The H1N1 anarchy

1 The H1N1 pandemic is really in existence. The disease is prevalent all over the country and world.
2 Though mortality is low (0.4%), the one who dies, dies 100 %: and that is significant.
3 All those who are supposed to handle the epidemic are passing the buck. Nobody knows what to do.
4 A national disaster management policy decision on H1N1 is urgently required.
5 Standardized case and community management protocols are to be evolved.
6 H1N1 PCR test. Is unsatisfactory. Is not diagnostic. PCR negative person can have H1N1 infection. Is not FDA approved. Emergency manufacturing license will expire in April 2010. Is manufactured by Focus Diagnostics, a subsidiary of American company Quest. Said to be costing Rs 10,000 per test. Is the cost true? The company Quest has to be booked for exploitation under monopoly and restrictive trade practices act: unless government is hand in glove with the company. Over-reliance on laboratory is the problem. The H1N1 epidemic should be handled like any other viral epidemic eg. measles, chicken pox, mumps. In these diseases we do not go for lab diagnosis.
7 Viral culture is a more specific and reliable test. Govt should allocate emergency funds to develop viral culture centers all over India, in private and government sector.
8 Tamiflu (Fluvir) is manufactured by ROSCHE. Supposed to cost Rs 10000 per strip of 10 tablets. Who has decided this cost? Is there any Government control on cost? The ROSCHE has to be booked for exploitation under monopoly and restrictive trade practices act: unless government is hand in glove with the company.
9 Isolation intensive care units (Real, not on paper) be established in private and government sector. Trained medical, paramedical manpower is as important as equipment.
10 Private hospitals be allowed to admit, treat H1N1 cases. Government spends for tests and tamiflu.
11 A special impunity ( Protection against legal action) be declared for those who handle H1N1 cases. The H1N1 mortality is not equal to medical negligence.
12 Vaccine development be encouraged in private and government sector using all possible economic measures.
13 Any activity related to H1N1 be 100 % tax free.
14 Government takes this seriously. The matter needs more attention than a ‘T V channel byte’

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Spirituality and Science: Is There A Connection?

The connection between spirituality and science and the brain and the God, has been a matter of research since ages. While God relates to spirituality and the brain relates to science, it is still a matter of controversy if the creature called ‘God’ at all exists and if so, can the human body actually connect to Him through the path of spirituality? When millions of such questions are haunting the mind, scientific research is on a high and is constantly coming up with reports which are amazing.

Recently, a scientific research found out that it is the heart that can be what we think as the first point of contact between the so called creator and the physical body. The biggest evidence of that is the development pattern of a fetus. Research shows that in an unborn fetus, the heart starts beating even before the formation of the brain. Even when some scientists rubbish the evidences as nothing but pure science and disapprove of any existence of any link between the two, a thin line of connection appears from somewhere or the other and establishes the presence of a supernatural power.

While several religions mark God as infinite, omnipotent and beyond any transformation, science projects God as a creative process which is constantly unfolding itself and has the potential to undergo limitless expansion. The basis of science lies in seeing, measuring and proving. When certain happenings can just be limited to personal experience, science discards them as mere belief. After all, spirits cannot be detected under microscopes.

Spirituality can thus be called a paranormal science, a branch of science, which studies cases beyond the reach of the normal sensory channels and happenings that defy the laws of Science. There are certain things that cannot be perceived by ordinary human senses. Beyond the five senses, there is believed to be a sixth sense. A sense that is believed to be present in every human being but only time, sometimes practice and sometimes circumstances can lead to its discovery within us, a sense that connects the spiritual world to the physical world.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

When in Bangkok, Shop Till You Drop

If this vacation you have planned a trip to Bangkok, shopping must be featuring bright on your things to do list. If you have already included shopping on your tour, make sure to spare enough time for it. This is because; Bangkok is one of the hottest shopping destinations of the world. From the brightly lit roadside souks to the choc-a-bloc malls of the city, Bangkok offers great shopping options for one and all.

Even when you have a tight budget the shops of this city offer plenty of bargains and you can snap up good items even for small prices. The street markets are the most popular in Bangkok. Here is where you can expect to get the best bargain deals. The weekend markets and night markets are the next best places to shop while in the city. Some of the best known amongst them are the Pratunam market, Chatuchak market and Suan Lum night bazaar.

The best buys in Bangkok are its local items. Jewelry is quite popular in Bangkok and you can go for the local precious and semi-precious stone ornaments. Look out for the cultured pearls and jade jewelry. The next local specialty of the place is the Thai silk. You can choose your dressing materials from the plenty of stores here and then hire a tailor to make you a dress. The tailors here are known for their expertise in stitching clothes of any type in a couple of days.

Tourists visiting Bangkok usually love to take the locally made wooden souvenirs back home. Those of you, for who budget is not a concern, they can go for the gorgeous crystal items, usually sold in the malls here. Thus from the bustling road side markets to the gleaming and towering shopping plazas, Bangkok has loads of options for you to shop till you drop.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Panjabi Wedding

A Panjabi wedding is the most glamorous of all Indian weddings. Smeared with colors and fireworks, here you can enjoy a gala time while witnessing some of the most important rituals pertinent to their culture. Unlike a formal engagement followed by a ring exchanging ceremony, Panjabis go for a Roka Ceremony. With Roka the bride and the groom are unofficially accepted as couples to be married in the near future. On this pious occasion, the maternal uncle of the girl offers her a nose ring, which she should wear on the day of her marriage.

Just ten days before the marriage takes place the Tilak ceremony. On this occasion the bride’s family pays a visit to the groom’s place to offer him some special gifts along with basket full of dried fruits and sweetmeats. The father in law of the groom blesses him with after offering him a red tilak on his forehead. In turn the groom’s family too sends the bride jewelry, dried fruits, coconut and a traditional veil. This veil also known as the chunni is usually of high importance to the groom’s family, as it gets passed down from generation to generation.

Sangeet and Mehendi
With days to go for the marriage begin the function of Sangeet. On this occasion, both the boy and the girl hold up a joint function, where music and live band perform for the entertainment of both the families. Every member of the groom’s family and the bride’s family must participate in the Sangeet and shake a leg with the bride and the groom.

With three days to go for the marriage begins the Mehendi ceremony. After the mehendi ceremony the bride is not supposed to step outdoors! With henna paste applied on her feet and hands she is expected to begin her countdown!

Wedding Day
The bride is expected to take a holy bath early in the morning of her wedding day. Soon after her relatives and friends smear her face and body with an antiseptic paste made of turmeric and other herbs. After taking another bath, she finally offers her last prayers as a maiden to the lord. Soon after the bride is given her bridal chura by her maternal uncle. The chura is a combination of red and ivory bangles. The chura is soaked in milk the previous night, so that the bride can wear it without much hassle. The bride is expected to wear her chura for at least one year, as a mark of her new status!

At evening, arrives the groom riding on his horse. His face is generally covered with a floral veil called sehra. On stepping down he is welcomed by the bride’s party with garlands and blessings. Soon after the bride and the groom exchange garlands between themselves. With the holy fire being lit, it is then time to take the auspicious rounds. On completing four rounds the bride and the groom take seven steps in the direction of North. With it the whole ceremony comes to an end and the bride is then escorted by her husband to a whole new world!

