Vedic Mathematics Vs Abacus - What Will Suit for Kid?

Abacus is a calculating tool which first originated in the European countries. However, it was in China where Abacus became popular and was used for day to day calculations. Predominantly, used as a calculating tool, it has a frame consisting of wires which are attached to frame and beads which slide along these wires. Each bead represents one unit.

Abacus is mainly used to perform addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. It is suggested that abacus learning at a very young age is useful in actuating the brains of the kids. When a child works on abacus, he/she will simultaneously use both his hands to move the beads. The right hand actuates the left hemisphere and the left hand actuates the right hemisphere, thereby helping in developing both sides of the brain in a balanced way. This promotes rapid and balanced development of the entire brain of the child. It is also suggested that Abacus math should be started at very early childhood, as young as age 4. Eventually the child retains the memory of bead positions and the relevant notation.

Abacus math if started during later ages can create a bit of hindrance.

• Although exceptionally helpful, abacus has plenty of drawbacks as the child might get overconfident in mathematics and the child might bypass the regular functions like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division methods.

• Abacus is primarily about cramming. It in a way creates monotony and takes well over two years to master it which might lead the child to get bored.

• Advanced mathematical concepts like calculus, algebra and geometry cannot be solved using abacus, an abacus in contrast to Vedic Mathematics is just basic and elementary.

Vedic Mathematics system is based on the 16 Vedic Sutras. These 16 Sutras were originally written in Sanskrit language and can be easily memorized and using these all kinds of calculations can be made. Vedic mathematics enables one to solve long mathematical problems quickly. It was founded in 1911 and has its roots in Atharva Veda. Vedic math can be entirely done in mind and paperwork is not required. Vedic math starts at a basic level of numbers and gradually progressing to simple additions, subtractions, multiplications and division.

Some advantages of using Vedic Math are -

• Vedic math is not just about solving the basic calculations as with Vedic math one can also be able to solve complex geometrical theorems, calculus sums and algebraic problems.

• Vedic math can be started at later ages as well without any difficulty.

• It is also very useful for competitive exams specifically while solving multiple choice questions where timing is an issue!

The rules of calculation are very simple; It focuses more on learning through logic and understanding of the fundamental concepts of mathematics rather than cramming and repetition as in the case of abacus. These formulae describe the way the mind naturally works and are therefore a great help in directing the student to the appropriate method of solution.

So, basically what a child does in Vedic mathematics is, he/she will derive the answers using the concepts of Vedic mathematics and then compare their final answers got by the regular mathematics process and that will help the child in understanding mathematics better.

One of the best aspects of learning and using Vedic mathematics is that it does not become an additional burden for students, teachers & parents. It rather complements the existing mathematics syllabus and makes mathematics more interesting and enjoyable for all. The only drawback of Vedic mathematics is that it is not advisable for kindergarten and primary school children and a child can understand its concepts only after a certain age; say after the age of 9 or 10. However the advantages and applications of Vedic mathematics are so wide that it minor drawbacks can be overlooked and should is preferred over abacus.

With the current trends in technology, online marketplaces like Braingroom have been booming with the scope to target the right kids to the right fields. In fact, their arena is so simple that all parents have to do is understood what field can help their child in the longer run and boom. You are connected to the right person!



 By Madhula Sathyamoorthy


Article Source:  Vedic Mathematics Vs Abacus - What Will Suit for Kid?

Mathematical Foundations of Physics From Vedic Periods: A Study and Ideas for Computer Applications

A deep insight into the origin of MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES will prove that Mathematics needs the following essential skills: 1. OBSERVATION 2. QUANTIFICATION 3. DERIVATION 4. DOCUMENTATION and 5. MODERNISATION, which includes knowledge of computer applications.

We shall study in this article how VEDIC MATHEMATICS made use of the first four criteria in the Science of mathematics, thus paving the way for the last criterion i.e. Modernisation including computerisation.

1. MATHEMATICS AS A SCIENCE OF OBSERVATION FROM THE VEDIC PERIOD

Nature has its own Rhythm and Order. Intelligent beings, the moment they are born on Earth, start observing the surroundings around them and note the rhythm and order. Mathematical Calculations start at the very early stage of growth.

Even animals have the power of judging space and time. Animals like the tiger, cat etc judge the distances before they leap. This is obvious when they catch hold of their prey by jumping distances. Most of the times, they do not fail. Similarly, birds sense distances and time and they travel thousands of kilometres crossing continents to join their mates.

Hence, it is the basic instinct of living beings to observe, judge and take decisions.

But MAN, by virtue of the unique intelligence he possesses is able to prescribe various measuring techniques and bring uniform systems of measurements in Space and Time. Mathematics is a Science of observing the Universe around us and measuring things using various techniques. This process has started from the very early ages of evolution, like the search for food, shelter etc. At present, there are very modern techniques of mathematics prevalent by the use of computers; however, the basis remains the same.

VEDAS are the most ancient scriptures of the world and we can see that the foundations of mathematics were laid in those days itself. Some of the observations made by the people of Vedic age that have resulted in accurate mathematical calculations are as follows:

* Calculation of pregnancy period was done accurately. Naturally, this could have been one of the very early calculations made by humans. Perhaps even medical science could have started from the study of child birth and the subsequent care of the mother and child.

* Man, after observing Earth for some time looked upwards and watched the sky. His keen observations and recording of astral movements led to the new science ASTRONOMY.

* All calculations regarding exchange of goods, assets, though done by barter exchange had mathematics as the base.

* Auspicious timings were calculated on the basis of almanacs and calendars, which were entirely based on arithmetical calculations.

* Agricultural cycles, seasons etc were all based on a rhythm controlled by mathematics.

* Life cycles of various species were also fixed for a particular period depending on the species.

Thus, every activity in the Universe is controlled by precise mathematical calculations. The Rishis (great Saints) of ancient times, by their simple observation were able to calculate, record, and also foretell the future.

We shall briefly see how Vedas treated the above subject as told in the earliest teachings of mathematics.

2. QUANTIFICATION (FIXING OF SCALES).

In very early ages, there were no fixed scales. Man used parts of his body and their movements for measurements. He used footsteps and palms for measuring the distances, and then multiplied them by several steps and extended to very great distances like light years. Likewise he used twinkling of eyes for measurement of time and extended such small measures to millions of years.

MEASUREMENT OF TIME:

As told in the above paragraph, normal blinking of the human eye is taken as the most fundamental unit of TIME. One NIMESHA is the time taken for blinking once for a normal human eye. 15 NIMESHAS constitute one KASHTA. 30 KASHTAS constitute one KALA. 20 KALAS constitute one MUHURTHA. 30 MUHURTHAS constitute one day of present 24 hours and 30 such days constitute one month.

Six months constitute one AYANA and a year consists of 2 AYANAS. This one year is equivalent to one DAY for Devas (Heavenly subjects or minor Gods). Like this once again let us take 360 days (1 day=2 Ayanas for Heavenly subjects). This is one year for them. 12,000 such years are known as 4 Yugs (ages). (Ages). (Krudh Yuga, Dreta Yug, Dwaper Yug, and Kali Yug). The age we are living is the KALI YUG (BLACK AGE). One thousand ChaturYug is one day for Brahma, (The Creator). A MANVANTRA is one fourteenth of Brahma's single day.

Thus one Manvantra is equal to: 71 Chaturyug, 542 Divine years, 10 Divine months, 8 Divine days, 7 Divine Murthas, 4 Divine Kalas and 8 Divine Kashtas, and 8.5 Divine Nimeshtas.

These calculations were given by the Vedic Rishi named Parasarar; This is equal to 300 millions, 6.7 millions, 20000 human years + 6 chatur Yugs.

This huge scale starts from the simple measurement of the twinkling of eyes.

These are quantified by actual calculation of the actual movement of the Sun and by observing phases of the moon. Full moon, new moon, and eclipses were accurately calculated and thus mathematical derivations were foretold in very early Vedic ages. The two AYANAS (Half years) are known as Dakshinayana (Sun's movement from North to South) and Utharayana (From South to North) and seasons are calculated. Various festivals of India depend upon these calculations.

