Facebook Apps: Highlights of the 60 New Integrated Applications

If you enjoy using Spotify or Foursquare on Facebook, imagine having the same integration with a bevy of other apps. Now you can share more than just your location, music tastes and which story you enjoyed reading on the Washington Post that day using Social Reader.

Facebook’s announcement on Wednesday of 60 new apps has some people scratching their heads and asking, “How will this look on my timeline?” Until now only a selection of apps were integrated with Facebook’s Open Graph — Spotify, Foursquare, Washington Post’s Social Reader. This new set of apps lets users share many more actions with their Facebook friends — like running, cooking, shopping and more — creating a dynamic timeline profile.

Say for instance you review a winery on TripAdvisor (one of the new integrated apps). TripAdvisor will ask if you want to share the review on Facebook (which is not novel), but when you allow the review to be shared, it becomes part of your Timeline profile, as well as posts to the news feed. What you share will linger on your timeline profile rather than being pushed down in the feed the next time your post something.

Facebook unveiled their Open Graph platform at the f8 conference in September 2011. The new apps give users a way to share more than just “likes.”

some highlights:

Gogobot is fun if for only one reason: to create a passportlist of cities you’ve visited. Sift through photos of cities and add them to your passport where you can write reviews and upload personal vacation photos.

Artfinder is a really neat app that’s like having an art museum curator in your pocket. Identify works of art simply by snapping a photo and letting the app analyzing the snapshot. Help grow the database if you know the artist’s name and title of the piece by entering it in the app. Artfinder can also direct you to nearby galleries. This would be a handy app to have for a self-guided museum tour or while shopping vintage stores or flea markets for artwork.

Causes lets you get involved with issues you care about. Sort through a variety of topics and select the ones you wish to learn more about: International Development, for instance or Women’s Empowerment. Then read about how you can take action or donate. Encourage awareness by sharing what you care about to your Facebook friends.

Big test looming? Grockit is a social study tool that’s customizable and connects you with friends on Facebook. Study guides are available for middle school, high school, college and graduate students — from the SAT to GRE. The program has some hefty research behind it, too. Experts in curriculum design who’ve worked for Apple and Houghton Mifflin helped create some of the lesson plans on the app. Study solo or connect with study partners on Grockit. Let your Facebook friends know you’re studying on Grockit and boast about the latest badges you’ve earned on the site.

With Runkeeper you can track and save your routes, even distinguish which ones are cycling and jogging routes. Runkeeper also tracks downhill skiing routes, hiking, swimming, skating, rowing and other activities. Inform your network when you complete a run and how far you went. If you want, you can include your current fitness status and the goal you’re trying to reach (run a marathon, etc.).

Snooth let you “taste” wines on Facebook. Click the “taste” button to post reviews of wine and rate them on a five merlot-glass-scale. Read others’ reviews, sift through wine guides and browse bottles by region.

Which of the new apps have you integrated into your timeline? Tell us in the comments

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High security in Chilaw ahead of fisherman's funeral

Police and the Special Task Force continued to maintain tight security in the coastal belt to prevent any violence after the killing of a fisherman in Chilaw.

Rev Fr Claude Fernando, the Parish Priest of St Sebestian's Church, Wella Veediya, Chilaw told Timesonline that he has appealed to the fishing community in the village to refrain from any violence.

He said some 3,000 fishing families live in the area and among them was Anthony Fernando Warnakulasuriya who was killed in the shooting incident on Wednesday during a demonstration against the increased fuel prices.

The fish market in Chilaw remained closed on Friday for the fifth consecutive day.

The funeral of the fisherman is due to be held on Saturday.

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Rukmini takes Sneha’s place in ‘Kochadayaan’

Actress Sneha is out of the list of stars acting in ‘Kochadayaan’. Rukmini is to take her place in ‘Kochadayaan’. The shooting schedule for ‘Kochadayaan’ is to begin next month (March). In this movie, Hindi actress Deepika Padukone is to pair up with Rajini.

Sarathkumar, Jackie Shroff, Aadhi, Nazar and Shobana are playing important roles in the movie. Sneha signed up for sister role in the movie.

It was alleged that she would participate in the movie shooting in the month of May. But it seems Sneha is to marry Prasanna that month.

Sneha and Prasanna are taking turns to give interviews to magazines about marriage.

Since it is confirmed that Sneha would not be able to act in the movie then, Rukmini has been signed up in Sneha’s place to play sister role.

