Wednesday 31 December 2008

Year 2008

Good Bye 2008 and Welcome to a new year 2009....

Its just a day which will pass yet it marks the end of year and invites us to think what we have found and lost in the last year.

- Did we made good use of knowledge from previous years???
- Could we have made this year better???
- How can we make the coming year better for us and all the people around us???

I grieve for all the people we saw being killed. My heart cries for innocent people who were killed in Pakistan, my homeland, for people who were killed in Palestine, for people who were killed in IRAQ and Afghanistan, for people who died in Mumbai and I only see death toll rising every year.





I am a very naive person who likes to stick to his views. I like to survive and prosper but I can never understand the politics which make us kill our own people for *greater good* ...... Every day this pain lives and gets stronger.









And with enough killings going on, I think I did have a lot of good things happening and the best thing that happened to me was Mahwish; my fiance. She is the one whom my parents chose and the relationship which started as an Arrange Marriage to be, i think it will be a love marriage for 2009... :) .... She is sweet, loving, caring, patient and she fits well in my family. Its something which every guy can wish for and I am very happy that God has blessed me with her. Love you sweets..... :)

and than another thing exciting and interesting was my Germany trip which also took me to Paris, France. There i met some very nice people and some not so nice people and that thing signify only one thing: There are good and bad people everywhere and its only our action that determines if we are really good or bad.

An year has passed and I hope that we see many more with more peace, love and justice for everyone. I hope that I can give more meaning to my life and people around me. I want to dedicate this year to my family, my friends and my work all of which keeps pushing me to to do better in life for myself and others.

Cheers 2008.
JS

Friday 19 December 2008

When Im Gone

Its rare that I put consecutive video posts but this song, I must put in...... Love this song.



When I'm gone - Performed by 3 Doors Down

Thursday 27 November 2008

I Feel Pretty



One of the beautiful songs from the musical "West Side Story"

Tuesday 25 November 2008

Funny chat nicks

Here are some of the funny chat nicks I found.

- How Long A Minute Is Depends On What Side Of The Bathroom Door Your On.
- If electricty comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?
- I'm fat, but your ugly. I can diet.
- When I'm good, I'm really good, but when I'm bad I'm better.
- If you can't beat them, arrange to have them beaten.
- Do they have reserved parking for non-handicap people at the Special Olympics?
- As long as my boss pretends that I'm earning much, I'm pretending that I work hard
- :) My darling my love, my beautiful wife. Marrying you screwed up my life :S
- Can I get your picture? I collect nature disasters
- Damn right I'm good in bed i can sleep for hours!

and many more... hehe... :) ...

Link to site : <http://www.funtal.com/texts.php?page=0&catId=40>

Did you really choose to read this article ?

An interesting philosophic question to ponder..... :)


Suppose that Fred existed shortly after the Big Bang. He had unlimited intelligence and memory, and knew all the scientific laws governing the universe and all the properties of every particle that then existed. Thus equipped, billions of years ago, he could have worked out that, eventually, planet Earth would come to exist, that you would too, and that right now you would be reading this article.

After all, even back then he could have worked out all the facts about the location and state of every particle that now exists.

And once those facts are fixed, so is the fact that you are now reading this article. No one's denying you chose to read this. But your choice had causes (certain events in your brain, for example), which in turn had causes, and so on right back to the Big Bang. So your reading this was predictable by Fred long before you existed. Once you came along, it was already far too late for you to do anything about it.

Now, of course, Fred didn't really exist, so he didn't really predict your every move. But the point is: he could have. You might object that modern physics tells us that there is a certain amount of fundamental randomness in the universe, and that this would have upset Fred's predictions. But is this reassuring? Notice that, in ordinary life, it is precisely when people act unpredictably that we sometimes question whether they have acted freely and responsibly. So freewill begins to look incompatible both with causal determination and with randomness. None of us, then, ever do anything freely and responsibly."


--Link to source site : <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7739493.stm>

Friday 21 November 2008

I've Learned

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
And it's not the end of the world.
I've learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.
I've learned that it's not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.
I've learned that you can get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself
to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.
I've learned that it's not what happens to people,
It's what they do about it.
I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.

I've learned that heroes are the people who do what has to be done
When it needs to be done
regardless of the consequences.
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't five me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that true friendship continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean that they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.
I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.
I've learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.
I've learned taht your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.
I've learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.
I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.
I've learned to love
and be loved.
I've learned...

--A poem by Omer B. Washington

Thursday 20 November 2008

Anger vs. Love

Once a man was polishing his new car, his 4 year old son picked stone & scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child's hand & hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench.

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father....With painful eyes he asked 'Dad when will my fingers grow back?' Man was so hurt and speechless. He went back to car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions..... . sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches, child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'.

The next day that man committed suicide. . .

Anger and Love have no limits; choose the later to have a beautiful & lovely life.... Things are to be used and people are to be loved, but the problem in today's world is that, People are used and things are loved.......

Historic Moments

Speech by Martin Luther King


Nagasaki Mushroom cloud

Some of the historic moments in the world. See the reference website for more. A very nice collection.

Reference : <http://photosthatchangedtheworld.com/>

And a reminder, its a moment and photography perspective. I in major disagree with the discussion boards on the mentioned website.

Tuesday 4 November 2008

Story of a Life

Every person has a story. When we meet them, they become a part of our story just like we become a part of them. Than people depart and story continues. This is the way of life where nobody is indispensable, nobody is essential and its just a story which continues.

Picture of the Month - November 2008

Title: Devotion
A Presentation of Gothic lifestyle

Meditation

Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the conditioned, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. It is recognized as a component of almost all religions, and has been practiced for over 5,000 years.It is also practiced outside religious traditions. Different meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual and/or psychophysical practices which may emphasize different goals -- from achievement of a higher state of consciousness, to greater focus, creativity or self-awareness, or simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind.

Meditation has been defined as: "self regulation of attention, in the service of self-inquiry, in the here and now."[7] The various techniques of meditation can be classified according to their focus. Some focus on the field or background perception and experience, also called "mindfulness"; others focus on a preselected specific object, and are called "concentrative" meditation. There are also techniques that shift between the field and the object.

In mindfulness meditation, the meditator sits comfortably and silently, centering attention by focusing awareness on an object or process (such as the breath; a sound like a mantra, koan or riddle-like question; a visualisation; or an exercise). The meditator is usually encouraged to maintain an open focus:

... shifting freely from one perception to the next clear your mind of all that bothers you no thoughts that can distract you from reality or your personal being... No thought, image or sensation is considered an intrusion. The meditator, with a 'no effort' attitude, is asked to remain in the here and now. Using the focus as an 'anchor'... brings the subject constantly back to the present, avoiding cognitive analysis or fantasy regarding the contents of awareness, and increasing tolerance and relaxation of secondary thought processes.

