2012: Now Showing

Last night, we watched the movie 2012. It was a perfect 10 movie for me.  It's the only apocalyptic, end of the world, judgement day, disater, or whatever you call, movie that made me so tense. Tense that it's like its really happening. Tense or maybe scared that maybe by the year 2012 it's really gonna happen.

For almost  three hours, I had goosebumps all over my body. Some people I saw are crying seeing the people being helpless against Natural Disaster. 

Overall, the movie for me is perfect. The casting, the cinematography, visual graphics, they are all perfect to me. 

Ok, already gone home. But still not finished with the end of the world thing on my head i searched the internet about the predictions of Nostradamus about the end of the world.

 

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Cars: Hitting the Market

Source: yahoo.com

As comebacks go, it's an awfully weak one. Annual car sales in 2009 are likely to end up at the lowest level in years, down more than 40 percent from their peak in 2005. The worst months came in the spring, punctuated by the bankruptcy filings of General Motors and Chrysler. The cash-for-clunkers program provided a nice summer boost, but that was followed by a steep dropoff once the giveaway ended and doubts that the subsidies would lead to any net gain at all.

But sales finally seem to have stabilized, with forecasting firms like CSM Worldwide predicting steady improvement through the end of the year into 2010. And a few models have already started to take off. Data from J.D. Power & Associates shows that cars offering strong value, with a good reputation for quality and a generous set of standard features, have performed well despite the dismal downturn. Buyers continue to shun big vehicles in favor of those getting good mileage. And excitement still sells, with some hot new sports cars sprinting out of the gate. Here are 15 cars that have been hot in a cold market:

Chevrolet Camaro. There may be no better case for the GM bailout than this overdue muscle car, a hit by almost every standard. The raucous styling enlivens the road, a pair of available engines both pack punch, and the starting price of about $23,000 puts the Camaro within reach of the masses. It's a welcome arrival in a dreary year, and enthusiastic buyers have rewarded Chevy by purchasing nearly 50,000 Camaros since the car debuted over the summer.

Dodge Challenger. Very little has been going right at Chrysler, which unlike GM has had few new products to help buyers forget about its ignominious bankruptcy filing. The Challenger from Chrysler's Dodge division is an exception, offering retro muscle-car styling to match the Camaro and Ford Mustang, along with two optional V-8 engines for drag-race fantasizers. Sales of about 21,000 units this year make the Challenger just about the only Chrysler product showing signs of life.

Ford Fusion. This nimble, mid-sized sedan has been a hit since it debuted five years ago, and instead of coasting, Ford has consistently improved the Fusion and added new features. The latest model earns high marks for an upgraded interior and practical features like the Sync hands-free multimedia system. And a hybrid model arrived this year, offering mileage in the high 30s with minimal tradeoffs and a reasonable starting price of about $28,000. Continuous improvement has made the Fusion one of America's most popular passenger cars, with sales of the entire lineup rising 15 percent this year.

Honda Insight. Honda's latest hybrid undercuts the standard-setting Toyota Prius by about $2,500, the right formula for people looking to save gas and money both. City mileage of 40 mpg falls below the Prius's 51 mpg, but it still beats almost every other car on the road. Honda has sold about 18,000 Insights since the car went on sale in the spring, which has helped the Japanese automaker do better than the industry overall.

Hyundai Accent. It's bland, slow, and uninspiring, but apparently those are welcome utilitarian virtues these days. There's a bare-bones model (without air conditioning or a radio) for about $10,000, and a better-equipped version starting at about $13,000. But all trim lines offer side-curtain air bags and better reliability than used cars in the same price range. Sales are up 29 percent, the best performance of any small "B car."

Hyundai Genesis. The first luxury car from this Korean automaker has earned deep praise, helping it reach No. 2 in U.S. News's rankings of upscale midsize cars—behind only the BMW 3 series. And with a starting price of about $33,000, it's considerably cheaper than the Bimmers, Audis, Lexuses, and other luxury makes it competes against. Sales of 18,000 units so far this year have added volume in a category where Hyundai didn't even compete two years ago.

