Informatics World

Tomothy John Russert

2008-06-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

Timothy John Russert, collapsed in NBC's Washington, D.C. studios on Friday June 13, 2008 while taping voiceovers for Meet the Press, and was pronounced dead a short time later at Sibley Memorial Hospital. An autopsy, performed on the day of his death, determined that his history of diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease led to sudden cardiac death. The immediate cause of death was an occlusive coronary thrombus. On the special reports program, Russert's friend Dr. Michael Newman stated that the autopsy showed coronary artery disease in the left anterior descending artery, and a fresh blood clot was visible on one of these plaques.

Timothy John Russert or "Tim" Russert, Jr. was an American Television Journalist and lawyer, best known for appearing for sixteen years as the moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was NBC News' Washington Bureau Chief and also hosted the self-titled CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview program Tim Russert. He was a frequent correspondent and guest on NBC's The Today Show and Hardball, and is noted for his coverage of presidential elections from 2000 until his death and for his presentation of the NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey on the NBC Nightly News during the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Russert took over the Sunday morning program Meet the Press in 1991, and would become the longest serving host of the program. Its name was changed to Meet the Press with Tim Russert, and went to an hour-long format in 1992. Russert was known especially for his extensive research in preparation for interviews. One common approach he used was to find old quotes or video clips that he would present to guests that were inconsistent with their more recent statements, and then ask them to clarify their positions. Russert often moderated political debates as well.

During his career, Russert received 48 honorary doctorates and won several awards for excellence in journalism including the Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio-Television News Directors Association, the John Peter Zenger Freedom of the Press Award, the American Legion Journalism Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism Award, the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism, the David Brinkley Award for Excellence in Communication and the Catholic Academy for Communication's Gabriel Award. Russert also received an Emmy Award in 2005 for his coverage of the funeral of former President Ronald Reagan.

Journalists from multiple news organizations and politicians of all viewpoints praised Russert's commitment to the highest standards of well-researched journalism and fair play. CBS News anchor emeritus Walter Cronkite wrote: "Tim Russert was a giant in our field — a standard-bearer of journalistic integrity and ethics. His masterful interviews and round-table discussions are legendary."

President George W. Bush praised him as "a tough and hardworking newsman. He was always well-informed and thorough in his interviews. And he was as gregarious off the set as he was prepared on it."

Indian-Tamil writer “Sujatha” passed away

2008-02-28T18:03:00.000-08:00

Popular Indian Tamil Writer 'Sujatha'alias Mr. Rangarajan passed away today at the Apollo Hospitals at Chennai on 27^th February 2008 after a brief illness.He was 72. He is survived by his wife and two sons.

“Sujatha”, whose real name was S. Rangarajan, was born in Triplicane in Chennai on May 03, 1935 but spent his childhood in Srirangam near Tiruchirapalli under the care of his paternal grandmother owing to his father's frequent transfers in his government job. Mr Rangarajan attended Srirangam Boys High School. He did his Bachelors Degree in Physics in St Joseph's College, Tiruchirapalli where he was the classmate of Ex-President of India,Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam. Later on, he did his Engineering in Electronics at the Madras Institute of Technology.

Sujatha's forte was science fiction writing. He had also written many film scripts notable among which was Kamal Hassan's Vikram, Vikram’s Anniyan and Rajnikanth’s Sivaji the boss. His writing interests were largely inspired by the short stories and serials published in popular Tamil magazines and literary magazines. After his Engineering degree, he joined the Central Government in Delhi. After 14 years in government service, he joined Bharat Electronics at Bangalore. In Bharat Electronics, he rose to the post of General Manager. After retirement, he settled down in Chennai.

Sujatha received an award from the India's National Council for Science and Technology in 1993 for making science accessible to the public through popular media. He also received the VASWIK Award for Electronic Voting Machine and Kalaimamani Award from the Tamil Nadu Government. He is the writer of over 100 novels, 200 short stories, essays stage plays, and popular articles and Q&A on science.

Thanksgiving Day

2007-11-23T09:03:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Day is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States of America. It has a very interesting history and its origin can be traced back to the 16th century when the first thanksgiving dinner is said to have taken place.

The legendary pilgrims, crossed the Atlantic in the year 1620 in Mayflower-a 17th Century sailing vessel. About 102 people travelled for nearly two months with extreme difficulty. This was so because they were kept in the cargo space of the sailing vessel.No one was allowed to go on the deck due to terrible storms. The pilgrims comforted themselves by singing Psalms, a sacred song from the Holy Bible.

The pilgrims reached Plymouth rock on December 11th 1620, after a sea journey of 66 days. Though the original destination was somewhere in the northern part of Virginia, they could not reach the place owing to winds blowing them off. Nearly46 pilgrims died due to extreme cold in winter. However, in the spring of 1621, Squanto, a native Indian taught the pilgrims to survive by growing food.

In the summer of 1621, owing to severe drought, pilgrims called for a day of fasting and prayer to please God and ask for a bountiful harvest in the coming season. God answered their prayers and it rained at the end of the day. It saved the corn crops. It is said that Pilgrims learnt to grow corn, beans and pumpkins from the Indians, which helped all of them survive . In the autumn of 1621, they held a grand celebration where 90 people were invited including Indians. The grand feast was organized to thank god for his favors. This communal dinner is popularly known as “The first thanksgiving feast”. There is however, no evidence to prove if the dinner actually took place. While some historians believe pilgrims were quite religious so, their thanksgiving would've included a day of fasting and praying, others say that the Thanksgiving dinner did take place.

There is no evidence to prove if the customary turkey was a part of the initial feast. According to the first hand account written by the leader of the colony, the food included, ducks, geese, venison, fish, berries etc. Pumpkin pie, a modern staple adorning every dinner table, is unlikely to have been a part of the first thanksgiving feast. Pilgrims however, did have boiled pumpkin. Diminishing supply of flour led to the absence of any kind of bread.

The feast continued for three days and was eaten outside due to lack of space. It was not repeated till 1623, which again witnessed a severe drought. Governor Bradford proclaimed another day of thanksgiving in the year 1676. October of 1777 witnessed a time when all the 13 colonies joined in a communal celebration. It also marked the victory over the British.

Cricket-Indian Oil Cup-India vs Pakistan-India wins the Series

2007-11-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

India has won the 4th ODI against Pakistan by 6 wickets and won the series in the Indian Oil cup with still one ODI left. After 24 years of long gap India has won an ODI series victory against Pakistan in Indian soil.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat but lost the important wicket of Salman Butt in the second ball of the match and after that Pakistan never looked to pose a big score to challenge India. Once Butt was out Malik and Younis started slowly and there was once again a good performance form Yousuf and Misabul, but not threatening one for India. They have lost wickets at crucial times when a partnership was built and Afridi getting out cheaply in middle overs made their task more difficult Pakistan scored 254 at the end which was not tough to chase but was a defending score for India.

India lost wickets of Ganguly and Gambhir in starting overs but before the class batting by Sachin Tendulkar the score looked too small for his caliber and his 100+ partnership with Sehwag made sure the Indian victory except finishing touch. Sachin got out at 97

and the finishing script was perfectly exhibited by Dhoni and Yuvaraj and their partnership closed the gates to Pakistan and they both stayed till end to score winning runs once again in this series.

Universal Children’s Day- India’s First Prime Minister-Nehruji’s Birthday

2007-11-14T01:06:00.000-08:00

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India is the maker of Modern India as his life and works have influenced the way of thinking, social structures and all round development of India. He was a perfect blend of eastern values and western thinking and encouraged technological progress.

His great love for roses and children is a well-known fact. He used to compare roses and children, saying that children were like the buds in a garden. They should be carefully and lovingly nurtured, as they were the future of the nation and the citizens of tomorrow. He felt that children are the real strength of a country and the very foundation of society. Most importantly he did not discriminate between the sexes and believed in giving equal opportunities to girls and boys.

