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Saturday, 14 July 2012

உபவாசம்


உபவாசம்


உபவாச விரதங்களில் எதைக் 

கடைப்பிடித்தால் நல்லது ?



இந்து மதப் புராணத்தில் 27 வகையான 

உபவாச விரதங்கள் 


குறிப்பிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. அவை,



1. உமிழ்நீரைக் கூட விழுங்காமல் இருப்பது. இதை யோகிகள் மட்டுமே கடைப்பிடிப்பார்களாம்.


2. தென் அல்லது இளநீர் ஆகியவற்றில் ஏதாவது ஒன்றை மட்டும் அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


3. பசுவின் பாலை மட்டும் அருந்தி 

உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


4. எந்த உணவுமில்லாமல் தொடர்ந்து பன்னிரண்டு நாட்கள் நீரை மட்டும் அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


5. காலை நேரம் மட்டும் உணவருந்தி 

உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


6. பகல் நேர உணவை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


7. இரவு நேர உணவை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


8. மூன்று நாட்கள்தொடர்ந்து காலை நேர உணவை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


9. மூன்று நாட்கள்தொடர்ந்து மதிய நேர உணவை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


10. மூன்று நாட்கள்தொடர்ந்து இரவு நேர உணவை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


11. கடுமையான விரதங்களுக்கு 21 நாட்கள் வெறும் பசும்பால் மட்டும் அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


12. மூன்று நாட்கள் பகல் ஒருவேளை மூன்று கைப்பிடி உணவை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு 

உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


13. இரவில் மட்டும் மூன்று கைப்பிடி அளவு உணவு மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


14. ஒருநாள் பகல் நேரத்தில் சுத்தமான எள்ளுப் புண்ணாக்கு மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


15. ஒருநாள் இரவில் மட்டும் பசுவின் பால் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


16. ஒரு நாள் மோரை மட்டும் அருந்தி 

உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


17. ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் சுத்தமான நீரை மட்டுமே அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


18. ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் பொரிமாவு (புழுங்கல் அரிசியை வறுத்து நன்கு பொடித்து நெய், தேங்காய், சர்க்கரை ஆகியவற்றைப் போட்டுப் பிசைந்து வைத்திருப்பது) மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


19. ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் திணை மாவு மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


20. தேய்பிறை அன்று ஆரம்பித்து வளர்பிறை முடிந்து திரும்பத் தேய்பிறை நாட்கள் வரை தினம் ஒருபிடி அன்னத்தை மட்டும் சாப்பிட்டு பின்னர் தினம் ஒவ்வொரு பிடி அன்னத்தை அதிகமாக்கிக் கொண்டு சுக்கிலபட்சம் முடிந்த பிறகு திரும்ப ஒவ்வொரு பிடி அன்னமாகக் குறைப்பது என உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


21. ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் வில்வ தழையையும் நீரையும் மட்டுமே அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


22. ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் அரச இலைத் தளிர்களையும், நீரையும் அருந்தி 

உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


23. ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் அத்தி இளந்தளிகளையும், நீரையும் மட்டும் அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


24. இரு வேளை உணவுடன் உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


25. முதல் நாள் ஒரு வேளை பகல் உணவு மட்டும், மறுநாள் இரவு மட்டும் உணவுடன் உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


26. மாமிச உணவுகள், மசாலாக்கள் இல்லாத சைவ உணவுகளை மட்டுமே குறைந்த அளவு சாப்பிட்டு உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.


27. வாழைக்காய், பூண்டு, வெங்காயம், பெருங்காய்ம் ஆகியவை சேர்ந்த உணவுகளை மட்டும் சேர்த்துக் கொள்ளாமல் 

உபவாசம் இருத்தல்.



- இந்த உபவாச விரதங்களில் எதைக் கடைப்பிடித்தால் நல்லது என்கிறீர்களா? உங்கள் உடல் நிலைக்கும், சூழ்நிலைக்கும் தகுந்த எந்த உபவாசத்தையும் நீங்கள் தேர்வு செய்து கொள்ளலாம். ஆனால் எதுவுமே சாப்பிடாமல் நீர் மட்டும் அருந்தி உபவாசம் இருப்பதே சிறந்த விரத முறையாகும்.


