20 Most Happy Countries in the world

The 20 most happy countries in the world.

1. Denmark
2. Switzerland
3. Austria
4. Iceland
5. The Bahamas
6. Finland
7. Sweden
8. Bhutan
9. Brunei
10. Canada
11. Ireland
12. Luxembourg
13. Costa Rica
14. Malta
15. The Netherlands
16. Antigua and Barbuda
17. Malaysia
18. New Zealand
19. Norway
20. The Seychelles

Some notable countries you don’t see in the list falls respectively at USA (23), France (62), China (82) Japan (90), India (125)

And the least happy countries are: Democratic Republic of the Congo(176), Zimbabwe(177), Burundi(178)

from here

100 Keyboard shortcuts (Windows)

Microsoft windows keyboard shortcuts. You might know most of these shortcuts, but not all.

CTRL+C (Copy)

CTRL+X (Cut)

CTRL+V (Paste)

CTRL+Z (Undo)

DELETE (Delete)

SHIFT+DELETE (Delete the selected item permanently without placing the item in the Recycle Bin)

CTRL while dragging an item (Copy the selected item)

CTRL+SHIFT while dragging an item (Create a shortcut to the selected item)

F2 key (Rename the selected item)

CTRL+RIGHT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next word)

CTRL+LEFT ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous word)

CTRL+DOWN ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the next paragraph)

CTRL+UP ARROW (Move the insertion point to the beginning of the previous paragraph)

CTRL+SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Highlight a block of text)

SHIFT with any of the arrow keys (Select more than one item in a window or on the desktop, or select text in a document)

CTRL+A (Select all)

F3 key (Search for a file or a folder)

ALT+ENTER (View the properties for the selected item)

ALT+F4 (Close the active item, or quit the active program)

ALT+ENTER (Display the properties of the selected object)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Open the shortcut menu for the active window)

CTRL+F4 (Close the active document in programs that enable you to have multiple documents open simultaneously)

ALT+TAB (Switch between the open items)

ALT+ESC (Cycle through items in the order that they had been opened)

F6 key (Cycle through the screen elements in a window or on the desktop)

F4 key (Display the Address bar list in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

SHIFT+F10 (Display the shortcut menu for the selected item)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the System menu for the active window)

CTRL+ESC (Display the Start menu)

ALT+Underlined letter in a menu name (Display the corresponding menu)

Underlined letter in a command name on an open menu (Perform the corresponding command)

F10 key (Activate the menu bar in the active program)

RIGHT ARROW (Open the next menu to the right, or open a submenu)

LEFT ARROW (Open the next menu to the left, or close a submenu)

F5 key (Update the active window)

BACKSPACE (View the folder one level up in My Computer or Windows Explorer)

ESC (Cancel the current task)

SHIFT when you insert a CD-ROM into the CD-ROM drive (Prevent the CD-ROM from automatically playing)

Dialog Box Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+TAB (Move forward through the tabs)

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the tabs)

TAB (Move forward through the options)

SHIFT+TAB (Move backward through the options)

ALT+Underlined letter (Perform the corresponding command or select the corresponding option)

ENTER (Perform the command for the active option or button)

SPACEBAR (Select or clear the check box if the active option is a check box)

Arrow keys (Select a button if the active option is a group of option buttons)

F1 key (Display Help)

F4 key (Display the items in the active list)

BACKSPACE (Open a folder one level up if a folder is selected in the Save As or Open dialog box)

Microsoft Natural Keyboard Shortcuts

Windows Logo (Display or hide the Start menu)

Windows Logo+BREAK (Display the System Properties dialog box)

Windows Logo+D (Display the desktop)

Windows Logo+M (Minimize all of the windows)

Windows Logo+SHIFT+M (Restore the minimized windows)

Windows Logo+E (Open My Computer)

Windows Logo+F (Search for a file or a folder)

CTRL+Windows Logo+F (Search for computers)

Windows Logo+F1 (Display Windows Help)

Windows Logo+ L (Lock the keyboard)

Windows Logo+R (Open the Run dialog box)

