Virtual museum visits

British Museum, London

This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies. You can also find hundreds of artifacts on the museum’s virtual tour.

Guggenheim Museum, New York

Google’s Street View feature lets visitors tour the Guggenheim’s famous spiral staircase without ever leaving home. From there, you can discover incredible works of art from the Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary eras.

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

This famous American art museum features two online exhibits through Google. The first is an exhibit of American fashion from 1740 to 1895, including many renderings of clothes from the colonial and Revolutionary eras. The second is a collection of works from Dutch Baroque painter Johannes Vermeer.

Musée d’Orsay, Paris

You can virtually walk through this popular gallery that houses dozens of famous works from French artists who worked and lived between 1848 and 1914. Get a peek at artworks from Monet, Cézanne, and Gauguin, among others.

National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul

One of Korea’s popular museums can be accessed from anywhere around the world. Google’s virtual tour takes you through six floors of Contemporary art from Korea and all over the globe.

Pergamon Museum, Berlin

As one of Germany’s largest museums, Pergamon has a lot to offer – even if you can’t physically be there. This historical museum is home to plenty of ancient artifacts including the Ishtar Gate of Babylon and, of course, the Pergamon Altar.

Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Explore the masterworks from the Dutch Golden Age, including works from Vermeer and Rembrandt. Google offers a Street View tour of this iconic museum, so you can feel as if you’re actually wandering its halls.

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Anyone who is a fan of this tragic, ingenious painter can see his works up close (or, almost up close) by virtually visiting this museum – the largest collection of artworks by Vincent van Gogh, including over 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and over 750 personal letters.

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

European artworks from as far back as the 8th Century can be found in this California art museum. Take a Street View tour to discover a huge collection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, manuscripts, and photographs.

Uffizi Gallery, Florence

This less well-known gallery houses the art collection of one of Florence, Italy’s most famous families, the de'Medicis. The building was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 specifically for Cosimo I de'Medici, but anyone can wander its halls from anywhere in the world.

MASP, São Paulo

The Museu de Arte de São Paulo is a non-profit and Brazil’s first modern museum. Artworks placed on clear perspex frames make it seem like the artwork is hovering in midair. Take a virtual tour to experience the wondrous display for yourself.

National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City

Built in 1964, this museum is dedicated to the archaeology and history of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic heritage. There are 23 exhibit rooms filled with ancient artifacts, including some from the Mayan civilization.

Sadly, not all popular art museums and galleries could be included on Google Arts & Culture’s collection, but some museums are taking it upon themselves to offer online visits. According to Fast Company, the Louvre also offers virtual tours on its website.

To see more of Google Arts & Culture’s collection of museums, visit the collection’s website. There are thousands of museum Street Views on Google as well. Google Arts & Culture also has an online experience for exploring famous historic and cultural heritage sites.

Deskercises

Setting a daily routine and good habits

Being at home all week is very new to some of us. Hopefully by now you have organised your workspace to make it ergonomic, in line with Health and Safety guidance. Following that, it’s important to get into a routine and rhythm.

• Start your day as if you were going into the office – it helps you establish a morning routine and become more mentally ready for the workday
• Remember to take breaks – it can be easy to become absorbed in what you’re doing, but ensure you take regular breaks, stand up, stretch, make a drink, check on your pets – anything to step away from your workspace. You should also enjoy your lunch away from your workstation
• Make a list and plan your daily work activities – just as it does in the office, this will help you stay on track, remain focused and help you maintain momentum
• Stop working – you can’t ‘leave’ work when you’re working from home, so ensure that you wrap up and stop for the day. If you’re working in a communal space such as at the dining table, you may like to pack up your workstation at the end of the day or week to create a physical distance from work and allow yourself to ‘switch off’

You may also experience a distinct lack of physical activity, you’re no longer walking to the station or office, doing the school run and other daily activities that add to your step count, so make sure you step away from your chair for some outdoor or indoor exercise (in line with local guidance).

• Couch to 5k programme – a light jog or gentle run can help clear your head, increase endorphins and improve your mood. If you’re new to jogging, download this app and get started. You can also use this app indoors on a treadmill, elliptical or similar machine
• Yoga – if you feel a bit sore after a day at your desk, yoga can be a great way to stretch out your muscles and recalibrate your posture. Yoga with Adriene covers many classes of various abilities, you could start with the 30 days of Yoga series
• Cardio – if you prefer more high-energy cardio, find a variety of cardio, dance and pilates workouts on this YouTube channel. Joe Wicks 'The Body Coach' also has many home workouts you can follow for various abilities including a more gentle series for seniors and a daily workout for children

Microwave bread recipe

Ingredients (serves 1)

• 40g self raising flour
• 1 egg white
• 25g margarine
• Squeeze of lemon juice
• 1/3 tsp sugar
• 1/3 tsp baking powder
• If you like to add poppy seed pls add when you mix

Method

• Get a large mug / rectangle bowl and whisk the egg until foamy
• Add baking powder and lemon juice then mix
• Add all of the other ingredients to the mug / rectangle bowl and mix until smooth and sticky
• Microwave for 90 seconds
• Slice and toast
• Enjoy :)

Chicken Talk

A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and talking with her Mother.