Concentration meditation is used in many religions and spiritual practices. Whereas in mindfulness meditation there is an open focus, in concentration meditation the meditator holds attention on a particular object (e.g., a repetitive prayer) while minimizing distractions; bringing the mind back to concentrate on the chosen object. In some traditions, such as Vipassana, mindfulness and concentration are combined.

Meditation can be practiced while walking or doing simple repetitive tasks. Walking meditation helps to break down habitual automatic mental categories, "thus regaining the primary nature of perceptions and events, focusing attention on the process while disregarding its purpose or final outcome.[citation needed]" In a form of meditation using visualization, such as Chinese Qi Gong, the practitioner concentrates on flows of energy (Qi) in the body, starting in the abdomen and then circulating through the body, until dispersed.[8] Some meditative traditions, such as yoga or tantra, are common to several religions or occur outside religious contexts.

Excerpt from Wikipedia . Source : <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meditation>

Tuesday 14 October 2008

Down Times

And there are times when I feel down, when life loses its meanings and when nothing matters. Than I can look around and see a smile looking at me, a smile which brings me the responsibility to keep it up. How much I wish at times for this life to stop its existence, there are things which motivates me to keep trying. All i could conclude is following.

There will always be 2 opposite energies in life. Where the dark energies take us away from life, the bright light makes us see the bright energies. Its the human choice to make the decision between the 2.

Wednesday 8 October 2008

Being Wrong.....

There is nothing wrong in being wrong....
-- Myself .... :D

Dinosaur Extinction

Non-avian dinosaurs suddenly became extinct approximately 65 million years ago. Many other groups of animals also became extinct at this time, including ammonites (nautilus-like mollusks), mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, pterosaurs, herbivorous turtles and crocodiles, most birds, and many groups of mammals. This mass extinction is known as the Cretaceous–Tertiary extinction event. The nature of the event that caused this mass extinction has been extensively studied since the 1970s; at present, several related theories are supported by paleontologists. Though the general consensus is that an impact event was the primary cause of dinosaur extinction, some scientists cite other possible causes, or support the idea that a confluence of several factors was responsible for the sudden disappearance of dinosaurs from the fossil record.

At the peak of the Mesozoic, there were no polar ice caps, and sea levels are estimated to have been from 100 to 250 meters (300 to 800 ft) higher than they are today. The planet's temperature was also much more uniform, with only 25 °C (45 °F) separating average polar temperatures from those at the equator. On average, atmospheric temperatures were also much warmer; the poles, for example, were 50 °C (90 °F) warmer than today.

The atmosphere's composition during the Mesozoic was vastly different as well. Carbon dioxide levels were up to 12 times higher than today's levels, and oxygen formed 32 to 35% of the atmosphere, as compared to 21% today. However, by the late Cretaceous, the environment was changing dramatically. Volcanic activity was decreasing, which led to a cooling trend as levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide dropped. Oxygen levels in the atmosphere also started to fluctuate and would ultimately fall considerably. Some scientists hypothesize that climate change, combined with lower oxygen levels, might have led directly to the demise of many species. If the dinosaurs had respiratory systems similar to those commonly found in modern birds, it may have been particularly difficult for them to cope with reduced respiratory efficiency, given the enormous oxygen demands of their very large bodies.

Impact Event :

The asteroid collision theory, which was brought to wide attention in 1980 by Walter Alvarez and colleagues, links the extinction event at the end of the Cretaceous period to a bolide impact approximately 65.5 million years ago. Alvarez et al. proposed that a sudden increase in iridium levels, recorded around the world in the period's rock stratum, was direct evidence of the impact. The bulk of the evidence now suggests that a 5 to 15 kilometer (3 to 9 mi) wide bolide hit in the vicinity of the Yucatán Peninsula, creating the 170 kilometers (110 mi) wide Chicxulub Crater and triggering the mass extinction. Scientists are not certain whether dinosaurs were thriving or declining before the impact event. Some scientists propose that the meteorite caused a long and unnatural drop in Earth's atmospheric temperature, while others claim that it would have instead created an unusual heat wave.

In September of 2007, U.S. researchers led by William Bottke of the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and Czech scientists used computer simulations to identify the probable source of the Chicxulub impact. They calculated a 90% probability that a giant asteroid named Baptistina, approximately 160 kilometers (100 mi) in diameter, orbiting in the asteroid belt which lies between Mars and Jupiter, was struck by a smaller unnamed asteroid about 55 kilometers (35 mi) in diameter about 160 million years ago. The impact shattered Baptistina, creating a cluster which still exists today as the Baptistina family. Calculations indicate that some of the fragments were sent hurtling into earth-crossing orbits, one of which was the 10 kilometers (6 mi) wide meteorite which struck Mexico's Yucatan peninsula 65 million years ago, creating the Chicxulub crater (175 kilometers (110 mi)).

While similar to Alvarez's impact theory (which involved a single asteroid or comet), this theory proposes that "passages of the solar companion star Nemesis through the Oort comet cloud would trigger comet showers. One or more of these objects then collided with the Earth at approximately the same time, causing the worldwide extinction. As with the impact of a single asteroid, the end result of this comet bombardment would have been a sudden drop in global temperatures, followed by a protracted cool period.

Deccan Traps :

Before 2000, arguments that the Deccan Traps flood basalts caused the extinction were usually linked to the view that the extinction was gradual, as the flood basalt events were thought to have started around 68 mya and lasted for over 2 million years. However, there is evidence that two-thirds of the Deccan Traps were created in 1 million years about 65.5 mya, so these eruptions would have caused a fairly rapid extinction, possibly a period of thousands of years, but still a longer period than what would be expected from a single impact event.

The Deccan Traps could have caused extinction through several mechanisms, including the release of dust and sulphuric aerosols into the air which might have blocked sunlight and thereby reducing photosynthesis in plants. In addition, Deccan Trap volcanism might have resulted in carbon dioxide emissions which would have increased the greenhouse effect when the dust and aerosols cleared from the atmosphere. Before the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, the release of volcanic gasses during the formation of the Deccan traps contributed to an apparently massive global warming. Some data point to an average rise in temperature of 8 °C (14 °F) in the last half million years before the impact.

In the years when the Deccan Traps theory was linked to a slower extinction, Luis Alvarez replied that paleontologists were being misled by sparse data. While his assertion was not initially well-received, later intensive field studies of fossil beds lent weight to his claim. Eventually, most paleontologists began to accept the idea that the mass extinctions at the end of the Cretaceous were largely or at least partly due to a massive Earth impact. However, even Walter Alvarez has acknowledged that there were other major changes on Earth even before the impact, such as a drop in sea level and massive volcanic eruptions that produced the Indian Deccan Traps, and these may have contributed to the extinctions.

