7 steps to keep your RIM Blackberry healthy and happy

Your Blackberry device is just like your PC and behaves exactly like it. Storing more and more data on your device can reduce its performance and slow it up considerably. Here is a list of things that you can do to keep your Blackberry device up and running at optimum health.

1. Delete all Unnecessary Applications: You might have installed more applications than you actually need on your Blackberry device. Your Blackberry would run faster and perform better if you keep only those applications that you actually use.

2. Delete all Unimportant text and email messages: Having old and unimportant text and email messages on your device can consume too much space and memory. Therefore it is good idea to delete such messages from your device.

3. Make use of Content Compression to free up space and memory: Your Blackberry comes with a feature called "Content Compression". You can use it to compress all your Blackberry data including messages, contacts, calendar entries, tasks, and memos and free up memory.

4. Get rid of your multimedia junkies: Multimedia files such as music and video files take up too much space and memory. Therefore it is a good idea to move them to an external memory card such as a micrsoSD card or delete them regularly from your device.

5. Optimize your Calendar appointment settings: The Blackberry Calendar stores a lot of information such as past appointments, meetings and other events. Therefore it is a good idea to adjust calendar settings to keep only the most up to date data. If your calendar stores important data and you don't want to get rid of, then it is a good idea to backup your data before deleting it.

6. Clear your Event Log regularly: Just like your PC, the blackberry device keeps log of all events and processes running on it. With time this log can grow considerably in size and take up too much space and memory. Therefore it is good idea to clear your Event Log regularly.

7. Clear your Browser's Cache regularly: Your Blackberry web browser keeps information of all sites that you visit in its cache. Clearing it regularly can result in better performance.

1 food that can help you sleep—and 4 that might not

Warm Milk: Decades ago, scientists looked into this folk remedy and posited that tryptophan, an amino acid in milk (and turkey), might be responsible for its supposed sleep-inducing effects. Earlier research had shown that when tryptophan is released into the brain, it produces serotonin—a serenity-boosting neurotransmitter. But when milk (and other tryptophan-rich foods) were tested, they failed to affect sleep patterns, perhaps because other amino acids in those foods competed with tryptophan to get into the brain. Warm milk at bedtime may be comforting, but it won’t boost sleep-promoting serotonin.

Herbal Tea: Chamomile, lemon balm, hops and passionflower are all touted for their sleep-promoting properties. You’ll often find them in “sleep-formula” tea blends, but unfortunately their effectiveness hasn’t been proven in clinical studies, according to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Some experts say that these teas may work for some, and a warm liquid before bed may make you sleepy by generating body heat. That said, a cup of “sleep-time” tea might be worth a try.

Caffeine: Caffeine affects everyone differently, so if you’re sensitive it might be worth trying to cut down—or limit caffeine to the morning only. This can mean more than just cutting out a cup of coffee. The major sources of caffeine in Americans’ diets are coffee (71 percent), soft drinks (16 percent) and teas (12 percent) but chocolate is also a source. Our ability to excrete caffeine decreases with age so while you might have tolerated four cups of coffee a day when you were 20, you’ll probably need to cut down as you get older. Cut down on caffeine or limit it to the morning; if insomnia persists, consider going cold turkey. Try this drink to cure a headache & 4 more home remedies for common ailments.

Alcohol: Though a glass of wine may help you fall asleep, excessive alcohol use can make you wake up in the night. One theory is that alcohol suppresses the REM (rapid eye movement) sleep state that’s critical to a good night’s sleep. Drink moderately, if at all; avoid drinking within a few hours of bedtime.

Sleep Supplements: Shelves in supplement stores are stacked with sleep formulas. According to one NIH survey conducted in 2002, 1.6 million people tried complementary or alternative therapies like these, and over half of them reported their insomnia improved “a great deal.” However, those glowing anecdotes haven’t been backed up by rigorous scientific study; evaluations of most nutritional supplements haven’t shown any effects whatsoever. The one exception is valerian root, which seemed to help improve sleep (with rare, and mild, side effects, such as stomach upset). But finding an effective formulation of valerian root is tricky, since the FDA doesn’t regulate herbal supplements. Don’t waste your money on sleep supplements; hold off on using valerian until standardized formulations become available.

thanks to Shine from YAHOO

Body from Scratch

I was watching CNN the other day when this show came up: Untold Stories. They had a very captivated topic on that particular episode called “Body from Scratch”. I stayed glued to my seat to find out what this topic was all about since I had some rice on fire.

