The Hi5 Effect


The other day I received an SMS from my cousin telling me that she has created a Hi5 account and that I should accept her request. I was like “Woah! It’s been ages since I checked my Hi5 account.” It’s been so long that I even forgot the password and requested to send it to me via e-mail. Anyway, I signed in and found that I have 5 friend requests from 5 different girls (including my cousin). I had no idea who they were but I added them anyway.

After I edit my profile and privacy, I decided to use the search system just for fun and used the following criteria:
*Age: 20 to 35
* Want to meet: Both Men & Women
* Area: Kuwait
* Status: Any


Click on search....


Man, I wanted to laugh so hard and yet felt a pity for “some” of the users. It seems Hi5 has become the next harmony.com; people apparently were using it just to get dates not to gain friendship. How did I know? Simple, try to read the comments on the person’s profile from other users or “Who I would like to meet” section of the users profile. I have seen at least 20 guys who just wanted “Sex” and surprisingly those users were the most popular. Girls were not angels either; you can witness their desperation to find “a playmate” to waste their times with.

The funniest part is the level of narcissism that most users possess. One user filled his entire profile with his pictures and apparently none of his pictures were spontaneous; it is clear he was spending most of the time taking picture of himself. Others were satisfied with showing their bodies and sometimes their “tiny body parts”.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not asking that you should burn your Hi5 account; Hi5 is still a great site to meet new people and gain friends. However, it should not serve as a dating hub. To me, people who use Internet to find a date are so desperate in real life that they decided to shadow their true identity behind their “not-so- genuine profiles. Yet again, I don't like making snap judgment of people, so I will say no more about this subject.

4 Physical Traits You Can Thank (Or Blame) Mom For!


Behold the magnificent world of genetics.

"Because you have an X chromosome-from your mother-and it bullies your Y chromosome around, it flaws are your problems. Along with dozens of serious diseases, here's what else you inherit from Mom."

YOUR SIZE
************

"When you were an embryo, a battle briefly raged inside you. Dad's genes wanted you to be big, strong, and fast, so you could outrun tigers in the jungle or Lions in Detroit. Mom's wanted you to be small, so you'd be easier to deliver. Which is a better fighter? Well, the world is filled with more 5'9" accountants than 6'6" power forwards, isn't it?"

Too bad this isn't true for me because I am not tall as my brother and I am the same height as my father so I did not inherit my Mother's "tallness gene". However, I am not a midget nor a “Michael Jordan” tall.

YOUR MUSCLE MASS
***********************

"The genes responsible for making muscle cluster on the X chromosome. That means Mom may be responsible for your innate ability (or inability) to build massive lats."

No need to worry about that because both my family sides have a normal and probably good muscle history. Next!

YOUR HAIRLINE
******************

"Men often inherit their maternal grandfather's hairline. The culprit: The X chromosome's androgen-receptor gene, which, among other duties, regulates hair growth. If Mom's dad is bald, your chances of the same go up by 25%."

Nope, both of my grandfathers are not bald so YAY!

YOUR WAISTLINE
********************

"Yes, your lifestyle largely determines your weight, but genes are important too. At least a dozen on the X chromosome have been linked to obesity. Such mutation is present in one-fifth of Caucasians and half of African Americans."

*Takes this piece of information with a grain of salt*

Girls, this might not be 100% true for you because this information is taken from Men's Health Magazine and the fact women inherit two X chromosomes (one from Mom and one from Dad). Still, this might help if you are thinking of having the "Perfect Baby Boys". And boys, don't be surprised if your magnificent biceps are from your mothers not fathers, so go and give your mothers a "Thank You" Kiss.

Why Do Men Have Nipples?



Aside from its peculiar title, this book is one of the most informative; yet hilarious books on the market. Seriously, the next time you are in the bookstore, make sure to pick this one up.

The book contains the answers for the most unusual and common questions such as:

- What causes morning breath?
- Why does asparagus cause one's urine to smell?
- Do microwaves cause cancer?

The book is neither offensive nor naughty, although it explains life sciences and concepts in a wonderful way. It's not too thick as well, so it's a great “plane-read.”

