Mermaid

A mermaid is a mythical sea creature with the head and torso of a human woman and the tail of a fish. The male version is known as a merman, and the generic term is merfolk. The mermaid appears in folklore from all over the world, including Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, West and Central Africa, and Japan. As would be expected of any mythical figure with such a wide geographical range, the mermaid has many variations in appearance. The EuropeanMelusine, for example, often has a serpent's tail or two tails, sometimes in addition to wings.

Mermaids also vary in their reported behavior. Some are dangerous, such as the Greek Sirenwho sings enchanting songs from the shore in order to bewitch sailors or lure them to their death. Others are benevolent and may grant the wishes of those who see them. In Japan, eating the flesh of a mermaid is said to confer immortality. In the earliest known mermaid lore, heralding from first century BCE Assyria, the mermaid is a goddess who jumped into the sea in grief over the lover whom she accidentally killed.

The mermaid features extensively in the literature and art of many cultures and eras. She is the subject of one of Hans Christian Andersen's most well known fairy tales, The Little Mermaid, and the 1989 Disney movie based on it. Numerous films, cartoons, and television shows have also had the mermaid as their theme.

Proof Without Words: The Circle

Engineer Details Plans to Build a Real, Burj-Dubai-Sized Starship Enterprise in 20 Years

By Rebecca Boyle

Real Starship Enterprise BuildTheEnterprise.org

The year 2245 is just too distant — we should build and commission a real USS Enterprise right now, cracking the champagne across her hull within 20 years, according to an enterprising engineer. The gigantic ship would use ion propulsion, powered by a 1.5-GW nuclear reactor, and could reach Mars in three months and the moon in three days. Its 0.3-mile-diameter, magnetically suspended gravity wheel spinning at 2 RPM would provide 1G of gravity, and the thing looks just like the "Star Trek" ship of lore.

This project is the brainchild of an engineer who calls himself BTE Dan. As in “Build The Enterprise,” which is also the name of his brand-new website.

“We have the technological reach to build the first generation of the spaceship known as the USS Enterprise – so let’s do it,” BTE Dan writes. He even sifts through the federal budget and proposes tax hikes and spending cuts to cover the $1 trillion cost.

Though the "Star Trek" connection lends the project an air of sci-fi fun, BTE Dan is hardly the only engineer dreaming up a next-generation spaceship to the stars. DARPA's 100-Year Starshipproject is designed partly to foster ideas just like this one, from a project planning roadmap to a real ship.

The Starship Enterprise Is Big: The ship would be the largest thing built by humanity. BuildTheEnterprise.org

The so-called Gen1 Enterprise would be built in space and would serve a triple function, as a space station, spaceport and traveling spaceship “all in one!” BTE Dan says. It won’t cruise the galaxy at light speed, unfortunately, but it could explore new worlds right in our own neighborhood, providing a constant acceleration to reach distant targets much more quickly. Its first missions would be to the moon, Venus, Mars and maybe Europa. Universe Today notes the ship’s onboard laser would be used to sear through the moon’s ice crust to allow a ship to drop into its oceans. Three additional nuclear reactors would provide electricity for this laser and other ship needs.

BTE Dan also crunched some numbers to prove he’s really serious. He proposes a matrix of tax increases and budget cuts in defense, health and human services, housing and urban development, education, energy and more. But he promises they will be small cuts and small tax increases, Universe Today notes. “These changes to spending and taxes will not sink the republic,” BuildTheEnterprise.org reads.

BTE Dan identifies himself as a “systems engineer and electrical engineer who has worked at a Fortune 500 company for the past 30 years,” Universe Today says. He is on Twitter as @BTEDan and he says he’s setting up a Facebook page where you can all go and like his project. His website keeps crashing, but we’ll let you know if we hear back from him.

[via Universe Today]

Drink water immediately after waking up every morning.

