puteri-kedah

Students as old as me ...

2011-09-15T01:30:00.000-07:00

Students as old as me ... come on, why she is so hurry to get on the car? where to go ? go to school ? what subject at her university ? hehehehehe

Panas Jugak..! Ada Lagi Artis Dah Bertaubat Digunakan Oleh PAS Untuk H

2011-09-12T08:55:00.001-07:00

Take another example of a famous female artist is quite wild during adolescence. Now, since becoming a TV host and familiarized herself with the party, the Islamic talk not cracked in the mouth. He is great, the best example of his son, that is.

When the show hosting plans children on TV, air "make up" thick eyebrows but also shaved. Is this true believer features ala PAS? He did not know the ruling on shaving the eyebrows on the side of Islam illegal?

Can not any of our artists even if we want to repent, take Yussuf Islam such as a user? He was once a athies called Cat Steven, is not extreme when the depth, reach and expand Islam.

In fact he was preaching in his own right is preaching through nasyidnya music that praises God, Islam and Prophet Muhammad PBUH. For me, I am more interested in preaching this same pattern.

In our case, I blame 100% to Azmil Mustapha would be so too. The mosque committee members who wise to go pick one person who is not qualified to tell them. Tens or hundreds of other educated Muslim religious scholars in and outside the state, school and graduated from Al Azhar's hut, which can give talks and tazkirah at the mosque and the mosque.

What can we do, this is the characteristics of Malaysian-style Islamic state. Those non-Muslims in the Mosque out preach mock verses the Qur'an, Muslims too busy to break the fast in the church while the verses of the Koran prohibited heard publicly in the mosque by the State Fatwa Council pulak tu, allegedly want to please pagan harbi. Allahhuakbar.

Cao Lam Vien - Vietnamese Hunk

2011-08-03T21:11:00.000-07:00

y Gay

Flirting Tips - 5 Ways to Let the Single Ladies Know You're Interested

2011-07-31T02:57:00.003-07:00

If you are interested in a particular lady and want to figure out if she's interested in you then you need to use the right type of flirting to find out.

Careful though! You can come across creepy and stalker like if you go about it the wrong way and you can bet that she won't be flirting back with you anytime soon once you cross that line.

Here are 5 flirting tips to let her know you are interested without looking creepy.

1. Give her longer than normal glances.

This is where you can go over the line and become a creep so you want to be careful here, but the irony is that this works beautifully if you use it correctly.

Women read eye signals well and if you are giving her glances that convey more than just "Oh there you are" then she will get the hint you are interested.

A good glance should be about 2-3 seconds long. Any longer and she may just wonder what you are really thinking in there and any less and you will convey that you like her as a friend.

2. Be on her side in a conversation.

She'll know you are interested as soon as she hears you agreeing with her, especially if it's a difference of opinion with another girl.

3. Compliment her in a subtle way.

Don't tell her how great her boobs look in that sweater but do tell her that she looks really good today.

If you think joking around about how good her butt looks will let her know you are interested then you are dead wrong. All that will do is confuse her as to whether or not you are interested because joking around happens between both friends and lovers.

Now, if you step back and give her a nice smile and tell her she looks really good today then you have shown her that you are not just giving your opinion as a friend but as someone who is attracted to her.

4. Make her laugh and feel good.

Try to make her laugh. If you focus your attention on making her feel good she will soon realize that you like making her feel good and that is an instant clue to attraction.

5. Try to be extra courteous to her.

If you are with a group of people and you have a chance to hold the door for only her then do so. All those chivalry things work really well here when you are trying to flirt and show her you are interested.

Also, a great tip is the hand in the back idea. When you put your hand gently on the small of her back to direct her into some place or in a different direction it shows her that you care about her. It may be the tender connection or it may be just a sign of a man being aware of his girl but either way it works. Try it!

How to Approach a Woman - 4 Things That Are Getting in YOUR Way

2011-07-31T02:57:00.001-07:00

If you get nervous just thinking about approaching a woman, then you might find some comfort in knowing that it is a pretty common occurrence. It's not unusual for even the most seemingly confident men to feel a little case of the "butterflies" when they are about to approach a woman. However, if it is something that holds you back... then that can be a problem.

Here are 4 things that are probably getting in the way of your ability to calmly approach a woman:

1. You think about it TOO much.

If you allow your mind to just go off on tangents and think about all of the possibilities before you even put on foot forward, you are going to get paralyzed. Approach paralysis is probably one of the biggest obstacles that men face when it comes to meet and dating women. The approach is the foundation, and until you build that foundation, you can escalate any further.

2. You have little experience when it comes to approaching women.

For me, this used to be my biggest sticking point. I just did not have a whole lot of experience approaching women that I did not know and getting any words to come out of my mouth. Women that I already knew, I had no problems talking and flirting them up. What helps, is when you just go out and do it. Don't care about the result, just the fact that you got the nerve to approach a woman that you did not know.

3. You don't have something to say to her.

Most guys already know that they need to be able to get some kind of conversation going on, and if they cannot think of anything that they can say, then they just forget about it and move on. Well, you can't let opportunities pass you by, anymore. You have to take the situation and run with it. The more you get yourself comfortable with talking to women, the easier it will be to figure something out to strike up some kind of conversation and then you can escalate things.

4. You have tried and struck out before.

A couple of rejections can make a lot of men become a little "gun shy" when it comes to approaching a woman. Well, the thing is, you probably did not have enough techniques at your disposal to make it go down the way that you wanted it to. This can easily be solved just by discovering the RIGHT techniques to create attraction and make her want YOU.

How to Get a Guy to Kiss You! Here is What You Must Do If You Are Hesitant to Make the Move

2011-07-31T02:56:00.002-07:00

Kissing is the best way to express one's feelings for another. Sometimes, words don't seem to be enough to tell what you actually feel and so a physical connection is needed in order for you to get your message across. Still, there are lots of guys out there who are afraid to make a move because they might be slapped, might get turned down or they are simply afraid.

During those moments when the guy cowers, it might be time for you to take control of the situation:

Brush your teeth and keep your breath fresh-smelling.

There may be times that a guy gets turned off because of bad breath. If you want to be sure your guy would never have to experience this, make sure that you brush your teeth well and that you keep your breath fresh. A minty breath spells confidence at any moment.

Wear a sweet-smelling perfume.

Guys get turned on easily by girls who smell good. This might just make him want to get closer to you and, eventually, he won't be able to resist kissing you.

Be friendly and talk casually about kissing.

Guys find it hard to resist women who are open about the things that she would want to get. Down through the conversation, the two of you might feel the urgency to connect and voila, your talk of kissing has just come true.

Increase physical contact.

Breaking the touch barrier would make it even harder for guys to stop themselves. Touch his elbow, brush his hand with your moisturized hands, put your hand on his knee - these things will make you irresistible to him.

The power of cuddling.

Cuddling is often the first step before a girl and a guy kiss each other. Even those who have been married for a long time, cuddling brings about so much warmth that kissing becomes inevitable. Cuddling spells intimacy and so there's no way that he can resist you once you've already enveloped him in your loving embrace.

Look him in his eyes.

A stare would always do wonders. Pause for a while and deeply stare at him in his eyes. You'll be able to tell if he's turned on by you by merely looking deeply into those pair of eyes. Eventually, your faces will get closer to each other and your lips will meet into a kiss.

Whisper sweet nothings to his ear.

This should give him a tingling feeling and he'll be truly stone-hearted if he won't give in to your enticing.

Cheating Spouse - 5 Signs of a Marriage Affair From Dating Websites

2011-07-31T02:56:00.000-07:00

It is heartbreaking to think you may have a cheating spouse. Many marriage affairs are now being encouraged by dating websites that make it easy to hookup with random sexual partners. Here's the top infidelity signs for a spouse who is looking for a fling on dating websites.

1. Buying a prepaid cell phone - Many cheating spouses purchase a prepaid cell phone in order to have anonymous conversations without leaving behind any long term tracks. Be especially wary if you find a phone on your spouse and they claim they found it or that it belongs to a friend.

2. Purchasing prepaid credit cards - Many men who cheat, troll internet dating sites for perspective lovers. These websites require some form of credit card to access dating services. Watch out for credit card usage dedicated to dating sites such as from a Paypal account, or prepaid credit card.

3. Wanting internet privacy - We are in the age of instant internet dating. Since many spouses are hooking up via the computer it makes total sense to look out for a spouse who suddenly closes down their internet browser when you walk in the room. In addition, if your husband or wife is clearing their internet browsing history it could be because they've got something to hide.

4. Finding provocative pictures and profile images - Many people who are looking to hook up on a dating website will ask their potential new lover for lurid or suggestive pictures. Run a search on your spouses computer for JPG images to locate images they may be keeping hidden from you. You may also find pictures that are of your spouse that they are submitting to dating websites to attract potential lovers.

5. Creates new email account and instant messenger account - Many spouses who cheat will try to create new accounts so they can chat unmonitored on the internet. If you find that your spouse has opened a new email, or instant messenger account it can be an indication of foul play.

Now that you know some of the top signs of a marriage affair, you don't want to jump to any conclusions and start making accusations. Accusing your spouse of infidelity without being sure of the circumstances can cause them to withdraw and even push them to resentment. Instead you'll want to gather as much investigative information as possible so you can finally know the truth.

Affair Signs of a Cheating Husband

2011-07-31T02:55:00.002-07:00

If you are noticing suspicious affair signs and suspect you may have a cheating husband you need to know the truth. The act of a marriage affair can devastate your trust, and your ability to live an emotional healthy life. Infidelity breaks apart families and can be one of the most difficult times in your life. Here are some of the most popular affair signs of a husband that is cheating.

Husband who is bored with life - If your husband is constantly complaining about how bored and dissatisfied they are with life it can be an indication that they are looking for something else.

He is suddenly very attentive - If you husband has a drastic change in the way they are treating you it can be a red flag that they are covering for a recent indiscretion. Many cheating men purchase gifts out of the blue for their wives in the hope that it will distract them from what is really going on.

