had to walk five blocks to the subway station to pick up his date and walk her to the bar. We were none too pleased with this: Maybe we are not old-fashioned enough, but we figured if a girl makes it out of the New York subway, she should be capable (and independent) enough to walk five blocks to a bar.

His worst showing of being too nice was when he was on a first date with a girl and he walked her into the subway station (behind the turnstile -- he paid even though he wasn't riding the train) and waited with her for the train to come. When she stepped onto the train, he then ran along as the train was leaving, waving through the window at her until he couldn't keep up.

His gentlemanly strategy did not pay off. A few weeks later, I ran into her and they were no longer seeing one another. She joked about the train run-along and proceeded to hit on me. Was he too nice, or was she just a bad seed? Maybe a little bit of both.

Is it possible for a guy to be too nice? Here are some ways that this could ring true:

#1: He's So Nice, He Can Only Be a Friend

Hey, a good friend is hard to find. What sometimes happens when we get into a relationship? It eventually runs its course and ends, which means awkwardness and/or change in both of you, since you started off as friends. Maybe you can recover and remain buddies, but is it worth the risk if you find that you're really good friends with a nice guy? Also, sometimes the nice guy just has no edge, so he's destined to be just a friend.

#2: He's So Nice, He's Not Challenging Enough

I've recently learned from your comments: Women enjoy the thrill of the chase a bit too much. People like to wonder what's going to happen, that nerve-racking first few months when the "training wheels" are still on the relationship. And, no matter how much we try to deny it, we do like that we've won someone over instead of just having them give themselves up to us. If a guy is too easy, he may be ruining his chances.

#3: He's So Nice, He'll Always Be There

I've seen some friends take their time with a nice guy. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. Maybe a woman wants to meet some new guys and "sow her wild oats" while the nice guy fawns over her. She enjoys keeping him in her life as a friend, but somewhere in the back of her mind she knows that she can probably return to him later. Again, it's all about risk management: If you want to take the risk of him meeting someone else, then go for it.

#4: He's TOO Nice, You Can't Trust Him

Sometimes people are so nice that it seems like they might have sinister overtones. I always see it on Lifetime movies: The guy comes into the woman's life and he is just perfect. Then he slowly disintegrates into a psycho freak. Perhaps a guy can come off as so nice in the beginning that he appears to be covering up for something bad. A woman might avoid a relationship with him if something just doesn't feel right. What makes a guy too nice or "friend" material instead of dating material? Do you avoid getting into relationships with a guy who's too nice, or is he destined to be a "friend"?

The flying hotel

2009-04-02T02:56:00.002-07:00

The Hotelicopter features 18 luxuriously-appointed rooms for adrenaline junkies seeking a truly unique and memorable travel experience. Each soundproofed room is equipped with a queen-sized bed, fine linens, a mini-bar, coffee machine, wireless internet access, and all the luxurious appointments you'd expect from a flying five star hotel. Read more...

See the interior...

Take A Break Play A Game - Increase office productivity.

2009-03-17T00:11:00.002-07:00

By PressReleasePoint.com

Can taking a game-break during office hours improve your work performance? Well, some studies are suggesting that it does.

As Gamers grow up, get jobs and start a families, they find them self having no free time left to spend on computer games A number of these gamers turn to free flash games sites for a quick gaming fix instead. They choose to use their break time during the working day to play a 10 minute casual online game or browsing a social network site like facebook instead of having a cup of coffee. This is a concern for some companies who are starting to ban access to social networking sites and some employers are even considering banning personal Internet access altogether.

"We definitely have our peak traffic during office hours, confirms Multigames CEO Christian Lovstedt, but I don’t see that as a bad thing. The games on multigames.com are quite fast paced so they are suitable for a quick break".

And in fact, research shows that a restriction on Internet access could actually serve to reduce staff efficiency and morale. According to studies conducted under the supervision of Goldsmiths University psychologist, Dr Chamorro-Premuzic, results revealed that if bosses actively encouraged employees to take one ten minute break in the working day their overall productivity levels would increase. Playing a game during the break can actually work as a way to release stress by forcing the brain to focus on a completely different task for a while.

" If staff spend too much time on online activities that is not work related, it´s more likely there is a problem in the management than amongst the staff, continues Christian. If I saw too much private Internet use in our office I would take it as a clear warning signal that people don’t feel motivated in their work place. By simply restricting Internet access, you don’t solve the actual the problem. You just deny it". Says Christian.

Press Release submission By PressReleasePoint

Take a break and play hot games at Mafans Hangout.

Put your own Photo in Barack Obama’s ‘Hope’ Poster

2009-01-20T23:28:00.002-08:00

By Jeff Artist Shepard Fairey is best known for creating the "Hope" poster for Barack Obama. This iconic portrait of Obama became such a phenomenon during the Presidential campaign that TIME Magazine even used it on the cover page for their Person of the Year 2008 edition.
If you are no Obama and can’t convince Shepard Fairey to do a custom portrait for you, just head over to Obamicon.me and create a similar poster using your own photograph and message.
You can either upload an existing photo or capture it live using the webcam, add a message, change the color balance using sliders and an Obama style image is ready like this one:

Become a Celebrity: Put Your Face on Magazine Covers and CNN

2009-01-19T00:51:00.002-08:00

By Jeff Want to see yourself on CNN news, BoingBoing or the front cover of all top magazines like TIME, Wired, Cosmopolitan, National Geographic, Sports Illustrated, etc.
Try these fake magazine cover creation tools:
1. MagMyPic - Just upload your picture and this service will instantly put that on the cover of TIME, Rolling Stone, Fortune, People, Maxim, Vogue and other popular magazines. The service is quick but you have no control over the text appearing on the magazine cover.

2.Condenet.com - This is an excellent service for creating a personalized Wired Magazine Cover - you can pick your own picture, tag lines and even control the placement of various elements using simple drag-n-drop. You also get a printable version of the Wired magazine cover.
3. U.R.Celeb - This is an excellent Windows software to create fake magazine cover image on the desktop. Unlike MagMyPic, this software offers you tons of control - you can change the magazine headlines, resize photos and the branding is non-obtrusive.
Supports CNN Breaking News, TIME, Vogue, PlayBoy and other popular magazines.
4. BoingBoing - It’s tough to get BoingBoing editors to link to your blog but with this post generator, you can create your own BoingBoing story. Stuff in a few words and your BoingBoing Story is ready.

