You may think this is too hard, but I am telling you it has never been so easy to create a graduation DVD album music slideshow with hundreds of transition effects ,styles and music.Even a baby can do that with Photo Story Platinum,lol.Follow me with just three simple steps to create a graduation DVD photo album or we can call it DVD music slideshow.
You need to download a slideshow software which can burn DVDs,here I choose Wondershare Photo story platinum,which is easy and powerful to make DVD albums and slideshows.
Step 1. Choose photos and add background music When you run photo story platinum, it will automatically open a new project and lets you start creating a DVD slideshow. Browse and select your favorite photos,double click or simply drag & drop to add them to the “Story Board”. Adjust photos of your graduation DVD album, DVD slideshow with the built-in editing tools and effects. Customize the graduation DVD album by adding, deleting photos, arranging the order of photos. If you are not satisfied with your photo selection for graduation DVD music slideshow,choose the one you want to remove from the slideshow, but do not worry, when you delete a photo the original photo will not be deleted physically from your hard drive. Double click to add background music to your graduation DVD album music slideshow,here I suggest "Auld Lang Syne" for graduation DVD album music slideshow
Step 2. Choose transition effects and styles:
Select your favorite transition effects and styles from more than 200 amazing transition effects and special movie styles. It allows you to add styles and effects to several photos or just to single photo in the graduation DVD album .So with different transition effect and style you can make totally different graduation DVD slideshow with the same photos.The Preview window gives you ideas of how your graduation DVD slideshow will show on TV with DVD player.With 200+ build-in animated movie styles, you can make your graduation DVD album music slideshow to impress everyone.
Step 3. Burn to DVD :
Click the "Create" tab and Preview the video ,choose “Create DVD”, Select the story you want to create to DVD ,author the DVD Menu and choose the menu template, then burn the graduation DVD album on your DVD disc and display it on TV .
Extra Tips:
You can also choose other video format like "AVI”, “WMV" or "MPEG-2" which are supported on YouTube ,MySpace, Google Video and other websites, and share it on the web.
(CNN) -- New documents released by a congressional subcommittee indicate that Coast Guard officials allowed BP to use excessive amounts of chemical dispersants in the Gulf of Mexico.
BP used the chemicals to break up oil after the April 20 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion sent millions of gallons of crude gushing into the Gulf.
Despite a federal directive restricting their use, the Coast Guard routinely granted exemptions, said Rep. Edward J. Markey, chairman of the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee.
"BP carpet bombed the ocean with these chemicals, and the Coast Guard allowed them to do it," Markey said in a statement Saturday. "After we discovered how toxic these chemicals really are, they had no business being spread across the Gulf in this manner."The exemptions granted "were in no way rare," Markey said in a letter to retired Adm. Thad Allen, the former commandant of the Coast Guard who is now overseeing the federal response to the oil spill.
The Coast Guard approved more than 74 exemptions in 48 days, Markey said. In one instance, Coast Guard officials allowed the oil giant to use a larger volume of dispersants than it had applied for, he said.
Dispersants are "a toxic stew of chemicals, oil and gas, with impacts that are not well understood," Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, said in the letter to Allen.
In May, the Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Coast Guard, ordered the oil giant to stop surface application of the chemicals during the oil spill except in rare occasions, according to a House subcommittee on energy and environment.
In rare cases, exemptions had to be requested, documents show.
Markey said the findings are based on an analysis by the Energy and Environment Subcommittee.
Calls to a BP press office and the Joint Information Center were not immediately returned.
The EPA said in May that it believes the oil giant's total use of dispersants can be reduced by as much as 80 percent. While the dispersants were breaking up much of the oil being spilled into the Gulf, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson said, "we are making environmental tradeoffs" and are "deeply concerned" about potential side effects.
Markey said the subcommittee also found contradictions on how much chemical dispersant was being used. On other occasions, BP used more than the amount approved by the Coast Guard, Markey said in his letter.
The report brings into question the total amount of dispersants used in the Gulf. BP says it has used 1.8 million gallons to break up oil flowing from the Deepwater Horizon's ruptured well.
There are different ways to achieve natural breast enlargement. Now, women are embracing natural breast or improvement of surgical methods to perform a beautiful breast shape and size. No matter whatever program you choose, there are some important steps to follow to get results quickly and safely.
There are millions of women worldwide who are not satisfied with the size of their breasts and so are always looking for ways to enhance the size of their breasts. Some women even opt for surgery if increased, but the problem is that there are a lot of complications involved, as well as men can do easily if the difference between natural and artificially enhanced. In this article we will learn some natural ways that women can look up to increase the size of their breasts and feel more confident in his whole person.
Natural breast enhancement is largely a function of reproducing the conditions natural hormone that a woman needs breast during puberty and their breasts after giving all proper nutrition they need to grow.
Natural Medicine
These days' natural pills to enlarge your breasts have become quite popular among women, mainly due to its high rate of efficiency and absence of side effects. These pills are made of herbs that have rich content of estrogen (estrogen is the hormone primarily responsible for the development of breasts) are therefore very effective to improve breast size.
Changes in diet
Women who take herbal pills to improve breast also abstain or refuse to eat processed foods, avoid alcohol, tobacco and vegetables are greener in their daily diet. Try to also make an effort to eat carrots or any chicken soup regularly, both of them are a great food for women with small breasts.
Exercise
There are exercises such as push-ups against the wall and dumb bell flies that greatly improve the shape of the breasts and made her look more pleasant.
Giving massage
Massage can provide relaxation, inner peace and a feeling of wellbeing and serenity. Improving breast massage has become very popular today with its tone and setting the result of the bust line. It is a safe and healthy easily improve the shape, size and general appearance of the breasts.
Regular massage with herbal creams or oils will help to increase blood flow to the breast area, as well as assist in the creation of new tissue. Massage is most effective when a well is taking pills to herbal treatment which is a two way, both from outside and inside.
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/not-satisfied-with-smaller-breast-size-natural-way-to-enlarge-your-breast-2932052.html"
(ArticlesBase SC #2932052)
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-health-articles/not-satisfied-with-smaller-breast-size-natural-way-to-enlarge-your-breast-2932052.html#ixzz0vAyF4QN0
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
These dreams often coincide with an invitation to a company picnic, baseball game or even a pool party with colleagues. While declining the invitation is an option, it might not be the most prudent choice. Short of praying for rain so it will be canceled, you are now left with the dilemma of what constitutes appropriate attire for such an event.
How do you choose a look that says relaxed and fun and yet still elicits a sense of proper business etiquette? You don't want to dress down to the point of looking inappropriate and yet you also do not want to look like the office fuddy-duddy. This is a concern that plagues many women prompting some to call in sick rather than risk looking foolish or feeling uncomfortable.
The stakes are higher for women than for men in these situations, especially in male-dominated professions. As John T. Malloy, author of "The New Women's Dress for Success Book" says, "When men dress casually they lose some of their authority. When women do the same, they lose most of theirs."
While employees hail business casual as a desirable benefit, many women are either stymied by the lack of direction or overwhelmed by the options available. Throw in a pool, barbeque pit, or baseball diamond and the challenge feels even greater. Do you wear shorts, pants, or a skirt? How about sneakers, sandals or flip-flops?
With summer in full swing it's only a matter of time before the invitation arrives, so let's address a few important considerations:
* When in doubt, ask. It's that simple. If you are not sure what the expectations are or what others (especially those more senior than you) are wearing, simply ask. You will often get more direction than you had or at least discover what someone else is wearing and perhaps even have a partner to talk to.
* Plan ahead. Shopping at the last minute in desperation is rarely productive, efficient, or satisfying and will only add more angst to the situation. If you don't have what you need to feel comfortable, do a little research, take a trusted friend with you, or ask a personal shopper for help.
* Compromise. Cropped pants (although please forgo the cropped cargo pants in favor of something a little more upscale) can solve the dilemma of shorts, pants or a skirt. Three-quarter length sleeves (unless it's 100 degrees) can look comfortable and casual without concern about exposing your arms (some women worry about this). Avoid T-shirts with advertisements on them, but do add color and fun embellishments.
