Best of Eminem Music 1

The Real Slim Shady

Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known by his stage name Eminem, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Eminem quickly gained popularity in 1999 with his major-label debut album, The Slim Shady LP, which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Album. The following album, The Marshall Mathers LP, became the fastest-selling solo album in United States history. It brought Eminem increased popularity, including his own record label, Shady Records, and brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition.

"The Real Slim Shady" was the first single released from The Marshall Mathers LP. The song is a critique of pop songs that were being churned out at the time, parodying these songs by including features of a typical pop song, such as a repetitive chorus.

The song was a hit, becoming Eminem's first chart topper in some countries, and garnering much attention for insulting various celebrities.  (in Wikipedia)

Best of Diddy Music 1

I'll Be Missing You

Sean John Combs (born November 4, 1969), currently known by his stage name Diddy, is an American record producer, rapper, actor, and men's fashion designer. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award.

He was originally known as Puff Daddy and then as P. Diddy (Puff and Puffy being often used as a nickname, but never as recording names). In August 2005, he changed his stage name to "Diddy".

"I'll Be Missing You" is a Grammy Award-winning song and hit single recorded by Puff Daddy, Faith Evans and 112, in memory of fellow Bad Boy Records artist Notorious B.I.G. who was murdered on March 9, 1997. Released as the second single from Puff Daddy and the Family's No Way Out album, "I'll Be Missing You" sampled the melody and some of the lyrics of The Police's "Every Breath You Take" from 1983.

The song was listed at #84 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All Time. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Tupac Music1

Dear Mama

Tupac Amaru Shakur (June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), known by his stage names 2Pac (or simply Pac) and Makaveli, was an American rapper. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world. In the United States alone he has sold 37.5 million records. Rolling Stone Magazine named him the 86th Greatest Artist of All Time.

"Dear Mama" was released on February 21, 1995 as the first single for the album "Me Against the World". The single was the most successful of all the singles released from the album. The song is considered by critics, fans, and purists as one of the greatest hip hop songs of all-time, and one of 2Pac's best songs in particular, being ranked number four on About.com's "Top 100 Rap Songs" list. (in Wikipedia)

Week themes

This week, the 3 themes will be about rap music and some iconic rap names, with some historical rivalry in their names.

- Best of Tupac Music
- Best of Diddy Music
- Best of Eminem Music

Enjoy!

Best of Android Smartphone 6

Motorola Milestone XT720

Great battery life and a large touchscreen don't often come in the same package, but the 720p video capture is disappointing and you'll need to buy a memory card.

The latest version of the Motorola Milestone, the XT720, is radically different from the original. It lacks the slide-out QWERTY keyboard, but improves the camera's sensor from 5- to 8-megapixels and adds a Xenon flash. Without the keyboard, it's much thinner, but it still retains the chunky design and weighs the same. It also has the same 550MHz processor and runs Android 2.1, which supports multiple accounts, Microsoft Exchange and HTML5. (in Expert Reviews)

Best of Wonder of the World 6

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza (pronounced /tʃiːˈtʃɛn iːˈtsɑː/; from Yucatec Maya: Chi'ch'èen Ìitsha', "at the mouth of the well of the Itza") is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site built by the Maya civilization located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the Yucatán state, present-day Mexico.

Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic through the Terminal Classic and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period. The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc Maya of the northern lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

The ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property, and the site’s stewardship is maintained by Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History, INAH). The land under the monuments had been privately-owned until March 29, 2010, when it was purchased by the state of Yucatan. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Ancient Wonders of the World 6

Mausoleum of Halicarnassus

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of Mausolus (in Greek, Μαυσωλεῖον τῆς Ἁλικαρνασσοῦ) was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia II of Caria, his wife and sister. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythis. It stood approximately 45 m (148 ft) in height, and each of the four sides was adorned with sculptural reliefs created by each one of four Greek sculptors — Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus. The finished structure was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The word mausoleum has now come to be used generically for any grand tomb. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Android Smartphone 5

Acer Stream

A powerful, up-to-date Android phone, but its large AMOLED screen is disappointingly dim.

Acer's first Android smartphone, the Liquid, was good-looking, powerful, and ran the latest version of Android. However, it wasn't offered on contract by the major mobile networks in the UK, and so probably passed most people by. Despite a 3.7in AMOLED screen, 1GHz processor and Android 2.1, the networks have passed up the new Stream too. Thankfully you can get it free on contract from third-party retailers, such as Expansys. (in Expert Reviews)

Best of Wonder of the World 5

Petra

Petra (Greek "πέτρα" (petra), meaning rock; Arabic: البتراء, Al-Batrāʾ) is a historical and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is known for its rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourism attraction. It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah (Wadi Araba), the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985.

