"Allahumma bariklana fii rajab wa sya'ban wa balighna Ramadhan." (Ya Allah, berkatilah kami di bulan rajab dan Sya'ban, dan sampaikanlah kami di bulan Ramadhan).

Sudah sekitar 3 atu 4 harian kita melaksanakan ibadah shaum ramadhan. Tidak lupa saya ingin mengucapkan selamat menjalankan ibadah puasa kepada semua blogger yang kebetulan seorang muslim.

Jamu.psd
Donlot: Di Sini

Dan sebagai blogger berstatus manusia yang tak luput dari kesalahan. Maka dalam kesempatan ini pula saya memohon maaf yang sebesar-besar-nya, apabila ada postingan, komentar atau komunikasi via shoutbox yang menyinggung atau menghina. baik itu di lakukan dengan sadar atau di luar kesadaran. - maklum lidah tak bertulang.

Juga untuk menyambut tamu agung tersebut, kebetulan saya memiliki beberapa koleksi font kaligafi, shape dan brush kaligarfi untuk program photoshop yang saya share untuk bisa anda unduh ( donlot ). Juga untuk anda yang ingin mencari lautan ilmu tentang islam, hikmah dan lain-lain saya sedikit mempunyai link situs yang mudah-mudahan bermangfaat.

Yu selamat menjalankan ibadah Ramadan .... Mohon maaf lahir batin.

Islamic Shapes Donwload here

Islamic Shapes 2 Download here

Islamic Shapes 3 Download here

Islamic Shapes 4 Download here

Islamic Shapes 5 Download here

Arabic Brush Download here

Jadwal Piala Dunia 2010 pake format Excel

Jadi juragan2 tinggal masukin skor pertandingan aja ntar point, peringkat n siapa aja yang lolos bisa langsung ketahuan pokoknya keren deh. Ada setting bahasa juga termasuk bahasa Indonesia klo mo bahasa Arab juga ada hehehehehehe......

oya, ada setting waktu juga buat yang di Indonesia bagian barat pilih yang GMT+7 pokoknya dijamin gak rugi klo donlot.

Untuk memudahkan Anda... inilah jadwal yang paling mudah untuk memanage Selama piala Dunia berlangsung. Jadi di aplikasi ini kita dengan mudah merekam semua hasil pertandingan. mulai dari jumlah Goal. Posisi klasemen, babak 16 Besar, 8 Besar sampai ke FinaL. pokoknya mantabs banget Aplikasi ini. Rugi kalau tidak mendownload..

UPDATE

Kita Bisa dapat update hasil pertandingan secara Online dari hasil pertandingan secara lengkap Caranya? Gampang Banget.... TinggaL aja klik menu FILE - > Online Update... ( CTRL + U ) terus klik OK... jangan Lupa Save datanya dengan Klik menu FILE -> Save Result Datebase (CTRL + S ) ok



Download disini

Mungkin sebagian besar orang Indonesia adalah perokok. Dan lebih dari 50% pelajar SMP dan SMA sudah mulai mencoba dan bahkan menjadi pecandu rokok. Rokok emang nikmat. Merokok emang menambah konsentrasi. Tapi Rokok juga merupakan racun. Tapi…. Rokok is the best. Tanpa merokok anda yang perokok berat pasti merasa kurang konsentrasi dalam melaksanakan kegiatan. Apalagi kegiatan yang membutuhkan pikiran yang berat.

Dibawah ini ada beberapa manfaat rokok :

