Conspiracy theories surrounding the global HIV/AIDS epidemic have cost thousands of lives. But science is fighting back.

By Nicoli Nattrass | 

Columbia University Press, March 2012

There is a substantial body of evidence showing that HIV causes AIDS—and that antiretroviral treatment (ART) has turned the viral infection from a death sentence into a chronic disease.¹ Yet a small group of AIDS denialists keeps alive the conspiratorial argument that ART is harmful and that HIV science has been corrupted by commercial interests. Unfortunately, AIDS denialists have had a disproportionate effect on efforts to stem the AIDS epidemic. In 2000, South African President Thabo Mbeki took these claims seriously, opting to debate the issue, thus delaying the introduction of ART into the South African public health sector. At least 330,000 South Africans died unnecessarily as a result.^2,3
The “hero scientist” of AIDS denialism, University of California, Berkeley, virologist Peter Duesberg, argues that HIV is a harmless passenger virus and that ART is toxic, even a cause of AIDS. He has done no clinical research on HIV and ignores the many rebuttals of his claims in the scientific literature.^4,5 As I describe in my new book, The AIDS Conspiracy: Science Fights Back, this has prompted further direct action against Duesberg by the pro-science community.
In 1993, John Maddox, then editor of Nature, complained that Duesberg was “wrongly using tendentious arguments to confuse understanding of AIDS,” and that because he was not engaging as a scientist, he would no longer be granted an automatic “right of reply.” More recently, in 2009, AIDS activists and HIV scientists, including Nobel Laureate Françoise Barré-Sinoussi, complained to Elsevier, the publisher of Medical Hypotheses, when that journal published a paper by Duesberg defending Mbeki and denying the existence of the African AIDS epidemic. Medical Hypotheses had a policy against peer review, so Elsevier asked the Lancet to oversee a peer review of the paper. When the panel of reviewers unanimously recommended rejection, Elsevier permanently withdrew it and forced Medical Hypotheses to introduce peer review. Last December Duesberg published a reworked version in an Italian journal,⁶ sparking further controversy and protests from the journal’s editorial board, one of whom has already resigned.
Efforts by scientists to defend science are supplemented by pro-science activists operating on the Internet. Physician, author, and blogger Ben Goldacre argued in his Guardian column Bad Science that a “ragged band of bloggers from all walks of life” has been very successful at exposing pseudoscientific claims and fraudulent alternative practitioners selling quack cures. The Internet now poses a double-edged sword for AIDS denialists. It is becoming a tougher place for people to sequester themselves in a comfortable cocoon of the like-minded. While the web allows denialists to advertise their ideas and build networks, it also exposes potential converts to scientific rebuttals of their claims, as well news about the deaths of the “living icons”—high-profile HIV-positive people who rejected ART.
The key living icon for AIDS denialism was Christine Maggiore. She founded Alive & Well AIDS Alternatives (an organization with Duesberg on its board), campaigned against the use of ART to prevent mothers passing HIV to their babies, and met President Mbeki. Despite her 3-year-old daughter’s succumbing to AIDS, Maggiore remained staunchly opposed to HIV science and ART. She opted for alternative therapies and died at the age of 52, from AIDS-related infections.
Scientists often have a tough time responding to antiscience conspiracy theories because their integrity is impugned by the conspiratorial moves made against them. But precisely because living icons like Maggiore lent credence to AIDS denialism by appearing to offer “living proof” that the science of HIV pathogenesis and treatment is wrong, pro-science activists maintain a list of denialists who have died of AIDS. The weapons of science and reason are still very much in contention, but the gloves have come off in a broader struggle over credibility.

Nicoli Nattrass is director of the AIDS and Society Research Unit at the University of Cape Town and visiting professor at Yale University. Her research on the economics and politics of antiretroviral treatment helped change South African AIDS policy. Read an excerpt of The AIDS Conspiracy.

References

1. PA Volberding and SG Deeks, “Antiretroviral therapy and management of HIV infection,” Lancet, 376: 49-62, 2010
2. P Chigwedere, et. al., “Estimating the lost benefits of antiretroviral drug use in South Africa,” JAIDS, 49:410-15, 2008
3. N Nattrass, “AIDS and the scientific governance of medicine in post-apartheid South Africa,” Afr Affairs, 427:157-76, 2008
4. P Chigwedere and M. Essex, “AIDS denialism and public health practice,” AIDS Behav, 14:237-47, 2010
5. N Nattrass, “Defending the boundaries of science: AIDS denialism, peer review and the Medical Hypotheses saga,” Soc Health Ill, 33:507-21, 2011
6. PH. Duesberg, et. al., “AIDS since 1984: No evidence for a new, viral epidemic–not even in Africa,” Ital J Anat Embryol, 116:73–92, 2011

Source: TheScientist
http://the-scientist.com/2012/03/01/the-specter-of-denialism/

 

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Robert Karl Stonjek

Tomb exploration reveals first archaeological evidence of Christianity from the time of Jesus