Quite naturally, he was the 'beloved' of all the children who gave him the endearing name of 'Chacha Nehru'. As a tribute to this great man and his genuine love for children, his birthday, the 14 th November is celebrated all over India as 'Universl Children’s Day’

Pandit Nehru's message on Children’s Day is “providing children with a safe and loving environment in which to grow as well as giving them ample and equal opportunities through which they can take great strides and contribute to the progress of the nation.

Veterans Day, 11th November

2007-11-10T23:49:00.000-08:00

During the World War I, the Allied powers signed a cease-fire agreement with Germany at Rethondes, France on November 11, 1918, bringing World War I to a close.

The World War I officially ended on June 28, 1919, with the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The actual fighting between the Allies and Germany, however, had ended seven months earlier with the armistice, which went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in the year 1918.

Hence November 11 th was known as the Armistice Day and it was changed to Veterans Day to honor all U.S. veterans.

Between the two World Wars, November 11 was commemorated as Armistice Day in the United States, Great Britain, and France. After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both world wars. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.

In 1968, new legislation changed the national commemoration of Veterans Day to the fourth Monday in October. It soon became apparent, however, that November 11 was a date of historic significance to many Americans. Therefore, in 1978 Congress returned the observance to its traditional date.

Cricket-Indian Test Series Captain-Anil Kumble

2007-11-09T04:58:00.000-08:00

Anil Kumble has been named India's new Test captain for the upcoming home series against Pakistan, putting an end to the prolonged speculations on the matter.

The national selectors deliberated at length before deciding to opt for the 37-year-old Kumble ahead of ODI and Twenty20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni who was widely tipped to get the reins of the Test team as well.

The announcement was made by the BCCI Joint Secretary M P Pandove, just a few minutes before midnight and the Chairman of the Selection Committee Dilip Vengsarkar was not present to take queries from the media.

A top BCCI source said that the experienced Kumble was preferred ahead of Dhoni because the selectors felt that Test captaincy would put a lot of pressure on the Jharkhand youngster, who also has the responsibility of keeping wickets.

The selectors were put in a dilemma after Sachin Tendulkar, who was tipped to be the captain of the Test team, turned down the offer two days back and suggested that a "youngster" be given the reins of the side.

Anil Kumble has won the most number of Test Matches for India. Kumble's prodigious capacity to bear pain was proved in Antigua in 2002, when he bandaged his fractured jaw to deliver a stirring spell, and that to continuously learn when, in the mid-2000s, after a decade of middling away performances, he influenced memorable wins in Headingley, Adelaide, Multan and Kingston, using an improved googly, bigger sidespin and more variation in flight and on the crease.

In 1999 in Delhi he took all the ten wickets in an innings against Pakistan. In December 2001, on home turf in Bangalore, he became the India's first spinner to take 300 Test wickets.

In August 2007 at The Oval he went past Glenn McGrath's 563 wickets to move to No.3 on the all-time list, behind only Shane Warne and Muthiah Muralidharan.

Happy Deepavali Wishes

2007-11-07T19:55:00.000-08:00

Deepavali meaning " Row of Lights" falls on the last two days of the dark half of Kartik during October-November. For some it is a three-day festival.

It commences with the Dhan-Teras, on the 13th day of the dark half of Kartik, followed the next day by the Narak Chaudas, the 14th day, and by Deepavali proper on the 15th day.

Waking up during the Brahmamuhurta, at 4a.m.in the early morning is a great blessing from the standpoint of health, ethical discipline, efficiency in work and spiritual advancement. It is on Deepavali that everyone wakes up early in the morning.

On Deepavali day some people celebrate the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. In Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Kali. On this day the triumphant Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya after defeating Ravana and Sri Krishna killed the demon Narakasura.

In South India people take oil bath in the morning and wear new clothes. They share sweets with their relatives and friends. They light fireworks which are regarded as the effigies of Narakasura who was killed on this day. They greet one another, asking, "Have you had your Ganges bath?" which actually refers to the oil bath that morning as it is regarded as purifying as a bath in the Holy Ganges river.Everyone buys new clothes for the family. Employers, too, purchase new clothes for their employees.

On this day Hindu merchants in North India open their new account books and pray for success and prosperity during the coming year. The homes are cleaned and decorated by day and illuminated by night with earthern oil-lamps.

HAPPY DEEPAVALI WISHES!

All Soul's Day

2007-11-01T17:25:00.000-07:00

All Soul's Day is a Roman Catholic day of remembrance of the loved ones who have passed away. This comes from the ancient Festival of the Dead. All Soul's Day also called the "Day of the Dead" is celebrated on November 2 or on November 3rd if the 2nd falls on a Sunday.

The Christian festival of All Soul's Day pays respect and remembers the souls of all the relatives and the loved ones who have died. The living pray on behalf of Christians who are in purgatory, the state in the afterlife where souls are purified before proceeding to heaven. Souls in purgatory, who are members of the church just like living Christians, must suffer so that they can be purged of their sins. It is a time to pray for their souls that they may be received into heaven.

Upon death, it is believed that souls have not yet been cleansed of sin. Praying for souls of loved ones helps to remove the stain of sin, and allow the souls to enter the pearly gates of heaven. Through prayer and good works, living members of the church may help their departed friends and family. There are three Requiem Masses that are said by the clergy to assist the souls from Purgatory to Heaven: one for the celebrant, one for the departed, and one for the pope.

The traditions of the Feast of All Souls began independently of the Feast of All Saints. The Feast of All Souls owes its beginning to seventh century monks who decided to offer the mass on the day after Pentecost for their deceased community members. In the late tenth century, the Benedictine monastery in Cluny chose to move their mass for their dead to November 2, the day after the Feast of all Saints. This custom spread and in the thirteenth century, Rome put the feast on the calendar of the entire Church. The date remained November 2 so that all in the Communion of the Saints might be celebrated together.

Many customs are associated with The Day of the Dead celebration. In the home an altar is made with an offering of food upon it. It is believed that the dead partake of the food in spirit and the living eat it later. The offerings are beautifully arranged with flowers.

There is a candle placed for each dead soul, and they are adorned in some manner. Incense is also used, and mementos, photos, and other remembrances of the dead also are placed together and flowered.

Traditional Catholics still honor customs related to the relief of the souls suffering in purgatory. One custom is for persons to pray six Our Fathers, Hail Mary's and Glory Be's for the intentions of the Pope in a church, and thereby, receive a plenary indulgence for a soul in purgatory. This action may be repeated for another soul, by leaving the church and re-entering it to repeat the prayers.

Indira Gandhi-Indian National Unity day

2007-10-31T06:15:00.000-07:00

Indian history has hitherto witnessed only one female Prime Minister,Mrs Indira andhi. She was the third Prime Minister of India and the daughter of the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawarharlal Nehru. Her charm, intelligence and charisma made her a powerful statesperson, much loved and admired by her people.

Indira Priyadharshini was born on 19th November 1917, in Allahabad and she was greatly loved by her parents and her grandfather Motilal Nehru, who was a famous lawyer, and a public figure. Jawaharlal Nehru had joined the freedom struggle, and Indira Priyadarshani was exposed to politics from the age of 3 or 4 years. Her house was the centre of political activity, as all the important leaders stayed there on visiting Allahabad. Mahatma Gandhi was a frequent visitor to her father's residence and she was greatly affected by his thinking. A visit to the Sabarmati Ashram left an indelible mark on her psyche and she was impressed by the simple, hard life and patriotic feelings that she witnessed there.

