Tips,Trick, and News Blog

Israel sends more troops to Gaza border

2008-12-31T20:20:00.001-08:00

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – Israel sent more troops to the Gaza border Wednesday, rapidly moving forward with preparations for a possible ground offensive as the next stage of its military assault on the coastal territory's Hamas rulers.

Israel rebuffed calls by world leaders for a truce, and Hamas also was cold to a cease-fire.

Instead, both intensified their fire. Israel bombed a mosque that it said was used to store rockets as well as vital smuggling tunnels along the Egyptian border, and the Islamic militants hammered southern Israeli cities with about 60 rockets.

Israeli troops trudged between dozens of tanks in muddy, rain-sodden fields outside Gaza, assembling equipment, cleaning weapons and scrubbing out tank barrels. Their commanders moved forward with preparations for a ground operation, said an Israeli defense official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information.

The U.N. Security Council met Wednesday night to consider an Arab request for a legally binding resolution that would condemn Israel and halt the attacks. But the United States called a draft resolution "unacceptable" because it made no mention of halting the Hamas rockets. A vote on a resolution was not expected before Monday, Sudan's U.N. ambassador said.

Diplomatic efforts by U.S., European and Middle Eastern leaders appeared to be having little effect. A French proposal for a 48-hour cease-fire to allow humanitarian supplies into Gaza failed to gain traction. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said the time was not ripe to consider it.

A separate proposal by Turkey and Egypt, two of Israel's few allies in the Muslim world, also seemed to be attracting little serious study in Israel or Gaza, where Hamas leaders dismissed talk of a truce.

With a shrinking number of targets to hit from the air and top Hamas leaders deep in hiding, a ground operation seemed all the more likely. In five days of raids, Israeli warplanes carried out about 500 sorties against Hamas targets and helicopters flew hundreds more combat missions, a senior Israeli military officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with military regulations.

The government has approved the call-up of more than 9,000 reserve soldiers. Heavy rain clouds cover that could hinder ground forces were expected to lift Thursday.

U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes said the death toll was estimated at 320-390 and the number of injured at 1,500-1,900. Between 20 percent and 25 percent of the dead are either women or children, said Karen Abu Zayd, U.N. Relief and Works Agency commissioner.

Hamas says some 200 uniformed members of its security forces have been killed, and the U.N. says at least 60 Palestinian civilians have died.

In Israel, three civilians and a soldier have been killed by rocket fire, which has reached deeper into Israel than ever. The sites of the missile hits have drawn curious crowds.

In the Negev desert city of Beersheba, people visited a school where a rocket made a direct hit Tuesday evening, slamming through the ceiling and showering debris on students' desks. A visitor illuminated by a shaft of light through the hole in the roof said with some astonishment, "This is my daughter's seat."

In Gaza, the sites of airstrikes have also attracted the curious and the defiant, including a Palestinian man who planted a green Hamas flag atop a mound of debris at a flattened mosque, its minaret still thrusting toward a stormy sky.

The Israeli military, which leveled the mosque Wednesday, said that it was being used as a missile storage site and that the bombs dropped on it set off secondary explosions. It was the fifth mosque hit in the campaign.

The chief of Israel's internal security services, Yuval Diskin, told a government meeting that Hamas members had hidden inside mosques, believing they would be safe from airstrikes and using them as command centers, according to an Israeli security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to share the information.

Other militants were hiding in hospitals, some disguised as doctors and nurses, Diskin said, according to the official.

Early Thursday, huge explosions shook Gaza City as Israeli planes bombed three government buildings and the parliament. Hospital officials said 25 wounded were evacuated from nearby houses.

Echoing Israel's cool response to truce proposals, a senior Hamas leader with ties to its military wing said that now was not the right time to call off the fight. Hamas was unhappy with the six-month truce that ended just before the fighting began because it didn't result in an easing of Israel's crippling economic blockade of Gaza.

Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu said that although Hamas leaders had been driven underground, the Gaza government was functioning and had met in the past few days.

"What our people want is clear: an immediate stop to all kinds of aggression, the end of the siege by all means, the opening of all border crossings, and international guarantees that the occupation will not renew this terrorist war again," Nunu said.

Israel's latest airstrikes concentrated on crushing the many smuggling tunnels under Gaza's southern border with Egypt. They provide a crucial lifeline, not just for Hamas rulers, but also for bringing in food and fuel for Gaza's people.

Holmes, the U.N. humanitarian chief, expressed concern about the fighting's impact on civilians. He said hospitals were struggling to cope with casualties and the lack of fuel deliveries had forced Gaza's power plant to shut down Tuesday.

But U.N. officials said the major need was grain and other food. Holmes said the Kerem Shalom crossing remained open and 55 trucks got through Tuesday and about 60 on Wednesday, mainly carrying food. He said Israel had been "cooperative in principle about these supplies, but we need to see more results."

White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said U.S. officials were seeing "a good flow" of medical and food supplies into Gaza.

Israel and Egypt blockaded Gaza after Hamas fighters violently seized control of the territory in 2007 and the two nations have opened their borders only to let in limited humanitarian aid.

On Wednesday, several wounded Palestinians were taken across the Israeli and Egyptian borders for treatment, including a child bundled in blankets.

Gaza's southern smuggling zone was hit again Wednesday morning and evening in airstrikes that left vast craters over the collapsed underground passages. Hospital officials said two people were killed and 42 wounded in the bombing.

Diskin, the Israeli security chief, told a Cabinet meeting that the tunnel network had been badly damaged. Israel said more than 80 tunnels were destroyed. Several hundred tunnels ran under the border before Israeli warplanes began striking.

Hamas was trying to smuggle some of its activists to Egypt through still-passable tunnels, Diskin said.

Israel fears that opening border crossings would allow Hamas — which remains officially committed to Israel's destruction — to further strengthen its hold on the territory.

Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, a Hamas rival who controls only the West Bank, suggested he would not continue peace talks with Israel at any price. He said on Palestinian TV that the stalled talks had become useless and were not reaching any of the goals — namely the creation of a Palestinian state.

"Negotiation is not a goal by itself; it's a tool," Abbas said. "Unless it is a tool to achieve peace ... there is no need for it to continue."

Gaza's militants fired dozens of rockets into Israel on Wednesday evening, including one in the city of Ashkelon that was caught on video. It showed a man on a sidewalk ducking for cover along a wall as the missile exploded in a cloud of smoke a few steps behind him.

The city of 120,000 people 11 miles north of Gaza has been a frequent target.

Israel's rescue service said it had responded to 250 rocket attack scenes since Saturday and treated 48 wounded, most of whom had light injuries.

School was canceled in much of Israel's south because of the rocket threat. The 18,000 students at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba, southern Israel's only university, were also told to stay home.

Beersheba, 19 miles from Gaza, had never before been within range of Gaza rockets, reflecting the increasing sophistication of what started out as homemade weaponry.

Now militants are firing weapons made in China and Iran that have dramatically expanded their range and put more than one-tenth of Israel's population in their sights, defense officials said.

In Gaza, two Palestinian medics were killed and two others were wounded when an Israeli missile hit next to their ambulance east of Gaza City, Palestinians said. The Israeli military said it did not know of the incident.

Gaza's tunnel economy collapses in bombing raids

2008-12-31T20:18:00.000-08:00

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – The Gaza Strip has lost its last lifeline after five days of Israeli bombing raids that destroyed dozens of smuggling tunnels under the sandy border with Egypt.

The passages did not just supply Hamas with arms, but brought in flour, fuel and baby milk. For Gazans, already used to blackouts and shortages from an 18-month border blockade, the daily hunt for basics is ever more desperate — though there are no reports of outright hunger.

"I fed the children cooked tomatoes today, I can't find bread," Nima Burdeini, a mother of 11, said Wednesday at the Rafah refugee camp on the Gaza-Egypt border.

Israeli warplanes pounded the illicit tunnels as a part of the heavy bombardment of Hamas targets in Gaza that began Saturday. The hundreds of tunnels were seen as key to keeping Hamas in power.

After the Islamic militants seized Gaza by force in June 2007, Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the territory, allowing in only basic goods and humanitarian supplies.

Most of Gaza's 3,900 factories have closed, unable to import raw materials or export products. Construction halted and thousands of people were thrown out of work, deepening poverty in an area where most of the 1.4 million residents rely on U.N. food aid to get by.

At times, Israel tightened the closure, restricting the inflow of fuel, cash and other key supplies. The blockade caused frequent power outages and interruptions in the water supply.

In the two months leading up to Israel's offensive, Israel kept Gaza tightly sealed in an attempt to force Gaza militants to stop firing rockets at southern Israeli towns.

The tunnels became a lifesaver for Hamas — and for Gaza. Some were used to sneak in arms, including rockets that militants are now firing into Israel. But most of the underground passages were used to haul in consumer goods, from motor bikes to goats, refrigerators, flour and chocolates.

