The Forester and The Lawyer
A forester and a lawyer were in car accident and showed up at the pearly gates together.
St. Peter greets them at the pearly gates and takes them to the homeswhere they will spend all of eternity. They get into St. Peter's holy vehicle and head on down a gold road, which turns into a platinum road, which turns onto an even grander road paved with diamonds, to a huge mansion where St. Peter turns to the lawyer and says, here is your home for the rest of eternity, enjoy! And if there is anything you need, just let me know.
Then St. Peter took the forester to his home, back down the diamond studded boulevard, down the platinum highway, down the street of gold, down an avenue of silver, along a stone alley and down an unpaved footpath to a shack. St Peter says "Here you go" and goes to leave when the forester says "Waitaminute!, how come the lawyer gets the big mansion and I get this shack?"
St. Peter says: "Well, Foresters are a dime a dozen here, we have never had a lawyer before."
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
The Power of Meditation...
Yet again scientists are acknowledging the power of meditation, something our rishis emphasized thousands of years ago! This is incredibly interesting and sheds some scientific light on moorti puja again... So much has been said about yoga and meditation in recent times. We should be proud and also try to take advantage of something so close and dear to us..Here is the most recent article from NY Times...
I am also including some other interesting articles on the mind and meditation and such...
This one is about how meditation increases the size of the brain!
In general, a lot of research is being conducted in general! This article is from NPR nearly 4 years ago and so I am sure there is tremendous material out there... Basically, we should all be proud of what we have been given and hopefully we can take advantage of it and realize what we have BEFORE others come and tell us what we have!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Words of Wisdom
I thought I would get back into posting powerful quotes with a topic very important to every one of our lives... OPTIMISM. Optimism is the strength to keep on going! Without it, success is not possible. As long as we have a positive outlook towards life and always remember that anything is possible, nothing is impossible! No matter how bad things are, no matter how bad we are hurt, no matter how much wrong we have done, always remember that what happens next is in our hands and we CAN make it better so don't give up!
"The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose." --- Kahlil Gibran
"Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you." --- Mary Lou Retton
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” --- Maria Robinson
"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise." --- Oscar Wilde
"The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose." --- Kahlil Gibran
"Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you." --- Mary Lou Retton
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” --- Maria Robinson
"What seems to us as bitter trials are often blessings in disguise." --- Oscar Wilde
Just for Laughs
It has indeed been a loong time but hopefully this laugh will be worth the while....enjoy and smile!
Three engineers and three accountants are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three accountants each buy tickets and watch as the three engineers buy only a single ticket. "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks an accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer. They all board the train. The accountants take their respective seats but all three engineers cram into a restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, "Ticket, please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The accountants saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea. So after the conference, the accountants decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that). When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer. When they board the train the three accountants cram into a restroom and the three engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the accountants are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, Ticket, please."
Three engineers and three accountants are traveling by train to a conference. At the station, the three accountants each buy tickets and watch as the three engineers buy only a single ticket. "How are three people going to travel on only one ticket?" asks an accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer. They all board the train. The accountants take their respective seats but all three engineers cram into a restroom and close the door behind them. Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the restroom door and says, "Ticket, please." The door opens just a crack and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand. The conductor takes it and moves on. The accountants saw this and agreed it was quite a clever idea. So after the conference, the accountants decide to copy the engineers on the return trip and save some money (being clever with money, and all that). When they get to the station, they buy a single ticket for the return trip. To their astonishment, the engineers don't buy a ticket at all. "How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed accountant. "Watch and you'll see," answers an engineer. When they board the train the three accountants cram into a restroom and the three engineers cram into another one nearby. The train departs. Shortly afterward, one of the engineers leaves his restroom and walks over to the restroom where the accountants are hiding. He knocks on the door and says, Ticket, please."
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sportsmanship in its purest form...
As a lifelong sports fan (and a crazy one at that), it is rare in today's world to see true sportsmanship. When I read this article it gave me goosebumps and I knew that it was something I had to share! Most of us have probably heard that story about the Special Olympics (where the kid falls down and then all the people hold hands and finish the race together) but we probably wondered if it was a true story. Well here is one for you to tell with video included...
I hope that it touches you too and is something that you think of the next time you step on to the basketball court, track field, or any other competition in life--athletic or otherwise! This is the true spirit of sports... (The below version is abbreviated but for the full version click here)
I hope that it touches you too and is something that you think of the next time you step on to the basketball court, track field, or any other competition in life--athletic or otherwise! This is the true spirit of sports... (The below version is abbreviated but for the full version click here)
Good Sports
An extraordinary act on the ball field redefines fair play.
Newsweek Web Exclusive
On Saturday, April 26, a Western Oregon University player named Sara Tucholsky stepped into the batter's box against Central Washington University. With two runners on base, she stroked a pitch over the center field fence. Tucholsky, a five-foot-two senior with a career .153 batting average, had never hit the ball out of the park, not even in batting practice. In her excitement Tucholsky missed first base. As she turned back to touch the bag, she blew out her knee.
The umpire ruled (mistakenly) that if Western Oregon substituted a runner for Tucholsky, the hit would be scored as a two-run single. If any of her teammates touched her, the ump said, she'd be out. Tucholsky crawled back to first base and hugged the bag, unable to continue.
It would have been a tough end to the right fielder's career. But Mallory Holtman, the all-time home run leader for Central Washington—the opposing team—approached the ump and asked her if players on her team could carry Tucholsky around the bases.
The two teams were vying for the top spot in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, and Central Washington needed to win to stay in the race for a berth in the NCAA Division II championships. Thanks to Tucholsky, Western Oregon would go on to win the game, 4-2, and secure the conference title a week later. Thanks to Holtman and her teammates, no one cared about the score.
You can watch a clip of Holtman and her teammate Liz Wallace carrying Tucholsky on YouTube. The video, filmed through a chain link fence by a player's mother, is shaky and washed out. Excited whoops give way to quiet confusion as Tucholsky fails to follow her teammates around the bases. But then the cheers grow louder, edged with astonishment, as Holtman and Wallace appear from behind the line of Western Oregon players, all of them standing, and carry the diminutive Tucholsky around the dirt diamond. The two girls, their white jerseys flanking Tucholsky's red one, pause at each base and gently dip, to let the injured player tap her good foot on the bag. It looks a little as if they're bowing.
Sportsmanship is easy to praise and hard to practice. The rhetoric of fair play is deeply entrenched in organized sports—there's hardly a league at any level without a sportsmanship award—but the spirit is less so. What makes Central Washington's action so extraordinary is that it was so unexpected and spontaneous. It went beyond the normal rules of the game and came at the cost of the team's own success. Manufactured shows of sportsmanship—the lackluster handshakes with the other team at the end of the game or, more spectacularly, the deal cut between opposing coaches to allow the injured Nykesha Sales to score a basket uncontested to break the University of Connecticut's career scoring record in 1998—have a stale air.
Sportsmanship, Creed said, "is to be permitted to grow and spread of its own accord." The end of war, he believed, would surely follow. Alas, neither universal sportsmanship nor world peace has come to pass. But Creed was right about one thing: true displays of sportsmanship are infectious. YouTube videos of Tucholsky's home run have been viewed more than 300,000 times over the past two weeks. Watching it may not bring about world peace—but it may just give us a better sense of what brotherhood means.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
In the News...
I promised that it'd take less time between posts so here it is as promised...there isn't any of the normal news today but hopefully you'll find something here that interests you and that you find worthy of being commented on! Please do leave comments and share your thoughts... (the picture to the right is just a cool picture of a volcano that exploded in Chile)For all of you science fans... a group of scientists this week announced that they created the first ever genetically modified human embryo! This has become a major issue of debate over the last decade as science gets us closer and closer to human cloning! On one hand you have the clear benefits to medicine and humanity. Perhaps we can cure diseases like cystic fibrosis, etc. someday. On the other side, is it right to manipulate with God's mechanism? More importantly, what about people who would give themselves certain genes to become superior to others? Perhaps we could all lose our uniqueness and destroy nature's perfect balance... In any case, a very fascinating research and something worth discussing...What's your opinion?
For all of you history fans, did you know that Hillary Clinton was NOT the first woman to ever run for President? This was a truly fascinating article even if you do not really like history. As it turns out, in 1872, a woman named Victoria Claflin Woodhull was bold enough to run for president at a time when women couldn't even vote! Not only that but she ran with a black man, a man mostly everyone has heard of--Frederick Douglas! Hopefully that alone has you intrigued but if not, Woodhull was a feminist, had an affair, and spent Election Day in jail! Here's definitely a story worth reading...For all of you who are crazy sports fans, this week saw a major change in the world of women's sports. Two of the best female athletes--Annika Sorenstam (golf) and Justine Henin (tennis)--both decided it was time for the other things in life that matter to them and retired while they were on top of their sports. While we rarely hear much about female sports and pay much attention to them, it is interesting to at least know a little bit about how different things are for women than for men and how they also work equally hard. So for you true sports fans or just girls who are proud here it is.... Justine Henin and Annika Sorenstam. (The first link is a column about the retirement of both women)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
In the News...
This news update is LONG LONG overdue so forgive me for the delay but hopefully this week I can get a few posts up to get everyone started on some good summer reading!
It has been a long time since I last brought up politics. I avoided it mostly because it was just getting far too attention already in the media. But I thought I'd bring it back up just to set the stage for the November election... Hillary Clinton is done for all practical purposes (although she is still claiming that she will win!) and I think it is important to go back and look at where she went wrong. At the start of this race, she was the favorite and everyone expected her to push her way straight into the White House. What happened? Here is Time Magazine's explanation of her mistakes...but challenge yourself to find out more and figure out for yourself where she went wrong!
And so that leaves us with Obama vs. McCain... if you're already tired of politics, I am sorry to inform you that it is only going to get worse. From now until November, all you will see, hear and breathe will be Obama vs. McCain so in the spirit of that here is a short article previewing the presidential race from a new source I started using called the Economist (for those of you who do not know, the Economist is considered one of the most reputable news magazines in the world. If you want to really be considered up-to-date and current on your world knowledge, check out the Economist!)
For those of you who could care less about politics, here is the latest in the world:
China's massive earthquake! This was truly a tragic event and the consequences are still unfolding slowly but as of now well over 15,000 people are dead and many many more have been affected. Here is just a brief article summarizing what is happening... But of greater significance is also the Chinese government's response. America has always criticized their government (many times unfairly... I'd say most times) but this is proving to be an example of their progress and strength...
