Lucid Dreams

What are lucid dreams?

Lucid dreams occur when you are aware that you are dreaming while sleeping.You’re aware that the events that are flashing across your mind aren’t genuine. However, the dream is vivid and real. You could even be able to guide the action in your sleep, as if you were directing a movie. According to studies, roughly half of all adults have had at least one lucid dream. However, they are unlikely to occur frequently, usually only a few times per year.

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When do lucid dreams happen?

Lucid dreams are most common during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which is characterised by rapid eye movement, faster breathing, and increased brain activity. About 90 minutes after falling asleep, you normally enter REM sleep. It lasts approximately ten minutes. Each REM cycle lasts longer than the one before it, eventually reaching an hour.

Lucid Dreams Research

Neuroscientists are baffled as to how and why lucid dreams occur. They do, however, have some suggestions. For one instance, research have discovered physical differences in the brains of those who have lucid dreams versus those who don’t. People who have lucid dreams have a larger prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for high-level processes such as decision-making and memory recall. That shows that people who are most prone to have lucid dreams are self-reflective individuals who ruminate on their own thoughts. In a tiny study conducted in Germany, individuals’ brain electrical activity was monitored as they slept. According to the findings, lucid dreaming may be a kind of “in-between state” in which you aren’t entirely awake but also not fully sleeping. Some sleep researchers believe that lucid dreams can occur outside of REM sleep, which was previously regarded to be the only moment when people dreamed.

Benefits of Lucid Dreams

Lucid dreams may assist your waking life by providing advantages such as:

– Less Anxiety: There is less anxiety. The sense of control you experience during a lucid dream may linger and make you feel powerful. You can mould the tale and the finale after you realise you’re in a dream. This could be used as a form of treatment for people who suffer from nightmares, teaching them how to manage their dreams.

– Better motor skills: Some research suggests that by “practising” in a lucid dream, you might be able to improve simple things like tapping your fingers faster. Whether you visualise the actions while awake or run through them in a lucid dream, the same area of your brain becomes engaged.

– Improved Problem-solving skills: Researchers discovered evidence that lucid dreams can assist people address difficulties involving creativity (such as a disagreement with another person) rather than reasoning (such as a math problem).

– Increased creativity: Some participants in lucid dream studies were able to generate new ideas or insights, sometimes with the assistance of characters in their dreams.

Dangers of Lucid Dreams

Lucid dreaming can lead to a variety of issues, including:

– Sleep deprivation: Vivid dreams might wake you up and make it difficult to fall back asleep. And if you’re too concentrated on lucid dreaming, you can have trouble sleeping.

– Confusion, delirium, and hallucinations: Lucid dreams can cause confusion, delirium, and hallucinations in people with certain mental health problems.

360 Wander Writer

Welcome to world of Disney

PART 1

The Walt Disney Company restructures its media and entertainment businesses

                                                           

Welcoming you all to the discussion forum of  the Mile cast presented to you by the Entrepreneurship development cell of Coimbatore institute of technology. Apart from different industrial revolutions there are certain creations that stand in the hearts of the people forever. Have you wondered what that is? Yes!  One such creation is the  Comic World. Who else in the comic world does not like MickyMouse and who have not grown up without hearing the stories of Cinderella. There lies a man behind this marvelous creation. It is none other than Walt Disney. In this let us know about this man and his masterpiece establishment ‘The Walt Disney Company’ .

He has grown from a small boy who was interested in drawings and pursuing an illustrator career to a man who has raised his standards to a co-founder of the leading media company. The establishment of this company was started in the later period of 1923. The path to success is not a bed of roses. Yup! This establishment was made after facing a bankruptcy due to  the  failure of his early firm. All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.-  was his motto which made him proceed. His creations started with Alice in Wonderland , which was purchased by the Winkler Productions.

The Walt Disney Company - Wikipedia

He faced many ups and lifts, during which he started creating his new creation MickyMouse inorder to recover from his previous creation ‘Oswald the Lucky Rabbit’. The film Steamboat Wille with starrer MickyMouse was an immediate smash hit. This was the first Sound film by Disney which he achieved with the feature of Synchronising sound system. Due you know something, it is not  only because of the fondness towards the character that made his project successful. It is because of the features and technology that he introduces that makes his work different from others. 

Soon after this release in the same year ‘The Walt  Disney ‘ was reorganized to a corporation as ‘The Walt Disney Production’ and thus earned a name and became known to everyone.  And in the  earlier period the whole shares were withheld within the Disney family. Disney and his wife  held about 60% of the shares and his brother Roy  owned the rest of the shares. Introducing a different feature that makes it more appealing to the audience in each creation is the specialty of this production and thus establishing it as a powerful media company. 

20 Fun Facts You Didn't Know About Disney

You can very well know that he is a man of patience , perseverance and innovation.  Which was made sure when he began his first feature lengthened  film ‘ Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs’ in the year of 1934 . It premiered 3 years later in 1937. Undoubtedly it was a box office hit and became the highest grossing film of the time. His studio continued with the release of successful  hits like Pinocchio , Fantasia and Dumbo  . Later the profits of the company declined  during World War II due to the drafting of the animators into the armed forces.

