Friday, November 30, 2012

Doctors using marijuana to help treat some HIV and AIDS symptoms

Marijuana Plant


VANCOUVER, Canada — Marijuana has been found to be quite effective in the treatment of some symptoms exhibited by HIV infected persons, according to the doctors here in Vancouver, Canada who prescribe it for their patients.
Dr Silvia Guillemi, director of clinical education at the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, said marijuana controls nausea and helps patients with weight loss issues among other things. As such, Dr Guillemi said she often prescribes it for those patients who are desirous of using it.
Add caption
Marijuana grown for medical purposes is shown inside a greenhouse at a farm in Potter Valley, California in Mendocino County. (Photo: AP)
High Grade Ganja Plant

"We have a liberal approach here but not all physicians are online with that," said Guillemi, who is in charge of the immuno deficiency clinic which treats some 1,200 HIV infected persons.
Although there are two marijuana pills on the market, Dr Guillemi said some persons opt for other forms of it as they prefer to smoke it or make a oil from it. She, however, pointed out that the effect is usually not the same for all patients.
"I have a 60 year-old patient who was diagnosed late with HIV and she also has colon cancer and so she had tried using marijuana to control the nausea but it just didn't work for her," Dr Guillemi told the Jamaica Observer, following a tour of the facility by a Jamaica delegation of journalists and policymakers who are here to participate in a knowledge exchange organised by Panos Caribbean in partnership with the Simon Fraser University and the Vancouver Initiative..
Dr Julio Mantaner, also from the Centre of Excellence, said the marijuana pills have also shown to be very effective in treating some of the symptoms exhibited by patients. "A lot of my patients use it," he said, adding that it may be best not to smoke it as it may alter some people's judgement.
A recent report published earlier this year by a group of scientist at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, United States noted that drugs that target one of the two cellular receptors stimulated by the active ingredient in marijuana may prove to be effective at blocking a form of HIV that has been linked to faster disease progression during late stages of the infection.
The numerous effects of marijuana are said to be the result of chemical interactions between the drug's active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and two receptors on a variety of cells in the body: cannabinoid receptor 1 (CRI) and cannabinoid receptor 2 (CR2).


Read more »

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Why Solar Power is so Expensive


The unfortunate reality confronting any push for alternative, renewable energy is cost. Solar power can provide a great way to get energy independent, but until it is cheap, it won't happen any time soon.
In the Wall Street Journal, they take a look at the falling costs of thin-film solar products, like what First Solar manufactures. Even with declining costs using solar power still costs nearly twice what coal or natural gas cost.
WSJ : Currently, it can cost 20 cents or more to produce a kilowatt-hour of electricity from a solar-power system, depending on where the system is located and the level of incentives offered. By contrast, generating electricity from coal or natural gas costs between 2 and 10 cents a kilowatt-hour, depending on the fuel and age of the power plant, while utility power in the U.S. averages about 8.9 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
What's worse, particularly for First Solar, is that the panels the company manufactures are less efficient at converting sunlight into electricity than its rivals. First Solar competes on price by making cheaper panels.
The problem with thin film is its efficiency. First Solar's panels, made from cadmium telluride, convert 10.5% of the sunlight they receive into electricity, while San Jose, Calif.-based Nanosolar Inc. makes thin-film panels from copper indium gallium selenide, or CIGS, that are 14% efficient. That's still below the 19% efficiency of silicon panels made by Sunpower Corp. of San Jose. In addition, CIGS makers have yet to figure out how to produce their more efficient thin-film panels on a large commercial scale at a competitive cost.
As an industry leader, this places First Solar in a tenuous position. It is developing CIGS technology, but if rivals can cut costs, then First Solar's lead evaporates. For this reason First Solar might want to acquire a smaller solar company that makes CIGS panels.