Bomb attacks in Jaipur! It is sad but terrorism is on the rise in India and there are more and more of these attacks taking place. This could be a simple effort by terrorists to rev-up India's religious conflict but hopefully the country is able to remain united and work together to overcome such cowardly acts... The article is just a summary of what happened in case you didn't hear and while I try to avoid trivial articles like this, I thought it would be of interest to many because of how close it is to home...
I promise that there will be more to come really soon! No more long gaps....
It has been a long time since I last brought up politics. I avoided it mostly because it was just getting far too attention already in the media. But I thought I'd bring it back up just to set the stage for the November election... Hillary Clinton is done for all practical purposes (although she is still claiming that she will win!) and I think it is important to go back and look at where she went wrong. At the start of this race, she was the favorite and everyone expected her to push her way straight into the White House. What happened? Here is Time Magazine's explanation of her mistakes...but challenge yourself to find out more and figure out for yourself where she went wrong!
And so that leaves us with Obama vs. McCain... if you're already tired of politics, I am sorry to inform you that it is only going to get worse. From now until November, all you will see, hear and breathe will be Obama vs. McCain so in the spirit of that here is a short article previewing the presidential race from a new source I started using called the Economist (for those of you who do not know, the Economist is considered one of the most reputable news magazines in the world. If you want to really be considered up-to-date and current on your world knowledge, check out the Economist!)For those of you who could care less about politics, here is the latest in the world:
China's massive earthquake! This was truly a tragic event and the consequences are still unfolding slowly but as of now well over 15,000 people are dead and many many more have been affected. Here is just a brief article summarizing what is happening... But of greater significance is also the Chinese government's response. America has always criticized their government (many times unfairly... I'd say most times) but this is proving to be an example of their progress and strength...
Bomb attacks in Jaipur! It is sad but terrorism is on the rise in India and there are more and more of these attacks taking place. This could be a simple effort by terrorists to rev-up India's religious conflict but hopefully the country is able to remain united and work together to overcome such cowardly acts... The article is just a summary of what happened in case you didn't hear and while I try to avoid trivial articles like this, I thought it would be of interest to many because of how close it is to home...
I promise that there will be more to come really soon! No more long gaps....
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
SAT Prep of the Day 7
Word of the Day:
CONTENTIOUS -- argumentative.
The meeting was a disaster because of the contentious people who wouldn't let anyone else talk.
CONTENTIOUS -- argumentative.
The meeting was a disaster because of the contentious people who wouldn't let anyone else talk.
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Critical Reading section... Choose the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence...
The committee’s report was entirely ------- ; those who ------- it did so with the deliberate intent of damaging my reputation.
a) erroneous . . expunged
b) legitimate . . perused
c) infallible . . endorsed
d) spontaneous . . compiled
e) malicious . . circulated
a) erroneous . . expunged
b) legitimate . . perused
c) infallible . . endorsed
d) spontaneous . . compiled
e) malicious . . circulated
Whatever was in the report, we know that it was damaging to the person's reputation. Thus the first word has to be something pretty negative...NOT spontaneous or legitimate or infallible. Something erroneous could lead to damage but for the damage to happen the report had to be published or spread, NOT expunged (to get rid of). That leaves us with E!
This was rated as a hard question and hopefully you saw that it wasn't too bad!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
SAT Prep of the Day 6
Word of the Day
HABITUATE -- to make used to something; accustom; frequent
The lions habituated to their new environment after being removed from the wild and placed into the zoo.
Question of the Day
The following sentence contains either a single error or no error at all. If the sentence contains an error, select the one underlined part that must be changed to make the sentence correct. If the sentence contains no error, select choice E.
| Most newer | digital cellular phones have |
| A |
| entertainment | programs on | it, | everything from |
| B | C | D |
| simple dice-throwing games to memory and |
| logic puzzles. | No error |
| E |
Here the verb-noun is fine: phones have. Adjective-noun is fine: most newer digital cellular phones. BUT pronoun-noun doesn't work here! Phones have programs on THEM, not IT!!!
So the problem is part C.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A Touching Story of Forgiveness...
This is a really touching story of the power of forgiveness and how important it is to life. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated nearly 17 years ago but recently, his daughter Priyanaka reached out to a woman who was part of the conspiracy and is currently serving a life sentence in prison. She met with the woman, named Nalini, and spent some time with her. This is a touching real-life story that shows that hatred and anger are not the solution! We must learn to forgive and love everyone, the way Mahatma Gandhi did in his life. I hope you read the story and share it with others because it is truly powerful. Here are a few quotes from it....http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1732217,00.html
Priyanka: "I don't believe in anger, hatred, and violence. And I refuse to allow it to overpower my life." Nalini: "all my sins have been washed off by Priyanka's visit... I feel she has pardoned me by calling on me at the prison... I am indebted to her all my life." "If the people of this earth could learn how to cry, to bring back tears in the eyes... that would help because tears in the eyes is a real human virtue." "Forgive you will be forgiven." -- Pope John Paul II
In the News...
Sorry I was not able to go to other sources this time so all of the articles are from Time.com but the articles are good so I hope it makes up for it! Some really interesting things are going on in the world and these articles will give you a glimpse and a brief understanding without going too into the details...but if you are interested, challenge yourself to learn more and look into it!
The Pope was in America and it was headline news everyday but what exactly was he here for? What did he do? For those of you who missed it, here is a recap of his trip...
Israel and Palestine have been fighting for decades now and one American president has been trying his best to bring peace -- Jimmy Carter. Now he has made new progress but is Israel willing to work this one out? Will America support Carter and make this happen? Hamas has actually agreed to accept Israel and this progress should truly be applauded and recognized!
I am sure all of you have seen China-Tibet on the headlines a lot recently. In case you're totally unsure about what is going on, basically the debate is about whether Tibet is its own country or not. The Chinese believe that Tibet is a part of China and they do not recognize the Dalai Lama (in fact they have exiled him). Tibetans are fighting for their independence and their own rights. It might be easy to think that one side is right and the other is wrong but challenge yourself to see it from both perspectives before you decide... Isn't it unfair that the Tibetans are making such an issue of it after all these years just when China is on the global stage and about to host the Olympics? Aren't the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama peaceful and tolerant? Why are the Chinese treating them so poorly? This article is just about China's view on what is going on... This second article is about how China isn't necessarily excited about all the patriotism that is arising...
The Pope was in America and it was headline news everyday but what exactly was he here for? What did he do? For those of you who missed it, here is a recap of his trip...
Israel and Palestine have been fighting for decades now and one American president has been trying his best to bring peace -- Jimmy Carter. Now he has made new progress but is Israel willing to work this one out? Will America support Carter and make this happen? Hamas has actually agreed to accept Israel and this progress should truly be applauded and recognized!
I am sure all of you have seen China-Tibet on the headlines a lot recently. In case you're totally unsure about what is going on, basically the debate is about whether Tibet is its own country or not. The Chinese believe that Tibet is a part of China and they do not recognize the Dalai Lama (in fact they have exiled him). Tibetans are fighting for their independence and their own rights. It might be easy to think that one side is right and the other is wrong but challenge yourself to see it from both perspectives before you decide... Isn't it unfair that the Tibetans are making such an issue of it after all these years just when China is on the global stage and about to host the Olympics? Aren't the Tibetans and the Dalai Lama peaceful and tolerant? Why are the Chinese treating them so poorly? This article is just about China's view on what is going on... This second article is about how China isn't necessarily excited about all the patriotism that is arising...
Monday, April 21, 2008
SAT Prep of the Day 5
Word of the Day:
DEARTH ~ lack of something.
Students who do not wear socks on cold days suffer from a dearth of common sense.
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Math Section...
In a supermarket, Shakira bought 5 items from aisles 1 through 7, inclusive, and 7 items from aisles 4 through 10, inclusive. Which of the following could be the total number of items that Shakira bought?
b) I and II only
c) I and III only
d) II and III only
e) I, II, and III
So this problem is tricky and its one that is sure to make you stop and second-guess yourself. But let's think about it... so 5 objects from aisles 1-7 and 7 from aisles 4-10. Thus, we have four aisles that potentially overlap (aisles 4-7). However, they have given us NO information as to which aisle different objects are in and thus we can make any assumptions we want. So it could happen that none of the objects came from aisles 4-7, in which case there would be 12 total items. Or there could be one object from aisles 4-7, in which case there would be 11 total items. Or two, for 10 total items. Or three, for 9 total items. And so on and so forth. An interesting thing to think is the LEAST number of total items. Suppose they were all in aisles 4-7. How many total items would there be? There has to be a minimum of 7 items in that case.
But in any case back to the original question, you could potentially have 9, 10, or 11 total items and therefore the correct answer is E.
DEARTH ~ lack of something.
Students who do not wear socks on cold days suffer from a dearth of common sense.
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Math Section...
In a supermarket, Shakira bought 5 items from aisles 1 through 7, inclusive, and 7 items from aisles 4 through 10, inclusive. Which of the following could be the total number of items that Shakira bought?
- 9
- 10
- 11
b) I and II only
c) I and III only
d) II and III only
e) I, II, and III
So this problem is tricky and its one that is sure to make you stop and second-guess yourself. But let's think about it... so 5 objects from aisles 1-7 and 7 from aisles 4-10. Thus, we have four aisles that potentially overlap (aisles 4-7). However, they have given us NO information as to which aisle different objects are in and thus we can make any assumptions we want. So it could happen that none of the objects came from aisles 4-7, in which case there would be 12 total items. Or there could be one object from aisles 4-7, in which case there would be 11 total items. Or two, for 10 total items. Or three, for 9 total items. And so on and so forth. An interesting thing to think is the LEAST number of total items. Suppose they were all in aisles 4-7. How many total items would there be? There has to be a minimum of 7 items in that case.
But in any case back to the original question, you could potentially have 9, 10, or 11 total items and therefore the correct answer is E.
Friday, April 18, 2008
SAT Prep of the Day 4
Word of the Day:
Idiosyncratic --- Having highly individual qualities and characteristics (this is a word you will actually see used a lot so know it!)
My sister is an idiosyncratic artist, so she needs to find a partner who can let her be herself and deal with all her odd habits.
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Critical Reading section... Choose the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence...
