2010年11月27日星期六
10 science discoveries to be thankful for
1. The discovery of vaccines
They're a lightning rod for controversy these days, but there's no denying: Vaccines save lives. More than 1,000 years ago in China, Africa and Turkey, people inoculated themselves with smallpox pus to prevent the disease; the practice went viral, so to speak, in 1796 after English scientist Edward Jenner figured out that he could use pus from a milder bovine disease called cowpox to inoculate against smallpox.
In the ensuing centuries, researchers have developed vaccines for deadly disease like diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid, polio and measles. Today, we even have vaccines like Merck's Gardasil, which protects against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus. The next step is therapeutic vaccines, which are under investigation as a method of boosting the immune system in patients who are already sick with diseases like hepatitis, HIV and cancer.
2. Learning about what causes illness
During the 1800s, evidence began to mount that diseases weren't caused by foul air or spontaneous generation. Believe it or not, the idea that there might be some sort of contagion causing illness was controversial. This controversy came to a head in 1854, when a cholera outbreak hit the Soho neighborhood of London with deadly fury. In the first three days of the epidemic alone, 127 people in the neighborhood died, according to the University of runescape money California, Los Angeles, Department of Epidemiology.
Within weeks, the death toll reached 500. But physician John Snow was on the case, interviewing families and searching for a common thread. He found it in a contaminated water pump on the corner of Broad Street. Once the pump handle was removed so that residents could no longer pump the water, the epidemic stopped in its tracks. (It would take several more years for the scientific community to fully accept that diseases are caused by germs.)
Today, outbreaks like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), avian flu and the H1N1 flu have the potential to go global within hours. Debate may rage about the appropriate level of response to these threats, but we're thankful to have epidemiologists watching our backs.
3. Watching the brain in action
The skull is a tough nut to crack, which is why we're glad we can now peer inside without reaching for the circular saw. Neuroimaging, or bran scanning, is one of the newer technologies at researchers' and doctors' disposal. Researchers use computed tomography (CT or CAT scans) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to get a good look at soft tissue, including the brain. With the advent of functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, in the 1990s researchers have been able to watch the brain in action, finding out what areas become more active during various mental tasks.
MRIs have been used to reveal everything from brain maturity to the effect of violent video games on teen brains. Brain scans have even been entered as evidence at murder trials.
4. The magic of microscopes
Even if microscopes weren't integral to the discovery of the cell - the building block of life as we know it - we'd put them on this list for sheer coolness. How else would we watch chromosomes replicate or marvel at the mosaic pattern of a mosquito eye?
Without microscopes, a staggering portion of our runescape accounts world would remain invisible. We've moved beyond (though not discarded) the optical microscopes that English scientist Robert Hooke used to discover the cell; these days, scientists can manipulate individual atoms to write words and draw pictures using scanning tunnel and atomic force microscopes.
5. Understanding ancient life
Our understanding of ancient life on Earth through fossilized remains goes back to the Greek natural historian Xenophanes, who, around 750 B.C., recognized that clam shells encased in rock in a mountainous region resembled clams from the sea. However, the field made little progress for a long period. In the 11th century, the Persian naturalist, Ibn Sina, proposed a theory of petrifying fluids. But it took a few more centuries before fossils and their relationship to past life was understood.
Now, thanks to the steady progress of science, we have what we know to be the remnants of undersea life 50 million years ago in the Burgess Shale, Hippo-like mammals basking in the once-toasty warm Arctic, and dinosaur fossils galore. Yes, ancient pudgy mammals - what's not to be thankful for?
6. The mighty Hubble
Orbiting 360 miles (579 kilometers) above Earth and weighing as much as two adult elephants, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope is a giant among giants. The telescope has completed about 93,500 trips around the planet, taking three-quarters of a million snapshots and probing 24,000 celestial objects and phenomena. Each cheap wow gold day the telescope sends back 3 to 4 gigabytes of data, or enough to fill six CDs.
Hubble has arguably changed our view of the universe and our place in it with achievements such as one of the first direct photos of an exoplanet. In its Deep Field Survey, the scope aimed its lens at an "empty patch" of the sky. With a million-second-long exposure, the survey revealed the first galaxies to emerge from the so-called "dark ages," the time shortly after the Big Bang when the first stars reheated the cold, dark universe. Since it's human nature to want to know "where we came from," Hubble gets a big pat on the tube.
7. A smashing time: the Large Hadron Collider
Super-high-speed crashes that release enormous amounts of energy and could reveal exotic particles and even recreate conditions in the universe only a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang. That's science any adrenaline junkie could latch onto.
The secrets of dark matter, the mysteries of the so-called God particle, and extra dimensions in the universe are just a few of the exotic discoveries scientists are hoping to make with the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a 17-mile (27-kilometer) circular tunnel running 300 feet (91 meters) underground near Geneva. Recent feat: creating little big bangs.
8. Communication through satellites
The first Soviet satellite to enter Earth orbit may have struck fear in some hearts back in 1957, but the 21st-century world is now addicted to its growing fleet of buy wow gold communication, navigation and remote sensing satellites. GPS satellites help drivers find their way to Black Friday sales, tell smartphone users where to find the nearest Starbucks, and guide the jetliners flying millions of people around the country for Thanksgiving - even if people sometimes rely upon GPS a little too much. People can also be thankful for satellite radio and satellite TV, even as they look forward to satellite Internet, satellite-guided smart cars, and 4G wireless mobile service for smartphones. Meanwhile, sensing satellites have given us perhaps some of the best views of Earth and its natural rhythms to date. Thanks, orbiting man-made Earth-viewers.
9. Learning what's out there
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) that officially kicked off 50 years ago has so far failed to turn up signals from little green men. But there's still much to be thankful for about the band of astronomers who listen for radio signals from star systems that could be home to aliens. Such an effort taps into a sense of trying to understand a universe that extends far beyond humanity and its existence on one rocky planet. It also forces us to consider the meaning behind our existence - are we unique, or has intelligent life stirred elsewhere? Some experts say that we wow gold won't find aliens for many centuries, and others predict finding them within 25 years, but the very idea of first contact excites ordinary people enough to want to see encounters at every turn. Just don't tell famed astrophysicist Stephen Hawking about wanting to shake hands with ET.
10. Sleeping late without guilt
In 1999, Charles Czeisler of Harvard University reported that humans' intrinsic clocks have an average day of 24 hours and 11 minutes. Of course, there is a lot of variation within the population: Some of us, with short-running clocks, rise early and are therefore called larks. Others are comfortable hummingbirds, and the rest are slower-clocked, late-rising owls. The owls among us are thankful for this explanation because it's proof that wanting to sleep late does not make us lazy. The problem, according to Till Roenneberg, a chronobiologist at Ludwig-Maximilian-University in Munich, Germany, is that in spite of our 24/7 expectations, our society still clings to the agrarian idea of 'the early bird gets the worm.' Here's to catching up on sleep over runescape accounts the long weekend!
2010年11月26日星期五
'Nutcracker in 3-D' crushes classic tale
It boggles the mind, but that's what you get in "The Nutcracker in 3-D," which seems too weird and dark for children — and not in an intriguing, artistic way like "Bambi" or "Fantasia" — but won't entertain adults, either.
Russian director Andrei Konchalovsky has said he's spent the past 20 years working to bring "The Nutcracker" to the screen. Seeing the result makes you wish he'd devoted all that time and effort to a more worthwhile endeavor. Pointing a camera at the New York City Ballet performing George Balanchine's version of "The Nutcracker" would have been far preferable — then again, so would videotaping a bunch of 9-year-old aspiring ballerinas doing it.
