The annual report released in London Monday ranked cities based on the comparative cost of more than 200 items including housing, public and private transport, food, clothing and entertainment. Here are list.

1 Tokyo, Japan
2 Osaka, Japan
3 London, Britain
4 Moscow, Russia
5 Seoul, South Korea
6 Geneva, Switzerland (日內瓦, 瑞士)
7 Zurich, Switzerland
8 Copenhagen, Denmark
9 Hong Kong, Hong Kong
10 Oslo, Norway (奧斯陸, 挪威)
11 Milan, Italy
12 Paris, France
13 New York City, United States
14 Dublin, Ireland
15 St. Petersburg, Russia
16 Vienna, Austria (維也納, 奧地利)
17 Rome, Italy
18 Stockholm, Sweden
19 Beijing, China
20 Sydney, Australia
21 Helsinki, Finland (赫爾辛基, 芬蘭)
22 Douala, Cameroon ( 杜瓦拉 ,喀麥隆)
23 Istanbul, Turkey
24 Amsterdam, Netherlands (tie) (阿姆斯特丹, 荷蘭)
24 Budapest, Hungary (tie) (布達佩斯, 匈牙利)

Source: The Associated Press

Recently researcher say sun cuts  prostate cancer risk. It involve with our body manufacture of vitamin D after sun exposure. Meanwhile, they say more exposure will developing skin cancer. It seems a dilemma. Thus, they suggest us increasing vitamin D from food and supplements might be the safest solution to achieve the right levels.

Be imaging if you are not register by authority then you write blogs maybe face fines. How terribl news. It just announce from China. But how do execute it? The Internet resouce is famous for free thinking and opening mind. I think the intellect of bloger will figure out another way to detour it.

It's kind of important things. Today I take over one case about empolyee performance checking and reporting system. This system write by another section's manager. It born from new model of labor retirement law and will start at next month. The new model, from business view, will pay more cost of labor free then they figure out how to reduce it. The majority of business will agree that employee performance is important more then other at future. So this system will offer serials data to check a person efficiency.

But it is beta and only quarterly reporting function. The system will add more functions like annual reporting base on quarterly function. Althought I have job about development of Manufacturing Exectuction System, it give me opportunity to see anoter work flow model. This will be a big challenge job for me.

When work time off I went to swim about 1 kilometer because I set up a goal of across the Shihmen dam at July. In the past two years I had accomplished to across sun-moon lake by swimming. There are a wonderful sight and crowded swimmers. And nowadays crossing sun-moon lake is a international festival. Unfortunately, at this year I will not join activity that I will take part in company trip. I glad I have another choice. I will keep warm my body to conguer Shihman dam. Good news is it is near in Hsinchu.

大家不難忘記多年前的微軟-IE與網景-Netscape之Browser之爭。如今事過多年後，微軟IE取得作業系統之優勢，這一年Firefox也緊追在後，大家似乎忘了還有這款Netscape，最近該公司發行新版8，以Firefox 1.0.3為核心，並強調安全性功能，具有內頁標簽(Tab)，又可相容於IE的Browser，因為AOL收購網景後與微軟結盟，如今推出這樣雙核心之創舉，被稱作Hybrid Browser。

經過下載實際測試後，介面很華麗，可惜最需要的阻擋AD之擴充功能，還未在Netscape裏見到，因為他無法相容使用Firefox最為人樂道之擴充功能甚為可惜，等過陣子再來看有沒這樣的擴充功能。

You can visit Netscape site.

樓下有人建議我用另一款，其實我還是欣賞 Firefox之adblok，當然我強調的是netscape的雙引擎，這樣子在看到以ie為設計的網頁便可很容易的切換，而又不想受限於 ie 核心的限制，以前我曾經用過一段 myie，後來當我擁抱 firefox後，便從此喜歡上他的開放態度及更新的速度了。

記者黃靜宜／報導  05/23 03:41 
綠茶中的「兒茶素」具有抗氧化作用，動物實驗研究進一步發現，它可減少油煙導致的肺部傷害。研究人員認為，家庭主婦或廚師經常得暴露在油煙下煮食三餐，適度喝綠茶，可以「顧肺」，另外也最好戴口罩，減少油煙暴露的時間

