The Notepad - Vikas D. Reddy

Ted Ginn: Speed Kills - Game Sports Realm.com

2009-02-07T06:57:00.000-08:00

Ted Ginn: Speed Kills - Game Sports Realm.com

"Ted Ginn, one of the fastest players in the NFL, has made great strides in his 2nd yr and now stands poised to make the next leap in his 3rd yr as one of the elite WR’s of the NFL."

Written by Sidd Reddy, one of the main sports writers of Game Sports Realm.

Miami Dolphins: Offseason Master Plan - Coming Soon - GSR.com

2009-02-07T04:06:00.000-08:00

Miami Dolphins: Offseason Master Plan - Coming Soon at Game Sports Realm

"The Miami Dolphins have many concerns this offseason but with HC T. Sporano, GM J. Ireland and key pieces in LT J.Long and QB C. Henne, the question of a Miami Dolphins dynasty is more of “when” than “if”."

Free Online MMORPGs - Dungeon Runners, Travian - Game Sports Realm

2009-02-07T02:16:00.000-08:00

Online MMORPGs don't get much respect because of that monthly payment. Come on, 15 dollars isn't that bad. You have 31 days to get 15 bucks. Some kids get a daily allowance close to that, more or less. I never got an allowance. My middle school days were filled with getting deep in the Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards business game.

In high school me and my brother saved our two bucks of daily allowance for lunch for a few years and added it to our funds to buy a PS3, at a bargain price around the time of its release.

Upgrade.

But I digress; the reason why we had the determination to enter the underworld of the school grade trading card business and resort to strange methods of getting the cash we needed, it was all worth it. And part of our Pokemon blood money went to paying for the subscription for Star Wars Galaxies (pre CU), World of Warcraft, EvE Online, and so on for like four years but we never had enough to pay each month.

But one of the best games I ever played on the internet, aside from Neopets back in the day, is Travian. It's a browser game that takes some serious strategic skill not just in the game but in real life. You are working together with real players from all around the world and fighting real enemies. Players can buy gold with real money (using PayPal) for added bonuses to resources gathering rate, upgrades, and others, which are practically a necessity if you want to remain in top contending alliances nearing the World Wonder stage, where nearly a year has passed by and most people got conquered, brought to 0 population (destroyed), or they left the game. It's kind of like survival of the fittest. Survival isn't easy depending on where you are in the game world, which is divided into four quadrants.

I played on the S3 server on Travian.com from Fall 2007 to the summer of 2008. The strategy involved to winning the World Wonder race takes serious skill, PR relations, time investment, and raw intelligence. I learned how to time 10-20 attacks of thousands of troops from veterans of the game (people who played more than one server) within a fraction of a second, because the guy I'm attacking somewhere in Europe or the US is trying to time his reinforcements to kill all of my waves. You have to be precise. Perfection wasn't enough sometimes.

The other part of Travian was communication with other players. If you didn't have Skype, you missed out on a lot. Backstabbings, corruption, betrayal, martyrdom, damn, everything happens over a year. I'll post all about it in the future.

So I digress that digression,

Sam Kothalanka, my older brother's friend and one of the writers on my website, Game Sports Realm, understands that there's a whole lot of s**t involved when you need to make money because you can become too committed. That's why there are free MMORPGs. Runescape is one of the best, Travian is an award winning text browser game, and there are other pretty good online free MMORPGs. Dungeon Runners is as polished as a game can get, with smooth graphics and seamless gameplay, which reminds of World of Warcraft.

But here it is. It's one of the best free MMOs out there and our website Game Sports Realm has a little preview. Click here to see some screenshots and a gameplay video taking you straight to the action.

The Launch of Game Sports Realm in 2009 - www.gamesportsrealm.com

2009-01-19T08:03:00.000-08:00

The Game Sports Realm project was started a few weeks in the December of 2008 and became reality in the first week of the New Year. Video games, sports coverage and analysis, World of Warcraft - Wrath of the Lich King tutorials and strategies for guilds of all types, movies, TV, and entertainment news, etc.

The website is up and there are many projects in development. Check out the site now:

www.gamesportsrealm.com

Vikstone vs Malygos from WotLK

Capoeira Fighter Lateef Crowder is Playing Eddy Gordo in the Tekken Movie

2008-12-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

Now is some of the best news I’ve heard this year. Remember that awesome fight scene from Tom Yum Goong (The Protector)? Tony Jaa, the Muay Thai martial arts superstar of this century faced off against Lateef Crowder in a flooded burning temple.

Muay Thai against Capoeira in a high flying ground sweeping fight. If you haven’t seen this movie yet, look out for it.

The Tekken Movie is coming out in 2009 and the cast has already been announced. For all the latest details on Lateef Crowder, Eddy Gordo, and the movie, then read this article.

