iPad vs Laptop

The ultimate debate in the tech world is iPad vs laptop. Read this article to see how they compare against each other.

 

Bridging the gap between a phone and a computer, Apple's iPad is a "do anything and everything" kind of device. Laptop computers have become a necessity in today's world, as a portable PC. So in one corner, we have the defending champion, the laptop, and in the other corner, the challenger, iPad.

Basic Features of an iPad

The iPad is said to be a super gadget, combining an e-reader, gaming device, digital photo frame and iPod, into a single device. It's a tablet PC, with the size and weight roughly between smartphones and laptops. It uses the same OS as the Apple's iPhone and the iPod Touch. Apple has small application programs designed for web browsing, videos, emails, maps, etc., called Apps, and the iPad is equipped with many apps, plus you can install them using the App Store. The touch screen is easy to clean and Apple fans will adapt easily to the iPad's look and feel, as it is very similar in appearance and usualbility as an iPhone. The first iPad model featured a 1Ghz A4 processor, with 256 RAM, up to 16 GB hard disk capacity and networking features like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and 3G support. The iPad 2 features the same networking and hard disk capacity but is more advanced in terms of processor power and speed. It features an Apple A5 processor with a 512 RAM. The "walled-garden" approach of the iPhone is extended in the iPad. To purchase and download movies and music, one has to use the iTunes store. To buy new software for the iPad, you need to use the App Store which allows only Apple accepted software.

Basic Features of a Laptop

Trying to sum up what a laptop does is like trying to fit the Atlantic ocean into a glass. A laptop can be thought of as a tablet PC ancestor. Laptops combined the functionality of a desktop with the great portability of a mobile phone. I know you can't put the laptop into your pocket like a phone, but it beats trying to take a desktop everywhere. In business, entertainment, gaming, networking, name the sphere of use, there is a laptop for it. Laptops have Wi-Fi, bluetooth, USB connectivity, web cameras... every time there's a new technology, it's there in the laptop. Another great feature of a laptop is versatility and openness. Each manufacturer has something unique to offer, and you can install everything and anything onto a laptop.

iPad vs Laptop

Size
The iPad weighs 1.33-1.34 pounds and the average laptop weighs around 6 to 8 pounds. For those who travel a lot, the iPad is easier to carry around and you get through airport security checks a lot faster. Plus a laptop needs to be opened up, plugged in, booted up to be used. With the iPad, quick booting and loading, no need to unpack and repack a bag. The processor speed is so fast, that you just press the Home button on your iPad 2 to boot up. So for carrying around and making quick notes or connecting the Internet and browsing the net easily, the iPad is a definite winner. A word of caution, the iPad dimensions are equivalent to a book, but it's made of glass. It's also more expensive than a book. Just because it's portable, that doesn't mean you should pack it in a bag without a protective case.

Battery Life
In this techie contest, the iPad wins hands down in terms of battery life. It has up to 10 hours of battery life on a single charge. That too, the charger fits easily in a purse or pocket. A laptop lasts at a maximum of 3 hours. Battery life decreases with applications like games or video. And some laptop chargers are heavier than the laptop!

Productivity
There's a lot of computing power packed in the tiny frame of the iPad. It makes a speedy web browser, the front and rear web cameras allow for interactive web chatting and the number of apps available for this device, make it very handy indeed. It's not the ideal device for gaming but many titles are being released to adapt the tablet's features, so it's not like nothing will work on it. But can it beat a laptop, when it comes to productivity? For high-end business or development programs, which require RAM and hard disk space, using an iPad is sot of like using a tin can to dig a large hole. And if you enjoy media on a large screen, the iPad is definitely not your cup of tea. Plus there is no Adobe Flash support, which means your web video content is limited. The bottom line in this round is that a laptop is infinitely more productive, the iPad is meant for casual or low-scale use.

Limited Hardware Connectivity
One question: What can you NOT connect to a laptop? Unfortunately for the iPad, there's very little you can connect. It has a 30 pin connector used on iPods and iPhones. Translation: no USB connections, you can't transfer data onto a portable drive and you can't insert memory cards. No Ethernet port either. You need to use a PC in the middle. Imagine how cumbersome that is, every time you will need to transfer your data to a PC, then connect PC to tablet, to allow file transferring. On the plus side, you can connect your iPad to an HDTV for a much bigger screen. And using AirPrint, print documents over Wi-Fi . Wait a minute, you can do this with a laptop as well. So connectivity-wise, the laptop is the king and it will take at least 2-3 version updates, for the iPad to reach such levels of connectivity.

