What happens to hotel rooms with gory past?

What happens to hotel rooms with gory past?

Extremely Yin House

I was quite amazed when I saw this house the first time. The owner planted a big tree to literally cover the entire facade of the house in order to enjoy the shade it gives. From what I see, this house receives not sunlight all year round and perceptually dark if the occupants do not switch on the lights even in the day. I would not be surprised if the occupants experience strange occurrences since such extreme yin place is a great rendezvous for spiritual entities.

Best Place to find Chinese Metaphysics books in Hong Kong

If you are in Hong Kong and happen to be in the Mongkok area, try to pop by this bookshop. On the second floor of this bookshop, you will find a very extensive collection of Chinese books on bazi, fengshui, ziwei doushu, etc. It is so far the biggest collection I have seen. I would say that the amount of metaphysics books here is easily twice of what you see in Singapore's Wanli bookstore.

What's best is that you get to buy books by Hong kong authors at their original retail price. Here's the address in Chinese:
馬健記圖書有限公司
旺角通菜街103號


Cheers
Alvin Chua

The Correct Way to determine the Sitting of a Apartment Unit

The master explains clearly the correct way:

http://www.105.idv.tw/陽宅_c7.asp

『人』在主導命運...而不是『命盤』在主導命運

來自潘文欽老師blog的文章：

http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/jw!HajC9wyCERl6DdI42nWn2A--/article?mid=-2&prev=475&l=a&fid=14

Master Tan's Interview about the Nina Wang Case

A interesting interview with Master Tan Khoon Yong conducted in 2007:

http://www.xin.sg/article.php?article=4614&st=dtl

Regards
Alvin Chua

Szeto Fazheng Vs Joseph Yu

司徒法正報告抄襲網頁 余若愚「背書」盤問腰斬


雙方風水證人


【明報專訊】龔如心(相關)遺產案閉幕前在庭上展開風水大鬥法。華懋基金的風水專家司徒法正，指06年遺囑非常接近續命法事所用的風水遺囑，但被「踢爆」報告內容抄襲網頁；陳振聰(相關)一方的專家余若愚則認為，燒錢乃「唔識風水嘅風水師行為」，惟法官得悉其風水知識只是來自書本後，即終止盤問。

司徒法正供稱，其道教法師的資格獲國家認可註冊，從事家宅風水逾30年，處理過逾400次法事，其中6次涉及大型的「種生基」法事。

他的報告結論指出，龔如心的辦公室及房間均有風水佈局，放了很多法器及吉祥物，其日常生活的地方供奉了多類與道教有關「和合（指涉男女或夫婦感情事宜）」的神祗。報告又指龔臨死前沉醉續命夢想，不惜以天文數字做法事，旗下物業更有超過37個生基洞穴，認為06年遺囑非常接近續命法事所用的奏表。

惟陳一方的資深大律師陳景生質疑報告的權威，指司徒法正的報告內容抄自台灣某寺院網頁、《鬼谷子無字天書》（鬼谷子被尊稱為中國的「智聖」，著有《無字天書》）及風水顧問鄭智賢的博客。司徒聞言後承認抄襲，但稱只抄襲認為正確的內容。

來自加拿大、陳一方的風水專家余若愚稱，認為陳振聰家傳的《天圖佈局》是風水書，內容屬中國民間傳說的邪說，相當恐怖。余又認為燒溪錢、紙紮等行為已屬迷信，燒真錢就更迷信，認為是「唔識風水嘅掛名風水師嘅所作所為」。但當法官得悉其風水知識來自書本後，即終止向他盤問。

司徒法正在庭外稱，從龔的風水洞挖出的玉石上寫有很多咒語，部分寫着「王門」、「東龍」，意指「王德輝回來的門口」及「東海龍王」（王被指在海上失蹤），寓意都是為了尋回王德輝。被問及認為陳振聰是什麼人時，司徒法正稱他為「行家」，認為陳「能夠講到你信又賺錢」，指他利用風水謀生，故認為他亦是同行。