The archaeological examination by robotic camera of an intact first century tomb in Jerusalem has revealed a set of limestone Jewish ossuaries or "bone boxes" that are engraved with a rare Greek inscription and a unique iconographic image that the scholars involved identify as distinctly Christian.
The four-line Greek inscription on one ossuary refers to God "raising up" someone and a carved image found on an adjacent ossuary shows what appears to be a large fish with a human stick figure in its mouth, interpreted by the excavation team to be an image evoking the biblical story of Jonah.
In the earliest gospel materials the "sign of Jonah," as mentioned by Jesus, has been interpreted as a symbol of his resurrection. Jonah images in later "early" Christian art, such as images found in the Roman catacombs, are the most common motif found on tombs as a symbol of Christian resurrection hope. In contrast, the story of Jonah is not depicted in any first century Jewish art and iconographic images on ossuaries are extremely rare, given the prohibition within Judaism of making images of people or animals.
The tomb in question is dated prior to 70 CE, when ossuary use in Jerusalem ceased due to the Roman destruction of the city. Accordingly, if the markings are Christian as the scholars involved believe, the engravings represent � by several centuries - the earliest archaeological record of Christians ever found. The engravings were most likely made by some of Jesus' earliest followers, within decades of his death. Together, the inscription and the Jonah image testify to early Christian faith in resurrection. The tomb record thus predates the writing of the gospels.
The findings will be detailed in a preliminary report by James D. Tabor, professor and chair of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, to be published online in bibleinterp.com on February 28, 2012.
"If anyone had claimed to find either a statement about resurrection or a Jonah image in a Jewish tomb of this period I would have said impossible -- until now," Tabor said. "Our team was in a kind of ecstatic disbelief, but the evidence was clearly before our eyes, causing us to revise our prior assumptions."
The publication of the academic article is concurrent with the publication of a book by Simon & Schuster entitled "The Jesus Discovery: The New Archaeological Find That Reveals the Birth of Christianity." The book is co-authored by Professor James Tabor and filmmaker/professor Simcha Jacobovici. A documentary on the discovery will be aired by the Discovery Channel in spring 2012.
The findings and their interpretation are likely to be controversial, since most scholars are skeptical of any Christian archaeological remains from so early a period. Adding to the controversy is the tomb's close proximity to a second tomb, discovered in 1980. This tomb, dubbed by some "The Jesus Family Tomb," contained inscribed ossuaries that some scholars associate with Jesus and his family, including one that reads "Jesus, son of Joseph."
"Context is everything in archaeology," Tabor pointed out. "These two tombs, less than 200 feet apart, were part of an ancient estate, likely related to a rich family of the time. We chose to investigate this tomb because of its proximity to the so-called 'Jesus tomb,' not knowing if it would yield anything unusual."
The tomb containing the new discoveries is a modest sized, carefully carved rock cut cave tomb typical of Jerusalem in the period from 20 BCE until 70 CE.
The tomb was exposed in 1981 by builders and is currently several meters under the basement level of a modern condominium building in East Talpiot, a neighborhood of Jerusalem less than two miles south of the Old City. Archaeologists entered the tomb at the time, were able to briefly examine it and its ossuaries, take preliminary photographs, and remove one pot and an ossuary, before they were forced to leave by Orthodox religious groups who oppose excavation of Jewish tombs.
The ossuary taken, that of a child, is now in the Israel State Collection. It is decorated but has no inscriptions. The archaeologists mention "two Greek names" but did not notice either the newly discovered Greek inscription or the Jonah image before they were forced to leave. The tomb was re-sealed and buried beneath the condominium complex on what is now Don Gruner Street in East Talpiot.
The adjacent "Jesus tomb," was uncovered by the same construction company in 1980, just one year earlier. It was thoroughly excavated and its contents removed by the Israel Antiquities Authority. This tomb's controversial ossuaries with their unusual cluster of names (that some have associated with Jesus and his family) are now part of the Israel State Collection and have been on display in various venues, including the Israel Museum. These ossuaries will be in an exhibit running from late February through April 15 at Discovery Times Square.
In 2009 and 2010, Tabor and Rami Arav, professor of archaeology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, working together with Jacobovici, obtained a license to excavate the current tomb from the Israel Antiquities Authority under the academic sponsorship of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Because of its physical location under a modern building (making direct access nearly impossible), along with the threat of Orthodox Jewish groups that would protest any such excavation, Tabor's team determined to employ a minimally invasive procedure in examining the tomb.
Funding for the excavation was provided by the Discovery Channel/Vision Television/Associated Producers. Jacobovici's team at the Toronto based Associated Producers developed a sophisticated robotic arm to carry high definition cameras, donated by General Electric. The robotic arm and a second "snake camera" were inserted through two drill holes in the basement floor of the building above the tomb. The probe was successful and the team was able to reach all the ossuaries and photograph them on all sides, thus revealing the new inscriptions.
Beyond the possible Christian connection, Tabor noted that the tomb's assemblage of ossuaries stands out as clearly extraordinary in the context of other previously explored tombs in Jerusalem.
"Everything in this tomb seems unusual when contrasted with what one normally finds inscribed on ossuaries in Jewish tombs of this period," Tabor said. "Of the seven ossuaries remaining in the tomb, four of them have unusual features."
There are engravings on five of the seven ossuaries: an enigmatic symbol on ossuary 2 (possibly reading Yod Heh Vav Heh or "Yahweh" in stylized letters that can be read as Greek or Hebrew, though the team is uncertain); an inscription reading "MARA" in Greek letters (which Tabor translates as the feminine form of "lord" or "master" in Aramaic) on ossuary 3; an indecipherable word in Greek letters on ossuary 4 (possibly a name beginning with "JO�"); the remarkable four-line Greek inscription on ossuary 5; and finally, and most importantly, a series of images on ossuary 6, including the large image of a fish with a figure seeming to come out of its mouth.
Among the approximately 2000 ossuaries that have been recovered by the Israel Antiquities Authority, only 650 have any inscriptions on them, and none have inscriptions comparable to those on ossuaries 5 and 6.
Less than a dozen ossuaries from the period have epitaphs but, according to Tabor, these inscribed messages usually have to do with warnings not to disturb the bones of the dead. In contrast, the four-line Greek inscription contains some kind of statement of resurrection faith.
Tabor noted that the epitaph's complete and final translation is uncertain. The first three lines are clear, but the last line, consisting of three Greek letters, is less sure, yielding several possible translations: "O Divine Jehovah, raise up, raise up," or "The Divine Jehovah raises up to the Holy Place," or "The Divine Jehovah raises up from [the dead]."
"This inscription has something to do with resurrection of the dead, either of the deceased in the ossuary, or perhaps, given the Jonah image nearby, an expression of faith in Jesus' resurrection," Tabor said.
The ossuary with the image that Tabor and his team understand to be representing Jonah also has other interesting engravings. These also may be connected to resurrection, Tabor notes. On one side is the tail of a fish disappearing off the edge of the box, as if it is diving into the water. There are small fish images around its border on the front facing, and on the other side is the image of a cross-like gate or entrance梬hich Tabor interprets as the notion of entering the "bars" of death, which are mentioned in the Jonah story in the Bible.
"This Jonah ossuary is most fascinating," Tabor remarked. "It seems to represent a pictorial story with the fish diving under the water on one end, the bars or gates of death, the bones inside, and the image of the great fish spitting out a man representing, based on the words of Jesus, the 'sign of Jonah' � the 'sign' that he would escape the bonds of death."
Provided by University of North Carolina at Charlotte

"Tomb exploration reveals first archaeological evidence of Christianity from the time of Jesus." February 28th, 2012.http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-tomb-exploration-reveals-archaeological-evidence.html
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Robert Karl Stonjek

கடவுச்சொற்களுடன் கூடிய கோப்புகளை திறப்பதற்கு!!

