more to know: 2012

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Things that MICROSOFT Could not Explain!

TRY this....

MAGIC #1

Found that nobody can create a FOLDER anywhere on the Computer which can be named as "CON". This is something funny and inexplicable? At Microsoft the whole Team, couldn't answer why this happened! TRY IT NOW, IT WILL NOT CREATE A "CON" FOLDER

MAGIC #2

For those of you using Windows, do the following:
1.) Open an empty notepad file
2.) Type "Bush hid the facts" (without the quotes)
3.) Save it as whatever you want.
4.) Close it, and re-open it.
Noticed the weird bug? No one can explain!

MAGIC #3

Again this is something funny and can't be explained?
At Microsoft the whole Team, including Bill Gates, couldn't answer why this happened!
It was discovered by a Brazilian. Try it out yourself?
Open Microsoft Word and type
=rand (200, 99)
And then press ENTER And see the magic?..!

Magic #4

Did you know that a flight number from one of the planes that hit one of the two WTC towers on 9/11 was Q33N. In Notepad / WordPad or MS Word, type that flight number i.e Q33N. Increase the font size to 72. Change the font to Wingdings. ..... u will be amazed by the findings!!!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Cassette Tapes Turned Into Celebrity Portraits

You probably think that cassettes are dead? Well, think again!

Erika Iris Simmons (born in 1983 in St. Louis, USA) uses old cassette tapes to create incredibly artistic celebrity portraits. Since her emergence Erika has blended the concerns and methods of conceptual art with craft-making and popular culture to create her own whimsical installations. She explores the nostalgia of the archaic, using donated second-hand items as her prime media. Currently, Simmons lives and works in Atlanta.

1. The Beatles

2. Debbie Harry of Blondie

3. Bob Dylan

4. Bob Marley

5. Kurt Cobain

6. Jimi Hendrix

7. John Lennon

8. Madonna

9. Marilyn Monroe

10. Paul Griffiths

11. Melora Creager

source

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

12 Reasons Why Southeast Asia is the Best Place in the World for Backpackers

Southeast Asia has long been a favorite for budget travelers, almost to the point of becoming a cliché. There is a reason that the place is so popular though and there are a lot of merits to including the region on any major trip. Once you look past the raging party towns and Australian kids on spring break, Southeast Asia has a lot to offer any traveler.

Plenty of people backpack Europe and South America- with good reason too, but in my opinion nowhere in the world is more backpacker-friendly than Southeast Asia. The combination of vivid cultures, fascinating foods and cheap prices make it the ultimate for backpacker living and a must for anyone planning an extended trip.

Here’s why Southeast Asia beats out everyone else:

1. Food to die for

Really, Asian food is the number one reason (and could justifiably be the only reason you need) for scheduling a visit to the far east. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s possibly the best food in the entire world. From the street snacks in Bangkok to Vietnamese banquets to Malaysian curry, there is a lifetime’s worth of deliciousness to sample. Nowhere else in the world can you find cuisine that compares to the diverse, vibrant, colorful, and flavorful food found here.

2. Budget-friendly

Most backpackers have to work hard to make their money stretch as much as possible. In many places in Asia the pressure is off, particularly in countries like Vietnam and Laos, where you can easily get by on $15 a day on most days. For backpackers and those traveling around the world, that cheaper cost of travel means you can travel longer. The same funds that might cover a month in Europe might stretch for several months there. And when it’s cheaper to eat out than to even try to cook, you can fully embrace and enjoy your visit without having to stress too much about your wallet.

3. Ease of travel

While traveling in Europe and Australia can be pricey, Southeast Asia is one of the easiest and cheapest places to travel in the world. Scores of budget airlines and well established bus and train networks make it easy to around, often for just a few bucks. Additionally there is a strong infrastructure set up to help foreign travelers book tickets and get from one place to another.

4. Technology-friendly

Whether you are a blogger or just need to keep in touch with the folks at home, this area of the world is heavenly for flash-packers. Nearly all guesthouses and hostels have wifi and it’s fast and (mostly) reliable. This is great compared to other backpacker destinations like Australia or South America, where wi-fi can be slow, expensive, or non-existent.

