The story Dear Future Girlfriend, Here Are 11 Things You Should Know Before We Fall In Love appeared first on StoryPick.

I, like many other hopeful men on this weekend of love, am single, after having been in three not-so-good relationships. And although I haven’t landed a date and will be spending this Sunday with Sense8 and Pizza, there is a part of me which is sad and wishful of a partner to watch Sense8 and share my Pizza with.

So, dear future girlfriend who is somewhere out there, if you’re reading this, here are the things you need to know after we fall in love.

1. I’m a work in progress, so be patient.

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I have been scorned in the past, and I have not known the reasons why I’ve been left. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the concept of a healthy relationship, and am figuring myself out, and what my partner requires me to be an do. So be patient, I’ll get there, and all will be well.

2. I’m a normal heterosexual male, meaning there will be female company.

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It is but natural to have friends from the opposite sex, and that is how the world works. But don’t worry, for I have drawn definite lines in all my friendships and I think it almost blasphemous if they are crossed. So don’t keep space for any jealousy or insecurity, and I promise the same from my end.

3. Loving me with all your heart doesn’t mean you’ll get to own me.

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We will be in a relationship as equals. We both will have our fair share of experiences and memories. No matter how much we love and feel for each other, we will have to bear in mind that we aren’t party to each other’s orders. If one doesn’t like something to be done, they have all the right to refuse it, and the other person will have to gracefully accept it.

4. I don’t need you, but I want you.

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This is, by far, the most important point about me that you should know. I can very well be all on my own, I have been for a while now. I’m not going to die without you, but I want you. I desire a healthy companionship from you and want that neither of us are left alone when the world gives in to sleep.

5. When I fall, I fall hard, fast, and deep. Tell me if/when you feel smothered.

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This is just how I love, and how I am. I give it my all, and that is the only kind of love I have known. It has gotten a bit too out of hand for others before, and it might for you, as well. So if you feel suffocated, tell me in the clearest of words, and I’ll dial it down a few notches.

6. If you don’t like the things or people I like, it’s okay, and the same works the other way.

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We have had our own worlds before ours merged, and we’ll get to keep our own individualities. I have certain set likes and certain people who are permanent residents in my life, I’m sure you’ll have them too. It is very possible that either of us might not like or not be comfortable with those of the other. That’s okay to happen, we’re different people after all, and there won’t be a need for any issues to be made out of it.

7. Money will also be involved, and we’ll go Dutch on all expenses, except gifts.

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They say many relationships, marriages even, get destroyed because of money, because it holds a lot more power than what we give it credit for. So let it not come in the way of our being together. Whatever expenses we incur when we are together, be it food, travel, etc., we’ll split it equally amongst us. Gifts are, of course, an exception. But even that should have a limit to it.

8. Physical intimacy and its boundaries will totally be mutually agreed upon.

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I don’t have to tell you much on this. If I or you are not ready, for anything, we won’t do it. Simple as that. We will respect each other’s bodies and their wishes and reservations for them.

9. I’m not hopelessly needy, but I will expect some ‘us’ time every day.

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Loyalty, trust, faith, and desire, carry love through each darkest fire. But more than that, communication is key to any relationship holding its spark. I will not ask you to hang out and keep talking to me 24×7×365, but I expect a little amount of either intellectual conversation or healthy banter once a day, so that the novelty doesn’t fade.

10. There will be no pressure for any future plans and I’ll expect the same from you.

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We will live in the moment and not give much thought about how we go from there and which road we’ll take. If and when we get serious and see a future with each other, there will be ‘the talk’ and all plans and further steps of action will be mutually decided upon without stepping on anyone’s shoes.

11. If at any point, you feel you’re done and out of love, tell it to me straight up.

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I will expect you to be faithful with me and if there ever comes a time where you just don’t feel like it and want to call it quits (believe me, it happens, and it’s totally normal), make sure I’m the first one who knows about it and talk it out with me before taking any other step. I will hear you out and respect your decision, and like I mentioned, there will be no pressure for anything.

There are other things too, that we both should know before falling in love, dear future girlfriend, but the above should suffice for now, before we take the plunge.

With bated breath and loads of hopeful love, your future boyfriend!

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The story Abduction Of Snapdeal Employee Takes A Filmy Turn. Accused Says SRK’s Darr Inspired Him appeared first on StoryPick.

The abduction case of Snapdeal employee, Dipti Sarna took a very filmy turn when the 5 people involved with her kidnapping were arrested.

Out of the 5, the prime accused Devendra, had not only been ‘in love’ with her but was also stalking her for quite a few months after first spotting her in the Metro

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Dipti who was abducted last week and returned safely by her kidnappers within 36 hours, and left her at some unknown railway station, without any physical or sexual assault.

But the shocking and surprising part of the story is that the prime accused claims to have been inspired by Shahrukh Khan’s romantic thriller where SRK plays a stalker

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So much so, that the kidnappers even knew Dipti’s favorite brand of chips.

Devendra’s planning was so meticulous that, since he knew Dipti took shared autos to get home fro work, he bought two autos just in hopes of Dipti using his auto-rickshaw services

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He lured the other accused people by telling them that Dipti was the daughter of a businessman and would easily fetch a Rs. 10 -12 crores ransom.

The kidnappers demanded no ransom for her abduction and let her go with a return fare of Rs. 100/-

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Dipti had to borrow another man’s phone at the unknown station to call her father and let him know of her strange ordeal.

Dipti says she was abducted at knife-point, from where she was driven in an i10 car, made to walk 30-40 kilometers, left in a sugarcane field and ultimately dropped off at the unknown station

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The kidnappers left her without any harm, but her belongings including her mobile phone, laptop, purse and some other personal articles were taken by them.

At least, the whole drama is now over.

News Sources: IBN Live, Hindustan Times, NDTV
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The story 7 Ordinary Details That Tell What Kind Of A Person You Are appeared first on StoryPick.

Personality and psychology go hand in hand. Who you are inside as a person, reflects on how you are on the outside. And a little bit of thought put into it is enough for people to guess what lies beneath the surface.

So these 7 activities you do in your daily life is what might tip people off about your personality.

1. What you find funny

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According to the science of human emotion, we laugh at what we think is true. Hence, something we find funny is an exaggeration of the happiness we get when something we know is validated. This goes on to show what we believe in.

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2. What coloured clothes you wear

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The colour of the clothes you wear most often directly define what personality and school of thought you generally are in. Colour psychology experts say that based on your personality, you will be naturally attracted to clothing of a certain colour and hence that will be a direct pointer of your general mood. (E.g., green stands for love, blue stands for loyalty, black for self-importance).

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3. How you describe yourself

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How one thinks, behaves, and acts is a reflection of how he thinks of himself. The way you describe yourself to others may be, in many ways, superficial, but what you truly think of yourself is how you’d eventually end up behaving and acting.

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4. How you treat people who are beneath you or in need

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This has been said and done enough and it shows what kind of morals you hold. A man’s true character can be known by seeing how he behaves with those from whom he can’t benefit. It shows if you’re benevolent or otherwise, not based on if you help the needy, but how you behave with them.

5. How you behave in an argument

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Do you argue to always win? Are you ready to go to any level to discredit the opposite person? If this is the case, then it says a lot about how you are as a person in general. People who argue to win are usually fast thinkers, but fail at empathy, whereas those who argue calmly are more logically sound.

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6. What entertains you

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If you enjoy gossiping and spreading false rumours among your circle, chances are that you enjoy cheap tricks and flashy imagery. If you’re among those who are entertained by deep, intellectual conversations about events, books, or music, you are amongst the more psychologically higher placed people.

7. What you are when you are alone

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“Personality is what you do when you’re with everyone. Character is what you do when no one is watching.” What you think about and process when you’re alone, or inside your head, will eventually reflect in your public words and actions in some way or other.

For one day, be self-conscious and study how you conduct yourself with others and also when you’re alone, and compare it to the above. You will get a clearer picture of what you are as a person and how people perceive you in general.

