allure of the seas: Haziran 2012

27 Haziran 2012 Çarşamba

SONY and Panasonic Announce Plans to Jointly Develop Next-Gen OLED Panels

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SONY XEL1, World's First OLED TV

Osaka, Japan /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Sony Corporation ("Sony") and Panasonic Corporation ("Panasonic") have announced that they have signed an agreement regarding the joint development of next-generation OLED (organic light-emitting diode) panels and modules for TVs and large-sized displays.
Sony and Panasonic plan to jointly develop next-generation OLED panels and modules by each utilizing their core and printing technologies. They plan to jointly develop printing method-based next-generation OLED technology, which will be suitable for low-cost mass production of large, high resolution OLED panels and modules. Sony and Panasonic aim to establish mass-production technology during 2013, by integrating their unique technologies to improve the overall efficiency of development.

Sony launched the world's first OLED TV in 2007 with its 11-inch model. Sony also released a 25-inch professional OLED monitor in 2011, and continued to develop products and mass-produce OLED displays utilizing deposition technologies. Further, Sony has actively promoted the research and development of next-generation OLED technologies such as hybrid OLED element devices and processing (manufacturing) technologies that combine deposition and printing methods, thin film transistor (TFT) drivers such as oxide TFTs, and flexible organic TFTs, and has presented its development results at academic conferences.

Panasonic is a leader in the technology development of large-sized screen, high-resolution OLED panels and utilizes the cutting-edge "all printing method", among other printing methods which have the advantage of being competitive for producing large-sized screens at a lower cost. Panasonic owns the unique production and equipment technologies which enable the production of OLED panels through this method. Panasonic is also pursuing the future possibility of OLED panels, and is carrying out research and development of advancements in flexible OLED panels and aiming to develop large-sized, high quality sheet-type displays.

In parallel with the joint development of the next-generation technologies of the OLED panels and modules, Sony and Panasonic plan to continue to study collaboration in the mass production of OLED panels and modules. Also, each company plans to utilize its own strengths to develop and commercialize its own competitive, high-performance, next-generation OLED televisions and large-sized displays.

25 Haziran 2012 Pazartesi

Passenger Has Iphone Stolen, Recovered

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An annoying incident has now turned into worldwide headline news aboard a cruise ship. A passenger had her iPhone stolen aboard a Disney Cruise in April, but she has since recovered it, all due to Apple's "cloud" technology. Katy McCaffrey had her phone stolen and posted a Facebook album titled "Stolen iPhone Adventures". McCaffrey reveals the man she believes is responsible, a Disney Cruise employee named Nelson, whose pictures taken with her phone were automatically pushed to her thanks to Apple's Photo Stream. "This is Nelson," McCaffrey wrote next to this sunset shot of the man, who is wearing a name tag. "Nelson stole my iPhone." McCaffrey also included pictures of a woman she refers to as Nelson's girlfriend, who also appears to work on the Disney Cruise, social gatherings featuring other employees, and even a man she identifies as the co-captain of the ship. There are twenty photos in all (subtitled: "how Nelson lost his job") and in the comments, the rightful owner writes, "I have alerted the officials of the Disney Cruiseline and forwarded them the photos. Hopefully I'll get my phone back and maybe some free passes to Disneyland." The moral of the story for wannabe thieves: better think twice before you steal something that may be smarter than you. Cruise travel is generally thought of as a very safe form of travel, and crimes (even petty ones) are extremely rare. For more info, head over to the world's #1 Jewish cruise company.

Rabbi Berel Simpser Added To 8/6 Cruise

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Rabbi Berel Simpser was recently added to the August 6, 2012 sailing of the Costa Fascinosa cruise to the Mediterranean! Departing from Venice, Italy and docking in ports such as Santorini and Croatia, this exotic journey still has cabins available.

