2015年6月10日星期三

Buddhism: Common Myths Vs. Reality

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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.
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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.
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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

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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".
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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.
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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

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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."
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― 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
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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

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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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TripAdvisor
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2015年6月1日星期一

First Ever Warm-blooded Fish Identified

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

2015年5月28日星期四

9 Recipes to Make a Mimosa Cocktail

Invented in the Hôtel Ritz Paris, this drink, till date, reeks opulence, perfect for fancy brunches, bridal showers and so on. Here are some unique mimosa drink recipes fit to delight even the choosiest, handpicked by us just for you!
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Mimosa cocktail recipe
Named for the Color!
This drink was named after the plant mimosa as the color of the drink resembles the color of the flowers of this plant.
Decades after this drink was invented, a mimosa, somehow, still echoes luxury. A sip of its citrusy bubbly goodness cuddles your senses like a soft cashmere robe. Be it on a day of pampering in the spa or a lavish brunch, the mimosa goes best. Don't get us started on the number of times we've gotten hammered on a few too many mimosas at weddings! Surprisingly, we just don't seem to outgrow them (we say, it has something to do with the Champagne).

Traditionally, an opulent concoction of Champagne and citrus fruits, a combination hard to beat, this drink has a good number of ardent lovers. If you're planning for a fancy get-together, serving your guests this drink would definitely add some class to your soirée.

We have given a few Mimosa cocktail recipes with our twist, just to make sure we have got something to everyone! These recipes are for one serving only, you could adjust the quantities according your guest list.

Mimosa Drink Recipes

Classic Mimosa Cocktail

Classic Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 2 oz.
Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Orange wedge, 1 (for garnish)

Method
Pour the orange juice into a chilled flute glass, add the triple sec and top it up with the Champagne. Garnish and serve.
Festive Pomegranate Mimosa

Festive Pomegranate Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 1 oz.
Pomegranate juice, 2 oz.
Champagne, to top up
Pomegranate seeds, few (for garnish)

Method
Pour the orange juice and pomegranate juice into a pre-chilled flute glass and top it up with the Champagne. Bejewel your drink with a few pomegranate seeds if you wish.

Blushing Raspberry Mimosa

Blushing Raspberry Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 1oz.
Chambord liqueur (or any raspberry liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Fresh raspberries, a handful
Lime leaf, 1 (optional)


Method
Tear the lime leaf and put it in a mixing glass, add the fresh raspberries to it, and muddle the mixture. Add the orange juice to it and strain into a chilled flute glass. Add the raspberry liqueur and top it up with the Champagne. You could garnish with a raspberry, and may be, add a few slivers of lime leaf.
Hawaiian Party Mimosa

Hawaiian Party Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 1 oz.
Pineapple juice, 2 oz.
Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Fresh pineapple or mint (for garnish)


Method
Pour the pineapple and the orange juice in a flute glass that has been sitting in a freezer for a while. Add the orange liqueur and top it up with some Champagne. Garnish with a wedge of pineapple or mint.

Holiday Cranberry Mimosa

Holiday Cranberry Mimosa

Ingredients

Cranberry juice, 2 oz.
Lime juice, ¼ oz.
Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Peel of lime (optional)


Method
Rub the feel of the lime on the rim of a chilled flute glass. Pour in the cranberry and lime juice, add a splash of the triple sec, and top it up with champagne.
Sexy Sunrise Mimosa

Sexy Sunrise Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 2 oz.
Tequila, 1 oz.
Grenadine, ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up


Method
Pour the syrup into a chilled flute glass, add the orange juice and the tequila to it. Add the champagne till its filled to the brim. Do not stir, serve as it is.

Silly Strawberry Mimosa

Silly Strawberry Mimosa

Ingredients

Triple sec (or any orange liqueur), ¼ oz.
Strawberry syrup, ½ oz.
Lemon juice, ¼ oz.
Champagne, to top up
Strawberries (for garnish)


Method
Mix the lemon juice and strawberry syrup and add it to a chilled flute glass. Add the orange liqueur and top it up with loads of Champagne. Garnish with a strawberry and serve.
Tropical Mango Mimosa

Tropical Mango Mimosa

Ingredients

Mango puree, ½ oz.
Lime juice, 1 tsp.
Champagne, to top up
Peel, stoned, and cut mangoes, a few pieces


Method
Combine the mango puree and lime juice and pour it in a chilled flute glass. Add a few pieces of cut mango to it and fill the glass with Champagne. You could also stick a piece on the rim of the glass as a garnish.

