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10 Countries With Female Soldiers


There have been some very famous female warriors in history, such as Boudicca; who led a fierce resistance to Roman rule in England, The Trung Sisters; who led an all-female army against Chinese occupation of Vietnam in the 1st century AD, St Joan of Arc; who led the entire forces of France against the English at age 17 in the 15th Century and Septima Zenobia; who ruled Syria from 250 to 275 AD and was the scourge of Rome. Therefore, it seems strange that it took modern armies so long to officially allow females to serve in combat alongside their male counterparts. Nevertheless, women now play crucial roles in the armed forces of many nations and here are ten interesting facts about countries that recognize the value and velour of female soldiers.
1)      The United States of America
Women have served in the US Military since 1775 but their early roles consisted of support roles such as nurses, seamstresses, cooks and cleaners; roles which were not included amongst uniformed personnel until relatively recently ( in the 20th Century). However, females now serve in 91% of US Army occupations and account for 14% of the active Army. Furthermore, assignment policy changes introduced in 2012 mean that a further 14 000 positions closer to the frontline are now available to women.

2)      The United Kingdom
There are over 187 000 people serving in the British Armed Forces and around 17 and a half thousand of them are women, with 3760 female officers. In 2008, around a fifth of the service personnel in Afghanistan were female and many served in frontline roles. However, women are not permitted to engage in roles which involve close combat where the main purpose is to engage and kill the enemy. Nevertheless, the guerrilla tactics of opposing forces in many modern theatres of war dictate that no matter which roles women play, they are often in extreme danger the moment they leave their base camps.
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3)      Russia
Women have fought alongside men in the Soviet and Russian military forces in various conflicts and in 2002 100 000 women from a total number of almost one million serving Russian combatants were female. In World War I, the Women’s Battalion of Death recruited members between the ages of 13 and 25 and fought in the June Offensive against German forces in 1917. In World War II, over 800 000 women fought in the Russian military, many of them in frontline roles as snipers, aviators, machine gunners, tank drivers and medics. 200 000 Soviet women were decorated in the conflict, and 89 received The Hero of the Soviet Union award; the highest military award available. Amongst these recipients of the most coveted Soviet award was Maria Raskova; a sublimely skilled and courageous aviator.
Russian Female Soldiers
4)      Germany
Women were first officially enlisted into the Bundeswehr; the German Military, in 2001. Although only 244 women joined in the first year, there are now over 17 000 serving females, and they account for around 9% of the entire German forces. However, German women did serve in the military during World War II in auxiliary units in the Navy, Air Force and Army.
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5)      Israel
Israel is the only nation on Earth which has a mandatory military service requirement for women and females have been a part of the Israeli Armed Forces since before the state was officially founded. 33% of current Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are female and 51% of officers. Furthermore, equality legislation introduced in 2000 means that 92% of all roles are open to women and females can now be found in around 70% of positions. In 2011, Orna Barbivai became the first female Major-General of the IDF.
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6)      Sri Lanka
The Sri-Lanka Army Women’s Corp was founded in 1979 and was originally an unarmed support unit formed to aid the regular army. Thus, the roles of women in the corps included nursing, clerical work, communications, mechanics, doctors and technicians. However, after hostilities began in Sri Lanka in 1987, members of the Corps were allowed to serve as Army Instructors and by the last phase of the hostility female units were involved in direct combat missions.
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7)      Sweden
The Lottorna is the Swedish Women’s Voluntary Defence Service and is part of the Swedish Home Guard. It is named after the fictitious heroine of a poem by Johan Ludvig Runeberg and was founded in 1924. Women currently account for around 5% of Sweden’s Armed Forces.
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8)      Poland
Women have officially served in the Armed Forces of Poland since 1988 and can be found serving in Land Forces, the Air Force and the Navy as well as other regular cadre corps and have recently served in Iraq and Darfur. Although females only account for around 1.5% of the current total Polish Armed Forces, there are have traditionally been few restrictions on the roles which females can fulfil. In World War II, Polish women made a massive contribution to the war effort: taking combat and intelligence roles in the resistance movement, where 50 000 females joined and 3000 lost their lives during the Warsaw Uprising of 1944. Meanwhile, 5000 women served in the regular armed forces during that conflict.
female soldier poland
9)      Canada
Women first served with the Canadian Military as nurses in 1885 and almost 3000 served in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps where they also received paramilitary training in case they were required for home guard duties. By the time of World War II, 45 000 women were recruited for military roles other than nursing and by the late 80s all military occupations were opened to females except submarine roles, although these were also opened up in 2000. Currently, 15 % of Canadian Armed Forces are female and 2% of combat troops are women.
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10)   Libya- The Amazonian Guard
‘The Amazonian Guard’ was the name given to Muhammar Gadaffi’s elite group of all-female bodyguards. Formed in the early 1980s, Gadaffi reputedly preferred females for these dangerous roles because he thought that potential Arab assassins would baulk at the thought of firing upon women. Gadaffi usually travelled with a unit of 15 of these guards, who were highly trained in firearms and martial arts techniques and rather bizarrely, had to take a vow of chastity. In 1988 one member of the Amazonian Guards was killed whilst shielding the former Libyan President from an assassination attempt.
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15 Things Highly Confident People Don’t Do


