And She Asked.....

And she asked me if I loved her? She had that doubt in her voice that crushed me into pieces. What can I say, how can i say? If only I could tear my heart and show her what is there for her .... but I couldn't. My heart cried when my eyes smiled and this is how the life is. If only I could make her understand that my love for her is strong enough to endure all thick and thin times yet very helpless not to offer her what she deserves. If only I could tell her that there is nothing I want to do and nothing I can do and she is destined to be no more than a memory and a pain in my heart.

But than the same strengthens the belief that a true love is a bond in heart, a light in the dark and a hope in distress. It is much more than the distance between us. It is not bounded by the sound nor the voice of someone because a true love starts from the heart and travels to the soul.

So my love, I might not be here some day but cherish every day we have. Believe in my love till eternity and have faith when i say that i might not be able to bring down the stars for you but I wish nothing less. Have a faith in my love and lets make the best of today and tomorrow when i am not with you and my thought will bring you a smile, I will know that my love has endured.

A Black Hole Record

In athletic events such as swimming or running, a world record will often stand for several years before it’s broken. The same thing usually holds true for astronomical records as well.


In this artist’s portrayal of the IC 10 X-1 system, the black hole lies at the upper left and its companion star is on the right. The two objects orbit around a center of gravity once every 34.4 hours. The stellar companion is a type known as a Wolf-Rayet star. Such stars are highly evolved and destined to explode as supernovae. The black hole companion is shedding its outer envelope in a powerful wind, and some of this gas is captured by the black hole’s powerful gravity.

Credit: Aurore Simonnet/Sonoma State University/NASA.

On October 17, 2007, astronomers using NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory announced that a black hole in the galaxy M33 contains 16 times the mass of the Sun. For two weeks it was the heaviest known black hole of its type. Such black holes are known as "stellar-mass" black holes, because they have masses typical of stars.

Source Link:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/news/overweight_hole.html

SN 2006gy - Brightest Ever Recorded Super nova

The brightest stellar explosion ever recorded may be a long-sought new type of supernova, according to observations by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based optical telescopes. This discovery indicates that violent explosions of extremely massive stars were relatively common in the early universe, and that a similar explosion may be ready to go off in our own galaxy.

The top panel of this graphic is an artist's illustration that shows what SN 2006gy may have looked like if viewed at a close distance. The bottom left panel is an infrared image, using adaptive optics at the Lick Observatory, of NGC 1260, the galaxy containing SN 2006gy. The panel to the right shows Chandra's X-ray image of the same field of view, again showing the nucleus of NGC 1260 and SN 2006gy.

"This was a truly monstrous explosion, a hundred times more energetic than a typical supernova," said Nathan Smith of the University of California at Berkeley, who led a team of astronomers from California and the University of Texas in Austin. "That means the star that exploded might have been as massive as a star can get, about 150 times that of our sun. We've never seen that before."
Astronomers think many of the first generation of stars were this massive, and this new supernova may thus provide a rare glimpse of how the first stars died. It is unprecedented, however, to find such a massive star and witness its death. The discovery of the supernova, known as SN 2006gy, provides evidence that the death of such massive stars is fundamentally different from theoretical predictions.

"Of all exploding stars ever observed, this was the king," said Alex Filippenko, leader of the ground-based observations at the Lick Observatory at Mt. Hamilton, Calif., and the Keck Observatory in Mauna Kea, Hawaii. "We were astonished to see how bright it got, and how long it lasted."

The Chandra observation allowed the team to rule out the most likely alternative explanation for the supernova: that a white dwarf star with a mass only slightly higher than the sun exploded into a dense, hydrogen-rich environment. In that event, SN 2006gy should have been 1,000 times brighter in X-rays than what Chandra detected.

"This provides strong evidence that SN 2006gy was, in fact, the death of an extremely massive star," said Dave Pooley of the University of California at Berkeley, who led the Chandra observations.

The star that produced SN 2006gy apparently expelled a large amount of mass prior to exploding. This large mass loss is similar to that seen from Eta Carinae, a massive star in our galaxy, raising suspicion that Eta Carinae may be poised to explode as a supernova. Although SN 2006gy is intrinsically the brightest supernova ever, it is in the galaxy NGC 1260, some 240 million light years away. However, Eta Carinae is only about 7,500 light years away in our own Milky Way galaxy.

