Is ASTROLOGY A Overlap of Scientific Disciplines And Superstition?

Kitab al-Bulhan =
composite astrology/astronomy/geomancy
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Astronomy not to mention astrology seem to be 2 of the most wrongly grasped disciplines in the world today. Mistakenly, in the sense that both sciences tend to be commonly recognized by many as the same, when in actuality the two are generally different arenas of study. Astrology originates from the Greek, star and the word theory. In mixture, it would come about to the study of the stars. Astronomy quite simply includes the same area of learning, but has a different angle to it, in particular as to exactly how men and women view Astronomy as a body of education.

Astrology is typically defined by a large number of proponents as a symbolic language, and even a science. However the most often used theory behind astrology requires its becoming noticed as a method of divination, and is seen as a type of pseudoscience showing superstitious elements to its nature. In contrast to Astronomy, which can be seen by the majority as the more exact between both star-related studies, astrology is known to entail predictions of the future, and also the notion that everyone exists on the planett could possibly be mapped out in the stars.

Astrology is known to be categorised in a variety of methods, applied in a number of customs, and is also known to own a belief aspect credited to it. Information show that it has been around since the 2nd Millennium BCE, and historical past additionally notes that its prevalence then has had relevance to the shaping of history up to nowadays. Cultures have gone up in numbers, along with several other areas of disciplines, since the inception of astrology too.

For a period, both astrology and astronomy had been viewed as one body of knowledge. This however changed, when Astronomy, as we now know it to be, began to diverge from astrology. This split obviously didn't happen instantly, as it took time for it to take shape, starting from the Middle Ages until the 18th Century, where both bodies where clearly hailed as different studies of the stars.

Astronomy is viewed as the study of astronomical phenomena and items, without the astrological relationship that astrology boasts to possess.

Together with tarot cards, character themes largely according to the horoscope, predictions of getting rich or having lots of healthy children, astronomy is mostly heard out by those inquisitive of their accomplishments. Chinese astrology is one of the most seriously taken of astrology cultures, as the concepts behind wealth and fortune, as well as ideal marriage, are typically heard out by those who believe in it.

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How Does AROMATHERAPY Relieve Stress

Are you always irritable, tensed, impatient and do you experience different physical reactions such as increased heart rate and headaches when facing situations which you have difficulty in coping with? If so, you are stressed.

Aromatic candle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

However, you need not worry because it is normal to face stress at some point in time as it is one of the inevitable parts of modern life. It is normal to be stressed during of celebration, sadness, responsibilities, illness, work or school life, environmental adjustments and changes in personal relations. What is not normal though is when you have difficulty in coping with stress because it may take a toll on your health and wellbeing.

One of the natural and alternative ways of relieving stress is through a 6,000-year old form of therapy called aromatherapy. Aromatherapy uses essential oils from flowers, herbs, trees and other plants to affect your mood. The most popular are jasmine, eucalyptus, rose, tea tree oil, lavender oil and lemon. There are many ways of using it to relieve stress.

It may be diffused in air through candles and burners and it may be topically applied on the body through baths and like body oils.

But you may ask: how does aromatherapy relieve stress? What is the relation between activation of the sense of smell and relieving stress?

When you use essential oils on your body, they work in two ways to relieve your stress. First, these essential oils have pharmacological effects on the body. When applied to the skin, aromatherapy oils kill fungi and microbes. It also seeps in through the layers of your skin and penetrates the blood stream. Second, the aroma of the essential oils used in aromatherapy has beneficial effect on the brain through the sense of smelling.

The olfactory system is a powerful part of the human body as the nose can distinguish 10,000 different smells. Through the sense of smell, these essential oils activate your limbic system and improve that part of the brain which controls the emotions, that is why, if you inhale such sweet scents, you will feels relaxed and relieved.

You can perform aromatherapy to relieve stress either through aromatherapy kits or you may seek professional service. However, you should be careful because some people have allergic reactions to essential oils. In case of doubt, always seek professional advice.

Aromatherapy can energize you, activate your senses, make your mood better and in the process help relieve your stress and promote a healthier body. What makes it as a good remedy to help relieve your stress is that it is all-natural, safe, not costly and has no side effects.

By now you can probably tell I'm a big advocate for Aromatherapy treatments. As much as I like this treatment, there are about 24 other awesome natural treatments for relieving stress.  I'm about to share them with you right now. These are treatments that don't require a big budget and most of the ingredients and supplies are right in your home. Adding aromatherapy to the list, it's become one of the top 25 Ways to Relieve Stress If you're looking for a list of ways to turn your home into your own private temple of serenity, you've got to check out these 25 Ways to Relieve Stress. They'll completely change your life. You can view the full list right now by CLICKING HERE Check them out now and you'll love how your stress just melts away! Article Directory: EzineArticles

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STRESS MANAGEMENT Therapy: Key To Better Life

Effects of stress on the body. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

When a person is a little stressed, his body reacts and responds in situations instinctively and efficiently. But this can only be true to small dose of stress. When the dose arises, stress becomes unhealthy. It inhibits the person to perform well. With little stress, the body is pushed to work hard. This is in a positive way. While when the body is over stressed, the response is negative.