During this time the Government commissioned the studio to make films that support the war effort. It is during this time the famous character Donald Duck . Further the release of Cinderella in 1950 and Alice in Wonderland in and Peter pan in the consecutive years was a success. His mastermind came up with the new idea of creating his first all -live action feature film ‘Treasure Island’. The company  has grown to the height of establishing its own distribution. He always  thought  that it’s a  kind of fun to do impossible things. Walt Disney and  Coca Cola teamed up for the first Disney’s venture into television.

The Walt Disney Company: 97 Years of Overcoming Adversity – Inside the Magic

 

 

THINKING ABOUT OVERTHINKING

INTRODUCTION

‘Overthinking,’ otherwise called ‘Rumination,’ is the direct interaction of reasoning or agonizing over specific circumstances in our day-to-day existence. It is a cycle that continually connects with our brain to think, break down, and replay the most particular events. This interaction is a ‘monotonous system’ utilized by our brain to cause stress and tension.

Overthinking is a stage in everybody’s life when we deliberately or unknowingly will, in general, harp unreasonably just on the negative parts of our life. This steady back-and-forth circumstance between events, humiliating occasions that occurred in our past versus the tension and the sensation of vulnerability we have concerning our future. An ‘overthinker’ in a circumstance of rumination feels powerless and defenseless about their existence, the present. As it were, overthinking keeps us from making a move and having authority over the choices concerning our present. It, at last, places us in an endless loop of thoroughly considering and on and on.

WHY OVERTHINK?

We as a whole had a lot of humiliating and discouraging minutes in our day-to-day existence. There have been various occasions when we have been totally lost in our considerations, feeling empty inside or contemplating the choices we made in our lives. This may have influenced us badly and furthermore constrained our brain to overthink. Factors like dread, despondency, uneasiness, stress, feeling remorseful or lamenting, or even cultural assumptions and pressing factors can debase our brain.

Since the beginning, there is a ton of pressing factors that we go through regarding the decisions that we need to make in our lives. What’s more, we are continually censured and judged on the off chance that we neglect to meet those assumptions. For example, an understudy planning for the twelfth board test goes through many mental and enthusiastic pressing factors that his/her brain imparts a dread of uncertainty and disappointment. They are continually agonizing over questions, for example, “Imagine a scenario where I don’t score well?”, “Can I take affirmation for my ideal course?” or “Consider the possibility that I come up short in my tests.”. The Mind amasses every one of the negative considerations about tests and joins it with the dread of disappointment. This can prompt extreme overthinking in the brain of the understudy that eventually, they fear disappointment.

Feeling remorseful and lamenting over the choices that we made in our life additionally adds to overthinking. We continually dissect and yet scrutinize ourselves and fill our breeze with “Consider the possibility that.”. Hence, our psyche places this load of negative pictures into our heads and leads us to overthink. An extremely horrendous mishap from our past is additionally liable for overthinking. The abrupt deficiency of somebody or even a bombed relationship/kinship can trigger our psyche to overthink. When we think about our past, our psyche ruminates every upsetting occasion that led to injury. Consequently, divert our brain from overthinking.

THE HEART AND BRAIN BATTLE

The human brain has an exceptionally intricate yet captivating construction. It controls every one of our musings, our discernments, our cognizance, and our recollections. Although it is an exceptionally amazing organ, it is equipped for obliteration and can be risky. Overthinking is certainly a significant ‘segment’ and one of the significant manifestations of a restless and discouraged psyche.

Our brain is the principal guilty party behind overthinking. It has the best capacity to ‘attack’ the energy and cheerfulness in this very circumstance. It can overwhelm our hearts and hence oversee our inner voice. There ejects a predicament between our heart, the exemplification of steady choice, and our psyche that emanates distrust and pessimism. In any case, as opposed to accepting our hearts, we are fairly drawn to our psyche. This is the force our brain uses over the heart and fools us into trusting its ‘monotonous instrument.’ As appropriately said by Leah Braemel, “Don’t overthink things. At times you can persuade your head not to pay attention to your heart. Those are choices you lament for the remainder of your life.” Hence our brain being ‘the saboteur,’ begins flooding our contemplations with cynicism. It begins reeling every one of the disagreeable recollections and horrendous choices…

The exceptionally fundamental truth that we don’t understand in a period of overthinking is about our present. It causes us to fail to remember our existence. The brain ruminates our contemplations in such a way that it might even prompt existential emergency. We will, in general, question ourselves, our values, and our reality. In this manner, it is fundamental that we follow the musicality of our heart, the right inner voice, as opposed to the psyche. On the off chance that we can overwhelm our brain, overseeing our overthinking contemplations is feasible to a degree.

STOP OVERTHINKING

As stressed before, we oversee our brain. Overthinking also has its own upsides and downsides. The experts being overthinking and consistent rumination sets us up for each sort of conceivable outcome that we make us. We are all the while ready for the great just as the most exceedingly awful. It gives more opportunity to comprehend and examine our considerations. It allows us an opportunity to think about our choices and act as needs are. Be that as it may, clearly, overthinking likewise prompts despondency, tension issues, and fits of anxiety.

The consistent vulnerability and pessimism identified with overthinking may likewise prompt dread. It can seriously influence our certainty and makes us ill-equipped to ponder our existence. Overthinking settles on us to question our choice and, in this manner, influences our psychological prosperity. It diverts us from zeroing in on our present and makes us brood over our past horrendous accidents. It likewise makes us actually idle, depletes our energy, and unleashes destruction on our passionate wellbeing.

