2015年6月10日星期三

Buddhism: Common Myths Vs. Reality

Evening Dresses
Buddhism is major religion which is followed by many people all over the world. The word Buddhism comes from 'budhi' which means 'to awaken'. It originated thousands of years ago when Siddhartha Gautama was enlightened. This article tells you about the misconceptions and facts about Buddhism.
Common myth and reality in Buddhism
Laughing Buddha
The popular fat bald man (as depicted in statues) known as the Laughing Buddha is not a representation of Siddhartha Gautama. It is a Chinese monk known as Budai or Pu-tai, who was known for his generosity and joviality.
Evening Dresses
Buddhism is among the most-followed religions in the world. It was founded in India in around 566 BC by Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha. It then became popular throughout Asia. With passing time, various Buddhist sects with their own doctrines, gods, and legends have emerged.

Though the religion is popular, there are many misunderstandings that people have about Buddhism. Unfortunately, these misconceptions give rise to favoritism and bias. To help clear out some of the common myths about Buddhism, here is a list of myths and facts about this religion.

Myths and Facts

Myth 1: All Buddhists are vegetarians.

Fact: Buddha was never against any type of meal. Many Buddhists follow a vegetarian diet or have vegan food, but many others consume meat. It depends upon the religious sect that one follows.

Myth 2: All Buddhists meditate and their meditation is arduous.

Fact: It is believed that meditation is the central practice of Buddhism. People imagine a Buddhist as someone meditating in a lotus position and chanting a mantra. The fact is that not all Buddhists meditate. Some Buddhist sects meditate for a long time while others practice it for a short time. While seated in chairs, they collectively chant the sutras (which are the teachings of Buddha).

Myth 3: When Buddhists join their hands and bow their heads, they are praying for good fortune.

Fact: This gesture is not related to prayer. It is an expression of humility and gratefulness for the blessings of God.

Myth 4: All Buddhists live in monasteries.

Fact: Since the past, many Buddhists have been laypeople and hence, have not lived in monasteries.

Myth 5: All Buddhists worship idols.

Fact: Some Buddhists worship idols, others do not. And there are some who do not worship idols, but pay respect to them.

Myth 6: All Buddhists are pacifists. It is believed that a war has never been fought in the name of Buddhism.

Fact: There have been wars between Buddhists and non-Buddhists.

Myth 7: Buddhism is a philosophy and not a religion.

Fact: People think that Buddhism is not a religion because it does not require belief in God. They think that religion requires belief in gods and supernatural beings, which is untrue. The fact is that Buddhism is a philosophy as well as a religion.

Myth 8: In Buddhism, karma means a fixed destiny or fate.

Fact: Karma refers to the energy created by action, thoughts, speech, and deeds. The things we experience, good or bad, are determined by our thoughts and actions. We create karma and it affects us. It does not mean that our destiny has been fixed by what we did in our past life. It is something we make by our deeds. By constructively changing our thoughts and behavior, we can transform our lives for the better. It is important to remain positive and virtuous in our thoughts and behavior, especially in adverse situations.

Myth 9: All Buddhists believe in reincarnation.

Fact: Buddhists believe that after someone dies, a soul can never transmigrate into a new body. It is the energy created by one life that is reborn into another.

Myth 10: Buddhists welcome suffering.

Fact: This misconception arises from the perception that a Buddhist is true and sincere if he or she is suffering. This is only partially true. They believe that suffering is an opportunity to learn a lesson, grow and become stronger. It does not mean that Buddhists like suffering.

Myth 11: Shin Buddhism in America is for Japanese or Japanese-Americans only.

Fact: This belief is due to the fact that in the US, a Shin Buddhist temple usually has Japanese-American members. Also, many of the Shin Buddhist temples in the US are populated with Japanese or Japanese-American people. It was Japanese immigrants who brought the Shin Buddhist teachings with them to America. However, it has nothing to do with Buddhism. The Buddha himself certainly wasn't Japanese. Buddhism is a religion for everyone.

Myth 12: All Buddhists wear robes.

Fact: Some of the monks and priests who are strict followers of Buddha wear robes, but not all.

Myth 13: Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha, is a God.

Fact: There is no God or deity in the religion. However, you can choose to believe in God. Also, Buddha never claimed that he was God or taught that there were no gods, but said that it was not necessary to believe in God to attain enlightenment. He was a normal human being who attained enlightenment through his own will and patience.

Myth 14: The Dalai Lama is the head of Buddhism.

Fact: The people of Tibet consider Dalai Lama as their political leader. He also has the authority within the sects of Tibetan Buddhism. However, he is not the head of any of the sects of Buddhism.

Myth 15: Buddhism is a reformation of Hinduism.
Evening Dresses
Fact: Buddhism is different from Hinduism. In Hinduism, there are transmigrating souls, caste system, polytheism, and animal sacrifice. Buddhism does not follow these principles.

