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.

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

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..

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.

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
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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

Thunderbolts

I was horribly irritable this morning. Anyway, my day picked up. I finished a few things that I was meant to and I've got another ton of things to finish now.

Late this afternoon the rainclouds started coming in from the ocean, and in with it, a huge thunderstorm. I had been waiting for a chance to swim all afternoon, and it was already 5 past when I finally had a chance. My friend and I were standing on the beach, watching the silver bolts of lightning smashing down from the sky- some near, some far. Some of them were getting real near, so we were asking each other, "Is this bravery or stupidity?" Right when we ran out of the shelter of the umbrella trees this massive lightning bolt came crashing down - again, closer to us. We ran screaming back under, it was really funny. Then a few minutes after we ran like mad to the ocean, jumped in, then jumped back on the beach and ran towards the trees. Our beach here is basically flat and there aren't very many trees around. It's not at all like a Waikiki or something of the sort, so more often than not, we would be the tallest things standing on the beach during a thunderstorm.
The rain started pouring down heavily after, and now the huge orchestra of frogs has begun their singing for the night. I went for a short walk over to my friend's house and nearly stepped on at least 3 baby frogs. :P Frog in a well..
Obama mania?

Family prisons

In Bolivia, Keeping Kids and Mothers Together — in Prison
By Jean Friedman-Rudovsky / La Paz Wednesday, Apr. 22, 2009

At first glance it feels like any Latin American barrio filled with kids. It's a Saturday afternoon, and a dozen young children are sprawled out on a yard, painting a large canvass. Others run free through the one-square-block area that resembles a cramped town, with its food stands and kiosks. The tykes rattle off for me what they like best about their community: the mess hall, their friends, the food, the paint — and, for many, just "living with mom."

They're living with mom, however, inside the Women's Correctional Facility in La Paz, Bolivia. There are about 250 prisoners here — and also 100 kids. In fact, the country's lock-ups house more than 1,400 children behind electrified, fence-topped walls and below shotgun-guarded towers. Among the prisoner-mothers at the Women's Correctional Facility is Andrea Virginia Tapia, who has been behind bars for four years and is expected to be released next year. (She won't discuss her crime.) "Above all in this life, I am a mother," says Tapia, who is in her 30s and is the mother of seven kids, four of whom live in the prison with her. (The others live with her mother.) "They are best with me," she adds, as her three-year-old snuggles into her lap, "regardless of where that is." (See pictures from a women's prison in Iraq.)

That sentiment seems to be taking hold in many parts of Latin America, where thousands of children are growing up behind bars alongside their incarcerated mothers and fathers. That might sound like Dickensian tragedy; but in Bolivia it's a legal — and fiercely defended — practice. "We've seen that this is best for mother, or father, and child," says Jorge Lopez, Director of Bolivia's Penitentiary System. "It's important not to rip those bonds between parent and child." What's more, sadly, it may be the best alternative for the children themselves. In Bolivia, South America's poorest country, it's often financially impossible for family members on the outside to take on more mouths to feed. Orphanages aren't feasible, either: "Children live in worse conditions there than in the prisons — and without their moms and dads," says Rene Estensorro, a psychologist at Semilla de Vida (Seed of Life), a non-governmental organization that works with imprisoned mothers and their children. Lopez agrees. Releasing the kids from the prisons, he says, "means [their] direct entryway onto the street."

Advocates argue that keeping the children inside prison may also have positive effects on their convict parents. "Having a child near helps the parent reform his or her actions and be more eager to rehabilitate and readapt to society," Lopez adds, noting that Bolivian legislation on this issue was based on studies reflecting that trend. (See pictures of how boxing helps prisoners in Thailand.)

The equally important question, of course, is what prison time does to the children. Estensorro acknowledges that "we see a lot of repression in the children." Kids inside the Women's Correctional Facility are punished for normal behavior like waking up in the middle of the night — because they end up waking up everyone else inside the cramped sleeping quarters. School age kids leave the prison each day to attend regular schools but nonetheless suffer isolation from their peers. Another problem: the lack of 24-hour medical care inside the prison. Worse, kids must sometimes share mom's punishment for bad behavior, like solitary confinement. As a result, not every prisoner mom is happy about having her children with her. "I am paying my debt to society but that doesn't mean that my children should be paying the consequences of my actions too," says Casilda Calle, another prisoner in La Paz.

