The summer weather is on its way and soon you’ll be at the beach. Here are some quick tips to help tone your wintered bodies, for men and women!

Have you ever heard of the term: body fat? Its a ratio of how much muscle to fat you have on your body. Take a quick trip to CholesterolNetwork - Body Fat Calculator to see how much body fat you have hanging on your body. (You will need a cloth tape measure to measure parts of your body.) Once you know how much body fat you have, you will know about how much weight you need to lose to tone that body!

Don’t stop there! Exercise is healthy! I highly advise you join a local gym (going there atleast twice a week) or buy some weights to lift at home. This alone can add years to your life (let alone– good looks.) Cardio exercises are good for your heart while weight training is good for losing fat (and many other benefits too.) Mix these up and combine several exercises every time you work out. (Running, sprinting, benching, leg exercises, chest exercises… dont forget to strech!)

Drink lots of water– the recommended amount of water you drink daily is 8, 8-ounce glasses! Next time you think about drinking soda, choose water! (Soda has lots of sugar in it…. just because its a liquid doesn’t mean you won’t gain weight from it!)

Additionally, the foods you eat play a big role on your looks. Just because you eat one meal a day does not mean you will have a toned body in no time. That would be unhealthy and make it harder for you to gain the muscle you need to get rid of these fats!

Eating foods that are low in cholesterol and fat content are what you want to be eating! It is highly reccomended that you alter what you eat on a daily basis because your metabolism needs to constantly adjust to it. If foods stay the same, your metabolism will already know how to process it. (In an analogy, its like knowing how to do something: The more you do something, the easier it becomes. If you want to lose weight, you need to alter the foods you eat so your metabolism can constantly adjust to it… forcing it to work harder!) On a side note, protein consumption is important! Protein is needed to build muscle, so eat fish, chicken, eggs, and dairy products.

Finally, a quick overview of what we talked about:

• Calculate your body fat percentage to see where you stand right now. (Set your goal to lose that body fat!)
• Exercise (atleast twice a week… do NOT do it every day!) Start small and go big. Add weight every time you lift, what ever it takes to make progress!
• Drinking lots of water is the safe way to stay hydrated.
• Eat foods that are low in cholesterol and low in fat content.
• Adjust your intake daily, to keep your metabolism changing.
• Protein is good for building muscle!

These are some simple steps to get on your way to toned body for the summer (and for the rest of your life). If your really into this article and want to read more, check out our article: Lose the weight, and keep it off.

After all, a ninjas gotta be healthy too!

If there’s one thing that most desktop computers and laptop computers can do with, it’s more memory (often called RAM). No matter how much you have, it’s never quite enough. Newer computers come loaded with 512 MB or 1 GB of memory. That’s OK for basic work, but if you’re doing anything with graphics, gaming, or running Windows Vista, then you’ll definitely need more memory. And if you have a slightly older computer, then a little extra RAM goes a long way.

Luckily, the price of RAM has dropped noticeably over the last couple of years. In fact, it can be more cost effective to buy extra RAM than it is to buy a new computer. The problem is, though, how to get the correct memory for your PC. This TechTip offers a few suggestions.

Note: This TechTip only looks at memory for PCs that run Windows. Throughout the TechTip, the terms memory and RAM are used interchangeably. For some memory rudiments, see our
TT 37 - “Memory Basics”.

Types of RAM

This TechTip assumes that you have a PC that was made within the last three to five years. Most desktop and laptop computers of that vintage use DDR memory. DDR stands for double data rate. DDR memory offers twice the data transfer rate of the previous generation of memory.

Of course, all DDR memory isn’t created equal. There’s DDR, DDR-2, and DDR-3 memory. DDR is the oldest of the group. So old, in computer terms anyway, that it is being phased out. DDR-2 is about twice as fast as conventional DDR memory. DDR-3 is, again, about twice as fast as DDR-2. However, to achieve the higher speed for the RAM, the latency of the memory suffered. Latency is the amount of time, in CPU cycles, that your computer takes to get to data that’s in memory. At lower CPU speeds, DDR-3 is somewhat slower than DDR-2. At higher speeds, though, DDR-3 is noticeably faster.

Another difference between the different types of DDR memory is the number of pins each has. Pins are what connect the memory to the motherboard in memory slots. DDR memory has 184 pins, while DDR-2 and DDR-3 memory have 240 pins. While the pins in DDR-2 and DDR-3 memory are the same size, they are incompatible.

