It is already well known that Pak is terror country. Why play same
ranting on same old stories and fool Indian public specially when
we are not able to control our own known problems of traitors.
1) In India one can get a passport from offices for 20k Rs bribe.
1000s of fake passports to illegal foreigners (from Burma, Pak, Srilanka,Bangladesh) have been issued.
2) Army personals would let any truck or consignment get in border for exchange of
1 lakh Rs.
3) Custom officers on any airport/border will let smuggler's goods in for few thousand Rs.Immigration officers also cooperate.
4) Police in India is well known rotten lot ( almost 98%) who would sell us for anything from 1000 Rs & above. 100s of Mumbai police are indirectly working for Dawood else how would he run his empire.
5) Politicians R known for killing us for votes& swiss accounts.
6) Any authorities eg. customs, excise, income-tax, RTO, MTO, police would do anything for their pocket .(see recent income tax comm.in bombay)
7) Army and police are openly involved in looting & raping innocent people on border states.They r the one who forcibly create terrorist for country at our cost.
When America did not face any attack after 9/11 then how India has multiple attacks, it is coz our traitors from govt offices and politicians,who make noise & hysteria for few days to fool public just to show they r working. but in reality we r killed by our own gundas.
Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price
A Great article by M. J. Akbar
Ref: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/02mumterror-pakistan-will-have-to-pay-a-heavy-price.htm
M J Akbar is one of India's best-known journalists and commentators, someone with a deep insight into the Indian people and their mindset. In this first-person, as-told-to piece, Akbar discusses the Mumbai attacks and their relevance for India.
Many people forget that India is a tough nation. Toothless leaders have turned India into a soft nation. People forget that India has fought back Muslim terrorism in Kashmir; Sikh terrorism in Punjab, Christian terrorism in Nagaland and Hindu terrorism in Assam, and amongst the Naxalites.
We have had everything thrown at the Indian nation State. Still, we have stood up. The people of India have shown the courage and ability to believe in their nation and to fight back. But the completely impotent leadership of five years have turned a tough country into a soft State.
I am very sad. I keep feeling that if they protect India as they protect their leaders -- whether it is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] or Congress President Sonia Gandhi [Images] -- I think I would be safe. Today, India's leaders are safe and India is in panic.
On what India's response should be:
India's proper reaction would be possible if we understand the extent of the disease.
If the disease is cancer, you can't apply band aid. After making a complete mess of security issues for five years by asking Shivraj Patil to go finally we may have a home minister who doesn't comb his hair and change his clothes. But we want something more than that. If it is cancer, we need chemotherapy, a much more serious exercise. It needs a legislative and executive framework. It needs political mobilisation. People are numbed.
The Indian people have no leadership. You have a prime minister. Did you see him when he addressed the nation? Nobody knew if he was addressing the nation or having a cup of tea?
He looked serious, but he didn't talk to us about our anger and about our anguish. I think this administration is tone deaf to the anguish of the people. They just cannot understand what the people are going through. They just don't understand our pain or our anger. The most important thing is that, perhaps, we have politicised not only the instruments of the State like the police but we have also politicised the understanding of the nature of the problem.
I think the very first thing to do is to ensure security so that it prevents the next attack. If any attack takes place under someones job should go. Don't come to me with alibis.
On the terrorists getting local support:
I am an Indian Muslim and I am very proud of both, being an Indian and a Muslim. I do not see any contradictions. This is my land and I have nowhere else to go.
But can I say because I am an Indian Muslim that no Indian Muslim is involved? Can you, because you are a Hindu, say that no Hindu is involved? We have to behave like Indians first. Not as a Muslim or as a Hindu first. Because we need Hindu votes and Muslim votes and because this government thinks that it needs Muslim votes so it has been in complete denial.
Do you think that these people came across from Pakistan and had no support in Mumbai?
It is not possible. It was a huge operation. Ten people hit nine places and you killed nine of them. You want to say that they went from place to place? Who knows some of them must have slipped away to create new sleeper cells to hit us six months later.
They are hiding things. I would like to believe that there was an underworld connection. Because, Karachi and Mumbai are also linked by drug smuggling. The culture of criminals is aggression. It comes naturally to them. It is not easy for you and I to become aggressive, however angry we are. It does not come naturally to us. These are people who are trained psychologically in aggression. They have no respect for the State. They have no love for the country. And they have no respect for authority.
Why? Because the only face of authority is the corrupt policeman. The criminal gives money in the morning and money in the evening. Why should he have respect for somebody he gives bribes to? For the guy from the underworld his understanding of the Indian State and authority is corruption. He has no patriotism to stop him. Why would he not join hands with the terrorists? In any case, he belongs to another world. We have not even begun to address and discuss this.
On the Pakistan factor:
I am tired of giving Pakistan a long rope on some excuse or the other. Everybody is saying this will happen if we do this, that will happen if we do this. Our relations with Pakistan will go, then, let them go. What has our relations with Pakistan brought us except violence and terror? Why should we be in charge of saving Pakistan? For what? Every time they turn around and they say they want evidence. Now, finally we have evidence.
I have been an editor for 35 years from the age of 23. From that time on, since the days of General Zia-ul Haq, I have been hearing 'Pakistan is asking for evidence'. We asked for withdrawal of their support to the movement for Khalistan, they said, 'Oh, we don't know anything about it.' On Kashmir, they kept repeating where is the evidence. Benazir Bhutto [Images] came, she asked for evidence. Nawaz Sharif came, he asked for evidence. I think Pervez Musharraf [Images] asked for less evidence. Now again, they are asking for evidence.
There is a terrorist in Mumbai, captured and arrested. How much more evidence do you want? If what he is saying is not evidence, then how can you get more evidence?
This government is in its 11th hour. Now they will bluff the people to protect their votes. There is no time left for them. The agony of departure will be hard from this government.
On the reaction in the West:
The US and Britain have a vested interest in telling India to look within. Why? When Americans die then they can send their air force 7,000 miles and bomb every country to smithereens. But when Indians die, they tell us no, no, you must be patient. You must act like a swami and a yogi. Why? Is an American life more precious than an Indian life? Why should we keep listening to them? But we have a government that keeps listening to them all the time. We don't get tough.
The last time we got tough was after the attack on Parliament. We took some tough actions under Operation Parakram and then there was a certain lull. Three years ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was able to tell President George W Bush [Images] that there are no terrorists amongst Indian Muslims. That means that lull continued.
Pakistan must be made to realise that it will have to pay a heavy price. Not necessarily through war, but a heavy price will have to be paid in loss in trade, in cancellation of orders and other engagements. They should pay a heavy price in terms of people to people relations. I am not saying you can freeze a relationship to death, but the message must go out that if there is a crime there will be a penalty. You just can't get away with it.
Let the Pakistan government cooperate with us. But look at how the Pakistan government has buckled down and we are sitting here whimpering.
They want to send some lowly officers to India. For what? Even Pakistan is treating the Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi government with total contempt. They know how weak it is.
Delink Hindu-Muslim relations and Pakistan:
Look, you must not confuse the Pakistan issue with the Indian Muslims issue. Their so-called alienation or their economic deprivation is not linked to the issue of Pakistan.
Indian Muslims have nothing to do with Pakistan. They have absolutely no sympathy for Pakistan. They know that Pakistan was the biggest mistake committed in the history of Indian Muslims. They know it. You can ask anyone in Baroda, Bihar or Mumbai. They know how they are suffering the backlash of all the consequences of cross-border terrorism.
Today, they fear retribution from the government, they fear retribution from popular disenchantment and anger. They feel helpless. They feel afraid.
We must understand finally that it is not so much the 'local people', it is the local underworld that is involved in anti-India activities. In 1993, who were involved in terrorism? The underworld. Why have you not done anything about it? The State turns a blind eye to the police and corruption. I don't know how many readers smoke hashish and other stuff, but I am accusing them of cross-border terrorism. Drugs come to India from Afghanistan via Karachi.
What we can do as individuals:
If whoever is responsible for protecting the nation fails, then he or she should not be allowed to continue in power. That is the toughest and sharpest message we can give. You can tell that you may be a soft State, but we are a hard people and we are hard voters.
We are not going to forgive you for your lies and deception and for your waffling. How many blasts do we need to understand that? When Jaipur [], Ahmedabad , Mumbai and Delhi [] happened no one who was genuinely guilty was caught.
We have to understand now that corruption has eaten away vitals of this nation. It is the biggest danger to the security of India. It is not just the case of some spectrum being sold to someone by some minister in. Everyone who is corrupt get out!
It Is a failure all around. We have to be extremely practical and pragmatic. There is great deal to be depressed about as an Indian. Frankly speaking, I feel very angry and upset. I am never upset by the behaviour of our enemies. I am only upset by the betrayal of those I trust.
For more articles & news please visit: http://www.rediff.com/
Ref: http://www.rediff.com/news/2008/dec/02mumterror-pakistan-will-have-to-pay-a-heavy-price.htm
M J Akbar is one of India's best-known journalists and commentators, someone with a deep insight into the Indian people and their mindset. In this first-person, as-told-to piece, Akbar discusses the Mumbai attacks and their relevance for India.
Many people forget that India is a tough nation. Toothless leaders have turned India into a soft nation. People forget that India has fought back Muslim terrorism in Kashmir; Sikh terrorism in Punjab, Christian terrorism in Nagaland and Hindu terrorism in Assam, and amongst the Naxalites.
We have had everything thrown at the Indian nation State. Still, we have stood up. The people of India have shown the courage and ability to believe in their nation and to fight back. But the completely impotent leadership of five years have turned a tough country into a soft State.
I am very sad. I keep feeling that if they protect India as they protect their leaders -- whether it is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] or Congress President Sonia Gandhi [Images] -- I think I would be safe. Today, India's leaders are safe and India is in panic.
On what India's response should be:
India's proper reaction would be possible if we understand the extent of the disease.
If the disease is cancer, you can't apply band aid. After making a complete mess of security issues for five years by asking Shivraj Patil to go finally we may have a home minister who doesn't comb his hair and change his clothes. But we want something more than that. If it is cancer, we need chemotherapy, a much more serious exercise. It needs a legislative and executive framework. It needs political mobilisation. People are numbed.
The Indian people have no leadership. You have a prime minister. Did you see him when he addressed the nation? Nobody knew if he was addressing the nation or having a cup of tea?
He looked serious, but he didn't talk to us about our anger and about our anguish. I think this administration is tone deaf to the anguish of the people. They just cannot understand what the people are going through. They just don't understand our pain or our anger. The most important thing is that, perhaps, we have politicised not only the instruments of the State like the police but we have also politicised the understanding of the nature of the problem.
I think the very first thing to do is to ensure security so that it prevents the next attack. If any attack takes place under someones job should go. Don't come to me with alibis.
On the terrorists getting local support:
I am an Indian Muslim and I am very proud of both, being an Indian and a Muslim. I do not see any contradictions. This is my land and I have nowhere else to go.
But can I say because I am an Indian Muslim that no Indian Muslim is involved? Can you, because you are a Hindu, say that no Hindu is involved? We have to behave like Indians first. Not as a Muslim or as a Hindu first. Because we need Hindu votes and Muslim votes and because this government thinks that it needs Muslim votes so it has been in complete denial.
Do you think that these people came across from Pakistan and had no support in Mumbai?
It is not possible. It was a huge operation. Ten people hit nine places and you killed nine of them. You want to say that they went from place to place? Who knows some of them must have slipped away to create new sleeper cells to hit us six months later.
They are hiding things. I would like to believe that there was an underworld connection. Because, Karachi and Mumbai are also linked by drug smuggling. The culture of criminals is aggression. It comes naturally to them. It is not easy for you and I to become aggressive, however angry we are. It does not come naturally to us. These are people who are trained psychologically in aggression. They have no respect for the State. They have no love for the country. And they have no respect for authority.
Why? Because the only face of authority is the corrupt policeman. The criminal gives money in the morning and money in the evening. Why should he have respect for somebody he gives bribes to? For the guy from the underworld his understanding of the Indian State and authority is corruption. He has no patriotism to stop him. Why would he not join hands with the terrorists? In any case, he belongs to another world. We have not even begun to address and discuss this.
On the Pakistan factor:
I am tired of giving Pakistan a long rope on some excuse or the other. Everybody is saying this will happen if we do this, that will happen if we do this. Our relations with Pakistan will go, then, let them go. What has our relations with Pakistan brought us except violence and terror? Why should we be in charge of saving Pakistan? For what? Every time they turn around and they say they want evidence. Now, finally we have evidence.
I have been an editor for 35 years from the age of 23. From that time on, since the days of General Zia-ul Haq, I have been hearing 'Pakistan is asking for evidence'. We asked for withdrawal of their support to the movement for Khalistan, they said, 'Oh, we don't know anything about it.' On Kashmir, they kept repeating where is the evidence. Benazir Bhutto [Images] came, she asked for evidence. Nawaz Sharif came, he asked for evidence. I think Pervez Musharraf [Images] asked for less evidence. Now again, they are asking for evidence.
There is a terrorist in Mumbai, captured and arrested. How much more evidence do you want? If what he is saying is not evidence, then how can you get more evidence?
This government is in its 11th hour. Now they will bluff the people to protect their votes. There is no time left for them. The agony of departure will be hard from this government.
On the reaction in the West:
The US and Britain have a vested interest in telling India to look within. Why? When Americans die then they can send their air force 7,000 miles and bomb every country to smithereens. But when Indians die, they tell us no, no, you must be patient. You must act like a swami and a yogi. Why? Is an American life more precious than an Indian life? Why should we keep listening to them? But we have a government that keeps listening to them all the time. We don't get tough.
The last time we got tough was after the attack on Parliament. We took some tough actions under Operation Parakram and then there was a certain lull. Three years ago, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was able to tell President George W Bush [Images] that there are no terrorists amongst Indian Muslims. That means that lull continued.
Pakistan must be made to realise that it will have to pay a heavy price. Not necessarily through war, but a heavy price will have to be paid in loss in trade, in cancellation of orders and other engagements. They should pay a heavy price in terms of people to people relations. I am not saying you can freeze a relationship to death, but the message must go out that if there is a crime there will be a penalty. You just can't get away with it.
Let the Pakistan government cooperate with us. But look at how the Pakistan government has buckled down and we are sitting here whimpering.
They want to send some lowly officers to India. For what? Even Pakistan is treating the Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi government with total contempt. They know how weak it is.
Delink Hindu-Muslim relations and Pakistan:
Look, you must not confuse the Pakistan issue with the Indian Muslims issue. Their so-called alienation or their economic deprivation is not linked to the issue of Pakistan.
Indian Muslims have nothing to do with Pakistan. They have absolutely no sympathy for Pakistan. They know that Pakistan was the biggest mistake committed in the history of Indian Muslims. They know it. You can ask anyone in Baroda, Bihar or Mumbai. They know how they are suffering the backlash of all the consequences of cross-border terrorism.
Today, they fear retribution from the government, they fear retribution from popular disenchantment and anger. They feel helpless. They feel afraid.
We must understand finally that it is not so much the 'local people', it is the local underworld that is involved in anti-India activities. In 1993, who were involved in terrorism? The underworld. Why have you not done anything about it? The State turns a blind eye to the police and corruption. I don't know how many readers smoke hashish and other stuff, but I am accusing them of cross-border terrorism. Drugs come to India from Afghanistan via Karachi.
What we can do as individuals:
If whoever is responsible for protecting the nation fails, then he or she should not be allowed to continue in power. That is the toughest and sharpest message we can give. You can tell that you may be a soft State, but we are a hard people and we are hard voters.
We are not going to forgive you for your lies and deception and for your waffling. How many blasts do we need to understand that? When Jaipur [], Ahmedabad , Mumbai and Delhi [] happened no one who was genuinely guilty was caught.
We have to understand now that corruption has eaten away vitals of this nation. It is the biggest danger to the security of India. It is not just the case of some spectrum being sold to someone by some minister in. Everyone who is corrupt get out!
It Is a failure all around. We have to be extremely practical and pragmatic. There is great deal to be depressed about as an Indian. Frankly speaking, I feel very angry and upset. I am never upset by the behaviour of our enemies. I am only upset by the betrayal of those I trust.
For more articles & news please visit: http://www.rediff.com/
A few Miracles of the 21st century
Ref: http://www.shock4all.com/2008/11/few-miracles-of-21st-century.html
Modern ways to control water:
Wind farm in the middle of the ocean:
Fantasy road that exists part of the time - Arctic highway:
For More Information Please Visit: http://www.shock4all.com
Modern ways to control water:
Wind farm in the middle of the ocean:
Fantasy road that exists part of the time - Arctic highway:
For More Information Please Visit: http://www.shock4all.com
10 simple steps to release stress
Ref: http://www.wikihow.com
1. Figure out why you are stressed.
2. Find a quiet place to relax.
3. Find relaxing music that relieves your stress.
4. Find other items that make you happy like cards, pictures, your old dolls, toys, or letters.
5. Get a small box with a lid.
6. Put your items in your box.
7. (optional) decorate the box.
