Capoeira Fighter Lateef Crowder is Playing Eddy Gordo in the Tekken Movie December 26, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Martial Arts.Tags: capoeira fighter, capoeira vs muay thai, eddy gordo, lateef crowder, Martial Arts, muay thai, tekken, tekken movie, the protector, tom yum goong, tony jaa
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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.
Tom Yum Goong - Tony Jaa's Second Debut
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?
The Liger – Biggest Cat in the World December 26, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Science, History, and the World.Tags: animals, big cats, biggest cat, cross breeding, hercules the liger, hybrid cats, liger, ligers and tigons, lions, tigers, tigon
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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 in the 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.
Sun Tzu’s True Art of War – Why the Pen is Mightier Than the Sword December 14, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Satire, Politics, and Religion.Tags: dynasty warriors, lu bu, military history, military strategy, sun tzu, the art of war
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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.'
What house-hold item will Bourne fight with next?
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.
Most Dangerous Animals Extinct – Jurassic Fight Club Dinosaur Battles and Pictures December 14, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Science, History, and the World.Tags: dinosaur battles, dinosaur pictures, dinosaurs, jurassic fight club, jurassic park, king kong, megalodon shark, most dangerous animals, spinosaurus, tyrannosaurus rex
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Most Dangerous Animals Extinct – Jurassic Fight Club Dinosaur Battles and Pictures – Associated Content
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 December 14, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Star Wars.Tags: deadliest creatures, knights of the old republic, krayt dragon, rancor, sarlacc, Star Wars, star wars creatures, star wars expanded universe, star wars galaxies
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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.
____________
To read more about their facts, biological weaponry, and how they kill their prey, read the full article here.
Freelance Writing Secret Technique – How to Permanently Beat Writer’s Block December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Associated Content Tutorials, Writing Tips and Techniques.Tags: article topic ideas, Associated Content, freelance strategy, freelance writing, notepad, secret technique, writer's block, writing techniques, writing tips
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Freelance Writing Secret Technique – How to Permanently Beat Writer’s Block – Associated Content
This is priceless information that should be free. If you want to be a serious writer, you have to be able to have topic ideas at all times, even when you’re just too damn tired to think. This technique has practically reduced my pain and suffering due to writer’s block in half. In the first month of using it, I have enough topic ideas for high quality articles for Associated Content for over a year.
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A Simple Strategy for Having Endless Topic Ideas
It’s a difficult world for an online freelance writer these days. The internet has exploded into the homes of over a billion people on Earth. To rise through the ranks and become a distinguished writer, you have to be able to stay on top of your game. The writer’s block is the most feared contraption of nature but with a few simple tips, you can beat it. Here is a simple secret of freelance writing that will ensure you literally unlimited ideas and topics to write about.
Preparation – Are You Ready To Commit?
This isn’t just a job. This is a passion. It’s a lifestyle. And if you plan on making money in the process, you have to be able to think of topics to write every day. Some of the most successful freelance writers in the world can publish an article daily. It’s not rocket science – it’s easier to be able to keep the writer’s block at bay and create strong content consistently than you think. It all lies in making the most of your time.
Integrate “topics” into your life. See everything as a searchable phrase. It sounds kind of far-fetched but the truth is that many writers thinking about how to gain more view counts or write chapters for their brand new novels know exactly what this strategy is. You might be hanging out with your friends and have a brainstorm raging in your head; spontaneously or controlled, it doesn’t matter. You could be in school, at work, or even dreaming and countless ideas of topic shine in your head like light bulbs. Don’t worry, you’re not going crazy. It’s just a trait that all writers share. But it’s also something many cannot remember and thus they’re doomed to have writer’s block and never be able to sit down at their desk and type an article in thirty minutes flat.
Thinking of a topic can sometimes take longer than actually writing about it. This is not a coincidence. It’s life’s way of forcing you to take on a challenge. Here’s my secret that isn’t really a secret but a strategy many writers do not use.
Your Mind is a Huge Word Document – That’s Why Man Invented Notepad
Okay, the human brain is a masterpiece and I like to use an analogy. What happens in your brain as a writer is like what you type in a word document on a computer. Everything is fine until you realize you can’t save anything. Well, nothing at will. You either remember or you don’t.
