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Alcohol is nearly as addictive as which drug? - Cocaine
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An estimated 17 percent of cocaine users become addicted to it, and drinkers follow closely at 15 percent. Of the other drugs: marijuana, 9 percent; heroin, 25 percent; nicotine, 32 percent.


Following factors are effect by alcohol.
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Body weight: Fat, protein proportion, volume of blood and cardiovascular function all play roles in determining the impact of alcohol.Gender: Alcohol is generally more potent to women than men.

Ethnicity: Based on genetic differences, there are direct and indirect alcohol effects by ethnicity. For example, Asians carry a gene that compromises liver function. More than other groups, Asians who drink tend to get flush, sweat and become nauseated.

Age: A person’s age is represented in every system of the body, and alcohol works directly on the cardiologic, metabolic, excretory, digestive and neurological systems. Consider that dosage recommendations vary by age even on over-the-counter drugs.

Genetics: One’s capacity to tolerate alcohol is partially dependent on genetic factors, so you may gain some insight about your own tolerance by studying other family members’. Geneticists have even gone so far as to determine that the ability to hold alcohol depends on an enzyme made on Chromosome 4.


By consuming no more than one drink per hour, you can stay under the legal limit for driving. - False
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The effects of one drink per hour will vary greatly from one person to the next. A 125-pound woman having just one glass of wine per hour over the course of three full hours can easily reach a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08—the legal limit in most states. Symptoms such as flushed face and difficulty with fine motor skills can be evident at a BAC level of just .02.The body metabolizes pure alcohol at only .25 or .30 ounces (about half a drink) per hour, so on average it takes two hours for the effects of a single drink to be eradicated. Metabolization simply can’t keep up with an hourly drink. Drinking has a cumulative effect.


It’s best to treat a hangover with acetaminophen (Tylenol). - False
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Current evidence suggests there is little if any danger in using proper dosages of acetaminophen the morning after a night of drinking. Physicians do acknowledge, however, that research on the subject is lacking. The risk sometimes cited is liver toxicity, which is a realistic concern for alcoholics who overdose on acetaminophen to the tune of 26 extra-strength pills in 24 hours.


Women get drunk faster than men do. - True
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Alcohol mixes with water in the body, and because men have more body water, there is more dilution of alcohol. Less body water makes for a meaner hangover as well.


Drinking tends to enhance sexual experiences. - False
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Going by the numbers, the drawbacks of combining alcohol with sex outweigh the benefits. Women with impaired judgment are more likely to engage in sexual behaviors they later regret, especially regarding whom they slept with or what they consented to. Worse yet, compromised judgment can put a woman in a dangerous sexual situation. For both men and women, the likelihood of unprotected sex also rises with alcohol use, increasing incidences of unwanted pregnancy and STDs, including, of course, HIVOn the upside, alcohol does relax social and sexual inhibitions, and can increase amorous feelings. But these benefits could easily backfire as well since alcohol interferes with a man’s ability to sustain an erection and with a woman’s ability to reach orgasm.


Claiming that one is drunk, and therefore out of control, is a legitimate defense against an accusation of sexual assault. - False
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Being drunk is not a valid legal defense against a charge of rape or sexual assault. It is estimated that 75 percent of men who perpetrate sexual assault are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A significant percentage of sexual-assault victims also tend to be under the influence; however, a victim who is drunk may be incapable of giving consent. Sex with an intoxicated person can constitute rape.


Alcohol and pot are relatively safe to mix, since the effect of one balances out the other. - False
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Alcohol and pot are both depressants. The risk of slowing one’s body down or passing out increases significantly when they’re combined. Marijuana also inhibits the gag reflex, which can be a problem when you want or need to throw up—and a fatal malfunction if you vomit while unconscious.Some drug combinations are additive, meaning that the effect produced is equal to the sum of the drugs combined. The effect of mixing alcohol and marijuana, however, is hyper-additive or synergistic: The two are multiplied rather than added. Many additional factors have influence (weight, tolerance, age, type of alcohol and pot), so the outcome is always difficult to predict.


According to a 2005 study of colleges, how many students per year were injured under the influence of alcohol? - 599,000
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And that’s just the 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college.


