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In a comment on my previous article, Self-investigation ( ātma-vicāra ) is just the simple practice of trying to be attentively self-aware , an anonymous friend asked, ‘Does this practice work?’ and went on to explain why he or she asked this question, saying, ‘There are so many Gurus each offering a unique method — a method that might have worked for them. The real question is does it work for others? Michael, from your writings I gather you have been practicing this for more than two decades (?). What is your realization so far? Have you been able to achieve what Bhagavan describes? Honestly, if the answer is no, then I will be very skeptical of this method’. Should we rely on what others claim to be their experience? What is the goal that we should aim to experience or attain? By knowing what goal we should seek, we can logically infer what must be the means to achieve it No matter how long it may take us to reach our destination, patient perseverance is required 1. Should we rely ...

This week's lucky "winner"... the Reese's PBC Burger!! Image credit: The Works Read more »

Is The Impact Of New Motor Vehicle Technology On Our Lives Positive or Scary ?  By Andrew J Crawford Is The Impact Of New Vehicle Technology On Our Lives Positive or Scary? We are living in unprecedented times where the seemingly endless explosion of technology is making it increasingly difficult to keep pace with it in our everyday lives. Children born in the last few years will in all likelihood find their future careers have not even been thought of yet such is the pace of technology innovation. Look at how motor vehicles have transformed over the last decade with the implementation of new 'gadgets' to make our journeys so much easier and safer. Manufacturers are scrambling to deliver vehicles to the market with pioneering technology that will set them apart from their opposition. However are these new inclusions actually beneficial to the driver or do they take the human element out of the decision making process? The answer is open for debate as everyone will have ...

SUMPTUOUS CUISINE OF VENETO  By VS Singh Veneto is situated in north-eastern Italy. Cuisine of Veneto has a long tradition of satisfying the taste buds of gourmet individuals. This cuisine is quite different from the other cuisines of Italy. This cuisine is quite varied as this region has varied landscapes. Gourmet picnic baskets containing cuisine of Veneto are popular throughout the world. Below mentioned are some of the most popular dishes of this region: Brasato - This delicious dish is a must have for every gourmet individual. It's main constituents are braised beef meat, Amarone wine and polenta. This dish is ideal for a main course meal. Gnocchi - These are thick dumplings made from wheat flour, egg, semolina, cheese, potato, breadcrumbs. This dish is served as snack throughout the world. This delicacy is also used as a substitute for soups. In some variations of this dish, melted butter along with sauces, pesto and sage etc.   Moeche - This mouth watering dis...

Simple Ways of Having A Healthy Day By Nguyen Kinh Luan    Skincare products are there to help you achieve a beautiful natural skin tone. It is however important to note that a healthy lifestyle is equally important if you would like to be happy with your life. Put yourself on a healthy diet and perform some simple body exercises to realize just how much transformation you are able to achieve within a short time. Before your exercises, it is advisable to have a nutritious breakfast. You can get the aid of a nutritionist or even search online if you have no idea which diet works best for your case. You need to be disciplined to ensure that junk food does not get onto the trolley even by 'mistake'. A healthy diet provides you with the necessary nutrients required for your routine workouts. Make sure that you take a lot of water during and after your work-out as this is important in keeping your body hydrated and you can therefore maintain moisturized skin. Body exercise doe...

Today, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer published a statement in The Lancet detailing its position on the carcinogenicity of processed and red meat ( 1 ).  The statement, resulting from a meeting of 22 scientists from 10 countries, concluded that processed meat is a group 1 carcinogen, meaning that it is "definitely carcinogenic to humans".  They also judged that red meat is a group 2A carcinogen, meaning that it probably causes cancer but the evidence isn't as strong.  They're mostly referring to the links between processed and red meat and digestive tract cancer, particularly cancers of the colon and rectum. These statements were met with a media frenzy, and the expected furor from the meat industry.  The most surprising thing, for me, is that anyone would be surprised by the IARC's statement. Read more »

"Dean and the Witch" from An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch     The case study books chronicling the 19th Century 'Bell Witch' 'talking poltergeist' in Tennessee include circumstances involving slavery during the period preceding the Civil War.  M. V. Ingram wrote in An Authenticated History of the Bell Witch  (1894) about the tide of westward immigration that brought John Bell and his family to a settlement along the Red River in 1804.  Six children had been born to John and Lucy Bell during their twenty-two years in North Carolina.  Three more children would be born in Tennessee.  John's father-in-law had presented the couple with their first slaves as a wedding gift: a young black woman named Chloe and her son Dean.  Chloe would have eight children in all "that had become valuable as slaves . . ."   At the Bells' new home, there were houses, barns and an orchard.  John cleared more land for farming and...