Report originally published here:
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/434/3/1/1195989/1.html

Joseph Yu's Court Appearance in Tony Chan's case

風水專家露底 半粒鐘被叮走
2009-07-11

【東方日報專訊】陳振聰(相關)一方的風水專家余若愚擔任爭產案最後一名證人，但其作證卻以「戲劇性」告終。余若愚雖曾先後在全球廿餘個國家執業，並專程由加拿大來港作供，惟他昨在庭上直認其風水知識有九成由書本自學而來，結果作證不足半小時便被法官林文瀚「叮走」。

余若愚主張以邏輯及數學，將風水變成理論，他於八六年移民加國，先後在多國教授風水，又曾於希臘教授學生，有學生將其講學翻譯成書，林官聞其履歷不禁說「Globalisation（全球化）喎！」華懋一方開始盤問時便問余「係咪所有迷信嘅嘢都反對？」余答說：「按照科學定義，嚴格嚟講，風水唔係科學，係邏輯。」

坦承不懂法科風水



但余承認對法科風水、降頭、茅山及道法等統統不認識，亦未試過種生基；他有看過《天圖佈局》，「感覺到係民間傳說嘅邪術，內容非常恐怖」。至於燒銀紙，他直言「幾荒謬，燒衣紙嘅人已經係迷信，燒銀紙嘅人更加迷信！呢啲唔係掛名風水師嘅所作所為，common sense（常識）都知呢種係愚蠢嘅行為」。

九成知識書本自學



余若愚作供半小時後，林官不禁問其風水知識師承何處，余承認九成從書本自學，一成由師傅教授，但師傅並非直接教他，只是發現其報告有不妥之處時，會「唔睬」他，令他自行再研究修改。法官隨後向華懋一方律師說：「相信你都唔使再問佢！」余作供亦告結束。

對於被法官「叮走」，余若愚在庭外說：「我盡咗本分，希望幫到法庭。」身為陳振聰證人的余形容本案「對風水界嘅聲譽好差、好差、好差」，認為陳只是「唔識風水嘅風水師」。他透露，陳陣營去年九月透過網頁以電郵接觸他，問他是否有興趣替風水案作供，並列出數條問題，余一一解答後，對方認為他合適並邀他作專家證人。至於報酬，余指在此案要翻看兩大箱文件，又要準備風水報告等，對方會逐一計錢，「我都唔知收費會有幾多」。

Report was originally published here:
http://news.sina.com.hk/cgi-bin/nw/show.cgi/434/3/1/1195689/1.html

致初学者的一封信

I found online the following article very helpful for Chinese metaphysics practitioners:

