i-Mash News

How Websites Make it Easy to Buy Cars in Milan, Italy

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 03:38:00 +0000

Garage del Parco's website for used car buyers in Italy.

Italy is known for more than classical architecture. It’s also known for its famous car brands which can be pretty much sought-after. In Italy, it's best to speak Italian, so know the terms. As in anywhere else, shopping for auto usate milano can still be a problem. Time and again, people have asked how to get the best deals in cars in Italy. The key really is finding a vendita auto usate you can trust. You don’t want to deal with the typical used-car dealer who’s merely interested in making money, regardless of the quality of his merchandise.

There’s this business called Garage del Parco. It’s easily found online and is very helpful to people in Italy, Milan in particular, when you buy a used car, compro auto usate. Getting the help of a used car website like Garage del Parco’s eliminates risks normally associated with buying used cars. With a website such as www.garagedelparco.com, information is at the tips of the customers’ fingers and all they need to do is type to find what they want before they go out of their way to see the car with their own eyes. It helps to see if they have the item first before you check onsite if their cars undergo a thorough examination, from the paint job to the underchassis.

Ease of navigation is essential for a used car website. For Garage del Parco, the buttons on the left make it easy to move around the site, such as the sale and warranty section, photo gallery of the dealership, and the section on the dealership’s history, which buyers should go check out first before committing to a purchase.

What should catch the customer’s eyes when they first open the site is a long and complete list of cars for sale, which Garage del Parco doesn’t skimp on detail when describing each car. They include for example, a car’s mileage, how many people have previously owned it, its standard accessories, and options installed. And the photoset each car comes with is as complete as the information on it, showing just about any possible angle of the car, from the exterior to the interior.

The only thing that would be better than surfing a used car site would be an actual tour of the dealership, showcased in its own photoset. Each area of the dealership, both outside and inside the building, is fully covered by the photos.

Equally interesting for the car buyer is the section that tells the story of the company. Aldo Antonio’s garage del Parco first put up the dealership in the ‘60s. Then his son, Alexander, worked on expanding the establishment, drawing on his vast experience in cars as well as in business, gained from many years of working with his father. The results of his work are clear in the modern, high-tech environment Garage del Parco has come to be, a far cry from the old shop his father started a few decades ago. His sister Manuela completes the family team as the company’s accountant. Such a story of dedication to service makes it more worthwhile for car buyers to check out the actual used car shop.

If you’re looking to buy a used car in Milan it’s clear your problems are solved from the start if you shop first using websites like Garage del Parco.

The Hungry Ghosts and the Living

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 02:35:00 +0000

Sangha Day Hsi Lai Temple

According to Chinese belief, the 7th month of the lunar year is called the Ghost Month, and the 15th day of the 7th month is called Ghost Day, when the realms of Heaven, Hell and the living are opened up to each other; and it is on Ghost Day when the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated.

Although this festival is claimed to spring from Buddhism’s canonical scriptures, many of the festival’s aspects, which include ritualistic food offerings and the burning of papier-maché replicas of such goods as cars and iPads, are rooted in Chinese folk tradition, which emphasize showing filial piety to one’s ancestors even after the latter are long gone.

Such traditions have practical applications as far as relations between the spirit and living worlds are concerned. Although the spirits of the dead can become hungry ghosts if they killed, stole or engaged in sexual misconduct while they were alive, these spirits can also become hungry ghosts if they are neglected by their descendants – thus the need to perform the proper rituals.

So, given that the ghosts, which can possess or otherwise cause misfortune among the living, have free rein during this period, what can people do to avoid the occasional hungry ghost? Limiting one’s activities at night is a good idea, since the ghosts are more active at night than they are by day. Such activities include shaving, cutting one’s hair and leaving one’s home.

Moving house and getting a new car (or other vehicle) is also not a good idea at this time, as the chances of bumping into a ghost are higher by doing these. Staying away from walls is also a good idea, since ghosts love to stay near these.

And, as with all human ventures related to the dead – think of the businesses and industries that benefited from the creation of the tombs of the pharaohs, such as stoneworkers for the pyramids and craftsmen for the items buried with the pharaohs, for example – the Festival is good business.

In Singapore, walking tours will be organized and held in Chinatown which will enable the participants – locals, tourists and expatriates alike – to take part in the rituals and view the festivities. Some of the performers also say they get more bookings during the Festival period.

And, of course, there are all the craftsmen who create the papier-maché goods as well.

The Hungry Ghost Festival isn’t just for the dead, after all.

Why We See Ghosts While Half Asleep

Ghost Hunting with a Digital Camera

Colorado in the Ice Age - Fossils Discovered

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 06:09:00 +0000

Jefferson ground sloth skeleton. (Wikipedia)

Colorado (left) in the United States, is a place of beautiful mountains and waterways. It seems to be so pristine these days with familiar animals and plants. But what was it like thousands of years ago in the Ice Age? Little by little, palaeontologists are piecing together the environment of Colorado when the land was largely covered by ice.

