Introduction

Without a doubt, Rabindranath Tagore can be called the 'The Indian Leonardo Da Vinci' (both known for their expertise in several fields) just as Chanakya was hailed the 'Indian Machiavelli' known for playing the political game at a level that very few in today's world can match.

The thing about the former two is that they are known as 'polymaths', a class of people (if you can call it that) that have extensive knowledge and learning in several fields.

Yet I remember this little story that I studied in school called 'Kabuliwala', written by Rabindranath Tagore, that showcases the people of Afghanistan in a different light than we're used to these days. Yes, they were known to sell 'dry fruits' then rather than peddle weapons that are acquired through dubious means these days.

The story is about a father who is far away from his daughter (and misses her terribly) and is reminded of his little daughter back in Kabul in seeing Mini, the daughter of the narrator of the story. The story progresses with the daughter and the 'Kabuliwala' who sells dry fruit, becoming friends while she gives him money to go back home to see his daughter from the amount of money her parents have set aside for her marriage. Quaint, but it always brings a lump to my throat…

However, I'm reminded of this touching story whenever anyone refers to dry fruits every time… and it's no different this time either!

Dry Fruits

Popular choices include dates, raisins, almonds, pistachios, cashew nuts and prunes among a host of other nuts and fruits that you will find in products such as cereal, trail mix and so on and so forth.

Apricots, cherries, tomatoes, strawberries, pineapples, persimmons, pears, peaches, papayas, mangoes, kiwi-fruit, figs, cranberries, bananas and apples are also dried as well.

Why people choose to dry fruit is purely for preservation purposes since the water has been removed from the fruit (causing it to shrink), and also eliminating the chance of bacteria and mold spoiling the fruit.

How to dry different fruits

There are three methods to dry fruits namely:

1) Naturally, by drying them in the sun, and is even used today in many countries.

2) Oven drying

3) Food dehydrator (Electric)

If one wants to dry fruits, then it normally takes about 12 to 48 hours for the water to be removed from the fruit using any of these methods. What also occurs during this process is that Vitamin A & C is lost due to the presence of heat and air.

Of the three methods provided above, the first one requires temperatures above 100 degrees F for at least three days in a row in order to be able to dry the fruits properly, and that might not be a given if you are living in a cold region.

With the second method, you have to 'air' the dried fruits and also need an oven that can reach temperatures of atleast 200 degrees F and above. Not only is this method not efficient when it comes to using energy but also results in fruits losing the flavor as well.

The third method is normally considered the best method of drying, with both the disadvantages of the second method eliminated which allows one to dry the fruit at low temperatures while maintaining its flavor, where one has to just use a fan to maintain air circulation and heat during the drying process.

In Closing

It wouldn't be wrong to assume that Kabuliwala in the story used the first method of drying fruits in the sun (with delightful results, of course) yet with the options to dry fruit these days, one can still get the same taste and flavor that one might reminisce about times when everything was much simpler and presumably better back in the 'good old days'.

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Introduction

In one of his standups Carlos Mencia once remarked that the movie 'Superman Returns' should have been titled 'Superman returns gay'. I agree. Look at the Spiderman series where the protagonist whines about his gift being his curse, while on the other hand, The Dark Knight and The Incredible Hulk gave the audience a movie worth remembering with plenty of action and stunts leaving out scenes that focused on the struggle and depressing thought processes (ufff boring!) that the superhero's alter ego goes through, mostly falling in the 'oh poor me' category.

With the current demands in relationships requiring men to be more sensitive and nurturing, it isn't surprising that more and more men are embracing their feminine side. But at least leave the damn superheroes and these comics that we loved as boys out of it, please!

Metaphorically speaking, this touchy-feely business feels like 'krytonite' to most healthy red-blooded males, and if one reads Daniel Goleman's Emotional Intelligence, most men aren't necessarily gifted with sensitivity, a nurturing desire and a range of emotions that we men would feel very uncomfortable experiencing let alone dealing with people who regularly experience these emotions.