Failure to adapt to changing conditions:

Lloyd et al (2008) noted that, in the Mid Cretaceous, the flowering angiosperm plants became a major part of terrestrial ecosystems, which had previously been dominated by gymnosperms such as conifers. Dinosaur coprolites — fossilized dung — indicate that, while some ate angiosperms, most herbivorous dinosaurs mainly ate gymnosperms. Statistical analysis by Lloyd et al concluded that, contrary to earlier studies, dinosaurs did not diversify very much in the Late Cretaceous. Lloyd et al suggested that dinosaurs' failure to diversify as ecosystems were changing doomed them to extinction.

-- Extract from Wiki-pedia
Source site : <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinosaur>

Picture of the Month - October 2008



Sunset in Stetnfels , Germany
- Photograph taken during an outing trip

Saturday 13 September 2008

I Can't Smile Without You



The Soundtrack from Hell Boy - Performed by Barry Manilow

Monday 8 September 2008

Batman - The Dark Knight

Some great dialogues from The Joker from the movie "Batman - The Dark Knight"

- If you are good at something, never do it for free.
- I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger
- See, I'm a man of simple tastes. I like dynamite and gunpowder and gasoline. Do you know what all these things have in common? They're cheap.
- Do you wanna know why i use a knife? A gun is too quick, you can't savor the emotions. Those last moments that's when you find out who people really are.
- Introduce a little anarchy, you upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I am an agent of chaos. And you know the thing about chaos, Harvey? It’s fair
- Why… so… serious?

Wednesday 3 September 2008

Picture of the Month - September 2008


When the flowers come from the stones, When the love arise from hatred
-- Photograph taken in Bremen @ a friend's home

A friend in need ????

Bana ke faqeeron ka hum bhais ghalib
tamashay-e- Ahl-e-karam dekhtay hain
- A verse by Mirza Ghalib

Meaning:
With the disguise of a needy, I see the dramatic actions of the ones who can fulfill..

And its true that the biggest friend of thy is the need which none but thy can fill.

Sunday 31 August 2008

Wanna Know Anyone

You want to know any person, Travel with them.....

-- This is not a quote... This is a personal experience..... :)

Thursday 28 August 2008

Law of Jungles

Law of jungle states "The fittest survive" .....

BUT

Law of jungle also state "You don't kill what you can't eat" ....

Moral: Which ever laws you follow, follow them completely because otherwise you will fall into utter chaos from which there will be no way back....

-- Written in times when its not so harmonious. May God bless us all. Amen !

Wednesday 27 August 2008

Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft - Where car begins

Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (Daimler Motor Company, DMG) was a German engine and later automobile manufacturer, in operation from 1890 until 1926. Founded by Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach, it was based first in Cannstatt (today Bad-Cannstatt, a city district of Stuttgart).


Daimler died in 1900, and the company moved in 1903 to Stuttgart-Untertürkheim after the original factory was destroyed by fire, and again to Berlin in 1922. Other factories were located in Marienfelde (near Berlin) and Sindelfingen (next to Stuttgart).



One of the first engines by Daimler. Image from Mercedez Museum, Stuttgart



The company started as a petrol engine producer, but after the success of a small number of race cars built on contract by Wilhelm Maybach for Emil Jellinek, it began to produce the Mercedes model of 1902, after which automobile production expanded to become DMG main product and it built several models.

Because of the post World War I German economic crisis, DMG merged in 1926 with Benz & Cie., becoming Daimler-Benz and adopting Mercedes-Benz as its automobile trademark. For the two companies to survive the financial problems of the day, in 1919, the Benz & Cie. proposed a merger, but DMG formally rejected it in December. Then, as the German crisis worsened, the struggling companies met again in 1924 and signed an Agreement of Mutual Interest, valid until the year 2000. They standardized design, production, purchasing, sales, and advertising—marketing their car models jointly—although keeping their respective brands. In June 28, 1926, DMG and Benz & Cie. merged into the Daimler-Benz Company, establishing its headquarters in the Untertürkheim factory. Their automobiles were baptized Mercedes Benz, in honour of DMG's most important car model and the last name of Karl Benz.







The first motor bike patent by Daimler. Image from Mercedez Museum, Stuttgart




A further merger occurred in 1998 with Chrysler to become DaimlerChrysler. The name was finally changed to just Daimler AG in 2007 when Chrysler was sold.

Thursday 21 August 2008

Unfaithful




Unfaithful - Some very nice lyrics.
-- By Rihana

Pity the Nation

Pity the nation that is full of beliefs and empty of religion.

Pity the nation that wears a cloth it does not weave, eats a bread it does not harvest, and drinks a wine that flows not from its own wine-press.

Pity the nation that acclaims the bull as hero, and that deems the glittering conqueror bountiful.

Pity the nation that despises a passion in its dream, yet submits in its awakening.

Pity the nation that raises not its voice when it walks in a funeral, boasts not except among its ruins, and will rebel not save when its neck is laid between the sword and the block.

Pity the nation whose statesman is a fox, whose philosopher is a juggler, and whose art is the art of patching and mimicking.

Pity the nation that welcomes its new ruler with trumpetings and farewells him with hootings, only to welcome another with trumpetings again.

Pity the nation whose sages are dumb with years and whose strong men are yet in the cradle.

Pity the nation divided into fragments, each fragment deeming itself a nation.



Written By Khalil Gibran
--The garden of the Prophet (1934)

Wednesday 13 August 2008

The Troubled Times

There are times when everything goes bad. Days are gloomy and nights are lonely. People can't be trusted and no achievement is possible. Only thing that can take us through this phase is the faith. Only if we put in the faith and continues our way, than every phase of life is destined to pass away.

Monday 11 August 2008

Picture of the Month - August 2008


An evening in Germany - The look at the Heidelberg from the Schloss ......

Opportunity and Decisions

When opportunity knocks on your door, take it. Once you have it with you, you can always decide what to do next..... BUT if there is nothing in your hand, there is nothing you can decide....

Wednesday 25 June 2008

Work @ TD



Some pictures from my office..... :)

Tuesday 24 June 2008

Why????

All the times in life are meant to come and go. No matter, they are happy times, sad times or tough times, they are just there for that moment.....

What is it than that make us take all the miseries along with us and leave the good things behind. If only could people learn to live with the optimism in their lives and take all the bad happenings as nothing but the experience only........

--Self Thought

Wednesday 18 June 2008

Hypocrisy

We say that we believe in God
Yet we tend to plan as see us as the best of the planner

We say that we fall in love to find the truth of life
Yet we are not ready to let go our love to flourish

We say that fate decides our path
Yet we deem ourselves for our success and failures

Utter hypocrisy and nothing else.

Wednesday 11 June 2008

In the Arms of an Angel



Video of "In the Arms of an Angel" .... from "City of Angels"

Monday 9 June 2008

Atlantis..... A Myth from History


Atlantis (in Greek, "island of Atlas") is the name of a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias.

In Plato's account, Atlantis, lying "beyond the Pillars of Heracles", was a naval power that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9500 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "In a single day and night of misfortune".

Ancient History:

In ancient history, we find different accounts of "Atlantis" or "Atlantis Like" civilizations. Herodotus, in his "History", Vol.1, has a few passages about "Atlantis".

