Most of us have heard of Transcendental Meditation. Maybe you vaguely remember some phase The Beatles went through, or have caught wind of the David Lynch Foundation's funding of TM programs in schools. Perhaps you follow Deepak Chopra, who expounds regularly on the myriad health benefits, or have simply heard there's a meditation practice that charges $2500 to learn one word. All true. But I'd like you to hear just a little more.
While I can't vouch for the copy-righted Transcendental Meditation (TM) program since, well, I can't afford it, I can vouch for the technique. It's also known as Vedic meditation, and increasingly, it's everywhere.
Maharishi Mahesh Yogi mainstreamed Vedic meditation under the name Transcendental Meditation in 1955, roughly 5,000 years after the practice's actual origin. Drawn from the Veda, an ancient Indian body of knowledge predating Hinduism and responsible for yoga and ayurvedic medicine, Vedic meditation was and remains a "house-holder's" meditation. You don't need to recluse yourself from society or forfeit the material world to practice. The training program takes all of a handful of hours over a couple days, after which you're on your own, sitting comfortably with your assigned mantra, eyes closed, for 20 minutes, twice daily. Simple, right? Portable, and easily integrated into the busy American life.
So if your curiosity is piqued but the $2,500 TM price-tag proves too large a hurdle, consider a free introductory talk with any number of independent Vedic teachers. Same practice, but on a more manageable sliding scale, and once you've completed the course, you can repeat it as often as you like with any Vedic teacher, at no additional charge. After all, a meditation designed to be accessible for the masses, should be financially accessible as well.
Self-help books can get a pretty bad rap. Even Harriet Lerner, psychologist and author of the classic female life manual The Dance of Anger, bristles at "feverishly inspirational books that make large and silly promises." Which may be why she writes them so well.
The Dance of Anger analyzes the impact and importance of anger in intimate relationships, identifying common patterns while productively redirecting anger's path. Lerner states: "Anger is something we feel. It exists for a reason and always deserves our respect and attention." Where we often go awry is in its expression. And wow do we.
Many women (Lerner's book is specifically directed toward women, though is insightful for any reader) tend toward two distinct patterns: a) suppressing anger in the interest of propriety until it bubbles forth at a truly inappropriate time, ultimately diminishing our credibility despite our anger's rational origin, or b) expressing ourselves immediately, but in heated terms that can yield wildly unproductive labels like "crazy" and "bitch."
Good times, right? And that's just the angry iceberg tip. Lerner also delves into the balance of "I" versus "We" in relationships, and the dance between over-functioning and under-functioning partners. Generally, the more emotional responsibility one person carries, the less is required of their partner, and so goes the imbalance cycle.
So, excellent! Patterns exposed, true source of anger explored; Lerner's work is done, right? Well, if this were the brand of self-help book she derides, perhaps. But changing the pattern of our intimate relationships is more difficult and complicated than can generally be summarized, let alone accomplished, in ten easy steps.
What begins as an exploration of common patterns quickly expands to anticipate the effects of our changes on others. Resistance to change is a basic human truth, and when one person chooses to step boldly into personal growth, adjustment, and exploration, it generally follows that the surrounding people scream "Change Back!" as quickly and loudly as possible. By forcing change too soon, and creating a jarring, deeply uncomfortable dynamic, you may be first in line, begging yourself to return to pre-established patterns. Fortunately, Lerner is a step ahead of you, preaching patience and self-love as she guides us through our anger's evolution, identifying the possible responses among loved ones, and arming us with an informed perseverance.
So, is her process easy? Well, no. But sincere pattern-changing requires an exploration of perhaps decades-long emotional habits. Lerner isn't offering the psychological equivalent of a rapid weight loss diet so you can fit into that great new dress next week. She's teaching skills and awareness for lasting change. I'll dance to that.
A new study has linked the consumption of energy drinks to risky and aggressive "toxic jock" behavior amongst young adults. Kathleen Miller, the principle investigator at the University of Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions, published a report on the link between energy drinks, athletics and risky behavior, which appeared in the March issue of The Journal of American College Health. She found that those who regularly consumed energy drinks were more likely to indulge in substance abuse, violence, and unprotected sex.
Miller doesn't necessarily blame the hazardous habits on the energy drinks, which often contain high quantities of caffeine, taurine and other stimulants, but says they may serve as a predicator for such behavior. "It appears the kids who are heavily into drinking energy drinks are more likely to be the ones who are inclined toward taking risks," Miller said.