Open a Notepad file, Word Document, or any text program and save it on your desktop, personal folder, or wherever you want. It’s best to use a Notepad file because it opens quick and can be found easily on your computer. Make sure you keep it marked in the Quick Launch menu.
Title this document: “Topic Ideas” or something along those lines.
Now pay attention. Every time you ever think of an idea that you know you write about, open this file and write it down. Don’t write paragraphs and lengthy novels. Just type the name of the title (which can be 3-10 words) as a bullet point, save it (Cntrl+S), and exit the file.
Over time you will make a habit of this and realize you are thinking of future topics at a rate faster than you are writing them. Practice makes perfect and eventually the topics you think of are almost always noted down. All it takes is a few clicks to open the file, write down your brilliant idea(s), and keep them saved for later.
I’ve been able to maintain a steady stream of articles without much difficulty because I keep a Notepad file handy at all times. In a single month, I have enough ideas for topics already that will last me a year.
But the ultimate reason why this strategy will permanently stop writer’s block for topic ideas is that it is a constant process. You are always typing in potentially high quality article ideas every day and the list will remain dauntingly long – but this is a good thing.
I never have to worry about thinking of another topic idea again and I’ve only used this strategy for a few weeks. Check on the list every week and remove bullet points of articles you finished and delete ideas that can no longer be used. Use it as a checklist, calendar, and even a place to keep important links.
You can’t make the most of this technique overnight but with continuous practice a few times a week, you can hone your skills to the point of permanently defeating writer’s block. Rack up those page views, earn money using the simplest techniques, and remember; to be a great writer in today’s world, you must rise beyond the call of duty.
Over time you will learn to implement your own ideas for your digital brainstorming text file and be able to come home from work and know exactly what you’re going to write about.
Where to Buy a Christmas Tree in Naperville, Illinois December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Holiday Shopping and Seasonal Articles.Tags: american sale superstore, chicago, christmas stores, christmas tree, christmas tree shopping, holiday shopping, naperville
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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. 75th 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.
Martial Arts – How to Break Boards and Cement Blocks Using Science December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Martial Arts.Tags: breaking, breaking boards, impact force, impulse, laws of physics, Martial Arts, martial arts technique
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Martial Arts – How To Break Boards and Cement Blocks Using Science – Associated Content
I’ve been a martial artist since 2003 and did my share of breaking. If you don’t use proper technique, things hurt like hell. Believe me, I’ve been there.
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Using Physics to Learn the Secret and Mastery Behind Breaking Boards and Blocks
Decrease the force of impulse over a short amount of time and you will deliver devastating damage.
Some people dream of being on TV, breaking cement blocks with single knife hand strikes like the world’s greatest martial artists. There are many professional martial arts competitions where the strongest fighters break boards and concrete using different techniques. The average person wonders how they can make it look so easy. People that aren’t overly large or muscled can still shatter bricks and wood.
The secret to such ability is not in strength. Strength matters to a degree but it is the pure manipulation of strength that determines whether or not you will break that block or the block will hurt something fierce. The secret behind breaking boards is in technique – speed, impulse, and kinetic energy.
Physics is yet again the power that determines whether or not you can impress the opposite sex by learning ground-breaking techniques. But it’s not so rare; everyone can do it. Bruce Lee was very good at using physics to manipulate how much power he can exert on boards, and of course, people. The one-inch punch is a legendary example of mind over matter.
What is Impulse?
You see, when we say something exerts a force – for example, Jackie Chan executing a spinning kick on his opponent, or when a bullet is fired into a wall, there is one factor everybody forgets to remember.
Time.
If you were in a speeding car, unable to brake, but were given a choice of hitting a haystack or a brick wall, you don’t have to be genius to pick the haystack.
High school physics was invented to prevent events like this from happening. And a house? WTF?
If you had to jump off a cliff to avoid an explosion, would you rather jump off the side leading to jagged rocks or the opposite side leading to a lake down below?
It’s obvious; we don’t even have to think about it. Impulse is the product of force and time.