Live long and prosper! 

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The story 21 Promises You Should Make To Yourself Before You Give Your Heart To Someone appeared first on StoryPick.

Keep the promises you make, or don’t make a promise you cannot keep.

In a relationship, this quote resonates the most when it comes to its framework. It’s difficult to trust someone unconditionally, as everybody is often skeptical about giving themselves, or even a part of themselves away. Although when you become ready to hand over your heart to someone, you expect them to promise to take care of it.

Here are few promises you should make to yourself before you surrender to the magical master that is love whose promises you’ll be relying on.

1. I’ll be as loving to myself as I’d be to him/her.

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2. I won’t compromise my values for anything or anyone.

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3. I won’t let my voice drown in the cacophony of regularity.

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4. I’ll give everyone a second chance withstanding the circumstances.

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5. I won’t let my financial freedom be sabotaged just because I choose to be emotionally dependent on someone.

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6. I won’t let go of things I’m passionate about.

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7. I’ll live this moment to the fullest.

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8. I’ll not let life’s challenges make me bitter, instead, become better.

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9. I’ll be my true self, to myself and to the world.

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10. I won’t let anything stunt my growth, nor his/her.

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11. I won’t take myself or him/her for granted.

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12. I won’t have unrealistic expectations from myself or him/her.

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13. I’ll listen and try to understand the other sides’ point of view.

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14. I’ll make myself clear about what I need and make sure I take care of what he/she needs.

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15. I’ll never let tears creep into the smiles we share.

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16. I’ll always keep in mind that everything isn’t and cannot be in my control.

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17. I’ll choose my battles wisely.

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18. I won’t let my past or his/her’s be the reason of pain to either or both of us.

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19. I’ll try my best to help both of us reach our potential individually.

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20. I’ll be the kind of person he/she deserves.

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21.I promise I’ll see this to the end.

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The only way you can love someone else is by loving yourself.

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The story A Photographer Took Pictures Of Himachal Kids Playing Quidditch And They’re Truly Magical appeared first on StoryPick.

For Muggles who don’t know, Quidditch is the favourite sport of the wizarding world in Harry Potter world. But did you know that children of Kalap in interior Garhwal, Uttarakhand also play Quidditch, with broomsticks, quaffle, snitch et al.

Anshu Agarwal, a 25-year-old freelance photographer, a Potter fanatic, and a teacher in an NGO working in the village released the series of photos on his page Anshoots Photography and the photos are as magical as possible.

The concept of the photoshoot came to Agarwal from an assignment he gave to the kids.

He says, “As an exercise to teach the children English I show them Harry Potter movies on Sundays. They are smitten by them too and once expressed how they wished to be witches and wizards themselves. Since I was already into Levitation Photography, I thought of making an effort to materialise their fantasy”.

Agarwal set up a foot high wooden bench , with brromsticks and a volleyball was used as the quaffle.

He says, “Many children of the village clustered around in different locations of the village for 4 consecutive Sundays as I captured the thrilled kids hopping on their broomsticks. The images were stacked together and edited on Photoshop”.

Anshu’s photography and Photoshop skills left the children in wide-eyed wonder as they couldn’t believe the results.

Anshu also added, “To me photography is a bridge between my perception of the world around me and what it actually is. While I’m behind my camera I feel a dire need to take control over the subject and the surroundings. Perhaps that explains why I am mostly keen in creating something larger-than-life”.

Kids, we too are left wide-eyed and wondering at his amazing skills.

News Source: Newsminute
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The story An Open Letter From A Son To His Mother After Moving Out For The First Time appeared first on StoryPick.

Dear mother,

It has been over a month since I moved out of our home to pursue what I love, to a different city. Everything is new over here, and although the people here have been living here since a long time, it still feels like uncharted territory to me. Like the first day of school, when I had to explore what lay on the other side of those gates.

To be frank, mother, I did not know what to expect.

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Even though I had been gearing up for this job for a while, looking up and finalising every last detail, I have to be truthful to you that it all came as a shock. And every day when I encounter something new, I remember your words, “Learn. Constantly gain knowledge about what you don’t know. It will never go to waste.” It is being validated every day. Thank you, mother.

Even though I miss you, I refuse to accept it.

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It is a part of everyone’s psychologies, I guess. We refuse to accept and face what makes us weak and vulnerable. I miss you, yes. In everything. Up until now, I’ve lived with you my entire life and have memories with you in every single thing I do in the day. So yes, you’re remembered right from waking up in the morning to making my bed in the night. But I don’t accept it, because I want to be strong.

I remember everything you’ve taught me, every moment of the day.

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From making breakfast in the morning, to washing clothes in the evening, to changing my bedsheets, to buying house supplies, you’re remembered in every activity I do. For this, I cannot thank you enough. What you taught me as a child, for which I was constantly looking for ways to get out of, is now enjoyable when I do it alone and for myself.

You were the first person I thought of when I got my first paycheck.

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I owe my success in a large part to you and father. You, especially. You not only imparted in me how to conduct myself with other people, but you also taught me the qualities I should uphold to make a good name for myself as well as my family. And the first paycheck I received today made me realise how important all of these lessons are for a man when he starts earning.

I cannot wait to come home as much as you.

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No matter how much we fight and how much I tell you to leave me alone, the truth is that there is no place like home. Your presence makes the house a home, and I’d want to live in that feeling wherever you are, just to get over the feeling of longing. I can go with staying in another city for as long as I want, but I WILL want you for a detox every once in a while.

Yes, I am taking care of myself. Yes, I am having a good time here. Yes, I have made friends (somewhat). This is a new experience for me, and no matter how daunting or how amazing it may seem on random days, it is what I wanted and what I chose for myself, because I needed this experience to be truly independent and because I was curious to know what it is like to live alone and away from home.

With loads of love and immense amounts of respect,
Your loving son.

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The story 15 Of The Most Awesomely Guarded Secrets In The World appeared first on StoryPick.

In today’s world of free information, there are still people and companies that hold valuable pieces of information that are not freely available to the public.

Even though science has advanced to a degree where a competitor company can just reverse engineer a product, some companies still hold their own by holding secrets that make them exclusive in the market.

And they go to ridiculous extents to keep the secret a secret and have been successful at it since these secrets have not been revealed for decades.

1. The recipe of Coca-Cola

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There was a time in the 1970s when the Indian government asked Coca-Cola to submit their list of ingredients so that they could open operations in the country.

Coco Cola refused and didn’t come for a long time until Indian government changed the rule.

Only two executives know the formula and it is very fiercely guarded by keeping it under lock in the Sun Trust Bank in Atlanta.

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2. The classic trade secret case of Listerine – the mouthwash

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How can a mouthwash so widely used, be a secret? It is, or at least, Pfizer thought so when it acquired its formula in 1880. For the next 70 years, it paid Dr. J.J. Lawrence, the inventor, royalty payments.

But in the middle, they go to know that the secret of this famous mouthwash is actually out there in the open.

So they sued the Lawerence family, but the court threw out the case, saying that the other companies acquired the formula by legal means.

So, technically, the mouthwash is still a secret, even though it isn’t.

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3. The Hapsburg napkin folds, which is a national secret in Austria

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The Hapsburg napkin fold is a national secret in Austria.

Only two anonymous government employees know how to fold a piece of napkin in the shape above. And there is no document where it is written how to fold a napkin into the shape we see. When the employees retire, they pass on the information to the new employees who will then fold the napkins laid out during state dinners.

Also, no one in the world has figured out a way to do it perfectly yet.

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4. Stock market trading software that helps financial institutions by predicting stock market trends

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Stock market software are extremely valuable. Most of the top financial institutions have their trademarked software, which they use to invest smartly and make huge gains in the process.

The access to such software is highly regulated, and one such computer programmer lifted some lines of this code and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.

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5. The symbols on Led Zeppelin’s album cover

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No one knows what the first symbol in the above album cover means. This album contained their classic song Stairway To Heaven.