A person who is stressed out can’t perform normally. His body reacts differently in situations. Stress can even lead to body disorders and illnesses. Because the normal functioning of the body is affected, the person isn’t able to use his natural instincts when facing a situation. He becomes less creative and less efficient.

Battling Stress

Stress can make your life miserable so before it gets worse, you must battle it. The best way to combat stress is the use of stress management therapy. What is a Stress Management Therapy? This refers to the various strategies used by stress specialists and doctors to help people who are stressed out. The goal of stress management therapy is to help a person live life healthfully and stress free.

Why do you need to combat stress? Stress affects the whole personality of a person. It affects a person’s mental ability and sound judgement. It puts his social, emotional, spiritual and physical life in jeopardy. Worst, it can lead to serious health problems like phobias, heart problems and high blood pressure.

Stress management therapy makes sure that you don’t get these negative effects of stress. Generally, stress management therapy involves relaxation, counselling, exercises, yoga, meditation, and time management therapies. The key to combat stress is to manage it. If you can balance your needs and your abilities, there will be less room for stress.

Identification Of Stress

Before you can even start managing stress, you should first identify the factors that trigger stress. The stress management therapy will be based on your stress factor. The therapy will be designed according to your own needs.

Once the stress triggering factors are identified, measures will be taken to help the individual in facing the same circumstances. The stress management therapy may totally eliminate the factor that causes stress or if not, reduce it to a more tolerable level.

Stress management therapy is vital especially today where everywhere there seems to be a tough competition. This makes us want to get the best and thus, we become stressed. Through a stress management therapy, you will be able to enjoy life the stress free way!

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Fall HOME ENERGY Savings Tips: Preparing for the Winter

Whether you like it or not and whether you come prepared or not, winter is coming. So better not sit on your couch and wait for it to come like a dooms day, move and be prepared! 

Winter means one thing: cold air. But for those who are conscious enough to notice, winter means larger electric bills. Yes, it is true. Aside from summer, winter is the season of the year where your electric bills skyrocket to digits that cost you financial burden. Why? Because we need to warm our home. Our home should have the right temperature to give us comfort. And the modern way to do it is by turning on our heating system. This consumes the biggest portion of our electric bill. 

Fortunately, we have the whole Fall to prepare for it. And to prepare for it means that we must have the right tool and proper information on how to save during the coming season. 

Photo of a stone fireplace. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The fireplace – Getting our fireplace ready will certainly yield to better savings; and fall is the best time to clean and repair our fireplace. Make sure that the dumper is tightly sealed when not using them. A small space would let the cold air rush in and send the warm air out. If you were using electric heating system, an opening on the fireplace would mean bigger work to maintain the place warm. Let professional contractor to do the proper maintenance. They are certainly more capable in securing your fireplace. 

When you decide to use the fireplace, you can turn down your heater. This will save you as much as 8% on heating cost. 

The furnace – The furnace will work extra effort if the filter is full of dirt. This will equate to energy waste since the furnace will consume more power against the service it brings. To avoid this, make sure that your filter is clean. The owner’s manual will tell you how to clean the filter. A clean filter will let you breath clean air around your house. A clean filter saves you 5% on heating cost. 

The duct – Small leaks on duct will certainly result to lost heat so make sure that this is regularly checked. Usually ducts are located on unheated places. This is another reason why heat is lost. Insulate the ducts by wrapping it with R-6 or higher fiberglass. Never use cloth-backed tapes. You can also wrap them with UL-approved metallic or plastic tapes and mastic sealants. The note that leaking ducts work 30% more on your heating system so make sure they are sealed and secured. 

The solar heat – You need not have solar panels on your roof to use the sun as the source of heat. All you have to do is use open your drapes during the day to warn your room without using electricity. Just close them at night to keep the warn air inside. Reduction of the use of heating system during the day will let you cut as much as 10% on your electric consumption

The openings – Openings on your doors, windows, joints and sills will let the cold air outside to go in and the warm air from the inside to go out. Make sure that these openings are sealed with either sealant or weatherstripping. It will help reduce the work of the heating system immensely. 

The thermostat – A programmable thermostat or a centralized heating system will let you save on the heating cost. The programmable thermostat will let you set your desired room temperature on a specific period of the day. This is much useful if you are leaving your home or are going to sleep overnight. The centralized heating system on the other hand will give you the ultimate control on the temperature of every room. These 2 will let you decide how warm a room could be. One interesting thing to note is that a centigrade lower on your heating system will let your save uas much as 5% on your heating cost. 

The water heater – Households can set the heating system between 120 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This range is ideal on both mobile homes and regular homes. 

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Natural ALLERGY Relief: Is It Possible?

Food types likely to cause allergic reactions in adults in Sweden:
drupe, cheese, nuts, wine, apples, and shellfish.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Do you suffer from allergies?  If you do, you may have been prescribed prescription medication by your doctor.  If not, you may have still tired a number of over-the-counter allergy relief medications and products.  Unfortunately, medicine does not always work for all allergy sufferers.  That leaves many individuals wondering if there is a way that they can seek more natural relief, without the use of medicine.