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Owls- The Night watchers

Owls are night flying birds. They sleep all the day and start hunting in the night. They are birds of prey. They have a very good night vision. Also their hearing is so clear that they locate the prey by sound itself. They are classified as Nocturnal group of creatures, which is of animals active at nights. The calls of an owl are very typical and have a frightful effect in the darkness.

It is estimated that there are 134 species of owls in the world. They are different in size and color. Some of them are Barn owl, Burrowing owl, Great Gray owl, Screech owl and Snow owl. Many of these names are derived from their shape and color. They do live in all types of places irrespective of the climatic conditions. Owl appears to be big and fat. But the big size is due to their loose and fluffy feather. Their wings have soft edge feathers for a noiseless fly.

They are keen watchers of the night. They listen to all kinds of sounds including the sound of moth wings. They hunt rodents mainly and in this way they are useful to mankind. The smaller species of owls eat moths and other insects. Large owls can eat mice, rabbits, snakes etc. The big ones hunt smaller owls too. Its beak is very sharp and helps them to tear the body of a large prey. Indigestible bones and other portions are coughed up in the form of a compact wad. It is called pellet. Owls used to raid the nests of other birds when they sleep. Owls are the most awful enemies of crows. The owls try to leap on sleeping crows, and in return, if an owl is appeared before crows in the daytime, the entire mob of crows will attack it.

Their eyes are so large and special that anybody will notice it. Their eyes have dark pupils and in the darkness the pupil can widen to the entire size of the eye. The peculiarity is that the eyes are fixed and owl has to turn the head to look around. It can rotate the head to look backward. The eye sockets hold the eyeball very strongly and it helps the owl to have a very long and straight vision. It is highly helpful in hunting in the night. Their eyes have a third eyelid too. It is very transparent and meant for cleaning and moisturizing. Their ears are hidden inside a fold of skin on each side of the head.

Owl calls are varied from species to species. In the mating season, their calls can be heard frequently. During the other seasons they call back and forth to know about one another’s movements.

Nests are also different for different species. Some have it on the ground and some nest underground. Most of them are living in tree holes or cavities. They use deserted nest of other birds too. Their eggs are white in color, but the size varies as their own body size. They lay two to seven eggs at a time. Newborn owls are fed by their parents with regurgitated food. Soon they start eating torn bits of prey. After six weeks from birth, they are able to fly and they leave the nest for hunting themselves.

Their active life in the night gives a mystery nature to them. They are harmless to humans and in one way helpful too, by reducing the population of the rodents.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Online Degree in Nursing- A Flexible Career Building Option

Online degree in nursing is intended for those who wish to pursue their career as a nurse but are unable to attend the campus courses due to time constraints. The best thing about securing an online degree is that you can contemplate on your career growth without quitting your existing job. There are plethora of opportunities as innumerable certified universities and colleges offer Bachelor’s or Master’s online degree in nursing. Certain institutions also offer their students with special certificate choices. Different courses have different durations varying between 2-4 years.

For gaining a Bachelor’s online degree in nursing, the candidate is required to have a valid RN (registered nurse license). He/she must also hold an associate nursing degree or a nursing diploma. For most of the candidates, it may take about eighteen to twenty-four months to complete the online degree. This degree is best for those who are already into this vocation and aspire to enhance their career prospects.

For securing a master’s online degree in nursing (MSN), the candidate needs to have a BSN degree, besides all the above mentioned requirements. The aspirant should also be currently working as a registered nurse in any health care unit. Even those candidates, who have any working experience as a registered nurse, in the past two years, are also competent for attaining online degree in nursing. As nursing is partial without proper clinical training, the online degree providers make sure to arrange for clinical training at the nearest medical facility.

To attain an online degree in nursing is more reasonable and has a shorter duration as compared to traditional nursing degrees offered by universities and colleges. . All you need to do is to complete an online form and submit the necessary educational certificates. The process is terrifically simple and hassle free.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Niger Congo Religion

One of the traditional religions of Africa, Niger Congo religion recognizes three levels of spirits. At the highest level was God, who was the First Cause or Creator of the Universe. However, he is seen as a distant figure and does not play much role in daily rituals and religion. The concept of a single Creator is a manifestation of monotheism and can be traced back to the sixth millennium BCE. The second kind of spirit as recognized by the religion, are spirits. Each territorial spirit dwells within a specific territory and influences its events. The most common examples of territories are rivers. The Niger-Delta region abounding in rivers is believed to have several territorial spirits. Other territorial domains include a drainage basin of a particular stream or some definite expanse of land. The third level of spirits is the one considered most crucial in daily rites and rituals. These are the ancestral spirits. Though not worshipped, the ancestral spirits deserve a certain amount of respect and remembrance. These spirits are believed to have the most direct manifestation on day to day events. If remembered with respect and affection, these spirits can smoothen roadblocks and remove obstacles. However, disrespecting them can wreak havoc in life. The Niger Congo people regularly pray to them and make offerings. Though all remember ancestral spirits in times of need, those remembering them in times of happiness are specially blessed by these spirits.

Evil, according to Niger Congo religion, can be brought about by the dead or living. Neglected ancestral spirits or the spirit of an ancestor, who was evil and malicious during his lifetime, can cause damage to people. Also, envy, hate and malice of a living person can bring evil and also cause negative happenings. People who were faced with a long term illness or family misfortune turned to a doctor-diviner, more commonly known in English as a ‘witch doctor’. This man or woman was a person who had a good knowledge of medicines from natural sources and also good at reading people. The job of the doctor diviner was to identify the cause of misfortune and bad happenings, especially if it was due to envy and malice of an enemy or an ancestral spirit that was not looked after well. The doctor was to prescribe remedies for such causes of negativity.

Niger-Congo Ceremonies
Niger-Congo religious practices generally include communal ceremonies and divine rites. During these rituals members of the community are overcome by 'force' or 'ashe'. They are excited to the point of going into meditative trance in response to rhythmic or mantric drumming and singing. A unique type of drumming is used for each deity or ancestor. When in the state of trance, depending upon the types of drumming or instrumental rhythms played by respected musicians, participants embody a deity or an ancestral, energy or state of mind by performing distinct ritual movements that further enhance their elevated consciousness. In Eastern terms, excite the kundalini to a specific level of awareness and circulate chi in a specific way within the body. Further, when in trance, these people can also convey messages from the departed spirits and deities to the rest of the community.

Scientists are yet to appreciate such happenings and label it as superstition in the absence of plausible explanation. But, there is more to nature than eye can see or mind can comprehend.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Nourish your Body with Natural Nutrition

Your body must get natural nutrition. This means that you must make an apt decision to provide the body with natural and organic foods that are high in nourishment. Most of the health ailments arise when our diet is not right. And so to keep the health in a tip-top condition it becomes vital that you provide your body good nourishment through natural foods. No supplements can ever give the same nourishment level as the natural foods.

While selecting the food, you must see to it that what kind of nourishment does the food serve? Keep in mind one thing that those foods, which are high in vitamins and minerals, are the best. Add fresh fruits and green vegetables to your diet, as they are high in vitamin content. You must avoid foods that are highly processed or saturated. This is because such foods have preservatives and additives, which not only harm the vitamins present in food but also affect your health in the long run.