Virgin Mimosa

Ingredients

Orange juice, 2 oz.
Lemon juice, 1 tsp.
Ginger ale (or sprite), to top up
Orange wedge (for garnish)

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Method
Pour the lemon and orange juice in a chilled flute glass, top it up with the ginger ale, and serve. You could also garnish it with an orange wedge.

2015年5月27日星期三

Common Lies People Tell

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Evening Dresses
Lying, sometimes, becomes the very prerequisite for basic survival. Join us as this article takes you through a mix of some of the funniest and ridiculous lies that people tell.
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Common lies told by people
When They Lie
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Want to catch someone lying to you? Pay attention to their body language―they will generally blink more rapidly than usual and start talking faster or slower than normal.
We all lie. We do. There is a strange sense of comfort in lying, something that lets us off the hook (maybe temporarily, but nonetheless). Some, of course, lie more often and more frequently than others. Why does one even lie, though. To put it very simply, there are 3, seemingly common reasons for why people take to embellishing the truth a little (or a lot)―1. When the truth is too painful to hear, 2. To buy some time, and 3. To ease a tense situation.

Most of us have been in each of these situations and have had to lie our way out of them. While some of these settings are capable of inducing a cold, cold, sweat-soaked symphony down our temple, there are others that are plain hilarious, erm, when viewed in retrospect. In keeping with that spirit, this Buzzle article will highlight a few of the most obvious lies that people always tell and get away with (or so they'd like to believe).

10 Most Obvious Lies

1. I'll be there in 5...
... When all you're really thinking is, in 5 minutes I'll be 20 minutes away from being there. Saying which, pretty much amounts to signing your death warrant, so you conveniently roll off this excuse, push the accelerator hard, and drive over like a maniac. And when you finally get there, you go in all huffing and puffing, and blame the #$^#@ traffic. Classic lie, this one.

2. I'm Fine.
Yup. No matter if you're down in the dumps, going through a breakup, having a splitting headache and are generally having a pretty much meh day, you're still going to answer with a 'I'm fine'. Why? Because it's the polite thing to do, you think. Dragging people into the layered complications of your life is not really something that you're looking forward to, and neither are you looking forward to making yourself vulnerable to every onlooker. So, How are you? I'm fine. Also, I'm good.

3. I'm 29.
Because 29 is like 10 years younger than 30, right? That is the logic. We will pretty much stretch our '29 years old' title till the last second of our official birthday, heck, till the exact time till we were born 30 years ago. We will wear it like a medallion, showing it off proudly like we're better than 'those 30 year olds', just because we are not yet in our gasp! 30s. Until the time we do actually turn 30 and then, 'How are you? I'm fine' happens.

4. I'm sorry I didn't take your call. The phone was in the other room.
Or it was on silent, or the screen wasn't functioning or the this and the that. And what do you want to scream instead? *Rubbing hands together*... The phone was in my hand. I didn't take it. I was screening your call and I couldn't take another story about your life in shambles. About your dull routine and the ridiculous problems that are all in your head. Yup. Exactly that.

5. I'm only a little short of 6 feet and own a business.
Read, I'm about half a foot shorter than 6 feet and own a newspaper stand across the road. Even if we're exaggerating, you get the drift. Online dating profiles are some of the most difficult to fill out, considering that you're being judged on the basis of the smallest, most minute detail. So then, tweaking the profile a little is common. Wrong, but common.

6. Thank you. I loved it!
Did you? Really? Did you love the sweater with the 2 doves necking on its front? And did you also love the sapphire-hued bell bottoms that aunt Maria got for you? That's what we thought. But of course, we know, it's easier to get all excited and beam and bare the teeth a little more than usual, than to say otherwise, come off sounding like an insensitive jerk, and hurt their feelings. We get it. Yes, of course I loved the honey chicken with apples, aunt Rosa. Thumbs up.