The number of alcohol-related fatalities in motor vehicle crashes appears to be going: - Down
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Americans may be getting smarter. Between 2003 and 2004, there was a 2.4 percent reduction in alcohol-related motor vehicle fatalities: 17,105 in 2003 compared to 16,694 in 2004. While that’s good news, alcohol still plays a role in 39 percent of all traffic fatalities.

"The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" will have to sail without Disney.

While declining to elaborate, Disney and Walden Media confirmed Tuesday that for budgetary and logistical reasons the Burbank-based studio is not exercising its option to co-produce and co-finance the next "Narnia" movie with Walden.

The third entry in the series, based on the classic books by C.S. Lewis, was in preproduction and set for a spring shoot for a planned May 2010 release. The development puts the participation of the talent attached in doubt. Michael Apted was on board to direct a script by Steven Knight. The key players of the second installment, "Prince Caspian" -- Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, William Moseley and Anna Popplewell -- were to return for the third film.

Walden has a strong relationship with the Lewis estate and will shop "Treader" in hopes of finding a new partner. The most likely candidate at this stage is Fox, which markets and distributes Walden fare under the Fox Walden banner.

Any partnership on a "Narnia" movie will require a substantial investment. "Caspian," which filmed in the Czech Republic, Mexico and New Zealand, cost $200 million. The first film, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," was shot mostly in New Zealand for $180 million.

It is rare for a studio to pull out of a planned trilogy in midstream, but the number-crunching showed a franchise on a downward trend. "Lion" roared to $292 million domestically and another $453 million internationally in 2005. This year, "Prince Caspian" grossed a healthy $141 million in North America and another $278 million internationally, but that was well off the "Lion" take.

Further challenging "Treader" may be a waning of the pricey children's fantasy genre. When the "Harry Potter" series topped the book charts and then filled movie theaters, studios began snapping up fantasy manuscripts as quickly as they could. When "The Lord of the Rings" showed it was possible for adults to enjoy the fare as well -- and produced the boxoffice results to prove it -- Hollywood's fascination with the genre intensified.

But no other fantasy adventure films have shown that kind of boxoffice punch. Earlier this year, Warners and New Line hoped they were launching a franchise with "The Golden Compass," but the adaptation of the Philip Pullman trilogy tanked domestically.

The film grossed just $70 million domestically and the co-production partners declined to go forward with a second installment despite the fact the film did take in more than $300 million overseas.

Even Lance Armstrong, who after winning the Tour de France seven times has taken his fair share of doping tests, is amazed by the number of times he has been told to give samples on his return to competitive cycling.

On his Twitter page - a social-networking website - Armstrong wrote: "Guess what!? Drug control #10. Unreal."

Many in France still cast a suspicious eye towards Armstrong and the success he achieved before retiring in 2005.

As such, the American is attempting to be as open as possible when it comes to his comeback preparations.

Upon his return, he said: "We're going to be completely transparent. This is for the world to see. I am returning with a completely comprehensive programme and there will be no way to cheat."

The authorities are clearly making sure of this.

Armstrong, though, is hiding nothing, as his postings on Twitter show. They include:

"Ate at Chuys. One of Austin's finest. Had a "big as 'yo face" burrito."

"Got a note from Levi. Was going to go out and train with him but didn't since my condition isn't half-bad now. It's freezing cold there too."

"Still freezing in Austin so training indoors at Kevin's Pedal Hard studio."

"Just saw Slumdog Millionaire. Amazing film. Run don't walk to see it."

"Morning - I'm up drinking coffee, reading the nyt, and texting with Johan who's at the Tour of Spain (Vuelta) presentation."

Former team-mate George Hincapie, however, perhaps seems less than impressed with the media's reaction to Armstrong's return. On his page, he notes: "Just did a USA Today interview. 95 per cent L(ance) A(rmstrong), 5 per cent me. He's back!!!!"

A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world's first computer.

A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.

The original 81 shards of the Antikythera were recovered from under the sea (near the Greek island of Antikythera) in 1902, rusted and clumped together in a nearly indecipherable mass. Scientists dated it to 150 B.C. Such craftsmanship wouldn't be seen for another 1,000 years — but its purpose was a mystery for decades.

Many scientists have worked since the 1950s to piece together the story, with the help of some very sophisticated imaging technology in recent years, including X-ray and gamma-ray imaging and 3-D computer modeling.

Now, though, it has been rebuilt. As is almost always the way with these things, it was an amateur who cracked it. Michael Wright, a former curator at the Science Museum in London, has built a replica of the Antikythera, which works perfectly.

