Wednesday, May 31, 2006

THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN, IS THERE?

It Was
=======

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times,

it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness,

it was the epoc of belief, it was the epoc of incredulity,

it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness,

it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair,

we had everything before us, we had nothing before us,

we were all going direct to heaven,
we were all going direct the other way

in short, the period was so far like the present period...


This was written by Charles Dickens, from the novel,
"A Tale of Two Cities," about the times of the French revolution.

Sounds very much like today doesn't it?

There is nothing new under the sun.



****************************************************************

one DOLLAR / TWENTY DOLLAR BILL

« previous · Today's Joke · next »

The Twenty and the One

A well-worn one dollar bill and a similarly distressed twenty dollar bill arrived at a Federal Reserve Bank to be retired. As they moved along the conveyor belt to be burned, they struck up a conversation.

The twenty dollar bill reminisced about its travels all over the county. "I've had a pretty good life," the twenty proclaimed. "Why I've been to Las Vegas and Atlantic City, the finest restaurants in New York, performances on Broadway, and even a cruise to the Caribbean.""Wow!" said the one dollar bill. "You've really had an exciting life!"

"So tell me," says the twenty, "where have you been throughout your lifetime?"

The one dollar bill replies, "Oh, I've been to the Methodist Church, the Baptist Church, the Lutheran Church ..."

The twenty dollar bill interrupts, "What's a church?"

A VISIT TO JAIPUR

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A guide to Jaipur's forts and palaces
by: jyothi karthik raja on May 23 2006 6:41AM in Travel

One of India's hottest tourist destinations, Jaipur is accessible by road, rail and air. We chose to drive down the 212 Km from Delhi and the roads were beautiful. We started on September 3rd morning and driving at a comfortable speed we reached Jaipur in about 4 hrs with a brunch stop at Midway, a rest stop area in Bahror. Before checking in at our hotel, we decided to visit the Amer fort which was on our way, about 15 km from Jaipur.



The Amber palace lies within this fort complex, one of the finest examples of Rajput architecture. Its construction was started by Raja Man Singh I, army commander of Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1592 and was completed by Mirza Raja Jai Singh and Sawai Jai Singh, over a period of about two centuries. The palace is situated atop a hill, and the walk up is quite tiring though one has the option of driving up through a side road. Beware, there are plenty of touts around who tell you the road is really bad and that they will drive you up in their jeeps for a fee. At the Kali temple, water or whisky is served as “Prasad” (god’s offering). You have to ask for the whisky however. :-)



The highlight of the Palace is the Sheesh Mahal which has thousands of Belgian convex mirrors that adorn the walls and the ceiling. Opposite this is the Sukh Niwas where a cool breeze blows across channels of water for the purpose of air-conditioning. Here are the private chambers of the queens with windows having latticed screens so that the ladies could watch the proceedings of the royal court in privacy. The Amer Fort is, in roughly equal proportions, a pleasure-palace, a former centre of administration and a military stronghold and is worth seeing.



Sheesh Mahal, Jaipur



We proceeded to the hotel, Comfort Inn’s Hotel Hawa Mahal, a comfortable 3 star budget hotel, but given the American partnership, the facilities were very clean and the room was elegantly sufficient. After a quick lunch we proceeded to the Hawa Mahal.



Built in 1799, by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh the 'Hawa Mahal', Palace of the Wind, is one of the major landmarks of Jaipur. This five storey building of unusual architecture designed by Lal Chand Usta, is a stunning example of Rajput artistry made of red and pink sandstone, beautifully outlined with white borders and motif's painted with quick lime. The monument has a spectacular view of the city and the colourful bazaars that surround it. In the Rajput days it served as a vantage point for the royal women to watch the street life and stately processions without being watched. The facade has tiny lattice worked (Jali) pink windows, small balconies and arched roofs with hanging cornices, exquisitely modeled and carved. The structure looks two dimensional and the numerous windows provide a natural ventilation system for the chambers inside.



The entrance to Hawa Mahal is from the City Palace side, through a stately door which opens into a spacious courtyard. The western wing provides an excellent view of the Jantar Mantar. Today, around the Hawa Mahal lies the Johari Bazaar one of the many colorful bazaars of Jaipur which is where we spent the rest of the evening. All the places of interest shut by 5pm so plan your shopping for early evening. We walked down the colourful bazaar to the endless calls of the salesmen dotting the streets. Be sure to bargain and pick either the mornings or evening to walk down as the sun can be quite exhausting. Getting around Jaipur is best done by autorickshaw, tourist taxis or cycle rickshaws. The main markets and tourist spots are very crowded and its a nightmare weaving past the crazy traffic.



We ended our eventful day with dinner at Choki Dhani. This ethnic resort village has been designed with a focus on traditional Rajasthani cusine and entertainment. The entry is around Rs 210 which includes food. You can find banjara dancers, street magicians, potters, bullock cart rides, elephant rides, camel rides, horse rides, machans(watch towers) and anything traditional and rustic. A good opening day at Jaipur.



Day 2:

Sunday, we were told would be a day only for sightseeing as the bazaars would be closed. Shwetha and I were happy, more work for his camera and less for his wallet. After an exhaustive first day getting out of bed at 8:00 seemed a daunting task. But just the thought of site seeing in the sweltering sun made us get ready in a jiffy and we were one of the early visitors to the Jantar mantar. This is the biggest and most elaborate observatory in India and is truely a scientific wonder.



Jantar-Mantar, or Astronomical Observatory, was built by the astronomer king Sawai Jai Singh II, and is one of the five observatories built by the king. Constructed between 1728 and 1734, the Jantar Mantar is located in the center of Jaipur. The monument was built to understand the movements of the sun and moon and to find answer various other astronomical mysteries. The observatory in Jaipur follows the one in Smarkand, Uzbekistan. It is a scientific marvel and leaves you spell bound. One of the sun dials has a 2 sec accuracy. All the calculations are done based on Jaipur’s local time and geographical location. There are 2 sundials, 2 complementary instruments to measure the sun sign, instruments to measure the azimuth and elevation of the sun and a whole lot of other wonders. It is best to engage a guide to explain all the details as we found out. Our guide Amit, is a student of French and was part-timing as a guide to further his studies by explaining the instruments to the many French visitors to the site. He spoke to us in English.



Sun Dial, Jantar Mantar, Jaipur



After our jaw dropping sceintific tour it was time for a peek into the aristocratic lifestyles at the Jaipur City Palace. Situated in the middle of Jaipur, the riches and grandeur of the Rajput dynasty can be sensed right from the entrance. In the city palace is the graceful seven storeyed 'Chandra Mahal', or the Moon Palace, home to the present Maharaja of Jaipur; Bavani Singh, providing a fine view of the gardens and the city. The palace also has three museums, Textiles, armory and art. The armory is the best of the lot. There is also a beautiful courtyard that is adorned by very colorful doors and archways. The entrance fee is quite high, and you have to pay extra for the camera, and you will not even be allowed to take photos in the galleries. But the palace is a beautiful place, and you can always take photos of the world's largest silver jars.



The architectural and scientific marvels made us devorous so we headed straight for LMB resturaunt for some authentic Rajasthani lunch. Be preapred to wait for some time as this is a very popular place with the tourists. Our next stop was Nahargarh Fort. Sunset at Nahargarh fort is one of the must do things in Jaipur so plan to be at the fort by 4:30.



Perched atop a pricturesque hill, the Nahargarh Fort offers a breathtaking view of the city below.The Nahargarh Fort or Tiger Fort was built by Sawai Raja Jai Singh in 1734. Legend has it that the Fort was named after a prince whose spirit used to haunt the site and hinder the consturction. The fort was named after him to appease him. There are nine residential suites and the rooms are linked by corridors and retain some delicate frescos as well as toilets and kitchen hearths. It was used by members of the royal family for excursion in summers.



Each of the Maharaja’s nine wives was given a two-storey apartment, which were set around three sides of a rectangular courtyard. The maharaja’s personal living wing was built on the fourth side. The architecture was basically Indian with certain European additions like angular windows and western styled toilets. The apartments were arranged in such an order that the king could visit any one queen’s room without the knowledge of the others. For his convenience, each queen had her name inscribed above her door. One of the major attractions of the Nahargarh Fort is the view it offers of the Man Sagar lake and the surrounding area. The surrounding cafes offer a splendid view of the sunset. The thought of the king having nine wives to choose from sent me back in time :-). The rest of us were content admiring the frescos and the lovely view.



We completed our aristocratic experience with dinner at the Taj Rambagh. It is one of those regal experiences but be prepared for a fat check at the end.



Day 3:
Jaigarh fort, Jaipur

Nearing the end of our weekend, we left Jaipur early so that we could visit another landmark before we returned home. Of Jaipur's three forts, Jaigarh is perhaps the most enchanting and forbearing. If you are looking for a pretty, comfortable palace then this isn't it. Jaigarh gives a panoramic view of Jaipur and Amber and served as a hard-core fortress. Jaigarh (`Victory Fort') was built between the 15th and the 18th century, and stands 15 km from Jaipur, amidst rock-strewn, thorn-scrub covered hills, its forbidding stone ramparts visible from Jaipur itself. A steep road goes up to the main gate, the Dungar Darwaza, from where the view is spell bounding.



Jaigarh, once responsible for the security of both Jaipur and Amer, is a huge moated fort and contains all the accoutrements of a full-fledged citadel. It takes about an hour to two to see & explore the fort. Do not pay for a guide, as all the places to see, have a guide who will explain the different points of interest and the history behind the fort. The main attraction is the Jaivana, the world's largest cannon on wheels. Jaivana was constructed in Jaigarh's foundry in 1720, and its barrel alone weighs close to 50 tons. According to popular belief, Jaivana's been fired only once and the spot where the cannonball hit, is now a mini lake. One can feel the power just standing by the cannon.



