But there are also significant flaws. Baker's slick journalistic style grates after a while - especially when we are forced to hear about him supping yet another coffee in a cafe as he waits for his next interviewee. And maybe it's because I'm a maths nerd, but I hoped for more detail about the maths involved. Baker's mathematical descriptions are often superficial, and indeed he seems to regard the maths as little more than magic. His numerati come across as sorcerers armed with mysterious, secret knowledge, not as scientists with tools that can be rationally analysed. This has the effect of making them seem more sinister than they are.

The book becomes more interesting when Baker turns his attention to the political implications of the numerati's activities. There are clear issues of civil liberties at stake, as well as of consent. Most of us have no idea how much of our lives are being tracked. If we did, we would probably be horrified. At the same time, it is hard to deny that the numerati do much that is good. Baker's analysis is pretty balanced, and he spells out why we should be grateful to the numerati, as well as concerned in some areas.

Increasingly, for example, the numerati use their skills to monitor health care; homes for the elderly are being wired with technology that can record fluctuations in weight or a decrease in mobility, triggering a hasty visit from a doctor. If you're joining a dating agency, you want to exploit the skills of mathematicians to find the perfect partner. And, as Baker points out in his chapter on the use of the numerati by pollsters, anything that helps politicians target individuals on issues that they care about, rather than simply trotting out bland platitudes, is a good thing.

The Fibonacci numbers are the sequence of numbers {F_n}_(n=1)^infty defined by the linear recurrence equation
F_n=F_(n-1)+F_(n-2) (1)

with F_1=F_2=1. As a result of the definition (1), it is conventional to define F_0=0.

The Fibonacci numbers for n=1, 2, ... are 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, ... (Sloane's A000045).

Fibonacci numbers can be viewed as a particular case of the Fibonacci polynomials F_n(x) with F_n=F_n(1).

Fibonacci numbers are implemented in Mathematica as Fibonacci[n].

The Fibonacci numbers are also a Lucas sequence U_n(1,-1), and are companions to the Lucas numbers (which satisfy the same recurrence equation).

For those with the ability to interpret it, this data trail is a goldmine. Advertisers and politicians have long dreamed of being able to target their messages - or products - at individuals on the basis of highly detailed information about them. Now this dream is becoming reality. By analysing the geometry of our mathematical pathways, mathematicians can cluster people with shared interests and passions, creating ever smaller, more specific groups to target.

For example, Baker talks to one of the numerati, Dave Morgan of AOL, who picked up a correlation between people visiting the Alamo Rent A Car website and surfing romantic movie sites. It isn't an obvious match; only in retrospect could it be traced to an escapist tendency. But once the pattern was identified, advertisers could find all sorts of clever ways to exploit it - for example, by bombarding this particular group with offers for weekend breaks in country hotels.

Baker argues that the numerati have become incredibly powerful in a range of fields, from the workplace to the voting booth, from health care to counter-terrorism. He even puts the maths to the test to see if a dating agency can pair him with his wife; when he eventually unchecks the box requesting someone several decades too young, Mrs Baker pops up top of the list. There is no denying that the digital revolution has opened up exciting new territory for mathematicians. The numerati are no fantasy; they exist. Baker is telling us about a phenomenon that is important and often overlooked. That makes his book urgent and exciting.

Until recently, the abstract language of mathematics seemed to have no relevance to the murky worlds of consumer trends, political preferences and dating. The change that has made the rise of the numerati possible is digitization. All of us today leave an extensive trail of numbers wherever we go. Almost everything we do - from visiting a website to texting a friend - is translated into ones and zeros, which are stored somewhere and available to those who know how to access them. For example, every time we enter a search into Google, a simple code called ASCI translates each letter we type into a string of 0s and 1s, which are sent out across the internet.

