|ocal Nu' Circ|ez

6 Ways You're Wasting Gas

2008-06-08T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here are six ways drivers typically waste gas on every trip:

1. Racing away from green lights
When the light turns green, you don't have to take off as quickly as possible. That pedal under your right foot is called the "gas pedal" for a good reason. The more you press down on it, the more gas you're pumping into the engine.
Press lightly on the gas pedal, and you'll still accelerate, and you'll still get where you're going. You might be surprised at how little pressure it takes to get your car up to speed in a reasonable time.

2. Racing up to red lights
When you're driving down the street, and you see a light red light or stop sign up ahead, you should lay off the gas sooner rather than later.
There's no point in keeping your foot on the gas until just before you reach the intersection. Let off the pedal sooner and give your engine a rest as you coast to the stop while braking gently. As an added benefit, your brake pads will last longer, too.
By themselves, these first two tips can improve your fuel economy around town by as much as 35 percent, according to tests conducted by automotive information Web site Edmunds.com.

3. Confusing the highway with a speedway
Even if it doesn't involve hard acceleration, speeding wastes gas. The faster you go, the more air your vehicle has to push out of the way. It's like moving your hand through water. The faster you try to move your hand, the harder the water pushes back.
In tests by Consumer Reports, driving at 75 miles per hour instead of 65 miles per hour reduced fuel economy by between 3 and 5 miles per gallon, depending on the vehicle.

4. Bumper-buzzing
Tailgating is a bad move for many reasons. First of all, it's unsafe. You reduce your ability to react if the car in front of you slows or stops. It also means you have to pay ultra-close attention to that car which reduces your ability to scan for other hazards ahead of you and to the sides.
And tailgating wastes gas. Every time the driver ahead taps his brakes, you have to slow down even more than he did. (That's because you can't react immediately so you have to slow even more because you're slowing down later.) Then you accelerate again to get back up to speed and resume your bumper-buzzing routine.
Hang back and you'll be safer - plus you'll be able to drive more smoothly and use less fuel. A good rule of thumb is to allow two seconds of space between your car and the one ahead. You can figure that out by counting off two seconds after the car in front of you passes an obvious landmark like an overpass.

5. Driving standing still
You've probably heard that it takes more gas to restart a car than to let it run. Maybe that used to be true, but it isn't anymore. With modern fuel-injection engines, it takes very little extra gas to restart a car once it's warmed up.
Idling, meanwhile, burns about a half-mile worth of gas every minute, according to the California Energy Commission. That's why hybrid cars shut down their gasoline engines whenever they stop, even for a moment.
Now you don't want to shut your engine down for every little stop in your regular, non-hybrid car - it's not designed for that - but if you're waiting for someone to run in and out of a convenience store, turn off the engine.
And don't go through the drive-through at fast food restaurants. You're already paying enough for the oil in those chicken nuggets.

Bonus tip: Don't idle your engine to let it warm up before driving. It does your engine no good and it wastes gas. Instead, start driving right away, but drive gently until the engine is warm.

6. Short hops
For really short trips, take advantage of the opportunity to get some exercise. Try walking to the store instead of driving. You can save gas and burn a few calories instead.
If you can't hoof it, save up your errands. A lot of short hops that let the engine cool down at home between trips can use twice as much gas as starting the car once and making a big sweep to all your stops, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Go to your farthest destination first so your engine has a chance to reach its optimal operating temperature. Then make your other stops on the way back. With the engine warmed up, the car will restart easily and run efficiently all the way home.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena

Dating Challenge: Crossing the 'Friend Zone'

2008-06-06T22:47:00.001-07:00

You've had feelings for your friend for a while and you're worried about crossing the line and ruining the friendship. That's not really true, of course, but that's what you keep telling yourself so you can justify not putting yourself on the line and risking rejection.
Sure -- it's possible to love a friend of the opposite sex without picturing him or her in bed. Having feelings for your friend doesn't necessarily prove Harry's theory in "When Harry Met Sally" who famously declared that "No man can be friends with a woman that he finds attractive. He always wants to have sex with her."
There are exceptions to Harry's rule, but one thing is certain -- being seen as just a friend by all the people you want to date can be frustrating. So here are a few ways to prevent being stuck in (cue scary music): 'The Friend Zone':

1. Do Flirt
It's okay if romance is on your brain when you greet your friend. In fact, it can fuel the chemistry. It's good for your friend to catch you subtly checking him or her out. As long as you're not drooling or gawking, it can be sexy. You want your friend to think he or she imagined the look. Light touching and sincere and specific compliments are great for flirting, too.