In a recent excavation of an Ice Age ecosystem at Snowmass Village, researchers have found the upper arm of a Jefferson's ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii). Project scientist Greg McDonald said it was the first time such a sloth was found since other remains found in the past were of Harlan's ground sloth. The find is another piece in a puzzle which reveals what life was like in the region when, apart from ground sloths, the land was home to the Ice Age bison, Columbian mammoth, Ice Age deer, and American mastodon.

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Why Women Apologize More Than Men

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 22:09:00 +0000

It's been said that women apologize more than men. Is this true or not? Based on studies, it's been found to reflect reality. But why do women apologize more? Does this mean that they commit more mistakes against other people? According to a recent study by Karina Schumann, doctoral student at the University of Waterloo in Ontario Canada, women do apologize more, and that they admit more mistakes than men, but it's not what it would seem. There's more to it than meets the eye, or ear!

In two studies, one which involved 66 subjects on a 12-day period and another where offenses were rated by 120 participants, it was found out that women did not actually commit more offenses than men. The truth is that they are merely more sensitive in that they have a lower threshold when establishing what's wrongful to someone or not. Men were just as likely to admit to mistakes as women. The two only saw offenses differently.

So what can we learn from all this? Simple.

If you're a man and your woman apologizes to you, take it seriously and don't make fun of it.

If you're a man and you think you don't have to apologize to your women for something, then think again, she's likely hurting a lot!

If you're a woman and you're looking for an apology from your man and nothing comes, tell him your feelings so he'll know you're hurt.

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Why Americans Think Barack Obama is Muslim

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 10:55:00 +0000

It's a pretty strange thing that many Americans, at least 20%, believe that President Barack Obama is Muslim. Ever since campaigning for the US presidency, many Americans have thought that Obama is of the Islamic faith, but why do they think this even when he's never practiced anything that can be interpreted as being Muslim? He does not perform salat, the Muslim way of praying toward Mecca, nor does he observe Ramadan. In fact Obama attended the Trinity United Church of Christ for many years.

It's still not clear why many people think Obama is Muslim. The issue came up when the controversy about the mosque near the World Trade Center monument came up. It may be recalled that Obama supported the mosque even if he was not a Muslim. There may be several reasons why people think Obama is Muslim. A big reason is likely connected with his name, which is very Arabic-sounding. Second is probably because of misinformed media people who create reports that can be misleading or were misinterpreted. According to Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, it was the result of misinformation. He says there's an effort by some to regularly "malign and distort" President Obama's faith.

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One Vaccine for All Flu Viruses

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Wed, 26 May 2010 00:38:00 +0000

The flu gets people all over the world every year. It's because the flu virus (including variants) mutate and whatever vaccine that's been developed become useless. Every year, new flu vaccines have to be developed. This generates a lot of revenue to pharmaceutical companies, but it does little to make people at ease with themselves, knowing that the flu can get them at any time each year. But the situation may change soon. It's because researchers may be on the road to producing the world's first universal flu vaccine.

There has never been a universal flu vaccine before because of the mutations that viruses undergo. What researchers needed was a part of the flu virus that remained the same even after mutation takes place. It's a fact that scientists have known for a while that one part of the flu virus does not change - the neck part. The problem is that it's covered by a mushroom-like bulb. The solution? Remove the head and make a vaccine that targeted the exposed neck. Scientists at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York have done just that and experiments with vaccinated mice exposed to different flu strains have been successful, suggesting that it can also work for people.

Dr. Peter Palese, Dr. Adolfo Garcia-Sastre, and colleagues who are conducting the research say they are progressing "toward the goal of an influenza virus vaccine which would protect against multiple strains." The usual method is to use a mix of three flu vaccines to protect people from influenza strains (including A/H1N1). Now, with only one vaccine, it's possible to get immunized for years, perhaps even for a lifetime. If this is the case, then it could mean reduced income for pharmaceutical companies that churn out new flu vaccines every year. But at least, the world will be a much better place with less people getting the flu.

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Antioxidants Against Free Radicals Developed as Powerful Anti Aging Products by OXIS

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Tue, 25 May 2010 02:53:00 +0000

We’ve all heard of antioxidants and how they benefit people with their anti aging effects. A lot of us have heard of resveratrol, glutathione, and the vitamins C and E, but there’s one antioxidant that few are familiar with, and it is perhaps one of the most effective and powerful. It’s called L-Ergothioneine, or ERGO. It’s a basic amino acid ingredient in products produced by OXIS International, Inc.

