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Tuesday, 22 April 2014
The spooky world of the 'numbers stations'
Mood:
 mischievious
Topic: Conspiracy / Corruption
This is the era of hyper-tech espionage, encrypted emails and mindboggling cryptography. But you can hear a very old-fashioned form of espionage on shortwave radio. It is 13:03 on a Tuesday in a cramped room with some fairly advanced radio equipment. What is suddenly heard on a shortwave receiving station is a 10-minute message in Morse code. There is a small community of aficionados who believe messages like this are a throwback to the era of Cold War espionage. They are the mysterious "numbers stations". At the apex of the Cold War, radio lovers across the globe started to notice bizarre broadcasts on the airwaves. Starting with a weird melody or the sound of several beeps, these transmissions might be followed by the unnerving sound of a strange woman's voice counting in German or the creepy voice of a child reciting letters in English. Encountering these shortwave radio messages, many radio hams concluded that they were being used to send coded messages across extremely long distances. Coming across one of them was a curious experience. Radio enthusiasts gave them colourful names like the "Nancy Adam Susan", "The Lincolnshire Poacher," "The Swedish Rhapsody" or "The Gong Station." The Lincolnshire Poacher was so named because of two bars from an English folk song of that name being used as an "interval signal". Times have changed and technology has evolved, but there's evidence that this old-fashioned seeming method of communication might still be used. Shortwave numbers stations might seem low-tech but they probably remain the best option for transmitting information to agents in the field, some espionage experts suggest. "Nobody has found a more convenient and expedient way of communicating with an agent," says Rupert Allason, an author specialising in espionage issues and writing under the pen name Nigel West. "Their sole purpose is for intelligence agencies to communicate with their agents in denied areas - a territory where it is difficult to use a consensual form of communications," Allason says. A former GCHQ officer, who does not wish to be named, whose duty was to intercept signals towards the UK and search for these numbers stations in the 1980s is also adamant that these were broadcasts to agents in the field or in residencies or directed to embassies. It was "one-way traffic" - the transmitters broadcast numbers to the recipient. The recipient did not reply. Why might the numbers stations have been used? "This system is completely secure because the messages can't be tracked, the recipient could be anywhere," says Akin Fernandez, the creator of the Conet Project - a comprehensive archive of the phenomenon of numbers stations. "It is easy. You just send the spies to a country and get them to buy a radio. They know where to tune and when," he says. Read More - BBC
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Tuesday, 22 April 2014 01:01 MEST
Monday, 21 April 2014
What Determines The Value of Something?
Mood:
 bright
Topic: Inner Reflection
Our perception of our own self-worth is how we ultimately judge the value of anything outside of ourselves. It could be anything...a relationship, a great functional pair of shoes, or a reliable piece of technology. You never know how valuable something is until it's gone and you rarely realize it while you have it. When we appreciate everything in our lives, we have a sense of gratitude for the simple things that make a difference. The more you are grateful, the more things will come into your life to be grateful for, and consequently value becomes a constant rather than something wavering. Self-respect is one of the most crucial aspects of our lives. If we do not understand how to appreciate ourselves and our worth, how can we ever expect others to? There are social and cultural systems at play which influence our views and personal values. From the time we start school to the time we enter our career path, society is constantly trying to guide our emotions in an effort to make us feel incomplete, or below par, if we don‘t buy what they are selling. This affects our self-worth and self-respect. "Consumption-Vanity Disorder" is an invented disease as are the thousands of others fabricated by our modern medical paradigm, but with one exception -- it is a disease of the mass mental mindset and unlike the fictionalized diagnoses of other medical maladies, this one is a reality. It has spread not through a mutating virus or genetic predisposition - but through cultural "Memes" - turning the world into a cesspool of mini-malls, fashion obsessions, fake boobs and belligerent gadgetry. These distorted views cause us to underestimate the value of many things in our lives. We place the highest value on things, relationships and experiences before we have them, and then once we do, that value diminishes over time. Only once we've lost what we have valued do we appreciate that value at the same or higher level before we had it in the first place. When we place greater importance on external validation rather than internal validation those distortions are amplified. It’s human nature to want the approval of others, but it should not be the standard by which we gauge our own worth. Read More - preventdisease.com
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Monday, 21 April 2014 01:10 MEST
Sunday, 20 April 2014
Is it possible to think your way to better health?
