miercuri, 7 noiembrie 2007

Billy talent.


Billy Talent is a Canadian rock band formed in 1993 in Mississauga, Ontario. The band consists of Benjamin Kowalewicz (vocals), Ian D'Sa (guitar/vocals), Jonathan Gallant (bass/vocals), and Aaron Solowoniuk (drums/percussion).

Although they are often described as having punk rock roots, the band claims that they have no bands that they have drawn inspiration from; they did not "emulate popular bands at the time." The sound is original and unique, something different that they recognized when they first started playing together.[1]

The band existed for almost a decade before hitting mainstream success. The members met and played in high school under the name Pezz, and remained underground in Toronto's indie music scene until 2001. The band renamed itself Billy Talent after running into legal trouble with the old name. It was then that Kowalewicz's connection with a worker in Warner Music Canada's A&R landed the band a record deal and launched them into mainstream success.[2] Since then, Billy Talent has made two multi-platinum records in Canada,[3] and continues to expand their success overseas. As of September 11, 2007, the band has completed sixteen months of touring, and they have returned to Canada for a rest before beginning work on a new album.[4]


LUCKY ACCIDENTS!







marți, 6 noiembrie 2007

luni, 5 noiembrie 2007

Yahoo! Messenger 9 beta

Un nou desing

Yahoo Messenger 97 culori pentru un messenger nou Primul lucru pe care îl observi după ce descarci Yahoo Messenger 9 de aici şi-l instalezi este designul modificat. Noua versiune împrumută de la Windows Live Messenger al celor de la Microsoft schimbarea culorilor pentru titlul ferestrelor. Lângă butonul de minimizare a listei de contacte există acum un nou buton care permite alegerea unei culori. Aceasta este aplicată tuturor ferestrelor programului, inclusiv acelui mic notifier care ne anunţă când cineva intră sau iese de pe messenger.

Cei de la Yahoo! nu au însă încredere în gustul utilizatorilor în materie de culori şi, prin urmare, le pune la dispoziţie numai 7 culori, fără posibilitatea alegerii altor culori în afară de cele predefinite.


Mai rapid

Întodeauna i-am blamat pe programatorii de la Yahoo! pentru consumul ridicat de resurse şi greutatea cu care se mişcă clientul lor de messenger. Se pare că, odată cu această versiune, Yahoo! începe să umble şi la performanţele programului său. Am observat două lucruri îmbucurătoare la noua versiune. Primul este faptul că se mişcă mai rapid. Acest lucru este evident în toate operaţiunile de la deschiderea ferestrelor la accesarea meniurilor şi utilizarea celor mai multe funcţii.

Al doilea este consumul ceva mai redus de resurse. Lista de contacte singură, fără alte ferestre deshise, consumă acum 30 MB RAM, de la aproximativ 50 MB cât acapara versiunea anterioară. Nici prin deshiderea mai multor ferestre, creşterea nivelului de ocupare a memorie RAM nu este exagerată.


Forex trading


Foreign Exchange

This short introduction explains the basics of trading Forex online, a brief explanation of the markets and the major benefits of trading Forex online. There are also two scenarios describing the implications of trading in a bear as well as bull market to better acquaint you with some of the risks and opportunities of the largest and most liquid market in the world.

As an additional aid for those who are new to Forex, there is also a glossary at the bottom of this text which explains some of the terms used in connection with currency trading.

Overview

Foreign exchange, forex or just FX are all terms used to describe the trading of the world's many currencies. The forex market is the largest market in the world, with trades amounting to more than USD 1.5 trillion every day. This is more than one hundred times the daily trading on the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange). Most forex trading is speculative, with only a few percent of market activity representing governments' and companies' fundamental currency conversion needs.

Unlike trading on the stock market, the forex market is not conducted by a central exchange, but on the “interbank” market, which is thought of as an OTC (over the counter) market. Trading takes place directly between the two counterparts necessary to make a trade, whether over the telephone or on electronic networks all over the world. The main centres for trading are Sydney, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and New York. This worldwide distribution of trading centres means that the forex market is a 24-hour market.


Trading Forex

A currency trade is the simultaneous buying of one currency and selling of another one. The currency combination used in the trade is called a cross (for example, the Euro/US Dollar, or the GB Pound/Japanese Yen.). The most commonly traded currencies are the so-called “majors” – EURUSD , USDJPY , USDCHF and GBPUSD .