As for whether or not you can seek allergy relief without the use of prescription medication or over-the-counter products, you will find that you can.  In fact, you will find that you have a number of different options.  Some of these options are not only safer than using medicine, but they are also much cheaper.

If you do not suffer from food allergies, you can use food as way to seek relief.  As for why you should avoid this approach if you suffer from a food allergy, it is because you may have another allergic reaction, which you are trying to prevent.  With that said, if you are suffering from seasonal allergies, pet allergies, mold and mildew allergies, certain foods may be able to provide you with relief.  These foods include the juice from a lime, namely when mixed with lukewarm water, eating one or two bananas a day, as well as drinking vegetable juices.

Another more natural way to relive some of the symptoms that are associated with allergies is with vitamin B5.  Although many sometimes consider vitamin supplements to be medicine, they aren’t really.  Even though you will be taking a supplement, it is still much more natural than many allergy relief medications.  For how much vitamin B5 should be taken, most recommend one supplement a day for around two or three months.

Despite the fact that natural ways to seek relief from allergies are most commonly associated with natural remedies that involve certain foods, vitamins, and herbs, there are other steps that you can take.  For example, you can remove yourself from your trigger factors.  For example, if you have allergies that are due to mold and mildew, avoid areas in your home where mold or mildew is present, like your basement.  If you suffer from allergies due to dust, consider hiring a professional cleaning service or you can clean more often, which should reduce the amount of dust that accumulates overtime.

As it was previously stated, it is advised that you display caution if you suffer from a food allergy.  This is because many food allergies are more severe than other allergies, such as pet allergies.  Those who are allergic to peanuts can actually go into shock and die within a matter of minutes.  For that reason, if you suffer from food allergies, you will not want to just limit your consumption of foods, but you will want to completely eliminate the food or foods that you are allergic to from your diet.  This is important to know as some sufferers do get other allergies confused.  For example, those who suffer from pet allergies don’t always need to find a new home for their pets, but they should limit their contact.  However, it is important to remember that food allergies and pet allergies are not the same.

As previously stated, there are a number of different ways that you can natural seek allergy relief.  If you are looking for more steps that you can take, perform a standard internet search online.  Also, consider investing in natural remedy books or guides that are designed to help those living with allergies.

Try ALOE VERA to Fight Crohn's Disease

Schematic of patterns of disease in Crohn's disease (CD). Based on diagram of human intestine in GFDL. 

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Crohn's disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that normally triggers inflammation in the intestines. This illness can attack any part of the GI tract right from the mouth to the anus, but mostly it occurs in the lower portion of the small intestine known as ileum. It is an illness that occurs both in men and women and is sometimes hereditary. 

One of the best trouble free solutions to this illness is to use Aloe Vera. You can use aloe Vera in the form of pills that are available in the market today. They are called Aloeride and are one of the most well tolerated drugs available now. This drug is actually the most natural form of Aloe Vera that is produced in the market today.

If you continue consuming Aloeride for quite a long time regularly, the indications of Crohn's disease can be lessened to an extent. Actually there is no complete cure for Crohn's disease; you can only try to find some respite from the uneasy indications of this illness. But Aloe Vera has been proved to make the life of Crohn's victims much easier and normal.

Aloeride comes in the form of capsules and this implies that that the capsules will not spilt open before it reaches the stomach. Aloe Vera is found to be extremely soothing and aids to relax and loosen up the large intestine. There is absolutely no laxative property in this pill and this is a great benefit as diarrhea is very often a symptom of this disease. Aloeride has the ability to rinse out and mend the lining of the digestive tract in addition to reinstate the actual working of the digestive system. Another big advantage of this pill is that it is completely free of adverse effects.

Aloe Vera products have great medicinal value and can be used to cure skin diseases, Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's Disease etc. You can find out more about it at http://www.aloeelite.com. Article Directory: EzineArticles

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Eight Myths About ACUPUNCTURE

There are a lot of myths with regards to acupuncture. Some of these are true; others are silly while the rest only have a half truth. As you read on, you will learn which ones are worth believing. 

The first myth is that acupuncture is painful. This is not true because those who have tried it claimed they only experienced a tiny prick while others did not feel anything at all. There is no tissue damage when the needle is inserted into the skin or pulled out and only in very rare cases are there traces of bruising. 

Hua Shou. Expression of the fourteen meridians. (Tokyo, 1716). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The second myth is that you can get hepatitis or AIDS from acupuncture. This is true only if the needles used are not sterilized. In the US, this will never happen because acupuncturists are required to use disposable needles thus you are not at risk from these two diseases.

Third, acupuncture is used to treat pain. This is only a half truth because this holistic technique has been proven to do other things such as stop a person’s addiction, lose weight and prevent certain illnesses. 

Fourth, there are some who think that Asians are the only ones that can practice acupuncture. Since 1982, there are already 50 schools all across the country that teach students about this technique and become licensed acupuncturists. 

This means that anyone who has the desire to learn about this ancient practice can do so and help treat patients. Just to give you an idea, there are at least 3,000 acupuncturists now working in the US. 

Fifth, medical doctors do not believe in the potential of alternative medicine. This is not true because there are more doctors these days that are open to the idea that there are other ways to help patients aside from conventional medicine. In fact, some of them even recommend an acupuncturist if they know that what they have done is not effective. 