Two of the energy drink brand leaders are Red Bull and Rockstar, which both market heavily to young people at extreme sports and music events. An 250 ml serving of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine and 1000 mg of taurine, alongside assorted sugars and sweetners, a carbohydrate compound, and some B group vitamins. Rockstar contains similar quantities of caffeine and taurine mixed with what the manufacturers describe as a "the potent herbal blend of Guarana, Ginkgo, Ginseng and Milk Thistle."
Though the drinks themselves contain levels of caffeine that are comparable to those found in a cup of coffee, they can be drunk much faster since they are served cold and therefore provide a more concentrated caffeine hit. The combination of caffeine and tourine, an amino-like acid which was originally isolated from ox bile but is now synthetically produced, is also thought to make the drinks more potent. The subjects of one study, conducted by James Kalus of Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, exhibited an 11% increase in resting heart rate after consuming just two cans of energy drink per day for a week. Such potentially detrimental effects, have kept this class of beverages off the shelves in countries such as Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.
When combined with alcohol, energy drinks have been found to serve up an even riskier cocktail. A study conducted by the Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina found that "college students who drink alcohol mixed with so-called "energy" drinks are at dramatically higher risk for injury and other alcohol-related consequences, compared to students who drink alcohol without energy drinks." Lead researcher, Mary Claire O'Brien, notes when under the influence of super-charged cocktails, "you're every bit as drunk, you're just an awake drunk."
But the stimulants in the drinks, and their effects when mixed with alcohol, aren't the only things encouraging risky behavior. On Red Bull's website, the manufacturers claims the drink improves performance, increases concentration and reaction speed, increases endurance, and stimulates metabolism. Meanwhile the makers of Rockstar, invite fans of their drink to "party like a Rockstar," the phrase being the brand's tag line alongside the words, "Bigger. Better. Faster. Stronger." Could it be young people are falling victim to a false sense of invincibility induced by juiced-up sugared water, and some highly seductive marketing?
Robert F. Kennedy talks eloquently about how the media has failed democracy (click HERE to view video). But has an apathetic democracy also failed the media, by consistently undervaluing it and failing to protect it? I guess it's a question of the chicken or the egg.
With pump prices acting as strong a deterrent, Americans are putting the breaks on their driving habits. DOT Federal Highway Administration mileage figures released earlier this month show, "the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history."
Estimated vehicle miles on public roads in March 2008 fell 4.3% when compared to the same month last year, with Americans driving 11 billion fewer miles in total. It was the first time that March driving figure had declined since 1979.
With gas prices like daylight robbery, commuters are choosing to skip the pump and run –– to the nearest bus stop. The American Public Transportation Association reports that last year ridership reached levels not seen in 50 years, with 10.3 billion bus, trolley and train trips taken in 2007. Furthermore, they report that a staggering 35% of summer travelers say they are likely to use public transit to save on driving costs when visiting other cities.
All this is good news for the environment, but extremely bad news for car makers. New car sales dropped by 7 % in April; the seasonally adjusted sales total of 14.4 million vehicles was the worst in 13 years.
With car sales plummeting, car dealers are resorting to desperate measures to move vehicles. One Butler, MO dealer is offering a choice of $250 in gas or a free semi-automatic handgun with purchase. We're not sure why the handgun needs to be semi-automatic (how many people do Missouri drivers need to shoot in one go?), but so far it's by far the preferred option, with 80% of customers opting for a coupon which they can exchange for a gun once they've passed the require background check.
"It's a choice –– protection or gas," said Walter Moore of Max Motors. "We got high gas prices, theft, carjackings, innocent people getting hurt."
We could be wrong, but it seems like Walter’s customers aren’t the Prius-buying type. It's attitudes like these that make Walter's namesake Michael Moore so proud –– of Canadians. We're figuring Walter skipped Michael's anti-firearm flick Bowling for Columbine when it came out in theaters, but would like to think he might catch up with it on DVD since it notoriously features a bank which offered a similar bonus for new customers. Ultimately, the film showed that guns are about as bad for people as fossil fuels are for the planet. Again, we could be wrong, but we thought the end-game was to get rid of both.
Scientists in Germany are working on a new generation of environmentally friendly explosives for use in bombs. Live Science reports that the research is being partially funded by the U.S. Army.
Explosives such as trinitrotoluene (a.k.a. TNT) and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (a.k.a. RDX), which are commonly used by military forces around the globe today, create toxic gases upon detonation. Furthermore, the compounds themselves are toxic, and can raise environmental concerns when chemicals from unexploded and partially exploded ordinance leach into ground soil.