This krytonite-like aversion also extends into the kitchen as well where we begin to get all fuzzy and lose focus until we're able to maintain our equilibrium with a beer or two (far away from the kitchen, of course).

However, there comes a time when all these qualities do play an important role in survival, especially if you don't like starving, and for that one must at least be aware of the basic cutlery tools that are needed for the kitchen if that day when you need to use them ever comes (and it does, believe you me!).

Essential tools for the kitchen

Most professional cooks might have no use for this article and nor will people who aren't professional chefs but have been cooking for an extended period of time. So, the obvious ones who need a virtual tour around the kitchen are the amateurs or the ones who don't know where to start.

Apart from the bowls, spatulas, frying pans, sauce and stock pots, wooden spoons, turners and flippers that are absolutely essential for the helpless bachelor and sometime helpless spinster, is choosing cutlery (silverware) for the kitchen that is used in preparing, serving and eating food.

Essential Cutlery Tools

Cutlery was originally only used in the Western world, while today, the knife, fork and the spoon are commonly used all over the world. Now since these are used while eating, one must buy at least two sizes of forks (the longer pair for the main course and the shorter one for salads and desserts) while also purchasing a variety of teaspoons, tablespoons, soup spoons and butter knives.

When it comes to the preparation and serving part, here's a checklist of utensils (that might or might not be classified as strictly cutlery utensils) in random order that can help you get more than started:

1. Chef's and paring knife

2. Locking tongs

3. Whisk

4. Slotted spoon

5. Kitchen shears

6. Serrated bread knife

7. Potato masher

8. Grater & microplane grater

9. Garlic & Lemon Press

10. Y-shaped vegetable peeler

Apart from these, other utensils like the corkscrew, can opener, measuring cups & spoons, peppermill, salad spinner, timer and the instant-read thermometer will most likely come in handy as well.

In Closing

And so while we take our first steps into getting our kitchen together, Hollywood has awarded Christopher Nolan (the Director of 'The Dark Knight') the next Superman project that he is extremely enthusiastic in taking. And one hopes that this time despite the absence of Christopher Reeves (R.I.P), this acclaimed director will turn the excellent script into cinematic gold, and save us the kryptonite experience (and Hollywood's jinx in regards to 'The Man of Steel')  yet again. Yes, we hope Superman really returns again…

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As a busy parent, it can be very difficult to stick to your workout schedule. There are meals to make, toys to play with, plenty of diapers to change and laundry to do. The list of chores can be endless. You get so caught up in the world of your children that you end up neglecting yourself. Here’s a tip though — parents need exercise too!

You will feel better, you will move better, and you will be healthier for your children. If that isn’t reason enough, I don’t know what else is!

Here are some tips on how to fit exercise in to your busy day.

1. Schedule it in. Just like you schedule in a play date or plan for a shower, schedule in some time to exercise. It can be as simple as 10 minutes during your kids’ naps, but the way to stick to it is to have it on your daily schedule. If it’s written down, you are more likely to get it done.
2. Be creative! You might not have time to go to an official gym or have an hour for a full-body workout. That is okay, there are plenty of quick and easy ways to fit some exercise in your day. Folding laundry? Do some squats! Going to the mailbox? Do lunges on the way there. Down on the floor picking up toys? Do a quick set of 15 push-ups. How creative can you be?!
3. Have your kids join you! Take them on a bike ride, long walk, or even a swim. Get some jump ropes and spend 30 minutes jumping rope with them. Chase them around the backyard or play hopscotch. The key here is to move your body and we all know that kids love to move!
4. Make use of down time. While your kids are napping, you can be moving. Again, a jump rope or a flight of stairs can provide you with an easy indoor workout.
5. Be flexible. If you planned for a morning workout and it didn’t happen, don’t give up completely. Be creative and fit in some exercise later on in the day.

