Exclusive-Info-On-Earth

Tiny, long-lost primate rediscovered in Indonesia

2008-11-19T08:12:00.002-05:00

On a misty mountaintop on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, scientists for the first time in more than eight decades have observed a living pygmy tarsier, one of the planet's smallest and rarest primates.

Over a two-month period, the scientists used nets to trap three furry, mouse-sized pygmy tarsiers -- two males and one female -- on Mt. Rore Katimbo in Lore Lindu National Park in central Sulawesi, the researchers said on Tuesday.

They spotted a fourth one that got away.

The tarsiers, which some scientists believed were extinct, may not have been overly thrilled to be found. One of them chomped Sharon Gursky-Doyen, a Texas A&M University professor of anthropology who took part in the expedition.

"I'm the only person in the world to ever be bitten by a pygmy tarsier," Gursky-Doyen said in a telephone interview.

"My assistant was trying to hold him still while I was attaching a radio collar around its neck. It's very hard to hold them because they can turn their heads around 180 degrees. As I'm trying to close the radio collar, he turned his head and nipped my finger. And I yanked it and I was bleeding.
The collars were being attached so the tarsiers' movements could be tracked.

Tarsiers are unusual primates -- the mammalian group that includes lemurs, monkeys, apes and people. The handful of tarsier species live on various Asian islands.

As their name indicates, pygmy tarsiers are small -- weighing about 2 ounces (50 grammes). They have large eyes and large ears, and they have been described as looking a bit like one of the creatures in the 1984 Hollywood movie "Gremlins."

They are nocturnal insectivores and are unusual among primates in that they have claws rather than finger nails.

They had not been seen alive by scientists since 1921. In 2000, Indonesian scientists who were trapping rats in the Sulawesi highlands accidentally trapped and killed a pygmy tarsier.

"Until that time, everyone really didn't believe that they existed because people had been going out looking for them for decades and nobody had seen them or heard them," Gursky-Doyen said.

Her group observed the first live pygmy tarsier in August at an elevation of about 6,900 feet.

"Everything was covered in moss and the clouds are right at the top of that mountain. It's always very, very foggy, very, very dense. It's cold up there. When you're one degree from the equator, you expect to be hot. You don't expect to be shivering most of the time. That's what we were doing," she said.

Source: Yahoo news

Pregnancy pounds predict kids' weight as teens

2008-11-17T13:35:00.001-05:00

Women who gain too much weight during pregnancy may not only have bigger babies, but bigger teenagers as well, a study suggests.

Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that among nearly 12,000 children and teenagers they studied, those whose mothers gained more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy were 42 percent more likely to be obese.

The risk was independent of other factors the researchers examined, including mothers' pre-pregnancy weight, family income and parents' education.

Some past studies have linked excessive weight gain during pregnancy to a higher risk of obesity in childhood. These latest findings add to evidence that the fetal environment may have a "sustained effect" on children's weight regulation, Dr. Emily Oken and colleagues report in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.

For women, they say, the study underscores the importance of going into pregnancy at a healthy weight, and then gaining only the recommended amount.

In the U.S., the Institute of Medicine (IOM) suggests that normal-weight women gain 25 to 35 pounds during pregnancy. Women who were overweight before becoming pregnant are encouraged to gain a little less -- 15 to 25 pounds -- while underweight women should put on 28 to 40 pounds.

The current study included 11,994 children between 9 and 14-years olds whose mothers were part of the Nurses Health Study II, a long-range health study of female nurses from across the U.S. The researchers found that 6.5 percent of the children were obese.

Oken's team found that when mothers exceeded the IOM guidelines for pregnancy weight gain, their children's weight also tended to climb.

Compared with their peers whose mothers followed the IOM guidelines, those whose mothers gained too much weight were 42 percent more likely to be obese by the time they were 9-to-14 years old.

Researchers suspect that excess pregnancy pounds may affect fetal development in a way that makes children more susceptible to excessive weight gain.

Animal research has found that overeating during pregnancy alters the expression of genes involved in fat regulation in offspring, and seems to affect the appetite-control centers of their brains as well.

SOURCE: Obstetrics & Gynecology, November 2008.

China opens longest sea bridge

2008-10-18T16:56:00.001-04:00

The world's longest sea bridge was formally opened yesterday linking Shanghai to the industrial city of Ningbo across Hangzhou Bay in China.

The 22-mile bridge will reduce the driving distance between the eastern side of Shanghai and the port town of Ningbo by 75 miles.

The official opening was shown live on state television and traffic was due to start on the six-lane bridge late last night.

The bridge is a cable-stayed structure built at a cost of 11.8bn yuan (£500m), of which 30% came from private investors. The project was an early example of private contribution to a major public infrastructure project. Construction started in November 2003.

The bridge is designed to last 100 years. It will also help boost economic integration and development in the Yangtze river delta, which covers 39,000 square miles of land comprising Shanghai, Zhejiang and Jiangsu, an area with 72.4 million people.

Sun Ningwei, vice-president of the Xinhai Electric Company, based in Cixi, Ningbo, said of the new bridge: "I think it will be easier for our company to recruit high-calibre employees, who always prefer working in small cities like Cixi but living in big cities like Shanghai. They can leave Shanghai for Cixi in the morning and go back in the afternoon. It's only 1.5 hours' drive," she said.

The 20.2-mile Donghai Bridge had been the previous longest sea-crossing structure, linking Shanghai to the Yangshan deep water port.
Ref: Guardian

Top 10 Brain Foods for Children

2008-09-10T21:44:00.002-04:00

Want your child to do better in school? Take a close look at diet. Certain "brain foods" may help boost a child's brain growth -- plus improve brain function, memory, and concentration.

In fact, the brain is a very hungry organ -- the first of the body's organs to absorb nutrients from the food we eat, explains Bethany Thayer, MS, RD, a Detroit nutritionist and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

Growing bodies need many types of nutrients -- but these 10 superfoods will help kids get the most from school.

1. Brain Food: Salmon
Fatty fish like salmon are an excellent source of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA -- both essential for brain growth and function, says Andrea Giancoli, MPH, RD, a Los Angeles nutritionist and ADA spokeswoman.

In fact, recent research has also shown that people who get more of these fatty acids in their diet have sharper minds and do better at mental skills tests.

While tuna is also a source of omega-3s, it's not a rich source like salmon, Giancoli tells WebMD.
"Tuna is definitely a good source of lean protein, but because it's so lean it's not very high in omega-3s like canned salmon is," Giancoli tells WebMD. Also, albacore "white" tuna has more mercury than canned light tuna, so the EPA advises eating no more than 6 ounces of albacore tuna weekly.

Eat more salmon: Instead of tuna sandwiches, make salmon salad for sandwiches -- canned salmon mixed with reduced-fat mayo or non-fat plain yogurt, raisins, chopped celery, and carrots (plus a little Dijon mustard if your child likes the taste). Serve on whole-grain bread -- which is also a brain food.

Soup idea: Add canned salmon to creamy broccoli soup -- plus frozen chopped broccoli for extra nutrition and soft texture. Boxed soups make this an easy meal, and are generally low in fat and calories, Giancoli says. Look for organic boxed soups in the health food section.

Make salmon patties -- using 14 oz. canned salmon, 1 lb. frozen chopped spinach (thawed and drained), 1/2 onion (finely chopped), 2 garlic cloves (pressed), 1/2 teaspoon salt, pepper to taste. Combine ingredients. Mix well. Form into small balls. Heat olive oil in pan, flatten spinach balls with spatula. Cook over medium heat. Serve over brown rice (instant or frozen).

2. Brain Food: Eggs
Eggs are well-known as a great protein source -- but the egg yolks are also packed with choline, which helps memory development.

Eat more eggs: Send your child off to school with a grab-and-go breakfast egg burrito. Try breakfast for dinner one night a week -- scrambled eggs and toast. Make your own egg McMuffin at home: just put a fried egg on top of a toasted English muffin, topped with a slice of low-fat cheese
3. Brain Food: Peanut Butter
"Peanuts and peanut butter are a good source of vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that protects nervous membranes -- plus thiamin to help the brain and nervous system use glucose for energy," says Giancoli.

Eat more peanut butter: For a twist on an old favorite, make a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Dip apple slices in peanut butter. Or, top off your favorite salad with a handful of peanuts.

4. Brain Food: Whole Grains
The brain needs a constant supply of glucose -- and whole grains provide that in spades. The fiber helps regulate the release of glucose into the body, Giancoli explains. "Whole grains also have B-vitamins, which nourish a healthy nervous system."

Eat more whole grains: It's easy to find more whole grain cereals these days (make sure a whole grain is the first ingredient listed). But also think outside the box -- and try whole wheat couscous for dinner with cranberries, or low-fat popcorn for a fun snack, she suggests.

Whole-grain bread is a must for sandwiches. Switch to whole-grain tortillas and chips for quesadillas, wraps, and snacks.

5. Brain Food: Oats/Oatmeal
Oats are one of the most familiar hot cereals for kids and a very nutritious “grain for the brain,” says Sarah Krieger, MPH, RD, LD/N, a St. Petersburg, Fla. consultant and ADA spokeswoman. "Oats provide excellent energy or fuel for the brain that kids need first thing in the morning."

Loaded with fiber, oats keep a child’s brain fed all morning at school. Oats also are good sources of vitamin E, B-vitamins, potassium and zinc -- which make our bodies and brains function at full capacity.

Eat more oats: Top hot oatmeal with pretty much anything -- applesauce and cinnamon, dried fruit and soy milk, sliced almonds and a drizzle of honey, fresh banana and a dash of nutmeg with skim milk, Krieger suggests.

Cooking? Throw a handful of dry oats into a smoothie to make it thick -- or into pancake, muffin, waffle or a granola bar recipe.

Here’s a simple snack kids can make: 1 cup peanut butter, ½ cup honey, 1 cup dry oats, ½ cup dry milk powder. Mix it up with your hands -- then put a tablespoon between 2 apple or pear slices for a fun and different sandwich!

6. Brain Food: Berries
Strawberries, cherries, blueberries, blackberries. "In general, the more intense the color, the more nutrition in the berries," Krieger says. Berries boast high levels of antioxidants, especially vitamin C, which may help prevent cancer.

Studies have shown improved memory with the extracts of blueberries and strawberries. "But eat the real thing to get a more nutritious package," Krieger says. "The seeds from berries are also a good source of omega-3 fats.."

Eat more berries: Add berries to veggies that may need a flavor boost -- like sliced sweet cherries with broccoli or strawberries with green beans. Toss berries into a green salad. Add chopped berries to a jar of salsa for an excellent flavor surprise.

More berry ideas: Add berries to yogurt, hot or cold cereal, or dips. For a light dessert, top a mound of berries with nonfat whipped topping, Krieger suggests
7. Brain Food: Beans
Beans are special because they have energy from protein and complex carbs -- and fiber -- plus lots of vitamins and minerals, Krieger says. "These are an excellent brain food since they keep a child's energy and thinking level at peak all afternoon if they enjoy them with lunch."

Kidney and pinto beans contain more omega 3 fatty acids than other beans -- specifically ALA, another of the omega-3’s important for brain growth and function, says Krieger.

Eat more beans: Sprinkle beans over salad and top with salsa. Mash vegetarian beans and spread on a tortilla. Mash or fill a pita pocket with beans -- and add shredded lettuce and low-fat cheese. Add beans to spaghetti sauce and salsa. Infants love mashed beans with applesauce!

8. Brain Food: Colorful Veggies
Tomatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, spinach -- vegetables with rich, deep color are the best sources of antioxidants that keep brain cells strong and healthy, Thayer says.

Eat more veggies: Try sweet potato fries: Cut up in wedges or sticks. Spray them with vegetable oil cooking spray and then bake them in the oven (400 degrees, 20 minutes or until they start to brown).

Make pumpkin muffins: Mix 1 15-ounce can of pumpkin with a box of your favorite cake or muffin mix. Stir the two ingredients together and follow the directions.

Baby carrots and tiny tomatoes fit nicely into lunch bags. Kids love spinach salads with lots of stuff in them -- like strawberries, mandarin oranges, sliced almonds. Another trick: Sneak all sorts of chopped veggies into spaghetti sauce, soups, and stews.

9. Brain Food: Milk & Yogurt
Dairy foods are packed with protein and B-vitamins -- essential for growth of brain tissue, neurotransmitters, and enzymes. "Milk and yogurt also provide a bigger punch with both protein and carbohydrates – the preferred source of energy for the brain," Thayer says.

Recent research suggests that children and teens need 10 times more the recommended dose of vitamin D -- a vitamin that benefits the neuromuscular system and the overall life cycle of human cells.

Eat more dairy: Low-fat milk over cereal -- and calcium- and vitamin D-fortified juices -- are easy ways to get these essential nutrients. Cheese sticks are great snacks.

Low-fat yogurt parfaits are also fun. In a tall glass, layer yogurt with berries (fresh, frozen, or dried) and chopped nuts (almonds or walnuts), Thayer suggests.

10. Brain Food: Lean Beef (or Meat Alternative)
Iron is an essential mineral that helps kids stay energized and concentrate at school. Lean beef is one of the best absorbed sources of iron. In fact, just 1 ounce per day has been shown to help the body absorb iron from other sources. Beef also contains zinc, which helps with memory.

For vegetarians, black bean and soy burgers are great iron-rich meatless options. Beans are an important source of nonheme iron -- a type of iron that needs vitamin C to be absorbed. Eat tomatoes, red bell pepper, orange juice, strawberries, and other "Cs" with beans to get the most iron.

For a burger-less source of iron -- try spinach. It's packed with nonheme iron, too.

Eat more iron: For dinner, grill kebobs with beef chunks and veggies. Or stir-fry a bit of beef with kids' favorite veggies. Grill black bean or soy burgers, then top with salsa or a tomato slice. Or, chow down on a spinach salad (with mandarin oranges and strawberries for vitamin C).

2008-08-18T12:00:00.002-04:00

What is the origin of the Olympics?
The Olympic Games, originally created to honor Zeus, was the most important national festival of the ancient Greeks, and a focus of political rivalries between the nation-states. However, all competitions involved individual competitors rather than teams. Winning an Olympic contest was regarded more highly than winning a battle and was proof of an individual arete or personal excellence. The winners were presented with garlands, crowned with olive wreaths, and viewed as national heroes.

Although records of the Olympics date back to 776 BC when the Olympics were reorganized and the official "First Olympiad" was held, Homer's Iliad suggests that they existed as early as the 12th century BC. The games were held every four years in honor of Zeus, in accordance with the four year time periods which the Greeks called olympiads. Emperor Theodosius I of Rome discontinued them in the 4th century AD, and they did not occur again until they were reinstated in Athens in 1896.

Originally, the Olympics was confined to running, but by the 15th Olympiad, additional sports were added the pentathlon (five different events), boxing, wrestling, chariot racing, as well as a variety of foot races of varying lengths, including a long-distance race of about 2.5 miles.

Athletes usually competed nude, proudly displaying their perfect bodies. Women, foreigners, slaves, and dishonored persons were forbidden to compete; women, once they were married, were not even allowed to watch any Olympic events, except for chariot races. However, every four years, women held their own games, called the Heraea after Hera, held at Argos, and beginning as early as the 6th century B.C. and lasting at least six centuries until Roman rule.

How was the Olympics a sacred festival?
Unlike our modern Olympic games, the ancient Greek Olympic games was a religious rather than secular festival, celebrating the gods in general and Zeus in particular. The contests themselves alternated with altar rituals and sacrifices, as well as processions and banquets. Individual competitors trained rigorously not only for personal glory, but also to impress and please a god through demonstrating strength and agility.

Although one legend suggests that Heracles won a race at Olympia and decreed that races should be instituted every four years, the most common legends suggest that Zeus originated the games after he defeated Cronus in battle. Many events occurred at the Olympic stadium near the temple of Zeus in Olympia southwest of Athens. Inside the temple was the 42 foot high gold and ivory statue of Zeus sculpted by Pheidias, considered to be one of seven wonders of the ancient world.

Eventually the games were also held at other sacred spots in the Greek city-states, such as Delphi and Corinth. These games honored the ruling god of the particular locality, most notably Apollo and Poseidon in addition to Zeus. Apollo from the start had an indirect role in the festivities, since the winners were always lauded with garlands of laurel, the tree most sacred to Apollo ever since his beloved Daphne was transformed into a laurel tree.

The noteworthy classics web site, Perseus, from Tufts University, has a mini-site on the ancient Olympics at http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/Olympics/. According to Perseus scholars:

"The Games were held in honor of Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, and a sacrifice of 100 oxen was made to the god on the middle day of the festival. Athletes prayed to the gods for victory, and made gifts of animals, produce, or small cakes, in thanks for their successes.

According to legend, the altar of Zeus stood on a spot struck by a thunderbolt, which had been hurled by the god from his throne high atop Mount Olympus, where the gods assembled. Some coins from Elis had a thunderbolt design on the reverse, in honor of this legend.

Over time, the Games flourished, and Olympia became a central site for the worship of Zeus. Individuals and communities donated buildings, statues, altars and other dedications to the god."

Avena Sativa- Oats

2008-08-09T00:00:00.002-04:00

Avena Sativa (oats) is rich in body-building nutrients including silicon, manganese, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and Vitamins A, B1, B2 and E. In cases of sexual problems related to stress and anxiety, Avena Sativa and its compounds work as nervine relaxants to ease tension, strengthen and support the nervous system and as a tonic to promote energy to handle the stress. This helps reduce over-excitability and facilitates better sexual performance.

Possible Benefits

Boosts fertility
Improves sexual performance
Relieves performance anxiety
Helps lower triglyceride level
Promotes energy
Strengthens the heart
Reduces craving for nicotine
Facilitates the detoxification process
Good for urinary organs and ailments like fibroids and candidiasis
Aids with anxiety disorders and A.D.D.
Emphysema, lung, and immune support
Helps relieve migraine headaches
Aids digestion
Reduces water retention

Usage Guidelines
No adverse effects unless you have a gluten-sensitivity.

Building Confidence

2008-08-07T18:04:00.003-04:00

Confident, Optimistic people take a positive approach to life and do not interpret events negatively. If an acquintance suddenly crosses the road as they approach, for example, they attribute it to being unseen rather than deliberate avoidance. Sometimes behaving in a confident manner generates real confidence. If you hide your anxieties and act with self-assurance, people often respond by listening and assuming you know what you are talking about, which in turn reinforces your confident behavior.

Tips for confident behavior:

Visualize yourself behaving in a confident manner and practice deep breathing when you feel stressed.

When you meet someone, look at the person long enough to acknowledge him or her and then look away again.

Watch your body language. Confident people take up space and look relaxed. They don’t twitch or fiddle,hunch their shoulders, or cross their arms and legs defensively.

When you speak, take time to pause and breathe evenly throughout.

Lower your voice if you hear it rising.

Be prepared. Make notes and know your facts before going into a meeting or a difficult interview,for eg.

If you make a mistake, ask yourself “ Will this matter in ten years time?” Most things wont.

Remind yourself that the other people have better things to do than analyze your shortcomings.

Achieving High Self- Esteem

2008-08-02T12:12:00.001-04:00

Overcoming poor self esteem gives you the emotional “ hardiness” to deal with stressful events. Even quite tiny shifts in how you percieve yourself can bring about profound changes. The mind/ body Institute at Harvard University suggests you to become aware of the origins of low self esteem. Think of your life as a bus with every significant person from your past on board. When they make criticisms such as “ Why are you so clumsy?” Taking over the driver’s seat yourself might entail putting some of the passengers off the bus- and out of your mind- permanently.

Solar Eclipse Friday to Fascinate Millions

2008-07-31T20:05:00.003-04:00

A total eclipse of the sun Friday should fascinate millions of lucky skywatchers in Greenland, Siberia, Mongolia and China.

If the weather cooperates, people along a narrow path who venture out and look up will see stars during the day as the sun is gradually devoured and ultimately blotted out by the moon.

Unlike ancient times, when eclipses were viewed as bad omens in many cultures, fewer people should be expecting doom this time around. Still, myths persist, especially in remote regions, so it's likely there will be some banging on pots and other creative tactics employed to drive the "evil spirits" away.

Billions of people along the path, including most of Europe and Asia, have a chance to see an interesting but much less foreboding partial eclipse. The northern half of Maine and the Canadian Maritime Provinces will be graced with a partial eclipse at sunrise.

Myth and mystery

Solar eclipses occur when the moon moves in front of the sun. This can happen only at the time of a new moon, when the moon is between Earth and the sun. When the three objects align perfectly an eclipse occurs.

Before there was a scientific explanation for eclipses, myth and mystery was pervasive.

Many cultures thought a demon or dragon was devouring the sun.

In ancient China, "any unusual phenomenon involving celestial bodies was noted for potential omens, either good or bad, that might befall the current Emperor," according to Sten Odenwald of the department of physics at Catholic University. An eclipse occurred in 2134 B.C., but was not predicted by Hsi and Ho, who were believed to have been two astrologers who served the Emperor Chung K'ang.

"By some accounts, the two astrologers were negligent in their duties and did not foretell the event for the Emperor," Odenwald writes in a historical article published by NASA. "They were summarily beheaded for their negligence of duty."

The ancient Chinese banged pots and drums to shoo the frightful sun-eating character away, according to the Exploratorium Science Center in San Francisco. In India, people would immerse themselves in water to help the sun fight the dragon.

Even nowadays many myths persist. In Egypt, as one example, children are often kept indoors with windows covered or shades drawn during an eclipse.

Prior to a total solar eclipse in 2006, one Indian paper advised pregnant women not to go outside during the eclipse to avoid having a blind baby or one with a cleft lip. Food cooked before the eclipse was to be thrown out afterward because it would be impure and those who are holding a knife or ax during the eclipse would cut themselves, the Hindustan Times added.

In Togo, authorities prior to the 2006 solar eclipse called on villagers to stay home. "Please, do not go out and keep your children indoors on solar eclipse day,'' Togo's minister for health said in a message broadcast on state television.

Risk of eye injury

Eclipses can indeed be dangerous.

Despite myths and rumors, a total solar eclipse is safe to watch during the darkness of totality, when no rays of the sun are passing to your eyes. The corona, or atmosphere of the sun, is often partly visible when the moon blocks out the main disk of the sun. Viewing the corona during totality also is safe.

However, looking directly at the sun, even during a partial eclipse, will damage your eyes unless you wear proper eye protection. It is extremely dangerous to eyesight to look directly at an eclipse at any stage expect during totality.