As much as you might love your flip flops, I recommend highly against wearing them unless you are at the beach (and even then sandals can always do the job better). They are ultra-casual and noisy (they aren't called flip flops for nothing!)
* Keep Monday morning in mind. Refrain from wearing anything too provocative, messy, or cutesy. Leave your belly shirts, tube tops (in fact, abstain from anything that requires you to go braless), daisy dukes, and anything too sheer in the closet. Remember that you have to see these people at work the next day.
* Keep it upscale.No, the outfit does not have to be expensive, by any stretch of the imagination, but it should not look like you are going to pick blueberries or clean your garage. (If you have lost perspective on the viability of your casual wardrobe (it's hard to be objective about ourselves sometimes), ask for feedback from a trusted friend or professional. Better safe than uncomfortable.)
Remember, the idea of these company events is not to torture you but to have fun. Depending on the type of event, be sure to bring your sunscreen, bathing suit cover up, hat, nice sneakers (maybe there's a company baseball game?) or a cool pair of sunglasses, and enjoy!
So, what's your favorite work/summer outing outfit? Please do share and inspire others, or, of course, ask questions!
Retrieved from "http://www.articlesbase.com/beauty-articles/fun-in-the-sun-at-work-2928120.html"
(ArticlesBase SC #2928120)
Read more: http://www.articlesbase.com/beauty-articles/fun-in-the-sun-at-work-2928120.html#ixzz0vAsNB7Q7
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution
July 8, 2010 -- Updated 1150 GMT (1950 HKT)
Spain's hero was Barcelona defender Carles Puyol as his 73rd minute header secured his country's first ever World Cup final.
Puyol rose highest to power Xavi's corner into the net and hand Spain a deserved victory.
Vicente del Bosque's team dominated possession against their opponents and should have won by a more convincing score line but they couldn't convert their chances.
Blog: Durban atmosphere fell flat
Germany only created a handful of opportunities as they attempted to avenge their defeat to Spain in the European Championships final of 2008 but they failed to regularly test Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
Spain will now face Netherlands at Soccer City in Johannesburg on Sunday after they beat Uruguay 3-2 in the other semifinal on Tuesday night.
SI.com: Three quick thoughts
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was dropped in favor of Pedro Rodriguez as Spain made one change from their quarterfinal team. Germany drafted in Piotr Trochowski in place of the suspended Thomas Muller.
It was Barcelona striker David Villa who had the first chance of the game but his effort was smothered by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Puyol was the next to go close for Spain after he headed Andres Iniesta's powerful cross over the bar.
Lukas Podolski registered Germany's first effort on goal just after the half hour mark as Spain keeper Iker Casillas turned his shot round the post.
Just before the break Mesut Özil went down under a challenge from Sergio Ramos but the referee waved away his appeal for a penalty.
Spain stepped it up a gear after halftime and Xabi Alonso came close with a fierce shot from the edge of the area that flashed past the post.
Pedro was next to shoot but Neuer blocked his effort before Iniesta rolled a pass across the goal line with Villa agonizingly close to tapping home.
Substitute Toni Kroos nearly scored with his first touch for Germany as he was found by a Podolski cross but Casillas parried his volley.
But just four minutes later Spain were in front. Xavi's corner was met by Puyol, and his header sped past Neuer.
In Madrid, relief and rejoicing intertwine
As Germany tried to force an equalizer Spain should have made the game safe but Pedro failed to tee up Torres when the striker had a clear run on goal.
July 3, 2010
Posted: 018 GMT CNN
Ghana's World Cup dream is over but a large number of white South Africans turned out to support the west Africans.
Ever since Pele boldly predicted that an African side would win the World Cup before the end of the 20th century, the race was underway for a side from the continent to deliver.
African sides clearly missed the deadline the Brazilian legend set, but with the World Cup being held on the African continent for the first time in 2010 there was renewed hope the dream could be realized.
Not only had a record six teams from the continent qualified - after hosts South Africa had their place safeguarded - African talent had arguably never been richer or to be found in more depth.
But with Asamoah Gyan's extra-time penalty miss in Ghana's quarterfinal game against Uruguay, the chance to seal an historic berth in the final four for an African side went begging; a continent's hopes were dashed.
The Black Star striker showed immense courage to regather his game to score Ghana's first penalty - in what would ultimately prove a doomed - shoot out to decide the tie.
And Ghana too had performed above expectations to progress from their group and get so close to the semifinals despite being deprived of star player Michael Essien along with both captain Stephen Appiah and midfielder Sulley Muntari struggling with fitness.
Of the other African teams questions must be asked. Bafana Bafana united an often fractious nation with good performances in two of their three group games, but ultimately, one of the highest paid coaches on the planet (Carlos Alberto Parreira) became the first to steer a host side out of the World Cup before the knockout stages.
Cameroon finished bottom of their group, with no points from three games and were the first team dumped out of the cup. Samuel Eto'o - who was the official face of the 2010 tournament, and a recent winner of a treble of trophies with club side Inter Milan - surely hoped for more.
Algeria had performed remarkably to even get to the finals, as winners of an epic qualification struggle with arch-rivals Egypt.
The north Africans gave good accounts of themselves in clashes against England, USA and Slovenia. Unfortunately, for the Desert Foxes the gulf in talent was too much to be bridged, but they had opponents who were far superior on paper worried for a while.
Ivory Coast, in typical fashion for the Elephants of late, failed to produce on the big stage. Talisman Didier Drogba was hampered with injury and the west Africans were drawn in a difficult group, but they were unable to upset the odds in any of their matches despite the wealth of experience coach Sven Goran Eriksson brought to the side.
Last but not least are Nigeria. Poor performances and a hat-full of missed chances saw Aiyegbeni Yakubu et al stumble out of a tournament they had only qualified for by the skin of their teeth.
To add salt to the wounds of the once proud Super Eagles, Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan then promptly disbanded the national team for two years in response to their poor showing.
A crazy move that does not make good headlines of African football and will surely incur the wrath of FIFA - who deplore government interference in the beautiful game - as well as the millions of soccer mad fans at home.
All-in-all, Ghana aside, there is still work to been done by African nations to turn the undoubted talent available to the various national sides into tangible progress on the world stage.
However, one success that should be remembered from the 2010 event is how people of all races joined in support of a soccer team.
It sounds so simple, but to see white South Africans waving Ghana flags and cheering on a team from west Africa in a location that only 15 years ago lived under strict apartheid shows that any dream has the potential to come true.
Posted by: Ben Wyatt, Digital Sport Producer
Filed under: Football
June 29, 2010 -- Updated 2043 GMT (0443 HKT)
Oscar Cardozo celebrates his winning penalty with Paraguay goalkeeper Justo Villar
(CNN) -- Paraguay booked a place in the last eight of the World Cup for the very first time in their history at the expense of Japan but only after a dramatic penalty shoot out in Pretoria.
Japan's Yuichi Komano missed the crucial spot kick and Paraguay striker Oscar Cardozo was the man to seal the game with the winning penalty, as his side triumphed 5-3.
Neither side created many chances during 120 minutes of disappointing football, though Japan's Daisuke Matsui hit the crossbar and Paraguay forced goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima into a couple of smart saves.
In the end, Paraguay held its nerve from 12 yards to make it to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winners of Tuesday's other last 16 clash between Spain and Portugal.
After a quiet opening 20 minutes at Loftus Versfeld Stadium Paraguay fashioned the first opening when Lucas Barrios got into the area and forced Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima into a good low save.
Seconds later, Daisuke Matsui struck the bar from 25 yards with a looping shot.
Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz was the next to go close as he latched onto a loose ball in the area but he dragged his shot wide.
Five minutes before halftime Japan created a chance for Keisuke Honda after Matsui squared the ball to him on the edge of the box. He elected to shoot, and sliced his shot wide, when Yoshito Okubo was unmarked to his left.
Chances were few and far between for the rest of half as Japan sat deep and made themselves difficult to break down.
After the break Nestor Ortigoza worked his way into the penalty area but failed to get a shot off before Cristian Riveros flashed a header right at Kawashima.
Japan defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka went close with a header from a corner but both sides struggled to open each other up.
