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donating Rs 500 per month.

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When you become a Guardian of Hope, your monthly giving helps UNICEF take your donations further, allowing them to plan ahead and help children on a continuing basis.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN - Unite Against AIDS.

Join the Campaign Today! Please join the hundreds and thousands of caring people who choose to UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS. Together, we can make a real difference!By becoming a monthly donor to this five -year Campaign, or by making a financial contribution whenever you are able, you will help UNICEF to help the millions of children who are missing their childhoods because of HIV/AIDS.

Every Minute of every day ,AIDS costs the world another child's life.

Its time for all of us to unite for children againt AIDS .

Donate Now. Log on to :http://www.supportunicef.org

Afrah’s story: Recovering a childhood lost on the streets of Baghdad.

A growing number of Iraqi children are being driven onto the streets by poverty. – Afrah and her brother Bilal were barely teenagers when they were left to fend for themselves on the streets of Baghdad. Shy and awkward, the young brother and sister still carry the scars of their frightening separation from their family.

“My father lost his job and my mother could not care for us,’ said Afrah, 13. “We were too poor to eat or stay in school, so we had to leave home, and this is how we ended up in the institution.”

Afrah’s story is all too familiar in Baghdad’s urban slums, ravaged for so long by conflict and economic hardship. Poverty is a persistent enemy of Iraq’s working classes, a force almost as destructive as violence.

By 2003, at least 15 per cent of Iraqi children under the age of 14 were working to support their families in some way. Today, the figure is likely to be far higher. Tens of thousands of family wage-earners have been killed in sectarian violence. Many more are fleeing to new areas in search of safety and jobs, disrupting family life and eating up household savings.

As violence in Iraq continues to fracture communities and families, children are increasingly being asked to take on adult burdens. For the poorest children, this usually means begging on the streets, or trying to scrape a few dinars by dodging traffic in an effort to persuade motorists to buy sticks of gum, sweets and cigarettes.

Many street children end up trapped in even more desperate situations, drawn into drugs, prostitution and violence. The more fortunate ones find a refuge in government institutions. The unlucky ones end up in trouble with the police or permanently damaged by the worst forms of economic and sexual exploitation, their childhoods lost.

“We are seeing more and more street children in Iraq’s cities, a tragic side-effect of conflict and poverty,” said the Chief of Child Protection Officer for UNICEF Iraq, Patrizia di Giovanni. “They are the forgotten vulnerable of Iraq’s society – less likely than any Iraqi children to go to school, receive emotional support, benefit from health care and stay safe.”

Most of the children working Iraq’s streets are not orphans, Ms. di Giovanni said. Afrah’s case – in which her family could not afford to keep her – is typical of an Iraqi street child.

Other street children are runaways, unable to cope with the stress and domestic violence that infects so many Iraqi families in the heart of the conflict zones. Displacement increases the risk that children will become separated from their parents in transit, or be pushed into work if the hoped-for family income fails to materialize in their new location.

“There was a time when extended families, or even community leaders, would have taken in children in need of help,” Ms. di Giovanni said. “But with pressure growing on all Iraqis, fewer are able to care for children beyond their immediate family. And so a frightening number of children are being left out in the cold.”

Afrah was one of the lucky ones. She found her way into the UNICEF-supported Child Re-integration Project. This initiative aims to bring children living without their parents back into a family environment, with the assistance of an NGO partner working in Baghdad. Children have the chance to stay in one of six ‘transitional’ centres throughout the city, where they receive counselling, psychosocial support and the chance to share experiences with their peers.

Eventually, with the aid of social workers, these children are offered the opportunity to return to a family home.

The Child Re-integration Project is a step-by-step process for children. Where they are orphans, the project finds relatives or members from their former community to foster them. In Afrah’s case, the project was able to trace her family and bring her back to them.

“I asked girls at the centre what going home was like,” said Afrah. “They said that in their own homes they can wake up and sleep freely and they are relaxed. I said to myself, why don’t I go to my family so that I can be free and calm like them?”

Going home can be hard after a long separation, but Afrah and her family had help. The Child Re-integration Project provides children and families with counselling and financial support for several months after a child returns home, to help the family adapt and make sure the child can go back to school.

“We are thankful for the rations provided by the social worker because we are very poor even now,” said Afrah’s mother. “If it were not for this I could not have had my children home, despite my love for them.”

So far, 150 children like Afrah have been re-united with a family by the Child Re-integration Project. Within the next few months it will roll out across Iraq to give other displaced and lost children the chance to change their lives for the better.

“When I was without my family I missed them. I could not imagine living a moment more without them,” said Afrah. “I hope that this project can bring other children back home and help their families.”

“All Iraqi children deserve the care of a family home,” Ms. di Giovanni said. “A family is the best chance they have to grow into confident, educated adults – and to contribute to the nation-building that Iraq needs.”

For today, Afrah is safe and dreaming of becoming an engineer.

“I will build my family a home first, before I work on any other building,” she says, as her mother and brothers sit beside her.

My Rainbow.

I have a rainbow in my heart - A rainbow I have found,

That outshines all the dark, grey skies,

And stormy clouds around.

Its there when I feel happy,

And its there , when I feel blue,

Because its made of all the dreams, I'd like to have come true,

Along with joy and courage,

Lasting hope and others' love,

And the promise that before long -

There'll be blue skies up above.

Around The Bend !

Sometimes we walk along a path, beneath a cloudy sky,
There's nothing to the right or left,to lift our spirits high,
Then , at last, we turn a corner, and there bursts into our view -
A scene of light and beauty , and the world seems fresh and new.
So always hold this little thought, that cares are bound to end,
And there's a brighter day ahead - just waiting round the bend.

Diana Remembered - In a Memorial Service.