The tunnel area that residents once jokingly referred to as Gaza's "duty-free zone" is now a wasteland of smashed concrete and deep craters, churned up by Israeli bombs.

Late Wednesday, the tunnel area was struck by 19 times within a half hour, residents said. A Gaza health official, Moawiya Hassanain, said two people were killed and 42 wounded, including at least four children.

Before that report, Israeli air force officials said the bombing campaign had demolished more than 80 tunnels. Egyptian officials said the number was at least 120.

Residents say there are several hundred tunnels under the 9-mile border. Owners said they believe many tunnels are badly damaged, but tunnel workers fear going near the area to check because of the attacks.

The tunnels are not visible from the air, but their locations are well known — brazen owners put up colorful tents over tunnel entrances.

Economist Omar Shaban estimated some two-thirds of goods sold in Gaza came through the tunnels. From diggers, drivers and haulers, the passages employed around 12,000 Gazans, Shaban said.

"It was Gaza's new economy, even if it was just importing commercial goods," Shaban said.

Tunnel owner Abu Sufian said he and his colleagues lost millions of dollars in merchandise that they had paid for, but that cannot be delivered now from the Egyptian side.

Shaban said destroying the tunnels would bruise, but not bloody Hamas' Gaza rule. The militant group also funds itself through local taxes and a network of businesses controlled by loyalists, he said.

But demolishing the tunnels has deepened civilian suffering.

Throughout Gaza, Israel's bombings have brought Gaza's dwindling economic activity to a halt. For fear of getting caught in an airstrike, wholesalers aren't distributing their goods and many shopkeepers stay home.

Shelves are emptying at grocery stores. In most areas, the few shops open are those whose owners live nearby. People don't venture beyond their own streets, leaving them hostage to shortages and rising prices. Flour for baking is in short supply, and there is little cash to buy goods because banks are closed.

Burdeni, 45, the mother of 11, relies on U.N. aid to feed her children, but officials halted food distribution Dec. 18, citing shortages caused by the border closure.

"People are doing pretty badly. Everyone we know is sharing whatever they have, not just with their families but with their neighbors," said Karen Abu Zayd, commissioner of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency, which helps needy Palestinians.

"We haven't seen widespread hunger. We do see for the very first time — I've been here for eight years and seeing new things nowadays — people going through the rubbish dumps looking for things, people begging, which is quite a new phenomenon as well," she said by video link to reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York.

Chris Gunness, a U.N. spokesman, said aid distribution should resume Thursday as Israel allows humanitarian aid into Gaza. The United Nations issued a new emergency appeal Wednesday for $34 million to deal with the new crisis.

Burdeni's brother gives her small amounts of cash, but the search for food is becoming tougher. Burdeni found tomatoes Wednesday, cooking them when electricity flickered on in her area. "My children ate it with spoons," she said bitterly.

In Gaza City, Hiba Dahshan, 22, said the price for a 110-pound bag of flour had jumped from $30 to $100. Her family can't afford it, but the local shop still has cheese and canned meat — their menu the past three days. She can't find vegetables on her street.

Despite the shortages, some people said they are eating more than usual — because they're pinned down at home and gripped with anxiety from the sounds of bombs exploding around them. "I'm eating like a savage," Dahshan said.

Bader Tulbeh, 46, described his eight children as "locusts" with newly enlarged appetites. "They are an army," Tulbeh said while purchasing vegetables from a vendor in central Gaza City.

Maher Lubad, 45, a salaried worker in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya, bought lentils on credit from his cousin's grocery shop because he couldn't withdraw any money from the bank.

Meanwhile, tunnel owners watch and wait.

"Even as they bomb us, we are thinking of how to make new tunnels. Maybe we'll try go under the sea," said tunnel owner Abu Sufian.

Dozens die in nightclub fire in Bangkok

2008-12-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

BANGKOK, Thailand – A fire swept through a high-class nightclub jammed with several hundred New Year's revelers early Thursday, killing at least 59 people and injuring more than 200, officials said.

A number of foreigners were among the casualties from the blaze that erupted shortly after midnight at the Santika Club in an entertainment district of Bangkok.

Victims died from burns, smoke inhalation and injuries during the stampede to escape from the club, which had only one door for the public, police Maj. Gen. Chokchai Deeprasertwit said. Firefighters said a door at the rear was known only to the staff, while an Associated Press reporter saw a third door at one side of the building.

Video footage of the disaster showed bloodied, bruised and burned victims being dragged out of the burning, two-story club or managing to run through the door or shattered windows. The video — provided to AP Television News by rescue workers — showed flames racing through the entire building even as the rescue operation was going on.

The Narenthorn Emergency Center, which was coordinating relief efforts, said 59 people died, with eight of the bodies burned beyond recognition, and another 203 were injured.

Police Gen. Jongrak Jutanont said that among the injured were nationals of Australia, Nepal, Japan and the Netherlands.

An Associated Press photographer saw the bodies of at least 10 foreigners from the fire at the police morgue but authorities did not provide immediate identification.

Chokchai said that the fire may have been caused by firecrackers brought into the Santika Club by guests or sparks flying from a New Year's countdown display on the nightclub stage.

The Web site of The Nation newspaper quoted one partygoer, Somchai Frendi, as saying the blaze was caused by the countdown fireworks that ignited the second floor ceiling, which was made largely of soundproofing material.

Jongrak said the initial investigation found that the club's safety system was "sub-standard" but did not elaborate.

The club was packed with about 1,000 celebrants, according to police officers who declined to be named because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

The rescue workers said most of the bodies were found in a pit area surrounding the stage. The club attracts a well-heeled crowd of Thais and foreigners. The corpses, placed in white body bags, were laid out in rows in the parking lot in front of the club, which was strewn with shoes of the victims, water bottles, parking stickers and other debris.

The emergency workers said the rescue operation was delayed because of heavy New Year's traffic in the Ekamai entertainment district and the large number of cars parked at the club.

Firefighter Watcharapong Sri-saard said that in addition to a lack of exits, a number of staircases inside the club as well as bars across the second-floor windows made escape difficult.

An AP reporter who peered inside the still burning building said everything in sight had been burned.

"Bodies, some of them probably alive, were falling off the stretchers as the rescue workers rushed them away. The flames were glowing through the broken glass windows. A part of the building had already collapsed," said Andrew Jones of England, who arrived at the scene shortly after the fire erupted.

One local Web site about the entertainment scene in Bangkok described the club as attracting "an affluent Thai student crowd, with Euro models and Westerners also popping in" with a "whisky-sipping crowd all focused on a large stage."

Another site says that the high ceiling and a cross in the main room makes one feel "like walking into a church."

Just after dawn, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited the still-smoldering club but did not talk to reporters.

Safety regulations are infrequently monitored and often loosely enforced in Bangkok. Thailand, for example, passed a law in 1994 requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets, but bareheaded riders with policemen blithely looking on are a common sight on Bangkok's streets today.

5 Killed in Karachi City Court Blast

2008-12-31T20:15:00.001-08:00

KARACHI: A bomb blast rocked the premises of the city court in Karachi on Wednesday, wounding five persons.

The blast was caused by explosive material, SSP Saddar Amir Shaikh said.

The wounded persons were transferred to the civil hospital. The bomb disposal experts reached to the spot to investigate into the incident.

Police and Rangers personnel have cordoned off the area after the incident.

candy overload

2008-12-31T20:13:00.001-08:00

The phrase "too much of a good thing" always comes to mind a few days after Halloween. Maybe the neighbors were extra generous when your kids went trick-or-treating. Maybe you went a little crazy in the candy aisle during the post-Halloween sales. (Who can resist with all those "50% OFF!" signs urging you to stock up?) No matter what the reason is, chances are you've got some candy on your hands that you're trying not to devour in one sitting.

There are lots of things to do with those extra bags of candy that don't involve tossing them into the freezer and then forgetting about them until they're freezer-burned and inedible. Consider these:

Make a sweet donation. No, it's not the healthiest thing you can give, but a little candy is certain to brighten someone's day. You can often take leftover wrapped candy to your local Meals on Wheels, and they'll divvy up the treats among the recipients on their routes. Also, check into groups that are sending care packages to our troops overseas. Operation Gratitude is one of many that is accepting candy donations.
Get baking. You can find a slew of recipe sites and blogs — and even a dedicated cookbook — to turn your sweets into baked goods that you can share with friends and neighbors. Think of it as a sneaky way of regifting them some of the candy they sent your way.
Get crafty. Alpha Mom created a fantastic, über-crafty Advent calendar with her Halloween leftovers. It's a perfect way to ration the goodness all the way until Christmas.
Decorate your house. Gingerbread house, that is. If your family is anything like mine, you decorate gingerbread houses but never eat them. There couldn't be a better time to break out the six-week-old candy.

how to make an ice bowl

2008-12-31T20:10:00.000-08:00

My favorite appetizer trick is to thaw a bag of frozen shrimp and serve it with cocktail sauce. Let’s face it, whether it’s a small party or a holiday bash, you’ve got a lot to stress about: cleaning the house, picking out music, making sure the martinis are ready to roll when guests arrive. The last thing you need is to assemble a hundred bite-size morsels.

