Life is so wonderful and full of joy in each day that we live. Have fun and enjoy the true meaning of life together with your loved ones and friends because it is a gift from God to treasure.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Grateful
Celebration
Friday, January 30, 2009
Update
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Website hosting
woke up late
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Software Solution
New bedroom
Digital Photo Frame
In today's technology trend, one of the most innovative feature is the digital photo frames . You will find it so amazing in producing this kind of gadget in the modern world. One company that produces this product is CEIVA. The Ceiva digital photo frames has lots of features that is more advantage compared to an ordinary photo frame. It has an automatically displays photos that sends directly to the frame from family and friends. There is no PC or internet required and just perfect for parents, grandparents and everyone else. You can also connect it to an existing phone line, just plug, play and enjoy. It comes with an 8-inch frame with a traditional look to beautifully complement any home or office setting. That is amazing. Ceiva has really created a very unique and trendy piece that is very useful to everyone. Aside from that, they also offer free shipping when you purchase a digital photo frame from them. To me personally, it is a very brilliant innovation that brings an easy way of keeping something memorable to me and could actually run it down like a slide show from my camera straight to the digital photo frame. This is something that everyone should keep or something to be shared to your loved ones . Come and visit their website now and enjoy the difference of having a digital photo frame in a very affordable price.
scrap iron
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Better Feeling
Luxury Kitchen Design
Get to feeling better
Tax Relief
Bare with me!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Blogging
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Mardi Gras History
Although we can trace its history to the Romans, a French-Canadian explorer, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne Sieur de Bienville, landed on a plot of ground 60 miles directly south of New Orleans in 1699 and called it "Pointe due Mardi Gras." He also established "Fort Louis de la Louisiane" (which is now Mobile) in 1702. In 1703, the tiny settlement of Fort Louis de la Mobile celebrated the very first Mardi Gras.
In 1704, Mobile established a secret society (Masque de la Mobile) ... similar to those who form our current Mardi Gras Krewes. It lasted until 1709. In 1710, the "Boeuf Graf Society" was formed and paraded from 1711 through 1861. The procession was held with a huge bull's head pushed alone on wheels by 16 men. This occurred on Fat Tuesday.
New Orleans was established in 1718 by Jean-Baptise Le Moyne. By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans.. but not in parade form. In the early 1740s, Louisiana's Governor The Marquis de Vaudreuil established elegant society balls -- the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today.
The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body. That year, the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association is the first of hundreds of clubs and carnival organizations formed in New Orleans.
By the late 1830s, New Orleans held street processions of maskers with carriages and horseback to celebrate Mardi Gras. Newspapers began to announce Mardi Gras events in advance.
In 1871, Mardi Gras's second "Krewe" is formed, the Twelfth Night Reveler's, with the first account of Mardi Gras "throws."
1872 was the year that a group of businessmen invented a King of Carnival -- Rex -- to parade in the first daytime parade. They introduced the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold; the Mardi Gras song, and the Mardi Gras flag.
In 1873, the first floats were constructed entirely in New Orleans instead of France. In 1875, Governor Warmoth of Louisiana signs the "Mardi Gras Act" making it a legal holiday in Louisiana, which is still is.
Most Mardi Gras Krewes today developed from private social clubs that have restrictive membership policies. Since all of these parade organizations are completely funded by its members, we call it the "Greatest Free Show on Earth!"
Smile can be contagious
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Not feeling well
Artfire
It is always free for buyers of handmade products to search through their listed artisans, buy, or request for items to be specially made. No matter if you are looking for local handmade crafts, or handmade products from artisans around the world, Artfire.com is the marketplace for you.
Visit their website now and start shopping for the items you like especially handmade gifts.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Tired
IM Online
Puso (hanging rice)
Local stories passed down through the generations have attributed the creation of this style of rice preparation to the Cebuano seafarers' need to keep cooked rice from spoiling during long sea voyages. The coco leaves used in wrapping the rice are always shaped into a triangular form and stored hanging in bunches in the open air. The shape of the package facilitates moisture to drip away from the cooked rice while the coco leaves allow the rice to be aerated and at the same time prevent flies and insects from touching it.
Puso, according to a Cebu Normal University(CNU) professor, had been once considered food for the gods, before Spain colonized the Philippines and introduced Christianity. The professor, however, said this ritualistic preparation of puso as divine offering is virtually non-existent today.
"Puso" has continued to be popular in the Philippines due to the large number of open-air eateries serving grilled chicken and pork meals. Customers of these establishments often worry about the cleanliness of the food being prepared hence the popularity of "puso" where the rice remains untouched by human hands after being cooked.