2. Don't Be the Problem Solver
Are you on speed dial every time your friend needs something fixed or wants to process a bad relationship? It's nice to help your friend occasionally, but make sure you're not the one he or she associates with problems.
If you do come over to help, mention that you're happy to assist for an hour but have plans after that. Better to remain a little mysterious and have your friend wondering who else is getting your attention.

3. Have Fun
Create unique memories. You're aware of your friend's passions, so initiate fun and interesting activities that you know your friend will enjoy but isn't doing with others.
And -- if someone has dumped you, confide in a friend you don't have feelings for! Remember to keep an upbeat attitude and stay confident -- those are two of the most attractive qualities cited by singles when looking for a mate.
Of course, not every friendship ends with a romantic happy ending and you may have to be prepared that your crush just wants to stay your friend. You'll have to decide if that's enough for you.
In the meantime, if you feel like you often end up in the friend zone with people you want to date, plant some of these seeds and see if anything grows in your relationship. Sometimes a glass of wine or a flirtatious exchange can change the dynamic... and you look at each other and wonder why it took so long.

-By Andrea Syrtash, ONDating Special to Yahoo! Personals-

Chapter 2 : Five question breakup test

2007-12-28T10:55:00.000-08:00

The Breakup Test: 5 Questions to Ask Before Giving 'Em the Boot
By Elina Furman

Is it better to be the breaker-upper or the dumpee? With so much attention being paid to those poor people dumped every year, no one ever takes time to think about what it's like to be the dumper. Hardly an enviable position, the decision to break up with someone can breed feelings of guilt, paralysis and depression.

To alleviate some of this anxiety, here's a list of 5 questions to ask yourself before you give someone the boot.

Question 1: Has There Been a Major Change in My Life?

Relocation, career change, an illness -- any of these factors can trigger problems in a relationship. If you're stressed out about something, be it a job or family problem, it's all too tempting to generalize these feelings to include your partner. It's very easy to think that if you got out of this relationship you would feel better. In reality, you need to deal with the problem rather than blame it on your partner.

Question 2: What's My Happiness Ratio?

Being blissfully in love with your partner 24/7 is a wonderful concept in theory, but as we all know, real-world relationships rarely live up to these expectations. Many people assume that they have to be 100 percent satisfied with their partners in order to stick with them, but good luck ever finding this perfect scenario!

A better strategy would be to adopt the 80 percent rule. Ask yourself:

Am I satisfied with my partner 80 percent of the time or more? If the answer is yes, then you're working with pretty good odds. If the answer is no, you may want to consider moving on.

Question 3: Is He/She Abusive?

Abusive behavior comes in many forms. There's physical abuse where someone hits, slaps or shoves you. A verbally abusive partner degrades you with harsh words and insults. And the most difficult to identify and pinpoint: psychological abuse. This form of abuse can involve overly controlling behavior, emotional blackmail, and episodes of extreme jealousy. If your partner engages in any of the above behavior, don't just walk -- run from the relationship.

Question 4: Have I Expressed My Frustration?

Many of us think that if our partner was right for us, he/she would be able to understand our needs intuitively without us ever having to communicate. While it would be great if our partners could just read our minds, the truth is that few of us are telepathic.

Good communication is required in every relationship.

So before you give your partner their walking papers, make sure to discuss your doubts and concerns so they have a chance to make it up to you.

Question 5: Am I Willing to Work at It?

Whatever your gripes or complaints, there's one factor that can make or break your union: your mutual desire to work on the relationship. If you're not both committed to improving your quality of life together, there's very little hope for the future.

And remember, actions speak louder than words. If both of you make a concerted effort to work on the relationship and make the necessary changes that are required, there's really no reason to call it quits.

Chapter 2 : [A great song with a great lyric]

2007-12-23T07:31:00.000-08:00

I've put this song on my blog.From their new album,same name with the band itself 'Avenged Sevenfold'.