Many people would agree that confidence is more important than any other characteristic when it comes to success. You can look good, but you will not get far if you don’t feel good about yourself.
Finally, who will believe in you if you don’t believe in yourself? It takes courage to walk with confidence, but the good thing is that anyone can do it if they try hard enough and high confidence is crucial to succeed.


What exactly makes highly confident people more successful than others?
  1. They take action instead of finding excuses
People who are confident know that they’re to blame if something happens and they never look for excuses when dealing with problems. They know that nothing is perfect and that’s okay. They wouldn’t panic the minute after new problem arises. Instead, they would start taking actions and search for a solution.
  1. They are not afraid to try and take risks
“Fear kills more dreams than failure ever will.” People who believe in themselves also believe in their dreams and want to see them realized. Thus, they won’t let fear control their life. They are bold enough to take risks in order to win.
  1. They constantly do something that makes them leave their comfort zone
They say life starts when you leave your comfort zone. If we judge by the most successful people today, we can say that’s true. Take any successful person and you will see that they are doing many different things instead of focusing on only one thing. People who have confidence constantly try new things that make them leave their comfort zone. They challenge themselves to be the best person they could be.
  1. They don’t postpone or procrastinate
There will never be the “right time” to work, so it’s always better to finish the tasks earlier than later. Most successful people don’t procrastinate, but work. Highly confident people recognize the importance of taking action fast and act immediately. That’s what makes them efficient workers.
Highly confident people see the difference between taking someone’s advice and just listening to others’ opinions. They know that there are toxic people out there who feel jealous of their success and that they can’t afford to care for their opinions.
  1. They don’t want to be judged and don’t judge
Just as they know that true friends would never judge them for being who they are, they would never judge their friends for their actions and behaviour. Highly confident people focus on their life and improving themselves, not the others. By becoming the best version of themselves, they even serve as motivation for the rest.
  1. They are resourceful
Because they believe in themselves, they are not afraid to use any available resource that could help them achieve anything. Highly confident people think outside of the box and use many resources to succeed. It is important for them to reach their goal and they’re not afraid to use unconventional methods in the process. At the end, you can’t win if you don’t try, right?

  1. They focus on their accomplishments only
Instead of comparing themselves to the others, they try to focus on their work only. They know that everyone is having some kind of problems and that even they themselves can be difficult to be understood by the rest.
  1. They are aware that some people simply don’t like them
Highly confident people know that everyone cannot like them and think positive of them. Thus, they don’t try to impress the others. They don’t need to be praised to know their value. This also helps them build better relationships with others.
  1. They know they can’t control everything
They don’t ask for constant support in everything they do. Life doesn’t always happen according to the rules and you can’t control every situation, no matter how hard you try. Instead, highly confident people choose to deal with any problem in a relaxed and positive manner. Even when they believe in something and the others don’t, they don’t quit just because of the others.
  1. They face their issues boldly
Whenever a problem occurs, many people would stress about it for days, but not a highly confident person. They are not afraid to attack the enemy immediately and they know that fast action is better than late action. Postponing the issue will only worsen the situation and cause stress.
  1. They don’t allow set backs to break them
The road to success is full of obstacles and if we quit after the first obstacle, we will never succeed. This is a universal truth when it comes to succeeding in life. Failure is just a part of the success.
Highly confident people know that, so they don’t allow obstacles to kill their motivation. They are confident enough to believe in their plan and work on finding the solution whenever there is an issue. Remember that even Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have had obstacles at the beginning.
  1. They are bold enough to act without waiting for someone to tell them
They don’t wait for others to take action. If they want something to be changed and improved, they will take action and improve it. They are not afraid to make initiatives in work and life.
  1. They know they can do a lot more
There are no limits for them. In the way to success, they are always reaching for more because they don’t doubt themselves or think that they have done enough. They are always aspiring for something bigger and they always get it, sooner or later.
  1. They don’t blindly believe in everything they hear

