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Everybody on the Bike

Everybody on the Bike 16 girls manage to fit on a typical bicycle. Read more…

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Everybody on the Bike

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Think These Are Female Model? Guess again

Think These Are Female Model? Guess again

‘I don’t like it when they use female models for the men shows ’ wrote someone in one forum. They were referring to Andrej Pejic , the male model who has had a lot of people guessing during Pairs Mens Fashion week. The Melbourne native has brought his androgynous beauty to big big brand shows in this, his debut fashion week. See from above left his appearances in John Galliano, Jean Paul Gaultier, Raff Simmons and Paul Smith. He’s pretty for sure but he also has a cheeky glint in his eye. Model Andrej Pejic from Melbourne Australia turns heads where ever he goes, often leaving bystanders guessing and wondering. And if the truth be known he actually enjoys all the attention and even plays up to it, and enjoys dressing up . And he seems to have emerged at a time when androgyny has never been more topical. When he arrived in London earlier on this year he immediately got signed up with Storm Models . And the pay off is just beginning to happen as he seems to be all the talk after the recent Spring/Summer Fashion Shows in Paris. He turned heads and created a lot of attention at the John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier Shows . Subscibe to Chill Out Point’s Feed to get constant updates of our Fun Posts © Chill Out Point – Funny image galleries and artwork , 2010. | Permalink to Think These Are Female Model? Guess again | No comment | Post tags: australia , design , dressing up , fashion , female , male , man , Melbourne , model , paris , show , wearing Categories at Chill Out Point: Art and Design , Lifestyle , Odd World

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Think These Are Female Model? Guess again

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The Toshiba overheating problem

It seems that Toshiba laptops are hot property at the moment but not in a good way, as the governments of Canada and the US have stated that Toshiba is implementing a voluntary recall for some of the popular Satellite models, because there is a burn risk to users. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and its northern counterpart Health Canada, the issue with the Toshiba Satellite laptop is due to a faulty component, so far this issue appears to be only affecting Satellite T135, Satellite T135D and Satellite Pro T130 models. Toshiba are working with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in order to resolve the overheating issue for consumers. However, so far, it seems that the best they have come up with is voluntary recall of the affected laptops. Here is the extended list of the affected Toshiba Satellite laptops: Satellite T135D-S1326, T135D-SP2012L, T135-SP2909R, T135D-SP2012M, T135-SP2013L, T135-SP2013M, T135D-S1322, T135-S1330, T135D-S1328WH, T135D-S1328RD, T135D-S1328, T135D-S1327, T135D-S1325WH, T135D-S1325RD, T135D-S1325, T135D-S1324, T135D-S1320, T135-SP2911R, T135-S1312, T135-S1310WH, T135-S1310RD, T135-S1310, T135-S1309, T135-S1307, T135-S1305WH, T135-S1305RD, T135-S1305, T135-S1300WH, T135-S1300RD, T135-S1300, T135-SP2911C, T135-SP2911A, T135-SP2910R, T135-SP2910C, T135-SP2910A, T135-SP2909C, T135-SP2909A. Satellite Pro T130-W1302, T130-EZ1301 These laptops were sold through online retailers as well as stores over a period from August 2009 to August of this year; the price would have been between $600 and $800. It is estimated that there are around forty one thousand laptops worldwide affected by this problem. This overheating product recall follows the announcement that Toshiba had received around 130 complaints of overheating, with some stating that the plastic casing around the AC adapter plug unit had started to melt. This clearly represents a burn hazard and as such this warning and voluntary recall is fully justified. In the mean time Toshiba has released BIOS revisions for consumers, once installed it will disable the external power input should there be a failure, but this will mean that the internal battery cannot be recharged once it has run down. Source [PC World] Copyright