Not even the band members or the producers know the meaning of that symbol. Each of the four members agreed to contribute for the album cover with a symbol they chose.

That’s why only Jimmy Page knows what that symbol means, and by the looks of it, he is not going to tell us about it before he dies.

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6. Genetic crops

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Food is going to be one of the most fought for resource in the future. Companies are coming up with novel designer food grains and seeds that are resistant to harsh weather, pests, and disease. They also give higher yields per square kilometer.

This means that the genetic formula of such seeds is extremely precious. There have been cases where farmers have used these seeds without permission and companies have sued them for illegal use, burning whole farms to purge their seed usage.

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7. The results of Academy Awards is known only to two accountants 48 hours in advance

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Since the time the Academy Awards have started, there has been no leak about the information of winners, even though it is not computerized yet.

The ballots that contain the votes are handled by two executives of PriceWaterHouseCooper auditors. They count each vote by hand and note down the numbers on paper by a pen.

Then they each take half the results in two separate suitcases and are escorted to the venue by LAPD police officers.

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8. Auto-Tune audio processor

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Auto-tune was actually created for analyzing seismic data. Then its creators realized that the software can be used to analyze and correct digital voice files of recorded songs.

And thus came along auto-tune that changed the music industry forever. Almost all singers use the tool to make their songs sound flawless.

The software is also one of a kind, with no competitor in sight.

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9. A Mexican language called Ayapaneco is known by only two people and they refuse to speak to each other

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It is not exactly a secret but only two people know how to speak the language. It used to be popular in Mexico before the Spanish invasion. Like all the old endemic languages, Ayapaneco also died out slowly.

The two people who speak it also refuse to teach it to other people so that the language somehow survives.

Looks like another language will die soon, buried with both these stubborn old men.

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10. WD-40, the garage staple has a formula so tightly guarded that it has been inside a bank vault for 50 years

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WD-40 is almost used for everything – from cleaning to greasing to polishing machine parts.

The formula to this popular industrial solvent is kept in a bank vault for the past 50 years and has been taken out only twice.

And just like the KFC spices, the product is mixed at 3 different locations in the country and then it is passed on to the manufacturers, just so that no one gets the complete formula of the famous product.

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11. The New York Times Bestseller List

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No one knows how The NYT comes up with their bestseller list. The simplest explanation would be that they count the number of copies the book has sold from the various bookstores. But this is not true. There have been cases where the book hasn’t sold a lot of copies but has still made it to the list.

How they make the list is a well-kept trade secret, because if the publishers come to know how they make the list, they could use this data to make the book more adept at making into the list.

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12. A card trick called Berglas effect, that no top magician has been able to crack. A real-life Prestige.

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The card trick goes thus –

1. The magician hands over a perfect deck of cards to person A
2. Then he asks person B to name any card and the position he wasn’t the card in the deck (for example Ace of hearts, 8th card from the top)
3. Then the magician asks person A to reach out for the 8th card.
4. And voila! It is the Ace of hearts 8th in the deck.

This card trick is known by only two people – Mr. Berglas and his apprentice Marc Paul. Every other magician has tried to crack this trick, but, until now, no one has been able to do it successfully yet.

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13. The recipe of KFC spices is known to only two people in the world

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Just like with Coca-Cola, only two KFC executives know the secret recipe of the spices used in the famous fried chicken everyone around the world eat.

The recipe is guarded in a facility that sounds like it is made to guard a treasure. The facility has 2 feet thick concrete walls, round the clock surveillance, armed guards and unique PIN codes for the two executives who can open it only when both of them are present there.

To go even further to keep it a secret, not all the spices are mixed in one place. Half the spices are mixed in one location and then this mixture is taken to another location to be mixed fully so that no one knows all the spices that are present.

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14. Plasma display was an exclusive technology that belonged to Samsung until it was stolen

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Not a lot of us know this, but the plasma screen television tech was researched and developed exclusively by Samsung. They would have had the monopoly in the television business had it not been for the person who stole all the secret files on his last day of employment and walked away with it.

Then, he gave the stolen secrets to a Chinese company and hence every manufacturer can build a plasma TV today.

The pen-drive the man stole is estimated to be worth over a billion dollars.

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15. The recipe to Hershey’s bar, the first sweet chocolate bar, has been a trade secret for 100 years

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When chocolate was manufactured in the past, it was always dark chocolate, and hence, it was not as popular as the chocolate we eat nowadays. It was bitter and sweet and had the popularity akin to coffee’s.

It was in 1900 that the first Hershey’s milk chocolate was formulated, where the dominant taste was sweet and not bitter.

This made the whole population love chocolate as we love it today. The formula to this sweet chocolate bar is still a secret, although many other companies have come up with their versions of sweet chocolate. Hershey’s still remains to have a unique taste among competitors.

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As they say,

A secret between two people is a secret, only if one of them is dead.

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The story 10 Happy Comics That Show How Life Changes Before And After Getting A Dog appeared first on StoryPick.

Dogs are not pets, they are people. They have personalities. They get happy, they get sad and depressed, they get angry, they get playful and when you have a dog which is capable of so many emotions, your life is never going to be the same.

Plus, dogs do not live like humans. They do not know that they cannot chew on your sofa cushions or brand new slippers you bought yesterday. They live life quite fully, without any human reservations and hence they are such a joy to be with, even if they leave your sofa shredded.

maimaijohn made these insightful comics on how our lives have the potential to change for the best after getting a lovely dog.

1. When you leave your room spick and span and then it looks like a hurricane somehow happened inside it

2. Stuffed animals do not remain ‘stuffed’ anymore

3. Your cables are never safe but you still love your pet

4. Most of your “hanging out with buddies” is actually hanging out with your dog

5.  Dogs do not just change you, but also your near and dear ones

6. Your clean car never remains clean with them around

7. All food is expected to be shared, and the puppy eyes are irresistible to ignore

8. Most of your salary goes in buying their food (which is really expensive), but you do not care

9. Your Instagram is full of their photos rather than pictures of food

10. And life is blissful with them in it.

Dogs are the best! <3

The story 10 Happy Comics That Show How Life Changes Before And After Getting A Dog appeared first on StoryPick.

The story 15 Pieces Of Advice From Internet Users Which Will Motivate You More Than Famous Ones appeared first on StoryPick.

Advice is free, they say. Anyone can give it, and anyone can take it. Our sources of life advice are mostly based on our parents, idols, teachers, books, movies, and famous personalities from around the world. But it so happens many a time that a regular human being, like you and I, comes up and says something so profound, that it sticks, and over time enriches our lives as we inculcate it.

See what the netizens have to say for you to get your life in order.

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What are some pieces of amazing advice you’ve heard from random people?
Tell us in the comments below.

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The story 6 Characters From F.R.I.E.N.D.S And The Darker Side Of Their Lives appeared first on StoryPick.

They’re such an important part of our lives that it’s just not possible to accept they’re not real. Although a sitcom, the characters sketched in F.R.I.E.N.D.S had many dimensions, just as a real human would have, and these human qualities make them all the more relatable.

However, there are sides to the life of these legendary characters which would have broken the spirits of many of us had we gone through it. There’s a lot to learn from this 90s television series as we look deep into the lives of the characters.

1. Chandler Bing – used humor as a defense mechanism

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Chandler Bing, the king of sarcasm who wears the wits in his sleeves has seen a lot more than average. It’s hard to say if he was joking when he said his first cigarette after nap time at the age of nine reminded him of the good old times. Age nine indeed was a crucial time for the Chang Chang man for that was the year his parents announced divorce on the Thanksgiving Table.

With a cross-dressing father and an erotic novel writer for a mother, Bing’s childhood can be accounted for his neurotic behavior. However, his sense of humor, which he used as a defense mechanism, helped him out throughout, even when he learned he could never be a father.