Born and bred in the New York area, Rabbi Berel Simpser migrated first to sunny Florida, and then to the Midwest, working in Jewish communal work for over two decades. He founded the Des Moines Community Outreach Kollel in 1999 and was a staff member of the Greater Des Moines Jewish Federation for most of his 7 years there, as a communal educator and at Jewish Family Services. Sara and Berel moved to MN in September 2006 with their seven children to start AISH Minnesota. Berel, who has a two Masters in Talmudic Law, and is finishing a Masters in Communal Leadership, has taught a wide variety of inter-denominational classes – ranging from Basic Judaism, Hebrew language, Kabbalah, to ten years at the Florence Melton Adult Mini School. He has also developed educational programs for teachers, parents and students. Kosherica is the world's leading kosher cruise company!

7 Ways Traveling Can Make You A Better Person

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There is no better way to bring cultures together and to understand another person than traveling. Once you set foot in a foreign land and eat, drink and live like they do, many prejudices and misunderstandings are immediately dropped.

See if this applies to you – here are seven ways that travel has made me a better person:

#1: Better Communication
After living and traveling in numerous places where English wasn’t the first language, and I didn’t speak the local language particularly well or at all, my other communication skills had to improve. Spending time conversing across a language barrier means you learn not to assume someone’s meaning until they’ve got to the end of the sentence. And, even then, you might double check their meaning by asking them some questions before you assume anything negative. Becoming a better listener is also part of this learning curve. I’m sure I used to jump in half way through my friends’ sentences but now I’m more likely to sit back and let them finish talking first, which is a good start towards better communication.

#2: Accepting Differences
Dealing with people of many different nationalities, religions and all walks of life, as you tend to do when you travel through different foreign countries, means that you learn to respect all kinds of differences that back home would have concerned you. Before I taught Korean students, for example, I would have thought anyone who would contemplate eating dog meat was a terrible person! After all my travels and experiences I am much more accepting of the different habits and customs of the world’s cultures. This follows through to even simple differences of opinions with my friends back home, too. Now that I’m a parent, for example, the “old me” probably would have been extremely critical of different parenting styles – but the “traveler me” is much better at accepting that everyone will do it in their own way, and that’s okay.

#3: More Patience
Traveling teaches you patience and having more patience is definitely one way you can become a better friend. It’s made me more patient with friends who are late (even though I’m still a stickler for punctuality); it’s helped me be patient with friends who make decisions which I think aren’t for the best for them; and made me more patient with friends who can’t even get around to making decisions.

#4: Generosity & Help
I am definitely a more generous friend thanks to my traveling years. I met so many people on my travels who helped me without any expectation of getting something in return. My gratitude to them makes me want to help others in the same way. Before, I may have been selfish both with my time and money even when I saw friends in need. But now I’m much more likely to offer to help friends in various ways without giving a thought to what’s in it for me. Along the same lines, I am definitely better at sharing my material belongings as well. Traveling for long periods of time makes you get used to being without these possessions and they become less important – so I’m happy to loan more things out to friends and not worry about the idea that I might need them in the meantime.

#5: Making Friends Easily
Not only has traveling helped me to become a better friend, it’s also helped me develop the skills to become friends with someone much more easily and quickly. When you meet someone traveling, it’s often clear that you may only spend a day or two or at most a few weeks or months with them, so your friendship tends to accelerate a lot more quickly than it would if you were back home and making a new friend through work or study, for example. These days I’m much more confident in asking lots of questions to get to know someone quickly (without giving them the third degree, of course!) and swapping contact details to make sure we can stay in touch (and actually staying in touch, too!). I may have been quite shy around new friends before but travel has stripped that all away and I can get to know people well much more quickly and easily.

#6: Making the Most of Time Together
For the same reason – making friendships abroad when we knew we would only be in the same physical location on a temporary basis – I’ve grown used to maximising the fun of spending time with friends, and making the most of the time we spend together, even if we do live in the same city and have no plans to move. Travel taught me that relationships with friends are an invaluable part of life that need to be cared for. I had previously just grown up with some good friends and never thought too hard about what I’d do if they weren’t there any more.

