Unparalleled

“Sita is not capable of associating with any other man, even if he were the lord of the demigods; for there is no one equal to Rama, not even among the demigods.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 11.3)
na anyam naram upasthātum surāṇām api ca īśvaram |
na hi rāma samaḥ kaścid vidyate tridaśeṣv api ||
Almost fooled by his vision colored with anticipation borne of pure love and devotion to the holy Lord Rama, Hanuman regained his senses by contemplating on the divine qualities of both the princess he was looking for and her dear husband. Seeing one woman in particular stand out amongst the crowd of beautiful ladies enjoying in the luxurious palace of the leader of the Rakshasa clan in Lanka, Hanuman thought that maybe he had finally found the princess of Videha, Sita Devi, who had been taken away from the side of her husband through a backhanded plot. Yet he remembered that not only was Sita incapable of cavorting with any man except her husband, her husband Himself was more opulent and strong than any person existing in any realm. In this way Hanuman’s assessment of Sita and her husband was completely accurate, and it fueled his fire of devotion even further.
Why did Hanuman need his spirits uplifted? What was he doing in Lanka looking for Sita anyway? Shouldn’t Shri Rama have gone there? If the Lord is the most powerful person in the world, stronger than any figure residing in even the heavenly realm, why was He not in Lanka taking on Ravana in battle and rescuing His wife? The lila, or transcendental pastimes, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are very difficult to understand from only a quick glance. Just as Hanuman for a split second thought that Mandodari, Ravana’s chief queen, was Sita, those who only briefly review the accounts of historical events found in sacred texts like the Ramayana may overlook the positive role that transcendental pastimes play in the shaping of the lives of millions of pure souls just looking to exercise their inkling for divine service. Found deep within the soul, the identifiable aspect of every form of life, is a desire to love, and not of the variety that can be checked, scorned or squashed. Rather, this type of love, known as prema or bhakti, operates best when the actor follows their tasks without motivation and without interruption.

These two qualifications seem paradoxical, as motivation is the reason for action, and the desire for interruption at some future point indicates that the end-stage has been reached. With pure bhakti, however, the engagement itself is so rewarding that no successes or temporary victories can ever douse the flame of loving devotion found within the heart. What can occur outside of bhakti, however, is for the soul, through contact with matter and anything not personally related to the Supreme Lord, to get temporarily bewildered into following engagements which are driven by motivation and which eventually must be interrupted. Therefore, to awaken the dormant propensity for transcendental action found within each resident of the phenomenal world, the very Personality of Godhead Himself appears on earth and takes part in pastimes.