1. Perokok pasif lebih berbahaya daripada perokok aktif, maka untuk mengurangi resiko tersebut aktiflah merokok.
2. Menghindarkan dari perbuatan jahat karena tidak pernah ditemui orang yang membunuh, mencuri dan berkelahi sambil merokok.
3. Mengurangi resiko kematian; dalam berita tidak pernah ditemui orang yang meninggal dalam posisi merokok.
4. Berbuat amal kebaikan; kalau ada orang yang mau pinjam korek api paling tidak sudah siap / tidak mengecewakan orang yang ingin meminjam.
5. Baik untuk basa-basi / keakraban; Kalau ketemu orang misalnya di Halte kita bisa tawarkan rokok. Kalau basa-basinya nawarin uang kan boros.
6. Memberikan lapangan kerja bagi buruh rokok, dokter, pedagang asongan, pembuat asbak, pabrik kemasan dan perusahaan obat batuk.
7. Bisa untuk alasan untuk tambah gaji karena ada post untuk rokok dan resiko baju berlubang kena api rokok.
8. Bisa menambah suasana pedesaan/nature bagi ruangan ber AC dengan asapnya, sehingga seolah-olah berkabut.
9. Menghilangkan bau wangi-wangian ruang bagi yang alergi bau parfum.
10. Kalau mobil mogok karena busi ngadat tidak ada api, maka sudah siap api.
11. Membantu program KB dan mengurangi penyelewengan karena konon katanya merokok bisa menyebabkan impoten.
12. Melatih kesabaran dan menambah semangat pantang menyerah karena bagi pemula merokok itu tidak mudah; batuk-batuk dan tersedak tapi tetap diteruskan (bagi yg lulus).
13. Untuk indikator kesehatan; biasanya orang yang sakit pasti dilarang dulu merokok. Jadi yang merokok itu pasti orang sehat.
14. Menambah kenikmatan: sore hari minum kopi dan makan pisang goreng sungguh nikmat. Apalagi ditambah merokok !
15. Tanda kalau hari sudah pagi, kita pasti mendengar ayam merokok.
16. Anti maling, suara perokok batuk berat di malam hari mujarab untuk mengusir penjahat.
17. Membantu shooting film keji, rokok digunakan penjahat buat nyundut jagoan yg terikat di kursi… “hahaha penderitaan itu pedih Jendral..!!!”
18. Film cowboy pasti lebih macho kalo ngerokok sambil naek kuda, soalnya kalo sambil ngemut permen kesannya malah imut..
19. Membuat awet muda, karena konon orang yang merokok berat belum sampai tua udah mati duluan kena kanker paru-paru. Fakta lain …sekitar 30% orang meninggal di dunia adalah perokok. 70%-nya bukan perokok..!!

Maka merokoklah agar masuk ke golongan yg lebih sedikit itu ...

Bandung, Gempa dengan kekuatan 7,6 skala richter mengguncang wilayah Pariaman Sumatra Barat. Gempa yang terjadi pukul 17.16 WIB tersebut tidak menimbulkan tsunami.

Informasi dari Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika, Rabu (30/9/2009), gempa terjadi di 0,84 Lintang Selatan dan 99,65 Bujur Timur dengan kedalaman 71 kilometer.

Belum diketahui apakah gempa tersebut mengakibatkan korban jiwa atau korban luka-luka.

Peta Mudik 2009 Inspirasi Peta Mudik Jawa , Peta Mudik Sumatra dan Peta Mudik Indonesia

Peta Mudik 2009 , yups pasti akan sangat dibutuhkan. Info jalur mudik mulai peta mudik jawa , peta mudik sumatra , peta mudik bali dan peta mudik sulawesi serta peta mudik kalimantan akan menjadi kebutuhan selama ramadhan 1430 H.

Saya memperoleh peta mudik ini dari tempointeraktif, navigasi petanya cukup bagus. Begitu dibuka anda akan menemukan peta mudik jakarta . dibawahnya ada tombol navigasi peta mudik bandung , peta mudik cirebon , peta mudik semarang , peta mudik yogyakarta , peta mudik surabaya. Ditambah lagi info jalur mudik baik jalur mudik pantura atau jalur mudik selatan plus info pom bensin, rumah makan dan ATM, lumayan lengkap. Eit tunggu dulu saya tidak hanya menyampaikan peta mudik dari tempo interaktif anda juga bisa men download beberapa versi jalur peta, linknya ada di paling bawah posting ini

Download peta mudik

Peta Mudik Departemen Perhubungan
Peta Mudik Cybermap
Peta Yogyakarta

Download peta mudik untuk handphone
Download dari Getjar

Penggunaan :
• Tombol 1 untuk zoom in
• Tombol 3 untuk zoom out
• Tombol 5 untuk zoom maksimal
• Tombol 2,4,6,8 untuk menggeser peta
• Tombol * untuk fullscreen
• Tombol # untuk berpindah ke posisi yang telah disimpan

Untuk download peta mudik klik peta mudik ini

Peta mudik tempo inteaktif

Jangan Lupa Berdoalah sebelum Berangkat Mudik dan berhati-hatilah ... semoga selamat sampai di tujuan. Amien.

Bandung, tepatnya pukul 15:04 WIB diguncang gempa dengan skala sangat besar.

Lokasi Gempa yang berkekuatan 7,3 SR, terjadi di Tasik Malaya Jawa Barat, berikut peta lokasi nya :

Lokasi : 7.770°S, 107.324°E

Sumber Gempa :

95 km (60 miles) SSW of Bandung, Java, Indonesia
110 km (65 miles) SSE of Sukabumi, Java, Indonesia
115 km (70 miles) WSW of Tasikmalaya, Java, Indonesia
190 km (120 miles) SSE of JAKARTA, Java, Indonesia

Lihat di Google Map




GARUT - Gempa bumi berkekuatan 7,3 skala richter yang terjadi di Tasikmalaya petang tadi, getarannya juga terasa di Kabupaten Garut. Puluhan rumah warga rusak bahkan beberapa di antaranya roboh.

