2013 year of the black Snake

Chinese name of the Snake: She
Sixth sign of Chinese Zodiac
Time of day under the reign of the Snake: 9-11 a.m.
Correspondent sign in the Western Zodiac: Virgo
Element: Fire
Polarity: Negative

Year of the Snake reasserts its rights on the 10th of February, 2013, and will last till the 31st of January, 2014.

Cosmic element of the year is Water, color – black.  

Year of the Snake will correspond to such colors as black, blue (light-blue), and green.
 

This 2013 year of Snake is meant for steady progress and attention to detail. Focus and discipline will be necessary for you to achieve what you set out to create.

The snake is a studious creature. Preferring quiet predictability to ruckus and mayhem. Peaceful solitude is also a Saturn preference. It's not surprising that Saturn has such a strong influence during the year of the Snake. 

In 2013 horoscope Saturn is in harmonious relationship to Mercury, planet of communications; Neptune, our connection to the cosmic whole; and Chiron, the wounded healer. The Trine is a supportive aspect, an aspect of past earned easy situations. A blessing, also known as Grace. But Saturn is still into hard work. It's heavy even when it's good. A new-found ambition to greatness will inspire you to be all you can be, and provide you with the follow through to actually achieve your goals. Saturn knows how to take on responsibility. And, the year of the Snake also supports added responsibility,
The element is Water which is characterized with mobility, dynamism, and changeability.

So, the talisman of 2013 is a Black Water Snake. Black color is the Space, Arctic night, darkness on the Abyss, this is a color of deep waters. The Black Snake will bring people unexpected changes, instability, and changeability. That is why it is important in the year of Snake to plan everything beforehand, and evaluate adequately before taking any actions. You need to be more careful and cautious than ever.  

During the 2013 Snake year be prepared to feel like you are on shaky ground. Not quite settled. Uranus is active this year and likes to shake us out of false realities with sudden shocks- lightning bolt change can occur when Uranus comes out to play. Out of the blue realizations create major change. Mars is just itching to go through all this. It makes for super tense times. But also creates movement and growth.

Be extra careful with your work this 2013 year of the black Snake. Signing documents of any kind requires very thorough attention. 2013 horoscope predict it is a good year to begin important detail work. Research and investigation are supported. The Snake has sneaky energy that can be to your advantage. Look for the holes in the loop.

Deep transformation and healing are often represented by the Snake. Moreover according to general 2013 horoscope Pluto exposes what is hidden through a deep revealing of subconscious material. Slowly we begin to see the reasons for things, we understand the root cause of some dysfunction. Just like the snake, slowly we shed our skin. We become shiny and new as we acknowledge and release the past.

Create a safe space to work from this 2013 year. The Snake likes protection, needs to feel safe and secure to utilize its special analytical skills. This is the year to make headway in slow and methodical ways. Saturn will assist this effort as well. Things will definitely be accomplished as you focus forward.

There is no need to put yourself out there. Consider this 2013 year to focus within. You won't be drawn to social situations as you are more interested in serious progress not superficial chit chat. Allow yourself withdrawal as it is necessary to self reflect and ponder situations.

Celebrate the 2013 year of the black Snake with dark colored clothing. Honor this transformative beginning with a day positive thoughts. It is tradition to place a pine twig out to represent the Snake. In mythology the Snake often represented healing of the physical body while shifting to a more spiritual outlook. Expect a true release of past blockages this 2013 year. A great deal of quite progress can be made in the 2013 year of the Snake with the help of the planetary energy. Slow and steady wins the race in 2013 year of Snake.

Character of people born in the year of the Snake
Such people are complex beings, they are clever and men of few words from their birth. Their business is always going well, but they are stingy very often. They are sometimes egoistic and conceited. However they can be very active in their friends’ life. They are often too active, not believing other people and relying only on themselves.

Determined and ambitious characters of Snakes take their failures hard. Retaining their apparent composure Snakes are very passionate. They are usually very attractive on the outside and inwardly, that, taking into consideration their frivolity, can lead to some family problems.

Ideal compatibility with: Ox and Rooster.
More or less compatible with: Rat, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep.
Absolutely incompatible with: Tiger and Pig.

/source: gotohoroscope.com, astrogod.com

Super Bike Untuk Orang-orang Yang Rendah

Di bawah adalah antara Super Bike untuk orang-orang yang rendah ( ketinggian dalam lingkungan 160cm - 155cm , 150cm maybe boleh, tapi kener lowered kan 1 ker 2 inci) boleh ride.

1. KTM Duke 200 ( seat height = 810mm / 31.9" )

  

 2. Megelli 250 S / R (seat height = 800mm / 31.5")

3. 2012 Ninja 250R (seat height = 775mm / 30.5" )

4. Ducati Monster 696 ( Seat height = 770mm / 30.3" )

Mungkin ader lagi a few super bike yang seat rendah di pasaran malaysia, cuma yang di atas jer aku dah test naik. Ni untuk yang belom di lowered lagi. standard. klu lowered, moto kategori 500cc pon dapat. Tapi berat laa.

The Differences between the reboot The Amazing Spiderman and previous spiderman franchise

When Spider-Man swings back into theaters, there will be some big changes in store for audiences accustomed to the previous franchise.



The trailer yielded lots of new details about Peter Parker’s upcoming return to the big screen, but one of the most significant takeaways from it was confirmation of some of the ways this version of the webslinger will differ from his big-screen predecessor.