#7: Being Honest and Authentic
Last but not least, my experiences abroad taught me to be more honest about who I am and not to try to represent myself in a way that will make people like me more. Having those “fresh starts” in places where nobody knows anything about you is a good way to do this. And I am now perfectly happy to tell people honestly about my interests and beliefs without worrying what they’ll think. If they think I’m odd, then we’re not meant to be friends anyway and that’s okay! If you liked this post, subscribe to our full feed RSS. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts delivered directly to your inbox daily.

Take Our Frequent Flier Quiz

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Not an elite flier? You’re in the vast majority. Globally, only about 4.2 million out of some 320 million frequent fliers are elite; most of us are just hoarding miles in hopes of one day swapping them for a coach ticket. The multibillion-dollar airline-loyalty industry has been around for more than 30 years. How much do you know about it?

1. What was an early inspiration for frequent-flier programs? a.) S & H Green Stamps, distributed at grocery stores and other retailers b.) Toasters and other gifts doled out to bank customers c.) Both a. and b. 2. What was the first mainstream mileage-based frequent-flier program? a.) American AAdvantage b.) United Mileage Plus c.) Delta Frequent Flyer 3. How many frequent-flier programs are there today around the world? a.) about 90 b.) about 140 c.) about 200 4. Between 1981 (when frequent-flier programs began in earnest) and the end of 2011, how many miles were awarded globally? a.) 17.8 billion b.) 930.5 billion c.) 33.2 trillion 5. On average, what percentage of domestic tickets are purchased with points? a.) 2 percent b.) 6 percent c.) 20 percent 6. What percentage of reward points and travel miles do Americans fail to redeem each year? a.) 6.5 percent b.) 10 percent c.) 33.3 percent 7. What was the first airline to allow the transfer of frequent-flier points between same-sex couples? a.) United Airlines (in 1999) b.) Delta Air Lines (in 1993) c.) American Airlines (in 1990) 8. What issues related to frequent-flier miles have been addressed by Congress? a.) Whether they should be taxed b.) Whether members of Congress should keep miles earned on business c.) Both a. and b. 9. How many “mileage millionaires” are there? a.) About 10,000 b.) 51,000 c.) More than 400,000 10. How many miles does the person with the most accumulated points have, and how were those miles accumulated? a.) 70 million, through an airline program b.) 20 million, through a credit card c.) 120 million, through a credit card and a program. Answers: 1. c. 2. a. 3. c. 4. c. 5. b. 6. c. 7. b. 8. c. 9. c. 10. c.

Credit Cards and International Fees

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Credit cards that don’t carry foreign transaction fees are generally the best option for spending while traveling internationally. But even if you’re stuck with a card that charges the fees, you can still save more by using the card rather than by exchanging cash at banks and airport terminals.

That was the conclusion of an analysis from Card Hub.com, which compared the cost of currency exchange services from the major credit card networks with 15 large domestic banks and airport currency exchange outlets like Travelex.

Cards that don’t charge foreign exchange fees are the best bet. Card Hub says they’ll save you, on average, about 8 percent over exchanging cash at domestic banks, and 16 percent over airport exchange services. There are more cards now that come without the fees, like Chase’s Sapphire Preferred card and the Capital One Venture Rewards credit card. Roughly 82 percent of cards carry the fees, down from about 90 percent a year ago, CardHub said. Foreign transaction fees typically run from 1 to 3 percent. The average fee in the first three months of this year was 2.38 percent, the report found, down from 2.52 percent a year earlier.

Card Hub’s default list of “featured” no-fee cards may give higher placement to card issuers that pay advertising fees to the Web site. But users can make their own search by entering specific criteria, said CardHub’s founder, Odysseas Papadimitriou. The Web site NerdWallet is another source for information about cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Using cards that don’t charge the fees not only saves you money but avoids hassles, since the currency is converted automatically whenever you make a purchase, said Mr. Papadimitriou, a former card executive at Capital One.

Bill Hardekopf, chief executive of the Web site LowCards.com, said credit card companies are dropping the foreign fees on some cards in a bid to attract clients with solid credit, since those consumers tend to be more affluent and travel overseas. “They’re courting people with good to excellent credit more aggressively,” he said.