Many times health ailments may arise because of nutritional deficiency. And so you must have a balanced and healthy diet. This can solve almost all your problems. You must choose the freshest food, which has a perfect balance of nourishment and taste. This is a step towards good health. Many health ailments can be solved by restoring right balance with the food you eat. Your body has natural healing power. And so if you include right food with right nourishment in your life, then you can alter many conditions like allergies, skin problems, infertility, weight problems etc.

Remember a poor diet can be dangerous for your health. And it may even contribute towards health problems, discomfort, acidity, obesity; allergies etc. And so it is vital to rely on natural healthy diet.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology

Nanotechnology is a field of science that aims to control individual atoms and molecules to design and manufacture extremely small electronic circuits and mechanical devices. These devices are built at the molecular level of matter. The basic unit of measurement in nanotechnology is the nanometer. The metric prefix ‘nano’ indicates a billionth part (10-9). Thus, a nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. Nanotechnology is concerned with structures between 1nm and 100 nm in size.

The term ‘nanotechnology’ was popularized by K. Eric Drexler in the 1980’s. Since then it has been widely used in electronics, medicine, bio-sensing, cosmetics, diagnostics and drug delivery and even in the food industry. In August 2008, the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies revealed that about 803 nanotech products are available for public use. Since then nearly 3-4 nanotech products have been introduced in the market each week.

Despite the widespread applications of nanotechnology, several concerns have been raised about its implications. The biggest area of concern is the impact of nanomaterials on human health and environment. These issues form the basis of the field of nanotoxicology. Nanoparticles have been observed to show unique properties compared to their larger counterparts. Nanotoxicology studies the extent of damage caused by the nanoparticles.

Extensive research on the dangers of nanotechnology has been carried out in the past few years. In a research conducted by the University of Texas, it was found that carbon nanotubes squirted into the trachea of mice caused serious inflammation of the lungs and granulomas. A granuloma is a tumor-like mass or nodule of bloated white blood cells in the lining of the lungs. About half of the mice treated to higher doses of the nanoparticles died. In a similar research in Japan, researchers showed that carbon nanotubes caused the red blood cells in mice to clump and the blood to clot. Researchers have also found an increased susceptibility to clotting in rabbits that had inhaled carbon nanoparticles. A recent study reported that alumina nanoparticles had a toxic effect on five plant species namely corn, cucumber, soybean, cabbage and carrot. The nanoparticles retarded the growth of roots in these plants. Studies that estimate the effect of nanoparticles on human health have also gained momentum recently. Toxicologists suggest that nanoparticles in air can cause adverse health effects and even death. Nanoparticles in the lungs enter the circulatory system. From there, they travel throughout the body and accumulate in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow. The particles inhaled through the nose and air passages accumulate in the brain.

However, the pace of these research efforts is slow. Most scientists believe that it will take several years to clearly assess the health and environmental risks of Nanotechnology and the extent of Nanotoxicology.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Munnar

I love travelling and though I haven’t really been able to travel as much as I would’ve liked due to time constraints, I do try my best to fit in a little vacation in my schedule whenever possible. Recently, I squeezed in a vacation to Kerala in the south of India with my husband. We decided to go there towards the end of July, even though we were warned by numerous people that its better to stay away from Kerala at that time since it was monsoon and the rains are pretty heavy there. We ignored them all and headed off to Munnar. We reached Munnar after a grueling 30 hour journey by train and then an additional 3 hour ride in a car(don’t ask me why I didn’t have the sense to travel by air). By then we were so exhausted all we wanted to do was go to our hotel. Even though it was not a tourist season we had done our bookings in advance just to be on a safe side.

We had got ourselves booked at a small resort called “igloo resort” which was a little away from the town, and if you have your own transportation it’s a good place to stay. The rooms are comfortable, not luxurious, but the best feature of the room is the balcony lined with benches and a few plants. The view from the balcony was magical. It looked down on the large beautifully manicured garden of the resort and beyond that on to the mountains with tea plantations, covered in mist and clouds giving it a dreamlike surreal quality. The houses tucked away on the mountains here and there look like little toy houses.

Later in the day we headed towards the town. The town is small and charming and since it was a slack season there were hardly any tourists around. Tiny shops lined both sides of the road where you can find everything from gold jewellery, fresh tea, coffee, homemade chocolates and every spice imaginable. There is a beautiful church in the centre of the town that is 300 years old but it’s only open for visitors on Sundays.

If you want to shop in Munnar tea is the best thing to buy. In most shops in the town you can buy fresh tea and a large number of flavored teas are available. Fresh roasted and ground coffee is also worth buying. Food is delicious in Kerala and Munnar is no exception. You wouldn’t find fancy restaurants here, but the best thing to do is eat what the locals eat. We went to a tiny restaurant in Munnar, and ordered what the owner suggested; a “Kerala meal” which turned out to be rice served with delicious fish curry and fried baby prawn fritters. All meals here are served with “sambhar” which is a delicious thick soup with vegetables and a few side dishes.

On the second day of our stay we set off to check a few of the spots around Munnar. These tourist spots turned out to be a few dams and an echo point, which predictably were swarming with tourists from neighboring cities and school kids out for a picnic. It wasn’t all disappointing though. We enjoyed the ride thoroughly, I would suggest you to hire a car and explore the narrow winding roads around Munnar. Every place we went was exquisitely beautiful, mountains covered with tea looking like plush green carpets, eucalyptus trees everywhere and the air was so clean and fresh. The beauty of the place calms you down instantly and the people of Munnar make it even better, friendly and always ready to help.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Love thy neighbor

In the Indian community, the neighbors are probably the most important people after the first relatives. And in some cases they are even more important than family. Neighbors in India make it their own business to make sure of your well being, offer help in crisis situations and lend an eager ear when you feel like gossiping.

It’s actually difficult to understand this concept if you haven’t really lived in India for a while, but I’ll try my best to explain. As a rule women neighbors (especially if they are housewives and not working) spend a considerable amount of their time in finding out what is happening in everyone else’s family in the neighborhood through a very efficient grapevine. And when they fail to get the information they require they wouldn’t hesitate to walk into your home and conversationally ask you directly about it. They know who visits your house, at what time, what new assets you have acquired (and this becomes a source of envy and is immediately demanded from the poor husband!) and generally everything that goes on in your house.

Of course there are always exceptions. There are the “Good neighbors” even if they are few. Such neighbors mean no harm, all they want is a little company to spend their lonely afternoons, borrow recipes and indulge in some harmless gossip. I have been fortunate enough to have come across a lot of such “good neighbors”. They have looked after us when our parents weren’t home, fed us our favorite dishes and have enthusiastically shared our good news. I remember a time when I had just started working and had moved into a rented house. It was the first time in my life that I was staying alone and not having a roommate. I found the responsibilities a bit too much to handle at first since I had really long working hours. Fortunately for me, the family staying across from me was really sweet and they volunteered to help me with everything, finding me a cleaning lady, collecting my mails and letting me borrow sugar whenever I ran out of it.