Let’s say that someone were to tell us that God has come to town. He is residing somewhere in a building. Now let’s say that we went to visit Him. We make time in our busy schedule specifically for this appointment, as the opportunity to see God is something that should not be missed. We enter this majestic dwelling and see someone seated on an elegant throne who is more beautiful than any person we’ve ever seen. Just looking at Him is enough to bring transcendental pleasure to the eyes. This divine vision is wholly enchanting and at the very least indicates that the person in question is not ordinary. He is not like the rest of us. There must be something special about Him.
Shri Rama’s appearance on earth as the eldest son of the King of Ayodhya, Maharaja Dasharatha, can be likened to this scenario, and the emotions felt by the residents of the town can be likened to those felt by the visitors seeing the enchanting figure purported to be God. The difference with Rama, though, was that He never claimed to be of the divine nature. What need is there for such a proclamation? A person would much rather make friends and well-wishers through their own qualities than through fear or flashing a badge indicating importance.
Even though others didn’t know Rama was God, they still took great delight just from seeing Him. Having the divine vision alone is extremely beneficial, but an even greater benefit, one that taps into the reservoir of action found within every single life form, comes about when the same object of worship takes to activities which are then followed, heard about, and glorified. What’s even more special is that a select few individuals are allowed to participate in these pastimes. Through their roles they become glorified as well, as they remain forever tied to the divine pastimes of the Supreme Lord. Just as Rama is still celebrated to this day for being Bhagavan, or the person who possesses the qualities of beauty, wealth, strength, fame, knowledge, renunciation and wisdom to the fullest degree and simultaneously, His devotees who helped Him are also remembered and honored. They show the way in life, how to devote every one of your actions for the highest cause.
When Sita was taken away from Rama’s side in the forest of Dandaka, the Lord could have easily found her. He could have destroyed the whole world with just one arrow shot from His illustrious bow, but what purpose would that have served? The entire creation will be destroyed eventually anyway. Mahadeva, the greatest devotee of Lord Vishnu, the four-handed form of the Absolute Truth of whom Rama was an incarnation, is known as the destroyer because he swoops in at just the right time to annihilate everything. Where there is creation there must be destruction. There are debates as to how and when the earth came into being, but judging from the fact that it had to be created, we can take it to the bank that the earth will one day be destroyed again. If this weren’t the case, it would have never needed to come into existence.
Rama instead enlisted the help of Vanaras residing in the forest of Kishkindha. Vanaras are a sort of elevated race of monkeys, a mix between humans and apes. They were around in the Treta Yuga in abundance in the forests. The monkeys of today are their descendants but due to the influence of the dark age of Kali, their existence isn’t nearly as advanced. Hanuman was the most capable of the Vanara warriors, and he was also the most devoted to Rama. When it comes to serving the interests of the Supreme Person, everyone is equally suited for the job, but not everyone can exhibit their natural love fully. The soul in the conditioned state can be likened to a seed, and the advanced devotees are the seeds which have matured and grown into full blown trees of devotion.
Hanuman’s eagerness is what really made him fit for the job. The task at hand was finding Sita and then returning to Kishkindha with the information of her whereabouts. Knowing where Ravana was staying, Shri Rama would then march to the city and take on the demon in a fair fight. Just learning Sita’s location was difficult enough, but what made matters worse was that Hanuman had to go it alone towards the end. Lanka, the island ruled over by Ravana, was situated far away from the mainland, and only Hanuman was capable of leaping across the massive ocean separating the two points. When he reached the shores of Lanka, he had to devise a plan by himself and remain committed to the mission without having any outside help. Though he was without a guru, Hanuman used his love, devotion and knowledge of Shri Rama to guide him.
Sometimes that devotion was so strong that it caused him to make misidentifications. Such was the case when he combed Ravana’s inner apartment looking for Sita, finally coming upon a most outstanding princess. Hanuman searched through Lanka in the middle of the night so that no one would see him. He had looked far and wide and still had not found Sita. He was certainly dejected over the failure, as he was the most eager to find Rama’s wife and inform her of the Lord’s fervent desire to rescue her. An ordinary worker may be afraid of failing because of what the boss will tell him, but Hanuman’s despondency was due entirely to his own interests. He wanted to put a smile on Rama’s face more than anyone else. He knew of the Lord’s divine qualities, so he had no doubt as to His abilities. He just didn’t want to let Rama down.
Since Hanuman had never met Sita, he’d have to go by what he had heard of her and who her husband was. Knowing Rama to be fully endowed with every divine quality, Hanuman made the correct assumption that Sita was no ordinary woman either. Having such a wonderful man for a husband, surely Sita would not be in a cheerful mood in Lanka. She would be torn by the pain of separation and fearing her future. Therefore when Hanuman saw beautiful women enjoying themselves, he could understand that they weren’t Sita.
Ravana’s kingdom was so opulent that it seemed like the realm itself was heaven. The women were enjoying in so many different ways - getting drunk, singing songs, putting on beautiful dresses. Finally, Hanuman saw one woman who was more beautiful than the others. She was especially enchanting, unique in her features. For a second, Hanuman became elated with joy, pounding his chest and kissing his tail in happiness. This is Hanuman. Just thinking that he had found Sita caused him to go crazy in happiness, so strong was his desire to see Sita.
When his elation subsided, he thought the matter over. “How could Sita be in Ravana’s palace enjoying herself? She would never associate with any man except Rama, even if he were the king of the heavenly realm.” The concepts of heaven and hell are not unknown to most, but the Vedas provide a level of detail about the two realms not discussed in other scriptural traditions. Heaven is indeed a place full of enhanced delights, including a longer duration of life and a higher level of material opulence. Hell, not surprisingly, bears the inverse properties. Life there is miserable, there is little enjoyment, and people just want to get out. In either case, since heaven and hell are both part of the material world, their residents cannot remain there indefinitely.
The post of king of heaven implies that the occupant is the most powerful. The residents of the material heavenly planets are referred to as suras, and since the beginning of time there has been an ongoing fight between the suras and the asuras, or demons. Good and evil will always clash, as evil does not like the good and looks to root out its influence from every sphere of life. To be the ruler of the suras, one must be very powerful and capable of fending off the demonic forces, which constantly attack like the pulsing waves of the ocean. There is no such thing as permanently eradicating evil, as the very nature of the material realm stipulates that people lacking full God consciousness will always occupy it. If there is any deviation from the constitutional engagement, devotional service, there will be both good conditioned beings and bad conditioned beings. In either case, a non-devotee will never be fully pure of material contamination.

“If I am by Your side, O Raghava, not even Indra, the chief of the celestials, shall be able to overpower me with his might.” (Sita Devi speaking to Lord Rama, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 29.6)