This isn't exactly a ballet on film. This is more like a live-action hodgepodge in which the characters sporadically burst into awkward song and dance. There is some choreography to go along with "Waltz of the Flowers," though it's performed by figures made out of computer-generated snowflakes whose moves are so fuzzy, it's impossible to determine what they're doing. At one point, there's a sparkly Snow Fairy who ice skates, but that's not even enjoyable in a kitschy kind of way.
At the center of it all, as in the original, is a little girl. Here, her name has been changed to Mary and she's played by Elle Fanning, whose preternatural poise and intelligence can't do a thing to save this. It's Christmas in 1920s Vienna, but Mary's parents (Richard E. Grant and Yulia Visotskaya) don't seem to have runescape money much time for her or her younger brother (Aaron Michael Drozin). Their Uncle Albert shows up with some toys, including a wooden nutcracker shaped like a boy, whom he has nicknamed NC. Uncle Albert is meant to be Albert Einstein, and Nathan Lane plays him as a jaunty, heavily accented buffoon who frequentlylooks into the camera to make inane observations.
He also sings a song to the kids about the Theory of Relativity which is painful in its literal-mindedness. This is just one example of the clunky lyrics Tim Rice ("Evita," "Jesus Christ Superstar") has contributed, which distract from the purity and grace of the music. During "Waltz of the Flowers," the runescape accounts Snow Fairy (also Visotskaya) sings to Mary: "Is each day a new beginning? Do you have a fight worth winning?" It's just needless.
In keeping vaguely to the original story line, Mary goes to sleep but awakens in the middle of the night to find the Christmas tree has grown and the toys have come to life. She enters the tree with NC (a mix of animated figure voiced by Shirley Henderson and live performance from Charlie Rowe), who's actually a prince cast under a spell. Soon, Mary finds that they're both the targets of the Rat King (John Turturro), a cruel dictator who burns toys to create a giant smoke cloud that blocks out the sun.
Yes, you read that right.
A large portion of "The Nutcracker in 3-D" takes place in the Rat King's bleak realm; in a flamboyant performance, Turturro wears a wig reminiscent of Andy Warhol but prances around in a military uniform, ordering his troops (some of whom have nasally New York accents) to snatch toys from the hands of weeping children. Then he, too, bursts into song, and it's so campy, it's like something out of "The Producers."
It's not as if the visuals redeem the bizarre content; the lousy conversion from 2-D doesn't exactly make the film an eye-popping delight. If this movie can be useful in any way, hopefully it will hammer home the point that not everything needs to be in 3-D. In fact, most movies don't.
"The Nutcracker in 3-D," from Freestyle Releasing, is rated PG. Running runescape accounts time: 107 minutes. One star out of four.
2010年11月25日星期四
Bieber wins 4 AMAs, including artist of year
The 16-year-old teen runescape accounts heartthrob went four-for-four on Sunday night, capturing every award he was nominated for, including the top award of the night, favorite artist. He beat a list that featured veterans Eminem and Usher, as well as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.
Bieber became the youngest person to ever win the trophy. Bieber also won favorite pop/rock album, favorite pop/rock male, and the show's breakthrough artist award.
"I can't stop smiling; this is amazing," Bieber said after he also beat Eminem and Usher for favorite pop/rock male. "Truly I don't know how this is possible because I've been singing Eminem since I was three and Usher is my mentor. So this is big."
Eminem, along with Lady Antebellum, had been the leading nominee with five awards. He didn't come up empty handed though, winning two, along with Usher, who also nabbed a pair. Lady Antebellum took home one.
Other winners included the Black Eyed Peas and Taylor Swift, but Sunday's ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles was as much a showcase for acts with new albums as it was a celebration of the runescape accounts biggest achievers of 2010.
Rihanna, with her hair dyed a ruby red, gave the show a colorful and sexy start, performing a medley of songs from her just released album "Loud," including the No. 1 hit "What's My Name," wearing a bustier and what seemed like a scarf wrapped around her backside.
"This is amazing!" said an exuberant Rihanna, who danced onstage later to receive her award — favorite soul/R&B female. She ended her speech by yelling, "Wassup! Thank you!"
The Black Eyed Peas, winners for favorite pop/rock band, gave a levitating performance, singing from boxes atop the stage during part of their performance of their new single, "The Time."
Yet some of the prime-time performances were given to acts who weren't nominated, but had albums to promote. Diddy's latest incarnation with the group runescape money Diddy-Dirty Money sang material from their upcoming album, while Kid Rock gave a stirring, acoustic performance of "Times Like These," his song lifting up his hometown of Detroit during its recent economic struggles, from his new CD, "Born Free."
A pregnant Pink was among the evening's performance highlights. Unlike recent appearances marked by a high-wire act, she stayed close to the ground to perform her latest song, "Raise Your Glass," but thrilled nonetheless with a tightly choreographed, high-energy dance number.
Katy Perry had the evening's most explosive performance as pyrotechnics accentuated the performance of her latest song, "Firework."
Swift, last year's artist of the year, took home favorite country female. Sporting sleek runescape gold blonde hair instead of her usual cascading curls, Swift said simply: "I just want to thank the fans."
Swift later performed her new single, "Back to December," a song she also performed at the CMA Awards earlier in the month, but mixed things up by incorporating some of OneRepublic's "Apologize."
Ke$ha, perhaps trying to make up for the absent Lady Gaga, had the night's most bizarre act: She performed her heavily Auto-Tuned hit "Take It Off" looking like something out of space, with beams of light for eyes and sporting a motorcycle helmet. She then stripped down to a mirrored outfit, segueing into the next song with a pack of male dancers dressed like her, complete with blond wigs runescape money and fishnet stockings.
2010年11月24日星期三
Skinny Diet: Soups Help Weight Loss
Soup for winter weight loss? That’s right: scientific research supports the fact that swapping out two typical daily snacks for two servings of soup may result in up to a 50% greater weight loss among overweight dieters–even if the soup and the snacks have the same exact number of calories.
The reason this diet seems to work is that soup is a “low energy density food,” meaning that, due to its high water content, it can take up a lot of space in your belly without providing a lot of calories. Many of our appetite cues come from psychological and mechanical stimuli — like how big of a portion we ate or how runescape money stretched out our stomach gets after eating. This means eating a large volume of food may satisfy us more than eating a small volume of food, even if that larger volume has the same number or fewer calories than a smaller volume snack. Indeed, the research supports this finding: subjects who were assigned to the soup group not only lost more weight than the snack group, but their weight loss was directly correlated to a reduction in total calorie intake. In other words, the soup eaters compensated for their feelings of soup-induced fullness by eating less at other meals, resulting in an overall lower calorie intake than the snack eaters.
But while soup can be a secret weapon to help prevent weight loss, not all soups are created equal. For the trick to work, the soup should be relatively low in calorie density: think broths, tomato-based soups and bean soups rather than cream soups, bisques and chowders. For some tips on using soup to keep your summer skinny going all year long, read on:
Start off a meal with a bowl of broth-based or pureed veggie-based soup
Miso, chicken broth, tomato and runescape accounts vegetable-based soups are always the safest bet. Some pureed veggie soups can also be super low-calorie–like butternut squash soup–assuming they aren’t “enhanced” with cream or potatoes. By filling up on a modest 100-200 calorie soup before you even start the meal, you’re likely to eat significantly less volume from your more energy-dense entree, which translates into lower total calories consumed.