How to Make A Mold Box? By Aarron Barry    Mold making takes varied means and forms. You can opt for making a one piece or multi-part mold, blanket or block mold and use brushed, poured, glove, slush or injection method. It all depends on the type of model as well as the mold making materials and techniques being used. However, what is common to most mold making forms is the use of a mold box or container. This is nothing, but a kind of containment field that works to enclose the model and also the mold making material till it cures properly. Else the material may just flow out! Even if this is not the case, the box helps in forming a supportive flange around the mold. Following is a dekko at how to make a mold box: • A mold box is generally made of cardboard. Some artists prefer using wood, acrylic or plastic. A few even opt for a modeling clay box itself. You can use an existing cup, pan, can or bucket also, provided it suits the dimensions of the model. You are ...

1980 Arcade Games - Video Domination  By Billy Mike 1980 arcade games proved that the gaming market would become huge worldwide in the years to come with no signs of stopping. This, of course, was extremely evident in the release of the highest grossing game of all time. This was also heralded the first mascot character. Pac-Man was an international phenomena that also ushered in the maze chase genre, introduced power-ups, featured cut-scenes, and opened gaming to female audiences. Pre-1980 arcade games showed off their tech prowess and imagination through games such as Pong and Space Invaders. However, 1980 games showed the world how much money was to be made in this arena.   The Rise of Technology To see how far we have gone in the realm of video-gaming, all one must do is to look back to the 1980's to see how far we have come. 1980 arcade games pave the way for standardized gaming for decades to come. Namco released another contestant in the arena of 1980 arcade ga...

HOW SAFETY LIGHTS ASSURES PROTECTION TO YOUR VEHICLE  By Luke Harper Vehicle safety lights are visual warning lights outfitted to the vehicle. These help in instances where the driver wants to communicate to others on the road about the urgency of their journey. These lights act an additional warning of a danger when still, or during situations where the police wants the driver to halt for interaction. Choosing safety light for your vehicle Cars require appropriate emergency lights for safety purpose. This incorporates taillight, headlight, grill or dash light, and flashing systems, among others. These lights help the person to drive safely on the road and at the same time, protect others from any unwanted danger. People rarely pay attention to taillights of their vehicles as compared to the headlights. However, taillights are equally important for the vehicle's safety and you must replace the damaged tail light or replace fused bulbs without any delay.   Notably, ve...

HOW MUSIC AFFECTS THE WAY WE EXPERIENCE VIDEO GAMES  By Dan Khan Video game music can be the best part of a game. It's one of the prime components to the aesthetics of a game and can really contribute to the soul's entirety. A game's music is the foundation for the tone, having as much (if not more) of an impact on the atmosphere than the visuals. This being said, the music can indicate what kind of game you'll think it's going to be. If the music is happy or campy, then you might get the sense that the game is supposed to be light-hearted and joyful, just there for you to have a good time. If the music is slow, solemn, or dark, you might catch the vibe that you're getting into something serious, with an oppressive atmosphere. If the music to a game doesn't fit, it can all just make the game feel off. It might not take away from the game, but there is always the possibility. " Chip-tune is easy to replicate via humming, and if a piece is catchy ...

This article is adapted from the replies that I wrote to two emails written by a friend called Ladislav asking for advice on how to practise self-investigation ( ātma-vicāra ). First reply In his first email Ladislav wrote: My issue: still I can’t feel ‘I’ or my self. I also tried to repeat in my mind the word ‘I’ or ‘I am’, but still I have not succeeded (i.e. I don’t feel anything other than before. I don’t feel myself). I don’t look for sensation but I seek sense of self. Please can you advise me, what do I do to know feeling self? In reply to this I wrote: When you say ‘I can’t feel I’, are there two ‘I’s, one of which cannot feel the other? Are you not always just one ‘I’? Are you not always self-aware? Are you not always aware that ‘I am’? There is nothing more to know than this. However, though you always know ‘I am’, now you know yourself as ‘I am Ladislav’. Though you now seem to be Ladislav, you are not really Ladislav, because you exist even in sleep, when you are not aware ...