They don’t believe everything they read on the web or hear from the others. They always think critically and double check the facts before they take action. Highly confident people don’t take anything for granted, which is why they are not easily fooled or lied to.
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Scientists Claim That Quantum Theory Proves Consciousness Moves To Another Universe At Death



A book titled “Biocentrism: How Life and Consciousness Are the Keys to Understanding the Nature of the Universe“ has stirred up the Internet, because it contained a notion that life does not end when the body dies, and it can last forever. The author of this publication, scientist Dr. Robert Lanza who was voted the 3rd most important scientist alive by the NY Times, has no doubts that this is possible.

Beyond time and space

Lanza is an expert in regenerative medicine and scientific director of Advanced Cell Technology Company. Before he has been known for his extensive research which dealt with stem cells, he was also famous for several successful experiments on cloning endangered animal species.

But not so long ago, the scientist became involved with physics, quantum mechanics and astrophysics. This explosive mixture has given birth to the new theory of biocentrism, which the professor has been preaching ever since. Biocentrism teaches that life and consciousness are fundamental to the universe. It is consciousness that creates the material universe, not the other way around.

Lanza points to the structure of the universe itself, and that the laws, forces, and constants of the universe appear to be fine-tuned for life, implying intelligence existed prior to matter. He also claims that space and time are not objects or things, but rather tools of our animal understanding. Lanza says that we carry space and time around with us “like turtles with shells.” meaning that when the shell comes off (space and time), we still exist.

The theory implies that death of consciousness simply does not exist. It only exists as a thought because people identify themselves with their body. They believe that the body is going to perish, sooner or later, thinking their consciousness will disappear too. If the body generates consciousness, then consciousness dies when the body dies. But if the body receives consciousness in the same way that a cable box receives satellite signals, then of course consciousness does not end at the death of the physical vehicle. In fact, consciousness exists outside of constraints of time and space. It is able to be anywhere: in the human body and outside of it. In other words, it is non-local in the same sense that quantum objects are non-local.

Lanza also believes that multiple universes can exist simultaneously. In one universe, the body can be dead. And in another it continues to exist, absorbing consciousness which migrated into this universe. This means that a dead person while traveling through the same tunnel ends up not in hell or in heaven, but in a similar world he or she once inhabited, but this time alive. And so on, infinitely. It’s almost like a cosmic Russian doll afterlife effect.

Multiple worlds
This hope-instilling, but extremely controversial theory by Lanza has many unwitting supporters, not just mere mortals who want to live forever, but also some well-known scientists. These are the physicists and astrophysicists who tend to agree with existence of parallel worlds and who suggest the possibility of multiple universes. Multiverse (multi-universe) is a so-called scientific concept, which they defend. They believe that no physical laws exist which would prohibit the existence of parallel worlds.

The first one was a science fiction writer H.G. Wells who proclaimed in 1895 in his story “The Door in the Wall”. And after 62 years, this idea was developed by Dr. Hugh Everett in his graduate thesis at the Princeton University. It basically posits that at any given moment the universe divides into countless similar instances. And the next moment, these “newborn” universes split in a similar fashion. In some of these worlds you may be present: reading this article in one universe, or watching TV in another.

The triggering factor for these multiplying worlds is our actions, explained Everett. If we make some choices, instantly one universe splits into two with different versions of outcomes.

In the 1980s, Andrei Linde, scientist from the Lebedev’s Institute of physics, developed the theory of multiple universes. He is now a professor at Stanford University. Linde explained: Space consists of many inflating spheres, which give rise to similar spheres, and those, in turn, produce spheres in even greater numbers, and so on to infinity. In the universe, they are spaced apart. They are not aware of each other’s existence. But they represent parts of the same physical universe.

The fact that our universe is not alone is supported by data received from the Planck space telescope. Using the data, scientists have created the most accurate map of the microwave background, the so-called cosmic relic background radiation, which has remained since the inception of our universe. They also found that the universe has a lot of dark recesses represented by some holes and extensive gaps.

Theoretical physicist Laura Mersini-Houghton from the North Carolina University with her colleagues argue: the anomalies of the microwave background exist due to the fact that our universe is influenced by other universes existing nearby. And holes and gaps are a direct result of attacks on us by neighboring universes.