இணையத்தில் இருந்து தரவிறக்கம் செய்யும் மென்பொருட்கள், புத்தகங்கள் என அனைத்திலும் எதிர்நோக்கும் பெரிய பிரச்சனை அக்கோப்புகள் கடவுச்சொல் இட்டு பூட்டப்பட்டிருப்பருப்பதாகும்.
இந்த கோப்புகள் RAR, ZIP போர்மட்டுகளில் இருக்கும். அக்கடவுச்சொல்லை அறிந்து கொள்வதற்கு, அந்த தளத்திற்குச் சென்று பல விண்ணப்பங்களை நிரப்ப வேண்டி ஏற்படலாம்.
இதற்கு தீர்வாக அமைவதுதான் RAR Password Recovery என்ற மென்பொருள். இவ் மென்பொருளின் மூலம் உள்ளே மறைத்து வைக்கப்பட்டிருக்கும் கடவுச்சொற்களை அறிந்து அக் கோப்புக்களை திறக்க முடியும்.
தரவிறக்க சுட்டி

ஜிமெயிலை உங்கள் கணணியின் வன்தட்டாக பயன்படுத்து​வதற்கு

இணைய உலகில் ஓன்லைன் தகவல் பரிமாற்றத்திற்கு  சிறந்த தொடர்பாடல் ஊடகமாக காணப்படும் ஜிமெயிலை உங்கள் கணணியின் வன்தட்டாக(hard disk) பயன்படுத்த முடியும். இதன் மூலம் உங்கள் கணணியின் தகவல் சேமிப்பதற்கான வசதியை மேலும் 25MB வரை அதிகரிக்க முடியும். இதற்காக வசதியை Gmail Drive என்ற இலவச மென்பொருள் ஒன்று தருகின்றது. இதனைப் பயன்படுத்தி அமைக்கப்படும் மெய்நிகர்(virtual) வன்தட்டில் drag-drop முறை மூலம் தகவல்களை சேமிக்க முடியும். இச்சேவையை பெறுவதற்கு இணைய இணைப்பு அவசியம் என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. மெய்நிகர் வன்தட்டை உருவாக்குவதற்கான படிமுறைகள்: 1. இந்த தளத்திற்கு சென்று http://www.filehippo.com/download_gmail_drive/Gmail Drive என்ற மென்பொருளை தரவிறக்கம் செய்து உங்கள் கணணியில் நிறுவிக்கொள்ளவும். 2. தற்போது உங்களது mycomputer பகுதியில் மேலதிகமாக ஒரு வன்தட்டின் உருவம் காணப்படும். அதில் Right click செய்து தோன்றும் மெனுவில் Login As என்பதனை தெரிவு செய்யவும். 3. அதன் பின் தோன்றும் வின்டோவில் உங்களுக்குரிய பயனர் பெயர், கடவுச்சொல் என்பவற்றை கொடுத்து உள்நுளையவும். 4. இப்போது குறித்த வன்தட்டை பயன்படுத்த முடியும். வன்தட்டை செயலிழக்க செய்வதற்கு அதன்மேல் Right click செய்து தோன்றும் மெனுவில் Log out என்பதை தெரிவு செய்யவும்.

புரோகிராமிங் கற்றுத்தரும் இணையம்

எப்படியாவது Computer Programming மொழிகளைக் கற்று பல்வேறு வகையான திட்டங்களுக்கென புரோகிராமிங் செய்திட வேண்டும் என்பதே பல இளைஞர்களின் கனவாக உள்ளது. வேலை வாய்ப்பு, அதிக சம்பளம், பதவி உயர்வு, வெளிநாட்டில் பணி எனப் பல ஈர்ப்புகள் இதன் அடிப்படையாய் உள்ளன. இவை தவிர புரோகிராமிங் செயல்பாடு தரும் சவாலும் ஒரு காரணம். பலர் இதில் மனநிறைவு பெறுவதற்காகவே புரோகிராமிங் பாடங்களைக் கற்றுக் கொள்ளத் திட்டமிடுகின்றனர். இவர்களுக்காக இணையத்தில் ஓர் இலவச தளம் இயங்குகிறது. இதன் பெயர் கோட் அகடமி(Code Academy). புரோகிராம் எழுதுவதனை கோடிங்(coding)எனக் கூறுவார்கள். எனவே அந்தப் பெயரிலேயே இந்த தளம் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதில் தரப்படும் பாட திட்டங்களுக்கென இதில் அக்கவுண்ட் திறக்கும் முன்னர், புரோகிராமிங் எப்படி இருக்கும் என நமக்கு மிக, மிக எளிதான முறையில் பயிற்சி முறையில் விளக்கப்படுகிறது. நம் பெயரை எழுதச் சொல்லி தொடங்கும் பாடம், அப்படியே கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாகநம்மை புரோகிராமிங் என்றால் இவ்வளவு எளிதானது என்று உணர வைக்கிறது. இது இலவசம். ஒரு மின்னஞ்சல் முகவரி, பேஸ்புக் தளத்தில் அதன் தொடர்பு என ஏதாவது ஒன்று இருந்தால் போதும். பதிந்த பின்னர் தான் பாடங்கள் விறுவிறுப்பாகக் கற்றுத்தரப் படுகின்றன. பாடங்களும் கற்றுத் தரும் முறையும் மிகவும் வியப்பாக உள்ளன. புரோகிராமிங் செய்திடும் பயிற்சியில் நமக்கு டிப்ஸ் தரப்பட்டு வழி காட்டப்படுகிறது. பாடங்களைக் கற்றுக் கொள்வதில் முன்னேற்றம் ஏற்படுகையில், நாம் பெறும் மதிப்பெண்கள், அதற்கான பதக்க அட்டைகள் காட்டப்படுவது, நம் கற்றுக் கொள்ளும் செயல்பாட்டினத் தூண்டுகிறது. ஆர்வம் இருந்தால் அனைவரும் புரோகிராமிங் கற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம். இணையதள முகவரி