The new bombs primarily get their explosive energy from nitrogen rather than carbon. In laboratory tests these explosive were found to be more powerful than traditional explosives, despite having a far smaller carbon footprint. We're sure that those who are eventually the targets of these new green bombs will find this most reassuring.
With the film version of Sex And The City hitting theaters at the end of the month, it got me thinking about shoes. Why is it that some women are obsessed with owning the latest designer labels, while many of us just want to keep our feet protected from the elements? As an astrologer it's innate in me to question why a person does what they do.
When it comes to the art of shoe wearing, my logic tells me it's more about our how we feel about shoes than how we think about them. I therefore feel wearing the right shoe is more about our moon sign then our sun sign. Case in point, I am a Libra with a Leo rising, with this combination I should own a thousand pair of designer shoes. However, with my Virgo moon, to me, when I shop for a pair of shoes, it's all about being practical. I don't need a closet full of shoes that is going to give me more to clean up around. Below is a guide to what your moon sign reveals about your shoe fetish.
Aries:
Since the sign of Aries is known for their "me first" attitude, these folks want to be the first in line when the new Manolo Blahnik's hit the shelves. They may not camp out in front of the store for days, but they would hire someone to do so.
Taurus:
Those with their moon in Taurus want the very best of everything and are willing to spend a fortune showing off their latest design. Not only are they looking to add to their mounted number of possessions, the endless pairs of shoes they purchase must add to their feeling of material comfort.
Gemini:
These Gemini moon babies will buy a pair of shoes that are funky and hip just to get people talking about them. They'll do anything to start a conversation.
Cancer:
Since crab moon people love the beach and walking in the sand, you'll find their closet loaded with flip flops in every style and color.
Leo:
Leo moons want to show off their newest purchase and will not be caught dead wearing the same pair of shoes twice. For them every new outfit must include its own pair of shoes.
Virgo:
Practical, practical, practical. A Virgo moon person will always question whether or not they really need that new pair of shoes. They will own and wear the same pair of comfortable shoes for years as long as they remain in perfect condition.
Libra:
Those with their moon in Libra want to feel pretty and sexy all of the time and will often be seen wearing four inch stilettos even at the grocery store.
Scorpio:
Those with a Scorpio moon sign probably don't think much about shoes until they have to make some kind of impact. Whether they're attending the holiday office party or a loved one's funeral, picking out the right shoe to make a statement is essential.
Sagittarius:
'Shop until you drop" is the motto for Sagittarius shoe-moonsters. Their closets are filled with hundreds of shoes, many of which they've never worn. It's the fun of knowing they own all of the shoes and bragging to the world about them is why they have such an extensive shoe collection.
Capricorn:
Shoes, who needs shoes? But if those born under a Capricorn moon have to wear them, they better not cost a lot, and they must be comfortable and practical for work, work, work.
Aquarius:
Aquarian moon risers were probably the first in line to purchase Air Jordan's. It not so much about needing to have the best of everything, but more about showing off the latest technology that will enhance their ability to run, jump and climb.
Pisces:
Those with a Piscean moon go all out for comfort when deciding on a new pair of shoes. Since Pisces rules the feet, it's only natural for them to think about how their feet will feel and how they can be protected against damage caused by wearing the wrong shoe.
Does Indiana Jones, who's back in action this bank holiday weekend in the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, know he's risking life and limb for a bunch of fake artifacts? Experts analyzed two skulls held by the British Museum and the Smithsonian that were once thought to be pre-Columbian Mesoamerican relics, and concluded that they are modern fakes. The findings are published in the May 2008 edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science.
British and American researchers used modern techniques to uncover the quartz crystal skulls' secrets. Using electron microscopes and X-ray scanning methods, the teams found that modern industrial techniques had been used to fashion the stone. The British Museum skull was manufactured using rotary tools and an abrasive substance such as crystallized aluminum oxide or diamond particles, while the Smithsonian skull has been fashioned with a silicon carbide abrasive.
The British Museum skull first surfaced in 1881 in a Parisian antiques shop. It was bought at auction by Tiffany & Co, who then sold in on to the museum, at a profit, in 1897. The Smithsonian skull was donated anonymously in 1992. It was left with a note that said it had been purchased in Mexico in the 1960’s.
"There are about a dozen or more of these crystal skulls. Except for the British Museum skull and one in Paris, they seem to have entered public awareness since the 60s, with the interest in quartz and the New Age movement," said Cardiff University Professor and study researcher Ian Freestone, speaking to the BBC. "It does appear that people have been making them since then. Some of them are quite good, but some of them look like they were produced with a Black & Decker in someone's garage."
