2 Amazing Games You Should Try

1. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor

 

What is it? Open-World, Action-Adventure, RPG.
Why you should try it:  Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor takes place in the amazing world of “The Lord of the rings”. This book inspired game actually takes place between the timeline of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. If you are already a fan of the movies or the books then this is definitely a must play for you but even if you haven’t seen the movies yet (which we totally recommend), you should still pick this game up if you enjoy open-world adventures and action. You can explore the entire world of LoTR and fight the evil forces of Sauron. You play as a ranger whose family was killed by Sauron and his evil forces. You’ve come back from the dead to avenge your family. The character progression is amazing and you can unlock new abilities and powers with progress. You can use direct melee combat, ranged attacks, or even stealth based moves to complete the missions. If you loved Skyrim’s amazing levels and open world then you are going to love this one.
Where to buy: Steam, Xbox, PlayStation

 

 

2. Dragon Age: Inquisition

 

 

What is it? Open-World, Action, RPG.
Why you should try it: If you have tried the previous Dragon Age games from the franchise then you must know how polished these games actually are. Even if you haven’t played a Dragon Age game before, we recommend that you pick up Dragon Age: Inquisition because it’s one of the best games in the entire series. You start off as the character who has the power to seal off different breaches in the world. Your mission is to settle the civil unrest caused by these breaches. There are demons coming into the world through the breaches and you have to close all of them along with your party. Level up and enhance your character abilities. Choose from a different race of heroes with each race possessing unique abilities and powers. You can also team up with your friends in multiplayer co-op mode and destroy the demons together.
Where to buy : xbox and playstation

Works on: Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows

 

Traditional Indonesian Children's Games

In this age of electronic games and hi tech toys, we often forget that it is often the simplest of inventions that can entertain a child for a long period of time. Although state-of-the-art, high tech computer games are available in Indonesia, such as the ever-popular game cubes, smart phone and iPad game apps, these modern inventions are not affordable for the majority of the population. These games would only be found in the homes of middle to upper class families.
Amongst the economically disadvantaged in society, it is often hard for parents to make enough money to feed their family, so toys are often quite simple or something that has been made by the parent. Fortunately, traditional toys are not expensive ... and are fun! The toys and the games that are described below are commonly seen and played by Indonesian children today.

Congklak or Dakon

One of the oldest known games in the world, congklak  can be traced as far back as ancient Egypt. Brought to Indonesia, probably centuries ago by Arab or Indian traders, it is just as popular in Indonesia today as it has been for through the ages. Congklak is played on a board with circular indentations along both sides and a home indentation on each end of the board.
The game is played with 98 small markers such as shells or beads, which are divided evenly between all the indentations. Although at first glance this many appear to be some type of calculator, it is quite a challenging strategic game and takes a lot of practice before a player becomes skilled.

Musical Instruments

A large majority of Indonesian traditional instruments tend to be made of bamboo, as it is readily available throughout Indonesia. School children are often taught basic music on instruments such as Suling, Gambang or Angklung. A suling is a small flute-like instrument, which resembles a recorder, however it is made of bamboo. It has holes down the length of the instrument that when covered or uncovered by the player's fingers result in the various notes.
Angklung are another traditional Indonesian instrument that is made from bamboo, originating from West Java. Angklung are actually a group of various sized hand-held instruments made from bamboo. When the angklung is shaken is produces a chord of music. The size of the angklung determines the chord that it produces. Songs are played with one person standing up behind a group of hanging angklung or by a group of people holding one angklung and playing their chord at the appropriate time within the song - much like a group of people would play bells in the west.
A gambang is a xylophone-type instrument with keys made from different lengths of bamboo. The different lengths of the bamboo result in different notes. The bamboo produces a very pleasant soft sound when struck with the mallets.
A very different type of instrument is the gamelan orchestra. Gamelan is actually a group of percussion and accompanying instruments which are housed on short legs which allow the musician to play the instrument sitting down on the floor cross-legged. Gamelan are used in traditional music, primarily in Java and Bali.

What is a Game?