Likewise, arithmetical calculations like additions, subtractions, multiplications, divisions, arithmetical progressions, geometrical progressions, fractions etc are also given in various verses.

3. DERIVATIONS:

Let us consider the geometric construction of ritual sites.
Vedas were able to solve mathematical problems in constructing fire altars which have different shapes but occupy the same area. The altars were constructed of five layers of burnt bricks with the condition that each layer consist of 200 such bricks and that no adjacent layer will have a congruent layer of bricks.

The Sulba Sutras (easy formulae) contain the earliest verbal expression of the Pythagoras theorem as told in the following Sutra."The diagonal ones of an oblong produces both which the flank and the horizontal", which is nothing but the Pythagoras theorem in the earliest form.

Representation of the un-known as "X":

We are aware that in Mathematics, if two variables in a sum are known and the third is not known, we name it as X and the moment the problem is solved, we remove X and put the known number in its place.

Adi Sankara, the founder of Advaita, the well known Indian Philosophy based on Vedic teachings has used this method in explaining the secret of Divinity. Like X which cannot be defined in Maths, MAYA (Theory of Illusion) cannot be explained by words. Brahmam (The Ultimate God) has created this Universe using Maya (illusion).

The formula is Brahmam (God) + X=Universe. So, the unknown entity X= Universe-Brahmam.

Adi Sankara gave the concept of illusion to explain this. i.e.: Universe-Brahmam= Illusion (Maya). So illusion=X.

The moment this Maya is eliminated, the Universe becomes one with Brahmam. This is the basic teaching of Advaita founded by Adi Sankara.

4. DOCUMENTATION:

As already told, Vedas were not in written form. The teachings were carried over to generation by practice. However, UPANISHADS were written later as explanations to Vedic teachings. Saints have documented them in an orderly manner. KATOPANISHAD is one such Upanishad, as written by Nachiketas, a young Vedic Scholar, in his arguments with Lord Yama (God of Death).

Likewise there are various sutras (formulae) which have given calculations for measuring distances, mass, area, volume etc. Any book on Vedic Mathematics will be able to give a clear treatment of the above subjects. Students with mathematical knowledge are requested to go through them and improve their knowledge based on Vedas.

5. MODERNISATION:

There may be so many AGES in the past, but today is the computer age. Everything is recorded in computers and computerisation has changed the entire outlook of life. But there is a distinct disadvantage in mechanical knowledge. We can observe that even telephone numbers are to be recorded in the machine and referred to every now and then. Modern students have lost their memory power. But students of Vedic period were able to calculate up to the highest degrees of calculation simply by memory. Today's bits, bytes, megabytes, and gigabytes are equivalent to Nimeshas and kashtas of the Vedic period.

Vedic Mathematics has been included in the curriculum in a few colleges. Students are advised to study and specialise this aspect of study so that they can master the subject of mathematics by mental power. By combining it with modern equipments they can reach new heights in achieving their goals.

DR B.Sathyanarayanan,M.Sc (Physics), CAIIB, Ph.D in psychological counselling was a senior manager of a major nationalised bank and got Voluntary Retirement from Service in the year 1997 at the age of 50 with an intention to serve in the academic, literal and social fields. He is aged 70 now and his services are as follows:

He started SPOKEN ENGLISH course and hundreds of students were benefited by it. Several students are getting the coaching at a very low cost because of the support extended by him. A very interesting aspect is that, students are coming from far off places and there is no discrimination of caste or religion and the training includes Muslim and Christian students also. Now he plans to give coaching to failed and average students at a very low cost. A book is also written by him at a very low cost to help the teachers who want to teach English.Because his main subject is Physics, he is teaching Physics as a visiting Professor at Sri Sankara Arts & Science College, Enathur Kanchipuram. His favorite subjects include Nuclear Physics, Theory of relativity, Quantum Mechanics,He is a creative writer and is publishing the magazines ULAGA TAMIL ARANGAM In Tamil and PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE in English. Both contain excellent articles on Philosophy,Science, religion, poems, short stories and plays in Tamil and English respectively..

He got a training in HIV/AIDS intervention with the Christian Medical College, Vellore. He started the N.G.O "SAGODHAR" (Society for Advocacy and Global Organisation Dedicated for HIV/AIDS Research). He is associated with several other N.G.Os working in this field and he is assisting HIV/AIDS affected men, women & children. He is giving free psychological counseling on these issues.



 By Sathyanarayanan Bhimarao


Article Source: Mathematical Foundations of Physics From Vedic Periods: A Study and Ideas for Computer Applications

Top Shows Like Log Horizon (Anime)

Log Horizon. By far one of my favorite shows, for multiple reasons. If you are unfamiliar, the show is about a bunch of players of a popular MMORPG that suddenly appear inside the game, except, it's no longer a game. Somehow, the world they knew as "Elder Tale" has become a reality, and they have to learn how to survive in this world. Between learning to fight with their new bodies, that resemble their old avatars, to figuring out how to manage the relationship between Adventurers (players) and the People of the Land (NPCs). Log Horizon covers it all, and it does so brilliantly.

So what makes it so good? For me, it's the details. Unlike most shows, Log Horizon drills the details home, and I love it for that reason. The fact of the matter is, they are inside a game world. The author explains the story from the players perspective of gamers, using terms like "party" or "raid." However, it is also their new reality. We get to see the characters struggle between this "reality" and thinking that it's still "just a game." More importantly, the show heavily goes into player interactions, to the point of self-governing. Behind it all is Master Shiroe, probably the best main character I've seen.

So... that's all fine and good, but you are probably reading this because you know how amazing it is. You want to know what you can watch that will give you that same feeling. I got you. Let's get to the list, shall we?

Sword Art Online

Where there is Log Horizon, there is SAO; that's just how it is. Though, I'm putting it in here for a slightly different reason. SAO and Log Horizon are similar, but focus on different aspects. SAO has the "game" feel that Log Horizon does, but takes it to the next level based on the fact of death being absolute. SAO enacts the drama side of being trapped in another world really well, which is why I think you'll like it.

Of course, there is more to SAO than that, but I want to focus sorely on the first season (Aincrad). We get more of the awesome fights that are far and few between in Log Horizon; mainly, boss raids. Though SAO does not go into as much detail as Log Horizon on these raids, the fight scenes are still pretty cool.

I'd recommend you checking out SAO, at least the first season, if you are wanting a more drama out of the show, and don't mind being stuck to the main character (unlike LH where we follow many characters).

No Game No Life

So you like Log Horizon because of the depth. You are in love with it, as am I. Well, you will probably like No Game No Life. If you go crazy, fan girl over some of Master Shiroe's plans, then you definitely will like this show. I'm not going to lie, this is more of a comedy show, but the depth of the games that the main characters play is second to none.

Basically, the two main characters are beast gamers and they get trapped in a world where games decide everything. You can guess what happens. We get to go along with these two on some amazing, high risk games. Some of which you have no idea how they won until after the end. The only thing you have to know about this anime to enjoy it: Blank never loses.

I'd recommend giving No Game No Life a go if you are in a lighter mood, you know, wanting some comedy. This anime doesn't have as much drama attached, but the thoroughness of the games they play is something to marvel at.

Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash

I love me some Grimgar. This is one of those shows that usually flies under the radar, you know, because it's not a high dollar show. This has a very similar premise to LH, meaning that the main characters just appear in another world. Except, Grimgar is far from a game. It has game-like qualities, like guilds or skills, but it is most certainly a reality, and our characters learn that very quickly.

This show doesn't go as in-depth on things such as combat or strategy, but focuses more on the struggle of life. We are taken on a journey where these teenagers are thrown into a world where they must kill to survive. They have to kill to make money, and, as the main character Haru says, "everything costs money."

I'd say give Grimgar a go if you are wanting an adventure that is real, not fantasy. The drama present in this show is that of real life and death, and isn't masked by a video game. Do try and ignore the fan service in the first few episodes, it dies down after a while (they use it as a comic relief way too much in the beginning).