Another myth is that every patient will undergo the four needle technique. This is not true and it will only be used when the specialist feels that the energy of the patient is virtually not moving as a last resort. 

The seventh myth is that it is better for a medical doctor to perform acupuncture. This is wrong because the training is much different than that taught in medical school. Students who have an acupuncturist license train for 3,000 hours before they are allowed to practice this profession. So between an acupuncturist and a medical doctor, you should go with someone who has learned about this much longer.

The eighth myth is that acupuncture is only used in third world countries. This is not true because this technique originated in China more than 2000 years ago and this has spread to developed nations in Asia such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. 

Here at home, acupuncture been practiced for more than 2 decades and is legal in 30 states. In fact 22 of them, license professionals after they graduate once they pass the state board examination.

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Although acupuncture has been around for a very long time, there is still a need for this form of holistic healthcare which is why this is being taught in colleges and in use today. It is painless and cost efficient and a lot of studies have shown that it is effective in treating various illnesses and preventing some of them. 

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DYNAMIC YOGA – Exercise 3 & 4

POSE OF THE MOON (Shashankasana)

Sit on your knees with palms on thighs. Close eyes and relax, but keep spine and head straight.

Inhale deeply and lift arms above head, keeping them straight and shoulder-width apart. As you breathe out, bend forward from the hips, keeping arms and head in a straight line. Hands and forehead should eventually rest on the floor in front of your knees. Bend your elbows, so that arms are fully relaxed and hold for five seconds.

Then breathe in and slowly raise arms and body back to the upright position.

Exhale and return your palms to the top of your thighs. Repeat 3-5 times.

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MOUNTAIN POSE (Parvatasana)

Strengthens nerves and muscles in the arms and legs, and stimulates the circulation in the upper spine.

Kneel on raised heels and stretch your arms forward so your forehead is on the floor. Breathe deeply and relax for a few seconds. Raise yourself on to your hands and knees, keeping your toes tucked under and your back flat.

Inhale and push up onto your toes. Raise your buttocks and lower your head between your arms. Your back and legs should form two sides of a triangle.

Exhale, rest your feet on the floor and try to touch the floor with the top of your head. Hold the position for 10 seconds.

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DYNAMIC YOGA – Exercise 1 & 2

SWAYING PALM TREE POSE (Tiryaka Tadasana)

Streamlines the waist and develops balance. Stand with feet 8 inch apart and fix eyes on a point directly in front of you. Interlock fingers and turn palms outward. Inhale deeply as you raise arms over your head. As you breathe out, bend from your waist to your left side, taking care not to reach forwards or backwards. Hold for a few seconds, then inhale deeply and slowly return to the upright position.

Repeat 5 times to each side.

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CAT-STRETCH POSE (Marjari-asana)

Kneel and lean forward to place hands on floor below your shoulders, fingers facing forward, hands in line with knees. Arms and thighs should be at right angles to the floor; knees may be slightly separated.

Inhale deeply, raise head and drop spine so your back is concave. Fill your lungs and hold for three seconds. As you exhale, lower your head and stretch your spine upwards. At the end of the breath, pull in your buttocks, contract stomach muscles and place head between arms.

Repeat 5 times.

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Can WITCHCRAFT Cause Erectile Dysfunction?

Man suffering from impotence is about to sacrifice a pig to Priapus. Ca. 40 BC. Roman fresco from the eastern wall of room 4 in the Villa dei Misteri in Pompeii. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Perusing the many directions you can when researching anything at all I came upon the most unique thought that I had found on Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence. It seems there are men even in this enlightened day and age that go to their doctors complaining that they have been hexed or a spell has been cast on them and they can no longer get an erection at all.

So what do you think about it? Do you believe in witches and spells? The stories I read told of a Doctor in Manhattan of all places that had a man come in with some hair off the witch that hexed him and he swore if the doctor would wash and perform some chant over the hair that the man would get his erections back.

Another came in and said that his wife told him she hexed him to keep him from ever being with another woman and it happened he could not get it up with his girlfriends.

Yes I am serious, these are true stories and there are many more, but my thought is not that it is witchcraft as much as it is mind over matter. Even in witchcraft voodoo type of thing the person being troubled, has to agree and believe that what is said is true.

So this again to me is a psychological impotence, in that it is the mind that has somehow condemned the ability to achieve an erection because it is the mind that fully believes that what the person said or did is truth.

And then the problem propagates itself, for instance a man believes he has been hexed and yet he doesn't want to believe it so he goes to the woman he is with and tries to get aroused but he cannot, so he stops and maybe once or twice more will try but each time he fails it only tells him the truth of the spell to begin with and soon he quits trying to make love at all. From that point on he lives with the believed assumption that he can not ever get an erection again.

So I had to bring up this most unusual cause of Impotence and totally deny that it is true. If you have a different opinion or knowledge then please let me know I would be most interested.

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Are TATTOOS An Addiction?

The longtime connection between tattoos and individuals of questionable character is not the sole account for why tattoos are frequently given a bad reputation.  While of course this connection, which is becoming less and less of a factor as each generation progresses, has been true in many circumstances, the subject of tattoos in the present day has yet another cloud over its reputation;  it is darker, and rarely based on the truth.  

