The big guns of Euro 2020, France, Germany and Portugal, couldn’t make it to the group of eight, a reality many football fans struggle reckon with.

Euro 2020 has thrown too many surprises in the highly charged football tournament with three of the top favorites, Portugal, France and Germany, failing to reach quarter-finals. 

Prior to the tournament, which began on June 11, all these three big guns were considered among the top-five most favorite nations for the title. Since they contested in the same group, it became known as “the Group of Death,” together with Hungary.

While France is the last World Cup champion, Portugal won the last Euro cup. Germany has a reputation of being a tough competitor with several international tournaments under its belt. 

Although France, Germany and Portugal qualified out of the Group of Death, they lost in Round 16.

Now, “the Group of Death” is dead as many superstars will watch the rest of the Euro 2020 games from home.

Here are how the three teams fared in Euro 2020.

|Gender Discrimination at the Workplace |

Hiliary Clinton has rightly said,”Women are the largest untapped reservoir of talent in the world.”

Today we see more and more women coming out of the four walls of their home and participating in public activities. They are doing the jobs which were earlier believed to be reserved for men. Now women are engineers,doctors, advocates, astronauts etc. 

Recently they have been granted permanent commission in the Indian Army enabling them to be deployed at the borders and fight equally as their male counterparts. 

In Spite of this there is still a long way to go ,women still face discrimination at workplace, they are sexually harassed and time and again forced to prove their worth and prove that they have got this job on their merit and not because they are women.

Forms of gender-based discrimination at workplace:

Direct forms- These direct forms of discrimination are the visible ones. They involve unequal pay where female employees are paid less than the male employees. Then there is the case of restrooms, women especially in the unorganised sector face sanitation problems making them work for long hours without relieving themselves. Women are stereotypically offered positions like HR, receptionists and very rarely they are given the position of a team lead. Most common of this the termination of the women when they speak up against or complain about the sexual harassment. 

Indirect forms- These may not be visible but they takes place more than the direct forms of discrimination. We hear a lot of cases where sexist questions are asked from women in the interview. They are often questioned about how they would manage their personal and professional lives, if they are married and have children then they may not even be offered the job. These same questions are however asked from men in the interview. Women also become the victims of sexist jokes,comments on their dressing , obscene statements that show how their dressing affects their productivity.

Some reasons identified behind this discrimination is the patriarchal attitude of people that the only work a women can do is the taking care of her family.Also there is this attitude of seeing women as an object of male satisfaction rather than an equal participant in the economy.

Hence the need of the hour is to change the patriarchal mindset of people. The successful women leaders like Mrs.Indira Gandhi the 1st woman PM of India, Indira Nooyi CEO of Pepsico , Jacinda Arden PM of New Zealand among others have proved the spokespersons of patriarchy wrong.

Swami Vivekanand has rightly said,”it is impossible to think of the welfare of a nation , without improving the condition of its women.It is impossible for a bird to fly with one wing.”

Germany’s Shock defeat From Euro 2020

Germany is always seen among the favorites of major international tournaments as it reached four times the World Cup Championship and three times the European Championship which makes Germans one of the most successful national teams in history.

England beat Germany 2-0 on Tuesday to reserve their place in the quarterfinals.

At the 75th minute, England broke the deadlock as Sterling finished in the area after left back Luke Shaw’s low pass, 1-0.

In the 81st minute, German forward Thomas Muller was one-on-one against Pickford after a through ball by Havertz but sent the ball wide.

Five minutes later, England doubled the gap as Kane scored a header, 2-0. Jack Grealish crossed to assist him.

It was England’s first win over a German team in a knockout match at a major soccer tournament since the 1966 World Cup final.

The disappointing loss at Wembley sent Germany home.

What do you want to do before you die?

Thinking about dying could be a scary topic to talk about but there are so many things to accomplish before death. A lot of people are on their death beds regretting what they did with their lives and have no way of going back and changing it. You have got to live a life you won’t regret 60 years from now, when your dying. You only get one life so take advantage of it, and do something great! What do I want to be by the time I die? I want to live an exciting life and achieve as much as I can. I want to be able to create, accomplish, and find so many things.