Thanks 4 The Laughs



Now, we have to bid farewells to one of the funniest sitcoms that we have ever known in the past 8 years. Even though the show has lost its edge in the past two years and became a guest-stars resort, it still has its moments.

Make sure to watch the 2-hour SERIES FINALE, on Thursday May 18th @ 8/7c on NBC. You sure don't want to miss it. Click Here to visit the Finale site.

White Dragon

Million thanks to Caffeinated who shared this quiz with us. I took the Dragon quiz and got the following results:







White Dragon




You Are A White Dragon, you are a little slow and work on instinct. You live in really cold places, isolated. You like solitude, but you hunt with other dragons. You would rather eat polar bears, seals, and fish, that you would have previously froze with your ice breath. You can't talk to humans though.Like every dragon, you keep a treasure hidden in ice cave, inside icebergs ony accessible by the under water part.stone: diamondquote: "Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that's where you renew your springs that never dry up." from Pearl Buck you control: ice
Take this quiz!








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Awesome

BBQ in Eldorado Springs


Yesterday, my boys and me went to Eldorado Spring to have a BBQ party celebrating the graduation of one of our dearest friend. We arrived there at 4PM and spend the first hour...well...”BBQing.” We brought hamburgers, chicken burgers, and hot dogs. I explored the park a little and took couple of pictures.

We spend the rest of the day chitchatting, playing soccer, taking about soccer, and everything soccer related. I'm not a soccer fan at all; I mean I do know the name of famous soccer players but not every single one. Thus, I decided to watch at least one match everyday of the World Cup 2006. Hopefully, this will help me understand soccer better and be able to engage in a soccer discussion with the guys.

Well, here are some pictures that I took using my crappy cell phone's camera. Don't worry, I promise to get me a shiny digital camera very soon.


Correct English translation would be: Chicken Meat Discs Ready To Cook



Is it me or that's blood coming out from the hamburger?



Just after the BBQ, one of the guys went to smoke "Shisha" in the middle of Mother's Nature clean air. Ahhhh...Arabs!!



Mother Nature in her glory...the sound of the river was so calming.



I went to the Eldorado Visitor Center to find a bathroom but instead, I found these displayed rocks. Too bad I forgot everything I learned from my Geology Class.



I went for a little hike afterward. Hiking back down was a little scary, I felt like someone was pushing me all the way. That's altitude for you.

Wii

A NEW STYLE OF GAMING



Wii will break down that wall that separates video game players from everybody else. Wii will put people more in touch with their games … and each other. But you’re probably asking: What does the name mean?Wii sounds like “we,” which emphasizes this console is for everyone.Wii can easily be remembered by people around the world, no matter what language they speak. No confusion. No need to abbreviate. Just Wii.

A NEW CONTROL OF GAMIMG


Wii Remote
--------------



Wireless and motion-sensitive, the Wii Remote offers an intuitive, natural way to play games. The ergonomic controller plays into the conventional motions you make everyday. When you hit a drum, swing a tennis racket or swing a bat: Why should you have to press a button to replicate these things? With the Wii Remote, you can use everyday motions to help make you the center of the game.

Nunchuk controller
-----------------------


Connect the Nunchuk controller to the Wii Remote and get ready. You've just begun a journey into the most immersive, heated gameplay experience ever offered.The Nunchuk controller and the accelerometer contained within it are the next leap in gaming. In first-person shooters, the controller carries the burden of movement, freeing you to aim and fire using a more natural motion with the Wii Remote. In a football game, you can make your quarterback elusive with the Nunchuk controller while you look for an open receiver to throw to using the Wii Remote.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Wii will have downloadable access to 20 years of fan-favorite titles originally released for Nintendo 64, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and even the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Virtual Console also will feature a "best of" selection from Sega Genesis titles and games from the TurboGrafx console (a system jointly developed by NEC and Hudson). It also will be home to new games conceived by indie developers whose creativity is larger than their budgets.