Navigation
It is difficult to compare a touch screen with the standard mouse and keyboard setup. They are two extremely different input devices. The iPad touch screen is responsive and more natural to use than a mouse. It boots up very quickly. You can quickly adjust size and scroll with the touch screen, and it's great to use in small spaces or if there is no flat surface to use the mouse. The keyboard is on-screen, so you have to look down on the screen to type. Also, you have to hold the iPad in one hand and type, unless you get a dock. This makes the iPad ill-suited for typing long documents.

Miscellaneous
Laptops can have any OS, even the MacBook Pro allows you to have Windows as a secondary OS. But with the iPad, you are stuck with the iPhone OS. You can only use apps from the App Store. There are ways to download and install other software on your iPad, but that voids your iPad's warranty. The built-in games and ones available from the App Store are pretty decent, especially for kids. Overall, the iPad is very kid friendly and is used in classrooms and homeschooling. Laptops are not kid friendly or rather, kids are not friendly to laptops.

The iPad is a good e-reader. With the iBook app, users can buy, download and read books. The iPad is definitely a better eBook reader, as it's more comfortable and easier to use the iPad, when just reading. The maximum hard disk capacity currently available in an iPad is 64 GB. Now that's nothing in hard disk land. A few movies, games, photo collections, documents.. your iPad's hard disk is full. Laptops have an advantage over here, since the average laptop has at least 200 GB. The iPad has 3 storage versions, 16 GB for $499, 32 GB for $599 and 64 GB for $699 (Wi-Fi only versions, 3G price is more). For a tablet PC, this pricing scheme is reasonable. But critics argue that due to limited productivity, the iPad is like an oversized, expensive iPod Touch, whereas a minimum performance laptop would cost between $500 - $800. Keep in mind that the iPad is a new device and doesn't really have a niche, so its price will seem expensive at first. Remember how expensive the first mobiles were?

Note: All prices mentioned are approximate and depend on various factors like location and offers available

Which to Choose:iPad or Laptop?

Ultimately, choosing between a laptop and an iPad should be based on your usage and needs. Understand your likes and dislikes, and what functions do you expect from your device. If you are looking for a portable, efficient and smart device, then the iPad is for you. With handy apps and easy wireless connectivity, it's a great addition to any household. If you type a lot, are into heavy-duty gaming, and need software and hardware support, go for a laptop. Newer laptops models are lighter and more portable than their predecessors. iPads are little too delicate for an industrial environment and not that productive to use in an office. But as an e-reader, it's gained a fan following. The iPad is good for viewing photos and movies in cars and on the move. So as an entertainment device for kids, an iPad is a less riskier, easier-to-handle option as compared to a laptop. What about college students? The iPad's cheaper price is a definite plus but remember cheaper also means less. For students of science or where there's a lot of note making, the iPad's keyboard makes typing difficult. Also, most college students are heavy duty gamers and the iPad's just not built for hardcore gaming. For those who want bare necessities of browsing, emails, watching movies and reading eBooks, the iPad is trendy and fills this need.

Debating over the iPad vs laptop pros and cons is a never-ending argument but end it we must. The iPad is one of the most affordable tablet PCs around and is a popular device choice. But it cannot, at this point of time, replace laptops or personal computers. However it is a major technological step for hand-held devices, much like the laptop was for computing 20 years ago. For leisure and entertainment, the iPad is a good choice. But for more productivity and varied usage, a laptop is a must-have.
 

By Rave Uno
Last Updated: 9/5/2011
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ipad-vs-laptop.html

 

How to Save Your Laptop after a Spill

We all can be proud of our multitasking skills. But juggling two or three things at one time can come for a hefty price, especially if two of those tasks include a drink and a laptop.

It's in our nature to be clumsy the moment we let our guard down and spill the drink on the laptop. The consequent panic is also natural, sadly. In case you don't panic, there are some things that you can do to save your laptop.

Steps to Clean and Save Your Laptop

Shutting Down
Regardless of the drink that you drop, the first thing you need to do is shut your laptop down. I would prefer a cold stop, which is pressing the power key till the laptop shuts down. After that, remove the laptop battery and A/C adapter attached to your laptop. If you have any external devices or other cables attached to your laptop, take them out before you move around. If we spill a drink on the laptop, we will naturally panic and do something unnecessary. Try not to get tangled in the wires when you're getting up, you will just add to the damage.

Draining the Liquid
After you're sure the laptop is switched off and the battery and all the devices are disconnected, turn your laptop upside down and gently shake it. Most laptops now come with spill-proof keyboards so the liquid should just flow out of the keyboard. Bear in mind, 'spill-proof' means the liquid won't reach the internal components, but even that's not a guarantee. Depending on the liquid, your laptop may suffer damage to the keys and internal components.