Tattooed woman (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

From both those who know and those who do not, there are frequent insinuations about the "addictive" characteristics of tattooing.  Many people sport multiple tattoos;  some have acquired them over a number of years or decades, while others make regular trips to their favorite tattoo studios, but arbitrarily labeling this as an "addiction" is unfair, unrealistic, and rarely based in fact.  As each person has his or her own individual reason for getting tattoos, it is impossible to know what a person's reason is unless he or she states it.  Some like artwork, some wish to honor a special person, some get tattoos in order to feel a part of some specific group, some people just enjoy spending money.  In other words, most people have their own individual reasons for getting tattoos, and it is almost never a matter of being "addicted" to them.

There are two parts of this misconception.  Both play a role in giving a bad reputation to the subject of tattoos as well as to the people who elect to get them.  The first is that people are addicted to the tattoos themselves;  the second misconception is that people are addicted to the process of getting them--  specifically, that they are "addicted to pain."  One might wonder the mindset of anyone who states the latter opinion;  but it certainly provides quite a scope of misunderstandings on the entire subject.

One tattoo artist, in remarking that tattoos are a "fever," had been referring to the simple, if odd, enjoyment which many of his clients had in being able to spend money to buy permanent artwork for themselves.  "I think I'll get another one" was something often heard in his studio.  This did not constitute "addiction" by any definition of the word.  Nor, in his decades of practice as a tattoo artist, did he ever have a customer who even remotely enjoyed the discomfort of the tattooing process.

The word, and its mistaken applicability to tattoos, is often tossed around by those who know too well what the word "addiction" really means.  Addiction is a compulsion, something over which a person has no self-control.  Addiction cannot differentiate between a "want" and a "need."  Individuals who do have numerous addictions--  drugs, alcohol, behaviors, etc.--  can very well become addicted to tattoos.  However, that is certainly not the case for the majority of people who decide to get them.  Most people who get tattoos do so simply because they want them;  they do not possess the weakness of character which leads addicts in the position of being compelled to do something.

The concept that a person gets tattoos because he or she is addicted to pain and therefore enjoys the painful process of being tattooed can only come from either the most ignorant or those who have some personal issues of their own.

Unfortunately, both of these misconceptions shed a very negative light on both the subject of tattoos and the people who wear them.  It is a bad reputation which neither deserve, for there is almost never any fact in either point of view.  While there are those who get tattoos with less than desirable motives, most people who get them do so with no negative attachment to either the tattoos or the process whatsoever.  The bottom line is if you find someone who is attempting to convince you that getting tattoos is an addiction, you've probably found someone who actually is an addict and does not realize that most people are not.

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Anarchy as an ORGANIZING Principle

Profile of Adam Smith (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The recent spate of accounting fraud scandals signals the end of an era. Disillusionment and disenchantment with American capitalism may yet lead to a tectonic ideological shift from laissez faire and self regulation to state intervention and regulation. This would be the reversal of a trend dating back to Thatcher in Britain and Reagan in the USA. It would also cast some fundamental - and way more ancient - tenets of free-marketry in grave doubt.

Markets are perceived as self-organizing, self-assembling, exchanges of information, goods, and services. Adam Smith's "invisible hand" is the sum of all the mechanisms whose interaction gives rise to the optimal allocation of economic resources. The market's great advantages over central planning are precisely its randomness and its lack of self-awareness.

Market participants go about their egoistic business, trying to maximize their utility, oblivious of the interests and action of all, bar those they interact with directly. Somehow, out of the chaos and clamor, a structure emerges of order and efficiency unmatched. Man is incapable of intentionally producing better outcomes. Thus, any intervention and interference are deemed to be detrimental to the proper functioning of the economy.

It is a minor step from this idealized worldview back to the Physiocrats, who preceded Adam Smith, and who propounded the doctrine of "laissez faire, laissez passer" - the hands-off battle cry. Theirs was a natural religion. The market, as an agglomeration of individuals, they thundered, was surely entitled to enjoy the rights and freedoms accorded to each and every person. John Stuart Mill weighed against the state's involvement in the economy in his influential and exquisitely-timed "Principles of Political Economy", published in 1848.

Undaunted by mounting evidence of market failures - for instance to provide affordable and plentiful public goods - this flawed theory returned with a vengeance in the last two decades of the past century. Privatization, deregulation, and self-regulation became faddish buzzwords and part of a global consensus propagated by both commercial banks and multilateral lenders.

As applied to the professions - to accountants, stock brokers, lawyers, bankers, insurers, and so on - self-regulation was premised on the belief in long-term self-preservation. Rational economic players and moral agents are supposed to maximize their utility in the long-run by observing the rules and regulations of a level playing field.

This noble propensity seemed, alas, to have been tampered by avarice and narcissism and by the immature inability to postpone gratification. Self-regulation failed so spectacularly to conquer human nature that its demise gave rise to the most intrusive statal stratagems ever devised. In both the UK and the USA, the government is much more heavily and pervasively involved in the minutia of accountancy, stock dealing, and banking than it was only two years ago.

