Duterte's Tutuban-Malolos Railway Project to be constructed by Japan this year

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will start the major railway project of President Rodrigo Duterte by the fourth quarter of 2017. 

The Tutuban-Malolos railway project is part of the P8-Trillion plan to modernize the country's infrastructure network that was denied by the previous administrations.

DOTr spokesperson Cherie Mercado said that JICA had completed the study of the project. The funds of the railway project will be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) by JICA.

November 2015, the administration of President Noynoy Aquino signed an agreement to provide the Philippines a loan up to 241.991 Billion yen for the North-South Commuter Railway Project (Malolos-Tutuban). The project was allegedly tainted by corruptions.

Meanwhile, President Duterte, in August 11, 2016 met with Japan Minister of Foreign Affairs Fumio Kishida at the Presidential Guesthouse in Panacan, Davao City and discussed the project.

Aside from the project Tutuban-Malolos, the Japanese government is also helping in the feasibility study of a 55-kilometer railway line from Malolos, Bulacan to Clark.

Japan also offered to build the first 100 kilometers of the 2,000 kilometers Mindanao Railway system.

According to DOTr and JICA, "Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) will be used and applied to Tutuban-Malolos Railway project.

It is expected that high technology from Japan such as construction techniques for elevated railways, efficient signal systems and rolling stock will be utilized.

source [Abs-Cbn / JICA / DOTr]

A Ritual Where Their Deads are Raised From Their Graves- Indonesia

Most of us,when our love ones die, they are laid to rest forever.But in Indonesia the dead gets many chances to see their families again

Ma'nene-its a ritual where the corpses get cleaned-families raises their dead relatives from their graves,dress them in new clothes,fix their hair and repair their coffins. They they walk the dead around the province so they can observe the living.Reports say that the Ma'nene ritual is more important than marriage and birth in Toraja culture.

A man brushes the hair of a dead relative, perhaps his mother or grandmother.

Maybe for us we find this practice so disrespectful and even unsanitary. But there’s something solemnly beautiful about families that continue to care for those they love even after their deaths.

Deceased loved ones are walked in straight lines around the region.

What you guys can say something about this?

source [Ryot]

Leaked Samsung Galaxy S8

Samsung may just have leaked the Samsung Galaxy S8, so the latest leak comes in all of a video and this video is from the Korean Youtube channel SAMSUNG DISPLAY showing off the latest display technologies of Samsung and we did see a mysterious device which has a super large display with minimal bezels.

source:CNET

Now base on this leak looks like we will be getting a very large display, larger and no longer gonna have a physical home button, this could mean that the fingerprint sensor is embedded within the display which is absolutely great other leaks do suggest that the device might have a 4K Display so this would be super high resolution.

We still may see a standard flat display as well as curved display like we've seen in previous years, we may also lose the headphone jack but not yet confirmed release date is rumored to be around April 18 this year

What do you think of these leaks?

What it Feels Like to Have a Granny Girlfriend???

Forget Harold and Maude. How about Kyle and Marjorie?

Kyle Jones from Pittsburgh is a 31-year-old man with an nontraditional romantic leaning towards older women -- much older women.

In 2009, Jones met 91-year-old Marjorie McCool at the book store where she worked. The two have engaged in a romantic, physical relationship ever since, and are happily dating as each brings something unique to the relationship.

At three times Jones' age, McCool is already a great grandmother, but Jones finds her lines, wrinkles, platinum hair and natural hanging neck skin attractive. Jones says he offers older women a different kind of experience than they're used to with adventure and fun things to do.

Likewise, McCool says dating somebody younger makes her feel alive again. "The physical side of the relationship is wonderful. I amaze myself and he amazes me, and I like it," says McCool in the video above.

Jones first noticed his attraction towards older women at a young age and though it took his mother, Ceceila Jones, some getting used to, she ultimately accepts her son's lifestyle. McCool is also a mother and says she sometimes feels like Jones is just another one of her children.

"I sometimes feel like he's another son, until we hop in bed. Then I feel different."

The two lovebirds are not monogamous, and Jones is also engaged in a relationship with 68-year-old Anna Ronald, who he met on a dating site.

They like to smooch, loudly.

Jones has encountered criticism, but defends his choices. "The most common [criticism] is that I'm a vulture," says Jones. "You're after money, you're after inheritance. I hear that all the time, but it's not true at all. I do this because I like it and they like it too."