ERGO occurs naturally as a product of microorganisms that thrive in the soil. It is also present in grapes, mushrooms, meat, and dairy products. In spite of this, the level of ERGO in a typical diet is relatively small and the body does not experience an optimal anti aging benefit from the intake of foods that contain it. Because the extraction of ERGO from natural sources is not commercially attractive, ERGO has remained beyond the reach of people for a long time. But now, processes of synthesis and purification developed by OXIS now make ERGO an ideal ingredient of anti aging products.

Research by OXIS suggests that ERGO has a powerful counteracting effect on oxidative stress (caused by inflammation, cigarette smoke, pollution, radiation, drugs and other conditions) coming from its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties. Oxidative stress is experienced by cells due to free radicals, or atoms needing an electron, in the body. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen atoms victimize cells, stealing electrons from them and slowly causing damage and physical effects associated with aging. ERGO protects cells, particularly the mitochondria inside them, from free radicals produced by the metabolic process of body itself.

ERGO works by itself or in conjunction with other antioxidants like glutathione. In fact, it has the capacity to maintain the levels of other antioxidants, thereby enhancing the body’s ability to counter aging. It helps metabolize fat, aiding in the provision of more energy for the body. It reduces damage from exposure to the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which makes it an ideal antioxidant for the eyes in order to lower the risk for cataracts. Best of all is the protection it gives brain cells against neurotoxins that contribute to cognitive deterioration. Overall, L-Ergothioneine neutralizes increased oxidative stress by protecting the body’s key molecules.

The patents and pending applications of OXIS feature L-Ergothioneine as the key ingredient in its nutraceutical, cosmeceutical, and therapeutic products. Molecules and compounds developed by OXIS are designed to moderate transcription factor molecules that encourage inflammatory responses, among other things, that are influential in cell degeneration and death. Among these are hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-inhibiting BXT-51072, (initially intended for inflammatory bowel diseases), LSA molecules (for neurodegeneration), superoxide dismutase (for joint conditions and the prevention of radiation fibrosis), and palosein (for arthritic inflammation).

Did you know that graying hair is caused by too much hydrogen peroxide? Research by Karin Schallreuter, professor of clinical and experimental dermatology at England's University of Bradford, suggests that the tyrosinase enzyme, which produces melanin for hair color, is blocked by H₂O₂. It’s possible that the hydrogen peroxide-inhibiting properties of OXIS products like BXT-51072 can ultimately help keep our hair looking young even as we age. But that’s looking far ahead and more research needs to be done. For now OXIS first releases (Ergo-Pur™ and Ergo-Plex™) will have L-Ergothioneine as the key ingredient. ErgoPur is basically L-Ergothioneine, and Ergo-Plex combines L-Ergothioneine with other powerful antioxidants.

These initial products position OXIS for a feasible entry into the wellness market with a lot of room for expansion. This paves the way for solid partnerships with leaders in the industry with an established customer base or those with the capacity to build one. The ultimate goal is to be regarded as a health partner. For now, it may be penny stocks for OXIS, but with more nutraceutical products lined up (including functional foods like nutrition bars and energy beverages sold over the Internet and through multi-level marketing, infomercials, direct mail, and retail outlets), the future of OXIS is secure and will benefit people all over, allowing them to be healthy and young.

http://www.oxis.com
Oxis on Twitter
Oxis on facebook

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Evil Face Shows Up in Eyjafjallajokull Volcano Ash Cloud

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:14:00 +0000

The Eyjafjallajokull volcano in Iceland is just one eruption, yet it has already given a lot of people all over Europe and elsewhere misery because they could not travel by air. It has also caused airlines to lose a lot of money due to canceled flights. In spite of the dangers of airplanes crashing due to melted ash in the engines, airlines have decided to continue flights.

Recently, photographers have captured lightning in the ash cloud of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. Created by friction, these lightning are eerie enough on their own. But what makes the photograph above eerier is the face (Can you see it?) of what some people may call "evil" peeking out of the cloud with glowing eyes and all. The face appears to be smoking a cigar, as if having fun while the volcano creates chaos in Iceland!

Well, we all know that this phenomenon is common. It's just a simulacrum or random image that is somehow associated by viewers to certain familiar images. In this case, it's a face. With the reddish eyes and brimstone, it's easy to associate it with something evil. But whether you're superstitious or not, the nearby volcano, Katla, is now in danger of erupting with a destructive force that's ten times more than what came from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano. It last erupted in 1918 and usually erupts every 80 years or so and is now overdue. It's just a warning, but people should heed it in case the scientists are correct.

Holy simulacra! See them here.

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A Time May Come When People Will No Longer See the Aral Sea

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:18:00 +0000

The Aral Sea in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan - which formerly belonged to the four largest lakes in the world, has been slowly shrinking since the 1960s, thanks to the diversion of rivers feeding it to water agricultural lands in the former Soviet Union. Today, the once 68,000 kilometers of lake is now broken into four, or three, with the North Aral Sea having a maximum depth of only 138 feet or 42 meters, as of 2008.

