bestmediablog

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 19:21:28 GMT

Are the bears coming?

Following another dismal day on Wall Street at the end of last week, amid concern that tightening credit conditions may lead to a slowdown in housing activity, the market is a state of heightened uncertainty. Which way will it go? Is it going to get worse, or is this an opportunity for bargain hunters?

Scott Thill, writing for AlterNet, warns that we could be on the edge of a 1929-style crash because the American economy is now divorced from reality with hedge funds playing both sides of the market, like a craps game. Except that the hedge funds are also the croupier, own the casino management and the gaming regulators.

But is it as bad as that? Yes, US housing is expected to snowball further. But the other fundamentals seem to be okay.

US Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson said it was just a matter of risk being re-priced, reports the Financial Times. "I think we could use some more discipline. We are seeing a reassessment of risk and that is leading to a market adjustment," Mr Paulson said.

Then there are the economic fundamentals. Profits might be down but the market does not seem to be worried. In a note last week to clients titled "Five Reasons Not to Panic," and quoted in The Wall Street Journal market blog, Jeffrey Kleintop, chief market strategist with LPL Financial Services said it's "just another 5-7% pullback''.

In any case, he says, the temporary unwinding of yen carry trade is nearly over, profit worries are overblown, subprime losses are unlikely to cause a financial crisis, and there is no one left to sell.

Other analysts say it's not necessarily the way markets work. "You don't tend to go to new highs and then immediately start a bear market. Markets don't tend to turn on a dime,'' Liz Ann Sonders, the chief investment strategist at Charles Schwab told the New York Times.

Those views are echoed in a conversation I had Australian market analyst Michael Heffernan today. ''The performance of Wall Street on Friday wasn't too bad," Mr Heffernan said. "It was pretty close to what you would call an ordinary down day."

Watch this space. Posted by: leon      Read more     Source

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 01:59:40 GMT

Fake emails from "government'' agencies

Next time you get an email from the US Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission or Internal Revenue Service, hit delete.

Identity thieves have sent out thousands of bogus emails in an attempt to trick consumers into sharing personal financial information, reports SmartPros.

The emails refer people to bogus sites where they are required to put in sensitive data. Or the emails contain attachments that would install spyware to capture personal information. The email from the IRS tells recipients they are under investigation or that they have a tax refund pending.

The important part here is that identity thieves are now using the guise of federal agencies in the hoaxes. But that might be good too: federal agencies rarely send out emails. Posted by: leon      Read more     Source

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 20:16:30 GMT

Xanthorrhoea australis

Botany Photo of the Day will have brief written entries on weekends, holidays and my vacations from April through September. – Daniel

Thank you to Ken Beath, aka kjbeath@Flickr for today's image (original via the BPotD Flickr Group Pool). As always, I also recommend visiting Ken's Australia photo galleries.

The grass tree of southeast Australia is featured in a number of places online: the Association of Societies for Growing Australian Plants has a factsheet; the New South Wales Flora Online has a more scientific perspective on the plant; and the Australian Plants Society Tasmania delves into conservation issues and economic uses. Posted by: Daniel Mosquin      Read more     Source

Sat, 04 Aug 2007 15:13:25 GMT

Lindsay Lohan Poses for a Sultry Ad-Shoot

Sunshine always follows a period of gloom. Cute Lindsay Lohan is back doing what she does best – oozing sex appeal and making the headlines. And, this time she is not in the news for drunken behavior or for a rehab episode. She has posed in front of the camera for a sizzling hot advertising shoot for New York fashion designer Jill Stuart, where she is dressed in just a sultry black sequined dress held in place by suspenders.

At 21, Lindsay has seen it all - Fame, a rehab stint, detention for drunken-driving and cocaine-possession, an absolute failure with her comeback movie – I Know Who Killed Me, et al. Perhaps, this agony reflects in these pictures. Lindsay babe! Chill! Your fans are always by your side.


Via: dailymail Posted by: Alpheus      Read more     Source

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:19:26 GMT

No Such Thing as Privacy Online

"I said to her, `would you stand up in the middle of the MCG in your bikini and advertise to everyone how they could get in contact with you?'" ~Herald Sun, Neil Mitchell (July 19)

Neil Mitchell joined MySpace to see if he could get more friends than John Howard and Kevin Rudd (both politicians). He learned a lot more about MySpace than he bargained for. I think he may have even learned something he doesn't realize he learned. That the Internet is not just for kids.

He talks about some of the messages that he received when he joined MySpace, some from kids, some from parents. If the Internet is just for kids, then what are the parents doing there? Let me tell you. It's because MySpace is not just for kids. I and my friends are on MySpace. We chat and keep in touch through MySpace, post photos, blog entries. It's great for adults too.

One thing important he talks about is the dangers of MySpace, especially for kids. Kids are vulnerable, naive, they don't know what the world can do to them. Not just online, offline too. Parents are the ones that have to be diligent and watchful over their kids when their kids go online.

MySpace is not a private space, Neil Mitchell points out. It's very public. Everything you write and post can be seen by anyone and everyone. If you post about something illegal you did, expect it to be used against you in court. If you post about your secret lover, expect your spouse to find out. If you post photos of you doing something you shouldn't be doing, expect your employer, your friends and everyone else to see them. Posted by: Linda Roeder      Read more     Source

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 05:09:16 GMT

Volkswagen: 4 Motion, All Wheel Drive System

Volkswagen had launched print advertising campaign in France to promote sale of its new Transporters 4Motion. The campaign aimed at highlighting the all wheel drive system of the product. The campaign has taken a light and humorous approach to convey its message. The advertisements are showing ice skating workmen to highlight the VW Transporters all wheel drive system. The idea seems to be highlighting the smoothness and swiftness of the car along with the elegance depicted by ice-skating.