A NEW WAVE OF GAMES

Super Mario Galaxy
-----------------------



The ultimate Nintendo hero is taking the ultimate step... out into space. Join Mario as he ushers in a new era of video games, defying gravity across all the planets in the galaxy. Mario takes advantage of all the unique aspects of the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller, unleashing new moves as players shake the controller and even point at and drag items with the pointer. Players perform mind-bending, low-gravity jumps across wild alien terrain as they experience platforming for a new generation.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption
-----------------------------------



If you think you knew what it felt like to be the bounty hunter behind the visor, think again. Take aim at evil with Nintendo's revolutionary controller. Players control Samus by moving with the Nunchuk controller and aiming with the pointer, allowing for a level of immersion unlike anything they have ever experienced. Through the eyes of Samus, players experience a quantum leap in first-person control as they wield the Wii Remote, the ultimate device for the first-person shooter genre. Samus will employ well-known power-ups like the Grapple Beam and Morph Ball, as well as a bunch of new surprises, to help her survive her coming trials.


The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
------------------------------------------------



When an evil darkness enshrouds the land of Hyrule, a young farm boy named Link must awaken the hero - and the animal - within. When Link travels to the Twilight Realm, he transforms into a wolf and must scour the land with the help of a mysterious girl named Midna. Using the power and unique control of the Wii console, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess incredibly precise aiming control using the Wii Remote. The Wii Remote and the Nunchuk controller are used for a variety of game activities, including fishing and special sword attacks. Players ride into battle against troops of foul creatures using an amazing horseback combat system, then take on massive bosses that must be seen to be believed.

Other Games
----------------

Red Steel
Resident Evil
Sonic Wild Fire
Project H.A.M.M.E.R.
WarioWare: Smooth Moves
Final Fantasy Chrystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors

and many more...


Nintendo's Wii Bombshell: Super Smash Bros. Brawl
---------------------------------------------------------------



Check this awesome video right here. There is a cool suprise in the end.

Cannot wait for Wii to release later this year (Q4 2006).

The Finals Are Final


I'm totally freaking out.
I cannot breath.
Too many things to do.
Where the f*** is my notebook.
WHAT THE HELL! A paper is due on the same week of the finals...that's nonsense.
I cannot believe I'm missing the Premiere of Mission Impossible III.

Need....To....Relax

*Read my Nibras Article*

OK, here is my schedule for the finals:

- Saturday 1:00PM (Religion Class Final: Judaism/Christianity/Islam)
- Monday 7:30AM (Cumulative Chemistry Final)
- Tuesday 7:30AM (Cumulative Molecular Biology Final)
- Wednesday 8:30AM (Non-cumulative Social Psychology Final)

And that's pretty much it. It seems I'm going to pull an all nighter next week due to the fact that three consecutive Finals start very early in the morning.


*Wish Me Good Luck!!*

Molecular Stuff



I just had my last midterm Molecular Biology quiz. Let me share with you some Molecular concept and definitions:

================
TATA BOX
================
An element with the consensus sequence TATAAAA that begins about 30 bp upstream of the start of transcription most eukaryotic promoters recognized by RNA polymerase II.

================================================
RNA Polymerase II Holenezyme in prokaryotes
================================================
The collection of polypeptides that make up the whole enzyme. Usually includes, Beta, 'Beta, 2xAlpha, Sigma subunits.

================
Footprint Essay
================
A specific pattern of peptide spots formed when a protein is cut into pieces with an enzyme, and then the peptides are separated by chromatography.

==================================
The Concept of DNA Replication
==================================
1- DNA Replication is Semi-conservative. That is, replications give two daughters duplex DNAs each contain an old strand (Parent) and new strand (Daughter)

2- DNA Replication is Semi-continuous. That is, DNA polymerase makes one strand continuous (leading strand):
‘5------>'3
But the other strand (lagging strand) would have to be discontinuous:
'3------>'5 (AKA. Okazaki fragments)

3- DNA Replication needs Primer. That is, a Primer is needed to start DNA synthesis by making short pieces of RNA on DNA strands.

4- DNA Replication is Bidirectional. That is, In the Origin of Replication, two forks arise and move in opposite directions around the circle until they meet on the other side.


Okay, I have covered only 0.3% of the test material.