Thinking about surgery?

No we're not talking about a heart transplant here. We are referring to cosmetic surgery, one of the fastest growing field in today's world. In the past, if you didn't like the way you looked, there was nothing you could do about it or even if you could, you had to worry about how successful your surgery would be. Little information was ever given about different sugeries. Today, things have changed drastically. Not only are doctors more professional and experienced, but they also provide you with in-depth information about the surgeries. Like the other day i came across the Beverly hills Rhinoplasty website. I noticed all the different surgeries this group was offering (including otoplasty, liposuction, tummy tuck etc.) The most interesting thing was that there were lots and lots of before and after pictures. This is one of the most important thing anyone would look for. Not only that but they also give detailed instructions on how someone can arrive at their locations. I think as the world is getting more advanced, things in life are becoming easier.

Thanks to Car insurance companies

Last Saturday, as i was leaving my friend's house, i noticed somebody trying to break into a car two-houses down. At first i thought that it was the owner of the car trying to open the door because he must have locked his keys in but when i offered to help, he gave me a snare and started to look around. As my friend came out, this guy took off like there's no tommorrow. This brought me to think that sometimes its us the people that help the thieves out by making careless mistakes. Like the other day at Walmart, i saw a porche with the convertible top off and keys placed in the cup holder. I mean who wouldn't try to steal that car? If it weren't for car insurance companies i don't know how these people would have the guts to be so irresponsible. There are simple steps that everyone can take inorder to be protected from such theft. You can start out by not leaving your keys in your car and making sure that all your windows are properly closed.

Wow Look at the Prices!

Today i went out for a little ride in my small city. As i was driving i realized that my gas was almost out. My eyes fell on the first gas station but quickly turned away as they noticed the price per gallon of gas. I probably figured that the gas station down the road would save me some money. When i arrived at the station i noticed that this gas station (usually the cheapest) was now even more expesive than the one i passed. This really put me to thought because i started to realize that gas prices were not the only ones going up. My father always watches the daily news and for the past few day Gold prices have certeinly retained about a triple fold of their value. I seriously think that the dollar currency is losing alot of its value. We might be seeing some kind of recession in the next few decades if this continues. My best advice for now would be to invest in some precious metals because in the end...they will be the only ones to keep their true value (like land!).

Family Guy Blog

Well, i just started another blog. This time it's about Family Guy! I have to wait for 2 weeks to add it in Blog explosion so i decided i would start promoting it from here. Well here's the link http://familyguystop.blogspot.com If you are viewing this from a surfbar, press ctrl and click on the link to not break out of the frame.

Unlock your cellphone!

If you are one of the nearly 200 million American cell phone users, you probably signed a contract to get a steal of a deal on your phone. While this contract might be fine and dandy if you stay in the same town or city, travelers risk high roaming and per minute fees if they venture out of service area. This is where unlocking your cell phone comes into play. So how will you know if your phone is locked? And how do you unlock it if it is?

Cell phones providers AT&T/Cingular and T-Mobile are GSM (Group Special Mobile) and can technically be used worldwide if unlocked. Sprint, Nextel and Verizon are not GSM providers and cannot be unlocked. If you have a SIM chip in your phone, then it is GSM and you can perform a mobile unlock on your cell. Once you've determined your phone number and account are tied to your SIM chip, not your actual phone, you can then perform the following test to see if your phone is locked: * Borrow an activated SIM chip from a friend using a different wireless service provider * Install the borrowed SIM chip in your phone and turn it on * Try calling your friend's phone number from a LAN or other mobile phone * If it rings on your phone, it is unlocked. * If your mobile with the borrowed SIM does not have service or issues an error message, your phone is locked.

Once you have determined your cell is locked, there are two basic techniques to perform a mobile unlock. You may have to try both of them to accomplish a mobile unlock.

Some phones may be unlocked by entering a code into it. The code is usually unique for your particular phone based on the IMEI (serial number) and provider. The phone's IMEI is usually found in the battery case. Don't confuse this number with the SIM number, they are separate. You can search online for an online "unlock code calculator", then will enter your IMEI and phone model.

Other phones need software to "talk" to their operating system to unlock. You typically connect your phone to your PC, run a software program and flash your phones memory.

Rented my blog out again!

I rented my blog out again! Yep this time i rented it out to "Bone of Contention." I pick my choices very carefully. This blog was very interesting. It has a good sense of humor and lots of great links. Be sure to check it out. If you are reading this through a surfbar by anychance just press ctrl+the blog or shift+blog to open it in a new window.