Download Music from Internet Radio Stations

2008-09-10T22:55:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

Perhaps you have at times wondered how you could rip or save those great favorite songs you here from your web radio.

Today I present a simple internet radio recorder that will easily see you through to it.

Disclaimer: While the method described here can be used to save streaming audio from all internet radio stations like Capital fm, Live365, Last.fm, AOL Radio, Pandora music or even from iTunes and Yahoo! Music Launchcast, you should cross-check their terms of service.

Now, assuming that you have the necessary permissions, here's a step-by-step guide to help you create an MP3 album of your favorite songs from online radio:

Step 1: Download Audacity from Sourceforge.net here. Available for Mac, Windows and Linux platforms.

Step 2: Open Audacity and choose View -> Float Mixer Toolbar. In the drop-down menu on Audacity's mixer toolbar, choose "Wave Out" or "Stereo Mix" as the input source. Open the Audacity Preferences dialog and choose Mono channel in the Audio I/O tab. Select your sound card name in Recording Device [Sigma Tel C-Major Audio in my case]

Step 3: Open the radio station of choice using the web browser or Real player or Yahoo! Messenger. Hit the play button and switch to Audacity.

Step 4: As the song of your choice is about to play, hit the keyboard shortcut - R to begin recording of the song or press the Record button on the Audacity interface. When the song end, hit the Space Bar to stop recording.

Now when your next favorite song is playing on the radio station, hit the R button again. Now Audacity will record the song in a separate track. This is helpful as you will realize in a minute. Repart the R-space bar cycle until you record all the songs to your PC or Mac.

Step 5: The last step - Choose File -> Export Multiple - this will save the individual Audacity track as separate MP3 files or WAV files. Choose the export folder and select "Split files based on Tracks". Click export.

That's it. Burn this folder as an Audio CD or transfer them your iPod or mobile phone and enjoy the web music offline. [Make sure you download the free LAME MP3 encoder to export recording as MP3 files. Advanced users may consider Audacity effects to fine-tune their internet recordings.]

Hey, dont forget to cast that vote of thumbs up to Mafans Community by sharing this post with all of your buddies.

Twitter

2008-07-29T01:42:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

Send free SMS messages to your friends and family while you keep track of what they are up to.

If you're not using Twitter yet, you may feel as if you've missed out. Twitter has not only tipped the tuna, but by some estimations, it has already jumped the shark. Twitter is such a buzz right now such that even US presidential hopeful for the 2008 elections Barrack Obama could not ignore it. Check out his profile here.

Twitter lets you easily send free SMS from your computer to any of your friends.
Twitter is an interesting and practical real-time messaging system for groups and friends. It's just not completely obvious how to get into the "club."
So, here's a guide to this new platform. I didn't cover every feature of Twitter, but this few easy steps should help you get started.

To enjoy this free SMS service, you’ll need to follow these few easy steps :
1. Create an account on Twitter, and then log in
2. Invite your friends, so that they’ll create an account as well. You’ll only be able to send free SMS messages to your Twitter-friends if they set up their cell phone in their Twitter account.
3. Have them configure their account so that direct messages sent to them will be delivered to their cell phone
-Look on the right hand sidebar, the “send notifications to” lets you do this
-Ensure that the cell phone configuration is ok too, that is “notifications” are on for the cell phone.
4. Start sending them direct messages; they’ll get them as SMS on their cell phones :
-You can do this either through the web interface
-or through IM (for example GTalk or AIM) if you configured it. Basically you’ll add a special buddy (twitter@twitter.com for GTalk for example), and when you’ll send him a message, it will interact with your twitter. This is a way to update your Twitter status, but there is a lingo which will let you send direct messages. If you want to send a message to a user whose twitter account is my_friend, then send the following message to the twitter buddy : d my_friend hello there !

Turning off TwitterTwitter
Messages may drive you insane. If you want to turn them off, here's how: send the command Off, Sleep, or Stop to Twitter. To turn it back on, send On, Wake, or Start.
Twitterers worth following
In addition to your friends, you might want to follow some of these famous (or useful) Twitterers. Many people are still experimenting with Twitter, so we can't vouch for the long-term quality or frequency of updates from these users:

Barrack Obama: Now USA President used it for the 2008 elections campaigns.

CNN: Newsfeed of high-profile CNN breaking stories.
John Edwards: Twitters from the campaign trail
Robert Scoble: Popular feed from ubergeek and Twitter fan Robert Scoble.
Evan Williams: Founder of the company that built Twitter.
Rafe Needleman: I wrote this, I must be interesting.
Caroline McCarthy: Another Webware writer and ardent Twitterer.

Mafans twitter address is http://twitter.com/mafansclub

Happy Twittering Guys!

How to Read Popular Magazines on your Desktop for Free

2008-07-15T00:00:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

Another Hot Stuff for you to try and share...

This is a very simple & non-geeky trick to help you read the latest issue of popular magazines. Titles include Reader’s Digest, Macworld, Lonely Planet, Popular Photography, PC Magazine, Play boy, Penthouse, etc without paying any subscription charges.
You will also get to read adult magazines like Playboy and Penthouse. Best of all, these digital magazines are exact replicas of print and served as high-resolution images that you can also download on to the computer for offline reading.

How to Read Online Magazines for Free

Step 1: If you are on a Windows PC, go to apple.com and download the Safari browser. Mac users already have Safari on their system.

Step 2: Once you install Safari, go to Edit -> Preferences -> Advanced and check the option that says "Show Develop menu in menu bar."

Step 3: Open the "Develop" option in the browser menu bar and choose Mobile Safari 1.1.3 - iPhone as the User Agent.

Step 4: You’re all set. Open zinio.com/iphone inside Safari browser and start reading your favorite magazines for free. Use the navigation arrows at the top to turn pages.
For guyz who are already subscribed to Zinio Digital Magazines, this hack is still useful because you get access to certain magazines which are otherwise not available for subscription via Zinio (e.g., Penthouse and Playboy).

Note: For the Geeks you may not need to download Safari.
In Firefox: enter “about:config” in the location bar, enter “useragent” in the filter and change the value for “general.useragent.extra.firefox” to “Mobile Safari 1.1.3″. After reading, set it back to “Firefox/2.0.0.14″. You may also want to write an AutoHotKey script or create a "scrolling capture" profile in SnagIt that will auto-flip magazine pages and save all the images locally. Thanks Jex and Scott.