It is popular in Japan today to
drink water immediately after
waking up every morning.
Furthermore, scientific tests
have proven its value. We
publish below a description of
use of water for our readers. For
old and serious diseases as well
as modern illnesses the water
treatment had been found
successful by a Japanese medical
society as a 100% cure for the
following diseases:
Headache, body ache, heart
system, arthritis, fast heart beat,
epilepsy, excess fatness,
bronchitis asthma, TB,
meningitis, kidney and urine
diseases, vomiting,gastritis,
diarrhea, piles, diabetes,
constipation, all eye diseases,
womb, cancer and menstrual
disorders, ear nose and throat
diseases.
METHOD OF TREATMENT
1. As you wake up in the
morning before brushing teeth,
drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water
2. Brush and clean the mouth
but do not eat or drink anything
for 45 minute
3.. After 45 minutes you may eat
and drink as normal.
4. After 15 minutes of breakfast,
lunch and dinner do not eat or
drink anything for 2 hours
5. Those who are old or sick and
are unable to drink 4 glasses of
water at the beginning may
commence by taking little water
and gradually increase it to 4
glasses per day.
6. The above method of
treatment will cure diseases of
the sick and others can enjoy a
healthy life.
The following list gives the
number of days of treatment
required to cure/control/ reduce
main diseases:
1. High Blood Pressure (30 days)
2. Gastric (10 days)
3. Diabetes (30 days)
4. Constipation (10 days)
5. Cancer (180 days)
6. TB (90 days)
7. Arthritis patients should
follow the above treatment
only for 3 days in the 1st week,
and from 2nd week onwards –
daily..
This treatment method has no
side effects, however at the
commencement of treatment
you may have to urinate a few
times.
It is better if we continue this
and make this procedure as a
routine work in our life. Drink
Water and Stay healthy and
Active.
This makes sense .. The Chinese
and Japanese drink hot tea with
their meals not cold water.
Maybe it is time we adopt their
drinking habit while eating!!!
Nothing to lose, everything to
gain...
For those who like to drink cold
water, this article is applicable
to you.
It is nice to have a cup of cold
drink after a meal. However, the
cold water will solidify the oily
stuff that you have just
consumed. It will slow down
the digestion.
Once this 'sludge' reacts with
the acid, it will break down and
be absorbed by the intestine
faster than the solid food. It will
line the intestine.
Very soon, this will turn into
fats and lead to cancer. It is best
to drink hot soup or warm
water after a meal.
A serious note about heart
attacks:
· Women should know that not
every heart attack symptom is
going to be the left arm hurting,
· Be aware of intense pain in the
jaw line.
· You may never have the first
chest pain during the course of a
heart attack.
· Nausea and intense sweating
are also common symptoms.
· 60% of people who have a
heart attack while they are
asleep do not wake up.
· Pain in the jaw can wake you
from a sound sleep. Let's be
careful and be aware. The more
we know, the better chance we
could survive...
A cardiologist says if everyone
who gets this mail sends it to
everyone they know, you can be
sure that we'll save at least one
life.
Please be a true friend and send
this article to all your friends
you care about.
DON'T IGNORE SHARE IT. THIS
MIGHT SAVE SOMEONE'S
LIFE.

Beetroot Thuvaiyal Recipe:

Ingredients:

Beetroot - 1 no
Urdu Dall - 2 tsp
Channa Dall - 2 tsp
coconut fresh grated - 4 tsp
red chilles - 6 nos (according to your taste)
salt - according to the taste
Pepper - 1 tsp
Mustard - 1/2 tsp
Tamarind - 1 big marble size
Oil - 1 tsp
Asafoedita - 1/4 tsp

Method:

Take thick and deep pan and add the oil bring to boil to fry the items one buy one, by adding mustard first.
After the mustard add the asafoedita, then urdu dall and channe dall, then pepper, later red chillies and then finally beeetroot.
Close the pan and allow the beet root to cook without adding water and then keep stiring now and then.
After frying, bring them to room temperature and then grind them in the mixie jar with soaked tamarind and fresh grated coconut.
If desired can add onion while frying.
But tastes great without onion and your Beetroot thuvaiyal is ready now.
You can simply mix this in hot rice adding ghee and eat with salads.
Or keep it as a side dist for Dosa, Idly, roti or chappati.

கேள்வரகு – ராகி களி

தேவையானப் பொருட்கள் :

இரண்டு பேருக்கு

4 டம்ளர்* தண்ணீர்
2 டம்ளர்* கேள்வரகு – ராகி மாவு

* 225ml அளவு டம்ளர்(காபி டம்ளர்).