Soul

So, there is abundance of places or other universes where our soul could migrate after death, according to the theory of neo-biocentrism. But does the soul exist? Is there any scientific theory of consciousness that could accommodate such a claim? According to Dr. Stuart Hameroff, a near-death experience happens when the quantum information that inhabits the nervous system leaves the body and dissipates into the universe. Contrary to materialistic accounts of consciousness, Dr. Hameroff offers an alternative explanation of consciousness that can perhaps appeal to both the rational scientific mind and personal intuitions.

Consciousness resides, according to Stuart and British physicist Sir Roger Penrose, in the microtubules of the brain cells, which are the primary sites of quantum processing. Upon death, this information is released from your body, meaning that your consciousness goes with it. They have argued that our experience of consciousness is the result of quantum gravity effects in these microtubules, a theory which they dubbed orchestrated objective reduction (Orch-OR).

Consciousness, or at least proto-consciousness is theorized by them to be a fundamental property of the universe, present even at the first moment of the universe during the Big Bang. “In one such scheme proto-conscious experience is a basic property of physical reality accessible to a quantum process associated with brain activity.”

Our souls are in fact constructed from the very fabric of the universe – and may have existed since the beginning of time. Our brains are just receivers and amplifiers for the proto-consciousness that is intrinsic to the fabric of space-time. So is there really a part of your consciousness that is non-material and will live on after the death of your physical body?

Dr Hameroff told the Science Channel’s Through the Wormhole documentary: “Let’s say the heart stops beating, the blood stops flowing, the microtubules lose their quantum state. The quantum information within the microtubules is not destroyed, it can’t be destroyed, it just distributes and dissipates to the universe at large”. Robert Lanza would add here that not only does it exist in the universe, it exists perhaps in another universe.

If the patient is resuscitated, revived, this quantum information can go back into the microtubules and the patient says “I had a near death experience”‘
He adds: “If they’re not revived, and the patient dies, it’s possible that this quantum information can exist outside the body, perhaps indefinitely, as a soul.”
This account of quantum consciousness explains things like near-death experiences, astral projection, out of body experiences, and even reincarnation without needing to appeal to religious ideology. The energy of your consciousness potentially gets recycled back into a different body at some point, and in the mean time it exists outside of the physical body on some other level of reality, and possibly in another universe.

Robert Lanza on Biocentrism:
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A Seasonal Fruit for Fabulous Skin - Eating for Beauty

The guava tree at my great grand-parent’s house in Bangalore drove me crazy. As the tree bore fruit, the strong-sweet smell around the house was intoxicating and all I ever wanted to do was climb the tree to grab one of the green-yellow fruit. The only catch was that after just a few bites I’d get this unexplainable stomach ache that drove me nuts for the rest of the day.

That didn't deter me. Instead it was like I was addicted to the fruit. I loved the creamy flesh and only a ripe guava would have that bite from the seeds. I loved the way the hands smelt after all the juice had oozed all over it. And like clockwork, every time I’d see a ripe guava, I’d climb up the tree and bite into the fruit and within minutes the tummy ache would begin. Week after week, I’d suffer but giving up on that ripe guava never occurred to me.

It wasn't until a few years later that my grandmother figured that it wasn't really the fruit but the seeds that didn't work for me. So each morning, instead of waiting for the guava tree-stomach ache drama to unfold, she’d scoop out the seeds from a few guavas and set them at the breakfast table.

You see, she was a great propagator of the fruit. Being rich in Vitamin A and C, this tropical fruit is great for the skin and hair. You can actually call it a powerhouse of nutrients – folic acid, potassium, copper and manganese all help regenerate skin cells and combat hair loss problems. So much so, that several cosmetic companies use it in a number of hair and skin treatments and creams. She’d make packs with the fruits - mashing up seeds and pulp with a bit of honey and apply it all over our faces, and even make a pack out of the peels by mashing it in a mortar and pestle and then adding a bit of turmeric and milk. (Natural Beauty Recipes for the Festive Season)

Guavas are also a great source of Vitamin K, which helps in treating skin discoloration and problems like dark circles, acne irritation and redness. Using to fruit as a scrub helps in improving the skin’s complexion and also removes impurities making it look young and fresh. Guava contains an antioxidant called lycopene that helps in shielding your skin against the damaging UV rays. Since it contains about 80% of water it helps in keeping your skin hydrated and supple. Being a rich source of Vitamin C, guava is a fruit that helps in promoting hair growth.

