Monday, June 27, 2011

Oh Shit I am 40 years old!

Smart Electric Engineer

Smart Electric Engineer

Three guys go down to Mexico one night, get drunk and wake up in jail. They find out that they're to be executed for their crimes but none of them can remember what they have done.

The first one is strapped in the electric chair and is asked if he has any last words. He says, "I am a priest and I believe in the almighty power of God to intervene on behalf of the innocent." They throw the switch and nothing happens; so they figure God must not want this guy to die, and let him go.

The second one is strapped in and gives his last words. "I am an attorney and I believe in the eternal power of Justice to intervene on the part of the innocent." The switch is thrown and again nothing happens.

Figuring the law is on this guy's side, they let him go.

The last one is strapped in and say's "I'm an electrical engineer, and I'll tell you right now, you'll never electrocute anybody if you don't connect those two wires." God rest his soul.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Women Without Kids Up 80 Percent From 30 Years Ago

Women Without Kids Up 80 Percent From 30 Years Ago

The number of American women without children has risen to an all-time high of 1 in 5, a jump since the 1970s when 1 in 10 women ended their childbearing years without having a baby, according to the Pew Research Center.
About 1.9 million women aged 40-44—or 18 percent—were childless in 2008, an 80 percent increase since 1976, when just 580,000—10 percent of those in that age bracket—had never given birth, the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey shows.
Childlessness has increased across racial and ethnic groups and most education levels, but has dropped among women with advanced degrees in the past decade, according to the research.
Part of the reason for the rise in the number of childless women is an overall pattern toward delaying marriage and having kids, the research showed. Experts say that a drop in societal pressure to be a parent is also responsible for the trend, along with an increase in career opportunities and an improvement in birth control options and effectiveness.
"People put off getting pregnant," said women's health expert Dr. Laura Corio, a member of AOL Health's Medical Advisory Board. "Even when they're married they're putting off getting pregnant. Then they wake up one day and they're 40 and they want to have a child. It's like, hello?"
Explanations for the trend vary, but for some, the reason behind delaying parenting is a simple joie de vivre.
"They're freer. People are enjoying their lives: they're traveling, shopping, eating out," Corio told AOL Health. "Putting a baby into the situation is going to change everything."
Though the most educated women are still among those most likely to never give birth, there was a 31 percent decline in those aged 40-44 with master's, doctoral or professional degrees who had not had babies between 1994 and 2008, when 24 percent of women in that category were childless.
The data represents combined statistics from 2006 and 2008 (referred to as 2008 in the study) and from 1992 and 1994 (referred to as 1994).
White women remain the most likely not to have had a child, but the childless rates have grown more quickly for blacks, Hispanics and Asians over the past decade, according to the figures.
Never-married women still had the highest incidence of childlessness, though those rates also have declined over the past 10 years. By comparison, the childless rates have increased for those who are married or were at one time referred to as the "ever-marrieds."
"A lot of women can't find someone, or they're very picky or very educated," Corio said. "Contraception is also better. A lot of pregnancies in the past may have been accidents where they decided to keep the baby. It's also money - they think, we're not in the financial situation [to have children]."
Among the women aged 40 to 44 without children, the number of those who didn't want to have children equaled the number of those who did but weren't able to conceive, according to figures from the National Survey of Family Growth.
In 2003, about 6 percent of women in that age group were voluntarily childless, 6 percent were involuntarily childless and 2 percent didn't have children but wanted them in the future.
Along with the population changes have come shifts in attitude, with public opinion showing more acceptance of women without children, Pew Research reported. Most adults - 59 percent in 2002 - said they disagree with the statement that people who don't have kids "lead empty lives," compared to only 39 percent who didn't agree with the statement in 1988.
Similarly, a 2007 Pew survey showed that 41 percent of adults believe children are important for a successful marriage, down from 65 percent who expressed the same views in 1990.
About 46 percent of people said the trend has no bearing on society, according to a 2009 Pew survey, but 38 percent said it was bad for society -- up from 29 percent in 2007.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

The End of the World and 2012

The End of the World and 2012 | Terrence McKenna and Timewave Zero

December 21, 2012 is a date that has gained much interest and speculation as it's time draws near. As with the Y2K apprehension, there are those readying themselves for the possibility of the world as we know it coming to an end. A recent movie has depicted what could possibly happen, and there are message boards all over the internet buzzing about the subject. The question on many people's minds is... did the ancient Mayan civilization predict the end of the world using a long count calendar? More importantly, how accurate is the date?