Konosuba

This show. Let me tell you, will have you dying with laughter. If, like No Game No Life, you are looking for a more fun spin, this is your show. Quite simply, it is pretty much a parody. There is not a single serious moment in this anime, well, maybe the very beginning. Basically, main character dies and gets the option to be re-born in a fantasy, game-like world. Of course, he takes it, and the goddess granting him the wish with him.

Chaos ensues. Hilarious, glorious, chaos. We get to see a dysfunctional party form together, which includes an explosive mage that can only cast one spell a day, mind you. Even the fights with the "evil" guys in this show aren't very serious, if that tells you anything. Of course, with fantasy / comedy usually comes fan service, and this show is no exception.

Konosuba is a great breath of fresh, comedic air after the intensive, dramatic shows like LH. Give it a go if you are a fan of the game-like worlds and want to have a good long laugh. Not to mention, it's getting a season 2 as well.

Gate

Lastly, we have Gate. Gate is an interesting show, to say the least. Basically, modern military meets fantasy, medieval-like world. A portal forms in modern world Japan, connecting the modern world to this other world with mages, dragons, and the like. However, they may have magic, but they are no match for guns and tanks!

This show is great because you get a little action, a little politics, and a little of just about everything. You get to follow the main characters perspective as a foot soldier, but also can see what's going on with Japan's leader and the political pressure he is under. This show also accurately depicts the slanderous ways of the media.

Give this show a watch if you are a fan of a good story that covers more than one angle. You get to see so many different perspectives in this show that it is quite refreshing. Plus, we get to learn that war is not all about the fighting, there is a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Also, Rory is an awesome character.

Conclusion

There you have it, the top anime that I would recommend if you are a fan of Log Horizon. You may love or hate some of these, but that just comes with the territory of anime shows and people's personal tastes. I, personally, enjoyed all of them, and thought I would share my thoughts on every show. Happy anime watching!

Written By: Kyle Hawk

If you enjoyed what I have written here and want to support me, or just want to find an anime show to watch, really, check out my awesome website randomanime.org.


 By Kyle W Hawk


Article Source: Top Shows Like Log Horizon (Anime)

Weekly Review: Sword Art Online - Final Impressions

Introduction

Sword Art Online, or SAO, means a lot of things to a lot of people. The anime practically blew up to the point where at least everyone with a casual interest in anime has heard the name. As popular as it may be, that was also its downfall. Nowadays, any mention of the anime usually comes with a lot of criticism for lack of depth, character development, and flaws. Despite all of that, I still feel that this series is something magical. It may just be my own bias, as it was one of the first series I ever got heavily invested in. Seriously, I've watched it six times (twice sub, and four times dub), and now I've just completed the first eight books of the series (which is as far as the English translations have gotten). Of course, after all of this, I'm a little burned out on SAO. Of course, that's not going to stop my from giving my final impressions on this series that means so much to me.

Anime - Overall

Just from taking a look at the anime, it's pretty good. The animation, done by A-1 Pictures is stunningly beautiful, it's no Unlimited Budget Works, but it still looks nice. The series progresses from arc to arc very gracefully, as you would expect any anime to do. However, the Aincrad Arc, which is the first and by far the most important one, seems way too rushed. I mean, they cover 75 floors in a matter of 13 episodes. It would of been nice to see a little more detail in this arc, or all of them for that matter.

Despite its being rushed, it's still a better than average fantasy anime for those who like that type. There are plenty of fantasy elements as we follow Kirito through the vast virtual worlds of Aincrad, Alfheim, and even Gun Gale. The problem with this, again, lies in the details. There are minor inconsistency which become more obvious if you watch it more than once. For example, Kirito's battle healing stat that is only existent for one episode. Every episode thereafter his health never replenishes the way it does in that single episode.

Despite the minor flaws, and rushed development, the anime still opens the gateway to a wonderful, fantasy, virtual world.

Light Novels - Overall

My anticipation whenever I started the light novels was the cliche "The books are always better" saying. I have to say, that still holds true, but only somewhat and in some of the books. Aincrad arc is still way too short, but we learn why. The original book was written for a short story competition, and had a lot cut out of it. Then the author went back in with short stories in the second and eighth books in order to make up for it. Thus, the anime is the patched together work of books 1, 2, and part of 8, which even the author admitted there were plenty of inconsistencies. Honestly, who could blame him? Between book 1 and 8 a whole two or three years had gone by.

There were still more detailed moments, though. Scenes that didn't make the cut for the anime that were important, and even worse, stories that got condensed. "Murder in the Safe Zone" is one of the most boring parts of the anime in the Aincrad Arc; however, the book it is exciting. The book is far more in depth on this particular story than the anime ever is. For example, the book involved other people such as Agil and Heathcliff, that never made an appearance in this story in the anime. Not to mention Schmidt's personality is completely different in the story from the anime.

It's little things like that that add up and make the books better. Little scenes that the anime thought wasn't important enough to make the cut, add up into better character development. For another example, there is a whole scene with Kirito and Klein that drastically improves their development in the story, that never made the anime. Quite sad really.

Honestly, they could have easily made Aincrad last a whole 24 episode season if they wanted to. If they did that, people's opinions of the show could be drastically changed.

The future

Now I know I'm burned out right now, but there is still plenty of SAO to be had. The next arc, Alicization, hasn't been translated to English yet, so I can't read it. Also, with the confirmation of SAO Season III somewhere in the future, you have to bet that it is going to be based on that Arc. Of course, this raises some concerns for me. The Alicization Arc itself is as long as the entire series has been up until now, which means there is a whole heck of a lot of information in there. My concern is that they are going to try and chop it down into twelve or thirteen episodes when it could probably easily be twenty-four as well. Guess I have to hope for the best.

Conclusion

SAO is still one of my favorite anime shows out there, even with its flaws. Because of SAO, I found and fell in love with similar stories such as Grimgar and Log Horizon. In fact, SAO is the reason I got so big into anime in the first place! I owe this series so much, and it pains me to see people criticize it, but I understand why they do. It has its flaws, every show does. Deep down, I truly believe it is an amazing story that everyone should give a shot, at least the Aincrad Arc.

I guess I'll leave you with one of my favorite quotes, or partial quote rather, from the one and only Kirito:

"In this world, strength is just an illusion."

Written By: Kyle Hawk

If you are in the market for a new anime show, give my random anime generator a shot. I work hard every day to keep it up to date!


 By Kyle W Hawk


Article Source: Weekly Review: Sword Art Online - Final Impressions

Weekly Review: Akame Ga Kill!

Akame ga Kill is another one of those anime shows that I, honestly, had no idea it even existed. Well, I kind of did. Every time I would look for a new anime to watch my brother would scream at me to watch it, saying, "Have I ever steered your wrong before?!" Eventually, I caved; and so, my adventure into the world of Akame ga Kill started. I wasn't expecting much, in fact, I didn't even know what it was about. All I knew is it was supposed to have some cool action scenes.

Why don't I walk you through the first episode? In the beginning we see a couple travelers being attacked by a monster, they are saved by a young man named Tatsumi. Now, based on how easily he dispatched the monster, we assume that Tatsumi is pretty strong. He is on his way to the capital to enlist in the army to send money back to his poor village. In fact, he was traveling with two friends, but they got separated, so he is hoping to meet up with them back in the village. It's at this point that the travelers he saved warn him of the people there, but he takes it with a grain of salt.

Within his first day in the capital, Tatsumi gets rejected from the army and all of his money stolen. This is when a nice young lady takes him in, and allows him to stay with her wealthy family. Tatsumi is finally convinced that he has found a descent group of people in the capital; then, Night Raid attacks. Tatsumi manages to catch up to the young girl and a guard outside of a barn on their property, this is after the girl's mother and father had already been killed. This is where Night Raid catches up to the group; thinking he is doing the right thing, Tatsumi tries to defend the girl.