Make a meal of the soup itself
Pair heartier soups or chilis with a small salad to make a satisfying lunch or weeknight dinner. Cuban black bean, Split Pea, Lentil, Mushroom Barley, Three Bean, or Turkey Chili are all super high in filling fiber, a great source of vegetable protein, and offer long-lasting energy by virtue of their complex carbohydrate content.
Beware of soup saboteurs
Avoid the melted cheese and croutons on a French onion soup, the 600-calorie Bread Bowl offered by one popular chain restaurant, gobs of full-fat sour cream, cheese and guacamole on chili, and piles of thick udon or deep-fried ramen noodles. A great soup need not be accessorized with anything other than a runescape money spoon, and some of these toppings and add-ins can double, triple, or even quadruple the calorie count of your soup.
Cream by any other name is still cream
It may seem obvious that cream-of-anything soups will be at least 100 calories per cup higher than a broth-based alternative, but realize that cream doesn’t always announce its presence so clearly. Bisques and chowders (with the exception of Manhattan Clam Chowder) are also cream based, and some Thai soups use full-fat coconut milk as a base as well. If cooking at home, you can substitute fat-free evaporated milk for heavy cream in soup recipes, or even low-fat regular milk or Lite Coconut Milk if the quantities are small.
Watch out for sodium
Restaurant soups and canned soups and broths are notoriously high in sodium, which can contribute to bloat-producing water retention and high blood pressure. When cooking at home, use water or a low-sodium broth or bouillon as your soup base. Salt your soup to taste once its in the bowl rather than in the pot. More and more canned soups are available in reduced-sodium and low sodium varieties, and slowly but surely, some soup-selling chain restaurants are starting to offer lower sodium cheap wow gold varieties.
2010年11月22日星期一
To 3-D or not to 3-D? 'Potter' people disagree
Disappointed the new "Harry Potter" film runescape accounts won't be in 3-D? Its star, Daniel Radcliffe, feels the opposite.
Radcliffe said he is delighted that the filmmakers and distributor Warner Bros. scrapped plans to convert "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1" to 3-D. He also hopes they abandon their 3-D plans for "Part 2," due in theaters next July.
"If any film doesn't need a gimmick, it's these ones, and that's for me what 3-D is," Radcliffe said in an interview. "For me, 3-D adds nothing to the story."
It does add to the box office, however. Movies available in both two- and three-dimensional projection often derive two-thirds or more of their revenue from 3-D versions, with fans willing to pay the few dollars extra it costs to put on the dorky glasses that bring the illusion of depth to the images.
The filmmakers had been racing to create a 3-D version of "Deathly Hallows" in time for its theatrical debut this week, but they said they ran out of time to do it right.
"We lavish a huge amount of attention and care on the 2-D version, the normal version of the film," said producer David Barron. "We were just not prepared to throw off what you might call some half-assed runescape money version just for the sake of trying to generate more money."
How much more money? There's no way to pinpoint precisely what 3-D would have added to revenues for "Deathly Hallows," but producer David Heyman made an estimate.
"I think 10 to 20 percent, probably. On a film that's going to make $800 million at the box office, that's a lot of money," Heyman said. "Warner Bros. are going to have to alter their fourth-quarter projections because it's not in 3-D."
As bad as that sounds for shareholders, it's a rare instance of quality trumping commerce in greedy Hollywood. Warner Bros. pushed for a 3-D version but ultimately agreed to drop it once the filmmakers convinced studio heads it would be an inferior rush job.
Director David Yates, who shot both parts of "Deathly Hallows" simultaneously, said "lots of beautiful individual bits and pieces" of "Part 1" had been converted to 3-D, but other scenes simply did not look right.
With what the filmmakers learned on "Part 1" — and runescape gold nearly eight months ahead of them — they are confident they can deliver a 3-D version of "Part 2" that lives up to the "Harry Potter" brand name.
"I think it's going to be really cool," Yates said. "We've been working with people since May on the whole 3-D thing, so it's not like we're starting from scratch. I want it to work. I really want it to work."
There are moments in the 2-D version of "Part 1" where the possibilities of 3-D can be clearly seen, including a scene where a giant snake hurtles itself at the camera and another where Harry's pet owl flies away from him toward the audience.
Such images were not created for 3-D jolt effect, though, since "Deathly Hallows" was not shot with 3-D in mind. The film was well into production before the digital 3-D craze took hold last year, culminating in James Cameron's sci-fi sensation "Avatar."
Digital 3-D comes in two basic flavors: Films such as "Avatar" specifically shot with 3-D cameras that create two slightly offset images, and movies converted to 3-D after the fact.
Done well, footage converted to 3-D can look great. George Lucas showed an impressive 3-D conversion of the opening scenes of 1977's "Star Wars" to theater owners at a convention in 2005, and the technology has advanced since then.
Lucas plans to release 3-D versions of all six "Star Wars" movies, while Cameron is converting "Titanic" for 3-D release.
As meticulous as Lucas and Cameron are, fans probably can expect top-of-the-line 3-D conversions. But some recent movies converted to 3-D have come off as hasty knockoffs to cash in on 3-D mania.
Critics carped that 3-D added runescape accounts little to such recent hits as "The Last Airbender," "Clash of the Titans" and even Tim Burton's blockbuster "Alice in Wonderland." Some claimed 3-D conversion jobs actually can be a distraction, leaving images looking smudged and blurry.
Radcliffe is not a fan of 3-D even when it's done well. He said that Christopher Nolan's sci-fi blockbuster "Inception" was the year's best film both visually and dramatically, "and that for me puts the 3-D argument to bed."
"`Avatar,' sure, it looked amazing, but not more amazing than `Inception,'" Radcliffe said. "And I thought about `Inception' for so much longer because it was a better film, because it was a more interesting film. And I don't think that technology is a substitute for story, which I think is how 3-D can sometimes be used."
Nolan, who also made "Batman Begins" and "The Dark Knight," is not shooting his next Batman movie in 3-D, either.
Warner Bros., which released "Inception" and the Batman movies, may be counting on a 3-D bonanza from next summer's finale to the "Harry Potter" franchise. Yet Radcliffe would like to see "Deathly Hallows: Part 1" work enough critical and commercial magic that the filmmakers and studio bosses will change their minds.
"What I'm hoping is that this film will get a good enough reaction so they all go, `Maybe we don't have to do the last one in 3-D. People don't miss it.' That's what I'm hoping for," Radcliffe said. "But it's sort of runescape gold not in my control."
2010年11月21日星期日
7 Simple Ways To Be Happier
1. Listen to your inner child
I wonder sometimes what would happen if we all pursued the art of being a goofball. If both sides of a debate dropped their pickets and traded knock-knock jokes instead, what would change? Would we see each other differently? As opportunities, rather than problems? Read more.
2. Be grateful for something every day
One benefit of being grateful and expressing your appreciation to others is the reciprocal nature of such things. The natural response to somebody saying, “thank you” or “wow, I really appreciate runescape accounts you” is the discovery of reasons to respond in-kind. If you’re constantly finding things to be grateful for and sharing your discoveries with others, be assured that they’ll begin to notice things you do and express their gratefulness to you before long!
3. Let some plans go
Giving up goals works in any area of your life. Take health and fitness: I used to have specific fitness goals, from losing weight or body fat to running a marathon to increasing my squat. Not anymore: now I just do it because I love it, and I have no idea where that will take me. It works brilliantly, because I always enjoy myself. Read more.
