The Greatest Mind Ever

Do you know who was buried here?

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Please click here

Links:

http://www.uhedu/engines/epi969.htm

http://www.prometheussociety.org/articles/Outsiders.html

http://www.sidis.net/Sperling.htm

The Aging Brain

Muddle in the Middle
The Aging Brain
by Katharine Dunn

Neuroscientists have long used damaged brains as a way to understand normal brain functions. But doing the opposite also works. A group of researchers at Harvard recently looked at the effects of aging on healthy people’s brains and found that as we get older, communication between different brain regions breaks down. This discovery could eventually help scientists better characterize and detect neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, which affects more than 5 million Americans.


The younger brain, below, shows more synchronized activity than the older brain, above.

Until recently, most scientists looking at the aging brain focused on individual regions, especially those in the frontal lobe, which may shrink or lose activity even in the absence of disease, says Jessica Andrews-Hanna, a doctoral student in psychology at Harvard’s Center for Brain Science and the lead author on the group’s paper (published last December in the journal Neuron). Though other investigators had hypothesized that disconnections might occur in the ebb and flow of signals between regions, it wasn’t easy to measure this until the introduction in the early 1990s of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), a scanning technique that measures blood flow.

Read more... here

Spelling Test

Could You Out-Spell an Eigth-Grader?

You want to try?

Click here

Florida Wildfires

Florida governor declares emergensy in burn areas


Wildfires in Malabar, Daytona force hundreds to evacuate

Michael R. Brown / AP

A blaze snakes dangerously close to a business as firefighters create a back fire to stop the oncoming flames in Malabar, Fla., on Monday.

updated 3:35 p.m. PT, Mon., May. 12, 2008

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Florida Governor Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency as several wildfires burned along the state’s central Atlantic coast on Monday.

Dry, windy weather fueled the fires. At least three homes have been destroyed and hundreds of residents of Daytona Beach have been ordered to leave the area.

The largest fire roared across 3,000 acres in Brevard County, where one home was destroyed and 60 others threatened, forestry officials said.

Read complete news here

"Fish" of Mind

Have you ever thought of keeping live fish at home? No, not the usual little goldfish turning tight circles in a bowl little larger than a jam jar - I mean starting an aquarium.

An aquarium is a glass or plastic tank built to hold fish, other water animals, and water plants.

You will have to spend a bit of time on it to begin with, and even some money, but you will find it worthwhile. See some of the popular and colorful pet fish below.

Killifish

Zebrasoma flavescens

Zebrasoma veliferum

Zebrasoma xanthurum

Zebrasoma desjardini

Photos:

http://www.flickr.com/

http://rafa.biotopy.pl/

http://www.solodvds.com/

http://www.aquahobby.com/

http://www.waterlifefiji.com/

"I Could See Cars Floating"

Tornadoes Cut Destructive Path Across Central U.S., Killing 22

Monday, May 12, 2008
Associated Press

SENECA, Missouri — Stunned survivors picked through the little that was left of their communities Sunday after tornadoes tore across the Plains and South, killing at least 22 people in three states and leaving behind a trail of destruction and stories of loss.

At least 15 people died in southwestern Missouri. In the fading mining town of Picher, Okla., at least six people were killed, and at least one person died in storms in Georgia.

Susan Roberts, 61, stared at the smashed remains of her classic 1985 Cadillac sitting on her living room floor — the only thing left of her Seneca home. A woman who had apparently sought shelter in the car died there, she said.

Here is the full article.

The Hands That Rack the Cradle...

Are the Hands That Rule the World

MOTHER means...

unconditional Love

unwavering Support

unrestrained Sacrifices

Every

single

mother

around

the

world

is

special

and

deserves

to

be

honored

and

appreciated.

The First President of the United States?

John Hanson was actually the first president. In 1781, while George Washington was still off fighting the Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies joined together under the Articles of Confederation. John Hanson of Maryland was elected "President of the United States in Congress Assembled."


All that meant was that Hanson was the chairman of the Congress. But after winning at Yorktown, Washington himself sent a letter to Hanson, addressed to the "President of the United States.

Photo/Link: John Hanson

SHINKANSEN

Series 700 Shinkansen

Also known as the Bullet trains, these Japanese trains were designed in 1964 to provide the fastest passenger service in the world. The trains run from Tokyo to Osaka at an average speed of 103 mph. they can reach a top speed of 159 mph.


Link: Bullet Train

"D" is for Doughnut

Have you ever wonder why doughnuts have holes in the middle?

The first doughnuts with holes were made by a 15 year-old, Hanson Crockett. He was a baker's apprentice working in Camden, Maine, in 1847. One day he noticed a rawness in the middle of his fried cakes. He cut out the soggy centers and made the first ring doughnuts.They became very popular and were made by hand until the first doughnut cutter was invented in 1872.

Eight Nicknames for Doughnuts

1. bellysinkers
2. doorknobs
3. dunkers
4. flatcakes
5. burl cakes
6. cymbals
7. fried cakes
8. sinkers

Photo:

www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup/?id=18

Grin and Bear It

It is said while on a hunting trip, US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt refused to shoot a young bear. This became the subject of a famous cartoon by Clifford K. Berryman, published in the Washington Post on November 16, 1902. Immediately afterwards, Morris Michtom, a New York shopkeeper (and later founder of the Ideal Toy and Novelty Company) made stuffed bears and with Roosevelt's permission- began advertising them as "Teddy's Bears". At about the same time, Margarete Steiff, a German toymaker, began making her first toy bears, exporting them to the US to meet the demand "Teddy Bears" had created. The art of collecting Teddy Bears is called arctophily.