40 வயதிலும் மிக அழகாக தோற்றமளிக்க

மிக அழகான, ஆரோக்கியமான மேனியை பெறுவதற்கு உடற்பயிற்சி செய்வது மிக அவசியம். ஒரு வாரத்திற்கு குறைந்தது மூன்று முதல் ஆறு மணி நேரமாவது கட்டாயம் உடற்பயிற்சி செய்ய வேண்டும். நடைப் பயிற்சியோ அல்லது ஓட்டப் பயிற்சியோ அல்லது வேறு பிற விளையாட்டோ இவை ஏதாவது ஒன்றின் மூலமாகவாவது கட்டாயம் உடற்பயிற்சியை செய்ய வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு செய்யும் உடற்பயிற்சி மூலம் உங்களை சுறுசுறுப்பாக வைத்திருப்பதோடு மட்டுமல்லாது, உங்களது தசை மற்றும் தாங்குதிறன் மேலும் பலப்படும். முகம் ஊடுதல் அழகுடனும் காணப்படும். இளம் வயதில் செய்யபடும் உடற்பயிற்சி மிகுந்த நன்மை பயக்கும். மிக முக்கியமாக 40 வயதுகளில் ஏற்படுகிற பல பிரச்சினைகளுக்கு மூல காரணமான மன அழுத்தம் குறையும் இதனால் மாரடைப்பு மற்றும் இருதய நோய் போன்ற பிரச்சினைகள் ஏற்படுவதற்கான சாத்தியம் குறையும். நீங்கள் எடுத்துக் கொள்ளும் உணவில் கட்டாயம் பல விட்டமின்கள் மற்றும் தாதுச்சத்துக்கள் அடங்கியிருக்க வேண்டும். கார்போஹைட்ரேட் மற்றும் புரதச்சத்து உணவுகள் எடுத்துக் கொள்வது வழக்கமானது தான் என்றாலும், போதுமான விட்டமின்களை எடுத்துக் கொள்ளாமல் போனால் ஆராக்கியத்திருந்து நீங்கள் வெகு தூரம் விலகிச் சென்றுவிடுவீர்கள். உடலின் பல்வேறு செயல்பாடுகளுக்கு இந்த விட்டமின்களும், தாதுக்களும் மிக முக்கியமானவை. 40 வயதை எட்டிவிட்டால் நோய்களும் கூடவே ஒட்டிக் கொண்டு வந்து விடும் பல உடல் உபாதைகள் எட்டிப் பார்க்க தொடங்கி விடும். ரத்த அழுத்தம், சர்ச்சரை நோய், உடல் பருமன், மூட்டு வலி என பல பிரச்சினைகளின் தொடக்கம் 40 வயதுதான். நீங்கள் காலையில் எழுந்ததும் வாக்கிங் செல்வதன் மூலம் உங்கள் கால்களை திடப்படுத்த முடியும், 40 வயதில் நோய் நொடியின்றி ஆரோக்கியமாக இருப்பது உங்களது 20 வயதுகளில் நீங்கள் என்ன மாதிரியான உணவுகளை சாப்பிட்டீர்களோ, எந்த மாதிரியான வாழ்க்கை முறையை பின்பற்றினீர்களோ எவ்வளவு உடற் பயிற்சி செய்தீர்களோ அதை பொறுத்துதான் அமைகிறது என்கின்றனர் ஆய்வாளர்கள். 40 வயதுகளில் ஆரோக்கியமாக இருக்க 20 வயதிலிருந்தாவது நடைப்பயிற்சி போன்றவற்றை கட்டாயம் தொடங்கிவிட வேண்டும் என்றும் நிபுணர்கள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

Respectable Boys

“Getting the permission of their mother and father, they came and touched the guru’s feet. They then put on yellow garments, tied a quiver around their waist, and held arrows and a bow in their hands.” (Janaki Mangala, 27)

pāi mātu pitu āyasu gurū pāyanha pare |
kaṭi niṣaṃga paṭa pīta karani sara dhanu dhare ||

“Mom, do I have to go? Dad, can’t I stay home? Why do I have to do this? You always make me do things I don’t want to do. I’d rather stay home and play. I don’t want to go to that place.” That parents would compel their children to do things they don’t want is not out of the ordinary. And that children would protest vehemently to doing chores and travelling to places to accept responsibility is also not uncommon. With one king in particular, however, his children were so well behaved that even when they were sent to escort an innocent sage and protect him from vile attacking creatures in the wilderness, they were respectful, honorable, and eager to the task. The description of the scene where they prepared for leaving is delightful to the heart, with each aspect infused with transcendental goodness.

Normally, if you hear about someone getting ready to go somewhere, the words of description aren’t necessary. If a fighter is preparing for a large conflict, what is the big deal about them putting on their clothes or preparing mentally? The real action occurs when the conflict starts. In the scene in Ayodhya many thousands of years ago, two youths were getting ready to leave home, and they wouldn’t face danger until later on. Nevertheless, the personalities in question were divine, beautiful sons of King Dasharatha. Any time the mind can remember those two youths there are countless benefits received. Every aspect of their behavior, including their dedication to one another, is remarkable.