If the liquid is something like water, you won't have to face too much damage. Just keep the laptop inverted for as long as possible (at least 6 hours), after which you can use something that can absorb water to wipe the keyboard clean, like paper towels or fresh Q-tips, as long as it won't deposit lint into the keys.

Apart from water, you have two other common drinks that can be spilled on the laptop. If it's sticky like soda, it will corrode the keys and internal components over time if left untouched. If it's hot like coffee, it will seep towards the internal components of the laptop, instantly damaging them. Your first step would still be to shut down the laptop and invert it.

Wiping the Liquids
If you spilled water, your laptop should be fine. All you need to do is drain the water out, wipe the keys on the inside with a water absorbent material that doesn't leave lint. Leave the laptop alone for at least 24 hours to completely dry out (6 hours to drain the water and 18 hours to dry the laptop). Do not turn your laptop on before 24 hours, even if it is important. If there's any water left inside, it might short a component. Remember that electronics and water do not go hand in hand, so you need to be sure all the water has dried off.

If you spilled soda or juice or coffee on your laptop, you need to do more work as these liquids will do some real damage. First, you will drain out the liquid from the laptop. Do not keep it there for too long. You need to clean the sticky liquid off before it dries out too much. The best stuff that you can use for cleaning is denatured alcohol. The denatured alcohol makes sure all the liquid is cleaned off. Any sticky liquid that remains on the keys or the components will slowly corrode the surface, wearing down your laptop.

Dos and Don'ts
There are some tricks that you can use, to dry out your laptop faster and some mistakes that you need to avoid.

• One trick that works is to drain off the liquid from the laptop quickly, take a bag full of rice and stick the laptop in the bag. The rice will absorb all the liquid that seeps out of the laptop, making sure your laptop dries out as fast as possible.
• When you dry out your laptop, don't use a hair-dryer. The heat from the hair-dryer will destroy your laptop in two ways; it will fry some components, leaving them useless; it will only encourage the liquid to heat up and dig deeper into the surface, speeding up the corrosion.
• The best way to dry out the laptop is place it in indirect heat or slightly away from a direct heat source. The best spot is on a table or window sill just out of the sunlight's reach. If the laptop comes in direct contact with a heat source, it may melt some parts or make the liquid burrow deeper into the surface.
• Make sure, whatever you use to clean the laptop (including your fingers) is lint free and static electricity free. You may not feel the shock, but the parts of the laptop surely can.

Prevention is better than the cure, they say. Don't drink anything around your laptop if you don't want to fry it up. If nothing works, you best go over to a professional and hope your laptop isn't dead.
 

By Arun Prabhu
Last Updated: 12/30/2011
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-to-save-your-laptop-after-a-spill.html

What to Look for in a Laptop

Wanting to buy a laptop, but don't know what to look for exactly? Read the article, to know what to look for in a laptop for college, gamers and graphic designers.

Laptops provide more convenience and give a personal touch to the whole computing experience. Also, significant progress in the information technology sector has helped increase usage and sales of laptop computers over the years. The high convenience a laptop provides is the main reason for people to choose one over the traditional desktop computer. Since buying a laptop involves a considerable investment, people are conscious as to what they buy, and often seek advice on which computer suits their work the best.

What to Look for in a Laptop for College

College studies are not the same anymore. The number of colleges which are successfully including information technology in their teaching methods is on the rise. Lots of colleges these days have professors asking students to type their assignments and certain institutes even offer online classes. Innovative methods adopted by college instructors in teaching students also involves using an electronic information processing system. All this has made it sort of mandatory for college students to look and purchase laptops, before going to college.

While picking a laptop for college, students should ideally start by defining its use. Mostly, college students require laptops for basic purposes, like reading notes, research, writing papers and a little bit of entertainment, unless they are studying a course which requires them to use certain specific software. Students tend to buy high-end expensive laptops (mostly to show-off) which they do not require, and is a wastage of money. Unless necessary for studies, buying an expensive laptop should be avoided, as it can easily be bought when need arises. Certain aspects which need to be looked into before buying a laptop for college are discussed below.

Hard Drive
Storing music and movies is what takes up most of the space on a student's hard drive. But buying laptops with a higher hard disk capacity and thereby spending more money is useless, as a portable external hard drive is always a cheaper option. A 320GB hard drive is a good option, considering it has enough space for storing necessary data and is not very expensive too.

Processor
The laptop processor goes a long way in determining the speed of operations on it. It is better not to compromise on this aspect and go for the most trusted brand in the market. The basic processors are not highly expensive and should be chosen over more advanced and costly ones.