台大醫院醫學研究部副教授鄭劍廷長期研究綠茶中萃取出的兒茶素效果，最近的動物實驗發現，兒茶素的抗氧化作用，對於預防油煙造成的肺部傷害也有幫助。另外，水溶性纖維，如植物種子提煉出的豆膠，或果膠、植物膠等，也有抗氧化作用。從動物實驗中推論，飲食中添加兒茶素與水溶性纖維，能提高抗氧化的表現。

鄭劍廷指出，女性罹患肺癌主因，一般認為是油煙，其次是二手菸。油煙的化學物質侵入肺部，產生自由基、活性氧族群，會造成肺部細胞傷害。在實驗中，他讓大鼠暴露在油煙環境下，發現30分鐘就會增加大鼠體內活性氧族群的數量，顯示油煙對肺部殺傷力實在不小。

研究人員在大鼠飲水添加兒茶素，再讓大鼠暴露油煙中，與沒有飲用兒茶素的另一組大鼠比較，發現飲用組的大鼠，持續飲用兩週以上，血液中和肺洗出液的活性氧族群數量都較少。

台大醫院營養部副主任鄭金寶說，動物實驗的結果是否適用於人體還有一段距離，不過在養生防癌的概念中，綠茶的確有益健康，但胃不好的人不要空腹飲用。

另外，鄭劍廷說，水溶性纖維的抗氧化能力，可減少動脈硬化。實驗先以餵食高脂食物的方式，誘使大鼠血漿中總膽固醇與低密度脂蛋白膽固醇的數值增加，產生動脈硬化，再測試水溶性纖維效果。研究人員灌食大鼠水溶性纖維，發現可降低血漿總膽固醇和低密度脂蛋白膽固醇，也可延長血栓形成的時間。

鄭金寶表示，纖維分成水溶性和非水溶性，非水溶性例如芹菜，可促進排便，水溶性例如水果中的果膠、木耳、洋菜等，有降血脂、膽固醇效果。

At 2005/5/14 I went to Long-Fon waterfall(龍鳳瀑布) in Nan-Tou county to find interesting something. This is a game I had mentioned before in my bolg. When you drive there, you will be able to find two parking lots, one of which is a wooden entrant gate, the other of which is a big stone on which the name of the park "Lon Fon Waterfall" is marked. If you parked at the first entrant gate, you have to pay NT$ 100 per person. We seemed to have been deceived to pay because the guy who charged us money even guided us throug the second parking lot where the forementioned stone is. There is a sign from government authority which says: "No fee. It's public resource."

Microsoft to offer MSN China (MSNBC)

Google seeks out China's billions (BBC)

Mircosoft在美國(2005/05/10)發表新一代的手持式作業系統 (Windows Mobile 5.0)，新版特色如下：

1. 統一了手機與PDA的平台，未來手機和PDA肯定是合體了
2. 內建可看PowerPoint檔的程式
3. 支援微型鍵盤
4. 更新手持式的Word和Excel的版本
5. 為了音樂媒體市場，支援外接硬碟裝置

我猜廠商應該在今秋開始新的OS應該在市場上會見到，要買手機或PDA的人今年底再購置應會是個好時機！

Microsoft unveils new Windows Mobile

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0

為了一些目地，跑去新竹火車站找攝影機，發現在廣場的現場很難找到他的方位，同時call out請stand by的朋友幫我看，他卻在忙！好在找到另一個朋友幫我看。不過因為下雨而放棄這次的查訪。

這個將會是我未來計畫中的一部份，是和旅遊計畫有關，以後有機會再告訴大家！

I always like to find some interesting fun to colorful and vivid  my life. Today I found this fun game. It creats from U.S.. Name is GEOCACHE. The rulebook is eassy. Use your GPS to find something. Maybe one box or one great view. It depend on cacher to give direction. Moreover, there have many cache types.

Traditional Cache

This is the original cache type consisting, at a bare minimum, a container and a log book. Normally you'll find a tupperware container, ammo box, or bucket filled with goodies, or smaller container ("micro cache") too small to contain items except for a log book. The coordinates listed on the traditional cache page is the exact location for the cache. The general rule of thumb is, "If you take an item, leave an item, and write in the logbook." Some caches are themed, so make sure to read the description before going on a hunt.  

Multi-Cache (offset Cache)

A multi-cache ("multiple") involves two or more locations, the final location being a physical container. There are many variations, but most multi-caches have a hint to find the second cache, and the second cache has hints to the third, and so on. An offset cache (where you go to a location and get hints to the actual cache) is considered a multi-cache.