2015年6月8日星期一

Legends and Myths About the Bite in Apple's Logo

Evening Dresses
Have you ever wondered why there is a bite on Apple's logo? If you have, but don't know the answer to it, then you have landed on the right page. Click here to find out what the many legends and myths say about the significance of the bite on the 'Apple'.
Legend about the bite in Apple logo
Did You Know?
Steve Jobs came up with the name 'Apple' for his organization, when he was on a fruitarian diet and visiting an apple farm. Jobs felt that this name was, quote, "fun, spirited, and not intimidating".
Evening Dresses
It is simplicity, more often than not, that tends to catch the eye of the beholder. This is probably why, while other brands opted for more complex logos in the hopes of garnering public appeal, the founders of Apple Computers decided to settle for a plain apple. The result - Apple's logo has become one of the most iconic and widely known symbols of modern times. But is this seemingly plain logo really all that simple?

Look at it again, and you will notice that the apple in the logo has a bite on the top right side. Why was it put there? What exactly does the bite in the Apple logo represent?

Since it was first displayed to the public, this peculiarity of the logo has left numerous people scratching their heads. Over the years, there have been many speculations over the bite, which have given rise to many myths and urban legends regarding its origins and importance. Let's look at some of the most common urban legends about the bite in the Apple logo.

The Apple Logo
Apple Logo

This is the Apple store on 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica near Los Angeles in California (21 March, 2015). The Apple logo in white is clearly visible.

Common Myths

The 'a' in the Bite

If you observe carefully, you will notice that the bite in the Apple logo is perfectly curved, which is unlike the asymmetric pattern that the act of biting into a real apple would produce. While one can argue that this is simply the result of the abstract art used for the design, some speculate that it might hold some significance after all.

The symmetrically curved bite is believed to represent the contour of the letter 'a', which at the time the logo was designed, was the name of the new computer - the Apple II.

The Byte in the Bite

Binary is the universal language in the world of digital electronics. A byte is a group of binary digits (bits) that are operated on together by computers. As such, the terms kilobytes (KB), megabytes (MB), gigabytes(GB) etc., are synonymous with computers.

According to one urban legend, the designer of the Apple logo introduced the bite in it to symbolize 'byte', in order to express that Apple was a company that designed computers, thus giving the logo a unique personality.

The Knowledge in the Bite

There is another myth surrounding the bite, which is likely to appeal more to those who are religiously inclined. According to it, the apple in the logo represents the apple of knowledge, similar to the one that is believed to have grown on the Tree on Knowledge in the Garden of Eden. The bite, therefore, is believed to mean that a user can 'bite' into an Apple computer―a source of infinite knowledge―and acquire wisdom through using it. If this is true, let's hope that using Apple, the computer, doesn't anger God!

Most Popular Urban Legend

The Homage in the Bite

Alan Turing (1912 - 1954) was a British computer scientist, mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, mathematical biologist, and marathon runner. He is widely regarded as the father of computer science. Apart from being all of these, Turing was also gay.

Back in Turing's time, homosexuality was a crime in the United Kingdom, and so he was tried before a court of law and was found guilty. He was convicted and given a choice between imprisonment and probation, which included undergoing hormonal treatment comprising injections of synthetic estrogen. Turing chose the latter, which ultimately rendered him impotent.

Turing's conviction also caused him to be barred from continuing his work with the British Signals Intelligence Agency. He was denied entry into the United States, and was deemed by many as a security risk.

All of this took a grave toll on Turing, and on June 8, 1954, he committed suicide, allegedly by biting into an apple laced with cyanide. Turing's conviction and treatment was a major blow to the justice system of the U.K., and his suicide a great loss for the world of science.

Many believe that the bitten apple in Apple's Logo is a tribute to Alan Turing. This belief is further strengthened by the fact that, the original logo had multicolored stripes on it, similar to the rainbow pattern on the LGBT flag.

The True Story Behind the Bite in the Apple Logo

Apple's logo was designed by graphics designer Rob Janoff. He first created the symbol of a bitten apple, and presented it to Steve Jobs with several monochromatic design themes. Jobs, however, wanted the logo to be colorized in order to add a human element to it. Also, the multicolored pattern that was chosen was to represent the fact that the Apple II could generate colored graphics.
Evening Dresses
According to Janoff, the apple with a bite was chosen purely for scaling purposes. In smaller versions of the logo, the apple was prone to being confused for a cherry, and therefore, the designer decided to add a bite into it to reinforce its identity as an apple.

