A new day

A new look.. a new name.. hmm..
go tessa

Father's day

My father is one of the people who have influenced me the most. Maybe it is rather conceited of me to say this, but I am truly grateful for having such a great father (for lack of better words). I have a much better father than too many other people do, and that of course is a sad thing too (for the other people anyway). Had it not been for my father's influence, who knows what hell-hole I would be in today.

He and my mom of course- were my first teachers. He was my first and only sifu for the first 17 years of my life (minus my uncle - his brother, who is equally a father to me). It was he who instilled in me the love for martial arts and other sports like tennis, swimming, triathlons, and what not. And it's also always been him to be there to give me that kick in the butt when I needed it.

When I was 14 or 15 he got gravely ill and for about a period of 6 months after that I would wake up every morning wondering if he was still around. For four years after that his health was still quite bad and he just wasn't quite the same in a sense that he wasn't all over the place- running, teaching martial arts, managing our business, doing all these community projects, etc. But despite his not being able to reach the same physical capacity, he was and still is as sharp and witty as he ever was. Even in those times when we were all feeling in the lowest of low, he would crack jokes in the oddest times to bring a little ray of sunshine into our house.

Today he still isn't quite as physically active as he was, but being the warrior and commander that he is, he has mobilized armies of people- his old students, to help him continue teaching many people. There is so much more to say about him. His patience, perseverance, determination, wisdom, and kindness are constant inspirations for me. I can only hope to one day somehow become what he has wanted me to be all these years as a way of ever-thanks to him.

Left behind.. again

This dog of mine, Dama, just died this afternoon. He was not feeling well yesterday, he was restless and his back was very painful and was rather shaky suddenly so I brought him to the vet. The vets said that it was probably canine distemper. I never really saw a dog with it before or what- all I know is that my dog's vaccines were updated.. but I guess vaccines just don't work sometimes. So anyway they gave me all these medicines and told me to come back in a week's time. I brought him home and gave him some dog food and his favorite- fresh milk. He lapped the milk up but didn't touch the dog food, then slept. At around 10 pm I heard him crying so I came out and checked on him and gave him more blankets and the like, he wasn't looking too good. I talked to him for a while and told him it was ok to go if he needed to. He couldn't get up anymore this morning, so I kept coming out and seeing if he was still around and talking to him a bit and telling him not to worry so much. Then this afternoon around 4 pm I was studying in my room and wondering how he was and just kinda thinking about him in this way. I went to see him and he was gone. I had his body buried in our property already and have disinfected the whole place. Another friend, come and gone. He never was much of a dog in a sense that he was so gentle all the time, and even if he was a german shepherd, he was the calmest guy you'd ever meet. He hardly ever barked and welcomed everyone in. The only thing scary about him (to our neighbors/strangers) were his looks and size. Otherwise, this guy was a big puppy who loved milk and papayas- no joke.

You'll be missed Dama, but I know you're better off where you are now, and am happy you did not have to go through so much pain.

Karma Kula Chapter 4: Bogi Yogi

Karma Kula Mystic Warrior: Chapter 4: Bogi yogi
Hilarious chapter. I've got an inkling the next chapter will be great action. I just wish it weren't a month away!!

I've been good, busy, happy.

David Carradine

Rest in peace man.. I'm sorry you had to go this way.

Up!

I think the whole concept of this UP movie is pretty good. At least well.. the "hero" is not one of those half naked macho young guys or ..something else somehow. Hopefully this will remind some people that old people are just like any of us in bodies that just don't work the same way anymore.

Here's a funny little article on it.

5 more days to Karma Kula's 3rd chapter! :)

Facebook, Boyle, & Ohas

I had a pretty good day. My internet crashed for a few hours this afternoon, but it gave me about enough time to clean up. I have lots more cleaning to do tomorrow I'd say.

So I'm on Facebook now. If you happen to use Facebook and are interested, my name on there is Satchi Morioka. I'd be happy to add you as a friend.

So Susan Boyle didn't win. Good enough tho, right?

And finally, I just stumbled upon Sir Arthur's Den today, and this guy is just brilliant!

