Yoga and Mental Health

Those practicing yoga experiences a number of factors that results in a profound effect on their mental health. These can be classified under:
reduction of tension and
restoration of pliability.
"personal" and
"social."

1. Reduction Of Tension
Many people who practice yoga speak of "freeing the mind from mental disturbances," "calming the spirit," or "steadying the mind." Reduction of nervousness, irritability and confusion, depression and mental fatigue are some of the benefits experienced. One experiences a relief from the pressure of his "compulsions." His nervousness, especially any jitteriness, should subside or disappear.

The extent to which these benefits may be expected will depend in part upon whether or not one can approach and participate in them willingly and wholeheartedly; for one who tries to practice postures with anxiety cripples his chances for very much benefit.

2. Restoration Of Pliability
"The positive side of the benefits from a full round of yogic exercises may be described as renewal of mental agility. Both mood and capacity for alertness, attentiveness and willingness to tackle problems revive. One may not be able to rekindle boundless enthusiasm late in a working day; early morning, or even noonday, efforts to recharge mental energies can revive a full measure of willingness. Traditional phrases, such as restored "spiritual vitality," intend to convey the complex idea of mental spryness, agreeableness, resiliency, and feelings of confidence and self-sufficiency. Some even testify to attaining feelings of buoyancy and euphoria; these then provide a background or mood of well-being and assurance such that one naturally more fully enjoys both his ability and the worthiness of being more tolerant and generous."
Archie Bahm, ‘Executive Yoga’

Personal Values

a. Avoidance of fear: Yoga is said to result in the reduction of a variety of mental ills. These may range all the way from vague feelings of frustration, persecution, insecurity, on the one hand, to acute and specific types of insanity, on the other.
Yoga is not a cure all for all conditions. But its attack upon, and diminution of, some basic mental ills may indeed be just enough to pay dividends that grow in magnitude.

If, through use of yogic techniques, we can merely halt and reverse some mental cancer, some compulsive complex that keeps us chained to unrelenting, omnipresent and gradually increasing anxiety, we may reset a course which will bring us around to a healthier adjustment. We are all at times insane. We are all, in some degree, insane. Overwhelming waves of tension and stress, which may catch us in periods of physical and mental exhaustion, can produce a spiritual explosion which leaves us so helpless that we are at a loss to know how it all came about.

By recurrent, regular efforts to reduce tension through yogic exercises, we may stay and finally reverse our tendencies toward insanity.

Most of us succumbs to fears and anxieties – some valid and some purely imaginary. For example, as one gets older, he begins to fear that his life has not been sufficiently worth while, that he has fallen short of his goals, that he has failed to attain his proper ambition, that he has lost out in the race to keep up with the Joneses or in his attempt to measure up "in the sight of God"-however he happens to conceive his shortcoming.

Thus, when Ramacharaka, in his ‘Hindu-Yogi Science of Breath’, says one may, by controlled breathing, "practically do away with fear and worry and the baser emotions," he refers to the growing ability of a devoted practitioner to diminish the power which both momentary and permanent fears have over us. One seeks to develop habits of resistance to the disturbing effects of excitement, ambition, antagonism and frustration.
The long-range goal of yoga is not just momentary relaxation, but the living of a relaxed life.

b. Acceptance of Faith in Life.
The goal of yoga is confident living. Its aim is to replace pessimism and its varieties such as cynicism with a "Yea-saying" appreciation of life, not only on any given day, but as a gracious, wonderful whole. When you achieve the yogic spirit, then you can say with the Stoics, "I accept the universe."

If you cannot accept all of it, because some problems remain unavoidably troublesome, then you will accept the troubles which you have as (1) yours and (2) enough for you, without wishing you had still more troubles.

Poise, serenity, contentedness, patience, assurance-all of these are positive mental values attainable by anyone who has achieved a willingness to be at peace with himself and the world. The confidence desired is not just enough to do the day's work but enough to live one's whole life and one can do his day's work more confidently if he has already predisposed himself to living his life with trustful serenity.

Thus a person seeks through yoga not merely momentary mental agility, but an agile life; not just momentary pliability, but a continuingly pliable existence; not just momentary relief from disturbance, but a permanently peaceful perspective.

Although not everyone who undertakes to experiment with yoga can expect to achieve or maintain the goal described by Shri Yogendra, Yoga: Personal Hygiene, as "exuberant and exultant health, he should notice the sun more often when it shines. Swami Sivananda pictures the goal as "ecstatic joy" (Yoga Asanas).

Dechanet, a Roman Catholic monk who was led into yoga by his Catholic predecessors, gives a vivid account of how he uses yogic techniques as aids to worship. He describes a "euphoria that pervades the story of my experiment. I wish to make it clear that this euphoria is real and lasting and spreads through the various levels of my daily life, physical, Psychical and spiritual" (Christian Yoga). Even though few of us will achieve anything like perpetual exuberance, ecstatic joy or euphoria, attainment of a more trusting outlook on life provides a spiritual soil from which spiritual roses have a better chance to grow. The pragmatic experimentalist will say: "Try it and see."

Purna Yoga

Integral yoga is a modern version of the traditional yoga systems of India. Many contemporary philosophers felt that traditional yoga gives too much importance to the attainment of the salvation and too much emphasis to the next life that the present life is neglected. This yoga teaches that what you do everyday (karma) is important (Although traditional yoga always had karma or yoga of work as part of the arsenal all the time. It is the emphasis or importance on attaining the consciousness, outside space-time that is of issue here.) Integral yoga gives yoga an affirmative and dynamic form. It places the spiritual ideal of life on the foundation of an integrated world-view that takes into account the evolutionary and historical perspective of life.
Integral Yoga evoke three levels of integration: the integration of the inner environment (or harmonization of the human personality), the integration of the human psyche with its external environment, and the integration of the psyche with its ultimate spiritual Ground, or the Divine. It is a world-affirmative and body-positive spirituality that skillfully combines self-transcendence with love, compassion, and reverence for all life.
For integral yoga the ultimate goal of life is complete self-integration. Action, love, wisdom and peace are equally important elements in such self-integration. The yoga of love or devotion (Bhakti yoga) is perfectly right in affirming love as the fulfillment of life and as an essential ingredient of salvation. But integral yoga points out that love is inseparable from wisdom and selfless action. Love in its spiritual essence is an attribute of wisdom. It is active interest in the progress and betterment of society. Love is undivided loyalty to life's higher values.
The yoga of knowledge (Jnana yoga) is perfectly right in affirming knowledge as the fulfillment of life and an essential ingredient of salvation. But integral yoga points out that knowledge is inseparable from love and action. Knowledge in its essence is comprehensive awareness of the nature of existence.
The yoga of action (Karma yoga) is perfectly right in affirming action as the essence of human reality and as an essential condition of salvation. But integral yoga points out that action is not merely a means to self-purification resulting in salvation.
An unbridgeable gulf is believed to exist between nature and spirit, between body and soul. All forms of self-torture and mortification of the flesh are invented in order to help in the triumph of the spirit. According to integral yoga, freedom is not emancipation from Nature, but emancipation in Nature. The balanced growth of personality-complete self-integration or integral self-realization-is the ideal for those practicing this yoga.
According to integral yoga, the values designated spiritual are no less an essential part of the spirit of Nature than the values designated material. The spirit may be defined as the higher mode of fulfillment of the creativity of Nature. And Nature may be regarded as the self-expressive energy and evolutionary dynamism of the spirit. So, both nature and spirit are equally important.
The dualism of matter and mind, nature and spirit, is inherent in the same evolutionary flux. Spiritual values emerge naturally and dualistically out of the organized and intelligent fulfillment of material values. When man intelligently co-operates with Nature, he gets rewarded with the treasures of the spirit. Integration of personality lays the foundation for an integrated outlook on life.
In integral self-realization, the growth of personality is as important as the vision of the super-personal. It implies organized fulfillment of normal human desires. The growth of personality brings power and love. It represents a vision of new values and the hidden possibilities of life. Integral yoga aims at the unity of personality growth and spiritual intuition. It affirms the ideal of integrated personality as a creative center of expression of the external.
There are three essential ingredients in the realization of complete self-integration: psychic integration, cosmic integration, and existential integration. Integral yoga is the art of harmonious and creative living on the basis of the integral experience of Being. It aims at opening the springs of creative inspiration hidden in the human psyche. It aims at that serenity of self poise which preserves the light of the eternal amidst the storm and stress of social living.

The Yoga of Love

Bhakti Yoga is the system in which love and devotion are emphasized. There are Bhakti Yoga traditions that do not teach asana, pranayama, mudra or controlled meditation - main practices of traditional yoga. Instead, love of God, love of God in man, and surrender to God's will is stressed in the Bhakti Yoga approach. Some people are naturally inclined by temperament to be devotional and to love God and God-as-the-world. Balance is recommended: devotion balanced with reason, love balanced with understanding.
There are no set ways to perform Bhakti yoga. Some people find that external aids can contribute to a devotional attitude: an altar used during prayer and meditation; pictures of saints to serve as inspiration; chanting or singing; use of mantra or even a simple devotional ceremony to aid in creating a mood as preparation for meditation. Whatever a person's approach, if that approach is useful in the long run, it is perfectly in order for him, even though it may not appeal to another.
Singing the names of God aloud can elevate consciousness, clear the mind and even charge the environment with pure energy. For persons who find it difficult to concentrate during meditation and for whom the approach of calm discernment is too subtle, prayer and chanting can be of value.
It is in our day to day life that Bhakti Yoga is truly practiced. Are we loving, compassionate and fair in our dealings with others? St. Francis is one of the Christian tradition who exemplified the Yoga of love and devotion. Jesus stated the ideal of Bhakti Yoga when he taught, "As you have loved me, love one another." When true love reigns, there can be no barriers; then harmony and fulfillment rule.
Simple, direct prayer is the most effective- just talking with God, then being still. The teaching is that by devotion and receptivity we can open ourselves to the Reality of God and attract God's consciousness into our own. Love and devotion also purifies human nature and cleanses the mind and the emotional field. There can be no hate, dislike, jealousy, envy, fear or prejudice in the loving heart. Truly, blessed are the pure in heart, for they can perceive the Reality of God.

Yoga For Insomnia

Yoga will benefit your sleep in three ways:
The quality of your steep will improve because of yoga's beneficial effect on the nervous system, and in particular the brain. This results from certain yoga asanas increasing the blood supply to the steep center in the brain, which has the effect of normalizing the steep cycle.
You will need less sleep because of the improved quality of your sleep, and because yoga increases the elimination of toxins from the body. On average, for every minute you put into yoga you will need one minute less sleep. This makes yoga an excellent time investment.
You will fall asleep in a shorter time. This is mainly because the body and mind are more relaxed.

Yoga will make you fall asleep sooner and improve the quality of your sleep so that you need less. You will have a more restful sleep because of the relaxing aspect of yoga and the subsequent relieving of stress, tension and fatigue.

Yoga – The Benefits

Yoga’s primary emphasis is upon general well-being. Although yoga has been shown to be beneficial in a variety of conditions, it is not considered a therapy for specific illnesses. Rather, yoga employs a broad holistic approach that focuses on teaching people a new lifestyle, way of thinking, and way of being in the world. In the process, however, it is also found to bring a myriad of healing effects. By attending to practices for improving, regaining or retaining general good health, a person is likely to find that some of his more specific difficulties tend to disappear. Many of the healing effects of yoga is clinically verified. We will look at the healing effects of yoga. However, one of the most important benefit of yoga is its application in relieving stress, fatigue, invigoration and vitality and its anti-aging properties and its application for relaxation therapy.

According to Swami Sivananda, the benefits of pranayama (yogic breathing practices) include:

"The body becomes strong and healthy. Too much fat is reduced. There is luster in the face. Eyes sparkle like diamonds. The practitioner becomes very handsome. Voice becomes sweet and melodious"

Indra Devi, author of many books on yoga suggests that with yoga:

"You will be able to enjoy better sleep, a happier disposition, a clearer and calmer mind. You will learn how to build up your health and protect yourself against colds, fevers, constipation, headaches, fatigue, and other troubles. You will know what to do in order to remain youthful, vital and alert, regardless of your calendar-age; how to lose or gain weight; how to get rid of premature wrinkles, and keep a smooth skin and clear complexion."

20 Minute Skin Care Routine

1. Cleanse face with gentle cleanser to suit skin type, using a cotton ball or a washcloth.

2. Steam face with head over bowl of steaming hot water for 2 minutes.

3. Apply moisturizing, purifying face mask.

4. Bathe or shower with a few drops of relaxing essential oil or invigorating oil in the water.

You may also put used herbal tea bags, or cucumber or potato slices over your eyes to remove the bagginess around the eyes. Relax totally for 10 minutes.

5. Pat body dry with thick warm towels. Apply body lotion all over while skin is still moist. Take special care of feet, knees, elbows, and neck.

6. Remove mask with warm water and spray or splash face with mineral water.

7. Apply eye-soothing gel (if you are going out) or night eye cream (if you are going to bed) around eyes and on lids.

8. Apply moisturizer to face if going out, or your favorite night cream/oil if not.

9. Apply hand cream and a nail cream around cuticles.

Combination Skin

Combination skin is a combination of both oily and dry skin. There is a greasy center panel consisting of nose, forehead and chin and a dry panel consisting of cheeks, mouth and the areas around the eyes. This type of skin is very common, and it should be treated as if it were two different types of skin.
Skin Care for Combination Skin
The combination skin should be cared for as if it is a combination of two different skin types. Care for the dry part of the skin using the guidelines provided for dry skin. The oily part of the skin should be cared for using the guidelines for oily skin.
Gently cleanse and lubricate the dry skin with home-made cold or moisturizing creams regularly. The oily part need to be deeply cleansed and toned with regular application of home-made astringents. Both the dry and greasy areas need moisturizing.
Essential Oils for Combination Skin
Use essential oils for oily skin on the greasy patches and oils for normal skin on the rest of the face area.