Windows Logo+U (Open Utility Manager)

Accessibility Keyboard Shortcuts

Right SHIFT for eight seconds (Switch FilterKeys either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN (Switch High Contrast either on or off)

Left ALT+left SHIFT+NUM LOCK (Switch the MouseKeys either on or off)

SHIFT five times (Switch the StickyKeys either on or off)

NUM LOCK for five seconds (Switch the ToggleKeys either on or off)

Windows Logo +U (Open Utility Manager)

Windows Explorer Keyboard Shortcuts

END (Display the bottom of the active window)

HOME (Display the top of the active window)

NUM LOCK+Asterisk sign (*) (Display all of the subfolders that are under the selected folder)

NUM LOCK+Plus sign (+) (Display the contents of the selected folder)

NUM LOCK+Minus sign (-) (Collapse the selected folder)

LEFT ARROW (Collapse the current selection if it is expanded, or select the parent folder)

RIGHT ARROW (Display the current selection if it is collapsed, or select the first subfolder)

Shortcut Keys for Character Map

After you double-click a character on the grid of characters, you can move through the grid by using the keyboard shortcuts:

RIGHT ARROW (Move to the right or to the beginning of the next line)

LEFT ARROW (Move to the left or to the end of the previous line)

UP ARROW (Move up one row)

DOWN ARROW (Move down one row)

PAGE UP (Move up one screen at a time)

PAGE DOWN (Move down one screen at a time)

HOME (Move to the beginning of the line)

END (Move to the end of the line)

CTRL+HOME (Move to the first character)

CTRL+END (Move to the last character)

SPACEBAR (Switch between Enlarged and Nor mal mode when a character is selected)

Microsoft Management Console (MMC) Main Window Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+O (Open a saved console)

CTRL+N (Open a new console)

CTRL+S (Save the open console)

CTRL+M (Add or remove a console item)

CTRL+W (Open a new window)

F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)

ALT+SPACEBAR (Display the MMC window menu)

ALT+F4 (Close the console)

ALT+A (Display the Action menu)

ALT+V (Display the View menu)

ALT+F (Display the File menu)

ALT+O (Display the Favorites menu)

MMC Console Window Keyboard Shortcuts

CTRL+P (Print the current page or active pane)

ALT+Minus sign (-) (Display the window menu for the active console window)

SHIFT+F10 (Display the Action shortcut menu for the selected item)

F1 key (Open the Help topic, if any, for the selected item)

F5 key (Update the content of all console windows)

CTRL+F10 (Maximize the active console window)

CTRL+F5 (Restore the active console window)

ALT+ENTER (Display the Properties dialog box, if any, for the selected item)

F2 key (Rename the selected item)

CTRL+F4 (Close the active console window. When a console has only one console window, this shortcut closes the console)

Remote Desktop Connection Navigation

CTRL+ALT+END (Open the m*cro$oft Windows NT Security dialog box)

ALT+PAGE UP (Switch between programs from left to right)

ALT+PAGE DOWN (Switch between programs from right to left)

ALT+INSERT (Cycle through the programs in most recently used order)

ALT+HOME (Display the Start menu)

CTRL+ALT+BREAK (Switch the client computer between a window and a full screen)

ALT+DELETE (Display the Windows menu)

CTRL+ALT+Minus sign (-) (Place a snapshot of the active window in the client on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

CTRL+ALT+Plus sign (+) (Place a snapshot of the entire client window area on the Terminal server clipboard and provide the same functionality as pressing ALT+PRINT SCREEN on a local computer.)

Internet Explorer navigation

CTRL+B (Open the Organize Favorites dialog box)

CTRL+E (Open the Search bar)

CTRL+F (Start the Find utility)

CTRL+H (Open the History bar)

CTRL+I (Open the Favorites bar)

CTRL+L (Open the Open dialog box)

CTRL+N (Start another instance of the browser with the same Web address)

CTRL+O (Open the Open dialog box, the same as CTRL+L)

CTRL+P (Open the Print dialog box)

CTRL+R (Update the current Web page)

CTRL+W (Close the current window)

from here

Playing Video Games Improve Vision by 20 Percent

Research says playing video games improves your bottom line on a standard eye chart

Video games that contain high levels of action can actually improve your vision, claim researchers at the University of Rochester. Their findings, which will appear in the journal Psychological Science, show that people who played action video games for a few hours a day over the course of a month improved by about 20 percent in their ability to identify letters presented in clutter—a visual acuity test similar to ones used in regular ophthalmology clinics.