Green Tea and 6 Reasons Why You Should Drink It Daily

Green tea is often regarded as one of the world’s healthiest beverages. It’s high in antioxidants, which have a variety of health benefits, including:

– enhanced mental performance

– slimming down

– anti-cancer protection

– reducing the risk of coronary artery disease

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1. Contains Healthy Bioactive Compounds: Green tea is more than just a drink that keeps you hydrated. The green tea plant has a variety of beneficial substances that make their way into the finished beverage. Tea is high in polyphenols, which are natural substances with health advantages such as inflammation reduction and cancer prevention. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate is a catechin found in green tea (EGCG). Catechins are natural antioxidants that aid in the prevention of cell damage as well as providing other advantages. These chemicals can protect cells and molecules from damage by reducing the generation of free radicals in the body. These free radicals contribute to ageing and a variety of ailments. One of the most potent components in green tea is EGCG. Its ability to assist treat a variety of ailments has been studied. It appears to be one among the key chemicals responsible for the therapeutic benefits of green tea. Green tea also contains trace minerals that are beneficial to your health.

2. Increases Fat Burning: If you look at the ingredients list of any fat-burning supplement, you’ll almost certainly see green tea. This is because green tea has been shown to increase fat burning and metabolic rate in studies. Green tea extract boosted the quantity of calories burnt by 4% in a research involving ten healthy men. Green tea extract boosted fat oxidation by 17 percent in another study involving 12 healthy males when compared to those who took a placebo.

However, some research on green tea have found no increase in metabolism, suggesting that the effects may vary depending on the individual and how the study was conducted.

3. May Protect The Brain From Aging: Green tea has been shown to increase brain function in the near term as well as protect the brain as it ages. Alzheimer’s disease is a widespread neurological illness that is the leading cause of dementia among seniors. Another prevalent neurodegenerative disease is Parkinson’s disease, which is characterised by the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Green tea catechin chemicals have been shown in several studies to have diverse protective effects on neurons in test tubes and animal models, potentially lowering the incidence of dementia.

4. May Improve Brain Function: Green tea may assist increase brain function in addition to keeping you alert. Caffeine, a well-known stimulant, is the main active component. It doesn’t have as much caffeine as coffee, but it’s enough to elicit a response without generating the jittery affects that come with too much caffeine. Caffeine impacts the brain by inhibiting adenosine, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. This enhances neuronal activity and neurotransmitter concentrations such as dopamine and norepinephrine. Caffeine has been found in studies to increase mood, vigilance, response time, and memory, among other aspects of brain function.

5. Antioxidants May Lower the Risk of Some Cancer: Cancer is a disease caused by uncontrolled cell development. It is one of the major causes of death in the world. Oxidative damage has been linked to chronic inflammation, which has been linked to chronic diseases such as cancer. Antioxidants can aid in the prevention of oxidative damage. Green tea is high in antioxidants and is a great source of them. Green tea components have been associated to a lower risk of cancer in studies such as these:

Breast cancer: Breast cancer is a disease that affects women. According to a meta-analysis of observational studies, women who drank more green tea had a 20–30 percent lower risk of breast cancer, one of the most frequent diseases in women.

Prostate cancer: Prostate cancer is a disease that affects men. Men who drank green tea had a decreased chance of advanced prostate cancer, according to one study.

Colorectal cancer: Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon. Green tea drinkers were 42 percent less likely to acquire colorectal cancer, according to a review of 29 research.

Green tea users are less likely to acquire numerous types of cancer, according to many observational studies, but more high-quality research is needed to corroborate these findings.

Avoid adding milk to your tea to obtain the maximum health advantages. According to certain research, it may lower the antioxidant value of various teas.

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

 

Women empowerment is one of the most
critical and essential things that everyone should support. It is when women
are given the most power and right to make decisions for themselves. Women have
been subjected to injustice through decades. They have been treated as non-existent
for decades. Women were else was always making decisions for them. This is one
of the biggest reasons for women’s empowerment. It was one of the essential
things which were the need of the hour. Women were made aware of their rights.
Along with their rights, women were taught how to be self-independent in all
aspects of their lives. They were taught how to create a space for them where
they can grow and become the people they want to be.

Need for Women Empowerment

Almost every country, no matter how
progressive has a history of ill-treating women. In other words, women from all
over the world have been rebellious to reach the status they have today. While
the western countries are still making progress, third world countries like
India still lack behind in Women Empowerment. In India, women empowerment is
needed more than ever. India is amongst the countries which are not safe for
women. There are various reasons for this. Firstly, women in India are in
danger of honour killings. Their family thinks its right to take their lives if
they bring shame to the reputation of their legacy.

How to Empower Women?

There are various ways in how one can
empower women. The individuals and government must both come together to make
it happen. Education for girls must be made compulsory so that women can become
illiterate to make a life for themselves. Women must be given equal
opportunities in every field, irrespective of gender. Moreover, they must also
be given equal pay. We can empower women by abolishing child marriage. Various
programs must be held where they can be taught skills to fend for themselves in
case they face financial crisis.

A woman is the one who has the power to
create, nurture and transform. Below are some right that every woman in our
society should have –

Ø have
equal employment opportunities without any gender bias,

Ø have
equal education opportunities as they are equally competent.