Sensitive skin

A sensitive skin is a thin or a fine-textured skin. It reacts quickly to both heat and cold; therefore, it sunburns and windburns easily. It is commonly dry, delicate and prone to allergic reactions. Temperature changes, some detergents, cosmetics and alcohol (used on the skin) can all cause irritation, leaving the skin red and blotchy, with visible surface veins.
If you have this type of skin, use sun-screen lotions or creams. Choose products that do not contain potential allergens such as fragrance or PABA sunscreens. Wash your face with mild baby soap, rinse thoroughly and pat the skin dry with a soft towel; do not use rough towel. Never use any makeup or perfume without first trying a little of it on the inside of your wrist to see the reaction of your skin to it, for very few items of makeup agree with a sensitive skin. Every night apply home-made moisturizing cream on your face before retiring for the night.
Essential Oils For Sensitive Skin
Chamomile

Lavender

Neroli

Rose

Sandalwood

Make Your PC Green With Envy

Toss the sad sack your laptop arrived in. Bags now come in wild hues Sure, you need to carry a computer. But you don't have to lug it in that homely corporate-issue black bag. Padded bags designed specifically for laptops are ablaze with color, not only the pinks that are so hot this year but also cool, sherbet-like oranges and limes
Take the messenger-style Commute from Timbuk2 Designs (timbuk2.com). This $100 tote can accommodate most standard laptops and comes in nine color combinations. If green-and-silver or orange-and-yellow are too flamboyant for you, try the navy or deep red models. Timbuk2's coolest feature? The inside is lined with plush corduroy.For the neon look, KaraB makes its faux-patent-leather Metro Backpack ($85) in hot pink, lime green, and robin's-egg blue. Or combine all three colors in a striped, laminated cotton canvas bag that looks as if it's ready for the beach. Matte vinyl versions come in soft yellow, pink, and blue pastels. The company is new, and distribution is limited, so try the Web site: www.karab.com.More choices: Last year, red and tan versions of the Italian-leather Slim Triangle Brief from Lodis (lodis.com) were so popular that the company decided this year to add fun colors -- magenta, green, and blue -- in a pebble-grain finish ($195). Casauri's single-compartment laptop envelopes ($58 to $65) are handsome enough to be carried by the Museum of Modern Art's MoMA Design stores. Now there's a new portfolio model in the same colors -- pink, kiwi, red, and navy -- with plenty of extra pockets for papers, phones, and PDAs. It's $106 at casauri.com.
by-http://businessweek.com

Computer Memory

Improve Your PC's Performance by Adding Memory
By Jean Andrews
Is your PC slow? Does it sometimes give "Out of Memory" errors? Are graphics slow to display? Does your PC lock up occasionally? All these symptoms might mean you need more memory. This article discusses the different kinds of memory, how much memory you need, and how to buy and install it.
How Much Memory is Enough?
If you have a Pentium system with less than 32 MB of memory, adding memory might make a real difference in overall performance. Most of today's Pentium systems can benefit from 128 MB of memory and more. However, Pentium systems using Windows 95 or Windows 98 can make better use of memory than older 486 systems using DOS and Windows 3.x. So, when attempting to improve system performance, if you have an older system, upgrading the CPU or even the entire system board might be the best solution.
Different Types of Memory
There are two general categories of memory, static RAM (random access memory) and dynamic RAM, and the CPU uses each differently. Static RAM (SRAM, pronounced "S-ram") holds its data as long as the power is on, but dynamic RAM (DRAM, "D-ram") can only hold data for a few milliseconds, so must be constantly refreshed, which makes it slower than the more expensive SRAM. A system will have a little SRAM to improve system performance, and use a lot of DRAM to keep cost down. Most systems come with an optimum amount of SRAM already installed, but have plenty of room for additional DRAM.
DRAM comes on two kinds of tiny boards, either a SIMM or a DIMM, that install in memory slots on the system board called memory banks. SIMMs are installed in pairs and DIMMs are installed as single units. A system board can support only certain amounts of one or the other. Older system boards had just SIMM slots. Then, when DIMMs were introduced, boards offered some SIMM slots and some DIMM slots. All the newest system boards have just DIMM slots.
Before You Buy
Your system board already has some SIMMs or DIMMs installed, so here's what you need to know before buying memory:
How much memory is already installed? (For example, 8 MB, 16 MB or 64 MB)
How many DIMM or SIMM slots are on the board and how many of these slots are empty?
What size and type DIMM or SIMM can the board support?
The answer to Question 1 above is easy to find. Boot up your PC and watch the system count up memory before Windows loads. If you miss the count, you can either check CMOS setup or you can let Windows tell you. Right-click on the My Computer icon on your Windows desktop. Select Properties from the drop-down menu and click the General tab. The amount of memory that Windows recognizes as installed is written at the bottom of this window.
The answer to Question 2 is a little more difficult to find. Turn off the PC, unplug it and open the computer case. Don't touch anything inside the case so as not to damage chips with static electricity. Note how many SIMM or DIMM slots are empty and how many are used.
You'll need the system board documentation to answer Question 3. For systems that use SIMMs, look for a table of the different sizes of SIMM modules the board supports. You can have a combination of more than one size, but each SIMM in a pair must be the same size and speed. For DIMMs, look in the documentation for the different sizes the board can use. You can mix DIMMs of different sizes on a board.
Now that you know how many and what size of SIMMs or DIMMs to buy, the next step is to determine what type. Memory technology has improved over the years and each technology is a little faster than the previous ones. For SIMMs, your system probably uses EDO, but some older systems might use FPM and a very few use BEDO. DIMMs on a 100 MHz system board will be Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), but older, slower system boards might use EDO or BEDO DIMMs. Two up-and-coming memory technologies are Direct Rambus DRAM and Double Data Rate SDRAM. If your system board is the latest and greatest, it might use one of these types.
The speed of a memory module is measured in nanoseconds except for SDRAM, which is rated by the system board speed (rather than memory speed), and is most likely 100 MHz. A DIMM uses either 3.3 or 5 volts and is either buffered or unbuffered. The two notches on a DIMM are positioned differently so you can't insert the wrong type module in a slot. Some DIMMs support error checking and correction (ECC) technology. SIMMs can use either parity (checks for bad bits) or non-parity (does not check). Most systems use non-parity memory because it's less expensive. Check your system board documentation for the type memory it supports.
When You Buy
When buying SIMMs and DIMMs, pay close attention to what type of memory you're buying as well as the speed and size of the module. If you have questions, bring the system board documentation with you when buying. Also, be sure you understand the store's return policy and guarantee.
Memory prices were at an all-time low last summer, but because of economic conditions in Asia as well as the earthquake in Taiwan, they have climbed. According to Jim Cheng, owner of GIMM Computers, a computer parts store in Atlanta, memory prices peaked in September and October. The prices have steadily dropped since then, and Mr. Cheng says he expects they will continue to drop until about February or March, but most likely will never reach the rock-bottom prices of last June.
Installing Memory
Installing memory in a PC is very easy, but you must be very careful to protect the memory and other chips inside the computer against static electricity, which can totally fry a chip. In fact, you can touch a SIMM or DIMM and static electricity on your body can totally destroy the module or, worse yet, just make it unreliable, but you never felt a thing! So, as you work, use a static electricity bracelet that's properly grounded. Follow these simple steps to install memory:
Turn the PC off and unplug it.
Remove the computer case.
Locate the memory slot and open the supporting arms on both ends of the slot.
For a SIMM, place each module in its slot at a 45-degree angle and then gently snap it in place.
For a DIMM, insert the module straight down into the slot until it snaps in place.
Replace the case cover, plug in the power and turn on the PC.
Enter CMOS setup and verify that the setup program recognizes the correct amount of memory, and then reboot into Windows.

Antivirus software

Guide Picks.. From Mary Landesman,
Antivirus software is must-have protection. This review picks the best antivirus software based on its virus detection abilities, features, and breadth of protection. Whether you're seeking total system coverage or an ala carte solution, each of the following products provides superb virus protection for Windows-based PCs. Because every system is unique, evaluate several of these antivirus products to find the software best suited for your PC and your level of experience.
1) PC-cillin Internet Security Suite 2004
Building on its solid antivirus capabilities, PC-cillin 2004 also includes spam and spyware protection, wireless device protection, customizable firewall, privacy data protection, parental controls to block unsavory sites, and a year's free tech support via a toll-free number. The software automatically checks for new virus updates every 3 hours and the spam prevention includes a whitelist, blacklist, and Bayesian filter - all at a price lower than many standalone antivirus products.
2) Panda Antivirus Platinum v7.0
Panda Antivirus Platinum v7.0 combines antivirus and firewall protection to provide robust security with minimal system impact. Configurable script blocking and attachment filtering combined with daily antivirus updates help ensure protection against even fast spreading new email threats.
3) F-Prot for Windows
F-Prot for Windows continues to impress with its stellar performance on virus detection tests. The interface is extremely pleasing - easy enough for novice users to navigate yet sophisticated enough for the more advanced. An excellent addition to any antivirus arenal. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.
4) NOD32 Antivirus System v2.0
NOD32 is a solid performer, easy to use and with little impact on system resources. Version 2 builds on the product's past accomplishments, remaining true to a singular theme - virus detection. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.
5) Norton Internet Security 2004
Norton Internet Security 2004 offers antivirus protection, a personal firewall, spam filtering, privacy filters, and parental controls to block unwanted websites.
6) BitDefender Professional Edition v7
Softwin's BitDefender Professional protects against viruses, spyware, and instant messaging threats, as well as offering firewall rules to block undesirable traffic and a privacy gateway to keep your identity and preferences private while surfing the Internet.
7) Kaspersky Anti-Virus Personal
Kaspersky offers excellent antivirus protection, perhaps unsurpassed in its ability to recognize various compression algorithms and accurately detect infected files contained within the archives. However, their interface is rather convoluted and may be best suited to more advanced users. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.
8) McAfee VirusScan 2004
McAfee VirusScan 2004 offers focused antivirus protection coupled with an intuitive interface and streamlined update process. Unfortunately, much of their interface is cluttered with advertising for other products in the McAfee family and configuration options for VirusScan are extremely limited. However, McAfee has played catch-up this year and the 2004 version now offers the same level of POP3/SMTP email protection offered by other vendors. Should be used in conjunction with a firewall.
by-http://antivirus.about.com

NOD32 Anti-Virus download

This program is available directly from the vendor.
Vendor's antivirus software homepage: http://www.nod32.com.au
Pros - NOD32 Anti-Virus:
Excellent detection of known viruses
Cleans files that are locked for writing (e.g. DLLs being used)
99% of updates don't require a reboot
Supports proxy servers (Basic and NTLM authentication).
Creates updates to a floppy or CD for PCs which are not connected to the network
DOS scanner included
Extensive manual
Cons - NOD32 Anti-Virus:
Is made up of several small programs instead of one program with all features integrated
Places three different icons in the system tray
Doesn't scan outgoing email messages
Doesn't automatically delete viruses in email messages, you have to do it manually
You have to manually configure NOD32 Anti-Virus if you use any email client other that Outlook or Outlook Express
You have to manually configure NOD32 Anti-Virus if you use more than one email account
While scanning speed is excellent, on-access monitoring does affect performance noticeable
Major flaws - NOD32 Anti-Virus:
Limited support for email (clients), scans only incoming emails
Email clients supported - NOD32 Anti-Virus:
Not available

Hack Into Windows

Windows ain't perfect. Crack the hood of your OS and tinker to your heart's content with these downloads. We like Windows (well, more or less), but it never works exactly the way we want it to. After you install the OS, you'll probably want to change the desktop, fine-tune the dial-up settings, and maybe even delve into the dreaded Windows Registry for some hard-core tweaks. (learn more about hacking the Registry These downloads let you hack Windows to your heart's content.

Tweaki (JerMar Software) Download for the PC! Tired of those little arrows on your shortcut icons? Want to keep CDs from playing the second you slap them into the CD-ROM drive? Well, you could open RegEdit (a tool that lets you browse the Registry via its Windows Explorer-style interface) and start fiddling with your PC's fundamental settings. However, unless you're an expert, we suggest you don't mess with the Registry. Instead, play it safe with Tweaki, a simple tool that does all the dangerous hacking for you. Tweaki lets you access hundreds of system settings, giving you control over everything from the Windows interface and the Start menu to security settings and boot options. It also includes a Right-Click Wizard feature that lets you create your own right-click, context-sensitive menus for any file you choose. You can even use Tweaki to hack settings for Microsoft Office 97 and 2000.
WindowBlinds (Stardock Systems Inc.) Download for the PC! Sure, tweaking the Registry and changing hidden settings can give you a fair amount of control over the look of your OS, but it can take you only so far. If you're looking for a way to give Windows a massive face-lift, look no further than WindowBlinds. This desktop enhancement allows you to alter the appearance of your desktop drastically, right down to window borders, check boxes, and buttons. You can even ditch the Windows look altogether by setting your desktop to look like an entirely different OS. Although WindowBlinds primarily relies on skins (tiny files that contain an entire set of cosmetic enhancements for your interface), it also gives you control over many individual settings, such as check boxes and toolbars. There's even a feature that automatically downloads the "Skin of the Week" from the WindowBlinds Web site.
WinRescue (Super Win Software) Download for the PC! It's every hacker's worst nightmare: you've just been tweaking Windows or hacking the Registry when bam! Your precious PC no longer boots. There's always some danger involved in making drastic changes to your operating system, but WinRescue will help minimize the risk. This lifesaving utility backs up the Windows Registry--along with a variety of other important system files--before you start tweaking. Once you've created an archive of the Registry and other critical files, WinRescue will compress it to save valuable disk space; meanwhile, the program's handy backup manager makes it easy to track your various backup sets. WinRescue also creates a special boot disk for dire emergencies, and includes a special DOS version for those rare instances when Windows simply refuses to boot, even in Safe mode.
Windows Registry Guide (RegEdit.com) Download for the PC! Hacking directly into the user-unfriendly Windows Registry isn't for the faint of heart; one wrong step could lead to disaster. However, if you insist upon journeying into the heart of Registry darkness, make sure you bring this essential guide along with you. The Windows Registry Guide reveals where many settings are located in the Windows 95, 98, and NT Registries, and how to change them. Although it is not a comprehensive guide, it does give you enough information to hack many valuable networking, desktop, and performance settings. The Windows Registry Guide even includes several tips and tricks that let you completely bypass the dangerous task of editing your Registry.
Registry
The Windows Registry stores system configuration details so that Windows looks and behaves just as you want it to. The Registry stores user profile information such as wallpaper, color schemes, and desktop arrangements in a file called user.dat. And it stores hardware- and software-specific details, such as device management and file extension associations, in a file called system.dat. In many ways, the Registry (Windows 95 and later) replaces functions of win.ini and system.ini from earlier versions of Windows, though these files persist because so many Windows applications refer to them.
Registry details can be edited using a program called RegEdit (which ships with Windows 95 and later, Just Type 'regedit' in a RUN) and exported to text format as a file with the extension REG.
By- http://www.cybercity-online.net

PC's success of world

The PC came out in 1981. In less than 20 years, it has totally changed our means of communicating. When the PC was introduced by IBM, it was just one of many different micro data processors. However, the PC caught on. In 5-7 years, it conquered the market. From being an IBM compatible PC, it became the standard.
If we look at early PCs, they are characterized by a number of features. Those were instrumental in creating the PC success.
· The PC was from the start standardized and had an open architecture.
· It was well documented and had great possibilities for expansion.
· It was inexpensive, simple and robust (definitely not advanced).
The PC started as IBM's baby. It was their design, built over an Intel processor (8088) and fitted to Microsoft's simple operating system MS-DOS.
Since the design was well documented, other companies entered the market. They could produce functionable copies (clones) of the central system software (BIOS). The central ISA bus was not patented. Slowly, a myriad of companies developed, manufacturing IBM compatible PCs and components for them.
The Clone was born. A clone is a copy of a machine. A machine, which can do precisely the same as the original (read Big Blue - IBM). Some of the components (for example the hard disk) may be identical to the original. However, the Clone has another name (Compaq, Olivetti, etc.), or it has no name at all. This is the case with "the real clones." Today, we differentiate between:
· Brand names, PCs from IBM, Compaq, AST, etc. Companies which are so big, so they develop their own hardware components.
· Clones, which are built from standard components. Anyone can make a clone.
Since the basic technology is shared by all PCs, I will start with a review of that.