Kia Forte. This modest compact may not turn heads on the highway, but it does in the showroom thanks to a generous set of standard features at a surprisingly low starting price of about $14,000. The Forte, new this year, comes standard with steering wheel audio controls, an auxiliary audio jack, side-curtain air bags, stability control, auto-off headlights and many other features not found on competitors. The thrifty packaging has helped Kia sell about 17,000 units since the car debuted in the spring, positioning the Forte as a strong rival to top sellers like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

Kia Soul. Either you love it or you hate it, and enough buyers have embraced this boxy new hatchback to make it one of the more popular small crossovers since it went on sale earlier this year. Like other offerings from Kia and sister company Hyundai, the $15,000 Soul comes with impressive standard features for its price range, such as automatic headlights, side air bags, stability control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system. Options like pulsating lights in the speakers create cachet with young buyers. The funky upstart is outselling rivals like the Scion xB, Saturn Vue, and Nissan Cube.

Lexus RX 350. The luxury crossover segment is getting crowded, but the RX got here early and still maintains a commanding lead, vastly outselling competitors like the Mercedes M Class, Acura MDX, and BMW X5. The RX is so popular that when Lexus redesigned the model this year, it barely made noticeable changes, limiting improvements to a slightly more spacious cabin, a minor bump in horsepower and other tweaks. The RX is also the only model in its category with a hybrid variant, which has helped boost sales by 8 percent this year.

Mercedes GLK. Mid-sized premium crossovers are one of the few segments where sales have increased this year, thanks to new models like the GLK—which is one of the lowest-priced Mercedes in any category, with a starting price of about $37,000. Mercedes has sold about 18,000 GLKs since the crossover debuted earlier this year, trumping challengers like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Acura RDX.

Nissan Maxima. The third-largest Japanese automaker competes with Toyota and Honda by building a bit more excitement into its offerings, and the Maxima is a roomy family sedan that fulfills the formula with sporty handling and a brisk V-6 engine. A redesigned model that arrived last year has helped goose sales by about 5 percent in 2009, making the Maxima one of only three large sedans to see a year-over-year sales increase.

Pontiac G8. This speedy sedan arrived too late to save Pontiac, one of the four divisions GM plans to close down. But its blend of scorching speed, track-worthy handling and family-sized interior space has made it a favorite of reviewers nonetheless; in U.S. News's car rankings, it even beats pure muscle cars like the Chevy Camaro and Ford Mustang, which have puny back seats by comparison. With Pontiac in the midst of a closeout sale, the G8 has become a short-lived hot seller among those looking for BMW performance, for about $10,000 less.

Subaru Legacy. Only two automakers, Hyundai and Subaru, have increased their sales this year. Hyundai has done it with an aggressive rollout of new models and cheaper prices than competitors. Subaru has stuck with the basics—practical, all-wheel-drive vehicles for people who value fun and activity. The Legacy, Subaru's mainstay sedan, isn't a grand slam, but it's more stylish than competitors like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, with strong performance for the price. A new redesign this year has helped boost sales by 15 percent.

Toyota Venza. This quirky hatchback is half-sedan, half SUV, with better road manners than utilities built for off-road use. The Venza doesn't have a third-row seat, but apparently plenty of families are content with a spacious, five-passenger hauler loaded with innovative storage features. The Venza's starting price of about $27,000 and mileage in the low 20s compares favorably to competitors like the Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7, helping Toyota sell about 45,000 units in the Venza's debut year.

Volkswagen CC. Despite a price that can climb out of VW territory and into Audiland, the CC is popular with buyers looking for the comfort of a sedan with a bit of panache and excitement. The CC is the sleeper in VW’s lineup, sandwiched against the upscale Passat, but it’s one of few near-luxury sedans showing any moxie this year. While overall sales of premium mid-sized cars are down about 24 percent in 2009, VW has sold about 18,000 CCs since introducing it late last year, gaining sales at the expense of other brands. In a shrinking market, that’s often the only way to succeed.

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2012: Movie Update

Here below the international trailer of 2012, it is slightly different from the US trailer, it gives a better look at Actor John Cusack who plays the role of a father who tries to find safety for his family:

From the director
of
Independence Day and the Day After Tomorrow

In 2012, John Cusack plays the role of a father who tries to save his children from the upcoming flood.

