global santafe

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real deal holyfield

if you are a truly cool dude, you probably have women around you, so you can't play this game. but if you are the type of dude that tends to sit around with bunch of guys doing nothing, there is a game for you when you go to the bars. it's called the real deal or holyfield.
basically all you do is to guess whether the woman who passes by has real or fake bosoms.
i found the cliff notes for this and posted it here. now you can be great at this game and look like you know something about women.

Unnatural shape - Most breasts aren't perfect orbs and they usually aren't identical. Be on the lookout for the way they hold in place as she moves around (especially her arms), and how they stay almost the same dimension - instead of flattening out - whether she reaches back or even stretches. Furthermore, when she bends over, you should see them fall if they're real.

Bubbly look - On the topic of odd breast shapes, the top of her breasts are bubbled up - just like bubble butts. Fake boobs defy gravity, so they might look like they're bubbling up. Natural breasts follow a more natural sliding curve line from top to bottom.

Overly firm - Real breasts are mostly fat, which gives them a jiggle quality; if they look more like solid muscle, you may be in the presence of a pair of fake ones.

Standing tall -breasts should be at about armpit height. But some bad breast jobs start them way too high on the chest, as if she's got two flotation devices strapped to her chin.

Too far apart - If you can fit your fist between her breasts, they're probably fake. The doctor should have scraped the pectoral tendons to give them a more natural emplacement, but didn't.

Asymmetrical nipples - True, you don't always see nipples through clothes, but if she's wearing a see-through top, a really tight shirt, or even if it's just a little cold out, take a glance at them. Nipples are seldom perfect, but a bad boob job may put them too high, too low, or not pointing in the same direction.

Stretch marks - This usually stems from the surgery. Skin stretches as we grow, but stretched skin can also leaves marks - usually little red lines. If she went too big or her doctor wasn't that great, you might spot the stretch marks.

Disproportional body - You can usually tell if her breasts are fake by comparing it to the rest of her body.

source
http://www.funreports.com/fun/15-01-2007/1471-Big_breasts-0

Countries GDP as US States

there is probably no use for this graphic, but a reminder that some of these countries still have lots of growth left in them.
despite their recent surge, korea, russia, and brazil is still represented here.

courtesy of
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2007/01/countries_gdp_a.html

land of gentlemen

nancy pelosi has become the first woman speaker of the house, and hilary clinton may become the first president of the united states. women are more than ever becoming an integral part of every aspect of our society. therefore, it is hard to imagine a society without any women.
however, there is an ominous trend in china. it is projected that there will be 30million more men than women in less than 15 years. the article
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=2789869
says in 2005, china's sex ration was 118 boys to 100 girls.

going to china might soon be like going to my math class.

cola coffin

no thoughts today my loyal readers.
by the way, this is a coffin. used in ghana.

http://www.neatorama.com/2006/04/15/fantasy-coffins-from-ghana/

foreigner buying power

many of the foreign currencies has appreciated significantly against the dollar in recent years. for example, euro has gained about 60% since 2002. this enables europeans to buy american products alot cheaper. evidently, many of them have realized this, and using it to their advantage.
i was on ebay looking for a sony mp3 player. when i looked at one of the listings i came across this.

		Question & Answer						Answered On
		Q:	Hello, how much is the shipping price to Belgium? Do you accept paypal for int'l? Thanks a lot						Jan-06-07
				A:	no international paypal. cashiers check or money order only. Cost for shipping to Belgium is $30.00. Thanks
		Q:	Hi! Do you ship it to Brazil? How much? Do you accept Paypal from Brazil? How can I buy it through e-bay from my country?						Jan-06-07
				A:	Yes we ship to Brazil. Cost for shipping would be $30.00 WE accept cashier checks or money order only for International purchase.
		Q:	hallo, how much dose it cost to ship it to paris?						Jan-05-07
				A:	The amount to ship would be $31.09. All International purchase we only except cashiers check or money order.
		Q:	how much is your posting to the UK? Ta						Jan-04-07
				A:	Airmail Parcel Post $35.19 us. We only except cashiers check or money order for International.
		Q:	Hello again! will you accept paypal from me? (im the Australian who emailed you yesterday and paypal wasn't mentioned in your reply) Thanks for your...more						Jan-03-07
				A:	I will not take Paypal from Australia becasue the address through Paypal are not able to be confirmed. So the only payments I can accept are cashier checks...more
	View all 6 questions | Ask seller a question