Why were divine personalities roaming the earth as children? Why not wield tremendous power and show off your true ability? This way people could then know who you are and worship you properly. With the Supreme Lord, the more amazing His displays of affection, kindness, compassion, honor, chivalry, and dedication, the greater the chances that others will take up worship in earnest.

To use a simple example to see the principle in action, we see that many athletes and celebrities rise to the top of their profession. Yet the ones who struggled in the beginning, who defied the odds, are given more attention. If someone who is considered less likely to succeed ends up winning in the end, their victory is more appreciated; it garners more attention. The person struggling through poverty, overcoming family adversity, dealing with debilitating diseases and handicaps, and then eventually rising to the top of their profession serves as a role model for others. If they can do it, why can’t anyone else?

When the Supreme Divine Being appears on this earth, He rarely displays His awesome powers immediately. Instead, He shows that even in the tiniest of forms, which normally wouldn’t have success in difficult ventures, He can succeed and live up to His role as the ultimate protector of the surrendered souls. Why protect only the surrendered and not everyone else? If someone doesn’t want protection, how are they going to be protected? For instance, we may have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, but when the next fire arises, if we don’t use the extinguisher how can we be protected?

If the protection is not used, it cannot be blamed for anything bad that happens. With the Supreme Lord, His energy is everywhere. The energy belongs to Him, so it is an extension of His mercy. Yet depending on how the target living entities utilize that energy, there can be either benefits or harm. Under the spell of maya, or illusion, the external energy is utilized for personal gain, for trying to become the most successful enjoyer in the absence of God’s association.

From consulting Vedic wisdom it is revealed that the essence of identity is the spirit soul. One of the soul’s properties is blissfulness. In the constitutional state, the bliss arises from voluntary, unmotivated and uninterrupted service to the Supreme Lord. Accepting that constitutional position is difficult for one deluded by maya. The illusory energy of the material world belongs to God, but it is described as external because it can have different uses. If one wants to live in illusion, they can. For illusion to have a detrimental effect, the Lord’s internal potency cannot be used. Instead, maya turns into the temporary presiding deity, as she fosters lust, anger, greed and vice. Through her agents of wine, women, animal flesh and gambling she deludes the otherwise pure soul into searching after contaminated happiness.

For the Supreme Lord there is never a chance of association with maya. The energy belongs to Him, so when He appears on earth it acts under His direction to give the appearance of fallibility to others. The material energy provides no protection from calamity; that is why she is known as durga, or difficult to overcome. The spiritual energy is present within all of us, and it is a positive force. Yet unless we know how to utilize that energy, how to connect with it and take direction from it, maya remains the sole benefactor. You can think of maya as the horrible boss who makes you work like a dog and pays you very little. At the same time, your job is always threatened; never is there a moment of peace.

The Supreme Lord offers protection in different ways to those who sincerely desire it. In the most basic exercise, just thinking of the Lord’s personal form is protection enough, as the mental image creates peace within the consciousness. The ability to develop consciousness is unique to the human being; hence the species is considered superior by the Vedas, the original scriptural tradition of India. In no other form of body is there the chance for becoming fully Krishna conscious by the end of life.

In His original form God is known as Krishna because He is all-attractive. Attractiveness is coupled with a form, or spiritual manifestation. Sometimes this form is described as nirguna or avyakta, which can mean without qualities or unmanifested. The spiritual manifestation is unknown to us; it is a concept that cannot be conceived by the mind. For instance, if Krishna were to stand before us, He might appear to be a certain height. Yet there is no height limit for the Lord. He is both larger than the largest and smaller than the smallest. In this way He is not manifested. We are graced with His visible presence in the form of the avatara every now and then to get a slight idea of His features.

In the Treta Yuga, Krishna came as Lord Rama. The servitor God, the most dedicated servant of Krishna in His unmanifested, spiritual form is Baladeva, who is also known as Lord Ananta Shesha Naga. That divine personality appeared simultaneously with Rama as His younger brother Lakshmana. Dasharatha was their father, and the two boys had two other brothers. One time the venerable Vishvamitra Muni visited Ayodhya and asked to have Rama accompany him in the forest. It was not revealed to anyone that Rama was God. Rather, everyone just had a natural attraction to Him. The Lord was so pious that He could only be Dasharatha’s son. There was not a hint of sin in Him, and His three younger brothers looked up to Him like a father. Lakshmana was closest to Rama in affection, as he would always follow his elder brother around.

When Dasharatha finally allowed young Rama to go with Vishvamitra, Lakshmana was told to accompany them as well. The king was worried about his eldest son, for He was not even twelve years of age yet. There were many mature fighters that were part of the royal army, but Vishvamitra specifically told them to remain where they were. The enemy forces in the forests were a unique breed of man-eaters, capable of changing shapes at will. They were careful in their attacks, waiting until religious ceremonies were taking place. They were thus the vilest creatures who required an expert bow-warrior to be handled.

In the above referenced verse from the Janaki Mangala of Goswami Tulsidas, the actions of Rama and Lakshmana right before they left for the forest are presented. Many things would happen while protecting Vishvamitra, and indeed the main subject matter of the poem is the eventual marriage that would take place between Rama and the daughter of King Janaka, Sita Devi. Nevertheless, something as simple as Rama and Lakshmana’s preparation while leaving home is presented to give the mind something wonderful to think about. This mental image provides just as much protection as Rama and Lakshmana’s arrows did to Vishvamitra.

Why is this the case? We see that the two boys first got the permission of their parents and then touched the guru’s feet. Rama is God and Lakshmana is practically identical to Rama. They don’t need permission to do anything. With a simple exhalation, Lord Krishna’s form of Vishnu creates this and many other universes. To show just how much they loved their caretakers, Rama and Lakshmana set an example of ideal children. This behavior is more heartwarming coming from children because there is innocence. An adult showing respect in this way has the ability to discriminate, so perhaps they are following protocol to receive a benefit later on. Rama and Lakshmana innocently loved their parents and would do whatever they asked. They weren’t being sent off to camp or to a local playground either. They were to act as guardians for someone who was so exalted that the king himself took direction from him.