2. Monica Geller/Bing – struggled constantly for approval

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Monica’s childhood was very typical of a second-born sibling. She grew up looking at the disapproval in the eyes her mother who preferred her elder brother, Ross over her. This could very well be the catalyst to low self-esteem, leading to depression and obesity which Monica suffered from throughout her childhood and teens.

It’s interesting to see how when Monica grows up, although she loses her weight, becomes extremely competitive and showed every sign of control issues and obsessive compulsive disorder. Also, the tendency of going out of the way to please people in her adulthood suggested her fear of being less likable, which arose from the lack of approval she received as a child.

3. Joey Tribbiani – struggled as aspiring artist for years

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One look at Joey’s life and you’d say there’s nothing wrong about it. However, Joey’s life was far from perfect. The man had no savings, his career prospects were bleak and he depended on his buddy, Chandler for funds most of the time.

He probably put on the face of a dimwit, simpleton who is not affected by anything other than food or women in order to show the world that his failing career and constant rejections did not bother him. However, anyone who has struggled for years to become an artist without funds and connections would know how difficult life can be.

4. Phoebe Buffay – mugged people in the streets for a living

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The effervesce of Phoebes is hard to find in a person who has grown up to hardships as severe as hers. Her father abandoned her and the woman she called her mother committed suicide. Her sister was not particularly kind to her and the only family she was left with was her step-brother, Frank. This was probably the reason why Phoebe agreed to surrogate Frank’s triplets.

Phoebe had grown up in the streets, had seen the worst of New York City, resorted to mugging for food and money and would use the traumatic childhood as a ploy to get things done out of sympathy from others.

5. Ross Geller – divorced thrice before turning 30

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Ross Geller had it easy as a child. Pampered and preferred over his sibling, Ross was not toughened up for the real world. He was overtly sensitive, often a sucker in relationships and it all started when the love of his life, his wife, with whom he had fathered a child, fell in love with another woman.

It’s interesting how the comedy had veiled the anguish of heartbreaks that Ross went through on many occasions. He was under 30 and was already divorced thrice and he was a paleontologist, for Christ’s stake, not a rock star.

6. Rachel Green – struggled for a sense of self-worth

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Rachel was a rich brat who had never seen the tough side of life. However, she did manage to turn out a little different from her sisters and wanted to carve her own path out. So, Rachel Green left her fiance at the altar and ran away from her wedding, from her house and all the riches she was so used to.

This was when Rachel found herself doing odd jobs as a waitress at Central Perk, failing miserably at her job, living off Monica – a remarkable contrast to how she had grown up. She was too beautiful to be taken seriously, and things happened easily for her in school and college. It was the struggle to earn respect, be heard and be self-made that can be more difficult than it seems.

They all had something to get over.

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The story 13 Parental Rules I Would Never Force On My Child appeared first on StoryPick.

Growing up in an Indian family when you belong to this generation, is a struggle. Your beliefs, your manner, your culture, everything originates from your family. They want to be the start and end of everything and they’re as inquisitive as it gets. But what about all the other things that influence your life, that makes you want to be more free, more aloof, more independent?

Well we hide those away in crevices, hoping they won’t find them. And what really happens is that they ignore them, even your family refuses to acknowledge your unique personality. The personality you bring out in full form only infront of your friends. Instead they turn a blind eye and pretend you are still that 13 year old who believes in all the same things, still likes eating curd-rice and who watches Pokemon everyday.

Maybe as parents we’d change a few things around to let our kids be their real self, kick back their heels and let them freak out in life. Here is to my future kids,

1. Go to the mandir every year on your birthday

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No, don’t go to the mandir, instead, go to a church, a mosque, practise Buddhism or simply sit at home and believe in karma. Don’t believe in religion if you don’t want to. All I really would ask of you is to believe in something bigger than yourself.
After all, you don’t get stamped with the religion you belong to at birth.

2. Celebrate Diwali/Holi/ Navratri

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I don’t want you to celebrate festivals only celebrated by a particular religion. I want you to eat biryani on Eid, to play with colours on Holi, to eat sweets on Diwali, to dance to Dhol on Ganpati visarjan and keep out cookies and milk for Santa on Christmas. I want you to celebrate whatever you feel like celebrating, including the day India legalizes Gay Marriages.

3. Let another person walk by after a black cat crosses your path.

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‘Don’t cut your nails on Thursday, don’t eat non veg on tuesday and thursday, don’t cut your hair on a saturday’, These are things I’d never tell you, because superstition is not something I ever want you to believe in.

4. Don’t date until you are independent/ in your 20’s.

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Date when you’re 14, because I did. Date because I want you to know what puppy love feels like, I want you to know the kind of relationship where the biggest deal is holding hands, I want you to know a time when flowers plucked from trees and chocolates are the most precious gifts. I want you to feel a love that doesn’t come from family.

5. Be an engineer, doctor, architect or lawyer.

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No my future child, be a dancer, be a singer, be a writer or be a DJ. I don’t want you to have a degree in engineering, or build a tall skyscraper or perform an open heart surgery to be proud of you. I’ll be prouder if you do what your heart tells you to.

6. Study science.

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Don’t study science, don’t start planning your future from the 10th standard. Do something bizarre that makes you happy, study sports psychology or major in film making or get a degree in philosophy. I just want you to gain as much knowledge as it takes for you to know right from wrong.

7. Learn to cook/clean/ before marriage

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Learn to cook, clean but not for your husband. Learn to cook to survive, learn to clean so that you don’t stumble and fall face first into a pile of your dirty laundry.

8. Don’t befriend strangers on your backpacking trip.

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Go abroad, meet people, learn about experiences you’ve never had, aspire to make them happen for yourself, make acquaintances, make friends that last you a life time or even find your soulmate while soul searching. I trust you and your upbringing enough to know you will filter people, you will choose wisely, because you know better.

9. Roam around in underpants if you want to

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Be free, be chill and roam around in your underwear, just be careful not to surprise our neighbours.

10. You can eat dessert before dinner/lunch

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Eat a cookie before dinner or even scorch down an entire apple pie, just remember to eat your greens.

11. Tell me everything.

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Don’t tell me everything. If I see you upset, I will ask because I care. But I won’t pressurize you, because I know you’ll come and tell me when you’re ready. So take your time and deal with your emotions, I’ll wait for you to come around.

12. You will live under my roof until you get married.

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Go and live with your friends, go to college out of the city, get a job in a place you’ve always wanted to live in. I won’t force you to stay home, I won’t even push you out if you aren’t ready. I just want you to experience freedom and independence and become your own person.

13. You should get married and have kids by 28

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I won’t force you to marry if you don’t want to. I most definitely don’t want to find you a wife or husband that you haven’t fallen in love with. I won’t ask you to push out children, when you don’t like the idea of having kids. I don’t want you to lose bits of yourself to fulfill any of my desires or wishes.

All I want for you is that you can stand infront of me when you’re older and tell me everything you will do differently for your own children, because you’ve lived a life that’s taught you better.

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The story 8 Myths You Believed About Women, Busted By Science appeared first on StoryPick.

Sexism and gender stereotyping is in the air.

Women are still looked down upon as the weaker sex. People still think women are more emotional than men, and really suck at keeping secrets.

But all these “myths” are not true at all, according to science. Science tells us that women are unique people, each one of them different, and just because they have been portrayed in a way in popular media, we tend to generalize that for the whole women fraternity.

1. Women love to settle down, marry and have kids

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Men are reckless, sleep around, and are not serious about relationships at all. Women are the ones who love to get serious in relationships.

But actually, men are the ones who want to settle more than women and women crave for independence in relationships rather than kids.

Social scientists say that this is because the line between gender roles has been blurring for the past few decades.

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2. Women are gentle creatures who are not violent or aggressive at all

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It is conventionally accepted that men are more aggressive than women. In a way it is true.

But in a study, where women were given anonymous identities and were asked to drop bombs in a video game, they bombed 5 times more than even the more aggressive men.