The story was about how some doctors in the U.S.A. had found ways to trick or make the human body regenerate/repair/re-grow/heal tissues/body parts by applying a powder like substance called ECM to the body.

ECM is the short form for Extracellular Matrix. It is strangely gotten from Pig bladder/intestine. Under the influence of ECM, salamanders re-grow limbs, deer grow new antlers and a human fetus grows and re-grows body parts.

It is currently being used regularly to treat ulcers by closing the hole in the tissue that lines the stomach, but further research is currently being done by many universities as well as the U.S.A. Government for wounded soldier applications. As of early 2007, testing was being carried out on a military base in Texas. Scientists are using a powdered form on Iraq War veterans whose hands were damaged in the war.

Watch CBS News Videos Online

More BlackBerry Battery Tips: Six Ways to Make Your Smartphone Last Longer

BlackBerry devices used to be renowned for their impressively long battery lives. But with all the features and functionalities packed into modern RIM smartphones during the past couple of years, some of that battery longevity has vanished

1) Avoid Excessive Game Play or Media Consumption

The latest generation of BlackBerry smartphones has impressive multimedia features that let you download, store and listen to and/or view a wide-variety of media types. You can listen to music on your microSD card; stream live NBA basketball games via the popular NBA Game Time app; listen to your favorite artists via a number of different Internet radio offerings; or play handfuls of games you downloaded from RIM's BlackBerry App World.

But you should be aware that such applications, especially apps that constantly stream data over wireless connections, are very likely eating up battery life like hungry gamblers at a casino buffet. Many of these apps also require that you keep your display turned on while you use them, so the screen backlight is also draining battery every time you hit or stand in blackjack.

2) Understand and Maximize Your Use of Wireless Connections

You can easily activate or deactivate your BlackBerry wireless connections by clicking your "Manage Connections" icon and then choosing which options you desire--Mobile network "on"; Wi-Fi "off"; and Bluetooth "on," for example.

But you can also turn off all data connections while still leaving the voice-capabilities active. To do so, open the "Manage Connections" options, click the "Services Status" item and then click your BlackBerry Menu key, which is located directly to the left of your trackball/trackpad. Next, choose Mobile Network Options from the menu, and on the following screen, deactivate Data Services.

If you're using a 3G GSM device, like either BlackBerry Bold, you can also turn off your faster 3G connection for a less battery-intensive 2.5G, or EDGE, connection. Just click your Manage Connections icon again, hit Mobile Network Options and scroll down to Network Mode. In the Network Mode menu, choose "2G." But remember, you won't be able to access your 3G network until you reactivate that network mode.

3) Close Unused Applications—Even if You Reopen Them Soon

Many BlackBerry applications utilize RIM's respected "push" technology, which brings messages, notifications and alerts to your device almost instantly after the corresponding service receives them. That's all fine and good--except for the fact that it takes battery life to initiative the transactions and receive new data. The more apps you have open that use some sort of auto-update process, the more battery life those apps are eating up.

4) Standby Mode is Your Friend

You can quickly and easily put many BlackBerry devices into "Standby Mode" to conserve battery life when not in use, among other things. Standby Mode is different than the BlackBerry screen/keypad lock in that it not only freezes your device keyboard, but also deactivates your display, saving power.

You'll need to push the Mute key again--or reenter whatever key combo activates standby--to turn it off. So if you find that your device is on but won't start up when you press keys, ensure it's not in standby.

5) Disable Your Camera's Flash

To modify your camera's flash settings, open the BlackBerry camera app by clicking on the Camera Icon on your BlackBerry home screen. When the camera view finder is open, click your BlackBerry Menu key, hit Options and change the Default Flash Setting to "No."

Hit your Escape key to exit out of the Options menu, save your changes, and your flash will be turned off the next time you open the camera. To turn it back on, simply reverse the process.

