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Friday, November 21, 2008

"DaDa"...............we will miss you










Sourav Chandidas Ganguly also known as "Dada" is an Indian cricketer. Born 8 July 1972, lives at Barisha in Kolkata, formerly Calcutta, West Bengal, he made his One Day International debut against Australia in 1992, and a Test debut versus England in 1996. He went on to become the captain of Indian cricket team from 2000 to 2005. He has led India to the World Cup 2003 finals, and holds the Indian captaincy record for the most Test victories. Following an exit from the national team in early 2006, he was recalled to the Indian Test side in December, staging a successful comeback in the 2006 - 2007 Indian tour of South Africa.




Ganguly is a left-handed batsman and a right-handed medium-pace bowler. He is a natural right-hander, but converted to the southpaw stance at a young age so that he could use his left-handed brother, Snehasish Ganguly's equipment.




Nicknamed Bengal Tiger, Prince of Calcutta and also affectionately called Dada (elder brother in Bengali) by his team-mates and Lord Snooty by his opponents, he is an aggressive player on and off the field. He made his one-day international debut in 1992, but his talents did not truly receive the recognition they deserved until India's 1996 tour of England when he scored centuries both in his debut Test as well as the next match (the second and third Tests of the series). Ganguly is only the third cricketer ever to score a century on debut at Lord's, after Harry Graham and John Hampshire (Andrew Strauss has also since accomplished the feat). Rahul Dravid once commented, "On the off-side, first there is God, then there is Ganguly”. He scored 183 against Sri Lanka at Taunton in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, the highest by an Indian in World Cup cricket. He became captain within a year after the world cup and scored 2 centuries in the 2000 champions trophy immediately after. While he has achieved significant successes as captain, his individual performance deteriorated during his captaincy, especially after successes in the world cup and the tour of Australia in 2003 and the Pakistan series in 2004. Following indifferent form in 2004 and poor form form in 2005, he was dropped from the team in October 2005. He has since remained active on the first class cricket scene in hopes of a recall, but his performance has been mixed - he has hit a couple of centuries in domestic cricket, but his English county stint in 2005 and subsequent appearances in the Challenger Trophy were failures.




Consistent batting failures of the Indian cricket team, more so than his own mediocre to good performances in the domestic circuit led to his recall to the Indian Test squad in November 2006. Although India lost 2-1, Sourav Ganguly was the highest run getter for India, and only batsman to hit more than 200 runs in total. On January 12th 2007 he was recalled for the one day squad as well, where India play host to West Indies and Sri Lanka in a one day tournament. On January 21st, Ganguly hit a match winning 98 against the West Indies.




Sourav Ganguly made his international debut against Australia in India's tour of Australia in 1992. He didn't score much and was dropped from further matches. Four years later, following a good domestic record, he was recalled into the national side for a Test series against England in England. He made his Test debut at Lords, with a century in that match and repeated the feat in the match which followed. He was retained for the One day team and he went on become a regular in both forms of the game. One of his most memorable performance was in the final of the Independence cup at Dhaka against Pakistan, when the entire Pakistan team walked back in stating bad light along with the umpires, but Ganguly refused to come in. Ganguly scored 124 in that match in darkness, while Hrishikesh Kanitkar scored the winning runs with a boundary.




In 2000, after the match fixing scandal Ganguly was named the captain of the India team. In 2003 under his captaincy India reached the World Cup Final, where they lost to the Australians. Ganguly has scored over 10,000 runs in One Day Cricket and over 5,000 runs in Test cricket, including 12 centuries in Tests and 22 in ODIs. In terms of number of centuries in ODIs, he is exceeded by Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. Sourav, along with Sachin Tendulkar, formed by far the most successful opening pair in One Day Cricket, having amassed the highest number of century partnerships (16) for the first wicket. Together, they have scored 5,308 runs at an average of 45.37. Sourav has been succeeded by Virender Sehwag as opener.




He is the third player to cross 10,000 ODI runs and so far the fastest one to do so, after Sachin Tendulkar and Inzamam Ul Haq, and reached 6000, 7000, 8000 and 9000 ODI runs milestones in least number of matches played. Sourav can bowl medium-pacers as well, but has under-achieved in this aspect in Test matches, taking 25 wickets in 84 matches, at an average of 52.47. In 2004, he was awarded the Padma Shri. As of 2006, he is the only Indian captain to win a Test series in Pakistan (although two of the three tests of that series was led by Rahul Dravid).




Sourav Ganguly's 10 year international cricket career could be easily bisected into 2 halves, the pre and the post Y2K eras. The significance of the year 2000 lies not only in the fact that he became the captain of the Indian team but also in the fact that the ICC introduced the one bouncer per over rule in ODIs starting from that year. This introduction of the rule by the ICC had a negative impact on Sourav Ganguly's batting average, which plunged from a high 45.5 before the year 2000 to a low 34.9 between the 5 year period of 2001-2005. Also, against Test playing nations (which included Zimbabwe and Bangladesh), his overall average plunged further down to 30.66, as did his 'away' average which fell to 29. He managed to score only (6) centuries between 2001-2005, of which 3 centuries were against Kenya & 1 was against Namibia. This sudden drop in his batting average against Test playing nations after 2001 was clearly a result of the short pitch stuff he had to encounter from opposition bowlers. As S. Rajesh, the assistant editor of Cricinfo analyzes, Sourav Ganguly has been dismissed numerous times fending off the short ball since 2001 and his average of 11.92 against the short ball has been the lowest among contemporary Indian batsman who played more than 80 ODI matches. The former captain has also been uncomfortable while attempting the 'pull' and the 'hook' shots when bowlers have dug it in short, often lasting less than five(4.89) balls before being dismissed.




Also, Sourav Ganguly's Test career had been riddled with lean patches, the first of which stretched for 3 years from Dec 1999 to Dec 2002, during which his batting average fell to 31.7 in 36 consecutive Test matches over 60 innings. The next biggest lean patch of his career occurred after the 2003 World Cup, when his ODI average fell to 28 and this was when his place in the team was questioned by numerous Indian cricket fans. He averaged 23.5 in 20 ODI matches between Sep 2004 and Sep 2005, before being finally dropped from the ODI side.Despite his hot and cold streaks Sourav Ganguly is only the third Indian Test match batsman to maintain a career average that never dipped below 40 runs per innings for his entire Test career. This is more due to his initial career graph, which plummeted alarmingly in the second half of his career. Whereas his contemporaries like Dravid, Tendulkar, Sehwag and Laxman have shown steady improvement in their career graphs, his own happens to have a pronounced downward trend. The other two who achieved this feat are Sunil Gavaskar and Mohammad Azharuddin.




