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American job titles and responsibilities are constantly morphing to suit the economic and cultural transitions of our madcap age. Euphemisms are often the way recruiters dress up old job titles to narrow the field to specialists. A "hash slinger" is now termed a "culinary resource professional." Kidding aside, today's workers are often forced by marketplace realities to undergo at least one rapid job change over their adult lives. Many enroll at online colleges and trade schools to garner fresh skills that fit their experience and previous training.
Some of these hot new careers you may have never heard of are "green-collar" jobs. These jobs are on the rise as the business world responds to dramatic increases in energy costs and environmental regulation. And while disposable income seems threatened by a roller-coaster economy, other new careers are springing up to suit those who have cash to spend.

Here are six hot career fields you may not have heard of:

Eco Tourism Director

Traditional hospitality careers are increasingly marching to the ecotourism drumbeat. According to the International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is growing at three times the rate of traditional vacationing, increasing annually up to 30 percent. If you're just preparing for the field, seek an associate's degree in hospitality, travel, or tourism. If you're already aboard, why not train to manage a hotel, bed and breakfast, spa, or resort with a graduate degree in business or hospitality? The majority of lodging managers are self-employed professionals. Top earners in 2007 averaged $83,240 for the year.

Professional Hacker

Ever hear of a certified ethical hacker? That's the professional IT certification for a computer scientist that works as a security specialist, forensic investigator, or network defense architect for corporations, the government, and law enforcement agencies to help prevent hacking or to track down perpetrators. To get into the field, you'll need more than the hacking skills you tweaked together in your garage. Begin by earning a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology. You can get additional online college training in network security. The top 50 percent of computer scientists earned between $97,970 and $123,900 in 2007.

Pet Psychologist

Don't be so shocked. Even Sparky sometimes needs help to keep from gnawing through the neighbor's bed of prized roses. Once the local vet has ruled out physical ailments that can contribute to rude pet behavior, people who love their animals may need to call in a trained, certified behaviorist or pet psychologist. As with human patients, pets can be analyzed and taught to act contrary to destructive impulses. There are even certified applied animal behaviorists. To get into the field, you'll need a master's or doctorate degree in psychology, preferably with additional work in zoology and animal behavior. Salaries vary greatly by locale, but can be upwards of $90,000 a year.

Conservation Consultant

There are companies who are greatly concerned with increasing energy efficiency. And there are those with a conscience, striving to reduce their carbon footprint. When Yahoo! decided to go carbon-neutral by 2007, they hired a director of energy strategy and climate change. Combine your thirst for conservation with an engineering degree to prepare for this thriving field. The U.S. Labor Department predicts a hefty 25 percent increase in environmental engineers during the 2006-2016 decade. In 2007, the top 50 percent earned between $70,000 and $106,000.

Fashion Consultant/Personal Shopper

Among those who care about their appearance, many are born with amazing taste; some have to work for it. Fashion designers and consultants help those who can afford personal attention to transform their image. You can be the one to consult on hair, makeup, and fashion--and then be the one to take your clients shopping. Get career training through an associate's or bachelor's degree program in fashion design. Top earners in the fashion design trades in 2007 took home $121,640 on average.

Mobile Experience Architect

The cool streaming videos and eye-popping CD covers that get delivered to the screens of millions of cell phones and PDAs each hour are designed to make you spend money. Information architects create the structure and mind-manipulating patterns (site maps) of each mobile delivery. You'll need to learn about marketing, strategy, and user testing through a degree program in computer science, Web design, or business. There's even an IT certification for professional mobile architects. Salaries range into six figures.

As our world rapidly evolves, it's no surprise that the work landscape is evolving as well. You can prepare for and keep up with the changes by updating your training and credentials.


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Top 10 recipes in yahoo food

Quick, delicious, well-rated, inventive, cheesy... It's hard to say why users gravitate in such huge numbers to these 10 recipes on Yahoo! Food. Perhaps it's their alluring pictures, maybe it's all about ease or budget, or it could be that most everyone just really loves cheese. Whatever the reason, here are our most popular recipes of 2008, the ones people keep clicking on and cooking up. Have you tried them? Would they make your top 10?

1. Inside-Out Cheeseburgers

2. Cowboy Tacos

3. Burrito Pie

4. Red Velvet Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

5. No-Bake Macaroni and Cheese

6. Velveeta Chili Dip

7. Speedy Layered Chicken Enchilada Pie

8. Tortilla Soup

9. Shrimp Enchiladas Verde

10. Chicken Fajita Pizza


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Flat abs in 5 minutes

What makes love last a lifetime? Affection? Yep. Respect? Sure. But a great relationship is not just about what you have. It's about what you do to make a relationship stronger, safer, more caring and committed.