When you’re looking at DDR memory, you’ll read information like DDR-266 PC-2100. All that refers to is the amount and rate of data that the RAM can transfer. So, in DDR-266, the 266 refers to the theoretical number of data transfers per second — in this case, 266 million. PC-2100 refers to the type of memory module. The 2100 also refers to the peak rate of data transfer that the memory supports — in this case, 2,100 megabits per second. The higher the number, the higher the number of data transfers per second, and the greater the peak transfer rate.

Like a computer’s CPU, memory also has a clock speed. The clock speed of the memory is measured in megahertz (MHz) and is the actual speed at which data is transferred to and from memory. The clock speed of RAM is usually half the number of data transfers per second that the memory module is capable of. So, with DDR-333 memory, the clock speed is 166 MHz. So, why is the number double with DDR RAM? Because data is transferred to memory twice.

This may seem like superfluous information, but it will come in handy when you go to upgrade your RAM.

Choosing RAM

The first steps that you should take when choosing RAM are to find out:

• How much memory your computer has

• The maximum amount of memory that it supports

• What type of memory your computer uses

How much memory you’re packing

To find out how much memory your computer packs, right click on the My Computer icon on your desktop and then click Properties to open the System Properties dialog box. The amount of memory in you computer is listed in the bottom right corner of the dialog box.

The maximum amount your PC can handle

Unfortunately, this doesn’t tell you how many sticks of memory your computer contains. You can only be sure of this in a couple of ways. If, for example, your computer has 512 MB of RAM, then it most likely has one stick of memory installed. Any higher amount and you need to open the computer’s case and take a look. If you have 1 GB of memory and there are two sticks of memory installed, then each will weigh in at 512 MB.

Depending on the vintage of your computer, it probably supports a maximum of anywhere from two to four GB of RAM. You can find out how much memory your computer supports, as well as the types of memory it can handle, at the Web site of memory maker Crucial. You can get information in two ways. The first way is to click the Scan My System button on the main page of their site. You’ll be taken to the Crucial System Scanner page, where you can allow Crucial to collect information about your system.

If you’re uncomfortable with doing that, or if the scan doesn’t work for some reason, or if you’re looking for information about another computer, then use the Crucial Memory Advisor tool on the main page of the site. All you need to do is select your computer’s manufacturer, select the make of computer, and then select the specific model. Once you’ve done that, click the Find It button. You’ll get very detailed information about your system and its memory.

So, what happens if the Crucial Web site turns up nothing? If your computer came with a manual — printed or electronic — for the motherboard, you can probably find information about your PCs memory in there. If you’ve lost the manual, or didn’t get one, check the Web site of your PC’s manufacturer for information. That’s where your favorite search engine comes in handy. When I wanted to upgrade the memory on one of my ThinkPads last year, I did a Google search for ThinkPad 40 specifications. I found the information I was looking for at the Lenovo Web site.

Finally, your last resort is to pop open your PC case and physically check the memory. Most RAM modules have a sticker on them that gives you the important information about the memory: type, speed, and amount.

Mixing and matching RAM

There was a time when you had to have the same memory in your PC — you couldn’t, say, match an 8 MB module with a 4 MB one. It wouldn’t take; instead of 12 MB your computer would only recognize the 8 MB module. Thankfully, those days are over. You can now mix and match. For example, two of my laptops pack a 1 GB stick of RAM and a 512 MB stick of RAM.

A problem may arise, though, if you try to mix and match different speeds of RAM. The different RAM just might not be compatible. On the other hand, some memory is backwards compatible. Remember my ThinkPad? According to the Lenovo Web site, it supports PC-2100 memory. When I went to upgrade it, I couldn’t find the right memory. Actually, my business partner snapped up the last 1 GB stick of PC-2100 RAM for his ThinkPad before I could get my hands on it. At another store, though, a technician told me that I could use PC-2700 memory with my existing PC-2100 memory. It just wouldn’t work at the higher data transfer rate. In the year or so since the upgrade, I’ve had not trouble with the memory.

That said, you can’t mix DDR memory with DDR-2 or DDR-3. Even if your motherboard supports two types of memory, you can generally only use one type or the other.

Buying your RAM

Like any consumer, you want the best quality for the best price. There are a number of memory manufacturers out there, and their wares vary in quality. Of course, it’s usually best to choose a well-known brand. The ones I usually recommend are:

• Kingston

• Crucial

• Corsair

• Mushkin

Patriot and A Data aren’t too bad, as is OCZ. The key advantages to those three manufacturers is that their memory is somewhat cheaper than the others that I mentioned. Check your favorite bricks-and-mortar retailer, or drop by Geeks.com.

