The Perfect Blend

I have been patiently waiting for the next generation BMW Kompakt (as I called my previous car) and here it comes. BMW finally revealed photos of their upcoming 1-Series. It is confirmed that it will be sold in the American Market as well.

The car will feature 2 engines so far. A 128i with the well known 230 horsepower inline 6, and A 135i with the 300 horsepower inline 6 cylinder twin-turbo from its big brother the 335i. I’m sure BMW will plan for an //M model as well.

Expect a base price ranging between a fully loaded Mini Cooper and an entry level 3-Series.

[ Source: JALOPNIK ]

Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe survived a severe car accident while filming her latest video clip. The scene involved Haifa driving a convertible car while being chased by a Helicopter. Apparently the Helicopter couldn’t fly close enough and ended up crashing into Haifa’s Car. The Lebanese Army forces rescued her as she was filming in one if their airfields in the Bekaa Valley.

[ Sources: Waleg , Elaph ]

If you’re not a big fan of the Viper Powered truck. Try a Viper Powered Jeep…

The body has a $12,000 custom paint job and the owners spent about $100,000 on parts alone. It’s yours for US$75,000 on eBay

[ Source: Chrysler Weblog ]

We all waste our times on something different some waste their times in more productive ways than others. How do you waste your time? Here is a list of 20 Productive ways to use your free time.

• Reading file. Clip magazine articles or print out good articles or reports for reading later, and keep them in a folder marked “Reading File”. Take this wherever you go, and any time you have a little chunk of time, you can knock off items in your Reading File. Keep a reading file on your computer (or in your bookmarks), for quick reading while at your desk (or on the road if you’ve got a laptop).
• Clear out inbox. Got a meeting in 5 minutes? Use it to get your physical or email inbox to empty. If you’ve got a lot in your inbox, you’ll have to work quickly, and you may not get everything done, but reducing your pile can be a big help. And having an empty inbox is a wonderful feeling.
• Phone calls. Keep a list of phone calls you need to make, with phone numbers, and carry it everywhere. Whether you’re at your desk or on the road, you can knock a few calls off your list in a short amount of time.
• Make money. This is my favorite productive use of free time. I have a list of articles I need to write, and when I get some spare minutes, I’ll knock off half an article real quick. If you get 5-10 chunks of free time a day, you can make a decent side income. Figure out how you can free-lance your skills, and have work lined up that you can knock out quickly — break it up into little chunks, so those chunks can be done in short bursts.
• File. No one likes to do this. If you’re on top of your game, you’re filing stuff immediately, so it doesn’t pile up. But if you’ve just come off a really busy spurt, you may have a bunch of documents or files laying around. Or maybe you have a big stack of stuff to file. Cut into that stack with every little bit of spare time you get, and soon you’ll be in filing Nirvana.
• Network. Only have 2 minutes? Shoot off a quick email to a colleague. Even just a “touching bases” or follow-up email can do wonders for your working relationship. Or shoot off a quick question, and put it on your follow-up list for later.
• Clear out feeds. If my email inbox is empty, and I have some spare time, I like to go to my Google Reader and clear out my feed inbox.
• Goal time. Take 10 minutes to think about your goals, personal and professional. If you don’t have a list of goals, start on one. If you’ve got a list of goals, review them. Write down a list of action steps you can take over the next couple of weeks to make these goals a reality. What action step can you do today? The more you focus on these goals, and review them, the more likely they will come true.
• Update finances. Many people fall behind with their finances, either in paying bills (they don’t have time), or entering transactions in their financial software, or clearing their checkbook, or reviewing their budget. Take a few minutes to update these things. It just takes 10-15 minutes every now and then.
• Brainstorm ideas. Another favorite of mine if I just have 5 minutes — I’ll break out my pocket notebook, and start a brainstorming list for a project or article. Whatever you’ve got coming up in your work or personal life, it can benefit from a brainstorm. And that doesn’t take long.
• Clear off desk. Similar to the filing tip above, but this applies to whatever junk you’ve got cluttering up your desk. Or on the floor around your desk. Trash stuff, file stuff, put it in its place. A clear desk makes for a more productive you. And it’s oddly satisfying.
• Exercise. Never have time to exercise? 10 minutes is enough to get off some pushups and crunches. Do that 2-3 times a day, and you’ve got a fit new you.
• Take a walk. This is another form of exercise that doesn’t take long, and you can do it anywhere — but even more important, it’s a good way to stretch your legs from sitting at your desk too long, and it gets your creative juices flowing. If you’re ever stuck for ideas, taking a walk is a good way to get unstuck.
• Follow up. Keep a follow-up list for everything you’re waiting on. Return calls, emails, memos — anything that someone owes you, put on the list. When you’ve got a spare 10 minutes, do some follow-up calls or emails.
• Meditate. You don’t need a yoga mat to do this. Just do it at your desk. Focus on your breathing. A quick 5-10 minutes of meditation (or even a nap) can be tremendously refreshing.
• Research. This is a daunting task for me. So I do it in little spurts. If I’ve only got a few minutes, I’ll do some quick research and take some notes. Do this a few times, and I’m done!
• Outline. Similar to brainstorming, but more formal. I like to do an outline of a complicated article, report or project, and it helps speed things along when I get to the actual writing. And it only takes a few minutes.
• Get prepped. Outlining is one way to prep for longer work, but there’s a lot of other ways you can prep for the next task on your list. You may not have time to actually start on the task right now, but when you come back from your meeting or lunch, you’ll be all prepped and ready to go.
• Be early. Got some spare time before a meeting? Show up for the meeting early. Sure, you might feel like a chump sitting there alone, but actually people respect those who show up early. It’s better than being late (unless you’re trying to play a power trip or something, but that’s not appreciated in many circles).
• Log. If you keep a log of anything, a few spare minutes is the perfect time to update the log. Actually, the perfect time to update the log is right after you do the activity (exercise, eat, crank a widget), but if you didn’t have time to do it before, your 5-minute break is as good a time as any.