Idea: The Nature Desk

2008-06-18T22:54:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

What do you get for the eccentric executive who has everything? How about the Ant Desk? It’s part desk, and part Ant Farm. How creepy is it to work at your desk while hundreds of ants scurry all around you? Is it distracting? Fascinating? Did some of them get out? Do you think you feel them crawling on your legs? It’s the ultimate desk for nature lovers, bug lovers, and, well, other people who want a weird desk.

How does it work? It begins with a thick layer of glass or clear plastic. This protects you from the ants, and protects the ants from you. Below the glass is an open space with a thick layer of dirt, allowing the ants to crawl in, out, and around their tunnels, caves, and hills. This all rests on top of a sturdy base layer, which doubles as the bottom of the desktop. Small holes around the sides of the desk provide air, while being too small for the ants to escape.

Hundreds of ants will live happily for months, with just a little food and water periodically inserted through the feeding portals. For cleaning, the base layer can be built to slide out on casters like a large drawer, or the glass top may be hinged to open. I haven’t worked that out yet.

And when you get home, you can cuddle up with your loved one in front of the TV and rest your wine glasses on your Ant Coffee Table. The perfect oddity for any living room.

The Tallest Woman in the World?

2008-05-14T04:29:00.002-07:00

Incredible isn't she?

Click here to for more...

Paint on Body

2008-04-08T02:10:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

Finally on this last post of Most Creative Artist of our time edition, I feature once again another intriguing works of art this time not on feathers or hands but on the whole body.

Body painting as its generally known is considered to be the most ancient form of art. Unlike tattoo and other forms of body art, body painting is temporary, painted onto the human skin, and lasts for only several hours, or at most (in the case of "henna tattoo") a couple of weeks.

Body painting is not always full nude bodies. Body painting includes smaller designs on one area on the body.Body painting festivals happen annually across the world bringing together professional body painters as well as keen amateurs. Body paintings can also typically be seen at football matches, at rave parties, and at certain festivals. The World Body painting Festival in Seeboden in Austria is the biggest art event in the body painting theme and thousands of visitors admire the wonderful work of the participants.

All the paintings featured here other than the one above by Andrejj for Linux Advertisements are the works of a very talented body painter Mr. Pashur.

NOTE all the clothing and lingerie on all Models are all paint work.
See All Body paintings...

Paint on Feathers

2008-03-25T05:54:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

As I had promised on my previous post on most creative artist of our time, on this second post I feature the work of yet another very illustrious creative artist Julie Thompson from western Washington.
And as you will see all her art works has been done on birds broad sturdy wing feathers using acrylic paint.
I was really amazed by the enormous amount of detail, light and shadow, and the wealth of textures the artist could achieve on this rather fairly delicate material.

See All of Julie Thompson Art work...

Changing hands into animals

2008-03-16T02:28:00.002-07:00

By Jeff

On the past few weeks I have been out on a mission who’s purpose has been to try and establish who in my view would probably take the honours of the most creative artist of our time this year.

As an art enthusiast and a graphic artist myself I seriously had a big problem on deciding who’s work I should feature first on this edition of best creative artist of our time, but not until I stumbled upon this Italian artist Guido Daniele work. He was in recent past hired by an advertising agency to create body painting of animals and as he says, he really loved the idea. "I researched each animal in depth to see how I could transfer it to a hand, and then set about bringing it to life." The hardest part of his job though is watching his creations disappear down the drain after they're photographed. "I'm getting used to it," Daniele shrugs. "At least I get to start each day with a fresh canvas."

Of course Guido Daniele is not the final contestant in this category and therefore I will be presenting to you a few more illustrious artists and their works in the upcoming posts for you to make the ultimate judgement.

See Guido Daniele's Work and Bio...

Nissan Pivo 2

2008-03-03T00:52:00.002-08:00

Nissan Pivo 2: 360 Degrees, No Reverse!!!

Nissan presented an interesting concept at last year's Tokyo Motor Show - the Nissan Pivo 2.

Of course the Nissan Pivo 2 comes after the Nissan Pivo concept presented at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.

The most important features of the Nissan Pivo 2 concept is -A robotic agent to share every trip (does anyone remember R2-D2?), a 360 degree turning cabin and 90 degrees turning wheels.

Nissan Pivo 2 builds on the popularity of the first Pivo, shown at the 2005 Tokyo Motor Show.
Powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and featuring a unique rotating cabin – meaning no reverse gear required – the first Pivo became a cult hit at shows from Beijing to Geneva.

Reasons to love Pivo 2:
-Electric power from Nissan’s advanced Lithium-ion batteries.

-A robotic agent to share every trip.

-‘Revolutionary’ technology with 360 degree turning cabin and 90 degree turning wheels.

Nissan Pivo 2 takes the idea of an environmentally friendly electric urban commuter vehicle and delivers fun, functionality and a unique relationship between the car and driver.
Nissan Pivo 2 is powered by advanced Compact Lithium-ion Batteries and employs ‘by-wire’ technologies for braking and steering.

The Nissan Pivo 2 takes that easy mobility concept to a new level.
Each of the four wheels are powered by Nissan’s advanced electric In-wheel 3D Motor and can turn through 90 degrees to allow Nissan Pivo 2 to drive sideways as well as forward.

Thanks to the highly innovative Robotic Agent, you are never alone in the Nissan Pivo 2. With conversations possible in Japanese and English, the Robotic Agent has been created to work with Nissan Pivo 2 to make every journey less stressful. It provides a unique interface through which to communicate with Nissan Pivo 2 on everything from basic vehicle functions through to the nearest available parking.

See Nissan Pivo 2 Gallary

Five Tips To Find Love On The Internet

2008-02-19T23:31:00.002-08:00

To find love on the Internet can be easy once you follow these great five tips. You don’t have to spend lonely weekends by yourself any longer! Read on to find out more.
If you are one of the countless people hoping to find love on the internet, than you are setting yourself up for the potential to find hundreds of singles available, within your area, with a variety of interests and characteristics. You want to make sure you narrow your choices down so you’re not missing anyone who could be a potential match for you, but at the same time, you don’t want such a broad base of people that you don’t know where to start. Follow some of these tips to help you out.

