Thursday 30 April 2009

Online Memory Challenge

Hi, I’m back!

Do you want to compete in a Memory Championship?

Join Online Memory Challenge! It’s a website where you can train your memory and compete in a championship! It’s an Online championship where you can set up your own challenge!

Features:

  • Challenge set up
  • Memory training
  • Ranking

Your progress will be noted and you’ll get better in no time!

To see the website :

Online Memory Challenge

How do you join the competition?

First, send an email consisting your name and stating that you want to join the Online Memory Challenge. Send your email to simon.orton@gmail.com.

He’s the owner of the website, he’s also the Australian Memory Champion in 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007!

After sending an email, wait for him to reply your email. In his email, he’ll give you your personal link to the Online Memory Challenge.

Have fun^^!

Saturday 25 April 2009

Neopets



Neopets (originally NeoPets) is a virtual pet website launched by Adam Powell and Donna Williams on 15 November 1999. Six months after the web site was launched, Adam Powell and Donna Williams successfully sold a majority share to a consortium of investors led by Doug Dohring. On 20 June 2005, Viacom bought Neopets, Inc. for $160 million (USD).

Neopets is based around the virtual pets that inhabit the virtual world of Neopia. Visitors can create an account and take care of up to four virtual pets, buying them food, toys, clothes, and other accessories using a virtual currency called Neopoints. Neopoints can be earned through playing games, investing in the game's stock market, trading, and winning contests. Users can explore the world of Neopia with their Neopets and interact with each other through the Neoboards, NeoMail, guilds, and Key Quest.

Neopets is set in the themed lands of the fictional world of Neopia, which has its own calendar and timezone running concurrent with the real-world Pacific Time. It also has its own economy and stock market based around the Neopoint. Players earn Neopoints through various means including playing games and selling items. Once earned, they can be invested or used to buy various goods and services.

A customisable Neohome

Users are free to choose their own path in the world of Neopia, from collecting things to battling against other users. Visitors can create a free account. A user then creates a Neopet and chooses its unique name, physical characteristics, and personality and may own up to four per account. Users may create up to five accounts but can only use one to earn Neopoints; that account is referred to as a "main" and the rest as "sides". A newly created pet comes with randomly rolled stats used for battling in the Battledome. You may ask to re-roll the statistics if they are particularly weak. Players are expected to feed and care for their Neopets when they grow hungry or ill, although they will not die if they are neglected. New users start out with a newbie pack of various items that introduce basic features of the site, such as food for feeding a pet. They can buy more items for their Neopets by earning Neopoints, the site's currency, through various activities including playing games and selling items. Some items will change the appearance, species, stats, or gender of a Neopet.

Users can interact with their Neopets by reading books to them, caring for them, and playing with them. This will make their mood better. They can train their Neopets to be fighters in the Battledome against other player's Neopets or non-player characters. Wearable items, such as certain clothing, can be used to customize a Neopet. Players can build a customisable Neohome for their Neopets, furnish them, and buy extensions that reflect the socio-economic quality of the house.

Players can collect certain virtual items and display them in a gallery or album. In addition to items, players can also collect trophies, avatars, and site themes, although there is no function to display the latter two.

source:wikipedia

You can play lots of different games on Neopets!

Have fun^^!

Go to neopets

Brain States

The Four Brain States



Vibrations from rhythmic sounds have a profound effect on our brain activity. In shamanic traditions, drums have long been used to transport the shaman out of his or her body into other realms of reality through the use of constant rhythmic vibrations. Researcher Melinda Maxfield, studying the Shamanic State of Consciousness, found that the steady rhythmic beat of the drum struck four and one half times per second was the key to transporting a shaman into the deepest part of his shamanic state of consciousness.

It is no coincidence that 4.5 beats, or cycles, per second corresponds to the trance-like state of theta brain wave activity. In direct correlation, we see similar effects brought on by the constant and rhythmic drone of Tibetan Buddhist chants that transport the monks and even other listeners into realms of blissful meditation.

The gentle pulsating rhythms of Brain Sync tapes act in a similar fashion, yet because the frequencies are computer generated, they are precise, consistent and can be targeted to induce highly specific and desired brain states. Just as we can tune a radio to get a particular station, with Brain Sync technology we can tune our consciousness to dial-in a wide variety of brain states.

You have your very own signature brain wave activity, unique to you. It has a rhythm and pattern - and it incorporates Beta, Alpha, Theta, and Delta frequencies at varying levels over the course of a day as your brain modulates them to match your activities. Brain Sync audio programs amplify a single frequency or a carefully balanced combination of frequencies to achieve a specific purpose.