Traditional floppy drive

We all know diskettes. Small flat disks, irritatingly slow and with too limited storage capacity. Yet, we cannot live without them. Very few PCs are without a floppy drive.
Diskettes were developed as a low cost alternative to hard disks. In the 60s and 70s, when hard disk prices were exorbitant, It was unthinkable to use them in anything but mainframe and mini computers.
The first diskettes were introduced in 1971. They were 8" diameter plastic disks with a magnetic coating, enclosed in a cardboard case. They had a capacity of one megabyte. The diskettes are placed in a drive, which has read and write heads. Conversely to hard disks, the heads actually touch the disk, like in a cassette or video player. This wears the media.
Later, in 1976, 5.25" diskettes were introduced. They had far less capacity (only 160 KB to begin with). However, they were inexpensive and easy to work with. For many years, they were the standard in PCs. Like the 8" diskettes, the 5.25" were soft and flexible. Therefore, they were named floppy disks.
In 1987 IBM's revolutionary PS/2 PCs were introduced and with them the 3½" hard diskettes we know today. These diskettes have a thinner magnetic coating, allowing more tracks on a smaller surface. The track density is measured in TPI (tracks per inch). The TPI has been increased from 48 to 96 and now 135 in the 3.5" diskettes.

Diskette drives turn at 300 RPM. That results in an average search time (½ revolution) of 100 ms.
The super floppy drives are described in module 4d.
floppy controller
.All diskette drives are governed by a controller. The original PC controller was named NEC PD765. Today, it is included in the chip set, but functions like a 765. It is a programmable chip. It can be programmed to handle all the various floppy drive types: 5.25" or 3.5" drives, DD or HD etc.
The controller has to be programmed at each start up. It must be told which drives to control. This programming is performed by the start up programs in ROM (read module 2a). So you don't have to identify available drive types at each start up, these drive parameters are saved in CMOS RAM.
The floppy controller reads data from the diskette media in serial mode (one bit at a time. like from hard disks). Data are delivered in parallel mode (16 bits at a time) to RAM via a DMA channel. Thus, the drives should be able to operate without CPU supervision. However, in reality this does not always work. Data transfer from a diskette drive can delay and sometimes freeze the whole PC, so no other operations can be performed simultaneously.

Intro to I/O
This page should preferably be read together with module 2c, 2d, 5b and 5c. The first two describe the I/O buses and the chip sets. Here we will look at the other end of the I/O buses, the "exit."
There are four I/O buses in the modern PC architecture and each of them has several functions. They may lead to internal and external ports or they lead to other controlling buses. The four buses are:
· ISA, which is old, slow, and limited, compared to the alternatives listed below. We hope that it is replaced by the following interfaces:
· PCI, which is the newer high speed multifunction I/O bus.
· AGP, which only is used for graphics adapter.
· USB, which is the new low speed I/O bus to replace ISA.
The ISA and the PCI bus both end up having to exits:
· Internal I/O ports (LPT, KBD, COM1, COM2, EIDE etc.)
· Expansion slots in the system board, in which we can insert adapters.

Crystals and mandala

The Sanskrit definition of the word Mandala is simply circle or circular picture. Mandalas can be expressions of universal archetypal symbols or symbols of a more personal nature. In Tibetan art, mandalas are graphic representations of the spiritual universe. Circular design motifs appear in many cultures, both past and present. Mandala are used as objects of power, devotion and meditative focus. Some mandala are not circular but the Circle is the most common form and beginning point.

There are forms of Mandala where the power or energetic effect is considered innate to the geometric form or correct and perfect depiction of the image form of the Mandala . There are Forms of mandala where the power and effect are considered to be derived from the intention and energy placed into the mandala by its creators and a third form is those that are considered as tools of connection to a source of energy information and universal spiritual essence .The symbolism and energies expressed by the mandala is impressed on the subconscious mind of the meditator . If used regularly in meditation, mandala can effect powerful, positive changes and growth in the user.

Mandala can be made as paintings, sculpture and carvings, drawings and sand or powder work as well as in mixed media . Some Tibetan Mandala are traditionally carved in Yak butter. Labyrinths, stone circles some petrogliphs and some ancient stone paintings and may be considered related to the mandala. Mandala also may be recognized in nature as the forms of opening flowers , ripple patterns in water, images seen in microphotography , crystalline and cellular structures and so forth.

Mandala and specific systems of mandala symbolism and design are found throughout the world. Mandalas can be created as a form of meditation or as an aid to a realization ,for a devotional offering and dedication or as a way of focussing energy for purposes like prayer, affirmations , manifestation or healing or as part of a spiritual practice or for an altar piece.

Mandalas can be far more complex than most crystal grids. The placement of the stones is usually done in focused meditation for both grids and mandala . Mandala are most often gazed at and meditated with, but like grids are often created with intention and then left to continue the work of transmitting energy for a particular purpose, or created to energize and focus intention toward a particular goal such as healing or manifestation or to assist with symbolic expression of spiritual essence or spiritual connection Some mandalas employ sacred geometry or are symbolic depiction of core lessons in the particular path , faith or tradition from which the elements are formed.

Sand paintings, which are Mandala most known for their use in Tibet and Navaho traditions and in India can be thought of as a form of crystal mandala as the sand is mostly of rock and crystal origins. These forms of sand painted mandala are usually made under the strictest of control and focus according to traditions handed down in a sacred way for hundreds of years. They are made from careful placement of colored sand by hand , with small funnel like tools and with feathers and quills often being common tools. After these are made and used or dedicated for the intended work and a period of meditation. The mandala is swept away and the sand is discarded in a sacred way dispersing to the winds or into water being common methods . Those examples of Navaho Sand painting which may be found on display have always been altered in a way to preserve the secret of their correct sacred construction .The Tibetan Forms are extremely complex and traditionally one has fully visualized and memorized the structure before beginning to do the work.
A variation of sand mandalas is sometimes made with a fixative or with glue to make a more permanent mandala a similar mosaic type of mandala might be made with stone and crystal chips .
On occasions when you find it difficult to calm your mind for a traditional meditation
a mandala making session may be relaxing and healing.

Select a number of your stones and crystals and after taking a few deep breaths and relaxing, move the stones around and form them into patterns before you. This is a form of active contemplation which can be as valuable as receptive meditations . It is most traditional to begin in the center point and move from the center outward most often in a clockwise circular direction .
You may want to create mandala from geometric or traditional spiritual patterns.
Many simple crystal mandalas are made in formations identical to the most common crystal grids such as various star, wheel, compass, spiral and spoke patterns often with a simple single crystal center . Mandalas, whether in a geometric or intuitive free form with crystals or other media are most often done in a focused, intentional, dedicated , meditative or trance state.

Crystal mandala can be made entirely with crystals and stones or crystals and stones might be combined with painted, drawn or sculpted work .
You might select stones in accord with your purpose in creating the mandala such as those associated with your birth sign and natal chart , with a Tarot major arcana card , with healing purposes and spiritual traditions and with totem animals or magical or healing herbs or with Guides , Gods ,Angels , Deva ,Dream and archetypal symbolism may also inspire your intuitive mandala .
When making a crystal mandala one generally begins with a focussed meditation and places stones either according to a standard pattern or intuitively . I often will take many of my stones and as a meditation place them intuitively in spirals or other patterns as I breath deeply .

While there are many different symbolic traditions that can be used in mandala one of the most traditional symbol sets and one considered to have innate power to effect realization is by using Tattwa. These simple geometric symbols can be used in crystal meditation either by arranging crystals in these forms or by using stones that are shaped like these symbols or by placing stones on key points of a mandala graph comprised of these symbolic forms .
I had worked with these forms in Tattwa based astrological mandala developed by Michael Matthew's of Hayward about a decade ago and they were profoundly transformitive . Mr. Mathews does not seem to have a web site any more and I had heard that he was primarily doing other work now so I am unable to give you a contact point for his work.

Tattwa is a Sanskrit word meaning energy. Tattwas are five geometric symbols which represent the five universal energies. Each Tattwas symbolizes unique energies with specific properties, potentials and frequencies. In varying combinations, these five energies make up the sum totality of everything in our physical and spiritual universe. These five basic symbols are combined to create symbols of many different kinds . one set of these can be found at http://www.magicmandala.com/tatwas.html
The symbols are the ovoid, the triangle, the half-moon, the circle, and the square.
These definitions are minimal and in no way represent the totality or the symbol. Ovoid or ellipse represents space, the void , the universe , the womb, the cosmic egg ,new life ,understanding , female or yin energy.
Triangle represents Fire , passion, meditate on this symbol to intensify and clarify desire, creativity, prosperity, magnetism and to develop the right brain .
Circle represents Air , thought, and is used to enhance ones ability to visualize and discriminate. Meditation on circles activates the subconscious mind brings about greater ability to discriminate ,concentrate and communicate.
Moon represents Water , this symbol increases the ability to feel , meditation with this form can bring greater self reflection sensitivity and receptivity toward others.

Squares represent Earth, focus and determination , diversity , inner strength enhances the ability to move from dreams to reality.
Those are the Tattwa which you might be familiar with from the Yantra and chakra symbols there are other geometric forms and shapes of crystals that you can use in your mandala work . These include The Platonic solids: Tetrahedron (4 triangular faces) Fire, Hexahedron or cube (6 square faces) Earth, Octahedron (8 triangular faces) Air, Dodecahedron (12 pentagonal faces) Ether and Prana Isohedron (20 triangular faces) Water Sphere Void

This is just the barest introduction to mandala and to some of the shapes and structures which can be used to create them. Some example of digital crystal mandala made from photograaphs of crystals can be seen at

Crystal mandala images
Mandala forms are designs intended to symbolize the universe; a sacred space that reminds a viewer of the universe and the potential for enlightenment. You may also design mandala to help with personal issues and awakening .
When creating crystal mandala you can used the methods of clearing ,energizing and focussing energy that you have learned to use in other work with crystals.

Drawing Barcodes in Windows Part 2 - Codebar

Introduction
A recent project at work required that I write out barcode characters into a font file for an old photo-typesetter. This experience inspired me to start a side project writing some code that renders a barcode on the Windows screen, given the proper input. This series of articles is the result of that project.
Codabar basics
This second article is about drawing Codabar barcodes on the Windows screen. Before I start discussing the code, we'll need to know some basic facts about the Codabar barcode symbology. Codabar is used today in blood bank, library, and certain express air parcel applications. Codabar has two different element widths, wide and narrow, which are usually specified by giving the narrow width and the narrow/wide ratio. Each Codabar character has four bars seperated by three spaces for a total of seven elements. Because of the symbologies structure, there are two different character widths. Each character is followed by an intercharacter gap, generally the width of a narrow element. The 20 characters in the Codabar symbology are listed below:
A Codabar message begins/ends with an a start/stop character (A-D). Additional data can be encoded by the choice of start/stop characters. A sample Codabar message “012345” is shown below, complete with start and stop codes.

The Barcode Bitmap Workspace
There are three different projects in the Barcode Bitmap workspace. The first and most important project is the bblib project. This project is a static library where code to draw all of the different types of barcodes exists. This also is the main piece of code discussed in this series of articles. Another project Barcode Bitmap workspace is the bbdll project. This project is simply a regular DLL wrapper around the bblib static library. The final project in the Barcode Bitmap workspace is the DLL client project. This project is a simple dialog-based application that calls the bbdll DLL to draw barcodes in the dialog, or put barcodes on the clipboard as Windows bitmaps.
The base class CBarcode
The base class for all the barcode types discussed in this series of articles is the CBarcode class. The class declaration is listed below.
class CBarcode
{
};
There are a few things to note about the CBarcode class. First note that it has data members that contain all of the useful data needed to draw a barcode message. This data includes the narrow element pixel width, the wide element pixel width, the message, and the symbology. Second the class has data members that contain information about how to output the barcode message. This data includes a device context handle, and a starting X and Y pixel. Third the class has some public member functions to intialize the class by loading data, and obtain information about the barcode message, namely its pixel height and width. Fourth the class has several abstract member functions that make this class an abstract base class. Any classes derived from CBarcode will be expected to implement these functions.
The CRationalCodabar class
The CRationalCodabar class is the class to implement to draw a Codabar barcode. The class declaration is listed below.
class CRationalCodabar : public CBarcode
{
public:
void DrawBitmap();
void BitmapToClipboard();
CRationalCodabar();
virtual ~CRationalCodabar();
private:
CString RetrievePattern(char c);
void DrawPattern(CString csPattern);
};
The class has two public functions BitmapToClipboard() and DrawBitmap(), plus it inherits the LoadData() function from the CBarcode class. The steps to use the class are simple, declare an instance of the class, call LoadData() to intialize class data, and then call either BitmapToClipboard() if you want to put a bitmap of the barcode on the clipboard, or call DrawBitmap() to draw the barcode message.
Drawing a Barcode to a Device Context
The following code snipet is an example using DrawBitmap().
CString csMessage;
double dNarrowBar,dHeight, dRatio;
HDC pDC;
long nStartingXPixel, nStartingYPixel;
CRationalCodabar oBarcode;
// assign variable values here
// call LoadData and draw the barcode
oBarcode.LoadData(csMessage,dNarrowBar,dHeight,pDC,
nStartingXPixel,nStartingYPixel,dRatio);
oBarcode.DrawBitmap();
Drawing a Barcode to the Clipboard
The following code snippet is an example using BitmapToClipboard().