Installing the memory

The actual process of installing your new memory is outside of the scope of this TechTip. If you want detailed information, watch this video at HowStuffWorks Videos.

After a little research, you’ll find that upgrading your computer’s memory isn’t as daunting a task as it seems. By doing it yourself, you’ll not only get a sense of geeky satisfaction but you’ll also save yourself some money.

Credit of the article goes to Scott Nesbitt of Geeks.com, a document released under The Creative Commons License.

So, you’re sitting on your couch playing Halo 3. Your about to make an awesome headshot when… Boom! Red Ring of Death. Well, now what? Your warranty is expired and you don’t even know what wrong with it. Well, first you can try the techniques shown in this tutorial by Java. If none of those solutions work, you can find the exact error with the following steps:

1. Turn you’re Xbox on and wait for the 3 red lights to flash.
2. Hold the small white sync up button. While holding that, press the Eject button.
3. The lights will now flash the first number of the code.(Note that 4 rings mean 1 not 4)
4. Release the eject button and press it again to show the second digit of the code. Repeat this two more times to get the last 2 digits.
5. Now take the four digit code and find it on this list:

0001 power supply problem
0002 Network Interface problem
0003 Power problem could be the PSU could be the GPU/CPU, somehow the console isn’t getting clean power from the power supply.
0010 There is a problem with the Southbridge Chip usually dealing with how it connects to the mainboard (cold solder joint/bridged solder joints)
0011 CPU over heating - If you are receiving this error after disassembling your console make sure to all 8 of the heatsinc screws are tightened securely to the board/heatsink holes.
0012 GPU over heating
0013 RAM over heating
0020 (Not yet known, possibly overheating)
0021 This can be caused by two completely different things either: A. DVD Drive Time out - Can be caused by problems with a firmware flash. This is also speculated to sometime be caused by a problem with the southbridge chipset on the motherboard based on how it connects to the DVD drive.B. GPU error, generally caused by a poor connection to the mainboard (cold solder joints/bridged solder joints) See error 102 for more information
0022 CPU error, generally caused by a poor connection to the mainboard (cold solder joints/bridged solder joints). This can also be triggered by an error with the TSOP.
0023 (not yet known)
0030 Problem with temperature control
0031 (not yet known)
0032 (not yet known)
0033 (not yet known)
0100 (not yet known)
0101 (not yet known)
0102 Error in the “Digital Backbone” (CPU/GPU/RAM), this is usually caused by a cold solder joint between the GPU and the mainboard.There are two theories to fixing this one deals with the “X” clamps that hold down the chips. The other involves re-Heating the chips. DO NOT attempt either of these if your console is still under warranty. If your console is still under warranty return it to the store where it was purchased or call MS to have it replaced. [/list]
0103 GPU Error this is usually caused by bridged solder points where the GPU connects to the mainboard. see error 0102 for more detailed information
0110 Ram error, this is caused by a cold or bridged solder joint on one of the Ram chips….
0200 (not yet known)…
1000 Kernel can’t be launched/signature in NAND Flash chip is broken! It could be possible after bad update. This might also be caused by a bad SATA cable.
1001 DVD Drive Error, either incorrect firmware or DVD Time out.
1002 (not yet known)
1003 Hard Drive Error… It could be a problem with the Hard Drive itself or a problem with the internal connection to the hard drive, Try removing the hard drive and playing without it
1010 Hard Drive Error, Can be caused buy a corrupt or missing eProm.

1011 (not yet known)
1012 (not yet known)
1013 (not yet known) possibly a dashboard update error
1020 (not yet known)
1021 (not yet known)
1022 There is high chance it’s a scaler chip problem (the “ANA” or “HANA” chip near the AV cable connection) it can also be caused by a faulty AV cable so check that first. In some cases it is a problem with the GPU and may be repairable by doing the x-clamp replacement (see error 0102)
1023 DVD drive not connected, connect DVD drive to boot
1030 This error deals with the Ethernet port’s controller chip, a dead chip may not cause the error but removing the Ethernet controller chip does, it may also be caused by other Ethernet related problems.
1031 (not yet known)
1032 (not yet known)

Thanks to the Xbox Forums for the list of error codes.
WARNING: ANY REPAIRS LISTED IN THIS TUTORIAL THAT REQUIRE YOU TO OPEN OR DISASSEMBLE YOUR CONSLE WILL VOID YOUR WARANY.