But presentation is key when trying to spruce up a blah bag of shrimp, and the holidays call for extra special treatment. This ice bowl rocks the house as far as I’m concerned.

It’s fabulous at parties because it’s so adaptable, easy to make, and did I mention free? Fill it up with shrimp or crudités, and it will keep everything fresh and cool the whole night. Well, not quite the whole night; it does melt. But you have at least an hour and a half before the plate underneath floods.

What you'll need:

Water
2 metal bowls
Beans or pie weights
1 large plate
1-pound bag frozen shrimp (or crudités)
Cocktail sauce (or your favorite crudités dipping sauce)

How to make one:

Fill a large metal bowl half way with water and place a smaller metal bowl in the water. (I used an 8-inch-diameter bowl and a 6-inch-diameter bowl.) Place beans or pie weights inside the smaller bowl, make sure the smaller bowl is centered. Freeze overnight. Defrost at room temperature for about 10 minutes, until bowls are loose enough to remove. Place ice bowl on a plate and fill with shrimp (or crudités). Serve sauce alongside.

a perfect mash

2008-12-31T20:08:00.001-08:00

If turkey is Thanksgiving's star, then in my world, the mashed potatoes win the best supporting role. Creamy, buttery and smooth, no Thanksgiving table is complete without them. But as simple as they are to make, there are so many chances for error. That is, until I was introduced to the strange-looking, didn't-even-know-I-needed-it potato ricer.

The beauty of the potato ricer is that it not only makes silky, non-gluey mashed potatoes, but it saves you time and energy on an already-hectic day — you don't even need to peel the potatoes before boiling them! Here's what you do:

Depending on the size of your potatoes, cut them into halves or quarters. Just make sure the chunks fit easily into the basin of your ricer.
Boil the potatoes until they're fork tender, then drain.
Put one potato chunk into the basin of your ricer and squeeze the handles together, letting the potato puree fall into a bowl below. The potato skin stays right in the basin, ready to be tossed.
Repeat with the rest of your potatoes.
Add your usual accoutrements, then fluff with a fork and serve.
Bask in compliments, and, if you're feeling generous, pass on the gospel of the potato ricer.

Still not sold? Well, a potato ricer isn't just for mashed potatoes. You can use it for making gnocchi, applesauce, baby food — many jobs that used to be reserved for a food processor or mill. Trust us, your gadget drawer needs one of these.

Enable surfers to apply to Blogger private blog for permission to view

2008-12-31T20:02:00.000-08:00

Many bloggers wants surfers to be able to apply for permission to view private blogs. Previously this was possible by typing a message (for example email address) into the private blog title. Blogger changed that. Private blogs no longer display blog titles, only the URL of the private blog. Now the only way to get a message to surfers on how to apply for permission to view private blogs is to add that message into the blog URL. Look at the screen shot below for example:

In the example above, the blog title is myemailatgmaildotcom@blogspot.com

An alert surfers should be able to guess that he or she need to write to myemail@gmail.com to request permission to view blog. As for the blog title, you can set it to whatever you may wish. It is not the ideal solution, but the only available option at the moment unless Blogger changes how private blogs are displayed again.

Car market preview: Models to be launched in Romania in 2009

2008-12-31T19:55:00.000-08:00

Although the car producers aren't very optimistic about the sales in 2009, when the crisis will lead to a production decrease, the launching of new models will not be affected. The Romanian market will see a series of new and interesting models next year, from the smallest Alfa Romeo and the supermini Toyota, to the new Renault, VW and Ford generations. Local producer Dacia will start working on its first SUV, scheduled to be launched in 2010.

In brief:

The Autoitalia importer will launch at the beginning of 2009 the compact Alfa Romeo MiTo, with three engine versions, ranging from 78 to 155 HP.

-Audi prepares to launch the A4 Allroad and the A5 cabrio, along with A5 Sportback and the face lifted Q7 SUV.

-The main news from BMW is the new Z4 sports car. Chevrolet prepares to introduce Cruze, the replacing model for Lacetti.

-Citroen prepared an interesting offer with its C3 Picasso mono-volume, coproduced in Slovakia.

-For those with the finances untouched by the crisis, Ferrari will offer its California model, for 180,000 Euros.

-Ford prepares to launch its Ka supermini and the new Fiesta. Korean Hyundai also prepares to replace the Getz model with i20, while its fellow Kia will introduce the Soul crossover.

-Nissan will attempt to restart sales with a larger Qashqai, while Peugeot will offer a convertible 308 and the 3008 SUV.

-Porsche has high expectations from its Panamera sedan, a competition for CLS63 AMG and Maserati Quattroporte.

-The spring at Renault brings the new Megane hatchback and the Laguna coupe.

-Seat will launch an expected model - the medium class Exeo, while Toyota prepared the iQ supermini and the Urban Cruiser city SUV. Volkswagen will launch its new Polo generation and the Golf Plus model.

Dignitaries to use mass transit vehicles and give up business class flights

2008-12-31T19:53:00.000-08:00

Retired persons who got state jobs after their retirement will have to choose between pensions and salary, the expenses for new cars and new furniture were cut 50% and the top offices will represent a maximum of 12% of all public offices, said Prime Minister Emil Boc, after the Government's session. "The keyword is now responsibility, in order to ensure the country's stability", said Boc, adding that the budget income preliminary data indicate some rather poor results.

The data make impossible for the Government to pay several obligations it has assumed, said Boc, mentioning also that the size of pensions and the teachers' wages will be decided upon soon, depending on the existing resources.

In order to limit the spending, the Government also decided that:
- Except for ministers, dignitaries will no longer use business class, but only the economy class when flying;
- Dignitaries will use, during their foreign visits, mass transit vehicles instead of taxis;
- Pensioners will have to return their compensation salaries - if they had any - in case they got a state job following their retirement.

"I know that such measures will make people smile, but the message is clear: we have to save as much money as we can. It is a clear sign that dignitaries will be the first to tighten their belts", said Boc.

Add RSS/Email Subsciption in Blogger

2008-11-25T05:37:00.000-08:00

Providing RSS/Email subscription in Blogger blog is the easiest way to keep in touch with the users . Users are alerted by email when the blog contents are updated . As far i have seen , Feedburner and Feedblitz are the major players in RSS/Email subscription services . Here in this example , i am using Feedburner.com .

Go Feedburner.com and sign up with your Google account . At this point , you can choose a suitable name for your feed . After successful registration , they will be taking you to the Myfeeds section . Click on your feed for moving on to the dashboard . Select publicize menu from the five available tabs . Now you are about to enable email subscription in Blogger . So select email subscription and click on activate this service.

On the other side , open your Blogger dashboard and go to the layout section. Choose a location for your Email form to appear . Click on add a Page element /Gadget (For new blogger) and select JavaScript . Copy the and paste the Email form code from feedburner onto it and save the widget . Edit JavaScript code to change the height,width,border color ,text ,scroll and other parameters . After building a good sum of subscribers , you can choose to display your feed count , same from the publicize menu in Feedburner .

Change Windows Start Button Tex and Icon

2008-11-25T05:35:00.000-08:00

Here i will show you a trick to change the Windows XP Start button and Icon,

Change the Start text

step is to download Resource Hacker. It is a simple and easy to use application to edit 32 bit widows executable files . It can edit dll files ,exe files ,ocx and view their resources .

Now you have to search for explorer.exe in your h:\Windows directory. Take a copy of the file in the same directory and rename it to explorer.bak.

Open explorer.exe in the resource hacker . From the String Table , select 37 >1033.

Now i changed the start button to techknowl.com . Click on compile script to make the changes.

Alexa Traffic Widget

2008-11-25T05:28:00.001-08:00

I have noticed sudden changes in Alexa rankings for techknowl.com . From the last 2-3 days , i was getting daily values as shown below . As per Alexa , daily traffic values are available for only sites having ranks < class="fullpost">
Above all , i admit that the Alexa rank cannot be trusted as an effective measurement of site traffic , but its still a encouragement for me to see the graph up with the progress in my work .

Alex rank is an approximate traffic estimate of website depending upon the values collected from users of Alexa toolbar .This data is used by advertisers and webmasters while calculating the value of a site . If you are using a blogger custom domain , you can submit your site's description and contact information to Alexa web search here .

You can build Alexa traffic widgets for Blogger, Wordpress and other websites here . These widgets will show your current Alexa traffic rank , links , and graph etc. depending on your preferences .Placing Alexa widget in your blog improves the blog traffic rankings to an extend . To insert this widget ,open your Blogger template's layout section> select to add a gadget on appropriate location > JavaScript or HTML and paste your code there .