Avenged Sevenfold - Dear God

A lonely road, crossed another cold state line

Miles away from those I love purpose hard to find

While I recall all the words you spoke to me

Can't help but wish that I was there

Back where I'd love to be, oh yeah

Dear God the only thing I ask of you is

to hold her when I'm not around

when I'm much too far away

We all need that person who can be true to you

But I left her when I found her

And now I wish I'd stayed

'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired

I'm missing you again oh no

Once again

There's nothing here for me on this barren road

There's no one here while the city sleeps

and all the shops are closed

Can't help but think of the times I've had with you

Pictures and some memories will have to help me through, oh yeah

Dear God the only thing I ask of you is

to hold her when I'm not around

when I'm much too far away

We all need that person who can be true to you

I left her when I found her

And now I wish I'd stayed

'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired

I'm missing you again oh no

Once again

Some search, never finding a way

Before long, they waste away

I found you, something told me to stay

I gave in, to selfish ways

And how I miss someone to hold

when hope begins to fade...

A lonely road, crossed another cold state line

Miles away from those I love purpose hard to find

Dear God the only thing I ask of you is

to hold her when I'm not around

when I'm much too far away

We all need the person who can be true to you

I left her when I found her

And now I wish I'd stayed

'Cause I'm lonely and I'm tired

I'm missing you again oh no

Once again

-I recommend scream,unbound(the wild ride) and afterlife from this album-

Chapter 2 : [No KL No Karaoke]

2007-12-23T07:00:00.001-08:00

I quite disappointed today because I didn't go back to KL by car with Hafiz.He and his family have to go to Taiping for a feast.With a last minute decision,I'd decide for not to follow him.Actually I want to hang out with my bucuk today but I run out of money.So maybe we go out tomorrow.Earlier on this evening, Ap asking me whether I will come to Kl or not.Sorry to disappoint you ap.

Ap: Oit,ko turun kl ke tak ?
Riez: Aku tak turun la.
Ap: Laaa..asal ?
Riez: Member aku blk tgh ari td.Aku malas nak rushing,dia ada kenduri kat Taiping.
Ap: Aku br nak karok esok,piqa dah on ko plak x on.adeh~
Riez: Laaa,ko tak gitau aku pun ?
Ap: Smlm da gtaw la.
Riez: Mana ada.
Ap: Aku karok dgn piqa n jue je la.

What the heck ? I dont know piqa was at Kl ? Jue too ? So,no Kl no karaoke.
Well,eager to wait for tomorrow.Miss my bucuk so much =)
Anyway,should I call ika zalika ?

Chapter 1 : [Nine hour and a half]

2007-12-21T07:01:00.000-08:00

I WILL NEVER EVER TAKE THE FREAKING BUS AGAIN !!!

That words keep playing in my mind.I really tired and im not in the good mood that day.That is first time ever in my life I'd took a trip for nine and a half hour,just from Malacca to Penang.

Me,fareez and juliana took a same bus that day.Usually we will take Durian Burung's bus but there is no tickets left.So, the only left is ******'s bus.I never take that bus before so I think its ok(Only for my first thought).Me and fareez, each of us got the single-seat while juliana sat besides a stranger.We depart from Malacca around 2 o'clock.As the bus moved,I listen music from my phone and getting to sleep.I dont know if the bus visit seremban but the bus stop at Klang to take another passengers.I look at the time and I got shock.

"Apasal lembab sangat bas ni ?? Dah 3 jam baru ada kat Klang ?!?!"

To be positive,I thought maybe we caught jam on the way,MAYBE...It took about 15 minutes before the bus keep moving.I had enough sleep so I cant get to sleep again.I sms my boo and ika.I chat with my boo for awhile before she got work to do.So I continue sms with ika,asking her to go out with me and my boo this saturday/sunday.

Approximately 8.30 PM,we stop at Slim River for 20 minutes.I really hungry but I dont enough money to buy any food.So I asked fareez to buy me just one bottle of mineral water.