LONDON—Princess Diana's family solemnly marked the 10th anniversary of her death Friday, with her younger son eulogizing her as "the best mother in the world."

The bishop of London used his sermon at a memorial service to call for an end to the sniping between Diana's fans and detractors, and a priest who has led an annual remembrance said it may now be time to let go.

"To lose a parent so suddenly at such a young age, as others have experienced, is indescribably shocking and sad," Prince Harry said at the memorial service at the Guards' Chapel near Buckingham Palace.

"It was an event which changed our lives forever, as it must have done for everyone who lost someone that night," said Harry, who was 12 when Diana died.

"But what is far more important to us now and into the future is that we remember our mother as she would wish to be remembered, as she was: fun-loving, generous, down to earth and entirely genuine," he said.

Diana's admirers, many of them suspicious of the cause of her death and resentful of Prince Charles, tied bouquets, poems and portraits to the gates of her former home.

Friday was a day for broadcasting video snippets of her wedding and funeral, for rehashing the rights and wrongs of her failed marriage.

For Harry and his older brother, Prince William, it was a simple tribute to an adored mother.

"To us, just two loving children, she was quite simply the best mother in the world," Harry said. "When she was alive, we completely took for granted her unrivaled love of life, laughter, fun and folly.

"She was our guardian, friend and protector," Harry said. "She never once allowed her unfaltering love for us to go unspoken or undemonstrated."

Harry and William were credited with organizing the noontime service, but Charles was blamed by many for the furor over an invitation to his current wife.

A poll commissioned by Channel 4 television in Britain found that 25 percent of the public

believes Diana was murdered, but 59 percent thought it was an accident. The telephone poll of 1,016 adults conducted this week had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.

The royal family, which clearly was caught by surprise by a national tidal wave of grief 10 years ago, had refrained from any public remembrance of the anniversary of the princess' death.

This year, however, William and Harry took the lead in organizing the memorial service, as well as a rock concert on Diana's birthday, July 1, which drew 70,000 paying fans.

PRINCESS of WALES - DIANA

DIANA (1961-1997)

A decade after her death, The Princess still looms large in Britian's psyche.

O GIRL , O BEAUTIFUL !!!!

Its time for girls around the world to realize that how beautiful they are....... inside and out.
"What I know for sure is that you really dont become what you want. You become what you believe". (Oprah)

Women changing the world .

WORLDS' YOUNGEST QUEEN

A businesswoman, a mother of four, an international fashion icon, a woman committed to making the world a better place for women and children—Queen Rania of Jordan is truly changing the world. Rania Al-Yassin was born in Kuwait. Shortly after Saddam Hussein invaded that country in 1990, her family fled and settled in Jordan. After graduating from business school, Rania began working her way up the corporate ladder. When she was just 22, she went to a dinner party where she met Jordan's Prince Abdullah—considered one of the world's most eligible bachelors. He didn't remain one for long after that night. Six months later, Rania and Abdullah had a royal wedding and started a family. And, though they planned for a life as royals, Abdullah assumed he'd remain a military officer for life. In 1999, while on his deathbed, King Hussein of Jordan stunned his country by announcing that his son Abdullah—not his brother—would succeed him as king. That made 29-year-old Rania the world's youngest living queen.

A QUEEN'S LIFE :

Rania says that being queen is not the trait she defines herself by. "I am not at all conscious of it," she says. "I make a conscious effort not to be conscious of it. Because I'm Rania, you know? People call me 'Queen,' but, you know, that's not me…I'm Rania." There are many perks to being queen, of course, but Rania stresses that there are also responsibilities. "One of the major misconceptions about this position is that people think that I might be far removed, that I might not be in touch with reality," she says. "The honest truth is that my life is very much about dealing with issues on the ground, dealing with … the problems that our country faces. That's something I do on a daily basis." When most people think of queens, they probably think of what they know from fairy tales. "For me, it's just real life," Rania says. "I am a mother. I care about my children. I worry about what they eat. I worry about the influences from their friends."

RAISING ROYAL CHILDREN :

Rania is not only sitting royalty in Jordan, she's raising the next generation of royals, too. She is the mother of four children—12-year-old Hussein, 10-year-old Iman, 6-year-old Salma, and 1-year-old Hashem. Rania says her family tries very hard to remain down to earth. The family has relaxed much of the ceremonial pomp and circumstance of their position. Rania prefers that people not refer to her as "Your Majesty"…and King Abdullah loves to barbecue! The family never discusses the possibility that Hussein, their oldest child, could be the future King of Jordan, Rania says. Instead, she says that the family strives to remain like any other family. For instance, to get the things they want the children have to clean their rooms and do well in school. "The most important thing is to instill them with the right values," Rania says. "I just feel that values are the shield that you carry with you throughout life. It protects you from whatever life throws at you."

EDUCATION AND POVERTY :

Rania has become famous around the world for her efforts to improve educational opportunities for girls and the rights of women. "In my mind poverty is a 'she,'" Rania says. Helping others is something that Rania says she feels compelled to do. "Once you feel that others are like you, then you want for others what you want for yourself," she says. "And that way you start helping others." Rania explains that there is a direct relationship between increasing education and eliminating poverty. "You can change the course of a nation through education," she says. "One of the most important things you can do for a girl is empower her with her education. Once she has the education, she can then have control over her income, she can change her life, she can have choices."

GETTING PAST CULTURAL STEREO TYPES :

Rania says that when people focus on differences between cultures—especially stereotypes and things like veils—they fail to realize just how similar all people are. "Once you go beyond the mannerisms, the language, the cultural idiosyncrasies, you realize that you're basically the same, you know?" she says. Rania also wants to break down the stereotypes the West holds about her culture. "I would like to dispel the misconception that Arabs are all extremists, that Arab people are violent, and that women in the Arab world are oppressed and suppressed," she says. The struggle we feel today is not really Middle East against the West, Rania says, but rather it is between extremists and moderates of all religions. "We need to speak up," she says. "The biggest nightmare for the extremists is for us to get along, and that's why we have to get along. We have to communicate more."

