Having a million-dollar portfolio is a retirement dream for many people. Making that dream come true requires some serious effort. While success is never a sure thing, the 10 steps outlined below will go a long way toward helping you achieve your objective.
1. Set the Goal
Nobody plans to fail, but plenty of people fail to plan. It's a cliché, but it's true. "Plan" is the leading self-help advice from athletes, business moguls and everyday people who have achieved extraordinary goals.
2. Start Saving
If you don't save, you'll never reach your goal. As obvious as this might seems, far too many people never even start to save. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, enrolling in the plan is a great way to put your savings on autopilot. Simply sign up for the plan and contributions will be automatically taken out of your paycheck, increasing your savings and decreasing your immediate tax liability.
If your employer offers to match your contributions up to a certain percentage, be sure to contribute enough to get the full match. It's like getting a guaranteed return on your investment. Finding the cash to stash may be a challenge, particularly when you're young, but don't let that stop you from pursuing future riches.
3. Get Aggressive
Studies have shown that the majority of the returns generated by an investment are dictated by the asset-allocation decision. If you are looking to grow your wealth over time, fixed-income investments aren't likely to get the job done, and inflation can take a big chunk out of your savings.
Investing in equities entails more risk, but is also statistically likely to lead to greater returns. For many of us, it's a risk we have to take if want to see our wealth grow. Asset-allocation strategies can help you learn how to make picking the right mix of securities the core of your investing strategy.
4. Prepare for Rainy Days
Part of long-term planning involves accepting the idea that setbacks will occur. If you are not prepared, these setbacks can put a stop to your savings efforts. While you can't avoid all of the bumps in the road, you can prepare in advance to mitigate the damage they can do.
5. Save More
Your income should rise as time passes. You'll get raises, you'll change jobs, and maybe you'll get married and become a two-income family. Every time more cash comes in to your pocket, you should increase the amount that you save. The key to reaching your goal as quickly as possible is to save as much as you can.
6. Watch Your Spending
Vacations, car, kids and all of life's other expenses take a big chunk out of your paycheck. To maximize your savings, you need to minimize your spending. Buying a home you can afford and living a lifestyle that is below your means and not funded by credit cards are all necessities if you want to boost your savings.
7. Monitor Your Portfolio
There's no need to obsess over every movement of the Dow. Instead, check your portfolio once a year. Rebalance your asset allocation to keep on track with your plan.
8. Max Out Your Options
Take advantage of every savings opportunity that comes your way. Make the maximum contribution to tax-deferred savings plans and then open up a taxable account too. Don't let any chance to save get away.
9. Catch-Up Contributions
When you reach age50, you are eligible to increase contributions to tax-deferred savings plans. Take advantage of this opportunity!
10. Have Patience
"Get-rich-quick" schemes are usually just that - schemes. The power of compounding takes time, so invest early, invest often and accept that the road to riches is often long and slow. With that in mind, the sooner you get started, the better your odds of achieving your goals.
The Reality Of Retirement
Retirement might seem far away, but it when it arrives nobody ever complains about having too much money. Some people even question whether a million dollars is enough.
That said, with lots of planning and discipline, you can reach your retirement goals and live a comfortable life after work.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Spell Your Name
Grabbed from Ate Meiyah:
Spell your name using these letters:
R: You love to kiss
O: Best kisser ever
B: You love a certain someone
E: You Are Great
R: You love to kiss
T: You are loyal to the ones you love
A: Best Gf/Bf any one could have
B: You love a certain someone
C: People cant help but check u out
D: You are really lovable
E: You Are Great
F: Easy to fall in love with
G: You never let people tell you what to do
H: You have a very good personality and good looks
I: People love you
J: People Adore you
K: You’re wild and crazy
L: AWESOME KISSER
M: Handsome/Beautiful
N: Easy to fall in love with
O: Best kisser ever
P: You are popular with all types of people
Q: You are a hypocrite
R: You love to kiss
S: You are freakin crazy
T: You are loyal to the ones you love
U: You really like to chill
V: your not judgmental
W: You are popular
X: You never let people tell you
Y: Sexiest bitch alive
Z: Never good enough…
Grab this friends, would love to see the spelling of your names...wink*
Spell your name using these letters:
R: You love to kiss
O: Best kisser ever
B: You love a certain someone
E: You Are Great
R: You love to kiss
T: You are loyal to the ones you love
A: Best Gf/Bf any one could have
B: You love a certain someone
C: People cant help but check u out
D: You are really lovable
E: You Are Great
F: Easy to fall in love with
G: You never let people tell you what to do
H: You have a very good personality and good looks
I: People love you
J: People Adore you
K: You’re wild and crazy
L: AWESOME KISSER
M: Handsome/Beautiful
N: Easy to fall in love with
O: Best kisser ever
P: You are popular with all types of people
Q: You are a hypocrite
R: You love to kiss
S: You are freakin crazy
T: You are loyal to the ones you love
U: You really like to chill
V: your not judgmental
W: You are popular
X: You never let people tell you
Y: Sexiest bitch alive
Z: Never good enough…
Grab this friends, would love to see the spelling of your names...wink*
Thursday, October 23, 2008
SEM BREAK!
School ended last week, meaning no more studying and making projects, so me and my high school friends decide to go the beach. It was really fun, even thought we weren't complete, still we enjoyed the beach. Here are the pics:
I really enjoyed this trip. I'm gonna miss this.
I really enjoyed this trip. I'm gonna miss this.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
I Don't Love You
I just think you're special in a certain way...
It's not about the way you look or how you carry yourself
But i think it's because of the unique person deep inside.
In all ways you are dear to me.
It's not because i think of you most of the time.
nor i imagine being with you when I'm alone, or even spend
my quiet moments recalling what we talked about of the funny things we did.
Yup, I would admit it was fun being with you...
but still I don't love you. That's it.
However, i do admit (and you may call it kinda' strange)
That this feeling is something new and exciting...
knowing you is such a kick deep inside.
Ok, i'll admit it. I long for your company
and i want to be with you most of the
time like shall we say... all of the time.
Down the line, i don't want this feeling to stop.
It will kill me if it does.
Ok, i'll stop pretending... I don't just love you.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
It's not about the way you look or how you carry yourself
But i think it's because of the unique person deep inside.
In all ways you are dear to me.
It's not because i think of you most of the time.
nor i imagine being with you when I'm alone, or even spend
my quiet moments recalling what we talked about of the funny things we did.
Yup, I would admit it was fun being with you...
but still I don't love you. That's it.
However, i do admit (and you may call it kinda' strange)
That this feeling is something new and exciting...
knowing you is such a kick deep inside.
Ok, i'll admit it. I long for your company
and i want to be with you most of the
time like shall we say... all of the time.
Down the line, i don't want this feeling to stop.