Every couple needs to take certain steps -- six, to be precise -- that turn the two of you into not just you and me but we. You may not move through all the steps in order, and you may circle back to complete certain steps again (and again and again). But if you make it through them all, you'll be well on your way toward creating a relationship that will be your shelter as long as you both shall live. Here's how to make your "forever" fantastic.

More Dating Articles from Redbook:
Would You Know If Your Man Cheated?
Five Things Super Happy Couples Do Every Day

Step #1: Find a shared dream for your life together.

It's easy to get caught up in the small stuff of a life together: What's for dinner tonight? Whose turn is it to clean the litter box? Did you pay the electric bill? But the best partners never lose sight of the fact that they're working together to achieve the same big dreams. "Successful couples quickly develop a mindfulness of 'us,' of being coupled," says Redbook Love Network expert Jane Greer, Ph.D., a marriage and family therapist in New York City. "They have a shared vision, saying things like, 'We want to plan to buy a house, we want to take a vacation to such-and-such a place, we like to do X, we think we want to start a family at Y time.'"
This kind of dream-sharing starts early. "Couples love to tell the story of how they met," points out Julie Holland, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City and a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine. "It's like telling a fairy tale. But happy couples will go on creating folklore and history, with the meet-cute forming the bedrock of the narrative." As you write and rewrite your love story ("our hardest challenge was X, our dream for retirement is Y"), you continually remind yourselves and each other that you're a team with shared values and goals. And P.S.: When you share a dream, you're a heck of a lot more likely to make that dream come true.

Step #2: Choose each other as your first family.

For years, you were primarily a member of one family: the one in which you grew up. Then you got married, and suddenly you became the foundation of a new family, one in which husband and wife are the A-team. It can be tough to shift your identity like this, but it's also an important part of building your self-image as a duo (and maybe, eventually, as three or four or...).
For me, making this transition meant stopping the incessant complaining to my mom when I was mad at my husband -- my behavior was disloyal, and I had to learn to talk to Jonathan, not about him. My friend Lynn tells the story of her mother's reaction to a trip to the Middle East she and her then-boyfriend (now husband) had planned. Her mother hit the roof, calling incessantly to urge Lynn not to go. Eventually, Lynn's boyfriend got on the phone with Mom and explained why they were excited to share this experience. "It was clear then that we were the team," Lynn says now. "Not teaming up against my mother, but teaming up together to deal with her issues."

Whatever your challenges -- an overprotective mom? an overly critical father-in-law? -- you have to outline together the boundaries between you and all of the families connected to you. Not only will you feel stronger as a united front but when you stick to your shared rules, all that family baggage will weigh on you a lot less.

Step #3: Learn how to fight right.

I'm embarrassed to think of how I coped with conflict early in my relationship with Jonathan. I stormed out -- a lot. I once threw an apple at his head. Hard. (Don't worry, I missed -- on purpose.) I had a terrible habit of threatening divorce at the slightest provocation. But eventually I figured that this was pretty moronic. I didn't want out, and I knew that pelting someone with fruit was not a long-term marital strategy.

"Fighting is the big problem every couple has to deal with," says Daniel B. Wile, Ph.D., a psychologist and couples therapist in Oakland, CA, and author of "After the Fight". That's because fights will always come up, so every couple needs to learn how to fight without tearing each other apart.

Fighting right doesn't just mean not throwing produce; it means staying focused on the issue at hand and respecting each other's perspective. Couples that fight right also find ways to defuse the tension, says Wile -- often with humor. "Whenever one of us wants the other to listen up, we mime hitting the TV remote, a thumb pressing down on an invisible mute button," says Nancy, 52, an event producer in San Francisco. "It cracks us up, in part because it must look insane to others." Even if you fight a lot, when you can find a way to turn fights toward the positive -- with a smile, a quick apology, an expression of appreciation for the other person -- the storm blows away fast, and that's what matters.

Step #4: Find a balance between time for two and time for you.

Jonathan and I both work at home. This frequently leads to murderous impulses. Though I'm typing away in the bedroom and he's talking to his consulting clients in our small home office, most days it really feels like too much intimacy for me.

But that's my bias. When it comes to togetherness, every couple has its own unique sweet spot.

"There are couples that are never apart and there are couples that see each other only on weekends," Greer says. With the right balance, neither partner feels slighted or smothered. You have enough non-shared experiences to fire you up and help you maintain a sense of yourself outside the relationship -- not to mention give you something to talk about at the dinner table. But you also have enough time together to feel your connection as a strong tie rather than as a loose thread.