She passed her Matriculation from Pune University and was then sent on to Shantiniketan, formed by Rabindranath Tagore,where she was made to lead a strict highly disciplined life. From there she went on to study in Switzerland and then to Oxford University in London.After her return to India she married Feroze Gandhi, in March 1941 much against the wishes of the conservative Hindu community, as he was a Parsee. But her father Nehru was on her side. When Indira's father was in jail he used to write beautiful, long letters to her about his patriotic feelings and the current political situation. This led her to understand the intricacies of the nation, better than the most. In 1942, she joined the 'Quit India' Movement along with her husband and was arrested and jailed.After India gained freedom, Pandit Nehru was elected Prime Minister. After his death in 1964, Lal Bahadur Shastri took over. And then in 1966, Indira Gandhi was elected leader of the Congress.

Indira will be remembered for her commendable efforts in the development and progress of science, space exploration, irrigation, as well as policies like the nationalisation of banks and the 20-point programme.But on the other hand, the enormity of the problems she faced was the cause of much heartache. There were problems in Assam, Punjab as well as East Bengal. And in 1971, Pakistan attacked India and forced another smaller partition - the creation of Bangladesh.

On June 26th, 1975, Mrs. Gandhi declared an emergency, due to the turbulent political situation in the country at that time. Janta Party leaders like J.P. Narayan were arrested and jailed. But Mrs. Gandhi lost out to them in the next election in 1977 and was re-elected to power in 1980. Later, in Punjab there was a demand for a separate state of Khalistan, and the Sardarji's were up in arms. But their demands were not met and this was the cause of her ultimate assassination.

On Wednesday, October 31, 1984, when Indira Gandhi was proceeding to her office, she was gunned down by her own bodyguards. This day has gone down in History as national Unity Day, as a tribute to the memory of a Great lady, leader and statesperson.

Mukesh Ambani of India is the world's richest man today

2007-10-29T21:42:00.000-07:00

Mukesh Ambani of India has surpassed Bill Gates to become the world's richest man.The net worth of the Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani swelled
on30th October 2007, Monday making him the richest man in the world.

He surpassed American Bill Gates, Mexican business tycoon Carlos Slim Helu and famous investment guru Warren Buffett.

Monday's strong share price rally in the three companies Reliance Industries, Reliance Petroleum and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd - the net worth of Mukesh Ambani rose to $63.2 billion (Rs 2,49,108 crore).

In comparison, Gates and Slim is estimated to be slightly lower at around $62.29 billion each, with Slim leading among the two by a narrow margin.

Nobel Laureates of 2007

2007-10-26T03:39:00.000-07:00

The following is the list of Nobel Prize Winners for the year 2007.

Medicine:-
Shared by the following three persons:-

Mario R. Capecchi
Sir Martin J. Evans
Oliver Smithies
"for their discoveries of principles for introducing specific gene modifications in mice by the use of embryonic stem cells"

Physics:-

Shared by the following two persons:-

Albert Fert
Peter Grünberg
"for the discovery of Giant Magnetoresistance"

Chemistry:-

Gerhard Ertl
"for his studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces"

Literature:-

Doris Lessing
"that epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny"

Peace:-

Shared by the following two:-

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Al Gore Jr.

"for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change"

Economics:-

Shared by the following three persons:-

Leonid Hurwicz
Eric S. Maskin
Roger B. Myerson
"for having laid the foundations of mechanism design theory"

United Nations Day, 2007

2007-10-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

A Proclamation By the President of the United States of America:-

“After World War II, representatives from around the globe gathered to begin deliberations on a new international bill of rights. The document adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stands as a landmark achievement in the history of human liberty. On United Nations Day, we recognize the contributions of this important body and underscore our dedication to reforming the institution and advancing the high ideals on which it was founded.

Today, the United Nations must recommit itself to maintaining international security and helping solve economic, social, and humanitarian problems. This great institution must work for great purposes: to free people from tyranny and violence, hunger and disease, illiteracy and ignorance, and poverty and despair. With renewed commitment and courage, we can pursue the vision of the Universal Declaration and build a world where people are free to speak, assemble, and worship as they wish, and where opportunity crosses every border.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States,
do hereby proclaim October 24, 2007, as United Nations Day. I urge the Governors of the 50 States, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag of the United States to observe United Nations Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand seven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-second”.

GEORGE W. BUSH
President of the United States of America

One hundred-100-Century

2007-10-20T12:38:00.000-07:00

One hundred is the square of 10(10X10). The standard SI prefix for a hundred is "hecto-.

One hundred is the basis of percentages literally "per hundred", with 100% being a full amount.

It is the sum of the first nine prime numbers, as well as the sum of two prime numbers (47 + 53), and the sum of the cubes of the first four integers (100 = 1cube + 2cube + 3cube + 4cube). .

In Science,100 is the atomic number of fermium, an actinide.100 degrees Celsius is the boiling temperature of pure water at sea level.

In Astronomy,The Messier object M100, a magnitude 10.5 spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices.

The number of years in a century and a 100 year old person is known as a centenarian.

The number of runs required for a cricket batsman to score a Century is 100, a significant milestone

The number of subunits into which many of the world's currencies are divided; for example, one euro is one hundred cents and one Pound Sterling is one hundred pence

In Greece, India and Israel, 100 is the police telephone number.In Belgium, 100 is the ambulance telephone number.In United Kingdom, 100 is the operator telephone number.

"The First Hundred Days" is an arbitrary benchmark of a President of the United States' performance at the beginning of his term

Cricket- Twenty20 international - India vs Australia

2007-10-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

India ended the series on Twenty20 high, at the last 20 Twenty ODI held at Mumbai on20^th October 2007.
Scores:-
India 167 for 3 (Gambhir 63, Uthappa 35) beat Australia 166 for 5 (Ponting 76) by 7 wickets.
India’s Gautam Gambhir was unstoppable during his second successive Twenty20 half-century.
Though India lost the one-day series to Australia, India lived up to their world champions tag in the Twenty20, finishing with a thumping seven-wicket win in Mumbai.

Ricky Ponting's blazing 76 boosted Australian total but it was overshadowed by Gautam Gambhir's 63.Gambhir set the agenda in an emphatic manner, partnering Robin Uthappa and Yuvraj Singh in rollicking stands. Gambhir cut loose with a fearlessness that was missing in some of the 50-over games. The dance down the track was a regular feature but the chiselled square-cut was the sight of the evening.

Australia's bowlers had a tough time. Gambhir fell with 24 still needed, holing out to mid-on trying to end with a flourish.Robin Uthappa's 35, including six fours, went well with the fireworks illuminating the Mumbai skies. Virender Sehwag managed just 5 on his return but Yuvraj Singh swung India to the finish.

Ponting made good use of the advantage at the toss. Entering as early as the first over, after Adam Gilchrist slammed three consecutive fours before losing his middle stump to a incisive RP Singh.Ponting displayed controlled aggression. He threw his bat at anything wide of the stumps fortunate to see Mahendra Singh Dhoni unable to clasp onto a thick edge while lunging to the right and brought out the imperious pull when anything was short.

Harbhajan was India's most economical bowler, conceding just 17 in his four overs, and Kartik proved an able ally. RP Singh, largely erratic, should have ended with another wicket, with umpire Amish Saheba failing to detect an edge off Brad Haddin in the last over, but it did not make a difference in the final analysis. This was a Twenty20 and India showed their championship class.

Dasara- Navarathiri- Poojas

2007-10-20T01:21:00.000-07:00

In Hindu Mythology God is in the form of Trinity of Brahma, the God of Creation or Birth, Vishnu the God of Protection or Life, and Shiva, the God for Destruction or Death. Their female counterparts are Saraswathi, the Goddess of Knowledge, Lakshmi the Goddess of Wealth and Parvathi the Goddess of Courage. The Gods and Goddesses are the first self revelation of the Absolute, the male being the personification of passive aspect of the female, the activating energy.