Within two seconds, you realize that these Night Raid people are on a whole another level than Tatsumi. This is when the real shocker comes in. Since he is not their target, Night Raid decides to show Tatsumi why they are killing this family. They open the barn door to reveal a slaughter house. Hanging in the middle is one of Tatsumi's friend, dead from torture. In the corner, inside a cage, is his other friend, obviously tortured as well, who dies soon after seeing Tatsumi. After seeing his friends brutally tortured to death, Tatsumi cuts down the young lady himself. That is when Night Raid decides that he should join them and practically kidnaps him.

Now I don't know about you, but that alone took a complete one eighty from where I thought the story was going. I almost couldn't even believe it happened. The story had gone from kind of funny and carefree to holy crap people are being tortured and are dead. That's the kind of show that this is. You think it's all fun and games, and then, bam, something unexpected happens that makes you tear up.

This show is quite unique, the only other show like it, I believe, is Attack on Titan. Now before you say they have nothing to do with each other, I would like to say, they do. Plot armor. You know, the mysterious thing that keeps main characters alive? Yeah, neither of these shows have it. Akame ga Kill has even LESS plot armor that Attack on Titan. Meaning not even the main character(s) is/are safe. So, it's pretty hectic whenever a fight starts. This is amplified by the anime explaining whenever two Imperial Arms (powerful weapon) users fight, one must die. So every time you are thinking, oh god, is my favorite character going to die?!

That being said, there are still some comedic times. Like the whole love thing between Tatsumi and Esdeath. If you don't know, Esdeath is a bad ass that is head over heals in love with Tatsumi, of course, she is also Night Raid's mortal enemy. Even in a show like Akame ga Kill, they have time for a brief swim suit episode. By now, I think that is almost obligatory in every anime show.

What makes Akame ga Kill truly special, however, is the moral grey line the show has. The enemy forces don't really seem like the enemy. In fact, the show goes out of its way to show you that they're human too. So when the time comes for the "good" and "bad" guys to fight, you are almost torn about who you want to win. I was honestly sad with almost every death in this show, besides the cannon fodder, fill ins that we don't care about.

The only bad side of this show is toward the end. They incredibly rush the ending, almost tossing in deaths like frag grenades just to get to the ending. For instance, Tatsumi's death in the anime seemed a little... forced. Not to mention that Mine's death seemed a little odd too. In any sense, the ending kind of put a damper on things, but it was still good. The final showdown between Esdeath and Akame was a truly awesome battle worthy of the final fight headline.

Overall, this is a good show. It tears away from the norm that there are good guys and there are bad guys. It also proves that anyone, and I mean anyone, can die at any time. It's like an anime that has a bit of reality to it. Pretty awesome, if you ask me.

Written By: Kyle Hawk

If you are looking for a new show to watch, my random anime generator will certainly help you out!


 By Kyle W Hawk


Article Source: Weekly Review: Akame Ga Kill!

The December Years

Shirley had just finished her shower when she heard the phone ringing off the hook.

She wrapped the towel quickly around her body and ran to answer it.

"Hello. Is this Shirley? This is Laura Giancarlo, the property manager at the Raintree Senior Living Center in Fairfield."

"Oh Hi, nice to hear from you," Shirley responded.

"It looks like I will have a one bedroom available for you but you won't be able to move in until the first of November." Laura went on hurriedly, "Can you handle it?"

"Wow that is close," said Shirley, hesitatingly. She glanced at the calendar and looked at the packed boxes around her house. "Two weeks? Hmm... Sure, perfect timing. I have to move out of here by the tenth anyway. All my boxes are nearly packed and ready to go."

"Great! I need you to come in tomorrow to sign the lease," Laura responded with sudden warmth. "I also will need two cashier checks: one for the security deposit of $450.00 and another for $350.00 for the rent." Laura added. "Please bring in your original birth certificate as well. That is a must!"

"Okay," Shirley said." "See you tomorrow." She turned quickly with the phone still glued to her hand, stubbing her toe badly on the edge of the box she left near her desk the night before.

"Ooouuuuccchhh! Damn it! I hope I didn't break my toe. I can't tell if it's broken," Shirley yelled hopping around. "Geez, but it sure hurts." Shirley moved across to her desk and sat down on the brown leather chair.

She immediately placed an ice cube on her toe, tears streaming down her face.

Everywhere she stepped there was a clutter of packed boxes and furniture in her way. Her living room looked like a storage closet.

Shirley always knew her living room had a lot of potential, but not this much.

She rinsed out the coffee pot and measured several spoons of coffee into the basket.

Shirley sat waiting for the coffee to perk while she nursed her toe.

She couldn't believe her spot on the waiting list finally came up and that she would be moving in just two weeks. Two years ago she had applied to many affordable housing units and now one of them finally came through under a HUD sponsorship. She just made it too, since the new waiting list was now three to five years long.

Thankfully she was just short of being tossed out by her ungrateful son. She hadn't even seen her new apartment yet to get the feel of it or where to put her belongings.

There was nothing plush about this six-floor building with three hundred units. From the outside it seemed alright but inside it looked shabby and dirty. She had always had her hopes set on having a balcony from where she could breathe in a scenic view. Her face bore a worried expression. Her thin lips were compressed and sullen. Shirley's income had dwindled drastically and, after 39 years, she was forced to move. She was making a strong effort to repress her anger and aggravation. She looked like a different being from the soft and timid person that she was. She was nervous about the apartment, about her circumstances. Her son had already rented her room out. Who needs enemies when you have kids?

She still hadn't finished packing before the stranger climbed her steps and was at the door.

"OMG! I have to call the movers to confirm the date. I hope they are available for that day." Wrapping her fingers around the cup, she popped two aspirins into her mouth and sipped her hot coffee while she dialed their number. She loved the way the coffee warmed her insides when she swallowed it. There was nothing better than that first cup of coffee in the morning.

"What did you say?" Shirley screamed. "You can't move me on the first? OMG! I can't believe this. Now, what am I supposed to do?" She hurriedly washed the cup, spoon and coffee pot and called her friend Nellie. Nellie had four healthy sons. "Of course, we will help you move. The boys won't mind." Nellie Said.

Shirley let out a deep sigh, relieved that the problem was solved.

"Are you free tomorrow? Can you go with me to the rental office and see the apartment?"

"Sure Shirley," Nellie said." I know how long you have been waiting for this since your husband died. It has been tough for you. I'll bring my tape measure to see if everything will fit."

Shirley and her friend Nellie finally arrived at the building's large parking lot. There was quite a distance to walk to the entrance so Nellie let her friend off at the entrance and parked her car.

Shirley quickly pressed the button that said OFFICE and with a loud buzzing noise the inner door unlocked. Shirley and Nellie quickly slipped in, closing the door behind them.

The entrance to the building led to a lobby and sitting area.

Only one elevator seemed to be working as it hung onto its last breath. "Ugh!" She murmured. The other one had been dead for two years. There was a REST IN PEACE sign in front of it. The lobby was alive with activity.

Tenants jammed the lobby area to catch the senior bus to go shopping.

A moment later the wailing of a police car and ambulance siren arriving at the building drowned everything else out. Two paramedics came rushing into the building pushing a stretcher to the elevator to pick up an emergency care patient who had fallen.

Two women pushing shopping carts full of groceries were coming from the side entrance to wait their turn to get on the elevator. One of them kept pushing the elevator button repeatedly, thinking that it would hurry up on her command.

A tenant with a dog on her way out greeted Shirley before the dog, after sniffing around, decided to lift his leg on the door, leaving a puddle.

"No... No, bad puppy dog," the tenant said, and then continued on her way leaving the pool behind.

"Geez," Shirley mumbled, "that's disgusting. I don't think I am going to like this place."

The Janitor, in a foul mood, came out with his smelly dirty mop, cursing under his breath as he wiped away dog urine for the umpteenth time."Screw it" same garbage every day, I'm so tired of this. Why don't these dog owners clean up their dog's piss and crap on the floor? I'm stuck right here, all day, working for my measly take-home pay. The janitor mumbled to himself.

A Hispanic woman quickly introduced herself to Shirley, excited for someone new to share her juicy gossip with on some of the tenants and the place itself.

