Wednesday 28 August 2013
Vocabulary : Adjectives
An adjective is a part of speech that modifies a noun or pronoun. Adjectives are often confused with adverbs which can modify pretty much everything else. Some examples:
"The big tree stood in the front yard."
"Dogs are very fond of yellow fire hydrants."
"The keys are on the oak table."
Possessive pronouns (my, his, her, etc) can also be used as adjectives in certain situations. For example:
"I would like to share my candy with you."
In some cases, certain words (this, that, which, what, etc) can also be used as adjectives. Examples:
"This book is very good."
"Which pony do you want for your birthday?"
"The big tree stood in the front yard."
"Dogs are very fond of yellow fire hydrants."
"The keys are on the oak table."
Possessive pronouns (my, his, her, etc) can also be used as adjectives in certain situations. For example:
"I would like to share my candy with you."
In some cases, certain words (this, that, which, what, etc) can also be used as adjectives. Examples:
"This book is very good."
"Which pony do you want for your birthday?"
Stress : Meditation
Meditation is a contemplative practice that calms or focuses the mind. Although meditation is commonly associated with Eastern religions, it is practiced in nearly every religion and is frequently used outside of the religion context for personal development and relaxation.
Relaxation Response and Progressive Muscle Relaxation are examples of non-religious meditations used to calm the mind and body. There are many different types of formalized meditations that follow a specific routine. Beginners will probably find these easier to start with because there are rules to follow. Once you become adept at focusing your mind, you can easily create your own routines.
A basic goal of meditation is to reach a mental state where your mind is free of thoughts. Beginners will probably find it difficult to meditate for more than a few minutes without having distracting thoughts entire their minds, but with practice and determination it is possible to silence the mind.
One technique used to help quiet the mind is to turn your attention to a single object, such as your breathing. Breath awareness and breath counting is used in many meditations. Some people find it helpful to have a mantra, which is a sound, word or phrase that you can repeat to yourself. In the Relaxation Response meditation, the word "one" is used as a mantra.
If you want to start meditating to reduce stress or for some other reason, it is advisable to pick one or two routines and stick with them. Set aside 15-20 minutes every day to practice and you will quickly improve.
Relaxation Response and Progressive Muscle Relaxation are examples of non-religious meditations used to calm the mind and body. There are many different types of formalized meditations that follow a specific routine. Beginners will probably find these easier to start with because there are rules to follow. Once you become adept at focusing your mind, you can easily create your own routines.
A basic goal of meditation is to reach a mental state where your mind is free of thoughts. Beginners will probably find it difficult to meditate for more than a few minutes without having distracting thoughts entire their minds, but with practice and determination it is possible to silence the mind.
One technique used to help quiet the mind is to turn your attention to a single object, such as your breathing. Breath awareness and breath counting is used in many meditations. Some people find it helpful to have a mantra, which is a sound, word or phrase that you can repeat to yourself. In the Relaxation Response meditation, the word "one" is used as a mantra.
If you want to start meditating to reduce stress or for some other reason, it is advisable to pick one or two routines and stick with them. Set aside 15-20 minutes every day to practice and you will quickly improve.
Memory : Close Your Eyes
Of the five senses, humans use their sense of sight the most. Sometimes we can become so dependent on our eyes that we hardly pay any attention to our other senses. One way to encourage your mind to pay attention to the other senses is to close your eyes. Here are a couple activities that you can do with your eyes closed.
Take a Shower
Getting the water temperature just right, finding the shampoo, and toweling off are simple tasks that become difficult when you cant see what you are doing.
Get Dressed
Naturally, you won't be able to see colors with your eyes shut, so you'll have to pick out a matching outfit by feel.
In doing these exercises you well probably notice things that you never noticed before when you could rely on sight. For example, you may notice the different shapes of the bottles in the shower. Focusing your attention on your other senses will improve your memory by teaching you how to create strong associations for things that you want to remember.
Take a Shower
Getting the water temperature just right, finding the shampoo, and toweling off are simple tasks that become difficult when you cant see what you are doing.
Get Dressed
Naturally, you won't be able to see colors with your eyes shut, so you'll have to pick out a matching outfit by feel.
In doing these exercises you well probably notice things that you never noticed before when you could rely on sight. For example, you may notice the different shapes of the bottles in the shower. Focusing your attention on your other senses will improve your memory by teaching you how to create strong associations for things that you want to remember.
DNews: How Tiny Bugs Can Slow Down an Airplane
We've all had insects smash into our windshield when driving. Gross, yes, but it's not a major problem. But for the airlines ... it is! They're losing tons of money! Trace explains how tiny bugs can cause such a big problem.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/animals/videos/how-tiny-bugs-can-slow-down-an-airplane-video.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/animals/videos/how-tiny-bugs-can-slow-down-an-airplane-video.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Did Life Start on Mars?