"As far as these Atlantians I am able to mention in order the names of those who are settled in the belt of sand; but for the parts beyond these I can do so no more. However, the belt extends as far as the Pillars of Heracles and also in the parts outside them: and there is a mine of salt in it at a distance of ten days' journey from the Atlantians, and men dwelling there; and these all have their houses built of the lumps of salt, since these parts of Libya which we have now reached are without rain; for if it rained, the walls being made of salt would not be able to last: and the salt is dug up there both white and purple in color.Above the sand-belt, in the parts which are in the direction of the South Wind and towards the interior of Libya, the country is uninhabited, without water and without wild beasts, rainless and treeless, and there is no trace of moisture in it."

The most famous description again comes from "Plato" though in his dialogues

"Let me begin by observing, first of all, that nine thousand was the sum of years which had elapsed since the war which was said to have taken place between all those who dwelt outside the Pillars of Heracles and those who dwelt within them: this war I am now to describe. Of the combatants on the one side the city of Athens was reported to have been the ruler, and to have directed the contest; the combatants on the other side were led by the kings of the islands of Atlantis, which, as I was saying, once had an extent greater than that of Libya and Asia; and, when afterward sunk by an earthquake, became an impassable barrier of mud to voyagers sailing from hence to the ocean."

Modern Day Continuation:

Francis Bacon's 1627 novel The New Atlantis describes a utopian society, called Bensalem, located off the western coast of America. A character in the novel gives a history of Atlantis that is similar to Plato's and places Atlantis in America. It is not clear whether Bacon means North or South America.

Isaac Newton's 1728 The Chronology of the Ancient Kingdoms Amended studies a variety of mythological links to Atlantis.

In middle and late 19th century, several renowned Mesoamerican scholars, starting with Charles Etienne Brasseur de Bourbourg, and including Edward Herbert Thompson and Augustus Le Plongeon proposed that Atlantis was somehow related to Mayan and Aztec culture.

The 1882 publication of Atlantis: the Antediluvian World by Ignatius L. Donnelly stimulated much popular interest in Atlantis. Donnelly took Plato's account of Atlantis seriously and attempted to establish that all known ancient civilizations were descended from its high Neolithic culture.

The Myth Continues:

Atlantis is a myth that continues yet. Some claims that Atlantis was more advanced than the world today and some claim it as nothing but a source of inspiration. Whatever the truth is, I hope that it will be unfolded one day.

Source:
http://atlantis.haktanir.org/ch3.html
http://atlantis.haktanir.org/Plato.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantis

Thursday 5 June 2008

Micro Management vs Macro Management

What's it with Micro-management that it intrigues people?

Maybe feeling of having the absolute control drives it or the Mistrust on people or fear of loss is the motivation behind micro-management. But what happens when things are micro-managed in medium to large sized environments. It shatters the trust of people being effected. On the purpose of building own confidence people easily disregard what they are doing around to others.

On the other hand, where Macro-management heavily relies on delegation, it does have its pitfalls as well. People can become casual and relax with their responsibilities. Where as the business can get some blows if not managed at every level and by every person, it still thrives on blooming of individual assessment of task in hand and upbringing of sense of responsibility in everyone.

What will be my choice. I believe I am a strong pro for Macro-Management. Though initial results might be risky but thats something which results in long term very well in terms of business and being a human being. Thats my call... :)

-- Written on the Assignment of new project :D

Wednesday 4 June 2008

Picture of the Month - June 2008


Again the painting by Iranian artist. Shows the hope of a child... Looking towards it where ever it comes from.... A great observation and sense of art by the artist.

Monday 2 June 2008

Michael Jackson + Desi = FUN !!!

Here is the link to one of the clips from "Britain's Got Talent" .... Its hilarious and definitely surprising. ENJOY !!!


May It Be...

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadows call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

A promise lives within you now

--Lyrics from "May It Be" OST LOR" . Performed by "ENYA"

Friday 30 May 2008

World Disorder in terms of clock

This is a very interesting site stating the statistics on different on-goings in the world. I don't know the statistics algorithm but seems interesting though.

http://www.poodwaddle.com/worldclock.swf

I have only one concern. Why people are more interested in measuring the disorder than the order, misery than happiness, evil than good????? We do have a strange perspective and yet we crave for happiness and peace.

Thursday 29 May 2008

I want to live.....

I want to Live

- A life which is spent for others
- A life which is cherished by everyone.
- A life which gives the feeling of happiness to others
- A life which brings a positive difference in the society, how small it is

Tuesday 27 May 2008

I want to die.....

I want to die

- Contended FOR I didn't do anything which cannot be forgiven by Almighty on the judgment day.
- Peacefully For thats the only thing i wish in my life and find it hardest to get.
- Knowing that I haven't hurt somebody FOR this is the worst a man can know.
- leaving people with smiles FOR only this will show that my love was strong enough to leave the smiles around and no tears.

Friday 23 May 2008

Funny Clips of Charlie Chaplin

Some more of great movies clips from Charlie Chaplin's "The Great Dictator" and "The City Lights".





ENJOY !!!!

The Great Dictator



A Life without a smile is no life. Here is one of the best clips from Charlie Chaplin's "Great Dictator".. Enjoy !!!!

Logic vs. Emotions

Logic can conquer all the emotions but never the heart.

Accomplishments vs Targets

You will accomplish everything on your list. Just don't add to it.
--WindowsLive Horroscope

Thursday 22 May 2008

Intellectuals

Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself; another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most excellent, the second is good, the third is useless.

-- Excerpt from "The Prince" By Nicolo Machivelli

Wednesday 21 May 2008

Poverty in a nation

Poverty is a choice not necessarily a destiny for a nation
--Anonymous

Picture of the Month - May 2008

This painting is by one of Iranian Artists sent to me by my great friend Sandra. This picture shows a great combination of innocence, beauty and simplicity. A true work of art.

Revenge of Soul

How is it felt to be left alone? to be disowned by anyone, not looked after ... It does sound terrible but it sure happens.

Can things develop a same feeling? Can thoughts, words develop the same feeling? Im not sure about things but the soul which lies in every living thing is surely effected by things like that. When we commit something we don't intend to keep, when we hurt someone knowingly it hurts the soul. and than its the conscious which is the soul's way of revenge.

With all happening within our heart, mind and soul I don't understand how people keep quiet. Where I admit that not everyone is strong enough to do the right thing, are we so numb and weak that we can't separate the right from wrong? It hurts and I'm afraid this is something which I will have nothing to answer in my life time.

God helps us and have mercy on us. Amen !

Wednesday 23 April 2008

Religion - A need

Religion originates in the child's and young mankind's fear and need for help and otherwise is not the case.
--Anonymous

Tuesday 15 April 2008

Stress

Stress is to refuse to accept a circumstance in your life to which you have no control. Stress is measured by the amount of energy that you invest resisting those circumstances. Stress is to waste energy attempting with your thoughts and feelings to change a person, an event or a circumstance around you.

