Knowledge World

My Love : ColourLove

2008-10-07T23:08:00.000-07:00

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

My FAV List..

2008-09-02T01:28:00.000-07:00

Khokha

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

God Tussi Great Ho

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

Lets Party

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

Tujhe Aksa Beach Ghuma Doon

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

Lal Chunariya

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

Haal-E-Dil

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

Uploader

2008-06-15T23:00:00.000-07:00

Software for Web Designers and Developers

2008-06-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

software that is not free and/or open source is denoted by an asterisk * sign next to its name.

2D Image Editing / Photo Manipulation

GIMP – The GNU Image Manipulation Program:

This image editor is proof that free software can still be top-quality software. If you’re looking for a free alternative to high-priced image editing applications, then look no further than GIMP. With its last few revisions, GIMP has become so powerful and versatile that many creative enthusiasts actually prefer it to commercial packages such as Adobe Photoshop and Corel Photopaint.

3D Modelling, Rendering and Animation

Swift 3D*

If you’ve ever seen 3D vector animation on the web, odds are it was developed using Swift 3D. If you’re a Flash artist and want to take your animations to the next level, then Swift 3D should be the next piece of software that you get.

Blender

This application single-handedly validated the open source movement and proved to the world that free software can still be top-quality software. Blender is 100% free, and it has almost all the same features and capabilities as high-end commercial 3D modelling, rendering and animation software suites. In addition to its already impressive set of built-in capabilities, Blender can also be extended through the use of Python scripts.

Indigo Renderer

What if I told you that it’s possible to create photo-realistic 3D rendered images using 100% free software? It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Well, that’s what CG artists are doing everyday using the Indigo Renderer in conjunction with Blender.

YafRay (Yet Another Free Raytracer)

The YafRay renderer is an excellent companion to Blender, and is available as a Blender plug-in.

Audio Editing and Production

Audacity

Audacity, despite being free, is a powerful, robust sound editing package that provides you with a great alternative to expensive commercial applications.

Flash Development

SE|PY ActionScript Editor

It’s no secret that the built-in ActionScript that comes with Flash leaves a lot to be desired. It’s slow, unwieldy, and doesn’t provide any of the advanced source code editing features that you would expect from such a development tool. The SE|PY ActionScript Editor is here to save the day—download it now and discover the joy of writing your ActionScript in a professional-grade source code editor. It’s free, too.

SWF Encrypt*

You can’t put a price on protecting your ActionScript. Whether it’s some custom classes that you’ve written for a Flash website, confidential server information belonging to a client, or just a powerful coding technique that you’d really prefer not to share, using SWF Encrypt is the best way to disguise your ActionScript and protect it from thieves’ SWF decompilers.

Web Development – Editors

Notepad++

This is the absolute best free text editor around. It allows you to have multiple files open at once, with an extremely intuitive tabbed interface. It also features syntax highlighting for over a dozen languages—especially useful for markup languages like HTML. If you’re looking for a better alternative to Notepad, then Notepad++ is the obvious choice.

Sothink DHTML Menu Maker*

This software lets you create some absolutely amazing JavaScript-driven menus, and you can do so very quickly. The menu code that Sothink produces is pure JavaScript, which allows you to include it in your pages with a simple

Web 2.0...Designsss

2008-06-03T22:49:00.000-07:00

Visual effects

1. Three girls posing in the night Illustration

2. Adobe Software - Adobe Photoshop

3. Adobe Software - Adobe Photoshop

4. Create a software box - Photoshop Tutorial

5. Retro lines in Photoshop?

6. Splash Page Tutorial

7. Gradient Styles & How To Make Dashes

8. Creating a page curl in Photoshop

9. Creating patterns in Photoshop CS2

10. Realistic photo print

11. Circles, Circles, Circles

Songs....

2008-03-20T03:29:00.000-07:00
Race Saanson Ki

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

Pehli Nazar Mein

RadioReloaded.com | Download thousands of MP3s

20 Tips to Improve ASP.net Application Performance

2007-09-04T22:13:00.000-07:00

Not a .net Developer?

Are you an asp.net developer? If you aren't don't worry, we have similar posts in the works for Ruby, PHP, and other developers out there. If you are an ASP.net developer, listen up!

Get Ready for Massive Gains

There are certain things you should take into account when you are developing your applications. Over the last 12 years or so of working with asp and asp.net, I have learned to avoid and do certain things that increase your application performance by a massive amount! Below are my top 20 tips to improving ASP.net application Performance.

Disable Session State
Disable Session State if you're not going to use it. By default it's on. You can actually turn this off for specific pages, instead of for every page:
<%@ Page language="c#" Codebehind="WebForm1.aspx.cs"
AutoEventWireup="false" Inherits="WebApplication1.WebForm1"
EnableSessionState="false" %>

You can also disable it across the application in the web.config by setting the mode value to Off.
Output Buffering
Take advantage of this great feature. Basically batch all of your work on the server, and then run a Response.Flush method to output the data. This avoids chatty back and forth with the server.
<%response.buffer=true%>
Then use:
<%response.flush=true%>

Avoid Server-Side Validation
Try to avoid server-side validation, use client-side instead. Server-Side will just consume valuable resources on your servers, and cause more chat back and forth.
Repeater Control Good, DataList, DataGrid, and DataView controls Bad
Asp.net is a great platform, unfortunately a lot of the controls that were developed are heavy in html, and create not the greatest scaleable html from a performance standpoint. ASP.net repeater control is awesome! Use it! You might write more code, but you will thank me in the long run!
Take advantage of HttpResponse.IsClientConnected before performing a large operation:
if (Response.IsClientConnected)
{
// If still connected, redirect
// to another page.
Response.Redirect("Page2CS.aspx", false);
}
What is wrong with Response.Redirect? Read on...
Use HTTPServerUtility.Transfer instead of Response.Redirect
Redirect's are also very chatty. They should only be used when you are transferring people to another physical web server. For any transfers within your server, use .transfer! You will save a lot of needless HTTP requests.
Always check Page.IsValid when using Validator Controls
So you've dropped on some validator controls, and you think your good to go because ASP.net does everything for you! Right? Wrong! All that happens if bad data is received is the IsValid flag is set to false. So make sure you check Page.IsValid before processing your forms!
Deploy with Release Build
Make sure you use Release Build mode and not Debug Build when you deploy your site to production. If you think this doesn't matter, think again. By running in debug mode, you are creating PDB's and cranking up the timeout. Deploy Release mode and you will see the speed improvements.
Turn off Tracing
Tracing is awesome, however have you remembered to turn it off? If not, make sure you edit your web.config and turn it off! It will add a lot of overhead to your application that is not needed in a production environment.

"false" pageOutput="false" />
"false" requestLimit="10" pageOutput="false" traceMode="SortByTime" localOnly="true"/>
"false" />

Page.IsPostBack is your friend
Make sure you don't execute code needlessly. I don't know how many web developers forget about checking IsPostBack! It seems like such a basic thing to me! Needless processing!
Avoid Exceptions
Avoid throwing exceptions, and handling useless exceptions. Exceptions are probably one of the heaviest resource hogs and causes of slowdowns you will ever see in web applications, as well as windows applications. Write your code so they don't happen! Don't code by exception!
Caching is Possibly the number one tip!
Use Quick Page Caching and the ASP.net Cache API! Lots to learn, its not as simple as you might think. There is a lot of strategy involved here. When do you cache? what do you cache?
Create Per-Request Cache
Use HTTPContect.Items to add single page load to create a per-request cache.
StringBuilder
StringBuilder.Append is faster than String + String. However in order to use StringBuilder, you must
new StringBuilder()
Therefore it is not something you want to use if you don't have large strings. If you are concatenating less than 3 times, then stick with String + String. You can also try String.Concat
Turn Off ViewState
If you are not using form postback, turn off viewsate, by default, controls will turn on viewsate and slow your site.
public ShowOrdersTablePage()
{
this.Init += new EventHandler(Page_Init);
}

private void Page_Init(object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
this.EnableViewState = false;
}

Use Paging
Take advantage of paging's simplicity in .net. Only show small subsets of data at a time, allowing the page to load faster. Just be careful when you mix in caching. How many times do you hit the page 2, or page 3 button? Hardly ever right! So don't cache all the data in the grid! Think of it this way: How big would the first search result page be for "music" on Google if they cached all the pages from 1 to goggle ;)
Use the AppOffline.htm when updating binaries
I hate the generic asp.net error messages! If I never had to see them again I would be so happy. Make sure your users never see them! Use the AppOffline.htm file!
Use ControlState and not ViewState for Controls
If you followed the last tip, you are probably freaking out at the though of your controls not working. Simply use Control State. Microsoft has an excellent example of using ControlState here, as I will not be able to get into all the detail in this short article.
Use the Finally Method
If you have opened any connections to the database, or files, etc, make sure that you close them at the end! The Finally block is really the best place to do so, as it is the only block of code that will surely execute.
Option Strict and Option Explicit
This is an oldy, and not so much a strictly ASP.net tip, but a .net tip in general. Make sure you turn BOTH on. you should never trust .net or any compiler to perform conversions for you. That's just shady programming, and low quality code anyway. If you have never turned both on, go turn them on right now and try and compile. Fix all your errors.

There are hundreds more where these came from, however I really feel that these are the most critical of the speed improvements you can make in ASP.net that will have a dramatic impact on the user experience of your application. As always if you have any suggestions or tips to add, please let us know! We would love to hear them!

Have web development!

Top 10 Google apps

2007-08-25T05:48:00.000-07:00

1. Gmail beta
Gmail is a star among the Web's top e-mail tools, especially for its inventive message-organizing methods. And Gmail plays well with other members of the Google family. Case in point: its natural-language abilities can detect when someone sends you an event invitation, then whisk you to Google Maps or Google Calendar so that you won't miss the party. Read review

2. Google Calendar beta
Dinner at 8? How about sword-swallowing classes at 8:30 instead? Google Calendar enables you to manage appointments and discover events from assorted sources that other users have made public. Read review

3. Google Talk beta
What's better than an instant-messaging tool loaded with expressive emoticons, as well as links to news stories and streaming music sites? If such bells and whistles strike the wrong note with you, then the answer is Google Talk. You can run this no-frills chatting client either within a floating window or embedded within Gmail. Add a headset and talk to buddies for free. Read editor's take

4. Writely beta
Who says you need to pay through the nose for a word processor? Ever since we started using the free Writely to compose and edit basic text files, we've been hooked on its simplicity. The drawback? If you're offline, you're out of luck. Read review

5. Google Spreadsheets
Most people find crunching numbers dull. It's extraclunky when you must open a hard drive-hogging application just to sum up some quick figures. Google Labs' Spreadsheets lets you make calculations on the fly from anywhere, as long as you're online. It may not be an Excel killer, but it's a time-saver.
Read editor's take

6. Google Maps
Cartography seemed dry until Google Maps started serving up free satellite views to the public. Since then, enthusiasts have been shaping this dynamic mapping tool to pinpoint the locations of hot dog stands, celebrity sightings, and visits from outer space. Read review

7. Google Earth 4 beta
Remember the hype that the Internet would immerse us in virtual tourism that would be more fun than actually going places in the real world? Such predictions were premature, but sit down with Google Earth, and a momentary lookup can turn into hours of flying around the globe to explore its nooks and crannies. Read editor's take

8. Google SketchUp
Build your dream house in 3D detail without a lick of CAD or architectural expertise. While you're at it, why not sketch a whole city, drop it into Google Earth, and send it to your friends to move forward with your world domination plans. Read review

9. Picasa Web Albums beta
At long last, one of the finest freebie apps for tweaking your digital pictures now lets you upload albums to the Web. We hope that the bare-bones Picasa Web Albums, now in a testing phase, will eventually add more features for editing, tagging, and sharing photos online. Read editor's take

10. Google Desktop 4 beta
This download installs a top-notch search tool to find files on your computer, and it stacks fun Gadgets on your desktop. Hey, now that you're using so many Google tools, why not just hand over your hard drive to Mountain View? Seriously, though, Desktop's search is terrific, but we nevertheless urge that you either skip it altogether or disable Advanced Features if you feel uneasy about entrusting so much personal data to one company. Read review

Top Ten Mistakes in Web Design.

2007-05-28T03:24:00.000-07:00

Summary:
The ten most egregious offenses against users. Web design disasters and HTML horrors are legion, though many usability atrocities are less common than they used to be.
1. Bad Search
Overly literal search engines reduce usability in that they're unable to handle typos, plurals, hyphens, and other variants of the query terms. Such search engines are particularly difficult for elderly users, but they hurt everybody.
A related problem is when search engines prioritize results purely on the basis of how many query terms they contain, rather than on each document's importance. Much better if your search engine calls out "best bets" at the top of the list -- especially for important queries, such as the names of your products.
Search is the user's lifeline when navigation fails. Even though advanced search can sometimes help, simple search usually works best, and search should be presented as a simple box, since that's what users are looking for.
2. PDF Files for Online Reading
Users hate coming across a PDF file while browsing, because it breaks their flow. Even simple things like printing or saving documents are difficult because standard browser commands don't work. Layouts are often optimized for a sheet of paper, which rarely matches the size of the user's browser window. Bye-bye smooth scrolling. Hello tiny fonts.
Worst of all, PDF is an undifferentiated blob of content that's hard to navigate.
PDF is great for printing and for distributing manuals and other big documents that need to be printed. Reserve it for this purpose and convert any information that needs to be browsed or read on the screen into real web pages.
> Detailed discussion of why PDF is bad for online reading
3. Not Changing the Color of Visited Links
A good grasp of past navigation helps you understand your current location, since it's the culmination of your journey. Knowing your past and present locations in turn makes it easier to decide where to go next. Links are a key factor in this navigation process. Users can exclude links that proved fruitless in their earlier visits. Conversely, they might revisit links they found helpful in the past.
Most important, knowing which pages they've already visited frees users from unintentionally revisiting the same pages over and over again.
These benefits only accrue under one important assumption: that users can tell the difference between visited and unvisited links because the site shows them in different colors. When visited links don't change color, users exhibit more navigational disorientation in usability testing and unintentionally revisit the same pages repeatedly.
> Usability implications of changing link colors
> Guidelines for showing links
4. Non-Scannable Text
A wall of text is deadly for an interactive experience. Intimidating. Boring. Painful to read.
Write for online, not print. To draw users into the text and support scannability, use well-documented tricks:
subheads
bulleted lists
highlighted keywords
short paragraphs
the inverted pyramid
a simple writing style, and
de-fluffed language devoid of marketese.