7. I'll exercise from Monday...
... Is what you tell the world, and you tell yourself, but come Monday morning and the eyelids feel like lead and the blanket wrapped around you feels like second skin, and those dreams, oh those dreams pull you back. Tomorrow, tomorrow, for sure. Those funny, obvious lies, we tell you.

8. Sorry, I won't be able to make it. I have a work thing.
Translation. I will be sitting in my pajamas, hoarding on junk and comfort food and watching Netflix. Why interact with society like a 'normal human being' and get flooded with questions about 'When are you tying the knot, having a baby, etc., etc., when you can drown in nonfictional characters who don't judge you or your life choices? Why?

9. I have a year's experience as a landscape management consultant.
Yeah, right. Try a year's experience in coming up with stories. Mowing the lawn and watering the plants is not being a landscape management consultant. You know that, we know that, and the people looking to hire you, probably know that as well. Embellishing the truth on the resume is one of the most common lies that people take to in the professional world. Sometimes it pays, and sometimes it doesn't.

10. It wasn't me.
Because, hell no. No way are you going to take the blame for that one and have people turn batsh** crazy on your a**. It could be anything―recording over your dad's game, breaking your mum's favorite China plate, getting a dent on the boyfriend's car... just perfect the confused, mildly shocked face and a convincing tone to go with it before you try the 'It wasn't me'.
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We all lie. A small fib, a tiny white lie, a little tweaking of the truth. And it's OK as long as no one gets hurt. But while we may think that we're quite the craftsmen in spinning these tales, the other person might be on to us and not like it. At all. Eeps, huh? But then again, it wasn't you, was it?

2015年5月26日星期二

14 Biggest Accounting Scandals of All Time

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Evening Dresses
Accounting scandals have served as stark reminders of the low points in corporate history. These scandals involved cheating investors, duping stakeholders, and rendering many people jobless.in this article, provides a list of some of the biggest scandals in corporate history.
Biggest accounting scandals
Did You Know?
Arthur Anderson LLP, one of the 'Big Five Audit Firms' collapsed after the infamous Enron and WorldCom accounting scandals. The scandals revealed the firm's failure to discharge its duties as auditors of the companies. These scandals also gave birth to the 'Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002'.
The basic purpose of preparing financial statements of any organization is to represent or portray its financial position and health. Accounting transactions are recorded as per the accepted accounting standards of that particular nation.
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The financial statements should reflect the accounting position of the company. Also, it is the auditor's duty to ensure that the books are maintained in a fair manner―the company does not intend to mislead its stakeholders.

A carefully planned accounting fraud looks out for loopholes in laws, or simply uses accounting gimmicks to present financial statements that are completely misleading. Fake and fabricated accounts, fake expenses, assets, or income to show that the company is in good financial condition is simply done to maintain the company's brand name in the financial market, and increase its stock prices. It is saddening to know that big giants with good reputation have been involved in such frauds.

While greed is a human tendency, an accounting fraud at such a high level can ruin the stakeholders of the company―with employees losing their jobs and investors losing their hard-earned money. Top management has been involved in such frauds for myriad of reasons: to give an optimistic outlook to the company, or the use the funds of the company for personal use, or simply to earn more revenue.

Of course, sometimes, a fraud can be so effectively laid out that even the auditors fail to detect it. In some cases, even the auditors have been deemed guilty, though unfortunately, some of them willingly were a part of the ploy, while some were negligent in discharging their duties. Let's go through some of the top accounting frauds that shook the world. The scandals in this list are mentioned according to the potential harm they caused to the investors, and the repercussions that followed.

Examples of Corporate Accounting Scandals

Enron Corporation (2001)
✦ Enron was born out of the merger of Houston Natural Gas and Omaha-based InterNorth. It was a major player in the energy market.