Avoiding a Plasma TV Burn-In

If you're familiar with the technology behind plasma televisions, you know that the gas contained in each individual pixel receives a charge from a set of electrodes and produces ultraviolet light photons. These light particles hit a phosphor coating on the pixel's walls. If the same picture remains on the screen long enough the phosphors will age prematurely and they will produce a less intense light and color. The phosphor's continuous light will also burn the screen itself, leaving a ghost of an image. This burning of the screen, and the residual image it creates, is called burn-in. Older CRT monitors, as well as ATM machines, are prone to burn-in. This was the reason behind the invention of screen savers; having a randomly shifting image displayed whenever the picture was constant for a certain period of time helps prevent burn-in.

Burn-in occurs in 2 steps: premature phosphor aging and screen searing. A still image will create an unchanging electrical current in each plasma pixel. The resulting continuous flow of photons forces the television's phosphors to release the same hue of light and this, when maintained for a long enough period of time, will damage the phosphors' ability to produce this color light. They will become conditioned, and will never stop producing a weak shade of that same color light, even when no charge is being sent through the pixel. This affects other images that require a change in the pixel's color. Screen searing is the dim, ghost-like image that literally gets burned into the glass of your screen. During a still image, the screen is bombarded with a specific spectrum of light from the phosphors. Since it's given no time to rest, the screen develops a shadowy copy of the image which was frozen on the screen. We most often see this at the ATM, when remnants of the main menu remain on the screen throughout your transaction.

Now that you have an idea what burn-in is, you should know some ways to prevent it from occurring. The root cause of burn-in is a static image. Most newer model plasma televisions have added functions to automatically prevent burn-in. However, owners of older model plasma televisions should be aware of the danger of burn-in and should follow a few simply tips to extend the life of their television. You can avoid static images by turning off your plasma television when you're not watching it. Also, you should steer clear of pausing a movie or a video game for an extended period of time and leaving the television on.

Burn-in is no longer a serious concern with newer plasma televisions thanks to a technology called pixel orbiter. The pixel orbiter subtly shifts static pictures to continuously keep the plasma screen's phosphors working. By never resting, there is little chance of burn-in. Creating more work for the display may seem like a poor decision with regard to the lifespan of the unit, but keeping the phosphors fresh and changing actually helps the plasma screen last longer.

Three Spy Gadgets For A Homeowner

For the average homeowner it may not seem necessary to worry about having spy gadgets. However, there are three spy gadgets that can serve to help you better protect your family and your home. These gadgets are indispensable, and they allow you to know what is going on inside your home, as well as what your family is up to. You can monitor the safety of your children and protect your property when you make use three pieces of spy electronics.

Surveillance cameras. Protect your home inside and out with surveillance cameras. They may not seem like spy gadgets per se, but they really are. Innocuous objects in your home, such as clocks or pictures, can hide cameras that can watch to make sure sitters are treating the kids well, help you be aware of whether your kids are having parties while you are away, and keep an eye on valuables so that you can protect them from people with access to your home. Outdoor cameras allow you to capture people who come near your home, allowing you to identify vandals and thieves.

GPS tracking system. Spy gadgets in the form of GPS trackers are immensely useful. You can keep them in cars so that if you know where your kids are driving. They are also helpful in the event of your car being stolen. You are much more likely to recover the vehicle if you can track where it is. And today there are GPS tracking systems that are small enough to be carried on a person. They even come in cell phones. Know that your kids are where they should be (and safe) with trackers.

Listening devices. These are especially necessary if you are afraid that someone may try to take advantage of a conversation you have had. Recording your own conversations with the help of covert listening devices can help you protect yourself. Additionally, if you have these devices in the form of phone taps and cell phone bugs, you can keep tabs on teenager conversations that might tip you off to unsafe behavior. Devices planted around the house can provide useful audio to go with the visual images from your hidden cameras. These spy gadgets are quite useful for any home owner.

Rented My Blog Out

Today i rented my blog out to Scooter McGavin's 9th Green. It's really my first time doing this so i hope it works out. The blog has lots of interesting things including stuff about music, movies and other entertainment. Be sure to check it out! If you are reading this through a surfbar by anychance just press ctrl+the blog or shift+blog to open it in a new window.

Mp3 Players: How To Choose The Right One

The range of mp3 players on the market today is perplexing to say the least but their main benefit is convenience. With the right mp3 player music can be downloaded from CDs or from subscription sites on the internet.

1) So how does the mp3 player work? Basically, mp3 is a method of audio compression that maintains the original quality of the music. Due to the small size of this file, there is a large capacity for storing music.