It will kill me if it does.
Ok, i'll stop pretending... I don't just love you.
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!
Monday, October 20, 2008
RELATIONSHIPS Redbook Dating 101: The Truth About Why Men Cheat
48% of men rated emotional dissatisfaction as the primary reason they cheated.
So much for the myth that for men, cheating is all about physical intimacy: Only 8 percent of men said that physical dissatisfaction was the main factor in their infidelity. "Our culture tells us that all men need to be happy is to have physical intimacy with someone," Neuman says. "But men are emotionally driven beings too. They want their wives to show them that they're appreciated, and they want women to understand how hard they're trying to get things right." The problem is that men are less likely than women to express these feelings, so you won't always know when your guy is in need of a little affirmation. "Most men consider it unmanly to ask for a pat on the back, which is why their emotional needs are often overlooked," Neuman says. "But you can create a marital culture of appreciation and thoughtfulness -- and once you set the tone, he's likely to match it."
66% of cheating men report feeling guilt during the affair.
The implications are a little scary: It isn't just uncaring jerks who cheat. In fact, 68 percent of cheaters never dreamed they'd be unfaithful, and almost all of them wished they hadn't done it, Neuman says. Clearly, guilt isn't enough to stop a man from cheating. "Men are good at compartmentalizing feelings," Neuman explains. "They can hold on to their emotions and deal with them later." So even if your partner swears he would never cheat, don't assume it can't happen. It's important for both of you to take steps toward creating the relationship you want.
77% of cheating men have a good friend who cheated.
Hanging around friends who stray makes cheating seem normal and legitimizes it as a possibility. The message he's subconsciously telling himself: "My friend is a good guy who happens to be cheating on his wife. I guess even the best of us do it." You can't simply ban your husband from hanging out with Mr. Wandering Eyes, Neuman says, but you can request that they spend their time together in an environment that offers less temptation, like at a sporting event or a restaurant for lunch rather than at a bar or club. Another strategy: Build your social circle around happily married couples that share your values -- it'll create an environment that supports marriage.
40% of cheating men met the other woman at work.
"Oftentimes the woman he cheats with at the office is someone who praises him, looks up to him, and compliments his efforts," Neuman says. "That's another reason why it's so critical that he feel valued at home." Luckily, there's a clear warning sign that your husband is getting a little too cozy with a colleague: If he praises or mentions the name of a female coworker more than he would a male counterpart, your antennae should go up -- and it's time for the two of you to set boundaries about what is and isn't okay at work, Neuman says. Is it acceptable for him to work late if it's only him and her? Can they travel together to conferences? Have dinners out to discuss a project? Ask him what he'd feel comfortable with you doing with a male colleague.
Only 12% of cheating men said their mistress was more physically attractive than their wife.
n other words, a man doesn't stray because he thinks he'll get lucky with a better looking body. " In most cases, he's cheating to fill an emotional void," Neuman says. "He feels a connection with the other woman, and physical intimacy comes along for the ride." If you're worried about infidelity, focus on making your relationship more loving and connected, not on getting your body just right or mastering how to please him physically. (But know that physical intimacy does matter -- it's one of the key ways your guy expresses his love and feels close to you, so be sure to keep it a priority.)
Only 6% of cheating men had physical intimacy with a woman after meeting her that same day or night.
Actually, 73 percent of men got to know the other woman for more than a month before they cheated. This means that you may have time to see the warning signs before infidelity occurs -- you might even see it coming before he does. Keep an eye out for these common signals: He spends more time away from home, stops asking for physical intimacy, picks fights more frequently, or avoids your calls. Your gut reaction may be to confront him, but most men will deny even thinking about cheating, especially if nothing physical has occurred yet. Instead, Neuman suggests, take charge of what you can control -- your own behavior -- and take the lead in bringing your relationship to a better place. Don't hesitate to show your appreciation for him, prioritize time together, and initiate affection more. Give him a reason to keep you at the front of his mind, Neuman says. And be open about how you feel about what's going on between the two of you (again, without mentioning any third parties). Try "I think we've started to lose something important in our relationship, and I don't want it to disappear." In the meantime, commit to keeping tabs on your relationship and doing what it takes to keep it working for you.
So much for the myth that for men, cheating is all about physical intimacy: Only 8 percent of men said that physical dissatisfaction was the main factor in their infidelity. "Our culture tells us that all men need to be happy is to have physical intimacy with someone," Neuman says. "But men are emotionally driven beings too. They want their wives to show them that they're appreciated, and they want women to understand how hard they're trying to get things right." The problem is that men are less likely than women to express these feelings, so you won't always know when your guy is in need of a little affirmation. "Most men consider it unmanly to ask for a pat on the back, which is why their emotional needs are often overlooked," Neuman says. "But you can create a marital culture of appreciation and thoughtfulness -- and once you set the tone, he's likely to match it."
66% of cheating men report feeling guilt during the affair.
The implications are a little scary: It isn't just uncaring jerks who cheat. In fact, 68 percent of cheaters never dreamed they'd be unfaithful, and almost all of them wished they hadn't done it, Neuman says. Clearly, guilt isn't enough to stop a man from cheating. "Men are good at compartmentalizing feelings," Neuman explains. "They can hold on to their emotions and deal with them later." So even if your partner swears he would never cheat, don't assume it can't happen. It's important for both of you to take steps toward creating the relationship you want.
77% of cheating men have a good friend who cheated.
Hanging around friends who stray makes cheating seem normal and legitimizes it as a possibility. The message he's subconsciously telling himself: "My friend is a good guy who happens to be cheating on his wife. I guess even the best of us do it." You can't simply ban your husband from hanging out with Mr. Wandering Eyes, Neuman says, but you can request that they spend their time together in an environment that offers less temptation, like at a sporting event or a restaurant for lunch rather than at a bar or club. Another strategy: Build your social circle around happily married couples that share your values -- it'll create an environment that supports marriage.
40% of cheating men met the other woman at work.
"Oftentimes the woman he cheats with at the office is someone who praises him, looks up to him, and compliments his efforts," Neuman says. "That's another reason why it's so critical that he feel valued at home." Luckily, there's a clear warning sign that your husband is getting a little too cozy with a colleague: If he praises or mentions the name of a female coworker more than he would a male counterpart, your antennae should go up -- and it's time for the two of you to set boundaries about what is and isn't okay at work, Neuman says. Is it acceptable for him to work late if it's only him and her? Can they travel together to conferences? Have dinners out to discuss a project? Ask him what he'd feel comfortable with you doing with a male colleague.
