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What are the first few words you said when you was a baby or what will be your baby’s first few words? Of course you will guess “Mummy”, “papa”, “Daddy”, “mom” and other such words. Why it is so? A recent Canadian study shows why these are the only first words new-born babies understand.

Led by Judit Gervain of Vancouver’s University of British Columbia, her team conducted their research on 44 newborn babies. Using the latest optical brain imaging techniques, they exposed the babies to the recordings of made-up words and then documented brain activities

Their reports stated that babies are born with an innate ability to recognize these words. It concludes that the human brain is hard-wired to recognize certain repetition patterns and decipher languages.

The study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science’s online Early Edition revealed that the babies are divided into two groups to carry out two sets of experiments. They are exposed to about 22 minutes of recordings of the above-mentioned words.

It was found that whenever the repetitious words were played, the temporal and left frontal areas of the newborns’ brain shows increased brain activities. Words with non-adjacent repetitions elicited no distinctive responses from the brain.

“While they were exposed to the recordings, we monitored the oxygen levels in blood in their brain areas. We found that when the babies heard the words `papa’, `daddy’, and `mommy’, the blood oxygen level in certain brain areas went up. It showed those brain areas became active on hearing these words (papa, mommy), and thus needed more oxygen,” she added

This is one of the first studies on a newborn infant’s innate ability to decipher structural patterns in language.

Tags: Baby, British Columbia, daddy, Judit Gervain, mom, Mummy, papa, Vancouver's University, word

Life is the gift of god. It’s our own wish how to live it. Everyone have some dreams in their eyes in their life. But it’s not instant that the dreams come true. It needs motivation all along the path to live a happy life. How to maintain the motivation to keep flowing in life?

Life takes many unfamiliar and sudden zigzag turns which can make some delays in achieving the goals. These turns adds flavor to life. A straight and easy way is always a boring to travel. But many times, people get demoralized with the sudden situations or tragic turn of life. They forget about their dreams and keep flowing on the way where their life takes them. When our dreams are about to be realized we quit and start blaming others. This is not the right way to live. Just improve the outlook of your life and cherish your dreams. Some ways that can help you are as follows:

Give moral to the others: If you want to help yourself, help others. Talk to people and help them out of their problems. Motivate them for their life and encourage them to achieve their goals. Your simple words can change their mind and can build a positive attitude towards life which is always the first need to face any situation. Feel good feeling will come automatically to you when you will find that others are motivated by your words and getting success. By motivating others you are motivating yourself and putting yourself as an example to them. With time, you will feel a change in your personality and going towards betterment.

Get ready to win: Realize your abilities and capabilities. Set your targets and get ready to achieve them. Do not think that you cannot do or do not make any excuse of hurdles coming on the path. Just get up and go ahead for your aims. Try hard.

Don’t get demoralized by any situation/ no negative thought: Avoid negative thinking. Whenever it comes, discard them from your mind. Take every situation positively and filter out only good essence of any bad happenings. This will keep your hopes alive and you will remain energetic for your goals in life.

Pour all your efforts/struggle to achieve your dream: Set your goals and pour all your efforts into it. Do not ignore them if you cherish any dream. Plan everything, make schedule, routines and decide the jobs and go ahead with your efforts. Success is waiting for you.

Do not afraid of failure: Dreams come true but not all. Might be you face some failures in a few cases but do get afraid of them. It’s the law of nature. Not always you can win and the taste of victory is sweeter after a failure. Keep trying but in right direction and learn from your failure attempts.

Life is really beautiful. Do not just spend it but live it’s every moment. The need is just to shape your vision in life!

Tags: Dream, Failure, God, Help, Life, Live, Motivation

Driving is considered an environment threatening practice but if a few tips are followed, you can drive eco-friendly regardless of the vehicle you drive. These tips will make your driving efficient. An efficient drive will not only save money on gas but your car’s emissions are also lessened.  Here are the ways which can help you to achieve these goals:

1. Dive less aggressively: Studies have shown that fuel efficiency is affected by the way you drive just before the red lights. If you rush up to a stop light and then brake hard at the last minute, more gas will be used. Same thing happens while you leave at a green light. It was found that you can increase your fuel efficiency from 5% up to about 33% if you ease into a red light and ease out of a green light.  Following these two little rules can be very much beneficial for you.