Packing some stuff
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The Occult Blog
Met a Filipina!
Shoes and Foot wear
Day with my family
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Traveling
The reality
Cash Advance Payday Loans Tips, Recommendations, and more
Cash advance payday loans are essentially short-term loans for relatively small amounts, normally ranging from $100 to $1500, that are approved quickly and based on relatively lenient requirements. The term of cash advance payday loans can range from several days to several months, depending on the amount lent. Normally, cash advance payday loans are repaid the following payday of the borrower.
When a cash advance is obtained, the loan should be paid off as soon as possible for the fees and interest being charged can be substantial. Cash advance payday loans should be considered only during an emergency situation or urgent need to borrow money.
Here are some tips regarding cash advance payday loans: Understand the terms of your loan. Make sure you read the entire loan agreement, and that you know how and when you will pay back the loan. You might want to ask about early payoff fees, just in case you want to pay off the loan early to save on interest. Borrow as little money as possible. Although it is rather easy to obtain cash advance payday loans, it is important to remember that these loans are expensive, and that limiting the amount you borrow will reduce the interest you pay back to the lender. Pay on time. Mark on your calendar the days you need to make a payment. Paying on time will help you establish a good relationship with lenders, as well as save you money.
The benefits of cash advance payday loans. Cash advance payday loans can get you cash rapidly, based on relatively few requirements, such as having active checking account and a job that pays at least $1,000 per month. There are no need for credit reports, credit history, good credit rating, or even bankruptcy history does not hinder from getting the loan. However, the interest rates for cash advance loans are normally higher than other forms of loans. Although the exact interest rates for payday loans can vary, they are normally around 15%. Due to the high interest rates, cash advance loans are usually short-term, as the interest can accumulate to large amounts quickly.
Long day!
Battlefield 2 cd key
Food trip
My thoughts on travel
Past Midnight
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
lay-z-spa hot tub
So experience the difference now because nothing compares with the calming experience of stepping into your own personal sanctuary, a gently bubbling hot tub that will help you unwind after a hard day at work or watching your children. Be relaxed and rejuvenate with an innovative style of relaxation.
TYPE ONLY 1 WORD... IT'S HARDER THEN YOU THINK!!!
2.Your significant other? FOREST
3.Your hair? BLACK
4. Your mother? FUNNY
5. Your father? STRICT
6. Your favorite thing? ME
7. Your dream last night? NONE
8. Your goal? HAPPINESS
10. Your fear? UNLOVED
11. Where do you want to be in 6 years? PHILIPPINES
12. Where were you last night? HOME
13. What you're not? WORKING
15. One of your wish list items? CHILDREN
16. Where you grew up? PHILIPPINES
20. You're pet? BUBBA
21. Your computer? LATEST
22 Your life? HAPPY
23. Your mood? LAZY
24. Missing someone? FOREST
25. Your car? SLIPPERS
26. Something you’re not wearing? MAKE UP
29. Your favorite color? BLACK
30. When is the last time you laughed? NOW
31. Last time you cried? SUNDAY
32. Who will/would re-post this? FRIENDS
33. FOUR PLACES I GO OVER AND OVER? LIVING ROOM, KITCHEN, BATHROOM, BED ROOM:)
34. FOUR PEOPLE WHO E-MAIL ME: RONNIE, LYMERA, EBAY, TODAY.COM
35.FOUR OF MY FAVORITE FOODS: CHICKEN, FRENCH FRIES, ADOBO, LUMPIA
36. FOUR PLACES I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT NOW: DISNEYWORLD, BORACAY, PALAWAN, BOHOL
Here's what you're supposed to do....and please don't spoil the fun....Hit 'forward,' delete my answers, type in your answers and send it to a bunch of people. Have fun.
Fashion Style
Another Cold Day Again
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Road to recovery
Busy day!
Friday, January 16, 2009
Soooooooo Happy!
Hook to the game!
It's Cold
Reinventing America
Most Expensive Coffee in the World
Kopi Luwak the most expensive coffee in the world does exist, and those who drink the expensive coffee insist that it is made from coffee beans eaten, partly digested and then excreted by the Common palm civet, a weasel-like animal.
“Kopi” the Indonesian word for coffee along with “luwak” is local name of this animal which eats the raw red coffee beans. The civet digests the soft outer part of the coffee cherry, but does not digest the inner beans and excretes them.Apparently the internal digestion ends up adds a unique flavor to the beans, removing the bitter flavor, and then beans are then picked up by locals and sold. The most expensive coffee beans can cost up to $600 a pound, and up to $50 per cup, if you can get over the fact that you are drinking such a strange brew.
