World's Finest Opal

News and Image Credit : http://www.hindustantimes.com/

Google Virgin Rainbow and search results throw up all kinds of things, including, "A person who has never had sexual intercourse with somebody of the same gender."

But now Virgin Rainbow of a different kind is garnering interest in both the online and real world.

It all started after an Australian museum on Monday said it would exhibit what it believes is the best opal stone ever found -- a 6.0-centimetre (2.4 inch) multi-coloured gem unearthed in the Outback named the Virgin Rainbow.

The South Australian Museum said the stone, valued at more than Aus$1.0 million (US$730,000), would go on public display for the first time in September to mark the centenary of opal mining in the country. 

"It's of unequalled quality, it's a fully crystal opal," museum director Brian Oldman told AFP.

"It's almost as if there's a fire in there; you see all different colours. As the light changes, the opal itself changes. It's quite an amazing trick of nature."

Dug up in the South Australia desert town of Coober Pedy in 2003 by local miners, the Virgin Rainbow came into the museum's possession about 18 months ago and will be part of an exhibition opening in Adelaide next month.

Some 90% of the world's opals come from South Australia, once covered by an inland sea which over millions of years provided an ideal environment for the formation of the stone.

"I think this exhibition will have the finest collection of precious opals that we believe have been brought to one place in the world," Oldman added.

Opals were first discovered at Coober Pedy -- widely-known as the opal capital of the world --  in 1914 by a boy named Willie Hutchison who was on a gold mining expedition with his father.

Breast Cancer Therapy

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A diet that starves cancer cells of an essential nutrient may help improve outcomes of difficult to treat type of breast cancer, says a study. "Our results suggest that a dietary intervention can increase the effectiveness of a targeted cancer therapy," said the study's senior author Vincent Cryns, professor of medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the US.

Methionine is an essential amino acid abundant in meat, fish, some legumes and nuts, but low in fruits and vegetables. Patients with triple-negative breast cancer have limited treatment options because their tumour cells lack the three receptors -- estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) -- commonly targeted in hormone or chemotherapy. The study was detailed in the journal Clinical Cancer Research. Scientists knew that methionine deficiency can block the growth of many types of cancer, but the underlying mechanisms have puzzled researchers. "We have shown that removing methionine can have a specific effect on a molecular pathway that regulates cell death to increase the vulnerability of cancer cells to treatments that target this pathway," Cryns said. Specifically, the researchers showed that when triple-negative breast cancer cells were deprived of methionine, the stressed cancer cells responded by increasing the amount of a receptor on the cell's surface called TRAIL-R2. This resulted in the breast cancer cells becoming very sensitive to an antibody that binds to TRAIL-R2 on the surface of the cancer cells and triggers them to die. The study lays the foundation for a clinical trial to see if a low-methionine diet will help improve outcomes in women with "triple-negative" breast cancer. 

Article Credit : http://www.mid-day.com/

Gold or property: Where to invest?

Article Credit : Neeti Jayachander / http://femina.in/

Image Credit : http://femina.in/

Want to invest some of your hard-earned money, and are unable to choose between some gold jewellery and a piece of land? Here are six points to keep in mind before you make that investment.

- Gold is more easily disposed, if you’re looking at a short-term investment. With real estate, the process is a little more long-drawn, and ideal if you’re looking at long-term appreciation.

- While gold jewellery can be used, you also lose money in resale and exchange. The best way to purchase gold as an investment is in bullion or gold coins.

- When it comes to real estate, apartments are easy to maintain, and rental income/savings on rent are a major pro when opposed to a piece of land which doesn’t serve much purpose, unless you’re willing to spend more on building! However, the appreciation value of land is much more than that of an apartment.

- There are no tax saving advantages while buying jewellery, as opposed to tremendous benefits with investing in property.

- Jewellery is a low-risk investment, as it has steadily increased over the years, and any depreciation in the market value has been negligible. It is lesser volatile and easy to trade in the market. Real Estate is a bit more challenging as an investment to trade.