Impulse = Force x Time
The haystack would increase the time of impact, lessening the force over a longer duration. The water does the same to save us from a devastating fall. Even airbags in cars increase impact times to save your life in a highway collision. In martial arts, the gloves are used to decrease the force dealt by punches that are too dangerous to be done bare-knuckled.
Remember, impulse is always the same in all events. It doesn’t matter what you choose to hit – the impulse is the same. However, the times and forces are different. If the time is long, the force will be mild. If the time is very short, the force is powerful. And when things bounce off an object after hitting them, it is even more deadly in force magnitude. When weightlifters accidentally let the bench-press bars slip onto their chests and the bars bounce off, it’s a good lesson in teaching people the importance of having a spotter.
Always have a spotter. Don't be stupid. The impulse force is GREATER if you accidentally drop the bar and it bounces off your chest.
You have to be precise when you strike a stack of wooden boards with a knife-hand. Your strength doesn’t nearly matter as much as how you hit the board. Your movement must be fluid and accurate, with no loose movement during the strike. When the blade of your hand makes contact, you have to follow through with as much power and speed as you can.
But here’s the trick. Withdraw the knife-hand quickly after following through, ‘bounce’ your hand back off the breaking board like a whip-crack. This is not a weak blow; your strike must be powerful and quick but the entire movement must be done in without sacrificing technique.
This is easier said than done. It takes much practice to be able to do it right each time and should not be done at home.
There’s a simple way to explain the secret to breaking boards and cement blocks. Or any life activity in general:
1. Decrease the time of impact (to increase the force of impact).
2. Follow through with each strike like the way a baseball coach stresses
following through with the baseball bat on a swing.
3. The impact must be quick and powerful. Keep your striking arm rigid and if you are experienced enough, ‘bounce’ back off the impact to maximize the destruction. Kinetic energy is the key factor here. Every time you double strength, kinetic energy is doubled. But every time you double speed, kinetic energy is quadrupled; Kinetic Energy = ½ Mass x (Velocity)^2.
4. Use the twisting torque of your shoulders, waist, and core of your body to amplify the rotational force of the strike. The more you use your entire body in a short duration of time in the martial arts technique; you are capturing the laws of physics in real life.
Impulse = TIME x force (Boxing Gloves)
Impulse = time x FORCE (Bare-knuckles)
Size no longer matters. It is all about using the right technique and making the most of your ‘size.’ You can break boards and blocks easily if you master the process of using force in motion. It’s not a secret; do not believe advertisements and ‘strength’ pills. This is something you can learn in a high school textbook.
Martial arts must know these laws to master legendary techniques. The much discussed and featured technique of Bruce Lee before his untimely death was the one-inch punch. He was able demonstrate how the punch can blast people off their feet. Watch him do it here in this YouTube video.
Another example is in, Kill Bill Volume 2; a scene in which the main character had to escape from a coffin using very little space. She had to break out of the spot with only one technique – which she learned from the old Chinese master. Although the movie is fiction and it is nigh impossible to break through a coffin while under thousands of pounds of dirt, the principle of impulse force still applies.
Master Pai Mei from Kill Bill 2 was a total asshole but you had to admit that without him, Uma Thurman's character would still be stuck in the coffin.
If you ever wanted to see a martial arts master making the most of impulse and physics, the one-inch punch’s very small duration of time and extremely large impact force is a definitive example. Turn on the television and tune into board-breaking competitions to see it being used.
You can do it, too. All it takes are three simple steps: Quickness, technique, and following through.
Strength is not the deciding factor. It is truly mind over the body, which is something technology and martial arts prove every day.
References:
Newton, Isaac. The Principia: Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. U. of California Press, (1999). 974 pp.
Video Games – Top 3 Must-Have Christmas Gifts of 2008 December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Holiday Shopping and Seasonal Articles, Video Games and Online MMORPGs.Tags: christmas gifts, console games, fallout 3, playstation 3, prince of persia, Video Games, World of Warcraft, wrath of the lich king, xbox 360
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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, 28th, 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, 2nd, 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.
The Truth About Reputation and Respect December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Satire, Politics, and Religion.Tags: business world, careers, partnership making, power and money, reputation, respect, social status, society
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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.