✦ This can be considered as the smartest accounting fraud in corporate history. In December 2001, the company came crashing down and filed for bankruptcy, which revealed that the energy and service providing giant was falsifying its account books to the tune of around USD 74 billion.

✦ The company used 'special purpose entities (SPE)' for the purpose of hedging risk. However, they also used SPEs to hide their losses from the company's account books, and compensated the SPE by issuing stocks of Enron. This would paint a healthy picture of Enron's accounts.

✦ Many employees were rendered jobless, and also lost their retirement savings. This fraud also led to the fall of the giant auditor firm Arthur Anderson LLP, one of the 'Big Five' Accounting firms of the world.

✦ It was the sudden resignation of Jeff Skilling, in August 2001, which sparked rumors that there may have been a possibility of fraudulent activity. Also, it closed down one of its SPE, which added to the suspicion held by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

✦ The Enron case accelerated the government's actions to make stringent regulations for corporate governance.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (2008)
✦ A classic example of how law can be twisted, and loopholes can be used to your own advantage, this is known as one of the biggest accounting scams in U.S. history. They filed for bankruptcy in 2008.

✦ Lehman Brothers, the bank that rose to the greatest heights at Wall Street, was hiding a dirty secret. They manipulated accounts to make the company's financial position appear healthy.

✦ They used "REPO 105", which is an accounting gimmick planned at converting the short-term loan into 'sales'. They managed to conceal a USD 50 billion loan, by simply classifying it as sales, which made the company's financial position appear good enough.

✦ Lawyers in U.S. are not legally allowed to make a true sale opinion. Hence, they approached a U.K firm to mark these transactions as sales, and carefully carried out this activity through their U.S. subsidiary.

✦ Due to Lehman Brothers filing for bankruptcy, many investors lost their money, considering their poor asset positioning to dispose off the liabilities.

Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (2009)
✦ 'Satya', which means truth, was what this Indian IT company was not about. A winner of many awards, in January 2009, B. Ramalingan Raju, its CEO, admitted that the company was running on fraudulent accounts for the past 7 years. To date, this is considered to be India's biggest accounting scam.

✦ The CEO admitted that he was solely responsible for the window dressing of the accounts to a much high level. He admitted to have falsified accounts and created hypothetical assets and pumped revenue up to the tune to USD 1.5 billion.

✦ There was a direct impact on the stock prices of the company, and also posed further questions on the credibility of Indian IT firms in the financial market.

✦ The company was acquired by Tech Mahindra, and is now known as 'Mahindra Satyam'. A legal case was filed against the CEO, and he is currently serving a jail sentence along with other member directors of the board.

✦ The shocking confession by the CEO, also raised doubts on the internal and statutory auditors of the company.

WorldCom (2002)
✦ One of the biggest telecommunications company fell immediately after the fall of Enron, in 2002. The company tried to conceal the losses that it was incurring. Instead of expensing out the 'line costs', they were capitalized in the account books, and revenues were also inflated.

✦ The internal auditor had detected an accounting entry of USD 500 million for computer expenses, without any supporting document.

✦ The hypothetical assets measured up to USD 11 billion, and this led to the loss of around USD 180 billion for the company, and many employees subsequently lost their jobs.

✦ Also, the SEC was suspicious of the good position, and whistle blowers confirmed their suspicion.

✦ CEO Bernie Ebbers was sentenced to 25 years in prison. This was again, one of the major reasons for the fall of the Arthur Anderson audit firm.

Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. (2008)
✦ This is one of the most curious cases of financial fraud that will be remembered for ages. Bernard Madoff was one the founders of Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. He also had served as NASDAQ's chairman.

✦ A ponzi scheme is a scheme in which the investors are usually paid a high amount of returns on their investments, from the money acquired from new investors.

✦ In 2008, Bernard confessed to his sons that he was running an illegitimate business, a USD 65 billion ponzi scheme. He was exposed by his sons, who reported his misdoings to the SEC.

✦ Sadly, both his sons died, one succumbing to cancer, and the other committed suicide. The accused Bernard Madoff is currently serving a 150-year jail sentence.