> Eyetracking of reading patterns
5. Fixed Font Size
CSS style sheets unfortunately give websites the power to disable a Web browser's "change font size" button and specify a fixed font size. About 95% of the time, this fixed size is tiny, reducing readability significantly for most people over the age of 40.
Respect the user's preferences and let them resize text as needed. Also, specify font sizes in relative terms -- not as an absolute number of pixels.
6. Page Titles With Low Search Engine Visibility
Search is the most important way users discover websites. Search is also one of the most important ways users find their way around individual websites. The humble page title is your main tool to attract new visitors from search listings and to help your existing users to locate the specific pages that they need.
The page title is contained within the HTML tag and is almost always used as the clickable headline for listings on search engine result pages (SERP). Search engines typically show the first 66 characters or so of the title, so it's truly <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/980906.html" title="Alertbox: Microcontent - How to Write Headlines, Page Titles, and Subject Lines" class="old">microcontent</a>. </p><p> Page titles are also used as the default entry in the Favorites when users bookmark a site. For your homepage, begin the with the company name, followed by a brief description of the site. Don't start with words like "The" or "Welcome to" unless you want to be alphabetized under "T" or "W." </p><p>For other pages than the homepage, start the title with a few of the most salient information-carrying words that describe the specifics of what users will find on that page. Since the page title is used as the window title in the browser, it's also used as the label for that window in the taskbar under Windows, meaning that advanced users will move between multiple windows under the guidance of the first one or two words of each page title. If all your page titles start with the same words, you have severely reduced usability for your multi-windowing users. </p><p> <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010722.html" title="Alertbox: Tagline Blues: What's the Site About?">Taglines on homepages</a> are a related subject: they also need to be short and quickly communicate the purpose of the site. </p><h2 style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">7. Anything That Looks Like an Advertisement</h2> Selective attention is very powerful, and Web users have learned to stop paying attention to any ads that get in the way of their goal-driven navigation. (The main exception being <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20030428.html" title="Alertbox: Will Plain-Text Ads Continue to Rule?">text-only search-engine ads</a>.) <p> Unfortunately, users also ignore legitimate design elements that look like prevalent forms of advertising. After all, when you <em>ignore</em> something, you don't study it in detail to find out what it is. </p><p> Therefore, it is best to avoid any designs that look like advertisements. The exact implications of this guideline will vary with new forms of ads; currently follow these rules: </p><ul><li><strong>banner blindness</strong> means that users never fixate their eyes on anything that looks like a banner ad due to shape or position on the page </li><li><strong>animation avoidance</strong> makes users ignore areas with blinking or flashing text or other aggressive animations </li><li><strong>pop-up purges</strong> mean that users close pop-up windoids before they have even fully rendered; sometimes with great viciousness (a sort of getting-back-at-GeoCities triumph). </li></ul> <h2 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">8. Violating Design Conventions</h2> <strong>Consistency</strong> is one of the most powerful usability principles: when things always behave the same, users don't have to worry about what will happen. Instead, they <em>know</em> what will happen based on earlier experience. Every time you release an apple over Sir Isaac Newton, it will drop on his head. That's <em>good</em>. <p> The more users' expectations prove right, the more they will feel in control of the system and the more they will like it. And the more the system breaks users' expectations, the more they will feel insecure. Oops, maybe if I let go of this apple, it will turn into a tomato and jump a mile into the sky. </p><p> <strong>Jakob's Law of the Web User Experience</strong> states that "users spend most of their time on <em>other</em> websites." </p><p> This means that they form their expectations for your site based on what's commonly done on most other sites. If you deviate, your site will be harder to use and users will leave. </p><h2 style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">9. Opening New Browser Windows</h2> Opening up new browser windows is like a vacuum cleaner sales person who starts a visit by emptying an ash tray on the customer's carpet. Don't pollute my screen with any more windows, thanks (particularly since current operating systems have miserable window management). <p> Designers open new browser windows on the theory that it keeps users on their site. But even disregarding the <strong>user-hostile message implied in taking over the user's machine</strong>, the strategy is self-defeating since it disables the <em>Back</em> button which is the normal way users return to previous sites. Users often don't notice that a new window has opened, especially if they are using a small monitor where the windows are maximized to fill up the screen. So a user who tries to return to the origin will be confused by a grayed out <em>Back</em> button. </p><p>Links that don't behave as expected undermine users' understanding of their own system. A link should be a simple hypertext reference that replaces the current page with new content. Users hate unwarranted pop-up windows. When they want the destination to appear in a new page, they can use their browser's "open in new window" command -- assuming, of course, that the link is not a piece of code that interferes with the browser’s standard behavior. </p><h2 style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">10. Not Answering Users' Questions</h2>Users are highly goal-driven on the Web. They visit sites because there's something they want to accomplish -- maybe even buy your product. The ultimate failure of a website is to fail to provide the information users are looking for. <p>Sometimes the answer is simply not there and you lose the sale because users have to assume that your product or service doesn't meet their needs if you don't tell them the specifics. Other times the specifics are buried under a thick layer of marketese and bland slogans. Since users don't have time to read everything, such hidden info might almost as well not be there. </p><p> The worst example of not answering users' questions is to <strong>avoid listing the price</strong> of products and services. No B2C ecommerce site would make this mistake, but it's rife in <a href="http://www.useit.com/alertbox/b2b.html" title="Alertbox: Business-to-business website usability" class="old">B2B</a>, where most "enterprise solutions" are presented so that you can't tell whether they are suited for 100 people or 100,000 people. Price is the most specific piece of info customers use to understand the nature of an offering, and not providing it makes people feel lost and reduces their understanding of a product line. We have miles of videotape of users asking <em>"Where's the price?"</em> while tearing their hair out. </p><p> Even B2C sites often make the associated mistake of forgetting prices in product lists, such as <a href="http://www.nngroup.com/reports/ecommerce/categorypages.html" title="Nielsen Norman Group report: 28 Design Guidelines for Category Pages on e-commerce sites" class="old">category pages</a> or <a href="http://www.nngroup.com/reports/ecommerce/search.html" title="Nielsen Norman Group report: 29 Design Guidelines for Search" class="old">search results</a>. Knowing the price is key in both situations; it lets users differentiate among products and click through to the most relevant ones. </p><br /></body><br /></html><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Proud to be an Indian.</h1> <p>2007-05-26T02:20:00.000-07:00</p> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">This is the time to be proud! Just 1 INDIAN is challenging against Billgates..... Be proud . This is not only ground breaking news; it's space-breaking news indeed.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">Ramlal Bhagat, a XII std. student from Haryana, has developed a 32-bit operating system demonstrated to be far superior to any of the desktop operating systems in the market today .</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">The program has been named "O-Yes". O-Yes provides operating system services on any Pentium-based Personal computer (PC) and does not require MS- DOS as a base operating system .</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">The operating system's capabilities were demonstrated in a student convention at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT),New Delhi. HCL Ltd. conducted benchmarks on the system and published results, which are partly reported here: O -Yes is 34% faster than Microsoft's Windows 95 on similar hardware.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">It is 29% faster than IBM's OS/2. O-Yes loads 54% quicker than Windows 95 or OS/2. O-Yes has a customizable, user-friendly graphical User Interface (GUI), in which every program can be accessed with a maximum of two button clicks .</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">The operating system provides plug n play capability with numerous hardware devices. It has a superior memory management function. The operating system is compatible with Windows 95 & WindowsNT 4.0 .</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">HCL, Ltd. has offered an unknown amount to Ramlal Bhagat for purchasing the rights to the software. Ramlal Bhagat, described as "quiet and philosophical" by his peers, was not available for comment .</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">Suresh Reddy, spokesman for HCL Ltd.,said, "this is the operating system that the world has been waiting for". On HCL's move to purchase the rights to the software, he said,</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">"We are here to ensure that Mr.Ramlal gets fair recognition and compensation for his innovation. HCL Ltd. can provide him a firm launch-pad to market software globally ".</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 204); font-weight: bold;">Is this the beginning of the end of the Bill Gates' monopoly? Let's see... Send this to as many of your friends and relatives as possible so that when the product hits the market every one will appreciate it</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Cow Fight Funny</h1> <p>2007-04-10T04:18:00.000-07:00</p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Dating Vs Married</h1> <p>2007-04-05T23:52:00.000-07:00</p> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... Farting is never an issue</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....You make sure there's nothing flammable near your husband...... at all times</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He takes you out to have a good time</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He brings home a 6 pack, and says "What are you going to drink?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He holds your hand in public</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He flicks your ear in public</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... A Single bed for 2 isn't THAT bad</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....A King size bed feels like an army cot</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... You are turned on at the sight of him naked</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....You think to yourself...."Was he ALWAYS this hairy????"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... You enjoyed foreplay</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....You tell him "If we have sex, will you leave me alone???"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He hugs you, when he walks by you ...for no reason</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He grabs your boob any chance he gets</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... You picture the two of you together, growing old together</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....You wonder who will die first</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... Just looking at him makes you feel all "mushy"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....When you look at him, you want to claw his eyes out.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He knows what the "hamper" is</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....The floor will suffice as a dirty clothes storage area</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He understands if you "aren't in the mood"</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He says "It's your job."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He understands that you have "male" friends</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He thinks they are all out to steal you away</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He likes to "discuss" things</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He develops a "blank" stare</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are dating..... He calls you by name</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 102, 51);">When you are married ....He calls you "Hey" and refers to you when speaking to others as "She."</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>A Prayer on Good Friday</h1> <p>2007-04-05T23:50:00.000-07:00</p> <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Grant me today<br />that I may call upon you<br />with the deepest and lowest voice.<br />May I weep over the darkness<br />embedded within Mary's griving heart,<br />encountering your unavoidable departure<br />for the sake of even more souls.<br /><br />May I also prostrate myself before you<br />in deep humility<br />just as Peter bitterly wailed<br />over his betrayal.<br /><br />O Lord of love,<br />You overpowered death<br />by drinking the bitter cup of death.<br /><br />May I not boast of imprudent love<br />without imitating you.<br /><br />May I be a somber point in the darkness<br />lying within the stone tomb today<br />together with those deeply despairing souls<br />who loved you so deeply<br /><br />May I be a bright point in the darkness<br />for having fallen asleep with you,<br />I shall awaken with you<br />O Lord of light.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Read these beautiful lines</h1> <p>2007-03-30T23:51:00.000-07:00</p> <div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">To realize<br />The value of a sister<br />Ask someone<br />Who doesn't have one.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of ten years:<br />Ask a newly<br />Divorced couple.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of four years:<br />Ask a graduate.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of one year:<br />Ask a student who<br />Has failed a final exam.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of nine months:<br />Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of one month:<br />Ask a mother<br />who has given birth to<br />A premature baby.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of one week:<br />Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of one hour:<br />Ask the lovers who are waiting to Meet.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of one minute:<br />Ask a person<br />Who has missed the train, bus or plane.<br /><br />To realize<br />The value of one-second:<br />Ask a person<br />Who has survived an accident...<br /><br />To! realize<br />The value of one millisecond:<br />As k the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics<br /><br />Time waits for no one.<br /><br />Treasure every moment you have.<br />You will treasure it even more when<br /><br />you can share it with someone special.<br /><br />To realize the value of a friend:<br />Lose one.<br /><br />The origin of this letter is unknown,<br />But it brings good luck to everyone who passes it on.<br />Do not keep this letter<br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>How can you live without knowing These things?</h1> <p>2007-03-30T23:00:00.000-07:00</p> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >1. The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >2. Coca-Cola was originally green.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >3. Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than the US Treasury.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >4. Men can read smaller print than women can; women can hear better.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >5. The state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >6. The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28% (now get this..)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >7. The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >8. The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >9. The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000 (wonder if this one is still true)</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >10. Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >11. The world's youngest parents were 8 and 9 and lived in China in 1910.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >12. The youngest pope was 11 years old.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >13. The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >14. Those San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >15. Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Spades - King David</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Hearts - Charlemagne</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Clubs -Alexander the Great</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Diamonds - Julius Caesar</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >16. 111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >17. If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >18. Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >20. "I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >21. Hershey's Kisses are called that because the machine that make them looks like it's kissing the conveyor belt.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >22. Until the St. Louis Rams, no NFL team which plays its home games in a domed stadium has ever won a Super bowl.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >23. The only two days of the year in which there are no professional sports games (MLB, NBA, NHL, or NFL) are the day before and the day after the Major League all-stars Game.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. What occurs more often in December than any other month?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. Conception.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. What separates "60 Minutes," on CBS from every other TV show?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. No theme song</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. Half of all Americans live within 50 miles of what?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. Their birthplace.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. Most boat owners name their boats. What is the most popular boat name requested?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. Obsession</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. If you were to spell out numbers, how far would you have to go until you would find the letter "A"?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. One thousand</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. What do bulletproof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers, and laser printers all have in common?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. All invented by women.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. What is the only food that doesn't spoil?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. Honey</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. There are more collect calls on this day than any other day of the year?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. Father's Day</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. What trivia fact about Mel Blanc (voice of Bugs Bunny) is the most ironic?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. He is allergic to carrots.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >Q. What is an activity performed by 40% of all people at a party?</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >A. Snoop in your medicine cabinet.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >1. In Shakespeare's time, mattresses were secured on bed frames by ropes. When you pulled on the ropes the mattress tightened, making the bed firmer to sleep on. Hence the phrase "goodnight, sleep tight".</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >2. It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month or what we know today as the honeymoon.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >3. In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's"</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >4. Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim or handle of their ceramic cups. When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get some service. "Wet your whistle" is the phrase inspired by this practice.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >5. In ancient England a person could not have sex unless you had consent of the King (unless you were in the Royal Family). When anyone wanted to have a baby, they got consent of the King, the King gave them a placard that they hung on their door while they were having sex. The placard had F.*.*.*. (Fornication Under Consent of the King) on it. Now you know where that came from.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >~~~~~~~~~~~AND FINALLY~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 51);font-size:100%;" >6. In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden.... and thus the word GOLF entered the vocabulary.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>My Wishes For You......</h1> <p>2007-03-15T06:41:00.000-07:00</p> <div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">May you find serenity and tranquilityin a world you may not always understand. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">May the pain you have knownand the conflict you have experiencedgive you the strength to walk through lifefacing each new situation with courage and optimism. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">Always know that there are thosewhose love and understanding will always be there,even when you feel most alone. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">May a kind word,a reassuring touch,and a warm smilebe yours every day of your life,and may you give these giftsas well as receive them.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#660000;">May the teachings of those you admirebecome part of you,so that you may call upon them. Remember, those whose lives you have touchedand who have touched yours are always a part of you,even if the encounters were less than you would have wished.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#660000;">It is the content of the enounterThat is more important than its form.May you not become too concerned with material matters, but instead place immeasurable valueon the goodness in your heart.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Find time in each day to see beauty and lovein the world around you. Realize that what you feel you lack in one regardyou may be more than compensated for in another.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">What you feel you lack in the presentmay become one of your strengths in the future.May you see your future as one filled with promise and possibility.</span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#660000;">Learn to view everything as a worthwhile experience.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;">May you find enough inner strengthto determine your own worth by yourself,and not be dependent on another's judgment of your accomplishments. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#660000;"></span> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#009900;">May you always feel loved. These Are My Wishes For You</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>I m Here if U need Me</h1> <p>2007-03-15T06:37:00.000-07:00</p> <p align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>Life's events don't always happen,Just as they are planned.</strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>For you this is a trying time,I fully understand. Moments like the present,</strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>Tend to upset and confuse,I'll try to give you my support,In any path you choose. </strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>I'll listen always with my heart,I'll do what I can do,I'll hope for brighter things to come.</strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>My thoughts remain with you. You know your situation.You're alert to life's demands;</strong></span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>But don't forget I am here.I'm one who understands! </strong></span></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ff6600;">I am Here</span></strong></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Guinness World Records Attractions</h1> <p>2007-03-05T03:49:00.000-08:00</p> <div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ff9900;">MOST POISONOUS ANIMAL :</span></strong> Poison Arrow Frogs are also called poison dart frogs. The Blue poison frog is one of the most striking of the poison arrow frogs. It is a mid-sized frog in the Dendrobates family with its length ranging from 3.0 - 4.5 cm. They usually weigh approximately 3 grams. Poison arrow frogs vary in length from 1.5 cm - 7 cm. This frog lives in the tropical rainforest.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#009900;">MOST PROLIFIC TV PRODUCER :</span> </strong>Aaron Spelling has produced a total of 3,842 hours of television since 1956, comprising 3,578 hours of TV series and 264 hours of TV movies. His output has included Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, 7th Heaven, Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210, which features his daughter Tori.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">MOST HOME RUNS--SEASON :</span></strong> Barry Bonds, of the San Francisco Giants capped his incredible 2001 season by hitting 73 home runs. Bonds also set records for the highest slugging percentage in a season at .863 and most home runs per at-bats by going deep every 6.52 at bats.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#993300;">FASTEST LAND ANIMAL :</span></strong> The fastest of all land animals over a short distance is the Cheetah of the open plains of east Africa, Iran, Turkmenia and Afghanistan with speeds of up to 63 miles per hour over level ground.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">LARGEST STRAWBERRY :</span></strong> A strawberry weighing 8.17 ounces (231 g) was grown by G. Anderson, Folkestone, Kent, England, 1983.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#cc66cc;">MOST ADVANCED ORDERS AND LARGEST FIRST-RUN PRINT :</span></strong> JK Rowlings' Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the fourth book in the acclaimed series, received world record advanced orders of 5.3 million copies from around the world. The book also holds the record for the largest first-run print with 4.8 million copies, of which 3.8 million were printed in the USA (40 times as many as an average best seller) and 1 million in the UK.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE SLIPPERS :</span></strong> The ruby slippers Judy Garland wore when she played Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz (1939)sold for a record $165,000!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#660000;">WORLD'S LARGEST SNEAKERS :</span></strong> If cases of elephantitis are excluded, the biggest feet currently known are those of Matthew McGrory (born May 17, 1973) of Pennsylvania, USA, who wears US size 29.5 sneakers!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#000066;">WHEELIE JOURNEY :</span></strong> Kurt Osburn rode a Wheelie on his bicycle from Hollywood, CA (USA) to the Guinness World Records Experience in Orlando, FL. from April 13th to June 25th, 1999. He rode 2,839.6 miles on one wheel setting a new Guinness World Record and becoming the first person in history to ride a bicycle wheelie coast to coast!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ffcccc;">Interesting Facts:</span></strong> averaged 50 miles a day with winds in excess of 40 miles per hour, traveled on the 110 Highway, was chased by dogs almost everyday, had 4 flat tires (on the rear tire of course), over 1.8 million pedal revolutions from start to finish.