Free-D

Tourists flooded Eastern China, Japan, India and Nepal to see the longest solar eclipse of the 21st century, which lasted for 6 minutes 39 seconds and will not be surpassed in duration until 31st June 2132. This was the second in the series of three eclipses in a one-month period, being book-ended by two minor penumbral lunar eclipse, first on July 7 and last on August 6. The path of the Moon’s umbral shadow began in India and crossed through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crossed Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and curved southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reached 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse was seen within the much broader path of the Moon’s penumbral shadow, which included most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean. Read the rest of this entry »

December 21st, 2012 day break doesn’t come. All remains dark. The world has come to an end. Many ancient cultures from across the globe describe startling events that seem to be taking place now. Are they pointing to 2012? Newly discovered drawings, that many believe are from the famed prophet Nostradamus, might hold the coded clues about what will happen in 2012. This is the year, so called Doomsday, that occurrence of many cataclysmic and apocalyptic events all around the world are predicted. According to ancient Mayans 21st, December 2012 marks the ending of the current baktun cycle of the Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar. Some suggest that Armageddon would overtake the degenerate people of the world and all creation on the final day of the thirteenth baktun. Thus our present universe would be annihilated on December 21st, 2012, when the Great Cycle of the Long Count reaches completion.

Read the rest of this entry »

Although most of the sci-fi novelists are laughed at by people of that time, many of them are admired for the predictions they made which came true only few decades after. Looking back at some of the Jules Verne and H.G. Wells writings it would appear that today we are living in that futuristic world they predicted years ago. Verne most notably made predictions about sea and space travel while Wells predicted the nuclear bomb and the nature of warfare in the 20th century. It is said that after seeing the US bomb Japan with nuclear weapons the writer remarked that his epitaph should read “God damn you all I told you so.” Read the rest of this entry »

According to Dr. Madan Kataria, a medical doctor from Mumbai, India popularly known as the ‘Guru of Giggling’ (London Times) and the founder of Laughter Yoga Clubs movement, laughter may indeed be the best of all medicines. Kataria has developed a form of laughter therapy called Hasya Yoga (hasya means laughter in Sanskrit) that combines deep, controlled breathing and stretches with various types of forced laughter.

Read the rest of this entry »

The courage it takes to protect freedom. It took the individuals that signed the Declaration a great deal of courage to do so as they could have been hung for treason. People of the US use this symbol as a means to remind them that courage is often needed in times when freedoms are threatened. As John Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States, wrote to his wife on third of July 1776, “The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.” It marked fourth of July as one of the most important celebrations for the people of the United States. Read the rest of this entry »

Luck can be lack of control over our constitution, circumstances or simply our personal ignorance regarding some factors that affect our lives. However, according to rationalists it is probability taken personally and believing in luck is a result of poor reasoning and wishful thinking. Since the outcome of any action or reaction can be as a result of consequence, then somebody crossing the road and getting hit by a car can easily be explained or rationalized by keeping all the factors involved in such an accident in mind.

Read the rest of this entry »

As in rainbow every individual colour is equally important and responsible in the formation of the gorgeous arch, all individuals and groups living in a diverse society are equally of significance. Gender, race, religion, creed, disability, sexual preference, and nationality shape who we are and how we perceive the world. It influences us as much as the historical factors that define our generations. Diversity as a phenomenon is moving along a continuum. Initially, when people all strived for the comfort of sameness, variety was a threat. So, diversity was cause for segregation. Read the rest of this entry »

From 29th of May till tomorrow, we are all being entertained in various interesting venues throughout this World Heritage city to celebrate the construction of its monumental Plaza Mayor. From Palacio de Congres to Plaza de San Benito, Teatro Caja Duero, Teatro Liceo, Casa de las Conchas and not to mention Plaza Mayor, there is something to see and enjoy.

Read the rest of this entry »

Summer is just around the corner, if not here already, and most likely unlike you I’m totally unprepared for it again. But, yet I cannot wait feel that lovely warm breeze against my body and wallow in the rays of the basking summer sun. So here it is again and here I am again eyeing in envy those who are already walking around in their new summer wardrobes looking totally fab as I cast my mind back to my previous summer’s drab designs not having a clue what’s hot and what’s not. The thought suddenly enters my mind that if one of those reality “what not to wear” type TV producers walked by I would just be standing a mile out right now. Dang! Ok, so a plan begins to form in my mind, something that consists of a quick gym membership and a hurried appointment with the local beauty parlour.

Read the rest of this entry »

The current generation of university students are more demanding, and require much more ‘spoon feeding’ than their predecessors. That is according to the survey done by the Times Educational Supplement. The emergence of the internet is viewed as the culprit in that it makes students less active in finding out information for themselves. It all starts from school as the system of education is becoming more and more forgiving towards students, where instead of a good old punishment the little trouble maker of the class is simply pardoned and efficiently given the title of suffering from ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). Read the rest of this entry »