But the ethos and myth of "order out of chaos" - with its proponents in the exact sciences as well - ran deeper than that. The very culture of commerce was thoroughly permeated and transformed. It is not surprising that the Internet - a chaotic network with an anarchic modus operandi - flourished at these times.

The dotcom revolution was less about technology than about new ways of doing business - mixing umpteen irreconcilable ingredients, stirring well, and hoping for the best. No one, for instance, offered a linear revenue model of how to translate "eyeballs" - i.e., the number of visitors to a Web site - to money ("monetizing"). It was dogmatically held to be true that, miraculously, traffic - a chaotic phenomenon - will translate to profit - hitherto the outcome of painstaking labour.

Privatization itself was such a leap of faith. State owned assets - including utilities and suppliers of public goods such as health and education - were transferred wholesale to the hands of profit maximizers. The implicit belief was that the price mechanism will provide the missing planning and regulation. In other words, higher prices were supposed to guarantee an uninterrupted service. Predictably, failure ensued - from electricity utilities in California to railway operators in Britain.

The simultaneous crumbling of these urban legends - the liberating power of the Net, the self-regulating markets, the unbridled merits of privatization - inevitably gave rise to a backlash.

The state has acquired monstrous proportions in the decades since the Second world War. It is about to grow further and to digest the few sectors hitherto left untouched. To say the least, these are not good news. But we libertarians - proponents of both individual freedom and individual responsibility - have brought it on ourselves by thwarting the work of that invisible regulator - the market.

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Geothermal as a GREEN ENERGY Source

We have the technology to do a lot of things and one of these is to tap the earth’s energy. This is exactly what we do when we decide to use geothermal which happens to be a green energy source.

Geothermal energy is energy obtained by tapping heat from the earth itself. This comes from magma and the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium.

The downside to geothermal energy is the fact that it is expensive to build. On the other hand, because the earth's crust continuously decays replenishing the heat, it is still a renewable source of energy.

Diagram of EGS with numeric labels. 1:Reservoir 2:Pump house 3:Heat exchanger 4:Turbine hall 5:Production well 6:Injection well 7:Hot water to district heating 8:Porous rock 9:Well 10:Solid bedrock
 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There are three types of geothermal plants around. These are namely dry steam, flash, and binary.

Dry steam plants take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly drive a turbine that spins a generator.

Flash plants take on water at temperatures over 200 °C, out of the ground, and allows it to boil as it rises to the surface then separates the steam phase in steam/water separators which runs the steam through a turbine to generate electricity.

Last, you have binary plants. Here, hot water flows through heat exchangers and that boiling organic fluid is what spins the turbine.

Once power is generated, the condensed steam and remaining geothermal fluid from all three types of plants are injected back into the hot rock to pick up more heat.

Geothermal plants are used operational in different parts of the globe. These are usually located in geologically unstable parts of the planet. You can see some in Chile, Iceland, New Zealand, United States, the Philippines and Italy. At home, two most prominent areas for this are in the Yellowstone basin and in northern California.

Aside from digging deep into the earth, there are some who believe we can generate power from hot dry rocks. You have to dig 3 kilometers deep are drilled into the earth first to find these hot underground radiogenic granite rocks. Right now, some Australia companies are exploring this technology.

If you were to compare the amount of energy collected from geothermal to solar, you still get more from the sun. Despite that, people should still use it since solar energy cannot be harnessed when the clouds block the sun’s rays from reaching the solar panels.

Geothermal energy is a green energy source just like wind, hydropower and biofuel because it is a renewable. By maximizing its potential, we don’t have to worry about the price of oil in the world market when it hit more than $110 a barrel and is now under $40 in the world market.

But that is not the only thing we should be concerned about. We should also do our best to protect the environment given that coal fired and nuclear power plants produce harmful gases and radioactive waste that may cause to people and the surrounding areas.

Everyone knows that our planet has changed due to global warming. We learned our lessons from Chernobyl and Three Mile Island but this does not mean it may not happen again.

For us to do our share to protect the environment now and for generations to come, we have to promote alternative energy and geothermal as a green energy source is just one of many that is currently available.

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Walking the Path to GUIDED RELAXATION

Join me as we walk along the beach while listening to the sounds of waves splash about as we move ahead. Oh so peaceful. Wouldn’t it be nice to have that all the time? Letting go of the worries that keep you down is a guaranteed way to relieve stress and move to guided relaxation. You can walk along that beach anytime you choose. There are videos and CDs with the sounds of the ocean playing on the track, and the videotapes has coaches to help with learning to do this. You can use the guides as a tool to reach your guided relaxation stage. 

Stressed and worried (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is stress and tension?

Stress and tension is bad for your health as well as your mind. Stress is very controlling and will control your mind and make you go into a deep depression then you will have to get medical altercation as well as mentally attendee. Medically there is a lot that can go wrong, as well. Some of things that go wrong is you get high blood pressure, aches and pains, headaches, as well maybe you can have a heart attach or even a stroke.

Where can I get the information I need to get help?

Dealing with stress and tension is easy nowadays. You can find many helpful guides that teach you how to relax. However, you have to try some things to see if they will work for you. Everyone is different so it depends on you as a person. Some of things that you might want to try are hot baths, spas, scented candles, aromatherapy; yoga is good for you to do as well. 