You would know if you drank the most expensive coffee in the world, because the quantities of it are tiny amounts.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
A US Airways jet crashed
Passengers were sent fleeing into the icy, 35 degree, waters when the Airbus 320 went down shortly after takeoff near 48th Street in Manhattan.
Two of the jet's engines were hit by a flock of birds, according to government officials. The Federal Aviation Administration said everyone on board survived and was off the plane.
Two of the jet's engines were hit by a flock of birds, according to government officials.
There were eyewitness reports the plane may have flown into a flock of birds," said FAA spokeswoman Laura Brown. "Right now we don't have any indication this was anything other than an accident."An air traffic controllers union official said the pilot reported a "double bird strike" less than a minute after takeoff and was headed for an emergency landing in New Jersey when he ditched into the Hudson River.
National Air Traffic Controllers Union spokesman Doug Church says the plane reported the bird striked about 30 to 45 seconds after takeoff from New York's LaGuardia Airport and asked to return to the ground. As the controller began to turn the aircraft, the pilot radioed that he saw an airport below him and asked what it was.
Church said the controller in Westbury, N.Y., replied, "That's Teterboro." The pilot asked to land there. The last transmission between the pilot and controller was the controller's order to divert to Teterboro, N.J., for an emergency landing.
Doug Parker, chairman and chief executive officer of US Airways Group, would not speculate on what caused the incident, but said at a press conference that the company will fully cooperate with investigators.
Most of the passengers were held at the New York City ferry terminal at 42nd Street after the crash, though at least two were taken away on stretchers. The New York City Fire Department said 78 people were injured, but the extent of the injuries wasn't immediately known.
Flight 1549 had just taken off from New York's LaGuardia Airport at 3:26 p.m. Thursday when it went down. The flight had 150 passengers and five crew — two pilots and three flight attendants —on board, and was heading to Charlotte, N.C., said Parker, who was leaving for New York.
The plane was submerged in the icy waters up to the windows but remained completely intact. Rescue crews opened the door and pulled passengers in yellow life vests from the plane. Several boats — including commuter ferries — surrounded the plane, which appeared to be slowly sinking.
Passengers could be seen standing on the wings of the jet floating in the water immediately after the crash.
A number of Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. employees were on board the flight.
Wells Fargo spokeswoman Mary Eshet said three employees of the San Francisco-based bank were on US Airways Flight 1549, and all are safe.
At Charlotte-based Bank of America, spokeswoman Nicole Nastacie said the nation's largest bank was confirming the whereabouts of its employees and working with authorities to gather more information.
The U.S. Coast Guard said they are assessing the fuel situation on the plane, and working with several other agencies on a plan to salvage the plane.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said terrorism wasn't suspected.
"There is no information at this time to indicate that this is a security-related incident," Homeland Security spokeswoman Laura Keehner said. "We continue to closely monitor the situation which at present is focused on search and rescue."
Witnesses said the plane's pilot appeared to guide the plane down.
"I see a commercial airliner coming down, looking like it's landing right in the water," said Bob Read, who saw it from his office at the television newsmagazine "Inside Edition." "This looked like a controlled descent."
New York City firefighters and the U.S. Coast Guard were responding to the crash.
"I saw what appeared to be a tail fin of a plane sticking out of the water," said Erica Schietinger, whose office windows at Chelsea Piers look out over the Hudson. "All the boats have sort of circled the area."
A team of US Airways employee volunteers are helping the passengers and crew who were affected, Parker said.
Martin Luther
His translation of the Bible also helped to develop a standard version of the German language and added several principles to the art of translation. Luther's hymns sparked the development of congregational singing in Christianity. His marriage, on June 13, 1525, to Katharina von Bora, a former nun, began the tradition of clerical marriage within several Christian traditions.
Luther's Writings
The number of books attributed to Martin Luther is quite impressive. However, some Luther scholars contend that many of the works were at least drafted by some of his good friends like Philipp Melanchthon. Luther’s books explain the settings of the epistles and show the conformity of the books of the Bible to each other. Of special note would be his writings about the Epistle to the Galatians in which he compares himself to the Apostle Paul in his defense of the Gospel. Luther also wrote about church administration and wrote much about the Christian home.