Berdasarkan informasi yang dihimpun dari lapangan, Rabu (2/9/2009), sejumlah rumah warga yang mengalami kerusakan di antaranya terjadi di Kecamatan Pamengpeuk, Kecamatan Karang Pawitan, dan Kecamatan Garut Kota.

Bahkan, salah satu ruko penjual sepatu di Jalan Cileduk, Garut Kota, juga tak kuasa menahan getaran hingga akhirnya roboh. Belum diketahui adanya korban jiwa akibat kejadian ini, namun kabarnya, sejumlah warga mengalami luka akibat gempa bumi yang sempat berpotensi tsunami tersebut.

Hingga berita ini diturunkan, ratusan warga Garut masih berada diluar rumah. Mereka belum berani kembali ke dalam rumah karena khawatir gempa susulan terjadi. "Nanti saja kita kembali ke rumah kalau benar-benar sudah aman," ujar seorang warga.

DENPASAR - Gempa 7,3 Richter yang berpusat di 142 kilometer sebelah barat daya Tasikmalaya, Jawa Barat, terasa hingga ke Pulau Bali. Sejauh ini, belum ada laporan korban maupun kerusakan.

Di Bali, kekuatan gempa yang dirasakan termasuk dalam skala II Modified Mercally Intensity (MMI). "Getarannya seperti halnya ketika ada truk yang melintas di depan kita," kata Kepala Bidang Data dan Informasi BMG Wilayah III Denpasar, Endro Tjahjono ketika dihubungi, Rabu (2/9/2009).

Endro menyatakan, getaran gempa di Bali lebih keciil dibandingkan sejumlah daerah di Jawa Tengah dan Jawa Timur. Namun demikian, hampir semua masyarakat di Bali merasakannya.

Di Denpasar, gempa sempat membuat panik karyawan yang bekerja di gedung bertingkat. Selain merasakan getaran cukup kuat sekira setengah menit, mereka juga melihat sejumlah benda ikut bergoyang seperti lampu, kaca, dan sejumlah peralatan kantor.

Apricorn has launched its Aegis Padlock Secure hard drive, which is a really secure portable storage system. The unit comes with a keypad that is used to enter personal PIN numbers and, in this way, protect the content stored in the device from potential intruders or unauthorized accesses.

Users can also choose between AES-128 and 256 bit encryption to keep their data secure. The device uses an integrated USB 2.0 cable and is compatible with different platforms.

The unit has an “Administrator Feature” that acknowledges up to ten personal PIN numbers from different users and a PIN for a special user with administrator role, so you will be able to grant access to a selected number of people in order to allow them to read and write data (for example, you can grant access to your family and a few friends). This product also has a 16-point omni-directional shock mounting system in order to protect the drive from drops and knocks.



If you want to buy a portable hard drive, then the Aegis Padlock Secure is a great choice. And you can buy it through the Apricorn online store. There are models with different storage capacities: 250GB, 320GB and 500GB.

Scorer: Arshavin (40)
Scorer: Rooney (58 pen.)
Scorer: Diaby (63 o.g.)

Arsenal were denied a last-gasp equaliser in a thrilling encounter with Manchester United which they eventually lost 2-1.

Andrey Arshavin capped a brilliant first half by putting Arsenal ahead and if Ben Foster had not denied Robin van Persie with a brilliant feet-first save, Arsenal would probably have won.

Instead, Wayne Rooney won a penalty when he went down under Manuel Almunia's challenge, and scored it himself before Abou Diaby turned Ryan Giggs' free-kick into his own net to give the hosts their victory.

Van Persie thought he had equalised deep into stoppage time but his effort was ruled out for an offside against William Gallas, and Arsene Wenger's protest against the disallowed goal led to him being sent from the dug-out.

The Gunners were in front and on top through Arshavin's goal when Rooney went down under Manuel Almunia's challenge just before the hour mark.

Rooney sent Almunia the wrong way, ensuring the only blot on Diaby's fine performance turned out to be the own goal that sealed a win that wrecked Arsenal's 100 per cent start to the season.

perfect decision

It had all looked so unlikely at half-time, as Arshavin threatened to run riot.

The Russian might have scored earlier than he did too when Ben Foster flapped at a Van Persie corner.

The former Zenit St Petersburg man made a conscious effort to place a shot towards the top corner. Foster was not the only anxious face to watch it drift narrowly wide.

Then Darren Fletcher slid into Arshavin and despite winning the ball, Arsenal claimed for a penalty.

Referee Mike Dean was standing near enough to make the perfect decision and waved the shout away.

