Tima Vlasto

Thanks to over 27 year’s research at the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) Laboratory and the company Psyleron, we can now own a lamp that reads our minds. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

According to a recent study by UCLA psychologists, looking at a photo, holding the hand or even just thinking of a loved one will reduce pain. The study which appeared in the November 2009 issue of the Journal Psychological Science, involved 25 women who received a moderately painful heat stimulus on their forearms while they looked at either a photo of their loved one, a stranger or a chair - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

Silver bullets aren’t only the Lone Ranger’s calling card, “a symbol of justice, law and order,” and an effective way to kill a vampire, but according to a recent press release by The University of New Hampshire: a powerful antimicrobial. A November 9th 2009, press release, Antimicrobials: Silver (and copper) bullets to kill bacteria, reports Dana Filoti’s thin films of silver and copper she developed that combine silver and copper ions in a hard ceramic structure: “The combination of silver and copper work synergistically to better kill bacteria.” - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

There are dozens of fascinating references in both the ancient and modern Western and Eastern texts. Before running out for the next Botox injection or for plastic surgery, take a look at the books in the resource section and remember that those laugh lines are actually auspicious and predict a long life and that large nose an indicator of wealth. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"The Harry Houdini Museum originally held these séances in New York City in Houdini’s official home town as an adult. The séances are held by Walter B. Gibson, Houdini’s ghostwriter and confidant, Dorothy Dietrich, an accomplished magician on the Board of Directors of the museum and John Bravo, well know magician, editor and publisher of Hocus Pocus Magazine. These séances are held as a tribute to the artist. Though séances, both professional and amateur are conducted all over the world on October 31st, there is also one other live internet séance being held by The James Randi Educational Foundation and WeirdThings.com. Prominent skeptics and magicians will attempt to make contact with the spirit of Harry Houdini in front of a live internet audience on October 31st, 2009 at 9:00 pm EST." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"How did the custom of carving pumpkins with frightening faces become a part of our Halloween festivities? For centuries, stories of the mysterious Jack-o'-lantern are recorded in folkloric anecdotes from dozens of cultures around the world: Stories of mysterious lights that drift about at night and scare travelers until they are lost; stories of a soul denied entry into both heaven and hell, doomed to roam the earth carrying a lighted wisp of straw and the famous ignis fatuus or the spooky Will-o’-the-wisp, even mentioned by Sir Isaac Newton in his 1704 opus Opticks and Shakespeare in Henry IV Part I, Act III." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

With the hype surrounding the upcoming movie release of 2012 and hundreds of books recently flooding the market about the December 12th or 21st, 2012 end-of-the-world as we know it predictions; it’s sobering to find articles by a NASA scientist and an interview with a Mayan elder in the news - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"The career of Batman Returns' director, Tim Burton is the focus of a new retrospective gallery exhibition and film series at MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) this fall." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

According to Ewen Callaway’s article, Mona Lisa’s Smile a Mystery No More, in October’s New Scientist, neuroscientists have solved the mystery as to why some people see Mona Lisa’s smile and some don’t. Is she smiling or not? Neuroscientists at the Institute of Neuroscience in Alicante, Spain say Leonardo Da Vinci’s, Mona Lisa is both smiling and not smiling, depending on what cells in the retina pick up the image and what channel the image is transmitted through in the brain." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

A recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience by authors Peggy Mason, PhD, professor of neurobiology, and Hayley Foo, PhD, research associate professor of neurobiology at the University of Chicago, is the first to show that while ingesting food or drink, a powerful painkilling effect occurs. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"New groundbreaking research shows that the insertion of an acupuncture needle into the skin disrupts the branching point of nerves called C fibres" - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"Gold is in the news, not only because of its record high at $1,060 an ounce according to the Globe and Mail, but also through Australian scientists’ recent study of a bacterium that plays a basic role in the cycle of solid gold formation." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"The University of Southampton recently demonstrated that communication from person to person through the power of thought alone is absolutely possible." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"It’s strange to see a statue of Gandhi set in small but lush landscape in Union Square Park in NYC, its even stranger to think that Gandhi got his start as a teacher and spiritual leader through his connection with the Theosophists." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

