Most Incredible Bridges on the Earth

The Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco

Golden Gate Bridge at sunset. Photo: mischiru [Flickr]

Golden Gate Bridge at night. Photo: justinwyne [Flickr]

The Golden Gate Bridge is such an iconic symbol of San Francisco (and of suspension bridge in general) that it’s hard to imagine a time when it didn’t exist. But before it was built, most people thought it was an impossible task.

In 1916, the idea of a bridge to cross the Golden Gate, a narrow strait that separated San Francisco Peninsula and the Marin Headlands, was conceived. Though it was almost immediately dismissed as the cost was estimated to be $100 million (astronomical for the time), a veteran bridge builder named Joseph Strauss lobbied for more than two decades to have it built.

The Golden Gate Bridge faced tough opposition: the Department of War thought it would interfere with ship traffic and the Southern Pacific Railroad opposed it as competition to its ferry service. At first, even the public didn’t like the bridge … because Strauss’ original design was deemed too ugly! But Strauss finally won, and after 22-years of drumming up support, the bridge was built.

Construction took more than four years, at a cost of $27 million. The Golden Gate Bridge actually came in $1.3 million under budget (though 5 months late). For his work, Strauss got $1 million … and a lifetime bridge pass!

 Brooklyn Bridge - New York

In 1855, engineer John Roebling started to design a bridge that at the time would be the longest suspension bridge in the world, with towers being the tallest structures in the Western Hemisphere: the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.

Today, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the main crossings of the East River and one of the most heavily trafficked bridges in the world. But in the late 19th century, it took Roebling more than 14 years to convince the city to build the bridge.

One interesting note about the Brooklyn Bridge: it stood fast while other bridges built around the same time had crumbled. Engineers credit Roebling for designing a bridge and truss system six times as strong as he thought it needed to be!


Tower Bridge - London

It’s funny to think about ancient traffic jams, but that was why the Tower Bridge in London, England was built. By the end of the 19th century, the development of the eastern part of London caused such a load on the London Bridge that the city decided to build a new bridge.

Construction of the Tower Bridge started in 1886, led by architect Sir Horace Jones and engineer Sir John Wolfe Barry. The design was a bascule (draw) bridge with two towers built on piers, so the bridge wouldn’t interefere with the port facilities nearby.

A year after construction was started, Jones died and his replacement, George D. Stevenson along with Barry decided to modify the design a little bit. Instead of the original brick facade design, the Tower Bridge had a more ornate Victorian Gothic style meant to harmonize it with the nearby Tower of London.

When the bridge opened in 1894, the public was aghast. H. Heathcote Statham, Fellow of the Royal Insitute of British Architect, wrote the familiar sentiment as thus: "The Tower Bridge … represents the vice of tawdriness and pretentiousness, and of falsification of the actual facts of the structure." (Source: Waddell, J., Bridge Engineering, Google Books)

But over time, people warmed up to the bridge. Indeed, the Tower Bridge grew to be one of London’s most recognizable landmarks. Even one of its loudest critics, architectural critic Eric de Maré conceded: the British people "have grown fond of the old fraud … and we must admit that it has carried on its task with admirable regularity and efficiency." (Source: Dupré, J., Bridges; 1997 Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers) .

Source : Internet Compilation

Magical Invention of "Father of TOUCHSCREEN" - Steve Jobs

 

I was heard about this name "STEVE JOBS" in late 2010 when I was about to complete my Diploma (Computer Science and Technology). Now I think I dont I have to say about him, though he left his innovative technology for the rest of the world, and changed it the we use it today. May his soul rest in peace R.I.P. Sir Steve Jobs.Father of TOUCHSCREEN.

I am very touched by his invention he change the field of technology and science. Steve Jobs may just be the greatest inventor of our age. We dug through Google Patents and found that Steve Jobs is listed as the primary or co-inventor on 241 patents. Granted, some of those inventions were duds, no doubt. But some were pure genius, and did nothing less than completely change the way we use technology in our lives.
So as he prepares to walk away from the company he built, left, and rebuilt into something bigger than anyone thought possible, let's take a walk through some of his inventions that moved the technological world. We found the the original drawing submitted with every patent application submitted by Steve and his teams, along with the eventual Apple device that changed everything.

Magical Inventions of Steve Jobs

Apple III (1980)
It's easy to say the Apple III was a commercial failure, because it was. As Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak put it, the primary reason it failed was that the Apple III was designed by the marketing department, instead of engineering. Perhaps. However, there always exists a struggle between form and function, and it takes a true visionary who can bridge both design and capability. Sometimes failures are the best lessons.

iMac G3 (1998)
Of all the great Apple products in the last 35 years, the iMac G3 is truly iconic. It symbolized the return of Steve Jobs to the top spot in the company, and showed how high he immediately set the bar for innovative and disruptive design. Apple quipped "the back of our computer looks better than the front of anyone else's". And Apple has never looked back.



iMac G4 (2002)
The New iMac was only on the market for a couple of years, but it took desktop computer design in a completely new direction. Again.






USB Mouse (1998)

OK, we know how you felt about this one, and trust us, we felt the same way. But the Hockey Puck most certainly does speak to the boundaries that Cupertino design was willing to cross once Jobs came back to the helm.




iPod (2001)
This was the game changer, really. The runaway success of the iPod, and with it iTunes, opened the floodgates for not only the portable device market, but for the digital download marketplace as well. The iPhone, App Store, and the iPad all came to be because the world fell in love with this little device.

iPhone OS / iOS (2007)
iOS is the leading mobile device operating system in the world. It is simple, powerful, and beautiful, and the iPad and iPhone would not be the market-changing devices they are without it.