 நன்றி - சிவமா?***சவமா?

Sunday, 10 June 2012

Cover of Time magazine


Does Breastfeeding Really Save Money?

By Kimberly Palmer | U.S.News

This week's cover of Time magazine, featuring a woman breastfeeding her tall three-year-old son, launched a range of strong reactions across the blogosphere. Some supporters of attachment parenting lauded the cover as "normalizing" breastfeeding past the age of one, while others felt the defiant stance of mother and son seemed designed to spark outrage and even evoked pornography.
Amid the controversy, the actual article, which explores the birth of attachment parenting, was barely discussed. But attachment parenting, which often includes co-sleeping, long-term breastfeeding, and near-constant togetherness of mother and child also comes with a price. As Hanna Rosin of Slate has pointed out, round-the-clock breastfeeding is hardly compatible with most women's jobs, and the constant sleep deprivation can interfere with getting work done during the day.
Rosin writes in Slate, "There is the very basic objection that it is virtually impossible to do what the advocates say is best for your baby and have a job, which the vast majority of American mothers have these days."
There's also evidence that extended breastfeeding can have a negative impact on earnings. As Ruth Mantell wrote in the Wall Street Journal, breastfeeding can hurt a woman's ability to earn money for her family, largely because of the time it takes. She cites research that shows women who breastfeed for six months or longer face a steeper income decline than those who breastfeed less than six months. And as the researcher points out, money plays a vital role in children's well-being.
Breastfeeding itself is not always as free and easy as it might seem, either. In fact, it can be costly. While avoiding formula certainly saves a lot of money in the first year, by some estimates. and breastfed babies are less likely to come down with certain illnesses, which reduces healthcare costs, breastfeeding today is certainly not "free," at least not for most people.
For parents committed to the attachment parenting model and breastfeeding, there are free resources that can help. La Leche League and the website kellymom.com offer assistance and support to nursing moms. The IRS also recently changed flex spending rules so breast pumps and related nursing supplies are eligible for tax breaks. But it's not so easy to overcome the challenge of finding the time to both work and practice attachment parenting. For parents with jobs that require them to be away for nine to 10 hours a day, it might not even be possible.
What do you think about the price of attachment parenting--is it worth it?

Why does your car's oil light come on?

By Mark McDonald | Popular Mechanics 


Q: The oil light on my 2000 Chevy Cavalier comes on at low rpm and then shuts off as I start driving. I checked the oil level and it's fine. Is this something I should be worried about?

A: Any time the oil light goes on, it's cause for concern. Many newer and high-­feature cars have oil-life monitors that determine when the oil needs to be changed, but the glowing red oil light in your Cavalier indicates the oil pressure is low. That's bad for several reasons. Low pressure means there either isn't enough oil in the system or the oil pump isn't circulating enough oil to keep the critical bearing and friction surfaces lubricated. If the light comes on while at speed, do your best to pull off the road quickly, turn the engine off, and investigate the problem to avoid damage.

Oil is the lifeblood of any engine, but the oil circuit is probably the least appreciated­ engine system. The oil-supply path starts in the oil pan, where a pump sucks up the lubricating fluid and distributes it to passages cast into the block. From there oil is directed to the crankshaft bearings, the camshaft bearings, the valve shafts, and ­other important moving parts. Modern oil formulations include detergents, so regular oil and filter changes at intervals recommended in the owner's manual generally keep the system happy. Unfortunately, everything wears over time, which increases the tiny gaps between sliding parts. Those alone can cause a slight drop in oil pressure, as can an aging pump. 

Before you go too far in diagnosing the problem, it probably makes sense to double-­check the oil level and top it off to make sure that isn't the problem. Since the light comes on at low engine speeds and then shuts off, the oil pump is probably fine; if the pump were dying, you'd see low pressure at high engine speeds as well. The most likely culprit is the sensor that operates the light. The sensor is screwed into the engine and has a probe that resides in an oil passage. It's basically an on/off switch that uses the oil pressure to close an electrical circuit. Sometimes a particle of dirt or some other foreign matter gets into the probe and fouls the part. The sensor is fairly easy to replace—as long as you can get at it, which is ­sometimes difficult. Unhook the wiring, loosen with a wrench, and follow the instructions to replace the sensor. Take the car for a test drive and see if the light still goes on at idle. If it does, you might be due for a new oil pump after all.