Before I die, I want to be able to create good relationships with everyone I’m close to. When I became a teen mom I lost most of my relationships with friends and family. One person that I’ve lost, that used to be really close me, was my dad. My dad is someone I can’t live without. Before I die I want to create that bond I used to have with him again. Since my dad and I don’t live in the same house, it makes it hard for us to see each other. I’d like to make a habit to go out for a walk together and talk about how I feel and how he feels about our relationship. Creating a bond with my dad is the most important to me because I used to be close to my dad and he has always been someone I truly trusted. Even though that changed over the past year, I still want my dad to know that I need him no matter what. I don’t want to die knowing I didn’t have the one special person by my side.

Before I die, I want to accomplish something that will make a change in our world. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, made a change in the world and he is still known for his greatness 49 years later. I want to be that person; 50 years from now, I want people to remember me for something great that I did. In our generation we have all these teens using drugs and drinking alcohol on a regular basis, so by the time they are 25-30 years old, they’ve become alcoholics. I want to be that person that helps them stop using drugs and drinking. Making that change in our world would be something greatly appreciated, and I can be that person who every parent thanks for helping and saving the lives of their teens. I want to be remembered so people can see me as a inspiration and do something great with their lives.

In order for me to know who I am as a person, I need to find myself. Only then will I be able to love myself and others. I’ve always been a girl to keep emotion to myself and never let anyone know how I feel. There were even times when I wouldn’t know what I felt. I’ve grown up not knowing how to handle myself or to control my feelings. I don’t know the real me because if I did, I would be able to control myself and what I feel. I need to love myself and get to know myself. I’ve put everyone first for so long, that I forgot to think about myself. I want to know myself before I die so that I know what I want to do with my life. Like I said before, we only get one life. I want to take this one life and get to know myself so I’m not lost in everything. I also want to find love, first from myself. Loving myself can make a big impact in my life. It could give me the strength to keep going in my life without hesitation. Loving myself will also help me love the people around me.

Death scares me a lot but I can’t let that fear prevent me from doing the things I want to do before I die. Thinking about all these accomplishments and goals makes me realize that death can be soon and it can happen to anyone at any time. We make all these plans and all our goals but there is only so much time we have. I plan to live my life to the fullest rather than wasting it and ending up with regrets.

Reference-https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/50-things-you-should-before-you-die.html

DIFFICULT ROADS OFTEN LEADS TO BEAUTIFUL DESTINATION…

Photo by Erik Jermaniu0161 on Pexels.com

“When Everything seems against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it” – Indeed, there’s isn’t a life where difficulties and struggles don’t come.

Someone rightly said, ‘‘If you don’t face any problem in a day, that means you are on a wrong path’’ We often say this proverb about struggles of life. Life is like a roller-coaster, it excites with all those fun frolic jovial moments to distressing moments in our life. Life is incomplete without failure and struggles.

Be a man with honesty and hard work, as it will give us a fruitful life ahead. “A man who struggles will always be the most ideal person in his life”. Life is full of opportunities and risks. In the process of achieving something we all have to sacrifice something, either it is your friends, family, or your loved ones.

Life is a tree, the more you give efforts by watering your knowledge, skills, talent, and hard work, the more successful we will be in our life.

There’s isn’t anything in the whole universe that we are not capable of! We will surely meet people in this process of our life who will let us demoralize or maybe manipulate us from our originality.

Always remember at the end of the day, it only you! There is no we, no us, and no everyone. Either it is a professional or personal life, never let yourself down, in the meantime never lose yourself! The most precious thing in the whole world is yourself, we all are unique in our own ways, our originality is the reason why we are existing.

To reach the destinations, one should pull off, all the hurdles by keeping faith in themselves. Life is really beautiful if you are strong enough to face the harsh reality. It’s not a fairy tale, where we are dependent on someone, there is no “The one”. It is you and your hard work!

Your endurance and your perseverance will make you a man of strength.

“Hope” is one of the most crucial elements presents in everyone which will always make you feel alive. To ponder or to achieve any kind of destination a hope is really important one should have within themselves.

Following your dreams and career doesn’t mean that one should be egocentric or selfish! Taking care of yourselves and your loved ones is really important. because we should make a world full of love and belongingness. Loving yourself is the foremost thing which is needed in any kind of dream to conquer! If one doesn’t have any self-confidence in themselves then, no goal can be achieved!

In the space of the difficult roads (i.e.; tour struggles, sufferings, breakdowns) and beautiful destination (your end goal), there is always a transparent line where your happiness is invisible. It is visible to only one who wants to enjoy their lives.