Sourav Ganguly also shares with G. R. Viswanath of India the record for scoring at least 10 or more centuries and his team either winning or drawing each and every match in which he scored a century. He also shares with Mohammad Azharuddin the record of scoring two consecutive hundreds in his first two Test matches, though Azharuddin bettered that by scoring a third consecutive hundred in his first three Test matches.Sourav Ganguly has the highest Test and ODI aggregate of any left-handed batsman India has produced and his 12 Test and 22 ODI centuries are also a record for any Indian left-hander.




It was, however, as captain of the Indian team that Sourav Ganguly's biggest achievements occurred. He led India in a record 49 Test Matches, winning 21 of those, including 12 of them outside India. All three figures are records for Indian Test captains. He also led India to her first series wins in both Tests and ODIs in Pakistan, a feat that had eluded India for over 50 years. Ganguly also led India to more Test wins (11) outside India between 2000 and 2005 than all Indian captains had done between 1980 and 2000. He led India to victory over Steve Waugh led Australia in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar trophy which is considered as one of the greatest in Indian cricket history. However, his captaincy record has no doubt been immensely helped by numerous series against the minnows Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. Against other teams, his captaincy record 12 wins and 12 losses, which is still better than other Indian captains. He also benefitted immensely from the peaking of all the great Indian players during his tenure - Sachin, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag, Kumble, Srinath and Harbhajan




November 30, 2006, turned out to be lucky for Sourav Ganguly as the national board of selectors, chaired by Dilip Vengsarkar, decided to reinstate him in the team for the three-Test series against South Africa. The decision came after India had been knocked out early of the Champions Trophy, held in India, as well as losing the opening three games of an ODI series with South Africa. The selectors decided to back experience in a total reversal of coach Greg Chappell's mission to inject fresh blood into the Indian cricket team and Ganguly was selected alongside VVS Laxman and Zaheer Khan, who had also been removed from the Test team recently. Ganguly and Zaheer both fared well. Ganguly emerged as leading run getter for India in the recently concluded Test series with South Africa.




January 12, 2007 Sourav Ganguly was reinstated to the ODI team for the first two ODIs against West Indies. This comes almost after 15 months of his removal from the ODI side in 2005. He staged a good comeback by scoring a match-winning 98 run knock in Nagpur on his return in the first ODI. He was also selected in the 30 probables list for World Cup 2007 to be held in West Indies starting in March. He will most likely open the innings with Tendulkar as Virender Sehwag has been dropped for the first two ODIs.This was good news to his fans who believed that India's most successful captain deserved the farewell of a champion. Sourav is a passionate man and fans (possibly selectors too) believe that, after spending ten months in the wilderness, Sourav's desire to succeed at the highest level and his experience will hold him in good stead.




Controversies:




Ganguly is an aggressive player and has often attracted controversy. He has attracted the wrath of match referrees quite a few times, the most severe of which was a ban for 6 matches by ICC match referee Clive Lloyd for slow over rates against Pakistan and therefore his tour to Sri Lanka for the Indian Oil Cup 2005 was uncertain. These circumstances led to Rahul Dravid being made captain for the tour. Later, Justice Albey Sachs reduced the punishment from 6 matches to 4, and this permitted Ganguly to join the team, but as a player and not captain. In his opening match he made the highest score of the side (51) taking (110) balls. He was again named captain for the Zimbabwe tour of August-September 2005. With this, he has captained India in the highest number of Tests (50).During the 2003 World Cup final against Australia, Ganguly won the toss and decided to field. This decision raised eyebrows but Sourav remained confident that there would be moisture on the pitch that would help his bowlers, however the bowlers flopped and Sourav performed poorly with the bat. India went on to lose by 125 runs, a staggering defeat.Ganguly's performance in the last couple of seasons has been really poor. This put his place in the Indian team under pressure. In the tour of Zimbabwe, in which he was newly reinstated as skipper, Ganguly ground out a painfully slow century, against what is regarded as one of the weakest bowling attacks in international cricket. During the match he told reporters that newly-appointed coach Greg Chappell had asked him to stand down as captain - a comment which Chappell later played down. However, forty-eight hours after saying that he respected the Indian captain and looked forward to working with him in the future, Chappell sent an email to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Both Ganguly and Chappell were summoned to a BCCI board meeting in which they agreed to work together for the good of the team. Rahul Dravid was appointed captain for the series against Sri Lanka and South Africa after Ganguly was not selected for the opening games due to injury. When the two series got over, Rahul Dravid was asked to continue as skipper.On November 22, 2005, Ganguly stepped down as captain of Bengal cricket team after being replaced as captain of the Indian Test team. He played in the first two Test matches in the three-Test series against Sri Lanka. However, on December 14, he was controversially dropped, for the third Test at Ahmedabad, to make way for Wasim Jaffer, an opening batsman for Mumbai. Jaffer was picked by the selectors as they wished to build up a player selection pool with sufficient experience to succeed at international level.Despite this, he retained his A-grade contract from the BCCI, in December 2005.Following the drop, fans blocked roads and railway tracks in Kolkata, burning effigies of chief selector Kiran More and Indian coach Chappell, and the urban development minister of West Bengal, Asoke Bhattacharya, said Ganguly was a victim of the internal politics of the BCCI. [9] Cricinfo editor Sambit Bal wrote in a commentary that this was in all probability ... the end of the road for him. [10] However, it was announced on December 25, 2005 that he was selected as part of the Indian team to tour Pakistan. Kiran More cited his experience as the key reason, with Mohammed Kaif being dropped [11]. He was in the playing XI in the Lahore and Karachi Tests, but was dropped for the Faisalabad match, and has not been recalled since. He was unable to play in the England home series and the West Indies tour. He was also not selected for the following Tri-series in Sri Lanka. However, he was chosen amongst 30 probables for the ICC Champions Trophy after being left out in the dark for almost close to a year. Ganguly failed in the Challenger Trophy, however, managing less than 30 runs in two games, and so the chances of recall to the ODI side look bleak.Ganguly later sent an email hitting out at his one time mentor saying that Jagmohan Dalmiya did not deserve to become CAB president as he had played with his career and that Ganguly was a victim of internal politics within the BCCI. This was in the backdrop of the CAB elections which Jagmohan Dalmiya won.




Comeback:




After being dropped from the side for almost eight months, Ganguly was recalled to the Test team for the series against South Africa in December 2006, after an injury to Yuvraj Singh. And after the recall, in his first warm up match against rest of South Africa, he scored fantastic 83 runs when his team was in troublesome position at 69/5. this knock helped India win against rest of South Africa.He went on to play a crucial knock in the first test match, scoring 51 not out in the first innings in a low scoring game. India went on to win the match, its first win in South African soil for 17 years. Though India ended up losing the next two test matches and thus the series, Ganguly emerged as the top run scorer for India, with an aggregate of 214.Selected for the one-day team after his successful Test comeback, he started the series against West Indies with a fluent 98, which led to India winning the match. He played his last international ODI before 500 days. After being rested for the third ODI, he again answered his critics with a sparkling 68 in the final ODI to help India win the series 3-1.