致初学者的一封信（关于初学者学习易学术数的一些基本说明含书籍推荐介绍）

关于初学者学习易学术数的一些基本说明，仅为个人一家之言。以下经验仅给初学者观摩，是笔者多年来与易学者特别是初学者打交道以及对一些热销书籍的总结，会经常修订更新。

一、初学者选书书目：
初学者如果只想以最简单的方式去了解，也不想花太多精力，想轻松一些的话，那么选李居明或者是苏民峰的是最好，他们的商业运作很成功，书可以让你看完后还想再看的冲动，很多人都想买全套来看,但是对有志于专业化研究的同学来说，是远远不够的。修习佛学的有些书籍可以看看李居明的，毕竟枯燥的佛经一般人不太愿意看，但是李居明的书一般人都愿意看，虽然他是东密真言宗。
如果想专业化一些，就要有坚持的耐心，据统计的经验，在任何行业用功有效时间达到一千小时，你基本可以成为这个行业的专家了。
学习之前先要有个准备，就是问自己：我要学什么？学习的目的是什么？
我不主张人人都去搞预测，毕竟玄学不是科学，不是百分百的东西，做个了解是可以的，玄学毕竟是传统文化的重要组成部分。
1、易理及梅花六爻类
不懂易理，术数水平要想真正提高，绝不可能。学习易理有助于你搞懂自己学习的目的。
张延生是一个易学实力派人物，张延生的作品（易学入门、易学应用、易象延、易与和谐、心易、气易）是研究易理者的首选，相信可惜能真正看懂的并不多。易理方面建议还是看一些上海古籍出版社和中华书局出版的古籍影印本，原汁原味。
梅花的古籍可以看《梅花易数》，现代的可以看台湾的梁湘润、王士文，大陆的黄鉴都比较畅销。
六爻的精华在古籍中很多，尤其是七大经典《易隐》、《卜筮正宗》、《增删卜易》、《易林补遗》、《易冒》、《火珠林》、《断易天机》。推荐书目：陈圆《周易预测学入门》、邵伟华《周易预测学》或者《周易预测学讲义》、李洪成《六爻预测技术入门》。日本人著的《高岛断易》是海外研究六爻和易理必读的一本好书，无论是作者还是译者水平都很高。需要读现代人的书提高水平的可以看李洪成、王虎应、曲炜、李顺祥、吕文艺等人的，都属于畅销品种。

2、四柱类
就是八字类，以现代人为主，可以看陈圆《四柱预测学入门》、李洪成《四柱预测技术入门》，李居明的《四柱算命术》是四柱类无错字的好版本，目前只有繁体版的，习惯认简体字的人读得可能有点费劲，李居明书最大的好处是可以培养兴趣。中级最好的就是朱祖夏《命理应用精解》上下册，这个是千百人所公认的，超级热销，但是纸张不怎么好。高级的象邵伟中的《四柱高级班理论》、李后启《命理精析》、曲炜的《二十一论》等，新派的可以看李涵辰的著作。古籍有《渊海子平》、《三命通会》、《穷通宝鉴》、《命理探原》，比较接近现代理论的书是《子平真诠》和《滴天髓》。其他的畅销作者有：李洪成、李顺祥、曲炜、李顺祥、吕文艺等等，可以提高水平。港台名家的书建议多读，如梁湘润、宋英成、光莲、吴怀云等。

3、风水类
在风水之前要说一句，因为风水相对比较复杂，没有基础或者不想钻研的人请看李居明与苏民峰的书，要是连九宫飞星、七星打劫、开城门这些基本概念都不懂会很麻烦的。李居明的《学风水的第一本书》，可以先看看，但是看这个之前又要懂点卦，不然八宅法这种基本的东西都用不了。
这里引用网上的一段话：典籍看刘伯温等著的《地理全书》就可以了：
《地理全书》几乎囊括了明代以前所有的风水典籍，比较全面。缺点就是字体小，印刷质量稍欠。还有一本《地理天机会元》也是集成了很多经典的古籍。
另外建议看几本书：
《阳宅实用风水讲义》。朱祖夏先生著，目前最好的一本玄空风水阳宅书籍。
《玄空飞星风水》林国雄的书，浅显易懂，还介绍了配合楼层断风水的方法。
《古易玄空学新探》胡京国先生著，风水入门的好书。
胡京国还有一本《玄空精断》是进阶书。
《沈氏玄空学》风水入门必读，除了北斗七星打劫说法不清楚外，其它皆应仔细读。
《玄空地理丛谭》钟义明先生著。一套解说玄空风水知识及释评众家玄空派长处的好书，并有玄空诀窍解说、堪验实例。非常值得一看及收藏。
另外峦头方面，钟义明先生的《地理峦头实务》是峦头方面的好书，介绍详细，图文并茂。
《三元九运－玄空地理考验注解》也是钟义明先生所写，专门解说分析三元九运的一套好书。
过路阴阳就看冯化成《过路阴阳》
金锁玉关就看钟义明的《金锁玉关》
八宅法看《八宅明镜》
其他的畅销作者，大家可以选的有：朱祖夏、钟义明、王亭之、吕文艺等等，学习风水要注意派别。

