Photo and Lifestyle

Jumat, Agustus 29, 2008

Saya melihat sebuah foto studio dan lab yang dipadukan dengan café di sebuah jalan di Kota Yogyakarta. Sebuah ide yang bagus dimana orang berfoto atau mencetak foto bisa menunggu sambil minum secangkir capucino atau menyantap sandwich atau hot chocolate. Sebuah gaya hidup yang ditawarkan oleh studio ini. Namanya pun sangat lekat dengan café itu sendiri, PhotoCafe. Disisi kiri terdapat sebuah counter dan disisi kanan terdapat beberapa meja dan kursi yang bisa dipakai oleh konsumen yang ingin ngobrol sambil menunggu fotonya dicetak. Namun ada satu hal yang agak mengusik mata saya, manakala sebuah X-banner ber Title : “Anda lapar dan Haus”. Lho apapula maksudnya ini. Oh ternyata ada kemungkinan si pemilik mengkorelasikan antara Café ( yang notabene berisi makanan dan minuman ) dengan rasa Lapar dan Rasa Haus. Tidak salah sepenuhnya . Namun kata Café itu sendiri sudah membawa konotasi Life Style yang sangat kental. Betapa orang bisa duduk ber jam jam di waktu malam sampai dengan tengah malam, hanya ditemani Laptop yang terkoneksi dengan Hotspot serta suguhan Segelas Capucino Cold dan French Fries atau Pizza. Rasa lapar dan haus sudah terlalu “usang” jika hendak diangkat ke sebuah Life Style. Adalah lebih baik jika “Title” Lapar dan Haus itu dipadukan dengan sebuah warung makan Brongkos yang menyajikan masakan khas Indonesia. Bisa jadi itu lebih cocok. Namun Jika keywordnya adalah Photo-Lifestyle-Café- kemudian Lapar dan Haus, nampaknya harus dipertimbangkan ulang. Adalah lebih baik jika X-banner itu tidak diberi Judul Lapar dan Haus. Karena jika kita ke Café sudah jelas bukan sekedar karena kita keLaparan dan keHausan namun lebih lekat dengan fasilitas dan suasana yang kita beli. Berikanlah title yang berkaitan langsung dengan Gaya Hidup yang anda tawarkan.Misalnya Take Your photo and get Capucino for free, itu contoh saja dimana title yang dicantumkan sekaligus sebuah penawaran yang sangat menarik.

TIPS UNTUK PEMANASAN GLOBAL

Sabtu, Agustus 02, 2008

Global Warming atau pemanasan global saat ini benar benar menjadi ancaman serius bagi bumi yang sedang kita diami bersama. Sudah saatnya bagi kita melakukan suatu upaya sekecil apapun supaya bumi ini bisa menjadi asri seperti sedia kala. Memang usaha yang kita lakukan tidaklah bisa serta merta mengubah suasana bumi ini. Apalagi kerusakan yang ditimbulkannya pun sudah sedemikian parahnya. Lihat saja Gletser dikutub utara dan selatan yang sudah mencair, bahkan perkiraannya 10-20% gletser di pegunungan Alpen akan hilang dalam 20 tahun mendatang. Gletser di pegunungan Himalaya juga sudah mencair. Permukaan air laut naik 9 sampai 96 cm. Garis pantai mulai bergeser dan penduduk pesisir pantai menjadi terancam dan harus mengungsi. . Sumber kebutuhan air tawar sepertiga penduduk dunia kering pada tahun 2100.
Suhu air laut yang panas membuat terumbu karang menjadi putih dan mati, termasuk berbagai jenis ikan karang yang jadi sumber makanan manusia juga. Jumlah kelahiran penyu betina lebih banyak dibandingkan penyu jantan akibat suhu pengeraman yang lebih tinggi.
80% spesies tanaman dan binatang akan punah dalam 1 abad mendatang.
Kekeringan dan kebakaran hutan di hutan tropis Indonesia kian tinggi. Bagaimana dengan orang utan dan habitatnya? Atau, kita, manusia?
Beberapa jenis nyamuk pembawa penyakit, seperti demam berdarah dan malaria, menyebar keluar dari daerah tropis.
Musim kemarau panjang dan musim hujan yang singkat gagal panen, krisis pangan.
Intensitas hujan yang hebat hingga terjadi badai besar, hujan keras, dan banjir.
Kira-kira 150,000 jiwa tewas setiap tahunnya akibat pemanasan global. Tahun 2003, gelombang udara panas di Eropa menelan 25.482 jiwa.
Perkiraan kerugian dari perubahan iklim mencapai USD 11 milyar atau sekitar Rp 110 trilyun per tahun!
Lantas apa yang menjadi penyebabnya, ternyata penyebabnya adalah polah tingkah kita manusia sendiri.
Kita seringkali menggunakan bahan bakar fosil (batu bara, gas alam, minyak bumi) dalam beraktivitas. Pertumbuhan penduduk, perkembangan industri, dan teknologi makin menambah parah jumlah emisi Gas Rumah Kaca yang dilepas ke udara.

