Variety of Ways to Donate to Pakistan Flood Relief

“The Pakistan flooding has affected more people than the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the 2005 Pakistan earthquake and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami combined.”

The U.S. Department of State has established the Pakistan Relief Fund for all to join in the tremendous relief, recovery and reconstruction effort in the aftermath of Pakistan’s devastating floods.
Individuals, corporations and other organizations can send much-needed help to the people of Pakistan through a variety of means.
→ IN THE UNITED STATES
U.S.-based callers can help with relief efforts by texting “FLOOD” to the number 27722, which will contribute a $10 donation to the State Department’s Pakistan Relief Fund. In addition, by texting “SWAT” to the number 50555, U.S.-based callers can make a $10 contribution that will help the United Nations provide the Pakistani people with tents, clothing, food, drinking water and medicine. Working with mGive, U.S.-based callers are also contributing to Pakistan flood relief by texting the word “SWAT” to 50555. The text results in a donation of $10 to the UNHCR Pakistan Flood Relief Effort. Every $10 helps provide tents and emergency aid to displaced families. Information on donating online or sending a contribution via the U.S. mail can be found at the Pakistan Relief Fund site and both methods are available to all donors anywhere.
→ IN PAKISTAN
People in Pakistan are invited to share information and updates by SMS texting the word FLOODS to 7111, the country’s active Humari Awaz (“Our Voice”) cell phone network. Through Humari Awaz, Pakistanis are able to update each other about the latest flood news, get information on valuable non governmental organization (NGO) grant and business opportunities and make new announcements of support, according to a State Department fact sheet. The Humari Awaz social network was launched by Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during her visit to Pakistan in October 2009. To learn how to use Humari Awaz, mobile users in Pakistan need only SMS the words “HELP” or “MADAD” to 7111.The government of Pakistan and the Pakistan cellular phone industry are inviting Pakistanis to contribute to the Prime Minister’s Fund for Flood Relief by texting the amount of their donation to “1234.”
A number of NGO sand companies have announced the creation of trust funds or donations to the Prime Minister’s Fund, according to State Department fact sheets.
→ ADDITIONAL DONATION INFORMATION
The most effective way people can assist is by making cash
contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Cash donations allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed (often in the affected region); reduce the burden on scarce resources (such as transportation routes, staff
time,warehouse space, etc.); can be transferred very quickly and without transportation costs; support the economy of the
disaster-stricken region; and ensure culturally, dietarily and environmentally appropriate assistance.
A list of humanitarian organizations that are accepting cash donations for flood response efforts in Pakistan can be found at
http://www.interaction.org.
Information about organizations responding to the humanitarian situation in Pakistan may be available at http://www.reliefweb.int. More information is also available from the State Department, http://www.state.gov/pakistanflooding; the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID),
http://www.usaid.gov/pakistanflooding; and the Center for
International Disaster Information: http://www.cidi.org.

(This is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Website: http://www.america.gov)

>Top Five Online Scams – What to do

>

1. Auction Fraud

The setup: Online auction fraud accounts for three-quarters of all complaints registered with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (formerly the Internet Fraud Complaint Center). There are many types of eBay chicanery, but the most common one is where you send in your money and get nothing but grief in return.

What actually happens: You never get the product promised, or the promises don’t match the product. The descriptions may be vague, incomplete, or completely fake. One scammer accepted bids for Louis Vuitton bags that she didn’t own, and then scoured the Internet looking for cheap knockoffs that cost less than the winning bid. She managed to collect at least $18,000 from bidders before she got nailed. A buyer thought he’d purchased a portable DVD player for $100, but what he got instead was a Web address for a site where he could buy a player for a $200 discount. The stories are virtually endless.

The risk: You get ripped off, losing time and money. If you spill the beans about the scam, the seller may retaliate by posting negative eBay reports about you using phony names.

The question you’ve gotta ask yourself: Who in their right mind would sell a $200 bag for $20?

2. Phishing Scams

The setup: You receive an e-mail that looks like it came from your bank, warning you about identity theft and asking that you log in and verify your account information. The message says that if you don’t take action immediately, your account will be terminated.

What actually happens: Even though the e-mail looks like the real deal, complete with authentic logos and working Web links, it’s a clever fake. The Web site where you’re told to enter your account information is also bogus. In some instances, really smart phishers direct you to the genuine Web site, then pop up a window over the site that captures your personal information.