Best Superfood Diet to Prevent Cancer and Boost Your Immunity December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Health, Fitness, and Diet.Tags: anti-oxidants, boost immunity, boost metabolism, carcinogens, foods to prevent cancer, Health and Fitness, superfoods, tips to lose weight, vegetables and fruits, weight loss
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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.
Important Tips for Staying Motivated About Losing Weight December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Health, Fitness, and Diet.Tags: cancer, exercise, fitness, health, heart disease, life expectancy, losing weight, motivation, quality of life, weight loss
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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.
Chinese New Year – Astrology and the Year of Each Animal December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Holiday Shopping and Seasonal Articles.Tags: chinese animal calendar, chinese new years, chinese new years animals, chinese zodiac, holidays, new year
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Chinese New Year – Astrology and the Year of Each Animal – Associated Content
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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’
Chinese New Years Celebration
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.
The Best Martial Arts Styles for Street Fighting December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Martial Arts.Tags: judo, Martial Arts, martial arts styles, mixed martial arts, muay thai, street fighting, taekwondo, the protector, tom yum goong, tony jaa
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The Best Martial Arts Styles For Street Fighting – Associated Content
This is one of my highest viewed articles on martial arts. I explore the differences between several major styles of martial arts, address what it really means to be good at “street fighting”, and explain the best techniques from each martial arts style.
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Ground Fighting Vs Striking
There are thousands of martial arts styles in the world, but the most popular ones have made it as far as they have because they hold elements of combat significant to tradition and power.
Taekwondo
This is currently the most practiced martial art in the world, the national sport of South Korea. Taekwondo is the bread and butter of striking. It is essential in building speed and strength through conditioning, and exceptional in increasing flexibility. It is not hard to learn, but very tough to master enough to make it practical in a real life fight. The basis of Taekwondo is kicking, and more specifically, high kicking.
High kicking should be left to the elite.
High kicking is never recommended (above the midsection of the opponent) in a street fight. Only the most experienced and conditioned fighters can pull off these kinds of kicks to make it effective – and it’s rare enough for the simple word of advice: just don’t attempt it. Taekwondo teaches a lot of kicking to the chest and midsection though, which you can get away with. The midsection is a good place to kick because a broken rib can end the fight by itself.
A favorite of this art is the roundhouse kick. It is extremely powerful compared to a punch. Your legs exert more than twice the force of your arms, and when combined with speed, footwork, pivoting, and hip motion, this kick can easily damage break ribs, damage internal organs, and knock the lights out of people. When aimed at the head (extremely rare because the higher the target, the tougher), it can cause concussions and even death.
The secret to delivering the perfect roundhouse kick is not simply the strength of the leg muscles. It is the torque generated through the pivoting of the back foot, twisting of the hips and shoulders, and a whipcrack snap of the shin upon contact – all this must happen at the same time. It must be a harmony of collaboration, a result of different powers. The legs are only extensions of the body, and no muscle can work alone.
The time it takes to perfect the roundhouse kick can be minimal, it’s all about technique. Without technique, speed and strength do not reign supreme.
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is one of the rawest martial arts in the world.
This is one of the toughest and most dangerous arts to learn – and rewarding. It hails from Southeast Asia, from various countries, including Thailand. Think of this as Taekwondo minus high kicks, aggressive boxing, and the ability to use knees and elbows all combined. It is also a striking art and is the epitome of the ‘hard martial art,’ which employs the use of techniques through physical power. Roundhouses are also integral here but make use of the shin more, in contrast to the face of the foot in Taekwondo. This is a perspective of Muay Thai’s low kicking style, where as Taekwondo kicks are aimed higher; hence, using the face of the foot for more reach.
In a nutshell: Shin roundhouse kicks are powerful, but require heavier conditioning. Old masters are known to train their students by having them kick tree trunks repeatedly. The bones of the shin gain calcium deposits, weakening the nerves and increasing bone density. This toughens the body as a whole.
If you want to be a good street fighter, take some lessons in this. The knees and elbows are the bread and butter of this art, and extremely important in in-fighting, which is what most street fights are. It is quick, brutal, and ruthless. You have to realize that in street fights, it’s not a boxing ring. You don’t circle your opponent, looking for openings and staying at striking distance. You have to make your openings.