Tip #1 – Be yourself
You want to be with someone you love because of who they are. You don’t want someone who acts one way and ends up to be completely different several months down the road. The same is true for you. You can’t find your true match until you’ve shown that person who you really are. If you want to find love online, don’t represent yourself to be someone you’re not. You’ll be unhappy keeping that façade up and the other person is likely to see right through it eventually anyway.

Tip #2 – Pick and choose your topics
No matter who you end up with in life, it’s rare for you to both love absolutely all of the same things. Opposites attract, right? If you have found the two of you share some common interests, focus on those. Don’t bore the other person with detailed explanations about your hobby if they do not share an interest in that activity. It’s always good to have a separate life for just you in addition to your life together. To find love through the internet, you must be able to chat openly and honestly about topics that could be controversial or important.

Tip #3 – Show yourself off
Everyone has a few really great pictures of themselves. Everyone has a few not so great pictures of themselves. You want to be honest and candid in your search. You wouldn’t want to be surprised by someone who looks nothing like their picture. No one does. The ability to find love online starts with a pleasing picture. Use ones which are representative of the way you really look, pictures that you look at and say, “That’s a decent shot of me.” Show yourself smiling and happy. Try to put in photos of yourself that give viewers a little taste of your attitude.

Tip #4 – Share carefully
Don’t scare off a potential match by divulging every piece of information about yourself during your first chat. It may take a while to find someone you really match up with. You don’t want everyone and their grandmother knowing your last name, where you live, where you eat and where you hang out. Keep your personal life to yourself until you’ve had several conversations and think your quest to find love might be about to be fulfilled.

Tip #5 – Have fun!
If you really want to find love, then be yourself. Put a sense of humor into your dialogue. Be relaxed and easy going. If you find you’re not interested in someone or they’re not interested in you, don’t despair.

2008-02-02T03:12:00.002-08:00

Concept: Sony Ericsson phone with USB port

This is a Sony Ericsson concept designed by Vincent Palicki. The phone has a big screen and a standard SE key layout with stainless steel buttons. It has most of all common functions of Sony Ericsson phone and the special thing of this phone is that it comes with a full size USB port, allowing you to transfer song, video or pictures files to your phone from your thumb drive without the need of computer. One more shot after the jump.

Sultan of Brunei's Jet

2008-01-31T23:45:00.002-08:00

The Sultan of Brunei's Boeing 747-430
The head of state of the tiny, oil-rich nation of Brunei on the island of Borneo, the Sultan is reputedly the richest monarch in the world. The Sultan bought the aircraft brand-new for $100 million or more using Lufthansa as a conduit, hence the -30, which is Boeing's customer code for the German airline. Then he had it fitted with a special interior and features such as washbasins of solid-gold and Lalique crystal at an additional cost of some $120 million. The 747-400 is the Sultan of Brunei's largest aircraft, but His Majesty the Sultan's Flight also operates several other VVIP widebody jets, among them two Airbus A340s and a 767.

Special Feature: Valentines

2008-01-06T01:07:00.002-08:00

Valentine's Day Love Guide
Each year as our local stores, restaurants and clubs are busy stocking the shelves with pink and red, take a few moments to really remember why you and your partner celebrate this holiday. Do you use it as a way to reconnect? Is it a relationship New Year for you both? Or, is simply a way to remind your parter how much you do love and adore them? No matter your reason you're sure to find the perfect way to express your meaning with our special Valentine's day guides and Ideas submitted by mafans members.

See the Valentine's Day Love Guide Articles below

Valentines For Your Man
This year, show your man that Valentine's Day is not just for women. Use the tips and ideas in this article to shower him with your undying love and appreciation.
Men want to feel celebrated and adored on Valentine’s Day, too. They want to be loved and desired just as much as women do. Show your guy sweet sentiments in a way he will appreciate with one of these reader's ideas, and he will look forward to Valentine’s Day every year thereafter.
Click here for the article

Valentines For Her
Every woman has romantic fantasies in her head, and she’s just waiting for them to come true. When she is a teenager, a bunch of heart-shaped balloons and a box of chocolates will do the trick, but as she matures, so will her Valentine wishes. Your lady wants her Valentine’s Day memories to be special, whether they are big or small. She wants to brag to her friends about how great you are, and she wants to be swept off her feet again and again.
Click here for the article

Guinness Book of World Records

2007-12-18T05:39:00.002-08:00

WORLD'S BUSIEST AIRPORT

J.F.Kennedy International Airport,
New York, USA.

Click to see more world records...

Funny Logistics

2007-12-13T04:00:00.004-08:00

10 Pictures

Click to read more...

Ferrari Novitec Rosso Enzo

2007-11-29T02:22:00.002-08:00

Low Rider - Bike

2007-11-25T01:21:00.002-08:00

Dubai Projects

2007-11-18T23:25:00.002-08:00

Palm Island. Three artificial islands in the shape of palm trees will shelter nearly 500 apartments, 2 000 villas, 25 hotels and 200 shops of luxury. Palm Jumeirah, the most advanced, will be completed as of the end of 2005. Hundred twenty-five kilometers of coast additional will be thus created.

Palm IslandThe World. With broad of Dubaï, nearly 300 artificial islands, seen sky will form a planisphere. If you want to acquire one of these islands, it will cost some to you between 6,2 to 36,7 million dollars. Work of fill, already begun, should be completed at the end of 2005.

The WorldDubai Waterfront. Advancing on water of the Gulf, this whole of islands in the shape of crescent will extend on 81 square kilometres. Becoming the greatest sea front in the world, it détrône thus the island from Manhattan in New York.

Dubai WaterfrontOld Town. It is the final district of the building site located at the foot of the tower Burj Dubai. This great real complex will include the highest tower of the world, the greatest shopping centre of the world as well as a gigantic residential district

Old Town

Hydropolis. Entirely assembled in Germany, this underwater hotel will be immersed with broad of Dubai at the end of 2006. It will comprise 220 continuations whose panoramic windows will give on sea-beds. The price of a room for the night would rise with 500 dollars.

Hydropolis Burj Dubai. This phenomenal tower from which construction began last January and will end in 2008 should reach the 800 meters height. The building, built in three parts around a central column, finishes in spiral. It will count 160 stages.

Burj Dubai
Madinat Al Arab. Here the representation of the one of the districts of the future greater sea front in the world, Dubai Waterfront. This sight accounts for the architectural ambition and the spectacular development of real constructions with Dubaï.