Dasara is celebrated allover India as a religious as well as a social festival which is an occasion for poojas and festivities like music, dance and cultural programmes.In TamilNadu, Dasara is celebrated as Navarathiri. Married ladies pray to the Goddess for the well being of the family and children by performing poojas and reciting Lalitha Sahasranamam. Community prayers are conducted at various temples and at other places of worship. Poojas are performed for the well being of the community and for the nation.The last 3 days of Navarathiri is a period of frenzied poojas.

In commercial organizations, business houses, shops and establishments the eighth or ninth day is celebrated as Ayudha Pooja . The work place and the all the machines, equipments, tools etc. that are used in the organization are cleaned and smeared with sandalwood paste,Sandanam and vermilion, KumKum and adorned with flowers.The accounts books, other important documents are brought and kept in the pooja place.

On the eighth day prayers are offered to Goddess Saraswathi, the Goddess of Knowledge
seeking wisdom for Learning. Books of children and youngsters as well as musical instruments are placed before the Goddess on that day and poojas performed. Hindus believe that the Goddess resides in books, in all forms of reading and learning materials as also in musical instruments. Saraswathi is said to be a lover of music. The placing of these items in worship is therefore a sign of respect to those forms that impart knowledge.

On Saraswathi Pooja day, children are taught their first alphabet and some are admitted to school on this day to commence their formal education, formal training in music, dance and other art forms. Navarathiri is also celebrated as a cultural and social festival.
In Tamilnadu, Navarathiri is celebrated by having Golus, visiting friends and relatives or organising cultural bonanzas. A number of cultural organisations conduct competitions for children and women in the field of music, dance, cookery, floral drawings/kolas and so on.

On the full moon night following Dusshera or Durga Pooja, Hindus worship Goddess Lakshmi ceremonially at home and pray for her blessings inviting neighbors to attend the pooja. It is believed that on this full moon night the Goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth.

Cricket-Future Cup- India vs Australia

2007-10-18T02:44:00.000-07:00

The seven-match One-day series between India and Australia will be remembered for a long time by cricket fans. Australia won the series 4-2 with the first match being washed out in Bangalore.

Thrice in the series, Australia scored over 300 and there was a player who contributed to these totals. Andrew Symonds has been the key performer for Australia on this tour of India and befittingly was adjudged the Man of the Series. In the seven matches, he scored 365 runs at an average of 73. If one ignores his duck in the last ODI, his average would have soared upto 91.25.

Another scoring giant was Matthew Hayden. He has had a great run at both World Cups and continued with his form at the recent India outing. He played five matches and scored 290 runs at an average of 58.

No fine performance was displayed by the Indians as compared to the champions from Down Under. From the Indian side, Sachin Tendulkar was the top-scorer. He scored 278 runs at an average of 39.71. Skipper MS Dhoni scored 176 runs at 35.

With the ball, Mitchell Johnson leads the pack with 13 wickets in the series, including the 5-wicket haul at Vadodara. Closely follows Brad Hogg, whose chinaman bowling style fetched him 11 wickets and left the Indian batsmen bemused.

From the Indian camp, the pacers did well in patches. Indian bowlers failed to stop the run flow. Sreesanth picked up 9 wickets in 4 matches but his strike rate and histrionics did no good to him. Zaheer Khan claimed 7 wickets.

However, Murali Kartik emerged as one of the best bowler for India. He played 4 matches and picked 8 wickets. He did well in his comeback match but failed to continue the momentum in the next two matches. He came back efficiently in the last ODI in Mumbai and picked up 6 wickets to guide India to a consolatory win. Interestingly, last time Kartik faced Aussies in a Test match at Wankhede in 2005 and took 6 wickets to steer India to victory in a nail-biting finish.

Despite losing the series, India still has something to smile about. The batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar became the only cricketer to play 400 ODIs. In the same series Sachin completed another feat of hitting maximum half-centuries (85) in the 50-over format surpassing former Pakistan cricketer Inzamam-ul Haq's record of 83 half-centuries.

Andrew Symonds hit his sixth ODI century (107) at Nagpur and first against India. The top scorer of the series was adjudged as man of the series for his outstanding all-round show.

Murali Kartik became only the fifth Indian bowler to take a 6-wicket haul. Others were Anil Kumble (vs WI), Ajit Agarkar (vs Aus), Sreesanth (vs Eng) while Ashish Nehra has two 6-wicket hauls (vs Eng and SL).

India lost not only because Australia outplayed but also because India under-performed. The series ends but the Australian tour will come to an end at the Barbourne Stadium with a Twenty20 match on. Indian fans would like the world champions of the format to repeat their winning performance on Sunday.

The World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand

2007-10-16T05:04:00.000-07:00

Viswanathan Anand of India, became the youngest Indian to earn the title of IM at the age of fifteen in 1984. At the age of sixteen he became the Indian Champion. In 1987, he became the first Indian to win the World Junior Championship. At the age of eighteen, he became India's First Grandmaster.

Today, becoming a Grandmaster is not so difficult, there are about 15 Grandmasters.
In those days it was considered to be next to impossible and the tournaments were won by either Anatoly Karpov or Garry Kasparov , and nobody else could manage to win.
Anand won the Regio Emilia in 1991 and defeated Ivanchuk and made a clear sign that he was not going to be content with just the Grandmaster title and he proved the expectations that he would be something like the best in the world.

Anand contested a match with Garry Kasparov for the PCA World Chess Championship in 1995, but lost. Three years later he won a knockout tournament in Groningen to qualify to play for the FIDE title against Anatoli Karpov, but was defeated in rapid tie-breaks.

In 1998, he won the strongest Linares tournament ever, with an average rating of 2752, making it a category 21 event. In 2000, he beat Alexey Shirov to become the FIDE World Chess Champion. His prowess at quick-play chess earned him the nickname "The Lightning Kid." He is a four-time winner of the Chess Oscar award and the 2003 FIDE World Rapid Chess Champion. In spring of 2006, following a record-extending fifth victory at Corus Wijk aan Zee (2006), Anand became only the fourth player ever to crack the 2800-Elo mark in FIDE ratings, following Kasparov, Vladimir Kramnik, and Veselin Topalov.

The year 2007 was a year of two memorable milestones for Anand. First, he achieved his longtime goal of becoming "The World Number 1" in ratings. After winning his second victory at Linares-Morelia (2007), he overtook Topalov to claim first place on FIDE's April list.
His second great success came at the FIDE World Championship Tournament (2007). Leading throughout the event, Anand captured the unified World Chess Champion title with an undefeated +4 score. His first title defense will be a match with the previous champion, Vladimir Kramnik , scheduled for 2008.

World Food Day:

2007-10-16T04:28:00.000-07:00

The World Food Day is celebrated throughout the world on 16 th October every year.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations was founded on that day in the year 1945, and in 1980, the General Assembly endorsed observance of the Day in consideration of the fact that "food is a requisite for human survival and well-being and a fundamental human necessity"

The World Food Day and Tele Food theme for 2007 is "The Right to Food".The right to food is the inherent human right of every woman, man, girl and boy, wherever they live on this planet.The choice of The Right to Food as the theme for 2007 World Food Day and TeleFood demonstrates increasing recognition by the international community of the important role of human rights in eradicating hunger and poverty.

Food is a basic human right, but millions of people in the world still go hungry every day and deaths due to hunger occur very frequently in the world. Hunger not only kills people, but it also takes away the ability to work and learn. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), hunger ‘undermines the peace and prosperity of nations and traps individuals in a vicious cycle of poor nutrition, ill health and diminished capacity for learning and work that is passed on from one generation to the next.’

On this World Food Day, we may find ways to fight hunger and poverty by innovative steps such as providing food to the hungry and poor people, in celebrations of marriages and other functions like birthdays, milestone birthdays, marriage anniversaries and death anniversaries etc.