Records:




Test:
Scored a century on Test debut
Scored a century in each of his first two Tests
Captained India in a record 49 Test matches
Led India to a record 21 Test wins
India's most successful Test captain





ODIs:
Second fastest player to reach 10,000 ODI runs
Fastest to reach multiples of 7,000, 8,000, 9,000 ODI Runs
Holds the record, shared with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, for the second highest score by an Indian cricketer in an ODI — 183, against Sri Lanka in 1999.
Held the record, shared with Sachin Tendulkar, for the highest first wicket partnership for India in a ODI match, 258, against Kenya in 2001. This record was bettered by Sri Lankan opening pair of Jayasuriya and Tharanga in 2006 at Headingly.
Was involved in the First 300 run ODI partnership with Rahul Dravid
6th on the all time list with 30 man of the match awards (Sachin Tendulkar leads with 52 awards in 369 matches)
He is also the only player to win 4 consecutive man of the match awards in ODIs.
India's most successful ODI captain
First Indian to Score a ODI Century Against Australia in Australia





Career Statistics:




Tests:
Cumulative Test batting average never fell below 40 runs per innings
He joined another select brand of 3 batsman who made tons in their 1st two Test innings.
Sourav was only the 3rd batsman in the world to score a century on debut at Lords.
His 131 still remains the highest by any batsman on his debut at Lord’s.
Has gotten out on 99 twice in tests only 8 batsman have fallen so. The others are MJK Smith, G Boycott, RB Richardson, JG Wright, MA Atherton, Saleem Malik, GS Blewett





ODI's:
Second Fastest after Viv Richards to reach 6,000 ODI Runs in 147 Innings and Sachin Tendulkar to 10,000 in 263 Innings
Cumulative ODI batting average never fell below 40 runs per innings after his 84th Innings

Monday, October 6, 2008

The Old Burman Classic-Ruby Roy




The radio at the quaint tea-shack next to the bus-stop was playing that old, old Burman classic again. It had been such a long time since i heard that song...




Ruby Roy...I had always mused about her. She is the most enigmatic, most elusive yet the most real persona in literature. She's not Bonolata Sen--that fragment of artistic muse which is unreal, intangible. She's everyone's next door neighbour. The woman everyone knows but nobody can decipher...Every para has its Ruby Roy...women her age gossip about her, young girls are fascinated by her and adolescent boys wait impatiently for Six-o'Clock evenings when she returns home from work. You can see her alighting from the bus on hot summer days... the faint jingle of her nupur echo in the stillness of the afternoon sun.


She smells of crisp cotton sarees and Rain.


And a hint of Lavender perfume perhaps?


She's the quintessence of every woman:hovering like a will-o'the wisp on the edge of the Imagination...caught between the Ordinary and the Ethereal.


She's every boy's first Muse.The pervasive presence in all juvenile romantic poetry.


And She's every boy's first heartbreak...


"Mone pore Ruby Roy kobit'ae tomake ekdin koto kore dekechi/


Aj haye Ruby Roy deke bolo amake,


tomake kothai jeno dekhechi...."

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Search goes on........



from tomorrow my 2nd year 3rd sem internal begins and that too with circuit theory(though the departmental subject for electrical engineers but a terror in exam time),and i am still in a mess to finish it yet i am feeling very bloggy today.So i cant resist my finger to post this blog.

Sometimes you try your best to be happy. But happiness still is elusive. Have you ever had that feeling?But then again, what is happiness to begin with? There shouldn't be binaries.. extremes.. black or white.So what do you do then? When you just want to stop..Rest a bit, and then carry on. Gather all the little pieces and move on. With or without. Cos otherwise it's your loss, really. Who has the time to wait? We are essentially alone. But in my darkest hour, I still maintain that this seemingly hopeless thought gives me hope. I have to carry on. There aren't that many choices. And then I think, since I have to, I might as well do so the best I can. The best not being the ideal.. but just the best I can manage. Quite a ramble this. But sometimes it becomes necessary. :)

Sunday, August 24, 2008

A smile and a tear


"I would not exchange the sorrows of my heartfor the joys of the multitude.

And I would not have the tears that sadness makesto flow from my every part turn into laughter.
I would that my life remain a tear and a smile."


"I want the hunger for love and beauty to be in thedepths of my spirit,for I have seen those who aresatisfied the most wretched of people.

I have heard the sigh of those in yearning and longing,and it is sweeter than the sweetest melody."


With evening's coming the flower folds her petalsand sleeps, embracingher longing.

At morning's approach she opens her lips to meetthe sun's kiss.
The life of a flower is longing and fulfilment.

A tear and a smile.
The waters of the sea become vapor and rise and cometogether and area cloud.


And the cloud floats above the hills and valleysuntil it meets the gentle breeze, then falls weepingto the fields and joins with brooks and rivers to returnto the sea, its home.
The life of clouds is a parting and a meeting.

A tear and a smile.
And so does the spirit become separated fromthe greater spirit to move in the world of matterand pass as a cloud over the mountain of sorrowand the plains of joy to meet the breeze of deathand return whence it came.


To the ocean of Love and Beauty----to God"

Monday, August 4, 2008

NOTHING BUT FACTS......

1) the word set has more defination than any other word in english language.
2) the longest one syllable in english language is screeched.
3) the only 15letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
4) there can be only four words in english language which ends in'dous' is---
tremendous
horredous
stupendous
hazardous
5) ever visited Taumatawhakatungihangakoauauotamateathripukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwenaukitnatahu
that is a hill in New Zealand with the longest place name.
6) the guinnes book holds the record of being the most stolen book from the public libraries.
7) the dot over the letter 'i' is called a tittle.
8) no piece of paper can be pressed more than 7 times.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

The OTHER-SIDE


I was talking to a friend who I'd completely lost touch with today. And I happened to chance upon a poem, that had faded in my memory, and probably his own, composed by the friend in question.


I always believed in karma.

I still do.


And I am starting to think the other half of my half-filled glass is empty too.Or have I always been a cynic?


With the thin line between right and wrong, yes and no, sanity and insanity, am I walking straight anymore?

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Kho na jaaye yeh "TAARE ZAMEEN PAR"






can anyone explain what made the childrens select their different lives


Poor children in India begin working at a very young and tender age. Many children have to work to help their families and some families expect their children to continue the family business at a young age. India has all along followed a proactive policy in the matter of tackling the problem of child labour. India has always stood for constitutional, statutory and developmental measures that are required to eliminate child labour in India. Indian Constitution consciously incorporated relevant provisions in the Constitution to secure compulsory universal elementary education as well as labour protection for children. Though most children begin working at a young age due to economic reasons, doing so allows them to break from some social constraints.