2) What kind of mp3 players can you choose from? There are two basic types of mp3 player. The first is a flash player, which has no moving parts and is therefore good for people using their player while jogging or in the gym. However, the disadvantage of this is that the memory capacity is quite low. However, this isn’t an issue if you only plan to use the mp3 player for short periods of time. The flash model is able to hold about 200 songs and the popular SanDisk mp3 player is available for about $70.

3) The second choice of mp3 player works by holding their memory on a hard drive, much like a computer. This means that the capacity is much higher than the flash models. These can hold 20GB or even higher hard-drive, which should keep even the most impassioned music fan quiet! Its important to note that you are unable to add memory to your mp3 player therefore it is important to get it right now or it could end up costing you more in the long run.

4) The must have mp3 player currently on the market is the Apple iPod. But it is important to shop around and do your research since there are some good deals to be had. This way you can get a bargain since prices may vary greatly depending on where you look. An online price comparison may be a useful way of finding the best prices available at the current time.

5) Its important not to buy a mp3 player on impulse and you should really do some research first. The best way is to get on the internet and read the reviews of other users and guides from the official literature available. This tells you things that you would only know from actually buying and testing the mp3 player.

6) Another feature of mp3 players is their battery life. Some come with a built in battery that need to be recharged whereas others work in standard batteries. In either case it is important to look at how long the batteries will last. If they constantly need to be recharged or replaced then it won’t be cheap to run or necessarily very portable. It is also important to work out the battery life for yourself since the time quoted by the manufacturers may not be accurate.

7) One of the main reasons for buying a mp3 player is its ease and convenience of use. However, this is not always the case. Consulting reviews of the mp3 player that you are interested in again can assess this.

8) Finally it is important to make sure you have permission to download and play music since not all players work with all download services. You must also remember that it is illegal to trade mp3’s without permission from the song copyright holder.

by: Gillian Todd

Solar Gadgets – Gotta Love Them

It has been claimed that our nation is infatuated with a variety of things from civil rights to freedom. Bah! If we are honest, we will admit we are infatuated with gadgets.

Solar Gadgets – Gotta Love Them

Forget the oil addiction, our biggest weakness as a nation is we are fools for gadgets. If it peels an onion 56 different ways, we have to own it. Don’t believe me? Ask yourself one question. When you go to a fair, how many gadgets do you end up bringing home? Be honest. There is no shame in it. In fact, I believe there is an argument to be made that a particular subject matter, whatever it is, isn’t mainstream until it includes gadgets. If this is true, solar energy may finally be a real alternative.

Most of us have far too many gadgets, particularly small personal gadgets. Cell phones, ipods, pdas, Bluetooth, I have them all. I find it somewhat ironic that all these small gadgets that are to make my life easier make me look like Sherpa walking around. Regardless, the digital age has one problem and you already know what it is. Gadgets require power and they always run down when you need them most. This, of course, results in you walking around with a power converter in your hand looking for a convenient outlet of some sort. Instead of looking like a junkie trying to find a fix, you can use a very useful new gadget.

Solar power packs are the latest and greatest thing when it comes to gadgets. Yes, I said solar. The packs come in a variety of forms, but they tend to look like the black folders for your compact discs. The packs are thin and light. When you are outside, you just unzip them, lay them in the sun and plug your power hungry gadget into them. The packs will put a charge into your gadget and you’ll be ready to go.

Finally, solar power we can use on a personal level. I guess it is here to stay.

by: Rick Chapo

Television That Watches You?

Ever since the first Tivo's and other DVR's (Digital Video Recorders) came out there has been much speculation about the extent to which the broadcasting companies collect data on our television viewing habits. The speculation has ranged from paranoid conspiracy theorists that contend that every channel click, rewind, and recorded program is remembered, tallied and stored in secret databases. On the other extreme are those proclaiming that virtually no information is retained. Sorry to disappoint the ones who want to believe in a nefarious plot, but the truth lies somewhere in between, and the amount of information collected depends heavily on your television service provider. Dish Network, for example, collects virtually nothing on your habits. If you watch a pay-per-view program, obviously that is noted for business purposes, but that is it.

Tivo, in contrast to Dishnetwork, keeps close tabs on the shows being watched and sends that information over the attached phone line. Many Tivo users first became aware of this during the Janet Jackson skin-bearing episode during Super Bowl 38 between New England and the Carolina Panthers. Tivo announced the great numbers of people that rewound the event, and their customers suddenly became aware of the capabilities of the company to see what they were doing. It turns out, however, that information about who watched the content is assiduously stripped from the information, and then is shuffled between a number of servers, so that your privacy is protected. In other words, attention is paid to the shows that are watched, and even information about rewinds by customers, but it is so anonymous that no one needs worry about the data gathered.