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Walking in Palestine

Palestine is synonymous with violence, but politics takes a back seat on this extraordinary new walking route where the people are welcoming and the countryside stunning There was a moment of silence. Then the Palestinian youngsters marched in front of us and I thought to myself, this is where they sing about being martyrs and dying glorious deaths. A gentle breeze swayed the mulberry tree. On the far ridges of the mountains around Nablus, the lights of the illegal Israeli settlements twinkled. This village, I knew, had seen 2,000 acres of olive groves taken by those settlers, plus several lives. An older girl called the group to order then, in English, they launched into their chant. “I’m a red tomato, you’re a green tomato. You’re a little cucumber…” Everyone started to laugh. A walking holiday in Palestine. You’ve got to laugh really. I laughed a lot on that walk. And this in a part of the world where something horrible is always happening, be it shootings in Hebron, attacks on aid flotillas, or separation walls and rocket attacks. In the middle of such madness, laughter is the most unexpected and valuable pleasure, one that people seize at every opportunity. It was perhaps appropriate that I started my hike in the far north of the West Bank, within a few miles of a hill called Megiddo, where Pharoah Thutmose III overwhelmed the Canaanite king Durusha in about 1457BC, thus beginning the legend of Armageddon, the site of the Last Battle. With my guide Hejazi, I walked through peaceful fields of wheat past other ancient sites, exploring Roman tombs lost in undergrowth and watching storks circling overhead on their migration north. Our first major stopping point was Jenin, a town whose name is tied inextricably to violence and death. Despite its reputation, however, Jenin turned out to be a friendly market town of Palestinian farmers, a place to gorge on strawberries and almonds, washed down with carob juice sold from huge ornamental brass urns. I walked around the souk in a bit of a daze. How could reality be so different from expectations? Certainly, the walls were pockmarked with bullet holes from the second intifada, but the martyrdom posters were all faded by the sunshine and people wanted to shake hands. The carob-juice seller adjusted his Ray-Bans and grinned: “Why not join me on Facebook?” There are several long distance footpaths in Palestine, but the one I was following was the Masar Ibrahim al-Khalil – literally Path of Abraham the Friend of God, simply the Masar for short. This new route stretches across the Middle East, starting at Abraham’s birthplace in Sanliurfa, south-east Turkey, and winds south through Syria, Jordan and Israel. Eventually, it could stretch all the way to Mecca, linking existing paths associated with Abraham, and new routes. Its purpose is to promote understanding between different faiths and cultures; it’s also intended “as a catalyst for sustainable tourism and economic development”. In places the path barely exists yet, in others it is well-worn, but everywhere it needs a guide. Hejazi was my man in Palestine, a person of unending cheerfulness and optimism. For a Muslim, Hejazi tells me, the idea of a path named after Abraham is attractive since the great patriarch is revered as the “father of hospitality”. To Jews and Christians, he is equally important – the starting point for monotheistic worship. The Masar, I discovered, is not some do-gooder peace initiative, but simply a great way to see the landscape and meet people. The path makes no attempt to follow Abraham’s original route, even if such a path could be discovered; rather it links sites that bear legends and folk tales about the man. Our first major site was south of Jenin at Jebel Gerazim, a mountain that stands above the ancient town of Nablus and affords astonishing views west to the Mediterranean and east to the hills of Jordan. On the summit of the mountain is a tower built by Saladin and some fine, if neglected, Byzantine mosaics guarded by a group of Israeli teenage soldiers. Further down the hillside, we could see the houses of that renowned Jewish sect the Samaritans, a group that still has more than 700 followers. “The reason the Samaritans revere this place,” Hejazi explained, “is because they believe Abraham came here and built his first altar in Canaan.” It was a well-chosen spot to view what Abraham wanted: territory. “Unto thy seed,” said his God, “will I give this land.” And that was very generous of the Lord, all things considered. Except, of course, that all things had not been considered: previous inhabitants and the sheer fertility of Abraham’s seed, which includes not only the 12 tribes of Israel but the prophet Muhammad via Ishmael, fruit of Abraham’s union with the serving wench Hagar. And what about all those cousins from Noah’s brothers? If Abe’s God had spent a few moments considering, he might have foreseen problems. That evening we stayed in Awata, a village near Nablus where the children sang about red tomatoes. There were tales of horror and violence too – there is no escaping the bloodied history in this land – but it never became overwhelming, as I’d expected. Hassan, our host, was keen to enthuse about the Masar: “It was like a light coming on here,” he said. “We got connected to the outside world and that makes us feel hope. Everyone in the village is always asking about when the next walkers are coming.” Like most Palestinian villages, Awata has long since burst out of its ancient walled settlement and sprawled along the hill. But what is fascinating is that, amid the concrete and graffiti, there are sudden glimpses of an ancient world. When we chatted about water resources, Hassan jumped up and hauled open a trapdoor under our feet. Below us was a vast echoing cavern. “It’s a Roman water tank,” he explained. “We’ve got three of them.” After a huge feast of chicken, freshly made bread, pickles, salads and yoghurt, Hejazi and I bedded down on mattresses in the living room and slept. Next morning we started out at 8am, meandering through olive groves and wheat fields. Scents of Persian thyme, wild sage and oregano drifted up from beneath our tramping feet. We stopped at a spring to drink delicious clear water, then pressed on, meeting other walkers as we climbed through meadows of scarlet poppies and butterflies to Jabal Aurma, a bronze age fortress. One of the shocks of doing this path is that the countryside is lovely. Travellers have been returning from the Holy Land with scornful appraisals of its beauty for many centuries. Herman Melville is typically bleak: “Bleached-leprosy-encrustations of curses-old cheese-bones of rocks,” he wrote. The image