To be with the leader of the celestials is a big deal. Basically, for a woman such a man would be considered the greatest catch. But Sita was so devoted to Rama that she would never even look at such a man. Indeed, the wonderful princess definitively declared her noninterest in the heavenly realm when she pleaded with her husband to accompany Him to the forest. Rama and Sita were only in the forest of Dandaka because of an exile order handed down by King Dasharatha. Sita was advised to stay home by Rama, but she refused to listen to Him. In the Vedic system the wife’s dharma is to worship her husband and abide by his every command, but divine love is never checked by rules and regulations. Sita is so exalted that Rama cannot even control her love for Him in the least. She loves Rama with her life and soul, and there is nothing the Lord can do about it.
Hanuman, when bringing to mind that Sita could never think of any man except Rama, also remembered that Rama is not like any other person. If you take the wealthiest and most powerful person in the world, living past, present or future, they could still never measure up to Rama. The jewel of the Raghu dynasty is unmatched in His possession of divine qualities, and especially in His diffusion of mercy. Simply having the ability to chant the Lord’s holy names, “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare”, reveals the true mercy bestowed upon everyone. Hanuman knew that Mandodari, the person initially misidentified as Sita, wasn’t Rama’s wife because of the divine qualities of both Sita and Rama. Through his contemplation he further revealed his love for the divine couple, his level of dedication that has yet to be matched by any person. Sita and Rama are unparalleled in their love for each other and their dedication to their devotees, and Shri Hanuman is unparalleled in his love for Sita and Rama.
Whoever is fortunate enough to associate with these delightful, inspirational and divine characters on a regular basis by reciting their holy names, remembering their divine activities, and accepting their causeless mercy will be able to awaken the love for God that has been quietly resting for far too long within the heart. Just as Shri Rama never stops accepting the obeisances and glories offered by the sincere souls, those who follow bhakti as a way of life never let a day go by without glorifying the Lord of their life breath, their prana-natha, and His wonderful servants like Shri Hanuman.
In Closing:
Kissing his tail, jumping up and down,
Hanuman’s excitement was unbound.
After searching through Lanka all around,
Sita Devi he had finally found.
But on second thought, woman was sleeping sound,
Clothes were beautiful and food and drink were around.
In sober thought, realized Sita he did not see,
With any man except Rama she could never be.
Even if company of ruler of heaven she had the chance,
Upon him she would never bestow her amorous glance.
Besides, compared to Rama an equal was there not one,
Even amongst demigods a match for Rama there was none.
Thus Hanuman knew that Mandodari Sita was not,
But from incident hint of monkey’s love we got.
In the future, the enthusiasm would bode well,
For monkey in whose heart love for God does swell.
At thinking of Sita and Rama Hanuman does rejoice,
To the glory of bhakti his behavior does give voice.

Electrical Circuits:

A network, in the context of electronics, is a collection of interconnected components. Network analysis is the process of finding the voltages across, and the currents through, every component in the network. There are a number of different techniques for achieving this. However, for the most part, they assume that the components of the network are all linear. The methods described in this article are only applicable to linear network analysis except where explicitly stated.

Definitions

Component	A device with two or more terminals into which, or out of which, charge may flow.
Node	A point at which terminals of more than two components are joined. A conductor with a substantially zero resistance is considered to be a node for the purpose of analysis.
Branch	The component(s) joining two nodes.
Mesh	A group of branches within a network joined so as to form a complete loop.
Port	Two terminals where the current into one is identical to the current out of the other.
Circuit	A current from one terminal of a generator, through load component(s) and back into the other terminal. A circuit is, in this sense, a one-port network and is a trivial case to analyze. If there is any connection to any other circuits then a non-trivial network has been formed and at least two ports must exist. Often, "circuit" and "network" are used interchangeably, but many analysts reserve "network" to mean an idealized model consisting of ideal components.
Transfer function	The relationship of the currents and/or voltages between two ports. Most often, an input port and an output port are discussed and the transfer function is described as gain or attenuation.
Component transfer function	For a two-terminal component (i.e. one-port component), the current and voltage are taken as the input and output and the transfer function will have units of impedance or admittance (it is usually a matter of arbitrary convenience whether voltage or current is considered the input). A three (or more) terminal component effectively has two (or more) ports and the transfer function cannot be expressed as a single impedance. The usual approach is to express the transfer function as a matrix of parameters. These parameters can be impedances, but there is a large number of other approaches, see two-port network.

Delta-wye transformation

A network of impedances with more than two terminals cannot be reduced to a single impedance equivalent circuit. An n-terminal network can, at best, be reduced to n impedances (at worst ⁿC₂). For a three terminal network, the three impedances can be expressed as a three node delta (Δ) network or a four node star (Y) network. These two networks are equivalent and the transformations between them are given below. A general network with an arbitrary number of nodes cannot be reduced to the minimum number of impedances using only series and parallel combinations. In general, Y-Δ and Δ-Y transformations must also be used. For some networks the extension of Y-Δ to star-polygon transformations may also be required.

Source transformation

A generator with an internal impedance (i.e. non-ideal generator) can be represented as either an ideal voltage generator or an ideal current generator plus the impedance.

·                     Norton's theorem states that any two-terminal network can be reduced to an ideal current generator and a parallel impedance.

·                     Thévenin's theorem states that any two-terminal network can be reduced to an ideal voltage generator plus a series impedance.

Nodal analysis

1. Label all nodes in the circuit. Arbitrarily select any node as reference.

2. Define a voltage variable from every remaining node to the reference. These voltage variables must be defined as voltage rises with respect to the reference node.

3. Write a KCL equation for every node except the reference.

4. Solve the resulting system of equations.

Mesh analysis

Mesh — a loop that does not contain an inner loop.