Only 12% of cheating men said their mistress was more physically attractive than their wife.
n other words, a man doesn't stray because he thinks he'll get lucky with a better looking body. " In most cases, he's cheating to fill an emotional void," Neuman says. "He feels a connection with the other woman, and physical intimacy comes along for the ride." If you're worried about infidelity, focus on making your relationship more loving and connected, not on getting your body just right or mastering how to please him physically. (But know that physical intimacy does matter -- it's one of the key ways your guy expresses his love and feels close to you, so be sure to keep it a priority.)
Only 6% of cheating men had physical intimacy with a woman after meeting her that same day or night.
Actually, 73 percent of men got to know the other woman for more than a month before they cheated. This means that you may have time to see the warning signs before infidelity occurs -- you might even see it coming before he does. Keep an eye out for these common signals: He spends more time away from home, stops asking for physical intimacy, picks fights more frequently, or avoids your calls. Your gut reaction may be to confront him, but most men will deny even thinking about cheating, especially if nothing physical has occurred yet. Instead, Neuman suggests, take charge of what you can control -- your own behavior -- and take the lead in bringing your relationship to a better place. Don't hesitate to show your appreciation for him, prioritize time together, and initiate affection more. Give him a reason to keep you at the front of his mind, Neuman says. And be open about how you feel about what's going on between the two of you (again, without mentioning any third parties). Try "I think we've started to lose something important in our relationship, and I don't want it to disappear." In the meantime, commit to keeping tabs on your relationship and doing what it takes to keep it working for you.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Insomnia
It's 3:30 am in the morning and I'm still awake. I find it hard to sleep these days, maybe because it's our sem break. Ever wondered what is the cause of sleeping late or what others call "INSOMNIA".
Actually I really don't know.
But, studies show that approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia occurs 1.4 times more commonly in women than in men.
Man i really need to go now. Just wanted to update my posts. More to come.
Actually I really don't know.
But, studies show that approximately 64 million Americans suffer from insomnia each year. Insomnia occurs 1.4 times more commonly in women than in men.
Man i really need to go now. Just wanted to update my posts. More to come.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Song of the day
My love,
There's only you in my life
The only thing that's bright
My first love,
You're every breath that I take
You're every step I make
And i
(i-i-i-i-i)
I want to share
All my love with you
No one else will do...
And your eyes
Your eyes, your eyes
They tell me how much you care
Ooh yes, you will always be
My endless love
Two hearts,
Two hearts that beat as one
Our lives have just begun
Forever
(ohhhhhh)
I'll hold you close in my arms
I can't resist your charms
And love
Oh, love
I'll be a fool
For you,
I'm sure
You know I don't mind
Oh, you know I don't mind
'cause you,
You mean the world to me
Oh
I know
I know
I've found in you
My endless love
Oooh-woow
Boom, boom
Boom, boom, boom, boom, booom
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom
Oooh, and love
Oh, love
I'll be that fool
For you,
I'm sure
You know I don't mind
Oh you know
I don't mind
And, yes
You'll be the only one
'cause no one can deny
This love I have inside
And I'll give it all to you
My love
My love, my love
My endless love
Victoria Beckham's Housekeepers Arrested for Alleged Theft
Two housekeepers who work for David and Victoria Beckham have been arrested for suspicion of theft.
Police busted Eric Emmett, 55, and his wife June, 56, as well as a 25-year-old man, after several of the Beckham couple's items -- including Victoria's dresses and David's soccer memorabilia -- ended up on eBay, the Associated Press reports.
Eric Emmett told BBC News the allegations are "nonsense."
While no charges have been filed, police issued the following statement:
"We are currently investigating an allegation of theft from a private address in Sawbridgeworth. The theft was reported to police at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2008. A 56-year-old woman from Essex and a 55-year-old man, also from Essex, have been arrested in connection with this incident and are currently on police bail."
Added an eBay rep: "If it transpires that our site was being used to list stolen goods then we will work with the police to press for the harshest penalties."
Police busted Eric Emmett, 55, and his wife June, 56, as well as a 25-year-old man, after several of the Beckham couple's items -- including Victoria's dresses and David's soccer memorabilia -- ended up on eBay, the Associated Press reports.
Eric Emmett told BBC News the allegations are "nonsense."
While no charges have been filed, police issued the following statement:
"We are currently investigating an allegation of theft from a private address in Sawbridgeworth. The theft was reported to police at 4:45 p.m. on Friday, October 10, 2008. A 56-year-old woman from Essex and a 55-year-old man, also from Essex, have been arrested in connection with this incident and are currently on police bail."
Added an eBay rep: "If it transpires that our site was being used to list stolen goods then we will work with the police to press for the harshest penalties."
Monday, October 13, 2008
5 Salary Secrets Your Company Won't Tell You
It's normal to wonder how and why you get paid the salary you do. After all, it's not a decision process most employers are willing to disclose, at least not without a little prodding. So what are the best-kept secrets when it comes to salary decisions at most companies? And how can you use them to your advantage? Let's take a look.
1. For most companies, 3.9% is the average budget increase for salaries.
Yes, sad but true. According to the 35th annual WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey, the "actual increase in salary budgets was 3.9% in 2008." The number is expected to stay the same in 2009.
This means, that for most U.S. workers, the average raise will be about the same, with "high performers" receiving about a 5% raise, and "low performers" receiving 2% or less, the survey authors note.
"When people are looking for 6-8%, well, very few people are getting it," says Rebecca Mazin, co-founder of the HR consulting firm Recruit Right and author of "The HR Answer Book: An Indispensable Guide for Managers and Human Resources Professionals."
Knowing this can make it easier to stomach a 4% raise -- while it may not equal big money, it actually means your employer values you. Anything more means you're likely considered a top performer, and anything less means you may be underperforming.
2. Your employer (or future employer) may not know the current salary averages.
Just because a whole wealth of salary information is online these days doesn't mean your company has any idea what the normal salary is for a person in your field and in your city. If you do your research and discover your salary is abnormally low, it can be a great negotiation tool when you talk to your boss about your annual raise -- or when you're accepting a new job offer. He or she will realize they could easily lose you since many competitors nearby are paying better.
"You need to go in with some data behind you; you at least need to know what the going rate is," says Dawn Rosenberg McKay of About.com Guide to Career Planning. "[That way] you'll know if you're being outlandish or asking for something ridiculous."
3. Most managers have a short memory.
Raises are given annually, and so it's important to keep track of all your achievements within the past year -- don't expect your boss to remember your big project from eight months ago. Using a spreadsheet or a special email folder, keep track of your accomplishments as they happen, so when the time comes, you have a strong case for a raise.
Accomplishments that show you've either saved the company money or earned the company money are the best ones to highlight, especially if you can specify an exact figure. If that's not possible (which is the case for most employees), take note of any extraordinary praise you received from managers or fellow coworkers, any special thanks from clients, and any other ways that demonstrated you went above and beyond your normal job duties.