Darimana datangnya Gas Rumah Kaca
37% total emisi CO2 datang dari sektor listrik polutan terbesar: 23 trilyun ton emisi CO2 per tahun atau lebih dari 700 ton per detik dari pembangkit listrik berbahan bakar fosil.
Pembuangan transportasi. Kendaraan yang mengonsumsi 7,8 liter bahan bakar per 100 km dan menempuh jarak 16 ribu km, setiap tahunnya mengeluarkan emisi 3 ton CO2 ke udara!
Penggundulan atau pembakaran hutan.

Apa yang bisa kita Lakukan
Paling tidak secara garis besar ada 4 hal yang bisa kita lakukan
• Menggunakan bahan bahan yang bisa didaur ulang. Daur ualnglah sesering mungkin. Anda bisa menghemat 1200 kg karbondioksida per tahun hanya dengan mendaur ulang setengah sampah kertas anda sehari.
• Menghemat energi. Matikanlah alat alat elektronik yang tidak terpakai, termasuk komputer, jangan hanya stand by tetapi benar benar mati dari power di stabilizernya. Menggunakan sepeda atau bahkan berjalan kaki untuk pergi ke tempat tempat yang bisa kita tempuh tanpa harus menggunakan mesin speda motor atau mobil. Menggunakan kendaraan umum juga sebuah alternatif menghemat energi. Tahukah anda bahwa memompa ban motor/mobil dengan tekanan yang tepat akan menghemat energi juga.
• Menanam pohon sebanyak mungkin. Sudah jelas bahwa pohon membantu mengurangi Karbondioksida di udara. Ini perlu kita lakukan sesering dan sebanyak mungkin, mengingat pohon memerlukan waktu yang lama untuk bertumbuh.
• Menggunakan produk organik untuk mesin mesin kita baik sepeda motor, mobil, generator set, baik itu yang menggunakan bensin, solar, maupn biodiesel. Produk organik yang dimaksud mampu menekan polusi gas buang sampai 75%, sementara polusi yang ditekan oleh mesin sendiri hanya sampai 25%. Bila anda peduli lingkungan silakan mengetahuinya lebih lanjut, klik di web ini http://www.topenergysaver.myffi.biz

10 inspirational quotes than can improve yourself

It might take a little coffee or probably a few rounds of beer or any other booze you could get your hands on when it comes to relaxing after a hard day's work. Well, yeah I'm guilty about that one as well, unless I'm caught dead wearing a lampshade over my head after a few rounds of vodka… half-naked! Okay, bad example and I apologize to everyone reading this after getting nightmares about me in that state of drunken stupor.

Just don't ask how it happened, please.

But what's really interesting is that how do people go through the usual part of life when faced with vein-popping stress? I mean, the new age thing like Zen or yoga is one of the good things and it actually works. Is there room for the intellectual side of people who can actually smell the roses-in-a-can while on the move? It kind of had me thinking that there really must be something in this 'mind-over-matter' thing.

Humor is indeed the best medicine there is whenever you are. I mean anyone can pay good money to listen to a comedian just to make you wet your pants after laughing so hard. Despite of what's been happening, and to those who has gone though the ordeal, it's better to just laugh while facing the troubles with a clear mind than anger with a clouded vision. One of my favorite celebrities of all time may have to be Woody Allen. Now this is one guy who gives you the in-your-face bluntness that he pulls out with gusto, even without even trying. You can talk just about anything with a man, and he's bound to mock the subject and you'll end up laughing rather than being upset about it.

Woody Allen has this to say:

1. "Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons." It sounds good to me, I mean the practicality of all things does involve money but it doesn't have to take an arm and a leg to get it.

2. "I believe there is something out there watching us. Unfortunately, it's the government." 'Nuff said.

3. "There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman?" This happens to be one of the classic ones. I mean the issue about life's little problems isn't all that bad, until 'he' shows up.