1. Count the number of “window panes” in the circuit. Assign a mesh current to each window pane.

2. Write a KVL equation for every mesh whose current is unknown.

3. Solve the resulting equations

Transfer function

A transfer function expresses the relationship between an input and an output of a network. For resistive networks, this will always be a simple real number or an expression which boils down to a real number. Resistive networks are represented by a system of simultaneous algebraic equations. However in the general case of linear networks, the network is represented by a system of simultaneous linear differential equations. 

In network analysis, rather than use the differential equations directly, it is usual practice to carry out a Laplace transform on them first and then express the result in terms of the Laplace parameter s, which in general is complex. This is described as working in the s-domain. Working with the equations directly would be described as working in the time (or t) domain because the results would be expressed as time varying quantities. The Laplace transform is the mathematical method of transforming between the s-domain and the t-domain.

This approach is standard in control theory and is useful for determining stability of a system, for instance, in an amplifier with feedback.

20 Painkillers in Your Kitchen

A GREAT ALTERNATIVE TO TAKING MEDICATION!!!!

Make muscle pain a memory with ginger

When Danish researchers asked achy people to jazz up their diets with ginger, it eased muscle and joint pain, swelling and stiffness for up to 63 percent of them within two months. Experts credit ginger’s potent compounds called gingerols, which prevent the production of pain-triggering hormones. The study-recommended dose: Add at least 1 teaspoon of dried ginger or 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger to meals daily.

Cure a toothache with cloves

Got a toothache and can’t get to the dentist? Gently chewing on a clove can ease tooth pain and gum inflammation for two hours straight, say UCLA researchers. Experts point to a natural compound in cloves called eugenol, a powerful, natural anesthetic. Bonus: Sprinkling a ¼ teaspoon of ground cloves on meals daily may also protect your ticker. Scientists say this simple action helps stabilize blood sugar, plus dampen production of artery-clogging cholesterol in as little as three weeks.

Heal heartburn with cider vinegar

Sip 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar mixed with 8 ounces of water before every meal, and experts say you could shut down painful bouts of heartburn in as little as 24 hours. “Cider vinegar is rich in malic and tartaric acids, powerful digestive aids that speed the breakdown of fats and proteins so your stomach can empty quickly, before food washes up into the esophagus, triggering heartburn pain,” explains Joseph Brasco, M.D., a gastroenterologist at the Center for Colon and Digestive Diseases in Huntsville, AL.

Erase earaches with garlic

Painful ear infections drive millions of Americans to doctors’ offices every year. To cure one fast, just place two drops of warm garlic oil into your aching ear twice daily for five days. This simple treatment can clear up ear infections faster than prescription meds, say experts at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. Scientists say garlic’s active ingredients (germanium, selenium, and sulfur compounds) are naturally toxic to dozens of different pain-causing bacteria. To whip up your own garlic oil gently simmer three cloves of crushed garlic in a half a cup of extra virgin olive oil for two minutes, strain, then refrigerate for up to two weeks, suggests Teresa Graedon, Ph.D., co-author of the book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. For an optimal experience, warm this mix slightly before using so the liquid will feel soothing in your ear canal.

Chase away joint and headache pain with cherries

Latest studies show that at least one in four women is struggling with arthritis, gout or chronic headaches. If you’re one of them, a daily bowl of cherries could ease your ache, without the stomach upset so often triggered by today’s painkillers, say researchers at East Lansing ’s Michigan State University . Their research reveals that anthocyanins, the compounds that give cherries their brilliant red color, are anti-inflammatories 10 times stronger than ibuprofen and aspirin. “Anthocyanins help shut down the powerful enzymes that kick-start tissue inflammation, so they can prevent, as well as treat, many different kinds of pain,” explains Muraleedharan Nair, Ph.D., professor of food science at Michigan State University . His advice: Enjoy 20 cherries (fresh, frozen or dried) daily, then continue until your pain disappears.

Fight tummy troubles with fish

Indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel diseases...if your belly always seems to be in an uproar, try munching 18 ounces of fish weekly to ease your misery. Repeated studies show that the fatty acids in fish, called EPA and DHA, can significantly reduce intestinal inflammation, cramping and belly pain and, in some cases, provide as much relief as corticosteroids and other prescription meds. “EPA and DHA are powerful, natural, side effect-free anti-inflammatories, that can dramatically improve the function of the entire gastrointestinal tract,” explains biological chemist Barry Sears, Ph.D., president of the Inflammation Research Foundation in Marblehead , MA . For best results, look for oily fish like salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel, trout and herring.

Prevent PMS with yogurt

Up to 80 percent of women will struggle with premenstrual syndrome and its uncomfortable symptoms, report Yale researchers. The reason: Their nervous systems are sensitive to the ups and downs in estrogen and progesterone that occur naturally every month. But snacking on 2 cups of yogurt a day can slash these symptoms by 48 percent, say researchers at New York ’s Columbia University . “Yogurt is rich in calcium, a mineral that naturally calms the nervous system, preventing painful symptoms even when hormones are in flux,” explains Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., a professor of gynecology at Yale University .