4. Your manager probably has little influence over your salary.
Decisions about salary increases for all employees at a company are often made at a high level of management. So, even if you follow all the tips above, your manager may have minimal control over your raise. Case in point: Mazin recently worked with a nonprofit organization whose board decided to give every employee the exact same raise.
There's not a lot you can do in this situation, but if it leaves you feeling dissatisfied or taken for granted, it may be time to look for a new job.
5. Threatening to quit can result in a big wage increase (but it's risky).
If you're hoping for a big raise, or were disappointed by a recent raise, you may want to start job searching. For most people, the biggest salary jumps they have in their careers occur when they get a new job or threaten to quit because of a tantalizing job offer.
Sometimes, telling your current employer about your new gig can be a potent bargaining chip -- they may be willing to match the new offer just to keep you. But not always, as Mazin points out, so don't let your plan backfire. Make sure you really want that new job -- and are ready to quit your current one -- before threatening to quit.
"If you do decide to do it, do it for the right reasons," Mazin says.
1. For most companies, 3.9% is the average budget increase for salaries.
Yes, sad but true. According to the 35th annual WorldatWork Salary Budget Survey, the "actual increase in salary budgets was 3.9% in 2008." The number is expected to stay the same in 2009.
This means, that for most U.S. workers, the average raise will be about the same, with "high performers" receiving about a 5% raise, and "low performers" receiving 2% or less, the survey authors note.
"When people are looking for 6-8%, well, very few people are getting it," says Rebecca Mazin, co-founder of the HR consulting firm Recruit Right and author of "The HR Answer Book: An Indispensable Guide for Managers and Human Resources Professionals."
Knowing this can make it easier to stomach a 4% raise -- while it may not equal big money, it actually means your employer values you. Anything more means you're likely considered a top performer, and anything less means you may be underperforming.
2. Your employer (or future employer) may not know the current salary averages.
Just because a whole wealth of salary information is online these days doesn't mean your company has any idea what the normal salary is for a person in your field and in your city. If you do your research and discover your salary is abnormally low, it can be a great negotiation tool when you talk to your boss about your annual raise -- or when you're accepting a new job offer. He or she will realize they could easily lose you since many competitors nearby are paying better.
"You need to go in with some data behind you; you at least need to know what the going rate is," says Dawn Rosenberg McKay of About.com Guide to Career Planning. "[That way] you'll know if you're being outlandish or asking for something ridiculous."
3. Most managers have a short memory.
Raises are given annually, and so it's important to keep track of all your achievements within the past year -- don't expect your boss to remember your big project from eight months ago. Using a spreadsheet or a special email folder, keep track of your accomplishments as they happen, so when the time comes, you have a strong case for a raise.
Accomplishments that show you've either saved the company money or earned the company money are the best ones to highlight, especially if you can specify an exact figure. If that's not possible (which is the case for most employees), take note of any extraordinary praise you received from managers or fellow coworkers, any special thanks from clients, and any other ways that demonstrated you went above and beyond your normal job duties.
4. Your manager probably has little influence over your salary.
Decisions about salary increases for all employees at a company are often made at a high level of management. So, even if you follow all the tips above, your manager may have minimal control over your raise. Case in point: Mazin recently worked with a nonprofit organization whose board decided to give every employee the exact same raise.
There's not a lot you can do in this situation, but if it leaves you feeling dissatisfied or taken for granted, it may be time to look for a new job.
5. Threatening to quit can result in a big wage increase (but it's risky).
If you're hoping for a big raise, or were disappointed by a recent raise, you may want to start job searching. For most people, the biggest salary jumps they have in their careers occur when they get a new job or threaten to quit because of a tantalizing job offer.
Sometimes, telling your current employer about your new gig can be a potent bargaining chip -- they may be willing to match the new offer just to keep you. But not always, as Mazin points out, so don't let your plan backfire. Make sure you really want that new job -- and are ready to quit your current one -- before threatening to quit.
"If you do decide to do it, do it for the right reasons," Mazin says.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Search: Palace: Strong banking sector shielded RP from crisis
The Philippine financial system is not likely to crash like its American counterpart due to the conservative and prudent stance of local banks and monetary authorities, President Arroyo said yesterday.
Mrs. Arroyo though admitted the US financial crisis "appears deeper than most anticipated."
She said "any slowdown or even recession in the US is not good for the global economy."
In her speech at the opening ceremonies of the Agrilink/Foodlink/Aqualink 2008 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the President also announced her signing into law of the Credit Information System bill to further strengthen the country's financial system.
She said the global credit crunch has proven the country has a strong banking sector that can be exploited by businesses wanting to expand.
"The potential exposure of our banking sector to the asset deflation triggered by the subprime mortgage losses in the US accounts for less than one percent of their total system assets here in the Philippines," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"This exposure is fully reserved, our banks are well-capitalized, and the innate conser-vativism of our bankers is matched by the prudence of our regulators," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo added the government would increase its spending on infrastructure and social projects to keep the economy going amid a global economic crisis.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, on the other hand, said the government is ready to provide assistance to affected sectors in the country in the wake of the financial meltdown in the US.
Teves said that previous gains on the country's fiscal consolidation efforts have given the Philippines more room to assist other sectors.
Teves also said the Philippine economy has shown resilience in the face of global market uncertainties.
"While we are not completely insulated from these external shocks, we can withstand further pressures if we continue to be vigilant and maintain confidence in our country," he said.
The Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP) also expressed optimism that the Philippine banking system will survive the financial meltdown in the US.
FMAP, which has 44 member institutions and 100 investment professionals, urged the investment community to remain calm.
The group said the Philippines cannot be totally immune from the negative impact of the crisis but its possible effects on the country would be minimal.
"Though volatility may persist, we are confident of the sound macro fundamentals of the Philippine economy and the resiliency of the Philippine financial markets," FMAP said. - Paolo Romero With Iris Gonzales (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Mrs. Arroyo though admitted the US financial crisis "appears deeper than most anticipated."
She said "any slowdown or even recession in the US is not good for the global economy."
In her speech at the opening ceremonies of the Agrilink/Foodlink/Aqualink 2008 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the President also announced her signing into law of the Credit Information System bill to further strengthen the country's financial system.
She said the global credit crunch has proven the country has a strong banking sector that can be exploited by businesses wanting to expand.
"The potential exposure of our banking sector to the asset deflation triggered by the subprime mortgage losses in the US accounts for less than one percent of their total system assets here in the Philippines," Mrs. Arroyo said.
"This exposure is fully reserved, our banks are well-capitalized, and the innate conser-vativism of our bankers is matched by the prudence of our regulators," she said.
Mrs. Arroyo added the government would increase its spending on infrastructure and social projects to keep the economy going amid a global economic crisis.
Finance Secretary Margarito Teves, on the other hand, said the government is ready to provide assistance to affected sectors in the country in the wake of the financial meltdown in the US.