To each his own.

source [The Huffington Post]

Top 10 Fastest Ways to Memorize

Shhh… don’t let anyone else see this information, it’s as lethal as poison! Today I am going to reveal 10 Methods the pro’s use in order to memorize anything. Here is how to do it…

I urge you to close the door, turn off your cellphone and listen attentively. The following list contains ten proven techniques to memorize information, ready? O.K, here we go:

1. Don’t Let Yourself Be Disturbed

I used this technique in the beginning of this article ie. “close the door, turn off…”

You can’t memorize something if your mind is directed towards something else,concentration is essential!

2. Learn Mnemonics

Mnemonics is a type of memory aid that basically helps a person memorize data. The more information that needs to be remembered, the more complex the mnemonic becomes. The most common type of mnemonics in school are those that rhyme…

3. Thirty days hath September

Rhyme mnemonics are often used in school, why? Because they work! It’s an excellent way of remember lists (like all the months) but it can be used in other ways as well. In fourteen hundred ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue is a famous rhyme mnemonic used in schools, so start rhyming and less whining! (I am so lame BTW)

4. Form A Silly Sentence

What’s a silly sentence you ask? To clarify this, let us say we would want to memorize 3 Swedish Cities (starting from the biggest); Stockholm, Göteborg and Malmö. The initiating letters are SGM and a possible silly sentence could be:

5. Abbreviations Make Life Easier

Don’t you agree? We love to say UN, US etc. instead of The United Nations, The United States Of America (what made you chose such a long word, makes it hard on us foreigners by the way…).

6. Do It Like The Talk Show Hosts

All TV-show hosts use small flashcards to help them remember the content of the show, this is proven method to bring back memories swiftly. I recommend you use a small software called Cue Card, there’s a free version hosted right here on the site.

7. Gimmicks = Bad?

For some odd reason, this word seems to radiate negative emotions, probably because gimmicks are used so extensivley in advertisements. Anyhow, the use of word games or tricks can help you process information. Try it and buy it!

8. Mind Maps – Find Your Thoughts

I’m a huge fan of mind mapping, and I recommend you to use mind maps as often as possible. I’ve already covered how mind mapping is done so I won’t go into that again. Here’s a free mind mapping software by the way, hope you enjoy it!

9. Association – The Biggest Secret

It’s really a shame that I didn’t put this in the beginning of the article, I’m sorry I forgot. Association is basically the art of linking a piece of information to something else. What’s the first thing that hits your mind when I say the word SUMMER?

Did you think about heat, ice cream, vacation, swimming or anything related to those activities? We think about heat because we relate this word to the term summer, it comes naturally without any real effort.

This is perhaps the biggest memory secret around, learn how to associate the information you want to remember with some piece of information that you won’t forget. It works like a charm, I promise!

10. Always Explore New Methods

What better place to do that than right here! I’ve written a comprehensive Study Guide which covers this matter (How To Memorize Fast), but if you are not interested (which you should be… ^^) you can always Subscribe To This Blog. It’s free and takes only a couple of seconds (that is to say, if you still remember to do it!).

Did you like this article or despise it? Let us know what you feel by commenting. Stumbleupon users can stumble this post it if they’d like, have a nice summer guys!

source [Study Habits]

Duterte to Implement P1000 Hike for SSS Pensioners

President Rodrigo Duterte has endorsed a P1,000 increment in the pension of resigned Social Security System (SSS) individuals this month. 

Presidential representative Ernesto Abella affirmed the news in a Palace preparation on Tuesday. 

"With respect to SSS benefits increment, the President has affirmed a P1,000 annuity increment this month," Abella said. 

He said the President needed to "satisfy a social contract with the Filipino individuals." 

"He tries to satisfy a social contract with the Filipino individuals, particularly the elderly and poor people, to give them their best lives in administration," Abella said. 

"While practicing monetary obligation, to guarantee the financial supportability and secure the individuals who put resources into the country's future," he included. 

Be that as it may, the Palace official said individuals would have "a relating 1.5 percent commitment rate climb in May 2017 and increment in month to month pay credit to P20,000 based from P16,000." 