 

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Father and Daughter

Phtograph by Benjie Barnes

Father and daugther: Having quality time with each other as they enjoy the beach and the sea views.

While they're enjoying the views the heat and time for each other, I'm also enjoying watching them.

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Pacquiao-Cotto Fight Set

After we seen the fight between Pacquiao and Hatton  where Manny Pacquiao wins by KO, the fight between Pacquiao and Cotto is already set this November 14, 2009 at Las Vegas.

Arum said Monday that Pacquiao and Cotto will meet in a fight with a 145-pound weight limit on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on HBO Pay Per View. Pacquiao is a unanimous No. 1 in the Yahoo! Sports poll of the world’s top boxing writers. Cotto is sixth and that alone should make for an intriguing matchup.

Arum, though, likes the style mix between them.

“The significance of this fight is if you know the body of work of these two fighters,” Arum said. “When these guys get into the ring, there will be a confrontation. People who watch know they’ll be entertained. This will sort of be an edge-of-your-seat kind of a fight. It’s an all-action, all-out battle where guys are going to demonstrate toughness, courage and resilience.

“It’s definitely not going to be a boxing exhibition where two guys are running circles around each other. There are some fights that should properly be called boxing matches, but this is one where it’s totally accurate to call it a fight.”

The bout and the date had been long rumored, but the hang-up was getting the men to agree on a weight. Cotto holds the World Boxing Organization welterweight belt and has difficulty going much below 147.

Pacquiao, who still has only had three of his 54 bouts above 130 pounds, preferred it to be as low as possible and no higher than 144. Cotto’s physical trainer said he couldn’t safely fight below 145 pounds and Pacquiao ultimately agreed to the weight.

Arum expects the fight to perform as well at the gate as Pacquiao’s dominating second-round stoppage of Ricky Hatton, which produced $8.9 million in ticket revenue at the MGM Grand Garden, but he’s hopeful it will exceed it in pay-per-view sales.

Pacquiao-Hatton did 850,000 on pay-per-view and Arum believes Pacquiao-Cotto has the potential to surpass that.

“With all due respect to Ricky, I think Cotto, as a great Puerto Rican star, brings a larger fan base in the U.S. audience,” Arum said. “I really think we’ll be able to do north of 850,000 with this one.”

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JK Wedding Entrance Dance

I just love this video. Watch it so many times and i just love it. No wonder it is already famous worldwide.

It was a pretty remarkable feat for the United Breaks Guitars viral hit to pass 3 million views in just 10 days, but blowing that video out of the water is the breakout wedding reception monster of a web hit: JK Wedding Entrance Dance.

We’ve just learned from Visible Measures that the hilarious and inspirational JK Wedding Entrance Dance video has amassed over 12 million views from 100 different clips since it hit the web on July 19.

You’re probably pretty familiar with the video (after all the couple – Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz – and wedding party were interviewed on the Today Show) which features “JK” and the entire wedding party dancing down the aisle with style and flair to Forever by Chris Brown. The video, originally meant for just friends and family, has created a frenzy on the web with 12 million views and 50,000 comments. It’s not hard to see why; the procession is what movies are made of.

Should this gem of a home video have escaped your attention, here it is for your viewing pleasure:

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Working in Dubai

Young and dynamic professionals from many Asian, African and European countries are happy to be working in the extremely professional international job market that Dubai offers. Banking, construction, real estate, tourism, hotel industry, aviation, IT and media are just some of the fields that have brought the vivacious migrants to Dubai. Dubai also supports the livelihoods of many Asian workers utilised as labours, drivers and maids.

Working in Dubai is a rather pleasant experience as the working hours are pretty fixed and commutation is not as harassing as it is in most Asian cities. Most organisations follow a five-day week, a directive recently introduced by the Labour Ministry. All these factors to some extent have allowed residents to pursue a hobby or other socio-cultural interests and build a healthy lifestyle alongside work.

Working in Dubai could also be a one of a kind experience for those whose colleagues belong to different countries. It could provide a unique growth opportunity as you interact with different nationals.