The boys did not hesitate in going. They showed respect to the people that deserved it. They next put on yellow clothes. Generally, Lord Rama wears a yellow robe and Lakshmana a blue one. When the brothers appear as Krishna and Balarama they follow the same tendency. The matching colors are also present with their appearance as Lord Chaitanya and NItyananda Prabhu. The brothers then tied their quivers around their waists. Again, they weren’t preparing for playing laser-tag or a day of innocent fun. Though youths at the time, they were getting ready to battle the world’s strongest fighters. Vishvamitra, as an expert teacher, would give them powerful mantras that could turn their arrows into weapons with the ability to create devastation like a nuclear weapon.

To complete the picture, they took bow-and-arrow sets in their hands. This wonderful scene of the two brothers readying for their journey with Vishvamitra cannot be contemplated enough. They say that a picture is worth a thousand words, and since Rama and Lakshmana are transcendental, just creating a mental picture through hearing has a similar, if not greater, effect. From this one scene we see how to properly respect our elders and spiritual guides. We see how dedicated to protecting the innocent the Supreme Lord is. We also see just how much Lakshmana loves Rama. Wherever the Lord goes, Lakshmana is right behind Him to act as protection. Rama doesn’t require this, but then Lakshmana doesn’t need anything except his brother’s association in life. As Akampana, a fierce Rakshasa fighter, would later point out, Rama is like a raging fire and Lakshmana a powerful wind that extends the reach of that fire.

“Rama’s younger brother, Lakshmana, has reddish eyes and a voice that resounds like a kettledrum. His strength matches that of Rama’s, and his face shines like a full moon. Just as wind gives aid to a raging fire, Lakshmana has joined forces with his brother. It is that best of kings, Shriman Rama, who has brought down the Rakshasas fighting in Janasthana.” (Akampana speaking to Ravana,Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 31.16-17)

The same protection offered to Vishvamitra exists in the image of Rama and Lakshmana and also in the holy name itself. The Supreme Lord has thousands of names which describe His transcendental features, and they are best sequenced together in the maha-mantra: “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”. The holy name is the transcendental fire to burn up the sinful effects of the dark age of Kali, and the spiritual master, following Lakshmana’s lead, is the powerful wind to spread those flames throughout the world. With that combination, how can maya ever stand a chance against the sincere devotee?

In Closing:

In elders transcendental love swells so much,

When their feet the two young boys touch.

Bow and arrows carry in their hands so soft,

As to the woods with muni they are off.

Love for their parents the scene does reflect,

And Lord’s dedication to the brahmanas protect.

Brothers not leaving home to have days of fun,

Went to put pain in sage’s side on the run.

Wherever Rama goes Lakshmana by His side,

For attacking demons, from arrows nowhere to hide.

The Top Five Songs Sung by S.D.Burman

My five favourite S. D. Burman sung songs

Either I am just too indecisive or I love all his songs, which makes a list of 10 favourite S. D. Burman songs so difficult. That is why I took the easy way out and went off to make a list of 10 favourite songs sung by him. That in turn would have been too easy, because I found only around 13 songs where he has lent his voice and only eleven of them were solos.

The first song sung by him for a Hindi film I found was for Eight Days [1946]. (Anu informed me later that he sang for the film Taj Mahal [1941] under the baton of Madhavlal Damodar. The song was ek prem ki pyaari nishani.) After that it looks like he took a 12 years break and lent his voice to Dev Anand in Kala Pani [1958] for the song dil laga ke kadar gayi pyaare. He sings dhin ta ta between the stanzas. The first Hindi solo of his after Eight Days is most probably sun mere bandhu re for Sujata [1960]. After this nearly all of his songs appear as background songs. Mere saajan hai us paar, although sung by a waysider, the camera stays on this character only at the beginning of the song, giving it a feeling of background song. While compiling this list, I realised the big impact this singer has left on us. He sang around ten solos in Hindi films and still one has at least five songs of him at the tip of the tongue.

Sun Mere Bandhu Re – Sujata [1960]
Lyrics: Majrooh Sultanpuri

Bimal Roy has opens the scene with Sujata and Adhir admitting their love to each other and in distance one hears the boatman singing. When Adhir starts to speak their track is silenced and the boatman’s song takes over. Even though they are exchanging sweet nothings, it is Sujata’s feelings and emotions (in the boatman’s voice) which colour the atmosphere. Lovely piece of direction! Though we hear the boatman singing we never see him. This gives the song the character of a background song.
Although I knew this song for a long time, it took me years to understand the lyrics. In my best gaane ka kachumbar tradition I had thought the line hota tu peepal me hoti… (if you were the peepal tree, I would be…) as tota tu peepal me hoti (you a parrot and I the peepal tree).

Mere Saajan Hai Us Paar – Bandini [1963]
Lyrics: Shailendra

Kalyani caught in choice between Deven and Bikash. On one side she has the young lover, who is not only good-looking but also loyal and true to her. On the other side she feels bound to Bikash through love and her feelings. But Bikash babu is sick, ailing from tuberculosis. Choice between life in afflunce and poverty, health and sickness, beauty and love. Is the author or the director telling us something through the names of the characters? Kalyani (Auspiciousness) choosing between Deven (God) and Bikash (development)?
My earliest memory of the song is from Chhaya Geet on Bombay DD. I might have been eight or nine years old. I didn’t understand anything that was being sung. The plaintive voice, if I remember right, irritated me. But still I knew that this person was singing about a deep emotion and love, which though I couldn’t understand, knew that it was something fundamental.
There is something about this song which touches me at different levels of my existence. I think words are just not enough for that.

Wahan Kaun Hai Tera – Guide [1965]
Lyrics: Shailendra

Raju released from the jail, has no destination in front of him any more. He used to be the guide in the city. He used to lead the tourists their destinations and now left with none for himself. The singing voice (his inner guide, his ego, his survival instinct) puts him on a path of self-realisation.
This never fails to move me to tears. S. D. Burman has composed it quite differently than many of the songs which he usually sang. There is no plaintiveness about it. Though the words of the song give a feeling of presenting facts, the way Burman sings it in staccato, it reflects the self-doubt of the character.