Withholding information from you - If your husband says they have a meeting then is not forthcoming about the location it can be a sign of deception. They may also not give you precise time when they will be home. Be on the lookout for little lies they may tell you that can indicate untruthfulness in the relationship

Less intimacy in your marriage - A spouse who suddenly stops wanting sex, kissing, and closeness, may be an indication that they are getting sexual intimacy from someone else. Look out for a husband who says they are not interested in sex because of work. This can be a cheating tell that they are involved with someone there.

Your husband has low self-esteem - A husband who has low self esteem will often stop communicating with you. This lack of communication may cause the spouse to look for emotional intimacy with someone else. Many men cheat to feel the emotional high that accompanies a new relationship. They think the quick fling will help get them over the internal anguish they feel from past experiences.

Rather than deal with the stress and resentment of confronting the signs of an affair, many people try to avoid believing it's really happening to them. Avoiding the issue can only prolong your misery and resentment. In order for you to move on and fix the problem, whether it be to get counseling, a divorce, or work on the relationship, you need to know the truth.

How to Make Him Commit - Get Him to See it Your Way

2011-07-31T02:55:00.000-07:00

Are you trying to make your man commit, but he's just not into it? Is this something that is extremely important to you and not important at all to him? Do you wonder if you'll ever see eye to eye on this matter? Many men fear making a commitment while others just don't see any reason to bother. Here's what you need to know to both be happy with your commitment issues.

While it's important you understand your own reasons for wanting a commitment, you should also try to find out why he's so reluctant. Has enough time passed in the relationship? If you're pushing for a commitment after only a few months of dating, you might be rushing things.

Is he afraid to commit? Why? This is a conversation that should not escalate into an argument. You want to remain calm and receptive of what he has to say. Are his fears reasonable?

Turn the tables and put yourself in his place. Imagine dating a guy you feel a lot of affection for, but for whatever reason, you're just not sure yet. Perhaps there are a few little things about him that have you wondering.

What if he's a bit too bossy? What if he's already telling you to get rid of your friends and change your hair and alter your wardrobe? And what if he's getting angrier and angrier every time he brings up committing and you step further back?

Not very tempting, is it?

Don't try to become your man's boss. Instead, let him see that life with you will always be fun and you won't become a chore to be around. Seeing the bright future he has with you, he'll make that commitment.

The Mating Game and How to Play It

2011-07-31T02:54:00.002-07:00

If you don't want advice, don't read this.

Are you longing for the perfect person to come along? Do you have a picture of him or her in your mind?

I wrote in my journal, "It's kind of sad not to have someone special, but there has to be a void so that that place can be filled. Nature abhorres a vacuum."

A friend gave me a book that helped me along the way to my perfect mate. Yes. It really can happen and it sometimes does. Dapne Rose Kingma's book, Finding True Love has great advice and gives exercises to do to find the perfect person. I was newly divorced at the time a friend gave me this beautiful little book. One night I picked up her book and began reading. I had recently started keeping a journal and so I kept all the exercises she put in the book and I did them in order. I also used my recently learned Feng Shui expertise to get my home ready for the perfect person - not really thinking one would come along very soon.

I continued my spiritual practices of prayer, reading and meditation. I was perfectly content and not really looking for anyone. Occasionally I went with friends to singles dances. They were fun, but I never met anyone who was even slightly interesting to me.

I made a list of the qualities I wanted in a love relationship as suggested in the above book. My list went like this:

The same spiritual philosophy
A good sense of humor
Has the same ethics and values I have
Interested in a healthy life style
Lives at the beach

The list goes on and amazingly I found someone with ALL the qualities I had on my list. I met my current husband, Bill at a church conference and the rest is history. If the person you are interested in doesn't have all the qualities you want, can you live with that? Bill also said, "You have all the qualities that are on my list."

My advice is probably not so different from others, but I do look at it from another perspective.

Don't get physically involved until you've established a friendship. "You've got to be kidding! You say. I'm not kidding. Once you're physically involved it's very hard to call an end to a relationship.
Don't rush into things. Take it slow and easy. There are exceptions to the rule, but do you want to risk it?
Be on the same spiritual path. This makes sense, but many think that it will all just work out if you're in love. It usually doesn't. Love can go as quickly as it came.
Don't think you can change the person you see as "almost" perfect, if only... People don't change that much. There are always flaws. Everyone has their idiosyncrasies. Can you live with the little things that you know will bother you? Those little things can turn into big things over time.

That's why it's so important to get to know the person you think you may want to spend your life with. Find out if you share the same interests and have similar views, like to do the same things and have the same spiritual philosophy. I repeated spiritual philosophy because it is such an important part of my life.

Good chemistry can be deceiving. A touch can be electric. That doesn't mean he or she will be the perfect life partner for you. To reiterate, give it time and thought before taking the plunge.

Oprah once said, "When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." Oprah is a hero of mine. She is right on the mark on this one.

Make Your Man Commit - Have Him Eating Out of Your Hand

2011-07-31T02:54:00.000-07:00

Are you unable to make your man commit to you? Have you found Mr. Right, but he hesitates and will not set a date? Do you have a great guy friend and want to turn him into your boyfriend? Is this man your soul mate; he just does not know it yet? There is something that you can do about it. You can have him eating out of your hand - you can make your man commit to you.

If you want to take your relationship to the next level, there are a few tactics you can try. It is just like when you want to attract men in general; there are some techniques that work better than others. Let us talk bout the best techniques that may be able to make a guy fall in love with you. What attraction can you use when you want to make your man commit to you?

You could try using sex. But male psychology says that a man will not fall in love with you just because you are good in bed. It might get his attention for a short time, but then he will become bored. When he wants a meaningful relationship, a real girlfriend and wife, he will move on to someone he can respect. That will not be you. Do not use a sexual hookup in order to get a boyfriend / husband / lover / soul mate.

Good dating advice says to show him your sparkling, beautiful personality. This is what can make him commit to you. If you are the kind of woman that he enjoys doing a variety of things with; if you are the kind of woman that he would like to spend the rest of his life with, he may fall in love with you. It is your personality that will gain you a proposal, commitment and a wedding.

Be easy to talk to.

Make sure that you are a person who is not critical, complaining, nagging, demanding or sarcastic. Those traits repel men, they do not attract them. Replace those negative traits with positive habits and a cheerfulness that can attract people like a magnet.

Show him that you are interested in him,

If you show him that you are interested in him, this may encourage him to pursue you. Make sure you smile when you see him. Make sure that you talk about the things that he enjoys talking about. Pay close personal attention to him.

7 Amazing Ways to Attract Girls

2011-07-31T02:53:00.002-07:00

Some men have it all: looks, personality, brains, etc. But when it comes to knowing the ways to attract girls, they're pretty much left in the dark, or too shy to make the move. If you're looking for ways to attract girls and keep them interested in you, here are a few tips to remember.

1. Most women do take notice of a man's best assets, so if you have a nice smile or beautiful eyes, use them to your advantage. Wear a shirt that will enhance your eye color and smile when you approach her.

2. You don't have to look like you just came out of GQ magazine, but it still wouldn't hurt for you to dress nicely and have a sense of style. Faded jeans and an old t-shirt is fine during the day or for a casual look, but at night with people all around women do take notice of how you dress. They'll find you more attractive if you're well-groomed and maintain good hygiene.

3. When you talk to a girl, compliment her on how she looks. Be careful with your choice of words. Some girls aren't too fond of being called "hot", so call her "beautiful" instead.

4. A guy must always have a good sense of humor. Making her smile and laugh is definitely a bonus for you. She'll be more comfortable and would enjoy hanging out with you. She'll respond better knowing you're the down-to-earth kind of guy who doesn't take himself too seriously.

5. Most women prefer men who make the first move. If you like a girl and you think she may be interested in you as well, you can make a good impression by making the opening move. It takes the pressure off her, and she'll appreciate that.

6. Try not to be too nervous and think of it as just like talking to a friend. Keep it cool and try to relax. Don't immediately ask her out after introducing yourself. See where the conversation goes first.

7. One of the best ways to attract girls is to be confident but not cocky or arrogant. Being arrogant and thinking you're everything she could ever want is a turn off. Be confident enough to approach her and introduce yourself, and modest enough not to brag about anything. Let her decide if you're the guy she could be interested in.

How To Attract Any Woman You Want: Techniques That Work

2011-07-31T02:53:00.000-07:00

There is certainly no such thing as an instant pickup specialist, but with the correct tools and mentality, a man can develop into one in almost no time at all. Qualities that are known as alpha male in the wild are the core of what it takes to date or attract a young woman. If a man is dominant in his physical appearance or temperament, then he is an alpha male. On the grounds that alpha males have a tendency to direct their peers, females are lured to their capability to set themselves apart from others. Listed here are alpha male pickup traits, basics and vocabulary a newbie should master to achieve his goal.

1. Pickup masters call the women you meet in social situations "targets," and if they are in a group of individuals they are classified as "sets."

2. A good number of pickup specialists and master attraction teachers recognize that getting a potential partner attracted to you enough to return home with you usually takes anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

3. The endless components a guy can demonstrate to substantiate to the planet he is an alpha male may include: leading an open line of communication, having great posture, or beaming every time he approaches a number of people.

4. To seduce a girl a guy must never display weakness in his feelings in front of her.

5. A woman's associates will usually accept you before the female of your desires does, and this will make hooking her so much simpler.

6. Relaying anecdotes and being silly can go a long way in engaging unknown people, specifically packs of females that include a particular person you hope to know better.

7. "Multi-threading" is an expression utilized by pickup masters to detail ways in which a guy can integrate various subjects of interest in discussion to give yourself time in gaining a female's undivided attention.

8. Dismissing the woman you eventually want to date or mate with at first disqualifies a man as a potential suitor, and thus causes her to be more invested.

9. A guy that has multiple women available to him routinely indicates such high standing that it is typically tough for a girl to get that image out of her brain.

10. Quite often the energy where you become acquainted with a female is too excessive, and when this is the circumstance a guy ought to make an effort to take the woman someplace that he can be listened to.

11. Examples of high status in the kind of a companion of yours making you appear unique in talking with women is quite effective.

12. A nice way to make a girl feel lower value than you is to relay to her that her ears wiggle as she talks, which makes her more predisposed to learning what you have to say.