5. Perfect beaches

Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are in Southeast Asia, and since the beach season never ends, you can live in a state of perpetual summer. Year round you can go snorkeling or scuba diving in the crystal waters off of Bali, Thailand or Malaysia, or just relax in a beachside hammock and remember all your friends suffering through winter back home.

6. Major metropolises

If you love the craziness of big cities, Southeast Asia has some of the craziest. Exciting and fast-moving cities like Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City and Kuala Lumpur offer a dose of adrenaline every time you step out your door. Visiting many of these places is a unique mash up of old and new Asia, with futuristic sky scrapers around the corner from ancient temples, modern life against a backdrop of history and tradition. It’s this dichotomy that makes the cities here so special and intriguing.

7. Deep history

This was the stomping ground of some of the oldest civilizations of the world, from the Angkor to the Javans and the Champa. A lot of these ancient societies left beautiful structures and relics behind – you can visit the pagodas of Bagan, explore the ruins of Angkor Wat, or gaze at thousands of perfectly maintained ancient temples throughout the region.

This region also has a lot of modern history worth exploring, equally epic although not has pleasant. In the twentieth century alone the region experienced the Vietnam War, the terror of the Khmer Rouge and the near obliteration bombing of Laos. The ongoing protests in Bangkok and the constantly changing situation in Burma show that history is an ongoing process and that cities can change nearly before your eyes.

8. Rich culture

Culturally, Southeast Asia is far too vivid and diverse to sum up in any one paragraph. There are so many different traditions, languages, lifestyles, fashions, beliefs and customs to immerse yourself in and explore, all within a relatively small geographic area. Many Southeast Asian cultures work very hard to maintain their historical rituals and practices, even as modernity sweeps through the area, so finding opportunities to learn about the culture first-hand is never difficult.

9. Plentiful parties

Partying obviously isn’t all there is to Southeast Asia, but there definitely are plenty of opportunities to have raucous drunken fun. Many of the cities on the popular tourists routes will have bars and activities that cater to the young and reckless (see: Vang Vieng, Laos). The Thai islands in particular are popular for their party towns like Koh Phi Phi and Koh Samui. Then of course there is the queen of all the backpacker parties: the monthly Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan. For those who want to let loose a little on their travels, Southeast Asia is a cheap and easy destination to escape from real life for a while.

10. Solitude

On the flip side, although there are areas just crawling with other travelers, there are still many places to explore away from the crowds. One has only to step a couple of feet off of the backpacker trail or away from the hostel to discover unique un-touristy places that have yet to be changed by tourism.

11. The people

Perhaps the most memorable part of a visit to this area of the world is the smiling, open, and happy people you encounter. Even though many of these countries have gone through some rough times in modern years, there seems to be an optimistic feeling most everywhere you go. Most visitors who spend a significant amount of time in the area will have at least one moving story of being invited to dinner during Tet in Vietnam or taking part in a Laotian wedding reception, or maybe just a really interesting conversation with a tuk tuk driver in Cambodia.

12. Things are changing fast

All over the world, but in Asia particularly, things are changing rapidly every day. A population explosion, an influx of new technology and foreign influence, and renegotiations of government mean that the culture and physical landscape is constantly evolving. This may be for the better or for the worst but one thing is for sure: the Southeast Asia you visit now will be very different than the one you’ll see ten years from now.

source

8 Incredible Ghost Towns to Visit in Europe

By definition, a ghost town is an abandoned town or city. Some cities become ghost towns because the economic activity that supported them has failed; others are abandoned after natural or human-caused disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or war.

Ghost towns can be found all over the world, but some of them have become very famous. This is due either to being very well preserved or to the reasons which lead to their abandonment. In Europe, some of the famous ghost towns are Pompeii and Propyat (Cernobyl). But ghost towns in Europe can be found in almost every country.