British actor Andrew Garfield puts on the webbed mask and replaces previous franchise headliner Tobey Maguire this time around, but that’s not the only big change audiences should expect from what’s being billed as the “untold story” of Spider-Man.

Here are five more changes you can look forward to when your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler swings into theaters in July.

Mechanical Web-Shooters

Same Raimi’s “Spider-Man” franchise became the target of much criticism early on when it was revealed that Peter Parker’s webs would be an organic product of his mutation rather than the wrist-mounted mechanical devices he uses in the comics. That diversion from the source material is corrected in Marc Webb’s upcoming reboot of the franchise, as the new footage clearly shows Peter Parker developing, testing, and making ample use of artificial webs and a web-shooter with a red glow. In one particular scene, Peter is seen fiddling with the web-shooter and accidentally setting it off, resulting in his face being webbed to the device. In another scene, Spider-Man toys with a car thief before sticking him to a wall with a series of web shots — with the red glow of the web-shooter pulsing each time he slings a web at his target. There’s also a nice, up-close shot of the web-shooter itself in the new trailer for “The Amazing Spider-Man.”

Quipping while Thwipping
Rather than the progressively more angsty, emo Peter Parker we saw in the last “Spider-Man” franchise, the webslinger is clearly returning to his joke-a-minute roots in “The Amazing Spider-Man.” In the footage shown yesterday, there were very few scenes of Spidey in costume that didn’t also involve a steady stream of jokes coming from the wall-crawler. During the aforementioned run-in with the car thief, Spider-Man toys with the criminal for a while as only a high-school kid can, dropping to his knees when the guy pulls a knife and exclaiming, “Oh no, is that a real knife? Aargh! That’s my only weakness!” — only to stick him to the wall with a barrage of webs a second later. If nothing else, this film’s take on Spidey brings him back to being that playful brat fans love, but criminals hate.

Spider-Man is Public Enemy #1
With the exception of eternal Spidey-hater J. Jonah Jameson, the previous “Spider-Man” films were largely a webslinger love-fest, with Peter Parker enjoying life as a celebrated hero loved by the public. This time around, Spider-Man clearly won’t be winning any popularity polls, as the new footage included quite a few scenes in which Spider-Man is being chased, attacked by, or attacking police officers around New York. To make matters worse, much of that anti-Spidey sentiment seems to come from Gwen Stacy’s father, George Stacy (played by Denis Leary), a high-ranking NYPD officer. One especially tense scene shown during the preview event featured Peter and Mr. Stacy arguing about Spider-Man’s intentions over dinner and making things extremely uncomfortable for Gwen.

He Does Whatever a Spider Can
While past installments of “Spider-Man” on the big screen did a great job of presenting the range of Peter Parker’s spider-given abilities, “The Amazing Spider-Man” appears to be taking things one step further when it comes to Spidey’s enhanced agility and “spider sense.” In the footage shown during yesterday’s event, there was one particularly great scene in which Spider-Man is seen dodging bullets by first twisting from side to side and then flipping over the gunman in one fluid motion from a standing position. Rather than presenting his enhanced reaction time via a sudden switch to slow-motion (a la the previous films), “The Amazing Spider-Man” appears to take the opposite approach, with the world moving at normal speed while Spider-Man reacts instantaneously to everything that occurs. In the aforementioned scene, Spider-Man dodges left, then right, at the same time each shot is fired, and then jumps behind the gunman the moment the third shot is fired — mimicking the sort of blink-and-you-miss-it movement of real-world spiders when threatened.

Loving the Man, Not the Mask. During the preview event for “The Amazing Spider-Man,” actress Emma Stone explained that one key difference between her character, Gwen Stacy, and Peter Parker’s love interest from the previous films, Mary Jane Watson, is that Gwen falls in love with Peter, not Spider-Man. That difference might seem small when mentioned in passing, but it’s a key component of Peter Parker’s history in both the comics and, apparently, in the upcoming film. During one scene shown during the event, Gwen is seen telling Peter — who happens to be wearing his Spider-Man costume at the time — that she already worries about whether her policeman father will come home every night, and stresses that she doesn’t want to have the same concerns about Peter. Along the same lines, Gwen and Peter’s relationship appears to develop well before he dons a costume and starts fighting bad guys. When measured against the infamous upside-down Spidey kiss between Mary Jane and Peter in the first “Spider-Man” film and the struggles he had convincing Mary Jane to love him when he wasn’t wearing the mask, this dynamic should make for a major tonal shift in the reboot that sets “The Amazing Spider-Man” apart from the previous franchise.

/sources

CLAUSE 15.0 - PRACTICAL COMPLETION AND DEFECTS LIABILITY

PAM 98 Clause 15.1 has defined 'Practical Completion' as follows: When the Architect is of the opinion that the works are practically completed,meaning that the Contractor has performed and completed all the necessasry Works specified in the Contract and the patent defects existing in such Works are "de minimis", the Architect shall forthwith issue a Certificate of Practical Completion.

The words 'de minimis' are derived from the maxim 'de minimin non curat lex' meaning 'law does not concern itself with trifles.' However, without referring to further case law, the term is difficult to understand. The term 'de minimis' was used in the case of H.W. Neville (Sunblest) ltd v William Press (1981) 20 BLR 78 where the judge said: 'I think the word practically complete..gave the Architect a discretion to certify that the Contractor had fulfilled its obligation...where very minor de minimis work had not been carried out, but if there were any patent defects...the Architect could not have given a certificate of practical completion.'

