Asia's biggest colorless diamond sold for $6.2 mln

HONG KONG - A 101.27-carat diamond the size of a squash ball and the largest colorless stone to be auctioned in Asia, has fetched $6.2 million at a Christie's sale in Hong Kong on Wednesday.

The gem, which is internally flawless but rated VVS1 (very very slightly imperfect 1st degree) for clarity was sold after patchy bidding for HK$48.5 million including the buyer's premium, a relatively low per-carat price and at the low-end of its pre-sale estimate.
The diamond is the largest colorless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years and one of only three colorless diamonds of over 100-carats ever to be auctioned, Christie's said. It was also the biggest colorless diamond ever to be sold in Asia.

The diamond is the largest colorless diamond to appear at auction in 18 years and one of only three colorless diamonds of over 100-carats ever to be auctioned, Christie's said. It was also the biggest colorless diamond ever to be sold in Asia.
While rare polished diamonds achieved all-time highs per carat at sales in Geneva late last year, a much-hyped 72.22 carat "D" flawless white diamond failed to sell at a Sotheby's Hong Kong auction in April, suggesting demand for top stones may be waning due to a weakening world economy.
The 101-carat "shield-shape" stone was cut from a 460-carat hunk of rough crystal and mounted on a tiara, rather than a necklace or pendant given its extraordinary thickness.
Naming rights for the gem will be granted to the new owner, whom Christie's would only reveal as a private buyer.

Eat right, Stay well

Vitamin D deficiency can cause weakened bones and lead to osteoporosis. Recent research has now linked a vitamin D deficiency to breast-cancer progression. Think about your diet and your average daily time in the sun, and then talk with your doctor about whether you might need a supplement.

With all the recent news about vitamin D's protective powers, you may be thinking you have to start taking a supplement immediately. But here are a few things to consider before you jump on the supplement bandwagon.

Multivitamins and most calcium tablets usually contain a healthy dose of vitamin D. So if you're currently taking other vitamin supplements, check their labels to see how much vitamin D you're already getting. Both children and adults, by the way, should ingest no more than 2,000 IU of vitamin D per day.

The reason we need more vitamin D as we get older is that, as the body ages, the skin is less able to make vitamin D from the sun, and also the kidneys become less able to convert vitamin D to a form the body can use. You can get your vitamin D from sunlight, food, and supplements. Many people can produce sufficient amounts of vitamin D by getting out in the sun twice each week, without sunscreen, for 5 to 30 minutes each time, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

What's really going on when you Sleep and it's benefit?

Have you ever watched someone sleep and wondered what he or she was dreaming? The person’s outward appearance would never give it away: slow breathing, eyes occasionally fluttering, but mostly the very picture of peace and stillness. But, appearances can be deceiving. When people sleep, there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye. The notion of sleep as the body’s ultimate “down time” has some truth to it, but sleep is also an active process, in which the brain can be remarkably active, even if the body

Why Do We Sleep?

The function of sleep is not entirely clear, but researchers believe that REM sleep is important for solidifying memories, and perhaps for even more critical functions. Rodents completely deprived of REM sleep die after a few weeks. Non-REM sleep, meanwhile, seems to be important in providing a sense of restored energy and ability to concentrate during the day. A number of theories about sleep attempt to explain its role or roles: a restorative for the mind and body in preparation for the day ahead; or a way of reducing energy consumption, to save energy for activities occurring during the day. Some scientists believe that sleep is evolution’s way of improving survival by preventing animals from preying on each other 24 hours a day.

Too little sleep or poor-quality sleep can cause a number of problems, including difficulty with short-term memory, concentration, depression, anxiety, irritability, poor energy and reduced libido. In short, quality of life at work and at home may suffer terribly due to insufficient or poor sleep. All of these problems may resolve when sleep duration increases or sleep quality improves.

One problem related to sleep deprivation deserves particular emphasis: Automobile and truck accidents attributed to sleepy drivers account for thousands of deaths each year.

Although the impact is uncertain in humans, sleep-deprived rodents have reduced immune function and higher susceptibility to infection.

The Bottom Line

The importance of sleep is self-evident, yet much remains unknown or uncertain about how we sleep, why we sleep and how to improve sleep. One thing is certain, however: Sleep is not a passive process or a complete “shut down” of the body – many stages of sleep are as active for the mind as being awake. So, the next time you see someone sleeping, keep in mind that though the body may look quiet and peaceful, there is much more to the story.

Indiana Jones returns May 22 in the long-anticipated film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Indy, of course, is not just a globetrotting adventurer but also an archaeologist.

This time Indy battles menacing Russians who are after crystal skulls that have the ability to control people's minds. Yet while the Ark of the Covenant and the Holy Grail may be mythical, crystal skulls are quite real.

The mythology

There are many skulls in the world carved out of quartz, of varying sizes and designs, though not all of them are steeped in myth and romance. There are only a handful of the largest, life-size skulls in existence, and they have inspired awe for generations.

They are said to be hundreds of years old, and possibly of Mayan or Aztec origin.

The skulls are indeed a sight to behold; I examined a glowing, clear skull in the Smithsonian for about 20 minutes, trying to tease out its secrets. Beyond the artistry of carved crystal, many believe the skulls have special abilities, such as aiding psychic abilities, healing the sick-or even power over death.