2015年6月7日星期日

Why You Should Spend Some Time Alone

Evening Dresses
We fear loneliness the most in life. We surround ourselves with people all the time, some of them matter, while others are just distractions. Why are we afraid to be on our own? Because spending time alone can be equally liberating and haunting, but it helps in a number of ways. This post will tell you how and why.
Spend time alone to rediscover yourself
"I think it's very healthy to spend time alone. You need to know how to be alone and not be defined by another person."
Evening Dresses
― Oscar Wilde

Remember the last time you spent some time alone, with yourself, just yourself? And it does not include the time when you were texting or checking out someone's pictures on any social networking site. It's hard, isn't it? Just being alone, not lonely but alone.

Our society has become extremely pro-social, and we are constantly with people; sometimes physically, sometimes virtually. Man is a social animal, and of course we cannot live alone, but sometimes you just need a break from everything. And, that is definitely not a bad thing. Loneliness is bad, but wanting to spend some lone time once in a while is not.

Sometimes I feel, we are scared of being alone. Why? Maybe we don't want to face our inner demons, or simply because we cannot pretend things are okay. Convincing others is very easy, but you cannot convince yourself. Probably, that is the most important reason why you should spend some time alone, to discover yourself, in numerous ways.

Why You Should Spend Some Time Alone

It Helps You Rediscover Yourself

spend time alone travel


Being alone can be very liberating. It's like shedding all the layers that we put in front of people and confronting the real you. Travel alone, you will cherish the experience forever. It will help you get a new perspective on life, and memories that will last lifelong. You may be able to understand what you really want from life in those moments of solitude.


Helps You Understand Your Relationships Better

How can you love someone, if you cannot love yourself? We become so used to the support and love of our closed ones, that they tend to become our weakness. Our relationships start to define us. The person that instantly comes to your mind, the one you miss the most, will be the one who matters. It will help you figure out what you really want from your relationships.


Helps Introspect and Plan

When you are alone, you can introspect, understand what you really want in life, be true to your feelings, and take uninfluenced decisions. Even 15 precious minutes with a steaming cup of coffee in the morning are enough to relax, think, and plan your day. Just a healthy conversation with self is enough to bring a little control in life.


Brings Out The Crazy You

spend time alone dancing


When you are alone you can do what you want to do without the fear of being judged. Afraid of dancing in front of people? Dance like a maniac in front of your mirror. Believe me, you won't find a better audience. The pleasure of singing in the bathroom is unparalleled. Why? Because you are alone, nobody cares how bad, and off tune you sing. Basically get totally crazy, and do all the things you can never do in public. It will help you lighten up, and lose some inhibitions. You may realize that you are not that bad a singer after all!


Clears Your Head

Is your mind caught up in a particularly unsolvable problem? It's good to ask people for advice, but finally it's gonna be your decision. Take some time off, go for a long walk, or a run, and you will find the answer you have been looking for. A witty and intellectual conversation with yourself is very satisfying. It will also make you independent. Nobody to tell you what to do, awesome isn't it? Basically, being alone helps you clear your head, and deal with all that is hidden in the deepest recesses of your mind and heart.


Recharges You

spend time alone do nothing


Being alone gives you time to recharge your physical and mental batteries. It helps you get rid of all the negative energy you compile on a daily basis. Do you really care what someone had for dinner, or who hooked up with whom? Just being away from everybody for some time will help you delete all the clutter outta your life. Do nothing, don't think, or analyze your life. Just be with yourself. Enjoy your own company.


Helps You Understand What Really Matters

You realize what is important in life. We are constantly running, take some time to stop. Being alone will help you enjoy the little things that you never realized mattered. Sitting by your window and watching the rain, absolute bliss! And please don't go about clicking pictures for Instagram. Just enjoy the moment. Take a stroll down the park, spend some time with nature, or go for a long ride; it helps.


Makes You Tolerant and Patient
Evening Dresses
You will become much tolerant and patient. Once you start becoming comfortable with yourself, you will be more accepting of people. You may start ignoring little things that used to immediately irk you before. Being on your own will help you come to terms with yourself. Of course, this will be a gradual process, and it's not gonna happen after spending a day lazing on the sofa alone.


On a concluding note, just a small reminder - Happiness starts with YOU, not with your relationships, your job, or your money, only with You.

2015年6月4日星期四

Controversial Inventions and Discoveries You Should Know About

Evening Dresses
Evening Dresses
New inventions and discoveries are often accompanied by confusion, which gives rise to various controversies. This article explores the disputes surrounding some well-known inventions and discoveries.
Controversial inventions and discoveries
Innovators are inevitably controversial.
― Eva Le Gallienne
Evening Dresses
A controversy is a state of prolonged dispute/debate between two or more conflicting viewpoints, in the form of opinions or experimental evidence. Although different concepts apply to different subjects depending on the culture or region, the concept of controversy has the same set of subjects across cultures. These subjects include topics related to politics, religion, science, sex, etc. These subjects can often cause the debate to become heated, and more so if it concerns the relation of science and religion.