The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. It was described as "a rose-red city half as old as time" in a Newdigate Prize-winning sonnet by John William Burgon. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage." Petra was chosen by the BBC as one of "the 40 places you have to see before you die". (in Wikipedia)

Best of Ancient Wonders of the World 5

Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis (Greek: Ἀρτεμίσιον, or Artemision), also known less precisely as the Temple of Diana, was a Greek temple dedicated to a goddess Greeks identified as Artemis that was completed, in its most famous phase, around 550 BC at Ephesus (in present-day Turkey). Though the monument was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only foundations and sculptural fragments of the temple remain. There were previous temples on its site, where evidence of a sanctuary dates as early as the Bronze Age. The whole temple was made of marble except for the roof.

The temple antedated the Ionic immigration by many years. Callimachus, in his Hymn to Artemis, attributed the origin of the temenos at Ephesus to the Amazons, whose worship he imagines already centered upon an image. In the seventh century the old temple was destroyed by a flood. The construction of the "new" temple, which was to become known as one of the wonders of the ancient world, began around 550 BC. It was a 120-year project, initially designed and built by the Cretan architect Chersiphron and his son Metagenes, at the expense of Croesus of Lydia.

It was described by Antipater of Sidon, who compiled the list of the Seven Wonders:

I have set eyes on the wall of lofty Babylon on which is a road for chariots, and the statue of Zeus by the Alpheus, and the hanging gardens, and the colossus of the Sun, and the huge labour of the high pyramids, and the vast tomb of Mausolus; but when I saw the house of Artemis that mounted to the clouds, those other marvels lost their brilliancy, and I said, "Lo, apart from Olympus, the Sun never looked on aught so grand". (in Wikipedia)

Best of Android Smartphone 4

HTC Legend

Fantastic build quality, good battery life, a vibrant display, and superbly functional software make the Legend the best value smartphone currently available.

A bright, AMOLED screen takes up most of the fascia, although there is a black bezel, measuring 3mm on each side, 7mm at the bottom and 9mm above the screen, which seems a waste, as it's a smaller area than the iPhone's screen even though it's the same 480x320 resolution. The colours and contrast of the AMOLED technology are simply breathtaking however, and HTC has added an oleophobic (oil resistant) coating that not only reduces fingerprint marks but makes touch control much smoother. (in Expert Reviews)

Best of Wonder of the World 4

The Colosseum

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia).

Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession that starts in the area around the Colosseum.

The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Ancient Wonders of the World 4

Statue of Zeus at Olympia

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia was made by the Greek sculptor Phidias, circa 432 BC on the site where it was erected in the Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Greece. It was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

The seated statue, some 12 meters (43 feet) tall, occupied half of the width of the aisle of the temple built to house it. "It seems that if Zeus were to stand up," the geographer Strabo noted early in the first century BC, "he would unroof the temple." The Zeus was a chryselephantine sculpture, made of ivory and gold-plated bronze. No copy in marble or bronze has survived, though there are recognizable but approximate versions on coins of nearby Elis and on Roman coins and engraved gems. A very detailed description of the sculpture and its throne was recorded by the traveler Pausanias, in the second century AD. The sculpture was wreathed with shoots of olive worked in gold and seated on a magnificent throne of cedarwood, inlaid with ivory, gold, ebony and precious stones. In Zeus' right hand there was a small statue of crowned Nike, goddess of victory, also chryselephantine, and in his left hand, a sceptre inlaid with gold, on which an eagle perched. Plutarch, in his Life of the Roman general Aemilius Paulus, records that the victor over Macedon, when he beheld the statue, “was moved to his soul, as if he had seen the god in person,” while the first century AD Greek orator Dio Chrysostom declared that a single glimpse of the statue would make a man forget all his earthly troubles. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Android Smartphone 3

Samsung Galaxy S 16 GB

Slim, light, with a gorgeous AMOLED screen, fast processor and Android's easy-to-use interface and wealth of apps, the Galaxy S sets the benchmark for Android hardware

If the history of Android smartphones is viewed as a race to emulate Apple's iPhone, then the Samsung Galaxy S is the crowning achievement; looking remarkably like the iPhone 3G, with its rounded edges and single, central button beneath the screen. It also has a remarkable AMOLED screen, a super-fast 1GHz processor, and a battery life twice that of most Android phones.