In the video from New Scientist below, Wright shows how the machine works.

In short, Antikythera's user interface is deceptively simple, operated by a simple knob on the side. This conceals the intricacy within, amounting to a complex mathematical model, tracking the movements of planetary bodies and incorporating a series of submechanisms to account for the eccentricities of their rotation.

A dial on the faceplace featured the Greek zodiac and an Egyptian calendar; pointers showed the location of the moon and the five planets known at the time. On the machine's back, an upper dial shows a 19-year calendar (matching the solunar cycle) and the timing of upcoming Olympic games. A lower dial shows a 76-year cycle (when the Olympic and solunar cycles coincide) and indicates the months in which lunar and solar eclipses can be expected.

According to New Scientist, this is the first working model of the Antikythera computer to include all of the device's known features. And, like the original machine, it has been built of recycled metal plates. That's right: The Antikythera mechanism is not only the world's oldest computer, it's also the world's first green computer.

Mouse could become extinct as new gadgets do without one....

The computer mouse might someday become an endangered species.

Instead of rolling a mouse around to move a cursor on the screen, more users will gesture with their fingers on touch-screens and multitouch trackpads, analysts say.

Or they will tilt or shake the phones or other handheld devices themselves to manipulate them, said Steve Prentice, vice president and fellow at Gartner, a market-research firm based in Stamford, Conn.

Apple's iPhone, Nokia and other smart phones already are undergoing such a transformation with touch-screens, he said in an e-mail, and the switch "will accelerate over the next two to three years."

On an iPhone or iPod touch, a user can scroll through album covers by flicking a finger across the screen, or tilt and turn the device to control actions in a game.

Prentice, based in Egham, England, said users probably will stop connecting a mouse to their laptop computers within five years, if they haven't already. And the use of a mouse will diminish on office desktop computers after that. The new trackpads are seen as offering more versatility.

"The demise will be hastened by the move toward 3-D environments, which encourage a more complex range of movements to move around, and by the growth of multimedia applications and manipulation, which encourage a more natural user interface," he said.

Already, Hewlett-Packard makes a TouchSmart personal computer with a touch-screen monitor. Apple's new laptop computers have trackpads that support gestures with two, three or four fingers. And the upcoming Microsoft Windows 7 also will support multitouch.

Not so fast, said Logitech International, the Swiss maker of mice and other peripherals. Touch-screens will continue to develop, but "I don't see a world where it would override the effectiveness of the mouse and keyboard," said Erik Charlton, director of product marketing for Logitech retail pointing devices.

The history of the mouse dates to 1968, originating at what was then known as Stanford Research Institute.

A glimpse of the future can be found at the Microsoft Technology Center in Manhattan, where visitors can get their hands on a Surface table.

The Surface computer, which debuted for commercial use in July, has a 30-inch screen on which users can tap, drag, spin and zoom in and out with their fingers or an object such as a paint brush.

Only a few days after the launch of its new task manager, Gmail has introduced a new feature allowing users to send free SMS messages through its integrated Chat. To activate the feature, visit the Gmail Labs page and scroll down until you see the appropriate listing (you may also want to activate a few of the other nifty features while you’re at it).

To send a message, just type a phone number into the search box at the top of the chat window on the left side of the Gmail interface, and hit ‘Send SMS’. Numbers can be associated with contact names so you don’t have to keep manually entering them. Recipients of these messages can respond by simply hitting ‘reply’ on their cell phones to send their own SMS message (Gmail ties a unique phone number with each of your contacts).

According to the Gmail blog post, the site is currently testing out the service with US phones only for now (messages can be sent from abroad, they just need to be directed at a US phone).

Gmail first toyed around with the feature in October, but wound up pulling it from Labs for a few weeks because of a number of glitches. This time, it seems like it’s here to stay.

This isn’t by any means the first chat service to offer free SMS messaging - major chat networks like AIM have been doing this for years. But it’s a handy feature, especially for the many people who use Gmail all day long.

Ferrari doesn't make motorcycles. At least, not officially... but that fact hasn't stopped a number of custom cycle makers from taking matters into their own hands. Perhaps the most famous Maranello-inspired two-wheeler was made by Arlen Ness, but that one's not all that practical in conception. We would imagine a Ferrari motorcycle to be a truly sporting machine, equally as comfortable on the race track as the street, or, more realistically, being shown off in one's garage. Ferrari seems to agree, as the only cycle ever created that bears an official Ferrari chassis number -- SF-01M -- has true sporting pretensions.