The reality is that us parents need to take care of ourselves too. If we don’t take the time to exercise and be healthy today, we’re going to have to make time to be sick later.

So get up and start moving — there is no time like the present!

How do you stick to your workout schedule?

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Lifeline screening. No we're not playing Who Wants to Be a Millionaire — more like Who Wants to Be a-Live.

These days, there are literally hundreds of different types of blood tests and screenings, and there seems to be something dangerous and hazardous hiding in everything from the food we eat to our children's toys.

So, how do you make sure you are aware of your true overall health condition without becoming a paranoid hypochondriac?

Below is a list of tests and screenings that should be included in your regular checkups, brought to you by Medical News Today.

15 Types of Blood Tests and Lifeline Screenings

UNDER 40 (Men and Women)

1. Blood pressure test every two years if normal.
2. Cholesterol at least every 5 years. (In fact, a new study says cholesterol should be tested as early as 15 months old.)
3. Skin cancer screening every 3 years by your doctor or dermatologist, and a self-check once a month.
4. Fasting glucose test for diabetes if there is any family history of the disease or if you are overweight.

UNDER 40 (Men only)

1. Testicular self-exam once a month to check for any lumps or swelling.

UNDER 40 (Women only)

1. Breast self-exam once a month to check for any lumps or changes.
2. Once a year, get a professional breast exam with your doctor.
3. Pap smear once a year to check for cervical cancer.

OVER 40 (Men and Women)

1. Continue all of the above, plus the following:
2. Skin cancer screening more often, once a year.
3. Colonoscopy every 10 years.

OVER 40 (Men only)

1. Digital rectal exam every year to check for prostate cancer.

OVER 40 (Women only)

1. Clinical breast exam every year.
2. Mammogram every year.
3. Bone density scan every 5-10 years.

Of course, the most important thing is to get in for your regular checkups in the first place. Many of us put these off (especially us guys) and don't visit the doctor unless we have an arrow through our head.

These lifeline screenings and types of blood tests will give you the comfort of knowing your healthy and potentially catch any major health problems before it's too late.

How often do you visit the doctor? Do you get your annual checkups, or can you not even remember the last time you set foot in a hospital?

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Monday is Blog Carnivals Day. A Blog Carnival is basically a collection of articles or blog posts, all relating to a similar subject, that are gathered together for your viewing pleasure. You can quickly and conveniently see a list of Article Titles and click on the ones that interest you to read the full post. Blog carnivals are a great way to see a wide variety of ideas and opinions on a similar subject. To see a list of all previous posts in the Blog Carnivals category, click here.

Want to see your article or blog post featured in the FitBuff.com Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival? Click here to submit yours now.

Brain Power

Paul Cox presents 10 Ways To Improve Your Memory posted at Excel Training & Consulting.

edithyeung presents Be The Best at Just One Thing posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

John Hill presents Magic Healing Power of Your Subconscious Mind posted at Universe Of Success.

Eugene Thong presents Become an Educated Consumer! posted at ETF Wellness – A Personal Training Blog., saying, "How to decode confusing and contradictory media headlines on health topics."

Dating

John Hill presents How to Attract a Girlfriend posted at Attracting People.com.

David presents What Kind of Man Turns you Off in a Nightclub? posted at Music Career Success, saying, "What Kind of Man Turns you Off in a Nightclub?"

Exercise

Tupelo Kenyon presents Facing Fear Eye to Eye posted at Tupelo Kenyon, saying, "Eye to eye with a bear while fishing alone is a good lesson in fear, awareness, panic and the law of attraction. It's one thing to wax philosophically about such things, but to be up close and personal with a large, healthy bear in his domain puts personal development ideas to the test in the real world. (Enjoy soothing instrumental music as you read plus songs with lyrics related to each article – all free.)"

John presents How to Get a Big Wide Muscular Back posted at Muscular-Fitness.

John Hill presents Get Bigger Biceps and Triceps for Hardgainers posted at Big-Arms.com.