Beta

  • Alertness
  • Concentration
  • Cognition

    You are wide-awake, alert. Your mind is sharp, focused. It makes connections quickly, easily and you're primed to do work that requires your full attention. In the Beta state, neurons fire abundantly, in rapid succession, helping you achieve peak performance. New ideas and solutions to problems flash like lightning into your mind. Beta training is one of the frequencies that biofeedback therapists use to treat Attention Deficit Disorder.

    Beta-centered programs help you prepare to take an exam, play sports, give a presentation, analyze and organize information, and other activities where mental alertness and high levels of concentration are key to your success.

    Beta waves range between 13-40 HZ. The Beta state is associated with peak concentration, heightened alertness, hand eye coordination and visual acuity. Nobel Prize Winner Sir Francis Crick and other scientists believe that the 40HZ beta frequency used on many Brain Sync tapes may be key to the act of cognition.

  • Alpha


  • Relaxation
  • Visualization
  • Creativity

    When you are truly relaxed, your brain activity slows from the rapid patterns of Beta into the more gentle waves of Alpha. Your awareness expands. Fresh creative energy begins to flow. Fears vanish. You experience a liberating sense of peace and well-being. In biofeedback, Alpha training is most commonly recommended for the treatment of stress.

    Alpha-centered programs help you tap your creativity and are excellent for problem solving, finding new ideas and practicing creative visualization. Choose Alpha programs when you want to attain deep levels of relaxation that are so essential to your health and well-being.

    Alpha waves range between 7-12 HZ. This is a place of deep relaxation, but not quite meditation. In Alpha, we begin to access the wealth of creativity that lies just below our conscious awareness - it is the gateway, the entry point that leads into deeper states of consciousness. Alpha is also the home of the window frequency known as the Schuman Resonance - the resonant frequency of the earth's electromagnetic field.

  • Theta

  • Meditation
  • Intuition
  • Memory

    Going deeper into relaxation, you enter the elusive and mysterious Theta state where brain activity slows almost to the point of sleep, but not quite. Theta is the brain state where magic happens in the crucible of your own neurological activity. Theta brings forward heightened receptivity, flashes of dreamlike imagery, inspiration, and your long-forgotten memories. Theta can bring you deep states of meditation. A sensation of "floating." And, because it is an expansive state, in Theta, you may feel your mind expand beyond the boundaries of your body.

    Theta rests directly on the threshold of your subconscious. In biofeedback, it is most commonly associated with the deepest levels of meditation. Theta also plays an important part in behavior modification programs and has been used in the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Finally, Theta is an ideal state for super-learning, re-programming your mind, dream recall, and self-hypnosis.

    Theta waves range between 4-7 HZ. Theta is one of the more elusive and extraordinary realms we can explore. It is also known as the twilight state which we normally only experience fleetingly as we rise up out of the depths of delta upon waking, or drifting off to sleep. In Theta, we are in a waking dream, vivid imagery flashes before the mind's eye and we are receptive to information beyond our normal conscious awareness. Theta has also been identified as the gateway to learning and memory. Theta meditation increases creativity, enhances learning, reduces stress and awakens intuition and other extrasensory perception skills.

  • Delta


  • Detached Awareness
  • Healing
  • Sleep

    Long, slow, undulating. Delta is the slowest of all four brain wave frequencies. Most commonly associated with deep sleep, certain frequencies in the Delta range also trigger the release of Human Growth Hormone so beneficial for healing and regeneration. This is why sleep - deep restorative sleep - the kind that Delta frequencies help induce is so essential to the healing process.

    Delta is the brain wave signal of the subconscious, the seat from which intuition arises. That means Delta-based programs are not only an ideal choice for their sleep and deep regeneration potential, but also when you want to access your unconscious activity and help that wellspring of information flow to your conscious mind for clearing and for empowerment. Delta waves range between 0-4 HZ.

  • source: http://www.toolsforwellness.com/brainstates.html

    Mind Map



    Mind Maps


    Use a Mind Map, Save a Tree;

    Use Mind Maps, Save a Forest!

    Unlock your Creativity, boost your Memory and Change your Life!

    What is a Mind Map? A Mind Map is a powerful graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlock the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills - word, image, number, logic, rhythm, colour and spatial awareness - in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing, it gives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain. The Mind Map can be applied to every aspect of life where improved learning and clearer thinking will enhance human performance.

    What do you need to make a Mind Map? Because Mind Maps are so easy to do and so natural, the ingredients for your "Mind Map Recipe" are very few:

    • Blank unlined paper
    • Coloured pens and pencils
    • Your Brain
    • Your imagination!