It must be noted that under PAM 98 definition, Practical Completion can be issued when '...the patent defects existing in such Works are "de minimis...' whereas under the definition in Neville (Sunblest), there should be no patent defects. The PAM 98 definition allowing for patent defects is therefore contrary to the definition in Neville (Sunblest).

For a more detailed understanding of Practical Completion,please also refer to the cases of Westminster County Council v J Jarvis [7 BLR 64], Emson Eastern Ltd v EME Development Ltd [55 BLR 114], and Mariner International Hotel v Atlas [2007] 1 HKLRD 413.

To be continued on Clause 15.1 Practical Completion And Defects Liability.

/sources from Handbook For PAM Contract 2006

Contrasting Concepts of Harmony in Architecture: The 1982 Debate Between Christopher Alexander and Peter Eisenman

Just an old interesting reading article i like to share.

Contrasting Concepts of

Harmony in Architecture:

 

The 1982 Debate Between

Christopher Alexander

and Peter Eisenman

An Early Discussion of the "New Sciences" of

Organised Complexity in Architecture 

Editors’ Introduction

This legendary debate took place at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University, on November 17^th 1982. Not long before it, Alexander had given a talk on The Nature of Order, which was to become the subject of his magnum opus of architectural philosophy. The original version he envisaged was less than half the size of the final four-volume work as it now stands, but its main ideas were already formulated.

 

Before the debate Eisenman had listened to the tape of Alexander's talk – one of the first public presentations of the ideas in The Nature of Order. What followed was thus partly shaped by those ideas. What ensued can be said to represent an historic occasion: Alexander is presenting his basis for the New Paradigm in Architecture at the same time as Eisenman presents his competing, diametrically opposed, deconstructivist claim for such a Paradigm.

 

The importance of the debate has been widely recognised. Twenty years later, the Harvard Graduate School of Design republished it alongside three other seminal documents from the post-1969 period: an early piece by Alexander Tzonis on the “end of ideology in architecture”, excerpts from a 1994 conference on “De-naturalized Urbanity”, and a recent debate on urbanism between Rem Koolhaas and Andres Duany. Some people may only have heard of the 1982 encounter because Alexander said Eisenman was “fucking up the world" in a public forum; but if this is all one knows about it, one is not prepared for the generally good-natured tone of most of the exchanges.

READ MORE HERE @ www.katarxis3.com

 

Brief bio of Christopher Alexander:

Christopher Wolfgang Alexander (born October 4, 1936 in Vienna, Austria) is a registered architect noted for his theories about design, and for more than 200 building projects in California, Japan, Mexico and around the world. Reasoning that users know more about the buildings they need than any architect could, he produced and validated (in collaboration with Sarah Ishikawa and Murray Silverstein) a "pattern language" designed to empower anyone to design and build at any scale. Alexander is often overlooked by texts in the history and theory of Architecture because his work intentionally disregarded contemporary Architecture discourse, appealing more through methods consistent with his theories than through established practices. As such, Alexander is widely considered to occupy a place outside the discipline, the discourse, and the practice of Architecture. In 1958 he moved from England to the United States, living and teaching in Berkeley, California from 1963. He is professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. Now retired (though still active), he is based in Arundel, Sussex, UK.
/source Wikipedia


Brief bio of Peter Eisenman:

Peter Eisenman (born August 11, 1932 in Newark, New Jersey) is an American architect. Eisenman's professional work is often referred to as formalist, deconstructive, late avant-garde, late or high modernist, etc. A certain fragmenting of forms visible in some of Eisenman's projects has been identified as characteristic of an eclectic group of architects that were (self-)labeled as deconstructivists, and who were featured in an exhibition by the same name at the Museum of Modern Art. The heading also refers to the storied relationship and collaborations between Peter Eisenman and post-structuralist thinker Jacques Derrida.
/source Wikipedia

If Architects had to work like Programmers

I saw this funny articles while in my senior colleague's room. Oh, and this picture here had nothing to do with the article. Btw, this is a very old article. Enjoy!

Dear Mr. Architect!

Please design and build me a house. I am not quite sure of what I need, so you should use your discretion. My house should have between two and forty-five bedrooms. Just make sure the plans are such that the bedrooms can be easily added or deleted. When you bring the blueprints to me, I will make the final decision of what I want. Also, bring me the cost breakdown for each configuration so that I can arbitrarily pick one.

Keep in mind that the house I ultimately choose must cost less than the one I am currently living in. Make sure, however, that you correct all the deficiencies that exist in my current house (the floor of my kitchen vibrates when I walk across it, and the walls don't have nearly enough insulation in them).

As you design, also keep in mind that I want to keep yearly maintenance costs as low as possible. This should mean the incorporation of extra-cost features like aluminium, vinyl, or composite siding. (If you choose not to specify aluminium, be prepared to explain your decision in detail.)

Please take care that modern design practices and the latest materials are used in construction of the house, as I want it to be a showplace for the most up-to-date ideas and methods. Be alerted, however, that kitchen should be designed to accommodate, among other things, my 1952 Gibson refrigerator.

To insure that you are building the correct house for our entire family, make certain that you contact each of our children, and also our in-laws. My mother-in-law will have very strong feelings about how the house should be designed, since she visits us at least once a year. Make sure that you weigh all of these options carefully and come to the right decision. I, however, retain the right to overrule any choices that you make.