double dNarrowbar,dHeight,CRationalCodabar oBarcode;
oBarcode.LoadData(csMessage,dNarrowBar,dHeight,hDC,0,0,dRatio);
oBarcode.BitmapToClipboard();
Note that when using the BitmapToClipboard() function, you can pass a null device context handle and zeroes for the starting X and Y pixel in the LoadData() call. Obviously the starting X and Y pixels are meaningless on the clipboard, but what about the null device context handle? The answer to that question can be found by looking at this code snipet from the BitmapToClipboard() function.
CDC memDC;
memDC.CreateCompatibleDC(NULL);
So the BitmapToClipboard() function creates its own memory device context by using the memDC.CreateCompatibleDC(NULL) function call. A quick look at the MSDN documentation shows that if you pass a NULL value to CreateCompatibleDC, the device context created is compatible with the screen.
CBarcode::LoadData() details
The parameters for CBarcode::LoadData() deserve some further explanation and this seems like the place to do it. The first parameter, csMessage is simply the message you wish to be drawn as a Codabar barcode. The next parameter dNarrowBar is the width of the narrow element in inches. The parameter dHeight is the height of the barcode in inches. The parameter pDC is a handle to the device context that the barcode will be drawn in. The next two parameters, nStartingXPixel and nStartingYPixel define the coordinates to start drawing the barcode. The final parameter, dRatio is the ratio of wide/narrow element widths. If you remember the declaration of the CBarcode class above, you'll remember that it stores all width and height information in pixels, and that it stores the narrow element width and the wide element width instead of the narrow element width and the wide/narrow element width ratio. Clearly CBarcode::LoadData() is doing some behind the scenes conversion work.
The first step to that conversion work is to get the X axis and Y axis dpi, which is done by the following code, taken from CBarcode::LoadData().
CDC tempDC;
library useful.
by-http://www.codeproject.com/

Glossary for computer hardware and micro scope

actuator arm: The arm in a disk drive that holds all of the read and write heads, and moves them in unison.
Glossary for computer hardware and micro scope
adapter card: A circuit board plugged into a slot in the motherboard to add features or peripherals to a system. Also called an expansion card.
address: A hexadecimal number designating the location of a device or of a piece of data.
address lines: The lines in a bus or cable that carry address information rather than data.
AGP: Accelerated Graphics Port, a high-speed bus just for video.
alphanumeric: Consisting of letters and numbers.
analog: Continuously changing, rather than jumping from one numerical value to the next. See digital.
application: A computer program to perform a specific task, as opposed to the operating system program that runs the computer itself.
ASCII: A digital code for print characters, including those on a standard keyboard. It stands for the American Standard Code for Information Inter-change,
ASPI: Advanced SCSI Programming Interface. The standard protocol used by most programs to access a SCSI device.
ATAPI: ATA Packet Interface, the ATA/IDE standard for CD-ROM, tape and removable drives.
Athlon: A high-speed CPU made by AMD.
average seek time: The average amount of time it takes a disk drive to locate a specific track and sector.
backup: A copy of a disk or selected files made for safekeeping, usually to removable media.
base memory: The first 1 MB of system RAM.
Basic Input / Output System: The hard-wired instructions that the CPU uses to boot up and to control I/O devices. Usually abbreviated as BIOS.
batch file: A file with an extension of .BAT, containing a list of commands or program routines that the computer will execute in sequence.
BAUD rate: A rate of data transfer, usually used to measure data rates over a phone line.
benchmark: A standard test or measurement used to compare the performance of similar components or systems.
binary: A number system using just two digits.
BIOS: Basic Input / Output System. The hard-wired instructions that the CPU uses to boot up and to control I/O devices.
bit: A single digit in the binary system, the smallest unit of computer information.
boot up: To start or restart a computer. From the phrase "picking yourself up by the bootstraps."
bus: A signal path that serves multiple devices or multiple points on a circuit board.
byte: A unit of digital information consisting of eight bits.
cache: A block of memory for temporary storage of data likely to be used again. The CPU and hard drive frequently use a cache.
CD: Compact Disc. A thin platter that has computer data or music recorded on it in optical form. See CD-ROM.
CD-R: A CD which can be written on by the user. A CD-RW can be written, erased and re-written.
CD-ROM: Compact Disc Read-only Memory. The term is often used for the CD platters as well as for the drive which reads them.
Celeron: A low-cost Pentium without cache.
central processing unit: The master chip in a computer that controls the execution of program instructions, arithmetic functions, and access to memory and peripherals. Abbreviated CPU, and also called the microprocessor.
CGA: Color Graphics Array. The first video standard for color monitors and video adapters.
chip: A slang term for an integrated circuit.
chipset: The chip or chips on a motherboard containing various functions supporting the CPU.
circuit: Any combination of wiring and components that provides a path for the flow of electricity.
circuit board: A thin board, usually fiberglass, on which components are mounted. Also called a printed circuit board (or PCB) because the connections between the components are printed onto the board.
CMOS: A type of chip able to operate with a tiny trickle of electricity from a battery. The term also refers to the contents of a CMOS chip on the motherboard, which holds information about the system and its peripherals even while the system is turned off. CMOS stands for Complementary Metal Oxide Substrate.
COM1: The name of the first serial port in a system. Additional ports are labeled COM2, COM3 and COM4.
communication: The exchange of information between two points.
computer: An electronic device for the storage and processing of information.
configuration: The way the parts of a system or network are arranged or connected, or the act of arranging them.
conflict: See resource conflict.
controller: A circuit that manages the operation of some part of a computer and its communication with the rest of the computer.
co-processor: See math co-processor.
CPU: See central processing unit.
cylinder: The same-numbered tracks of all the platters in a drive make up a cylinder. Cylinder 1 is all Track 1s, cylinder 2 is all Track 2s, etc.
data: Information, especially information in a form that can be used by a computer. It can include text, numbers, sounds and pictures. A single piece of information is called a Datum.
data processing: Using a computer to manage or store information.
decimal: Based on ten parts.
device: Any peripheral or part of a computer system that can send or receive data.
digit: A single unit or numeral in a counting system.
digital: Made of or using distinct digits or numerical values, rather than continuously variable values. Most often used to refer to information existing in electronic form as Ones and Zeroes.
digital camera: A camera that records pictures electronically rather than on film.
DIMM: Dual Inline Memory Module. Called Dual because it has separate signals to each side of the circuit board.
DIN: A type of connector for keyboards and mice, named for the German group originating the standard, Deutsche Industrie Norm.
DIP: Dual Inline Package. The configuration of two rows of pins used by many ICs. This configuration is also used to combine several switches into a single component.
disc: Same as Disk. This spelling is usually used with 'Compact Disc'.
disk: A thin platter coated with a magnetic material, and used in a disk drive to store information. Also can refer to the drive itself.
disk drive: A device used to store and retrieve information for a computer. It can be either a hard drive which has the platter permanently attached, or a floppy drive which has a removable platter.
diskette: The removable storage platter used in a floppy disk drive.
DMA: Channels for Direct Memory Access, which allow a device to move data to and from RAM without interrupting the CPU.
DOS: Disk Operating System. This is the operating system used by the original IBM PC and many since.
drive: A data storage device connected to a computer. Examples are a hard drive, floppy drive or tape drive.
drive parameters: The values for the number of cylinders, heads and sectors in a drive.
driver: Also device driver. A file containing the information an operating system or application needs to interact with a particular hardware device. These files will have an extension of .DRV (or .SYS in DOS)..
DVD: Digital Versatile Disk. A compact-disc format with much higher capacity than traditional CD-ROM.
DVD-RW: A DVD technology that allows the user to write to the disk.
EGA: Extended Graphics Array. A video standard allowing up to 64 colors.
electro-magnet: A magnet consisting of a coil of wire around a metal core. It is magnetic only when a current flows through the wire coil.
e-mail: Electronic Mail, messages sent over a computer network.
expanded memory system: The combination of a memory manager program and plug-in Expanded Memory Cards. Abbreviated EMS, which also stands for Expanded Memory Standard.
expansion card: A circuit board that plugs into a motherboard, used to add new peripherals to a computer system. Also called an adapter card.
expansion slot: A socket on the motherboard that accepts an expansion card.
extended memory: System RAM above 1MB.
extended memory specification: The rules for using an extended memory manager to access RAM above 1MB. The specification is known as XMS and was developed jointly by several companies.
FAT: File Allocation Table. A cluster map listing locations of the sequential parts of each file. There are two copies of the FAT for each partition, located just after the volume boot record.
FAT 16: The original FAT version allowing 1016 clusters per partition, with file names limited to 8 characters with a 3-character extension.
FAT 32: A later version allowing 255-character file names and 1028 clusters per partition.
factory-type format: The same as a low-level format
firmware: Computer instructions which are permanently imbedded in the circuitry, usually in a ROM chip.
fixed disk: Another name for a hard drive.
fixed media: The platters of a hard drive which, unlike a floppy diskette, cannot be removed.
flash BIOS: A ROM BIOS chip whose content can be changed by the system without removing the chip. The same type of chip used in an adapter card or peripheral is called Flash ROM.
floppy diskette: The removable storage platter of a floppy disk drive.
floppy drive: A disk drive with a removable storage platter.
format: The size and shape of something, or the way it is arranged. In computers it refers to the way data is organized or presented, especially on the platters of a disk.
FORMAT: The DOS command that creates the VBR, FAT, root directory and data areas for each partition. Also, either of two processes preparing the platter surfaces for data storage. See high level format and low level format.
GB: Abbreviation for gigabyte.
giga: A prefix meaning one billion. When measuring computer data, it means 230 or 1,073,741,824, which is the power of 2 closest to one billion.
gigabyte: 1024 megabytes, approximately 1.074 billion bytes.
hard drive: A disk drive with permanent storage platters.
hardware: The physical parts of an electronic device, such as nuts, bolts and components.
hard-wired: Unable to change. Usually refers to instructions in a ROM (Read Only Memory) chip or to logic created with physical connections rather than software.
head: A part mounted very close to the surface of a disk platter to read or write data.
hexadecimal: Made up of 16 parts. The hexadecimal numbering system uses the numbers 0 through 9 plus letters A through F to represent the 16 digits.
high-level format: The process of creating the FAT and other partition structures, done by the FORMAT command.
IC: Integrated Circuit. A part containing within itself many other circuits.
IDE: A common hard-drive interface, standing for Integrated Drive Electronics.
I/O: Input/Output. The flow of data to and from the CPU. Also refers to the peripherals sending the data, and the pathways they use.
I/O Port: A hex address used by a device to send and receive data.
input: Data received by a device or by the CPU.
integrated circuit: See IC.
Intel: A manufacturer of CPUs, motherboards and other components.
interface: The meeting point between a computer and something or (someone) outside of it. Common interfaces for peripherals are the serial and parallel ports. Common interfaces for people are the monitor screen and keyboard.
interleave: An offset between comparable sectors of adjacent tracks of a disk platter, needed because of the time it takes the heads to move from one track to the next. On some older drives, the interleave can be set by the user.
interrupt: A temporary break in the CPU's normal execution of program instructions, to allow it to handle a request from a peripheral.
IRQ: Interrupt ReQuest, the signal that a peripheral or program uses to interrupt the CPU.
ISA: The original PC bus architecture, and still included in many systems. It stands for Industry Standard Architecture.
joystick: An input device used for video games and for some graphics applications.
keyboard: An input device similar to a typewriter, for the entry of text, numbers and punctuation.
keyboard controller: A small processor on the motherboard that manages the entry of data from the keyboard.
kilo: A prefix meaning 1000. When used to measure computer data, it means 210 or 1024, which is the power of 2 closest to 1000.
kilobyte: 1024 bytes.
laser: A very pure and intense beam of light formed within a crystal, or the device that creates the light. LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
legacy: Containing obsolete technology.
logical block addressing: A translation done by the disk controller of large-capacity drive so that the Head/Sector/Cylinder addresses will appear to be in the range recognized by the BIOS. Abbreviated LBA.
low-level format: The initial factory process of putting on new sector marks to prepare the platter surface for data storage. A low-level format destroys any previous data on the disk.
LPT-1: or LPT-2,3. The standard names for the parallel ports. LPT stands for Line PrinTer.
main-frame: A large computer designed to be used by many people at the same time.
male connector: A connector with pins that fit into the sockets of a female connector.
master: One of two drives attached to an IDE controller, the other being Slave.
master boot loader: The program in a disk's master boot record that contains instructions for loading in the operating system.
master boot record: The first sector on a disk, containing the partition table and master boot loader. Abbreviated MBR.
master file table: The file-tracking system used instead of a FAT in the Windows NT file system.
math coprocessor: Circuitry to handle floating-point arithmetic for the CPU. It may be incorporated in the CPU or it may be a separate chip. Also called the NPU or Numerical Processing Unit.
MBR: See master boot record.
MCA: Micro-Channel Architecture. A type of bus introduced by IBM in the late 1980s. It is no longer manufactured.
MB: Abbreviation for megabyte.
MBR: See Master Boot Record.
media: Methods of communication. In computers, it refers to the material or device used to store or transmit data.
medium: Singular of Media.
mega: A prefix meaning one million. For computer data, it means 220 or 1,048,576, which is the power of 2 closest to one million.
megabyte: 1,048,576 bytes.
memory: The part of a computer that holds data. This usually refers to RAM.
memory bank: The number of memory modules needed to have the same number of data bits as the bus. In a 64-bit Pentium system, each DIMM is one bank, but two 72-pin SIMMs are required for each bank.
microprocessor: A master control circuit. See central processing unit.
MicroScope: Trade name for a hardware diagnostic program that uses its own operating system to manipulate hardware directly without interference from the main operating system.
Microsoft: A software company, best known for the Windows operating system.
modem: A device that allows a computer to send and receive data over a voice phone line. Modem stands for Modulator / Demodulator.
modulate: To change a signal in a way that conveys information. For instance, a tone sent over a phone line can be changed in volume or frequency to represent Ones and Zeroes, thus sending digital data over an audio line.
module: A self-contained part of something that can function on its own.
monitor: A peripheral device with a screen for the visual display of information.
motherboard: The main circuit board, containing the CPU. All of the other functions and peripherals are connected in some way to the motherboard.
mouse: An input device that controls an on-screen pointer.
multimedia: Presenting data in more than one medium, such as combining text, graphics and sound.
NPU: Numeric Processing Unit. See math co-processor.
NTFS: The disk file structure used by Window NT and Windows 2000, which has a Master File Table instead of a FAT.
operating system: The master control program that runs the computer and allows it to execute applications.
optical: Using light.
OS: Operating system.
output: Data sent by a device or the CPU. Especially, the end result of a processing task, sent to the printer or to the monitor screen.
over-clocking: Setting the clock multiplier so that the CPU will run faster than its rated speed. Not a recommended practice.
parallel: Components or circuits connected to the same end points, so that each circuit provides an alternate path for electrical current from the same source. Compare to series.
parallel port: A connection for high-speed transfer of information, using multiple data lines.
parameters: See drive parameters.
parity: An extra bit added to data for error checking purposes, to make the quantity of Ones consistently either odd or even.
partition: A division of the hard drive, or the process of setting up divisions on the hard drive.
PC: Personal Computer. An IBM or IBM-compatible self-contained computer system, designed to be used by one person at a time.
PCB: See printed circuit board.
PCI: A high-speed bus for 486, Pentium and compatible systems. PCI stands for Peripheral Component Interconnect.
Pentium: A high-speed microprocessor chip made by Intel.
peripheral: Any of the devices which connect to the CPU and exchange information under the CPU's control. Peripherals include all of the computer's input and output devices.
pixel: Picture Element. A dot of light that is the smallest part of the visual image on a monitor. The number of pixels depends on the resolution setting of the monitor.
platter: The actual disk inside of a disk drive. Its surface is coated with a magnetic material that records data. Both sides of the platter are used, and a typical disk drive has several platters, stacked like pancakes.
plug-and-play: A standard that allows the system to automatically configure adapter-card resources.
port: A connection for moving data to and from the motherboard.
POST: An acronym for Power-On Self Test, a series of instructions executed by the BIOS during boot-up to confirm system functions before turning control over to the operating system. The codes put on the bus during POST can be used by POST reader cards to diagnose systems that fail to boot.
POST reader: A diagnostic card that is inserted into a bus slot to display the POST codes during boot-up. This is used to diagnose a system that won't boot up. The most comprehensive POST reader is Micro 2000's Universal Post-Probe.
printed circuit board: A thin board, usually fiberglass, on which components are mounted. So called because the connections between the components are printed onto the board. Abbreviated PCB.
printer: A device that puts computer data onto paper.
processing: Using a computer program to manage data, either sorting it, storing it or changing it in some way.
processor: The part of the computer that controls the execution of program instructions. See CPU.
program: A series of instructions for completion of a specific task or for performance of an activity.
RAM: Random Access Memory, the standard operating memory of the computer.
random access: Able to directly access any portion of data, without having to accept data in sequence.
read head: A head in a disk drive used to retrieve data from the platter.
read-only memory: Information hard-wired into chips. Used for the BIOS and in many I/O devices. Abbreviated as ROM.
real-time clock: The CMOS circuitry that keeps track of the year, day and time of day for the system. Abbreviated RTC.
refresh: A signal fed to RAM chips periodically, to keep them charged up so that data is not lost.
removable media: A cartridge or cassette that can be removed from the drive.
resolution: The sharpness of an image. Measured in a printer by Dots Per Inch, and in a monitor by the number of horizontal and vertical pixels.
resource conflict: The situation when two or more devices are trying to use the same system resources.
resources: See system resources.
riser card: A card that plugs into the motherboard to provide a perpendicular extension of the bus. Adapter cards are then plugged into the riser instead of the motherboard, allowing a lower profile to the case. Most often used for desktop systems that sit under the monitor.
ROM: See read only memory.
RTC: See real-time clock.
SCSI: A high-speed interface for hard drives, CD-ROM drives, scanners and other devices. SCSI comes from Small Computer System Interface.
sector: A division of a disk platter, shaped like a piece of pie.
seek: In a disk drive, the process of finding a specific location, by moving the actuator arm over the desired track and waiting until the correct sector comes under the heads.
sequential access: Data must be read in the order it appears. This method applies to tape, and to a lesser degree to disks.
serial port: A connection for data transfer, using a single data line.
silicon: The element used to make transistors and integrated circuits.
SIMM: Single In-line Memory Module, a small plug-in circuit board with one row of input signals.
software: Instructions for a computer, organized into sets called programs.
sound card: An expansion card with connections for speakers.
start bit: A zero bit marking the start of a serial port data byte.
stepping switch: A push-button switch on the Post-Probe that when pressed shows the code in the POST sequence immediately previous to the one currently displayed.
stop bits: One or more bits marking the end of a serial port data byte.
storage: Holding of program instructions and data for use by the computer. Temporary storage while the computer is running is provided by the RAM, and permanent storage is available on disk and tape.
SVGA: Super Video Graphics Array, the enhanced version of VGA used in most new PCs. Standard resolution is 800 x 600.
SXGA: A high-end video standard, with 1280 x 1024 resolution. It stands for Super Extended Graphics Array.
system: All of the parts that work together for a particular purpose. A computer system consists of the monitor, keyboard, all of the components in the CPU cabinet and any peripherals connected to it. An operating system is all of the routines and utilities needed for control of the computer, organized into one program.
system board: Same as motherboard.
system resources: Motherboard features which must be allocated among devices. These include IRQs, DMA channels, I/O ports and ROM addresses.
tape drive: A storage device that uses a long strip of magnetic tape.
track: The path in a magnetic surface that actually holds the recorded data. On a disk platter, the tracks are circles, one inside of the other. On a tape, the tracks are parallel stripes that run the length of the tape.
transistor: An electronic device used to control the flow of electricity.
UART: Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter, the control chip or circuitry for a serial port.
upper memory area: The 384KB of RAM between 640KB and 1MB, reserved in DOS for BIOS, video and adapter card ROMs.
USB: Universal Serial Bus, a port that allows the hot-plugging of multiple external plug-and-play devices.
utility: A software program or routine that aids in system management.
Universal Post-Probe: A POST reader card from Micro 2000 containing many advanced features, including the ability to read either ISA or PCI with the same card.
UXGA: A high-end video standard. It stands for Ultra Extended Graphics Array, and has a resolution of 1600 x 1200.
VGA: A video standard for unlimited color reproduction.
video: Having to do with the visual presentation of information, usually on a monitor screen.
video card: An adapter card used to manage the display on the monitor.
video controller: The circuitry driving the monitor display. This circuitry may be on the motherboard or on a video adapter card.
volume: A physical unit of data storage, such as a diskette, tape reel or one partition of a hard drive.
volume boot record: The first sector of a partition, containing the disk parameters of that volume.
warm boot: Restarting the boot-up without first turning off the power.
Windows: A widespread operating system from Microsoft, used on approximately 80% of all PCs.
write head: A small electromagnet in a disk drive that puts data onto the platter.
XGA: Extended Graphics Array, a video standard with a resolution of 1024 x 768 at 256 colors, or 640 x 480 with 16-bit color.
Zip Drive: A high-density removable-media drive. Each diskette holds either 100 or 250 megabytes.
By- http://www.micro2000uk.co.uk