Magic Mouse (2009)
Look Ma, no wheels! When the Magic Mouse was released in 2009, it was the first consumer mouse to have multi-touch capabilities. Ok, Steve, this one makes up for the hockey puck.




iPod Shuffle (2010)
The latest and current version of the iPod Shuffle shows how far the device has come, and how focused Steve Jobs still is on simplifying design to its core element.





iPhone 4 (2010)
The iPhone 4 is the breakthrough model. It is the iPhone that crossed over from AT&T to Verizon, and it is the iPhone that has captured the world -- both in style and design as well as sales. It is the iPhone Steve Jobs will carry in his pocket as he hands the reins over over to Tim Cook... that is unless he managed to grab an iPhone 5 on the way out.

iPad (2010)
A device that critics said no one needed. A device that competitors said is just a fad. A device is truly magical and revolutionary in every way and completely changed the way we use, and define, computers. Thanks, Steve. For everything.




Hence these are the magical invention of Steve Jobs.

source : internet

FB and Twitter making kids dumber

Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are making teen web surfers dumber, says a study of Australian parents.

New cyber-safety research commissioned by Telstra also revealed that parents believe the sites are affecting their kids' health and wellbeing.

The research revealed that 65 per cent of parents with children using social media say it distracts them from their homework, contributing to lethargic learning.

A quarter of parents say their tech-savvy teens spend more than seven hours a week connecting with friends, while less than 40 per cent fear the behaviour is affecting their children's wellbeing.

Cyber safety expert Dr Martyn Wild said parents were often unaware of what their children were doing online.

"The answer is not turning off internet access, rather it's about implementing simple behavioural changes in your children and setting realistic expectations about their use of the internet," News.com.au quoted Dr Wild as saying.

He said setting "house rules" for internet use such as placing computers in a common area and setting time restrictions on social network use helped keep teens focused on their studies.

The research, conducted by Newspoll, revealed 84 per cent of 14 to 17-year-olds use a social network and almost half of 10 to 13-year-olds use sites such as Facebook.

source : internet

Does Distance Matter?: Geographically Close vs. Long-Distance Relationships

Long Distance Relationship [img src : identitymagazine.net]

In this season of high school and college graduations, many dating partners are likely facing the prospects of being geographically separated. What should these dating partners know about long-distance relationships? Are long-distance relationships substantially different from ones that are geographically close? A first thing to know is that long-distance relationships (LDRs) are very common, with as many as 70% of college students at some point dating someone who lives far away from them.1 Even beyond college, employment opportunities and military service mean that many romantic partners spend substantial amounts of time away from one another. Scholars have accordingly focused their attention on whether (and how) LDRs differ from relationships that are geographically close (GCRs).

There is good news for LDR dating partners. Generally, studies find that LDR dating partners are not significantly different from GCR dating partners in terms of how close, affectionate, and nurturing they are with each other, and they are no more likely to break up over a 3-month period.2 Further, LDR dating partners actually report being more in love with each other and engaging in higher quality communication than GCR dating partners.3 These research findings indicate that LDR and GCR dating partners are more alike than different in terms of a number of important relationship characteristics.

Hopefully, these research findings will allow people in LDRs (or about to starting dating long-distance) to breathe a sigh of relief: distance is a common component of dating, and does not necessarily spell doom for the relationship.

source : scienceofrelationships.com

A Paralyzed Man Gets Help Through Facebook

A Southern Colorado man's service dogs had to be put down recently, but thanks to our 11 News Facebook page, one woman has stepped up to help the family. Both say it's incredible how our Facebook page brought them together and that their meeting is a like small miracle.

With a history of medical issues, Grant Archibald has been paralyzed from the waist down since 1993. While in surgery to repair a tethered spinal cord, doctors found something else.

"They had to remove a tumor off the base of my spinal cord. I walked in but I didn't walk out," Archibald recalls.

For ten years he had two service dogs by his side, Thunder and Lightning. This year, he lost both to cancer.

"They are life savers. I mean these dogs can do just about anything. When I had to say goodbye, it was probably, it was like my right arm was taken off," Archibald said.

In desperate need of help, 11 News spread the word about his situation on our facebook page and it was Stefanie Loney's neighbor who showed her our post and got her involved.

Loney’s dogs recently had a litter of ten puppies which was a surprise for the family. But once she knew they could help, she was more than happy to do it.

"It's like I want to help people, and if I can, I will,” Loney said. “To have puppies and help him to have a better life, why not?"

Sunday, Loney and her family brought four pure bred German Shepherd puppies to Archibald’s home. She let him choose two as he begins the training process all over.

"For somebody to do this out of the goodness of their heart, that just amazes me. That amazes me, I mean that, is real magic," Archibald said happily.

"Just to see him (Archibald) talk about the puppies and being so overwhelmed with happiness makes me happy," Loney said smiling.

After an hour of watching the puppies play around his wheelchair, Archibald selected two. They’ll be named Rolex and Bulova, his "watch" dogs.

"It was one of the best things anybody's ever done for me," Archibald said tearing up.

Archibald also says this act of kindness by Loney and her family helped him put his faith back in the Colorado Springs community and their willingness to help those who need it.