Your togetherness needs will also change over time, so you'll have to shift your balance accordingly. "My husband and I spend a lot of time together, but it's almost all family time," says Katie, 40, a mom of two in San Leandro, CA. "We realized a few months ago that we hadn't had a conversation that didn't involve the kids or our to-do lists in ages, so we committed to a weekly date. We were so happy just to go to the movies and hold hands, something we hadn't done in ages. It felt like we were dating again!"

Step #5: Build a best friendship.

Think about the things that make your closest friendships irreplaceable: the trust that comes with true intimacy, the willingness to be vulnerable, the confidence that the friendship can withstand some conflict. Don't those sound like good things to have in your relationship with your signficant other, too?

"Happy couples are each other's haven," says Holland. "They can count on the other person to listen and try to meet their needs." Greer adds, "When you're true friends, you acknowledge and respect what the other person is; you don't try to control or change them. This creates a sense of safety and security when you're together -- you know you're valued for who you are and you see the value in your partner."

Then there's the way, when you've been with someone a while, that you become almost a mind reader. You have a shared history and inside jokes. Your guy knows what you'll find funny, you forward him links to articles you know he'll enjoy, and best of all, you two can make eye contact at a given moment and say volumes without opening your mouths. And is there anything more pleasurable than sharing the newspaper with someone? Sitting in companionable silence, absorbed in your respective reading, sipping coffee, occasionally reading something out loud, but mostly just lazing happily together, communing without needing to speak? Ahh....

Step #6: Face down a major challenge together.

You're sailing along through life, and suddenly you hit a huge bump. A serious illness. Unemployment. The loss of a home. A death in the family. How do you cope?

The truth is, you never know how strong your relationship is until it's tested. All too often, the stress of a crisis can pull a couple apart. But the good news is, when you do make it through in one piece, you might just find yourselves tighter than ever.

"What didn't happen to us?" says Daryl, 28, a preschool teacher in Harrisburg, PA. "My husband lost his job and took a minimum-wage job he was way overqualified for just to make ends meet. He was offered a better job in a mountain town outside San Diego, so we moved. Then during the California wildfires several years ago, our house burned down and we lost everything. We were living in a one-room converted garage with no running water and a newborn. But we found that this chaos somehow brought us even closer together. We took turns losing it. We really kept each other sane."

Hey, being a couple is no roll in the hay. It's tough, real work. But the reward, the edifice you build together that will shelter you through years of tough times, is more than worth the effort. The small, friendly cottage you build -- decorated with your shared history and stories, filled with color and laughter -- will be the warmest and safest retreat you can imagine.

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Nakagin capsule tower looks to be from the future

The unique Nakagin Capsule Tower in Tokyo is a futuristic-looking architectural marvel. But without local support for maintenance and preservation, it may not survive long enough for the future to see it.

Nakagin was built in the Metabolist style of the 1970s by late Japanese architect Kurokawa Kisho. The tower rises 14 floors and is composed of 140 individual capsules designed to be either apartments or business offices. PingMag has an amazing expose on the building and more on Japan's Metabolism movement.

The Metabolism movement wanted to create a new system of architecture—focused on adaptable, growing and interchangeable building designs—and is probably the forefather of things like stackable prefab housing.

Unfortunately, the complicated nature of the Nakagin building, as well as several design flaws thanks to a rushed drafting schedule, may have ensured its demise. Budgetary concerns over repairing and maintaining the building caused residents to vote that it ought to be demolished. With it goes an integral piece of Japanese architectural history. [PingMag]

[More on Japan's fascinating tech and culture, here and more interesting tech stories at Gizmodo.com. Happy holidays and thanks for reading.]

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Hotel to stay in before you die

Stay in enough business-oriented joints or W wannabes, and it's easy to forget that the hotel experience can be transcendent. When you're tired, off-kilter in a new city, or just need to get your head right, a great hotel will help you rediscover your balance. A great hotel will help you feel human again, special, and sublimely taken care of. And any traveler worth her salt has a list in her back pocket: dream hotels that should not be missed in this lifetime. Here's ours. Some belong here for their classic designs, Jeeves-worthy service, and sense of history and glamour; others can't be beaten for their stellar location. All will probably merit discussion, arguments, and booking far, far ahead.