India's policy on child labour has evolved over the years against this backdrop. The present regime of laws relating to Child Labor in India have a pragmatic foundation and are consistent with the International Labour Conference resolution of 1979. The policy of the government is to ban employment of children below the age of fourteen years in factories, mines and hazardous employment and to regulate the working conditions of children in other employment. The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986 seeks to achieve this basic objective. Through a notification dated May 26, 1993, the working conditions of children have been regulated in all employment which are not prohibited under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act. Following up on a preliminary notification issued on October 5, 1993, the government has also prohibited employment of children in occupation processes like abattoirs /slaughter houses, printing, cashewnut descaling and processing, and soldering. Children perform a variety of jobs: some work in factories, making products such as carpets and matches; others work on plantations, or in the home. For boys the type of work is very different because they often work long hours doing hard physical labor outside of the home for very small wages. The government has made efforts to prohibit child labor by enacting Child labor laws in India including the 1986 Child Labor (Prohibition and Regulation) Act that stated that children under fourteen years of age could not be employed in hazardous occupations. This act also attempted to regulate working conditions in the jobs that it permitted, and put greater emphasis on health and safety standards.

childrens are like blooming flowers---so let them grow otherwise these stars will one day loose their way-------------------please let them be the stars of tomorrow not labours of today.

Monday, July 21, 2008

Prayers for Afterhours


Dull brown, and quietly dying

Wet by the afternoon drizzle

Wickerwork against the sky.

Where had you been so long?

Splotches of mud on the rim of your boots

Tiptoe in. Hush. Ballerina.

Eyes slit thin when you smile.

I have been waiting alone.

Come, with our hands reft of meaning

Come, when you’re due somewhere else.

Dead leaves shall hold back the sky -

Where had we been so long?

Dull gold, and quiet in denying,

We’ll soak in the grey of the evening

We’ll drift by the goldfish on sidewalks:

And we shall be waiting alone.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Happy Times




I miss the warmth and love and affection. I miss that simple life.I miss the winding lane that led to our house. I miss the pink flowers which crept up the walls. I miss the walk by the C.H.Field and the water tank. The trickling water, the smell of damp earth and the white and yellows blossoms.

I miss the quiet altar, with one bell and a solitary cross. I miss the verandah that overlooked the crowded street. I miss the long mornings of calm.I miss the stromy evenings. I miss exploring. I miss the experience.. I miss it's freshness and danger.

I miss so much. And i'll miss so much more.

And looking back I feel that bittersweet feeling again. And looking forward i dread the future.


But change is the only constant and i will overcome every hurdle.And someday i will miss.. "tarpor".. i will miss The Light.. i will miss the struggle.And someday, i'll look back and smile and think..

Monday, July 7, 2008

Live and Let Live






Australians are living longer than ever before. To ensure we get the most out of life, it is important to look after ourselves so we remain healthy and happy for as long as possible.
To Live Life Well is to take positive steps to maximise your chances of living an illness free life.
For a long time health systems around the world have focused on treating sick people, but as we all know, prevention is much better than cure.
With the right information, every one of us can take steps to reduce our chances of developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and type two diabetes.
By making just a few small but important lifestyle changes, we can ensure better health and wellbeing for our future - and more time to enjoy the important things such as spending time with our friends and family.




Quit Smoking:


One of the best things a smoker can do to Live Life Well is quit smoking. The health benefits of quitting occur for all smokers, regardless of age, sex or length of time that they have been smoking.
People who have already developed smoking-related health problems, like heart disease will also benefit from quitting.
1)within hours of quitting smoking the nicotine and carbon monoxide in your blood decreases, while the oxygen level in your blood increases.
2)Within days your sense of smell and taste begin to improve, breathing and exercising become easier, even your chances of having a heart attack have been reduced.
3)Within one month your circulation will improve and your blood pressure and pulse rate will decrease.
4)Within three months, cilia (the small hairs inside your lungs) have begun to re grow. This improves your lungs' ability to clean themselves. Lung function may be increased by up to 30 per cent.
5)Within one year, your risk of a heart attack is reduced by half.
6)Within 10 years your risk of dying from lung cancer is reduced by half.
7)Within 15 years your risk of dying from a heart attack is equal to a person who has never smoked.


By choosing to Live Life Well and quit smoking, you will significantly reduce your chance of cancer, heart disease, stroke, emphysema and other lung disease.
You will also be less likely to have cataracts on your eyes, brittle bones, wrinkles, yellow teeth and bad breath.
Being a non smoker will reduce your chance of impotence, difficulty falling pregnant, and premature births, small babies and miscarriage.
If you are a parent, quitting smoking means you will lower your children's risk of SIDS, ear infections, allergies, asthma, bronchitis and other lung problems, and reduce the chance they will take up smoking later in life.
Remember, it's never too late to start Living Life Well and be a non smoker. The sooner you quit, the better




Healthy Eating:


Eating a healthy, balanced diet provides nutrients to your body. These nutrients give you energy and keep your heart beating, your brain active, and your muscles working.
Nutrients also help build and strengthen bones, muscles, and tendons and also regulate body processes, such as blood pressure.
Good nutrition can lower your risk of developing a range of chronic diseases. For example, eating more fruit and vegetables can help lower blood pressure and may lower your risk of certain types of cancer (such as colorectal, breast, lung and prostate cancer). Eating less saturated fat may also lower your risk of heart disease.
Healthy eating can also help people that already have some types of disease or illness such as diabetes, high cholesterol and blood pressure. And, of course, improving your eating habits will contribute to you achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.
Try to achieve a balance with the foods you eat and include lots of variety and remember, all things in moderation.




Quit Alcohol:


To Live Life Well, you don't need to give up alcohol, but it is important to stay below or at the recommended limits.
In Australia, alcohol is the most widely used social drug. While it's thought that moderate use may be beneficial for heart health for some, a moderate intake may not benefit all people.
Alcohol can affect different people in different ways and there is no amount of alcohol that can be said to be safe for everyone.
Drinking a lot in a short time can cause a hangover, headaches, nausea or vomiting, shakiness and passing out. Because alcohol effects sight and coordination drinking often causes accidents.
The short term risks to your health and wellbeing that come from drinking too much in one day include injuries from violence, falls and alcohol poisoning. Many people also report engaging in unprotected sex after drinking too much.
Drinking a lot of alcohol regularly is likely to cause physical, emotional or social problems over time. Problems can include: stomach problems, frequent infections, skin problems, liver and brain damage, damage to reproductive organs, memory loss/confusion, heart and blood disorders and depression. Damage to some body organs can be permanent.
Many regular drinkers also experience problems in their relationships or at work and money or legal troubles.