Once dotted with over 1,500 islands, hence its name, the Aral sea had a flourishing saltwater fishing industry. But now, the boats that once plowed the old lake now sit on dry land which could very well be described as a desert. The many ports where they used to bring fish, now open up to a vast empty expanse of dry, salt-laden dirt. The wind carries dust from the dried up Aral sea to the east as far as China. Summers reportedly became hotter and winters, severe, in what's been called a local change in climate.

Efforts are being made by Kazakhstan to replenish the water in what's left of the North sea in the country. A dam was built in 2005 which raised the level of the sea by 39 feet. This helped to lower the salinity and allow fish to thrive. While it's not the same as before, the results may help bring the fishing industry back. Experts believe there's little hope for the South sea which has practically dried up except for the deeper portion to the West. The Badai Tugai Nature Reserve (left; area in green) to the southeast of the Aral Sea is now also dry and is facing ecological ruin.

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How Stimulating a Part of the Brain with Magnets Can Make a Person Less Effective in Moral Judgment - What Does This Imply about Cellphone Use?

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:58:00 +0000

Scientists are getting to know the brain a lot these days by establishing which parts are responsible for certain things like moral judgment. In previous experiments, it's been determined that the region called the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) is involved in moral decisions or interpretation. The finding was the result of fMRI brain imaging experiments and not supported by actual psychological tests. Researcher Liane Young decided to find out for herself if the conclusion was true.

Young disrupted the brain cells in the TPJ region (left) temporarily by using a technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation. Simply put, it's the exposure of the part of the brain to a magnetic field. It's temporary and does not require surgery. With subjects that were asked questions about the morality of certain situations, Young determined that moral decision-making became more based on the outcome or result rather than on the act or premeditation of the act itself.

In one test, the participants first got their TPJs stimulated and then were asked to read about specific situations and were then asked to judge the person involved. A second test had their TPJs stimulated during the time when they were making the moral judgments. According to Young, the subjects failed to correctly judge attempts to harm even when the act was not committed. They perceived these as more permissible, whereas accidents, where no one is really at fault, was regarded as morally wrong.

The results raises questions on whether the "good" upbringing and knowledge of a person may actually be useless in the face of a simple brain stimulation, when it comes to deciding whether something is immoral or not. Does this mean that by simply exposing the TPJ of someone to a magnetic field, you can make the person decide that something is morally sound even if it is usually interpreted as immoral? If a simple magnetic field is enough to stimulate "moral blurring" what can the strong magnetic fields from cellhpones do to it? Does this explain why men and women seem to be more prone to cheating if they have a cellphone? What do you think of the artwork by Alexandro Goncalves de Lima (left)?

The results of the experiments were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Ideal Egg Donors Stand to Get Paid a Fortune for Their Genes

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 06:11:00 +0000

There's been an unprecedented trend when it comes to paying egg donors. It seems people are now willing to pay unbelievably high prices for eggs that possess the ideal characteristics desired by buyers for children to rear. If you have a high IQ, a graduate of a top university, and with looks that are regarded as beautiful, you have a good chance of earning a good fortune as you can possibly get paid up to $50,000 for a single egg.

But don't think that you can simply go to a "donation" center and offer one of your eggs for sale! There's this unethical practice of infertile couples paying fees that are way over the norm or what's acceptable in the hope that they can have children who are perfect in the eyes of society. Laws and definite regulations are lacking when it comes to the uses of this relatively new egg transplant technology, although much of the rules that have been followed were released by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

The ethics committee of the organization has recommended that fees over $5000 require justification and that sums over $10,000 are unaccaptable. But like rules, these recommendations are not followed for the most part, owing to the reluctance of women to give their eggs away. Only a fortune would make them sell their eggs. Advertisements in college newspapers were discovered to offer as much as $5,000 for an egg. The fees appear to be directly proportional to the SAT scores of potential donors; in other words, if you are proven to be intelligent, you command a high price for your genes.

According to the ASRM, the guide was released to avoid ethical issues about prices of the "seeds of human life." For many people, such things should be valued beyond any amount of money, but it seems the practical thing to do for "ideal" women who need money is to sell for more. Would you sell your egg for $50,000?

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Egg Timer Blood Test, a Boon to Women

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:15:00 +0000

It is now possible to predict with accuracy the ovum levels or the number of eggs a woman has based on the amount of a fertility hormone. This is measured using what's now called the Egg Timer blood test. It is seen as a big boon to women, and family planning in general. Conception specialist Peter Illingworth says it's a big step forward. Now, women will now be able to know if they are at a serious risk of not having children when older.