When he lunges for you, push kick to shatter his kneecap, close the distance, double jab to open the combo, right hook the side of his head, blinding roundhouse to the ribs, and finish with an elbow strike to the jaw to knock his head into the hard concrete.
That’s Muay Thai.
Boxing
Learn this. No matter what type of fighter you are, learn boxing. Your arms may be weaker than your legs but they are much, much faster. Boxing teaches people how to punch, which the vast majority of people can’t do properly. This art (yes, this is an art style) is the bread and butter of street fighting in general.
The heavy weight boxing champion of the 20th century.
In street fights, you will rarely use your legs, if ever. In adapting to frantic and speedy situations, humans rely on punching the most. Some of the best moves in combat take root in boxing: the Jabs, Hooks, and Uppercuts. Jabs close the distance and open up the combos. Hooks are the power punches. Uppercuts are those integral shots that can overcome the opponent when he’s cornered and tries to defend his face. Uppercuts are not easy to block.
Boxing is underestimated because it doesn’t sound like a mysterious, mystical, and stereotypically uber martial art. And it’s typically not Eastern, which is why people don’t take it seriously. But it’s undeniably one of the best styles out there.
Kendo, Silat, Kali
If you happen to own a stick or cane at all times, learn these. It’s self-explanatory.
Wrestling, Jujutsu, Judo
Ground fighting is more important than striking. This includes grappling, joint locks, throws, and submission techniques. Most street fights are up close and personal, ending up on the ground. The best fighter knows how to hold his own on the ground. Size is preferred but doesn’t mean anything compared to speed, agility, and knowing how to use the opponent’s weight against himself. These arts are closely related and are much tougher in conditioning than the previous three striking arts listed.
Judo specializes in throw downs and submission techniques.
They also teach you more specifically, how to break bones, joints, and even more specifically, how to kill. They are dangerous. Watch an Olympic wrestling match. Hell, watch a high school wrestling match. The fighters you see there, despite no fancy martial arts experience or belt rank attached to their name, are some of the most formidable fighters in the world. On the ground, they would tear the average person apart.
There are ‘less’ fatal joint locking and grappling arts like Aikido and Hapkido, which reign from Japan and South Korea, respectively.
Why does ground fighting usually trump striking?
The average human, without any specialized training, is still very dangerous as a striker. The punches can be sloppy, the elbows can be inaccurate, but it doesn’t take many hits to the head to do knock someone out.
Look at it this way. The average human has a moderate knowledge on how to fight on two feet. But the average human knows little on what to do when he’s in a submissive position on the ground.
Now if you take the average striker against an average ground fighter in a fight upon two feet, the striker will have the upper hand but the ground fighter will know enough to hold his own. Specialized skill can only compensate a bit, real fights are unpredictable. The striker does not have the finishing advantage.
Now if you take the average striker against the average ground fighter in a fight on the ground, the striker will get pulverized. The knowledge on how to handle oneself on the ground isn’t as ‘common’ or ‘mainstream’ as punching and kicking – that’s the truth. The ground fighter has a huge upper hand.
And you know how often real fights go to the ground. That’s why it’s best to have both worlds to survive in each.
Tony Jaa in Tom Yum Goong - The Protector
The Judgement – Which Style Is the Best?
Some of the best styles to learn how to fight are the most overlooked. To be a good fighter, you have to be able to strike and dominate the ground. Weakness in one makes you weak as an adaptive fighter.
However, most often than not, in a fight between a striker and a grappler/ground fighter, the ground fighter has the advantage. Once the fight goes to the ground, it’s over. All it takes is closing the distance.
In Olympic non-full contact sparring and demonstrations in which the guy being demonstrated on just stands there, nothing is informative. If you want to learn how to fight, watch MMA fights, like in UFC or Pride Fighting. Boxing is also informative if you want to understand footwork.
Bruce Lee regretted giving Jeet Kune Do a name because it was a concept that rejected the strict structure of martial styles in favor of an eclectic understanding of combat.
Learn how to dominate both battlefields and you win the battle. Do not attempt the moves at home and sign up at your neighborhood dojo or dojang. You might be choosing something you were destined to be.