8. Put the box in your room.
9. Take it with you when you go some where.
10. If you become stressed, get the box and sit in your car or a quiet room.
1. Figure out why you are stressed.
2. Find a quiet place to relax.
3. Find relaxing music that relieves your stress.
4. Find other items that make you happy like cards, pictures, your old dolls, toys, or letters.
5. Get a small box with a lid.
6. Put your items in your box.
7. (optional) decorate the box.
8. Put the box in your room.
9. Take it with you when you go some where.
10. If you become stressed, get the box and sit in your car or a quiet room.
How Solar Water Heater Works
Ref: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_hot_water
Solar hot water is water heated by the use of solar energy.
Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses, including home, business and industrial uses. Heating swimming pools, underfloor heating or energy input for space heating or cooling are more specific examples.
In many climates, a solar heating system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. This can include domestic non-electric concentrating solar thermal systems. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.
In the southern regions of Africa like Zimbabwe, solar water heaters have been gaining popularity, thanks to the Austrian and other EU-funded projects that are promoting more environmentally friendly water heating solutions.
Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting such as 50 °C. Hence, hot water is always available. The combination of solar hot water heating and using the back-up heat from a wood stove chimney to heat water can enable a hot water system to work all year round in cooler climates without the supplemental heat requirement of a solar hot water system being met with fossil fuels or electricity.
Among pumped options, there is an important distinction to be made regarding the sustainability of the design of the system. This relates to what source of energy powers the pump and its controls. The type of pumped solar thermal systems which use mains electricity to pump the fluid through the panels are called low carbon solar because the pumping negates the carbon savings of the solar by about 20%, according to data in a report called "Side by side testing of eight solar water heatings" by DTI UK. However, zero-carbon pumped solar thermal systems use solar electricity which is generated onsite using photovoltaics to pump the fluid and to operate its control electronics. This represents a zero operational carbon footprint and is becoming an important design goal for innovative solar thermal systems.
Solar hot water is water heated by the use of solar energy.
Solar heating systems are generally composed of solar thermal collectors, a fluid system to move the heat from the collector to its point of usage. The system may use electricity for pumping the fluid, and have a reservoir or tank for heat storage and subsequent use. The systems may be used to heat water for a wide variety of uses, including home, business and industrial uses. Heating swimming pools, underfloor heating or energy input for space heating or cooling are more specific examples.
In many climates, a solar heating system can provide up to 85% of domestic hot water energy. This can include domestic non-electric concentrating solar thermal systems. In many northern European countries, combined hot water and space heating systems (solar combisystems) are used to provide 15 to 25% of home heating energy.
In the southern regions of Africa like Zimbabwe, solar water heaters have been gaining popularity, thanks to the Austrian and other EU-funded projects that are promoting more environmentally friendly water heating solutions.
Residential solar thermal installations can be subdivided into two kinds of systems: compact and pumped systems. Both typically include an auxiliary energy source (electric heating element or connection to a gas or fuel oil central heating system) that is activated when the water in the tank falls below a minimum temperature setting such as 50 °C. Hence, hot water is always available. The combination of solar hot water heating and using the back-up heat from a wood stove chimney to heat water can enable a hot water system to work all year round in cooler climates without the supplemental heat requirement of a solar hot water system being met with fossil fuels or electricity.
Among pumped options, there is an important distinction to be made regarding the sustainability of the design of the system. This relates to what source of energy powers the pump and its controls. The type of pumped solar thermal systems which use mains electricity to pump the fluid through the panels are called low carbon solar because the pumping negates the carbon savings of the solar by about 20%, according to data in a report called "Side by side testing of eight solar water heatings" by DTI UK. However, zero-carbon pumped solar thermal systems use solar electricity which is generated onsite using photovoltaics to pump the fluid and to operate its control electronics. This represents a zero operational carbon footprint and is becoming an important design goal for innovative solar thermal systems.
50 Interesting Facts
Ref: http://www.hemmy.net/2006/04/30/50-interesting-facts/
1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it.
5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”.
6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.
7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing.
8. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.
9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.
10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
11. Dalmatians are born without spots.
12. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
13. The ‘v’ in the name of a court case does not stand for ‘versus’, but for ‘and’ (in civil proceedings) or ‘against’ (in criminal proceedings).
14. Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right, but women’s shirts have the buttons on the left.
15. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids.
16. The reason honey is so easy to digest is that it’s already been digested by a bee.
17. Roosters cannot crow if they cannot extend their necks.
18. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones.
19. Every time you sneeze some of your brain cells die.
20. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
21. The verb “cleave” is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate.
22. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
23. When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red.
24. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in 1903, and used a tomato can for a carburetor.
25. The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named Volney.
26. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.
27. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan.
28. It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and 200 million to make a film about it.
29. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples.
30. There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
31. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.
32. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
33. It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.
34. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
35. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game.
36. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
37. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die.
38. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch (and make it look like it
is smiling).
39. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang yourself.”
40. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot.
41. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
42. The average person laughs 13 times a day.
43. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are:Mizaru(See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil)
44. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
45. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.
46. Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.
47. Whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound.
48. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.
49. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural cause.
50. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!!
For more interesting articles please visit: www.hemmy.net
1. If you are right handed, you will tend to chew your food on your right side. If you are left handed, you will tend to chew your food on your left side.
2. If you stop getting thirsty, you need to drink more water. For when a human body is dehydrated, its thirst mechanism shuts off.
3. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying.
4. Your tongue is germ free only if it is pink. If it is white there is a thin film of bacteria on it.
5. The Mercedes-Benz motto is “Das Beste oder Nichts” meaning “the best or nothing”.
6. The Titanic was the first ship to use the SOS signal.
7. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 percent when a person looks at something pleasing.
8. The average person who stops smoking requires one hour less sleep a night.
9. Laughing lowers levels of stress hormones and strengthens the immune system. Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.
10. The roar that we hear when we place a seashell next to our ear is not the ocean, but rather the sound of blood surging through the veins in the ear.
11. Dalmatians are born without spots.
12. Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.
13. The ‘v’ in the name of a court case does not stand for ‘versus’, but for ‘and’ (in civil proceedings) or ‘against’ (in criminal proceedings).
14. Men’s shirts have the buttons on the right, but women’s shirts have the buttons on the left.
15. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink. All other birds raise their lower eyelids.
16. The reason honey is so easy to digest is that it’s already been digested by a bee.
17. Roosters cannot crow if they cannot extend their necks.
18. The color blue has a calming effect. It causes the brain to release calming hormones.
19. Every time you sneeze some of your brain cells die.
20. Your left lung is smaller than your right lung to make room for your heart.
21. The verb “cleave” is the only English word with two synonyms which are antonyms of each other: adhere and separate.
22. When you blush, the lining of your stomach also turns red.
23. When hippos are upset, their sweat turns red.
24. The first Harley Davidson motorcycle was built in 1903, and used a tomato can for a carburetor.
25. The lion that roars in the MGM logo is named Volney.
26. Google is actually the common name for a number with a million zeros.
27. Switching letters is called spoonerism. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan.
28. It cost 7 million dollars to build the Titanic and 200 million to make a film about it.
29. The attachment of the human skin to muscles is what causes dimples.
30. There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
31. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.
32. Human hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.
33. It takes about 20 seconds for a red blood cell to circle the whole body.
34. The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.
35. Most soccer players run 7 miles in a game.
36. The only part of the body that has no blood supply is the cornea in the eye. It takes in oxygen directly from the air.
37. Every day 200 million couples make love, 400,000 babies are born, and 140,000 people die.
38. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch (and make it look like it
is smiling).
39. Colgate faced big obstacle marketing toothpaste in Spanish speaking countries. Colgate translates into the command “go hang yourself.”
40. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning its head are the rabbit and the parrot.
41. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.
42. The average person laughs 13 times a day.
43. Do you know the names of the three wise monkeys? They are:Mizaru(See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru(Speak no evil)
44. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.
45. German Shepherds bite humans more than any other breed of dog.
46. Large kangaroos cover more than 30 feet with each jump.
47. Whip makes a cracking sound because its tip moves faster than the speed of sound.
48. Two animal rights protesters were protesting at the cruelty of sending pigs to a slaughterhouse in Bonn. Suddenly the pigs, all two thousand of them, escaped through a broken fence and stampeded, trampling the two hapless protesters to death.
49. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle; if the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle; if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural cause.
50. The human heart creates enough pressure while pumping to squirt blood 30 feet!!
For more interesting articles please visit: www.hemmy.net
11 Great Ways to Earn More Money
Ref: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com/2008/01/11-great-ways-t.html
Read this excellent article here or visit: freemoneyfinance.com
If you'd like daily tips, thoughts, and suggestions on how to grow your net worth, subscribe to Free Money Finance for free by clicking this link.
I get bashed from time to time for talking about how important it is to spend less than you earn. I've defended my rationale on this issue, but detractors wonder why I don't spend more time talking about growing income rather than limiting spending. Well, if you're one of those people, this post is for you. Buckle up, because we're about to enter the world of earning more money!!!!
Many of you know that I spent last year trying to earn an extra $10,000 above my salary (FYI, I'm including anything I can get above the 3% cost-of-living adjustment most people get from their employers.) I'm doing the same this year, and I thought many of you would like to join me. As a starting place, I'm identifying all the major ways I've compiled on how to make more money. Here's my list:
1. Ask for a raise -- Your job is your most important financial asset and using it to make more money represents the low-lying fruit of all money making opportunities. Of course you simply can't demand a raise for showing up. You have to ask for a raise in a way that maximizes your likelihood of getting one. Fortunately it's rather simple: do a great job, make sure others know about your success (especially your boss), then pitch the proper person on why you deserve a raise. If you do these things better than most, you can secure a 5-7% raise while the others are stuck with a cost-of-living adjustment. Also note, it's just as important to NOT do certain things when asking for a raise. Otherwise, you might torpedo your chances for the extra loot.
2. Get a promotion -- Ok, let's say you're squeamish about asking for a raise -- how about earning a raise by getting a promotion? It's generallyaccepted that if you have more responsibility you get paid more. But how do you go about getting a promotion? Basically it's the same way you go about building your case to get a raise -- perform well and make sure everyone knows about it. (Plus you can go "above and beyond" most others by doing things like taking professional classes to enhance your marketability.) Since this tip is dependent on the fact that a position actually opens up in your company, it's not quite as good as asking for a raise in my opinion.
3. Change jobs -- Just like it's usually the case that you'll earn more when you get a promotion, most people earn more money when they change jobs (either a lateral change that earns you more or a promotion via job change.) The key here is to market yourself correctly in the job hunt process so you can actually land a job that pays significantly more than your current position. Some job-hunting success tips: make the most of your cover letters, stick with a classic resume that highlights significant job accomplishments, and make the most of your interviews (which includes not asking stupid questions). I've applied these principles several times and I've averaged roughly 13% increases when I've made a move.
A couple other tips that are important when it comes to changing jobs:
Don't quit your job before you get another one. Quitting without another job is not a good idea and by doing so you're risking your most important financial asset. Believe me, I've seen the disaster. If you're stuck in a job you hate, take specific steps to get out of it, but don't quit without another position lined up.
Once you do get a job offer, ask for more money before you accept the position. Doing so can pay off big, netting you $1,000 a minute. Not a bad return, huh?
4. Turn your hobby into an extra income -- How would you like to do something you love and make some extra money at the same time? Then consider turning your hobby into an extra income. This could be anything from starting your own website to monetizing your artistic penchant to launching your own blog (if interested in this, see How to Get Your Blog to 100,000 Visitors and Beyond) to creating crafts to whatever.
I've done this with my hobby of writing. I've sold somewhere around 160 financial and business/marketing articles in the past ten years, earning me around $60,000 total. In addition, I started this blog on the same topic and it now generates a substantial amount of money (though I give away all the proceeds to charity). I have friends who've done the following: turned their love of cycling into a part-time job of repairing and maintaining bikes, turned their love of hunting and art into making decorative hunting knives that sell nicely at flea markets, and turning their love of baking into a side business selling high-end cookware. Is there something you love doing that could earn you some extra money?
5. Start a side business -- Ok, let's say you have a hobby like growing roses or playing video games -- something that may not lend itself easily to making extra money. Instead, you could start a side business (here are some additional tips) of something totally different. Not something you love doing, but not something you hate either. A few examples of what you could do:
- Take a job no one else wants to do (can you say "pooper scooper?")
- Become a lifestyle manager
- Advise college-bound students
- Stage homes
- Start a sign-in-the-yard business
- Take pictures or play music
There are literally all sorts of things you could do (including selling your blood -- admittedly it's not a "business", but I just had to throw in this idea to show how some people are so creative when it comes to making money)
Or, if you don't feel like you're able to start your own business, maybe you could buy an existing business.
6. Maximize your investments -- At first blush, it may not seem like there's a lot of extra income potential in earning an additional percentage or two on your investments. Over the short-term, there isn't. However, when time and compounding are considered, eeking out even an extra 1% could mean thousands of extra dollars for you. Personally, I like index funds because they beat most investments in the long term and take a minimal amount of time to manage. Combine them with the proper asset allocation and regular rebalancing of your portfolio and you're on your way to earning a good bit more from your investments.
7. Trade/barter skills -- This is a new one for me, but one that I've had a bit of success with. For instance, I've exchanged marketing advice for some legal counsel. Maybe you're a carpenter who can build something for a plumber who can fix your clogged sink. Or maybe you're a dentist who can offer free cleanings to a veterinarian in exchange for free pet visits. Or perhaps you could design a website for a chiropractor who could give you free adjustments. Or maybe you can offer dance lessons in exchange for someone tutoring your child. The possibilities are almost endless.
Yeah, this option doesn't put cash into your pocket, but it does save you money on something you need to have done. And it could serve as a launching point for your own new business -- you get some experience providing services for others and maybe you'll be able to sell some of those services to people who can't trade but would be willing to buy what you have to offer.
8. Use your current job skills -- Take what you do in your current job and consider selling those skills to others at night. If you don't like this option, consider teaching what you know to others. Simply take what you do 40-plus hours a week and extend it into a new business/side income.
9. Sell stuff you own and don't need -- If you're like the rest of America, you've got a boatload of stuff in your home that you don't need/use. So why not sell it and create some extra cash for yourself? With the popularity of EBay, doing this is often a cinch. And let's say you're in the 1% of people who don't have anything useful to sell -- maybe you could find some items at auctions and then sell them for a profit.
10. Use credit cards strategically -- In 2006 I earned almost $500 simply by charging purchases on a cash back credit card. My 2007 results aren't in yet, but I'll be way over this amount. Why? Because I picked the right card for my spending habits (which is THE key to making the most with credit cards) and charged as much as I could on it (including creative ideas like buying gift cards strategically.) In 2008, I'm planning on earning even more by using a hybrid cash back credit card method to earn upwards of 2.6% on my charges by combining uses of the Blue Cash from American Express card and the Chase Freedom Cash Visa Card. Eventually I hope to earn in the high three figures simply for doing what I'd normally do -- buying what I'd normally buy. You can do the same.
11. Get money owed to you -- As I've noted before, there are billions of dollars in abandoned and lost checking accounts, pensions, and so forth collected by governments. You should see if any of it is yours I'm a pretty good money watcher, but when I went to Missing Money I found that I had a claim (for "under $100") from a past job. Sure, it's not a ton of money, but someone out there is likely due a significant sum. Since it takes about one minute to check and see if it's you, what's the harm?
That's my list for now. I have a lot more ideas that I couldn't include on this list. If you'd like to check them out you can visit my making money category. But for now, let me ask you: do you have any other money making ideas to add?
For more please visit: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com
Read this excellent article here or visit: freemoneyfinance.com
If you'd like daily tips, thoughts, and suggestions on how to grow your net worth, subscribe to Free Money Finance for free by clicking this link.
I get bashed from time to time for talking about how important it is to spend less than you earn. I've defended my rationale on this issue, but detractors wonder why I don't spend more time talking about growing income rather than limiting spending. Well, if you're one of those people, this post is for you. Buckle up, because we're about to enter the world of earning more money!!!!
Many of you know that I spent last year trying to earn an extra $10,000 above my salary (FYI, I'm including anything I can get above the 3% cost-of-living adjustment most people get from their employers.) I'm doing the same this year, and I thought many of you would like to join me. As a starting place, I'm identifying all the major ways I've compiled on how to make more money. Here's my list:
1. Ask for a raise -- Your job is your most important financial asset and using it to make more money represents the low-lying fruit of all money making opportunities. Of course you simply can't demand a raise for showing up. You have to ask for a raise in a way that maximizes your likelihood of getting one. Fortunately it's rather simple: do a great job, make sure others know about your success (especially your boss), then pitch the proper person on why you deserve a raise. If you do these things better than most, you can secure a 5-7% raise while the others are stuck with a cost-of-living adjustment. Also note, it's just as important to NOT do certain things when asking for a raise. Otherwise, you might torpedo your chances for the extra loot.