The most important forex market is the spot market as it has the largest volume. The market is called the spot market because trades are settled immediately, or “on the spot”. In practice this means two banking days.


Forward Outrights

For forward outrights, settlement on the value date selected in the trade means that even though the trade itself is carried out immediately, there is a small interest rate calculation left. The interest rate differential doesn't usually affect trade considerations unless you plan on holding a position with a large differential for a long period of time. The interest rate differential varies according to the cross you are trading. On the USDCHF , for example, the interest rate differential is quite small, whereas the differential on NOKJPY is large. This is because if you trade e.g. NOKJPY, you get almost 7% (annual) interest in Norway and close to 0% in Japan. So, if you borrow money in Japan, to finance the trade and buying NOK, you have a positive interest rate differential. This differential has to be calculated and added to your account. You can have both a positive and a negative interest rate differential, so it may work for or against you when you make a trade.


Trading on Margin

Trading on margin means that you can buy and sell assets that represent more value than the capital in your account. Forex trading is usually conducted with relatively small margin deposits. This is useful since it permits investors to exploit currency exchange rate fluctuations which tend to be very small. A margin of 1.0% means you can trade up to USD 1,000,000 even though you only have $10,000 in your account. A margin of 1% corresponds to a 100:1 leverage (or 'gearing'). (Because USD 10,000 is 1% of USD 1,000,000.) Using this much leverage enables you to make profits very quickly, but there is also a greater risk of incurring large losses and even being completely wiped out. Therefore, it is inadvisable to maximise your leveraging as the risks can be very high. For more information on the trading conditions of Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your SaxoTrader and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.

Why trade Forex?

  • 24 hour trading

    One of the major advantages of trading forex is the opportunity to trade 24 hours a day from Sunday evening (20:00 GMT) to Friday evening (22:00 GMT). This gives you a unique opportunity to react instantly to breaking news that is affecting the markets.
  • Superior liquidity

    The forex market is so liquid that there are always buyers and sellers to trade with. The liquidity of this market, especially that of the major currencies, helps ensure price stability and narrow spreads. The liquidity comes mainly from banks that provide liquidity to investors, companies, institutions and other currency market players.
  • No commissions

    The fact that forex is often traded without commissions makes it very attractive as an investment opportunity for investors who want to deal on a frequent basis.
    Trading the “majors” is also cheaper than trading other cross because of the high level of liquidity. For more information on the trading conditions of Saxo Bank, go to the Account Summary on your SaxoTrader and open the section entitled "Trading Conditions" found in the top right-hand corner of the Account Summary.
  • 100:1 Leverage

    Leverage (gearing) enables you to hold a position worth up to 100 times more than your margin deposit. For example, a USD 10,000 deposit can command positions of up to USD 1,000,000 through leverage. You can leverage the first USD 25,000 of your investment up to 100 times and additional collateral up to 50 times.
  • Profit potential in falling markets

    Since the market is constantly moving, there are always trading opportunities, whether a currency is strengthening or weakening in relation to another currency. When you trade currencies, they literally work against each other. If the EURUSD declines, for example, it is because the U.S. dollar gets stronger against the Euro and vice versa. So, if you think the EURUSD will decline (that is, that the Euro will weaken versus the dollar), you would sell EUR now and then later you buy Euro back at a lower price and take your profits. The opposite trading scenario would occur if the EURUSD appreciates.



duminică, 4 noiembrie 2007

My parkour sampler and pictures!





Funny clips






Downsize Me: Walk to Burn Fat


Get Started

Turn on the TV and you're bound to see an ad for a miracle weight loss gimmick. With all the pills and contraptions, it seems hard to know what will help us lose weight safely. But the answer really is simple: To rid yourself of unwanted pounds all you need are your own legs, some comfortable shoes, and a little open space.

Energy In, Energy Out

When it comes to body weight, remember this: 1 pound = 3500 calories. For every pound you want to lose, you must burn 3500 calories worth of energy. The only way to do that is to move more.

Walking is one of the best forms of exercise. It uses up oxygen, causing your body to burn stored fat. For example, you'll expend about 100 calories by walking a mile. That might not seem like a lot at first, but just think about it. Most people average just under 3 miles through the course of their day. If you add an enjoyable morning jaunt or a brisk evening walk you could easily move 4 miles a day. If you walk 4 miles 4 times a week, you can burn 1600 calories! That's half a pound of fat gone. Add more steps to your day while making sure not to eat more calories than you use, and your body can't help but trim down.