The style does not make the fighter. The fighter makes the style.
Reincarnation and the Conservation of Souls December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Satire, Politics, and Religion.Tags: astrophysics, black holes, buddhism, conservation of energy, hinduism, reincarnation, religion, spirituality
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Reincarnation and the Conservation of Souls – Associated Content
Here is one of my first submissions to AC. Although reincarnation is a religious and spiritual topic, it still holds true in theoretical physics.
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Conservation of Matter and Energy is Real, but What About Souls?
An animal dies in the jungle.
Where its soul goes and what afterlife it will venture to, no one knows. Will it be reborn in a different realm of existence as intelligent or will it be destined to be a rock? Reincarnation nonetheless.
The law says matter is always conserved like energy. Anything that escapes, including the soul, has to be conserved. It will have more entropy but it has come back into existence. In a closed system, the amount of mass and matter is always constant.
What goes into a black hole… theoretically will be ‘conserved,’ and still exist. What goes into a wormhole can come back out in different points in space and time. Matter is always conserved like energy.
The black hole singularity point is one of nature's greatest mysteries.
Is the animal going to come back as an animal or become an inert thing? No one will ever know that answer.
But what we do know is that if there was a calendar depicting where we are in time (day, month, year), it would be us as a dot smack dab in the middle of ” 0″ and “Infinite+”. And what are the chances that us right now are a reborn version in soul and cognitive mind of an animal or thing of the far past? Energy must be conserved like matter. Is it possible that maybe souls are conserved too?
Maybe one day we can see the reality of reincarnation, and not focus on its roots.
Theoretically this may be possible. Empirically it will suffer because it cannot be observed. But that was what they said about black holes and the world was dead wrong.
What goes into a black hole must be conserved as energy despite being obliterated. There is almost no force more powerful and God-like than the black hole. If matter can survive that, then there are a few simple rays of hope for mankind in the idealistic sense that life will go on forever.
But will we ever know where the swallowed entities of a black hole go? A real question of common sense.
- Reincarnation Manifested in History
Or does the story end like it started:
An animal dies in the jungle.
Star Wars: The Old Republic – First New Gameplay Video Documentary December 12, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Star Wars.Tags: first gameplay video, hero engine, knights of the old republic, Star Wars, star wars the old republic, video documentary
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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.
Combat in KotOR will have an influence on TOR's gameplay.
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.
One of the original screenshots released in October 21st, 2008.
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.
The Hero Engine is going to run SW:TOR.
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.
Taking and Finding Screenshots in World of Warcraft – Windows Vista December 11, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in World of Warcraft.Tags: blizzard, print screen, screenshots, screenshots folder, World of Warcraft, wrath of the lich king
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Taking and Locating Screenshots in World of Warcraft on Windows Vista – Associated Content
A simple guide showing players how to take a screenshot with the press of one button AND where to locate the folder in which the screenshots are saved, which is a tricky endeavor done alone.
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We see many screenshots of the world sensation mmorpg World of Warcraft. In forums and PvP videos we get to see players performing amazing achievements in gameplay. It could involve killing a whole lot of players in a battleground like Warsong Gulch or getting a group of friends together to make a dance music video in Ironforge.
But there are many times when you probably have killed a rare monster, trained in epic flying for the first time, or made it to the top of the charts in a battleground match. How do you take screenshots in World of Warcraft? How can a guild leader make sure his first successful raid can be something his guildmates won’t forget soon? Many players would want to keep memories of such things.
World of Warcraft isn’t the only game where taking screenshots is popular among players. Many veterans of Star Wars Galaxies before its Combat Upgrade would agree that shots taken of the game in 2003-2004 can evoke tears. Guildmates can relate to this the most, especially if they still remain in contact with each other.
MMORPGs in general are a hub for social interaction of the virtual dimension, which makes screenshots that much more compelling. Anything is possible and when you are able to direct your friends on where to stand, what to say, and what to wear for a screenshot, it’s a lot like being a director.
So how do you take a screenshot in World of Warcraft (and most major online multiplayer games)?
The answer is simple.