People are still offering to help. Sunday night, an anonymous donor gave 11 News a check for $200 to help Archibald and his wife offset the cost of shots and anything else they might need to get these puppies started on their training. When 11 News told Archibald over the phone, not only was he very happy, but he could be heard getting choked up.

Source : kktv.com/

Lady Gaga is first celebrity with 10m Twitter followers

Lady Gaga has become the first celebrity to get more than 10 million followers on social networking site Twitter.

The US singer thanked fans for supporting her.

She said: "10 Million Monsters! I'm speechless, we did it! It's an illness how I love you. Leaving London smiling."

Lady Gaga is headlining this year's Radio 1 Big Weekend, which is taking place in Carlisle.

The star became the first person to pass nine million followers on Twitter in March and overtook Britney Spears last August.

Britney Spears was only on top for three months after claiming the number one spot from Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher.

Lady Gaga also has 24 million likes, or fans, on Facebook but is behind Eminem and the Facebook and Texas Hold'em Poker pages.

source : bbc.com

Mayfair Gangtok Spa Resort & Casino

Mayfair at Night

It was in year 2007 I saw this HOTEL and it is my choice to have dinner here...When I saw this hotel for the first time I thought it is a Sikkim Assembly House..haha....Recently Indian Bollyhood actor Govinda had tour to Sikkim and he held here only....

History of Sikkim
The abode of the mighty Khangchendzonga and a majestic kingdom, Sikkim is beautiful in every sense of the word. Land of culturally diverse people, flora & fauna, home to unique species such as red panda, the Himalayan tahr, blue sheep, snow leopard and the Himalayan beer along with the snowy peaks, mountains, roaring white water rivers, gentle streams & mighty falls, monasteries giving solace to mind & souls, all these make Sikkim a wonderful heaven on the earth.

Mayfair Gangtok Spa Resort & Casino:
The latest addition to the Mayfair Group of Hotels is Mayfair Gangtok which is a 5 star Deluxe Spa & Casino Resort located amidst 48 acres of forest pine and woods. The resort is built with Mayfair's signature 'neo colonial' architectural style with a Bhuddist theme to it. Its world class SPA and the first full fledged on-shore casino in India are additional in making this new resort the number one desitination for luxury travellers to India's North East.The Spa Resort aspires to offer individual guests an experience of being surrounded by nature, blending it with lavish luxury in the abode of the Gods. The resort, built on the theme of monastery, has a unique blend of Sikkimese architecture and modern amenities.

Facilities:
Room Facilities:
• Furnished sit outs
• DVD Player and plasma TV
• Cable connection
• Private bar
• Electronic safety deposit vault
• Wi-Fi internet connectivity
• Tea coffee maker
• Telephone with ISD & STD
• Executive work desks

Bath Room Facilities:
• Walk-in powder shower and mist-free mirrors
• Luxury cotton bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• 24 hrs running hot/cold water

General services:
• Concierge
• In-room dining
• Butler service
• Valet & Laundry service
• Baby sitting
• Currency exchange
• Travel services
• Secretarial services
• Doctor on call
• Money exchange
• Left luggage service
• Wi-Fi to be mentioned in selected areas

Leisure facilities:
• Spa
• Fitness center
• Deep pool
• Electronic gaming arcade
• Pool & Billiard
• Children’s play ground
• Children’s nursery
• Adventure tours
• Nature trails
• Daily recreational activities

Room Security Measures:
• Electronic locks
• Doors with dead bolts
• Peephole/View port
• Fire detectors
• Emergency exit maps

Drink and Dine:

Lavish buffets are laid daily in the multi-cuisine restaurant serving Indian, European and Oriental delicacies. Macrobiotic spa cuisine crafted from the harvest of the organic vegetable and herb gardens awaits you at Mayfair Gangtok. Live cooking is on display at this restaurant.

The all day dining Jungle Café is the perfect option for a quick snack with an experience of the great outdoors.

The bar by the restaurant offers everything from cigars to champagnes, wines to whiskies.

The pool bar offers signature cocktails, beverages and snacks on the pool deck from 8 am to 8 pm.

Spa & Fitness Center:
MAYFAIR Gangtok has a spa of international standard using Pevonia products. (PEVONIA of USA is the suppliers of SPA equipments and natural skin products. These products contain naturally obtained ingredients delivering remarkable and highly visible results).

Spa:
When you walk into The Mayfair Spa, you embark upon a personalized sensory journey; a journey to inner wellbeing that focuses on the senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, sound and intuition. The 12,000 square feet Spa comprises of 12 therapy rooms with an array of luxuriating treatments to choose from using Pevonia products. As you lie back and relax, experience your transition to a state of solace as your troubles drift away.

Fitness Center:
The fitness center is equipped with the latest fitness equipments along with a fitness instructor providing you the perfect opportunity to stay fit and healthy.

Banquet & Board:
This resort offers comfortable & perfectly arranged conferences and meetings.

Teesta:
A 2500 square feet conference hall with a capacity of 250 guests in theatre style and 150 guests in sit-down style seating is available for conference & board meetings.

Corporate Profile:
MAYFAIR Group of Hotels started its business in hospitality industry in 1982 by way of a small hotel at Rourkela which has presently grown as a group with four boutique properties in Eastern India.

The MAYFAIR Group is a leading hospitality player in Eastern India. With a high recall of its brand “MAYFAIR” among discerning clientele and industry fraternity, the group has over the years built its reputation as a high end niche player.