செய்முறை:

அடுப்பில் பாத்திரத்தை வைத்து அதில் 4 டம்ளர் தண்ணீரை விட்டு கொதிக்க விடவும்.தண்ணீர் நன்கு கொதித்தவுடன் கேள்வரகு மாவை கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாய் கொதிக்கும் நீரில் போட்டுக் கொண்டே கிளறவும்.கட்டி கட்டாமல் கிளறுதல் முக்கியம்.(ரவா கிண்டுதல் போல.)

பின்னர் மிதமான தீயில் வைத்து வேக விடவும்.மாவு அடியில் ஒட்டாது கிளறிக் கொண்டே இருக்கவும்.மாவு கட்டி கட்டியிருந்தால் உடைத்துவிட்டு கிளறவும்.மாவு கலவை இறுகி களி போல வந்ததும் இறக்கி பரிமாறலாம்.களி சூடாக உண்டால் ருசி அதிகம்.

சாப்பிடும் முறை:

களியை சிறு உருண்டையாக உருட்டி தொட்டுக் கொள்ள இருப்பதை தொட்டு அப்படியே விழுங்க வேண்டும் – மென்று சாப்பிட்டால் ருசி இருக்காது.களியில் ஒட்டியிருக்கும் காய் / கறியை வாயில் தனியே பிரித்து மென்று சாப்பிடுதல் தனி சாமர்த்தியம்.

ஆறிய களியில் தயிர் ஊற்றி சாப்பிட்டால் நன்றாக இருக்கும்.சிறு உருண்டையாக பியத்து போட்டு தயிர் ஊற்றி தேவையான அளவு உப்பு போட்டு கூழ் போல பிசைந்து சாப்பிடுங்கள்.

சாப்பிட்டாச்சா?! என்னது களி கிண்டிய பாத்திரத்தை கழுவ போறீங்களா?! இருங்க பாத்திரத்தில இன்னும் களி ஒட்டி இருக்கு பாருங்க , அதுக்கு என்னவா?! அகா என்ன இப்படி கேட்டுடீங்க.அதுல தண்ணீர் ஊற்றி வைங்க காலைல தயிர் ஊற்றி கூழ் செயது சின்ன வெங்காயம் கடிச்சு குடிச்சு பாருங்க.அதன் ருசியே தனி.

தொட்டுக் கொள்ள :

கீரை கடைசல் , பாசி பயிறு கடைசல் , கோழி / ஆட்டுக் கறி / மீன் குழம்பு என எல்லாமே – எதுவுமே களிக்கு நல்ல கூட்டணிதான்.

குறிப்பு :

1.) பாத்திரம் – குண்டா(வாய் சிறிதான பாத்திரம்) வகையாக இருந்தால் கிளறுதல் எளிது

2.) களி கிண்ட தட்டையான நீளமான மர கரண்டி கடையில் கிடைக்கும் இல்லாவிட்டால் தோசை திருப்பியை உபயோகிக்கலாம்.

3.) உருண்டை / மொத்தை பிடக்க தனி உபகரணம் உண்டு ஆனால் சென்னையில் கிடைக்கவில்லை.கரண்டியில் எடுத்து பறிமாறலாம்.

4.) கேள்வரகு – ராகிக்கு பதில் கம்பு / சோள / கோதுமை மாவு சேர்த்தும் களி கிண்டலாம்.

5.) மாவு கட்டி கட்டாமல் கிளற தெரியாதென்றால் , மாவு போட்டு கிளறும் முன் கொஞ்சம் பழைய சாதம் அல்லது சம்பா ரவையை சேர்த்துக் கொள்ளலாம் – மாவு கட்டி கட்டாமல் கிளற இது உதவும்.(மாவு அளவை ஏற்றாட்போல் குறைத்துக் கொள்ளவும்.)

6.) சர்க்கரை உள்ளவர்களுக்கு நல்ல உணவு.