Madinat Al Arab Dubai Marina. new city, of a total cost of 10 billion dollars, will be built on a way of artificial navigation of 4,5 km. It will be able to lodge 120 000 people. Three principal towers will be set up and will bear the name of Arab perfumes

Dubai Marina
Dubai Sports City. This immense sporting complex of 7.5 km² will accomodate sports such as the cricket, the golf, Rugby, football, the sports of ground, track, and interior (tennis shoe, handball, volley ball). Hotels, residences and villas are also envisaged.

Dubai Sports City Golden Dome. With its 455 m height and its 2,2 million m² of total surface, it will be one of bulkiest and higher buildings of the world. It will shelter 500 000 m² offices, commercial spaces like 3 000 residential apartments.

Golden Dome Dubailand Ski Dome. This ski resort indoor, will comprise inter alia a directional ski piste and tracks of snowboard (with 6 000 tons of true snow). "Pinguinarium", aquariums four seasons, spa cold and hot... are also envisaged with the program.

Dubailand Ski Dome Space Science World. Space is one of the subjects exploited in the immense park with topics of Dubailand which has the ambition to become the largest tourist park and of attractions in the world.

Space Science World

Lion or Tiger?

2007-11-13T04:39:00.002-08:00

~~~~ World's Largest Liger (Lion+Tiger) ~~~~Know what's a Liger? It's a cross breed of a Lion male and Tiger female... Read on......

Click to see more pictures...

Renault Neptune: Car

2007-11-01T04:04:00.002-07:00

Rihanna poses before a benefit for UNICEF

2007-10-24T00:18:00.002-07:00

Biography, Photos $ VideoClick here to read more...

Lamborghini Reventon Car

2007-10-05T04:53:00.002-07:00

Lamborghini Reventon was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show. It named after the bull that killed toreador Felix Guzman in 1943. Reventon is basically the ultimate Murcielago in all respects, powered by V12 engine and 20hp more than the regular Murcielago LP640. There’s only twenty Reventon were built, priced at $1,000,000 each. All of them are sold out. More pictures after the jump.

Remember the $1million Lamborghini Reventon that day? Here’s the live reveal in Frankfurt. Video after the jump.

Weight Loss Food

2007-10-05T02:37:00.002-07:00

Citrus fruits like, oranges and limes contain high concentrations of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid). This Vitamin C has a fat burning quality. Vitamin C reduces the effectiveness of fat. It reduces its content and can liquefy or dilute fat. By diluting the fat, it makes it less effective, and easier to flush out of your system. Vitamin C also works on cholesterol deposits. By adding Citrus Fruits to your daily diet, you will greatly increase your metabolism, increase your ability to get rid of fat, and also control your cholesterol levels.

Add applesauce (it's loaded with pectin), apples, fresh fruit and berries, to your diet and let the power of pectin pulverize the fat that accumulates on your cells. An apple a day can help keep the fat away.

Cucumbers are usually used in many salads, besides tasting great their high water content adds to your bulk hence making you feel full. They can be consumed before every meal which will greatly help you from over-eating.

Berries contain a chemical call pectin. Pectin limits the amount of fat your cells can absorb. This will put a natural limitation on the amount of fat your cells can absorb. Pectin, once in your system, has a water binding property, it absorbs watery substances, and these watery substances in turn bombards the cells and makes it release fat deposits.

Garlic oil or the juice of garlic has a significant protective quality to cells which help to reduce fatty deposits. When taken, it brings down the levels of fat. Garlic, garlic oil, or anything with garlic, also has an antibiotic property to it and can be used to cure many ailments.

Breakfast cereals are typically heavily processed foods, and most of their original micronutrients, like vitamins or minerals, are removed during the food-processing. However, most breakfast cereals are fortified with added vitamins and minerals, making them a convenient source of most B-vitamins, vitamin D and several minerals including iron. Wholegrain breakfast cereals (eg. granola, muesli, oats) are typically rich in natural B-vitamins, soluble fiber (which helps to lower cholesterol) and have a lower GI-value than regular refined cereals.

Nokia N81

2007-10-04T03:03:00.002-07:00

Nokia N81 is a multimedia phone that comes with dedicated music and gaming keys, 3.5 mm headphone connector and 3G and WLAN connectivity. It is configured to find, buy, manage and play music and games purchased from the Nokia Music Store and N-Gage games service. The Nokia N81 will be available in Cobalt blue or Graphite grey color for 360 EUR ($490) while the 8GB N81 is expected to retail for 430 EUR ($585) and available only in Cocoa brown color. Both of them are expected to hit stores in the fourth quarter of 2007. Full specs and more pictures after the jump.

Nokia N81 Specifications
• Network: WCDMA 2100 + E850/900/1800/1900MHz
• Operating system: Symbian OS ver. 9.2
• User interface: S60 3rd Edition, Feature Pack (S60 3.1)
• Weight: ~140 grams
• Size: 102 x 50 x 17.9 mm (Length x Width x Thickness)
• Hot swappable microSD memory card slot
• Battery: Nokia Battery (BT-6MT) 1050mAH
• Talk time: up to 240 minutes GSM / 180 minutes WCDMA
• Stand-by time: up to 17 days
• Music playback time: up to 11.5 hours
• Video recording time: up to 3.5 hours with QVGA
• Gaming time: up to 6 hours
• Display: 2.4-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixels), up to 16.7 million colors
• Dedicated media keys for quick and easy access to music and video: play/pause, forward, rewind, stop
• Dedicated game & volume keys
• Integrated hands-free speaker
• WLAN IEEE802.11 b/g with UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) support
• Bluetooth Specification 2.0 (profiles supported: DUN, OPP, FTP, HFP, GOEP, GAP, SPP, HSP, BIP, A2DP)
• Micro USB 2.0 Full Speed (mass storage class)
• Nokia AV Connector 3.5mm
• Java MIDP 2.0, CLDC 1.1
• Flash Lite 2.0
• 2 megapixel (1600×1200 pixels) camera with flash, MPEG-4 VGA video capture of up to 15fps
• Front camera (CIF)
• Video call and video sharing support (WCDMA network services)
• Nokia Nseries digital music player supports MP3 (VBR), AAC, eAAC+, AAC+, WMA/M4A, WAV
• Integrated stereo speakers
• 5-band equalizer
• Nokia AV Connector 3.5 mm (can also be used with standard 3.5mm headphones)
• Navi wheel support
• FM Radio with Visual Radio support
• RealPlayer Media Player
• Full-screen video playback on the device to view downloaded, streamed or recorded video clips
• Dedicated game keys
• Play games in landscape or portrait view

Sony Ericsson S500i

2007-10-02T23:12:00.002-07:00

Sony Ericsson finally announced their new S500 mobile phone that offers ever-changing themes and illuminations that change as day turns to night. It is 14mm thick slider that comes with a 262k color TFT 2-inch display screen, 2-megapixel camera, memory card slot and a GSM/GPRS/EDGE connection for your internet surfing. It is available in 2 colors, the Mysterious Green and Spring Yellow. Sony Ericsson S500 will be available in North America from Q3 2007. More pictures after the jump.

10 Beauty Tips For Eyes

2007-10-01T02:31:00.002-07:00