Teves said that previous gains on the country's fiscal consolidation efforts have given the Philippines more room to assist other sectors.
Teves also said the Philippine economy has shown resilience in the face of global market uncertainties.
"While we are not completely insulated from these external shocks, we can withstand further pressures if we continue to be vigilant and maintain confidence in our country," he said.
The Fund Managers Association of the Philippines (FMAP) also expressed optimism that the Philippine banking system will survive the financial meltdown in the US.
FMAP, which has 44 member institutions and 100 investment professionals, urged the investment community to remain calm.
The group said the Philippines cannot be totally immune from the negative impact of the crisis but its possible effects on the country would be minimal.
"Though volatility may persist, we are confident of the sound macro fundamentals of the Philippine economy and the resiliency of the Philippine financial markets," FMAP said. - Paolo Romero With Iris Gonzales (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)
Monday, October 6, 2008
VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol)
VoIP is a new generation telephone service which allows users make phone calls over a broadband internet connection to save money. Calls made using VoIP are significantly cheaper than calls made using a landline service; VoIP users can expect to save up to 100% off their normal landline telephone bill, you read it right, 100% totally free. All you need to do is plug the VoIP phone adaptor into a normal telephone and broadband modem and you can make calls the same as you normally would, plus the savings of course!
You may have heard a little about VoIP. VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol, which means your phone calls travel over the Internet, rather than the traditional phone lines. By bypassing the traditional phone lines, MyNetFone's VoIP phone service allows you to save a small fortune on your landline phone costs!
HOW DOES VOIP WORK?
MyNetFone converts your voice into IP packets to a server (MyNetFone) and then we switch the calls back over the internet, or to the public switched telephone network. MyNetFone takes the mystery out of it for you with plug and play VoIP phone adaptors. Once connected to a broadband internet connection and a regular telephone handset, the ‘converting' and ‘switching' is done automatically by MyNetFone via the VoIP phone adaptor. To make a call, you only need to dial the phone number, no different to your landline phone service. We will be providing you the number for your phone.
HOW DO I BENEFIT WITH THIS PRODUCT?
You can call your other family members abroad for free!yes free!all you need are two VoIP products!one for your family who lives abroad and one for your own!No need spending $0.10 USD per calls!calls are totally free!Buy now!
Contact this email address for more information about the product and it's delivery: crizzy_t@yahoo.com
You may have heard a little about VoIP. VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol, which means your phone calls travel over the Internet, rather than the traditional phone lines. By bypassing the traditional phone lines, MyNetFone's VoIP phone service allows you to save a small fortune on your landline phone costs!
HOW DOES VOIP WORK?
MyNetFone converts your voice into IP packets to a server (MyNetFone) and then we switch the calls back over the internet, or to the public switched telephone network. MyNetFone takes the mystery out of it for you with plug and play VoIP phone adaptors. Once connected to a broadband internet connection and a regular telephone handset, the ‘converting' and ‘switching' is done automatically by MyNetFone via the VoIP phone adaptor. To make a call, you only need to dial the phone number, no different to your landline phone service. We will be providing you the number for your phone.
HOW DO I BENEFIT WITH THIS PRODUCT?
You can call your other family members abroad for free!yes free!all you need are two VoIP products!one for your family who lives abroad and one for your own!No need spending $0.10 USD per calls!calls are totally free!Buy now!
Contact this email address for more information about the product and it's delivery: crizzy_t@yahoo.com
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Final curtain for the kimbo show
SUNRISE, Fla. – The legend of Kimbo Slice was built by beating bums in boat yards and back alleys not far from here. It came crashing down Saturday courtesy of a quick punch from a pink-haired journeyman giving up two inches in height, four in reach and 30 pounds in muscle and might.
One simple shot sent Slice to the canvas and from there some guy named Seth Petruzelli needed just 12 punches and 14 seconds to put an end (we hope) to one of the great sporting charades of all time.
It was just a matter of time before Kimbo got exposed. He was little more than a character out of central casting, a bunch of addictive YouTube videos and a lot of insane hype by CBS, which made him a headliner before he made himself a fighter.
He was the Kimbo the Cash Machine, everyone lining up to exploit the lie that this was the baddest man on earth as long as he could walk through hand-picked tomato cans.
Only this time his match with 44-year-old Ken Shamrock, who hadn’t won a fight in over four years, fell apart when Shamrock cut his eye in a light training session Saturday and was deemed unfit to fight by state officials.
In the scramble to find a suitable replacement that Slice couldn’t possibly lose to, EliteXC considered Shamrock’s brother, Frank, who was there to be CBS’s color commentator, hadn’t fought lately due to a broken arm and would have given up around 45 pounds. Despite all this, Frank likely would have submitted Kimbo in the first round.
When that matchup couldn’t happen (EliteXC said state officials wouldn’t clear him, Frank said they did but CBS blocked it), EliteXC promoters turned to Petruzelli. The Fort Myers, Fla., native had been dumped by the big-league UFC, was just 2-2 since 2004, had recently taken a year off to start a business, weighed just 205 (to Kimbo’s 235) and was so lightly regarded he was competing in the non-televised undercard.
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Despite the oft-repeated propaganda that Slice was a man of “courage” for taking a fight with this smaller guy who was likely to stand and trade punches anyway, EliteXC paid Kimbo a cash bonus just to get him to step into the cage.
“We made it up to him,” said Jeremy Lappen, EliteXC’s head of fight operations. He wouldn’t disclose the amount.
For the myth of Slice, the matchup may not be a 44-year-old on a losing streak or someone from the broadcast booth, but really, what was the worst thing that could happen?
“It didn’t feel too flush,” Petruzelli said of the first punch that apparently didn’t even need to land squarely to fell Kimbo.
Make no mistake – or listen to the EliteXC spin – this was a disaster for Slice and the company. “This is MMA, all the best have lost,” said Lappen. True, but Kimbo wasn’t defeated by a crafty Brazilian jiu-jitsu master. He wasn’t caught in a submission by an experienced wrestler. He didn’t lose a decision after a three-round brawl.
Those would be understandable considering his novice status.
Kimbo was KTFO by a guy he absolutely towered over yet was willing to bang with him anyway. Not that Kimbo did any banging. Slice charged him (“He was like a truck,” Petruzelli said) but he never actually landed a punch.
In the end, Kimbo’s hand speed, defense and chin proved incapable against even an average mixed martial artist. Which was pretty much what every hardcore fan had predicted.
Not that CBS didn’t keep up with the Slice willing to fight, “anyone, anywhere, at anytime.” This was a 100 percent true statement if “anyone, anywhere, at anytime” means “no one any good, anywhere, ever.”