    When you use Mind Maps on a daily basis, you will find that your life becomes more productive, fulfilled, and successful on every level. There are no limits to the number of thoughts, ideas and connections that your brain can make, which means that there are no limits to the different ways you can use Mind Maps to help you.

    7 Steps to Making a Mind Map

    1. Start in the CENTRE of a blank page turned sideways. Why? Because starting in the centre gives your Brain freedom to spread out in all directions and to express itself more freely and naturally.
    2. Use an IMAGE or PICTURE for your central idea. Why? Because an image is worth a thousand words and helps you use your Imagination. A central image is more interesting, keeps you focussed, helps you concentrate, and gives your Brain more of a buzz!
    3. Use COLOURS throughout. Why? Because colours are as exciting to your Brain as are images. Colour adds extra vibrancy and life to your Mind Map, adds tremendous energy to your Creative Thinking, and is fun!
    4. CONNECT your MAIN BRANCHES to the central image and connect your second- and third-level branches to the first and second levels, etc. Why? Because your Brain works by association. It likes to link two (or three, or four) things together. If you connect the branches, you will understand and remember a lot more easily.
    5. Make your branches CURVED rather than straight-lined. Why? Because having nothing but straight lines is boring to your Brain.
    6. Use ONE KEY WORD PER LINE. Why? Because single key words give your Mind Map more power and flexibility.
    7. Use IMAGES throughout. Why? Because each image, like the central image, is also worth a thousand words. So if you have only 10 images in your Mind Map, it's already the equal of 10,000 words of notes!
    Here are some examples of mind maps:
    source:
    http://www.buzanworld.com/Mind_Maps.htm

    Wednesday 22 April 2009

    Doraemon's Ending

    Hi guys! You definitely know Doraemon right?
    Doraemon is a Japanese manga series created by Fujiko F. Fujio. The series is about a robotic cat named Doraemon, who travels back in time from the 22nd century to aid a schoolboy, Nobita Nobi.

    Nobita Nobi is a fourth grader who lives at Nerima in Tokyo, Japan. He unfortunately inherited his dad's poor academic ability and his mother's poor athletic ability (along with her bad eyesight).
    He really loves to sleep all day.

    Since the late 1980's, there have been three often-quoted urban legends on how the Doraemon series was going to end.

    The Optimistic Ending

    The first and the more optimistic ending was made public by Nobuo Sato several years ago. Doraemon's battery power would run out and Nobita was given a choice between replacing the battery inside Doraemon, which would cause it to reset and lose all memory of Nobita and their adventures or await a competent robotics technician who would be able to resurrect the cat-robot one day. Nobita swore that very day to work hard in school, graduate with honours and to become that robotics technician. He then later successfully resurrected Doraemon in the future as a robotics professor, became successful as an AI developer and then lived happily ever after, thus relieving his progeny of the financial burdens that caused Doraemon to be sent to his space-time in the first place. A dōjin (unofficial) manga for this ending does exist.

    The Pessimistic Ending

    The second, more pessimistic ending suggests that Nobita Nobi was suffering from a mental disability and that all the characters (including Doraemon) are simply his delusion. In real life, Nobita would be a sick and dying little boy who imagined the entire series on his sickbed to help him ease his pain and depression. The idea of this story ending the series outraged a big majority of devoted fans. It caused so much outrage and controversy that many Japanese fans even staged a protest outside the headquarters of Shōgakukan (the publisher) of the series after learning about this suggestion. The publisher then had to issue a public statement that the idea of this ending wrapping up the series was false.

    In fact, it has been proved that this ending actually correlates to the ending for the American medical drama series "St. Elsewhere", which ended in 1988.

    The Third Ending

    The third ending idea suggests that Nobita fell and hit his head on a rock. He fell into a deep coma, and eventually into a semi-vegetative state. To raise money for an operation to save Nobita, Doraemon sold every single one of the tools and devices in his four-dimensional pocket. However, whilst enough money was raised for it to happen, the operation failed. Doraemon at that point still had one gadget that he didn't sell and decided to use it as a last resort. He used it to enable Nobita to go wherever he wanted, whichever time era he wished to go and in the end, the very place Nobita wanted to go was heaven.

    The majority of these ending suggestions were fictional, except the third ending. The third ending was actually meant to be the official ending to the series due to the 1973 anime's low TV ratings and the Fujiko Fujio duo was busy with other works. But the duo changed their minds as they were still firmly thinking about Doraemon and from then they restarted from next month's issue.