"Action video game play changes the way our brains process visual information," says Daphne Bavelier, professor of brain and cognitive sciences at the University of Rochester. "After just 30 hours, players showed a substantial increase in the spatial resolution of their vision, meaning they could see figures like those on an eye chart more clearly, even when other symbols crowded in."

Bavelier and graduate student Shawn Green tested college students who had played few, if any, video games in the last year. "That alone was pretty tough," says Green. "Nearly everybody on a campus plays video games."

At the outset, the students were given a crowding test, which measured how well they could discern the orientation of a "T" within a crowd of other distracting symbols—a sort of electronic eye chart. Students were then divided into two groups. The experimental group played Unreal Tournament for roughly one hour a day. The control group played Tetris, a game the researchers believe is equally demanding in terms of motor control, but visually less complex than the shooter.

After about a month of near-daily gaming, the Tetris players showed no improvement on the test, but the Unreal Tournament players could tell which way the "T" was pointing much more easily than they had just a month earlier.

"When people play action games, they're changing the brain's pathway responsible for visual processing," says Bavelier. "These games push the human visual system to the limits and the brain adapts to it. That learning carries over into other activities and possibly everyday life."

The improvement was seen both in the part of the visual field where video game players typically play, but also beyond—the part of your vision beyond the monitor. The students' vision improved in the center and at the periphery where they had not been "trained." That suggests that people with visual deficits, such as amblyopic patients, may also be able to gain an increase in their visual acuity with special rehabilitation software that reproduces an action game's need to identify objects very quickly.

from here

Top ten famous robot video

1. Qrio – the all-dancing bipedal robot
See footage of four QRIOs performing a complicated dance routine, (Windows Media Player required) recorded in December 2003.

2. Roomba and Scooba – domestic robots
See videos of the Roomba Vacuuming Robot at work on the IRobot Corporation's web site (Macromedia Flash Player required). 3. The self-replicating robot

See footage of the self-replication process (courtesy of Hod Lipson at Cornell University - Windows Media Player required).

4. The spherical security guard
See an animation and images of the robot on the Rotundus AB web site (Quicktime required).

5. Aibo – the robotic pet
A short video, available from Sony's research and development lab in Paris, France (Windows Media Player required), shows an Aibo pup that has learnt to play with its toys and bark at another robot nearby.

6. Stanley – the autonomous car
See a video of Stanley at work here on the Stanford University web site (available in several formats)

7. Asimo – the first walking humanoid robot
See videos of Asimo running and delivering a tray of coffee on the Honda web site (Macromedia Flash Player required).

8. NASA's Mars rovers – labs on wheels
See a NASA animation showing how the rovers work (Quicktime required).

9. The tiniest remote-controlled robot
See videos of the tiny bot here here (courtesy of Dartmouth College, available in several formats).

10. The fly-eating robot

See videos of the fly-eating robot here on the researchers' web site (available in several formats).

from here

Top 10 Paying Careers

By: Tony Jacowski

It is no secret that surgeons earn a hefty $189,590 annual salary on an average in the United States today. But the most unexpected news is the salaries of physicians' assistants whose yearly average annual salary is an astonishing $63,490. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that their minimum qualification is a college degree and in addition a mandatory accreditation course. It is interesting to know which jobs are the top 10 paying ones in America. There are many surveys producing different results. Although there are some minor differences, most of them agree at least 7 out of 10 times.

The Best Paying Jobs in The United States

Interestingly, surgeons scored 7 points over CEOs, whose average annual salary was $134,960. The skill and the complex nature of the work contributes to their high salaries. That they carry a student loan of upto $100,000 is another factor that contributes.