Stanimir Sotirov presents Fitness and Weight Loss:The importance of warming up posted at All About Your Body And Spirit.

Stanimir Sotirov presents Fitness:How long should i rest between my stes? posted at All About Your Body And Spirit.

Andrew Edgington presents What is the Future for Bodybuilders? (Part 2) posted at Mick.

Aparna presents Water therapy for insomnia and headache posted at Beauty & Personality Grooming, saying, "While water is vital for the internal functioning of your body, it’s also of great value when used on the outside! Did you know that water can actually be used for treating insomnia and to provide relief from headaches? Read on to find out!"

Family

Bill Urell presents Are You Unknowingly Sleeping Next To An Alcoholic Or Drug Addict? posted at Addiction Recovery Basics.

Alex Blackwell presents Finding My Value in Spite of Relationships posted at The Next 45 Years.

Money

Millionaire Mommy Next Door presents The Powerful (and Addictive) Nature of Giving posted at Millionaire Mommy Next Door, saying, "I've come up with an idea that has me covered in goosebumps every time I think about it. And that's a feeling I want to pass on."

Kevin Surbaugh presents About My Medical Problems posted at Becoming & Staying Debt Free.

Nutrition

Rajni Sharma presents How Coconut Oil Benefits Your Health: And Why Nobody Told You! posted at Simple Tips on Health and Fitness.

Rob presents The Koda Kumi Diet; eating your way to weight-loss posted at Dusk and Dawn, saying, "This is a short article about a small change I've made in my life that has been having a continuous, positive effect on my health."

Dean presents Top Ten Fast Food Meals That Make You Fat posted at Mr. Cheap Stuff, saying, "Don't eat these fast food meals."

TheNourisher presents Nourishing the Liver posted at Nourished Magazine.

James presents Diet Loss For those Flat sexy ABS posted at J.V Sports and other news.

Sohail presents Sugar Beverages: Drinks of Mass Destruction? posted at The HealthBlogger, saying, "Sugar Beverages: Drinks of Mass Destruction?"

Nneka presents How to Stop Eating Compulsively posted at Balanced Life Center.

Stanimir Sotirov presents Fitness:Drinking Raw Eggs posted at All About Your Body And Spirit.

Work

Daylle Deanna Schwartz presents Making Your Mistakes Count posted at Lessons from a Recovering DoorMat, saying, "Thanks for the opportunity to submit my article! As a former doormat who evolved into a successful author and speaker, I'm delighted to share my lessons with others."

Paul Cox presents 8 Steps for Making a Change In Your Life posted at Excel Training & Consulting.

edithyeung presents Should I Refer You? posted at Edith Yeung.Com: Dream. Think. Act..

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In keeping with the Contests theme of the week, we want to make sure the prizes are spread out evenly among our ten areas of Total Mind and Body Fitness: Brain Power, Dating, Exercise, Family, Grooming, Money, Nutrition, Sex, Stress, and Work.

We've already covered Dating and Sex with yesterday's contest. Today's topic and prize fits perfectly in the Family and Work Life categories.

Everyone is always trying to get something done. Whether it's getting an important project done at work, a long term paper for school, or some overdue housework around the house, we could all use a little extra time and help to get things done faster and more efficiently.

"Getting Things Done" to the rescue! If you haven't heard of GTD, then today is your lucky day.

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen is widely regarded as one of the greatest productivity and efficiency books to date. Quite obviously, it teaches you the fine art of "getting things done," complete with methods, techniques, and examples to increase the amount of work you do, while decreasing your stress levels.

Still not convinced? Click Here to read over 300 rave reviews from real customers just like you who say this book is amazing. Getting Things Done is ranked #44 on ALL of the books on Amazon.com!

If you apply the information found in this book to your daily activities, no matter what they are, this book could quite possibly change your life. Most of the adjustments are very simple to implement and sometimes quite obvious, but you will be amazed at how much more you can get done in the same amount of time, all while keeping your mind completely clear and worry-free.