Still, housing children with incarcerated parents is becoming a more accepted practice across a region that shares many of Bolivia's social shortcomings. According to Lopez, Ecuador, Peru and Guatemala have systems similar to Bolivia's, which allows kids to live inside until the age of six (though even Lopez admits that kids sometimes stay years longer). Some women's prisons in Mexico hold toddlers; and in Argentina, there is a special facility for pregnant inmates and those with kids under the age of four.

So instead of attempting to remove the children, most efforts in Latin America today focus on improving in-prison services that benefit both parent and child, like constructing day care centers in or near the facilities and providing inmates with good-parenting workshops. The plight of these children, however, doesn't seem to be high on any relief organizations' list. Save the Children runs programs for the 200 children inside Bolivia's San Pedro men's prison, but that's the extent of its work in Latin America. CARE does not deal directly with this population, and various United Nations agencies did not respond to TIME's requests for comment. Nevertheless, after tear gas was used to put down a recent riot at a men's prison where 200 kids live, UNICEF issued this statement: "The precariousness of the infrastructure, health and welfare conditions of these penitentiary centers constitute a transgression of children's and adolescents' most fundamental rights."

Either way, even if the world outside Latin America might view the practice as a 21st-century version of a 19th-century evil, making children part of a prison's population has become an integral part of the region's corrections culture. "Kids learn to adapt," says Estensorro. "I believe they really are better off here."

Time

I guess it's a good idea all around.

Drop by the Mystic Warriors.

So.. not much happening here. I've just been thoroughly enjoying swimming. There aren't any waves, but the water has been crystal, I mean like, CRYSTAL clear. So absolutely breathtakingly clear. Minus the jellyfish, it's perfect. I just paddle out and swim in the deep. The water's so clear that if you have goggles on, you can see all around as clear you almost as clearly as you can see when you're out of land. I swear, it just makes me drool. When the water is like that, my wishing for a water proof laptop with wifi internet only just gets stronger. :)

Anyhow, so.. we've got some pretty interesting headlines this week:

1. So trees can grow inside your... belly? Nope. Lungs.
2. Susan Boyle, still. I love her voice tho. I'm a big fan of Les Miserables.
3. Mystics? Warriors? It's not too new but it's still good. :)

Satya Bellord

Here's some interesting stuff on Satya Bellord, the star of Karma Kula's 2nd chapter, "Frog in the Well" :

Think "stunt double" and "martial arts double" are the same thing?

Not always. Satya Bellord (pictured above in a blond wig on the left, and with Quentin Tarantino on the right) got called on last minute to be a Martial Arts Double for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill Vol. 2.

What's the difference?

Satya explains: "The martial arts double specializes in martial arts, especially moves that require a higher skill and energy level. A trained martial artist develops an inner strength that isn't there in an actor or stunt person whose martial arts training is limited."

She is also credited as "Utility Stunts" in some sources. She was interviewed in Black Belt Magazine for her work on the film.

-Martial Arts Talents

Frog in the Well

Frog in the Well , Karma kula's 2nd chapter, is out!

I must say, I loved this chapter. It's got action, wit, suspense, and humor. What more to ask for?

I've been traveling heaps for the past few days. I'm just exhausted tonight, and glad to be parked somewhere even just for a few days. I'm just wanting to get some sleep more than anything else.

I visited some relatives and such over the holidays and drove my mom and aunts around. They had a great time I'd think, so all seems to be quite well. It was nice to spend some time with my cousins again.

Handheld nitendo games

The handheld Nitendo DSi is almost out. Should be pretty interesting. I can bet my brother will be walking around with one soon.

Revamped Nintendo Handheld To Hit Domestic Shores This Week
But should you buy one?

By Gordon Cameron and Mike Smith

In the handheld gaming market, Nintendo reigns supreme -- thanks to the spectacular success of its 100-million-selling flagship, the DS. With the system still going strong, you might think, "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" – but then, you’re not Nintendo. They’ve been tinkering with their favorite toy, and after a preliminary run in Japan, the newly-souped-up DS -- now called the "DSi" -- is poised to hit store shelves in Europe and America.

In-Depth Video: The DSi

The design changes in the new device are subtle but significant. The DSi features a slightly larger viewing screen than its predecessor, with superior speakers to round out the experience. The case is slimmer, thanks to the removal of the largely obsolete Game Boy Advance cartridge slot. Particularly noteworthy is the addition of internal and external cameras, allowing the DSi to double as a versatile camera – not unlike that other handheld device that has a lower-case "i" in its name.