Read more »

How to Make Money From Your Youtube Videos


In this post, I’m going to share with you a pleasant discovery I made about Youtube, posting videos and earning quick bucks online. I earned almost a buck for every SINGLE person who watched my video. I was quite amazed at how well this worked – and you might be too.
Here’s how it started:
Burt Goldman, an author in Los Angeles who I do online markering for sent me a collection of all videos of some his lectures. I own a mailing list of people interested in meditation. I wanted to share the video with them. To save money and cost – I decided to just upload a clip of the video to Youtube.
Since it’s owned by Google – I know that YouTube would be reliable, free and easy to use. It made a heck of a lot more sense than attempting to host the video myself.

But there’s another really neat thing about YouTube.

YouTube does not insist that you need to host the video only on their site. After you upload your video – you can grab a piece of code to embed the video into your own website or blog.
In the screen shot below….I’ve pointed to the Embed Link using a red arrow. You just need to copy and paste this link in the HTML of your blog or site and the YouTube video will now run off your site.
So using this Embed link, I pasted the YouTube video on one of our personal development blogs,MindHacks.org .
You can see how the video shows on our blog by visiting this page. 
I then included a link to the video as part of my regular monthly mailing to my meditation list.

Now Here’s Where the Magic Happened

From my list, about 500 people watched the video. This in turn caused the video’s popularity on YouTube to go up.
You see…YouTube has millions of videos. Most only get a few dozen views. When you have just 500 people view your video…this boosts your videos ranking sufficiently enough that it get’s pushed to the top of the video charts in it’s category.
It does not take a lot of views to push your video above the 95% of average videos populating YouTube.
With just a few thousand views, the video we uploaded received 3 honors. It became one of the top watched “How To” videos of the day. This in turn caused other people in YouTube to start watching it. Within days, we received another 4000 views from general browsers on YouTube.
Of course, we also mentioned our site in our blog post and on YouTube page showing the video. Of the 4500 viewers, around a 300 visited the site.
On the site, we managed to sell 17 sets of Burt’s home meditation product – the Goldman Mind Box. Each sold for $200. Out total takings – $3400 in revenue.
So we essentially made 76 cents for every person who watched our YouTube video.

The Lesson Learned

YouTube is becoming a viable marketing tool. It’s developing an audience that is interested in niche areas.
Rather than hosting videos on your own site using tools like Wimpy Player or InstantVideoGenerator – consider hosting you videos on YouTube.
In addition to being free and highly reliable (since Google owns them). YouTube can easily get you tons of free viewers and thus traffic to your site.

Read more »