The reason behind this, scientists say that the anonymity takes the social pressure to behave away from them, and they turn out to be awesome killing machines.

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3. Women are the exclusive sufferers of domestic violence

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This is a stereotype people do not want to mess with because it is controversial. But hundreds of studies show that women are just as aggressive and violent and abusive in marriages.

But everyone still thinks that it is the men who are completely at fault here, and again, it is because of the societal conformity we think this is true.

I am pretty sure we are still going to turn a blind eye on this statistic, just because it is too controversial to accept.

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4. Women can never be as horny as men

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Statistics are thrown in your face that how frequently men think about sex in a day, and how women are so emotional about sex.

In a study, where, again, women were given anonymity, they admitted to having multiple sexual partners. In the same study, scientists told another group of women that their answers will be recorded and they cannot be anonymous. This group of women didn’t admit to polygamy and promiscuity at all.

Again. Social pressures make women act like not-women.

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5. Women love gossipping more than men

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This is ingrained into our culture so deep that a subplot of Mahabharata talks about the curse that Yudhisthira cast on Kunti – that women will never be able to hold a secret.

But studies show that men gossip as much as women do, perhaps even more. And they are just as bad at keeping secrets inside them. Thy will reveal it as soon as women do.

We never noticed it because men gossip differently than women, and hence, their conversations don’t sound very gossipy.

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6. Only females are affected by body shaming

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It is true that body-shaming of women is more publicised by popular media, but studies show that men face the same pressure to conform to the idea of a perfect body, that is slim and ripped and without imperfections.

The studies also show that men tend to put on more muscle because of this pressure and some of them also suffer from anorexia, just like women.

This is the reason why protein supplements sell so much.

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7. Women suck really hard at maths

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Studies have shown that women are equally as good as men are at technical subjects.

Then why don’t they succeed as well as men in these fields?

Again the answer is – society.

Because for centuries we have brought girls up with the notion that they can never be as good as men in math and science, this notion is still stuck in classrooms – whether we accept it or not.

The problem is purely social, not intellectual.

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8. Women get grossed out by porn

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Women do not like porn. It grosses them out. They do not like watching porn, right?

WRONG!

In a study, women’s brains were monitored with an EEG machine and their brain activity was as flared up as a man’s after looking at sensual images. They also found out that the neurons were firing 160 milliseconds right after they were shown the images.

That means they didn’t even have to think about the images before getting aroused- just like men.

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9. Women are better than men at flirting

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Humans are bad at flirting. Period.

We are bad at detecting flirts too. And just because we think that women are better or men are better, doesn’t change the fact that both the genders suck at it.

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It is wrong to stereotype genders and people in this age, because as scientists believe, gender roles have blurred. Women are more independent now and men are getting more sensitive too.

And suddenly, equality in the real sense, seems attainable after all.

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The story 7 Paranormal Abilities Claimed To Be Present In Human Beings appeared first on StoryPick.

They say we use only a part of our brain and if we optimized it more, feats beyond the imagination of humans could be achieved. There are beliefs that we are attributed with abilities we hardly recognize.

Although, science does not approve of them, they still fascinate humans, many of whom are more than convinced about their authenticity. Let’s check them out.

1. Bi-location – the ability to be in two places at the same time

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Life would have been so much easier if we had this one paranormal ability. Apparently, there have been people who actually could execute bi-location. Among the famous people known for having such powers, the most prominent name is that of Vladimir Lenin. Allegedly, in 1923, Lenin was spotted in his office in Moscow, going through some official papers when he was critically ill in Gorki.

Another eminent name that pops in the subject is Aleister Crowley . The English occultist was believed to have the ability but interestingly, he himself had no realization of it. Unfortunately, there have been no scientific evidence to back the existence of this paranormal power of humans.

2. Telepathy – the ability to communicate without using any sensory channel or device

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It is one of the most talked about paranormal power in novels and cinema. Often associated with thought reading, two great performers, Washington Irving Bishop and Stuart Cumberland were believed to posses the ability. Both of them denied any psychic abilities and ascribed their skills to muscle reading.

Although, science considers telepathy as a part of pseudoscience, the 2014 revelations of two scientists, Dr Michel Berg and Dr Alejandro Riera, in the field of telepathic communications has created quite a stir in the field of study.

3. Clairvoyance – the ability to gain information through extra-sensory perception

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Three key abilities make up clairvoyance and they are precognition, the ability to see events about to happen; retro-cognition, the ability to see events happened in the past and remote viewing, the ability to see events happening in the present but beyond the realms of the clairvoyant’s vision.

Victor Race had been the earliest name to be reported as a clairvoyant in 1784. He was a dimwit peasant, undergoing treatment who would suddenly change his personality and give diagnosis and prescriptions of his disease as well as others. In spite of huge amounts of money offered by several individuals and organisations to anyone who can prove to be a clairvoyant, no one really had come forward to take up the challenge.

4. Telekinesis – the ability to move objects without physically influencing them

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It was a matter of intrigue to the US Army who in 1984, set up a panel to research on the subject with hopes to incorporate telekinesis as a military tactic. However, they were critical of the claims made in favor of telekinesis by the Princeton Engineering Anomalies Research (PEAR) Lab when the panel could not find much helpful data.

However, with 130 years of research on the service, the PEAR Lab scientific community still believes in the authenticity of the claims. In 2013, Electrical engineer Todd Coleman at the University of California at San Diego was reported to be working on inventing a tattoo that can induce telekinetic powers in humans.

5. Automatic writing – the ability of writing down information but not consciously

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It is believed that the information comes to the writer from supernatural sources. Automatic writing is often associated to to planchette and ouija boards. Creator of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Connan Doyle, wrote in his The New Revelation (1918), that automatic writing can occur due to the subconscious of the writer or the operation of external spirits through the writer.

However, this is yet another alleged paranormal ability that scientific research has not been able to back up. It is considered as pseudoscience like most paranormal claims and often, the ability is explained with crytomnesia, an phenomenon where lost memories come back to a person without him realizing it.

6. Empathy – the ability to feel someone else’s emotions

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Although, all humans are expected to be empathetic to each other, people with empathetic abilities can actually feel what others are feeling. Empaths are believed to be extremely sensitive to emotions around them. They can be affected very easily and suffer from a roller coaster of unknown emotions without knowing their source.

Edgar Cayce, an American mystic had claimed that such psychic abilities may result from the development of the soul from physical attunement and various incarnations. It is also believed by other theorists that empathetic abilities can develop more in people who have had near death experiences.

7. Astral Projection – the ability to get out of body and be back

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Believers of astral travel claim that there is an existence of an “astral body” which can exist outside the physical body. The popularity of out of body experience as soared high with writings of Robert Monroe getting published. He later founded the Monroe Institution to carry out research on altered states of consciousness.

Science had not confirmed the authenticity of astral projection but numerous books have been written and researches conducted on the subject. Cases of astral projection, generally have proved to be reports made on the basis of hallucinogenics or mere dreams.

Science may not approve of them but many believe these powers do exist.

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The story Rantings Of A Hopeless Lover To Someone Who Had Long Moved On appeared first on StoryPick.

When we hadn’t met, I knew not that ripples on still water are more able to catch and hold your attention than a nearby loud brawl happening at the same time. I never knew that I would ever see a deity in your mortal entity when thunder lights shone on you as my embrace would make you lock my neck with your hands, passion in your closed eyes.

I never knew how to create life in exchange of thoughts, stories, hopes, views, fears, dreams, desires and finally a kiss of assurance. Yes, I believe we had created a life with our ability called love.

What we had…

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What we have created is more beautiful than a collaboration of two artists or even a newborn baby. Let your heart lay soft for a while and ponder with me on green evenings under a meek sun. Who were you and who was I before that light drizzle at the end of September? We were just two people smitten by a fond promise of togetherness.

All those who have walked before you and I, have lived to collide in bones of their one and only with a trust that defies death. Or, just to return home to warmth, familiarity and a quiet and encouraging compassion, to be buried in each other after having faced the tough world with strength taken from last night’s embrace.