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#003333;">MOST PORTRAYED CHARACTER :</span></strong> In horror movies, the character most often portrayed is Count Dracula, created by the Irish writer Bram Stoker (18471912). Representations of the Count outnumber those of his closest rival, Frankenstein, by 161 to 117!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#999900;">WORLD'S LARGEST WAIST :</span></strong> Walter Hudson (USA) had a 9 ft. 11 in. waist (size 119 inches) in 1987. His typical daily snack was 12 doughnuts, 10 bags of potato chips, 2 giant pizzas, and half a cake!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#660000;">THE WORLD'S TALLEST MAN :</span></strong> Robert Wadlow, born in Alton, Illinois, USA, February 1918, Robert Pershing Wadlow grew to the height of 8 ft 11.1 ins by the time of his death aged 22!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>MOST EXPENSIVE WINE :</strong> The highest price paid for any bottle has been 105,000 British Pounds ($157,000 US) for a 1787 Chateau Lafite claret sold to Christopher Forbes (USA) at Christie's London on December 5, 1985. The price was affected insofar as the bottle was initialed by Thomas Jefferson (1743 1826), 3rd President of the United States!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#333300;">FIREWALKING DISTANCE :</span></strong> Gary Shawkey, of Orlando, Florida, USA, walked 50.29 m (165 feet) over burned embers of cedar wood, with an average temperature of 1,800 degrees F (982.22 C) at the Central Florida Fair in Orlando, Florida, USA, on March 4, 2000!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#330033;">LARGEST ICE CREAM SUNDAE :</span></strong> A sundae made by Palm Dairies LTD at Alberta, Canada on July 24 1988, had 20.27 tons (44,689 lbs, 8 oz.) of ice cream, 4.39 tons (9,688 lbs, 2 oz.) of syrup and 2.37 kg (537 lbs, 3 oz.) of topping!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">MONSIEUR MANGETOUT :</span></strong> Michael Lotito (b. 1950) of Grenoble, France has eaten metal and glass since 1958. Experts x-rayed his stomach and note his ability to consume 2 lbs (900 g) of metal per day. Since 1966, he has consumed 18 bicycles, 15 shopping carriages, seven television sets, six chandeliers, two beds, a pair of skis, a computer, and a Cessna light aircraft!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#999900;">MOST EXPENSIVE TRIP TO SPACE :</span></strong> U.S. space tourist and Californian millionaire Dennis Tito waves as he tries on his space suit, April 17, 2001 at Baikonur cosmodrome. Tito, together with two Russian Cosmonauts Yuri Baturin and Talgat Musabayev, are scheduled for launch to the orbital International Space Station on April 28. Tito paid the Russians nearly $20 million for his flight and the Russians are prepared to launch him over the objections of NASA and other partners.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">WORLD'S LARGEST INVERTEBRATE :</span></strong> The Atlantic giant squid (Architeuthis dux) is the largest known invertebrate. The largest ever discovered was a 2.2 ton specimen that washed ashore in Thimble Tickle Bay, Newfoundland, Canada on November 2, 1878 - it had a body length of 20 feet! </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#9999ff;">HAMBURGERS :</span></strong> Peter Dowdeswell ate 21 burgers (with buns) each weighing 3 oz. (100 g) in 9 minutes 42 seconds on June 30, 1984 at Birmingham, England!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc00;">FASTEST DRUMMER :</span></strong> Johnny Rabb was formally recognized as the fastest drummer in the world when he drummed 1,071 strokes in 1 minute on May 27, 2000 at the Guinness World Records Experience in Orlando, FL! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Be careful when you SMS...</h1> <p>2007-03-01T04:49:00.000-08:00</p> <strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc6600;">A True Story:</span></strong><br /><br /><div align="justify">This lady has changed her habit on the hand phone after her handbag was stolen. Her handbag which contained her mobile, credit card, purse etc. was stolen.Twenty minutes later when she called her hubby, telling him what had happened, her hubby says 'I've just received your SMS asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.' </div><br /><div align="justify">When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn. The pickpocket had actually used the stolen hand phone to sms 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from the bank account.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Moral of the lesson:</span></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Do not disclose the relationship between you and the person in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mum etc...... and very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked thru SMS, CONFIRM by calling back. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#000099;">PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS.</span></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Festivals of India...Part - II</h1> <p>2007-02-28T04:27:00.000-08:00</p> <div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ffcc66;">About Fathers Day :</span></strong> The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The excert below is from the Silver Anniversary Book on Father's day published in 1935. I would like to thank William Jackson Smart's great granddaughter, Bonnie, for sharing this with me. "This year, 1935, the Silver Anniversary of Fathers' Day is being observed. Thirty-seven years ago, in the Big Bend hills of Washington, the day had its nativity in a lonely farm dwelling. There Sorrow ministered amid the moaning of the March winds. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">A father sat with bowed head in his aloneness. About him clung his weeping children. The winds outside threw great scarfs of powdered snow against the window panes, when suddenly the last born tore himself from the group and rushed out into the storm calling for his mother. Yet even his baby voice could not penetrate the great silence that held this mother. Hurriedly, the father gathered him back to his protection and for more than two decades, William Jackson Smart, alone, kept paternal vigilance over his motherless children. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This poignant experience in the life of Mrs. John Bruce Dodd of Spokane, Washington, who was then Sonora Louise Smart, was the inspiration for Fathers' Day which materialized through the devotion of this father and the father of her own son, John Bruce Jr., born in 1909. Through the observance of the love and the sacrifice of fathers about her everywhere, her idea of Fathers' Day crystallized in 1910, through a formal Fathers' Day petition asking recognition of fatherhood."</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#006600;">About Guru Purnima :</span></strong> Devotional worship of the Guru - the preceptor - is one of the most touching and elevating features of the Hindu cultural tradition. The auspicious moment of Vyaasa Poornima, chosen for observing this annual festival, is no less significant. It was the great sage Vyasa, son of a fisherwoman, who classified the accumulated spiritual knowledge of the Vedas under four heads - Rig, Yajur, Saama and Atharva. To him goes the credit of composing the authentic treatise of Brahma-sootras to explain the background of Vedas. He also wrote the eighteen Puranas, the stories of our great heroes and saints, to carry the spiritual and moral precepts contained therein to the common masses. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The greatest of epics of all times and of all climes - Mahaabhaarata - embodying the immortal song of God, the Bhagavad Geeta, also in it, is also the priceless gift of Vyasa. The Bhaagavata, the thrilling and devotional story of Sri Krishna, was also his contribution. It is in the fitness of things that Vyasa should be looked upon as the supreme preceptor of mankind. Offering of worship to him signifies the worship of all the preceptors of all times. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The Guru in the Hindu tradition is looked upon as an embodiment of God himself. For, it is through his grace and guidance that one reaches the highest state of wisdom and bliss. "My salutations to the Guru who is Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara. The Guru is Parabrahma incarnate" Gururbrahmaa gururvishnuh gururdevo Maheswarah Guruh-saakshaat parabrahma tasmai shrigurave namah Various have been the great sages and saints who have been the spiritual and religious preceptors to countless individuals down the centuries. But is there any one who can be looked upon as the preceptor for the entire Hindu people - for all their past, present and future generations? Obviously, no individual can play that role. A human being is after all mortal and, however great, has his own limitations. He cannot be a permanent guide for the entire nation for all time to come. The preceptor for a whole society should be able to act as a perennial source of inspiration to the people, embodying the highest and the noblest national values and ethos. To the Hindu people, such a Guru can be no other than the sacred Bhagava Dhwaj. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">No one knows when and how this flag came into being. It is an ancient as the Hindu people themselves. It has flown over the hermitages of the seers and sanyaasins and also over the celestial palaces of emperors. It ha flown triumphantly over the battlefields of freedom struggle and has symbolized the immortal spirit of freedom in the Hindu mind. It is the one supreme symbol held in universal reverence by all sects and castes, and all creeds and faiths of the Hindu people. It is in fact the greatest unifying symbol of the entire Hindu world. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The color of the Bhagava Dhwaj - the saffron, depicting renunciation and service, epitomizes the culture of Bharat. The flames rising from the yajna are saffron in color and indeed reflect this spirit. The concept of yajna is extraordinarily unique to Hindu culture and tradition. Yajna is not merely a physical ritual. That is only symbolic. The Bhagavad Geeta describes the concept of yajna as the sacrificial offering of one's self to the good of all beings. "Not mine, but thine" is the true message of yajna. Whatever one achieves in this life in terms of physical prosperity and knowledge, one has to offer them back to the society. The Ishaavaasya Upanishad declares: Ishaa Vaasyamidam sarvam, yatkincha jagatyaam jagat Tena tyaktena bhunjeethaah maa gridhah kasyaswiddhanam "God is the lord of all creation. After offering to Him, enjoy only that which is left over by Him. Do not rob what belongs to others." </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Acquiring of wealth is no sin but utilizing all of it for one's own self and one's own family is very much so. In the Bhagavad Geeta Sri Krishna warns: "He who eats all by himself without first offering to others eats only sin". However much one may earn, only the minimum things necessary for one's physical sustenance have to be utilized and the rest offered in service to the society. This is the Hindu way of tackling the challenge of harmonizing economic progress with social justice. This attitude, even while giving full scope to individual initiative, effectively neutralizes the evils of individual capitalism. Also, while it ensures social justice for the lowliest in society, the tragedy of state capitalism of the communist type is obviated and the sanctity of individual freedom upheld. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The superiority of the concept of individual freedom implied in this trusteeship principle lies in its freedom to sacrifice for the social good with a high spiritual motivation, along with the commonly understood freedom to earn and acquire wealth. How is this transformation in individual's attitude to be effected? Says Sri Golwalkar Guruji: "Herein comes the genius of the Hindu viewpoint which prepares the individual's mind for this adjustment. He is educated and enlightened with regard to the true nature of happiness. The goal that is kept before him is not merely one of physical enjoyment; that is not going to give him lasting happiness. For that, he has to rise beyond his dependence on the physical objects and plunge into the depths of his own being and discover the eternal and boundless ocean of joy and bliss within. He will then realize that the people around him are also manifestations of the same spirit and the enjoyment of the fruits of his labor by them is equivalent to his own enjoyment. It is against the background of this life-attitude that a balance could be achieved." </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The pride of place given to men of sacrifice in the Hindu tradition was reflected in every stratum and aspect of life. The sages and saints, who had kept themselves away from the portals of pelf and power and had solely and wholly dedicated themselves to the temporal as well as spiritual enlightenment of the people, were looked upon as the leaders of par excellence of the society. They were in fact the lawgivers and the king was only the executive head to carry out those laws. This was how the political authority was held in check, and the moral and spiritual held sway in the affairs of the life of people.The Upanishads declared - Na karmanaa, na prajyaa dhanena tyaagenaike amritatwamaanashuh. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It is not through actions, progeny or wealth but through renunciation alone that immortality is attained. Needless to say, it is not the physical abandonment of these aspects of human life that is advocated here. It is mental detachment and a spirit of considering his family life, his wealth and all his actions as so many means of worshipping God in the form of society that is set forth as the ideal. It is this unique philosophical trait of renunciation and service which can form the basis for the highest evolution of the individual combined with the happiness, harmony and progress of the society as a whole. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The Bhagawa Dhwaj is the most resplendent emblem of this sublime philosophy. And, worship of this holy flag on this Guru Poornima Day is intended to instil in us this positive Hindu attitude towards life. The ceremonial worship of the flag through flowers accompanied by monetary offering is just an external expression of this attitude of surrender to the ideal. Real worship, for a Hindu, lies in becoming an image of the idea himself. Shivo bhootwa shivam yajet - one has to become Shiva Himself if one has to worship Shiva. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The annual function of Sri Guru Pooja presents a moment of introspection for us to check up how far we have progressed in this path over the last one year, and take lessons from it and resolve to march faster in the current year.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6633ff;">India Before and After the Independence. :</span></strong> With the decision by Britain to withdraw from the Indian subcontinent, the Congress Party and Muslim League agreed in June 1947 to a partition of India along religious lines. Under the provisions of the Indian Independence Act, India and Pakistan were established as independent dominions with predominantly Hindu areas allocated to India and predominantly Muslim areas to Pakistan.After India's independence on August 15, 1947, India received most of the subcontinent's 562 widely scattered polities, or princely states, as well as the majority of the British provinces, and parts of three of the remaining provinces. Muslim Pakistan received the remainder. Pakistan consisted of a western wing, with the approximate boundaries of modern Pakistan, and an eastern wing, with the boundaries of present-day Bangladesh. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The division of the subcontinent caused tremendous dislocation of populations; inter-communal violence cost more than 1,000,000 lives. Some 3.5 million Hindus and Sikhs moved from Pakistan into India, andabout 5 million Muslims migrated from India to Pakistan. In Punjab, where the Sikh community was cut in half, a period of terrible bloodshed followed. Overall, the demographic shift caused an initial bitterness between the two countries that was further intensified by each country's accession of a portion of the princely states. Adding to the tensions, the issue of the polities Kashmir, Hyderabad, and the small and fragmented state of Junagadh (in present-day Gujarat), remained unsettled at independence. Later, the Muslim ruler of Hindu-majority Junagadh agreed to join to Pakistan, but a movement by his people, followed by Indian military action and a plebiscite (people's vote of self-determination), brought the state into India. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The nizam of Hyderabad, also a Muslim ruler of a Hindu-majority populace, tried to maneuver to gain independence for his very large and populous state, which was, however, surrounded by India. After more than a year of fruitless negotiations, India sent its army in a police action in September 1948, and Hyderabad became part of India. The Hindu ruler of Kashmir, whose subjects were 85 percent Muslim, decided to join India. Pakistan, however, questioned his right to do so, and a war broke out between India and Pakistan. A cease-fire was arranged in 1949, with the cease-fire line creating a de facto partition of the region. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The central and eastern areas of the state came under Indian administration as Jammu and Kashmir state, while the northwestern quarter came under Pakistani control as Azad Kashmir and the Northern Areas. Although a UN peacekeeping force was sent in to enforce the cease-fire, the dispute was not resolved.This deadlock has intensified suspicion and antagonism between the two countries. In 1971, Pakistan was itself subdivided when its eastern section broke away and formed Bangladesh. Border disputes continue to embitter Pakistani-Indian relations, as Pakistan has produced a series of autocratic military rulers, while India maintained a parliamentary democracy.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#003300;">About Ganesh Chaturthi :</span></strong> Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated on the birthday of Lord Ganesh (Ganesha), the god of wisdom and prosperity on the fourth day of the moons bright fortnight, or period from new moon in the lunar month of Bhadrapada. The celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi continue for five, seven, or ten days. Some even stretch it to twenty one days, but ten the most popularly celebrated. In the tradition of the right hand path the first day is the most important. In the left hand path tradition the final day is most important. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Ganesha is the god of wisdom and prosperity and is invoked before the beginning of any auspicious work by the Hindus. It is believed that for the fulfillment of one's desires, his blessing is absolutely necessary. According to the mythology, he is the son of Shiva and Parvati, brother of Kartikeya - the general of the gods, Lakshmi - the goddess of wealth and Saraswati-the goddess of learning. There are numerous stories in Hindu mythology, associated with the birth of this elephant-headed god, whose vehicle is the Mooshak or rat and who loves Modaks (droplet shaped Indian sweet). Legend has it that Parvati created Ganesha out of the sandalwood dough that she used for her bath and breathed life into him. Letting him stand guard at the door she went to have her bath. When her husband, Shiva returned, the child who had never seen him stopped him. Shiva severed the head of the child and entered his house. Parvati, learning that her son was dead, was distraught and asked Shiva to revive him. Shiva cut off the head of an elephant and fixed it on the body of Ganesha. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Another tale tells of how one day the Gods decided to choose their leader and a race was to be held between the brothers- Kartikeya and Ganesh. Whoever took three rounds of the earth first would be made the Ganaadhipati or the leader. Kartikeya seated on a peacock as his vehicle, started off for the test. Ganesh was given a rat, which moved swiftly. Ganesh realised that the test was not easy, but he would not disobey his father. He reverently paid obeisance to his parents and went around them three times and thus completed the test before Kartikeya. He said, " my parents pervade the whole universe and going around them, is more than going round the earth." Everybody was pleasantly surprised to hear Ganesha's logic and intelligence and hence he came to be known as the Ganaadhipati or leader, now referred to as Ganpati. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">There is also a story behind the symbolic snake, rat and the singular tusk. During one of his birthdays, His mother, Parvati, cooked for him twenty-one types of delicious food and a lot of sweet porridge. Ganesha ate so much that even his big belly could not contain it. Mounting his little mouse, he embarked on his nightly rounds. His mouse suddenly stumbled upon seeing a huge snake. To adjust His belly, Ganesha put the snake on as a belt around his stomach. All of a sudden, he heard laughter emanating form the sky. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">He looked up and saw the moon mocking him. Ganesha infuriated, broke off one of his tusks and hurled it at the moon. Parvati, seeing this, immediately cursed the moon that whoever looks at it on Ganesh Chaturthi will be accused of a wrong doing. The symbology behind the mouse and snake and Ganesha's big belly and its relationship to the moon on his birthday is highly philosophic. The whole cosmos is known to be the belly of Ganesha. Parvati is the primordial energy. The seven realms above, seven realms below and seven oceans, are inside the cosmic belly of Ganesha, held together by the cosmic energy (kundalini ) symbolized as a huge snake which Ganesha ties around Him. The mouse is nothing but our ego. Ganesha, using the mouse as a vehicle, exemplifies the need to control our ego. One who has controlled the ego has Ganesha consciousness or God-consciousness. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations The festival of Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated the states of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and many other parts of India. Started by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaja, the great Maratha ruler, to promote culture and nationalism, the festival was revived by Lokmanya Tilak (a freedom fighter) to spread the message of freedom struggle and to defy the British who had banned public assemblies. The festival gave the Indians a feeling of unity and revived their patriotic spirit and faith. This public festival formed the background for political leaders who delivered speeches to inspire people against the Western rule. The festival is so popular that the preparations begin months in advance. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Ganesha statues installed in street corners and in homes, and elaborate arrangements are made for lighting, decoration, mirrors and the most common of flowers. Poojas (prayer services) are performed daily. The artists who make the idols of Ganesh compete with each other to make bigger and more magnificent and elegant idols. The relevantly larger ones are anything from 10 meters to 30 meters in height. These statues are then carried on decorated floats to be immersed in the sea after one, three, five, seven and ten days. Thousands of processions converge on the beaches to immerse the holy idols in the sea. This procession and immersion is accompanied by drum- beats, devotional songs and dancing. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">It is still forbidden to look at the moon on that day as the moon had laughed at Ganesha when he fell from his vehicle, the rat. With the immersion of the idol amidst the chanting of "Ganesh Maharaj Ki Jai!" (Hail Lord Ganesh). The festival ends with pleas to Ganesha to return the next year with chants of "Ganpati bappa morya, pudcha varshi laukar ya" (Hail Lord Ganesh, return again soon next year.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#cc6600;">About Navratri: </span></strong>Navratri is a festival of Hindus celebrated with great devotion, enthusiasm and fervor all over India. In this festival God is adored as a Mother. Navratri specifically means "Nine nights" (Nav = Nine, Ratri = Nights) devoted to the Goddess Maa Durga who exists in many forms and is the symbol of the absolute energy that prevails in the universe. During this nine day celebration it is the time to put all routine chores aside and prepare for the gala nine day of festivity, popularly known as Navratri. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Navratri is celebrated twice a year. First in the month of Chaitra (March-April) and the second in the month of Ashwani (September-October). The nine days are devoted to the Mother Goddess worshipped in a female form known as Maa Durga or Mata Sherawali. During these nine days of Navratri is the time of worship, dance, singing prayers (Bhajans) and offering your sincere prayers to the Goddess Durga. The first three days of Navratri are devoted to the Goddess Durga (Goddess of Power) ; the next three days to the Goddess Lakshmi (Goddess of Prosperity) and the last three days to the Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Knowledge) . On the first day of the Navratri, a small bed of mud is prepared in the puja room and barley seeds are sown in it. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The rituals of this festival are that the nine days and nine nights of Navratri are totally dedicated to the Mother Goddess and includes observing a fast, japa (chanting of holy mantras in the honor of the Goddess), chanting religious hymes (Bhajans), prayers, meditating and reciting the sacred texts relevant to Maa Durga. During this period most of the Hindus visit different Mata temples and offer their sincere prayers to the Mother Goddess. The main ritual of this festival is placing images of the Goddess in homes and temples and worshipping them. There is a very grand event of offering flowers to the Goddess and singing religious hymes (bhajans) in the honor of the Goddess to please Maa Durga. For eight days the idols of Mata Sherawali are worshipped and then on the ninth day they are immersed in the sea with great fanfare. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">On the eighth and ninth day, Yagna (offerings to the holy fire) is performed to honor the divine Mother Goddess Durga and bid her farewell and request her to bless us always. Navratri is thus, a festival of pure happiness and one of the most auspicious occasions for all Hindus.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>About Diwali :</strong></span> The 14th Day of the dark half of Aashwayuja to the 2nd day of bright half of Kaartik.If there is one occasion which is all joy and all jubilation for one and all - the young and the old, men and women - for the entire Hindu world, it is Deepaavali - the Festival of Lights. Even the humblest of huts will be lighted by a row of earthern lamps. Crackers resound and light up the earth and the sky. The faces of boys and girls flow with a rare charm in their dazzling hues and colors. Illumination - Deepotsavas - in temples and all sacred places of worship and one the banks of rivers symbolize the scattering of spiritual radiance all round from these holy centres. The radiant sight of everybody adorned with new and bright clothes, especially ladies decorated with the best of ornaments, captures the social mood at its happiest.And all this illumination and fireworks, joy and festivity, is to signify the victory of divine forces over those of wickedness. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Narakaasura was a demon king ruling over Praagjyotishapura (the present-day Assam). By virtue of his powers and boons secured from God, he became all-conquering. Power made him swollen-headed and he became a menace to the good and the holy men and even the Gods. The Gods headed by Devendra implored Sri Krishna who was at Dwaaraka (in the present-day Gujarat) to come to their rescue. Sri Krishna responded. He marched from the western end of the country to its eastern end, Praagjyotishapura, destroyed the huge army which opposed him finally beheaded Narakaasura himself. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The populace was freed from the oppressive tyranny and all heaved a sigh of relief. The 16,000 women kept in captivity by the demon king were freed. With a view to removing any stigma on them and according social dignity, Sri Krishna gave all of them the status of his wives. After the slaying of Narakaasura Sri Krishna bathed himself smearing his body with oil in the early morning of Chaturdashi. Hence the invigorating vogue of taking an early morning `oil-bath' on that day. Mother Earth, whose son Narakaasura was, requested Sri Krishna that the day be celebrated as one of jubilation. Sri Krishna granted the request and since then the tradition has continued. Mother Earth reconciled herself to the loss of her son and knowing as she did that the Lord had punished her son for the sake of the welfare of the world, she set a glowing example of how one has to brush aside one's personal joys and sorrows in the interest of society. It is this deliverance of the people from the clutches of the asuras that fill the people with joy. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Then follows Amaavaasya, the new moon day, auspicious for offering prayers and gratitude to the bygone ancestors of the family and invoking their memories and blessings for treading the path of right conduct. This is also the sacred occasion for the worship of Mahaa Lakshmi, the goddess of Wealth and Prosperity. The business community open their New Year's account with Her worship. This reminds us of the famous saying of the sage Vyaasa, 'dharmaadarthashcha kaamashcha...' - it is through right conduct that wealth and fulfilment of desires also accrue. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">In northern parts of Bharat, Deepaavali is associated with the return of Sri Rama to Ayodhya after vanquishing Raavana. The people of Ayodhya, overwhelmed with joy, welcomed Rama through jubilation and illumination of the entire capital. Well has it been said that while Sri Rama unified the north and south of our country, Sri Krishna unified the west and the east. Sri Rama and Sri Krishna together therefore symbolize the grand unity of our motherland. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The third day, i.e., the first day of Kaartik, is named Balipratipada, after the demon king Bali, the ruler of Paataala (the netherworld), who had extended his kingdom over the earth also. On the day, Sri Vishnnu, taking the form of a dwarfish Brahmin by name Vaamana, approached Bali, for a boon of space equal to his three steps. Bali, known for his charity, gladly granted the boon. Vaamana now grew into a gigantic form; with one step he covered the entire earth, with the second he covered the outer sky, and asked Bali where he should keep his third step. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Bali, left with no other choice, showed his own head. Sri Vishnu placed his foot on Bali's head and pushed him down to the netherworld, the rightful territory of Bali's reign. However, Bali prayed to the Lord that he might be permitted to visit the earth once a year. Now it was the turn of Vishnu to grant the boon. And the people too offer their and respect to him on this day. The annual visit of Bali is celebrated in Kerala as Onam. It is the most popular festival for Kerala where every Hindu home receives him with floral decorations and lights and festoons adorn all public places. Onam, however, falls on the 16th day of Aavani (Sowramaana) in september. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The fourth and final day is Yama Dwiteeya, also called Bahu beej. It is a most touching moment for the family members when even distant brothers reach their sisters to strengthen that holy tie. The sister applies tilak and waves aarati to her brother, and the brother offers loving presents to the sister. To the Jains, Deepaavali has an added significance to the great event of Mahaaveera attaining the Eternal Bliss of Nirvaana. The passing into Eternity on the same Amaavaasya of Swami Dayananda Saraswati, that leonine sanyasin who was one of the first to light the torch of Hindu Renaissance during the last century, and of Swami Ramatirtha who carried the fragrance of the spiritual message of Hindu Dharma to the western world, have brought the national-cum-spiritual tradition of Deepaavali right up to modern times.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#993300;">About Christmas :</span></strong> Christmas is that time when Jesus was born as a baby to Mary and Joseph. This was no ordinary birth! An angel had told Mary she would bear a special baby the son of god who would be born through the intercession of the holy spirit. Joseph her husband-to-be, did not believe her at first.Then an angel told him in a dream that it was true!.Just before the birth of Jesus they had to travel from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem (near Jerusalem), to register their names with the ruling Roman government. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">In Bethlehem there was no room for them to stay at the hotel. The only space available to them was a stable - the animal house for travellers' donkeys and horses. Jesus was born that night in the stable, and as they had no bed for him, they used an animal feeding box filled with the dry grass as his crib. The shepherds are frightened "That night there were some men looking after sheep in the fields nearby.Suddenly they saw a great light. It was an angel, who said, 'Don't be afraid. I have good news for you, and for all people. Someone great has been born today. He is Christ, the great King you have been waiting for. He will save you from all that is wrong and evil. You will find him dressed in baby clothes, lying on a bed of dry grass.'" </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The story of the wise men After Jesus was born, wise men came to look for Him, from an area which is now in either Iran or Saudi Arabia. Although they are often called the "Three Kings", the Bible does not say how many there were, or that they were kings. Three is only a guess because they brought with them three gifts. They were certainly men of learning - probably today we would call them philosophers or scientists. They had seen an unusual new star in the sky, and knew that it told of the birth of a special king. (The star they saw was probably a exploding "supernova" and is known from astronomical records.) They followed the direction of the star- East - and eventually found the place where Mary, Joseph and Jesus were staying. To bring honour to the child, they brought rich gifts: gold, frankincense (a resin which burns with a beautiful smell), and myrrh (plant oil with a very strong sweet smell). </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">The gifts tell us three key things about Jesus: Gold: a gift fit for a King Frankincense: burnt in worship of God Myrrh: a sign of mortality - it was used to bury the dead Jesus was not a white European, and Christianity is not a Western religion. Christmas cards from different countries often show Mary, Joseph and Jesus in the landscape of that country, and with the racial appearance of that nationality, be it black African, Indian, or Japanese. This is good and right - Jesus came to identify with every racial group. He is "Everyman" for us all.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Festivals of India...Part - I</h1> <p>2007-02-27T00:38:00.000-08:00</p> <div align="justify">In India, the celebrations of fairs and festivals form a wondrous and joyful series of events, marking the rites of passage between birth, death and renewal. There are said to be more festivals in India than there are days of the year; not unlikely in a country where small, local village rituals of worship and propitiation are celebrated with as much as fervor as are high holy days across the nation, occasions that can draw floods of people numbering half a million or more. Fairs and festivals are moments of remembrance and commemoration of the birthdays and great deeds of gods, goddesses, hero's, heroine's, gurus, prophet's and saints. They are times when people gather together, linked by ties of shared social and religious beliefs. Each of India's many religious groups - Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains and others - has its own such days.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The ancient tradition of celebrating festivals goes back to the Vedic times of the Aryans. The Vedic scriptures and literature give many references to festivals when celebrations where carried on to honor gods, rivers, trees, mountains, the coming of monsoons, the end of winter or the first flush of spring. The celebrations included not only fasting and prayers, but also equally events of social and cultural significance. Performances of music, dance and drama took place side by side with more rugged physical activities: displays of valor and virility through chariot and boat races or wrestling matches and animal fights in which rams, wild bulls, elephants, oxen, horses and even rhinoceroses took part. Then, as always, there was much feasting and merriment to be enjoyed. There were YAJNAS (sacrificial fires), where milk, clarified butter and ghee were offered to gods before being shared between worshippers. Special foods were cooked and served, prepared from freshly harvested crops. Elaborate garlands and ropes of flowers were woven as an offering to the gods and also to be worn over festive robes and jewelry. Such an assembly provided opportunity to trade, buy and sell all manner if goods, from live stock to silks, spices and handcrafted objects of ritual or daily use.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Ancient Indians used to express these occasions through the words 'SAMAJA' (a gathering of people), 'UTSAVA' (a festival) and 'YATRA' (a pilgrimage or temple chariot procession). And though today we might use the word 'MELA' (meaning a fair) rather than a SAMAJA, it is astonishing how steadily and faithfully these traditions have endured over the centuries. Even today, festivals are symbolic of a link between the home, the villages and a larger outside world. Within the home, celebrations are expressed by the love and care given to its decoration by the women of the house; the freshly washed courtyards are embellished with designs made in flower petals, colored powder or rice flour; walls are painted with scenes from the epics is made brilliant with bits of mirrored glass; doorways are hung with auspicious mango leaves or marigold flowers. Each festival in each religion has its own particular foods and sweets appropriate to the season and crops, and days are spent in their careful preparation.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ff9900;">Republic Day</span></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>About Republic Day :</strong> 26th January 1950 is one of the most important days in Indian history as it was on this day the constitution of India came into force and India became a truly sovereign state. In this day India became a totally republican unit. The country finally realized the dream of Mahatma Gandhi and the numerous freedom fighters who, fought for and sacrificed their lives for the Independence of their country. So, the 26th of January was decreed a national holiday and has been recognized and celebrated as the Republic Day of India, ever since. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Today, the Republic Day is celebrated with much enthusiasm all over the country and especially in the capital, New Delhi where the celebrations start with the Presidential to the nation. The beginning of the occasion is always a solemn reminder of the sacrifice of the martyrs who died for the country in the freedom movement and the succeeding wars for the defense of sovereignty of their country. Then, the President comes forward to award the medals of bravery to the people from the armed forces for their exceptional courage in the field and also the civilians, who have distinguished themselves by their different acts of valour in different situations. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">To mark the importance of this occasion, every year a grand parade is held in the capital, from the Rajghat, along the Vijaypath. The different regiments of the army, the Navy and the Air force march past in all their finery and official decorations even the horses of the cavalry are attractively caparisoned to suit the occasion. The crème of N.C.C cadets, selected from all over the country consider it an honour to participate in this event, as do the school children from various schools in the capital. They spend many days preparing for the event and no expense is spared to see that every detail is taken care of, from their practice for the drills, the essential props and their uniforms.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The parade is followed by a pageant of spectacular displays from the different states of the country. These moving exhibits depict scenes of activities of people in those states and the music and songs of that particular state accompany each display. Each display brings out the diversity and richness of the culture of India and the whole show lends a festive air to the occasion. The parade and the ensuing pageantry is telecast by the National Television and is watched by millions of viewers in every corner of the country. The patriotic fervor of the people on this day brings the whole country together even in her essential diversity. Every part of the country is represented in occasion, which makes the Republic Day the most popular of all the national holidays of India.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Maha Shivaratri</span></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>About Maha Shivaratri :</strong> Maha Shivaratri is celebrated throughout the country; it is particularly popular in Uttar Pradesh. Maha Shivratri falls on the 14th day of the dark half of 'Margasirsa' (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati. On this festival people worship 'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandav'. In Andhra Pradesh, pilgrims throng the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam. About The Lord Shiva - the word meaning auspicious - is one of the Hindu Trinity, comprising of Lord Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. Shiva is known by many names like "Shankar", "Mahesh", "Bholenath", "Neelakanth", "Shambhu Kailasheshwar", "Umanath", "Nataraj" and others.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">For few people, Shiva is "Paramatman", "Brahman", the Absolute, but many more prefer to see Shiva as a personal God given to compassion for his worshippers, and the dispenser of both spiritual and material blessings. Related to the Absolute concept is Shiva as "Yoganath" meaning the Lord of Yoga, wherein he becomes teacher, path and goal. As such he is the "Adi Guru" or the Highest Guru of 'Sannyasins' who have renounced the world to attain the Absolute. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">He is the most sought-after deity amongst the Hindus and they pray to him as the god of immense large-heartedness who they believe grants all their wishes. Around him are weaved many interesting stories that reveal His magnanimous heart. Not only this, but these stories and legends also enrich the Indian culture and art. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Time is invisible and formless. Therefore Mahakal Shiva, as per the Vedas, manifested himself as "LINGUM" to make mankind aware of the presence of Eternal Time. That day when Shiva manifested himself in the form of "Lingum" was the fourth day of the dark night in the month of 'Magha' i.e. February-March. Maha Shivratri continues to be celebrated forever and ever. The Story Of King Chitrabhanu In the Shanti Parva of the Mahabharata, Bhishma, whilst resting on the bed of arrows and discoursing on Dharma, refers to the observance of Maha Shivaratri by King Chitrabhanu. The story goes as follows - Once upon a time King Chitrabhanu of the Ikshvaku dynasty, who ruled over the whole of Jambudvipa, was observing a fast with his wife, it being the day of Maha Shivaratri. The sage Ashtavakra came on a visit to the court of the king.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The sag asked the king the purpose of his observing the past. King Chitrabhanu explained that he had the gift of remembering the incidents of his previous birth. The king said to the sage that in his previous he was a hunter in Varanasi and his name was Suswara. His only livelihood was to kill and sell birds and animals. One day while roaming through forests in search of animals he was overtaken by the darkness of night. Unable to return home, he climbed a tree for shelter. It happened to be a Bael tree. He had shot a deer that day but had no time to take it home. So he bundled it up and tied it to a branch on the tree. As hunger and thirst tormented him, he was kept awake throughout the night. He shed profuse tears when he thought of his poor wife and children who were starving and anxiously waiting for his return. To pass away the time that night he engaged himself in plucking the Bael leaves and dropping them down onto the ground.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The next day he returned home and sold the deer and then bought some food for himself and his family. The moment he was about to break his fast a stranger came to him, begging for food. He served the food first to stranger and then had his own. At the time of his death, he saw two messengers of Lord Shiva. They were sent down to conduct his soul to the abode of Lord Shiva. He learnt then for the first time of the great merit he had earned by the unconscious worship of Lord Shiva during the night of Shivaratri. The messengers told him that there was a Lingam at the bottom of the tree. The leaves I dropped fell on the Lingam. His tears, which had shed out of pure sorrow for his family, fell onto the Lingam and washed it and he had fasted all day and all night. Thus, he unconsciously worshiped the Lord.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">As the conclusion of the tale the King said that he lived in the abode of the Lord and enjoyed divine bliss for long ages and now he has reborn as Chitrabhanu. The Festivity People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water and they keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" continues. Offerings of Bael leaves are made to the Lingam as Bael leaves are considered very sacred and it is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in them.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the "Shiva Mahimna Stotra" of Pushpadanta or Ravana's "Shiva Tandava Stotra" are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the 'Panchakshara' Mantra, "Om Namah Shivaya". He, who utters the names of Shiva during Shivratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims dock to the places where there are Shiva temples.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">Holi</span></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>About Holi :</strong> Holi or Holika, also called holikotsava, is an extremely popular festival observed throughout the country (India). It is especially marked by unmixed gaiety and frolics and is common to all sections of the people. This festival is very ancient. Known originally as 'Holika' it has been mentioned in very early religious works such as Jaimini's Purvamimamsa-sutras and Kathaka-grhya-sutras. It must have therefore existed several centuries before Christ. It was at first actually a special rite performed by married women for the happiness and well-being of their families and the full moon (Raka) was the deity worshipped by them.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">There are two ways of reckoning a lunar month: Purnimanta and Amanta. In the former, the first day starts after the full moon; and in the latter, after the new moon. Though the latter reckoning is more common now, the former was very much in vogue in the earlier days. According to this purnimanta reckoning, Phalguna purnima was the last day of the year and the new year heralding the Vasanta-rtu (with spring starting from next day). Thus the full moon festival of Holika gradually became a festival of merrymaking, announcing the commencement of the spring season. This perhaps explains the other names of this festival: Vasanta-Mahotsava and Kama-Mahotsava.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">According to the stories in the Puranas and various local legends, this day is important for three reasons.• It was on this day that Lord Siva opened his third eye and reduced Kamadeva (the god of love, Cupid or Eros) to ashes.• It was on this day that Holika, the sister of the demon king Hiranyakasyapu, who tried to kill the child devotee Prahlad by taking him on her lap and sitting on a pyre of wood which was set ablaze. Holika was burnt to ashes while Prahlad remained unscathed!• It was again on this day that an ogress called Dhundhi, who was troubling the children in the kingdom of Prthu (or Raghu) was made to run away for life, by the shouts and pranks of the mischievous boys. Though she had secured several boons that made her almost invincible, this - noise, shouts, abuses and pranks of boys - was a chink in her armour due to a curse of Lord Siva. The day itself came to be called 'Adada' or 'Holika' since then.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">There are practically no religious observances for this day like fasting or worship. Generally a log of wood will be kept in a prominent public place on the Vasantapanchami day (Magha Sukla Panchami), almost 40 days before the Holi Festival. An image of Holika with child Prahlada in her lap is also kept on the log. Holika's image is made of combustible materials whereas Prahlada's image is made of non-combustible ones. People go on throwing twigs of trees and any combustible material they can spare, on to that log which gradually grows into a sizable heap. On the night of Phalguna Purnima, it is set alight in a simple ceremony with the Raksoghna Mantras of the Rgveda (4.4.1-15; 10.87.1-25 and so on) being sometimes chanted to ward off all evil spirits. (Coconuts and coins are thrown into this bonfire).The next morning the ashes from the bonfire are collected as prasad (consecrated material) and smeared on the limbs of the body. Singed coconuts, if any are also collected and eaten. In some houses the image of Kamadeva is kept in the yard and a simple worship is offered. A mixture of mango blossoms and sandalwood paste is partaken as the prasad.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">The day- Phalgun krsna pratipad - is observed as a day of revelry especially by throwing on one another gulal or coloured water or perfumed coloured powder. Throwing of mud or earth dust was prevalent in the earlier days also, but among the low culture groups. Instead of the gay and frenzied celebrations that are witnessed elsewhere in the country, Bengal observes this festival in a quiet and dignified manner as Dolapurnima or Dolayatra (the festival of the swing). The festival, said to have been initiated by the king Indradyumna in Vrndavana, is spread over 3 or 5 days, starting from the sukla Chaturdasi of Phalguna. A celebration in honour of Agni and worship of Govinda (Krsna) in image on a swing are the important features. The fire kindled on the first day is to be preserved till the last day. The swing is to be rocked 21 times at the end of the festival. The day is also celebrated as the birthday of Sri Krsna Chaitanya (A.D. 1486-1533), mostly in Bengal, as also in Puri (Orissa), Mathura and Vrndavan (in Uttar Pradesh).</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#ff9900;">Hanuman Jayanti</span></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>About Hanuman : </strong>JayantiYatra yatra raghunatha kirtanam; Tatra tatra kritha masthakanjalim; Bhaspavaari paripurna lochanam; Maarutim namata raakshasanthakam Meaning : "We bow to Maruti, Sri Hanuman, who stands with his palms folded above his forehead, with a torrent of tears flowing down his eyes wherever the Names of Lord Rama are sung". Sri Hanuman is worshipped all over India-either alone or together with Sri Rama. Every temple of Sri Rama has the murti or idol of Sri Hanuman. Hanuman is the Avatara of Lord Shiva. He was born of the Wind-God and Anjani Devi. His other names are Pavanasuta, Marutsuta, Pavankumar, Bajrangabali and Mahavira.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">He is the living embodiment of Ram-Nam. He was an ideal selfless worker, a true Karma Yogi who worked desirelessly and dynamically. He was a great devotee and an exceptional Brahmachari or celibate. He served Sri Rama with pure love and devotion, without expecting any fruit in return. He lived to serve Sri Rama. He was humble, brave and wise. He possessed all the divine virtues. He did what others could not do-crossing the ocean simply by uttering Ram-Nam, burning the city of Lanka, and bringing the sanjeevini herb and restoring Lakshmana to life again. He brought Sri Rama and Lakshmana from the nether world after killing Ahiravana.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">He had devotion, knowledge, spirit of selfless service, power of celibacy, and desirelessness. He never boasted of his bravery and intelligence. He said to Ravana, "I am a humble messenger of Sri Rama. I have come here to serve Rama, to do His work. By the command of Lord Rama, I have come here. I am fearless by the Grace of Lord Rama. I am not afraid of death. I welcome it if it comes while serving Lord Rama." Mark here how humble Hanuman was! How very devoted he was to Lord Rama! He never said, "I am the brave Hanuman. I can do anything and everything." Lord Rama Himself said to Sri Hanuman, "I am greatly indebted to you, O mighty hero! You did marvellous, superhuman deeds. You do not want anything in return. Sugriva has his kingdom restored to him. Angada has been made the crown prince. Vibhishana has become king of Lanka. But you have not asked for anything at any time. You threw away the precious garland of pearls given to you by Sita. How can I repay My debt of gratitude to you? I will always remain deeply indebted to you. I give you the boon of everlasting life. All will honour and worship you like Myself. Your murti will be placed at the door of My temple and you will be worshipped and honoured first. Whenever My stories are recited or glories sung, your glory will be sung before Mine. You will be able to do anything, even that which I will not be able to!" </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Thus did Lord Rama praise Hanuman when the latter returned to Him after finding Sita in Lanka. Hanuman was not a bit elated. He fell in prostration at the holy feet of Lord Rama. Lord Rama asked him, "O mighty hero, how did you cross the ocean?" Hanuman humbly replied, "By the power and glory of Thy Name, my Lord." Again the Lord asked, "How did you burn Lanka? How did you save yourself?" And Hanuman replied, "By Thy Grace, my Lord." What humility Sri Hanuman embodied! His birthday falls on Chaitra Shukla Purnima (the March-April full moon day). On this holy day worship Sri Hanuman. Fast on this day. Read the Hanuman Chalisa. Spend the whole day in the Japa of Ram-Nam. Sri Hanuman will be highly pleased and will bless you with success in all your undertakings.Glory to Hanuman! Glory to his Lord, Sri Rama!</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">Mother’s Day</span></strong></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><strong>About Mothers Day :</strong> Contrary to popular belief, Mother's Day was not conceived and fine-tuned in the boardroom of Hallmark. The earliest tributes to mothers date back to the annual spring festival the Greeks dedicated to Rhea, the mother of many deities, and to the offerings ancient Romans made to their Great Mother of Gods, Cybele. Christians celebrated this festival on the fourth Sunday in Lent in honor of Mary, mother of Christ. In England this holiday was expanded to include all mothers and was called Mothering Sunday.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">In the United States, Mother's Day started nearly 150 years ago, when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother's Work Day." Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston poet, pacifist, suffragist, and author of the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," organized a day encouraging mothers to rally for peace, since she believed they bore the loss of human life more harshly than anyone else. In 1905 when Anna Jarvis died, her daughter, also named Anna, began a campaign to memorialize the life work of her mother. Legend has it that young Anna remembered a Sunday school lesson that her mother gave in which she said, "I hope and pray that someone, sometime, will found a memorial mother's day. There are many days for men, but none for mothers."</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Anna began to lobby prominent businessmen like John Wannamaker, and politicians including Presidents Taft and Roosevelt to support her campaign to create a special day to honor mothers. At one of the first services organized to celebrate Anna's mother in 1908, at her church in West Virginia, Anna handed out her mother's favorite flower, the white carnation. Five years later, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution calling for officials of the federal government to wear white carnations on Mother's Day. In 1914 Anna's hard work paid off when Woodrow Wilson signed a bill recognizing Mother's Day as a national holiday. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">At first, people observed Mother's Day by attending church, writing letters to their mothers, and eventually, by sending cards, presents, and flowers. With the increasing gift-giving activity associated with Mother's Day, Anna Jarvis became enraged. She believed that the day's sentiment was being sacrificed at the expense of greed and profit. In 1923 she filed a lawsuit to stop a Mother's Day festival, and was even arrested for disturbing the peace at a convention selling carnations for a war mother's group. Before her death in 1948, Jarvis is said to have confessed that she regretted ever starting the mother's day tradition. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify">Despite Jarvis's misgivings, Mother's Day has flourished in the United States. In fact, the second Sunday of May has become the most popular day of the year to dine out, and telephone lines record their highest traffic, as sons and daughters everywhere take advantage of this day to honor and to express appreciation of their mothers.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>List of Chief Ministers of India</h1> <p>2007-02-19T04:42:00.000-08:00</p> <div id="globalWrapper"><div id="column-content"><div id="content"><div id="bodyContent"><span style="font-family:Verdana;">A <b>Chief Minister</b> in India is the elected <a title="Head of government" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_government">head of government</a> at the level of <a title="States and territories of India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_India">States</a>, and is vested with most of the executive powers. He or she is elected by legislators of the political party or <a title="Coalition" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition">coalition</a> commanding an assembly majority, and serves a five-year term with a provision of re-election. The<br /><a title="Governors of India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governors_of_India"><br />Governor</a> is the <a title="Head of state" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state">head of state</a>, but his role is largely ceremonial.</span> <p><span style="font-family:Verdana;">There are a total of thirty Chief Ministers elected by all twenty-eight<br /><a title="States and territories of India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/States_and_territories_of_India"><br />states</a> and two out of the seven union territories. The<br />following table lists the incumbent Chief Ministers of the<br />various states</span></p><table id="table1" style="BORDER-RIGHT: black 1px solid; BORDER-TOP: black 1px solid; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-LEFT: black 1px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: black 1px solid; BACKGROUND-: leftfont-size:95%;color:#f4f9ff;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="100%" ><br /><tbody><tr style="TEXT-ALIGN: center;color:#99ccff;" ><br /><td width="20%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />STATE</span></b></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></td><br /><td width="25%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b>NAME</b></span></td><br /><td width="15%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b>TOOK OFFICE</b></span></td><br /><td width="28%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b>PARTY</b></span></td><br /><td width="2%"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b>FMR</b></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Andhra Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andhra_Pradesh"><br />Andhra Pradesh</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y._S._Rajasekhara_Reddy"><br />Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2004" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004"><br />2004</a>-<a title="May 14" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_14">05-14</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Andhra_Pradesh"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Arunachal Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arunachal_Pradesh"><br />Arunachal Pradesh</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Gegong Apang" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gegong_Apang"><br />Gegong Apang</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003"><br />2003</a>-<a title="August 3" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_3">08-03</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Arunachal_Pradesh"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Assam" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam"><br />Assam</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Tarun Kumar Gogoi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarun_Kumar_Gogoi"><br />Tarun Kumar Gogoi</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2001" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001"><br />2001</a>-<a title="May 17" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_17">05-17</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Assam" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Assam"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Bihar" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bihar"><br />Bihar</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Nitish Kumar" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitish_Kumar"><br />Nitish Kumar</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2005" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005"><br />2005</a>-<a title="November 24" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_24">11-24</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Janata Dal (United)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janata_Dal_(United)"><br />Janata Dal (United)</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Bihar" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Bihar"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chhattisgarh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhattisgarh"><br />Chhattisgarh</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Raman Singh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raman_Singh"><br />Raman Singh</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003"><br />2003</a>-<a title="December 7" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_7">12-07</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Bharatiya Janata Party" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatiya_Janata_Party"><br />Bharatiya Janata Party</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Chhattisgarh"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="National Capital Territory of Delhi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Capital_Territory_of_Delhi"><br />Delhi</a>†</span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Sheila Dikshit" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Dikshit"><br />Sheila Dikshit</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="1998" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998"><br />1998</a>-<a title="December 3" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_3">12-03</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Delhi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Delhi"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Goa" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goa"><br />Goa</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Pratapsingh Raoji Rane" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pratapsingh_Raoji_Rane"><br />Pratapsingh Raoji Rane</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2005" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005"><br />2005</a>-<a title="February 2" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_2">02-02</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Delhi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Delhi"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Gujarat" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gujarat"><br />Gujarat</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Narendra Modi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narendra_Modi"><br />Narendra Modi</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2001" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001"><br />2001</a>-<a title="October 7" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_7">10-07</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Bharatiya Janata Party" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatiya_Janata_Party"><br />Bharatiya Janata Party</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Gujarat" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Gujarat"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Haryana" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haryana"><br />Haryana</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Bhupinder Singh Hooda" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhupinder_Singh_Hooda"><br />Bhupinder Singh Hooda</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2005" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005"><br />2005</a>-<a title="March 5" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_5">03-05</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Haryana" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Haryana"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Himachal Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Himachal_Pradesh"><br />Himachal Pradesh</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Virbhadra Singh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virbhadra_Singh"><br />Virbhadra Singh</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003"><br />2003</a>-<a title="March 6" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_6">03-06</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Himachal_Pradesh"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Jammu and Kashmir" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jammu_and_Kashmir"><br />Jammu and Kashmir</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Ghulam Nabi Azad" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghulam_Nabi_Azad"><br />Ghulam Nabi Azad</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2005" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005"><br />2005</a>-<a title="November 2" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_2">11-02</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Jammu_and_Kashmir"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Jharkhand" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jharkhand"><br />Jharkhand</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Madhu Koda" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhu_Koda"><br />Madhu Koda</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2006" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006"><br />2006</a>-<a title="September 18" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_18">09-18</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Independent</span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Jharkhand" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Jharkhand"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Karnataka" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karnataka"><br />Karnataka</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="H. D. Kumaraswamy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._D._Kumaraswamy"><br />H. D. Kumaraswamy</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2006" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006"><br />2006</a>-<a title="February 3" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_3">02-03</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Janata Dal (Secular)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janata_Dal_(Secular)"><br />Janata Dal (Secular)</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Karnataka" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Karnataka"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Kerala" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerala"><br />Kerala</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="V.S. Achuthanandan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V.S._Achuthanandan"><br />V.S. Achuthanandan</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2006" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006"><br />2006</a>-<a title="May 18" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_18">05-18</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Communist Party of India (Marxist)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_(Marxist)"><br />Communist Party of India (Marxist)</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Kerala" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Kerala"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Madhya Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhya_Pradesh"><br />Madhya Pradesh</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Shivraj Singh Chauhan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivraj_Singh_Chauhan"><br />Shivraj Singh Chauhan</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2005" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2005"><br />2005</a>-<a title="November 29" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_29">11-29</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Bharatiya Janata Party" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatiya_Janata_Party"><br />Bharatiya Janata Party</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Madhya_Pradesh"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Maharashtra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maharashtra"><br />Maharashtra</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Vilasrao Deshmukh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vilasrao_Deshmukh"><br />Vilasrao Deshmukh</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2004" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004"><br />2004</a>-<a title="November 1" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_1">11-01</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Maharashtra" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Maharashtra"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Manipur" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipur"><br />Manipur</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Okram Ibobi Singh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okram_Ibobi_Singh"><br />Okram Ibobi Singh</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2002" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002"><br />2002</a>-<a title="March 7" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_7">03-07</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Manipur" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Manipur"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Meghalaya" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meghalaya"><br />Meghalaya</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="J. Dringwell Rymbai" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Dringwell_Rymbai"><br />J. Dringwell Rymbai</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2006" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006"><br />2006</a>-<a title="June 15" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_15">06-15</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Meghalaya" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Meghalaya"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Mizoram" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizoram"><br />Mizoram</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Pu Zoramthanga" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pu_Zoramthanga"><br />Pu Zoramthanga</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="1998" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998"><br />1998</a>-<a title="December 4" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_4">12-04</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Mizo National Front" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizo_National_Front"><br />Mizo National Front</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Mizoram" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Mizoram"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Nagaland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaland"><br />Nagaland</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Neiphiu Rio" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neiphiu_Rio"><br />Neiphiu Rio</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003"><br />2003</a>-<a title="March 6" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_6">03-06</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Nagaland People's Front" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagaland_People"><br />Nagaland People's Front</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Nagaland" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Nagaland"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Orissa" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orissa"><br />Orissa</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Naveen Patnaik" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naveen_Patnaik"><br />Naveen Patnaik</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2004" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004"><br />2004</a>-<a title="May 17" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_17">05-17</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Biju Janata Dal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biju_Janata_Dal"><br />Biju Janata Dal</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Orissa" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Orissa"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Pondicherry" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pondicherry"><br />Pondicherry</a>†</span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="N. Rangaswamy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._Rangaswamy"><br />N. Rangaswamy</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2001" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001"><br />2001</a>-<a title="October 27" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_27">10-27</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Pondicherry" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Pondicherry"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Punjab, India" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punjab,_India"><br />Punjab</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Amarinder Singh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amarinder_Singh"><br />Amarinder Singh</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2002" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002"><br />2002</a>-<a title="February 27" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/February_27">02-27</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Punjab" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Punjab"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Rajasthan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajasthan"><br />Rajasthan</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Vasundhara Raje Scindia" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasundhara_Raje_Scindia"><br />Vasundhara Raje Scindia</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003"><br />2003</a>-<a title="December 8" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_8">12-08</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Bharatiya Janata Party" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharatiya_Janata_Party"><br />Bharatiya Janata Party</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Rajasthan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Rajasthan"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Sikkim" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkim"><br />Sikkim</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Pawan Kumar Chamling" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pawan_Kumar_Chamling"><br />Pawan Kumar Chamling</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="1994" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1994"><br />1994</a>-<a title="December 12" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/December_12">12-12</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Sikkim Democratic Front" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikkim_Democratic_Front"><br />Sikkim Democratic Front</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Sikkim" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Sikkim"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Tamil Nadu" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamil_Nadu"><br />Tamil Nadu</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="M. Karunanidhi" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M._Karunanidhi"><br />M. Karunanidhi</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2006" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006"><br />2006</a>-<a title="May 12" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_12">05-12</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dravida_Munnetra_Kazhagam"><br />DMK</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Tamil_Nadu"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Tripura" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura"><br />Tripura</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Manik Sarkar" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manik_Sarkar"><br />Manik Sarkar</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="1998" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998"><br />1998</a>-<a title="March 11" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_11">03-11</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Communist Party of India (Marxist)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_(Marxist)"><br />CPI-M</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Tripura" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Tripura"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Uttarakhand" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttarakhand"><br />Uttarakhand</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Narayan Dutt Tiwari" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayan_Dutt_Tiwari"><br />Narayan Dutt Tiwari</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2002" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002"><br />2002</a>-<a title="March 2" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_2">03-02</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Indian National Congress" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Congress"><br />Indian National Congress</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a class="new" title="Chief Minister of Uttarakhand" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chief_Minister_of_Uttarakhand&action=edit"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Uttar Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uttar_Pradesh"><br />Uttar Pradesh</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Mulayam Singh Yadav" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulayam_Singh_Yadav"><br />Mulayam Singh Yadav</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2003" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003"><br />2003</a>-<a title="August 29" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_29">08-29</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Samajwadi Party" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samajwadi_Party"><br />Samajwadi Party</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_Uttar_Pradesh"><br />all</a></span></td><br /></tr><br /><tr><br /><td style="color:#c1e0ff;"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="West Bengal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Bengal"><br />West Bengal</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><br /><a title="Buddhadeb Bhattacharya" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhadeb_Bhattacharya"><br />Buddhadeb Bhattacharya</a></b></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="2000" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000"><br />2000</a>-<a title="October 6" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_6">10-06</a></span></td><br /><td><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Communist Party of India (Marxist)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_Party_of_India_(Marxist)"><br />CPI-M</a></span></td><br /><td></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><br /><a title="Chief Minister of West Bengal" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Minister_of_West_Bengal"><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">all</span></a></span></td><br /></tr><br /></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>No_way_too_tough</h1> <p>2007-02-17T03:51:00.000-08:00</p> </embed><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Valentine's Day Quotations</h1> <p>2007-02-13T23:17:00.000-08:00</p> "If you find it in your heart to care for somebody else, you will have succeeded."-- Maya Angelou<br /><br />"You don't love a woman because she is beautiful, but she is beautiful because you love her."-- Anonymous<br /><br />"If you love somebody, let them go. If they return, they were always yours. If they don't, they never were."-- Anonymous<br /><br />"Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, it's what you are expected to give -- which is everything."-- Anonymous<br /><br />"If you love something, set it free; if it comes backs it's yours, if it doesn't, it never was."-- Richard Bach<br /><br />"Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within."-- James Baldwin<br /><br />"Love: Two minds without a single thought."-- Philip Barry<br /><br />"Tell me who admires you and loves you, and I will tell you who you are."-- Charles Augustin Sainte-Beauve<br /><br />"Love, like a lamp, needs to be fed out of another's heart, or its flame burns low."-- Henry Ward Beecher<br /><br />"Love is the immortal flow of energy that nourishes, extends and preserves. Its eternal goal is life."-- Smiley Blanton<br /><br />"Love is also like a coconut which is good while it is fresh, but you have to spit it out when the juice is gone, what's left tastes bitter."-- Bertolt Brecht<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>SEO Tools, Search Engine Optimizations Tools</h1> <p>2007-02-13T04:56:00.000-08:00</p> <ul><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/adsense-calculator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Adsense Calculator</span></b></a><br />Google AdSense affiliates can use this calculator to gain a better<br />understanding of what affects their earnings by experimenting with values.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/google-adsense-preview.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Google AdSense Preview</span></b></a><br />This preview utility will give you a sense of which ads would be placed on a<br />given page.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/advanced-meta-tag-generator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Advanced Meta Tag Generator</span></b></a><br />This tool helps you to add meta tags to your site..<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/alexa-rank-comparison.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Alexa Rank Comparison Tool</span></b></a><br />The Alexa Traffic History Graph allows you to create a traffic history graph<br />for any site.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/class-c-checker.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Class C Checker</span></b></a><br />This Class C Checker tool allows you to find out whether some sites are<br />hosted on the same Class C IP Range.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/code-to-text-ratio.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Code to Text Ratio</span></b></a><br />This tool will help you discover the percentage of text in a web page (as<br />compared to the combined text and code).<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/cpm-calculator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">CPM Calculator</span></b></a><br />This calculator measures the ROI (return on investment) of the CPM (cost per<br />thousand) impressions advertising model.<br /><li><b><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/domain-age-checker.html"><span style="color:blue;">Domain Age Check</span></a></b><br />Use this tool to find the age of a domain.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/domain-typo-generator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Domain Typo Generator</span></b></a><br />Enter a domain name into the box, and this tool will generate a list of<br />suggestions of likely human misspellings and typos for the given domain.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/future-pagerank.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Future PageRank</span></b></a><br />This tool will query Google's various data centers to check for any changes<br />in PageRank values for a given URL.