Glasses designed specifically for eclipse viewing are recommended, or a handful of indirect viewing methods can be used:

With masking tape, cover all but a 1/2-inch square of a small mirror. Project the sun onto a shaded wall. Or with a pencil, poke a small hole in a piece of paper. Let sunlight fall trough the hole onto a second sheet of white paper about a foot below.

Webcast planned

For those not fortunate enough to be in the eclipse's narrow path, a live webcast is planned.

NASA, in partnership with the Exploratorium and the University of California, Berkeley, will transmit live images on NASA TV. The coverage, originating in China and reliant on good weather, runs from 6 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. ET.

The period of total eclipse, or totality, will occur from 7:08 a.m. to 7:10 a.m. ET.

The Doctrine of Signatures

2008-07-26T20:23:00.002-04:00

Every whole food has a pattern that resembles a body organ or physiological function and that this pattern acts as a signal or sign as to the benefit the food provides the eater. Here is just a short list of examples of Whole Food Signatures.

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and science shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.
A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood food.
Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.
A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.
Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.
Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.
Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).
Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of sperm as well to overcome male sterility.
Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.
Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.
Grapefruits, Oranges, and other citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.
Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which was h the epithelial layers of the eyes.

"The news isn't that fruits and vegetables are good for you, it's that they are so good for you, they can save your life."

David Bjerklie, TIME Magazine, Oct. 2003

Music and Your Body

2008-07-26T09:59:00.002-04:00

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as Music Therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy:

Brain Waves: Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.

Breathing and Heart Rate: With alterations in brainwaves comes changes in other bodily functions. Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health.

State of Mind: Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. This can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body, and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, bringing many other benefits.

Other Benefits: Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more. With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in staying (or becoming) healthy.

When someone sneezes-- we say " Bless You!" Why???

2008-07-20T16:37:00.002-04:00

Bless you is a common English expression addressed to a person after they sneeze. The origin of the custom and its original purpose are unknown. In current practice, it is a socially obligated response.

Several possible origins are commonly given. The practice of blessing a sneeze, dating as far back as at least 77 AD, however, is far older than most specific explanations can account for.

One explanation holds that the custom originally began as an actual blessing. Gregory I became Pope in 590 as an outbreak of the bubonic plague was reaching Rome. In hopes of fighting off the disease, he ordered unending prayer and parades of chanters through the streets. At the time, sneezing was thought to be an early symptom of the plague. The blessing ("God bless you!") became a common effort to halt the disease.

A variant of the Pope Gregory I story places it with Pope Gregory VII, then tells the common (though untrue) story of "Ring Around the Rosey" being connected to the same plague.

A legend holds that it was believed that the heart stops when you sneeze, and the phrase "bless you" is meant to ensure the return of life or to encourage your heart to continue beating.

Another version says that people used to believe that your soul can be thrown from your body when you sneeze, that sneezing otherwise opened your body to invasion by the Devil or evil spirits,or that sneezing was your body's effort to force out an invading evil spirit. Thus, "bless you" or "God bless you" is used as a sort of shield against evil.

Alternatively, it may be possible that the phrase began simply as a response for an event that wasn't well understood at the time.[citation needed].

Another belief is that people used to see sneezing as a sign that God would answer your prayers or an omen of good fortune or good luck.In this case, "Bless you" would be in recognition of that luck.

Don't Cosign Your Child's Loan -Do this instead

2008-07-19T07:33:00.002-04:00

Parents often cosign credit cards or other loans for their children. But you should be aware that in many states, creditors are not required to notify the cosigners when a borrower exceeds a credit limit or falls behind on loan payments. As a result, you can become liable for overdue payments and penalties without ever knowing there was a problem. And your credit rating may be harmed as well.

Here's a better way: Consider having the child cosign your credit card. That way, the child will have access to the credit line and build a credit history, while monthly statements will come directly to you.

The 10 Worst Places to Raise a Family (from best to worst)

2008-07-17T14:42:00.000-04:00

Springfield, Missouri

Dayton, Ohio

Corpus Christi, Texas

Flint, Michigan: Country's highest violent-crime rate

Columbia, South Carolina

Waco, Texas

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Fayetteville, North Carolina

Beaumont, Texas: Long-standing air-quality challenges

Clarksville, Tennessee: Low educational spending: $6,729 per student

The 100 Best Places to Raise a Family

2008-07-17T14:39:00.000-04:00

Television executives seized the idea long ago: American families value where they plant their roots. The Cosbys had Brooklyn. The Cunninghams, Milwaukee. The Simpsons, Springfield. But fathers face reality when they're not in prime time. They want to raise their children somewhere safe, where they can attend good schools with favorable student-teacher ratios, above-average test scores, and respectable budgets. Plenty of museums, parks, and pediatricians also contribute to a good quality of life, whereas multihour commutes, expensive houses, and divorcing friends and neighbors do not. Best Life editors used these categories and data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, FBI, American Association of Museums, National Center for Health Statistics, and American Bar Association to evaluate 257 cities. Here are the best--and worst--places to raise a family.

1. Honolulu, Hawaii: Schools spend almost $9,000 per pupil, unemployment ranks less than half the national average, and you can play on the island of O'ahu's 125 beaches.

2 Virginia Beach, Virginia

3 Billings, Montana

4 Columbus, Georgia

5 San Diego, California

6 Des Moines, Iowa

7 Minneapolis, Minnesota

8 Madison, Wisconsin: Madison has a high number of pediatricians per capita.

9 Colorado Springs, Colorado

10 Santa Rosa, California

11 Wichita, Kansas

12 Los Angeles, California

13 Corona, California

14 Austin, Texas

15 Stamford, Connecticut

16 Omaha, Nebraska

17 Naperville, Illinois

18 Fort Wayne, Indiana

19 Springfield, Illinois

20 Boise, Idaho

21 Manchester, New Hampshire

22 South Bay Area, California

23 New York, New York

24 Fontana, California

25 Louisville, Kentucky

26 Plano, Texas

27 Oceanside, California

28 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

29 Sacramento, California

30 Ann Arbor, Michigan

31 Reno, Nevada

32 Las Vegas, Nevada

33 Lincoln, Nebraska

34 San Bernardino, California

35 Grand Rapids, Michigan

36 Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: Median value of a home: $202,7333

37 Kansas City, Kansas

38 Fremont, California

39 Buffalo, New York

40 Berkeley, California

41 Cambridge, Massachusetts

42 Kansas City, Missouri

43 Waterbury, Connecticut

44 Syracuse, New York

45 Phoenix, Arizona

46 Albuquerque, New Mexico

47 Akron, Ohio

48 Boston, Massachusetts

49 Escondido, California

50 Fairfield, California

51 Antioch, California

52 Elgin, Illinois

53 Rochester, New York

54 Seattle, Washington: Residents spend $266 per person annually to maintain the city's parks.

55 Tucson, Arizona

56 Santa Clarita, California

57 Denver, Colorado

58 Indianapolis, Indiana

59 Glendale, Arizona

60 Chicago, Illinois

61 Atlanta, Georgia

62 San Antonio, Texas

63 Mobile, Alabama

64 Concord, California

65 Denton, Texas

66 Coral Springs, Florida

67 San Francisco, California

68 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

69 El Paso, Texas: Classrooms average fewer than 16 students for every teacher.

70 San Buenaventura, California

71 Worcester, Massachusetts

72 Baltimore, Maryland

73 Richmond, California

74 Lowell, Massachusetts

75 Portland, Oregon

76 Jacksonville, Florida

77 Fort Collins, Colorado

78 Orlando, Florida

79 Modesto, California

80 Montgomery, Alabama

81 Tampa, Florida

82 Salinas, California

83 Newport News, Virginia

84 Oakland, California

85 Augusta, Georgia

86 Fort Worth, Texas

87 Washington, D.C.

88 Tulsa, Oklahoma: Residents spend just 17 minutes commuting to work.

89 Bellevue, Washington

90 Cincinnati, Ohio

91 McKinney, Texas

92 St. Louis, Missouri

93 Hayward, California

94 Midland, Texas

95 Sterling Heights, Michigan

96 Greensboro, North Carolina

97 Arlington, Texas

98 Alexandria, Virginia

99 Winston-Salem, North Carolina

100 Lexington, Kentucky

Stay Younger at any age

2008-07-06T09:16:00.002-04:00

Growing old gracefully isn’t a lost art — it’s just a forgotten one. For all those women who think the scalpel or the syringe is the only way to stay “young,” here’s a news flash: “About 80 percent of aging is caused by environmental factors, things you have control over,” says Leslie Baumann, a dermatologist and the director of the University of Miami Cosmetic Center, in Florida. Real Simple went to eight female dermatologists to find out their own at-home anti-aging routines. They all offer a sensible approach: Protect your skin, use the right skin-care ingredients, and get on with your life.

Twelve Ways to Delay Aging

Wear sunscreen every day. You’ve heard it before: Sun exposure is the number one cause of premature aging. Ultraviolet light from the sun — or a tanning bed — breaks down collagen and elastin, the substances that keep skin smooth and firm. To help minimize damage and wrinkles, stay out of the sun and follow these tips.

Apply sunscreen liberally. A too-thin layer of SPF (sun protection factor) 15 is equal to only about SPF 7. Use a shot glass–size amount to cover your body and a teaspoon to cover your face.

Don’t forget your legs. “We find more cases of malignant melanomas on women’s legs than on their faces,” says Heidi Waldorf, director of laser and cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in New York City.

Don’t rely on SPF-enhanced makeup. Chances are you don’t wear enough of it to defend your skin.

Choose sunglasses with UV protection. Good sunglasses help prevent cataracts, and they also keep you from squinting, which can, over time, break down the collagen around your eyes and cause crow’s-feet.

Avoid smoky situations. If you smoke, quit. And nonsmokers should be aware that chronic exposure to secondhand smoke can damage skin. According to Karyn Grossman, a Santa Monica–based dermatologist, smoke, like the sun, bombards you with free radicals that make skin sallow, break down its collagen, and slow its ability to heal. To fend off damage, Grossman suggests products containing antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals. Her favorite antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, and green tea. “The studies back up their efficacy the most,” she says.
Be conscious of repetitive movements. Between smiling, frowning, and talking, your face makes thousands of movements a day. Over time, these repetitive motions lead to deeper lines. It would be unrealistic (not to mention Stepford-like) to stop showing your emotions, but some habits can be curbed. “We’re not saying, ‘Don’t live; don’t move,’” says Debra Jaliman, a New York City dermatologist. “But if you’re constantly drinking through a straw, chewing gum, or smoking, you’re breaking down the collagen around your mouth. And the wrinkles will come earlier.”

Stop picking! It’s hard to resist the urge to do a little at-home surgery on a pimple, but the mark it might leave is the most persuasive reason not to. “As you age, acne scars often end up looking more like wrinkles,” says Grossman. “If you have a pimple on your cheek near where a wrinkle forms, it will make the wrinkle deeper.”

Cleanse with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). They help remove the top layer of dead skin cells to reveal a fresh layer underneath. “Alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid) unclog pores and help your skin look smoother,” says Alyson C. Penstein, a dermatologist in New York City. Note: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, try a cleanser with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA).

Use an anti-aging cream at night. New anti-aging creams arrive on cosmetics counters all the time — with bigger claims and heftier price tags. But good old retinoids, which contain a vitamin A derivative, are still the gold standard. “Many studies support retinoids, and they have withstood the test of time,” says Marianne O’Donoghue, an associate professor of dermatology at the Rush University Medical Center, in Chicago. Retinoids encourage the skin to renew itself, smoothing fine lines and helping to repair sun damage. They are found in prescription creams, such as Renova and Retin-A, and in lower concentrations in over-the-counter retinol creams. Note: Retinoids can be irritating at first, so apply sparingly. They also leave skin vulnerable to sunburn. If your skin is extra-sensitive, try a milder cream containing kinetin, an ingredient found in plants that has been shown to smooth lines.

Try a weekly exfoliation treatment. Most professional anti-aging treatments — including chemical peels and microdermabrasion — shed skin to clear up uneven pigmentation and encourage collagen growth. Now there are effective treatments that are gentle enough to use at home. Robin Ashinoff, director of cosmetic dermatology at the Hackensack University Medical Center, in New Jersey, suggests using a chemical exfoliator. There are also polishing creams that aim to achieve results similar to those of professional microdermabrasion, which manually sloughs off skin with superfine particles. Over time, your skin should respond by thickening slightly. “Thickening is good,” explains Mary Ellen Brademas, a New York City dermatologist. “Thicker skin shows fewer wrinkles.”

Remember the rest of your body. “Everything you do for your face, you should also do for your neck, chest, and hands,” says Baumann. “Those are the primary spots that show aging.” At the very least, moisturize: Hydrated skin looks plumper and smoother.

Earth's Cries Recorded in Space

2008-07-01T14:19:00.001-04:00

Earth emits an ear-piercing series of chirps and whistles that could be heard by any aliens who might be listening, astronomers have discovered.

The sound is awful, a new recording from space reveals.

Scientists have known about the radiation since the 1970s. It is created high above the planet, where charged particles from the solar wind collide with Earth's magnetic field. It is related to the phenomenon that generates the colorful aurora, or Northern Lights.

The radio waves are blocked by the ionosphere, a charged layer atop our atmosphere, so they do not reach Earth. That's good, because the out-of-this-world radio waves are 10,000 times stronger than even the strongest military signal, the researchers said, and they would overwhelm all radio stations on the planet.

Theorists had long figured the radio waves, which were not well studied, oozed into space in an ever-widening cone, like light from a torch.

But new data from the European Space Agency's Cluster mission, a group of four high-flying satellites, reveals the bursts of radio waves head off to the cosmos in beam-like fashion, instead.

This means they're more detectable to anyone who might be listening.

The Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR), as it is called, is beamed out in a narrow plane, as if someone had put a mask over a torch and left a slit for the radiation to escape.

This flat beam could be detected by aliens who've figured this process out, the researchers say. The knowledge could also be used by Earth's astronomers to detect planets around other stars, if they can build a new radio telescope big enough for the search. They could also learn more about Jupiter and Saturn by studying AKR, which should emit from the auroral activity on those worlds, too.

"Whenever you have aurora, you get AKR," said Robert Mutel, a University of Iowa researcher involved in the work.

The AKR bursts -- Mutel and colleagues studied 12,000 of them -- originate in spots the size of a large city a few thousand miles above Earth and above the region where the Northern Lights form.

"We can now determine exactly where the emission is coming from," Mutel said.

Our planet is also known to hum, a mysterious low-frequency sound thought to be caused by the churning ocean or the roiling atmosphere.

Audio: Hear Earth Scream
Video: Earthrise Seen from the Moon
101 Amazing Earth Facts
Original Story: Earth's Cries Recorded in Space

Courtesy:space.com

Yep! Its True!

2008-06-29T09:22:00.001-04:00

People living on the east coast prefer creamy peanut butter, while people living on the west coast prefer chunky peanut butter

Some snails live on branches in trees

Tomato ketchup is a good conditioner for the hair. It also helps get the greenish tinge that some blonde haired people get after swimming in water with chlorine in it

The youngest pope was 11 years old

Did you know you share your birthday with at least 9 other million people in the world

Soldiers disease is a term for morphine addiction. The Civil War produced over 400,000 morphine addicts

The longest chapter in the Bible is Psalm 119, which is 176 verses

During the First World War, cigarettes were handed out to soldiers along with their rations

The longest freshwater shoreline in the world is located in the state of Michigan

There are bananas called "Red banana" that are maroon to dark purple when ripe

Franklin Pierce was the first U.S. President to have a Christmas tree in the White House

The USA bought Alaska from Russia for 2 cents an acre

Walt Disney had originally suggested using the name Mortimer Mouse instead of Mickey Mouse

The length of brink of the Canadian "Horseshoe" Falls located in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada is 2600 feet

The smile is the most frequently used facial expression. A smile can use anywhere from a pair of 5 to 53 facial muscles

The right lung of a human is larger than the left one. This is because of the space and placement of the heart

Native Americans used to use pumpkin seeds for medicine

The pound key (#) on the keyboard is called an octothorpe

The chemical name for caffeine is 1,3,7-trimethylzantihine

Corals take a long time to grow. Some corals only grow one centimeter in one year

Walmart-mart sells more apparel a year than all the other competing department stores combined

Canada has more inland waters and lakes than any other country in the world

Ramses II, a pharaoh of Egypt died in 1225 B.C. At the time of his death, he had fathered 96 sons and 60 daughters

The word "lethologica" describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want

Since its introduction in February 1935, more than two hundred million Monopoly board games have been sold worldwide

Women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression than men in the United States

The smallest man ever was Gul Mohammed (1957-1997) of India, who measured 1 feet, 10? inches

500,000 tons of dog excrement are dumped annually on the streets of Paris

Hydrogen gas is the least dense substance in the world, at 0.08988g/cc

In Belgium, there is a museum just for strawberries

The Simpsons is the longest running prime-time animated series on television history

The more a person struggles to get out of quicksand the faster they will sink. Staying still, and being calm will actually make the body float in the quicksand because the body is less dense than the quicksand is

On average, a Canadian girl owns seven Barbie dolls, whereas an American girl owns eight

A piece of French toast that was partially eaten by Justin Timberlake sold on eBay

Tea Tree Oil

2008-06-27T22:24:00.005-04:00

Tea Tree Oil (also known as Melaleuca) is a natural antibacterial disinfectant that was commonly used as a general antiseptic by the aborigine tribes for thousands of years. More recently, the scientific community has confirmed that Tea Tree Oil has tremendous medicinal benefits. It is a light yellow oil that has a scent similar to nutmeg, and it is produced by steaming tea tree leaves and then squeezing the oil out.
Tea Tree Oil has wonderful properties that makes it a popular natural agent for curing all three types of infectious organisms: fungus, bacteria, and virus. More importantly, it is known to effectively fight a number of infections that are resistant to some antibiotics. Therefore, Tea Tree Oil is an excellent natural remedy for hundreds of bacterial and fungal skin ailments such as acne, abscess, oily skin, blisters, sun burns, athlete's foot, warts, herpes, insect bites, rashes, dandruff and other minor wounds and irritations.

Studies have shown that Tea Tree Oil also treats respiratory problems ranging from common sore throats, coughs and runny nose to severe conditions such as asthma, tuberculosis, and bronchitis. The anti-viral properties of the oil fight many common infectious diseases such as chicken pox, shingles and measles, flu, cold sores and verrucae. It also strengthens the body's immune system, which is often weakened by stress, illness, or by the use of antibiotics and other drugs. It can also be used as a mouth wash, since it is highly effective in healing oral candidiasis (a fungal infection of mouth and throat).

Uses of Tea Tree Oil
Skin Infections
General Disinfectant
Tea Tree Oil mixed into bath water works as a great disinfectant for skin. Simply mix 10 to 12 drops of the oil into bath water and soak in it for about 30 minutes twice a week. This same oil bath can also be used to relax muscles after a strenuous sport or workout.

Acne Treatment
A common use of Tea Tree Oil is as a natural Acne treatment.

Boils and Carbuncles
Tea Tree Oil has also been used for the treatment of Boils or Carbuncles.

Warts
Many people have also found that Tea Tree Oil can be used as a very effective treatment for Genital Warts.

Bad Breath, Inflamed Gums, and Plaque
Tea Tree Oil, when used as a mouth wash, acts as a natural cure for bad breath, oral candidiasis, gingivitis, plaque, and inflamed gums. It also kills mouth bacteria prior to dental surgery and also reduces mouth irritation that is often caused by dental procedures.
Add 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil to a cup of warm water.
Use the solution as a mouthwash two to three times daily.
Always spit out the Tea Tree Oil mouthwash. Do not swallow it.
You may also add 1 drop of Tea Tree Oil to toothpaste when brushing teeth.
Sore Throat and Congestion
Tea Tree Oil can be combined with a simple steam inhalation technique to naturally cure congestion, sore throat, chest infections, and clearing up mucus:
Fill a large cooking pot or bowl with water.
Bring the water to a boil.
Remove the pot from the stove and add 2 to 3 drops of Tea Tree Oil into it.
Cover your head with a towel and lean over the top of the bowl so that the long ends of the towel are hanging down at the two sides of the bowl.
Inhale the vapors for about 5-10 minutes.
Repeat the process each night before going to bed until symptoms are cured completely. If symptoms persist for more than 5 days it is best to consult your doctor.
Canker Sores and Laryngitis
Diluted in water, Tea Tree Oil is an effective treatment for canker sores and laryngitis:
Add 3-4 drops of Tea Tree Oil to one cup of warm water.
Gargle this solution twice daily.

Dandruff and Lice
Studies have shown that shampoos with 5% of Tea Tree Oil can cure dandruff and help get rid off head lice.

Yeast Infections
Tea Tree Oil can also be used as an effective Home Remedy for Yeast Infection Treatment. mmon infectious diseases such as chicken pox, shingles and measles, flu, cold sores and verrucae. It also strengthens the body's immune system, which is often weakened by stress, illness, or by the use of antibiotics and other drugs. It can also be used as a mouth wash, since it is highly effective in healing oral candidiasis (a fungal infection of mouth and throat).

The 3,000 Mile Oil Change Myth

2008-06-26T10:22:00.003-04:00

According to a recent study by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, 73 percent of California drivers change their oil more frequently than required. This same scenario no doubt repeats itself across the country. Besides wasting money, this translates into unnecessary consumption of $100-a-barrel oil, much of it imported.

Using 2005 data, the Board estimates that Californians alone generate about 153.5 million gallons of waste oil annually, of which only about 60 percent is recycled. Used motor oil poses the greatest environmental risk of all automotive fluids because it is insoluble, persistent, and contains heavy metal and toxic chemicals. One gallon of used oil can foul the taste of one million gallons of water.

It’s been a misconception for years that engine oil should be changed every 3000 miles, even though most auto manufacturers now recommend oil changes at 5,000, 7,000, or even 10,000 mile intervals under normal driving conditions.

Greatly improved oils, including synthetic oils, coupled with better engines mean longer spans between oil changes without harming an engine. The 3000 mile interval is a carryover from days when engines used single-grade, non-detergent oils.

For several years, automakers like General Motors, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz have installed computerized systems that alert drivers via an instrument panel light when it’s time to change oil. As an example, the General Motor Oil Life System (GMOLS) analyzes the engine temperature, rpms, vehicle speeds, and other driving conditions to calculate the rate of engine oil degradation. Then, software calculates when the oil needs to be changed. Other systems work similarly.

Because of the many external conditions and parameters that have to be taken into account, calculating the precise maximum service interval using mathematical models alone is difficult. Now, Daimler AG has developed a more direct and precise way to monitor oil quality directly on board a vehicle.