Ø have
right to make independent decisions at home as well as at office, feel safe and
comfortable inside and also outside the home, know about their social and legal
rights, have economical and financial choices

Ø live
with dignity and self-respect

Empowering women economically, socially,
educationally politically and legally is going to be a difficult task. It is
not going to be easy to change the culture of disrespect for women which are so
deep inside in Indian society. But it does not mean that it is impossible. An
empowered woman can be a fundamental asset for the society, let her enjoy the
freedom and you will feel the change. It is the need of
the hour that we stop exploiting women and give them their rights. People must
show supportive attitude towards women so that they get equal opportunities to
move ahead towards a better society. ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ is one scheme
started by the government to educate the girl child. People must change their
attitude towards women and give them their due place in the society.

 

Why do we have 10 fingers?

Scientists have several ideas why humans can high-five each other instead of, say, high four or high six. One theory suggests four fingers and a thumb on each hand are the perfect number and length to grip objects firmly. (Another study suggests we can gasp most things with just our thumb and index finger if necessary ; the other four fingers are spares).

The process of evolution determined the most beneficial number of fingers and toes for our survival. Pandas, after all, have thumblike digits to help them grasp bamboo shoots, while some birds have quadruple digits for perching and tucking away during flight. Occasionally, babies are born with extra fingers and toes (a condition known as polydactyly), but those additional digits have never offered enough of an edge to survive to later generations. In other words, evolution determined that five fingers per hand are just right for humans.

Why do we have thumbs?

Having no thumbs would make you all thumbs, fumbling to tie your shoes or assemble a hamburger. (Don’t believe us? Tape one of your thumbs against the side of your hand and see how hard life becomes). We inherited a fully “opposable” thumb named for its ability to close tip-to-tip against our other fingers – grom our primate ancestors around two million years ago. These ancient relatives needed handier hands to help get a grip on simple tools. So give a thumbs – up to your thumbs. So give a thumbs – up to your thumbs. They are the main reasons you can text with one hand and build a burger without fumbling the bun.

Do other animals have thumbs beside us?

Lots of them, although the exact number depends on your definition of “thumbs”. Apes and many monkeys have opposable thumbs just like us, while smaller primates, pandas, and koalas have thumblike digits and claws that help them grip plants and prey.

Why do we have fingerprints?

Those whirls, swirls, loops, and arches on your fingertips (and toes, in case you didn’t know) are hnique to you – even if you have an identical twin – and they remain unchanged throughout your entire life. In fact, the faint ridges known as fingerprints form before you have ever born. Fluids in the womb put pressure on your developing digits, which, combined with your rate of growth and genetic makeup, create one-of-a-kind designs.

Okay, but why do we have fingerprints?

Ah, you want to know the point of those fingertip designs ( well, besides incriminating crooks who forget to wear gloves). Scientist have put forth all sorts of possible reasons. Fingerprints might magnify the hand’s ability to detect vibrations, for example, or improve our sense of touch. They also might work like tyre trying to help They also might work like tire treads to help us grip objects.

Why do my fingers wrinkle when we’ve been swimming?

You might think that playing in the pool or soaking in the tub makes your fingertips and toes waterlogged and soggy. Not so ! The prune effect is caused by blood vessels bringing just below the skin – an automatic reaction triggered by your nervous system when it senses long exposure to water. Scientists think people evolved this reaction to improve their grip and traction in wet environments. After all, pruny fingers make it easier to snag slippery fish.

Why can we pop our knuckles?

When you move or bend your fingers, you occasionally squeeze tiny air bubbles that form in the protective fluid around your body’s joints.Those poping bubbles create an audible crack.

References :

WHY? – Answers to everything, Image publications.

STETHOSCOPE

” stethoscope is only jewellery that can’t be earned by money. It can only be earned by passion and hard work “

A stethoscope is used to hear the heart beats sounds, sound due to inhalation and exhalation of air in the lungs and the respiratory pathways and also the stomach movements. It is a very useful diagnostic tool to help localize problems  and to diagnose disease.

Stethoscope are also used along with the sphygmomanometer. The first usable binaural stethoscope was invented in 1855.

The modern electronic stethoscope are high precisioned instruments. These  can be used to hear a patient’s heart and lungs clearly even in high noisy environments and even through layers of clothing.

The electronic stethoscope also make it possible to hear the foetal sounds in mother’s womb.

Uses

☆ Stethoscope helps in find normal (lub-dub) versus abnormal heart sounds ( heart murmurs) and also to diagnose valve functions.

☆ Stethoscope can indicate fluid in lungs in case of pneumonia and pulmonary edema. It can diagnose airway diseases like bronchitis and pleuritis.

☆ Stethoscope are also used to compare the movements in the normal versus overactive or underactive intestinal tract.

” Wherever the art of medicine is

loved, there is also a love of humanity”

~ Hippocrotes

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT LIFE

Life is an unpredictable and a rollercoaster journey where everything might be seem sorted but still can mess up thereafter. You might be chilling in one second but in another second you can be in a huge trouble you haven’t think of. This is what life is. It is full of craziness, happiness, sadness, surprises, adventures and much more. It is a bundle of joy for one but can be a sad and painful story for another because they all have their different experiences. But you should enjoy every moment of your life before it turns into a memory. As it is said, ” YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE ”. Live your life to the fullest. So there are some interesting facts about life you should know-

1- HUMANS ARE THE ONLY ANIMALS THAT ENJOY SPICY FOODS – Only humans are the creatures who enjoy spicy foods, no other creature enjoys it.