"We don't know for sure if Eta Carinae will explode soon, but we had better keep a close eye on it just in case," said Mario Livio of the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, who was not involved in the research. "Eta Carinae's explosion could be the best star-show in the history of modern civilization."

Supernovas usually occur when massive stars exhaust their fuel and collapse under their own gravity. In the case of SN 2006gy, astronomers think that a very different effect may have triggered the explosion. Under some conditions, the core of a massive star produces so much gamma ray radiation that some of the energy from the radiation converts into particle and anti-particle pairs. The resulting drop in energy causes the star to collapse under its own huge gravity.

After this violent collapse, runaway thermonuclear reactions ensue and the star explodes, spewing the remains into space. The SN 2006gy data suggest that spectacular supernovas from the first stars - rather than completely collapsing to a black hole as theorized - may be more common than previously believed.

"In terms of the effect on the early universe, there's a huge difference between these two possibilities," said Smith. "One pollutes the galaxy with large quantities of newly made elements and the other locks them up forever in a black hole."

Source at : http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/chandra/news/chandra_bright_supernova.html

VLAD the Impaler aka Dracula - The Real Story

Life certainly seems stranger than fiction: the real story of Dracula makes Bram Stoker's vampire seem quite tame!

He has been known by many names: Vlad Tepes and Vlad the Impaler. Admired by many in Romania as a hero; feared by his enemies as a butcher. The truth is far more bizarre than anything Bela Lugosi, Gary Oldman, Francis Ford Coppola or Hollywood could have imagined.

Here's the real story of Dracula and the turbulent area of Eastern Europe that was his home. Follow the text links for more information about the man himself.

Historical background

Dracula's grandfather, Prince Mircea, reigned over Wallachia from 1386-1418. Wallachia, together with Transylvania, form the area now covered by Romania. This area was threatened by invasion from the Ottoman Turks and Prince Mircea fought to keep the country's independence from the Turks. Unfortunately, this meant that he had to pay 'tribute' to them: a kind of bribe to keep the Turks off Wallachian soil.

At this time, princes were elected by wealthy landowners (the Boyars) and this inevitably led to quarrels and disagreements. Eventually, two groups (opposed to each other) emerged: Mircea's supporters and the Danesti clan.

Mircea's son (Dracula's father), Vlad, was born in 1390 and spent his youth growing up in the court of King Sigismund of Hungary. (The King later became the Holy Roman Emperor). Here, Vlad became a member of the Order of the Dragon: an elite group sworn to fight the Ottomans and uphold the Catholic faith (but with a secret subtext to strengthen the House of Luxemburg's political supremacy in Europe). Thus, Vlad became known as Dracul or Dragon (Dracula means son of the dragon). Dracul also means devil but it seems unlikely that contemporaries thought of Vlad in this way.

Eventually, Vlad became the Governor of Transylvania, living in Sighisoara where Dracula was eventually born. Vlad's ambitions, however, were not satisfied and he killed Prince Alexandru I and became Prince Vlad II

Like his father, Vlad had to pay tribute to the Turks who were the enemies of Hungary. As Vlad was also a vassal of Hungary, this caused problems, especially when the Turks invaded Transylvania in 1442. Vlad was desperate to stay neutral but this angered Hungary and they drove him out of Wallachia

Meanwhile, a Hungarian General, named Janos Hunyadi, made a Danesti, Basarab II, prince. All changed in 1443 when Vlad, with the Sultan's assistance, regained the throne!

In 1444, Vlad, together with his two youngest sons, travelled to Turkey at the request of the Sultan. However, the invitation was simply a pretext to hold them all hostage. Eventually, Vlad was released, but the sons, Dracula and Radu (known as Radu the Handsome), remained. The Turks held many hostages, mainly to keep their rivals in check, but also to influence young minds and make them more amenable to the Ottoman Empire.

Although the sons were treated fairly well (they received an excellent education), Dracula must have felt abandoned by his father and he was prone to fits of temper. Radu, on the other hand, seems to have developed a fondness for the Turks and remained with the Sultan.

When Hungary declared war on Turkey in 1444, Vlad sent his oldest son, Mircea, to fight rather than go himself and anger the Sultan. At the Battle of Varna, the Christians were beaten and Vlad and Mircea blamed Hunyadi for the defeat

Hunyadi may have been behind the deaths of Vlad and Mircea in 1447 (although this has not been proven). Mircea's death was particularly horrible: buried alive by the Boyars of Tirgoviste.