- When investing in property, study the rules and regulations, make sure the paperwork is in order and compare multiple properties before finalizing on one. Also avail professional help, especially in the case of your legal affairs. Lastly, make sure you can afford the down payment and EMIs before you seal the deal!

Sheets

Article Credit :  Carolyn Forte / http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

Image Credit : http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/

You spend a lot of time with your sheets (a third of your life, when you think about it!), so you certainly want to treat them well — and make them last as long as possible. Avoid these common missteps to ensure they stay soft, strong, and stain-free.

1. You stuff too many sets into the washer and dryer.

Large items, like flat and fitted sheets, should be loosely placed into the washer and dryer, without cramming. This way, they cam tumble or agitate freely for better cleaning and less tangling. Extra large machines can likely accommodate two sets, but if you find you're jamming them in, wash one set at a time instead.

If your washer has a center agitator, don't wrap your sheets around it. This stresses the fabric and can cause "roping" — when the sheets get tightly twisted, like a rope. In the dryer, check them mid-cycle and separate them if they ball up. This helps them dry more evenly.

2. You wash them on the heavy-duty cycle.

Some new washers have dedicated cycles just for washing sheets. But if yours doesn't, select the "normal" or "casual" cycle instead of "heavy-duty." Sheets don't need excessive agitation to get clean, and the heavy-duty cycle can cause tangling and wrinkling. To boost cleaning (which is helpful if you suffer from allergies), increase the water temperature to hot instead of warm.

3. You dry them too long and too hot.

To keep wrinkling and shrinkage to a minimum, select a low heat setting and your dryer's automatic cycle (so it stops when it senses the sheets are dry, not just when a certain amount of time has elapsed). Over-drying can damage the fibers, which can cause them to wear out and tear more easily.

4. You don't change them often enough.

It's best swap out your sheets weekly, or least every two weeks. If you use them for too long, the fabric might not be able to recover its shape in the washer and dryer, and stretched fabric is more likely to tear.

5. You wear makeup to bed.

Not only is this cardinal beauty sin bad for your skin, but languishing makeup can also stain your pillowcases. Plus, lotions can leave oily stains, and some skin products (like those with benzoyl peroxide) can bleach colors. Consider what's on your face before you hit the pillow, and change and wash your sheets regularly to combat buildup and permanent discoloration

6. You don't know how to fold a fitted sheet.

It's not just an impressive party trick. If you ball your sheets up in the closet, you could stress the fabric and cause creases. So master this folding technique to avoid damage.

7. You skip pillow liners and mattress covers.

These extra layers not only keep your pillow and mattress cleaner, but add cushioning under sheets and pillowcases to minimize the friction that can cause pilling.

face Scrub

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If you are looking for a healthy and younger looking skin, you must take care of your skin regularly and pamper it whenever necessary. One such important regimen you should follow to enhance your skin's appearance is to use a facial scrub. Compared to any other part of the body, facial skin is very sensitive and is prone to number of problems like acne, dark spots, dryness etc. It is also the most exposed part which definitely requires special attention. Scrub removes the dead skin off your face and reveals a supple and fresh looking skin. Most people are under the assumption that using scrub is harmful for the skin which is not true. If you use the right scrub with proper ingredients, it always benefits your skin and is a major advantage for people who are looking for beautiful flawless skin. Let's check out the amazing benefits of using a facial scrub which contributes towards a wonderful skin.

• Scrub will help you get rid of toxins and dead skin cells, thus stimulating the growth of new skin cells which leads to fresh and younger skin tone.
• Using a facial scrub stimulates the skin which results in improved blood circulation. This leads to firm and healthy looking skin.
• If you are facing blemishes and dark spots problem, it is ideal to use the scrub regularly. This will remove the dirt on the face which reduces the skin imperfections and contributes towards flawless skin.
• For dry skin people who have flakes around nose and chin area, a scrub will help remove the crumbly layer of the skin and makes it easy for you to moisturize.
• If you are tired and exhausted after a long day's work, even your face would look weary. Facial scrub helps remove dirt, dust and grime making your skin look fresh, relaxed and beaming.