Sure, relationships can get complicated, or does have its complications that probably any author about relationships is bound to discover it soon. We follow what our heart desires, unless you're talking about the heart as in the heart that pump blood throughout your body.

4. "Love is the answer, but while you're waiting for the answer, sex raises some pretty interesting questions." And if you want more, just keep on asking!

5. "A fast word about oral contraception. I asked a girl to go to bed with me, she said 'no'." It sounds, 'practical', I think.

And when it comes to everyday life, he really knows how to make the best out of every possible scenario, and it doesn't involve a lawsuit if he strikes a nerve.

6. "Basically my wife was immature. I'd be at home in the bath and she'd come in and sink my boats." I never had a boat in my bathtub before. Just staring at it while soaking in hot water makes me seasick already.

7. "I am not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens." If it rains, it pours.

8. "I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." It could get worse when you're guzzling on beer… or mouthwash, and it happened to me once!

9. "If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans." At least he doesn't smite us with lightning, and I'm thankful for that.

And despite of what may happen to all of us in the next ten, twenty, or even thirty years, I guess we all have to see things in a different kind of light and not just perspective. I can't seem to imagine life without any piece of wisdom that could guide us. Whether we're religious or not, it takes more courage to accept your fears and learn how to deal with them is all that matters when it comes to even just getting along.

And to sum things up, here is the last nugget of wisdom to go by… however, whenever, and wherever we may be.

10. "The talent for being happy is appreciating and liking what you have, instead of what you don't have."

Ciao!

6 Red Hot Tips To Get Your Articles Read

There are many people who dread having to write papers or articles. Many just feel like it seems to be too much work and it all just goes to waste when no one reads the. To some people, reading articles seems like work to, especially if the article is boring and very bland. Well, articles are supposed to be read, that’s their purpose to impart your message and information. If it is not read then it is a waste of time and effort.

But all the same, articles have to be written to be read. It’s just a matter of making them good. Making a good article doesn’t have to be strenuous and straining. There are just some points needed to be reminded of, and some guides to follow. Once you get the hang of it, writing articles could be fun, as well as profitable for you and your site.

Of course, writing articles must be about something you know about, that’s why if you own a site, you probably is knowledgeable about that certain topic and theme. When you write about it, you won’t have a hard time because you already know what it is and what it’s about. It’s just a matter of making your articles creative and interesting.

To make sure that your articles get read and enjoyed, here are six red hot tips to get your articles read. These tips will make your articles readable and interesting.

1) Use short paragraphs. When the paragraph are very long, the words get jumbled in the mind of the reader just looking at it It can get quite confusing and too much of a hard work to read. The reader will just quickly disregard the paragraph and move on to much easier reading articles that are good to look at as well as read. Paragraphs can be a single sentence, sometimes even a single word!

2) Make use of numbers or bullets. As each point is stressed out, numbers and bullets can quickly make the point easy to remember and digest. As each point, tip, guide or method is started with a bullet or point, readers will know that this is where the tips start and getting stressed. Format you bullets and numbers with indentations so that your4 article won’t look like a single block of square paragraphs. Add a little bit of flair and pizzazz to your articles shape.

3) Use Sub-headings to sub-divide your paragraphs in the page. Doing this will break each point into sections but still would be incorporated into one whole article. It would also be easy for the reader to move on from one point to another; the transition would be smooth and easy. You will never lose your readers attention as well as the point and direction to where the article is pointing.

4) Provide a good attention-grabbing title or header. If your title can entice a person’s curiosity you’re already halfway in getting a person to read your article. Use statements and questions that utilize keywords that people are looking for. Provide titles or headers that describe your articles content but should also be short and concise.

Use titles like, “Tips on making her want you more”, or “How to make her swoon and blush” .You could also use titles that can command people, for example, “Make her yours in six easy Ways”. These types of titles reach out to a persons’ emotions and makes them interested.

5) Keep them interested from the start to the finish. From your opening paragraph, use real life situations that can be adopted by the reader. Use good descriptions and metaphors to drive in your point, just don’t over do it. Driving your examples with graphic metaphors and similes would make it easy for them to imagine what you are talking about. Making the experience pleasurable and enjoyable for them.

6) Utilize figures when necessary and not just ordinary and insipid statements. Using specific facts and figures can heighten your article because it makes it authoritative. But do not make it too formal, it should be light and easy in them and flow. Like a friendly teac her having a little chat with an eager student.