HIGH HOPES FOR THE FUTURE :

In the future, Rania says she hopes for a more open and secure world. "We look at problems happening halfway across the world and we think, 'Well, that's their problem.' But it's not," she says. "When you solve somebody else's problem, you're solving a problem for yourself because our world today is so interconnected." Rania says solving problems that stem from intolerance—like terrorism—require cultural dialogue, education and increased opportunities. "We have to create opportunities for our youth so they have a chance in life," she says. "Whenever you're frustrated and you feel like you don't have a future or you can't get a job, then you're more susceptible to be influenced by terrorism and extremist ideology."

Thought of the Day !

" We always feel bad,that good things happen only to'others', but we always forget that we are 'others' for some one else too..."

Life is a paradox - whatever you want you dont get, whatever you get you dont enjoy, whatever you enjoy is not permanent, whatever is permanent is boring.

If people around you are trying to pull you down., be proud about it! Because , it only means ONE thing - YOU are above them !

Anne Geddes - So Shweeeeeeeeeeet (Adorable)

A Thought Of Happiness.

"When [people] can eradicate complaining from their lives, they truly become happier. … It's like if you're not articulating the complaint, if your complaint has nowhere to go, your mind stops creating the complaint."

— Pastor Will Bowen, who challenged his parishioners to stop complaining .

How to make strong connections with your Children.

What do you think your children will remember from their childhood? Experts say the littlest thing from parents can make the biggest difference in the life of a child. Learn how you can build strong connections with your children. Show Them How Much You Care.

Ways to build Connections.

Create Keepsakes :

One of the greatest gifts you give to your children is the gift of memories. A small keepsake from Mom or Dad can bring a smile to a child's face, or help them keep their chin up on an especially bad day. Here are some ideas for creating memories with your kids:

Take a picture of your child each year on their birthday. To help chart their growth, have them wear one of their mother's dresses, or their father's shirts. Then you can create an album that both you and your child will treasure.

Every year, write a letter to your child. In the letter, tell them what they were like at that time, who their friends were and what they liked to do. The letters will give your child a complete picture of their life, and will make a great birthday or wedding gift in the future.

Sit down in front of a video camera and record messages to your children. Share your words of wisdom, reinforce important lessons about life, and tell them how much you love them. Having your face and voice on videotape could mean more to them than you'll ever know.

Gather recipes that have been passed down through your family, or that are your kids' favorites, and make a family cookbook. When they're cooking their first meals on their own, they'll be thinking of you.

Tuck little notes in your child's lunch each day. Whether it's a joke, some encouraging words or just saying "I'm thinking about you," your kids will appreciate the thought.

Have Bedtime Rituals

When it's time for your kids to go to bed, take the opportunity to create some daily rituals with them. Having a familiar routine with parents at the same time each night can create a sense of closeness and comfort for your children.

Say the same thing to your kids each night before they go to sleep;

When your children are very young, rock them to sleep with a lullaby. As they get older, they will still like to hear the song, and it will take on a special significance to them.

Set aside an amount of time (15–30 minutes) to spend with each child when they go to bed. Let them tell you about their day, or talk about whatever is on their minds. They will appreciate this special time with you.

Read to your child before they fall asleep. Set a time limit, or a number of books you'll read. Not only will this time help you bond with your child, it will help them become better readers in the future.

Begin a Family Tradition

Traditions are great ways to strengthen family bonds and get your child to participate in activities. The more traditions you have, the more opportunities you'll have to come together as your child grows older and goes out into the world!

Food Traditions

Many families come together to celebrate major holidays. Include foods that have been passed down from generation to generation. Tell stories about where the recipes came from to give your children a sense of family pride.You don't have to wait for a major holiday to build a tradition around food! Whether it's pizza, spaghetti or hot dogs, designate one night a week for your kid's favorite dinner.

Annual Photos

Try taking a picture each year on the same day, like a birthday. Dress them in your own favorite outfit and watch how they grow into your clothes over the years!On the same day each year, write your child a letter and let them know what they were like at that age. Then, create an album made up of these photos and letters.

Secret Handshakes

Make your child feel special by creating a secret handshake only the two of you know.

Anniversary Dinner

Include your children in your anniversary celebration! Just as many kids enjoy making their parents breakfast on Mother's Day and Father's Day—maybe they'd like to play restaurant and serve the two of you dinner!

Memory Gardens

Planting a memory garden in your backyard is a great springtime activity for you and your child to do together. Include flowers and trees that match your child's personality.

Create One-on-One Time with Family

If you think that you're giving your kids what they need by packing their schedules with after-school activities, think again. What they need is a little quality time with you! Learn to limit your kids' activities and carve out time to make your children feel special.

Ask Your Children What They Need

Ask your kids what they want out of your family lifestyle. Give each child a piece of paper. Ask, "If I could give you three things in regards to time and activities together, what would they be?"

Institute Date Night

Create "date nights" for each child. On a regular schedule, one or both parents should take each child to a movie or out to dinner. This simple time with you will mean a great deal to your child.

"Special Time" at Bedtime

Set aside at least 10 minutes of "special time" for each child every night when they go to bed. Use this time to read, talk about their day or sing a song together.

Sit Down for Dinner

Make it a priority to eat at least one meal together as a family each day. This will give you time to reconnect before or after a busy day.

Ten Etiquette Rules for Children

Teaching manners to your children gives them the tools to function and succeed as adults.

1. How to Dine :
When invited to a pre-arranged meal, always use your utensils from the "outside in." After all, utensils are set in the order that food will be served.