Slice seemed stunned and a bit saddened at the turn of events. After it was over, he initially began wrestling the referee. Whether that was a protest for the decision or because he was dazed isn’t certain. Then he walked around the cage complaining to fans about the stoppage.
Later he walked out on his CBS interview (“Kimbo?” asked a stunned Gus Johnson), although not before inviting America to an after party at a local nightclub. Then he showed up 45 minutes late for the main press conference, where he gave a quick statement and bailed.
“I got my first black eye,” he laughed. He later turned to Petruzelli and joked, “You knocked me out in front of my family; that’s (expletive) up.”
Through it all Slice remained the only likable character of this foolish farce. He wasn’t the one claiming he was the best in the world. He was just a working-class dude who figured out how to beat the system and cash in on his 15 minutes of fleeting fame.
He’s got kids to feed and bills to pay and right to the end, he was milking bonuses out of the promotion, a one-time homeless man holding the Tiffany Network’s prime-time programming hostage. Only in America.
He was the grand actor in the middle of a three-ring circus, a tall tale that would eventually come tumbling down under the bright glare of reality.
Where Slice goes from here is anyone’s guess. He can’t rebuild his reputation without stepping up in competition from the guy who just beat him in seconds. He can’t headline a card and have anyone believe he’s legit. He can’t claim he, “just got caught” when it wasn’t some wild, roundhouse right or sneaky arm-bar that did him in.
The truth was always coming for Kimbo. Saturday it arrived sooner rather than later, the money train grinding to a halt courtesy of a smaller, less heralded fighter that no one can claim is some elite champion.
No, this was it. It’ll never be the same, not for the fighter and not, perhaps, for his entire promotion that just lost its signature star on top of the $58 million it’s burned the past two years.
Afterward, EliteXC execs tried to paint a bright future but admitted they needed a drink. Lower-level employees used gallows humor about finding new jobs.
Kimbo just said he was going home to see his kids.
In 14 seconds flat, the whole mirage was gone.
One simple shot sent Slice to the canvas and from there some guy named Seth Petruzelli needed just 12 punches and 14 seconds to put an end (we hope) to one of the great sporting charades of all time.
It was just a matter of time before Kimbo got exposed. He was little more than a character out of central casting, a bunch of addictive YouTube videos and a lot of insane hype by CBS, which made him a headliner before he made himself a fighter.
He was the Kimbo the Cash Machine, everyone lining up to exploit the lie that this was the baddest man on earth as long as he could walk through hand-picked tomato cans.
Only this time his match with 44-year-old Ken Shamrock, who hadn’t won a fight in over four years, fell apart when Shamrock cut his eye in a light training session Saturday and was deemed unfit to fight by state officials.
In the scramble to find a suitable replacement that Slice couldn’t possibly lose to, EliteXC considered Shamrock’s brother, Frank, who was there to be CBS’s color commentator, hadn’t fought lately due to a broken arm and would have given up around 45 pounds. Despite all this, Frank likely would have submitted Kimbo in the first round.
When that matchup couldn’t happen (EliteXC said state officials wouldn’t clear him, Frank said they did but CBS blocked it), EliteXC promoters turned to Petruzelli. The Fort Myers, Fla., native had been dumped by the big-league UFC, was just 2-2 since 2004, had recently taken a year off to start a business, weighed just 205 (to Kimbo’s 235) and was so lightly regarded he was competing in the non-televised undercard.
ADVERTISEMENT
Despite the oft-repeated propaganda that Slice was a man of “courage” for taking a fight with this smaller guy who was likely to stand and trade punches anyway, EliteXC paid Kimbo a cash bonus just to get him to step into the cage.
“We made it up to him,” said Jeremy Lappen, EliteXC’s head of fight operations. He wouldn’t disclose the amount.
For the myth of Slice, the matchup may not be a 44-year-old on a losing streak or someone from the broadcast booth, but really, what was the worst thing that could happen?
“It didn’t feel too flush,” Petruzelli said of the first punch that apparently didn’t even need to land squarely to fell Kimbo.
Make no mistake – or listen to the EliteXC spin – this was a disaster for Slice and the company. “This is MMA, all the best have lost,” said Lappen. True, but Kimbo wasn’t defeated by a crafty Brazilian jiu-jitsu master. He wasn’t caught in a submission by an experienced wrestler. He didn’t lose a decision after a three-round brawl.
Those would be understandable considering his novice status.
Kimbo was KTFO by a guy he absolutely towered over yet was willing to bang with him anyway. Not that Kimbo did any banging. Slice charged him (“He was like a truck,” Petruzelli said) but he never actually landed a punch.
In the end, Kimbo’s hand speed, defense and chin proved incapable against even an average mixed martial artist. Which was pretty much what every hardcore fan had predicted.
Not that CBS didn’t keep up with the Slice willing to fight, “anyone, anywhere, at anytime.” This was a 100 percent true statement if “anyone, anywhere, at anytime” means “no one any good, anywhere, ever.”
Slice seemed stunned and a bit saddened at the turn of events. After it was over, he initially began wrestling the referee. Whether that was a protest for the decision or because he was dazed isn’t certain. Then he walked around the cage complaining to fans about the stoppage.
Later he walked out on his CBS interview (“Kimbo?” asked a stunned Gus Johnson), although not before inviting America to an after party at a local nightclub. Then he showed up 45 minutes late for the main press conference, where he gave a quick statement and bailed.
“I got my first black eye,” he laughed. He later turned to Petruzelli and joked, “You knocked me out in front of my family; that’s (expletive) up.”
Through it all Slice remained the only likable character of this foolish farce. He wasn’t the one claiming he was the best in the world. He was just a working-class dude who figured out how to beat the system and cash in on his 15 minutes of fleeting fame.
He’s got kids to feed and bills to pay and right to the end, he was milking bonuses out of the promotion, a one-time homeless man holding the Tiffany Network’s prime-time programming hostage. Only in America.
He was the grand actor in the middle of a three-ring circus, a tall tale that would eventually come tumbling down under the bright glare of reality.
Where Slice goes from here is anyone’s guess. He can’t rebuild his reputation without stepping up in competition from the guy who just beat him in seconds. He can’t headline a card and have anyone believe he’s legit. He can’t claim he, “just got caught” when it wasn’t some wild, roundhouse right or sneaky arm-bar that did him in.
The truth was always coming for Kimbo. Saturday it arrived sooner rather than later, the money train grinding to a halt courtesy of a smaller, less heralded fighter that no one can claim is some elite champion.
No, this was it. It’ll never be the same, not for the fighter and not, perhaps, for his entire promotion that just lost its signature star on top of the $58 million it’s burned the past two years.
Afterward, EliteXC execs tried to paint a bright future but admitted they needed a drink. Lower-level employees used gallows humor about finding new jobs.
Kimbo just said he was going home to see his kids.