The large cable behemoths, such as Comcast and Time Warner, have huge information pipes stuck into the cable boxes, and apparently are able to snoop as much as they please, whenever they decide. This type of information is so crucial to advertisers, and while there is not much information changing hands now, the lure of advertising dollars may prove irresistible in the near future. In the modern world, and probably deep into our history, humans have always had an innate concern for privacy. Some people are more sensitive than others, and there are undoubtedly some segments of the population that would welcome a company gathering information on their television watching behaviors. (They are good candidates for the Neilson Ratings Company, based in Florida). As our society becomes more connected with cell phones, Wi-Fi, Satellite Communications, and a related array of electronic gadgets, we will revisit this topic as the ability to observe and be observed increases throughout the world. While some see privacy issues as an increasing threat, it is undeniable that our ability to get information to make informed decisions is also increasing. For more information, check out other new technology discoveries.

by: John Richardson

Dish Network Satellites Dishes - What You Need To Know

When you order Dish Network service, in most cases, you do not need to know what type of Dish Network Satellites dish you actually need. The service department will know what you need based on what you ordered. The technician will typically discuss the placement of the Dish Network Satellites dish with you when they arrive to install it. It is important to note that the dish will not work just any place you decide to have it installed. An experienced installation technician will know this, and will discuss the various options with you.

First, you need to understand a little bit about how the dish works. As complicated as it all is, it is a fairly simple concept. The satellite dishes at Dish Network send out programming signals which are sent to satellites in space. Your satellite dish is pointed at those satellites that are in space, and those satellites relay the programming information from the Dish Network Satellite dishes.

The dish that is installed outside of your home works with the receiver that is installed inside your home and connected to your television set. You tell the receiver what you want to watch, by using your remote control, and the receiver notifies your dish, which notifies the satellites in space, which notifies Dish Network Satellites dishes, which notifies their receivers – and then the process reverses, sending the signal for the requested program all the way back down the line, and making the program appear on your television screen. All of this happens in a matter of seconds.

The satellite dishes the Dish Network uses are very large – and they are not similar to the dish that will be installed at your home. Different dishes are programmed to use different satellites for broadcasting. This is why it is important for the Dish Network service people to know what programming you have ordered – to ensure that you get the right dish, and the right receiver.

Your Dish Network Satellites dish must have a clear line of sight. Without a clear line of sight, the dish cannot send or receive the signals that are needed for programming. Your installation technician will check for a clear line of sight, but you may be interested in the information about clear line of sight yourself. Your satellite cannot be pointed at trees, buildings, or any other obstructions. Again, it needs a clear line of sight to the satellites in space.

Once the trained technician installs your dish, you should not need to do anything else to it. However, if you live in an area where it snows, you may need to brush snow off of the dish after storms to ensure that the dish maintains a clear signal. During windy weather, your dish may move slightly. This can cause disruption in the signal, which creates ‘snow’ on your television, or a black screen. This means that your Dish Network Satellites dish is not getting the proper signal, and in most cases, you will need to call your local Dish Network company to have them come out and readjust your dish.

by: Jamie Kimbler

Digital Cameras - Quality Vs. Size

When looking to purchase a new digital camera there is always the debate between size and quality within the range of your budget. No matter what the budget, the choice will have to be made between a smaller size, more portable camera and a higher resolution camera with more features. Making the choice between the two is simply a matter off considering what the camera’s purpose.

Digital camera users who plan to use a camera for simple point-and-shoot purposes will want to focus their budget on a small, portable camera. These individuals are most likely using their camera to document travels, family events, and personal experiences for their own memory. The photos don’t need to be or a super high resolution because they will not be blown up to poster size, but will remain 4 x 6 or 5 x 7 in a frame on the mantel. It is important to consider that when size is traded for quality, while the photos will be higher quality, users may be less inclined to take photos as the size of the camera becomes a hindrance to taking it along for the fun.

Photographers who are more interested in the end product will want to sacrifice size for a higher resolution camera or one with more features and/or accessories. The bulkier high-resolution cameras or digital SLRs will be the better choice for users who are taking artistic or professional photographs. Even the amateur artist, will want to invest in quality over size to produce the kind of photos that can be enlarged to show detail. Cameras used for professional shots, whether to be displayed in a portfolio, brochure or website, will also need to be of higher quality, and it will be worth hefting the extra weight to get the higher-end photos.

Knowing the type of photographer you are, will help you make the right choice in cameras. When you have an idea of what characteristics are most important to you, take the time to shop, read the reviews, and compare the various cameras in your price range.

by: Sara Wells