Yoga is a self-teaching program that you can get the information out of a book or some form of videos. It is good for your health as well as your mind. Yoga is good for your mind it helps you to learn how to control your thoughts and breathing in which this will help you to relax all parts of your body. Some places that you can get this information is at your local store or sometimes you can go to your local family dollar or Wal-Mart they have spots that you can go to see if they have what you need. If you are unable to find what you need, you may want to visit sites that you can go to on the Internet to get information on relaxing.

Some people take stress better then others. However, regardless stress is stress and no matter what it is not, it can affect your life dramatically. Before it is to late and it takes total control over you and your body do something now. For some people it comes natural to worry about many things then others. 

For us that worry so much we need to manage our worries and allow room for peace. If you need to worry then make it wild and worry about something worth worrying about.

How to manage worry: 

Worry is a mean mechanism that will only destroy you. If you take control of worries, you will soon see stress slow. Keep the golden rule in mind, i.e. sufficient for each day and you will learn to relax your worries. You can also use the guide to live one day at a time to relieve stress. You have many choices, and making those choices your own will guide you to relaxation. If you find it difficult to manage on your own, visit the Internet to open your mind to suggestions. When you have an open mind you will find your guided relaxation. 

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The Anugraha REIKI

Mikao Usui 臼井甕男 (1865–1926)

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anugraha Reiki is one of the many forms of the popular Reiki system of healing.

Reiki has its origins traced back to Japan where the practice was developed by a Tendai Budhhist named Mikao Usui in 1922. He was said to have discovered the technique after a 21-day retreat on Mount Kurama.

After undergoing meditation, fasting and prayer during the retreat, Usiu claimed to have received some mystical revelation and was handed down the knowledge as well as the spiritual power for healing.

Reiki has been known to be fairly easy and simple to use. Everyone is said to be able to employ the system to achieve spiritual healing of self as well as others. Teaching the system usually involves three parts which are better known as degrees. The first degree usually teaches the basic theories and procedures with using Reiki energy.

This energy is said to pass through a channel in the body which can be opened by way of four "attunements" given by the Reiki master to a student. The first degree of training also involves the learning of certain hand placements that allow the Reiki energy to heal people.

The second degree of the Reiki training involves the use of the Reiki symbols and how they can be used to enhance healing. Students are also taught how to provide distant healing. This will allow people to be able to heal others without being physically present. The third degree of the Reiki training involves making the student become a Reiki master. As a Reiki master, a person may now be able to attune others to Reiki and teach the system to others.

Different forms of Reiki now exist and each one of them provides different ways of providing spiritual healing. One of them is the Anugraha Reiki which is a mystical healing art that originated in India. The word "Anugraha" means Grace, which is considered as one of the five functions of the Divine that ultimately leads to Liberation or "Mukti". Anugraha can also refer to the Power of Revelation. On another level, the word can also relate to Mercy.

Just like the Japanese form of Reiki, the first level of Anugraha Reiki focuses on self healing, self awareness, replenishment and perfecting relationship. A Diksha or attunement is given to help activate seldom used parts of the brain. A simple yet advanced spiritual practice is taught to help transform a person's consciousness and result to deep states of awareness within 30 days.

The second level of the Anugraha Reiki focuses on healing others. During this period, sacred sounds are being taught that is said to help invoke positive consciousness. An advanced form of meditation is also taught. A type of special mantra used to invoke the presence is taught along with the techniques for doing healing work both through personal and long distance means.

The third degree initiation of Anugraha Reiki involves the teaching of the esoteric use of important Reiki symbols that can be used for different means such as for astral projection, meditation, altering time or space, bridging the worlds of life and death, and easing the transition process. There are two additional master symbols are also revealed.  For a student to succeed and qualify for the third degree of teaching, he or she should already be relatively clear of his or her own physical and psychological suffering

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Who Uses ORIGAMI in Society Today?

The art of origami dates back to the 1600's. First practiced by the Chinese and Japanese, the art of paper folding was and continues to be popular in many cultures. When it was originally started, origami instructions were passed on verbally. Over the years the details and steps required for origami projects have been written down and/or relayed through diagrams. Folding paper may not seem to be very challenging but as the projects advance, origami can in fact be quire complicated and complex. 

Origami star (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Who uses origami in society today? No doubt there are many people who still do origami simply as a pass-time or hobby. For children and adults alike this activity can provide hours of enjoyment. Origami is great on rainy days and snow days. Once starting a project, it's difficult to stop until the desired result is achieved. It may take several attempts but eventually the results will be top-notch.

Origami has grown in popularity as a teaching tool. Educators and teachers are using origami in the classroom. This activity has proven to be effective in teaching children to be patient and attentive. Both of these skills are necessary in a group as well as in every day living. Origami also teaches children about problems solving and other aspects of mathematics that are relative to life. It also encourages children to set goals and work toward achieving them. 

Psychologists and physicians use origami as a therapeutic tool. It has proven to be successful in the treatment of mental health patients. It helps the patients to become more relaxed in their environment and with their doctor. Besides filling many lonely hours in the hospital, origami teaches patients to get along with and help one another. The art of paper folding can actually bring people out of their shell and encourage them to participate in conversation and group activities. 