2. Get a promotion -- Ok, let's say you're squeamish about asking for a raise -- how about earning a raise by getting a promotion? It's generallyaccepted that if you have more responsibility you get paid more. But how do you go about getting a promotion? Basically it's the same way you go about building your case to get a raise -- perform well and make sure everyone knows about it. (Plus you can go "above and beyond" most others by doing things like taking professional classes to enhance your marketability.) Since this tip is dependent on the fact that a position actually opens up in your company, it's not quite as good as asking for a raise in my opinion.
3. Change jobs -- Just like it's usually the case that you'll earn more when you get a promotion, most people earn more money when they change jobs (either a lateral change that earns you more or a promotion via job change.) The key here is to market yourself correctly in the job hunt process so you can actually land a job that pays significantly more than your current position. Some job-hunting success tips: make the most of your cover letters, stick with a classic resume that highlights significant job accomplishments, and make the most of your interviews (which includes not asking stupid questions). I've applied these principles several times and I've averaged roughly 13% increases when I've made a move.
A couple other tips that are important when it comes to changing jobs:
Don't quit your job before you get another one. Quitting without another job is not a good idea and by doing so you're risking your most important financial asset. Believe me, I've seen the disaster. If you're stuck in a job you hate, take specific steps to get out of it, but don't quit without another position lined up.
Once you do get a job offer, ask for more money before you accept the position. Doing so can pay off big, netting you $1,000 a minute. Not a bad return, huh?
4. Turn your hobby into an extra income -- How would you like to do something you love and make some extra money at the same time? Then consider turning your hobby into an extra income. This could be anything from starting your own website to monetizing your artistic penchant to launching your own blog (if interested in this, see How to Get Your Blog to 100,000 Visitors and Beyond) to creating crafts to whatever.
I've done this with my hobby of writing. I've sold somewhere around 160 financial and business/marketing articles in the past ten years, earning me around $60,000 total. In addition, I started this blog on the same topic and it now generates a substantial amount of money (though I give away all the proceeds to charity). I have friends who've done the following: turned their love of cycling into a part-time job of repairing and maintaining bikes, turned their love of hunting and art into making decorative hunting knives that sell nicely at flea markets, and turning their love of baking into a side business selling high-end cookware. Is there something you love doing that could earn you some extra money?
5. Start a side business -- Ok, let's say you have a hobby like growing roses or playing video games -- something that may not lend itself easily to making extra money. Instead, you could start a side business (here are some additional tips) of something totally different. Not something you love doing, but not something you hate either. A few examples of what you could do:
- Take a job no one else wants to do (can you say "pooper scooper?")
- Become a lifestyle manager
- Advise college-bound students
- Stage homes
- Start a sign-in-the-yard business
- Take pictures or play music
There are literally all sorts of things you could do (including selling your blood -- admittedly it's not a "business", but I just had to throw in this idea to show how some people are so creative when it comes to making money)
Or, if you don't feel like you're able to start your own business, maybe you could buy an existing business.
6. Maximize your investments -- At first blush, it may not seem like there's a lot of extra income potential in earning an additional percentage or two on your investments. Over the short-term, there isn't. However, when time and compounding are considered, eeking out even an extra 1% could mean thousands of extra dollars for you. Personally, I like index funds because they beat most investments in the long term and take a minimal amount of time to manage. Combine them with the proper asset allocation and regular rebalancing of your portfolio and you're on your way to earning a good bit more from your investments.
7. Trade/barter skills -- This is a new one for me, but one that I've had a bit of success with. For instance, I've exchanged marketing advice for some legal counsel. Maybe you're a carpenter who can build something for a plumber who can fix your clogged sink. Or maybe you're a dentist who can offer free cleanings to a veterinarian in exchange for free pet visits. Or perhaps you could design a website for a chiropractor who could give you free adjustments. Or maybe you can offer dance lessons in exchange for someone tutoring your child. The possibilities are almost endless.
Yeah, this option doesn't put cash into your pocket, but it does save you money on something you need to have done. And it could serve as a launching point for your own new business -- you get some experience providing services for others and maybe you'll be able to sell some of those services to people who can't trade but would be willing to buy what you have to offer.
8. Use your current job skills -- Take what you do in your current job and consider selling those skills to others at night. If you don't like this option, consider teaching what you know to others. Simply take what you do 40-plus hours a week and extend it into a new business/side income.
9. Sell stuff you own and don't need -- If you're like the rest of America, you've got a boatload of stuff in your home that you don't need/use. So why not sell it and create some extra cash for yourself? With the popularity of EBay, doing this is often a cinch. And let's say you're in the 1% of people who don't have anything useful to sell -- maybe you could find some items at auctions and then sell them for a profit.
10. Use credit cards strategically -- In 2006 I earned almost $500 simply by charging purchases on a cash back credit card. My 2007 results aren't in yet, but I'll be way over this amount. Why? Because I picked the right card for my spending habits (which is THE key to making the most with credit cards) and charged as much as I could on it (including creative ideas like buying gift cards strategically.) In 2008, I'm planning on earning even more by using a hybrid cash back credit card method to earn upwards of 2.6% on my charges by combining uses of the Blue Cash from American Express card and the Chase Freedom Cash Visa Card. Eventually I hope to earn in the high three figures simply for doing what I'd normally do -- buying what I'd normally buy. You can do the same.
11. Get money owed to you -- As I've noted before, there are billions of dollars in abandoned and lost checking accounts, pensions, and so forth collected by governments. You should see if any of it is yours I'm a pretty good money watcher, but when I went to Missing Money I found that I had a claim (for "under $100") from a past job. Sure, it's not a ton of money, but someone out there is likely due a significant sum. Since it takes about one minute to check and see if it's you, what's the harm?
That's my list for now. I have a lot more ideas that I couldn't include on this list. If you'd like to check them out you can visit my making money category. But for now, let me ask you: do you have any other money making ideas to add?
For more please visit: http://www.freemoneyfinance.com
Learn how to cook healthy and discover the benefits of the Mediterranean diet
by Enrico Forte
Ref: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
Its cuisine is a mix of aromas and flavors as a result of different cultures: Greeks, Arabs, Spanish, Italian and French.
The word that better explains this diet is: “The unique plate”. It means mixing a single plate with different nutritionals.
The classic example are recipes with “Pasta”; Vegetables; Species and Extra virgin Olive oil. In a single plate you can receive the benefits of different foods.
The most known examples are the Arab “Cous Cous” or the Spanish “Paella”.
It’s not only taste but also health. By eating fresh foods like fruit and veggies you could:
- Have anti-oxidants effects
- Prevent heart diseases
- Reduce cancer risks
- Avoid the risk of Alzheimer
- Live longer and healthier
Fish is rich of omega-3 fatty acids. They help protect against cancer, high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
Nuts (especially almonds) are a good sources of protein, fiber and antioxidants (Vitamin E and selenium). They are also high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3) which lower LDL cholesterol.
Pasta is a healthy food that has a low glycemic index of 41. Most pasta is made from semolina flour. It does not promote weight gain.
Olive oil is rich of monounsaturated fatty acids that offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL (”bad”) cholesterol while raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol).
Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins (C,A) and potassium. They are rich of lycopene, a substance that act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals cells in the body.
The best way to learn how a thing works is to try to do it, so here you are 3 simple plates you could cook home-made and verify yourself these health benefits.
For more articles please visit: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
Ref: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
Its cuisine is a mix of aromas and flavors as a result of different cultures: Greeks, Arabs, Spanish, Italian and French.
The word that better explains this diet is: “The unique plate”. It means mixing a single plate with different nutritionals.
The classic example are recipes with “Pasta”; Vegetables; Species and Extra virgin Olive oil. In a single plate you can receive the benefits of different foods.
The most known examples are the Arab “Cous Cous” or the Spanish “Paella”.
It’s not only taste but also health. By eating fresh foods like fruit and veggies you could:
- Have anti-oxidants effects
- Prevent heart diseases
- Reduce cancer risks
- Avoid the risk of Alzheimer
- Live longer and healthier
Fish is rich of omega-3 fatty acids. They help protect against cancer, high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
Nuts (especially almonds) are a good sources of protein, fiber and antioxidants (Vitamin E and selenium). They are also high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3) which lower LDL cholesterol.
Pasta is a healthy food that has a low glycemic index of 41. Most pasta is made from semolina flour. It does not promote weight gain.
Olive oil is rich of monounsaturated fatty acids that offers protection against heart disease by controlling LDL (”bad”) cholesterol while raising HDL (the “good” cholesterol).
Tomatoes contain large amounts of vitamins (C,A) and potassium. They are rich of lycopene, a substance that act as an antioxidant, neutralizing free radicals cells in the body.
The best way to learn how a thing works is to try to do it, so here you are 3 simple plates you could cook home-made and verify yourself these health benefits.
For more articles please visit: http://www.natural-health-journals.com
How to Make Sure You're Not on the Layoff List
By David Hakala on March 10, 2008
Ref: http://www.hrworld.com/features/avoid-layoffs-031008/
Read any newspaper, and you will learn that companies are laying off hundreds — or even thousands — of workers. It is a scary time because the decisions about who gets laid off seem entirely out of one's control. But in many cases, there are steps that you can take to increase the odds of keeping your job, or at least a job of some sort.
First, you need to make yourself more valuable than the next person. Remember the old joke about the two men who were running from a charging lion? “Do you think we can outrun him?” said one man to the other. “I don’t care about him,” said the other man, “all I have to do is outrun you.” It is a grim fact that in the race to avoid being laid off, the swiftest workers survive. You have to be more valuable than the next person in every way.
Do a great job. Average or mediocre employees are usually the first to be laid off. When rumors of layoffs start flying, it is all too common for morale and productivity to decline. But this is the time when you must put forth extra effort to do the very best job you can. Now is the time to work longer and harder.
Doing a great job means more than just showing up, putting in the hours and doing what you are told. It means finding ways to add value to the work that you do for your employer.
The Added-Value Action Plan
You can start adding value by reviewing your job description. Make a list of all your duties. Are you getting everything done exceptionally well? Next, write down all of the other tasks that you routinely perform (those that aren't in your job description) that add value to your work. Rate each of the tasks you do on a scale of one to five, with five being outstanding. How much value are you really adding?
Now is the time to look for other things that you could be doing to add value. Make a list of them and create an action plan to add them to your current workload. Specify how each new task would add value to your job in the form of money saved or earned for the company.
Collaborate with your boss on this added-value plan. Ask your supervisor how you can add more value to your job. Show him or her the worksheet you have made and the duites that you would like added to your job. What seems like added value to you may be a waste of time in your boss's eyes. Incorporate your manager's ideas into your added-value action plan. Show off what you are doing and ask to do more.
Once you complete your action plan, it is time to act on it. Post it on the wall and review it every day to make sure that you are doing all you can to keep your job.
Stay Positive
Be a pleasant co-worker, no matter how gloomy the layoff outlook may be. People who make others uncomfortable or demoralized are more likely to be laid off. Keep your spirits up no matter what.
Prepare to be flexible if layoffs become a reality. In some cases, you may be offered a job in another location. In other instances, you might be offered a lower-grade job at a reduced salary. These options are often better than none.
Finding a new job or starting your own business is yet another way to avoid being laid off. You can start now to renew your network contacts, work with recruiters or prepare a business plan.
When layoffs appear on the horizon, you don’t need to stand frozen like a deer in the headlights. You can work harder to keep your job or prepare to move on your own schedule instead of someone else’s.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Ref: http://www.hrworld.com/features/avoid-layoffs-031008/
Read any newspaper, and you will learn that companies are laying off hundreds — or even thousands — of workers. It is a scary time because the decisions about who gets laid off seem entirely out of one's control. But in many cases, there are steps that you can take to increase the odds of keeping your job, or at least a job of some sort.
First, you need to make yourself more valuable than the next person. Remember the old joke about the two men who were running from a charging lion? “Do you think we can outrun him?” said one man to the other. “I don’t care about him,” said the other man, “all I have to do is outrun you.” It is a grim fact that in the race to avoid being laid off, the swiftest workers survive. You have to be more valuable than the next person in every way.
Do a great job. Average or mediocre employees are usually the first to be laid off. When rumors of layoffs start flying, it is all too common for morale and productivity to decline. But this is the time when you must put forth extra effort to do the very best job you can. Now is the time to work longer and harder.
Doing a great job means more than just showing up, putting in the hours and doing what you are told. It means finding ways to add value to the work that you do for your employer.
The Added-Value Action Plan
You can start adding value by reviewing your job description. Make a list of all your duties. Are you getting everything done exceptionally well? Next, write down all of the other tasks that you routinely perform (those that aren't in your job description) that add value to your work. Rate each of the tasks you do on a scale of one to five, with five being outstanding. How much value are you really adding?
Now is the time to look for other things that you could be doing to add value. Make a list of them and create an action plan to add them to your current workload. Specify how each new task would add value to your job in the form of money saved or earned for the company.
Collaborate with your boss on this added-value plan. Ask your supervisor how you can add more value to your job. Show him or her the worksheet you have made and the duites that you would like added to your job. What seems like added value to you may be a waste of time in your boss's eyes. Incorporate your manager's ideas into your added-value action plan. Show off what you are doing and ask to do more.
Once you complete your action plan, it is time to act on it. Post it on the wall and review it every day to make sure that you are doing all you can to keep your job.
Stay Positive
Be a pleasant co-worker, no matter how gloomy the layoff outlook may be. People who make others uncomfortable or demoralized are more likely to be laid off. Keep your spirits up no matter what.
Prepare to be flexible if layoffs become a reality. In some cases, you may be offered a job in another location. In other instances, you might be offered a lower-grade job at a reduced salary. These options are often better than none.
Finding a new job or starting your own business is yet another way to avoid being laid off. You can start now to renew your network contacts, work with recruiters or prepare a business plan.
When layoffs appear on the horizon, you don’t need to stand frozen like a deer in the headlights. You can work harder to keep your job or prepare to move on your own schedule instead of someone else’s.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Laid Off: 16 Ways to Make the Best of a Bad Situation
By David Hakala
Ref: HRWorlf Article
A layoff can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. If your number comes up during downsizing, it can feel as if you have lost your reason for being. During this traumatic time, there are some steps you can take to ease the pain and make the best of things.
1. Keep your emotions in check. The first reaction to being told that you are being laid off is fear of loss, and fear is always followed by protective anger. But anger will not do you any good and can harm your exit strategy. Keep your cool.
2. Listen carefully as severance benefits are explained. Your mind may be on what you are going to do next, but what is being offered to you now is just as important. Ask about severance pay, COBRA insurance, your 401(k) plan and so on.
3. Ask about references. It’s reassuring to know that you can get one from your former supervisor.
4. Make sure that you collect all of your personal things. It is unlikely that you will be allowed back in the office once you leave.
5. Go home and grieve for a few days. Grief is a natural reaction to being laid off and is the first step in the healing process. You have to stop denying that the layoff happened and accept it. That is what grief is about.
6. Don’t blame yourself. Employees are selected to be laid off for reasons that are often beyond their control. Don’t look for reasons why you may have brought the layoff upon yourself.
7. Commit to the change. Once you have accepted the layoff’s reality, make a commitment to drive the change in your life instead of letting it happen to you.
8. Make concrete plans. Create to-do lists, schedules and action plans so that you can keep your life structured and measure progress toward your goals.
9. Apply for government unemployment benefits. Do this immediately, and participate in retraining and job-placement programs.
10. Keep to a schedule. Get up at the same time as you did when you had a job. Treat your job search as if it was your new job and show up for it on time every day.
11. Take advantage of outplacement services, if they are offered. Such services include training in job-search and interview skills that most people seldom practice. Outplacement services can also provide support and encouragement during this troubled time.
12. Get out of the house. Go out and exercise at the time you would normally leave for work. Some people treat a library or a job-training center as if it was their new office. The change of scenery can focus your mind on job hunting and help you avoid depression.
13. Polish up your résumé. Taking stock of your achievements will help ease the pain of the layoff, and setting a new career objective will help you focus your job-search efforts.
14. Take stock of your contacts. Make a list of everyone you know, and don’t avoid them. It’s tempting to hide sheepishly when you have been laid off, but this is the time to renew your acquaintances and let them know that you are available for work.
15. Update or create your Facebook or LinkedIn profile. Employers are using social networks to look for employees these days, so make these sites work for you.
16. Revise your household budget. Make painful cuts now to avoid even more painful ones later. Never assume that unemployment is going to be brief.
Being laid off is never easy. Taking these steps can help ease the pain and get you back on track to a rewarding new job.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Ref: HRWorlf Article
A layoff can be one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. If your number comes up during downsizing, it can feel as if you have lost your reason for being. During this traumatic time, there are some steps you can take to ease the pain and make the best of things.
1. Keep your emotions in check. The first reaction to being told that you are being laid off is fear of loss, and fear is always followed by protective anger. But anger will not do you any good and can harm your exit strategy. Keep your cool.