4. Reduce your exposure to negative media
If information isn’t helping you make decisions and only makes you feel miserable, why are you consuming it? Surrounding yourself with celebrity magazines and television shows featuring spoiled rich kids can fuel that urge to compare. Read more
5. Learn to say “NO!”
At the end of the day, it’s about how you say “no”, rather than the fact you’re runescape gold saying no, that affects the outcome. After all, you have your own priorities and needs, just like everyone has his/her own needs. Saying no is about respecting and valuing your time and space. Say no is your prerogative. Read more.
6. Nurture happiness where you find it
Be grateful for your joy, every day. Be in the moment with that activity, instead of having your mind drift elsewhere. Refresh your joy often, by starting over or approaching things from a new angle or doing something a bit differently. Find new people to share this joy with, people who love it as much as you. Read more.
7. Get and stay organized
The National Association of Professional Organizers estimates that a huge percentage of work days are lost to people looking for things they have misplaced. Disorganization is the enemy of productivity, and it may even fuel procrastination. A few minutes spent every night organizing papers, assignments, long-term deadlines and goals can pay off handsomely in higher well-being and runescape accounts accomplishments. Read more.
2010年11月18日星期四
Health congress enhances Milan as "capital of research"
Established in 1968 as a forum to bring together national organizations committed to improvement in the use of health records in their countries, IFHRO is a non-profit organization affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO).
"Back in Europe after 14 years and in Italy for the first time, the congress has chosen Milan as its host city, which I feel glad and proud about," Mayor of runescape gold Milan Letizia Moratti said at the opening of the three-day event.
The 2010 edition of the conference, whose theme is "Better information for better health," will focus on topics such as health information management and scientific research, classification systems, management and quality of medical records.
"Many of the development projects started by Milan, in quality of next host city of the world Expo 2015, regard health and information as fundamental factors for the scientific and healthcare development of the runescape money disadvantaged areas across the globe, " Moratti said.
"A growing number of international-level scientific organizations are choosing Milan as the host city for their conventions," the mayor stressed, adding that the renowned infrastructures and competitive ideas of the Italian northern city have already made it a "capital of scientific research."
The second city in Europe, after London, for number of investments in biotech and R&D, Milan is home of half of all foreign companies present in Italy, with a turnover runescape accounts of tens of millions of dollars.
2010年11月17日星期三
Schwarzenegger, Luhrmann eulogize De Laurentiis
So said Arnold Schwarzenegger, David Lynch and Baz Luhrmann, who shared stories about the veteran producer at his funeral Monday at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles.
All described the Italian-born producer, who died last week at age 91, as larger than life.
"He fought big, he dreamed big, and that's the way he saw the cinema, as big," said Lynch, who made "Dune" and "Blue Velvet" with De Laurentiis. "Ten grown athletic men combined, on PCP, would not equal even a tiny fraction of the energy that Dino had every day... Dino was like a steamroller working, dreaming and thinking the movies."
Lynch described De Laurentiis as a "great practical joker
Schwarzenegger, who was accompanied by wife Maria Shriver, got laughs runescape accounts from the crowd when he imitated De Laurentiis' Italian accent. Schwarzenegger made four films with De Laurentiis, and said he admired the producer's brains, courage and heart.
"He never feared failure, and this is the only way you can be successful in life," the governor said. "I learned that from Dino."
Luhrmann said De Laurentiis "taught me how to have fun."
"Dino De Laurentiis was able to blend effortlessly, without any effort whatsoever, life, art and family," the filmmaker said.
The producer's youngest daughters, Carolyna and Dina, also eulogized their dad. Carolyna De Laurentiis wow gold called him "A force of life" and a "master of Italian guilt."
His grandchildren, including Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis, read brief passages during the service.
Many guests at the 90-minute runescape money service wore red at the request of the family. "It was Dino's color," the pastor said. A statement released by the family late Friday explained the legendary producer "did not want to be met with a sea of black at his funeral."
The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the primary church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and hosts some of the city's most prominent funerals.
Lynch summed up De Laurentiis like this: "Dino was energetic, childlike, powerful, kind, unstoppable, charming, opinionated, fair-minded, fun-loving, an entrepreneur, a family man, a workaholic, a sharp dresser, a practical joker, a dreamer, a producer, a gourmet, a showman, a deal maker, a risk taker, a giver, a taker. A man runescape accounts filled with the love of life."
2010年11月16日星期二
Eating less salt benefits teens' health
If teens could reduce salt intake by three grams daily, they would enjoy a much healthier life in adulthood, the American Heart Association said in a press release on Sunday.
The release said the study, conducted by researchers at University of California, San Franscisco, was based on a computerized projection of what would happen if adolescent boys and girls were to shave off three runescape accounts grams of salt from their daily consumption of common processed foods.
A daily three-gram drop in consumption of the salt typically found in such foods would reduce the incidence of high blood pressure among teens by between 44 percent and 63 percent, according to the study.
And as these teens age, the high blood pressure incidence reductions would persist, dropping between 30 percent to 43 percent among 35- to 50-year olds, said the study.
The analysis also revealed that by the time teens reached the age of 50, such salt reduction would result in a seven percent to 12 percent drop in heart runescape money disease; an eight percent to 14 percent drop in heart attacks; a five percent to eight percent drop in stroke rates; and a five to nine percent drop in deaths due to all causes.
"Reducing the amount of salt that is already added to the food that we eat could mean that teenagers live many more years free of hypertension," said study lead author Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the university.
"The additional benefit of lowering salt consumption early is that we can hopefully change the expectations of how food should taste, ideally to something slightly less salty," Bibbins-Domingo said.
In the United States, teens are the main consumers of salt. Their daily ingestion of nine grams of salt per day is higher than any other age group, according to the study.
Approximately 80 percent of salt intake comes from processed and/or prepared foods. More than one-third of that salt is specifically found in cereals, breads, and pastries, while pizza ranks as the runescape accounts nation's king of salt, the study authors said.
2010年11月15日星期一
Jewish museum completes new home in Philadelphia
Plans to expand the National Museum of American Jewish History were a decade in the making. A grand opening weekend kicks off with a Saturday night gala featuring Bette Midler and Jerry Seinfeld, and a Sunday dedication with Vice President Joe Biden as keynote speaker.
A series of special access days for museum members and funders are scheduled over the next two weeks before it opens to the general public on Nov. 26.
The 100,000 square-foot, five-story museum's mission is to explore 350 years of Jewish life in the U.S., and highlights themes of freedom, civil rights, prejudice and assimilation.
"We have in this country many Holocaust museums and memorials, so that runescape accounts chapter is one that we've told appropriately quite completely," museum president Michael Rosenzweig said. "The chapter that we tell in this museum, however, is one that hasn't been as well told."
The striking terra-cotta and glass building is located steps from the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The $150 million facility replaces a small brick building a block away that had a scant 40 objects on display when it opened for the city's 1976 Bicentennial celebrations.
On the first floor, an "Only in America" gallery uses video, audio testimonials and personal belongings to examine the contributions of 18 Jewish Americans — chosen by a public vote — including Estee Lauder, Jonas Salk, Sandy Koufax and Steven Spielberg.
The second, third and fourth floors use films, interactive displays and artifacts to trace the history of the Jewish experience from the arrival of the first Jews to runescape gold North America in 1654 to the present, while the top floor will host rotating exhibitions and events.
A central atrium fills the space with natural light; below ground level are classrooms and a 200-seat auditorium for films, concerts and theater.
Those involved in the project wanted to make the museum a place where all Americans can see the similarities between their own family histories and the Jewish experience. Like all immigrant groups, Jews changed American society just as America changed Jewish culture.