Exfoliating your face in moderation can make skin brighter and softer. Buffing away dry, dead cells on your face will reveal the fresh cells underneath, but exfoliates are definitely not for everyone. People with skin issues such as hives or sensitive skin should check with their dermatologist before considering using these types of products. Exfoliating to help maintain the youthful glow to your face. "Exfoliating helps fights against aging because it stimulates blood and lymph flow and cell turnover. As we age, cell turn over slows down and your skin can start to look dull.

There are a range of different types of exfoliators so it's sometimes overwhelming knowing which type is most suitable for yourself.

Physical cream exfoliators Cream scrubs contain micro-beads in a moisturizing cream or lotion base, and are great for people with dry skin. Just be wary when choosing with the type of beads in the creams. Some contain sharped-edged beads that can leave micro-scratches on your skin, so look for creamy exfoliators that have rounded beads instead.

Physical gel exfoliators Gel scrubs give the same results as cream scrubs but are in gel form so they are better for oily and combination skin types.

Chemical exfoliators These exfoliators use glycolic, lactic, citric, or salicylic acid to chemically remove dead cells on the surface of the skin, which is also good for people with oily skin. If you have never used a chemical exfoliator before, start using it only once or twice a week, at night—once your skin adjusts, you can increase the number of times used per week.

Cloth or pad exfoliators These gentle manual exfoliators are meant to cater to all skin types, except for people with skin issues. They can also help with acne problems, fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Like any manual scrub, always follow product instructions and be careful not to go overboard. 

Article Credit : http://www.beautylish.com/

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Menstrual taboo

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A menstrual taboo is any social taboo concerned with menstruation. In some societies it involves menstruation being perceived as unclean or embarrassing, extending even to the mention of menstruation both in public (in the media and advertising) and in private (amongst the friends, in the household, and with men). Many traditional religions consider menstruation ritually unclean.

Different cultures view menstruation differently. Studies in the early 1980s showed that nearly all girls in the USA believed that girls should not talk about menstruation with boys, and more than one-third of girls did not believe that it was appropriate to discuss menstruation with their fathers. The basis of many conduct norms and communication about menstruation in western industrial societies is the belief that menstruation should remain hidden.

In other societies certain menstrual taboos may be practised without the connotation of uncleanness. According to the anthropologists Buckley and Gottlieb cross-cultural study shows that, while taboos about menstruation are nearly universal, a wide range of distinct rules for conduct during menstruation "bespeak quite different, even opposite, purposes and meanings" with meanings that are "ambiguous and often multivalent".

Religious views

Judaism

In the Torah (Leviticus 15:19-30), a menstruating woman is considered ritually unclean - "anyone who touches her will be unclean until evening" (New International Version). Touching her, touching an object she had sat or lain on, or having intercourse with her also makes a person ritually unclean. The extent to which these rules are observed in modern Judaism varies depending on the degree of conservatism/orthodoxy.

Christianity

Christians throughout history have disagreed about whether menstruation makes a woman unclean. In spite of the restrictions in Leviticus, Jesus allowed himself to be touched by a hemorrhaging woman and cured her (Mark 5:25-24). Some church fathers defended the exclusion of women from ministry based on a notion of uncleanness. Others held that purity laws should be discarded as part of the Old Covenant. There has never been any official teaching that menstruation makes women unclean in any major Christian denomination.

Bahá'í Faith

Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, in the Kitáb-i-Aqdas abolished all forms of ritual impurity of people and things and stressed the importance of cleanliness and spiritual purity. Menstruating women are encouraged to pray and are not required to fast; they have the (voluntary) alternative of reciting a verse instead.

Islam

In Islam, a woman is not allowed to offer prayer or to perform other religious activities such as fasting or circumambulating the Kaaba. This is in accordance with the law of the uncleanliness of any blood. Sexual intercourse with her husband is strictly prohibited during menstrual periods. However, she can perform all other acts of social life as normal. According to authentic traditions, Muhammad encouraged menstruating women to be present at festive religious services for the two Eid holidays, although they were excused from praying.