Hotel Cipriani, Venice

Venice virgins can be forgiven for thinking that the city's best hotel should be close to San Marco or on the Grand Canal. Not so. Insiders know that you want to look over to the main island while avoiding the hordes of tourists, who can be more plentiful than the pigeons. There's nothing quite like waking up in the Hotel Cipriani, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. That location, for starters. It's on Giudecca Island facing San Marco, amid a sea of quiet streets, sprawling gardens, and that giant saltwater pool (hotel lore says it was planned in feet but the designer built it in meters, thus tripling its size). The full glory of Venice is suddenly yours — you can actually imagine being here when the city was a world power of its own.

Be aware that rooms vary in size and have a certain faded look, so ask for dimensions and try to snag a lagoon view. (Management tends to favor repeat guests, but persevere.) Avoid the new annex altogether, which has small rooms and a less glamorous feel. Even better — though it costs a mint — choose a room in the Vendramin, a restored waterfront palazzo that comes with a fleet of private butlers. It's no wonder Clooney often makes the Cipriani his bachelor pad when in town for the film festival.

Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California

Malibu and San Diego are lovely to look at, but Big Sur's Post Ranch Inn long ago won our vote for the most spectacular position in all of California. This prime place is on the cliffs of Big Sur (and we mean on the cliffs), looking down at the crashing waters of the Pacific — birds would be lucky to have such views from their nests. For most visitors to Big Sur, the only choice is to stop at the lookout points along Highway 1 and dream about sticking around. Guests at the Post Ranch get to linger, especially with the exquisite new rooms that were unveiled in spring 2008, with private cantilevered terraces, customized sound systems, and outdoor hot tubs. In addition to the cliffside perch, amenities include three perfectly landscaped pools, wood-burning fireplaces, yoga classes, and guided nature walks. And there's no need to feel guilty about your footprint in these truly great outdoors: The resort is green, with a drought-resistant landscaping plan, living-sod roofs covered with wildflowers and grass, and biodegradable cleaning products. For the best view in the place, book one of the five "Ocean Houses," wrapped with floor-to-ceiling windows, that sit about a hundred feet from the dramatically beautiful rock coast. If you were going to stay in only one hotel in all of California to, you know, "find yourself," we'd recommend you find yourself here.

Singita, Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa

Most of us dream of the ultimate, romantic safari. But Africa's a fair trek away, and a safari is rarely cheap. So for this once-in-a-lifetime venture, forgo four-by-four traffic jams and mosquito-infested tents for a private tracker and the kind of sumptuous accommodations that would have made Hemingway envious. That's what you'll find at Singita, in South Africa's Sabi Sand Reserve. Its 30 rooms have plunge pools and outdoor showers to cool you off after a day in the African sun; individual guides make sure you'll see the Big Five while taking care of your creature comforts (think hot-water bottles on cool morning drives and surprise barbecues in the bush); and the faultless service includes private butlers and spa personnel. Gourmands can expect customized menus and a fabulous wine collection with Stellenbosch reds served at cellar temperatures. Of course, the animals are the main draw. Part of what makes Singita so compelling is the diversity of species scampering about — leopards, lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes — some of which you might spy from your own room. And while there's a price to pay for such luxury, most people only do it once, so we won't quibble.

Hôtel Plaza Athénée, Paris

It seems as if good hotels were invented just for the sake of Paris. The French capital lays claim to some of the most glamorous palace hotels in the world — the George V, the Ritz, and the Crillon, among others —with an easy élan that few other cities can emulate. But often these Old World properties can veer toward the fusty, which is why the Plaza Athénée finds its way onto this must-stay list. Renovations a few years back reinvented the stalwart as the freshest property in the city, while still preserving its terrific sense of place and style. Trust us: You never forget that you are in Paris. We love the hip glass bar designed by Patrick Jouin, the unofficial office for fashion week insiders; the over-the-top Alain Ducasse outpost, with its gorgeous "exploded" crystal chandeliers; and the secret garden of La Cour Jardin, which is perfect for a quiet drink or tea on sunny spring days. Add in the great location on the Avenue Montaigne, close to some of the city's best shopping and the Champs Elysées, and the large rooms divided into classic and Deco decor (all come with sumptuous marble bathrooms). If possible, book a suite with a view of the Eiffel Tower — these include 868 (which also has a view from the bathroom), 878, and 888. Even the most jaded travelers are made a little giddy by that backdrop when they open the drapes in the morning.