HealthSouth Corporation (2003)
✦ In 2003, it was revealed that the company, belonging to the health-care industry, was not in the best of financial health. It was a huge sale of stock by the CEO just a day before the company reported a loss, that invited the attention of the SEC, who smelled something fishy.

✦ Apparently, the company's employees were asked to fake transactions that inflated the income of the company, depicting a good financial position.

✦ CEO Richard Scrushy still claims innocence, and pleads not guilty of the accusations of the bribery made against him. He was allegedly involved in overstating the earnings of the company by USD 1.4 billions, since 1999, and a corresponding increase in the assets of the company.

✦ Scrushy was ordered to pay nearly USD 2.9 billion to shareholders for defrauding them.

Tyco International (2002)
✦ In 2002, CEO Dennis Kozlowski and CFO Mark Swartz were accused of using company funds to support their own extravagant lifestyles.

✦ A grand birthday bash which Dennis threw for his wife, his lavish furnishings in the Tyco-owned apartment, all were indicators that he had been embezzling funds from the company.

✦ Kozlowski had resigned citing personal reasons. However, loans were issued to them, illegally, without the knowledge of the Board, under the 'Key Employee Loan' program of the company. He was also under the legal scanner for tax evasion. Also, there was an attempt to illegally sell the stocks of the company.

✦ The jury held that they two were guilty of looting the company to the tune of more than USD 150 billion in the form of unearned bonuses and loans.

✦ They were pronounced guilty and sentenced to 25 years in jail.

Waste Management, Inc. (2002)
✦ The company had increased its fake earnings to the tune of USD 1.7 billion by:

increasing the depreciation time length for their assets, property, and plant and equipment
capitalizing expenses
assigning arbitrary salvage values to assets
not recording the requisite liabilities.

✦ The company's top management was accused of financial fraud, by the SEC, in 2002. The fraudulent accounting took place between 1992 and 1997. The names involved were: Dean L. Buntrock, Phillip B. Rooney, James E. Koenig, Thomas C. Hau, Herbert Getz, and Bruce D. Tobecksen.

✦ The auditors Arthur Andersen, were charged with a penalty of about USD 7 million.

Cendant Corporation (1997-98)
✦ The company was formed in 1997 following a merger of two companies: Hospitality Franchise Systems, Inc. (HFS) and CUC International Inc.

✦ Barely three months after the merger, there were reports of accounting anomalies. It was observed that around USD 640 billions in profits recorded over the last three years were nothing but fictional profits.

✦ The company had apparently been involved in inflating the stock of CUC International up to almost USD 500 million.

✦ Walter Forbes, the former chairman of Cendant was charged in 2007, to pay USD 3.275 billion, and sentenced to 12 years and 7 months in prison.

MF Global Holdings, Ltd. (2011)
✦ MF Global, a major commodities brokerage firm filed for bankruptcy in October 2011, much to the shock of its customers. The company was led by Jon Corzine, the former New Jersey governor and senator.

✦ However, following some bad investments, the company decided to use consumer money to repay its liabilities. There have been reports that the firm had heavily invested in the European sovereign debts. Almost USD 1.6 billion of consumer assets were reported missing.

✦ The curious case surfaced as to where the money had evaporated from the account books. Those hit were farmers, small investors, etc.

✦ The customers had to wait for almost two-and-a-half years until the final payout was made in April 2014.

Qwest Communications International Inc. (2004)
✦ The company's top management allegedly fabricated the accounts of the company by overstating their income through fraudulent transactions recorded in the account books: increasing the revenue from its phone directory business, and also understating the expenses of the company.

✦ It was also alleged that the company failed to disclose information about buying equipment, which proved costly.

✦ The rosy picture painted was simply to float the notion that the company was in good financial condition. In 2004, the SEC filed a complaint against the company.

✦ Qwest agreed to pay a penalty of almost USD 250 millions, following an action take by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

American International Group, Inc. (2005)
✦ In 2005, the insurance company was caught in an accounting fraud that estimated around USD 3.9 billion, along with bid-rigging and stock manipulation.