Also in functions and parties the left over food may be arranged to to distributed to the hungry and poor people.

THE WORLD RURAL WOMEN’S DAY

2007-10-14T22:34:00.000-07:00

The 15^th October is observed as the World Rural Women’s Day.

The purpose of the Day:-

The day provides rural women and their organizations with a focal point,

To Raise the profile of rural women,

To Sensitize both government and public to their crucial, yet largely unrecognized roles,

To Promote action in their support.

Initiatives on how to celebrate this day are left to individual organizations and communities, according to their own traditions and requirements. Activities or events should be concrete and visible. This action undertaken by rural and farming women in all parts of the world on the very same day, in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation, would strengthen the impact of the day.

Facts about Rural Women:-

Rural women, mainly farmers, are at least 1.6 billion and represent more than a quarter of the total world population.

Women produce on average more than half of all the food that is grown: up to 8O per cent in Africa, 6O per cent in Asia, between 3O and 4O per cent in Latin America and Western countries.

Women own only 2 per cent of the land, and receive only one per cent of all agricultural credit.

Only 5 per cent of all agricultural extension resources are directed to women.

Women represent two third of all illiterate people.

The number of rural women living in poverty has doubled since 197O.

Nobel Prize for Peace 2007- Al Gore and U.N. Panel Share for Climate Work

2007-10-12T18:20:00.000-07:00

Former Vice President of the United Nations, Mr. Al Gore, who emerged from his loss in the muddled 2000 presidential elections to devote himself to his passion as an environmental crusader, was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a United Nations network of scientists.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee praised both “for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.”

The prize is a vindication for Mr. Gore, whose frightening, cautionary film about the consequences of climate change, “An Inconvenient Truth,” won the 2007 Academy Award for best documentary, even as conservatives in the United States denounced it as alarmist and exaggerated.

Mr. Gore said in a brief appearance on Friday in Palo Alto, Calif., standing with his wife, Tipper, and four members of the United Nations climate panel, “I will accept this award on behalf of all the people that have been working so long and so hard to try to get the message out about this planetary emergency. I am going back to work right now. This is just the beginning.”

Mr. Gore, who announced he would give his portion of the $1.5 million prize money to the nonprofit organization he founded last year, the Alliance for Climate Protection, said he was honored to share the prize with the panel, calling it “the world’s pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis.”

Happy Ramadan

2007-10-12T03:24:00.000-07:00

Ramadan is an Islamic religious observance during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when the Qur'an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad.
"Ramadan" means intense heat, scorched ground, and shortness of rations. Prayers, fasting, charity, and self-accountability are given priority during Ramdan. Ramadan is divided into three 'ten-days' parts. They are Rahmah, mercy of God, Maghfirah, forgiveness of God , and Najah, salvation. During the month following Ramadan, called Shawaal, Muslims are encouraged to fast for a further six days.

The most prominent event of Ramadan month is the daytime fasting, practised by most observant Muslims. Every day during the month of Ramadan, Muslims around the world get up before dawn to eat and perform their fajr prayer and start fasting.The ill people and travellers will perform their Ramadan obligations during some other days. Children and the elderly/ pregnant women are exempted from the fasting.

Muslims put more effort into the teachings of Islam as well as refraining from lying, stealing, anger, envy, greed, lust, sarcastic retorts, backbiting, and gossip. Obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are avoided. Purity of thought and action are given importance.

The act of fasting will redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast will induce a comfortable feeling of peace and calmness.Muslims practise self-discipline, sacrifice, and sympathy for less fortunate people, being more generous and charitable.

Muslims perform the recitation of the entire Qur'an by means of special prayers, called Tarawih, which are held in the mosques every night of the Ramadan month, during which a section (1/30) of the Qur'an is recited, so that by the end of the month the entire Qur'an will be completed. This is done in remembrance of the fact that the revelation of the Qur'an to Prophet Muhammad was begun during Ramadan.

During Ramadan, Muslims slow down from their worldly affairs and focus more on self reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment and establish the link between the God almighty and themselves by prayer, supplication, charity and showing good deeds, kindness and helping others.

It is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy. Also they buy new clothes, shoes, jewelery, other items of need, prepare special foods, invite people for Iftar meal and snacks commemorating the breaking of Fast.

The Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast, a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor,‘Zakat al-Fitr’, everyone put on their best, preferably new, clothes, and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.

Muslims fast six days in Shawwal, the month following Ramadan that begins after Eid ul-Fitr; these days need not be consecutive. According to hadith, one who fasts the month of Ramadan and six days during Shawaal will be rewarded as though he fasted the entire year.

NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE 2007

2007-10-11T21:33:00.000-07:00

British novelist Doris Lessing won the 2007 Nobel Prize for literature for a body of work that delved into human relations and inspired a generation of feminist writers.

British novelist Doris Lessing poses as she arrives to receive the Prince of Asturias Award for literature in Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias, in this October 25, 2001 file picture. Lessing won the 2007 Nobel Prize for literature, the Swedish Academy said on October 11, 2007.

Lessing, the oldest Nobel literature laureate since the prizes began in 1901, was the 34th woman Nobellist and the 11th female to take the literature award. Lessing debuted as a novelist with "The Grass is Singing" in 1950, a book that examined the relationship between a white farmer's wife and her black servant.Her 1962 work "The Golden Notebook" was widely considered her breakthrough. "The burgeoning feminist movement saw it as a pioneering work and it belongs to the handful of books that informed the 20th century view of the male-female relationship," the academy said in its citation.

Lessing was born to British parents in what was then Persia, now Iran. Her family moved to Southern Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, in 1925. She ended her formal schooling at 14. This was the fourth of this year's crop of Nobel prizes, handed out annually for achievements in science, literature, economics and peace.

The academy, which awards the coveted 10 million Swedish crown ($1.54 million) prize, called 87-year-old Lessing an "epicist of the female experience, who with scepticism, fire and visionary power has subjected a divided civilisation to scrutiny".

The World's oldest Computer Student

2007-10-10T10:20:00.001-07:00

Mrs.Rosakutty, running 106 years of age, resident of Edamakudi, Kerala, India, is probably the world's oldest computer student.She was born in the year 1892 and she is only a home maker. Seeing her grandchildren using computers, she developed a craving for computers and she wanted to beat them in the filed of computer.On the first day she entered into a state-sponsored computer camp for enrolling herself as a student, all the other students and the faculty members were astonished. But within a few days she could handle the keyboard and the mouse like others.

Mrs.Rosakutty is a nonvegetarian and she is not having healthy habits like other people who are of 100 years and above. Her daily food includes spicy fish, chicken, beef etc. She uses snuff regularly and occassionally smokes beedi also. Even then she is not having any illness, and she walks without any aid and does some cooking also, independently. She wears white blouse and saree and huge gold ear rings and looks like a lady of this present times. The source of this news and which newpaper/media reported this are unknown. Bu it is an interesting news.

World Animal Day - 4 October-HAPPY WORLDANIMAL DAY

2007-10-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

World Animal Day - Mission Statement:-

To celebrate animal life in all its forms.

To celebrate humankind’s relationship with the animal kingdom.

To acknowledge the diverse roles that animals play in our lives, from being our companions, supporting and helping us, to bringing a sense of wonder into our lives.

To acknowledge and be thankful for the way in which animals enrich our lives.

World Animal Day is observed every year on 4 October. Animal welfare groups, sanctuaries and individuals throughout the world hold special events to heighten public awareness of animal issues and to encourage people to think about how we as humans relate to animals.

We must do something special for the animals in our life. We can start keeping a petanimal, by adopting one.