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Working at home Earning Online

If you own a Web site, chances are you've already given thought to earning extra income from it. There are many ways to accomplish this goal, and I don't pretend to know all of them (or even most of them!).
However, I can share with you a few of the things that work for me, and maybe you can use some of them as well.
I earn a very nice income from my web site...enough to allow me to stay home with my three small children, and I know if I can do it, then anyone can!
The first, and most obvious thing I do is sell ad space on my site. If you get enough traffic to your site, this alone can earn you a great income. The trick to keeping high traffic, however, is that you must have something to offer that a LOT of people want. Most likely, no two people will give you the same answer if you ask them what that "something" is!
There are many people earning supplementary income through affiliate marketing from their web site and for some, this has become a primary source of income.
Most of the merchants I have partnered with are through Commission Junction, simply because they are the only ones I trust. I've been doing this a long time, and no other program has been as dependable and on time with payments as Commission Junction. They have hundreds of Merchants to choose from, so it is easy to find something relevant to your site's theme and content (very important!).
Remember that any affiliate program you join should be consistent with the general theme and content of your web site. Content at your site also serves another purpose; it keeps your visitors coming back. If you provide information that people are looking for, that in turn creates traffic and the traffic creates the income.
It goes without saying that creating and selling your own product/service is more profitable than reselling someone else's (and sharing the profits). That's why I love selling e-books. Some are mine, and some I've purchased full resell rights to, and I keep every dime I earn from them. This is another very profitable area of my business, and I highly recommend it to anyone.
I also sell items on eBay. I work about 10 hours a week, and earn around $1,000 a month selling my items. I just love it! This is another thing you can do that doesn't take a lot of training, or setting up. I give complete details in my e-book Work at Home: Be an Expert eBay Seller on how to get set up to sell successfully.
As you can see, I am a firm believer in diversifying streams of income, especially when it comes to earning online.
If you'd like more detailed information about these Online Businesses that you can start quickly, easily, and with little cost to you, then you should check out these wonderful resources below.http://www.at-homeworks.com

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Neuro linguistic programming Introduction

Neuro refers to the brain and neural network that feeds into the brain. Neurons or nerve cells are the working units used by the nervous system to send, receive, and store signals that add up to information. Linguistics refer to the content, both verbal and non-verbal, that moves across and through these pathways. Programming is the way the content or signal is manipulated to convert it into useful information. The brain may direct the signal, sequence it, change it based on our prior experience, or connect it to some other experience we have stored in our brain to convert it into thinking patterns and behaviors that are the essence of our experience of life. Our experiences and feelings affect the way we react to external stimuli. Let me illustrate. I am afraid of snakes. The impulse I get if I see a snake or even hear a sound close to resembling that of a snake is a feeling of total fright. This is because, I was born in an area infested with several deadly snakes. One day a boy from my neighborhood came to our house. He knocked on the door. I opened the door. He had a snake in his hand. He wanted to show me the prize catch he had. He was holding it like we hold a pet cat. For him it was a pet. So, it gave him lot of joy to hold one. To me, it gave a migraine headache! Both myself and my neighbor boy saw the same thing. The same signal was passed to our brain. It was the picture of a snake. However, our brains interpreted the implications of the snake entirely differently. In processing the information, our brains used our experiences (good and bad), our biases, our opinions, our value systems, etc. to convert it into useful information that we can use.Neuro linguistic programming (NLP for short) was developed in the early 1970s by an information scientist and a linguist at the University of California at Santa Cruz. They had observed that people with similar education, training, background, and years of experience were achieving widely varying results ranging from wonderful to mediocre. They wanted to know the secrets of effective people. What makes them perform and accomplish things. They were especially interested in the possibility of being able to duplicate the behavior, and therefore the competence, of these highly effective individuals. It was the golden era of modeling and simulation. They decided to model human excellence. They looked at factors such as education, business and therapy. They have then zeroed in on the communication aspect. They started studying how the successful people communicated (verbal language, body language, eye movements, and others). By modeling their behavior, John Grinder and Richard Bandler were able to make out patterns of thinking that assisted in the subject's success. The two theorized that the brain can learn the healthy patterns and behaviors and that this would bring about positive physical and emotional effects. What emerged from their work came to be known as Neuro-Linguistic Programming.The basic premise of NLP is that the words we use reflect an inner, subconscious perception of our problems. If these words and perceptions are inaccurate, they will create an underlying problem as long as we continue to use and to think them. Our attitudes are, in a sense, a self-fulfilling prophecy. The neuro linguistic therapist will analyze every word and phrase you use in describing your symptoms or concerns about your health. He or she will examine your facial expressions and body movements. After determining problems in your perception, the therapist will help you understand the root cause. The therapist will help you remodel your thoughts and mental associations in order to fix your preconceived notions. These preconceived notions may be keeping you from achieving the success you deserve. NLP will help you get out of these unhealthy traits and replace them with positive thoughts, and patterns that promote wellness.

How Does Neuro Linguistic Programming Work?
NLP uses self image and attitude towards illness to effect change and to promote healing. Hope is our greatest asset. It is one of the main reason why placebos (sugar pills used in clinical studies) work. We also know how effective prayer can be when it is combined with faith and hope. When a person loses hope and feels helpless in the face of a chronic disease such as AIDS or cancer, it is very easy to lose the hope; the body may just "quit trying." If the patient is made aware of his or her unique abilities and possibilities, he or she may see things differently. Now, the body's natural healing power can be harnessed to do the job.NLP is based on several useful presuppositions. NLP places great emphasis on concepts that work as opposed to concepts that should work. NLP therapists will tell you that if what you're doing isn't working, you should try something else that will work for you. Every person is different. Flexibility is the key element in a given system. The person who is most likely to do well responds to changing (or unchanging) circumstances appropriately. This is one reason why NLP has made so much progress. NLP is much more interested in getting results.Other tools that are available to NLP therapists are meta model, sensory acuity, Milton model, system representation and submodalities.
Presuppostions
NLP makes a number of presuppositions. Presuppositions or assumptions are the beliefs a person will find useful in effecting changes to themselves and/or to the world. (Some people call these as the "givens".) Examples of presuppositions:1. Communication is more than what you are saying. 2. No one is wrong or broken. People work perfectly to accomplish what they are currently accomplishing. 3. People already have all the resources they need. 4. Behind every behavior is a positive intention. 5. Every behavior is useful in some context. 6. The meaning of a communication is the response you get. 7. If you aren't getting the response you want, try something different. 8. There is no such thing as failure. There is only feedback. 9. Having choice is better than having no choice at all. 10. In any system, the element with the most flexibility exerts the most influence. 11. The map is not the territory. 12. If someone can do something, anyone can learn it. 13. You cannot fail to communicate.
Representational Systems
Representational system in NLP consist of our five senses. These are: Visual (images)Auditory (sounds)Kinesthetic (touch and internal feelings)Gustatory (tastes)Olfactory (smells)Every one of us uses one or a combination of these senses to perceive the world. The brain gets the "picture" of what we are talking about from one or from a combination of these senses and from these senses alone. For example, we see a dead dog on the road. The eyes senses the visual image and send it to the brain. The nose will sense the smell and send it to the brain. For example, if the smell is rotten, the brain may infer from what it had received so far (a picture of a dog lying still that is giving out foul smell) that the dog had been dead for some time. If the dog is crying, the ears will send this information to the brain. In addition, we might touch the dog. We probably won't taste the dog. So, these are the "inputs" to the brain.

Making Changes To Our Life Style Using NLP:
Once we understand our own map of reality, we can make changes to it in order to obtain the life experiences we want. NLP provides us "maps" used by other people. We learn how others have responded to a particular situation we are facing. We see the differences in the approaches and in the outcomes. Based on it, we may voluntarily make changes to our own behavior. We step out of our own map and step into the other's. When this happens, the rewards are many. We experience a deep connection to the successful person. And our life will never be the same again.NLP increases the depth and effectiveness of our relationships, beginning with our self and extending through personal and intimate relationships to our professional and work lives, and finally, to the therapeutic arena or working with others to bring about healing, change and growth. NLP provides the tools that enable this rich connection with self and others to happen.Many of NLP's tools and applications are widely used in business, management, education, training and therapy. Many of us may have encountered and applied these principles in our life, without even realizing that it came from NLP.