 In the German language a game is any activity which is executed only for pleasure and without conscious purpose. In this definition every activity that brings pleasure is a game. For example, people dance, play musical instruments, act in plays, and play with dolls and model trains.
This definition people use today comes from the works of Johan Huizinga (Homo Ludens, 1938) and Friedrich Georg Jünger (Die Spiele, 1959). But there are more ways to define games. Manfred Eigen's and Ruthild Winkler's definition for game goes beyond the definition used by Huizinga. They see a game as a natural phenomenon: half necessity and half coincidence (Das Spiel, 1975). Their definition of games comes closer to Adornos' definition, who set himself apart from Huizinga by identifying games as an art form.
But in our sense these definitions are too wide, we define game more succinctly. Thus, I am writing about games which belong to the class that includes Chess, 9 Man's Morris, Checkers, Halma, Go, Parchisi, Monopoly, Scrabble, Skat, Rummy, Bridge, Memory, Jack Straws, Dominoes, and so on. Unfortunately, our language does not have a good term to call these games. Terms like table games, society games, tournament games are too narrow. In my opinion, the best term would be "rulegames" = "games with rules".
I will now try to find the criteria for defining "game with rules". Kevin Maroney defined game in his Games Journal article, My entire waking life. Scott Kim defined puzzle in his Games Cafe article "What Is a Puzzle?" as separate from a game. Kate Jones writes about less aggressive games in her Games Journal articlenon predatory games. My definition is a further attempt to explore the nature of games.

Hobby

The origin of the word hobby in Tristram Shandy, a characters' "hobby-horses", or particular obsessions

A hobby is a regular activity that is done for enjoyment, typically during one's leisure time. Hobbies can include collecting themed items and objects, engaging in creative and artistic pursuits, playing sports, or pursuing other amusements. A list of hobbies is lengthy and always changing as interests and fashions change. By continually participating in a particular hobby, one can acquire substantial skill and knowledge in that area. Engagement in hobbies has increased since the late nineteenth century as workers have more leisure time and advancing production and technology have provided more support for leisure activities. As some hobbies have become less popular, like stamp collecting, others have been created following technological advances, like video games.
Hobbyists are a part of a wider group of people engaged in leisure pursuits where the boundaries of each group overlap to some extent. The Serious Leisure Perspective^[1] groups hobbyists with amateurs and volunteers and identifies three broad groups of leisure activity with hobbies being found mainly in the Serious leisure category.
a. Casual leisure is intrinsically rewarding, short-lived, pleasurable activity requiring little or no preparation
b. Serious leisure is the systematic pursuit of an amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer that is substantial, rewarding and results in a sense of accomplishment.
c. Project-based leisure is a short-term often a one-off project that is rewarding.^[2]

Food

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For other uses, see Food (disambiguation).

Various foods

Foods from plant sources

Food is any substance^[1] consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism's cells to provide energy, maintain life, or stimulate growth.
Historically, humans secured food through two methods: hunting and gathering and agriculture. Today, the majority of the food energy required by the ever increasing population of the world is supplied by the food industry.
Food safety and food security are monitored by agencies like the International Association for Food Protection, World Resources Institute, World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, and International Food Information Council. They address issues such as sustainability, biological diversity, climate change, nutritional economics, population growth, water supply, and access to food.
The right to food is a human right derived from the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), recognizing the "right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate food", as well as the "fundamental right to be free from hunger".

How to Find One That Fits Your Personality

Hobbies are Good for You: How to Find One That Fits Your Personality

Having a hobby is a great way to relieve stress, a creative outlet and a way to meet new people. In fact, there are lots of ways hobbies are good for you. But if you don’t have a regular leisure activity that you enjoy, it can be difficult to decide which one will be enjoyable for you. Here are some tips for finding an interest that fits your personality and interests.

What is a Hobby?

Hobbies are simply anything you do that’s for fun. You aren’t getting paid to do it, it’s something you like to do with your free time that helps you decompress and connect with other people.
For a lot of people these days it seems like their only leisure activities are watching television and catching up on Facebook. That’s a shame, because hobbies—from rock climbing to collecting silver spoons—can have real benefits.

Why Hobbies Are Important

Hobbies often provide a creative outlet that you might not get in your everyday life. They allow you to do something that’s just for you, that can help you forget your daily problems, unwind after a hard day and give you a lot of pleasure.
If you can find like-minded people in your area, an outside pursuit can also be a great way to meet new people and experience new adventures, whether that’s taking on a new trail or going to a knitting convention.