Many scientists and even present day Mayan scholars are of the belief that the calendar ending in 2012 is not a prediction of the end of time. Information on the teachings of ancient Mayans are difficult to find and show that there was much disagreement on what the date itself meant. Whether it is the end of the world, or simply an end of one cycle and the beginning of another... it has generated much discussion in the last several years. However, it is not only in this decade that there has been discussion on this date... and one man believed he found a theory that supported this prediction in the mid-1970's.
Terrence Kemp McKenna

Terrence Kemp McKenna could be described as a writer and philosopher, although his interests and studies covered many areas. He is often called the "Timothy Leary for the nineties"... even by Leary himself. He experimented frequently with hallucinogenic substances from the time he was a teenager, feeling that the natural chemicals opened the mind to many ideas. A trip to the Amazon with his brother Dennis (a trip where they hoped to find a plant which produced dimethyltryptamine, another hallucinogenic) instead led him to discover the properties of Psilocybe cubensis, or the "magic mushroom" which grew in abundance.

McKenna agreed to become part of an experiment while he was there in taking this substance to see how far the expanses of his mind could be opened. He described being in perfect communication with the divine source of knowledge and enlightenment (known to him as the Source, or by the Greek name, Logos). This experience prompted him to study the ancient philosophies of the King Wen sequence of the IChing and to develop some very controversial theories from it. His first book, "The Invisible Landscape... Mind Hallucinogens and the IChing", written in 1975, was inspired by these readings and experiences. One of these theories discussed is the Novelty theory.

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In this particular context, novelty means new. Throughout the thousands of years of this planet's existence, there have been periods of time where new concepts and natural occurrences happened... with both positive and negative results. In studying the King Wen sequence of binary lines that were broken and solid (yin and yang respectively), Kemp concluded that the universe itself existed to produce new things as evolution continued. He graphed this over time to show that a geometric pattern emerged..much like the pattern in the King Wen sequence. The new happenings would ebb and flow and the universe continued. This graph resulted in what Kemp called "timewave zero". It shows time points for events in history that were important, although it does not show where they take place at.

Events such as the discovery of fire and how to use it, creating weaponry for defense, natural disasters, creating machinery to hasten work times, devastating illnesses (such as the Black Plague), higher technology... all fell into a pattern, according to this graph. Kemp and his colleagues took it a step further... taking this graph into the future. In doing so, he found that the speed at which new ideas and concepts comes to a curve... in 2012. The exact date he landed on is up for debate. It is said that he used the bombing of Hiroshima as a point of reference, and he actually hit November of 2012 by his graph's standards... moving it up only after hearing of the Mayan calendar. However, he insisted that the date was December 21, 2012... the same date that the Mayan calendar ends... and he insisted he had no previous knowledge of the Mayan Long Count Calendar at the time.

Psilocybe cubensis So what could it all mean? Have we gained so much in technological advances that we are dooming ourselves? Does it simply show that there will come a point where technology will come to a head... and we will have to become completely dependent on it? Was it that Kemp was on hallucinogens and was just "seeing things"... or do these very hallucinogens open the mind to where it can actually be seen and make sense? According to Kemp's "Stoned Ape" theory, psilocybin was once part of evolving man's daily diet. In consuming it, evolution began to take place because psilocybin opened the mind up to do so. By this theory, when psilocybin was removed as a food source... mankind stopped evolving. Of course there are those that will say Kemp was biased, as he was a strong supporter of the use of hallucinogens... but does being biased mean he was wrong?

What is interesting about McKenna's novelty and timewave zero theory is that it does show the points in time that showed advancement and catastrophic events. Periods such as the Islamic Golden Age, The Crusades, the Renaissance, the Black Plague, the world wars... all can be seen on the graph. If the pattern continues, it shows a distinctive curve in the time of 2012... meaning from that point, it progresses to infinity. Whether that means an end to the world or a progression into further evolution is up for debate... at least until December 21, 2012!