2. Listen carefully as severance benefits are explained. Your mind may be on what you are going to do next, but what is being offered to you now is just as important. Ask about severance pay, COBRA insurance, your 401(k) plan and so on.
3. Ask about references. It’s reassuring to know that you can get one from your former supervisor.
4. Make sure that you collect all of your personal things. It is unlikely that you will be allowed back in the office once you leave.
5. Go home and grieve for a few days. Grief is a natural reaction to being laid off and is the first step in the healing process. You have to stop denying that the layoff happened and accept it. That is what grief is about.
6. Don’t blame yourself. Employees are selected to be laid off for reasons that are often beyond their control. Don’t look for reasons why you may have brought the layoff upon yourself.
7. Commit to the change. Once you have accepted the layoff’s reality, make a commitment to drive the change in your life instead of letting it happen to you.
8. Make concrete plans. Create to-do lists, schedules and action plans so that you can keep your life structured and measure progress toward your goals.
9. Apply for government unemployment benefits. Do this immediately, and participate in retraining and job-placement programs.
10. Keep to a schedule. Get up at the same time as you did when you had a job. Treat your job search as if it was your new job and show up for it on time every day.
11. Take advantage of outplacement services, if they are offered. Such services include training in job-search and interview skills that most people seldom practice. Outplacement services can also provide support and encouragement during this troubled time.
12. Get out of the house. Go out and exercise at the time you would normally leave for work. Some people treat a library or a job-training center as if it was their new office. The change of scenery can focus your mind on job hunting and help you avoid depression.
13. Polish up your résumé. Taking stock of your achievements will help ease the pain of the layoff, and setting a new career objective will help you focus your job-search efforts.
14. Take stock of your contacts. Make a list of everyone you know, and don’t avoid them. It’s tempting to hide sheepishly when you have been laid off, but this is the time to renew your acquaintances and let them know that you are available for work.
15. Update or create your Facebook or LinkedIn profile. Employers are using social networks to look for employees these days, so make these sites work for you.
16. Revise your household budget. Make painful cuts now to avoid even more painful ones later. Never assume that unemployment is going to be brief.
Being laid off is never easy. Taking these steps can help ease the pain and get you back on track to a rewarding new job.
For more articles please visit: http://www.hrworld.com/
Ride your bike all winter
By Lloyd Alter, Toronto
Ref: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/ride-your-bike-all-winter-part.html
Lots of people ride their bikes all year round; the picture shows a parking area at a train station in Hyvinkaa, Finland, where it gets colder and darker earlier than anywhere in America. I thought from personal experience that a few suggestions were missing in our earlier post, so I've added them here.
1. It isn't cold: Biking is like any vigorous exercise, and your body warms itself. The rule is to dress as if it is 20 degrees F warmer; that is too much of a shock to the system when you get on your bike, I tend to dress as I would for a light run or cross-country ski.
2. Consider getting a junker bike: Particularly if you use a skinny, tired road bike; the bumpy wide tires of a mountain bike do provide more control.
3. Lose the clip-in pedals and bike shoes: You need warmer shoes and you need your feet on the ground more often, being clipped in is dangerous.
4. Plan your routes: Roads are a lot narrower in winter when they plough the snow to the side but don't remove it. Back roads that left plenty of room for bike and car don't in winter. If you live in a city with streetcar tracks, you will be forced into them; I avoid tracked streets as much as possible in winter. Not how we recommend you dress. Photo credit: Icebike
5. Protect your extremities: Your core will be warm as toast but your fingers and toes are out there exposed to wind. Have roomy shoes that can take two pair of socks, lobster gloves or mittens. On really cold days, I have worn an extra pair of shorts to protect other extremities.
6. Balaclavas are great: I have a thin one that goes under my helmet, and keeps my neck warm. I can pull it up over my chin and mouth when it gets really cold.
7. Lots of lights and loud, obnoxious reflective clothes are a must: It gets dark early, you will often be sharing the same lanes as cars, and they all think that only a complete nutcase would be out on a bike so are not looking for you.
8. Drink lots of water: You won't know it but you get really dehydrated.
9. Time your ride: Not only can you be incredibly smug for doing the green, healthy thing, but don't be surprised if you beat all your driving and transit riding friends to work. Let them know.
For more details please visit: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport
Ref: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport/ride-your-bike-all-winter-part.html
Lots of people ride their bikes all year round; the picture shows a parking area at a train station in Hyvinkaa, Finland, where it gets colder and darker earlier than anywhere in America. I thought from personal experience that a few suggestions were missing in our earlier post, so I've added them here.
1. It isn't cold: Biking is like any vigorous exercise, and your body warms itself. The rule is to dress as if it is 20 degrees F warmer; that is too much of a shock to the system when you get on your bike, I tend to dress as I would for a light run or cross-country ski.
2. Consider getting a junker bike: Particularly if you use a skinny, tired road bike; the bumpy wide tires of a mountain bike do provide more control.
3. Lose the clip-in pedals and bike shoes: You need warmer shoes and you need your feet on the ground more often, being clipped in is dangerous.
4. Plan your routes: Roads are a lot narrower in winter when they plough the snow to the side but don't remove it. Back roads that left plenty of room for bike and car don't in winter. If you live in a city with streetcar tracks, you will be forced into them; I avoid tracked streets as much as possible in winter. Not how we recommend you dress. Photo credit: Icebike
5. Protect your extremities: Your core will be warm as toast but your fingers and toes are out there exposed to wind. Have roomy shoes that can take two pair of socks, lobster gloves or mittens. On really cold days, I have worn an extra pair of shorts to protect other extremities.
6. Balaclavas are great: I have a thin one that goes under my helmet, and keeps my neck warm. I can pull it up over my chin and mouth when it gets really cold.
7. Lots of lights and loud, obnoxious reflective clothes are a must: It gets dark early, you will often be sharing the same lanes as cars, and they all think that only a complete nutcase would be out on a bike so are not looking for you.
8. Drink lots of water: You won't know it but you get really dehydrated.
9. Time your ride: Not only can you be incredibly smug for doing the green, healthy thing, but don't be surprised if you beat all your driving and transit riding friends to work. Let them know.
For more details please visit: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tech-transport
Science Says We Really Are What We Drink
Science Says We Really Are What We Drink
Great article by by HILARY HYLTON
Ref: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1853838,00.html
And now for some helpful scientific advice: When that IRS agent comes to your office to conduct an audit, offer him a cup of coffee. And when you're sitting down to do your holiday shopping online, make sure you're cradling a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a chilly drink in hand serves as a brake on rash decisions — those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by two Yale-educated psychologists, published last week in Science magazine.
Encountering warmth or cold lights up the insula — a walnut-sized section of the brain — says John A. Bargh, a professor of psychology at Yale, who co-authored the paper with Lawrence E. Williams of the University of Colorado who received his Ph.D. from Yale earlier this year. And the insula is the same part of the brain engaged when we evaluate who we can trust in economic transactions, Bargh says.
Psychologists have known since the mid 1940s that one person's perceptions of another's "warmth" is a powerful determining factor in social relationships. Judging someone to be either "warm" or "cold" is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a "cold" person may be more competent. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when infants' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth surrogate mother rather than one made of wire, even when the wire "mother" carried a food bottle. Harlow's work and subsequent studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of "warmth" and "coolness" in social judgments appears to be universal. Although no comprehensive worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as "warm" or "cold" is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries. To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, the researchers conducted two experiments. The first involved a group of 41 undergraduates who were taken by elevator to a fourth floor room. During the ride, a research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses, handed the test subject either a hot cup of coffee, or a cold drink, to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form on a clipboard. The drink was then handed back. When the subjects arrived at the testing room, they were presented with a personality profile describing "Person A" and asked to rate that person's personality traits. Those who had briefly held the warm drink assessed Person A as warmer than test subjects who had held the iced drink.
"We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly," says Bargh.
In a second experiment, done under the guise of a product-evaluation test, participants were asked to hold heated or frozen packs used to treat muscle aches. They were then told they could receive a gift certificate for a friend, or a gift for themselves. Those who held the hot pack proved to be more likely to ask for the gift certificate for a friend, while those who held the frozen pack tended to keep the gift.
"It appears that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how we see others, it affects our own behavior as well," Bargh said. "Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer — more generous and trusting — as well."
The practical advice Bargh takes away from the study is that important decisions are best taken with a cold drink in hand, because that part of the brain that triggers caution in economic and trust decisions is stimulated by cold sensation. Conversely, if you are planning on introducing your fiancee to mom and dad, pass on the icy martinis in that air-conditioned, glass and steel restaurant; do it over a mug of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire.
For more details please visit: http://www.time.com
Great article by by HILARY HYLTON
Ref: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1853838,00.html
And now for some helpful scientific advice: When that IRS agent comes to your office to conduct an audit, offer him a cup of coffee. And when you're sitting down to do your holiday shopping online, make sure you're cradling a large glass of iced tea. The physical sensation of warmth encourages emotional warmth, while a chilly drink in hand serves as a brake on rash decisions — those are the practical lesson being drawn from recent research by two Yale-educated psychologists, published last week in Science magazine.
Encountering warmth or cold lights up the insula — a walnut-sized section of the brain — says John A. Bargh, a professor of psychology at Yale, who co-authored the paper with Lawrence E. Williams of the University of Colorado who received his Ph.D. from Yale earlier this year. And the insula is the same part of the brain engaged when we evaluate who we can trust in economic transactions, Bargh says.
Psychologists have known since the mid 1940s that one person's perceptions of another's "warmth" is a powerful determining factor in social relationships. Judging someone to be either "warm" or "cold" is a primary consideration, even trumping evidence that a "cold" person may be more competent. Much of this is rooted in very early childhood experiences, Bargh argues, when infants' conceptual sense of the world around them is shaped by physical sensations, particularly warmth and coldness. Classic studies by Harry Harlow, published in 1958, showed monkeys preferred to stay close to a cloth surrogate mother rather than one made of wire, even when the wire "mother" carried a food bottle. Harlow's work and subsequent studies have led psychologists to stress the need for warm physical contact from caregivers to help young children grow into healthy adults with normal social skills.
Feelings of "warmth" and "coolness" in social judgments appears to be universal. Although no comprehensive worldwide study has been done, Bargh says that describing people as "warm" or "cold" is common to many cultures, and studies have found those perceptions influence judgment in dozens of countries. To test the relationship between physical and psychological warmth, the researchers conducted two experiments. The first involved a group of 41 undergraduates who were taken by elevator to a fourth floor room. During the ride, a research assistant who was unaware of the study's hypotheses, handed the test subject either a hot cup of coffee, or a cold drink, to hold while the researcher filled out a short information form on a clipboard. The drink was then handed back. When the subjects arrived at the testing room, they were presented with a personality profile describing "Person A" and asked to rate that person's personality traits. Those who had briefly held the warm drink assessed Person A as warmer than test subjects who had held the iced drink.
"We are grounded in our physical experiences even when we think abstractly," says Bargh.
In a second experiment, done under the guise of a product-evaluation test, participants were asked to hold heated or frozen packs used to treat muscle aches. They were then told they could receive a gift certificate for a friend, or a gift for themselves. Those who held the hot pack proved to be more likely to ask for the gift certificate for a friend, while those who held the frozen pack tended to keep the gift.
"It appears that the effect of physical temperature is not just on how we see others, it affects our own behavior as well," Bargh said. "Physical warmth can make us see others as warmer people, but also cause us to be warmer — more generous and trusting — as well."
The practical advice Bargh takes away from the study is that important decisions are best taken with a cold drink in hand, because that part of the brain that triggers caution in economic and trust decisions is stimulated by cold sensation. Conversely, if you are planning on introducing your fiancee to mom and dad, pass on the icy martinis in that air-conditioned, glass and steel restaurant; do it over a mug of hot chocolate in front of a roaring fire.
For more details please visit: http://www.time.com
Driving in Rain
Ever experienced losing control, even if it was momentarily, under wet conditions? The answer may be, in all certainties, a yes for most of us.
Losing control of your car in wet is a frightening situation that may have you land up in a soup. Drive slowly and carefully to prevent skids. On the curves, steer and brake with a light touch. If you want to stop, make sure that you do not brake hard or lock up the wheels, lest you end up skidding.
Even if you do lose control and end up skidding, do not panic as it will only add to the trouble. Stay calm, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and steer the car carefully in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If your car comes equipped with ABS then modulate the use of brakes as you steer the car.
Aquaplaning is another severe predicament that happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes the car to slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road surface. At this point, your car can be completely out of contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane, or even off the road. To avoid getting yourself in such a situation, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary.
Slow down when you experience wet roads, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you. Avoid using brakes or turning suddenly. This could throw your car into a slide. Ease off the gas pedal until the car slows down to the extent that you can feel the roadagain. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car employs ABS, use the brakes normally. This will see the ABS actuating the brake force as is required to prevent any loss of grip.
Losing control of your car in wet is a frightening situation that may have you land up in a soup. Drive slowly and carefully to prevent skids. On the curves, steer and brake with a light touch. If you want to stop, make sure that you do not brake hard or lock up the wheels, lest you end up skidding.
Even if you do lose control and end up skidding, do not panic as it will only add to the trouble. Stay calm, ease your foot off the accelerator pedal and steer the car carefully in the direction you want the front of the car to go. If your car comes equipped with ABS then modulate the use of brakes as you steer the car.
Aquaplaning is another severe predicament that happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes the car to slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road surface. At this point, your car can be completely out of contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane, or even off the road. To avoid getting yourself in such a situation, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary.
Slow down when you experience wet roads, and stay away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you. Avoid using brakes or turning suddenly. This could throw your car into a slide. Ease off the gas pedal until the car slows down to the extent that you can feel the roadagain. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car employs ABS, use the brakes normally. This will see the ABS actuating the brake force as is required to prevent any loss of grip.
Night Driving
According to a survey, death rate due to accident fatalities at night is three times more than that in the day.
There are many hazards associated with driving at night and most of us don’t know of ways to deal with them. The primary reason why night driving is so dangerous is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on vision which is severely limited at night.
Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown. The more your age, the lesser is your viewing capability at night. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year old.
Fatigue is another major contributor towards danger when driving at night. Weariness slows the reaction time and lowers the concentration level.
Alcohol plays a leading role in fatal traffic crashes, causing about half of all motor vehicle-related deaths. That makes weekend nights more dangerous. More fatal crashes take place on weekend nights than at any other time in the week. So please, no matter how clichèd, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. There are a number of things that one can put into use to minimize the dangers of driving after-dark
* Clean the headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) regularly.
* Have your headlights properly aligned. Ill-aligned light beam blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
* Alcohol severely impairs your driving ability. It also acts as a depressant. Just one drink can induce fatigue.
* Avoid smoking when you drive. Nicotine and carbon monoxide hinder night vision
* Being seen is as important as seeing. Do throw the main beam whenever under doubt about something on the road. This might hamper your visibility but the oncoming traffic will be able to see you clearly.
* Increase your ‘trailing’ distance when following a vehicle since it is difficult to judge a vehicle’ s speed and distance at night.
* When following a vehicle, make sure that you do not use high beam as it can blind the driver in the front.
* If the oncoming traffic does not lower its beam then to avoid glare, watch the edge of the road and use it as a steering guide.
* Stop regularly and treat yourself to light snacks and energy drinks to maintain the concentration levels. Also do some stretching exercises to flex your body muscles.
* Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive because your eyes are constantly adjusting to the changing and dying intensity of light which ultimately results in darkness. Practice utmost caution while driving during this period.
There are many hazards associated with driving at night and most of us don’t know of ways to deal with them. The primary reason why night driving is so dangerous is darkness. Ninety percent of a driver’s reaction depends on vision which is severely limited at night.
Depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are compromised after sundown. The more your age, the lesser is your viewing capability at night. A 50-year-old driver may need twice as much light to see as well as a 30-year old.
Fatigue is another major contributor towards danger when driving at night. Weariness slows the reaction time and lowers the concentration level.
Alcohol plays a leading role in fatal traffic crashes, causing about half of all motor vehicle-related deaths. That makes weekend nights more dangerous. More fatal crashes take place on weekend nights than at any other time in the week. So please, no matter how clichèd, DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE. There are a number of things that one can put into use to minimize the dangers of driving after-dark
* Clean the headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows (inside and out) regularly.
* Have your headlights properly aligned. Ill-aligned light beam blind other drivers and reduce your ability to see the road.
* Alcohol severely impairs your driving ability. It also acts as a depressant. Just one drink can induce fatigue.
* Avoid smoking when you drive. Nicotine and carbon monoxide hinder night vision
* Being seen is as important as seeing. Do throw the main beam whenever under doubt about something on the road. This might hamper your visibility but the oncoming traffic will be able to see you clearly.
* Increase your ‘trailing’ distance when following a vehicle since it is difficult to judge a vehicle’ s speed and distance at night.
* When following a vehicle, make sure that you do not use high beam as it can blind the driver in the front.