2- When you die, there are companies that will turn your ashes into fireworks so you can literally ” Go out with a bang ”.

3- It is impossible to hum while holding your nose.

4- It rains diamonds on Saturn and Jupiter.

5- ” I am ” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

6- There are at least 6 people in the world who look exactly like you. There is a 9% chance that you’ll meet one of them in your lifetime.

7- The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows.

8- People say ”Bless you” when you sneeze because when you sneeze, your heart stops for a millisecond.

9- Honey is the only food that doesn’t spoil. It can be tasted and added in food for years and years.

10- The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.

11- It is impossible to lick your elbow.

12- Hot water will turn into ice faster than cold water.

13- The average person walks past 36 murderers in their lifetime.

14- A different version of you exists in the minds of everyone who knows you.

15- 99% of people who read this will try to lick their elbow.

These are some amazing facts you would want to hear and definitely enjoy it. It’s just short and simple facts but very interesting ones.

Stars can’t shine without darkness:

Life isn’t a bed of roses. Rather it is like a rose garden filled with thorns along with roses. Our lives too have thorns. Each and every one of us come across various kinds of struggles in life. Most of the time we view these struggles as barriers instead of taking them up as an opportunity for something better. God decided to add struggle in our lives for a reason. If the Almighty wished, our lives could have been made without any problems or struggles but eventually, it will cripple us.

Our life is just like the night sky. We find the night sky the most beautiful because of those beautiful stars shining brightly out there. Imagine trying to search those stars during the day.

When you read or hear that stars can’t shine without darkness, it means that without bad things happening in your life, you would not realize what the good ones are. It is when you are only going through dark days that you know what you capable of. Life doesn’t end; it’s rather a new beginning.

    How could you ever understand feeling good from feeling bad, if you only know the good all the time? What lessons could you learn? Is there a specific reason why disaster strikes?

    Life is so that every so often tragedy strikes. It frequently is when you think everything is going great that your world tumbles down. Yet, the best way to look at dark times is to understand that there are no endings but only new beginnings. So, without darkness, there is no light.

    Wherever you look, everything has an opposite in this universe. So, no matter how much you want only great things to happen to you and be happy go lucky all the time, life does not work that way. It is persistently made of ups and downs and highs and lows. But adverse life events always bring a possibility for you to grow, change and be better.

    Look at the Bright Side

    In our lives, when we are going through difficult moments, it is true that we have a tendency to more easily focus on all the negative things that are going on. But one day, the rain will stop falling, and a rainbow will take its place. So, it is the reason why you need to remember that stars can’t shine without darkness.

    If there were no way to distinguish happiness, you would not be happy because you would not know what it is. Whenever you are going through an unfortunate circumstance, it is what is going wrong that hits you harder than the rest. And it is only human to have such feelings.

    But if you decide to sit and wallow about your situation, then you will only prolong the pain. You should look and focus on the positive events in your life. No matter how small they are. The stars would not shine as brightly if there were not some darkness. Think about that!

    Stars Can’t Shine Without Darkness

    Easy is not an option. Life is hard at times. But we can all agree that theoretically speaking; stars can’t shine without darkness. You could not enjoy the warmth of the summer if there were no cloudy skies and cold winters. There can’t be any music without silence. Therefore, there is also no success without failure in life.

    Yet, everyone thinks that failure is a step backward, but it is not true. I believe that each failure is a step forward in the right direction. I know it can be uneasy, but shining in the darkness is the thing that you should do when you are in the midst of a trial or misfortune in your life. It is like looking at a picture and seeing the good times in between the bad ones.

    So, let’s take a different perspective for an instant. What if your same negative life event happens to someone else than you? You would see how different they would act or react. Some people would handle it better while some not. Why? Because it is how you define your reality, and everything that happens to you, that determine your reaction to the situation at hand.

    Darkness, Stars, and Light

    As a result, what is happening right now in your life is not happening to you as a result of chance. Your past experiences, beliefs, and consciousness have helped to create it. Believe it or not, your current situation has its causes and roots in the past.

    Let’s consider this realistic analogy: When you look up into the night sky and see the stars, what you actually see is the past because some of those bodies may no longer exist. It is possible because stars are hundreds and thousands of light years away. The meaning is that it takes their light, traveling at 300,000 kilometers or 186,000 miles per second, hundreds or thousands of years to reach the earth.

    Therefore, the bright light you see from a star a hundred light years away is actually a light it emitted a hundred years ago. That particular star could have exploded and disintegrated twenty-five years ago, but you would still see its light, and continue to see it for another seventy-five years, even though it has long ceased to exist.

    The Power to Make a Difference

    So, what I am trying to say is that you create your life by your perception of reality. And there is an opportunity in every difficulty. If something bothers you, then you need to take a look at what beliefs you have deep inside. Once you identify the wrong ones, you have the power to change and replace them. Then you can embrace the magical power of a different life.

    And that is why you should look at everything in your life as an opportunity. It helps you show what you can do, not only to others but yourself as well. How would you ever know what you can truly handle until it is placed before you? But if you are pessimistic, you won’t know what you are really capable of. And if you are too realistic, you may never discover what life has in store for you.