As the end of 90 minutes loomed both sides retreated, more than happy to sit back rather than launch men forward, and the game duly went into extra time.
Paraguay pressed forward after the restart and substitute Edgar Barreto tested Kawashima with a header, before the 'keeper had to dive at Nelson Valdez's feet to prevent him scoring.
Honda then forced Paraguay 'keeper Justo Villar into a save with a free-kick.
In the second half of extra time Japan came close to a winner when Yuto Nagatomo's cross was met by Honda but Villar saved, but the game went to penalties.
June 28, 2010 -- Updated 2125 GMT (0525 HKT)
Kaka (center) celebrates with team-mates after Luis Fabiano scores Brazil's second goal.
(CNN) -- Brazil turned on the style to defeat their South American rivals Chile 3-0 on Monday and set up a World Cup quarterfinal against the Netherlands.
The five-time world champions, who showed little of their usual dazzling play during the group phase, sent an ominous warning to their rivals as they comprehensively outplayed Chile in Johannesburg, with Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho all on target.
"We have to improve in all sectors of our play, but it was a nice game against Chile," Brazil coach Dunga told AFP.
"We have already said we are trying to play the open football which everyone wants to see. The players did well and we got forward a lot.
Dutch outclass Slovakia to reach quarters
Brazil, who welcomed playmaker Kaka back from a one-match ban, took the lead after 34 minutes from a straightforward corner routine.
Right-back Maicon crossed for central defender Juan, who rose above the Chilean defense to power his header into the net.
Brazil's second goal, four minutes later, was more characteristically Brazilian in its style and execution.
Robinho carried the ball down the left flank before squaring to Kaka, who cushioned a pass into the path of Luis Fabiano, who rounded the goalkeeper and scored.
The third goal, after 60 minutes, stemmed from a swift counter-attack, with Ramires charging down the center with the ball and passing to Robinho, who curled his finish around the goalkeeper.
Chile, who reached the semifinals on home soil in 1962, struggled to break down a well-drilled Brazilian back line and were restricted to half chances for Humberto Suazo and Jorge Valdivia.
Robinho came close to adding a fourth when he was released down the right, but his low shot was tipped around the post by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
The victory was Brazil's eighth in a row over Chile, who became the first South American side to go out of the tournament.
Brazil will play the Netherlands in the quarterfinals in Port Elizabeth on Friday, July 2.
"We know the Netherlands are a very difficult team to beat and they are very able technically, they play their football like South Americans," said Dunga.
Meanwhile, the president of the French Football Federation Jean-Pierre Escalettes said he will resign following the country's disastrous World Cup showing.
France, the 1998 winners and 2006 runners-up, were eliminated in the group stage after collecting just just one point and scoring one goal in a campaign marred by infighting.
(CNN) -- A rampant Germany thrashed arch rivals England 4-1 in Bloemfontein
youtoub.com : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlSd34hRuww
Scheguc news the latest breaking news and information on the latest top stories, weather, business, entertainment, politics, and more
news, sport, TV, radio and a whole lot more. The Scheguc news informs, educates and entertains
by www.deadline.com
movie twilight
Stephenie Meyer announced that she has written the Twilight tie-in novella The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novel. Little,Brown will release the book June 5, pledging $1 from each copy to be donated to the Red Cross for disaster relief in Haiti and Chile. But fans will want to know if this means another Meyer movie, and it doesn't seem likely at this point. In her disclosure about the 192-page novella—about the young vampire Bree who's introduced in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse—Meyer reveals that the prose helped Eclipse director David Slade and his castmembers as a research tool but it isn't clear whether it will stand on its own as a film. Because Summit Entertainment financed the Twilight films—the last book, Breaking Dawn, will be split into two installments—the indie company would likely own the character rights and there will undoubtedly be some begging by a distributor eager to keep the franchise alive.
Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- America's top military officer was in Afghanistan on Saturday in a scheduled visit that took on new significance after Gen. Stanley McChrystal was removed from his position this week as commander of the Afghan war.
U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen has said that he plans to discuss the shift in leadership with Afghan military and civilian officials.
"My message will be clear: nothing changes about our strategy, nothing changes about the mission and nothing changes about the resources we are dedicating or the commitment we are making to defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies in the region," Mullen said in a Pentagon press briefing Thursday.
"We cannot lose the momentum we have together with our partners, allies and friends."
Mullen's visit comes after President Barack Obama relieved McChrystal of command Wednesday, a day after Rolling Stone published critical comments about top White House officials by members of McChrystal's staff. On Thursday, Obama tapped Gen. David Petraeus for the post.
An explosion near the Foreign Ministry in Kabul during Mullen's visit Saturday caused a scare, but police said the blast was an accident and not an attack.
Mullen was scheduled to travel to Pakistan after his Afghanistan visit, where he planned to meet with civilian and miltiary leaders.
On Thursday, he said that he was "stunned" and nearly "physically sick" when he read the Rolling Stone story, and that he agreed with Obama's decision to remove McChrystal.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, a Taliban commander disguised as a woman was shot dead Friday night in Afghanistan when he fired at troops, NATO's International Security Assistance Force said.
Authorities identified the man as Ghulam Sakhi, the senior Taliban commander in northern Logar province.
ISAF said intelligence sources tracked Sakhi to a compound near the village of Qal-eh Saber in Pul-e 'Alam district.
After Afghan troops called for women and children to leave a building, Sakhi came out with the group, disguised in women's attire.
ISAF said he pulled out a pistol and a grenade and fired at troops. Afghan and coalition forces shot him and he dropped the grenade, which detonated and wounded a woman and two children.
Authorities say Sakhi was involved in improvised explosive device attacks, ambushes and indirect fire attacks. He also kidnapped and killed a National Directorate of Security chief in Logar province.
June 24, 2010 -- Updated 1915 GMT (0315 HKT)
(CNN) -- Italy's World Cup title defense came to an embarrassing end with a dramatic 3-2 defeat by European footballing minnows Slovakia on Thursday.
The four-time champions followed 2006 runners-up France in making a first-round exit despite a frantic finale in which they had a goal disallowed.
It is the first time that both finalists from the previous tournament have departed at such an early stage of soccer's biggest event, and only the fourth occasion that the titleholders crashed out at the opening hurdle.
France were the last champions to exit in the first round in 2002, following Brazil in 1966 and Italy in 1950 -- having won the 1938 event before World War Two broke out.
Troubled French team keeps low profile on return home
Slovakia progressed into the last 16 along with Paraguay, who topped Group F following a 0-0 draw with New Zealand.
The Kiwis were knocked out of the tournament despite finishing unbeaten with three draws -- a sharp contrast to their only other finals appearance in 1982 which ended with three defeats.
Slovakia 3-2 Italy
Striker Robert Vittek scored two goals to help put World Cup debutants Slovakia into the second round with a famous victory in Johannesburg.
The striker put his side ahead in the 25th minute with a smart finish after Italy's Daniel De Rossi gave the ball away to Marek Hamsik, who plays for Serie A club Napoli.
He made it 2-0 with 17 minutes to play after again being set up by Hamsik, but Italy kept their hopes alive when Antonio Di Natale bundled in an 81st-minute goal after a shot by substitute Fabio Quagliarella was only parried.
Quagliarella thought he had equalized with five minutes to play, but his effort was ruled offside in a tight decision.
Zdenko Strba had suffered a gaping wound in his knee just before halftime after a challenge by Gennaro Gattuso, but soldiered on until just before the end for the Slovaks.
His 86th-replacement Kamil Kopunek scored with his first touch of the ball when he coolly lifted the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, who was again deputizing for injured first-choice Gianluigi Buffon.
Quagliarella, who had a shot cleared off the line by Martin Skrtel in the 66th minute, finally got his reward in time added on with a sublime chip over goalkeeper Jan Mucha.
But it was too late for Italy, whose coach Marcello Lippi suffered an ignominious defeat after the highs of 2006 when he led his side to victory in a penalty shootout in the final against France.