Arsenal maintained their offensive. The impressive Denilson slid a pass through to Arshavin, who had found space between United's defence and midfield which Ferguson's team selection was supposed to prevent.

Quickly Arshavin turned and let fly with a rasper of a drive.

Nemanja Vidic came close to levelling straight away for the hosts but, as they trooped into the tunnel for a dismal half-time debrief, the best they could actually reflect on was a Rooney free-kick that curled narrowly wide.

Strangely given how one-sided the opening half had been, Ferguson did not try to change things during the interval. And his team were almost out of the match before he had retaken his seat.

swept away

Arshavin sped past John O'Shea as though the Irishman was not there to reach the by-line and picked out Van Persie with a teasing low cross that looked certain to be number two until Foster stuck out a leg to make a magnificent save.

At that point, there seemed to be only one winner. How wrong those doubters were as Ferguson's team surged back, Ryan Giggs the architect behind the comeback just as Arshavin had sparked Arsenal earlier.

The difference was Dean said yes when United claimed their penalty as Rooney went crashing to the ground after Giggs had supplied the pass that sent him through one-on-on with Almunia.

Questions were asked when Rooney did not take the one Michael Carrick missed at Burnley. There was no need this time as Rooney went straight for the ball, put it on the spot and promptly sent Almunia the wrong way.

Any pretence at defence was now swept away amid the fervour of an occasion that threatened to become a classic.

When Diaby was hacked at by Rooney and Wes Brown, both men were booked and Van Persie was offered the chance to curl a free-kick at Foster's goal which thudded against the crossbar.

A minute later, from a very similar position, United got their second.

In truth, Giggs' free-kick would not have threatened Almunia if Diaby had not stuck his head on it and deflected it straight into the corner of his own goal.

Sunday, 30 August 2009

Nicky Hayden’s tough first season with Ducati took a distinct turn for the better as he achieved his first podium for the Italian factory at Indianapolis.

Two visits to Indianapolis and two consecutive podiums makes great reading for Nicky Hayden and he will rightly savour the moment with his friends and family after another great performance at his home event.

The Kentuckian rider loves riding on American soil having achieved several good results in the U.S. down the years, but round 12 of the 2009 season will be remembered as one particularly sweet moment, as he marked up his first Ducati rostrum result in front of his home fans.

Indeed, having had some difficult moments in his career since his 2006 World Championship win, Hayden says the 2009 campaign so far has been the most challenging period of his life.

In an elated mood after crossing the line third behind Jorge Lorenzo and Alex de Angelis at The Brickyard, Hayden enthused, “It is great to be on the podium. I am really happy. Everybody knows what a hard season it has been and to be honest it has been the biggest challenge of my life. We have hung in there and caught a couple of breaks today, and I was able to get on the podium again.”

The 28 year-old added in his typically American southern drawl, “I am happy to be up here spraying a little bubbly (champagne)! I have to say a big thanks to all my team, all my family and all my supporters for sticking behind me.”

Having fought off a strong push from Italian rival Andrea Dovizioso in the final stages Hayden also commented, “He was all over me and I was getting a lot of heat so I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to hold on. It was all or nothing on the last couple of laps and I managed to hold him off, so hopefully we can just keep building on this. I am very pleased and I’m going to enjoy it!”

all women talks about fashion, in this case i wanna share with you about fashion sping.

If there’s one designer name which is synonymous to glam and rockin’ outfits, that is none other than Roberto Cavalli.

The designer has proven his worth since his first collection was showcased in 1972 – and there’s no stopping him since then. For the Roberto Cavalli Spring 2009 collection which was held in the runways of Milan’s Fashion Week– we’ll get to see some signature Cavalli pieces – and a few new ones.

Check out what Roberto Cavalli has in store for all of us next season:

What I love most about the items from the runway show are the debutante evening gowns with ultra-detailed skirts. I think that they showcase the designer’s creations at their finest.

As for the rest of the collection, it’s a mishmash of the patterns, designs and fabrics that the Cavalli label has been known for – they’re wild, sexy and fluid – so his most rabid fans will not be disappointed.

Subhankar Mondal

Sky Sport 24 reports that Inter and Madrid have struck a a 15-16 million euro deal that will see the 25-year-old Dutch international midfielder leave the Bernabeu for the San Siro in the next few days.

It's been reported that the deal has been struck and Sneijder himself has been quoted as saying that he is happy with the move.

La Gazzetta dello Sport quotes the former Ajax star as saying:

"I don't consider leaving Real to be a defeat because I am coming to one of the biggest clubs in the world, one which has won the championship for the last four years.

"In the last few weeks, [Inter coach] Jose Mourinho sent me a number of text messages to let me know how much he wanted me at Inter.