    So, enter each life situation with your eyes wide open, but always be optimistic no matter what. You have no better choice. Then allow life to happen to you in miraculous ways and know that there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Stay strong and shine the brightest. And always treasure each experience you have because , just like you, stars can’t shine without darkness.

    Importance of Reading Books

    The Importance of Reading for Fun – The Central Trend
    A Speech Therapist's Guide to Reading with your Child ~ Speech Pathways

    There are many little ways to enlarge your child’s world. Love of books is the best of all!”- Jacqueline Kennedy

    Books are a useful resource that provide a wealth of information, as well as insights into a happy existence, life lessons, love, prayer, fear, and a wealth of useful advice. Books provide access to a world of inventiveness, resourcefulness, and invention. Stories are an important aspect of our life since they tell us about our history, mythology, beliefs, goals, future prospects, and so on. Books can become a person’s dearest friend, staunch supporter, and life advisor.

    Early reading offers several advantages and is essential for a child’s mental and emotional development. The development of critical thinking skills is one of the major advantages of instilling the habit of reading. Reading books broadens your knowledge, improves your inventiveness, expands your vocabulary, and makes you wiser in general.

    Neurological

    The importance of a child learns faster in the early years than at any other period in their lives. When parents converse, sing, and read with their children, the child’s brain cells strengthen as new connections are formed. And learning to read has a significant impact on the development of a child’s cognitive ability.

    Educational

    Reading is important in the early years since it contributes to a child’s academic achievement and instils a lifetime love of learning. Strong oral language abilities lead to increased general knowledge and linguistic command. It may be easier for them to learn and speak numerous languages. They have stronger focus and concentration, as well as longer attention spans. Reading helps the brain to think in a similar sequential chronicle pattern, and thus spends more time on developing a storey rather than racing through each detail, due to the sequential chronicle pattern of most books — a beginning, middle, and finish. Children who read grow more adept at grasping what they’re reading and have also been shown to be better listeners. It’s fascinating to learn that early readers don’t just become lifetime readers; they also become lifelong leaders.

    Psychological

    A child who learns to read at a young age demonstrates independence and composure. Reading fosters maturity and discipline, as well as a sense of wonder about the people, places, and things in their environment. As a result, the child’s creativity and imagination are sparked. When a youngster chooses to sit and read, he or she is able to channel his or her physical energy. Reading has been connected to creativity on numerous occasions.

    Linguistic

    The earlier children learn to read, the more books they will be exposed to, which will help them gain knowledge, improve their vocabulary, writing and spelling skills, and make them more articulate conversationalists and successful communicators. Reading Aloud together is the most crucial step in preparing a kid to become a reader.
    Reading aloud to youngsters can help them build literacy skills and a lifelong love of reading. Everyone enjoys reading aloud because it is participatory, sensory, and thrilling. Sharing a book with a youngster is enjoyable because it allows you to spend time together, laugh, and discuss. It assists in the development of a strong and loving bond with the child.

    It’s a simple approach to communicate with children, and they pick up new vocabulary and linguistic abilities as a result. A child’s attention is held by books with illustrations and age-appropriate language. Reading time is made more engaging and fun by using hilarious accents and diverse facial expressions. Voices could be thunderous or as faint as a mouse.

    LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

                                                                   (Photo: ClearIAS)

    According to D. Lockard, local government may be loosely defined as a public organization, authorized to decide and administer a limited range of public policies within relatively small territory which is a subdivision of a regional or national government.

    A nation develops from its roots and for a nation to develop we need a strong base and in a country like India, the base is the local self-government like municipalities and panchayats, etc. These are the grassroots of a democracy in our country. It gives a good amount of exposure to the people who participate in the governance and running of these institutions, in both political and social aspects, making our democracy more participative as well as substantive. In rural areas, the self-governing bodies are the Panchayats and in urban it is the municipal corporations, etc. Local self-government consists of rural local self-government and urban area local self-government.

    In India, villages are always considered as strength of this country. It is said that the soul of India lives in villages and a majority of 60% of the total population currently lives in rural areas. The exponents of the local self-government institutions hold the view that such local self-governments are the basis of democracy and the best way to develop political consciousness among the people. Through the local self-government, the regional and local interests convert into national interest. The Rural Local self-governments are the result of most landmark year 1992, when the 73rd amendment was incorporated in the constitution. Necessary related provisions were added in 1992 by the way of the 74th amendment act, 1992. It bifurcated the urban local self-government system.

    Gandhi Ji also emphasized local self-government. To him, development meant a fuller participation of people in the achievement of essential goals. Village is the primary unit of government and from the village upwards, units of government with residuary powers, are to be established. And at each level, complete democracy and freedom are to be guaranteed.

    Thus, the local self-government holds a vital role when it comes to the strengthening of democracy. It encourages local, political, and social leadership, thus making people more participative. It makes democracy substantive with its very own existence. These have to shoulder manifold and complex responsibilities. Hence, they are the grassroots of our democracy.

    What is Java Programming? Java Introduction for Beginners

    JAVA

    Introduction

    In today’s era, the internet and smartphones have become an integral part of our lives. We use our phones for almost all of our day to day tasks. Earlier, we used to shop at mails, queue up in front of banks and make our travel bookings at travel agencies. But now, we can do this comfortably in our homes using smartphones. All of this is made possible by the high-level programming language Java. In this article we will discuss everything we need to know about the class based, object oriented programming language, Java.