"I take full responsibility. There are no excuses because when a team comes to something as important as tonight's game with terror in their legs, their heads and their hearts, and they don't manage to express themselves, it means that the coach hasn't prepared them in the right way from a psychological, technical and physical perspective," Lippi said, reported AFP.
Paraguay 0-0 New Zealand
Paraguay made up for a first-round exit four years ago with a comfortable draw against New Zealand in Polokwane.
The South Americans knew a point would be enough to progress following an opening 1-1 draw with Italy and a 2-0 victory over Slovakia.
The Kiwis needed to secure their first ever victory at the World Cup, but struggled to create clear-cut chances in a match of few opportunities.
Paraguay coach revamped Gerardo Martino his forward line-up with Lucas Barrios replaced by Oscar Cardozo, but his players found New Zealand's stubborn three-man defense as difficult to break down as the Italians and Slovaks had previously.
There will be plenty of media-driven Michael Jackson tributes like this one last year at the MTV Video Music Awards.
CNN's Don Lemon speaks exclusively with friends and family members about Michael Jackson's last days in "Michael Jackson: His Final Days," 8 p.m. ET Friday on CNN.
(CNN) -- Don't look for an album filled with artists covering his tunes, or a prime-time star-studded tribute blowout to mark the anniversary of Michael Jackson's death.
Because it's not happening.
Instead, there will be smaller tributes around the country, quite a few media-driven events and what is sure to be lots of fans remembering the King of Pop by playing his music and watching his videos.
Indeed, as over-the-top as his life and career often were, the marking of his passing on June 25 appears to be almost low-key.
Christina Aguilera will reportedly join Marc Anthony and a few other celebrities in paying tribute to Jackson on CBS' "The Early Show"; the music network FUSE will premiere two documentaries: "Michael Jackson: The Inside Story" and "Michael Jackson: A Tribute"; CNN will feature "Michael Jackson: His Final Days"; and BET announced that it will include a tribute in its 10th annual BET Awards show on Sunday.
On Saturday, the Jackson Family Foundation and VoicePlate.com will present "Forever Michael" at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, with a portion of the proceeds going to some of the singer's favorite charities.
In Jackson's hometown of Gary, Indiana, government officials are anticipating that thousands of fans will descend on the city for a full day of events, including the unveiling of a Jackson monument and a candlelight prayer vigil at dusk.
"We do expect that there will be quite an influx of people in our city on June 25," said LaLosa D. Burns, press secretary for the mayor. "Katherine Jackson will be joining us for the unveiling," Burns said of the Jackson family matriarch, "and we want to allow for the citizens and fans to be able to come together and remember him."
Gail Mitchell, senior editor covering R&B and hip-hop at Billboard magazine, said because Jackson has continued to be in the news since his death -- with media coverage of everything from the death inquiry to the state of his children's lives -- it may be too soon for a huge, cohesive, collective observance of the anniversary.
"There hasn't been any breathing room since he died, with so much happening and since so much is still up in the air," said Mitchell, whose publication has produced an issue dedicated to the pop icon. "There hasn't been a month that's gone by since his death that there hasn't been something. I just don't think there has been enough time for people to step away, because it's just been an ongoing thing."
Mitchell said that fans will even have to be restrained in their mourning at Jackson's final resting place. Forest Lawn Cemetery is allowing fans to gather, but they reportedly won't be able to get very close to his grave site, perform, or release balloons or doves.
That won't stop fans from having their own, personal remembrances.
"My family and I are planning on jamming out to his music all day long and watching 'This Is It,' " said Melissa Fazli of Yorba Linda, California. "My three sons, Arman, 11, Rizvan, 7, and Shayan, 4, are huge fans and love his music. Michael Jackson lives on through our house!"
iReporter Jason Asselin said he plans to listen to the music and watch the videos of a performer he has enjoyed for years. "We will never forget his music or what he brought to the world of entertainment," Asselin said.
DJ Jon Quick is hosting a "Who's Bad" tribute event in New York City and said fans have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to come together and celebrate Jackson because the star meant so much to them.
"His music is like the timeline of my life, so I understand how people feel," Quick said. "Losing him was like losing a family member."
Michael Firestone is a Michael Jackson impersonator who will be performing this weekend as part of a tribute program at the Lehman Center for the Performing Arts in the Bronx, New York. He said he will take a moment to remember the man who gave him his career.
"I'm probably going to light a candle at some point, maybe around noon Los Angeles time, since that is around when he died," Firestone said.
Sydney, Australia -- Australia's new prime minister, Julia Gillard, said Thursday that she had respect for the leadership of her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, but moved to replace him because "I came to the view that the government was losing its way."
The 48-year-old lawyer made her remarks after the Labor Party caucus declared vacant the positions of leader and deputy leader and then chose Gillard to take the helm, ending Rudd's two and a half years as prime minister.
The party also chose Wayne Swan, who served as treasurer of Rudd's government, to serve as deputy.
Gillard offered praise for Rudd, but said she had chosen to oppose him "to make sure this government got back on track."
Rudd's fall: It's not always the economy, stupid
Gillard said she would call for a general election "in coming months," but did not specify when.
Gillard said she was aware that the move makes her the nation's first woman in that position, "and maybe the first redhead," but added, "I didn't set out to crash my head on any glass ceilings; I set out to keep my feet on the floor."
Gillard said she would work to harness wind and solar energy and to pursue putting a price on carbon emissions, but said she would not address the latter goal -- which her predecessor had been unable to achieve -- until after a general election. "First, we will need to establish a common consensus for action," she said.
Gillard said she would also pursue increasing taxes on mining companies, another issue that had stirred controversy and fierce opposition from the industry. "Australians are entitled to a fairer share of our inheritance of the mineral wealth that lies in our grounds," she said.
But the recent uncertainty over mining taxes must end, she said, and invited the powerful mining industry to negotiate. "I am opening the government's door to the mining industry, and I ask that, in return, the mining industry throws open its mind."
Gillard said she would immediately end government advertisements on the matter and called on the industry "as a show of good faith and mutual respect" to end its.
Gillard worked her way through the ranks of the union movement, which is at the heart of the Australian Labor Party. She was largely seen as an effective and loyal deputy.
"Julia's unique, hard-working, passionate, driven by noble ideals and wants to do good things for the country," John Gillard told 7 Network Australia about his daughter.
Born in Wales, she moved with her parents to Australia when she was a child. After studying law, she was elected to the House of Representatives for Lalor, Victoria in 1998, 2001, 2004 and 2007 prior to joining Rudd as deputy prime minister.
The fast-paced changes appeared to have shocked Rudd. "I've given it my absolute all," he told reporters, his family by his side. "I'm proud of the achievements that we've delivered."
Speaking haltingly, occasionally stopping to regain his composure, he said he was proud of his accomplishments on the economy, altering the health care system, improving education, cutting homelessness, boosting organ donations and increasing pensioners' incomes.
He noted that his efforts on carbon emissions failed, and called on Gillard "to pass a carbon-pollution reduction scheme within this Parliament -- the one that follows, I mean -- so that we can make a real difference to climate change."
Rudd added, "What I'm less proud of is the fact that I've now blubbered."
Rudd said that he would work to ensure the re-election of the Labor government. "They're a good team led by a good prime minister," he said, then hastened to add, "I meant Julia, not me. Because I'm still the prime minister, I think, for another quarter of an hour."
The Mandarin-speaking career diplomat won his party's leadership in 2006 and won a landslide victory over the government of conservative John Howard in 2007.
He won plaudits for managing Australia through the worldwide economic turmoil of recent years, making it the only member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development to steer clear of recession during the downturn.
This year he backed an emissions trading scheme that he trumpeted as a major moral issue.
But when Parliament failed to support his plan, he backed off and his popularity began to erode. He then tried to implement a tax on miner profits, but met resistance from the industry and from Australians who said he was attacking the industry that underpins the nation's economy.
By Ben Wyatt and Alex Thomas, CNN
June 24, 2010 -- Updated 1008 GMT (1808 HKT)
Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN) -- American striker Landon Donovan told CNN the U.S. can "beat anyone" after his injury-time goal helped the side qualify from the group stages of the 2010 World Cup on Wednesday.