4、手面相
想看得比较有意思就看李居明的《学睇相》，提高水平要多看陈鼎龙、萧湘居士、盛书笙的书；除了现代的人之外，古籍是一个提高水平的重要方面，尤其象麻衣神相、柳庄相法、水镜相法、三世相法等等，推荐一本《图解相学秘籍全编》上下册，荟萃各种相书古籍。有许多相学精品流落在民间，民间收藏的相学许多有很实用的价值，可以帮助你多一个角度思考问题。

5、奇门遁甲
最好就是张志春、王凤麟和么学声，入门就是张志春《神奇之门》和后继系列，最好看他的全套。他的徒弟杜新会的书也一定要看；王凤麟每年都要有好几期培训班，资料比较多而复杂，他有几本经典可以看，其中有合订本，也是非常超值，注意观察。

5、六壬
《袖里乾坤》，以及其他很多六壬金口诀方面的书；

6、太乙
《太乙通解》《太乙神数》；

7、铁板神数
多看马川的；

8、紫微斗数
这个入门书太多了，王亭之《紫数斗数初级讲义》，还有其他人的《紫微斗数一学就通》等，再往高级就是看慧心斋主、紫云、潘子渔系列的，一般公认紫云代表最高水平。陈雪涛的书比较受欢迎，例如《紫微明镜》《紫微启示录》等；而陈世兴特别善于写婚姻，他的作品几乎全是谈婚姻的。

9、姓名学
一般有五格取名法，但是按笔划数的话就和易经术数无关了，所以一般会结合八字取名的比较多。畅销品种有李居明《姓名改运学》，进阶的有马瑞成的全系列、易隐燕、张泊作品；

11、解灾改运与符咒
一般性的了解，而且也是相当有趣味性的就是《移神换将》，此为荟萃与经典，其他如《犁头巫家》和《四两拨千斤》也是相当的畅销。至于符咒那就更加的神奇，但是符咒只看书是没有用的，一定要有师傅来传。台湾最近出了不少关于符咒的光盘和教程，例如玄光居士和陈龙羽都是初中高都可以看着玩玩，网络也是公开媒体，我也不好说太多，建议大家本着娱乐的精神去看待。

12、基础书（周易原文）
　　如果不读周易原文，而想彻底搞懂周易基本是不可能的，万丈高楼平地起，基础越牢，对后面的学习帮助越大。建议采用中国易经协会会长、哲学教授刘大钧著的《周易概论》，其他如上海古籍出版社、商务印书馆等较大的出版社出版的《周易》都是比较可靠的。南怀瑾老师倡导的儿童经典导读中心出版的原文《易经》，可以帮助大家认识和听懂一些难读的字，本站提供免费下载。还告诉大家一个小秘密：多读周易原文，可以帮助提高悟性，此言真实不虚，也是学习学好周易的不二法门！记住六十四卦的名字，本人推荐一套方法，不用一个小时能全部记住。欲知详情，请到本站论坛。