A Danesti (Vladislav II) was placed on the throne and the Turks (not wanting a Hungarian puppet on the throne) freed Dracula and gave him an army (Radu remained in Turkey, a loyal subject of the Sultan). Dracula seized the throne but only held it for two months before being forced into exile in Moldavia. Vladislav II became prince!

Three years later, the status quo changed when Vladislav II began supporting the Turks. Dracula became Hunyadi's vassal and in 1456 killed Vladislav II and gained the throne (again!).

Near the End

In 1462, Dracula attacked the Turks but was driven back by a much larger army. When the Sultan arrived at Tirgoviste, it was said that 20,000 Turks were found impaled outside of the city. This has become known as the 'Forest of the Impaled'. When the Sultan's officers saw this horrific site, they refused to carry on! (The real story of Dracula shows a ruthless, sadistic man, capable of unspeakable cruelty, often in the name of entertainment!).

However, Radu (part of the invading force), refused to retreat and forced Dracula to retreat to Poenari. Here, Dracula escaped through a secret tunnel, but not before his terrified wife had thrown herself off the battlements.

Dracula went to Matthias Corvinus (the new King of Hungary) for assistance, but was thrown into jail!. Radu became the Prince of Wallachia (although under the control of the Turks) and Dracula tried to please the Hungarians by becoming a Catholic and marrying one of the King's family.

The End

Radu died in 1475 and in 1476, Dracula invaded Wallachia and, once again, became Prince.

This was a brief return to power as the Turks soon attacked and killed Dracula near Bucharest in 1476. There seem to be many accounts of how he died: a Turkish assassin disguised as a servant, or perhaps killed by his own army when he disguised himself as a Turk to confuse the enemy. Whatever, the real manner of Dracula's death, his head was soon being parading on a pike around the streets of Constantinople (the Sultan wanted everybody to know that Dracula was dead!).

Dracula was buried at Snagov (an island monastery).

Postlude

1931: excavations on Snagov find the tomb of Dracula, but there is no coffin to be found! The real story of Dracula continues to fascinate the world just as much as the fictional Count!

Source Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vlad_III_the_Impaler
http://www.dracula-in-whitby.com/real-story-of-dracula.html

World's Largest Swimming Pool

If you like doing laps in the swimming pool, you might want to stock up on the energy drinks before diving in to this one.

It is more than 1,000 yards long, covers 20 acres, had a 115ft deep end and holds 66 million gallons of water.

Yesterday the Guinness Book of Records named the vast pool beside the sea in Chile as the biggest in the world.





But if you fancy splashing out on one of your own – and you have the space to accommodate it – then beware: This one took five years to build, cost nearly £1billion and the annual maintenance bill will be £2million.

The man-made saltwater lagoon has been attracting huge crowds to the San Alfonso del Mar resort at Algarrobo, on Chile's southern coast, since it opened last month.

Its turquoise waters are so crystal clear that you can see the bottom even in the deep end.

It dwarfs the world's second biggest pool, the Orthlieb – nicknamed the Big Splash – in Morocco, which is a mere 150 yards long and 100 yards wide. An Olympicsize pool measures some 50 yards by 25 yards.






Chile's monster pool uses a computer- controlled suction and filtration system to keep fresh seawater in permanent circulation, drawing it in from the ocean at one end and pumping it out at the other.

The sun warms the water to 26c, nine degrees warmer than the adjoining sea.

Chilean biochemist Fernando Fischmann, whose Crystal Lagoons Corporation designed the pool, said advanced engineering meant his company could build "an impressive artificial paradise" even in inhospitable areas.

"As long as we have access to unlimited seawater, we can make it work, and it causes no damage to the ocean."