2. Limit the speed: CNNMoney.com article from 2006 states, “When you drive faster than 60 mph, you get less mileage for your money (up to 23 percent less, or 67 cents a gallon).”  This is a significant change and some lawmakers are even considering a bill to re-instate a national speed limit of 55mph to help counter the effects of higher speed limits in certain areas. So drive below 60 mph and have a safe journey too.

3. Limit the idle time of your car:  Leaving the car idle eats up gas. If you are waiting for some one, then it is better to turn off your engine. Additionally, leaving the car idle will also adds a dense amount of pollution to the immediate area. You’ll increase your gas mileage and reduce your emissions by quitting the engine.

4. Care your Car’s maintenance:  Car should be maintained properly for higher fuel efficiency. Improperly inflated tires, clogged filters and the incorrect weight of motor oil could all reduce your car’s fuel efficiency and thus increase the car’s emissions.  Regular maintenance will also increase the life of the car.

5. Combine your trips:  Commuting with someone in your office is a great way to be a green motorist without plunking down some serious money on a hybrid or more fuel-efficient vehicle.  If you’re a parent who stays home with the children, consider planning one day for your errands.  The less you drive the less pollution you’ll add to the environment.  UPS has taken this one step further and plans their delivery routes to consist solely of right turns.  Studies have shown that right turns are better on gas mileage.

These tips will definitely benefit you and the environment in the immediate area. The tips are easy to follow and should be implemented to increase your gas mileage as well as reduce your emissions footprint. Have an eco-friendly and safe drive!

Tags: Car Maintenance, Driving, Driving Tips, Eco Friendly Driving, Environment

An entrepreneur, Rajeev V Bagdi from Hyderabad has bought a five-acre lunar plot on Moon for US $140. The ownership is authorized by the Lunar Republic and registered with the International Lunar Lands Registry in New York and Paris, as told by the owner to PTI. He is the legal owner of the land and can claim the property; however any plan of living there is not explained.

“If it is not possible (to live on the moon) during my life time, may be in the next generation,” says Rajeev V Bagdi, an MBA who is in the cement business.

The deed which was issued by the ’Lunar Republic Interactive’ and signed by its legal public registrar on July 27, 2003 reads, “Rajeev V Bagdi is recorded as the true and legal owner of the properties located at Mare Imbrium (Sea of Rains) 32.8 degree North latitude, 15.6degree West longitude and track-30.”

It was reported earlier that people have been arrested in Europe and the US for online sale of plots on the moon, including the Sea of Tranquility, to unsuspecting customers.

The entrepreneur might not know this fact. He bought the plot of land on the moon through an Internet transaction

“I don’t know whether the document is legal or not, but I am in the habit of taking risks … if this venture brings me fortune, I will be very happy,” says the bachelor who is living with his two brothers in a joint family of 28 members.

Tags: lunar plot, moon, plot on moon, Rajeev V Bagdi

The limit of honesty can be guessed by the special book shop running without a salesman at Bhagat Puran Singh Memorial Senior Secondary School and Girls College at Rajewal town in Ludhiana District of Punjab.

The shop is being run without any owner to motivate honest practices among students. Interested student comes to the shop and buy the required book or stationery items. Payments are put honestly by the students in the box placed on a table outside the door.

“Unlike other schools, we have started an honesty shop here. We want to inculcate the sense of honesty in them, so that they should be true in their practical life,” said J S Brar, Principal of Bhagat Puran Singh Memorial Senior Secondary School and Girls College, Rajewal.

In case, the student has not enough money at that time, there is a provision to leave a paper slip with his/her neme ans class written on it. The particular student can give the payment later and can take away the deposited slip from the separate box placed for slip submission only.

We want to prepare the new generation which has to take over the reigns of this country once they grow up, but at first they must be honest. Once they are honest, they can be great asset to the nation. With this motto we have started this honesty shop. There is no salesman sitting in the shop. Everything is lying open,” said Balbir Singh Rajewal, patron of the school and President, Bharatiya Kisan Union (Punjab unit).