The eyes are the part of the face we notice first. This is why it's important to make sure that your eyes look their best when attending to your makeup and care routine. Following are some great beauty tips for your eyes, no matter who you are.

1. Healthy eyes are beautiful eyes. If your eyes are swollen, red, or otherwise unhealthy, no amount of makeup is going to disguise this fact. If you wear contact lenses, make sure that you attend to all the care instructions for them. Also, protect your eyes by using cosmetics with sunscreen included.

2. When putting on eye makeup, make sure it goes with the rest of your look. Too many women forget that while the eyes are important, they must be in harmony with the rest of the face. Choose eye makeup that goes with what you're wearing, and with the look you choose on the rest of your face. Don't let your features go to war with each other to be the most prominent – you'll have to choose whether you want the focus to be on your lips or eyes, for instance. Overdoing it can just look garish.

3. Lay a good base. A layer of foundation on your eyelids will help smooth out imperfections and help your eye shadow and liner look their best.

4. Choose a color theme. This doesn't meant that you have to use a monochrome scheme for your eye makeup, but it does mean that it's a good idea to keep an idea of color harmony in mind as you apply your makeup. The colors that will work best for you depend on your skin tone.

5. Pay attention to your eye shape. What works on one person won't necessarily look good on another. Figuring out what shape and set your eyes are can go a long way to helping you get the right look.

6. Select quality cosmetics. It really matters whether or not your makeup is high quality. Don't let your tools work against you just because you can get a cheaper brand. You'll never achieve the same looks you can with a better brand.

7. Use specialized cleansers to remove your makeup. Soap and water are harsh and can irritate the eyes. Specially formulated eye cleansers are gentle, but made to remove old cosmetics.

8. Use darker, more heavily made up looks at night. Daytime requires a more natural look. Apply mascara on the tips of the lashes only, and save the liquid liner for evenings. Harsh makeup in daylight can look overdone or silly.

9. Soften over-prominent eyes. Just because the eyes are the first thing we pay attention to doesn't meant that they must be the focus of every look. If you feel that your eyes are too prominent, apply medium shadow and don't use highlights. This will make them appear deeper-set.

10. Keep up to date on the latest looks. If you've been doing your eyes the same way for years, you can look dated without knowing it. Pay attention to what other people are wearing as well as the latest makeup styles, and form a look that's your own.

Water Slides

2007-09-28T23:21:00.002-07:00

Shakira in Humburg

2007-09-28T05:07:00.002-07:00

See more photos...

Anna Kournikova & Enrique

2007-09-19T04:47:00.002-07:00

Bizzare

2007-09-18T02:48:00.002-07:00

9 pictures
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Healthy Hair Growth

2007-09-15T00:09:00.002-07:00

Top Nutritional Tips To Support Healthy Hair Growth

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.

Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:
Eat a variety of foods.
Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.
Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.
Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Top Nutritional Tips To Support Healthy Hair Growth
Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:

Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.
High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.
Dieting may affect nutrient levels.
Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.
Exercise can deplete some nutrients.
It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.

Valentines for Her

2005-02-06T00:41:00.002-08:00

Every woman wants to get something special on Valentine’s Day. Every woman has a library of romantic fantasies in her head, and she’s just waiting for them to come true. When she is a teenager, a bunch of heart-shaped balloons and a box of chocolates will do the trick, but as she matures, so will her Valentine wishes. Your lady wants her Valentine’s Day memories to be special, whether they are big or small. She wants to brag to her friends about how great you are, and she wants to be swept off her feet again and again.

There are many ways to make your partner’s Valentine’s Day one to remember. You don’t necessarily have to follow the Dinner/Movie/Present routine that has become so cliché over the years. Maybe a quiet, romantic night alone will have her falling for you all over again. Perhaps you can fill the day with tiny reminders of your feelings for her. This might even be the year for you to go all out and give her the most extravagant Valentine she’s ever had. Regardless of what you decide on, make sure you put your whole heart into it and give her the love and attention she deserves. Below are a few ideas from MC for your Valentine’s Day.

Romantic Dinner for Two
Last Valentine's Day, I informed my Girlfriend that the bedroom was off limits. I cooked Beef and topped it with pastry hearts. After dinner, I blindfolded her and led her to the bedroom. When I took the blindfold off, she found a bed with twelve dozen rose petals on white silk sheets. I’d also filled the room with candles on pedestals. She burst into tears of joy the second she saw it.
--submitted by Max

Five Guys in the Kitchen
My friends and I are planning our 3rd annual “Guys in the Kitchen” Valentine’s Day celebration. The five of us have been friends for a long time, and all of our wives are friends, too. Each year we prepare a homemade Valentine dinner for our ladies, and we make sure to go all out. We make the childcare arrangements. We send invitations to their offices tied to a dozen roses. At dinner, we set the table with matching plates, candles, and wine. The menus are printed on antiqued paper, and we laminate them so the girls can keep them as keepsakes. This year, there will be chocolates and singing stuffed animals sitting in each of their seats when they come in. We even serve them specialty coffees after dinner. All of their other friends’ husbands hate us. It’s great!
--submitted by 5 Guys in the Kitchen

A Risky Valentine
Last year, I decided to get a little more risky with Valentine's Day. I skipped the day altogether (intentionally, and much to my wife's shock and horror). Instead, I planned a short tour to coast, but didn't tell her about it. Then I ordered a dozen flowers and I had them delivered to her at work the day we were leaving for the tour. The flowers were nice, but I’m sure she barely noticed them when she saw the flight ticket hanging from the vase. When we got on the boat, she discovered a few more surprises waiting for her -- some awesome chocolates and a few more “frisky” goodies, including a pair of vibrating panties. She loved the trip, and she also loved the fact that I had thought outside the box. So next year, skip the usual flowers and candy and do something she’ll never forget!
--submitted by Mike

A Special Love Song