In 14 seconds flat, the whole mirage was gone.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Bailout bill gains momentum on House floor
WASHINGTON - After a week of tumult, an unprecedented government bailout of the financial industry gained ground in the House on Friday and leaders in both political parties expressed optimism the $700 billion measure would clear Congress by day's end for President Bush's signature.
With the election-year economy showing fresh signs of weakness on several fronts, the measure advanced past a key hurdle on a 223-205 vote.
An Associated Press tally showed 29 lawmakers who sent an earlier bailout bill to unexpected defeat on Monday had changed their minds and would vote in favor of the revised legislation, far more than the dozen needed. Officials said changes made to the measure had sparked a far smaller number of defections among previous supporters.
"I'm optimistic about today. We're not going to take anything for granted but it's time to act," said House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio.
"I think it will pass," agreed Rep. Jim Clyburn, the chief Democratic vote-counter, as debate unfolded in the House chamber.
On Wall Street, stocks surged ahead of the vote as the Dow Jones industrial averate rose nearly 150 points.
The Senate passed the measure earlier in the week on a bipartisan vote of 74-25, and Bush has repeatedly urged Congress to send the bailout to him swiftly to prevent even further economic deterioration.
"No matter what we do or what we pass, there are still tough times out there. People are mad — I'm mad," said Republican Rep. J. Gresham Barrett of South Carolina, who opposed the measure the first time it came to a vote. Now, he said, "We have to act. We have to act now."
Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., another convert, said, "I have decided that the cost of doing nothing is greater than the cost of doing something."
Critics were unrelenting.
"How can we have capitalism on the way up and socialism on the way down," said Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, a leader among conservative Republicans who oppose the central thrust of the legislation — an unprecedented federal intervention into the private capital markets.
It was little more than two weeks ago that Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke concluded that the economy was in such danger that a massive government intervention in the private markets was essential.
The core of the plan remains little changed from its inception — the Treasury Department would have $700 billion at its disposal to purchase bad mortage-related securities that are weighing down the balance sheets of institutions that hold them. The flow of credit has slowed, in some cases drying up, threatening the ability of businesses to conduct routine operations or expand.
At the same time, lawmakers have dramatically changed the measure, insisting on greater congressional supervision over the $700 billion, taking measures to protect taxpayers, and insisting on steps to crack down on so-called "golden parachutes" that go to corporate executives whose companies fail.
Earlier in the week, the legislation was altered to expand the federal insurance program for individual bank deposits, and the Securities and Exchange Commission took steps to ease the impact of the questionable mortgage-backed securities on financial institutions.
In the moments before the vote, Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, pledged "serious surgery" next year to address the underlying causes of the crisis.
If anything, the economic news added to the sense of urgency.
The Labor Department said initial claims for jobless benefits had increased last week to the highest level since the gloomy days after the 2001 terror attacks. Employers slashed 159,000 jobs from their payrolls, the most in five years. That came on top of Thursday's Commerce Department report that factory orders in August plunged by 4 percent.
Typifying arguments the problem no longer is just a Wall Street issue but also one for Main Street, lawmakers from California and Florida said their state governments were beginning to experience trouble borrowing funds for their own operations.
One month before election day, the drama unfolded in an intensely political atmosphere.
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, a supporter of the bill, made calls to members of the Congressional Black Caucus, who publicly credited him with changing their minds.
Rep. Elijah Cummings and Donna Edwards, both Maryland Democrats, were among them. They said Obama had pledged if he wins the White House that he would help homeowners facing foreclosure on their mortgages. He also pledged to support changes in the bankruptcy law to make it less burdensome on consumers.
"It's not too often you get the future president telling you that his priority matches your priority," said Cummings.
Obama's rival, Sen. John McCain, who announced a brief suspension in his campaign more than a week ago to try and help solve the financial crisis, made calls to Republicans. His impact was not immediately clear.
Republican Rep. Sue Myrick of North Carolina, who said she was switching her vote to favor the measure, said of McCain: "They told me he was going to call me. He didn't."
Looking ahead to election day, she added, "I may lose this race over this vote, but that's OK with me. This is the right vote for the country."
The White House issued the latest in a series of grim warnings of the risks of defeat. "If the financial markets fail to function, American families will face great difficulty in getting loans to purchase a home, buy a family car or finance a child's education," it said in a written statement.
The vote on Monday staggered the congressional leadership and contributed to the largest one-day stock market drop in history, 778 points as measured by the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Across the Capitol, Senate leaders reacted quickly, deciding to sweeten the bill with a series of popular tax breaks as well as spending on rural schools and disaster aid. They also grafted on a bill to expand mental health coverage under private insurance plans.
At the same time, the change in federal deposit insurance and the action by the SEC on an obscure accounting rule helped produce a steady trickle of converts.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Finals
Finals na!waaa!Next week will be our finals. Di pa ako naka pag study!I really need to study but the thing is, I can’t seem to open my notes, books and other materials that I can use for study. I’m so lazy when it comes to studying , my mind tends to wonder off somewhere when I try to study.
Clearance! I need to finish my clearance before exams so that I can take the exam. Dalawa pa lang sign ko. I havenn’t finished my requirements yet. Oh well, After the exam will be our sem break. Yehey! No more classes! I could stay home all day. Till here.
Clearance! I need to finish my clearance before exams so that I can take the exam. Dalawa pa lang sign ko. I havenn’t finished my requirements yet. Oh well, After the exam will be our sem break. Yehey! No more classes! I could stay home all day. Till here.
Birthday
Today is the birthday of my two friends!
Gerardo Dado
&
Kenneth Caayon
Happy birthday guys!
Wish you all the best!
Coming home from school!God!I'm so tired!Oh well!Malapit na rin ang sem break!WEEE!
I'm so excited for our sem break!no more school for two weeks!
I plan to stay home and sit beside the computer!BUAHAHHAAHHA!I want to earn kasi i need money to buy myself a PSP!WHOAAA!well anyways, I'll be able to update my blog more frequently now. So keep in touch guys. till here.
Gerardo Dado
&
Kenneth Caayon
Happy birthday guys!
Wish you all the best!
Coming home from school!God!I'm so tired!Oh well!Malapit na rin ang sem break!WEEE!
I'm so excited for our sem break!no more school for two weeks!
I plan to stay home and sit beside the computer!BUAHAHHAAHHA!I want to earn kasi i need money to buy myself a PSP!WHOAAA!well anyways, I'll be able to update my blog more frequently now. So keep in touch guys. till here.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
How Much is $700 Billion?
The short answer: a lot. The long answer: depends on how you look at it.
Whatever your viewpoint, here's how $700 billion - the figure inked in the initial dead-in-the-water government bailout bill for Wall Street - compares to other vast sums.