"To guarantee supportability, SSS is setting set up, one: legitimate activity arrangements to diminish commitment misconduct. For instance, escalate legitimate gathering and alluded reprobate and resistant bosses," he said. 

Duterte affirmed the climb in the midst of calls for him to sign the proposition for a P2,000 increment in the annuity of SSS retirees. 

P2,000 climb by 2022 

SSS seat Amado Valdez said the principal P1,000 increment would produce results this January while the second P1,000 increment would be in 2022 or considerably prior "subject to conditionalities." 

Valdez expressed gratitude toward the President for his "feeling of tending to our retired people." 

"We need to thank lavishly our President for his feeling of tending to our retired people. We likewise need to thank the financial chiefs for their reasonability in reminding us we need to guarantee the maintainability of the store. In doing as such, the life expectancy of the reserve will even pass the edge of 2042 and maybe past," he said. 

SSS President Emmanuel Dooc, in the interim, said the organization has enough finances to bolster the benefits climb this month. 

"This will produce results this month, in case I'm not mixed up, but rather perhaps because of some framework necessity since we require a recomputation, we have to set up a table, there might be a slight postponement," Dooc said. 

The SSS President said the SSS commitment climb would now be at 12. 5 percent beginning May, from the present 11 percent. 

"We will expand it by 12.5% as proposed by the commission. We need to actualize it by May this year," he said. JE/rga

source [Inquirer]

Nokia 6 - Nokia's First Android Smartphone Finally Revealed

HMD Global, the Finnish company that owns the licensing rights of Nokia’s brand on mobile phones has just unveiled the Nokia 6 — the company’s first Android-powered smartphone which runs on Google’s latest Android 7.0 Nougat.

It features a 5.5-inch full HD display with Gorilla Glass protection . Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 430 chipset powers the handset, paired with the Adreno 505 GPU. Under the hood, it packs 4GB of RAM with 64GB internal storage. There’s also the 16MP rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture and an 8MP front-facing camera sporting the same aperture. Watch the official first look of the handset below.

For now, the Nokia 6 is targeted for Chinese users with a price of 1,699 yuan or ~Php12,100 when converted to peso. International and local availability is yet to be announced so stay tuned! Nokia 6 specs: 5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display 2.5D contoured glass with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core CPU Adreno 505 GPU 4GB RAM 64GB internal storage up to 128GB via microSD 16MP rear camera w/ Laser AF, PDAF, Dual-tone flash 8MP front-facing camera 4G LTE Fingerprint scanner USB OTG 3000mAh battery with fast charging Android 7.0 Nougat 154 x 75.8 x 7.85 mm Author’s note: “Nokia’s first Android smartphone officially revealed”, was edited to clarify that the Nokia 6 is the first Nokia Android smartphone under HMD Global.

For now, the Nokia 6 is targeted for Chinese users with a price of 1,699 yuan or ~Php12,100 when converted to peso. International and local availability is yet to be announced so stay tuned!

Nokia 6 specs:

5.5-inch Full HD IPS LCD display

2.5D contoured glass with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 Protection

64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 octa-core CPU

Adreno 505 GPU

4GB RAM

64GB internal storage

up to 128GB via microSD

16MP rear camera w/ Laser AF, PDAF, Dual-tone flash

8MP front-facing camera

4G LTE

Fingerprint scanner

USB OTG

3000mAh battery with fast charging

Android 7.0 Nougat

154 x 75.8 x 7.85 mm

Author’s note: “Nokia’s first Android smartphone officially revealed”, was edited to clarify that the Nokia 6 is the first Nokia Android smartphone under HMD Global.





Yugatechsource

Man, 66, goes to Doctor and finds he is a Woman

A 66-year-old apparently male patient made a stunning discovery when he sought treatment for swelling in his abdomen. The swelling was a cyst on his ovary and he was in fact a woman.

The condition was caused by a very rare combination of two genetic disorders. One, Turner syndrome, causes women to lack some female features, including the ability to get pregnant.

Sufferers usually look like women, but in this case the patient also had congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which boosted the male hormones and made the patient look like a man.

The case was reported by doctors from Kwong Wah Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who treated the patient. It was published in the Hong Kong Medical Journal yesterday.

"The patient, by definition, is a woman who cannot get pregnant. But she also has CAH, which gave her the appearance of a man," Chinese University paediatrics professor Ellis Hon Kam-lun said. "It's an interesting and very rare case of having the two combinations. It probably won't be seen again in the near future."