The flagship company of the group, MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts Limited (MHRL) operates four hotel properties located at Bhubaneswar (MAYFAIR Lagoon), Puri (MAYFAIR Puri), Rourkela (MAYFAIR Rourkela) and Darjeeling (MAYFAIR Darjeeling), while its Sikkim property (MAYFAIR Gangtok) is operated through a subsidiary company MAYFAIR Hotels & Resorts (Sikkim) Pvt. Ltd (MHRSL).

Brand:
MAYFAIR properties are the best in each of the locations in proximity to the prime business and institutional areas.

The MAYFAIR group has played host to who’s & who of the industry, sports and media personalities, senior bureaucrats and top PSU officials. USP of the group has been “built around resort theme” and each property has been created with an ethnic touch and natural greenery. The ambience and eco-friendly environment attracts top end leisure and business tourists.

The size of rooms and other support facilities viz. specialty restaurants, Spa, sports and games infrastructure, banquets facilities made available to the customers are very luxurious. The furniture and fixtures are high-end and are sourced from reputed manufactures/ suppliers globally.

Prestigious and indulging, MAYFAIR lavishes business and leisure travelers with discreet service in plush elegance.

Promoters:
MAYFAIR Group is promoted by Shri Dilip Ray and his family members. He has a passion for low rise boutique hotels, with exclusive tropical greenery. He was an M.L.A. for 10 years from the Rourkela Constituency and also a Cabinet Minister of Industry in the State for 5 years during 1990-95. He was also Union Minister for a period of 4 years holding the independent portfolio of Food Processing, Coal and Steel. However, he loves to be called a hotelier first with 25 years of his career in hotel industry with four premium properties to his credit.

Shri Dilip Ray is the Chairman and Managing Director of the group companies. He is assisted by his son Mr. Sandeep Ray, a hotel industry professional trained in Canada as a Whole-time Director.

Operations:
The Company is professionally managed under a decentralized system by a team of professionals under the supervision of the Executive Director. The three major divisions under which various functionalities have been grouped comprises Operations division, Business Planning & Development division and Finance & Systems division. This focused approach has contributed for efficient management of the units and has contributed for the corporate growth over the years.

The Board of Directors ensures implementation of policy guidelines and transparent corporate governance of the Company.

Quality, Service and Delivery:
The company has adopted good practices for maintenance of the properties as per industry norms. The service standards are uniform at each location in as much as they have to compete with other established players in the market.

The company has built-in processes to monitor quality of services offered to the guests. The Company has adopted various quality practices covering CRM, standardization of consumables, toiletries, room amenities, mini bar items stored in room refrigerators, linen (bed/bath room) for guest use, graphics & artifacts for room décor, housekeeping, F&B items. Detailed operating procedure has been laid out in respect of all activities.

Customer Satisfaction:
The internal service standards and close follow up of customer feedback by the senior functionaries of the Company on a continuous basis ensure redressal of customer grievances on time. A higher level of customer satisfaction has contributed for the growth of the enterprise by way of repeat visits and extensive use of the facilities of the hotel including restaurants, spas, banquet and sports facilities.

Corporate Governance:
The Company conforms to the corporate governance norms in all areas viz. statutory compliance, management of human capital, ethical business practices and guidelines, compensation structure for employees and customer relation management. The Board of Directors oversees the operations of the company by holding Board meetings at periodic intervals besides having a committee approach for macro management.

Contact:
MAYFAIR Gangtok
Lower Samdur Block,
Ranipool 737 135,
Gangtok, East Sikkim.

source : https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sikkim/

Pantaloons Femina Miss India 2011 Winners!

 

The grand finale of Pantaloons Femins Miss India 2011 is over. And the winners are...

Kanishtha Dhankhar wins Pantaloons Femina Miss India World 2011

Hasleen Kaur wins Pantaloons Femina Miss India Earth 2011

Ankita Shorey wins Pantaloons Femina Miss India International 2011

10 Signs Your Relationship Will End Badly

Have you ever gotten dumped and then thought, ‘I should have seen it coming.’ Often times there are tell-tale signs that your relationship will end badly. Here are some of those signs to watch for.

   1. Your partner has always been the one to leave a relationship. If your partner has never been dumped by someone else, if they were always the one to break off previous relationships, then you can be pretty certain that your relationship will end in a similar way. Don’t expect long term commitment from this person.
 
   2. Your partner continues to talk about their previous partner. If your partner is always talking about their previous partner, even if it’s in a negative way, then that other person is obviously still on their mind in a big way. Chances are that they’ll get back together with them if they are given the opportunity. At the very least, you are only a secondary option in their mind.

   3. Your partner treats you with disrespect in public. Do they ridicule you in front of others? Do they reveal personal things about you to their friends? Do they ignore you at parties but give plenty of attention to other girls/guys that are there? This is a relationship that isn’t worth hanging on to and you will be better off the sooner it ends.

   4. You find out they cheated on you the first month your were together. If they were cheating on you at the beginning, then they probably still are and will continue to do so. They will either leave you for someone else or hurt you enough times that you’ll finally end it yourself.

   5. You continually catch them lying. Are they continually lying about where they were or who they were with? This is a big neon sign that a relationship with this person is going to be one of broken trust. The future is certain to bring heartbreak.

   6. You have very little in common. At the beginning of a new romance, your differences can seem insignificant, but overtime, a lack of common interests can take a toll on a relationship. You will find it hard to enjoy your times together when one of you isn’t enjoying the activities that the other does. Eventually you’ll both want to go back to doing the things you enjoy and not what the other person enjoys.