"It has meaning for everybody, whether you've just come to this country last week or whether you have been here as early as the Dutch inhabited New York," said architect cheap wow gold James Polshek.
2010年11月14日星期日
Emma Watson through years
1. Chamber of Secrets
Here's Emma at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets in November of 2002. She's out way past her bed time. Grounded!
2. BAFTA Awards
In 2005, Watson hit the red carpet again at the BAFTA Awards in London. A young Mischa Barton and Juliette Lewis were there, too.
3. The Goblet Of Fire
It was a British invasion in 2205 when the Goblet of Fire premiere lit up NYC. So far Warner Bros. was very pleased with box office returns.
4. Order of the Phoenix
Here's Watson in London at the after party for the Order of the Phoenix premiere runescape accounts in 2007. The dress has come a long way from her 2005 red carpet disaster.
5. National Movie Awards
Apparently the National Movie Awards are important. They're in London and Watson turned up on the red carpet looking amused at best.
6. Pride of Britain Awards
In 2007, Watson was very busy, discovering a wider fashion range and a little thing called the "after party". Wooooo!
7. Empire Awards
At the 2008 Empire Film Awards, Watson was one of the presenters. Actually, she was THE presenter, one might argue, giving out the Best British Film trophy.
8. Eighteen
Though her actual birthday is April 15th, she celebrated at a place called the Automatic Club on the 18th. By this point, she's considered a mega-star.
9. Fashion Week
Still very much a Londoner in 2008, Watson was runescape money head-long into her love affair with high fashion. That's Alexa Chung sitting next to her.
10. Dior
It was a Fashion Week European tour for Emma in 2008. Here she is in Paris for the Dior show.11. The Somerset House Ice Rink Opening
Here's our gal at the The Somerset House Ice Rink in London dolled up in arguably too much make-up. But that's just us.
12. The Tale Of Despereaux
Emma did some voiceover work for Universal's animated flick The Tale of Despereaux and luckily we have this photo to prove it. What goes best with floppy ears? Diamond earrings of course.
13. The Orange British Academy Film Awards
Didn't Emma look fetching in this flowing black gown at the Orange British Academy Film Awards runescape gold in 2009? Very classy.
14. Half Blood Prince
Weather did not cooperate for the premiere of the Half Blood Prince in London, July 2009. But that's just an excuse to break out the giant umbrella. It's also magic. If she points it at your and says "gumble-fork," you'll turn into a crab.
15. Front Row at Burberry
In September of 2009, Emma and Gwyneth Paltrow sat front row for the Burberry show at London Fashion Week. In a year, Watson would score the gig as the face for the iconic British coat-maker.
16. Met Gala
It was May of 2010 when Watson attended the famous Costume Institute Gala Benefit. This is the same event that Katy Perry wore that awesome dress with lights on it.
17. The New Cut
After a family get-away in August of 2010, Watson returned to London sporting runescape accounts an adorable new pixie cut. The press went wild for it.
2010年11月12日星期五
6 Ways To Stay Positive
Once we are up and running, life tends to hit us head on and despite our best made plans and preparations, we better learn to expect the unexpected. Everything from one of the kids sick on Monday morning to excessive commute traffic on the way to work to power outages and the computers are down, count on each day being full of surprises. How we choose to deal with these surprises will again greatly influence what kind of a day we have. It is easy to get caught up in the negativity and lose the positive perspective that we started with. How can we stay positive and fend off negativity when it comes our way? It’s all about attitude.
Having a positive attitude is not some trick that can be learned by reading a book or listening to a video. The ability to stay positive in spite of all that is going on around us cannot be bought in a store. It is a runescape accounts lifestyle choice that requires ever-vigilant attention and consistent effort. We all know people who seem to be perpetually positive, optimistic, and energetic. Their smile is contagious and we want to bask a bit in their glow. And generally we wish to be like them – at least a little – if we somehow could. Is there a map somewhere to direct us toward that path walked by the positive people? There may not be a map but there are some hints that might help us to start the journey.
How To Have a Positive Attitude:
? When you wake up, before you get out of bed, take a moment to settle your thoughts and get into the right frame of mind. Don’t let the worry clock stock start ticking but instead take slow, even breaths and control the pace of your day. You are in charge. Do not start to fret about the past which you cannot change. And do not become overly concerned with the future which will show itself in due time. Focus on right now, this moment, and get off to a good start.
? Realize that this day is yours to live only one time. Whatever happens runescape money good or bad, at the end of 24 hours, it is done. You cannot change what happened during that time and you cannot have it back. So live each moment and appreciate the world and people around you. Be a positive influence on those you meet. It may be through your charity that they are able to overcome personal challenges they are dealing with. Sometimes it can be as simple as a smile and a friendly “hello, how is your day?”
? Make the assumption that others you come in contact with during the day are good people. Try to stay away from being judgmental and remember that everyone wants to be liked. Sometimes our lives throw us a curve ball that causes us to temporarily become someone other than who we really are. But inside, we are all good people. And an amazing side effect of treating others as good people is they tend to act as if they ARE good.
? Smile because you are happy, because you are alive, because it is a beautiful day, or for no reason at all. With a smile on your face, things just do not seem to be that bad. It is easy to do so smile whenever you have the opportunity. And just like that jolly laugh you cannot resist joining in, a runescape gold smile can be contagious and you as the spreader become instrumental in not only your own happiness but that of others as well.
? Don’t sweat the small stuff. Distractions and annoyances are plentiful but don’t let the minor things get under your skin. Ask yourself if it will matter in 100 years. Turn the other cheek. If it just doesn’t matter, don’t let it undermine your resolve or distract you from staying positive.
? Be thankful for what you have, the person you are and the people that are part of your life. Nothing is forever so take time to be thankful today.
Looking out the window, I see the sunshine beginning to warm a new day. The red hibiscus plant under the window is blooming and hummingbirds are starting to make their presence known as they dart by. I have a smile on my face and I am looking forward to the day. I am thankful for what I have and appreciate those who share my life. It is going to be a wonderful day – I runescape accounts am positive of it!
2010年11月11日星期四
Top 10 spa destinations
To help travelers looking for therapeutic relaxatio.
1. Lyall Hotel and Spa in Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne's only privately owned and operated five star hotel, the Lyall Hotel and Spa offers is situated in the heart of South Yarra, in close proximity to dozens of Melbourne's designer fashion stores and world-class restaurants. After a day of shopping, guests can unwind with a hydrotherapy session or Swedish-style massage in one of the spa's eight treatment rooms, set over three floors. The Spa's signature treatment is an Exotic Ancient DIY Rassoul, a must-try.
2. Grand Wailea - The Waldorf Astoria in Maui, Hawaii
Grand Wailea guests can indulge in a rejuvenating spa treatment that unites Thalassotherapy with ancient eastern and Hawaiian philosophies. Spa Grande boasts a 4,600 sq. m (49,510 sq ft) palace of indulgence that offers over 100 different treatments, many of which incorporate Hawaiian-grown ingredients. Guests can indulge in the spa's Hydrotherapy Circuit which offers water therapies featuring five aromatic baths to soothe the mind, body and spirit. Alternatively, the signature therapy, Pala'au Journey includes a Lomi Lomi massage that is followed by a full body cocoon and a foot and scalp treatment that utilizes the healing plants of Hawaii.
