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You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun.

Al Capone (1899 – 1947)

All general statements are false.

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What is the Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI)?
The ONQI is a food scoring system that makes it easy for consumers to evaluate the nutritional quality of foods, beverages and recipes at-a-glance. Developed by top nutrition experts, the ONQI uses the latest science to provide a single score for any food or recipe.

How is an ONQI score determined?
The ONQI takes 30 different nutrient factors into account when developing a score, making it the most robust food rating system in the market today. Factors included in determining the score for any food, beverage or recipe include: vitamins, minerals, protein, carbohydrates, fat, antioxidants and other nutrients found in that food, beverage or recipe.

What will an ONQI score look like?
Plans call for expressing an ONQI score on a scale of 1 to 100.

Does the ONQI identify “good” foods and “bad” foods?
Rather than characterize any food as good or bad, the ONQI provides a score that reflects the relative nutritional value both across food categories and within specific food categories, such as breads or frozen desserts. In fact, the ONQI literally lets you compare apples to oranges (and on nutritional value, oranges win). Because the same criteria is applied, all foods can be measured.

What’s the benefit to consumers?
The ONQI empowers the average consumer to choose foods on the basis of their overall nutritional quality with ease and confidence.

When will consumers see the ONQI in action?
It’s expected that the ONQI will be available through thousands of retail grocery stores – on product packaging and point-of-purchase displays – beginning in the second half of 2008. A list of product food scores is also expected to be available online.

How will I know where to find the ONQI?
Starting this Fall, consumers will be able to find out which stores, restaurants and products will be using the ONQI system by checking the ONQI Web site, www.ONQI.com. The information will be updated regularly, so consumers should check the site often.

100 Broccoli

100 Blueberries

100 Orange

100 Green Beans

100 Pineapple

99 Radish

98 Summer Squash

96 Apple

96 Tomatoes

96 Green Cabbage

94 Watermelon

93 Mango

91 Nonfat Milk

91 Grapes

91 Bananas

89 Avocado

88 Oatmeal

83 Blackberries

82 Sockeye Salmon

82 Raw Almonds

82 Brown Rice

82 Snapper

81 1% Milk

75 Shrimp

72 Couscous

69 Unbuttered, Unsalted Popcorn

67 Canned Tuna in oil

63 Vegetarian Spilt Pea Soup Mix

61 Instant Oatmeal

60 Canned Pineapple

57 White Rice

56 Sodium Free Club Soda

55 2% Milk

51 Scallops

50 Pasta

49 Canned Peas

45 Prunes

44 NY Strip Steak

43 Vanilla Yogurt

39 Orange Juice

39 Skinless Chicken Breast

36 Lobster

34 Dried Apples

32 Tomato Juice

29 Enriched White Bread

28 Whole Chicken with Skin

26 Raisins

25 Hamburger 75% lean

24 Green olives

23 Bagel

23 Condensed Tomato Soup

23 Peanut Butter

23 Sherbet

22 Reduced Fat Sour Cream

21 Salted Dryroasted Peanuts

20 Instant Chocolate Pudding

18 Fried Egg

17 Swiss Cheese

16 Diet Soda

13 Center Cut Bacon

11 Pretzel Sticks

10 Dark Chocolate

9 White Bread

7 Salami

5 Hot Dog

3 Milk Chocolate

2 Apple Pie

2 Saltine Crackers

1 Soda

1 Popsicle

Photo by nigelstwin

1. Recognise that enlightenment is a purely subjective experience, nobody can tell you how to become enlightened  as it is your own inner journey.
2. Learn to recognise the little moments when you do become enlightened as they are moments you suddenly grow as a person and your brain suddenly plugs you into another part of the universe.
3. Don’t go chasing enlightenment as it comes to you when you least expect it.  It could be something as simple as seeing your baby walk for the first time, feeling compassion for someone, reading a book, kissing your spouse.  Don’t chase it but learn to recognise it.
4. Write your enlightenment moments down in a special book.  You might only write in that book once a year but you’ll be glad you did.
5. Try and resist the temptation to tell everyone about your enlightened experience as nobody will understand it and they will think you are losing your mind,  which will detract from the experience itself.  By all means tell the people who are closest to you and the people who really understand you but not your work colleagues or your drinking buddies, trust me they will think you are losing it.