of an ill-fated land has proven hard to budge. On top of Jabal Aurma we discovered six vast underground storage rooms carved from solid rock, presumably to supply the fort during prolonged sieges. There is never any doubt in Palestine that this land has been a chaotic crossroads for civilisations, armies and tribes for a very long time – that is what makes it fascinating and worth exploring. Later that day, we emerged on the edge of a grand escarpment looking down to the Jordan Valley, around 800ft below sea level. The wheat fields around us were tiny rocky terraces splashed with the yellow of wild dill. It’s a difficult place to farm, and we came across Shakir Murshid with his wife and six children busily harvesting wheat by hand. On a sage bush nearby was the complete shed skin of a viper. That night we stayed in Douma, a cluster of old stone dwellings long since overgrown by the straggling concrete of modernity. Rural life, however, was pretty much the same as ever: woodpeckers tapped at the trees, wheat fields surrounded the houses and men rode past on donkeys. We spent the evening by a campfire listening to locals sing and play homemade flutes. The patch of flat ground where we had built our fire turned out to be a Roman wine press, empty sadly. Once again we slept in someone’s living room, under the eyes of family martyrs. Our third day took us further south near the springs of Ain Samiya, now a water source for Jerusalem. We spotted chameleons in the bushes, whistling rock hyraxes and huge flightless crickets, then clambered up a delightful gorge, taking narrow shepherds’ trails along the cliff face. By evening we approached the village of Kufer Malik, a place that was to hold perhaps the biggest surprises. The first came at a huge hacienda-style house, where the whole family came out to invite us in for coffee. “Do you speak Spanish?” asked the husband. “I learned it in Columbia.” Kufer Malik, bizarrely, is a little enclave of Latin America in Palestine. When we found our hosts for the night, the old man of the family, Hosni al-Qaq, explained: “In the 30s when times were hard here, my uncle decided to seek his fortune in America. He ended up selling shirts in Columbia, then got a shop and then a supermarket. He became very rich.” Hosni smiled ruefully. “My father on the other hand stayed behind and was killed in the first intifada.” “And did other men go?” “Oh yes, lots and lots, and then they spread out into other countries. There are now more than 800 descendants of this village in Brazil alone.” The effect of this exposure to the outside world on Kufer Malik has been electrifying. The men are hard-working and ambitious; the women assertive and independent-minded. Hiba, our hostess, had been to the Côte d’Azur to see what it was like. “We camped on the beach in Nice,” she said proudly. “It was lovely.” So was her cooking: roast chicken, rice, vegetables and musahn, a flat bread cooked with sumac and onions. “What would you do if a Jewish person came to stay?” I asked. “No problem,” they all said eagerly. “We’ve had one Jewish lady from America already and another from Brazil. Everyone is welcome here.” After dinner, the men sat out in the yard smoking shisha pipes. When they spoke Spanish, they looked like pure Columbians to me: all macho body language and grand gestures. When they spoke Arabic, they were Palestinian farmers again. Our fourth day took us to Abu Taybah, home to the West Bank’s only brewery – owned and run by a Palestinian Christian family (there are around 55,000 Palestinian Christians). After a glass of deliciously cold lager we moved on, walking down Wadi Qult to the marvellous fourth-century cliff-side monastery of St George, then on to Jericho. The end of the Masar comes in Hebron, whose old city has been a dangerous flashpoint over the years. Zionist settlers have seized buildings in the market area – which has to be roofed with netting now to prevent rocks and rubbish raining down on shoppers. All of Abraham’s progeny want a piece of the action here and the mosque has been forcibly divided to create a Muslim and a Jewish section. On one side, I found Indian Muslims praying and taking photos; on the other Jews from New York and Tel Aviv were doing the same. The Tomb of the Patriarchs, of course, looks pretty similar from either angle, though neither community, sadly, ever gets to see that fact. Out in the street a shopkeeper invited me to have coffee. He was sitting with Micha, a former Israeli soldier turned peace activist, a young freckle-faced man with a friendly smile. What had convinced him to adopt what many Israelis see as a traitorous approach? “Small things. It started when I was a soldier, talking at checkpoints to Palestinians, seeing what the settlers were doing, and what we were doing to protect them.” At that moment a Palestinian lady came over. They introduced themselves. “So now you work for peace?” she asked. “But I have to ask: did you kill any Palestinians?” Around the shopfront where people were taking coffee and chatting, everyone froze. There was a long silence while Micha considered his reply. “I’d rather not say.” “I think you should,” the woman said. “For any reconciliation, you have to.” A murmur of agreement passed through the small crowd. Micha thought again. “The truth is, I don’t know. At Abu Sinaina we did shoot, but it was from far away.” “At Abu Sinaina? Then you killed at least five.” There was a pause and then Micha nodded. The Palestinian lady smiled. “You are welcome at my house. You must come for lunch.” They exchanged addresses and Micha promised that he would visit. What is remarkable about the Masar walk is that religion and politics mostly take a back seat, allowing ordinary people to climb out of the foxholes of prejudice and suspicion. When that happens, Palestine becomes so much more than a brief and violent television news clip. I saw gazelles running on hillsides, tasted the local cuisine and enjoyed conversation on everyday topics. I climbed down inside bronze age burial chambers, tracked hyenas into their lairs inside Roman tombs and lay on the benches in Nablus’s marvellous Turkish baths, discussing the best way to pickle olives. The problems of Israel’s land-grabbing tactics remain: the wall is still standing and unsmiling teenage soldiers at checkpoints demand to see passports. The Masar is not for those who want private rooms or special treatment. It is intense and sometimes emotionally draining. There were moments when I felt rage about the injuries and injustices. But, more than anything, this was a life-affirming and exhilarating experience that will stay with me like few others. Palestine Middle East Walking holidays Israel Middle East Kevin Rushby guardian.co.uk