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/googledance.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Google Dance</span></b></a><br />This tool will query Google's three main web servers, showing the different<br />statuses during updates. Watch Google Dance.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-suggestions-google.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Suggestions For Google</span></b></a><br />The keyword suggestion tool for Google will help you choose relevant and<br />popular terms related to your selected key term.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/multiple-datacenter-google-search.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Multiple Datacenter Google Search</span></b></a><br />This tool searches your keyword/phrase in different Google data centers.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/google-vs-yahoo.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Google vs Yahoo</span></b></a><br />This tool will run a search query in Google and Yahoo search engines and<br />then graphically compare the results.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/indexed-pages.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Indexed Pages</span></b></a><br />This tool will return the total link count for each URL from major search<br />engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN, Alta Vista, and AlltheWeb).<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-cloud.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Cloud</span></b></a><br />This tool provides a visual representation of keywords used on a website.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-density.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Density</span></b></a><br />This tool will analyze your chosen URL, and return a table of keyword<br />density values for one-, two-, or three-word key terms.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-difficulty.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Difficulty Check</span></b></a><br />Use the Keyword Difficulty Check Tool to see how difficult it would be to<br />rank for specific keywords or keyword phrases.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-optimizer.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Optimizer</span></b></a><br />Enter a list of keywords and this tool will remove any duplicate entries and<br />re-order the list alphabetically.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/multiple-datacenter-keyword-position.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Multiple Datacenter Keyword Position Check</span></b></a><br />This tool will help you to find the position of your site in Google for a<br />specific keyword/phrase.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-typo-generator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Typo Generator</span></b></a><br />Enter a keyword or key term into the box above and this tool will generate a<br />list of suggestions for likely human misspellings and typos.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/link-popularity.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Link Popularity</span></b></a><br />Enter a valid URL, and this tool will query all the major search engines<br />(Google, Yahoo, MSN, and Teoma) and then return that URL's total link count<br />for each one.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/link-price.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Link Price Calculator</span></b></a><br />This tool can help you determine the approximate amount you should be paying<br />per month for a text link.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/meta-analyzer.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Meta Analyzer</span></b></a><br />This tool will analyze a website's meta tags. Analyzing a competitor's<br />keyword and description meta values is a good way to find ideas for key<br />terms and more effective copy for your site.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/meta-tag-generator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Meta Tag Generator</span></b></a><br />If you're new to web development and search engine optimization, you may<br />find this tool useful to ensure that your meta tags are correctly formed.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/multiple-datacenter-link-popularity.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Multiple Datacenter Link Popularity Check</span></b></a><br />This tool will give a back link count for a URL from multiple Google data<br />centers.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/keyword-suggestions-overture.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Keyword Suggestions For Overture</span></b></a><br />Simply enter a key term and this tool will query information from the<br />Overture database of searched terms.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/page-size.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Page Size</span></b></a><br />This tool will help you to determine HTML web page size.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/pagerank-lookup.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">PageRank Lookup</span></b></a><br />This tool streamlines the process of checking PageRank for your sites. Enter<br />a list of URLs and it will return the PageRank value for each one.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/pagerank-search.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">PageRank Search</span></b></a><br />Enter your Google search here, and our tool will search Google and display<br />the PageRank next to each resulting answer.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/robots-generator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Robots.txt Generator</span></b></a><br />Use this tool to generate a simple robots.txt file for your website, which<br />allows you to hide files or directories that you don’t wish to be<br />spidered.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/roi-calculator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">ROI Calculator</span></b></a><br />This calculator measures the ROI (return on investment) of a CPC (cost per<br />click) campaign.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/search-engine-keyword-position.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Search Engine Keyword Position</span></b></a><br />This tool checks the search engine result pages of Google, Yahoo, and MSN to<br />see what position your site holds for a particular keyword phrase.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/graphical-search-engine-comparison.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Graphical Search Engine Comparison</span></b></a><br />This tool allows you to perform your own comparisons, and displays the<br />results visually, making it easy to see both the rankings and comparative<br />positions of pages in search engine results.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/site-link-analyzer.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Site Link Analyzer</span></b></a><br />This tool will analyze a given web page and return a table of data<br />containing columns of outbound links and their associated anchor text.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/spider-simulator.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">Spider Simulator</span></b></a><br />This tool simulates a search engine spider by displaying the contents of a<br />web page in exactly the way the spider would see it.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/redirect-check.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">URL Redirect Check</span></b></a><br />This tool checks for valid HTTP 301 headers.<br /><li><a href="http://www.webmasterglossary.net/seo-tools/url-rewriting.html"><b><span style="color:blue;">URL Rewriting</span></b></a><br />This tool converts dynamic URLs to static URLs. You will need to create an<br />.htaccess file to use this tool.<br /><hr /></li></ul><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Basic World Wide Web servers</h1> <p>2007-02-09T02:24:00.000-08:00</p> <h2 style="text-align: justify;">Basic World Wide Web servers</h2><a href="http://www.apache.org/" name="Apache">Apache server</a><dl style="text-align: justify;"><br /> <dd>The Apache project has produced a full-featured, general purpose HTTP<br /> server, including non-forking server pool operation, an API for server<br /> extensions, content negotiation, extended logfiles, etc. Includes the<br /> complete source code. Platforms: unix.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www2.blogger.com/Daemon/Status.html" name="z35">CERN server</a></dt><br /> <dd>The World Wide Web daemon program, full featured, with access<br /> authorization and research tools. This daemon is also used as a basis<br /> for many other types of server and gateways. Platforms: unix, VMS.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www2.blogger.com/NCSA_httpd/Overview.html" name="z36">NCSA server</a></dt><br /><dd>A server for files, written in C, public domain. Many features as<br /> CERN's httpd. Platforms: unix.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://spinner.infovav.se/">Spinner</a></dt><br /> <dd>Spinner is a modularised, object oriented World Wide Web HTTP/1.0 and<br /> HTTP/0.9 compliant server, distributed under the GPL license.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.csm.co.at/csm/alibaba.htm">Alibaba</a></dt><br /> <dd>A server for Windows NT provided by Computer Software Manufaktur.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.ai.mit.edu/projects/iiip/doc/cl-http/home-page.html">CL-HTTP</a></dt><br /><br /> <dd>CL-HTTP is a full-featured, object-oriented HTTP server written in <a href="http://www.cs.rochester.edu/users/staff/miller/alu.html"> Common<br /> Lisp</a> by <a href="http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/jcma/jcma.html"> John<br /> Mallery</a> at the <a href="http://www.ai.mit.edu/index.html">M.I.T.<br /> Artificial Intelligence Laboratory</a>. It runs on MAC, UNIX, and the<br /> Lisp Machine, and ports are underway to the PC.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www2.hursley.ibm.com/goserve/">GoServe</a></dt><br /> <dd>A server for OS/2 supporting both HTTP and Gopher, from Mike<br /> Cowlishaw of IBM UK Laboratories.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SDG/Software/Mosaic/Notes/gn-1.0-release.txt" name="z42">GN</a></dt><br /> <dd>A single server providing both HTTP and Gopher access to the same<br /> data. In C, General Public License. Designed to help servers transition<br /> from gopher to WWW. Platforms: unix.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.quadralay.com/products/products.html#gwhis-server">GWHIS Server</a></dt><br /> <dd>Specialized WWW Servers. Commercial, from Quadralay, Inc.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www2.blogger.com/HTTPS/Status.html" name="z44">HTTPS for Windows/NT</a></dt><br /> <dd>Service for NT. Configurable using control panel.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Programs/Jungle/">Jungle</a></dt><br /> <dd>Server in Tk/TCL being written by Lindsay Marshall</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www2.blogger.com/MacHTTP/Status.html" name="z41">MacHTTP</a></dt><br /> <dd>Server for the Macintosh.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://home.mcom.com/MCOM/products_docs/server.html">Netsite</a></dt><br /> <dd>Commercially supported server from Netscape Communications Inc.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.cs.indiana.edu/perl-server/intro.html">Perl server</a></dt><br /> <dd>from Marc VanHeyningen at Indiana University. Written in <a xhref="http://www.cis.ohio-state.edu:85/info/perl.info,top">perl</a>. Platforms: unix</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.signum.se/phttpd/">Phttpd server</a></dt><br /> <dd>A general WWW server written in C, using features like<br /> multithreading, memory mapping and dynamic linking to achieve its goals<br /> of high speed, scalability and light weight. Written by Peter Eriksson<br /> of Signum Support AB. Platform: SunOS 5.4 (Unix)</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.bsdi.com/server/doc/plexus.html" name="z38">Plexus</a></dt><br /> <dd>Tony Sander's server originally based on Marc VH's, but incorporating<br /> lots more stuff, including an Archie gateway, etc etc. Platforms:<br /> unix.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.process.com/prod/purveyor.htp">Purveyor</a></dt><br /> <dd>Process Software's server for Windows NT and future Win32 platforms<br /> such as Windows 95.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www2.blogger.com/FIND/Status.html" name="z39">REXX for VM</a></dt><br /> <dd>A server consisting of a amall C program which passes control to a<br /> server written in REXX.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://ua1vm.ua.edu/%7Etroth/rickvmsw/rickvmsw.html">HTTP for VM</a></dt><br /><br /> <dd>By <a href="http://ua1vm.ua.edu/%7Etroth/trothsig.html">R.M.Troth</a>.<br /> See <a href="http://vm.cfsan.fda.gov/vmcms.html"> list of sites</a><br /> using it.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://kcgl1.eng.ohio-state.edu/www/doc/serverinfo.html" name="z48">VAX/VMS server</a></dt><br /> <dd>Uses DEC/Threads for speed.</dd><dt><br /></dt><dt><a xhref="http://riskweb.bus.utexas.edu/serweb.htm">SerWeb</a></dt><br /> <dd>SerWeb is a WWW server that can run on the Windows 3.1 system.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://clubweb.ora.com/">Website</a></dt><br /> <dd>A server for NT and Win95 from O'Reilly.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://www.city.net/win-httpd/">Windows httpd 1.4</a></dt><br /> <dd>A Windows server created by Robert Denny; see the home page for full<br /> details.</dd><br /> <dt><a href="http://hopf.math.nwu.edu/docs/overview.html">WN</a></dt><br /> <dd>The design of WN is based on the use of a small flat database in each<br /> directory with information about the files in that directory. Fields<br /> associated with a file include its title, and may include keywords,<br /> expiration date and any user defined fields like author or document id.<br /></dd></dl><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Funny Videos</h1> <p>2007-02-07T04:20:00.000-08:00</p> <br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>The Real Indian Heroes</h1> <p>2007-02-06T01:33:00.000-08:00</p> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" >RATAN TATA</span><br /><br />Born: December 28, 1937<br /><br />Achievement: Honored with Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards in 2000.<br /><br />Ratan Tata is presently the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group. Ratan Naval Tata is also the Chairman of the major Tata companies such as Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Tata Power, Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Tea, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels and Tata Teleservices. He has taken Tata Group to new heights and under his leadership Group's revenues have grown manifold.<br /><br />Ratan Tata was born on December 28, 1937, in Bombay. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Cornell University in 1962. Ratan Tata had a short stint with Jones and Emmons in Los Angeles, California, before returning to India in late 1962. He joined the Tata Group and was assigned to various companies before being appointed director-in-charge of The National Radio & Electronics Company (NELCO) in 1971. Ratan Tata was appointed Chairman of Tata Industries in 1981. He was assigned the task of transforming the company into a Group strategy think-tank, and a promoter of new ventures in high technology businesses.<br /><br />In 1991, Ratan Tata took over the Chairmanship from JRD Tata. Under him Tata Consultancy Services went public and Tata Motors was listed in the New York Stock Exchange. In 1998, Tata Motors came up with Tata Indica, the first truly Indian car. The car was the brainchild of Ratan Tata.<br /><br />Ratan Tata was honored with Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards in 2000. He was also conferred an honorary doctorate in business administration by Ohio State University, an honorary doctorate in technology by the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, and an honorary doctorate in science by the University of Warwick.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-weight: bold;">Karsanbhai Patel</span><br /><br />Achievement: Man behind the hugely successful brand, Nirma.<br /><br />Karsanbhai Patel is the man behind the hugely successful brand, Nirma. His' is a legendary rags to riches journey during which he shattered established business theories and rewrote new ones.<br /><br />Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel (K.K. Patel) came from a humble farmer family from Mehsana, Gujarat. He worked as Lab Assistant in the Geology and Mining Department of the Government of Gujarat. In 1969, at the age of 25, Karsan Bhai Patel started a small-scale enterprise. He offered a quality detergent powder, using indigenous technology, at a third of the prevailing price, without compromising on the product. Karsanbhai named the detergent powder Nirma after daughter Nirupama.<br /><br />At that time domestic detergent market was limited only to premium segment and was dominated by MNCs. Karsanbhai Patel started door-to-door selling of Nirma and priced it at Rs. 3 per kg. The next available cheapest brand in the market at that time was Rs.13 per kg. Nirma revolutionized the whole detergent powder segment and in a short span of time created an entirely new market segment in the domestic detergent sector market. It gave the bigger established brands a run for their money and soon occupied the top market share. To add to all this, Nirma was made of an innovative formulation, which global detergent giants were later on compelled to emulate, it was phosphate free and hence environment friendly, and the process of manufacturing was labour intensive, which offered large scale employment.<br /><br />Karsanbhai notched up one success after another. After establishing its leadership in economy-priced detergents, Nirma foray into the premium brand segment, in cakes and detergents was equally successful. It built up a 30% market share in the premium detergent segment and achieved a greater than 20% share in the premium soaps market.<br /><br />Karsanbhai Patel has won many accolades on his way to success. The Federation of Association of Small Scale Industries of India, New Delhi, awarded him with the 'Udyog Ratna'. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce felicitated him as an 'Outstanding Industrialist of the Eighties'. The Govt. of India twice appointed him Chairman of the Development Council for Oils, Soaps & Detergents.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Mahatma Gandhi</span><br /><br />Born: October 2, 1869<br />Died: January 30, 1948.<br />Achievements: Known as Father of Nation; played a key role in winning freedom from India; introduced the concept of Ahimsa and Satyagraha.<br /><br />Mahatma Gandhi popularly known as Father of Nation played a stellar role in India's freedom struggle. Born in a Bania family in Kathiawar, Gujarat, his real name was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (M.K. Gandhi). The title Mahatma came to be associated with his name much later. Before Gandhiji's arrival on the Indian political scene, freedom struggle was limited only to the intelligentsia. Mahatma Gandhi's main contribution lay in the fact that he bridged the gulf between the intelligentsia and the masses and widened the concept of Swaraj to include almost every aspect of social and moral regeneration. Paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his death, famous scientist Albert Einstein said, "Generations to come will scarce believe that such a man as this walked the earth in flesh and blood".<br /><br />Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on October 2, 1869, at Porbandar, a small town on the western coast of India, which was then one of the many tiny states in Kathiawar. Gandhiji was born in middle class family of Vaishya caste. His father, Karamchand Gandhi, was a Dewan or Prime Minister of Porbandar. His mother, Putlibai, was a very religious lady and left a deep impression on Gandhiji's mind. Gandhiji was a mediocre student and was excessively shy and timid.<br /><br />Gandhiji was truthful in his conduct right from the childhood. There is a very famous incident in this regard. A British school inspector once came to Gandhiji's school and set a spelling test. Gandhiji spelled all the words correctly except kettle. The class teacher noticed the mistake and gestured Gandhiji to copy the correct spelling from the boy sitting next to him. Gandhiji refused to take the hint and was later scolded for his "stupidity".<br /><br />Gandhiji was married at the age of thirteen to Kasturbai. He was in high school at that time. Later on in his life, Gandhiji denounced the custom of child marriage and termed it as cruel. After matriculating from the high school, Gandhiji joined the Samaldas College in Bhavnagar. After the death of Gandhiji's father in 1885, a family suggested that if Gandhiji hoped to take his father's place in the state service he had better become a barrister which he could do in England in three years. Gandhi welcomed the idea but his mother was objected to the idea of going abroad. To win his mother's approval Gandhiji took a solemn vow not to touch wine, women and meat and remained true to it throughout his stay in England.<br /><br />Gandhiji sailed for England on September 4, 1888. Initially he had difficulty in adjusting to English customs and weather but soon he overcame it. Gandhiji completed his Law degree in 1891 and returned to India. He decided to set up legal practice in Bombay but couldn't establish himself. Gandhiji returned to Rajkot but here also he could not make much headway. At this time Gandhiji received an offer from Dada Abdulla & Co. to proceed to South Africa on their behalf to instruct their counsel in a lawsuit. Gandhiji jumped at the idea and sailed for South Africa in April 1893.<br /><br />It was in South Africa that Gandhiji's transformation from Mohandas to Mahatma took place. Gandhiji landed at Durban and soon he realized the oppressive atmosphere of racial snobbishness against Indians who were settled in South Africa in large numbers. After about a week's stay in Durban Gandhiji left for Pretoria, the capital of the Transvaal, in connection with a lawsuit. When the train reached Pietermaritzburg, the capital of Natal, at about 9 p.m. a white passenger who boarded the train objected to the presence of a "coloured" man in the compartment and Gandhji was ordered by a railway official to shift to a third class. When he refused to do so, a constable pushed him out and his luggage was taken away by the railway authorities. It was winter and bitterly cold. This incident changed Gandhiji's life forever. He decided to fight for the rights of Indians. Gandhiji organised the Indian community in South Africa and asked them to forget all distinctions of religion and caste. He suggested the formation of an association to look after the Indian settlers and offered his free time and services.<br /><br />During his stay in South Africa, Gandhiji's life underwent a change and he developed most of his political ideas. Gandhiji decided to dedicate himself completely to the service of humanity. He realized that absolute continence or brahmacharya was indispensable for the purpose as one could not live both after the flesh and the spirit. In 1906, Gandhiji took a vow of absolute continence. In the course of his struggle in South Africa, Gandhiji, developed the concepts of Ahimsa (non-violence) and Satyagraha (holding fast to truth or firmness in a righteous cause). Gandhiji's struggle bore fruit and in 1914 in an agreement between Gandhiji and South African Government, the main Indian demands were conceded.<br /><br />Gandhiji returned to India in 1915 and on the advice of his political guru Gopal Krishna Gokhale, spent the first year touring throughout the country to know the real India. After an year of wandering, Gandhiji settled down on the bank of the river Sabarmati, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, where he founded an ashram called Satyagraha Ashram. Gandhiji's first satyagraha in India was in Champaran, in Bihar, where he went in 1917 at the request of a poor peasants to inquire into the grievances of the much exploited peasants of that district, who were compelled by British indigo planters to grow indigo on 15 percent of their land and part with the whole crop for rent. Gandhiji's Satyagraha forced British government to set up a inquiry into the condition of tenant farmers. The report of the committee of which Gandhi was a member went in favour of the tenant farmers. The success of his first experiment in satyagraha in India greatly enhanced Gandhiji's reputation in the country.<br /><br />In 1921, Gandhji gave the call for Non-cooperation movement against the ills of British rule. Gandhiji's call roused the sleeping nation. Many Indians renounced their titles and honours, lawyers gave up their practice, and students left colleges and schools. Non-cooperation movement also brought women into the domain of freedom struggle for the first time. Non-cooperation movement severely jolted the British government. But the movement ended in an anti-climax in February 1922. An outbreak of mob violence in Chauri Chaura so shocked and pained Gandhi that he refused to continue the campaign and undertook a fast for five days to atone for a crime committed by others in a state of mob hysteria.<br /><br />Gandhiji was sentenced to six years imprisonment but was released in 1924 on medical grounds. For the next five years Gandhi seemingly retired from active agitational politics and devoted himself to the propagation of what he regarded as the basic national needs, namely, Hindu-Muslim unity, removal of untouchability, equality of women, popularization of hand-spinning and the reconstruction of village economy.<br /><br />On March 12, 1930 Gandhiji started the historic Dandi March to break the law which had deprived the poor man of his right to make his own salt. On April 6, 1930 Gandhiji broke the Salt law at the sea beach at Dandi. This simple act was immediately followed by a nation-wide defiance of the law. This movement galvanized the whole nation and came to be known as "Civil Disobedience Movement". Within a few weeks about a hundred thousand men and women were in jail, throwing mighty machinery of the British Government out of gear. This forced the then Viceroy Lord Irwin to call Gandhiji for talks. On March 5, 1931 Gandhi Irwin Pact was signed. Soon after signing the pact Gandhiji went to England to attend the First Round Table Conference. Soon after his return from England Gandhiji was arrested without trial.<br /><br />After the outbreak of Second World War in 1939, Gandhiji again became active in the political arena. British Government wanted India's help in the war and Congress in return wanted a clear-cut promise of independence from British government. But British government dithered in its response and on August 8, 1942 Gandhiji gave the call for Quit India Movement. Soon the British Government arrested Gandhiji and other top leaders of Congress. Disorders broke out immediately all over India and many violent demonstrations took place. While Gandhiji was in jail his wife Kasturbai passed away. Gandhiji too had a severe attack of Malaria. In view of his deteriorating health he was released from the jail in May 1944.<br /><br />Second World War ended in 1945 and Britain emerged victorious. In the general elections held in Britain in 1945, Labour Party came to power, and Atlee became the Prime Minister. He promised an early realization of self Government in India. A Cabinet Mission arrived from England to discuss with Indian leaders the future shape of a free and united India, but failed to bring the Congress and Muslims together. India attained independence but Jinnah's intransigence resulted in the partition of the country. Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims broke out in the country in the aftermath of partition. Tales of atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan provoked Hindus in India and they targeted Muslims. Gandhiji worked ceaselessly to promote unity between Hindus and Muslims. This angered some Hindu fundamentalists and on January 3, 1948 Gandhiji was shot dead by one such fundamentalist Nathu Ram Godse while he was going for his evening prayers. The last words on the lips of Gandhiji were Hey Ram.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Mother Teresa</span><br /><br />Born: August 27, 1910<br />Died: September 5, 1997<br />Achievements: Started Missionaries of Charity in 1950; received Nobel Prize for Peace in 1979; received Bharat Ratna in 1980.<br /><br />Mother Teresa was one of the great servants of humanity. She was an Albanian Catholic nun who came to India and founded the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata. Her selfless work among the poverty-stricken people of Kolkata (Calcutta) is an inspiration for people all over the world and she was honored with Nobel Prize for her work.