Physical Activity:


To Live Life Well we need to incorporate more physical activity into our lives.
There are numerous health benefits to be gained by being active, including reducing the risk of heart disease, some cancers, diabetes and osteoperosis.
Being active can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Regular activity also makes you feel good and improves your mental health.
Not only does being active mean you can Live Life Well, but the environment also benefits. If we all walked and cycled more, our neighbourhoods would be cleaner because there would be fewer cars on the road and safer because more people would be out and about.
Being active is also a great way to meet people and make new friends while participating in active leisure activities.


Healthy Weight :


When the energy (kilojoules) we consume from and drink is more than the energy we use up, fat is deposited on our bodies.
Even small imbalances in this energy in energy out equation over time can cause you to become overweight or obese. This means you weigh more than what is considered healthy.
Being overweight or obese is unfortunately quite common in Australia now.
The problem with being overweight or obese is not about the way you look. Having excess weight increases the risk of many chronic and potentially lethal diseases.
Fortunately, most of these diseases are preventable with attention to Live Life Well factors including healthy eating and regular activity.
Generally speaking, the more body fat you’re carrying, the higher the risk to your health.
Some of the many chronic conditions and diseases associated with obesity include:
1)insulin resistance
2)high blood pressure
3)atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries)
4)cardiovascular disease


5)stroke
6)some cancers
7)Type 2 diabetes (where you don't produce enough insulin)
8)gall bladder disease
9)polycystic ovarian syndrome
10)musculoskeletal problems such as osteoarthritis and back pain
11)gout
12)cataracts
13)stress incontinence
14)sleep aponea.




Stress:


Stress is the emotional and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from the outside world.
How much stress an individual will feel depends on their personality, health and other factors.
To Live Life Well doesn’t mean that you’ll never experience any stress. In fact, stress is not always a bad thing. For example, stress might come from exams or work and this can keep us motivated and provide a sense of achievement once the stressful time has passed. However, its how much, how often and how we cope with stress that are important.
One of the key reasons you should learn to recognise and manage your stress is that it can lead to health problems. When we feel under stress, our body kicks into high gear to deal with the threat. Our heartbeat, breathing rate and blood pressure increase.
The longer we feel stressed, the greater the demand on our body. The more often we are placed under stress, the more often we have to use energy to cope. Eventually our bodies develop illnesses as a reaction to this stress.
Being stressed too often and not managing it, can also impact upon other lifestyle factors. For example, often people smoke and drink more when they are stressed. Not managing stress may lead to increased anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression, and sleep disturbances.




To Live Life Well means not smoking, healthy eating, limiting your alcohol, being active, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing your stress.


This is general advice for adults, and you should speak to an appropriate health care professional if you are after personalised advice

Friday, July 4, 2008

Evil's blast



New York City rescue workers dug for bodies in mountains of rubble Wednesday after hijackers crashed two airliners into the World Trade Center, collapsing its twin 110-story towers. New York was the hardest hit target in Tuesday's coordinated assault on American government and finance. Another plane slammed into the Pentagon and a fourth crashed outside Pittsburgh. President Bush estimated the dead in the thousands. Seeking to reassure an anxious nation at the end of a day that saw the most devastating terrorist attacks ever waged against the United States, the president delivered a calm address Tuesday night from the Oval Office. Referring to what he called "despicable acts of terror," he said, "These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of our resolve." Bush vowed retaliation. "The search is under way for those who have perpetrated these evil acts ... we will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these attacks and those who sheltered them." The attacks shook the nation as perhaps nothing since the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor. Government sources said they had evidence linking Osama bin Laden, Saudi-born sponsor of Islamic terrorism, to the attacks.


Bush's speech — his first prime-time Oval Office address, was in response to a series of historic attacks against the United States. On Tuesday morning, three hijacked commercial airliners loaded with passengers crashed into both towers of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon near Washington. Both buildings at the World Trade Center collapsed after the coordinated suicide strikes that came without warning.
In the aftermath, federal officials grounded the nation's civilian air transportation system for the first time. That order will be in effect until noon Wednesday and may be extended.
At about 10:40 a.m. ET, two hours after the first crash, a fourth hijacked plane crashed near Somerset County Airport near Johnstown, Pa. Federal officials believe it was en route to Washington to participate in the attack. A passenger, locked in a restroom, phoned 911 on his cell phone to report the hijacking.
Establishing the U.S. death toll could take weeks. Officials of American and United Airlines, which each owned two of the jets, reported that 266 people were aboard the four planes, and there were no known survivors.
At the Pentagon, local fire officials told CNN that the number of dead could be as high as 800, but the number was not confirmed. In addition, a New York firefighters union official said he feared an estimated 300 firefighters had died in rescue efforts at the trade center — where 50,000 people worked — and dozens of police officers were believed missing.
The World Trade Center, among the world's tallest buildings, had been attacked and partially destroyed by Islamic terrorists using a truck bomb in 1993.
After the Tuesday attacks, the federal government moved quickly to place the nation on a full-scale security alert commensurate with an enemy attack.


Intelligence officials said that for at least the past 10 days they had anticipated a possible attack by followers of Osama bin Laden, the Saudi-born financier of Islamic terror groups.

Friday, June 27, 2008

TITANIC



TITANIC IS TOTALLY OPPOSITE TO ITS MEANING WHICH MEANS AN UNSINKABLE ONE AND WHICH SANK IN 1912. I HAVE SEEN THIS MOVIE OVER 75 TIMES AND EACH TIME I SEE IT I GET TO KNOW SOMETHING NEW. I LIKE THE SONG "MY HEART WILL GO ON" SO MUCH THAT I CANNOT GO MY DAY WITHOUT IT. I AM SO HAPPY THAT THIS MOVIE IS 11 ACADEMY AWARD WINNER. ITS BEAUTIFULLY DIRECTED BY CAMERON. NOTHING IS LEFT OPENED. I SIMPLY ADMIRE THIS MOVIE BECAUSE OF ITS UNENDING IMPRESSION ON MY MIND.