Explora En Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

We have a soft spot for great hotels plunked down in a spectacular, isolated natural region—especially when it manages not to sully the natural beauty of the place. While the United States has its standouts (Wyoming's Amangani springs to mind), the best example of this is the Explora resort in the wilds of Patagonia. It's certainly not easy to get to (a four-hour flight from Santiago and then a five-and-a-half-hour journey by auto), but, hey, the end-of-the-world ambience is precisely the point. The property sits in the shadow of the jagged, snowcapped Torres del Paines mountains. Not a single other structure mars the view, and you feel as if you have the wilderness all to yourself. The emphasis here, not surprisingly, is on the great outdoors, with daily glacier hikes, horseback rides, and, for the brave-hearted, swims in the ice-cold lake (sybarites will prefer the heated indoor pool and outdoor hot tubs). Rooms themselves are large and contain furniture made by local artisans; all rooms have mountain views. Trust us, though: You won't be spending much time in them.

Chateau Marmont, Hollywood, California

In Los Angeles, a town whose raison d'être is the manufacture of hipness, the idiosyncratic Chateau Marmont remains the epitome of cool. From its hillside perch in Hollywood, it oozes the same understated glamour that has drawn generation after generation of hopeful ingénues to this town. Throughout its venerable history — built in 1927, it was modeled on the Château d'Amboise in the Loire Valley — it has served as a home away from home, crash pad, liaison spot, and even final scene for a legion of Hollywood legends. Vivian Leigh nursed a Laurence Olivier–broken heart here; John Belushi had a fatal drug overdose in a garden bungalow; and Lindsay Lohan rode out her DWI furor on the grounds.

Nonetheless, even more mortal guests are made to feel at home —which is why you should visit, too (OK, that and the star sightings). In fact, it's a distinct lack of flashiness that most distinguishes the Marmont from its L.A. competitors. Rooms come with stove tops and refrigerators that seem plucked out of the 1950s, and the slightly rickety plumbing system might not appeal to the flat-screen-in-the-bathroom set. Splurge on Room 64, the two-bedroom penthouse with a grand piano and huge terrace overlooking the city, or one of the Bauhaus-style bungalows with their own gardens. For those star sightings, try the terrace restaurant, which is reserved for hotel guests and visiting stars, the Ping-Pong table (where Kirsten Dunst has been seen wielding a racket), and the small elevator that can bypass the lobby from the underground garage.

Park Hyatt, Tokyo

Although it's part of a global chain and served as a backdrop for a major Hollywood film (Lost in Translation was shot here), the Park Hyatt Tokyo is a remarkable exhibit of superior service in Asia. From the moment you are whisked away from the chaos of supermodern Tokyo up to the 41st-floor lobby, you enter a carefully pampered private bubble that you may never want to leave. The service here is so exemplary that hotel school students should be sent on field trips to see how it's done right: Bellmen and bartenders remember your name even if you are not a visiting celebrity (and there are many) and execute every request immediately and effortlessly. We love the large rooms that look out onto Mount Fuji and the pulsing city skyline (it's like watching a video game with the sound turned off), as well as the glassed-in 45th-floor swimming pool. At the very top, you can relive Bill Murray's languorous scenes at the New York Bar, where disconsolate moguls and jet-lagged visiting actors sip Johnny Walker Blue while waiting for their offices to wake up stateside.

Banyan Trees Maldive Madivaru, the Maldives

Each of us should one day fulfill the fantasy of the desert island (preferably without Tattoo yelling about planes). Consider the Banyan Tree Maldives Madivaru your own tropical idyll in the Indian Ocean. With only six units and up to 18 guests at a time, the four-acre private island of Madivaru becomes your personal playground. Luxury camping is a big travel trend right now, and this Banyan Tree proves that tents don't necessarily equal roughing it — you get queen-size beds, plunge pools, deep-soak bath tubs, outdoor showers, and teak decks. Each villa comes with a personal butler, and you can have massages and facials in your own room. But the highlight of the place is the natural beauty of the coral atoll, with white sand beaches and turquoise, crystal-clear water that's home to turtles, dolphins, and parrot fish. Sunset cruises, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling safaris are among the ways to discover the marine neighborhood. And while the resort has a restaurant, to really get the (five-star) Robinson Crusoe experience, take your meals on your private veranda or on a deserted beach nearby. It will make you wish you could stay an island castaway forever.

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Sock and Awe pits players against president

Shoe-wielding Iraqi journalist Muntadar al-Zaidi, who was catapulted to international prominence after throwing his shoes at President Bush during a press conference in Iraq, is now the star of the latest in viral Web games.

"Sock and Awe" -- named after the military doctrine employed in the US operation to remove Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq -- allows players to throw shoes at a figure of President Bush, as he ducks behind a podium.

Al-Zaidi missed both his attempts before being dragged off by Iraqi security forces, but players of "Sock and Awe" have a little more leeway -- you can keep slinging footwear for up to thirty seconds.

At the time of writing, the virtual President Bush has been struck in the face by 21 million shoes, the site indicates.