Tekken Movie in 2009 - Lateef Crowder To Play Capoeira Master Eddie Gordo - Associated Content

Eddy Gordo from Tekken. Bears a striking resemblance to Lateef Crowder huh?

Sun Tzu’s True Art of War - Why the Pen is Mightier Than the Sword

2008-12-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

Sun Tzu’s True Art of War - Why the Pen is Mightier Than the Sword - Associated Content

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The pen is mightier than the sword.

Enough said.

There’s a difference between the blade of a sword and the ink of a pen. The old saying always reminds us that the pen is truly the dominating warrior in the battle between violence and serenity in mankind. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War shows us the genius tactics that a general can use to defeat overwhelming odds and combat technology. His life as a heroic general during the Spring and Autumn Period of China under the King of Wu is testament to the realism of his war tactics.

Sun Tzu's strategies have spread throughout the world and were used by many warriors, including the Samurai.

As a gamer I’m familiar with that kingdom because I’ve played the Dynasty Warriors series on the Playstation 2 for years; Wu is one of the main factions in the game. Decimating thousands of enemy NPC soldiers as Ma Chao and Lu Bu never gets old. I never did like Wu actually because I was a Shu warrior gamer at heart. I’ll also never forget that priceless cut-scene in Dynasty Warriors 3 when Lu Bu appears for the first time. Two enemy soldiers freak out and one of them yells in a hilariously accented high pitched voice, “Oh my god, it’s Lu Bu!” (Lu Bu to China in the story was the equivalent of Achilles in the West)

But the way it was said sounds like “Omg it’s Luu Booo!” so I can’t help it but crack up each time.

Getting back on topic, let me explain to you what I have done as an online freelance writer. I’ve been writing since the age of eleven but started out as a humble kid polishing his skills in creative writing, unaware that you can actually get paid (too bad the world thought I had to be 18 to legally exist). Writing is a talent I would have never worked on if it weren’t for my genius English teachers in all my schools, even from my playground and recess days. They taught me it is more than something you learn in the classroom. It’s more than essays and term papers that make me want to stick my hand in an oven. I once had an essay paper I had to skip meals to finish, and you know what happens as soon as I walked out of my house to go to school?

It rains.

Not just any rain. To bystanders it was a sudden downpour but to me it was like my life’s work was getting urinated on by God himself. That was the inevitable pain I had to deal with as a writer. Picture Agent Smith from The Matrix movies series saying “inevitable” and the point will hit home.

I’m in medical school abroad in India, thousands of miles from my hometown near Chicago. And still I’m getting paid for what I write online. Thousands have been influenced by my writing. When I talk about writing as more than a physical connection, I mean it breaks physical laws in nature, something the blade of a sword can never do.

What people say in real life to you is understood normally. But the letters and words you read on paper only happen in your mind through incredibly high speed neural impulses of information. With the power of the internet, humans have defied nature’s boundaries and made writing a way you can actively change the lives of millions of people in the world at real-time, across the continents and oceans.

Writing is psychological and I’m all about psychology. When you put yourselves in the shoes and mind of another person, you discover all the different ways you can take 26 letters and create a nearly unlimited combination of words and syllables to understand what will make a reader laugh, hurt, and learn - something a weapon of war like a blade can never do.

And unlike the sword, writing can be used to create peace as well as starting wars. Believe me, I tried an experiment to see if the sword can also do both and I learned something. Never use yourself in an experiment. Get someone else.

And who the hell said the pen can’t kill a guy better than a sword?

We have people like Jason Bourne running around and using every house hold item to beat up professional cold-blooded assassins from places in Europe where we say we want to go but are too lazy to make the damn trip. I still remember The Joker from The Dark Knight hilariously dispatching that hechnman by making his pen ‘disappear.’

The Joker can make pens 'disappear.'

And if you still don’t believe me that writing is the true art of war, then you must realize that Sun Tzu’s masterpiece The Art of War was not created by a sword, but with the ink of a pen. Sun Tzu was a mastermind who knew he could influence billions of people over generations of life and death. He knew that if he was lucky, his words will be read even today. The pen had made Sun Tzu immortal.

If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.

-Sun Tzu

The Art of War’s final secret is that it is truly the act of writing that can defeat enemies when you’re ashes and dust in the winds or buried six feet in the ground.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

Star Wars: The Old Republic - First New Gameplay Video Documentary

2008-12-12T21:22:00.000-08:00

Star Wars: The Old Republic - First Gameplay - The Notepad

The excitement is rising indefinitely with the announcement of the first ever video footage of Star Wars: The Old Republic, the new Star Wars MMORPG being developed by Bioware. Even though it is regarded as the worst kept secret in the online game industry, the developers released very few details about the game’s classes, professions, and combat gameplay after its announcement.