Daimler uses a special sensor integrated into the oil circuit to monitor engine oil directly. Oil doesn’t wear out, but rather dirt and impurities cause oil to lose its ability to lubricate properly, dictating the need for a change. Daimler uses the oil’s “permittivity,” that is, the ability to polarize in response to the electric field. If the engine oil is contaminated by water or soot particles, it polarizes to a greater extent and its permittivity increases.

To evaluate the quality of the oil, permittivity is measured by applying an AC potential between the interior and exterior pipes of an oil-filled sensor to determine how well the oil transmits the applied electric field.

Because not all impurities can be measured with sufficient precision via the electric field method, Daimler also measures the oil’s viscosity to detect any fuel that may have seeped into the oil. Daimler researchers measure viscosity while the vehicle is in motion by observing the oil's side-to-side motion in the oil sump. The slower the oil moves, the higher its viscosity. This movement is registered by a sensor and the viscosity is calculated on this basis.

A single sensor, along with the information already monitored by on-board computers, is sufficient to determine the various parameters of the engine oil. Daimler will likely use the technology first on its commercial vehicles. Here, large oil reservoirs mean larger quantities of oil can be saved. Plus, a predicted 25 percent increase between service intervals and reduced downtime will be of interest to fleets, and thus justify the added cost of installation.

Amazing Facts

2008-06-25T09:06:00.002-04:00

In 2002, the most popular boat name in the U.S. was Liberty

One out of 20 people have an extra rib

44% of kids watch television before they go to sleep

In 1865, the U.S. Secret Service was first established for the specific purpose to combat the counterfeiting of money

Istanbul, Turkey is the only city in the world located on two continents

In 1967, the IMAX film system was invented by Canadian Ivan Grame Ferguson to premier at Expo 67.

Approximately 40% of the U.S. paper currency in circulation was counterfeit by the end of the Civil War

Every three days a human stomach gets a new lining

In 1873, Colgate made a toothpaste that was available in a jar

The Kodiak, which is native to Alaska, is the largest bear and can measure up to eight feet and weigh as much as 1,700 pounds

The three best-known western names in China: Jesus Christ, Richard Nixon, and Elvis Presley

Mars is the home of Olympus Mons, the largest known volcano in our solar system

The Gastric Flu can cause projectile vomiting

The second best selling game of all time is Jenga. Jenga is a Swahili word, meaning "to build."

Cinderella is known as Rashin Coatie in Scotland, Zezolla in Italy, and Yeh-hsien in China

The name Wendy was made up for the book "Peter Pan."

The fur of the binturong, also known as the "Asian Bear Cat," smells like popcorn. The scent is believed to come from a gland located near the tail

In 1894 the first big Coke sign was found on the side of a building located in Cartersville, Georgia, and still exists today

The longest distance a deepwater lobster has been recorded to travel is 225 miles

Orcas (killer whales), when traveling in groups, breathe in unison

The Great Pyramids used to be as white as snow because they were encased in a bright limestone that has worn off over the years

NASCAR stands for National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing

Percentage of American men who say they would marry the same woman if they had it to do all over again: 80%

Paul Hunn holds the record for the loudest burp, which was 118.1 decibels, which is as loud as a chainsaw

A monkey was once tried and convicted for smoking a cigarette in South Bend, Indiana

There are six million parts in the Boeing 747-400.

The first TONKA truck was made in 1947

In the U.S., over one million gallons of cosmetics, drinks, and lotions are sold that contain aloe in them per year

Sugar Bear (the mascot for Golden Crisps cereal) was born in 1963

The Tonle Sap River in Cambodia flows north for almost half the year and then south for the rest of the year

Japanese research has concluded that moderate drinking can boost IQ levels

For more than 3,000 years, Carpenter ants have been used to close wounds in India, Asia and South America

Baskin Robbins plain vanilla ice cream is the number one selling flavour and accounts for a quarter of their sales

Elizabeth Taylor has appeared on the cover of Life magazine more than anyone else

The typical lead pencil can draw a line that is thirty five miles long

The word "toy" comes from an old English word that means "tool."

Smokers are twice as likely to develop lower back pain than non-smokers

Humans are born with 300 bones in their body, however when a person reaches adulthood they only have 206 bones. This occurs because many of them join together to make a single bone

The reason why hair turns gray as we age is because the pigment cells in the hair follicle start to die, which is responsible for producing "melanin" which gives the hair colour

In 1960 there were 16,067 gambling slots in Nevada. By 1999, this number rose to 205,726 slots which would be one slot for every 10 people residing there

It takes the Hubble telescope about 97 minutes to complete an orbit of the Earth. On average, the Hubble uses the equivilent amount of energy as 30 household light bulbs to complete an orbit.

The two factories of the Jelly Belly Candy Company produces approximately 100,000 pounds of jelly beans a day. this amounts to about 1,250,000 jelly beans an hour

Pucks hit by hockey sticks have reached speeds of up to 150 miles per hour

The "naked recreation and travel" industry has grown by 233% in the past decade

The Planters Peanut Company mascot, Mr. Peanut, was created during a contest for schoolchildren in 1916

Most lipstick contains fish scales

The sentence "the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" uses every letter in the english language

The expression cooked "al dente" means "to the tooth." What this means is that the pasta should be somewhat firm, and offer some resistance to the tooth, but should also be tender

Of married couples, 70% of men and 60% of women have cheated on their spouse

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than 7 times

Ways to Green-Up Your Life

2008-06-24T14:28:00.003-04:00

Eco-Action Tip: Sun Power
Adjust your window blinds to reduce energy used for heating and cooling. In the summer, keep sunny-side blinds closed. In the winter, open up and let the sunshine in to help heat your home.

EcoAction Tip: Get Involved-
Join a local action group that promotes environmentally friendly practices, organize carpooling or petition your municipality to increase local energy conservation measures. One person really can make a difference-and inspire others to as well!

Eco Action Tip: Plant a Tree, Seriously
A single tree can absorb one ton (2,000 pounds) of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. One acre of tree cover in Brooklyn can compensate for automobile fuel use equivalent to driving a car between 7,200 and 8,700 miles.

Eco-Action Tip: Go "Green" When You Clean
Many household cleaning products contain various chemicals and toxins detrimental to the environment and to your health. Read the labels!

Eco-Action Tip: Grow Your Own
Plant a garden or a few pots of veggies without pesticides and chemical fertilizers that can harm both human health and the environment. How delightful to step out the back door and pick a ripe, organic tomato!

Eco-Action Tip: Avoid Products with a Lot of Packaging
You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide a year if you cut down your garbage by 10%.

Eco-Action Tip: Drive Smart
Try walking, riding a bike or combining trips in your car to cut back on the miles that you drive each day. If you stopped driving just 20 extra miles per week for one year, you could save about 900 pounds of CO2 per year.

Eco-Action Tip: Office Overhaul
At home or on the job, switch to "green" office supplies, such as recycled paperclips, tree-free note pads and 100% recycled paper. Producing recycled paper requires about 60 percent of the energy used to make paper from virgin wood pulp.

Eco-Action Tip: Turn Out the Lights
Before leaving your home or office, make sure all of the lights are turned off. This simple task will save energy and save you money.

Eco-Action Tip: Buy Recycled Products
Buying new products made from recycled materials allows you to "close the loop," creating a market for the recycled material items recycled curbside or in other recycling programs.
Eco-Action Tip: Switch to Organics
Organic agriculture protects the health of all the earth's inhabitants by limiting input of toxic and persistent chemicals into the air, soil and water. Organic methods support natural ecosystems by using long-term farming solutions that help preserve the earth's resources for future generations.

Eco-Action Tip: Start a Compost Pile in Your Yard
As landfill space becomes increasingly scarce and expensive, composting is an extremely valuable idea for reducing needless garbage. Composting requires little effort and, in time, will create an earthy, crumbly substance to help your plants flourish.

Eco-Action Tip: Buy in Bulk
Purchasing food in bulk allows you to choose just how much or how little of a certain product you want. This reduces both product waste and packaging waste.

Eco-Action Tip: Quench with Respect
80% of the 25 billion single-serving plastic water bottles Americans use each year end up in landfills. Recycle your bottles, or better yet, choose to reuse with a refillable water bottle made of a refill-safe material.

Eco-Action Tip: Reduce Hot Water Use
Wash your clothes in cold or warm water to save up to 500 pounds of CO2 per year. Rinse your dishes with cold water (they don't need two hot baths), and wait to run the dishwasher until it is full.

Eco-Action Tip: Recycle More
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

Eco-Action Tip: Support Eco-Smart Packaging
When shopping for packaged products, seek out companies that use minimal amounts of packaging and use recycled and/or recyclable materials.

Eco-Action Tip: Be Disposable Conscious
To decrease waste, purchase durable, long-lasting products that can be reused or refilled, such as rechargeable batteries and refillable razors. If you do use disposables, choose those made with eco-friendly materials from companies you can trust.

Eco-Action Tip: Choose Your Food Like it Matters
Choose products from companies and businesses that do something to support the health of the planet. And, eat as many whole foods as possible. Not only are they better for you, but they're better for the Earth. The more whole the food is, the fewer the resources used to get it to your plate.

Eco-Action Tip: Reuse Your Bags
More than one billion single-use plastic bags are handed to consumers each day and it takes a 15-year-old tree to produce just 700 grocery bags. Paper or plastic is no longer the question. Reusing shopping bags significantly reduces both emissions and waste. All Whole Foods Market stores offer at least a nickel-per-bag refund to encourage you!

Eco-Action Tip: Change a Light
Twenty percent of the electricity consumed in the United States is for lighting. Replacing one regular bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb will save 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

Eco-Action Tip: Tread Lightly
Walk, bike, carpool or take mass-transit more often. You'll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive, reducing your carbon weight, and maybe some body weight, too!

Eco-Action Tip: Turn Off Electronics
Simply turning off your TV, DVD player, stereo and computer when you're not using them will save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Some appliances even use electricity when turned off, so unplug those used infrequently.

Eco-Action Tip: Think Before You Print
It takes 390 gallons of oil to produce a ton of paper. To reduce the amount of paper that gets thrown away or recycled, triple check documents before printing. When you print drafts, try printing on the other side of used paper.

Eco-Action Tip: Keep Your Appliances Clean
Cleaning your refrigerator coils and heating vents regularly allows them to operate much more efficiently. When appliances aren't forced to work as hard, you reduce your electric bill while reducing energy.

Eco-Action Tip: Cut Back on Water Use
In the United States, 27 percent of our water is used in bathing. Instead of taking a bath, take a quick shower and use a water-conserving showerhead, which can save 350 pounds of CO2 a year. Repair leaky faucets, too, as they could leak up to 100 gallons of water per day!

Eco-Action Tip: Stop the Junk Mail Overload
The public landfill is approximately 36% waste paper products. Unwanted junk mail contributes to that, while also wasting energy and trees. Sign up for a "mail preference service" that can decrease the amount of mail you receive by up to 75%.

Eco-Action Tip: Don't Trash Clothing
Use worn out t-shirts, towels and bed linens as rags for cleaning around the house. Pass along unwanted clothes to friends, family or charitable organizations.

Eco-Action Tip: Adjust Your Thermostat
Moving your thermostat down just 2 degrees in the winter and up 2 degrees in the summer could save 2,000 pounds of CO2.

Tooth loss tied to pregnancy

2008-06-23T10:51:00.000-04:00

A new study suggests that the more babies a woman has, the more likely she is to lose teeth.

In a sample of 2,635 women ages 18 to 64 who had had at least one pregnancy, the number of teeth lost increased with the number of pregnancies. The association persisted even after controlling for age, smoking, socioeconomic status and the number of dental visits a woman reported. The study appears online in The American Journal of Public Health. Why this happens is not clear, but Stefanie L Russell, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of epidemiology at New York University, said that one possible reason was that pregnant women simply do not go to the dentist often enough. "I'm not sure why that's the case," she said.

"Previously it was thought that women should only be treated during the second trimester," in part because of fears of the effects of dental X-rays on the foetus. "But you have to look at the individual case and see what kind of treatment a woman needs," Russell said. "Preventive care during pregnancy is really important."

The authors cite studies showing rates of gingivitis and other dental problems in pregnant women ranging from 30 percent to 100 percent. Although disease usually subsides after giving birth, existing periodontal problems may worsen during pregnancy

Ginkgo Extract May Improve Cognition and Decrease Stress for Computer Users

2008-06-20T21:28:00.004-04:00

Reviewed: Kaschel R, Hoerr R, Kresimon J, Rychlik R. The influence of ginkgo special extract EGb 761� on the performance of healthy subjects at computer workstations�open-label clinical study in pre-post design with a control group. Translation from J Pharmako u Ther. 2007;Jan:3-9.
Clinical studies have shown that ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba, Ginkgoaceae) can improve cognitive performance and stress tolerance in healthy people and in elderly people with dementia. Studies using the special ginkgo extract EGb 761� have demonstrated improvements in brain function, emotional stability, mental capacity, attention, and coping with stress in healthy people. People who work at computer workstations for much of the day may suffer from health disorders such as fatigue, lack of concentration, irritability, and mental stress. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of EGb 761 on the performance of healthy people at computer workstations and to identify suitable tests to evaluate those effects.

The study was an open-label pilot study involving healthy people who were 45 years of age or older and who spent at least 50% of their workday in front of a computer. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Osnabruck in Germany. Following a 2-week run-in period in which the subjects were trained on specific computer tests, the subjects completed baseline measurements of reaction capacity, sustained attention, eyesight sensitivity, stress perception, and quality of life. After the baseline measurements, subjects were allowed to choose if they wanted to be in the control group receiving no ginkgo or in the treatment group receiving 120 mg of ginkgo extract EGb 761 twice daily for 8 weeks (Tebonin�; Dr. Willmar Schwabe GmbH & Co., Karlsruhe, Germany). All subjects repeated the baseline tests after the 8-week treatment period ended, and the tolerability of EGb 761 was assessed.

The study enrolled 104 subjects, 84 of which completed the study according to the protocol. In the sustained attention test (a measure of long-term concentration) the number of errors made by subjects in the ginkgo group decreased significantly after 8 weeks compared to the control group (P = 0.035). Perceived stress scores improved significantly in the ginkgo group (P = 0.007), and the �vitality� portion of the quality of life evaluation improved significantly in the ginkgo group (P = 0.004) compared to the control group. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups for reaction capacity after the 8-week treatment period. No serious adverse events were reported for either group, and the tolerability of EGb 761 was judged to be good.

The authors conclude that EGb 761 treatment produced clear objective and subjective improvements in concentration, perceived stress, and quality of life in people working at computer workstations much of the day. The authors assess the results to be particularly significant for people over 45 years of age, because that population group is more likely to perceive computer work as more stressful than a younger population. The authors recommend that a more extensive double-blind trial should be conducted using the tests identified in this study.

The results of this study are consistent with previous studies showing improvements in cognitive performance and stress tolerance. However, the authors provide results for only one of the eight �domains� of the quality of life evaluation (the SF-36 Health Survey). It is not known if ginkgo supplementation had any effect on the remaining seven domains, and this would be of interest to other researchers and readers.

The authors state that the results show that improvements relevant to everyday functioning at work may be attained with EGb 761 treatment, in conjunction with an increase in stress reduction and quality of life.

Since the participants could choose which group they wanted to be in, there is a high likelihood that those entering the ginkgo group had a strong bias towards the efficacy of ginkgo. The control group is not only a control for ginkgo but also a control for a placebo effect. There is no way to know if the improvements were due to ginkgo or placebo effect. This study was financed by the ginkgo manufacturer and supported by an insurance association.

Broccoli Protects Skin From Sun Damage

2008-06-20T09:18:00.002-04:00

Broccoli Extract Reduces Redness, Inflammation Caused by Sun Exposure

Add sunscreen to the list of broccoli’s health benefits. A new study suggests the potent vegetable may help protect the skin from sun damage.

Researchers found the compound sulforaphane, which is derived from broccoli sprouts, reduces the skin redness and inflammation caused by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Repeated sunburns are linked to a higher risk of skin cancer, and researchers say controlling the redness, known in medical terms as erythema, may be another way to fight skin cancer and sun-related skin damage.

Broccoli Skin Booster
In the study, researcher Paul Talalay of The Johns Hopkins University and colleagues examined the effects of sulforaphane on UV-induced erythema in six adults.

A solution containing sulforaphane derived from three-day old broccoli sprouts was applied to their skin before exposure to UV radiation using sun lamps.

The results showed the broccoli extract reduced redness by an average of 37% compared with untreated skin following UV exposure.

Researchers say the broccoli extract did not physically absorb the UV rays, but it appeared to work at the cellular level to prevent erythema. They say sulforaphane induces the formation of protective proteins in the skin and protects the skin from sun damage for several days.

See a Huge Moon Illusion Wednesday

2008-06-18T13:37:00.002-04:00

As the full moon rises this Wednesday evening, June 18, many people will be tricked into thinking it's unusually large

The moon illusion, as it's known, is a trick in our minds that makes the moon seem bigger when it's near the horizon. The effect is most pronounced at full moon. Many people swear it's real, suggesting that perhaps Earth's atmosphere magnifies the moon.

But it really is all in our minds. The moon is not bigger at the horizon than when overhead.

The illusion will be particularly noticeable at this "solstice moon," coming just two days before summer starts in the Northern Hemisphere. The reason, according to NASA, lies in lunar mechanics: The sun and full moon are like kids on a see-saw; when one is high, the other is low. This week's high solstice sun gives us a low, horizon-hugging moon and a strong, long-lasting version of the illusion.

If it's any consolation, space station astronauts report the same effect.

Here's how it works: Your mind believes things on the horizon are farther away than things overhead, because you are used to seeing clouds just a few miles above, but the clouds on the horizon can indeed be hundreds of miles away. So if we think something (such as the moon) is farther away, and it's not, then it seems larger.

If you remain doubtful, test the idea yourself. Go out at moonrise with a small object, perhaps a pencil eraser. Hold it at arm's length as the moon rises and compare the sizes of the moon and the eraser, then repeat the experiment an hour or two later when the moon is high in the sky. A rolled up tube of paper works well, too.

Moonrise times vary by location. On Wednesday, it will come up at these local times at these locations, according to NASA: New York City, 8:58 p.m.; Miami, 8:35 p.m.; Seattle, 9:51 p.m.

The moon rises about 50 minutes earlier Tuesday night, when the effect will also be noticeable because the moon will be nearly full. Oh, and that raises another fallacy: There's no such thing as a full moon.

Additional moonrise times for your location are available from the U.S. Naval Observatory Web site.

FDA Warns Consumers Against Using Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream Product

2008-06-18T10:09:00.002-04:00

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use or purchase Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises, Inc., because the product contains potentially harmful ingredients that may cause respiratory distress or vomiting and diarrhea in infants. The product is promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe and heal dry or cracked nipples. Product labeling specifically states that there is no need for mothers to remove the cream prior to nursing. However, the ingredients contained in the product may be harmful to nursing infants.

Potentially harmful ingredients in Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol. Chlorphenesin relaxes skeletal muscle and can depress the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing) in infants. Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration in infants.

Mothers and caregivers should watch for a decrease in an infant's appetite. More serious signs would be difficulty in awakening the child, limpness of extremities or a decrease in an infant's strength of grip and a change in skin color. Please seek immediate medical attention if your child is showing these signs and symptoms.

"The FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects," said Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, these two ingredients may interact with one another to further compound and increase the risk of respiratory depression in nursing infants."

Though the FDA has not received any reports of injury to infants, the agency is alerting the public because of the potential harm this product can have on a child.

Chlorphenesin can also harm the mother by causing dermatitis, a skin condition that can worsen the drying and cracking of nipple skin.

MOM Enterprises, Inc. is based in San Rafael, Calif. The company has stated that it has discontinued marketing the nipple cream with the potentially harmful ingredients. The FDA is advising consumers to discontinue use of Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream and to consult a health care professional if they experience problems or believe that their infant may have experienced problems due to this product. Nursing mothers with cracked, painful nipples, which is often a side effect of nursing, should speak with their health care professional or a certified lactation consultant if the problem is severe or for other treatment options.

Consumers are strongly encouraged to report adverse events related to this product or any FDA approved product to MedWatch, the agency's voluntary reporting program, by e-mail at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm, or by phone at 800-332-1088, or by fax to 800-332-0178. Consumers may also mail reports of adverse events to MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD, 20852-9787

Origin Of Father's Day

2008-06-17T19:16:00.002-04:00

Father's Day is a celebration inaugurated in the early twentieth century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fatherhood and male parenting, and to honor and commemorate fathers and forefathers. Father's Day is celebrated on a variety of dates worldwide and typically involves gift-giving, and special dinners to fathers and family-oriented activities. In 2008, it is celebrated on June 15 in most countries. It originated in Spokane, Washington. In 2009, it will be celebrated on June 21 in most countries.

In the United States, the first modern Father's Day celebration was held on July 5, 1908, in Fairmont, West Virginia[8][9] or on June 19th of the same year, in the state of Washington[10]. Today, Father's Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June.

In West Virginia, it was first celebrated as a church service at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church South, now known as Central United Methodist Church. Grace Golden Clayton, who is believed to have suggested the service to the pastor, is believed to have been inspired to celebrate fathers after the deadly mine explosion in nearby Monongah the prior December. This explosion killed 361 men, many of them fathers and recent immigrants to the United States from Italy. Another possible inspiration for the service was Mothers' Day, which had been celebrated for the first time two months prior in Grafton, West Virginia, a town about 15 miles (24 km) away.

Another driving force behind the establishment of the integration of Father's Day was Mrs. Sonora Smart Dodd, born in Creston, Washington. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, as a single parent reared his six children in Spokane, Washington. She was inspired by Anna Jarvis's efforts to establish Mother's Day. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father's birthday, she did not provide the organizers with enough time to make arrangements, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. The first June Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, WA, at the Spokane YMCA.

Unofficial support from such figures as William Jennings Bryan was immediate and widespread. President Woodrow Wilson was personally feted by his family in 1916. President Calvin Coolidge recommended it as a national holiday in 1924. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson made Father's Day a holiday to be celebrated on the third Sunday of June. The holiday was not officially recognized until 1972, during the presidency of Richard Nixon.

In recent years, retailers have adapted to the holiday by promoting male-oriented gifts such as electronics, tools and greeting cards. Schools and other children's programs commonly have activities to make Father's Day gifts.