Eating the guava raw or with a bit of chaat masala wasn't the only way she’d feed us this fruit. She’d jam it, make murabbas with it or sometimes even juice it. It wasn't until I was older that I realized, there were about a hundred other ways to use the guava. While buying guavas, make sure you pick firm ones without any blemishes or soft spots.

When you’re using them in a dessert make sure it’s ripe – the white guava (on the inside) turns almost yellow when it’s ripe whereas the pink guava (on the inside) turns a lighter shade of green – and both the varieties of fruit will be slightly soft to touch. If you want to hasten its ripening, it’s a good idea to keep it outside in a brown paper bag, otherwise if you’d like to hang on to it for a few weeks before you eat them, store them in refrigerator away from any other fruit. (You Are What You Eat: 5 Foods for Healthy Skin)

From souffles to crumbles to even vegetable curries - just so much could be done with the fruit. But my favourite way of using up ripe guavas has always been making a fool. What’s a fool you ask? A fool is any fruit puree mixed with whipped cream and a bit of sugar. Served up like a souffle, it’s a low effort dessert that gives terrific results each time. It barely takes any time to make, and keeps well for a day or two. Make and see for yourself.

Guava Fool
Serves 6

Ingredients -

4 ripe guavas
200 ml whipping cream
1/4 cup icing sugar (or more according to how sweet the fruit is)
1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Method -

1. Wash and dry the guavas. Chop them without removing the peel and add to a blender. Blend until you get a nice puree. It will be gritty because of the seeds, but don’t worry, that’s exactly what you want. Keep aside in the refrigerator for about 2 to 4 hours.

2. When you’re ready to serve, whip the cream until you get firm peaks, add vanilla (optional) and icing sugar.

3. Fold the whipped cream into the fruit puree and immediately pour into individual serving cups. Serve chilled.
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This Is What Every Young Girl Can Expect to be Bombarded with for a Lifetime, Condensed Into 1 Min





Parents, friends, and teachers alike – talk to girls before the beauty industry does. A powerful and concise message that communicates the destructive effect the ad and beauty industry has on society.
Rather than advocating censorship of these images, Dove and others advocate the need for improving our media literacy skills, so that when we see these images, their persuasive effect no longer has a hold on us. Rather than accepting these images by never accepting ourselves, we can reject the values this industry spins, seeing a beauty in people the ad industry could never understand.



 Join Always in our epic battle to keep girls' confidence high during puberty and beyond. Using #LikeAGirl as an insult is a hard knock against any adolescent girl. And since the rest of puberty's really no picnic either, it's easy to see what a huge impact it can have on a girl's self-confidence. Making a start by showing them that doing things #LikeAGirl is an awesome thing! "In my work as a documentarian, I have witnessed the confidence crisis among girls and the negative impact of stereotypes first-hand," said Lauren Greenfield, filmmaker and director of the #LikeAGirl video. "When the words 'like a girl' are used to mean something bad, it is profoundly disempowering. I am proud to partner with Always to shed light on how this simple phrase can have a significant and long-lasting impact on girls and women. I am excited to be a part of the movement to redefine 'like a girl' into a positive affirmation." So tell us... what do YOU do #LikeAGirl?
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18 Brilliant Photo Manipulations by Erik Johansson

Erik Johannson is a self-taught photographer who learned how to retouch photos to make impossible and extraordinary images. Growing up with a grandmother who painted and a penchant for escaping into the other worlds of video games, he naturally blended the two into a technique using computers to generate images that couldn’t be captured by a camera.


Expecting Winter
Electric Guitar
Cut & Fold
Set Them Free
Groundbreaking
Arms Break, Vases Don’t
Fishy Island
Snow Cover
Face vs. Fist
Roadworker’s Coffee Break
Go Your Own Road
  Vertical Turn                                                           Self-Actualization
Kaffeslump
Big Laundry Day
Stryktålig                                                                 A Painting Too Real
Order Print

For more please visit artist’s website

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4 Powers That May Be Hiding Behind Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety has been widely regarded as a very negative condition that tends to ruin people’s everyday simple pleasures and renders them incapable of facing new challenges. In short, anxiety is commonly associated with being a purely negative thing.

 But what if this ‘curse’ comes with certain gifts that others don’t possess?
Scientists have been exploring the effects of anxiety for decades and they have found that besides the commonly shunned-upon negative effects, anxiety indeed does come with a set of powers too.