Children play in the clear waters of the 3,323 ft long pool


The saltwater pool contains 250,000 cubic metres of water and is navigable in small boats

The source links are here.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=509718&in_page_id=1770
http://world-amazing-information.blogspot.com/2007/12/worlds-largest-pool-in-chile.html

IRIS

And I'd give up forever to touch you
'Cause I know that you feel me somehow
You're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be
And I don't want to go home right now
And all I can taste is this moment
And all I can breathe is your life
And sooner or later it's over
I just don't want to miss you tonight

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am
I just want you to know who I am

-- Goo Goo Dolls

When Cats Talk

An interesting video I would say... :)

پاکستانی سیاست طبقۂ خواص کی جنگ

پاکستانی سیاست طبقۂ خواص کی جنگ‘


عائشہ صدیقہ
اسلام آباد



صدر پرویز مشرف نے برسلز میں کہا ہے کہ یورپی ممالک کو احساس کرنا چاہیے کہ پاکستان میں مغربح طرز کی جمہوریت نہیں آ سکتی۔ صدر صاحب کے ہمدرد دانشوروں کا خیال ہے کہ ملک میں جہالت اور جاگیرداری نظام کی وجہ سے لوگ اپنا ووٹ آزادانہ طور پر نہیں دے سکتے اس لیے ملک کے لیے گائیڈڈ ڈیموکریسی یا رہنما جمہوریت کا اصول بہتر ہے۔ آخر کو دیکھیں کہ برسوں سے انتخابات ہو رہے ہیں لیکن جمہوریت آنے کا نام ہی نہیں لے رہی۔

ایک طرف فوج اور بیوروکریسی کی طاقت ہے تو دوسری طرف سیاسی جماعتیں اور ان کے لیڈر جو عوام کو استعمال کرنا تو جانتے ہیں لیکن ان کا طاقت کا اصل سرچشمہ بنانے کو تیار نہیں۔ آخر پاکستان کا کیا مرض ہے ۔ کیا یہاں بیوروکریسی طاقت ور ہے یا فوج نے سیاسی جماعتوں کو پنپنے نہیں دیا یا سیاست دان نااہل ہیں۔

بہت پڑھے لکھے لوگوں نے بے بہت کچھ لکھا ہے لیکن سب سے اچھا جواب پاکستان کے ایک بہت بڑے ماہرِ سیاسیات حمزہ علوی نے دیا ہے۔ کاش کہ وہ آج کل کے حالات کا تجزیہ کرنے کے لیے زندہ ہوتے۔ علوی کے مطابق پاکستان کا مسئلہ ایک ضرورت سے زیادہ ترقی یافتہ(overdeveloped state) کا بحران ہے۔

پاکستان کے سیاست دانوں کا تعلق طبقۂ خواص سے ہے جو کہ عوام کی طاقت میں یقین نہیں رکھتے۔ اس طبقۂ خواص میں جاگیردار، بڑے صنعت کار، بڑے کاروباری لوگ بھی شامل ہیں۔ علوی کے مطابق ملک کی فوج اور سول بیوروکریسی کو یہ طبقۂ خواص اپنا ماتحت سمجھتا ہے بلکہ یوں کہیں کہ یہ دو ادارے اس طبقۂ خواص کے مفاد کی حفاظت کرتے ہیں۔

اس کا مطلب یہ ہے کہ ایک طرف تو بہت طاقتور سول اور فوجی بیوروکریسی ہے جس کے پاس ادارے کی طاقت ہے۔ دوسری طرف کمزور سیاسی ادارے ہیں۔ پاکستان نو آبادیاتی نظام کے بعد کی ایک ریاست ہے جہاں انگریزوں نے صرف ان اداروں کو طاقتور کیا جن کو وہ اپنے لیے استعمال کر سکتے تھے۔

لیکن پھر اس کا اثر انڈیا پر کیوں نہیں پڑا۔ آخر کو وہاں بھی تو ان ہی اداروں کو مضبوط کیا گیا ہوگا۔ اس کا جواب حمزہ علوی یوں دیتے ہیں کہ پاکستان کے سیاست دانوں کا تعلق طبقۂ خواص سے ہے جو کہ عوام کی طاقت میں یقین نہیں رکھتے۔ اس طبقۂ خواص میں جاگیردار، بڑے صنعت کار، بڑے کاروباری لوگ بھی شامل ہیں۔ علوی کے مطابق ملک کی فوج اور سول بیوروکریسی کو یہ طبقۂ خواص اپنا ماتحت سمجھتا ہے بلکہ یوں کہیں کہ یہ دو ادارے اس طبقۂ خواص کے مفاد کی حفاظت کرتے ہیں۔