The trick to avoid stress is to realize that no amount of effort can ever change the circumstances while they are happening to you, no matter how bad. Do no oppose the moment, instead accept and feel what is occurring.

--Thanks to Arsalan bhai for his above comments

Friday 11 April 2008

Persecution in the name of Religion

In the world around us today, what we see is a religious persecution on a massive level. Minimum tolerance level exists between nations and religions specially when it is not business.

History has tales full of it. Some of the links which i would like to share with people.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Muslims
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Christians#Persecution_in_Japan

Monday 7 April 2008

Behaviors

Why people behave so inappropriate sometimes? When they are not ready to understand other person and don't want to give any space? It hurts like hell and its only faith that keeps us going. The fear is there of "what if things don't get better" or "what if they move from bad to worse"...

Hope is the light that can diminish these fears and action is something which will stop these fears from coming to vision again.

Wednesday 2 April 2008

Picture of the Month - April 2008

Islamabad-Lahore Motorway

When its dark and hope diminishes, hidden between all the clouds of uncertainty. What it all requires is a faith and few strides forward till you see the light.

Never Give Up !!!

Monday 31 March 2008

Colosseum of Rome


The Colosseum or Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus, with further modifications being made during Domitian's reign (81–96). The name "Amphitheatrum Flavium" derives from both Vespasian's and Titus's family name (Flavius, from the gens Flavia).

Originally capable of seating around 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. It remained in use for nearly 500 years with the last recorded games being held there as late as the 6th century. As well as the traditional gladiatorial games, many other public spectacles were held there, such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on Classical mythology. The building eventually ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era. It was later reused for such varied purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a quarry and a Christian shrine.

Although it is now in a ruined condition due to damage caused by earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum has long been seen as an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome. Today it is one of modern Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torchlit "Way of the Cross" procession to the amphitheatre.

The Colosseum is today one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions, receiving millions of visitors annually. The effects of pollution and general deterioration over time prompted a major restoration programme carried out between 1993 and 2000, at a cost of 40 billion Italian lira ($19.3m / €20.6m at 2000 prices). In recent years it has become a symbol of the international campaign against capital punishment, which was abolished in Italy in 1948. Several anti–death penalty demonstrations took place in front of the Colosseum in 2000. Since that time, as a gesture against the death penalty, the local authorities of Rome change the color of the Colosseum's night time illumination from white to gold whenever a person condemned to the death penalty anywhere in the world gets their sentence commuted or is released,[10], or if a jurisdiction abolishes the death penalty. Most recently, the Colosseum was illuminated in gold when capital punishment was abolished in the American state of New Jersey in December, 2007.

--Link to source site: <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colosseum>

Second Chances

I believe in second chances.

The path might be different, different people, different situation but God always bestow us with second chance to redeem what we have done and claim the good in us.

Avail every second chance you have, Give people their second chance and feel big, open and great at heart. To accept people as they are and make your way through has the greatest power.

Loved Ones

We have friends and family and people we value. How much we value them, we don't know until we realize that we will lose them. The time we know that they are no longer there and than we realize how precious they are, it hurts inside and it hurts bad.

Irony is that life has its own way of continuation; unbounded by the human desire of way of operations. So life continues in times when we want to seize it and it stops when we want to last forever.

and what happens after we lose people and life continues?? Sometimes, life is strong enough to make us forget what happened and sometimes events stay there; as guilt, as distraction, as a source of smile or as a mere memory that pinch the heart and bring a smile on the face.

Important thing is that we should value whatever we have, whatever we had. The power of forgiveness and love is something which is unmatched by any other and is only brought by the character big enough to conquer our fear and rage and admit where we flawed.

-- For the people that were in my life once and are no more. I do love you all no matter what.
JS

Thursday 27 March 2008

Lich

Through the use of powerful spells, items and incantations, users of magic have long been able to prolong their mortal lives beyond what is considered to be the standard life expectancy for their particular race. To continue pushing back the fingers of death is a goal that requires years of training, study and research. Although the magic can sustain an individual's life force, inevitably their body will continue to age and wither away as time marches on. Much of this time is spent in further research and this can easily become an all consuming struggle for those concerned.

Evil mages (especially necromancers) and clerics who serve the dark gods have been known to take a different route in the search for what is, essentially, eternal life. Rather than fighting death, they have sought to embrace it, making use of their familiarity with the dark forces acquired through years of evil practise. The end result is that they become liches, creatures that are among the most powerful of the undead.

Having turned its back on life a lich's body will begin to decay. The process continues until all that remains is the creature's skeleton. This may not be readily apparent, however, as a lich will appear in the fine garments and robes that it would have worn in its natural form.

A lich retains the ability to use spells that it had in its previous existence, while this new form grants it immunity to many types of magic and weapons that others may try to use against it.

The simple touch of these creatures can cause injury and death and those not already frozen in terror at the sight of this monster may also become paralysed (unfortunately, having been afflicted, no-one has ever lived long enough to determine if the paralysis is only a temporary condition).

Liches have glowing red eyes which are able to transfix an opponent. This leaves the victim unable to take any action or to defend themselves. The use of this power takes a significant amount of concentration on the part of the creature, which is then limited to controlling any of the legions of the undead that may be nearby.

Liches that were once clerics appear to have a special affinity with other undead creatures. Anyone foolish enough to invade the lair of one of these monsters is likely to encounter several "lesser" undead (acting as guards and servants) before running into the head creature. It's wise to think of these early meetings as warnings of what lies ahead and that, assuming a quick death has been avoided, turning back now is the best course of action.

In the unlikely event that it should require assistance, any lich is able to summon aid to its location. This is accomplished simply as a result of concentration and help will appear in the form of whatever undead is in the local area. While reinforcements can take a few minutes to arrive, this is still extremely bad news for any opponent of the lich.


Link to source site: <http://www.nascr.net/~jcburd/cofc_lich.htm>

Black Balloon


Babys black balloon makes her fly
I almost fell into that hole in your life
And youre not thinking about tomorrow
cause you were the same as me
But on your knees

A thousand other boys could never reach you
How could I have been the one
I saw the world spin beneath you
And scatter like ice from the spoon
That was your womb

Comin down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
Or are you someones prayer

You know the lies they always told you
And the love you never knew
Whats the things they never showed you
That swallowed the light from the sun
Inside your room

Comin down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder
Or are you someones prayer

And theres no time left for losin
When you stand they fall

Comin down the world turned over
And angels fall without you there
And I go on as you get colder

All because im
Comin down the years turn over
And angels fall without you there
And Ill go and lead you home and
All because im
All because im
And Ill become
What you became to me


-- Black Balloon performed BY Goo Goo Dolls

Absense of alternatives

The absence of alternatives clears the mid marvelously.
--Henry Kissinger

Wednesday 26 March 2008

Creature of Chaos: Hydras

These creatures come in three specific types but all are extremely dangerous. While each has adapted to its own way of life, the one feature that they have in common is their multiple heads.

