Blogger admits 'Gay Girl in Damascus' hoax

Rights campaigners reacted furiously after a US student based in Scotland unmasked himself as the author of the "Gay Girl in Damascus" blogs, which charted the security crackdown in Syria.
Tom MacMaster, a 40-year-old Edinburgh University masters student, admitted Sunday that he was "Amina Abdullah", who had described "herself" as a Syrian political blogger.
The Abdullah character rose to fame with her reports on the pro-reform movement, posting as "an out Syrian lesbian's thoughts on life, the universe and so on".

Then last Tuesday someone claiming to be her cousin wrote on the website that Abdullah had been snatched off the street by three armed men and bundled into a car bearing a pro-government window sticker.
The report sparked a wave of alarm among her online followers. Supporters even set up a "Free Amina Abdullah" group on the social networking site Facebook, attracting nearly 15,000 followers.
MacMaster finally came clean in a posting on his blog Sunday, after doubts began to emerge as to whether Abdullah really was for real. He admitted that he was the sole author of the posts.
"I never expected this level of attention," MacMaster wrote in an "Apology to readers" posted on the blog.
"While the narrative voice may have been fictional, the facts on this blog are true and not misleading as to the situation on the ground.
"I do not believe that I have harmed anyone -- I feel that I have created an important voice for issues that I feel strongly about," MacMaster added.
"I only hope that people pay as much attention to the people of the Middle East and their struggles in this year of revolutions."
The Guardian newspaper said that in recent days, bloggers had uncovered evidence that pointed towards MacMaster and his wife Britta Froelicher.

MacMaster is a Middle East activist, while his wife is studying at Scotland's St Andrews University for a doctorate in Syrian economic development.
In his apology, MacMaster said he had been touched by the reaction of readers.
But the revelation of the hoax has sparked fury among some former followers of the blog, particularly those who had been campaigning for Abdullah's release.
"This just makes me so angry," said one comment on the Facebook group set up to press for her release.
"The situation in Syria is too dire for this sort of gameplaying!"
"Time and effort was taken away from other vitally important news stories happening in Syria," another contributor protested.

Four Intriguing New Smart Phones

Samsung Infuse 4G

At Consumer Reports, we're continually testing the latest smart-phone offerings. And recently, several of the most promising and even ground-breaking cell phones we've seen in a while have come into our labs for testing: The Samsung Infuse 4G, T-Mobile G2x, Sony Xperia Play, and Nexus S 4G. Here's a rundown on each phone and why Senior Editor Mike Gikas thinks it stands out from the crowd.

Samsung Infuse 4G

This AT&T phone features a big, brilliant display at 4.5-inches. And in our tests of the Infuse 4G, colors popped, and videos were smooth and sharp. The phone also features an 8-megapixel camera with 720p video recording and HDMI playback, so you can view videos on your TV. The Samsung Infuse has accomplished an impossible task: Squeezing one of the largest and perhaps best displays in telecom land into an incredibly slim, pocket-friendly package—seemingly without making any compromises regarding performance. $200 after rebates with a two-year contract.

By ConsumerReports.org

T-Mobile G2x

T-Mobile G2x

This sharp-looking device is one of the first smart phones with the ability to record video at 1080p. And it has one of the best HD video recorders we’ve ever seen on a phone--on a par even with some standalone camcorders The camera, which includes a flash, has more than the usual amount of manual controls, including ISO adjustments and other image settings. And the G2x has an HDMI connector—so you can hook it up to your TV and view your photos and video. $200 after rebates with a two-year contract.

Sony Xperia Play

Sony Xperia Play

This hybrid gadget combines a portable gaming console with a smart phone, and does an admirable job of balancing those disparate demands. Gaming on the Play is very much like using one of the non-phone Sony portables: Its controls will be instantly familiar to PlayStation veterans. It also offers built-in Wi-Fi, so you can engage other gamers via the Web. Over 50 games were available at launch, and more are on the way. And it’s a top-notch Android phone, as well. $200 after rebates with a two-year contract.

Samsung Nexus S 4G

Samsung Nexus S 4G

The Nexus S 4G give Sprint customers a leg up for key Google services. Significantly, it’s the only device that will work with Google Wallet—the company’s upcoming pay-by-phone system—at launch. Another is Google Voice, which lets you manage up to six different phones through one number with intelligent call routing. The phone also features a 4-inch touchscreen and a 1-GHz Samsung processor with a dedicated graphics processor, which can enhance performance for mobile games, Web browsing, and videos. And finally, the Nexus S 4G can serve as a 3G/4G mobile hotspot for up to six Wi-Fi enabled devices simultaneously. $200 after rebates with a two-year contract.

Copyright © 2006-2011 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc. No reproduction, in whole or in part, without written permission

Beware! Wrong Diet Make Difficult Pregnancy

Women who are obsessed to have a slim body should be careful in choosing dietary pattern to be applied.
Because the wrong diet can make unbalanced hormones. As a result, women may have fertility problems, aka trouble conceiving.
A nutritionist from Kraft Foods Phillippines, Joan Sumpio, RND, FPAN said that if intake is not balanced nutrition can cause hormone disruption. If hormones are having problems, all activities of the body including the reproductive organs can come disturbed.