Shiatsu chakra of world

Shaitsu is a contemporary therapy with its roots in Oriental traditional medicine. It is sometimes described as Japanese physiotherapy. The actual treatment approach and philosophy is similar to acupuncture in its usage of the meridians (energy channels) and tsubo (pressure points) as well as diagnostic methods, but without the use of needles. Unlike most other forms of bodywork, in shiatsu the receiver remains clothed for the treatment and no oil is used for the massage.Shiatsu is a Japanese word made up of two written characters meaning finger (shi) and pressure (atsu). The application of pressure is the underlying principle of shiatsu. Shiatsu is often called accupressure, although technically it is not correct. We can say Shiatsu is a variant of accupressure, as it involves the stimulation of the acupoints with pressure. However, this is not the only thing nor the principal technique used in Shiatsu. In Shiatsu, the pressure is sometimes applied over a wider area, not just over the acupoints; sometimes, the pressure is applied precisely over the acupoints. The practitioners use fingers and thumb for applying pressure precisely at localized points. For applying pressure over a larger area, they use palms, elbows, knees, and feet.In addition to the pressure itself, shiatsu involves gentle stretch and manipulation techniques. These may have been borrowed from modern physiotherapy rather than from the ancient oriental massage. But shiatsu differs from Western massage in technique as well as in theory. While Swedish massage therapists use long, flowing hand movements to knead muscles, shiatsu practitioners apply rhythmic and gradual pressure to the meridians and tsubos. Sometimes, very light 'holding' techniques may be used, usually with the palm, almost like the laying on of hands as in spiritual healing. Stretching exercises and other corrective techniques creates flexibility and balance in the body, both physically and energetically.Shiatsu works on the flow of energy or qi that circulates through our bodies in specific energy channels or meridians. Traditional Oriental Medicine suggests that we all have a "life force" or "life energy" which created our physical structure and regulates physical, emotional, mental and spiritual stability. This life force, called qi or chi in Chinese and ki in Japanese, maintains a homeostatic balance in your body.The flow of qi can be disturbed either through external trauma, such as an injury, or internal trauma such as depression or stress. This is when symptoms like aches and pain start to occur and we start to experience a state of "disease". In shiatsu the physical touch is used to assess the distribution of qi throughout the body and to try to correct any imbalances accordingly.Touch is the essence of shiatsu. Touch is a wonderful means of communicating our love and compassion for others in a very direct way. Touch can be of very different quality, ranging from aggressive, abusive and mechanical to more nurturing, caring and intuitive. All living things responds to touch and shiatsu helps to fulfill this need. The caring touch used in shiatsu will help to trigger the self-healing process within.Thus, modern shiatsu incorporates a mixture of different approaches - ancient and modern. It includes pressing, hooking, sweeping, shaking, rotating, grasping, vibrating, patting, plucking, lifting, pinching, rolling, brushing, and in one variation called barefoot shiatsu, it involves walking on the person's back. Legs, and feet. These all share a common theme, namely touch. Shiatsu is thus a 'hands-on' therapy. Shiatsu has become a respected alternative therapy in the western countries and is offered in many hospital settings as a complementary therapy for the treatment and prevention of many common ailments. It is a very safe and effective treatment.

Origins of Shiatsu
Shiatsu originated in China at least 2000 years ago, when the earliest accounts gave the causes of ailments and the remedies that could be effected through a change of diet and way of life. The use of massage and acupuncture was also recommended. Thus acupuncture, massage and herbal medicine evolved side by side to treat the range of diseases encountered. The traditional massage of ancient China was known as 'anma' and found its way to Japan to be adopted and adapted by the Japanese, who also called it 'anma'. The therapy that is known today as shiatsu has gradually evolved with time from anma under influences from both East and West. Amma (anma in Japanese) has been used for centuries to deal with many common ailments, aches and pains as well as treating more serious "diseases". New influences from traditional Eastern medicine and Western science have gradually shaped it into what is today called shiatsu. There are several main styles of shiatsu found in the West: barefoot shiatsu, macrobiotic shiatsu, Namikoshi style, Ohashiatsu, Shiatsu-Do and Zen shiatsu. These are all valid and effective therapies using the basic shiatsu principles but with differing emphasis placed on techniques or philosophy. In Japan there are more than 87,000 registered shiatsu practitioners. This fact alone goes some way towards demonstrating its effectiveness in the prevention and treatment of disease.It is only very recently that it has gained recognition and popularity, with people becoming aware of its existence and benefits.Although East and West have different viewpoints on health and life, these can complement one another. The Eastern belief is of a primary flow of energy throughout the body, which runs along certain channels known as meridians. It is also believed that this energy exists throughout the universe and that all living creatures are dependent upon it as much as on physical nourishment. The energy is known by three similar names, ki, chi and prana in Japan, China and India respectively. As in acupuncture, there are certain pressure points on the meridians that relate to certain organs, and these points are known as tsubos.

world of Urine therapy

Sometimes you may find, that as much as you try to eat right, to take the appropriate nutritional supplements, to exercise, to drink plenty of pure water - you still just don't get better or solve your particular health challenge. These are the times when you may need a little extra help. In that light I'd like to review homeopathy/isopathy and your body's own medicine.

Homeopathy
In definition, homeopathy is: A therapeutic method, which clinically applies the Law of Similars and uses medically active substances at infinitesimal doses.
Ok, so lets say you get sick with the flu. By using the Law of Similars, you would give yourself an additional dose of some same or similar flu virus, and this would really stimulate your immune system to go into battle. That's using the Law of Similars. However, in homeopathy, you never take the similar substance full strength. You take an infinitesimally smaller amount. Actually, it is so small as to be unmeasurable by physical scientific instrumentsTo get to such a small level, the original substance goes through a dilution process. For example, suppose you were making a flu remedy. You would take, for instance, 99 drops of distilled water and add one drop of flu virus. You would vigorously shake that solution 100 times (homeopaths call this succussing). Then you would take a drop of that solution and add it to another 99 drops of water and shake again. Then take a drop of that solution and do it again, and again, and again, etc. By the time the homeopath is through with this process, any scientific laboratory could analyze the solution and all they would say is that the substance is just water. BUT, and this is a big but, the power of the remedy is in the vibrational imprint that has been stamped on the water itself by the original flu drop and through each successive generation. And this is where we get into quantum physics and subtle energy, areas where our physical sciences are not yet capable of going.
When the body is given a homeopathic remedy, it is stimulated into action, not because of the physical or chemical nature of the substance, but because of the energetic nature. The body receives new vibratory information and acts accordingly. Now to anyone trained in the physical sciences, this is unprovable. But whether you believe this yourself or not is irrelevant, the fact is, homeopathics can be a very powerful healing resource when used correctly.
Isopathy
In the Rot & Rust educational tour in the microscopy section, we have a discussion about the colloids of life in the blood. If the terrain of the blood (i.e. the bloods pH balance, mineral balance etc.) gets shifted, the elemental forms, the colloidal particles known as the protits or somatids, will change their shape to adapt to the new environment. What they change into can be pathogenic (disease producing) to the body.
This is the biological aspect to the disease process in the body. When Acharyaji was doing all of his research in this area, he understood the developmental life cycle of the internal parasite. He knew that disease was brought about by a shifted internal metabolic balance. To get well, you had to rebalance that metabolism. Understanding these concepts, in relation to also understanding the biological nature of disease, he developed biological preparations to speed the healing process. As biological preparations, they work on a very unique level. If you understand how microbes can evolve in the blood to a pathogenic level, then to get well, you want to de-evolve those same microorganisms back to a stage where they no longer present a problem.. The primary way to do this is through diet (i.e. rebalance pH). But in severe situations, you could accelerate the process biologically. This is where Acharyaji's remedies come into play. He understood that if you have a microbe at one late developmental stage in the body that is causing problems, you could introduce the earlier stage of that same type of microbe and they would mate and become a lesser form. This is how his isopathic remedies work (iso meaning equal or same).
The protit is a colloid of life. It is the progenitor to later stages of development if the pH of the blood gets thrown off. To de-evolve the later pathogenic stages, you can re-introduce new cultured young protits back into the blood, and the pathogenic forms will become lesser, apathogenic forms. This is the basis for Enderleins isopathic remedies. It promotes gentle and effective self healing through a biological means.
Understanding these two concepts of homeopathy and isopathy, is going to lead to a further understanding of just what the power may be that is behind the effectiveness of the medicine your own body produces.
The Product of Your Own Metabolism
The first time I was exposed to the concept that the body makes its own medicine, it was through a friend who was introduced to it through an eastern Indian "guru" type of fellow. I thought it was interesting but a wacky kind of idea and I never thought about it again - until I came across a book. And then one day, her husband brought home a little book that told of how individuals had been cured of even the worst diseases with a seemingly strange and little-known natural therapy. Soon afterwards, she began the therapy herself. From the first day she began, she received almost instantaneous relief from her incurable constipation and fluid retention. Within a week, her severe abdominal and pelvic pain was gone.
The chronic cystitis and yeast infections (internal and external) soon disappeared and her food allergies, exhaustion, and digestive problems all began to heal. What was this therapy that she had discovered? What was this therapy that has helped seriously ill patients gain complete remissions from their afflictions? What was it that she actually did?
That's what I thought when I first heard about this. But I also absolutely needed to know more. What I discovered is that urine is not the substance we think it is. In her book, Acharyaji explains what urine is....
In Layman's Language
Urine is not, as many believe, the excess water from food and liquids that goes through the intestines and is ejected from the body as "waste". It is much different and much more. When you eat, the food you ingest is eventually broken down in the stomach and intestines into extremely small molecules. These molecules are absorbed into tiny tubules in the intestinal wall and then pass through these tubes into the blood stream.
The blood circulates throughout your body carrying these food molecules and other nutrients, along with critical immune defense and regulating elements such as red and white blood cells, antibodies, plasma, microscopic proteins, hormones, enzymes, etc., which are all manufactured at different locations in the body.
As the blood circulates, it passes through the liver where toxins are removed and later excreted from the body in the form of solid waste. Eventually, this now purified "cleaned" blood makes its way to the kidneys. When blood enters the kidneys it is filtered through an immensely complex and intricate system of minute tubules called nephron through which the blood is literally "squeezed" at high pressure. This filtering process removes excess amounts of water, salts and other elements in the blood that your body does not need at the time.
These excess elements are collected within the kidney in the form of a purified, sterile, watery solution called urine. Many of the constituents of this filtered watery solution, or urine, are then reabsorbed by the nephron and delivered back into the bloodstream. The remainder of the urine passes out of the kidneys into the bladder and is then excreted from the body.
The function of the kidneys is to keep the various elements in your blood balanced. When your body doesn't need something at a particular time, it is excreted - not because it is toxic or poisonous or bad for the body, but simply because the body does not need that particular element at the time.
Medical researchers have discovered that many of the elements of the blood that are found in urine have enormous medicinal value, and when reintroduced to the body, they boost the body's immune defenses and stimulate healing in a way that nothing else does.
A Nutrient Rich Powerhouse
Stories have been told of individuals who have both lived and died by being trapped in places without food and water for days. Those that survived did so because they drank their own urine, those that perished did not. The ones that died probably could not overcome the mis-informed thoughts that urine is a waste product of the body. It's not. It's just a substance the body secretes that contains elements not needed at the time.
Despite what you may have been led to believe about urine, pharmaceutical companies have grossed billions of dollars from the sale of drugs made from urine constituents. Research is happening every day in labs attempting to isolate specific elements of urine so they can create new drugs and patent the substances. For instance, Pergonal is a fertility drug made from human urine. 1992 sales of this drug were reported at $855 million while it costs a patient $1400 a month to consume. Urokinase, a urine ingredient, is used in drug form and sold as a miracle blood clot dissolver for unblocking coronary arteries. Urea, medically proven to be one of the best moisturizers in the world, is packaged in expensive creams and lotions. Take the M out of Murine eye drops and what do you have? Yep. It's made from carbamide - another name for synthetic urea.
A Powerful Healer
To get some understanding of how urine can be such a powerful healing substance in and of itself, let's take a look at how urine therapy has been known to completely eliminate allergies.
Researchers have discovered that allergic responses are caused by "renegade" white blood cells that inappropriately attack substances even when they may be no threat to the body. So it is the activity of these renegade white blood cells, called antigen receptors, that needs to be corrected in order to cure the allergy.
Realizing that the urine of allergic individuals contains the allergy causing antigen receptors, researchers thought that to re-introduce the urine back to the allergic individual would mean antibodies would be produced which would then stop the allergic response. And that is exactly what happens. Allergies have been completely turned around with urine therapy.Using urine in this way to cure the allergy, is one form of isopathic treatment. You're using the same substance that is causing the allergy, to be reintroduced to the body to have the body manufacture its own antibody to it. If you grasp this point, you may be able to see the ability of this therapy to be used in just about any illness the body may experience.
Furthering the Isopathic Approach
To take this isopathic idea a bit further, let's come back to the teaching of Acharyaji and the biological perspective. As you'll recall, Acharyaji developed remedies that were based on the observations that how we get sick is a function of the blood pH getting thrown off causing microbes in the blood to grow into pathogenicity. His biological remedies involved re-introducing the small colloids of life, or the protits, back into the body to mate with the pathogenic forms so they would de-evolve back into a non-pathogenic state. This is what you could call a bit of biological brilliance.
Now let's take this idea in relation to urine therapy and expand it to meet this biological framework. Urine therapy has been able to cure seemingly incurable disease states. Why is that? Well here's an idea. The colloids in your blood that are the protits/somatids, are very small particles. In fact they are so small as to be unfilterable by something like the kidneys. Though researchers haven't been looking, it is probable that one of the constituents of urine are these colloid particles that naturally just get passed through the kidneys out of the blood. When one consumes their own urine through the process of urine therapy, they are receiving a dose of these pure colloids. These biologically proceed to support the immune function, and quite possibly lead to taking the pathogenic microbes in the blood back down to apathogenic states. In this way, urine truly becomes the body's own perfect medicine.
Open Minds Can Open Doors
Don't take this therapy lightly. Multiple sclerosis, colitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, hepatitis, hyperactivity, pancreatic insufficiency, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes, herpes, mononucleosis, adrenal failure, allergies and so many other ailments have been relieved through use of this therapy. After you overcome your initial gag response (I know I had one), you will realize that something big is going on, and if you are searching for health, this is an area to investigate. There are numerous reports and double blind studies which go back to the turn of the century supporting the efficacy of using urine for health.
The recurring points to all of the medical research done to date on urine indicates that it is completely sterile. If it becomes contaminated it happens after it leaves the body. Urine is a by-product of blood filtration, not waste filtration.
Urine contains compounds that are very specific to the individual from which it comes. It is antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antineoplastic (anticancer), anticonvulsive, and antispasmodic. It is totally non-toxic.
With research that could fill volumes, you may be wondering why you haven't heard of this before. Well, urine is abundant (everyone has their own supply), it's free, and it can't be controlled by the FDA. Reasons enough?
How to Do It
Very briefly, here are two ways to do urine therapy. This is in no way a complete discussion of how to use the therapy, but simply an introduction.1) Use your own urine in a homeopathic fashion.
First, collect midstream urine in a clean cup or container. This should be a clean catch, meaning the genital area (important for women in particular) has been cleaned beforehand. To 1/6 ounce of distilled water in a sterile bottle, add one drop of fresh urine. Cap and shake 50 times. Take one drop of this mix and add to another 1/6 ounce of distilled water and shake 50 times. Take one drop of this mix and add to 1/6 oz. of 80 to 90 proof vodka which acts as a preservative.
Place three drops under the tongue hourly until there is obvious improvement or temporary exacerbation of symptoms. As improvement progresses, lengthen the interval between treatments. After 3 days, suspend treatment to avoid pushing the immune system. Treatment is resumed if progress remains static or relapse occurs.
2) Begin with oral drops then increase dosage as needed. Use fresh urine drops direct. For some cases, sub-lingual drops work well.(Should always use fresh urine immediately upon collection. You should not boil or dilute the urine in any way. You must use it in its natural form)
Start by taking 1-5 drops of morning urine on the first day. On the second day, take 5-10 drops in the morning. On the third day, take 5-10 drops in the morning, and the same amount in the evening before you go to bed.
Once you feel accustomed to the therapy, gradually increase the amount as needed for obtaining results for your condition. As you use the therapy, you will learn to adjust the amount you need by observing your reactions to the therapy. It may be that you'll work up to actually drinking an ounce or two at a time.