Have a look at this:

KarmaKula chapter 3: “Harvesting the Ohas” (Click to see pictures)
May 10, 2009 · Filed Under Multimedia, News

News - A succession of fresh, quality news, from inside and outside of the WebKarmaKula, the new episodic series from the Ninjai Gang expressly developed for the web goes on as scheduled. On the last Friday the Gang has released the third chapter, Harvesting the Ohas, with which the series has shown yet another trait after the splatter ninjitsu of The Ninjas and the spaghetti western The Frog in the Well. The new episode features horror elements and Eastern mysticism, acting more like an introduction for the events to come than like a self-finishing tale as the two previous chapters.

At the center of the story lie the worship of a demoniac being and her followers, which exploit occult knowledge to indefinitely extend their own life to the detriment of endless monk’s one. The ritual depicted in Harvesting the Ohas needs the forced extraction of monk’s semen and its infusion, through unknown “mystical means”, within the body of the aforementioned followers. KarmaKula’s target is to find the cultists and give to his “old friend” his “precious gift“, namely “her karma“.

KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 1KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 2KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 3

There is no room for action here, and even if the background told in HtO reveals KarmaKula’s indie origins (collecting the semen of sacred monks?!? A b-movie wouldn’t go that far!) I would say that however one can’t complain for the production, which among a photography with excessively saturated colors, good digital effects and a careful direction perfectly synchronized with the (always wonderful) soundtrack decently entertains for the almost 10 minutes the episode lasts and builds the right bases for the sword-slaughtering that will be definitely shown on the next month.

KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 4KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 5KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 6

HtO features a new female character after the pretty-but-deadly Satya Bellord of The Frog in the Well, and listening to her voice one can easily identify her as the actress that dubbed Ninjai, the little ninja protagonist of the series with the same name that will be featured in the movie theaters after the first 12 episodes released on the web. The fourth chapter of KarmaKula will be on-line the next 8th of June, while the current episode is also available in streaming on the Ninjai Gang’s YouTube channel.

KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 7KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 8KarmaKula ep.3 - screenshot 9

Waiting to see the KarmaKula at work, the series’official site has been updated with new contents including some downloads, a Spread The Word section and a press release. This last one is extremely interesting for those who want to know more about who hides behind the Ninjai Gang and the production of the series, the protagonists, the artists and their multiethnic background made of martial arts, a mix of Eastern tradition and Western pop culture and so on.

According to the information provided by the Gang, KarmaKula’s main actors are siblings, Subhadra, Siddha and the already mentioned Satya Bellord, children of a Chinese mother and an English father grown up between the Far East and California, rigorous students of martial arts for their entire life with a particular focus on taekwondo and both modern and traditional wushu. If this is coupled with the fact that the master of the three performers is Liang Chang Xing, former captain of the 10 times winning Chinese wushu team (to which actor Jet Li belonged too) and heavily involved with the production of KarmaKula one can understand why the series choreographies are so outstanding.

Nuclear war and kung fu flicks

So... not that kung fu flicks bring about a nuclear war, but first, here's a nice little blog with several really nice videos about martial arts in China:
Martial Arts Movies Blog.

Second, so, is a nuclear war imminent due to North Korea's pushing the limits? :/

Anyway.. I'll just leave you with that to think about and this to watch:

Liang Chang Xing

Since Master Liang Chang Xing is the Sifu of these guys in the Karma Kula flick thing, I thought it'd be interesting to have a look at his stuff, and sure enough, I found something on him on Youtube! Sorry I don't know how to imbed(sp) videos into my blog, but here's the link: Master Liang Chang Xing. As you can see, this guy obviously is a legend! It's no wonder his students are also awesome.

Anyhow, I'm feeling better today. I'm glad I've been practicing martial arts and etc for a long time now, so that when I do get sick I am able to recover quite quickly

Of facial hair ..

Hey.. just a couple weeks to go to the next Karma kula thing! FUnny thing is I dreampt about it last night.
Gotta love this whole moustache festival thing:


Yahoo News Galleries

Sick..