Use Condoms; Enjoy Your Marital Life

2011-07-31T02:52:00.002-07:00

There have been numerous instances when unprotected sex among married couples have led to slip-ups that have long-term effects on their married life. Wearing good quality condoms during post-marital sexual unions is one of the secrets to enjoy a happy married as well as sex life.

Types of quality condoms available in UK
There is a wide range of quality condoms which you can buy at cheap rates in UK. Durex condoms, Avanti condoms, Trojan condoms, Flavored condoms to name a few of them.

Durex condoms: The name Durex comes from ‘durability, reliability, and excellence’ and it was trademarked by the London Rubber. Durex is perhaps the most popular trademarked name for condoms It is also the most popular brand of condoms in the UK. There are various types of Durex condoms you can purchase at cheap rates. Durex Avanti Ultima Condoms, Durex Close Fit Condoms, Durex Elite Condoms, Durex Gossamer Condoms, Durex Ribbed Condoms, Durex Performa Condoms and so on. All these condoms are available at relatively lower prices.

Durex Avanti Condoms: A non-allergenic condom, Avanti Ultima is made from a revolutionary new material only used by Durex, which is non-latex, super soft and highly elastic.

Some of the basic features of Avanti Condoms are
The world's most natural feeling non-latex condom

Thinner than regular latex condoms for a natural feeling

The world's first male polyurethane condom

Non-allergic

Non-spermicidal lubricant

Trojan Condoms: Another popular variety of condoms. Some popular variants of Trojan Condoms that you can buy at cheap rates are Trojan twisted pleasure, Trojan shared pleasure. Trojan condoms are the best buys for people who want that warm sensation in their condoms.

Order condoms on-line
Buying condoms on-line is convenient, easy and discreet. Why waste your time standing at your local chemist trying to read the packages while people pass you by, looking over your shoulder? Wouldn’t you rather order Condoms from the privacy of your home or your laptop while sipping coffee at the cafe and having an opportunity to read about products you want to buy before you buy them?

The on-line market in UK is cashing in on the high demand for condoms, which could be available to buyers at the click of a mouse. But, if you want to buy quality condoms at cheap rates.

Body Language Signals – Decode Men Quickly

2011-07-31T02:52:00.000-07:00

Do you know how to read a man's body language? Wouldn't you li

ke to really know what he is thinking? Would having some new insight into male psychology help you attract men? If you want to stop the endless guessing game and find out what a man is really feeling inside, you won't get a straight answer from him. Learn the secret language signals that tell you the truth about what men are thinking and feeling.

Body language is like a secret code. Once you know how to read the code, you can learn things about men (or other women, for that matter) that they may not even know about themselves. While some men are pretty good at consciously using it, they are usually obvious about it. These are the confident guys who will look you directly in the eye, smile their patented killer smile and stand close to you when they're speaking. To get to the truth, you need to look for the subtler clues.

Watch his Adam's Apple when he talks to you. If it's bobbing up and down, that's a sign that he is nervous. Why would a confident guy get nervous around a girl? It's a good bet that he's really attracted to her. If his bobbing Adam's Apple is accompanied by a softer, warmer smile than his normal smile, it means he is beginning to melt. That is a very good sign.

If a guy is acting cool and collected or talking business with you, but keeps licking his lips, it is a very strong signal that he is becoming sexually aroused. He is nervous with anticipation. The reason why he is licking his lips is because his saliva glands have stopped secreting saliva. Even seasoned veterans at putting on a show of indifference can't stop that from happening. If you want to get this guy hooked on you, when you see him licking his lips, flirt with him just a little. That will drive him crazy.

This next one is very important, because many girls completely misinterpret it. If a guy who formerly looked you in the eye confidently when you were talking starts averting his eyes when you talk, that is often a very good sign that he has become super-attracted to you. The reason for this is because even confident men turn to mush when they start to fall in love. They become shy and nervous and a little overwhelmed with their feelings. If his voice seems to soften or go up in timber at the same time, he definitely has tender feelings for you.

There are many other signs you can look for, but these are easy to spot and almost foolproof.watch these body language signs and when you see them, make the most of them!

How to Impress a Guy in Conversations

2011-07-31T02:51:00.002-07:00

It's natural to feel nervous when you're talking to a guy you like. If you're wondering how to impress a guy in conversations, then a sweet smile wouldn't be enough. You're going to need manners as well.

It's one thing to appear sweet and lady-like, it's another to act like one. Sure, he'd love to know all about you, but that doesn't mean you can chat the night away. Babbling on and on about yourself doesn't exactly scream modesty. Give him the floor every once in a while.

Now pay attention, because once you've given him the floor, it's time to put those communication skills to the test. That's right, conversation isn't a one way thing. You talk, but you also need to listen. When it's his turn to talk, pay attention and wait your turn. It's rude to interrupt, and you'll only end up offending him.

And listen! Don't out your chin on your hands, put on your best acting skills and pretend to be listening. If you're mind is somewhere else, he'll know. Your eyes or your facial expression may betray you. You can't feign interest and expect him to be impressed with you. If he figures out you're only pretending, then he'll lose interest in you.

Don't let your eyes wander. Focus on him so he'll know you're listening. It wouldn't kill you to smile either. A great trick is to mirror his reactions. If he's excited talking about something, then look excited as well. Being stoic doesn't exactly define showing interest. How would you feel if you're in the moment and the person you're talking to looks like there could have been carved out of stone?

Try to avoid looking bored as well. It's rude and offending and if he can sit there and listen to you talk about yourself, then you can do the same for him. Isn't that the purpose of getting to know each other and finding common interest?

Whatever you do, don't interrupt unless it's to ask questions or ask him to explain further. If you want to know how to impress a guy in conversations, then learn to wait for your turn. Even if you have a great story to tell, keep it for now. You'll get your chance later.

5 Simple Steps That Will Make You a Real Man

2011-07-31T02:51:00.000-07:00

Look, seducing a woman does not have to be some pre set silly routine or some stupid set of gimmicks you picked up from some book. It's more about knowing how to trigger her interest and making her feel like YOU are the man that she just has to experience things with.

It's one thing to know how to get a woman's attention. Any guy can get dressed up, style his hair nicely, and make a woman notice him. But that's only one minor step of the game, that's far from the whole story. The thing that you have to accomplish is seducing a woman. That's what separates wussies from real men. Showing your interests, flirting shamelessly, using body language: these are all ingredients that make the thrill of the hunt so fun and seductive.

So let's look at the things that really matter when it comes to seducing women:

1. Confidence - that's the most crucial thing you have to gain in the game of seduction. A woman can tell just by instincts most of the time whether or not you are really a confident, congruent guy. That's right she can smell the shit 10000 miles away - it's in her DNA. So don't think too much about what to do, instead just relax and see what happens.

The most important advice: live the moment. Enjoy what happens, not just talking to the girl, but the whole fun of having her around you. That's when seduction happens...when you're not looking for it. Control your emotions and simply let them flow.

When women see you're calm, cool, collected and fun, that's precisely when they're turned on most!

2. Appearance - When you get ready to go out to meet her, make sure you look and smell your best. Believe me you don't have to be Brad Pitt to be successful with women. That's right for a woman looks is not that much of an issue as it is for us guys. Just make sure that your clothes look good and that you are well groomed and smell halfway decent. It will show you care and it will make them feel important.

3. Body language - once again women have a 6th sense when it comes to reading signs. They can read you like an open book. It doesn't mean you have to be paranoid about it, instead just impose your presence. It's really important to sit up straight and have your shoulders back. You want to convey confidence and control as much as you can. Make sure you always maintain eye contact and most importantly, smile.

4. Be 'Cocky and Funny': Throw in some sarcasm when talking to a woman. This works best with women with distinguished social value who are not used to this type of approach. It will set you apart. Be careful - there is a limit to all of this: overdo it and they will get offend. Sense of humor is one of the top ways to attract women. Make her laugh and half of the game is already won.

5. Make her feel sexual desire: Seduction is not about trying to make her like you, it's about being the guy that she cannot resist. So get to know the girl...tell her what you like about her. Then start talking sexually: make allusions, and sneak in comments about how good you are in bed. The first step towards having sex, is talking about it.

Talk to Any Guy - Bring Him Under Your Spell

2011-07-31T02:50:00.002-07:00

Are you shy or can you talk to any guy? When you talk to guys, how do they react? Do they get turned on or do they seem to get turned off? What is it about some girls that mesmerizes men every time they open their mouths? Instead of getting jealous and turning away, analyze what they do and learn to do what they do. Then you, too, can talk to any guy and bring him under your spell.

Notice how the girl who has four or five guys hanging on her every word behaves. She carries herself confidently. She smiles a lot. When a guy talks to her, she seems to be really listening. When he makes a joke, she laughs like it's the funniest joke she's ever heard. She not only laughs, but she reaches out and nudges him playfully on the shoulder.

Are you confident when you talk with men? Do you hold your head high and your body erect? Men are more impressed by a confident woman than they are by shy women. When you talk to any guy with an erect posture and a confident smile, he will be impressed.

Men like to feel good about themselves just like women do. They don't want a woman to dominate a conversation. They like what they say to be listened to and appreciated. The art of conversation is as much about listening as talking. When a woman listens to what a guy has to say and makes him feel like he is witty and clever, he feels like he's ten feet tall. That feeling draws him under her spell.

Finally, there is the art of touching. Don't be afraid to touch a guy you're talking to. A playful nudge can send electric sparks through a man that turn him on as much as a kiss, but because it's so brief and natural, he won't know what happened. He'll be aroused, but not think you did it on purpose. All he will know is that he wants more.

These are the secrets of conversational attraction. Practice them when you talk to any guy and pretty soon you'll have him under your spell.

5 Secrets of Women

2011-07-31T02:50:00.000-07:00

So you are trying to become better at the art of seducing women right? You are on the right track if you are seeking for info. You know what they say: know your opponent in order to win the game. And you know what the game of seduction isn't any different.

Once you get to understand them, you will take them off that pedestal. You will never think yourself again as unworthy or inferior to woman once you will get inside their head.