<br /><br />Mother Teresa's original name was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was born on August 27, 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. Her father was a successful merchant and she was youngest of the three siblings. At the age of 12, she decided that she wanted to be a missionary and spread the love of Christ. At the age of 18 she left her parental home in Skopje and joined the Sisters of Loreto, an Irish community of nuns with missions in India.<br /><br />After a few months of training at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Dublin Mother Teresa came to India. On May 24, 1931, she took her initial vows as a nun. From 1931 to 1948, Mother Teresa taught geography and catechism at St. Mary's High School in Calcutta. However, the prevailing poverty in Calcutta had a deep impact on Mother Teresa's mind and in 1948, she received permission from her superiors to leave the convent school and devote herself to working among the poorest of the poor in the slums of Calcutta.<br /><br />After a short course with the Medical Mission Sisters in Patna, she returned to Calcutta and found temporary lodging with the Little Sisters of the Poor. She started an open-air school for homeless children. Soon she was joined by voluntary helpers, and she received financial support from church organizations and the municipal authorities. On October 7, 1950, Mother Teresa received permission from the Vatican to start her own order. Vatican originally labeled the order as the Diocesan Congregation of the Calcutta Diocese, and it later came to known as the "Missionaries of Charity". The primary task of the Missionaries of Charity was to take care of those persons who nobody was prepared to look after.<br /><br />The Missionaries of Charity, which began as a small Order with 12 members in Calcutta, today has more than 4,000 nuns running orphanages, AIDS hospices, charity centres worldwide, and caring for refugees, the blind, disabled, aged, alcoholics, the poor and homeless and victims of floods, epidemics and famine in Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Poland, and Australia. In 1965, by granting a Decree of Praise, Pope Paul VI granted Mother Teresa permission to expand her order to other countries. The order's first house outside India was in Venezuela. Presently, the "Missionaries of Charity" has presence in more than 100 countries.<br /><br />Mother Teresa's work has been recognised and acclaimed throughout the world and she has received a number of awards and distinctions. These include the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971), Nehru Prize for Promotion of International Peace & Understanding (1972), Balzan Prize (1978), Nobel Peace Prize (1979) and Bharat Ratna (1980).<br /><br />On March 13, 1997, Mother Teresa stepped down from the head of Missionaries of Charity and died on September 5, 1997, just 9 days after her 87th birthday. Following Mother Teresa's death, the Holy See began the process of beatification, the second step towards possible canonization, or sainthood. This process requires the documentation of a miracle performed from the intercession of Mother Teresa. In 2002, the Vatican recognized as a miracle the healing of a tumor in the abdomen of an Indian woman, Monica Besra, following the application of a locket containing Teresa's picture. Monica Besra said that a beam of light emanated from the picture, curing the cancerous tumor. Mother Teresa was formally beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 2003 with the title Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. A second miracle is required for her to proceed to canonization.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 51, 255);">Dr. B.R. Ambedkar</span><br /><br />Born: April 14, 1891<br />Died: December 6, 1956<br />Achievements: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was elected as the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly to draft a constitution for the independent India; he was the first Law Minister of India; conferred Bharat Ratna in 1990.<br /><br />Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is viewed as messiah of dalits and downtrodden in India. He was the chairman of the drafting committee that was constituted by the Constituent Assembly in 1947 to draft a constitution for the independent India. He played a seminal role in the framing of the constitution. Bhimrao Ambedkar was also the first Law Minister of India. For his yeoman service to the nation, B.R. Ambedkar was bestowed with Bharat Ratna in 1990.<br /><br />Dr.Bhimrao Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891 in Mhow (presently in Madhya Pradesh). He was the fourteenth child of Ramji and Bhimabai Sakpal Ambavedkar. B.R. Ambedkar belonged to the "untouchable" Mahar Caste. His father and grandfather served in the British Army. In those days, the government ensured that all the army personnel and their children were educated and ran special schools for this purpose. This ensured good education for Bhimrao Ambedkar, which would have otherwise been denied to him by the virtue of his caste.<br /><br />Bhimrao Ambedkar experienced caste discrimination right from the childhood. After his retirement, Bhimrao's father settled in Satara Maharashtra. Bhimrao was enrolled in the local school. Here, he had to sit on the floor in one corner in the classroom and teachers would not touch his notebooks. In spite of these hardships, Bhimrao continued his studies and passed his Matriculation examination from Bombay University with flying colours in 1908. Bhim Rao Ambedkar joined the Elphinstone College for further education. In 1912, he graduated in Political Science and Economics from Bombay University and got a job in Baroda.<br /><br />In 1913, Bhimrao Ambedkar lost his father. In the same year Maharaja of Baroda awarded scholarship to Bhim Rao Ambedkar and sent him to America for further studies. Bhimrao reached New York in July 1913. For the first time in his life, Bhim Rao was not demeaned for being a Mahar. He immersed himself in the studies and attained a degree in Master of Arts and a Doctorate in Philosophy from Columbia University in 1916 for his thesis "National Dividend for India: A Historical and Analytical Study." From America, Dr.Ambedkar proceeded to London to study economics and political science. But the Baroda government terminated his scholarship and recalled him back.<br /><br />The Maharaja of Baroda appointed Dr. Ambedkar as his political secretary. But no one would take orders from him because he was a Mahar. Bhimrao Ambedkar returned to Bombay in November 1917. With the help of Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur, a sympathizer of the cause for the upliftment of the depressed classes, he started a fortnightly newspaper, the "Mooknayak" (Dumb Hero) on January 31, 1920. The Maharaja also convened many meetings and conferences of the "untouchables" which Bhimrao addressed. In September 1920, after accumulating sufficient funds, Ambedkar went back to London to complete his studies. He became a barrister and got a Doctorate in science.<br /><br />After completing his studies in London, Ambedkar returned to India. In July 1924, he founded the Bahishkrit Hitkaraini Sabha (Outcastes Welfare Association). The aim of the Sabha was to uplift the downtrodden socially and politically and bring them to the level of the others in the Indian society. In 1927, he led the Mahad March at the Chowdar Tank at Colaba, near Bombay, to give the untouchables the right to draw water from the public tank where he burnt copies of the 'Manusmriti' publicly.<br /><br />In 1929, Ambedkar made the controversial decision to co-operate with the all-British Simon Commission which was to look into setting up a responsible Indian Government in India. The Congress decided to boycott the Commission and drafted its own version of a constitution for free India. The Congress version had no provisions for the depressed classes. Ambedkar became more skeptical of the Congress's commitment to safeguard the rights of the depressed classes.<br /><br />When a separate electorate was announced for the depressed classes under Ramsay McDonald 'Communal Award', Gandhiji went on a fast unto death against this decision. Leaders rushed to Dr. Ambedkar to drop his demand. On September 24, 1932, Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhiji reached an understanding, which became the famous Poona Pact. According to the pact the separate electorate demand was replaced with special concessions like reserved seats in the regional legislative assemblies and Central Council of States.<br /><br />Dr. Ambedkar attended all the three Round Table Conferences in London and forcefully argued for the welfare of the "untouchables". Meanwhile, British Government decided to hold provincial elections in 1937. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar set up the "Independent Labor Party" in August 1936 to contest the elections in the Bombay province. He and many candidates of his party were elected to the Bombay Legislative Assembly.<br /><br />In 1937, Dr. Ambedkar introduced a Bill to abolish the "khoti" system of land tenure in the Konkan region, the serfdom of agricultural tenants and the Mahar "watan" system of working for the Government as slaves. A clause of an agrarian bill referred to the depressed classes as "Harijans," or people of God. Bhimrao was strongly opposed to this title for the untouchables. He argued that if the "untouchables" were people of God then all others would be people of monsters. He was against any such reference. But the Indian National Congress succeeded in introducing the term Harijan. Ambedkar felt bitter that they could not have any say in what they were called.<br /><br />In 1947, when India became independent, the first Prime Minister Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, invited Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, who had been elected as a Member of the Constituent Assembly from Bengal, to join his Cabinet as a Law Minister. The Constituent Assembly entrusted the job of drafting the Constitution to a committee and Dr. Ambedkar was elected as Chairman of this Drafting Committee. In February 1948, Dr. Ambedkar presented the Draft Constitution before the people of India; it was adopted on November 26, 1949.<br /><br />In October 1948, Dr. Ambedkar submitted the Hindu Code Bill to the Constituent Assembly in an attempt to codify the Hindu law. The Bill caused great divisions even in the Congress party. Consideration for the bill was postponed to September 1951. When the Bill was taken up it was truncated. A dejected Ambedkar relinquished his position as Law Minister.<br /><br />On May 24, 1956, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, he declared in Bombay, that he would adopt Buddhism in October. On 0ctober 14, 1956 he embraced Buddhism along with many of his followers. On December 6, 1956, Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar died peacefully in his sleep.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Subhas Chandra Bose</span><br /><br />Born: January 23, 1897<br />Died: August 18, 1945<br />Achievements: Passed Indian Civil Services Exam; elected Congress President in 1938 and 1939; formed a new party All India Forward block; organized Azad Hind Fauj to overthrow British Empire from India.<br /><br />Subhas Chandra Bose, affectionately called as Netaji, was one of the most prominent leaders of Indian freedom struggle. Though Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru have garnered much of the credit for successful culmination of Indian freedom struggle, the contribution of Subash Chandra Bose is no less. He has been denied his rightful place in the annals of Indian history. He founded Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to overthrow British Empire from India and came to acquire legendary status among Indian masses.<br /><br />Subhas Chandra Bose was born on January 23, 1897 in Cuttack, Orissa. His father Janaki Nath Bose was a famous lawyer and his mother Prabhavati Devi was a pious and religious lady. Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth child among fourteen siblings. Subhas Chandra Bose was a brilliant student right from the childhood. He topped the matriculation examination of Calcutta province and graduated with a First Class in Philosophy from the Scottish Churches College in Calcutta. He was strongly influenced by Swami Vivekananda's teachings and was known for his patriotic zeal as a student. To fulfill his parents wishes he went to England in 1919 to compete for Indian Civil Services. In England he appeared for the Indian Civil Service competitive examination in 1920, and came out fourth in order of merit. However, Subhas Chandra Bose was deeply disturbed by the Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, and left his Civil Services apprenticeship midway to return to India in 1921<br /><br />After returning to India Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose came under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and joined the Indian National Congress. On Gandhiji's instructions, he started working under Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das, whom he later acknowledged his political guru. Soon he showed his leadership mettle and gained his way up in the Congress' hierarchy. In 1928 the Motilal Nehru Committee appointed by the Congress declared in favour of Domination Status, but Subhas Chandra Bose along with Jawaharlal Nehru opposed it, and both asserted that they would be satisfied with nothing short of complete independence for India. Subhas also announced the formation of the Independence League. Subhas Chandra Bose was jailed during Civil Disobedience movement in 1930. He was released in 1931 after Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed. He protested against the Gandhi-Irwin pact and opposed the suspension of Civil Disobedience movement specially when Bhagat Singh and his associates were hanged.<br /><br />Subash Chandra Bose was soon arrested again under the infamous Bengal Regulation. After an year he was released on medical grounds and was banished from India to Europe. He took steps to establish centres in different European capitals with a view to promoting politico-cultural contacts between India and Europe. Defying the ban on his entry to India, Subash Chandra Bose returned to India and was again arrested and jailed for a year. After the General Elections of 1937, Congress came to power in seven states and Subash Chandra Bose was released. Shortly afterwards he was elected President of the Haripura Congress Session in 1938. During his term as Congress President, he talked of planning in concrete terms, and set up a National planning Committee in October that year. At the end of his first term, the presidential election to the Tripuri Congress session took place early 1939. Subhas Chandra Bose was re-elected, defeating Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramayya who had been backed by Mahatma Gandhi and the Congress Working Committee. Clouds of World War II were on the horizon and he brought a resolution to give the British six months to hand India over to the Indians, failing which there would be a revolt. There was much opposition to his rigid stand, and he resigned from the post of president and formed a progressive group known as the Forward Block.<br /><br />Subhas Chandra Bose now started a mass movement against utilizing Indian resources and men for the great war. There was a tremendous response to his call and he was put under house arrest in Calcutta. In January 1941, Subhas Chandra Bose disappeared from his home in Calcutta and reached Germany via Afghanistan. Working on the maxim that "an enemy's enemy is a friend", he sought cooperation of Germany and Japan against British Empire. In January 1942, he began his regular broadcasts from Radio Berlin, which aroused tremendous enthusiasm in India. In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore from Germany. In Singapore he took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement in East Asia from Rash Behari Bose and organised the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army) comprising mainly of Indian prisoners of war. He was hailed as Netaji by the Army as well as by the Indian civilian population in East Asia. Azad Hind Fauj proceeded towards India to liberate it from British rule. Enroute it lliberated Andeman and Nicobar Islands. The I.N.A. Head quarters was shifted to Rangoon in January 1944. Azad Hind Fauj crossed the Burma Border, and stood on Indian soil on March 18 ,1944.<br /><br />However, defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War forced INA to retreat and it could not achieve its objective. Subhas Chandra Bose was reportedly killed in an air crash over Taipeh, Taiwan (Formosa) on August 18, 1945. Though it is widely believed that he was still alive after the air crash not much information could be found about him.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Swami Vivekananda</span><br /><br />Born: January 12, 1863<br />Died: July 4, 1902<br />Achievements: Played a major role in spiritual enlightenment of Indian masses; Spread Vedanta philosophy in the West; established Ramakrishna Mission for the service of the poor.<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda was one of the most influential spiritual leaders of Vedanta philosophy. He was the chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahansa and was the founder of Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission. Swami Vivekananda was the living embodiment of sacrifice and dedicated his life to the country and yearned for the progress of the poor, the helpless and the downtrodden. He showed a beacon of light to a nation that had lost faith in its ability under British rule and inspired self-confidence among Indians that they are second to none. His ringing words and masterful oratory galvanized the slumbering nation.<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda real name was Narendranath Dutta. He was born on January12, 1863 in Calcutta. His father's name was Vishwanath Dutta and his mother's name Bhuvaneswari Devi. Narendranath acquired the name of Swami Vivekananda when he became a monk.<br /><br />As a child Narendra was very lively and naughty. He was good in studies as well as in games. He studied instrumental and vocal music and also practiced meditation from a very early age. Even when Narendra was young he questioned the validity of superstitious customs and discrimination based on caste and religion. As a child Narendra had great respect for sanyasis (ascetics). He would give away anything to anybody if asked for. Whenever a beggar asked for alms, he would give him anything he had. Thus from childhood Narendra had the spirit of sacrifice and renunciation.<br /><br />In 1879, Narendra passed matriculation and entered Presidency College, Calcutta. After one year, he joined the Scottish Church College, Calcutta and studied philosophy. He studied western logic, western philosophy and history of European nations. As he advanced in his studies, his thinking faculty developed. Doubts regarding existence of God started to arise in Narendra's mind. This made him associate with the Brahmo Samaj, an important religious movement of the time, led by Keshab Chandra Sen. But the Samaj's congregational prayers and devotional songs could not satisfy Narendra's zeal to realise God.<br /><br />During this time Narendra came to know of Sri Ramakrishna Pramahans of Dakshineswar. Sri Ramakrishna was a priest in the temple of Goddess Kali. He was not a scholar. But he was a great devotee. It was being said of him that he had realized God. Once, Narendra went to Dakshineswar to with his friends see him. He asked Ramakrishna, whether he had seen God. The instantaneous answer from Ramakrishna was, "Yes, I have seen God, just as I see you here, only in a more clear sense." Narendra was astounded and puzzled. He could feel the man's words were honest and uttered from depths of experience. He started visiting Ramakrishna frequently.<br /><br />It was in Narendra's nature to test something thoroughly before he could accept it. He would not accept Ramakrishna as his guru without a test. Ramakrishna used to say that, in order to realize God, one should give up the desire for money and women. One day Narendra hid a rupee under his pillow. Sri Ramakrishna, who had gone out, came into the room and stretched himself on the cot. At once he jumped up as if bitten by a scorpion. When he shook the mattress, the rupee coin fell down. Later he came to know that it was the doing of Narendra. Narendra accepted Sri Ramakrishna as his guru and took training under him for five years in the Advaita Vedanta, the philosophy of non-dualism. Sri Ramakrishna passed away in 1886 and nominated Narendra as his successor. After his death Narendra and a core group of Ramakrishna's disciples took vows to become monks and renounce everything, and started living in a supposedly haunted house in Baranagore.<br /><br />In 1890, Narendra set out on a long journey. He covered the length and breadth of the country. He visited Varanasi, Ayodhya, Agra, Vrindavan, Alwar etc. Narendra acquired the name of Swami Vivekananda during the journey. It is said that he was given the name Vivekananda by Maharaja of Khetri for his discrimination of things, good and bad. During his journey, Vivekananda stayed at king's palaces, as well as at the huts of the poor. He came in close contact with the cultures of different regions of India and various classes of people in India. Vivekananda observed the imbalance in society and tyranny in the name of caste. He realised the need for a national rejuvenation if India was to survive at all.<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda reached Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent on December24, 1892. He swam across the sea and started meditating on a lone rock. He meditated for three days and said later that he meditated about the past, present and future of India. The rock is presently popular as Vivekananda memorial and is a major tourist destination.<br /><br />In 1893, Swami Vivekananda went to America to attend the Conference of World Religions in Chicago. He earned wild applause for beginning his address with the famous words, "Sisters and brothers of America." Swamiji mesmerized everyone in America with his masterful oratory. Wherever he went, he dwelt at length on the greatness of Indian Culture. He spoke with spontaneous ease on every topic, be it History, Sociology, Philosophy or Literature. He deplored the malicious propaganda that had been unleashed by the Christian missionaries in India. Swami Vivekananda also went to England. Many people became his disciples. Most famous among them was Margaret Nivedita'. She came to India and settled here.<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda returned to India in 1897 after four years of touring in the West. He started disseminating the message of spiritual development among Indians. He realized that social service was possible only through the concerted efforts on an organized mission. To achieve this objective, Swami Vivekananda started Sri Ramakrishna Mission in 1897 and formulated its ideology and goal. During the next two years he bought a site at Belur on the banks of the Ganga, constructed the buildings and established the Ramakrishna Mutt. He once again toured the West from January 1899 to December 1900.<br /><br />Swami Vivekananda died on July4, 1902 at Belur Mutt near Calcutta.</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Facts of Gujarat</h1> <p>2007-02-03T02:37:00.000-08:00</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0"><br /><tbody><tr><td align="middle"></td></tr><br /><tr><td align="middle"><h2>New Delhi</h2></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p><br />State Capital : Gandhi Nagar<br />Population ('000s in 1991) : 41,310<br />Area ('000 sq. km) : 196<br />Females per 1000 males (1991) : 934<br />Literacy rate (1991) : 61.3<br />Ratio of urban population (1991) : 34.5<br />Net Domestic Product (Rs. million at current prices in 1992-93) : 322,400<br />Per Capita Income (Rs. at current prices in 1992-93) : 7,586<br />Principal Language : Gujarati</p><br /><p align="justify">Gujarat is situated in the west coast of India. The state is bounded by the Arabian sea on the west, Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north and north-east respectively, Madhya Pradesh in the south-east and Maharashtra in the south. The state covers an area of 196,024 sq km (75,685 sq mi). </p><p align="justify">The name 'Gujarat' is said to have been derived from the Prakrit Gujjar Ratta or Gujjar Rashtra - the land of Gujjars - a tribe that entered India with the Huns in ancient time and wandering through Punjab and Rajasthan, settled in western India. </p><p align="justify">Gujarat had a great civilization even before the arrival of the Aryans. It had trade links with ancient civilizations of Sumer, Babylon, Assyria and Egypt. The Port of Lothal which has been excavated recently has been identified as an important centre of the 4500 years old Aryan civilization. </p><p align="justify">Gujarat is renowned for its temples and monuments associated with momentous historical periods. The architectural and artistic virtuosity of the people of Gujarat is reflected in the many buildings both ancient and modern. As much a part of the state are its wildlife sanctuaries, its hill resorts, its natural grandeur and religious and pilgrim centers. </p><p align="justify">Gujarat has a single-chamber legislative assembly with 182 members. The state sends 37 members to the Indian national parliament: 11 to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and 26 to the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Local government is based on 19 administrative districts.<br /><br />History </p><p align="justify">Signs of civilization in the region that is now Gujarat date back to the period from 3000 to 1500 BC. The region was part of the Mauryan Empire in the 3rd century BC under King Ashoka. In 1818 the English East India Company took control of Gujarat, administering the state through local princely rulers. With the independence of India in 1947, Gujarat became part of the state of Bombay. In 1960 Bombay state was split up, and Gujarat was formed from the northern and western portions, which were predominantly Gujarati-speaking areas. Most of the remainder of Bombay state became Maharashtra state, with a small portion going to Karnataka state. </p><p align="justify">Society and culture </p><p align="justify">The diverse ethnic groups represented in the Gujarati population may be broadly categorized as Indic (i.e., northern-derived) or Dravidian (southern-derived). The former include the Nagar Brahman, Bhatia, Bhadela, Rabari, and Mina castes (the Parsis, originally from Persia, represent a much later northern influx); among the peoples of southern origin are the Bhangi, Koli, Dubla, Naikda, and Macchi-Kharwa tribes. The rest of the population, including the aboriginal Bhil tribe, exhibit mixed characteristics. Members of the Scheduled (formerly "untouchable") Castes and of the aboriginal tribes form nearly one-fifth of the state's population. There is one entirely tribal district of Dangs. Ahmadabad district has the highest proportion of Scheduled Castes. Gujarati and Hindi are the official languages of the state. About 70% of the population are Hindus ahead of minorities of Muslims and Jains. About one-third of the population is urban. The most urbanized part of the state is the Ahmadabad-Vadodara (Baroda) industrial belt. Major towns that were once capitals of princely states are Rajkot, Junagadh, Bhavnagar (Bhaunagar), and Jamnagar. </p><p align="justify">The folklore and folk culture of Gujarat are traced to the mythology of Lord Krishna. Dance forms and festivals in honour Krishna exist, Garba and Bhavai being two examples. Among the most durable and effective of the state's cultural institutions are the trade and craft guilds known as mahajans which often solves disputes, acted as channels of philanthropy, and encouraged the arts. Gujarat’s handicrafts are famous the world over Economy and infrastructure </p><p align="justify">About two-thirds of the population is engaged in agriculture, the gross area cropped amounting to about half of the total land area. Wheat and millet are the staple food crops, with rice production being concentrated in the wetter areas. Sugarcane production is increasing, while cotton, tobacco, and oilseeds (especially peanuts [groundnuts]) are profitable cash crops. Gujarat produces about one-third of India's peanut crop and about one-third of the country's tobacco. Cash crops are characteristic of the state's agricultural economy. </p><p align="justify">One of India's most industrialized states, Gujarat maintains a variety of industries, the principal ones being general and electrical engineering and the manufacture of textiles, vegetable oils, chemicals, soda ash, and cement. New industries include the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. Petroleum production began in 1960, and an oil refinery is located at Vadodara. </p><p align="justify">A thermal-power station is located at Dhuvaran. The state also receives power from the Tarapur nuclear facility in Maharashtra state. The long-delayed Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada River was projected to become the state's largest producer of hydroelectric power and to provide water for extensive irrigation Gujarat has a total railway length of 5268 kms and total road length of 72950 kms when survey last conducted for 31st march, 1999. Its National Highways constitute about 4.5 per cent of the total length of National Highways in India. </p><p align="justify">Coastal shipping routes link Gujarat's many ports. Kandla is a major international shipping terminal. There is air service both within the state and to major Indian cities outside Gujarat Tourist centres </p><p align="justify">Gujarat has 4 national parks and 11 sanctuaries. The game sanctuary at Gir ( the world’s last habitat of the Asiatic lion), the sacred temples of Dwarka and Somnath, Palitana, the picturesque mountain city of Jain temples on about 2000 feet high Shetrunjaya hills, Udwada, the oldest place of the Fire temple of Parsees in India, the 5000-year old archaeological finds at Lothal, the 11th century Sun temples at Modhera, bird sanctuary at nal Sarovar, architectural monuments of Indo-Saracenic style at Ahmedabad and the national shrine of Gandhiji at Sabarmati, are a few of the varied attractions.