Meditation Exercise - Reiki

This is a very simplified primer on basic Reiki. It's intended as a basic lesson to help someone get started channeling the energy and in no way should be considered a Reiki Course in itself.
What is Reiki? Reiki is a Japanese phrase which means "Universal Energy". Its history is enshrouded in myth, legend and parable, but the simple fact is, it works. Reiki is simply the process of channeling Universal Energy through oneself and into some one (or something) else. The vast range of uses for Reiki range from healing oneself to opening and balancing the Chakras and even charging objects and food with the energy.
Getting Started Reiki is safe and simple to use. To get started simply sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Put on the music of your choice and relax. Place your hands over your face with your palms over your eyes. Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue just behind your front teeth.
As you inhale just open up and feel the energy flow down through the top of your head and down to your heart chakra, then feel it flow out along your arms and out through your hands and into your face. At the simplest level that ALL you have to do. The energy will go wherever it's needed and do whatever is required of it. You don't have to send it anywhere in particular or try to control it.
Getting Deeper Reiki flows through you simply by your 'intent'. You just have to intend to open up to it and you'll find it readily available. You may feel many different things while giving yourself a Reiki treatment. Your hands or the part of your body covered by your hands may get hot, cold or tingly. Some people feel it very easily and others take awhile to open up to it. The simplest explanation that I've found is to think of what the emotion 'Love' feels like, and then just relax and let it flow.
I always advise everyone to study Reiki. Any energy worker, massage therapist, healer, martial artist or metaphysician can greatly benefit from Reiki, and there are many FREE Reiki classes and sources of training available, as many of us try to make it as easily accessible as possible to anyone who wants it.
I'll soon be publishing a comprehensive Reiki course, including the symbols and hand positions, to the web as a PDF file that anyone can download and study, as well as a list of Reiki Master willing to do free attunements.
I hope this simple exercise helps some of you who've been interested in Reiki, but just haven't made the leap into studying it yet.
© 2006 Robert Morgen. This article may be used by anyone, anywhere as long as the author's bio and links are included.

http://www.mysticwolfpress.com

Our Personal Horoscope

I'm not really a big fan of horoscopes and all that astrology stuff. Sure, whenever I'm reading the paper, I sometimes glance at my horoscope just to see whether even half of it has already come true for my day. Usually, horoscopes are so general anyway, and it's not predictions but advice which they offer. Because of this, practically anyone can nod his or her head and agree with what horoscopes say.
Sometimes, my horoscope for the day gets it right, sometimes, it doesn't. And it doesn't help that I share the same horoscope with my husband. My husband and I love each other, but there are just some things that seem weird to be shared. Horoscopes, for instance.
Naturally, we don't want the daily newspaper horoscope dictating us that our fate for the day is just the same. "You will face some financial difficulties but never take your eyes off the reward just around the corner," our horoscope for Libra would say. Really, now.
That's why I tried some sites on the Internet that offer personalized horoscopes and astrological readings. It's a hotline actually, and at first, I was skeptical; I wasn't keen on the idea that someone on the other end of the line is just dishing me my horoscope read from a book. But there's one I found which really blew my mind. It's called psychicguild.com. I'm thinking big time blow-your-mind here. I had my husband check the site out too and talk with one of the resident psychics, and he was amazed. And my husband doesn't impress easily, mind you.
I'd like to say more about that first try at psychicguild.com, but I'd already be revealing too much. All I can say is that suspend your disbelief for a while, and give it a try. Trust me, it's worth it, and it sure beats the heck out of reading horoscopes from the dailies.
www.dhyansanjivani.org

http://www.psychicguild.com "

Money tantra mantra yantra

As I went over in my e-book, The Secrets Of Manifesting Your Reality, mantras are a powerful way to generate the focus and energy necessary to create something in your life. Today I would like to share with you a mantra that I have used to generate money for myself.
Mantras should be short and sweet - one word or a simple phrase. This is a generic mantra to increase the flow of money into your life. You may repeat this in your mind when you are doing mundane tasks such as driving or cleaning, or speak it aloud for even stronger effect (as also detailed in my e-book).
Remember that self-created mantras are more powerful, so feel free to deviate or alter this in any way that pleases you. What I use is this:
Money flows easily and effortlessly to me.
When I speak this, it seems to flow from the end right back into the beginning. A self-perpetuating mantra is ideal, because you can think or speak it for awhile, and then set it on auto-pilot. Focus conscious energy on it for awhile, and then set it as a background. This engages both your conscious and unconscious mind, and has powerful effects.
As I speak that, if I feel the urge to change it, I do. If I am alone in the car, I may feel the need to get louder, or softer, or accent certain words. I may begin to speak a circular stream that all rotates around the central mantra. For example:
Money flows easily and effortlessly to me. Large sums of money flow to me with ease. Now, money is flowing to me, even as I speak. Money flows to me easily. More money flows in than ever flows out. I have more than I need, and I give when I want to. I have freedom of time and energy to do the things I want because money flows to me easily and effortlessly. Now, money is flowing to me even as I speak.
And then round back into the first. This is all improvised, as I feel it flowing through me. If you feel an urge to improvise, do!
It is a good idea to mix static mantras with dynamic ones. The static mantras lock the logical mind (left-brain) into place and focus your mind and energy on your goal, generating a large amount of energy around it. This sets your goal into your subconscious mind, which is the same as planting seeds in a garden. The more you ingrain your mantra, the greater its effect will be. A dynamic mantra, as in my second example, engages your creative mind (right-brain) and may stir your emotion as you really get into it. The emotion in effect lends exponentially greater power to your mantra, and causes your goal or creation to manifest more quickly.
As always, you must be patient as you first begin these types of magick. As with spells and rituals, assume patience and assuredness that your efforts will yield your desired results. The beauty of a mantra, more so than a spell or ritual, is that you can do them anytime, anywhere, as often as you think to. Spells and rituals require a little more investment of time and energy, but mantras can be used for magick during parts of your daily life when you don't have time for visualization or rituals. You can do mantras at home, in the bath, in the yard, in the car, while eating dinner, at work, in meetings, while waiting in line... Just about anywhere that you have the freedom of thought.
Happy Creationating!

jonpeeoh

Karma and Past Lives

Karma and Past Lives An area shrouded in mystery, and forgetfulness, sprinkled with just enough Déjà vu moments to make us wonder if there is more to "it" than this ONE life, we think we have. Anyone who has had a Near Death Experience (NDE) clearly knows there is an awesome Spiritual Realm where souls reside, very much "alive" and on the move as in a bustling City; In the higher realms there is no misery or human "weighty ness"; in the lower realms it is much like here on Earth, stress, unhappiness, pain and fear with a bit of confusion reigning, at the predicament the soul finds itself in and what to do about it. There is even greater confusion if the person was certain that at his or her death it was going to be "all over". Please read Betty Eady, "Embraced by the Light". Family, Cultural and Societal beliefs condition us to think a certain way but that can be a slippery slope in hindering our growth and sometimes our spirituality since we can become afraid to open the envelope a bit and look inside at different viewpoints or other beliefs. Most of the main religions and philosophies embrace the immortal life of the soul and the fact that Life's greatest lesson we are to learn is Love. Most agree that we should adhere to the "Golden Rule", "Treat others as you want to be treated" and you will make timely deposits in your Spiritual Bank Account. That account determines the Spiritual Realm you will enter when your Earth Walk is finished. There are those among us who haven't learned to follow the Light during their life, or how to "pray without ceasing" which can be as simple as "Thank you for a beautiful day", or declaring "Divine Order" many times a day. Fear and pain are blocks to love and light and can lead to depression or unhappiness and sometimes a health breakdown. We all have the inner strength to overcome even when we do not feel strong. Declaring Divine Order opens one to love, light and strength of spirit. Divine Order has no room for chaos and stress, even when they do their best to take hold. A deep breath and a quick Divine Order can instantly ground you; the more deep breaths and the more you can declare Divine Order in sequence, the calmer you will feel. Some of us are born to get a lesson, some of us sign up to come as a Teacher, but soon figure out that we teach and learn from each other. Certain lessons poise a challenge for the entire family or extended circle of loved ones and friends or even entire generations of people. Astrology can tell quite a bit about Karma and Past Lives, especially the Outer Planets, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. As I reader I believe that we "forget" past lives so that we cannot fall into a trap of fretting so much over what we did or didn't do that we cannot accomplish what we came to do, came to be, or came to learn in order to evolve to the Higher Spiritual Realms. I do think Karmic studies should not be shunned but welcomed as a tool and a piece of the puzzle that is the Wheel of Life and Death. Keeping an open mind allows one to go within, seek the truth for one's self and walk this Earth Walk in joy, peace and love instead of racing on to the next thing or person who comes along, never quite finding or noticing, peace, joy or love. ©09/05/2006 Blessings of light,
Lite/ Patricia Hickman author of Common Sense For the Soul available through www.astrongwoman.org

Sign that you may be pregnant

Some women are sure they are pregnant from the moment of conception. For others, it may take five positive pregnancy tests, as well as a host of symptoms, until they are really sure.
If you're thinking you just may be pregnant, we hope our list of the most common signs of pregnancy will help you find the answer you are hoping for!
Remember, all women are different so you may not experience all (or any) of these 10 common signs of pregnancy:
1. Tender breasts/nipples: If
you are pregnant you will notice that your breasts and nipples become tender around three weeks after conception (when your period is about one week late). They may also feel swollen -- similar to the way they feel when you expect your period.
2. Slight spotting or cramping: If you are pregnant, light pink spotting can occur at the time of implantation -- when the embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus. This happens around eight to ten days following ovulation, a bit earlier than your menstrual period is due. You can usually differentiate implantation bleeding from your menstrual period if it occurs a bit earlier than expected, if it is scanty, spotty, pinkish (and not red and heavy like a period), and does not follow the normal pattern of a period (light, progressing to heavy and then again to light). Cramping can also be common in early pregnancy. Until the uterus assumes its mid-position and becomes better supported by the bony pelvis in the second trimester, it is prone to menstrual-like cramping. Contractions of the uterus occur regularly, increasing with exercise, orgasm and even simple changes in position.
3. Darkening areolas: In very early pregnancy -- around the time of your expected period -- you may notice that your areola (the darker area that rings the nipple) begin to darken and increase in diameter. It is believed that the darker color of the areola helps the newborn to find the nipple for breastfeeding. You may also notice that the veins in your breasts become more visible and that Montgomery's tubercles, the tiny "bumps" that are scattered around the areola, enlarge and may increase in number, averaging between 4 and 28 per areola.
4. Extreme fatigue: If you are pregnant, a very common symptom in the first eight to ten weeks is exhaustion. When you are pregnant, your body is going through significant metabolic changes. Your entire body needs to adjust to the new process of growing a baby. For most women, the fatigue starts to go away by the 12th week of pregnancy.
5. Nausea and vomiting: If you are pregnant you may find quite early on -- as early as a week after conception -- that you are experiencing morning sickness. And you may also find that morning sickness is a misnomer. Nausea can occur anytime -- day or night.
6. Frequent urination: By the time your period is one to two weeks late you may find that you are peeing more frequently than usual. This is because the baby growing in your uterus is putting pressure on your bladder.
7. Constipation: You may notice a change in your bowels in early pregnancy. The extra hormones produced during pregnancy cause the intestines to relax and become less efficient.
8. Raised basal body temperature: You may very well be pregnant if your basal body temperature remains elevated even past the time your period is due and does not decline to preovulatory levels. When you conceive, the egg is fertilized in the fallopian tube, after which it takes about a week to travel to the uterus, where it will implant. It is at this time that your body is finally able to detect that you are pregnant. When hCG is released, women often experience a third temperature rise, not as dramatic as the first, but can usually be seen anywhere from about a week to 12 days after the first temperature rise at ovulation.
9. Missed period: This may be your first sign of pregnancy, especially if you're normally quite regular. Combined with other positive signs you may be sure you're pregnant, even before the test stick turns blue.
10. A positive pregnancy test: If your period is at least a day late, and you're ready to know the truth, you may want to take a home pregnancy test. A urine pregnancy test can be accurate as early as 10 to 14 days after fertilization. If you can't wait until a missed period, a blood pregnancy test can be accurate as early as 8 to 10 days after fertilization. Keep in mind that pregnancy tests are not 100 percent foolproof -- not even blood tests. If you have a negative result and still feel pregnant, be sure to retest a week later -- and check in with your care provider.

Are you pregnant? know for sure

Delayed period
Q-I am a week late with my period, but a pregnancy test two days ago was negative. My menstrual cycle is usually like clockwork. (I did recently stop taking the Pill.) If I don't start in another week, should I see my doctor or take another test? Do you think I'm pregnant?
A-Women who are very regular cyclers and who are having unprotected intercourse on a regular basis and then are suddenly one week late for a period, in my experience, are pregnant more times than not.
You, however, are just off oral contraceptives, which may cloud this prediction. Even though you had a normal menses after going off the pill, the pituitary -- hypothalmus -- ovarian cycle may still be under some subtle effects of the birth control pills.
I usually recommend a week's wait before the next test. If your test was a home pregnancy test, you may want to visit your care provider for another one -- perhaps a blood pregnancy test, which tends to be sensitive to a smaller amount of hCG.
I hope it turns out the way you want it to.