I have also come across a few unpleasant neighbors during my single years. It’s especially difficult for single people to rent a place in India, since the neighbors have all kinds of prejudices. I’d rented an apartment once and the neighbors used to keep an eye on me like spies. I was shocked when once the apartment owner came to meet me and said the neighbors complained I came home too late and had a lot of male friends who came to visit. Well it sure was unpleasant but there wasn’t much I could do about it and I tried to keep low key in order to not draw any more attention to myself.

Love them or hate them but you definitely cant ignore them. For all the bad experiences I do try to be thankful for the handful of good ones. And if at all you have to live in India some time in the future and need some information, you know who to turn to!

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Kashmiri Wedding

Kashmiri wedding is one of the most colourful of all Indian weddings. Resplendent with bright hues, great music and traditional dances, a Kashmiri wedding is a great fun to attend. Religious priests and elderly members of the family play an important role in all Kashmiri Weddings. For without getting the consent of the parents of either side, no couple can ever sanctify their marriage. In fact before announcing the date of marriage parents of the bride and the groom also consult an astrologer to ensure a good match. This ritual popularly known as the teknis, gives way to yet another local ritual called Kasamandry.

Kasamdry
The occasion of Kasamdry formally announces the matrimonial alliance between the two families. The groom’s family and the bride’s family announce the date in a temple or in front of the resident deity of the house. Food and fiesta along with colourful dresses make the day gleeful and romantic. Preparing the traditional Var is an integral part of Kasamdry. Cooked with rice, milk, almonds and spices, the var is a prominent Kashmiri delicacy. Once the var is prepared, every guest gets to taste this wonderful dish. One may also enjoy a sip of the traditional Kashmiri tea on this occasion.
Before deciding upon the date of marriage, both the bride’s party and the groom’s party clean up their house. This customary ritual is known as Livun. Soon after the Livun an auspicious date is chosen for the marriage after consulting the Kashmiri almanac.

Wedding
The evening before marriage ushers in the mehendi ceremony. In this ceremony the bride gets her hands and feet decorated with henna paste after taking a holy bath. Next morning begins with the Devgon ceremony. In this ceremony offerings are made to Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati. As the bride and the groom move for a conjugal life, they pray to the lord to shower them with his blessings. Dressed in traditional attire and covered with silken scarves, the bride looks pretty. The groom too looks handsome with his wedding cap and smart get up.

The actual rituals begin with the holy fire being lit. The bride and the groom sit next to each other place their arms across. A cloth is used to cover the hands. The priest then chants hymns. He also reminds the bride and the groom about their duties and responsibilities. The priest ties up a holy thread on the forehead of both the bride and the groom. After this the bride and the groom are asked to stand on a grinding stone, traditionally used in Kashmiri households. After this a yagna is conducted on the holy fire. The bride and the groom are then asked to take seven rounds of the holy fire.

With this the marriage ceremony comes to an end. Soon after it is time for the bride to leave for her new home. However, she is expected to come back to her maternal house for dinner on that very evening.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Combating Against Identity Theft

Identity theft is one of the leading crimes in the US that can affect anyone these days. Identity theft is extremely frustrating when the victim finds out his or her identity has been stolen and used in some illegal acts. In identity theft, the victim’s name, address, social security number, credit card details or any other personal information can be stolen and used illegally by the thief.

There are countless fraudulent dealings that can be performed by making use of the victim’s personal information. The thief can make use of the victim’s credit card to make some huge purchases. This credit card information can even be used for opening up a new credit card account. This new account carries the personal details of the victim and the thief performs all the activities under the victim’s name and other information. In some cases the thief may also withdraw funds by gaining access to the victim’s savings or checking account. Identity theft is also associated with bank fraud, tax fraud, telecommunications fraud, mail fraud, social program fraud and even computer fraud.

The devastating effect of identity theft does not limit itself to just financial tribulations. But this crime can even take a toll on the victim emotionally as well as personally. Identity theft can also involve several criminal activities such as laundering money, alien smuggling, drug trafficking, organized crime and even cyber crime. Victim’s name can get associated with any illegal activity. This horrible thing called identity theft can cause emotional struggles and make a person feel violated. Identity thieves can even cause damage to a person’s reputation by carrying out illegal activities under his/her name.

The damages caused by identity theft can take weeks or sometimes months to finally repair or clear up. In some complicated cases, it can even take some years to clear all the illegal transactions from the victim’s credit report. Victims of identity theft often feel highly embarrassed and under stress while explaining the situation in the case of a background check being performed by a loan lender or a potential employer. But there are ample of ways to protect you from becoming an identity theft victim. You need to know several important things in order to combat identity theft.

An identity theft is a very bad thing that can happen to any hard-working, good person. With advanced technology, it has become easy for the lawbreakers to get hold of a person’s personal details. These felons use multiple methods to steal identities. The commonest ways include alluring credit card offers and Phishing. Phishing is a very common method in which the victim is contacted either by a phone or an e-mail and is asked to verify information related to his/her PayPal, checking account, back account, etc. It is important to keep in mind that no financial institution or Credit Card Company ever asks for passwords or any sensitive information over a phone or by e-mail.

Identity theft is undoubtedly a federal offense but unfortunately a diminutive percentage of felons ever get caught or punished. Though the new improved security measures have made it very hard for the scammers and hackers to steal an identity through internet but even a single occurrence of identity theft can create havoc in your financial, professional as well as personal life. You need to take several preventive measures in order to protect your personal details such as name, address, age, sex, Social Security Number, credit card number or driving license number from getting stolen.

Frequent internet users are at a greater risk of becoming a victim of identity theft and especially if their computer is not completely protected against viruses, spyware, adware, malware, Trojans, etc. These malicious programs allow the wrong-doers to easily get hold of all the sensitive information present on the computer. Therefore, it is vital to keep your personal information as confidential as possible. Never make a mistake of storing your Social Security Number, driving license number, account PIN number or passwords in your computer. A hacker may easily get hold of all this information and that can result in some serious consequences.

The credit bureaus must be immediately notified in case you loose your wallet or credit card. This allows you to put a block on all the financial activities through your account. It is also important to file a police report for maintaining a record of the stolen belongings. In fact you must make a habit of reviewing credit reports from time to time. This helps to know in case any fraud or theft has occurred. These reports clearly state the opening of any new accounts or the applying of any new loans. This allows you to clear the matter with appropriate authorities before it gets too late. You can even approach a lawyer to handle such identity theft cases.

In order to gain complete protection against identity theft, make sure that all the papers are properly shredded before being thrown into the trash. Also ensure that your credit card does not go out of your sight in restaurants or departmental stores. If you are unsure of the authenticity of a place then prefer paying by cash instead of using your credit card. The same thing applies even for online shopping. Do not purchase online if you are not sure about the authenticity of that site. By following some simple tips you can reduce the risk of identity theft considerably.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Ice creams from Japan

Ice cream is probably the most favored desert throughout the world. It is said that the recipe for ice creams was brought over from china to Europe, and there began the fame of this desert, where it was prepared and served to the rich and the famous. According to the history, ice cream came to America in the 1700s, George Washington served it to his guests and the first ice cream parlor was opened in New York in 1776. Ice cream has come a long way since then. Today ice cream is popular the world over, with countless number of flavors being invented every year.