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Commodore USA announces PC64 retro-themed AIO

If you’ve a hankerin’ for a little nostalgic fun, you could do a lot worse than look at what Commodore USA has planned: a range of retro-themed all-in-one PCs designed to evoke memories of a simpler era when 64KB was enough for anyone and your operating system was held in ROM.  Enter the PC64. The PC64 is one of a range of new all-in-one ‘keyboard’ PCs from Commodore USA, which pack a full PC into a somewhat bulky keyboard casing – and if anyone remembers the Commodore 64 8-bit machine you’re in for a treat, as that’s where Commodore USA is taking its cues. The company has recently signed an agreement with Commodore Licensing which gives it the rights to use the design, name, and branding for its latest range of computers – and the company has really gone to town.  The PC64 will, the company claims, be built into “ an exact replica of the original beige chassis Commodore C64, ” offering anyone who grew up with the machine a chance to relive their childhood – but with significantly more grunt under the hood. Where the original C64 had a ~1MHz MOS Technology 6510 CPU, the PC64 upgrades it somewhat to an Intel Atom 525 CPU.  When it comes to graphics, the VIC-II chip of the original – limited to 320

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The E-reader Revolution

Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle are not only selling in huge numbers, they are also both contributing to a revolution in how people read and absorb data on a daily basis. Amazon’s Kindle was the first commercially available e-book reader when it was released back in 2007, and it sold out in 6 hours even at the not particularly cheap price of $399.  With the third generation Kindle now selling much cheaper at $139, and iPad sales at fever pitch all around the world, there are literally millions of people who are using e-book technology everyday. Apple’s iPad is priced from $499, but offers a colour touchscreen, longer battery life, and access to a growing number of applications.  However, even with the multi-functionality of the iPad, the majority of consumers use it as a reading device.  A recent survey by Marketing and Research Resources has found that 40% of those surveyed read more on their iPads and Kindles than via traditional print publications. With estimates of 10 million iPad sales by the end of the year, and 11 million Americans owning at least one e-book reader, the entire print industry is set to go through a number of massive changes in the next few years.  While there may be a number of obstacles for the e-book industry to overcome, such as more expensive devices and reading material, these numbers are sure to even out over time. There are a number of reasons why e-book prices continue to be more expensive then their printed equivalents, even without the costs associated with paper, ink, and physical distribution.  Basically, the traditional book and magazine industries have been active for a long time, and distribution channels have already been made as efficient as possible. In contrast, Apple and Amazon still seem be working out how profits are going to be divided between themselves and individual publishers, and prices are likely to remain high until these issues are sorted out.  This is especially the case with magazine subscriptions, which are still more expensive on digital reading devices. However, as more manufacturers enter the e-reader market, and more publishers get on board as a result, we are likely to see even more people around the world swapping their paperbacks for a digital e-book reader. Copyright

