Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:06:24 GMT

Your Skin's New Best Friend

Electronics maker Philips may have the answer to the billion dollar question. According to the New York Times, has a new way of analyzing skin. The Crystalize system uses a special video camera to take an extreme close up of clients skin. The camera is set up to scan certain parts of the face to compile an accurate assessment of the viewer"s skin. Once that happens, a list of products that would best suit your skin is displayed starting with the cheapest product going to the most pricey purchase.

When the system displays your ideal products, you shouldn"t have to worry about Philips trying to pawn off strategically placed products. Philips does create products in the health care industry, but does not make any skin care products. They also aren"t receiving any incentive to recommend one company"s product over another"s, so the system should be corruption free for now. Let"s hope it stays that way. It"s far too easy to go down that slippery slope with an ad or a featured product.
Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:24:53 GMT

More TV than you can possibly ever watch

This Moxi 3 Tuner HD DVR is hazy crazy. So hands up everyone with a shed load of VHS tapes they never watched? Or a hard disk PVR or TiVo crammed with shows they don’t have time to view? Yeah thought so. So what on earth makes it logical to introduce a product which can record 3 different programs onto hard disk while you’re watching a fourth? What are you going to do with all the shows, start your own TV station? Hold them for ransom? Sell them back to Rupert Murdoch? ‘Cause one thing’s for certain, you’re probably only ever going to watch a fraction of the content in one lifetime. Crazy! $799.00 buys you the box, plus another box to let you not watch your stored stuff in a different room. [Via]

  Introducing the perfect Moxi two–room bundle just in time for the holidays! This two–room bundle introduces the 3–Tuner Moxi HD DVR and Moxi Mate combination. Use the three tuners to record two shows at once while watching a third live program, or record three shows while playing back a fourth recorded show. With the two–room bundle, you can enjoy Moxi in two rooms of the house without buying a full–priced DVR for each room or TV. Posted by: Redferret      Read more     Source

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:59:01 GMT

Real Estate Investing

In real estate investing, your purpose is to generate profits from property that you invest in. This could be through lease or rent with an objective of achieving capital appreciation. Since it usually involves substantial long term investment, a proper understanding of the real estate market is essential for reaping the benefits of this instrument.

Real estate may refer to the immovable property such as land and other things that are permanently attached to it. Buildings, for instance, are a good example of this. The acquisition of real estate involves a set of rights that includes:

• Possession
• Control
• Transfer of the property

Methods of Real Estate Investing
You can invest in real estate in the following ways:
Rental: You can buy a property with the aim of renting it to a tenant. This would provide you a continuous cash flow in the form of rent. However, in this case, the landowner would be entitled to pay the mortgage, tax and other costs associated with the maintenance of the property. This method also provides you the benefit of appreciation in the value of your property.

Trading: This method involves holding of real estate for a short span of time with the aim of selling it at a profit. This is also called flipping of properties. You can purchase undervalued property and sell it later at a higher price. You have the option of increasing the value of the property by improving it before selling it off.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): This is a corporation that invests in real estate on major exchanges through an investor’s money. This method provides you with an option to invest in non-residential properties such as malls and office buildings.
Benefits of Real Estate Investing

• Investing in real estate gives you the opportunity to acquire a valuable property and ensure the generation of revenue stream.
• You can use it as an investment strategy to diversify your portfolio.
• This can also be viewed as a business opportunity where you can use your property to secure a loan.

The following benefits make real estate investment a popular option:
Risks of Real Estate Investing
Unlike other instruments of investment such as stocks and bonds, real estate investing provides relatively poor liquidity.

Before investing in real estate, it is important to equip yourself with all necessary information of this field. One source where you can learn the techniques of real estate investing and effective strategies, benefits and risks is at HomeVestors Realty Ltd (Canada).
Posted by: Heather      Read more     Source

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:32:00 GMT

Hardware

Hardware
directed by Richard Stanley
1990, 93 minutes, UK
Severin Films

Falsely but understandably advertised as "The Terminator for the nineties" and loosely based on the 2000 A.D. comics (making it a precursor to Judge Dredd), South African-born auteur Richard Stanley"s cult-beloved feature debut had only a fraction of the resources James Cameron did for his Ahnuld-pocalypse. But even in its meager limitations, Hardware is both more cynical and conscious of human indignities as a horrific cyberpunk vision of the future. In this ruddy post-apocalypse, lawlessness pervades the land and Big Brother is always watching via omnipresent closed-circuit cameras, but there"s no anti-fascist revolution underway; we compliantly voted the bastards in, just as effortlessly as we decimated the environment so that only the fittest scavengers survive. Technically, the villain of Hardware (and here"s where that original comparison gets made) is a murderous combat droid called the M.A.R.K. 13, which is capable of regenerating itself with any old electrical appliances. However, what makes Stanley"s nightmare more disturbing in an age of environmental crisis and seemingly endless warring is that mankind is responsible for developing this mecha-monster (it"s not a next-gen species like the T-800, but a "population lowering" device), and in this world, we"re also responsible for destroying the resources that might allow us to defeat it. Posted by: ahillis      Read more     Source