As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.

"Don't forget your girlfriends," she advised, swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. "They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you'll have, you are still going to need girlfriends.

Remember to go places with them now and then; do things with them. And remember that "girlfriends" are not only your friends, but your sisters, your daughters, and other relatives. You'll need other women. Women always do."

'What a funny piece of advice,' the young woman thought. 'Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! -- a grownup. Surely my husband and the family we'll start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!'

But she listened to her Mother; she kept contact with her girlfriends and made more each year.

As the years tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about.

As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, girlfriends are the mainstays of her life.

After many years living in this world, here is what I've learned:

Times passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Love waxes and wanes.
Hearts break.
Careers end.
Jobs come and go.
Colleagues forget favours.

Men don't call when they say they will.

BUT girlfriends are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley, and you have to walk it for yourself, your girlfriends will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.

Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you. Or come in and carry you out. My mother, sister, sister-in-law, "sisters," extended family, and friends bless my life!

When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows that lay ahead.Nor did we know how much we would need each other. Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on to all the fabulous women in your life..  

Reach out to your school and college friends say hello it may be many years but they will respond to you

Your girlfriends.

The harder you work, the luckier you get.

                               Don’t be confused by luck, just because you don’t see all the effort, actions and failures prior.

People the most committed to success are the ‘luckiest’.

Harland Sanders failed 1009 times before his now famous Kentucky Fried Chicken was accepted by even one restaurant... at age 65.

Sylvester Stallone has to sell his dog  for $50 to afford heat + food for his survival, before the script for Rocky was bought... and grossed $120M. 

Keep at it. Commit to success. Finish the week strong. 

#mindset #success #change #leadership

Learn to heal yourself.

Sometimes we trick ourselves. If we feel unhappy, troubled, or scared, we race toward what we think will make us feel better. In desperation, in fear, we grasp for something, anything to stop our pain. Finding that job. Making more money. Getting married. Having a relationship. If I get that one thing I need, then I’ll be happy. Then my pain will stop.

Sometimes it’s true that finding the solution to a problem improves the quality of our lives. Having enough money enables us to fix the furnace when it breaks. Having people in our lives we love and who love us can be an important part of our happiness. Having work to do that we enjoy and that we feel is worthwhile helps us feel good about ourselves.

But when we’re in pain—no matter what’s causing it—the way to heal that pain doesn’t come from outside of ourselves. External circumstances don’t make internal emotions disappear. Even if we get what we think we want, the painful emotion we haven’t had the strength or courage to face will still be there.

The way to heal pain, the only way, is to feel and release it. Your pain is your pain. Your fear, desperation, and resentments are yours, too. All these emotions belong to you. Feel them, learn from them, and let them go.

Walk courageously each step of the

path on the journey to the heart. Enjoy

when the universe sends you its gifts—

a lover, some money, a good job. But know

the ultimate key to happiness lies not in

external things, but within you. Feel all

your feelings. Learn to heal yourself.

How to sleep better ?

Get some morning light: You should get as much morning natural light as possible (and avoid light around dusk). This has been shown to move your body clock to an earlier time, so you feel sleepier earlier — and as a result, get longer sleep. Ideally, you need 30 to 60 minutes of natural light after sunrise and before sunset: this doesn't mean getting up at dawn but, the later in the day, the less effective light is in setting the body clock.

Eat IN THE MORNING AND MIDDLE OF THE DAY: Our digestive processes slow down towards bedtime, so if the major meal of the day is immediately prior to bed, it can lead to problems such as excessive stomach acid production — and a greater risk of acid reflux. The discomfort will disrupt sleep.

Don't exercise too late: Exercise helps some people sleep, particularly if it's outside in the light in the morning. But exercise close to bedtime may be a problem for some, as it increases your core body temperature, and falling asleep involves a small drop in body temperature.