So What Do I Have to Do to Get a Free Copy?!

Leave a comment below with one quick productivity tip. That's it! Let us know one little thing that you do at home, at work, or anywhere else that helps you get things done. Just make sure someone else hasn't already given the same tip. You have until July 31st.

As soon as your comment is confirmed, you will be emailed a free link to the full book immediately. So, make sure when you leave your comment that you use a valid email address, or you won't get the free book link. Don't worry, no one else will be able to see your email address, so it's totally safe and secure.

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An interesting study from psychologists at the University of California at Santa Barbara shows anger can actually help someone think more clearly. Usually, you think of an angry person as someone who isn't thinking much at all, leading to violent and/or rash behavior. While this can certainly be true in extreme cases, it turns out that simply getting a little "peeved" can improve your analytical thinking.

The researchers studied two groups of college students. The first group they riled up by making the students write about a past experience in which they were very angry. If that didn't work, then they would ask the students what their goals and dreams were, only to shoot them down with harsh and negative comments. Nice scientists, huh? Luckily for the second group, they weren't angered at all.

Then, the students were shown two different arguments designed to convince them that college students have good spending habits. One argument was very strong and backed with facts from reputable sources, while the other was filled with loosely opinionated comments and unsupported claims.

The angry students saw right through the weak argument and dismissed it as irrelevant, but the calm group was equally convinced by both arguments.

Their findings, detailed in this month’s issue of the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, suggest that anger helps people focus on the cues that matter most to making a rational decision and ignore cues that are irrelevant to the task of decision-making.

This could be because anger is designed to motivate people to take action, and that it actually helps people to take the right action.

So, what does this mean for you? Within reason, instead of waiting for you and your spouse or you and your co-worker to cool down during a disagreement, you should try and solve it then. You both will be thinking more clearly and are actually more likely to come to an ideal resolution.

Of course, this is a very thin line, and you need to use your best judgment in each situation. Sometimes, it really is better to follow the age-old rule of counting to 10 and revisiting the subject after you've cooled down.

What is your experience with minor arguments with your spouse or co-worker? Do you usually walk away until you're both calm, or do you try and solve the problem right then?

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According to a recent study of nearly 250,000 males between 18 and 19 years old, the first-born had an average IQ score 2.3 points higher than their younger siblings. Doesn't sound like much, right? But, those 2.3 points increase a child's chances of getting into an Ivy League school by 30 percent. The results also proved that IQ is, at least in part, determined by social birth order and not by genetics, putting an end to a nearly 70 year old debate.

But, don't start resenting your older brother just yet. While the 2.3 points are fairly significant, they only reflect the educational potential of an individual. So, even if you weren't the first to arrive on the scene in your family, you are still entirely capable of being more successful than all of your siblings combined. It's all about how you use what you've got.

There are several theories as to why first-born children usually have higher IQ's. One, they are usually given undivided attention during their early developmental years. As additional children are born, the attention of the parents is spread more thinly across the entire family.

Another possible explanation, parents usually spend more money on the oldest sibling, simply because that child is the first one to require the extra expenses. For example, the oldest child would most likely be the first to want to take a class of some kind, get involved in sports, go to college, etc.

The theory that one of the researchers thinks is most accurate is called "niche partitioning". Basically, the oldest child is given the most authority and responsibility, therefore the parents tend to see him as a surrogate parent to the younger siblings. This higher ranking then drives the later-born children to find their "niche" in the family.

Because older children already occupy the "disciplined and wise" niche, younger children have to find other roles to play. "So, younger siblings look for other things to be good at," said Frank J. Sulloway, a visiting scholar at the University of California, Berkeley, Institute of Personality and Social Research. "It may be that that extra 2.3 points in IQ reflects an investment of time to get that, and the later-born is investing that time in something else and is getting 2.3 extra points in something else," he added.