Mood:
 happy
Topic: Positive Thinking
It's no secret that eating organic fruits and vegetables, and making other healthy food choices, is good for your body. Exercise certainly helps too. But add to that the power of positive thinking, and you just may be on the fast track to staying even healthier. According to a Psychology Today article, " . . . research has revealed that mental practices are almost effective as true physical practice, and that doing both is more effective than either alone." In fact, a study conducted by a Cleveland Clinic Foundation exercise psychologist in Ohio compared individuals who worked out at a gym against those who only visualized doing so. The surprising result? Understandably, the gym-goers experienced a 30 percent increase in muscle. The ones who thought about free weights and elliptical machines? That group actually experienced an increase in muscle strength that was almost half that of the other group (13.5%). This isn't to say we should all forego our gym memberships and yoga pants. However, it does illustrate the power our thoughts have when it comes to our health. The power behind positive, concentrated thinking Consider another study in which a group of Tibetan nuns were able to raise their core body temperature (to the point of being able to dry the wet sheets that were wrapped around their bodies) in -25 Celsius weather. Amazing! The study was published in PLOS ONE in 2013 and detailed how the nuns used a meditation technique called "g-tummo" that focuses on breathing techniques and "concentrative visualization." Jeffrey Rossman, PhD, who is the director of life management at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA says, "Vividly imagining your body healing itself while in a relaxed, altered state of consciousness causes changes in blood flow, hormone production, and the release of neurotransmitters. Practicing this technique consistently can produce remarkable results." In fact, he explains that many hospitals and even insurance companies are giving patients healing visualization CDs. Visualize your way to better health in ways that are best for you Developing and concentrating on positive thoughts is a very personal experience that everyone engages in differently. For some who need to heal after surgery, they may choose to visualize their body's tissues being knit together perfectly in orderly, healing patterns. Others may visualize a favorite vacation destination, imagining their particular health issue being nurtured back to normal again as it gently sways back and forth in a hammock. The key is to find what works for you and don't let any negative thoughts (from you or anyone else for that matter) enter the picture. Source: naturalnews.com About the author: A science enthusiast with a keen interest in health nutrition, Antonia has been intensely researching various dieting routines for several years now, weighing their highs and their lows, to bring readers the most interesting info and news in the field. While she is very excited about a high raw diet, she likes to keep a fair and balanced approach towards non-raw methods of food preparation as well. Read more: http://rawandnaturalhealth.com/author/antoni...
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Sunday, 20 April 2014 01:17 MEST
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Did JUPITER kickstart life on Earth?
Mood:
happy
Topic: Space
The alien world of Jupiter is more than 365 million miles (588 million km) away from what we experience on Earth. But despite this huge distance, astronomers have long believed the gas giant’s gravity is so strong it deflects comets and asteroids that would otherwise hit our planet. Now a new study has shed light on how this strong gravitational pull may have influenced Earth's climate and, in turn, created the conditions needed for life to thrive on our planet billions of years ago. Jupiter’s gravity, which is 2.5 times stronger than that of Earth's, is capable of pulling on other planets in the solar system - including our own. This means that, depending on how Jupiter interacts with Earth, our planet's orbit - and therefore its climate - could vary significantly. For example, if our planet is pulled closer to the sun, our climate would change as a result. Equally, if Jupiter's orbit caused Earth to move further away. The study, by the University of New South Wales and Royal Holloway University of London, ran various computer models of our solar system, according to a report by Elizabeth Howell in Astrobiology Magazine. With each iteration, the planets in the solar system remained in their place while Jupiter moved around in different obits, ranging from circular to elliptical. The scientists also moved the entire orbit of Jupiter inwards and outwards to test what would have happened if the planet had formed closer to the sun, or further away. Each simulation was taken through a million year time frame, recording where Earth would have been every 100 years as a result of Jupiter’s position. ‘The default assumption is this is something that is important,’ said Jonti Horner, an astronomer and astrobiologist at the University of Southern Queensland. Read more: dailymail.co.uk
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Saturday, 19 April 2014 02:14 MEST
Friday, 18 April 2014
Cosmic Journeys : Super Hurricanes and Typhoons
Mood:
 d'oh
Topic: Weather
Hurricanes, typhoons, tropical cyclones: they are creatures of tropical seas, sweeping up heat laden waters, converting it to wind, rain, and waves. Why do a rare few evolve into colossal monsters, that leave in their wake a trail of destruction, death, and despair? Do we now face a rising tide of Super Hurricanes and Typhoons? One reason is that more and more people are moving to coastlines around the world, drawn by a combination of jobs and lifestyle. In the United States, for example, 39% of the population lives in coastal counties. Read More - http://youtu.be/7qym7b-qvkE