Common Conversation Mistakes



Common Conversation Mistakes and How to Avoid Them


Have you ever shown up at a job interview and not known what to say? Ever had to make friendly conversation with an important client or colleague and been at a loss for words? Of course you have- we ALL have!
One woman who has navigated these obstacles and mastered the art of the conversation is NBC Veteran and Emmy Award winning journalist, Jane Hanson.
For close to 30 years, Jane has interviewed everyone from U.S. Presidents to people on the street (and she happened to be the anchor of Today In New York when I started out as reporter for the show!)
Informed, warm, direct and always charming- Jane has truly learned the tricks for building instant rapport and getting people to open up- be it on-camera or in the elevator.
To get the secrets to conversation etiquette "do's" and "don'ts", we headed to NYC to sit down with the pro and do what she does best…chat.
BUILDING INSTANT RAPPORT
When it comes to first meetings, most of us tend to talk a lot more about ourselves than listen. This is often out of nerves or a desire to be interesting or entertaining. Jane emphasizes that this is a no-no. Instead, look for things that might be of interest to the person you're talking with and use them to open up the conversation. Notice a baseball on their desk and ask about it. If they are wearing a colorful brooch, ask them where they got it from. Keep your eyes open and your mouth shut. It's that simple.
Jane's advice:
Don't talk too much about yourself on initial meetings.
Do ask more about others. Look around for clues for conversation openers.
BEATING NERVES
For many of us, walking into a job interview feels like walking into a death trap. We get that sick feeling in the pit of our stomach and those charming sweaty palms (perfect for shaking hands, not!). But it doesn't have to be this way. We figured if Jane can stay calm on LIVE TV, perhaps there were some tips we could learn.
Jane believes that a lot of the nervous energy stems from a lack of research and going into a meeting unprepared. Her secret to beating the nerves is to fully research the person and company you're meeting with. With online search engines able to reveal practically what your interviewer ate for breakfast, there's no excuse to go in blind.
Jane's advice:
Don't go to any interview unprepared.
Do research your interviewer.
LOSE THE "DO OR DIE ATTITUDE"
Instead of going into a job interview and treating it like an audition, take the pressure off and think of it as a place to practice. Don't worry so much if you don't get the job, see it as a learning process for the next interview.
Jane's Advice:
Don't stress.
Do see each interview as practice- taking that pressure off will help you shine.
DEALING WITH "FOOT IN MOUTH"
We've all said the wrong thing, at the wrong time, to the wrong person- and that was just this week! Sure it can be embarrassing but it's also very human and normal.
Jane believes that owning up to a mistake is a much better direction to go than covering up. Don't dwell on it, admit it and then move on. Done!
Jane's Advice:
Don't make excuses or brush over mistakes hoping they will go away.
Do own up to your errors, apologize and get on with it.
PUT A CORK IN IT
When it comes to the best advice Jane has ever been given- it's all about paying attention. Jane highlights how not listening is a problem not only as a journalist, but also as a person navigating everyday life and relationships. If you find yourself in a difficult conversation make sure you really listen to what's being said for clues as to how to respond. Most misunderstanding comes from spending too much time talking and not enough time listening.
Jane's Advice:
Don't blabber on hoping that they will understand you. Eventually.
Do really listen to what they are saying. Often people will give you the answers you're looking for if only you would be quiet long enough to hear them speak. 