In a new article at the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website, it is stated that Lucas Arts and Bioware are going to release the first in-game footage in the form of a video documentary. It will be put on the site on December 12th, 2008, as part of their weekly Friday update.

Latest News - Video Documentary, Never Before Seen Footage, and New Screenshots

The prospect of a new gameplay video will answer many questions of MMORPG fans.

-8 classes have been announced and only two factions are known - Republic and Sith. New screenshots were also released after upgrading the graphics and fixing the concerns of many fans in the community forums. What the eight classes are, nobody knows. That information is still slated for release, hopefully it will be given by the new video footage in the documentary.

-Players will have a spectrum of the Light and Dark sides of the Force where they fall under. The choices players make in the game, especially the morally difficult ones, will determine their moral attunement to the Force.

-The new in-game video will most definitely feature combat. The developers have said that the combat will be “real-time” but did not give any specific details on the pace of the fights and how much of a factor twitch-skills matter in winning against players in PvP and monsters in the Star Wars wild environment.

-It isn’t news that the combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic will have extensive graphics and visuals, with interlocking lightsabers and reacting physics. Based on reviews and reports of those who have seen the in-game footage of TOR when it was first announced in October 21st, 2008, it’s safe to say that it is going to bring a lot of excitement to MMO-based combat.

The Hero Engine and its Next-Generation Power

The Hero Engine is an MMORPG 3D game engine developed specifically to build MMO games. It has won many awards, it was a finalist for “Best Engine” in the Game Developer magazine, and has been licensed by Bioware for Star Wars: The Old Republic. The new gameplay video will showcase all the ground-breaking features such as scripting, dynamic character animation, and many important graphical milestones that the game needs to rival best-selling MMOs like World of Warcraft.

You can watch many visually impressive videos and tutorials of the Hero Engine on its official website. They are only a few of the engine’s capabilities. Bioware is renowned for its ability to put a signature trademark on all it touches, which is why it’s one of the best in the game industry.

History in the Making - The Video Documentary

Stay tuned to watch the first ever gameplay video of Star Wars: The Old Republic; it will be online on Friday, December 12th, 2008. It will definitely catapult this new MMO into the higher reaches of mainstream knowledge. The game has only been announced for a short time so seeing how the first video is an entire documentary; we can assume there are big details and facts to be released about SW: TOR.

Only the video can prove whether or not the game has the ability to battle WoW for sales dominance. As much as TOR’s rivalry with WoW is brought up, there’s no question that the documentary will prove it for itself.

The Liger - Biggest Cat in the World

2008-12-06T07:58:00.000-08:00

When you ask someone what the biggest cat in the world is, they can’t help it but scratch their head and say, “Lion, tiger, or Tigger.” You know what I mean? Not many people know.

You can search “biggest cat in the world” on Google but the first couple of pages are just pictures and videos of hilariously obese cats - some fake and some real. If fat people are jolly, then the same must be true about cats.

Scar and Simba had unresolved issues in The Lion King.

But here’s what I’m getting at. There are cats, termed “big cats”, that dwarf those cats in physical size. Remember Scar’s lunge at Simba in slow motion inthe first Lion King movie? That’s what these cats would do to obese cats all around the world.

If you mated a tiger with a lion, you wouldn’t get a tiger or a lion. You’ll get two different things: a Liger or a Tigon.

Never heard of them? The Liger is the biggest damn cat in the world and this time it’s the official title. It can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1100 pounds. Hercules is the largest living Liger today.

Want to know more about these big cats? Read this article.

Ligers and Tigons - Biggest Cat in the World - Associated Content

The Liger can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 1100 pounds.

Most Dangerous Animals Extinct - Jurassic Fight Club Dinosaur Battles and Pictures

2008-12-04T08:50:00.001-08:00

The Greatest Battles of Nature Witnessed in Film and Television

Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Spinosaurus - Jurassic Park III

Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Spinosaurus in Jurassic Park III

Megalodon Shark vs. Brygmophyseter (Giant Sperm Whale) - Jurassic Fight Club

Megalodons were able to kill and eat prey as large as the Tyrannosaurus Rex.

King Kong vs. Three Tyrannosaurus Rex Predators - King Kong (2005)

King Kong faced off against three T-Rex while protecting Naomi Watts at the same time.

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To read more about these battles, which animal won, and how they destroy its enemy, read the full article here.

Star Wars Expanded Universe - Top 5 Most Deadliest Star Wars Creatures

2008-12-04T07:46:00.000-08:00

Star Wars Expanded Universe - Top 5 Most Deadliest Star Wars Creatures - Associated Content

The Most Fearsome Monsters of Star Wars Ranked for Their Dominance

5. Rancor

The Rancor is the apex predator of Dathomir.