Rukmini is a versatile dance artiste. She debuted through Bharathi Raja’s ‘Bommalaattam’.

Rukmini’s dance is the highlight in important art programs. She participated in the photo shoot for ‘Kochadayaan’ yesterday.

Already, it was announced that Katrina Kaif would be lead heroine for the movie. But due to problem in allocating call-sheet she lost chance to act in the movie. It is noteworthy that Deepika Padukone is to act in Katrina’s place for the movie.

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Sonia Agarwal says that she is fed up with love and marriage

Sonia Agarwal dons the role of an actress in Oru Nadigayin Vaakumulam. She has shared her experience with the media:

It is mentioned in this film that a person can become an actress only if they choose the wrong path. How did you accept to act in this film?

The views expressed in this film are fully the imagination of the director. This film is not based on any actress’s life. This is neither my story. Maybe some incidents in this film may be true.

You have said that you cried when you heard the story. Which scene made you cry?

In this film, there is a sequence where the mother herself sends her daughter to entertain the director in the bed due to family problems. This scene made me cry. When my mother saw this film, she also had tears in her eyes. I consoled her by telling that this is only cinema. In the film, I will listen to my mother. In my real life I will listen to my mother. I am very affectionate towards her.

There is a view in this film that actresses are not happy. Are you really happy?

The view mentioned in this film is an imaginary tale. In real life I am not a coward and I am very happy with my family members.

Is it true that only if you share the bed with someone, you will get an opportunity in cinema?

It could have happened somewhere. These kinds of things happen to innocent girls who come from village to aspire to become an actress. Girls from good family back ground are respected in this field.

Are you going to get married for the second time? Has anyone proposed to you?

I am fed up with romance and marriage. I have not even thought about my second marriage. I will concentrate in cinema for the next five or six years.

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70 Percent of Europeans Suffer from Low Vitamin D Levels, Experts Say

A group of experts has prepared a report on vitamin D supplementation for menopausal women after it was revealed that Europeans have suffered an alarming decrease in their levels of this vitamin. In their opinion, the ideal would be to maintain blood levels above 30 ng/ml. Vitamin D is essential to the immune system and proc"We believe that many diseases can be aggravated by a chronic deficiency of vitamin D," states Faustino R. Pérez-López, researcher at the University of Zaragoza. In particular, this is worse during the menopause as low levels of vitamin D in the blood are associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, loss of motor coordination and bone fractures.

Vitamin D deficiency is a real problem in Europe as levels in the blood are low in 50% to 70% of the population. Pérez-López points out that "healthcare professionals should be aware that this is a common problem which affects a large part of the population in Europe, even those who live in sunny places."

Therefore, a group of experts from the European Menopause and Andropause society (EMAS), led by Pérez-López, have prepared a report about vitamin D supplementation and the health of postmenopausal women. The text has been signed by 11 experts from international institutions like the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

As Pérez-López explains, "we analysed the conditions and diseases that are associated with vitamin D deficiency and we recommended the intake of supplements in postmenopausal women." Improvements in bone health

According to these experts, vitamin D supplements improve the mineral density of the bones and neuromuscular function and reduce the risk of fracture. Pérez-López believes that "the World Health Organisation or other relevant bodies belonging to the European Union should establish minimum requirements or recommendations on the fortification of foods with vitamin D."

There are recommendations of this type in some European countries but in others there are either no regulations or they are not strictly observed. There is not even a consensus amongst the medical community itself regarding the advantages of supplements. Pérez-López insists however that "they are effective but its efficacy has not yet been accepted." The researcher outlines that "it is unknown what will happen in the future but we make our recommendations from the EMAS. This is the first statement on the matter in Europe directed towards menopausal women." As well as stimulating calcium and phosphorus absorption, the vitamin D system has numerous functions. Low vitamin D levels are linked to rickets, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and the risk of bone fracture, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, infections and degenerative diseases. "In healthy postmenopausal women, we have seen that a good level of vitamin D is linked to good physical fitness and has an effect on body fat mass as well as muscle strength and balance," state the authors of the article published in the Maturitas journal.