Be careful with your last coffee/tea: Caffeine in tea (black and green), coffee and chocolate makes us feel more 'alert' by blocking the brain's receptors for adenosine, the chemical that tells the brain we are tired. Caffeine typically peaks in the blood about 15 to 45 minutes after consumption.
However, how we respond to it varies, depending on our weight, medication, liver health, caffeine-drinking history and, as always, our genes.
In most healthy adults, significant levels of caffeine remain in the circulation for five to six hours afterwards.

Dim the house lights: As well as setting our body clock rhythms to the 24-hour day, light can have a direct alerting effect upon the brain, which will then delay sleep. So you need to reduce your light exposure at least 30 minutes prior to bedtime.

Don't argue and write a list: Try not to discuss stressful topics immediately before bed. This can be difficult because this may be the only time for many couples to talk about important matters — but it is worth knowing that the release of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline will increase alertness and delay sleep.

A good mattress, pillows and bedding make sense. But the following may also help...
Use ear plugs: These are obviously helpful if a partner snores, or if there is external noise. But if ear plugs don't work, then it may be time to find another place to sleep.

Keep it regular: Maintaining a routine of getting up and going to bed at the same time has been shown to be important for sleep. Such a schedule reinforces the exposure to light which acts to set your body clock and so stabilises the sleep and wake cycle.

How do you make the simple changes that can really impact your daily health?

The place where good health begins is your kitchen.

The utensils that you use to cook, the wrapping that you store your food in and the method you use to reheat food can all affect your micro-nutrient status, especially that of Iron, Calcium, Zinc and even vitamins like B12, folic acid, etc. Micro-nutrient deficiencies can lead to imbalances in hormones, irritability, constipation, etc, all of which can make weight loss an elusive dream. So, if you want sustainable health and weight loss, this is where it all begins.

In fact, if you look around, you will notice that waists were slimmer when our kitchens were larger. Now we have homes with bathrooms larger than kitchens, because intuitively the real estate market knows that in the world of micro-nutrient deficiency, people are spending more time in their toilets than in their kitchens.

So here’s me trying to compress the big idea of sustainable health into three small but significant kitchen rules for a healthier and happier you.

1. Reduce plastic

2. Bring back the iron kadhai

3. Heat, don’t microwave

Reduce plastic

Plastic is a major pollutant not just for our environment but also for the hormonal balance in our body. It releases estrogenic chemicals in our body and disturbs the ratio between our male and female hormones. This is especially important if you have PCOD, adult acne or are a young girl at puberty.

Some quick places where you can start:

1. Use cloth bag instead of plastic bags to shop for vegetables and fruits. Avoid buying veggies and fruits that come individually packed in plastic or thermocol.

2. No plastic tiffin boxes, especially for hot food, and no plastic cutlery. Use your hands. Also, no cling films for fruits and dabbas. France by the way is the first country to ban plastic cutlery. Use steel dabbas and malmal cloth for wrapping rotis, etc.

3. Use steel or copper water bottles for drinking water when travelling and not plastic bottles (including mineral water bottles).

Bring back the iron pan /skillet

The iron pan is an important and undervalued source of iron in your diet.

Much of our lack of energy and enthusiasm, as well as anger, stems from low haemoglobin concentration. Micronutrient deficiencies don’t always need an expensive supplement, they just need an inexpensive change in the kitchen environment. Women who struggle with too much bleeding during periods or the complete lack of it are often prescribed iron tablets. But a lot of them are unable to take the supplement due to the digestion problems it causes. A simple change by cooking in an iron pan solves this problem.

1. Say goodbye to your Teflon-coated non-stick pan that have made you believe that glory lies in avoiding fat (you know now that it doesn’t).

2. Cook your stir fry  in an iron pan. Don’t forget to add ghee or oil and spices and I bet you will never fall short of iron ever again.

3. Also, let go of the aluminium vessels and foil too. You can use stainless steel or brass. Exposure to aluminium lowers the levels of zinc, an important mineral for our bodies, especially for brain health and diabetes prevention.

Heat, don’t microwave

First of all, if you are microwaving, it means you are just overcooking and then overeating, followed by overstoring and again overeating. So stop this vicious cycle and if you have to heat food, simply heat it slowly on a flame. Microwaving is harmful for the micronutrients in the food as it heats them quickly at extremely high temperatures at which their bonds break and they are oxidised, becoming toxic for your body.

If for some reason you have to reheat your food often, then do this: Take out the portion you want to eat in a small vessel and then slow-heat it on your gas stove. It may take a minute or two more than microwaving, but the nutrients and taste it retains is well worth the trouble.If you are unable to heat on a regular stove and microwaving is the only option, use a ceramic or glass bowl and avoid plastic. Every step in the right direction counts.

