Illustrated Guide to Italian Hand Gestures

Hand gestures and body language is as vital a communication medium as spoken language itself. Gestures pre-dates any language in the world, in fact, human communication evolved from gestures. It is not uncommon for people to use gestures even to this date to convey thoughts, punctuate an expression and give it a shading that the word or phrase itself lacks. But I wasn’t aware that they were so popular among Italians until I stumbled upon the Illustrated guide to Italian popular gestures by Alfredo Cassano.




[via My Modern Metropolis]

The Scientific Meaning of Gaytri Mantra

Gayatri mantra has been bestowed the greatest importance in Vedic dharma.This mantra has also been termed as Savitri and Ved-Mata, the mother of the Vedas.



"Om-bhur bhuvah swah Tat savitur varenyam Bhargo devasya dheemahi; Dhiyo yo nah prachodayat."

"The literal meaning of the mantra: O God! You are Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Almighty. You are all Light. You are all Knowledge and Bliss. You are Destroyer of fear, You are Creator of this Universe, You are the Greatest of all. We bow and meditate upon Your light. You guide our intellect in the right direction. The mantra, however, has a great scientific importance too, which somehow got lost in the literary tradition.

The modern astrophysics and astronomy tell us that our Galaxy called Milky Way or Akash-Ganga contains approximately 100,000 million of stars. Each star is like our sun having its own planet system. We know that the moon moves round the earth and the earth moves round the sun along with the moon. All planets round the sun. Each of the above bodies revolves round at its own axis as well. Our sun along with its family takes one round of the galactic center in 22.5 crore years. All galaxies including ours are moving away at a terrific velocity of 20,000 mile s per second.

And now the alternative scientific meaning of the mantra step by step:

(A) OM BHUR BHUVAH SWAH: Bhur the earth, bhuvah the planets (solar family), swah the Galaxy. We observe that when an ordinary fan with a speed of 900 RPM (rotations Per minute) moves, it makes noise. Then, one can imagine, what great noise would be created when the galaxies move with a speed of 20,000 miles per second. This is what this portion of the mantra explains that the sound produced due to the fast-moving earth, planets and galaxies is Om. The sound was heard during meditation by Rishi Vishvamitra, who mentioned it to other colleagues. All of them, then unanimously decided to call this sound Om the name of God, because this sound is available in all the three periods of time, hence it is set (permanent). Therefore, it was the first ever revolutionary idea to identify formless God with a specific title (form) called upadhi. Until that time, everybody recognized God as formless and nobody was prepared to accept this new idea.

In the Gita also, it is said, "Omiti ekaksharam brahma", meaning that the name of the Supreme is Om, which contains only one syllable (8/12). This sound Om heard during samadhi was called by all the seers nada-brahma a very great noise), but not a noise that is normally heard beyond a specific amplitude and limits of decibels suited to human hearing. Hence the rishis called this sound Udgith musical sound of the above, i.e., heaven. They also noticed that the infinite mass of galaxies moving with a velocity of 20,000 miles/second was generating a kinetic energy = 1/2 MV2 and this was balancing the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence they named it Pranavah, which means the body (vapu) or store house of energy (prana).

B. TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM: Tat that (God), savitur the sun (star), varenyam worthy of bowing or respect. Once the form of a person along with the name is known to us, we may locate the specific person.Hence the two titles (upadhi) provide the solid ground to identify the formless God, Vishvamitra suggested. He told us that we could know (realize) the unknowable formless God through the known factors, viz., sound Om and light of suns (stars).

A mathematician can solve an equation x2+y2=4; if x=2; then y can be known and so on. An engineer can measure the width of a river even by standing at the riverbank just by drawing a triangle. So was the scientific method suggested by Vishvamitra in the mantra in the next portion as under:-

C) BHARGO DEVASYA DHEEMAHI: Bhargo the light, devasya of the deity, dheemahi we should meditate. The rishi instructs us to meditate upon the available form (light of suns) to discover the formless Creator (God). Also he wants us to do japa of the word Om (this is understood in the Mantra). This is how the sage wants us to proceed, but there is a great problem to realize it, as the human mind is so shaky and restless that without the grace of the Supreme (Brahma) it cannot be controlled. Hence Vishvamitra suggests the way to pray Him as under:

D) DHIYO YO NAH PRACHODAYAT: Dhiyo (intellect), yo (who), nah (we all), prachodayat (guide to right Direction). O God! Deploy our intellect on the right path. Full scientific interpretation of the Mantra: The earth (bhur), the planets (bhuvah), and the galaxies (swah) are moving at a very great velocity, the sound produced is Om, (the name of formless God.) That God (tat), who manifests Himself in the form of light of suns (savitur) is worthy of bowing/respect (varenyam). We all, therefore, should meditate (dheemahi) upon the light (bhargo) of that deity (devasya) and also do chanting of Om. May He (yo) guide in right direction (prachodayat) our(nah) intellect dhiyo.