4. Akk Dogs of Haruun Kal

The Akk Dogs originated from Haruun Kal.

3. Terantatek of the Old Republic

The Terantatek was termed the "Jedi Killer."

2. Greater (Ancient) Krayt Dragon

The Greater Krayt Dragon was on top of the food chain on Tatooine.

1. The Sarlacc

The Sarlacc kept its victims alive for a thousand years so it can slowly digest and telepathically torture them.

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To read more about their facts, biological weaponry, and how they kill their prey, read the full article here.

Video Games - Top 3 Must-Have Christmas Gifts of 2008

2008-12-02T22:38:00.001-08:00

Video Games - Top 3 Must-Have Christmas Gifts of 2008 - Associated Content

These are good games. If you know people who like video games, get these for the holidays.

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The Most Wanted Console and Online Computer Game Titles to Get for Me and Every True Gamer

Some of the best gifts you can get for your kids on Christmas are video games. In fact, there are more adults playing video games in the industry than kids. Video games are the perfect presents for mom and dad, as well.

MMORPGs and the online scene has become the new era of the gaming world. The problem is the money involved with buying these games and having a console to support them. But that’s where you come in.

Make this year’s holiday season that much better with my Video Gamer’s Ultimate Christmas Wish list. They are three of the best-selling, most praised, and fun console titles and computer games. Get them for your kids or your parents - everyone loves them. These are the best Christmas gift ideas.

Fallout 3 - PC, Xbox 360, PS3

Forgot to mention that this game is rated M for Mature. Buy it.

Few single player RPG games feature such depth in how much you can customize your character. For the hardcore role-playing fan, this is a great Christmas gift. It’s been hyped for over a year and came through with considerable success. It has been rated “Incredible” by IGN.com and is topping the sales in the PC charts.

It has been released on October, 28^th, 2008, which means there may be many holiday offers in retail stores. I’ve been a gamer since I was a small child and played some of the best. Fallout 3’s story is about you searching for your father in a post-apocalyptic nuclear aftermath world. There is intense action, detail, and enough challenge to go with the gore for people of all ages. I really want this game to add to my RPG collection.

If the person you want to give the gift to doesn’t own an expensive PS3, don’t worry. Fallout 3 is sold for the Xbox 360 and on PC. If you own a computer, you’re good to go. It costs $59.99 and can be bought in online stores like GameStop and others. I’m too big of a fan to wait this long to buy the game myself. This makes for a fine Christmas gift idea.

World of Warcraft - Wrath of the Lich King - PC Game

The Death Knight is a new playable class in WoW WotLK

It’s beating a dead horse to mention Wrath of the Lich King as a Christmas gift. It’s undeniably the game to get for every online gamer. It is the latest expansion to the best-selling MMORPG in the market, World of Warcraft. I have played WoW since 2005 and I still love the polished gameplay and quality of content. Now the level cap has been raised to 80 and even a new class called the Death Knight.

Now look at my situation. I’ve played this franchise to the max for nearly four years - but unable to buy the expansion. It’s not a coincidence that this game has been released in this holiday winter season and the story setting of the game is all about the deep freeze climate. A lot of other unfortunate kids are in the same situation as me. Christmas is the time to make us smile.

My friends and guildmates are already getting to level 80; some already reached the cap. They’re waiting for me to play but all I can do is wait for Christmas.Without the expansion, I can’t travel to the new continent of Northrend and go questing for old times sake.

There are 11 million people playing this - don’t leave me out.

Prince of Persia - PC, Xbox 360, PS3

The new Prince of Persia.

This game is to be released on December, 2^nd, 2008. It is the next-generation continuation of the action packed Prince of Persia series. When I played the first Prince of Persia on PS2 years ago, I was hooked for life.

I’m not the only one who appreciates the melee combat, cinematic acrobatic visuals, and good storyline. This game is one of the most anticipated games of the year and has received a lot of coverage from IGN.

It’s been a long time since I played a good old fashioned action title on a console. RPG games always appealed to me now, because the magic that used to be in melee action games during the Nintendo 64 days hasn’t been as strong this century.

This game looks like it can bring back the magic. Don’t keep me waiting.

And remember, these are Christmas gifts not only I want, but practically every true video gamer in existence. If you know what your kids like to play then there are many other great games to choose from. Don’t worry about running out of Christmas gift ideas - just look at what games your kids played in the past and buy something in the same genre.

Good luck.