二、选书态度：很多初学者总是问别人：你的书是不是正版的？纸张太差我不要，或者有错别字我不要。
我们首先要明白，为什么没有正版书？主要是因为出版社一般不可能把书号用在命理书上的，虽然现在社会开放，但是易学研究主要是在大学高校以及周易研究会等民间组织中进行交流，很多大学里的选修教材都是内部交流的，老师们自已开班也是内部交流的，所以书和复印件是各占半壁江山。只有张志春老师在花山出版社出版过《神奇之门》等正版书，但是已经绝版。杜新会在江苏文艺出版社也有奇门的正版本，这些都是少之又少的。现实情况据笔者统计，邵伟华的《周易预测学》五个版本，只有《周易预测学讲义》是没有错别字的（这本就是周易预测学，内容一样），四柱预测学只有一本红版没有错别字。还有例如李后启《八字精析》是一本很好的书，有少许错别字，但是不影响阅读，看了以后绝对对功力提升有很大帮助。我店一直不断优化品种，在尽可能的情况下选用无错字的版本的。还有一种常见的问题就是，你的资料太贵了。一个东西的价格是以它的价值来衡量的，买资料要量力而行，要列个计划，最好能以易养易（如与别人交换或者自己掌握一门技术能为别人服务适当收取报酬等），形成良性循环。诚然，有人买了资料学习后，确实感觉没有学到东西，这里面有两个原因，一是确实资料本身没有价值，一是自己水平不够，看不懂或把宝当成草，而误以为没有学到东西。要知道，你如果不去学习，就永远不会有进步。学习永远是最重要的事，投资于脖子以上的部分永远是最值得的。树立良好的选书态度非常重要。

三、个人心得：
　　周易（易经）是什么？是讲时间在空间里的运行规律！世俗的方面讲可以指导人类如何更好的生存。按照周易的启示去做，你的人生一定受益无穷！万般神通皆小术，唯有空空是大道。术数只是一种方便，要善于运用。万法皆空，因果不空，菩萨畏因不畏果，建议看看《了凡四训》，对你的人生会有莫大帮助！记住：众善奉行，诸恶莫作最为紧要！关于佛学、心理学、成功学的话题，不在此讨论。

重要叮嘱：易学、佛经是迷宫，进门后一定要学会出得了门，易曰：“知得也要知丧”，当你得到了一些东西的时候，你也会失去一些东西。诚然，人生从某种意义上讲，没有绝对的好、坏、善、恶，而在于你的选择。为什么还要特别提醒呢？因在现实中接触不少易友，一学什么易或练什么功，就顾及不到其他方面，给家庭社会造成一些不好的影响。古曰：平常心是道！不要把自己标榜成与别人不一样，否则你会一事无成。要明白你只是一个凡人，不要以为自己学易了就有什么了不起。“法、侣、财、地”（简单讲就是方法、同道、财力、环境）是学好功法，其实也是学好易经的最好指导。千万不要指望学易来发大财，否则你将走上不归路。以此为职业的人，是有宿因的。薄迦梵歌曰：要把成与败、得于失等同看待。患得患失不是学易人应有的心态。“好好工作，养家糊口，业余修习，平凡一生”这是吾师给本人的开示和指导，希望易友也能从中得到启发！

你我相识于网络，是一种缘份，希望我们不仅是书友，更是朋友！最后以一句话与大家共勉：天行健，君子以自强不息；地势坤，君子以厚德载物！

买前必读注意事项：1、众多周易书籍、命理书籍市面从未出版过，仅供爱好者阅读，不可能有正式出版物，请不要为难店主；2、如果看不懂或者学习有困难是正常现象，不要责怪店主或者指责书有问题；3、店家会尽力帮买家催件和查件,但对邮局和快递公司的服务态度与时间无力控制,大家理智的分清快递和店家的责任，以促进我们更好的服务。其他事宜请参见本店口号！4、购书前请慎重考虑，因为责任是买者自负，请慎重再慎重，没有需要请不要随意购买，不要在买后向卖家提出无理要求。请不要刁难店主，积善行德是为人之本！

Pi Xiu 貔貅

Bi Xie, Pi Xiu 貔貅or Pei Yao (in Cantonese) has become a common commercial Feng Shui product in recent years. Many well-known masters recommend it during consultation but whether it works or not, no one knows for sure. A feng shui master once told me that the number of toes on a Bi Xie represents different functions (for health, wealth or protection), e.g. 3 toes, 4 toes or 5 toes. According to him, in ancient China, Bi Xie is never found in homes but rather at the entrance of royal cemeteries / tombs, acting as guardian spirits to the area. So unless you stay in a royal tomb…