Luther's work contains a number of statements that modern readers would consider rather crude. For example, Luther was know to advise people that they should literally “Tell the Devil he may kiss my ass.” It should be remembered that Luther received many communications from throughout Europe from people who could write anonymously, that is, without the specter of mass media making their communications known. No public figure today could write in the manner of the correspondences Luther received or in the way Luther responded to them. Luther was certainly a theologian of the middle-ages. He was an earthy man who enjoyed his beer, and was bold and often totally without tact in the blunt truth he vehemently preached. While this offended many, it endeared him all the more to others.
He was open with his frustrations and emotions, as well. Once, when asked if he truly loved God, Luther replied “Love God? Sometimes I hate Him!” Luther was also frustrated by the works-emphasis of the book of James, calling it “the Epistle of Straw, and questioning its canonicity. Also irritated with the complex symbolism of the Book of Revelation, he once said that it too, was not canon, and that it should be thrown into the river! He later retracted these statements, of course. Luther was a man who was easily misquoted or taken out of context. While a brilliant theologian, and a bold reformer, he would not have made a good politician. But then, he never aspired to any career in politics.
Martin Luther's Death
Martin Luther escaped martyrdom, and died of natural causes. His last written words were, "Know that no one can have indulged in the Holy Writers sufficiently, unless he has governed churches for a hundred years with the prophets, such as Elijah and Elisha, John the Baptist, Christ and the apostles... We are beggars: this is true."
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Aunt Flow Day
Baby Sling
Their pouch-style baby slings are made from quality, snuggle-ready stretch cotton fabrics in a variety of prints, solid colors and organic hemp. They're available with or without leg padding and are a perfect fit for newborns through toddlers up to 35 lbs. It is very easy to use, just slip it on, pop baby in and go! With a Slinglings baby sling, there are no ties, buckles, Velcro or snaps to worry about. Visit their website now and check out the different kinds of baby sling for your baby.
Six Remodeling Mistakes To Avoid
Doing it yourself can save thousands of dollars. But making mistakes during your remodel can be costly and dangerous. The key is to plan ahead, use common sense and take some tips from the pros.
Here are a few common mistakes remodeling rookies make.
Failing to locate water cutoffs
Before you start any work, especially in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens, you need to locate the water cutoff in the house and at the street. This way, if a disaster occurs, you know where to head to cut off the flood.Not preparing to localize and minimize dust and debris
Demolition is messy. Minimize the impact on your house by containing the mess. Create a work zone and keep tools and supplies inside it. Buy large sheet plastic and heavy duty masking tape to completely screen off doorways and openings. At the end of every work session, use a shop vac to get rid of dust and debris. Then take 15 minutes to organize your tools and supplies. It’ll make it quicker to get started next time.Getting in a hurry
Sure it’s appealing to rip that wall separating the kitchen and the family room right out, but safe demolition demands planning and forethought. First, turn off all the electricity and water to the demo area. Use a stud finder that is equipped to locate metal to determine where wire and pipes are running through the wall. Then, using a small dry wall saw, cut some investigative holes to see exactly what’s behind the wall. This way, you avoid ripping out most of a wall only to discover it contains a vent or pipe that will be costly to move.Not protecting surfaces
Mask every finished surface and keep it masked as you work. This means cabinets, walls, baseboards, flooring, and moulding. Cover countertops with interlocking foam tiles to deflect the impact of dropped tools. There’s nothing more discouraging than having to replace, repaint or refinish because of damage, spills or splatters.Not having a Plan B for plumbing
You may think you’ll get your plumbing done in a day, but jobs have a way of expanding. Supply yourself with end stop fittings to cap off open pipes so you can turn the water back on in mid-job. Home Depot’s end stops are called Sharks; Lowe’s offers a line named Gators. They come in ½”, ¾” and 1-inch sizes and it’s smart to have an assortment on hand. Follow the directions for use.Not protecting floors when you move appliances
Even builders make this mistake. Put down carpet or masonite (sweep or vacuum thoroughly first to remove anything that could scratch the floor) to roll the appliances over as you are installing them. This will protect new tile or wood flooring from damage.Almost 1 Am
Get Connected
Granny in Kansas
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Valentines Day Special
Distance is not a hindrance for lovers who wants to celebrate and make each other feel that they are together. With the power of the internet, you can do anything special for your love one. Be his / her valentine in every way you can and treasure each moment that you have. So start planning for your Valentines Day ahead and start booking your order online for an on time delivery wherever your love one may be.