3. Les Fermes de Marie le Lodge Park in Megeve, runescape accounts France
Famous for its golf and skiing, the town of Megeve, nestled in the French Alps, is vibrant in both winter and summer. With designer furniture, open fireplaces and rustic touches, Les Fermes de Marie Le Lodge Park is a wonderfully atmospheric hotel but the Pure Balance Spa is the real show piece of this hotel. After a day hitting the slopes or hiking through the Alps, guests can enjoy one of the exceptional treatments available such from tailored baths and massages to body scrubs.
4. Hyatt Regency in Hua Hin, Thailand
The Hyatt Regency Hua Hin is host to The Barai residential spa. Guests staying here can enjoy the lush, beachfront land and eight residential spa suites with 18 exotic treatment rooms, a tranquility court and pool for relaxation, yoga and meditation sessions. The Barai offers specialized treatments that combine ancient Thai healing practices with the best of western therapies, focused on the Thai belief of maintaining the vitality and balance of the four elements.
5. Dubai Marine Beach Resort in Dubai, UAE
A unique property with its own private beach, which offers sprawling landscapes and extensive recreational options. This five-star property also has an runescape money onsite Aroma Spa designed to soothe and pamper. Guests can choose from a diverse array of treatment options, ranging from holistic aromatherapy, reflexology, to detoxifying algae wraps. The Hot Stone Body Massage utilizes warm stones with essential oils to uplift and relax the body.
6. Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy
This small but elegant spa hotel is run by the Sersale family and each of the 63 rooms feels like a home away from home. Beauty products from Linie d'Italie are presented to guests on arrival and the Aveda Concept Spa offers top range treatments such as the "Caribbean Therapy" body treatment which includes a body peel, wrap and massage.
7. Millbrook Resort in Arrowtown, New Zealand
Millbrook Resort, situated in New Zealand's historic gold-mining town of Arrowtown, in the country's south island, has a backdrop of some of the world's most spectacular scenery. The Spa at Millbrook provides the complete range of therapeutic and beauty treatments for both men and women and includes everything from body polish treatments to specialized facials and stone massages. After their spa treatment, guests can also get a taste of contemporary New Zealand cuisine at The Millhouse, which offers a tantalizing menu, blending European concepts with locally sourced produce.
8. Blue Palace Resort & Spa in Crete, Greece
Crete, renowned for its natural beauty and diverse landscape, is Greece's largest island. With 106 swimming pools, five restaurants and a 2,000 sq. m (21,530 sq ft) spa, there is more than enough luxury to satisfy any traveler at the Blue Palace Resort & Spa. At the hotel's spa, guests can enjoy views of the Mediterranean while being treated to a hot-stone massage. The French specialty Thalgo is used at the resort and the very best of beauty treatments are on offer.
9. Rosewood Mayakoba in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
For those seeking the ultimate spa treatment, the Rosewood Mayakoba is not to be missed. With a 1,500 sq m (16,150 sq ft) spa situated on its own private island, the Rosewood Spa features 12 treatment rooms and eight spa suites, as well as steam rooms, saunas, Jacuzzi and a plunge pool. The treatment menu offers a full runescape accounts range of services including the signature Temazcal Ritual which is performed by a shaman trained in Mexican medicine. Guests wishing to rebalance the mind and body can indulge in Hot-Stone Therapy which releases stress through a relaxing massage using warm volcanic stones.
10. Ritz-Carlton in Berlin, Germany
La Prairie Spa at the Ritz- Carlton, Berlin provides a tranquil retreat for five star relaxation. Offering a complete range of services to cater for the body and the soul, guests can choose to rejuvenate with a simple treatment or indulge with one of the overnight spa packages available. La Prairie offers a wide choice of massages, including the Lomi Lomi Massage and the La Prairie Sea Energy Aroma Massage. The spa also has cheap wow gold saunas, a Jacuzzi and an indoor pool to keep guests entertained.
2010年11月10日星期三
'Megamind' gets mega bucks in debut weekend
DreamWorks Animation's 3D movie, which also features the voices of Brad Pitt, Tina Fey and Jonah Hill, pulled ahead of strong openings for the other two top contenders, "Due Date" with a 32.7 million dollars take and "For Colored Girls" with 19.5 million.
The anti-superhero tale sees blue-skinned, green-eyed supervillain Megamind trying to find purpose in his life after finally conquering his arch-rival, Metro Man.
Road-trip comedy "Due Date" features oddball travel companions Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis traveling from Atlanta, Georgia to Los Angeles in a frenzied bid to runescape accounts make it on time to the birth of Peter Highman's (Downey's) child.
It beat out Tyler Perry's female-centric drama "For Colored Girls," which includes performances by Whoopi Goldberg and Janet Jackson for an adaptation of Ntozake Shange's stage play.
In fourth place was "Red," a spy thriller with a marquee cast including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren, after earning 8.7 million dollars.
Blood-soaked horrorfest "Saw 3D" dropped to fifth place after spooking runescape money audiences to the top of the box office on Halloween weekend. It earned 7.7 million dollars.
Bumped from second to sixth spot was "Paranormal Activity 2," which claims to show ghosts caught on nannycams. It earned 7.0 million dollars, for a total take of 77 million over three weeks.
Johnny Knoxville's "Jackass 3D" took the seventh spot with 4.95 million in ticket sales. The slapstick stunt comedy movie has earned 110.7 million in four weeks of release.
Matt Damon's "Hereafter," a dovetailing drama about three lives touched by death directed by Clint Eastwood, was in eighth place with 4.1 million.
In ninth place was Disney's "Secretariat," about the horse of the same name that won the Triple Crown races, taking a little over four million dollars.
Critically acclaimed Facebook drama "The Social Network" earned 3.4 million dollars to round out the top 10, with a total take of 85 million over six weeks runescape accounts in theaters.
2010年11月9日星期二
The family receives a star the star light main road
Three Academy runescape gold Award-nominated actors were remembered by stars on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame here Monday, marking the first time that family members have ever been honored at one time.
Actress Laura Dern, her father Bruce Dern and mother Diane Ladd received the 2,419th, 2,420th and 2,421st stars on the sidewalk of the world-renowned landmark in a late-morning ceremony in front of the W Hotel.
Laura Dern is a four-time Emmy nominee for her roles in the HBO movies "Afterburn" and "Recount," receiving Golden Globe awards for both performances, and for guest starring appearances on the 1993-95 Showtime drama "Fallen Angels," and the 1997 episode of "Ellen" when the character played by Ellen DeGeneres came out as a lesbian.
Laura is a star, co-creator and executive producer of the HBO comedy "Enlightened," set runescape accounts to premiere in January.
Ladd and Laura both received Academy Award nominations in 1992 for their roles in "Rambling Rose," the first time a mother and daughter received nominations for the same project.
In addition, Ladd has two other best supporting actress Oscar nominations for "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" and "Wild at Heart." She has appeared in more than 135 films, including "Chinatown" and "The World's Fastest Indian." She also wrote runescape money and directed the 1995 Showtime movie "Mrs. Munck," in which she starred along with husband Bruce Dern.
Bruce Dern received a best supporting actor nomination for portraying a Marine Corps captain left with post traumatic stress disorder from fighting in Vietnam in "Coming Home." As a character actor, Dern was best known for portraying unstable and villainous characters.
His most recent credits include the independent movies "The Astronaut Farmer" and "Monster," a recurring role on the HBO series "Big Love," and the monster movie "Swamp Devil" for runescape accounts RHI Films New York and the Sci Fi Channel.