* If the oncoming traffic does not lower its beam then to avoid glare, watch the edge of the road and use it as a steering guide.
* Stop regularly and treat yourself to light snacks and energy drinks to maintain the concentration levels. Also do some stretching exercises to flex your body muscles.
* Twilight is one of the most difficult times to drive because your eyes are constantly adjusting to the changing and dying intensity of light which ultimately results in darkness. Practice utmost caution while driving during this period.
Facing Challenges of Life
By Deepak M.
Ref: ezinearticles.com
A lot of people all over are always cribbing about their present situation as to how their life is full of challenges and they would have been more happier if their life was full of roses. But life is always that way. Just try finding one person who had never any challenges in his/her life. You will never find one! If that were to be as everyone wanted, then their would not have been any interest in life as each day would have been monotonous leading to dull and drab life. Only by facing challenges and overcoming them, a person is really said to have lead a fulfilling life!
Life will always have challenges:
Just get used that mindset. Life will always be full of challenges for every person whatever section of society he belongs to. If a poor person wants to get out of his poverty to a comfortable living standard he has to struggle it out. Same goes for a middle class person if he wants to get a more comfortable life. . . he too has to struggle it out. So challenges will always exist.
More challenges you encounter more successful you become:
Life always has various levels of games for every individual. For a person overcoming one challenge, he become mentally ready for other one in course of which life gives him greater rewards for solving those challenges. You go to another level by stretching your comfort zone a little further.
Every challenge gets an opportunity:
Every challenge a person acquires in life presents him with two kinds of opportunities. . . one is personal growth and other one financial growth. So it's a real challenge to spot these opportunities and to cash on them thus leading to personal and material development of one self.
Recognizing opportunity:
The best way to recognize an opportunity in adversity is to get guidance and learn from the same people who have been through your path. They are your best teachers. Since every one cannot be accessible at a given time, reading books, listening to audio tapes from personal development experts can go a long way in helping you.
Putting your learnings into action:
The important part of learning in life is to put whatever one has learned into action. Without action all the strategies of life have no meaning. So if you want to profit in your life, mentally as well as financially start from today to put into action whatever good things learned from life before your time runs out!!
For more articles pl. visit http://ezinearticles.com
Ref: ezinearticles.com
A lot of people all over are always cribbing about their present situation as to how their life is full of challenges and they would have been more happier if their life was full of roses. But life is always that way. Just try finding one person who had never any challenges in his/her life. You will never find one! If that were to be as everyone wanted, then their would not have been any interest in life as each day would have been monotonous leading to dull and drab life. Only by facing challenges and overcoming them, a person is really said to have lead a fulfilling life!
Life will always have challenges:
Just get used that mindset. Life will always be full of challenges for every person whatever section of society he belongs to. If a poor person wants to get out of his poverty to a comfortable living standard he has to struggle it out. Same goes for a middle class person if he wants to get a more comfortable life. . . he too has to struggle it out. So challenges will always exist.
More challenges you encounter more successful you become:
Life always has various levels of games for every individual. For a person overcoming one challenge, he become mentally ready for other one in course of which life gives him greater rewards for solving those challenges. You go to another level by stretching your comfort zone a little further.
Every challenge gets an opportunity:
Every challenge a person acquires in life presents him with two kinds of opportunities. . . one is personal growth and other one financial growth. So it's a real challenge to spot these opportunities and to cash on them thus leading to personal and material development of one self.
Recognizing opportunity:
The best way to recognize an opportunity in adversity is to get guidance and learn from the same people who have been through your path. They are your best teachers. Since every one cannot be accessible at a given time, reading books, listening to audio tapes from personal development experts can go a long way in helping you.
Putting your learnings into action:
The important part of learning in life is to put whatever one has learned into action. Without action all the strategies of life have no meaning. So if you want to profit in your life, mentally as well as financially start from today to put into action whatever good things learned from life before your time runs out!!
For more articles pl. visit http://ezinearticles.com
How to Become an Early Riser
by Steve Pavlina
Ref: http://www.stevepavlina.com
It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.
- Aristotle
Are morning people born or made? In my case it was definitely made. In my early 20s, I rarely went to bed before midnight, and I’d almost always sleep in late. I usually didn’t start hitting my stride each day until late afternoon.
But after a while I couldn’t ignore the high correlation between success and rising early, even in my own life. On those rare occasions where I did get up early, I noticed that my productivity was almost always higher, not just in the morning but all throughout the day. And I also noticed a significant feeling of well-being. So being the proactive goal-achiever I was, I set out to become a habitual early riser. I promptly set my alarm clock for 5AM…
… and the next morning, I got up just before noon.
Hmmm…
I tried again many more times, each time not getting very far with it. I figured I must have been born without the early riser gene. Whenever my alarm went off, my first thought was always to stop that blasted noise and go back to sleep. I tabled this habit for a number of years, but eventually I came across some sleep research that showed me that I was going about this problem the wrong way. Once I applied those ideas, I was able to become an early riser consistently.
It’s hard to become an early riser using the wrong strategy. But with the right strategy, it’s relatively easy.
The most common wrong strategy is this: You assume that if you’re going to get up earlier, you’d better go to bed earlier. So you figure out how much sleep you’re getting now, and then just shift everything back a few hours. If you now sleep from midnight to 8am, you figure you’ll go to bed at 10pm and get up at 6am instead. Sounds very reasonable, but it will usually fail.
It seems there are two main schools of thought about sleep patterns. One is that you should go to bed and get up at the same times every day. It’s like having an alarm clock on both ends — you try to sleep the same hours each night. This seems practical for living in modern society. We need predictability in our schedules. And we need to ensure adequate rest.
The second school says you should listen to your body’s needs and go to bed when you’re tired and get up when you naturally wake up. This approach is rooted in biology. Our bodies should know how much rest we need, so we should listen to them.
Through trial and error, I found out for myself that both of these schools are suboptimal sleep patterns. Both of them are wrong if you care about productivity. Here’s why:
If you sleep set hours, you’ll sometimes go to bed when you aren’t sleepy enough. If it’s taking you more than five minutes to fall asleep each night, you aren’t sleepy enough. You’re wasting time lying in bed awake and not being asleep. Another problem is that you’re assuming you need the same number of hours of sleep every night, which is a false assumption. Your sleep needs vary from day to day.
If you sleep based on what your body tells you, you’ll probably be sleeping more than you need — in many cases a lot more, like 10-15 hours more per week (the equivalent of a full waking day). A lot of people who sleep this way get 8+ hours of sleep per night, which is usually too much. Also, your mornings may be less predictable if you’re getting up at different times. And because our natural rhythms are sometimes out of tune with the 24-hour clock, you may find that your sleep times begin to drift.
The optimal solution for me has been to combine both approaches. It’s very simple, and many early risers do this without even thinking about it, but it was a mental breakthrough for me nonetheless. The solution was to go to bed when I’m sleepy (and only when I’m sleepy) and get up with an alarm clock at a fixed time (7 days per week). So I always get up at the same time (in my case 5am), but I go to bed at different times every night.
I go to bed when I’m too sleepy to stay up. My sleepiness test is that if I couldn’t read a book for more than a page or two without drifting off, I’m ready for bed. Most of the time when I go to bed, I’m asleep within three minutes. I lie down, get comfortable, and immediately I’m drifting off. Sometimes I go to bed at 9:30pm; other times I stay up until midnight. Most of the time I go to bed between 10-11pm. If I’m not sleepy, I stay up until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. Reading is an excellent activity to do during this time, since it becomes obvious when I’m too sleepy to read.
When my alarm goes off every morning, I turn it off, stretch for a couple seconds, and sit up. I don’t think about it. I’ve learned that the longer it takes me to get up, the more likely I am to try to sleep in. So I don’t allow myself to have conversations in my head about the benefits of sleeping in once the alarm goes off. Even if I want to sleep in, I always get up right away.
After a few days of using this approach, I found that my sleep patterns settled into a natural rhythm. If I got too little sleep one night, I’d automatically be sleepier earlier and get more sleep the next night. And if I had lots of energy and wasn’t tired, I’d sleep less. My body learned when to knock me out because it knew I would always get up at the same time and that my wake-up time wasn’t negotiable.
A side effect was that on average, I slept about 90 minutes less per night, but I actually felt more well-rested. I was sleeping almost the entire time I was in bed.
I read that most insomniacs are people who go to bed when they aren’t sleepy. If you aren’t sleepy and find yourself unable to fall asleep quickly, get up and stay awake for a while. Resist sleep until your body begins to release the hormones that rob you of consciousness. If you simply go to bed when you’re sleepy and then get up at a fixed time, you’ll cure your insomnia. The first night you’ll stay up late, but you’ll fall asleep right away. You may be tired that first day from getting up too early and getting only a few hours of sleep the whole night, but you’ll slog through the day and will want to go to bed earlier that second night. After a few days, you’ll settle into a pattern of going to bed at roughly the same time and falling asleep right away.
So if you want to become an early riser (or just exert more control over your sleep patterns), then try this: Go to bed only when you’re too sleepy to stay up, and get up at a fixed time every morning.
Edit (5/31/05): Due to the (mysterious) popularity of this post, I’ve written a follow-up with some extra detail and clarifications: How to Become an Early Riser - Part II. And if you really want to take sleep to the next level, read about my experiences with Polyphasic Sleep, where you only sleep 2-3 hours a day by taking 20-minute naps every few hours, around the clock.
Please visit http://www.stevepavlina.com for more details and other useful information.
Ref: http://www.stevepavlina.com
It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom.
- Aristotle
Are morning people born or made? In my case it was definitely made. In my early 20s, I rarely went to bed before midnight, and I’d almost always sleep in late. I usually didn’t start hitting my stride each day until late afternoon.
But after a while I couldn’t ignore the high correlation between success and rising early, even in my own life. On those rare occasions where I did get up early, I noticed that my productivity was almost always higher, not just in the morning but all throughout the day. And I also noticed a significant feeling of well-being. So being the proactive goal-achiever I was, I set out to become a habitual early riser. I promptly set my alarm clock for 5AM…
… and the next morning, I got up just before noon.
Hmmm…
I tried again many more times, each time not getting very far with it. I figured I must have been born without the early riser gene. Whenever my alarm went off, my first thought was always to stop that blasted noise and go back to sleep. I tabled this habit for a number of years, but eventually I came across some sleep research that showed me that I was going about this problem the wrong way. Once I applied those ideas, I was able to become an early riser consistently.
It’s hard to become an early riser using the wrong strategy. But with the right strategy, it’s relatively easy.
The most common wrong strategy is this: You assume that if you’re going to get up earlier, you’d better go to bed earlier. So you figure out how much sleep you’re getting now, and then just shift everything back a few hours. If you now sleep from midnight to 8am, you figure you’ll go to bed at 10pm and get up at 6am instead. Sounds very reasonable, but it will usually fail.
It seems there are two main schools of thought about sleep patterns. One is that you should go to bed and get up at the same times every day. It’s like having an alarm clock on both ends — you try to sleep the same hours each night. This seems practical for living in modern society. We need predictability in our schedules. And we need to ensure adequate rest.
The second school says you should listen to your body’s needs and go to bed when you’re tired and get up when you naturally wake up. This approach is rooted in biology. Our bodies should know how much rest we need, so we should listen to them.
Through trial and error, I found out for myself that both of these schools are suboptimal sleep patterns. Both of them are wrong if you care about productivity. Here’s why:
If you sleep set hours, you’ll sometimes go to bed when you aren’t sleepy enough. If it’s taking you more than five minutes to fall asleep each night, you aren’t sleepy enough. You’re wasting time lying in bed awake and not being asleep. Another problem is that you’re assuming you need the same number of hours of sleep every night, which is a false assumption. Your sleep needs vary from day to day.
If you sleep based on what your body tells you, you’ll probably be sleeping more than you need — in many cases a lot more, like 10-15 hours more per week (the equivalent of a full waking day). A lot of people who sleep this way get 8+ hours of sleep per night, which is usually too much. Also, your mornings may be less predictable if you’re getting up at different times. And because our natural rhythms are sometimes out of tune with the 24-hour clock, you may find that your sleep times begin to drift.
The optimal solution for me has been to combine both approaches. It’s very simple, and many early risers do this without even thinking about it, but it was a mental breakthrough for me nonetheless. The solution was to go to bed when I’m sleepy (and only when I’m sleepy) and get up with an alarm clock at a fixed time (7 days per week). So I always get up at the same time (in my case 5am), but I go to bed at different times every night.
I go to bed when I’m too sleepy to stay up. My sleepiness test is that if I couldn’t read a book for more than a page or two without drifting off, I’m ready for bed. Most of the time when I go to bed, I’m asleep within three minutes. I lie down, get comfortable, and immediately I’m drifting off. Sometimes I go to bed at 9:30pm; other times I stay up until midnight. Most of the time I go to bed between 10-11pm. If I’m not sleepy, I stay up until I can’t keep my eyes open any longer. Reading is an excellent activity to do during this time, since it becomes obvious when I’m too sleepy to read.
When my alarm goes off every morning, I turn it off, stretch for a couple seconds, and sit up. I don’t think about it. I’ve learned that the longer it takes me to get up, the more likely I am to try to sleep in. So I don’t allow myself to have conversations in my head about the benefits of sleeping in once the alarm goes off. Even if I want to sleep in, I always get up right away.
After a few days of using this approach, I found that my sleep patterns settled into a natural rhythm. If I got too little sleep one night, I’d automatically be sleepier earlier and get more sleep the next night. And if I had lots of energy and wasn’t tired, I’d sleep less. My body learned when to knock me out because it knew I would always get up at the same time and that my wake-up time wasn’t negotiable.
A side effect was that on average, I slept about 90 minutes less per night, but I actually felt more well-rested. I was sleeping almost the entire time I was in bed.
I read that most insomniacs are people who go to bed when they aren’t sleepy. If you aren’t sleepy and find yourself unable to fall asleep quickly, get up and stay awake for a while. Resist sleep until your body begins to release the hormones that rob you of consciousness. If you simply go to bed when you’re sleepy and then get up at a fixed time, you’ll cure your insomnia. The first night you’ll stay up late, but you’ll fall asleep right away. You may be tired that first day from getting up too early and getting only a few hours of sleep the whole night, but you’ll slog through the day and will want to go to bed earlier that second night. After a few days, you’ll settle into a pattern of going to bed at roughly the same time and falling asleep right away.
So if you want to become an early riser (or just exert more control over your sleep patterns), then try this: Go to bed only when you’re too sleepy to stay up, and get up at a fixed time every morning.
Edit (5/31/05): Due to the (mysterious) popularity of this post, I’ve written a follow-up with some extra detail and clarifications: How to Become an Early Riser - Part II. And if you really want to take sleep to the next level, read about my experiences with Polyphasic Sleep, where you only sleep 2-3 hours a day by taking 20-minute naps every few hours, around the clock.
Please visit http://www.stevepavlina.com for more details and other useful information.
Twenty of the World's Healthiest Foods
By Kathy Browning
Ref: http://www.boomj.com
When it comes to eating healthy most people think of dull, boring food that's green in color. In reality, most of the world's healthiest foods not only taste great, they also come in a vast array of vibrant colors. Many require little, if any preparation, yet provide you with the energy and stamina to get through the day. They are the ultimate fast food!
Although fresh, whole fruits and veggies are amongst the world's healthiest foods, it's also important to consume an assortment of grains, nuts, seeds and foods rich in essential fatty acids. Experts recommend consuming a daily total of 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruit, 6-11 servings of grains, and 1-2 servings of nuts and seeds.
One serving of vegetables is equivalent to1/2 cup cooked or chopped raw vegetables, or 3/4 cup vegetable juice, or 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, collard greens). One serving of grains equals 1/4 cup of cooked grains. A serving of nuts and seeds equals one ounce or approximately two tablespoons sunflower seeds or 12 whole almonds.
Essential fatty acids are obtained through a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. Daily intake should be between 1 and 3 grams. The omega-3 and omega-6 oils are the essential fatty acids. There are omega-9 oils, but these are not essential because the body can produce them naturally.
Omega-3 and omega-6 oils must come from your diet because the body cannot make them. Not only must you consume both oils, you must consume them in the proper balance. The human brain contains omega-3 and omega-6 in a ration of 1:1. Unfortunately, the typical American diet has most people consuming the omegas at a 1:10 ratio.
Foods rich in omega-6 EFAs include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains. Foods rich in omega-3 EFAs include flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, green leafy vegetables, grains, and spirulina.
Scientific research has shown eating a balanced diet provides a host of benefits. Eating healthy foods can provide you with more energy, brain clarity, less aches and pains, restful sleep and more.
Here you will find twenty of the world's healthiest foods and the health benefits they provide. Start by adding one new food each day. In just 20 days you will be well on your way to a healthier you!
FRUITS:
Apricots: These beauties are rich in the antioxidant beta carotene; the molecule that gives fruits and vegetables their orange color. Apricots also contain an abundant supply of iron and potassium. They help regulate blood pressure and maintain regular bowel function. If you ever experience constipation, eat an apricot!