முட்டை கருவாடு மிளகு குழம்பு செய்யும் முறை

‎

தேவையான பொருட்கள்

வஞ்சிரம் கருவாடு : 3 துண்டு

முட்டை : 3

மிளகு சீரகம் : 25 கிராம்

நாட்டு பூண்டு : 30 பல்

நல்லெண்ணை : 50 கிராம்

புளி : எலுமிச்சம்பழம் அளவு

உப்பு : தேவையான அளவு

செய்முறை:

மிளகு சீரகத்தை தண்ணீர் விட்டு நன்றாக அரைத்து கொள்ளவும். பூண்டை உரித்து அதில் பாதியை ஒன்றிரண்டாக தட்டிக்கொள்ளவும். வாணலியில் நல்லெண்ணை ஊற்றி அதில் முழுதாக உள்ள பூண்டை வதக்கவும். பிறகு தட்டிய பூண்டையும் வதக்கி அதனுடன் அரைத்து வைத்துள்ள மிளகுசீரகத்தை போட்டு நன்றாக வதக்கி கருவாடையும் போட்டு பொரிந்தவுடன் புளியை கரைத்து ஊற்றி உப்பு போட்டு கொதிக்க விடவும். கொதித்தவுடன் அடுப்பை சிம்மில் வைத்து முட்டையை உடைத்து ஊற்றி வாணலியை மூடி வைத்து முட்டையை வேகவிடவும். சிறிது நேரம் கழித்து முட்டையை திருப்பி போட்டு வேகவிட்டு அடுப்பை அணைக்கவும். சுவையான முட்டை கருவாடு மிளகு குழம்பு தயார்.

குறிப்பு : இந்த குழம்பிற்கு நல்லெண்ணை தான் ஊற்றவேண்டும். குழம்பில் அதிகம் தண்ணீர் ஊற்றக் கூடாது.

கணமேனும் அவனை மறக்கிலேன்!

என் மனவெளியில் விதைக்கப்பட்ட வலிகளில் இருந்துதான் வாழ்விருப்பின் அடையாளம் அர்த்தப்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அவ்வலியின் உச்சமே என்னுள் மலைசுமக்கும் மறத்தையும் தந்தது. என் தல யாத்திரைகள் ஒவ்வொன்றும் தங்குமடங்களிலேயே நிறைவுற்றுப் போயினவெனினும்… மாற்றீடாய் தங்குமடங்களைத் தரிசனத்துக்கான தலங்களாய் ஆக்கும் திறனைத் தந்ததும் அவ்வலிகளே. வலிகள் ஏனோ வற்றாத ஊற்றாய்… பீறிட்டுக் கொண்டிருந்தன. இருந்தும் என் மனவாழம் அறியாமலவை தோற்றே போயின. குருசேஸ்த்திரத்தில் என் வாழ்வு பாண்டவர்கள் பக்கத்தில் இருந்தாலும் துரியோதனன் எனக்கு உயிர்ப்பிச்சை தந்துள்ளான். அர்ச்சுணன் கையில் நாகஸ்திரம் இருந்திருந்தால்… அது பலமுறை ஏவப்பட்டிருப்பதுடன் பல தலைகளையும் கொய்திருக்கும். காக்கப்பட்டவன் எவனெனினும் ‘காத்தவன்’ கடவுளல்லவா கணமேனும் அவனை மறக்கிலேன்!

The Brain's Bat Signal

by Moheb Costandi 

 

 Marching orders. Microglia (green) migrate to injured neurons (red, top) but fail to do so when they cannot detect ATP (bottom).

Credit: EMBL/Peri

Microglia are the brain's resident security guards, surveilling the organ for damage and then crawling to the injury site to engulf dead neurons. Exactly how they detect problems was unclear, but researchers now show that they respond to an SOS signal from dying cells that is relayed throughout the brain. The finding may have implications for the treatment of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

The study builds on previous work in zebrafish. Developmental biologist Francesca Peri of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues created genetically engineered versions of the animals that produced microglia labelled with green fluorescent protein, a glowing compound frequently used in laboratory research. Zebrafish embryos have transparent brains, which allowed Peri and her team to track the microglia in real time under the microscope. The researchers reported in 2008 that the embryonic zebrafish brain is patrolled by about 20 of the cells.