اس فلسفے کے مطابق اس طبقۂ خواص کے سارے افراد ایک دوسرے سے جڑے ہوتے ہیں۔ بلکہ اب تو اس میں اور لوگ مثلاً میڈیا کے بڑے بڑے مالک، بڑے بڑے مشیر، این جی اوز والے ، فوج اور سول اداروں کے بڑے افسران یہاں تک کہ پیشہ وارانہ صلاحیتیوں کے حامل افراد جیسے بڑے بڑے ڈاکٹر اور انجینئر بھی شامل ہیں۔ اس طبقے میں داخل ہونے کے کی صرف ایک شرط ہے کہ آپ کے پاس پیسہ اور طاقت ہونی چاہیے۔


پاکستان پر ایک نظر ڈالیں تو معلوم پڑتا ہے کہ سب سے بڑے لوگ آپس میں جڑے ہوئے ہیں۔کسی بڑے خاندان کو اٹھا کر دیکھیں تو کوئی بھائی مسلم لیگ قاف میں ہے تو دوسرا پی پی پی میں اور تیسرا مسلم لیگ نون میں۔ جو تھوڑا پڑھا لکھا بھائی ہوتا ہے تو اس کو سول سروس کا امتحان دلوا دیتے ہیں۔ جو پڑھائی سے پیدل ہوتا ہے تو اس کو فوج میں بھیج دیتے ہیں۔ اگر گھر میں اتنے بھائی موجود نہ ہوں تو بیٹی کا رشتہ کسی فوجی یا سول سرونٹ سے کر دیتے ہیں۔ سو طاقت کا سرچشمہ خاندان بن جاتا ہے۔


پاکستان پر ایک نظر ڈالیں تو معلوم پڑتا ہے کہ سب سے بڑے لوگ آپس میں جڑے ہوئے ہیں۔کسی بڑے خاندان کو اٹھا کر دیکھیں تو کوئی بھائی مسلم لیگ قاف میں ہے تو دوسرا پی پی پی میں اور تیسرا مسلم لیگ نون میں۔ جو تھوڑا پڑھا لکھا بھائی ہوتا ہے تو اس کو سول سروس کا امتحان دلوا دیتے ہیں۔ جو پڑھائی سے پیدل ہوتا ہے تو اس کو فوج میں بھیج دیتے ہیں۔ اگر گھر میں اتنے بھائی موجود نہ ہوں تو بیٹی کا رشتہ کسی فوجی یا سول سرونٹ سے کر دیتے ہیں۔ سو طاقت کا سرچشمہ خاندان بن جاتا ہے۔

یہ ہے وہ طبقۂ خواص جو یہ تاثر دیتا ہے کہ پڑھنے لکھنے کے علاوہ کچھ نہیں ہو سکتا۔ مسئلہ یہ ہے کہ یہ تعلیم کے مواقع بھی محدود کر دیتے ہیں۔ پاکستان کا تعلیمی نظام بہت طبقاتی ہے۔ غریب کا بچہ شاذ و نادر ہی کامیابی کی بلندیوں پر پہنچتا ہے۔ پہنچ جائے تو اسے بھی اس طبقے کا حصہ بنا لیا جاتا ہے۔

غریب عوام کو یہ احساس دلایا جاتا ہے کہ وہ اپنا حقِ خود ارادیت بھی استعمال کرنے کے قابل نہیں۔ سو صدر مشرف کا جواب دینے کے لیے حمزہ علوی کو پڑھنا اور سمجھنا اور بھی ضروری ہو گیا ہے۔ بدقسمتی سے سیاست امراء کی جنگ بن کر رہ گئی ہے۔ ہر بڑا آدمی سب سے اوپر پہنچنا چاہتا ہے۔ اس طبقۂ خواص کے لیے عوام ان لکڑیوں کی مانند ہیں جنہیں جلا کر سردیوں کی شاموں میں ہاتھ سینکے جاتے ہیں۔


--An Article from BBC Urdu. http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/miscellaneous/story/2008/01/080124_aisha_hamza_rza.shtml

Patriotism

You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.
-– Malcolm X

TD Certified Professional Exam

Passed TD SQL Implementation exam today.... Thanks to almighty and prayers of my parents ..... Thats one more step close... :D

muaaa haaaa haaa :D

Law of Unused

If it is not used, than there is a reason.
-- Law of Unused

BUMPTOP .... a new word for Desktop

BumpTop is a fresh and engaging new way to interact with your computer desktop. You can pile and toss documents like on a real desk. Break free from the rigid and mechanical style of standard point-and-click desktops. Interact by pushing, pulling and piling documents with elegant, self revealing gestures. BumpTop's stunning interface makes clever use of 3D presentation and smooth physics-based animations for an engaging, vivid user experience.