Riez:Fareez,pinjam 5 ringgit boleh ?
Fareez:Hee,aku ada 8 ringgit je bro.
Riez:oh ye ker ? takper2.Duit aku abis ah.
Fareez:ko nak apa ? aku belikan.
Riez:belikan aku mineral water jadi ah.dahaga ah.hehe,thanks dude.

Me,fareez and juliana sat at the canteen.

Riez:jue,u pernah blk penang kan ?
Jue:hmm,ha'ah.ni kali kedua kot.
Fareez:nak makan apa ah ?
Riez:hehe,beli la apa2 pun.ada jual macam2 makanan kan ?
Fareez:hmm..
Juliana:sejuknya dlm bas ni,I nak igt nak tutup air-cond tapi mamat sebelah I ni nampak menakutkan je.Dah la time dlm bas td dia baca buku pasal JIHAD.Lagi la I tak berani nak tegur.
Riez:haha,alaa tegur je laa..nak tutup air-cond je kot.
Fareez:hmmm..(still dont know what he want to eat).

Juliana keep complain about 3 girls who sat behind her for making noise and Fareez finally decide to buy a burger.

After 20 minutes later,we continue our trip.The freaking bus is still have to drop and pick up passangers at Ipoh.OMG !!! At that time,I'd became very mad !! Im tired and I still need to wait another 20 minutes before the bus continue moving.I told to fareez that im gonna write bout this in my blog.I dont know how much time that i'd wasted just because this freaking bus.Im tired + cold + not comfortable.Finally I and fareez arrived around 11.30 PM.Poor Jue,it must be 12.30 AM to arrived at her home.Cant u imagine,from 2 PM till 11.30 PM just sitting down and do nothing ?!?! I'll never ever recommend this bus to anyone else.

- Yep,I do not mention the name of the bus in this post -

Chapter 1 : [Myth and Fact]

2007-12-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

7 Medical Myths Even Doctors Believe

Popular culture is loaded with myths and half-truths. Most are harmless. But when doctors start believing medical myths, perhaps it's time to worry.

In the British Medical Journal this week, researchers looked into several common misconceptions, from the belief that a person should drink eight glasses of water per day to the notion that reading in low light ruins your eyesight.

"We got fired up about this because we knew that physicians accepted these beliefs and were passing this information along to their patients," said Dr. Aaron Carroll, assistant professor of pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. "And these beliefs are frequently cited in the popular media."

And so here they are, so that you can inform your doctor:

Myth: We use only 10 percent of our brains.

Fact: Physicians and comedians alike, including Jerry Seinfeld, love to cite this one. It's sometimes erroneously credited to Albert Einstein. But MRI scans, PET scans and other imaging studies show no dormant areas of the brain, and even viewing individual neurons or cells reveals no inactive areas, the new paper points out. Metabolic studies of how brain cells process chemicals show no nonfunctioning areas. The myth probably originated with self-improvement hucksters in the early 1900s who wanted to convince people that they had yet not reached their full potential, Carroll figures. It also doesn't jibe with the fact that our other organs run at full tilt.

Myth: You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day.

Fact: "There is no medical evidence to suggest that you need that much water," said Dr. Rachel Vreeman, a pediatrics research fellow at the university and co-author of the journal article. Vreeman thinks this myth can be traced back to a 1945 recommendation from the Nutrition Council that a person consume the equivalent of 8 glasses (64 ounces) of fluid a day. Over the years, "fluid" turned to water. But fruits and vegetables, plus coffee and other liquids, count.

Myth: Fingernails and hair grow after death.

Fact: Most physicians queried on this one initially thought it was true. Upon further reflection, they realized it's impossible. Here's what happens: "As the body’s skin is drying out, soft tissue, especially skin, is retracting," Vreeman said. "The nails appear much more prominent as the skin dries out. The same is true, but less obvious, with hair. As the skin is shrinking back, the hair looks more prominent or sticks up a bit."

Myth: Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker.

Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. More recent studies have confirmed that one. Here's the deal: When hair first comes in after being shaved, it grows with a blunt edge on top, Carroll and Vreeman explain. Over time, the blunt edge gets worn so it may seem thicker than it actually is. Hair that's just emerging can be darker too, because it hasn't been bleached by the sun.

Myth: Reading in dim light ruins your eyesight.