INDIA CROWNED THE CHAMPION OF THE FIRST ICC WORLD TWENTY 20

2007-09-24T10:51:00.000-07:00

INDIA and PAKISTAN played in the Finals of the First ICC World twenty 20 Match on 24th September 2007, at New Wanderers Stadium at Johannesburg, SA. In a “really thrilling Cricket match” played by the rival-brother countries, INDIA won the match by 5 runs and was crowned the CHAMPION of the Series.

India won the toss and chose to bat and scored 157 for 5 in 20 overs, leaving Pakistan to play for 158.

In Indian batting, Gautam Gambhir scored the highest 75, while Rudra Pratap Singh scored 30 (not out) and Y.K Pathan scored 15 runs and Yuvaraj Singh could score only 14 runs, and M.S.Dhoni scored only 6 runs.

In the Pakistan’s batting Mishba scored 43,Imran Nazir scord 33,and Younis Khan Scored 23. Pakistan could score a total of only 152 in 19.3 overs, losing all the wickets.

In Pakistan’s bowling Umar Gul took 3 wickets giving 28 runs, while Mohamed Asif and Sohail Tanvar took 1 wiket each.

In Indian bowling, Irfan Pathan took 3 wickets giving 16 runs, Rudra Prasad Singh took 3 wickets giving 26 runs, while Johinder Sharma tool 2 wickets giving 20 runs and S.Sreesanth took 1 wicket giving 44 runs.

The Player of the Match Award was given to Irfan Pathan and the Player of the Series Award was given to Shahid Afridi of Pakistan.

ICC President Ray Mali thanked his homeland of South Africa for hosting a magnificent inaugural ICC World Twenty20. And he added the success of the event has proved beyond question that Twenty 20 cricket now has a third credible international format to sit alongside Test cricket and one-day internationals.

INDIA ENTERS FINALS IN WORLD TWENTY 20 ODI

2007-09-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

India entered the FINALS of the Twenty20 World Cup, by defeating Australia in the Semi-finals on Saturday at Durban. Yuvraj Singh's blistering batting with 70 runs in 30 balls earned India a 15-run win. India amassed 188 for 5 and Australia could score 173 for 7. Yuvraj shared 84 runs off 40 balls with Robin Uthappa (34) for the third wicket after India won the toss and chose to bat.

The Man of the Match, Yuvaraj launched the Australian bowlers for five fours and five sixers during his entertaining knock.

Australia’s Matthew Hayden and Andrew Symonds added 66 for the third wicket but they could mount no other significant partnerships.

India's win was almost assured when Rudra Pratap Singh conceded just five runs in the 19th over, leaving Australia to score 22 runs off the final over.

Pakistan, entered the Finals beating Newzealand in another Semi-finals, and India and Pakistan will meet in the Finals in Johannesburg on Monday.

WORLD TWENTY 20 ODI INDIA WINS ENGLAND

2007-09-19T19:11:00.000-07:00

India wins against England at Durban in the World Twenty 20 One Day International cricket by 18 runs.

Score : India 218 for 4 (Sehwag 68, Yuvraj 58)
England 200 for 6 (Collingwood 28, Pathan 3-33)

Yuvraj Singh has become the first man in the history of Twenty 20 cricket to hit six sixes in an over, and star in India's 18-run victory over England.

Yuvraj was the main man of the day with six sixers, in a single over of Stuart Broad, to become the fourth man in senior cricket to achieve the feat, after Garry Sobers, Ravi Shastri and Herschelle Gibbs.

Also Yuvaraj has created two new World Records in Twenty 20 ODI Cricket, namely Six Sixers in a single over, and a half century in 12 balls.

India won the toss and chose to bat first.The openers were Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag, who raised India's score from the beginning, with their effective batting, and India could make 218 for four in 20 overs.

England is out of the World Twenty20 ODI and with this victory over England, India can run for a berth in the semifinals, by winning tomorrow's night game against South Africa. South Africa and New Zealand have won two matches each.

After the match ended ,there were handshakes all round, most notably between Flintoff and Yuvraj.

Indian captain Dhoni said that what yuvaraj did was amazing and India could get a score that was next to Impossilbe.

INDIAN ODI CRICKET CAPTAIN DHONI

2007-09-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Mahendra Singh Dhoni led India to a famous win through a 'bowl out' against their arch-rivals Pakistan in the 20-20 World Cup, but Dhoni does not like to see cricket matches ending in such a fashion and he feels that it should always be decided on the field.

However Dhoni is happy and proud of his team for snatching a thrilling 3-0 win by 'bowl out' in their inaugural 20- 20 World Cup match, which ended in a tie. It was only the second instance when a cricket match has been decided in a 'bowl out', which requires five players from each side aiming the stumps and the number of hits decides the winner; like penalty kicks /goals, deciding the winner in case of a tie, in foot-ball and hockey, ‘bowl out’s decide the winner, in 20-20 Cricket.

Dhoni showed some smart cricketing brain in preferring three slow bowlers, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh and Robin Uthappa for the 'bowl out' and they all hit the stumps. Dhoni recollects the efforts of the bowlers who had vigorous practice in the last 48 hours before the match.

The 'Wicket-Keeper-turned Captain', M.S.Dhoni appreciates the intensity his team showed in the big game and is also delighted to maintain India's splendid record of not losing to Pakistan in a World Cup game. Dhoni admits that, though their batting was not up to the expectations, the bowlers turned it around for the team. Dhoni was not willing to dwell too much into his 'batting or bowling orders'. And he feels that more than the batting or the bowling order, it is more important to understand the responsibility and every player should know what the captain expects of him in a particular situation and in a particular position.

VINAYAGA CHATURTHI

2007-09-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Ganesh Chaturthi or Ganesh Utsav or Vinayga Chaturthi, the birthday of Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Prosperity, falls on the fourth day of the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, around August-September In the year 2007, the Vinayaga chaturthi falls on 15th September.

Lord Ganesha has the head of an elephant on which is perched a dainty tiara, four podgy hands joined to a sizeable belly with each hand holding its own symbolic object. One has aTrishul, or a trident, the second, an Ankush, or goad made from his very own broken tooth, the third hand elegantly holds a Lotus and the fourth a rosary, which is sometimes replaced by modaks , his favourite sweet. Lord Ganesha is famous not only for being a trickster and for his sense of humour, but equally for his wisdom. He is the son of Lord Shiva, destroyer in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer and Parvati, Shiva’s consort.

Lord Ganesha is the foremost god of the Hindu pantheon and is beheld as the most auspicious God of new beginnings. He is worshipped during every festival and before people undertake a journey or embark upon a new venture. We can also see him carefully guarding entrances to temples and homes, peeping out of calendars and happily gracing marriages and other such occasions. The festival will be celebrated in the temple from early morning in India.

WORLD TRADE CENTER AND FREEDOM TOWER

2007-09-11T01:28:00.000-07:00

World Trade Center in New York City was a complex of seven buildings in Lower Manhattan, mostly designed by American architect Minoru Yamasaki and Engineer Leslie Robertson and developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. It was initiated in 1960 by a Lower Manhattan Association created and chaired by David Rockefeller, who had the original idea of building the Center, with strong backing from the then-New York Governor, his brother Nelson Rockefeller. The World Trade Center, New York, like most all World Trade Centers located around the globe, belonged to the family of World Trade Centers Association. Larry Silverstein held the most recent lease to the complex, the Port Authority having leased it to him in July 2001. The complex, located in the heart of New York City's downtown financial district, contained 13.4 million square feet office space.

Best known for its iconic 110-story twin towers, the World Trade Center was beset by a fire on February 13, 1975 and a bombing on February 26, 1993. Despite the first two disasters, the World Trade Center was a part of New York City's identity and was recognized all over the world as an icon for the United States of America.All of the original buildings in the complex were destroyed in the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Following the destruction of the World Trade Center towers in the September 11, 2001 attacks, there was much debate regarding the future of the World Trade Center site. Proposals began almost immediately, and by 2002, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, organized a competition through the newly created Lower Manhattan Development Corporation to determine how to use the land. Public rejection of the first round of designs, the "Preliminary Design Concepts," led to a second, more open competition in December 2002, the "Innovative Design Study," in which a design by Daniel Libeskind was selected. This design went through many revisions, largely because of disagreements with developer Larry Silverstein, who held the lease to the World Trade Center site on September 11, 2001.

