Left side is the right side to get out of bed
Left side is the right side to get out of bed
Sydney, UNI:
Sleep scientists, feng shui experts and psychologists analysed the best way to get up in the morning and have claimed ”Left is best”.
Just don’t jump out of bed as you get up after a good night sleep but make a habit of leaving your duvet from the left side.
According to a recent study, getting out of bed on the left side is the right side.
Sleep scientists, feng shui experts and psychologists analysed the best way to get up in the morning and have claimed ”Left is best”.
Feng shui expert Jan Cisek said getting out of the bed on the left side led to progress in family, health, money and power.
The left side helped humans to think rationally about the day ahead, the Australian quoted psychologist Pete Cohen as saying.
”The right side of the brain is responsible for emotions like fear and stress which only dilute your potential for having a positive experience,” he said.
Sound of Rain
UAE welcomed US President George Bush for a two day visit to the country. I think it was a special welcome by rain god to mark the state visit of this special guest. Enjoy a few moments of this once in a year event as far as UAE is concerned. rain is very special for us. I am following lots of music these days and listening to music all around and share the sound of rain with you all. Listen/view carefully and you too can hear the sound of music in it.
Rain or sunshine, enjoy life as it comes…
A holiday has been declared tomorrow for all instituitions private and public in Dubai. Do not venture out in your car as most of the roads are blocked. So take this opportunity, get set with your children, your camera and explore the beautiful developments that’s happening around, a view which normally you don’t see during your rush to and from office. Capture them and send them to me. I will be glad to post them. Because, we will be working when you holiday.
Want bulging muscles? You need cholesterol
Want bulging muscles? You need cholesterol
New York: Cholesterol may play a role in increasing muscle mass and help in muscle repair, show the results of a new study.
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. The liver manufactures it from the fat consumed by us.
High cholesterol level in the body is known to cause several illnesses, including heart disease. However, researchers at the Texas A&M University have found that it may also be beneficial.
The researchers studied 55 men and women, aged between 60 and 69, who were healthy non-smokers and were able to perform exercise tests.
Three days a week for 12 weeks, participants performed several exercises, including stretching, stationary bike riding and vigorous weight lifting, according to a report posted on the website of the university.
At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found that there was a significant association of dietary cholesterol and change in strength. In general, those with higher cholesterol intake also had the highest muscle strength gain.
“Lower cholesterol levels can actually reduce muscle gain with exercising. More cholesterol may result in a more robust inflammatory response. We know that inflammation in some areas, such as near the heart, is not good, but for building muscles it may be beneficial, and cholesterol appears to aid in this process,” lead researcher Steven Riechman said.
New law aims to cut soaring road deaths
New law aims to cut soaring road deaths
By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 12, 2008, 23:29
Abu Dhabi: The traffic department has come up with tougher regulations that will come into effect from March, with the aim of bringing down the death toll related to traffic accidents.
Gulf News spoke to Colonel Gaith Al Za’abi, Director of Traffic Department at Ministry of Interior, to find out more.
Gulf News: Could you tell us about the upcoming changes in the traffic law?
Colonel Gaith Al Za’abi: Fourteen changes have been made to the existing Traffic Law, which will come to effect from March 1. We are looking at cutting down the number of traffic accidents by 5 per cent. As per the instructions of Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, a committee was formed with members of the traffic department of each emirate, and we after much discussion decided upon these amendments.
The traffic death toll in the country hit 852 last year. This is not a small number. We need effective measures to bring down this figure.
How would the amended laws help in cutting down accidents?
The committee identified four targets. Reducing the number of accidents, reducing traffic jams, increasing awareness and developing a traffic culture and reducing the number of accidents involving pedestrians. To achieve each target, a detailed action plan has been drafted.
Dh20,000 will be the minimum fine for serious offences and the penalty may also include a jail term, as per the court ruling. In addition to the heftier fines and jail terms, we will also implement a black points system.
What are the main challenges ahead for your department?
Increasing the awareness of people is one of the challenges. Pedestrians who do not cross at designated areas is a major cause of concern. Some motorists also do not respect the rights of the pedestrians. Making people aware will help reduce many accidents.
According to the new law, if a person crosses a road which has a speed limit over 80kmh then he/she would be held responsible for an accident. The growing number of pedestrian-related accidents and deaths has led the authorities to reach this decision.
But there are many areas that do not have proper pedestrian crossings?
The necessary infrastructure developments to support this law would be carried out simultaneously.
Those who talk on mobile phones while driving is another issue. These people slow down sometimes on highways which can be dangerous for them as well as others.
What measures will be taken to improve the public’s awareness?