Judo is one of the most widely practiced martial arts throughout the world today. It has even proven itself worthy of entering as an Olympic sport. The combination of technique, mental ability, and power is crucial to the athletes success, and helps Judo pump out some of the best fighters known to man. The biggest organizations that Judo is in the hands of is; The international Judo Federation, The European Judo Federation, and The National Federations.

Some Background

Introduced to Japan in 1882, Judo was a revolutionary martial art that surpassed all others like it. Judo is a roll-off of Brazilian Ju Jitsu, a style in which a practitioner uses a take down on the opponent and tries to choke them, or put a hold on them to force them into submission. Judo surpassed Ju Jitsu so far, that when Japan was trying to decide their national martial art, Judo beat Ju Jitsu 13 out of 15 matches, thus claiming its title.

Principles

Judo’s main aim is to shape the human body and character together, through spiritual, moral, and physical discipline. This is done through a number of techniques and gymnastic exercises that are designed specially to foster a balanced development of the human body. The final aim is to sharpen all of the parts of the body to enable the athlete to use the maximum amount of force their body can release.

Methods

Kata and Randori are the two primary forms of Judo. “Kata”, meaning shape/form, consists of a predetermined moves that taught the basics of attack and defense. “Randori”, meaning free style, involved the fighters being grouped in pairs, as in a real match. Conditions had to be observed, however, the fighters tried not to injure each other, and the Judo ceremonial was followed.

_____________________________________________________

If you liked this I can write more on different martial arts. I can also make video tutorials for some moves in several fighting styles. Thank you for reading my article.

Ice cream season is near… well, for some of you its already here! I am assuming all of you know what Friendly’s, but for those of you who don’t know… its an ice cream shop. With the secret address, you will be able to get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more whenever you go to Friendly’s and buy ice cream or food.

To save you a few seconds, here is their coupon disclaimer:

Limit one coupon per visit. Not valid when used with any other discount or promotional offer. Except where expressly permitted by law, resale of this coupon, including on Internet auction sites, is prohibited. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid towards the purchase of a gift card. Applicable sales taxes apply. Valid at participating Friendly’s Restaurants only.

Aside from that, go to:

http://www.friendlys.com/coupon/print/sweeps_coupon.aspx

Print out the coupon… spend $25 or more at Friendly’s, present the coupon… and get $5 off your purchase!

*No Longer Valid, New Friendlys coupon here(expires 4/25/09)*

http://tutorialninjas.net/2009/03/27/free-3-scoop-sundae-friendlys-expires-42509/

Note: This coupon link is dynamic! Meaning, every day you visit the coupon page, it will show you a new expiration date. (You will have one month to use the coupon from the time printed… but can always print another with a new expiration date!)

Did you know that almost all of the data you delete to your Recycling Bin is completely recoverable? Believe it or not, its very easy to do this! On the contrary, having deleted files still in existence can really screw things up on your computers behalf.

For example, if you once had a virus and thought you deleted it, some data from it could still be laying around your hard drive. This is not good! These random data bits are not always from viruses, but from uninstalled applications and deleted files- they have the potential to corrupt the installation of a program or operating system.

So for those of you having a little trouble seeing my big picture: Random un-deleted data on your hard drive can lead to your inability to successfully install some programs or operating systems.

Now today, we look for the solution! Let me tell you more!

Active@ KillDisk is a:

Hard Drive Eraser is powerful and compact software that allows you to destroy all data on hard and floppy drives completely, excluding any possibility of future recovery of deleted files and folders. It’s a hard drive and partition eraser utility.

There we go… the solution! Go to www.killdisk.com to download and install your copy of KillDisk. You can boot it from a floppy, CD, Flash drive, or right in Windows. With KillDisk, it may take a few hours depending on the size of your hard drive, however once you completely ‘Kill’ your hard drive, you can run it like new again… in the meaning that, those applications you were unable to install due to corrupted files, will now install again!

This may seem like a completely far fetched solution or random subject to speak about, but this is happening more than you know! Many people believe their hard drives have broken when they find out they cant install a new game, or after several reformats- still experience the same problems that should have been solved with a simple fix. It is the little bits of data that are potentially their cause for failure, and KillDisks reason for success!

Note: Please reformat responsibly! KillDisk will remove ALL DATA and make it UNRECOVERABLE.