Please don't bother me with small details right now. Your job is to develop the overall plans for the house: get the big picture. At this time, for example, it is not appropriate to be choosing the color of the carpet. However, keep in mind that my wife likes blue.

Also, do not worry at this time about acquiring the resources to build the house itself. Your first priority is to develop detailed plans and specifications. Once I approve these plans, however, I would expect the house to be under roof within 48 hours.

While you are designing this house specifically for me, keep in mind that sooner or later I will have to sell it to someone else. It therefore should have appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers. Please make sure before you finalize the plans that there is a consensus of the population in my area that they like the features this house has.

Please prepare a complete set of blueprints. It is not necessary at this time to do the real design, since they will be used only for construction bids. Be advised, however, that you will be held accountable for any increase of construction costs as a result of later design changes.

You must be thrilled to be working on an interesting project as this! To be able to use the latest techniques and materials and to be given such freedom in your designs is something that can't happen very often. Contact me as soon as possible with your complete ideas and plans.

P.S.:
My wife has just told me that she disagrees with many of the instructions I've given you in this letter. As architect, it is your responsibility to resolve these differences. I have tried in the past and have been unable to accomplish this. If you can't handle this responsibility, I will have to find another architect.

P.P.S.:
Perhaps what I need is not a house at all, but a travel trailer. Please advise me as soon as possible if this is the case.

Autor: unbekannt

Raspberry Pi is a $25 computer for schools | Sync™ Blog

Raspberry Pi is a $25 computer for schools | Sync™ Blog

2012 The Spring Cow Revelation

The year is very wet, the farmer works in deep water

Rains fall from summer to winter

A poor harvest will lead to supplies depleting

High-land vegetables will sell like ginseng

Farmers in low land with their seedlings

May worry but will be happy for it is "gold" they are planting

Everybody will be happy - the produce is pest and disease free

Price are good and the harvest is aplenty

Not just from land but also from the sea

Everybody will drink and be merry

The cowboy poem reveals that there will be plenty of rainfall in 2012. This unusally high amount of water is feared to damage crops, reduce the yield of agricultural produce and cause prices to soar. Despite these fears, agricultural output will actually be very good and fetch good prices for the farmers.

Therefore, 2012 will be a good year. The 5 cycles 6 forces concurs that there will be heavier rainfall but the planting season must begin early. The ancient Chinese have a simple yardstick for predicting the amount of rainfall:they look for the first Dragon Day(R5) of the lunar new year. In 2012,it falls on Day 10,indicating a 10-dragon year. As dragons symbolise rain,there will be plenty of rain for the year.

Similarly,the amount of plough work and oxen can indicate farming opportunities and the success of agricultural output,respectively:2012 is a nine-plough and seven-ox year,suggesting a good and successful harvest.
 
In a global economy,poor yields in one country can be compensated by abundant harvests from another nation. In 2011,droughts in China did not affect food prices because other exporting countries did not experience drought. For example,potatoes were so cheap - as low as 4 sen per kg - that farmers threw them away.
 
More rain and water are expected this year. The mountains are green and verdant and wheat harvests will be abundant, as seen in the illustration. Summer will be wetter than normal and the rice fields are covered with more water. It appears to yield little and causes concern among low-land farmers. However,harvest will be good at the end of the year. Droughts,pest and other natural disasters are not expected, and hence the sun is not scorching as in the previous year.

CAREER OPPORTUNITY IN JABATAN KERJA RAYA SARAWAK

Jabatan Kerja Raya Sarawak is looking for committed, suitably qualified, dynamic and self-driven candidates with relevant working experience to take up the following positions on contract basis:

1.ENGINEERS Grade J41/J44/J48/J52/J54
  a) Civil/Structural
  b) Mechanical
  c) Electrical

2.ARCHITECTS Grade J41/J44/J48/J52/J54

3.QUANTITY SURVEYORS Grade J41/J44/J48/J52/J54

4.ACCOUNTANTS Grade W41/W44/W48/W52/W54

5.ADMINISTRATIONS Grade N41/N44/N48/N52/N54

Details on the above can be refer to JKR Sarawak, Ads on local newspapers, or directly to:

Human Resources Unit,
Ibu Pejabat JKR,
Tingkat 18th, Wisma Saberkas,
Jalan Tun Abang Haji Openg,
93582 Kuching,
Sarawak.

Closing Date: 15 January 2012

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review - PC Review at IGN

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Review - PC Review at IGN

Monkey in Dragon 2012

2012, year of the Black Water Dragon will be very productive and good for learning for the monkey. He will gladly flow into the high pace of work, and will feel at ease in the most intense affairs of 2012. Monkey skillfully using problems as a chance to show all his talents, will show himself in a team. He is optimistic, never discouraged, and even after defeat when other zodiac signs may retreat before difficulties, the Monkey will feel fine, and break forward, despite defeat.

Monkey can take a specialization, or start learning a new profession. A representative of this zodiac sign should always learn something new. An interest in something unknown and unusual will lead him the way even more than ambitious intentions or ambitions. Impulsiveness, a desire to jump through many things at once can hinder Monkey in business because under such activities, he may not see a lot of problems and his own mistakes. The Monkey will not do anything if he doesn't see personal benefits in it, but in 2012 he should also think about those people who work with him. Charity, feasible assistance to the needy will not only melt his proud heart but also help him to communicate with others. Having received good social connections and authority, Monkey may achieve much more in life, and even enter into a better, new orbit of his life, much more successful and faster than the rest of the zodiac signs. Due to the fact that with all impulsiveness, Monkey is still quite cautious, and would not let go of one branch until he grabs another more solid one. His status and financial well-being will not be exposed to all-out risk, his wisdom and foresight will not allow him stake and lose everything.