A work visa is required for an expatriate to work in Dubai. Work visa is sponsored and applied for by the hiring or recruiting company as the case may be. Some companies sponsor prospective employer’s family as well. A professional earning a minimum of AED 10000 per month is allowed to sponsor his family with a residence visa.

Salaries in Dubai are tax-free and most professions reap fees commensurate with prevailing market rates. However, incidences of Europeans drawing more remuneration than Asians for a similar position are not unheard of. The cost of living in Dubai is one of the highest in the world. So, when you are discussing your salary, don’t shy from asking for a deal to match your requirements the best.

Almost all companies provide medical insurance at least to the employee. Companies also offer a month’s paid annual leave after the employee completes one year’s service and provide return tickets to the employee and his family as the case may be. Most organisations offer gratuity at the termination of contract and some companies also grant annual bonuses depending on their policies.

Unless employed by a Free Zone enterprise, changing jobs is not easy and requires a No-objection letter from current employer. Failure to adhere to rules evokes a six-month ban from working in Dubai.

Friday is the day of rest. Work timings are shortened by two hours for Muslims during Ramadan.

However, it may be noted that no matter how long your duration of stay in Dubai may be, the UAE government does not confer citizenship on any expatriate.

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Relocating to Dubai

Dubai is continually growing to be home to an exciting, diverse, multi-cultural blend of young, dynamic and professional people enjoying the unrivalled quality of life that the Emirate has to offer. It is no surprise therefore that Dubai has recorded that fastest growth in population in the world. More and more people emigrate to the city for quality of life, outstanding employment prospects and to experience the very best in the world of work and lifestyle.

For beginners here are some handy giudes compiled by us which should make your task of settling down in this city a little easy.

Accommodation

Although non nationals now have the opportunity to purchase a home in Dubai, many formalities have yet to be completed in another year or so until they are ready for occupancy. Therefore for now rental is still the main option. Dubai is the most accommodating place to live in the gulf and high quality accommodation is in good supply throughout the city. Many have excellent recreational facilities - gym, sauna, satellite television or in-house video and covered car parking are some of the available facilities that the residents can make use of.

Many expatriate executives choose to live in the Jumeirah suburb, which stretches southward along the coast from the city centre. For top-of-the-range villas, the choice is between larger independent properties or smaller villas in compounds. The latter usually have swimming pools, squash and tennis courts.

Most rented accommodation in Dubai is unfurnished (although kitchens may be partly or fully equipped). Many villas and new apartments have central air-conditioning already installed and a range of furniture and household equipment.

Main accommodation options are:

• Apartment/villa sharing
• Standard apartment
• Villa
• Hotel apartment

Click here to obtain a list of real estate agents in Dubai who can assist you in searching a house in your preferred location suitable to your budget.

Tip: Remember to ask for a copy of the estate agent's identification card and make sure you save copies of all receipts, contracts and other documents.

Jobs

Dubai is growing in leaps and bounds, hence plenty of job opportunities are available here. Gulfnews, one of the biggest newspapers, offers three times a week an "Appointment" edition, where you can find all kind of vacancies in. These are also published on the internet on their website.

There are also a lot of recruitment agencies, which are helping you out with finding the right job.

Tip: Try and research about the company you wish to apply for, as well as the rules and regulations of the UAE.

Utilities & Services

Electricity & water along with sewerage are provided by Dubai electricity and water authority (DEWA). Click here to visit their website for more information.

Electricity - The electricity supply in Dubai is 220/240 volts and 50 cycles. Socket type is identical to thethree point British system. Adaptors can be purchased at any grocery or hardware shop.

Water - Tap water is safe to drink though locally bottled mineral water is preferred. Some of the water suppliers in Dubai are: Culligan: 800 4945; Desert springs: 800 6650; Nestle pure life: 800 4404; Oasis drinking water: 884 5656

Gas - Gas mains don't exist in Dubai hence individual canisters need to be purchased and connected to a gas oven via an outside tap. Keep the telephone number of gas suppliers handy and canisters can be delivered to you in less than 20 minutes of your call, anytime of the day.