2010年11月8日星期一
Biggest little moments of 2010
Les Grossman / J-Lo Dance at the MTV Movie Awards
When Tom Cruise reprised his Les Grossman character from Tropic Thunder on June 6, so awesome was the skit that a feature film was a foregone conclusion. We're going out on a limb and saying this is Tom Cruise's greatest role ever. If he doesn't win an Oscar for this, he never will.
Kim Kardashian Goes Nude at 30
When Kim Kardashian celebrated her 30th birthday in 2010, she marked the occasion runescape accounts by posing nude for the artsy W magazine. Kim was painted silver for the shoot, which she says may be her last in the buff. "I'm too old for that now," she said. "I wanted to get it all out of my system before I turned 30."
Sara Carbonero's Hotness Causes Spanish World Cup Loss
Meet Sara Carbonero, Spanish TV presenter, sports journalist, girlfriend of goalkeeper Iker Casillas and, according to some, the reason Spain lost to the Swiss in the 2010 World Cup opener -- Carbonero is allegedly so hot she distracted Casillas. Fortunately, Spain pulled it together, becoming the only team to win the World Cup after losing its opening game.
Oprah Waves Goodbye to Talk TV
Oprah Winfrey has been the queen of talk show television for 25 years -- but in a matter of months, she's putting an end to the show. In September, Winfrey runescape money announced she'd be going out with a bang, treating her final season premiere audiences to an all-expenses-paid eight-day Australian vacation, yelling, "You and you and you and you are going to Australia!"
Adriana Lima Sports $2 Million Bra
It happens every year: Victoria's Secret designs some ridiculously bejeweled bra and has one of their top models prance around in it, and dang if we aren't suckers for that. This year was Adriana Lima's turn. But what's more amazing is that her two companions are able to not look at them. Impressive will power, fellows.
Jessica Alba Is the Darling of Paris Jessica Alba had one heck of a year! Not only the did the gorgeous actress star in four new films, including Machete and Valentine's Day, she was hands-down the darling of Couture Week in Paris. Jessica was photographed at numerous shows wearing countless cute looks: She wore Chanel, Valentino runescape accounts and Dior to each of the respective shows.
2010年11月7日星期日
Belgian actress savors Eastwood's unusual style
Departing from his usual thrillers, crime dramas, and small-scale human-interest stories, this sprawling new film spans three countries in telling the tales of troubled American factory worker and psychic George Lonegan (Matt Damon); grieving London youngster Marcus (Frankie McLaren), whose twin brother is killed in a car accident; and high-profile Parisian reporter Marie LeLay (Cecile de France), who starts to question the possibility of an afterlife after she is almost killed in a tsunami. Though the three are worlds apart, their search to understand what happens after death brings them together.
This is only the second non-French film for de France, who is from Belgium and has won a Cesar Award, the Gallic equivalent of the Oscar. The first was the adventure comedy "Around the World in 80 Days," with Jackie Chan and Steve Coogan.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED WITH "HEREAFTER"?
Clint Eastwood wanted a French speaker, because the character is French. So I did an audition with the casting director in Paris with two scenes from the film. It's weird because usually you have to do two rounds and then you have to meet the director, but because Clint Eastwood trusts his casting directors -- he trusts everyone -- he just saw me, and two weeks after, I received his answer.
SO CLINT EASTWOOD CAST YOU WITHOUT ACTUALLY MEETING YOU?
Yeah. He just saw me on the video and runescape accounts that's it.
HOW WAS IT WORKING WITH CLINT EASTWOOD?
In France he's like God. He is the favorite director of a lot of actors, so I was the happiest person in the world when I received positive word from him. And I wasn't disappointed, because it was a wonderful experience working with him on the set. He's completely in the present. He really lives his work and his life enjoying being in the present, and he really transmits that to you and to all the members of the crew. I think the most beautiful thing was that he trusted me, as he trusts all the members of his crew. He trusted me so much, and he gave me a lot of freedom. Because he is an actor too, he knows that you know your job. It was also the first time I shot with a director who only does one take.
FOR A LOT OF SCENES YOU SHOT ONLY ONE TAKE?
Sometimes he would even just shoot the rehearsal and that was all. I really love that, because I'm from theater and I'm used to being prepared. On the stage it's one take too. You can't say, "Sorry, people, that was no good. Can we do it again?" It's a challenge and it's a good sensation, and that's also why I love my job, because of that kind of sensation. Clint Eastwood is also very open-minded, and if you ask for another take, he'll say, "Yeah, sure." It's not like he says, "It's only one take; I want to go home." I was so happy to be near Clint Eastwood, I really enjoyed the shooting.
HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THE ROLE?
I really enjoyed pretending to be a journalist; that was easy. The other part, about near-death experience, I never thought about that before working on this film, so I was very curious to jump into the subject. I read a lot of Elisabeth Kuebler-Ross and Dr. Moody's books. It was very exciting to read all of the different testimonies about near-death experience, to see how they are very close to each other and how they talk about the same things. It's very runescape money interesting to see that nothing is proven and that there are no satisfactory explanations, and it's funny to see how science rejects the idea of life after death and considers it more a sign of schizophrenia or psychosis. It's a battle, and some well-known scientists work on this and lose credibility, just like my character. So it was very interesting to jump into the subject, and I'm still very curious to see how our beliefs evolve.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WORKING IN FRENCH CINEMA AND WORKING ON HOLLYWOOD FILMS?
For me, it's not really different. It's all about a relationship between a director and an actor, and it all depends on the person, not the nationality. For example, in "Around the World in 80 Days," there were great sets, a lot of extras, beautiful costumes, and I was very impressed because it was Hollywood. But with this one, it was a low-budget film, so I didn't really feel the difference. As I said before, it's more about the person; it's more about the way of directing. The difference is more about the relationships between people.
WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON LIFE AFTER DEATH?
It's difficult to have an opinion because, for me, death is a part of life. It's more about accepting that there are mysteries and staying open to any kind of experience. It's very personal when you live this kind of experience, because it's very strong inside of yourself. You really need to live a runescape accounts paranormal experience personally to have an opinion, and it's never happened to me.
2010年11月5日星期五
Susan Boyle to sing for Prince Charles
The 49-year-old performer, who shot to global fame after dazzling judges on television show Britain's Got Talent, will sing her version of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" at the Pride of Britain charity show in London next Monday.
"It's going to be a real privilege to be performing before His Royal Highness the Prince runescape accounts Of Wales," the singer said.
"It's going to be a great night. I can't wait to be there."
The worldwide number-one selling artist missed out on playing before Queen Elizabeth II at last year's Royal Variety Performance after only finishing runner-up to dance group Diversity on the British talent show.
American rocker Reed runescape money banned Boyle from performing his song on US TV show American Idol, but British copyright laws will allow her to perform the classic hit in front of the prince and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall.
Other performers at the event include X Factor judge Simon Cowell and Girls Aloud star Cheryl Cole, also a judge on the programme.
Boyle, a devoted Catholic, sang for Pope Benedict XVI in Glasgow during his runescape money state visit to Britain in September.
2010年11月2日星期二
Filling a hunger to help out the needy
A total of 330 people, 46 hosts runescape gold and 32 restaurants are joining forces to raise cash for three Beijing-based charities and that's just for starters, Todd Balazovic discovers.
For do-gooders looking to dine while donating, the Chi Fan for Charity is philanthropy at its tastiest.
The second annual Chi Fan for Charity, to be held on Nov 6, will give Beijingers the chance to eat to make a difference as hundreds of expats sit down to meals donated by 32 local restaurants and hosted by prominent Beijing personalities.