Here is a list of some of the most famous and interesting, sites which are definitely worth your visit:

Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii is located in Campania, not far from Naples. It’s probably the most famous ghost town in Europe. The Roman city with the same name was engulfed by Mt. Vesuvius in 79AD which erupted, killing 20,000 people. The volcanic ash preserved the city as it was in at fateful day, and today, the excavation site along with the outdoor museum is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tickets are €11 per adult, but if you want to visit Herculaneum as well, you can consider the €20 for the five sites pass. During the summer the site is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Pompeii is a walking site only, so ake sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring lots of water.

The neighboring Herculaneum suffered the same fate. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and many say that this is a more interesting place to visit than Pompeii as the buildings are better preserved and you can better see the magnitude of the natural disaster. The easiest way to get to Pompeii (and/or Herculaneum) is from Naples or Sorrento. There are trains available (30 to 40 min) and tickets cost between €1.80 and €3.20. Pompeii is about 50 m from the train station. There are also buses from Naples.

Chernobyl , Ukraine

On April 26, 1986 reactor number 4 exploded releasing about nine tons of radioactive material into the environment, contaminating parts of Ukraine, Poland, Russia and Belarus. Nearly 50 people died that day but countless others have been affected by the radiation. Just 3 km from the reactor, there’s Pripyat, a town which was entirely evacuated after the incident.

A power plant isn’t exactly everyone’s dream vacation destination, but every year curious tourists make their way here to see what’s left after the world’s worst nuclear disaster. There are several Kiev-based tour agencies that offer all-inclusive day trips to Chernobyl. It’s incredible how close tourists can get to the reactor, considering that it still contains radioactive material. The ghost town of Pripyat can also be toured and you are assured a …ghostly experience. Aside from the reactor and the city, you can also see the abandoned villages located around the exclusion zone.

The easiest way to get to Chernobyl is by way of Kiev (the city is located 70 km from the capital). Day trips cost between $100 and $300 and there’s no independent traveling in the area. Kiev is served by two main international airlines and there are daily flights from all over Europe. There’s a direct flight from the United States, as well.

Balestrino, Italy

Balestrino is a very curious case of ghost town particularly because it’s hard to find information about the city. Records date back to the 11th century when the city was owned by the Benedictine abbey of San Pietro dei Monti. In late 19th century the area was struck by a series of earthquakes, although it’s not sure how they affected the city. Records show repairs being done in the city at about the same time. Finally, in 1953 the town was abandoned. About 400 inhabitants left moved to a safer area (to the west) where the city still exists.

The easiest way to get here is from Genoa. Balestrino is located 70 km away and currently has a population of 575 people. It’s best to rent a car to explore the area.

Tyneham, Dorset, England

Tyneham became a ghost town because the land has been expropriated by the government. During World War II, this town was acquired by the government to build an artillery range.

The city is located near Lulworth on the Isle of Purbeck, about 15 km from Dorchester and is only accessible when the Lulworth Military Range is open to the public. Access to the site is by foot either via the South West Coast Path or from Lulworth Castle and Tyneham car parks. When visiting the place, keep to the official footpath and mind the local notices. Unexploded shells, tanks and armored vehicles are used here.

The easiest way to get here is via Dorchester, England. You can get here, from London, either by train or by bus.

Oradour-sur-Glane, France

Oradour-sur-Glane was a large town near Limoges that was destroyed on June 10, 1944 by a German Waffen-SS company. All men were taken to a barn where they were shot in the legs so that they wouldn’t be able to move. Then, the barn was set on fire. The women and children, locked up in the church, were also incinerated. In total 190 men, 247 women and 205 children died in the carnage.

After the war a new village was built nearby and the old one was kept as a memorial. There’s also a museum which includes items recovered from the burned-out buildings.

The easiest way to get here is by way of Limoges, which is served by low-cost carriers such as Ryanair. Once in the city, rent a car to get to Oradour-sur-Glane.