Important Tips for Staying Motivated About Losing Weight

2008-12-02T21:28:00.000-08:00

Health and Fitness - Important Tips For Staying Motivated About Losing Weight

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Crucial Tips to Stay Motivated About Your Health and Quality of Life

If you were to ask everyone in the world what they would wish for the most, losing weight would be high on the list next to the meaning of life and getting rich. But even with the high demand, the most difficult part is staying motivated about weight loss and making results happen. It’s not rare to hear those ridiculous percentages of people that failed to keep their New Year’s resolutions alive by the second day of the year. The problem with weight loss, especially in a country like the United States, is that there are too many distractions, comforts, and burger advertisements being shown everywhere you go.

The most popular food isn't always the best food. Actually, it's usually the worst.

The key to staying motivated to go the extra mile is having a high self-efficacy. It is a relatively strange term for something that simply means “believing in your ability to achieve a goal.” But it is considered one of the greatest determinants of a person’s choices by researchers in the field of psychology today. In order to break down the wall that tries to keep us from going to the next level, we have to see the bigger picture of losing weight, the long-term benefits to our health, and the quality of life.

STOP THINKING - JUST DO IT

When a person is in a spot where he has to choose between comfort and taking on a challenging feat, a lot of stressful things run through his mind. If you believe you cannot accomplish a goal a single time, it makes it that much harder to stay focused. To control your body you must first master your mind. Never let your habitual cravings and inactivity force you into giving up before you even begin.

When you’re running the mile and you feel the painful burning sensation in your legs, the lactic acid is telling your body to stop. But the longer you keep going, the quicker you’re going to be able to fight this same feeling in the future. Every time you conquer your body and exert control over your pain, the benefits are astounding to the point where you don’t even need to convince yourself to stick to a strict diet or exercise regime anymore.

LOSING WEIGHT IS NOT JUST ABOUT LOOKING GOOD - IT IS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND QUALITY OF LIFE

Losing weight went from being a topic of staying healthy to just about looking good. However, it is now known that even though someone might look physically fit or attractive, it does not mean he or she is healthy in the strictest sense. Good health requires proper vitamins and minerals not just a healthy intake of calories per day. Looks are sometimes deceiving.

A century ago, the leading causes of death in society were due to accidents, old age, and disease. However, as medical research reached exponential levels and technology improved, the average human life expectancy has reached an all-time high of 66.12 years for the world, which is nearly double the human life expectancy in the early 1900’s. But such an amazing achievement does not come without a catch.

A deadly catch.

QUALITY OVER QUANTITY

Even though we live longer now than ever, new diseases have emerged in trends, such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other illnesses that are a direct consequence of our lifestyle. When you’re deciding whether or not to keep your dream of losing weight alive, think of the long term consequences.

Remember, the quality of your life is enough to keep you motivated.

What you do now in exercise and healthy eating habits is going to pay off in the future. Think of it as a bank. The more money you put in now, the much better results you’re going to get when you most need it when you’re old and your health is of the greatest value to you. But if you invest in that health ‘bank’ too late, it is much harder to maintain good health at older ages. Stop looking at numbers and life expectancies. The quality of life is what really matters. When you have to make a choice in giving up or staying strong with the plan you have made, remember that you will not only look good; you will gain a higher self-esteem and enjoy every year of your life as if each was a beautiful lifetime.

That’s the benefit to staying motivated about weight loss. Believe in your ability to achieve a goal and you will finally get the wish you always wanted.

Best Superfood Diet to Prevent Cancer and Boost Your Immunity

2008-12-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

Best Superfood Diet to Prevent Cancer and Boost Your Immunity - Associated Content

You want to know the truth? I follow one of the worst diets imaginable to a human being - a ton of chocolate, fatty pizza, and a psychological aversion to certain vegetables and practically all onions. It’s not completely my fault, I had these problems as a child. I did improve my diet in the past few years because my seriously screwed up fast metabolism is going to run out one of these days.

And oh yeah, I heard cancer kills.

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Eat a Healthy Diet Rich in Anti-Oxidants and Carcinogen Destroying Foods

Cancer is the most feared word today and we know all about the damage it can do to a person’s body. People’s idea of cancer is that it is simply a random process that cannot be avoided like the toss of a coin. But this is not an unstoppable disease. Although there isn’t any cure, there are countless ways in which you reduce the chances of ever getting cancer. One of the best methods is to eat a healthy nutritious diet in these cancer-preventing foods.

As much as I hate mixing vegetables with my meat, I have to admit some of them taste damn good.

Remember, the National Cancer Institute has stated that a third of all cancer deaths were due to diet. You are what you eat. Imagine yourself a building under construction; if you don’t eat the right food, you won’t get the proper vitamins, anti-oxidants, and minerals required to keep it going smooth. It works similar to the human body and the way cancer manifests over time.