   7. They don’t like your friends. How can a person be in love with you and not like the people that you like to hang with? Common sense will tell you that if they don’t like the people you like, eventually they’ll decide that they don’t like you either.

   8. They are continually asking to borrow money. This is a big warning sign that you should not ignore. Once or twice, not a big deal, but if your partner, male or female, is always asking to borrow money from you, there’s a problem. If they get mad when you say no, then it’s time for you to head down the road in another direction. Financial dependence is a terrible basis for a relationship.

   9. They are married to someone else. Yes, there are situations where a married person divorces their spouse and marries the ‘other person,’ but it is the exception rather than the rule. If you are in a relationship with someone who is already married to someone else, you are setting yourself up for heartache

  10. They don’t want you to meet their family. Don’t shrug this one off. When your partner doesn’t want you to meet their family there is usually a reason. The reason may be because they don’t want you to see what their family is like. No matter how wonderful the person may seem, if you are wanting a long term relationship with them, their family will come into play in that relationship.

Why prolong a relationship that has all the signs of leading to heartbreak? If you see the signs, the sooner you bring it to an end the better, for both you and them.

Girish & the Chronicles rock Converse 2011

The final round of Converse Original Band Hunt 2011 was concluded in Guwahati on February 24, 2011. Despite registration by large number of bands, only five bands from among the eight states of northeast and Kolkata reached upto the final stage on the basis of their creativity, presentation and level of performance. Girish & the Chronicles from Sikkim was one of the finalists and finally won the the title. The victorious band got two guitars and amplifier box apart from Rs. 20,000 worth of high quality products from Converse company for each members of the band.

After this victory, a profile of Girish & the Chronicles will be published in international band and music magazine Rolling Stone. One international album of the original note of this band in the voice of Girish Pradhan will also be composed. The company has said that the album and the magazine would be on display in all the show rooms of Converse

Girish & the Chronicles band has been able to maitain its supremacy right from its inception in Novemeber 2009. The band won five different competitions in 2010. Girish Pradhan got the award for Best Singer and lead guitarist of Girish & the Chronicles Suraj Karki was choosen the best guitarist. Over last one year the band was invited at many places in Kolkata, Assam, Patna, Kolkata and Nagaland. Even on the 12th of this month Girish & the Chronicles will be performing at the Birla Institure of Technology in Patna. After performing in Patna the band would go to Mumbai and Pune.

The Girish & the Chronicles is the only band from Sikkim which not only represented India’s rock music in Suncane Skale Music Competition in Montenegro but also stood No. 2 winning silver medal for their performance.

Despite a series of successful performance Girish Pradhan says that being successful is not as important as to maintain success. To maintain success requires constant practice, struggle and devotion towards music. Every success brings with itself a greater responsibility. It is important for every member of the band to remain devoted towards music, he said. Girish expressed gratitude towards all its supporters who have stayed with the band through thick and thin

The band members who participated in the Converse Original Band Hunt 2011 are:

Girish Pradhan: Singer, guitarist, band leader and song & music composer

Suraj Karki: Lead Guitarist
Nagen Magranti: Drum
Yogesh Pradhan: Sound engineer, key boardist, lead and base guitar, music composer
Noel Karthek: Base guitarist (he has not been with the badn due to personal problems)Girish & the Chronicles has been in the major newspapers and magazines of northeast like the North East Times, Vibes and Electica throughout the year. On February 23, 2011 Doordarshan North East Channel broadcast an exclusive interview with Girish Pradhan.

In Love, pain is blessing

Love is painful, but the pain is certainly a blessing. Love is painful because love brings growth. Love demands, transforms and is painful because love gives you a new birth.

Love brings your heart into relationship -- and when the heart is in relationship there is always pain. If you avoid the pain, you will miss all pleasures of life. With love you become human; you stand erect on earth. With love you are vertical.

With love are problems. But with problems is growth -- the greater the problem, the greater the opportunity. More and more pain, too.

That's why many people never love -- it is so painful. They never become vertical.

Love never shatters you completely. It simply shatters you a little, a little bit. It shatters the crust of your ego, but the centre of the ego remains intact. Then there is a deeper pain, deeper than love, and that is of prayer -- it shatters you utterly. It is death. When you have learnt how to love, and you have learnt that the pain that love brings is a blessing in disguise, it is beautiful, then you become able and you take another step -- that step is prayer.

All lovers feel a little miserable. They would like to disappear completely, but it is not possible in human relationships. Human relationship is limited. But one learns from it, that there is a possibility: if it can happen so much in a human relationship, how much more can happen in a relationship with the Divine?

Love makes you ready to take the final jump, the quantum leap. That's what I call prayer, or you can call it meditation. You have to disappear for existence to be. Love is a training ground, a school, to learn first lessons -- of the beauty, of the blessing and benediction of disappearance; to learn that pain is blessed.

So when you are in love, or when love arises, cooperate with it, don't try resisting. People come to a compromise. The basic problem that I have been looking at is that lovers by and by come to a compromise. The compromise is: You don't hurt me, I will not hurt you. That's what marriage is. Then people become settled. They become so afraid of pain that they say, "Don't hurt me and I will not hurt you." But then when pain disappears, love also disappears. They exist together.

When you are in love, love hurts. It hurts terribly.