In early 2012, Monkey will work to lifting his strength, he would have to correct all past mistakes and problems. In the first months of 2012, Monkey should demand for a new, well-deserved position and salary increase, and if he wants - even change his job. In the spring of 2012, a representative of this zodiac sign should be more attentive to their surroundings, not provoke conflict and tension in the team. Now, there is no need to force things, he needs to be patient and perform even the most boring and routine work. This is an instructive time, which would give much for Monkey's future, and most importantly - not lose interest to work. In summer, Monkey will establish new partnerships, conclude contracts and conduct negotiations. This is quite an intense period of time, and a representative of this zodiac sign will be able to show his best side at work. In autumn 2012, Monkey can begin serious work on launching new projects, this is no time for rest and relaxation - great affairs lie ahead, and so, he should concentrate on the main things, be focused at work and become more serious.

In early 2012, Monkey will have a lot of affairs that he will just forget about romance. But to his/her credit, he/she will try to maintain harmony in a relationship, inviting a partner to work together with him/her. Having organized joint activities, the couple may become even closer to each other than they were before. If Monkey will not provoke conflicts, the first half of 2012 will pass peacefully and interesting. Spring is perfect time to finding his/her own happiness, making marriage proposal, and plans for the future.
The second half of 2012 may can come with misunderstanding, irritation between the couple, the spouses may quarrel due to Monkey's over-employment, his/her desire to only be engaged with work to the detriment of his/her family relationship. Single Monkey may meet his/her love before the new year.
 
/sources

2012 Year Of The Dragon

The upcoming 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, which begins on January 23, 2012 and ends on February 9, 2013.  The Dragon is the fifth sign of the Chinese Zodiac, which consists of 12 Animal signs.  The Dragon is a creature of myth and legend.  In ancient China, the celestial Dragon represents an emperor and  power. Today, it  is the ultimate auspicious symbol signifying success and happiness.

1.  Dragon people characteristics: Innovative, enterprising,  self-assured, brave, passionate, conceited, and quick-tempered. The Dragons are the free spirits of the Chinese Zodiac. Restrictions blow out their creative spark that is ready to flame into life.  So, they must be free and uninhibited.
2.  Dragon people usually make it to the top.  But, they must be aware of that too much enthusiasm can leave them tired and unfulfilled.  They find pleasure in helping others, and you can always count on their help.  Even though they are willing to assist when necessary, their pride can often impede them from accepting the same kind of help from others.  Their generous personalities give them the ability to attract friends, but they can be rather solitary people at heart.  Their self-sufficiency can mean that they have no need for close bonds with other people.
3.  Dragon people tend to take thrilling risks, and burn the candle at both ends so they are fortunate to be blessed with good health.  However, they can suffer bad health as a result of excess stress.  Symtoms of their personalities often stem from emotional outbursts and can range from tension headaches to depression to hypertension.  They can remedy these problems by maintaining their cool, implementing a routine in their daily lives, and practice meditation, Tai Chi or Yoga that soothe the mind and spirit as well as tone the body.
4.  Dragon people is not the most domesticated of the Animal signs.  So, people born in the Year of the Dragon  prefer enjoying outdoor activities rather than staying at home.  They are extroverts who have a deep love for nature. Their homes should be as large and majestic as their personalities, providing space for the fiery temperament or emotional eruptions that accompany their character. They have true and sincere love, which comes from the depths of their hearts.
5.  Dragon people are quite imaginative, always able to see new paths and will take a radical approach.  They have innate explorative spirit and  try to succeed at one stroke. They are very adaptable and are fit for various occupations, especially if those occupations allow them to take the limelight. They work hard, but would rather give orders than receive them.  They should avoid jobs that encompass too much routine, and should move toward jobs in which their self-reliance can be an asset.
6.  Dragon people like to spend money and are charitable themselves as well as with others.  Many Dragon people will take big chances with their finances.  It is very rare that  they remain poor for long.  They will always be straightforward in financial dealings and can always be trusted.

Dragon Years: 
Wood : 02/19/1904 to 02/03/1905 , 02/13/1964 to 02/01/1965
Fire : 02/03/1916 to 01/22/1917 , 01/31/1976 to 02/17/1977
Earth : 01/23/1928 to 02/09/1929 , 02/17/1988 to 02/05/1989
Metal : 02/08/1940 to 01/26/1941 , 02/05/2000 to 01/23/2001
Water : 01/27/1952 to 02/13/1953 , 01/23/2012 to 02/09/2013

Dragon Compatibility:

Compatible with : Rat, Monkey, Snake, Rooster, Tiger
Less Compatible with : Dragon, Ox, Rabbit, Pig, Ram, Horse
Least Compatible with : Dog

Positive and Negative Capability:

Positive: The Dragon can be vibrant, magnanimous, charismatic, principled, self-sufficient, discriminating, compelling, sentimental, accomplished, noble-hearted, healthy and prodigiously shrewd.
Negative: The Dragon can also be bombastic, dissatisfied, ruthless, demanding, opinionated, mawkish, egocentric, defensive, power-mad, foolhardy, wilful and pompous.