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Friday, 18 April 2014 01:53 MEST
Thursday, 17 April 2014
The Keys To Self Acceptance
Mood:
bright
Topic: Self-Improvement
Self-criticism is pretty common. After all, we are usually the world's number one experts on our own shortcomings. If finding fault with ourselves was a virtue, most of us would be saints. Still, sending ourselves self-hating messages leads to misery more often than to motivation. It leads to lower self-esteem and self-confidence. Meanwhile, it turns out that if you treat yourself with respect or even gratitude, you're likely to increase your effectiveness in work and even in your personal life. Research has indicated that people who score high on tests of self-compassion have less depression and anxiety, and tend to be happier and more optimistic. They may even have an easier time losing weight. Self-criticism is so common that many of us just take it for granted. Learning to recognize it is one of the keys to making a change. When you see a piece of deliciously decadent looking chocolate cake and are planning to abstain from it in the interests of your health, self-criticism is the voice that says, "Why am I always being so careful and depriving myself?! Don't I know how to have fun?" And then, if you decide to eat that same piece of cake, self-criticism is also the voice that says, "I don't have any will power. I'm treating my body like crap!" Self-criticism is the voice that tells you to stay up late working, and then when you feel sleepy in the morning, it's the voice that berates you for not getting more sleep. When you notice self-criticism, one thing to remember is that hating yourself for it won't do a darn bit of good to anyone. I like to think that the messages I give myself are like tuning into a radio. At any given time, there are many stations playing. Some have nice, loving messages. Others have mean, critical ones. I get to decide what I want to listen to. So the next time you notice yourself being mean to yours truly, you might want to consider appreciating the observation, and seeing what would happen if you changed the dial. Maybe from K-HATE to K-KIND? Dr. Kristin Neff, an associate professor of human development at the University of Texas at Austin, found in her research that: "The biggest reason people aren't more self-compassionate is that they are afraid they'll become self-indulgent. They believe self-criticism is what keeps them in line. Most people have gotten it wrong because our culture says being hard on yourself is the way to be." An effective way to change patterns of self-criticism is to make friends with whatever good intent might underlie the mean message, and then find a more healthy expression for it. The same message can have completely different impact, depending on the frame with which it is expressed. Just notice the impact of these common self-hating messages, and then consider how differently they land when they are adjusted. "I'm going to fail the exam" can become "How can I prepare for the exam?" "Why do I always miss my deadlines?" can become "Getting this done in time is going to take a lot of focus, and I'm going to give it my best shot." "Why the heck don't I know how to do this?!" can become "I wonder what I might learn here?" "I'm lazy and don't have the energy to exercise" can become "I can start slowly by going for a short walk." My wife and I have twins, and they have autism. Sometimes they do things I don't like, such as screaming uncontrollably for long periods of time. It's easy to feel angry at myself, as if their struggles are somehow my fault, for not being a better dad. I am learning that instead of asking myself, "What am I doing wrong," it's more helpful to ask myself, "What's the best I can do?" I'm learning that there's a world of difference between self-blame and self-respect. Self-blame just gets in the way of constructive action. Self-respect, on the other hand, gives me more confidence from which to make a difference in my kids' lives. No matter what challenges you face, there is always a best you can do. Getting mad at yourself for being someone you're not won't lift your spirits or motivate you to take positive action. It will, however, make your journey more miserable. If you want to move from self-hate to self-respect, here are some simple practices to help you make the transition: Notice when you're sending yourself mean messages, and see if you can turn your radio dial to a higher frequency. Make a list of the top three things you criticize about yourself, and then decide on some positive, useful messages that would better help you accomplish your goals. Take time every day to think of at least one thing that you like about yourself. Self-respect, it turns out, is not narcissism. Instead, self-respect helps to build the confidence and capacity to create the life you want. And since you're the only person who's been with you from the day you were born, and is guaranteed to hang in there with you to the day you die, it might be helpful to practice the art of being a good friend to number one. By Ocean Robbins Source - dailygood.org
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Thursday, 17 April 2014 01:26 MEST
Wednesday, 16 April 2014
Barley grass: a nutrient-rich superfood
Mood:
 chatty
Topic: Nutrition
Barley was one of the first major grains to be cultivated by man, and remains the fourth most cultivated cereal grain in the world. Matured barley is commonly used in beer production, and as animal feed. Young barley shoots, however, are consumed almost exclusively as a health food, and for good reason: research suggests that these gluten-free shoots, which are called barley grass and are typically consumed in juiced for powdered form, contain a huge number of nutrients that are lost when the shoots enter the reproductive cycle.