The professor asked the students to make sure they read the entire novel, both the twelve regular chapters and the extensive ----- materials that the author included at the beginning of the book.
a) proleptic
b) redacted
c) prefatory
d) orthographic
e) conjunctive
So you want to start here by first reading the sentence and coming up with a word that you yourself would use. At first glance, I thought the word would be an adjective that describes the materials as being background info or detailed, historic info, etc. Then I read it again and I noticed the "at the beginning of the book"...
Suppose you have no clue in the word as to what the five words there mean. Well where do you start? I thought to myself that the prefix "pre-" means coming before something and since here we were dealing with material at the beginning of the book that might work. Then when I looked at the word "prefatory," I realized that it sounded a lot like preface, which most of you know is the part at the beginning of all your books that you hope the teacher does not assign! And so it clicked and sure enough C was the right answer!
Idiosyncratic --- Having highly individual qualities and characteristics (this is a word you will actually see used a lot so know it!)
My sister is an idiosyncratic artist, so she needs to find a partner who can let her be herself and deal with all her odd habits.
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Critical Reading section... Choose the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence...
The professor asked the students to make sure they read the entire novel, both the twelve regular chapters and the extensive ----- materials that the author included at the beginning of the book.
a) proleptic
b) redacted
c) prefatory
d) orthographic
e) conjunctive
So you want to start here by first reading the sentence and coming up with a word that you yourself would use. At first glance, I thought the word would be an adjective that describes the materials as being background info or detailed, historic info, etc. Then I read it again and I noticed the "at the beginning of the book"...
Suppose you have no clue in the word as to what the five words there mean. Well where do you start? I thought to myself that the prefix "pre-" means coming before something and since here we were dealing with material at the beginning of the book that might work. Then when I looked at the word "prefatory," I realized that it sounded a lot like preface, which most of you know is the part at the beginning of all your books that you hope the teacher does not assign! And so it clicked and sure enough C was the right answer!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
In the News...
I thought I'd follow up this time with some fun and light news that still has some important issues...
The first is about India and Pakistan. For the first time in a long time, a Pakistani produced film is being shown commercially in India and it's making big news. Pakistanis have always been big on Bollywood but this could be an important step in improving our relations with our neighbors. It is interesting to note the power of the arts in bringing people together. Just last month, the New York Philharmonic went to North Korea and also helped the US build a new bridge with an enemy nation... I wanna see this movie!!! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/world/asia/16india.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin
J.K. Rowling is in court apparently because some guy who was a big fan created a fan website and now wants to publish his own book. He wants to publish some kind of Harry Potter encyclopedia or something and she is arguing that this violates her copyrights and rights of authorship... For Harry Potter fans it will probably also excite you to know that she wants to publish her own encyclopedia with all sorts of details for the obsessed fan... http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1730629,00.html
Want pure materialism? Check these pictures out of 10 new gadgets that came out at the CES Show earlier this year... Definitely makes you awed of the way things are changing...and slightly greedy too... Warning: That 55" LCD may not seem so nice anymore! http://www.newsweek.com/id/86841
The first is about India and Pakistan. For the first time in a long time, a Pakistani produced film is being shown commercially in India and it's making big news. Pakistanis have always been big on Bollywood but this could be an important step in improving our relations with our neighbors. It is interesting to note the power of the arts in bringing people together. Just last month, the New York Philharmonic went to North Korea and also helped the US build a new bridge with an enemy nation... I wanna see this movie!!! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/16/world/asia/16india.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=sloginJ.K. Rowling is in court apparently because some guy who was a big fan created a fan website and now wants to publish his own book. He wants to publish some kind of Harry Potter encyclopedia or something and she is arguing that this violates her copyrights and rights of authorship... For Harry Potter fans it will probably also excite you to know that she wants to publish her own encyclopedia with all sorts of details for the obsessed fan... http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1730629,00.html
Want pure materialism? Check these pictures out of 10 new gadgets that came out at the CES Show earlier this year... Definitely makes you awed of the way things are changing...and slightly greedy too... Warning: That 55" LCD may not seem so nice anymore! http://www.newsweek.com/id/86841
SAT Prep of the Day 3
Word of the Day:
TANTAMOUNT --- equivalent
"Refusing to take your finals is tantamount to giving up."
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Critical Reading Section... Choose the set of words that, when put into the sentence, best fits the meaning of the entire sentence...
TANTAMOUNT --- equivalent
"Refusing to take your finals is tantamount to giving up."
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the Critical Reading Section... Choose the set of words that, when put into the sentence, best fits the meaning of the entire sentence...
The new faculty member was a world-renowned scholar who, unfortunately, considered teaching undergraduates ------- him; he rarely ------- to speak to students who were not taking advanced post-graduate courses.
a) within . . presumed
b) above . . needed
c) beneath . . deigned
d) beyond . . neglected
e) like . . prepared
So whenever you start questions of this sort, you want to first try to figure out what kind of word will go in the blanks. Will it be a positive word? A negative word? To determine this you want to look for keywords within a sentence. Words like but, therefore, however, because, etc. suggest a shift in the sentence and these will be very important to your understanding of it. In this particular sentence, the 'unfortunately' signals a shift in tone. This professor who is smart felt negatively about teaching undergraduates and thus you can assume that he did not speak to these students as much as he should have.
The general strategy for these questions is to start my filling the sentences in with words from your own mind so then you can look for similar words in the answer choices. Now there may be times when you don't know what the words in the answer choices mean (even I am not sure what deigned means). But that doesn't mean you can't get the answer right! Look through and use process of elimination!
We know that the professor felt negatively about the teaching so A and E can be eliminated. We can also assume because he doesn't like teaching them that he is likely to neglect the students; not rarely neglect them. So D is out too. Now we have it down to B and C. If you have no clue what deigned means, all we have to look at is the first word. Does it make sense that the teaching would be 'above him' or 'beneath him'? Because he is a world-renowned scholar and because we know he feels negatively about it, the right answer must be that he feels the teaching is beneath him. Answer C is the right answer!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
SAT Prep of the Day 2
Word of the Day:
INTERIM --- done, made, appointed, or occurring for an intervening time.
"The team named Bill Thomas as their interim coach after their head coach got fired last week."
Question of the Day:
If the function ƒ is defined by ƒ(x) = [(x-a)(x-b)] / (x-c) , where 0 < a < b < c. For which of the following values of x is ƒ undefined?
b) I only
c) III only
d) I and II only
e) I, II, III
You have to start the question by knowing what they are asking. Here they want you to determine values for which the function is
undefined. When is a function undefined? In a rational function (a function with one polynomial over another), when the denominator
cannot be equal to 0. Therefore, the function is undefined for any x values that make the denominator equal to 0.
This question is a little bit tougher because instead of using numbers, it uses letters to represent numbers. Remember though that a, b,
and c are just representing some number so don't be fooled! They are NOT variables or anything else complicated. So in this function,
the only term in the denominator is (x-c). That term will be equal to 0 when x = c. Therefore, only option III is true and that corresponds
to answer choice C.
When x = a or x = b, the function will simply be equal to 0 because you will have 0 in the numerator. At those values, the function is
still defined!!!
INTERIM --- done, made, appointed, or occurring for an intervening time.
"The team named Bill Thomas as their interim coach after their head coach got fired last week."
Question of the Day:
If the function ƒ is defined by ƒ(x) = [(x-a)(x-b)] / (x-c) , where 0 < a < b < c. For which of the following values of x is ƒ undefined?
- a
- b
- c
b) I only
c) III only
d) I and II only
e) I, II, III
You have to start the question by knowing what they are asking. Here they want you to determine values for which the function is
undefined. When is a function undefined? In a rational function (a function with one polynomial over another), when the denominator
cannot be equal to 0. Therefore, the function is undefined for any x values that make the denominator equal to 0.
This question is a little bit tougher because instead of using numbers, it uses letters to represent numbers. Remember though that a, b,
and c are just representing some number so don't be fooled! They are NOT variables or anything else complicated. So in this function,
the only term in the denominator is (x-c). That term will be equal to 0 when x = c. Therefore, only option III is true and that corresponds
to answer choice C.
When x = a or x = b, the function will simply be equal to 0 because you will have 0 in the numerator. At those values, the function is
still defined!!!
Monday, April 14, 2008
SAT Prep of the Day
So I saw a blog yesterday that had one new prep question for the LSAT everyday and he would explain the answer thoroughly and what not so I thought to myself, why not do something similar for the SAT?!? I'll start with this and depending on how helpful it is and the feedback I get, I'll keep going or I'll just let it go....
Word of the Day:
VOLUBLE --- speaking much and easily, talkative; glib (another SAT word itself).
"He was a voluble speaker, always ready to talk."
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the WRITING section... There are five ways to phrase the underlined part of the sentence. Select the choice that produces the best sentence...
B) is used for when
C) this is how
D) the way
E) which is used when
So here it is important to notice the different parts of grammar. "Rote learning" is the subject of the sentence. DON'T get thrown off by "the process of memorizing by reptition"... that part of the sentence is just explaining what rote learning is. However, after that you want to start with a VERB that links with the subject. Thus you can eliminate C, D, and E.
That leaves choice A and B. B is just too wordy and does not even make sense. You rarely say "is used for when"... if anything you would say "X is used when"... but here the correct answer is A (the original choice of words).
In general, whenever you see words set off by commas, you should read the sentence without that and try to correct it. So here you want to find the words that will connect "rote learning" with "many young children learn..."
If you have any questions or any comments please post them so that others can benefit and please give me feedback!!!
Word of the Day:
VOLUBLE --- speaking much and easily, talkative; glib (another SAT word itself).
"He was a voluble speaker, always ready to talk."
Question of the Day:
Today's question is from the WRITING section... There are five ways to phrase the underlined part of the sentence. Select the choice that produces the best sentence...
Rote learning, the process of memorizing by repetition, is how many young children learn the alphabet or the multiplication tables.
A) is howB) is used for when
C) this is how
D) the way
E) which is used when
So here it is important to notice the different parts of grammar. "Rote learning" is the subject of the sentence. DON'T get thrown off by "the process of memorizing by reptition"... that part of the sentence is just explaining what rote learning is. However, after that you want to start with a VERB that links with the subject. Thus you can eliminate C, D, and E.
That leaves choice A and B. B is just too wordy and does not even make sense. You rarely say "is used for when"... if anything you would say "X is used when"... but here the correct answer is A (the original choice of words).
In general, whenever you see words set off by commas, you should read the sentence without that and try to correct it. So here you want to find the words that will connect "rote learning" with "many young children learn..."