Extremist religious fanatics claim that science corrupts faith, whereas devout atheistic scientists believe that religion is just a tale tailor-made to the fancy of humans. However, both these groups are at fault for adopting the wrong and extremist view of matters. It is this conflict that gives rise to a number of controversies with regards to any new invention or discovery. While it is true that some scientific discoveries or inventions do not follow religious tenets, the same can be applied vice versa. In effect, instead of creating a controversy, the society must examine what the discovery offers, and if it can be applied for the betterment of humanity.

Controversial Inventions and Discoveries

Calculus
In the late 1600s, two mathematicians independently developed a new branch of mathematics, which is known today as calculus. These developers were Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. While it is common knowledge now that Isaac Newton discovered calculus, this very fact was a highly contested and controversial fact back in the 1600s. This controversy arose since Leibniz was the first to actually publish a scientific paper (1684) outlining the aspects of this mathematical branch; whereas Newton published a paper in 1693. However, close associates of Newton argued that Newton's notes referenced calculus as early as 1666, and also that Leibniz had knowledge of Newton's work, and hence, committed plagiarism. To clarify this, a review by the Royal Society in 1713 investigated each individual's claims, and concluded that, while Newton had in fact invented calculus, both men had contributed to the overall concept. Hence, Newton is called the founder of infinitesimal calculus, and Leibniz is credited as being the father of integral and differential calculus.

Global Warming
The emission of greenhouse gases due to human activities has considerably increased with the growth industrial technologies. This, coupled with the marked changes in the weather patterns across the globe, points to the possibility of the occurrence of the greenhouse effect on a global scale, resulting in global warming. It refers to the observable increase of surface temperatures globally over the course of time. Considerable scientific data and evidence has been obtained to be able to prove the occurrence of global warming. However, it has not been readily accepted by various government organizations on account of political implications. Only if it is accepted, will it be possible to take any preventive or corrective measures. However, despite increasing evidence, global warming is rejected mainly due to the pressure exerted by the oil industry, since any preventive measures would directly affect the revenue earned by this industrial sector. Also, since this sector provides the maximum funding for various government and public organizations, as well as for political campaigns of politicians, it is able to exert considerable pressure in political matters.

Radio
The credit of inventing the radio was the subject of dispute for a considerable number of years. The candidates for inventing it were famed Serbian-Croatian inventor Nikola Tesla and Italian Guglielmo Marconi. Tesla was known to give public speeches on the uses of radio communication as early as 1891, and had even managed to produce a prototype for the same by 1893. However owing to his poor judgment and low business acumen, he failed to capitalize on his invention. On the other hand, Marconi applied for a patent for the technology as soon as he developed it in 1896. He even formed his own wireless company, and commercialized the radio. However, his designs for the radio were similar to those produced by Tesla. This dispute was later cleared by the U.S. Supreme Court, which granted the patent to Tesla, but maintained that while the contributions of Tesla were vital to the development of this technology, sole credit could not be given to any one of the two men, since Marconi's business savvy was what commercialized and popularized the invention.

Cryonics
It refers to the preservation of humans at extremely low temperatures, with the view of resuscitating and reanimating them in the future. This is a viable option for people suffering from medical conditions that do not yet have a known cure, and also for those who merely want to live to see the wonders that the future will bring. The concept maintains that, despite the suspension of life, which is referred to as legal or medical death, future technologies would be advanced enough to extract information from the neural networks of the preserved individual, and used to either reanimate the individual or to recreate the person's consciousness by uploading into a mechanical entity (like a robot). At present, this procedure is allowed only in case of individuals who are declared to be legally dead. Otherwise it may be considered as assisted suicide. The futuristic scope of this technology leaves quite a few skeptics in its wake. Since the technology of reanimation has not yet been developed, much less perfected, it begs the question of whether the preservation is successful or not, i.e., if one cannot test the preservation technique by reanimation, then how can one be sure that the preservation is successful. Another query that scientists raise is that, when, in the future, one does manage to reanimate a frozen human, how much of the resuscitated human will resemble itself prior to preservation. While some people are happy to utilize this technology despite the various loopholes, many more criticize it for interfering and disrupting the natural order concerning the lifespan of an individual.
Evening Dresses
HIV
In the early '80s, investigation into the cause of AIDS was vital, since it was causing grave epidemics in global populations. Of the many research teams investigating AIDS, two teams―cone led by French scientist Luc Montagnier and the other by American Robert Gall―were able to identify the HIV viral particle, and published their findings at the same time (1983 - 84). Like any major scientific discovery, the group that publishes its findings first is often credited. However, in this case, due to the close proximity of publication timelines, a controversy erupted over who deserved the credit. Although Montagnier had published first, Gallo's description of the virus and its link to AIDS was more comprehensive and detailed. Since both scientists were from different nations, the one who claimed the credit would be able to secure its patent for its country. This caused the French and American governments to get involved in a previously purely scientific dispute. In the end, it was accepted that both teams contributed greatly to the discovery. Montagnier's group was credited with being the first group to isolate the virus; whereas Gallo's team was credited with developing a link between HIV and AIDS, and its related technology.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)
GMOs refer to plants and microorganisms that have been genetically modified in order to be beneficial for human purposes. Several microorganisms have been genetically modified till date, to include genes that code for various biological molecules like antibiotics, amino acids, etc. The insertion of the gene is done in such a way that the organism produces and processes the gene-product naturally, and in great abundance, thereby greatly streamlining the manufacturing process of that biological molecule. In case of plants, genes are incorporated that result in better shelf life of the plant products, and also to confer the plant with pest-resistance and increased yield. Despite these enhancements, the consumption and sale of the products of this technology is highly controversial, as many people oppose the use of this technology. It is viewed as an act of interference with nature, that may produce debilitating effects on consumption. Some even believe that the consumption of these products would cause the person to develop random mutations or health disorders. While these claims lack any scientific evidence, people still insist on avoiding these products, despite them being declared safe for consumption by various scientific and governmental authorities.