According to IBISWorld, a publisher of business research, Americans are expected to spend at least $11 billion on gifts for Father's Day in 2008. This is about $7 billion less than the amount spent on Moms for Mother's Day, which is more steeped in traditional gifts, some of which tend to be more expensive than Father's Day gifts. In economic terms, the average per capita spending on Father's Day is expected to be in the range of $27.60 in 2008. [11].

2008-06-16T22:36:00.001-04:00

Technorati Profile

Science and Art of Smell

2008-06-16T21:48:00.001-04:00

Since the beginning of civilization, humans have used fragrances to enhance their daily lives and enhance special occasions. Up until the mid-nineteenth century, all fragrances were naturally derived. But in the early 1830's scientists learned how to isolate and identify the chemicals responsible for aromas. The first of these were cinnamic aldehyde from cinnamon oil and benzaldehyde from bitter almond oil. In the 1920's, the first completely synthetic perfume, Chanel No.5, was marketed and from there the synthetic perfume industry skyrocketed.

At present, natural fragrances and essential oils are making a strong comeback in the fragrance industry. This is due in part to the emerging science and art of aromatherapy and the rising incidence rates of chemical sensitivities, allergies, and asthma. Consumers and scientists now believe there is a connection between the proliferation of fragrance chemicals of all kinds and these maladies. The cosmetics industry has responded with a dizzying array of products — unscented, fragrance-free, made with essential oils or naturally scented — to meet the needs of a variety of consumers. What do we know about the science of smelling and what do terms such as "fragrance free," "made with essential oils," and "naturally scented" mean?

Olfactory Science
Our sense of smell and our emotions appear to be inextricably linked. The olfactory bulb that controls our sense of smell is juxtaposed with the limbic system (a.k.a. "emotion central") making our nasal passages one of the most direct connections to our brains. However, studying exactly how this direct link affects our health has proven challenging. Compared to our vision and our hearing, our sense of smell is not well understood. Furthermore, the human perception of smells is subjective and people suffering from symptoms associated with a fragrance may have great difficulty in distinguishing between psychological irritation from an unpleasant odor and physical sensory irritation from volatile chemicals. Some skeptical researchers believe that people fear negative consequences when the offensive odor may actually be benign. Finding the extent to which fragrance chemicals irritate or otherwise harm us is a difficult task. According to Betty Bridges of the Fragranced Products Information Network, the fragrance industry does not have a centralized program for collecting data on fragrances. In addition, the regulation of fragrances is split among at least three different government agencies: FDA, Consumer Products Safety Commission and EPA.

Current research is underway to explain the link between our sense of smell and sensory irritation and allergies. Researchers from the University of California at San Diego are trying to establish the levels at which chemicals first become odorants and then progress to irritants. So far they have succeeded in finding threshold levels for several chemical mixtures. They have also found some evidence to support the notion that chemicals in combination are more irritating at lower levels than single compounds. The problem with sorting out the effects of fragrances is that they can stimulate both the olfactory nerve and the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is responsible for mediating physiological irritation (causing sensations of stinging, burning, and tingling). These symptoms are often mistaken for allergic reactions, but are really irritation reactions. A true allergy causes a generalized immune response in the body and includes the production of antibodies. An irritation is typically localized and is not accompanied by a system response in the body. This distinction is important because the allergies and irritation reactions may require different treatments. Additional data from a study following 112 people with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS) found evidence that MCS involves two distinct phases: a high level chemical exposure that is exacerbated by later exposure to everyday chemicals. This suggests that for people with MCS, fragrances can be very problematic.

The following definitions can help clarify the labeling of household and body care products so that consumers can select the most beneficial, as well as least problematic, products for their individual needs.

Relax With Chamomile

2008-06-16T16:25:00.002-04:00

WHAT IS CHAMOMILE?
Chamomile is a soothing, gentle relaxant that may benefit a variety of complaints from stress to menstrual cramps, as some websites claim. The word chamomile is derived from the Greek chamos melos, meaning ground apple, referring to the plant's low growing habit and the fact that the herb has a satisfying, apple-like aroma and flavor. It's most often taken as a mild ?healthful beverage tea?. Chamomile extracts are also added to healing creams and lotions or packaged as pills and tinctures.

There are two species of chamomile- German chamomile and Roman chamomile. German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is common in North America and central Europe, while the Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile or Anthemis nobilis) is more commonly sold in England. German chamomile is a sweet-scented, smooth, branched annual growing to 2 1/2 ft. in height, while, Roman chamomile is an aromatic, creeping perennial, growing to one foot in height. Though German chamomile and Roman chamomile are different, they have been used interchangeably. They may have benefits on various similar health conditions.

SIDE EFFECTS, TOXIC EFFECTS AND WARNINGS
Chamomile is generally considered safe and nontoxic. Side effects are extremely rare for health users. However, if you are on medical treatment or if you are taking high doses of chamomile, you should consult with your doctor before use this extract or related products. A study has shown that chamomile preparations contain constituents inhibiting the activities of major human drug metabolizing enzymes, especially the drugs with elimination route of cytochromes (especially CYP1A2). [1] Another study using rat as a model has shown that high doses of chamomile essential oil may cause a depressive effect [i.e. toxicity]. [4]

If you suffer from allergies to plants of the Compositae family (a large group including such flowers as daisies, ragweed, asters and chrysanthemums), you have to be cautious about using chamomile. The allergic reactions may include skin rashes and bronchial constriction. However, most people can use this herb with no problem.

CHAMOMILE BENEFITS
Chamomile extracts and tea are widely used herbal preparations for the treatment of minor illnesses (e.g. indigestion, inflammation). [1] For example, researchers reported that wild chamomile mouthwashes relieved methotrexate-induced oral mucositis in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Oral mucositis is a known complication of methotrexate (MTX) therapy. [5]

GERM GROWTH INHIBITION
Helicobacter pylori infections have been associated with the pathogenesis of a number of stomach and gastroduodenal diseases. A studies has shown that chamomile oil inhibits the bacterial growth in extraordinarily low concentrations of 0.0075% (v/v) and about 65 microg/ml, respectively. The bactericidal concentrations were generally one to two dilution steps higher. Therefore, the herb may benefit those suffered from related stomach and gastroduodenal diseases. [2]

HYPNOTIC EFFECTS
A study of sleep-disturbed model rats has shown that chamomile extract has benzodiazepine-like hypnotic activity. A significant decrease in sleep latency was observed with chamomile extract at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Flumazenil, a benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, at a dose of 3 mg/kg showed a significant antagonistic effect on the shortening in sleep latency induced by chamomile extract. [3]

WOUND HEALING
A double-blind trial of 14 patients has demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of chamomile extract on weeping wound area after dermabrasion of tattoos. [8]

REFERENCE [1] Ganzera M et al, Inhibitory effects of the essential oil of chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) and its major constituents on human cytochrome P450 enzymes. Life Sci. 2005 Aug 30 2005. [2] Weseler A et al, A novel colorimetric broth microdilution method to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics and essential oils against Helicobacter pylori. Pharmazie. 2005 Jul;60(7):498-502. [3] Shinomiya K et al, Hypnotic activities of chamomile and passiflora extracts in sleep-disturbed rats. Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 May;28(5):808-10. [4] Fundaro A et al, Action of essential oils of chamomile, cinnamon, absinthium, mace and origanum on operant conditioning behavior of the rat Boll Soc Ital Biol Sper. 1980 Nov 30;56(22):2375-80. [5] Mazokopakis EE et al, Wild chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) mouthwashes in methotrexate-induced oral mucositis. Phytomedicine. 2005 Jan;12(1-2):25-7. [8] Glowania HJ et al Effect of chamomile on wound healing--a clinical double-blind study Z Hautkr. 1987 Sep 1;62(17):1262, 1267-71.

The girl who silenced the world for 5 minutes

2008-06-15T10:18:00.002-04:00

13 year old Severm Suzuki addressed a UN Earth Summit 1992 on the issue of environment.......watch video here

http://videos.nighi.com/video/video/show?id=549954%3AVideo%3A40256

7 easy ways to save energy this summer

2008-06-14T10:53:00.002-04:00

If your idea of conserving energy during the summer months is lying very, very still on a hammock for long periods of time, I hear you. But as the prices of pretty much everything in our lives keep going up (and our salaries don't), it pays to think about conserving energy in the home, too. Here are 7 easy ways to use, and thus pay for, less energy, courtesy of Brian Keane, President of Smartpower.org, a non-profit dedicated to promoting the use of clean energy.

1. Air-dry beach towels. Using a towel for 2 minutes to pat swimming pool water off your 8-year-old's body does not necessarily make it dirty. Think about whether a beach towel needs to be washed before you automatically dump it in the laundry, and if you do wash it, air dry the towel whenever possible. Beach towels are much thicker than regular towels and require a lot more energy to dry. Why not toss them over the porch railing to air out in the sun instead?

2. Take shorter showers. Studies show that the average teenager spends a whopping 45 minutes in the shower. 45 minutes! Encourage your kids to cut down on their American Idol practice time, and remind your husband that men who shave in the shower are wasting water, too, to the tune of several gallons. Bottom line: If you're not actively sudsing or rinsing, turn the water off.

3. Unplug your TV. It's probably not news to any of you at this point that all plugged-in electronics constantly suck energy even when they're "turned off," but recently, the triple threat of flat screen TVs, cable boxes, and DVR devices have officially overtaken refrigerators as the biggest energy drain in American homes. And while the fridge at least has an excuse for being plugged in all the time, the TV really does not. Plug all those devices into a power strip and turn the whole thing off when you're not watching. If you can't commit to a regular unplugging regimen, at the very least make sure the set is unplugged when you go on vacation for a week. (While you're at it, unplug computer printers, coffee makers and extra phone chargers when you're going to be gone for a few days. Don't forget to do the same at the office—just because you're not paying the bill doesn't mean you should waste the power.)

4. Remember what I said about the refrigerator and the energy suck? The good news is, every year refrigerators are getting more energy efficient, and it's almost hard NOT to buy one with an Energy Star rating these days. The downside is that many people, upon upgrading to a better refrigerator, just move the old one to the garage and keep using it. But consider this: "There's a reason you replaced the old one—it was too small, it didn't work well, it was inefficient—so why would you keep it around?" Keane says. Think long and hard about what exactly you so desperately need to keep in deep-freeze storage. Extra ice for parties? Buy an ice chest. That 40 pounds of moose meat you ordered online from your meat-of-the-month club? I have no advice for you, other than reevaluate what's in your main freezer and check out Energy Star's Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign web site for information on responsible old-fridge disposal.

5. Really turn off your home computer. 75% of the energy used by home computers is used when the owner thinks the computer is turned off. "Sleep" does not equal off: Learn it, love it, live it.

6. Weather-strip your doors. "It's just as important in the summer as in the winter," Keane says. If you want to keep your air conditioning inside the house, make sure that your home's doors have the proper seals. (Bonus: weather stripping is incredibly cheap—we're talking $1.50 a roll—and as easy to apply as a piece of tape.) And of course, make sure all your windows are closed when the air conditioner's running. What are you trying to do, cool the whole neighborhood?

7. Get your water heater checked. Schedule an appointment with your plumber (or ask him to stick around the next time he comes to fix something else) and have him check the settings on your water heater. Although many water heaters are set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, most homes only need 120 degrees for appliances to function properly. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that lowering your water temperature by ten degrees will save you 3 to 5% in energy costs (not to mention lower your risk of scalding).

Endangered sea dragon at Ga. aquarium pregnant

2008-06-13T09:48:00.003-04:00

A weedy sea dragon at the Georgia Aquarium has something to celebrate this Father's Day. One of the rare creatures is pregnant for only the third time ever at a U.S. aquarium, aquarium officials said. But don't look for the expectant mom — dads carry the eggs in this family.
The aquarium's sea dragon has about 70 fertilized eggs — which look like small red grapes — attached to his tail. He is expected to give birth in early to mid-July, said Kerry Gladish, a biologist at the aquarium.

Sea dragons, sea horses and pipe fish are the only species where the male carries the eggs, Gladish said. Sea dragon pregnancies are rare because researchers don't know what gets them in the mood to mate.

"We know there's something biologically or environmentally that triggers them to want to reproduce, but in the aquarium world, we're not sure what that is," Gladish said.

The aquarium recently changed the lighting and thinned out the plants in the sea dragons' tank to give them room to court each other.

The aquarium has seven of the 18-inch sea dragons, which resemble Dr. Seuss characters with long aardvark-like snouts, colorful sea horse bodies and multiple paddle-like fins.

During mating, the female lays dozens of eggs and then transfers them to the male's tail.

In the wild, the survival rate for sea dragon babies is low, but in captivity it's about 60 percent, Gladish said. The fish is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's list of threatened species, mostly because of pollution and population growth in its native Australia.

Only about 50 aquariums worldwide have sea dragons.

Trans Fat: Time to kick it off

2008-06-11T23:32:00.004-04:00

Trans fats are a cholesterol double whammy. Also known as trans fatty acids, trans fats raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol.

Experts consider trans fat the worst type of dietary fat. Trans fat contributes to heart disease by promoting low-grade inflammation in the blood vessels. And, trans fats are associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The April issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource provides information to better understand the health risks posed by trans fats as well as tips to avoid consuming them.

Trans fats are formed when liquid oils are made into solid fats such as shortening and hard margarine. Because of their long shelf life and appealing texture, synthetic trans fats have been favored ingredients in commercially baked goods such as cakes, cookies, crackers and crusts. Commercially fried foods, such as doughnuts and french fries, also often contain trans fats.

The use of trans fats is starting to change. New York City made headlines when it banned trans fats in restaurants. Other cities are considering going trans-fat free. Some food manufacturers are reducing or eliminating trans fats in their products.

But avoiding trans fats still takes diligence. The American Heart Association recommends limiting trans fats to less than 1 percent of daily calories. That’s just 20 calories (2 grams) in a 2,000-calorie per day diet. That amount can easily come from naturally occurring trans-fatty acids in dairy products and meat from cows, goats and sheep.

At the grocery store, product nutrition labels contain trans fat information. However, a product that has less than ? gram of trans fat can be labeled as zero. Eating modest amounts of these products easily can add up to more than 2 grams of trans fats. Keys words such as “shortening,” “partially hydrogenated” or “hydrogenated” indicate the food contains trans fats even when the chart on the label indicates none. Many restaurants continue to use trans fats for deep-fried foods. Grilled or baked foods are more likely to be trans-fat free.

Mayo Clinic
200 First St. SW
Rochester, MN 55902
United States
http://www.mayoclinic.com

Facts About International Health Insurance

2008-06-11T23:24:00.002-04:00

One of the things someone who is soon to become an expatriate or someone who is already an expatriate should give focus to is health insurance. Because of the increasing number of expats every single day, health insurance providers have also increased in number. This is why it might be difficult to choose which is right for you and your family, especially since health insurance providers usually only give an overview of their services. In order to find the right one, in-depth scrutiny is required and natural investigating instincts come in handy.

To help you find the right insurance provider, here are some tips to remember:

Analyze Your Healthcare Situation
Before you start scouting for a health insurance provider, it is best if you know what your situation is so you could have a set of requirements to look for. The element which has the most impact on your search for a proper health insurance is the span of time you will be spending abroad. You would not avail of an insurance which would cover a year's amount if you are only planning to spend a couple of weeks outside your country. For example, a 1.6 million USD annual plan is the perfect amount of insurance if you would be spending years outside your country. However, for someone who is only going on a short 2 week trip, something near the 25,000 USD mark would be more appropriate.

Your Target Location
Remote and high-risk locations like countries with high cases of terrorism should impel you to find an insurance which covers special packages such as evacuation. Your set of requirements should differ depending on the location you are heading. If you know you are going to a relatively peaceful and safe location, you should find an insurance that puts emphasis on hospitalization and basic medical attention rather than evacuation.

Customer Service
You will never know when you will need medical attention. Check if your preferred insurance provider offers customer care in the location you are heading. It might be hard to find one, but it is not impossible especially with call centers present around the entire globe.

Basic Features
Before you decide on one health insurance, you first have to know the features you need. Do not hesitate to ask potential insurance providers all the questions you need about their insurance services. Ask them about their payment options, plan renewals, and assistance offered while in other countries.

Special Features
Different people have different needs. Aside from the fact that expats moving to high-risk locations need evacuation packages, there are those who need special medical attention. Therefore, it would be best if you can find an insurance provider which allows your insurance some flexibility. You could opt to get the basic medical package but you could also get an insurance which also covers other aspects of health-related needs such as dental or maternity costs. It all depends on your situation including who you are bringing with you and if any of you were in need of special medical care.

International Health Insurance Packages
Listed below are the ideal packages depending on the length of one's trip:

1. Short trip Health Insurance package
A short trip health insurance package should amount between 25,000-30,000 USD. It would usually cover only the most basic medical attention and 24/7 customer support together with perhaps an evacuation package if you are in a high-risk location. Short-trip types of insurance schemes could also include trip cancellation or lost luggage protection.

2. 2 weeks to 6 months Trip
Longer trips should put more emphasis on special medical packages. Plans for such a trip should range from 100,000 to1,000,000 USD. It is advisable to find an insurance that covers costs for a family member to come to your care in case you should get hospitalized in your current location. Medical insurance for high-risk activities such as sky diving, skiing, bungee jumping, and scuba diving should also be included.

3. Long Trip
Long trips are usually defined as trips longer than six months. Insurance for long trips should approximately be worth more than one million USD (preferably $1.6 million) that covers all the basic and special features plus bigger medical benefits.

4. Trips for years at a time
If you are going to be abroad for more than a year at a time, perhaps it would be ideal if you get an insurance that covers an annual plan. Annual plans cover more than just the basic and special feature packages. This type of plan may include coverage for mental and maternal health, and at times, transplant coverage. Paying a premium every year is all it takes to maintain an annual health insurance plan. You will be covered by the plan wherever in the world you fancy visiting. This type, however, may be unobtainable by those who have prior health problems.

Avocado, its nutritional benefits.

2008-06-11T15:58:00.004-04:00

Avocados were first cultivated in South America with later migration to Mexico. It was believed that a Mayan princess ate the very first avocado and that it held mystical and magical powers. European sailors traveling to the New World used avocados as their form of butter. Avocados were first seen in the United States in the early 1800's. California is currently the largest producer of avocados stateside. There are more than 80 varieties, with the "Hass" variety dominating the crop share. A single mature avocado tree can produce more than 400 pieces of fruit in a year.

NUTRITIONAL VALUES
Avocados are loaded with nutrients such as dietary fiber, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and folate. They're also cholesterol and sodium free. Avocados contain 60% more potassium per ounce than bananas. This fruit is an excellent source of monounsaturated fat. In addition, researchers have shown that avocados extracts improved calcium absorption in rats and addition of avocado to salsa significantly improved lycopene, lutein and carotenes absorption in healthy human subjects.

POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF AVOCADO
Researchers from South Africa proposed to use Avocado (Persea americana) leaf aqueous extract for the management of childhood convulsion. The data from their study in rats suggested that 'avocado' leaf aqueous extract produced its anticonvulsant effect by enhancing GABAergic neurotransmission and/or action in the brain.

Some studies show the potential benefits of soybean combined with avocado on the symptoms of osteoarthritis. [12-15, 18] The combo is believed to exert anti-inflammatory and stimulatory effects on aggrecan or proteoglycan synthesis in chondrocytes.The common dose of the Avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in some of the studies is from 300 to 600 mg/day.

AVOCADO MAY HAVE BENEFITS OF CUTTING CANCER RISKS
The California Hass avocado (Persea americana Mill.) avocados were found to contain the highest content of lutein among commonly eaten fruits as well as measurable amounts of related carotenoids (zeaxanthin, alpha-carotene, and beta-carotene). Lutein accounted for 70% of the measured carotenoids, and the avocado also contained significant quantities of vitamin E. An acetone extract of avocado containing these carotenoids and tocopherols was shown to inhibit the growth of both androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines in vitro.On the other hand, Kim OK from Kyoto University, Japan, proposed that persenone A, an active ingredient of avocado, is a possible agent to prevent inflammation-associated diseases including cancer. They found that persenone A at concentration of 20 microM almost completely suppressed both iNOS and COX-2 protein expression in a vitro study.

AVOCADO HELPS CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DIETS
Researchers found that intake of avocado could enhance the effect of low-fat diets on lipid reduction. [22, 26] Mexican researchers consider avocado as an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acid in diets designed to avoid hyperlipidemia without the undesirable effects of low-saturated fat diets on HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations.

In a study of healthy adult normolipidemic volunteers and 37 adult patients with mild hypercholesterolemia, Mexican researchers found that intake of avocado was linked to a significant decrease of serum total cholesterol (17%), LDL-cholesterol (22%) and triglycerides (22%), and increase of HDL-cholesterol (11%) levels in hypercholesterolemic subjects.

EFFECTS OF AVOCADO ON WEIGHT LOSS AND BLOOD PRESSURE
The consumption of 200 g/d of avocado within an energy-restricted diet does not compromise weight loss when substituted for 30 g of mixed dietary fat. Serum lipid concentrations, plasma fibrinogen, arterial compliance, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not affected by weight loss or avocado intake.

BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS / SIDE EFFECTS OF AVOCADO ETRACTS AND OILS

One common side effect of avocado intake is allergy or hypersensitivity. The symptoms include skin reactions, vomiting, bronchial asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, urticaria and angioedema.In a study, eight of the 21 avocado skin test positive patients reported that symptoms repeatedly followed the ingestion of avocado; two reported systemic reactions, but six noted oral symptoms only. Serum IgE antibodies to avocado were elevated in seven of the eight patients reporting symptoms after eating avocado. Avocado-induced symptoms occurred in 8% of 100 consecutive atopic allergic rhinitis patients unselected for avocado reactivity. Oral, and less frequently systemic, allergy symptoms appear to be more common among the atopic population than previously appreciated.

In later 1980s, researchers from Israel fed rats with avocado or avocado seed oils for four weeks and they noticed an increase in the amount of hepatic lipids, a decrease in blood levels of triglycerides in the animals and changes in levels of some liver enzymes.

Rats fed with unrefined avocado oils showed significant increases in soluble collagen content in skin. The increased soluble collagen content appears to be a consequence of the inhibition of lysyl oxidase activity. The total collagen content did not change.However, researchers also found a significant decrease in total collagen solubility in the liver after supplementation of unrefined avocado or soybean oil to rats for one week. They confirmed the results by repeating the experiment with chicken. They also found collagen accumulation in the liver of the rats, suggesting early stages of fibrosis.