If you have any questions or any comments please post them so that others can benefit and please give me feedback!!!
In the News...
I want to apologize for the serious lack of new stuff on the blog lately but hopefully this is the start for a good new streak of exciting stuff to keep up on...
In any case there are tons of interesting things going on in the world but this whole economic crisis is starting to really make its impact. America is clearly suffering severely with all the talk of recession but even more serious is the world's food problem! The cost of food has rose tremendously over the last few months and it is threatening to leave countless people starving. Already riots have occurred in Haiti, Bangladesh and Egypt and more will come. Can you imagine earning only $1 per day and spending half of it (or more) just to eat! This is something we must be aware about so don't miss out on reading this!
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1730107,00.html
On a note of great pride though, this article about India colonizing Britain is highly exciting! It was not so long ago when Britain had colonized India but the tides are turning and India is once again rising into power. Recently Tata purchased British-luxury symbols Jaguar and Range Rover and in more ways that one, India is having its influence upon Britain. Read this and share it! http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1730172,00.html
In any case there are tons of interesting things going on in the world but this whole economic crisis is starting to really make its impact. America is clearly suffering severely with all the talk of recession but even more serious is the world's food problem! The cost of food has rose tremendously over the last few months and it is threatening to leave countless people starving. Already riots have occurred in Haiti, Bangladesh and Egypt and more will come. Can you imagine earning only $1 per day and spending half of it (or more) just to eat! This is something we must be aware about so don't miss out on reading this!
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1730107,00.html
On a note of great pride though, this article about India colonizing Britain is highly exciting! It was not so long ago when Britain had colonized India but the tides are turning and India is once again rising into power. Recently Tata purchased British-luxury symbols Jaguar and Range Rover and in more ways that one, India is having its influence upon Britain. Read this and share it! http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1730172,00.html
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
About my culture...Adi Shankaracharya
ADI SHANKARACHARYA
(This biography was written by a friend of mine who made his honest attempt to summarize the life of this great man. There is much more to Shankaracharya than mere words can do justice to however. Hopefully this will be a starting point to give you insight on one of our greatest philosophers ever!)
(This biography was written by a friend of mine who made his honest attempt to summarize the life of this great man. There is much more to Shankaracharya than mere words can do justice to however. Hopefully this will be a starting point to give you insight on one of our greatest philosophers ever!)
Adi Shankaracharya was born in the year 788A.D. during the spring season (Vasanta Ritu) at noon in Abhikit Muhurta under Ardhra which is extremely auspicious moment. He was born in modern day Kochi, Kerala (left), where today stands an ashram. His father Sivaguru passed away when Shankara was only 7 after which point he under went the Upanayana ceremony (janoi) and his mother took over his education to teach him all the Shastra’s and Veds.
EDUCATION:
This was just his initial education, and considered very primary. Like elementary and middle school training. He had everything memorized with understanding by the time he was 16. At this auspicious age he began prasthantraya bhasya. This is when you write commentaries on the Gita, Upanishads of the Vedas, and the Brahma sutras. To do this at this age is extraordinary.
SANNYASIN:
Shankara at this age was to be married but he was firm to become a sannyasin. Many people wonder that we are prescribed by our shastras to go through the 4 stages of life, and in the last stage we will have sannysin. Why would he not go through Grahastrasharam and Varnasharam despite understanding them? To understand this we must for a second realize that he was not like the rest of us. There are always exceptions to the rule. The rule is set for the majority. Think of the bell curve, statistics have proven over and over again, that the bell curve also called normal distribution is how population dynamics work. Shankara fell into the small 10% of whom were allowed to skip those two stage to move on to the last. The exceptions are also outlined in the shrutis and smruits as well as historical examples are given in the ithihases. Others compare him to Vallabhacharya saying that he did grahastrashram and Shankara didn’t, thereby one is greater than the other. Both did what was necessary for their time, this requires Vivek. We must trust that both had one goal in mind –truth and neither is greater or worse. They both knew the ultimate and made that truth applicable to the times they lived in. This is also true for their philosophies. Pandurang Shastri and other great scholars of vedic dharma such Swami Narayana, Swami Chinmayananda, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekanand, Tukaram, Tulsidas, and even Vallabhacharya himself, etc have agreed on one point and have been saying throughout the ages that acharyas and avatars and great spiritual leaders from any place in world are all equal. There is only one truth and they all knew it. They were realized. They then gave smruti’s or applied philosophies for the time they were “assigned” to. They were not opposing one another; we put them against each other. There are many paths, each person must find their own; however, it will lead them to one truth. Respect one another, this was their wish—unity in diversity.
GURU:
Shankara after getting permission from his mother and village to take sannyasin, went on his search for a guru. He found his guru in the holy tirthstan of Badrinath. His guru was Swami Govindapada Acharaya. In turn, his guru was Gaudapada who is said to be taught be Guru Sukhadev. Guru Sukhadev’s legend, if I remember correctly, is that he was taught by Seshanaga who is a reincarnation of Shiv bhagvan. This lineage of gurus is a lineage of great austerity. If anyone is to ever dwell into their lives and sacrifice, nothing short of anand will settle. Under his guidance, Shankara was given a deep understanding of the scriptures to create a deeper vivek in him. He was told to go Kashi, as was tradition. In kashi you are to debate with the greatest scholars to fill in the gaps in your understanding thereby giving you a deeper understanding. Here he finished his bhasyas (commentaries) and thus became an Acharaya which requires bhasyas on prasthantraya. It was common, that if you are defeated in a debate, the defeated will adopt the philosophy of the victorious. However, it was not in the sense of succumbing, as we do today, but due to confidence in oneself that since one now has understood a higher truth from someone else they could now live by that. They all had only one goal- to get as close to truth as possible. During his time, there were over 72 varying philosophies.
DIGVIJYA:
Shankara on his digvijya (tour of victory), went to find truth. He thus debated with many scholars of varying thoughts, in order to find out if he could be defeated. However, his understanding of advait was so strong that he was victorious and thus had many disciples. His greatest debates are those with Harsha, Abhinavagupta, Murari Misra, Udayanacharya, Dharmagupta, and Prabhakara. It was during this time that he also met Kumaril Bhatt and made his divine promise. One of his greatest victories was with Mandan Misra, in which Misra’s wife was the mediator/judge and proclaimed Shankara victorious. Another legend however says Bharati, the avatara of Sarasvati just gave the two garments to wear, and whose ever begins to fade first is the defeated. After defeating Mandan Misra, Bharati said that Shankara only defeated ½ of the Mandan and she was the other. He would have to defeat her as well. He agreed and the debated lasted another 17 days. Then she was going to argue using Kama Shastra. Shankara took a month to study the scripture and then returned after great taph. He returned and he was able to defeat Bharati. After this both Misra and his wife, Bharati, became his disciple. This shows the place and dept of knowledge women held and hold in our culture. They both became the first Sannyasin to take care of Sringeri Mutt (left) which still stands today as the principle Mutt of Shankaracharya in Kerala. Mandan Misra was renamed Sureshwar Acharaya.
Shankara’s only purpose in doing this was to bring together all people as brothers and sisters under one truth. He never pushed a certain way of life, only an understanding. He was ready to be defeated if he found a truth greater than his. Many of the varying philosophies saw their limits and unified under the Vedic Dharma’s advait philosophy. Most have disappeared all together.
Word came of his mother’s passing and although it was against the order of Sannyasin to attend to worldly duties such as funeral rites, this was his promise to his mother. This shows that Shankara was not like other world renouncing Sannyasins and was a servant of man. He then went back to Kaladi to perform these rights where he was forced to conduct some unspeakable acts in order to fulfill his promise. I would not like to speak of them here.
Shankara then returned to Sringeri from where he began his 2nd digvajya. During this one he established a Mutt in Jagarnath Puri (left) called Govardhana Mutt and another one in Dwarka. He then went to Badrinath (right) where he built a temple and an ashram at Joshi. Each Mutt is also a school where students come from all over come to learn different Veds—four Veds and four Mutts. If you go there today you can hear them reciting the Vedas. There were many great acts done between this time in which he spread and gave the great Vaidic dharma. In 820 AD, he ascended to Kedarnath where he merged with the Linga there when he was 32. These places still stand today. Many people feel that they can never be like Shankara since he was great at such a young age like Nachiketha. This great feat of his is true, but not an impossible for anyone. Let’s not forget the story of Valmiki who was once called Valya. However, we cannot put that block in our mind, that I am unable to be something, we must believe in the fact that divine energy flows through all things equally. This is the way of the Aryas.
THE COMMENTARIES (BHASYA’S):
- Sayana – commentary on Rig Ved and took Max Muller almost 30 years of on and off work to translate in which he dedicated at least 10 minutes a day to this work and also acquired the original works from Sringeri Mutt.
- Sareerik Bhashya- commentary on Brahma Sutra.
- Bhasya on each Upanishad, respectively
- Gita Bhasya
- Sanat Sugatiya bhasya
- Vishnu- sahasranama bhasya
- Great original works on logic, devotion and metaphysics: Vivekachudamani, Atma Bodha, Aparoksha Anubhuti, anandalahari, atma anatma viveka, Drik Drishya viveka, Upadesa Sahasri, Krushnastakam, Nandakumarashtakam, Govindashtakam…
HIS PHILOSOPHY:
“Shloka-ardhena Prabakhyami
Yad Uktam Grantha Kotibhihi.
Brahma Satya Jagat Mithya
Jivo Brahmaiva na-aparah.”
The concept is that our eyes are limited as is our mind. So we tend to bring limits to things, and we are not able to see everything for what it is. Just as a microscope, eyes, and a telescope may see the same thing at different depths, we, too, due to our vipreet gnan cannot see things as they are. The world is only Vyavaharikha- a phenomenon but not real. We create what we see, it is biased. Realization is to see things as it is and it is all the same—Brahma.
Example used by Shankara: Vivarta Vada—just as a rope looks like a snake and we believe the rope is a snake until we can clearly see the rope as a rope, we will live in maya in which we cannot distinguish the rope from a snake until we get the right understanding. However, since the rope to us is undoubtedly a snake, we also fear coming close to it. Once we get more knowledge, the illusion or maya of the snake will subside as such the illusion of the body and world will vanish and only Brahmagyan will remain.
Brahma is Nirgurn- without qualities, nirakara – without form, nirvisesha –without attributes and akarta – non agent.