The top professions on the list is followed by anesthesiologists with $181,420, Obstetricians and gynecologists earning $179,640, Internists, general $158,350 and the list goes on. In 9th place are dentists, whose reported annual average earning is $133,350. With the exception of the CEO who stands at the 8th position in the list, the top professions are all dominated by medical and healthcare professionals.

Personal financial advisors may find a place in the list of top ten earners, were it not for the huge variation in their earnings. An extremely brilliant personal financial advisor may earn up to $145,000 but the lower end is a paltry $28,330. The high salary fluctuation is because of its high growth potential coupled with high economic growth and the educational index required by the job.

Medical scientists earn an average of $100,000, which may be a measly sum, considering their educational backgrounds (PhD & doctoral degrees). But they precede podiatrists ($94,500), lawyers ($91,920), optometrists ($88,100) and computer and information systems managers whose salaries are around $83,890.

Surprisingly, so many other jobs and careers pay significantly higher salaries than positions in federal and state governments. For example, take the salaries of judges, which are positions of high significance in the society, which are at a level of $79,540. This can be understood by looking at the enterprising nature of corporations that hire these professionals.

Let's, now take a look at the next top 10 paying careers in brief:

1.Pilots, co pilots and flight engineers $99,400pa

2.Marketing managers $78,410pa

3.Computer software and applications engineer $76,310pa

4.Biomedical engineer $70,520;

They are trained in biology as well as engineering and work to develop solutions to health problems.

5.Environmental engineer $67,620 They work to fight damages to environment

6.Computer systems analyst $67,520 Systems analysts ensure that organizations make the best of their technological resources

7.Database administrator $61,950

Database administrators create and manage large quantities of financial, inventory and customer data.

8.Physical therapist $61,560

9.Network systems and data communication analyst $61,250

10.Chemist $60,880

from here

Ten Best Ways to maximize your Workout Time

When you’ve got a busy schedule crammed full of meetings and work, you don’t have time to mess around with your workout. You want to get the best results possible for the time you invest – the good news is that you can get extra benefits with just a few simple changes to your workout!

1. Keep proper form.
One of the most common mistakes in exercise is not maintaining the right form during the workout. Bad form can lead to muscle pain and stiffness but, more importantly, bad form prevents you from burning as many calories as you normally would. Maintain good posture during exercise and you’ll build more muscle faster!

2. Take giant steps.
During your cardio workout, take deep, wide steps to shape up your thighs and buttocks. By taking a larger step than normal, you require more effort from your muscles – more effort equals more strength and shapeliness. Short, shallow steps don’t place enough stress on the muscle to produce fast results, but when you change to bigger movements, you start to see serious muscle taking shape. The same concept is true for running as well: runners who take long, deep strides burn more calories and cover more distance than short-striders.

3. Listen to your breath
During a cardio workout, check your breathing to see how hard you’re truly working. If you can carry on a conversation with ease, it’s time to increase intensity. How to know when you’re at the right level? The general rule of thumb is that when you can sing the national anthem but need a breath after every phrase, you’re most likely at the appropriate level for your needs. You should never work out so hard that you can’t talk or begin to feel faint.

4. Double up your workouts.
Add weights to your cardio routine (or vice versa) and you can start to see results within three weeks! You really see the best of both worlds by using interval training. Interval training is highly effective because you introduce your body to a new challenge every five minutes or so. Traditional cardiovascular exercises focus on building aerobic capacity while weightlifting concentrates on increasing muscle strength. Combining the two into one interval training workout means you get benefits from both!

5. Add variety.
The fastest way to become disillusioned with your workout is to do the same thing over and over again, plus your body can become conditioned to the movements and fail to burn as many calories as you would like. Avoid all this by surprising your body with new and different challenges at least once a week. If you typically run several times during the week, try hiking at a nearby park. If you’re a Spinning devotee, take a Pilates class instead. The ultimate switch-up for most exercisers is swimming: an exercise that requires much more aerobic and muscle strength that imagined. Do a few laps in the pool and you’ll see what I mean.