Today there are probably hundreds of ice cream flavors being manufactured over the world, but some of them always remain the all time favorites. But there have also been some frightening additions to the list of flavors. Japan, after having conquered the electronics and the automobiles department, thought of trying its hand in the ice cream inventions department. And the results, well... I would leave that up to you to decide.

Japan is famous for its exquisite sea food, and so it is natural that they would think of using its abundant ingredients and incorporate them with ice creams. And so some of the ice creams they have come up with are Fish ice cream, octopus ice cream, squid ice cream, crab ice cream, shrimp, and eel ice cream. And the delicacies in this category would be whale ice cream, the shark fin noodle ice cream, oyster ice cream, sea weed ice cream. There’s even a deep sea water ice cream that uses sea water to make the ice creams, but somehow the salty doesn’t really go well here.

Moving on from the sea food section, there are enough whacky concoctions even for the vegetarians out there. Try the garlic ice cream, sweet potato, fried eggplant, corn, koshihikari rice ice cream (koshihikari is the Japanese favorite local rice), wasabi (a horseradish paste which gives a punch to sushi), Nagoya noodle ice cream, Miso (bean paste) ice cream, spinach, lettuce and potato, wheat, curdled bean (fermented beans, smell repulsive and taste horrible) ice cream, No better way to make your kids eat their vegetables, isn’t it?

And for all you meat lovers out there, there is something for you too. Try the famous Japanese ox tongue ice cream, chicken wing ice cream, raw horseflesh and goat ice cream. If you like your daily drinks, you could try mixing them up with your pint of ice cream the next time like the ones they sell in Japanese supermarkets, stout (black beer) ice cream, red wine ice cream and potato liquor ice cream.

And for those with an adventure streak try the pit viper ice cream made from one of the most poisonous snakes or the charcoal ice cream. And don’t miss the Indian curry ice cream, but just remember not to go on a date after eating it!

I have always thought of the Japanese as the most unconventional thinkers, and I think I was right about that. I’m not sure anyone else could come up with so many new inventions, each flavor wackier than the last one!

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Holistic Nutrition: Diet That Heals the Mind and Body

Holistic nutrition is a special diet formulated by the holistic medical practitioners for treating a patient in a ‘wholistic’ manner. The goal of holistic medicine is to treat the body and the mind of the patients simultaneously. It is the mind and the body which makes a ‘whole’ individual and since this treatment emphasizes on both the organic and functional relations between the mind and the body parts, it is called ‘wholistic’ or holistic medicine.

Holistic nutrition is just a part of holistic therapy or treatment. Holistic practitioners believe diet is a crucial factor in the well being of a person and a proper diet makes a big difference in a person’s lifestyle. Food can indirectly impact the mental and physical balance of a person, negatively or positively. So, holistic nutrition forms an integral part of this branch of medicine which tries to cure a person from various ailments though effective nutrition.

Holistic nutritionists say everybody requires a particular amount of all the nutrients, for the mind and body to be in harmony with each other and with the surroundings. Holistic nutrition can create that perfect balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and all the other components to take the body to the maximum heights of energy. When one gains the maximum energy levels, the overall psychological and physical health starts taking a positive turn.

However, each body has its own unique requirements and thus this balance of nutrients can vary from one individual to another. This is where the holistic nutritionists play a significant role. They device diet charts according to the specific nutritional requirement of the individuals and their health status. Though, this is quite a new form of healing, but people who have trusted this form of medication, have got rid of diseases and disorders like diabetes, cancer, heart problems and obesity.

Holistic nutrition discourages the consumption of stale or cold foods and beverages. The mantra of holistic nutrition is to consume freshly cooked food made from all farm fresh or organic ingredients. This is because fresh foods have the power to provide the right energy or ‘chi’ which heal the mind and the body and improve the overall well being of a person. Holistic nutrition is not only for people suffering from ailments. It is also for normal people. This kind of nutrition also addresses adequacy as well as digestion patterns of an individual to moderate the body-mind balance. This in turn optimizes the spiritual health of a person too.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

What Are Heartworm- It’s Important for Dog Owners to Know

Dog heartworm is one of the commonest diseases found in dogs and cats throughout the United States. As the name very well suggests the disease involves the heart of the dog. The parasites called “heart worms” cripple the heart of the dog until it ceases functioning. And one day the dog may simply die without any warning. This disease can literally worsen to such an extent.

The most disturbing aspect of this disease is that the dog does not show much of the symptoms until it reaches the last stages. This means that it is possible that your dog might be suffering severely from this disease without you knowing anything about it. So the best way to find it out is to take your dog for all the scheduled monthly checkups. The vet can easily check about the presence of heartworms by performing some simple blood tests.

Some dogs despite of suffering severely from this disease do not exhibit any remarkable symptoms whereas other dogs may not be suffering severely but still exhibit some serious symptoms such as coughing, retching, wheezing and coughing while exercising, loss of consciousness, bloody sputum, heavy breathing and build-up of fluid in the abdomen.

Heartworms are basically capable of doing a lot of damage hence it becomes important for you to be aware of the dangers associated with heartworm infestation and to take all the necessary preventive measures.

Heartworms are medically known as “Dirofilaria immitis” and normally float around the blood vessels of the heart’s right ventricle. These parasites start their active life in the form of larva inside the mosquito. The mosquito is in fact both the host as well as the carrier of this parasite. The mosquito sucks the infected blood from a diseased dog and then injects the infected blood in your healthy dog. Once the larvae enter the body of your dog, they enter the blood vessels and reach to the heart’s right side with the help of blood movement. These worms anchor themselves in the heart and start growing and multiplying.

The treatment of this disease entirely depends on the present stage of your dog. Preventive medication of heartworm disease is widely available. It is a little expensive but as a responsible dog owner you must give it to your dog as per the veterinarian’s recommendation. Usually the dose is increased during the mosquito season. It is always better not to miss regular checkups in order to keep your dog safe and healthy.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Benefits of Green Tea

Green tea has many health benefits. For many centuries, green tea has been a popular medicinal herb and even today, is used widely in Asian countries like China. This is the reason why green tea has attained so much popularity all around the globe.

Green tea helps in lowering the harmful cholesterol levels. It is power packed with antioxidants. And so green tea also has capacity to fight cancer cells. Many health ailments including blood pressure, cardiac problems etc. can be prevented with the regular consumption of green tea. People in France have high fat diet. But still they are not obese. They stay perfectly healthy because they consume green tea.

Green tea has an amazing capacity of fighting with bacteria. And so if you have any bacterial or viral infection, Green tea can be the best medicine. Green tea is also believed to enhance weight loss process. Many people, who want to lose weight, rely on green tea. Green tea has an effective ingredient called poly-phenol. This ingredient is quite effective and beneficial. There are many different kinds of tea but green tea is the best. This is so because green tea has more antioxidants. According to a research institute in Tokyo, the best way to prevent cancer is to consume green tea regularly. It has capacity to fight all types of cancer.

Green tea also stimulates oral health. If you rinse your mouth with green tea after every meal, your teeth can be protected from bacterial infections. Green tea also stimulates your metabolism. You will be blessed with a great immunity once you start consuming green tea on regular basis.