✦ Following this, the company had to pay heavily in the form of penalties to the SEC. The CEO Hank Greenburg was one of the major players in the fraud that made the financial statements appear optimistic, thus misleading investors.

✦ He had booked loans as revenue, and also conspired to induce traders to inflate the prices of the stocks.

✦ Note: Bid-rigging is when the bidders decide beforehand to eliminate competition among them, and the process is carried out only for namesake.

Parmalat S.p.A. (2004)
✦ This is one of the biggest controversies surrounding the Italian big player: Parmalat, which was started by the Tanzi family. Parmalat was a global name for milk and dairy products.

✦ In 2004, a default in payment by the company prompted investigations which revealed that the company had created non-existent assets, to conceal its liabilities.

✦ The founder family, which owned 51% stake in the company, was held on account of falsification of accounts, embezzlement of funds, etc.

✦ The Bank of America had denied the existence of any account of the company with them, stating that the company had forged documents to show a fictitious account. Further investigations revealed that the funds were diverted to family-owned firms.

✦ Their debts amounted to almost €14 billion. This is one of the biggest frauds in Italian corporate history that involved banks, auditors, and other players. However, they all pleaded guilty or were unaware of the fraudulent activities.

Recent Accounting Scandal

Tesco PLC. (2014)
Britain's grocery and retail store came under the scanner recently (2014), when reports revealed that the company has been allegedly overstating its profits by over 25%. (£250 million).
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While fraudulent accounting practices are still a part of the corporate world, more stringent laws and monitoring might ensure that there are fewer instances. While corporate social responsibility might be on the rise, as long as 'money make the mare go', it is difficult that the corporate world will be devoid of such unethical practices. Other than stringent laws, whistle-blowers might help improve the situation. However, even employees should hold themselves accountable and report to appropriate authorities if they come across falsification of accounts. Needless to say, again, the internal and statutory auditors both play a pivotal role in detection of such frauds.

2015年5月25日星期一

10 Cute Songs about Brother and Sister Relationship

Evening Dresses
Take a look at Ross and Monica's relationship in Friends; they are a perfect example of a brother and sister relationship. Although you can't share your clothes or makeup with your brother, you can certainly share some good time with them. This article has compiled a list of 10 songs about brother and sister love.
Songs about brother and sister relationship
"Brothers and sisters are as close as hands and feet."
― Vietnamese Proverb
Evening Dresses
Agreed you hate it when he steals your food and embarrasses you in front of your friends. But hey you get your own personal bodyguard, without spending even a penny. A brother and sister relationship is like Tom and Jerry, always ready to fight with each other. But if a third person threatens to hurt one of them, they will surely gang up together and bring out the worst sides of each other.

There are many songs that depict the relationship shared by a brother and sister. They belong to different genres; some can be played at weddings, and some are suitable for a brother sister dance. Some are in the form of dedications from a brother to his sister or the other way round, while others are woven around the beautiful brother-sister relationship, and its varied shades. Given here are 10 cute brother and sister songs. You might find some good ones among these family songs too.

#1: Brothers & Sisters by Coldplay
Lyrics

Brothers and sisters unite
It's the time of your lives it's the time of your lives
Break down, break down
Got to spread love around, got to spread it around.
Perfect for every brother and sister relationship, this song talks about what happens when brothers and sisters come together. When they unite, they have all the power in the world to overcome obstacles. Sometimes they do feel low, but they keep each other strong.

#2: When We Grow Up by Diana Ross
Lyrics

When we grow up, will I be pretty?
Will you be big and strong?
Will I wear dresses that show off my knees?
Will you wear trousers twice as long?
This song talks about a sister conversing with her brother who is also her friend. She talks about all the changes that they would be going through as they grow up. But the singer also suggests that they don't need to change, and they will remain friends throughout their lives.

#3: I Learned From You by Miley Cyrus
Lyrics

Sometimes I couldn't hear what you're trying to tell me
I thought that I knew all I need to know
I didn't understand that the doors you would open
Could take me somewhere I wanted to go.
A very beautiful song which talks about how a sister learned a great deal about herself and the world around her from her brother. She is grateful to her brother for teaching her how to be strong for herself and for him.