On the software side, the DSi's been given a slick new browsing interface that’s reminiscent of its big brother, the Wii. Accessible via any wi-fi connection (find out how), the DSi shop will give you access to numerous applications and low-cost games. Some of the apps – including a suite of photo-manipulation tools that will let you tweak your pictures in humorous and creative ways – are ready to use out of the box.

10 Things You Didn't Know About The DSi

All of this adds up to a lighter, leaner package that blurs the line between games console and general-purpose handheld tool. Whether Nintendo explicitly designed the DSi as an answer to Apple’s iPhone – itself making a surprisingly effective stealth entry into the handheld gaming arena – is questionable. But the vibe we’re getting from the device is that it’s a little more versatile, a little more grown-up, and a little more pitched to the same non-hardcore audience that has made the Wii such a smash.

So it's an even more mainstream design -- but is it a good deal for consumers? If you're one of the hundred-odd million existing DS owners, it's unlikely you'll see too much benefit from upgrading. Sure, the ergonomics are improved, but it remains to be seen whether the camera and DSi shop will give rise to genuinely better games, or just be remembered as gimmicks. You might well want to watch and wait before taking the plunge. On the other hand, if you're pondering your first DS purchase, the DSi is definitely a better bet than its older cousin, even though it'll be selling at a $40 premium.

How is the DSi expected to sell in a sluggish economy? Bob McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Merchandising at game-retailing behemoth GameStop, isn’t worried. "In the U.S., we've got reservations that are more than double where the prior DS launch was," McKenzie told us. McKenzie also foresees a continuing market for the DS Lite alongside the DSi. "The DSi will outsell the DS Lite in the first two weeks, but… we anticipate the DS Lite will continue selling well because of the economy, and the value that it has." GameStop is preparing midnight DSi launches on Sunday night at some 2400 stores around the country, including the main event at the Universal Citywalk Store in Burbank, which will feature music, live entertainment, and attendance by top Nintendo execs.

Want to know more? Check out IGN's DSi Starter Guide.

I found a baby bird that was learning to fly and who lost gas in the bushes the other day. He died after a day. I'm so gutted about it. Had I closed the toilet lid I would still have the little fellow with me now. augh.


Don't forget to watch and vote Karma Kula Mystic Warrior

Break

It was another beautiful day out at the beach. I swam with my neighbors again. It was wonderful. The water is so perfectly clean, the waves were great and we all had a fun time swimming- and the others, surfing. Paddle boards are pretty cool. I haven't tried it with the waves yet but it looks like good fun.

I've been doing a lot of updating with the computers to prevent the April 1st worm from getting us. Hopefully it works. So far so good tho, right?

I had a pretty good night. I've just been dreaming of math. I only just have a math subject left and I'll be done with my 1st college course. I've failed this subject thrice before, and I'm not willing to fail it again for the world.

In the meantime, here I am, nibbling on some dried, sugary bananas and boiled corn. Life is good. Don't forget to watch a
Ninjai Chapter, and the Mystic Warrior.

Pigs

1. Price is around the same amount as a pedigree dog or cat
2. Non-allergenic in most cases
3. Clean and odor-free
4. No fleas
5. They are about the size of a medium sized dog
6. Long life span (12-20 years)
7. Non-destructive, unlike a puppy
8. Quickly trained: litterbox, tricks, walking harness, etc.
9. Low maintenance: annual vet visit, generally stronger immune system than a dog or cat
10. Intelligent, Social, and Communicative

I've always wanted a pet pig like that.. but of course I've never had one.. and probably never will. Oh well. I've always wanted a pet tiger too. But a horse would do, actually. I just have to get myself a huge track of land and some nice horses.

Don't forget to check out Mystic Warrior. The 2nd chapter is bound to come out in a few days.

Impatience, Fitness tips, and more

This morning I tutored the two kids I tutored all summer last year. They're real smart like, especially the boy- who's also older, but they can get on my nerves sometimes. Today I had them studying for 2-3 hours straight and by the time the boy just had 3 more questions left, my patience was running very thin. I was really losing it fast. Anyway, I just told them it was recess and stopped there. PMS, hunger, and smart kids who refuse to think are not a good combination!

The waves are back! My neighbors kids, (12-14) year olds, and their cousins who are all about the same age- were having heaps of fun surfing out there this afternoon. I could see them riding the waves from way out where they break all the way to the shore. I usually go and swim with them, as I did this morning, but I had stuff to do this afternoon.