Suspecting their skull was a fake, the Smithsonian first carried out research on their relic in 1992. Meanwhile the British Museum list their skull as being "probably European, 19th century AD" and "not an authentic pre-Columbian artifact".
A simple search on the internet could have saved Indiana Jones the bother of coming out of retirement. Rather than chasing half-way around the world after these forged antiquities, leaving a path of destruction in his wake, it would have been far more efficient it he'd bought a lump of quartz and a power tool from Home Depot to satisfy his quest for a crystal skull.
Alaska's Republican state governor, Sarah Palin, has announced plans to fight the Bush administration on its decision to place polar bears on the endangered species list. Palin is challenging conservation and environmental data, and sights concerns that the Endangered Species Act ruling will hinder oil exploration in the state.
As we previously reported (see story), the polar bear's addition to the endangered species list had repeatedly been delayed, allowing an oil rights sale, which generated bids totaling nearly $3.4 billion, to proceed in an area that is home to 20% of the world's polar bear population. There are less than 25,000 polar bears in total, and that number is expected to decline by 60% over the next 50 years as the creature's habitat literally melts away.
Palin was the first woman to hold office in Alaska, and was also the youngest governor ever to be sworn in. She likes snowmobiling and moose burgers, and was an athlete and a beauty queen prior to taking up politics. Obviously she didn't win her Miss Wasilla 1984 pageant title by promising to "help children and animals."
And you think your boss is bad. Workers at a Hindu shrine in southern India had to take their case to the local human rights commission in order to win the right to wear underpants at work. Their employers at the temple had banned underwear in an attempt to stop the theft of offerings stored in shrine's vault.
The men were forced to work in nothing but shoes, and a cotton wrap, which they wore around their waist. After being forced go commando for five years, the men complained to their union, who in turn took the matter to the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, who upheld their case. Temple authorities are now looking into more high tech security measures.
WGCW-TV in Savannah, the local home of Sex And The City, is going where many network and cable stations fear to tread. The CW Network affiliate is airing PETA's controversial Sex And The Kitty public service announcement next week to help raise awareness for animal family planning. The humorous ad, which shows kitties getting jiggy, has been banned by MTV and most networks for being "too steamy."
PETA warns that one unspayed female cat can produce 36 cats in just one and a half years, and an unneutered male can father limitless litters of kittens. Over 2.4 million unwanted kitten are born each year. Most Will be put down.
According to information just released by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board (ARB) up to 24,000 deaths a year may be attributed to particulate pollution. The figure is triple that of previous official estimates.
The new data was compiled by USC, who tracked 23,000 people in greater Los Angeles, and the American Cancer Society, who tracked 300,000 people nationwide.
One the reasons that the new estimated death toll is so much higher, is that experts had previously underestimated the dangers of particulate matter, which is too small to be caught by the body's own nose and throat, hair and mucous filtration system, and lodges deep in lungs, causing all manner of health problems such as asthma, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
"Our report concludes these particles are 70% more dangerous than previously thought, based on several major studies that have occurred in the last five years," said the ARB's chief researcher, Bart Croes, in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "There's no death certificate that says specifically someone died of air pollution, but cities with higher rates of air pollution have much greater rates of death from cardiovascular diseases."
As shown on the California Environmental Protection Agency maps above, California has more counties designated for nonattainment of PM-10 (particulate matter less than 10 microns in size) safety levels in the "serious" classification than the rest of the U.S. put together. A similar map also shows widespread non-compliance for PM-2.5 safety levels (a classification for smaller particles) in California.
Not un-coincidentally, according to data compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in 1996, the top 5 metropolitan areas in the nation ranked by mortality rates attributable to particulate matter are all in California. The worst offender was Visalia-Tulare-Porterville, followed by Riverside-San Bernardino, Bakersfield, Fresno, and Stockton.
With such toxic air effectively fatally poisoning 24,000 people per year in the Golden State, drastic measures, such as the Bay Area's new pollution tax, are sorely needed.
"Particle pollution is a silent killer," said ARB Chairman Mary D. Nichols. "We must work even harder to cut these life-shortening emissions by further addressing pollution sources head-on."
Air quality regulators in the Bay Area have become the first in the nation to impose a tax on greenhouse gases emitted by local businesses.
The board of the Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD) voted overwhelmingly (15 to 1) for the measure. The fees will be imposed on around 2,500 local businesses once the new rules come into effect on July 1.