"OMG. This place is an insane asylum." Shirley said to herself.

When they reached the office Shirley knocked on the door.

"Yyyyeeeeesssssss?" Laura's assistant responded. "Come in."

She was sitting behind her desk wearing reading glasses and perusing a stack of papers. She seemed dedicated to her work but her lips were pressed together in a frown that told Shirley she didn't like her job.

Shirley immediately stated that she had a ten o'clock appointment with Laura.

"She is not here right now; she should be arriving soon." Laura's assistant replied. She was always late. "If it has to do with apartment rental I have nothing to do with that. That's her job. I have enough to do without adding more to my tasks."

"Can you both wait outside? I have a couple of calls to make?" The assistant spoke abruptly.Feeling the stinging tone in her voice, Shirley and Nellie removed themselves from the inner office and waited outside for Laura.

At that moment Laura greeted everyone as she entered the room, all flustered. She awkwardly made her way to her desk. She hadn't been in the office that early in the morning in almost a week. Laura's assistant nodded her head in the direction of the two women sitting outside. Laura got up and went outside to welcome Shirley.

"Please come in," Laura said.

"Do you have the checks that I requested? Oh good, I have all the paperwork here for you to sign. Did you also bring your original birth certificate showing that you are a U.S. citizen? I have your initial application. Raintree Senior Living is a state-funded project designed to assist you with your rent. I have to emphasize that you MUST be the only one occupying the unit. If you add someone else without including them in the lease we have every right to take action against you. Understood?" Laura explained.

Shirley had introduced her friend, Nellie, to mention that she needed her to see the apartment to take measurements as to where the furniture should go when she moved. There was no visible floor plan.

Shirley handed the property manager the two checks, signed the year's lease and received the key. She immediately went to view her apartment on the second floor. She walked down the long corridor covered with sidebars, which reminded her of a nursing home.

Shirley was shocked when she opened the door to her one-bedroom apartment. She loved the largeness of her rooms. The kitchen was small. But for her it was perfect. She had new appliances and cabinets. Everything was clean and shiny, ready to move into. She was very pleased. She was expecting the worst scenario after her painful introduction to the place. After Nellie had taken the measurements they both went home to wait for 'Moving Day.'

As soon as her son arrived home from work she immediately told him she was moving on the first of November. She was caught off guard by the surprise expression on his face. She guessed he hadn't taken her seriously.

Nellie's sons were all there at 9 AM on the dot. They began to load the truck, putting the larger pieces of furniture on first, and then followed it up with the smaller pieces and boxes. They expertly moved everything out of the apartment within the hour. They were energetic, organized and young. She felt a significant weight finally lift off of her shoulders when she saw them drive away. Nellie stayed at the housing complex, directing her sons where to place everything. The over-sized sofa did not fit in the elevator so they had to carry it up the stairs to the second floor. Nellie and her sons left as soon as they brought in the last of Shirley's belongings.

Shirley was overwhelmed with the mess displayed before her, but she was resolved to make life resume with a semblance of normality once again.

She stood in the middle of the bedroom and wondered where to start. The first furniture piece that caught her eye was the empty full-sized bookcase standing in the corner of the room. Turning to the boxes marked BOOKS she began to unpack several of them, arranging and rearranging them on the shelves. 'One bookcase down and two more to go,' she thought to herself.

Shirley began to feel fatigue and hunger pangs and decided to stop what she was doing to shop for groceries.

As she walked from the elevator to leave the building she passed several gloomy looking women sitting in the lobby. Shirley decided to say hello to them.

The women did not respond, ignoring her presence.

Their expressionless faces were cemented in Shirley's mind, reflecting too many stories with unhappy endings.

Is this what happens when one becomes old? One becomes abandoned by families and friends? Across the lobby were sounds of happy voices and merry laughter heard from the other tenants. It was like music to her ears.

Shirley said to herself, "will their laughter and joy eventually be replaced by a more pessimistic outlook as time and disappointment invades their daily lives?

She shuddered at the thought. Shirley decided to give up the effort to continue observing what was happening and concentrate on bracing herself for the final chapter of her life.

If you would like to read more articles like this or on a wide range of topics please visit: http://mimispeaks.blogspot.com/2015/06/a-writers-niche-and-chit-chat-over.html Miriam B. Medina loves to write and at length too. So I suggest you find yourself a comfortable chair, and while you are at it, grab a steaming hot cup of coffee and a bagel with cream cheese and you will be all set to settle down for a while. Happy reading.


 By Miriam B Medina


Article Source: The December Years

The Complex Simulation

The mystery of the universe as we see it now and since time immemorial has deepened with passage of time. Our understanding of the complex formation has not significantly improved as one may think but as Albert Schweitzer suggested that by acquiring more knowledge, things have become even more complex. The reason is not that we have stopped learning but because there are too many plausible options to focus on and then pick one that sounds most credible is bit of a challenge. The plethora of choices has made selection extremely difficult, if not impossible.

I believe there is a simpler explanation to this enigma. We observe and are well aware that patterns do emerge when we continue to watch an activity over a period of time. From witnessing the behavior of say, a cat that has never gone out or played with other cats, to monitoring the traffic flow at different times of the day on a freeway. There are discernable patterns that convey messages as trends firm up without any apparent logical reasoning, though there is always one when analyzed in depth.

So what do patterns really signify? They show to us that there are rules out there, physical laws and subtle senses such as instincts. Another observation is that all systems from atoms to plants or to colossal galactic systems are subject to same physical laws regardless of their size, complexity or location. Will it then be safe to assume that they are all interdependent and interconnected and under control of the same architect? Or they are all independent and are different from one and other yet subject to same physical laws?

Whether they are independent or components or sub-systems of a whole, they are complete systems. Well, if they are construed as systems then there must be an architect who has designed them? But that is not the subject of my argument here. All I am suggesting is that from our understanding of 'Reality', all that is there is real, from ourselves to things around us and the celestial bodies beyond our super-tiny planet and beyond the known and the unknown range, and the forces that maintain balance to keep the system in place.

Now, from the standpoint of the creator who has designed these systems, are they just software or programs or more appropriately simulations? If the cat that never left her home and never observed any other cat invariably behaves in the exact same manner in different situations as a cat should do then the assumption that she is acting per the program written for her kind is rather logical. Thus we can safely assume that instincts are not and can never be mere coincidences but are coded instructions to guide actions of a particular subject in a particular situation.

Does it make sense now?

If we are living in a simulated environment then who are we? And why have we been created? If we are real, not from our perception of reality but from the architect's standpoint then we are certainly being driven or run by programs else patterns would never emerge in the first place for they point at an intelligently designed and highly sophisticated architecture.

Branches of science that digressed from their mothers like for example numerology, does it mean something when its practitioners talk about vibrations of numbers? May be the numbers are simple programs when coded, showing patterns and commonalities that convinced its followers over a period of centuries that there is some truth out there. They grasped it in a subtle way according to their degree of understanding but did not expand it further to view it as codes and programming. In our so called advanced era, such topics are regrettably brushed aside as occult whereas they present mathematical relationships and evidences and deserve to be explored and investigated by academia.

If the entire set up is a simulation then there is some possibility that there may be other such simulations running in parallel that we are not aware of and have no way to find out if they exist. If they do then will there ever be a time when we will be able to see through them or perhaps go there? If the assumption is valid then we might as well be immortals. Once the stay here comes to an end, we move elsewhere or perhaps we just do not go anywhere, we are transferred to the CPU and can be retrieved anytime, creating another copy? What if that is the case and what is required to create another version of us? An abode or body, which if the assumption of a simulation setting is correct then is a matter of seconds to reproduce us. Just a click and we all will be alive again, as we understand the meaning of being alive, or the assumed realm of reality. If all that we know or are not aware of is interconnected, one big system then it's a rather simple job to move from one galaxy to another in the blink of an eye, at least theoretically.