Wander around a bit and you can walk the ramparts and peer down the loopholes for guns and boiling oil, or check out the wide water channels. These were part of a very efficient system for rainwater harvesting, bringing in water from across the hills and into Jaigarh's 3 underground tanks. The largest of the tanks stored 6,000,000 gallons of water enough to feed 10000 troops for 2 years. It is also believed that a huge treasure was buried under the tank until the government seized it during emergency in the 1970s. A case is till in court, but nothing has surfaced. The fort is now privately owned and the museums offer a brief but grand look in to the mighty power of the Rajput dynasty’s military power.



Outside the fort, we met up with Satyanarain Signh, now 95, but in his hey day the chief cook for the Maharajas of Jaipur. He, now apart from receiving his monthly income from the Ruler, is the chief cook at this tiny restaurant. We took some biryani for our trip back home. A quick stop over at Midway to polish off the sumptuous biryani and by 4 in the evening we were back home. Tired as ever but glad to have seen India as it would have been a few centuries ago.



Click here to see all the photos from Jaipur

STANDARIZATION OF AYURVEDIC HERBS

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This lab will change the ayurvedic world

May 30, 2006 13:15 IST

In what is seen as a milestone in the effort to standardise Indian systems of medicine in the context of its growing global popularity, a Bangalore-based laboratory is releasing 'reference standards' for herbs used for ayurvedic drugs and formulations.

"To begin with, we are releasing reference standards with regard to 100 ayurvedic herbs next month," Sami Labs Chairman Muhammed Majeed told UNI on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, organised by the World Health Organisation.

He said scientists in his laboratories in India and the US have succeeded in setting standards for 100 ayurvedic herbs after three years of intensive research. Dr Majeed is in the forefront of medicinal plant cultivation by engaging nearly 10,000 farmers in his farms in different parts of the country.

"These reference standards will be available to the industry for standardising their products,'' Dr Majeed, an NRI based in the US, said, pointing out that lack of reference standards made it difficult for standardisation of different ayurvedic drugs.

He said standardisation of herbs was important because it sought to remove toxic components. It also would help to ensure desired percentage of ''active ingredients'' in drugs for its efficacy.

The percentage of active ingredients in herbs and spices like turmeric vary from season to season and geographically.

For example, a piece of turmeric cultivated in one place would have five per cent of its active ingredient called 'curcumin'. But this would be less in one which is cultivated elsewhere.

The first batch of Sami Labs' reference standard would include important herbs and herbal extracts like Boswellia Serrata, Guggul, Adhatoda Vasaka, Picrorhiza Kurroa, Terminalia Arjuna, Curcuminoids and Pterocarpus Marsupium.

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

MARRYING A NON-JEW

A Jewish businessman warned his son against marrying a non-Jew.

The son replied, "But she's converting to Judaism."

"It doesn't matter," the old man said. "A shiksa will cause problems." The son persisted.

After the wedding, the father called the son, who was in business with him, and asked him why he was not at work. "It's Shabbos," the son replied.The father was surprised: "But we always work on Saturday. It's our busiest day."

"I won't work anymore on Saturday," the son insisted, "because my wife wants us to go to shul on Shabbos."

"See," the father said. "I told you marrying a non-Jew would cause problems."

SAN KABIR

The man who is kind and practices righteousness, who remains passive in the affairs of the world, who considers creatures of the world as his own self, he attains the immortal Being; the true God is ever with him. Saint Kabir (1440-1518)

Friend

Today's Quote

The most called-upon prerequisite of a friend is an accessible ear.

-Maya Angelou

ONE FACTOR DOUBLES......

One Factor Doubles Odds of Living to 100
If your mother was under 25 years old when you were born, your odds of living to 100 or beyond just doubled when compared to people whose mothers were older at the time of their birth. HealthDay News reports that new research from the Center on Aging at the University of Chicago suggests that society's oldest members are most likely to be born to its youngest members.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Appointment

Khushnaseeb ho aap jo hum aapki dosti ko itni shiddat se chahte hain

/ Warna Hum to woh shaks hai

jo khwabon mein bhi appointment se aate hai

THANK YOU

Today's Quote

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.

-Meister Eckhart

Sunday, May 28, 2006

Neem Hakim Khatre Jaan

Sex ‘doc’ shot by patient

HT Correspondent

New Delhi, May 28







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Unhappy over the treatment he had received, a man shot dead an 'unqualified doctor' at Telegraph Square in the Gole Market area on Sunday. The victim had treated the accused, Javed Ali, 21, for impotency a couple of years ago.

The police said Ali killed Rajesh Kumar Abot, 35, who claimed to be a sexologist, out of revenge since he blamed the latter for the deterioration in his condition.

When Abot stepped out of his car around 10.30 a.m., Ali was waiting for him. Armed with 28 rounds, he opened fire immediately. The pistol got jammed after Ali fired four rounds. He then took out another pistol and started firing. Of the 13 shots fired, seven hit Abot. Ali tried to flee but was arrested.

Abot ran a clinic, Jaddi Dawakhana, in the Paharaganj area. In 2003, Abot had treated Ali for impotency. Two months later, Ali stopped the treatment because his condition worsened and he started losing weight.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

With whom?

The Poker Game

A rabbi, a minister, and a priest were playing poker when the police raided the game. Turning to the priest, the lead police officer said, "Father Murphy, were you gambling?"

Turning his eyes to heaven, the priest whispered, "Lord, forgive me for what I am about to do." To the police officer, he then said, "No, officer; I was not gambling."

The officer then asked the minister, "Pastor Johnson, were you gambling?"Again, after an appeal to heaven, the minister replied, "No, officer; I was not gambling."

Turning to the rabbi, the officer again asked, "Rabbi Goldstein, were you gambling?"

Shrugging his shoulders, the rabbi replied, "With whom?"

KOI YEH NAHIN KEHTA....

Aashique marte nahi jinda dafnaye jate hai,

kabar khod ke dekho apne mehbuba ke intezar
me paye jate hai,

hindu kehta hai ise jala do,
musalman kehta hai ise dafna do,

magar is bedard jamane me koi ye nahi kehta

isko iski mehbuba se mila do....!

MY BUDDHA NATURE

Saved By Buddha Nature

A Buddhist and a Hindu went skydiving together. As they prepared to jump, the Buddhist said, "If anything should go wrong--"

"Nothing will go wrong," said the Hindu. "But if it does, God will save me."

"Not a chance," the Buddhist said, "Because there IS no God. There is only your Essential Buddha Nature." The Hindu scoffed at this.

The pair leaped out of the plane. Halfway down, they discovered that their parachutes wouldn't open."My God!" screamed the Hindu. "Save me!" But he continued to plummet.

Just then he heard the Buddhist say, "I call upon my own Essential Buddha Nature." Immediately, a giant hand came out of nowhere, cradled the Buddhist in its palm and gently began lowering him to earth.

The terrified Hindu too cried out, "I call upon my own Essential Buddha Nature!" With that, another giant hand appeared, cradled the Hindu in its palm and gently lowered him to earth.

"Whew! That was a close one!" said the Hindu, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Thank God!" whereupon the giant hand turned over.

Baptizing a Bear in woods

Saving a Bear

A priest, a Pentecostal preacher and a rabbi all served as chaplains to the students of Northern Michigan University in Marquette. They would get together two or three times a week for coffee and to talk shop.

One day, someone made the comment that preaching to people isn't really that hard. A real challenge would be to preach to a bear. One thing led to another, and they decided to do a seven-day experiment. They would all go out into the woods, find a bear and preach to it.

Seven days later, they're all together to discuss the experience. Father O'Flannery, who has his arm in a sling, is on crutches, and has various bandages, goes first.

"Wellll," he says, in a fine Irish brouge, "Ey wint oot into th' wooods to fynd me a bearr. Oond when Ey fund him Ey began to rread to him from the Baltimorre Catechism. Welll, thet bearr wanted naught to do wi' me und begun to slap me aboot. So I quick grrabbed me holy water and, THE SAINTS BE PRAISED, he became as gentle as a lamb. The bishop is cooming oot next wik to give him fierst communion und confierrmation."

Reverend Billy Bob spoke next. He was in a wheelchair, with an arm and both legs in casts, and an IV drip. In his best fire and brimstone oratory he proclaimed, "WELL, brothers, you KNOW that we don't sprinkle...WE DUNK! I went out and I FOUND me a bear. And then I began to read to him from God's HOOOOLY WORD! But that bear wanted nothing to do with me. I SAY NO! He wanted NOTHING to do with me. So I took HOOOLD of him and we began to rassle. We rassled down one hill, UP another and DOWN another until we come to a crick. So I quick DUNK him and BAPTIZE his hairy soul. An' jus like you sez, he wuz gentle as a lamb. We spent the rest of the week in fellowship, feasting on God's HOOOOLY word."

They both look down at the rabbi, who was lying in a hospital bed. He was in a body cast and traction with IV's and monitors running in and out of him.

The rabbi looks up and says, "Oy! You don't know what tough is until you try to circumcise one of those creatures."

RENT FOR LIVING ON THE PLANET

Today's Quote

Service is the rent you pay for room on this planet.

-Shirley Chisholm

IN BERLIN - THE BIGGEST RAILWAY STATION IN EUROPE

Major new station opens in Berlin
Berlin's new central station
Crowds watched a sound-and-light show, including a firework display
The biggest railway station in Europe has been inaugurated in Berlin by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

A two-day celebration is being held in the German capital to mark the opening of the 700m euros (£480m) Hauptbahnhof.

The station formally opens on Sunday, just two weeks before Germany hosts the football World Cup.

But the festivities were marred when a knifeman attacked spectators leaving the ceremony, injuring at least 19 people, police said.

"A crazy man ran down the street stabbing people arbitrarily," a policeman at the scene told Reuters news agency.


Standing so close to where the Berlin Wall was, the station represents a bridge that brings the city together
Angela Merkel
German Chancellor

In pictures: Berlin's station

Police said a 17-year-old youth has been arrested in connection with the attacks.

The glass-roofed structure has been built close to where the Berlin Wall once cut through the capital.

Symbolic

The station took eight years to build and for the first time will link the railway lines in the north and south of Berlin with those in the east and west.

Around 300,000 passengers are expected to use it every day.