How to Ask for a Raise

How to Ask for a Raise
By Kathryn Eisman | Secrets to Your Success 

Show me the $

You're heart is racing, your palms are sweating, swallowing feels you have a bolder in your throat -- if only you could get those five little words out…Can I have a raise?
We've all been through it and know that asking for more money at work is one of the most nerve-wracking, stomach-churning, knee-weakening experiences we have to go through in our professional lives. It's little wonder most of us would prefer to ask for a lobotomy than a raise. But it doesn't need to be this way… 

To find out how to ask for more mullah we headed to New York City to catch up with workplace champion Tory Johnson. Not only is Tory "Good Morning America's" go-to gal for career advice, she is also the founder and CEO of Women for Hire, the countries first and most successful female only career expo, so we figured she might have some words of wisdom…boy were we right! 

Your career fairy godmother has left the building

Most of us grow up thinking that if we work hard, keeps our heads down and our tails up then eventually someone at work will notice and tap us on the shoulder and offer us a raise. Wrong! 

You're going to have to be your own fairy godmother and make your professional career dreams come true for yourself, and here's how… 

1. Justify your raise

In today's economy, with so many people losing their jobs, going the extra mile at work is almost expected. Once upon a time just being with the company a certain amount of years justified a pay increase; these days you will only get paid more if you can prove that you deliver more value to the company. Show your boss just how much you are bringing to the business and that a pay increase is still a bargain considering the extra revenue and value you contribute. Tory says that you should ask yourself: What are you really worth? And if it's what your current salary is paying you to do, focus on stepping up your value before asking for a raise. 

2. "No" can mean "Yes"

Sure it hurts when you hear the dreaded "No", but don't be disheartened. Find our why your boss has rejected your request and ask him, "what could I do that would turn that 'no' into a 'yes'?" Tory suggests that you shouldn't take it to heart, but rather use it to open a dialogue about what areas the company is hoping to grow in and how you can be a part of that growth. And before you walk out that room and eat a chocolate block, ask your boss if you can reschedule to discuss this further at a later date. As Tory says, "No" isn't always a solid no - it could mean "Not Now."

3. Don't be afraid of butterflies

Don't kid yourself, it's NEVER easy picking up the phone or stepping inside an office and asking for a raise, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still do it. In life, fortune favors the brave, quite literally. If you want to make that fortune you better start working on your courage. To overcome nerves, be sure to prepare in bullet-point form all the reasons why you truly deserve a raise and why it's not just in your interest, but more importantly, in the best interest of the company. Think about all the reasons why your boss may object and consider if the objections are valid and if you can do something to overcome them. The more prepared you are, the better, but set a timeline for your meeting or you'll be preparing (read: procrastinating) for years. Remind yourself that while you hope they say yes, it may be the first step in getting a yes down the road. 

4. Find a champion

Most people are told to look for a mentor, but Tory suggests getting a champion instead. What's the difference? A champion not only supports and encourages you as a mentor does, but is in a position to actually help leverage her contacts and political clout to help you get what you seek. Having someone believe in you who is in a position to help you is far more powerful than someone simply cheering from the sidelines.

5. If you want a raise, step up

If you are seen to be taking initiative, moving forward with confidence and commitment, and seeking to be the very best you can be…it's only a matter of time before you find people to support you. People are attracted to others that have a passion and are making it happen for themselves. If you want others to help you (and give you more money), start by elevating your own efforts. Step up to the plate...after all, they don't call it a "raise" for nothing!

Ketchup. We love it.


Ketchup's Unsavory Secret History
By Piper Weiss, Shine Staff | Summer Kick-Off 

Ketchup. We love it. But do we really 
know it?
An estimated 97 percent of American households have a bottle in their fridges right now. Most people like Heinz' original recipe, which consists of tomatoes, vinegar, high fructose corn syrup, salt, spice, onion powder and some other "natural flavorings" the company isn't required to list. Heinz recentlyre-introduced its limited edition ketchup with balsamic vinegar in time for burger season for all you fancy types. But before Heinz, ketchup, or even catsup, there was katchop. The Chinese condiment, from which the burger topping originated, was nothing more than shellfish brine.

A mixture of sea creatures, soaked for days in pickling vinegar and spices, was the basis for the french fry dip we know and love. When British explorers caught wind of it in Singapore in the 1700s, they brought it back to their own Western European kitchens. The result was the first ketchup recipe: a mixture of vinegar, shallots, spices, horseradish, and get this, ANCHOVIES. 