Did life come to Earth via Mars meteorites, rather than arising here indigenously?
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/did-life-start-on-mars-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/alien-life-exoplanets/did-life-start-on-mars-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
DNews: Should We Control Wildfires?
The Rim Fire has spread into Yosemite, one of the most cherished national parks and has done untold damage to a huge swath of once-scenic landscape. But as Anthony tells us, while the flames may look terrible, fires like these may not be so bad.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/videos/should-we-control-wildfires-video.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/videos/should-we-control-wildfires-video.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Fast-Food Ads Still Failing Kids
Despite pledges to do better, fast-food ads aimed at children are still full of cartoon characters, movie references and toys. Continue reading →
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/health/fast-food-ads-still-failing-kids-childhood-obesity-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/health/fast-food-ads-still-failing-kids-childhood-obesity-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Freeze-Dry Tech Preserves Animal Sperm
In the future, the genetic information could be taken into space to help establish animal populations on future colonies.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/freeze-dry-tech-preserves-sperm-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/freeze-dry-tech-preserves-sperm-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
'Halted' Global-Warming Tied to Pacific Cooling
Humanity is as much on course toward climate catastrophe as it was 15 years ago. Continue reading →
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/global-warming/halted-global-warming-tied-to-pacific-cooling-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/global-warming/halted-global-warming-tied-to-pacific-cooling-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
7 Signs That You're a Despot
Why can't you see what everybody else does? Possibly because you led a crackdown of the opposition.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/history/7-signs-that-youre-a-despot-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/history/7-signs-that-youre-a-despot-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Titan Wrapped in Thick Ice
New results from NASA's Cassini spacecraft show Titan has an icy shell far more rigid and thicker than previously believed.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/titan-wrapped-in-thick-ice-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/titan-wrapped-in-thick-ice-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Tiny Brain Parts Teased from Stem Cells
The lab-grown brain cells self-organized, and took on growth patterns seen in a developing, fetal brain.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/tiny-brain-parts-teased-stem-cells-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/tiny-brain-parts-teased-stem-cells-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Circling Flower Optical Illusion
via Mighty Optical Illusions http://www.moillusions.com/2013/08/circling-flower-optical-illusion.html
Phenomenal optical illusion was just sent in by Melanie. Even though she can’t be sure about the author and its origin, Melanie noticed how the hole animated #gif seems to rotate (when observed as a whole), which is just the opposite from when you observe each and every individual dot by itself. Crazy, isn’t it?
First Human Brain-to-Brain Mind Meld Achieved
A computer scientist controls his colleague's movement from across campus, simply by using his imagination. Continue reading →
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/first-human-brain-to-brain-mind-meld-achieved-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/tech/biotechnology/first-human-brain-to-brain-mind-meld-achieved-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Elephant Poachers Poison Vultures to Thwart Cops
Like mobsters assassinating witnesses and informants, elephant and rhino poachers poison the carcasses of their quarry to kill vultures and thwart law enforcement efforts. Continue reading →
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/animals/endangered-species/elephant-poachers-poison-vultures-to-thwart-cops-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/animals/endangered-species/elephant-poachers-poison-vultures-to-thwart-cops-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Sun's 8.2-Billion-Year-Old Twin Found
About 250 light-years away in the constellation Capricornus lies a star that looks awfully familiar.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/suns-oldest-twin-found-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/space/astronomy/suns-oldest-twin-found-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Miley's Twerking Dance Officially Enters Lexicon
The term for the raunchy dance performed by Miley Cyrus at the MTV awards, is now one of the latest Oxford dictionary updates.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/life/miley-cyrus-twerking-enters-lexicon-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/human/life/miley-cyrus-twerking-enters-lexicon-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
Will Fukushima Mutate Sea Life?
The chances of a city-eating sea urchin or crab emerging from Fukushima's radioactive waters is essentially zero. And that's a good thing.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/will-fukushima-mutate-sea-life-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/oceans/will-fukushima-mutate-sea-life-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
7th Largest California Fire: Bigger Than Chicago
The wildfire threatening Yosemite National Park has grown to become California's seventh biggest ever, as firefighters battle to protect San Francisco's main water supply.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/weather-extreme-events/rim-fire-continues-breaks-top-10-largest-for-california-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/earth/weather-extreme-events/rim-fire-continues-breaks-top-10-largest-for-california-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
March on Washington: The Day in Photos
Fifty years ago, hundreds of thousands of marchers descended on the nation's capital to call for action and hear the story of a new American dream.
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/history/us-history/march-on-washington-50-anniversary-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
via Discovery News http://news.discovery.com/history/us-history/march-on-washington-50-anniversary-130828.htm#mkcpgn=rssnws1
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