Angela Merkel inaugurates the station
Angela Merkel described the day as symbolic
"The new transparent central station is a symbol of a modern country that is open to the rest of the world," Ms Merkel said as she inaugurated the five-storey station.

"Standing so close to where the Berlin Wall was, the station represents a bridge that brings the city together," she said.

However, some Berliners have complained that the station is too far from the city's main social and commercial attractions

The 151ft (46m) steel and glass structure dwarfs the nearby parliament buildings of the Reichstag and the Chancellery, where Ms Merkel has her office.

Some reports suggest the overall cost of the station, including reconstruction of the area and rails around it, a road tunnel under it and re-routing the Spree River next to it, was about $13bn.

Friday, May 26, 2006

SYSTEMATIC DESTRUCTION OF HINDU TEMPLES BY MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT

Malaysian Hindus protest demolition of temples
Press Trust of India

Kuala Lumpur, May 25, 2006







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Minority Hindus staged a rare protest on Thursday to condemn the demolition of temples by authorities.

About 50 protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside the headquarters of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and threatened to file a civil suit against the government and local councils if the destruction of Hindu temples doesn't stop.

Waving banners that read "Demolishing temples is criminal," the protesters chanted prayers to the Hindu God of destruction, Shiva, and smashed a coconut as a prayer offering.

The activists said hundreds of Hindu houses of worship have been destroyed in the past 15 years across the country, blaming a growing "Islamisation" of Malaysia.

At least seven temples have been torn down, partly destroyed, served demolition notices or torched since late February in various parts of the country, they said.

"We are not asking for a club to play billiards. We are not asking for a prostitution centre," said P Uthayakumar, the group's lawyer. "We are asking for our temples to pray."

About 60 per cent of Malaysia's 26 million people are Malay Muslims.

Chinese, most of them Buddhist or Christian, represent about 25 per cent of the population and ethnic Indians -- mostly Hindus -- make up 10 percent.

The activists -- gathered in a coalition calling itself the Hindu Rights Action Force -- were turned away by City Hall police officers who refused to accept a petition denouncing the temple destruction.

VOTE BANK POLITICS

There is an intense fight going on in Delhi and other cities in India against reservations. I am enclosing an opinion of a professor of IIT Delhi. As an engineer and also a general category Hindu, your exposure to the western world and their management of education for producing quality brains will help in getting the insight into their system. We as proud Indians want our professional (engineering, medicine, management) institutions not to be in top ten but at number one position in the world. With reservations, deserving students will get de-motivated and the entire foundation on which the present knowledge based economy is resting is at risk. What’s going on is racism in true form where the deserving and brilliant students and candidates are being suppressed so that at a later date the suppression is so deep rooted through admissions in schools, colleges, jobs and promotions that the entire nation will be ruled and (mis)managed by people who could not withstand competition and fair-play. After 58 years of independence, our politicians are still following the British principles of “Divide and Rule”, this is nothing but vote bank politics. I would like you to support the on-going anti-reservation sentiments and write a few words for everyone to understand. In my opinion our HRD minister must be getting paid heavily by interested parties to ruin this country by tact.

Closure of Husain paintings exhibition in London

F Husain's London show stopped
Agencies
Posted Monday , May 22, 2006 at 22:58
Updated Tuesday , May 23, 2006 at 16:18
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London: An MF Husain exhibition in London was suddenly closed on Monday following threats from certain Hindu groups based in Britain.

An official at Asia House, London, said the decision was taken because of threats to the paintings.

The move followed demonstrations against the exhibition by several Hindu groups in Britain.

A local advocate Rajkumar Pande had filed a petition on March 3 alleging that an 'objectionable' painting had hurt the sentiments of Indians.

A local court had issued a summons last Wednesday against the noted painter and former Miss India Nafisa Ali on the 'objectionable' paintings of Mother India.

The hearing has been postponed to June 27.

The prosecution told Judicial Magistrate Arvind Raghuvanshi on Friday that the summons, routed through Mumbai Police Commissioner, could not be served yet.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

INDIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ON TOP

NRI kids top in US quiz contest
Press Trust of India

Houston (US), May 25, 2006

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May 24: Orissa students bag NASA prize »










Indian-American students have made a clean sweep of this year's National Geographic Bee by winning the top three places in the prestigious quiz contest.

Twelve-year-old Bonny Jain of Moline, Illinois, emerged the winner in the Bee on Wednesday, clinching a $25,000 college scholarship and also a lifetime membership of National Geographic Society.

Neera Sirdeshmukh, 14, of Nashua, New Hampshire, came in second place, while 13-year-old Yeshwanth Kandimalla from Georgia came third.

Jain managed to answer 26 out of the 27 questions posed to him. For the winning question, he was asked to name the mountains that extend across much of Wales, from the Irish Sea to the Bristol Channel, to which he correctly answered "Cambrian Mountains."

Jain, who represented Wilson Middle School, had finished fourth in the Geography bee last year. The eighth-grader is also a three-time winner of The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus' Regional Spelling Bee and will compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington next week.

Nearly five million kids take part in the Bees organised by the National Geographic Society every year at schools across the US. The competition is aimed at generating interest in Geography among students and also increase public awareness about the subject.

However, various surveys have pointed to "an astounding lack of geographic knowledge" on the part of the American public. A recent study by the National Geographic-Roper Public Affairs found that half of Americans between 18 and 24 could not locate the state of New York on a map.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

SHAUQ E ADA

Chehrey Pei Banawati Gussa hai,
Aankhon Say Chalakta Pyar Bhi Hai,
Is Shauq-E-Ada Ko Kya Kahiye
Inkar Bhi Hai Iqraar Bhi Hai.

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Nitish's four-wheel 'gift' to ministers

Anand Mohan Sahay in Patna | May 23, 2006 21:01 IST

Ministers in Bihar will soon travel in swanky sports utility vehicles instead of the old Ambassador with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approving the proposal to purchase the new luxury vehicles.

The state government will purchase nearly 56 luxury cars for ministers, chief minister and their security personnel, official sources said. It is estimated that the cars would cost the exchequer Rs 8 to 9 crore.

Official sources said the government decided to purchase the fleet of luxury cars after the state cabinet sanctioned the amount few days ago.

The SUVs will be a 'gift' for the ministers when the Nitish Kumar government completes six months in office on Wednesday. Besides, the government plans to purchase air-conditioned cars for the top brass of the Bihar administration, including those of the secretary-level rank.

Nearly half-a-dozen specially built bulletproof Scorpio cars will be made available for Nitish Kumar owing to security threat.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Mind the Creator

Mind is the creator of everything. You should therefore guide it to create only good. If you cling to a certain thought with dynamic will power, it finally assumes a tangible outward form. When you are able to employ your will always for constructive purposes, you become the controller of your destiny.



—Paramahansa Yogananda, The Law of Success.

har pal

chale gaye the dur ek pal ke liye,
magar apke dil ke karib the har pal ke liye.
kaise bhulenge aapko ek pal ke liye,
jab kho chuke hai khud ko har pal ke liye.

Monday, May 22, 2006

Thomas Kinkade Paintings


(hope the water is moving!!)




Hope the water flows when you get the picture







READ THE FIRST LINE CAREFULLY. .





If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God.
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.










This is a Thomas Kinkade painting. It's rumored to carry a miracle!

The water is supposed to be running, so if it's not moving then the picture
didn't come through entirely.


.
They say if you pass this on, you will receive a miracle.
I am passing this on because I thought it was really pretty,
and who couldn't use a miracle?! ,

APURV MISHRA

Boy from Orissa gives voice to the paralysed

May 19, 2006 20:27 IST

A 17-year-old schoolboy in Bhubaneswar has claimed to have invented a device which can enable a paralysed person to communicate using the muscles of his forehead.

The 'Galbenator' invented by Apurv Mishra has earned him the third position in the engineering category at the recent Intel International Science and Engineering fair at Indianapolis in USA.

"The device is based on a new concept of directional displacement of a point on the skin just above eyebrows as a data source," Apurv said.

The boy developed an advanced forehead skin deformation coding system to analyse the displacement of the positional indicators and found points of maximum displacement.

"When the corrugator supercilli and frontalis muscle on forehead are contracted, the points of displacement are detected. This helps a person operate the device," he said, adding the data from the sensor was processed and forwarded to the data transmission section.

"Subsequently, the receiver forwards the data to the micro-controller which is used to select and surf the menu. Finally, it reaches the pre-recorded message that helps a disabled person to communicate with others," Apurv, a student of the DAV public school, said.

Before he gave final touches to the instrument, it was tested on 83 paralysed patients, he said.

The boy said he began his quest after his grandfather was struck by paralysis.

He invented the device in the shape of a helmet. "Now it is in the shape of goggles. Further improvisation could reduce its size."

He said the device could also be manufactured for defence use.

The Standard XII student, who has been awarded the Avasc Foundation Award, Recoh Sustainablity Development Award 2006 and Appreciation medal from the US Army, won $ 1,500 in cash.

His invention had been declared the outstanding project at the national level CBSE science exhibition, held in New Delhi in 2005.

Apurv, who was also a recipient of the CSIR Diamond Jubilee National Invention Award 2004-05, is now trying to patent his invention.

He said the Galbenator had been registered by the Intellectual Property Management division of CSIR.

The Intel International Science and Engineering fair is one of the world's largest pre-college scientific research based competitions, and drew around 1,500 participants across 47 nations this time.

Eight Indian teenaged scientists had competed for the four million dollar prize money at the fair.

Monkey business

Once upon a time in a village a man appeared who announced to the villagers that he would buy monkeys for Rs. 10. The villagers seeing that there were

many monkeys went out in the forest and started catching them. The man bought 1000 @ 10 and as supply started to diminish and villagers started to

stop their effort he announced that now he would buy at 20 rupees.

This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started catching monkeys again. Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going

back to their farms. The offer rate increased to 25 and the supply of monkeys became so that it was an effort to even see a monkey let alone catch it.

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at 50! However, since he had to go to the city on some business his assistant would now buy on behalf of the man.