Though there are indications (above) that avocado may damage the liver by collagen formation, Japanese researchers have shown the protective effects of avocado on liver injury caused by D-galactosamine.

The leaves of avocado in doses exceeding 20 g fresh leaf per kg bodyweight, produced damage to the mammary gland with decreased milk production in an animal study. Six of 21 goats feeding on fresh avocado leaves from pruned trees, showed clinical signs of cardiac distress.Ingestion of avocado leaves also caused lung oedema, hydrothorax, severe myocardial degeneration, necrosis and fibrosis in 15 Cameroon goats. In a study, nine out of 120 ostriches died from congestive heart failure within 96 h of ingesting avocado leaves and immature fruit in an avocado orchard containing Hass and Fuerte cultivars.Finally, researchers from Kenya observed dyspnoea, pulmonary oedema, abdominal enlargement and signs of elevated liver enzymes from two dogs which had a fondness for avocado fruits.

Mother and Daughter Bonding

2008-06-11T11:25:00.002-04:00

Ten little fingers, ten little toes -
Rosy little lips, and a button nose.
So soft and cuddly with a baby sweet smell.
Eyes so full of trust that I just can't fail.
I know a gift of God you had to be -
How else could something so perfect come to me?
You wiggle and snuggle, gurgle and coo -
Do you know of all the love in my heart for you?
Motherhood is another name of devotion,the selfless love and affection towards the infant or child
that grows from the seeds of innocence.

Mothers and daughters share a special bond that will last through their lifetimes. Make the most of the time you have together. Although the ties between mothers and daughters are already very strong, here are some tips on how you can make them even stronger.

Oil her hair

Every Sunday, make it a ritual to apply oil on your daughter's hair and massage it. Not only will doing this nourish your daughter's hair, but it will also provide you with time to bond with her. Heat a little oil, depending on the length of your daughter's hair, and apply it to her scalp with the help of a cotton ball. Don't dip your fingers in it, and don't squeeze drops directly onto your daughter's hair, as the oil will be too hot initially. Dab her scalp gently, using the cotton. After you have dabbed the oil all over her scalp, give her a good 10-20 minute head massage. Leave the television off while doing this, and let some music play, or just talk to each other, discuss her day, or tell her stories of your childhood.

Go shopping together

Go shopping together, and take her opinion into consideration. This builds her confidence. If you just ignore her opinion every time, she may not develop faith in her ability to make the right choice, and so she will not be able to make decisions confidently. If you are completely out of sync with her choice, then you could take her help to select from a few shortlisted things - for example, if you are shopping for a salwar kameez, first shortlist your selection and then ask her for her opinion. If you still are not comfortable with her judgement, then it is best that you don't solicit her opinion, or, don't take her along. You could then ask for her opinion on what you should wear before leaving for a party.

Let her help you get ready

Let your daughter help you get ready when you need to go out, in whatever small way she can contribute. Your little daughter, in all likelihood, would love to see you dressing up and getting ready. So, remove two saris and let your daughter select the one that you should wear. Similarly, solicit her opinion on jewellery etc.

Be friendly with her friends

Get to know your daughter's friends. The more comfortable you are with her friends, the more comfortable her friends will feel coming over and spending time with her. Similarly, the more likely it is that she will make you more and more a part of her world. When parents are very intimidating, friends tend to stay away and would rather have you over than come over to your place. But if you are very warm towards her friends, then they will feel welcome to come over at all times of the day - and, as your daughter enters her teens, you will be glad that all your daughter's friends would rather hang out at your place, as this means that you see more of her. Also, involvement in her friend's circle means that there are more chances of you knowing what's going on. However, this doesn't mean that you don't give your daughter privacy. When her friends come over, speak to them for a short while, and then leave them alone, or they will feel that they cannot do their own thing at your place, and your good intentions will backfire!

Marriage- A Psychological Approach

2008-06-10T14:10:00.002-04:00

Contd...

REASON FOR MARRIAGE
Pregnancy-Probably many of this marriage would not have occurred had the woman not being pregnant.
Rebellion-is a motivation for marriage and occur in many homes. This is a demonstration of one's control over one's own life, and possibly an attempt to demonstrate independence.
Escape-from an unhappy home environment.
Loneliness-the main reason people marry is to find companionship, which provide marriage partners with an emotional home base to see them through the ups and downs of life.
Physical appearance-is a factor that probably influences everyone to some degree or another. Our society is highly influenced by the cult of youth and beauty.
Social pressure-may be direct or indirect and can come from friends, parents, relatives etc; Engagement and marriage maybe a means of getting status.
Guilt and pity-marrying a person because one feels sorry for him/her because of physical deffect,illiness or having a poor lot in life doesn’t make a stable relationship.
Fulfillment of psychological needs-many individuals putting higher priority on the fulfillment of psychological needs, rather than on traditional needs of financial security or having children.

When you are happy in the marriage relationship, you are happy despite day to day disappointments in your surroundings.
But when you are not happy in your marriage relationship, then you tend to look for happiness more in your children job or material things. The greater investment of women in their marriage relationship leads married women to report higher happiness than single women, but they also complain of more marital unhappiness than their husbands.

MARRIAGABILITY TRAITS
Since most people eventually get married, it is important to be aware of the traits that make an individual a better partner and give him/her more potential to make a marriage work. If these elements are present, there is a greater likelihood of marital satisfaction and stability.

Adaptability and flexibility. are necessary ingredients. This means the person must be able to adjust to change with a minimum rigidity, he must be able to accept the differences in his partner.
Empathy. is the ability to be sensitive to the needs, hurts and desires of others, feeling with them and experience their world from their prespective.If they hurt, we hurt. Empathy is a positive characteristic that necessary for all interpersonal relationship.
Ability to work through problems. Problems, conflicts and differences are part and parcel of marriage. couple who accept and properly dispel and control their emotional reactions, clarify and define their problems and work together towards solutions will in all likelihood remain married.
Ability to give and receive love. The giving of love involves more than just verbalizing it. It must also be evident in tangible ways that are identifiable and recognizable to both partners.
Emotional stability. Accepting one's emotions and controlling them -lend balance to a relationship. Extreme flair ups and decisions based upon emotional responses do not lend themselves to stable relationships.
The more similar the family backgrounds the more contributions each can make to the marriage relationship. Naturally the more mature the couple the more easily the adjustment can be made. The greater the differences - economic, cultural, religious etc; more adjustment must be made.
Similarity between the couples If a couple has similar interests, likes and dislikes, friends, educational level and religion, the marriage relationship is greatly enhanced.
Communication is the ability to share in such a way that the other person can understand and accept what is being said.
There are differences in ability, styles and beliefs about communication. Free interchange of ideas is essential.

One of the most important area in marital adjustment is learning to communicate effectively with the partner.

If a person has experienced warm and satisfying relationship with both his father and mother, his marriage will be influenced positively
If the parents were affectionate ,firm, consistent and fairly well adjusted in their own marriage, this contributes to the new marriage relationship. if each person has friends, and these become and remain mutual friends after marriage, the marriage will be enhanced.
Commitment. One final element that must be present for any possibility of success is commitment. Commitment should be not simply to each other as we are but to the highest potentialities we can achieve together.

THE ROLE OF SEX IN MARRIAGE

Sex is the high premium fuel that brings power and propulsion to a marriage. When sexual side of the marriage is satisfying to both parties, other problems can be worked out. When it is not satisfying to one or both, it is difficult and in many times impossible to workout other problems.

· To say "I love you"
· To relive tension
· To fulfill the desire for sexual ecstasy
· To conceive children

1. To say I love “you"
It is often said that women proceed through love to sex where as men proceed from sex to love. Large number of husbands find both honeymoons and the early months of marriage sexually fustrating,while for many women this time is horrifying. They never really say "I love you” during this period.
The union of one body with another in sexual intercourse that is tender and considerate is the greatest expression of affection that two people can experience.
Sexual intercourse is women's greatest offering. It is both an act of giving, the giving of herself, an act of accepting, the accepting of loved one, literally into herself.
Sexual intercourse, properly practiced is an act of tenderness. The considerate husband will predetermine what the wife desires the act, that she is neither tired, upset nor angry that both are free from interruption by the children, in-laws, neighbors hat she feels secure and content, and that she desires more than anything in the world to be in her husbands arm with her body close to his.

2.To relive tension
The proper role of sex is to achieve both for husband and wife the deep sense of physical and psychological relaxation.
The release of tension following the act of love is one of deep relaxation, a sinking in to unconsciousness of the world that support us in confidence and contentment. Without satisfying sexual relations marriage fails.

2.To fulfill the desire for sexual ecstasy.
Woman has greater capacity for sexual ecstasy than man does. She can have multiple orgasm during one intercourse, where as man can have only one. She can have intercourse more frequently and the degree of her ecstasy is greater than man's.
Love reaches its fulfillment in the sexual orgasm, the climax. It is the peak of giving and receiving’ the completion of victory and surrender. Marriage without sexual ecstasy for woman is unreal and unconvincing. Marriage for such woman is a life without living, despair without hope.
Woman goes through love to sexual ectasy,men through sexual ecstasy to greater love. Within his body and glands there is pressure which can only be relived through orgasm.
Woman often get angry at men because of man's attitude towards sex.Such anger is justified when men act irresponsibly often pressing their desire for sex when they have little or no affection for a woman.

4.To conceive children
When a man and women deeply love each other, they desire to realize the sharing of this love in the birth of a child to their union. Children properly conceived are the blessings of a shared love.

ROLE OF HUSBAND AND WIFE

The role of husband and wife in a marriage can be symmetrical or complimentary. This part is based on sound psychological principles of behavior for husbands and wives in Indian traditional marriage

The Husbands Responsibilities

The husband has certain responsibilities in a traditional marriage

The husband should know and understand his role.
The husband is to realize that he and his wife are equal in the sight of God but they have different roles.
A husband traditionally has been expected to provided for the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of his wife. Husband is regarded has the final human authority in the home, even though he consults his wife before making decisions. Such an arrangement can provide a sense of security to the wife, especially if the husband is wise, strong loving and sensitive to her needs.

The husband is to love his wife.
Love is more than a romantic feeling, it is also a commitment. A husband's commitment gives stability to the marriage and security to his wife.

Small expressions of affections.
A husband should also remember small expressions of affection such as flowers, phone calls or compliments.

The husband is to be an example.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Often a wife is a reflection of her husband's attitudes. One person can sharpen and build the character of another person, particularly a mate.

A husband should be polite and considerate.
A man should be considerate of his wife and treat her with respect

He should tell his wife that he loves her.
Many wives complain that their husbands seldom or never do so. It is important for a husband to show his wife that he loves her, but he should also tell her so verbally, his facial expression should convey the same message. He also need to tell her why he loves her the most important reason being because she is who she is.

Husband need to give his wife” strokes".
Wives need to hear genuine compliments for things thy do well and for the love they demonstrate.

He should observe 4 cautions
1. A husband should not publicly criticize his wife, nor should be privately criticize her about inferior qualities that are unchangeable. Nothing is more detrimental to a relationship than criticizing another person in public.
2. He should avoid comparing his wife to another woman.
3. He should avoid going to bed angry. Anger should be dealt with immediately by sharing it with ones spouse. Both should forgive each other, whether they agree on an issue or not, by bed time.
4.A husband should not expect more from his wife than other people.

The Wife's Responsibilities

A wife who recognises,accepts and fulfills her basic responsibilities will be rewarded with a much more stable marriage.

1. A wife should know her role.
Husband and wife are equal but they have different roles and different functions. However wives needs to submit to their husbands.
To be subjective or submissive does not mean being a slave or a brainless speechless dormat.It is basically an attitude of respect for him and recognition of his leadership in the home.

2. She should show respect.
A wife can help her husband by giving him appropriate recognition and praise. She should avoid exposing her husband's faults in public.

3. She should be a good manager.
A good wife should be a woman with keen business sense, perhaps even more important in the economic circumstances of our country today.

3. A wife should know the difference between the sexual needs of the male and female.
Husband is more physical in his needs and response, where as wife more emotional in his needs and response. Man can become sexually aroused quickly and tend to be more sexually assertive, sometimes desiring sexual intercourse more frequently than his wife.Many women become unresponsive because their husbands inconsiderately run through the sexual act. Many husbands need to develop the capacity of lengthening sexual engagement to their wives to derive more enjoyment.

5. She should avoid 3 negatives_vanity, gossip and laziness.
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, inner beauty that supplements outward attractiveness is the best preventative of vanity. As for gossiping, it is listed as one of the most deadly violation of moral principles.

6.She should display certain +ve attitudes and qualities.
She should recognize the importance of quietness, being sensible and exercising self control wife who know the importance of being kind and using wise words has an appealing dignity.

7.A wife should know how to love her husband.
She must understand the importance of romantic gestures, what please him ,what encourages and admires her husband.

8.She should observe 4 don’ts
Don't nag_ A quarrelsome wife will create irresolvable problems.
Don't become overly involved in outside activities so that house responsibilities are shrunken.
Don't continually question your husband's decisions.
Don't be un-attractive in bed. Wives and husbands should look their best at night for each other.

DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE

The divorce rate has risen dramatically in the past few years. The divorce rate tend to be higher among people who marry in their teens, after only a courtship and who come from an unhappy or broken home. Divorce rates are also higher among those from lower educational and socioeconomic backgrounds and those don't have religious affiliation.
Many separations come only after along, anguished process of mental alienation, sometimes after the children have grown up and left home.
Divorce has helped the women to develop the feeling of independence in them and make them feel equal partner, yet it must be advocated that divorce should not be easily granted by the courts.
In view of its serious repercussion of family life ,divorce should not be within easy reach of partners. Divorce should be granted only when it has become unavoidable and is in the interests of both the husband and wife and the society at a large.

CAUSES OF DIVORCE
Couples today expect more from their marriage than couples in the past. This is especially true for highly educated and professional couples, who are more inclined to expect psychological fulfillment in their marriage and to seek a divorce when it is missing. Those with less education and blue collar jobs are more likely to remain in an unhappy marriage.
Wives are more likely to mention physical and mental cruelty and problems of money or drinking, while husbands more frequently mentioned cruelty, neglect of the home and children, infidelity and sexual incompatibility.
Many emotional problems such as uncontrolled anger, depression, worry,lack of empathy or low self image are the heart of numerous marital problems.

The divorce experience.

Getting a divorce is usually a complex process because several things are happening at once.
The Emotional divorce is most likely to occur first. The partners tend to withdraw emotionally from each other or to co_ exist with a great deal of mutual antagonism. This cold war atmosphere does more damage to the children’s.
The Legal divorce is necessary if the individuals ever want to remarry. The law allows for divorce a specified period of physical separation. The legal aspect of divorce are not only expensive but emotionally exhausting as well.
The economic divorce deals with the settlement of property and money. Fathers are generally responsible for child support payment until their children become of legal age.
The co-parantel divorce deals with the custody of the children and visitation rights. The partner who is not granted physical and legal custody of the children is usually granted certain visitation rights.
The community divorce means disapproval and rejection by friends and acquaintances.
The psychic divorce is the last and most difficult part of divorce. It consist of separating one's self from the influence of one's partner and becoming an autonomous social being again. It is one of the most constructive aspects of divorce in which the individual may experience much personal growth.

RE-MARRIAGE
More men than women remarry and usually with in a short period of time. In most instances a divorced person marry another divorced person, probably because they shared similar experiences and motivations.
Second marriage is usually satisfactory, because they had a greater experience of living with another person. However greater personal maturity also plays a significant part with successfully re married persons often saying "I had learned a lot about myself too ".

MARITAL ADJUSTMENTS.
It is usually easier to adjust to some one who comes from a similar background. Individual who marry from mixed backgrounds whether in social class, religion or even intact or broken homes face greater risk in their marriage, many of which they may become aware of only after they have began living together.
A couple who have everything going for them may fail disastrously in their marriage, while another couple with everything against them may achieve a highly satisfactory relationship.

To achieve satisfaction in marriage, both partners re adjusting their understanding of what they can reasonably expect of each other in their respective roles. Decision making has also become democratic.

One of the most important areas of marital adjustment is learning to communicate effectively with the partner. The most common conflict involves a breakdown in communication, loss of shared goals or sexual incompatibility.
Over the course of time the average marriage in our society tends to become devitalized, partners usually speak to each other less often, exchange less information, provide less self disclosure, engage in more fault finding and having less accurate understanding of each other. In short the partners tend to grow apart.
Couples sharing power more or less equally experience fewer conflicts and greater satisfaction in marriage. The least satisfying to both partners is the female dominated relationship.
Some degree of conflict is inevitable in such an intimate relationship but how they handle them that make the difference in marriage. Most satisfied women readily admitted having disagreements and conflicts but felt they had learned how to handle these in an agreeable manner.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS MARRIAGE LIFE

How to Beat the Heat

2008-06-09T10:04:00.002-04:00

When scorching summer days arrive, it seems like you'll never be cool again. However, there are mays ways to beat the heat. You might even find yourself having some fun as you stay cool.

Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Drink liquids before you get thirsty. Thirst is a sign that you are already at least slightly dehydrated. Avoid caffeine and alcohol, which dehydrate your body. Drink sports drinks if you feel depleted. They will help re-hydrate and replenish your system.

Limit physical activity, especially outdoors. Participating in strenuous activities can deplete your body of resources.

Stay in air conditioning. Visit a library or mall. Movie theaters usually are frosty on summer days. Visit one of these places to ensure that you stay entertained as well as cool.

Load up on sunscreen, grab your towel and head to a pool. Even though you're out in the sun, submerging yourself in a pool to cool off. Get out of the pool periodically to sit in the shade.

Set up a sprinkler, play with squirt guns or purchase a sprinkler at and set it up in the yard. Take a cool bath. Add some peppermint oil to the water to further cool you.

Enjoy a frosty beverage. Slushies, shakes, smoothies and iced blended coffee drinks that decrease internal body temperature. Just watch out for brain freeze.
Take a hot shower. That's right, hot. You'll find that when you step out from under the water, the air feels cooler.

Stick your head in the freezer. It's not an energy efficient option for beating the heat, but a few seconds with your head in the icebox feels great and refreshes at the same time.

Toys r us in India ...do you believe this?

2008-06-06T10:59:00.005-04:00

Watch this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tpl1cKqFRrQ

Marriage - A Psychological Approach

2008-06-06T10:50:00.002-04:00

Those out want to get in while those in want to get out"
The most important thing in life is having a good marriage and family life; or in other words achieving an everlasting intimacy with someone of other sex remain a major life goal for most people.
Marriage. means sharing in many areas of life such as;
Economic. a sharing of the accumulation, use and distribution of money.
Emotional. a sharing of emotional and fantasy levels of life.
Geographical. sharing space time and geographical proximity.
Legal. a couple's involvement in the civil and legal process of a society
Recreational. a sharing of recreation and pleasure-involves not only a recreation together but sharing your spouse for recreation with his/her own set of companions
Religious. a sharing of beliefs ,values and traditions
Sexual. a unique sharing of the physical, sensual and sexual aspects of two people
Social a sharing of social and interpersonal activities

LOVE
Love can mean anything from the expression of tender affection for someone to a passionate attachment to another person. Love is usually equated with romantic love and means a strong emotional attachment to a person of the opposite sex, a tendency to idealize that person.
Usually we are not aware of this until we meet someone of the opposite sex who closely resembles it.
When this happens, especially in love at first sight, the psychic image may be projected on to someone of the opposite sex without sufficient regard for what other person is really like. Frequently the result is misunderstanding and bitter disappointment. For this reason psychologist warn of the dangers of romantic love.

In contrast mature love is based on self love and the ability to give as well as to receive love. Loving relationship are normally achieved only through personal maturity and considerable give and take in intimate relationship.

Intimacy refers to an informal warm relationship, a close personal attachment to another person in which the partners share their innermost thoughts and feelings which help both partners to grow fully as persons.

Similarity of social characteristics remain the most reliable predictors of attraction and a lasting marriage relationship. We tend to be most compatible with someone who comes from the same background as ourselves in terms of economic status, social class, educational level and religion.
Similarities of personal characteristics; Couples with high degree of similarity in physical attractiveness, attitudes and interests, self esteems drive and neurotic tendencies move towards marriage faster than do other couples.

Men are more attracted to women with similar attitudes on sex, while women are more attracted to men with similar attitudes on religon,on the basis of personal characteristics such as intelligence, self-confidence and successfulness.

Actually we had to use our heart as well as brain and to take both emotional and rational influences in to consideration in making a wise decision about marriage.

Contd......

Home Remedies for wrinkle

2008-06-05T11:59:00.002-04:00

Here are some simple home remedies to deal with wrinkles on skin and prevent the formation of new ones –

Apply egg whites to the skin under your eyes.

Odor-free castor oil can be applied to the skin under the eyes or on that of the throat.

Empty the contents of 3 Vitamin E capsules into a small bowl. Add to this 2 tsps plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp honey and 1/2 tsp lemon juice. Apply this mixture on the face using a cotton ball. Leave it on for 10 minutes and rinse.

A mixture of 1/4 cup comfrey infusion, 1/4 cup witch hazel and 10 drops of patchouli essential oil is effective in treating wrinkles. This can be stored in a clean bottle and applied on affected areas with a cotton ball.

Gently massage coconut oil on portions of skin prone to wrinkles every night a bedtime.

A paste of turmeric made with sugarcane juice is great to get rid of wrinkles and slow skin ageing.

Cut a green Thompson seedless grape in half and gently crush it on your face on the wrinkles. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water and let it dry in natural air.

Rub the core of pineapple on the face and leave it for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off. This works well on fine wrinkles.

Applying juice of green pineapples and apples on the face daily for 10-15 minutes is good for fine wrinkles and cracked skin.

Application of pure castor oil regularly prevents wrinkles.

Olive Oil's Health Benefits

2008-06-05T11:54:00.002-04:00

The greatest exponent of monounsaturated fat is olive oil, and it is a prime component of the Mediterranean Diet. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit.

The beneficial health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidative substances. Studies have shown that olive oil offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels while raising HDL (the "good" cholesterol) levels. (1-3) No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as olive oil -mainly oleic acid.

Olive oil is very well tolerated by the stomach. In fact, olive oil's protective function has a beneficial effect on ulcers and gastritis. Olive oil activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones much more naturally than prescribed drugs. Consequently, it lowers the incidence of gallstone formation.

Olive oil and heart disease
Studies have shown that people who consumed 25 milliliters (mL) - about 2 tablespoons - of virgin olive oil daily for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenols, in the blood.(4)

But while all types of olive oil are sources of monounsaturated fat, EXTRA VIRGIN olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed.