2. Telephone Manners :

When calling a friend, identify yourself to the person who answers the phone before asking to speak your friend. By doing so, the parents or other family member who answer the phone will appreciate this courtesy and see you as friendly.

3. On Correspondence :

Anytime it takes someone more than 15 minutes to do something for you, send the person a thank-you note. By doing so, the person will know you really appreciated what was done for you.

4. Be Gracious :

When you are sent an invitation that requires an RSVP, be sure to let the person know if you will be able to go to the gathering. After all, "RSVP" means "respond if you please."

5. Shoes Are Important :

When getting dressed each day, be sure that your shoes are well-maintained. People associate the way you take care of your shoes with the way you handle detail in the rest of your life.

6. Be Open to New Foods :When you are invited out to eat and are served a food that is not your favorite, try a piece of it anyway. You may be surprised and find that you end up liking it.

7. Ask Questions :

When talking with friends and family, always make a point of asking them questions about themselves. People will see you as interesting if you are interested in them.

8. At the Table :

When eating a roll, be sure to break off a bite-sized piece at a time. No bread-and-butter sandwiches, please.

9. Be Friendly :

When you are in school, be cool by making a point to talk with that new kid in your class. If the tables were turned, wouldn't that make you feel good?

10. The Rule of Twelve :

When talking with others, always use a form of thanks and the person's name in the first 12 words you speak.

Things every parent should know :Meaningful Moments.

We must communicate to our children every day that they are loved, says Sandra Magsamen, an expert on living your life with heart. But, sometimes words alone are not enough to express what we most want to say. Here are some ways Sandra says you can make lasting bonds with your children that will last a lifetime.

The Basics :

Hug! Never stop hugging your child. A hug connects physically and emotionally like nothing else. You should also read lots of books to your children. Put time aside each day to look at, read and share stories. You can read the same ones over and over again. Dance, sway and move as you hold your child and provide the comfort and connection that gentle rocking and movement brings. Get down on the floor and play, make puzzles, finger paint, roll around and laugh together. And tell them you love them, that they are special, that they are unique and that they are a gift.

Sing Out Loud :

Find your song and sing it. Don't worry if you don't have the pipes of Aretha, just sing and I promise your child will love it. Find "your song," the song you love to sing to your child. It will soothe them—and you—on those days where everything seems to be going wrong.
Smile, It's Your Birthday :

Every year on your child's birthday, take their picture while they hold a sign with the number of how old they are. Find a book or a place in your home to display these wonderful reminders of your child's growth.

Share What Matters :

There is no end to the ways in which we can share what's in our hearts. Teach your children at a young age that what they think matters. This is a short and sweet example of a family that created a book for a special celebration.
Celebrate the Firsts, the Lasts and Everything in Between :

Every September, sure as clockwork, summer comes to an end and the first morning of school arrives. Lazy days, swimming pools, flip-flops and vacations are exchanged for alarm clocks, book bags, school buses and schedules. In my house, we have a love/hate relationship with the beginning of school. We hate to see summer come to a close, but we love to start a new year, filled with possibilities and friendships.

Things every parent should know .....

Five Conversations to Have with Your Children.

It's not always easy to talk to a child, says WebMD's Dr. Charlotte Grayson Mathis. They are always on the go, they have short attention spans and it's often hard to explain things to them in a way that makes sense. There are some important lessons though that you can teach your preschooler or big kid.Most importantly, make a habit when your child is young to talk to them every day about their life and activities. Don't judge them, just listen…and learn. Developing the habit now will serve you well for the years to come.

Controlling Their Temper :

Thankfully, tantrums are far less common than when your angel was a terrible 2. As they get older, it's much easier to talk to your child and teach them how to handle his or her anger and frustration. Just remember to avoid conceding to their demands, and defuse any physical outbursts toward a sibling or others by removing the child from the situation. After the storm's passed, talk to your child about what's troubling him or her.

Why They Shouldn't Use Swear Words :

It's shocking to see your precious child say the "s" word. It may even seem a bit funny, but don't laugh. Tell your child to not use the offensive word and offer alternatives to help him or her express themselves. If that doesn't work, consider punishing the child for the behavior.

Eating Right :

The battle over what your child will or won't eat is a familiar and frustrating problem for most parents. Remember this: Try to offer your child a variety of healthy choices at each meal, including one thing they definitely like. Don't worry if they eat nothing one day, and pig out the next. And recognize that while their diet may be awful and one dimensional for a few days, over time, it usually balances out.

Sharing :

At different ages, kids have different capacities to share their toys and personal items—and every kid is different. So, set a good example, show your kids how you're cooperative at home and reward good behavior. It will come in time.

Recognizing a Stranger :

One thing's for certain, our idea of a stranger is very different than our child's. Explain "stranger danger" in an age-appropriate way. For instance, use the movie Finding Nemo to introduce the topic to a preschooler. Tell your child that a friendly face doesn't mean that a person's not a stranger. A stranger is anyone your child doesn't know.With an older child, review the scenarios in which they may be lured away from you, including offering candy or requesting help finding a lost pet. Tell your kids to always stick with their friends and not go off alone. Teach your kid how to shout "NO" and run away from a situation that's uncomfortable. Make sure to teach them their address and home phone number.

Purposes and Effects of Meditation.

The purposes for which people meditate vary almost as widely as practices. Meditation may serve simply as a means of relaxation from a busy daily routine; as a technique for cultivating mental discipline; or as a means of gaining insight into the nature of reality, or of communing with one's God. Many report improved concentration, awareness, self-discipline and equanimity through meditation.

Many authorities avoid emphasizing the effects of meditation — sometimes out of modesty, sometimes for fear that the expectation of results might interfere with one's meditation. For theists, the effects of meditation are considered a gift of God or from the Holy Spirit/Ghost, and not something that is "achieved" by the meditator alone, just as some say that a person will not convert to Christianity without the influence of the Holy Spirit/Ghost's presence.