The first thing you must know is that women are emotional beings. Women operate a great deal with their emotions, they often act on impulses. So don't hit them with your logical side because you will hit a brick wall. This is one of the key secrets in the seduction game. Always, I repeat, always appeal to their emotional side. Women barely make any logical decision. Once you understand this you'll be able to take advantage of it. Don't waste your time judging what they did and why they did it. Instead simply pay attention to what they're doing and what they're feeling. And focus on what you want to make them feel. If you could just trigger the right emotional buttons inside a woman you are in the game.

Here are some of the myths we need to destroy if you ever want to be successful with women:

1. Women only fancy hot guys
No, no, no and no. Just look at all those ugly guys walking around with beautiful women. In fact, how you look isn't even in the top five things that women look for when choosing a potential partner! Demand, value, confidence, sense of humor and security are all more important!

2. A woman likes it when a man throws himself at her
Women hate it when they get a date with a needy guy who does nothing but shower her straight forward with gifts, dinners, flowers. It shows you've scored a date and you don't want to let her go. Women want a real man next to them not a desperate wuss.

3. Women love to be showered with compliments
Oh for gods sakes. How many times do you think she heard all those crappy lines before? Compliments are good but pay extra attention to what you say and how many times you say it: be original and most important be honest or she'll sense it. You'll receive a big fat red tick in the "loser" column if you're lying.

4. Women only go for men they can control
The truth is this guys: women don't know what they want. I told you early on, they act on sheer instinct. They will tell you one thing and go and do the complete opposite. It takes a brutally honest woman to say what she really wants in a guy. What women really want is a dominant man, they simply don't want to lead but just to have the illusion that they are.

5. Women don't need sex as much as men do
The truth is women can't be as open on the subject as they will get labeled "slut". In fact women love sex, in fact most of the girls I dated like sex more then the average men. Deep down, they are just as horny as us men are and once turned on - a skill a lot of men just haven't mastered yet - they simply can't be stopped. When it comes to sex women are just like us men: they masturbate and watch porn (or read those romance novels full of sex scenes). Again you have to know how to push their buttons.

Playing Hard to Get - How to Get Him Interested in You

2011-07-31T02:49:00.002-07:00

Do you think there's something you don't understand about playing hard to get? Have you tried it before and nothing happened? Does it somehow feel phony and deceitful and that's not the way you want to approach a new relationship? A lot of women seem to think that this is a game meant only for women who aren't serious about building a strong relationship. But, in a sense, the opposite is true. Read on to see what I mean.

The true essence of playing hard to get is piquing his interest while giving you a chance to find out who he is. So, what happens when you go to a club, a slow, sultry song comes on, and a guy comes out of nowhere and asks you to dance with him? Now think about it. You've never seen this guy before in your life. Do you really want to dance up close and personal to him? For all you know he could be a psychopath.

So, you say no but show him that you're open to a conversation with him. Call it playing hard to get or call it just plain common sense, the result is the same. He feels challenged. You're giving yourself time to figure him out.

Chat a while and learn a few things about him. And at the end of the night, when he asks you to go back to his place, what do you do? Even if you've spent two hours talking to him, realistically speaking, you don't really know him enough to go to his place right away.

Again, say no, but let him see you'd be open to the idea of seeing him again. Not only are you challenging him, but you're showing him that you're a woman with a degree of self respect. You're not just willing to throw yourself into the arms of the first man to come along.

In the long run, making him work for every step he needs to get closer to you, he'll come to feel special knowing he did the right things to win you over.

And, what's your biggest fear? Chances are if this guy is incredibly cute, you said yes to that dance. And he's thinking, 'she's easy'. Chances are you melted into his arm and are already wondering what his lips taste like. And he's thinking, 'she's way easy'. And when you went back to his place because you were afraid he wouldn't like you if you said no... And he's thinking, 'wow, she's way too easy'.

If that cute guy can't stand being told no, know that you're better off without him. Get involved with a man who'll be willing to put in the time to really win you over.

Signs He`s Into You

2011-07-31T02:49:00.000-07:00

When a guy falls for you in a big way he’ll want to know everything about you and that includes a full understanding of your likes and dislikes. If your hobby is collecting retro furniture he’ll have the good grace to feign interest when you spend all afternoon scouring second hand shops - although he’d rather be home working on his car. Don’t worry - he’s not becoming a “yes” man - he’s simply trying to get closer to you in every part of your life - and sharing your interests is an obvious way to do it.

Sexy asian girl in hot blue bikini

2011-07-31T02:47:00.001-07:00

Sexy asian girl in hot blue bikini

MotoGP Grid Girls Gallery - Sepang, Malaysia

2011-07-30T09:31:00.001-07:00

Check out the best-looking girls from the grid and paddock of the MotoGP round in Sepang, MalaysiaWe've put together a gallery of the best grid girls and paddock babes from the Malaysian round of the MotoGP championship in Sepang. There are 9 images in total, from LCR Honda brolly dollys to Monster Energy glamour models and Valentino Rossi's Fiat Yamaha honeys. Check them out!

Turkey: Military chiefs resign en masse

2011-07-30T08:15:00.001-07:00

The chief of the Turkish armed forces, Isik Kosaner, has resigned along with the army, navy and air force heads.

They were furious about the arrest of senior officers, accused of plotting, shortly before a round of military promotions.

A series of meetings between Gen Kosaner and PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan failed to resolve their differences.

Turkish President Abdullah Gul moved quickly to appoint General Necdet Ozel as the new army chief.

Gen Ozel is widely expected to be swiftly elevated to chief of the general staff in place of General Kosaner. Tradition dictates that only the head of the army can take over the top job.

There has been a history of tension between the secularist military and the governing AK party, with the two sides engaged in a war of words for the past two years over allegations that parts of the military had been plotting a coup.

Investigations into those allegations, known as the "Sledgehammer" conspiracy - appear to be the root cause of today's resignations, says the BBC's correspondent in Istanbul, with the senior military wanting to go ahead with scheduled annual promotions for some of the officers implicated - and the government refusing. The Supreme Military Council, which will decide on promotions, is scheduled for next week.

The government says the top brass asked to retire.

But Gen Kosaner portrayed his resignation as a protest at the jailing of military officers in a variety of court cases.

"It has become impossible for me to continue in this high office, because I am unable to fulfil my responsibility to protect the rights of my personnel as the chief of general staff," Gen Kosaner told the Hurriyet news group.
'Sledgehammer'

Gen Kosaner and his senior commanders quit just hours after a court charged 22 suspects, including several generals and officers, with carrying out an internet campaign to undermine the government.

This case is the latest element of the protracted 'Sledgehammer' controversy - a coup plan allegedly presented at an army seminar in 2003.

Seventeen generals and admirals currently in line for promotion were among those jailed in the Sledgehammer prosecutions. Altogether nearly 200 officers were charged with conspiracy.

Twenty-eight servicemen will go on trial next month.

Gen Kosaner was appointed overall head of the Turkish armed forces just a year ago.

His appointment followed a period of intense friction between the government and the military over the Sledgehammer controversy.

At that point, the politicians vetoed the army's original choice for joint chief, Gen Hasan Igsiz, because he was implicated in the alleged plot.
Nato no comment

It reportedly involved plans to bomb mosques and provoke tensions with Greece, in order to spark political chaos and justify a military takeover.

The defendants have argued that the plot was a just theoretical scenario to help them plan for potential political unrest.

The dramatic mass resignation has particular resonance in Turkey, which endured a series of military coups from 1960 to 1980.

In 1997, an army-led campaign forced the resignation of the country's first Islamist-led government.

The joint resignation of military chiefs is thought to be unprecedented in Turkey, which is a Nato member.

In Brussels, a Nato spokeswoman declined to comment on the resignations.

Stuart Broad leads England fightback against India in second Test

2011-07-30T08:14:00.003-07:00

A swashbuckling fifty from Stuart Broad helped England recover from a calamitous batting performance to finish the first day of the second Test with their hopes intact.

Some fine India bowling in swing-friendly conditions and poor shot selection from some of England's batsmen had seen the hosts collapse to 124-8 at tea at Trent Bridge.

But an entertaining partnership of 73 between Broad (64) and Graeme Swann swung the momentum England's way and hoisted their total to a potentially competitive 221.

Jimmy Anderson then had Abhinav Mukund caught in the gully from the first ball of India's innings, but Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman survived a severe examination from England's seamers to reach 24-1 at the close.

The experienced duo showed great skill under the floodlights to keep nine wickets intact, but England will have seen enough in the lively surface to believe they can dismiss the tourists on day two and keep their hopes of taking a 2-0 series lead alive.The hosts' biggest concern could be an injury to Swann, who was sent for a scan on his left hand after being hit on the glove by a lifting delivery from Praveen Kumar, although it was later said the off-spinner had sustained no significant damage.

With Trent Bridge renowned as a swing bowler's paradise, India skipper Mahendra Dhoni surprised no-one when he put England in to bat after winning the toss under heavy cloud cover.

The tourists, looking to bounce back after their 197-defeat in the opening Test at Lord's, made the first breakthrough after 25 minutes, as Ishant Sharma jagged a ball back off the seam and trapped Alastair Cook leg before wicket.

Jonathan Trott was the next to fall in Sreesanth's first over, playing at a ball he could have left and guiding a routine catch to Laxman at second slip.

With India's bowlers unable to maintain a consistent line, Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen saw England through to lunch with eight wickets in hand.

But the momentum swung dramatically after the interval, with all three Indian seamers hitting their straps as six wickets fell for just 55 runs.

Pietersen was surprised by the bounce of a ball from Sreesanth and nicked to third slip in the first over after lunch and Strauss had a wild slash outside off stump and was pouched by Suresh Raina.

Three balls later, Eoin Morgan was trapped on his crease by Kumar, before Matt Prior prodded at Sreesanth and was snaffled by Dravid at first slip.A brilliant session for the tourists was complete when Tim Bresnan, playing instead of the injured Chris Tremlett, and Ian Bell both fell to Sharma before tea.

At 124-8, it looked as if England would do well to reach 150 but a clear change of tactic from Broad and Swann, reaped rich reward.

The duo were positive from the outset, attacking every ball and picking up boundaries all around the ground.

By the time Swann was out - gloving a surprise bouncer from Kumar to gully - he and Broad had added 73 in 11.4 overs and totally changed the complexion of the day.