Imber, Wiltshire, UK

During the Second World War many people had to give up their homes, usually to the enemies. But in this case, the British Army took over the city. They didn’t destroy anything, as the army needed this town to practice fighting in built-up areas prior to the D-Day Landings. After the war ended, the army decided not to leave the city so the first city settled by the ancient Britons became a ghost town.

At the time the army took over Imber, there were 150 inhabitants in the city. At its peak, the city had 450 inhabitants (in 1851). At first it seemed that the army would give back the city, with all the damage done repaired. But they changed their mind and it wasn’t until 1961 that the army won the trial.

Imber is open for the public 50 days a year: during the Easter and Christmas periods and throughout the month of August. Aside from the church, everything else has been destroyed but the city is a museum you can walk through.

Nearby Salisbury Plain is also famous for Stonehenge, so you can plan to visit both places during your vacation. You can start your journey in either Salisbury or Amesbury and then explore the area. Just fly into London – accessible from all over the world – and then continue either with the public transport or by rental car.

Pyramiden, Svalbard, Norway

Pyramiden is an abandoned Russian settlement and coal mining community on the archipelago of Svaldbard, Norway. The city was founded by Sweden but later sold to Russia. In 1998 it was abandoned by the Russians. Russia wants to reopen the city, but this time for tourism purposes only so the buildings are currently being upgraded.

There are no restrictions in visiting the city, which is accessible by boat or snowmobile. There are guided tours available (including in English). The easiest way to get here is by way of Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s capital located about 50 km away. It is served by flights to/from Tromso year round and Olso during the summer. To get to Tromso, located north of the Artic Circle, you need to come by way of Oslo (or Stockholm, during the summer).

Craco, Italy

Craco is a medieval village located in the Region of Basilicata and the Province of Matera in Italy. It is the typical hilly town , built that way for defense reasons. Due to poor agricultural conditions, inhabitants started to leave the town. Then, between 1892 and 1922 it was struck by a series of earthquakes and landslides. In 1963, the remaining inhabitants were transferred to Craco Peschiera and now Craco is uninhabited.

The city can be visited but everything is crumbling and continuing to decay. Still, it is an interesting medieval town to see. The nearest airports are Bari (120 km) and Naples (250 km). You can get to Craco either by rental car or by train (the nearby Metaponto is connected to the rest of Italy).

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20 Useful Free Google Docs Templates

A Google Docs Template allows us to upload, download and create documents with file extensions such as .ppt, .xls, .doc, .jpg, and .bmp to access on our personal computers. There are a wide range of templates available with Google Docs that can be used for converting or to generate the content for the internet users. These document templates are quite compatible with MS Word for notepad, Mac and PC and TextEdit. These Google docs make our life and job easier with the wide variety of elegant and simple to use templates. Using these templates, you can create a spreadsheet, presentation or a document with the preset design styles.

The templates play a major role in boosting your productivity towards work and also save your valuable time. You can either select one from the existing documents or even you can create one of your choices. Though there are numerous products and services available with Google, the doc templates are the most popular among them which is absolutely free. Even if you have Power point, MS Word or Excel, you can definitely try these Google Docs. You can also get the help of a spell checker, formatting tools and the line spacing and many more in these Doc templates.

There is also an option to insert footnotes, comments, images, links, tables, table of contents and headers with the templates. For any online business person or marketer, a spreadsheet is very essential and using the Google Docs templates, it is quite convenient and easy to create one. You can also create presentations and forms that help you to keep track of the events or occasions with the calendars, schedules and invoices. When you start using the Google docs, there would not be any hassle with your work or with your rapport with your co-workers and employers.

The most important benefit about these Google docs templates is that you can maintain all your files like spreadsheet, documents and presentations well organized in one single place. And also since these docs are stored in the Google account and not on your personal computer, you can open and view these files from any part of the world and can even make changes to them. Try to choose templates that have minimal decoration and ornamentation and which does not have tables or any other MS formatting functions. Make sure the Google Doc Template you choose make use of chapter headings, section breaks, table of contents and page numbers which would be convenient for the e-readers.