Monday, February 22, 2010

Funny Raptor



I love this GAME

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Bizarre Cures That Really Work

1. Home cure: Vodka

Use it for: Foot odor

If your feet smell less than swell, wipe them down with a vodka-soaked washcloth to get rid of the stench. It’s the same principle as rubbing alcohol (which works equally well if you’d rather drink your Grey Goose). Vodka contains alcohol, which is antiseptic and drying, so it destroys odor-causing fungus and bacteria and dries out the moisture that lets these organisms grow.

2. Home cure: Yogurt

Use it for: Bad breath

Preliminary research shows that the live bacteria in yogurt can suppress levels of bad breath–causing bacteria. “Good” bugs in yogurt may crowd out the “bad” stink-causing bacteria or create an unhealthy environment for it, says John C. Moon, DDS, a cosmetic and general dentist in Half Moon Bay, CA.

3. Home cure: Olive oil

Use it for: Eczema

Soothe flareups by applying olive oil directly to the irritated area, says Christopher Dannaker, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California San Francisco. Packed with antioxidants that can reduce the inflammation associated with eczema, olive oil is the basis for many moisturizers; when used alone, it lacks chemical irritants you may find in store-bought creams. As a bonus, olive oil’s antioxidants help prevent and repair damage that can lead to wrinkles and brown spots.

Rub 1 teaspoon per square inch of skin, which creates a seal that prevents skin from drying out. For serious cases, cover oil-slathered skin with plastic wrap overnight to lock moisture in.

4. Home cure: Apple

Use it for: Whiter teeth

Crunchy fruits and vegetables act as little toothbrushes when you chew them; they have a natural cleansing action that works on tooth enamel to remove stains. In particular, “apples have a gentle malic acid that also helps dissolve stains,” says Jennifer Jabow, DDS, of Park 56 Dental in New York City.

5. Home cure: Papaya

Use it for: Smoother skin

This tropical fruit contains papain, a protein-eating enzyme that dissolves the dead cells on your skin’s surface that can make it look dull and rough and leave it prone to breakouts. When used twice a month, this peel leaves skin softer, smoother, and more radiant:

Grind 2 tablespoons of washed and peeled papaya in a food processor and add 1 tablespoon of dry oatmeal. Pat this mixture onto clean skin and let it set for 10 minutes before wiping off with a wet washcloth. The enzymes in papaya are gentle, which is why this is an ideal treatment for those with sensitive skin. However, to be safe, do a test spot behind your ear the first time you try it.

Iphone or Android


Apple iPhone

Pro: Wide distribution

While the iPhone is only available on one carrier, that hasn’t stopped it from becoming the industry’s top selling smartphone. A stunning nine million units sold in the last three months of 2009 alone, bringing its total to well over 40 million.

Con: Network woes

That one carrier, unfortunately, is AT&T, which users have been complaining about for some time now. Service in big cities like New York and San Francisco is spotty at best, making some people wonder if the phone’s cool features are worth the frustrations.

AT&T’s exclusivity window is expected to end this year, though. And many analysts have predicted Apple will expand the iPhone’s reach to another carrier as well -- perhaps Verizon, the nation’s largest cellular provider -- which would give the iPhone another big sales boost, drawing in even more game developers.

Pro: Big games and big game makers

The iPhone has already stolen some big names (such as EA’s Neil Young and Blizzard’s Keith Lee) away from the traditional gaming industry and it’s tempting several others, including legendary id Software heavyweight John Carmack.

In addition to creating several new franchises, like Flight Control and MyTown (which never would have found an audience with traditional gaming systems), the iPhone also has ports of several major console games, like Call of Duty and Rock Band. The current top-grossing app GTA: Chinatown Wars from console game maker Rockstar. This phone has serious momentum.


Google Android

Pro: Wider availability

Android devices are spread out among several networks, and some of them are finding an audience. While the Nexus One phone from Google has been a flop so far (selling less than 21,000 units in its first week), the Motorola Droid has sold much better. (The company and Verizon, which carries the model, won’t reveal exact figures.) There are also several non-phone devices that use Android, such as the Archos tablet, some smaller netbooks and upcoming eReaders. And all of those can run Android games.

"Unlike the iPhone, there are lots of telecom manufacturers who can use the Android system,"says Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets. "I think, in terms of numbers, you should expect a pretty big increase in penetration."

Con: No must-have games

While there are plenty of games out there for the Android, none has managed to break away from the pack. Bonsai Blast and Parallel Kingdom might be fun, but they're not generating much excitement. Without a real smash game or two, Android will be stuck playing second fiddle to the iPhone.

Con: Buzz is slow to build

The commercials for Droid raised a few eyebrows in the general public, but their lasting impact is questionable. Do a random sample of smartphone shoppers and the number of people familiar with the Android OS will be fairly small, particularly compared to those who know all about the iPhone.

Ultimately, though, Android-based phones are expected to be viable competitors to the iPhone -- and as the sales numbers grow, look for iPhone game developers to begin porting titles over and creating original ones for the platform.

That shift could happen sooner than you think. Developers learned one important lesson with the iPhone: Establishing an early foothold can be quite beneficial to the bottom line.


Source from http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/apple-vs-google-the-fight-for-the-smartphone-gaming-crown/1386921