Hosts include CCTV presenter and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador James Chau, art critic Karen Smith and movie director Chen Daming.
"I think everyone wants to be charitable, it's just a matter of getting over that hump. This is a way to be charitable by doing something you're probably going to do anyway," said Michael Crain, creator of the Chi Fan for Charity and CEO of consulting firm MDC Strategies.
Restaurants available for the charity range from sultry soul food at NOLA New Orleans restaurant to opulent fare at LAN Club.
Prices also range depending on the restaurant with meals going from 500 to 1,000 yuan per person.
"My philosophy is to always do what you do best," he said. "I can't build a house runescape accounts but I can gather people and get people together. The restaurants can do what they do best and cook a great meal and provide a nice place to eat it."
Last year, Chi Fan for Charity helped raise more than 100,000 yuan for the Dandelion Middle School, Beijing's only charitable middle school focused on providing education for migrant children.
Zheng Hong, principal of the school, said the money went to repair their schoolhouse, located in an old factory, and helped provide educational materials.
"People like Michael are so supportive," Zheng said.
"The students may not all know their names but they do know they are being supported. This increases their confidence and helps them realize they're special in someone's heart."
But this year, the charities have grown to including Prevention Through Education, an HIV/AIDS awareness program, and Rural Women, an NGO dedicated to teaching technical skills to countryside women.
With twice as many restaurants runescape money and three times the number of charities, Crain said he hopes to double last year's figure.
"This year I wanted the project to be more than just me; I wanted to get others involved," he said.
"With seats filling up quickly, we should easily be able to meet last year's goal and hopefully take it a step further."
Brandon Trowbridge, NOLA's star chef, said he is creating a special recipe never tried before, just for the event.
"It's something worth getting involved in," Trowbridge said.
"It's something special and I want to give these people a good time and most importantly, a unique dining experience."
Chi Fan for Charity has been the subject of concern for organizers over the past few months, but for participants, the event is expected to be a breeze.
"It feels as if you don't have to do anything," said Bonbon Bins Product Director Lindsi Kalani Bradbury, who will attend the event.
"We would have had to go out for dinner with our friends anyway, so it is fantastic to see our friends and runescape accounts support charities at the same time."
2010年11月1日星期一
8 Life Lessons You Should Learn Today
Here are eight of these life lessons you should consider addressing now, while you don’t need to:
1. Cut your living expenses – dramatically.
If you’re in the US, there are so many material goods so readily available it’s easy to get caught up in accumulating as much stuff as you can. As long as your income is rising, that can be manageable in the short-term. Sooner or later though, there’s a very real possibility you’re income won’t be rising for at least some period of time. You then have to make quick (potentially painful) decisions about what in your lifestyle gets cut to avoid accumulating debt.
Far better (although maybe not easier) to pare back elements of your lifestyle well before you need to do so. Not only does it curb potentially over-ambitious expectations for you (and your family) about what is “necessary” to be happy and fulfilled, every dollar of expense you eliminate is a dollar to be saved or invested for the proverbial “rainy day.”
2. Ask for help from your professional and personal networks.
It’s one thing to build a network and accumulate hundreds of contacts on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and elsewhere online, plus those which exist in real life. But having a name and skeletal contact information in an online list isn’t really an active network. A functioning network comes from knowing you can reach out to runescape accounts people for help and they’ll actually recognize you and respond. It also means first doing your part to benefit those within your network.
So before you find yourself out of a job or in some type of jam where you need help RIGHT AWAY, get active with individuals in your network sharing ideas, offering help, and asking for their assistance in areas which aren’t critical. Getting a comfortable and regular dialogue going with specific people will make it much easier to make the “big ask” when you’re in a real pinch.
3. Seek out a career change.
The last few years have obviously seen a tremendous amount of uproar and change in the career prospects of millions. Jobs which seemed secure (in part because particular employers and industries appeared secure) have turned out not to be. With so many uprooted at once in tremendously challenging economic times, finding that next job has taken much longer. That’s why it has been important (and will likely remain so) to anticipate what your first steps will be if you’re suddenly out of work.
When you don’t really need to, create a plan B (and maybe even a plan C) and work multiple options so if a potential career derailment strikes you, you’re able to transition as seamlessly as possible to your next best alternative. Sure this means more work and effort, but better to be prepared ahead of time than thrown into a life crunch with no realistic preparation to exploit.
4. Hone your selling skills.
Many people not in sales jobs have the runescape money mistaken belief they aren’t salespeople. In reality, if you work, live, or interact with others in any way (that should include everybody reading this) then you are certainly trying to convince people to adopt your point of view. That means you’re a salesperson.
The implication is you’ll benefit from doing some reading and practicing selling skills right now. Doing so will help you improve at understanding others’ points of view, identifying what needs and benefits are important to them, and being able to anticipate and respond to objections they pose. Plus, if you ever find yourself needing to more actively sell (i.e., you want or have to start your own business), you’ll be so much further along in achieving sales success.
5. Get smarter.
Do you hear that popping sound? That’s your knowledge about whatever it is you do evaporating as new technology, new practices, new marketplace realities, or any of a thousand other things render your knowledge ineffective or downright incorrect. What do you do? Make an active and very concerted effort to continue learning during and after you are in school. Social media both makes ongoing learning easier (through ready access to experts and information you’d never have been able to reach before) and harder (since many “experts” have no clue what they’re talking about).
As a result, use every means you can to not only stay current on what you’re doing right now, but also try to anticipate what you may be doing in the future to get a head start on learning in newer areas. Pay particular attention to techniques on how to learn more effectively and faster, which apply across multiple fields of study. Far runescape accounts better to have a familiar command of a new discipline than learning from scratch in an accelerated time frame.
6. Exercise.
I always hated exercising, so I never did any in my 20s and most of my 30s. My resistance was bolstered by the fact my weight was manageable, although my waist size slowly increased by 6 inches in the years after getting married. When my wife finally got me to work out and then signed me up with a trainer, the initial physical assessment showed I was out of shape and had about 25 pounds to lose.
Slowly but surely over the course of a couple of years, I lost all the weight and dramatically reduced my body fat percentage. Only problem? There are areas (such as “love handles”) that show no signs of going away no matter how well I eat and work out. If I’d been exercising all the way through, I’d have been in a lot better shape, controlled some of those problem areas, and had much less of a hurdle once I started exercising way too late.
7. Pray.
Don’t you hate when you only hear from someone when they need something? Me too. And we’re not the only ones either. When things are going well, take a little time to work on your spirituality, irrespective of what or wherever you choose to do it. Getting in touch with runescape gold something bigger than you even if it only lies within yourself always helps put things in the proper perspective. And understanding the consolation spirituality provides when everything’s going your way allows you to understand the kind of spiritual second wind that can be yours when nothing’s going as you planned.
8. Be humble.
When things are booming, you’re not typically thinking about what life might be like when your situation isn’t going as well. That can lead to overlooking others who are important contributors to your success, especially if they tend to stay in the background and embrace a servant leadership approach to how they conduct themselves. The irony is that at those times when things are going super for you, you’re best served by noticing the “little people” and adopting some of their orientation to humble service. Doing this will reduce the number of people who will be rubbed the wrong way by you reveling in your success. It will also ensure you’ll have many more friends should your fortunes turn because you’ll be supported by others who care about you and not what you’re accomplishing.
Summary
My advice? Select at least a few of these areas to begin addressing right now. Which ones to select? That’s up to you based on what’s going to be most important to you when things aren’t going like runescape money you hoped!