Being Lazy Today
Promises Treatment Centers
TV series will end Friday
Bathroom Furniture
This is one of my favorite in their huge selection of furniture:
Description: This beautiful birch wood single vanity has an antique finished brass sink and brass faucet with a marble top. It also has a multi layer 12 step hand glaze finish to prevent pealing, cracking and fading. The classic, traditional look with a modern feel will transform any bathroom.
Item Included: Vanity w/ Sink & Faucet
Wood: Birch wood construction
Sink: Brass w/ Antique Finish
Faucets: Brass w/ Antique Finish
Vanity:
- » Vanity (33"w x 20"d x 35.5"h)
- » Natural marble top finished and sealed to prevent stains and water marks
- » Perfectly matched 100% heavy gauge brass faucets & sink
- » Solid Birch grade A wood
- » Multi layer 12 step hand glaze finish to prevent pealing, cracking, fading
There are a lot of factors going into making top quality furniture. Here at Max Furniture
we follow all the latest technological advances to make sure we give you the highest
quality product at a best possible price. Please read below what makes our furniture
one of the best in the industry today.
Bathroom vanities are one of the most challenging pieces of furniture produced today.
Elevated humidity levels, and heavy use, command use of very best materials and most
advanced finishing techniques available today.
Wood:
All of our vanities use Kiln-dried selected hardwoods. All wood is properly dried to
prevent warping and cracking.
Inner construction:
All of our wooden vanities use framed type construction. This ensures stability and
unsurpassed durability for many years to come. We do not produce knock down or flat
pack type of cabinets that are joined with bolts and staples.
Vanity tops:
All vanities feature natural stone tops only. Whether is marble, or granite, you can
depend on its natural beauty and durability. In addition, all of our tops are sealed to
prevent watermarks or common stains.
Finish:
All of our vanities have properly sealed finish to prevent pealing and fading in elevated
humidity levels.
Model: 164-001-5156
Visit their website now and start looking for your own bathroom furniture.
Just got up
ConsumerPriceWatch.net
Australian Tennis Open
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
American Idol 2009
When Fox's "American Idol" premiered eight years ago, no major media outlet wrote a story about the little summer replacement series that seemed like a desperate attempt to revive the '80s show "Star Search."
Eight years later, "Idol" has seen a drumroll toward tonight's season premiere that has made the presidential primary seem minimalist and low key. Every fluctuation in the format has been the subject of rumors, counter-rumors, leaks and denials. And this season's major changes -- the potentially risky addition of a fourth judge -- have only fueled the frenzy all the more.
At the center of the media whirlwind is the man who arguably has done more to shape reality television than anyone else: Fox's head of alternative programming, Mike Darnell. The executive said he's excited as he anticipates the reaction to the shake-up within America's most popular television program.
I've now seen four of the audition cities cut, and they're really good," Darnell said. "Not only is the talent great, but the introduction of the fourth judge is really creating a great dynamic. Better than I expected, to be honest."
The new judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi, joins the holy judging panel that has formed the show's backbone since its early days. On-air chemistry can be like lightning in a bottle, something hard to capture or replicate, but Darnell believes that DioGuardi will actually heighten -- not detract from -- the show's original elements.
"She's not shy, so she puts up a good fight," he said. "So what it's doing is really adding to the group dynamic. Just by having a good fourth person in there, everybody's comments are changing. They are saying things they didn't say in years past."
Darnell also promises that the male-versus-female dynamic will become more pronounced this season, beginning tonight with a contestant he refers to as "bikini girl."
But the new judge is one of a host of alterations made to the show in response to last year's midseason stall in the ratings. This season there will be a shuffling of the midround rules -- including a wild-card round -- and the use of more backstage footage to underscore the young contestants' emotional agonies.
"We're going back to sort of a raw feel," he said. In the middle rounds, after singing and being judged, the contestants will immediately be confronted by host Ryan Seacrest rather than being allowed to retreat backstage, as in the past.
"So you see if they're upset with what Simon said, you get to see it right away instead of them going backstage," explained Darnell. "It's really the rawness of what's happening. How do they feel right after? How do they feel stepping off that stage? They can't hide it. They can't cover it up."
The changes to television's lone giant also came about to address another issue: The show is aging. "Change is important. As long as you don't change the core of the show, little changes can make a big, big difference. What it says to the audience is we're not out of gas," he said. "Imagine a scripted show that was in its eighth season, you'd do some fictional changes. Some new characters, whatever it may be, and this is our version of that. We just know it's the biggest show on TV, and we better not rest on our laurels because the audience will become apathetic with you."