Sock and Awe

Sock and Awe also shows visitors a league table of "Bush-shoeing countries" -- and although the United States is number one, the top five also includes France, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

News of his new-found Web fame is unlikely to come as much comfort to al-Zaidi, who is reportedly facing up to two years in prison for disrespecting a foreign leader. Players of Sock and Awe are unlikely to meet the same fate.


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Charity's red kettles can yield odd treasures

The volunteer emptying Salvation Army kettles in southwest Florida recently came across something that stood out from the piles of spare change and crumpled up bills: a 1911 Liberty Eagle gold coin worth around $1,000.

The person who quietly deposited it outside a Fort Myers supermarket last week continued a holiday tradition of using the iconic red pots to make valuable and unusual donations to the charity.

"It's a welcome gift, believe me," said Maj. George Hood, a national spokesman for the charity, which has seen total donations drop around 25 percent in the tough economy.

People might be plunking in less loose change this season, but the Salvation Army is still coming across exotic kettle donations.

Earlier this month, a rare 1910 gold coin worth thousands was dropped into a kettle in Berlin, Vt. Someone in Uniontown, Pa., deposited a diamond ring worth about $2,000. In northeast Kansas, a gold American Buffalo coin worth at least $1,000 was slipped through a kettle slot.

And every holiday season for the past seven years, someone has dropped a Krugerrand, a gold coin from South Africa, into a kettle in Waterloo, Iowa. The one left last weekend was valued at $678, Hood said.

"It's kind of fun, and it's very helpful to the local units who are able to cash these things in and put the money into the chapter," Hood said.

Nationally, the Salvation Army collects about $118 million a year from its 25,000 red kettles.

As far as the charity knows, the first time a valuable coin was dropped into a kettle was in 1982 in a Chicago suburb. Since then it's happened about 300 times across the country.

It was the third year in a row that a rare Liberty Eagle coin was left in Fort Myers, apparently by the same person, said Megan Spears, a spokeswoman for the local chapter.

Like the two previous years, the coin was in a small plastic case with a note printed neatly on plain, unlined paper: "In memory of Mimi."

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World's first computer rebuilt

A British museum curator has built a working replica of a 2,000-year-old Greek machine that has been called the world's first computer.

A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th-century Swiss clock, the Antikythera mechanism was used for modeling and predicting the movements of the heavenly bodies as well as the dates and locations of upcoming Olympic games.

The original 81 shards of the Antikythera were recovered from under the sea (near the Greek island of Antikythera) in 1902, rusted and clumped together in a nearly indecipherable mass. Scientists dated it to 150 B.C. Such craftsmanship wouldn't be seen for another 1,000 years — but its purpose was a mystery for decades.

Many scientists have worked since the 1950s to piece together the story, with the help of some very sophisticated imaging technology in recent years, including X-ray and gamma-ray imaging and 3-D computer modeling.

Now, though, it has been rebuilt. As is almost always the way with these things, it was an amateur who cracked it. Michael Wright, a former curator at the Science Museum in London, has built a replica of the Antikythera, which works perfectly.

In the video from New Scientist below, Wright shows how the machine works.

In short, Antikythera's user interface is deceptively simple, operated by a simple knob on the side. This conceals the intricacy within, amounting to a complex mathematical model, tracking the movements of planetary bodies and incorporating a series of submechanisms to account for the eccentricities of their rotation.

A dial on the faceplace featured the Greek zodiac and an Egyptian calendar; pointers showed the location of the moon and the five planets known at the time. On the machine's back, an upper dial shows a 19-year calendar (matching the solunar cycle) and the timing of upcoming Olympic games. A lower dial shows a 76-year cycle (when the Olympic and solunar cycles coincide) and indicates the months in which lunar and solar eclipses can be expected.

According to New Scientist, this is the first working model of the Antikythera computer to include all of the device's known features. And, like the original machine, it has been built of recycled metal plates. That's right: The Antikythera mechanism is not only the world's oldest computer, it's also the world's first green computer.




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The 5 dirtiest foods

How would you rate your food-safety IQ? I know someone who never washes their fruits and vegetables after bringing them home from the market because he believes that they're washed at the store. Um, no. Read on to learn about what some call the "5 dirtiest foods" and for a food safety wake-up call...

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The dirty food list, according to this fascinating piece I found over at AOL Health include the following:

Eggs: While most eggs aren't going to make anyone sick, experts estimate that more than 2 million germy eggs (as in Salmonella infected) get into circulation each year, sickening 660,000 people each year and killing as many as 300. Um, maybe we should think twice about eating that cookie dough (or, judging by our conversation on Vitamin G, perhaps you'd rather take your chances?). How to buy cleaner eggs? Make sure the carton says they're pasteurized and never buy a dozen that contains any obvious cracks or leaks.