Olive oil is clearly one of the good oils, one of the healing fats. Most people do quite well with it since it does not upset the critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio and most of the fatty acids in olive oil are actually an omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated.

Olive oil and colon cancer
Spanish researchers suggest that including olive oil in your diet may also offer benefits in terms of colon cancer prevention (5). Their study results showed that rats fed diet supplemented with olive oil had a lower risk of colon cancer than those fed safflower oil-supplemented diets. In fact, the rats that received olive oil had colon cancer rates almost as low as those fed fish oil, which several studies have already linked to a reduction in colon cancer risk.
Types of olive oil
Generally, olive oil is extracted by pressing or crushing olives. Olive oil comes in different varieties, depending on the amount of processing involved. Varieties include:

Extra virgin - considered the best, least processed, comprising the oil from the first pressing of the olives.
Virgin - from the second pressing.
Pure - undergoes some processing, such as filtering and refining.
Extra light - undergoes considerable processing and only retains a very mild olive flavour.

When buying olive oil you will want to obtain a high quality EXTRA VIRGIN oil. The oil that comes from the first "pressing" of the olive, is extracted without using heat (a cold press) or chemicals, and has no "off" flavors is awarded "extra virgin" status. The less the olive oil is handled, the closer to its natural state, the better the oil. If the olive oil meets all the criteria, it can be designated as "extra virgin".

What is pure and light olive oil? "Pure" olive oil is made by adding a little extra virgin olive oil to refined olive oil. It is a lesser grade oil that is also labeled as just "olive oil" in the U.S.

"Light" olive oil is a marketing concept and not a classification of olive oil grades. It is completely unregulated by any certification organizations and therefore has no real precedent to what its content should be. Sometimes, the olive oil is cut with other vegetable oils.

How to care for your olive oil
Resist the temptation to place your beautiful bottle of olive oil on the windowsill. Light and heat are the #1 enemy of oil. Keep olive oil in a cool and dark place, tightly sealed. Oxygen promotes rancidity. Olive oil is like other oils and can easily go rancid when exposed to air, light or high temperatures.

You can of course buy extra virgin olive oil in any grocery store. A good source on the internet for extra virgin olive oil is here.

Olive oil versus canola oil
Do not fall into the hype which is put out by traditional medicine regarding the promotion of canola oil (rapeseed) as superior due to its concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids. Olive oil is far superior and has been around for thousands of years. Canola oil is a relatively recent development and the original crops were unfit for human consumption due to their high content of a dangerous fatty acid called euric acid.

If the taste of olive oil is a problem, or if you are frying or sautéing food, then you should consider coconut oil. Many nutritionally misinformed people would consider this unwise due to coconut oil's nearly exclusive content of saturated fat. However, this is just not the case. Because it has mostly saturated fat, it is much less dangerous to heat. The heat will not tend to cause the oil to transition into dangerous trans fatty acids.

Green Tea fights Cold and Flu

2008-06-04T22:05:00.002-04:00

The reasons for consuming green tea continue to pile up. In addition to preventing cancer and cardiovascular disease, lowering bad cholesterol, and aiding with weight loss, a new study has found that it can help prevent the common cold and flu.

The research, published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, specifically studied a decaffeinated green tea extract, containing standardized amounts of two immune-activating plant components--L-theanine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG).

The study found that when compared to a placebo group, 32 percent fewer participants taking the green tea extract experienced any cold and flu symptoms. The green tea users also reported almost 23 percent fewer illnesses lasting two or more days.

The green tea extract given to the study participants is equivalent to 10 cups of green tea per day. Those hoping to benefit from drinking lots of this tonic should note that green tea contains about 30 - 60 mg. of caffeine per cup. To avoid insomnia, drink decaffeinated green tea or take it in supplement form.

The ABCs of checking for Skin cancer

2008-06-04T20:46:00.002-04:00

For us fair-skinned, frequently burned, sun-loving people, some goods news came out today on how drinking coffee--or any beverage containing caffeine--coupled with regular exercise may prevent skin cancer. This made my day since I drink a cup of green tea day every morning just before starting my exercise routine.

While I'm elated with the health update, it won't stop me from regularly inspecting those unsightly moles I have from head to toe. Being more susceptible than most people to skin cancer, I also plan to make my yearly appointment with my dermatologist for a skin screening.

For an at-home inspection, here are the ABCs of looking for abnormal and potentially cancerous moles:

A for asymmetry: A mole that, when divided in half, doesn't look the same on both sides
B for border: A mole with edges that are blurry or jagged
C for color: Changes in the color of a mole, including darkening, spread of color, loss of color, or the appearance of multiple colors such as blue, red, white, pink, purple or gray
D for diameter: A mole larger than 1/4 inch in diameter
E for elevation: A mole that is raised above the skin and has an uneven surface

In addition, look for moles that are:

Bleeding
Itching
Rapid growth
A sore or area that won't heal
A scaly or crusty growth
Rough patches that feel like sandpaper

After checking your moles, if you see anything suspicious, make sure you see a dermatologist right away. Otherwise, a cup of coffee and a good workout may be your new best bet to prevention after sunscreen.

Natural Mood Elevators

2008-05-19T10:39:00.000-04:00

Ads for antidepressants make it seem as though the most logical solution for a case of the blues is to seek a prescription. Pharmaceutical drugs may be helpful -- even necessary -- for people with severe depression, but for others, there are natural solutions that may work even better, with less risk of adverse side effects. Dietary supplements and lifestyle changes can be used to naturally lift your spirits.

NATURE CAN HEAL

"I think that a lot of our modern-day fatigue and depression has to do with the fact that we're totally separated from nature," said Eric Yarnell, ND, assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and author of Clinical Botanical Medicine. "People don't eat well, they watch huge amounts of television and don't spend much time relating to people or the outdoors." He believes that eating plenty of whole, unprocessed foods and getting regular exercise are the first steps to take in attempting to boost your mood and energy level. "Also, I tell people to turn off their televisions," he said, noting that replacing TV with even 15 minutes of daily outdoor activity and sunlight will help, as will getting enough sleep.

According to Jonny Bowden, CNS, author of The Most Effective Natural Cures on Earth, many foods that are commonly thought to give us energy actually don't. "Foods that are processed and contain lots of sugar or white flour raise blood sugar temporarily, which feels good, but then set us up for a crash of energy and mood," he said. "Foods higher in protein (like grass-fed beef, chicken or fish) and higher in healthy fats (like nuts) will raise and sustain energy better."

But it is, as always, a matter of balance. Daily Health News contributing medical editor Andrew L. Rubman, ND, points out that an extreme low-carb diet can actually kick off fatigue: "Often, if people go overboard on an Atkins-esque high-protein regimen, they end up feeling lethargic, which in turn affects mood."

SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP

Eating whole foods with little or no added sugar, exercising (even a bit) and getting some moderate sun exposure are all highly effective ways to beat the blues and lift the spirits. Some people, however, still feel like there are times when they need a more controllable lift -- and for them, Dr. Yarnell says there are natural supplements that really do help. Research supports three, in particular -- St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum), goldenroot (Rhodiola rosea) and eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus).

St. John's wort

A meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal in 1996 reviewed 23 trials on St. John's wort involving more than 1,700 patients, with researchers reporting it was more effective than a placebo at treating mild to moderately severe cases of depression. "The evidence is very strong that St. John's wort is an effective natural antidepressant for people whose depression is mild," said Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the nonprofit American Botanical Council. This distinction is an important one, he notes -- you might recall that the reputation of St. John's wort was sullied by a 2001 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, calling it ineffective. Blumenthal explained that this particular study had examined a group of patients that included those who'd already been unresponsive to treatment with a conventional antidepressant drug, so their depression was quite severe.

The two caveats for people interested in using St. John's wort to elevate their mood are as follows: Those with severe depression should seek medical advice to ensure proper treatment and monitoring. Also, cautions Blumenthal, "St. John's wort interacts with a whole suite of conventional pharmaceutical drugs so you must check with your health care provider about any possible interactions before taking it." Your prescriber will quite likely recommend preparations standardized to contain 0.3% hypericin, a naturally occurring compound in St. John's wort to which manufacturers standardize their extracts for quality control purposes. And, if you are scheduled to have elective surgery, make sure you discontinue this supplement ahead of time.

Rhodiola rosea/Goldenroot

In Europe, Rhodiola rosea or R. rosea, the best known and most studied of different species of Rhodiola (also called goldenroot), has a long history of being used to treat chronic fatigue, especially in Sweden and Russia. One interesting study tested the effect of 170 mg of R. rosea root extract on 56 physicians who were on stressful night-call duty. R. rosea brought about a statistically significant reduction in general fatigue for the first two weeks -- but the positive effect seemed to fade by six weeks, suggesting it might be a good short-term solution that is helpful for acute stressful conditions but not for chronic stress. An experienced naturopath can provide advice on what's the best dosage in your case.

As for depression, last year a clinical trial found that R. rosea can also work as an antidepressant and mood elevator. In this Swedish study, R. rosea extract was found to not only help reduce symptoms of depression in patients with mild to moderate depression, but also to enhance their cognitive and sexual function, as well as mental and physical performance under stress.

Eleuthero

There is some debate about eleuthero, also known as Siberian ginseng (although it is no longer marketed under that name in the US). Blumenthal is not enthusiastic about eleuthero, calling it "not great" for fatigue, but Dr. Yarnell believes it's effective, doesn't have significant adverse effects and works "to balance people's systems." One clinical study evaluated 96 adults who had complained of fatigue for at least six months. They were given four capsules per day of eleuthero. While some reported their fatigue lessened considerably, the results were not statistically significant... though two sub-groups in the population -- those with longstanding fatigue and those with less severe fatigue -- experienced some effect from the treatment after two months.

ASK YOUR DOCTOR...

It probably goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway. Natural supplements aren't necessarily risk-free and so it is vitally important to seek supervision by a physician experienced in their use, advice that rings as true when we're talking about moods as with physical ailments. You may find these products can be very beneficial and produce less adverse effects than pharmaceutical products... but use them responsibly.

Source(s):

Mark Blumenthal is the founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council and editor of the publication HerbalGram.

Eric Yarnell, ND, is assistant professor of botanical medicine at Bastyr University and is in private practice. He is author of Clinical Botanical Medicine (Mary Ann Liebert).

Wedding Quotes

2008-05-18T17:25:00.002-04:00

Cherish this most exhaustive and marvelous collection of Wedding Quotes with your beloved spouse. These Famous Quotes on Wedding Anniversary are written some of the most profound and revered writers of our times and reflect on the beauty and nature of marriage. Some of these Wedding Quotes touch as they beautifully describe the essence of marriage in a simple line while others tickle you with their subtle humor. You may also quote these wedding quotes in the special anniversary card you bought for your dearest husband/wife.

Marriages are made in heaven and consummated on earth.
John Lyly, The Anatomy of Wit.

There is no more lovely, friendly and charming relationship, communion or company than a good marriage.
Martin Luther

Oh, how many torments lie in the small circle of a wedding ring!
Colley Cibber, The Double Gallant, prologue.

Marriage has many pains, but celibacy has no pleasures.
Samuel Johnson

The secret of a happy marriage remains a secret.
Henny Youngman

Marriage is love personified.
Phoenix Flame

Marriage is the perfection of what love aimed at, ignorant of what it sought.
Emerson

I . . . chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well.
Oliver Goldsmith, The Vicar of Wakefield, ch. 1.

Is not marriage an open question, when it is alleged, from the beginning of the world, that such as are in the institution wish to get out, and such as are out wish to get in?
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Marriage is a coming together for better or for worse, hopefully enduring, and intimate to the degree of being sacred.
William O. Douglas

Marriage is like life in this-that it is a field of battle, and not a bed of roses.
Robert Louis Stevenson

The day after that wedding night I found that a distance of a thousand miles, abyss and discovery and irremediable metamorphosis, separated me from the day before.
Sidonie Gabrielle Colette

It took great courage to ask a beautiful young woman to marry me. Believe me, it is easier to play the whole Petrushka on the piano.
Arthur Rubinstein

To keep your marriage brimming,
With love in the loving cup,
Whenever you're wrong, admit it;
Whenever you're right, shut up.
Ogden Nash

For years [my wedding ring] has done its job. It has led me not into temptation. It has reminded my husband numerous times at parties that it's time to go home. It has been a source of relief to a dinner companion. It has been a status symbol in the maternity ward.
Erma Bombeck

A good marriage is that in which each appoints the other guardian of his solitude.
Rainer Maria Rilke

My most brilliant achievement was my ability to be able to persuade my wife to marry me.
Winston Churchill

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
Aristotle

A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.
Germaine Greer

I never married. Nobody ever asked me.
Mattie White, on her 100th birthday

A lady of 47 who has been married 27 years and has 6 children knows what love really is and once described it for me like this: 'Love is what you've been through with somebody.'
James Thurber

I know you've been married to the same woman for 69 years. That is marvelous. It must be very inexpensive.
Johnny Carson

(Marriage) is not by any to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God.
Solemnization of Matrimony

With this ring I thee wed.
Solemnization of Matrimony

Marriage is an Athenic weaving together of families, of two souls with their individual fates and destinies, of time and eternity - everyday life married to the timeless mysteries of the soul.
Thomas Moore

In all of the wedding cake, hope is the sweetest of plums.
Douglas Jerrold

When you make a sacrifice in marriage, you're sacrificing not to each other but to unity in a relationship.
Joseph Campbell

When you meet someone who can cook and do housework - don't hesitate a minute - marry him.
Unknown

Marriage - a book of which the first chapter is written in poetry and the remaining chapters written in prose.
Beverly Nichols

Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.
Plautus

One should believe in marriage as in the immortality of the soul.
Honore de Balzac

Marriage is not a simple love affair, it's an ordeal, and the ordeal is the sacrifice of ego to a relationship in which two have become one.
Joseph Campbell

Marriage is a partnership in which each inspire the other, and brings fruition to both of you.
Millicent Carey McIntosh

Marriage is our last, best chance to grow up.
Joseph Barth

Married couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking.
Chinese Proverb

The sum which two married people owe to one another defies calculation. It is an infinite debt, which can only be discharged through all eternity.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Try praising your wife, even if it does frighten her at first.
Billy Sunday

Husbands are like fires. They go out if unattended.
Zsa Zsa Gabor

Two souls with but a single thought,
Two heart that beat as one.
Franz Joseph von MunchBellinghausen

Love seems the swiftest, but it is the slowest of all growths. No man or woman really knows what perfect love is until they have been married a quarter of a century.
Mark Twain - 25th Wedding Anniversary Quote

To love someone deeply gives you strength. Being loved by someone deeply gives you courage.
Lao Tzu

It took great courage to ask a beautiful young woman to marry me. Believe me, it is easier to play the whole Petrushka on the piano.
Arthur Rubinstein

Two such as you with such a master speed cannot be parted nor be swept away from one another once you are agreed that life is only life forevermore together wing to wing and oar to oar.
Robert Frost

There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends.
Homer

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.
Roy Goodman

People shop for a bathing suit with more care than they do a husband or wife. The rules are the same. Look for something you'll feel comfortable wearing. Allow for room to grow.
Erma Bombeck

The Japanese have a word for it.
It's Judo -- the art of conquering by yielding.
The Western equivalent of judo is, 'Yes, dear.'
J. P. McEvoy

Marriage is a great institution, but I'm not ready for an institution.
Mae West

One advantage of marriage it seems to me is that when you fall out of love with him or he falls out of love with you it keeps you together until maybe you fall in again.
Judith Viorst

Many marriages would be better if the husband and the wife clearly understood that they are on the same side.
Zig Ziglar

Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.
Martin Luther

One advantage of marriage, it seems to me, is that when you fall out of love with him, or he falls out of love with you, it keeps you together until maybe you fall in again.
Judith Viorst

Music makes a Difference

2008-05-17T11:11:00.002-04:00

Music therapy can temporarily bring dementia and Alzheimer's patients back to reality and help them relate to their families. It may even reduce their need for medication.

Often, patients who have lost verbal ability still can sing or make music. Music therapists are trained musicians who create live music with patients. Drum circles are one way music therapists restart the communication process for alzheimer's patients, who may beat to their own rhythm at first but eventually get in sync with each other.

There are many colleges teaching music therapy, and these therapists are board ceritifed. For more info about music therapy, contact: American Music Therapy Association at 301-589-3300 or visit www.musictherapy.org

Mothers Day Origins

2008-05-14T08:55:00.001-04:00

"Every day is Children's Day" I heard many times as a kid, and that surely is true. One day in May of official recognition is inadequate acknowledgment of all the hard work and love and sweat and tears each of you puts into one of the toughest and most important jobs a human can do: being a mother to your kids.

My gift to you again this year is a few of my favorite quotes on moms. I hope you like them.

"There was something so valuable about what happened when one became a mother. For me it was the most liberating thing that happened...Liberating because the demands that children make are not the demands of a normal "other." The children's demands on me were things that no one else ever asked me to do. To be a good manager. To have a sense of humor... And they were not interested in all the things that other people were interested in, like what I was wearing or if I were sensual. Somehow all the baggage I had accumulated as a person about what was valuable just fell away. I could not only be me - whatever that was - but somebody actually needed me to be that."
- Toni Morrison

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."
-Oscar Wilde

"My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune."
-Graycie Harmon

"Mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."
-Washington Irving

"A man's work is from sun to sun, but a mother's work is never done."
-Author Unknown

"You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back."
-William D. Tammeus

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."
-Elizabeth Stone

"There is no way to be a perfect mother, and a million ways to be a good one."
-Jill Churchill

"God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers."
-Jewish proverb

Mothers Day Origins

2008-05-14T08:52:00.003-04:00

Mother's Day did not become an official U.S. holiday until 1914, largely due to the perseverance of Anna Jarvis (1864-1948). Herself the mother of eleven children (four of whom lived to adulthood), Anna asked the minister at her church to give a sermon in her mother's memory following her death in 1905. He honored Mrs. Jarvis and all mothers with a special Mother's Day service.

Anna Jarvis then tirelessly wrote to congressmen, asking them to set aside a day to honor all mothers. In 1910, the governor of West Virginia proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. So as not to appear unsympathetic to their mothers and wives, a year later every state celebrated it.

Read more about these extraordinary women:
Rhea
Julia Ward Howe
Anna Jarvis

Contd.....

2008-05-14T08:50:00.002-04:00

Many other cultures have their own Mother's Day, but let's move to Boston in 1870, during the unpopular Franco-Prussian war. An amazing woman named Julia Ward Howe (1819-1910), after writing the Battle Hymn of the Republic, made an impassioned "appeal to womanhood" to rise against war in her Mothers Day Proclamation:

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts,
whether our baptism be that of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies.
Our husbands shall not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country will be too tender of those of another country
to allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs.

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says "Disarm, Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."

To no one's surprise, her efforts to establish a formal Mother's Day for Peace were rebuffed.

Mother's Day Origins

2008-05-14T08:46:00.002-04:00

Mother's Day began with the Greeks, who worshipped the goddess Rhea who was the mother of Zeus, king of gods and ruler of Olympus (and you think your kids are successful).
Beyond the begatting, Rhea saved Zeus from being eaten by her husband, Cronus (as their previous five children had been). Cronus was worried about his children murdering him - as he had done to his own dear old dad - to supplant his alpha dog status. Rhea cleverly presented him with a blanket containing a stone instead of little Zeusie, which Cronus eagerly devoured.

With such a history, I think we can agree that Rhea deserved some maternal bragging rights and a holiday in her honor.

Obesity Can Increase Dementia Risk By Up To 80 Percent, Study Suggests

2008-05-13T11:51:00.001-04:00

Obesity may increase adults’ risk for having dementia, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Their analysis of published obesity and dementia prospective follow-up studies over the past two decades shows a consistent relationship between the two diseases.
Obesity increases the risk of dementia in general by 42 percent, Alzheimer's by 80 percent and vascular dementia by 73 percent, the new review suggests. Being underweight increases the general dementia risk by 36 percent. But researchers who carried out an international review of research since 1995 found no elevated risk in people who were normal or overweight.

“Our analysis of the data shows a clear association between obesity and an increased risk for dementia and several clinical subtypes of the disease,” said Youfa Wang, MD, PhD, senior author of the study and associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s Center for Human Nutrition. “Subjects with a healthy body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference saw a decreased risk for dementia than their counterparts with an elevated BMI or waist circumference.” Wang adds, “Preventing or treating obesity at a younger age could play a major role in reducing the number of dementia patients and those with other commonly associated illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease by up to 20 percent in the United States.”

Lead researcher May A. Beydoun, along with Wang and H.A. Beydoun attribute these findings to a systematic review of 10 previously published studies that examined the relationships between dementia or its subtypes and various measures of body fat. Based on a pooled analysis of their findings from 7 of the studies, baseline obesity compared to normal weight increased the risk of Alzheimer’s disease by 80 percent on average. The team further concluded that being underweight also increases the risk of dementia and its subtypes. The studies cited in the meta-analysis were conducted in a number of countries, including the United States, Finland, Sweden and France, and contained middle-aged and older adults.

Previously published research defines dementia as not a single disorder, but a number of syndromes characterized by diverse behavioral, cognitive, and emotional impairments. The most common form is Alzheimer’s disease, with an estimated 5 million adults living with the disease in the United States alone.

“Currently, Alzheimer’s disease is the eighth leading cause of death among the elderly population in the United States. While more studies are needed to determine optimal weight and biological mechanisms associated with obesity and dementia, these findings could potentially decrease the number of people diagnosed with dementia and lead to an overall better quality of life,” said May A. Beydoun, a former postdoctoral research fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

"Obesity and central obesity as risk factors for incident dementia and its subtypes: a systematic review and meta-analysis" was written by M. A. Beydoun, H. A. Beydoun and Y. Wang.

The research was funded by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Journal reference:

Obesity and central obesity as risk factors for incident dementia and its subtypes: a systematic review. Beydoun MA, Beydoun HA, Wang Y. Obesity Reviews. 9, pp 204-218. (May 2008). doi: 10.1111/j.1467-789X.2008.00473.x

Mother's Laughter makes Breast Milk Healthier for Babies

2008-05-12T11:46:00.003-04:00

Nursing mom's may want to watch the hilarious I Love Lucy sitcoms before feeding time. New research has found that a mother who laughs a couple of hours before breastfeeding her baby will pass on greater health benefits to her young.