I am sick of taking antibiotics. My tongue is tasting weird, I feel kinda nauseous and it's just.. bleh. At least it's not swine flu
It's beautiful and windy now but it's been real hot all day. Yesterday we had a huge thunderstorm and rain after one of our hottest days this summer. The thunder and lightning crashed down heavily with the rain- and it was a huge welcome. I wanted to lie out on the beach and get rained on.
I've been thinking about harvesting ohas all day...

On a side note, the huge trees out in our front yard are growing back some leaves now. They've got all these beautiful green leaves sprouting out of their branches. It's really refreshing to look at them.

American Idol- Kris

Congratulations! That seemed to be a pretty long season aye?
I'm sick. I've been sick for the past three days, I've had a high fever, cough, and a little mucus. I went to the doctor yesterday to make sure it's not swine flu- she said it's just an upper respiratory track infection, so all seems to be well. I'm feeling a lot better today with all the different drugs (legal of course) I'm taking. Paracetamol rocks! I'm going to go swimming tomorrow for sure. The ocean has been so calm and has been calling all day but I never got to go, and I'm still feeling a bit weak. I'm looking forward to getting well tho. It should be good.

Anyway.. that's about it for today. I'm going to sleep now.



You tell me if you don't find these to be cool..

Pet Heroes

If this story won't melt your heart, I don't know what will:

Amazing Hero Dogs -- More Than Just Pets
Move over Lassie -- there's a whole new pack of hero dogs and they aren't just waiting for Timmy to fall down a well.

A new video that shows a German shepherd trying valiantly -- and successfully -- to keep authorities from its injured friend on one of the busiest highways in New York City is just the latest example of dogs who go above and beyond to protect their loved ones.

"It's possible ... there was a social bond," said Dr. E'Lise Christensen, a veterinarian and board certified animal behaviorist.

The apparent German shepherd mix in New York City kept officials at bay on the Major Deegan Expressway by running frantic circles around the injured dog, which lay motionless and bleeding in the middle of the road. If officers tried to approach the injured animal, the shepherd would lunge, warning them to stay away.

Christensen, who works for Manhattan-based New York City Veterinary Specialists, said after watching video of the dogs, the shepherd's protection of his injured companion was "really serious."

"All we know is he's using these barking and lunging behaviors to get people to go away," she said.

In the end, officers were able to grab the injured dog which was treated by veterinarians. ABC's New York affiliate WABC reported that both dogs, which live together in the Bronx, were claimed by their owner and that the shepherd is the injured dog's offspring.

The video bore similarities to another canine highway hero from Chile. In December, cameras captured a dog's bold move to drag another dog to the side of the road after it had been struck on a busy highway.
The video shows the heroic dog dodging fast-moving traffic to reach its friend and then back again, this time dragging the dead pooch.

Dogs aren't always loyal only to their own kind.

Last summer, a mixed breed dog named China was hailed as a life saver in Argentina when she saved a newborn child from what doctors said would have been certain death.

China found the infant in a field where it had been abandoned by its 14-year-old mother. China, according to local reports, brought the baby back to her litter of six puppies and kept it warm until her owner found the expanded family and called authorities.

Of course, don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai Chapter!

Harvesting the Ohas

Such a belated update! Karma Kula chapter 3, "Harvesting the Ohas" is out! I love it. It's so different from what I expected. Pretty creepy actually.

Awesome stuff. I can't believe Rena Owens is it in!

I'm back home again. I've been traveling a lot so I haven't been online that much.

Rain, rain rain..

It's been raining all night and all morning so far. We have a storm coming our way again. The ocean is raging, but I'm happy to hear the sound of the crashing waves. It's been rather cold so I've been lazy to go out for a swim. The surfer kids I usually swim with aren't around either, so it's kinda sad to go out swimming.

Now's not the time to get sick, that's for sure. There's H1N1 almost everywhere, including here. I found it rather amusing that almost everyone at the airport wears masks now, whereas before when my friends would fly wearing masks, everyone would snicker at them or give them really dirty looks.

I'm just watching the Ninjai Chapters while I'm waiting for Karma Kula's 3rd chapter. One more day! :)

Sue Son, Got talent? YES!