Piya Tune Kya Kiya – Zindagi Zindagi [1972]
Lyrics: Anand Bakshi

Again a woman at cross roads. Unlike Kalyani who had to choose between two men, for her it is the fundamental question of to stay or to go away. She faces somewhat the same predicament like Hirabai inTeesri Kasam [1967], but Meeta decides to stay.
The song though it has two stanzas, is carried by the refrain. Burmandada plays with the it, he changes it, he modulates it high and low, gives it a re at the end or takes it away, he even turns tune (you did) to maine (I did) and every time he gives it a different colour. The way he extends the last vocal in a line gives it a doleful effect.
I came across this song three years back and since then it has remained with me.

Doli Me Bithai Ke Kahaar – Amar Prem [1972]
MD: R.D.Burman; Lyrics: Anand Bakshi

Pushpa married and thrown out of the house by her husband, pines to return back to him when she sees a bridal procession. Little does she know that she will soon be taken to a different world altogether.
This is the only song as far as I know, which Burmandada sang for another music director. The composition was not foreign to him, because although it was directed by his own son Rahul, it was his own melody, which he allowed his son to use.

                              The details of the songs are as follows:-

1. Sun mere bandhu re Film. Sujata (1959)

2. Mere sajan hain us paar Film. Bandini (1963)

3. Vahaan kaun hai tera Film. Guide (1965)

4. Mere duniya hai maa Film. Talash (1968)

5. Safal hogi tere aradhana Film. Aradhana (1969)

Medley ----- Another three songs.

Study reveals how anesthetic isoflurane induces Alzheimer's-like changes in mammalian brains

The association of the inhaled anesthetic isoflurane with Alzheimer's-disease-like changes in mammalian brains may by caused by the drug's effects on mitochondria, the structures in which most cellular energy is produced. In a study that will appear inAnnals of Neurology and has received early online release, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers report that administration of isoflurane impaired the performance of mice on a standard test of learning and memory – a result not seen when another anesthetic, desflurane, was administered. They also found evidence that the two drugs have significantly different effects on mitochondrial function.

"These are the first results indicating that isoflurane, but not desflurane, may induce neuronal cell death and impair learning and memory by damaging mitochondria," says Yiying (Laura) Zhang, MD, a research fellow in the MGH Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine and the study's lead author. "This work needs to be confirmed in human studies, but it's looking like desflurane may be a better anesthetic to use for patients susceptible to cognitive dysfunction, such as Alzheimer's patients."

Previous studies have suggested that undergoing surgery and general anesthesia may increase the risk of Alzheimer's, and it is well known that a small but significant number of surgical patients experience a transient form of cognitive dysfunction in the postoperative period. In 2008, members of the same MGH research team showed that isoflurane induced Alzheimer's-like changes – increasing activation of enzymes involved with cell death and generation of the A-beta plaques characteristic of the disease – in the brains of mice. The current study was designed to explore the underlying mechanism and behavioral consequences of isoflurane-induced brain cell death and to compare isoflurane's effects with those of desflurane, another common anesthetic that has not been associated with neuronal damage.

In a series of experiments, the investigators found that the application of isoflurane to cultured cells and mouse neurons increased the permeability of mitochondrial membranes; interfered with the balance of ions on either side of the mitochondrial membrane; reduced levels of ATP, the enzyme produced by mitochondria that powers most cellular processes; and increased levels of the cell-death enzyme caspase. The results also suggested that the first step toward isoflurane-induced cell death was increased generation of reactive oxygen species – unstable oxygen-containing molecules that can damage cellular components. The performance of mice on a standard behavioral test of learning and memory declined significantly two to seven days after administration of isoflurane, compared with the results of a control group. None of the cellular or behavioral effects of isoflurane were seen when the administered agent was desflurane.

In another study by members of the same research team – appearing in the February issue of Anesthesia and Analgesia and published online in November – about a quarter of surgical patients receiving isoflurane showed some level of cognitive dysfunction a week after surgery, while patients receiving desflurane or spinal anesthesia had no decline in cognitive performance. That study, conducted in collaboration with investigators from Beijing Friendship Hospital in China, enrolled only 45 patients – 15 in each treatment group – so its results need to be confirmed in significantly larger groups.

"Approximately 8.5 million Alzheimer's disease patients worldwide will need anesthesia and surgical care every year," notes Zhongcong Xie, MD, PhD, corresponding author of both studies and director of the Geriatric Anesthesia Research Unit in the MGH Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine. "Developing guidelines for safer anesthesia care for these patients will require collaboration between specialists in anesthesia, neurology, geriatric medicine and other specialties. As the first step, we need to identify anesthetics that are less likely to contribute to Alzheimer's disease neuropathogenesis and cognitive dysfunction." Xie is an associate professor of Anesthesia at Harvard Medical School (HMS)

Provided by Massachusetts General Hospital

"Study reveals how anesthetic isoflurane induces Alzheimer's-like changes in mammalian brains." March 1st, 2012.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-reveals-anesthetic-isoflurane-alzheimer-like-mammalian.html

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Robert Karl Stonjek

How marijuana impairs memory

A major downside of the medical use of marijuana is the drug's ill effects on working memory, the ability to transiently hold and process information for reasoning, comprehension and learning. Researchers reporting in the March 2 print issue of the Cell Press journal Cell provide new insight into the source of those memory lapses. The answer comes as quite a surprise: Marijuana's major psychoactive ingredient (THC) impairs memory independently of its direct effects on neurons. The side effects stem instead from the drug's action on astroglia, passive support cells long believed to play second fiddle to active neurons.

The findings offer important new insight into the brain and raise the possibility that marijuana's benefits for the treatment of pain, seizures and other ailments might some day be attained without hurting memory, the researchers say.

With these experiments in mice, "we have found that the starting point for this phenomenon – the effect of marijuana on working memory – is the astroglial cells," said Giovanni Marsicano of INSERM in France.