"The derby with Milan? The coach decides, I am ready to play immediately - I'm not lacking fitness."

Inter have been chasing an attacking midfielder all this summer in order to shore up their chances of winning the Champions League this summer. Sneijder was deemed a surplus at Madrid and although the player has himself insisted that he wanted to stay at the Bernabeu, he has eventually been shipped off.

Need a break from your laptop? These productivity phones offer a lot more than the ability to make calls. Here are the 10 best smart phones available today, according to PC World Test Center reviews.

Last Rated: August , 2009

1. Apple iPhone 3GS
   iPhone 3G, 3G S (Blue/Gray)
   
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:AT&T, OS Supported: OS:Mac OS, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 6:12, Bottom Line: Performance enhancements distinguish the otherwise evolutionary step-up iPhone 3GS from its previous iterations. Price When Reviewed: $299
2. T-Mobile Mytouch 3G
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:T-Mobile, OS Supported: OS:Proprietary,
   
   Bottom Line: The T-Mobile myTouch 3G is a big improvement from its predecessor, but the physical keyboard is sorely missed.
   Price When Reviewed: $200
   
3. T-Mobile G1
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:T-Mobile, OS Supported: OS:Proprietary, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 5:51,
   
   Bottom Line: The G1 has great call quality and does a good job of melding hardware with the Android operating system.
   Price When Reviewed: $180
   
4. Palm Pre
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:Sprint, OS Supported: OS:Proprietary, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 5:17,
   
   Bottom Line: The Pre's webOS software is touch-friendly and fun, but the cramped QWERTY keyboard detracts from the phone's usability.
   Price When Reviewed: $200
   
5. RIM Blackberry Bold
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:AT&T, OS Supported: OS:Proprietary, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 7:56,
   
   Bottom Line: The BlackBerry Bold almost lives up to its name with a stunning design, but its mediocre call quality and camera hold it back
   Price When Reviewed: $400
   
6. RIM BlackBerry Tour 9630
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:Verizon, OS Supported: OS:Proprietary,
   
   Bottom Line: The BlackBerry Tour entices with an ergonomic keyboard and gorgeous display, but the omission of Wi-Fi disappoints.
   Price When Reviewed: $200
   
7. Nokia E71
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:AT&T, OS Supported: OS:Symbian, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 4:48,
   
   Bottom Line: The Nokia E71's sleek design and multitude of useful features makes it ideal for both personal and business use.
   Price When Reviewed: $422
   
8. HTC Fuze
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:AT&T, OS Supported: OS:Windows Mobile, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 6:52,
   
   Bottom Line: The slick HTC Fuze has a visually stunning interface and a wide variety of features, but its performance is hit or miss.
   Price When Reviewed: $350
   
9. Apple iPhone 3G
   Design: Candy bar, Carrier: Carrier:AT&T, OS Supported: OS:Mac OS, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 5:38,
   
   Bottom Line: With a lower price, 3G radio, and GPS, this smart phone is in a class by itself.
   Price When Reviewed: $200 Check Latest Prices
   
10. Nokia N97
    Design: Slide, OS Supported: OS:Symbian, Battery Life Average (hh:mm): 6:01,
    
    Bottom Line: The N97 has great multimedia capabilities, but its operating system lacks the refinement of other OSs.
    Price When Reviewed: $700
    

For Exciting Sampel Watch This

Produced by and featuring Justin Timberlake, Dead and Gone is already enjoying an A-listing at Capital and Hit Music Network, B-listing at Galaxy and enjoying massive support from the likes of Choice FM and 1Xtra. The forthcoming video will reunite T.I with Justin Timberlake, shot entirely on location in Los Angeles.

Arguably his most potent and important LP to date, Paper Trail sees the 'King of the South' collaborate with a stellar guest list including Swizz Beatz, Usher, Ludacris, John Legend and the aforementioned Justin Timberlake. The album's title is a direct reference to T.I.'s return to writing down his lyrics, a practice he has not engaged in since his debut record, I'm Serious' which came out in 2001.



Since then, T.I. has grown to become one of the most revered and successful artists in his genre, racking up millions in album sales and a myriad of awards, among them two Grammys. In July of 2007, his conceptual masterpiece, T.I. vs T.I.P., debuted at the top of the Billboard charts, selling nearly 500,000 units in its first week of release - on its way to RIAA platinum certification.

Movie games are an interesting breed this season. On one hand you have Up, the charming action/adventure with three of the most likable characters in theaters right now. But once you reach the half-way point, the game is a repetitive mess with no substance.

Then there’s Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, a stellar family-friendly adventure that lacks the charm of Up but offers superior gameplay substance – and as a result, superior replay value. From a character development standpoint, we have a clear winner. But which one would you rather play?



Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince falls somewhere in between those games, offering characters and gameplay elements that will draw you in – and others that will turn you off. The lifelike character designs are superb; the only thing that hurts them is their facial expressions, which I doubt anyone expected to be good anyway. (Excluding MGS and Mass Effect, bad facial expressions are insanely common these days.) This helps you care for the cast, even though the voice acting is a little weak. Even better, the music – which you’ll hear more than character dialogue – is joyous and boisterous without being too bombastic.

These features make it easy to like the Half-Blood Prince as a connected moviegoer. The gameplay is where things get a little tricky because everything it provides is potentially entertaining. So what’s the problem, then? Every feature you’re about to discover is spoon-fed to the player. While not quite a cakewalk, the game is without any significant challenges; the only time you could possibly be stumped is when trying to figure out where to go next. Potter’s world is fairly large this time around, and there’s no way you’ll remember every location. Thus, the developers included a handy – and very necessary – level guide in the form of Nearly Headless Nick.

Part of me can’t complain about Nearly Headless Nick because the game would be torture without him. But by creating a game like this, one that needs a level guide, the Half-Blood Prince is quickly watered down with go here, go there escapades. Players will backtrack more times than they can count – and no, having a guide doesn’t make that experience any less repetitive. It merely makes it more tolerable, because without the guide you would be completely lost.

Some of you may be quick to point out that there have been plenty of great games that made backtracking acceptable. I agree. But in this game, you’re going to endure an awful lot of it just to fight with magic, produce a bunch of potions, and participate in numerous Quidditch events.



Just Like Magic

The Half-Blood Prince isn’t like most adventure games, which introduce new enemies by the caseload. Instead, you’ll fight them only when the story corresponds with a battle. Side characters will test Potter’s skills every now and then, and he can join the Dueling Club for additional battles. You’ll probably want to, since this is by far the most exciting part of the game.

Battles consist of two characters, two life meters and as many spells as they can cast. Most of the spells are easy to perform and require nothing more than a push of the right thumbstick. For some spells, such as Expelliarmus, both sticks are used (push them outward simultaneously). Only a half-dozen spells are offered, but you can use them to stun, knock down and levitate your opponents, all the while inflicting damage that will slowly eat away at their life meters. Most enemy attacks can be dodged with ease, but if that’s not good enough, Protego gives you the ability to deflect a spell.

Airborne Harry

You can’t play a game of Quidditch without hopping on a broom and leaping into the air. So when Potter decides it’s time to compete, he’ll do just that. Meanwhile, the player will be responsible for maneuvering Potter through a series of star-shaped rings that appear in the level. These stars give you extra time, which is noted on screen by the color of the next star you encounter (if it’s red, you’re nearly out of time).

While cool at first, this mini-game isn’t much more than a glorified and graphically rich arcade flight sim – a really primitive one where the only goal is to keep moving. Assuming you last till the end, the Golden Snitch will be acquired automatically.



Let’s Make a Potion

Harry Potter meets Cooking Mama? Not quite. In this frequent mini-game, players must take a whole bunch of weird ingredients (bugs, poison, various liquids, etc.), drop them in a caldron and heat or stir until the color changes. Heating requires a few pumps from the right thumbstick (push it up and down until it reaches the desired color); stirring requires a few spins (turn it counter-clockwise). Each potion-making session is timed, which can make it a little more challenging than, say, dodging a poorly thrown blast of magic. But it doesn’t take long before this becomes repetitive.

New ingredients are constantly being added to try and expand the variety, but that only makes the process take longer (more ingredients means longer potions). The game also expands on what you have to do to complete the potion. In the beginning you won’t have to shake (push the thumbstick up and down) an ingredient before adding it; after a while, however, certain potions will require that you do so.

Still, it isn’t enough. Potion-making might – a big might – appeal to young girls, but that seems to conflict with the rest of the game. It’s not anti-girl or anything, but it doesn’t feel like a game that women of any age will flock to.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince isn’t a horrible game by any means, but its gameplay doesn’t extend past two mini-games and a bunch of spell-based battles. Diehard Harry Potter fans will like it but they probably won’t love it. Rent it for certain – and definitely play it before making a purchase.
Review Scoring Details for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Gameplay: 6.6
Each game type (flying, battling and making potions) is decent at first. One of them – battling – stays entertaining. Not monumentally addictive, but good enough to keep you playing. The other two, however, are much too easy and much too repetitive.

Graphics: 8
Potter's world looks good, but the character designs are the best part. Just be sure and brace yourself for when they open their mouths. The effect isn't pretty.