Oh and look, fitness tips!

Get Fit In As Little As Two Hours a Week

Like most time-pressed women who juggle their career, errands, family and friends — and much more — many firefighters scramble to find the time to exercise on a regular basis. But there is a difference between them and us. Firefighters have to stay fit to do their jobs. So Discovery Health Online asked Michael Stefano, author of The Firefighters Workout Book: The 30-Minute-a-Day, Train-for-Life Program for Men and Women, for his recommendation on the most efficient way for busy women to get in shape and stay there. We asked him to keep three goals in mind:

* Losing or controlling weight
* Building muscle strength
* Boosting overall health (with our society's emphasis on looking good, we sometimes forget that a key benefit of regular exercise is that it protects us against the progression of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and some forms of cancer.)

Alternate Cardiovascular and Strength Training
According to Stefano, you can accomplish all three goals by doing a 30- to 45-minute cardiovascular workout on Monday, for example, and strength training the following day. The strength training should consist of eight or 10 short bursts of intense effort (sets) performed in a series or circuit at least twice each week. This alternating workout program "will give you a two-for-one bonus of both fat burning and toning," he says. The end result is four or five workouts weekly (including cardio) "that can be as little as two hours of total exercise each week."

Insist on Intensity
Getting results is more a matter of how intensely you exercise than which exercise you choose to do. Stefano explains: The benefits of cardiovascular or aerobic exercise depend strictly on the heart and breathing rate achieved during the activity.

Ideally, you need to elevate your heart rate to between 60 or 70 percent of your maximum heart rate for about 20 or 30 minutes at least three days a week. (The simplest way to do this calculation is to subtract your age from 220. The result is the maximum number of times your heart can beat in one minute; take 60 or 70 percent of this number to obtain your target heart rate.)

The more intensely you train (without working above 85 percent of your maximum heart rate), the less time you'll need to exercise to get the same results. Walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling are all good fat-burning exercises when done at your target heart rate.

Similarly, the point of strength or resistance training "isn't necessarily how many sets you do, or how often you lift," says Stefano, "but how intensely you train while adhering to perfect form. This intensity level is relative, varies with each individual, and depends on many factors, including age, sex, and current level of fitness."

Stefano says the top resistance exercises for improving muscle tone are the captain's chair for abdominals, squats for the buttocks and push-ups for the arms, shoulders and chest.

The "Interval" Workout
Greg Florez, spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise and chief executive of FitAdvisor.com, agrees with Stefano that you can accomplish a total body-conditioning workout in 30-45 minutes. "The key issues are working large body parts in a strength program and getting the correct intensity in both the cardiovascular and strength training portions," he says.

To do this, add a strength exercise approximately every two to three minutes to your cardiovascular workout. In other words, stop jogging, stair climbing or doing the elliptical trainer and hit the mat to perform 12-15 push-ups. Then immediately resume your cardiovascular exercise without rest. Continue doing intervals throughout the cardio routine to work your way through the major muscle groups in your body — shoulders, back, chest, arms, hips/buttocks and legs.

Intervals Increase Caloric Burn and Fitness
Interval training can help break up the monotony of jogging on a treadmill for 30 minutes, but more importantly, it can help you maintain a relatively high level of intensity, which increases the number of calories burned and helps to build your overall fitness level. "That is why interval training is so valuable," says Florez, who suggests doing one such workout each week as well as varying your normal cardio routine to add a bit of speed, incline or distance. Perform your cardio workout three to five times a week at a minimum of 20 minutes per session.

Quality is the goal when doing the strength portion of the workout. The 12-15 repetitions should be hard enough that you could not complete any more without compromising form and correct posture. When you pass that level, you should increase the weight/resistance.
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And of course, don't forget to drop by IGN to watch some Mystic Warrior stuff!

nothing doing

I had an okay day. Kinda boring. The waves seem like they're picking up, which is sweet. I baby sat all afternoon. twas all right.

As always, don't forget to watch your daily Ninjai chapter... on side note, on the Ninjai Gang's Karma kula website they've got this section "Meet the crew"- which I'm insanely happy about right now. It's not up yet but it probably will be in a few days.

Severe weather wreak havoc from Plains to Gulf Coast

-- Mother Nature provided a little bit of everything throughout parts of the country on Saturday.
Vehicles jam a buckled road in Mobile, Alabama, Saturday after heavy rains.