“The atma is Self-evident. This atma or Self is not established by proofs of the existence of the Self (because it is beyond and cannot be proven in our realm but only realized). It is not possible to deny this atma, for it is the very essence of he who denies it. The atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge (referring to the sciences and shastras). The Self is within, the Self is without, the Self is before, and the Self is behind. The Self is on the right hand, the Self is on the left, the Self is above and the Self is below (neti-aneti)” Brahma is satyam- jananam-anantam-anandam but is also not because it cannot be limited to this distinction.
Shankara was a giant of all knowledge and a fully developed Karma, Jnani and Bhakta Yogi. He left nothing unexplored and those who have studied and understood him at least realize the truth of this even if they do not completely understand him. It is said that those who understand Shankaracharaya become divine. For most things you have to understand and then practice, but it is believed that those who truly understand Shankaracharya for who he is, are automatically transformed.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Think twice before you do Hookah...
I know I've heard a lot of people in college think hookah isn't bad for your health and that it's just a fun way to hang out, but research has shown that it is just as bad as smoking in many aspects. Regardless of whether you choose to do it or not, at least you should be informed so you can make the choice that is right for you... Here's an article from U.S. News and then two other links, one from a doctor at the Mayo Clinic and another from the Washington Post...
Hookah Smoking as Tough on Lungs as Cigarettes 
Study finds one-hour session produces as much carbon monoxide as a pack of smokes
By Randy Dotinga
Posted 1/3/08
THURSDAY, Jan. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A leisurely hour of puffs from a hookah -- a kind of tobacco water pipe that's popular among college students -- packs the same carbon monoxide punch as a pack-a-day cigarette habit, a new report claims.
The research only looks at a single toxic gas, making it impossible to directly compare hookah use to the well-known hazards of cigarette smoking. Still, the findings suggest that hookah fans should think twice before lighting that pipe, said study co-author S. Katharine Hammond, chairwoman of the division of environmental health sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.
"This is not the risk-free activity they think it is," Hammond said. "This really isn't safe."
Hookahs, which are similar to the bongs used to smoke marijuana, have grown in popularity in recent years. In college towns and elsewhere, hookah bars have appeared that allow people to smoke the water pipes -- which are legal since tobacco is used -- in a public and social setting.
Users inhale tobacco smoke after it bubbles through water, a process that some people think filters toxins from the tobacco.
One survey suggested that 28 percent of freshmen at a private university had tried hookahs, Hammond said, adding that Chicago alone has dozens of hookah bars.
"This is a worldwide phenomenon," she said. "It's very popular on U.S. college campuses, but most professors are unaware of it."
The new study is the latest research to suggest that hookahs are far from healthy.
Hammond and a student recruited 27 students who smoked water pipes for an hour on three different evenings in April 2006. Another five students didn't smoke the hookahs but stayed in the room with those who did.
The participants abstained from water pipe smoking for 84 hours before taking part in the study; the bowls of their water pipes were filled with water and 10 grams of Al Fakher mu'assal tobacco, then heated with charcoal.
Researchers monitored carbon monoxide in the breath of the participants both before and after the experiment using a machine designed to detect if people are smokers.
The findings were published in a letter in the Jan. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The exhaled carbon monoxide in participants was an average of 42 parts per million, higher than that reported in cigarette smokers (17 parts per million). The study also found that carbon monoxide levels grew in the room where the subjects smoked hookahs and might reach environmentally unhealthy levels, as determined by the federal government, during longer sessions.
Hammond said she can't directly compare hookah use to the smoking of cigarettes, which house thousands of toxic chemicals. And, she said, it's hard to know exactly what hookah use will mean in terms of higher risk of lung or heart disease.
Hookahs "may not give you lung cancer but may compromise your health in other ways," she said.
Thomas Eissenberg, an associate professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies hookah use, said research has suggested that smoking a water pipe for 45 minutes produces 36 times more tar than smoking a cigarette for five minutes. Tar -- or "nicotine-free, dry particulate matter" -- contains the cancer-causing constituents of the smoke, although it's not clear if water pipe tar is different from cigarette tar, he said.
"Occasional water pipe tobacco smoking may carry its own health risks, and it may also be dangerous, because it can lead to daily water pipe use, regular cigarette smoking, or both," he said.
Study finds one-hour session produces as much carbon monoxide as a pack of smokes
By Randy Dotinga
Posted 1/3/08
THURSDAY, Jan. 3 (HealthDay News) -- A leisurely hour of puffs from a hookah -- a kind of tobacco water pipe that's popular among college students -- packs the same carbon monoxide punch as a pack-a-day cigarette habit, a new report claims.
The research only looks at a single toxic gas, making it impossible to directly compare hookah use to the well-known hazards of cigarette smoking. Still, the findings suggest that hookah fans should think twice before lighting that pipe, said study co-author S. Katharine Hammond, chairwoman of the division of environmental health sciences at the University of California, Berkeley.
"This is not the risk-free activity they think it is," Hammond said. "This really isn't safe."
Hookahs, which are similar to the bongs used to smoke marijuana, have grown in popularity in recent years. In college towns and elsewhere, hookah bars have appeared that allow people to smoke the water pipes -- which are legal since tobacco is used -- in a public and social setting.
Users inhale tobacco smoke after it bubbles through water, a process that some people think filters toxins from the tobacco.
One survey suggested that 28 percent of freshmen at a private university had tried hookahs, Hammond said, adding that Chicago alone has dozens of hookah bars.
"This is a worldwide phenomenon," she said. "It's very popular on U.S. college campuses, but most professors are unaware of it."
The new study is the latest research to suggest that hookahs are far from healthy.
Hammond and a student recruited 27 students who smoked water pipes for an hour on three different evenings in April 2006. Another five students didn't smoke the hookahs but stayed in the room with those who did.
The participants abstained from water pipe smoking for 84 hours before taking part in the study; the bowls of their water pipes were filled with water and 10 grams of Al Fakher mu'assal tobacco, then heated with charcoal.
Researchers monitored carbon monoxide in the breath of the participants both before and after the experiment using a machine designed to detect if people are smokers.
The findings were published in a letter in the Jan. 2 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The exhaled carbon monoxide in participants was an average of 42 parts per million, higher than that reported in cigarette smokers (17 parts per million). The study also found that carbon monoxide levels grew in the room where the subjects smoked hookahs and might reach environmentally unhealthy levels, as determined by the federal government, during longer sessions.
Hammond said she can't directly compare hookah use to the smoking of cigarettes, which house thousands of toxic chemicals. And, she said, it's hard to know exactly what hookah use will mean in terms of higher risk of lung or heart disease.
Hookahs "may not give you lung cancer but may compromise your health in other ways," she said.
Thomas Eissenberg, an associate professor of psychology at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies hookah use, said research has suggested that smoking a water pipe for 45 minutes produces 36 times more tar than smoking a cigarette for five minutes. Tar -- or "nicotine-free, dry particulate matter" -- contains the cancer-causing constituents of the smoke, although it's not clear if water pipe tar is different from cigarette tar, he said.
"Occasional water pipe tobacco smoking may carry its own health risks, and it may also be dangerous, because it can lead to daily water pipe use, regular cigarette smoking, or both," he said.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
About my culture... Holi and Dhureti
On the full moon of the month of Phalgun, is the first day of the two day festival. On that day, a pyre is set up to reenact the burning of Holika who is the sister of Hiranyakashyap. After many attempts to kill his son Prahlad, Hiranyakashyap told him to sit in his sister’s lap. The sister would be protected from fire with a shaal. However, when the fire started, the shaal flew away, and Holika was burned and from the pyre came Narsinh - half lion and half man reincarnation. He killed Hiranyakashyap who had a boon on him that he could not die during night or day, inside or outside, by shastra (science) or astra (weapon), or by man or animal. So, Narisinh was neither man nor animal, used his claws which were not shastra or astra and he killed him at the doorstep at dusk! Genius!Two other stories are associated with today - that of the killing of Hoda who was killed by children and the killing of Putna by Krishna.
Today in essence signifies the day when children who are endowed with untainted hearts stand up against evil. It is a day when children should remember Prahlad and Krishna and aspire to be like them even in their mischief.
The next day is exclusively for mischief! It is the day we call Holi or Dhuleti. Everyone becomes a child again and is to remember the deep endowed innocence that is a beam of one of the most divine qualities of God. Even in mischief we can promote dharma. It shows how the pure mind of a child is so powerful that it can destroy all evil.
Dhuleti or Dhuli Padvo stands for throwing mud. Throw mud!
However, now people throw colors, which originates from the celebration of the colors of spring and Radha and Krishna are said to have celebrate spring with this festival of colors. Either way, the significance is that in India or anywhere, people despite their color, race, or creed play. Everyone wears their whitest clothes. The children run to their elders to do tilak on them and then begin holi with them putting vermillion on their respected elders. With their ashirvad, the entire village or city is transformed into a place of children despite their age. Everyone plays and enjoys. Everyone looks the same covered in colors or mud and barriers of occupation, worth, and status are eliminated in the presence of God. Everyone becomes a child of divine purity which comes in its purest form in childhood. The entire society comes together and there is harmony.Scriptural Significance:
As we all know life is based on four main aspects kama (human desires), artha (social welfare), dharma (morality and duty), and moksh (spiritual liberation). Balancing and purifying these four concepts is the main purpose of anything in our culture. Holi and dhuleti is a great example of this. During this festival, kama’s are to be changed into innocent child-like desires, which are the most purest forms of human desires. Social welfare is promoted because the entire populations convergences to celebrate together as children of one God. Relationships are strengthened and old issues are forgotten during the new season. Dharma is the victory of good over evil. However, evil is not just immortality but its anything that causes evil. One form of “evil” is illness. Our rushi’s have instated most of our cultural events in order to take care of both social, personal, and health aspects of life. During the pyre, the night before holi, every one circumvents the fire until they sweat and their body temperature increases. As we know, fever is the body’s natural defense to denature microbials and in spring the temperature warms up which is ideal for the bacterial and microbial growth. The sweat flushes the system and the increased temperature (way beyond that ideal temperature of spring) will help kill microbials just as a fever. So it is a cleansing mechanism. The next day, during dhuleti, mud is basically spread all over the body. Besides, the natural vitamins and minerals in soil, the soil is enriched with haldi and bilva as well as ashes from wood to give it increased medicinal values such as hydration and antibacterial properties. Also our Vitamin D stores are increased with the sunlight. Let’s not forget garba and raas which again has roots in the legends of Radha and Krishna which takes away our laziness. The moksha aspect is reiterated with remembering our values and morals. To realize that our nature should be transformed into one that is like Prahlads, the true son of God. We must fight for truth, stand up against adharma, and stay strong with faith as our foundation. If all four aspects are balanced social progress and self-development are inevitable.