Gizmodo's Rachel Swaby dug up the first English recipe on record published in the 1727 cookbook, Compleat Housewife, which called for 12 to 14 anchovies and zero tomatoes.
"Way back it was more like a fish sauce than our condiment today… and maybe really gross," writes Swaby. "But apparently people didn't think so, because cookbook authors were reprinting the above recipe well into the 19th century." 

Ketchup made from pickled oyster juice was another popular dipping sauce. It wasn't until the 1820s that tomatoes got involved in the mix, and slowly muscled out sea creatures. Thank Heinz, which brought the bottled version to homes in the 1870s. 

Not that the brand has had a perfect record. Remember not too long ago, when Heinz introduced 'funky purple' and 'blastin' green' EZ Squirts ketchup? I'll take ground anchovies over Blue No. 1 and Red No. 3 any day. 

Secret nuclear reactor


Kodak’s (sort of) secret nuclear reactor
By Jeff Stacklin | The Lookout 

How's this for a revelation: The Kodak Eastman Co. had a small nuclear research reactor in a little-known underground labyrinth at its Rochester, N.Y., facility.
And, although locked down and under tight security, it also contained 3½ pounds of highly enriched uranium, reports the the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester. The writer succinctly notes:
That's the material that nuclear bombs are made of. Terrorists covet it.
The imaging company, which has filed for bankruptcy, used the reactor to check chemicals and other materials for impurities, as well as for neutron radiography testing, the newspaper reported. The reactor, acquired by the company in 1974, was about the size of a refrigerator and kept in a 14- by 24-foot cement-lined cavity dug below a basement of one of its research buildings.
"This device presented no radiation risk to the public or employees," company spokesman Christopher Veronda told the newspaper. "Radiation from the operation was not detectable outside of the facility."
Kodak didn't necessarily mean to keep the reactor a secret, the newspaper reported. Rather, it was just never truly public knowledge.
Although it had been mentioned in research papers, Veronda told the newspaper, the company never made a public announcement about it. And he wasn't sure the company ever notified local police, fire or hazardous materials officials that it possessed 
the reactor.
The newspaper acknowledged it learned of the reactor when a Kodak employee mentioned it.
As for the uranium, it is no longer at the facility. It has been shipped to a federal facility in South Carolina, 
the newspaper reported.

Slash Your Car Insurance


How to Slash Your Car Insurance Bill in Half

These nine tips could help you make significant savings in your car insurance.
By John Loos    
We all want to cut our expenses in half. The good news is that while the monthly costs for your smartphone or cable TV may be relatively fixed, your auto insurance rate may have some room to shrink.
The average driver may spend up to $84,000 in a lifetime on car insurance, according to a February 2011 posting on the Motor Trend magazine's website - a figure that could be reduced if you know how to save on your policy.

"The average yearly auto insurance premium is about $850, but there is wide variation around this average," says Loretta Worters, a vice president of the Insurance Information Institute (III), an organization dedicated to improving the public's understanding of insurance. "Many factors can affect your premium."
Check out these nine saving methods to see how you can reduce your car insurance rate.

#1 - Get a Variety of Quotes
Be curious. When purchasing auto insurance, explore your options instead of simply buying the first policy presented to you.
"A good rule of thumb is to get three identical quotes from different insurance companies," says Melissa Fox, deputy press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Insurance.
A quote is the estimated price you will pay if you purchase the policy in question.
Quotes can vary significantly from company to company. For example, a sampling of prices given through the Texas Department of Insurance's Price Guide revealed that annual rates can run as high as $1,795 and as low as $316. That's a $1,479 difference!

#2 - Dig for Discounts
Just as you might scour a store for sales and deals, make sure to research your insurer to know what discounts you could qualify for.
According to the III, available discounts provided by your insurer may include:
  • Low annual mileage - Drivers who use their vehicles sparingly throughout the year.
  • Anti-theft devices - Devices that could prevent car theft, such as car alarms and wheel-locking devices.
  • Long-time customer - Sticking with the same insurance company could yield customer loyalty discounts.
  • Defensive driving courses Completion of accredited driving courses, particularly for drivers over 50.
  • A college student away from home - If your child is driving your vehicle less often, you may be able to take him or her off your policy.