More formally called the anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test, the Egg Timer blood test costs only $58 and one test can ultimately equate to a savings in the tens of thousands if it's determined that a fertility patient won't need in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Sometimes, the eggs in the ovaries (left) are so few (poor ovarian reserve) that some women are at a risk of early menopause. With the AMH "Egg Timer" blood test, this can be established early in life.

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Has the Lost City of El Dorado or "Z" Been Found?

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:28:00 +0000

South America, in general, is where explorers or would-be explorers dream of finding lost cities. Since the discovery of the Inca citadel of Macchu Picchu by historian Hiram Bingham, people have searched for fabled cities like Z (or Zee), and the one of gold - El Dorado, where a "gilded man" was covered in gold from head to foot in an offering ritual.

In the 1920s, adventurer Colonel Percy Fawcett (above, left) set out to find the lost city of Z which he believed to be related to the lost continent of Atlantis. He was also convinced that reports of Dominican friar Gaspar de Carvajal on the (1541) expedition of Francisco Orellana about a cultured people who used gold in ceremonies living in the Amazon jungle are clues to the lost city he sought, although it wasn't really El Dorado he sought, it was Z. Fawcett disappeared, as if swallowed up by the Amazon.

In a letter to his son, Fawcett described the city of Z:

I expect the ruins to be monolithic in character, more ancient than the oldest Egyptian discoveries. Judging by inscriptions found in many parts of Brazil, the inhabitants used an alphabetical writing allied to many ancient European and Asian scripts. There are rumors, too, of a strange source of light in the buildings, a phenomenon that filled with terror the Indians who claimed to have seen it.
The central place I call "Z" -- our main objective -- is in a valley surmounted by lofty mountains. The valley is about ten miles wide, and the city is on an eminence in the middle of it, approached by a barreled roadway of stone. The houses are low and windowless, and there is a pyramidal temple. The inhabitants of the place are fairly numerous, they keep domestic animals, and they have well-developed mines in the surrounding hills. Not far away is a second town, but the people living in it are of an inferior order to those of "Z." Farther to the south is another large city, half buried and completely destroyed.

There are many theories as to what happened to Fawcett and his party. Perhaps the most popular one is recounted by Harold Wilkins in his book Mysteries of Ancient South America (1947). It was said that Fawcett was detained by natives and may have been forced to marry into a tribe. Subsequent testimonies of missionaries like the American Paul Guiley, included reports or fair-skinned and blue-eyed children in the forest supposedly the children and grandchildren of Fawcett and members of his party.

We may never know the fate of Colonel Fawcett, but the other question remains: Did he find the lost city of Z? Who knows? But archaeologists today have made an amazing discovery that points to a vast and previously unknown civilization in the Amazon forest which could point to El Dorado, even Z. The structures of this complex, which stretches some 250 kilometers (currently known) were first identified through satellite imagery in 1999.

In subsequent years, farmers have exposed tracts of land for planting and have exposed strange geometric earthen formations cut into the ground with trenches as wide as 11 meters and with banks up to a meter high. Low mounds of earth excavated contained ceramics, charcoal, and grinding-stone fragments.There are also mounds that point north. Straight roads connected these structures (left). Archaeologists now believe that the complex is ten times larger than what was previously believed and had extensive urban planning.

The Amazon jungle earthen structures occupied both the lowlands and the highlands with the mountain habitations estimated to be populated by as many as 60,000 inhabitants. One of the sites has been dated to 1283, but others are possibly older at A.D. 300, according to anthropologist Denise Schaan (left; from a photo by Candace Voda) of the Federal University of Pará in Belém, Brazil. It is believed that the people behind this civilization were destroyed with the coming of Europeans by invasions and diseases.

Are these earthen structures, the lost city of Z of Percy Fawcett? The Colonel's son, Brian Fawcett, narrated this in his book Ruins in the Sky (Hutchinson Ltd., London, 1957):

Yes, it was all here, exactly as described -- from the strategically placed forts by the river to the pectinated summits of the cliffs, it was all here -- but our vantage point showed us clearly enough that man had no part in its making... Thirty years is a long time. Had so many years not passed since my father's disappearance I might have felt more bitter than I did about the futility of his fate and that of the others -- three lives lost or ruined in the quest for an objective that never existed in fact... One part of my mission was accomplished; I now know the secret of the Brazilian 'Lost Cities.' (pp. 300-301)

It's quite possible that Colonel Fawcett's lost city of Z is part of the vast civilization complex what archaeologists have discovered. But what's for certain is that the old notion that the Amazon jungle did not harbor complex urban networks is no more. It also showed that indeed, the people who lived there - like their descendants pictured here (left) used a type of man made fertile super soil which provided sustenance from crops and animals. Studies have shown this soil was made a thousand years ago and is still preseved and useful underneath the unfertile jungle topsoil.

Credit: photo of gilded man gold sculpture by Andrew Bertram from Wikipedia.