Finding a Hobby that Fits

Of course everyone is different and your personality does play a role in what sorts of hobbies you’ll like. If you don’t have a lot of patience you might feel like quilting might be too much for you, but exploring quick sewing projects might be a better choice.
 Maybe you really like hanging out with friends, so you need to take a class or have n interest that you can do with a group. If you travel a lot, something portable or that you can do anywhere is helpful; if you’re a homebody you might love to be surrounded by a cool collection.
Think about the things you already like and how they might expand. If you’re always ordering fun drinks, maybe you could learn to make some at home. If you can’t resist the colors in the paintings at your favorite restaurant, perhaps you should pick up some paint or a camera and explore color in your own way.
The truth is you may not hit the perfect activity for you right out of the gate, but you can have a lot of fun trying out new things and exploring what’s out there. Do some web searches, visit the library, don’t be afraid to try new things, and soon you’ll have a hobby that provides you with a lot of fun and stress relief, too.

watching a movie at a cinema and at home, which do you prefer?

Watching movies is an amazing activity to relax for many people nowadays. After a hard-working day, what can be more satisfying than watching films and concentrating with amusement on the plots? I like seeing films, too. Although I have many film DVDs at home, I still prefer watching films at cinemas.
One of the biggest factors that make me feel like watching films at cinemas is the bigger screen and realer sound I can enjoy there. I have a TV which can play my DVDs, but I do not have enough money to buy a modern and fashioned system of projector and loudspeakers which is sold with an extremely high price at store. Furthermore, even if I could afford it, I still would not feel as satisfied as in a cinema, because I know that cinemas always invest their capital in developing the quality of their films, so the images and sound in cinemas are usually perfect, and I do not think that anyone can easily get such quality in his home.
Besides a higher quality of the films, a second factor that makes me attached to cinemas is that I can take this as an opportunity to go out and get out of the confine of my house. After an exhausting week with a lot of stresses that have strained on me, time for resting is really invaluable for me. So I always wait for weekends to relax, at night, I want go out and breathe the cool breeze of the night, and I often go to the cinema to see a film so that I can effectively use the remaining time of freedom. This is also a chance for me to get out of my house and enjoy a new wider space, interact with people and be more positive.
Additionally, the third reason for my statement is that by going to a cinema, I can watch the film with many people. Actually, I can invite my friends to my house to watch a film with me, but I still do not think it is a great idea, because nowhere can we find as many people watching the same movie as in a cinema. Moreover, when watching film in a cinema, one can laugh, cry and even be scared about the films with people all around him, he can talk freely with others about the film and the characters, which makes the films even more interesting and more attracting than at home.
In my opinion, watching films in cinemas is preferred than watching them at home because of the above reasons. Today, cinemas are trying to improve the standard of their films, many technologies are developed to make the viewers feel as real as possible, and this makes watching films at cinemas an impossible-to-miss chance to get.

Indomie

Mungkin sudah merupakan rahasia umum bahwa Indomie ya, mie instan yang biasa kita beli di warung – warung seharga 2000 rupiah sudah menjadi makanan internasional. Dan yang lebih membanggakannya lagi, Indomie dapat dikategorikan sebagai salah satu produk mie instan terbaik di dunia. Seperti apakah dunia memandang produk PT Indofood ini? Berikut fakta – faktanya:


Berdasarkan survei yang dilakukan oleh RameRAter.com, mie instan Indomie diakui sebagai mie instan dengan cita rasa terlezat. Dalam hasil survei tersebut, Indomie goreng menempati peringkat teratas, disusul dengan Indomie Goreng Rasa Ayam Panggang di posisi kedua. Indomie mengalahkan pesaing – pesaing beratnya Nissin Yakisoba dan Sapporo Ichiban yang menempati posisi ketiga dan keempat.


Mie instan Indonesia, khususnya Indomie, dianggap unggul karena bumbunya yang sedap dan tersedia dalam berbagai pilihan rasa, termasuk di dalamnya terdapat kecap manis dan sambal pedas yang biasanya tidak tersedia di produk mie instan lainnya.
 
Karena euforia masyarakat yang begitu besar terhadap mie instan ini, banyak masyarakat yang salah paham tentang asal usul Indomie. Contohnya adalah di Jepang, banyak yang menganggap bahwa Indomie adalah salah satu produk dari Nissin Group, yang kita ketahui bahwa Nissin Group adalah perusahaan mie instan Jepang terbesar. Lain halnya di Nigeria, karena rasanya yang lezat dan harganya yang murah, Indomie telah menjadi makanan pokok sehari – hari penduduknya.
 