Built by David Kay Engineering and completed in 1995, this one-and-only Ferrari motorcycle sports a DOHC engine displacing 900cc and putting out 105 horsepower at 8,800rpm. The only styling choice we take exception with are the Testarossa-style strakes on either side, but nothing's perfect, right? So, what's the only officially official Ferrari bike worth? We'll find out for sure when the auction ends on the 20th, but the expected price is between 325,000-375,000 Swiss francs, or around $300K in U.S. dollars.

Scientists believe they have cracked a long-standing mystery of evolution - how the turtle got its shell.

It follows the discovery in south west China last year of the oldest known turtle fossils, believed to date back 220 million years.

The three adult specimens were discovered remarkably intact and with characteristics never before seen in turtles - including teeth and an incomplete upper shell.

The world's oldest known turtle (above) dating back 220 million years has been unveiled by scientists. The new species forms a missing link between ancient terrestrial turtles and their modern, aquatic descendants (below)

The species was dubbed Odontochelys semistestacea, meaning toothed, half-shelled turtle.

Scientists from Canada, China and the US said the half-shell provided new evidence of how it evolved, Nature magazine has reported.

Dr Xiao-chun Wu, a palaeontologist at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa, said: 'Since the 1800s, there have been many hypotheses about the origin of the turtle shell.

'Now we have these fossils of the earliest known turtle.

'They support the theory that the shell would have formed from below as extensions of the backbone and ribs, rather than as bony plates from the skin as others have theorised.'

This image shows an artist impression of Odontochelys semitestacea, an ancestral turtle from the Triassic of China

He believes the lower shell, known as the plastron, formed first followed by an outgrowth and broadening of the backbone and ribs to form the upper shell, or carapace.

This process corresponds with the shell formation seen in turtle embryos and hatchlings.

Dr Wu said: 'With Odontochelys, we now have clear fossil evidence of this process emerging in an adult.'

Dr Wu's student and lead author of the report, Chun Li, of the Institute of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, discovered the fossils in Guizhou province with the help of local farmers.

Scientists believe the lower shell, known as the plastron, formed first followed by an outgrowth and broadening of the backbone and ribs to form the upper shell

The competing theory of shell development was that it grew from bony plates on the skin which formed a kind of dermal armour, which then fused with the underlying ribs and backbone.

Until now, the oldest known turtle, discovered in Germany, dated to about 210 million years ago.

Because it already had a fully formed shell, scientists could not say how it developed.

But the authors said the new fossils show the theory of dermal armour is incorrect.

The team also concluded the earliest turtles were aquatic and not land-based, and that turtles as a group may have originated from water.

They said the presence of the lower shell would protect the swimming animal from predators below.

Dr Olivier Rieppel, of the Field Museum in Chicago, who also took part in the study, said although there was only a partial shell to protect its back, the under shell was fully formed, like modern-day turtles.

He said this suggested it was a water dweller.

'Reptiles living on the land have their bellies close to the ground with little exposure to danger.'

We've heard them, we've repeated them, and in some cases we even swear by them -- but do the household remedies we learned at Grandma's knee really work? The Good Housekeeping Research Institute staff put them to the test. Here, once and for all, are the surprising answers.

1. Hot water makes ice cubes faster than cold water - and makes clearer ice cubes, too.
Myth! In three trials in our food appliances lab, cold water always won the race. The Good Housekeeping Research Institute filled one tray with hot water and the other with cold, then recorded the time it took each to reach 32 degrees F. Every time, the cold water cubes froze faster. As for crystal-clear cubes, you'll have to get a professional, restaurant-style ice-cube-making machine, because neither hot nor cold water in regular ice cube trays will produce clear cubes, just the foggy ones you're used to.

2. Tomato juice will de-skunk the dog.
True! But it's not very practical, since you'll need a tremendous amount of juice after shampooing your dog - and we're not talking about a couple of small cans. Plus, you might also stain your pet's fur pink. Some vets swear by commercial de-skunking products like Skunk-Off. The Bobst Hospital of the Animal Medical Center in New York City recommends a solution of 1 cup of white vinegar diluted with 1 gallon of water. But Good Housekeeping veterinarian Holly Cheever says that nothing will get rid of skunk odors completely.