Four programmes are being finalised for this. Our aim is to make the roads safer for all road users and for this we will reach out to all residents in the country. Lat year, approximately 25 per cent of accidents involved UAE nationals, 49 per cent involved Asians and 19 per cent involved Arab nationals.
These programmes will be relayed using visual, audio and print media, later this year. And this will play a significant role in developing a traffic culture.
Some of the emirates have local bodies that deal with traffic rules. How will this be tackled?
Cooperation between the emirates is part of our agenda. This is a federal law and all the emirates will implement it. The agenda discusses the use of latest technology, development of new methodologies to positively affect road users, bringing about changes in road engineering and helping other emirates develop their infrastructure.
What are the main causes of accidents?
According to our statistics, speeding is a major cause. Not maintaining adequate distance from other vehicles and entering roads without verifying if the road is clear also cause many accidents.
Wind turbine for homes to reduce costs naturally
Wind turbine for homes to reduce costs naturally By Emmanuelle Landais, Staff Reporter GULF NEWS Published: January 12, 2008, 20:30
Dubai: Miniature wind turbines or solar powered water heaters now available in the market could reduce your home energy bill by 20 per cent and reduce carbon emissions to combat global warming.
For around Dh6,000 a mini wind turbine can be connected to the circuit breaker of a house and with an extra electricity inverter can power your home’s electrical needs. This does not power air conditioning.
Turning your home into an energy saving unit with the flick of a switch is the future, said Dilip Rahulan, chief executive director of Pacific Controls, who is shortly going to put on the market a Ubiquitous Box, or U-Box, which can monitor all sensors in your home and optimise their use.
Pacific Controls, which recently opened their headquarters in Dubai’s Techno Park as the Middle East’s first Platinum rated green building because of its energy saving facilities, has developed the small wind turbine for homes.
Combining the wind turbine with a U-Box will reduce energy consumption by using motion, temperature and timer sensors that can calculate when air conditioning, lights and taps should be switched on and for how long.
“This will help us find out where energy is being used. People go on a holiday and leave the air conditioning on, or the lights and with this system we will know if something is working that could be switched off,” said Rahulan.
“Savings of 20 per cent in energy use can be achieved in all properties. We started this with Emaar 20 months ago. We manage all pumps and streetlights to reduce energy consumption,” he added.
Homes and businesses will now be able to do the same with the Green Home and Green Building Systems which monitor use and waste of energy through a central command centre that can tell how full a water tank is, or what the temperature of a hotel lobby is.
Showers can even be set to switch off every three minutes.
“Through measurement and verification we will be able to monitor carbon footprint in homes. We are hoping to get LEED certification so residents can earn carbon credits. We will be able to tell how buildings are performing or [locate] any leaks,” said Rahulan.
Dubai budget surplus to hit Dh11.4b in ’08
Dubai budget surplus to hit Dh11.4b in ’08(Wam)
13 January 2008
DUBAI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has issued in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Decree no. 8 for 2008, announcing the budget of the emirate, which is expected to touch a surplus of Dh11.4 billion compared to Dh5.1 billion in 2007.
Dubai’s revenues for fiscal year 2008 are expected to touch Dh135 billion, while planned spending is estimated at Dh123.6 billion.
Dubai’s non-oil sector has scored success in regard to production rate through the emirate’s endeavours to expand and diversify revenue sources and base of income.
According to the financial report, the contribution of oil sector to the projected gross domestic product (GDP) in 2008 will be four per cent. The share of Dubai’s public sector in the balance sheet was 21 per cent, while the contribution of the economic sector was 79 per cent.
Shaikh Mohammed has also issued Law no. 29 for 2007 on budgets of the Departments of Dubai Government in the year 2008. The budgets are put at Dh26.5 billion, in which expenditure was distributed as per the strategic plan. Salaries and wages totalled 28 per cent, while the administrative and general expenditure were 32 per cent. The developmental and projects accounted for 40 per cent of the budget of the government departments.
“The endorsement of the Dubai emirate’s balance sheet by Shaikh Mohammed reflects the keenness of Dubai government on its major role in the achievement of targeted economic and social aspirations’, said Secretary-General of the Dubai Executive Council Ahmed bin Bayat. He noted the attention paid by Shaikh Mohammed to members of the community through his emphasis on making economic development go hand in hand with social development.
Director-General of Dubai Finance Department Sami Dhaen Al Qamzi said the 2008 budget reflects new dimensions and shows a growing attention is being paid to infrastructure projects as per international standards.
Mercury dips to zero in Al Ain
Mercury dips to zero in Al Ain
By a staff reporter KHALEEJ TIMES 13 January 2008
DUBAI — Mercury dipped to zero degree Celsius in Al Ain as the the UAE experienced light to heavy showers in the past 24 hours since Thursday evening, triggering accidents that killed two people and injured scores of others.