The study determined that laughing mothers' breast milk contained higher levels of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin compared to those who did not laugh. In addition to bolstering relaxation, the increased levels of melatonin was found to alleviate symptoms of eczema and allergies in babies who suffered from these ailments.

However, laughter isn't just good for babies. As modern medicine has proven and the Bible makes clear, a merry heart is good medicine. It has numerous health benefits for everyone, including:

protecting the heart
reducing stress
lowering blood pressure
elevating mood
boosting immune system
improving brain functioning
protecting the heart
connecting you to others
fostering instant relaxation
decreasing stress
strengthening the immune system
making you feel good

Sources:
Journal of Psychosomatic Research June 2007;62(6):699-702
NewScientist.com June 16, 2007
Healthguide.org

Before I was a Mom

2008-05-11T05:34:00.002-04:00

Before I was a Mom

I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never been puked on.

Pooped on.

Chewed on.

Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts.

I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom

I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests.

Or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put him down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much.

I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache,

the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom.

Mothers day humour.

2008-05-11T05:23:00.001-04:00

We show honour and respect to one of the most influential persons in our lives,our MOM!! We all have spent most formative years of our lives with our mothers and shared all joy and sorrows. Such is the greatness of our mom that she always tries to make us feel happy even in times of distress. This occasion of Mother's Day would become more enjoyable if we add some flavor of humor to it.

My mother taught me LOGIC.
"Because I said so, that's why."

My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

My mother taught me about STAMINA.
"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

My mother taught me about WEATHER.
"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait until we get home."

My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

My mother taught me GENETICS.
"You're just like your father."

My mother taught me WISDOM.
"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

My Mother taught me ESP.
"Put your sweater on; don't you think that I know when you're cold?"

My Mother taught me TO MEET A CHALLENGE.
"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you... Don't talk back to me!"

MY Mother taught me PATIENCE.
"Sure, you can do that. As soon as you're 21 and leave the house!"

My Mother taught me DIPLOMACY.
"I don't want to hear who started it, It takes two to fight."

My Mother taught me SHARING.
"Play nicely with that or I'll just take it away from both of you."

My mother taught me about ENVY.
"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do."

My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You are going to get it when you get home!"

My mother taught me TO THINK AHEAD.
"If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job!"

My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
"One day you'll have kids and I hope they turn out just like you!"

But most of all, my mother taught me LOVE.
"You know that whatever you do or whatever happens, I'll stand behind you because I love you."

Happy Mothers Day!

2008-05-11T05:00:00.003-04:00

Its already 5 in the morning.Could not sleep as was so excited today,being a first time mom.Some thoughts compiled on Mother.

I love my mom.. and love being a mom too!
so mothers day is a full circle for me!!

Words are very less for u ma...threre is so much 2 say ur my greatest support......I luv U AT TONS.......

Mother is the sweetest and
Most delicate of all.
She knows more of paradise
Than angels can recall.

She's not only beautiful
But passionately young,
Playful as a kid, yet wise
As one who has lived long.

Her love is like the rush of life,
A bubbling, laughing spring
That runs through all like liquid light
And makes the mountains sing.

Mera Bachpan

Nayan tere chamakte sitare
kesh kaali raat
ke andhiyaare

maathe ka sindoor shaam ka bichhona
laal gol bindi jaise
chamkta sona

anchal tera lahraata saagar
boli aisi kaano mein
misri jaisi

sahlana phir pyar se mera sar
apni god mein lekar
lori sunana

woh bachpan ki thapki
woh dant woh fatkaar

mera ruthana tera manaana
jab na manu to rone
ka bahana

yaad aata hai mujhe
woh pyar woh dulaar
woh dant woh fatkaar
Auir Woh bachpan

Maa
Kya Mujhe Wapas Nahi Dogi
Fir Se
Mera Bachpan...

I know I haven't been an easy child,
But love for you lies underneath my whims;
There is no way I could be tame or mild:
I need sometimes to shout and wave my limbs.
You're the wall I need to test my height,
The countervailing force to test my strength,
The chain I hammer at with all my might,
Even though you have increased its length.
It's tough, I know, to be both Mom and Dad,
To raise me all alone, just hit or miss;
To have to play at once good cop and bad,
And give me grief before my goodnight kiss.
But love against the odds is stronger still:
I need your fierce, proud love, and always will.

I love you,mom..U are the bestest in the world!

M-is for the million things she gave me
O- means only that she's growing old
T- is for the tears she shed to save me,
H- is for her heart of pure gold;
E- is for her eyes, with love-light shining.
R- means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together and spell,the most wonderful creation of God.It is said that God cannot be present every were so he made mother.

Mothers are the place where love
Emerges from the earth,
And happiness rings out like bells
In honor of our birth.

Mothers are the sun that lights
For life our inner sky,
So we may know that we are loved
And need not question why.

Mothers are the moon that shines
Upon our black despair,
So even when we weep, we know
That someone's always there.

Whatever fear, or stress, or pain
Might them to anger move,
We know that underneath the storm
We have, always, their love

Just Love this poem by " Susan P Schutz "
When you have a mother
who cares so much for you
that anything you want
becomes her desires
When you have a mother
who is so understanding that
no matter what is bothering you
she can make you smile
When you have a mother
who is so strong that
no matter what obstacles she faces
she is always confident in front of you
When you have a mother
who actively pursues her goals in life
but includes you in all her goals
you are very lucky indeed
Having a mother like this
makes it easy to grow up
into a loving, strong adult
Thank you for being this kind
of wonderful mother.

Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead - Alfred Lord Tennyson
Home they brought her warrior dead:
She nor swooned, nor uttered cry:
All her maidens, watching, said,
‘She must weep or she will die.’

Then they praised him, soft and low,
Called him worthy to be loved,
Truest friend and noblest foe;
Yet she neither spoke nor moved.

Stole a maiden from her place,
Lightly to the warrior stepped,
Took the face-cloth from the face;
Yet she neither moved nor wept.

Rose a nurse of ninety years,
Set his child upon her knee—
Like summer tempest came her tears—
‘Sweet my child, I live for thee.’

How much I love you I can't say:
It's more than words can hold.
You're all at once my rich, red clay,
My potter and my mold.

Yours the words that shaped my voice,
The spirit within mine.
Yours the will that shaped my choice,
My fortune, and my sign.

How lucky I was to have had you
At the core of me!
Wise and good, you always knew
Just what I could be.

And so I came to be someone
Whom I could be proud of.
For this I give my swollen sum
Of gratitude and love

A shocking incidence of baby sitter

2008-05-10T16:37:00.002-04:00

Today I met a friend of mine in mall with his 8 month old baby.she has been working since her baby was 2 month and so I asked her how come she was in a mall on weekday with baby..she said she has left the job and the reason she told me shocked me and freaked me completely..
she use to leave home morning 8 n come back at 7 Mon to sat..a week back her one of the friend was on a red light and she saw a baby in a woman's hands ..showing the baby and begging(which is very usual on every red light in Delhi and other metros)..lady saw the baby and thought she has seen the baby somewhere..she called my friend and asked that where was her baby..my friend said that she was in the office and her baby was at home with the maid..so her friend forced her to call at home and check..so my friend called at home and maid picked up the phone ..she asked about her baby so maid said that he is sleeping..my friend told her that she shld wake him up and make her listen to his sound..so maid said that he has slept with a lot of difficulty after 2 hrs and she wld not like to wake him up..my friend said 'ok' and kept the phone and rushed to her house..it was half hr distance ..when she reached ..she found out a lady on the entrance of her building in rugs and her baby in her hands in rugs too...
After enquiring the truth came out that my friends maid use to give the baby daily for 2-3 hrs to beggars ..for begging and use to charge from them..my friend was hysterical..she gave the maid in police(dont know wht has happened to her now)..and have left her job now..and taking care of her baby herself now..
I request to the mums who r leaving their children with help/maid/baby sitter that pls be extra careful towards thm and try not to rely on them too much..try to have some family member with yr kids just for the sake of presence..i dont think anything is more precious than our children.

Does Breastfeeding Boost IQ?

2008-05-08T23:29:00.000-04:00

Breastfeeding may make your kid more intelligent, according to the latest study on the subject.

Exclusive, long-term breastfeeding improves a child's verbal intelligence and other intelligence measures, says researcher Michael S. Kramer, MD, professor of pediatrics, epidemiology and biostatistics at the McGill University Faculty of Medicine in Montreal.

The study was published in the May edition of Archives of General Psychiatry.

Children who were breastfed longer scored higher on average at age 6 1/2 years in verbal intelligence, nonverbal intelligence, and overall intelligence, Kramer finds. Teachers rated them higher in reading and writing than children who weren't breastfed as long or as exclusively.

"Prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding makes kids smarter," Kramer tells WebMD. "I would say as a target for mothers, if they could exclusively breastfeed for three months and continue to breastfeed for some degree for one year, that would be good."

Breastfeeding exclusively [with no formula supplements] for six months would be even better, Kramer says. But he concedes that is difficult for many women, especially if they return to work.

Breastfeeding and IQ: Studying the Data
A host of studies have looked at breastfeeding and IQ. "Most of the studies have found an association between breastfeeding and higher IQ," Kramer tells WebMD. But most have been what scientists call observational studies, with children whose mothers chose to breastfeed compared with those children whose mothers chose not to.

Kramer and others say these studies may be affected by differences in the way moms who breastfeed interact with their children and those who don't.

Kramer and his colleagues looked at almost 14,000 children in Belarus who visited 31 hospitals and clinics there. The participants are part of the large-scale study known as the Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT). The researchers assigned half to an intervention that encouraged them to breastfeed exclusively long term or to another group that got the usual maternity care and child care.

This approach is considered more feasible and ethical than assigning mothers to breastfeed or bottle-feed.

"Those who got the breastfeeding intervention breastfed longer and more exclusively," Kramer says. The number of mothers still breastfeeding exclusively at three months was seven times higher in the intervention group of mothers -- 43% compared to 6% of those who didn't get the intervention.

Breastfeeding and IQ: Test Results
When the kids reached age 6 1/2, the children's pediatricians gave them intelligence tests. If they were in school, teachers evaluated their academic performance in reading, writing, math, and other subjects.

The strongest effect, Kramer says, was improvement in verbal IQ. On average, those in the intervention group scored 7.5 points higher on tests measuring verbal intelligence, such as vocabulary, which was statistically significant (meaning not due to chance). They scored 2.9 points higher on those tests measuring nonverbal intelligence and 5.9 points higher on tests measuring overall intelligence.
Kramer says the nonverbal and overall IQ test score differences were not statistically significant -- but just barely. He says the more important point is that he found an overall trend to improvement in the measures in the long-term or exclusively breastfed children.

Teachers rated the breastfed intervention group's reading and math better than the control group children.

"I think it's a modest effect," Kramer says. The IQ advantage for the long-term breastfed children, he says, is similar to what has been found in research for first borns vs. younger siblings.

"It's not the difference between a genius and a mentally retarded child," he says.

Breastfeeding and IQ: Breast Milk or Social Interaction?
Whether the boost in IQ is due to the breast milk itself -- such as healthy fatty acids or other substances -- or the physical and social interaction that is part and parcel of breastfeeding is unknown, Kramer and others say.

"A mother who breastfeeds is likely to spend more time with her child," he says, as well as read to them later and do other activities. "The amount of time, the closeness, the way she interacts with the kids, undoubtedly differs between breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding mothers."

The bulk of studies on the topic, he adds, have shown a positive link. One notable exception: a study published in 2006 in the British Medical Journal concluded that breastfeeding has "little or no effect on intelligence in children." The study involved more than 5,400 children.

Kramer says his study is sounder because of a more rigorous methodology.

Breastfeeding and IQ: Second Opinion
Not surprisingly, a spokesman for La Leche League International, which promotes breastfeeding, calls the new study findings "significant and valid." Not every paper or research study has found an association, says Lawrence M. Gartner, MD, a spokesman for the league and professor emeritus from the University of Chicago.

"But the huge majority of them do show a positive effect -- improvement in IQ and school performance."

"I think there is more and more evidence that points this way," says Dennis Woo, MD, chairman of the department of pediatrics at Santa Monica UCLA & Orthopaedic Hospital, who reviewed the study for WebMD. However, he wonders if cultural influences may play a role since the study was conducted in Eastern Europe, and if the same results would hold for U.S. breastfeeding mothers. Woo also works as a consultant for formula companies.

"We can't generalize [the findings] to all populations necessarily," agrees Jennifer Shu, MD, an Atlanta pediatrician and author of Heading Home with Your Newborn, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. "But there is no downside [to breastfeeding]."

A slightly different interpretation of the findings is proposed by Ruth A. Lawrence, MD, chairwoman of the academy's section on breastfeeding and a neonatologist at the University of Rochester School of Medicine in New York. "What the study says to me is, breastfeeding does not make your child smarter, it allows your child to reach full potential. If you have a child with chromosomal abnormalities and Down syndrome, for instance, and breastfeed, you are not going to make that child a genius. You are going to allow that child to reach his full potential."
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, suggesting mothers can continue as long as it is mutually acceptable.

According to the CDC, 73.8% of U.S. mothers who gave birth in 2004 ever breastfed. Of those, 41.5% still breastfed at six months, but just 11.3% exclusively through six months. The data is in the Breastfeeding Report Card, issued in 2007.

Is gold a better economic barometer than the actions of the world’s central banks?

2008-05-07T19:35:00.000-04:00

*Forbes magazine, by Steve Forbes, May 5, 2008:
“The consequences of central banks' trying to guide their economies are routinely disruptive, if not destructive. Inflation is almost always the result. From the 1950s through the 1970s, for example, Britain was burdened with onerous taxes--the top personal tax rate hit 98%. It never occurred to the authorities in London to lower the rates, until Margaret Thatcher came along. Instead, both Conservative and Labour governments relied on boosting government spending and on printing more pounds to get the economy moving. Inflation would then erupt, the Bank of England would have to tighten up, and the economy would go into a slump. This process was dubbed "stop-go," and left Britain the sick man of Europe.

Greenspan's woes came about precisely because he lost sight of the Fed's prime job: ensuring a stable dollar. In the late 1990s Greenspan inadvertently tightened up. The most sensitive barometer of market mistakes is gold. During that time the yellow metal plunged to a low of $250 an ounce. Other commodities crashed, with oil dropping to nearly $10 a barrel. For a time the dollar became too dear, which contributed to the 2000--01 recession. When it became clear--just before George W. Bush was sworn in as President on Jan. 20, 2001--that the economy was skidding, Greenspan realized his mistake and started to reverse gears. But he stayed too easy, even when the economy was back on track. In 2004 gold began to surge well above its 12-year average, and oil began its long, rapid ascent, as did all other commodities. The dollar weakened not only against gold but also against other currencies, such as the yen, the Swiss franc and the pound. With money easy, the already buoyant U.S. housing market began to go berserk as lending standards started to decline precipitously.

Focused on trying to steer the economy, Greenspan ignored the flashing red lights, as did his successor, Ben Bernanke. In 2006 gold soared above $600 an ounce. After the credit crisis hit last August, the price kept moving up, breaching the $1,000 barrier in mid-March, before settling down to its current $900 range.

The Fed has clearly been too loose, but so have other central banks. Hence, we have the beginnings of a global inflation, just as we did in the early 1970s.”

Signatures & Personality

2008-04-30T11:36:00.001-04:00

The various types of Signatures you come across & the attitude of a person are listed below:

# SINGLE UNDERLINE BELOW THE SIGN!!
These persons are very confident and are good personalities. They are a little bit selfish but believe in "Happiness of human life"

# TWO DOTS BELOW THE SIGN!!
These persons are considered to be Romantic, can easily change their fiancées as if they change their clothes. They prefer beauty in other persons & they themselves try to look beautiful. They easily attract others.

# SINGLE DOT BELOW THE SIGN!
These persons are more inclined towards classical arts, simple & are very cool. If you loose faith with them, then these persons will never look back at you. Hence its always better to be careful with these people.

# NO UNDERLINES OR DOTS BELOW THE SIGN!!
These persons enjoy their life in their own way, never pay attention to others views. These are considered to be good natured but are selfish too.

# RANDOM SIGN, NO SIMILARITY BETWEEN NAME & SIGN!!
These persons try to be very smart, hide each & every matter, never say anything in straight forward manner, never pay attention to the other person of what he is talking of.

# RANDOM SIGN, SIMILARITY BETWEEN NAME & SIGN!!
These persons are considered to be intelligent but never think. These people change their ideas & views as fast as the wind changes its direction of flow. They never think whether that particular thing is right or wrong.
You can win them just by flattering them.

# SIGN IN PRINTED LETTERS!!
These persons are very kind to us, have a good heart, selfless, are ready to sacrifice their life for the sake of their near & dear. But these seem to think a lot and may get angry very soon.

# WRITING COMPLETE NAME AS THEIR SIGN!!
These persons are very kind hearted, can adjust themselves to any environment & to the person they are talking. These persons are very firm on their views & posses a lot of will power.

From my Community friend on Orkut.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

2008-04-30T11:34:00.001-04:00

Let's say it's 6.15 pm and you're going home (alone of

course), after an unusually hard day on the job.

You're really tired, upset and frustrated.

Suddenly you start experiencing severe pain in your

chest that starts to radiate out into your arm and up

into your jaw. You are only about five miles from the

hospital nearest your home. Unfortunately you don't

know if you'll be able to make it that far. You have

been trained in CPR, but the guy that taught the

course did not tell you how to perform it on yourself.

HOW TO SURVIVE A HEART ATTACK WHEN ALONE

Since many people are alone when they suffer a heart

attack, without help,the person whose heart is beating

improperly and who begins to feel faint, has only

about 10 seconds left before losing consciousness.

However,these victims can help themselves by coughing

repeatedly and very vigorously. A deep breath should

be taken before each cough, and the cough must be deep

and prolonged, as when producing sputum from deep

inside the chest.

A breath and a cough must be repeated about every two

seconds without let-up until help arrives, or until

the heart is felt to be beating normally again.

Deep breaths get oxygen into the lungs and coughing

movements squeeze the heart and keep the blood

circulating. The squeezing pressure on the heart also

helps it regain normal rhythm. In this way, heart

attack victims can get to a hospital. Tell as many

other people as possible about this. It could save

their lives!!

A cardiologist says If everyone who gets this mail & sends it to 10 people, you can bet that we'll save at least one life.

From my community friends on orkut

7 stages of marriage

2008-04-30T11:32:00.002-04:00

I was reading Reader's Digest and found this article on Marriage and love etc. and I read the 7 stages of marriage. It is really really interesting to read all about it!

Stage 1: Passion= The honeymoon phase, when romance and intense attraction lead to commitment.

Stage 2: Realization= Disappointment and conflict mark this unavoidable period. The Challenge? Laying the groundwork for a long future together.

Stage 3: Rebellion= Self Interest versus shared interests. Knowing the difference between a destructive desire to flee and a healthy need to be your true self is this stage's key test.

Stage 4: Cooperation= In time, marriage means managing money building careers, raising kids. Going from lover to partner to parent can get rocky.

Stage 5: Reunion= Once the kids are grown, then what? For Happy couples it's time to enjoy each other again. But the ideal can be hard to achieve. Passion's embers need stoking; expectations need re jiggering.

Stage 6: Explosion= Job loss, major health woes, a parent's illness or death--at midlife, such events can come in waves. Will your marriage be a source of solace or sorely tried by new roles, limitations and fears?

Stage 7: Completion= Marital bliss often soars after decades together because "knowing" each other now has a deeper meaning-and a bigger payoff.

From my community friends on orkut

True Love

2008-04-30T11:30:00.000-04:00

This is what True Love is all about :

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 a.m ., when an elderly gentleman in his 80's, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am.

I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him look at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.
On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation. I asked him if he had another doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer' s Disease .

As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.

I was surprised, and asked him, " And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are? "

He smiled as he patted my hand and said, " She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is ." I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.

Finding Positive out of every negative

2008-04-30T10:51:00.000-04:00

This is nice - finding positive out of every negative - which we don't always manage to do.

I am thankful...

1. For the husband who snores all night, because he is at home asleep
with me and not with someone else.

2. For my teenage daughter who is complaining about doing dishes,
because that means she is at home & not on the streets.

3. For the taxes that I pay because it means that I am employed.

4. For the mess to clean after a party because it means that I have
been surrounded by friends.

5. For the clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have
enough to eat.

6. For my shadow that watches me work because it means I am out in the
sunshine.

7. For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning
because it means I have a home.

8. For all the complaining I hear about the government because it
means that we have freedom of speech.

9. For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot
because it means I am capable ofwalking and that I have been blessed
with transportation.

10. For the noise I have to bear from my neighbours because it means
that I can hear.

11. For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have
clothes to wear.

12. For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it
means I have been capable of working hard.

13. For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it
means that I am still alive.

New Skin-Care Products with Natural Ingredients

2008-04-30T10:24:00.003-04:00

Give your skin some health food with products containing mushrooms, grapefruit, and other garden ingredients

Pomegranate
The hundreds of ruby-colored seeds inside pomegranates were once thought to symbolize fertility, and given the fruit's proven powers as a strong antioxidant, it has given birth to a huge number of products, including designer juice and high-end skin-care creams.

The pomegranate's power comes from ellagic acid, a type of polyphenol, which is an antioxidant found in red wine and green tea. Antioxidants seek out and neutralize cell-damaging free radicals that come from the environment (pollution, UV rays) and from the body's natural aging process. Ellagic acid has been shown in some studies to neutralize free radicals more effectively than the other polyphenols found in green tea and red wine. It's also more stable in skin-care products than some other antioxidants, like vitamin C, which can lose potency when exposed to light and air.

Grapefruit
Until the 19th century, grapefruit was grown purely as an ornamental fruit. Rarely eaten, it was known only for its looks - an interesting harbinger of its modern-day promise to improve ours.

A 2005 study by the Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, in Chicago, showed that the scent of grapefruit on women made them seem an average of six years younger to men. Grapefruit's main use in skin care, however, is as a citric acid. Like any alpha hydroxy acid, citric acid loosens the bonds between skin cells, allowing dead ones to fall away, revealing smoother, more radiant skin.

Mushroom
No wonder the Super Mario Brothers got a jolt of evil-fighting power whenever they ate a mushroom. Mushrooms have long been used in Asian cultures as remedies for everything from low energy to cancer.

The extract of several Japanese mushrooms has been shown to reduce inflammation, which can affect collagen in the skin and contribute to changes associated with aging, such as the appearance of fine lines. Reducing that inflammation keeps skin cells vital and functioning and also suppresses irritation so that other active ingredients, like antioxidants, can do their jobs.