A final design for the tower was formally unveiled on June 28, 2006. To satisfy security issues raised by the New York City Police Department a 187-foot / 57 metres concrete base was added. The final design included plans to clad the base in glass prisms. The final design tapers the corners of the base outward as they rise. The tower will be a "monolithic glass structure reflecting the sky and topped by a sculpted antenna."

By 2012 we may have a completely rebuilt World Trade Center, though the building is projected to be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2011. Freedom Tower, as a part of the new construction will be named, will be a symbol of the entire project, as well as marking the memorial, and it occupies a very important piece of New York City property.

HAPPY TEACHERS’ DAY

2007-09-05T03:05:00.000-07:00

Teachers’day is celebrated in different countries on different days. The world Teachers’day is on 05th October.

We are going to celebrate the “World Teachers Day’, October 5, 2007. The focus for World Teachers’ Day is on equity and improving workplace conditions. The theme is "Better Working Conditions for Teachers, means, Better Learning Conditions for Learners."

In India the 05th September is celebrated as the “Teacher's Day”. It is the birthday of the second President of India and Teacher Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan. When Dr. Radhakrishnan became the president of India in 1962, some of his students and friends approached him and requested him to allow them to celebrate 5 September, his birthday. In reply, Dr. Radhakrishnan said, "Instead of celebrating my birthday separately, it would be my proud privilege if September 5 is observed as "Teachers Day".

Who is a good teacher?

A good teacher is like a candle, which consumes itself to light the way for others. Good teachers are costly, but bad teachers cost more. Teaching should be full of ideas, instead of stuffed with facts. The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence. He inspires self-distrust. He guides their eyes from himself to the spirit that quickens him. He will have no disciple

A good teacher is a master of simplification and an enemy of simplism. Teaching is leaving a vestige of one self in the development of another. And surely the student is a bank where we can deposit our most precious treasures. A good teacher explains, a superior teacher demonstrates and a great teacher inspires.

The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his students with the wish to teach himself. A teacher's purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image. What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches.

MALAYSIA CELEBRATES 50 TH INDEPENDENCE DAY

2007-08-30T18:41:00.000-07:00

Malaysia is celebrating its50th year of independence on 31^st August 2007.

On 31^st August 1957,for the occasion of independence, an ‘Independence Stadium’ was built, at the Padang, now known as Dataran Merdeka; Independence Square, where Malaysia's first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, declared Malaya's independence in front of a massive crowd. The Union Jack was lowered from the flag pole., and the Malayan flag was raised.The Padang symbolized British sovereignty as it was a cricket ground for the colonial administrators and fronted the Royal Selangor Club, Malaya's most exclusive Whites-Only club. In 1974 Kuala Lumpur seceded from Selangor and the city became a Federal Territory.

After independence in 1957, Kuala Lumpur was the capital of the Federation of Malaya and continued to be the capital of the renamed Federation of Malaysia in 1963.

By the year 2020,the Malaysian Prime Minister aims to realize the ambition of achieving developed nation status to Malaysia.

In his message delivered on 16^th August 2007,in a Seminar on “MALAYSIA’S DEVELOPMENT SINCE INDEPENDENCE AND THE NATION’S ASPIRATION”, the Prime Minister of Malaysia Mr.Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi, at Kuala Lumpur has said that the 50 years of Independence of Malaysia is a miracle borne out of the determination of their leaders and of the hard work and prayers of the Malaysian people. He has called upon the people of Malaysia to keep on working hard, so that the next 50 years of the county’s future will be paved with success and prosperity as glorious as the first 50 years so far. The World Economic Forum has ranked Malaysia as the 4 th in Asia, after Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore in its Business Competitiveness Index. Overall, Malaysia has been ranked as the 20^th in a field of 125 Economies. In the 21^st Century, the idea of “LABOUR” has been transformed into the concept of “HUMAN CAPITAL” as a critical ingredient in the value –creation process and a source of innovation and creativity. If necessary, laws can be changed and all the people of Malaysia should work hard, which must be their culture.

STATUE OF DR.NELSON MANDELA UNVEILED IN LONDON

2007-08-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

Dr. Nelson Mandela, the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, in his Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech said ,"I stand here today as nothing more than a representative of the millions of our people who dared to rise up against a social system whose very essence is war, violence, racism, oppression, repression and the impoverishment of an entire people."

A three-metre high bronze statue of former South African President Dr. Nelson Mandela was unveiled in London on 29th August 2007, to commemorate his struggle against “APARTHEID”, an ethnic separation based on human- skin colours, towards South Africans and his imprisonment for 27 long years, for the noble cause. The unveiling ceremony was held on the Parliament Square, London, where Dr. Nelson Mandela's statue has joined other statues of notable leaders like Sir.Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, who also resisted oppression.

Mr. Nelson Mandela, aged 89 years, made his way to the platform, leaning on the arms of his wife, Dr.Mrs. Graca Machel. Despite his frail appearance, he spoke very clearly and said, "Though this statue is of one man, it actually symbolizes all those who have resisted oppression especially in my country. The history of the struggle in South Africa is rich with the stories of heroes and heroines some of them leaders, some of them followers all of them deserve to be remembered." Dr.Mandela described how on a visit to Westminster in 1962 with his late comrade in the struggle, Oliver Tambo they had talked with hopeful dreams that, one day a statue of a black person would be erected there alongside that of Jan Smuts, a former South African prime minister. That dream has become a reality today, by the
erection of his own statue,which was unveiled in his presence, during his life-time.

London Mayor Ken Livingstone, anti-apartheid campaigners and community leaders also attended the ceremony outside Britain's Parliament, close to Westminster Abbey, along with a gospel choir and 40 dancers in carnival costume. Before unveiling the statue British Prime Minister Mr. Gordon Brown paid a moving tribute to Dr. Mandela and said,

"Dr.Mandela is a man whose belief in the future was so powerful, even twenty-seven years behind bars and barbed wire could not destroy his dreams and his demands, that by fighting "apartheid" from his prison cell millions today could be and are free,"

MICHAEL JACKSON'S 50th BIRTHDAY

2007-08-29T05:20:00.000-07:00

‘THE KING OF POP MICHAEL JACKSON” born on 29th august 1958, celebrates his 49^th Birthday on 29^th August 2007. Jackson is very rich and popular for more than 40 years in the world of Pop Music. He has announced that his 50th birthday celebrations in 2008 will be a grand one ,with the release of his next album. His crores of fans throughout the world are anxiously waiting for the same.

Jackson was born as the seventh of nine children in a middle class family at Gary, Indiana. He stood on stage as a boy of 5 years old along with his other brothers Jackie, Tito, Marlon and Jermaine, in a concert arranged by his father,Joseph.

Despite his extreme young age, he soon distinguished himself as a singer and dancer of prodigious ability. Jackson is not a mere child prodigy, but he had a gift for vocal phrasing that was not only well beyond his years, but would have been astonishing in a performer of any age.

He has been continuously young in appearance, popular and rich and he has been an object for wonder and jealousy to the spectators.

In spite of some unwanted allegations and court cases against him, Jackson has been releasing his album once in three years.

Michael Jackson has managed to translate adversity into greater fame. While many argue that his work has been uneven, his contribution to modern pop has been enormous.