3. Baking soda deodorizes a refrigerator.
True! But only to an extent. The chemical properties in baking soda will neutralize unpleasant odors caused by sour milk, tuna or cabbage but won't make them disappear entirely. To test baking soda's effectiveness, our food appliances lab placed an open jar of chopped garlic in two refrigerators for two days. In the first fridge, they put an open box of baking soda and let it sit for 24 hours. Then, they put the Institute's noses into action. The sniffing testers noted that there was less odor in the refrigerator that contained the baking soda, but that the odor still existed.

4. Ink marks disappear when treated with hair spray.
True! But only in limited situations. The GH Research Institute's appliances and cleaning products department stained cotton, polyester and poly/cotton fabrics with three ballpoint ink stains. Then, aerosol hair spray and pump hair spray were used to attack the stains on each fabric. The results? Pump and aerosol hair sprays removed only the ink stains from all-polyester fabrics. The stains were lightened, but still visible, on the poly/cotton and cotton fabrics. And the fabrics sprayed with hair spray were left sticky and stiff. So if you try this remedy, be sure to launder the clothes afterward.

5. Toothpaste will remove stains from clothing.
Myth! This one is still a myth in our book. The GH Research Institute's appliances and cleaning products applied four stains (Italian dressing, tomato sauce, coffee with milk and sugar, and ballpoint ink) to two sets of cotton, polyester and poly/cotton fabric swatches. Fluoride toothpaste was applied to one set of each of the stains on each of the fabrics. Then the clothes were machine-laundered in warm water and line-dried. No toothpaste was applied to the control set, but it was laundered and line-dried as well. The toothpaste didn't give great results. Only the ink stain on the cotton fabric came out with the toothpaste. And if you give an ink-stained shirt a brisk brushing with toothpaste, you'll still have to launder out the white, pasty stuff. "It's an expensive and ineffective way to treat stains," says home-care director Carolyn Forte "Stick to regular prewash products." She recommends Shout and Spray 'n Wash.

6. An extra potato de-salts the soup.
Myth! "It's just amazing. This myth travels like wildfire on Internet cooking and food sites," says Carol Wapner, associate director of the GH nutrition lab. "But if you oversalt your soup, a potato won't really help you." The GH Research Institute's nutrition and chemistry departments ran a test, putting 2 teaspoons of salt in cream of asparagus soup instead of the 1/4 teaspoon required, and measured the sodium content. Then, a peeled and quartered russet potato was stirred in for 15 minutes. A subsequent analysis revealed that the sodium concentrations were virtually the same with and without the potato. If you've really oversalted your soup, add water, a little bit at a time, to dilute the salt level. Just don't forget to adjust the other seasonings as well.

7. Cold chamomile tea in the wash water will reduce shrinkage.
Myth! File this one under the myth category. The GH Research Institute's appliances and cleaning products department took two identical men's cotton T-shirts and thoroughly measured them. Both were hand-washed, one in a solution of hot water, a cup of cold chamomile tea and laundry detergent; the other without the tea. They were both rinsed in cold water. Then, they were rinsed in cold water and hung dry. The addition of the tea to the water didn't significantly reduce the overall shrinkage of the shirt.

Apple released a hefty update for the iPhone on Thursday night.

The 2.2 software update is available through iTunes, and it's packed with lots of goodies. Apple released its 2.1 software update in September.

Some of the highlights of the update center on GPS and Google Maps. For example, version 2.2 includes Google Street View in Google Maps, which allows users to see a 360-degree view of locations taken with cameras mounted on Google's cars. It also added walking directions in Google maps with information on public transportation stops.

In addition, the iPhone can now download podcasts over the air using a Wi-Fi or 3G network. Previously, users had to download podcasts into iTunes on their computers and then sync their files. Now iPhone users can also turn off the auto-correction on the virtual keyboard, which I must say is a nice alternative to allowing the iPhone to guess what you're trying to type.

Other improvements include a bug fix for scheduled e-mail fetching, improved stability and performance for the Safari Web browser, improved phone quality to reduce dropped calls (hooray!), and improved sound quality in visual voice mail messages.

But there are still lots of things missing--for example, cutting and pasting. And the iPhone still doesn't support MMS messaging nor does it have GPS turn-by-turn directions.