The risk: Your account information will be sold to criminals, who’ll use it to ruin your credit and drain your account. According to Gartner, phishing scammers took consumers (and their banks, who had to cover the charges) for $1.2 billion in 2003.

The question you’ve gotta ask yourself: If this matter is so urgent, why isn’t my bank calling me instead of sending e-mail?

3. Nigerian 419 Letter

The setup: You receive an e-mail, usually written in screaming capital letters, that starts out like this:

“DEAR SIR/MADAM: I REPRESENT THE RECENTLY DEPOSED MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE FOR NODAMBIZIA, WHO HAS EMBEZZLED 30 MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS STARVING COUNTRYMEN AND NOW NEEDS TO GET IT OUT OF THE COUNTRY…”

The letter says the scammers are seeking an accomplice who will transfer the funds into their account for a cut of the total–usually around 30 percent. You’ll be asked to travel overseas to meet with the scammers and complete the necessary paperwork. But before the transaction can be finalized, you must pay thousands of dollars in “taxes,” “attorney costs,” “bribes,” or other advance fees.

What actually happens: There’s no minister and no money–except for the money you put up in advance. Victims who travel overseas may find themselves physically threatened and not allowed to leave until they cough up the cash. (FYI, “419” is named for the section of Nigeria’s penal code that the scam violates.)

The risk: Serious financial loss–or worse. Victims of Nigerian letter fraud lose $3000 on average, according to the FBI. Several victims have been killed or gone missing while chasing a 419 scheme.

The question you’ve gotta ask yourself: Of all the people in the world, why would a corrupt African bureaucrat pick me to be his accomplice?

4. Postal Forwarding/Reshipping Scam

The setup: You answer an online ad looking for a “correspondence manager.” An offshore corporation that lacks a U.S. address or bank account needs someone to take goods sent to their address and reship them overseas. You may also be asked to accept wire transfers into your bank account, then transfer the money to your new boss’s account. In each case, you collect a percentage of the goods or amount transferred.

What actually happens: Products are purchased online using stolen credit cards–often with identities that have been purloined by phishers–and shipped to your address. You then reship them to the thieves, who will fence them overseas. Or you’re transferring stolen funds from one account to another to obscure the money trail.

The risk: Sure, you can make big bucks for a while. But after a few months, you’re going to look inside your bank account and find it cleaned out. Worse, when the feds come looking for the scammers, you’re the one they’re going to nail.

The question you’ve gotta ask yourself: Why can’t these people receive their own darn mail?

5. “Congratulations, You’ve Won an Xbox (IPod, plasma TV, etc.)”

The setup: You get an e-mail telling you that you’ve won something cool–usually the hot gadget du jour, such as an Xbox or an IPod. All you need to do is visit a Web site and provide your debit card number and PIN to cover “shipping and handling” costs.

What actually happens: The item never arrives. A few months later, mystery charges start showing up on your bank account. The only thing that gets shipped and handled is your identity. (A more benign variation on this scam drives you to a site where you’re asked to cough up your contact info and agree to receive spam from advertisers until unwanted e-mail is coming out of your ears.)

The risk: Identity theft, as well as lost money if you don’t dispute the charges.

The question you’ve gotta ask yourself: When did I enter a contest to win an Xbox (iPod, plasma TV, etc.)?

>Top 5 cars thieves love most:

>

1. 1994 Honda Accord

–55,170 total Accords stolen nationwide

–Most stolen vehicle in Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington

–Second-most stolen vehicle in Arizona, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin

–Third-most stolen vehicle in Louisiana and Oklahoma

2. 1995 Honda Civic

–48,073 total Civics stolen nationwide

–Most stolen vehicle in Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Utah,

–Second-most stolen vehicle in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia and Washington

–Third-most stolen vehicle in Arizona, Maryland, Rhode Island and Texas

3. 1989 Toyota Camry

–26,245 total Camrys stolen nationwide

–Most stolen vehicle in Kentucky

–Third-most stolen vehicle in California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington

4. 1997 Ford F-150 Pickup

–17,416 total F-150s stolen nationwide

–Most stolen vehicle in Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee and West Virginia

–Second-most stolen vehicle in Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas

–Third-most stolen vehicle in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and New Mexico

5. 2004 Dodge Ram Pickup

–17,405 total Rams stolen nationwide

–Most stolen vehicle in Arizona, Idaho, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas and Wyoming

–Second-most stolen vehicle in Oklahoma

–Third-most stolen vehicle in Kansas and Montana

>Made in China!