Here are three of the best cancer fighting foods that all people can enjoy; the health nut, the vegetarian, and the one usually left out, the non-vegetarian.

“EAT YOUR BROCCOLI, SON.”

Our parents were right. We should have eaten our vegetables. Did you know that broccoli can reduce the chances of breast cancer? It works by facilitating cancer-promoting estrogen hormone into a less harmful variety. Broccoli has a bad reputation in the family’s dinner table but it has been a tradition passed by our ancestors. They knew this food was the key to good health.

Broccoli is also known to prevent colon and rectal cancer, which are among the leading causes of cancer deaths in men in the United States. It contains a phytochemical sulforaphane product that work to hamper carcinogen levels. Unfortunately, it is also researched that glucoraphanin, the molecule that causes the bitterness of broccoli, is the cancer-fighting agent.

In other words; the worse the broccoli tastes, the better it is at preserving your life from cancer. Do the brave thing and just eat the broccoli. It’s not as bad as it seems, it’s affordable, and it can taste decent with a pinch of salt and other spices. But remember that boiling the food will strip it of its essential nutrients; you have to eat it fresh or raw.

VEGETARIANS HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OVER CANCER

Nuts and oils are rich in anti-oxidants such as campferol, which can prevent cancer. The importance of anti-oxidants cannot be stressed enough in the war against cancer and many immune disorders in patients. The human body naturally undergoes oxidative damage as it ages but it also produces anti-oxidants, which are what we obtain from good nutritious food. They’re like little machines that repair whatever damage they find and play an important role in reducing free-radicals and carcinogens.

Nuts and oils are the principle diet that vegetarians follow because it contains many essential amino acids. It offers a good source of protein but still lacks the complete amino acids found only in animal meat. However, vegetarians get a two-in-one deal; proper functioning of the body and a consistent diet that actively prevents cancer.

TREAT YOURSELF TO A TENDER STEAK ONCE IN A WHILE

Steak was the reason I wrote this article. Tender juicy steak.

Research has shown that selenium, the molecule present in foods such as red meat, fish, chicken, eggs, and grains can hamper prostate cancer. It is easy to find in foods and has been proven to control cell damage in cancer cells early in development. It acts as a first responder in the immune system.

Selenium reduces the chances of prostate, colon, and even gastric cancer, which was revealed in a study published in 2004. It seems non-vegetarians also gain a great advantage. However, remember that meat is rich in fat and cholesterol especially when it is fried. This can backfire on your health if you don’t control your diet. Make sure you get enough fiber in your diet or you’ll wish you took the blue pill and went down the vegetarian path instead.

Imagine yourself to be a work of art. Everything you eat influences the way your body is run it Is an intricate system tied together to maintain homeostasis. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are the building blocks and you have to get the right proportions of each. Cancer can be easily prevented if you eat foods rich in anti-oxidants and other essential molecules.

You are what you eat and your children should learn early in their lives that the more they eat the right foods in their youth, the healthier habits they can develop in the future. It is proven to reduce cancer and improve the vitality of the human body, so take a break from the burger joints and fast food - have some of these cancer-preventing foods you can find in your own kitchen instead.

The Truth About Reputation and Respect

2008-12-02T14:36:00.000-08:00

The Truth About Reputation and Respect - Associated Content

My two cents.

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Gaining Respect and Learning What Status Really Is

It’s funny the things we end up doing to protect something called our ‘reputation.’

Reputation you say? Let’s see what the dictionary says:

1.the estimation in which a person or thing is held, esp. by the community or the public generally; repute

Okay, none of you need a definition to know what reputation means. We all know reputation makes who you are, or at least that’s that we’re taught.

There’s a tricky line between reputation and the essence of who you are. Because the two can be entirely different things. Reputation is how the community sees you and It is your image in the light of society’s eyes.

And the essence of who you are is more simply: who you are in reality.

Any objections when I say the two can be different things?

People do some risky things to protect their reputation because in the end, that’s all they’ve got. When we walk down the street, our reputation is perception to outsiders. To those who don’t know us, what else do we have but our name? Reputation is what you wear, who you are friends with, your race, what God you worship, and the size of your wallet. It influences how the world reacts to you before you take a single action. The world doesn’t care who you are inside. It only cares about what you look like you can do.

If you demand respect, you better deserve it first.

There’s just one loophole:

Reputation can be created, imagined, faked, fabricated, framed, and defended.

The essence of who you are is not an illusion. It cannot be faked, and only you, your closest family members, and friends know the truth. Why don’t people simply accept that as their reputation?