Kashmir Tea

Kashmiri Kahwa or Kehwa Chai or Kashmiri Tea is a traditional Kashmiri tea flavoured with cardamom and infused with cloves, cinnamon and saffron. It was traditionally prepared in a brass kettle known as samovar. It is basically green tea with flavours of spices

Kahwa tea drink is generally served with a sprinkling of chopped dry fruits like almonds, cherry pistachios or cashew nuts, almonds being the most popular.

It is usually served after meals in any Kashmiri household as it aids in digestion and burns the fat.

It reduces the risk of heart disease by keeping the deposition of cholesterol in check.

Saffron used in kahwa is rich in vitamin B12 and aids in immunity building and keeping the body’s defence mechanism in check.

Since it is rich in anti oxidants, it is a great stress buster and it also helps to improve metabolism. It is a great remedy for cold and cough and improves skin health.

The only thing to keep in mind while making Kahwa is that you should not add leaves while the heat is on.

How to prepare Kahwa?

Traditionally, kahwah is prepared in a copper kettle known as a samovar. A samovar consists of a “fire-container” running as a central cavity, in which live coals are placed keeping the tea perpetually hot. Around the fire-container there is a space for water to boil and the tealeaves and other ingredients are mixed with the water. Kahwah may also be made in normal pans and vessels, as modern day urban living may not always permit the use of elaborate samovars” – Wikipedia

Boil the water with spices and saffron and then switch off the heat. Let the water rest for a few seconds and then add the tea leaves. It helps to retain the nutritions in the tea intact and do not hamper with the taste.

You can get tea leaves from Amazon UK  

Why do we light candles or lamps when we pray ?

Candle burning goes as far back as the ancient Egyptians. They were not used by the Egyptians just for light, they also used them in forms of prayer and ritual. From ancient times all the way up to the present time candles are widely used in the practice of prayer and ritual. When you go into a church there are candles burning on the alter and it is certainly not because the priest needs some light. We see candles at weddings when they are lit to ensure a long happy marriage. They are even burned at funerals in honor of the dead. Candles have a special energy and power to them, a power that many are not aware of.

Candles are good for good for mindful relaxation, too, like when you intend to release negative energy, such as anxiety and stress. Also, candles are utilized during séances, wherein the psychic medium and the participants gather their collective energies, with the intention of communicating with the spirits of the departed. Many psychics also light candles when making psychic predictions, and while conducting a reading.

Furthermore, candles have a way of changing the ambience in a room, making it more subdued and calm. This sense of calmness that candles radiate allows you to become more sensitive to your psychic senses, and become more connected with the universe.

To use a candle to manifest your intentions, you can do the following:

• Select a candle that you feel most comfortable with. Listen to your intuitive senses when choosing the colour, shape, size, and scent.

Always use a new candle, because those that have already been lit have embedded energies in them from when they were previously used.

• Go to a quiet room with minimal wind or draft.

• Light your candle and close your eyes.

• Meditate. Relax your mind and body, and when your breathing becomes relaxed, express your intention. Visualize your desire in your mind, and mentally affirm it is what you want.

• Remember that when you state your desire, you need not plead or beg.

• Believe, claim, and thank the universe. Because you know without a doubt that what you intend will come to pass, it's only fitting that you send out your appreciation to the universe as well.

• Now, release your intention. You can do this by either blowing out the flame, or by allowing the candle to burn out on its own. Once you release your desire, stop thinking about it. The universe will handle the details. Know with confidence that it's yours, leaving the details up to the Universe

• Then bring your awareness back into the room.

Candles are a great psychic tool to use for focusing and releasing your power of intention.

A dangerous friendship of Sugar and Human Brain

Did you ever wonder why people love sweets so much and why they cannot stop eating the tempting treats once they get their hands on some? Well, it all started with our ancestors and chemicals in our brains.

According to an article published by Live Science, the human brain is actually hardwired to crave sugary foods. Ancient people were scavengers, and glucose-rich food served as a good source of energy. However, to help mankind survive, our brains evolved. See, back then things that tasted bad were dangerous as they might have been poisonous, and our ancestors did not have any other way to determine whether the food they were about to eat was dangerous or not. So, our brain started to flagged sweet things as good food, leading us to want more once we eat them.

When we eat sweet foods, the brain's reward system – called the mesolimbic dopamine system – activates. Dopamine is a brain chemical released by neurons and can signal that an event was positive. Hence, if you decide just to have a taste of the cheesecake you were offered, it is highly likely to you will end up wanting more than just a bite.