The Transporter is back! The good guy, bad guy Frank Martin is back in the third installment of the The Transporter chronicle. This film will continue the story of Frank Martin, a professional "transporter" who has relocated to Paris to continue his low-key business of delivering packages without questions. This time Frank Martin, still played by the sexy Jason Statham, was hired by a criminal mastermind Tarconi (played by Francois Berland) to go on a mission to deliver a “package”. Frank agree to do the job, or shall we say “mission” according to Tarconi, with one condition, he’ll going to use his Audi A8 car. From what I’ve seen from the trailer, Frank awakens to find a device (probably a bomb) around his wrist which is programmed to explode, if he steps more than 75 feet away from his vehicle. With Frank Martin now electronically rigged, he must complete his so-called mission or die.


The Transporter 3, promised an action-packed adventure just like what we saw in the previous two Transporter saga, maybe be even more. Rumors say that there will be more sexy scenes between Jason Statham and his leading lady Natalya Rudakova who played the role of Valentina. The official trailer release by Lionsgate speaks pretty well about the movie. The plot of the story is really quite intriguing and it has a lot cool movie lines. And what I love is the Jason Statham half-naked scenes… ;-)


The Transporter 3 is to be shown on major theaters world wide on November 26, 2008.

Scientists in Switzerland are reporting that bacteria in the human mouth play a role in creating the distinctive flavors of certain foods. They found that these bacteria actually produce food odors from odorless components of food, allowing people to fully savor fruits and vegetables.Their study is scheduled for the November 12 edition of the ACS bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

In the study, Christian Starkenmann and colleagues point out that some fruits and vegetables release characteristic odors only after being swallowed. While scientists have previously reported that volatile compounds produced from precursors found in these foods are responsible for this 'retroaromatic' effect, the details of this transformation were not understood.

To fill that knowledge gap, the scientists performed sensory tests on 30 trained panelists to evaluate the odor intensity of volatile compounds – known as thiols – that are released from odorless sulfur compounds found naturally in grapes, onions, and bell peppers.

When given samples of the odorless compounds, it took participants 20 to 30 seconds to perceive the aroma of the thiols – and this perception persisted for three minutes. The researchers also determined that the odorless compounds are transformed into the thiols by anaerobic bacteria residing in the mouth – causing the characteristic 'retroaromatic' effect.

"The mouth acts as a reactor, adding another dimension to odor perceptions," they explain. However, the authors conclude, it is saliva's ability to trap these free thiols that helps modulate the long-lasting flavors.

Even though comedian Bernie Mac died at the age of 50 of pneumonia this past August, he still stars in two movies opening this weekend. He not only plays opposite Samuel L. Jackson in the endearingly foul-mouthed tale of two washed-up singers in "Soul Men." But he also lends his voice to DreamWorks' animated movie "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa." Here's a look at other film stars who died before the release of their final films.

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight

Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight Though he died of an accidental drug overdose this past January, a full seven months before "The Dark Knight" opened, Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker in Christopher Nolan's grim superhero blockbuster has already garnered Oscar talk. The Australian actor died while shooting Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," but a trio of other stars -- Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell -- stepped in to film the character's remaining scenes.

James Dean - Giant

James Dean - GiantDean was a mere 24 years old when he died in a car wreck in 1955. But in that short time, he starred in three movies and garnered two posthumous Oscar nominations, one for "East of Eden" and the other for "Giant."

Oliver Reed - Gladiator

Oliver Reed - GladiatorLegendary British actor Oliver Reed died of a heart attack during production of this epic sword and sandal flick. As a result, a number of his scenes had to be re-edited using a double, digital effects, and plenty of shadows.

Bruce Lee - Enter the Dragon

Bruce Lee - Enter the DragonBruce Lee died just three weeks before his breakout movie opened, killed suddenly by a cerebral edema. "Enter the Dragon" proved to be such a hit -- one of the most profitable movies of all time -- and there was such a demand for its departed star that Hong Kong soon started cranking out films with leads named Bruce Li, Bruce Lei, Brute Lee, and Lee Bruce.

Certain predicted technological revolutions are more myth than reality.

After all, TV phones and laserdiscs were hailed as the wave of the future and yet, despite influencing today's technology, they've gone by the wayside.

Social networking sites might have seemed as if they'd follow the same route, but all signs suggest they're here for the long haul.