Berdasarkan situs Amazon.com, mie instan indonesia mendapat rating 4 bintang karena harganya yang murah ($2,45 untuk 5 pcs) dan cita rasanya yang lezat, serta pada tahun 2005 silam, Indomie memecahkan Guinness Book of World Record untuk kategori The Largest Packet of Instan Noodles.
 
 
Tidak hanya itu, mie instan Indonesia juga mendapat banyak perhatian dari Roger Ebert, seorang kritikus film terkenal dari Amerika Serikat. Pada tanggal 13 desember 2009 untuk Sun-Times Chicago, Indomie mendapat menduduki posisi 0 (yang berarti lebih tinggi dari 1) dalam salah satu Twelve Gift of Christmas. Selain kritikus film, musisi hiphop bernama J20 dalam akun youtubenya menyanyikan lagu yang khusus dipersembahkan untuk Indomie dengan judul mie instan tersebut.

Chicken Wings

We Know We Love Them But Why Are Chicken Wings So Popular At Super Bowl Time?

Chicken wings are a powerful food — they lead people to crime and cause us to worry about their price going up But why are they so important during Super Bowl parties? Is Taco Bell right, are vegetables the losers and fried foods the necessary snack material for the big game?  Though we’ve come to accept their presence every February, the popularity of chicken wings all leads back to the humble sports bar.
In the days and leading up to the Super Bowl, Americans head out en masse and buy millions and millions of chicken wings, And that seasonal boost will keep growing, according to the National Chicken Council’s chief economist.
“That bump has gotten bigger and bigger” over the years, he says. The popular pairing of meaty athletes with meaty snacks started back when sports bars were becoming de rigueur decades ago, he adds. Watching sports for a long time means a demand for cheap snacks, and wings are both convenient and not pricy.
“Ribs and pizza were the competition,” he notes, both of which just aren’t perfect for extended periods of time at a bar. Anyone who’s seen the sheen on a less-than-fresh pizza can relate.
The National Chicken Council has taken on a more active role now that it’s realized just how popular chicken wings are, including its pre-game Wing Report. This year’s report says Americans will chow down on 1.23 billion wings next weekend, an amount that would “stretch from Candlestick Park in San Francisco to M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore 27 times” if laid end-to-end.
That’s a lot of wings. Delicious, delicious wings.

FOTOGRAFI

Pengertian Fotografi adalah adalah seni atau proses penghasilan gambar dan cahaya pada film. Memang benar, kebanyakan jika anda mencari pengertian fotografi jawabannya hampir sama semua yaitu proses melukis dengan menggunakan media cahaya. Tetapi yang paling utama adalah bagaimana cara mendalami seni fotografi tersebut. Setelah mengetahui pengertian fotografi secara umum, lalu apa yang ada di pikiran anda tentang fotografi ?

Fotografi adalah sebuah kegiatan atau proses menghasilkan suatu seni gambar/foto melalui media cahaya dengan alat yang disebut kamera dengan maksud dan tujuan tertentu. (wikipedia)

Pengertian Fotografi Adalah Seni

Bila pengertian fotografi adalah proses seni melukis dengan media cahaya, maka setiap orang bisa melakukan kegiatan fotografi jika mempunyai sebuah kamera, tetapi apakah semua orang dapat menghasilkan sebuah seni ?

Seni adalah sesuatu yang diciptakan manusia yang mengandung unsur keindahan atau intisari dari kreativitas.

Seni yang paling utama dalam fotografi adalah komposisi, dengan komposisi yang baik maka foto yang dihasilkan akan mempunyai makna dan cerita yang bisa disampaikan.

Menghasilkan Foto Yang Bagus dalam Proses Fotografi

Untuk menghasilkan sebuah hasil karya yang bagus atau menarik ada beberapa faktor, faktor yang paling utama adalah faktor pencahayaan, tanpa cahaya atau pencahayaan yang baik akan terlalu sulit untuk menghasilkan hasil karya yang bagus, untuk itu dibutuhkan faktor yang kedua.

Faktor kedua adalah fotografer, foktor ini juga penting, karena tanpa fotografer proses fotografi tidak akan terjadi. Disini fotografer akan dituntut dan di uji seni atau kreatifitas nya untuk menghasilkan subuah foto yang bagus atau menarik.

Fotografer adalah sebuah profesi, fotografer hidup dengan fotografi.