I don't play an instrument or sing very well, so for Valentine’s Day I wrote a song for my girlfriend and had a friend who's an aspiring musician sing it for me. I had it professionally recorded, and I designed labels for the CD and the case. I went to our favorite radio station and got them to agree to play it for me that night. I brought my girl down to our favorite beach just in time to watch the sun set. I wish you could have seen her face when they read the dedication and played the song! It’s been five years now, and she still listens to that song.
--submitted by Robb

Advertising Your Love
I had an early morning college class on Valentine’s Day. As I walked toward the building, I noticed that there were flyers posted everywhere. At first I thought that someone was really trying to advertise something, but as I got closer I realized that they all said, "I love you, Jama! Will you be mine? Love, Brian." They were everywhere, in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. Everyone that saw them was
--submitted by Cornelius

Arcade Romance
Last year for Valentine's Day, my husband took me to a local arcade. I have to admit, that was not exactly my idea of a romantic outing, but it actually ended up being one of the greatest dates we have ever had. I will never forget it. It was on a school day, so the arcade was a ghost town. It was as if he rented the place just for the two of us. We rode go karts, played laser tag, and spent a fortune on arcade games. Then we ended the date with hot dogs and soda. It was so amazing, because 90% of the time we were the only ones in there besides the workers.
--submitted by Hex

Candy Love-Lib
On Valentine's Day, I wrote my girlfriend a letter, but I left a bunch of blank spaces. The spaces were left open for candy conversation hearts, and each time she got to a blank space I gave her a heart to fill it in. For example, one line read “I am pretty happy to have you”. It had her read it in the evening, and we were on a porch swing out in the peaceful country, so the mood was perfect. I had other gifts, but according to her, this was the "most thoughtful."
--submitted by Joel

Hearts of Love
Since it was our first Valentine’s Day together, I knew that I had to do something sweet and special for my girl. I cut about 100 hearts out of pink, purple, and red construction paper. I wrote little sayings on each one, kind of like conversation hearts, but more personal. Some were compliments, others were terms of endearment, and some were just short notes like “I love the way you kiss me.” On the back of each one, I printed “S.W.L. loves H.D.B.” I had them delivered to her throughout the month of February in fun and surprising ways. Her friends delivered some of them for me. Some, I left in places I knew she would find them, like inside the medicine cabinet, in the refrigerator, or on the pillow. One day I convinced complete strangers to walk up to her and just hand her one without saying a word. One was even given to her by one of our waiters at a local restaurant. She really loved it!!
--submitted by Abdi

Roses to Remember
My husband and I had been married for about a year. He knew what a romantic I was and how much I love surprises. I worked as a secretary at a hospital, and one of my job duties was to go across the street into another building to retrieve the day's mail. When I went to get the mail that Valentine’s Day, there was a large package addressed to me. It was awkward to carry, even though it was fairly light. I lugged it back to my desk with all the other mail. Everyone I walked past stopped what they were doing and followed me to my desk, wanting to know what the package contained. So I opened it in front of everyone. It was a framed poster of a little boy (in black and white) holding a dozen roses (in red). Of course, my husband planned it perfectly, because he knew that I had to take the train home. The poster brought a lot of smiles from everyone I ran into on the way home. To this day, the sight of it brings a smile to my face.
--submitted by Tricia

As you can see, it is the feeling in which your Valentine surprise is delivered, the emotion it evokes, and the memories it makes that matter to a woman. Give your lover something to brag to her friends about this year, and she’ll fall in love with you all over again.

See also what men want

Valentines For Your Man

2005-02-05T23:29:00.002-08:00

Don’t let them fool you ladies…
Men want to feel celebrated and adored on Valentine’s Day, too. They want to be loved and desired just as much as women do. Show your guy sweet sentiments in a way he will appreciate with one of these reader's ideas, and he will look forward to Valentine’s Day every year thereafter.

Heart Shaped Guitar Picks
My boyfriend and I had only been dating a short while before Valentine’s Day, so I didn't really want to get something super expensive. I just wanted to do something small and meaningful. He plays guitar, so I went out and bought a dozen guitar picks. I took a pair of scissors and trimmed them into hearts. Then I filed down the edges and put them all in a little clear bag tied with a ribbon. I made a card and I picked out candy hearts with the messages I liked on them. When we were exchanging our gifts on Valentine's Day, I gave him the picks and he loved them. Then I gave him one candy heart at a time and told him he had to do everything they said on them, like "hold me," "hug me," and "kiss me." He loved the whole thing.
--submitted by Sophie

Gifts on the Hour For Valentine’s Day
one year, I decided to give my fiancé a gift every hour he was at work. When he got to work at 8:30, a simple little card was there waiting for him wishing him a happy Valentine's Day. At 9:30, his breakfast was delivered (an omelet, hash browns, sausage, toast and orange juice). At 10:30, I sent him a huge batch of balloons. I made his favorite cream cheese cookies and had them delivered by one of my good friends wearing a clown costume at 11:30. At 12:30, a pizza and a soda came for his lunch. I sent him a huge gift bag of candy at 1:30. By this time, everyone he worked with congregated in his office on the hour waiting to see what was coming. He felt so special. I think everyone was pretty jealous. At 2:30, a stuffed frog was delivered that said, "I love you" on it. And finally at 3:30, I delivered a dozen red roses in a vase to him to say, “I love you!” I had so much fun planning the whole day, and he really loved it.
--submitted by Fiona

Application For Love
This year’s Valentine’s Day is special because we are finally engaged after a four-year long distance relationship. As a gift for my fiancé, I wrote a cover letter and resume to apply for the position to be his wife. In the cover letter I explained why I wanted to apply for the position, and also what I thought made me qualified for it. My resume was filled with a history of events and good times we’d spent together over the past four years. Under skills, I listed special things I do that please him (adding in a few risqué skills). He loved it and gave me the job!
--submitted by Yoko

Another Love Poem
I wrote my boyfriend a poem for Valentine's Day. He's a Spanish major, so I went online and translated my poem into Spanish. When I gave it to him, he cried and told me it was the best present he's ever recieved. I had to look at my copy in English to remember what I wrote that moved him so much!
--submitted by Kristen

A Memory box for My Man