Abu Dhabi’s Abu Al Bukhoosh Island received the highest rainfall of 14.4mm, according to a senior duty forecaster at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology in the capital.
The forecaster said the sky would remain cloudy with showers across the UAE and heavy rains predicted particularly in the northern parts of the UAE.
Achieve calmness with meditation
Achieve calmness with meditation
By Bharat Thakur, Special to Unwind / GULF NEWS / Published: January 11, 2008, 23:40
All over the world, people are turning to meditation — some seeking answers and the meaning of life while others practise it for its stress-relieving benefits.
With so many different techniques being taught, the question is — what really is meditation?
Let’s start with what we know. It is a scientifically proven fact that meditating regularly has immense health benefits.
In fact, the significant difference in health parameters between those who practise meditation and non-meditators is sufficient for anybody to start a simple practice.
Ask any doctor and he or she will gladly tell you how people who meditate are less prone to heart attacks and other diseases.
For a healthy mind
We must understand that all diseases are rooted in the mind — being psychosomatic in nature.
So, while we devote a lot of time and attention to the body and how we look, we must also spend time relaxing the mind and delving into the more subtle areas of our being.
Research also shows that people who meditate display lower stress levels than those who do not.
So, where does yoga fit into all this? Yoga begins with the physical body and goes deeper within, to the core of the being.
Most of you must be familiar with the different postures of yoga — asanas, the often crazy-looking movements that contort the body.
In fact, there are 8.4 million asanas. They are there just to make the body flexible and strong to master one meditation asana, that in which the practitioner can sit comfortably meditating for a long time.
Similarly, pranayama (breathing) practices train the mind and the body’s energy system for dhyaan (meditation).
Yoga has always been a spiritual science in India. It is only in the last 100 years that modern science and medicine have studied and understood the health benefits of yogic practices.
Therefore, today we see people taking up yoga to reduce high blood pressure or control diabetes.
Deeper understanding
This is good for all, but one must not forget that, ultimately, all yoga practices will direct the person to a calmer state of mind and an infinitely deeper understanding of oneself.
This deep understanding of who you really are is the scope and final goal of meditation.
So begin a yoga practice and slowly delve deeper into life’s eternal question — “Who am I?”
Wishing you all the best in your search.
Meditation asanas
The main purpose of meditation asanas are to allow the practitioner to sit for extended periods of time without moving the body and without experiencing discomfort.
Only when the body has been steadied for some time will the benefits of meditation be felt. Deep meditation requires the spinal column to be straight and very few asanas can satisfy this condition.
Sukhasana
(Easy pose)
Sit with the legs stretched out in front.
Bend the right leg and place the foot under the left thigh.
Bend the other leg and place the foot under the other thigh.
Place the hands on the knees.
Keep the head, neck and back upright, but without straining.
Close the eyes.
Relax the whole body — the arm should be relaxed and not held straight.
Ardh padmasana
(Half-lotus pose)
Sit with the leg stretched out in front of the body.
Bend one leg and place the sole of the foot on the inside of the opposite thigh.
Bend the other leg and place the foot on top of the opposite thigh.
Without straining, try to place the upper heel as near as possible to the abdomen.
Adjust the position so that it is comfortable.
Keep the back, neck and head straight.
Close the eyes and relax the whole body.
Padmasana
(Lotus pose)
Sit with the legs stretched out in front.
Slowly and carefully, bend one leg and place the foot on top of the opposite thigh.
The sole should face upwards and the heel should be close to the pubic bone.
When this feels comfortable, bend the other leg and place its foot on top of the opposite thigh.
Ideally, the knees should touch the ground in the final position.
The head and spine should be straight and shoulders relaxed.
Place hands on the knees.
Close the eyes and relax the whole body.
Vajrasana
(Thunderbolt pose)
Kneel on the floor.
Bring the big toes together and keep the heels separate.
Lower the buttocks onto the inside surface of the feet with the heels touching the sides of the hips.
Place the hands on the knees, palms down.
The back and head should be straight but not tense.
Avoid excessive backward arching of the spine.
Close the eyes and relax the arm and the whole body.
Bharat Thakur is the founder of Bharat Thakur’s Artistic Yoga. For questions on yoga, write to dubai.artisticyoga@gmail.com. For information, log on to http://www.bharatthakur.com
It’s a Rainy rainy day
Hai friends,
So, the rain has come to Abu Dhabi, Dubai and all over UAE. Passing shots passing by you to comment. More rain and more photos as and when it happens.
Ramesh Menon
Reflections
ClicksandWrites 
You must be logged in to post a comment.