Hydrae have been known to have as few as two and as many as twelve heads, each connected to their body by long, snake-like necks. Each head operates separately from the others and all are able to attack simultaneously, whether at the same target or at anything else within range.

During combat, it is not unknown for one or more heads to be severed from the creature's main body. However, while this obviously causes some distress, providing other heads remain connected this monster won't slow down. In fact, it simply appears to increase the hydra's resolve to put an end to its tormenter.

The most common form of these creatures are large and have a strong, dragon-like body with four legs and a long powerful tail. Unlike dragons, however, these hydrae do not possess wings. They prefer to inhabit inland waters, especially swamps, but generally only threaten those who encroach on their territory.

The largest example of these creatures is the sea hydra. These monsters have adapted to water and, as a result, possess fins instead of legs. Apart from this, they are very similar to their land-based cousins.

Preferring to inhabit the southern seas, where the water is warmest, sea hydrae have made shipping along certain routes in these waters an extremely dangerous business.

Quite what it is that caused these attacks to begin in the first place still remains something of a mystery. However, it appears now that sea hydrae have acquired a taste for sailors, despite their being rather tough and sinewy. Research is underway to either make sailors less palatable, in order to gradually convince hydrae to search for food elsewhere, or to develop some sort of toxin that is safe for the ships crew to ingest but that will adversely affect the monster once the sailors have been consumed. This second option is the primary goal as it should greatly reduce numbers of sea hydrae along the more lucrative shipping routes.

The last of these creatures is extremely rare or, at least, so the number of reported sightings would suggest. This may be partly to do with the manner in which these monsters attack. Flying hydrae have huge bat-like wings which enable them to swoop out of the sky and carry away several victims at once.

Usually a flying hydra will only attack groups containing up to as many creatures as it can carry. The result being that nothing gets left behind. Sometimes, if the monster miscalculates or a potential victim gets lucky, individuals can get left behind. Unfortunately, attacks tend to be so swift and unexpected that there is very little that anyone left behind can do other than watch (as their companions are carried away) before going to report the bad news.

Having several mouths allows the flying hydra to begin consuming its catch even before it has found a place to land.

Link to source site:
<http://www.nascr.net/~jcburd/cofc_hydra.htm>

When hatrid grows

And people say that there are others who oppose them and who hate them and our belief is not complete unless we annihilate others. What we don't understand is that we are becoming what we despise. I don't know if this is right or wrong but what i do know is that its belief for some and business for others. Real irony is that almost everyone believe that they are doing the right thing when they are being driven by so many factors that they don't even want to consider.

When fights go beyond the battle grounds and reach the homes in terms of the cultural values, moral beliefs and social structure; it gets very gray between good and bad. How to identify whats right and wrong? how to identify good intentions vs malicious intentions??? how to draw the line between actions and intentions????

Tuesday 18 March 2008

The Troubled Times

These are the times when there are things going extremely wrong. How much I despise them, they seem to go on and on and on. I hate it when people don't accommodate each other. I dread it when life believes to extinct other life for their own existence and not so because its their only way to survive but because they want to do it. How can someone want others to die when we understand that every life is equally important and have every right to live as any other human being.

These are the times when you have to take a side or make your own side. This is how world has survived and this is how it will survive.

Thursday 13 March 2008

Picture of the Month - March 2008


Image is the perfect depiction of a life. When you look at life as a continuous journey with stops in between. The fog, the haze, the path: its a great concept work

Link to Source Site:
<http://www.nightqueen.de/photogallery.php?photo_id=1172>

And the Journey Begins

And thee was walking down a lonesome long road; feet tired, shoulders down and path way long. The times was as such when one thinks if he can make it up to the end the way he wanted or if one can ever make it there. Suddenly there was a bilateral in front of him and he looked, paused and thought which way to go. The heart pointed a path and smiled and thee followed. Not sure he was if the decision was right. "What if I go back and take the other path??", asked himself the guy and the heart said "Believe in me and continue for you will have your fair reward in due time". And suddenly there was this bright light in front of him through which he couldn't see. He was stunned. The light was testing yet soothing and thee was astonished as of the source of such a light.

and than came down someone from that light; someone whose beauty was unmatched and how had this soothing aura around her. She was like someone divine and his heart skipped a beat. "And you have your due reward now" said the heart. Thee was looking there in confusion. "What if doesn't work? What if I fail?" asked the mind. "How can you know unless you try?", replied the heart. Thee was standing there listening to all this dialog not sure what to do. And than the sound came from the divine light "Don't worry and don't question yourself. I am afraid too. Remember, I am not here to take your fears away but here so that we can fight them together. Lets move on this journey and see the wonders of the path we chose and all that come around us. Let us be each other shoulders and I promise I won't let you down".

and now thee walked with her, arms in arms to the destiny unknown on the mysterious path but with spirits high and hearts filled with joy, love and hope. No one knows if and when they will make it to destination but their determination and conviction. Than the heart and mind said in unison

"And the Journey Begins ........."


--- Written for Mahwish on our engagement. "You're precious to me dear :) "

Tuesday 4 March 2008

What is old age !!!!!! A View


" You don't come to see me, Socrates, as often as you ought: If I were still able to go and see you I would not ask you to come to me. But at my age I can hardly get to the city, and therefore you should come oftener to the Piraeus. For let me tell you, that the more the pleasures of the body fade away, the greater to me is the pleasure and charm of conversation. Do not then deny my request, but make our house your resort and keep company with these young men; we are old friends, and you will be quite at home with us.

I replied: There is nothing which for my part I like better, Cephalus, than conversing with aged men; for I regard them as travellers who have gone a journey which I too may have to go, and of whom I ought to enquire, whether the way is smooth and easy, or rugged and difficult. And this is a question which I should like to ask of you who have arrived at that time which the poets call the 'threshold of old age' --Is life harder towards the end, or what report do you give of it?