#4: Dance Little Sister by Terence Trent D'Arby
Lyrics

Get up 'outta' your rockin' chair grandma!
Or rather would you care to dance grandmother?
Hey you! give up the ghost
That's haunting you now
Shout it out.
Well, if your sister is feeling low and is heartbroken, then this is the perfect song to dedicate to her. This song talks about how a brother is telling his sister to stop being low and start enjoying her life. He is asking her not to give up no matter how hard life becomes.

#5: You've Got A Friend by James Taylor
Lyrics

When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand
and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right.
Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there
to brighten up even your darkest nights.
This song talks about how a brother is trying to console his sister and says that she has a friend and is not alone. She can always count on him whenever she is sad.

#6: Little Brothers by Phineas and Ferb
Lyrics

Little Brother,
I remember when you first came home,
Then came another, little brother of our own.
Even when you break my toys,
You will always be my,
Little brothers.
This is a perfect song that rightly explains the relationship shared by a brother and a sister. When they are young they fight a lot over everything and break each other's toys. But that does not mean they stop loving each other and no matter how much they fight, they will always be her brothers.

#7: Brother Mine by Suzanne Vega
Lyrics

Sonny boy, you need new sneakers
Better go into town and get then friday night
Come to think of it, kid, you need just about everything
But I think things are gonna be all right.
In this song, a sister preaches her brother on how to be a good boy. She calls him a troublemaker but she knows not to yell at him because he is just a kid. She assures him that he will be fine and that things will be fine very soon.

#8: He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother by The Hollies
Lyrics

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where?
Who knows where?
But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother
The song has a very simple yet powerful meaning, if you consider others as your brothers then you don't mind helping them out when they need it. This song teaches us to share our burdens with each other to make our life easier. The bond between a brother and a sister is strong and they are there for each other always. Once you call someone your brother, he does not remain to be a burden for you.

#9: It Don't Have To Change by John Legend
Lyrics

Oh do you remember (ooh)
When the family was everything? (ooh)
Oh do you remember? (ooh)
It was so long ago and so much has changed (ooh).
This song talks about how everything has changed between the two siblings and how he longs to go back to the time when things were nice. He is praying to god to not make things worse between the two and to let love exist between them.

#10: Lean On Me by Bill Withers
Lyrics

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow.
A touching song which all brothers can relate to. We all have ups and downs in our lives and want somebody to share our pain with. And that somebody can be our sister. In this song, a sister comforts her brother and assures him that he can share his burden with her.
Evening Dresses
The relationship between a brother and a sister is amazing. Though they are always ready to pull pranks on each other, they are equally protective about one another. Cheers to this beautiful bond.

2015年5月24日星期日

How to Get Rid of Booklice

Also called barklice and paperlice, booklice thrive in papers, books, walls, tree barks, and moist places. They do not harm humans or property. The main issue posed by booklice is the nuisance they cause when they are in large numbers. Here is some information on how to get rid of booklice infestation.
Tip to get rid of booklice
Words of Advice
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Using insecticides is a great way to get rid of booklice. But avoid spraying them near uncovered food. And keep such chemical products away from the reach of children and animals.
Booklice are insects that belong to the Phylum Arthropoda, Order Psocoptera and Class Insecta. The name Psocoptera originates from the Greek words psokos, which means gnawed or rubbed and ptera, which means wings. Booklice have a prominent head with thread-like antennae. The head is connected to the thorax by the neck. The abdomen is broad while the thorax is narrow. They vary in size from about 1 to 6 millimeters in length. They are colorless, gray, or cream in color. Booklice that stay indoors are wingless or sometimes have wings, while the outdoor booklice, usually called barklice, have wings and they live under the barks of trees.