But never resist, never create any barrier for pain. Allow it. And by and by you will see that it was a wrong interpretation. It is not really pain. It is just that something is going so deep in you that you interpret it like a pain. You don't know anything else. You are only aware of pain in your past life, in your past experience. Whenever something penetrates deep, you interpret it as pain.

Don't use the word 'pain'. When love and love's arrow goes deep into your heart, close your eyes and don't use words -- just see what it is, and you will never see it is pain. You will see it is a benediction. You will be tremendously moved by it. You will feel joyous.

Don't use words. When something new happens to you, always allow a deep look into it without any language.

source : timesofindia.com

Make your first night memorable

 A little anxiety coupled with moments of anticipation and finally some wild thoughts, the perfect first night experience is often sprinkled with moments of coy reservation!

Most couples nurse nervous speculations and deep seated performance anxiety about their first night of closeness. Hearsay from newly wed friends or common beliefs picked up from random sources add to the sexual tension. Knowing the exact way to get it right is an arduous task and if gone wrong, you may end up facing a catastrophic situation in your bedroom with your first nuptial boo-boos.

We spoke to some couples to know the common blunders they made (inadvertently) on their first night. Of course, it wasn't just about 'sex' on the first night, as there were numerous other problems which could ruin the first night craze...

Boo-boo: A moment in haste and its all waste
Without much knowledge about sex, couples encountered awkward situations like premature ejaculation for men or women getting overtly apprehensive about vaginal pain and hymen bleeding. Fear is the biggest factor affecting performance on the first night.

Top Tip: Make the act more pleasurable
No person is a master sex performer, so indulge in a prolonged foreplay session to make your first night a tender bonding experience. Even if things go wrong, stay calm and try again after some time. Sometimes the wedding stress and the discomfort of an all new environment takes a mental toll. The body and mind may not be fully open for the experience of sexual discovery. Being patient is key.

Boo-boo: Experiments can wait
Agreed that it's your first time with your partner, but don't get overtly excited. Couples are all geared up to try new acts in bed, but first try and figure out your partner's comfort quotient.

Top Tip: Every night is a first night
Don't think that the first night is your 'one and only' chance to make love passionately, with time your bond will grow even more special with your better half. The first night is just the beginning of pleasures. Don't fret and waste it in performance anxiety!

Boo-boo: Look sexy in tradition
It's believed that a bride must remain in her wedding outfit and let the husband come and lift up the veil ('ghoongat'). But modern day brides aren't too interested in donning the ostentatious outfit for too long and the minute they enter the bedroom; they prefer to undress into a sexy lingerie/night gown. Now, no matter how sensuous your night gown maybe, it doesn't have the same charm as a wedding ensemble. This fashion faux pas forms a lesser known, but common goof-up for brides.

Top Tip: Gifts Galore
As the husband lifts up the veil of the bride's wedding outfit, she's entitled to a surprise gift (for 'mooh dikhayee'). Rings, pendants, necklaces are passé; think of something out-of-the-blue, maybe a romantic honeymoon package, which she would be least expecting or a glamorous outfit, a transparent, hot dress, which you'd like her to get clad in just for your eyes.

source : timesofindia

Average couple argues 2,455 times a year

Average couple argues [img src : liquidsilverbook.com]

A new survey has discovered that the average couple  bickers 2,455 times a year - equal to almost seven times a day.

Researchers found that the biggest single reason for a tiff is not listening to what the other half is saying, which is responsible for around 112 cross exchanges a year, followed by money worries, spending issues and laziness around the house, reports the Sun .

Annoyance about over-spending, especially on impulsive or unnecessary purchases, leads to 109 disputes - with money in general being the cause of a further 108.

Laziness caused 105 outbursts while snoring provoked 102.

What to eat for dinner leads to 92 barneys a year - and 80 tiffs are about a partner walking mud into the house.

Driving too fast, walking past items that need taking upstairs and what to watch on television are the cause of conflict more than once a week.

Sex - particularly a lack of it or the timing - also causes 88 bust-ups a year.

The survey also showed the average couple will argue about disciplining the children 88 times, and have a further 79 disputes about spoiling them.

The figures were revealed in a study of 3,000 people, either married or in relationships, by esure home insurance.

"Bickering on a daily basis is all part of being in a normal, healthy relationship. The normal co-habiting couple will have to put up with each other's daily annoyances - even if they can prove to be very irritating," said a spokeswoman.

source : TOI

What is so special of the North East girls?

North-East Girls

What is so special of the North East girls? We need to find out the motives of the Delhi people or other Indian's mindset that leads to frequent eve-teasing, molestation and rape of our girls?

"North East girls are very beautiful", said one of the Editors of a premier fashion and modeling magazine based in National Capital Region (NCR). "Their skins are flawless...they are little angels, we need new faces from these regions." I got this remark while working for a Fashion magazine as Executive Editor. Today, I am quoting his words in the backdrop of the recent molestation and harassment of North East girls by their landlord.

The tragic incident in the early hours of December 13, 2008 where the landlord knocked at the door of a rented room at Sikandrapur, DLF Phase-I in Gurgaon is another crime meted out to our girls in Delhi and its adjoining areas. The two girls had come to Gurgaon on December 11 in search of a suitable job. In the very week of the International Human Rights Day, our girls are humiliated and discriminated. And the law of the country is protecting the culprits, as usual.