A ray of sunshine

The researchers describe how "a healthy lifestyle should include exposure to the sun for 15 minutes three to four times per week when the weather permits since 90% of vitamin D is synthesized upon the skin having contact with sunlight." Vitamin D is synthesized through sunlight exposure. Therefore, a modern lifestyle that involves little or no sun exposure and few outdoor activities causes deficiency. Like with everything, we have to strike a balance. Pérez-López adds that "prolonged sun exposure is not recommended as it increases the risk of different types of cancer along with aging of the skin."

Substitutes to sunlight

For the experts the ideal would be to maintain blood levels above 30 ng/ml but there is no agreement as to optimum levels.

However, a large number of women are unable to obtain the required quantity of vitamin D through diet and sun exposure. As a way of making up for this deficiency, daily intake of 600 IU (international units) of vitamin D is recommended for women of up to 70 years of age and 800 IU/day for women over 70 years.

The researcher explains that "patients with risk factors associated with hypovitaminosis (obesity, pigmented skin, intestinal malabsorption syndromes and living in regions close to the North and South poles) should increase their intake to up to 4,000 IU per day." There is scientific evidence that a daily dose of 4,000 IU/day is not poisonous in healthy people.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D includes a series of lipophilic hormonal compounds that regulate calcium metabolism by working on the kidneys, the digestive tract, the skeleton and the parathyroid glands. Vitamin D supplements can be taken as vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) or D3 (colecalciferol).

Vertebrates synthesize vitamin D3 in the skin through exposure to sunlight whereas a small quantity is obtained through foods such as oily fish, eggs and milk. Whether ingested or synthesized through the skin, vitamin D goes through two transformations. The first occurs in the liver and gives rise to calcidiol. The s

econd takes place in the kidneys and other cells and forms calcitriol -- the active hormone. This hormone stimulates calcium and phosphorus absorption and regulates the transcription of different genes. It is also involved in insulin synthesis, heart contraction, it regulates the immune system, it has antimicrobial effects and controls cell proliferation and mechanisms of apoptosis.esses such as calcium absorption.

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Do nothing but kiss each......

I remember back when I was in high school—and still a virgin—I was obsessed with making out. Not that I was doing it a ton, but I just loved the idea. Then at some point making out turned into simply a precursor to sex. Sigh. Gone were the days of liplocking with a guy for 30 minutes (shout out to Sam!). I was slightly devastated and I swear to god, I remember thinking, "Will I never just make out with a boy again? Will I never make out with my future husband?". Soon after, I realized how great sex was and this fear was slightly appeased.

But the 15 year old S. still rears her makeout-loving head.

So you can understand why I was so excited for this challenge.

I told D. the plan. (I recommend you do the same since letting him know midway through could find you guilty of blue balling in most states.)

We lay down on my bed and started slow. Kisses with no tongue, just our lips pressed together. Then open mouth, but unlike some of my first kisses, D.'s tongue didn't dart into my mouth.

Then he placed both hands on my cheeks. Swoon. Men, if you're reading this, take note: both hands on the cheek is the fastest way to make a girl melt.

D. got on top of me at this point, but I pushed him off. We had to take this slooow. I leaned over him and started kissing everywhere but his lips. Cheeks, eyelids, nose, neck.

He retaliated by latching on to my lower lips and sucking.

H. O. T.

I definitely felt myself getting turned on so I pressed my body against his. He was definitely packing. But I refused to let that change our course of action.

We started Frenching. Yes, I said Frenching. First, he ran his tongue over my lips length-wise then pried them apart. Totally middle-school dance style!

Once he was in (weird to use that phrase in this blog and not be referring to sex) we totally went at it. Full on heavy gotta-have-you-now, only-one-minute-left-of-seven-minutes-in-heaven making out. He pinned my arms above my head and placed himself over me.

And then, ladies, I'm not embarrassed to say we dry humped. I spread my legs and he rubbed himself against me.

We may have been bending the rules a bit, but it was pretty damn awesome. The kissing continued as we gyrated. And I came close to climaxing, but it didn't happen. D. kept trying to get in my pants, but I resisted and I can tell he found it totally hot.

After what I'm guessing was about half an hour we stopped. Not because we wanted to. But because we had to. Otherwise, the whole thing would have turned into sex. I made a deal with D. that we would put it on pause then come back to it later.

We untangled ourselves from each other and went to the living room, where we watched exactly half an hour of TV. Then it was back to the bedroom where we finished up—doing things I never would have considered doing during a high-school seven minutes in heaven session. You'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out exactly what we did. But here's a hint: D. got 360-degree views of me.