You can burn excessive calories and become slim and trim. People who are on weight loss diet must consume one cup of green tea everyday after meals. This can give great results.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

God’s own country

Kerala, located in the South of India is known as God’s own country. One visit to this majestic place and you’ll know why it’s named so. Kerala is famous for its backwaters and a cruise on the backwaters on a houseboat is something that cannot be missed. On a recent visit to Kerala (my first visit, and definitely not the last) I got to have this experience first hand.
We rented a houseboat for a day and I was baffled when the guy told me that the boat would come to pick us up at our hotel at 10:30 in the morning, I understood this when I reached my hotel.

Apparently most of the hotels in the quaint little village of Kumarkom are facing the backwaters and they all have a jetty for this very purpose. Out of sheer excitement I was ready with my small bag and waiting near the jetty since 10 in the morning, but nothing could prepare me for the sight when the majestic looking boat slowly made its way towards the jetty. I stood motionless for a full minute with my jaw open, when they said a boat I wasn’t really expecting it to be this huge.

Anyways, once my husband and I boarded the boat I took off for a tour. There was an open living room and a dining space fully furnished with a large sofa and comfortable chairs and a dining table and equipped with a swanky flat screen TV and a DVD player. Inside there were two air conditioned bedrooms decorated in the typical hotel style with attached bathrooms that had a shower and toiletries for the guests. And at the other end of the boat was the kitchen. There was a crew of four, two chefs, one person to do the serving and one person that I would call the captain of the boat.

Once we settled down after the tour we were served fresh coconut water and I sprawled out on a chair with my drink feeling like a queen. We were still not quite far away from the village so we came across dozens of other boats like ours who had just picked up their passengers. It was only after half an hour or so that we were considerably away from civilization that I started admiring the beauty. It really was something I’d never seen before, the calm water that sometimes is covered in a carpet of green giving it an illusion of land is tranquilizing after a while. The further we went, the better it got. On both sides there were rice paddies and coconut trees, and every once in a while I saw men sitting at the edge with their ancient looking fishing rods and drinking what I presumed to be toddy(a local alcoholic drink). We cruised by small clusters of houses every now and then where we could see people washing their clothes or doing their everyday chores and waving every time a boat passes by.

At lunchtime the boat was anchored and we were served an amazing variety of local dishes on a banana leaf. The fish, marinated in spices and shallow fried was the best I’d ever had. After lunch however, we seemed to sail deeper into one of the numerous canals, and there was nothing around except for the water as far as the eye could see. On rare occasions we would come across a tiny cottage located in the middle of nowhere that could only be reached by a boat. How people lived here I cannot tell, even the simplest of things would be so hard for those people, for e.g., getting grocery or vegetables. I don’t know how many miles away they would have to go in their tiny boats to get groceries, and yet the people living there had the broadest smiles I’ve ever seen.

The surroundings had an effect on me in an almost spiritual way I suppose. At that moment I believed that if ever god could be found, he would be found at a place like this. The peace was so immense that in that very moment I was ready to give up all that I ever had if I could come and stay at a place of such beauty forever.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Get real!

I have to confess that I watch way too much TV. In fact I always have, even as a kid I used to spend hours in front of the idiot box rather than going out and playing. And later, as a grown up, when I was working and staying alone in a sad little apartment, the glorious little box proved to be a valuable companion! What is so fascinating about it I can’t really say, but it does have a hypnotizing effect on me.

Apart from the normal cartoons, I enjoyed a lot of other shows as a kid like Doogie Howser, The wonder years, I dream of Genie, Different strokes, Three’s company and many more. Now I do have to say that there’s something nostalgically sweet about the shows of yesteryears. If I do find the re runs of any of those shows today I still watch them and it brings back the warmth and comfort of my parents’ home straightaway..

In recent times, however, I have been incurably hooked on to entertainment of another kind, the reality shows! I can boast of having watched all kinds of reality shows, American, British, Indian, some really entertaining, some unbearably dramatic. Some of the most bizarre ones were “A moment of Truth”, where contestants are strapped up with a lie detector and asked very embarrassing and personal questions in front of not only family and friends but of course on national television, all for the sole purpose of making money. Even though it was widely protested all over the media with reports of families breaking up after the show, there were always people eager to come on the show to dish out their dirty secrets in public!

Another interesting one was “Paris Hilton’s- My new BFF”, where Paris Hilton gets going for the search of her next BFF- best friend forever! I don’t really know how someone could get a best friend by putting together a group of weird characters and subjecting them to some equally weird tasks, but I would leave that to her. After the show, I never really heard about the poor girl who became her BFF! Then of course there was another one, “From G’s to Gents” where they put together a group of gangsters and try to make them into gentlemen. Now I have to say out of all the bizarre ones this was a favorite. Simply because it wasn’t too dramatic, it looked real, and it was for a good purpose.

Among the normal reality shows, I do enjoy shows like so you think you can dance, project runway, Top chef and Tim Gunn’s guide to style. Now let’s talk about Indian reality shows. Some time back Indian television was flooded with stand up comedy shows, apart from one or two the rest were painfully boring. Then there’s the usual dancing competition, singing competitions, talent hunts. And of recent, the approach of Indian reality shows is simple, pick up a reality show in English, copy the whole format, including the set design and background music and make it your own with a Hindi name! I guess the Indian television industry has just run out of ideas. However, I do have to hand it to them, they manage to turn any kind of reality show into a sob story with unreal drama, sad stories of contestants and it seems that every show I turn to the judges are always involved in a cat fight or otherwise someone’s always reduced to tears on the show.

It’s hard to say how long this recent trend is meant to last but in the meantime there’s no denying that it is entertaining for all!

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Endoscopy- A Medical Revolution

Endoscopy is an advanced medical technology for diagnosis and treatment. The meaning of it is looking into the body for medical reasons using an instrument endoscope. The term ‘Endo’ signifies the interior and ‘scope’, visualization. The beginning of the era of modern endoscopy was with the developments of telescopes incorporating a number of lenses towards the end of nineteenth century. By the middle of the 20th century the introduction of the optical fibers made this technology highly advanced and useful. Then endoscopy became a largely using technique to see the interior of the body and conduct many types of surgeries.

A diagnostic endoscope consists of an illuminating channel for projecting light in the inside by the way of light pipe which is a fiber optic bundle, and a suitable system for viewing and examining the interior from a diagnostic stand point. An auxiliary arrangement for supplying oxygen to the inside also is required. A surgical endoscope is different from this. It has arrangements for surgery too.

The endoscopes were earlier inserted to the human body through natural openings like mouth, nostrils, anus etc. But the advanced equipment allows it to go through small hole, slightly bigger than injection holes. So, endoscopic surgery can be done through small incisions and the pain will be very less, when compared with the normal surgeries. This will reduce the duration of the hospital stay and highly beneficial for the patient. Laparoscopic surgery which uses this technique, is nowadays very common, and is getting done in the abdomen and chest. The operations done in this way on joints are called arthroscopic surgery. Most endoscopic arrangements have attachments to take out the tissue or fluid samples for laboratory tests. Bronchoscope examines the large airways inside the lungs. The duration of the endoscopy procedure varies.