6) Add E-Mail Accounts Sparingly

Every time an e-mail message or group of messages is delivered to your BlackBerry inbox, your overall device battery-life diminishes. So, to maximize BlackBerry battery life, you should only connect "relevant" e-mail accounts to your smartphone.

It's a good practice to connect only the mailboxes you employ most frequently to your BlackBerry device, since reducing the number of mailboxes will not only increase your overall battery-life, but also de-clutter your main BlackBerry Messages folder.

thanks to CIO

Blackberry Storm 9530 5.0 Theme Fix

I have a storm but its not my primary Blackberry and I had no intention of upgrading until I got some verifiable reports that the upgrade was solid. Now that it has effected themes specifically I figured I needed to do a little reading aka googling

I upgraded my Storm 9530 to the OFFICIAL and was promptly greeted by the ugly wallpaper bug. As reported the fix does work but I will break it down for you step by step.

First and foremost this fix does work but it has to be done each time you change your theme or your wallpaper.

Step 1. Change to the theme you would like to use.

Step 2. Change your wallpaper to a new wallpaper of your choice(I will be posting some wallpapers for premium members so that you can basically change your wallpaper to the stock theme wallpaper)

Step 3. After changing your wallpaper, navigate to options, then to Themes. You will notice a blue box next to your active theme. Tap on the box and you will be taken to an options screen.

Step 4. Once you open the theme options change it from 2 rows to 1 row. It will ask you to save. Go ahead and save it but do not back out of the screen. After you save change it back to 2 rows and save again.

Your theme should now operate as normally intended. This may seem a bit complicated but once you do it, I’m sure you will understand. Any questions feel free to let me know.

credits to “http://www.blackberrythemepark.com”

Denu

- so I was given my first site meeting out of the city this year,
2010. Couldn't have been at a better location than Denu a small town
right outside Aflao the boarder town between Ghana and Togo.

- looking at the nature of the place and ethnicity, I decided to go by
public transport to be on a safer side, just in case . . .
The trip was to take about 3hrs. Had to catch the morning bus that
leaves at 8 in the morning

- first thin one sees as u leave the city is the large stretch of land
that looks like a virgin about to be touched for the very first time.
The air is so fresh due to all the greens occupying the land in that
part of the country.

- we had our first stop a few minutes after "sogakope". All I could do
was watch faces. I couldn't hear a cod damn thin anyone was saying.
Apart from the baby wailing and screaming behind me the whole trip.

- some of the towns we drove thru are: Sogakope, Hlevi, Alesikekpe,
Dabala, Lolito, Nyinuto, Sokutime, Atrevenu, Agortoe, Salo . . .
don't bother trying to pronounce them, u r definitely going to get it
wrong.

- on the rd I didn't see no s-class, no 5-series or even a toyota
matrix aka go kart. All u could see were buses aka trotro, bicycles
and a few taxis aka cabs. This makes u ask yourself if people leaving
in these parts of the country ever listen to sirius radio or even get
the chance to watch super sports or ESPN.

- trips like this should be taken at least ones a year by every
claiming citizen of the country to learn a lot about humility and good
governance

--
Francis A. Opoku
Unique Josap Engineering Limited
Mech. Engineer
Mobile: +233 (26) 644-8493
Home: +233 (21) 400791
Office: +233 (21) 220454

5 Foods Every Man Should Eat More Of

1 of 5

Fatty Fish

The American Heart Association recommends eating fish—particularly fatty fish—at least twice a week. Fatty fish are incredibly nutritious; some of the best picks include salmon, mackerel, lake and rainbow trout, tuna, anchovies, sardines, and herring. All are high in protein, low in saturated fat, and are rich in calcium and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

First, let's talk fats. Ounce for ounce, wild coho salmon has about half the saturated fat content of a 95 percent lean beef patty, and slightly more protein. And unlike the saturated fat in that burger, which greatly increases the body's production of blood cholesterol, the omega-3s found in fish have a cleansing effect on the circulatory system. They reduce blood viscosity and clotting and lower lipid levels and blood pressure. Omega-3s not only minimize your risk of stroke and heart attack by preventing the damage that causes them, they also help heal tissues damaged from poor circulation by promoting better blood flow.