Other researchers have shown that the ability of microglia to engulf dead neurons depends on adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a ubiquitous energy source and signalling molecule that is released from damaged cells. But ATP is rapidly degraded after being released from cells and cannot act as a long-range signal.

In the new study, Peri and her colleagues used lasers to destroy small numbers of neurons in the genetically modified zebrafish. In response, all the microglia migrated to the injury site, suggesting that they are indeed attracted by a long-range signal. But what could it be?

Further experiments revealed that injured cells initiate a wave of elevated calcium ion concentration that travels through the brain, and that the microglia only begin migrating when the wave reaches them. The wave sweeps through the brain at approximately 14 micrometers per second; the microglia turn their fingerlike appendages in the direction of the wave and then begin migrating toward the injury site within one minute. The spread of the wave was related to the extent of the damage, so killing fewer cells produced a smaller wave detectable only by microglia in the immediate vicinity. Adding a drug that blocked the calcium wave prevented microglia from migrating to the injury site, the team reports today in Developmental Cell.

In a final set of experiments, the researchers showed that the calcium waves are generated by a neurotransmitter called glutamate, which is released from damaged cells. Glutamate activates receptors on neighboring cells, causing them to propagate the wave and release ATP.

Microglial cells may malfunction in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, and there is some evidence that they worsen the damage caused by a stroke. The new findings, says Peri, implicate the calcium waves as potential targets for drug treatments. A drug could stop microglia in their tracks, for example, or reroute their migration.

The findings provide "a convincing explanation of how dying neurons attract microglia," says Frank Kirchhoff, a glia physiologist at the University of Saarland in Homburg, Germany, who was not involved in the study. He cautions, however, that the experiments should be repeated in mammals. Still, says neurophysiologist Alexej Verkhratsky of the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom, the microglial response to brain injury in zebrafish is "strikingly similar to that of mammals," suggesting that what Peri and her team observed is applicable to humans.

Kirchhoff is skeptical, however, that the calcium wave could be a drug target. Calcium is a "promiscuous" signal used by all cells for a wide variety of processes, he notes, and thus drugs that target it could have major side effects. And despite the utility of the zebrafish model for sussing out how microglia work, drug researchers are going to have to look elsewhere, says Verkhratsky. "[They're] limited as a disease model, because neurodegeneration does not occur in fish."

Source: ScienceNow
http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2012/05/the-brains-bat-signal.html?ref=em

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

Cognitive bias modification: A new approach to treating emotional disorders

(Medical Xpress) -- A new approach to preventing and treating anxiety and depression may be used to improve the emotional health of fly-in fly-out workers and people living in bushfire-prone areas.

The new approach, known as cognitive bias modification (CBM), has been developed by researchers involved in a world-leading study at The University of Western Australia.

Led by Winthrop Professor Colin MacLeod, from UWA's Elizabeth Rutherford Memorial Centre for the Advancement of Research on Emotion (CARE), the team has already published studies that show how CBM works for anxiety and addictions.

The treatment works by altering automatic and unconscious biases in the way people selectively process emotional information, using simple computer programs and smart phone applications. It can be effective after only a few 15-minute sessions and does not use drug or counselling therapy. All it requires is to sit in front of a computer or use a smartphone app and access a program that subtly alters harmful thought patterns.

CARE researchers are now working with the Australian Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre to evaluate whether CBM can be used to improve the emotional and behavioural preparedness of people exposed to the threat of bushfire.

Professor MacLeod also plans to investigate CBM's potential contribution to the prevention and remediation of depression in rural and remote areas of Western Australia, with a particular focus on how computer-delivered and smartphone-based CBM techniques can enhance the emotional health of fly-in fly-out workers. FIFO staff often work in isolated regions with limited access to traditional mental health services.

In addition, the Romanian Complex Exploratory Research Project program has awarded Professor MacLeod almost $2 million funding to lead three teams of Transylvanian researchers in a longitudinal study of anxiety and depression in adolescents. The study will combine CBM techniques with genetic and developmental approaches.