McKenna passed away from brain cancer April 3, 2000 at the age of fifty-three. There are many that will argue that any theory conceived while under the influence of a mind-altering drug has too many holes from it's inception... however in looking at the King Wen Sequence and the timewave zero graph, it does start to add up. It is true that psilocybin is a psychedelic, however that does not in and of itself disprove the theory. The fact is, when looking at the ebb and flow of new concepts, technology and disasters both natural and man-made, it is not hard to fathom that it is coming to a head... and it is not beyond possibility that 2012 is the year this will happen.

Not every doomsday prediction ends on that date... but many do. The ones that predict other dates... such as Sir Isaac Newton predicting the date as falling in the year 2060... show that this century promises to bring massive change to the world as we know it. The question is... are we ready?

Written by Angela Sangster, Copyright 2010 TrueGhostTales.com

http://www.trueghosttales.com/2012-end-world-terrence-kemp-mckenna.php

Friday, June 17, 2011

Revising 60s Hits

Revising 60s Hits

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Some of the artists of the 60s are revising their hits with new lyrics to accommodate aging baby boomers. They include:

Bobby Darin:
Splish, Splash, I Was Havin' a Flash

Herman's Hermits:
Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Walker

Ringo Starr:
I Get By With a Little Help From Depends

The Bee Gees:
How Can You Mend a Broken Hip

Roberta Flack:
The First Time Ever I Forgot Your Face

Johnny Nash:
I Can't See Clearly Now

Paul Simon:
Fifty Ways to Lose Your Liver

The Commodores:
Once, Twice, Three Times to the Bathroom

Marvin Gaye:
Heard It Through the Grape Nuts

Procol Harem:
A Whiter Shade of Hair

Leo Sayer:
You Make Me Feel Like Napping

The Temptations:
Papa's Got a Kidney Stone

Abba:
Denture Queen

Tony Orlando:
Knock 3 Times On The Ceiling If You Hear Me Fall

Helen Reddy:
I Am Woman, Hear Me Snore

Leslie Gore:
It's My Procedure, and I'll Cry If I Want To

And last but not least:

Willie Nelson:
On the Commode Again

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Most Expensive Spice in the World














Most Expensive Spice in the World
Saffron - the most expensive spice

Birthplace of this spice is India, extract it from the stamens of flowers Crocus sativus. Sell saffron in powder form and in-kind (brown thread). 1 kg of saffron worth 6,000 dollars. This is due to the fact that the collection is a manual process, and to obtain 0.5 kg of saffron to 35-100 thousand flowers in bloom on each of these three stamens.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Louis Vuitton pitches handbags in museum












Visitors look at items on display at the Louis Vuitton Voyages exhibition in the national museum of China in Beijing, to mark the French fashion house's 20th year in China. The exhibition features hundreds of canvas trunks and leather handbags dating back to the 1860s. (AFP)

Louis Vuitton pitches handbags in museum
By AFP
Published Monday, June 06, 2011


Louis Vuitton may have lost prime advertising space in China when its giant suitcase was torn down in Shanghai, but it is now wooing customers in the hallowed halls of the national museum in Beijing.

The Louis Vuitton Voyages exhibition, marking the French fashion house's 20th year in China - the world's fastest growing market for luxury goods - features hundreds of canvas trunks and leather handbags dating back to the 1860s.

Louis Vuitton is already the brand of choice for many of China's increasingly wealthy middle class and analysts said the show in the heart of the capital would help cement its dominance of the country's high-end market.

The display also reflects a growing trend in China for luxury products to use museums, art galleries and film festivals to promote their brands in the hope of appealing to more sophisticated and well-educated consumers, they said.

Earlier this year, US designer Diane von Furstenberg showed off a selection of her creations at an exhibition called Journey of a Dress in Beijing's trendy 798 art district.

The Louis Vuitton show "is quite a clever thing to do because it is a very premium and prestigious setting", Sam Mulligan, director of Data Driven Marketing Asia in Shanghai, told AFP.

"It suggests history and longevity and being in the business for a long time - all of these things are important in this market."

Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group, agreed.

"Louis Vuitton consumers are very interested in buying a brand with long-term heritage... and I think that's why Louis Vuitton is very smart to partner with the museum," Rein told AFP.

The newly refurbished National Museum located across from Tiananmen Square hopes the exhibition will "inspire the domestic cultural design industry", the People's Daily website quoted museum deputy director Chen Lusheng as saying.