This year, I’m planning ahead for Valentine’s Day. I am collecting mementos from the things we’ve done all year long to put in a Valentine’s Day box. I’m making it a point to save things that are meaningful to him. For example, I took a cardboard coaster from a pub we visited on the coast. He tried his new favorite beer for the first time that day, and I think he’ll be thrilled that I remembered. Another thing I’ve saved so far is my ticket from a college basketball game we went to with his dad. I’m attaching a little note to each thing saying something about the memorable event. I’m also throwing in a few of the love notes we have left for each other.
--submitted by Shiku

Commuter Valentine's Gift
My husband used to leave at 5 a.m. every morning to commute to work while I was going to college. One Valentine's Day, I place a few commuter comfort items in his car the night before. I had gotten a good deal on a heated massaging seat cover. I also bought him a CD of his favorite singer, some coffee shop gift certificates and chocolate-covered coffee beans (which he loves). He thought it was a nice surprise on a cold Valentine's Day morning!
--submitted by Joy

Blacklight Paint Night
I surprised my boyfriend of nearly four years last Valentine's Day with a blacklight body painting session. I changed out the light bulb in our room with a black light and set up several white objects and a sheet to cover the floor (the more whites and fluorescents you use, the better). I was ready with a bunch of white body paint when he got home. We had a fun, original night discovering each other’s bodies in a whole new way with upbeat music, paints and black lighting. My boyfriend marveled at the unusual thought, and he participated enthusiastically.
--submitted by Vivian

Sexy Picture Show
Last year on Valentine's Day, a couple of friends and I got together and took pictures for our mates. A lady we work with had gone to school for photography, so she took the pictures. They weren't quit nude pictures, but they were close and they were very sexy. We did them all in black and white, which made them turn out even sexier. I had them framed in leopard print and snakeskin frames, which also added to the sexiness of the pictures. Needless to say, he absolutely loved them, and that was a start to an annual portfolio of sexy pictures!
--submitted by Valerie

Pleasure Hunt
For Valentine's Day last year, I sent my man on a "Pleasure Hunt". He woke up to a large box wrapped up with Valentine's paper, I filled it with 5 heart-shaped Mylar balloons, so when he opened the box the balloons would rise and give him his first clue, the clue read, "This is a Pleasure Hunt. Follow the hearts, and if you play your cards right you’ll end the day feeling nothing but pleasure.” The first card led him to a local spa where I treated him to an hour-long massage and an early lunch. When his lunch at the spa was served, he was given his next clue and a gift card. These led him to a local CD store where I had a romantic CD held for him and his next clue, which told him to look in his glove compartment. There he found his next clue, which told him to call me (so I knew when he was on his way) and to bring the CD to the front desk of a local hotel. When he got to the front desk, he was given a package I had held for him, and another clue. It was a key to a room in the hotel with a little tag on it that simply said "I’m Waiting". When he walked into the room, I had candles, rose petals, whipped cream, grapes, strawberries, champagne, cream cheese dip, a heart shaped tub, and me in sexy lingerie, all waiting for him. I gave him his attire for the evening - silk boxers and a matching blindfold. The night was amazing for both of us!
--submitted by Christine

A Funny Valentine
My boyfriend and I are broke students attending different colleges that are four thousand miles apart from each other. We can't be together for Valentine's Day this year, but I have a few ideas as to how I can still make the day special without spending a lot of money. I’m going to send him a box full of little things that will let him know how I feel. First, I’m gonna rip up twelve little pieces of rice paper, put on some dark red lipstick, and kiss every piece. I figure if I can't send him a dozen red roses, I can send him a dozen red kisses. He and I love the song "Funny Valentine," and I love to sing it all the time. But he has never heard me sing at all, so I am going to record myself singing our song and put the CD in the box. And the final addition to my Valentine's Day box will be a little on the seductive side. I have a black satin thong with crystal strings that I bought months ago at Victoria's Secret. I have not worn them yet because I am waiting until I see him. So, I am putting that in the box as a kind of "promise" to wear it as soon as we see each other this summer. I'm sure that he'll absolutely love it!
--submitted by Kello

A Weekend for Two
This year for Valentine's Day, I gave my boyfriend a romantic weekend for two in Seattle. My travel agent called me with info about a great vacation package that included airline tickets and two nights in a premiere hotel. Seattle is a great city for a romantic weekend! Most of the things that would interest visitors to the city are all downtown and within walking distance of the hotel, so there's no need to hassle with car rentals. We spent the weekend strolling through the Pike's Street Market hand-in-hand and doing some terrific big-city shopping downtown. When he asked why I would give him such an extravagant gift, I told him the truth. I simply wanted to spend a whole weekend with him with no interruptions from the phone or having friends and family just dropping in without warning. To me, it was a small price to pay for some "us" time. It was also a turning point in our relationship, and we are now shopping for our first home together. The wedding is set for next summer!
--submitted by Tia

Trade Candy for “Treats”
A week before Valentine’s Day I am going to hide little cinnamon hearts around the house. I’m going to give my boyfriend a decorated jar and explain that he needs to find and collect them throughout the week to “spend” on Valentine’s Day. Then when the day finally comes, I'll give him a menu of options he can use the candies to (i.e. Massage = 10 hearts, Homemade Dinner for Two= 2 hearts, etc.). I think it'll be fun, and it will ensure that he gets the Valentine's Day he wants rather than one I think he wants!
--submitted by Kiki

Personalized Crossword Puzzles
A few years ago I started making my own crossword puzzles for my boyfriend. All the answers have to do with our relationship. I start with one word and then just attach other words until it looks like a game of Scrabble. I give each word a number and a simple clue, and it takes him hours to finish because we talk about memories the entire time. He now looks forward to them every year on his birthday, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and our anniversary.
--submitted by Niki

Picture It!
I'm not very creative when it comes to Valentine's Day, but last year I wanted to do something for my boyfriend that I knew he would love. So a couple of weeks before the big day, I went to the mall and got some glamour shots done for him. Before he got home from class, I hid the pictures in his room so he'd have to find them. Then I put together a big basket of candy and stuffed animals and set it on his bed. He loved the fact he had to look for his present and when he found it he was totally surprised and loved it!
--submitted by Amanda