 Anxiety comes with, among other things, a sense of heightened perception. It’s indeed this kind of perception that makes anxiety what it is, but in this ability of perceiving things lie 4 powers that other people don’t often possess.
  1. Life-saving instinct
Anxiety has been traced back to a much older period of human evolution than you may think. It has its evolutionary roots and it served as a means to protect our ancestors from dangers that would lead to premature death (just like fear).
This survival mechanism used to help people stay alert and be able to detect dangers before they would happen. However, today anxiety has remained and is seen as a response to non-existent dangers. Yet, what if this response is still relevant and useful in certain vital cases?
French scientists have discovered that people with anxiety possess a unique life-saving sixth sense. They have found that some regions in these people’s brains possess the ability to detect threats in just 200 milliseconds!
This rapid detection ability allows people with anxiety to react appropriately in cases of social threats in the environment and thus possesses the potential to save one’s life!
  1. Increased IQ
What if anxiety comes hand to hand with a higher IQ? Well researchers at SUNY Downstate Medical Centre in New York confirm that it does. In the study, people with a General Anxiety Disorder were tested for IQ and the researchers found that anxiety correlates positively with intelligence.
It’s no wonder really, knowing that people with anxiety constantly over-analyze their environment. This means that their brains process information constantly, and for such thing one does need a higher IQ.
  1. Increased empathic ability
People with anxiety are constantly obsessed with how other people feel. What if this ‘obsession’ is not so much of an obsession, but rather a heightened empathic ability?
Psychologists at the Department of Psychology, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel say that it’s true.
According to the research, high socially anxious people “exhibited elevated empathy tendencies.” They discovered that these people not only possess an increased sense of empathy, but that that they could tell of people’s emotions with a high level of accuracy.
Perhaps this is why people with social anxiety prefer avoiding other people. Empathy can be a curse as much as it’s a gift if left uncontrolled.
But whatever the reason for their avoiding people, know that a socially anxious person can read your emotions like no other person.
  1. Sensing other people’s energy
While this one has not been scientifically tested or measured like the previous ones, the likeliness of this ability is very high and plausible. People with social anxiety aren’t always affected by it when around people.
In fact, certain people can trigger this anxiety, while others don’t. Thus, it’s highly appropriate to assume that people with social anxiety are able to sense the vibrations from people and feel very uncomfortable by those who emit low-frequency vibes.
So, while there are many things people with anxiety need to cope with, one thing is for certain: anxiety comes with a set of gifts that others don’t usually possess.
Perhaps anxiety is not so much a disorder, but rather a different state of mind that people are not used to?
What are your thoughts on this?
Please Share…
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The Most Hazardous Places In The World

Most cities have a seedy underbelly - hidden dangers that lurk below the surface out of every day sight. Certain places, however, are plagued by dangers so great the warning signs are clear. Take a look at these places you should never live in and get up close and personal with one of the most hazardous places in the world in Chernobyl Diaries, premiering in theaters on May 25, 2012.


Kantubek, Vozrozhdeniya Island


Once the site of laboratories and testing for the Soviet Union's Microbiological Warfare Group, the deserted island co-owned by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan is now abandoned and contaminated by anthrax, smallpox, plague, and more. Rusted out boats litter the arid landscape as a result of the drying out of the Aral sea.
via: en.wikipedia.org

Port-au-Prince, Haiti


Two years after the disastrous earthquake that dramatically changed Haiti's landscape, its capital faces incredible challenges and instability. Cholera has recently spread throughout the densely populated neighborhoods, and violent gangs rule the streets. Homicide rates in Port-au-Prince have reportedly become 6 times higher since 2007.

Homs, Syria

Since 2011, Homs has been at the epicenter of an extremely violent Syrian uprising. The city has seen been completely obliterated by government bombings targeting the Free Syrian Army. The U.N, backed by several prominent world leaders has begun intervening but the entire country is in a very volatile state and will likely remain so for some time to come.
Source: Reuters  /  via: en.wikipedia.org

Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

Those travel warnings are no joke. Thousands have fled the city of Juarez in Mexico, where the drug cartel wars have given way to frequent kidnappings, shootings and beheadings, often in broad daylight. Drug cartels have also been known to burn down entire businesses, leaving residents who are courageous enough to stay behind completely destitute. Before the recent out-of-control violence, Juarez was the site of over 4,000 female homicides between 1993 and 2003. The true culprits were never found.