"Let's just say these women experience menstrual disorders. If erratic menstrual cycle, the woman's fertile period is also not regular. If the fertile period is irregular or even crash," said Joan.
Joan added that the process of ovulation requires balanced nutrition. Although the composition of the nutrients needed in the process of ovulation is not known precisely, but the presence of nutrients clearly plays an important role.

A study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology shows a link between iron intake and the level of fertility in women. Apparently, women who consumed the amount of iron in higher levels of a lower risk of infertility.
Consumption of iron to 41 mg / day (maximum safe limit for consumption was 45 mg / day) can reduce the risk of infertility rate to 62 percent. Just a note, the problem of infertility observed in this study is the problem of infertility associated with ovulation (the release of eggs from the ovary).
"Calories are needed by women who wish to become pregnant and are pregnant. Unfortunately, many women stay away for fear of fat calories," says Joan.

Therefore, Joan suggested that women who want to diet to consider her diet choices. Do not get because of wrong eating and difficult pregnancy.
"If I need to consult a nutritionist. To what slim body but have a hormonal disorder and is difficult to have children," added Joan. (*)

 
TRIBUNnews.com

Cuisine Empal Pride Cirebon

Empal meat is usually served with fried dried. But in Cirebon, Empal presented in a different way. It feels? Delicious.

One of the typical culinary dish is the famous Cirebon Empal barrel. This is a beef dish cooked with coconut milk and betawi glance looks like a soup. Usually, Empal barrel presented with large skin crackers known as crackers rambak.

 

In Cirebon, dining Empal barrel is the famous "Mrs. Darma Empal barrel. " Located not far from the train station, this simple restaurant is always crowded by visitors.

A plate of Mrs. Darma Empal barrel complete with crackers and beverage rambak can you eat with a price of USD 20 thousand. For those of you who wanttravel to Cirebon , immediatelystopped by this restaurant . Usually, this restaurant was closed at 1300 GMT because of all the available Empal barrel was gone.

Besides Empal barrel, another menu that's worth a try is Empal acid. Unlike Empal barrel, sour sauce Empal presented without coconut milk and spicy sour taste. These dishes are very fresh when eaten, so no wonder if you feel addicted.

 

Empal restaurant's most famous acid in Cirebon is Empal Amarta acid. Located not far from the village of "Batik" Trusmi. If you visit Trusmi, please use the rickshaw to go to the restaurant Amarta a cost of USD 10 thousand. As for eating Empal barrel menu complete with rice and drinks, you need to spend USD 20 thousand only.

Let's travel to Cirebon!

by : Amelia Ayu Kinanti

Bloodthirsty pack of dogs take out 350-lb. llama

Local law enforcement officials in Northeast Washington state are worried about a pack of dogs that have attacked at least 100 animals since March. The pack, they fear, is now "killing for fun."
The wild dogs took out a 350-lb llama on Tuesday night, the latest in a string of attacks that have left more than 100 goats and other farm animals dead in the ranching community of Stevens County. The dogs, whose breeds are so far unknown, emerge only at night, but residents in their predatory range in the valleys and mountains near Spokane are afraid the canines may be getting bolder.

"I think they are capable of do anything at this point," Deputy Sheriff Keith Cochran told KXLY4, adding that he's worried the animals may just be preying on area creatures for the sport of it. Undersheriff Lavonne Webb told the AP the pack is " killing for the sake of killing."

"They are doing it to be cruel, they're bloodthirsty," resident Temma Davis told the station. "It's like 'Cujo.' "
Webb told the AP it's possible some of the four or five dogs in the pack aren't wild and go home to their owners during the day. One resident managed to snap a photograph of the pack, above.
(Dogs: Courtesy of the Stevens County Sheriff's Office/AP)

By Liz Goodwin

Six Cars Everyone Wants But No One Can Get Forbes

I’ve got a friend in Connecticut who loves the 2011 Ford Explorer–and planned to buy one as soon as they came to his local dealer. Thing is, he still has yet to see one there, let alone get a test drive.

It’s no surprise. NADA Guides just released its Most In-Demand report, which lists the most popular new cars with the most limited availability, and the Explorer figures prominently near the top.

                              By Hannah Elliott | Forbes

NADA made the list by compiling the 25 most in-demand vehicles currently on the market based on overall sales during April and on consumer interest on NADAguides.com. Then it pared the group down to vehicles with fewer than 30 days-supply of inventory. (Day supply is the number of units currently in inventory divided by the average number of unit sales of that vehicle per month.)


Here are the six vehicles that emerged, along with a similar, more available car that could work as an alternative:

•    2011 Ford Explorer
Year-over-year sales for the Ford Explorer grew by nearly 138 percent, helping it rank No. 22 in overall industry vehicle sales during April.
Consumer Interest Ranking: 14
Day Supply: 29 days
MSRP: $28,360
Alternative: 2011 GMC Acadia ($32,000), which ended April with 68 days-supply of inventory.