The endoscopic instruments offer a wide range of vision by rotating the eye piece, which is highly helpful in surgeries. In such surgeries more than one cavity will be required to insert all equipments and arrangements. But as the holes are so small, it will not give much pain. Certain examinations can be done without holes too by making use of the natural openings in the body. It allows ready recording of all the procedure too.

The invention and development of endoscopic instruments was a real revolution in the medical field.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Eggs For Good health

Egg is a nutritious food item which is easy and fast to cook. It consists of quality protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals. Eggs are widely used as a quick food by majority of people. The delicious varieties of cooked eggs are eaten alone or with other food items for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

An egg contains almost 6grams of protein. They have B –vitamins too. The B group of vitamins has a major role in energy metabolism, nervous function and immunity. It is believed that people who consume eggs will have a better stress management power and immunity to bacteria and viruses. Eggs have antioxidant effect too. It has a high level of Vitamin E in it.

Eggs contain cholesterol also, which many people point out as a disadvantage. An egg contains about 212 mg of cholesterol in it. As cholesterol is also required in the body, normal people can have eggs without much fear. But the requirement of cholesterol for the body is only 300mg per day; we should control other food items that contain cholesterol. It is better for the people who suffer from high cholesterol problems to avoid eggs.

It is commonly considered as a healthy breakfast. Egg is a rich combination of many vital nutrients for the body. The components are Vitamin A (helps to improve eye sight and skin health), Vitamin Bs (helps the metabolism), Vitamin E (a good antioxidant), Choline (good for mental function and good memory, also necessary for cell membranes), Selenium (strong anti oxidant, improves immunity), lutein (good for retina and prevent macular degeneration), vitamin D, Zinc, Iron, phosphorous and sulphur.

Along with these egg contains more than 5grams of fat too. The total calorie provided by an egg is about 80. So consuming more eggs can lead to increase in body weight. As it is a highly rich nutritional and low cost food item, it is widely used, and believed to be good for health, even with its high cholesterol and fat content.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Revolutionize Your Style Statement with Diesel Line-Ups

Founder Renzo Rosso, and his team led by Creative Director and designer guru, Wilbert Das, let their personal tastes carve a niche in the fashion industry under the brand, Diesel S.P.A. Besides clothing, even their unconventional style of working caught the attention of international consulting organizations and universities.

Now, for all men out there – it doesn’t really matter in whose underwear you want to be, ask Bryan Adams that, but it’s definitely worth getting into some from Diesel. If you want to look good and most importantly feel great from the very ’inside’, then it’s a wise decisions to head for your favorite store and try on some of the hip hugging designs under Diesel’s label. Under the banner of the Diesel clothing line, these Diesel “inners” for men work towards personifying an attitude that at all times peek into the future. From briefs, to boxers and trunks, there are a variety of eye-catching designs for the bold, the uninhibited, and the bashful. Yes, pink, red, and army green are very much part of Diesel’s underwear line. Men have a lot to cheer about as the spotlight in the fashion world has started to glow on them. Diesel has clearly marked a unique distinction in the line of inners for our dudes! Enjoying the limelight is not just the luxury of the group of gals in the society; men do even have the privilege of basking under the focus and attention. Whether you want to look sexy or simply dress for the occasion, there is a great line up of men’s clothing and underwear from Diesel waiting for you.

One of the highly favored brands, men’s clothing and underwear at Diesel is exclusively designed to blend with an assortment of tastes, and needless to say, collections are huge to choose from. A one-stop answer to your entire contemporary fashion impasse, you can bet upon finding everything you could have pragmatically ever hunted from Diesel style. The line of Diesel clothing and underwear has meticulously roped in everything from the tees to the tanks, and quite surprisingly you’re even presented with swimwear line! Speaking of this particular line of clothing, one of the top favorite swim-wears is the RISKY Swim Short, a fast-drying cotton suit facilitating quick and easy motions.

Every guy needs to try out the Diesel Black Gold collection of intimates and beachwear. For a casual and rugged look the Diesel Denim Gallery has a rare collection of jeans in some super cool shades. The latest men’s line to steal the ramp is the slim fitting shirts, jeans, and suits. Every man loves exhibit his masculinity and personality traits, and Diesel clothes makes a man look perfect. Check out the wide range of pullovers and jackets and gear up for the season. You can now buy men’s clothing and underwear from Diesel at several stores located near you. You can also get to see all your favorite looks and styles online, and at a great price. And in case you’re planning to get one imported, you have all reasons to cheer, as Diesel offers free shipping!

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Christian Wedding

A Christian wedding follows some of the simplest yet meaningful rituals. Since Christianity is followed across the world, in each country these rituals are followed with local customs and fervor. Christianity regards marriage as the most sacred bond. In fact according to the Bible, with marriage a man and his wife become one flesh, united forever. The church plays an important role in all Christian marriages. For it is the priest, before whom both the bride and the groom take their marriage vows!
A typical Christian wedding calls for a pristine ambience. With the church bells ringing at the background, it is a rather quiet affair. Most modern brides wear gowns on their way to the altar. Pastel, white and pink are the most popular shades. Yet, many Christians in the South East Asia are also clad in their local attire while taking the marriage vows. Christian grooms across the world, however, prefer black suits with a bow or a necktie. All Christian brides are accompanied with bride’s maids who walk after her, holding behind the trail as she heads for the altar.

Engagement
The ritual of engagement in Christian wedding can be traced back to the Roman Ages. On the engagement day, the head priest at the church officially declares about the possible matrimonial alliance between the bride and the groom. As the couple exchange rings, the priest thrice signs the cross on their arms and the rings. Thereafter, the priest along with the family members of the couple pray for the well being of the couple. This ceremony is also known as the Thanksgiving ceremony. Usually the priest also devices an auspicious day for the marriage, on the day of the engagement.

Marriage
On the day of the marriage, the groom and the bride must arrive at the church at the given time. The guests also arrive at the Church to stand as a witness to the betrothal ceremony. The bride enters the church with the bridesmaids behind her. She is generally welcomed by a male member of her family. This man plays the role of the best man. The best man plants a gentle kiss on the bride and greets her with a bouquet.

Soon after the proper marriage rituals begin. The bride is generally taken towards the altar by her father. The father gives away the hand of his daughter to the groom. This gesture symbolically suggests a transition for the bride as she leaves her paternal family to be a part of a new family. As the priest greets the bride and the groom, the choir sings holy hymns for the well being of the couple. The clergy then reads the Bible and asks the almighty to bless the newlyweds. After the reading of the Bible, the bride and the groom take the sacred marriage oath, in front of two witnesses from representing either side.

In the meantime, the Priest is supposed to bless the wedding rings, which are immediately exchanged between the groom and the bride. With the priest finally declaring them to be man and wife, the elated bride and groom kiss each other. Usually on the evening of the marriage or within a few days later both the bride and the groom’s family throw a grand party, where guests are invited to bless the newlyweds. Since the marriage is a simple affair for Christians, such parties are usually grand with wine and champagne flowing in abundance. A cake cutting ceremony is an unmistakable part of the marriage reception. Ball dance with soothing music and a feast thereafter make the reception a great fun!

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Calling all angels

Most kids, I think, at some age believe in angels and fairies in some form or the other. Be it a tooth fairy or a guardian angel, most parents like to tell such tales to their kids to give them a feeling of assurance and safety in trying times. But I wouldn’t say this belief ends with childhood. Though, having learnt lessons in practicality and logic, most adults would always show skepticism when dealing with subjects like these but I guess a part of us always believes in such miracles or at least wants to believe in them.