I will tell you, Socrates, he said, what my own feeling is. Men of my age flock together; we are birds of a feather, as the old proverb says; and at our meetings the tale of my acquaintance commonly is --I cannot eat, I cannot drink; the pleasures of youth and love are fled away: there was a good time once, but now that is gone, and life is no longer life. Some complain of the slights which are put upon them by relations, and they will tell you sadly of how many evils their old age is the cause. But to me, Socrates, these complainers seem to blame that which is not really in fault. For if old age were the cause, I too being old, and every other old man, would have felt as they do. But this is not my own experience, nor that of others whom I have known. How well I remember the aged poet Sophocles, when in answer to the question, How does love suit with age, Sophocles, --are you still the man you were? Peace, he replied; most gladly have I escaped the thing of which you speak; I feel as if I had escaped from a mad and furious master. His words have often occurred to my mind since, and they seem as good to me now as at the time when he uttered them. For certainly old age has a great sense of calm and freedom; when the passions relax their hold, then, as Sophocles says, we are freed from the grasp not of one mad master only, but of many. The truth is, Socrates, that these regrets, and also the complaints about relations, are to be attributed to the same cause, which is not old age, but men's characters and tempers; for he who is of a calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden. "

-- Excerpt from "The Republic" By Plato - Book 1

Monday 3 March 2008

If I didn't exist

Na kuch tha tu Khuda tha
Na kuch hota tu Khuda hota
Daboya mujh ko honay nay
Na main hota tu kya hota

--Mirza ghalib

Friday 29 February 2008

2nd Law of Ecology

"Nothing ever goes away"
-- Commoner's Second Law of Ecology

Wednesday 27 February 2008

Reach the Truth

The more you think about it, the further from the truth you'll be
--Windows Live Horroscope

Monday 25 February 2008

TD Certified Professional Exam

Cleared the TD Exam 3 (Physical Implementation) on Saturday Feb , 2008.
YUPPEEEE !!!! :)

Power of Love



The whispers in the morning of
lovers sleeping tight
Are rolling by like thunder now
as I look in your eyes.
I hold on to your body and feel each move you make.
Your voice is warm and tender

a love that I could not forsake.
'Cause I am your lady and you are my man.
Whenever you reach for me I'll do all that I can.

Even though there may be times
it seems I'm far away
But never wonder where I am 'cause I
am always by your side.
'Cause I am your lady and you are my man.
Whenever you reach for me I'll do all that I can.
We're heading for something
somewhere I've never been

Sometimes I am frightened
but I'm ready to learn 'bout the power of love !
The sound of your heart beating
made it clear suddenly.
The feeling that I can't go on is light-years away.
'Cause I am your lady and you are my man. . . .
We're heading for something
somewhere I've never been

Sometimes I am frightened
but I'm ready to learn 'bout the power of love!
Ooh
the power of love
the power of love.
Sometimes I am frightened
but I'm ready to learn 'bout the power of love !

-- Power of Love : Performed by Celine Dion

Do Not Be Afraid

Do not be afraid to shine,
This world needs what you have to give.

Open up the areas of your being;
Expose them to yourself - to others.

You are valuable. You are unique.

You have much to give.
Do not be afraid to give it

-- PRAVS

Saturday 23 February 2008

Sharing & Getting Passed Around

Don't share things that you wouldn't want getting passed around.
--MSN Horrocope

Thursday 21 February 2008

How to get Peace of Mind...

1. Do Not Interfere In Others' Business Unless Asked:

Most of us create our own problems by interfering too often in others' affairs. We do so because somehow we have convinced ourselves that our way is the best way, our logic is the perfect logic and those who do not conform to our thinking must be criticized and steered to the right direction, our direction. This thinking denies the existence of individuality and consequently the existence of God. God has created each one of us in a unique way. No two human beings can think or act in exactly the same way.

All men or women act the way they do because God within them prompts them that way. There is God to look after everything. Why are youbothered? Mind your own business and you will keep your peace.

2. Forgive And Forget

This is the most powerful aid to peace of mind. We often develop ill feelings inside our heart for the person who insults us or harms us. We nurture grievances. This, in turn, results in loss of sleep, development of stomach ulcers, and high blood pressure. This insult or injury was done once, but nourishing of grievance goes on forever by constantly remembering it. Get over this bad habit. Believe in the justice of God and the doctrine of Destiny. Let Him judge the act of the one who insulted you. Life is too short to waste in such trifles. Forgive, Forget, and march on. Love flourishes in giving and forgiving.

3. Do Not Crave For Recognition

This world is full of selfish people. They seldom praise anybody without selfish motives. They may praise you today because you are in power, but no sooner than you are powerless; they will forget your achievement and will start finding faults in you. Why do you wish to kill yourself in striving for their recognition? Their recognition is not worth the aggravation. Do your duties ethically and sincerely and leave the rest to God, which is Tawakkal.

4. Do Not Be Jealous

We all have experienced how jealousy can disturb our peace of mind. You know that you work harder than your colleagues in the office, but sometimes they get promotions; you do not. You started a business several years ago, but you are not as successful as your neighbor whose business is only one year old. There are several examples like these in everyday life. Should you be jealous? No. Remember everybody's life is shaped by his or her previous Destiny. If you are
predestined to be Rich, nothing in the world can stop you. If you are not so destined, no one can help you either. Nothing will be gained by blaming others for your misfortune. Jealousy will not get you anywhere; it will only take away your peace of mind.

5. Change Yourself According To the Environment

If you try to change the environment single-handedly, the chances are you will fail. Instead, change yourself to suit your environment. As you do this, even the environment, which has been unfriendly to you, will mysteriously change and seem congenial and harmonious.

6. Endure What Cannot Be Cured

This is the best way to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. Every day we face numerous inconveniences, ailments, irritations, and accidents that are beyond our control. If we cannot control them or change them, we must learn to put up with these things. We must learn to endure them cheerfully, thinking, "God wills it so, so be it." God's plans are beyond our comprehension. Believe in it and you will gain in terms of patience, inner strength and will power.

7. Do Not Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

This maxim needs to be remembered constantly. We often tend to take more responsibilities than we are capable of carrying out. This is done to satisfy our ego. Know your limitations. Why take on additional loads that may create more worries? You cannot gain peace of mind by expanding your external activities. Reduce your material engagements and spend time in prayers, introspection and meditation. This will reduce those thoughts in your mind that make you restless. Uncluttered mind will produce greater peace of mind.

8. Meditate Regularly

Meditation calms the mind and gets rid of disturbing thoughts. This is the highest state of peace of mind. Try and experience it yourself. If you meditate earnestly for half an hour everyday, your mind will tend to become peaceful during the remaining twenty-three and half-hours. Your mind will not be easily disturbed as it was before. You would benefit by gradually increasing the period of daily mediation. You may think that this will interfere with your daily work. On the contrary, this will increase your efficiency and you will be able to produce better results in less time.

9. Never Leave the Mind Vacant

An empty mind is the devil's workshop. All evil actions start in the vacant mind. Keep your mind occupied in something positive, something worthwhile. Actively follow a hobby. Do something that holds your interest. You must decide what you value more: money or peace of mind. Your hobby, like social and charitable work , may not always earn you more money, but you will have a sense of fulfillment and achievement. Even when you are resting physically, occupy yourself in healthy reading or mental reciting of God's name.

10. Do Not Procrastinate and Never Regret

Do not waste time in protracted wondering " Should I or shouldn't I?" Days, weeks, months, and years may be wasted in that futile mental debating. You can never plan enough because you can never anticipate all future happenings. Always remember, God has His own plan, too for you. Value you time and do the things that need to be done. It does not matter if you fail the first time. You can learn from your mistakes and succeed the next time.

Sitting back and worrying will lead to nothing. Learn from your mistakes, but do not brood over the past. DO NOT REGRET. Whatever happened was destined to happen only that way. Take it as the Will of God. You do not have the power to alter the course of God's Will. Why cry over spilt milk?