The BAAQMD's jurisdiction covers nine districts that surround the San Francisco Bay, including Napa, Sonoma, San Mateo, and Marin County. The organization is charged with attaining and maintaining air quality standards "to protect the public's health and the environment."
The region’s seven biggest polluters are expected to have to pay more than $50,000 each in the first year of the scheme, however fees for the majority of businesses are expected to be less than $1 per year. With polluters being charged a nominal fee of 4.4 cents per ton of CO2, the measure is more symbolic than punitive.
Though the penalties are low, many local business leaders are concerned that reporting mechanism will add additional, unforeseen costs, since, like our tax system, the program will be honor-based, with businesses being expected to measure their own emissions.
The measure is expected to raise $1.1 million in the first year, which will be used to fund air quality programs. Meanwhile, officials hope the scheme will set a precedent and serve as a model for others across the nation.
Mariska Hargitay is the daughter of 1950's sex symbol Jayne Mansfield and the Hungarian-born former Mr. Universe Mickey Hargitay. She plays Detective Olivia Benson in the Law & Order spin-off TV series Special Victims Unit. Mariska is a Hungarian name meaning "sea of bitterness." Hargitay is also Hungarian, and means "of Hargita," a county in central Romania.
Namasté is a respectful greeting commonly used in India, Asia, and by people in yoga pants everywhere. It is a conjunct of two Sanskrit words: "namas" meaning "to bow" and "te" meaning "to you."
From a spiritual point of view, “Namasté: is taken to mean "I am your humble servant." Since Mariska Hargitay has overcome much adversity, including the grisly death of her mother to become a tough New York TV cop handling heinous crimes with poise and grace, perhaps the spiritual meaning of the guru greeting "Mariska Hargitay" should be "strength through adversity."
Jude Law did his bit for world peace yesterday (Monday May 19), attending the premiere of The Day After Peace, a documentary he worked on with filmmaker pal Jeremy Gilley.
Gilley, the founder of the Peace One Day organization, successfully lobbied world leaders and the United Nations General Assembly, who in 2001, with resolution A/Res/55/282, established an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence on September 21. Gilley documented his journey towards Peace Day in the 1999 film, Peace One Day.
Though he's yet to achieve actual world peace, even for one day, the annual vacation from violence that Gilley helped create has had a profound effect. Last year, 27.6 million people in 200 countries observed Peace Day in some way.
As part of an ongoing quest to persuade those who bear arms to give up the nasty habit for at least 24 hours, Gilley and Law made a secret trip to Afghanistan, where they shot footage for a follow-up film. The resulting documentary, The Day After Peace, features Kofi Annan, The Dalai Lama, Annie Lennox, Jonny Lee Miller, and Angelina Jolie.
U.N. Goodwill Ambassador Jolie is shown in the film meeting with Gilley at his home, which is somewhat more modest than the Hollywood star has become accustomed to. Law and Gilley weren’t tempted to track down other A-listers for their project however. "Organizations can drown under the weight of too many faces," said Law in Cannes.
As an A-lister himself, the handsome star, who was caught by paparazzi sucking face with Kimberly Stewart this past weekend, enjoyed the anonymity his trip to Afghanistan afforded. "They had no idea who I was. I was really there as a B cameraman,” said Law, who is already planning a further foray to the region. He vowed, "I will return to Afghanistan to show the film there."
A British teenager faces prosecution after displaying a sign which called Scientology a "cult" during a protest against the church.
The un-named teen was participating in a May 10th protest organized by the web-based Anonymous anti-Scientology group. Within minutes of joining protesters outside Scientology's London headquarters, which are located near St. Paul's Cathedral, the teen was approached by a police officer who warned that "the word" was not allowed. The teen refused to remove his sign and was the formally cautioned by a female police officer. After again refusing to take his sign down, he was served with a court summons.
The anonymous teen posted an account of the incident on a forum on the anti-Scientology Enturbulation.org website the following day. "I was read the Section 5 Public Order Act of 1986, and was told I was strongly advised to remove the sign," writes the teen. "I was given until 11:30 to remove the sign. At around 12:05 the police caught up with me, I was given a Court Summons and my details were taken down."
The police also confiscated the sign, claiming it contravened Section 5 of the Public Order Act which outlaws "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior or disorderly behavior in a public or private place...with intention or awareness that such behavior may be threatening, abusive or insulting within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress."