•    2011 Honda Civic – The Honda Civic stayed relatively consistent in year-over-year sales with an increase of just over seven percent, ranking as the No. 5 overall most purchased vehicle in April 2011.
Consumer Interest Ranking: 23
Day Supply: 23 days
MSRP: $15,805
Alternative: 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer ($15,195), which ended April with 88 days-supply of inventory.

•    2011 Hyundai Elantra
The Hyundai Elantra increased nearly 117 percent in sales year-over-year, selling 20,918 units in April 2011 as compared to 9,657 units in April 2010, and ranking 12 in overall industry vehicle sales during April 2011.
Consumer Interest Ranking: 10
Day Supply: 12 days
MSRP: $14,945
Alternative: 2011 Suzuki SX4 ($13,499), which ended April with 94 days-supply of inventory.

•    2011 Hyundai Sonata
Hyundai Sonata’s year-over-year sales increased more than 17 percent, ranking eighth in overall vehicle industry sales during April 2011.
Consumer Interest Ranking: 1
Day Supply: 27 days
MSRP: $19,395
Alternative: 2011 Nissan Altima ($20,270), which ended April with 64 days-supply of inventory.

•    2011 Kia Sorento
The Kia Sorento increased in year-over-year vehicle sales by more than 41 percent, helping the Kia Sorento inch its way into the top 25 in overall industry vehicles sales, ranking 24 in April 2011.
Consumer Interest Ranking: 4
Day Supply: 29 days
MSRP: $20,995
Alternative: 2011 Mazda CX-7 ($21,990), which ended April with 67 days-supply of inventory.

•    2011 Toyota Prius
The Toyota Prius ranked 23 in overall vehicle sales and remained relatively consistent year-over-year from April 2010 to April 2011, decreasing by less than one percent.
Consumer Interest Ranking: 23
Day Supply: 10
MSRP: $22,120
Alternative: 2011 Honda CR-Z ($19,345), which ended April with 69 days-supply of inventory.

learn more about the winners of love Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux

Justin Theroux (born August 10, 1971) is an American actor, screenwriter and director

 who is not familiar with Jennifer Aniston with her ​​beauty and gossip - gossip around that made ​​her famous and the movie are played by her not gotten a little appreciation. and now we're not talking about us talking about his girlfriend jennifer now let's explore further as the saying goes do not know it was love

Theroux was born in Washington, DC. His mother, Phyllis Theroux (née Grissim), is a journalist and author, and his father, Eugene Theroux, is a corporate lawyer. Justin Theroux is the nephew of the travel writer and novelist Paul Theroux, and the cousin of writers and TV presenters Louis Theroux and Marcel Theroux. He attended The Field School in Washington D.C.
Theroux began acting while attending Buxton School, a boarding school in Williamstown, MA. He graduated from Bennington College with a B.A. in visual arts and drama.

Theroux made his film debut in 1996, in Mary Harron's I Shot Andy Warhol. Since then, he has performed both on Broadway, starring in the acclaimed Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme, numerous off-Broadway productions, and in comedies, such as Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, The Baxter, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion, Broken Hearts Club and Zoolander. He has also performed in more serious fare such as American Psycho. He recently appeared in the film versions of the cult TV show Strangers With Candy and Michael Mann's Miami Vice. Theroux starred in David Lynch's films Inland Empire and Mulholland Drive.

In 2003, he was featured in a music video for the British band Muse for their song "Hysteria". Theroux also has an extensive television resume, having starred in The District and appeared on episodes of shows such as Alias, Ally McBeal, Sex and the City (in which he guest starred in two episodes as different characters, playing Jared in Season One Episode 07 "The Monogamists" and as Vaughn Wysel in Season Two Episode 15 "Shortcomings"), and Six Feet Under (in which he played a recurring character in the third and fourth seasons).

In 2006, he directed his first film, Dedication, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. A fan of the band Deerhoof, Theroux chose them to score Dedication.^[1] Theroux also had roles in two other films at the festival, Broken English and The Ten, in which he played Jesus Christ alongside Gretchen Mol. Theroux co-wrote the Ben Stiller-directed Oscar-nominated film Tropic Thunder, and also appeared in the behind-the-scenes mockumentary Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness.^[2]
In 2008, Theroux played John Hancock in the HBO mini-series John Adams.
In 2009, Theroux made up part of the voice cast for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. He also plays Justin in Parks and Recreation.
In 2011, Theroux confirmed that he is dating actress, Jennifer Aniston.
Theroux wrote the screenplay for the 2010 film Iron Man 2. Following Theroux's work on Tropic Thunder, actor Robert Downey, Jr. recommended Theroux as a screenwriter to the film's director, Jon Favreau.
Theroux returned to acting in the film Your Highness as Leezar, an evil wizard who kidnaps a princess.