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The Best Ultraportable Laptops of 2010 – so far…

In the confusing world of mobile computers, it can sometimes be hard to distinguish between different categories of laptops.  Not only are there notebooks and netbooks, but to make things even more difficult – there are also those laptops categorised as ultraportables.  Half notebook, half netbook, these laptops seem to want the best of both worlds.  GWL take a look at four of the newest and best ultraportables. While the number of ultraportables being released is on the decline, and some commentators are even forecasting their demise, the manufacturers on this list would choose to disagree.  Before we jump into the individual models however, it is necessary to discuss exactly what makes for an ultraportable, and how they can be distinguished from other notebooks and netbooks. OK – first their was the humble laptop , otherwise known as the notebook, with screen sizes generally ranging between 13 and 18 inches.  Most laptops are designed to perform a wide variety of different tasks, and basically act as desktop replacements for when people are on the move.  Regular laptops can be powerful, but they are also bigger, heavier, and lacking in battery life compared to those computers sold as netbooks and ultraportables. The rise of the Internet, the birth of social networking, and the growth of remote cloud computing services meant lots of people didn’t really need powerful computers when they were away from home – enter the netbook .  The rise of netbooks runs parallel with the growth of the Internet, and is one of the clearest examples of the connection between the growth of virtual space and the shrinking of hardware. A netbook is basically a smaller and less powerful laptop, with screen sizes between 5 and 11 inches, less graphics capabilities, and less CPU grunt.  They are not designed to perform intensive tasks and are more at home simply surfing the Internet.  Netbooks are not meant as a primary computer, they are not designed to watch movies on, and as far as playing games – forget about it. Ultraportables are also known as subnotebooks, ultra-thins, or ultra low-voltage (ULV) notebooks, and entered the market to satisfy a growing consumer demand for more portable computers that didn’t sacrifice too much in terms of power and graphics.  While Intel Core CPUs are still popular, a number of ultraportables on the market utilise AMD processors, due in part to the restrictions Intel places on the configurations of smaller machines. Lets have a look at four of the best examples in this category, all of which are new and available right now in 2010. Toshiba Portege R705 – the lightest with an optical drive The Toshiba Portege R705 is the lightest and least expensive model featuring the Portege badge, with a 3.2 pound chassis and a 13.3 inch display.  The screen is glossy and looks good from straight-on, although the viewing angles do leave a lot to be desired.  With an Intel Core i3 processor and 500GB of RAM, the Portege 705 is capable of most tasks without breaking much of a sweat. One interesting feature of the Portege R705 is its use of Intel Wireless Display Technology, which allows video to be beamed to a bigger screen for those occasions when 13.3 inches really wont cut it.  Additional hardware is needed to perform this magnificent deed however, with the Netgear Push2TV going for about $100.  The Toshiba Portege R705 is a true ultraportable, and Toshiba claim it is the lightest 13.3 inch model in the world with an optical drive.  It sells for about $899, with a couple of configuration possibilities on offer. Alienware M11X – the most powerful mini gamer The Alienware M11X is the smallest of the Alienware range, a line of computers normally associated with large screens, blinking lights, and uber powerful gaming performance.  While the M11X sacrifices some of this grunt for its small size and weight, there is more than enough left to keep most users happy.  The M11X comes with an 11.6 inch screen, Nvidia Optimus graphics, and the same glowing logo and blinking bling of the bigger designs. The Alienware M11X comes with an Intel Core i7 processor, 500GB hard drive, and up to 8GB of RAM.  While it does generate a little more heat than most other ultraportables, this is sometimes the price you have to pay when you fit so much power in such a little frame.  The automatic switchable graphics of the Nvidia Optimus graphics and the quality of the screen make this a great gaming machine, as long as you have the budget to meet the $1300 price tag. Dell Inspiron M101z – the least expensive The Dell Inspiron M101z is a great little computer, with an 11.6 inch screen and the choice between a number of AMD processors.  Just like any Dell computer, configurations are flexible and extensive, as are the choice of colours on offer.  Some of the colours available are Peacock Blue, Tomato Red, and Promise Pink, and the price is low enough that you could always buy a few to always have one to match your outfit. The Inspiron M101z is well fitted out, with lots of ports on offer for such a little machine.  Along with the 3 USBs and 7 in 1 card reader, there is also the standard HDMI, VGA, and Ethernet ports.  Dell are advertising 6 hours of battery life, but everyone knows how much they like to exaggerate, and third-party testing has shown the real number to be more like 4 1/2 hours.  While not as powerful as either the Alienware or Toshiba models, the Toshiba M101z is also a lot cheaper, starting from only $449. Lenovo Thinkpad X201 – the durable performer The Lenovo Thinkpad X201 is a 12 inch laptop with an excellent battery life and a quality Thinkpad build design.  The Thinkpad range can be seen in offices and home around the world, and this smaller model retains the same reassuring level of durable quality.  With an Intel Core i5 processor and 320GB hard drive, you also don’t have to sacrifice much in terms of power.  There is also a convertible touchscreen tablet version of this laptop. The durable build quality of the Thinkpad X201 mean that this is not the lightest laptop in the bunch, although at 3.8 pounds it is not too heavy either.  It also comes with a  bigger keyboard than most of the ultraportables on the market, and could even double as a desktop replacement if you can put up with the little screen.  The addition of 3 USBs and an express card slot are features not regularly seen on a computer of this size, and the resolution of 1280 x 800 is also very impressive for a 12 inch machine.  There is no optical drive or discrete graphics however, and with configurations starting from $1100, you just know that a few extras are going to put you closer to the $2000 mark. All of these machines are fantastic, although they are very different from one another.  It is always a good idea to make a list of the features that really matter to you – such as graphics performance, power, battery life, the inclusion of an optical drive, and the price – and find a model that ticks all of the right boxes for your lifestyle. Copyright