All the religious scriptures more or less narrate the same concept, of resurrection, rapture, a time when we will rise again from the dead. That too just cannot be a coincidence. If seen from the simulated setting concept perspective, it is a simple programming effort. Like rebooting a system or uploading a newer version or simply reloading the same program. From a logical perspective, it makes more sense to believe that our surroundings including us are not just a product of some galactic accident but a well thought-out scheme with a definite purpose. Accidents lead to a jumble and inactivity whereas creation leads to order and progress. Birth or the beginning does not breed the idea of death or the end. It denotes life, or continuity that endorses the belief of immortality to be achieved at some point.

No system is created by accident neither it evolves on its own. It is designed, upgraded and continually maintained, unless the architect designs self-regulated systems with software written in a way that they come to an apparent end but in reality they help continue the cycle, something we often witness. Rare events like super-nova, a phenomenon in a massive birthplace where new stars are born while the older stars enrich the interstellar medium before perishing, creating a fertile environment for newcomers and so on and so forth. Just like our setup on this planet, old leave while new arrive. It is the same cycle everywhere though the degree of distance and size make them look somewhat dissimilar.

If whatever we have read so far makes sense then are we possibly the next custodians of simulations that we will be managing after this one comes to an end? There must be a purpose as to why were we brought to this planet. Are there other planets like ours, may be. If not then are we the pioneers who will be relocating to new planets? And why do we need to physically travel to new and distant planets millions of light years away? If we are saved as files in some central database and this is one gigantic and interconnected system then we just need to emerge wherever the architect wants us to be alive again. Are we being prepared to take on new roles? In that case the Big Bang was the start of the simulation and subsequent evolution is a planned upgrade of the system, till the present time, and beyond?

Points to ponder;

a- May be there is no life elsewhere in the universe. We are the first such living beings created?
b- If point 'a' is true then the other planets will not remain uninhabited for long. They will be populated in due course?
c- May be all the previous living beings (civilizations) had long been perished and we are the last one in that sequence?
d- If all those born and departed will be recreated then we will need much larger space, if we all will inhabit the same planet?
e- Evolution is not random or uncontrolled. It is a systematic and deliberate upgrade of the system.
f- Whatever transpires is fully documented and recorded, and is retrievable.
g- We can retrieve those messages and images if we know the source codes.
h- Like in a treasure hunt game, the discoveries we so proudly call inventions were mere revelations, unveiled to those who searched for them.
i- Time at some point will cease to exist.
j- Scientists, teachers, astronomers and management gurus etc. who did exceptionally well on this planet will be entrusted with greater responsibilities to manage the affairs of the other worlds.
k- It appears from lack of new initiatives, ideas, artistic creations and discoveries that most probably it's the wrap up time or what we know as the end of times.
l- If all objectives of the simulation have been achieved then be ready for our existence to come to an abrupt end. But do not fear. It is going to be better.
m- Remember, life means continuity and death is not the end, just an exit from this world.

If this is a plausible theory then it is not that complex, really! It is a rather simple simulation from the perspective of the one who has designed it, from our standpoint though, it seems incomprehensible!

 raziakber@yahoo.com


 By Razi Akber


Article Source: The Complex Simulation

Safety On The Seas: Avoiding Cruise Ship Accidents and Illnesses

Cruising the vast ocean on a huge luxury cruise line is one of the most popular ways of enjoying holidays, but stories state that every now or then there is a sickness epidemic or an ill-fated accident on the cruise ship.

Here the thing: If somebody onboard does accede to a nasty virus, it can quickly spread on board and because it's a closed environment where many people share things, the passengers can fall sick easily. To avoid catching stomach bug, flu virus or any other infection, stick to the following strategies:

Go To A Travel Medicine Specialist Before Your Trip

If you think a throat trickle or bellyache is unpleasant, then you certainly don't want to know what dengue fever feels like. A specially trained nurse or doctor in the area of travel will update you regarding the vaccines available in the areas you're docking and can assist you on what's recommended and what's absolutely required.

Pack A Hand Sanitizer With You

While all the reputable cruise lines are highly stringent about their cleanliness, it doesn't hurt a bit if you be extra cautious about the germ parts of your cabin like the doorknob, the remote or the phone. Even the best scoring ships are vulnerable - all it takes is one highly infectious individual to step on bard and things change in no time.

Avoid Using Common Utensils

Cruise lines often lessen self-serve buffets for at least three to five days of trip, so that sick passengers can be identified and separated before the germs spread. However every time the ship docks, chances are that the passengers are exposed to viral and bacterial infections, the risk of falling sick continues throughout the trip. To be extra safe, avoid self-serve options. If a fellow passenger is in front of you in the buffet line and offers you to pass along a silverware or plate, decline it or just take it and keep it back politely.

No Sharing

Unless you trust whomsoever you are traveling with to be as cautious as you are don't go around sharing your plates or sampling his/her cocktail. That person can be infectious without showing any signs of infection.

Skip Unpasteurized Foods

Besides noroviruses there are many other viruses that can cause gastro-hell (salmonella, campylobacter and listeria for instance) they are usually found in unpasteurized eggs or dairy. If an egg heavy or flan dish catch's your attentions, ask if the eggs are pasteurized. Keep a watch out for unpasteurized cheese as well.

Use Your Own Restroom

Public restrooms on reputable ships have frequent cleanings by the ship staff- but if you don't need to use it urgently, then why take the risk? So it's better to avoid public restrooms and use your own cabin washroom.

Traveling is the best way to enjoy your time with your family, so book a cruise to Barcelona and have the most memorable time of your life with your family.


 By Hammad H Sheikh


Article Source:  Safety On The Seas: Avoiding Cruise Ship Accidents and Illnesses

Conference Hall Facilities Are A Necessity For All Business Travelers Visiting India's Capital City

In the event that you too are a business explorer, you can similarly altogether appreciate the in a split second conspicuous enormity of the astounding tourism alternatives displayed by Delhi. Besides, the lifestyle and rich culture, individuals of Delhi love music. Along these lines, come and appreciate the mood this city brings to the table with its various and lovely liberality, fastidious engineering, thus on make it a paradise.

In case you need to visit the country, you can scan for Conference halls in Delhi. Other than return trips by flights, you in like manner find the opportunity to remain in a sumptuous hotel in India including profiting of various workplaces. With protracted business among states and nations, business voyagers' finish off the flights and the business lodgings in the capital city are extremely prominent and generally favored.

Since the launch of the Delhi Airport Express Metro line in the month of February 2011, the business travelers are now more well-equipped to travel with ease and also save up on the time spent during travel as this metro is all designed to connect the city center directly with the airport. You can also search for Banquet Halls Near Karol Bagh.

Now with the invasion of a large number of guests and especially the business class visitors, the city's hotel and hospitality sector also is now capable of the utmost level of service with the state of the art faculty and facility. The business hotels are a meeting spot for the business travelers, diplomats and expats who visit Delhi for their business purposes. Also, these hotels cater to leisure and common travelers and residents as a venue for their important occasions. For example, many of them want good Banquet Halls near Karol Bagh for organizing their important functions and events.

There are mainstream places like the close airplane terminal zones or the corporate center point regions, which are more prevalent among the business voyagers as they don't wish to invest an excessive amount of energy making a trip forward and backward from their inns to their fancied corporate center workplaces. Furthermore, in the event that you are such a corporate voyager, who is wanting to organize best meeting corridor offices in Delhi, then look no more and stress no more as the city being the national and political capital of India, stands prepared to charm you with its adequate lodgings and gathering lobby administrations.

There are many hotels offering conference hall in Delhi and also have area with facility for lodgings and if you though they are just for leisure travelers then you need to change your views as these hotels are also known to likewise cater the needs of a working class corporate guests as well. You will discover different spending plan lodgings in the range of Karol Bagh Market. The budget stay options in Delhi's 'Karol Bagh' area are ample and such stay service providers also offer a wide range of offices and administrations that you anticipate from cordiality industry.