The 66-year-old Vietnam-born Chinese man is an orphan. He has a beard, small penis and no testes. Just 1.37 metres tall, he has decided to continue perceiving himself as a male and may receive male hormone treatment, the report said.

When pressed, he disclosed a long history of urinary leakage and arrest of growth after puberty at the age of 10.

Only six cases of a patient with both conditions have been reported in medical literature. This patient was diagnosed later in life than any of the others.

Turner's syndrome has an estimated prevalence of one in 2,500 to 3,000 females.

Normal females have a pair of X chromosomes, while males have one X and one Y.

Turner syndrome patients have only one X. They usually had the appearance of girls and the condition was identified when they reached puberty and did not menstruate, Hon said.

Private gynaecologist Dr Kun Ka-yan said Turner syndrome was rarer now as most sufferers were identified in prenatal tests. Women would usually choose an abortion as the disease can bring other health problems, including mental disability.

South China Morning Post

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6 Deadliest Tourist Attractions In The World

People risk their lives every year to get a thrill at these crazy vacation spots. 

These tourist spots and hikes take thrills to a whole new level. Visitors literally risk their lives just for a sense of adventure. 

1.El Caminito Del Rey, Spain 

See this tiny little steel path with no handrails? Yep, that’s a hundred foot drop if you accidentally trip. Parts of the pathway have even crumbled, and yet people still flock to it to get their thrills. 

2. Alnwick Gardens, United Kingdom

This garden is full of plants that can actually kill you. Visitors are kept at a safe distance, but some have still fainted from the toxic fumes in the air. 

3.Hua Shan Plank Path Walk, China

This trail is literally a leap of faith. Many climb it to get to the temples atop the mountain. The picture speaks for itself when I tell you it’s the most dangerous hike in the world. There are some areas where there aren’t even any planks and you just have to wedge your feet onto the cracks of the mountain face. Some say that 100 people die every year on the path, although there are no official statistics. 

4.Yosemite National Park’s Half Dome 

This day long climb ends with this terrifying cliff that you have to scale. 60 people have died on it. Two hikers who fell in 2011 had their bodies swept away by the rapid waters below. Not only do you have to worry about falling, lightening has also struck the mountain face. Anyone else reminded of the wall on Game of Thrones?

5.Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

In 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted unexpectedly and took with it 800 lives. Again in 1992, it erupted and killed 72 people. And yet people still come from all over to hike the crater lake. That’s a big NOPE for me. 

6.Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park 

The climb is fairly difficult, but the danger comes from the high volume of people up on the narrow cliff top with sheer drops on each side. 

Carbonated

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Devil's Pool-The Most Dangerous Pool in the World

Victoria Falls is One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World

Devil's Pool is adjacent to the famous Livingstone Island situated on the edge of the Victoria Falls.

Guests can choose to enjoy an exhilarating swim to the edge of the falls during their Livingstone Island visit (in low water).

If you are looking for a taste of life on the edge, this just has to be the place.Only a slippery, submerged lip of rock stands between these bathers and a 100m drop over the world's largest waterfall. The Devil's Swimming Pool is certainly aptly named.

Don't look down: Tourists challenge gravity at the edge of the falls

Edge of madness: A father poses with his youngster perilously close to the 100m drop

It is created each year at the fringes of Victoria Falls, when the dry season reduces water levels to create what has been likened to the ultimate infinity pool.

Hundreds of thrill-seekers descend on the falls, on Zambia's border with Zimbabwe, clambering across rocks and wading through shallows across the precipice to reach the pool.

Wild and wonderful: Circle shows the location of the Devil's Swimming Pool

 at the edge of Victoria Falls

The most daring visitors jump in and allow themselves to be carried towards the falls at terrifying speed. They are just inches from the edge when the rock lip brings them to a halt as the raging waters of the Zambezi crash over the edge a few feet away.

For most of the year, anyone foolish enough to enter the waters would be instantly swept to their deaths.

But when levels drop, the natural rock walls of the Devil's Swimming Pool come close enough to the surface to form a barrier and stop swimmers being carried away.