Error code bX - 4d29hg - what to do

2008-11-25T05:20:00.000-08:00

I had earlier wrote about Error code bX-jdokxi - what to do. I got another error message when I tried to change the template of Isaac Low's blog. The error code was bX4d29hg. I did the same thing as for Error code bX-jdokxi. I backed up Gadgets (Page Elements). (I didn't backup template because the blog was relatively new, but it is always a good idea to backup template whenever you are making changes to the template. I then deleted the all the gadgets. After deleting all the gadgets I had no problem changing to the 4 column Minima template.

Hide Navbar

2008-11-25T05:15:00.000-08:00

Blogger has started advertisement above the navbar (the usually blue navigation bar at the very top of a blog) on a random basis (now you see it, now you don't) and this has taken valuable space. See screen shot below:

Since that is taking valuable real estate plus the fact the the Blogger TOS (Terms of Service) did not specify that one must have it for the blog, I have decided to hide the navbar.

There are various ways to do that, not all of them effective. I have found that the hack by Aditya to be effective.

Aditya's hack is simple. Here is my interpretation of his hack: Go to LAYOUT > EDIT HTML to open the template editor. Look for and paste the following after that:

/* By Aditya http://the-lastword.blogspot.com/
----------------------------------------------- */
div.navbar {
opacity:0.0;
display:none;
}

Gadget Blogroll

2008-11-25T05:12:00.000-08:00

It is good practice to backup template and backup gadgets. However, not all Blogger gadgets (formerly called Page Elements) can be backed up. The Blogger Link List (blogroll) cannot be backed up. If your blogroll is very long, you may want to put the blogroll in a scroll box. The Blogger Link List (blogroll) also cannot be contained in a scroll box.

My preference for a blogroll had always been to use a HTML/Javascript gadget and hyperlinks instead. I shall detail below the HTML for such a purpose below:

title of blog no. 1

title of blog no. 2

title of blog no. 3

title of blog no. 4

and so on.

There is one more thing you can do with this method that you cannot (not really cannot, but you will have to tamper with the template) with Blogger Link List - make the links open in new tabs or windows. When you use the HTML/Javascript gadget to make your Link List, all you have to do is to add target="_blank" or target="new" as shown below

title of blog no. 1

title of blog no. 2

title of blog no. 3

title of blog no. 4

Plus you can save such a blogroll by copying them into a Notepad file and saving them for future uses.

SEO Tips : Upload Image Whenever You Can

2008-11-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

Small SEO tip - upload an image or images to your blog post whenever you can. Why? I have visitor counters in practically all my blogs and occasionally check them to find out where my visitors are coming from. It is not infrequent that I find hits from image searches. For example, look at a portion of today's hits to Natural Remedies. Of the first 4 hits, 2 (50%) are from image searches.

I am not suggesting that you will get lots of hits from image searches, but I am pretty sure you will get at least some. In fact, in some of my very low traffic blogs, more than 50% of the hits were from image searches. However, to balance things out, this is the highest traffic blog that I have, but I don't get anything even near to 50% of the hits from image searches. I do get at least some from image searches, and for that, I am very grateful.

So if you want hits from search engines, do upload or include () images whenever possible. Do remember also to complete the alt="" attribute as search engines cannot read images but they do read the text you put in between the quotation marks "" of the alt="" tag.

However, just so that you do not get too high an expectation, how many hits from image searches will depend on the type of blog you have and its Page Rank.

Arsenal's youth policy

2008-11-09T22:11:00.000-08:00

Arsenal have launched their "Be a Gooner, Be a Giver" campaign in support of the Teenage Cancer Trust.

By Stewart Coggin

The Gunners are renowned for bringing young talent through the ranks, often propelling them to stardom and a long, successful career in the game. So it is perhaps apt that their chosen charity for the 2008/09 season is The Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT).

Through the 'Be A Gooner. Be A Giver.' campaign, the north London giants will aim to raise £300,000 to increase its support for teenagers and young adults with cancer in London and the South East by building a unit within a brand new Day Care Centre at University College Hospital, London.

The omens are good for TCT as last season the club handed over £500,000 to its nominated charity TreeHouse, more than doubling the target of £250,000. The money raised funded new sports facilities within the charity's new national centre for autism education.

Each day in the UK up to six teenagers or young adults [between the ages of 13 and 24] are diagnosed with cancer. That is over 2000 cases a year. Many find themselves receiving treatment without the support network they need. Until 16, a patient is likely to be treated in a paediatric ward alongside toddlers. If the diagnosis is made after that age, they are likely to end up in an adult ward, in many cases alongside elderly people. The benefits of young people being able to receive treatment alongside those their own age cannot be overstated.

"I think this place is great," says Harry Jeffrey, an 18-year-old Osteosarcoma sufferer. "It's nice having people you can relate to of your own age. You meet people you wouldn't necessarily meet in everyday life. I think it's great that Arsenal are going to donate money."

Harry is sitting in the common room, which among other amusements contains a wide screen television and pool table. And of course his friends. These combined factors help to make treatment days more bearable for all the patients in the TCT unit.

Huge smile

Fundraising initiatives by players, staff and supporters will fund an Education Zone in the TCT's unit in the Centre which is due to open in 2012. It will be the first of its kind in Europe, with building set to commence in 2010. Here young people will be able to maintain their studies and also learn more about their cancer. The zone will include computers and laptops with wireless access, enabling them to contact their school, and keep in touch with their friends.

The partnership was officially launched on Thursday 20th August, with Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Manuel Almunia and Arsenal Ladies and England captain, Faye White given a tour of the TCT's existing unit by Roger Daltrey CBE, lead singer of The Who, Patron of Teenage Cancer Trust and huge Arsenal fan.

"It makes you feel fortunate for what you have," said Fabregas. "Sometimes at our age we think we know everything and we don't know anything. That's the truth."

Wenger was also touched by what he saw in the ward. The Frenchman even came face-to-face with a former academy player. Bone-cancer sufferer Jack Chester, 17, spent three years in the club's academy as a goalkeeper.

Several of the children who met Wenger, Fabregas and Almunia are Arsenal fans. A few weeks ago some of them were fortunate enough to visit the Emirates Stadium and meet some of the other players, as Harry recalls: "Some of my friends got to meet the players and got their autographs. They actually got to go in a box."

Harry beams with enthusiasm as he tells of his friends' experience in the 60,000 Emirates. Another patient walking around with a huge smile on her face is Gemma Ozdemir. The 16-year-old is clutching a local newspaper with a picture of her and the club's star summer signing Samir Nasri on the pitch. "It felt like I was dreaming," she says, with a look of utter contentment.

Like her friend Harry, Gemma is impressed by her surroundings and believes having people of a similar age around her is priceless in her battle against cancer. "All the teenagers are really funny," she enthuses. "The staff are really great. It's very big, new and modern. We've even got big screen TVs."

Key element

The Emirates Stadium is visible from the 12th floor of the University College Hospital where the children can see far into the distance at the city around them.

Harry points out that its central location is a key element while also stressing that the unit is invaluable to parents who can talk to other parents of children suffering with cancer.

Director of Communications Lucy Jackson is positive about the possibilities that Arsenal will open up for the TCT.

"We're really excited to be working with Arsenal," she says. "It's a great privilege and a great way to raise funds and awareness of the charity. It's amazing to be building a daycare centre that will improve the lives of others."

Arsenal's input is all the more significant when one considers that in the last 30 years the incidence of cancer in the teenage and young adult group has increased by 50 per cent and for the first time ever, the number of teens with cancer now exceeds the number of children with cancer. Teenagers also contract some of the most aggressive cancers that are made worse by their growth spurts.

But Daltrey points to anecdotal evidence of teenagers' conditions improving because of the support network provided by their peers.

"There have been cases of 15 per cent improvement on applications of the very same drug, just because these units are filled with other teens," he stresses. "When you're a teen, the last thing you want is isolation. The camaraderie TCT provides is where the change begins, and I've seen this charity change lives forever."

One in a million

2008-11-09T22:08:00.000-08:00

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation has reached the £1m mark in money raised for the detection and treatment of cancer.

The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation was set up earlier this year by the former Newcastle United manager, after he was diagnosed with cancer for the fifth time in 15 years, writes Claire Harmer.

While he suffers from the side-effects of his own treatment, Sir Bobby is fighting cancer not just on a personal level, but on a regional one too.

The 75 year-old initially hoped the foundation, supported by Barclays Premier League clubs, would raise £500,000 to set up the Sir Bobby Robson Cancer Trials Research Centre at the new Northern Centre for Cancer Care.

That target has now been more than doubled, just eight months after the charity's launch in March. The money raised will fund dedicated research facilities, including a 12-bed unit with treatment rooms, a state-of-the-art laboratory and consulting facilities at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and the centre will start treating patients from across the North-East from January 2009.

The £1m milestone was reached during the "Night of All Knights" event in County Durham, which was attended by football's honoured trio Sir Bobby Charlton, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the man himself, Sir Bobby Robson.

Early estimates show a staggering £185,000 was raised on the night, through ticket sales, sponsorship, auction and prize draw, which took the charity's total past £1m.