Winter get away
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Change my blogs background
Rainbow Financing
Their loan processing is very quick because you can apply in just 60 seconds. You can get your pay out within a day. They have the lowest interest rate among other companies. You can choose your own car and credit history is not a problem with them even if you had good or bad credit before. So where can you find a company that serves everything right in front of you and will accept you when you needed loan. Rainbow is truly the answer with our current economy nowadays because with rainbow, you have the best company around you and rest assured that your financial needs are met in the hands of the most experience and capable specialist. Apply now!
Monday, January 12, 2009
6 tips of using Make Up Brushes
Make up brushes play a great role in enhancing the beauty look of the face.
The following are some tips that can be used in choosing and using makeup brushes.
1. Always use the high-quality brushes or professional makeup brushes that suit your skin to allow the application more even and easier to apply.
For the brushes, always choose the natural bristles.
2. A method to find a good brush is to ensure that bristles are not loose by applying the brush to the back of the hand.
In addition, try to gently pull the bristles to check whether the bristles are loose or not.
3. Firm bristles are required for eyebrow brush as they are able to control the eyebrow hairs compared to the soft bristles brush.
A brush with soft bristles are ideal for soft looks, but it is possible that it is too soft or it is not able to pick up the color.
4. To reach the difficult spot at the innermost corner of the eye, apply a concealer brush.
An alternative of using finger is allowed if no concealer brush is available.
5. Take care of your makeup brushes by cleaning it regularly.
6. Store your makeup brushes properly in a makeup box.
Overall, apart from the cosmetics itself and the makeup techniques, your skin characteristics also plays a big role in choosing the right brush to use.
How the IMF ( International Mutual Fund ) Promotes Global Economic Stability
The IMF advises member countries in implementing economic and financial policies that promote stability, reduce vulnerability to crisis, and encourage sustained growth and high living standards. It also reviews global economic trends and developments that affect the health of the international monetary and financial system and promotes dialogue among member countries on the regional and international consequences of their economic and financial policies. The IMF now publishes the bulk of its analysis. In addition to these activities, called "surveillance", the IMF provides technical assistance to help strengthen members' institutional capacity, and makes resources available to them to facilitate adjustment in the event of a balance of payments crisis.
Why is global economic stability important?
Promoting economic stability is partly a matter of avoiding economic and financial crisis. Economic stability also means avoiding large swings in economic activity, high inflation, and excessive volatility in exchange rates and financial markets. Such instability can increase uncertainty and discourage investment, impede economic growth, and hurt living standards.
A dynamic market economy necessarily involves some degree of instability, as well as gradual structural change. The challenge for policymakers is to minimize this instability without reducing the ability of the economic system to raise living standards through the increasing productivity, efficiency, and employment that it generates.
Economic and financial stability is both a national and a multilateral concern. As recent experience in world financial markets has shown, countries are becoming ever more interconnected. Problems in one apparently isolated sector, within any one country, can result in problems in others sectors and spillover across borders. And global economic and financial conditions have a significant impact on developments in most national economies. Thus, no country is an "island" when it comes to economic and financial stability.
How the IMF helps
The IMF helps countries to implement sound and appropriate policies through its key functions of surveillance, technical assistance, and lending.
Surveillance: Every country that joins the IMF accepts the obligation to subject its economic and financial policies to the scrutiny of the international community. Conversely, the IMF is mandated by its statutes to oversee the international monetary system in order to ensure its effective operation, and the compliance of each member with its undertaking, under Article IV, to run policies consistent with domestic and global stability. Thus, the IMF monitors and assesses developments and policies at the country, regional, and global levels.
Bilateral surveillance. The core of bilateral surveillance are regular-usually annual-consultations that the IMF holds with each member country. During these consultations the IMF staff discuss economic and financial developments and policies with national policymakers, and often with representatives of business and civil society. In particular, consultations consider potential national and international consequences of domestic policies, and possible domestic repercussions of developments in other countries or regions. Staff also assess the exchange rates of members to ensure they are broadly appropriate. On this basis, the IMF offers advice on policies to promote macro-financial stability and external stability, drawing on experience across the membership.
The policy framework for these consultations was updated in 2007 with a new surveillance Decision that clarifies expectations, enhances accountability, sets out best practice, and introduces the concept of external stability as organizing principle-innovations to improve the focus, candor, evenhandedness and effectiveness of surveillance. These consultations are also supported by membership-wide initiatives to inform bilateral surveillance and promote global economic stability, including:
(i) work to systematically assess countries' vulnerabilities to crisis;
(ii) in collaboration with the World Bank, the Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP), which identifies strengths, risks, and vulnerabilities of countries' financial systems and helps formulate appropriate policy responses;
(iii) also in collaboration with the World Bank, development and assessment of countries' observance of a dozen standards and codes of good practice regarding the "rules of the game" for the design and implementation of economic and financial policies
Multilateral surveillance. The IMF also closely monitors economic and financial developments at the global and regional levels.