Who didn't love the Titanic as a kid?? I was infatuated by the mystery and the awe of what some termed 'The Unsinkable Ship'. Even to this day, I think it would be simply amazing to dive down and explore the wreckage of the Titanic. Here are a few statistics about the ship.The Titanic was built in Ireland. She was 882 feet 9 inches long and 92 feet 6 inches wide. Her gross weight was 46,328 tons. The top speed was 23 knots, or a little over 26 mph. The ship could hold a total of 3,547 passengers and crew.Titanic began her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City on Wednesday, April 10, 1912. Four days later, on April 14, 1912, the ship struck an iceberg. She sank just two hours and forty minutes later on April 15, 1912. Tragically, more than 1500 people died. That makes it one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history. In 1985, scientists discovered the Titanic on the bottom of the ocean floor. But recently new evidence has just surfaced...Two years away, one of the last sole survivors who actually remembered that tragic night passed away. According to an ABC report, she was only 5 when she and her family boarded the Titanic. Unimaginably, her dad and three brothers all died in the accident. Even though she rarely talked about that horrific night, she kept a few keepsakes hidden in a shoebox. After her death, her family found them and now are putting them up for auction. They are expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Included is her father's pocket watch, stopped the instant he hit the water, her parents' wedding bands, along with other keepsakes. A key was also found and some believe that it could unlock a box containing the family's more prized possessions. The problem? The box is suspected to still be on the bottom of the ocean floor. Let the mystery continue...

Thursday, June 26, 2008

The Carter Centre Peace Program




Peace with justice requires resolving conflict according to rules agreed to by all, beginning with the shared commitment to human rights and democratic values. Today, virtually all governments claim to share this belief. The Carter Center, in partnership with others, seeks practical ways to narrow the gap between the rhetoric and realities of government policies in countries striving to overcome legacies of oppression and deadly conflict by building more just societies of their own.

At the invitation of governments and in cooperation with civil society, The Carter Center continues to play a leading role in election observation across the developing world, broadening its participation to help countries better prepare for elections and build upon the results to deepen democracy and ensure peace becomes permanent.

Whether helping to standardize election procedures in China's villages, giving voice to human rights defenders in Africa, or increasing transparency of campaign finance and governance in the Americas, the Center's programs work to attain peace with justice in those areas of the world most in need and who request our help.

The Carter Center's principled impartiality and record of achievement give its peace making programs the credibility needed to work nationally, regionally, and globally.

These programs include:
1)The Democracy Program: working for the development of inclusive democratic societies and the empowerment of citizens through election observation, consensus-building for international standards for democratic elections, and democracy-strengthening activities in emerging democracies and regional organizations.
2)Human Rights Program: intervening on behalf of victims of human rights abuses; strengthening the voices of human rights defenders internationally; and building capacity for rule of law in partnerships with civil society, governments, and international organizations.
3)The Conflict Resolution Program: helping prevent deadly conflict, mediating differences, and ensuring that peace processes become irreversible at the invitation of parties to disputes and assisting capacity building for conflict resolution in regional organizations.
4)The Americas Program: improving regional cooperation and the deepening of democracy within the Western Hemisphere, thwarting corruption, increasing transparency, and decreasing social inequities to ensure that free and fair elections lead to the consolidation of democratic institutions and rule of law.
5)China Program: advising China's Ministry of Civil Affairs on local elections practices, voter education, and data collection.


Current peacemaking initiatives include:
1)Observing the 2008 constituent assembly elections in Nepal
2)Encouraging post-conflict strengthening, rule of law, and respect for human rights in Liberia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
3)Helping citizens and governments fight corruption by supporting access to information laws in Latin America and the Caribbean and Africa
4)Strengthening the voices of human rights defenders internationally through an annual human rights defenders policy forum and by advocating for stronger international human rights systems, such as the U.N. Human Rights Council
5)Working at the forefront of efforts to develop a new international election observation methodology for observing electronic voting technologies as part of a project to develop standards for democratic elections
6)Supporting stronger regional protection of democracy and implementation of the hemispheric anti-corruption treaty in the Americas

Monday, June 23, 2008

The seven wonders of the world


Deepest Pit On The Earth


A very interesting news caught my eye yesterday. This news is about the deepest pit in the earth’s surface. A huge crater exists in East Siberia, near Mirny, Russia. The cause for this pit is unknown to me.
Maybe it was caused by a comet impact long back. This pit is amazing..it is 525 meters deep and 1200 meters in diameter. The air zone within this pit is closed for choppers. A few unfortunate accidents have occured before, as some helicopterrs were sucked in by the strong air currents inside the pit. A bustling town exists around the pit, as is shown in the picture. I am sure this pit must be a hot tourist destination in and around Siberia.
This huge pit is visible even from space…not surprisingly.

The bermuda triangle


For decades, the Bermuda Triangle has enchanted us all. Whomsoever has entered the triangle by ship or by air has never returned. Due to it notoriety, it has been given the name of ‘Devil’s Triangle’. The Bermuda triangle lies in the Atlantic ocean, and roughly forms a triangle if you join Miami, Bermuda and the coast of Peurto Rico. For years and years, scientists have tried to find out the exact reason for it’s behavior. But after all their efforts, the debate still rages on !
Some people are of the opinion that the Bermuda triangle is a result of paranormal forces at work. Some others believe that the triangle has got to do something with aliens and UFO’s and all that jazz. Still some others believe that the triangle is an epicentre of some strange magnetic feild caused by the earth itself ! While some others rubbish the bremuda triangle phenomeon and attribute ‘human error’ as the sole reason for all the mishaps that have happened since. There is even a more bizarre theory that suggests that the triangle behaves so due to the leftover technology from the lost continent of ‘Atlantis’
I am sure you all would be surprised to know that it was none other than Christopher Columbus who was the first ever person to notice the oddity of the Bermuda Triangle ! In one of his diary logs, he is reported to have documented the following on October 11th 1492:
“The land was first seen by a sailor (Rodrigo de Triana), although the Admiral at ten o’clock that evening standing on the quarter-deck saw a light, but so small a body that he could not affirm it to be land; calling to Pero Gutiérrez, groom of the King’s wardrobe, he told him he saw a light, and bid him look that way, which he did and saw it; he did the same to Rodrigo Sánchez of Segovia, whom the King and Queen had sent with the squadron as comptroller, but he was unable to see it from his situation. The Admiral again perceived it once or twice, appearing like the light of a wax candle moving up and down, which some thought an indication of land. But the Admiral held it for certain that land was near… “
Even after centuries, we are unable to reach a consensus on this mystery…or myth..or whatever you may believe it to be! What do you think? What is the mystery behind the triangle?

The Taj and it's duplicate



The Taj Mahal has enchanted us for centuries. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shahjahan, in the memory of his wife Noor Jahan, in 1631. The Taj has attracted tourists from all over the world and it has been appreciated for its unparalleled craftsmanship and beautiful architectural design. The Taj Mahal has featured on the list of the 7 wonders of the world for years and years ! Touch wood
However, many would be surprised to know, that there is a twin Taj Mahal in India as well. It is a bad copy of the original Taj, and is situated in the Indian city of Aurangabad. It is more popularly known as Bibi ka Makbara. The locals call it the twin Taj…quite proudly. However, I find it hedious and a really bad copy of the Taj Mahal. It is more of an anti-climax to the real Taj. This struture at Aurangabad makes me laugh my head off! Prince Azam Khan who was the son of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb (Shahjahan’s son), built this disaster to honor his mother in 1679. His intentions were noble though

though you guys and gals decide yourself------which one is better the Taj or it's parody?