Tame chronic pain with turmeric

Studies show turmeric, a popular East Indian spice, is actually three times more effective at easing pain than aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, plus it can help relieve chronic pain for 50 percent of people struggling with arthritis and even fibromyalgia, according to Cornell researchers. That’s because turmeric’s active ingredient, curcumin, naturally shuts down cyclooxygenase 2, an enzyme that churns out a stream of pain-producing hormones, explains nutrition researcher Julian Whitaker, M.D. and author of the book, Reversing Diabetes. The study-recommended dose: Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon of this spice daily onto any rice, poultry, meat or vegetable dish.

End endometrial pain with oats

The ticket to soothing endometriosis pain could be a daily bowl of oatmeal. Endometriosis occurs when little bits of the uterine lining detach and grow outside of the uterus. Experts say these migrating cells can turn menstruation into a misery, causing so much inflammation that they trigger severe cramping during your period, plus a heavy ache that drags on all month long. Fortunately, scientists say opting for a diet rich in oats can help reduce endometrial pain for up to 60 percent of women within six months. That’s because oats don’t contain gluten, a trouble-making protein that triggers inflammation in many women, making endometriosis difficult to bear, explains Peter Green, M.D., professor of medicine at Colombia University .

Soothe foot pain with salt

Experts say at least six million Americans develop painful ingrown toenails each year. But regularly soaking ingrown nails in warm salt water baths can cure these painful infections within four days, say scientists at California ’s Stanford University . The salt in the mix naturally nixes inflammation, plus it’s anti-bacterial, so it quickly destroys the germs that cause swelling and pain. Just mix 1 teaspoon of salt into each cup of water, heat to the warmest temperature that you can comfortably stand, and then soak the affected foot area for 20 minutes twice daily, until your infection subsides.

Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple

Got gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California ’s Stanford University . That's because pineapple is natually packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

Relax painful muscles with peppermint

Suffering from tight, sore muscles? Stubborn knots can hang around for months if they aren’t properly treated, says naturopath Mark Stengler, N.D., author of the book, The Natural Physician’s Healing Therapies. His advice: Three times each week, soak in a warm tub scented with 10 drops of peppermint oil. The warm water will relax your muscles, while the peppermint oil will naturally soothe your nerves -- a combo that can ease muscle cramping 25 percent more effectively than over-the-counter painkillers, and cut the frequency of future flare-ups in half, says Stengler.

Give your back some TLC with grapes

Got an achy back? Grapes could be the ticket to a speedy recovery. Recent studies at Ohio State University suggest eating a heaping cup of grapes daily can relax tight blood vessels, significantly improving blood flow to damaged back tissues (and often within three hours of enjoying the first bowl). That’s great news because your back’s vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs are completely dependent on nearby blood vessels to bring them healing nutrients and oxygen, so improving blood flow is essential for healing damaged back tissue, says Stengler.

Wash away pain injuries with water

Whether it’s your feet, your knees or your shoulders that are throbbing, experts at New York ’s Manhattan College , say you could kick-start your recovery in one week just by drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily. Why? Experts say water dilutes, and then helps flush out, histamine, a pain-triggering compound produced by injured tissues. “Plus water is a key building block of the cartilage that cushions the ends of your bones, your joints’ lubricating fluid, and the soft discs in your spine,” adds Susan M. Kleiner, Ph.D., author of the book, The Good Mood Diet. “And when these tissues are well-hydrated, they can move and glide over each other without causing pain.” One caveat: Be sure to measure your drinking glasses to find out how large they really are before you start sipping, she says. Today’s juice glasses often hold more than 12 ounces, which means five servings could be enough to meet your daily goal.

Heal sinus problems with horseradish

Latest studies show sinusitis is the nation’s number one chronic health problem. And this condition doesn’t just spur congestion and facial pain, it also makes sufferers six times more likely to feel achy all-over. Horseradish to the rescue! According to German researchers, this eye-watering condiment naturally revs up blood flow to the sinus cavities, helping to open and drain clogged sinuses and heal sinus infections more quickly than decongestant sprays do. The study-recommended dose: One teaspoon twice daily (either on its own, or used as a sandwich or meat topping) until symptoms clear.

Beat bladder infections with blueberries

Eating 1 cup of blueberries daily, whether you opt for them fresh, frozen or in juice form, can cut your risk of a urinary tract infection (UTIs) by 60 percent, according to researchers at New Jersey’s Rutgers University. That's because blueberries are loaded with tannins, plant compounds that wrap around problem-causing bacteria in the bladder, so they can’t get a toehold and create an infection, explains Amy Howell, Ph.D. a scientist at Rutgers University .

Heal mouth sores with honey

Dab painful canker and cold sores with unpasteurized honey four times daily until these skin woes disappear, and they’ll heal 43 percent faster than if you use a prescription cream, say researchers at the Dubai Specialized Medical Center in the United Arab Emirates . Raw honey’s natural enzymes zap inflammation, destroy invading viruses and speed the healing of damaged tissues, say the study authors.