“Students are expected to mention their names, roll numbers, class on a slip and put it in another box. After three to four days, when they have money, they take out slip and put the money. We have never found any discrepancy in the cash,” said Rajewal informed.

The institution relies solely on donations from well-wishers and has never sought any assistance from the Government. Each member of the 21-members of the management committee donates rupees 1,100 at the beginning of every year. Recently each one of them contributed Rs 20,000 to buy a school bus also.

Students are also very happy with such an initiative to develop their faith in honesty. The notebooks are provided to the students at concession to over a thousand students of Bhagat Puran Singh Memorial Senior Secondary School and Girls College.

“It’s very useful in our life. We learn to be honest in life, which is very important for us. A truthful man is always successful in his life. So, we should be honest,” said Ramandeep Singh, one of the students.

Students from 82 villages in its periphery come to this school-cum-college. Around 60 percent of the students avail the free-ship education extended by the management.

The live example of honesty leaves the youngsters silent which rejects the thought that “honesty pays”.

Tags: Bhagat Puran Singh Memorial Senior Secondary School, Bookshop, honest, honesty

Eggs, mainly restricted to kitchens came out to give its appearance visible for other surprising uses also. Some of the other uses of eggs which you will find interesting and might be unknown to you are as follows:

1. As a glue: What if egg white is used as an alternate for glue? Yes! Egg whites can act as a glue substitute when gluing paper or light cardboard together. It is a perfect adhesive for such tasks.

2. Home facial: Eggs are perfect skin care products which are readily available at home and needs no time and heavy money to spend in the local day spa.

For a dry skin, separate the egg and beat the yolk to provide moisture with a little pampering. Egg white to which a bit of lemon or honey added can be used in case of oily skin. For normal skin, however, the entire egg can be used. Apply the beaten egg, relax and wait 30 minutes, then rinse. This will give a fresh look and soft skin to your face.

3. Make compost: In place of wasting the calcium rich eggshells, they can be a great addition to your compost. Calcium is a nutrient that helps plants to grow. Crush the egg shells before you put them in your compost heap to break down faster. This compost will give extra calcium to the plants and your plants will say ‘thank You’.

4. Water your plants: After boiling eggs, the remaining water can be used to water the plants in place of pouring down the drain. This water is highly rich in nutrients and can be used watering the plants after cooling.

5. Start seeds: Eggshells can be used as a holder to plant seeds. Place the eggshell halves in the carton, fill each with soil, and press seeds inside. As the eggshells are highly rich in nutrients the seeds will draw extra nutrients from the eggshells. After the seedlings are about 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) tall, they can be transplanted into the garden after removing them from the shell.

The removed shell can be reused. Crush them and put in your compost or plant them in your garden.

Tags: Egg, Eggs, Nutrition

Mahatma Gandhi, father of Indian nation is a global hero respected all over the world. A unique Gandhi fest will be organized in Nevada in America on July 26 to boast fire spinning, yoga shows and organic food demonstration.

Gandhi always stressed on truth and peace and helped India to become free from English rule following the same ideas. There is becoming a renewed interest world over in Mahatma Gandhi and his ideas. Gandhi fest, first of its kind eco-friendly festival celebrating Mahatma Gandhi’s life and message will be held on July 26.

Rajan Zed, acclaimed Indo-American leader, will be the keynote speaker of this fest which will continue till 2 am at River School Reno. Zed will talk about Gandhi’s life, philosophy, and experiments, and answer questions of the participants during this festival. Each festival participant will artistically contribute to a “Gandhi collage”, to be created on the occasion. A competition will be held to make Gandhi sketches.

According to Tom Stille and Doug Keeney, coordinators of this Gandhi Fest said that drummers, fire spinners, artists, healthy and organic food chefs, yoga teachers, DJs, and sustainable living advocates will join hands to celebrate peace, love, freedom, non-violence, self-power and conscious living as promoted by Gandhi.

The event will include folk dancing, musical performances, sustainable goods displays, nature tours, fire spinning, kite flying, yoga shows, organic food demonstrations, etc.

Gandhi Fest is expected to be an annual feature with this grand start.

Tags: America, Father of India, Gandhi, Gandhi Festival, Mahatma Gandhi

If I am going to ask you one question, “Which word is the most used word through out the world?”. What would you reply. I guess it is undoubtedly “Hello”, the common protocol of beginning the talk in the phone. Isn’t it?