So we notice that the important points hinted in the mantra are:

1) The total kinetic energy generated by the movement of galaxies acts as an umbrella and balances the total energy consumption of the cosmos. Hence it was named as the Pranavah (body of energy). This is equal to 1/2 mv2 (Mass of galaxies x velocity2).

2) Realizing the great importance of the syllable OM, the other later date religions adopted this word with a slight change in accent, viz., amen and Ameen

25 Most Bizarre Sex Ed Campaigns on Earth

Sex education comes in all shapes and sizes – but it doesn’t matter how big it is, it’s what you do with it that counts. Apparently. Whether we’re being told to put a hat on it or that promiscuity will lead to an untimely death, sex ed can be pretty darn weird. Here are 25 of the strangest campaigns ever seen!

25) Spit or swallow

While this might theoretically be a good idea, it’s plainly not. Can you catch STDs from oral sex? Yes. Should you find out before you have a mouthful of j***? Yes, you probably should. And, as seen in the video below, do you really wander round and bump into people with a mouthful of man milk?

24) Pet murder

Look at this miserable chihuahua – it looks like it’s dying. In fact it probably is, because you’ve decided to ‘keep it safe’ by stuffing it into a tiny plastic sock. The only way this could be ‘keeping it safe’ is if you’re sending it somewhere truly terrible – and you really shouldn’t do that. Lesson: don’t keep living things in a condom. Unless it’s your old chap, that is!

23) Pet contraception

‘Animals need safe sex, too’? No, they really, really don’t, because neutering just isn’t the same as safe sex. This woman is holding up a condom while advocating removing your pet’s sexual organs – making it broadly incapable of sexual activity of any kind, let alone the safe kind. But then who really would want to pick up doggy condoms?

22) Good time girls will make you die of syphilis

This might not come as a surprise to you but there are three types of women – pick ups, “good time” girls and prostitutes. And they’ll all give you syphilis. The only thing that this fantastically politically incorrect poster leaves out is the fact that, unlikely as it might sound, seamen might just be spreading STDs on their own.

21) Creepy. Creepy. Creepy

Directed by Mathieu Mortelmans, this MTV ‘Staying Alive’ video is extraordinarily uncomfortable. As we all know, promiscuous sex equals death. And your partner is probably going to be gleefully involved in killing you. Yikes.

20) Because your mother hates you

This is why no one wants to live with their parents. Because their mother watches them having sex and then mimes fellatio at them. Created as part of the GI Jonny teen safe sex campaign for the BBC, the ads caused a bit of a stir, with parents calling them “disgusting”, “degrading” “filth”. The kind of things you’re exposed to in the family home, eh?

19) Look out behind you!

So Hitler does you up the wrong ‘un. And then he gives you AIDS. What a b******. Through this German AIDS-awareness campaign, the Dirk Silz advertising agency was trying to make the point that you should really check who you’re sleeping with. However, they were subsequently criticized for having accused people with AIDS of being like Hitler. Who’d have thought it, eh? Below is uncle Joe Stalin getting it on.

18) Hitler sperm

Of course, if Hitler did sleep with you, it was probably because he wanted to shoot one of these up you. Quite rightly, the thorough application of condoms would mean that no bad person would ever have been born. Such as Chairman Mao. See below.

17) Nearly never

We’d make the point that safe sex is frequently wrong. Of course, safe sex between adults, we’re fine with. But that doesn’t cover quite all of safe sex… Whatever JWT’s claymation S&M angels might be about to get up to…

16) Let’s talk about your stiffy!

The wood paneling. The sofa bed. The creepy man telling the boy about erections. And persistently asking him if he ever gets them. This is like a scene from your nightmares. Because as we know there’s nothing worse than talking to children about sex.

15) Apart from one thing

Well, maybe there’s one thing worse. Having children. If there’s one side effect of having sex without using contraception which is even more reliable than dying of STDs, it’s getting pregnant and having children. Then at some point, you’re going to have to tell them about sex.