I play the violin, and so .. well, I was pretty stoked to see Sue Son's rendition of one of the pieces from Red Violin: Awesome! I hope she gets much further too.

Anyhow, not much else happening for me. My internet has been quite slow all day which is rather irritating. It is better now though.

Hey.. just um.. 5 more days? 4 more days to the next Karma Kula Chapter!

And of course, don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai chapter.

KO

I watched boxing with my brother today, Pacquiao and Hatton. I'm a fan of them both, and while I was pretty thrilled with Pacquiao's win, I also feel sorry for Hatton. He's a pretty decent guy and what's great is he's not exactly one of those over-your-head arrogant athletes. The best will win though!

Hey, just a 5 more days til Karma Kula comes chapter 3 comes out! woohoo!

A to Z of malaria

A to Z of malaria

LONDON, England -- Malaria is one of the world's worst health problems and one of its biggest killers, with half a billion people affected every year, according to the Roll Back Malaria partnership.
The WHO wrote that there were 247 million cases of malaria in 2006, and 880,000 deaths.

Around half a billion people are infected with malaria every year. Ninety percent of those cases are in Africa.
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Saturday marks World Malaria Day, when the world commemorates global efforts to eradicate the disease.

Below CNN's Vital Signs has produced a complete A - Z guide to how malaria spreads, the symptoms to look out for and how to protect yourself.

A is for Anti-malarial drugs
The history of anti-malarial medicine has been marked by a constant struggle between evolving drug-resistant parasites and the search for new drugs. Currently, anti-malaria experts are focusing on therapies that combine several drugs for better effects.

B is for Blood stream
Once a mosquito has bitten and the malaria parasites reach the liver, the parasites divide and create thousands of mature parasites. These are released into the blood and infect red blood cells. At that point, typical malaria symptoms such as fever and anemia develop.

C is for Chloroquine
Until recently, Chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, was the first option for many people because of its relatively low price and effectiveness. However, resistance to Chloroquine in many parts of the world has rendered the drug ineffective.

D is for Diagnosis
After noting your symptoms and travel history, your doctor will likely obtain a sample of your blood for observation. Two blood samples, taken at six- and 12-hour intervals, can usually confirm the presence of the malaria parasite and its type. It is possible to be infected by more than one parasite at the same time.

E is for Epidemic
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), large and devastating epidemics can occur when the mosquito-borne parasite is introduced into areas where people have had little prior contact with the infecting parasite. These epidemics can be triggered by wet weather conditions and further aggravated by floods or mass population movements driven by conflict.
Vital Signs
Each month CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta brings viewers health stories from around the world.
See more from the show »

F is for Fever
The most common symptom of all types of malarias is high fever, which is why doctors often misdiagnose malaria for flu. The fever is a reaction to toxins in the blood. It is therefore advised to tell your doctor you have been to a malaria affected zone, even if symptoms arise months after the trip.

G is for Genome
In 2002, -- hundred years after it was discovered that mosquitoes transmit the malaria parasite -- the complete genetic codes of both the human malaria parasite and the mosquito that spreads it was cracked. This development brought scientists a step closer to developing drugs and vaccines to fight the disease, Nature magazine reported.

H is for Hotspots
Most cases and deaths are in sub-Saharan Africa, many of them occurring among children. However, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Europe are also affected. In 2006, malaria was present in 109 countries and territories.
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* Map offers hope in fight against malaria
* 'Star Wars' scientists create laser gun to kill mosquitoes
* Chili peppers add spice to life

I is for Immunity
Travelers from malaria-free regions such as Europe and the United States, with little or no immunity, who go to areas with high disease rates, are particularly vulnerable. It is essential to take precautions by taking anti-malarial drugs prescribed by your doctor.

J is for Julius Wagner-Jauregg
Julius Wagner-Jauregg, a Viennese doctor, was the first to intentionally infect syphilis patients with malaria parasites. By controlling the subsequent malaria-related fever with an anti-malaria drug, the effects of both syphilis and malaria could be minimized. Jauregg received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1927.