Commonly reported results from meditation include:

1. Greater faith in, or understanding of, one's religion or beliefs .

2. An increase in patience, compassion, and other virtues and morals or the understanding of

them.

3. Feelings of calm or peace, and/or moments of great joy .

4. Consciousness of sin, temptation, and remorse, and a spirit of contrition.

5. Sensitivity to certain forms of lighting, such as fluorescent lights or computer screens, and

sometimes heightened sense-perception.

6. Surfacing of buried memories.

7. Experience of spiritual phenomena such as kundalini, extra-sensory perception, or visions of

deities, saints, demons, etc.

Some traditions acknowledge that many types of experiences and effects are possible, but instruct the meditator to keep in mind the spiritual purpose of the meditation, and not be distracted by lesser concerns. For example, Mahayana Buddhists are urged to meditate for the sake of "full and perfect enlightenment for all sentient beings" (the bodhisattva vow). Some, as in certain sects of Christianity, say that these things are possible, but are only to be supported if they are to the glory of God.

Meditation.

The word meditation comes from the Latin meditatio, which originally indicated every type of physical or intellectual exercise, then later evolved into the more specific meaning "contemplation." The use of the word meditation in the western Christian tradition has referred generally to a more active practice of reflection on some particular theme such as "meditation on the sufferings of Christ". Similarly in Western philosophy, one finds, for example, Descartes' Meditations on First Philosophy, a set of six mental exercises which systematically analyze the nature of reality.

"Meditation" in its modern sense refers to Yogic meditation that originated in India. In the late nineteenth century, Theosophists adopted the word "meditation" to refer to various spiritual practices drawn from Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Eastern religions. Thus the English word "meditation" does not exclusively translate any single term or concept, and can be used to translate words such as the Sanskrit dhyana, samadhi and bhavana.

Meditation is usually defined as one or more of the following:

1. a state of relaxed concentration on the reality of the present moment

2. a state that is experienced when the mind dissolves and is free of all thoughts

3. "concentration in which the attention has been liberated from restlessness and is focused on

God.

4. focusing the mind on a single object (such as a religious statue, or one's breath, or a mantra)

5. a mental "opening up" to the divine, invoking the guidance of a higher power

reasoned analysis of religious teachings (such as impermanence, for Buddhists).

From the point of view of psychology, meditation can induce an altered state of consciousness. The goals of meditation are varied, and range from spiritual enlightenment, to the transformation of attitudes, to better cardiovascular health.

The Kite Runner By Khaled Hossein.

The Kite Runner is an outstanding novel, written by an afghan physician settled in California. The Charecters have life and complexity.It gives us a vivid and engaging story that reminds us how long his people have been struggling to triumph over the forces of violence -- forces that continue to threaten them even today.

Happiness .

Happiness isn't something you remember; its something you experience.
(Oscar Levant -1906 -1972).

Happiness is a state of consiousness which proceeds from the achievement of one's values.
(Ayn Rand - 1905 - 1982).

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.
(Mahathma Gandhi - 1869 - 1948).

Cherish all your happy moments, they make fine cushions for old age.
(Christpher Morley - 1890-1957).

Happiness depends upon ourselves.
(Aristotle - 384 BC - 322 BC).

A Library bigger than a building .

An ambitious project to create an online catalogue of every book in every language ever published is under way. Public goodwill is not in doubt, but some libraries remain to be convinced.

A few years ago, the idea of getting random people around the world to write their own encyclopaedia would have been madness - but that didn't stop the founders of Wikipedia doing just that, and it has turned out to be one of the most successful web projects of recent years.
With that in mind, does it sound mad to want to try and build an online catalogue of every book ever published, anywhere in the world?

The Open Library, newly launched in the USA but global in scope, is designed to make that happen.

In the words of its creators, the idea is to build a virtual library that stores details of not just "every book on sale, or every important book, or even every book in English; but simply every book."

Which would include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, The Koran , the full text of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and of course Harry Potter .

But what's the Open Library really for? Aaron Swartz, leader of the technical team working on Open Library, suggests that every book ever published needs a single authoritative page on the internet, a bit like a personal homepage.
It's kind of a bad idea for one commercial site to be the definitive source for book information on the internet .

"Right now, if you want to link to a book on the web, the main place people go is Amazon. It's kind of a bad idea for one commercial site to be the definitive source for book information on the internet, so we want to have a site that brings together information from commercial publishers, reviewers, users, libraries, everywhere.

"This site will become the place where you can find interesting books and information about them, whether they're in print, out of print, out of copyright or whatever."

Such a library has to be virtual. No building would ever be large enough to house all books; no single group or government could afford to build it, or employ the necessary staff. If the Open Library is to succeed, it has to be a virtual space, and open to everyone, Wikipedia-style.

"There are tons of books out there and tons of information about those books. There's no way even a large group of librarians is going to be able to collect it all. We think of it as an analogue to Wikipedia. There are some great encyclopaedias written by small groups of experts, but to get something as wide-ranging and varied as Wikipedia, you need to let everyone in."

To start things off, the Open Library is calling on other libraries to donate their catalogues. This alone presents huge technical challenges, since the data sets come in different formats and different languages, and each set comes with its own quirks, repetitions and errors.
What's important is keeping the data in a structured form, so that the database working behind the scenes knows the difference between an author, a title and a publisher.

"We had to build this new type of wiki software which was an exciting challenge, because you had to set it up so that instead of just having one kind of page people can edit, we have lots of different kinds.

"People can edit authors, they can edit books, they can edit text pages, and so on. So there's a lot of new stuff we had to build. And that's just the infrastructure - there were also lots of things to import, and book data to merge and make searchable."