Extremely generous

In addition to a live performance from Simply Red lead singer Mick Hucknall, the evening also included the three footballing knights in conversation with Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys.

Speaking just before the event, Sir Bobby said: "To have a team of people like Sir Alex, Sir Bobby [Charlton] and Mick Hucknall joining us here on my home turf is just incredible.

"I know what a busy work schedule Sir Alex has, and that Mick has flown in especially for this event, which shows wonderful commitment to our charity. I'm extremely grateful for their support.

"They tell me the 1,000 tickets for this night sold out in a matter of days but that doesn't surprise me. The people of this region are extremely generous and they also enjoy a good night out!

"I'm thoroughly looking forward to an evening of letting my hair down - although thanks to recent radiotherapy treatment I don't have much hair to let down any more!

Beat cancer

"The treatment has knocked me for 12, not six, but every day is a new day and the support of my good friends, family and all the very many well-wishers and supporters of my charity keeps me positive.

An event in aid of the charity will be held at the Radisson SAS Hotel, Durham on New Year's Eve, giving guests the opportunity to see in the New Year with Sir Bobby himself. The 'Crystal Ball' hopes to raise even more money, with tickets priced at £85 each. Sir Bobby will be donating a limited edition, signed print to help raise funds for his charity on the night, and the star auction prize is a Brazil shirt signed by football legend Pele.

Sir Bobby said: "I'm grateful to the Radisson Hotel and sincerely wish all the guests attending the Crystal Ball a wonderful evening. I have no doubt it will go with a swing as people in this region are extremely good at enjoying themselves!

"We rely completely on people's generosity and events like this go some way towards raising the money we need to help the experts detect, treat and ultimately, beat cancer."

For more information, or to purchase a ticket please contact Gillian Rae on 0191 3780162

To make a donation to the charity, view messages of support, or for more information on The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, please visit www.sirbobbyrobsonfoundation.co.uk or donate by sending a cheque to:

Sir Bobby Robson Foundation,
PO Box 307,
Heaton
NE7 7QG

All donors will receive a personalised certificate and a letter of thanks from Sir Bobby.

Wenger praises spectacle

2008-11-09T21:59:00.000-08:00

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side took part in a 'fantastic football game' against Manchester United.

The Gunners triumphed 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday thanks to a goal in each half from Samir Nasri. Young Brazilian full-back Rafael reduced the arrears with a superb late strike but Arsenal held on to move two points above United in the Barclays Premier League table.

"I feel it was a very important result because I imagine what would have happened if we had lost," said Wenger. "Mathematically it was very important for us to stay close to the top and to show what kind of determination, spirit and mental attitude we have. We went out there thinking that we will win no matter what happens. No matter what happens on the pitch we will keep going and that is what we did.

"We won against, for me, a great Man United side and the difference was maybe we took our chances early on and they didn't. After we scored the second we did hang on but tried to score the third goal on the counter attack. We wouldn't do that and that is why the game remained very tight until the end."

Never questioned

Wenger was asked if he ever doubted his players' spirit after recent set-backs against Tottenham Hotspur and Stoke City and stressed that he is 100 per cent behind his charges.

"I didn't doubt the spirit of my players," he continued. "I acknowledged that we made some mistakes, especially against Tottenham, but I never questioned the spirit, quality or ability to play for the championship.

"There is only one thing in our job and that is to go on the pitch and show how much you want it, show quality on the pitch - and spirit - and that is what we did. I believe above all today it was a fantastic football game because both teams played with the right spirit."

Wenger also had words of praise for Nasri. The young Frenchman produced a fine display on the left-hand side and continues to draw comparisons with fellow countryman Robert Pires who was a fans' favourite in his time with the Gunners.

"When Nasri is in front of goal he can finish with his right foot or left foot," added Wenger. "He has a lot of pace and power and I encourage him to go in the final third. He was a more typical playmaker in France who gave the ball and took it back. I believe that with his pace he can penetrate in the final third and he will score plenty of goals. That is what he did today because he is a tremendous finisher."

Playground stuff

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson felt that the two sides had produced the most entertaining match of the season. However, he was left to rue missed opportunities, with the likes of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo guilty of passing up clear-cut chances.

"The chances we had in the game were incredible," he said. "It was the area in which we let ourselves down. I think if we'd got one when Ronaldo got his great chance, then we'd have got something out of the game.

"It was fantasy football, it was like playground stuff - you attack, we attack - and they got the goals that mattered. In fairness to my own team, after the second goal their determination and drive to try and rescue the game was fantastic, and we probably deserved something from the game, I think.

"Some of the football out there today from both teams was magnificent. I don't think you'll see a game as good as that anywhere else in the country.

"Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and say 'if you're going to get beaten, just make sure it's someone who's going to play football', and Arsenal played good football at times. Not as dangerous as us in attacking play, but they got the goals that mattered."

Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming

2008-11-05T19:43:00.000-08:00

Global Warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don't need to wait for governments to find a solution for this problem: each individual can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It's the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too late.

Here is a list of 50 simple things that everyone can do in order to fight against and reduce the Global Warming phenomenon: some of these ideas are at no cost, some other require a little effort or investment but can help you save a lot of money, in the middle-long term!

1.

Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
We recommend you purchase your CFL bulbs at 1000bulbs.com, they have great deals on both screw-in and plug-in light bulbs.
2.

Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.
3.

Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.
4.

Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.
5.

Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most energy efficient products available.
6.

Do not leave appliances on standby
Use the "on/off" function on the machine itself. A TV set that's switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode.
7.

Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by setting the thermostat no higher than 50°C.
8.

Move your fridge and freezer
Placing them next to the cooker or boiler consumes much more energy than if they were standing on their own. For example, if you put them in a hot cellar room where the room temperature is 30-35ºC, energy use is almost double and causes an extra 160kg of CO2 emissions for fridges per year and 320kg for freezers.
9.

Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly
Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors.
10.

Don't let heat escape from your house over a long period
When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissions.
11.

Replace your old single-glazed windows with double-glazing
This requires a bit of upfront investment, but will halve the energy lost through windows and pay off in the long term. If you go for the best the market has to offer (wooden-framed double-glazed units with low-emission glass and filled with argon gas), you can even save more than 70% of the energy lost.
12.

Get a home energy audit
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist.
13.

Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!
14.

Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full
If you need to use it when it is half full, then use the half-load or economy setting. There is also no need to set the temperatures high. Nowadays detergents are so efficient that they get your clothes and dishes clean at low temperatures.
15.

Take a shower instead of a bath
A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximize the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow showerheads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort.
16.

Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year) instead of hot.
17.

Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.
18.

Insulate and weatherize your home
Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Caulking and weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds per year. Energy Efficient has more information on how to better insulate your home.
19.

Be sure you’re recycling at home
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates.
20.

Recycle your organic waste
Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane is released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul.
21.

Buy intelligently
One bottle of 1.5l requires less energy and produces less waste than three bottles of 0.5l. As well, buy recycled paper products: it takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.
22.

Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can
You will also cut down on waste production and energy use... another help against global warming.
23.

Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.
24.

Reduce waste
Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes.
25.

Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.
26.

Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. In some of these, you can even get refunds by government if you choose to switch to a clean energy producer, and you can also earn money by selling the energy you produce and don't use for yourself.
27.

Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.
28.

Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.
29.

Seek out and support local farmers markets
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. Seek farmer’s markets in your area, and go for them.
30.

Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!
31.

Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.
32.

Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Look for transit options in your area.
33.

Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.com runs a free service connecting north american commuters and travelers.
34.

Don't leave an empty roof rack on your car
This can increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10% due to wind resistance and the extra weight - removing it is a better idea.
35.

Keep your car tuned up
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.
36.

Drive carefully and do not waste fuel
You can reduce CO2 emissions by readjusting your driving style. Choose proper gears, do not abuse the gas pedal, use the engine brake instead of the pedal brake when possible and turn off your engine when your vehicle is motionless for more than one minute. By readjusting your driving style you can save money on both fuel and car mantainance.
37.

Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated
Proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!
38.

When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid! You can find information on fuel efficiency on FuelEconomy and on GreenCars websites.
39.

Try car sharing
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. Many companies – such as Flexcar - offer low emission or hybrid cars too! Also, see ZipCar.
40.

Try telecommuting from home
Telecommuting can help you drastically reduce the number of miles you drive every week. For more information, check out the Telework Coalition.
41.

Fly less
Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also offset your air travel carbon emissions by investingin renewable energy projects.
42.

Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions
You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging other to take action.
43.

Join the virtual march
The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-political effort to bring people concerned about global warming together in one place. Add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of other people urging action on this issue.
44.

Encourage the switch to renewable energy
Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are regulatory barriers impeding them. U.S. citizens, take action to break down those barriers with Vote Solar.
45.

Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critical role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on saving forests from global warming.
46.

Consider the impact of your investments
If you invest your money, you should consider the impact that your investments and savings will have on global warming. Check out SocialInvest and Ceres to can learn more about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change.
47.