Each region of India has a unique way of celebrating Holi, but the basic principles are the same. It once again promotes the fact that unity in diversity underlies Bharat’s essence.
There are references to Holi in Jamini’s Purva Mimansa which is a shastra completely based on gyan. There are also references in Kathakagrhya Sutras, Narad Puran, and Bhaishya Puran and inscriptions in stone from 300BC of Holikotsav (or Holi). Even the Ulbaruni (a famous Islamic traveler) writes about it as does Kabir and it is also a story found in Guru Granth Sahib.
Disasters always bring man closer to man, but to be human—devotion and divinity should be the catalyst.
A Touching and Thought-Provoking Story...
HOT CHOCOLATE
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each others cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your hot chocolate.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
In the News...
The world around us is bustling with news and so instead of staying within America, today I'll try to go around the world and see what is going on outside of us...
Did you know that human slavery still exists? It is very sad to know that every year thousands of kids and adults are sold for labor, prostitution and various other purposes. These individuals have no control over their lives and are denied the simple opportunity to live freely... It is time for us to open up our eyes and do what we can...
On the other hand, it should be with great pride that we can finally say things are getting better between India and Pakistan! The differences are still tremendous and our relationship is far from that which Gandhi would have wanted but nonetheless there is progress... The picture is from a daily ceremony that soldiers at the border at Wagah do. Soldiers in black are Pakistani, soldiers in brown are Indian.
Who said globalization was bad for everyone? It's funny because the US was the one who started this idea of the global market. They went around and forced others to open their doors and made it happen. But now suddenly, because they have started to realize that they cannot compete with other countries, the US is
shifting away from globalization... The truth is that there is much to be gained through globalization and these are just two very interesting examples. The first is about roses from Africa and the second is about poor Brazilian farmers who live in burning deserts... the picture is of the guy who invented the solar energy system for the Brazilians and the peppers that they are now growing.
Did you know that human slavery still exists? It is very sad to know that every year thousands of kids and adults are sold for labor, prostitution and various other purposes. These individuals have no control over their lives and are denied the simple opportunity to live freely... It is time for us to open up our eyes and do what we can...
On the other hand, it should be with great pride that we can finally say things are getting better between India and Pakistan! The differences are still tremendous and our relationship is far from that which Gandhi would have wanted but nonetheless there is progress... The picture is from a daily ceremony that soldiers at the border at Wagah do. Soldiers in black are Pakistani, soldiers in brown are Indian.Who said globalization was bad for everyone? It's funny because the US was the one who started this idea of the global market. They went around and forced others to open their doors and made it happen. But now suddenly, because they have started to realize that they cannot compete with other countries, the US is
shifting away from globalization... The truth is that there is much to be gained through globalization and these are just two very interesting examples. The first is about roses from Africa and the second is about poor Brazilian farmers who live in burning deserts... the picture is of the guy who invented the solar energy system for the Brazilians and the peppers that they are now growing.Lastly an article about JAPAN... Japan was the first Asian country to modernize and after the Meiji period many thought it would become a global power. Then WWII happened and globalization happened and China and India happened. Suddenly, Japan is looking at itself and wondering where it fell behind. This article highlights one of the problems with Japan and opens our eyes to the need for change...
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
School in London Teaches Mandatory Sanskrit...
This article appeared in the Hindustan Times about a month ago and its about a school in London, St. James Independent School (you can check them out here in case you have any doubts or want more information), that is teaching Sanskrit to its students from a young age.They have found that Sanskrit allows them to develop their intellectual abilities better and it also has other benefits. They are now even moving into teaching Vedic mathematics... How ironic is it that the English are the ones who are discovering the greatness of our roots while we, as Indians, try to move as far away from it as possible??? The article even mentions how Sanskrit is the mother of all languages.
Here are some quotes:
"This is the most perfect and logical language in the world, the only one that is not named after the people who speak it. Indeed the word itself means 'perfected language." --Warwick Jessup, Head of Sanskrit department
"The Devnagri script and spoken Sanskrit are two of the best ways for a child to overcome stiffness of fingers and the tongue," says Moss. "Today's European languages do not use many parts of the tongue and mouth while speaking or many finger movements while writing, whereas Sanskrit helps immensely to develop cerebral dexterity through its phonetics."
You can find the entire PDF file of this article by clicking here... This is something unbelievable that I think everyone should read! Imagine a future where Sanskrit is taught before English... Quite amazing!
For the Sports Fans...
As much as we all love our teams and have our favorites, my goal here is to expose new stuff that is going on in the world of sports that people overlook even as fans so I'll try to find articles on up and coming athletes, interesting perspectives and in-depth stories that go beyond the box scores!
This article might be one of the funniest, interesting, thought-provoking basketball articles I have read in a long time. It's about "What If..." and it just goes through all the big things that have happened in NBA and looks at what might have happened if things went differently over the last few years... imagine Lebron in Memphis! or Duncan in Orlando! or Kobe on LA's other team! Interesting things....
Chris Paul has been getting a lot of hype this season for what he is doing on the court but here's a trip with him off the court and an inside look at his life. Its pretty cool that someone who is so big time still is so down to earth and is trying to be the guy that everyone loves...
With the Rockets having won 19 straight games, ESPN did a little piece on other memorable streaks...its humorous and yet interesting if you do not know much about other famous streaks...
And yes I love baseball so here is an awesome article about two rising stars -- the Upton Brothers! They aren't on great teams but look out for them in the next few seasons to r
eally make a breakthrough...
But the biggest story of this year's baseball season so far is the Detroit Tigers! They went crazy over the summer and pulled off Yankee-esque deals...they brought in Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera and they already had a stacked line up with Pudge Rodriguez, Renteria, Ordonez and a few others. And you can't forget that they still have Zumaya, Bonderman, Verlander and Rogers in a solid pitching rotation! Should be fun to see if they live up to the hype...
This article might be one of the funniest, interesting, thought-provoking basketball articles I have read in a long time. It's about "What If..." and it just goes through all the big things that have happened in NBA and looks at what might have happened if things went differently over the last few years... imagine Lebron in Memphis! or Duncan in Orlando! or Kobe on LA's other team! Interesting things....
Chris Paul has been getting a lot of hype this season for what he is doing on the court but here's a trip with him off the court and an inside look at his life. Its pretty cool that someone who is so big time still is so down to earth and is trying to be the guy that everyone loves...With the Rockets having won 19 straight games, ESPN did a little piece on other memorable streaks...its humorous and yet interesting if you do not know much about other famous streaks...
And yes I love baseball so here is an awesome article about two rising stars -- the Upton Brothers! They aren't on great teams but look out for them in the next few seasons to r
eally make a breakthrough...But the biggest story of this year's baseball season so far is the Detroit Tigers! They went crazy over the summer and pulled off Yankee-esque deals...they brought in Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera and they already had a stacked line up with Pudge Rodriguez, Renteria, Ordonez and a few others. And you can't forget that they still have Zumaya, Bonderman, Verlander and Rogers in a solid pitching rotation! Should be fun to see if they live up to the hype...
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Now Playing "YouTube"
The blog has been redesigned slightly today with the biggest change being the addition of a YouTube Player on the left. The player will show videos that I have added onto my playlists and I will try my best to keep them up-to-date... if you find anything worth sharing, please do send it my way! If you want to watch the videos on a bigger size, click on "Menu" and then use the link to get to the actual YouTube.com page...
I do not want YouTube to become what the blog is about so the focus will still definitely be on finding good articles and writing things that are fun to read and informative at the same time! Hope you enjoy it!
Just for reference the Videos that are currently posted:
1) Sonu Nigam (Bollywood singer) performs "Aaj Ki Raat" in both female and male voice! Unbelievable talent!!!
2) Hilarious video that makes fun of what a WNBA Video Game would be like.
3) Shaq, Lebron, and Dwight Howard dancing... just nice to see athletes having a fun time and getting along
4) Incredible stupidity... just listen to what she says! It makes NO sense!!!
5) Even more stupidity... it is sad how ignorant and idiotic people are! How could you not know such obvious, basic things??? And people wonder why the world hates America...
6) Inspiring and touching video from Oprah featuring Prof. Randy Pausch on his last lecture and advice on life... Unbelievably moving and inspiring! I highly recommend you spare 10 minutes to watch this...
I do not want YouTube to become what the blog is about so the focus will still definitely be on finding good articles and writing things that are fun to read and informative at the same time! Hope you enjoy it!
Just for reference the Videos that are currently posted:
1) Sonu Nigam (Bollywood singer) performs "Aaj Ki Raat" in both female and male voice! Unbelievable talent!!!
2) Hilarious video that makes fun of what a WNBA Video Game would be like.
3) Shaq, Lebron, and Dwight Howard dancing... just nice to see athletes having a fun time and getting along
4) Incredible stupidity... just listen to what she says! It makes NO sense!!!
5) Even more stupidity... it is sad how ignorant and idiotic people are! How could you not know such obvious, basic things??? And people wonder why the world hates America...
6) Inspiring and touching video from Oprah featuring Prof. Randy Pausch on his last lecture and advice on life... Unbelievably moving and inspiring! I highly recommend you spare 10 minutes to watch this...
Monday, March 10, 2008
Just for Laughs
An old man was eating in a truck stop when three bikers walked in.
The first walked up to the old man, pushed his cigarette into the old man's pie and then took a seat at the counter. The second walked up to the old man, spit into the old man's milk and then he took a seat at the counter. The third walked up to the old man, turned over the old man's plate, and then he took a seat at the counter.
Without a word of protest, the old man quietly left the diner.
Shortly thereafter, one of the bikers said to the waitress, "Humph, not much of a man, was he?"
The waitress replied, "Not much of a truck driver either. He just backed his truck over three motorcycles."
Good Thoughts...
With finals coming around for many of us, I thought I'd pick some good quotes on a very pertinent topic... stupidity...