One fresh apricot or a handful of dried apricots, provide an adult with one-fifth of the daily recommended value of potassium. It also packs a whopping 20 percent of the RDA of vitamin A, 8 percent vitamin C, and 5 percent fiber. Apricots contain tryptophan, which helps to induce sleep and relaxation.
Avocados: Oftentimes, people shy away from avocados because of their fat content. However, avocados contain "good" fat and are rich in vitamins C, E, and B6. They are also a good source of potassium.
Studies have shown avocados possess the ability to reduce cholesterol. Individuals diagnosed with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) can obtain health benefits by consuming two to three avocados per week. Avocados are high in calories, so limit weekly consumption to a maximum of three.
Bananas: Need a quick energy boost? Eat a banana. This delectable fruit contains only 62 calories and is rich in potassium and vitamin B6. It also boasts a healthy dose of vitamin C and dietary fiber. Look for bananas which are fully ripened because they contain more starch than "green" bananas. Banana starch is converted to sugar, making this fruit a good choice for people with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Bananas are probably one of the most versatile health foods available. They can be eaten with every meal, as a snack or dessert. You can add them to frozen yogurt or a fruit salad. They can be grilled, broiled, sautéed or flambéed. One of my all-time favorite banana recipes is to insert a popsicle stick into a banana, coat in melted carob, roll in chopped nuts and freeze. There's nothing better on a hot summer night!
Blueberries: This tart berry has been shown to reduce inflammation; making blueberries a good choice for individuals with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Research shows that eating thirty blueberries per day can help alleviate aches and pains in the joints.
In addition to being an anti-inflammatory fruit, blueberries also offer anti-blood clotting and antibacterial effects. They can help ease the pain associated with diarrhea or food poisoning. Blueberries contain the highest level of antioxidants and are said to possess anti-aging properties.
One cup of blueberries contains less than 100 calories, yet provides nearly 30 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, 10 percent vitamin E, and 15 percent dietary fiber. They can be added to cereal, oatmeal, fruit salads, and yogurt or eaten plain. Add dried blueberries to granola and eat as an afternoon snack for a quick-pick-me-up.
Mangoes: Mangoes contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a potent antioxidant that prevents free radicals from damaging your cells and DNA. Recent studies have shown that mangoes may help to reduce the risk of colon and cervical cancer. Mangoes are rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A within the body. It's important to note that beta-cryptoxanthin is best absorbed by the body when eaten with fat. For best results, consume mangoes as part of a meal.
Mango salsa makes an excellent companion with chicken and pork. They add a tart, yet sweet flavor to fruit salads and smoothies. Mangoes can be frozen, but be certain to remove the skin and core and store in a freezer bag.
VEGETABLES:
Artichokes: This odd-looking vegetable is fat-free, a good source of complex carbohydrates, and contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a non-digestible fiber. The human body does not possess the enzymes required to break down FOS. However, bacteria found in the large intestine and colon does contain the enzymes. For this reason, artichokes are beneficial to people who experience bowel problems.
Artichokes are a good source of iron, potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese. They provide nearly 20 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, 23 percent of vitamin K and 17 percent folate.One artichoke contains around 76 calories.
Broccoli: Research has proven broccoli has the potential to prevent cancer. That fact alone should make you want to eat it on a daily basis. Broccoli has also been proven effective in lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Broccoli is rich in beta carotene, calcium, iron, folate, vitamin C and E, and zinc. Broccoli contains about 15 percent of tryptophan; an essential amino acid that aids in sleep and relaxation. Eat this food throughout the day and for an evening snack to keep your nerves calm and to obtain a peaceful sleep.
Garlic: One of the most notable benefits of garlic is its ability to reduce blood pressure. Garlic is also known for its antibacterial properties, which can reduce the risk of infection and illness. Recent studies show garlic may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
At only 9 calories per clove, it is a perfect vegetable for those watching their weight. Garlic is a good source of manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C and calcium. Garlic can be eaten raw, added to nearly every recipe, or baked for a delicious garlic spread. Garlic salt or garlic powder can be used as a salt substitute.
Onions: Not only are onions a good source of fiber, potassium, and B vitamins, they also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Research indicates onions may help to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and relieve bronchial congestion.
At only 36 calories per medium-sized onion, these flavorful veggies can be abundantly consumed on a daily basis. Raw onions provide the highest level of health benefits. Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil to onion slices and toss on the grill. Fresh herbs and spices can be added for an extra punch of flavor.
Tomatoes: Perhaps one of the most versatile vegetables is the tomato. It can be eaten raw, cooked, steamed, grilled, baked, juiced, or pureed. Tomatoes are compatible with nearly every type of food including meats, vegetables, potatoes and rice.
One tomato contains a mere 17 calories, making it an excellent choice for those following a weight management program. Tomatoes contain a high level of antioxidants and are a good source of vitamins C and E. Just one cup will provide you with more than 50 percent of the RDA of vitamin C, 20 percent of vitamin A and 15 percent of vitamin K. Tomatoes also contain lycopene, a phytochemical known to reduce the risk of heart disease.
GRAINS
Barley and rye: These grains are high fiber whole grains and contain five times more fiber than any other whole grain. Studies show barley can slow the progression of atherosclerosis and may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. It is believed these grains reduce estrogen levels, help prevent the risk of heart disease, and stabilize blood sugar levels.
Barley and rye are both good sources of potassium and fiber. They contain small amounts of iron, Pantothenate, vitamins B1 and B6, and zinc. One cup of cooked grains contains 270 calories. These grains are a good choice for dinner, as they are high in tryptophan and can aide in restful sleep.
Oats: Starting your day off with a bowl of steaming oats can provide you with energy and brain clarity. Studies have shown eating oats on a daily basis can help to lower blood cholesterol. Oats also have the ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain regular bowel function.
Oats are a good source of fiber, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E. One cup contains less than 150 calories, making it an excellent choice for those who are watching their waistline.
Quinoa: Pronounced keen-wa, and known as the "Mother of all Grains", this grain contains more protein than any other. Quinoa is an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, iron, and copper. It is a light grain that can be substituted for rice or pasta and makes a nice addition to soups and stews.
Rice: Rice is a good source of both magnesium and potassium. It also contains fiber, iron, niacin, vitamins B1 and B2, and zinc. Rice provides a quick energy boost and is easily digested. Rice helps to maintain bowel health and stabilizes blood sugar levels. There are many varieties of rice including white, brown, basmati, jasmine and saffron.
Wheatgerm: This super grain has been used for centuries to relieve constipation. Studies show wheatgerm supports the heart and may reduce the risk of heart disease. It strengthens the immune system and may help maintain cognitive function as we age.
Wheatgerm is rich in antioxidants and folate. It also contains vitamins B1, B6, and E and is a good source of potassium and zinc. It is recommended to consume two tablespoons of fresh wheatgerm on a daily basis. Sprinkle wheatgerm on cereal, oatmeal, fruit salad or yogurt.
NUTS and SEEDS:
Almonds: Classified as a nut, almonds are actually the seed of the fruit of an almond tree. They offer a delicate and mild flavor to dishes and can be added to vegetables, meats, fruits and desserts.
Eating twelve almonds per day can provide you with the recommended daily allowance of essential fatty acids. Almonds are rich in potassium and are considered a "good" fat. These fruit seeds are high in calories, so limit your intake to no more than twelve per day. Unblanched almonds are considered to be the healthiest choice. Avoid dry roasted almonds or almonds covered in sugar, honey or salt.
Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts contain all the essential amino acids, making them a complete protein. Brazil nuts contain exceptionally high levels of selenium; a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Brazil nuts are an excellent source of zinc, which is essential to digestion and metabolism. Brazil nuts contain a high level of fat and should not be consumed more than three times per week. One serving equals eight nuts and is equivalent to 30 grams of fat.
Chestnuts: These nuts pack a wallop of beneficial carbohydrates, making them an excellent choice for people trying to gain weight. Chestnuts are cholesterol-free, low in sodium, and a good source of dietary fiber.
Additionally, chestnuts contain small amounts of vitamin C, thiamine, and riboflavin. Although chestnuts are considered a "good" fat, they should not be consumed more than four times per week. One serving of chestnuts equal five whole nuts. It's best to roast chestnuts at home by baking them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 5-6 minutes.
Pumpkin seeds: Research shows pumpkin seeds to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels, promoting prostate health, and supporting the function of the immune system. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of potassium, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc. One and one-half ounces of pumpkin seeds can provide over one-third of an adult's daily zinc requirements. However, pumpkin seeds are high in calories and should be eaten in moderation. Limit consumption to no more than three times weekly.
Sunflower seeds: One of the most popular seeds consumed, sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E and known to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Studies have also shown them effective in guarding against cataracts. Experts recommend eating two tablespoons of sunflower seeds each day. Doing so will double your intake of vitamin E. However, they are high in calories and should be eaten in limited quantities.
to read complete article: http://www.boomj.com/?page=articles/view&AID=13024
Ref: http://www.boomj.com
When it comes to eating healthy most people think of dull, boring food that's green in color. In reality, most of the world's healthiest foods not only taste great, they also come in a vast array of vibrant colors. Many require little, if any preparation, yet provide you with the energy and stamina to get through the day. They are the ultimate fast food!
Although fresh, whole fruits and veggies are amongst the world's healthiest foods, it's also important to consume an assortment of grains, nuts, seeds and foods rich in essential fatty acids. Experts recommend consuming a daily total of 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2-4 servings of fruit, 6-11 servings of grains, and 1-2 servings of nuts and seeds.
One serving of vegetables is equivalent to1/2 cup cooked or chopped raw vegetables, or 3/4 cup vegetable juice, or 1 cup of raw leafy vegetables (cabbage, lettuce, collard greens). One serving of grains equals 1/4 cup of cooked grains. A serving of nuts and seeds equals one ounce or approximately two tablespoons sunflower seeds or 12 whole almonds.
Essential fatty acids are obtained through a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains. Daily intake should be between 1 and 3 grams. The omega-3 and omega-6 oils are the essential fatty acids. There are omega-9 oils, but these are not essential because the body can produce them naturally.
Omega-3 and omega-6 oils must come from your diet because the body cannot make them. Not only must you consume both oils, you must consume them in the proper balance. The human brain contains omega-3 and omega-6 in a ration of 1:1. Unfortunately, the typical American diet has most people consuming the omegas at a 1:10 ratio.
Foods rich in omega-6 EFAs include vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and grains. Foods rich in omega-3 EFAs include flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, green leafy vegetables, grains, and spirulina.
Scientific research has shown eating a balanced diet provides a host of benefits. Eating healthy foods can provide you with more energy, brain clarity, less aches and pains, restful sleep and more.
Here you will find twenty of the world's healthiest foods and the health benefits they provide. Start by adding one new food each day. In just 20 days you will be well on your way to a healthier you!
FRUITS:
Apricots: These beauties are rich in the antioxidant beta carotene; the molecule that gives fruits and vegetables their orange color. Apricots also contain an abundant supply of iron and potassium. They help regulate blood pressure and maintain regular bowel function. If you ever experience constipation, eat an apricot!
One fresh apricot or a handful of dried apricots, provide an adult with one-fifth of the daily recommended value of potassium. It also packs a whopping 20 percent of the RDA of vitamin A, 8 percent vitamin C, and 5 percent fiber. Apricots contain tryptophan, which helps to induce sleep and relaxation.
Avocados: Oftentimes, people shy away from avocados because of their fat content. However, avocados contain "good" fat and are rich in vitamins C, E, and B6. They are also a good source of potassium.
Studies have shown avocados possess the ability to reduce cholesterol. Individuals diagnosed with atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) can obtain health benefits by consuming two to three avocados per week. Avocados are high in calories, so limit weekly consumption to a maximum of three.
Bananas: Need a quick energy boost? Eat a banana. This delectable fruit contains only 62 calories and is rich in potassium and vitamin B6. It also boasts a healthy dose of vitamin C and dietary fiber. Look for bananas which are fully ripened because they contain more starch than "green" bananas. Banana starch is converted to sugar, making this fruit a good choice for people with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
Bananas are probably one of the most versatile health foods available. They can be eaten with every meal, as a snack or dessert. You can add them to frozen yogurt or a fruit salad. They can be grilled, broiled, sautéed or flambéed. One of my all-time favorite banana recipes is to insert a popsicle stick into a banana, coat in melted carob, roll in chopped nuts and freeze. There's nothing better on a hot summer night!
Blueberries: This tart berry has been shown to reduce inflammation; making blueberries a good choice for individuals with arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Research shows that eating thirty blueberries per day can help alleviate aches and pains in the joints.
In addition to being an anti-inflammatory fruit, blueberries also offer anti-blood clotting and antibacterial effects. They can help ease the pain associated with diarrhea or food poisoning. Blueberries contain the highest level of antioxidants and are said to possess anti-aging properties.
One cup of blueberries contains less than 100 calories, yet provides nearly 30 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, 10 percent vitamin E, and 15 percent dietary fiber. They can be added to cereal, oatmeal, fruit salads, and yogurt or eaten plain. Add dried blueberries to granola and eat as an afternoon snack for a quick-pick-me-up.
Mangoes: Mangoes contain beta-cryptoxanthin, a potent antioxidant that prevents free radicals from damaging your cells and DNA. Recent studies have shown that mangoes may help to reduce the risk of colon and cervical cancer. Mangoes are rich in beta carotene, which is converted to vitamin A within the body. It's important to note that beta-cryptoxanthin is best absorbed by the body when eaten with fat. For best results, consume mangoes as part of a meal.
Mango salsa makes an excellent companion with chicken and pork. They add a tart, yet sweet flavor to fruit salads and smoothies. Mangoes can be frozen, but be certain to remove the skin and core and store in a freezer bag.
VEGETABLES:
Artichokes: This odd-looking vegetable is fat-free, a good source of complex carbohydrates, and contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS), a non-digestible fiber. The human body does not possess the enzymes required to break down FOS. However, bacteria found in the large intestine and colon does contain the enzymes. For this reason, artichokes are beneficial to people who experience bowel problems.
Artichokes are a good source of iron, potassium, magnesium, copper and manganese. They provide nearly 20 percent of the RDA for vitamin C, 23 percent of vitamin K and 17 percent folate.One artichoke contains around 76 calories.
Broccoli: Research has proven broccoli has the potential to prevent cancer. That fact alone should make you want to eat it on a daily basis. Broccoli has also been proven effective in lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Broccoli is rich in beta carotene, calcium, iron, folate, vitamin C and E, and zinc. Broccoli contains about 15 percent of tryptophan; an essential amino acid that aids in sleep and relaxation. Eat this food throughout the day and for an evening snack to keep your nerves calm and to obtain a peaceful sleep.
Garlic: One of the most notable benefits of garlic is its ability to reduce blood pressure. Garlic is also known for its antibacterial properties, which can reduce the risk of infection and illness. Recent studies show garlic may also help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
At only 9 calories per clove, it is a perfect vegetable for those watching their weight. Garlic is a good source of manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C and calcium. Garlic can be eaten raw, added to nearly every recipe, or baked for a delicious garlic spread. Garlic salt or garlic powder can be used as a salt substitute.
Onions: Not only are onions a good source of fiber, potassium, and B vitamins, they also possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Research indicates onions may help to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, and relieve bronchial congestion.
At only 36 calories per medium-sized onion, these flavorful veggies can be abundantly consumed on a daily basis. Raw onions provide the highest level of health benefits. Add a splash of extra virgin olive oil to onion slices and toss on the grill. Fresh herbs and spices can be added for an extra punch of flavor.
Tomatoes: Perhaps one of the most versatile vegetables is the tomato. It can be eaten raw, cooked, steamed, grilled, baked, juiced, or pureed. Tomatoes are compatible with nearly every type of food including meats, vegetables, potatoes and rice.
One tomato contains a mere 17 calories, making it an excellent choice for those following a weight management program. Tomatoes contain a high level of antioxidants and are a good source of vitamins C and E. Just one cup will provide you with more than 50 percent of the RDA of vitamin C, 20 percent of vitamin A and 15 percent of vitamin K. Tomatoes also contain lycopene, a phytochemical known to reduce the risk of heart disease.
GRAINS
Barley and rye: These grains are high fiber whole grains and contain five times more fiber than any other whole grain. Studies show barley can slow the progression of atherosclerosis and may lower the risk of type 2 diabetes. It is believed these grains reduce estrogen levels, help prevent the risk of heart disease, and stabilize blood sugar levels.
Barley and rye are both good sources of potassium and fiber. They contain small amounts of iron, Pantothenate, vitamins B1 and B6, and zinc. One cup of cooked grains contains 270 calories. These grains are a good choice for dinner, as they are high in tryptophan and can aide in restful sleep.
Oats: Starting your day off with a bowl of steaming oats can provide you with energy and brain clarity. Studies have shown eating oats on a daily basis can help to lower blood cholesterol. Oats also have the ability to stabilize blood sugar levels and maintain regular bowel function.