When we unload our shopping trolleys at the checkout, the bar codes of our purchases are stored by our loyalty cards, providing a record of our eating habits. When we walk down the road, our movements are likely to be tracked by CCTV, converted into digital code and stored on computer mainframes. Even our moods and thoughts get translated into zeros and ones by the technology we love and rely on, as thousands of us pour our states of minds on to blogs. Forget astrology and the stars; your future is encoded within the trail of numbers that you leave behind you.

Certain days held immense significance for pagans and one of these was the winter solstice. It symbolized a time when, at last, days would start to lengthen and the promise of warmer times and good food supplies ahead was in the air. The summer equinox - the time when day and night are equal also held significance because it was the time when the crossing of the two worlds of light and dark could occur.

The longest day was a time of special celebration because it symbolized the epitome of summer, a promise of harvest for those who worshiped and gave gifts and it also held great religious symbolism for pagans. The day was used to its full advantage with a dawn rising, sunrise observed and rituals performed well into the evening.

The sun herself is a powerful pagan symbol. She is the giver of life, has power to kill or bring forth bounty and provides energy upon which all other things survive. The moon is the suns' companion in the heavens and pagans knew the moon held influence on tides, river surges and other forces. Crops were planted according to the cycles of the moon (and some still practice moon gardening now) because the pull of the moon affects the sap rising in plants.

Evergreen plants were seen as symbolic and powerful because they keep their leaves and strength long after other trees have lost theirs. Also, they smell good so bringing them into the home and laying the on the floor not only provided fresh bedding in winter but gave the home a fresh scent - which, when you perhaps had animals in at night and several members of the household who rarely washed, could have been a real blessing.

Fruits and berries held mystical meanings because they could be used for food in some cases and in others induced a state of euphoria or forgetfulness, which made the dark, cold days easier to bear.

Herbs became valuable for their medicinal and culinary benefits and pagan priests with a good knowledge of plants could hold tremendous sway because of their knowledge of how to harm or heal.

Many pagan symbols are concerned with the changing of the seasons and a desire for good harvests and fertility. This is not surprising when you consider that the very survival of towns, villages and entire populations depended on the benevolence of the weather, good harvests and production of young animals and children to maintain the population.

In temperate areas, it was during the depths of winter that many families and communities needed additional support so various beliefs and traditions grew up, many of them had practical meaning as well as spiritual.

Pagans believe that every thing has a spirit and by respecting that spirit, even if you are killing something to eat - you will continue to receive bounty and fulfillment. So, if you cut wood, ask the tree spirit first, if you slaughter a cow, ask the spirit for forgiveness and blessing first.

This pagan symbol is also used in the blessing rituals, and is the basis of the pentacle many wear today. Although, the shape and design have been altered from the original version. Crowley was the first to alter symbols when creating his own version of the Wiccan symbol of the 7 pointed star.

While there are literally thousands of symbols that have been attributed to Paganism, these are the only five symbols that are consist in every ancient archaeological writings that can be found. Oddly enough, the symbol for fire and water are the same symbols that the ancient Christians used for blade and chalice and combining them to be the Star of David.

The Pagan symbols after these five are truly representative upon the path one follows. As said earlier, many Pagans adapt the Wiccan symbols, others Egyptian symbols and others Celtic. The meaning of each of these symbols, although could be considered Pagan in nature, are really symbols that are representative of the spiritual path. For example, the Celtic cross or the triple spirals or triple moons.

To many Pagans, however, the five simple symbols embody all other symbols and are all that is necessary in the simplicity of worship and ritual. Ancient man was not a complicated man. Life was simple. Beliefs were simple. Symbols were simple.

Pagan symbols are actually quite interesting and controversial as well. There is confusion between many people as to what is Pagan and what is Wiccan; however, some are very similar.

There are five basic symbols in Paganism that all Pagans learn.

Earth
Earth is symbolized by a triangle upside down with a horizontal line 1/4 from the base of the triangle. It is also used to represent all things in the physical world.

Air
Air is symbolized by a triangle sitting on its base with a line 1/4 of the way up from the base. It is also used to represent all things in the spiritual world.