The presentation of the campaign is indicative in nature and used instantly recognizable illustration of the idea. However, the idea behind the advertisement featuring just one person is slightly perplexing. The execution part of the campaign is actually remarkable. The copy of the advertisements reads, 4 Motion. All Wheel Drive System. Now available on Transporter. The campaign was created by DDB, Paris.

Via Duncans Print Posted by: Balendu      Read more     Source

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:49:31 GMT

HAIRSPRAY Movie Props & Costumes To Benefit Charities.

New Line Cinema today announced plans to host an exclusive charity auction on eBay featuring costumes and props from the highly anticipated musical comedy Hairspray, which opens nationwide on July 20. The charity auction runs from July 19-29 and can be found at www.hairspray.ebay.com.



"Audiences young and old are sure to love Hairspray, and it will be a movie that lasts long after its theatrical premiere," says eBay Style Director Constance White. "eBay is the perfect place for the Hairspray costume auction because it will make the one-of-a-kind costumes available to those who grew up in the Hairspray decade and those that are living the trend right now."



Read more of "Ebay And New Line Cinemas Partner To Auction HAIRSPRAY Movie Props & Costumes To Benefit Charities." Posted by: Stevie Wilson      Read more     Source

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 22:46:41 GMT

CELEBRITY EYEBROWS

It seems that women's eyebrows are one of the many areas subject to manipulation and styling for which there is no accepted norm.

Everything from pencil-line thin eyebrows to the horrific shag rug, "Brezhnev Brow" look can be in at any given time.

In my wife's household, of which I'm still a member, whenever she's doing something to her face, makeup for example, it's time for me to stay clear. It's the equivalent of an artist at work and distractions are dealt with in the severest manner.

Celebrities of course do things differently; they engage specialists for everything, eyebrows included.

Currently the Hollywood eyebrow expert is Anastasia, Eyebrowist to the Stars, and you can check out this video of her working her magic.

Posted by: jim      Read more     Source

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:39:10 GMT

Rising Temperatures, Drought May Wipe out Ugandan Coffee

It seems that global warming is causing or about to cause widespread damage throughout the world. Besides endangering certain species of fish in the river, global warming along with global temperature change can also cause Uganda’s coffee plantations to wipe out completely. At least this is what the experts predict.

Rising temperatures and drought are two major aspects of global warming. These two characteristics of global warming are going to cause trouble for the coffee growers of the world , specially in Uganda.

Lately, the rainfall has been very erratic in Uganda. Also, it has been observed that the rainfall hits Uganda at the wrong time.Due to this factor, the crop has less time to mature and grow. If this trend continues, Robusta (a coffee variety) will be completely destroyed.

According to an Ugandan coffee maker, Ronald Buule:

If the coffee beans face a lot of sunshine and less rain, the beans will be smaller and in lower yields.We are worried about the temperature, but we have limited resources

In order to provide the necessary resources, the United Nations conducted a research recently in Uganda. The UN research concluded that even a slight increase of temperature by couple of degrees will wipe out the coffee plantations.

This disturbing trend in the coffee industry is not only applicable to Uganda, but also to India’s coffee growing regions. Coorg coffee region has been seeing a similar trend. With the slightest increase in temperature and drop in rainfall, there will be adverse effects on the Coorg coffee plantations as well.

No one can exactly predict when things will get better. UN panel on climate change is looking at an average increase of 2.5 degrees of global temperature by January. This will probably be due to burning of fossil fuels by us- the humans.

I guess there’s no way around it either. The fact that I am writing about this without being able to do anything about it, is sort of making me sick to the stomach. The message is clear to all the coffee drinkers: global warming must be stopped somehow.


Image Credits: National Geographic [All images from same link] Posted by: Apabritabasu      Read more     Source

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 14:09:42 GMT

Is a Big Earthquake Approaching Africa? Experts Unsure

Is a big quake approaching? This question, these days, is surely sending a chill down the spine of each Kenyan and Tanzanian. It was on July 12, tremors had their jerks felt mildly across the cities, with very few being able to realize it.

But, what followed a week later, are a couple of good jolts, forcing people flee their offices in downtown Nairobi. The tremors then were gone altogether! But, it is not that the chapter closed but left scientists confused and unsure of what led to this earthquake swarm!

Though no much damage is caused by the earthquakes, the fear of the future lingers. To the inhabitants, what is fearful is the query

Is it just a cautionary of a forthcoming devastation?

But, the scientists seem to be left pondering on something more

Was it fault activity along the Rift Valley, where the African tectonic plate is stretching? Or was it Ol Doinyo Lengai, a Tanzanian volcano that sits near the swarm’s epicenter?

Though the government officials have concluded the blames on the theory that rumbling in Ol Doinyo Lengai meaning Mountain of God, the fears of an imminent massive eruption does not seem to fade away.

This is triggering the several hundred people living on its slopes to evacuate, with the Tanzanian government already warned tourists to stay away. After all, the African plate, covering the entire continent is in the middle of tectonic change.

Image Posted by: Irani      Read more     Source