What I find when I look around…

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Not all have had the taste of such redemption in companionship. This world is meant for beasts and there is a food chain we all know of. There is no free lunch and no question of love. There is no wisdom in expecting such depth in fellow humans and we are not meant to be vulnerable or naked to each other.

This world has decomposed the notion of relationships. Men and women have learnt to accept each other as commodities to reap the benefits and look forward to a new option only to feast on it and pass it on for an exchange offer of another package.

I don’t want to be one of them…

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However, two people still find each other in this ghastly world and build a fortress together. How lovely it is to imagine that they do not have to be salesmen and saleswomen who have packaged themselves with cheap means so they could be picked up for a price so cheap that they all forget how valuable and meaningful they are.

But then again, two people still rise to be blessed by sunshine when they save themselves from the curse of apocalypse – the apocalypse of self value.

There’s a lot to lose…

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I believe that there is a reason for everything. If there is a desire to find someone to love and be loved by, there is a need for it.  It’s not a perfect world and that’s why you must fight every day and night to survive. It is only the burning love shared by two people that saves us from the end of innocence.

No human should touch that sublime state of love, that white ray of kind hope and be brought back to face the gutters of this world stripped of value.

What I’m working on…

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Therefore, I have to say that although I believe in God, I do not take Him or Her as my master. Since I must find my own path, I shall not accept defeat to circumstances. It is my right, as it is yours to bathe in that light that you and I have been gifted with.

I have deep reasons and motivation to not give up and I will not. I shall learn, work and carve a path that is wide enough for the two of us exclusively and hope that I do not have to walk that path alone.

Take a look at the distant…

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Now, I have set my priorities straight and it all begins with us. I look at you in silence and storm, waiting for you to look around before you finally rest your eyes on me, hold my hands and build that fortress. We can have windows with stone sills where we could sit and smile at memories as white as the lighter clouds.

We could be so much more than a memory broken in two pieces and carried away in different directions. Wouldn’t it be sad if we weren’t at each other’s lobes to help out when one of us couldn’t figure out a part of a faded puzzle piece of one of our memories?

I must have rambled on too long but…

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That light drizzle on the late September evening was a housewarming gift to us from time. I hope you stir that sugar sweet and pour yourself into my life for you are ever flowing into me and I am ever increasing in volume for you.

Please save us. I love you.

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The story 23 Books You Should Read To Become Smarter appeared first on StoryPick.

How do I become smarter?

If this question arises in your mind as it does some time in everybody’s lives, there are several ways of getting there. Reading books, is one of them. The more you read, the more you learn. But there are some books that make a lifelong impression on you influencing and developing your personality. These may be a few self-help books, books on science and sociology or plain fiction. But they make a long lasting impact on who you are.

Here are a few books everyone should read if they want to expand their mind and open up to ideas.

1. Peace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Author: Thich Nhat Hanh

A Zen master reveals the way different aspects of life affect you and explains how to find peace through the cacophony of the world.

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You can get it here.

2. Mathematics for the Nonmathematician

Author: Morris Kline

Maths is everywhere. Look out of the window, look at your desk, look at the screen you are reading this on, look at the book you’re reading. It’s everywhere and has a story to tell.

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You can get it here.

3. The Dance of the Photons

Author: Anton Zeilinger

Rebuttal after rebuttal, Einstein does not back down from believing in his theory about quantum physics because he believes that it has to be rooted in reality.

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You can get it here.

4. The Language of Life

Author: Francis S. Collins

This book will forever change the way you think about yourself, your origins, your body, your health, your life.

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You can get it here.

5. Creativity Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration

Author: Ed Catmull

The story of the founder of Pixar and his dreams of making the world’s first computer animated movie.

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You can get it here.

6. Pale Fire

Author: Vladimir Nabokov

If you think the world is unfair and unjust, you must read this novel which is almost a perfect work of fiction.

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You can get it here.

7. Gravity’s Rainbow

Author: Thomas Pynchon

A Science Fiction novel set in World War II, questions everything that is a norm in the world and attempts to expand boundaries that divide people at such a basic level.

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You can get it here.

8. On the Origin of Species

Author: Charles Darwin

What? How? Why? All these questions of biology and nature’s rules for all of us are the basis of this groundbreaking theorization by the great Charles Darwin.

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You can get it here.

9. A Hundred Years of Solitude

Author: Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Imagination and empathy. Something only fiction can teach you. The story of a family emigrating towards a place they belong to is heart rendering at best.

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You can get it here.

10. Moonwalking With Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

Author: Joshua Foer

What is the capacity of the mind? How much can we remember? Why do we remember? Why do we have memories? Do you have these questions in your mind too?

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You can get it here.

11. SuperFreakonomics

Author: Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner

A sequel to Freakonomics, explores the gray area of the purpose of life and what are we running towards so fast towards.

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You can get it here.

12. Where Good Ideas Come From: The Natural History of Innovation

Author: Steven Johnson

Ho much does innovation matter to us? And how much does it’s history matter? Why do we require innovation? Why do we need new ideas? All these questions will be answered through this book.

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You can get it here.

13. Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words

Author: Randall Munroe

A simplified guide to how important things in this world work.

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You can get it here.

14. The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance

Author: Josh Waitzkin

A chess prodigy explains how exactly he tackled the ways of succeeding at anything you try your hand at, and handling the fame it can bring.

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You can get it here.

15. No One Understands You And What To Do About It

Author: Heidi Grant Halvorson

Do you feel nobody is really getting what you’re trying to say? Or vice versa? Here is your answer on how to tackle this difficulty.

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You can get it here.

16. The Misfit Economy

Author: Alexa Clay, Kyra Maya Phillips

What makes you click? What can you create? What makes you different? What makes you indispensable? Take a few lessons from this book.

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You can get it here.

17. The Eureka Factor

Author: John Kounios, Mark Beeman

A complete guide to how to make your business work and flourish. What does it take to be a successful business man? The Eureka factor. What gets the people is what makes one a successful businessman.

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You can get it here.

18. What Every BODY is Saying: An Ex-FBI Agent’s Guide to Speed-Reading People

Author: Joe Navarro

What does your body say about you? An FBI agent, trained to assess and scrutinize people tells you little tit-bits about how to read them as if you are reading a book.

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You can get it here.

19. The Secret Life of Pronouns

Author: James W. Pennebaker

The way we talk, the way we tweet, the way we put up a status on Facebook, the things we put up on our social profiles. All this can be a tool of decoding who we are and a lot can be told by judging the virtual behavior of a person. This book explores this area with utmost beauty.

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You can get it here.

20. Predictably Irrational

Author: Dan Ariely

So many things affect our decisions about everything. Circumstances, understanding, people, environment. Also assumptions. What is the nature of a decision? Why and how do we come to a decision and is it justified? That’s what this book is all about.

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You can get it here.

21. Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them

Author: Joshua Greene

How do we get along? Where do our differences come from? Why do we set ourselves apart from others? This book is an attempt to understand this and simplifying the knot somewhat.

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You can get it here.

22. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

Author: Yuval Noah Harari

From the stone age to the digital age. How did humans come to dominate the world? Read for yourself.

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You can get it here.

23. Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships

Author: Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jetha

It’s an attempt at understanding the modern sexual behavior of humans and their prehistoric origins and how sexuality affects our lifestyle and our choices.

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You can get it here.

Find a teacher within you through these books. Keep learning.

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The story 13 Common Tattoos That Have Completely Different Meanings In Prison appeared first on StoryPick.

Everybody’s getting inked these days. Some believe in their tattoos while others are obliging to peer pressure and trend. A lot of tattoos we see around on regular men and women hold intense meanings inside the shady walls of prison.

When prison inmates get themselves inked, it means their beliefs in the life of crime are so deep rooted that it’s frightening. There’s nothing fashionable about tattoos within the walls of a prison. Let’s find out what they mean.