Fire
Fire is symbolized by a simple triangle sitting on its base and also represents the power and vision of the divine.

Water
Water is symbolized by a reverse simple triangle. It also represents cleansing.

Spirit
The last elemental symbol is resenting the 5th element.

That is the Element of Spirit. By uniting Fire and Water - the power and vision of the divine while cleansing on oneself first; then you can begin to use and feel the power of the element of the Spirit.

In the last century the knowledge of the world has exploded; but before that it was possible for a learned person to know all there is to know. Before science was a science men believed that there were four elements air, earth, water, and fire. Today the symbols used to indicate these four elements are thought to be pagan symbols. These four element symbols are used today by those people who practice Wicca.

Other symbols widely used today that are of pagan origin include the dagger which is a symbol for the male. The cup or chalice represents the feminine. The five pointed star has been used for numerous connotations; for the Wicca the star signifies an integration of the body and spirit to become one.

For centuries people have tried to tie members of Wicca to witchcraft and not is a favorable manner. As a result, the picture of a wicked old crone wearing a pointed hat and riding a broom seen at Halloween is the image often portrayed as the witch. The broom symbol is used in Wicca, but not as a mode of transportation or any other negative connotation; but as a symbol for cleanliness as in sweeping away the bad things to cleanse the body and spirit.

No symbol is exclusive to any one group or people. What means one thing - good or bad - to one group can mean its exact opposite to another group of people. There is no such thing as a pagan symbol. There are; however, symbols that are used by various groups of people who participate in what are called pagan rituals.

For example, the symbol ^ means one thing to an editor. It is also used to indicate rank on military uniforms, and it is the symbol for male in some pagan groups. Obviously the military is not a bunch of pagans looking to cast evil spells and pillage the town. Symbols like beauty are in the eye of the beholder.

Back in the days when the world was young, various beliefs had absolutely nothing to do with religion and everything to do with superstition. And with the exception of the Jews everyone was a pagan. Each society had their own names for their gods and goddesses - those who they believed ruled various aspects of life.

For those people nothing occurred without the gods having a hand in it. If there was a drought then the god or goddess who ruled the rain must be angry at you for some reason. If you had a baby then the god or goddess of live and fertility was pleased with you. Many animals were sacrificed in the name of the gods.

While the world today is a much more enlightened place there are still groups of people who cling to the old way. Long forgotten are the Druids, Norse gods, and the mythology of Egypt, Greece, and Rome; except for brief studies in a classroom that are soon forgotten.

But in some ways the old way have never left us. People still fear that which they do not understand. The ancient ways of the Wicca who worship the goddess of Mother Nature have often been persecuted and are always misunderstood. All too frequently the terms pagan, witch, and Wicca are thought to be interchangeable. This is not so. But the old ways die hard, if at all.

The 12 signs and symbols of the zodiac all stem from pagan symbols. Thought by some as devil worship or pagan, millions of people simply cannot start the day without first having read their horoscope in the paper.

The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

One sample routine would be to; while in a meditative state, silently name every part of you body and focusing your consciousness on that part. While doing this you should be aware of any tension on any part of your body. Mentally visualize releasing this tension. It works wonders.

In all, meditation is a relatively risk-free practice and its benefits are well worth the effort (or non-effort, remember we’re relaxing).

Studies have shown that meditation does bring about beneficial physiologic effects to the body. And there has been a growing consensus in the medical community to further study the effects of such. So in the near future, who knows, that mystical, esoteric thing we call meditation might become a science itself!

Silence helps most people relax and meditate, so you may want a quiet, isolated area far from the ringing of the phone or the humming of the washing machine. Pleasing scents also help in that regard, so stocking up on aromatic candles isn’t such a bad idea either.

The monks you see on television making those monotonous sounds are actually performing their mantra. This, in simple terms, is a short creed, a simple sound which, for these practitioners, holds a mystic value.

You do not need to perform such; however, it would pay to note that focusing on repeated actions such as breathing, and humming help the practitioner enter a higher state of consciousness.