Any Path of life becomes more Fascinating if it has all emotions amalgamated in this beautiful journey of struggle and sacrifices. At the end of the destination, one should always be true to themselves because self-honesty will make us a man of worth. Remember we all are humans with imperfectness inscribed within us since we are born, so we all have certain faults that sometimes affect our struggling life, but one should always remember that the perfect life will never be as great if life has imperfectness in it. So, live your life according to yourself, because ultimately it is you and your beautiful destination!

France’s Shock Defeat From Euro 2020

The last World Cup Champion France lost to Switzerland  in the round of 16 of the European Championship on a memorable evening when Swiss team came from 3-1 down with two goals in the final five minutes to force extra time.

The match ended 3-3 after 90 minutes and neither team was able to score in extra time.

Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved a penalty kick from Kylian Mbappe in a penalty shootout to knock France out of the championship with the 5-3 shootout score.

It was Switzerland’s first knockout stage victory at a tournament since 1938 and the first time they have made the last eight since the 1954 World Cup which they hosted. They will next face Spain on Friday in St Petersburg.

“Honestly I am still in shock,” said Sommer, who became the most capped Swiss keeper with 65 international appearances.

The result means France coach Didier Deschamps will miss out on becoming the first man to win World Cup and Euro titles both as a player and a coach.

“It is my responsibility and I told the players that I assume it,” Deschamps, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, said of the shock loss.

“When France win merit goes always to the players. When things are less good then it is my responsibility. But that’s the way sport is. You have to accept it even if it hurts.”

Books – the elite partner

Who would not relish reading a book with a cup of coffee / tea? If you are a person who is not fond of reading books then you might be missing a great part of life even. Some may find it boring and consider it as of no use or waste of energy. But the fact provided by reading books is just a contrast to your mindset. The love towards reading books can protect you even from hazardous diseases of life. But for many reading books in their spare time is like a great craving. Nevertheless it is not like the other leisure time activities that we do to pass time. We are benefitted by books beyond what we think. It benefits both the physical and mental health and the benefits are enduring, lasts lifelong. It increases our creative thinking, imagination and molds us into better person. It aids us to formulate a better roadmap for our career. Books exposes us to new things which we might have failed to notice in our past times, renders more information, and fosters us to handle strenuous situations and provides us innovative ways to solve them and thus gives us a great exploration. It leads us to the other part life which is peaceful and gets you tension free apart from your regular hectic work. Reading good books widens our mind and uplifts our way of thinking.

Books can be referred to as the man’s best companion which is the power house of information and ingenuity. Even in the early times, writing system was invented and people used stones, clays, tree and different things that can be carved as a writing material. Fortunately today we have newspapers, magazines and books. We would have come across several books over the years. In our childhood we were fond of story books which would be flooded with pictures to fascinate little children and for the better understanding of the younger ones. And then as we grow up we would be interested in different genre of books like history, literature, science fiction, crime, fantasy, inspirational, adventure, horror, comics, detective, biographies and so on. All books are either nonfiction or fiction. Nonfiction books contain biographies, history books and contain factual information . Fiction books contain a story which is framed by the author. Technical books gives you technical insight, novels distracts you from the monotonous world and stimulates your imagination level. Comics is meant for enjoyment and relaxes you from your repetitive work. As writing is an art, so is reading and it an excellent habit. It should be inculcated in all from an early stage. The cognitive abilities of kids who read books regularly seem to be improved. It helps us on a larger scale to improve the vocabulary , communication skills, writing skills. As we read books we come know about the various fields engaged around us and it boosts the confidence & self esteem and helps us to become highly efficient and excel in various activities. It increases our concentration level and makes it elastic to grasp things quickly and easily.

With the gradual advancement in technology people are getting fascinated by the idea of e-books. E-books – It is the digital representation of a book publication on platforms like computers, smartphones etc. and provides an easy access to the readers. They are more flexible than paper books. It has many perks like we can enlarge the font size to make the reading more pleasurable and it is easy on the eyes. They are portable and handy making it easy to carry around. E books can be purchased through internet and also some are available for free of cost. E-books have a large scope for further developments and universal acceptability.

Paper and electronic books , both provide an effective way of reading . Paper books allow more precise reading and e books are quicker and more convenient. Books are like fellow mates with no demands and no anticipations, rather we could anticipate many stuffs from books. It gives us a kind of inner happiness and gives us an optimistic feel which enhances our knowledge and wisdom.