It's a scream: Angela Stugren (above and below) chose

 Devil's Swimming Pool to mark her anniversary

Astonishingly, even children frolic in Nature's most exhilarating theme park. There is almost an air of the hotel swimming pool as the youngsters captured in these photographs bob about, playing and splashing each other, seemingly oblivious to the danger nearby.

Their parents peer cautiously over the watery precipice at the vision which makes Victoria Falls a World Heritage Site.

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or The Smoke that Thunders, 500million litres of water a minute cascade over the mile-wide falls, causing a deafening and spectacular explosion of rainbow-coloured spray which can be seen 30 miles away.

It's behind you: Waving in the water with only a lip of rock between them and the falls

Angela Stugren, a 30-year-old American, travelled across two continents after deciding it was the perfect place to celebrate her first wedding anniversary with husband Francisc.

Bikini-clad, she stretches out over the edge so she appears to be flying over the falls, dangling her head and shoulders into the spume of spray.

Software engineer Francisc, 35, from Seattle, said the thrill was "better than bungee jumping".

Thrilling: A holidaymaker leans right over the edge to get the ultimate photograph of the falls

Superman: It's all smiles for this daredevil tourist as he emulates his favourite superhero

"It is a serious adrenalin rush for the first few minutes. The thought that you may get sucked away from the relatively calm waters of the pool makes you giddy with apprehension, although you would have to stray a fair way out for that to happen.

"If you jump in, it adds to the excitement but you can also get in gently. It's great fun - some people enjoy it quietly, swimming, looking and thinking, while others just keep screaming."

Wouldn't be me: One thrill-seeker is brave enough to stand on the ledge above the falls

Dailymail UK

Source

Crystal Cave of the Giants - Discovery of the Largest Crystals on Earth

In what has proved to be the discovery of the largest known crystals on earth, work is underway to document and preserve this historic find. While some minor damage has already occurred in the primary cave and a secondary cavern, called Cave of Dreams, iron doors have been installed by the Peñoles company to prevent damage to the giant, magnificent crystals. While investigations are underway the mine is closed, but with the newly installed lighting system, it is expected to open in the fall 2001.

Found deep in a mine in southern Chihuahua Mexico, these crystals were formed in a natural cave totally enclosed in bedrock. When I first stepped into the cavern it was like walking into the Land of the Giants. I have often admired crystal geodes held in my hand, but when photographing these unique natural structures it was almost impossible to get any sense of scale. This is a geode full of spectacular crystals as tall as pine trees, and in some cases greater in circumference. They have formed beautiful crystals that are a translucent gold and silver in color, and come in many incredible forms and shapes. Some of the largest are essentially columnar in shape and stand thirty to fifty feet high and three to four feet in diameter. Many of the smaller examples are four to six feet in circumference, have many incredible geometrical shapes, and probably weigh in excess of ten tons. The columnar pillars are at first the most striking shape, but later I noticed there were thousands of "sharks teeth" up to three feet high placed row upon row and dispersed at odd angles throughout the caverns. While some of the crystals are attached to the ceiling walls and floors of the cave as might be expected, some exist in great masses of spikes and almost float in air. These crystals seem to defy gravity, as they must weigh several tons.

The crystal cavern was discovered within the same limestone body that hosts the silver-zinc-lead ore bodies exploited by the mine. The cavern was probably dissolved by the same hydrothermal fluids that deposited the metals with the gypsum being crystallized during the waning stages of mineralization. The crystals probably grew relatively quickly to their immense size within a completely liquid-filled cavern.

As a professional photographer who specializes in environmentally difficult, narrow and wet canyons worldwide, it was almost impossible to obtain clear photographs even using every trick and technique I know, because of the extreme ambient environment. These crystals are probably stable, as the temperature in the cave is over 150 degrees Fahrenheit with 100% humidity. In other words, these structures are enveloped in steam. As a photographer used to working in dark and dangerous environments, this experience was unique. A human can only function in this environment for six to ten minutes before severe loss of mental functions occurs. I was so excited while photographing the crystals that I really had to focus and concentrate intensely on getting back out the door, which was perhaps only thirty to forty feet away.

 

The Naica mine was first discovered by early prospectors in 1794 south of Chihuahua City. They struck a vein of silver at the base of a range of hills called Naica by the Tarahumara Indians. The origin in the Tarahumara language seems to mean "a shady place". Perhaps here in the small canyon there was a grove of trees tucked away by a small canyon spring.