Fight breast pain with flax

In one recent study, adding 3 tablespoons of ground flax to their daily diet eased breast soreness for one in three women within 12 weeks. Scientists credit flax’s phytoestrogens, natural plant compounds that prevent the estrogen spikes that can trigger breast pain. More good news: You don’t have to be a master baker to sneak this healthy seed into your diet. Just sprinkle ground flax on oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce or add it to smoothies and veggie dips.

Cure migraines with coffee

Prone to migraines? Try muscling-up your painkiller with a coffee chaser. Whatever over-the-counter pain med you prefer, researchers at the National Headache Foundation say washing it down with a strong 12- ounce cup of coffee will boost the effectiveness of your medication by 40 percent or more. Experts say caffeine stimulates the stomach lining to absorb painkillers more quickly and more effectively.

Tame leg cramps with tomato juice

At least one in five people regularly struggle with leg cramps. The culprit? Potassium deficiencies, which occur when this mineral is flushed out by diuretics, caffeinated beverages or heavy perspiration during exercise. But sip 10 ounces of potassium-rich tomato juice daily and you'll not only speed your recovery, you'll reduce your risk of painful cramp flare-ups in as little as 10 days, say UCLA researchers.

கணணியின் அடிப்படை உள்ளீடு, வெளியீடு ?

கணணியின் அடிப்படை உள்ளீடு/வெளியீடு கட்டமைப்பினையே BIOS (basic input/output system) என்கிறோம்.

இந்த கட்டமைப்பினைக் கொண்டுள்ள மென்பொருள் புரோகிராம், கணணி ஒன்று இயங்கத் தொடங்குகையில், அதில் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள சாதனங்கள்(ஹார்ட்வேர், சவுண்ட்கார்ட், கீ போர்ட், மவுஸ் போன்றவை) அனைத்தும் சரியாக உள்ளனவா என்று சோதனை செய்து ஓபரேட்டிங் சிஸ்டத்தினை இயக்க அனுமதிக்கிறது.

இந்த வன்பொருள் சாதனங்களுக்கான சோதனையை POST– poweron selftest என அழைக்கிறோம். இந்த சோதனை முடிவு சரியாக இருந்தால் தான் இந்த சாப்ட்வேர் புரோகிராம், கணணி கட்டுப்பாட்டினை ஓபரேட்டிங் சிஸ்டத்திடம் ஒப்படைக்கும்.

ஒவ்வொரு பெர்சனல் கணணியிலும் ஒரு பயாஸ் சிஸ்டம் இருக்கும். சில வேளைகளில் இந்த சிஸ்டத்தினையும் நாம் திறந்து பார்த்து அதில் சில மாற்றங்களை மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டியதிருக்கும்.

இந்த பயாஸ் உள்ளாக ஒரு கடவுச்சொல்லை செட் செய்திடலாம். வன்பொருள் சாதன நிர்வாகத்தினை அமைத்திடலாம், கணணியை எந்த சாதனங்கள் வழியாக பூட் செய்யப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதனை நிர்ணயம் செய்திடலாம்.

பயாஸ் புரோகிராமிற்கான இன்டர்பேஸ் விண்டோவினை எளிதாக நாம் அணுகி அதில் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்த முடியும்.

ஆனால் மிக எச்சரிக்கையுடன் மட்டுமே பயாஸ் அமைப்பில் மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டும். எனவே மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்துகையில், அதனால் என்ன விளைவுகள் ஏற்படும் என்பது உங்களுக்கு நன்றாகத் தெரியவில்லை என்றால் எந்த மாற்றத்தையும் ஏற்படுத்தக் கூடாது.

பயாஸ் அமைப்பில் நுழைந்திட என்ன செய்திட வேண்டும் என்பதனை இங்கு காணலாம். கணணி இயக்கத் தொடங்கியவுடனேயே பயாஸ் தன் சோதனையை மேற்கொண்டு விண்டோஸ் சிஸ்டத்திடம் பொறுப்பை ஒப்படைக்க சில விநாடிகள் தான் எடுத்துக் கொள்ளும்.

எனவே பயாஸ் அமைப்புக்குள் நுழைய விரும்பினால் விரைவாக அதனை நிறுத்தி நுழைய வேண்டும். இதற்கு கணணி இயங்கத் தொடங்கியவுடன் முதல் திரை காட்டப்படும்.

அதில் எந்த கீயை அழுத்தினால் பயாஸ் அமைப்பிற்குள் நுழையலாம் என்று காட்டப்படும். அது F1, F2, or F3 ஆகியவற்றுள் ஒன்றாக இருக்கலாம். Esc அல்லது Delete அல்லது கீயாக இருக்கலாம்.