>Chinese manufacturers are probably not afraid of copying anything. The pictures show that the Chinese managed to copy such brands as Mercedes, BMW, Smart Cars and even a whole bus. Chinese manufacturers also copy the badges, slightly changing the name.

A Chinese company entitled Haunghai Automobile was definitely not afraid of violating the rights of Hyundai, which created Santa Fe. The Chinese manufacturer duplicated Santa Fe, its car looking just like Hyundai’s SUV. What is most amazing is that both cars were presented at the Beijing Auto Show. During the auto show the majority of industry insiders came up to one conclusion that the whole front of the Chinese car is copied from the Santa Fe, including the radiator grill and head lamps.

The rest of the car looks pretty much like another representative from the Korean auto industry – KIA. The company’s Kia Sorento probably served as the main (if not the only) source of inspiration for the Chinese manufacturers. However, Hyundai Motor is currently the only threat for Haunghai Automobile, who is accused of stealing the design. It is most likely that the Korean car manufacturer will analyze the impact of Haunghai’s creation on the sales of Santa Fe in China before filing the lawsuit. The legal actions will be taken in case the sales in China will severely affect Hyundai.

Another Chinese company, based in Shandong, made a copy of Smart but after Daimler-Chrysler filed complaints against the Chinese replica, the company that created the copy stopped its production. Huo Yun EV, the Chinese vehicle, is in fact different from Smart, especially regarding its engine. The car it runs on an electric engine and not a gasoline powered one. Huo Yun EV reaches 31 mph and its batteries can hold up to 75 miles.

According to an article written in Economist, fake cars that are manufactured by such firms as Shuanghuan Automobile and Chery, are probably be the most complicated. In the picture there are BMW’s X5 and the Shuanghuan CEO.

The average car features 6,000 parts without counting the number of people that fit these parts together in a way that the car can actually be driven. It is amazing how the Chinese are able to make a profit. A real car needs a material cost that cannot be compensated only by cheap labor force. The Economists writes:

“That they can sell these cars for half the price of the originals suggests that something odd is going on. They either do know their own costs (a distinct possibility), have revolutionized car-making (highly unlikely) or are being subsidized in some way. For the time being, no one knows.”

Surprisingly enough Italians also managed to copy a car. Italians were always famous for purchasing exclusive and fashionable bags from Gucci and watches of the popular Swiss brands. At the end of February, 2008, police discovered a new wave of accurate copying. The manufacturers were able to break up the ring trading with fake Ferrari vehicles for a real price fraction.

The police accused 15 individuals of faking red Ferrari sports cars and putting them up for sale to fans of the brand. It is worth mentioning that some of the Ferrari fans were aware of the fact that they purchase a counterfeit car.

People who produced counterfeit Ferrari cars used a few original parts but most of the parts were fakes. The body parts were taken from cars of other brands. These parts included: chassis, roofs, hoods, trunks and doors. Workers modified the part so they would look like the original ones. Some of the counterfeit Ferrari cars were sold for 20,000 euros, which is approximately 1/10^th of the price of genuine Ferrari. Police managed to confiscate 21 cars, seven being produced in Sicilian garages and 14 already sold.

However, not only Italians can accurately fake Ferraris. The Chinese are in the field as well. Franco Frattini, the European Commissioner for Justice and Home Affairs, stated that the Chinese were able to make a counterfeit Ferrari car.

“This is the seventh one, produced in China” mentioned Frattini.

The EC stated that it is going to crack the illegal business down. It has recommended a punishment of minimum four years in prison. The fine that the European Commission puts on fake product manufacturers is at least 100,000 Euro and in case there is a connection with a criminal organization or the business carries a health risk the fine may reach 300,000 Euro.

The members of the European Union may impose greater penalties or fines.

These people are coping every single thing. Now they copied these well known cars and selling them for 1/3 the price.

>Muslim Cities in EUROPE

>

—
Tanvir Akhtar
http://www.open.co.nr

>25 unintentionally inappropriate statues

>http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/25-unintentionally-inappropriate-statues

• 1.

  

• 2.

  

• 3.

  

• 4.

  

• 5.

  

• 6.

  

• 7.

  

• 8.

  

• 9.

  

  Is that a terd?

• 10.

  

• 11.

  

• 12.

  

• 13.

  

• 14.

  

• 15.

  

• 16.

  

• 17.

  

• 18.

  

• 19.

  

• 20.

  

• 21.

  

• 22.

  

  More turtle loving.

• 23.

  

• 24.

  

• 25.