From the discovery until about 1900, the primary interest was silver and gold. Around 1900 large-scale mining began as zinc and lead became more valuable.

During the Mexican Revolution the mine was producing a great deal of wealth. Revolutionary troops entered the town and demanded money from the owners. One of them was assassinated when he refused to pay, causing the mine to shut down from 1911 to 1922.

Just before the mine was closed, the famous Cave of Swords was discovered at a depth of 400 feet. Due to the incredible crystals, it was decided to try to preserve this cave. While many of the crystals have been collected, this is still a fascinating cave to visit. In one part there are so many crystals on one of the walls, they appear to be like an underwater reef moving in a gentle undulating motion in an ocean current.

In April 2000, brothers Juan and Pedro Sanchez were drilling a new tunnel when they made a truly spectacular discovery. While Naica miners are accustomed to finding crystals, Juan and Pedro were absolutely amazed by the cavern that they found. The brothers immediately informed the engineer in charge, Roberto Gonzalez. Ing. Gonzalez realized that they had discovered a natural treasure and quickly rerouted the tunnel. During this phase some damage was done as several miners tried to remove pieces of the mega-crystals, so the mining company soon installed an iron door to protect the find. Later, one of the workers, with the intention of stealing crystals, managed to get in through a narrow hole. He tried to take some plastic bags filled with fresh air inside, but the strategy didn't work. He lost consciousness and later was found thoroughly baked.

When entering the cave our group is issued helmets, lanterns, rubber boots, and gloves. We are then driven by truck into the main mining tunnel called Rampa Sn. Francisco. While the vertical drop is approximately 1000 feet, the drive is almost a half mile long. The heat steadily increases and the ladies could be observed to begin "glowing". The truck stops in front of a concrete wall with a steel door. I start working frantically to put the final touches on my pre-prepared camera outfit. I usually have four separate camera units, but they must be padded for the trip and then receive a last minute detail check. Every single item is preset before entering the cavern, as every moment inside is precious and concentration must be focused strictly on the crystals and people. The photographic machinery must work perfectly as the heat almost immediately begins to impair brain function.

At the end of the tunnel there are three or four steps into the aperture of the cavern itself. It is in this short tunnel that I move very quickly and concentrate on focusing my mind and that of my group on the task of photography. In this short distance the temperature and humidity goes from being uncomfortably warm to literally a blast furnace. Almost immediately our clothing is so soaked in sweat that it becomes heavy and starts to slide off our bodies. On my first trip it was really hard to keep my pants up, which was a new and unexpected experience.

Momentarily, the penetrating heat is forgotten as the crystals pop into view on the other side of the newly named "Eye of the Queen". The entire panorama is now lighted and the cavern has a depth and impressive cathedral-like appearance that was not visible on earlier trips with just our headlamps.

When inside the great cathedral of crystals, the pressure of intense heat makes my feelings run up and down the emotional scale from shear religious awe to outright panic. The ladies are no longer "glowing" and indeed are "red hot". When I'm done working after three trips into the great cavern, my friends almost have to carry me out. We want to see more, but physically cannot. When the experience is over there is a great relief, but all we can think about is when can we go back in.

When I talk to professional geologists about crystals they tell me that these natural forms are incredibly complex, yet so simple. They have a magical or metaphysical personality independent of their chemical structures. These geologists have explained to me that there is a magma chamber two to three miles below the mountain and that heat from this compressed lava travels through the faults up into the area of the mine. Super heated fluids carry the minerals the miners are seeking as well as form the crystals. The mine is ventilated; otherwise, it could not be worked. Some parts, however, are not air-conditioned, such as the Cave of the Crystals, and there you feel the heat from the magma deep below.

I have been told that the mining company was afraid to tunnel through the Naica fault for fear of flooding the entire mine. In April 2000, the company became confident that the water table on the other side of the fault had been lowered sufficiently to drill. When they did this, it is almost as if a magical veil of reality was breached and an entirely new world was discovered. Two caverns filled with the Earth's largest crystals were immediately revealed. More discoveries are expected to be made in this magical kingdom of intense natural beauty.