In a statement released to The Register, the City of London Police said they "had received complaints about demonstrators using the words 'cult' and 'Scientology kills' during protests," and that "following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service some demonstrators were warned verbally and in writing that their signs breached section five of the Public Order Act 1986. One demonstrator, a juvenile, continued to display a placard despite police warnings and was reported for an offense under section five. A file on the case will be sent to the CPS."
It should be noted that the City of London police have come under fire for their association with The Church of Scientology. A Freedom of Information Act inquiry by The Guardian revealed that more than 20 high and low ranking police officers had been plied with lavish entertainment and hospitality that was laid on by the church.
Freedom of speech and civil liberties advocates are up in arms over the possible prosecution. "This barmy prosecution makes a mockery of Britain's free speech traditions," said Shami Chakrabarti, the director of U.K. human rights organization Liberty. "After criminalizing the use of the word 'cult', perhaps the next step is to ban the words 'war' and 'tax' from peaceful demonstrations?"
In his own defense, while being cautioned (as seen in the above video), the teen quoted from a 1984 high court ruling in which Justice Latey described the Church of Scientology as a "cult." The judge also said, "Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious," and went on to call the church "corrupt, sinister and dangerous."
Meanwhile the teen is contemplating his legal defense, and writes in his Enturbulation.org post, “What's the likelihood I'll need a lawyer? If I do have to get one, it'll have to come out of my pocket money...”
Most of us know where the sun was during the month of our birth, but few of us know where the moon was traveling. The sun which describes our personality, changes astrological signs approximately every 30 days, whereas the moon changes signs approximately every 2 1/2 days. In astrology the moon represents our emotions, instincts and how we feel about things.
Knowing where your moon sign will allow you to understand yourself on a more subconscious and even unconscious level. The moon depicts how we react to our environment and how we systematically go about our day. If you really want to understand yourself more deeply, discover your moon sign.
Listed below are a few keywords and scenarios that describe the emotions best associated with each of the moon signs:
Aries Moon
Impulsive, quick to react, competitive, independent, me first, courageous and adventurous. In a man's chart it indicates a tendency to be attracted to dominant women, while in a woman's chart it indicates that jealousy may prevail.
Taurus Moon
Patient, sensual, stubborn, slow-moving, thorough and attracted to material comforts. In a man's chart it attracts a loyal partner, while in a woman's chart it indicates a close maternal relationship, although it may not necessarily be a happy one.
Gemini Moon
Curious, clever, talkative, communicative, changeable and quick-witted. Women with this moon sign may lack a sense of domesticity; while men with this moon sign are attracted to women with whom they can talk.
Cancer Moon
Intuitive, touchy, maternal, domestic and selfish. A man with this moon sign can be overly emotional and sensitive, while a woman can be easily hurt. To compensate and to take control, she often declares herself head of the household.
Leo Moon
Proud, creative, generous, vain, ambitious, self sufficient and self reliant. In a man's chart a Leo moons makes him romantic and sexy, while in a woman's chart it makes her equally attractive and attracted to the opposite sex.
Virgo Moon
Methodical, clean, perfectionist, sloppy, industrious and emotionally over eager. In a man's chart it indicates an attraction to non-clinging women, while women with this moon placement may lack a sense of warmth when expressing their emotions.
Libra Moon
Peace-loving, refined, sociable, indecisive and suave. A man with a Libra moon tends to look for a refined and social partner, while a woman with a Libra moon loves to be surrounded by great beauty and enjoys playing hostess.
Scorpio Moon
Investigative, passionate, jealous, resourceful secretive and very intense. In a woman's chart a Scorpio moon may indicate promiscuity and self-indulgence, while in a man's chart it can mean he tends to be secretive and finds it hard to talk to about his emotions.
Sagittarius Moon
Straightforward, philosophical, optimistic, blunt and enthusiastic. Men with Sagittarius moon's tend to love their freedom and either remain a bachelor or marry much later in life. A woman with a Sagittarius moon tends to enjoy a great deal of independence with a sense of carelessness.
Capricorn Moon
Cautious, responsible, practical, business-like and inhibited. Woman with a Capricorn moon have more self doubt and tend to feel that no one in the world likes them. Plus very few of them marry and/or have children. Men with a Capricorn moon seek a partner who may help further their social standing in the community. They also enjoy running a household.
Aquarius Moon
Inventive, logical, intellectual, unconventional, unpredictable and bored by details. Both men and women with this moon sign tend to have a great need for independence which can lead to loneliness. Although Aquarius moon people may have a humanitarian nature, they come across as being cold and unfeeling as they find it difficult to understand the emotional needs of others.