Oats are a good source of fiber, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E. One cup contains less than 150 calories, making it an excellent choice for those who are watching their waistline.
Quinoa: Pronounced keen-wa, and known as the "Mother of all Grains", this grain contains more protein than any other. Quinoa is an excellent source of manganese, magnesium, iron, and copper. It is a light grain that can be substituted for rice or pasta and makes a nice addition to soups and stews.
Rice: Rice is a good source of both magnesium and potassium. It also contains fiber, iron, niacin, vitamins B1 and B2, and zinc. Rice provides a quick energy boost and is easily digested. Rice helps to maintain bowel health and stabilizes blood sugar levels. There are many varieties of rice including white, brown, basmati, jasmine and saffron.
Wheatgerm: This super grain has been used for centuries to relieve constipation. Studies show wheatgerm supports the heart and may reduce the risk of heart disease. It strengthens the immune system and may help maintain cognitive function as we age.
Wheatgerm is rich in antioxidants and folate. It also contains vitamins B1, B6, and E and is a good source of potassium and zinc. It is recommended to consume two tablespoons of fresh wheatgerm on a daily basis. Sprinkle wheatgerm on cereal, oatmeal, fruit salad or yogurt.
NUTS and SEEDS:
Almonds: Classified as a nut, almonds are actually the seed of the fruit of an almond tree. They offer a delicate and mild flavor to dishes and can be added to vegetables, meats, fruits and desserts.
Eating twelve almonds per day can provide you with the recommended daily allowance of essential fatty acids. Almonds are rich in potassium and are considered a "good" fat. These fruit seeds are high in calories, so limit your intake to no more than twelve per day. Unblanched almonds are considered to be the healthiest choice. Avoid dry roasted almonds or almonds covered in sugar, honey or salt.
Brazil nuts: Brazil nuts contain all the essential amino acids, making them a complete protein. Brazil nuts contain exceptionally high levels of selenium; a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer.
Brazil nuts are an excellent source of zinc, which is essential to digestion and metabolism. Brazil nuts contain a high level of fat and should not be consumed more than three times per week. One serving equals eight nuts and is equivalent to 30 grams of fat.
Chestnuts: These nuts pack a wallop of beneficial carbohydrates, making them an excellent choice for people trying to gain weight. Chestnuts are cholesterol-free, low in sodium, and a good source of dietary fiber.
Additionally, chestnuts contain small amounts of vitamin C, thiamine, and riboflavin. Although chestnuts are considered a "good" fat, they should not be consumed more than four times per week. One serving of chestnuts equal five whole nuts. It's best to roast chestnuts at home by baking them at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 5-6 minutes.
Pumpkin seeds: Research shows pumpkin seeds to be effective in lowering cholesterol levels, promoting prostate health, and supporting the function of the immune system. Pumpkin seeds are a rich source of potassium, omega-3 fatty acids and zinc. One and one-half ounces of pumpkin seeds can provide over one-third of an adult's daily zinc requirements. However, pumpkin seeds are high in calories and should be eaten in moderation. Limit consumption to no more than three times weekly.
Sunflower seeds: One of the most popular seeds consumed, sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E and known to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Studies have also shown them effective in guarding against cataracts. Experts recommend eating two tablespoons of sunflower seeds each day. Doing so will double your intake of vitamin E. However, they are high in calories and should be eaten in limited quantities.
to read complete article: http://www.boomj.com/?page=articles/view&AID=13024
The 7 Best Foods We Never Eat
Ref: http://www.revolutionhealth.com
Stuck in a food rut? You don't have to go far to find some overlooked food choices that are easy to prepare, pack a nutritional wallop and avoid unhealthy fats.
We asked two veteran nutritionists to help us identify seven great foods most of us skip. Our consultants: American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Cindy Moore, R.D., of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; and Institute of Food Technologists spokeswoman Christina Stark, R.D., of Cornell University.
Avocado
The avocado is high in fat, but most of the fat is the heart-healthy monounsaturated kind. We know the avocado tastes great, but outside of an occasional guacamole dip, few of us reach for this high-fiber food for salads or as a great side dish.
You'll also get protein, a good dose of vitamins A and E, some B vitamins, lots of potassium and a dollop of copper. The rich and creamy avocado has been called the "chocolate" of fruits.
Sweet potato
At Thanksgiving, we dash for sweet potatoes as if they're available just once a year. But you can bake or microwave these tubers anytime for a super dose of vitamin A — five times the daily value (DV) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends.
Sweet potatoes also offer some vitamin C and a significant helping of important minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iron. And this tasty fat-free combo of nutrients brightens your plate.
Soybeans
The FDA recently added soy to the list of foods that can make health claims because of its value in reducing the risk of heart disease. Soy is high in protein — one cup of beans can fill 40 percent of the DV for protein — and the bean also serves up generous helpings of fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. How you eat this versatile food is up to you — cooked and mixed in salads or casseroles, roasted for snacks, or in tofu, tempeh or soy milk. Soy has some fat, but very little saturated fat.
The use of soy products to treat symptoms of menopause is controversial. While it may improve symptoms for some women, the phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that may help relieve hot flashes may also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Dried figs
Tasty as Fig Newton cookies are, figs stand on their own. They provide high-fiber, topped with some B vitamins and iron, finished off with abundant potassium and calcium. Five figs give you as much calcium as half a glass of milk.
What to do with a fig? Pop a few in your mouth, sneak them into casseroles or replace raisins with them in a salad.
Lentils
We never think of this legume unless it's in our soup. But put lentils in rice or casseroles and you've added one of the highest-protein and highest-fiber foods around.
A cup of lentils supplies about 40 percent of the DV for protein and about 65 percent of the DV for fiber. The lentil is high in potassium, calcium and iron, and a good source of B vitamins, phosphorus and copper. The fat content? Zero.
Kale
Dark, leafy green vegetables are an acquired taste. Maybe now's the time to see if your taste buds have matured to accommodate this no-fat, low-calorie, super-high-vitamin-A food.
One cup of kale (boiled, but not overcooked) gives you double the DV for vitamin A. You'll also get some vitamin C, a small amount of B vitamins and a generous amount of calcium. Look for kale's healthy but ignored cousins: Swiss chard, mustard greens and collards.
Barley
Here's another soup secret we tend to forget despite its claim to protein, fiber, potassium, phosphorus and iron. One cup supplies 25 percent of the DV for fiber.
Eat pearled barley as a side dish instead of rice, use it for a hearty casserole, or boil it to create a unique base for a stir-fry meal. And look at the high nutritional content of some other forgotten but powerful grains, like quinoa and amaranth.
Stuck in a food rut? You don't have to go far to find some overlooked food choices that are easy to prepare, pack a nutritional wallop and avoid unhealthy fats.
We asked two veteran nutritionists to help us identify seven great foods most of us skip. Our consultants: American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Cindy Moore, R.D., of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation; and Institute of Food Technologists spokeswoman Christina Stark, R.D., of Cornell University.
Avocado
The avocado is high in fat, but most of the fat is the heart-healthy monounsaturated kind. We know the avocado tastes great, but outside of an occasional guacamole dip, few of us reach for this high-fiber food for salads or as a great side dish.
You'll also get protein, a good dose of vitamins A and E, some B vitamins, lots of potassium and a dollop of copper. The rich and creamy avocado has been called the "chocolate" of fruits.
Sweet potato
At Thanksgiving, we dash for sweet potatoes as if they're available just once a year. But you can bake or microwave these tubers anytime for a super dose of vitamin A — five times the daily value (DV) the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends.
Sweet potatoes also offer some vitamin C and a significant helping of important minerals, including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and iron. And this tasty fat-free combo of nutrients brightens your plate.
Soybeans
The FDA recently added soy to the list of foods that can make health claims because of its value in reducing the risk of heart disease. Soy is high in protein — one cup of beans can fill 40 percent of the DV for protein — and the bean also serves up generous helpings of fiber, calcium, potassium, iron, phosphorus and magnesium. How you eat this versatile food is up to you — cooked and mixed in salads or casseroles, roasted for snacks, or in tofu, tempeh or soy milk. Soy has some fat, but very little saturated fat.
The use of soy products to treat symptoms of menopause is controversial. While it may improve symptoms for some women, the phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that may help relieve hot flashes may also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Dried figs
Tasty as Fig Newton cookies are, figs stand on their own. They provide high-fiber, topped with some B vitamins and iron, finished off with abundant potassium and calcium. Five figs give you as much calcium as half a glass of milk.
What to do with a fig? Pop a few in your mouth, sneak them into casseroles or replace raisins with them in a salad.
Lentils
We never think of this legume unless it's in our soup. But put lentils in rice or casseroles and you've added one of the highest-protein and highest-fiber foods around.
A cup of lentils supplies about 40 percent of the DV for protein and about 65 percent of the DV for fiber. The lentil is high in potassium, calcium and iron, and a good source of B vitamins, phosphorus and copper. The fat content? Zero.
Kale
Dark, leafy green vegetables are an acquired taste. Maybe now's the time to see if your taste buds have matured to accommodate this no-fat, low-calorie, super-high-vitamin-A food.
One cup of kale (boiled, but not overcooked) gives you double the DV for vitamin A. You'll also get some vitamin C, a small amount of B vitamins and a generous amount of calcium. Look for kale's healthy but ignored cousins: Swiss chard, mustard greens and collards.
Barley
Here's another soup secret we tend to forget despite its claim to protein, fiber, potassium, phosphorus and iron. One cup supplies 25 percent of the DV for fiber.
Eat pearled barley as a side dish instead of rice, use it for a hearty casserole, or boil it to create a unique base for a stir-fry meal. And look at the high nutritional content of some other forgotten but powerful grains, like quinoa and amaranth.
Did You Know How These Names Came About!
Did You Know How These Names Came About!
Ref: http://www.jaxey.com
Adobe - came from name of the river Adobe Creek that ran behind the house of founder John Warnock.
Apache - It got its name because its founders got started by applying patches to code written for NCSA's httpd daemon. The result was 'A PAtCHy' server -- thus, the name Apache
Apple Computers - favourite fruit of founder Steve Jobs. He was three months late in filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call his company Apple Computers if the other colleagues didn't suggest a better name by 5 o'clock.
C - Dennis Ritchie improved on the B programming language and called it 'New B'. He later called it C. Earlier B was created by Ken Thompson as a revision of the Bon programming language (named after his wife Bonnie)
CISCO - its not an acronymn but the short for San Francisco.
Compaq - using COMp, for computer, and PAQ to denote a small integral object.
GNU - a species of African antelope. Founder of the GNU project Richard Stallman liked the name because of the humour associated with its pronuniciation and was also influenced by the children's song 'The Gnu Song' which is a song sung by a gnu. Also it fitted into the recursive acronym culture with 'GNU's Not Unix'.
Google - the name started as a jokey boast about the amount of information the search-engine would be able to search. It was originally named 'Googol', a word for the number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeros. After founders - Stanford grad students Sergey Brin and Larry Page presented their project to an angel investor, they received a cheque made out to 'Google'!
Hotmail - Founder Jack Smith got the idea of accessing e-mail via the web from a computer anywhere in the world. When Sabeer Bhatia came up with the business plan for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending in 'mail' and finally settled for hotmail as it included the letters "html" - the programming language used to write web pages. It was initially referred to as HoTMaiL with selective upper casing.
HP - Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett.
Intel - Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore wanted to name their new company 'Moore Noyce' but that was already trademarked by a hotel chain, so they had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics.
Java - Originally called Oak by creator James Gosling, from the tree that stood outside his window, the programming team had to look for a substitute as there was another language with the same name. Java was selected from a list of suggestions. It came from the name of the coffee that the programmers drank.
Ref: http://www.jaxey.com
Adobe - came from name of the river Adobe Creek that ran behind the house of founder John Warnock.
Apache - It got its name because its founders got started by applying patches to code written for NCSA's httpd daemon. The result was 'A PAtCHy' server -- thus, the name Apache
Apple Computers - favourite fruit of founder Steve Jobs. He was three months late in filing a name for the business, and he threatened to call his company Apple Computers if the other colleagues didn't suggest a better name by 5 o'clock.
C - Dennis Ritchie improved on the B programming language and called it 'New B'. He later called it C. Earlier B was created by Ken Thompson as a revision of the Bon programming language (named after his wife Bonnie)
CISCO - its not an acronymn but the short for San Francisco.
Compaq - using COMp, for computer, and PAQ to denote a small integral object.
GNU - a species of African antelope. Founder of the GNU project Richard Stallman liked the name because of the humour associated with its pronuniciation and was also influenced by the children's song 'The Gnu Song' which is a song sung by a gnu. Also it fitted into the recursive acronym culture with 'GNU's Not Unix'.
Google - the name started as a jokey boast about the amount of information the search-engine would be able to search. It was originally named 'Googol', a word for the number represented by 1 followed by 100 zeros. After founders - Stanford grad students Sergey Brin and Larry Page presented their project to an angel investor, they received a cheque made out to 'Google'!
Hotmail - Founder Jack Smith got the idea of accessing e-mail via the web from a computer anywhere in the world. When Sabeer Bhatia came up with the business plan for the mail service, he tried all kinds of names ending in 'mail' and finally settled for hotmail as it included the letters "html" - the programming language used to write web pages. It was initially referred to as HoTMaiL with selective upper casing.
HP - Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard tossed a coin to decide whether the company they founded would be called Hewlett-Packard or Packard-Hewlett.
Intel - Bob Noyce and Gordon Moore wanted to name their new company 'Moore Noyce' but that was already trademarked by a hotel chain, so they had to settle for an acronym of INTegrated ELectronics.
Java - Originally called Oak by creator James Gosling, from the tree that stood outside his window, the programming team had to look for a substitute as there was another language with the same name. Java was selected from a list of suggestions. It came from the name of the coffee that the programmers drank.
Murphy's technology laws
Ref: http://www.murphys-laws.com
* Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
* Whenever a system becomes completely defined, some damn fool discovers something which either abolishes the system or expands it beyond recognition.
* Technology is dominated by those who manage what they do not understand.
* If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.
* The opulence of the front office decor varies inversely with the fundamental solvency of the firm.
* The attention span of a computer is only as long as it electrical cord.
* An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.
* Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure. great discoveries are made by mistake.
* Always draw your curves, then plot your reading.
* Nothing ever gets built on schedule or within budget.
* All's well that ends.
* A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost.
* The first myth of management is that it exists.
* A failure will not appear till a unit has passed final inspection.
* New systems generate new problems.
* To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.
* We don't know one millionth of one percent about anything.
* Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clark
* A computer makes as many mistakes in two seconds as 20 men working 20 years make.
* Nothing motivates a man more than to see his boss putting in an honest day's work.
* Some people manage by the book, even though they don't know who wrote the book or even what book.
* The primary function of the design engineer is to make things difficult for the fabricator and impossible for the serviceman.
* To spot the expert, pick the one who predicts the job will take the longest and cost the most.
* After all is said and done, a hell of a lot more is said than done.
* Any circuit design must contain at least one part which is obsolete, two parts which are unobtainable and three parts which are still under development.
* A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works.
* If mathematically you end up with the incorrect answer, try multiplying by the page number.
* Computers are unreliable, but humans are even more unreliable. Any system which depends on human reliability is unreliable.
* .Give all orders verbally. Never write anything down that might go into a "Pearl Harbor File."
* Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, volume, humidity, and other variables the organism will do as it damn well pleases.
* If you can't understand it, it is intuitively obvious.
* The more cordial the buyer's secretary, the greater the odds that the competition already has the order.
* In designing any type of construction, no overall dimension can be totaled correctly after 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The correct total will become self-evident at 8:15 a.m. on Monday.
* Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.
* All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.
* The only perfect science is hind-sight.
* Work smarder and not harder and be careful of yor speling.
* If it's not in the computer, it doesn't exist.
* If an experiment works, something has gone wrong.
* When all else fails, read the instructions.
* If there is a possibility of several things going wrong the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
* Everything that goes up must come down.
Corollary: Not always
The corollary was sent by the Dark Templar
* Any instrument when dropped will roll into the least accessible corner.
* Any simple theory will be worded in the most complicated way.
* Build a system that even a fool can use and only a fool will want to use it.
* The degree of technical competence is inversely proportional to the level of management.
* A difficult task will be halted near completion by one tiny, previously insignificant detail.
* There is never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.
* The remaining work to finish in order to reach your goal increases as the deadline approaches.
* If there is ever the possibility of several things to go wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
Sent by - Anthony Johnson
* If something breaks, and it stops you from doing something, it will be fixed when you:
1. no longer need it
2. are in the middle of something else
3. don't want it to be fixed, because you really don't want to do what you were supposed to do
* Each profession talks to itself in it's own language, apparently there is no Rosetta Stone
* The more urgent the need for a decision to be made, less apparent become the identity of the decision maker
The last two laws were sent by - Foes Arvin
* It is never wise to let a piece of electronic equipment know that you are in a hurry.