To look better with the conformists of society, men and women go against their own core beliefs to fit the ‘accepted’ image that’s been spoon-fed to them from the day they’ve been born. That includes the way they dress, the music they pretend to like, the people they marry, the races they associate with, and even the people they shun or kill. To what lengths do we go to keep our reputation perfect? We all realize it’s an illusion but we make it so real we forget it isn’t who we are.

We’ve run from our own judgment to the abstract judgments of a ‘higher’ power. We’ve married people against our will, have not divorced because it would ‘look bad’, withdrawn from society because of being a rape victim, committed suicide, and other miscellaneous tragedies. And those who matter most to us end up being permanently scarred by the consequences. So many times we’ve held ourselves back in order to look better to people we don’t even know or will ever meet. The Samurai that followed the Bushido code frequenty committed ritualistic acts of suicide called seppuku. They were done out of relief for people who believed their reputations were shamed forever.

And what about Oedipus Rex? He gouged out his eyes after his found out he killed his father and married his mother, out of pure pity and shame. But there was no way he knew what he was doing and it was not his fault. Any reasonable person could have kept his sanity but reputation can sometimes corrupt important decision making.

Oedipus Rex sacrificed his eye sight to cope with his shame. Not exactly smart because it changes nothing.

In the end, who you are is the most significant thing you can be. Attach whatever you want. Race, religion, gender, rank, and wealth. Do labels truly define you?

The measure of a man is his internal self. Take away his job, rob his bank account, burn down his house, deface his marital image, and shatter his armor. And what’s left underneath? Absolutely nothing. Without his armor, he’s weak and defenseless. He’s a trapped ant under a magnifying glass. The ‘man’ who holds that magnifying glass is who we fear the most.

The point is that nobody is actually looking down on us. A near-fact:

The average person does not care about the way you look or what you’re associated with. He is more concerned about himself and his own reputation. Another never-ending cycle. So most of the stress that goes with trying to look cool is for nothing.

But there’s only one way to redeem ourselves. We have to be true to ourselves. Do not sacrifice our personal beliefs for the sake of looking good. The honor of our family and glory of ourselves are just illusions. Many people would die for honor but really, what is honor? What is glory? Take a moment and figure out what they mean.

Now that you know what they actually mean, are they worth destroying peoples’ lives? Are they worth war, racism, and damage that threatens the people you love? All that for abstract words.

Abstract:

1. thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances: an abstract idea

2. expressing a quality or characteristic apart from any specific object or instance

3. theoretical; not applied or practical

Can you taste honor? Can you touch glory? Now is it worth spending your life and resorting to extreme things such as war and family banishment to achieve them?

The world is a cold place and people only believe in reputation, no matter what you are underneath. And who you are on the outside is a stage.

What we must do is stay true to ourselves. We have to do what we think is right. If it means defacing our reputation and destroying our family’s image in the eyes of people that don’t matter, we have to be prepared to do it.

Key word: In the eyes of others.

The truth and reality of your decisions must be accepted by you, your friends, and your family. They are the real reputation.

There are very few instances in the world where a man can be stripped of his entire armor and retain his indomitable spirit. He can go beyond what people say and set out to accomplish what he truly knows is right. The people want to do the same but are reluctant, too cowardly to face society’s judgment. And so, they turn on him and make the man a martyr. Very few men have the courage to do that, the power to disregard opposition and to do what matters to them the most.

Reputation and the essence of who you are - are two very different things.

And the day a person starts to care about the latter is the day he will be a man of respect.

Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in Naperville, Illinois

2008-12-02T09:41:00.000-08:00

Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in Naperville, Illinois - Associated Content

Looking out for the block.

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Naperville, Illinois is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Christmas is approaching and you should be prepared for all your shopping needs for the holidays. Here are three retailers where you can buy quality affordable Christmas trees of all types.

Don't be an average Joe. You can beat this Christmas tree - all you need is money.

American Sale Superstore

This retailer is a top choice to shop for everything you need to store your Christmas tree and other materials. It is a family owned business that specializes in many lifestyle fashion and products.

There are several locations where this retailer can be found in the Chicagoland area but in this case, it is the store located at Route 59 and N. Aurora Road (676 Amersale Drive), Naperville, IL, 60563. Call this number to ask questions or make orders over the phone: 630-276-7777.

On weekdays from Monday to Wednesday, the store will be open 10 AM to 8:30 PM. On Friday you’re in more luck as it opens three hours earlier and closes at 10 PM. On Saturday, the hours are 9 AM to 10 PM and finally on Sunday, the store will be open for business from 10 AM to 8 PM.

This is Chicagoland’s largest Christmas store and it specializes in artificial trees of varying holiday styles and themes. You can also purchase them as a non-lit, pre-lit, or fiber optical artificial design. Be sure to buy a storage bag to keep the product safe throughout the year.