  

>Invisible Cloths! – a Japanese Technology.

>

Robin McKie, science editor
Sunday June 13, 2004
The Observer

They are the ultimate form of camouflage. Put one on, and you disappear from view. One saved Harry Potter from many tight scrapes, and in the film Die Another Day the technology provided James Bond with the ultimate escape vehicle, an invisible car.
But now Japanese scientists have turned fantasy into reality by creating an invisibility cloak that makes it possible to see straight through its wearer. He, or she, simply vanishes from view.

The garment – demonstrated last week at Nextfest, an exhibition of emerging technologies in San Francisco – is the work of Japanese inventor Susumu Tachi, a professor of computer science and physics at the University of Tokyo. ‘It’s a kind of augmented reality,’ he said of his device.

In reality, the ‘optical camouflage’ cloak is anything but invisible. It is made up of ‘retro-reflective material’ coated with tiny light-reflective beads that cover its entire length. The cloak is also fitted with cameras that project what is at the back of the wearer on to the front, and vice versa. The effect, as the Japanese team demonstrated last week, is to make the wearer blend with his background.

The material was used to coat a ball, a brick and a cloak. In each case, it appeared as if the viewer could see through each item as it was moved about by a human operator to the back of the room.

The effect was not total, but it was sufficient to demonstrate that optical camouflage is technically possible, though one expert – writing in Wired magazine recently – pointed out that, for an invisibility cloak to work, it would have to have six stereoscopic cameras built into it, be covered with 11.6 million ‘hyperpixels’, each consisting of a very bright electronic display, and be controlled by a super-fast computer that would run on a power source that could be built into the cloak.

In short, a little more work will be needed before invisibility technology becomes reality, and certainly has some way to go before it reaches the effectiveness of Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak. This originally belonged to his wizard father, James, and is used in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to let Harry move around the wizard village of Hogsmeade unnoticed.

The device is attracting serious attention from military experts keen to exploit a technology that could help troops move into action without being spotted.

Nor does the potential end there, says Tachi’s colleague, Naoki Kawakami. ‘It could be used to help pilots see through the floor of the cockpit at a runway below, or for drivers trying to see through a fender to park a car.’

And, of course, there is also the prospect for mischievous, or even dangerous, misuse, from sneaking Celtic fans into the Glasgow Rangers end at Ibrox to wandering into changing rooms unseen. As one expert said: ‘This technology has an awful lot of potential.’

>WWF

>

wwf_paper.jpg (JPEG Image, 1000×523 pixels)

from FFFFOUND! / EVERYONE by nicedream

100+ people liked this

via http://www.frederiksamuel.com/blog/images/wwf_paper.jpg

>Top 10 Cities of the World with the Most Beautiful Women

>A survey was taken around the world and the results were determined by: 1) Quality of women, 2) Amount of Women per men ratio and 3) Ease of talking to women.

10. Amsterdam, Holland

This city has women more beautiful riding past on bicycles than other cities. Dutch girls are amazing in so many ways, they’re trendy, as well as cool, they’re fun, and they are exceptionally beautiful. They’re the kind of girls that you just want to date for a very long time.

9. Tel Aviv, Israel

Israel has some of the best looking women in the world. Perhaps it is something about those green eyes that are just particularly attractive.

8. Montreal, Canada

The exquisite taste of France but with the convenient location of Canada, Montreal is truly one of the world’s best cities filled with beautiful women. So many universities and colleges and so many women with fashion sense and a desire to take care of their bodies. One of the best parts is that the women all speak French commonly known as the language of love.

7. Caracas, Venezuela

Caracas is the capital of Venezuela. For the record, Venezuela is the country with more Miss Universe Pageant titles than any other nation, therefore you know it’s capital is going to be teeming full of beautiful women. The women of Caracas are so beautiful that they make Brazilian women look like trashier counterparts.

6. Moscow , Russia

Mother Russia is home to some of the world’s finest women. It’s not only the regularity of tall, blonde hair, blue eyed women that make it so great, it’s also the amazing level of friendliness that you will find.

5. Los Angeles, California

How much can be said about L.A. girls, well I think you will find upon arrival that so much can be said you’ll find yourself at a lack of words. The women of L.A. are on a level unlike most any other kind you may have ever seen. All the beautiful people from across the United States flock to this mecca, this is where the cool people come to live, to work, & to try to “make it”.