Sound: 8.3
Ignore the voice acting and embrace the score. Wait, who am I kidding? I don't have to tell you that. You're going to love this music no matter what.

Difficulty: Easy
There were moments when I stepped out of my room, stood in the hallway and peeked over at the TV in another room – all the while playing the Half-Blood Prince successfully.

Concept: 6.8
Harry Potter games need more than Quidditch flying, magic battles and potion development.

Multiplayer: 5
Club Dueling for two, which is fun for about 20 minutes.

Overall: 6.9
Before playing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, you should first be a huge Harry Potter fan. Second, you should have a high tolerance for backtracking and mini-game repetition. Third, you must be able to enjoy a game that isn't challenging (some players just can't do that). There are tons of trivial, easily-awarded trophies and a bunch of other collectible extras that should appeal to a certain crowd. But for most, this game won't outlast the lifespan of a rental.

We introduced the first annual Hot 100 in 2007 to give women a way to express what, or who, we find attractive, since our voice is largely missing from mainstream, heterocentric pop culture.

We made it into an annual event because it was so popular — and because it's fun, something we need a little of in-between fighting for our civil rights or searching in vain for decent lesbian/bi visibility in TV shows and movies.


Here are a few of the comments from past Hot 100 winners:

Leisha Hailey [on being No. 1 in 2007]: "I have to say this really makes up for the time I was on the Homecoming Court in High school with my boyfriend (yes I had one) and he won and I didn't. So thanks to everyone. I'll try and keep up my hottness."

Tina Fey [on being No. 1 in 2008]: "[making] the AfterEllen [list] is flattering. I think those girls take more of a 3-D picture before they decide they like somebody."

Sara Ramirez [on being No. 8 in 2008]: "That's really flattering!"

Sarah Shahi [on being No. 5 in 2008]: "I did not know that. I thank [lesbian/bi women] for staying so loyal to me and for coming with me on the ride of The L Word, and I hope they continue on with me."

Olivia Wilde [on moving up from No. 53 in 2007 to No. 30 in 2008]: "That's awesome!"

Lena Headey [on falling from No. 4 in 2007 to No. 10 in 2008]: "My God, I have to go to the gym! I've fallen six. That hurts...Vote for me! Vote for me, I'll change the world! [laughs]"

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE RESULTS
Over 150,000 votes were cast this year, and as usual, most of the women who made the list are actors, and many have played lesbians on TV or film. But we also have several musicians (and actor-musicians), as well as a professional athlete and a president's wife (yes, Michelle Obama made the list).

You voted for more women of color this year (24 vs. 18), and of these women, eight have never appeared on the Hot 100 before. Slightly fewer openly gay or bisexual women made the list this year (19 vs. 21), but five of the top 10 women are openly gay or bisexual (in 2007 only two of the top 10 were out, and in 2008, it was three). Five of these are also first-timers (note: staff are excluded from the list, but freelance vloggers and writers are not). 13 women over 40 made it onto this year's Hot 100.

About a quarter of the women on the list are completely new, including out political commentator Rachel Maddow, actors Lisa Ray, Anna Torv, and Kristen Stewart, and actor/supermodel Laura Sanchez. Jackie Warner, Jennifer Garner, and Angie Harmon are among the women missing from this year's list who have made the list both years prior.

Although the majority of women on the list are American, about 25% of the list hails from other countries, with Canadians leading the international pack, then Brits and Australians. Three come from Spain; and there are also women from India, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, and South Africa.
SUPPLEMENTARY LISTS
We decided to create additional, supplementary lists for the Hot 100 this year, with the goal to give a little extra exposure to those women who tend not to get as much coverage from the mainstream media: women of color, out lesbian/bi women, and women over 40. After counting the votes, we realized listing the 10 Hottest in each category would duplicate the women already named on the Hot 100, which wouldn't accomplish our goal of highlighting more women in those categories.

So we've revised these lists slightly to include those women in that category who made the Hot 100, but to also feature the next 10 women in these categories — women who didn't quite make the Hot 100 but were next in line, vote-wise. You'll find links to these lists at the end of this one, or you can go directly to them here: Out Women, Women of Color, Women Over 40.

NOW ON TO THE LIST!
We've provided descriptions for each of the women who landed in the top twenty of the list. We've also put asterisks next to the names of all openly gay/bi women, noted their previous rank if they've made the list before, and added a "new" badge next to the names of those women who have never appeared on the Hot 100.

When you're done looking at this year's hottest women, you can peruse the 2008 Hot 100 and the 2007 Hot 100, or check out The 2009 AfterElton.com Hot 100 to see who the gay men voted for this year!