    When the Fujiko Fujio duo broke up in 1987, the very idea of an official ending to the series was never discussed. Since Fujiko F. died in 1996 before any decisions were reached, any "endings" of Doraemon are fan fiction. However, it is apparent from many anime episodes and movies where Nobita travels to the future that in the end he does marry Shizuka, leads a happy life and separates with Doraemon, although Nobita and his friends fondly remember him.


    This is not the real ending, cos Doraemon has no ending at all. There were several of them published, but Doraemon kept coming back to life.

    I have the ending in Indonesian version:
    Download Doraemon Ending

    Have fun^^!


    Tuesday 21 April 2009

    Major System

    Are you tired of forgetting something? Tired of forgetting your phone number and your friends' house number?

    USE MAJOR SYSTEM!!

    Major system is a mental tool which can help you to remember things. It works by converting numbers first into consonant sounds, then into words by adding vowels. The words can then be remembered more easily than the numbers, especially when using other mnemonic rules which call for the words to be visual and emotive.

    The major system was introduced by Stanislaus Mink von Wennsshein over 300 years ago, and was later developed by many others with many variations. In 1730, Dr. Richard Grey set forth a complicated system that used both consonants and vowels to represent the digits. In 1808 Gregor von Feinaigle introduced the improvement of representing the digits by consonant sounds, but reversed the values of 8 and 9 from that given above.

    How to Use the Tool:

    The building blocks of the system are the association of the numbers below with the following consonant sounds:

    0 - s, z, soft-c - remember as 'z is first letter of zero'
    1 - d, t, th - remember as letters with 1 downstroke
    2 - n - remember as having 2 downstrokes
    3 - m - has three downstrokes
    4 - r - imagine a 4 and an R glued together back-to-back
    5 - L - imagine the 5 propped up against a book end (L)
    6 - j, sh, soft-ch, dg, soft-g - g is 6 rotated 180 degrees.
    7 - k, hard-ch, hard-c, hard-g, ng - imagine K as two 7s
    rotated and glued together
    8 - f, v - imagine the bottom loop of the 8 as an eFfluent
    pipe discharging waste (letter image of F in
    alphabet system)
    9 - p, b - b as 9 rotated 180 degrees.

    These associations need to be learned thoroughly before going further with the technique.

    Starting to use the Major System

    The system operates on a number of levels, depending on the amount of time you are prepared to devote to learning the system.

    The first level, which involves coding single digit numbers into small words, functions almost as a poor relation of the number/rhyme system. It is at higher levels that you can unleash the real power of the system. You should, however, learn to use this first level before moving on.

    The trick with converting numbers into words is to use only the consonants that code information within the word, while using vowels to pad the consonants out with meaning. If you do have to use other consonants to make up a word, use only those that do not code for numbers - i.e. h, q, w, x, and y.

    At the first level we code each number into a short noun. This is made up of the consonant coding for the number, and vowels that turn the consonant into a word. On a sheet of paper, write the numbers 0 to 9, and apply these rules to create your own memory words. Some examples are shown below:

    0 - saw
    1 - toe
    2 - neigh
    3 - ma
    4 - ray
    5 - law
    6 - jaw
    7 - key
    8 - fee
    9 - pie

    Moving to the second level

    Similar rules apply to creating a standard word from two numbers. It is best not to try to use a single number word as a root, as this can confuse the image.

    Write down the numbers 01 to 99, and apply the rules to create memory words for yourself.

    A few examples are shown below:

    09 - z, p - zap
    17 - t, ch - tech
    23 - n, m - name
    36 - m, sh - mesh
    41 - r,s - rose
    52 - l, n - line
    64 - ch, r - chair
    75 - k, l - keel
    89 - f, p - fop
    98 - b, f - beef

    Taking the Major System Further

    Just using double number words may be enough to make this a sufficiently powerful mnemonic for you. Alternatively you may decide to use triple number words, using the same construction rules as double number words.

    Examples are:
    182 - d, v, n - Devon
    304 - m, s, r - miser
    400 - r, c, s - races
    651 - j, l, d - jellied
    801 - f, z, d - fazed

    Even though you can construct words from first principles each time, at this level of complexity it may be worth writing them down to make them easier to remember. You can then run through them many times to strengthen the link in your mind between the numbers and the associated words. This will help you to remember the appropriate word faster.

    Then, make a story containing people, objects, or anything which is in your major system. For example, if you want to memorize 4198, in this example I'll use the system above:

    41:rose

    98:beef

    Associate them beyond your wildest imagination and you'll be able to memorize them easily.

    For example: The beef is rotten and withered roses are growing on it.

    The beef is from the cow you had and you give it a rose for its funeral

    Good luck on using it!

    Have fun^^!

    Sunday 19 April 2009

    $1000 ice cream!!!