Given that each child is finding his or her own niche, the difference in IQ is nothing for parents to worry about, Sulloway said.

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Want to see your article or blog post featured in the FitBuff.com Total Mind and Body Fitness Blog Carnival? Click here to submit yours now.

Brain Power

• Anne-Marie presents An Interview with Nordine Zouareg, author of Mind Over Body: The Key to Lasting Weight Loss Is All in Your Head posted at A Mama's Rant.
• Kendra presents Escaping ?Uterine Rupture? Fears posted at vbacadventure.com.
• Caroline Latham presents Pattern Recognition Brain Teaser – The Empty Triangle posted at SharpBrains.
• Meredith Mathews presents T spheres posted at Lemonade Stand.
• Silicon Valley Blogger presents Cheap Ways To Learn And Feed Your Brain posted at The Digerati Life.

Exercise

• therapydoc presents Alcohol and Your Therapy Doc posted at Everyone Needs Therapy.
• Midnight Raider presents Weightlifting On Any Budget posted at Refrigerator Raid.
• Lynda Lippin presents Pilates & Reiki In Paradise Blog: Supreme Pilates®–Be Very Afraid! posted at Pilates & Reiki In Paradise Blog.
• baiguai presents Getting Off the Couch posted at Kung Fu Artistry.
• Anmol Mehta presents Core Abdominal Power Yoga Exercises posted at Mastery of Meditation, Enlightenment & Kundalini Yoga.
• Shane Magee presents Warming up before running or doing exercise. posted at Sri Chinmoy Races Blog.
• April Kerr presents Improve your Immune System with Exercise posted at Natural Health Remedies.

Family

• Tracee Sioux presents Second Generation Mean Girl posted at So Sioux Me.

Grooming

• Tracee Sioux presents Pur Perfection for Pregnancy Mask posted at Blog Fabulous.

Nutrition

• Dean Carlson presents The 3 P's of a Healthy Diet posted at New Hampshire Fitness Personal Trainer NH.

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Kids are notoriously picky eaters. If it doesn't come in a box with a cute cartoon character promoting it, then they probably aren't interested. It's important to get your children to develop healthy eating habits early on, without having to force them to reluctantly choke down something they don't enjoy. In fact, making them eat certain foods could backfire, leading to binge snacking when you're not looking and/or having a bad association with a certain food for the rest of their life.

Here are 5 tips to ensure that your child is eating healthy because they know it's good for them. Teach them early on, and they will continue their nutritious eating habits for the rest of their lives.

1. Teach – First and foremost, talk to your kids and teach them that eating healthy will help them to "grow up and be big and strong". Just like talks about drugs or smoking, if they know why they should do things a certain way and how it could benefit them, they are much more likely to listen.
2. Variety – If they've been eating lots of unhealthy foods and snacks until now, ease them into their new eating habits. For the first few weeks, allow them to continue eating a few of their favorite foods, but mix in something nutritious with the same meal. Just mixing in a sliced apple or a bowl of corn with their dinner will help to widen their palette and develop tastes for new foods.
3. Schedule – Stick to an organized schedule for family meals. If you have breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time each day, your child will be hungry at the right times and less likely to fill up on snacks and junk food.
4. Tastes Change – As a child, and even into adulthood, our tastes and flavor preferences can change dramatically. So, just because junior despises the taste of broccoli now, he could develop a taste for it later on. If there's a specific healthy food your child refuses to eat, reintroduce it in new ways every few weeks. In the case of broccoli, for example, try mixing it in with a salad or chicken wrap to overcome the "ewww broccoli" stereotype.
5. Meal Environment – Try to have all meals in an organized setting with the entire family. If you're all eating and talking at a dining table without television or other distractions, your children will view mealtime as a pleasant social experience, rather than a minor annoyance they endure in between playtimes.

Put these tips to use starting with your next meal, and you can begin building the foundation for your child's healthy lifestyle. And, don't forget to lead by example Mom and Dad!

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