Memory
Apart from the processor, the other crucial determinant of the operating speed on the laptop is the memory. A 2GB RAM (Random Access Memory) card is advisable against one's with more capacity, as this should be more than enough to perform all important tasks required by a college student quickly.

Size
Choosing the right size can be a little tricky. This is because a college student would ideally prefer to have a lightweight and slim laptop for convenience in carrying it around in college. But these are precisely the ones, which are more expensive compared to the big ones. Screen size is another point of consideration, though a 14" or a 15" screen should be sufficient. Instead of spending more on buying a stylish looking laptop, get something which doesn't burn a huge hole in the pocket. A stylish looking sleek laptop can easily be bought later on in life.

Operating System
Different laptops in the market come with different operating systems. The various choices available are- Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux, and Macintosh. Check for software compatibility and consult senior college students or the faculty on the operating system, which suits best to the course content.

Networking for Students
Internet is a great storehouse of information and can be used for research purpose. Laptops for college students need to be Internet compatible and well fortified with a reliable anti-virus software. Hardware enabling Wi-Fi connectivity is a must.

Battery-Life
For a college student, this aspect holds most importance. A good laptop battery life is surely an asset, as it can be used for longer duration without charging. Students may not always be able to charge their laptops frequently and ones with longer-lasting batteries are therefore preferred.

P.S. ~ Wait! Before you go hopping to the nearest dealer, check out with your college authorities whether the college provides it to the students. These machines come preloaded with the software useful for students and most of the time, they are free of cost. After the student graduates, he doesn't have to give it back to the college, but rather, is allowed to keep it.

Gaming Laptops

Tremendous advancement in graphics used for rendering computer games along with networking innovations which allow multi-player games, has given rise to a new species. The gamers. These gamers are addicts (to say the least), when it comes to playing games and therefore, constantly require to be in touch with games they expertise in. If a gamer were to buy a normal laptop like the one for a college student, he would be grossly disappointed. This is because playing games on a basic laptop ain't the same experience as playing it on a more advanced one. This has led to laptop manufacturing companies producing laptops specifically for gamers. It is advisable to buy these for gaming purposes, as they have all the necessary features inbuilt for an unbelievable and unparalleled gaming experience. Certain aspects which need to be looked into before buying a laptop for gamers are discussed below.

Hard Drive
Games need a lot of space on the hard disk, and this is primarily the reason for a gaming laptop to have a huge hard drive capacity. A 750GB hard drive should be sufficient, considering there may be other things which need to be stored on the laptop.

Processor
The fastest and the most powerful processor is recommended as games have a host of graphics which need to run. This is why it is better to get the fastest possible laptop processor installed to play high-end games without any problems.

RAM
To keep it simple and devoid of technicalities, more the RAM, the better. A 4GB RAM should be the minimum for a gaming laptop to perform to its potential. Certain games require a higher RAM to run, so it is better to check and confirm (Bigger the faster).

Additional Cards
For a gaming laptop, there are few additional cards which need to be attached to its motherboard for an optimum performance. Sound cards, video cards and graphic cards that are tailor-made for gaming purposes will always enhance the gaming experience. A few motherboards have inbuilt cards, but these are not adequate and hence, require additional cards anyhow.

Screen Size
For a gamer, a large laptop screen is must. A 17" is recommended, but it is inconvenient to carry around. Playing good games on a smaller screen spoils the fun to a certain extent and therefore, it is better to make adjustments in the convenience factor than the size element.

Networking
Gamers want their laptops to be network compatible to enable them to play competitive games whenever they wish to. Provisions for LAN cables, network cables, USB attachments and Wi-Fi connectivity, along with few other networking options need to be looked at when buying a laptop for gaming purposes.

Laptop for a Graphic Designer

Requirements for a graphic designer are more or less similar to what a gamer will be looking for in a laptop. As a gamer has graphically advanced games to play on the laptop, a graphic designer is the one who creates such superior graphics. A graphic designer has to constantly work with software which require high memory and visual features. Creations by the graphic designer are often heavy in size and therefore a large hard disk (750GB) is recommended. The software also take some space. RAM is most important to ensure decent and uninterrupted performance while working on the laptop. Minimum 4GB RAM is advisable.

The various graphic, sound and video enhancement cards, used by gamers, are also necessary to a graphic designer's work. Screen size needs to be at least 15", as bigger laptops can be tough to carry around at times. Processor should be the fastest and the best. Apart from this, a good battery-life, DVD compatible drive and an operating system supporting all necessary software is a must.

Remember to buy a laptop which suits the requirements perfectly. No point in overspending on unnecessary features. A lot of popular brands manufacture products specific to its use. Look for these. A highly competitive market ensures no dearth of options for buyers and therefore, a thoughtful choice needs to be made.
 