Hinduism

In the Hindu faith, women are prohibited from participating in normal life while menstruating. A woman must be "purified" before she is allowed to return to her family, and this has been considered a negative view of menstruation.

This follows a description in the Puranas about Indra's 'Brahmahatya' (act of killing of the Brahmin demon Vritra) and the mitigation of the sin. Part of this sin was taken by women, and is considered to be active during the menstrual period; therefore menstruating women are forbidden from performing any rituals. Contact with menstruating woman is also forbidden (with the exception of small children).

However in some respects Indians view menstruation, especially the first menstruation or menarche, as a positive aspect of a girl's life. In South India and also in the Assamese community, girls who experience their menstrual period for the first time are given presents and celebrations to mark this special occasion, though women who are menstruating are not allowed in the household for a period of three nights. This certainly does not mean that they are driven away from the house during the cycle of their menstruation: according to Indian architecture, in a house with four blocks, 'dakkini', the south block, is for women and during the menstrual cycle women would confine themselves within this block, and would not even enter the kitchen or go to the north and east sides of the house, nor would they go near a temple.

There is an exception to this in Kashmiri Hindu culture. The Kashmiri Pandits do not consider women as impure during the menstrual cycle; instead, they are given special care during this time as the body of the woman becomes weak due to blood loss.

Chhaupadi is the name of the menstrual related ostracism, now banned that occurs in Nepal.

Sikhism

In Sikhism, woman is given equal status to man and is regarded as pure as man is. The Gurus teach that one cannot be pure by washing his body but purity of mind is the real pureness. They are not called pure, who sit down after merely washing their bodies. Guru Nānak, the founder of Sikhism, condemned the practice of treating women as impure while menstruating.

In Sikhism, the menstrual cycle is not considered a pollutant. Certainly, it can have a physical and physiological effect on the woman. Nonetheless, this is not considered a hindrance to her wanting to pray or accomplish her religious duties fully. The Guru makes it very clear that the menstrual cycle is a God-given process. The blood of a woman is required for the creation of any human being. The requirement of the mother's blood is fundamental for life. Thus, the menstrual cycle is certainly an essential and God-given biological process. In other faiths blood is considered a pollutant. However, the Guru rejects such ideas. Those who are impure from within are the truly impure ones.

Meditating on God's name is of importance. Whether one's clothes are blood-stained or not (including clothes stained from menstrual blood) is not of spiritual importance. Thus, there are no restrictions placed on a woman during her menstruation. She is free to visit a gurdwara, take part in prayers and do Seva. In The Feminine Principle in the Sikh: Vision of the Transcendent, Nikky Guninder Kaur-Singh writes: "The denigration of the female body 'expressed in many cultural and religious taboos surrounding menstruation and childbirth' is absent in the Sikh worldview. ...Guru Nanak openly chides those who attribute pollution to women because of menstruation."

Article Credit : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menstrual_taboo#Religious_views

War Heroes

Women more attracted to war heroes

Article Credit :  Jagran Post | http://www.mid-day.com/articles/

London: Women are more inclined to date war heroes than regular soldiers or men who display heroic traits in other fields, such as in sports or natural disaster work, says a research. On the contrary, men find female heroes, both in combat and in disaster zones, less sexually attractive than their non-hero counterparts, the findings showed.

"This provides evidence for the hypothesis that gender differences in inter-group conflict can have an evolutionary origin, as only males seem to benefit from displaying heroism," said co-author of the study Joost Leunissen, psychologist at the University of Southampton. In the study, 92 women studying in Britain were presented with hypothetical profiles of the opposite sex, representing varying levels of heroism in different contexts such as warfare, sport and business. Women were more likely to find a soldier attractive, and were more inclined to date him, if he had been awarded a medal for bravery in combat. Displays of heroism in other fields, such as in sports or in business, also had no effect on how likely women were to find them attractive. Again, heroism in combat increased women's levels of sexual attraction towards male soldiers, but heroism in a disaster zone had no impact. Female heroes, both in combat and in disaster zones, were deemed less attractive by men than their non-hero counterparts. -