The Medal of Honor Winner Ed Freeman story You're a 19 year old kid. You're critically wounded, and dying in the jungle in the Ia Drang Valley, Vietnam, on Nov 14, 1965. Your infantry unit is outnumbered 8 - 1, and the enemy fire is so intense, from 100 or 200 yards away, that your own Infantry Commander has ordered the MediVac helicopters to stop coming in. more

Gelotology is the study of humor and laughter, and its effects on the human body. It is also the psychological and physiological study of laughter. The word is from the Greek gelos, geloto meaning laugh, laughter, laughing.

Hitting the books at any age Who is the typical student of higher learning in America? Nearly half of Americans ages 25 and older - 92 million people - take part in some form of continuing education. They may be mothers or grandfathers, white-collar professionals or soldiers. They may study online or attend college summer sessions. Some just want to learn how to paint a Maine coastal scene, but the majority are enrolled in work-related training, and many are earning degrees. higher learning

Laughter is a form of internal jogging,
 Lee S. Berk, an associate professor  of Public Health and Medicine.

Meditation boosts immunity Scientists at the University of Wisconsin tested the immunity of subjects who had received flu shots, half of whom had learned to meditate six days a week. After eight weeks, people who meditate had higher levels of flu-fighting antibodies. They were better able to deal with stress, and had increased activity in the brain that was linked to good moods. The feel-good effects lasted for up to four months after they stopped meditating. The doctors say meditating produces biological changes in the brain and body. It's free, safe, and helpful.

NEW STUDY: Meditating at the Office May Improve Your Performance
Daily meditation may improve performance at work and reduce stress, suggests a study in Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience. Subjects sat and focused on their breathing for 30 minutes a day for eight weeks.  The result: Mediators responded significantly faster than a control group to commands to push certain computer buttons, an indicator of precise focus and an ability to make quick decisions. Meditation may help control your attention and push troubling thoughts aside, making room to focus on tasks at hand, says lead author Amishi P. Jha, Ph.D.

Do you know the Preamble for your state?  Alabama 1901, Preamble We the people of the State of Alabama , invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do ordain and establish the following Constitution..  Alaska 1956, Preamble We, the people of Alaska , grateful to God and to those who founded our nation and pioneered this great land.  Arizona 1911, Preamble We, the people of the State of Arizona , grateful to Almighty God for our liberties, do ordain this Constitution... more

10 Optical Illusions in 2 minutes

Do fruit lovers eat more sweets?
A U.S. study suggests people who like sweets eat more fruit than salty-snack lovers and people who love fruit eat more sweets than vegetable lovers.

 

NASA Takes Google on Journey into Space  NASA Ames Research Center, located in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley, and Mountain View-based Google Inc. today announced plans to collaborate on a number of technology-focused research-and-development activities that will couple some of Earth’s most powerful technology resources. NASA goes Google

MOTIVATING THOUGHTS

Laugh More! It reduces stress, strengthens your immune system, improves cardiovascular health...and just plain feels good.

JOKE OF THE MONTH

Several men are in the locker room of a golf club.
A cell phone on a bench rings and a man engages the hands free speaker-function and begins to talk.
Everyone else in the room stops to listen.
MAN: "Hello."
WOMAN: "Honey, it's me. Are you at the club?"
MAN: "Yes."
WOMAN: "I am at the mall now and found this beautiful leather coat. It's only $1,000. Is it OK if I buy it?"
MAN: "Sure, go ahead if you like it that much."
WOMAN: "I also stopped by the Mercedes dealership and saw the new 2005 models. I saw one I really liked."
MAN: "How much?"
WOMAN: "$90,000."
MAN: "OK, but for that price, I want it with all the options."
WOMAN: "Great! Oh, and one more thing .....the house I wanted last year is back on the market. They're asking $950,000."
MAN: "Well, then go ahead and give them an offer of $900,000. They will probably take it. If not, we can go the extra 50 thousand. It is really a pretty good price."
WOMAN: "OK. I'll see you later!I love you so much!!"
MAN: "Bye! I love you, too."
The man hangs up. The other men in the locker room are staring at him in astonishment, mouths agape.....
Then he smiles and asks: "Anyone know who this phone belongs to?"

Patent Search uses the same technology as Book Search, which means you can scroll through pages and zoom in and out on text and illustrations. So far you are limited to viewing the original documents but the Google Blog says that saving and printing features will be coming soon.