In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers, "Look at all these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell them

to you at 35 and when the man comes back you can sell it to him for 50."

The villagers queued up with all their saving to buy the monkeys @ 35.

Phir na woh aadmi mila na us ka assistant........... Sirf bandar hee bandar.....rah gaye.. (Then neither that man nor his assistant .....could be found; only monkeys and monkeys were left!)

Saturday, May 20, 2006

MOVIE TITLES RELATED TO ENGINEERING STUDENTS;

7.Movie titles related to engg students:
exams - socha na tha,
classes - kabhi kabhi,
question papers - na tum jano na hum,
copying - yaarana,
maths2 - asambhav,
maths1 - mission impossible,
environmental sciences - pyar mein kabhi kabhi,
1st semester - kuch to hai,
2nd semester - yeh kya ho raha hai,
distinction - kal ho na ho,
1st class - raju bangaya gentleman,
2nd class - dil mange more
fail - phir milenge

NEW LAW BY IRAN ON NEW DRESS CODE AS REPORTED BY CANADIAN NEWSPAPER

Deccan Herald » News Update » Detailed Story
Israel objects to Iran's new dress code for non-Muslims
Jerusalem,PTI:
Israel has reacted strongly to a news report that Iran has passed a new law that mandates non-Muslims to wear disctinct colour bands to identify them in public saying that it resembled Nazi era policy against Jews.

The purpose of the law as per a report in the 'Canadian National Post' is to prevent Muslims from becoming "unclean" by accidentally shaking the hands of non-Muslims in public.

Citing human rights groups the newspaper yesterday reported that the Iranian Parliament had passed a new dress code for religious minorities this week and was awaiting the final approval from its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

According to the new law, the Jews will have to wear a yellow band on their exterior in public, while Christians will be required to don red ones, the newspaper claimed.

But, no details regarding the law were available and the only source of information is the report in the 'Canadian National Post'. A member of the Iranian Parliament has also denied that such a law was passed and called the news report a "lie".

"Whoever makes Jews anywhere wear the yellow star again, will find themselves in a coffin draped in black," Israel's Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said.

"The State of Israel was created after the Holocaust in order to ensure it would not be repeated. The yellow star is a bright red warning sign that obligates us to muster the entire world in the face of events there [Iran]," another Minister Paz-Pines told the local media.

The Wiesenthal Centre officials have sent a letter to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan urging him "not to ignore" the new law which also requires Muslims to wear "standard Islamic garments" designed to remove ethnic and class distinctions. As per the report it was drafted during the presidency of Muhammad Khatami in 2004, but was blocked.

Incumbent Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad however has pressured to remove the blockage, the newspaper added.

The United States, Canada and Australia has also criticised Iran in this rega

TERI DOLI UTTHI

TERI DOLI UTHI.....
MERA JANAZA UTHA.....
TERE PAR BHI PHOOL THE.....
MERE PAR BHI PHOOL THE.....
TERE GHAR WALE BHI RO RAHE THE.....
MERE GHAR WALE BHI RO RAHE THE.....
TUJE BHI CHAAR LOG UTHA RAHE THE.....
MUJE BHI CHAAR LOG UTHA RAHE THE.....
BAS...
HUM DONO MAIN FARK ITNA SAA THA KI.....

KI IIS DUMIYA MAIN TU AA RAHI THI.......
AUR MAIN IIS DUNIYA SE JAA RAHA THA..............

SECRET SPOT

Today's Quote

Within your heart, keep one still, secret spot where dreams may grow.

-Louise Driscoll

SECOND OPINION

Second Opinion

This guy was climbing a tree when suddenly he slipped. He grabbed at a branch and was hanging in mid air. After an hour, he felt himself getting exhausted and looked up to the heavens and cried out: "God, help me! Please, help me!"

All of a sudden the clouds parted and a voice boomed out from on high. "Let Go!" said the voice.

The guy paused, looked up at heaven once more, and said: "Is there anyone else up there?"

Friday, May 19, 2006

NETAJI SUBHASH CHANDRA BOSE

Netaji died a natural death in UP: Driver
Friday, 19 May , 2006, 16:47
Azamgarh, (UP): A 102-year-old man claiming to be Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's driver-cum-bodyguard has claimed that the freedom fighter was not killed in an air-crash in 1945, but died a natural death in oblivion, decades later, in Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

Editor's Choice
Netaji didn’t die in plane crash: Panel
''Netaji was not on the plane that crashed in Taipei in 1945, as he changed his plans to board aircraft at the last minute. He was not killed in the crash, but died a few years ago as 'Gumnami Baba' in Faizabad,'' claimed Nizamuddin, the driver-cum-bodyguard of Netaji in the Azad Hind Fauj (AHF). He was talking to UNI at his house in Shahabuddinpur village in Billariaganj on Thursday.

''I ran away from my house in Dhakwa village in Mubarakpur area of Azamgarh district in 1924, when I was barely 20. I reached Singapore by ship paying a fare of Rs 24 and was later blooded into the AHF,'' said the centenarian who can now walk only with the aid of a staff.

''Netaji, who was addressed by everyone in the AHF as 'Babu', asked me to become the driver of his 12 cylinder car, donated by a king in Malaya (now Malaysia). I was later appointed his bodyguard too, carrying a Tommy gun,'' said the man who was re-christened Nizamuddin from Saifuddin to hide his original identity in the AHF.

Endorsing the Mukerjee Commission findings on Netaji's death, Nizamuddin said Justice Mukherjee had finally managed to arrive at the truth behind Netaji's story.

Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was reported to have died in an air-crash in Taipei on August 18, 1945. His body was never found.

''He did not die in the air-crash. The plane did not carry him, but instead had on board Captain Ekram, Lal Singh, a Bengali soldier and a woman, all AHF members, besides two to three Japanese,'' Nizamuddin recounted.

He reminisced that he met Netaji and brother Sharat Chandra Bose in 1946 over a bridge on a river in Thailand, a year after the alleged death in air-crash.

He said the leader had told him that Indian leaders, in collusion with the British and US governments, were playing a political game using his alleged death.

''Jo jaisa karega woh waisa bharega,'' Netaji had told me when I asked him what he thought of the Indian leaders trying to pronounce him dead.

That was the last meeting I had with 'Babu', who disliked being called 'Sahib' by his AHF mates, Nizamuddin said with tears in eyes.

''I wanted to accompany Netaji, but he asked me to go to Rangoon, the capital of Burma, and promised to meet me in an independent India.''

DOST

Zikar hua jab khuda ki rahmato ka,

Hamne khudko sabse khush nasib paya,

tamanna thi ek pyare se yaar ki,

khuda khud yaar bankar aapke roop me aaya…

CHALATA HAI BHARAT KI SARKAR

EK THA SARDAR,
PADA THA BEEKAR,
BAAP THA LAACHAR,
MAA KO AYA VICHAR,
KHILAYA ACHHAR,
HO GAYA BEDA PAAR,
AAJ SARDAR CHALATA HAIB BHARAT KI SARKAR...

MAUT SE NAHIN

Maut se nahi ham Jindagi se darte hain;

Mehfil se nahi ham khud se darte hain;

Yun to bahot kuch khoya hai hamne jindagi mein;

Zane kyon aapko khone se darte hain...

WHAT'S EASY AND WHAT'S DIFFICULT

Daily Inspiration

It is easy to play with a cobra. It is easy to walk over the fire. It is easy to uproot the Himalayas. But it is difficult to eradicate lust. Swami Sivananda Saraswati Maharaj, founder of the Divine Life Society in India

TASVIR AAPKI

Tasvir apki jo dil mein basi hai,

sansein hamhari jo aapse judi hain

dil na todna,tasvir toot jayegi.

sansein na rokna hamari jaan chali jayegi....

FIRE IN THE BUILDING

On Fire!

During a recent ecumenical gathering, a secretary rushed in shouting, "The building is on fire!"

The Methodists gathered in the corner and prayed.

The Baptists cried, "Where is the water?"

The Quakers quietly praised God for the blessings that fire brings.The Lutherans posted a notice on the door declaring the fire was evil.

The Roman Catholics passed the plate to cover the damage.

The Jews posted symbols on the door hoping the fire would pass.

The Congregationalists shouted, "Every man for himself!"

The Fundamentalists proclaimed, "It's the vengeance of God!"

The Episcopalians formed a procession and marched out.

The Christian Scientists concluded that there was no fire.

The Presbyterians appointed a chairperson who was to appoint a committee to look into the matter and submit a written report.

The guard grabbed the fire-extinguisher and put out the fire.

Another Moslem dominated country

1. Pressure on Multi-Faith Malaysia

news.bbc.co.uk

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, May 16, 2006: Malaysia is considering its multi-cultural credentials after a crowd of Muslims on Sunday broke up a meeting called to defend the rights of religious minorities. The country's leaders condemned the disturbances, but the BBC's Jonathan Kent in Kuala Lumpur says non-Muslims feel increasingly beleaguered. "I'm becoming an alien in Malaysia, in my own country," says Dr. Jacob George. The president of the Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam in Selangor State has been helping to organise efforts to stop the local authorities in the ethnic Malay-Muslim dominated city of Shah Alam from demolishing a 107-year-old Hindu temple. Earlier in April another 19th-Century temple was demolished a few kilometers away in the capital Kuala Lumpur. The authorities said in both cases the temples' founders did not have permission to build them. But the demolitions are surprising because Malaysia has forged for itself a reputation as a successful multicultural society. For the rest of the lengthy analysis, click URL above.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

NEW DAY

As the dawn breaks, let us give thanks for all we hold dear: Our health, our family, our friends, the grace of God which never ends. Let us release our grudges, anger and pains, for these are nothing but binding chains. Let us vow to live each day in the most pious, God-conscious way. Let us vow to serve all who are in need, regardless of race, caste, gender or creed. Let us vow to keep God in our heart, to chant His name each day at the start. Let us vow to lead the world from darkness to light, from falsehood to truth, and from wrong to right. And let us vow to remember that we are all one, embracing all, discriminating against none. May your days be filled with prosperity and peace, and love and joy which doesn't cease. May you have success in all you do. And may God's blessings be showered upon you. Anonymous

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

No excuses will do

No Excuses
===========

The next time you feel like being bitter, resentful and angry --
- even if the circumstances justify these emotions ---
consider the inspiring words of a man who, after 27 years of
imprisonment by his government, had every right to be bitter,
resentful and angry:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'

Actually, who are you NOT to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn't serve the world.