Fact: The researchers found no evidence that reading in dim light causes permanent eye damage. It can cause eye strain and temporarily decreased acuity, which subsides after rest.

Myth: Eating turkey makes you drowsy.

Fact: Even Carroll and Vreeman believed this one until they researched it. The thing is, a chemical in turkey called tryptophan is known to cause drowsiness. But turkey doesn't contain any more of it than does chicken or beef. This myth is fueled by the fact that turkey is often eaten with a colossal holiday meal, often accompanied by alcohol — both things that will make you sleepy.

Myth: Mobile phones are dangerous in hospitals.

Fact: There are no known cases of death related to this one. Cases of less-serious interference with hospital devices seem to be largely anecdotal, the researchers found. In one real study, mobile phones were found to interfere with 4 percent of devices, but only when the phone was within 3 feet of the device. A more recent study, this year, found no interference in 300 tests in 75 treatment rooms. To the contrary, when doctors use mobile phones, the improved communication means they make fewer mistakes.

"Whenever we talk about this work, doctors at first express disbelief that these things are not true," said Vreeman said. "But after we carefully lay out medical evidence, they are very willing to accept that these beliefs are actually false."

- This article is direct copy from http://www.yahoo.com/ http://www.livescience.com/ -

Chapter 1 : [Joke]

2007-12-18T02:07:00.001-08:00

I found this nice joke at friendster.Thank to megat for posting it.

Our communication - Wireless

Our dress - Topless

Our telephone - Cordless

Our cooking - Fireless

Our youth - Jobless

Our food - Fatless

Our labour - Effortless

Our conduct - Worthless

Our relation - Loveless

Our attitude - Careless

Our feelings - Heartless

Our politics - Shameless

Our education - Valueless

Our follies - Countless

Our arguments - Baseless

Our boss - Brainless

Our Job - Thankless

Our Salary - Very less....!!

Chapter 1 : [Picture of the Week]

2007-12-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Daus,Nad,Miera(front),Gusty,Me,Fareez,Radzi(front),Ap,Bear,Piqa

-Special Saturday-
This picture was taken at Port Dickson (15th December 2007) when we gathering and bbq together.Special thanks to piqa for prepare us with such delicious food,ap who suggest and plan all this along with piqa,radzi for all the effort he does to make our plan become reality and thanks to bear,fareez,daus,gusty,miera and nad for joining us.

-Detail of the Story-
Kindly visit piqa's blog.

Chapter 1: [Music]

2007-12-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

I love music so much. Every time i go anywhere, i will bring along my hand phone and i will listen songs from it.From many song that i love, there is one song that i love so much and i will never get bored of it. Even though it is a old song, the lyric of this song is so meaningful to me. So i will put the lyric here.

'Until the day I die' by 'Story of the year'

Until the day I die
I'll spill my heart for you, for you
Until the day I die
I'll spill my heart for you

As years go by
I race the clock with you
But if you died right now
You know that I'd die to
I'd die too

You remind me of the times
When I knew who I was (I was)
But still the second hand will catch us
Like it always does

We'll make the same mistakes
I'll take the fall for you
I hope you need this now
Cause I know I still do

Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you
Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you

Should I bite my tongue?
Until blood soaks my shirt
We'll never fall apart
Tell me why this hurts so much
My hands are at your throat
And I think I hate you
But still we'll say, "remember when"
Just like we always do
Just like we always do

Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you
Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you

Yeah I'd spill my heart!!!
Yeah I'd spill my heart for you!!!

My hands are at your throat
And I think I hate you
We made the same mistakes
Mistakes like friends do

My hands are at your throat
And I think I hate you
We made the same mistakes
Made the same mistakes

Until the day I die
I'll spill my heart for you, for you

Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you, for you
Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
I'll spill my heart for you
Until the day I die (Until the day I die)
Until the day I die!!!

Chapter 1: [Introduction]

2007-12-17T10:06:00.000-08:00

Well,this is my 1st blog. So i don't really know to do. Well i do it for some reasons. As i saw piqa's blog, u can see many interesting information and yet fascinating stories, And another reason why i'd decide to do my own blog is because i want to improve my English. Honestly, i really suck at my grammar.So if u guys see any broken English.Pardon me =) and yes, any correction, comment and criticism are most welcome.