1.Barbed wire

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Barbed wire on the forehead means the prisoner has no possibility of parole. On the forearms, barbed wire signifies the years served by the prisoners.

 2.  Dagger

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If a prisoner has a dagger tattooed in his body anywhere other than the neck, it means he had been a sex offender.

3. Lenin, Marx or Friedrich Engels

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A tradition among Soviet prisoners to tattoo Lenin, Marx and Engels on their bodies so that the authorizes cannot shoot at the figures of the founding fathers of the USSR.

4. Mermaid

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A mermaid tattoo on a prisoner signifies that he had been accused of molesting a child.

5. Cats

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Often means the prisoner had a career as a thief. A single cat may signify the prisoner worked alone while several cats may mean he was a part of a gang.

6. Skull

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Skull tattoos signify that the prisoner had been convicted of murder  of a significant person.

7. Spiderweb

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Spiders web signify a life dedicated to crime but if there’s a spider trying to climb out of the web, it means the prisoner is trying reform himself.

8. Tombstone

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Tombstones repentant the loss of time inside the prison. If the stone reads 2010-2015, it means the prisoners had served five yeas of sentence.

9. Birds

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Tattoos of birds flying represent the prisoners longing to be freed – that he believes he was born to be free.

10. Goats

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Tattoos of goats signify the prisoner had been an informer and such tattoos are usually inked forcibly on the bearer.

11. Swastika

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Soviet prisoners would have the Nazi symbol as a tattoo which signified they’d rather embrace Nazism than obey the Communists.

12. Dagger in the neck

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Tattoo of a dagger in the neck signifies that the prisoner had committed murder before and is available to be hired for killing other inmates.

13. Rose

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A convict with a white-dried rose tattoo symbolizes that he prefers death over the loss of virtue. If the tattoo has thorns, it means the convict has come of age in prison.

Tattoos hold more meaning to them than any of us.

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The story 7 Things The Vedas Truly Said About Kali Yug – The One That We’re Living In appeared first on StoryPick.

Ever wondered why there’s so much hatred in the world? Wondered why there’s no regard for virtue, value, honesty or commitment? Ever pondered upon why we accepted moral degradation as a part of civilization? Apparently, that’s how it was all supposed to be.

You see, the ancient Sanskrit scriptures say that we’re living the times of vices. We have come past the golden ages and this is the Kali Yug, the time of the demon. According to the predictions mentioned in the final canto of the Bhagavata Purana, all that the world has come to today had already been foreseen and told 5000 years before even Vedavyasa existed. Let’s find out what we were doomed for.

1. Truthfulness will cease to exist – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.1

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sri-suka uvaca
tatas canu-dinam dharmah
satyam saucam ksama daya
kalena balina rajan
nanksyaty ayur balam smrtih

The verse translates to the prediction that mankind will do away with virtues of truthfulness, religion, mercy, and cleanliness. They would diminish in physical strength and longevity because of the influence of the Demon Kali, not to be confused with the Hindu deity. As we look at our world today, it does hold true that being truthful is like digging our own graves in this dog eat dog competition. Mercy is a word that we should rather delete from the dictionary for the oppression of the innocent all around the world doesn’t really justify the existence of the word.

By cleanliness, the Vedas had probably implied the cleanliness of the soul and not just squeaky clean clothes and cosmetic coated armpits. As far as religion is concerned, most of us have done away with it, which may or may not be a good thing and the rest use religion as a means to spread terror.

2. Worth of a man will be based only on his wealth – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.2

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vittam eva kalau nṝṇāḿ
janmācāra-guṇodayaḥ
dharma-nyāya-vyavasthāyāḿ
kāraṇaḿ balam eva hi

It says, the virtue, finer qualities and behavior of a man will be judged only on the basis of his wealth and he will be exempted of all accusations because law and justice will favor only those who have wealth. It’s almost funny how thousand of years ago, sages knew exactly how the society was going to be.

It’s amazing how they knew we, the 21st-century people would be drawn towards rich people like flies are drawn to feces. With big shots getting away with murder, politicians getting away with larceny and scams, this prediction could not have been more appropriate.

3. Men and women will be attracted to each other only superficially – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.2.3

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dāmpatye ‘bhirucir hetur
māyaiva vyāvahārike
strītve puḿstve ca hi ratir
vipratve sūtram eva hi

The verse says that man and women will live with each other but only out of superficial attraction. Sexual appeal and expertise of an individual will be the only standards of considering the femininity and masculinity of individuals. Also, in order to be successful in business, it will be mandatory to resort to deceit and anyone who would wear a thread around his torso would be considered a Brahman. Another point, the ancient Indian sages were spot on with.

It’s hard to argue the texts with all the objectification of men and women. How many of us hit the gym actually to be fit and not to get puffed up chests so that we may appear more promiscuous. That’s alright by our generation because nobody is really interested n who you are. Nobody wants to get past your skin anymore.

4. Religious frauds will flourish – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.38

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sudrah pratigrahishyanti
tapo-veshopajivinah
dharmam vakshyanty adharma-jna
adhiruhyottamasanam

The verse solemnly adumbrates that people of no scholarly credibility will pose as the men of God or dress as a mendicant and accept charity in the name of the Divine. It also says that these fraudulent men and women, without having any knowledge of religion, will be made to sit on high pedestals and their half-baked discourse on God and religion will be listened by all.

As it turned out to be, these are kind of people who run religion as an entrepreneurship. You see them everywhere, with their numerous beads, hilarious costumes, salaried disciples and blind followers in huge numbers. What the ancient sages didn’t know that these people are going to be regular faces on television and some of them are even going to be movie stars.

5. Man will kill his family and friends over money – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.41

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kalau kakinike ‘py arthe
vigrihya tyakta-sauhridah
tyakshyanti ca priyan pranan
hanishyanti svakan api

Another burning truth was pointed out about our times in this ancient verse. It said that hatred among humans would rise and over matters as trifle as a few coins. It says humans in this age would have no regard for friendly relations and they could even kill their friends, families and if needed, their own selves for petty reasons.

You would not contest this point if you are a regular reader of the newspaper where brothers killing brothers and friends stabbing friends over money is so common that it’s almost boring news these days. It has been like this since a long time before a lot of us were even born. Therefore, it occurs naturally to us but back in the Golden Ages, choosing wealth over humanity was tremendously unacceptable.

6. Then cities will be run by thieves – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.32

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dasyutkrishta janapada
vedah pashanda-dushitah
rajanas ca praja-bhakshah
sisnodara-para dvijah

The verse portends that the society will live under the domination of thieves, the atheists will contaminate the essence of the Vedas with their own shallow interpretations and the priests and intellectuals of the society would be puppets to the corrupt politicians.

How many times did you see the common people, the poor, the destitute suffer because of corruption? How many times did industries take away lands, spoil natural resource and destroy lives with political backing? The instances are numerous and there’s no denying that the nation is actually run by swindlers.

7. Men and women will stop taking care of their older parents – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.42

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na rakshishyanti manujah
sthavirau pitarav api
putran bharyam ca kula-jam
kshudrah sisnodaram-bharah

It is vaticinated, in this verse, that men and women will stop protecting their parents, their spouses or their children and will eventually be concerned only with their bellies and genitals. Well, it is not very unusual to see people sending their parents off to old age homes to spend the rest of their days in a strange new environment. Abandonment by a parent is a common thing faced by children these days.

Men and women let themselves be lured by lust and attractions of novelty seen in a new partner and they do not think much before leaving their families to gratify their desires. The old age homes are a booming business, the divorce rates are high and many of us don’t even bother to visit our children or partners whom we have left after a separation.

Seems like they were pretty accurate, doesn’t it?

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The story 8 Brain Problems That Were Actually Useful For Humans In The Past appeared first on StoryPick.

Mental disorders are not there without reason, and they aren’t there because something is wrong with the human brain.