If you must use a card that still charges the fees, it will still save you nearly 6 percent relative to exchanging money at banks, and almost 14 percent compared with airport exchangers, the study found.

If you have to go with a bank, it pays to do some research. The best banks for currency conversion are Northern Trust and Harris Bank — the same as last year, the study found. The costliest are also the same: U.S. Bank and Fifth Third Bank. The fees that banks charge for currency conversion are, overall, unchanged from last year (Wells Fargo is an exception, according to CardHub, dropping its fee to $7 this year from $12 last year.)

On average, the analysis found, banks save consumers almost 10 percent over airport outlets like Travelex, which offer convenience but at a premium.

Mr. Papadimitriou advised consumers to avoid so-called dynamic currency conversion, which is what happens when a merchant asks you if you would like to have your purchase total converted on the spot into American dollars. Merchants generally use a high exchange rate and pocket a profit from the transaction, benefiting from tourists who don’t bother to check the math at the point of sale.

Are you planning foreign travel this summer? How are you planning to pay for purchases overseas?

24 Haziran 2012 Pazar

(Philippines) – Discover Tagaytay

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The City of Tagaytay (Filipino: Lungsod ng Tagaytay) is a second class city in the province of Cavite, Philippines. Only 55 km (34 mi) away from Manila via Aguinaldo Highway, it is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. Tagaytay City provides a good view of the Taal Volcano. The city is a popular summer tourist destination because of its cool climate due to its high altitude.

(Philippines) - Discover Tagaytay

Tagaytay is a city of scenic contrasts .Wildflowers line paved winding roads, panoramic views of the Taal Volcano nestled in Taal Lake, and orchards of fresh home grown fruits, all amidst modern convenient facilities and amenities including the Casino Filipino Tagaytay.
Tagaytay is home to Taal Volcano, which is reputed to be the world's smallest and yet most active. It stands on its own island amid a landscape of ash and cinder. The breathtaking views of Taal volcano and Lake is a MUST SEE for everyone visiting Asia. It is truly a once in a life time experience and we recommend a visit in the strongest possible way.

(Philippines) - Discover Tagaytay

Tagaytay, considered as the country's second summer capital because of its crisp and cool climate all year around, is a treasure box of pleasure points in by itself. At nightfall, one sees the lake sparkle with the pinpoint lights of fishing boats. It is a perfect picnic spot. Here, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Tourism Authority built Picnic Groove, a public park in the city which generates public patronage through user fees and the sale of low priced goods, thus contributing to the industrial growth of Tagaytay.
Tagaytay, however, is more than a picnic haunt. The place has given rise to many congregational houses and retreat centers. It is also conductive to spiritual meditation, that is earned yet another title for being the "Center of Spiritual Retreat."

(Philippines) - Discover Tagaytay

Thus, the masterpiece of nature that is Tagaytay is a not to be missed item in a tourist itinerary. It should always include a visit to the Volcano Island, and its enumerable side spots.
Tagaytay City, located 2,500 feet above sea level enjoys a cool and invigorating climate characterized by a relatively low temperature, low humidity, and abundant rainfall. Average temperature is 22.7 degrees Celsius. For this reason, Tagaytay with its cool weather, balmy winds and foggy mists is called the "second summer capital" of the country after Baguio City.

(Philippines) - Discover Tagaytay

How to get there By bus or auto - 1 hour drive from Manila. You can hire what's called an "FX" (a taxi like van with air-con as the locals call air conditioners,) for an all day trip for about Pesos 2,500 plus gas and tolls (around US$50 in total) if you're a good haggler. This way you can check into your Tagaytay hotel, then have your FX or automobile driver take you around to as many of the local sights that you can handle in one day.

(Philippines) - Tagaytay - Taal Volcano

(Wiki & Tagaytay)Phoebettmh Travel

(Jordan) – Amman – A modern city built on the sands of time

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Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a fascinating city of contrasts – a unique blend of old and new, ideally situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley.