Employers are checking job applicants' profiles on sites like Facebook, Brightfuse and LinkedIn, according to a recent CareerBuilder.com survey.

Twenty-two percent of employers say they use social networking sites when evaluating job candidates, and an additional 9 percent intend to do the same soon. Yet, only 16 percent of workers with social networking profiles have modified their pages with potential employers in mind.

What are they looking for?

Employers want to understand the candidates more and look beyond the resume.

"We can also learn a little about the candidate's culture fit and professionalism," says Kelly Vergara, executive director of human resources at digital marketing agency Resource Interactive. "We screen for culture above all else, so this is important."

Thirty-four percent of hiring managers chose not to hire a candidate based on what they found in profiles.

Controversial information, such as information about the candidate drinking or using drugs and inappropriate photographs, were the top reasons for dismissal. But job qualification was still a top priority, as evidence of poor communication skills, negative comments about a former employer and lies about qualification were the next most popular reasons not to hire someone.

Vergara and other hiring managers are also actively using these sites to seek out the right candidates. Of the hiring managers who use social networking sites for candidate research, 24 percent said profiles encouraged them to hire the job seekers. Forty percent of those hiring managers saw proof in the profiles that the employees were a good cultural fit.

"Our talent specialists post open positions on their Facebook [and LinkedIn pages]. Or if there is an upcoming career event, they will post on their profiles if they'll be there, and often individuals will reach out to meet in person."

If you want to use your profile to get hired or to at least keep your options open for a future job search, here are some dos and don'ts to keep in mind:

Do update your profile regularly

"Keep your profile updated, even when you're not looking for a job," recommends Patrice-Anne Rutledge, author of "The Truth About Profiting from Social Networking." "Recruiters love to find top-notch passive job candidates and having a current profile can help you land your dream job when you least expect it."

Don't badmouth your current or previous employer

You know that griping about your current boss is a grave error during an interview, and it's just as detrimental on your profile. Give hiring managers the idea that eventually you'll be tarnishing their image if you part ways with the company and you'll be crossed of their lists of candidates.

Also, if you're currently employed, don't forget any confidentiality and conduct agreements you've signed, Vergara reminds. You don't want to violate your contract and end up jobless while you hunt for a new position.

Do join groups...selectively

One of the fun elements of networking sites is that you can connect with other people who share your same interests and have your quirky sense of humor. Thus you end up with virtual groups like "I Drink More Beer than Water."

The silly group might seem harmless enough to you, but for a hiring manager trying to find a mature candidate for an open position, it doesn't leave a great impression.

"No one is going to hire the consultant doing the keg stand or the lawyer that belongs to the anarchist forum," says Patricia Sanchez-Abril, an expert on privacy and networking sites and professor of business law at the University of Miami. Instead opt for groups that show your professional aspirations or social involvement, such as an organization for advertising professionals or the charity you volunteer at.

Don't mention your job search if you're still employed

If your boss knows you're on the lookout for a new job, then by all means let it be known. However, if you're attempting to keep your search below the radar, Vergara recommends restraint. Even if your boss isn't your online friend, somebody can get the information back to him or her.

Do go on the offensive

If you want to use your networking profile as a tool, review the pictures you've uploaded, the personal information you've disclosed and any personal blogs or sites you've linked to. Don't wait until you're interviewing to go back and clean up your profile because the hiring manager probably already had a look.

"Get rid of your digital dirt," says Rutledge. "A large percentage of recruiters 'Google' potential candidates to see what they can find out about them -- both the good and the bad. Be sure that you don't have any information on social networks or other sites that could make a recruiter decide to pass on you as a job candidate."

Don't forget others can see your friends

Unless you've opted to keep your friends list private, your friends can see the contacts you've made. So in addition to keeping your friends' risque pictures and comments off of your profile, be cautious about whom you friend and when.

"Connecting to five people at Company XYZ after a day of vacation is a sure sign you are interviewing," Vergara cautions.

It seems a very long time ago, considering the barely-contained anticipation around new Bond movie "Quantum of Solace," that eyebrows were raised over Daniel Craig's initial casting as the super-cool spy.

Die-hard Bond fans, bloggers and critics worldwide couldn't map the rugged 40-year-old's bullish physicality onto suave James Bond, who's as famous for his sharp suits, womanizing and suggestive one-liners as for his espionage activities.