    What is Java?

    Java is an Object Oriented Programming language that is used in a distributed environment on the internet. It is a high level language that is easy to read and understand. It is popularly used in console, GUIs, web, and mobile applications, game development and embedded systems. Apart from these, Java is also used to create software for devices. It is used not only in computers and mobiles but even in electronic devices like televisions, washing machines, air conditioners, and so on. Online forms, banking, and shopping are possible because of Java.

    The Invention of Java

    Java is a computer based programming language invented by James Gosling and Sun microsystems in 1991. He had a single motto while creating the language, it was “Write Once, Run Anywhere.” This meant that the code would have to be written only once, but it could be used anywhere. They named this language “Oak” because of the Oaktree outside Gosling’s office. Later, it was named to “Green”, then to “Java Coffee” which was named after the coffee from Indonesia, and finally to ” Java” in 1995.

    Editions of Java

    There are three editions of Java. Each programmer can learn any of these editions based on the application they need to create.

    ❤ Firstly, we have Java Standard Edition, this edition contains core libraries like java.lang, java.util, etc.

    ❤Secondly, we have Java Enterprise Edition, this edition has APIs like JMS, EJB, JSPs, Servelets, etc.

    ❤ And lastly, we have Java Micro Edition which is used to program Java in cell phones, set-top boxes, handhelds, and so on.

    Java is an object oriented programming language based on C and C++. However, it is improved and simplified to solve the errors in programming. Java files are converted to bit code format using a compiler and then executed by the Java interpreter. The whole Java code is run on the Java Virtual Machine which provides a runtime environment.

    Major Concepts of Java

    Now, the major concepts in Java are its methods and classes. A method is a block of code that performs a task only when it is called. Consider this example, while watching television, you use the TV remote to change channels. Each button on the remote performs a different task. Methods in Java are the same. We can have methods to add two members or email a person or to convert kilometers to meters.

    A group of methods make a class. Classes are used to organize code just like how fruits, vegetables, and clinical products are divided into different sections in a super market. There are a lot of features in Java. Let’s start by looking at them one by one.

    It has a simple syntax and is very easy to understand and learn. Java language is robust. It eliminates errors that occur in the C and C++ languages. Java also has characteristics like garbage collectors and exception handling. This makes Java very unique. The most popular feature of Java is that it is platform independent. Compilation happens in bytecode, and because of this, Java can run on any machine. It is very secure language as it contains no virus. Java has a feature of multi-threading. The feature of multi-threading helps Java to do multitasking. Java is a portable language as it can run on any platforms and data type sizes are set permanently. So, Java program has a fixed size of the code. Last of all, Java is not as fast as C and C++, but provides higher performance than any other language.

    OOPS Concepts in Java

    Now, let’s see OOPS concepts in Java. Java has four concepts. They are,

    👉  Abstraction

    👉Encapsulation

    👉Inheritance

    👉 Polymorphism

    In Java we use objects and classes identified with this present reality that makes the code simpler to make and comprehend.

    ❤Abstraction means showing the relevant information that is needed for a task.

    ❤Encapsulation makes the Java code secure data is stored within the classes, and it is not easy to access the data.

    ❤Inheritance as the name suggests, the attributes and characteristics of one class can be inherited by another class. Because of this, coders take less time to create the code.

    ❤Polymorphism means using the same method for different tasks. In Java, we can utilize the similar object or variable in two different places where their tasks will vary.

    Conclusion

    In this article we learnt all kinds of things about Java. So you can take the Java programming language and read and benefit.

    CO-OPERATIVE AND COMPETITIVE FEDERALISM

     

                                                                  (Photo: YouTube)

    India opted for quasi-federal structure after Independence. After Independence from 1947 to 1967, India experienced the centralized federalism. From 1967 to 1990, India witnessed confrontational federalism due to the emergence of other party governments at the state level. Since 1990, Co-operative federalism has been developed. The present NDA government has been focusing on the new concept of competitive federalism along with co-operative federalism for higher growth of the country.

    In competitive federalism, states would compete with each other over a broad-range issues to provide citizens various services in a hassle-free manner. The policy of one-size-fit-all is replaced with different policies of various states based on their own priorities within the state. This spirit of competition has led to lack of inter-state mutual assistance. The NITI Aayog was formed to empower and strengthen the state governments. It also appointed regional councils to create cooperation among two or more states facing a common set of problems or amicably settle disputes.

    While the competition between states, reflected in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index, has generated a lot of enthusiasm, this must be a continuing exercise. There are only few well-off states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu which are competing. The proposed GST law may help some of the less productive states to raise the revenue. But the opposition of few well-off states with respect to revenue loss in implementation of GST system points that there is lack of will in participating in the process of competitive federalism.

    We’ve seen various inter-state water disputes such as Krishna water disputes involving Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Narmada water disputes involving Rajasthan, Gujarat, M.P, and Maharashtra, Cauvery water disputes involving Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and various others. For this, under Article 263, an inter-state council was established. The Sarkaria Commission on center-state relations (1983-87) made a strong case for the establishment of a permanent inter-state council. Article 301 to 307 in Part 13 deals with the trade, commerce and intercourse within the territory of India, breaking all the border barrier between the states. Zonal councils have also been established in 1956 to narrow the gap between the states. Cases such as Cauvery water dispute and Sutlej Yamuna link canal issue have seen non-mutual assistance between the states to a wider extent.