The IMF's periodic reports on the World Economic Outlook, its regional spin-offs, and the Global Financial Stability Report analyze global and regional macroeconomic and financial developments-to ensure a global perspective to surveillance. The IMF is also well positioned to facilitate multilateral discussions on issues of relevance or common concern to groups of members, and in the process advance shared understanding on policies to promote stability.
Through dialogue with member countries, the IMF is developing voluntary best practices for sovereign wealth funds. This effort is expected to benefit both countries with SWFs and recipients of their investments, helping to allay the potential concerns about these funds, reducing the risks of protectionism, and helping to maintain open capital markets.
Technical assistance: The IMF helps countries strengthen their capacity to design and implement sound economic policies. The Fund provides advice and training on a range of issues within its mandate, including fiscal, monetary, and exchange rate policies; the regulation and supervision of financial systems; statistics systems; and legal frameworks.
Lending: Even the best economic policies cannot completely eradicate instability or avert crises. In the event that a member country does experience financing difficulties, the IMF can provide financial assistance to support policy programs that will correct underlying macroeconomic problems, limit disruption to the domestic and global economies, and help restore confidence, stability, and growth. IMF financing instruments can also support crisis prevention.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
15 of the Hottest Touchscreen Phones
Here are 15 of the hottest touch screen phones for this year.
- HTC Touch Diamond:
The HTC Touch Diamond is the successor to the Touch Cruise. It will run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, with a Qualcomm 528MHz MSM 7201A processor and 256MB ROM/192MB of RAM.It has a 2.8″ VGA screen, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR, eGPS (), a 3.1 Megapixel camera with flash and a forward facing camera. It has a Samsung MoviNAND for 4GB of internal flash storage.
The Touch Diamond also has an orientation sensor that automatically switches the phone output according to the orientation of the phone. The dimensions of the phone are 51 x 99 x 10.7mm.
- Apple iPhone Second Gen:
Not a lot of confirmed information out there about the new iPhone.There is plenty of unconfirmed information though:
It will be similar in size to the current iPhone.
It will also include 3G, GPS, a glossy black casing, chrome volume buttons and more rounded edges due to less metal used in the case.
These have not been confirmed by Apple yet, but I am pretty sure they will be with time.
- LG Secret:
It sports a 5 megapixel camera and is only 11.8mm thick, making it the slimmest phone with a 5 megapixel camera currently on the market.It is made from carbon fiber and the LCD screen is protected by tempered glass. The touch screen buttons respond to commands with a luminous blue light. The camera is capable of capturing video at 120FPS and DivX certified recording. It comes pre-loaded with Google Package that enables the user to check their Gmail, use Google Maps and watch YouTube videos. It can also open Microsoft documents and it will have 100MB of onboard memory which can be expanded with a microSD card. The screen auto-rotates like the iPhone. It has Voice Clarity software that ensures that sound is always clear no matter what the surroundings are. It measures 102.8 x 50.8 x 11.8 mm.
- LG Prada II:
It features 3G with 7.2Mbps HSDPA connectivity, a QWERTY keyboard, a 3″ WQVGA 400×240 px TFT touchscreen and a 5 megapixel camera.It also has a front facing camera for video calls, Wi-Fi b/g connectivity, USB 2.0, Bluetooth, Full HTML browsing, FM-Radio, TV-out and a microSDHC memory slot (up to 8GB).
The Prada fashion designers will be closely involved in making the custom themes, touch UI, built-in ringtones and cellphone accessories for the Prada II.
This phone truly is fully loaded.
- Samsung Instinct:
This 3G Samsung is the first Sprint device to have EV-DO Rev support. It features a 2 Megapixel camera, stereo bluetooth, audible caller ID, voice dialing commands and a full HTML web browser.It also has a media player that displays album art, Sprint Radio and Sprint TV support, integrated Microsoft Live Search and GPS.
It supports personal and corporate email access, visual voicemail and has a 262K color 3.1 inch screen with 2GB of memory.
It measures in at 116 x 55.1 x 12.4 mm and weighs 124.7 grams.