Sent by - Charles L. Mays
* Don't fix something that ain't broke, 'cause you'll break it and you still can't fix it
* You can never tell which way the train went by looking at the track.
Chong Kwong Sheng addition:
Only by the splatter of the blood stains
The last two laws were sent by Chong Kwong Sheng
* Dobie's Dogma:
If you are not thoroughly confused, you have not been thoroughly informed.
Sent by Richard Bobbitt
* A screw will never fit a nut.
* Standard parts are not.
The last two laws were sent by Kent Berg
* When working on a motor vehicle engine, any tool dropped will land directly under the center of the engine.
Sent by king Ed
* Interchangeable tapes won't.
Sent by Jeff Webb
* Never trust modern technology. Trust it only when it is old technology.
Sent by The High Rabbit
* The bolt that is in the most awkward place will always be the one with the tightest thread.
Sent by Stan Gajda
* The most ominous phrase in science: "_Uh_-oh . . ."
Sent by Yael Dragwyla
* The 2nd worst thing you can hear the tech say is "Oops!" The worst thing you can hear the tech say is "oh s**t!"
* Any example of hardware/software can be made fool-proof. It cannot, however, be made damn-fool-proof.
The last two laws were sent by Guy Dunn
* The Rossemblat Graphic Insult Theory:
When any technological change is made, we have a graphic insult curve. No mater how high the insult curve climb, the important thing is how long it goes.
Sent by Leon Rossemblat
* Bahaman's Law:
for any given software, the moment you manage to master it, a new version of that software appears.
Sent by Bahaman.
Yakko's addition:
The new version always manages to change the one feature you need most.
Sent by Yakko
* In today's fast-moving tech environment, it is a requirement that we forget more than we learn.
Sent by Beverly Harris
* It is simple to make something complex, and complex to make it simple.
Sent by Fred Buterbaugh
* Measurements will be quoted in the least practical unit; velocity, for example, will be measured in 'furlongs-per-fortnight'.
Sent by Keith Hipkins
* In electronics repair the part with the highest failure rate will always be located in the least accessible area of the equipment.
Sent by Richard
* Multi-million pound technology is worthless in the hands of morons.
Sent by Danny
* The rule of Protection:
If you install a 50¢ fuse to protect a 100$ component, the 100$ component will blow to protect the 50¢ fuse.
Sent by Bob Holdener
* Karl Imhoff was a German engineer who developed sewage treatment systems in the early 1900's. His biggest contribution was the Imhoff Tank, which allows sewage to settle. The Imhoff Law relates to bosses everywhere. The law goes as follows:
The largest chunks always rise to the top.
Sent by P R Suhr
* High tech man-year = 730 people trying to finish a project before lunch.
Sent by Eric
* An expert will always state the obvious.
Sent by Lawman
* The boss is always right.
Corollary: If the boss is wrong, refer back to the rule.
Sent by RC
* On a cruise ship, the one, most important part you don't have in stock always breaks on a Friday evening, just when you left harbor and the next time you will be in harbor is a Sunday or Christmas eve.
Sent by Jouni Sironen - a long time sound & light technician on cruise ships.
* The chance a copy machine will brake down is proportional to the importance of the material that needs to be copied and inversely proportional to the amount of time till the material will be needed.
Sent by Timothy Boilard
* Maintenance department neglect customer's complains till it starts installations in customer's new projects.
Sent by Khaled
* Murphy's Law on HVAC systems:
An HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning) engineering firm, will invariably lease office space in a building with a lousy HVAC system.
Sent by Michael W. Murphy who has worked in 6 HVAC firm offices and can back this law up.
All the engineers can do is shiver or sweat and moan about it, and say how they would fix it if the building owner actually gave a damn.
* The probability any machine breaks down increases with the importance of expected visit.
Sent by Asier Zabarte
* if it works in theory, it won't work in practice.
if it works in practice it won't work in theory.
Sent by Kevin
* Research Law:
No matter how clever and complete your research is, there is always someone who knows more.
Sent by J. Lawrence Katz
* Somers' Law of Repair:
No part ever fails where you can reach it, or where there is enough light to see how to replace it.
Sent by John Somers
* Any tool dropped will fall where it can cause the most damage.
* Any wire cut to length will be too short.
* Equivalent replacement parts aren't.
The last three laws were sent by Bill Selover
* When you finally update to a new technology, is when everyone stop supporting it.
* Interchangeable parts aren't
Sent by trekker508
* The proposed size of any project is inversely proportional to the size the project will eventually become.
Corollary: Any project that can consume more resources before reaching it's final state will do so.
This will happen faster than you think.
Also, the investors will not be happy.
Sent by Jon Proesel
* The less intelligent the idea, and the person stating it, the more likely it will be funded.
Sent by Brad Gochnauer
* A man with one watch is certain about time. A man with two watches isn't.
* The more knowledge you gained, the less certain you are of it.
* If you think you understand science (or computers or women), you're clearly not an expert
* Technicians are the only ones that don't trust technology
The last four laws were sent by Jan Wenall
* All impossible failures, will happen at the test site.
Corollary: All impossible failures will happen on the clients desktop
Corollary sent by Dino Price
* The more you want to contact someone over an instant messenger is inversely proportional to the chances that they will be online.
* The more important your email is, the worse your email client will screw it up.
The last two laws were sent by Padme
* The degree to which a device will function is directly proportional to the number of times it has been bashed and inversely to its cost.
* A device having an indestructible component or is user serviceable is deemed unsafe until it's replaced by an expensive, unobtainable, inefficient component which needs constant servicing.
The last two laws were sent by Takura Razemba
* Assaf's Laws of Replacement Parts
o A failed 25¢ part cannot be replaced by a new 25¢ part, but by a sub-assembly whose cost is equal to or greater than that of the device in need of the part
o The cost and availability of a replacement part are in inverse proportion to the cost of the whole system: a $1500 device will fail because of the burnout of a 25¢ capacitor. But the 25¢ capacitor is either
+ no longer manufactured
+ manufactured only by a company in Outer Mongolia with an 18-month backlog
+ available only as part of a $1450 sub-assembly
Sent by Francis Assaf
* All things mechanical/electrical will catastrophically fail after the guarantee has expired, unless an extended guarantee has been purchased.
Sent by Blair Murray
* The Harvard Principle:
Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of temperature, humidity, pressure, etc., the organism will do as it damn well pleases.
* First Law of Linear Equations:
Given any system n linear equations, there will be n+1 unknowns
The last two laws were sent by Bill Pramik
* The disappearance of a nagging error in a system is explicable only in terms of insignificant contribution of the source to that system
Sent by Manjunatha M, an application engineer
* The repairman will have never seen a model quite like yours before
Sent by Christa
* Law of Repairmen:
The repairman fixes your machine to break down the next day and charges for a new machine.
Sent by Eddy Cosma
* Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.
* Whenever a system becomes completely defined, some damn fool discovers something which either abolishes the system or expands it beyond recognition.
* Technology is dominated by those who manage what they do not understand.
* If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.
* The opulence of the front office decor varies inversely with the fundamental solvency of the firm.
* The attention span of a computer is only as long as it electrical cord.
* An expert is one who knows more and more about less and less until he knows absolutely everything about nothing.
* Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he'll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he'll have to touch to be sure. great discoveries are made by mistake.
* Always draw your curves, then plot your reading.
* Nothing ever gets built on schedule or within budget.
* All's well that ends.
* A meeting is an event at which the minutes are kept and the hours are lost.
* The first myth of management is that it exists.
* A failure will not appear till a unit has passed final inspection.
* New systems generate new problems.
* To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer.
* We don't know one millionth of one percent about anything.
* Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
Arthur C. Clark
* A computer makes as many mistakes in two seconds as 20 men working 20 years make.
* Nothing motivates a man more than to see his boss putting in an honest day's work.
* Some people manage by the book, even though they don't know who wrote the book or even what book.
* The primary function of the design engineer is to make things difficult for the fabricator and impossible for the serviceman.
* To spot the expert, pick the one who predicts the job will take the longest and cost the most.
* After all is said and done, a hell of a lot more is said than done.
* Any circuit design must contain at least one part which is obsolete, two parts which are unobtainable and three parts which are still under development.
* A complex system that works is invariably found to have evolved from a simple system that works.
* If mathematically you end up with the incorrect answer, try multiplying by the page number.
* Computers are unreliable, but humans are even more unreliable. Any system which depends on human reliability is unreliable.
* .Give all orders verbally. Never write anything down that might go into a "Pearl Harbor File."
* Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of pressure, temperature, volume, humidity, and other variables the organism will do as it damn well pleases.
* If you can't understand it, it is intuitively obvious.
* The more cordial the buyer's secretary, the greater the odds that the competition already has the order.
* In designing any type of construction, no overall dimension can be totaled correctly after 4:30 p.m. on Friday. The correct total will become self-evident at 8:15 a.m. on Monday.
* Fill what's empty. Empty what's full. And scratch where it itches.
* All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.
* The only perfect science is hind-sight.
* Work smarder and not harder and be careful of yor speling.
* If it's not in the computer, it doesn't exist.
* If an experiment works, something has gone wrong.
* When all else fails, read the instructions.
* If there is a possibility of several things going wrong the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
* Everything that goes up must come down.
Corollary: Not always
The corollary was sent by the Dark Templar
* Any instrument when dropped will roll into the least accessible corner.
* Any simple theory will be worded in the most complicated way.
* Build a system that even a fool can use and only a fool will want to use it.
* The degree of technical competence is inversely proportional to the level of management.
* A difficult task will be halted near completion by one tiny, previously insignificant detail.
* There is never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.
* The remaining work to finish in order to reach your goal increases as the deadline approaches.
* If there is ever the possibility of several things to go wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the one to go wrong.
Sent by - Anthony Johnson
* If something breaks, and it stops you from doing something, it will be fixed when you:
1. no longer need it
2. are in the middle of something else
3. don't want it to be fixed, because you really don't want to do what you were supposed to do
* Each profession talks to itself in it's own language, apparently there is no Rosetta Stone
* The more urgent the need for a decision to be made, less apparent become the identity of the decision maker
The last two laws were sent by - Foes Arvin
* It is never wise to let a piece of electronic equipment know that you are in a hurry.
Sent by - Charles L. Mays
* Don't fix something that ain't broke, 'cause you'll break it and you still can't fix it
* You can never tell which way the train went by looking at the track.
Chong Kwong Sheng addition:
Only by the splatter of the blood stains
The last two laws were sent by Chong Kwong Sheng
* Dobie's Dogma:
If you are not thoroughly confused, you have not been thoroughly informed.
Sent by Richard Bobbitt
* A screw will never fit a nut.
* Standard parts are not.
The last two laws were sent by Kent Berg
* When working on a motor vehicle engine, any tool dropped will land directly under the center of the engine.
Sent by king Ed
* Interchangeable tapes won't.
Sent by Jeff Webb
* Never trust modern technology. Trust it only when it is old technology.
Sent by The High Rabbit
* The bolt that is in the most awkward place will always be the one with the tightest thread.
Sent by Stan Gajda
* The most ominous phrase in science: "_Uh_-oh . . ."
Sent by Yael Dragwyla
* The 2nd worst thing you can hear the tech say is "Oops!" The worst thing you can hear the tech say is "oh s**t!"
* Any example of hardware/software can be made fool-proof. It cannot, however, be made damn-fool-proof.
The last two laws were sent by Guy Dunn
* The Rossemblat Graphic Insult Theory:
When any technological change is made, we have a graphic insult curve. No mater how high the insult curve climb, the important thing is how long it goes.
Sent by Leon Rossemblat
* Bahaman's Law:
for any given software, the moment you manage to master it, a new version of that software appears.
Sent by Bahaman.
Yakko's addition:
The new version always manages to change the one feature you need most.
Sent by Yakko
* In today's fast-moving tech environment, it is a requirement that we forget more than we learn.
Sent by Beverly Harris
* It is simple to make something complex, and complex to make it simple.
Sent by Fred Buterbaugh
* Measurements will be quoted in the least practical unit; velocity, for example, will be measured in 'furlongs-per-fortnight'.
Sent by Keith Hipkins
* In electronics repair the part with the highest failure rate will always be located in the least accessible area of the equipment.
Sent by Richard
* Multi-million pound technology is worthless in the hands of morons.
Sent by Danny
* The rule of Protection:
If you install a 50¢ fuse to protect a 100$ component, the 100$ component will blow to protect the 50¢ fuse.
Sent by Bob Holdener
* Karl Imhoff was a German engineer who developed sewage treatment systems in the early 1900's. His biggest contribution was the Imhoff Tank, which allows sewage to settle. The Imhoff Law relates to bosses everywhere. The law goes as follows:
The largest chunks always rise to the top.
Sent by P R Suhr
* High tech man-year = 730 people trying to finish a project before lunch.
Sent by Eric
* An expert will always state the obvious.
Sent by Lawman
* The boss is always right.
Corollary: If the boss is wrong, refer back to the rule.
Sent by RC
* On a cruise ship, the one, most important part you don't have in stock always breaks on a Friday evening, just when you left harbor and the next time you will be in harbor is a Sunday or Christmas eve.
Sent by Jouni Sironen - a long time sound & light technician on cruise ships.
* The chance a copy machine will brake down is proportional to the importance of the material that needs to be copied and inversely proportional to the amount of time till the material will be needed.
Sent by Timothy Boilard
* Maintenance department neglect customer's complains till it starts installations in customer's new projects.
Sent by Khaled
* Murphy's Law on HVAC systems:
An HVAC (Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning) engineering firm, will invariably lease office space in a building with a lousy HVAC system.
Sent by Michael W. Murphy who has worked in 6 HVAC firm offices and can back this law up.
All the engineers can do is shiver or sweat and moan about it, and say how they would fix it if the building owner actually gave a damn.
* The probability any machine breaks down increases with the importance of expected visit.
Sent by Asier Zabarte
* if it works in theory, it won't work in practice.
if it works in practice it won't work in theory.
Sent by Kevin
* Research Law:
No matter how clever and complete your research is, there is always someone who knows more.
Sent by J. Lawrence Katz
* Somers' Law of Repair:
No part ever fails where you can reach it, or where there is enough light to see how to replace it.
Sent by John Somers
* Any tool dropped will fall where it can cause the most damage.
* Any wire cut to length will be too short.
* Equivalent replacement parts aren't.
The last three laws were sent by Bill Selover
* When you finally update to a new technology, is when everyone stop supporting it.
* Interchangeable parts aren't
Sent by trekker508
* The proposed size of any project is inversely proportional to the size the project will eventually become.
Corollary: Any project that can consume more resources before reaching it's final state will do so.
This will happen faster than you think.
Also, the investors will not be happy.
Sent by Jon Proesel
* The less intelligent the idea, and the person stating it, the more likely it will be funded.
Sent by Brad Gochnauer
* A man with one watch is certain about time. A man with two watches isn't.
* The more knowledge you gained, the less certain you are of it.
* If you think you understand science (or computers or women), you're clearly not an expert
* Technicians are the only ones that don't trust technology
The last four laws were sent by Jan Wenall
* All impossible failures, will happen at the test site.
Corollary: All impossible failures will happen on the clients desktop
Corollary sent by Dino Price
* The more you want to contact someone over an instant messenger is inversely proportional to the chances that they will be online.
* The more important your email is, the worse your email client will screw it up.
The last two laws were sent by Padme
* The degree to which a device will function is directly proportional to the number of times it has been bashed and inversely to its cost.
* A device having an indestructible component or is user serviceable is deemed unsafe until it's replaced by an expensive, unobtainable, inefficient component which needs constant servicing.
The last two laws were sent by Takura Razemba
* Assaf's Laws of Replacement Parts
o A failed 25¢ part cannot be replaced by a new 25¢ part, but by a sub-assembly whose cost is equal to or greater than that of the device in need of the part
o The cost and availability of a replacement part are in inverse proportion to the cost of the whole system: a $1500 device will fail because of the burnout of a 25¢ capacitor. But the 25¢ capacitor is either
+ no longer manufactured
+ manufactured only by a company in Outer Mongolia with an 18-month backlog
+ available only as part of a $1450 sub-assembly
Sent by Francis Assaf
* All things mechanical/electrical will catastrophically fail after the guarantee has expired, unless an extended guarantee has been purchased.
Sent by Blair Murray
* The Harvard Principle:
Under the most rigorously controlled conditions of temperature, humidity, pressure, etc., the organism will do as it damn well pleases.
* First Law of Linear Equations:
Given any system n linear equations, there will be n+1 unknowns
The last two laws were sent by Bill Pramik
* The disappearance of a nagging error in a system is explicable only in terms of insignificant contribution of the source to that system
Sent by Manjunatha M, an application engineer
* The repairman will have never seen a model quite like yours before
Sent by Christa
* Law of Repairmen:
The repairman fixes your machine to break down the next day and charges for a new machine.
Sent by Eddy Cosma
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