Truth

I watched this movie online and as usual it was totally entertaining just like before. Full of actions and adventures and I like it very much. I recommend it for you to see bloggers.

Flamingo Large pink and red wading bird, related to and similar to the heron, a stork, and spoonbill but with a longer neck, its feet are webbed, and a unique down bent bill.

Flamingos live in a tropical climate, although at times colonies have been observed high in the Andes. The American flamingo is now rarely seen in Florida nesting chiefly in the West Indies. Its plumage eight vermilion with black marks on the wings; a common South Asian and African flamingo is scarlet with black wing feathers.

When eating the flamingo scoops it's a large bill backward, shallow water in marshes and lagoons. When closed, the serrated and aquatic plants, shellfish, which the bird feeds. The nest is a cone of mud 1 to 2 ft. high and about 1 ft. across with a depression on top. The mates take turns incubating the one or two eggs, sitting astride the nest with their legs folded flat on either side.

McDonald's cooking fries in trans-fat-free oi

CHICAGO - McDonald's french fries are now trans-fat-free in all its restaurants in the United States and Canada, the fast-food restaurant chain said Thursday.

oil out of worries it would compromise the taste of its trademark fries. It has been under increasing pressure from consumer advocates and some public officials to make the change.

The new oil is canola-based and includes corn and soy oils.

CEO Jim Skinner told shareholders at the annual meeting at its headquarters in Oak Brook, Ill., that the new oil has been in use in U.S. restaurants for a few months now for french fries, hash browns, chicken, filet of fish and biscuits.

He said McDonald's is on schedule to convert to the new oil by year's end for its remaining baked items, pies and cookies.

Skinner said the company decided not to advertise the changes.

McDonald's Corp. has nearly 14,000 restaurants in the United States.

Its shares fell 32 cents to $58.46 in late morning trading.

14-Day Low Calorie Diet

14-Day Low Calorie Booster Diet: Summary

• 14-day eating plan to boost fat loss, or lose those last few pounds
• Provides six meals/snacks a day to help your metabolism to run as fast as possible
• Choose from 2 alternative menu-plans:
  (1) easy quick-cook meals; or (2) fast-food/convenience meals
• Calorie values given for EVERY FOOD ITEM
• Full list of food substitutions for picky eaters
• Full snack list
• Full shopping list
• Full list of fast food options

Different diets may come and go, but at the end of the day, successful weight management always comes back to calories. If you take in more energy (calories) than you spend, you will gain weight; eat less and you'll lose. The trick is to find meals that will satisfy your hunger, daily nutrient needs and, last but not least, your desire for great-tasting food.

Delightful Shrimp Picture

Greek Shrimp

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoons minced garlic
• 3/4 cups chopped fresh tomatoes
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 1 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground black pepper to taste
• 3/4 pounds large shrimp , peeled
• 2 ounces feta cheese, cut into 1/2" cubes

Heat the oil in a 10-12" skillet over medium heat.

Add the garlic, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it colors.

Add the tomatoes, wine, one half of the parsley, the oregano, salt and pepper.

Cook, stirring, until the sauce is the thickness of a light puree.

Add the shrimp and continue to cook until they turn pink, about 5 minutes.

Add the feta and stir very gently, trying to keep the delicate cheese from crumbling and falling apart.

Garnish with the remaining parsely and serve.

My Low Calorie Diet will definitely help you to lose weight. But don't forget, eating the right food is only part of the answer. The other part is being motivated to stick to your diet. This is why support is such a vital feature of my weight loss program.

Some facts about Roses

The rose is the favorite flower of 85% of Americans.

Rose hips contain more Vitamin C than any other fruit or vegetable.

Shakespeare referred to roses over fifty times in his works.

The oldest rose in the world has flourished for over 1,000 years on the wall of Hildeshiem Cathedral in Germany.

It is a fact also that I love them.

Roses, especially the fragrant ones, turn a hum-drum garden into a place of exquisite beauty. If you enjoy the fragrance of roses drifting on an evening breeze, you will want to learn all you can about growing them. It’s easy and roses come in almost every color of the rainbow, so it’s simple to find roses that will fit into your garden’s theme and color scheme.

My perfume

Seduce the senses with an intriguing orange flower note with fresh ginger accents and the caress of honey-sandalwood accord creating an unforgettable and captivating new encounter. A woman's mysterious code of seduction revealed.

My dream face powder

This bronzer contains Skinvigorating™ ingredients like vitamins A and E, which act as antioxidants to fight free radical damage and mineral pigments that are known for their soothing and softening properties. Plus, it's phthalate-, and mineral oil-free. Dermatologist-tested.

attending cousin's wedding

it's me practicing to smile

hello

Hello everyone, Im just new to this blogging hobby and I find it interesting now. Just knew it with friends talking about it and I just did not mind because I thought it would be difficult for me who is not really fun of posting things in the computer. I should have to explore and know more things and get some ideas here.

hello

Hello everyone, im just new to this blogging hobby and i find interesting now. Just knew with friends talking about it and I just did not mind because i thought it would be difficult for me who is not really fun of posting things in the computer.