However, sugar not only negatively affects our brain but our bodies as well. Research shows that rats on high-sugar diets were less able to remember whether they had previously seen objects in specific locations. Sugar also increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, and studies have linked it to accelerated aging.


Next time you crave your favorite dessert, keep in mind: it is actually your brain craving it, not your stomach!

Happy X'mas 
2019

Source :http://theconversation.com/your-brain-on-sugar-what-the-science-actually-says-126581

Things to thoughts for 2020

Kathakali

1. Never resign before getting an offer.

2. Never disclose offer till the last day.

3. Leave the company on good notes.

4. Don't ask more than your capabilities.

5. Get your basics right, before allying with new technologies.

6. Smell the intention of your manager and identify whether he is giving you false or genuine commitments.

7. Give your 100% to the organization and expect the same in return.

8. Love your job and not the company, coz you never know when the company will stop loving you.

9. Learn to manage work-life balance. Always give priority to your happiness.

10. Take opportunities to travel and meet new people. 

Have your own Vision and Values and Career plan.

Eyes in Swiss Cheese

One of the most noticeable features of Swiss cheese is these famous “eyes”. For over a century, people believed that bacterial growth creates gases that make holes in the cheese. Except that’s not quite true.

During the milking process, tiny hay particles stick to buckets and stay in the milk. By controlling the number of hay particles in milk used to make cheese, the scientists could control the size and number of holes that appeared. The specks of hay cause weakness in the curd structure and act as a nucleation site for the carbon dioxide bubbles produced by the bacteria in the cheese to form. The rind is tough enough that it traps the air bubbles inside the cheese and creates eyes. The traditional milk bucket being replaced with modern technology explains the “cheese blindness epidemic”.

This is a bigger deal than you think because the US Department of Agriculture has a grading system for Swiss cheeses (defined as “cheese made by the Swiss process or by any other procedure which produces a finished cheese having the same physical and chemical properties as cheese produced by the Swiss process”, not cheese from Switzerland) based on the size of the holes. Grade A requires cheese to have “uniformly distributed well-developed round or slightly oval-shaped eyes" between 6/16 to 13/16 of an inch (1 to 1.7 cm). This rule only applies to Swiss-style cheese sold in the U.S. 

Source : https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/number-and-size-of-swiss-cheese-holes-can-be-programmed/

Benefits of fatty foods

1- Foods of plant origin do not contain cholesterol, which is only found in foods of animal origin. It is also not present in oilseeds such as walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, and peanuts.

2- Olive, sunflower, sesame, cottonseed, walnut, hazelnut, peanut, soybean, and corn take the lead in vegetable oils.

3- The increase in omega (n-3) fatty acids in the diet helps prevent coronary heart disease. These fatty acids must be taken with food. Linoleic acid (n-6) is found in sunflower oil, corn oil, soybean oil, and peanut oil. Linolenic acid (n-3) is available in green leafy vegetables, soybean oil, walnut oil, oily marine fish, and seafood. While n-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA, on the other hand, are found in aquatic products and breast milk. It is also necessary for retinal and brain development.

4- Oilseeds are rich in water-soluble group B vitamins of Thiamine (B1), Riboflavin (B2) Niacin, and Folic Acid, as well as vitamin E, one of the fat-soluble vitamins.

5- Hemicellulose is partially soluble pulp. It reduces intra-colonic pressure, increases fecal volume, and helps in regulating blood glucose and decreasing serum cholesterol. Foods with the highest content of pulp are legumes, followed by oilseeds (almonds, walnuts, peanuts), bran whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. The amount of pulp in a daily diet should be 25-30 grams.

6- Diet Pulp is the main component of dietary products in terms of creating a feeling of satiety. Hard-shelled fruits (walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds) are rich in pulp, which is necessary for the functioning of the digestive system. They soften the feces by drawing water and prevent constipation. Due to their soluble fiber content, they have positive effects on health in terms of regulating blood sugar, lowering cholesterol levels and protecting against cardiovascular diseases.

7- Vitamin E, which is present in high amounts in hard-shelled fruits, acts as a trap for free radicals in the cell membrane by antioxidant effect and prevents oxidation of unsaturated fats, which are vital for cell integrity. This protective effect, which is essential for the health of all cells, also helps to prevent many diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. These foods can be used in diet as an alternative to foods such as meat and eggs in preventing cardiovascular diseases due to their high energy content but lack of cholesterol.

8- Potassium, calcium, and magnesium are important minerals in controlling blood pressure. Due to the high potassium and magnesium but low sodium content in oilseeds, the recommended daily consumption may be efficient in controlling the blood pressure. Meanwhile, patients with hypertension should consume salt-free oilseeds