Manoj Tomar is an associate editor of Tomar Holidays, who writes about Conference Halls in Delhi


 By Manoj Tomar


Article Source: Conference Hall Facilities Are A Necessity For All Business Travelers Visiting India's Capital City

The 5 Layers of a Tree Trunk

The anatomy of a tree would truly interest even the most apathetic person. That is because trees are complex parts of nature that provide an infinite list of benefits and an even larger amount of value! There are thousands of tree species in the world, all in different shapes, sizes, colors, yields, and more. But one thing they all have in common: a trunk. All trees, both deciduous and coniferous, have a tree trunk in some form or another. And one of the most interesting facts about tree trunks is that they have 5 different layers! Continue reading to learn more about each layer of tree trunk and the purpose they serve.

Tree Trunks

As mentioned, tree trunks have 5 separate layers to them. They are the outer bark, inner bark (phloem), the cambium cell layer, sapwood, and heartwood. Each layer has their very own purpose, but overall, the trunk's primary job is to protect and support the tree. Look below to review each layer and what they do.

Outer Bark:

Like a shield, a trunk's outer bark is there to protect the tree from its outside surroundings, including inclement weather, wildlife, pests, and more. It also controls moisture, by both preventing excess moisture in the rain and snow, and retaining sufficient moisture levels during dry seasons. It also provides insulation in cold weather and protects against sunburn in the summer.

Phloem (Inner Bark):

The phloem, or inner layer of bark, is where food and nutrients are passed through the tree. This layer has a very important job, but a very short lifespan. It eventually dies, turns to cork, and becomes part of the outer layer of bark!

Cambium Cell Layer:

The cambium cell layer is interesting because it is the part of the trunk that grows. Each year, this layer produces more bark and wood as a reaction to the hormones being passed down from the leaves along the food pipeline. These hormones are called auxins, and they are very important because they stimulate new cell growth!

Sapwood:

Sapwood is new wood, and serves an important role as the tree's water pipeline, delivering water to the entire tree. And as new sapwood is created, the inner cells lose their vigor and turn to heartwood.

Heartwood:

Heartwood is the most inner part of the trunk. It plays an important role in balance, stability, and security for a tree. Technically, heartwood is dead, but it does not atrophy or decay (unless the outer layers are jeopardized). It is made up of a hollow, needle-like cellulose fibers that are joined together by a glue-like chemical called lignin.

Call Complete Tree Care at 317-783-2518 for Indianapolis tree service you can trust. They offer a wide range of professional tree services for both residential and commercial properties, including routine service, maintenance, removal, stump work, lot clearing, and more. Call 317-783-2518 to request a free estimate, today.


 By Sarahbeth Kluzinski


Article Source: The 5 Layers of a Tree Trunk

March 2017 Sun Sign Horoscopes

Aries (March 19 - April 18)

This month marks the beginning of a new two year financial cycle. You need stability for your active lifestyle, and Mars is now giving you the energy to up your financial game. The secret to your money game is tangible goods. Owning a home may feel like a weight that you carry, but it is one way to actually make a commitment that sets you free. Don't buy until May, but start looking now.

Taurus (April 19 - May 19)

With Venus retrograde until mid-April, focus on refining and reworking projects that you've already begun. It's a perfect time to go back and polish those things that need an extra touch. You will be inexplicably drawn into your deepest memories during this powerful healing time. You'll understand why, where, and who; and you'll also know what to do.

Gemini (May 20 - June 19)

March is a uniquely creative month for you, Gemini. This year is all about looking at and crafting life circumstances that will support you for many years to come. This is about more than money; it's about your lifestyle and satisfaction. It's important to live in the present; but inevitably, you must think about your future at this time. None of this, however, is 'hard'. Your secret to success is that any changes are easy.

Cancer (June 20 - July 21)

Keep your ears to the ground and listen to the rhythm of your heart, Cancer. Do not be coaxed or coerced into taking on too much. It's essential that you have some unscheduled time now. Even during impromptu days off you'll think of new solutions to old problem and some up with ideas to make your work more efficient. This month it's important that you nurture yourself.

Leo (July 22 - August 21)

Maintain a clear mental state, and you'll quickly see the circumstances of your life shift into instant manifestation. Your affirmations are Divinely powerful at this time. Simplicity is your greatest gift for this entire year - keep things uncomplicated and do not allow yourself to be sidetracked. Jupiter and Uranus are creating a paradigm shift, and for Leo, it's all about the mind.

Virgo (August 22 - September 21)

Stand up and take credit for your hard work and your contributions, Virgo. If you've been feeling overlooked or underappreciated know that this feeling will also transform. Your earning capacity is revving up; remain alert and be ready to respond to opportunities that come when you least expect them. Soon, you'll feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Libra (September 22 - October 21)

Do not feel limited by your past, Libra. By the end of this year many things will have changed for you, and it's simply a matter of trusting your intuition. Dream large think big, and keep the concept of a bountiful harvest foremost in your mind. Obligation is the shadow of an old and outdated mental pattern. Your true duty is to your own, healthy balance.

Scorpio (October 22 - November 20)

It's an amazingly rich time to just tune into the Universal energies, Scorpio. Surrender your worries and let the angels and Spirit take care of you. You've been working in the earthly realm, and now you can work more with energy. This frees up time to work on yourself. Tend to nagging little health problems so that they don't continue to grow; you know what I'm talking about.

Sagittarius (November 21- December 20)

With Saturn in your sign until December, you've hopefully felt a positive benefit at work. He can be tough, but there are also rewards that come with diligence. And, the good news is that you have earned some long term stability. Saturn in your sign does predict that you'll pay the price for too much of anything this year. So, take it slow and steady, and find time to enjoy the rainbows.

Capricorn (December 21 - January 19)

You're in a beneficial cycle, so keep going on your mission to make the world a better place. The world desperately needs what you have to give - your knowledge, your skill, and your wisdom. Just don't take yourself too seriously, Capricorn. The tension has been released and now you can easily be more focused and productive than ever before.

Aquarius (January 20 - February 17)

This is an important time to work with healers, Aquarius. Find the modality you are most drawn to and embark on a systematic program that goes deeply into your energetic template. You've moved beyond the first layer of chaos, and are now free to purify your vital core. Memories surface, and even people and situations from past lifetimes may appear. Turn always to the Light.

Pisces (February 18- March 18)

Your work becomes more rewarding and less demanding as this month progresses. And, your energy is good, also, Pisces. Stay focused and pay attention to subtle (or not so subtle) clues from the Universe. The Aries New Moon of March 27th highlights your financial sector. Work with Venus retrograde, also you your second house of earned income. Revive old projects; feed them new life and they will give you money.

 By Maya White


Article Source: March 2017 Sun Sign Horoscopes

How to Travel and Earn While You're At It

When people think of traveling, one of the most common response is to see it as an expense. But traveling doesn't always mean you have to just spend-there are myriad of ways to save and earn money along the way too.

If the only factor stopping you from traveling are the costs associated with it, why not flip things around by making traveling an excuse to earn more? Here's how:

Share Your Knowledge

Yes, it's entirely possible to get paid for your knowledge! This one is something I got from my uncle.

Case in point is when he befriended a traveler who shared his expertise on how to do brake pad repair. My uncle was so enamored with what he can do that he offered to pay him if he could show him how to do it himself.
Perform on the Street

I know that this isn't for the faint-hearted but you don't necessarily have to do backbreaking somersaults or tricks to perform on the street. A simple sing or dance performance would do. Playing an instrument would also be great too!

If you're not the performer type and like something a little more low-key, why not try drawing in public? I guarantee you that once you prop up your tools and get down to drawing or painting, a pool of curious people wanting to know what your final artwork would look like would no doubt gather.

How do I know? Because I did it myself. You could then sell the artwork to any interested person from the crowd.

Make the Most Out of Your Videos and Photos

In this age of technology, you could virtually make money off everything such as filming yourself while traveling. No, I'm not talking about YouTube or being Instagram-famous enough to be sponsored because let's admit it, it takes a while to get at that point. What I'm getting at is monetizing your videos and films by submitting them to contests.