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

U,Me aur Hum


Imagine me and you...

I do,

I think about you day and night,

it's only right

To think about the girl you love

and hold her tight

So happy together

If I should call you up,

invest a time

And you say you belong to me

and ease my mind

Imagine how the world could be,

so very fine

So happy together

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you

For all my life

When you're with me,

baby the skies'll be blue

For all my life

Me and you and you and me

No matter how they toss the dice,

it has to be

The only one for me is you,

and you for me

So happy together

Imagine...

me and you...

together foreverour whole life through.

My First Love


I love youI just wanted to tell you

that I love you.

As simple as that...

In loving you,

I have learned

that the greatest gift in life

is the love you give back to me


my eyes see only you,

and my heart holds room

for no one else...

because I love only you


To love somone means realizing that

the other person is not perfect...putting emphasis

on what you love, and accepting that person for the individual they are.


Each day there is something to do,

somewhere to go...

There are calls to be made,

people to see...

But on even the busiest day,

the most important thing of all

is telling you I love you.


Your fragrance intoxicates me...

your eyes sparkle with the blue of the sea;

heart as pure as the white dove

body as smooth as stones in the tide.

As I stand by your side,

I can't help but wonder

if you are of my world...

but I know you are of my dreams,

and I surrender my heart to you ~

sweet mystery

A single rose that speaks of love

a single image held within my heart

that keeps you here with me

though we be miles apart.

And as each petal falls

I'm reminded of your gentle touch,

your kiss, your warm embrace,

the look of love upon your face.

Total Upset


Break up with a lover is perhaps the most painful experience that one can face in his or her life. We love someone madly; we devote our life in the name of that person; we sacrifice our happiness for the well being of our lover and then one day we realize that we have lost that special person forever. Our love has moved away from us with someone else. Even the earnest efforts cannot keep our love near us. Time heals all pains, but even time cannot make us forget the memories of the lost love. The pain inflicted of betrayal and broken heart is poignantly expressed in the poem.


Standing here

I'm standing here,

Begging you,

Why do you have to leave me?


I'm standing here,

Waiting for you

To tell me the reason.


I'm standing here,

Crying with you

As I wait for you to tell me.


I'm standing here,

Screaming at you

As you plunge the final dagger.


I'm falling here,

Watching you

As you slowly walk away.


I'm crouching here,

Hating you

As I pick up the little pieces.

The little pieces of my heart.

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Valentine's cards


By the 19th century printed Valentine's cards were on sale and extremely fashionable - in 1825 the Post Office handled more than 200,000 letters more than usual on St Valentine's Day.
First Valentine's Day cards. Commercial valentines were introduced in the 1880's and now the date is very commercialized.
Second only to Christmas, Valentine's Day brings out the card-giver in people, with an average of 1.01 billion cards purchased every year.
About 1 billion Valentine's Day cards are exchanged each year. That's the largest seasonal card-sending occasion of the year, next to Christmas.
The Duke of Orleans sent the oldest known Valentines in 1415 A.D. to his French wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. It is still on display in a museum in England.
During the late 1800s, postage rates around the world dropped, and the obscene St. Valentine's Day card became popular, despite the Victorian era being otherwise very prudish. As the numbers of racy valentines grew, several countries banned the practice of exchanging Valentine's Days cards. During this period, Chicago's post office rejected more than 25,000 cards on the grounds that they were so indecent; they were not fit to be carried through the U.S. mail.
Hallmark has over 1330 different cards specifically for Valentine's Day.
Teachers will receive the most Valentine's Day cards, followed by children, mothers, wives, and then, sweethearts. Children ages 6 to 10 exchange more than 650 million Valentine's cards with teachers, classmates, and family members.
The first American publisher of valentines was printer and artist Esther Howland. During the 1870s, her elaborate lace cards were purchased by the wealthy, as they cost a minimum of 5 dollars - some sold for as much as 35 dollars. Mass production eventually brought prices down, and the affordable "penny valentine" became popular with the lower classes.
Valentine's Day is big business. Consumers will spend an average of $77.43 on Valentine's Day gifts this year. E-commerce retailers expect to rack up about $650 million in sales of food, candy, flowers, and other Valentine's Day gifts. Of that amount about $350 million will be for gifts and flowers and another $45 million will be spent on food (including chocolate) and wine.
The Italian city of Verona, where Shakespeare's lovers Romeo and Juliet lived, receives about 1,000 letters addressed to Juliet every Valentine's Day.

LOVE


Love is not a necessity, but it is life’s greatest gift and luxury.
Love is caring, kind, and patient.
Love does not expect anything but love in return.
Love knows when to put pride to the side, because the greatest thing one can be proud of Is a love that is shared.
Love is or should be unconditional.
Love is giving and selfless.
Love is therefore unselfish.
Love is not arrogant, or does not insist in its own way, It is a celebration of what is right.
Love is undying devotion (yes that too).
Love is not resentful and does not rejoice in wrong, but celebrates the right
Love is the desire to be intimate - physically and emotionally.
Love endures all, hopes all, bears all.
Love is believing, sharing, dreaming.
Love is Honesty.
Love is friendship, companionship, and more.
Love is completion. Forgiving. Understanding and inspiring.
Love is the attainment of life's greatest inspiration.
Love is supporting, but not overbearing.
Love is the free and complete ex-pression of oneself to/for another.
Love is being open to an other's ex-pression... True friends, companion, lover, and mother (or father).
Love is faithful and loyal.
Love can be strong, yet so fragile.
There are those out there who have not been lucky enough to find it...some never will. (Not all, but some). In addition, what one would call true love...love in its best, purest, truest sense is even rarer and harder to find. Not that no one ever does. Many probably do. It is still the hardest thing that mankind strives to obtain. The dream of finding and marrying for true love exists and Concludes by everything falling into place.

Significance of Roses

Rose is the symbol of love from the very earlier days.It not have its valuation but it's different colours have different significance.


GOLDEN ROSE
The Rose has long been a symbol of love and beauty. It has been immortalized in the art and literature of many cultures. It is, to the flower world, what gold is to the realm of precious metals. As been immortalized in the art and literature of many cultures. It is, to the flower world, what gold is to the realm of precious metals. These roses are pure love. From top to bottom.