< Source Site: Check the video here >

-- A new sexy look for old crappy desktops by Anand Aggarwal

Microsoft Surface Computer

A Surface computer is able to recognize physical objects from a paintbrush to a cell phone and allows hands-on, direct control of content such as photos, music and maps. Surface turns an ordinary tabletop into a dynamic surface that provides interaction with all forms of digital content through natural gestures, touch and physical objects.

The new product is aimed directly at hotels, retail establishments, restaurants and public entertainment venues and should be commercially available towards the end of the year.

It’s an interesting product in that it’s completely out of left field. Microsoft gives examples of ordering a beverage during a meal with just the tap of a finger and quickly browsing through music and dragging favorite songs onto a personal playlist by moving a finger across the screen. Build this into a bar and you’d get one-touch beer service although I’m not sure if they’ve found a way to work out when your beer glass is empty so replenishment becomes automatic, maybe in a later version.

The practical uses for Surface at the point of sale are broad. This is touch screen point of sale technology at a new level.

Initial launch partners include Harrah’s Entertainment, Starwood Hotels and T-Mobile.

Recipe of a Good Year

Take 12 complete months.

Clean them carefully of all bitterness, hatred and envies.
Cut each month in 28, 30, or 31 different pieces, but does not cook all them at the same time. Prepares one day of each time with the following ingredients:

- A part of faith
- A part of patience
- A part of courage
- A part of work

Joins to each day a part of hope, happiness and pleasantness.
Mixe well, with a part of pray, a part of meditation and a part of delivery.

Temper with a good spirit, a little bit of joy and a little part of action, and a good measure of mood.

Put everything in a container of love.
Cooks well, on a fire of a radiating joy.
Provides with a smile and serves without reserve."

By Ana Alves (92 Years Old) Died on 31 Dec. 2006


-- Taken from my sweet friend SANDRA. Thanks dear
Link to Source Site

Quest of Love

What is it with love that I desire?

I wonder if I can have a shoulder to set my head on after a tiring day. What i want is the hand that will be put on my hand and I will have the strength to do all it takes, the eyes that will look into my eyes and take away all my fears, the heart that will hear my foot steps and will tell me there and than that I am not alone in my quest of life. And than I will know that I have found someone I love.

Corruption & us

Why we are craving for things we don't have and overlook the blessing we have? Isn't this the source of all the stress and corruption in human life? Why we make life complicated when its the most simple thing there is? Why we forget God in all our actions when we say only HIS name during our daily life?

What is it with all the hypocracy in the world? Is there anything freeing us of this evil other than ourselves?

Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black

Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-- Written by Robert Frost

Triumph of Love

In Freyja's heart there was yet no gratitude, because of the spells that were upon her. Nor answer would she make when Svipdag spoke, nor would she gaze in his eyes to reward him. One brief look was all he desired, and yet she stared upon the ground disconsolate and silent.

Again did Svipdag wax wroth and leave her to wander alone; and she went down among the rocks. Then took she the guise of a bird and flew over the mountains and over the river that separates that wild country from the land in which Svipdag had his dwelling. She reached the house of Orvandel. To Sith, who recognized her not, she said that she was a poor woman who had no home, and she was received with welcome.

But Svipdag knew her and claimed her for his bride, and a wedding feast was set, and the marriage oath sworn in solemnity and state. Yet was Freyja cold and passionless. To the bridal chamber they went, and in her hand Freyja held a candle. She stood motionless before Svipdag until the candle burned low; and when the flame stung her hand, Svipdag spoke words of warning. But Freyja felt not the pain because of the greater pain within her heart.

Then was the spell broken by fire, and she raised her face and looked with eyes of love upon him who had rescued her. Thus had Svipdag his exceeding great reward.

--- Triumph of Love from Teutonic Mythology

Anticipation

Anticipation leads to most beautiful things in life. It gives us hope to live for, fears to fight against and most of all courage to put in a strive to life.

Where I see this as the basis of human struggle for good and bad, I really wonder if this will be the food for soul for coming generations. What would life mean without anticipation, without presence of hope and fear? I dont see anything but a chaos from one's life when these things start missing.

Picture of the Month - January 2008

View of Rawal Lake from Pir Sohawa, Islamabad

A new year, A new place, A new feeling. I pray that my country remains more peaceful than any time before. Amen !