According to a reliable source from the New Delhi-based North East Support Centre and Helpline (NESCH), the two girls were sleeping when at around 2.30 a.m. on December 13, their landlord knocked the door. The girls had suspected his attention and refused to open their door. The consequences was not good, he repeatedly barged the door, abusing them for the delay in letting him in. Frightened and hapless, the girls had pleaded for mercy. They even requested to meet them in the morning. The landlord was adamant to sneak into their room. The girls tried to call SOS of Police, which did not work out. Later they raised an alarm for a Manipuri friend, who also stays in the same locality. When they came to rescue the girls, the landlord and his gangs had beaten them and chased away. Thereafter, the two girls were tortured, abused, and molested. They were confined to secluded room and even threatened to rape them. All their belongings were looted- money, cloths and camera.

The event should not be taken lightly. We should pledge this one to be the last incidence of crime against our girls. We need to unite and come together to protect ourselves. Integrity and unity is the answer now. The north east states of India are divided into different communities and sub-castes, may be 500 groups (both officially and non officials). These fragmentation and division make us weak and powerless in any issues. Our road to solidarity is often a failure. We are unable to punish culprits in the earlier molestations or rape cases. This encourages the offenders to continue their exploitations and tortures our girls from time to time. They have taken undue advantages of the internal differences and clashes among us. Collectively, we should have a powerful voice soon!

North East girls are the most beautiful female in India. Their looks are so innocent, pure and symbol of truth and sincerity. They always respect the elders, addressing - bhaiya, uncleji, auntyji etc. This makes them extraordinary from other girls. However, they have been harassed, abused and discriminated every day. They are the cynosure of soring eyes. No one spares them - shopkeepers, auto rickshaw drivers and bus conductors. The people from mainland forget to realize these girls have travelled 4000 kilometers from their home to study and work.

There are also girls from other states of India. And not a single report of rape, molestation or eve-teasing against the girls from Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu or Bihar. However, we heard of raping and molesting foreign tourists from countries like Germany, France, Japan, China and other South Asian countries in Rajasthan, Goa or Delhi. Can we compare our girls with these foreigners? Is this the reason for sexually abusing NE girls? Are we alien here in India or some refugees from foreign countries? If they regard us as foreigner, then our struggle for a separate country is legitimate and politically acceptable? If it is a fact, then the Central government should proclaimed to the world that North Eastern states were never a part of India. Otherwise, they should protect and take necessary actions to save our integrity and community from further exploitations in Delhi or other Indian cities.

What are those physical structures in our girls that are a subject of sexual abuses and crimes? Do they have more curves than those North Indian girls, fetish or more hot (often a term used by North Indian man to describe a woman). Are our girls used to reveal their assets or body more than Bipasha, Mallika Sherawat or Rakhi Sawant? Does our girls dressed tight tops, jeans, and deep cut blouses? No one would ever find any of our girls in such wardrobe mismanagement. The people of Manipur have already designed 32 different kinds of dresses during 12th century A.D. At that time, Indians were still uncertain of what to wear and how to dress sensibly. Then it is injustice on the part of Delhi authorities to impose a dress code for the NE girls only. Instead they should dictate strict rules on Delhi's landlord, Paying Guest owners and police personals to protect and care our girls. The mainstream media should stop representing stereotype image of our girls as easily available for party, enjoyment and sex.

We also need to know why the Biharis (people from Bihar) owners and managers of small private company always search for NE girls as their Personal Secretaries or Receptionists or sales girls in shopping malls. Why the fashion photographers wants models or new face from our region for bold, inner wears or compromising photo shoots? Why so many beauty parlors recruit our innocent girls? Why we have started a so called live-in culture in rented rooms, misguiding to our landlords as brother-sister relationship. Why so many MMS scandals are uploaded online which depicts immoral acts of our own girls and boys? And why our parents and guardians do not think twice to question what type of jobs their daughters are doing - part time, freelance or full time? We need to critically analyze these unsolved myths, if we want to protect further crimes on our community.

Most of our girls are staying in posh colonies of New Friends Colony (near Jamia Milia Islamia), South Extension Part I and II, Vasant Kunj, Greater Kailash I and II, Munirka, Lajpat Nagar and Kotla in South Delhi. Every weekend, these girls will end up in some bars around Defence Colony, M- Block market of Greater Kailash or Vasant Kunj. They are also seen in McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Multiplexes like the PVR, 3C's or the WAVES. Often they have a fluent accent in US or UK English, lavish lifestyles and extravagance in Shopping Malls. No one could say they are our girls. It seems they felt inferior to converse in our own regional dialects. We could see our girls in public places like Ansal Plaza or Lodhi Gardens cajoling, hugging and kissing their so called lovers (mostly outsiders - people not from our region). When they saw us among the crowd, they used to ignore our presence. Such behaviors, if properly noticed by the outsiders would surely think the girls have no one to protect their chastity or morality. And the horrifying tales of exploitations, molestations and rapes continues like the Dhaula Kuan car rape case, Munirka business woman case and the North Campus cyber café case.

The role of state government is to deploy one of the state battalion in Delhi with a sole purpose of protecting our own sisters from the gangs of Northern India. We may approach the state government of 8 states to send security forces. It may be the Manipur Rifles, the Sikkim Police, Assam police or Nagaland police. There are battalions of Tamil Nadu police in Delhi. Such presence of our police force will discourage the people from eve teasing or harassments to our girls. Our girls may also feel safe and secure then.

The MPs from our region should collectively work, forgetting about their political affiliations and voiced for a North East Women Commission, in line with National Commission for Women (NCW). If there can be DONER to look after the development of our region, why can't we have separate women commission to protect our girls at National level. They should pressurize the centre to pass a Bill for the protection and preservation of our identity, culture and unity.