#3 - Regularly Review Your Policy
What fit your driving needs a year ago may not be the best fit today. To allow your policy to reflect your lifestyle, you should get into the habit of regularly reviewing your car insurance policy. Otherwise, you could be paying for unnecessary coverage on your policy.
In order to make sure that you're taking advantage of possible discounts, you should review your policy if you've changed vehicles, added or removed a vehicle, added or removed a driver, or had a significant change to your number of annual miles, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) website, a group comprised of insurance commissioners from all 50 states.

#4 - Improve Your Credit Score
How you spend money says a lot about how responsible you are. Depending on the state, insurance companies could look to your credit score when determining if you are likely to be a safe or more reckless driver.
"For many insurers, credit-based insurance scoring is one of the most important and statistically valid tools to predict the likelihood of a person filing a claim and the likely cost of that claim," says Worters.
What makes up your credit score? Factors such as your payment history, any unpaid debt, your credit history length, or bankruptcies help formulate these credit-based insurance scores, according to Worters.

#5 - Maintain a Good Driving Record
Drive smart, drive safe.
Insurers often reward good driving habits with reductions in rates or lower initial rates, according to the "What Determines the Price of My Auto Insurance Policy," an article on III's website.
For example, look at these annual sample rates - randomly produced by the Texas Department of Insurance's Price Guide - from three insurance companies:
  • Male, 25-65, no violations: $495, $365, $599
  • Male, 25-65, 1 at-fault accident in the past three years: $767, $459, $699
Between the three companies, the motorist with no violations could have saved $272, $94, and $100 per month, respectively.

#6 - Drop Unnecessary Coverage
Trim the fat! Find out what types of coverage are required in your insurance policy.
Most states require some type of minimum liability coverage, which covers damage to other people and their property, according to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association website, a nonprofit insurance information organization.
But some types of coverage could be considered optional. Check with your state's Department of Insurance or your insurance company to learn which insurance elements are required for your policy.
According to Fox, these types of coverage may be optional in your state:
  • Collision - Covers damage to your vehicle.
  • Comprehensive - Covers theft or damage to your vehicle from various hazards, such as a fire or extreme weather.
  • Uninsured Motorist - Covers you in the event of a hit-and-run, or if you're hit by a motorist with no insurance.
  • Underinsured Motorist - Covers you if you are hit by a motorist without sufficient insurance to cover your claim.

#7 - Change What Car You Drive
"If I could recommend one or two ways to make significant savings on your rate, it would probably be the car [you] drive," says Worters.
Worters recommends looking at a vehicle's overall cost, repair costs, safety record, and probability of theft - each of which can affect your rate.
The III article supports Worters' point.
"Some cars cost more to insure than others," notes the article. "Engine sizes, even among the same makes and models, can also impact insurance premiums."
Know the cost of insuring your vehicle. Changing your ride may significantly lower your costs.

#8 - Move to a Suburban or Rural Area
“More cars equals more chance for an accident,” says Fox.
So what does this mean for you? Where you drive and live may be affecting how much you pay for your auto insurance.
"Generally, due to higher rates of vandalism, theft, and accidents, urban drivers pay a higher auto insurance price than those in small towns or rural areas," says Worters.
Some locations also see a greater number of lawsuits as well as higher medical and car repair costs, adds Worters.

#9 - Raise your Deductible
One of the simplest ways to see immediate savings could be changing your deductible, or the amount you agree to pay in the event of an accident before your insurer will contribute any money.
"Increasing your deductible from $200 to $500 could reduce your collision and comprehensive coverage cost by 15 to 30 percent," says Worters. "Going to a $1,000 deductible can save you 40 percent or more."
The reason that higher deductibles may result in lower monthly rates is because a higher deductible means an insurance company will end up paying a smaller amount in the event that you file an accident claim, according to the Texas Department of Insurance website.
But be careful. You should have enough money set aside to pay your deductible in the event of an accident. If you are unable to cover your deductible, your insurance company will only pay part of your claim or could refuse to pay anything.