The 7 Best Books I’ve Ever Read About Writing

Writing has helped me to become better at thinking, speaking, and making decisions. And I’ve used books about writing to improve myself.

I firmly believe that anything worthwhile in your career should start with writing.

From creating resumes to business plans. If you don’t start with writing, you often lack clarity in your messaging.

And that was also the story of my life. In fact, it still is. Most people never think about it, but it’s damned hard to express yourself. Do you have a clear answer to questions like:

  • What’s the number one priority in your career?
  • Why did you apply for this job?
  • What does your business exactly do?

Often, we just come up with the first thing that pops up in our mind.

And after a barrage of meaningless words, we think, “what on earth did I just say?”

I’ve made a list of the best books I’ve read on writing. I must say that I don’t consider myself a writer first. Above everything else, I’m an entrepreneur. I like to share stories.

That’s why this list is more geared towards people who want to write better blogs, non-fiction, emails, cover letters, about pages, etc. Not people who want to write the next The Great Gatsby. I hope you find a book that’s relevant to you.

1. On Writing by Stephen King

Stephen King is one hell of a thinker and writer. And the man churns out books like it’s nothing. Only that fact makes you want to read more about how his mind works.

If you write, and you haven’t read On Writing, it’s time to stop everything you do and get that book. My favorite Stephen King quote?

Probably this:

“The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”

If you want to do something, don’t be such a weasel. Just start already.

2. On Writing Well by William Zinsser

A solid book with solid advice about writing non-fiction. When you start reading this book, you immediately can tell the man knows his business. And he knows it well.

Zinsser, a respected writer, and teacher, talks about the principles and methods of writing in this book. But he also shares tips about different writing forms such as memoirs, sports, business, and humor.

This is a valuable book for all people who want to improve their writing and messaging.

3. The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E.B. White

I like the simplicity of this book. It’s short, simple, and to the point. This is more of a technical book with style suggestions about the English language.

In this little book, Strunk and White do a great job of demonstrating the most common style errors.

Style is such a complicated thing that I try to refer to this book often. One of my favorite pieces of advice from this book is this:

“Write in a way that comes naturally.”

4. Ernest Hemingway on Writing by Larry W. Phillips

There’s no point in denying it; Hemingway was one of the best writers in modern history.

And this little book is a collection of letters he sent to his editor, friends, and other authors.

He didn’t want them to be published initially. Hemingway believed that there’s no pride in writing about writing.

This book is not only packed with writing advice. It also shows Hemingway’s character. He was a funny guy who took satisfaction in what he did.

5. Nobody Wants to Read Your Shit by Steven Pressfield

Pressfield is one of my favorite writers. The War Of Art is a classic.

In this book, he talks about why no one cares about your shit. If you’re trying to write and no one’s reading it, read this book.

Pressfield has a background in advertising. And you can tell. He knows how to sell his shit without being annoying.

We live in a world where everyone is trying to sell us all kinds of things. And it’s annoying. This book is essential if you want to stand out in an information-flooded world.

6. The Writers Journey by Christopher Vogler

The Writers Journey is the most in-depth book on this list. It’s also the most comprehensive book I’ve read on storytelling. It’s also a very practical book.

It’s more like a textbook that you want to take notes on. Vogler, a story consultant for major Hollywood film companies, talks about the relationship between mythology and storytelling in this book.

It’s a classic for screenwriters and playwrights. After reading this book, you’ll truly understand the art of storytelling.

However, putting this stuff into practice is another story. That takes a lot of practice.

7. Confessions of an Advertising Man by David Ogilvy

I think too many people romanticize writing. But I don’t like to like to look at writing from a starving artist’s point of view.

In life, everything is business. And so is writing. If you don’t know how to sell your writing, no one will ever read it.

And one of the best books you can read about copywriting, selling, and advertising is Confessions Of An Advertising Man. Ogilvy doesn’t need an introduction.

The man is a legend. And this book is definitely worth your time.

Studying vs. Doing

I hope you pick up one of these books and read them, or maybe reread them. However, never read too much about writing.

Because writing is not something you study, it’s something you do.

Aim High and Do Everything In Your Control to Become Your Best Self

The world is full of paradoxes. One of the biggest is the tradeoff between having high and low expectations. It’s a prerequisite to becoming your best self.

On the one hand, we need to expect to win at life, otherwise; what’s the point of even trying? But on the other hand, we can’t be discouraged when we lose.