Make your city cool
Cities and states around the country have taken action to stop global warming by passing innovative transportation and energy saving legislation. If you're in the U.S., join the cool cities list.
48.

Tell Congress to act
The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act would set a firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and then use free market incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and spur innovation. Tell your representative to support it.
49.

Make sure your voice is heard!
Americans must have a stronger commitment from their government in order to stop global warming and implement solutions and such a commitment won’t come without a dramatic increase in citizen lobbying for new laws with teeth. Get the facts about U.S. politicians and candidates at Project Vote Smart and The League of Conservation Voters. Make sure your voice is heard by voting!
50.

Share this list!
Send this page via e-mail to your friends! Spread this list worldwide and help people doing their part: the more people you will manage to enlighten, the greater YOUR help to save the planet will be (but please take action on first person too)!

Deadly Derbs lives up to his name

2008-11-05T19:33:00.000-08:00

Blackburn Rovers' Matt Derbyshire lived up to his 'deadly finisher' tag when he took part in a forensic investigation.

Year 11 pupils from Blakewater College in Blackburn correctly identified Matt as the guilty party after they had been presented with a murder scene in the Rovers' changing room at Ewood Park.

The England Under-21 international, who was then 'arrested' for his role in the death of the Rovers' kit man, made the special guest appearance as part of the club's ongoing involvement in this season's Creating Chances campaign.

Matt said: "The kit man's been winding me up all season, not letting me take home many shirts, so he deserved it!

crime scene

"When I was at school, I didn't really like being stuck in the classroom, so it's great for these kids to come down to Ewood Park and have a good time. I wish I had more opportunities to experience things like this.

"I was working with the club's community department before I joined Rovers and I got a lot of joy out of it, so it's great to get involved in initiatives like this."

The event, which formed part of the students' GCSE Science syllabus, was organised by Blackburn Rovers Community Trust on behalf of the Premier League.

Programme tutor Victoria Waddington said: "We came up with the scenario that the kit man had been killed after he discovered that a player was in talks with another club.

"The students were then taken to the crime scene - the changing room - where they collected evidence, analysed it and then had to choose one of four suspects.

"They had no idea that Matt was coming down, so it was a great way to end a hugely successful session."

Man City captain to show his green fingers

2008-11-05T19:27:00.001-08:00

Richard Dunne visited a Wythenshawe primary school to help Manchester City give away 800 trees.

As part of their commitment to the environment, the club is giving the trees away to schools, community groups and sports clubs across Manchester to offset some of the carbon emissions from the City of Manchester Stadium.

As part of the Premier League's Creating Chances initiative Dunne will be working with young people from Newall Green Primary School to help renovate an area of waste land in the school and turn it into a working garden with vegetables and trees.

hands dirty

City's captain said: "I'm looking forward to getting my hands dirty and helping the young people with the gardening.

"The club are very aware of the need to look after the environment and Creating Chances is a great way of getting the players involved in projects such as this."

Over the past year the clubs has:
# Delivered educational sessions to Key stage 2 pupils across Manchester, Tameside and Stockport on the current and ever changing environmental state of the world.

# Helped schools to produce a recycling plan to aid with global warming.

# Set up Walking Buses across the area to reduce carbon emissions and promote active and healthy lifestyles.

# Created vegetable gardens in schools, so they can grow their own and use for school dinners.

# Raised awareness of endangered species and how we can help.

Alex Williams MBE who manages the club's registered charity City in the Community (CITC) said: "Each year City in the Community works over 5000 young people on environment projects and it's great that Richard is coming to the school to help re-enforce the message."

Nosworthy helps kids 'Get on with the game'

2008-11-05T19:24:00.001-08:00

Sunderland's Nyron Nosworthy joined Howard Webb and Mike Riley to host a referee masterclass with local children.

The event was held at the Washington Millennium Centre Barclays Spaces for Sports site and is the second of four regional events to promote the Premier League's 'Get on with the Game' programme.

Howard Webb and Mike Riley took forty five children aged 11 - 15 through a refereeing master class, whilst professional coaches took them through a coaching session to reinforce the Premier League's 'Get on with the Game' message. This was followed by a Q&A and autograph session with Nosworthy and the referees.

This event is part of Barclays' grassroots commitment to encouraging children to respect the ref, with further events taking place at Everton (20/11/2008) and Tottenham Hotspur (11/12/2008). In addition, Barclays will be promoting the programme across all their 200 Barclays Spaces for Sports sites to encourage the 60,000 people who use them to 'Get on with the Game'.

new initiative

Howard Webb comments: "The 'Get on with the Game' programme is a really positive move for the Premier League, but influencing children at a young age is just as important as they are the future players and fans. The Barclays events will introduce the notion of getting on with the ref in a fun environment, but having the support from the club and players, will have a huge impact on the children. I look forward to refereeing the stars of the future!"

In addition, the newly introduced Barclays Spirit Award will recognise moments that personify the Barclays Premier League's new initiative. Shortlisted moments announced by Barclays throughout the season will form the nominees ahead of the final announcement in May, to be judged by a panel of referees and a current Barclays Premier League player and manager.

Are Evangelicals On the Global Warming Bandwagon?

2008-11-03T22:43:00.000-08:00

For more than three years, a number of politicians and media observers have prophesied about the fracturing of the coveted “Evangelical Vote” over the issue of environmental stewardship. And during the same period, a handful of evangelicals have toiled to persuade the faithful that manmade global warming is such a serious threat that it deserves top priority in their social witness.

Now, as Election Day approaches and both parties vie for that Evangelical vote, one can’t help reminding the candidates that global warming hype, despite all the media buzz, is not an issue that evangelicals embrace.

National Association of Evangelicals Vice President for Governmental Affairs Richard Cizik and Evangelical Environmental Network President Jim Ball, among others, have spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, and other venues promoting the “Green” evangelical cause. Two years ago they even managed to persuade 86 high-profile pastors, college presidents, and others to sign “Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action” – a declaration heralded by mainstream media that normally ignore evangelical pronouncements on other, less politically correct issues.

Yet there was less to that document than met the eye. Its backers fell short of their main goal: endorsement by the National Association of Evangelicals, representing over 30 million evangelicals.

Instead, in January 2006 the NAE board’s executive committee reaffirmed its commitment to an earlier document, “For the Health of the Nation: A Call to Civic Responsibility,” which said nothing about global warming, and instructed its staff not to exceed its statements.

Ignoring the executive committee’s instruction, Cizik helped convene a joint venture between academic and evangelical global warming alarmists the following fall, carefully implying the NAE’s endorsement. At a January 2007 press conference he called climate change “a moral concern for all Americans” and insisted that “God will judge us” if we don’t respond. He invited evangelicals with questions about the science to enter into a dialogue, but by June he had begun warning that:

“God will judge those who destroy the earth. In fact it says in Revelation 11:18 that God will destroy those who destroy the earth. That is a warning. That is a warning to all of those who would say this doesn’t matter. And so for those who have an argument on this issue, I say, 'I’m sorry. Your argument is not with me. Your argument is with God, because either His Word says this or it doesn’t, and it does.'”

Cizik implies that Christians who fail to support his position on climate change are hypocrites or worse, going so far as to rebuke them from Hebrews 10:31 (a warning of damnation for those who reject the faith): “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” This isn’t hyperbole because “climate change,” in his view, “is an overarching issue of justice — the biggest of the 21st century."

While Cizik’s advocacy has been growing over the past two years, the original document rejected by the NAE board in 2006 (the “Evangelical Call to Action” on climate change) still suffers from a lack of credibility. It fails to list any authors, offers almost no evidence, and cites no authoritative scientific or economic studies. None of its 86 original signers had scientific or economic expertise needed to assess its claims, and in the years since then, while several signers have removed their signatures, no new signers with such expertise have been added.

‘A Call to Truth’

In contrast, the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation produced “A Call to Truth, Prudence, and Protection of the Poor: An Evangelical Response to Global Warming,” co-authored by world-renowned global climate change research scientist Dr. Roy Spencer, environmental economist Dr. Ross McKitrick, energy policy expert Paul Driessen, and myself, a theologian and ethicist with recognized expertise in economic and environmental studies. The “Call to Truth” cited extensive data and sources in its point-by-point refutation of the “Call to Action.”

“Call to Truth” signers, over 170, reflect its credibility. They include mostly scientists and economists able to evaluate data and arguments about climate change and related policy, plus leading evangelical pastors and educators.

Having failed to convert evangelicals as a body to their cause, the global warming activists have resorted instead to simply declaring victory. They have claimed, and mainstream media have eagerly reported, a major shift in opinion about global warming among evangelicals.

But facts don’t support the claims. Polling by the Barna Research Group, which specializes in tracking opinion among evangelicals, showed no major shift. Instead, it found that global warming was the issue on which evangelicals were in starkest disagreement with the American population at large. Another Barna study found that while 90% of evangelicals want Christians to “take a more active role in caring for creation,” 65% percent believe the media have hyped global warming, 62% believe climate change is cyclical and not primarily manmade, and 60% fear that proposed solutions would harm the poor, especially outside the United States. And this summer’s National Survey on Religion and Public Life by Calvin College found that support among evangelical Christians for environmental regulation has declined by almost 10 percentage points in just the past four years.