Clover’s Garden Center

Located at 955 W. 75^th Street (Naperville, IL), 60540 at the

Garden Fresh Market, this retailer is perfect for making your family vacation grand. It has very reasonable hours throughout the week. On Mondays through Fridays, the shop will be open from 9 AM in the morning to 8 PM. On Saturday the timings are 9 AM - 6 PM and on Sundays; 9 AM - 5 PM.

Call (630) 246-0173 for more information or to place orders on your Christmas tree. This retail store specializes in garden products, plant material, holiday decorations, and its Christmas trees are renowned to be the best in the city.

Anderson Tree Farm

This retail store is only open on Wednesday on exclusive hours - 11 AM to 4:30 PM. Trees are grown on the premises itself and are the epitome of “freshly grown.” It is located at 502 W Route 126 at Plainfield, IL 60544; very close to the main Naperville area.

Special products include bedding plants, Christmas trees, deciduous trees, fir trees, and decorative furniture. If you want a tree grown naturally and kept fresh, the Anderson Tree Farm is the ultimate choice of holiday shopping. Most artificial trees are used for Christmas but even natural trees are appealing to the traditional spirit of the season.

Naperville is not the biggest suburb of Chicago but there are always plenty of places to buy an affordable and versatile Christmas tree. The three listed above are not the only stores worth visiting; but they are among the best.

Happy shopping.

Chinese New Year - Astrology and the Year of Each Animal

2008-12-02T07:21:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year - Astrology and the Year of Each Animal - Associated Content

Which New Year’s Animal Fits Your Birth Date and Personality?

The Chinese New Year is the most celebrated traditional Chinese holiday and that counts for a large fraction of the world’s population. As you search further into the roots of how the holiday came to be, it’s astonishing how influential it is in many countries other than China. In simple terms, the Chinese New Year can be called the new year of the East, and the Roman New Year (January 1st) dominated the Western parts of the globe.

The astute difference between the two new year holidays is the emphasis on mythology and culture. The year you are born determines the animal representation of you in relation to the rest of the world. Many people, including those who do not celebrate the Chinese New Year still enjoy discovering where they stand in the mythical history and what represents their personality.

While the New Year is based on the Julian calendar adopted by Julius Caesar, the Chinese New year has evolved over many dynasties, used as a sociopolitical tool at times. The last revision was made by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who affirmed month 1 as the beginning of the year. If history can make people immortal, this is an example of how one man has influenced millions of people to celebrate on an annual date for hundreds of years. And to this day the lunisolar Chinese calendar determines the date of the new year.

There are twelve animals, one for each month. Here’s a quick breakdown so you can see which animal you are in the Chinese Zodiac, which can be referenced at Wikipedia.

Rat: Feb 02 1984 - Feb 19 1985

Ox: Feb 20 1985 - Feb 08 1986

Tiger: Feb 09 1986 - Jan 28 1987

Rabbit: Jan 29 1987 - Feb 16 1988

Dragon: Feb 17 1988 - Feb 05 1989

Snake: Feb 06 1989 - Jan 26 1990

Horse: Jan 27 1990 - Feb 14 1991

Ram: Feb 15 1991 - Feb 03 1992

Monkey: Feb 04 1992 - Jan 22 1993

Rooster: Jan 23 1993 - Feb 09 1994

Dog: Feb 10 1994 - Jan 30 1995

Boar: Jan 31 1995 - Feb 18 1996

And the cycle starts anew with Rat, but beginning at the year 1996. Just add one year to the subsequent animal personality and you can even predict the zodiac signs for people not yet born. For example, after the Rat (1996), it will be Ox carrying on the cycle from 1997.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE BORN AS THE ANIMALS IN THOSE YEARS

Chinese astrology is a significant part of unveiling the meaning behind the births of every human. It is believed that your destiny can be determined by observing the intricate interactions between the planets in the solar system in relation to the sun, moon, and respective Zodiac symbol in the sky. The role of astronomy is a huge part of Chinese culture and different interpretations exist based on the various traditions of the country.

There were five major planets that the ancient astrologers used to further determine the essence of the animal’s personalities: Metal (Venus), Wood (Jupiter), Water (Mercury), Fire (Mars), Earth (Saturn). In addition to the element, all animals are given an orientation in yin and yang, which relates to spiritual life force (chi) and changes of being.

THE CHINESE NEW YEAR ‘TODAY’

The Chinese New Year is one of the best times of the year because there are extravagant parades, festive parties, and a high-spirited appreciation of tradition and family. Many North American areas feature parades, such as California in the US and Vancouver City, Canada. The Chinese New Year remains the most important holiday of China and its influence reaches throughout the world.

If you live in the United States, you should check out cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York to watch the best parades. There are fifteen days of celebration so don’t miss out.