14) Speaking of which…

Sure, it’s fine to hug people who have AIDS, just so long as you don’t share blood transfusions with them and so on. We understand this and, sure, people didn’t get this in 1987, when this poster was made. Nevertheless we don’t want to hug children with AIDS. We don’t want to hug children without AIDS. They have snot coming out of them.

13) The most awkward thing of all

Boy masturbates. His mother turns up, impassively lectures him in an alarmingly deadpan fashion, leaves. He carries on masturbating. At least she didn’t imitate fellatio, I suppose. The wonders of living in a more innocent age, eh?

12) Condoman

Would you trust this jackass to give you advice about sex? He’s wearing what’s either a wetsuit or a full body sheath. Nobody’s getting STDs wearing that thing! But where’s his head going? Then there’s his advice: “Don’t be shame.” Does he mean “ashamed”? Because he didn’t say it.

11) AIDS will even kill stickmen

Maybe Condoman is right to be worried about AIDS – it even kills stick men. This guy looks like he had an awesome time before throwing up, lying down and then dying. We had thought stick men were pretty impervious to harm, what with their lack of organs or body tissues. But AIDS – it’s a killer.

10) Don’t we all want to do this?

So you’d never go in unprepared? But this guy does have a submachine gun, after all. If you’re carrying protection, you’re fine, right? That’s why we ’sleep’ with a pistol under the pillow. On the other hand, running around naked with a machine gun does look like the most fun you could possibly ever have.

9) Spot the homo!

Getting picked up by curb crawling men, who bear a “dangerous and contagious” “sickness of the mind”? Are we talking about pedophiles? No, we’re talking about their close cousins, the homosexuals, for whom boys on the 1950s should be on the look out. So they can avoid them, obviously. Somewhat politically incorrect, we think.

8) This guy’s an HIV fan. What an ass hat

Does this man have HIV? Is he spreading it? We don’t know. But he is apparently supporting it, which officially makes him an ass hat. Notwithstanding this bizarre, artificial situation, who would support HIV? Why? What are they even talking about?

7) More awkward children

We know for a fact that your parents don’t want to find out that you’re sexually active like this. And if you do end up in this situation it would probably be best not to tell the HIV fan.

6) Worst gift EVER

So your lovely partner returns home and she’s brought you a big bag of HIV. You thought she’d been shopping, but actually she’s been cheating on you. Hot damn, what a b****.

5) “Hello,” said the penis. “Aaaaah!” said the vagina

We’ve heard of and been horrified by the story of vagina dentata, but the prospect of a talking penis is taking it a step too far. We’d advise the ladies to steer well clear of over-communicative penises, even if they are appropriate sheathed. Once again this is the work of MTV.

4) He’s going to shoot her in the…? Jesus

Have we mentioned? Sex equals death. Taking that message a step on, the ever-responsible MTV sponsored this Portuguese campaign advocating the idea that while happiness might be holding a warm gun, depression is infecting your partner with DEATH from your infected weapon. The horror.

3) It could be worse…

You could be having sex with the horrifying spider man. While we imagine an awful lot of stimulating could be done with 12 arms (count ‘em), this ad really does make the horrible point – those arms have done a lot of hugging.

2) Or even worse…

At least that fella had arms. This pair (above and at top) are making out with a giant scorpion and a giant spider, respectively – which is quite frankly an absolutely frigging terrifying prospect. If you’re having sex with someone with AIDS you’d hope that they wouldn’t eviscerate you and eat you. Of course if you’re having sex with someone who’s deliberately trying to infect you with AIDS, they don’t sound very nice. But with giant spiders, you just don’t know. Horrifying.

1) This woman. Loves the c***

Having taken a look at the giant penis starfish, the giant penis jellyfish or the giant penis turtles you might begin to imagine that this woman, swimming in a giant condom, has an above average interest in the male member. But this does look rather horrifying. Perhaps she’d enjoy the company of the TnA man, below? Or perhaps they’d have issues as they’re both trapped in giant condoms?

source  http://www.popcrunch.com/

Derek Bowers Safe Sex Campaign

Derek Bowers is an graphic designer from Glasgow, United Kingdom. Bowers created a series of advertisements for a government campaign to promote safe sex, linking the alarming rise in sexually transmitted infection cases in the UK with alcohol.

http://behance.net/gotgfx