Vehicles jam a buckled road in Mobile, Alabama, Saturday after heavy rains.
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Heavy winds wreaked havoc on a shopping center in central Tennessee, blowing out windows and damaging the roof of a shopping center, Murfreesboro police spokesman Kyle Evans told CNN Radio.

Glass storefronts at the Jackson Heights Shopping Center were blown out 100 to 150 yards into the parking lot, Evans said.

Evans said three people were treated for minor injuries from flying glass and metal.

Residents in northwest Murfreesboro lost power Saturday night and police are warning residents to stay indoors until traffic caused by the incident clears up.

Elsewhere, a blizzard dumped more than 2 feet of snow in parts of the Plains on Saturday. The blizzard cut power, stranding drivers and prompting governors in Kansas and Oklahoma to issue disaster declarations.

The heaviest snow and ice accumulated in south central and southwest Kansas. In Pratt County, 28 inches of snow fell, with snow drifts reported up to 6 feet. At least nine other counties reported 2 feet of snow, the Kansas Adjutant General's office said.

About 17,000 customers in Kansas lost electricity, more than half of those in Sedgwick County.

The storm left some travelers stranded and in need of last-minute hotel accomodations, the front desk manager at the Econolodge in McPherson said.

"We have two honeymoon suites open, but other than that we're fully booked. We normally have 84 rooms," iReporter Sally Kelley said.
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* Milder Atlantic hurricane season predicted this year
* Menacing Red River seems to level off

The housekeepers who made it to work were all outside shoveling, but they struggled to keep up with the snow as it continued falling Saturday afternoon.

"We haven't had people getting mad at us. The people have been great but I think they're really frustrated."

The Adjutant General's office said whiteout conditions and blowing snow made driving hazardous. The Kansas Department of Transportation shut down several roads in the western and south central part of the state. National Guard Humvees were used to move medical personal and patients to a hospital in Seward County.

In Oklahoma, where more than a foot of snow fell, Gov. Brad Henry declared a state of emergency in 50 counties.

The State Department of Transportation had several roads blocked in the state and others remained impassible.

"The only people who can get out of their driveways have 4-wheel drive," said iReporter Mark Rennie of Alva, Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, rain along the Gulf Coast battered areas around Mobile, Alabama, and Biloxi, Mississippi. Video Watch how the rain is blocking roads in Mobile, Alabama »

Mobile County Emergency Management Director Walter Dickerson said 4 to 6 inches of rain fell on already saturated ground.

Fifteen to 20 roads around Mobile were closed, and several people had to be rescued after flash flooding trapped their cars.

In Mobile, heavy rains caused a section of roadway to collapse. Three cars ended up in a large sinkhole, including one vehicle that landed on top of another. No serious injuries were reported.

Dickerson said a temporary shelter may be opened for residents displaced by the high waters.

In nearby Baldwin County, Alabama, an apartment complex was evacuated and some main roads were closed.
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The main roadway leading into Biloxi, the Interstate 10 loop, was closed for several hours early Saturday before waters receded and allowed traffic to resume. But more than a dozen other roads around Harrison County remain blocked.

Roads were also impassable in some parts of the Florida Panhandle. Officials in the Atlanta, Georgia, metro area, which is under flood watches and warnings, were keeping an eye on surging rivers and creeks.

Source

A little discovery

I've been trying to learn more about my mom's country and culture and this panty-hose-tug-of-war was one of the things I stumbled on. It's bound to give you a good laugh the first time, then make you cry after. My God what are these people thinking!!?


We had a huge downpour here today. I just ended up leaving the house later. I'm down at the coast now. We just watched the amazing race while waiting out the storm so we could leave. :D

My, isn't that beautiful?

And do check this out, Karma kula's on the front page of video.ign.com!

Beautiful night

The electricity is finally back on. I've been out for the past 11 hours or so. I'm glad to be back home and to be able to sit down in front of my computer. It's a relief.

I sent out a package today, went all over the city, had to walk all over the place. It was pretty hot... I was real tempted to stop over at some stores and just get myself some really cold soda. But anyway, it was good enough. I taught baking all afternoon, it was fun. Tomorrow afternoon I'll probably go over and teach them again.

Well, that's it for now folks. If you like action, adventure, and martial arts kinda stuff, be sure to watch Karma Kula Mystic Warrior's 1st release.