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." --- Albert Einstein
"It is only the wisest and the stupidest that cannot change." --- Confucius
"Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance." --- William Gaddis, a great American novelist
"In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He did not also limit his stupidity." --- Konrad Adenauer, first Chancellor of West Germany
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." --- Albert Einstein
"It is only the wisest and the stupidest that cannot change." --- Confucius
"Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance." --- William Gaddis, a great American novelist
"In view of the fact that God limited the intelligence of man, it seems unfair that He did not also limit his stupidity." --- Konrad Adenauer, first Chancellor of West Germany
In the News...
I apologize for the long hiatus in posts but it is indeed well overdue so here are some of the latest interesting articles I have read... I am going to stick to a science theme this time and avoid politics for a change so hopefully you find something you enjoy... (the first picture by the way is not related to the articles... its a picture of some kids in Bulgaria swinging fireballs... now that sounds like fun!)
Astrology: Apparently the Earth will not last forever! It is unbelievable how intricate our universe is and any time you start reading about astrology, it drives you crazy. There is so much precision in everything and this article reflects exactly that...the natural order of the universe suggests that from time to time there is destruction and then creation again. It's okay though, we still have 7.59 billion years left!
Psychology: Finally it has been recognized by science that culture does affect the way we think, the way we perceive and the way we understand! So if you and your friend don't necessarily see eye to eye, you should realize that perhaps you are both coming from totally different viewpoints and it really isn't a matter of right or wrong! Understanding this difference has a powerful impact on cross-cultural communication and helps us to be more open-minded when encountering different people...
Sociology (maybe): America has more than 1% of its people in prison! That is 1 in 100! It is unbelievable how many people we lock up. Perhaps we have a culture that fosters crime here and it is time we look at our society a little more closely! The amount of money we are spending to lock people up is outrageous and if that kind of funding went towards education, we would have a much greater society and probably less criminals too! It is important to know about these things so we can demand change and help bring about reform...
Physics: Remember learning about friction and springs and potential energy and heat and all that? Well some scientists have created a device that creates usable energy using wasted energy that results from walking (as shown in picture to the right)! At a time when energy is hard and expensive to come by, here comes yet another innovative idea using the basics of physics. Perhaps they weren't really a bunch of useless concepts after all...
Astrology: Apparently the Earth will not last forever! It is unbelievable how intricate our universe is and any time you start reading about astrology, it drives you crazy. There is so much precision in everything and this article reflects exactly that...the natural order of the universe suggests that from time to time there is destruction and then creation again. It's okay though, we still have 7.59 billion years left!
Psychology: Finally it has been recognized by science that culture does affect the way we think, the way we perceive and the way we understand! So if you and your friend don't necessarily see eye to eye, you should realize that perhaps you are both coming from totally different viewpoints and it really isn't a matter of right or wrong! Understanding this difference has a powerful impact on cross-cultural communication and helps us to be more open-minded when encountering different people...
Sociology (maybe): America has more than 1% of its people in prison! That is 1 in 100! It is unbelievable how many people we lock up. Perhaps we have a culture that fosters crime here and it is time we look at our society a little more closely! The amount of money we are spending to lock people up is outrageous and if that kind of funding went towards education, we would have a much greater society and probably less criminals too! It is important to know about these things so we can demand change and help bring about reform...
Physics: Remember learning about friction and springs and potential energy and heat and all that? Well some scientists have created a device that creates usable energy using wasted energy that results from walking (as shown in picture to the right)! At a time when energy is hard and expensive to come by, here comes yet another innovative idea using the basics of physics. Perhaps they weren't really a bunch of useless concepts after all...
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
In the News...
It has been a long time since we last caught up with world events so this one is going to be a bit long but hopefully it'll get all of us back up to speed...
Starting here in America, the Democratic race continues on...Clinton and Obama are now down to what seems will be their final showdown next Tuesday. Hillary has lost tremendous momentum and it will be take something close to a miracle now to have her come out on top...The question now is where did she go wrong and is a comeback still possible? It doesn't seem too likely because of her failed strategy and yesterday's debate seemed to point to exactly that. Both are coming with different styles and the American people are just tired of the aggressive, fighting style of Hillary Clinton.
While the country deals with its political issues, recent news suggests there are bigger issues. In a recent study, data showed that Americans change their religious affiliation at alarmingly high rates. The article, appropriate titled America's Unfaithful Faithful, raises important questions about the collapse of our society's commitment to religion and faith. Religion is that which leads one closer to God and gives one a higher purpose. But it seems that today people cannot find that higher purpose and stick with it. Is religion itself to blame? Perhaps we have failed to truly understand our religion. Something sad to know and a problem that our generation will have to deal with...
Internationally, big change has come at a place not too far from home -- Cuba. As many of you probably heard, Fidel Castro resigned as dictator and has passed power onto Raul Castro, his brother. Cuba, long known for its isolationist policies and its dictatorship that has prevented the nation's growth, is not at a crucial junction. It now has the opportunity to embark on a new path and become something new. The question is will they be able to under the leadership of Raul Castro or will it be more of the same? More importantly to us, what role will America play in the future of Cuba? Some believe that it is our reaction now that will determine the future direction of Cuba...
Also, an interesting article about the future of a former power--Russia. Elections will be held shortly and unlike our presidential election that is being vigorously fought, it is more or less guaranteed that the next Russian president will be a man named Dmitri Medvedev. Russia has long been a country in peril and its people are seeking better days. But will Medvedev be their answer? He has already said that former president, Vladmir Putin, will be his prime minister so does that mean that he will be a mere puppet for Putin to maintain his control over Russia? This article introduces you to Medvedev and will give you a better understanding of Russia's current situation...
Lastly, across the Pacific in North Korea, after many many failed conversations, perhaps the power of music will be the thing that unites America and North Korea. Just this week, the NY Philharmonic traveled to North Korea and performed in front of their people. This article really shows how some things are just greater than all the political differences that we may have... and perhaps North Koreans aren't all just heartless, ruthless people as the media so often shows them to be...
Starting here in America, the Democratic race continues on...Clinton and Obama are now down to what seems will be their final showdown next Tuesday. Hillary has lost tremendous momentum and it will be take something close to a miracle now to have her come out on top...The question now is where did she go wrong and is a comeback still possible? It doesn't seem too likely because of her failed strategy and yesterday's debate seemed to point to exactly that. Both are coming with different styles and the American people are just tired of the aggressive, fighting style of Hillary Clinton.
While the country deals with its political issues, recent news suggests there are bigger issues. In a recent study, data showed that Americans change their religious affiliation at alarmingly high rates. The article, appropriate titled America's Unfaithful Faithful, raises important questions about the collapse of our society's commitment to religion and faith. Religion is that which leads one closer to God and gives one a higher purpose. But it seems that today people cannot find that higher purpose and stick with it. Is religion itself to blame? Perhaps we have failed to truly understand our religion. Something sad to know and a problem that our generation will have to deal with...
Internationally, big change has come at a place not too far from home -- Cuba. As many of you probably heard, Fidel Castro resigned as dictator and has passed power onto Raul Castro, his brother. Cuba, long known for its isolationist policies and its dictatorship that has prevented the nation's growth, is not at a crucial junction. It now has the opportunity to embark on a new path and become something new. The question is will they be able to under the leadership of Raul Castro or will it be more of the same? More importantly to us, what role will America play in the future of Cuba? Some believe that it is our reaction now that will determine the future direction of Cuba...
Also, an interesting article about the future of a former power--Russia. Elections will be held shortly and unlike our presidential election that is being vigorously fought, it is more or less guaranteed that the next Russian president will be a man named Dmitri Medvedev. Russia has long been a country in peril and its people are seeking better days. But will Medvedev be their answer? He has already said that former president, Vladmir Putin, will be his prime minister so does that mean that he will be a mere puppet for Putin to maintain his control over Russia? This article introduces you to Medvedev and will give you a better understanding of Russia's current situation...
Lastly, across the Pacific in North Korea, after many many failed conversations, perhaps the power of music will be the thing that unites America and North Korea. Just this week, the NY Philharmonic traveled to North Korea and performed in front of their people. This article really shows how some things are just greater than all the political differences that we may have... and perhaps North Koreans aren't all just heartless, ruthless people as the media so often shows them to be...Sports Fans Only...
Since I am such a big sports fan, and since I know a lot of you are big sports fans, I decided to start something where I include some really nice in-depth sports articles that I read recently... Mostly all of us read the box scores and the game summaries but if you really want to get to know athletes and be a sports fan, its all about the player features, the blog postings, the in-depth articles. So here are links to a few really nice ones that I thought would be good to read...I'll have to start with the greatest basketball player of OUR lifetime---Michael Jordan (no not Kobe, or Lebron)... Here's a brief interview with him that was published in ESPN the Magazine and he's just talking about the future of basketball and giving his advice to the NBA...
This was a really cool story also in ESPN the Magazine where they interview the Lakers' equipment manager...for all practical purposes he is the guy that cleans their uniforms, carries their shoes, does all the petty things for athletes...he's their butler. But interesting to hear some of his stories...
With the NFL Draft coming up here is a summary of what went down at the Combine and what to expect in the Draft... The picture for those of you who don't know is of Darren McFadden, a running back from Arkansas... The question is if he'll be the next Adrian Peterson or just another hyped up player who fails?And baseball season is under way... Spring Training has started and ESPN's blog is an awesome way to keep up with the small things that are going on... For any Angels' fans out there, here are some awesome articles about what to expect in this upcoming championship season! Torii Hunter is quite the man and his humanitarian side is pretty amazing to read about... Then this article is a behind the scenes look at his life...and lastly a preview about the team and the players (in terms of Fantasy Baseball)
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Warren Buffet's Life and His Advice to Us
There was a one hour interview on CNBC with Warren Buffet, the second richest man who has donated $31 billion to charity. The following are some very interesting aspects of his life, something we can all learn a great deal from...1. He bought his first share at age 11 and he now regrets that he started too late! Things were very cheap at that time. Challenge yourself to save and invest early...
2. He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers. One could have bought many things with little savings. He chose to buy something of much greater long-term value...
3. He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha , that he bought
after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence. Don't buy more than what you "really need" and learn to live simply. Simple living, high thinking...
4. He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.
5. He never travels by private jet, although he owns the world's largest private jet company. Always think how you can accomplish things economically...
6. He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some pop corn and watch Television. Don't try to show off, just be yourself and do what you enjoy doing...
7. Warren Buffet does not carry a cell phone, nor has a computer on his desk.
MY THOUGHTS: this is pretty remarkable if you think about how rich this man is and how big his status is...someone who has achieved so much and has so much material wealth believes in simplicity and humility! Pretty amazing example in modern-day society!