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking so that
other people won't feel insecure around you.

We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give
other people permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence
automatically liberates others."

These are words of Nelson Mandela, who gave this inaugural
speech in 1994, after being elected President of South Africa.

He became the leader of the government that had for so long
sought to take away his voice.

This man had every right to be bitter, resentful and angry at
the world.

How dare he inspire us to greatness? Shouldn't he have instead
approved our sloth?

After all, is anyone really appreciated for what he does,
regardless of the extent of the sacrifice?

Nelson Mandela confirms that you are expected to be great.

Nothing less.

You can even be more than great if you decide to ignore the
non-existent limitations that everyone else can see.

What kind of glasses are they wearing?

I know I'm gorgeous, brilliant and talented.
Simply put, I am fabulous.

What about you?

~A MountainWings Original By C. Elijah Bronner
(With credit to Nelson Mandela)~

Tum rutha na karo, meri jaan ......

Nadiyon se kinare chhut jate hai,

Asman se tare tut jate hai,

zindagi ki rah me aksar aisa hota hai,

jinhe ham chhate hain,

wahi hum se ruth jate hai.

DISAPPOINTMENT

Disappointment
===============

I bought a self-help tape called, “How to Handle
Disappointment.” I got it home and the box was empty.
~Jonathan Droll~

1 800 free 411

A Few Extra Dollars
====================

Often I need a phone number that I don’t have stored in my
phone. If I am not at a computer, I call 411, but my wife uses
411 much more than I do.

Calling 411 costs one dollar in my area. It can cost up to 3.49
in other areas. People make about 6 billion 411 calls every
year earning cellular and home phone companies nearly 6 BILLON
dollars in profit.

There is a FREE alternative. 1-800-FREE-411.

Why is it free?

For the same reason that local TV stations are free.
Businesses pay to advertise on 1-800-FREE-411.

When you call and ask for a business name, there may be a 12-
second ad that plays from a competing business and you are given
the choice to automatically connect to the business that you
want or the competing business.

In either case, the call is free.

Try it. It's real easy, it works, and it's free.
It also works from the internet or cell phone at
http://www.free411.com

Worm class

shyamsunderagrawal@hotmail.com MSN Home | My MSN | Hotmail | Shopping | Money | People & Chat
Web Search:







Worm Class
===========

A minister decided that a visual demonstration would add
emphasis to his Sunday sermon.

Four worms were placed into four separate jars.

The first worm was put into a container of alcohol.
The second worm was put into a container of cigarette smoke.
The third worm was put into a container of chocolate syrup.
The fourth worm was put into a container of good clean soil.

At the conclusion of the sermon, the Minister reported the
following results:

The first worm in alcohol - Dead.
The second worm in cigarette smoke - Dead.
Third worm in chocolate syrup - Dead.
Fourth worm in good clean soil - Alive.

So the Minister asked the congregation, "What can you learn from
this demonstration?"

A little old woman in the back quickly raised her hand and said,
"As long as you drink, smoke and eat chocolate

...you won't have worms!"

Superman

Superman
=========

Muhammad Ali was on an airplane and a flight attendant reminded
him to fasten his seatbelt.

Ali responded: "Don't you know who I am?
I am Superman...and Superman don't need no seatbelt."

The flight attendant quickly retorted:
"Superman don't need no airplane neither."

SOME ONE LINERS

1. IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED, SKYDIVING IS NOT FOR YOU.

2. THE LORD GIVETH; THE IRS TAKETH AWAY.

3. GOD GIVE ME PATIENCE AND MAKE IT QUICK.

4. GOD IS DEAD - NEITZE
"NEITZE IS DEAD" - GOD

5. WITCHES PARKING ONLY; ALL OTHERS WILL BE TOAD.

6. JESUS LOVES YOU BUT I'M HIS FAVOURITE.

TASVIR

Tasvir apki jo dil mein basi hai,

sansein hamhari jo aapse judi hain

dil na todna,tasvir toot jayegi.

sansein na rokna hamari jaan chali jayegi....

TAJ MAHAL

Agar hum na hote tow ghazal kaun kehta,

aap ke chehre ko kamal kaun kehta,

yeh tow karishma hai mohabbat ka,

varna patharo ko taj mahal kaun kehta.

IF I WAS NOT THERE WHO WOULD HAVE SUNG THE GHAZAL,

WHO WOULD HAVE COMPARED YOUR FACE WITH LOTUS;

IT IS THE CHARISMA OF LOVE,

OTHERWISE WHO WOULD HAVE CALLED THE STONES TAJ MAHAL.

DO YOU MISS INDIAN MANGOES,...

unlike the Mexican copies, which are beautiful to look at but tasteless!

Who's the king of mangoes?

May 16, 2006

Alphonso is the best declare Indians south of the Vindhayas.

Langda and Dussehri swear Indians from the north.

When it comes to mangoes -- the king of fruits -- Indians can stir up the mother of all debates in this short, seemingly harmless sentence -- 'Who's the king of mangoes?'

"Alphonso is the best. Is there any other kind?" asks a die-hard Mumbaiwallah.

"Arre, you Aapus(Alphonso)wallahs are so limited in your mango-taste and mango-view, that you'll never know what real mangoes are all about," say the North Indians passionate about their Langda.

We decided to throw this debate and open to you dear readers.

Tell us, who you think is the real king of the mangoes?

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR BRAIN THINKING

Want to Keep Your Memory? Drink THIS

Remember when you had a great memory? If you laughed at that, go make yourself a steaming mug of green tea.

In yet another scientific study touting the memory-preserving benefits of this traditional Japanese beverage, researchers from Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine in Japan have determined that people who regularly drink green tea may have a lesser risk of mental decline as they grow older, reports Reuters.

Led by Dr. Shinichi Kuriyama, this study of 1,003 Japanese men and women who were 70 or older found that the more green tea they drank, the lower their risk of cognitive impairment. Even when diet, smoking and exercise habits were included in the mix, green tea still had a protective function.

Why? The beverage contains certain compounds that protect brain cells from the ravages of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, which may explain why the Japanese have a markedly lower rate of dementia and Alzheimer's than is found in North America and Europe.

How much green tea do you need to drink to protect your memory? Two or more cups a day will do it. Drink that much and you slash your risk of cognitive impairment in half when compared to people who drink three cups or less a week. Men and women who average one cup per day fall somewhere in between, notes Reuters.

But a word of caution: The researchers warn that the study was observational and not a controlled experiment so they cannot demonstrate a cause-and-effect relationship. It could be that healthier and more active individuals are more likely to drink green tea, a beverage that is typically consumed in Japan in social situations. Still, given the prevalence and burden of dementia, the researchers conclude that any benefit of drinking green tea could have a "considerable" public health impact, reports Reuters.

The study findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

GLOBAL GAS PRICES

Global gas prices
City Effective Date Price in USD
Regular/Gallon
Caracas Apr-06 $0.12
Kuwait Apr-06 $0.78
Riyadh Apr-06 $0.91
Shanghai Apr-06 $1.94
Beijing Apr-06 $2.05
Buenos Aires Feb-06 $2.09
Mexico City Feb-06 $2.22
Johannesburg Apr-06 $3.39
Sydney Apr-06 $3.42
New Delhi Apr-06 $3.71
São Paulo Apr-06 $4.60
Tokyo Nov-05 $5.05
Rome Apr-06 $5.53
Brussels Apr-06 $6.16
Hong Kong Nov-05 $6.25
London Apr-06 $6.28
Oslo Apr-06 $6.90

Mummy, my super hero

'The best friend god gave me'

May 15, 2006

Mummy, my super hero!

The Veda says, matrudevobhava, pitrudevobhava, acharyadevobhava, atithidevobhava in Sanskrit- mother (matru) always first. Not pita (father), not acharya (teacher), not guru, nobody.

She is the one who brings us into this world, our first playmate, first teacher, only best-friend; first guide to spirituality and a beautiful creation of God who helps us realize him. A mother is the embodiment of love and affection. The conception of thought about 'mother' promotes in us feelings of love, reverence and surrender which are the main factors of life.

Mother is said to be heart of the family. Only a mother's heart can bear with patience, all troubles and miseries. She never gets tired of changing endless count of diapers, spends sleepless nights when the child is sick, guides us through tough phases of life and is like a rudder to our family taking us in the right direction. She warns us of danger and then embraces us, feeds us, cleans us and tucks us safely into the bed for the night.

My mother is my super hero, of course! Mummy, that is how I call her.

She got married at the age of 19 and had two kids by the time she was 22. Now, we are three as my other brother was born late. She completed her studies both bachelors and masters while taking us along with her to exam halls and interviews. She is a teacher by profession. She has been an epitome of sacrifice and commitment as I have seen her being with our father through all tough times and without her we cannot imagine our family from a car shed to where we are now. I am married and doing my M.S in Biochemical engineering in USA. My first brother is doing his B.Tech in ECE in India and my second brother is in primary school in Saudi Arabia, with my parents.

I have countless pages to write about my mother but I will just quote one episode. It was in my 10th grade, when my father was struggling in his career in Saudi and my mother had to take care of both of us alone. On January 1st 1996, I was diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis. During those 6 months, she did not literally sleep for 6 months, had to attend my two major operations alone, juggle between hospital and food court, I used to vomit every 10 minutes, sometimes she used to give her sari pallu and her hand, later for one year she never forgot to give a medicine to me with breakfast. For information, T.B is said to be contagious. With all her support, I scored 81% in my 10th grade and stand where I am now in my life.

Many moments, which I can never imagine anyone taking part in, except a mother.

Thanks Mummy, I love you.

Tanuja R Majeti
Ruston, Louisiana

IMAGINATION

Today's Quote

Worry is a misuse of the imagination.