The belief in this mystical creature started as early as the Western Han Dynasty. While it is known now to have only one horn, ancient Bi Xie are found to have two horns sometimes. It is said to devour gold and silver and possess no anus to take a dump, hence it is a wonderful wealth-sucking pet to have at home. It is also believed the creature can absorb evil and protect its owner. It is normally required to be spiritually empowered (Kai Kuang) before it can start its job in any household. But sad to say I have seen many pairs of the creature disowned at a temple in Tanjong Pagar, abandoned in the backyard like pets abandoned to SPCA by their callous owners.

Did these owners think that their Bi Xie have not been working hard for them? Or are all these talk about its wealth benefits not true? Or the master did not empower the Bi Xie correctly? Actually, when a cure needs to be spiritually empowered, it is no more under the scope of Feng Shui but belongs more to the field of spiritual and religious skills. Thus, not all Feng Shui practitioners are taught how to do it effectively.

I think I should not talk further about this mystical creature since I am not officially taught anything about it and have no first hand experience with it. But a word of caution to all, “Caveat Emptor” or buyers beware, don’t be duped into spending thousands of dollars for it (especially if it is not empowered). And don’t think that having the red dot of the cinnabar (Zhu Sha) means it is empowered. In places like Hong Kong where feng shui products are mass- produced, businessmen are known to dot their products to make people think it is empowered.

By the way, I don’t sell Bi Xie.

Regards
Alvin Chua Kim Leng

Pogo The Clown

The following is an extract from an interesting book titled “Quirkology” by Mr Richard Wiseman. It is about a research done on astrology:

“One of the most unusual and striking examples of this approach was reported by a group
of American researchers in the late 1980s, in a provocatively entitled article, `Astrology on Death Row'."

The researchers first found out the birth time, date, and place of the notorious serial murderer John Gacy. Gacy was a sadistic killer who received twelve death sentences and twenty-one life terms for the torture and killing of thirty-three men and boys. By dressing up as Pogo the Clown, and performing at children's birthday parties in his spare time, Gacy may have given rise to the notion of the `evil' clown. One of the researchers visited five professional astrologers, and presented Gacy's details as his own. The researcher explained to each astrologer that he was interested in working with young people, and asked for a general personality reading and some career advice. The astrologers got it badly wrong. One encouraged the researcher to work with young people because he could `bring out their best qualities'. Another analyzed the information provided and confidently predicted that the researcher's life would be `very, very positive'. A third said that he was `kind, gentle, and considerate of others' needs'.

The work of Hans Eysenck, Geoffrey Dean, and others show that heavenly predictions often fall far short of the mark.”

But another experiment mentioned in later part of the book did show some link with people's behaviour and the time they were born. Apparently, people who deem themselves lucky are generally more optimistic and more able to notice opportunities that come their way, compared to those who considers themselves to be the unlucky bunch. So what is the factor that make the former group more optimistic and more able to notice opportunities? The answer is most of them are born in the warmer months of each year. The later group are normally born in the cold wintry months of the year.

Cheers
Alvin Chua Kim Leng

Finger length may predict financial success

An interesting article. Could there be some truth to the study of Palmistry?