New Developments in Science

Meanwhile, developments in climate science and economics are going the wrong way for the alarmists.

Among others in science, there was the discovery, reported in August of 2007, that cirrus clouds, rather than enlarging in response to surface warming and thus being a positive feedback, shrink and thus are a negative feedback–precisely the opposite of what was assumed in all the computer climate models. By itself that was thought sufficient to explain 70 percent of all global temperature variability in the twentieth century. That was followed by the discovery, reported in December, that formulae to correct for urban warming were insufficient; when corrected, the result was to reduce apparent warming from 1980 to 2002 by 50 percent, essentially eliminating the apparently anomalously rapid warming on which the case for alarm rested.

Several studies followed concluding that “climate sensitivity” (a misleading name for a complex and highly theoretical concept) is much lower than thought by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change–probably no more than one-sixth as high (about 0.5̊ C instead of 3.0̊ C). The conclusion was reached in light of both critical analyses of the mathematical models calculating climate sensitivity and empirical studies that found that several factors the IPCC had thought were positive (heat-enhancing) feedbacks were negative (heat-reducing) instead. Such a temperature increase cannot be expected to cause significant harm, particularly to the increasingly wealthy world of the future.

In economics, multiple studies showed that the costs of reducing CO2 emissions to minimize future temperature increases far outweighed benefits to be expected from them. Perhaps most significant were the findings of Bjørn Lomborg and the Copenhagen Consensus. By comparing the benefit/cost ratios of spending on various problems, they concluded that fighting climate change was among the worst possible investments, while such simple things as adding micronutrients to diets in poor countries, increasing free trade, and providing sewage sanitation and water purification yielded great multiples of benefits over costs.

Other Voices, Other Opinions

It should be no surprise, then, that last December a hundred eminent scientists wrote an open letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon saying, in part, “it is not established that it is possible to significantly alter global climate through cuts in human greenhouse gas emissions. On top of which, because attempts to cut emissions will slow development, the current UN approach of CO2 reduction is likely to increase human suffering from future climate change rather than to decrease it.”

Neither should it be surprising that over 31,000 scientists (including 9,021 PhDs) signed the “Petition Project” saying, in part, “There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release of carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth’s atmosphere and disruption of the Earth’s climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the Earth.”

In the face of such developments, it is increasingly difficult to view the passionate promotion of alarm over global warming as anything other than pseudo science.

Raising an alternative voice to Ball, Cizik, and other global warming alarmists among evangelicals, six national organizations (the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, the Family Research Council, Wallbuilders, the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, the Institute on Religion and Democracy, and the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation) in May issued the WeGetIt.org declaration stating, among other things:

* “Stewardship of creation must be based on Biblical principles and factual evidence. We face important environmental challenges, but must be cautious of claims that our planet is in peril from speculative dangers like man-made global warming,” and
* “With billions suffering in poverty, environmental policies must not further oppress the world’s poor by denying them basic needs. Instead, we must help people fulfill their God-given potential as producers and stewards."

The WeGetIt.org campaign aims to gather a million signatures of evangelicals, putting to rest the notion of a major shift among evangelicals toward environmental alarmism. Endorsed by leading evangelicals like Chuck Colson, James Dobson, Richard Land, and evangelical climate scientists like Roy Spencer and David Legates, the declaration has since been signed by thousands of pastors, evangelical leaders, and Christians nationwide, and seems likely to crush climate alarmism among evangelicals once and for all.

Save us, please, from those who would save the earth

2008-11-03T22:40:00.000-08:00

Snow fell on London this last week, a beautiful blanket of snow -- the first to fall in the month of October since the year of grace 1922 -- while the Mother of Parliaments gave third reading to an extraordinary piece of legislation, which will put a huge new bureaucracy in place to monitor and fight global warming, sucking taxes from a shrinking British economy.

This is an example of what is now called, in urban parlance, the "Gore effect," after the Nobel-prize-winner and former U.S. vice-president. It is defined as, "The phenomenon that leads to record cold temperatures wherever Al Gore goes to deliver an important statement on global warming, or by extension, to sharp temperature drops wherever a major discussion of global warming takes place."

The phenomenon was first noticed on Jan. 15, 2004, when Mr. Gore railed in New York against the Bush administration's indifference to his railing. The city that day experienced one of its coldest days on record. It was noted in Australia, in November 2006, when Mr. Gore arrived in the late antipodean spring, together with a remarkable cold front and a late-season boon for the ski resorts. It was noticed again last May, during an international conference on global warming in Lima. For the duration of the conference, Peru experienced a cold spell.
Pure coincidence, I'm sure, although the general worldwide trend to cooler temperatures, and accompanying cold weather patterns, has a perfectly obvious explanation: "It's the sunspot cycle, stupid." The earth's climate has, for some time, been observed to track only a little behind solar magnetic field trends. We did indeed have global warming for the duration of the last solar "max," peaking in 1998. We have now plunged into the succeeding "min," in which sunspots haven't been showing at all (for the first time in almost a century).

For all the souls who live down here below, on the same earth that has survived so many election cycles, this is rather bad news. It should be obvious, to the sane, that increasing temperatures are a net blessing, up to some reasonable point, for life requires heat, just as plant life requires carbon dioxide. (A quick comparison of tropical rainforest with arctic tundra will help to confirm that generalization, though perhaps water supply should be mentioned in passing.)

Decreasing temperatures mean decreasing crop yields, and the sudden need for thicker clothing and heating fuels. In the main, global warmings are a boon, global coolings are a bust. Humans with the means generally vote with their feet: travelling towards warm, and away from cold, as Canadians perhaps understand better than most.

Even the Greenland Eskimo would have migrated south, according to the first modern European explorers who made contact with them. They didn't, however, because apparently some Inuit-speaking Al Gore had arisen among them. This hypothetical soi-disant genius had convinced them that in summer it must get colder the farther you go south. It was "settled science." The proof? As everyone could see, all the ice flows south in the summer. Imagine how cold it must be down there!

Start Saving Carbon Now

2008-11-02T22:47:00.000-08:00

There are many ways you can reduce global warming emissions at home and on the road. Below is a list of steps you can take to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions--a primary contributor to global warming--by potentially thousands of pounds. For each action below, we’ve indicated the amount of CO2 and money that you can save over the course of a year. Actions are prioritized by those with the largest CO2-savings at the top of the list to the smallest at the end. That way, you’ll have a framework for choosing the most effective ways to reduce your “carbon footprint.”

What size is your carbon footprint? According to recent government estimates, the average carbon footprint — the CO2 emissions associated with a particular lifestyle — for a two-person household is about 42,000 pounds (22 tons) each year. Since that amount will vary depending on where you live and your particular lifestyle, you can get a personalized estimate by using an online carbon footprint calculator.

WHAT YOU CAN DO APPROXIMATE ANNUAL SAVINGS

1. Switch to green power CO2-savings: Up to 10,656 pounds*
Cost-savings: (Typically costs more)

Conventional energy production is the leading cause of air pollution and the largest source of CO2 emissions linked to global warming. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every kilowatt-hour of green power produced, one less pound of CO2 is emitted. When compared with conventional power generated from fossil fuels, green power generated from renewable resources like water, wind and solar energy is better for the environment. Read How to buy green electricity.

2. Seal and insulate duct system CO2-savings: Up to 10,140 pounds*
Cost-savings: Up to $362 (natural gas)
Up to $718 (oil)
Up to $811 (electricity)

Sealing the ducts in your home and insulating any portions that pass through unconditioned spaces, such as the attic, basement, or garage, could reduce CO2 emissions and your heating and cooling costs by up to 40 percent.

3. Drive a fuel-efficient car CO2-savings: About 8,000 pounds
Cost-savings: About $1,536

A car that gets 30 mpg will emit about half the CO2 of a 15 mpg vehicle. That’s a savings of 8,000 pounds if you drive 12,000 miles a year. To find the most fuel-efficient car that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

4. Replace an old hot water heater CO2-savings: Up to 3,285 pounds
Cost-savings: Up to $117 (natural gas)
Up to $233 (oil)
Up to $263 (electricity)

About 13% of a typical household’s energy is used for heating water. By choosing a newer hot water heater model—which are 10 percent more efficient than conventional models—you can reduce CO2 emissions by about 3,285 pounds annually.

5. Control heating temperatures CO2-savings: About 3,150 pounds*
Cost-savings: About $113 (natural gas)
About $223 (oil)
About $252 (electricity)

For every degree you lower your thermostat, you can cut energy use by about 3 percent. By lowering the heat by 5 degrees for 8 hours at night and 10 degrees for 8 hours during the day, for example, you can save about 3,150 pounds of CO2 annually.