Grozny, Chechnya

Though the conflict that gutted most of Grozny is over for now, the rebuilding process has been slow progressing. Because of its long history of violence and poverty, organized crime in the area remains high, especially the kidnapping of Western tourists.
Source: theworldgeography.com  /  via: georgien.blogspot.com

Mogadishu, Somalia

Up until 2006, Mogadishu was run by competing warlods that terrorized the region for several decades, but the violence isn't over. In recent years, there has been an uptick of deadly suicide bombings and the city's economy remains fragile. Many of its inhabitants are refugees from other parts of the country and suffer from disease and famine.
Source: globalpost.com  /  via: bartamaha.com

Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands

A place with the word "Bikini" in its name might sound inviting, but Bikini Atoll has been the site of nearly 70 nuclear bomb tests. It was finally deemed safe to visit the island in the late 90's but officials advise against coming into contact with any food product grown or raised on the island because high radiation levels still permeate the soil.
Via: ujelang

Dallol, Ethiopia

Located in a region of Ethiopia so remote it is only accessible by camel, Dallol is considered to be the hottest place on earth, with an average temperature of 94°F. The settlement has been uninhabited for decades because of the oppressive heat, which often causes the spring waters and acid ponds to bubble up.

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This will change you in exactly 60 seconds



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The Man Who Lives Without Money

Mark Boyle outside his off-grid caravan.
Photograph: Mark Boyle
Think you couldn’t live without money? Irishman Mark Boyle challenged this notion and here’s how he finds life with no financial income, bank balance, and no spending.

“If someone told me seven years ago, in my final year of a business and economics degree, that I’d now be living without money, I’d have probably choked on my microwaved ready meal.” According to Boyle, the plan back then was to ‘get a good job’, make as much money as possible, and buy the stuff that would show society he was successful.

Like most individuals raised in a consumer-driven society, he never second guessed those goals. For a while he had a fantastic job managing a big organic food company and even had a yacht in the harbor. If it hadn’t have been for the chance purchase of a video called Gandhi, he’d still be pursuing the same life. “I’d still be doing it today. Instead, for the last fifteen months, I haven’t spent or received a single penny. Zilch”.

The change in life path came one evening on the yacht while philosophizing with a friend over a glass of Merlot. “Whilst I had been significantly influenced by Mahatma’s quote “be the change you want to see in the world”, I had no idea what that change was up until then.”

The two friends began talking about all the major issues in the world – environmental destruction, resource wars, factory farms, sweatshop labor – and wondered which of the issues they could best devote their time to. Mark didn’t feel he could really make any difference, however “being two small drops in a highly polluted ocean”.

That evening, though, a revelation came through: “These issues weren’t as unrelated as I had previously thought – they had a common root cause. I believe the fact that we no longer see the direct repercussions our purchases have on the people, environment, and animals they affect is the factor that unites these problems.”

Boyle believes that the degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that it now means most people are completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering embodied in the ‘stuff’ they buy.

It can be agreed that few people actually want to cause suffering to others; most just don’t have any idea that they directly are. The tool that has enabled this separation is money, especially in its globalized format.

“If we grew our own food, we wouldn’t waste a third of it today” is one of Mark’s examples as to why it’s important a reconnection with natural/source living is established. “If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn’t throw them out the moment we changed the interior décor. If we had to clean our own water, we probably wouldn’t shit in it”.

The above arguments all honestly assess the undervalue most objects now have. With convenience at our fingertips, most don’t consider where their trash product or unwanted items go.

Deciding to be the change, this then spurred Mark to fully dive into his new viewpoint and give up money, which he only planned on doing for a year. “I made a list of the basics I’d need to survive. I adore food, so it was at the top. There are four legs to the food-for-free table: foraging wild food, growing your own, bartering and using waste grub, of which there are far more”.

On his first day, he fed 150 people a three-course meal with waste and foraged food. For himself, however, he ate his own crops and waste only made up about 5% of his diet. “I cooked outside – rain or shine – on a rocket stove”.

The next concern was shelter. He found himself a caravan from Freecycle, parked it on an organic farm he volunteered with, and renovated it out to be off the electricity grid. I’d use wood I either coppiced or scavenged to heat my humble abode in a wood burner made from an old gas bottle, and I had a compost loo to make ‘humanure’ for my veggies”. Up front and to the point, Boyle clearly understood the necessity of using every available resource to be most sustainable.

“I bathed in a river, and for toothpaste I used washed up cuttlefish bone with wild fennel seeds, an oddity for a vegan. For loo I’d relieve the local newsagent of its papers (Once I wiped my arse with a story about myself); it wasn’t double quilted but it quickly became normal”. For transportation, Mark used his bike and trailer, using the 55 km commute to the city as an alternative solution for the gym. Beeswax candles served as his lighting.