[ Source: Lifehack.org ]

I visited one of the forums from my old town and this is what one of the guys are up to. A new trend in Islamic Fashion? Maybe for some and maybe offensive for others, thats for you to decide…

You can purchase the T-Shirts for $15 directly from their website www.phatwafactory.com

Assalamu Alaikum and welcome to Phatwa Factory – the best thing to happen to Muslim clothing since pants under a Thawb. Our shirt designs are below. Have a look, browse the site and let us know what you think. Remember, if you don’t like them, the terrorists win. Or at least tie.

• Okay, okay! I take it back. Unfuck you.
• You say I’m a bitch like it’s a bad thing.Well, this day was a total waste of make-up.
• Well, aren’t we a damn ray of sunshine?
• Don’t bother me, I’m living happily ever after.
• Do I look like a people person?
• This isn’t an office. It’s hell with fluorescent lighting.
• I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.
• Therapy is expensive. Popping bubble wrap is cheap. You choose.
• Why don’t you try practicing random acts of intelligence and senseless acts of self-control?
• I’m not crazy. I’ve been in a very bad mood for 30 years.
• Sarcasm is just one more service I offer.
• Do they ever shut up on your planet?
• I’m not your type. I’m not inflatable.
• Stress is when you wake up screaming and you realize you haven’t gone to sleep yet!
• Back off!! You’re standing in my aura.
• Don’t worry. I forgot your name too.
• I work 45 hours a week to be this poor.
• Not all men are annoying. Some are dead.
• Wait … I’m trying to imagine you with a personality.
• Chaos, panic and disorder .. my work here is done.
• Ambivalent? Well, yes and no.
• You look like shit. Is that the style now?
• Earth is full. Go home.
• Aww, did I step on your poor little itty bitty ego?
• I’m not tense, just terribly, terribly alert.
• A hard-on doesn’t count as personal growth.
• You are depriving some village of an idiot.
• If assholes could fly, this place would be an airport.
• Look in my eyes … Do you see one ounce of gives-a-shit?