If God had wanted me otherwise, He would have created me otherwise

Game to Feature Unrivaled Blend of Classic, Developing and New Artists
Rock Band Platform to Encompass More Than 500 Songs by End of 2008
Los Angeles, Calif. – July 14, 2008 – Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game company, and MTV Games, a division of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with marketing and distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed at the 2008 E3 Media & Business Summit the song set list for Rock Band™ 2, the next evolution of the groundbreaking Rock Band music platform. The Rock Band 2 soundtrack will feature over 100 songs with over 80 songs on disc plus an additional 20 bonus tracks which will be made available for free download this fall. This builds upon the unparalleled depth and diversity of Rock Band’s original set list and its ever-expanding library of downloadable tracks. Comprised entirely of master recordings from some of rock’s most prolific and untouchable artists, including AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Pearl Jam and more, Rock Band 2 will deliver the most impressive and largest music catalogue of any music-based videogame ever.
• After 14 years since Guns N’ Roses last official music release, Axl Rose selects Rock Band 2 to debut official new track “Shackler’s Revenge” from the highly-anticipated album Chinese Democracy.

• Rock Band 2 is the first and only music-based video game to feature the music of AC/DC. It includes their epic rock anthem, “Let There Be Rock.”

• For the first time ever, music from American music icon, Bob Dylan, is featured in a video game with “Tangled Up In Blue.”

• Rock Band 2 will feature backwards compatibility with all Rock Band downloadable music content released to date.

• Owners of the original Rock Band will have the ability to export most of the Rock Band disc tracks and upgrade them into Rock Band 2 gameplay–the first time ever in videogame history!

• With ongoing weekly DLC releases including individual tracks, track packs and full albums, the Rock Band music library will feature more than 500 songs by year’s end!
“With Rock Band, Harmonix and MTV Games set out to create a powerful music platform for music fans, their friends and families to discover music in a way unlike ever before,” said Paul DeGooyer, SVP Electronic Games and Music, MTV. “We are honored that such legendary artists as AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Bob Dylan and more have chosen Rock Band 2 as a new platform for fans to experience their music. As our catalog of disc and downloadable songs continues to grow, we are determined to continue to provide the Rock Band community an unmatched ability to customize their musical experience with the artists and songs they love.”

Rock Band 2 On-Disc Track List:
Artist Song Title Decade
1. AC/DC “Let There Be Rock” 1970s
2. AFI “Girl’s Not Grey” 2000’s
3. Alanis Morissette “You Oughta Know” 1990’s
4. Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” 1990’s
5. Allman Brothers “Ramblin’ Man” 1970’s
6. Avenged Sevenfold “Almost Easy” 2000’s
7. Bad Company “Shooting Star” 1970’s
8. Beastie Boys “So Whatcha Want” 1990’s
9. Beck “E-Pro” 2000’s
10. Bikini Kill “Rebel Girl” 1990’s
11. Billy Idol “White Wedding Pt. I” 1980’s
12. Blondie “One Way or Another” 1970’s
13. Bob Dylan “Tangled Up in Blue” 1970’s
14. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” 1980’s
15. Cheap Trick “Hello There” 1970’s
16. Devo “Uncontrollable Urge” 1980’s
17. Dinosaur Jr. “Feel the Pain” 1990’s
18. Disturbed “Down with the Sickness” 2000’s
19. Dream Theater “Panic Attack” 2000’s
20. Duran Duran “Hungry Like the Wolf” 1980’s
21. Elvis Costello “Pump It Up” 1970’s
22. Fleetwood Mac “Go Your Own Way” 1970’s
23. Foo Fighters “Everlong” 1990’s
24. Guns N’ Roses “Shackler’s Revenge” 2000’s
25. Interpol “PDA” 2000’s
26. Jane’s Addiction “Mountain Song” 1980’s
27. Jethro Tull “Aqualung” 1970’s
28. Jimmy Eat World “The Middle” 2000’s
29. Joan Jett “Bad Reputation” 1980’s
30. Journey “Anyway You Want It” 1970’s
31. Judas Priest “Painkiller” 1990’s
32. Kansas “Carry On Wayward Son” 1970’s
33. L7 “Pretend We’re Dead” 1990’s
34. Lacuna Coil “Our Truth” 2000’s
35. Linkin Park “One Step Closer” 2000’s
36. Lit “My Own Worst Enemy” 1990’s
37. Lush “De-Luxe” 1990’s
38. Mastodon “Colony of Birchmen” 2000’s
39. Megadeth “Peace Sells” 1980’s
40. Metallica “Battery” 1980’s
41. Mighty Mighty Bosstones “Where’d You Go” 1990’s
42. Modest Mouse “Float On” 2000’s
43. Motorhead “Ace of Spades” 1980’s
44. Nirvana “Drain You” 1990’s
45. Norman Greenbaum “Spirit in the Sky” 1960’s
46. Panic at the Disco “Nine in the Afternoon” 2000’s
47. Paramore “That’s What You Get” 2000’s
48. Pearl Jam “Alive” 1990’s
49. Presidents of the USA “Lump” 1990’s
50. Rage Against the Machine “Testify” 1990’s
51. Ratt “Round & Round” 1980’s
52. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Give it Away” 1990’s
53. Rise Against “Give it All” 2000’s
54. Rush “The Trees” 1970’s
55. Silversun Pickups “Lazy Eye” 2000’s
56. Smashing Pumpkins “Today” 1990’s
57. Social Distortion “I Was Wrong” 1990’s
58. Sonic Youth “Teenage Riot” 1980’s
59. Soundgarden “Spoonman” 1990’s
60. Squeeze “Cool for Cats” 1970’s
61. Steely Dan “Bodhitsattva” 1970’s
62. Steve Miller Band “Rock’n Me” 1970’s
63. Survivor “Eye of the Tiger” 1980’s
64. System of a Down “Chop Suey” 2000’s
65. Talking Heads “Psycho Killer” 1970’s
66. Tenacious D “Master Exploder” 2000’s
67. Testament “Souls of Black” 1990’s
68. The Donnas “New Kid in School” 2000’s
69. The Go-Go’s “We Got the Beat” 1980’s
70. The Grateful Dead “Alabama Getaway” 1980’s
71. The Guess Who “American Woman” 1970’s
72. The Muffs “Kids in America” 1990’s
73. The Offspring “Come Out & Play (Keep ‘em Separated)” 1990’s
74. The Replacements “Alex Chilton” 1980’s
75. The Who “Pinball Wizard” 1960’s