The two different concepts are perfectly explained by the following two quotes.

  1. “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” — Zig Ziglar
  2. “Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.”― Alexander Pope

The first quote says we should expect to win, the second one says we shouldn’t expect to win. So which attitude do you pick?

This is a hard concept to wrap your head around. It took me years to find a balance that worked for me.

The Importance Of A Positive Attitude

You need a positive attitude if you want to win. All kinds of successful people from different fields will tell you that.

There’s no point in “trying.” When you do something, you must do it well, and expect to win. I think that’s the attitude many winners share.

But you and I both know that your attitude is only one part of the equation. Without putting in the work, you must realize that you will not win. You can have all the talent in the world, if you don’t put it to work, you will never reach your full potential.

Winning, becoming good at your job, getting recognition — it all requires a lot of work. To reach our full potential, we must prioritize learning over pleasure.

That means we can’t become great and go out every weekend, watch movies every night, play video games, go shopping, and just hang out on the couch.

The Danger Of Low Expectations

But expecting to win can also be harmful if you’re not mentally strong. I’ve always been an optimistic person. That attitude has helped me a lot in life.

However, in my early twenties, I almost got discouraged to reach for my goals. Time and time again, I was disappointed by failure. Especially when I got out of college, I tried to start many different businesses. And everything failed except for the business I started with my dad.

Naturally, I felt like I couldn’t do it on my own. Look back, it was too early for me. But those high expectations almost made me give up. I’m glad I kept going and stayed positive.

The problem is not whether you fail or not. It’s about this: What do you want to do about it?

Cry and moan and say, “Why does this happen!!” We all know that’s not helpful. Instead, we must be indifferent to outcomes.

But still, I do think we must expect to win at everything in life: Your career, relationships, and money. Aim high and do everything in your control to become your best self. That’s the most useful way to spend your time.

Compare Yourself To Who You Were Yesterday

I like this idea from Jordan Peterson, who talks about comparing yourself to who you were yesterday, in his book 12 Rules For Life.

When you focus on yourself, there’s no disappointment about external factors.

You do everything you can, and if you lose, you will do better next time. Nothing can destroy you.

And if you fail? So what? Being sad or disappointed when things don’t turn out the way you expected is completely normal. I still don’t like to fail. But what’s not normal is blaming others or yourself.

Here’s the thing: Don’t take yourself nor life too seriously. We all know that blaming others is what fools do. You only create resentment and hatred by blaming other people for your losses in life.

But sadly, many honest, self-aware, and positive people blame themselves. And that’s also wrong.

Expect The Best From Yourself — Not From “The World”

In short, this is what I’ve learned about high and low expectations:

  • Have high expectations from yourself. Put in the work. Aim for becoming your best self.
  • Have zero expectations from “the world.” Don’t expect other people to hand you anything.
  • Understand that you don’t control externals. Never blame yourself for bad outcomes.
  • But do blame yourself for not giving it your all. That’s something you control.

There are always people who say, “But what about this or that?” And I often say that I don’t know. Because it’s naïve to say you have the answers.

We’re all trying to make sense out of our careers, relationships, and most importantly: Our own actions.

It’s a never-ending process. We do. We fail. We learn. But we never give up.

SLEEP DISORDERS

Sleep disorders are a set of conditions that affect the ability to sleep well on a regular basis. Whether they are caused by a health problem or by too much stress, sleep disorders are becoming increasingly common in the world today. The pandemic didn’t make this study better instead it worsened it for many youngsters and adults. In fact, more than one third of the adults report getting fewer than 7 hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. More than 70% of high school students report getting fewer than 8 hours of sleep on weeknights.

Most people experience problems with their sleep due to various reasons such as stress, depression, hectic schedules, and so on. However, if these problems turn into practices it will develop certain sleep disorders. If proper sleep isn’t achieved then it may affect the performance at work, strains relationships and bring health problems your way.

TYPES OF SLEEP DISORDERS

Some well known sleep disorders that are common among people are,

INSOMNIA

Insomnia refers to the inability to fall asleep. It may be caused due to stress, digestive problems, anxiety,and being jet lagged.

Insomnia can be problematic for your overall health and quality of life, potentially causing:

  • depression
  • difficulty concentrating
  • irritability
  • weight gain
  • impaired work or school performance

Unfortunately, insomnia is extremely common. Up to 50% of adults experience it at some point in their lives.