Four reasons to love barley grass 1.) Reduces cholesterol -- A study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine in 2008 found that subjects who were fed barley grass products as part of a 21-day nutritional program showed noticeably lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol than the control group. This research was reinforced by a later 2010 study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, in which researchers found that consuming whole barley grain foods and barley grass juice reduced LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is the "bad" cholesterol that accumulates in the walls of our blood vessels, and can contribute to heart disease if left unchecked. Therefore, eating more LDL cholesterol-lowering foods like barley grass can directly boost our cardiovascular health. 2.) Rich in chlorophyll -- Like wheatgrass, another supergreen to which barley grass is often compared, barley grass is one of the world's finest sources of chlorophyll. Chlorophyll is a potent blood cleanser and builder, and helps us increase our hemoglobin levels so that our red blood cells can provide our cells with more oxygen. Since destructive bacteria cannot thrive in the presence of oxygen, barley grass can play an important role in shielding us from serious diseases like cancer. Moreover, barley grass contains a large number of antioxidants (including the extremely potent antioxidant, superoxide dismutase), which compound its disease-fighting properties. 3.) Boosts digestive health -- Barley grass contains a large number of important digestive enzymes such as cytochrome oxidase, lipase, protease and amylase. According to Dr. Gillian McKeith, author of the book 12 Natural Superfoods to Transform Your Health, these enzymes are the reason why long-term consumption of barley grass has been shown to aid celiac disease, indigestion, Crohn's disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and a host of other digestion-related issues. Additionally, barley grass is comprised of approximately 6 percent dietary fiber, which flushes the colon of toxins and creates an environment conducive to good health. 4.) Dense in nutrients -- Perhaps barley grass's biggest appeal is its remarkable concentration of nutrients, which far exceeds those of synthetic vitamin and mineral supplements. Spectral analysis provided by BetterWay2Health shows that barley grass contains all the vitamins apart from vitamin D, and is particularly high in vitamins C and A (it even contains small amounts of B12). Barley grass also contains a large number of minerals such as calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, zinc and chromium. Lastly, barley grass is comprised of approximately 45 percent protein, which is twice as much as wheat germ. This protein is extremely high-quality and contains all eight essential amino acids, which is why so many bodybuilders (especially vegetarian bodybuilders) add barley grass powder to their post-workout smoothies. About the author: Michael Ravensthorpe is an independent writer whose research interests include nutrition, alternative medicine, and bushcraft. He is the creator of the website, Spiritfoods, through which he promotes the world's healthiest foods. Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Wednesday, 16 April 2014 01:08 MEST
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
An Asteroid with Rings?
Mood:
happy
Topic: Space
Observations at a telescopes in South America have made the surprise discovery that the remote asteroid Chariklo is surrounded by two dense and narrow rings. This is the smallest object to have rings and only the fifth body in the Solar System — after the much larger planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune — to have this feature. The origin of these rings remains a mystery, but they may be the result of a collision that created a disc of debris. The rings of Saturn are one of the most spectacular sights in the sky, and less prominent rings have also been found around the other giant planets. Despite many careful searches, no rings had been found around smaller objects orbiting the Sun in the Solar System. Now observations of the distant minor planet Chariklo as it passed in front of a star have shown that this object too is surrounded by two fine rings.