Peaches: They're pretty, but that's just skin-deep. Health experts warn that peach skins are doused in pesticides before they make it to grocery store to prevent blemishes. On average, a peach can contain as many as nine different pesticides, according to the USDA. This is one fruit you might want to buy organic (which may have blemishes, but won't have pesticides). (Here's How Peaches Can Help You Build Muscle.)

Pre-packaged salad mixes: Surprise! "Triple washed" doesn't mean germ-free say experts. Pathogens may still be lurking so be sure to wash your greens before tossing in your salad bowl. (Don't make these salad mistakes!)

Melons: Get ready to be grossed out. According to the article, "when the FDA sampled domestically grown cantaloupe, it found that 3.5 percent of the melons carried Salmonella and Shigella, the latter a bacteria normally passed person-to-person. Among imported cantaloupe, 7 percent tested positive for both bugs." Ewww. Your best bet: Scrub your melons with a little mild dish soap and warm water before slicing. (Stay healthy with these delicious winter fruits!)

Scallions: Blamed for several recent outbreaks of Hepatitis A, and other bugs like the parasite Cryptosporidium, Shigella and Salmonella, scallions present a food safety problem because of the way they grow (in the dirt) and lack of proper washing. While you can't control what happens in restaurant kitchens, you can give them a super-duper washing at home before cooking with.

Other dirty foods in the article include chicken, ground beef and turkey, raw oysters, and cold cuts. Click here to read 5 more.

The bottom line: Don't be afraid to eat these foods, just be aware of the precautions you need to take before enjoying them. Most food-borne illnesses are the result of hygiene carelessness somewhere in the food chain. Protect yourself!

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your food safety awareness and diligence? Do you wash all your produce? How about pre-packaged salad mixes? And what about melons? Do any of you wash the exterior with soap and water before slicing. I do, and I'm patting myself on the back right now.

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Major flaw revealed in internet explorer

The major press outlets are abuzz this morning with news of a major new security flaw that affects all versions of Internet Explorer from IE5 to the latest beta of IE8. The attack has serious and far-reaching ramifications -- and they're not just theoretical attacks. In fact, the flaw is already in wide use as a tool to steal online game passwords, with some 10,000 websites infected with the code needed to take advantage of the hole in IE.

Virtually all security experts (as well as myself) are counseling users to switch to any other web browser -- none of the others are affected, including Firefox, Chrome, and Opera -- at least for the time being, though Microsoft has stubbornly said it "cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw." Microsoft adds that it is working on a fix but has offered no ETA on when that might happen. Meanwhile it offers some suggestions for a temporary patch, including setting your Internet security zone settings to "high" and offering some complicated workarounds. (Some reports state, however, that the fixes do not actually work.)

Expedient patching or switching are essential. Security pros fear that the attack will soon spread beyond the theft of gaming passwords and into more criminal arenas, as the malicious code can be placed on any website and can be adapted to steal any password stored or entered using the browser. It's now down to the issue of time: Will Microsoft repair the problem and distribute a patch quickly enough to head off the tsunami of fraud that's about to hit or will it come too late to do any good?

Meanwhile, I'll reiterate my recommendation: Switch from Internet Explorer as soon as you can. You can always switch back once the threat is eliminated. (To clarify: You don't need to uninstall IE, just don't use it for the time being.)

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More than 1000 species discovered in mekong

Australia — An Italian adventurer who spent 10 months rowing more than 9,500 nautical miles (18,000 kilometers) across the Pacific has been rescued a mere 65 nautical miles short of his goal — Australia — after rough weather sapped him of his final shreds of energy.

Alex Bellini, who began his voyage off Peru in February, contacted his wife Friday to say he was too exhausted to row his 25-foot (7.5 meter) boat any further, despite being nearly in sight of the eastern Australian town of Laurieton.

Bellini's wife contacted authorities, and an Australian tug boat towed the 30-year-old to shore. They reached Newcastle, 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Sydney, Saturday morning.

Although looking weary and thin and sporting a bushy beard, Bellini grinned and appeared in high spirits as he was reunited with his tearful wife, Francesca.

"I'm feeling good. I'm exhausted," Bellini told The Associated Press. "I need some time to relax."

A strong wind had hampered his efforts to get closer to shore for days. By Friday, he said, his energy was gone.

"For the next few days, the weather would have been even worse," said Bellini, who has also rowed across the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. "It has been a grueling, grueling effort."