Quotes by Richard Bach !!!!

A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.

Allow the world to live as it chooses, and allow yourself to live as you choose.

An idea is never given to you without you being given the power to make it reality. You must, nevertheless, suffer for it.

Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.

Ask yourself the secret of YOUR success. Listen to your answer, and practice it.

Avoid problems, and you'll never be the one who overcame them.

Bad things are not the worst things that can happen to us. Nothing is the worst thing that can happen to us!

Can miles truly separate you from friends... If you want to be with someone you love, aren't you already there?

Civilization... wrecks the planet from seafloor to stratosphere.

Don't be dismayed by good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends.

Don't believe what your eyes are telling you. All they show is limitation. Look with your understanding, find out what you already know, and you'll see the way to fly.

Don't turn away from possible futures before you're certain you don't have anything to learn from them.

Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness.

Every person, all the events of your life are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you.

Every problem has a gift for you in its hands.

Evolution made civilization steward of this planet. A hundred thousand years later, the steward stood before evolution not helper but destroyer, not healer but parasite. So evolution withdrew its gift, passed civilization by, rescued the planet from intelligence and handed it to love.

Get this in mind early: We never grow up.

Happiness is the reward we get for living to the highest right we know.

Here is a test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: If you're alive, it isn't.

Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't.

I don't want to do business with those who don't make a profit, because they can't give the best service.

I gave my life to become the person I am right now. Was it worth it?

I want to be very close to someone I respect and admire and have somebody who feels the same way about me.

If it's never our fault, we can't take responsibility for it. If we can't take responsibility for it, we'll always be its victim.

If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were.

If you will practice being fictional for a while, you will understand that fictional characters are sometimes more real than people with bodies and heartbeats.

If your happiness depends on what somebody else does, I guess you do have a problem.

In order to live free and happily you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice.

In order to win, you must expect to win.

In the United States Christmas has become the rape of an idea.

It is by not always thinking of yourself, if you can manage it, that you might somehow be happy.

Until you make room in your life for someone as important to you as yourself, you will always be searching and lost.

Jonathan is that brilliant little fire that burns within us all, that lives only for those moments when we reach perfection.

Learning is finding out what you already know.

Listen to what you know instead of what you fear.

Live never to be ashamed if anything you say or do is published around the world, even if what is said is not true.

Not being known doesn't stop the truth from being true.

Our soulmate is the one who makes life come to life.

Rarely do members of the same family grow up under the same roof.

Some choices we live not only once but a thousand times over, remembering them for the rest of our lives.

Strong beliefs win strong men, and then make them stronger.

The best way to pay for a lovely moment is to enjoy it.

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.

The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls the butterfly.

The meaning I picked, the one that changed my life: Overcome fear, behold wonder.

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work.

The simplest questions are the most profound. Where were you born? Where is your home? Where are you going? What are you doing? Think about these once in a while and watch your answers change.

The simplest things are often the truest.

There are no mistakes. The events we bring upon ourselves, no matter how unpleasant, are necessary in order to learn what we need to learn; whatever steps we take, they're necessary to reach the places we've chosen to go.

To bring anything into your life, imagine that it's already there.

To fly as fast as thought, you must begin by knowing that you have already arrived.

What the caterpillar calls the end of the world the master calls a butterfly.

You are always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past.

You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it come true. You may have to work for it, however.

You don't want a million answers as much as you want a few forever questions. The questions are diamonds you hold in the light. Study a lifetime and you see different colors from the same jewel.

You teach best what you most need to learn.

Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness. Listen to it carefully.

Your friends will know you better in the first minute you meet than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years.

Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself.

Your only obligation in any lifetime is to be true to yourself. Being true to anyone else or anything else is not only impossible, but the mark of a fake messiah.

Friends.

Friends
A friend is someone we turn to when our spirits need a lift.
A friend is someone we treasure for our friendship is a gift.
A friend is someone who fills our lives with beauty, joy, and grace.
And makes the whole world we live in a better and happier place.
By- Jean Kyler McManus –

Friends will come and friends will go,
The seasons change and it will show,
I will age and so will you,But our friendship stays, strong and true.
- Author Unknown –

There's nothing as nice as someone who shares,your laughter,
your secrets, your wishes and cares,
someone who's there through your good times and tears,
who stays by your side as your friend through the years.
- Autymn Skillings -

World of Difference.

The Paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers,wider freeways but narrow view points. All of us have learnt how to make a living but not life. We have added years to life but not life to years.

We have been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbour. We have more university degrees but less sense, more knowledge but less judgement,more experts yet more problems, more medicines but less wellness.

We spend more but have less, we buy more but enjoy less. We have bigger houses but smaller families, more conveniences but less time. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,drive too fast, get too angry,stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch too much T.V. and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions but reduced our values, we talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often, We conquer outer space but not inner space. We have done larger things but not better things.

We have cleaned up the air but polluted the soul, we have conquered the atom but not our prejudice. We write more but learn less. We plan more but accomplish less.

We have learnt to rush but not to wait. We built more computers to hold, more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small charecter,steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two income but more divorce, fancier houses but broken homes,these are the days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, over weight bodies and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill. It is time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this middle to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just ignore.

Remember, spend sometime with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever, remember to say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person will grow up and leave your side, remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you , because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesnt cost a rupee.

Remember to say'I LOVE YOU' to your partner and your loved ones but most of all mean it. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, give time to the precious thoughts in your mind.

Always remember - Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but the moments that take our breath away.

Joining hands to save the tiger .

Heads of 16 villages bordering a tiger reserve in Arunachal Pradesh have joined hands to form a committee to protect the reserve where hunting of wild animals illegally has been a common practice.

The 16-member committee in conjunction with the forest department is to work for protection of the Pakke Tiger Reserve, about 250 km from the Chinese border.