It is usually classified into 3 types,

  1. Chronic – insomnia happens on a regular basis.
  2. Intermittent – insomnia occurs periodically.
  3. Transient – insomnia occurs just for few nights.

SLEEP APNIA

Sleep Apnia is characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. This is a major health condition that causes the body to intake less oxygen. It can wake you up during night very frequently.

Ther are 2 types,

  1. Obstructive SA – The flow of air stops because the airway space is very narrow.
  2. Central SA – A problem in the connection between the brain and the muscles that control your breath.

PARASOMNIA

A sleep disorder that cause abnormal movements and behaviors during sleep, such as,

  1. Sleep walking
  2. Sleep talking
  3. Nightmares
  4. groaning
  5. kicking
  6. teeth ginding

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME

RLS is the need to move the legs. As these symptoms causally occur during the day, they are very prevalent during the night. This is often associate with health conditions, including ADHD and Parkinson’s disease, but the exact cause isn’t always known.

NARCOLEPSI

These are the sudden need of sleep out of nowhere. Instant falling asleep at unexpected events. The disorder can also cause sleep paralysis, which may make you physically unable to move right after waking up. Although narcolepsy may occur on its own, it is also associated with certain neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis.

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms differ depending on the disorder and severity of the disorder. Some highly noticed disorders are,

  • difficulty falling or staying asleep
  • daytime fatigue
  • strong urge to take naps during the day
  • unusual breathing patterns
  • unusual or unpleasant urges to move while falling asleep
  • unusual movement or other experiences while asleep
  • unintentional changes to your sleep/wake schedule
  • irritability or anxiety
  • impaired performance at work or school
  • lack of concentration
  • depression
  • weight gain

CAUSES

In many cases, sleep disorders develop as a result of an underlying health problem. Some of them can be listed as,

  1. Allergies and Respiratory problems
  2. urinating frequently
  3. Stress and Anxiety
  4. Chronic Pain

DIAGNOSIS

First, the doctores will perform certain tests or exams and learn about your health history, later they will proceed with the diagnosis. These tests can be crucial in determining the right course of treatment for sleep disorders.

  1. Polysomnography – This is a lab sleep study that evaluates oxygen levels, body movements, and brain waves to determine how they disrupt sleep.
  2. Electroencephalogram – This is a test that assesses electrical activity in the brain and detects any potential problems associated with this activity.
  3. Multiple Sleep Latency Test – This daytime napping study is used in conjunction with a PSG at night to help diagnose narcolepsy.

TREATMENT

There are various methods to treat sleep disorders but most used once are based on medical treatment and lifestyle changes.

MEDICAL TREATMENT

It includes,

  • sleeping pills
  • melatonin supplements
  • allergy or cold medication
  • medications for any underlying health issues
  • breathing device or surgery (usually for sleep apnea)
  • a dental guard (usually for teeth grinding)

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Changing our daily routine or lifestyle can help the patient get rid of the disorders super fast. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can also significantly improve your sleep quality.

  • incorporating more vegetables and fish into your diet, and reducing sugar intake
  • reducing stress and anxiety by exercising and stretching
  • creating and sticking to a regular sleeping schedule
  • drinking less water before bedtime
  • limiting your caffeine intake, especially in the late afternoon or evening
  • decreasing tobacco and alcohol use
  • eating smaller low carbohydrate meals before bedtime
  • maintaining a healthy weight based on your doctor’s recommendations

Article by : Haniah Mirza

 

Portugal Shock Defeat From Euro 2020

Belgium knocked defending champions Portugal out of Euro 2020 with a 1-0 victory in the last 16 on Sunday.

The match was the end of the road for Cristiano Ronaldo and a Portugal team who had triumphed in Paris five years ago.

Belgium is considered as another favorite national club in the tournament.

Despite having star players, Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Jota, Joao Felix, Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva, from biggest clubs and leagues in Europe, including superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal left the tournament so early.

Ronaldo bowed out with five goals from four games, and is currently the tournament’s top scorer.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Science, technology and innovation each represent a successively larger category of activities which are highly interdependent but distinct. Science contributes to technology in at least six ways: (1) new knowledge which serves as a direct source of ideas for new technological possibilities; (2) source of tools and techniques for more efficient engineering design and a knowledge base for evaluation of feasibility of designs; (3) research instrumentation, laboratory techniques and analytical methods used in research that eventually find their way into design or industrial practices, often through intermediate disciplines; (4) practice of research as a source for development and assimilation of new human skills and capabilities eventually useful for technology; (5) creation of a knowledge base that becomes increasingly important in the assessment of technology in terms of its wider social and environmental impacts; (6) knowledge base that enables more efficient strategies of applied research, development, and refinement of new technologies.