/sources

Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah - Today's History .. 1492: Columbus reaches the New World

1492
After sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sights a Bahamian island, believing he has reached East Asia. His expedition went ashore the same day and claimed the land for Isabella and Ferdinand of Spain, who sponsored his attempt to find a western ocean route to China, India, and the fabled gold and spice islands of Asia.

Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1451. Little is known of his early life, but he worked as a seaman and then a maritime entrepreneur. He became obsessed with the possibility of pioneering a western sea route to Cathay (China), India, and the gold and spice islands of Asia. At the time, Europeans knew no direct sea route to southern Asia, and the route via Egypt and the Red Sea was closed to Europeans by the Ottoman Empire, as were many land routes. Contrary to popular legend, educated Europeans of Columbus' day did believe that the world was round, as argued by St. Isidore in the seventh century. However, Columbus, and most others, underestimated the world's size, calculating that East Asia must lie approximately where North America sits on the globe (they did not yet know that the Pacific Ocean existed).
With only the Atlantic Ocean, he thought, lying between Europe and the riches of the East Indies, Columbus met with King John II of Portugal and tried to persuade him to back his "Enterprise of the Indies," as he called his plan. He was rebuffed and went to Spain, where he was also rejected at least twice by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. However, after the Spanish conquest of the Moorish kingdom of Granada in January 1492, the Spanish monarchs, flush with victory, agreed to support his voyage.
On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain, with three small ships, the Santa Marýa, the Pinta, and the Niýa. On October 12, the expedition reached land, probably Watling Island in the Bahamas. Later that month, Columbus sighted Cuba, which he thought was mainland China, and in December the expedition landed on Hispaniola, which Columbus thought might be Japan. He established a small colony there with 39 of his men. The explorer returned to Spain with gold, spices, and "Indian" captives in March 1493 and was received with the highest honors by the Spanish court. He was the first European to explore the Americas since the Vikings set up colonies in Greenland and Newfoundland in the 10th century.

During his lifetime, Columbus led a total of four expeditions to the New World, discovering various Caribbean islands, the Gulf of Mexico, and the South and Central American mainlands, but he never accomplished his original goal--a western ocean route to the great cities of Asia. Columbus died in Spain in 1506 without realizing the great scope of what he did achieve: He had discovered for Europe the New World, whose riches over the next century would help make Spain the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth.
/sources

Hari Ini Dalam Sejarah - Today's History .... Jimi Hendrix

1970

Guitarist Jimi Hendrix dies at the age of 28, following a drug overdose in London.

Hendrix was born in Seattle in 1942. He grew up playing guitar, imitating blues greats like Muddy Waters as well as early rockers. He joined the army in 1959 and became a paratrooper but was honorably discharged in 1961 after an injury that exempted him from duty in Vietnam. In the early 1960s, Hendrix backed such musicians as Little Richard, B.B. King, Ike and Tina Turner, and Sam Cooke. He moved to New York in 1964, where he played in coffeehouses.

It was at one of these coffeehouse gigs that British bassist Bryan Chandler of the Animals first heard Hendrix play. Chandler arranged to manage Hendrix and brought him to London in 1966, where they created the Jimi Hendrix Experience with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell. The band's first single, "Hey Joe," hit No. 6 on the British pop charts, and the band became an instant sensation.

In 1967, the Jimi Hendrix Experience made its first U.S. appearance, at the Monterey Pop Festival. Hendrix made a splash by burning his guitar. In the next two years, the band released classic songs like "Purple Haze," "Foxy Lady," and "The Wind Cries Mary." The band's albums included Are You Experienced? (1967), Bold as Love(1969), and Electric Ladyland (1969).

After the band dissolved in 1969 over creative tensions, Hendrix made his famous appearance at Woodstock, playing a masterful, intricate version of "The Star Spangled Banner." Later that year, he put together a new group called the Band of Gypsies, which debuted on New Year's Eve, 1969. The band released only one album, Band of Gypsies (1969). (A second album, Band of Gypsies II, was released in 1986.) Hendrix then recorded another album, without the band, called The Cry of Love, which was released in 1971. Jimi Hendrix played his last concert in August 1970, at the Isle of Wight Festival in Britain.
/sources 


Bio

James Marshall Hendrix
November 27th, 1942 - September 18, 1970

Widely recognized as one of the most creative and influential musicians of the 20th century, Jimi Hendrix pioneered the explosive possibilities of the electric guitar. Hendrix's innovative style of combining fuzz, feedback and controlled distortion created a new musical form. Because he was unable to read or write music, it is nothing short of remarkable that Jimi Hendrix's meteoric rise in the music took place in just four short years. His musical language continues to influence a host of modern musicians, from George Clinton to Miles Davis, and Steve Vai to Jonny Lang.
Jimi Hendrix, born Johnny Allen Hendrix at 10:15 a.m. on November 27, 1942, at Seattle's King County Hospital, was later renamed James Marshall by his father, James "Al" Hendrix. Young Jimmy (as he was referred to at the time) took an interest in music, drawing influence from virtually every major artist at the time, including B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Buddy Holly, and Robert Johnson. Entirely self-taught, Jimmy's inability to read music made him concentrate even harder on the music he heard.
/read more 