While each of these tips may not cut your bill in half on its own, when combined they could noticeably slim down your car insurance rate. Know what is necessary for your policy and understand the available discounts at your insurance company.

Can a Kid Be a Psychopath?


Can a Kid Be a Psychopath?
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Senior Editor

Can a young child really be a psychopath?The groundbreaking HBO documentary "Child of Rage" years ago showed how horrific abuse and neglect could leave a child unable to bond with other people, turning them into children "without conscience, who can hurt or even kill without remorse." In other words: the child becomes a psychopath

But what about the kids who aren't abused? What about the ones who, for no discernible reason, do horrible things to other people? 

"I've always said that Michael will grow up to be either a Nobel Prize winner or a serial killer," his mother, Anne, tells Jennifer Kahn in a recent shocking New York Times Magazine article. At age 9, her son has an extreme temper, lashing out violently and deliberately and showing no empathy or remorse. He's intelligent, cold, calculating, and explosive. "It takes a toll," she says, explaining her comment. "There's not a lot of joy and happiness in raising Michael." 

Experts are divided about whether it's right to label a child as a psychopath. On the one hand, their brains are still developing; since psychopathy is largely considered untreatable, such a label would carry a heavy, life-altering stigma. On the other hand, identifying "callous-unemotional" children early could allow for successful treatment -- or at least a heads-up to society. 

But reaching such a diagnosis can be tricky. Certain tendencies, like narcissism and impulsiveness, that are obvious signs of a psychopath are also part and parcel of childhood. And callous-unemotional kids are often extremely intelligent; they're able to lie and manipulate without remorse, making it harder to understand what they're doing and why. "They don't care if someone is mad at them," Paul Frick, a psychologist at the University of New Orleans, told the New York Times. "They don't care if they hurt someone's feelings." 

"If they can get what they want without being cruel, that's often easier," adds Frick, who has spent 20 years studying risk factors for psychopathy in children. "But at the end of the day, they'll do whatever works best." 

The New York Times article mentions the case of 9-year-old Jeffrey Bailey Jr., who in 1986 pushed a 3-year-old into the deep end of a Florida swimming pool and then pulled up a chair to watch the child drown; after the toddler died, Bailey got up and went home. It's a disturbing crime -- and there are other equally disturbing cases of young kids committing cold-blooded murder.
  • In 1993, Jon Venables and Robert Thompson, both 10 years old, took 2-year-old James Bulger by the hand and led the trusting toddler out of a shopping mall in Liverpool, England. Once away from the mall, they spent hours torturing him before beating him to death, reports said.
  • In 1984, Joshua Phillips' mother was cleaning his room when she discovered the dead body of their 8-year-old neighbor, Maddie Clifton, under his bed. The 14-year-old Phillips says he accidentally hit the girl in the eye with a baseball bat and then panicked when she screamed, so he took her to his room and beat and then stabbed her until she stopped.
  • Alyssa Bustamente was 15 when she confessed to luring her 9-year-old neighbor Elizabeth Olten into a nearby forest and killing her in 2009. "I strangled them and slit their throat and stabbed them now they're dead," Bustamante wrote in her diary at the time. "It was ahmazing. As soon as you get over the 'ohmygawd I can't do this' feeling, it's pretty enjoyable. I'm kinda nervous and shaky though right now. Kay, I gotta go to church now...lol." In February, she was sentenced to life in prison.
  • Eric Harris -- who, with his friend Dylan Klebold, killed 13 people and injured 24 others when they opened fire at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 -- had several of the hallmarks of being a psychopath. As ABC News points out, he was described as "controlling, manipulative, and sadistic, but very much in touch with reality."
"Psychopaths don't feel guilty because they are blind to guilt," Frank Ochberg, a former FBI psychiatrist who led the counseling team after Columbine, told ABC News. And, unlike with psychosis (when people are delusional or out-of-touch with reality), psychopaths know exactly what they're doing -- they just don't care how it affects others. 