-Dan Zadra

Monday, May 15, 2006

GOOD AND BAD KARMA

There is no good and bad karma; there is self-created experience that presents opportunities for spiritual advancement. As long as we react to karma, we must repeat it. That is the law. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927-2001)

One of the many British Karmas

Interesting letter attached. It mentions how the British used the occupation of India in the 17th and 18th century to export opium to China. The writer raises an interesting question: How come the Chinese bacame addicted to opium and the Indians did not?

I have often wondered the same thing. An Indian Jew, Sir Siegfried Sassoon I believe was his name, was said to be the main force behind the export of opium from India to China. In this way the coffers of the British Treasury were filled to overflowing and Sir Sassoon got his knighthood and became a respectable member of the British high society. Up to that point the British had a huge deficit with the Chinese but the opium trade reversed the trade deficit in favour of the British.

The British imperialists have a lot to answer for to God and I guess they are most of them now down in hell.

Regards,


Note: forwarded message follows hereunder:





---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "E.D. Litvak"
To:
Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 11:45:57 -0700
Subject: Chinese Consul General bumping into Neighbors
Messrs. Matier & Ross,

Gentlemen - Regarding your above-referenced article published today, May 3rd in the San Francisco Chronicle regarding the addition to the home of the Chinese Consulate General and the fact of the enormous debt the United States has managed to accumulate these past few years brings to mind that this is not the first time that the West has been faced with a trade deficit with China. A similar quite serious problem was faced by Europe and the Americas between second half of the 17th Century right up to the Boxer Rebellion in 1900.

The West wanted to buy Chinese goods such as porcelain, silk, lacquered furnishings and above all: TEA. Tea the desire for it, especially in England was so strong that that eminent essayist and lexicographer, the late Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) confessed that he was “a hardened and shameless tea drinker who has for many years diluted his meals with only the infusion of this fascinating plant; whose kettle has scarcely time to cool, who with tea amuses the evening, with tea solaces the midnights and with tea welcomes the morning.” If the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had been around then, tea and coffee would, no doubt, have been prohibited as an addictive substance and Dr. Johnson would have done time in durance vile as a drug addict, but I digress.

The question was how to pay for all that. There was nothing England, then the workshop of the world, produced that China needed or wanted, China’s attitude towards Gweilos (white, smelly, hairy barbarians) being: ‘you want tea, you pay for it with silver on the tea chest.’ Thus, ships owners and captains were faced with the specter they feared more then storms, hurricanes or tsunamis, namely ships sailing with naught but stones as ballast in the cargo holds; besides which, the West was running out of silver.

So, some genius in the British East India Company, which then owned the Indian subcontinent, hit on the simple expedient of shipping opium to China to exchange for their goods.

The Chinese government tried its level best to stop the import of ‘foreign mud,’ just like today we try to stop the import of drugs from abroad with the same results. But unlike the drug lords of today, Great Britain had an army and a navy and did not hesitate to use them twice to smash down the Chinese barriers and let the drugs go in unimpeded



(As an aside, it remains an interesting phenomenon that the Indians themselves did not succumb to that drug whereas the Chinese took to opium as avidly as the English took to gin. Why this should be so would take a doctorial candidate in anthropology to analyze racial characteristics, which, in the present odor of cultural sensitivity wafting through the Groves of Academe, would earn the researcher ostracism in the United States and a prison term in Europe.)

But what drug can we use today to pay for Chinese imports? Well, there is tobacco for which there is a huge demand in China the locals distaining the local brand of cancer sticks. In fact, according to some press reports the Chinese government has been shooting tobacco smugglers. And what about oil, which the Chinese desperately need? There are lots of oil fields around for the taking if we but had the resolution to seize them. Morally repugnant? Against international law? Condemnation by the International Community? Censure by the United Nations? So?!



E. David Litvak

San Leandro, CA

U're a wonderful person

Tufan me kashti ko kinare bhi milte hai,

jahan me logo ko sahare bhi milte hai.

Duniya me sab se pyari hai zindagi,

par kuch log zindagi se pyare bhi milte hai.

U r a wonderful person…

MAIN HOON NAA

Life brings KABHI KUSHI KABHI GHAM,

how long it lasts NA TUM JAANO NA HUM,

but always HUM SAATH SAATH HAIN,

who knows KAL HO NA HO,

but always remember MAIN HOON NA…

ANOTHER GOOD ONE BY JOYTI

Hum nazaron se dur hai,aankhon se nahin,
Hum khwabon se dur hai,khayalo se nahin,
Hum dil se dur hai,dhadkan se nahin,
Hum aap se dur hai, aapki yaadon se nahin........

wAH wAH!

Badi aasani se dil lagaye jate hain,
badi mushkil se wade nibhaye jate hain,
le jati hai mohabaat un rahon par,
jahan diye nahi dil jalaye jate hain.

A COLORFUL CLASSICAL DANCE PROGRAM, NOT TO BE MISSED

Manipuri Dance Fundraising Festival - Rasa Lila

The Ranganiketan Manipuri Cultural Arts Troupe is visiting Seattle for the Manipuri dance fundraising festival organized by the Vedic Cultural Center on 28th May, 2006 at 4.00pm at Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus 24635 SE Issaquah, WA 98029. Manipuri is the classical dance from the North East Indian state of Manipur. It is one of the six classical dance styles of India and claimed to be one of the most chestiest, modest, softest and mildest but the most meaningful out of all the other dance styles. Please join us for this breathtaking performance of Rasa Lila by the renowned Ranganiketan troupe.


For more details regarding tickets for the event, see http://vedicculturalcenter.org/Ranganiketan/index.htm

FORMER AND PRESENT CHIEF MINISTERS

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Chautala raids: Properties worth Rs 1,400 crore found

Onkar Singh in New Delhi | May 05, 2006 09:53 IST

The Central Bureau of Investigation has claimed to have unearthed properties (both moveable and immoveable) worth Rs 1,400 crore during raids on the offices and residences of former chief minister of Haryana Om Prakash Chautala and members of his family.

*
CBI raids Chautala premises

The raids began on Thursday morning and continued till late in the evening.

"CBI on Thursday conducted searches at 24 locations spread over the towns of Sirsa, Dabwali, Tejakhera (Haryana), Bhunter (Himachal Pradesh), Udham Singh Nagar (Uttaranchal), Gurgaon (Haryana), Jaipur, Chandigarh and Delhi after registering a case against a former chief minister of Haryana, his family members and other unknown persons alleging that they have amassed wealth disproportionate to their known sources of income from July 1999 to March, 2005.

"During this nearly six-year period, the former CM and some of his family members were public servants. The case was registered by CBI after a notification was issued by the government of India in response to the request made by the state government of Haryana asking for CBI investigation," a press note issued by the agency late on Thursday night said.

Three plots belonging to the Chautalas in Gurgoan have been estimated at Rs 150 crore. A hotel in Karol Bagh and a mall in the same locality have been put together worth Rs 330 crore. A plot on Delhi's Ring road has been assessed worth Rs 120 crore. Another plot in Karol Bagh, the main shopping centre in the central Delhi, is worth Rs 55 crore. In Uttranchal alone the family has 600 acres of land. The total cash deposits in all the accounts have been estimated at around Rs 1.34 crore.

"In the searches conducted by the investigating agency on April 7, 2005, in connection with the investigation of Junior Basic Trained teachers' recruitment scam ordered by the Supreme Court, documents had been recovered indicating possession of disproportionate assets by the former CM and his family. Subsequently, CBI informed the state government for necessary action since it (CBI) did not have jurisdiction to act on this information suo-moto," the press note said.

The locations selected for searches were intended mainly to collect evidence and hence were restricted to residential premises and some locations like the office of a chartered accountant and the premises of a trading company run by the accused persons.

"During the searches, the CBI has found evidence of possession of extensive movable assets and also documents regarding immovable assets. Certain other immovable assets have also been unearthed during the searches. The phenomenal extent of properties seemingly accumulated by the accused persons would require extensive and in-depth investigations by the CBI. An amount of Rs 1.34 crore in five bank accounts of the family in different banks were frozen by the nvestigating agency today. In addition, CBI recovered Rs 13 lakh cash at two locations," the CBI said.

Om Prakash Chautala is currently in the United States undergoing treatment along with his son Ajay Chautala. The family could not be contacted for their version.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES

Naushad's story: From rags to riches

May 05, 2006 14:45 IST

NaushadRegarded as one of the greatest music composers of Indian cinema, Naushad's was literally a journey from the footpath to the recording studios.

Born Naushad Ali on Christmas day in 1919, he spent several nights on the footpath after moving to Mumbai in the late 1930s to try his luck as a musician. The composer, who hailed from Lucknow, had cried when his film Baiju Bawra was premiered at Mumbai's Broadway theatre. When the late producer Vijay Bhat asked him why he was crying, Naushad told him he was sleeping on the footpath opposite the theatre when he had dreamt of seeing his music brought to life here. 'It took me 16 long years to cross that footpath,' he had said.

After studying under Ustad Ghurbat Ali, Ustad Yusuf Ali and Ustad Babban Saheb, Naushad repaired harmoniums and composed for amateur theatricals before coming to Mumbai. Since childhood, he was an avid listener of the live orchestras accompanying silent films. Parental pressure to wean him away from music compelled the future maestro to run away to Mumbai in search of his dream.

He assisted Khemchand Prakash, whom he considered his teacher for a few years, and got his first break with Prem Nagar (1940). However, he was first noticed with Sharda (1942), where a 13-year old Suraiya did the playback for heroine Mehtab. Rattan (1944) took Naushad to the top and enabled him to charge Rs 25,000 a film in those days.

Naushad's forte was Hindustani Classical music. His professional training in Hindustani music enabled him to make swift adaptations of ragas into film music. This led to his coming out with major hits including Mughal-e-Azam, Mother India and Baiju Bawra. His other hits included films like Shahjahan, Dard, Dillagi, Dulari, Anokhi Ada, Barsaat and Andaaz. He composed music for 67 films during his career, and completed Pakeezah (1972) after Ghulam Mohammed's death.