சில கணணிகளில் இந்த கீகளுடன் இன்னொரு கீயினைச் சேர்த்து அழுத்த வேண்டியதிருக்கலாம். எனவே முதலில் காட்டப்படும் பக்க செய்தியைக் கவனமாகக் காணவும். அந்த செய்திகள் கீழ்க்குறிப்பிட்டவற்றுள் ஒன்றாக இருக்கலாம்.

‘Press F1 to enter setup’

‘BIOS settings: Esc’

‘Setup = Del’

‘System configuration: F2'

இதனை முதல் முயற்சியிலேயே பார்க்க இயலாவிட்டால் மீண்டும் கணணியை பூட் செய்து காணவும். பயாஸ் அமைப்பில் மாற்றங்களை மேற்கொள்வதற்கு முன் ஏற்கனவே உள்ள செட்டிங்ஸ் குறித்து ஒரு தாளில் குறித்துக் கொள்ளவும் அல்லது பயாஸ் விண்டோவின் ஸ்கிரீன் ஷாட் ஒன்றை எடுத்துவைத்துக் கொள்ளவும். அதன் பின் மாற்றங்களை மேற்கொள்ளலாம்.

பொதுவாக கணணி எந்த சாதனங்கள் வழியாக பூட் செய்வது என்று அமைப்பதுதான் இதில் பலரும் மேற்கொள்ளும் வேலையாக இருக்கும். ஓபரேட்டிங் சிஸ்டம் ஹார்ட் டிஸ்க்கில் அமைக்கப்படுவதால் முதலில் ஹார்ட் டிஸ்க் வழியாகப் பூட் செய்திடும்படி அமைப்போம்.

இதில் பிரச்னை ஏற்பட்டால் சீடியில் ஓபரேட்டிங் சிஸ்டத்தினை வைத்துக் கொண்டு, முதலில் சீடி வழியாக ஓபரேட்டிங் சிஸ்டத்தினைத் தேடும் வகையில் அமைக்கலாம். எந்த மாற்றங்களை ஏற்படுத்தினாலும் பயாஸ் விண்டோவினை விட்டு வெளியேறுகையில் மாற்றங்களை சேவ் செய்திட வேண்டும்.

இதற்கெனக் காட்டப்படும் மெசேஜ் விண்டோவினைப் பார்த்துச் சரியான கீகளை அழுத்தி சேவ் செய்திட வேண்டும். சேவ் செய்த பின்னர் இந்த மாற்றங்களை இயக்க மீண்டும் ஒரு முறை கணணியை பூட் செய்திட வேண்டும்.

No 'fountain of youth'

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Low testosterone is a risk factor only for cardiovascular disease. Image: Henrik5000/iStockphoto A new study of older Western Australian men has revealed that testosterone might not be the fountain of youth. Published online this week in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, researchers from The University of Western Australia's Western Australian Centre for Health and Ageing set out to explore the association between testosterone levels and cause of death. They confirmed earlier studies suggesting that men with low testosterone were more likely to die of cardiovascular disease. But lead author and WA Centre for Health and Ageing researcher Zoë Hyde said low testosterone levels were not linked to death from other diseases, which was surprising. "Previous studies suggested that men with low testosterone levels are likely to die earlier, and some researchers have argued that testosterone therapy might improve longevity," Ms Hyde said. "However, our results suggest that low testosterone is a risk factor only for cardiovascular disease, and do not provide support for more widespread use of testosterone." Testosterone therapy is available in Australia only for men whose levels have been found to be low on testing and are experiencing symptoms of testosterone deficiency. Ms Hyde said it was premature to recommend testosterone therapy to prevent cardiovascular disease. "Although our study suggests that preventing testosterone deficiency might have some health benefits, we need to first conduct clinical trials of testosterone therapy to see if these findings are real, and to also properly evaluate the risks of therapy," she said. Ms Hyde said sex hormones played an important role in maintaining health and quality of life, particularly as their concentrations changed over time. The research forms part of the Health In Men Study (HIMS) that has been following a group of men living in Perth, Western Australia since 1996 and is the largest study of ageing men in Australia.  It involves community-dwelling men aged in their 70s and 80s but excludes men receiving hormonal therapy or men with prostate cancer. Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.