Donovan, who plays for Major League Soccer side the Los Angeles Galaxy, struck with only seconds left of the game to seal a 1-0 win over Algeria and put the U.S. top of Group C above fellow last-16 qualifiers England.
The Americans will now face Ghana, who finished second in Group D, on Saturday in Rustenburg in a last-16 knockout game.
"We believe we can beat any team in this tournament. Given our experiences from last year [at the Confederations Cup] we think we can do really big things, we're going to go for it," the 28-year-old told CNN.
"We had some good moments but I didn't have a lot of opportunities, so when I did get a chance I wanted to make the most of it."
Prior to the tournament, football's world governing body FIFA reported that Americans had bought more tickets than any other nation.
And Donovan paid tribute to the U.S. fans who had traveled to South Africa to support the team.
"[They were] unbelievable, before the game, during the game -- so many people are here, if they've booked their tickets home they better extend their stay!" he said.
Donovan was also glad that, despite another goal being ruled out by the referee, all three points were taken from the game.
"There were a lot of nerves and frustration because we felt we had done enough to get at least one goal, we had a goal that was disallowed -- [so there was] a lot of relief at the end. They had some good chances, they hit the crossbar, but we hopefully we'll score some more goals in our next game."
Coach Bob Bradley said the result was a "magic moment" for his side.
"We're very proud, we've had three tough games but we responded well and finished top of the group," he told CNN.
"It was a special moment when we pulled into the stadium tonight because the street was lined with U.S. supporters, waving the flag and chanting USA, I know it meant a lot to the players to feel that before the game so I'm glad we could deliver for the fans at the end."
Defender Oguchi Onyewu said that he was overjoyed with his team's performance even though he had been dropped for the game.
"It was a great game. That's why football can attract so many supporters and provide so much emotion," he said.
"Even though I didn't play, I felt like I was on the field with all of my teammates. I'm just so thrilled that we got through the group stages without a defeat.
"It just shows our mentality and team spirit. We're one unit."
By : Scheguc New
Thierry Henry, once France's main striker, was reduced to a minor role at the World Cup in South Africa
The meeting, scheduled for 10:30 a.m. (4:30 a.m. ET), is at Henry's request, Sarkozy's office said.
France was eliminated from the World Cup on Tuesday after a 2-1 loss to tournament host South Africa.
It followed an apparent collapse in relations between coach Raymond Domenech and his players that saw captain Patrice Evra left out of the match and the team refusing to practice on Sunday.
Henry, once France's main striker and a World Cup winner in 1998, was reduced to a minor role in this year's tournament as he started all three matches on the substitutes' bench.
Pedro Pinto: Heads should roll for French farce
France, traditionally among the strongest national sides in world football and the losing finalist in Germany four years ago, become one of the first to be eliminated this time around.
Striker Nicolas Anelka was sent home after confronting Domenech at halftime during France's 2-0 defeat by Mexico last week.
Evra was then involved in a public training ground dispute with the squad's fitness coach on Sunday and is reported to have led dissent over Anelka's expulsion from the squad, with the entire squad boycotting the training session.
Adding to the confusion, French team director Jean-Louis Valentin then publicly announced his resignation to the media, while French sports minister Roselyne Bachelot has been in France attempting to mediate between Domenech and his players.
France's World Cup nightmare ends in defeat
But on Monday night Bachelot told journalists the French players had "tarnished the image of France," according to French sports newspaper L'Equipe.
In an indication of the extent to which relations had broken down between Domenech and his squad, the coach on Monday described this players' decision to strike as "unspeakably stupid," and called their actions "an aberration and an imbecility."
"Nobody can behave in such a way in the dressing room or elsewhere and high-level sportsmen and women have to lead by example through football," Domenech told reporters.
"We tried to convince the players that what was happening was irregular, that their actions were unspeakably stupid. I told myself this masquerade had to be stopped. No way would I back this action."
France's problems at the World Cup had exacerbated long-standing dissatisfaction with the controversial Domenech, who is due to step down as national coach after the tournament to make way for former World Cup-winning defender Laurent Blanc.
The French only qualified for South Africa by virtue of a tight playoff win over Ireland, sealed with the help of Henry's controversial handballed assist for William Gallas' goal.
เขียนมั่วไปส่งเถอะครับ ไม่ได้อ่านหรอก บ่นเหมือนกันทุกรุ่น
อยากได้คำตอยจริงๆลองถามอาจารย์ดู
big-O คืออะไรในความหมายของปรัชญา
มาดูกันครับ
หลังจากไม่ได้ Up blog มานาน(ด้วยความขี้เกียจเป็นเหตุนั่นเอง 555)
วันนี้ขอมาแนะนำเรื่องของ Big O และการคำนวณเวลาการรันโปรแกรมด้วยฟังก์ชัน
Big O (อ่าน ว่า บิ๊กโอ)ชัว ไม่ผิดแน่ละ..
แต่อย่าเข้าใจผิดว่า Big O เป็นญาติหรือเครือเดียวกับ Big C ละ เดียวจะสอบตกโดยไม่รู้ตัว
- เครื่องหมาย บิ๊ก-โอ ใช้ในการระบุทรัพยากรที่ใช้ในการทำงานของอัลกอริทึมเมื่อขนาดของอินพุทเปลี่ยนไป
- ปกติแล้วทรัพยากรดังกล่าวจะหมายถึงเวลา นั่นคือ ความสัมพันธ์ระหว่าง เวลา กับ ขนาดของ อินพุท
- อาจกล่าวง่าย ๆ ว่า หากอินพุทมีขนาดใดขนาดหนึ่ง เวลาที่ใช้ในการทำงานมากที่สุด (upper bound) จะเป็นเท่าใด บิ๊ก-โอ เป็นฟังก์ชั่นที่นิยมใช้มากที่สุดในการระบุประสิทธิภาพของอัลกอริทึม
Big-O Notation
ตัวอย่าง
- ความหมายของ O(n) คือ ฟังก์ชั่นนั้น ๆ ใช้เวลาทำงานช้าที่สุด ≤ n
- เช่น อัลกอริทึม a1 มีประสิทธิภาพเป็น O(n2) ถ้า n = 10 แล้ว a1 จะใช้เวลาทำงานช้าที่สุด 100 หน่วยเวลา (รับประกันว่าไม่ช้าไปกว่านี้ - แต่อาจจะเร็วกว่านี้ได้)
- เขียนได้ว่า f(n) є O(g(n)) เพื่อบอกว่า f(n) เป็นฟังก์ชันที่ไม่โตเร็วกว่า g(n)
- เราสามารถหาค่าคงตัวบวก C ที่ f(n) ≤ Cg(n)
หากบางท่านเคยได้ไปอ่านเว็บ Reference ต่างๆเกี่ยวกับ ภาษาซี แล้วเห็นเค้าเขียนว่า O(n) หรือ O(n^2) หรือ O(n log n) เคยสงสัยมั้ยว่ามันคืออะไร...
สำหรับนักเขียนโปรแกรมทั้งหลาย โดยเฉพาะในการแข่งขัน (โอลิมปิกหรือ Online Contest ต่างๆ) สิ่งที่สำคัญมากคือเราจำเป็นต้องรู้เวลาในการรัน
โปรแกรมของเรา เพราะการแข่งขันโดยมากจะมีการระบุว่า โปรแกรมของคุณจะต้องรันเสร็จในเวลากี่วินาทีต่อ 1 ชุดข้อมูลทดสอบ แล้วถามว่า เราจะรู้
ได้ยังไงนะ ว่าโปรแกรมของเราจะใช้เวลารันมากกกกแค่ไหน
สิ่ง ที่จะช่วยได้ก็คือการคำนวณฟังก์ชัน Big O นั่นเองครับ บิ๊กโอไม่ได้เป็นฟังก์ชันที่ไว้ให้เรียกใช้ในการเขียนโปรแกรมนะครับ แต่เป็นฟังก์ชันสมมติ
ทางคณิตศาสตร์อย่างหนึ่งที่เราเอาไว้ใช้คำนวณเวลาของ อัลกอริทึม
ในการคำนวณเวลาการรัน เราจะให้ความสำคัญกับ "ลูป" ครับ เพราะโดยมากแล้วจะเป็นส่วนที่กินเวลาการทำงานมากที่สุด(อันนี้หมายถึงการ เขียน
โปรแกรมในการแข่งขันแก้โจทย์นะครับ ส่วนอื่นๆผมไม่ทราบ) โปรแกรมจะรันทันหรือไม่ทันก็ดูที่การทำซ้ำหรือลูปนี่ละครับ
การคำนวณ ฟังก์ชัน Big O จึงจะใช้การดูจาก "จำนวนรอบ" ครับ การเขียนฟังก์ชันบิ๊กโอจะเขียนกันในรูป
...