Describe your absolute hottest kiss. And let me know how frequently you and your boyfriend/husband make out without it leading to something more. Have you ever come close to climaxing from dry humping?

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New China landing vessels point to Pacific rivalry

As looming budget cuts force the Pentagon to plan for a smaller U.S. navy, China is accelerating the launch of new, increasingly capable warships as part of a sustained drive to become a major maritime power.

Shanghai's Hudong Zhonghua Shipbuilding Company late last month launched the fourth of China's new 071 amphibious landing ships according to reports carried by Chinese military web sites and the state-controlled media.

While most attention has been drawn to the ongoing sea trials of China's first aircraft carrier, military analysts say the expanding fleet of 20,000 tonne landing ships, the biggest domestically designed and built vessels in the Chinese navy, delivers a far more immediate boost to Beijing's global influence.

“Having a significant fleet of large amphibious assault vessels clearly suggests a desire for power projection,” says Christian Le Miere, a maritime security researcher at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

“If you want the surgical insertion of forces, for a range of reasons, then you need amphibious response ships.”

MILITARY RIVALRY

China's naval buildup comes amid mounting maritime tensions in the Asia-Pacific region, which is likely to be one of the main geopolitical stress points in the coming decade.

Military planners previously had focused mainly on a potential conflict in the Taiwan strait. More recently, however, Japan and China have locked horns over islands each claims in the East China Sea; Vietnam, the Philippines and other nations are disputing territorial claims with China over parts of the South China Sea thought to be rich in oil and gas.

The U.S. Navy has announced it will deploy its own new amphibious assault vessels, the Littoral Combat Ships, to the “maritime crossroads” of the Asia-Pacific theater, stationing them in Singapore and perhaps the Philippines.

Xi Jinping, the man destined to become China's new president later this year, called for enhanced military cooperation between the Pacific powers during a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary Leon Panetta on Monday in Washington.

Xi, the son of a famous guerrilla commander from the 1930s, also met with President Barack Obama and was treated to a rare show of honors at the Pentagon, including on a 19-gun salute. But Panetta, alluding to the strains in the relationship, called for more transparency from Beijing about its military build-up.

LARGEST SHIPBUILDER

The Chinese navy is expected to deploy up to eight of the type 071 ships that can carry up to 800 troops, hovercraft, armoured vehicles and medium lift helicopters. The first of the class launched in 2006, the Kunlunshan, has already deployed with Chinese naval forces to the Indian Ocean and the pace of construction appears to have quickened with the third and fourth vessels completed within the last five months.

And, military commentators and retired Chinese naval officers say, early design work has already started on a bigger, more capable landing ship.

For the Chinese navy, the country's thriving commercial shipbuilding industry is providing a springboard for further improvements in the size and sophistication of new classes of warships, military experts say.

China in 2010 overtook South Korea to become the world's biggest shipbuilder and industry experts say the leading state-owned shipyards are steadily improving skills and technology with the launch of bigger and more complex oil tankers, container ships and other, more specialized vessels.

Along with more than two decades of rapid growth in military spending, this shipbuilding expertise has transformed the Chinese navy from an obsolete, coastal defence force to a blue water fleet that is expanding its influence into the Pacific and Indian Oceans. China's best warships and submarines are now armed with advanced air defence weapons and long range, anti-ship missiles.

In its annual report to Congress on the Chinese military, the Pentagon last year said the People's Liberation Army (PLA) navy now has about 75 major warships, more than 60 submarines, 55 medium and heavy amphibious ships and about 85 smaller, missile-armed fast attack craft.

As a major trading power with a growing dependence on imported energy and raw materials, this naval expansion is crucial for the country's security, according to Chinese military planners. “The safety of China's personnel, assets and shipping lanes is very important for its economy,” wrote Senior Captain Wang Xiaoxuan, the director of the PLA's Naval Research Institute, in the official China Daily newspaper last month. “To guarantee this, it needs a strong navy.”

SHRINKING US NAVY

Military strategists dismiss crude comparisons between navies based on the number of ships alone, and most experts agree that the U.S. navy, with its 285-strong fleet including 11 aircraft carriers, more than 70 nuclear powered submarines and 22 cruisers, remains the world's overwhelmingly, dominant naval force.

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Puthiya Thalaimurai TV Live

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Puthiya Thalaimurai TV Live

Puthiya Thalaimurai TV Live

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Chithiram TV Live

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