Guild Wars 2 - Edge Of Destiny's novel

Don’t move!”
The huge wolf snapped his head upright, eyes blazing.
“Stay exactly like that.”
No one else in the world could order Garm to sit still. 
He was, after all, a dire wolf—fi ve feet tall at the shoulder and twenty stone, with jet-black hackles and fire-red eyes. He was made to lope and chase and drag down. Not to sit still. Not to listen. But he did.
For Eir Stegalkin, he did.
Garm flicked a glance toward the norn warrior. She was tall, too, her hand rising to the rafters twelve feet 
up and snagging a mallet that hung there and bringing the thing down in her brawny grip. Her eyes darted 
toward Garm, who glanced forward again and tried to look fierce.
It wasn’t that he feared this woman and her big hammer, which she swung just then with terrific force, pounding a massive chisel and striking a wedge of granite from a huge block. Garm hazarded a look at that 
block, amorphous and pitted from chisel strokes. Soon, it would be a statue. A statue of him. But that wasn’t why he sat still.
He sat still because she was the alpha.
The mallet fell again, the chisel bit, the block calved. More chunks of stone crashed to the floor, first in wedges and then shards and chips and finally a shower of grit.
Garm’s figure was taking shape.

These were some of first chapter in second novel of Guild Wars series written by J. Robert King.  Taking place two hundred and fifty years after the events in Guild Wars: Prophecies, Edge of Destiny continues to chronicle the events of the original Guild Wars and weaves the legends of the past into the legends that will be made in the upcoming Guild Wars 2. 


Intro taken from Guild Wars 2's website

The Elder Dragons have risen from their millennial slumber, spreading corruption and devastation everywhere. Now the mortal races of Tyria stand on the edge of destiny. Heroes have battled against the minions of the dragons, only to be corrupted by the enemy. Great armies have marched against the dragons, only to be swept away like leaves in a gale. The dwarves sacrificed everything to defeat a single dragon champion. The age of mortals may soon be over.

This is a time for heroes. While the great races stand divided, six heroic individuals will unite to defend Tyria: Eir, the norn huntress with the soul of an artist; Snaff, the asura genius, and his ambitious assistant Zojja; Rytlock, the ferocious charr warrior in exile; Caithe, a deadly sylvari with deep secrets; and Logan, a valiant human with divided loyalties. Together they answer the call. Together they become Destiny's Edge. But will it be enough?

Guild Wars 2 - MMORPG of the age!

Guild Wars 2 is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game in development by ArenaNet. Set in the fantasy world of Tyria, the game follows the re-emergence of Destiny's Edge, a disbanded guild dedicated to fighting the Elder Dragons, a Lovecraftian species that has seized control of Tyria in the time since the original Guild Wars. The game takes place in a persistent world with a story that progresses in instanced environments.

Guild Wars 2 claims to be unique in the genre by featuring a storyline that is responsive to player actions, something which is common in single player role-playing games but rarely (if ever) seen in multiplayer ones. A dynamic event system replaces traditional questing, utilising the ripple effect to allow players to approach quests in different ways as part of a persistent world. Also of note is the combat system, which aims to be more dynamic than its predecessor by promoting synergy between professions and using the environment as a weapon as well as reducing the complexity of the Magic-style skill system of the original game. As a sequel to Guild Wars, Guild Wars 2 will feature the same lack of subscription fees that distinguished its predecessor from other commercially developed online games of the time.

Aion Free Trials!

We are pleased to announce the start of the Aion Free Trials, beginning Thursday, May 26, 2011!
Spread your wings and join in the fight against your ancient enemies! Play Aion’s Free Trial for 10 days and experience the stunning beauty and depth of action found only in Aion! Our new Free Trial landing page will go live May 26, 2011!
Not sure where to start? Our new Faction Incentive Program provides a great entry point for new players. Grab your friends and ascend, Daevas!

Play Aion’s Trial for 10 days FREE

Explore the world of Atreia as you level to 20

Join or create a new Legion with your friends

Learn a craft and forge your own equipment

-The Aion Community Team
/sources Official Aion Website

Aion 2.5 Empyrean Calling

Aion 2.5 Empyrean Calling Goes Live May 25, 2011

Greetings, Daevas!

We are happy to announce that the Aion® 2.5 update, Empyrean Calling™, goes live on our North American and European servers tomorrow, Wednesday, May 25, 2011. Among its many features, Empyrean Calling introduces brand new class skills, improved graphics options, new instances, and the mentoring system. Learn more about all the new content by visiting the Aion 2.5 Patch Notes or the Aion 2.5 Empyrean Calling features page.

Server maintenance on the live servers begins at 3:30 a.m. PDT on Wednesday May 25, 2011. We anticipate that the servers will be down for approximately nine hours while we update to Aion 2.5. We will open the servers for play at 12:00 noon PDT.

The main Aion website will be down for maintenance during this server update. We anticipate our main website will be available by 3:00 p.m. PDT.

How to Get the Update

NCsoft® Launcher: The easiest way to get the Empyrean Calling update is to allow the NCsoft launcher to update and install it automatically.

Aion 2.5 Player Test Server Game Client: Alternatively, if you have already downloaded the Aion 2.5 player test server (PTS) game client, you can follow the method outlined in our Aion 2.5 PTS FAQ to use that patch for your live game client.

Third-Party Download Site: If you prefer, you can get the Aion 2.5 Empyrean Calling patch as an FTP download from one of these sites once 2.5 is launched:

FilePlanet

GamersHell

Steam

It's a great time to play Aion. Dive into all the new features offered in this update, and enjoy the ongoing Daeva Palooza event that celebrates the new content!