Release Date: August 21, 2009
Studio: Universal Pictures, The Weinstein Company
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Screenwriter: Quentin Tarantino
Starring: Brad Pitt, Diane Kruger, Melanie Laurent, Christoph Waltz, Daniel Bruhl, Eli Roth, Samm Levine, B.J. Novak, Til Schweiger, Gedeon Burkhard, Paul Rust, Michael Bacall, Omar Doom, Sylvester Groth, Julie Dreyfus, Jacky Ido, August Diehl, Martin Wuttke, Richard Sammel, Christian Berkel, Sonke Mohring, Michael Fassbender, Mike Myers, Rod Taylor, Denis Menochet, Cloris Leachman, Maggie Cheung, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre: Action, Drama, War
MPAA Rating: R (for strong graphic violence, language and brief sexuality)
Official Website: InglouriousBasterds-movie.com
Review: 9/10 rating
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available

Plot Summary: "Inglourious Basterds" (sic) begins in German-occupied France, where Shosanna Dreyfus (Mélanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris, where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema.

Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish soldiers to engage in targeted acts of retribution. Known to their enemy as "The Basterds," Raine's squad joins German actress and undercover agent Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger) on a mission to take down the leaders of The Third Reich. Fates converge under a cinema marquee, where Shosanna is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own...

Release Date: August 28, 2009
Studio: New Line Cinema (Warner Bros. Pictures)
Director: David R. Ellis
Screenwriter: Eric Bress
Starring: Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Krista Allen, Mykelti Williamson, Haley Webb, Nick Zano, Andrew Fiscella, Richard T. Jones
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: R (for strong violent/gruesome accidents, language and a scene of sexuality)
Official Website: TheFinalDestinationmovie.com
Review: Not Available
DVD Review: Not Available
DVD: Not Available
Movie Poster
Production Stills

Plot Summary: On what should have been a fun-filled day at the races, Nick O'Bannon has a horrific premonition in which a bizarre sequence of events causes multiple race cars to crash, sending flaming debris into the stands, brutally killing his friends and causing the upper deck of the stands to collapse on him. When he comes out of this grisly nightmare Nick panics, persuading his girlfriend, Lori, and their friends, Janet and Hunt, to leave... escaping seconds before Nick's frightening vision becomes a terrible reality. Thinking they've cheated death, the group has a new lease on life, but unfortunately for Nick and Lori, it is only the beginning. As his premonitions continue and the crash survivors begin to die one-by-one--in increasingly gruesome ways--Nick must figure out how to cheat death once and for all before he, too, reaches his final destination. The film marks the latest in the highly popular "Final Destination" series, and its first 3D installment, giving horror fans an especially visceral thrill ride.

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BEYONCE and Jay-Z's bodyguard is being investigated after being involved in an altercation with photographers.

The couple are on holiday in the coastal city of Dubrovnik in Croatia but their romantic evening out in the town on Tuesday (18Aug09) was marred when one of their minders tussled with snappers as he attempted to shield the pair from pictures.

Footage of the incident shows the bodyguard, named only as Julius, wrestling with snappers in an alleyway as the couple leaves a restaurant.

Jay-Z is heard calling after him, "Let's go, let's go, don't worry about it" and "stop stop stop".

The tape then cuts to a scene as the pair and their entourage are boarding a boat. One of the snappers is seen throwing a piece of camera equipment at Julius, which he then tosses into the sea.

At a news conference held in Dubrovnik on Thursday (20Aug09), three photographers alleged Julius made threats, physically attacked them and damaged their property in an incident not seen on the short video.

Police spokesperson Marija Genero has now confirmed the local authorities are investigating the claims.

Victoria Beckham admits it was 'difficult' living apart from husband David.

The former Spice Girl – who has three sons, Brooklyn, 10, Romeo, six, and four-year-old Cruz with the soccer star – says it was hard when the handsome soccer superstar moved to Italy to play for AC Milan while Victoria and the boys remained in Los Angeles as the family endured a lot of long-haul flights to see each other.

She said: 'I’m really happy being in the States so it was difficult for me going backwards and forwards trying to make everybody happy.'

David, 34, has now moved back to the US to continue playing for Los Angeles Galaxy and 35-year-old Victoria is enjoying every moment of her family’s settled life.

She told KIIS FM radio host Ryan Seacrest: 'The children are very happy. I get up early in the morning, get the kids ready for school, take them to school, and then while they’re at school, that’s when I manage to get my work in.

'I have to be done by 3pm so I can go and get the kids again, they will always be our priority, both myself and David’s.'

She also revealed the couple – who have been married 10 years – have no plans to extend their family in the near future.

She said: 'Everybody keeps asking me that and I think at some point, if I’m lucky enough, I’ll have another baby. That would be great - if I’m blessed enough. But right now, three boys, that’s a lot!'

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