Faktor yang ketiga adalah kamera, tanpa kamera proses fotografi pun tidak  terjadi. Kamera adalah alat pokok pada kegiatan fotografi. Faktor yang terakhir adalah faktor pendukungm seperti lensa cadangan, alat bantu cahaya ( lampu flash kamera), reflektor, tripod, dan lain-lainnya

Tidak perlu menggunakan kamera yang mahal untuk menciptakan sebuah karya seni fotografi.

Setelah faktor-faktor diatas menjadi satu, seorang fotograferlah yang kemudian menjadi faktor utama untuk menciptakan sebuah seni foto yang bagus dan menarik.

Sebuah Foto yang bagus itu adalah relatif, dan foto yang jelek adalah mutlak.

Kesimpulan

Fotografi adalah adalah kegiatan seni, dan jenis fotografi ada bermacam-macam. Untuk itu dibutuhkan seorang fotografer yang betul-betul mengerti seni dan jenis fotografi yang ada pada dirinya.  Tetap semangat belajar fotografi dan tingkatkan kualitas fotografi Indonesia.

Tourism

Tourism is travel for pleasure or business; also the theory and practice of touring, the business of attracting, accommodating, and entertaining tourists, and the business of operating tours.^[1] Tourism may be international, or within the traveller's country. The World Tourism Organization defines tourism more generally, in terms which go "beyond the common perception of tourism as being limited to holiday activity only", as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".^[2]

What are the benefits of swimming?

What are the benefits of swimming?

There are plenty of reasons to swim! Here's a list that should get you motivated.

Low impact

There's no ground impact when you swim, and so you protect the joints from stress and strain. In fact, the Arthritis Foundation strongly recommends swimming and water activities for this reason, so much so that they sponsor water classes all over the country (check http://www.arthritis.org for information). Water aerobics classes are also desirable for this reason, because even if you do jump and hit the bottom of the pool, you do so with less force because you're buoyant in the water. Not only that, but if you wear or hold a flotation device during a water aerobics class, the impact is even less.

Can be continued for a lifetime

Because there's no impact with swimming, it can be continued for a lifetime. If you check the United States Masters Swimming (http://www.usms.org/) Web site for age categories of their swim competitions, you will find a 100- to 104-year-old age group! And the master of fitness, Jack La Lanne, who died in 2011, reportedly still swam one hour every day at age 93!

Builds cardiorespiratory fitness

Swimming improves endurance. In one study of sedentary middle-aged men and women who did swim training for 12 weeks, maximal oxygen consumption improved 10% and stroke volume (the amount of blood pumped with each beat which indicates heart strength) improved as much as 18%.

Builds muscle mass

In a study of men who completed an eight-week swimming program, there was a 23.8% increase in the triceps muscle (the back of the arm). My take on muscle mass and swimming is that if you have been doing no resistance exercise at all and you start to swim, you will certainly get more toned and you may even gain mass like the men in this study. But even without the gain in mass, it's well worth the strength and tone that you will almost certainly gain.

An alternative when injured

When athletes are injured, particularly in the lower extremities, they are frequently told to swim to maintain their fitness level. Swimming helps them stay in shape, and it's even part of the rehabilitation. That's because the resistance of the water makes the muscles work hard without the strain or impact that is experienced on land.

It's a break from the summer heat

There's nothing like it during the hot days of summer, whether it's at the beach or in the pool. It's relaxing, the movements are smooth and rhythmic, and it's a great workout.

Twelve Benefits of Music Education

Twelve Benefits of Music Education

1. Early music education exposure helps develop brain areas involved in language and reasoning – our first example of the twelve benefits of music education. It is thought that brain development continues for many years after birth. Recent studies have clearly indicated that musical training physically develops the part of the left side of the brain known to be involved with processing language, and can actually wire the brain’s circuits in specific ways. Linking familiar songs to new information can also help imprint information on young minds 2. Music education research shows a causal link between music and spatial intelligence (the ability to perceive the world accurately and to form mental pictures of things). This kind of intelligence, by which one can visualize various elements that should go together, is critical to the sort of thinking necessary for everything from solving advanced mathematics problems to being able to pack a book-bag with everything that will be needed for the day.