Telephone - Currently the main telecommunications provider in Dubai. It is an efficient and innovative company, continuously introducing new services and even cutting charges from time to time. You will require a residence visa to get a landline but you can get a SIM card for your mobile phone without residency.

Internet - For connection to the World Wide Web, Emirates Internet & Multimedia is the sole provider of internet services through its UAE proxy server. Access to some sites is restricted. You can access Emirates Internet from any standard telephone line using a 56K modem.

Postal Services - There is no house address based mailing system in the UAE. All mails are delivered to the central post office and then distributed to centrally located post office boxes. It is also possible to rent a personal PO box in the UAE.

Television - There is a good selection of satellite channels to choose from in Dubai or video/DVD rental stores are plentiful in Dubai.

Tip: Due to extreme climatic conditions it is advisable to drink plenty of water in the heat, so carry a bottle with you at all times.

Health

Medical facilities in Dubai are high both in public and private sectors. The Health and Medical Services Department provides medical care for all UAE nationals, visitors and resident expatriates. Currently expatriates can go to any hospital as long as they have a valid health card. However this may change in the future and all expatriates may require having private insurance coverage.

Pharmacies: Most medicines are readily available at pharmacies. You may check in the local newspapers for information. In Dubai you can call a 24-hour municipality emergency number - 04 2232323 which lists the locations of open chemists.

Click here for a list of clinics in Dubai with their contact details.

Tip: Check this website run by doctors and health professional in the UAE that contains information on where to find a doctor who speaks your language, pharmacies etc.

Education

English is the medium of instruction in most schools which adopt variations of the popular Montessory method of instruction. Annual fees may vary. Some play-schools like the New Dubai Nursery (Satwa) accept children from 18 months onwards. An academic record of your child is required for admissions. Some schools conduct entrance tests. Schools offer GCSE, 'A' Levels, French, American, Indian, Japanese and other systems. Standards are above average.

Children with special needs: Handicapped centers supervised by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs cater to those with hearing and physical disabilities, the visually impaired and others with special needs. The Ministry is constantly improving its facilities, at the same time emphasizing the role of the family in caring for the disabled.

Click here to view a list of educational institutions listed in Dubai alongwith their contact details.

Tip: Knowledge village is a key part of Dubai's commitment to improving educational services and attracting more international students to the country. Click here to visit their website.

Things to do & see

Dubai offers an extensive horizon of things to do, see, experience and learn. It is surrounded by mysterious deserts, sand dunes and the stunning Hajar Mountains, it is divided by the Creek which is essentially an inlet from the gulf splitting the commercial centre of Dubai in two, and within the city you'll find amazing beach resorts, incredibly high tech buildings all side by side with old traditional houses and mosques giving you a peek of just what variety you can expect from your time in Dubai.

Click here to know more about what makes Dubai one the most sought after destinations in the world.

Tip: Although Dubai and the rest of the United Arab Emirates is the most liberal part of the Middle East, there are still many Islamic rules that should be respected by visitors.

Transportation

Public Transport: The car is the most popular method of transport in Dubai. In addition, the major tourist hotels provide shuttle bus services for guests. However, Dubai Municipality tel: 04 285 9401 or 221 5555 or 800 4848 (dedicated freephone information line); operates a reasonable public bus service on 36 routes, daily 0600-2300.

Abras: Basic wooden boats, locally referred to as abras, cross the creek from Bur Dubai to the Textile Souk area in Deira. These are operated by Dubai Municipality daily 0600-2400

Taxis: Air-conditioned taxis can be hailed on the street or prebooked by telephone. Metered taxis, operated by the Dubai Transport Corporation tel: 04 264 1111, are distinguished by their cream color and uniformed drivers.

Limousines: Limousines are offered by the main car hire companies and Dubai Transport Corporation tel: 04 264 1111.

Car Hire: A valid International Driving Permit, passport and credit card are required for one to hire a car in Dubai. Visitors from many European, North American and many Asian countries can obtain a temporary local driving licence if they do not have an international licence. A valid national licence, passport and two passport-sized photographs are required in order to do this.

Tip: If you are planning on a drive to the Sultanate of Oman, check whether your insurance covers you for the trip or this can be arranged on a short term basis, usually for no extra cost.

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