yes, majority of them are europeans taking advantage of their appreciating currencies.
this leads me to think maybe i should go dig in the garage to see if i have anything to sell to them. maybe i can sell something to that looks cheap to them, but get paid handsomely.

it's january and the college kids are going back to school

yes, it's that time of the year.
if your high school or college kid tend to slack off at school and waste their tuition, read them the story of flurisha l. cooper, and that they will end up being a loser.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/194254,triv010207.article

A 21-year-old woman was hospitalized for intoxication over the weekend after "continually providing wrong answers" during a game of Trivial Pursuit where participants drank alcohol and did drugs when they answered incorrectly.

Flurisha L. Cooper, of the 1000 block of N. Central Park Ave., and Bridgette Pierce, of the 1500 block of E. 65th St., were playing the 2006 Current Events version of Trivial Pursuit about 6:30 p.m. Saturday on the 1000 block of N. Monticello Ave, according to a report taken by Harrison District police officers.

If a player provided an incorrect answer, that person would take a shot of E&J Brandy and take a "hit" off a cannabis "blunt," according to the report, which defined a "blunt" as the street name for cannabis rolled up in cigar leaves.

investing in the middle east

this is total stock market return for 2006. as you can see, investing in foreign market has been profitable. of interest is the fact that 7 bottom performers hail from the middle east. i know there is very few ways to invest in this region, but seems to me that there is some negative bias toward some of these countries. perhaps the perception of 'supporting the terrorist'. i have not looked at the macro economic reason for this, so i could be wrong. but i just can't remember any political unrest, hurricane, famine, or oil price decline of this degree in the past year(-52.53% in saudi arabia?)

i will keep an eye out on this development, maybe middle east can turn out to be a good investment destination.

chart from this link
http://tickersense.typepad.com/ticker_sense/2007/01/2006_global_equ.html

peta: animal lover, or just a vegitarian pita lover

another fallout from the colorado's recent snowstorm is that 340,000 cows and steer are at risk of dying. many of the breeding cows and feed lot cattle are stranded in snow, and are risk at suffocation. many more at risk of starvation without access to food.
faced with this plight, colorado governor bill owens has asked various animal rights group including peta to give a lending hand, but got a cold response.
here's peta's responce.

The dustup started when KRFX morning hosts Rick Lewis and Michael Floorwax (yes, that's his real name) called PETA to ask if the group would help feed and rescue the snowbound herds. PETA spokeswoman Reannon Peterson took the call, and bluntly replied: "You're going to save them, and then in six months they're going to be killed and end up on someone's plate. So I don't know that it's really the most noble cause." .

Peterson added that wild animals caught in the blizzard's wake -- the same animals PETA routinely criticizes hunters for bagging -- also weren't worth spending PETA's money to save. "It's an act of God," she said. "There's really nothing to be done" .

http://www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm/headline/3212

to this, here's govenor bill owens' response

Enter Governor Owens. In addition to labeling PETA "losers" and "frauds," he expressed amazement that "PETA doesn't want us to feed freezing cattle" and stated that "it's symbolic of what PETA stands for" . Finally, Owens declared that PETA is "a strange group of people. Don't send money to PETA" . Asked a few hours later by KRFX sister-station KOA-AM to reiterate his position on PETA, he put it plainly: "What a bunch of losers. Don't give your money to PETA."

funny stuff. i wonder why peta would not want to help these animals. just because they are bound to be slaughtered for meat in a couple years? that logic seems to go against the spirit of animal rights. that's like doctors stopping treating cancer patients just because they are doomed to death in a couple years.
if peta believes letting the animal die is in line with their philosophy, you should seriously consider stop supporting such organizations that touts protection of animal rights.