Best of Wonder of the World 3

Taj Mahal (India)

Taj Mahal is the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Islamic and Indian architectural styles.

In 1983, the Taj Mahal became a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While the white domed marble mausoleum is the most familiar component of the Taj Mahal, it is actually an integrated complex of structures. The construction began around 1632 and was completed around 1653, employing thousands of artisans and craftsmen. The construction of the Taj Mahal was entrusted to a board of architects under imperial supervision, including Abd ul-Karim Ma'mur Khan, Makramat Khan, and Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Lahauri is generally considered to be the principal designer.

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their fourteenth child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632, one year after her death. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Ancient Wonders of the World 3

The Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria, also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, was a tower built between 280 and 247 BC on the island of Pharos at Alexandria, Egypt to guide sailors into the harbour at night. With a height variously estimated at between 120–140 m (390–460 ft)[1], it was for many centuries among the tallest man-made structures, and was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Constructed from large blocks of light-coloured stone, the tower was made up of three stages: a lower square section with a central core, a middle octagonal section, and, at the top, a circular section. At its apex was positioned a mirror which reflected sunlight during the day; a fire was lit at night. Extant Roman coins struck by the Alexandrian mint show that a statue of a triton was positioned on each of the building's four corners. A statue of Poseidon stood atop the tower during the Roman period. The Pharos' masonry blocks were interlocked, sealed together using molten lead, to withstand the pounding of the waves. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Android Smartphone 2

HTC Desire

The HTC Desire is well named, as it's probably at the top of every Android fan's wish list. With a 3.7in AMOLED screen, a 1GHz processor, a 5-megapixel camera and room for up to 32GB of storage, it's got the specs to compete with anything on the market today.

Its headline features are very similar to Google's Nexus One, which isn't surprising as HTC manufactures both phones. However, there are a few differences: unlike the Nexus One, it doesn't support US 3G bands, so if you travel to the US you'll be stuck using EDGE or hunting for WiFi hotspots. It also lacks the voice-to-text abilities of the Nexus One, which includes the noise-cancelling microphone. It does however include an FM radio, something the Nexus One lacks.

Of course, the phone many people will compare the Desire against is Apple's iPhone, which will get an update later this year to add multi-tasking - a feature Android handsets have had from the start. In terms of build quality, the Desire isn't as attractive as the iPhone; unlike HTC's Legend, with its aluminium body, the Desire has a largely plastic casing, and the battery cover feels especially flimsy. (in Expert Reviews)

Best of Wonders of the World 2

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups. Several walls have been built since the 5th century BC that are referred to collectively as the Great Wall, which has been rebuilt and maintained from the 5th century BC through the 16th century. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains; the majority of the existing wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.

The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east, to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. The most comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has recently concluded that the entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km (5,500.3 mi). This is made up of 6,259.6 km (3,889.5 mi) sections of actual wall, 359.7 km (223.5 mi) of trenches and 2,232.5 km (1,387.2 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Ancient Wonders of the World 2

Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid of Giza (also called the Pyramid of Khufu and the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza Necropolis bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. Initially at 146.5 metres (480.6 ft), the Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years, the longest period of time ever held for such a record. Originally, the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure. Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. There have been varying scientific and alternative theories about the Great Pyramid's construction techniques. Most accepted construction hypotheses are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.

There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen's Chamber and King's Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only pyramid in Egypt known to contain both ascending and descending passages. The main part of the Giza complex is a setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu's wives, an even smaller "satellite" pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles. (in Wikipedia)

Best of Android Smartphone 1

HTC Wildfire

The HTC Wildfire is a budget Android smartphone with more than a passing resemblance to its larger cousin, the HTC Desire. Its rounded edges and rubberised, brown-grey finish are identical, and underneath the screen you'll find the Desire's optical trackpad. Here it’s paired with touch-sensitive buttons, though, while we prefer the feedback of real ones.

The key cost-cutting element is the screen. Its 3.2in display is a reasonable size, but it has a much lower 320x240 resolution, and is noticeably more pixelated as a result. That resolution is just half the pixels of an HTC Hero or Legend (320x480), and only a fraction of the Desire’s hi-res display (480x800). This means you have to zoom in further to make text legible on web pages, and photos lack crisp detail.

It still employs a capacitive touchscreen interface, which is smooth and supports multi-touch gestures. Despite the smaller screen the Wildfire lasted for 19 hours in our light usage test, around the same as the Legend and the Desire. Still, depending on how much you use 3G, WiFi and GPS, you should get a full day’s use out of a single charge. (...) (in Expert Reviews)