The converse impact of technology on science is of at least equal importance: (1) through providing a fertile source of novel scientific questions and thereby also helping to justify the allocation of resources needed to address these questions in an efficient and timely manner, extending the agenda of science; (2) as a source of otherwise unavailable instrumentation and techniques needed to address novel and more difficult scientific questions more efficiently.

Specific examples of each of these two-way interactions are discussed. Because of many indirect as well as direct connections between science and technology, the research portfolio of potential social benefit is much broader and more diverse than would be suggested by looking only at the direct connections between science and technology.

Geneva gear mechanism

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Geneva Gear Mechanism The main component of this machine will be the Geneva mechanism (or Maltese Cross). The Geneva drive or Maltese cross is a gear mechanism that translates a continuous rotation into an intermittent rotary motion. Geneva mechanism, also called Geneva Stop, is one of the most commonly used devices for producing intermittent rotary motion, characterized by alternate periods of motion and rest with no reversal in direction. Geneva Mechanisms are widely used in motion picture film projectors to intermittently advance film through a film gate having a projection aperture.

Geneva wheels having the form of the driven wheel were also used in mechanical watches , but not in a drive, rather to limit the tension of the spring , such that it would operate only in the range where its elastic force is nearly linear. If one of the slots of the driven wheel is occluded, the number of rotations the drive wheel can make is limited. In watches, the “drive” wheel is the one that winds up the spring, and the Geneva wheel with four or five spokes and one closed slot prevents overwinding (and also complete unwinding) of the spring. This so-called Geneva stop or “Geneva stop work” was the invention of 17th or 18th century watchmakers.

Other applications of the Geneva drive include the pen change mechanism in plotters , automated sampling devices, banknote counting machines, and many forms of indexable equipment used in manufacturing (such as the tool changers in CNC machines; the turrets of turret lathes , screw machines , and turret drills; some kinds of indexing heads and rotary tables ; and so on). The Iron Ring Clock uses a Geneva mechanism to provide intermittent motion to one of its rings.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_drive&ved=2ahUKEwjk-4-A8cTxAhUBzTgGHYauAmIQFjAWegQINhAC&usg=AOvVaw3mUfN64GEwu-zOLehlQRKm

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.britannica.com/technology/Geneva-mechanism&ved=2ahUKEwjk-4-A8cTxAhUBzTgGHYauAmIQFjAbegQIJRAC&usg=AOvVaw2E6FO5PKeRc-rRWb_BW9wi

Procrastination

Ah! I’ll do it later.

If there is one habit that can easily be regarded as a “disease” it would have to be our habit of procrastination. Procrastination is a habit wherein a person keeps delaying a task that should be a priority and focus on the tasks that are clearly not that important.

It is often believed that a person delays the task because he/she is lazy but that is not the case. Laziness involves unwillingness to do the task but procrastinating has a larger scope. We often procrastinate when we feel we do not have the potential to complete the said task on time or at all. There is a little voice inside us that often says that we are not up for it so let’s delay it. I am sure everyone can relate to this. We often find ourselves putting off assignments that require a lot of time and effort. In fact we delay it so much that after a certain point it starts to feel more like a burden and that is the time we think we would have been better off if we just did the task on the first day. This feeling does not go away until the task the completed. The reason I called it a disease is because it is hard to cure. You procrastinate in doing one task and the next thing you know you have a list of tasks to do in the end moment.

Dr. Piers Steel, a professor of motivational psychology at the University of Calgary and the author of “The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done.” has accurately said that procrastination is “Self-harm”. If you think that delaying stuff only affects your time management skills then you are wrong. Procrastination has adverse effects on your mood, your potential and of course your ability to complete anything on time let alone the important tasks. The more you put off doing things the more you start to doubt your potential. You develop the fear of failure. You have the constant fear that you won’t be able to it and so you keep on delaying until a time comes when you have to do it in a hurry and half-heartedly, which is definitely a blow to your potential abilities. And so you do it more because you don’t trust your capabilities.