(Jordan) – Amman – A modern city built on the sands of time

In the commercial heart of the city, ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans' workshops. Everywhere there is evidence of the city’s much older past.

Jordan map

(Jordan) – Amman – A modern city built on the sands of time

Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined streets and avenues flanked by elegant, almost uniformly white houses in accordance with a municipal law, which states that all buildings must be faced with local stone.

(Jordan) – Amman – A modern city built on the sands of time

The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewellery to everyday household items.

(Jordan) – Amman – A modern city built on the sands of time

The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well-educated and extremely hospitable. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating and vibrant city.

(Jordan) – Amman – A modern city built on the sands of time

(Visit Jordan)Phoebettmh Travel

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

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Marmaris is a coastal town, a port city and a tourist destination on the southwest Mediterranean coast of Turkey, in the Mugla Province. Marmaris is one of the Turkey's most popular holiday towns and largest resorts on the Aegean coast.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

With its surroundings, long coastline, outstanding landscape of pine-covered hills, isolated bays and inlets, wonderful beaches, ancient cities, marinas and every kind of attractions; Marmaris welcomes about 400,000 people during the tourism season. Marmaris can be considered as the Mediterranean paradise. Marmaris is also a major center for yacht tourism and blue voyage. Marmaris has easy and well built connections to the nearby airport in Dalaman, and on the road to Mugla, Datca and Fethiye. Transportation in the town is very well organized.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

Marmaris offers a great opportunities for the holiday makers with its luxury Marmaris hotels and Marmaris apartments, restaurants, nightclubs and shopping centres. Marmaris is a beach holiday resort teeming with a wide range of hotels, so you’ll most likely find a hotel which suits your budget. It’s really no surprise Marmaris has grown in popularity with its sandy beaches, lively nightlife and great facilities for families, couples and groups alike. Holidays in Marmaris can be as active or relaxed as you like, the beaches provide several water sport activities as well as the close by aqua park which provide affordable entertainment for all ages.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

Icmeler is a beautiful beach resort only 8 kilometres from the large and vibrant resort of Marmaris and mostly considered together. This pine forested heaven is infused with all the atmosphere of both the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas and is truly picturesque against the backdrop of magnificent mountains.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

There are many fine sandy beaches and spectacular bays in and around Marmaris. Daily boat trips are organized for the isolated bays and for Dalyan. The yacht marina is one of the biggest one in Turkey and there are regular ferry services to the Greek island of Rhodes.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris - Icmeler

Most places for accommodation are located at the seashore. Hundreds of seashore and luxury restaurants, world class discos and bars attracts thousands of travellers. For some traditional Turkish food, the wide selection of mezes (starters), olive oil drizzled kebabs and dough based deserts such as "baklava" and "kunefe", all which are infused with a mixture of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Central Asian influences are available from the many Turkish restaurants, grills and taverns.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

Eating out in Marmaris is also fantastic. Marmaris is full of quality restaurants and cafes. Most Marmaris restaurants and cafes are located beside the seaside and the Marmaris Castle area. You are able to find every kind of food & beverage & world cuisine for your taste. Netsel Marina region is very ideal for a romantic dinner with its calm scenery and luxury restaurants. There are live music and cafe-bar opportunities for the couples or groups after dinner as well.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

Nightlife in Marmaris is vibrant and there are plenty of bars, discos and nightclubs to choose from. The many Marmaris nightclubs provide nights not far off those found in Ibiza. You may find every kind of music for your taste. Crazy and wild nights of Marmaris are centered on the Bar Street and Uzunyali Beach. There are also many quality small cafes & bars along the waterfront.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris - Marmaris nightlife

Shopping areas are well built and offer great brands and opportunities to their guests. Leather, jewelry, brand clothing, carpets, handicrafts, Turkish delight and souvenir shops are the main interests in Marmaris shopping.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris - Marmaris Castle

Marmaris Castle, located in the center is worth seeing. There are a lot of historic places and ancient cities to see as well. Marmaris has always been an important coastal town and trade center for centuries, due to its location on the intersection point of Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. History of Marmaris starts when the first settlement begun with the arrival of a tribe to the region in from 3400 BC. Although it is not certain when Marmaris was founded but in the 6th century BC the city was known as Physkos and it was part of the Caria.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris - Marmaris Castle