For general health, they're not so bad, either. Omega-3s reduce the bodily inflammation that contributes to many types of disease, and research suggests they may play a role in preventing Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Salmon, mackerel, and sardines have the highest levels of healthy omega-3 fats, although all seven fish listed above are good sources.

Omega-3s aren't the only nutritional benefits you'll find in these fish, though. Tuna is a rich source of such minerals as selenium, magnesium, and potassium, as well as B vitamins, including niacin, B1, and B6. It's also an excellent source of the amino acid tryptophan, which helps regulate appetite and improves sleep and mood. Salmon has high scores in all the same nutrients, in addition to being a good source of B12 and a concentrated source of vitamin D. Fatty fish are the richest food source on earth of naturally occurring vitamin D—salmon, tuna, and mackerel score particularly high. Sardines offer vitamin D, B12, and calcium (thanks to their edible bones). Herring, a close relative of the sardine, is often sold, packaged, and marketed as sardines. Herring is an excellent source of B12 and selenium, and a good source of B6 and phosphorus.

Oceans Alive, a division of the Environmental Defense Fund, lists many of these fatty fish on its "Eco-Best" list, meaning they're not only good for you but they're being caught or raised in ways that are also sustainable and healthy for the environment. If you're worried about contaminants like mercury and industrial pollutants like PCBs, visit the Oceans Alive Web site for information on the levels of contamination in all types of fish, along with recommendations about how often you can safely incorporate them into your diet. A good rule of thumb: Smaller fatty fish, such as anchovies, herring, and sardines, tend to be lower in contaminants than larger fish.

 

2 of 5

Whole Oats

Oats are an excellent source of manganese and a good source of selenium, tryptophan, phosphorus, vitamin B1 (thiamin), dietary fiber, magnesium, and protein. One cup of cooked oats provides more than 6 grams of protein, more than almost all breakfast grains, particularly those that are corn- or wheat-based.

Harvard researchers who followed 21,376 participants over a period of nearly 20 years in the Physicians' Health Study found that men who had a daily serving of whole-grain cereal had a 29 percent lower risk of heart failure. Oats contain a soluble fiber known as beta-glucan that provides numerous health benefits, from helping reduce fat in the blood to preventing hardening of the arteries that can lead to heart attacks, stroke, or dangerous blood clots. Not only does beta-glucan protect against cardiovascular disease, it also supports the body's immune response by stimulating white blood cell activity. And it stabilizes blood sugar, lowering your risk of type 2 diabetes.

One of the best things about oatmeal is that it's a perfect canvas for pairing with other tasty, healthy ingredients. Walnuts and flaxseed, for example, are even more concentrated in omega-3s than fatty fish; two tablespoons of flaxseed provides 146 percent of the amount recommended for a man's daily diet, while a quarter cup of walnuts provides 95 percent of the daily recommended amount. Almonds and raisins are rich in boron, which enhances testosterone levels in men, helping build muscle and contributing to bone health. Boron has also shown protective effects against prostate cancer. Other good oatmeal toppers include hazelnuts, pecans, and pumpkin seeds; all three contain a plant sterol that's been shown to ease the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, a common prostate condition in men over 40. If you like your oatmeal sweetened, try raw honey—it helps lower total cholesterol and is loaded with protective antioxidants.

 

3 of 5

Tomatoes

Tomatoes and derivative products, such as tomato sauce and ketchup, contain many nutrients that support overall health, but there are two primary reasons they made this list: First, they're a great source of the potent antioxidant lycopene; and second, unlike a couple of other lycopene contenders (namely, watermelon and guava), they're available everywhere year-round.

Research shows a strong association between high lycopene consumption and lower rates of prostate cancer—the second leading cause of cancer death in men. In addition to exhibiting preventive effects, lycopene also seems to inhibit the spread of existing cancer and to decrease malignancy. It has shown protective benefits against pancreatic cancer, which is more common in men than women and is one of the most fatal of all cancers, largely due to late diagnosis. Lycopene is also being studied for its effect on male fertility; research suggests that it may boost sperm concentrations in infertile men.

Finally, tomatoes contain phenolic acids, which combat lung cancer, the second most common cancer in men and by far the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society.