It is a good sign that many student organizations based in Delhi are expressing their support for the cause of NE states. Organizations like the Manipur Student Association of Delhi (MSAD) and Assam Student Association of Delhi (ASAD) are spearheading recent issue of molestations on our girls. We need more voluntary participations from Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh to have more impact on our cause for unity and integrity. We also need International organizations like Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters (FASS) to support our mission of uniting the region. Most importantly, we should respect our traditions and cultures. We cannot duplicate other's lifestyle which have no place in our society!

Mohen Naorem is a freelance media consultant and editor of The Manipur Journal, [http://www.manipurjournal.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com   

Things your girl doesn't want to hear

What she doesn’t want to hear (Img Src : topnews.in)

"Here are some things that you should always avoid  telling your girl if you want to have a peaceful relationship"

You look a bit fat in that dress
Now which girl would like you telling her that she is looking fat. A statement like this will definitely have you spending the night on the couch.

Your mom looks like she's your younger sister
Yes, girls love their mom, but don't ever do the mistake of comparing them, especially in the looks department. You won't score any brownie points by doing this.

I have the best time with my friends
You may enjoy hanging out with your friends, but that doesn't mean you say that to her on her face. Sometimes it's best to be diplomatic.

I can't go out because I want to watch a match
Unless your girlfriend is a sports buff don't give her this excuse very often.

You remind me of my ex
That's the worst thing you could say to your girlfriend. She will always be left wondering if you got into the relationship only because she is a mirror image of your ex.

My mom is the best cook
Women take great pride in their culinary skills. So don't ever claim that your mom cooks better than any woman in the world. You may just have to put up with burnt food for the rest of the week.

I don't like your friends
Like you love hanging out with your friends, your girlfriend loves her friends. Don't make your dislike for them so obvious. Friends can influence your girl to a great extent, so make sure you are in their good books.

Why do you spend so much on beauty treatments?
Don't question your girlfriend spending long hours in the beauty parlour. If you like to spend time playing football and getting dirty then she'd like to spend her time getting pretty. Accept it!

Wow! That girl is hot
Whether it's Priyanka Chopra or Angelina Jolie or just some random girl on the road, never ogle at a woman openly in front of your girl.

I need some space
If you feel the need for space try and suggest it in a subtle manner. Being far to open about it may leave you with too much space and no gf.

source : TOI

How to achieve personal excellence

Here are some tips on how to achieve personal excellence:

Believe in yourself:
If you don't believe in yourself, how do you expect anyone else to believe in you?

Keep building your skills:
The path to excellence requires constant upgrading and skills development.

 

Get out of your comfort zone:
If you move beyond that area of comfort, even by a little bit, you start facing things which you are not exposed to before.

Be around the best:
Cut yourself loose from people who don't support you and increase your contact with the people who do.

Set huge goals:
Not the normal, standard goals which you know you will definitely be achieving with a certain amount of work and effort. Aim higher.

source : TOI

Food for ur LOVE

food for LOVE : (chocablog.com image)

Make everyday a day for love and romance. With this recipe, love can't stay too far from your kitchen!

Make sure it is simple, delicious and easy-to-do. Spending too much time cooking a complicated meal is something none of us look forward to!

Red being the colour of the day, it's easy to add this vibrant colour to your Valentine's Day meals. For breakfast, you can use beautiful bright red fruit like perfect heart-shaped strawberries, deep red cranberries or even an apple to give it that special touch. Cranberry juice is a good alternative to your regular orange or apple juice. You can add dried cranberries to your morning cereal. For the slightly more adventurous, bake cranberry muffins. However, nothing can beat a crisp French toast for breakfast. There are many versions of this toast. Some believe that it was a creation of some medieval European cooks who used stale bread to feed their families with. They revived this bread with moisture and heat and ate it. Some Medieval recipes for 'French toast' suggest that it was enjoyed by the wealthy since, in those days, cookbooks were written by the rich for the rich. The recipes used the finest white bread with the crusts trimmed off, something a poor person would never do. Recipes for 'French toast' can be traced back to the Romans. One of the original French names for this dish is 'pain a la Romaine', or Roman bread.

Chocolate French Toast with fresh strawberries
Ingredients: 2/3 cup sugar; 1/3 cup cocoa powder; 1/8 tsp baking powder; 1/4 tsp salt; 1 cup milk; 4 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla essence; 4 thick slices bread; 1/4 cup butter; icing sugar for garnishing; 200g fresh strawberries

Method: In a bowl, combine the sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Mix until well blended and no cocoa lumps remain. Pour in half of the milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth and free of lumps. Add the remaining milk, the eggs, and the vanilla. Whisk until blended well.

Arrange the bread in a single layer in a 9x13-inch baking dish (or similar vessel) and pour the cocoa mixture over the bread. Turn the bread once to get both sides nicely coated. Poke each bread slice repeatedly with the tines of a fork to make it absorb the batter. Let it soak, turning every 10 minutes, until the bread is well soaked.

Heat the butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat. When melted and hot, carefully lift the bread slices, one at a time, from the batter to the pan. Cook until the underside is brown and lightly crisp. You can lower the flame if the slices are browning too fast. Flip and continue cooking until the slices are slightly puffed in the centre and are bouncy to the touch. Then transfer the French toast to the plate and serve immediately with strawberries dusted with icing sugar.

 ~SOURCE : timesofindia