Safe travel during pregnancy

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the safest time for pregnancy travel is during the second trimester (18 through 24 weeks) when you are usually feeling your best and are in the least danger of experiencing a miscarriage or premature labor. It's generally advised that women in their third trimester should stay within 300 miles of home because of concerns about access to medical care in case of problems such as hypertension, phlebitis or false premature labor. When making the decision to travel, it's important to consider the potential problems associated
with international travel, as well as the quality of medical care available at your destination and during transit. It's a good idea to consult with your health care provider before making any travel plans. Typical problems that you might encounter are the same as those experienced by many pregnant women: fatigue, heartburn, indigestion, constipation, vaginal discharge, leg cramps, increased frequency of urination and hemorrhoids.

8 symptoms that need immediate medical attention

1 Bleeding

2 Abdominal pain or cramping

3 Passing of clots or tissue

4 Contractions

5 Ruptured membranes

6 Excessive swelling of your legs

7 Headaches

8 Visual problems

Sign and symptoms of twin pregnancy

If you're wondering whether or not you're carrying twins (or more!), you're not alone. With the incidence of twins increasing dramatically over the past two decades, many expecting moms wonder if two babies might be on the way. Find out the common signs and symptoms of twin pregnancy and then learn more from "been there, done that" moms on the Pregnant with Multiples message board.Trying to Conceive: Are You Ahead of the Game?Age matters. One reason for the increased incidence of multiple births in the United States is the trend toward delaying pregnancy. The
incidence of twins increases for women over the age of 35 and even more if you are over 50. To put it in perspective, your chance of giving birth to twins if you are under 25 years of age is less than half of what it would be after the age of 35.The odds of twins increase with the use of assisted reproductive technology. Both ovulation-inducing drugs (infertility treatment) and in-vitro fertilization increase the odds of having twins. Between 1973 and 1990, twin births increased at twice the rate of singletons, and triplet and higher order births increased at seven times the rate of singletons. (Obstetrics and Gynecology 1994; 84:101-6)Twins may run in your family. Even before diagnosis of pregnancy, you may suspect that you are at an increased risk of conceiving twins. Fraternal (dizygotic) twins may run in the family, and, contrary to popular belief, they do not necessarily skip a generation. If your mother or grandmother had twins, you may be carrying a gene that causes you to release more than one egg at a time, making it more likely that you will have twins.9 Signs You May Be Pregnant with Twins1. You just feel you're carrying more than one baby. Don't disregard intuition or dreams. Some mothers of twins (or higher order multiples) say that they knew right from the start that they were carrying more than one baby.2. You experience more nausea and/or morning sickness. If you are having more than one baby, you may also have an elevated hCG level. Higher levels of hCG also make it more likely that you will have bouts of morning (or all-day) sickness. 3. Other normal pregnancy symptoms may be exaggerated. Many women -- but not all -- who are pregnant with twins have more intense pregnancy symptoms, likely due to the extra hormones circulating through their system. You may find that your breasts are very tender, you have to urinate frequently, you are hungry all the time and you are very tired. In the second trimester, you may experience difficulty catching your breath, swelling (edema) of the hands and legs, an unusual rate of weight gain and abdominal enlargement and excessive fetal movement. Anemia or low iron (decreased hemoglobin) is also common with twin and multiple pregnancies.4. You gain weight rapidly in your first trimester. A higher than average weight gain in the first trimester may be your first clue that you're carrying more than one baby. If you're eating well, don't be concerned: A study in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology stressed the importance of early weight gain for twin pregnancies, since weight gain in the first two trimesters was found to have the greatest impact on birth weight. (American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1998;179:1155-1161)5. You measure large for gestational age. At your first exam you may be told that your uterus is "large for dates." If your last menstrual period indicates an eight-week gestation, your uterus may feel more like 10 to 12 weeks. This may prompt your care provider to request an ultrasound. As your pregnancy progresses, if you are carrying more than one baby, your fundal height (uterine measurement) will consistently measure large for gestational age. A term uterus, with one baby, may reach 38 to 40 centimeters in height, measured from the pubic bone, while a term twin pregnancy may exceed 48 centimeters.6. You are told that you have elevated levels of AFP. Levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), a protein released by the baby as it grows and found in the mother's blood, can be elevated when there is more than one baby. (It can also be elevated for other reasons, such as neural tube defects.) Normally this simple blood test is given 16 to 18 weeks after your last menstrual period. Alpha fetoprotein testing detects over half of all twin pregnancies.7. You are told you have rapidly rising hCG levels. Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the fertilized egg and by the chorionic villi. It is needed to maintain the pregnancy until the placenta develops. It can be detected in your blood or urine even before you miss a period. Normally in a singleton pregnancy, blood (serum) concentrations of hCG rise rapidly during the first weeks, doubling every two to three days. Levels of hCG can be even higher with twin or multiple pregnancies. 8. Your provider hears two fetal heartbeats. Two separate heartbeats can be distinguishable with a Doppler in your care provider's office by around 12 weeks. At around 28 weeks, it may be possible to differentiate two fetal heads and multiple small parts when doing an abdominal exam.9. You have a positive ultrasound. If you believe you are indeed pregnant with twins, an ultrasound can be performed quite early in pregnancy. With a skilled ultra sonographer, two gestational sacs, two embryos and two distinct fetal heartbeats can be seen six weeks after the first day of the last menstrual period. Many twins have been diagnosed as early as five weeks -- when you're just one week late for your menstrual period.

Boy or girl? ways to guess your baby's sex

What could be more fun than trying to guess the sex of your baby-to-be? Everyone wants to get in the game. Don't be surprised if someone you've never met stops you at the grocery store, offering a prediction of your baby's gender. For hundreds of years, expecting moms have relied on time-tested methods of guessing their baby's sex. Even though these old wives' tales are far from foolproof, they are certainly more fun than their more reliable successors, amniocentesis and ultrasound. Enjoy guessing your baby's sex!
It's a boy if:
You didn't experience morning sickness in early pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is less than 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the extra weight out front
Your belly looks like a basketball
Your areola have darkened considerably
You are carrying low
You are craving salty or sour foods
You are craving protein -- meats and cheese
Your feet are colder than they were before pregnancy
The hair on your legs has grown faster during pregnancy
Your hands are very dry
Your pillow faces north when you sleep
Dad-to-be is gaining weight, right along with you
Pregnancy has you looking better than ever
Your urine is a bright yellow in color
Your nose is spreading
You hang your wedding ring over your belly, it moves in circles
You are having headaches
You add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived the number is even

It's a girl if:
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy
Your baby's heart rate is at least 140 beats per minute
You are carrying the weight in your hips and rear
Your left breast is larger than your right breast
Your hair gets red highlights
You are carrying high
Your belly looks like a watermelon
You are craving sweets
You are craving fruit
You crave orange juice
You don't look quite as good as normal during pregnancy
You are moodier than usual during pregnancy
Your face breaks out more than usual
You refuse to eat the heel of a loaf of bread
Your breasts have really blossomed!
Your pillow faces south when you sleep
Your urine is a dull yellow in color
If you hang your wedding ring over your belly, it moves from side to side
If you add your age at the time of conception and the number for the month you conceived the number is odd

Sports medicine

Sports medicine is a field that provides health care for physically active people. Its main purpose is to minimize the risk of injury and to treat effectively injuries that do occur. Sports medicine draws on the knowledge of many specialists, including doctors, athletic trainers, physiologists, and physical educators. These experts aid in determining the kind of training needed to help athletes perform to their highest capabilities without injury. They also evaluate coaching methods, the enforcement of regulations to prevent injuries, and the design and use of athletic equipment and facilities. Many organized athletic teams have an arrangement with a doctor who, as a special service, functions as the team doctor. The team doctor arranges for preseason physical examinations and medical attention for the members of the team during the season. On many teams, an athletic trainer provides first aid and emergency care. The team doctor and athletic trainer work together to provide a rehabilitation programme following an injury so the athlete may return to play as quickly as possible. Sports medicine has led to improved diagnosis and treatment of common problems, such as knee injuries and muscle strains, that affect the general public as well as athletes.

The Major Benefit Of Night Fishing

Number One Benefit to Night Fishing
I think the best thing about night fishing is that the conditions are generally the same as day fishing, but the results are much better.
Of course one reason that you will get better results is that the nighttime is the perfect opportunity to use the Evening Secret. This technology is based on science and will bring fish to your spot in swarms. (http://www.eveningsecretfishing.com/specialsecret/benefit.php)
If you find a good spot where the fish are really hitting during the day, you can go to that same spot at night and get even better results!
The fish seem to hit harder at night as well, so it is almost easier to hook them at night than it is during the day, even though it is harder to see the line.
Places where you get a few nibbles during the day will often lead to many catches at night in the same spot.
Night fishing can make a bad daytime fisherman look good.
I always like to keep track of the lures that work at certain fishing spots during the day, and then try the exact same thing at night. Try it next time you are out. You'll be amazed at the difference a simple variable (time of day) has on your results.
Here is a simple way to keep track.
One a piece of paper, write four column headings:
Place Lure Used Number Catches Size of Fish
----- --------- -------------- ------------
Then, write down your results from your day time fishing below the columns on your paper.
After you try a few difference spots with a few different lures, do the exact same thing you did during the day at night this time.
by-http://www.eveningsecretfishing.com

Boxing in Britain and Ireland

Boxing, both amateur and professional, is a popular sport in Britain and Ireland, though it declined in popularity during the 1970's and 1980's, when some amateurs turned to judo or karate instead. There are more than 20,000 amateur boxers in Britain and Ireland, and more than 700 professionals. Boxing in Britain has two controlling authorities--the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) for amateur boxers and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) for professional boxers. Amateur boxing. There are more than 1,000 amateur boxing clubs in Britain and Ireland. They provide instruction and training facilities for young boxers. The ABA, which was founded in 1880, organizes national and international amateur boxing matches. The Irish Amateur Boxing Association operates in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. Professional boxing. Many amateur boxers become professionals. The supreme authority in professional boxing is the BBBC, founded in 1929. For purposes of administration, it has divided Britain into eight areas, each of which has a council. The area councils can make recommendations to the central authority. There is no professional boxing in the Republic of Ireland. A professional boxer must have a licence to box. When he applies or reapplies for an annual licence, he is given a strict medical examination. When a boxer is knocked out, he is suspended for 28 days for his health. The Lonsdale Belt is awarded to every winner of a British boxing title. The belt becomes his property if he successfully defends his title twice. "Bombardier" Billy Wells successfully defended his British heavyweight title 14 times. Famous British world champions include John Conteh (light heavyweight), Bob Fitzsimmons (heavyweight), Lloyd Honeyghan (welterweight), Freddie Mills (light heavyweight), and Randolph Turpin (middleweight). The Irish boxer Barry McGuigan was world featherweight champion from 1985 to 1986.

Car racing - Safety measures

Motor racing is a highly dangerous sport, but many steps have been taken over the years to make it as safe as possible for both spectators and drivers. Strong guardrails and heavy fencing protect spectators from cars that have gone out of control. A driver's most important piece of safety gear is a racing helmet. Such a helmet has a hard outer shell made of fibreglass or carbon fibre and a foam-cushioned lining. Drivers also wear flame-resistant clothing from head to toe, including a special face mask, as there is a high risk of fire when a car crashes. Lap and shoulder belts are standard safety equipment on racing cars. Every car also has a built-in structure to help protect a driver's upper body if the car rolls over. A racing car with an open cockpit--that is, without a roof--has a roll bar, a dome-shaped metal bar that arches over the driver's head. A car with a roof has a roll cage, a structure of steel tubes that prevents the roof of an overturned car from collapsing. A racing car carries fuel in a leak-resistant fuel cell within a metal or plastic fuel tank. A fuel cell consists of a strong, rubberlike bladder filled with a spongy material. The "cells" of the spongy material absorb the fuel and help keep it from spraying in case of a crash. A fuel cell also prevents fuel from sloshing around in the tank during a race, as this would make the car harder to control. Many race tracks have medical facilities to provide emergency treatment to injured drivers in the event of a crash. In some cases, helicopters rush injured drivers to nearby hospitals.

History of Judo

Judo developed from jujutsu, an ancient form of self-defence practised by the Japanese warrior class called samurai. Jujutsu included such techniques as choking, kicking, and twisting an opponent's arm. Many of these methods were dangerous as they could cripple or kill. In 1882, a Japanese educator named Jigoro Kano transformed jujutsu from a method of combat into a sport he called judo. He adopted jujutsu's best techniques and eliminated the rough, dangerous ones. Kano organized the techniques into an orderly system and also established strict rules of etiquette. He considered judo a form of mental discipline as well as a sport and method of self-defence. Kano emphasized two slogans: "Maximum Efficiency with Minimum Effort" and "Mutual Welfare and Benefit." Judo grew in popularity and, in the early 1900's, became a required subject in Japanese schools. Kano also demonstrated the sport in other countries. After World War II ended in 1945, judo began its greatest period of growth outside Japan. Judo gained world recognition as a major sport in 1964, when it became part of the Olympic Games.

Gaelic football

Gaelic football (called peil in Irish) is played on a grass pitch. The pitch's dimensions may vary from a minimum area of 127 metres by 76 metres to a maximum area of 145 metres by 91 metres. The two opposing teams each have 15 players, consisting of a goalkeeper, six defenders, two centre fielders, and six forwards. The goalposts, similar to those used in rugby, stand 6.4 metres apart and have crossbars. The ball used resembles a soccer ball. A player may kick it, punch it, or handpass it (hold it with one hand and hit it with the other). He may catch the ball, but he can take only four steps before playing it (passing or kicking it to a colleague or attempting to score). A player scores one point if the ball passes between the posts and over the crossbar. A goal (worth three points) results if the player gets the ball under the crossbar. The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to pick the ball up directly from the ground. All other players raise the ball with the combined use of their hands and feet. Gaelic football is a fast game played, at championship level, over 80 minutes (two halves of 35 minutes with a 10-minute interval). Play is continuous, with no stoppages for injuries. The outstanding features of the game are fielding (high catching), solo runs, and spectacular scores. The premier competitions are between counties. A county team is selected from the best club players within each county. The All-Ireland Championship, the major competition, is played during the summer months with the final on the third Sunday in September. The final is played at Croke Park, Dublin, the Gaelic Athletic Association's headquarters. The National League is played from October to April. There is also an inter-provincial competition. The club teams play their own championships within the counties. Most parishes have adult club teams and a range of juvenile teams.