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Images of Jesus and Mary Appearing on Things at Home

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:04:00 +0000

Jesus under the flat iron? Mary on a pancake, or hard-boiled egg (top; from the Slashfood blog)? These are just some of the things at home where the images of Jesus and Mary have appeared. To science, these are simply simulacrums or image patterns that the brain interprets as something familiar. Most reports of simulacra are of universal images of religious icons.

The image of Jesus under the flat iron (below) was discovered by Mary Jo Cody at her home in Massachusetts. She had recently separated from her husband and had been going through turbulent times when she noticed the image of Jesus Christ. She says it has reassured her that "life is going to be good." Cody said she will keep the iron with the image and buy new one.

An Arizona woman on the other hand found peace and comfort after seeing the image of the Virgin Mary on one of the pancakes (top) she was cooking for Thanksgiving (Nov. 26, 2009). Bianca Lopez was cooking Batter Blaster pancakes when she saw what looked like the image of Mary on one of the last batch. She says, she thinks it's God's way of saying that the Holidays aren't just about presents and that it is more about spending time with family and friends and to not forget about Him (Jesus), and that "he's always there watching over us and taking care of us. Lopez said she will keep the pancake in a freezer until she decides what to do with it.

Simulacra of Jesus and Mary are popping up everywhere. It's likely the result of a deep need for people, specifically Christians from different groups, to be connected to the spiritual during trying times. They images become foci for them to express their spirituality and devotion to God.

See more images of "sacred" simulacra here

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Ghost Voice Leads Paranormal Investigators to Skeleton Mortared in a Wall

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:33:00 +0000

The story reminds us of a classic short story plot of Edgar Allan Poe, but this isn't fiction. While investigating Aspen Manor (The jewel of the Ohio Valley) in Wellsburg, West Virginia, a group of paranormal investigators, Brooke County Paranormal Society, heard a ghostly voice that led them to a mortared brick wall. It apparently said "Help me, I'm stuck in a wall." According to the owner, they were led downstairs where one of the investigators felt "physically" sick for no apparent reason. There, they opened up a wall and found bones inside.

Brooke County Sheriff Richard Ferguson says the bones recovered appear to be old but appear to be intact. He did say he noticed saw markings which might indicate they were cut into pieces. During the initial investigation, he wasn't sure if the bones are indeed human. They were sent to a lab for forensic analysis. Rick Larntz (left), an investigator of the paranormal society that found the bones considers the find a major accomplishment.

Aspen Manor has a rich history. Built in 1895, it served as a boys' club by a rich Pennsylvania steel industrialist, J.J. Vandergrift, as a fun house for his son. It was where gambling was held and all manner of entertainment for boys, which included cockfights and horse races. Later, it was managed by a Catholic group, The Knights of St. George. Interestingly, the investigators recorded clicking sound which Larntz explained was made by in instrument used by nuns to warn kids to behave.

The present owner of the manor is Gene Valentine (left), who plans to maximize use of the house for income generation as a bed and breakfast hotel. He says he wasn't surprised by the group's discovery and wants to get to the bottom of the mystery behind the skeleton in the wall before he pushes through with his Aspen Manor hotel plans. He adds that if the bones are indeed found to be human, he wants investigators to do what it takes to find the truth and perhaps discover anything else that's hidden in the old house.

UPDATE: After analysis by the Smithsonian Institution, the bones were found to be a mix of farm animal remains. Chicken, swine, and horse bones were reportedly identified in the mix. The Knights of St. George operated a farm and butchered animals. The ghostly voice that led to them is still a mystery as well as to why the bones were placed inside a wall. Glasses and hair were also found in the wall. Could these possibly be part of human remains mixed in with the animal bones? Click here to view clear and close up pictures of the bones by the Brooke Country Paranormal investigators.

Click here for the update on the story . Click here for an alternative news link.

This skeleton won't be telling you tales, but it will remind of of a movie by Tim Burton called The Corpse Bride. Yes, it's one of the crazy characters in the animated classic! Click here or on the image to place your order.

Dung of the Devil Extract Kills the Swine Flu Virus

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:21:00 +0000

Scientists have looked far and wide for a medicine that can counter the H1N1 or swine flu virus and now it seems they have found a plant that may prove to be the microbe's doom inside an infected body. The plant has been known used since ancient times in China as a flu remedy and its roots were even used to fight the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic.

The plant, which is found in China, Iran, and Afghanistan, is the Ferula asafetida. It's common name is Dung of the Devil because of it's foul stench. Even its scientific name gives a clue to how it smells like, which is fetid! Researchers at the Kaohsiung Medial University in Taiwan have known that the genus it belongs to has over 230 natural healing compounds and they discovered that it had potent anti-viral compounds tat killed the H1N1 virus in laboratory tests using plant samples from a Chinese medicinal shop.