Walking also strengthens muscles, which tones and shapes your body. The increased muscle mass boosts your metabolism. This means you burn calories long after you stop moving. And you don't have to get all of your walking in at once. If you don't have time for long walks, find pockets of time throughout your day for short jaunts.

Maximize Your Walk

Any form of walking burns calories and improves muscle definition. But to get the most from your walk, concentrate on these main points:

  • Choose distance over speed. It's better to walk at a steady pace than walk too quickly and have to quit early. As your fitness level improves, you can speed up gradually.
  • Go for the hills. To help build your muscles, alternate inclines. Try walking up stairs, bleachers, or hills.
  • Warm up slowly. Walk the first few minutes at an easy pace to get your body prepared. If your start is too brisk, you risk burning only the immediate sugar supply in your body rather than the stored fat you want to lose.

Physical activity doesn't have to be hard to produce results; it just has to be steady. Walking lets you work your muscles and burn off stored fat. It's simple, enjoyable, and a good weapon in the battle against bulge.

Good Workouts Need a Good Diet














Whether you're a recreational athlete or a competitive one, you need the right foods to fuel your physical activity.

A healthy diet and the right amount of fluid are keys to good performance. That's because food provides the energy your body needs to work. The more active you are, the more energy you need to stay active.

Calories provide that energy. Serious athletes need more calories and fluids than those who are less active.

The best diet for you depends on:

  • the kind of physical activity you do (A marathon runner has different food needs than a weight lifter or weekend jogger.)
  • how long and how often you work out
  • your size and weight

Although the same diet won't work for everyone, there are some general guidelines useful to all. One is that you build your diet around a variety of healthy foods. No "magic" food or diet will turn you into a super-jock.

Another is that, for the active person, carbohydrates and water are the rule. In fact, about two-thirds of your calories should come from carbohydrates. Picking healthy carbs, found in fruits and whole grains, are best for your overall diet.

With all the sports nutrition advice out there, it's not uncommon for experts to disagree. But avoiding fad diets and foods, and sticking to the basic rules should keep you out of trouble.

If you have nutrition questions related to a specific sport or training routine, consider talking to a qualified trainer or sports nutrition expert. You also can find books dedicated to the sport or activity you're interested in.

Sports Nutrition 101

Make friends with carbohydrates. You can't work out, train, or compete well on a low-carbohydrate, low-calorie diet. Your body stores carbohydrates as glycogen in your muscles and liver, and uses it when you exercise. Therefore, about two-thirds of your calories should come from carbs. Good sources include whole grain cereals and breads, fruits, and vegetables.

Know when to eat. Eating before you exercise can rev you up for a good workout and keep you from feeling lightheaded or tired. But having a big meal right before an intense workout can make you sick. A rule of thumb for eating before exercising: allow four hours for a big meal to digest (1,200 calories); two hours for a light meal (about 600 calories); and an hour or less for a snack (300 calories).

Drink up. Generally, you need to drink eight to 10 cups of fluid a day to avoid drying out. You won't perform your best if you don't get enough to drink, says Susan Kleiner, a nutrition consultant. Without enough fluid, you can't build as much muscle or endurance, or burn as many calories.

Drink two cups of fluid a couple hours before you exercise. If your workout is an hour or less, drinking four to six ounces of water every 15 or 20 minutes should help you stay hydrated.

Drink something after your workout, too, like water, fruit juice, or milk. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which dehydrate you.

If you're a competitive athlete, weigh yourself before and after you exercise. For every lost pound, drink 24 ounces of fluid. If you exercise an hour or less, water is best. If longer than an hour, try sports drinks with carbohydrates and electrolytes to replace lost stores.

  • Eat healthy foods. Vitamins, sports drinks, energy bars, powders and gels—you don't need any of them if you have a healthy diet. Focus on the kind of healthy foods that give your body fuel, says Leslie Bonci, director for sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Besides carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and grains, include peanut butter, nuts, and yogurt for protein. Avoid candy bars, potato chips, and other high-calorie foods low in nutrients.
  • Refuel your body. Your muscles and body need to recover after a long and tiring workout. Carbohydrates and protein will replace lost fuel and rebuild your body. Having something to eat or drink within 30 minutes after you exercise is best, says Kleiner. Water, sports drinks, juice, and milkshakes are good. Try foods like bagels, yogurt, or a banana or other fruit.

If you want to get the most from your physical activity, make sure you eat right. While you're not guaranteed a trophy, you'll come out a winner, both on and off the playing field.