3. Students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions. Questions about the arts do not have only one right answer. 4. Another example of the twelve benefits of music education is found in recent studies that show students who study the arts are more successful on standardized tests such as the SAT. They also achieve higher grades in high school. 
5. A study of the arts provides children with an internal glimpse of other cultures and teaches them to be empathetic towards the people of these cultures. This development of compassion and empathy, as opposed to development of greed and a “me first” attitude, provides a bridge across cultural chasms that leads to respect of other races at an early age.
6. Students exposed to music education learn craftsmanship as they study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work. These standards, when applied to a student’s own work, demand a new level of excellence and require students to stretch their inner resources.
7. In music, a mistake is a mistake; the instrument is in tune or not, the notes are well played or not, the entrance is made or not. It is only by much hard work that a successful performance is possible. Through music study, students learn the value of sustained effort to achieve excellence and the concrete rewards of hard work.
8. Music education enhances teamwork skills and discipline. In order for an orchestra to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing.
9. Music education provides children with a means of self-expression. Now that there is relative security in the basics of existence, the challenge is to make life meaningful and to reach for a higher stage of development. Everyone needs to be in touch at some time in his life with his core, with what he is and what he feels. Self-esteem is a by-product of this self-expression.
10. Music education develops skills that are necessary in the workplace. It focuses on “doing,” as opposed to observing, and teaches students how to perform, literally, anywhere in the world. Employers are looking for multi-dimensional workers with the sort of flexible and supple intellects that music education helps to create as described above. In the music classroom, students can also learn to better communicate and cooperate with one another.
11. Music performance teaches young people to conquer fear and to take risks. A little anxiety is a good thing, and something that will occur often in life. Dealing with it early and often makes it less of a problem later. Risk-taking is essential if a child is to fully develop his or her potential. Music contributes to mental health and can help prevent risky behavior such as teenage drug abuse, which often leads to institutionalization in a teen rehab.
12. Our final example of the twelve benefits of music education is that an arts education exposes children to the incomparable.

Music

What is Music? Music is the ‘art of combining tones in a manner to please the ear’. It may also mean sounds so combined as to make a pleasant impression on the mind.

All sound, however, is not music. It is only when the sounds (combined) produce harmony and melody and please the ear that they become music.

Music paves the way for the absorption of the mind in the Supreme. In fact, it is an innocent and refining diversion.

Importance of Music:

• Music can bring excitement in our life.
• It can stir up the feelings of love and sympathy.
• Music makes our life beautiful and fills our heart with joy.
• A emotional song can melt the heart of even a violent person.
• A patriotic song awakens in one of the love for one’s country.
• The solemn and stately music fills the worshipers with awe and reverence and the sense of the Divine Presence.
• Some famous musical pieces are ranked among the greatest achievements in human history.

Everyone knows how the song or Orpheus, the great musician of ancient Greece, proved captivating to stones, trees and flood.

The song of Tansen at Akbar’s court brought about a heavy shower and kindled a fire. Music not only rouses various feelings but also quiets the worried and wearied soul.

Conclusion: We can play a musical instrument. Alternatively, we can listen to a song according to our mood or choice. Either way, music enhances our lives in many ways.

Benefit of Running

Everyone knows that running is a great way to get into shape, but did you know that it can benefit almost every part of your body, as well as lift your mood? Running is incredibly effective at making you healthier in a number of ways. While it may not be everybody's favorite form of exercise, knowing what it can do for your life just may make you look at running in an entirely new light.

Improve Your Health

Believe it or not, running is actually a great way to increase your overall level of health. Research shows that running can raise your levels of good cholesterol while also helping you increase lung function and use. In addition, running can also boost your immune system and lower your risk of developing blood clots.

Prevent Disease

For women, running can actually help to lower your risk of breast cancer. It can also help reduce the risk of having a stroke. Many doctors today recommend running for people who are in the early stages of diabetes, high blood pressure, and osteoporosis, and it is proven to help reduce the risk of having a heart attack. By helping the arteries retain their elasticity and strengthening the heart, your chances of suffering a heart attack can be significantly reduced.

Summer skiing of the hottest spots

Hintertux, Austria

Hintertux is the only ski resort in Austria open 365 days a year and boasts extensive high-altitude summer skiing and snowboarding at the head of the Ziller valley south east of Innsbruck.

With up to 10 lifts and a possible 18 kilometers of slopes above 3,000m, Hintertux offers a range of skiing for all levels below the Olperer peak at 3,478 meters.

The quality of the snow means the Hintertux glacier is a favorite spot for international ski teams to train in the off season.