 

4 of 5

Mushrooms

Jessica Black, doctor of naturopathic medicine and author of The Anti-Inflammation Diet and Recipe Book, points out that mushrooms are a powerful immune stimulant and immune modulator. "They're great detoxifiers because they thrive on what's decaying around them," she says. Black adds that reishi mushrooms have been shown to reduce cancer-causing free radicals by 50 percent.

You don't have to restrict yourself to the more exotic varieties of mushrooms, though. You'll find health benefits in all types of mushrooms that are available at your local grocery store or farmers' market.

Take creminis, for example. Available at almost any grocery store across America, creminis are an excellent source of selenium, copper, tryptophan, potassium, phosphorus, and the vitamins B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B5 (pantothenic acid). They're also high in zinc, manganese, protein, and vitamins B1 (thiamin) and B6 (pyridoxine). For good measure, creminis also provide decent amounts of folate, dietary fiber, magnesium, iron, and calcium.

Here are just a few of the benefits of B vitamins: They combat fatigue, maintain energy levels, help lower cholesterol levels, stabilize blood sugar, coordinate nerve and muscle activity, aid in the development of nerve cells, and support mood and proper heart function. The essential trace element selenium has been used to treat male infertility and has shown benefit in protecting against Parkinson's disease. It's also been shown to trigger the repair of damaged DNA and to inhibit the spread of cancer and stimulate apoptosis (destruction) of cancer cells.

If that's not enough, consider how much animal protein you consume in your everyday diet. Then ask any vegetarian what he or she makes for die-hard carnivorous friends (the ones who start sweating at the thought of a single meal without meat) at a dinner party. Nine times out of 10, you'll get the same answer: mushrooms. All mushroom varieties have a nice, earthy flavor when cooked and can be used as a base for savory gravies, soups, stews, or casseroles. Portobellos in particular make an excellent and flavorful meat substitute due to their size and robust texture. Make them the star dish: Roast them, barbecue them, stuff them, use them in place of burgers. The options are endless.

 

5 of 5

Mollusks

Mollusks comprise one of the largest animal groups on land, in oceans, or in fresh water. Bivalves, the class of mollusks that includes clams, mussels, oysters, and scallops, are extremely rich in a unique combination of nutrients that promote men's health. Think red meat is your best bet for protein and iron? Think again. Bivalves are a superior source of low-calorie protein loaded with iron. In addition, they're virtually fat free and are packed with zinc and vitamin B12.

Consider clams: They're super-rich in iron, manganese, phosphorus, vitamin B12, vitamin C, and are a good source of niacin, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, and zinc. Three ounces of raw clams will only cost you 63 calories, but you'll get 11 grams of protein, 66 percent of the daily recommended amount for iron, and 700 percent of the daily recommended amount for vitamin B12. Chinese medicine recommends clams for treating hemorrhoids.

Mussels are high in iron, manganese, vitamin B12, and selenium and are a good source of phosphorus, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin C, and zinc. Three ounces of raw blue mussels contain only 73 calories, but you'll get 10 grams of protein, 19 percent of the daily recommended amount of iron, upward of 50 percent of the recommended amount for selenium, and more than 100 percent of the recommended amount for manganese, which aids in wound healing and optimal brain functioning. In Chinese medicine, mussels are used to treat impotence, low back pain, and goiter.

Six medium raw oysters, which is roughly equivalent to three ounces, provides 31 percent of the daily recommended amount for iron and 6 grams of protein for just 57 calories. Oysters are high in iron, B12, zinc, selenium, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus. What's more, oysters contain the amino acid tyrosine, which is converted into dopamine in the brain, resulting in a mood and mental boost.

Scallops are an excellent source of tryptophan and a good source of protein, vitamin B12 (cobalamin), phosphorus, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and potassium. To give you an idea how scallops measure up, three raw ounces provide 14 grams of protein and a good amount of B12, all for 75 calories.

Vitamin B12 is a power player in the world of nutrition. It takes on a crucial role in the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system, aids in digestion and proper absorption of nutrients from foods, fights chronic fatigue, and helps expedite the release of melatonin, improving sleep patterns and resulting in better, more restful sleep. B12 also helps maintain red blood cells and nerve cells and aids in the formation of DNA.