A clan from Yemen and history of Malabar -by Dr K.K. Muhammad Abdul Sathar


A clan from Yemen and history of Malabar

There was one family in Malabar whose socio-religious standing the British authorities feared the most for its potential to inspire and mobilise the natives, especially Muslims, against the colonial rulers. It was the descendants of this family, including the most influential member of it, Syed Fazl Thangal, that the authorities furtively extradited to Arabia in March 1852 and ensured that they never returned to the coast of Malabar.      
Who was this Syed Fazl Thangal? How and why he and his family including his famous father, Syed Alawi Thangal, a member of the Ba Alawi clan from Hadhramaut in Yemen, who arrived in Malabar in February 1768 and settled at Mamburam in Malappuram district, to be later known as the Mamburam Thangal, was an important figure in the history of Malabar and its anti-colonial engagements?
The book
A book ‘Mappila Leader in Exile—a political biography of Syed Fazl Thangal’ authored by K.K. Muhammad Abdul Sathar, history professor and head of the History Department, PSMO College Tirurangadi in Malappuram, attempts to give an answer to theses questions while also throwing some light on the socio-political environment of the region during the colonial times.
Dr. Sathar, who is son of the late Mappila historian and writer Muhammed Abdul Kareem, has his Ph.D. on the Ba Alawi clan and its settlement on the Malabar Coast at a historically crucial period.
With the support of historical documents and citations the author recounts how some members of the Arabian clan reached Malabar and influenced the socio-political currents of the region.
The book in English, published by ‘Other Books’ explains how Syed Fazl Thangal, after his brief sojourn in Mamburam as a spiritual, cultural and political leader of the region, was deported to Arabia. It narrates the roles he played in the international politics as a plenipotentiary with the Ottoman Khilafat besides giving insights to what relevance it had to both the international and the national politics of India. Among other things the work also throws light on the possible reasons of the murder of the then Malabar Collector H.V. Connolly by a group of Muslim radicals on September 11, 1855.
According to him, Lt. Connolly was widely believed by the Muslims in Malabar to have acted behind the extradition of Syed Fazl Thangal to Arabia.
Another important episode in the book narrated by the author is the account of how and why Muhammad Abdul Rahman Sahib, one of the most vibrant national leaders from the State, tried his best to bring some descendents of Thangal back to Kerala in the following years to give strength to the freedom fighters, and how the British successfully tried to foil this plan using all its might.
Foreword
Noted historian Roland E. Miller in his foreword to the book says: “As to Syed Fazl’s religious frame of reference the author makes a notable contribution by tracing the South Arabian mystical legacy of his family that helped produce the saintly Thangal tradition in Malabar.
As to the freedom struggle with the colonial British power, the author provides a much more well-rounded picture than previous reports.
The study of the interplay of religion and politics in a liberation movement yields considerable contemporary significance.”
‘Mappila Leader in Exile – a political biography of Syed Fazl Thangal,’ written by K.K. Muhammad Abdul Sathar, traces “the South Arabian mystical legacy of Syed Fazl’s family that helped produce the saintly Thangal tradition in Malabar.”

Read more »

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

4g Lte Review



Gargantuan Android phones are everywhere. But a lot of people just want something smaller. The Incredible 4G is one of the few phones that isn't the size of a dinner plate, but it also raises a question: Does an Android OS even make sense on smaller screens anymore?

What Is It

The best HTC phone on Verizon—which did not get the HTC One series.

Who's It For

Android fans who love small phones. HTC Sense enthusiasts. Beats by Dre fans, maybe, but probably not.

Design

It's an HTC phone. It's solidly built, with a matte rubberized back. It's thick enough that, when you first pick it up, you're not sure if it has a slide-out keyboard or not.

Using It

Using the Incredible never feels like using a premium phone. It's fast, until it's not. Lag creeps in under medium loads. With several apps running, actions like returning to the home page slow to a crawl.

The Best Part

The camera. HTC's been making good cameras for a while, going back to the Amaze last year, and definitely including the One series. The Incredible's camera is very fast, produces nice, natural colors, and handles low light as well as you can expect from a phone.

Tragic Flaw

The buttons. The volume rocker and power button are flush with the edges. They're hard to find when you want to, and easy to press when you don't.

This Is Weird...

The microUSB port is insanely hard to insert cables into. It defies logic.

Test Notes

  • Android just doesn't feel like it fits a smaller phone anymore. Stripping it of large, readable widgets makes it feel like a dumpy iPhone on smaller screens.
  • Battery life isn't great. Usually it's less than a day. Sometimes you could leave home with a full charge, spend a night out with LTE turned on, and it would be dead before getting home.
  • The display isn't as pristine as HTC's One X, but it's still quite good.
  • It gets uncomfortably hot while streaming music or video over LTE.

Read more »