Lata Mangeshkar, India's greatest playback singer -- whom Naushad gave an opportunity to sing in the early days -- once remarked that the music he composed for Baiju Bawra had surprised her. "It was entirely different from what he had done before. Different ragas were used for different situations and the purity of the ragas was maintained to the maximum possible extent," she had said.

Besides Lata, Naushad was also instrumental in introducing Mohammed Rafi to Hindi film music. He also utilised the services of distinguished classical vocalists like Amir Khan and D V Paluskar in Baiju Bawra (1952) and Bade Ghulam Ali Khan in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) to telling effect.

He was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Aware in 1981 for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

Naushad was the first to combine the flute and clarinet, sitar and mandolin. He was also one of the first to introduce song mixing and separate recording of voice and music in playback singing. It was a reversal of fortunes for the legend with the advent of the 1960s and the decline of Dilip Kumar. He used to compose music for most of the thespian's films.

The 86-year old's last composition was for the recently-released Taj Mahal - An Eternal Love Story, directed by Akbar Khan.

ALSO READ

Naushad on Mughal-e-Azam: An epic effort
Naushad: Legends like Talat Mehmood are not born everyday
Naushad spun magic with Mother India
How Naushad immortalised Anmol Ghadi
Naushad sets PM's verse to song


7

Sunday, May 14, 2006

NO LIMITATIONS WITH GOD

Never accept the limitations of your environment. Remain inwardly ensconced in the castle of God’s presence. There is no other haven of safety. No hurt, no disease, not even death can reach you there. That heaven of God’s presence is right within you; find it by Kriya Yoga meditation. “Even a tiny bit of this real religion protects one from great fear*”



– Paramahansa Yogananda, in “Destroying the Consciousness of Fear” from “Spring 2006 Self-Realization Magazine”



* Bhagavad Gita, II:40

LNN - THE RICHEST AGRAWAL INDIAN ON THE GLOBE

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The other side of the world's richest Indian

Simi Grewal | May 06, 2006


Part I: I am proud to be India, says L N Mittal
Lakshmi Niwas Mittal is the richest Indian in the world, with an estimated wealth of over $27 billion. Based in London, Mittal still holds an Indian passport and has king-sized ambitions to make his company Mittal Steel a true global behemoth. It does not matter that Mittal Steel is already the world's biggest steel company.

In a rare interview at their palatial mansion in London, Mittal and his wife Usha open up to Simi Grewal.

The second part of the interview will be aired on television channel Star World, in the programme Rendezvous with Simi Grewal, on May 7, Sunday at 9 30 p.m. (IST).

Simi Grewal: Usha, it's lovely to have you here with your husband. Thank you so much.

UM: It's my pleasure.

SG: You know, I've always felt that to really know a man, you have to meet his wife, because she truly reflects who he is.

LNM: Absolutely. You can see. . . when you talk to her, you will realise that we two are very close to each other, we have the same family values. And we take care of our children a lot. We love them a lot. We care for the society.

SG: By the way, you know, your husband has credited you with 100% of his success. Is that fair?

UM: It's not!

SG: It's not?

UM: It's not fair! It's true that we have been very close to each other and my support has always been with him. But the credit for his success is his -- his hard work, his business acumen. The true credit goes not to me.

SG: But Usha holds equal stakes in Mittal Steel as you, doesn't she, LN?

UM: We are life partners together so she has more than equal stake!

SG: (to UM) So you have equal power in the company and by all rights you have equal claim to the being the third richest person in the world.

LNM: You know she's very, very humble. And she never claims anything. That's her credit. And she knows this very well that nothing is going to change. We are one. We are so integrated with each other. She gave me all the credit, but I told you before, without talking to her that I gave her the credit.

SG: Your partnership actually began 35 years ago when both your parents came to each of you and said, 'We've found your life partner.' Was an arranged marriage expected of you?

UM: Yes, it was. Yeah.

LNM: It was kind of arranged marriage and I met her once, twice before we got engaged. . .

UM: Yeah.

LNM: . . . in a Calcutta club. . .

SG: OK.

LNM: . . . on one evening for tea.

SG: And did you talk at all?

LNM: Little bit. . .

SG: OK.

SG: (to UM) What were you doing before he came on the scene?

UM: I was a student. I had just graduated from BHU (Banaras Hindu University). I was a student of Economics. . .

SG: And where were you living?

UM: I was living at our home in Benares.

UM: So I had come for a summer holiday to Calcutta and that's when we met and the engagement was finalised.

SG: And what did you think of him?

UM: I thought. . .

LNM: Tell us now, because I never heard! (Laughter).

UM: I thought he was interesting, but I fell in love with him on our first phone conversation.

SG: When did that take place?

LNM: You have to tell the story now.

UM: As happens after we saw each other. . . And my parents loved him and his parents loved me. So the engagement was supposed to happen after two weeks and the first call he made, I think we talked for hours, more than two hours at least. We didn't feel that short of sentences or words. And we didn't' realise we have been talking for two hours. That's how. . . And I think we both fell in love with each other. . .

SG: On the telephone?

UM: . . . on that phone conversation.

LNM: I think, ours is a different kind of marriage where you don't communicate too much before the marriage and it's a building of relations, building of love. I wrote a letter to her immediately after the engagement because she went back to Benares and that's where I said to her I welcome you as a partner and I'm sure I must have expressed lot of love.

UM: Yes. And one sentence that he wrote, that touched my heart was, he ended the letter with, 'Keep smiling always.' And that touched my heart the most.

LNM: (to UM) You didn't like my saying that I welcome you as a life partner?

UM: Yeah. But at that time I was young, you know. I was 19.

SG: 19.

UM: I liked it. I loved it. Of course, if you look back and think about it, that was the best line, I think to start your life. . .

SG: Certainly.

UM: I welcome you as my life partner.

SG: That's very romantic!

LNM: We've always been romantic! Not only in the beginning.

SG: Usha tell me, you've known him best. Did you see earlier on some signs in him which would show, you know, prove his later achievements, his later greatness.

UM: Four months after we got married, he had to give his exam and I saw his determination at that time. And that impressed me greatly. And I still see the same determination in his work. He's very intelligent and he can see things in advance.

SG: So how did success change things?

LNM: You see, success bring more success and more opportunities and more challenges. That's one change. And in the personal life, you gain more confidence, you gain more strength. You want to do something better all the time.

SG: Because here, from a small family, one small home in Indonesia, your world has now expanded to the globe.

UM: I think going forward in life is always full of gains only. The losses are that sometimes you get more busy than you even can imagine. But then, I think you get used to that life.

SG: True.

UM: Sometimes even some of our closest friends cannot believe that, the kind of traveling we do and the kind of busy life we lead. But we are able to cope with it very well and when we are together on weekends, we are still like we were in Surabaya.

SG: Suddenly there were jets and yachts and homes all over the world. You know the grandeur and scale of your life changed. And it was such a dramatic graph in such a short time, that do you feel you changed with it?

LNM: No, most of these things are needed. For example, aircraft you need. It's not a luxury. It's a tool for business. You have homes because you want to get away sometimes from your daily, hectic routine.

SG: True.

LNM: . . . you want to spend time with your wife, your children. And that's also very important to continue to succeed.

SG: Between the two of you, who talks more and who listens.

LNM: Normally wives should talk a lot but in this case I talk a lot! (He turns to UM) Which is true or not?

UM: Yeah, he talks more than I.

SG: And who has the last word in an argument?

LNM: My wife! (laughs)

UM: No. We don't argue.

SG: You don't argue at all?

UM: Very rarely.

LNM: I think this amazing part, we have such a good understanding that our views are very similar on issues.

SG: I can understand.

LNM: So argument comes when the views are different. We are so aligned to each other, we are so integrated to each other. There's a very little scope for argument.

UM: If the matter concerns business I think he has the last word and if it concerns family and home or personal life, I think I have the last word.

SG: Between the two of you, whose heart rules and whose head?

UM: His head and my heart. That's very clear. (Laughter).

LNM: Yeah. But I always believe the head is stronger than heart. (Laughter).

UM: OK. I give you that plus.

SG: Who is stricter with the kids?

UM: We both are not strict parents. I think when the children were small, like babies, I was stricter. And he only played with them when he came home so I had to discipline them at times and do their homework with them and take them to school and all those motherly duties.

SG: So in what way is Aditya's relationship with you different to your relationship with your father?

LNM: I think our relation is very unique. We are very close friends, very close friends. More than father and son, we are close friends. Obviously, we are partners in business. Though he's my son, we respect each other's views. And we are aligned together so much, it is very difficult to see relation between father and son. Lot of people think that we are like brothers.

SG: But also when Aditya was going to Wharton Business School, I believe LN was so upset, he didn't even go and see him off.

UM: Yeah. I went with him and he and. . .

LNM: Yeah, I didn't go, you know.

UM: Yeah. He was upset. I think both of us when we talked of him, our tears would go. . . tears would roll down.

SG: You people have set a new standard in weddings for the family. Vanisha's wedding. Who, who planned that?

UM: Yeah, these things are always. . . fall in my portfolio.

SG: How did you choose Versailles?

UM: I took my daughter to Paris] and showed her all the venues that I had chosen. I had always loved Versailles and I thought we should have one function there for the sheer beauty of the place. And she, on the way she was telling, 'Versailles? No. I don't want any function in Versailles.. And when she saw Versailles, she said: 'Mummy, this is the best.' Because she appreciates art and architecture a lot and she said: 'Mummy, this is the best.'

SG: Yes. . . it's truly splendid. Majestic.

UM: Yeah.

SG: It must have taken huge planning.

UM: Yes.

SG: For many months!

UM: Yes. It takes in a lot of time because you have to go into every detail.

SG: More like an army manoeuvre!

LNM: I must say we got lot of support from French authorities.

UM: The French were so interested in doing up a Vedic-style wedding. And the Indian artisans and the French artisans worked together with a lot of respect for each other. Our party planners from India went there and set up the whole mandap and the tent for the dinner in the Rajasthani style. And I remember St. Laurent telling me that I never knew India has so much of talent.