Polywater
In the 1960s, Russian scientist Nikolai Fedyakin performed experiments that involved repeatedly forcing water through narrow quartz capillary tubes, in order to produce a new type of water (polywater) with physical properties different from that of regular water. This process was streamlined by Boris Derjaguin in Moscow. He was able to produce this type of water in a shorter amount of time. He noted that the new water exhibited a freezing point of −40°C, boiling point of 150°C, density of approx. 1.1 to 1.2 g/cm3, and increased expansion with increasing temperatures. The findings were published in reputed scientific journals, and were also presented at symposiums. This caused the American scientists to attempt to reproduce polywater. However, not all were successful in doing so. Later, a scientist, Denis Rousseau, examined polywater samples and found it to contain mostly sodium and chlorine. This caused him to compare the sample with a sample of his own sweat. The analysis revealed that, both samples had identical properties, revealing that polywater was in fact nothing but plain water containing small amounts of biological impurities.

Shroud of Turin
This is a linen covering that bears the full-body image of a man, with marks consistent with the act of crucifixion. It is believed to be the cloth used to cover Jesus' body before his burial. Hence, it is wrapped in silk and kept in a silver chest in the Chapel of the Holy Shroud in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Turin, Italy. Carbon dating of the material suggests that the cloth was woven around 1260 - 1390 AD, which is much later than the time of Jesus' death. In addition, when the shroud was photographed, the negatives of the picture looked like the positive image, implying that the image on the shroud is a negative image. This shroud is the most mysterious and controversial of all archeological discoveries, as it neither confirms nor refutes the existence of Jesus.
Evening Dresses
Talpiot Tomb
Another controversial archeological find with ties to Jesus' existence was the discovery of the Talpiot Tomb in East Jerusalem. The tomb was found accidentally when workers were carrying out construction work for an apartment building. Examination of the tomb revealed the presence of a limestone burial box (ossuary) containing human bones, which had the inscription 'Yeshua bar Yehosef' ('Jesus, son of Joseph'). In addition, six more ossuaries were found, including one marked 'Mariamne' or 'Mary'. Analysis of the bones and mitochondrial DNA of the remains showed no mitochondrial link between the remains of Jesus and those of Mary, implying that the two sets of remains are not biologically related, and hence, do not belong to Jesus and his mother. This, and other forensic analysis of the tomb site and ossuaries reveals endless possibilities for the identity of the remains, and offers no proof of whether it is actually the burial site of Jesus.

Dropa Stones
Along the China-Tibet border, a series of caves were discovered in 1938, which possessed a large collection of graves. The walls of these caves were decorated with peculiar images of the sun, moon, stars, and people with elongated skulls. These caves also contained a collection of stone disks which had a spiral groove pattern on them. Close examination revealed that the grooves were actually a sort of language. Professor Tsum Um Nui of the Beijing Academy for Ancient Studies also examined these grooves on the stone disks (Dropa stones), and came to the conclusion that, approximately 12,000 years ago, an alien spacecraft crashed in that region, and hence, a few aliens were deserted there. These aliens tried to adapt to life on Earth, but were hunted and eliminated by the local humans inhabiting that area. Professor Tsum Um Nui was later discredited and fired due to these claims. These stones, however, have been disappearing from their stored places across the globe, and are also not available at any museum. But proof of their existence exists in the photographs that the explorers took while exploring the cave.