By Suketu Mehta
Last Updated: 1/2/2012
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/what-to-look-for-in-a-laptop.html

Brain Tumor Symptoms and How They Lead to Brain Cancer Diagnosis

There are a lot of possible brain tumors symptoms, and most of them can also be found in people who do not have this ailment. Thus, some people tend to dismiss the signs they experience without knowing that they can lead to a cancer diagnosis. Knowing the common symptoms of brain cancer can help by alerting patients who experience these so that they would undergo a brain scan to determine whether a cancer is present.
Brain Tumors Symptoms
Headaches. The most common symptom is a persistent headache. Over 46% of patients with brain cancer experience headaches, although they usually experience them differently and with no defined pattern. Headache that may be due to a tumor is usually accompanied by nausea and vomiting, and can get worse when you bend over.
Seizures. Seizures are the second most common among all brain tumors symptoms, with 33% of patients reporting a seizure prior to a diagnosis. Seizures are also linked to other diseases such as stroke or epilepsy. If a person is diagnosed with epilepsy or hypertension, seizures should still be brought to the attention of a doctor. However, if it is a person's first time to have a seizure, it is usually indicative of a new illness that he might not be aware of. One of the possible illnesses this may point to is a brain cancer. Thus, a person should get a brain scan immediately after the incident.
Vision or Hearing Problems. A person with a brain cancer will also most likely experience some problems or abnormalities in vision or hearing. Around 25% of patients experience vision problems. These problems occur when a tumor is causing an increased intracranial pressure on the areas of the brain that control hearing and vision.
Behavioral and Cognitive Abnormalities. Some changes in behavior and cognitive ability have been reported among patients with brain tumors. These include problems in short-term memory, inability to concentrate, inability to find the right words to use, and abnormal behavior such as uncharacteristic lack of patience or loss of inhibitions.
Strange Sensations. Since the brain controls much of the body, a tumor can also cause some problems with any body part. Usually, these manifest in strange sensations or a weakening feeling in the legs, arms, facial muscles, head, or hands. These symptoms have been reported in 25% of patients. However, these are also signs of a stroke. When these suddenly occur, the patient must be brought to the doctor. If a stroke is ruled out, then the patient will be advised to get a brain scan to check for tumors.
Brain tumors symptoms and diagnosis can be tricky. When doctors are faced with these, they usually consider the more common causes first before they consider brain cancer. However, some doctors tend to take too long testing different diagnoses, and this may lead to a delay in treatment. Thus, trust only a cancer specialist experienced in dealing with the symptoms.

By Seth Jiang
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7224864

Silence Is Golden - Experience a Silent Retreat

Silence is golden. Practicing silence is a powerful way to see ourselves more clearly and to observe the relationship between our inner and outer worlds with greater understanding. Time spent in intentional silence can go a long way toward revealing the architecture of our hearts and unfolding the blueprints for a life full of fulfillment and purpose.