By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID,AP Science Writer AP - Tuesday, January 13
WASHINGTON - The length of a man's ring finger may predict his success as a financial trader. Researchers at the University of Cambridge in England report that men with longer ring fingers, compared to their index fingers, tended to be more successful in the frantic high-frequency trading in the London financial district.
Indeed, the impact of biology on success was about equal to years of experience at the job, the team led by physiologist John M. Coates reports in Monday's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
The same ring-to-index finger ratio has previously been associated with success in competitive sports such as soccer and basketball, the researchers noted.
The length ratio between those two fingers is determined during the development of the fetus and the relatively longer ring finger indicates greater exposure to the male hormone androgen, the researchers noted.
Previous studies have found that such exposure can lead to increased confidence, risk preferences, search persistence, heightened vigilance and quickened reaction times.
In a separate study last year, Coates and colleagues reported that the hormone that drives male aggression and sexual interest also seemed able to boost short term success at finance.
They studied male financial traders in London, taking saliva samples in the morning and evening. They found that those with higher levels of testosterone in the morning were more likely to make an unusually big profit that day. Testosterone, best known as the male sex hormone, affects aggression, confidence and risk-taking.
In the new study, the researchers measured the right hands of 44 male stock traders who were engaged in a type of trade that involved rapid decision-making and quick physical reactions.
Over 20 months those with longer ring fingers compared to their index fingers made 11 times more money than those with the shortest ring fingers. Over the same time the most experienced traders made about 9 times more than the least experienced ones.
Looking only at experienced traders, the long-ring-finger folks earned 5 times more than those with short ring fingers.
While the finger ratio, showing fetal exposure to male hormones, appears to signal likely success in high-actively trading that calls for risk-taking and quick reactions, it may not indicate people who would do well at other sorts of financial activities, the researchers said.
Some traders require additional skills on dealing with clients and sales workers.
And the advantage may even reverse for some, Coates team said, such as traders taking a more analytical and long-term approach to the markets.
One study, which looked at average finger ratios in university departments found that faculty from math, science and engineering exhibited longer index finger ratio, rather than ring finger, they noted.
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On the Net:
PNAS: http://www.pnas.org

Cows Have Strange Sixth Sense

By Jeremy Hsu, Staff Writer
posted: 25 August 2008 05:00 pm ET

A study of Google Earth satellite images has revealed that herds of cattle tend to face in the north-south direction of Earth's magnetic lines.

Staring at cows may not equal the thrill of spotting celebrities in public or rubbernecking at car accidents, but the researchers found nonetheless that our bovine friends display this strange sixth sense for direction.
Their field observations of red and roe deer also showed those animals facing toward magnetic north or south.

"Google Earth is perfect for this kind of research, because the animals are undisturbed by the observer," said Sabine Begall, a zoologist at the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany and coauthor on the study detailed in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Wind and time of day did not offer better explanations for why 8,510 cattle in 308 locations around the world would mostly face north-south. Shadows suggested that many of the images were taken on cloudless, sunny days, so Begall's group also factored in direct ground observations of cattle herds.

A strong wind or sunlight on a cold day have typically proved more the "exceptions to the rule" that might cause large animals to face away from magnetic north-south.
The data on 2,974 deer came from direct ground observations and photos in the Czech Republic. Researchers also examined fresh beds left by resting deer in the snow, where the animals had sought shelter deep in the forest away from the wind.
Both cattle and deer faced a more magnetic north-south direction rather than geographic north-south, (Earth's magnetic poles do not line up perfectly with the North and South Poles).

Previous research has shown that animals such as birds, turtles and salmon migrate using a sense of magnetic direction, and small mammals such as rodents and one bat species also have a magnetic compass.
Begall and fellow researchers became interested in seeing if larger mammals possessed a similar magnetic sense, following up on coauthor Hynek Burda's work on African mole-rats.

"Our first idea was to study sleeping directions of humans (e.g. when doing camping), but there are too many constraints," Begall told LiveScience. "So, the idea arose to look for other large mammals like cattle, and Hynek was fascinated when he recognized that cattle could be found on Google Earth satellite images."
Google Earth's convenience also came with some downsides. The researchers had to estimate the date, time of day, temperature and wind direction, and could not distinguish between head and rear for many of the cows because of low image resolutions.

However, the researchers suggest that the finding of large animals' sense of magnetic direction could raise other agricultural questions, such as whether keeping cows in barns facing east-west might affect milk production.

The above article was originally published here:
http://www.livescience.com/animals/080825-magnetism-cows.html

Regards
Alvin Chua Kim Leng