DEVI MAA'S BLESSINGS ON MOTHER'S DAY

Here is Shree Maa's message for Mother's Day 2006.

Oh Divine Mother, make us instruments of your peace.

Oh Divine Mother, grant us increase in strength with your pure nature.

Oh Divine Mother, grant us increase in pure love and pure knowledge with true wealth. Give us your form, give us victory, give us welfare, remove all hostility.

Oh Divine Mother, you are the destroyer of all opposition. Give us your form, give us victory, give us welfare, remove all hostility.

Oh Mother of the Universe, protect this universe with peace and protect those who share wisdom. Remove all hostility.

Oh Divine Mother, you are the essence of truth, consciousness, happiness; the form of pure conscious being. You are the beauty of eternal truth. Give us your form, give us victory, give us welfare, remove all hostility.

Oh Divine Mother, give us your very own nature. Give us your mercy. Oh Merciful Mother, give us the refuge of your lotus feet. Make us victorious. Bless us.

Jai Maa

Devi Maa from DEVI MAA MANDIR IN NAPA VALLEY

MY FIRST CONFESSION

My First Confession

A parish priest was being honored at a dinner on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his arrival in that parish. A leading local politician, who was a member of the congregation, was chosen to make the presentation and to give a little speech at the dinner, but he was delayed in traffic, so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.

"You will understand," he said, "the seal of the confessional can never be broken, however I got my first impressions of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I can only hint vaguely about this, but when I came here 25 years ago I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first chap who entered my confessional told me how he had stolen a television set, and when stopped by the police, had almost murdered the officer! Further, he told me he had embezzled money from his place of business and had an affair with his boss's wife. I was appalled! But as the days went on, I learned that my people were not all like that, and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of understanding and loving people."

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late. He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk.

"I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived in this parish," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honour of being the first one to go to him in confession."

Squeezing lemon

Squeezing Lemons
>
> The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around
> that they offered a standing $1000 bet.
>
> The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass,
> and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of
> juice out would win the money.
>
> Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but
> nobody could do it.
>
> One day this scrawny little man came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and
> a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice "I'd like to try the
> bet."
>
> After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon,
> and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the
> little man.
>
> But the crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his
> fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass.
>
> As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little man
> "what do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or
> what?"
>
> The man replied "I work for the IRS."
> ________________________________

Mother's Day

Today's Quote

My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.

-Mark Twain

Saturday, May 13, 2006

MERA BHARAT MAHAN

MANDAL-II IN MUMBAI



National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) should take note of video-films showing Mumbai Police taking help of anti-social elements (in blue shirts) in mercilessly beating agitating medical-students protesting against reservation-policy. Mumbai Police Commissioner AN Ray and other responsible police-persons should not only be suspended but also arrested for their inhuman act with educated youth. Blunt lie of AN Ray about not making lathi-charge on medicos should not be tolerated. It is senseless to wait for seven long days for enquiry ordered by Mumbai Police Commissioner on instructions of Maharashtra Governor which should have not taken more than seven minutes after seeing the video-clippings. Arrested students should be immediately released without need of any bail or other formality. Persons in blue shirts assisting Mumbai Police in its inhuman act should be traced and arrested with charges of attempt to murder. Perhaps it is for first time that Police in any state took unlawful help of anti-social elements in mercilessly beating educated youth of this great democratic nation! Governor, Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra should tender apology on behalf of administration for such unprecedented police-act in history of India which reminded of notorious Jaliawalan-episode in British regime. Are we living in ‘Mera Bharat Mahaan’ or in a ‘Shining India’?

ARRESTED MAHARASHTRA MINISTER

Union government should take note of statement by arrested Maharashtra Minister Surupsinh Naik in the Supreme Court that he made the blunder of violating the Apex Court order because he was uneducated person from reserved category and as such was unable to read the files before signing. Now it is clear that the Constitution needs to be immediately amended for seating only educated talent on ministerial seats of power. What happens if some less talented medico from reserved category claims innocence for wrong treatment of patients because of his/her being from reserved category? Our great leaders like VP Singh or Arjun Singh have no reason to worry because they are privileged and regularly provided with foreign medical-treatment at government-expense!

YOGI BHAJAN

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Highway named after Yogi Bhajan

A Correspondent | May 12, 2006 15:55 IST

The New Mexico State Transportation Commission replaced the NM State Highway 106 name with the new 'Yogi Bhajan Memorial Highway' sign on April 28.

Prior to that, the sign was unveiled at a ceremony at the headquarters of the Sikh Dharma International of Western Hemisphere at Espanola. NM Governor Bill Richardson and Espanola Mayor Joseph Maestas were among those who addressed the audience at the unveiling ceremony.

By renaming the highway, the commission, as well as the NM administration, has honored the late Yogi Bhajan, who was leader of the Sikh Dharma International. The highway, which runs almost a mile though the SDI headquarters ranch, lies between US 84/285 and State Road 76. NM Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught led the efforts for this memorial dedication, according to Sikh Dharma sources. Last year, the commission had unanimously approved a resolution in this regard.

Many other local and state officials as well as Sikh leaders attended the ceremony and remembered Yogi Bhajan's contributions to the state, nation and world. Among those present were New Mexico Department of Transportation Commission Chairman Johnny Cope, House of Representatives Speaker Ben Lujan, city council members, Santa Fe county commissioners and appellate court judges.

Yogi Bhajan, a master of Kundalini Yoga, passed away in late 2004. He became a master of Kundalini Yoga in northern India in his teens, and brought the teachings and the Sikh religion to America in 1969, soon after making New Mexico his home. Over a million people across the world practise the teachings and technology of Kundalini Yoga. He had been given the title of Siri Singh Sahib by the Sikh religion by virtue of his leadership of the Sikh Dharma International in the Western Hemisphere.

US Congress fetes Yogi Bhajan

In 1972, he founded the 3HO Foundation, an international educational foundation training teachers in yoga, and dedicated to improving physical well-being and deepening spiritual awareness. 3HO is recognized as a non-governmental organization in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

Yogi Bhajan, known for his dedication to peace and religious unity, founded the International Peace Prayer Day in 1985 and this event draws thousands of participants to this area each summer. He was recognized as the Man of Peace by the World Parliament of Religions in 1999, and honored posthumously by a concurrent resolution of the US Congress in March of 2005, a release said.

Dr Inderjit Kaur, wife of Yogi Bhajan, is the 'Bhai Sahiba' of Sikh Dharma International, and Sardarni Guru Amrit Kaur, the 'Siri Sikhdar Sahiba' of SDI.

Friday, May 12, 2006

THE ONLY ONE 'working in India'

How India is surviving!!

The population of India is 100 crores. But 19 crores are retired.

That leaves 81 crores which do the work. There are 25 crores in school, which
leaves 56 crores to do the work.

Of this there are 22 crores employed by the Central Government, leaving
34 crores to do the work.

4 crores are in the Armed Forces, which leaves 30 crores to do the work.

Take away from above total the 20 crores people who work for State
Governments (State Government employees officially do not work!) and
that leaves 10 crores to do the work.

Total unemployed are 8 crores and that leaves 2 crores to do the work.

At any given time there are 1.2 crore people in hospitals, leaving 80
lakhs to do the work.

Now, according to Indian Statistical Institute, there are 79,99,998
people in prisons throughout the!! country.

That leaves just 2 people to do the work.......You and me!!!

And currently YOU are sitting on your computer reading mails. So I am
the only person in our country who is working 'hardly', even though not even in India.

THREE HYMNS

Hymns for Her

One Sunday a pastor told the congregation that the church needed some extra money and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate. He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns.

After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate. A very quiet, elderly and saintly lady all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns.

Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three handsomest men in the building and said, "I'll take him and him and him."

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Indian student threatens the President on line

Indian student threatens Bush online

on a Yahoo finance board dedicated to Sirius Satellite radio... no less!

Washington: An Indian graduate student at the Purdue University, was arrested on Friday and charged with threatening to kill President George W Bush, Laura Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

Vikram Buddhi, 34, allegedly posted the detailed threatening messages on an online message board, according to Chicago Sun Times.

Buddhi has been studying industrial engineering at the Purdue University, having moved temporarily from India to his new home in West Lafayette 10 years ago on a student visa.

He was originally hired as a teaching assistant in the Mathematics department but was removed from that position and is now a teaching assistant in the industrial engineering department.

Since this is a very busy time for college students, being immersed in studying for their upcoming finals, Buddhi's attorney John Martin said he hopes his client will be released from jail on Wednesday following his detention hearing, so he can return to studying.

Buddhi today sits in a jail cell somewhere in northern Indiana after a federal magistrate in Hammond ordered him held without bond till Wednesday under the belief that he may take a flight back to India.

A foreign national from India, Buddhi holds a student visa.
Buddhi posted his messages on a Yahoo finance board dedicated to Sirius Satellite radio, a site that receives two to three million hits a day, his lawyer said.

A concerned citizen contacted the Secret Service office in Dallas to report that a subject was posting threatening messages about Bush, according to the criminal complaint filed in Hammond's federal court.

Buddhi was arrested on Friday and told investigators he is not suffering from any mental illnesses nor is he taking any illegal or prescription drugs.

He said he posted the message, along with other derogatory messages aimed at the president, but Martin said Buddhi's actions should be covered by the First Amendment since Buddhi would have never actually carried out his threats.

But legal experts say he may have crossed the line - that threats against the president's life posted on the Internet are taking things too far.

In the various messages posted, Buddhi urged the Web site's readers to bomb the US and other messages called for the killing of all Republicans, according to the court documents.

"What was allegedly said certainly is derogatory and may be inflammatory," Martin said, adding, "But there's no real serious threat more than it was chat on the Web."

Many people post comments online that they may not actually mean, Martin said.

Martin also wonders why the US Secret Service questioned Buddhi in January about the comments, then didn't arrest him until Friday.
The Secret Service is responsible for protecting the president, vice president and foreign heads of state.

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