Pisces Moon
Compassionate, emotional, feels misunderstood, musical, intuitive and a romantic at heart. A man with a Pisces moon wants an affectionate and devoted mate. A woman with a Pisces moon may marry much later in life, but also tends to have a certain magnetism that men are attracted to.
Scientists from the University of Florence in Italy report that listening to classical, Celtic or Indian music for just 30 minutes a day for a month can significantly reduce blood pressure. The researchers presented their findings last week at the American Society of Hypertension's 23rd Annual Scientific Meeting and Exposition in New Orleans.
"Listening to music is soothing and has often been associated with controlling patient-reported pain or anxiety and acutely reducing blood pressure," noted Dr. Pietro A. Modesti. "But for the first time, today's results clearly illustrate the impact daily music listening has on ambulatory blood pressure."
"We are excited about the positive implications for both patients and physicians, who can now confidently explore music listening as a safe, effective, non-pharmacological treatment option or a complement to therapy," Modesti added.
The study involved a small group of 48 patients between the ages of 45 and 70 who were taking medication for mild hypertension. 28 of the patients were given a CD of down-tempo, "rhythmically homogenous" music, and were asked to listen to it for 30 minutes once a day for a month while practicing controlled breathing exercises. The 20 remaining participants made no lifestyle changes, and served as a control group. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring after the first and fourth weeks revealed a marked reduction in blood pressure among the patients who'd been asked to listen to music.
Similar previous studies have closely related blood pressure to music tempo, noting corresponding blood pressure increases when subjects were exposed to more aggressive, up-tempo music, indicating that the speed and genre of music is key to music's heart-calming potential.
"Sadly, despite the global focus on prevention, it predicted that 56 billion people worldwide will be hypertensive by 2025," said Modesti. "In light of these devastating statistics, it is reassuring to consider that something as simple, easy and enjoyable as daily music listening combined with slow abdominal breathing, may help people naturally lower their blood pressure."
Adrian Grenier (a.k.a. Aqua Man, Vincent Chase) is ditching his HBO posse, and is hitting the streets with an all new, all green entourage for a new TV show called Alter Eco, to be aired on the Discovery Channel's brand new sister station Planet Green.
With the help of green guru Boise Thomas, sustainable style fashionista Angela Lindvall and eco-renovation master Darren Moore, Granier will take on challenges which will include an environmental home makeover and an eco-overhaul of an L.A. hotspot. The green team will pay house calls on Hollywood celebs and average Joe's alike to show how planet positive change can have a low impact on lifestyle.
The 13-part series premieres on Monday, June 9, at 9 PM (ET/PT) on Planet Green. A sneak preview of Alter Eco will air on Planet Green's launch night on June 4 at 10 PM (ET/PT).
After a three year battle the polar bear has won its place on the government's Endangered Species list. But it's a somewhat hollow victory.
Three non-profits, the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), first sued the Bush administration in 2005 to secure protection for the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act. After many hearings, and even more hold ups, the government was compelled by law to make a final decision by January 9, 2008. The government flouted this deadline however, and was subsequently forced to make a decision by May 15 after animal rights activists, again, took the matter to the court.
This delay allowed The Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) to complete the first Chukchi Sea oil lease sale since 1991. A press release posted on the MMS' own website boasted that the sale resulted in "667 bids on 488 blocks -- both record-setting numbers -- on the Outer Continental Shelf," with submitted bids "totaling almost $3.4 billion."
The Chuck Sea lies between Alaska and Siberea and is home to one fifth of the world's polar bear population. "Had the polar bear been listed prior to January 9 as the law required, that lease sale could not have moved forward without some substantial additional review of the impacts to polar bears," said Kassie Siegel, who serves as the climate program director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
"After years of delay, the Bush administration was forced to face the reality that global warming has endangered the polar bear and that the polar bear needs to be placed on the Endangered Species Act," said the Republican Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, Edward J. Markey in a statement to CNN. "But the administration has also simultaneously announced a rule aimed at allowing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic to continue unchecked even in the face of the polar bears' threatened extinction. Essentially, the administration is giving a gift to Big Oil, and short shrift to the polar bear."
It's estimated that there are between 20,000 to 25,000 polar bears in total on the planet, but the population is expected to decline to less than 10,000 over the next 50 years. Polar bears are only found in the wild in the Arctic. They spend much of the year on sea ice hunting for seals, which serve as their staple high fat diet. But global warming is taking its toll on the Arctic. The region is warming at a rate that is five times faster than that of the earth as a whole. In September 2007, the Arctic ice cap shrunk to a record low, with an additional 1 million square miles disappearing compared to previous years, meaning the polar bear lost an area of habitat equivalent in size to six times that of California.