Step 1: The monitor is the camera. Whatever is on your screen is what is going to be in the screenshot.
Step 2: Click the Prnt Scrn button (Print Screen), which is located at the top right of most keyboards. This is the button you press when you want the screenshot taken. Think of it as the button on a camera.
If you want your interface to temporarily disappear so you can get maximum detail in your screenshot, press Alt + Z. This will immediately remove the interface (the hotkeys, bags, tabs).
Then click Prnt Scrn to take the screenshot, without any interference.
Click Alt + Z again to bring back the interface, everything back to normal.
It takes practice to perfectly time the Prnt Scrn button to capture a moment. Here is a screenshot of my Night Elf Warrior on an NPC gryphon mount flying towards Stormwind. I knew the mount was going to make a close pass to the waterfall, which was a shot difficult to do on a personal aerial mount. It was simpler to let the NPC gryphon move into the perfect position so I can time the press of the button.
My Night Elf Warrior Making a Pass Near a Waterfall in WoW
Now you know how to take screenshots but here comes the tricky part. If you want to send these pictures to friends or post them on your blog, you need to know where the screenshots are saved. From looking at the forums and general knowledge about WoW, very few people actually know where screenshots are moved. The folder in which they are located is difficult to find without prior information of what type of folder it is.
The folder location is:
C:\Users\\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Screenshots
The ‘Name’ folder is simply the main folder your system is based on (ex. John, Mary, etc.). It is usually the name of the computer’s owner.
There we go. AppData is impossible to locate visually because it is a hidden folder. To do this the quick way, go to the start menu (on Vista) and search for “appdata” and it should show up in the search results – but slightly transparent. This means it is hidden.
Enter the folder and keep moving through the list till you get to the Screenshots folder. To create a shortcut, right click on the Screenshots folder and click on “Create Shortcut.” A shortcut file copy of the folder will be created. Click and drag this file out into your desktop or to any location you wish.
When World of Warcraft was first launched, taking screenshots was a tedious process. The files were saved in .tga format, which must be converted to a viewable file such as a .jpeg. Programs like Irfanview were useful in converting the files. However, the developers realized the problem and facilitated the entire process by allowing screen shots to be automatically saved as JPEG files.
All gamers need to know how to record memorable moments not only for themsevles, but for their friends as well. It feels good knowing you can look back years from now, seeing the hilarity of influencing so many real people with a simple virtual avatar. Players can email their screenshots to friends through email attachments or they can post them on forums where many people can see them. Some guilds, in an attempt to preserve memories of games that are no longer considered popular, create long memoirs of screenshots where their guild history is chronicled in great detail and depth.
Memories are priceless.
Think you’ve taken a superb screenshot? Blizzard can be the judge of that. Enter your screenshots into their reviewed gallery, located here. The page has information and rules that your screenshot must follow to be judged. Blizzard is currently looking for many screenshot entries, especially environmental, for their new upcoming WoW expansion – Wrath of the Lich King.
It’s a bright future for artistic eyes in the virtual world. Be a part of it.
Gift Unseen – Love Poem About Sacrifice December 11, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Poetry.Tags: love poem, Poetry, romantic poem, sacrifice
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Gift Unseen – Associated Content
I wrote this love poem in 2002, when I was about 13 years old in middle school.
Photo by Marjorie Manicke
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In this box, my love,
you will not find a ring,
but instead, a brave little bee.
he was all I could bring.
He’ll be dead by morning,
having given his life,
defending his flowers against me
where they grew beside the sea.
They grew wild along the shores,
in hopes of an afternoon bouquet for you,
but I grieved this little bee’s sting,
more from him than you.
I knew the full sacrifice he paid,
for just my small pain,
but I allowed him his victory,
leaving his flowers as a memory, flushed in the rain.
I brought you no flowers,
nor a beautiful ring,
but something this world lacked,
that this bee sought to bring.
I brought you instead,
this brave little bee.
Who proves there is love,
For even the smallest of things.