Your emotions are also take a giant hit in the process. You are constantly irritated and everything around you makes you unhappy. We humans always focus about having a good mood for a short period of time rather than thinking about long term. So we slowly start to procrastinate until we are in a good mood without thinking of the long term consequences. The worst part about this is the self blame that is followed by low self-esteem. This not only has an impact on your emotions and your brain but your entire body suffers.

Procrastination might sound like a normal thing involving putting off tasks but it has a deeper impact which is clearly not healthy. You know you are gonna have to do the task so why not just start with doing it. If you feel low in the middle just switch to easier tasks but don’t give up on the important ones. Once you start prioritizing you will feel your schedule changing and you will feel lighter in the long run. So, next time you feel like procrastinating just think about the consequences and that would be enough to get you started and with time you will get over it completely.

The Maruthu Brothers (Periya Maruthu &Chinna Maruthu)(1748-1753)

Periya Maruthu or Vella Maruthu (1748-1801) and his younger brother Chinna Maruthu (1753-1801)were able generals of Muthu Vadugar of sivagangai.After Muthu Vadugar’s death in the Kalaiyar Kovil battle Maruthu brothers assisted in restoring the throne to velunachiyar .In the last year’s of the eighteenth century Maruthu Brothers organised resistance against the British.After the death of Kattabomman,they worked along with his brother Oomathurai.They plunded the granaries of the Nawab and caused damage and destruction to company troops.

Rebellion of Maruthu Brothers (1800-1801)

Despite the suppression of Kattabomman’s revolt in 1799, rebellion broke out again in 1800.In the British records it is referred to as the second palayakkarar war.It was directed by a confederacy consisting of Maruthu Pandyan of Sivagangai,Gopala Nayak of Dindugal,Kerala Verma of Malabar and Krishnaappa Nayak and Dhoondaji of Mysore .In April 1800 they meet at Virupachi and decided to organise an uprising against the company.The uprising,which broke out in Coimbatore in June 1800,soon spread to Ramanathapuram and Madurai.The company got wind of it and declared  war on Krishnaappa Nayak of Mysore ,Kerala Varma of Malabar and othres.The Palayakkarars of Coimbatore,Sathyamangalam and Tarapuram were caught and hanged.In February 1801 the two brothers of Kattabomman,Oomathurai and Sevathaiah , escaped from the palayamkottai prison to Kamudhi,from where Chinna Maruthu took them to Siruvayal his Capital.The fort at Panchalamkurichi was reconstructed in record time.The British troops under Colin Macaulay retook the fort in April and the Maruthu brothers sought shelter in Sivagangai.The English demanded that the Maruthu pandyars hand over the fugitives (Oomathurai and Sevathaiah).But they refused.Colonel Agnew and Colonel Inners marched pandyars issued a Proclamation of Independence which is called Tiruchirappalli proclamation.

Proclamation of 1801

The proclamation of 1801 was an early call to the Indians to unite against the British, cutting across region ,caste ,creed and religion.The Proclamation was pasted on the walls of the Nawab’s palace in Tiruchirappalli fort and on the walls of the Srirangam temple .Many Palayakkarars of Tamil country rallied together to fight against the English.China Maruthu collected neraly 20,000 men to challenge the English army.British reinforcement were rushed from Bengal,Ceylon and Malaya .The rajas of Pudukottai, Ettayapuram and Thanjavur stood by the English split the forces of the palayakkarars soon.

Fall of sivagangai

In May 1801,the English attacked the rebels in Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli .The rebels went to Piranmalai and Kalayarkoil.They were again defeated by the forces of the English.In the end the superior military strength and the able commanders of the English company prevailed.The rebellion failed and Sivagangai was annexed in 1801.The Maruthu brothers were executed in the fort of Tirupathur near Ramanathapuram on 24 October 1801.Oomathurai and Sevathaiah were captured and beheaded at Panchalamkurichi on 16 November 1801.Seventy -three rebels were exiled to Penang in Malaya.Though the Palayakkarars fell to the English,their exploits and sacrifices inspired later genarations .Thus the rebellion of Maruthu brothers,whish is called South Indian Rebellion,is a landmark event in the history of Tamilnadu.

Carnatic Treaty,1801

The suppression of the palayakkarars rebellions of 1799 and 1801-1801 resulted in the liquidation of all the local chieftains of Tamilnadu.Under the terms of the Carnatic Treaty of 31 July 1801,the British aasumed direct control over Tamilagam and the palayakkarar system came to an end with the demolition of all forts and disbandment of their army.