Broad reached his 50 - off 56 balls - with a handsome drive over bowler Kumar's head, and struck his eighth and ninth fours before he was caught on the boundary off Harbhajan Singh.

Broad's innings was over, but thanks to his brilliant batting, the match was very much alive.

BREAKING NEWS: Eleven peoplea, reportedly Shia Muslims, shot dead in attack in Pakistani city of Quetta

2011-07-30T08:14:00.001-07:00

BREAKING NEWS:

Eleven peoplea, reportedly Shia Muslims, shot dead in attack in Pakistani city of Quetta

Libya conflict: Nato targets TV satellite dishes

2011-07-30T08:13:00.003-07:00

Nato says it has disabled three Libyan state TV satellite transmission dishes in the capital, Tripoli, through a "precision air strike".

It said the operation was intended to stop "inflammatory broadcasts" by Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime.

Nato said it was in the process of assessing the effect of the strike.

Coalition forces began operations in Libya in March, under a UN mandate authorising military action for the protection of civilians.

Libyan rebels began an uprising against Col Gaddafi in February. Despite Nato's intervention, they have struggled to break a military deadlock.

A Nato statement said the strike was "performed by Nato fighter aircraft using state-of-the-art precision guided munitions", and that there had been "due consideration and careful planning to minimise the risks of casualties".

"Our intervention was necessary as TV was being used as an integral component of the regime apparatus designed to systematically oppress and threaten civilians and to incite attacks against them," it said.

It said the strike would "reduce the regime's ability to oppress civilians" but also "preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict".

Libyan state TV was still on air following the Nato statement.

Reports from Tripoli said a series of loud explosions were heard in the city centre late on Friday evening.

Libyan state TV reported that civilian targets had been hit, though this could not be verified.

The Libyan capital has been a regular target for Nato air strikes in recent weeks.

Venezuela President Hugo Chavez in middle class appeal

2011-07-30T08:13:00.001-07:00

The Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, says he wants to open up his socialist political project to the middle classes and private sector.

Mr Chavez said his government had to convince Venezuela's middle classes they were needed.

Speaking by telephone on state television, he said he was entering a more reflective period of his life.

Mr Chavez recently underwent cancer treatment in Cuba, but plans to stand for re-election next year.

The Venezuelan leader made his comments a day after he celebrated his 57th birthday, when - appearing in yellow rather than his characteristic red shirt - he told a rally of cheering supporters that he was in no mood to leave office in the near future.

In Friday's telephone interview, Mr Chavez said the treatment to remove a tumour had led him to radically change his life towards a "more diverse, more reflective and multi-faceted" period.

He told his supporters to eliminate divisions and dogma, and end what he called the abuse of symbols such as the term "socialist".

"Why do we have to always have to wear a red shirt?" said Mr Chavez. "And the same goes for the word 'socialism'."

The president cited the example of a mayor in the governing party who inaugurated a "Socialist Avenue", which Mr Chavez described as "stupid".

"We need to reflect and introduce changes in our discourse and in our actions."
Cuban lessons

Mr Chavez, who came to power in 1999, said the private sector and the middle classes were "vital" to his political project.

He said it was a shame that attempts to be more inclusive of these groups in society had been criticised by some in official circles in Venezuela.

"Raul Castro is leading a process of self-criticism," said Mr Chavez, hinting that Venezuela could learn from the reforms being undertaken by the president of Cuba, who has made some concessions to the private sector since taking over from Fidel Castro in 2006.

Mr Chavez said his government needed to correct the perception that small businesses would be taken over by the state.

"We have to make sure no-one believes that," he said. "We have to convince them about our real project, that we need this sector and that we want to acknowledge their contribution."

Libya taunts UK over rebel leader death

2011-07-30T08:12:00.003-07:00

Libya's regime has taunted the UK over the death of rebel military commander Gen Abdel Fattah Younes.

He was killed this week in mysterious circumstances.

A spokesman suggested the incident showed the UK government had made a mistake by recognising the rebel council as the sole authority in Libya.

There have been claims that Gen Younes, a former minister in Col Gaddafi's government, was shot by fellow rebels or by al-Qaeda.

On Wednesday, UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the UK would recognise the Libyan National Transitional Council as the "sole governmental authority", as it expelled Gaddafi-regime diplomats.

Rebel leader Mustafa Abdul-Jalil said Gen Younes and two aides had been killed by gunmen after being recalled from the front.

He said the ringleader of the attack had been held but he gave no details about his identity or a motive.

Hundreds of mourners carried a coffin containing the general's body into Benghazi's main square on Friday.

Col Gaddafi's government in Tripoli said the killing was proof that the rebels were not capable of ruling Libya.
'Nice slap to face'

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: "It is a nice slap to the face of the British that the council that they recognised could not protect its own commander of the army."

Mr Ibrahim also said Gen Younes was killed by al-Qaeda, repeating a claim that the group is the strongest force within the rebel movement, which is based in the east of the country.

"By this act, al-Qaeda wanted to mark out its presence and its influence in this region," he said.

"The other members of the (rebel) National Transitional Council knew about it but could not react because they are terrified of al-Qaeda," he added.

The general - a former interior minister who had served at the heart of Col Muammar Gaddafi's regime since the 1969 coup - joined the rebels at the beginning of the Libyan uprising in February.

On Wednesday, the Libyan charge d'affaires in the UK was called to the Foreign Office to be told he and other diplomats must leave.

Instead the UK will ask the National Transitional Council to appoint a new diplomatic envoy.

It follows similar moves by the US and France. The UK previously said it recognised "countries not governments".

Pakistani gunmen kill 11 'Shias' in Quetta

2011-07-30T08:12:00.001-07:00

Eleven people have been shot dead in an apparently sectarian attack in the Pakistani city of Quetta in south-western Pakistan, police say.

All the victims are all thought to be members of the country's Shia Muslim minority, they said. Up to five other people have been wounded.

Police said unidentified gunmen had opened fire on a vehicle near a bus station.

Quetta is the capital of the state of Baluchistan, bordering on Afghanistan.

Titanic teenager Samuel Scott gets headstone

2011-07-30T08:11:00.003-07:00

The headstone will go up in Belfast City Cemetery

A teenager thought to have been the first victim of the Titanic is finally to get a gravestone.

Samuel Scott, 15, fractured his skull whilst working on the ship in 1910. His body has since lain in an unmarked grave in Belfast City Cemetery.

However, a new headstone will be unveiled there on Saturday as part of the Feile an Phobail festival.

A new children's book, Spirit Of The Titanic, used the teenager as its main character.

The book, published earlier this year, follows the boy's ghost as it haunts the decks of the ship during its voyage.

US House and Senate divided over debt ceiling issue

2011-07-30T08:11:00.001-07:00

The US Congress has split along party lines as it seeks a solution to an ongoing deadlock over raising the nation's debt limit.

The House of Representatives passed a Republican bill proposed by Speaker John Boehner, but that was quickly killed by the Democratic-led Senate.

Senate leader Harry Reid is now seeking a vote on a rival plan he proposed.

The US risks defaulting on its financial obligations if a federal budget deal is not struck by 2 August.
Continued disagreements
The Boehner plan includes some $900bn of spending cuts and would raise the debt ceiling by a similar amount.

However it would require another vote during mid-2012 and includes language in support of a so-called "balanced budget amendment" to the US constitution - both rejected by the White House and the Senate leadership.

The House vote was delayed from Thursday after Mr Boehner struggled to win over a number of staunchly conservative Republicans, including newly elected representatives who back the Tea Party.

The plan eventually passed the House by 218-210, with 22 Republicans and every Democrat voting against.

Before the vote, Mr Boehner told congressman the plan advanced the "great cause" of a balanced budget amendment.

Mr Boehner appeared heated in front of his colleagues in the House, slamming his fist on a podium on Friday evening and calling for lawmakers to pass his proposal.

Mr Boehner said Republicans had tried their "level best" to reach a deal.

"I stuck my neck out a mile to get an agreement with the president of the United States," Mr Boehner said, referring to negotiations with President Barack Obama that twice broke down.

"My colleagues, I can tell you I have worked with the president and the administration since the beginning of this year to avoid being in this spot," he added. "A lot of people in this town can never say yes," Mr Boehner said.

Shortly after the House passed its bill, the Democratic-led Senate voted to reject the Boehner plan in a late-evening vote on Friday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused the Republicans of seeking to filibuster, or delay, proceedings by forcing a vote on his rival plan to achieve a 60-vote "supermajority" before passing.

Speaking after the Senate adjourned for the night, he accused his Republican counterpart of not being willing to negotiate.

"Unless there is a compromise, or they accept my bill, we're heading for economic disaster," he said.

The US government will start running out of money to pay all its bills unless a $14.3tn (£8.79tn) borrowing limit is increased by Tuesday.

Democrats say the Republican bill as passed would cause immeasurable damage to the economy because it would force Congress to vote on another extension of the debt ceiling early in 2012, a time when presidential election campaigns will be in full swing.
'Out of time'

The White House quickly responded to the passage of Mr Boehner's bill, calling for a "compromise that avoids default and lays the basis for balanced deficit reduction".Earlier, the White House said Mr Boehner was taking a dangerous approach with his proposal.

"Amend the constitution or default is a highly dangerous game to play," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Meanwhile, Mr Obama accused House Republicans of pursuing a partisan bill that would force Washington into another debt limit fight within months.

"There are plenty of ways out of this mess, but we are almost out of time," Mr Obama said.

"The time for putting party first is over," he added. "The time for compromise on behalf of the American people is now."

Analysts predict a last-minute scramble for a compromise and razor-edge votes in both chambers, with the high-stakes game of legislative brinkmanship expected to continue all weekend.

The president backs Mr Reid's, which would cut $2.2tn from deficits and raise the debt ceiling by $2.7tn.

The Boehner and Reid plans overlap in key ways, such as trimming spending over 10 years and shunning President Obama's call for tax increases on the wealthy and corporations.

Analysts have said international markets would be shaken if the US defaults and runs out of money to pay its bills.

Vietnam shoe plant fire kills 17

2011-07-30T08:10:00.004-07:00

At least 17 people have been killed in a fire at a shoe factory in northern Vietnam, police and local media say.

Some 21 other people were injured in the blaze at the plant in the port city of Hai Phong, reports say.