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CSS 3.0 Maker – CSS 3.0 Generator

CSS 3.0 Maker – CSS 3.0 Generator

CSS Maker is a free tool to experiment with CSS properties and values and generate a simple stylesheet for your site. view more

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CSS 3.0 Maker – CSS 3.0 Generator

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Intervals – Stop getting dominated by your Projects

Intervals – Stop getting dominated by your Projects

Intervals is web-based project management software that marries time tracking and task management in a collaborative online space with powerful reporting. Intervals is ideal for small businesses — including designers, web developers, consultants, creative agencies, IT services firms, and communications companies that bill on an hourly or per project basis. Features Comprehensive Time Tracking Task Management, Milestones and Workflow Project Management Document/File Storage with versioning Powerful Visual Reporting Invoicing Export time data to QuickBooks™ Calendar view with drag and drop scheduling Multiple Web-based timers Weekly timesheet submissions Export data to CSV , XML and PDF Secure and personalized Detailed task and work request history Real-time budget vs. actual Manage clients and client contacts API to create custom add-ons view more

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Intervals – Stop getting dominated by your Projects

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New ultraviolet glass technology saves birds lives

Creating new technology and improving existing technology is really all about making our lives better, although it doesn’t always work that way of course as sometimes gadgets, devices and even laptops are produced that give us absolutely zilch, but here’s something that really is worth a mention. Each year it’s reckoned that up to one billion birds a year die from crashing into glass and that’s just in the US alone. In Europe the figure is estimated to be around 250,000 a day. Don’t ask me how they come up with these statistics or whether they’re accurate or not, but I think everyone knows the numbers are pretty huge. The problem is, birds just don’t see the glass, but they do see the reflections of trees and other things in the glass and think they are flying into open space. Now a German company by the name of or Glaswerke Arnold or Arnold Glas has come up with an ingenious way to stop it. They have produced Ornilux glass which has a crisscross ultraviolet coating embedded into it which we can’t really see but which the birds can see clearly as most birds are able to see the ultraviolet spectrum. Arnold Glas first started producing Ornilux glass in 2006 but their latest version, called Ornilux Mikado, is a new and improved version and recently received the prestigious ‘red dot award’ for outstanding product design 2010 from the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. The interesting thing about this new glass technology is that it is already seen in nature. Orb-Spiders use this very same technique to keep the birds from flying into their webs by spinning ultraviolet reflecting silk. Arnold Glass developed the new glass technology in collaboration with the Max Plank Institute for Ornithology. After they tested the glass, they now reckon that the Ornilux Mikado Glass, so called because when held up against a backlight it looks like a collection of Mikado Sticks, will reduce bird strike by up to 75 percent when compared to normal glass. That means that potentially hundreds of millions of bird’s lives will be saved which is great. Ok I’m now looking forward to the day that some geeky genius come up with an effective way to stop them off loading the contents of their digestive systems onto my windows? That would be awesome. Copyright

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