as all the corruption in the katrina hurricane charities and this incident shows, you need to be extra careful where you send your charitable donations before this upcoming tax season.

if your new years resolution is to gain weight, take xenadrine

federal trade commission, or the ftc, fined 4 manufacturer of weight loss pills for falsely advertising their effects.
on the surface, this doesn't sound like much of a news. after all, who really thinks you can just lose weight by just taking a pill (besides those millions of people who buy these products and make these crooks millionaires).
but by reading the article, it gets interesting.

quote from the associated press
She (FTC Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras ) said the FTC investigation found that the marketers of Xenadrine had a study that said those who took a placebo actually lost more weight than those taking the pill.

i'd recommend these wonderful diet pills for those of you lucky enough to want to gain weight.


link is here
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/UPDATE/701040436

vacation time around the world

now that the vacation time is over for most folks, it's time to start complaining how short our vacation is.
i came across a chart of 'minimum vacation time around the world' in wikipedia. interestingly, united states seems to have the one of the lowest number of vacation days. seems to me that those complaining of chinese labor practice in the united states should concentrate their efforts in helping united states catch up to the rest of developed world first.

source
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacation#Minimum_vacation_time_around_the_world

Country	legally required
Argentina	14 calendar days (from 0 to 5 years seniority), 21 calendar days (from 5 to 10), 28 calendar days (from 10 to 20) and 35 calendar days (from 20)
Australia	Not required, but 4 weeks is standard. Additional Long service leave is also payable.
Austria	5 weeks, for elderly employees 6 weeks
The Bahamas	2 weeks after 1 year employment, 3 weeks after 5 years employment
Belgium	20 days, premium pay
Brazil	30 consecutive days, of which 10 can be sold back to the employer
Bulgaria	20 business days
Canada	10 working days, determined by provincial law
Chile	15 working days
China	Not required
Croatia	18 working days
Czech Republic	4 weeks
Colombia	2 weeks
European Union	4 weeks, more in some countries
Ecuador	2 weeks
Finland	5 weeks
France	5 weeks + 2 weeks of RTT (Reduction du Temps de Travail, in English : Reduction of Working Time) = 7 weeks. The most significant vacation time of any country in the world.
Germany	4 weeks (24 "workable" days, i.e. Mo to Sa, even if the working week is Mo to Fri), plus 9 to 13 bank holidays
Hong Kong	7 days
Hungary	20 working days
Ireland	4 weeks, plus 9 public holidays
Israel	14 days
Japan	including sick leave: 18 days paid time off; officially, five weeks (in reaction to the karoshi problem)
Korea, South	10 working days
Mexico	1 week
Netherlands	4 weeks
New Zealand	4 weeks as of April 1, 2007
Norway	25 working days
Paraguay	2 weeks
Peru	2 weeks
Poland	20 business days, 26 business days after 10 years of employment
Puerto Rico	15 days
Romania	minimum 20 working days
Saudi Arabia	15 days
Singapore	7 days
South Africa	21 consecutive days
Spain	30 calendar days
Sweden	25-32 working days, depending on age
Switzerland	4 weeks
Taiwan	7 days
Turkey	12 work days
Tunisia	30 work days
Ukraine	24 calendar days
United Kingdom	20 calendar days, plus 8 bank holidays
United States	Not required, but 7-21 days is standard for most employers. Typically, 10 working days with 8 national holidays.
Uruguay	2 weeks
Venezuela	15 paid days
Vietnam	10 working days.

here comes the new bow wow

teenager who was taken out of his middle school in handcuffs for his rap lyrics, has won the court battle with the school district and the township. he is to received $60,000 and $90,000 from each of the defendants and will be reinstated into school.
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/national/article.aspx?storyid=46391

lesson here is clear. don't give up on your dreams to become a world renouned rapper just because you come from a small town (about 6000 people according to wikipedia) and your school teacher tells you that you can't. this young man has already demonstrated that you can build a great resume by making random terror threats, stir controversy, get in cuffs, expelled from school, and appear in court.