- Nokia Tube 5800:
The Nokia Tube 5800 is equipped with a 3.1 Megapixel camera, and is similar in design as the iPhone. It has a TV-Out port for wide-screen viewing, it has quad band and 3G capabilities, Bluetooth, WiFi and GPS built in to the phone.The touch screen is 3.2 inches wide and can display 16 million colors, it will have 140MB onboard storage, with an SD slot for up to 8GB. The phone measures 111 x 52 x 14.5 mm and it will weigh in at 104g. The Nokia Tube 5800 will be launched late 2008 and it will face tough competition from the second gen iPhone, and many of the phones on this list.
- Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1:
The Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 measures 109 x 52.5 x 16.5 mm, and weighs 145g. It is running the Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system.It has a Qualcomm 7200 CPU running at 528Mhz, 128MB of RAM, a 3″ 800×480 tocuhsscreen, a 3.2 megapixel camera, a slide out QWERTY keyboard, a microSD expansion slot and Bluetooth 2.0.
It also has WiFi and a cool picture blogging feature.
Acccording to Sony Ericsson, “it lets you enjoy the convergence of communication and entertainment.”
- LG Vu:
It measure 108 x 55 x 13 mm, and weighs only 89.5g. The LG Vu features a 3″ 240×300 262k color touchscreen, Quad band and a software QWERTY keyboard.It has a 2 megapixel camera, 128MB of on board memory, a microSD expansion slot, 3.6Mb HSDPA connectivity, Bluetooth 1.2 and USB2.0 support.
It will support the AT&T mobile TV network and true touch browsing on the web.
The sleek design on this new LG speaks for itself.
- LG U990:
This is LG’s first 3G phone to be released. It has a 5 Megapixel camera, a 3″ 400×240 pixel, 262k-color touchscreen. The camera can record video at 120FPS.It supports audio / video downloading and streaming, plus video calling. It also sports a full web browser, and multiple formats of audio are supported by the media player on the phone. It also has 170MB of onboard memory, but this can be expanded with swappable microSD cards.
Finally the phone has support for Stereo Bluetooth and USB2.0.
- Samsung Anycall Haptic:
The Sensitive user interface (UI) stimulates the sense of sight, hearing and touch. Its like a living thing. The touchscreen volume button has sound and vibration that make it feel like a real button.The UI is adjustable to your personal taste, allowing you to create your own menu on the desktop with widgets.
It has nice drag-and-drop functionality for ease of use. It also has a 3.2″ 16:9 display, a full HTML web browser, a 2 Megapixel camera and Bluetooth 2.0 stnadard.
- Neonode N2:
The Neonode N2 measures 47×77×14.7 mm, and weighs a very lightweight 70g. Its 2″ 176×220px 65k color touchscreen display features its optical/infrared touchscreen technology called ZForce.It has a 2 Megapixel camera, internet radio stream capturing software, a gesture-controlled screen.
It also has MiniSD for added storage and an mp3 player. The Neonode N2 ActiveSync is used to synchronize your calendar and address book which probably means that the N2 is going to be Windows based.
- HTC Pharos P3470:
The Pharos P3470 is running Windows Mobile on a 200Mhz CPU. It has a 2.8″ screen, Quad band GPRS (EDGE only), GPS, 256MB ROM, and 128MB of RAM.The camera on this HTC is 2 Megapixels.
It comes with Bluetooth and a microSD expansion slot. Some things of note: there is no WiFi or 3G surprisingly enough.
No word yet, but hopefully they will reconsider about the lack of WiFi support.
- Sony Ericsson G900:
The dimensions of the G900 are 106.0 x 49.0 x 13.0 mm, and it weighs 99g.It has a 240×320 pixel, 262k color TFT touchscreen. It is running on Symbian OS, and has 160MB of memory.
The memory can be expanded through the Memory Stick Micro™ (M2™) expansion slot.
The give you the option of keypad or touchscreen keyboard. It has a 5 Megapixel camera, Bluetooth, WiFi, a full HTML web browser and video streaming capabilities.
- Sony Ericsson G700:
The G700 is the little brother of the G900, sporting a smaller 3.2 megapixel camera and lacking WiFi support.It features a one-touch organizer that can create little “post-it” notes that can be handwritten using a stylus and saved to the phone.
It also has cool recognition software that recognizes handwriting and converts it into text automatically.
- Motorola Rokr E8:
The Motorola Rokr E8 has modeshift technology which transforms the display of the device to only show the controls for either the the music player or the phone.It features 2GB of internal memory (expandable to 4GB), a 2.0 Megapixel camera and a full HTML browser.It measures 115×53x10.6mm and weighs 100g. It also has class 2 stereo Bluetooth, USB 2.0 and GPRS.