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Tuesday, 15 April 2014 01:01 MEST
Monday, 14 April 2014
Why you're more likely to have weird dreams when the Moon is full
Mood:
 a-ok
Topic: Dreams
Slept badly? Had strange dreams? Blame the moon. People have more weird and wonderful dreams around the time of the full moon, a British study found. The content of our dreams doesn’t vary with the seasons or with the days of the week, it showed. But in the week or so surrounding a full moon, they are decidedly more ‘weird and bizarre’. Psychologist Richard Wiseman made the surprise discovery as he analysed the experiences of 1,000 volunteers who were played sounds as they slept. He said: ‘For instance, someone might dream that they are flying on a dragon, then get off the dragon and go and have a cup of coffee with George Clooney. Some people dreamt they were superheroes. ‘They thought they were Batman or Superman, fighting crime. Whereas most dreams were very pedestrian, things like being in the office all day, typing.’ The findings build on Swiss research last year which found we take longer to fall asleep, sleep for 20 minutes less and sleep less soundly at full moon. Production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin is also altered. Professor Wiseman believes that this may disturb our dreams. Another, stranger explanation is that we evolved to be sensitive to the moon’s rhythms. According to this theory, sleeping lightly at the full moon would have made us more alert to predators, who might take advantage of the stronger moonlight to go hunting. Our ancestors may also have hunted when the moon was full, with the result that we still find it hard to settle on bright nights. While Professor Wiseman isn’t convinced by the evolutionary explanation, he does acknowledge that the moon seems to affect our sleep. He suggests those with a partner who is particularly affected make use of the sofa or spare room during a full moon. Read more: dailymail.co.uk
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Monday, 14 April 2014 01:34 MEST
Sunday, 13 April 2014
What Are You Worried About?
Mood:
bright
Topic: Emotions
As a species, we have really peserfected the art of worrying. We worry about everything in tiny detail, as if worrying about it will lessen the blow, or make whatever we are trying to avoid not happen. We worry about whether or not we are going to get old, sick, die, or any variation on this theme. We worry about poverty, the job market, our social standing and any variation on this theme. We worry about the country, the planet, our towns and villages. We worry about not being good enough, being too good, being rejected, ignored, noticed and any variations on those themes. What is worry? Worry is the least effective way of changing the very thing that is causing you to worry in the first place. If you have heard about the Law of Attraction, you will have read about how whatever you focus on will be attracted into your life. Even if you don’t believe this, have you read any of the studies that prove that people praying for someone who is sick have vastly improved their recovery rate? If you have, you will begin to understand a little of how important it is to really start to look at where you are focusing your attention if you want to improve your life. If I worry non-stop about crashing my car, will that prevent me from crashing my car? If you follow the philosophy of the Law of Attraction, worrying about crashing my car will send a message to the universe to crash my car because that is what I am focusing my attention on. A different way of looking at that is to think about how worrying steals a lot of our energy. If I spend 70% of my time worrying about (insert the relevant item/ event here) then I am effectively worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet and actually may never happen at all. Worry is always about something that is in the future or the past. Take a moment to look at your life right here, right now. Is this a reality for you here and now? Do you have the power to prevent it by worrying? (Obviously the answer to that question is no.) Since The Power of Now by Eckharte Tolle and many others are saying that now is the only moment that we have and that living in the now is the way to happiness, worry seems to be a thing we can learn to live without. Everything in the past is gone and everything in the future doesn’t exist yet in the now. Worrying about something does not change the event or item that you are trying to avoid. In fact, you are sending negative attention to a situation over and over again, and thus potentially attracting it into your life. A different approach may be to send loving healing thoughts to the situation or person, as we know these can be powerful. An added benefit of this is that it feels good as we are doing something positive for someone else. An example of this is someone worrying about their health. I am assuming they are not blaming their heritage, or someone else for their disease, but are just worrying about the treatment or the diagnosis that they have received. Instead of worrying, take control. Find out what you can do to best understand your disease, and then make an informed decision about how you want to go forwards with this situation. Look into thought patterns, lifestyle, food, or anything that may help to relieve your symptoms. Give yourself the very best opportunity to do something positive towards your state of health. Will it always turn out how you want it to? Maybe not, but you will have invested your energy in doing your best to give yourself a good chance of recovery. Another question is what are you depriving yourself of because you are worrying so much? If I am worried about what other people might think, do you think that will make me spontaneous and free? If I am paralysed by worry, life will be very small and probably quite uncomfortable. Imagine if you were able to train your brain to think differently, and to worry less. Imagine how much more time you would have to lead a full life, experiencing new things and people and really having the chance to enjoy life, and find out who you really are. Each and every one of us has gifts that we are supposed to share with the world. Does worry prevent you from sharing yours? About the Author Caroline Nettle is the author of the website, Spiritual Growth Tools, and a merchant of Sacred Geometry Jewellery. Please check out her podcast at, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/spiritualgrowthtools. Source - http://wakingtimes.com
Posted by Neil Bartlett DHyp M.A.E.P.H
at 00:01 MEST
Updated: Sunday, 13 April 2014 01:05 MEST
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