De-extinction
Archeological finds of extinct animals, specially frozen ones, have provided scientists with enough viable genetic material to be able to recreate the entire genome of the organism. This has opened up the possibility of de-extinction. It refers to the process of reviving or cloning a member of an extinct species to bring it back into existence. While this is an alluring endeavor, it raises several concerns. While the organism may be genetically similar to the extinct species, its behavior will be similar to that of the species that raises it, instead of the pattern of its genetic parents. Also, the current environment may not provide a suitable niche for the animal's survival, and even if the animal could survive and thrive, its genetic diversity would be so low that any drastic environmental change or a disease could easily lead to its second extinction. Hence, it is suggested that the development of these techniques be used with the purpose of conserving present biodiversity, rather than bringing back extinct species.
Evening Dresses
Other controversial discoveries include the development of genetic editing techniques, human stem cell research, and archeological sites that suggest the existence of aliens. While these discoveries appear to be puzzling at present, it may be possible to fully examine them and determine their true nature in the future when science is more advanced. Till such a time arrives, these discoveries will remain shrouded in controversy.

2015年6月3日星期三

10 Rental Websites Like Airbnb

Airbnb is a leading vacation rental website in the United States that has its listings worldwide. Many people consider a rental house for their vacation as a cheaper option than a hotel. This article speaks about similar sites like Airbnb, that can serve as its alternatives.
Evening Dresses
Evening Dresses
Evening Dresses
Advertisement
Rental websites like Airbnb
Consider This!
Every city and state of respective nations have various rules that legalize the landlord-tenant relationship. Be aware of the law before hosting or taking any accommodation from the above sites, to avoid any legal action in future.
A vacation involves, not only traveling costs, but the cost of good accommodation too. Hotels sometimes tend to be too burdensome on our pockets, thus making it difficult for us to make desired trips. If you're traveling with your family, it becomes inconvenient for everyone to accommodate themselves in hotel rooms. Hence, if you're on a budget, there are certain websites that provide information about hosts who are willing to give you temporary accommodation. This way, you can enjoy the homely feeling, and also be able to take the desired trip even on a tight budget. The most popular website, considered the number one in this industry, is Airbnb. According to their website, they operate in more than 190 countries.

Of course, you can also register as a host on the website. However, make sure that you adhere to legal policies. Note that, before taking a rental accommodation, it is necessary that you understand the pros and cons. You'll save a lot of money, but everything will not be at your disposal, like hotels.

If you're keen on booking a rental house, the following are alternatives to the accommodation site Airbnb.

Roomorama
This is one of the booking platforms that features more than 300,000 accommodations. It also has an instant facility if you need bookings immediately. After you choose the accommodation, simply make the payment, and when the host responds to you, a six-digit code will be given to you. Use that code during your check-in. Only then the payment is released to the host, thus ensuring credibility. You can rent a single room or an entire house; all options are available on Roomorama.

Website: Roomorama

HomeAway
HomeAway truly attempts at providing you a home away from home, and has over 1 million listings. Simply browse through the various available houses at your desired location and dates, and other requirements. After confirming with the buyer, negotiating, and making necessary payments, you can check-in at the date of your stay. And of course, do not forget to give your feedback. A special mention: some of them also allow your pets to be brought along.

Website: HomeAway

VRBO
'Vacation Rentals by Owner' is a part of the 'HomeAway' family. Unlike other websites, it does not charge any booking amount from travelers. The owners can also hire professional help from their staff in return for a certain fee. There are over 50 million visitors every month to the website, which gives more visibility to the owners' houses.

Website: VRBO

onefinestay
They certainly ensure that you have a 'fine, comfortable' stay. The houses are 'handpicked' by the staff, thus ensuring safety and comfort, unlike other websites, where they do not visit the owner's places in advance. The idea is very unique, and they believe in providing homely hospitality, so that you get the luxury and safety of a hotel, plus a homely environment too. Once you select the house and check-in, you're handed over the keys and also an iPhone to use. Plus, their help center is available 24/7. However, the drawback is that, they only feature homes available in London, Los Angeles, New York, and Paris.

Website: onefinestay

9flats
It features around 219,170 places to stay. Right from the lonely, serene places, to the busiest places on Earth, they have all the listings. Plus, the hosts are selected by the staff; hence, it avoids any problems. Also, if you wish to, there are willing hosts who can show you around, and you don't have to rely on guides and travel books.

Website: 9flats

Wimdu
It has over 150,000 holiday apartments, and is one of the biggest portals for vacation rental apartments in Europe. Similar to other websites, you have to find the desired apartment, and confirm the booking by making the payment. However, payment is made to the host only after 24 hours by the company. They also have started doing on-site checks of the houses. They boast of high hospitality standards.

Website: Wimdu

Tripping
It combines information of all the rental websites, and helps you compare the prices, thus, ensuring the best deal for you. You can have your own customized search, by applying filter levels. They state that they save you the labor of surfing through the portals, and also save your time. Once you finalize a property, simply select it and book it.