Zinc helps balance blood sugar, sharpens smell and taste, and supports immune function. Zinc also plays an important role in supporting male reproductive health. Inadequate zinc has been shown to adversely affect sperm quality, while zinc supplementation has shown benefits in overall sperm health, including higher sperm counts. Other good sources of zinc include sea vegetables.

Send a free SMS to your friends from Gmail

Did you know that you can now send free text messages (SMS) to your friends directly from your Gmail account?

Try Gmail SMS today and start texting your friends from your computer.

Log into your Gmail account. In the Send SMS box above Chat, enter the phone number you want to send a SMS to.

In the dialog box, enter Contact name of the SMS recipient and check that country and phone number are correct. Then, click Save.

Type your message in the chat window and hit Enter.

Your message will be sent to the phone number you entered.

If your contact replies, the text message response will appear as a reply in Chat. These conversations are stored in your Chat history just like regular chats. Learn more about Gmail SMS.

Note: Sending a message is free from Gmail to any phone. When replying with an SMS from phone to Gmail, you will be charged a regular SMS rate by your mobile provider. Gmail SMS is currently available in Ghana with MTN, Zain, Tigo and Kasapa.

what to do when Vista is stuck on the "configuring updates" screen

This happened to my auntie a couple of months ago. I didn't really think it was that serious since I wasn't a fun of Vista back then and I thought it was a problem with her copy of Windows Vista. But I have come to realize that it is a major Vista flaw affecting about 89.5% if Vista owners including my *sweedy*

Also I had to put this up since I recently restored my machine back to vista after Win7 build 7600 wasn't running smooth enough as build 7100 did for me. I hope it helps solve the problem for everyone out there and also that I can look back to this when my vista starts acting funny.

 

SOLUTION 1

Reboot machine and press F8 before the windows vista screen appears...then choose repair....then select command prompt....the do the following

1. Type cd C:\windows\winsxs and then press ENTER.
2. Type ren pending.xml pending.old and then press ENTER.
3. Type regedit and then press ENTER.
4. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Now click on the File menu and then click Load Hive.
Locate the following folder:
C:\windows\system32\config\components
When you are prompted for a name, type Offline_Components.
5. In Registry Editor, locate and then delete the following registry subkey:
HLKM\Offline Components\AdvancedInstallersNeedResolving
HKLM\Offline Components\PendingXmlIdentifier
6. Type exit and restart your computer.

This should solve the problem....and once you are inside your  machine click on the updates icon and choose to install updates manually.

 

SOLUTION 2

1. Use the reset button to restart or just pull the battery out and then restart the computer
2. would prompt you about not being shutdown properly. (if it didn't just keep pressing F8 as soon as the pc starts to boot)
3. Choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
4. Change directory to c:\windows by doing the following:
type "cd c:\windows" without the exclamation marks
then "ren c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution c:\windows\SoftwareDistribution.old" also without the exclamation marks
5. Reboot

 

SOLUTION 3

1. Insert your Vista install disc into your drive and boot from it or just reboot your laptop and keep pressing F8 as it starts to boot, if it works it would give you a couple of options to boot from.
2. Select "Safe Mode with Command Prompt" from the list.
3. Type cd c:\Windows
4. Type cd WinSxS
5. Type del pending.xml
6. Exit and reboot

Caltech gurus whip up highly efficient, low cost flexible solar cell

I’m still praying and hoping for a day when solar cells would be as cheap as  possible so every household could get one esp. in Africa. Saw this articel posted on twitter last week and decided to share it with my SOLAR funs

Solar cells are cute and all, but let's be real -- these things are far too inefficient for mainstream use. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology are working hard to remedy that very issue, and they've recently concocted a "new type of flexible solar cell that enhances the absorption of sunlight and efficiently converts its photons into electrons." The solution relies on arrays of long, thin silicon wires embedded onto a polymer substrate, which uses just a fraction of the expensive semiconductor materials required by conventional solar cells.

According to professor Harry Atwater, these cells have "surpassed the conventional light-trapping limit for absorbing materials" for the first time, and we're told that the arrays can convert between 90 and 100 percent of the photons they absorb into electrons, and yes, that does mean that they have a near-perfect internal quantum efficiency. Hit the source link for all the technobabble, and cross your fingers for this stuff to get the honored approval of the Governator.

EE Times

Caltech