—The Aion Community Team

/sources official aion website

Cladding Principle for HighRise Building - Blue Condo Tower, New York

1.0 BLUE CONDO TOWER, NEW YORK

1.0 BUILDING BACKGROUND

1.1 CLADDING PRINCIPLES

1.2 CHOOSING FACTOR

1.3 CLADDING SYSTEM

1.4 CLADDING DETAIL

1.5 GLAZING SELECTION

Blue Tower, New York

New York, NY

2004-2006

50,000 ft2

USD 10 mil

Project Team: Bernard Tschumi, Kim Star, William Fenerman, Adam Dayem, with Dominic Leong, Alan Kusov, Casey Crawmer, Shai Gross, Adam Marcus, Amy Yang.

Consultants: SLCE Architects, Saky Yakas, Carlos Palacios

Curtain Wall Consultants: Israel Berger & Associates

Structural Engineers: Thornton Thomasetti

MEP + FP Engineers: Ettinger Engineers

Façade Contractor: East End Window Technologies,NY.

Client: Angelo Cosentini and John Carson 

PROJECT STATEMENT:

The Blue Condo Tower is a demanding and complex design consisting almost entirely of compound angles at corners. One corner of the building is defined by the intersection of four different planes.

The seventeen-story tower contains thirty-two apartments and rises to a height of 181 feet. This is Tschumi’s first high-rise structure, and his second in New York City, where his main office is located. BLUE also marks Tschumi’s first residential structure.

The project was kept within its budget and schedule with a combination of in-house design and engineering, 3D modeling, CNC manufacturing, factory glazed panels, and a Total Station GPS site survey.

The Blue Condo Tower using a Uni-Wall Curtain Wall System from Architectural Glazing Technology.

The Blue Condo Tower is a demanding and complex design consisting almost entirely of compound angles at corners. One corner of the building is defined by the intersection of four different planes.

Sloped vertical walls lead to inverted sloped walls, and only one small corner of the building, from the 13th floor to the 17th floor, is a typical 90 degree application.

The geometry and visual design of the Blue translated into a project that would be very difficult to build with stick-built curtain wall.

The assemblies part of the system:

-Aluminium unitized glazed curtain wall framing

-Aluminum metal panels, condensate gutters, and louvers;
-Aluminum trim, snap in sealant stops, flashings and similar items in conjunction with aluminum curtain wall assemblies.
-Painting and coating in conjunction with the above aluminum items.
-Internal steel and aluminum reinforcements.
-Internal and perimeter sealants, weeps, vents and gasketing systems. Anchors, embeds, shims, fasteners, inserts, expansion devices, accessories, support brackets and attachments.
-Glass and glazing for the curtain walls.

  

The provide glazed aluminum curtain wall systems meeting or exceeding the following performance requirements:

-Wind loads -Seismic loads

-Deflection Limitations -Dead Loads

-Air Leakage -Water Penetration

-Thermal Movements -Building Frame Movement

-Condensation Resistance -Glass Statistical Factor

Uni-Wall's unique, field-tested design provides three key benefits over conventional curtain wall:

Safety
Aluminium is characteristically a durable and resistant material. It can be adapted to the needs of the users from basic safety to very high level safety.

Faster installation times
Speed of installation is one of the most critical factors impacting overall project cost and schedule. Complete fabricated panels are shipped and erected immediately, eliminating the lengthy process of glazing and capping. Custom aluminum anchor system further simplifies the process by allowing 3-way adjustments to automatically plumb panels.

And since the building can be wrapped horizontally from the inside, requires only about 1/5 the labor required with stick-built curtain wall.

Customizable, and easier to maintain
Custom exterior caps are designed as a secondary extrusion, making them inexpensive to add as an option. They are also designed to roll on and off, if reglazing is ever needed.

Performance requirements
Provide glazed aluminum curtain wall systems meeting or exceeding the following performance requirements:

-Wind loads -Seismic loads

-Deflection Limitations -Dead Loads

-Air Leakage -Water Penetration

-Thermal Movements -Building Frame Movement

-Condensation Resistance -Glass Statistical Factor

AGT ‘s Uni-Wall Unitized Curtain Wall System

Blue Condo tower using a Uni-Wall system cladding from AGT’s which is unitized type. It is factory-assembled, sealed, and glazed. The system provides significantly higher performance than stick-built curtain wall, in terms of movement, load bearing capacity and water penetration.

The Uni-Wall fabricated panels are shipped and erected immediately, eliminating the lengthy process of glazing and capping. It’s faster installation and requires only about 1/5 the labor.
The custom aluminum anchor system allows installers to easily adjust the unit in 3-directions to automatically plumb panels. This provides the flexibility to adapt to variations in the building frame.
Uni-Wall's all-bolt design avoids the weakening of aluminum caused by welding. The approach ensures structural integrity while making fabrication and erection faster. All fasteners are concealed for a clean, uncluttered look.
Uni-Wall panels can be customized to include much more than just glass in the spandrel area of the unit. External shading systems and window washing channels can also be incorporated into the framing system in-case the renovation or removal part in the future.

The advantages of Uni-Wall is that it provides with the flexibility to adjust system sizes and incorporate custom extrusion shapes to meet environmental, engineering or aesthetic requirements.

 

It was a question of aesthetics, which lead to the choice of the largely blue pixilated glass panels stemmed from the need to design a façade for a building on which almost every supporting column was in a different alignment - all while using floor-to-ceiling windows as often as possible

"I hate the kind of context in which people imitate the brick façade next door,“. "It's not just visual: I liked the mosaic of the old and new, the mix of generations on the Lower East Side.“ – Bernard Tschumi Architect