As a believer myself (I haven’t always been one, but at some point in my life certain situations made a believer out of me) I’ve had a keen curiosity about the subject and have read a number of books and spoken to several people regarding the topic. A very well written book on this topic is “The Valkyries” by Paulo Coelho and in this book he talks about his own experiences when he heads out in search of his guardian angel. He talks about how easy it is in fact to get in touch with one’s own guardian angel, just by believing that they exist one can summon them. He also mentions in his book that one can talk to angels, ask for their guidance and their help and in certain situations it is even possible to see them.

I’ve heard of several workshops being held across the world in the last few years in which the speaker coaches the attendees on how to get in touch with one’s own guardian angel. I couldn’t really say how many of these workshops are genuine, but an increasing number of people are now showing interest in this subject. It isn’t really surprising then when we come across countless number of people sharing their experiences on how they were guided and protected by what they claim to be an angel. Most people report that they feel overall warmth and a feeling of being safe and cozy when they believe an angel is round. Some people say they get a tender feeling of someone lovingly touching their arm or cheek, some others say that they just hear doves flying.

In certain cases people have reported of hearing a voice inside them telling them what to do, or telling them what path to go on through a dream. All of us at some time have had a dream that we thought was indicating towards something vital but most of us are too busy and skeptical to pause and consider the possibility or even to think about what it might mean. Most people I speak to believe in energy or a force that’s above our understanding, some like to believe in it as God, some like to name it as angels and some others might like to believe in it in another form that they might be comfortable with.

There can never be a clear answer to mysteries like these, beliefs could be in any form and whatever force may be out there people like to adapt to it in their own way. But it’s always good to have some faith, whether it is to feel safe or to seek guidance, faith always helps.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Baby Nutrition: Are You Feeding Your Baby Right?

Do you know that improper nutrition can make your baby grumpy? Not only that, lack of good nutrition can also affect the physical health of your baby. When proper nutrition is the mantra to a healthy and happy life, follow the right nutrition basics for your baby and keep all worries at bay. A right nutrition can ensure the proper growth of your little child and maintain his/her good health.

Good nutrition also adds to the immunizing power of the body and so a baby who eats all the right nutrients seldom falls ill. However, when it comes to feed your baby, there are certain guidelines that you need to follow. This is because, as your baby will age, his/her nutritional requirements will also change and so to keep up with that you will have to keep changing their food habits too.

Here are a few nutrition basics for your baby:

First 6 months
Breastfeeding is the most beneficial for babies. Until a baby crosses the six months stage, mother’s milk is sufficient for him/her. Mother’s milk contains all the fatty acids in the right proportions. It also contains iron and calcium. However, for mothers who have mastitis or other breastfeeding problems, formula feeding is the next best option for their babies. In the normal cases, babies should be introduced to bottles gradually. Refrain from feeding your 6 months old with the milk of cow or goat or soy milk.

After 6 Months
Once your baby crosses the first 6 months, start introducing solids in his/her food. A six month old baby should be fed with foods rich in vitamin, fats and minerals. Minerals like iron and calcium are the most important for a baby’s growth and development, at this stage. Fruit juice which is a very good source of nutrients is also a favorite with the kids.

However, in spite of feeding solids to your baby, it is recommended that you still continue feeding breast milk till your child becomes 12 months old. Dairy products are not for infants below 2 years and hence should be avoided. Coarsely mashed foods like rice, meat, fruits and vegetables can be given. By the time, your kid becomes 12 months old you can start feeding him/her little bites of whatever food the rest of you all have in the family.

Final word
Thus, it is not only important to feed your baby at regular intervals, but ensuring that he/she is getting the right balance of nutrition, is equally important. Besides, consulting the doctor on a regular basis and following the food guidelines properly can result in a healthy growth and development of your baby.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

Animation-What Exactly Is It?

In simple words, animation can be defined as a procedure of creating movies, videos, computer games or films in which sculpts or drawings of animals as well as people seem to be in motion. This figment is basically created by consecutively demonstrating the images of these motionless rudiments.

In the arena of video production or films, animation refers to the technique of fabricating each frame of movie or film separately. These frames can be created by myriad methods. They can also be created with the help of a computer, using a photograph or a painted or drawn image. Once the frames are ready, the film can be observed by stringing them together. It is the “persistence of vision” that gives rise to the illusion of uninterrupted motion.

Creating such films without using computer can be very tedious as well as time consuming. The computer animation has made the production of such films simpler, cheaper and less labor-intensive. The supreme benefit of using computer is that the professionals get hold of a larger margin for any kind of errors because while using digital files they can effortlessly undo the mistakes up to some specified number of steps.

It is computer animation that is responsible for the adorable, cute and funny cartoon characters that one can see in the movies or on the TV. There was a time when these complicated characters were drawn manually, but these days, according to the latest trend professionals make use of a computer in doing so. Computer animation involves the use of both 2D (two-dimensional) as well as 3D (three-dimensional) graphics. This digital technology has reinstated all the customary techniques such as stop motion animation. This could be made possible because of 3D models and frame wise animation of 2D images.

A number of animated movies have been completed, covering animal characters such as “Finding Nemo”, certain fantasy characters such as “Monsters Inc.” and “Shrek” and even the human beings, which are basically still cartoons such as “Final Fantasy: The spirits within”. Next to the United States, another country that has an enormous enthrallment for animation is the highly-developed Japan. They refer to their animation as “Anime” that are usually under the influence of Japanese manga.

With the alteration in trends, the animation is now also being used in supporting explanations for making the process of learning easier. There are countless animation schools, which train the students for an outstanding career in crafting special effects, cartoons, games and much more.

Linus Orakles
http://www.authorclub.info/

How to Solve Acne Problem

Many people feel that acne is confined only to teenagers. But it is not so. Even adults may have this problem. And in females, acne is common during pregnancy. Acne can also be described as pimples. Mostly they are found on the neck region and on the face. And as they are prominently visible, it creates an embarrassing situation.

This problem usually happens due to over activity of oil or sebaceous glands. Acne results when such oil glands get clogged with dead skin and bacteria. Even the pores around the acne may also get clogged and generate red colored lumps. Researchers believe that the conditions such as changes in hormones, stress, and tension etc. can also be associated with acne. Acne needs quick attention. If not treated on time, it can lead to permanent marks.

If you also have acne prone skin then listed below are a few points you must be careful about:

When the acne problem is chronic, then rather than using any over the counter medicines or home remedies, it is better to visit a good and experienced dermatologist. You will get faster results with acne medications, prescribed by the doctor. However, if it is just the starting stage then you can try out one of the, over-the-counter acne creams or lotions available in the market.

There are a few more things that must be considered by people who are suffering from acne. Make sure to use water based cosmetics rather than those that are oil based. It is important to keep the skin dirt free and clean by gently washing with a good face wash. Eating oil free food items is highly recommended to get relief in acne. Try your level best to elevate the consumption of green and leafy vegetables in your daily diet and avoid fast food and oily food, whenever possible.

Linus Orakles
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