Local media quoted a survivor, Bui Thi Them, as saying sparks from a welding machine had ignited the roof of the building.

Burning material fell from the roof, blocking the exit, Mr Them said, trapping the victims inside.

"The fireball blocked the factory's main entrance and there is no exit on the back," Mr Them told the Thanh Nien newspaper, AFP news agency reported.

"Many people in the middle of the factory which was engulfed with fire and smoke could not escape and were burned to death."

Ten of those killed were women, the Associated Press new agency said.

Thanh Nien was quoted as saying six people, including the factory owner, her husband and a welder, have been detained over the incident

Royals to gather for wedding of Zara Phillips

2011-07-30T08:10:00.002-07:00

Senior royals are to gather in Edinburgh later to celebrate the marriage of Zara Phillips and England rugby player Mike Tindall.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are among guests expected at the wedding in Canongate Kirk on the Royal Mile.

As Scotland's first royal wedding in almost 20 years it is set to draw crowds of well-wishers.

Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, and Prince Harry are also thought to be attending.

Other guests are likely to include Prince Andrew and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The private afternoon ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The couple hosted a pre-wedding party on the royal yacht Britannia, which is moored in Leith, on Friday night.

They had previously attended a rehearsal for the ceremony at the kirk with the bride's parents, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips.

Princess Anne's second marriage, to Timothy Laurence, was the last Scottish royal wedding in 1992.
'Sports stars'

Lothian and Borders Police said they had been working with the Palace and Edinburgh City Council to ensure the event's smooth running.

Supt Ivor Marshall, who is the Silver Commander responsible for overseeing security arrangements, said the event was expected to attract significant public interest, despite being a private affair.He added that the kirk's location, close to both the Scottish Parliament and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, yet set on the busy tourist hub of the Royal Mile, presented unique challenges.

While some road closures will be in place, local businesses will remain open and residents, who have been contacted by Edinburgh City Council, will be relatively unaffected.

The doors of the Canongate Kirk are to be closed to the press and public, but large crowds are still expected in Edinburgh's Old Town to watch the arrival of the royal family.

Mr Tindall, who plays for club side Gloucester and has been capped more than 60 times for his country, is likely to have invited some of England's best-known rugby players to the wedding.

He and best man Iain Balshaw were part of England's winning 2003 rugby World Cup squad in Australia, where the couple were introduced by Zara's cousin Prince Harry.

Is Sarkozy on a culture drive?

2011-07-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has apparently been flaunting a love of culture - but how genuine is it?

In his excellent recent biography of Sarkozy, the journalist Franz-Oliver Giesbert recounts how the president's cultural life has been transformed by Carla Bruni.

The old Sarkozy was a boor. He gleefully displayed his contempt for France's arts establishment and his preference for the crass.

He appeared only to have ever read two books - Louis-Ferdinand Celine's Journey to the End of the Night and Albert Cohen's Belle du Seigneur. Of modern literature he knew not a thing.

"You would have said that his culture - if you could call it that - was purely televisual," writes Mr Giesbert.The stories about President Sarkozy's supposed cultural ignorance have long done the rounds.

How the headline act at his inauguration concert was the naffest of crooners Gilbert Montagne.

How on once leaving the French state theatre La Comedie-Francaise, he made a hand gesture to indicate the extent of his boredom.

How he took the coarse comedian Jean-Marie Bigard to an audience with the Pope, and how he complained that civil service exams included questions on 17th century literature.

This was a Sarkozy who knew he was despised by the Paris cultural elite, and decided to give back as good as he got.

Then along came Carla.

For Franz-Oliver Giesbert - who edits Le Point news magazine and is one of the most distinguished observers of the French political scene - the Italian singer-cum-model is the best thing that ever happened to the president.Not only has she "taught him good manners" and generally "calmed him down", she has also opened his eyes to culture.

Nowadays, the presidential couple apparently spend their evenings watching films and reading.

Where the old Sarkozy once boasted that his favourite film was Saving Private Ryan, today he can discourse at length on the Danish classic film director Carl Theodor Dreyer or the German Ernst Lubitsch.

Last month, according to Liberation newspaper, Mr Sarkozy hosted a dinner at the Elysee for four actors who had each played the part of a French president on stage or screen (including Denis Podalydes as Sarkozy).

We learn that there followed a conversation about theatre, film and literature, which left the actor Michel Vuillermoz (de Gaulle) "seduced".

"I found (Sarkozy) courteous, elegant and curious," he was quoted as saying.

For Franz-Oliver Giesbert, "Today (the president) no longer looks like a lost child… when the conversation turns to the arts."

A number of questions spring to mind when contemplating this transformation. First of all, how deep does it go?
A production at La Comedie-Francaise The Comedie-Francaise might not be everybody's cup of tea

It is well-known that Sarkozy has an extraordinarily retentive mind as well as a capacity for obsession.

Could it be that he has simply swotted his way to sophistication in a bid to please his wife?

That is certainly the view of Jerome Garcin, presenter of the arts programme Le Masque et la Plume (The Mask and the Quill) on France-Inter radio.

"I am very doubtful," he said. "When it comes to culture, I do not believe in that kind of metamorphosis. You can't suddenly switch from Spielberg to Dreyer and be sincere about it."

The writer Yann Moix is marginally more indulgent. "Carla definitely pushed him at the start, but then she took the stabilisers off the bike, and now I think Sarkozy is quite happy pedalling by himself."

Another question concerns the politics of it all. If Mr Sarkozy is rebranding himself as an aesthete ahead of next year's presidential election, is that necessarily a wise move? After all, the president's whole career has been built around rejection of the Paris elite, and as a policy it has served him pretty well.

Most voters would share his apparent boredom in the Comedie-Francaise, and they will not have even heard of Carl Theodor Dreyer. As for the crude comic and Papal buddy Jean-Marie Bigard, he is well-liked by the masses and actually quite funny.

Perhaps by aping the language of the Left Bank salons, Mr Sarkozy risks both the derision of those he aspires to and the contempt of those he leaves behind.

But there is a deeper, psychological aspect to this story, which Mr Giesbert - no fan of the president - grasps at in his biography.

In the last chapter of Monsieur le President, Giesbert describes a lunch at the Elysee in February this year.

The journalist finds himself utterly bewildered by the extent of Sarkozy's learning. The conversation starts with literature, as the president sings the praises of the late anthropologist Claude Levi-Strauss.

They move through the French classics before coming to modern American books - a speciality of Mr Giesbert, who is surprised when President Sarkozy corrects his memory of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

They discuss Albert Camus, and the president tells how on a recent trip to Algeria he made a detour to the town of Tipasa because it was the scene of Camus' 1938 book Nuptials.

"When the journalists asked me why, I said 'If you don't understand that's your problem'," Mr Sarkozy said.

Mr Giesbert feels utterly nonplussed.

"I have known Nicolas Sarkozy for 25 years, and never once have I had a glimpse of this side of his personal universe. If he'd just crammed a few books in the preceding days, I would have seen through him.

"If his knowledge is recent, which I cannot help but suspect, then he has already read an awful lot.

"But I owe it to the truth to say that contrary to the legend that I myself have fostered, the president is anything but uncultured."

Mr Sarkozy, Franz-Oliver Giesbert concludes, has indeed changed.

"He is no longer exactly the same man. Perhaps finally he has started to discover who he really is."

Islamist militia 'shot Libya rebel Abdel Fattah Younes'

2011-07-30T08:09:00.001-07:00

An Islamist militia was behind the killing of Libyan rebel commander Gen Abdel Fattah Younes, who was shot dead on Thursday, a rebel minister has said.

Ali Tarhouni said Gen Younes was killed by members of the Obaida Ibn Jarrah Brigade, a group linked to the rebels.

Gen Younes defected to the rebels in February after serving in the Libyan leadership since the 1969 coup which brought Col Muammar Gaddafi to power.

Meanwhile Nato says it bombed Libyan state TV transmitters overnight.

The Libyan Broadcasting Authority said three of its technicians were killed and 15 other people injured in the attack in the capital, Tripoli.

The alliance said it had disabled three satellite transmission dishes through a "precision air strike".

It said the operation was intended to stop "inflammatory broadcasts" by Col Gaddafi's government. Nato said the strike would "reduce the regime's ability to oppress civilians" but also "preserve television broadcast infrastructure that will be needed after the conflict".

Libyan state TV was still on air following the Nato statement.
'Slap in the face'

Oil minister Tarhouni told reporters in Benghazi a leader of the militia had provided information on the circumstances of Younes' death.

Mr Tarhouni said Younes and two of his aides were killed after being recalled to the rebel stronghold for questioning.

Younes' shot and burned body, and the bodies of his aides, were found on the edge of Benghazi on Friday.

"His lieutenants did it," Mr Tarhouni said, adding that the killers were still at large, Reuters news agency reported.

The minister did not provide a motive for the killing, which he said was still being investigated.

Col Gaddafi's government said the killing was proof that the rebels were not capable of ruling Libya.

Government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said: "It is a nice slap [in] the face of the British that the [rebel National Transitional] council that they recognised could not protect its own commander of the army."Mr Ibrahim also said Younes was killed by al-Qaeda, repeating a claim that the group is the strongest force within the rebel movement.

"By this act, al-Qaeda wanted to mark out its presence and its influence in this region," he said.

"The other members of the National Transitional Council knew about it but could not react because they are terrified of al-Qaeda," he added.

Middle East analyst Shashank Joshi said the concern that emerges most sharply from the incident is not so much that the National Transitional Council will splinter before Tripoli falls, but that it might do so afterwards.

The general - Col Gaddafi's former interior minister - joined the rebels at the beginning of the Libyan uprising in February.

The BBC's Ian Pannell in the rebel-held city of Misrata says the death will feed international suspicions that the rebels cannot be trusted.

Plane crashes at Guyana airport

2011-07-30T08:08:00.001-07:00

A plane has crashed and broken in two as it came in to land at Guyana's main airport, causing injuries but no deaths.

The Caribbean Airlines Boeing 737-800 flight from New York had around 150 people on board.

Guyana's President, Bharrat Jadgdeo, says the plane apparently overshot the runway at Cheddi Jagan International Airport, AP news agency reported.