"This is the first direct evidence that astrocytes modulate working memory," added Xia Zhang of the University of Ottawa in Canada.

The new findings aren't the first to suggest astroglia had been given short shrift. Astroglial cells (also known as astrocytes) have been viewed as cells that support, protect and feed neurons for the last 100 to 150 years, Marsicano explained. Over the last decade, evidence has accumulated that these cells play a more active role in forging the connections from one neuron to another.

The researchers didn't set out to discover how marijuana causes its cognitive side effects. Rather, they wanted to learn why receptors that respond to both THC and signals naturally produced in the brain are found on astroglial cells. These cannabinoid type-1 (CB1R) receptors are very abundant in the brain, primarily on neurons of various types.

Zhang and Marsicano now show that mice lacking CB1Rs only on astroglial cells of the brain are protected from the impairments to spatial working memory that usually follow a dose of THC. In contrast, animals lacking CB1Rs in neurons still suffer the usual lapses. Given that different cell types express different variants of CB1Rs, there might be a way to therapeutically activate the receptors on neurons while leaving the astroglial cells out, Marsicano said.

"The study shows that one of the most common effects of cannabinoid intoxication is due to activation of astroglial CB1Rs," the researchers wrote.

The findings further suggest that astrocytes might be playing unexpected roles in other forms of memory in addition to spatial working memory, Zhang said.

The researchers hope to explore the activities of endogenous endocannabinoids, which naturally trigger CB1Rs, on astroglial and other cells. The endocannabinoid system is involved in appetite, pain, mood, memory and many other functions. "Just about any physiological function you can think of in the body, it's likely at some point endocannabinoids are involved," Marsicano said.

And that means an understanding of how those natural signaling molecules act on astroglial and other cells could have a real impact. For instance, Zhang said, "we may find a way to deal with working memory problems in Alzheimer's."

More information: Han et al.: "Acute Cannabinoids Impair Working Memory through Astroglial CB1 Receptor Modulation of Hippocampal LTD."

Provided by Cell Press

"How marijuana impairs memory." March 1st, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-marijuana-impairs-memory.html

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Robert Karl Stonjek

Online treatment reaps rewards for teenagers with chronic fatigue

Teenagers who were able to consult therapists by email reported a drastic reduction in symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome. Credit: Flickr/Ev0luti0nary

A web-based therapeutic program for adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome is at least three times more effective in reducing symptoms of the disorder than regular treatment, one study has found.

Researchers who studied the impact of the Fatigue In Teenagers on the interNET (FITNET) program on a group of adolescents found that the web-based treatment dramatically reduced fatigue, school absence, and physical dysfunction in just six months.

Under the FITNET program, patients can log in and send e-mails to trained cognitive behavioural psychotherapists at any time. Therapists respond to the e-consultations on set days, but also reply immediately to emergency emails.

The patients are expected to keep diaries, answer questionnaires, and take part in reviews of each step in their treatment.

For the study, researchers from The Netherlands recruited 135 adolescents who had suffered from chronic fatigue syndrome for almost 2 years; 68 were randomly assigned to FITNET and 67 to usual care, which consisted mainly of individual and group cognitive behavioral therapy or graded exercise therapy.

After six months, 85% of adolescents in FITNET group reported that they no longer suffered from severe fatigue, compared with 27% in the second group; 78% reported normal physical functioning, compared with 20%; while full school attendance was attained by 75% of students, compared with just 16%.

The results of the study are published online today in the journal The Lancet.

It is estimated that between 40,000 and 140,000 Australians suffer from chronic fatigue syndrome, a mysterious illness of unknown cause that may be linked to a virus. Patients complain they are routinely humiliated and ostracized by people who do not take their physical suffering seriously, because they regard the condition as a psychological, rather than a biological, one.

Sanne Nijhof from the University Medical Centre Utrecht in The Netherlands, and lead author of the research, said that with e-consultations, “effective treatment is within reach for any adolescent with [chronic fatigue syndrome]. These findings stress the need for proper and rapid diagnosis and making medical professionals aware of adolescent chronic fatigue and the treatment options.”

“Web-based treatment has general advantages: it is available at any time, avoids face-to-face treatment barriers – [such as] treatment delay due to poor accessibility, inconvenience of scheduling appointments, missing school or work, travelling to or from a clinician’s office – and reduces treatment time and costs.”

The report concluded that it was unclear which aspect of the FITNET program – “such as being readily accessible soon after diagnosis, 24-hour availability, anonymity, or professional feedback by a trained psychotherapist, is the reason for this increased effectiveness.”

Rosanne Coutts, an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology at Southern Cross University, said the results demonstrated the importance of the psychological aspects within treatment processes.

“By using the internet, which adolescents are very familiar with, they have met them "where they live”,“ Dr. Coutts said. "The patients also seemed fairly involved in what they did, it was quite self-driven, putting patients back in charge of their own recovery. Further detail about the actual physical activity conducted in both groups would be of interest and would assist with understanding any physiological changes that had also occurred.

“The study also relied on self-report, however even with consideration for some self-reporting bias the school attendance is a clear indicator of levels of recovery. Previous studies report a good prognosis for adolescents and this study again supports this.”

Professor Anthony Cleare, a consultant psychiatrist at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, said that although the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome was beyond doubt, the lack of suitably trained therapists could limit benefits for patients.

“That an internet based therapy is so effective is very good news for patients who either cannot access a therapist, or who prefer therapy delivered over the internet,“ Professor Cleare said. "Indeed, the internet may be a particularly attractive medium for adolescents who have grown up accustomed to using it regularly.

“No one would suggest that the internet can replace face-to-face therapy, but this study suggests that it can certainly be a highly effective alternative in some patients."

Provided by The Conversation

This story is published courtesy of the The Conversation (under Creative Commons-Attribution/No derivatives).

"Online treatment reaps rewards for teenagers with chronic fatigue." March 1st, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-03-online-treatment-reaps-rewards-teenagers.html

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Robert Karl Stonjek