Webcam Cache

These are caches that use existing web cameras placed by individuals or agencies that monitor various areas like parks or road conditions. The idea is to get yourself in front of the camera to log your visit. The challenging part, however, it that you need to call a friend to look up the web site that displays the camera shot. You will need to have them to save the picture to log the cache. If you’re a tech-head you could use your wireless modem and save the image yourself on your laptop.

More types please visit here.

When I search cache database in Taiwan, I find Lon-Fon waterfall at Nan-tou county. It seems to go to adventure and I have never been there before. Next weekend I will start my first Geocache. Wish I'm luck guy to find it.

Cold swims may make you hungry (越冷越餓呀！)

Taking a chilly dip increases appetite, study finds
Updated: 6:25 p.m. ET May 4, 2005 from REUTERS

WASHINGTON - Taking a swim in cold water may be invigorating, but it could increase appetite enough to cause weight gain, U.S. researchers said Wednesday.

The study may help explain why it is more difficult for some people to lose weight by swimming as opposed to other forms of exercise.

The University of Florida team tested how many calories were burned by 11 volunteers while exercising in warm water and in cold water. They ate 44 percent more calories after exercise in cold water than in warm water, the researchers found.

“It’s possible that individuals who exercise in cooler water may have an exaggerated energy intake following exercise, which may be a reason why they don’t lose as much weight,” said Lesley White of the College of Health and Human Performance, who led the study.

“So it may not be the exercise itself that causes the problem because you can match the exercise energy expenditure; rather it’s the increased eating after the exercise is over.”

That is not to say exercising in water is a bad thing.

“Water exercise is an excellent activity for many people, particularly those with joint disorders, thermal regulatory problems and balance or coordination difficulties,” she said in a statement.

“However, an earlier study reported that women who swam did not lose as much weight as those who jogged or cycled.”

Writing in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, White and colleagues said they had their student volunteers exercise on a stationary bicycle submerged in water for 45 minutes, in either cold water at 68 degrees F  or warm water at 91.4 degrees F

They used, on average, 517 calories cycling in the cold water and 505 in the warm water, compared to 123 calories while resting.

The students were then put into a room with food.

“We found that during the recovery period, when the subjects had access to an assortment of foods, that significantly more calories were eaten after exercise in cold water compared to exercise in warm water or at rest,” White said. Body temperature might also affect appetite, she added.

Who's the Weaker Sex?  (男人別再找藉口了)

By Karen Springen
Newsweek

May 9 issue - Men may earn more than women, run faster and buy more widescreen TVs. But when it comes to health, they trail the opposite sex in nearly every category. Stroke, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and the six other leading causes of death kill men at a higher rate than they do women. Yet men are half as likely to see a doctor regularly. "They're busy with work, and they always make excuses," says Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham of California, a prostate-cancer survivor who is pushing to open an Office of Men's Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. Whatever Congress decides, here are some steps men can take to live longer, healthier lives.

18 to 35. Focus on prevention. See your doctor every two years for routine tests, including blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar screens. Ryan Cooper, 28, saw his dad die of a heart attack at 40 and now visits the physician regularly. After a recent checkup showed his triglycerides (a kind of fat) were twice the normal level, he hit the gym, cut back on burgers and pizza and now has a clean bill of health. Also, perform regular self-exams for testicular cancer, the most common form of cancer among men ages 20 to 35. (See urologyhealth.org.)

35 to 50. Pay particular attention to diabetes, hypertension and heart disease. If you have a family history of colon cancer, get a colonoscopy, says Dr. Gary Martin, vice chair of the department of medicine at Northwestern University. And if you have a family history of prostate cancer, you may want to begin prostate screening. (Otherwise, start both at 50.) At 45, talk to your doctor about whether you should take an aspirin a day to help prevent a heart attack or stroke.

50s and 60s. If you have a history of high blood pressure or diabetes, ask about an ultrasound of the carotid arteries in your neck to check for blockages that could lead to a stroke. If you haven't already done so, get a colonoscopy. Have a dermatologist screen you for skin cancer and get your hearing checked every three years (see asha.org).

70s, 80s and above. If you were a smoker, ask your doctor about a sonogram to check for weak spots or bulges in your aorta, the body's largest blood vessel. And get a bone-density scan to test for osteoporosis, which affects men 10 to 15 years later than women. The bottom line: it pays to care for your health at every age.