อ่าว งงๆ เชิญงงกันให้หนำใจครับ งงเสร็จเมื่อไหร่ก็อ่านต่อได้เลย
ตัวอย่างเช่นสมมติเรามีข้อมูลขนาด n ตัว แล้วเราวนลูป สมมติวนลูป print ค่าในอาเรย์ทั้งหมดออกมา เขียนโค้ดเป็นภาษาซีได้แบบนี้
ลูป ของเราก็จะวิ่งวนๆๆๆๆ ตั้งแต่รอบที่ 0 1 2 ... ไปถึงรอบที่ n-1 ได้ว่า เราทำการวิ่งไปทั้งหมด n รอบ ก็จะได้ว่า โปรแกรมของเราใช้เวลารันเท่ากับ
O(n) (อ่านว่า "โอเอ็น") นั่นเอง
อ่าว แล้ว O(n) ของเฮียมันกี่วิล่ะ อธิบายมาให้เคลียร์!!!
คำตอบก็ง่ายแสน ง่าย ใช้ปัญญาสักนิดก็จะได้คำตอบว่า...ไม่รู้ครับ :) (:
อ่าว...กวน ตี_
ก็ไม่รู้จริงๆนิ่ครับ เพราะเราไม่รู้ว่า printf แต่ละครั้งมันกินเวลาเท่าไหร่ สิ่งที่พอจะทำได้ก็คือการ "ประมาณ" ครับ ส่วนนี้อาจจะต้องใช้ประสบการณ์กัน
พอสมควร แต่สรุปกันแบบง่ายๆซะงั้นก็คืออัลกอริทึมที่ทำงานด้วยเวลา O(n) จะรันทันใน 1 วินาทีก็ต่อเมื่อ n มีค่าไม่เกิน 1 ร้อยล้านครับ อันนี้คือ
ประมาณกันแบบสุดๆเลยนะครับ บางตำราก็บอกสิบล้าน มันก็ขึ้นอยู่กับว่า...
1. ในลูปคุณมีอะไรอยู่ หากในลูปคุณมีโค้ดยาวเฟื้อย เวลาในการรันแต่ละรอบก็จะมาก โปรแกรมของคุณก็จะยิ่งกินเวลามาก อาจจะรันได้ไม่ถึง 1
ร้อยล้านรอบใน 1 วินาที
2. ความเร็ว CPU หากเครื่องของคุณใช้ซุปเปอร์ซีพียูความเร็วซัก 100GHz คุณจะรันซักพันล้านรอบผมว่ามันก็ทันครับ แต่ถ้าใช้ซีพียูยุคพฤษภาทมิฬ
หรือ 6 ตุลา 19 หนึ่งร้อยล้านรอบก็อาจจะใช้เวลากันเป็น 10วิ.หรือเป็นนาทีเลยทีเดียว แต่สำหรับซีพียูที่ใช้ในเครื่องตรวจโดยเฉลี่ย ก็เร็วพอที่จะให้รัน
100 ล้านรอบน 1 วิได้ครับ
3. ภาษาที่ใช้ อันนี้ก็สำคัญครับ ภาษาบางภาษาใช้เวลารันค่อนข้างมาก ในขณะที่บางภาษาก็รันค่อนข้างเร็ว(ภาษาซีเป็นต้น) การประมาณของผมดูที่
ภาษาซีเป็นหลักครับ
4. อื่นๆ คิดไม่ออก
แนะนำว่าอย่า พยามให้รันถึงร้อยล้านเลยครับ ไม่ปลอดภัยสำหรับการแข่งขันที่ลิมิตเวลา 1 วินาที เพราะจะรันได้ร้อยล้าน ลูปต้องตัวเล็กพอสมควร (
ตัวเล็กหมายถึงข้างในมีโค้ดไม่เยอะ ศัพท์ใครไม่รู้ ยืมมา ^ ^)
ถาม ว่าทำไมต้อง O( n ) ใช้ Y( n ) หรือ Hello ( n ) ไม่ได้หรอ.... ก็ได้ครับ อย่างที่ผมบอก มันไม่ใช่ฟังก์ชันที่เราจะเขียนลงไปในโค้ด มันก็แค่
ฟังก์ชันที่เรานึกอยู่ในหัว แต่โดยสากลแล้วจะใช้ตัวโอใหญ่ครับ
เอ แล้วถ้าลูป 2 ชั้นล่ะ...
โลกนี้ไม่ได้มีเพียงแค่ O(n) ครับท่านผู้ชม บางครั้งเราอาจจำใจต้องเขียนลูป 2 ชั้น เช่น กำหนดให้มีตารางรูปสี่เหลี่ยมจตุรัสขนาด n*n ช่อง แล้วให้
แสดงค่าในตารางออกมา เราก็จะก้มหน้าก้มตาเขียนลูปกันออกมาประมาณนี้
สัง เกตุว่า ลูปนอกวิ่ง n รอบ ข้างในมีลูปวิ่งอีก n รอบ...เราก็จะได้ว่าโปรแกรมของเรา ทำงานด้วยเวลา O(n^2) นั่นเอง!!!! (อ่าน "โอเอ็นกำลังสอง")
อ่าว แล้ว 3 ชั้นล่ะท่าน...
ก็ O(n^3) ไง...
นี่ก็คือฟังก์ชัน O () คร่าวๆครับ เดี๋ยวผมจะมาต่ออีกหน่อยเรื่องทฤษฎีเล็กๆน้อยๆในบทหน้าครับ
1 .Big O www.srwdan.com/databigo.htm
2.Big O http://cs.payap.ac.th/pumin/221_2_50/221_2.pdf
3.Big O http://www.science.cmru.ac.th/admin/blog/file/51108122320.ppt
By : Scheguc ราชพฤษ
By : Mistertun
Uh-oh. Looks like Kim Kardashian and Justin Bieber have landed in hot water again.The pair, who caused a stir last month when they exchanged tweets, were spotted holding hands and splashing around together in the sea in the Bahamas on June 12.
No, 29-year-old Kardashian hasn’t turned cougar. The E! reality star and the 16-year-old pop idol were simply doing a photo shoot. “Bahamas with my Biebs! Fun shoot!” she tweeted yesterday, along with an image from the set.
Still, the pictures are sure to make waves among the singer’s fans, who sent Kardashian death threats after she tweeted that she had “Bieber fever” and he jokingly referred to her as his “girlfriend” following their May meeting at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
"Ladies calm down," Bieber tweeted to his fans after the incident. "@kimkardashian is a friend. a very sexy friend but a friend. no need 4 threats. Let's all be friends and hang out often
"And this time around he’s being equally careful not to upset his Beliebers. “I told her to watch out…” he tweeted yesterday of Kardashian. “I love my fans.”
Post by: Mark Marino -- Special to CNN
London, England (CNN) -- In the shadows of the Swiss Alps, just outside the mountain village of Anzere, Jong Tae Se hit the back of the net with an unnerving, metronomic accuracy.
The North Korean soccer star known around the world as the "People's Rooney" -- thanks to a bullish playing style reminiscent of England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney -- was deep in concentration, drilling the ball into alternative corners of the goal as the midday sun beat down.
He was preparing for the World Cup and arguably three of the toughest matches in world football: North Korea have been drawn against Brazil, Portugal and the Ivory Coast in the so-called "Group of Death."
Around him, on the rest of the pitch, was a sight not usually relayed through the Western media: North Koreans having fun. The players goofed around, blasting the ball at each other, laughing as they piggy-backed across the half way line.