The accident happened during wet weather, reports say.

The plane, which had made a stop en route in Trinidad, halted close to a 200-foot (61-meter) ravine that could have resulted in dozens of deaths, Mr Jadgdeo said.

"We are very, very grateful that more people were not injured," he said.
Terror on board

One woman quoted by Guyana's Kaieteur News service described hearing a loud sound when the plane landed, and everyone began screaming.

"It was terror," she said. "I was praying to Jesus."

Her husband opened the emergency door and passengers began escaping, the woman said.

Rescuers struggled in the dark to free other passengers from the wreckage.

Health Minister Leslie Ramsammy told the French news agency AFP that one person had suffered a broken leg and several others sustained minor bruises.

They are being treated in hospital in the capital, Georgetown.

Caribbean Airlines, based in Trinidad, does not have a history of serious safety problems.

Norway shooting: 'The Anders Breivik I knew'

2011-07-30T08:07:00.003-07:00

Anders Breivik has admitted killing 77 people in two attacks in Norway. Peter Svaar from Norway's broadcaster NRK was one of the first reporters at the scene of the Oslo bomb blast, and describes finding out that it was a former classmate who carried out the attacks.

It was my last day at work before the summer holiday, and I had been planning to leave the office early.

Plumes of black smoke rose from the trade ministry, and in the street there were several dead and injured.
Anders Breivik
Breivik was often well turned out

As we stood there, we heard news of shooting at the Labour Party summer camp at Utoeya. I first dismissed it as a rumour, but it was not.

At 10 o'clock that night I finally headed home, on foot, as all of central Oslo had by now been sealed off by the police.

Just a block away from my apartment there were shattered shop windows, and an eerie, ghostly silence.

Back home, I got a message from a friend.

"This is him," he said. "This is the guy. The guy they just arrested at the summer camp."

There was a link, to a Facebook page. Three to four pictures, clearly professionally taken, shot in a studio. Almost like a press kit.

They were pictures of a guy I knew.

Pictures of a guy whose name many people will not even speak out any more, as they do not want to contribute to his fame.

Anders Behring Breivik was a friend of mine. He was my classmate for four years.We went to secondary school and the first part of the college together, and grew up on the same side of Oslo.

I saw him most days during those years, we went on school excursions together, and occasionally, we would see each other at weekends.

At first I could not really believe it was true.

Was he really the blond-haired attacker at Utoeya, the guy who just killed so many people, youngsters?

The man who had toyed with them, telling them they were safe, urging them to come closer, before he shot them dead, point blank, with a machine-gun.

Was that my friend, my schoolmate? It was. And he did that.

He was a man not all that different from me. We were the same age, we went to the same schools.

Neither of us has lacked anything materially or been the victim of any major social injustice in this country's wide-ranging welfare state.

Of course, I have never spent years in front of my computer researching bomb recipes or far-right websites.
Flowers left near Utoeya
Peter Svaar had been on the island shortly before Breivik

And, more importantly, I have never felt the kind of rage or hate he must have had inside him.

I still cannot understand the source of all that hate.

Most people think of him now as a monster.

I still remember his smile and his jokes.

I remember how Anders would sometimes come up to you from behind, and jokingly yell "Kra!" in your ear - just for a good-hearted scare.

It was his signature greeting in the school yard back then.

Ordinary

I also remember his increasing fixation with weightlifting and hip-hop, and how he always kept himself very well presented.

Towards the end of our school days together, I knew he was taking steroids to grow more muscle. But he was not a complete loner, or a person you could not hang out with.

Basically, he was not that much out of the ordinary.

Our paths almost crossed not just once but twice last week.

Unfortunately, I do not think he is crazy - rather, he is cold, intelligent and calculating

The first time was in central Oslo, where I assume he left some minutes or perhaps an hour before I arrived - him setting off the bomb, and me arriving a while later to report on it.

Our paths almost crossed on Utoeya. I was also there, only this time before him.

On Thursday morning, the day before the attack, I waited patiently for the ferry to take us over with the minister of foreign affairs, Jonas Gahr Store, who was going there to give a speech.

Known simply as Jonas on the island, he arrived in his black Mercedes, alone, with no security detail, no assistants, no press secretary, nothing.

It was just him and his driver, who stayed with the car.

Jonas had dressed casually in jeans and a sweatshirt, and made small-talk on the short ferry ride over.

As we arrived on the island, I sat down on the grass in front of a small red wooden hut, and with several hundred other campers listened to Gahr Store making a short speech about the hunger crisis in east Africa and the prospects for Palestinian statehood.

Afterwards, he changed into a football kit and joined in a friendly match - which his team subsequently lost.

Many of the other players in that football match are now dead. And several dozen of those who were cheering on the sidelines are dead, too.

Shot, not just once, but twice, to be sure. Kids. I remember their faces.

I do not know what drove Anders. But, unfortunately, I do not think he is crazy.

It would have created a comfortable distance between us if I thought he was.

Nothing I know about him from our school days or what I have read in his so-called manifesto suggests that.

Rather, he is cold, intelligent and calculating.

The Anders I knew was not a monster.

And as the saying goes, he was not an island. He was product of our society. He was one of us.

How to listen to From Our Own Correspondent

BBC Radio 4:
A 30-minute programme on Saturdays, 1130.
Second 30-minute programme on Thursdays, 1100 (some weeks only).

Taxman apologises for 'poor performance' at HMRC

2011-07-30T08:07:00.001-07:00

The chairman of HM Revenue & Customs has apologised for the treatment of taxpayers after the service was attacked by a committee of MPs.

Mike Clasper said: "We are not happy with our performance in 2010."

The Treasury select committee said dissatisfaction risked undermining public confidence in the tax system.

The worst problems were in getting tax offices to answer phone calls at peak times and "endemic" delays in replying to letters.

Mr Clasper told BBC Radio 5 live: "It simply wasn't good enough on post and telephone and I'd like to take the opportunity to apologise to the people who had to take a long time to get through, or we didn't get back to them quick enough with the post."

HMRC says it has recruited 1,000 extra contact centre advisers to handle calls during "exceptionally busy periods".
'Disturbing'The MPs report blamed bad management, demoralised staff, excessive job cuts, and increasingly complex tax laws for the poor level of service it had discovered.

"The evidence we have received in this inquiry has been disturbing," the MPs said.

"HMRC's delivery of services to the general public has fallen to unacceptable levels in several areas.

"There is considerable dissatisfaction among the public and tax professionals with the service provided by the department," the MPs added.

Mr Clasper said: "In 2011 we've been working very very hard to improve things. We're handling the calls immediately much more frequently than we did in 2010 and as far as individual customers are concerned you know the post levels have dropped in half.

"That's not where we want to be but it's a lot better than where we were in 2010."

Frank Haskew, of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW), doubted that the situation would improve.

"Given the necessity to reduce the current 70,000 staff by a further 10,000, we are not convinced that HMRC have the resources or the capability to deliver on improving service standards," he said.

This concern about the future was echoed by the MPs. They said that the HMRC did a good job in collecting taxes.

But they were worried that the quality of service for taxpayers could become even worse.

They pointed to:

excessive reliance on the internet for filing tax returns, or giving information, to the disadvantage of those without good internet connections
"overly ambitious" computer projects such as the forthcoming plan to make employers submit "real-time" data for the PAYE system
the continuing legacy of unresolved tax discrepancies from past years still affecting millions of tax payers
senior management's approach to running HMRC which the MPs described as "very disturbing"
increasingly complex tax laws
the possibility that further job and spending cuts could undermine the department's ability to do its job properly.

"We are concerned that HMRC's performance will continue to deteriorate if further reductions in resources are badly managed," the MPs said.

"There was near unanimity among our witnesses that the reductions made so far have had a damaging impact."

Other tax advisers agreed with this diagnosis.

Chas Roy-Chowdhury of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) warned: "If reduced funding leaves HMRC unable to address the basics of maintaining a service for compliant taxpayers, the potential damage to the economy and reputation of the United Kingdom is immense."

Robin Williamson, of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG), said: "If HMRC want to improve taxpayer compliance and reduce error levels, they need to make it easier for people to contact them and get advice that is prompt, accurate and understandable."

El Bulli, 'world's best restaurant', closes

2011-07-30T08:06:00.003-07:00

A Spanish restaurant repeatedly voted the best in the world has served its final dish to the public and is closing its doors for the last time.

El Bulli, owned by award-winning chef Ferran Adria, will mark the end of a remarkable 27-years with a special sitting for staff and their families.

The eatery, in the town of Roses, has topped a renowned World's 50 Best Restaurants list a record five times.

Mr Adria said El Bulli would re-open but as a culinary think-tank in 2014.

"El Bulli is not closing, it is transforming itself, because its soul is going to remain," he told students in Valencia earlier this month.

The restaurant, which specialised in molecular gastronomy, opened for only six months of the year and, despite its reputation, never turned a profit.

Mr Adria said the final sitting would be a tribute to all those who helped make the restaurant so prestigious.

The last menu would be secret, Spanish news agency EFE reported.

The restaurant was unconventional in many respects - it was shut for lunch to give staff time to develop new dishes - and reservations in the 50-seat venue were acquired mostly by lottery.

Dinner consisted of a set menu comprising some 40 small dishes costing about 250 euros (£220).

It was five times named best restaurant in the world by the San Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants produced by Restaurant magazine, based on the opinions of some 800 chefs, critics and industry experts.

The accolade though was not with one which Mr Adria entirely concurred.

"It is not the best restaurant in the world because that does not exist," he said last week, "but it is today the most influential place in the world in terms of cuisine, and especially when it comes to creativity."

On Sunday El Bulli will relaunch as the El Bulli Foundation, a centre of research into new cooking techniques and flavours.

Thomas Sharkey dies after fire which killed children

2011-07-30T08:06:00.001-07:00

A father who escaped a deliberate house fire which killed his two children has died in hospital.

Thomas Sharkey Snr, 55, died six days after Thomas Jnr, 21, and his sister Bridget, eight. The flat fire broke out in Helensburgh, in Dunbartonshire, early last Sunday.

More than 50 police officers are investigating what is now being treated as a triple murder inquiry.

Thomas Snr, 55, and his wife Angela, 46, were both taken to hospital.