Website: Tripping

VacationHomeRentals
This is a popular website for vacation rental in North America, and has more than 13,000 properties enlisted on its portal. A unique feature is 'Best Price Promise', that ensures that guests get the best deal. They state that, if you find the same property, at the same time period, at a lower price, the difference will be refunded to you. Another feature is the 'Happy Rental Guarantee', which claims that you'll be protected to the tune of USD 10,000 if either of these occur: the property is not properly represented, or is foreclosed; the seller inadvertently does double booking.

Website: VacationHomeRentals

FlipKey
It is a TripAdvisor company, and has over 300,000 vacation houses listed. Additionally, these houses have been checked for quality by the FlipKey staff, hence, you don't have to worry about any untoward incident. They also give some special offers, time and again, for the benefit of guest travelers.

Website: FlipKey
Evening Dresses
TripAdvisor
This is one of the largest travel sites, that helps in making traveling comfortable and safe for millions around the world. A separate section is dedicated to vacation rentals. Home owners and guests can equally take benefits of this popular site. You can choose an affordable or luxurious place near scenic beauty or amidst the busy city life. There are a myriad of options to choose from.

2015年6月1日星期一

First Ever Warm-blooded Fish Identified

Evening Dresses
The Opah, a.k.a moonfish, is quite popular as a culinary delicacy. This fish, like any other, has been generally believed to be a cold-blooded organism. However, research carried out by scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) identifies it as the first ever warm-blooded fish.
Advertisement
Fact about Opah, warm-blooded fish
Auld Lang Syne
Catching an opah was believed to bring good luck, and therefore, fishermen who caught it often gave it away, rather than sell it.
Evening Dresses
Prior to the discovery of the warm-bloodedness of the opah, all fish were believed to be cold-blooded, as they were unable to sustain warm core temperatures in their bodies. This inability was explained by the respiration of fish by extracting oxygen directly from the water through their gills. This is advantageous, since it allows them to stay underwater at considerable depths, indefinitely. However, the downside of this is that, the fish cannot maintain a warm temperature, since the warm blood (due to muscle activity) that rushes out of the heart immediately passes the gills, and is instantly cooled down to the temperature of the surrounding water. Hence, any heat generated by the fish's muscles is all dissipated, and the coldness affects all functions of the fish. Only a few larger fish, like tuna and some sharks, have been observed to be able to warm certain parts, but not the whole body, hence, they cannot be considered to be warm-blooded.

However, one fish has managed to evolve to overcome this limitation: the opah/moonfish. This discovery was made by a research team led by Nicholas Wegner from the NOAA South-West Fisheries Science Center in California. The discovery is quite surprising, since this fish has been used as a food source for a very long time, and yet, this aspect of its biology had never been noticed.

Scientific Classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Lampriformes
Family: Lampridae
Genus: Lampris
Species: L. guttatus

Distribution and Habitat

❥ It is distributed worldwide, from the West Atlantic to the East Atlantic waters, as well as in the Pacific and Indian oceans. It lives deep in the ocean, at the mesopelagic depths of 50 - 500 meters. The temperature of its habitat is usually in the range of 8 to 22°C.

Physical Description

❥ It is a large, disc-shaped and keeled fish, with a distinct pattern of coloration. It can grow up to a length of 2 m, and a weight of 90 kg (nearly 200 lbs). The body shows a gradual gradation of blue on the top, to rosy pink on the belly/bottom. It has distinct white spots all over its body, with deep vermilion fins placed horizontally instead of vertically, as is the case in most fish. Its jaws are also vermilion, and the eyes are ringed with a golden-yellow color. The body is covered with circular scales, whose iridescent guanine coating is easily abraded. It has a pointed snout, with prominent lips.

Behavior and Life Cycle

❥ Opah are solitary fish, that have sometimes been observed to school with tuna. They swim by moving their fins in a flapping motion, as the fins are horizontally placed, i.e., they have a lift-based mode of swimming. This, coupled with their streamlined and forked caudal fins, allows them to swim at fast speeds of 25 cm/s to almost 4 m/s.

❥ Their diet consists of smaller fish, krill, squid, etc. Their life cycle has not been fully elucidated yet, but they are known to spawn in the spring. They lack dorsal and pelvic fins when they are born, but undergo a rapid transformation soon after to form the characteristic discoid, deep-bodied form.

Endothermy

❥ This fish is able to sustain its core body temperature at least 5°C above the ambient temperature. This is possible due to the presence of a special network of insulated blood vessels between the heart and the gills. The insulation acts to keep the blood pumped out of the heart to remain warm, so that it would reheat the oxygenated blood leaving the gills before it went to the rest of the body, thereby allowing the body core temperature to remain warm. This is possible since the blood vessels carrying the warm blood from the heart to the gills are arranged around the vessels passing through the gills going to the heart.