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:25:56 GMT

Bat-Shit Crazy Syrup

by Steve Dollar Most film festivals are just film festivals. Fantastic Fest is a different beast. The premier American outpost on the global "fantastic cinema" circuit of festivals-devoted to all things action, horror, sci-fi and cult-FF spurts forth like a bottomless fountain of arterial spray for a week every autumn. This mutant brainchild of gonzo exhibitor Tim League and Ain"t It Cool News geek guru Harry Knowles has evolved over the past five years into a singular cinematic freak magnet. What other major American film festival gives its prize for "best film" to something called The Human Centipede? Where else do audience members inquire of a director at the post-screening Q&A (in this case, for Yoshihiro Nishimura"s romantic splatterfest Vampire Girl vs. Frankenstein Girl) not details of budget or shooting ratio but: "Is there any body part you have not yet weaponized?" (Answer: "Yes. Nose hairs.") And what sane festival director promotes as a late-night party attraction a debate between himself and a filmmaker guest (German exploitation iconoclast Uwe Boll) that ends in a boxing match? Can you imagine the New York Film Festival"s Richard Peña staring down, say, Steven Soderbergh in the squared circle? I think not (although Clooney might be up for it). Of course, it helps that the fest"s host city is Austin, Texas-a.k.a Slackerwood-where League and his wife Karrie run a sprawling mini-empire of drafthouses (theaters that serve beers and bar food while you watch). A town stuffed with thousands of University of Texas students, homegrown auteurs like Richard Linklater and Robert Rodriguez, and a legacy of pop-culture eccentricism that gave the world the Butthole Surfers, Daniel Johnston and Roky Erickson, Austin is the perfect petri dish for Fantastic Fest. To paraphrase League, it"s like a big-ass nacho platter "drizzled in bat-shit crazy syrup." Posted by: ahillis      Read more     Source

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:21:54 GMT

Dell takes on the Toughbook

Panasonic have had a fairly strong monopoly in consumer "tough" laptops, with their ToughBook line, but that all might be set to change with Dell announcing the rugged XT2 tablet. It features all the things you"d expect, lots of protection, hot-swappable drives and modules. It has a quick Core 2 Duo processor and with up to 5gb of RAM it"s performance looks likely to match it"s ruggedness.... although there is no option for Windows 7.... Why is this, Dell? Posted by: Jeff      Read more     Source

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:16:56 GMT

Speed Up Your Graphics Programs

The programs used by digital photographers, namely graphics editing, can be sizable and extremely complex. This translates into a huge drain on your computer"s resources and results in slower than acceptable operating speeds.

In addition to "heavy" programs we also process large digital photo files; and store many gigabytes of data on our hard drives. All these factors further decrease processing speed and can cause program crashes.

Enter "RegTidy", a free program that will clean up your computer"s registry and other systems, an important step towards regaining your computer"s former speed.

Check out the free "RegTidy" program here.

Take a camera with you whenever possible, and look around, you"ll find a picture somewhere.

Photo Source:www.regtidy.com Posted by: Karen      Read more     Source

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:51:45 GMT

Running Shoes: What To Look For

Few activities put more stress on the feet and body than running. When a runner's heel strikes the ground, the body may have to absorb as much as four times its own weight! Good running shoes are the most important piece of equipment a runner can own; they are essential both for your comfort and your health. However, finding a shoe that suits your individual biomechanics and running style can be a difficult task.

Factors to Consider While Buying Running Shoes

There is no such thing as "the best running shoe." Every runner's feet have unique needs that dictate which type of shoe might be best for them. Some factors to consider are:

Foot structure: The structure of the foot plays a pivotal role in selecting the right pair of running shoes. The most common foot structures are normal (medium arches), flat (low or no arches) and high arches. Each different structure has a corresponding category of shoes. It is important to choose the right type of shoe in order to minimize the risk of injury.

The biomechanical movements of the foot are closely related to the structure of the foot. There are two basic motions the foot makes during running: pronation (an inwards rolling of the foot) and supination (an outwards rolling of the foot). Moderate pronation is natural and actually serves to cushion the foot's impact. Over pronation is an excessive inwards roll of the foot and can cause injury. Under pronation and supination don't absorb shock efficiently. Based on these factors, there are three major groups of runners:

Under pronators or supinators often have high arches. Their feet usually don't pronate enough or may even supinate. Runners with this type of foot structure need a "neutral" shoe that will provide plenty of cushioning and not cause excessive supination.