Marmaris has a typical Aegean & Mediterranean climate. Summer is hot and winter is rainy. The hottest months are July and August. Marmaris takes so much rain in fall and winter.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris - Dalyan

Marmaris provides a myriad of fun and exciting activities for groups, couples and families. A calm or an adventurous kind of a holiday, crazy or calm nightlife, accommodation in luxury resorts or budget apart hotels, yacht tourism, sports tourism, ecological tourism or diving tourism... Marmaris holidays are a perfect choice especially for holidaymakers from UK, Scandinavia, Netherlands and Russia.

(Turkey) – Getting to Marmaris

(Marmaris town)Phoebettmh Travel

The Equipment for Fly Fishing at TridentFlyFishing.com

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Fishing is an interesting action that you can to complete on the weekends. There are numerous people just like angling because this activity is extremely make sure you. For people who have not really acquired the relevant skills in fly fishing, they should know about a few important things that they need to put together prior to these people seafood. In order to fish, it is important that you need to think about is the fly fishing approach. Inside angling, there are some methods that you are able in order to all of us. Fishing is the most popular method utilized by many anglers. For those who have made a decision to use this fishing method, you should get ready the gear regarding fly fishing. The first products regarding fly fishing you'll want to prepare will be the fly waders.

Looking for the actual fly waders is not hard any longer today. Nowadays, there are numerous stores that offer the gear with regard to fly fishing. That is why you'll be able to purchase the travel wader as well as other fly fishing equipment easily. There are various selections associated with soar waders supplied. They come with all of the size and shade. That is why it is possible to choose the best the one that is suitable for you personally. Besides travel waders, the most important equipment you'll want to put together is actually fly fishing rod. There are various choices associated with travel rods currently available, including bamboo fly rods. There's also some choices of bamboo sheets soar supports supplied.

The other equipment for fly fishing will be soar fishing reel. Right now there numerous brands regarding soar reel currently available. Tibor travel reel is probably the popular soar baitcasting reel brands that you can to select. If you wish to acquire tibor fly reels as well as other equipment regarding fishing, you'll be able to get them on the web. TridentFlyFishing.com is the correct spot for a person who would like to get the fly gear, apparel, as well as other equipment for fishing. There are several well-liked fly fishing equipment brands offered by this kind of online shop, such as Redington, Robust, Tibor, Ross, Waterworks-Lamson, Patagonia, Simms, Sage, Winston, Greys, Rio, as well as TFO.

Disney's "Brave" rides to box office win

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Disney's new animated movie, "Brave," about a rebellious, red-headed princess battled to the top of movie box office charts over the weekend, scoring $80 million in ticket sales around the world.