Well it is my assumption that every 8 out of 10 people (even more) are using the telephone either in the form of land line or cell phone or in wireless form. And it is also true that they are going to receive at least one call in a day.

So whenever they are going to receive any call from any one it is almost 99% sure that they will going to pronounce ‘Hello’ and this way it will be the highest speaking word through out the world.

Now as you know that if you are doing any thing regularly then you must be feeling bore about it one day. So if I ask you which word can replace “Hello“, then what you will respond?

Most of the young guy’s has already started saying “Hi” in place of “Hello“, and even some of them are using “Hey” too. So this way young generation is choosing some words for the replacement of Hello.

Do suggest us which word you are going to choose in place of “Hello“, please post your comments and we will include them in the discussion.

Tags: Hello, Hi, Mobile, Protocol, Speak, Telephone

Is Friday 13th really unlucky, which is feared of bad luck, and the number 13 scares people especially when it falls on Friday?

13th is a date regarded in many countries as inauspicious. Western countries especially America believes this illusion but now Indians also make their mind towards this track. Many people take this number as unlucky and avoid any new start of work and avoid going to unknown places. Surprisingly many building don’t have 13th story, Hotels don’t put 13th number room.

The Christian interpretation has it that Friday is unlucky because it is the day of Christ’s crucifixion. The 13 comes in with the number of apostles, plus Jesus, present at the Last Supper. Following the deleterious dinner, Judas Iscariot, one of Christ’s disciples, betrayed him with a kiss and handed him over to the Romans for 30 pieces of silver.

The blind faith turned into belief after so many incidents happened on this date. Many incidents happened on the day 13th. Uphaar Cinema incident in Delhi also occurred on the same day. The fear gets life after famous Hollywood movie “Friday The 13th”. Today is evil day, believers say.

But the incidents which happened on this date can be a coincidence only. People become more alert on the date and a recent study by Dutch statisticians has established that Friday 13th is actually safer than an average Friday.

Study published on Thursday by the Dutch Centre for Insurance Statistics (CVS) showed that fewer accidents and reports of fire and theft occur when the 13th of the month falls on a Friday than on other Fridays.

“I find it hard to believe that it is because people are preventatively more careful or just stay home, but statistically speaking, driving is a little bit safer on Friday 13th,” CVS statistician Alex Hoen told the Verzekerd insurance magazine.

A March father-of-five proved the day isn’t unlucky for everyone as he scooped a £55,000 bingo jackpot when playing on Friday the 13th, ten years ago.

He won the national bingo game prize of £50,000 - plus the regional prize of £5,667 and the house prize of £171, when playing at the former Riva Club, in Peterborough.

Now what you guys say? Is it really a faith or superstition? Do you believe in this superstition??

Tags: 13 Number, Bad Luck, Friday

A recent study by researchers at the Human Interaction with Nature and Technological Systems Lab at the University of Washington found that the scenes of nature can alleviate minor stress levels. So if you are stressed, then look out of your window and relax your mind and soul.

Various people’s heart recovery rate from minor stress is measured during the research when they were exposed to a natural scene through a window and when exposed to the same scene shown on a high-definition plasma screen, or a blank wall.

“The heart rate of people who looked at the scene through the window dropped more quickly than the others. In fact, the high-definition plasma screen had no more effect than the blank wall,” the researchers said.

There is no alternate to nature and natural things. One has to come in the lap of nature from the exhausted life to get its benefit. Children nowadays remain stick to television sets and computers and other such media which doesn’t help to come out of stress.

It was found that when people spent more time looking at the natural scene their heart rates tended to decrease more. That was not the case with the plasma screen.

Study says that nature, either the real thing or depicted technologically, can impact on minor stress levels.

“Technology is good and it can help our lives, but let’s not be fooled into thinking we can live without nature,” Peter Kahn, who led the research team, said.

He said “people were losing direct experiences with nature and instead experiencing nature represented technologically through television and other media with children growing up watching Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.”

The study, involving 90 students, is published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology.

Tags: Mind, Nature, Soul, Stress, Stress Management, Technology, Window