Happy Birthday to Gandhi today - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

researchers examined the letter correspondence of 16 famous writers, performers, politicians and scientists, including Einstein, Darwin, Sigmund Freud, Karl Marx, and Ernest Hemingway, and found that the 16 individuals sent letters randomly following a circadian cycle. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

A recent study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology by researchers, Gil Luria and Sara Rosenblum at the University of Haifa, with the aid of a system called ComPET (Computerized Penmanship Evaluation Tool) which is a piece of paper on a computer tablet with a pressure-sensitive wireless pen, discovered that people who are writing lies press harder on the paper and produce taller letters than those who tell the truth. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

When we get along well with others, understand how they are feeling, know how to manage distressing moods and control impulses, we are much more likely to be able to accomplish our goals, engage in fulfilling relationships and lead others. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

According to a report in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that training in mindfulness meditation and communication alleviated psychological distress and burnout experienced by physicians. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

This year, CBS' 60 minutes reported that scientists are coming close to “reading minds” with fMRI scans. It’s only a matter of time, science will catch up and realize, the ability to "read minds" is an innate human skill that ancient metaphysicians have documented for thousands of years and practiced without expensive equipment. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

What if, our free will (on whatever level it exists) and randomness create this incredible life and experience we have here on Earth. Maybe we shouldn’t be so worried about an ultimate truth or final meaning to our lives. We just may be creating and making up meaning as we go along. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"J. David Smith, Ph.D., a comparative psychologist at the University at Buffalo who has conducted extensive studies in animal cognition, says there is growing evidence that animals share functional parallels with human conscious metacognition -- that is, they may share human's ability to reflect upon, monitor or regulate their states of mind." - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

Photo Credit:This is an engraved gemstone carrying a portrait of Alexander the Great. The gemstone was found in the course of recent excavations at Tel Dor. No'a Raban-Gerstel, University of Haifa - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"Photo Credit: A New York City fireman calls for 10 more rescue workers to make their way into the rubble of the World Trade Center (Text by U.S. Navy) U.S. Navy Photo by Journalist 1st Class Preston Keres" - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

Millions of people have panic attacks at some time in their lives. The numbers are closer to 40 million people a year in the USA alone. What is a panic attack and what are the symptoms? You may have been in the supermarket, your friend’s wedding, in an airplane or at an interview. Out of the blue, you’re suddenly having palpitations, sweating and have difficulty breathing, You feel you might faint, your mouth is dry and you can’t swallow, you feel something terrible is happening and you might die. You run out the door for your life. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

Gossip as grooming? In 2001, a major cell phone company BT Cellnet commissioned researchers at a UK social research centre (SIRC), to verify if gossip was good for one’s health. If gossip was good for you, then SMS messages, Twittering and talking with friends on our cell phone, Smartphone or BlackBerry about the “latest news” could facilitate this “healthy” pursuit. Was this just another way to sell cell phones? Or is gossip actually good for your health? - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

It is hard to let go of that job, relationship, grudge or bad mood. You may try to distract yourself or convince yourself you have moved on, but find you are still right there holding on, making excuses and maybe even recruiting other people to agree with you. Letting go isn't as simple as it seems. I had a very interesting experience as a child that stayed with me for my entire life. I was sitting in the back seat of my grandfather's car. It was a California summer and 100 degrees outside. He gave me one of those gold foiled chocolate coins which were my favorite candy. I held it in my hand tightly in the back seat of that hot car until we got home so I could savor it in my room later. You can guess what happened when I arrived home. I opened my hand and all that was left was a puddle of melted chocolate and crumpled piece of gold foil. My chocolate coin was ruined and a life lesson was learned. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

In the Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal in NYC, there is a “great astronomical mural, from a design by the French painter Paul Helleu…there is an unsolved mystery surrounding this mural. - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

For the most advanced astrologer or for those of you who approach the study of astrology from a soul-centered, evolutionary or spiritual viewpoint, these are the top 10 karmic and spiritual Astrology books: - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet

"Rather than leave the interpretation of your astrology chart in the hands of someone else (professional or amateur), wouldn't it be better if you could understand and interpret your own cosmic design?" - Tima Vlasto from Bookmarklet