How to control diabetes naturally


A number of factors like poor food choices, obesity and sedentary lifestyles have led to an increase in diabetes. Studies at the George Washington University have shown that simple dietary changes in the choice of food items, as well as eating patterns can alleviate diabetes. Diabetes was treated with high fiber wheat grains in ancient Egypt, ginseng herb in China, bitter gourd in India, and garlic and raw onions in many parts of the world.
Foods that Control Diabetes
Foods containing carbohydrates have a glycaemic index (GI) based on the extent of their effect on blood sugar levels in the body. Foods with a high GI are easily digested and metabolized, increasing weight and raising blood glucose levels, which in turn raises the levels of insulin required to control blood sugar levels. Processed food like items made from refined white flour have a higher index (70 plus) while sources with a low GI help to control diabetes. These include many fruits and vegetables and grains and cereals. A food item with little or no carbohydrate does not have a GI.
Fruits and Vegetables which Control Blood Sugar
Vegetables like beans and broccoli are rich in vitamins and minerals and soluble fiber, but low in fat. Broccoli is a rich source of the trace mineral chromium, which lowers blood sugar. Other chromium rich foods are beans, whole grain cereals, nuts, mushrooms and some fruits like pomegranates.
Fruits contain no cholesterol, and most contain very little fat, but are rich in vitamins. Though they are sweet, fruits like cherries, oranges, apples, apricots, pears and peaches have low GI  and do not raise blood sugar. However, fruits like avocado and coconut contain a substantial amount of fat.
Grains and Cereals that Reduce Blood Sugar
Whole grains like brown rice have no cholesterol and very little fat, and together with lentils, are filling food, so one tends to eat less, and thus gain less weight. Barley is another whole grain with a low GI and high soluble fiber.
Oats have no fat or cholesterol; instead they have high soluble fiber which brings down cholesterol and reduces weight. Therefore, this low GI food regulates blood sugar. It is better to use oatmeal with more grain, as the GI is lower. It can be used as a breakfast cereal, or even in combination with vegetables.
Other Foods that Control Diabetes
Potassium rich foods like garlic are also beneficial, as potassium stimulates the pancreas. Garlic contains sulphur and zinc, as well as manganese, the lack of which causes diabetes. Atherosclerosis, a complication of diabetes, can be prevented by the presence of manganese in garlic. Onions affect the release of insulin.
Chickpeas control blood sugar, and one of the best forms is to use them as hummus. This is a dip that is delicious with any kind of whole grain bread or even vegetables. Soybeans are used for therapeutic purposes.
Cooking Methods that Combat Diabetes
Some measures while cooking can help to control blood sugar and diabetes naturally. Herbs and spices like bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon which are rich in antioxidants can be used for seasoning or in desserts, instead of sugar. Cinnamon stimulates insulin activity. It is also important to choose healthy cooking mediums like olive oil.
The use of skim milk instead of whole milk lowers fat intake, while consuming only egg white eliminates the cholesterol-rich yolk. Fish contains omega 3 fatty acids that control surges of sugar, and should be chosen over poultry dishes like pork, beef or mutton. For the latter, the fat layer should be trimmed away. White sauce and cheese typically contain high saturated fats which increase blood sugar.
One can control diabetes by eating fiber and antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables and reducing starches, while sugar and sweets, sugary cold drinks, ice creams and milk chocolates should be omitted. It is important to keep weight under control, and have a regular schedule of exercise. Smoking and use of tobacco should be avoided, while it is also essential to maintain a positive attitude. A healthy lifestyle and diet are the best natural means of combating diabetes.

Read more »

Monday, November 26, 2012

How to Lower Blood Pressure With Ginger



A staggering number of Americans are being diagnosed with elevated blood pressure every day making this condition one of the most common even among younger people. Uncontrolled blood pressure can lead to heart attacks and strokes with debilitating and deadly consequences.
Unfortunately, traditional medicine very often resorts to prescription medications to control blood pressure and keep it within healthy norms. At times, high blood pressure drugs might result in even more dangerous side effects than the condition itself. More and more Americans are switching to more natural herbal approaches to manage high blood pressure and very often consider ginger and blood pressure connection.


Benefits of ginger tea are numerous and can help deal with a myriad of health conditions ranging from digestive problems to colds, achy joint and even cancer. Chinese medicine has been utilizing ginger to treat blood pressure for many centuries. Ancient oriental health practitioners believed that high blood pressure results from accumulated tension in the body or something that we simply call stress nowadays.
Ginger and blood pressure treatment protocol will start will evaluating patient’s diet to exclude dishes that are too high in salt and fats. Freshly grated ginger, garlic and hot peppers are generously added to add a burst of flavor to fresh ingredients that are sure to leave you satisfied without all the extra sodium that can elevate your blood pressure.