RAKSHA BANDHAN- SACRED BONDAGE BETWEEN BROTHER AND SISTER

2007-08-27T19:14:00.000-07:00

“Raksha Bandhan”- is a festival celebrated in India for the renewal of a sacred bond between brothers and sisters, whether blood related or otherwise. Raksha means protection and Bandhan means bondage or binding.

On this Raksha Bandhan festival day, after praying to God for the well-being of their brothers, the sisters perform the ‘aarati’ to their brothers and put 'tilaka' and 'chawal' on their forehead, and tie a “Rakhi thread” on their wrists. The brothers pledge to take care of their sisters always and everywhere. On this day gifts and greetings and special dishes are exchanged between brothers and sisters. This year the Raksha Bandhan falls on Tuesday, the 28th of August 2007.

The preparation of Raksha Bandhan will begin well in advance. The markets get packed with colorful designed rakhis, sweets, garments etc. to attract people and the seasonal traders will get a good profit.

Rakhi Festival flourishes the love, care, affection and the sacred feeling of brother hood. Raksha bandhan festival is celebrated in many parts of India, in various forms and names. The Rakhi Thread has become a fashion and trend. Modern rakhis are available in different shapes, sizes and materials. Rakhis made of gold attached with diamonds also are available.

Just for fun we may imagine a situation, when some lads in un- proposed/one-sided love will get a shock, as and if their lady loves approach them with a ‘rakhi’ on hand for tying to their wrists. If they had unduly delayed in showing their hearts to the prospective ladyloves, they may have to show their hands for getting rakhi tied by them, or better flee from the spot.

In many countries including India the relationship between sisters and brothers are treated as very sacred and,

“RAKSHA BANDHAN” DAY IS FOR REMEMBERING AND RENEWING THE SACRED "BROTHER-SISTER" BONDAGE.

INDIA WON TEST SERIES AFTER 21 YEARS

2007-08-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

India won the Test Cricket Series against England played in their country, at 1-0. This victory to Indian Cricket Team has come as an “Independence Day gift”. The last victory of India in Cricket Series was in the year 1986, with Kapildev as the Captain.

The Indian Cricket Board announced a Cash Prize of Rs.1 Crore to the jubilant Indian Cricket Team. This victory will change the minds of Indian Cricket Fans,who have been disappointed because of the poor performance of the Indian Cricket Team in the recent World cup Cricket Tournament.

Rahul Dravid told reporters," I think it is a fair result. England dominated the first Test match and we dominated the next two; we played better at the critical moments and our coming away from home and beating England, who have been traditionally so strong for the last six or seven years, gives us a lot of satisfaction."

England - Captain Vaughan seemed frustrated by the first Test’s result when rain prevented England from taking the 20th Indian wicket for a 1-0 lead, but accepted that India had finished on top.

The Indian Captain Rahul Dravid said he felt "very proud" of the achievement, adding that it meant more because it was only India's third series victory in England since 1932.

The India skipper still received some criticism from observers who felt he should have enforced the follow-on, on Sunday instead of batting again. Some Sports Experts believe that the decision cost India the chance to win the series in 2-0.

"There will be different opinions on what was wise and what is not.", Rahul Dravid said, "I know people might be disappointed that we did not enforce the follow-on and maybe, if I was sitting in a living room I would have thought the same but as captain I get a pulse for what is happening and I did what I thought was right."

The England captain Vaughan defended his Indian counter part on the decision and said he would have made the same choice. "They were 1-0 up and wanted to make sure they won the series," Vaughan said. "I would have done the same."

By this victory India has upgraded from FIFTH to THIRD RANK in the ICC ranking.

Though England could retain the SECOND RANK, followed by the FIRST RANKED- AUSTRALIA, the difference in the points between England and Australia got widened.

VICTORY OR DEFEAT IN SPORTS MUST BE TREATED AT PAR.

"INDIA AT 60" - NDTV POLL

2007-08-12T18:26:00.000-07:00

The NDTV conducted a poll of icons, events and landmarks for a program named “INDIA AT 60”, in view of the 61^st Independence Day of India on 15^th August 2007, using direct questionnaires administered at street corners in 13 cities, SMS responses, and voting on the worldwide web.

The results of the poll have been published and this news has appeared on the FIRST PAGE of “The Hindu” dated 12^th August 2007, as briefed below.

The Father of the Nation "Mahatma Gandhi" has been voted as “the greatest national icon”, followed by Mother Teresa.

Other personalities in the list of icons are JRD Tata, Indira Gandhi, Narayana N.R. Murthy, Amitabh Bachchan, and Jawaharlal Nehru.

According to the results of the poll,

Democracy is the greatest national pride, followed by Secularism.

Bribery is the worst shame, followed by hunger, untouchability, dowry, and manual scavenging.

“INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION” is the event that changed the country, towards development, followed by the armed forces, the Railways, and the judiciary.

Operation Blue star and the anti-Sikh riots are its greatest political blots.

Sachin Tendulkar has been voted as the country’s greatest sportsperson, followed by Viswanathan Anand.

“Mother India” is the greatest film.

The the greatest patriotic song is ‘Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon’.

MR. ABDUL KALAM’ S FAREWELL MESSAGE

2007-07-23T20:33:00.000-07:00

Mr .A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the outgoing President of India talked to the children of Rashtrapathi Bhavan’s Staff members with whom he was living for five full years.

He advised them “ to continue their DREAMING ,because only by dreaming the young generation can prosper in their life with a bright future and mould India as a Super Power Nation by the year 2020.

Having served India as an Atomic Engineer, Indian Missile Expert and Scientific Advisor to The Government of India, prior to his service and guidance to the nation as the 12th President is bidding farewell from his official residence at New Delhi .

His term is ending n 24th July 2007,and as there were no possibility of his being re-elected for the post due to political reasons he refrained from contesting with any political colour, which adds to the image to his honorable position..

One of his poems reads :-

“O God! I continue to Climb; show me the Top of my ‘Mountain of Ambition’?

O God! I continue to Dig; show me the Bottom of my ’Treasure of Knowledge’?

O God! I continue to Swim in the Great Ocean; show me the ’Island of Peace’?

O God! Shower your Blessings to the crores of people to attain their ‘Mountain of Ambition’ ,Treasure of Knowledge’ and ‘Island of Peace’ “

He entered the President’s residence with only 2 suit-cases and while ging out now also he is taking back with him only the same 2 suit-cases.

After taking over as the 12 th President of India on 24th July 2002 Mr. Kalam travelled to various states in India and to a number of countries and attracted people in India and in the entire world.

He works for 18 hours a day and his love is towards Science and Literature and he remains unmarried.

Mr.Kalam advised the youth to dream for their personal development and for the development of the nation. The dream should not be mere dream and the same should be brought into productive action.

Mr. Kalam’s one of the dreams was that Medical and Surgical equipments should be manufactured in India to enable every Indian to get Medical and surgical facilities at reasonable cost in India itself and during his term his dream has come true.

On 23rd July 2007 Mr. Kalam bid farewell to the members of both the houses of the Parliament. On 25th July 2007 he is leaving for Chennai to start his new dream service in the field of Teaching .

Everybody especially all Indians should follow Mr. Kalam’s advice to “Continue to Dream” for Productive Development of Self and for the Nation.

The “Fast Thinker of India” is not going to really retire and take rest even after the completion of his long service in Atomic Research, Rocket launching, Missiles Development and also as Scientific Advisor to the Government of India and as the First Citizen of the Nation, in total for more than 55 years, Mr. Kalam has planned to spend the rest of his life in teaching . This is another change of his Life Assignment.

“Change is the only thing not changed” and We have to accept change in every thing . As Mr. Kalam has willingly accepted the change in his career, we also must accept changes not only in the national level but also in our own lives.

Indians have set their minds to welcome the ‘First Woman President of India’ who is taking charge on 25th July 2007. Let us dream and hope she will function as an independent President of India despite all political colors before and during the Presidential elections.