It's not as if these kids simply lack a moral compass. In "Child of Rage," 6-year-old Beth opens her blue eyes wide and calmly tells her psychiatrist how she'd like to hurt, and even kill, her adoptive parents -- a Baptist preacher and his wife -- and her biological brother. She's calm and conversational as she describes how she has deliberately harmed and killed animals, how she drives pins into her brother and sexually molests him, how she repeatedly slammed his head into a cement floor and only stopped because someone caught her. 
  
Beth suffered extreme physical and sexual abuse and neglect by her biological parents, which experts say could explain her detached, calculating demeanor and her lack of "a sense of conscience." (She now claims that she was "healed" by the time she was 7 or 8, thanks to intensive therapy.) But Michael, in the New York Times Magazine article, seems to have grown up surrounded by love and affection. 

So if nurture (or a lack of it) isn't the only way a person becomes a psychopath, how much does nature have to do with it? Some experts say that psychopathy, like other mental illnesses, may have a genetic component; others think that it is a neurological condition all its own, like autism is, though it's not part of the autism spectrum. Though some psychologists believe one can start seeing psychopathic traits as early as age 5, there is not yet a definitive test for children 
that young. 

"You're not born a psychopath but the foundation is there," Robert Hare, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of British Columbia and author of "Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us," told MSNBC. He has developed specialized checklists to determine whether people age 12 and older show psychopathic tendencies. "We're all born with temperaments that can be shaped by the environment."

Lets get down and dirty!


Lets get down and dirty!
Divya Sudarsanan likes to get her fingers dirty with her mangoes. The messier the experience, the sweeter the taste.

By Divya Sudarsanan

How do you like to eat mangoes?  Yes, this is a fairly innocuous question and not to be met with “a is-this-a-trick-question” glance.  

Let me rephrase:  If I were to place a mango in front of you, how would you prefer to eat it? Eat it organically like it was gorgeously meant to, or have someone cut it up into slices and scooped with a spoon, or diced and cubed to be eaten in piece-meal fashion?

Depending on your answer, you’re either dead to me or an esteemed member of our mango tribe, if you will.

But it just boggles the mind, really, when I hear lame-ass excuses that range from the usual “Oh, mangoes are just so messy” to “I do my own laundry” and an appalling “Why on earth would you want to eat it like that? It’s just so… primitive,” and so on.

Seriously, people, when did you’ll become such sissies and prissies?   

Mangoes, if you haven’t noticed already, are an incredibly versatile fruit. And it is probably the only fruit you can indulge in your childhood fantasies without coming across as a douchebag.

Anyway, to the sissies and prissies above, here’s what I have to say:   •    Well, duh, mangoes are supposed to be messy.  I don’t see a manual that says otherwise.
•    Laundry missy, I don’t suppose you’re feasting on mangoes dressed in your Chanel or Prada?
•    Oh, honey. Opposable thumbs, much?

The best, and dare I say, the only way to eat a mango is with your hands.  Get down and dirty. There are no ifs and buts about mango eating. It is what it is, and the results are marvelous:  Pure. Simple.  Unadulterated.  Joy.  

No fruit can take you on such a wonderful and wholesome experience like a mango.   Eating a mango, especially the juicy and pulpy ones is such a holy treat for your senses. Right from the tearing of the skin with your teeth to the first party-in-your-mouth bite and  the subsequent trickle around your mouth followed by succulent mouthfuls of sweet and sunshine-y goodness.  Nothing can beat the feeling of your teeth running against the skin in a ribbed-like fashion just to savour the last piece of fibrous goodness before you rid the skin completely. By then you ought to have had a delicate sweet and sticky trail of golden goodness running down your arms which, surprise, you are allowed to indulge in – adult or otherwise.    

What’s more if you have a group of friends partaking in this communion at the table, it makes for great food fights and nostalgic childhood memories.

For me, the pièce de résistance is the seed.  This is where you unleash your creativity and make several works of art that range from trolls to paperweights. Alternately, you could use them as weapons at the anal  I-like-my-mangoes-chopped-and-diced-into-bite-sized-mango pieces who tragically don’t know what they are missing. Evidently, the taste of metal holds more promise when they eat their mangoes.  

Like a friend said:  “Mangoes just tastes better when it’s half running down your face”. 
Let’s get down and dirty, shall we?