    Ice-cream enthusiasts can indulge in this $1,000 ice cream sundae and savor their richness. It's called The Golden Opulence Sundae.

    This pricey sundae is served in a baccarat Harcourt crystal goblet with an 18K gold spoon to partake in the indulgence, served with a petite mother of pearl spoon and topped with a gilded sugar flower by Ron Ben-Israel.

    No word on whether you get to keep the spoon but if you wanna try fixing up one yourself then here’s the recipe:

    5 scoops of the richest Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream infused with Madagascar vanilla are covered in 23K edible gold leaf.

    The sundae is drizzled with the world's most expensive chocolate, Amedei Porceleana, and covered with chunks of rare Chuao chocolate.

    The master-recipe is wrapped up with exotic candied fruits from Paris, gold dragets, truffles and Marzipan Cherries.

    It is topped with a tiny glass bowl of Grand Passion Caviar, known for its sparkling golden color. It's further with sweetened and infused with fresh passion fruit, orange and Armagnac.

    It can make you happy when you actually taste it!
    P.S. Beware of the side-effect it will make to your wallet!LOL

    Have fun!

    Saturday 18 April 2009

    Chess



    Chess is a recreational and competitive game played between two players. The current form of the game emerged in Southern Europe during the second half of the 15th century after evolving from similar, much older games of Indian and Persian origin. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.

    Chess can improve your memory, concentration, decision-making ability, and lots of things!
    It's a game which has lots of advantages!

    According to a research, it's said that people who play chess have less tendency to develop Alzheimer disease!

    Why don't you play chess then?

    Play online here, chess.com is one of the biggest online chess server.

    Have fun!

    Mafia Chaos



    Mafia Chaos is again, an online web-based game.

    Welcome to Mafia Chaos, this is a free text based MMORPG game. Sign up now and start working your way through the underbelly of our society, the scum of this earth are out for your head and you must do everything humanly possible to survive this savage land. Work on improving your ranks to attack and mug people. Create your own gang to get yourself some protection. Commit crimes to earn some cash and buy weapons to help you while attacking your enemies. Are You Man Enough?

    Motto: Rise to the top. Live the dream. Die trying

    Quite a motto huh? (LOL)

    Click here to go there.

    Have fun!

    Imperia Online



    Imperia Online is one of the web-based online games which is popular.

    What does the game offer:
    * No installation required
    * Free registration
    * Ability to socialize and compete with thousands of real players
    * Totally realistic economic and war model
    * Development, based on everyday decisions
    * Build your Empire and dominate over your enemies Now!

    Welcome to Imperia Online - Web-Based Massively Multiplayer Online Medieval Real-Time War Simulation!

    We will take you to a world that exists right before the age of gunpowder. This is the world of the sharp blade, the long bow and the war horse. A time of political intrigues, huge medieval field battles, Fortress sieges with catapults and trebuchets, heavy knights wiping entire armies, striking in flank, pillages upon the civil population, thousands of soldiers dying in one battle. A time of legendary war lords, crushing rich and economically advanced kingdoms. A time of powerful alliances, fighting each other for total domination. You play against real people – others like you! Welcome to a medieval world way beyond your wildest dreams!

    Click here to go there!

    Have fun!

    The Crims



    Online web-based games are getting more and more popular nowadays. The crims is one of the games. It's a popular game.

    The Crims is a Free Online RPG which takes place in CrimCity - a metropolis for gangsters, scumbags, and criminals. You have limited time to earn as much respect as you can. The one with the most respect at the end of the game wins!

    You can do lots of things in the game, including doing some smuggling, selling drugs, fighting, and even being a pimp!



    Click here to go to thecrims

    Have fun!

    Go?


    Go?!


    I think that not all of you know what go is. On the other side, many of you know about the manga series Hikaru No Go. Hikaru No Go is a Japanese manga series, a coming of age story based on the board game Go written by Yumi Hotta and illustrated by Takeshi Obata with an anime adaptation.

    What Is Go?
    Go is a game played on a 19 line x 19 line board. One player takes black stones and the other takes white stones from bowls or boxes, and they put them down in turns on the intersections.

    What are the rules?
    There are only two basic rules that generate the principles of the game, and one can be playing in minutes on a small 9 x 9 board. As one graduates to the larger-sized 13 x 13 and the official 19 x 19 boards, the game's complexities and subtleties begin to unfold, providing a never-ending source of enjoyment as new levels of play are reached.

    Antone interested in Go, there are lots of internet go server:
    http://www.pandanet.co.jp/English/
    http://www.gokgs.com/

    Enjoy and have fun!