NASA in fiscal year 2009 will launch several missions into space and pay for hundreds of people to operate a host of space telescopes and even remote robots on Mars and run a PR and media department that puts most large corporations to shame. The agency's budget: $17.6 billion, or 2.5 percent of the bailout sum.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has an annual budget of $6.06 billion to support research and education on astronomy, chemistry, materials science, computing, engineering, earth sciences, nanoscience and physics (among others) at more than 1,900 universities and institutions across the United States.
You have to turn to much bigger initiatives, like war and defense, to get beyond this chump change and approach the bailout figure.
From 2003 through the end of fiscal year 2009, Congress has appropriated $606 billion for military operations and other activities associated with the war in Iraq, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The entire military budget for fiscal 2008 is $481.4 billion.
Social Security is a $608 billion annual program.
Many analysts fear the bailout because the cost must ultimately be borne by taxpayers.
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau's estimate of the current population of about 305 million people, each person would have to pay $2,300 to fund the $700,000,000,000. If each American (including children) paid a dollar a day, it would take more than six years to pay the money in full. One might argue, however, that this $700 billion would be a modest splash in the bucket of national debt, which already stands at well over $9 trillion (which means you already owe $31,642 each).
Even the New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez would lose sleep over all those zeroes. Currently the top paid major league baseball player, Rodriguez takes home $28 million a year, meaning it would take 25,000 A-Rod salaries to carry the $700 billion.
Nobody is rich enough to pay back this $700 billion by himself. In fact, the Forbes 400 richest list recently came out. It would take most of what these 400 people collectively have - a combined net worth of $1.57 trillion - to dig out of this mess.
Fading Shadows
Somewhere between Marble Madness and Myst there is Fading Shadows. In it, you must roll a sphere through a fantasy world, solving puzzles and avoiding hazards all the while. It's a fresh combination of tried-and-true gaming elements that, when it works, is very absorbing. Unfortunately, a few significant issues prevent Fading Shadows from being the magical adventure it could have been.
The game tells its tale through a series of images unaccompanied by any text or narration. The admittedly lovely artwork isn't capable of telling the story on its own, so if understanding why you're rolling an orb through a fantastical world is important to you, you'd best read the manual. Fortunately, understanding that the kingdom is on the brink of ruin and that all hope rests on a young boy whose coming was foretold ages ago isn't necessary to enjoy the game. Nor is wrapping your head around the idea that said boy's soul has been encased in a protective sphere that you must guide to the Castle of Heaven to save the land.
A tightly focused beam will help you maintain control of the orb in dangerous locations such as this one.
Don't expect to encounter Master Gardal or any of his vile minions on your journey, though. There are no enemies to contend with, nor friends to aid you on your quest. This is a pleasantly solitary adventure--just you, the orb, and the environmental puzzles and hazards provided by each of the game's levels. In navigating those hazards, you don't actually control the orb itself. Instead, you control a pillar of light that the orb follows around. You can focus the light into a beam of scorching intensity or diffuse it to a gentle glow. The more focused the beam, the stronger its pull on the orb will be; if the beam is fully focused, the orb will follow it directly and rapidly, while a less intense beam will exert a gentler pull on the orb, or no pull at all. It's an unusual control scheme that takes a little time to get used to, but it soon starts to feel natural. It comes into play in many of the game's puzzles and hazards, and it works well, most of the time.
There's a kind of rock-paper-scissors aspect to the game in that the orb can assume three different states. The orb begins in a metallic state, in which it can withstand even the most focused beam and can be made to jump with a blast from the beam. However, it rusts quickly in water. At any time, you can push the triangle button to turn the orb to glass. A glass orb will not rust in water but will be quickly shattered by a focused beam or a long fall. Lastly, there are platforms in many levels that will transmute the orb into wood, in which state it can float in water but will be burned if the beam of light is too focused. These simple elements provide the building blocks for the bulk of the game's puzzles, which are usually intricate enough to make you stop and think, but reasonable enough so as not to utterly frustrate you. It's about figuring out how the pieces fit together, and you can take as much time as you want to work out what needs to be done in a given level.
When all of Fading Shadows' best elements click, it becomes an adventure you can really lose yourself in. Unfortunately, the game doesn't always play to its strengths, and the frustrations pile on until they all but destroy the serene, compelling spell the game casts when it's at its best. Many of the game's levels involve a bit of tricky maneuvering, which is usually fine. It can be fun to roll the orb along a precarious precipice or make a daring leap. But on occasion the game presents you with diabolical platform-jumping sequences that require more speed and precision than the unorthodox control scheme allows for. These terrible sections feel out of place and are totally contrary to the relaxing vibe the game sometimes manages to establish. In the later stages, the game also starts placing more of an emphasis on timed elements--gates that stay open only for a brief period, platforms that quickly retract--and this, too, ruins the magic. This game works best when you can relax and lose yourself in it, so it's unfortunate that the pressure created by the timed aspects pulls you right out of it. Perhaps worst of all, the game's camera is a near-constant source of difficulty. You'll frequently have to wrestle with it to get it into a decent position, and there are times when, try as you might, you just can't get a good angle on the action, which can prevent you from spotting a vital environmental clue or send your orb plummeting to its demise.
Fading Shadows is no technical showpiece, but the visuals nonetheless have a certain beauty to them. The game's varied environments, ranging from crumbling villages to elegant castle interiors, create a melancholy mood of a fantasy world on the brink of ruin. The ethereal music suits the overall tone of the game quite well, but there are only a scant few tunes that repeat endlessly, so what starts out as soothing winds up being maddening.
What clever fiend could have come up with this diabolical pattern?
The game's 40 levels will take most players around five hours or so to complete. There's not much replay value here; there are hidden puzzle pieces to collect as you progress, but you can easily grab most of those on your first play-through, and all you get for collecting them is the ability to view three pieces of artwork. There's also a wireless multiplayer mode in which you and your opponent race through a level to see who can complete it first, but it's not very interesting. Perhaps if you could interact directly with your opponent, colliding your orb into your opponent's to slow it down, there may have been some excitement to it, but as it is, your opponent's orb appears only as a transparent ghost, so it's rather dull.
There's a good deal to appreciate in Fading Shadows. It's an unusual concept that, at its best, is compelling. Unfortunately, camera issues and poor level design choices pop up too frequently, upsetting the delicate balance of simple yet absorbing puzzle adventure gameplay that the game occasionally manages to achieve.
Banner
I got this idea to make this banner when i saw the pics of bob marley(my idol!)
I made this banner with PS CS3(Photoshop CS3). This banner is a photo manipulation. Photo manipulation is the application of image editing techniques to photographs in order to create an illusion or deception (in contrast to mere enhancement or correction), through analog or digital means. Its uses, cultural impact, and ethical concerns have made it a subject of interest beyond the technical process and skills involved.
Well hoped you like the banner
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