Link: "Teddy Bear"

An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure

The Vitamin You Need to Prevent Prostate Cancer

Increased intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent, according to the results of European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC).

The potential benefits of K2 were most pronounced for advanced prostate cancer. Vitamin K1 intake did not offer any prostate benefits.

The findings were based on data from more than 11,000 men taking part in the EPIC Heidelberg cohort. It adds to a small but ever-growing body of science supporting the potential health benefits of vitamin K for bone, blood, skin, and now prostate health.

Sources:
NutraIngredients.com April 9, 2008
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition April 2008; 87(4):985-92

Comment:

Let me tell you something, two vitamins prove to be crucial here;
"Where can we get this Vitamins?" Where? No problem. Its's always here with us! Unless otherwise you're in the North Pole or South Pole but even then there's just enough of it there.

Firstly, you need Vitamin D from sunshine exposure.

Secondly, you need Vitamin K from collard greens, spinach, salad greens, kale, brocolli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, olive oil, asparagus, okra, green beans, lentils, etc.

There you have it.

Crunch for Success

Everyone has seen people trying to do crunches, but do you really
know how to do it? Your upper abdominals should be your target zone when doing these exercises.

Here are a few simple steps:

1. Lie on your back with your knees bent (feet sometimes on a bench).

2. With your hands behind your head curl your upper torso forward
bringing your rib cage toward your pelvis. If you're doing it correctly
you should feel a contraction in your abs.

3. Pause at the top of the exercise to allow for a perfect contraction zone to be generated.

4. Don't forget to exhale on the contraction.

For more body exercises, nutrition, and supplements visit:
http://www.emusclemag.com/

Photo:
http://www.netfit.co.uk/

Earthquake Test

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN EARTHQUAKE

Please CLICK here

In Memoriam

My Dream Machine back-pedal in the mid 1980's at Teacher's Village, Quezon City, Philippines.

My late dear friend, Jing Javier, was some kind of a visionary. What am I about to write here happened a few weeks prior to his departure. He's going to the US.

I visited him one day after work in his home. While we were talking about his favorite subject which was Philosophy, he suddenly stand-up and went to his room. After a while he returned with something in his hand. I noticed that he was holding a book, a paperback copy.

He was telling me to bring the book home with me and read it. The book was so thick that I told him, "Why don't we just play a game of chess and forget about the book?" "No, bring it home with you and read it," he said insistently.

But we did play chess and afterwards I go home with the book.

Many years have passed since then. One day, I was told by his uncle that he was already dead. I was speechless but my mind was full of questions. How come? He was still so young and yet... Another brilliant mind suddenly gone by. (He was a graduate of Philosophy and Economics).

Now I understand why he was insistent in wanting me to read the book. It's happening right now in our country. The philosophy that was the theme of the book is now being applied here by our government BUT in the reversed.

Brain drain is the name of the game in country nowadays. To those who are not familiar with the term, it simply means- migration of professional people ( as scientists, inventors, professors, physicians, nurses, etc.) from one country to another usually for higher salaries and better living conditions. These are intellectual people(s) which are needed here in our country. But why do they go elsewhere? Maybe our people in the government are downplaying the real meaning of this philosophy or they do not know how to apply it or they are not familiar with it.

I will try to tell something about this book and the philosophy behind it in my next post. I am a great fan of the author and must admit that she's very hard to discern.

Thank you my friend for sharing to me your wisdom and giving me a chance to know this brilliant woman. Hope we see each other in the spirit world.

The book: ATLAS SHRUGGED
The author: AYN RAND
The philosophical theme(s): The Philosophy of Objectivism

Check it out:
http://www.amazon.com

Photo:
www.cuddlecards.com/jufriend5.html

Vivaldi's Song by Michael Franks

It's been a long time...

Ingredient Masquerade

Checking food labels for salt, saturated fat, and other nutrients you may want to limit or avoid is often difficult. This is because these substances are found in a variety of ingredients used in processed foods.

If you want to avoid salt... then watch out for:

Any substance that contains the word sodium, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) and calcium disodium phosphate; hydrolized vegetable solids; brine; EDTA; whey; cheeses (natural and processed); soy protein isolate; frozen eggs; dried buttermilk powder.

If you want to avoid sugar... then watch out for:

Sucrose, molasses, glucose, dextrose, corn syrup, honey, fructose, levulose, fruit sugar, maltose, maltodextrin, sorghum, lactose, grain sorghum syrup.

If you want to avoid saturated fat... then watch out for:

Coconut oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, some hydrogenated oils, vegetable shortening, tallow, lard, beef fat, bacon fat, salt pork, butterfat, milk fat, cream cheese, whole eggs, egg yolks.

Source: The American Dietetic Association

Photos:

www.flickr.com

www.thirday.com

www.low-fat-diet-plan.com

Comment:

What can we say? We have no choice but to use iodized salt and olive oil. I think fructose and fruit sugar are the same. Sugar cane and sugar beets are sucrose. Aspartame is not good for our brain. Cyclamates are banned by the Food and Drug Administration. I think moderate use of the above is the key to a healthy mind and body plus correct exercise.

A Short Letter for You

Dear Friend,

It's a lovely day! Isn't it?

The sun is out, the sky is blue, and everything is just fine!

As you got up this morning, I watched you and hoped you would talk to me. Even a few words would be okay with me. Do I have to remind you to thank me for something good that happened in your life yesterday?

I noticed you were too busy trying to find the best outfit to put on and the nicest shoes to wear.

So I waited.

I am still here waiting...

Yours truly,

God