But no one was more astonished than Craig himself. "I never expected to be playing the part. That was the biggest surprise to me," he told CNN in London, where the new film premieres in Leicester Square Wednesday.

Craig, a self-confessed Bond fan, quickly quieted critics with the huge success of his first film, "Casino Royale." It pulled in $594 million worldwide, more than any previous Bond movie, and firmly established a new breed of Bond for the 21st century.

Craig's second outing as the super spy picks up where "Casino Royale" left off -- the first time there has been such a direct sequel in the 22 movies of the Bond series, something which critics say is one of the movie's major strengths.

Bond is seeking revenge after his lover, Vesper Lynd, is killed at the end of "Casino Royale."

British film critic James Christopher describes him as a "darker, more bare-knuckled" Bond than any of his suave predecessors.

For Craig, though, the challenge was to live up to earlier Bond movies: "The early movies changed the face of movies in the 60s, they went on location, they presented a style that has been adopted in movie making since then," he told CNN.

"I would like people to look at these movies in a few years and say 'Yeah, they stand up as good movies," he continued.

"Quantum of Solace" director Marc Forster was also daunted by the pressures of producing a follow-up to "Casino Royale."

"I was very hesitant at the beginning," the 39-year-old German revealed to CNN. "'Casino Royale' was so successful and expectations were so high that I felt like the pressure will be enormous."

Admittedly, with his previous films including a biopic of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, "Finding Neverland" and 2007's adaptation of Khaled Hosseini's bestselling novel, "The Kite Runner," he doesn't seem the immediate choice to direct the latest high-octane installment in the world's most famous spy franchise.

Possibly the key to the film's success is the close relationship rapidly established by the Forster and his leading man.

"Thankfully, we kind of met up and we just sort of clicked," Craig remembers, "We both had very similar ideas about what we wanted, similar taste in movies."

"It was different from any film I had made before," Forster told CNN. "I would work with an actor who had basically created the character already ... he would play the character and I would sort of come into his world," he continued.

MGM, the studio behind "Quantum of Solace," is obviously pleased with the results so far: they have signed Craig up for a further four movies.

An amazing image of a mammoth spider devouring a bird was taken in the backyard of a property near Cairns, Australia.

The image, which is being cirulated via e-mail worldwide, is real, according to wildlife experts, The Cairns Post reported.

The photo, believed to have been taken earlier this week, shows the spider clenching its legs around a lifeless bird trapped in a web at a property near Atherton, west of Cairns.

Joel Shakespeare, the head spider keeper at NSW's Australian Reptile Park, said the spider was a golden orb weaver.

"Normally they prey on large insects, it's unusual to see one eating a bird," he said. Shakepeare said he had seen golden orb weaver spiders as big as a human hand but the northern species in tropical areas were known to grow larger.

Shakespeare said the bird, a chestnut-breasted mannikin which appears frozen in an angel-like pose in the pictures, is likely to have flown into the web and got caught.

"It wouldn't eat the whole bird," he said.

French scientists have unveiled a working prototype of a fully artificial heart which is based on the technology of satellites and airplanes.

The Nepali festival Tihar is also known by many names such as Dipawali or Bhai Tika or Laxmi Puja or as a festival of lights. It is a five-days festival, which comes soon after the Dashain Festival, and Tihar is all about worshiping of different animals such as crow, dog, cow, and worshiping of the Hindu Goddess of Fortune or Wealth (Goddess Laxmi), and cooking great meals at home, brothers and sisters shopping for gifts, flying kites, decorating homes and streets, playing cards with friends, resting and relaxing, and finally ending the festival with an exchange of a special temporary mark on forehead (tika in Nepali). The last day of the festival is known as Tika day or popularly known as Bhai Tika day (Bhai in Nepali means Brother). To sum up Tihar festival, Tihar is the festival when sisters wish a long life to their brothers (Bhai)!

Tihar is a festival for brothers and sisters, but What if you are a brother without a sister or a sister without a brother. Well, you can make one by accepting someone close to you in your relatives. If nothing works, you find one among your friends and neighbors, it becomes almost as if it was real. Whom ever you made your sister or brother remains so for life, and each year this festival makes your bond stronger. Tihar is a festival of sisters wishing a long life to their brothers, and Tihar is the most popular festival in Nepal. So hold on to your topi (hat), loads of excitement and fun are coming at you now!