The fairy tale from Disney's Pixar studio pulled in $66.7 million at domestic theaters from Friday through Sunday, plus $13.5 million from international markets. "Brave" easily topped new historical/horror mashup "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter," which finished the weekend in third place.
The 3D "Brave" is set in the ancient Scottish highlands and centers around horseback-riding teen princess Merida, who defies her mother and her kingdom's traditions. Merida, voiced by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald, must then use her courage and archery skills to undo a curse.
The movie brings the 13th consecutive No. 1 opening to Pixar, which has become Hollywood's most reliable studio during its 17-year history of making films. Starting with "Toy Story" in 1995, its 12 films before "Brave" have generated more than $7.2 billion in worldwide ticket sales, according to Hollywood.com.
Its 2010 film "Toy Story 3" was the biggest selling film that year, with $415 million in U.S. ticket sales and nearly $1.1 billion worldwide.
"Brave" is a departure for Pixar, and is its first film to feature a strong female as the lead character, following a long Disney tradition with female heroines that in recent years have included "Mulan" and "Pocahontas." "Brave" cost about $185 million to make.
Ahead of the weekend, industry tracking suggested "Brave" would secure between $55 million and $60 million in domestic ticket sales, putting the film line with most of Pixar's recent debuts, but the film topped expectations.
"Brave" knocked another animated family film, "Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted," to No. 2 after its two weeks in the top spot. The movie about a pack of escaped zoo animals took in $20 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters over the weekend, and the worldwide total since its debut rose to $157.6 million.
HONEST ABE BATTLES VAMPIRES
In third place on domestic charts, thriller "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" rung up a solid $16.5 millhon. The movie imagines the 16th U.S. president fighting creatures of the night that are plotting to take over the country. Benjamin Walker stars as the axe-wielding Lincoln in the $70-million 3D production.
The movie rung up another $8.1 million in international markets.
Distributor 20th Century Fox, a unit of News Corp, had projected domestic sales would hit around $15 million for the weekend.
In fourth place, "Alien" director Ridley Scott's movie, "Prometheus," about explorers searching for the origins of mankind added $10 million in domestic sales to bring its global sales after three weeks to $108.5 million.
Another new release, "Seeking a Friend for the End of the World" pulled in $3.8 million, for a disappointing 10th place. The dark comedy starring Steve Carrell and Keira Knightley tells the story of a man who goes on a road trip as an asteroid speeds toward Earth.
The film, which cost less than $10 million to make, played in 1,618 theaters, fewer than the 3,000-plus for the weekend's other big movies.
The fifth spot went to Universal's "Snow White and the Huntsman," which took in $8 million domestically to bring its four-week global total to $137 million.
"Madagascar 3" was produced by Dreamworks Animation and distributed by Paramount Pictures, a unit of Viacom Inc. News Corp movie studio 20th Century Fox released "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" and "Prometheus." Focus Features, a unit of Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures, released "Seeking a Friend."

23 Haziran 2012 Cumartesi

New Friends

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I've met some pretty cool people at work so far. They keep me young.
I work with a lot of people in their early 20's. Still in college or just finished. I'm one of the few ~~elite~~ in the older crowd. The only people older than me are the owners, who are only a couple years older, and one other guy.
I love it.
My best girlfriends are pretty far east of me. Home. Other than seeing them maybe once a year, I haven't spent much time with my close friends since college. It is something I miss.
I have friends in California but nobody I would consider a good friend. Especially as of recently. The best way to describe them would be flakes.
In Colorado, I had no girlfriends. And it was rough.
I just met a girl at work who I instantly clicked with. She is a lot like my best friends back home. It is so great to have friends at work that I would actually hang out with outside of work. I haven't had that since college. Everyone is really nice, really fun and really cool. Going out all together is a blast and thats just what we did on Friday.

Only a few of the many people I work with.
I am so glad to have broken out of the 9-5 boring office job with boring people. Even if it is just for a short time. And I am so excited to have gotten a new girl friend out of the deal!

How Pinteresting Wednesday -- Honeymoon Inspired

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I've had my honeymoon planned for as long as I can remember. I was going to Bora Bora and would stay in an overwater bungalow.
Over the past year or so I've began to rethink Bora Bora. Sure, its exotic but I wonder if my expectations are set too high. Maybe Bora Bora is overrated.
Lately I've thought about Hawaii and Europe. I started planning a Maui vacation with my mom that fell through and before I knew we weren't going, I put a lot of time and effort into researching Hawaii. There is so much to do in Hawaii, it would be a perfect honeymoon for an active couple.
In Hawaii I would go to Maui and go to Haleakala, drive the Road to Hana, visit the Maui Brewing company. On Kauai I would hike to waterfalls and on the Big Island I would go to Volcano National Park.

I've always wanted to go to Italy but lately I've been bit by the Europe bug. If I had to narrow it down, I'd want to go to Italy, Germany, and Ireland. Perhaps Switzerland and M wants to go to Belgium.
Cliche aside, I would prefer a tropical honeymoon. On the other hand, Hawaii seems like a vacation that could be taken easier than Europe. Especially once a house and kids are factored in.
Today I am linking up for a honeymoon inspired pinterest edition.