It is surprising to know that many of these disorders have developed because we actually needed them in the past, back when we were apes. It is just that these “disorders” have no significant advantages in today’s lifestyle anymore and actually hamper our daily lives.

But, once upon a time, these mental disorders were very useful to us.

How?

1. Bipolar disorder helped humans to survive tough winters and hunt more in hot summers

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In bipolar disorder, the sufferer goes through very drastic mood swings. For some time, he/she will be hopelessly happy for no reason and for another time, he/she will be sad and depressed for no reason.

Scientists think that this disorder may have evolved when humans were still hunters. The brain may have evolved to give us an extra burst of energy during the summers, so that we could hunt more and gather more food.

Similarly, for the winters, we can be depressed and concentrate on saving energy because hunting is difficult in the cold.

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2. Schizophrenia was a side effect of our brains developing at a very quick rate

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Schizophrenia is also supposed to be a big obstacle in living our lives normally in the society we have built today. People who suffer from schizophrenia cannot really tell what is real and what is surreal. They hear voices and stimuli that are not present and hence their brain shows abnormally high activity.

Scientists think that this spike in brain activity may be a side-effect of the rapid evolution our brains underwent through when we were still apes. Because we were undergoing such a fast development, mentally, it may have overshot in some people and would have caused psychosis and symptoms of schizophrenia.

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3. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder may have helped humans develop the first need of basic hygiene

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We all know how OCD works. Anyone suffering from it shows symptoms like washing their hands multiple times, checking if the door is locked or not multiple times, keeping everything clean and in order, etc.

Turns out, before humans invented agriculture, this “disorder” could have saved countless lives. Double checking food that was hunted if it is still safe to eat could have saved our ancestors from food poisoning.

Similarly, checking if the cave was properly barricaded from the animals, again and again, would have also saved lives.

OCD was the perfect companion for a prehistoric human.

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4. Dyslexia is not a brain disorder at all, actually.

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As Taare Zameen Par showed us, the protagonist had to suffer in school, because he could not read and write properly, tie his shoelaces or do math as efficiently.

But back when we were still hunters and gatherers, we didn’t need math and writing, and nor did we need to tie shoelaces.

Dyslexics are actually very creative people. They see things from a perspective that normal people do not. That is why so many dyslexics have become successful people, for example, Albert Einstein.

These creative solutions during that time would have proven very useful to us, and if we still don’t count the shoe lace fiasco, it is still very useful.

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5. Autism made us better hunters and gatherers

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Autistic people like to live away from a crowd. They lead solitary lives and our ancestors would have had an advantage with this disorder. Solitary hunters and gatherers would have been better with tracking animals and would have been better at getting mates, since there is no hassle of fighting with other men.

Autistic people would have also been good at storing food for the future, keeping them alive during the time when food is harder to come by. This would have made them more survivable during harsher times.

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6. Depression helped our ancestors conserve energy and kept them alive during harsh times

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While a spike in energy and productivity would certainly be an advantage to our ancestors, scientists speculate that even depression could have helped us in other ways.

Depression causes us to become lazy and dull and makes us rest. It is the opposite of an active and productive day.

Lack of motivation and fearfulness can come very handy in situations like where there is no food available to hunt. So there is no need for the humans to expend energy.

Depression also had its advantages.

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7. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder has made humans create innovative solutions

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People suffering from ADHD get bored very easily. It is very difficult for them to sit at one place and focus.

We think that this is a major disadvantage today, but when we were still evolving, it would have helped humans in many ways. ADHD people hate schedules and order in their lives. They want to do something new every day, and hence this disorder may have helped our ancestors explore new territory, instead of being stuck at one place forever.

ADHD may have made explorers out of ancient men, because as we know, it is only the adventurous humans that survived in the past.

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8. Panic disorders/anxiety disorders/anxiety kept us safe from the clutches of predators

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Can you imagine all of us humans relaxed and chilling out when we were prehistoric apes? You cannot be chilled out when you live in the wild. Fear and anxiety are crucial tools for survival.

The fact that we were very anxious that a tiger could come out from nowhere and eat us kept us safe in the wild. We were wary of being dead and that is the reason we lived longer than the other species.

Anxiety and fear are essential for surviving even daily life today. It makes us achieve more in life.

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We may not need these disorders so extensively today, but we also need to keep in mind that these brain disorders developed in our bodies for a reason, and not because there is something wrong with the people who suffer from these disorders.

Also, they may be named as diseases, but they certainly are not.

It is just that some brains are wired differently. Doesn’t make them any less human or any less special than they actually are.

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The story 30 Beautiful Six-Word Stories Of Love And Loss That Will Move You appeared first on StoryPick.

How does one describe love? How does one describe loss? Heartbreak? The feeling of longing when you see your loved one? The feeling of the love dying?

People have written volumes upon volumes and it still is one of the hardest emotions to describe.

But sometimes a few words hit it home hard. A few words do the trick where novels fall short.

Here are some of the perfect short and sweet love stories.

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Love brings us joy and happiness and sometimes sadness and heartbreak too.

It is all part and parcel of life. We cannot ignore love, even if it comes with a bit of pain.

As Tennyson aptly put it –

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

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All short story sources – six word stories

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The story Here’s The Science Behind Why A Song Gets Stuck In Your Head appeared first on StoryPick.

“I’m a Barbie girl, in the Barbie world.
Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!”

I know you read that in the tune of the song and now it’s stuck in your head. Isn’t it?

Sucks, no? Getting that song stuck in your mind and humming it all day and getting weird glances from everyone around you? Ever wondered how it happens? We debug the science for you.

It’s called an Earworm, borrowed from the German word Ohrwurm.

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No, it’s not an actual insect who poops musical notes in your head. It’s more to do with a ‘musical itch’ of your brain that happens when you hear a catchy piece of music. This itch is actually the re-activation of your Auditory Cortex (AC), a part of your brain which is responsible for processing audio information. When you listen to a song for the first time, the Auditory Cortex is activated. When you think about the song, or imagine hearing it, or read about it, the AC is re-activated and that part keeps resonating in your brain.

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Scratching that itch will make it worse. Stop repeating the song.

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When you’ve heard a song enough times, it qualifies for being an earworm. People say that listening to the song in its entirety will make it go away. But it’s like scratching an itch, the more you scratch, the more it will itch. When you hear it for multiple number of times, your brain starts to memorise it and it can then predict what will come next, and hence prepares for that in its idle time. Hence, you keep humming it at unexpected times. In a way, an earworm is your brain rehearsing.

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Blame it on your short-term memory.

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(Even Drake thinks you’re loco! ) Your brain has an audio-based short-term memory of around 15 to 20 seconds. For a song to be qualifiable as an earworm, it’s catchy part should be ideally 8-10 seconds long. Famous examples include Baby by Justin Beiber, Hotline Bling by Drake, All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor, or Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen (No, I’m not sorry :P). Your long-term memory can also be the culprit. Basically, even if you haven’t heard anything in the recent past, a trigger in your environment or surroundings can remind you of the song, and it can bring it back into your recent bank.

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Studies prove that women get more earworms.

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Surveys over the years have shown that almost 98% of the human population gets affected by earworms at least once in a week. Men and women get affected equally, but women have been proven to find it difficult to get rid of them longer than men. People with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and musicians have also shown to suffer from this syndrome, also known as stuck song syndrome.

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How do I make it go away, PLEASE TELL ME!?

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Many studies by scientists around the world have proposed a number of suggestions to alleviate an earworm. The basic fundamental for it is to occupy your brain with something else that will make it use all its available resources. Common suggestions include reading a book, solving a Sudoku puzzle, and also to focus entirely on another song. Research also suggests that if a song has a repetitive pattern, it’s more of a candidate to get stuck in your head. Making the song reach a climax, or break that pattern can also help to get rid of it.

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So worry not, if a song does manage to get stuck in your head, let it. It’s proof that your brain’s short-term memory is working in peak condition. Engage your mind, and it will go away.

What song has gotten stuck in your head?
Tell us in the comments.

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