The Betterpark Hintertux is one of the highest freestyle parks in Austria at 3,200m with terrain for all levels from April to early June and from mid-September to December.

Music as therapy

This music research aligns with the larger arena of music therapy.
The American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) reports that music therapy programs can be designed to achieve goals such as managing stress, enhancing memory, and alleviating pain.
It might seem surprising that music can help people cope with physical pain, but research has shown a clear link.
A 2015 review in The Lancet found that people who listened to music before, during, or after surgery experienced less pain and anxiety, compared to patients who did not listen to music.
The music listeners didn’t even need as much pain medication.
To conduct the study, researchers looked at data from 73 different trials, involving more than 7,000 patients.
The people who experienced a slightly greater, but nonsignificant, reduction in pain, and needed the least pain medication, were the ones who got to pick their own music.
“Music is a non-invasive, safe, cheap intervention that should be available to everyone undergoing surgery,” lead study author Catherine Meads, Ph.D., of Brunel University in the United Kingdom, recommended in a press release.
When it comes to treating chronic conditions, music therapy can also play a powerful role.
A recent review in the World Journal of Psychiatry found that music therapy can be an effective treatment for mood disorders related to neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia, stroke, and multiple sclerosis.
After reviewing 25 trials, the researchers concluded that music is a valid therapy to potentially reduce depression and anxiety, as well as to improve mood, self-esteem, and quality of life.
They also noted that no negative side effects were reported in any of the trials, making music a low-risk treatment.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge or "Coathanger," as the locals call it, was the city's best-known landmark prior to construction of the Opera House. Supported by massive double piers at each end, it was built in 1932 and remains the world's largest steel arch bridge, connecting the harbor's north and south shores in a single curve rising 134 m above the water. Along its length run two railway lines and eight lanes for road traffic, the direction of which can be varied according to traffic flow. Increasing bridge traffic encouraged construction of a harbor tunnel in 1992 to ease congestion, but motorists can still drive over the bridge for blue water views. Pedestrians can stroll across on walkways or join a guided ascent through BridgeClimb for a breathtaking panorama of the city and harbor. To learn about the fascinating history of the bridge's construction, visit the museum in the southeastern pier.
Daring souls who want to climb to the 135-meter-high summit can book the Sydney bridge climb This is a spectacular opportunity that takes groups of up to 13 people on an approximately 3.5 hour climb to the top of the outer arch. Tours run throughout the day, beginning with a dawn climb and ending with a night climb. 1.5-hour Sampler Climbs and 2.25-hour Express Climbs are also available.

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

Location: Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
2013 attendance: 2.73 million
2014 attendance: 2.70 million (down 1.0%)

Formerly known as Busch Gardens: The Old Country and Busch Gardens Europe, Busch Gardens Williamsburg is sub-divided into a number of themed lands, each of which is based on a European country (with the exception of New France, which represents French Canada). The park is renowned for two things: immersive theming, and its line-up of major roller coasters. Apollo's Chariot is frequently ranked among the best roller coasters in the world, while the Curse of DarKastle dark ride is regarded as one of the best of its type outside a Disney or Universal park.

Don't miss: The secrets of Germany's Black Forest come to life in the multi-launch family coaster Verbolten With impressive special-effects and unimaginable scenery, a tandem ride through the woods turns sinister thanks to snarling vines and a first-in-America secret hidden in a dark showbuilding.

A Trip to Borobudur Temple

      Three years ago, I and my classmates visited Borobudur Temple. We went to Borobudur temple by bus. We left our school at nine o’clock. It took us 24 hours to arrive there. I arrived there nine o’clock the next day. Along the road, we saw many vehicles, unique houses, prominent buildings, and some other tourists.

        After we arrived at the Borobudur temple, one of my teachers went to buy tickets. After we waited him for a moment we entered into Borobudur temple area. Then we went up to the top of the temple. Borobudur temple was built at Budur Village, Magelang, Jawa Tengah by Syailendra Dynasty. Borobudur Temple is the biggest temple in the world. It has 504 statues and 1.400 reliefs.   From the top of the temple we can see such beautiful scenery. I and my friends went around the temple together. Finally, after having some visits, we should go to the hotel to stay and continue our study tour the next day.

     We felt tired that day but we felt so happy to visit Borobudur temple which is well-known as one of the greatest legacies Indonesia has ever had. I hope the temple can be loved by all of the visitors and the government.