Bonus Artist Bonus Song Title Decade
76. Abnormality “Visions” 2000’s
77. Anarchy Club “Get Clean” 2000’s
78. Bang Camaro “Night Lies” 2000’s
79. Breaking Wheel “Shoulder to the Plow” 2000’s
80. The Libyans “Neighborhood” 2000’s
81. The Main Drag “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter” 2000’s
82. Speck “Conventional Lover” 2000’s
83. The Sterns “Supreme Girl” 2000’s
84. That Handsome Devil “Rob the Prez-O-Dent” 2000’s

** The Rock Band 2 on-disc track list is comprised entirely of master recordings.

More news about music on the Rock Band platform will be announced during the coming months.

Rock Band 2 will make its debut on Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this September and have an exclusive launch window in North America. Rock Band 2 will be available for the PLAYSTATION® 3 and PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ later this year.

The Rock Band online Music Store recently surpassed 16 million paid downloads since the game’s launch in late November 2007.With more than 200 tracks available to date on disc and via download purchase (complete list of tracks at http://www.rockband.com/dlc), the massive Rock Band Music Store allows players to preview and purchase downloadable individual music tracks, packs and albums from the vast selection of offerings available as they build their own custom Rock Band library.

Rock Band 2 is rated “T” for Teen (lyrics, suggestive themes) by the ESRB.

For more information on Rock Band and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com and www.harmonixmusic.com

Rockstar co-founder Sam (no, not Dan) Houser doesn’t know if the next Grand Theft Auto title after IV will properly fit onto the 360’s standard-sized discs.

“One of the problems with the 360, and it affects games like Grand Theft Auto if you think about how much content we put in the actual machine, is the fact that they don’t have a significantly larger storage medium than the previous systems. It’s a slightly bigger DVD disc,” Houser told 1up.

Then take into account that not all Xbox 360s come with a hard drive. It’s here that things get super sticky. “The 360 is going to have to get ’round this issue we’re talking about…hopefully, they’re going to adopt one of those in the next year or so, because it’s going to become more of an issue. If we’re filling up the disc right now, where are we going? It’s not like our games are going to get any smaller.”

The delay heard round the world was mostly credited to technical issues during IV’s development. Some said the 360 didn’t have enough space to hold the game; others heard that the PS3 version was having big problems of its own. Whatever the case, Houser isn’t telling. “Both machines are absolutely fantastic, but they both come with strengths and weaknesses. The strength of the 360 is a very, very accessible, familiar, effective environment to work in. You’re making the game from the get-go, everyone understands its PC environment — boom, off we go. It’s pretty good.”

Development on the PS3 version wasn’t too smooth early on, however. “I think it was challenging for a lot of companies, but it’s also a machine where, now that we’ve got comfortable with it — I don’t want to say we’ve cracked it, but we’ve got comfortable with it — we know we can make our games.”

Many have posed a big question that’s on my mind, for sure: Does either version look better than the other? “There’s a slight difference in the way they look,” Houser admitted. “I think that’s to do with really low-level technical stuff that I’m not the guy to explain. The 360 games have a certain look to them; PS3 games have a certain look to them. I like the way [the PS3] renders.” He concluded, “There’s a certain kind of softness without being blurry — some warmth to it — and then there’s a certain more clinical element to how the 360 looks.”

Read the whole interview through the source link.