4. Varna, Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a land of no drug laws, cheap vodka, mechanical bulls on the beach, waterslide and some of the most uninhibited natural beauties in the world. This land has cafes with inflatable furniture, thongs and g-strings everywhere you turn your head, see through pants on every corner and topless sunbathing on every beach. What’s more, these women retain a certain level of class and sophistication and take great care of their bodies. The most important part of Bulgaria is the charm and beauty that you will find in these stunning women.

3. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a city unlike any other. The women of Buenos Aires are beautiful, natural women who are comfortable in their amazing bodies. Nearly every women in Buenos Aires is a model waiting to be found. The parties are legendary and the clubs and events are overloaded with beautiful, approachable, and fun women.

2. Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen’s women are probably some of the most approachable you will ever meet. Also, these women are much more liberated sexually than most other cities throughout the world. They are all over, working in all places and always ready to head to the local bar for a drink or two. The environment runs at a much slower pace and the women enjoy a wide variety of situations.

1. Stockholm, Sweden

It seems like every woman in Stockholm is amazingly beautiful. Also, these women know how to party and enjoy each other. Per capita the women of Stockholm were the most beautiful. These women were also extremely educated and friendly. These women make you feel good in every way. Sweden is a must visit on a future vacation!

>10 Top Tech Towns

>

Using highly scientific methodology as well as algorithms snuck out of NASA and Google, we analyzed cities across the US to find the top 10 places to get your geek on.

LEGEND:

Wired assessed the geek cred of more than 30 major US cities by crunching the following numbers:

Proximity to top-ranked engineering schools

Tech jobs, per capita, on Dice

Personal ads, per capita, on Geek 2 Geek

Craigslist postings per capita

Number of attendees at local meetings of dorkbot, a group for “people doing strange things with electricity”

Availability of free Wi-Fi

Comic book stores per capita

Circuit City stores per capita

SEATTLE
The charms of the Emerald City go way beyond late-night cafés, plentiful microbreweries, and the world’s premier science fiction museum. Catch the local Weird Science Salon, where monthly meetings promise “cryogenic marshmallow liquid nitrogen shenanigans” and “blowing stuff up.”

= 9

= 7

= 6

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
Attend a dinner party in the Bay Area and be prepared to discuss Verizon’s Bluetooth support, the inner workings of Ajax, or network neutrality. Nerds are in their element here, and the tech-celebrity sightings are legendary.

= 10

= 9

= 8

LOS ANGELES
Southern California is home to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab and Caltech. Plus, MySpace was born here, and Electronic Arts and Yahoo have offices. Then there’s the porn industry, which can turn you into Scorsese for the cost of a camera, two girls, and a broadband link. Take that, Hollywood.

= 7

= 6

= 5

AUSTIN
Inspiration for Slacker, epicenter of the first EFF battle, home to Dell, Whole Foods, and South by Southwest. Not to mention host to the most dorkbot attendees in the country. Only downside: It’s surrounded by Texas.

= 10

= 9

= 8

ORLANDO
All that Battlestar Galactica will come in handy: Walt Disney World and Epcot actually pay you to make the unreal seem real. When you’re ready to engage with planet Earth again, check out the city’s craigslist site, one of the most happening in the country.

= 10

= 9

= 8

RALEIGH-DURHAM
The jocks here may get worked up about college hoops, but the tech set is passionate about Linux distros and Mac-PC holy wars. North Carolina’s Triangle is ground zero for Red Hat, SAS Institute, and an IBM center. Bonus: The area hosts two World Beer Festivals a year.

= 7

= 7

= 6

PITTSBURGH
Come for the country’s top-ranked computer science school; stay for the robotics startups that Carnegie Mellon alums are founding. If androids aren’t your style, try for a gig at Google’s new engineering office.

= 10

= 7

= 6

NEW YORK CITY
Tech startups are back, and Wi-Fi is everywhere. And Asperger’s sufferers can rejoice: Being antisocial isn’t rude – it’s your civic duty. New York is also perfect for marathon coding sessions, since anything – food, drugs, hookers – can be delivered.

= 8

= 6

= 5

BOSTON
Obsessive open source hacking, multitasking operating systems, involuntary celibacy … it’s like geekiness was invented here. Winters may be frigid, but at least there are lots of single nerds to hibernate with.

= 9

= 9

= 8

WASHINGTON, DC
DC isn’t just a policy-wonk utopia, it’s also the ultimate place to be a coder looking for love. There are more postings from the nation’s capital on Geek 2 Geek, an online dating service for nerds, than from any other city we surveyed.

= 10

= 10

= 9