A good example would be GoPro where winning videos filmed with GoPro can win as low as $1000 to $10,000. Annually, they give out $5 million worth of cash prizes. Prizes are higher for edited clips than raw ones so make sure to do some editing here and there if you plan on joining.

The best thing about this is that you can submit multiple entries-some have actually won twice in a month! If you want to submit a video to GoPro Awards, you can do so on  their submission page.

When it comes to photos, there are many award-giving bodies out there that provide monetary compensation for their winners. A friend of mine was able to do this by submitting an underwater photo he took into a contest for underwater photos.

Guess what? He lucked out and was one of the finalists. Not only did his photo got exhibited but he got a cash prize as well. Not too shabby for someone who's a mere photography hobbyist. If you want to take a chance, you can check out an extensive list of running photography contests with their accompanying cash prizes here.

Work at a Resort

Resorts usually enjoy seasonal business. Whenever the holidays are nearing or vacation season comes, they typically hire out a few more people to deal with the expected additional demand.

You can take advantage of this by tendering your application in advance of the forthcoming holidays. Although there's work involved, you can always enjoy the place on your days off and breaks as well as get some juicy discounts in the process.

Provide Tours or Itineraries

If you have a favorite place that you've visited a few times before and want to visit again, you can earn cash from it by being a tour guide! There are also a few agencies out there that often hire out tour guides during peak season to accommodate more clients.

Alternatively, you can also draw out some custom itineraries for places you know well. Just post an ad online and charge a reasonable fee for it.

Tutor Someone

If you're going to a non-English speaking country where the demand for learning English is massive, capitalize on this and earn a few bucks your way. For this, you don't necessarily have to be certified and the only requirement most people have is for you to be a native speaker. ESL sites such as this often post this kind of opportunities. Some countries where the demand for English language is high is in Asia Pacific such as Japan, China, and South Korea.

Not only will you be earning on the side but you'll also make a few potential friends along the way.

Work For an Airline

One of the best ways to get paid while traveling is to work for an airline. The most popular job people automatically think of is to become a flight attendant but the only problem is-it's super competitive. It was even claimed that it's harder to get hired for Delta than get in at Harvard.

Who would've thought that competition is that fierce, right?

Instead of becoming a flight attendant, why not settle for other airline jobs? You can get as much travel perks and benefits without the constant jet lag and unusually long hours on the job.

For instance, you might want to consider becoming a ticket agent. All you have to do is process ticket orders or reschedules while working the typical 9 to 5. For your days off and vacation leaves, you can use the travel benefits that come with the job.

The good thing here is that the requirements aren't really that stringent. Someone I know got in with a degree in Philosophy. She traveled to her heart's content and often went out of the country monthly (sometimes weekly) with her colleagues. Her immediate family got some great discounts too.

Summing Up

The opportunities are endless and as the timeworn saying goes, "The world is your oyster." (Apologies in advance if you wanted to barf. Lol.)

I hope that this list has been helpful for you. Traveling doesn't have to cost a lot but if did, you could at least employ some of the tactics above to make it easier on the pocket. There are many other ways to travel and earn at the same time so if you have anything in mind feel free to leave a comment below!

Jeanne is a freelance copywriter at http://www.TheCopyPsychologist.com. Get her free PDF titled, "3 Non-Icky Psychology-Based Sales Tactics That Persuade People to Buy From You (And Like Your Brand)!" when you visit her site!


 By Jeanne San Pascual


Article Source: How to Travel and Earn While You're At It

Growing Significance of Online Elementary Tutoring

In every students' learning and education, tutoring plays a vital role. A tutor is a person who works with a student on a one-on-one basis providing them with enrichment, remedial and other academic support and guidance. The students get immense help from the tutors whether going to a school or a college. They also help the students who are about to finish their schooling and poised to embark on their college journey. Initially, the college studies may be slightly tricky and the students may find themselves floundering. In-depth instruction by the tutors help them to understand difficult concepts in their chosen subjects.

Role of a tutor

Concept Clarification
A tutor teaching students at the elementary level offers remedial assistance. The students and their parents understand the significance of good education right from the elementary level. Thus, hiring a tutor help students in keeping up or catching up with the school subjects if they have fallen behind their peers or facing any problem in understanding complicated concepts. On the basis of the students' needs and the expertise of a tutor, this help can be extended in one or many subjects.
Additional Help and Guidance to an already gifted student

Many times, people think that tutoring solutions are necessary only for the students who are quite weak in studies and need some extra guidance and assistance. But, it is not true. Even exceptionally gifted students may need this help for better enrichment and extra knowledge. The tutor can help such students at a deeper level and help them hone their skills and knowledge in a given subject. Thus, the students who are already scoring high can bridge the gap of a few marks and score high.

Help for Special Needs Students
Tutors also help the students with special needs. Such students usually need exceptionally different strategies that help special need students understanding a subject in a better manner. This way, they are able to perform better in the school and any obstacles faced by them in the process of learning can be overcome. This is the way these students can cope up with learning pressures.

College Entrance
Many students need tutoring when appearing for a college entrance examination. Tutors can help them to prepare the subjects on which questions are going to be asked in the exam. Examinations like GRE, MCAT and SAT also need additional guidance and tutoring. The exam scores help the students in gaining admission in a prestigious educational institute.

Students who lack proper study skills and are highly disorganized can also do well with additional help imparted by the tutors. This is the reason, tutoring services are quite popular and sought by many students all over the world.

Weston Young is a popular content writer who has been writing on a variation of educational topics. He is associated with Best Tutors for USA, a reputed academic Portal. Today, he has written on Growing Significance of Online   Elementary Tutoring title.


 By Weston Young


Article Source: Growing Significance of Online Elementary Tutoring

Planes, Cruises And Hotels: Busting The Biggest Travel Myths

We've all heard myths and urban legends about Big Foot, tested illogical home remedies like using hot water to make ice cubes faster and have made conservative choices on Friday the 13th, but how many of us have missed out on a travel adventure due to the fear caused by a few travel rumors? Here are some of the biggest urban legends in travel and the facts that debunk them.

Myth 1: Americans Are The Worst Tourists

Are Americans really the world's worst tourists?

American's rank 9th best out of 27 nationalities, according to an annual survey of hotel managers. The truth is Americans were ranked the loudest but also the biggest tippers.

Myth 2: Once You Step Onboard Your Money Is No Good

The truth is that your soda, meals, waters in the dining hall and buffets are paid for, everything else costs including alcohol, alternative dining, internet access and more. The fact is an average cruise traveler spend 50% more than the base fare on additional amenities.

Myth 3: Rule 240 = Money Back

If your flight is delayed, the urban legend states that Rule 240 requires the airline to compensate you. This is not exactly true, the rule 240 did at one time exist. It was created by the Civil Aeronautics Board. With deregulation though, Rule 240 has been expunged.

Myth 4: Bottled Water Is Your New BFF

At least 25% of bottles water is simply tap water. So if you are weary of Montezuma's Revenge while abroad, know that there's a 25% chance the brand you buy will simply be local tap water anyway.

Myth 5: Your Hotel Key Card Knows More About You Than You!

This again is also not true, your hotel key card doesn't know everything about you. This rumor was started by Detective Sergeant Kathryn Jorge of the Pasadena Police. She saw a presentation about fraud techniques indicating this as a possibility, and sent an alarming email in response. The police department had to retract the statements of DS Jorge to quell fears.

Myth 6: There's Money In That Bible

This is another myth which people want to be true, the myth is that people believe that there is a crisp $100 tucked into their hotel Bible. But till date there are no reports of such generosity.

Possibly, all of these myths depends on the mode of your travel, like many cruise lines don't include soda in their inclusive meal price so you need to pay for your soda every time you buy it or you might want to go for a soda card plan. Other than that I wish I found that money in the Bible or anywhere in my hotel room, but my bad luck.

Traveling to Iceland for spending some quality time with family or oneself, is probably the best holiday plan you can ever make. Holidays to Iceland will be the most exciting experience of your life.


 By Hammad H Sheikh


Article Source: Planes, Cruises And Hotels: Busting The Biggest Travel Myths