K is for Killer
Malaria is a life-threatening disease but it is preventable and curable if the right steps are taken. Education in recognizing the symptoms has reduced the number of cases in some areas by 20 percent. Recognizing the disease in the early stages can stop the disease from becoming a killer.

L is for Laser gun
U.S. scientists say they are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes. The laser fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of wings, the lead scientist on the project told CNN. The project is being funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

M is for Mosquitoes
Malaria is caused by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquitoes. The mosquitoes bite between sunset and sunrise and parasites from the mosquito are then injected into the person's skin and transported to the liver. About 170 species of such parasites exist, but only four cause malaria in humans.

N is for Nets
The distribution of mosquito nets with insecticide is a very effective method of malaria prevention, and it is also one of the most cost-effective methods. These nets can often be obtained for around $3. Earlier this month, actor Ashton Kutcher won a Twitter race against CNN to reach 1 million followers. Kutcher had pledged 10,000 mosquito nets to charity if he beat CNN, and 1,000 if he lost. CNN agreed to do the same.

O is for Obstacles
In many endemic areas, access to health facilities, as well as drug costs, still present major obstacles. Humanitarian agency Medecins Sans Frontieres estimates that the cost of treating a malaria-infected person in an endemic country was between $0.25 and $2.40 per dose in 2002.

P is for Pandemic
For malaria to become a pandemic (plague) in an area, several factors have to be present: high human population density; high mosquito population density; high rates of transmission from humans to mosquitoes and from mosquitoes to humans.

Q is for Quinine
Quinine was the first effective treatment for malaria in the 17th century. Since the 1940's, many other anti-malarial drugs have appeared on the market and have taken precedent over quinine. But quinine is still being used to treat malaria in some cases.

R is for Repellent
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says inspect repellents with DEET (most common active ingredient in strong insecticides) in them should be used on exposed skin and flying-insect spray can be used to kill mosquitoes in the sleeping area. DEET may be toxic, however and should be used with care.

S is for Symptoms
Fever is not the only symptom of malaria. Other symptoms can include shivers, headaches and nausea. Sweating and exhaustion is also common and in some cases, it can affect the brain or kidneys.

T is for Tablets
Malarone is a common anti-malaria drug among many travelers. It is said to have a 97 percent efficacy with relatively few side-effects. It can be given just one day before arrival in a malaria endemic country and only needs to be taken for another week after leaving.

U is for Unborn child
According to the WHO, pregnant women are at high risk of contracting malaria. The illness can result in high rates of miscarriages and cause more than 10 percent of maternal deaths annually. This figure can rise to 50 percent in cases of severe disease.

V is for Vaccine
Despite intensive research, no effective malaria vaccine has been developed to date. But according to a report in April's New Scientist journal, a unique vaccine taken from the saliva of infected mosquitoes has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to be tested in people.

W is for World Malaria Day
April 25 has become World Malaria Day to provide a global effort to control malaria around the world. The international malaria community only has two years left to meet the 2010 targets of delivering effective protection and treatment to all people at risk of malaria, as called for by the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon.

X is for X-ray
X-ray microscopes are used to find the presence of malaria in red blood cells and see how they interact with healthy cells. One of the advantages of this type of microscope is that it produces very-high-resolution images of the cell structure.

Y is for Yellow fever
Yellow fever is another disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Some countries, such as Peru, require a certificate showing yellow-fever vaccination before you can travel there.

Z is for Zanzibar
Zanzibar, part of the African republic of Tanzania, has had relative successes in combating malaria; Africa's biggest killer according to the New Scientist journal. The achievements are due to the widespread use of treated bed nets, along with the switch to new anti-malarial drugs instead of Chloroquine in 2004.

7 more days for Karma Kula's 3rd chapter!

The Ninjai Gang, Karma Kula

Media & Press

April 2009
Kung Fu Siblings Band Together in an All-New Martial Arts Action Series, Karma Kula: Mystic Warrior
Synopsis
Siblings and lifelong martial artists Satya (Kill Bill), Subhadra, and Siddha Bellord unveil their mastery in the new series Karma Kula: Mystic Warrior, a live-action martial arts adventure created independently by the Ninjai Gang.