Parents use origami at home to help their children develop different skills. This activity can help children develop their reading and writing skills. For young children it can help them learn how to use both hands together. Origami teaches concentration, patience and problem solving, all imperative to the growth and development of children. Besides the educational and behavioral advantages of origami, parents can use this activity to occupy a child who's bored or lonely. It's an inexpensive activity that a parent and child or children can do together. This means time spent together and an opportunity to build a good parent/child relationship. 

When people first began practicing the art of origami, they probably had no idea of the amazing benefits this activity would produce. Likely initially used as a decoration or simply a way to kill a few hours, origami has been transformed into an activity that has many magnificent uses. There are books written about the art of origami and its benefits for various situations. The Internet has loads of information about the origami. If you'd like to learn more about this great activity, log onto the worldwide web and start learning.

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Why MUSCLES Get Sore

Illustration of the pain pathway in René Descartes' Traite de l'homme (Treatise of Man) 1664. The long fiber running from the foot to the cavity in the head is pulled by the heat and releases a fluid that makes the muscles contract.
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As people age, they begin to complain more of pains in their muscles and joints. They seem to stiffen up with age, and such commonplace activities as bending over for the morning paper can make them wince.

Such pain can grip so fiercely that they are sure it begins deep in their bones. But the real cause of stiffness and soreness lies not in the joints or bones, according to research at the Johns Hopkins Medical School, but in the muscles and connective tissues that move the joints.

The frictional resistance generated by the two rubbing surfaces of bones in the joints is negligible, even in joints damaged by arthritis.

Flexibility is the medical term used to describe the range of a joint’s motion from full movement in one direction to full movement in the other. The greater the range of movement, the more flexible the joint.

If you bend forward at the hips and touch your toes with your fingertips, you have good flexibility, or range of motion of the hip joints. But can you bend over easily with a minimal expenditure of energy and force? The exertion required to flex a joint is just as important as its range of possible motion.

Different factors limit the flexibility and ease of movement in different joints and muscles. In the elbow and knee, the bony structure itself sets a definite limit. In other joints, such as the ankle, hip, and back, the soft tissue—muscle and connective tissue—limit the motion range.

The problem of inflexible joints and muscles is similar to the difficulty of opening and closing a gate because of a rarely used and rusty hinge that has become balky.

Hence, if people do not regularly move their muscles and joints through their full ranges of motion, they lose some of their potential. That is why when these people will try to move a joint after a long period of inactivity, they feel pain, and that discourages further use

What happens next is that the muscles become shortened with prolonged disuse and produces spasms and cramps that can be irritating and extremely painful. The immobilization of muscles, as researchers have demonstrated with laboratory animals, brings about biochemical changes in the tissue.

However, other factors trigger sore muscles. Here are some of them:

1. Too much exercise

Have you always believed on the saying, “No pain, no gain?” If you do, then, it is not so surprising if you have already experienced sore muscles.

The problem with most people is that they exercise too much thinking that it is the fastest and the surest way to lose weight. Until they ache, they tend to ignore their muscles and connective tissue, even though they are what quite literally holds the body together.

2. Aging and inactivity

Connective tissue binds muscle to bone by tendons, binds bone to bone by ligaments, and covers and unites muscles with sheaths called fasciae. With age, the tendons, ligaments, and fasciae become less extensible. The tendons, with their densely packed fibers, are the most difficult to stretch. The easiest are the fasciae. But if they are not stretched to improve joint mobility, the fasciae shorten, placing undue pressure on the nerve pathways in the muscle fasciae. Many aches and pains are the result of nerve impulses traveling along these pressured pathways.

3. Immobility

Sore muscles or muscle pain can be excruciating, owing to the body’s reaction to a cramp or ache. In this reaction, called the splinting reflex, the body automatically immobilizes a sore muscle by making it contract. Thus, a sore muscle can set off a vicious cycle pain.

First, an unused muscle becomes sore from exercise or being held in an unusual position. The body then responds with the splinting reflex, shortening the connective tissue around the muscle. This cause more pain, and eventually the whole area is aching. One of the most common sites for this problem is the lower back.

4. Spasm theory

In the physiology laboratory at the University of Southern California, some people have set out to learn more about this cycle of pain.

Using some device, they measured electrical activity in the muscles. The researchers knew that normal, well-relaxed muscles produce no electrical activity, whereas, muscles that are not fully relaxed show considerable activity.

In one experiment, the researchers measured these electrical signals in the muscles of persons with athletic injuries, first with the muscle immobilized, and then, after the muscle had been stretched.

In almost every case, exercises that stretched or lengthened the muscle diminished electrical activity and relieved pain, either totally or partially.

These experiments led to the “spasm theory,” an explanation of the development and persistence of muscle pain in the absence of any obvious cause, such as traumatic injury.

According to this theory, a muscle that is overworked or used in a strange position becomes fatigued and as a result, sore muscles.

Hence, it is extremely important to know the limitations and capacity of the muscles in order to avoid sore muscles. This goes to show that there is no truth in the saying, “No pain, no gain.” What matters most is on how people stay fit by exercising regularly at a normal range than once rarely but on a rigid routine.

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