The researchers say the compounds discovered in the Ferula asafetida plant could prove to be useful for new medicines against swine flu. Let's just hope that they can make the smell of the plant negligible once the compounds are in capsule or pill form. We all know how some remedies can smell so foul and it looks like this new medicine from the Dung of the Devil plant will follow in that tradition. Strangely, it's been traditionally used as a spice in cooking as early as the ancient Egyptian and Roman times. In Cairo today, you can buy powdered asafoetida (which looks and smells like real dung) at the Harraz Herb Shop near the Bab al-Khalq square. It's sometimes mixed with other spices like turmeric.

You'd wonder why something which can smell so offensive can be used for cooking delicious food. It's said by those who've used it that once you cook it in hot oil, you would get the delectable and savory scent of onions sauteeing. It's said that the heat breaks down the sulfides that cause the stench. You'd wonder how something could have been discovered to be good to cook with the in the first place! It's very popular in India, and in religious Jainism practices, asafoetida is used as a substitute for onions and garlic which are forbidden.

Softdrink from Cow Urine Marketed in India

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 02:17:00 +0000

We've all heard of the idea of using urine as a source of hydrogen to help ease the dependence on fossil fuels, but in India, a softdrink company is producing a drink made from cow urine. According to the Cow Protection Department of the Hindu Nationalist Group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), it's a way to promote Hindu culture (Hindutva) and have Indians steer away from Western products like Pepsi and Coca-Cola. In India, cows are sacred and protected. Their urine is used to purify people at the lower end of the social caste hierarchy and also as a medicine.

According to Om Prakash, head of the RSS department, the product does not taste like cow urine and says it contains medicinal ayurvedic herb ingredients and is also free from toxins. He adds that it is affordable, competitive (against other softdrink brands), and may even be exported.

In other developments, read about how urine is now being tapped as a major source of hydrogen fuel.

Is the Theoretical Land of Mu in Japan?

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 01:40:00 +0000

There's this theory of a sunken land somewhere in the Pacific Ocean called Mu. Unlike the lost city of Atlantis, which has been mentioned in history by Plato, Mu's origin is more recent and is based on a theory of 19th century adventurer Augustus Le Plongeon, who said that major ancient civilizations of the world, like Egypt and those in Middle America, came from inhabitants of a continent called Mu. He originally placed this land in the Atlantic ocean, but later, James Churchwald insisted that it's submerged in the Pacific.

Well, years passed and this idea of Mu has somehow become legendary. Some proposed that island groups like the Philippines were once part of Mu. One archaeologist, has even found underwater structures in Yonaguni island in Japan that seemed carved out of rock. Professor Masaaki Kimura (top), marine geologist at the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences at the University of the Ryukyu, Okinawa, has studied the Yonaguni rock formations for years and is convinced that they were made by humans.

Kimura makes it clear that he does not believe the formations to be the remains of Mu, but it's his belief that the ruins may serve as a model for the legends and tales of sunken cities and continents. His critics say that since there are no definitive artifacts that point to human habitation, it's likely the angled rocks were formed naturally through tidal and other geological forces. As for Mu, well, scientific data simply does not support it's existence, thus it's largely regarded as simply the figment of an overactive imagination.

Reporter Dan Daru Goes on a Cave Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 05:12:00 +0000

Feature reporter Dan Daru, of KDVR takes viewers in a Cave of the Winds adventure in Manitou Springs in Colorado. In the video, hear Dan talk with companions in the dark as their hard hat lights try to pierce the darkness. Watch how his adventuring group discuss cave formations like stalactites together with their guide. Note that Daru says the cave temperature at 54 degrees Fahrenheit is very comfortable. That's just over 12 degrees Celsius but it may be a bit cold for some who are used to warmer air.

In Israel, a two-thousand-year-old man-made cave has been discovered in the Jordan valley. It holds strange Christian symbols and one that appears to be an ancient Zodiac sign. Read about that discovery in Macrocosm Science Magbook. Unlike the Cave of the Winds, this cave does not have stalactites. It also doesn't have any nasty creatures like those in the movie The Descent.

You can avail of Cave of the Wind Tours with special offers like a free tour on your birthday promo - whatever is available during your visit. It's really a walk-in-the-park. But visitors can opt to experience the tour as it was done more than a hundred years ago, when the cave was discovered - using old-fashioned lanterns!

He looks like a hairy potato, but Captain Caveman is anything but a potato head! He's funny, cute, and collectible! Get your Captain Caveman now at a special collectors' price. Click here or on the image to purchase.

Michael Jackson Found by Physician Alive

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 09:33:00 +0000

It's been confirmed through the attorney of Michael Jackson's physician that the pop icon was found alive by the doctor, although with a weak pulse. According to Atty. Edward Chernoff, Dr. Conrad Murray administered CPR in an attempt to revive Jackson and also called for police assistance.