Humorously inspiring to some, deluded and anti-capitalist to others, Mark had this to say about his radical lifestyle: “Many people label me as anti-capitalist. Whilst I do believe capitalism is fundamentally flawed, requiring infinite growth on a finite planet, I am not anti anything.” More than anything, Boyle claims to be pro-nature, pro-community, and pro-happiness. How often is that a city dweller’s life philosophy?

“And that’s the thing I don’t get – if all this consumerism and environmental destruction brought happiness, it would make some sense. But all the key indicators of unhappiness – depression, crime, mental illness, obesity, suicide and so on are on the increase.” More money, it seems, does not equate to more happiness. (See Documentary: Happy)

Another positive effect of Mark’s unique lifestyle is the joy he has created for himself. “Ironically, I have found this year to be the happiest of my life. I’ve more friends in my community than ever, I haven’t been ill since I began, and I’ve never been fitter. I’ve found that friendship, not money, is real security. That most western poverty is spiritual, and that independence is really interdependent.”

Mark’s example certainly stands as inspiration for those seeking freedom from the fast-paced modern age; most alternative media sources would agree that the more one reconnects to nature, the better their mental, physical, and spiritual health is. However, could everyone live like this? According to Mark, no.

“It would be a catastrophe, we are too addicted to both it and cheap energy, and have managed to build an entire global infrastructure around the abundance of both.”

The prospect of gradually transitioning to re-localized, small communities is a possibility, though. With greener energy sources and healthier communities being implemented at a growing rate, natural living is already a reality, but may be made much more mainstream in the future to come.

“For over 90 percent of our time on the planet, a period when we lived much more ecologically, we lived without money. Now we are the only species to use it, probably because we are the species most out of touch with nature.”

Asked what was missing from his old world of lucre and business, Mark replied “Stress. Traffic-jams. Bank statements. Utility bills. Oh yeah, and the odd pint of organic ale with my mates down at the local”.

It just goes to show, if you are passionate about anything, you can be that change you’d like to see in the world.


Sources:

World Observer
The Guardian
True Activist
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Wild Dolphin “Asks” Divers to Help Free Itself from Hook




Dolphins may be one of the planet’s smartest creatures, but one thing they lack are opposable thumbs. However, they are clever enough to recognize that, in a pinch, they can approach humans to get help with those hard to reach spots.

In this video, a bottle nosed dolphin with limited mobility due to a hook and fishing line restricting a pectoral fin, approaches some divers for help. Diving instructor Keller Laros noticed that the dolphin was hanging around them, and that it wasn’t able to move freely. Closer inspection revealed the ocean debris lodged in the fin.

Thankfully, the dolphin not only allowed the divers to attempt to work the line and hook out of the fin, but actually shifted its body to make it easier.

The divers were able to remove the fishing line which allowed increased movement for the animal. Unfortunately, the hook was not able to be removed.
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There Is An Upside-Down House In Russia

Yep, that means you walk on the ceiling and look up to the floor.

This is a house in Moscow. It’s the wrong way round.

This is a house in Moscow. It's the wrong way round.

It’s part of the “Upside Down House” show at the All-Russia Exhibition Center.

It's part of the "Upside Down House" show at the All-Russia Exhibition Center .

Visitors can explore the kitchen…

Visitors can explore the kitchen...

… the bedroom…

... the bedroom...

… and the bathroom.

... and the bathroom.

Flipping the photos makes it looks like they’re defying gravity.

Flipping the photos makes it looks like they're defying gravity.

Which is very cool.

Which is very cool.

Best. House. Ever.

Best. House. Ever.


(Source)
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How Animals React To These 2 Little Boys Is Nothing Short Of Magical. I’m Speechless.

Elena Shumilova is a mother from from Andreapol, Russia, that has been taking stunning photos of her sons with animals. Now, those photos are making their way around the internet. The photos, hosted on 500px, aren’t just cute (although they definitely are). They show a connection between children and animals that, as adults get older, we forget about. It’s magical.

Yaroslav and Vanya are precious animal whisperers. There is something so relaxing about these photos, I could look at them all day, dreaming that I lived in their world. To see more of her wonderful photos, visit her 500px profile.


Source: 500px.com / Follow Elena on Facebook Here, viralnova.com
Share Elena’s work with others by clicking below.
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