The committee, locally called as "Ghora Aabhe", recently passed a resolution listing penalties for wildlife violations of 17 different wild species ranging from Rs.200 to Rs.30,000.

"Following this initiative, about 32 illegal locally made guns were seized from poachers. Many of the poachers have now promised to work for protection of the reserve," said Tana Tapi, divisional forest officer, who helped the villagers to form the committee.

A conservation organisation, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), which is supporting the "Gaon Burahs" - village heads - with honorariums to carry out conservation actions, said villagers have been keeping a strict vigil in the reserve, which has led to the recovery of arms.

The 862-sq km Pakke Reserve in East Kameng district is home to many rare and endangered wildlife species, such as tiger, leopard, wild dog, Himalayan black bear and elephant.

Although wildlife trade is not prevalent here as in other parts of the country, hunting for food has been a major threat to wildlife.

"The reduction in hunting, particularly of prey species of the tiger, will help tiger conservation in the long run," said P.C. Bhattacharjee, professor at Gauhati University.

The committee would work to strengthen intelligence networks, enforcement activities and create awareness for conservation among the people. Repeated seizures would also act as a deterrent for likely offenders, Tapi said.

"The Gaon Burah's role is crucial since they can persuade people for sustainable use of natural resources," said Bhattacharjee.

"This initiative can be a role model elsewhere in the country where problems of hunting for food and trade are widespread. Fringe villages adjoining huge unmanned wildlife sanctuaries can play a stellar role in conservation," said Rahul Kaul, director conservation of WTI, who is supervising the project in Pakke.

"The Pakke Reserve, which is contiguous with the Nameri Tiger Reserve of Assam, is an important habitat for the big cats. This move by the villagers is an important step forward particularly in the light of the present tiger crisis in the country," he said.

Ice Bergs are 'Ecological Hotspot'.

Drifting icebergs are "ecological hotspots" that enable the surrounding waters to absorb an increased volume of carbon dioxide, a study suggests.

US scientists found that minerals released from the melting ice triggered blooms of CO2-absorbing phytoplankton.

These microscopic plants were then eaten by krill (shrimp-like organisms), whose waste material containing the carbon sank to the ocean floor.

The findings are published in the online journal Science Express.

The study, carried out in the Southern Ocean's Weddell Sea in December 2005, has helped researchers understand the impact of free-floating icebergs on the marine environment.

"We had almost 1,000 icebergs."

"We are going to go back and look at smaller icebergs to see how important they are "

Dr. Ken Smith- Oceanographer.

The team focused its attention on two icebergs, one measuring 2km by 0.5km (1.2 miles by 0.3 miles) and another 21km in length and 5km wide (13 miles by 3 miles).

Using instruments that included a trawl net and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) with a video camera, the researchers sampled waters from the ice blocks up to 9km away (5.5 miles).

They found a "substantial enrichment" of minerals, phytoplankton, krill and seabirds in the surrounding water up to 3.7km away (2.3 miles) compared with areas with no icebergs.

"These results suggest that free-drifting icebergs can substantially impact the (open sea) ecosystem of the Southern Ocean and can serve as areas of enhanced production and sequestration of organic carbon to the deep sea," the scientists wrote.

Dr Smith said these findings would be followed up next year by a much more intensive examination.

"We are going to go back and look at smaller icebergs to see how important they are, and to see if they also have an associated enrichment of the surrounding water."

I Want to Say How Proud I Am of You .

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY.

To My Dad on His Day

To my dad on his day,

Of whom I am a living will:

May your happiness fulfill

Your goodness, as is just and right.

Deeds are seeds upon the night

As wind and wonder have their way,

Delivering the destined light.

________________________________

I Do Not See You Often

I do not see you often,

butI see you every day.

I've taken you along with me

As I have grown away.

We talk about the things that fill

A life with love and pain,

But our timeless golden time,

Unspoken, still remains.

You will always be my dad,

And I, your darling daughter.

The days may turn like waterwheels,

But that will never change.

The thought of you will make me glad

No matter where I wander.

You are the place that cannot feel

Uncanny, dark, or strange.

Eye flickers key for fine detail .

Tiny, involuntary movements made by our eyes when we focus on something could be more useful than we might think, scientists have found. We may not be aware that our eyes are making these movements, but without them our vision fades. And scientists have now found that they could also be important in helping us to see very fine details. The research, carried out by scientists at Boston University, was published in the journal Nature.

Our eyes are never in a position of absolute rest - they are always moving slightly, much as we find it difficult to hold our hands completely steady. These tiny flickers made as we focus on something are known as fixational eye movements. They keep the image on the retina of our eyes moving, and scientists have known for about 50 years that removing this motion for a long time, by stabilising the image on the retina, causes vision to fade. This observation gave rise to the idea that the movements are necessary to refresh the responses of neurons in the visual system to prevent images we are focused on from fading.

New technique

But there has been debate over whether the movements have any other functions. Professor Michele Rucci and colleagues used a new technique for counteracting the visual effects of the eye movements to test their effects on vision. They were able to stop the effects of the movements for short periods of time, so that vision did not start to fade. They found that, without the motion, people in the study were less able to perceive fine details in images. Participants looked at a grating and had to say whether it was being oriented to the right or to the left. When the grates were very close together, people were less successful in the task if their retinas were stabilised to remove the effects of the eye movements - they got it wrong 16% more of the time.

However, when the grates were further apart there was no effect when the retinal image was stabilised. Professor Rucci said it seems that when we fixate on something we get more small eye movements which could help us focus on these details.

'Useful'

He said such a mechanism could be crucial to help us focus in on fine details when we need to.

And he said the findings could have clinical implications for people with conditions that result in abnormal fixational eye movements.