Silent retreat has long been a potent tool for spiritual awakening amongst the various spiritual traditions of the world. In fact, when practiced sincerely, silence more easily resolves misunderstanding between people and perspectives than even the most eloquent words. What is the essence of this power that can lend itself so universally? How does the act of maintaining silence produce such obvious results that seekers of every culture, religion and society naturally gravitate toward it?
Look deeply into most any spiritual path and you will find those who embody the highest aspirations of that path. It is they who have touched upon the inconceivable Reality that our many spiritual teachings attempt to describe. It is they who act as intermediaries between the vast ocean of Divine experience and those who are trying to capture it with the cupped hands of limited awareness.
Silence has long been woven into the self-expression of these beings. Usually, silence has infused the early spiritual strivings of theses awakened ones, forming a fertile ground from which their realizations could flower. Sometimes silence is the very language that they use, to profoundly remind us that the pearls of spiritual realization are found deep beneath the churning waves of intellect and thought. Or, perhaps, silence becomes their prescription to a seeker, to help them to let go of the dramas that they have become all too identified with.
Above all, those who are settled in the Divine reality express silence in the same way that fire expresses heat, by natural fulfillment. Silence is the natural state of one whose heart is absorbed in a consciousness that is too full of bliss to allow for the push and pull of thought.
On the surface, it is easy to see how the practice of silence helps us to disengage from the preoccupations of the ego mind and open up space to concentrate on our internal world. When we are left without the constant stimulations of work, relationship and recreation examining what remains becomes easier.
Let's take a look deep beneath the surface of the circumstances that have carried any given seeker into silent retreat. Deeper still than the various spiritual disciplines that they practice when they get there lies a universal melting point.
The ancient science of yoga, and the yogis who have mastered it, explain that stress, loneliness, anxiety, confusion and suffering of all kinds arise when the pure consciousness of our true nature becomes disturbed by the ripples of desire and attachment. The two sides of the coin of desire are craving that which brings pleasure and aversion to that which brings pain. The true nature of consciousness, on the other hand, is complete, lacking nothing and fulfilled by the bliss of its own being, content to witness the ever-changing flow of life without trying to cling, control or change it.
Just as the moon reflected in a still pool of water becomes unrecognizable when the water is rippled, just so does our experience of pure consciousness become distorted when its surface begins to fluctuate wildly from our emotional responses to the world around us.
Then, like the moon in our analogy, the natural state of our consciousness is no longer perceptible. We are left with ever-changing, disconnected reflections of that pure consciousness, cut off from its self-sufficient bliss.
The result is a dependence upon this world perceived through the senses to make us happy and fulfilled. This is the core of our confusion and the essence of our suffering. Our intellects and emotions become so identified with the world of form and sensation that we suffer when faced with the cruel truth that nothing that we experience through the senses, in and of itself, can give deep and lasting fulfillment.
Any experience or sensation eventually gets old, and if it hasn't yet, we worry about either trying to get more of it or about losing it once we have it.
Every spiritual path, in one way or another, is attempting to neutralize the alternating waves of craving and aversion in consciousness to once again behold the one true nature of being that is obscured by the many unique, dysfunctional ones that we have adopted as ourselves.
So, the cycle that most of us find ourselves in involves identifying with this ever-changing world of people and places, colors and sounds, successes and failures while continually developing a binding relationship with it. We want one thing and don't want the other. We maneuver one way to get what we want and maneuver another way to avoid what we don't want. We like this and dislike that. The entire fabric of our lives can be reduced down to these threads with a little honest self-reflection.
The tools and methods to break this cycle are many and meditation is the most central. Silent retreat pushes us into the early stages of the same process that leads to deep meditation and herein lies the beauty and power of silence. For many, the deepest regions of meditation are inaccessible. Time, restlessness, body troubles and responsibilities all seem to stack up against a substantive effort to meditate deeply and regularly.
The process that both silent retreat and meditation (in a more condensed way) set into motion is that of breaking contact with the senses. The ripples in our consciousness, as discussed, are being fed by a continuous stream of incoming sensory data that we react to repeatedly until thought patterns and emotional habits are hardened into the false personas that we identify with.
In deep meditation we learn to withdraw our energy and attention from the sense organs and let our consciousness just settle down for awhile, without being lashed into waves by the sensations that we have attached ourselves to. This is why meditation is such an essential renewal, it is cutting straight to the root of the problem... of every problem.
Silent retreat echoes the same process. The isolation from stimuli literally begins to turn our nervous system inwards. We have no choice but to seek our fulfillment from something other than sensual experiences, a movement that will naturally carry us back toward the true nature of consciousness. The skill level required to switch off the sense organs through yoga techniques is high and rare, silence is free and available to anyone.
In a short while, which sometimes includes an intense internal struggle, the level of satisfaction, enjoyment and even bliss that can be experienced by the most simple of activities can be mind-blowing. This is the result of reawakening to the truth that fulfillment, peace and happiness do not come from circumstance and sensation. Fulfillment, peace and happiness filter through circumstance and sensation from their source in pure consciousness.
I have watched, again and again, sincere people without a strong meditation practice enter into silent retreat to experience a profound, vibratory detox and walk out the other side significantly more free, more connected to Spirit and more themselves than when they walked in.

By Hemant M Sehgal
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7662505

Group Problem Solving Activities for Adults

Problem solving is one of the most basic skills to learn, be it in the professional or personal context. In the following article, we will list out some of the problem solving activities that you can adopt and hone this skill thus.

The fact is that any situation, function, activity (and whatever other context you can think of) will have the emerging of problems at one point or the other in its course. Nothing can function smoothly from beginning to end. In that way, problems are a natural part of life, no matter what context they are placed under. The most effective thing to do therefore, is to develop the skills of problem solving. An innate understanding of how to tackle any problem head on will give one the confidence that no matter what situation they find themselves in, they have the capacity to come out of the same.

Learning the varied skills of problem solving especially helps in the professional world because one is required to work in a group for the sake of a bigger goal. While there are several ways in which problem-solving tactics can be learned, in this article we will focus on some of the most effective group problem-solving activities for adults.

Problem Solving Group Games

Why group games? For the simple reason that there is nothing quite as effective as games, to get one to learn the basics of problem solving. When you put it in the form of games, it takes the pressure off 'learning' something. You enjoy playing it instead and learn in the process. It's as simple as that.