Three young master martial artists have banded together to produce a highly praised new martial arts series called Karma Kula: Mystic Warrior, now showing on the entertainment site IGN.com, the Web's leading video game and entertainment information destination. What's unique about these three young master martial artists, all members of the Ninjai Gang, is that they are siblings.

Satya, Subhadra, and Siddha Bellord were born and raised in Hong Kong, their distinctive Eurasian good looks springing from their Chinese mother and British father. The siblings spent their teen years in the Far East, the Philippines, India, Australasia, Hawaii, and California. The trio have been serious students of martial arts their entire lives, focusing primarily on the arts of taekwondo and both modern, and traditional wushu.

With a deep appreciation for the spiritual aspects of martial arts and the ancient Eastern teachings of yoga, Hinduism, and Buddhism, the trio are lifelong vegetarians and have been practicing yoga and meditation since childhood. They continue to hone their skills daily with a vigorous training schedule under the guidance of their long-time friend and wushu instructor, one of the most well known and respected wushu instructors in the world. Master Liang Chang Xing, former captain of the ten-time winning Beijing wushu team, one of whose members was Jet Li. Chang Xing also plays an important role in the choreography, cinematography, and direction of the Karma Kula series.

Having heard about the trio's extraordinary talents from their mutual friend, action director Yuen Wo Ping (The Matrix, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Fearless), Quentin Tarantino sought out the trio for his movie Kill Bill. Because the trio wanted to stay focused on their Karma Kula production, only Satya was able to take the time to be involved with the film (she was Uma Thurman's martial arts double).

The trio will be making their first on-screen appearance together in the martial arts series "Karma Kula", where they co-direct, choreograph and star.

In addition to the trio, the Karma Kula cast includes Rena Owen. One of Australasia's most heralded actresses, Rena is best known for playing the courageous battered wife in the Kiwi blockbuster Once Were Warriors, where she starred alongside Temuera Morrison.

Karma Kula: Mystic Warrior, a ten-part episodic series, is a mystical journey through the ancient East with a unique highly entertaining blend of dynamic, blood-splattering martial arts, wry humor, and a peaceful sense of spirituality.

In this unique combination of East meets West, Karma Kula crosses 300 and the dry humor of a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western with truly explosive, kick-ass martial arts that rival Jet Li's Once Upon a Time in China, but more realistic. Add in the stunning locations, ninjas, Mongolian witch-nuns, ganja, and rock music, and the Ninjai Gang weaves a spiritual and mystical tale, simultaneously epic yet episodic, in an attempt to "bring the cinematic dramatic action of the big screen to the Web."

While appreciating Karma Kula's world-class martial arts action, the audience will also be captivated by the series' deep spiritual aspect as it touches upon timeless philosophical ideas such as karma and ancient yogic teachings both profound and insightful.

Completely independent and creatively driven, Karma Kula's first-class quality and its high production value belie its shoestring budget. Karma Kula combines the talent of directors and Ninjai Gang members Harsha Brennan, Siddha, and Chang Xing. Karma Kula is the first high-quality martial arts series specifically produced for the Web.

The Ninjai Gang's first Web series, Ninjai: The Little Ninja, has been an immediate success. From humble beginnings, Ninjai exploded on a grassroots level and has touched the hearts of millions across the world. Co-director Harsha Brennan is confident Karma Kula will be just as popular: "In its own way, Karma Kula is just as big an achievement as Ninjai. Although they're quite different, they both contain the elements of great martial arts action, humor, strong heroes, and an epic cinematic feel."