Despite the fact that polar bears (and the planet) are on such thin ice, the government has its eye firmly on the gas pump, and is far more concerned about the interests of big business. While adding the majestic creatures to the endangered species list, the Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne, cautioned that the Environmental Protection Act should not be "misused" to regulate global warming.
"Listing the polar bear as threatened can reduce avoidable losses of polar bears. But it should not open the door to use of the Endangered Species Act to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, power plants, and other sources," said Kempthorne. "That would be a wholly inappropriate use of the ESA law. The ESA is not the right tool to set U.S. climate policy."
Fortunately for the polar bear, the Bush government will soon be extinct. With even John McCain making environmentally constructive comments in recent days, lets hope they can hold out for a wind of change.
The California Supreme Court has ruled that gay couples should have the right to marry. The Republican-dominated high court voted 4-3 in favor of applying and expanding constitutional race and gender protections to sexual orientation and the institution of marriage.
In his ruling, Chief Justice Ronald George wrote that, "...retaining the designation of marriage exclusively for opposite-sex couples and providing only a separate and distinct designation for same-sex couples may well have the effect of perpetuating a more general premise - now emphatically rejected by this state - that gay individuals and same-sex couples are in some respects "second-class citizens" who may, under the law, be treated differently from, and less favorably than, heterosexual individuals or opposite-sex couples.... Accordingly, we conclude that to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional."
With couples already lining up at San Francisco City Hall for appointments to get marriage licenses, the judgment could be a boon to California's economy should it go unchallenged. Unlike other states, California has no residency requirements for obtaining marriage licenses, meaning that same sex couples could flock to the Golden State for ceremonies (though same-sex marriages performed in California may not be recognized in other states).
As comedienne and GLBT activist Margaret Cho pointed out, "just the ice sculptures alone" could be worth a small fortune to the local economy. Living in West Hollywood, the Daily Mantra can think of a new reason to hold on to our tax refund/stimulus payment when it arrives. With the slew of gay marriages that are likely to happen over the summer we anticipate that we'll have to allocate a rather large budget for wedding outfits and gifts in 2008! Yay! We love a good wedding!
Should you tie the knot? Click HERE to try our fast and free compatibility test and find out if your relationship’s destined to be a fun fling or for life.
The British Government recently made formerly classified files on UFO's available to the public for the first time. Much of the data was compiled by Britain's DI55 intelligence service, a top secret Ministry of Defence organization whose primary official function was to gather information on ballistic missiles.
Due to the volume of documents that have been declassified under the Freedom of Information act, the release will be done in stages over the next four years, giving officials time to redact names, addresses, and other sensitive information. The first wave of files
Most of us have heard of 
Self-help books can get a pretty bad rap. Even 
, psychologist and author of the classic female life manual 
A new study has linked the consumption of energy drinks to risky and aggressive "toxic jock" behavior amongst young adults. 
With pump prices acting as strong a deterrent, Americans are putting the breaks on their driving habits. DOT 
Scientists in Germany are working on a new generation of environmentally friendly explosives for use in bombs. 
With the film version of 
Does Indiana Jones, who's back in action this bank holiday weekend in the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, know he's risking life and limb for a bunch of fake artifacts? Experts analyzed two skulls held by the British Museum and the Smithsonian that were once thought to be pre-Columbian Mesoamerican relics, and concluded that they are modern fakes. The findings are published in the May 2008 edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Suspecting their skull was a fake, the Smithsonian first carried out research on their relic in 1992. Meanwhile the British Museum list their skull as being "probably European, 19th century AD" and "not an authentic pre-Columbian artifact".
Alaska's Republican state governor, 
WGCW-TV in Savannah, the local home of 
Air quality regulators in the Bay Area have become the first in the nation to impose a tax on greenhouse gases emitted by local businesses.
Most of us know where the sun was during the month of our birth, but few of us know where the moon was traveling. The sun which describes our personality, changes astrological signs approximately every 30 days, whereas the moon changes signs approximately every 2 1/2 days. In astrology the moon represents our emotions, instincts and how we feel about things. 
Scientists from the University of Florence in Italy report that listening to classical, Celtic or Indian music for just 30 minutes a day for a month can significantly reduce blood pressure. The researchers presented their findings last week at the 
Adrian Grenier (a.k.a. Aqua Man, Vincent Chase) is ditching his 
After a three year battle the 
The California Supreme Court has 