"May God grant you the serenity to accept what you cannot change? Courage to change what you can, And the wisdom to understand the difference".

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Why stop tears?

Only someone who has cried a great deal understands why someone else wants to stop the tears
--V.C.Andrews

Tuesday 19 February 2008

Bugs Bunny - A history revisited


Here is the link to one of the well researched BUGS history. A must read link.
<http://bugshardaway.blogspot.com/>

Great work Chris and thanks for allowing me to put this on my blog. :)

Friday 15 February 2008

Look at the photographs :)

A Must watch site. Its basically flash based but one of the best works Ive seen. More over the camera work done is exceptional if not the best. 3 cheers for the designers and cameramen.

<http://www.cake-factory.com/#/>

A Lone Rider

I say something and than I look at people and I know that they are not understanding me at all. I don't know if people don't understand me or if they don't want to understand me at all. What people fail to see or appreciate at least is the seriousness that lies within a person in his heart and soul. What hurts more is that when they laugh at things and hurts most when even I laugh with them but than at least it is easy for them.

I than ponder at myself what I do and why I do and why all this? Maybe I complicate my own life trying to reason everything. Maybe my failure to go with my instincts is the biggest hurdle. But than i think I am happy the way I am. Its alone but its good. The road is long and journey will continue.



Wednesday 13 February 2008

Love of the Life...


Bhai, me and Baaji..... The happy family :x

Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California which is embedded with more than 2,000 five-pointed stars featuring the names of not only human celebrities but fictional characters honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the entertainment industry. The Walk of Fame is maintained by the self-financing Hollywood Historic Trust. The first star, awarded on February 9, 1960, went to Joanne Woodward.



The Walk of Fame runs east to west on Hollywood Boulevard from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue and north to south on Vine Street between Yucca Street and Sunset Boulevard. The Walk of Fame is nearly a three and a half (3 1/2) mile round trip walk. Locations of specific stars are permanent, except when occasionally relocated for nearby construction or other reasons. To be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of fame is considered to be as sought after as the Academy Awards, Emmy Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, BAFTA and Golden Globe awards.

Each star consists of a pink five-pointed star rimmed with bronze and inlaid into a charcoal square. Inside the pink star is the name of the honoree inlaid in bronze, below which is a round bronze emblem indicating the category for which the honoree received the star. The emblems are:

  • Motion picture camera for contribution to the film industry
  • Television set for contribution to the broadcast television industry
  • Phonograph record for contribution to the recording industry
  • Radio microphone for contribution to the broadcast radio industry
  • Twin comedy/tragedy masks for contribution to live theater

There are a few exceptions. Disneyland's star has an emblem of a building, and honorary mayor Johnny Grant's star depicts the Great Seal of Hollywood. Also, the crew of the Apollo XI mission are named in four identical moons at the intersection of Hollywood and Vine.

Nominations are submitted annually by May 31, and the Walk of Fame committee meets the following month to pick the next year's group of honorees. Star ceremonies are open to the public and previously were led by honorary Hollywood mayor Johnny Grant.

Frank Sinatra star for music on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The Walk of Fame was created in 1958. Many honorees received multiple stars during the initial phase of installation for contributions to separate categories; however, the practice in recent decades has been to honor individuals not yet represented, with only a handful of previous honorees being awarded additional stars. In 1978, the City of Los Angeles designated the Walk of Fame as a Cultural/Historic Landmark.

The Walk of Fame began with 2,500 blank stars. A total of 1,558 stars were awarded during its first sixteen months. Since then, about two stars have been added per month. By 1994, more than 2,000 of the original stars were filled, and additional stars extended the Walk west past Sycamore to La Brea Avenue, where it now ends at the Silver Four Ladies of Hollywood Gazebo (with stars honoring The Beatles and Elvis Presley).

Link to Source Site:

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_walk_of_fame>

Bugs Bunny - A history

When most people think of rabbits, they think of the legendary cartoon character, Bugs Bunny. For those that don’t know who Bugs Bunny is, he’s the gray rabbit from Looney Tunes and Merrie’s Melodies. According to his fictional biography, Bugs Bunny was born 1940 in Brooklyn, NY. His accent is a cross between a Brooklyn accent and a Bronx accent.

The character Bugs Bunny was influenced by an early Disney character, Max Hare. Hare starred in many Disney cartoons and even won a Academy Award for Animated Short film in 1934. Bugs Bunny appeared in his first short cartoon in 1938, entitled Porky’s Hare Hunt. The cartoon short was directed by Ben Hardaway and Cal Dalton. Ben Hardaway’s nickname was “bugs”. The introduction cartoon of Bugs Bunny was very similar to a 1937 cartoon called Porky’s Duck Hunt, which introduced the soon to be famous Daffy Duck.

Porky’s Hare Hunt followed the general plot of the 1937 cartoon, Porky’s Duck Hunt , in which Porky pig was a hunter against a prey (Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck) which was more interested in driving Porky crazy rather than run away from him.


Prototype Bugs Bunny made his debut in Porky's Hare Hunt (1938)

Bugs Bunny made his second cartoon appearance 1939, in a cartoon entitled Prest-O-Change-O, in which he plays the rabbit of a magician who is never seen on camera.

Bugs Bunny’s fourth and probably most memorable appearance was in the 1940 short cartoon entitled Elmer’s Candid Camera, in which both characters would meet and start a long war that is still very much alive today. The personality in which Bugs Bunny is famous for emerged in 1940 on Tex Avery’s Wild Hare.

It was in this episode that for the first time, Bugs Bunny would come up out of his rabbit hole and utter the now famous quote “what’s up, Doc?” to Elmer Fudd. According to many cartoon historians this short cartoon was the first time Bugs Bunny was shown in full character, because most of the other short cartoons he appeared in didn’t fully resemble Bugs Bunny in looks or personality. On Bugs Bunny’s seventh television appearance, he finally got the name Bugs Bunny.


In 1941 Bugs Bunny became enormously popular in mainstream American culture and he would also go on to become the most popular characters of the Looney Tunes cast. In 1942 Bugs Bunny became the star of Merrie’s Melodies, which was a cartoon show that featured one shot cartoon shorts. Also in 1942 Bugs Bunny would undergo a few redesigns to his front teeth to make them stand out more, his head was also redesigned to look more round.

Bugs Bunny was also very popular during World War II, appearing in a two minute U.S war bonds commercial called Any Bonds Today. In 1944 Bugs Bunny was at odds with a group of Japanese soldiers, Bugs was praised for this during World War II, but the cartoon has since been pulled from distribution due to its stereotypes.

Today Bugs Bunny is still a very hardworking show biz man, being the mascot for Warner Brothers, having a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, being featured on a postage stamp and appearing in countless commercials.

Source Site :
<http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/52404/the_history_of_bugs_bunny_the_complete.html?page=1>
More Links:
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bugs_Bunny>