Fever Dream – The Thanatos Death Instinct December 11, 2008
Posted by vikasreddyd in Short Stories.Tags: anima, animus, carl jung, death instinct, fever dream, final fantasy X, psychology, sigmund frued, thanatos
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Fever Dream – Associated Content
Here is a short story I wrote depicting Sigmund Freud’s theory of the human Thanatos Death Instinct, an instinctual natural drive of violence naturally present in all human beings. Carl Jung created the concept of the Animus (Anima) – our subconscious will. I took my inspiration from Seymour’s aeon Anima from Playstation 2′s Final Fantasy X.
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They call it the fever dream.
When nothing matters but the opponent facing you. The man who has wronged, betrayed, and left you to pick at the air of defeat. When you know deep inside that you are right and he is wrong.
Your blood begins to boil. At first it is slight, dismissable, and insignificant. But like a seed it unravels itself out of the core of your body and its tenacious vines begin to swarm and infiltrate your heart. Its grip is unwavering and absolute, squeezing tighter with every breath you take. It courses through your veins and turns your blood as black as tar. Your knuckles turn white, you hold your gaze, your hands begin to shake. What was at first insignificant becomes significant.
Nothing else matters.
Your mind is clouded, a blood-red haze of fog seeping through every corner of your brain and your soul. The adrenaline blows away any shred of doubt, your mind is steadfast on one outcome. You lose the concept of logic, of reasoning, and peace. There is only one outcome – his blood or yours.
The fever dream begins.
You feel the beast of Anima inside you has awakened and clawed its way out of your cage of consciousness. You never knew it even existed, that such a blood-thirsty creature is a part of you. But you know the truth, that it is the essence of your Thanatos, the death instinct. You are no longer disgusted by your thoughts of staggering violence. You begin to like it. To crave it. You are drawn to the bloodrage as if it were a drug. It makes you powerful, you feel as if you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. You understand the true meaning of freedom and invincibility. It is the drug and you are the addict.
You turn around to find the door back to your old reality. Quickly it shrinks before your eyes while the key in your outstretched fist makes itself known. You have a choice. You always have the choice. But you ignore it and whip around to face your enemy. You let the door pass into oblivion and squeeze your fist with all the power you have, assuring the key meets the same fate.
There is no going back.
The unfamiliar feeling becomes as familiar as your mind as you once knew it. You discover you had this same dream before, this waking dream that leaves you disgusted and guilty each time it passes. And yet each time it loosens its grip a second longer…
Your enemy no longer remains an enemy. He becomes the victim in your sadistic game. You locate the soft parts of his body. You scan his vulnerabilities and locate the shatterpoints – to do more than defeat him. You want to hurt him. You want to break him. You want to make his suffering as agonizing as possible. Your instincts of combat vanish and become instincts of claws and teeth. You crush his throat, stab him, smash his head into the ground. The ruthless methods in which you destroy him in your dream are beyond words.
And as quickly as the fog had set in, a wave of reality sweeps through your dream. The blood stops thundering in your ears and you start to hear noises of the world outside.
Outside the dream in which you are trapped.
Trapped between the world of self-control and the world of freedom.
There is a wall of mirror enclosing your dream from the reality you once knew. The blood-red veil of haze begins to lift slowly and you rush to the wall, looking at yourself in the mirror and dropping to your knees in remorse. You cannot recognize yourself at all but your reflection recognizes you. It is the most terrible feeling in the world and yet you know the truth – that you crave, live, and thrive on that feeling. All the trust you ever had has been betrayed by yourself.
Anima
You strike at your reflection with all the strength you can muster. The mirror wall shatters into thousands of shards, faintly falling to the ground and crumbling into wisps. The air returns. Color reverts back into the world. No more pounding, no more blood, no more dual identity. You are back where you were, fully awaken from your dream world.
You look your enemy in the eye and remember what you have done to your reflection in the mirror. Then it dawns on you. You have already won the battle.
But you have not won the war.
You know in truth that just as the sun sets upon the world and the rain will always strike the earth that there will be another battle. And each battle will last a second longer than the last in the war that you call your life. You cannot let your dream become your reality and your reality become the dream.
You must not let your enemy win. You must not let your reflection win.
You take one final breath and the fist around your heart loosens its grip and disappears.
You discover that in a war without right and wrong, you don’t have to win.
All you have to do is fight.
They call it the fever dream.