The principle here is focus. You could also try focusing on a certain object or thought, or even, while keeping your eyes open, focus on a single sight.

We all possess psychic abilities in varying degrees, and can enhance these abilities with mental exercises. It would be a waste to ignore, and eventually lose such a helpful tool during our lifetimes.

Psychic abilities might be defined to include the following phenomena;

• Communicating mentally (esp.),
• Pre-cognition,
• Viewing auras,
• Host of other mysterious activities.

These abilities are not to be feared, they are part of your heritage and naturally occurring. If you need to know about those all above closely, at the first you must learn about how intuition is. Let’s find here

If you find the meditating positions you see on television threatening, those with impossibly arched backs, and painful-looking contortions, you need not worry. The principle here is to be in a comfortable position conducive to concentration. This may be while sitting cross-legged, standing, lying down, and even walking.

If the position allows you to relax and focus, then that would be a good starting point. While sitting or standing, the back should be straight, but not tense or tight. In other positions, the only no-no is slouching and falling asleep.

Loose, comfortable clothes help a lot in the process since tight fitting clothes have a tendency to choke you up and make you feel tense.

The place you perform meditation should have a soothing atmosphere. It may be in your living room, or bedroom, or any place that you feel comfortable in. You might want an exercise mat if you plan to take on the more challenging positions (if you feel more focused doing so, and if the contortionist in you is screaming for release). You may want to have the place arranged so that it is soothing to your senses.

Intuition is one of the most useful psychic abilities in my opinion. Sometimes you know who is calling on the telephone before answering, it is intuitive. A useful exercise to practice is to try to guess every time who might be calling. A similar exercise is to occasionally stop what you are doing, and try to divine the time at that moment. Your personal intuitive clock will surprise you.

When you enter a room full of people, you may feel the uncomfortable gaze of someone. This is a reaction to their psychic ability, and may serve as a warning to you that you may wish to avoid them. Just as animals sense danger, we have a psychic defense mechanism that we should pay attention to. The same applies to the feeling of attraction towards someone, there may be a good reason to engage in conversation.

A good student of psychic study will learn to listen closely to that "inner voice" that is always telling us what we should do. Call it your conscience, or whatever you wish; it is your means of listening to your intuitive nature. From a spiritual viewpoint, all talents bestowed upon man are gifts from God, and it could just be that His most important communications originate through that same means of communication

Football can be the most people favorite of sport because it has involving so many players and also each person have own story. When the competition comes, those all players become one in one spirit to be a winner.

To appreciate that spirit there is Carlsberg launches Web-TV channel about football and fan life you can find at www.partofthegame.tv. Here you can see amazing scenes about football that good to see.

Meditation refers to a state where your body, soul, and spirit are consciously relaxed and focused. Practitioners of this art report increased awareness, focus, and concentration, as well as a more positive outlook in life.

Meditation is most commonly associated with monks, mystics and other spiritual disciplines. However, you don’t have to be a monk or mystic to enjoy its benefits. And you don’t even have to be in a special place to practice it. You could even try it in your own living room!

Although there are many different approaches to meditation, the fundamental principles remain the same. The most important among these principles is that of removing obstructive, negative, and wandering thoughts and fantasies, and calming the mind with a deep sense of focus. This clears the mind of debris and prepares it for a higher quality of activity.

The negative thoughts you have, those of noisy neighbors, bossy officemates, that parking ticket you got, and unwanted spam are said to contribute to the ‘polluting’ of the mind, and shutting them out is allows for the ‘cleansing’ of the mind so that it may focus on deeper, more meaningful thoughts.

Some practitioners even shut out all sensory input:

• No sights
• No sounds
• Nothing to touch
• Try to detach themselves from the commotion around them

You may now focus on a deep, profound thought if this is your goal. It may seem deafening at first, since we are all too accustomed to constantly hearing and seeing things, but as you continue this exercise you will find yourself becoming more aware of everything around you.