Blind Man's Web

This game requires a lot of concentration, the ability to instruct correctly and to not crumble under pressure. Divide the group into teams of equal members. Provide them with a ball of wool that they have to use to create a web. Ask the teams to make the web in the designated area provided for them, without using any tapes or the like. Once the teams are done creating their individual webs, switch the teams into a different web so that the difficulty level increases. Blindfold one member of the team and let him at the web, while his team members have to give him instructions on how to go about solving the web and retrieving the line of wool as is. Give them a calculated amount of time for solving this one. The team that manages to solve the web first, wins.

The No-Crack Egg

Divide the group into teams of equal numbers. Provide each of these teams with materials like straws, newspapers, cello tape, string, cardboard material and 1 raw egg. The objective of the game is to prepare an egg cover using the items provided, such that when the egg is thrown from a height of 15 feet, it should not crack.

Let's Round Up

Divide the group into teams with equal members. Ask each team to stand in a circle. Now ask them to extend their right hand and grab hold of the right hand of another member in the team. Once everyone has done that, ask them to do the same with their left hand. When the group is all tied up like so, give them a time of 10-15 minutes in which they have to free themselves and form a circle again. The only condition? They can't let go off their hands while they are doing that. A person needs to keep a watch on everyone while they are doing the exercise. If anyone's hand slips out, the team is disqualified. The team that manages to free themselves and form a circle first, wins.

List of To-Dos

A take on the scavenger hunt game, this one provides for a whole lot of entertainment while bringing the skills of problem solving into the picture. The group is divided into teams and they are provided a list of to-do activities that they have to solve to get to the big prize. These activities are a mix of both - simple and tough. List activities like solving a puzzle, writing a poem on a particular theme, physical activities like retrieving a packet from the company lobby, drinking 5 glasses of milk, etc. This activity requires for continued levels of motivation to last throughout the course of the exercise. The team that manages to stay motivated and work through the tension and adrenaline rush to complete all the activities, wins.

Situational Skit

Write down a couple of situations that deal with everyday events. It could be any simple situation like dealing with an incompetent salesperson or dealing with an irate customer over the phone - anything that is challenging. Write in as many characters in the situation as possible. Divide the people in groups and then ask each group to pick out chits. Each group is given a calculated time to prepare a skit based on the situation. A panel of judges will judge the best act. This activity requires tremendous planning skills and the ability to handle a stressful situation.

Balloon Relay

The group is divided into teams of equal members. Each team is provided with a number of deflated balloons, water, water guns and an empty bucket. The objective of the game is that some members fill the balloons with water and then throw it over to their team members (who are standing at a calculated distance from them). They have to catch the balloons and put it in the bucket. It might seem to be a very simple game, but there will be that time until the team learns just how much water to fill in the balloon, how to throw it and the best technique to catch it so that the balloon doesn't burst. The team that manages to learn and follow this will have less bursting of balloons and a higher chance of winning.

Duplicating Blocks

This is a simple problem-solving activity and one that most of us have played in our childhood. Divide the group into teams and provide them with building blocks and a model that they have to duplicate in a given time frame. The team that manages to do that first, wins. Keep the difficulty level high for more effect. The key is to be able to work with so many people giving so many instructions all together.

Group problem-solving activities can be of several kinds, and depending on the group that you're dealing with, you can choose some that will suit the group in question in the best possible manner. Leaving the fun quotient aside, these games truly help develop the required skills for problem solving.
 

By Rujuta Borkar
Last Updated: 11/6/2012
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/group-problem-solving-activities-for-adults.html

Gaining Control of Your Emotions Before they Control You

So many times we end up ruining a perfect situation, simply because we find it difficult to control our emotions. This article will help you out by giving you some tricks and tips to gain better control of your emotions. Keep reading...

Ruined a perfect date by throwing a tantrum and hurling abuses, because your guy glanced at the woman on the next table? Walked away from a misunderstanding with your friend, because you were too pissed to work it out? Gave up on your dreams and aims because you were dejected when a few of them didn't materialize? Why is it so, that we let the way we feel, so overpower and overwhelm us, that instead of fighting against the feeling - only if it is hampering you in some way - we give in to it and allow it to control us totally? So much so, that when one tiny, losing part of your brain is screaming at you that it was just a casual glance, a silly misunderstanding, that your efforts were not enough/ sometimes shit happens, etc., the more dominant part of your brain is giving voice to all the hurtful, angry, and dejected thoughts that are crowding out the rational ones, by verbalizing them? What to do when this happens? How to gain control of your emotions before they dictate your thoughts and actions? Here are a few tips to help you out.