6. Choose an energy-efficient central air conditioner CO2-savings: About 1,540 pounds
Cost-savings: About $123

Most homes have a central air conditioning unit with a 10 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). By choosing a new Energy Star qualified unit with a SEER of 14, you can reduce CO2 emissions by about 1,540 pounds annually, assuming it’s on for 1,320 cooling hours, or 8 hours a day for 5-6 months. And make sure that your contractor does the sizing calculations so you don't install a unit that's too big; it will cost more and require larger ducts to handle its higher airflow. The unit also may fail to provide the expected comfort.

7. Reduce driving speed and drive evenly CO2-savings: About 1,500 pounds
Cost-savings: About $288

Fuel consumption is directly related to the amount of CO2 emitted while driving no matter what vehicle you drive. In Consumer Reports tests of a compact family sedan and a large sport-utility vehicle, fuel economy was improved by almost 15 percent when driving 65 mph vs. 75 mph on the highway. That translates to an average annual CO2 savings of about 1,500 pounds. Note that the CO2 savings for the SUV were even greater than for the sedan (1,900 lbs/yr). Hard acceleration and braking can also waste fuel and lower your mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent around town. For more fuel-saving tips, click here.

8. Control your hot water heater temperature CO2-savings: Up to 733 pounds*
Cost-savings: Up to $26 (natural gas)
Up to $52 (oil)
Up to $59 (electricity)

For every 10 degrees you reduce your hot water heater’s temperature, CO2 emissions are reduced by about 3-5 percent, or 733 pounds annually. Setting the thermostat at about 120 degrees, or between low and medium, is a reasonable temperature. And if your hot-water heater is less than 10 years old, you don't need to buy an insulated blanket for it—the newer units have enough insulation to make the extra layer unnecessary.

9. Tune up and maintain your car CO2-savings: Up to 580 pounds
Cost-savings: Up to $111

If you get your engine properly tuned and use the recommended grade of motor oil, you can cut CO2 emissions and improve mileage by up to 6 percent, particularly if your car is noticeably in need of a tune-up. Savings are based on driving 12,000 miles per year at 20 mpg.

10. Put your computer to sleep CO2-savings: About 576 pounds
Cost-savings: About $46

In the computer and monitor models recently tested by Consumer Reports, letting the system sleep for 12 hours out of every 24 would save about 576 pounds of CO2 annually. Obviously turning off the computer will save the most energy, but newer computers – those made within the last three years – use so little energy in sleep/standby mode that you don’t need to actually shut it down during daily use. And note that screen savers do not actually save energy.

11. Replace 5 regular bulbs with compact fluorescents CO2-savings:
Cost-savings: About $40

Compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. By strategically replacing at least 5 heavily used 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 5 25-watt CFLs, you can reduce CO2 emissions. By using CFLs especially in places that are less accessible, like stairway fixtures, you can also get the benefits of less frequent changes because CFLs last from 5 to 13 times longer than standard bulbs, according to manufacturer's claims. While CFLs initially cost more, a single bulb can save from $25 to $45 over its life. Be aware that they do contain mercury, however, and should be carefully disposed. Check Earth911 for a Zip-code searchable listing of local disposal and recycling options.

12. Carpool or telecommute to work CO2-savings:
Cost-savings: About $77

The average person drives about 3,000 miles to and from work every year. Not driving just one day a week can reduce CO2 emissions by about 8 pounds per week. That adds up to about 400 pounds of CO2 per year. The less you drive, the more you’ll save.

13. Control air conditioning temperatures CO2-savings:
Cost-savings: $30

For every degree you raise your thermostat, you can cut energy use by about 3 percent. By increasing the temperature by 3 degrees, you can save about 378 pounds of CO2 per year. Note that using a ceiling fan with your air conditioning can make a higher thermostat setting less noticeable by making your room feel 6 or 7 degrees cooler.

14. Choose an energy-efficient washing machine CO2-savings:
Cost-savings: About $28

By choosing an Energy Star qualified washing machine over a conventional model, you can reduce emissions by about 356 pounds annually, assuming 392 loads per year. Consumer Reports recommends front-loading machines for the best all-around performance and our tests show that the most efficient machines can cut water consumption by about 25 percent compared with the least efficient models tested. Initially a front-loader may cost more than a top loading washing machine, but the extra cost will be paid back in a few years in energy savings. If a top-loader works better for you, there are some high-efficiency models available in this type too. To find the most efficient model that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

15. Combine errands or ride your bike instead of driving CO2-savings:
Cost-savings: About $65

The average person drives almost 2,000 miles a year to go shopping. If you cut down on driving by just 10 miles per week by combining errands—or when it’s feasible, by skipping the car altogether, and walking or riding your bike instead—you could cut your CO2 emissions by nearly 340 pounds per year. That’s based on driving a car that gets 30 mpg, but if your car is less efficient, you’ll save even more.

16. Pump up your tires CO2-savings:
Cost-savings:

According to the Department of Energy, you can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires properly inflated. Our own testing revealed that a tire that is under-inflated by only 2 pounds per square inch could increase fuel consumption by about 1 percent. Check your owner’s manual for inflation recommendations.

17. Choose an energy-efficient room air conditioner CO2-savings:
Cost-savings:

Replacing a single window unit with a new Energy Star certified model over a conventional model can reduce CO2 emissions by about 105 pounds annually, assuming it’s on for 750 hours, or about 8 hours a day over three months. To find the most efficient model that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

18. Choose an energy-efficient refrigerator CO2-savings:
Cost-savings: About $8

If your refrigerator is more than 10 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star qualified model can reduce CO2 emissions. Also, note that top or bottom freezer models are generally the most efficient models. To find the most efficient model that meets your needs, check our Green Ratings.

* * *

CO2-savings calculation assumptions: A gallon of gasoline produces 20 pounds of CO2; a gallon of fuel oil, 22 pounds; a therm of natural gas, 12 pounds; a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 1.4 pounds.

Cost-savings calculation assumptions: A gallon of gasoline costs $3.84; a gallon of fuel oil, $4.04; A thousand cubic feet of natural gas (mcf), $15.11; a kilowatt-hour of electricity, 11.2 cents.

*Based on national averages from the latest figures available from the Department of Energy’s 2001 Residential Energy Consumption Survey of home energy uses and costs for a single family home of about 2,500 square feet.
About 500 pounds About 400 pounds About 378 pounds* About 356 pounds About 340 pounds About 264 pounds About $51 About 105 pounds About $8 About 98 pounds

Global warming

2008-11-02T22:41:00.000-08:00

Last summer’s heat wave caused major damage despite some lessons learned from the deadly heat waves that struck Europe in 2003 and Chicago in 1995. The U.S. heat wave of 2006 was one of the worst in recent memory -- not only because of its severity, but also because of its reach and length. It lasted nearly a month and swept across the entire country, cutting a swath of record or near-record temperatures from southern California to the East Coast. Hundreds of people died, crops withered, wildfires raged, roads buckled and electric grids struggled to provide power to sweltering customers. Tens of thousands of New York residents lost power for over a week.

Global warming doubles chance of "killer" heat waves
How does climate change fit into the 2006 heat wave? It's impossible to pin a single weather event on global warming, since weather fluctuates naturally. Trends, however, are a different story. Climate models predict a trend of more wild weather. Global warming loads the dice to roll "heat waves" or "intense rainstorms" more often than milder "warm days" or "gentle rains." (Stott et al.)

Global warming

2008-10-22T21:39:00.001-07:00

Global warming is the increase in the average measured temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century, and its projected continuation.

Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) during the 100 years ending in 2005.^[1]^[2] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-twentieth century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations"^[3]^[4] via an enhanced greenhouse effect. Natural phenomena such as solar variation combined with volcanoes probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950 and a small cooling effect from 1950 onward.^[5]^[6] These basic conclusions have been endorsed by at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science,^[7] including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.^[8]^[9]^[10] While individual scientists have voiced disagreement with these findings,^[11] the overwhelming majority of scientists working on climate change agree with the IPCC's main conclusions.^[12]^[13]

Climate model projections summarized by the IPCC indicate that average global surface temperature will likely rise a further 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) during the twenty-first century.^[3] This range of values results from the use of differing scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions as well as models with differing climate sensitivity. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming and sea level rise are expected to continue for more than a thousand years even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilized. The delay in reaching equilibrium is a result of the large heat capacity of the oceans.^[3]

Increasing global temperature is expected to cause sea levels to rise, an increase in the intensity of extreme weather events, and significant changes to the amount and pattern of precipitation, likely leading to an expanse of tropical areas and increased pace of desertification. Other expected effects of global warming include changes in agricultural yields, modifications of trade routes, glacier retreat, mass species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

Remaining scientific uncertainties include the amount of warming expected in the future, and how warming and related changes will vary from region to region around the globe. Most national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but there is ongoing political and public debate worldwide regarding what, if any, action should be taken to reduce or reverse future warming or to adapt to its expected consequences.