Research eyes energy-saving fluoros

THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

The shift to fluorescent lighting means people are now being exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Image: The Australian National University The global trend towards using fluorescent globes instead of incandescent ones as a strategy to beat climate change could be increasing eye disease, according to new research by scientists at The Australian National University. Published today in the American Journal of Public Health, the new study has found that fluorescent lighting may cause a 12 per cent rise in UV-related eye diseases plus an extra 3000 cataract cases and 7500 cases of pterygia in Australia each year. Lead author Dr Helen Walls from the National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health at ANU said moves to sustainability and a low-carbon economy had involved a shift toward more energy-efficient lighting. “Many people worldwide are exposed to artificial light sources at home and at work which until recently, mainly entailed incandescent lighting,” she said. “The shift to fluorescent lighting means those people are now being exposed to ultraviolet radiation, which is compounded by increasing urbanisation and workers spending more of their work time in buildings instead of fields or other outside locations. “The safe range of light to avoid exposing the eye to potentially damaging ultraviolet radiation is 2000 to 3500K and greater than 500 nanometres. Some fluorescent lights fall outside this safe range.” UV radiation has been considered a cause of cataracts and pterygia because the photoreceptors in the retina are susceptible to damage by light, particularly UV light, which can lead to cell death and disease. Cumulative dose is also an important component of UV exposure. Dr Walls said greater control of UV exposure from fluorescent lights was required. “The replacement of incandescent lamps with fluorescent lighting will lead to significant reductions in greenhouse gases, however, such shifts may increase the population burden of eye disease,” she said. “The evidence suggests that the least hazardous approach to lighting is to use warm-white tubes or incandescent bulbs of lower colour temperature and longer wave-length light rather than fluorescent lamps. “Furthermore, we would recommend that UV filters become a required standard, and that further research to improve lighting from artificial sources be carried out.” Editor's Note: Original news release can be found here.

Top 10 ranked economies on ease of doing business:

Mystical Dream

Loreena McKennitt)A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
There that my heart is longing for
All for the love of you

A painting hangs on an ivy wall
Nestled in the emerald moss
The eyes declare a truce of trust
Then it draws me far away
Where deep in the desert twilight
Sand melts in pools of the sky
Darkness lays her crimson cloak
Your lamps will call, call me home

And so it's there that my homage's due
Clutch-ed by the still of the night
Now I feel, feel you move
And every breath, breath is full
So it's there my homage's due
Clutch-ed by the still of the night
Even the distance feels so near
All for the love of you

A clouded dream on an earthly night
Hangs upon the crescent moon
A voiceless song in an ageless light
Sings at the coming dawn
Birds in flight are calling there
Where the heart moves the stones
There at my heart is longing for
All for the love of you

Mystical Dream

Sufi Music (Sukun)

Aerospace Entrepreneur/Motelier Robert Bigelow Thinks the Chinese Will Take Over the Moon

By Dan Nosowitz

Claiming the Moon We were there first. NASA

Robert Bigelow is not a small name in the space world. His company Bigelow Aerospace is a pioneer of inflatable spacecraft, and the company has made waves with its plans for an inflatable, orbiting space hotel (not coincidentally, Bigelow's fortunes come from his ownership of the Budget Suites motel chain). So when he says something about the future of space travel, we listen. On the other hand, when he says that China is planning to take over the moon circa 2025, we listen, but with skepticism.

At the International Symposium for Personal and Commercial Spaceflight, Bigelow laid out a timeline of a wild-west-style Chinese takeover of the moon, calling China "the new gunslinger in Dodge." Bigelow's timeline notes China's increasing success in space projects, up to and including last month's launch of the Tiangong Space Station module. He further declares that the moon's abundance in helium-3, a possible future fuel, but more importantly that "claiming" the moon would be a major glory moment for China. The timeline suggests that China will complete surveys of the moon, withdraw from the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 and formally claim the moon as part of China. Bigelow even suggested diverting 10 percent of the defense budget--some $60 billion--to preventing this moon theft.

So, we are skeptical. For lots of reasons. First, there's no evidence that China has any designs on such a plan, which of course they couldn't execute anytime soon, because their space technology is years, possibly decades, behind Russia's and the European Space Agency's. (Behind us, too, but we've sort of taken ourselves out of that game.) For another thing, there's no guarantee that the moon's raw materials will actually be of any use for energy here on Earth.MSNBC contacted an expert, Dean Cheng of the "conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation," who said anything "inflammatory" like claiming possession of the moon is "not likely." And Bigelow may be a private space agency pioneer and a damn fine budget hotelier, but the guy does not exactly have a background in international relations.

[MSNBC]

iPhone Includes Russia's GLONASS Nav System Alongside GPS

And the Russians couldn't be happier

By Clay Dillow

A GLONASS-K Satellite Model at CeBIT 2011 Russia has been upgrading GLONASS to improve performance, though it was set back last year when a botched rocket launch cost it three satellites that would have expanded the constellation. MKonair via Wikimedia

Congratulations, comrades. Though it was no real secret, the news is sweeping Russia this week that Apple’s new iPhone 4S models are tapping that country’s GLONASS navigation system alongside the usual GPS, marking “the first time the Russian system reached the world market,” as one notable Russian business daily put it.”

GLONASS has its roots in the Cold War, where it was conceived of and developed as the Soviet response to America’s Global Positioning System. It is less precise than GPS, though the Russians have been building on the system since development began in 1976, and because it works on a completely different set of satellites than GPS it can provide better coverage in places where GPS isn’t so good.

The news has apparently struck a chord with Russians and created something of a Web sensation there even though this was no big secret to begin with--GLONASS is listed on the iPhone 4S specs page right next to GPS. For those of us who have been using and more or less satisfied with GPS for years, it’s perhaps more of an interesting peculiarity. An iconic California company tapping Soviet-born navigation tech? What would The Gipper think?

[AFP]