He said: "By showing that fixational eye movements participate in the perception of fine detail, our results may help explain the reasons behind part of these visual deficits and may contribute to the development of treatments."

Tim Hunter, a councillor for the College of Optometrists, said the research was interesting and seemed to give a "sound result" but that he would like to see the effects duplicated in other studies to confirm the finding.

He added that understanding more about how the eye works and can go wrong could give us opportunities to correct problems and improve vision in the future.

Space Shuttle - Atlantis.

After weeks of delay, space shuttle Atlantis was finally launched for its mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

The orbiter will deliver new equipment to the space station.

The mission was due to take place in March but repairs had to be made to the shuttle's external tank, which was damaged by a hailstorm in February.

Golf-ball sized hail stones hit the launcher vehicle system, causing hundreds of dents and minor surface damage to the tank's foam coveriSince the destruction of Atlantis's sister shuttle Columbia and the death of its crew in 2003, shuttle damage has been a major cause of concern for Nasa. ng and to heat shields on the orbiter itself. Columbia's heat shield was damaged during its launch and the ship was destroyed as it returned through the atmosphere 16 days later.

Atlantis has a crew of seven: Rick Sturckow will command the mission and Lee Archambault will serve as Atlantis' pilot. Mission specialists James Reilly, Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, John Olivas and Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson make up the rest of the team.

Mr Anderson will replace Sunita Williams on the ISS, who will be returning to Earth aboard Atlantis. Space shuttle Atlantis blasted off into space on Saturday to bring back Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams after her six month stay at the International Space Station , the longest for any woman.

The crew will be installing a new backbone segment and a set of solar wings on the space station, which is currently being expanded.

Nasa must fly at least 13 more missions to finish constructing the orbiting outpost before retiring its fleet of shuttles in 2010.

However, the delays to Atlantis' mission have meant that Nasa will have to reduce its 2007 programme from five to four launches.

IF TEARS COULD............

If tears could build a stairway

And memories were a lane,

I would walk right up to heaven

To bring you home again.

No farewell words were spoken.

No time to say good-bye.

You were gone before we knew it,

And only God knows why.

My heart still aches in sadness

And secret tears still flow.

What it meant to lose you,

No one will ever know.

New 7 Wonders of the World .

VOTE FOR TAJ MAHAL - YOUR VOTE MATTERS .

The voting campaign for the New 7 Wonders of the world is going on, and there are just 26 more days left for voting. There are 21 candidates for this. The New 7 wonders will be announced during the Official Declaration Ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on 7th July'07.

Your vote counts ............ Help make history.

To vote you can log on to http://www.new7wonders.com/

The event will take place at Portugal's largest venue, the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon, The Official Declaration of the New 7 Wonders of the World show will feature performances and award presentation appearances from Ben Kingsley, Jose Carreras, Chaka Khan, Alessandro Safina, Joaquín Cortés, Dulce Pontes, Neil Armstrong and Cristiano Ronaldo amongst others. The Portuguese event agency Realizar Impact Marketing, known for its innovative, international multimedia, will create and produce the event on July 7, 2007, which will be broadcast around the world.

The official Ceremony is sure to be once in a life time event.

GLOBAL WARMING.

THE PLANET IS HEATING UP AND FAST .....................

Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are drying, and wildlife is scrambling to keep pace. It's becoming clear that humans have caused most of the past century's warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Called greenhouse gases, their levels are higher now than in the last 650,000 years.

We call the result global warming, but it is causing a set of changes to the Earth's climate, or long-term weather patterns, that varies from place to place. As the Earth spins each day, the new heat swirls with it, picking up moisture over the oceans, rising here, settling there. It's changing the rhythms of climate that all living things have come to rely upon.

GLOBAL WARMING CAUSES:
Scientists have spent decades figuring out what is causing global warming. They've looked at the natural cycles and events that are known to influence climate. But the amount and pattern of warming that's been measured can't be explained by these factors alone. The only way to explain the pattern is to include the effect of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by humans.

IS GLOBAL WARMING REAL :
Has Global Warming Been Exaggerated?
The warming of Earth's surface and oceans over the past century is very well documented, and climate research shows that most of the warming in the past half century results from manmade greenhouse gases. In recent years, global warming has been the subject of a great deal of political controversy. As scientific knowledge has grown, this debate is moving away from whether humans are causing warming and toward questions of how best to respond.

EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING:
Signs are Everywhere.
The planet is warming, from North Pole to South Pole, and everywhere in between. Globally, the mercury is already up more than 1 degree Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius), and even more in sensitive polar regions.

And the effects of rising temperatures aren’t waiting for some far-flung future. They’re happening right now. Signs are appearing all over, and some of them are surprising. The heat is not only melting glaciers and sea ice, it’s also shifting precipitation patterns and setting animals on the move.

Some impacts from increasing temperatures are already happening.

Ice is melting worldwide, especially at the Earth’s poles. This includes mountain glaciers, ice sheets covering West Antarctica and Greenland, and Arctic sea ice.

Researcher Bill Fraser has tracked the decline of the Adélie penguins on Antarctica, where their numbers have fallen from 32,000 breeding pairs to 11,000 in 30 years.

Sea level rise became faster over the last century.

Some butterflies, foxes, and alpine plants have moved farther north or to higher, cooler areas.

Precipitation (rain and snowfall) has increased across the globe, on average.

Spruce bark beetles have boomed in Alaska thanks to 20 years of warm summers. The insects have chewed up 4 million acres of spruce trees.

Stroke Identification .

STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Steps STROKE IDENTIFICATION:


During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.



A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR .



Read and Learn!Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.



Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:



*Ask the individual to SMILE.



*Ask the person to TALK, to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently: It is sunny out today.)



*Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.



{NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue... if the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke} If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call hospital / doctor immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher. A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this e-mail sends it to 10 people; you can bet that at least one life will be saved.