Over pronators usually have flatter feet with low or no arches. This type of foot structure can result in overuse injuries and shin splints. Runner's with this type of foot structure need a "motion control" shoe that will help correct excessive pronation.

Mild pronators, who have medium arches, often have the most efficient foot structure. Their feet pronate just enough to efficiently absorb shock without risking injury. Runners with this foot structure will wear either a "neutral" or "support" shoe. Support shoes provide enough support to correct mild over pronation.

Body type: For larger runners it is possible to "bottom out" the cushioning in a running shoe. Larger runners often need to select a shoe with more a robust cushioning system to prevent injuries. However, there is a tradeoff: when you get more cushioning, the overall weight of the shoe will also tend to increase.

Running surface: The surface that you will be running on can have an impact on your shoe choice as well. If you are running predominantly off-road, it may be best to get a trail specific shoe. Trail running shoes offer more protection from rocks, upturned roots, and uneven ground.

Running shoes are the most strategic and important investment that any runner makes. It is important to do research and seek specialized guidance before buying a pair. To simplify the process get in touch with the experienced and friendly experts at Holabird Sports. Holabird Sports' professional staff provides personalized service whether you're running your third marathon or just starting to jog. Visit www.holabirdsports.com for a comprehensive look at all of their great products and services.

Posted by: Heather      Read more     Source

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:47:33 GMT

A Switch

I am always intrigued by new designs that aim at energy saving, which is probably why my attention was caught by Switch a power socket designed by Yong-jin Kim. Switch"s purpose is to help users save on their electricity bills that are often affected by the Stand-By power of many appliances and gadgets left plugged in. By making it very easy and effortless to disconnect any type of power-sucking device, the consumer"s "lazy" or "forgetful" behavior can therefore be modified. So, instead of bending down all the way to your power socket and unplug whatever is contributing to both a bad consumer and environmental behavior, you can now bend all the way down but simply turn the plug to turn it off.

And now I wonder, is Switch really making a difference?

I like its concept and sleek design but I am not convinced that it will influence a behavioral pattern for the better. Granted, its fancy style will make my power sockets look a lot nicer and my apartment a lot tidier than if I would have a bunch of unplugged cords lying around, but if I forget or am just too lazy to unplug my appliances I wonder how Switch will make it any easier for me to either remember or make it so effortless to unplug the incriminating device that I will actually go ahead and do it.

Via Yanko Design. Posted by: Sarah      Read more     Source

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:28:17 GMT

Makeup Review: Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color

The Shiseido international line has been going through a revamp this year. The new makeup line, created in collaboration with Dick Page, is simply called Shiseido (instead of the original Shiseido The Makeup). In January, the line debuted with Perfect Rouge and Smoothing Lip Pencil. In August, the fall 2009 collection was released. The collection includes 15 shades of Luminizing Satin Eye Color. Today I am reviewing two of them.

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in BE202 Caramel)

(Luminizing Satin Eye Color in WT907 Paperwhite)

BE202 Caramel is a medium bronze-toned beige and WT907 Paperwhite is a cream white. They are moderately pigmented and they have very fine shimmery particles. They impart a satiny finish that looks soft and understated. The lasting power is good.

The powder is exceptionally fine and has an almost-creamy texture. Apart from talc (2nd on the ingredient lists of both shades), Luminizing Satin Eye Color uses petrolatum (4th on the ingredient list of WT907 and 6th of BE202) to create the silky and almost-creamy texture. I find this to be slightly unusual, as most eyeshadows rely on a combination of talc and silicones to create the smooth and silky texture. (Silicones are further down the lists of these two shades.)

WT907 is good for brightening the eye area and as a base for other eyeshadows. I also prefer it as a brow highlighter to more shimmery off-whites, as the effect is a lot more natural. BE202 is a gentle shadowing shade as it is able to give a very natural depth to the eyes. (This relatively light shade is able to be depth-enhancing because it is not too shimmery.) Since it is more of a warm neutral, I think it should suit those with a warm complexion better. (It may look quite bronze on those with a cooler complexion.)

The 15 Luminizing Satin Eye Color shades are elegant and understated (except YE306 Solaris, which is a vibrant yellow). I would be curious to see whether more vibrant shades will be added to the range and whether a new range of eyeshadow singles, perhaps with a different finish, will join the line.

(The products featured in this review are provided by Shiseido.)

Posts on Shiseido"s other lines:

Cle de Peau Fall 2009 Collection

Maquillage Fall 2009 Collection

Maquillage Forming Shiny Eyes in 52

Maquillage Clean Contrast Eyes 2 in SV844 Posted by: PJ      Read more     Source