6. Challenge yourself.
Set a goal for yourself every week that is beyond your normal effort. Try lifting weights that are five pounds heavier than you normally use, or walking three miles daily rather than two. Small goals like this are easily attainable and can make big changes in the results you see from your workout.

7. Introduce yourself to stretching.
Stretching is sometimes the crazy uncle of the exercise family – nobody really wants to talk about it, but the fact is stretching is key to getting more out of your workout. Stretching assists in muscle recovery from strenuous workouts and can prevent soreness that might stop you from working out. Your entire body feels more comfortable when you have strong, flexible muscles. Spending a few minutes when you wake up and again before and after your workout really add up in terms of flexibility.

8. Don’t exercise on an empty stomach.
Sure, it may seem efficient to work out when you haven’t eaten in hours but in reality it’s a bad decision. When your body’s fuel supply is low, you start feeling sluggish and slow – definitely not the ideal mood for a productive workout. An empty stomach does not equal more calories burned.

9. Snacks, not meals, provide the best fuel.
After dining at the all-you-can-eat buffet, you may feel like you should work out just to compensate for overeating, but don’t do it. Exercising on a full stomach can lead to cramps, upset stomach, and/or diarrhea because your body is trying to digest the meal and also provide you with energy at the same time. The best way to fuel your body without nasty side effects is to have a small snack 15 to 30 minutes before you exercise. Ideal snacks include foods with adequate carbohydrates: bread, cereals, and rice.

10. Drink plenty of water.
You’ve heard it over and over, but it really is true: water will help you lose weight. Water helps fill your stomach to stop hunger pangs and keeps you alert throughout the day. When you become dehydrated, your entire body slows down and works much less efficiently. Working out causes you to lose hydration through sweat, so it’s important to replace lost water after a workout.

We all run short on time these days but by incorporating one or more of these simple strategies you can maximize your workout time and see fantastic results fast!

Condoms stop climate change

Condoms turn students onto climate change

New survey shows students think climate should be Government's biggest priority

A hard-hitting climate change advertising campaign showing condoms covering a coal station chimney, a car exhaust and aeroplane engine will be launched in universities across the country this month as part of Friends of the Earth's The Big Ask campaign.

The launch of the ad campaign coincides with the publication of a new survey which shows that the majority of students think that climate change should be the Government's biggest priority, with 95 per cent agreeing it is an important issue - ahead of issues such as the war in Iraq, terrorism and student loans.

The Friends of the Earth campaign, funded by DEFRA, will run as a series of poster and table top ads in 30 university campuses throughout England. The campaign also features a website www.climatesafe.co.uk where students can play an addictive on-line game of skill, involving a polar bear hurling ice cubes at a gas guzzling 4x4. As well as learning more about climate change, players will also be invited to enter a prize draw to win a pair of inter-railing tickets.

The campaign, urging `Protection against Climate Change', aims to highlight that solutions to climate change do exist and that students have an important role in tackling it. Students are an important audience, as many of them will be tomorrow's decision makers.

Although Friends of the Earth's survey shows high student recognition that climate change is a problem, research shows that those aged between 18 and 22 are the least informed about the solutions.

Friends of the Earth director, Tony Juniper, said:

“Climate change is the biggest threat the planet faces. But the solutions to tackle it, such as alternative energy sources and energy efficient technologies, already exist, and there is still time to act. It's encouraging that so many students recognize the importance of tackling climate change. Tomorrow's climate is today's challenge, and students have a crucial role to play in ensuring that we move towards a low-carbon economy.”
Survey

Over 700 students were questioned by The Student Panel, carrying out research for Friends of the Earth. The survey revealed that:
95 per cent agreed that climate change is an important issue (with 66 per cent “strongly” agreeing);
95 per cent agreed that there are things we can do to tackle climate change;
59 per cent agreed that Friends of the Earth is helping to tackle climate change

Students feel that not enough is being done to combat climate change. There were low satisfaction rating for action by Government (12 %), industry (7 %) and the public (8%).

Students also said that climate change should be the Government's biggest priority, ahead of terrorism, the war in Iraq, HIV and student loans.

from here