They had got to know each other well over the long qualifying campaign and the intensive overseas training of the past six months. Successive training camps in Spain, Germany and several in South America were designed to drill them into a close knit team that would make the Motherland, as the North Koreans term their nation, proud.
http://edition.cnn.com/2010/SPORT/football/06/08/north.korea.secret.team/index.html?hpt=Sbin
By Steve Rushin, Special to CNN
Hartford, Connecticut (CNN) -- If you have a TV you have heard, or heard of, vuvuzelas. They're the cheap plastic horns played by tens of thousands of spectators in World Cup soccer stadiums in South Africa and buzzing like so many unswattable mosquitoes in the ear of an irate camper.To hear most viewers tell it, "vuvuzela" -- like "abattoir" -- is a beautiful word for an ugly thing. The horns drone for the entire 90 minutes of every game, and that is the perfect word for what they do: drone, like the male bee that does no work -- idling pointlessly, unproductively, infuriatingly, to no end. Or so say the multitudes that now watch the games with the sound muted.
I've tried muting the TV. The vuvuzelas still ring in my ear long after the sound is turned off and even after the game has ended. The world of sports has given us swimmer's ear, tennis elbow and athlete's foot. Here, at last, is an affliction named for the spectator at home: couch potato's tinnitus, turning every World Cup fan into a Metallica roadie.
There is no clear etymology for the word vuvuzela, but my guess is it derives from the Latin "vuvu" (blood) and "zela" (issuing from both ears). The buzz it has created for the World Cup is not the kind FIFA intended.
TV viewers and newspaper writers this week have demanded that vuvuzelas be banished from South African stadiums for the monthlong tournament. They argue that the horns drown out singing and chanting, the traditional soundtrack for soccer. To read the editorials, you'd think that the Vienna Boys Choir has been serenading Manchester United and Liverpool when they play each other in the English Premier League.
I've been to plenty of English, European and World Cup matches. Many of the songs and chants now being drowned out by the vuvuzelas are in far worse taste than the plastic horns. Trust me. They make the vuvuzela sound like Louis Armstrong playing Gabriel's trumpet on a cloud in heaven.
Perhaps it's the Stockholm Syndrome, but I've grown to like the vuvuzela, for any number of reasons. With the 2010 World Cup, the vuvuzela joins the ticking stopwatch on "60 Minutes" and the piercing signal of the Emergency Broadcast System in the pantheon of nonmusical sounds that instantly tell you what is on TV even before you've entered the room.
It denies us tranquility, sure, but the vuvuzela is a little bit like tranquility: a beautiful word for a beautiful thing. Long after the World Cup final is played on July 11, the sound of the vuvuzela will remain instantly evocative of South Africa -- as the didjeridoo is to Australia, the bagpipe is to Scotland or the car horn is to New York City.
And even if I didn't like the vuvuzela, I would keep my objections to myself. It isn't polite to tell another country how to watch a soccer match. The sound that issues from the vuvuzela is cacophonous -- joyful and infuriating at the same time. It calls to mind mosquitoes on a continent tragically ravaged by those malaria-bearing insects.
For better and worse, the vuvuzela is the sound of South Africa. As Charlie "Bird" Parker said: "If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn."
All of this is now less than an hour drive from Lisbon International airport along the new A8 motorway, linking the vibrant capital of Portugal with historic Oporto in the North. As there is also a proposed new international airport to be located at OTA, this little known region is opening its doors to the outside world. For decades the Algarve has been the only realistic location for overseas buyers to enjoy the unique hospitality of the Portuguese, but prices there have put it out of reach for most. Now we are pleased to invite you to experience the heart of Portugal - a secret we can all share. A region for life Exploring the tranquil towns, villages and countryside of this beautiful region will confirm to you that here is a place that genuinely has the best of both worlds. Whilst offering a life of rural calm amidst the spectacular scenery, at the same time it is perfectly equipped with access to all the modern facilities of transport, healthcare, education and leisure that make life a pleasure for all generations. The Western Region enjoys entertainments and events throughout the year: concerts, art exhibitions, the Torres carnival - 'the most Portuguese event in Portugal', the Caldas da Rainha ceramics and fruit fairs, the Bombarral wine festival, Peniche's Festas da Nuestra Senhora da Boa Viagem, the Montejunto popular festival (Cadaval), Alenquer's Feira da Ascensao, festivals in Sobral, Monte Agraco and Arruda dos Vinhos, Feiras da Cebola e das Tasquinhas and hundreds more fairs, festivals and popular gatherings. The region has many hotels with superb facilities and innumerable restaurants, bars and lively venues which ensure that one's first visit to the Western region is never the last. For golf enthusiasts the Western Region is the new destination in Portugal. Golf Courses at Praia d'el Rey (18 holes)and Rio Maior (18 holes) are complemented by 9-hole courses at Consolação and Porto Novo - Bom Sucesso and Perola da Lagoa 18-hole courses are actually already under construction and the brand new project of the 18-hole course of Foz do Arelho, which will be the hugest should begin within the year 2007. The natural abundance of the area is enhanced by beautiful fine-sanded beaches, where the sands shimmer like silver, at Santa Cruz, Porto Novo, Areia Branca, S. Bernardino, Consolação, Peniche, Baleal, Foz do Arelho and Salir do Porto. Local crafts can be found in Peniche, which is notable for its lace, and in Caldas da Rainha, which is one of the most important centres for ceramics in Portugal. The new Peniche recreation centre is a base for water sports, with a haven of fishing and scuba-diving in Berlenga. Santa Cruz and Peniche (Supertubos beach and Lagide beach) are the places for surf lovers. The Obidos lake has sailing, rowing and windsurfing. Montejunto, Serrado Socorro and Santa Rita beach are the main locations for paragliding and hang-gliding. The Santa Cruz aerodrome, with its flying school, offers flights in light aircraft and gliders. There are equestrian centres in the Hotel Golf Mar, in Marquiteira (Lourinha), in Atouguia da Baleia - at the Quinta das Tripas and the Quintas de Bom Sucesso - Lourinha, S. Sebastido - Arruda dos Vinhos, Quinta da Ferraria and Cortisada - Rio Maior. A region for health Healthcare facilities are modern and efficient and offer a good range of public and private services for all your requirements. In addition the region offers several thermal baths: Vimeiro (digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system and skin), Cucos (metabolic and endocrine systems, rheumatics, muscular and skeletal systems) and Torres Vedras and Caldas da Rainha - the oldest in Europe (respiratory system, rheumatics, muscular and skeletal systems). A region for Gourmets Gastronomy in the region is rich and varied: there are many delicious pork dishes, oven baked kid, stewed rabbit with rice, celebrated fish stews, baked or boiled sea bream and rock bass from Peniche, eels and cockles from the Obidos lake and shellfish from the beds at Porto de Barcas (lagosta suada - 'sweating lobster' - is a delicacy which can only be found in the Western Region). The gastronomical influence of history is evident in trouxas de ovos, lampreias de ovos (sweet dishes made with eggs) and cavacas (light crisp cakes) from Caldas da Rainha, bean pies from Torres Vedras and paes de lo (sponge cakes) from Landal, Painho and Rio Maior. All are complemented by the taste and aroma of apples and pears. The Western region is also one of the largest wine growing areas in Portugal and indeed the world. The area boasts full-bodied, aromatic red wines with excellent alcoholic content: the wines of the south (castas Camarate, Periquita and Tinto Miudo) are lively when young, intense yet well balanced and with an exquisite bouquet when aged. The white wines of the north are deliciously fruity (castas Arinto, Fernao Pires, Vital). Out of this diversity, the wine-growing areas of Obidos and Alenquer, Arruda dos Vinhos and Torres Vedras were born in 1989. The region is also known for its light wines with lower alcohol content, and for the only DOC (controlled standard of origin) classified brandy in Portugal - Aguardente Vinica from Lourinha. PORTUGAL - COSTA DE PRATA - THE SILVER COAST Aveiro in the north is unique: it is criss-crossed by canals grandly embroidered with art nouveau houses and spanned by hump- backed bridges. Here in colourfully painted 'moliceiro' boats, seaweed is gathered in the vast saltwater lagoon. Further inland you can sample the curative waters of the elegant thermal spa towns of Luso and Curia, fashionable since early this century. And in the Bucaco forest nearby, stands the Palace Hotel, resplendent with turrets, arched galleries and an enormous marble staircase: a perfect hideaway for romantics. The lively University city of Coimbra is a mixture of ancient and modern. Its streets are filled with the chatter of black-caped students and the soulful tones