PLATINIUM ROSE
ex-pression of integrity, a reflection of inner truth. Platinum's purity endows it with a brilliant white luster. There is very little platinum on this earth and it is found in very few places around the world. This exquisite metal is 30 times rarer than gold. density and weight make it more durable than other metals. Like all precious metals, platinum scratches. However, a scratch in platinum is merely a displacement of the metal and none of its volume is lost, it remains what it was forever. It has strength and pliability, just one gram of platinum can be drawn to produce a fine wire over one mile long. It also has many uses including catalytic converters and pacemakers.



RED ROSE
Red Roses symbolize eternal love, respect, courage, passion and reveal an unconscious beauty. A perfect way to say I love You, Congratulations, Thank you and a Job Well Done. No other flower is as symbolic as the red rose and it's no wonder red roses have always been able to deeply touch so many hearts. The electrifying and refreshing sense created by just looking at this delicate and velvety flower is enough to charge the very air it surrounds? If you have ever received red roses, your memories will reflect enchantment. The sensation is unforgettable and romantic feelings are always triggered... thoughts of passion, the meaning and ex-pression of love, romantic moments, excitement and anticipation are all awakened by this the world's favourite flower!



HAPPY ROSE
Happiness means a situatuation of Happy Birthday, Happy Christmas, Happy Valentines Day, Happy Leap Year Day, Happy Mothers Day, Happy Fathers Day, Happy Anniversary, Be Happy & You make me Happy with the blooming brilliant Happy Rose!
These highly colorful and very happy roses are the hottest new flower on the market and it's not difficult to see why. They have been developed by a very, very happy Dutch Rose Grower who uses natural plant extracts in a special process that controls how much colour reaches each petal – with spectacular results.

BLUE ROSE
Roses are blossom in the snow, before you ever let your partner go and they will grow up to the sky, before you ever make your partner cry!
Blue Roses just do not exist, commercially speaking that is, however the first blue rose is on it's way as it has been grown by a bunch of mad Australian and Japanese Scientists.
BLACK ROSE
Black Roses are in a thing called magic & bewitching beauty.
The magic of black flowers has attracted our attention throughout the ages. The very colour inspires a powerful feeling of mystical expectation; the very essence of a black rose appears to originate from a unattainable, improbable and unnatural world. Of course a pure black rose does not exist; however there are some very dark red roses out there with names like "Black Baccara", "Barkarole", "Black Beauty" and "Black Magic". Black Baccara's are in our opinion the deepest and darkest red rose available, it's velvety black buds swirl open to show a magnificent and bewitching beauty!

WHITE ROSE
Believe in a thing called White Roses and believe in a thing called innocence, reverence, humility, secrets & purity.
White is for truth it speaks volumes for innocence, purity, reverence, humility, and silence, this is a great rose to let someone know that you miss them or want to be with them, it is also the rose used to convey secret's too! Just imagine if you can a light breeze from the ocean... delightfully irresistible... intriguing the mind... with it's alluring unpredictability... Well that's the smell of a white rose!!!

YELLOW ROSE
The Yellow Roses are refer true friendship, joy, gladness, happiness, hope & freedom.
Yellow Roses are a time-tested symbol of true friendship and a celebration of joy, gladness, happiness, hope and freedom. A brilliant way to say I Care, Welcome Back and Remember Me. A yellow rose can be sent to ask "Don't you love me any more?" or to signify the start of a friendship or the parting of ways! Yellow is the colour to capture the heart of your special someone. With an alluring and dramatic arrangement of these delightful and gorgeous roses it will easily convey your message into the hearts of those who receive them.

PINK ROSE
Pink Roses are symbolized happiness, admiration, gentleness, grace, joy, sweetness & poetic romance!
Pink is for fun, it carry's the message of happiness, admiration, gentleness, grace, joy, sweetness and poetic romance. It is a great rose to say Thank you, You're so lovely and Please Believe Me. Pink roses are the perfect flower to send early on in a relationship as they tend to suggest that you really "like" someone, as opposed to "love" them. Imagine a dazzling concoction of delightfully blossomed light pink rose buds, a composition of pure poetic romance, inviting and joyful... it's time to be frivolous... it's time for indulgence, it's time for pink roses.

PEACH ROSE
Peach Roses are shown sociability, friendship, gratitude, desire, appreciation, admiration & sympathy
The perfect rose to show sociability, friendship, gratitude, desire and appreciation. In addition they can also be used to convey admiration or sympathy. Peach roses are simple and elegant and perfect to say thanks for a great friendship, show sympathy, wish someone a happy birthday. Whatever the occasion, peach roses are also very nice because they are different and show a personal touch to your floral gift.

My first sayari


Har ahat ehesas hamara dilayegi

Har hawa kissa hamara sunayegi

Hum itni yaadein bhar denge

Na chahate hue bhi aapko yaad humari aayegi.

Woh zindagi hi kya jisme mohabbat nahi,

Woh mohabat hi kya jisme yaadein nahi,

Woh yaadein hi kya jisme tum nahi,

Aur woh tum hi kya jiske saath hum nahi….

Suna hai wo keh kar gaye hai ke ab to hum,

Sirf tumhare khawboo main hi aayenge,

Koi keh de unse ki wo vada kar le hum,

Jindgi bher ke liye so jayenge.

Badi muddat se chaha hai tumhe

Badi duaaon se paya hai tumhe

Tujhe bhulane ka sochu bhi kaise,

Kismat ki lakiroon se churaya hai tumhe

Phool juda hai kato se,

Khushbu se nahi,

Hum juda hai unse,

Magar dil se nahi.

Royengi ye aankhein muskuraane ke baad,

Aayegi raat din dhal jaane ke baad,

Tum kabhi naa ruthnaa mujhse ae yaar,

Shayad ye zindagi hi na ruth jaaye,Tumhare ruth jaane ke baad.

Nakaam si koshish kiya karte hai,

Hum hai ke unse pyar kiya karte hai.

Khuda ne taqdeer mein 1 tuta taara nahi likha,

Aur ek hum hai ke chand ki aarzu kiya karte hai!

Muskurane ki vajah kya jane hum

Hum to unki yaad ko tazaa karte hai.

Kambakth ye hasi bhi aisi hai ki

Unki judai mein bhi ro kar muskurati hai.

Jaam pe jaam peene se kya fayeda,

Raat guzri to utar jayegi,

Kisi ki aankhon se peeyo khuda ki kasam,

Umr saari nashe mein guzar jayegi.

Log kehte hain ke ishq itna mat karo,

Ke husn sar pe sawar ho jaaye,Hum kehte hain ke ishq itna karo,

Ke patthar dil ko bhi tumse pyaar ho jaye……

Har dil ki dhadkan main koi baat hoti hai,

Har udas zindagi main kisi ki yaad hoti hai,

Tume pata ho ya na ho tumhari,

Har khushi ke piche humari duaa hoti hai

The history of valentines day



Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day -- and its patron saint -- is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an ex-pression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day -- should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct ex-pression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".