Ginger and blood pressure treatment program will include moderate exercise regimen that will suit your preference to keep you motivated. Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi or walking around picturesque settings will not only lower your blood pressure over a period of time, these activities will help you stay relaxed.
In addition to consuming freshly grated ginger, try making blood pressure reducing tea by steeping 1 teaspoon of the following herbs for 20 minutes: hawthorn berries, ginger rhizome, valerian root and leaves of motherwort. Take 2 cups daily to stay relaxed and keep your blood pressure at bay.


Ginger essential oils could be used alone or combined with other oils to add into your bath water to help you unwind after an especially stressful day and keep your control blood pressure within healthy norms.
If you are seriously considering ginger and blood pressure option for yourself and are currently taking prescription medications of any kind, talk to your doctor prior to initiating ginger treatment. Ginger is one of blood thinning herbs and can interact with certain pharmaceutical drugs.

Read more »

Saturday, November 24, 2012

FAMOUS STATEMENTS

Famous Statement
  n Lord Dufferin : Congress was a microscopic minority.
n Lord Curzon :  Congress was ‘tottering to its fall’ and one of his greatest ambition in India was ‘‘to
assist it (congress) a peaceful demise’.
n Charles Napier: ‘We have no right to seize Sind, yet we shall do so and a very advantageous, useful
humane piece of rascality it will be ’’.
n Thomas Roe : ‘‘I know these people are best treated with the sword in one hand and the caducean in the other.’’
n Nabin Chandra Sen : ‘‘The battle of Plassey was followed by a night of eternal gloom for India’’.
n John Sullivan : ‘Our system acts very much like a sponge drawing up all the good things from the
banks of the Ganges and Squeezing them down on the banks Thames’.



n Tipu Sultan - ‘Better to die like a Soldier, than to live a miserable dependent on the infidels in the
list of their pensioned Rajas and nobles.
n Peter the Great of Russia ‘‘Bear in mind that  the commerce of India is the commerce of the world’’.
n Cornwallis- ‘‘Every native of Hindustan is corrupt’’.
n William Bentinck : ‘‘The misery hardly find a parallel in history of commerce, the bones of the cotton weavers were bleaching the plains of India’’.
n Rani of Jhansi - ‘‘With our own hands we shall not let our Azadshahi burry’’.
n J.L. Nehru : ‘‘British power became the guardian and upholder of many and evil custom and practice which it other wise condemned.’’
n Cornwallis : ‘‘One third of Bengal has been transformed into a jungle inhabitated only by wild beats’’
n A.O. Hume - ‘‘A safety valve for the escape of great and growing forces generated by our action was urgently needed’’.
n Dada Bhai Naroji : Regarding law and orders ‘‘pray strike on the back but dont strike on the belly’’.
n Dufferin : Branded the national leaders as ‘‘Disloyal Babus’ ‘‘Seditious Brahmins’ and ‘‘Violent Villains’.
n Swami Vivekananda ‘‘For our own motherland a junction of the two great system - Hinduism and
Islam is the only hope.
n Swami Vivekananda ‘‘We  are just  don’t touchists Our religion is our kitchen, our god is the cooking and our religion is don’t touch me, I am holy. If this goes on for a century, everyone of us will be in a lunatic asylum.
n Aurobindo Ghosh : - ‘‘Political freedom is the life breath of a nation’’.
n Tilak : ‘‘Swaraj is my birth right and I will have it.
n Gandhiji on the eve of Dandi March ‘‘Sedition has become my religion’’.
n Ram Krishna Paramahamsa ‘‘ God is of no use to the hungry belly’
n Swami Vivekananda: ‘‘Christianity wins its prosperity by cutting the throats of its fellowmen.”

Read more »