of fado. The university library, one of the best in Europe, is a Baroque fantasy where the rooms each lead into the next creating a telescope-like effect. The old Cathedral is one of the most important examples of Romanesquc architecture in Portugal. In the Marchado de Castro Museum, you'll find religious art treasures and can actually explore the ruins of the Roman crypt over which the museum was built. An even more impressive sight is the nearby Roman city of Conimbriga. On the west coast, the town of Figueira da Foz has vast beaches and a famous casino. Further south is the charming town of Leiria with its crenulated walls towering high above an almost perpendicular rock. From May to October, the roads nearby are lined with pilgrims - many on foot - visiting the famed shrine of Fatima where three shepherd children claimed to have seen visions of the Virgin Mary. Thirty four kilometres east is Tomar where the bastion of the Knights Templar later became the Convento de Cristo. Tales of mystery and hidden treasures echo around it's cloisters and its crowning glory is the ornate Manueline window. Another magical place is the Castle of Almmourol, just south, which stands on a tiny island and is steeped in legends of giants and knights. Further opulent architecture can he discovered at Batalha in the Santa Maria da Vitoria Monastery, with its flying buttresses, gargoyles, pinnacles and the intricate stonework of its cloisters. Close to this is one of Portugal's most awe-inspiring monuments: the Monastery of Alcobaca, which has been given UNESCO world heritage status. The kitchen, with ovens big enough to roast six oxen at once, even has two streams converging through it into one. The monastery also contains the tombs of King Pedro and Ines de Castro whose passionate love story has inspired writers and poets all over the world. Many of the farming methods and agricultural science of the region introduced by the Cistercian monks are still in evidence today. The delightful town of Obidos, with white houses adorned with bougainvilleas and honeysuckle was captured from the Moors by the first king of Portugal, D. Afonso Henriques, in 1148. D. Dinis later presented it to his wife, Queen Santa Isabel. From then until 1883, the town of Obidos and the surrounding land was always the property of the queens of Portugal. Encircled by a ring of medieval walls and crowned by the Moorish castle rebuilt by D. Dinis, which is now a pousada, Obidos is one of the most perfect examples of our medieval fortress. As in olden times, the town is entered through the southern gate of Santa Maria, embellished with eighteenth-century azulejo decoration. Inside the walls, which at sunset take on a golden colouring, one can sense a cheerful medieval ambience of winding streets, old whitewashed houses bordered with blue or yellow, Manueline embrasures and windows, reminding us that King D. Manuel I (sixteenth century) carried out major works here, and masses of colourful flowers and plants. Be sure to visit the Igreja Matriz de Santa Maria (Parish Church of Santa Maria), the pretty Capela de Sao Martinho (Chapel of S. Martinho) and, outside the town walls, the Igreja do Senhor da Pedra (Church of the Senhor da Pedra). Among the events that take place every year in Obidos, the most important are the Holy Week Festivities (recreating the steps on the Way of the Cross), the Ancient Music Festival in October and, for the more gluttonous, the International Chocolate festival in November, which includes an international competition in which the recipes are judged by an international jury of experts. Fatima - With its origins deep in history, it was during the Arabian occupation that this settlement developed and was named. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest, the Templar knight Goncalo Hermingues, also known as Bringer-of-Moors, fell in love with Fatima, a Moor captured in the course of an ambush. Reciprocating the love, the young woman converted to Christianity and adopted the name Oureana. In the sixteenth century, the settlement became a parish in the collegiate church of Ourem within the Diocese of Leiria. Its subsequent development dates from the events known as the Apparitions of Fatima, in the early part of the twentieth century. It has become one of the key centres for the Cult of the Virgin Mary in Portugal and has been recognised world-wide by the Catholic Church. The first apparition took place in 1917, in Cova da Iria, at the site of the current Sanctuary. The most important celebrations are held on 13th May (including the Candlelit Procession on the night of the 12th and the Farewell Procession closing the event on the 13th) and 13th October. Furthermore, the 13th of every month between these two dates is also a day of devotion. For those interested in the historical context of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima, visits can be made to the houses of the shepherd witnesses in the village of Aljustrel. In the gardens of Casa de Lucia, there is a monument commemorating the second apparition of the Angel of Peace and the end of the Via Sacra which begins in the Sanctuary. Along this route, there are 14 chapels donated by Hungarian Catholic refugees in the West. Of particular note is Valinhos, 400 metres from the village where monuments commemorate the fourth apparition in 1917 as well as the place chosen by the angel. Here, in 1916, the shepherds saw the Angel of Peace for the first and third times. On the coast is the fishing village of Nazare where you'll find fishermen in knee length plaid trousers, and women in full skirts and seven petticoats, mending nets. The walled town of Obidos should also not he missed, with its narrow streets of brightly white-washed houses and striking towers of the Castle that's now a splendid Pousada Take just a short trip south and you can explore the active fishing port of Peniche which has a dominating 16th century fort built for protection against marauding pirates. The Silvercoast is one of the most peaceful and romantic places of all. Buying Property in Silver Coast Portugal Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal is currently popular with Europeans, but as of yet, not so much with the British property buyers. This is because properties are relatively inexpensive and transport links to/from the UK are getting better and cheaper to the Silver Coast. Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal offers superb beach holiday facilities with a great summer climate, great culture, architecture and history. Also, the Silver Coast is tipped to see significant capital property value rises in the coming years. Portugal is an evergreen in the overseas property market. Build quality is high, property prices have grown a steady 10-15% per annum since the Millennium, and there's a broad choice of property across the price range and country - within the Silver Coast the price grow within the following years will possibly reach the 25 - 35 %. Buying property in Silver Coast Portugal offers good prospects for rental from both the local market and from holidaymakers, and with the potential of significant property price rises on the Silver Coast Portugal, this could be the ideal place to invest in a holiday home. Buying property in Portugal still has great appeal as it has a benign tax system which allows avoidance of the worst effects of capital gains and inheritance tax and can put you in a lower tax band. Why buy in the the Silver Coast Property experts have been advising clients to look beyond the Algarve, with its pockets of overgrowing, and invest instead in homes 45 minutes' drive from Lisbon on Portugal's Silver Coast. Maddison says, "The Algarve used to be the most popular area. However, it is now rather overrun with Brits and over commercialized. In other words it is too popular now, with many of those looking to purchase in Portugal now looking elsewhere." According to international property specialists the Silver Coast is now the up-and-coming area in Portugal. "Many Brits are selling up in the Algarve and moving up to the Oeste Region, which is located just north of Lisbon. This area is still very Portuguese, with farming the main source of income for the locals. It does not die in the winter because most of the locals are Portuguese. The cost of properties is so much cheaper than on the Algarve - so there is still room to make money in this area". But what of the place itself? The Silver Coast stretches from Porto down to Portugal's capital Lisbon and hugs the North Atlantic coastline; it is home to beautiful beaches, amazing cliffs, quaint fishing villages, lush rolling countryside and some of the most fascinating historic sites in Portugal. Here you can discover pretty villages and a real Portuguese way of life. The Silver Coast is a particularly good bet for those with holiday lets in mind, thanks to the new A8 motorway which has cut journey times from Lisbon to the Silver Coast considerably, opening the atmospheric towns of Caldas da Rainha and Turcifal, and pretty villages, such as Peniche, up to tourists and investors. There is a wide range of property available on the Silver Coast. You can find traditional farmhouses in need of renovation, but there has also been a fair amount of developments popping up and luxury villas with pools and apartments in complexes are easy to find. Access to the area is becoming even easier as more and more airlines now offer frequent flights to Lisbon. Hope to see you soon in the Silver Coast of Portugal -
Posts