Here's a nice quote that kind of goes along with this...
"The HAPPIEST people DO NOT necessarily have the BEST of all. They simply APPRECIATE what they find on their way." Let me choose the way I want to live...
Joke of the Day
0 to 200 in 6 seconds
Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was
really pissed.
She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the
driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE !!"
The next morning he got up early and left for work. When his wife woke
up, she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box
gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.
Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, brought
the box back in the house.
She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.
Bob has been missing since Friday.
Bob was in trouble. He forgot his wedding anniversary. His wife was
really pissed.
She told him "Tomorrow morning, I expect to find a gift in the
driveway that goes from 0 to 200 in 6 seconds AND IT BETTER BE THERE !!"
The next morning he got up early and left for work. When his wife woke
up, she looked out the window and sure enough there was a box
gift-wrapped in the middle of the driveway.
Confused, the wife put on her robe and ran out to the driveway, brought
the box back in the house.
She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale.
Bob has been missing since Friday.
We were meant to be Vegetarian...
I basically took bits and pieces from a long article that was written about vegetarianism...the link is here if you are interested in reading it all but for those who want a shorter version, I have taken parts that I found interesting and fascinating and included them... Read it with an open mind! Taken from http://michaelbluejay.com/veg/natural.html
Eating meat isn't natural
Why humans are primarily plant-eaters by design
Clearly we're capable of eating meat. But that doesn't mean it's natural. You can dress a monkey up in a cute little suit and teach it to perform circus tricks, but just because it can doesn't mean that it's natural -- nor that it should. When I say that meat-eating is unnatural, I mean simply that our bodies aren't optimized to have it be a normal part of our diets -- and we suffer the consequences when we make it so.
So I challenge you: stop trying to figure out ways that I "must" be wrong even before you've bothered to read the rest of this article. Instead, read it, and actually consider it rather than reflexively trying to come out with ways to dismiss it out of hand. You can certainly still disagree after you've considered all the evidence -- but not before.
But haven't humans always eaten meat?
Humans lack a desire to eat whole animals
While carnivores take pleasure in killing animals and eating their raw flesh, any human who killed an animal with his or her bare hands and dug into the raw corpse would be considered deranged. Carnivorous animals are aroused by the scent of blood and the thrill of the chase. Most humans, on the other hand, are revolted by the sight of raw flesh and cannot tolerate hearing the screams of animals being ripped apart and killed. The bloody reality of eating animals is innately repulsive to us, more proof that we were not designed to eat meat.
Ask yourself: When you see dead animals on the side of the road, are you tempted to stop for a snack? Does the sight of a dead bird make you salivate? Do you daydream about killing cows with your bare hands and eating them raw? If you answered "no" to all of these questions, congratulations you're a normal human herbivore, like it or not. Humans were simply not designed to eat meat. Humans lack both the physical characteristics of carnivores and the instinct that drives them to kill animals and devour their raw carcasses.
Comparing humans to other animals
Meat-Eaters
Eating meat isn't natural
Why humans are primarily plant-eaters by design
Clearly we're capable of eating meat. But that doesn't mean it's natural. You can dress a monkey up in a cute little suit and teach it to perform circus tricks, but just because it can doesn't mean that it's natural -- nor that it should. When I say that meat-eating is unnatural, I mean simply that our bodies aren't optimized to have it be a normal part of our diets -- and we suffer the consequences when we make it so.
So I challenge you: stop trying to figure out ways that I "must" be wrong even before you've bothered to read the rest of this article. Instead, read it, and actually consider it rather than reflexively trying to come out with ways to dismiss it out of hand. You can certainly still disagree after you've considered all the evidence -- but not before.
But haven't humans always eaten meat?
John McDougall, perhaps the most knowledgable expert on the relationship between diet and disease, asserts that our early ancestors from at least four million years ago followed diets almost exclusively of plant foods. Many other scientists believe that early humans were largely vegetarian. This is important because while prehistoric peoples hunted animals, that is still a relatively recent development in the long period of human existence. Certainly not long enough for our bodies to have adapted to it from evolution. Here's some evidence: The Maasai in Kenya, who still eat a diet high in wild hunted meats, have the worst life expectancy in the world.
Our closest animal relatives are primates. They provide clues about our ideal diet since our anatomy is so similar. Very few of them eat any significant amount of animals, and those who do typically mostly stick to things like insects, not cows, pigs, and chickens. Jane Goodall, famous for her extensive study of apes while living with them, found that it was very rare for the primates she saw to eat other animals. Critics lunge all over the fact that Goodall discovered that primates occasionally eat meat. But the key word here is occasionally. If we ate meat is infrequently as the other primates did, our health would be a lot better. Goodall herself apparently wasn't impressed by primates' occasional eating of meat: Goodall herself is a vegetarian.Humans lack a desire to eat whole animals
While carnivores take pleasure in killing animals and eating their raw flesh, any human who killed an animal with his or her bare hands and dug into the raw corpse would be considered deranged. Carnivorous animals are aroused by the scent of blood and the thrill of the chase. Most humans, on the other hand, are revolted by the sight of raw flesh and cannot tolerate hearing the screams of animals being ripped apart and killed. The bloody reality of eating animals is innately repulsive to us, more proof that we were not designed to eat meat.
Ask yourself: When you see dead animals on the side of the road, are you tempted to stop for a snack? Does the sight of a dead bird make you salivate? Do you daydream about killing cows with your bare hands and eating them raw? If you answered "no" to all of these questions, congratulations you're a normal human herbivore, like it or not. Humans were simply not designed to eat meat. Humans lack both the physical characteristics of carnivores and the instinct that drives them to kill animals and devour their raw carcasses.
Comparing humans to other animals
Meat-Eaters
Carnivorous animals, including the lion, dog, wolf, cat, etc., have many unique characteristics which set them apart from all other members of the animal kingdom. They all possess a very simple and short digestive system -- only three times the length of their bodies. This is because flesh decays very rapidly, and the products of this decay quickly poison the bloodstream if they remain too long in the body. So a short digestive tract was evolved for rapid expulsion of putrefactive bacteria from decomposing flesh, as well as stomachs with ten times as much hydrochloric acid as non-carnivorous animals (to digest fibrous tissue and bones). Meat-eating animals that hunt in the cool of the night and sleep during the day when it is hot do not need sweat glands to cool their bodies; they therefore do not perspire through their skin, but rather they sweat through their tongues. On the other hand, vegetarian animals, such as the cow, horse, zebra, deer, etc., spend much of their time in the sun gathering their food, and they freely perspire through their skin to cool their bodies. But the most significant difference between the natural meat-eaters and other animals is their teeth. Along with sharp claws, all meat-eaters, since they have to kill mainly with their teeth, possess powerful jaws and pointed, elongated, "canine" teeth to pierce tough hide and to spear and tear flesh. They do NOT have molars (flat, back teeth) which vegetarian animals need for grinding their food. Unlike grains, flesh does not need to be chewed in the mouth to predigest it; it is digested mostly in the stomach and the intestines. A cat, for example, can hardly chew at all.
Plant-Eaters
Grass-and-leaf-eating animals (elephant, cow, sheep, llama, etc.) live on grass, herbs, and other plants, much of which is coarse and bulky. The digestion of this type of food starts in the mouth with the enzyme ptyalin in the saliva. these foods must be chewed well and thoroughly mixed with ptyalin in order to be broken down. For this reason, grass-and-leaf eaters have 24 special "molar" teeth and a slight side-to-side motion to grind their food, as opposed to the exclusively up-and-down motion of carnivores. They have no claws or sharp teeth; they drink by sucking water up into their mouths as opposed to lapping it up with their tongue which all meat eaters do. Since they do not eat rapidly decaying foods like the meat eaters, and since their food can take a longer time to pass through, they have much longer digestive systems -- intestines which are ten times the length of the body. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that a meat diet has an extremely harmful effect on these grass-and-leaf eaters. Dr. William Collins, a scientist in the New York Maimonedes Medical Center, found that the meat-eating animals have an "almost unlimited capacity to handle saturated fats and cholesterol". If a half pound of animal fat is added daily over a long period of time to a rabbit's diet, after two month his blood vessels become caked with fat and the serious disease called atheriosclerosis develops. human digestive systems, like the rabbit's, are also not designed to digest meat, and they become diseased the more they eat it, as we will later see.
Fruit-eaters include mainly the anthropoid apes, humanity's immediate animal ancestors. The diet of these apes consists mostly of fruit and nuts. Their skin has millions of pores for sweating, and they also have molars to grind and chew their food; their saliva is alkaline, and, like the grass-and-leaf eaters, it contains ptyalin for predigestion. Their intestines are extremely convoluted and are twelve times the length of their body, for the slow digestion of fruits and vegetables.
Human Beings
Human characteristics are in every way like the fruit eaters, very similar to the grass- eater, and very unlike the meat eaters. The human digestive system, tooth and jaw structure, and bodily functions are completely different from carnivorous animals. As in the case of the anthropoid ape, the human digestive system is twelve times the length of the body; our skin has millions of tiny pores to evaporate water and cool the body by sweating; we drink water by suction like all other vegetarian animals; our tooth and jaw structure is vegetarian; and our saliva is alkaline and contains ptyalin for predigestion of grains. Human beings clearly are not carnivores by physiology -- our anatomy and digestive system show that we must have evolved for millions of years living on fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables.
Furthermore, it is obvious that our natural instincts are non-carnivorous. Most people have other people kill their meat for them and would be sickened if they had to do the killing themselves. Instead of eating raw meat as all flesh-eating animals do, humans boil, bake, or fry it and disguise it with all kinds of sauces and spices so that it bears no resemblance to its raw state. One scientist explains it this way: "A cat will salivate with hungry desire at the smell of a piece of raw flesh but not at all at the smell of fruit. If man could delight in pouncing upon a bird, tear its still-living limbs apart with his teeth, and suck the warm blood, one might conclude that nature provided him with meat-eating instinct. On the other hand, a bunch of luscious grapes makes his mouth water, and even in the absence of hunger he will eat fruit because it tastes so good."
Scientists and naturalists, including the great Charles Darwin who gave the theory of evolution, agree that early humans were fruit and vegetable eaters and that throughout history our anatomy has not changed. The great Swedish scientist von Linné states: "Man's structure, external and internal, compared with that of the other animals, shows that fruit and succulent vegetables constitute his natural food."
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