Ways to Gain Control of Your Emotions

Deep Breathing/ Meditation
As clichéd as it may sound, deep breathing helps. I don't know whether you've noticed, but breathing out slowly and deeply is helpful in delaying and toning down the intensity of the instantaneous anger/ jealously or tears, that threaten to overwhelm us at times. This is a quick solution, and if breathing a couple of times doesn't help, then breathe a couple of times more, till you feel that you are in control of the emotion and not likely to get overpowered by it. In the long run, meditation will help in calming you down if you are short tempered, and give you more stability if you are an emotional see-saw. That's coming from experience.

Negativity inside your mind will reflect in your health, and if you tend to let it fester inside, it will gradually eat you up. It is up to us whether to treat emotions as blocks or lessons. The sooner we learn to take them as lessons, the sooner we will learn how to control and manage them.

Think, BEFORE Speaking
I know that is difficult, oh yes I do. I've myself felt like scarring people with my acerbic tongue when I've been angry or hurt. But luckily, I've always managed to hold back, because somehow, thankfully, I've realized that words once hurled at someone, can never be taken back, and no amount of sorry's or I didn't mean it, it was just said in anger are going to take away the hurt that you've caused the other person. In fact, if this is a regular occurrence, then you are lucky indeed if the person is still around. What will be more effective is, if you gain control of your emotions.

So force yourself to stop, the moment you feel that jet of words traveling up from your gut to shoot right out of your mouth. Just clamp down on your mouth. Swallow all those words right back, or say them in your head over and over again, till the desire to spit it out at the other person reduces, and finally the fight/ anger/ hurt just drains out of you. Then think, do you want to say it just to hurt the other person, just because you want to vent, or does it really need to be said? And if after thinking calmly for a few minutes/ hours, if you still think it needs to be said, do it in a very non-accusatory way.

Provide an Outlet
When you keep bottling up your emotions, you are slow-poisoning yourself. Bad emotions are toxic for you, and good ones will make you float in the clouds, and neither is good if it is not in moderation. You are just like a balloon/ bucket. You can keep on accumulating the bad emotions till the point you are full, and once that happens, even the slightest trigger can bring forth a torrent of emotions that will engulf you with its sheer power and intensity. It's a very helpless feeling, and if at any point during your outburst, you realize that you are giving much more than is merited by the reason, you are unable to stop yourself. It's the body's natural mechanism to empty all the garbage, so that there is place for better feelings. Much like the balloon would burst at some point if you kept blowing air in it, and the bucket would overflow if you kept adding water to it.

You must provide an outlet for all the nasty things that have piled up inside you, so that the next time you are angry, or experiencing some powerful emotion, you have place to store it, and think about it, and eventually throw it out. You have to empty the garbage can which is inside your body regularly, if you want to live an emotionally healthy life. Scream from the top of a building, scream into a bucket full of water, tear paper, go running, or play a sport, any physical activity that will channelize your energy effectively. Do something that will drain you in a good way, and help you gain control of your emotions, without hurting others.

Analyze the Consequences
If you are at a social event and get really agitated over something trivial, and feel like blowing your lid, think about the consequences of giving in to the urge. Be it your family or work, you have to maintain healthy and respectful relationships to be happy and content. Venting unnecessarily may put these relationships in jeopardy, causing you unnecessary stress. Letting too much guilt consume you for forgetting to do small things, or making silly mistakes, will eat you away slowly, and you will fade away till you are a shadow of your earlier vibrant self.

Spoiled relations in the work place will be the cause of undue stress and tension. And spoiled relations in your home will make you feel isolated and lonely, and like you have no one to turn to, or no shoulder to cry on. Neither of the above scenarios are good. You need your friends/ colleagues/ family, and it is not done if you hurt them wrongly.

As we all know, moderation is the key. Emotions are there to help us feel good about things, to keep a moral check on ourselves - for what would have been the state of affairs if no one had a conscience or guilt? - when we think we are doing wrong things, to help us understand and help others, etc. They should be filtered so that they work to our advantage, not so that we are slaves to them. And these tips are only to gain control of your emotions, when it is inappropriate to express them. Controlling emotions is very different from suppressing or repressing them. Controlling emotions is usually a good thing, unless overdone, while suppressing/ repressing emotions is never a good idea. Try dealing with negative emotions positively, and you will find yourself moving to a better level of emotional contentment. You won't have to worry about blowing your lid at the slightest excuse, and your friends, colleagues and family will definitely want you around, more than ever.
 

 

By Gauri Huddar
Last Updated: 12/29/2011
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/gaining-control-of-your-emotions-before-they-control-you.html