Mr Sharkey died at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Saturday morning.

He had initially been unaware of the deaths of his children, but his condition had improved enough for him to be informed on Tuesday.

The fire at the Sharkey family home in Helensburgh's Scott Court broke out at about 05:00 on Sunday.

Thomas Sharkey Jnr died in the blaze, while his sister Bridget died later in hospital.In a statement, Mrs Sharkey's sister said the family had been left "shattered, devastated and angry".

Strathclyde Police have set up an incident room, dedicated phone line and email address for their murder inquiry.

The officer in charge of the investigation, Det Ch Insp Anne McKerchar, said officers had been encouraged by the response from the public, who were "clearly appalled at this cowardly and despicable crime".

"We are continuing to conduct door-to-door inquiries and are following a number of lines of inquiry," she said.

"We have always said that the key to this investigation will be someone in the community who knows who did this and the people in Helensburgh have responded to our call in great numbers."

The inquiry number for people to call is 01389 822162. The dedicated email address is: operationendeavour@strathclyde.pnn.police.uk

3D interactive journey into the Great Pyramid of Khufu

2011-07-30T08:05:00.001-07:00

A mouse click - and a member of a pharaoh's burial procession turns around.

One more click - and the animated figure invites you inside the snaking, narrow corridors of one of the world's most magnificent structures - the Great Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Great Pyramid of Cheops.

Peering into the screen through his funky red and blue 3D glasses, ancient Egypt enthusiast Keith Payne is gripped by the centuries-old story unfolding before his eyes as if through a time-travel lens.

"This is amazing!" he says. "I think that being able to use a 3D simulation tool to explore Khufu's pyramid is really a whole new way of both learning and teaching. "Being able to pause the narration and virtually take control of the camera to go anywhere in the scene and explore for yourself, and then return to the documentary where you left off is a way of learning that was never really available before now."

This interactive journey, first presented to the public in a 3D theatre in Paris, has now migrated onto the home desktop.

To watch the film, users simply download a plug-in and don a pair of 3D glasses - although the software gives the sensation of depth without them too, to a lesser extent.

And it works with 3D TVs, too.
Controversial theory
With help of cutting-edge 3D technology, the video lets users take a peek inside the 146m-high Great Pyramid, the last of the seven wonders of the ancient world still standing.

The scene appears as it might have 45 centuries ago - full of the loyal people of the second ruler of the fourth dynasty.

But the film is not pure entertainment - besides the educational aspect, it tries to explain one of the theories behind the pyramid's construction.

Lying north of modern-day Cairo, the largest and oldest of the three pyramids of the royal necropolis of Giza is believed to have been built as Khufu's tomb.

Inside, it contains three burial chambers - one underground, a second known as the Queen's Chamber which was possibly intended for the pharaoh's sacred statue, and the King's Chamber.

This latter is located almost exactly in the middle of the structure, and it is there where the pharaoh's granite sarcophagus lies, but no mummy has ever been found.

What we don't know is how this colossal monument, made of two million stone blocks that weigh an average of 2.5 tonnes each, was actually built.

The interactive 3D film outlines one hypothesis.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu The enigma of the Great Pyramid's construction has intrigued people for centuries and sparked many theories

"It is a theory that explains how the Egyptians, who had no iron, no wheels and no pulleys, were able to build such a massive structure," says the project's interactive director Mehdi Tayoubi from French software firm Dassault Systemes."Most of all, it explains how they managed to get huge beams weighing around 60 tonnes each all the way up to the King's Chamber."

The idea has been drafted by French architect Jean-Pierre Houdin.

It differs sharply from another popular theory which suggests that ancient engineers used an outside stone ramp, spiralling its way to the top. No physical evidence to support such a system has ever been found.

Instead, Mr Houdin insists that the ramp was inside the pyramid - hence it is invisible from the outside.

The computer simulations done with Dassault Systemes seem to support this belief.

Click to play

Djedi, a tiny robot, has been exploring the Great Pyramid of Khufu for the past two years

But not everyone agrees. Professor of Egyptology at Harvard University, Peter Der Manuelian points out that this theory too lacks solid proof.

"Mr Houdin has worked very hard to try to explain many of the features inside the Great Pyramid, he's certainly a dedicated researcher," he says.

"But until we can do some non-invasive means of confirming or denying his hypothesis, we will have to leave it as just a theory."

But the architect insists that there is some scientific backing to his thoughts.

For instance, in 1986 a French team used microgravimetry - a technique that measures the density of different sections of a structure to detect hidden chambers.

The resulting scan showed a curious pattern - a hollow that seems to wind the walls up the inside of the pyramid.
Infrared imagery

And it is possible to get even more evidence, says Mr Houdin.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu The theory suggests ancient builders used an internal and not external ramp

Cracking the ancient monument open not being an option, his team decided to measure the reaction of the pyramid to exterior factors - such as heat.

To do that, they got in touch with specialists in infrared imagery from the University Laval in Canada who have decided to set up special cameras around the pyramid.

"In Egypt, air temperatures vary greatly between day and night - and rocks in the pyramid react accordingly," explains Mr Houdin.

"If the pyramid is a solid structure, then according to our computer simulations, in the summer at noon it will be hotter at the top as there's less mass, and cooler at the bottom, where the cold ground helps to cool it from below.

"But if there's an internal ramp, it will be the other way around - the pyramid will be cooler at the top."

Setting up a few cameras may seem simple enough, but for this next step to succeed, the joint international venture must be okayed by the Egyptian authorities - who have so far been reluctant to give any kind of positive response.
Djedi robot
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote

The Great Pyramid is a truly unique and wonderful structure - the shafts and "doors" do not exist in any other ancient Egyptian building”

Shaun Whitehead Djedi project leader

Besides the infrared proof, one other explorer could also help reveal what is hidden in pharaoh Khufu's eternal resting place.

Meet Djedi - a tiny robot that has been exploring the pyramid for the past two years.

Its name, although reminiscent of the Star Wars warriors, belongs to an ancient Egyptian magician whom Khufu consulted when building the pyramid.

The project is a separate one from Jean-Pierre Houdin's construction analysis, but has also been developed with help of Dassault Systemes - and in collaboration with an international team of researchers.

Djedi's mission is to continue the work of its predecessors.

After the pyramid's main chambers were discovered, researchers were puzzled by one interesting fact.

They found two straight narrow shafts 20cm by 20 cm that connected the King's Chamber with the outside world which were thought to have been used for ventilation.

There are two similar shafts that go from the Queen's Chamber, but never reach the walls, mysteriously stopping seemingly nowhere.

In 2002, a robot crawled to the stone in the end of the shaft and boldly drilled a hole in it, transmitting live images so the entire world could witness the moment of unveiling.

But that mission failed.
The Great Pyramid of Khufu The King's Chamber sits in the middle of the Great Pyramid with the Queen's chamber below it

A second door, unseen for more than 4,000 years, blocked the way - and Djedi now has to drill a hole in that too.

"The Great Pyramid is a truly unique and wonderful structure - the shafts and "doors" do not exist in any other ancient Egyptian building," says the project leader Shaun Whitehead.

"Finding out why they are there will give us a greater insight into the techniques and motivation of an amazing civilisation from 4,500 years ago."

The robot crawls forward as a mechanical inchworm, armed with an endoscopic "snake camera" that can look into difficult to reach spaces.

It is also equipped with a drill, hopefully long enough to reach and pierce the second door.

And it has already sent back some exciting images.

In May 2011, Djedi found what looked like ancient graffiti in-between the two doors.

As these two separate, but interrelated projects progress, we may be on the very edge of uncovering some our past's greatest secrets.

Hikari Yamaguchi playful girl in gym class

2011-07-29T09:32:00.001-07:00

Hikari Yamaguchi playful girl in gym class.

Yu Namiki 2

2011-07-29T09:31:00.001-07:00

Sunday 6-pack abs

2011-07-24T23:24:00.000-07:00

New AAG Model: Rafael

2011-07-24T04:37:00.000-07:00

' latest model Rafael is a 26-year-old Brazilian-American now living in the states for several years. He's completing his studies and also models part time. He enjoys working out, computers, and a variety of contact sports, including mixed martial arts. He did commercial modeling when he was in his teens but has recently decided he wanted to get back into it - he's now focused on fitness modeling. Rafael works out several times a week to maintain his physique and is looking forward to seeing where his new modeling endevours will take him.

Height: 5'11, weight: 174
Hobbies: Jiu jitsu, beach volleyball, surfing, kick boxing
Most admired body part: Abdominals

You find many high quality photos and videos with Rafael on

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Charley Montreuil: From Football To Bodybuilding

2011-07-21T08:30:00.000-07:00

Charley Montreuil is a 19 year old natural bodybuilder and former high school football player who grew up in the town of Quebec City in French Canada. He worked with PumpingMuscle.com in Los Angeles in May of 2010 while he was enjoying time off from school and keeping in shape for magazine photo shoots.

Charley Montreuil's stats:
Year of Birth: 1991 Height: 5'10" Weight: 145 lbs Waist: 28"
Chest: 39 1/2" Arms: 15 1/2" Forearms: 12 1/2" Thighs: 22 1/2" Calves: 15" Neck: 14"

In this video Charley introduces himself and poses:

Sadik Hadzovic

2011-07-20T09:19:00.000-07:00

At 23 years of age, this NYC native is taking ground as the new up-and-coming top model in the fitness and fashion industry. Sadik has earned himself a huge following as being the muse of many professional photographers statewide.

TV Pool Magazine vol. 20 no. 1039 April 2010 Asiancuteido

2011-07-19T20:41:00.000-07:00

Thai sexy model and actress, Chompoo Araya's sexy fashion

2011-07-19T18:12:00.001-07:00

Thai sexy model, Asian sexy FHM girl photos, Thai hot model girl, Thai FHM Model photos

Chompoo Araya is Thai sexy model and actress. Her nick name is " Chompoo". She is known as one of the top sexy lady in Thailand. Chompoo-Araya has very few competitor who can compete to her beauty. However, some people said that got something have to lose something. Even though she is very successful in her job, but seem failure in her love. This can be described when she broke up with her boyfriend after 8 years relationship, but we believe that the sad thing won't last long.