Booklice grow fast in damp and humid conditions. They feed on algae, fungi, lichen, stored flours, oats and cereals, mold, pollen, dead insects, and other animals. Outdoor booklice usually live on bird and mammal nests, foliage, under leaf litter, and on barks and crevices of trees. Indoor booklice live in dark, warm, and damp rooms, duct work, storerooms, libraries or other favorable habitats that provide them with food and shelter. They do not live on or bite other animals like true lice. They do not spread diseases or destroy clothes or furniture. They are harmless when in small numbers, but cause nuisance when in large numbers, as they tend to damage books and wallpapers by eating the mold on the glue of book bindings, coated papers or cardboard and wallpaper. They also contaminate food by feeding on stored or damp grains or cereals, making them unfit for consumption. Hence, their very presence can cause distress. Here are some ways to get rid of booklice.

Ways to Eliminate Booklice

Know the Extent of Infestation
Look for the places of booklice infestation. Look for books, photographs, a dark basement or storeroom, household stuff, food stored in pantries or cupboards, damp corners or crevices, moist areas created by leaking pipes, roof leaks or air conditioning systems.

Remove Infested Foodstuffs
◆ Discard likely sources of infested food. Empty the cupboard or pantry and inspect every item. Also, check for the labels and look in areas around the lids of jars and tins as booklice may thrive there.

◆ Next, wipe the food spills. Thoroughly clean the contaminated food area with an antibacterial cleaner. If you choose to wash down the place, then make sure it is thoroughly dried.

◆ Now apply an insecticide and spray the infested place. Any cracks and corners should not be left out. Let the spray dry completely and do not place any food in it for a few days.

Increasing the Temperature of the Room
The infested room or place can be heated to a higher temperature. This will kill the booklice, as they cannot survive high heat.

Good Ventilation
Ensure that the room is well-ventilated so that moisture is pulled out of the room. A dehumidifier can be used for lowering the humidity levels below 50% so as to hinder the growth of booklice. The windows and doors should be left open as long as possible. Periodic airing and drying of things will prevent mold development on which these insects feed.

Treating Molds
Clean or treat mold, and dry the area thoroughly where booklice are found.

Using a Microwave
Place infested books and other small items in a microwave for 40 seconds (high heat setting) to kill booklice and their eggs.

Placing Items in the Freezer
Place infested items in the freezer and allow them to remain there for a few days. This will kill the booklice and their eggs. The lice will die but the eggs may thrive.

Spraying an Insecticide
Spray an insecticide which contains pyrethrin or cyfluthrin, into cracks or crevices, or any moist area where booklice may be found.

Vacuuming of Infested Places
Vacuuming infested areas is also an effective way. A vacuum cleaner having proper attachments and a narrow vacuum tip can remove the bugs from their dwellings.

Exposing to Light
Try to leave as much open space as possible and allow more light to enter the infested areas. This will suppress the booklice activity.

Inform a Pest Control Company
In case of severe infestation, it is recommended to call a professional pest control company as they will have the technical knowledge and access to commercial products and equipment that are unavailable to the public.


Prevention

◆ Practice proper hygiene like daily dusting and vacuuming to remove debris from cracks and corners of storage areas.

◆ Try to keep the house well-ventilated and dry. Always keep your dry foodstuffs such as cereals in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. Cleaning out your cupboards regularly, ensuring that they are completely dry before putting your food back will help.

◆ The hiding areas like cracks in the foundation walls or areas around windows or cabinets should be sealed with a waterproof filler and sealants. Prior to this, make sure that you treat fungi or mold, if any. Mend and seal leaking pipework, rain gutters, roof vents, and air conditioning units.

◆ Remove leaf litter, vines, and other debris from the house or the surrounding buildings, to reduce the chances of an outside attack by booklice.

◆ Throw corrugated cardboard boxes and items away, or store them in dry places or in the sun.

◆ Things should be kept away from the walls and ceiling and neatly placed above the floor level by using pallets. Spaces should be provided as much as possible between stacks for proper ventilation.

◆ Check and clean all stored items regularly and clean the place of storage.

◆ Store foodstuffs, especially grain and cereal products in air-tight containers.

◆ A drainage tile system can be installed to prevent rainwater from entering the problem areas.

◆ Avoid storing foods for more than five months.
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◆ Use the older items first, as booklice tend to grow as the items age.

◆ Before disposal, place the infested products inside plastic bags to minimize the spread of booklice.