Who is Obama?

Know about the New American President Barack Obama.

Visit the following website to know some interesting details about him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

Video games don't boost brainpower, claims study

A new study challenges claims made by previous researches that video games help boost memory power and multitasking ability.
The research team led by researchers from University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign showed that playing video games doesn't improve cognitive skills.
They found no improvement in memory skills or the ability to multitask after kids spent more than 20 hours on one of three video games.
The researchers claim that while a few hours playing an action game could improve concentration, but its not enough for other cognitive skills.
"Perhaps individuals with superior abilities are more likely to choose video gaming as an activity in the first place," New Scientist quoted Boot, as saying.

My Poem

This month's Poem in Thannambikai Magazine.
It deals with the topic, 'Qualities of Youth?'
Post your precious comments!

-Bala

PHASMOPHOBIA

Phasmophobia (or spectrophobia) is a type of specific phobia, being an abnormal and persistent fear of ghosts, spectres or phantasms. It derives from the greek words "phasma" meaining "apparition" and "phobos" meaning "fear". It is often bought about by experiences in early childhood and causes sufferers to experience panic attacks.

Causes

Phasmophobia is similar to other specific phobia in that it is the result of the unconscious mind acting a defence mechanism to try and avoid a certain situation or object and is thus classified as a type of mental health disorder. It is often bought about by a person believing they have had an encounter with a ghost, most often at an early age, but can also be caused by television and films. When bought about by the latter it is often temporary. Therefore, although the actual existence of ghosts is debated, the fear of ghosts only requires a person to believe they have had an encounter. For example, in an attempt to recall certain events pertaining to a possible encounter with a specter, a hypnotist might use hypnosis to retrieve the lost memories of the event. Research studies have found that these "hypnotically refreshed" memories typically combine fact with fiction, but would convince a patient of the realness of their encounter. There is also the psychological factor of entering a premises in which one already possess prior information that it is suspected as being haunted or is similar to other supposedly haunted places, the psychological impact of this alone can cause the anxiety bought about by phasmophobia.

Symptoms

Phasmophobia is categorized by a series of symptoms that the sufferer experiences when they think they have seen a ghost, or apparition. The suffer usually experiences intense feelings of terror or dread and are often prone to panic or have panic attacks, these symptoms in turn result in an increased or rapid heart-beat. Another common symptom, typical of a majority of specific phobia, is attempts by affected individuals to completely avoid a situation in which one may think they are prone to encountering what they perceive as a ghost.

SPRING, SUMMER, FALL, WINTER ... AND SPRING

Spring, Summer, fall, Winter... And Spring


The film which i enjoyed more.
Now im the fan of Kim Ki Duk.
His story, the way the story was directed are simply superb.
The film ore discusses about Buddhism & it's Philosophies
It's a Cyclic Story
Do watch the movie!
Now im in search of more of KimKi Duk's Filmography :-)

Bala.

Padmasambhava

According to tradition, Padmasambhava was incarnated as an 8 year old child appearing in a lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha, in the kingdom of Uddiyana, traditionally identified with the Swat Valley of present-day Pakistan. The conventional notion is that Uddiyana was located in the Swat Valley of present-day Pakistan, although some historians, including Robert E. Thurman, suggest it may have been in present-day Afghanistan. His special nature was recognized by the local king who married him to one of his daughters, Mandarava. Mandarava and Padmasambhava's other main consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, developed into realised practitioners. Many thangkas and paintings show Padmasambhava in the middle between them.

Padmasambhava's ability to memorize and comprehend esoteric texts in a single hearing established his reputation as a master above all others. Accused of the mystical killing of an evil minister, he was banished from the court and freely chose to live in a cemetery district. Transiting various heavens and hells, he developed the power to transcend the cycle of birth and death, accomplishing the so-called great transference. His fame became known to Trisong Deutson, the 38th king of Tibet (742-797), whose kingdom was beset by evil mountain deities. The king invited Padmasambhava to Tibet where he used his tantric powers to subdue the evil deities he encountered along the way, eventually receiving the Emperor's wife, identified with the dakini Yeshey Tsogyel, as a consort. This was in accordance with the tantric principle of not eliminating negative forces but instead redirecting them to fuel the journey toward spiritual awakening. In Tibet he founded the first monastery in the country Samye Gompa, initiated the first monks, and introduced the people to the practice of Tantric Buddhism.

In Bhutan he is associated with the famous Taktshang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery built on a sheer cliff wall about 500m above the floor of Paro valley. He flew there from Tibet on the back of his favorite consort, Yeshe Tsogyal, who he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he traveled to Bumthang district to subdue a powerful deity offended by a local king. Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple.

Padmasambhava also hid a number of religious treasures (termas) in lakes, caves, fields and forests of the Himalayan region to be found and interpreted by future tertons or spiritual treasure finders. According to Tibetan tradition, the Bardo Thodol, (commonly referred to as the Tibetan Book of the Dead) was among these hidden treasures, subsequently discovered by a Tibetan terton, Karma Lingpa.

Interaction with Eminent People

Director K. Hariharan














Dr. Uma Vangal







Yes!
We the student of Communication Department spent our 10th & 11th October 2008 usefully. We got some good initiatives regarding Film Making & Film Appreciation.
Inbetween us was two enriched resource persons related to Film Field.

• Mr. K. Hariharan, Film Director, National Award Recipient for his 'EZHAVATHU MANITHAN', at present the Director of LV Prasad Film & TV Academy. A highly potential man who has the thirst to bring out Good Cinema.

• Dr. Uma Vangal, She is also a faculty from same academy. She is well known for her documentaries related to Women Issues. Especially the documentary on 'TSUNAMI AFFECTED COASTAL REGIONS OF TAMIL NADU & SRI LANKA' got good acclaims.

We the amateurs in film making understood the importance of Non- Fictional or Documentary Film Making. A travelogue by Gaurav Jhani's 'RIDING SOLO TO THE TOP' gave us a new insight in creating film. Something Simply Superb!!!!!!!!!
We also saw Fictional films like 'INJA' & 'NO BIKINI' with macro concept in it but the way it was filmed & shown was in a micro way. Amazing Short Films!
We feel happy and enlightened in these two days. We need these resource persons for each semester to guide us on various aspects of films.

THANKING YOU SIR & MADAM!!!

On Behalf of Studious Students,
bala.