❥ Due to this arrangement, deoxygenated blood reaches the gills, where it is cooled and oxygenated. But once it leaves the gills, the proximity of the insulated vessels reheat the oxygenated blood, causing the entire body to receive warm oxygenated blood. The entire process by which heat is transferred between the two blood vessels flowing in opposite direction is known as counter-current heat exchange. This is aided by the generation of heat due to the muscle activity of the fins. The heat is retained throughout the body with the help of an insulating layer of fat along the skin. Due to all these factors, it is the first endothermic fish to be discovered.

❥ Being warm-blooded in a cold environment is of great advantage, that allows this fish to be an active predator. Due to its endothermic nature, it can move faster and actively capture prey as compared to its cold-blooded counterparts who are slow and feed by waiting for the prey to drift nearby. It also enable it to dive to deeper depths in search of food or to evade its own predators, and have a better sense of vision and speed. Also, cold-blooded fish cannot stay in deep waters for a long amount of time due to the danger of their organs shutting down because of the temperature. Fortunately, the warm-bloodedness of the opah overcomes this limitation, allowing it to stay deep for long periods of time.
Evening Dresses
This find offers an intriguing speculation whether warm-bloodedness is a new evolutionary trend for fish inhabiting a cold environment, or whether it is a remnant trait of a common ancestor of modern-day mammals and birds.

2015年5月31日星期日

Words Whose Meaning Changed Over Time

Evening Dresses
Evolution is for real, people! Lest we ruffle quite a few conservative feathers, we're referring to the English language here. Take a look at this incredible list of words that have changed meaning over time.
Advertisement
Example of word whose meaning changed over time
"If the English language made any sense, lackadaisical would have something to do with a shortage of flowers."
― Doug Larson
The less said, the better it is for the English language and all its idiosyncrasies. As with all other aspects of human life, our languages have also undergone tremendous metamorphosis. And it's perfectly natural, isn't it? After all, human culture has always thrived on change―be it by means of travel, communication, or just plain influence and inspiration.
Evening Dresses
List of Words With Changed Meanings

BULLY
Back in the 16th century, the word bully was used to describe a beloved person. Over time, it gained notoriety to be used for someone who was a show off, until today, when it refers to someone who takes pleasure in intimidating and harassing the weak.

AWFUL
The word 'awful' lived a simpler existence in the older times when it actually meant "full of awe". It was used in a reverential manner, just as the language gods meant things to be. Cut to this day, when it has become an adjective used to portray negative feelings. On a slightly different note, hilarity ensues when people tend to confuse 'awful' with 'awesome', which happens to be its antonym.

GAY
This one's fairly recent, until a few years ago, 'gay' used to mean 'happy' and 'carefree'. In fact, we still tend to spend a day at the beach with 'gay abandon', know what we're saying? The younger lot, however, only seem to be acquainted with its recent association with male homosexuality.

EGREGIOUS
There was a time when 'egregious' used to be a compliment, referring to distinguished or outstanding individuals or things. But this was the 16th century, and things have changed for worse, especially in the case of 'egregious'. We now use it to describe something that is outstandingly bad or blatantly offensive.

GARBLE
'Garble' actually used to mean the exact opposite of what it's understood as today. We know of the word to mean 'confused or incoherent language', while its erstwhile meaning was 'to sort out', indicating a sense of clarity.

CUTE
'Cute' was derived from the word 'acute', which originally meant shrewd or sly. But this was the 18th century. Over a hundred years later, American slang shortened and transformed 'acute' to 'cute', even changing its meaning to 'pretty' or 'dainty'.

NICE
Just as with 'cute', the word 'nice' had a completely different meaning back during the 13th century, when it meant 'foolish, stupid, or senseless. From then on, its negative associations only grew to include extravagance and ostentation. However, it was the 18th century society's fondness for these qualities that brought it to its current usage.

MYRIAD
Myriad was a word coined by the Greeks to denote 10,000 units. Although we still use it to indicate volume or abundance, its mathematical usage has more or less been phased out.

MATRIX
No, it's not the movie. The word 'matrix' reminds us of puzzles or grids that may need some solving. In the actual, 'matrix' has its roots in the Latin word "matr"- or mater, meaning a pregnant being, and went on to be understood as womb.

BUXOM
'Buxom' has indeed come a long way from when it used to mean humble and obedient back in the 12th century. Over time, it progressed to mean 'compliant' (think 'bendy'), to healthy, plump, and down to the way we recognize it today―well-endowed.
Evening Dresses
This was just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. The English language, or any other language, will continue to evolve alongside the humans who use it. But long words or short, remember to have fun while you learn this amazing language.