CARE has succeeded in attracting funding for several international collaborations. They include postdoctoral research fellow Dr Patrick Clarke and PhD student Ben Grafton, who will carry out collaborative work on CBM with colleagues at Oxford University and postdoctoral research fellow Lies Notebaert, funded by the Australian Bushfire CRC, whose work on CBM will involve collaboration with partners at Ghent University in Belgium.

Professor MacLeod has also won funding to support collaborative CBM research with colleagues at Harvard University where UWA PhD student Dan Rudaizky is currently working with Professor Rich McNally to evaluate a new iPhone app developed by CARE to produce beneficial cognitive change.

"We are delighted our researchers are committed to ensuring their internationally influential work also delivers practical benefits to the Western Australian community," Professor MacLeod said.

Provided by University of Western Australia

"Cognitive bias modification: A new approach to treating emotional disorders." May 28th, 2012. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-05-cognitive-bias-modification-approach-emotional.html

Posted by
Robert Karl Stonjek

The latest fad–Facebook addiction disorder

When you start telling people “I’ll Facebook you” instead of “I’ll see you around”, its time to face reality and accept that you are the latest victim of the FAD – Facebook addiction disorder.

Just the other day, I read that Facebook was going to enforce Timelines on everybody by 2nd February.

My first reaction? Panic!

Why, you ask? I had to choose a new cover photo you see! I had to find an appropriate picture with the perfect dimensions – something that made me look cool without making it seem that I tried too hard. With so many conditions to fulfill, panic was an obvious reaction.

So you think I’m overdramatizing things?
Good morning Facebook!

Don’t tell me you don’t start your day with Facebook. That you don’t log in at wee hours to check what your friends have been up to. Or that you don’t spy around your ex’s profiles to see whether they’ve been poking random people.

What is the first thing you do once you get up? Brush? Pick up the newspaper? Get a cup of chai? Head to the loo? Or do you, like me, head straight to your laptop? Before I have even finished rubbing the sleep away from my eyes, I’m on my wall, wondering what all happened in my friends’ lives while I slept.

On most days, there are no new friend requests, no new messages and no new notifications. Disappointment hits me when I realize that none of my 500+ friends missed me (at least on Facebook) for eight whole hours!!
It’s just a FAD




I then spend a good half an hour surfing through my news feed, checking out random pictures and statuses people put up. I login again from my phone and then from work and then again when I’m home! Sound familiar? I’m not surprised. FAD or Facebook Addiction Disorder has just started to gain momentum as the newest disorder to hit the town!

If you are still not convinced, check your browser. Do you have Facebook open on multiple tabs? Do you keep hitting refresh to update your newsfeed? Do 8 out of 10 of your friends seem unknown to you? Do you keep checking your status update and get disappointed if no one “likes“it or comments on it? You my friend, may be afflicted with FAD!

Don’t worry, there’s help at hand! If you think things are spiralling out of control, just add a cute and simple reminder, like a cross on the back side of your hand. Every time you reach for your laptop, you’ll be reminded why you put it there. Trust me, it acts more as a deterrent than as a reminder. Just decreasing the frequency with which you check Facebook helps too. Every minute you spend away from your computer and Facebook helps you overcome FAD!
All addicts are not born equal

To make it easier, I’ve listed out some common types of Facebook addicts. Take a look and see if you can spot yourself!

The lurkers: These are the ones who see everything, read everything but leave no sign that they were ever online. No comments, no shares, heck, these people don’t even hit the like button!

The likers: Speaking of the like button, there are those who seem to hit the like button for everything they see. At their worst, they may end up liking their own status messages!

The attention seekers: These people are always active on Facebook. These people upload pictures, put up status messages with an alarming regularity and usually have more than 1000+ friends.

The gamers: These are the people who flood your newsfeed with random requests from Farmville, Castleville, Mafia wars and the likes. They may even invite you to be their neighbours or join their gang!





Are you one of them?

Experts say the first step to solving a problem is admitting to it. So if you did find yourself in the list above, take a deep breath and repeat after me, I’m I’m(insert your name here) and I’m a Facebook addict.

Now go to your wall and do a status update about it. I know you’re dying to.

-- 
Best Regards,
Nabarun.

Best Dinner placess.....