The Karma Kula series is now available in high quality on karmakula.ign.com, a channel of IGN.com, and on other top online video destinations. A new episode will be released in the beginning of every month.
About The Ninjai Gang

The Ninjai Gang, whose members originate from around the globe, is a group of young stuntmen by day and animators, musicians, and artists by night. Ninjai Gang members don't like to spotlight themselves and prefer to let their work speak for them. When not producing their shows, the Gang spend most of their time in physical training, martial arts stuntwork, yoga, meditation, playing video games, surfing (on real waves with surfboards, not on the Internet), and The Gang's original productions are inspired by the Gang's unique situation of having been raised in a multicultural environment where ancient Eastern philosophical influences such as Hinduism and Buddhism meet modern-day rock music, movies, computer games, etc.
About IGN Entertainment

IGN Entertainment, a unit of Fox Interactive Media, Inc., is a leading Internet media and services provider focused on the video game and entertainment enthusiast markets. Collectively, IGN's properties reached more than 32 million unique users worldwide in the month of December 2008. IGN's network of videogame-related properties (IGN.com, GameSpy, GreenPixels, FilePlanet, TeamXbox, Direct2Drive and others), is one of the Web's number one video game information destination and attracts one of the largest concentrated audiences of young males on the Internet. IGN also owns and operates the popular movie-related website, Rotten Tomatoes, and one of the leading male lifestyle websites, AskMen.com. In addition, IGN provides technology for online game play in video games. IGN is headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, with offices throughout the U.S. and in Montreal.
Contact

Ph 310-691-2896
Email press (at) karmakula.com

Traveling, Ski tips, and more

So.. it's been rainy and pretty cold here. I'm just kinda dreaming of places I'd like to travel to right now.

Here are some nice pictures and cool tips and such for traveling.

Not to mention, the pictures of the food in India is just making me hungrier!

Expert advice: Top 9 ski tips

By Heather Eng
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Budget Travel

(Budget Travel) -- The pros weigh in on every aspect of your skiing holiday--including your socks. Even you black-diamond types might learn a thing or two.
Sometimes a ski vacation can be painful. Follow this expert advice to avoid any unpleasant turns.

Sometimes a ski vacation can be painful. Follow this expert advice to avoid any unpleasant turns.

1. Getting in shape
"Take yoga classes before you go: Yoga works the whole body, stretches muscles, and gets you used to balancing. You don't want to wake up after your first day and be too sore to ski." Troy Hawks, editor, National Ski Areas Association Journal

2. Packing
"Most airlines let you travel with a ski bag as one of your checked bags. Just be aware of the weight allowance." Mike Douglas, Salomon International Ski Team

3. Car rentals
"If you're renting a car, call ahead to reserve a four-wheel drive or snow tires. Don't settle for chains. There's no worse nightmare than dealing with chains." Phil McNichol, head men's coach, U.S. Ski Team

4. Acclimating
"I never ski the first day. Your body is tired, so you're at greater risk of injury. Go for a walk or run instead. It'll help you adjust to the climate and altitude." Olympic gold medalist Julia Mancuso (giant slalom, 2006)

5. Selecting skis
"Call a ski shop near the resort and reserve demos. They're high-end skis that won't make you look like a gaper, the way most rentals do." Jonny Moseley, Olympic gold medalist (moguls, 1998) and Ski Channel advisor
Don't Miss

* BudgetTravel.com: America's coolest small towns
* BudgetTravel.com: Weirdest hotels in the world
* Girlfriend Getaways: 50 states, 50 great escapes
* In Depth: Winter Getaway

6. Socks
"Ski socks are way better than standard cotton socks. They allow more blood flow, have cushioning where boots can accommodate it, and are warmer. And before you put them on, spray your feet with antiperspirant. Your feet will be drier and warmer." Dee Byrne, director, Vail Snowsports School

7. Helmets
"For the sport of alpine ski racing, helmets are required at every level of competition, and that's trickling down. Skiers without helmets are in the minority." Andy LeRoy, head alpine coach, University of Denver

8. Scoping out the mountain
"Most resorts offer tours at the beginning of the day. Take one that's geared to your level. It'll help you pick out the runs you'll really enjoy. Besides, tours are a great way to meet people." Tom West, president and CEO, U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum

9. Safety
"Don't end the day with a difficult run. Not only will you have already peaked, but the conditions change. In late afternoon, the light gets flat, the temperatures go down, and everyone else is tired. Statistics show that most accidents occur late in the day." Tim White, executive director, National Ski Patrol

So.. 15 days to go to Karma Kula's chapter 3