The glitzy show of trunks and handbags is in stark contrast to the centuries-old bronze vessels and porcelain vases on display in other parts of the museum.

Louis Vuitton, whose products have been promoted by celebrities from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to U2 singer Bono, is no doubt hoping to boost its position in China's booming luxury sector.

China is forecast to be the world's top buyer of luxury products such as handbags, watches, shoes and clothes by 2015, according to consultancy PriceWaterhouseCoopers - but analysts say brand loyalty can be fickle.

"Right now Louis Vuitton is the dominant player but they are going to have massive problems in the coming five years" as people start to buy their second or third luxury handbag, said Rein.

"After you've bought Louis Vuitton or Gucci, do you go back to Louis Vuitton and Gucci or do you try something different?"

Despite its popularity among well-heeled consumers, Louis Vuitton has run into problems with the authorities.

Workers began dismantling Louis Vuitton's 20-metre-high suitcase in a busy shopping district of Shanghai last month after the government ruled it breached size restrictions for outdoor advertising, state media said.

Huang Chen - the proud owner of two Louis Vuitton handbags - said the exhibition in Beijing would help Chinese consumers better understand the history of the luxury designer and boost sales.

"Young people will understand why it became a major brand," Huang told AFP as she toured the show with her 18-year-old daughter.

"The quality is good and they are useful. It is more convenient to use than other bags."

But the People's Daily - the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece - has criticised the museum for holding the exhibition, saying it was "too commercial".

"Shouldn't the National Museum raise its threshold and make its selection stricter when introducing an exhibition?" the newspaper said on its website.

But student Wang Jing, a confessed Louis Vuitton lover, gave the exhibition a big thumbs-up.

"I like the general feel (of the handbags). Even though it is simple on the outside, the inside is detailed. I really want to buy one," she told AFP.

Once she saves the money, that is.
http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/louis-vuitton-pitches-handbags-in-museum-2011-06-06-1.401220

Cyndi Lauper - Electra Woman & Dyna Girl ...and others

Cyndi Lauper - Electra Woman & Dyna Girl
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiPY4KdZ2eQ&feature=player_embedded

Sexy Vulcan Women of Star Trek - T'Pol and Saavik
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPx-1LhMm5A&feature=player_embedded

Final Six Minutes of the Six Feet Under Series Finale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWdYMuo3_B4&feature=player_embedded

waste lands










http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNlwh8vT2NU

The Bad Effects You Can Experience From Acid Rain

The Bad Effects You Can Experience From Acid Rain

Rain water is said to be rich in minerals and it contains elements that are beneficial for the skin as well as the hair. However, with the pollution that is getting worse every day, and this increases the possibility of acid rain that can destroy vegetation, water bodies and can harm animals and human beings. Rain water at the present time is contaminated. It has been mixed with toxic substances that can cause soil erosion, cause skin diseases and can destroy even an entire forest. So why is acid rain considered to be very harmful to all living things? What could be its effects?

Too much nitrogen oxide, carbon, and ammonium can mix with water droplets in the atmosphere causing the water’s pH level to go below 7 making it acidic. This is the cause of acid rain. Acidic water can be harmful to all living things on the ground.

This is harmful to almost everything on the ground and can affect vegetation. The acid water will go to the ground and is absorbed by the plants, causing the plants to die. Microorganisms necessary for biochemical processes can be damaged as well as the waxy coat of plants making them susceptible to diseases.

Animals can also fall victims of acid rain. It can make harmful elements like mercury to leak to the ground and be washed down the rivers, lakes and seas. This can affect the marine life. Not only that fishes and other aquatic animals will die but humans can also get affected by eating fish with high harmful element deposits in its stomach.

Skin problems like irritation, burns and blisters are some of the result of acid rain in humans. If the acid content in the rain is so high, it may burn the skin. Doctors also stated that it increases the risk of skin cancer. Also, humans eating vegetation and animals with harmful chemicals can bring about health problems.

These are all about acid rain and its effects. This polluted rain can make metals corrode and can transform beautiful buildings and monuments to ugly ones. It is best to do what we can to avoid the occurrence of acid rain and save our mother earth.


http://www.naturmeds.info/the-bad-effects-you-can-experience-from-acid-rain.html