Bellini said the journey was not about breaking records; he is not the first person to row solo across the Pacific and is not yet sure whether his trip is the longest solo journey. Instead, he said, the voyage was about testing his own limits.

"The reasons of my trip was double. First of all was to cross the Pacific," Bellini said. "But the other reason of my trip was making a trip inward. So it was discovering something of myself."

Bellini used a satellite phone to keep in contact with those on land and survived on dried food and desalinated ocean water. He also used a small cooker to fry up fish and to boil water for pasta. He found himself craving sweet foods — especially tiramisu and apple cake — and was looking forward to gorging on desserts.

"It made me crazy. I want all the sweets here in Sydney," he said with a laugh.

The worst part of his journey was the loneliness and the longing he felt for his wife. But despite their 10 months apart, Bellini said it was as if no time had passed when they laid eyes on each other Saturday. The two plan to return to their home in Trieste, Italy, in about a week.

For now, Bellini has no immediate plans to return to the open ocean. He has other priorities.

"I miss my bed. I miss my home," he said. "I need to go back and settle down."

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10 warning signs of a troubled relationship

Tipping this holiday season may sound too fancy for your budget. But when you consider that many of the people you tip get anywhere from 8 to 68 percent of their income from tips, you may want to give these helpful folks a break and plan for an added service charge.

1. Bartender
Base Pay per Hour: $7.30
Tips per Hour: $10.30
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 59%

Fortunately for this service provider, we all tend to get a little more generous as the night goes on. But, it's a good thing when you consider that bartenders are getting the majority of their income from the extra dollars we place on the bar. Typical tip: 10-15 percent of the bar bill.

2. Waiter/Waitress
Base Pay per Hour: $4.60
Tips per Hour: $9.90
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 68%

Wow, nearly 70 percent of your waiter's income is based on that tip that you give. So, if you think that a bottle of wine would make a nice addition to your steak dinner, be ready to pay the service charge along with it. Typical tip: 15-20 percent of the bill, 20 percent at fine restaurants or if you have a large group.

3. Massage Therapist
Base Pay per Hour: $26.30
Tips per Hour: $4.80
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 15%

Between lugging heavy shopping bags, traveling thousands of miles and trying to tolerate your family's funky quirks, you may be a little tense. Wouldn't a rejuvenating rub down clear you mind? Typical tip: 10-20 percent of the total, 20 percent if it is a really great massage.

4. Hairstylist
Base Pay per Hour: $9.90
Tips per Hour: $3.50
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 26%

Oh, if you could only get that perfect cut and color before those annual holiday get-togethers. You can! Just remember that your hairstylist relies on you to provide nearly 30 percent of their income. Typical tip: 15 percent of the total.

5. Concierge
Base Pay per Hour: $13.80
Tips per Hour: $1.50
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 10%

How about an evening in the big city, complete with a hotel stay, a stage show and a romantic table for two? It sounds nice but could require some planning. Let your concierge do all the work and then make sure to say thanks. Typical tip: $5-10 is average, more for special services or favors.

6. Doorman
Base Pay per Hour: $11.00
Tips per Hour: $4.90
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 31%

Nothing is quite as exciting as getting dressed up to go out on the town then having the front door magically swing open in front of you as the doorman whistles for your taxi. How much does he deserve for this luxurious treatment? Typical tip: $1 dollar or more for help with luggage or finding a taxi on the street.

7. Parking Attendant
Base Pay per Hour: $8.90
Tips per Hour: $3.70
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tip: 29%

You toss them the keys and when they toss them back, how much do they get? Typical tip: $1-2, depending on how far they travel to get your car.

8. Van Driver
Base Pay per Hour: $10.20
Tips per Hour: $1.30
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 11%

Whether you're off to visit grandpa and grandma or are helping coordinate their arrival at your house, you will likely need to tip an airport or hotel van driver. Typical tip: $1 or more per bag, especially if they help you with your luggage.

9. Musician/Singer
Base Pay per Hour: $49.10
Tips per Hour: $4.10
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 8%

No holiday party is complete without a jazzy guitar riff playing in the background or a bright-lipped brunette cooing about winter. But, what are these pleasant sounds worth? Typical tip: $35-75 per person.

10. Taxi Driver
Base Pay per Hour: $16.10
Tips per Hour: $4.40
Percent of Total Hourly Income in Tips: 21%

Taxi drivers zig-zag through congested main strips and zoom along back roads to get you there on time. What sort of tip do they deserve? Typical tip: 15 percent of fare, $1 per bag up to 5 bags, $2 per bag for 5 or more bags or if bags are very heavy (50 lbs. each).

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