Murray's interview conducted by the Robbery-Homicide division of the L.A. police was part of the investigation to ascertain the circumstances behind the singer's death, which was said to have been caused by cardiac arrest. Fans all over the world have paid tribute to Jackson, reviving his old songs and buying memorabilia (such as the one above) to remember their idol.

This Thriller statue of the great MJ as a zombie is now scarce - likely due to the low price and high demand. Items like this are thus ideal for reselling as their value should increase with time - so long as not too many of them are made.

Entertainment news reporters were all over the story. One record producer was quoted as saying Michael Jackson is now worth more than when he was alive. However, the producers of his upcoming concert in London reportedly lost millions due to his untimely passing.

Huge Cache of Fossils from the Ice Age Discovered in La Brea

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:42:00 +0000

A huge cache of Ice Age fossils near the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles promises paleaontologists years of great finds to come. Apparently, it's where a lot of Pleistocene creatures like the wooly mammoth and saber-toothed cat have met their death in ice-age LA. With the outing of the third of the computer-animated movie series, Ice Age, it's expected that the new fossil site and the Tar Pits museum will draw plenty of kid visitors with parents in tow.

The most famous ice age is the last one to have peaked on the Earth and it happened only around 20,000 years ago. Many remains of animals from the Ice Age or Pleistocene Age have been found and some of them were recovered frozen and intact for thousands of years. Remains of wooly mammoths, including that of a baby have been studied by science, and some were also reputedly eaten as well.

Care to play in the Ice Age? Here is your chance, and it's going to be a lot of fun with the lovable characters of the Ice Age movie series! This DVD game is all you need to experience all 3 movies. Click here or on the image and place your order now!

Lake Baikal Under Environmental Threat Due to Mining

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:37:00 +0000

Lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world and it is also one of the most endangered. Mining companies are lobbying to be given the rights to harvest mineral resources of the lake environment. It's a tacky situation with both economic progress and environmental protection on the discussion table.

Apart from mining companies, there's also plans to construct a uranium enrichment facility beside the lake. Environmentalist Marina Rikhvanova has campaigned against it believing it is a potential threat to the lake environment, posing a future danger for both people and wildlife.

Lake Baikal is also known as the world's oldest lake and has been dubbed the Pearl of Siberia (although it's really shaped like a long sword). Speaking of pearls, scientists have long observed strange circular formations on the ice of the lake that measure kilometers across. The explanation for these geologic features may be viewed here.

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Melting North Pole Spurs Quest for Fossil Fuels in Ironic Twist

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 06:13:00 +0000

Yes, the North Pole appears to be shrinking and some people say it's because of the greenhouse gases released from the use of fossil fuels. But now that much of the areas once covered in ice are exposed, there is now a rush by countries like Russia to find more fossil fuels and other natural resources to exploit in once inaccessible places.

If these countries do find more oil or natural gas, that could only mean more greenhouse gases to release and more ice will likely melt farther north. So what are we to do? Watch the video to see how countries are scrambling for a piece of the North Pole.

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Vitamin D Found to Extend Lifespan - Supplementation Advised

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 04:02:00 +0000

Some research on vitamin supplementation come and go with limited analytical basis. Some are positive and some are negative, but the good research results outweigh the bad and dubious ones. Here is one finding regarding Vitamin D that people all over the world would like to hear.

So, what's the news? It's that Vitamin D nutrient supplementation may actually prolong your life. Previously, it's been found to be effective in fighting cancer, and of course a lot of us already know it helps keep our bones healthy and prevents rickets - a condition where the bones turn brittle due to a lack of Vitamin D like Colicalciferol (D3).

We get the benefits from Vitamin D from sunshine as we need it for our body to manufacture the nutrient. But do you know that to adequately benefit from Vitamin D with sunshine, we have to be naked for much of our waking lives and frequently expose ourselves to the sun. But you know this isn't realistic and too much exposure to UV rays can give us skin cancer. This is especially true if you have light skin and live in a tropical country like the Philippines where the sun's rays are more direct and intense. This is one reason why Filipinos would benefit well from nutrient supplementation.

So what to do? Watch the news video to find out about the details of how Vitamin D supplementation can help you improve your health and promote overall wellness.

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People Wait for End of World in a Cave in Russia

noreply@blogger.com (alvinwriter) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 02:10:00 +0000

While some people wait for the premiere of the doomsday movie 2012, there are some who actually wait for the end of the world. In Russia, a group of people have shut themselves out from the rest of the world by staying inside a cave to wait for doomsday. Part of the cave's roof has already collapsed and authorities are worried about the welfare of the people, which includes children, who have chosen to stay inside.

Vents for air circulation have been put in place, but the danger remains for the people inside the cave. Doomsday cults often isolate themselves and adopt a communal way of life for a certain period of time before doing something drastic like mass suicide. In this case, it's waiting for the end.

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