Selenite, the gypsum crystal, named after the Greek goddess of the moon due to its soft white light, is said to have many metaphysical and healing benefits. Selenite powder has been used cosmetically for thousands of years to enhance one's natural beauty. It is believed that this crystal assists with mental focus, growth, luck, immunity, and soothes the emotions. It is unquestionably magical that the cool white rays of moonlight can originate deep underground in a black chamber that is, at least in my perception, white hot.

I thank Ing. Roberto Gonzales and Ing. Roberto Villasuso, of the Pe¤oles Mining Company and Sonia Estrada and Carlos Lazcano for contributions to this text and photographs.

Crystal Cave Of Giants

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10 Healthy Benefits of Masturbation

How do you like your ‘me-time’? Do you like to fly solo? Yes, we’re talking about good old masturbation.

And however you do it (or don’t do it), there is nothing wrong with taking some time to pleasure yourself, getting to know your body, and exploring what turns you on. And just as taking a shower should be a regular occurrence, so too should be cleaning your pipes, as the health benefits of masturbation are galore. Here are the 10 reasons why you should take matters into your own hands right now:

1. Manages Premature Ejaculation

Sex therapists across the globe have found that men who experience premature ejaculation during sexual intercourse can benefit from masturbation about 2 hours before sex. This enables them to have a longer duration of intercourse before another ejaculation comes on.

2. Prevents Prostate Cancer

A 2003 Australian study found that men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer. Disease-causing toxins build up in your urogenital tract and when you rub one out, you flush the bad guys out of your system.

3. Makes You Harder

With age, you naturally lose muscle tone…even down there. Regular sex or masturbation works out your pelvic floor muscles to prevent erectile dysfunction and incontinence. It keeps the angle of your dangle perky. You must aim to (well!) arrive three to five times a week for rock-solid results.

4. Improves Sperm Motility

Some studies found that masturbation improves some quality and motility. “Theoretically, a man masturbating before intercourse releases the residual sperms in the semen transporting tubules. This paves way for new ‘better’ sperms which are released during the sexual act and increase the chances of conception, which can add to your health benefits,” says Dr Mahesh Nawal, an Indore-based sexologist and President of ASECT.

5. Helps You Last Longer

Taking yourself to palm prom may help you stretch your sack sessions. Train yourself by timing how long it takes you to orgasm, suggests Dr Nawal. If it usually takes two minutes solo, try for three next time. Or count how many strokes you need to get to your happy place. If you’re spurting after 50, shoot for 60. Practice makes perfect, right?

6. Reduces Nasal Congestion

Another small study demonstrated reduction of swelling of vessels in the nose during sex and masturbation. This theoretically may improve on symptoms of the common cold, hay fever, allergic rhinitis and other such health-related ailments.

7. Manages Stress And Depression

Masturbation has been used in the management of stress, as it results in release of feel-good hormones, called oxytocin, in the body. It has also been found useful in dealing with depression.

8. Ups Your Immunity

Ejaculation increases levels of the hormone cortisol, says Dr Ashish Sabberwal, senior consultant of urology, Fortis Escorts Institute, New Delhi. Cortisol, which usually gets a bad rap as a havoc-wrecking stress hormone, actually helps regulate and maintain your immunity in the small doses. “Masturbation can product the right environment for a strengthened immune system,” Dr Sabberwal says.

9. Boosts Your Mood

Masturbating releases a slew of feel-good neurochemicals like dopamine and oxytocin that lift your spirits, boost your satisfaction, and activate the reward circuits in your brain. An orgasm is the biggest non-drug blast of dopamine available, and benefits your health in more than one way.

10. Prevents Pregnancy And STDs

Last but not the least, this one is for both you and your girl! For couples not intending to get the girl pregnant, masturbation is a safe way of attaining sexual satisfaction without vaginal penetration which would otherwise lead to an unintended pregnancy. If the man’s penis is rubbed around the vulva and spills sperms there, there could be a chance of getting pregnant. Masturbation poses no risk of contracting an STD. However, mutual masturbation may however result in exchange of sexual fluids when partners touch each other’s genitals, says Dr Nawal.

As a last note, masturbation will not put hair on your palms, make you go blind, kill a kitten, cause infertility, or make you turn gay! What it rather does is allow you to understand your body better, help you to release tension and pursue sexual pleasure on your own, provide an option for a safer sex activity with partners, and let you explore your own fantasies. As the saying goes, who can really love you more than yourself?

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