Shiitake mushrooms have multifaceted benefits for the skin. They contain antioxidants that block proteins known to cause cell breakdown; they provide chemical exfoliation; and they also contain kojic acid, which has a lightening effect on age spots and discoloration, making skin appear brighter over time.

Pumpkin
Despite its prevalence in favorite sweets, such as pies and muffins, pumpkin is quite acidic. And the enzymes in pumpkin act like salicylic acids, chemical exfoliants that encourage skin cells to turn over more rapidly.

Pumpkin is also a carotenoid, a derivative of vitamin A, which is indicated by its orange color, and that makes it an antioxidant in addition to having exfoliating properties.

Pumpkin seeds are a good source of zinc and have been used as a natural remedy for acne. Studies show that zinc has an effect similar to that of the common antibiotic tetracycline.

Bamboo

Bamboo is one hardy plant. Not only is it one of the fastest-growing plants on earth (some species grow more than three feet a day) but its strength and sustainability have also made it a favorite of architects looking for environmentally friendly building materials.

Although the Chinese have used bamboo for centuries (the hardened secretion from the stalks has been taken internally to treat asthma), its popularity is only now growing in the United States. Bamboo pulp is being woven into fabric that retains antibacterial qualities even after it is washed. And in skin care, finely milled bamboo powder is used as an exfoliant in cleansers and scrubs. The smooth bamboo particles are less harsh than the scraggly, uneven grains made from salt and nuts, making it safer and less irritating to sensitive skin.

Build Your Own Laptop:Finishing Your Laptop Build

2008-04-29T23:04:00.000-04:00

SOFTWARE TIME
The only thing your machine should be lacking at this point is some critical software. To add the Windows OS, power down the notebook, turn it back on, and press F2 to enter the BIOS setup screen. Select System Information to confirm your processor speed and memory amount. Then press Esc to return to the main menu, move to the Boot screen, and adjust the Boot Priority setting to put the DVD drive first in the boot order so that you can install the operating system. Place the Windows Vista Home Premium DVD in the drive, start your system, and follow the instructions to install the operating system.

Once Vista's installed, you're still not quite at the finish line: You also need to install the drivers for your notebook's components. Insert the C90s driver CD and install the appropriate drivers, starting with Intel Chipset Inf Update Program. (This enables your notebook's motherboard chipset.) Work your way down the driver list in order, then pop over to the Utilities tab and install Asus' Hotkey Utility, Turbo Gear overclocking program, and any other software you'd like to use.

Finally, open Control Panel, click System and Maintenance, and select "Check your computer's Windows Experience Index base score." Running this test will enable Vista's Aero Glass transparency on your desktop.

Congratulations. Your hot new gaming notebook is now ready to rock.

REVIEWING THE RESULTS
In the feature department, the C90s excels with its large, comfortable keyboard, a bright display with an adjustable Webcam, and a cutting-edge collection of ports that includes HDMI and external Serial ATA (eSATA). There's also the nifty Turbo Gear option, which lets you overclock the notebook's CPU up to 10 percent (in our case, up to 2.93GHz). The overclocking utility is much more stable than when we first tested the fully configured version of the C90s; we didn't have any of the blue-screen crashes we saw in our initial review.

As for performance, the notebook's Futuremark PCMark05 score of 5,823 and Cinebench 9.5 score of 893 are in line with pricier performance laptops we've seen. Gaming was a mixed bag, however. While the C90s turned in an excellent 49.2 frames per second (fps) on Company of Heroes at its native 1,680x1,050 resolution (with anti-aliasing on), F.E.A.R. performance was less impressive: We managed just 48fps at 1,024x768, and a poky 18fps at native resolution. These scores reflect the limitations of the notebook's 256MB nVidia GeForce 8600M card MXM graphics, which is certainly not as speedy as the high-end graphics cards you can find in retail machines. In fact, our card is currently the fastest MXM model available, and we wouldn't count on a more-powerful upgrade option coming out any time soon: Though MXM technology has been available for about three years now, it hasn't received much support from manufacturers. That said, these scores won't thrill die-hard gamers, like other notebooks in its price class, our system can certainly handle newer games played at moderate resolutions with the details set to high.

The C90s demands a few other compromises—namely, a protruding heat sink that adds extra heft, and a power-hungry desktop processor that runs hot and quickly drains battery life. These are issues you may not encounter with other barebones cases, especially those that use mobile CPUs.

WAS IT WORTH IT?
So is the effort spent building your own notebook worthwhile? If you have a bit more than an entry-level budget, you're not a hard-core gamer, and you're willing to spend as much time searching the Web as you would actually building your PC, the answer is yes. In terms of power-versus-price, there's no doubt our C90s trumped the retail competition. There aren't many sub-$1,400 notebooks out there that can clock in at 2.93GHz, and at press time, comparable systems with GeForce 8600M graphics were typically running about $250 to $300 more than our build—and those notebooks had slower processors, smaller hard drives, and less memory. Though the parts you can put in a barebones laptop are limited compared to those you can find for a desktop, you essentially get as much variety as you would when configuring a pre-built system through a big-name or boutique vendor.

The biggest reward, of course, is being able to show off your new notebook and proclaim, "I built this myself."

Build Your Own Laptop:Assembling Your Laptop Parts

2008-04-29T23:01:00.000-04:00

You might think that the logical first step to building your new notebook would be to break out the instruction manual. Unfortunately, the only documentation included with the C90s describes how to use the notebook once it's up and running. There's no assembly manual, not even on the Asus Web site. That's not a problem in this case, as we'll walk you through the entire building process. But if you choose a different barebones model, you'll want to do some research beforehand to ensure that instructions are available either in the box or online. Otherwise, you'll be left to trial-and-error—and the potential nightmare of leftover parts when you think you've completed the assembly.

To open the C90s case, you'll need a very small Phillips screwdriver. Place the notebook upside-down on a clean, flat surface and locate the removable rear panel. (Asus calls it the ACE Door, for "Accessible, Convenient, Effortless.") With the notebook resting on its lid and the front toward you, the ACE Door makes up the right half of the notebook. Look for the four screws that have a small screw icon next to them. These are the only screws you need to remove to open the back panel. Be careful not to remove the fifth screw in the panel, which has a disc icon next to it—that one secures the DVD±RW drive in place. Once the screws are removed, place them in a plastic bag, as they're easily lost and you won't need them again until everything's put together. Carefully push the panel gently toward the back of the notebook, and then lift it when the tabs are free of the notebook's case.

With the ACE door off, you can take stock of the various sockets and slots you'll be filling. Be careful to keep fingers and objects clear of the motherboard, as the processor socket is unprotected, and if you bend one of those tiny little pins, your new laptop will be useless.

INSTALL THE PROCESSOR
To install the processor, lift the small arm next to the CPU socket, then raise the socket cover, taking extreme care not to touch the pins in the socket during the process. Now carefully remove any snap-on covers from your CPU chip and line it up in the socket so that the two notches in the chip match the corresponding notches in the socket itself. Carefully drop the chip straight down into the socket, minimizing any need to slide the chip into place. Once the chip is safely resting on the pins, close the socket cover and snap the locking arm back down into place.

There are two heat sinks included with the C90s: one for the processor and another for the video card. The processor heat sink is the larger of the two, with four screw holes and a small plastic cover protecting a block of thermal paste. Remove the plastic cover, being careful not to touch the thermal paste, and slide the cooling fins of the heat dissipater under the fan assembly at the rear of the notebook. Simultaneously line up the four screw holes on the heat sink with the corresponding holes surrounding the CPU socket. Find the baggies containing four black screws and use those to secure the heat sink.

WIRE THE WIRELESS
Now it's time to install our Intel 4965AGN wireless adapter. Plugging the card into the Mini-PCIe slot is a snap, but then you have to contend with connecting the wires. Looking at the Mini-PCIe wireless slot near the top right corner of the C90s, you'll see four wires held down with yellow tape. Three of the wires come from the top corner of the case; the fourth, a black wire, comes from the side. This fourth wire is an antenna for an optional internal TV tuner; we won't use that in this build. Remove the tape, grab the fourth wire, and use the yellow tape to hold it out of the way while you connect the antenna wires.

At the end of each of the remaining three wires, you'll see a small round connector. These connectors snap onto the corresponding numbered connectors at the edge of the Wi-Fi card. Connect the black wire to connector 1, the gray wire to connector 2, and the white wire to connector 3. (If the wireless card you're using has only two connectors, connect the black wire to connector 1 and the gray wire to connector 2.) Now slide the card into the slot, being careful not to dislodge the antenna wires. Secure the Wi-Fi card with two small silver screws.

POP IN THE VIDEO CARD
To install the MXM graphics card, first find the baggie with three larger silver screws and two small black screws. Hold the card at about a 30-degree angle as you insert its edge connector into the video-card slot near the center of the motherboard. Press the card in and downward, and then use the two small black screws to secure it in place. Our card had its heat sink/bracket already installed. If your card included a separate metal bracket, install it now using four spring-loaded screws.

Next, you should install the remaining, smaller heat sink by sliding the cooling fins under the fan assembly next to the fins on the CPU cooler, placing the heat sink over the video card. Use the three silver screws to secure the heat sink in place.

SET UP THE DRIVE
At this point, you should be down to your last storage baggie—it should have four screws in it. Use the two screws that don't have blue paint on the tips to secure the metal drive cage around your hard drive. The open end should be on the end of the drive with the SATA connectors.

The motherboard SATA connectors are along the front, right edge, under the lip of the laptop's shell. Drop the drive into place and then carefully use your thumb to push the drive into the SATA connectors. Now use the remaining two screws to secure the drive in place.

ADD MEMORY
The last internal components to install are the SO-DIMM memory boards. The two memory slots sit between the graphics card and the large silver finned heat sink, near the center of the motherboard. Take the 2GB board, hold it at about a 30-degree angle while you line up its connector with the lower memory slot (note that the slot is keyed so that you can't install the board upside down), and then snap it down into the slot. Repeat the process with the 1GB DIMM, installing it in the top slot.

FINAL ASSEMBLY
Now that all the hardware components are installed, find the four screws you removed from the ACE Door, slide the door back into place, and replace the screws. To prepare for power up, pop in the notebook's battery pack, connect the power brick, and plug it into a wall outlet. Finally, open the laptop's cover, cross your fingers on one hand, and use your other hand to press the power button.

If all went well, you should be greeted by an Asus logo, followed by a warning that you have no operating system installed. If this doesn't happen, check the power connections; if that's not the issue, you'll need to reopen the case and ensure that all the components you installed are securely in their slots and sockets, and that all of the screws are tight.

Build Your Own Laptop:PREPARE FOR THE BUILD

2008-04-29T22:58:00.000-04:00

Before you start building your laptop, you'll want to take a full inventory of your parts and tools. For the C90s, you'll need at least your CPU, memory, hard drive, and graphics card. (We can't imagine building a notebook without wireless capabilities in today's world, so you'll also need a Mini-PCIe wireless card.) In the tool department, you'll want both large and mini Phillips-head screwdrivers (preferably magnetic ones, to avoid losing small screws), needle-nose pliers for grabbing small parts, and a few small baggies to store the tiny screws you remove so that you don't lose them while you have the notebook open.

Build Your Own Laptop:GATHER THE PARTS

2008-04-29T22:57:00.000-04:00

Keep in mind that, unlike their desktop brethren, barebones laptops are not entirely "barebones." No matter which model you go with, it will likely come with a few built-in components that can't easily be swapped out—most notably, the motherboard and the optical drive. You still get a decent dose of DIY from the parts you can assemble yourself, however, including the CPU, memory, graphics card, hard drive, and wireless card. Most of these components are commonly sold as upgrades to pre-built laptops and are easy to find at competitive prices. Shopping at TigerDirect.com, we picked up 3GB of DDR2 667 SO-DIMM memory (the maximum amount the C90s accepts)—a $44.99 2GB stick and a $24.99 1GB stick. We also got a $199.99 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo E6700 CPU, a $159.99 160GB Seagate Momentus 7200.2 hard drive, and a $109.99 OEM version of Windows Vista Home Premium.

Rounding up the remaining parts, however, was not as easy: We found only a few online vendors who sold the Wi-Fi card and MXM graphics card we needed for our C90s build. For less-common components such as these, you should consult with the dealer that sells you the barebones laptop to make sure they're available. On that note, we turned to Asus for our 256MB nVidia GeForce 8600M graphics card, which the company sells separately for $90. After a lot of Web searching, we located a hard-to-find $32.50 Intel 4965AGM Mini-PCIe Wi-Fi card at Mwave.com.

Finally, before you hit the purchase button, be sure to carefully check that each component is compatible with the mother-board included in your barebones case. For instance, though the C90s' Intel 945G Express chipset sports the LGA775 CPU socket, it doesn't support newer quad-core processors. Also, note details like slot types: Standard video cards won't fit in an MXM slot, and the C90s uses a newer Mini-PCI Express (PCIe) slot for its Wi-Fi card, rather than a more-common Mini-PCI card. You'll need a 2.5-inch-wide, 9.5mm-thick Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive—older IDE drives won't work here.

All told, our C90s and its installable components cost around $1,352—not a bad figure for what would soon become a reasonably powerful gaming notebook.

Build Your Own Laptop: Preparing Your Build

2008-04-29T22:54:00.000-04:00

CHOOSE YOUR BAREBONES NOTEBOOK
Though you're unlikely to find barebones notebooks for sale at your local electronics store, a number of models are available through online retailers. A few manufacturers to look for include ASI, Asus, Compal, ECS, MSI, and Super Talent. (We even found an HP Compaq 6910p business notebook in a barebones configuration.) The main factors to consider when choosing a barebones model are processor technology, graphics card support, and screen size. Do you want to use a fast but hot-running desktop CPU, or are you willing to spring for a pricier mobile chip that trades speed for lower heat and better power savings? If you're a gamer, you'll want a notebook that either has a good GPU built-in or can accept an upgradable notebook graphics card. Finally, do you prefer a more-portable system with a small screen, or a heavier notebook with a roomy LCD?

For our build, we chose the $690 Asus C90s, as it's one of the few models that supports an inexpensive-but-speedy desktop Core 2 Duo processor, allowing us to emphasize both performance and low cost. The C90s also sports an nVidia Mobile PCI Express Module (MXM) slot, allowing us to install a decent gaming GPU. Its 15.4-inch LCD offers an ideal size and resolution for gaming and watching DVDs while keeping the notebook's weight at a somewhat-reasonable 6.8 pounds. Looks-wise, the solid-feeling case could pass for a mainstream model from Dell or another brand-name vendor.

Build Your Own Laptop

2008-04-29T22:46:00.000-04:00

Why buy a retail notebook when you can build a faster, cheaper portable system from scratch?
Building a desktop PC is like dining at one of those huge buffet restaurants: You have dozens of choices for every dish, the variety ranging from hot dogs to filet mignon and everything else in between. Building a laptop reminds us more of a prix fixe menu: You can make a few decisions here and there, but you don't have much opportunity to customize your meal.

Indeed, building your own laptop is chock-full of challenges. Parts are harder to find, choices are fewer, and you need a steady hand to deal with small screws and the tight confines of a portable case. What's more, there's not nearly as much information available in books and on the Web about assembling portable systems from the case up.

Look past these limitations, however, and your DIY laptop dream can become a reality. With a thirst for challenge and a $1,400 budget, you can assemble a speedy, well-equipped mobile machine that performs better and costs less than many comparable pre-built systems. As for the difficulty in putting it all together, that's where we come in: We'll walk you through all the steps it takes to build a high-performance laptop from as close to scratch as you can get.

Key to kill cancer early found, claim scientists

2008-04-29T22:42:00.000-04:00

Scientists in Britain have found the mechanism cancer cells use to spread around the body -- a breakthrough they claim could stop the disease right in its tracks.

They have found that a protein called Ecadherin is essential to keeping cells stuck together and when its levels fall, other proteins move to the surface of the cells and they break away and spread, the Nature journal reported.

"Understanding how cancer cells spread is tremendously important for cancer research. It is the ability of tumours to invade other tissues and spread around the body that makes them so dangerous. The cancer just overwhelms the body.

"Potentially, our findings can be applied to the most common form of cancer, carcinoma, found in the breast, lung and gut for example, which makes up 80 to 90 per cent of all cancers," lead researcher Chris Ward said.

The researchers, who used embryonic stem cells to unlock the secret behind how cancer spreads around the body, now plan to create drugs that interfere with this process.

"These findings may enhance our ability to come up with more effective drugs."

Why do we have a prayer room?

2008-01-24T14:54:00.000-05:00

2. Why do we have a prayer room?

Most Indian homes have a prayer room or altar. A lamp is lit and the Lord worshipped each day. Other spiritual practices like japa - repetition of the Lord’s name, meditation, paaraayana - reading of the scriptures, prayers, and devotional singing etc are also done here. Special worship is done on auspicious occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, festivals and the like. Each member of the family - young or old - communes with and worships the Divine here.
The Lord is the entire creation. He is therefore the true owner of the house we live in too. The prayer room is the Master room of the house. We are the earthly occupants of His property. This notion rids us of false pride and possessiveness.
The ideal attitude to take is to regard the Lord as the true owner of our homes and us as caretakers of His home. But if that is rather difficult, we could at least think of Him as a very welcome guest. Just as we would house an important guest in the best comfort, so too we felicitate the Lord’s presence in our homes by having a prayer room or altar, which is, at all times, kept clean and well-decorated.
Also the Lord is all pervading. To remind us that He resides in our homes with us, we have prayer rooms. Without the grace of the Lord, no task can be successfully or easily accomplished. We invoke His grace by communing with Him in the prayer room each day and on special occasions.

Each room in a house is dedicated to a specific function like the bedroom for resting, the drawing room to receive guests, the kitchen for cooking etc. The furniture, decor and the atmosphere of each room are made conducive to the purpose it serves. So too for the purpose of meditation, worship and prayer, we should have a conducive atmosphere - hence the need for a prayer room.

Sacred thoughts and sound vibrations pervade the place and influence the minds of those who spend time there. Spiritual thoughts and vibrations accumulated through regular meditation, worship and chanting done there pervade the prayer room. Even when we are tired or agitated, by just sitting in the prayer room for a while, we feel calm, rejuvenated and spiritually uplifted.

Reference:

Hindu Rituals and RoutinesWhy do we follow them?

--Swami Chinmayananda

1. Why do we light a lamp?

2008-01-23T20:27:00.000-05:00

1. Why do we light a lamp?

In almost every Indian home a lamp is lit daily before the altar of the Lord. In some houses it is lit at dawn, in some, twice a day – at dawn and dusk – and in a few it is maintained continuously - Akhanda Deepa. All auspicious functions commence with the lighting of the lamp, which is often maintained right through the occasion.

Light symbolizes knowledge, and darkness - ignorance. The Lord is the "Knowledge Principle" (Chaitanya) who is the source, the enlivener and the illuminator of all knowledge. Hence light is worshiped as the Lord himself.

Knowledge removes ignorance just as light removes darkness. Also knowledge is a lasting inner wealth by which all outer achievement can be accomplished. Hence we light the lamp to bow down to knowledge as the greatest of all forms of wealth.
Why not light a bulb or tube light? That too would remove darkness. But the traditional oil lamp has a further spiritual significance. The oil or ghee in the lamp symbolizes our vaasanas or negative tendencies and the wick, the ego. When lit by spiritual knowledge, the vaasanas get slowly exhausted and the ego too finally perishes. The flame of a lamp always burns upwards. Similarly we should acquire such knowledge as to take us towards higher ideals.

Whilst lighting the lamp we thus pray:

Deepajyothi parabrahma
Deepa sarva tamopahaha
Deepena saadhyate saram
Sandhyaa deepo namostute

I prostrate to the dawn/dusk lamp; whose light is the Knowledge Principle (the Supreme Lord), which removes the darkness of ignorance and by which all can be achieved in life.

Reference:
Hindu Rituals and Routines
Why do we follow them?
--Swami Chinmayananda

Why to follow Rites and Rituals?

2008-01-22T21:15:00.000-05:00

Introduction
Hinduism is not a religion but a way of life. Unlike other religions, Hindu dharma has many specialties. This is not known as a religion, it is known as the dharma; Sanaathana Dharma. Sanaathana means, according to Bhagavath Geetha, which cannot be destroyed by fire, weapons, water, air, and which is present in all living and non living being. Dharma means, the way of life which is the ‘total of all aachaaraas or customs and rituals’.

Sanaathana Dharma has its foundation on scientific spirituality. In the entire ancient Hindu literature we can see that science and spirituality are integrated. It is mentioned in the 40th chapter of the Yajurveda known as Eesaavaasya Upanishad that use scientific knowledge for solving problems in our life and use the spiritual knowledge for attaining immortality through philosophical outlook.

Remember that in each and every aachaaraa there will be a component of spirituality in it. Without spirituality, nothing exists in Sanaathana dharma. Generally everyone bear a wrong impression that this spirituality is religion. Spirituality is different in Hindu dharma. Here the question of religion does not exist at all, because Hindu dharma was not created by an individual, prophet or an incarnation. Spirituality is a part of every Hindu custom in the normal life of a Hindu.

Aachaaraas are to be followed based on their merits available from the self experience; you need not blindly follow a teacher or someone who gives advice without reasoning. All these aachaaraas are mentioned for the prosperity of the human beings and it should be the prime focus for practicing the Hindu aachaaraas.

Achaaryaath paadam aadatthe
paadam sishya swamedhayaa
paadam sa brahmachaaribhya
sesham kaala kramena cha

This is an important advice given in smruthies. It means a person can get only one quarter of knowledge from Achaarya - the teacher, another quarter by analyzing self, one quarter by discussing with others and the last quarter during the process of living by method addition, deletion, correction, and modification of already known

aachaaraas or new aachaaraas.
Aachaaraath labhathe hi ayu:
aachaaraath dhanamakshayam
aachaaraath labhathe suprajaa:
aachaaro ahanthya lakshanam

Aachaaraas are followed for the psychological and physiological health and long life; Aachaaraas are followed for prosperity and wealth; Aachaaraas are followed for strong family and social bondage and following the Aachaaraas give a fine personality, dharmic outlook and vision, says our dharmasaastra.

In India everyone followed Aachaaraas for the above mentioned psychological, physiological, family relation, social benefits and national integration based benefits. It is your right and duty to understand scientifically, rationally and logically the meaning of each and every Aachaaraas and follow the same in your life systematically.

Reference:
Hindu Rituals and Routines
Why do we follow them?
--Swami Chinmayananda