</p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Gujjuweb News</h1> <p>2007-01-25T04:03:00.000-08:00</p> <span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Gujarat Congress - an organizational chaos</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><br /><div align="justify">Gujarat Congress is an organizational chaos. There is no leadership, direction or even a states political agenda. Putting BJP to power is not so much attributed to to BJP's strengths as it is attributed to Congress weakness and lack of a strong intelligent leader. BJP also has lot of disgruntled members who are waiting for the first opportunity to pounce on Narendra Modi who has been just been mesmerizing everyone by fiery speeches and lately with some strong bold changes to bring the state back on India's roadmap as an economic force. </div><div align="justify"><br />We do need constructive debates in Gandhinagar but the opposition has outright surrendered hands down, shoulders down. Modi has done lot good for the state to catch attention of everyone too but here is what he might have done wrong :- Relaxing Prohibition Policy - Oops...We already have thousands of young kids addicted to tobacco and gutkhas and not one more - more trouble for parents too and women will be less secure.. Very very bad decision </div><div align="justify"><br />- Creating a very dangerous situation of hatred between Hindus and Muslims rather than adopting means of creating harmony by education. What will happen after Modi is gone is very unpredictable.</div><div align="justify"><br />- Taking and approving industrial investments without considering overall impact on environment, water contamination, etc.</div><br />Yes - for now, it looks rosy but in the long run the long term losses of these 3 decisions will far outweigh the immediate gains we have got.<br /><br /><div align="justify"><br />What can we say - Modi now has Red Carpet and with no opposition, we do risk our future totally on sanity of our Chief Minister. Lets hope some of these decisions can be withdrawn. Everything is possible - considering how powerful our CM is. He can just reverse two of these decisions unilaterally and I don't see anyone challenging that if that is done. </div><div align="justify"><br />Congress should put up the case as best as they can and leave the rest to the history. Its unfortunate for the state that there is no strong opposition. </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;">Gujarat improves and stands as 3rd least corrupt state in India</span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#6666cc;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="color:#000000;">Following Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat now stands as the third least corrupt state in the country. Hats off to all the efforts of Government - lets get the greed out from our system and take environment friendly investments, crack down on polluting enterprises and we are on path to be a model state not only in India but the whole world.</span></div><span style="color:#000000;"><div align="justify"><br />This study was quoted by the World Bank in its appraisal of the AP economic reforms loan-III (also known as development policy loan) </div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></span></div><span style="color:#6666cc;"><strong>Non Resident Gujarati Community Seniors look for Community Housing</strong></span><br /><br /><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6666cc;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify"><strong><span style="color:#6666cc;"></span></strong></div><div align="justify">These are the people who have migrated to USA, years ago with their kids. They have million dollar houses. They have worked hard and built a safety net. But with all the money with them, a time comes when the kids move out and they are left on their own - alone with no one to take care of and living with sense of insecurity and inner fear. </div><div align="justify"><br />North America is all about Nuclear Families. The system is built to have lonliness and fear in elders and senior citizens. The average income and standard of living of Indians in North America is almost double than average North American. The extended family concept is just not there.</div><div align="justify"><br />The Senior Citizens suffer the most. They have no place to go and no way to find a solution to their current situation. They want to stay togather with other seniors, they want to sell their large homes and get into a community housing environment with all facilities, parks, medical care and they are willing to pay for it. It is the real need - we just need providers who can build such facilities in USA and this would be a welcome project by entire North American Gujarati Community. </div><div align="justify"><br />Is there any Gujarati Builder out there listening ? </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"><br />Gandhinagar City of Gujarat State<br />Population: 132,000 Telephone Area Code: 079</div><div align="justify"><br />Although Ahmedabad was entitled to be the capital of Gujarat state when the old state of Bombay was split into Maharashtra and Gujarat in 1960, a new capital was planned 32km north-east on the West Bank of the Sabarmati River. Named Gandhinagar after Mahatma Gandhi, who was born in Gujarat, it is India's second planned city after Chandigarh and, like that city, is laid out in numbered sectors and preplanned areas. Construction of the city commenced in 1965 and the secretariat was moved there in 1970.</div><div align="justify"><br />City GuidanceGandhiji was born and brought up in Gujarat. There are many institutions named and associated with the Mahatma. His statues have been erected all over the town. A whole town has been named 'Gandhidham' near Kandala. The Ellisbridge area of Ahmedabad has also been named 'Gandhigram' and the new capital of state is also given the name 'Gandhinagar'.<br />The town was build under a planned scheme and it was to be made the centre for administration, hence all the arrangements were planned accordingly. The buildings, roads, gardens and other amenities were established, keeping its utilities in view. </div><div align="justify"><br />As Maharashtra and Gujarat were parted in 1960 Ahmedabad was made a temporary capital of the state. Hence it was decided to develop a whole new town afresh, which would meet all priorities and parameters of a capital. The foundations of the new capital near Ahmedabad were laid in 1964-65. The planning was based on Chandigarh blue prints, the first ever-whole new town in post independence era, developed by French architect La Corbusier. </div><div align="justify"><br />There are 30 sectors in the town. The secretariat, assembly, other government offices and residential complexes were built. The roads are broad enough. The electricity, water supply and other amenities have been established. A special care has been taken to avoid pollution. There are plenty of trees in the town. The parks of Gandhinagar have become tourist attractions. It seems that a whole new town has all of a sudden grown in agricultural fields. </div><div align="justify"><br />Some of the villages around Gandhinagar have been included in the district of Gandhinagar. Adalaj near Gandhinagar is world-famous for its stepwell. The architecture of the stepwell is extra-ordinary. The multistoried stepwell has many underground rooms and each pillar is a piece of art. </div><div align="justify"><br />Some more tourist attractions are also there in and around Gandhinagar. The deer sanctuary and serpent-house in Indroda, a nearby village is one of them. The festival of 'Palli' in Roopal village during Navaratri festivals is one more tourist attraction. Vasaniya Mahadeo at Vasan village is also worth a visit. </div><div align="justify"><br />Gandhinagar has seen rapid growth and development in eighties. The administrative centre is slowly turning into a trade centre and the efforts of establishing Electronic industries near Gandhinagar will soon change the face of the town. Private buildings, hotels and co-operative societies have come up. It has enlarged its limits to a considerable extent in recent years. Private institutions, service organisation, religious centres and educational institutions have also come up during the last two decades.</div><div align="justify"><br />Getting There & AwayBusBuses from Ahmedabad cost Rs 5. They leave from Lal Darwaja, or from one of the numerous stops along Ashram Rd.</div><div align="justify"></div><div align="justify"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>ગુજરાત રાજ્યના મુખ્યમંત્રીઃનરેન્દ્ર મોદી</h1> <p>2007-01-23T23:05:00.000-08:00</p> <div align="justify"><br />નરેન્દ્ર મોદી ઓક્ટોબર ૨૦૦૧ મા કેશુભાઈ પટેલ ને સ્થાને ગુજરાત ના મુખ્ય મંત્રી બન્યા. ગુજરાત ના મુખ્ય મંત્રી બનવા પહેલા નરેન્દ્ર મોદી ને કોઈ પણ પ્રકાર નો સત્તાકિય અનુભવ નહોતો. મુખ્ય મંત્રી બન્યા બાદ એ એમના જીવન ની પહેલી ચુંટણી લડ્યા હતા. એમના શાસન કાળ મા ગુજરાત ભારત ના ઘણા રાજ્યો કરતા આગળ થઈ ગયુ. જોકે એમના શાસન કાળ મા ભા.જ.પ. ને ગુજરાત મા ઘણી સફળતા મળી એ ઉલ્લેખનિય છે. he is a great leader and has proved his entity and concern for gujarat.<br />Retrieved from.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>TOP Rated Gujarati Recipes</h1> <p>2007-01-23T03:15:00.000-08:00</p> <div align="center"><strong>Kesar Halwa</strong></div><div><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong><a href="http://www.gujarat.com/recipes/photo/1138254968.jpg"></a><br /><strong>Main Ingredients</strong></div><strong><br /><div><br /></strong></div>Sugar (Cheeni) , Saffron (Kesar) , Flour (Atta), Clarified Butter (Ghee)<br /><br /><div><strong>Ingredients</strong></div><strong><br /><div></strong></div>1 cup Sugar1 1/2 cup Water1 tsp Cardamom powderSaffron colour or saffron threads2 cups Plain Flour1 1/2 cups Ghee.Nuts for decorating<br /><br /><div><strong>Method</strong></div><br /><div><br />Bring water and sugar to boil. Remove from heat, add essence, colour. Mix well and set aside.<br />Roast the flour over medium heat for 10 mins. (till you get aroma). Add ghee and fry for further 5-7 mins till golden brown. </div><br /><div><br />Slowly add the sugar syrup to the flour mixture. Quickly and constantly keep stirring till it forms a smooth paste. Grease a plate. Pour the paste to the plate. Decorate with nuts of your choice.<br />Cover the thali and set it in the refigerator for atleast 1/2 an hour.<br />Cut into desired shape and serve<br /></div><br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;">Apple Halwa</span></strong></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></strong></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><p>Carrot Halwa, Lentils and Bean Halwa, Wheat Flour Halwa and Semolina Halwa are all popular desserts in India. Apple Halwa can be made the same way and it has an interestingly sweet and tart taste. In Indian homes, a form of milk cooked until all the water has evaporated-known as khoya is used. Condensed milk is a nice substitute. </p><br /><p>3 lbs apples, grated, best made with tart crisp apples </p><br /><p>6 tsp sugar </p><br /><p>juice of 1 lemon </p><br /><p>8 tbsp ghee or clarified butter</p><br /><p>2 inch cinnamon stick </p><br /><p>6 cloves</p><br /><p>8 tbsp condensed milk</p><br /><p>2 tbsp raisins</p><br /><p>2 tbsp butter </p><br /><p>4 tbsp calvados</p><br /><p>almond slivers to decorate </p><br /><p>silver or gold foil Serves: 6 </p><br /><p>As soon as the apples are grated, sprinkle them with sugar and lemon juice to prevent discoloration. Mix well. </p><br /><p>Heat the ghee in a heavy based saucepan, add the cinnamon and cloves and after 30 seconds the apples. Saute for 10 minutes or so over high heat. Add the condensed milk and raisins and saute for a further 8-10 minutes, stirring continuously and scraping the bottom and sides of the pan.<br />Glaze with the butter. This dessert should be served hot. Heat the calvados for a few seconds in a small pan and pour into the halwa. </p><br /><p>Garnish with almonds if using. </p><br /><p><span style="color:#ff6666;">Notes:</span> You can also use silver or gold foil to garnish the halwa and sprinkle ground toasted pistachios or walnuts and serve the halwa with vanilla ice cream. </p><p><strong><span style="color:#cc6600;">Bansudi</span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#cc6600;"></span></strong></p><br /><p><strong>Main Ingredients</strong></p><p>Cream (Malai) , Milk, Sugar (Cheeni) , Saffron (Kesar)</p><p><strong>Ingredients </strong></p><p>500 ml. Whipping Cream100 ml. MilkSugar to taste1 tsp. Nutmeg powderA pinch of Saffron1 cup of Milk Powder</p><p><strong>Method: </strong></p><p>Bring whipping cream and milk to boil together. Add nutmeg powder and saffron to it.<br />Keep boiling on medium heat for about 15 mins, adding milk powder slowly to it. Keep stirring to prevent lumps. Remove from heat. Once cool, add sugar and stir well.<br />Chill before serve. </p><p><strong>Variation: </strong></p><p>You could make tiny little rasgullas and squeeze water out of them. Add to prepared basundi after both rasgullas and basundi get cold and right after you add sugar to basundi. Keep in the fridge for a day and then serve. </p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>The World's TOP - 5 Richest People</h1> <p>2007-01-22T23:23:00.000-08:00</p> <strong><span style="color:#006600;">#1 William Gates III </span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2006/BH69.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="right"><a href="http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2006/BH69.jpg"></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Age: 50<br />Fortune: self made<br />Source: Microsoft<br />Net Worth: 50.0<br />Country Of Citizenship: United States<br />Residence: Medina, Washington, United States, North America<br />Industry: Software<br />Marital Status: married, 3 children<br /><br />Harvard University, Drop OutMicrosoft's chief visionary moving further away from day-to-day corporate work. For the first time did not offer a strategy outlook at last year's financial analyst meeting. Instead, prefers to dive into innovative projects, foster collaboration among Microsoft's many divisions. Microsoft aims to be omnipotent, selling software for PCs, servers, cell phones, television set-top boxes, gaming consoles, the Web. At the ripe (tech sector) age of 30, Gates' company impressively beats rivals in profit margins, market capitalization and R&D budget, but its sales growth is slowing to a (recently) single-digit percentage pace. Like elder statesman of computing, IBM, has been investing heavily in its own stock. Diversifies methodically, selling 20 million shares every quarter, reinvesting through Cascade Investment. Big stakes in Canadian National Railway, Republic Services, Berkshire Hathaway. Philanthropy, via $29 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at fighting infectious disease (hepatitis B, AIDS, malaria) and improving high schools.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">#2 Warren Buffett<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2006/C0R3.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Age: 75<br />Fortune: self made<br />Source: Berkshire Hathaway<br />Net Worth: 42.0<br />Country Of Citizenship: United States<br />Residence: Omaha, Nebraska, United States, North America<br />Industry: Investments<br />Marital Status: widowed, 3 children<br /><br />University of Nebraska Lincoln, Bachelor of Arts / ScienceColumbia University, Master of Science Revered investor took it on the chin over Berkshire Hathaway's General Re insurance unit; SEC threatened civil fraud suit against General Re Chief Joseph Brandon over questionable transaction with American International Group. Also got it for his board seat at Coca-Cola, where his "independence" might be compromised by Berkshire's ownership of Dairy Queen, which buys lots of Coke products. Buffett: "Do they want us to favor Pepsi?" At Berkshire set in place two governance reforms: regular meetings of directors without Buffett present; whistleblower line for employees. Sitting on $43 billion in cash, hoped to make some big acquisitions last year, "but I struck out." Instead, invested in foreign currencies: $21 billion bet against the dollar and in favor of various other currencies. "In no way does our thinking about currencies rest on doubts about America." Newspaper delivery boy filed first 1040 at age 13; claimed $35 deduction for bicycle. Studied under Benjamin Graham at Columbia. Applied value-investing principles to build Berkshire Hathaway. Portfolio includes utilities (MidAmerican Energy Holdings), insurance (Geico, General Re), apparel (Fruit of the Loom), flight services (FlightSafety, NetJets). Also chunks of American Express, Coca-Cola, Gillette, Wells Fargo. Instructs managers to run a business as if it's the only asset the manager's family will own over the next 100 years. Prefers his investors to buy equities only after careful analysis. "If they insist on trying to time their participation in equities, they should try to be fearful when others are greedy and greedy only when others are fearful." Says he underestimated the severity of certain stocks' overvaluation during the tech bubble. "I talked when I should have walked." No matter. Since taking control of Berkshire 40 years ago, has delivered compound annual return of 22%. "No wonder we tap-dance to work."<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">#3 Carlos Slim Helu </span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2006/WYDJ.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Age: 66<br />Fortune: inherited and growing<br />Source: Telecom<br />Net Worth: 30.0<br />Country Of Citizenship: Mexico<br />Residence: Mexico City, Mexico, North America<br />Industry: Communications<br />Marital Status: widowed, 6 children<br /><br />Latin America's richest man added more than $6 billion to his fortune this year. He sold off his stakes in MCI and Altria and used the proceeds to up his holding in Saks Inc; in his fixed line operator, Telmex; and in America Movil, his flagship wireless telecom outfit. The latest was a particularly smart move as America Movil's stock has almost doubled in the past year. He also owns 71% of a new public company, Impulsora del Desarollo Economico de America Latina, which he spun off from financial services giant Grupo Financiero Inbursa. Inbursa also invested in a start-up budget airline called Volaris. An art collector, Slim houses his Rodin sculptures in Mexico City's Museo Soumaya, the museum he funded and named after his late wife. His Grupo Carso is reportedly a combination of his first name and his late wife's.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#006600;">#4 Ingvar Kamprad<br /></span></strong><br /><a href="http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2006/BWQ7.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Age: 79<br />Fortune: self made<br />Source: Ikea<br />Net Worth: 28.0<br />Country Of Citizenship: Sweden<br />Residence: Lausanne, Switzerland, Europe & Russia<br />Industry: Retailing<br />Marital Status: married, 4 children<br /><br />Peddled matches, fish, pens, Christmas cards and other items by bicycle as a teenager. Started selling furniture in 1947. Now his company Ikea, which sells hip designs for the cost conscious, is one of the most beloved retailers in the world, with an almost cultlike following. Ikea, which has stores in 33 countries, continues to expand into new markets such as Guangzhou, China and Moscow. As egalitarian as his brand, Kamprad avoids wearing suits, flies economy class and frequents cheap restaurants. Has been quoted as saying that his luxuries are occasionally buying a nice cravat and eating Swedish fish roe<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#996633;">#5 Lakshmi Mittal </span></strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://images.forbes.com/media/lists/10/2006/R0YG.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br />Age: 55<br />Fortune: inherited and growing<br />Source: SteelNet<br />Worth: 23.5<br />Country Of Citizenship:<span style="font-size:130%;color:#6600cc;"> India</span><br />Residence: London, United Kingdom, Europe & Russia<br />Industry: Manufacturing<br />Marital Status: married, 2 children<br /><br /><br />St Xavier's College Calcutta, Bachelor of Arts / ScienceThe steel titan now oversees the world's largest steel company, Mittal Steel. In December 2004 he merged his Ispat International with Ohio-based International Steel Group in a $4 billion (in cash and stock) deal. Owns 87.4% of the $28.1 billion (2005 sales) company. An early year double-digit drop in US and European steel prices and fourth-quarter increased spending on coal and iron ore and lower prices helped lead to a 28% drop in 2005 profits to $3.4 billion. On Jan 27, Mittal made a $23.7 billion hostile bid for largest rival, Luxembourg-based Arcelor, in an effort to spark more world steel consolidation and enable Mittal Steel to sell higher grade steel to company's like Ford Motor. Arcelor employing numerous techniques to either fend it off or get a higher price: bought a large stake in a Chinese steel company; enlisted the French government to take up its cause; Luxembourg (the biggest shareholder) introduced a new takeover law; and Arcelor doubled its dividend.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Guinness World Records</h1> <p>2007-01-21T23:17:00.000-08:00</p> <div><div><div>The race is on to nominate seven new wonders of the world. On 1 January 2006, a panel of experts short-listed nominations that had received the most votes throughout 2005, narrowing a list of 77 sites down to 21 finalists. These 21 finalists, listed below, will be the subject of public vote to decide which seven make the history books.<a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/images/sevenwonders/sydney_opera_house.jpg"></a></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br />Millions of people have already have already participated in one of the largest global votes that has ever taken place. The result will be released on 7 July 2007 – 07/07/07 – so there's still time to make your voice heard. </div><a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/images/sevenwonders/pyramids_of_giza.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong></strong></div><div><strong>Choose from this list of finalists:</strong></div><div><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;">The Acropolis of Athens (450 - 330 <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/images/sevenwonders/roman_colosseum.jpg"></a>B.C.) Athens, Greece<br />Alhambra (12th century) Granada, Spain<br />Angkor (12th century) Cambodia<br />The Pyramid at Chichén Itzá (before 800 A.D.) Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico<br />Christ Redeemer (1931) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil<br />The Roman Colosseum (70 - 82 A.D.) Rome, Italy (top pic)<br />Statues of Easter Island (10th - 16th Century) Easter Island, Chile<br />The Eiffel Tower (1887 - 89) Paris, France<br />The Great Wall of China (220 B.C and 1368 - 1644 A.D.) China<br />The Hagia Sophia (532 - 537 A.D.) Istanbul, Turkey<br />Kiyomizu Temple (749 - 1855) Kyoto, Japan<br />The Kremlin and Red Square (1156 - 1850) Moscow, Russia<br />Machu Picchu (1460-1470), Peru<br />Neuschwanstein Castle (1869 -1884) Füssen, Germany<br />Petra (9 B.C. - 40 A.D.), Jordan<br />The Pyramids of Giza (2600 - 2500 B.C), Egypt (middle pic)<br />The Statue of Liberty (1886) New York City, U.S.A.<br />Stonehenge (3000 B.C. - 1600 B.C.) Amesbury, United Kingdom<br />Sydney Opera House (1954 - 73) Sydney, Australia (bottom pic)<br />The Taj Mahal (1630 A.D.) Agra, India<br />Timbuktu (12th century) Mali </span></div><br /><div></div><div><strong><span style="color:#009900;"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></span></strong></div><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></span></strong></div><br /><div align="left"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Natural World</span></strong></span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#009900;"></span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#6666cc;">LARGEST MONKEY</span></div><span style="color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/images/records/natural_world.gif"></a><br />The male mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) or man-ape of equatorial West Africa has an average head and body length of 61–76 cm (24-30 in) and a tail length of 5.2–7.6 cm (2-3 in). Adult males weigh an average of 25 kg (55 lb), although specimens weighting up to 54 kg (119 lb) and measuring 50.8 cm (20 in) to the shoulder have been known. The mandrill is also one of the most colourful mammals, recognized by its naked vivid-blue rump, red-striped face and yellow beard.</div><br /><br /><div></div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc66;">Science & Technology</span></div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ffcc66;"></span><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/images/records/science_and_technology.gif"></a>LARGEST SHUTTLE CREW</div><br /><br /><div><br />Space shuttle Challenger STS 61A, which was launched on 30 Oct 1985, had a crew of eight.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;color:#9999ff;">Most valuable guitar</span><br /><br />WHO: <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/images/records/rhp/portrait/102097.jpg"></a><br />Reach Out To Asia<br />WHAT:<br />US$2.7 million (then £1.57 million)<br />WHERE:<br />Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Doha, Qatar<br />WHEN:<br />November 17, 2005<br />A Fender Stratocaster guitar signed by a host of music legends fetched US$2.7 million (then £1.57 million) at a charity auction for Reach Out To Asia at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Doha, Qatar, on November 17, 2005. Stars who signed the guitar included Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Paul McCartney, Jimmy Page and Brian May (all UK). The Reach Out To Asia campaign seeks to support worthy causes around the world, with particular emphasis on the Asian continent.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Today's Quote</h1> <p>2007-01-20T05:04:00.000-08:00</p> <span style="font-family:verdana;color:#6666cc;">There is a time to go ahead there is a time to go back there is a time to move on there is a time to rest. There is a time to be enthusiastic there is a time to stop also there is a time to be cautious and there is a time to be afraid. - Lao Tzu..</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:#6666cc;"><a href="http://www.gkindia.com/quotations/index.asp">Read more...</a></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> <article> <h1>Universities Of India</h1> <p>2007-01-20T02:37:00.000-08:00</p> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><strong>Click on the below links to get more information about the Universities of India..</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(1) <a href="http://www.gkindia.com/universities/general.htm">General</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(2) <a href="http://www.gkindia.com/universities/technical.htm">Science</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(3) <a href="http://www.gkindia.com/universities/ca.htm">Commerce</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(4) <a href="http://www.gkindia.com/universities/agriculture.htm">Agriculture</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(5) <a href="http://www.gkindia.com/universities/archie.htm">Specials</a></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" >(6) <a href="http://www.gkindia.com/universities/astrology.htm">Others</a></span><br /><script type="text/javascript"></script><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script></div> </article> </main></body></html>