    Thus, it can be said that co-operative and competitive federalism are two sides of the same coin. This spirit of competition has led to the lack of mutual assistance between and among the states. It is competition with co-operation that will drive the real change.

     

    ARE COMPUTERS REALLY INTELLIGENT?

    When it comes to the possibilities and possible perils of artificial intelligence (AI), learning and reasoning by machines without the intervention of humans, there are lots of opinions out there. Only time will tell which one of these quotes will be the closest to our future reality. Until we get there, it’s interesting to contemplate who might be the one who predicts our reality the best.

    “The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race. It would take off on its own, and re-design itself at an ever-increasing rate. Humans, who are limited by slow biological evolution, couldn’t compete, and would be superseded.”— Stephen Hawking

    Will computers eventually be smarter than humans? 
     
    Everyone is talking about artificial intelligence (AI) – in the media, at conferences and in product brochures. Yet the technology is still in its infancy. Applications that would have been dismissed as science fiction not long ago could become reality within a few years. With its specialty materials, the Electronics business sector of Merck is contributing to the development of AI. 

    HOW SMART ARE YOU?

    Who’s smarter — you, or the computer or mobile device on which you’re reading this article? The answer is increasingly complex, and depends on definitions in flux. Computers are certainly more adept at solving quandaries that benefit from their unique skill set, but humans hold the edge on tasks that machines simply can’t perform. Not yet, anyway.

    Computers can take in and process certain kinds of information much faster than we can. They can swirl that data around in their “brains,” made of processors, and perform calculations to conjure multiple scenarios at superhuman speeds. For example, the best chess-trained computers can at this point strategize many moves ahead, problem-solving far more deftly than can the best chess-playing humans. Computers learn much more quickly, too, narrowing complex choices to the most optimal ones. Yes, humans also learn from mistakes, but when it comes to tackling the kinds of puzzles computers excel at, we’re far more fallible.

    Computers enjoy other advantages over people. They have better memories, so they can be fed a large amount of information, and can tap into all of it almost instantaneously. Computers don’t require sleep the way humans do, so they can calculate, analyze and perform tasks tirelessly and round the clock. On the other hand, humans are still superior to computers in many ways. We perform tasks, make decisions, and solve problems based not just on our intelligence but on our massively parallel processing wetware — in abstract, what we like to call our instincts, our common sense, and perhaps most importantly, our life experiences. Computers can be programmed with vast libraries of information, but they can’t experience life the way we do.

    Some of that’s rethinking how we approach these questions. Rather than obsessing over who’s smarter or irrationally fearing the technology, we need to remember that computers and machines are designed to improve our lives, just as IBM’s Watson computer is helping us in the fight against deadly diseases. The trick, as computers become better and better at these and any number of other tasks, is ensuring that “helping us” remains their prime directive.

    The important thing to keep in mind is that it is not man versus machine. “It is not a competition. It is a collaboration.”

    Covid-19 and Global Food Security

     The unprecedented pandemic has impacted the world in multiple ways. It has affected the years of development done in terms of food security in the countries. The Covid pandemic has increased the global food insecurity, and its impact is expected to be seen in 2021 and 2022. Initially, as the pandemic broke out, sudden closure of borders, trade restrictions and lockdown measures had disrupted the food supply and distribution pattern completely. 

    It reduced the access to inputs and services, as labour movement and transports were blocked. The farmers struggled to access the market to sell and buy products properly during the lockdown in different countries. The locust outbreak that happened in 2020, also destroyed the food and other crops in the agricultural lands. Farmers were the worst hit by this locust crisis. 

    Higher pricing of food and reduced income in the households is another prime reason that has impacted the accessibility of food. Due to financial shortage caused by lower income or loss of livelihood, more and more households have been forced to reduce their quality and quantity of food consumed. A number of countries reported food inflation during the pandemic. 

    Climate change has led to adverse climatic conditions all over the globe. Extreme weather conditions seen in different places such as temperature rise, heat waves, extreme rainfall and drought have impacted agriculture and food production. This has further disrupted the food supply chain system, leading towards food insecurity.

    A survey done by the World Bank in 48 countries reveals that people were either running out of food or were lowering their consumption. This reduced calorie intake can affect the health of the people, due to lack of essential nutrients. The UN’s report on “State of food security and nutrition in the world” states that between 720 to 811 million people worldwide, went hungry in 2020. Lower consumption of food is a major health concern. It can lead to problems like malnutrition, especially among children. The pandemic has led 1.6 million children out of their schools, depriving them from the nutritious meals provided. 

    The World Food Programme‘s (WFP) annual review of 2020, shows that the pandemic pushed 124 million people into poverty, leading to an increase in hunger and the threats of famine in some areas. But WFP states that the goal of achieving zero hunger by 2030, is still possible with worldwide efforts and cooperation to plan out a better future. 

    Such difficult times call for global solidarity and support. The government and the international organizations should cooperate in order to help those affected by food insecurity. Monetary help as well as access to adequate food resources can be provided to them.

    This food insecurity in the times of pandemic has highlighted the importance of developing long-term sustainable strategies to deal with the challenges in agriculture and food supply.