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"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."
| VBA's Positive News |
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British Queen leads 1,000-strong jubilee flotilla
The River Thames became a royal highway Sunday, as Queen Elizabeth II led a majestic flotilla of more than 1,000 vessels in a waterborne pageant to mark her Diamond Jubilee. In a colourful salute to the island nation's maritime past, an armada of skiffs and sailboats, rowboats, and paddle steamers joined a flower-festooned royal barge down a 7-mile (11-kilometer) stretch of London's river. Monarchs used the river as their main highway for centuries, and river processions were once common in London.
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Cambodian foreign minister to make rare visit to North Korea
Cambodia's foreign minister will urge North Korean leaders to resume six-party talks on nuclear disarmament during a rare official visit this week. Hor Namhong told reporters before leaving for a four-day visit Sunday that Cambodia has always supported the talks that Pyongyang halted in 2009. His spokesman said last month the minister would press North Korea to restart the negotiations.
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Canada: Winnipeg-based New Flyer green leader with electric-powered transit buses
Winnipeg-based New Flyer Industries could soon lead the way in the commercialization of electric-powered transit buses in North America. Premier Greg Selinger called the zero-emissions bus the wave of the future. He and other dignitaries had ridden -- quietly -- to the news conference aboard the bus. 'What we're really doing today is we're forging the future of public transportation right here in Manitoba,' Selinger proclaimed.
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China steps up Afghan role as Western pullout nears
China and Afghanistan will announce a plan in the coming days to deepen their ties, Afghan officials say, the strongest signal yet that Beijing wants a role beyond economic partnership as Western forces prepare to leave the country. In February, China hosted a trilateral dialogue involving officials from Pakistan and Afghanistan to discuss efforts to seek reconciliation with the Taliban.
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World Round-Up
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Ramdev to PM: your Cabinet too must be honest
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday warned the government that his supporters would be back in the Capital on August 9 to start a fresh agitation unless strong measures were taken to bring back black money stashed away abroad and designated as “national wealth.” Speaking at the conclusion of his day-long fast at Parliament Street here, Baba Ramdev said his followers would, starting Monday and ending August 8, collect signatures from villages across the country to mobilise support for his campaign.
Baba Ramdev, sharing the stage with Anna Hazare, called upon Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to pass a strong Lok Pal Bill to combat corruption. “Your personal honesty is not enough. You have to be politically honest too. You have to keep your Cabinet honest,” he said, addressing the Prime Minister. Baba Ramdev said his followers would take to the streets from June 4, the anniversary of the infamous clampdown by the Delhi Police on his supporters at the Ramlila Maidan here last year, which left one woman dead, and mobilise public opinion in favour of bringing black money back to India and a strong Lok Pal Bill.
Delivering a restrained speech, Mr. Hazare focused on the need to bring in legislation enabling citizens with the “right to reject” corrupt legislators who take part in elections. He also denied rumours that his core group, dubbed Team Anna, wanted to prevent Baba Ramdev and him joining hands. A slight commotion ensued when a man, claiming to be a disenchanted former supporter of Mr. Hazare and Baba Ramdev, threatened to immolate himself.
Baba Ramdev and Mr. Hazare began their fast after paying obeisance at Raj Ghat, Mahatma Gandhi's Samadhi, before proceeding to Parliament Street where a large crowd of Ramdev supporters had already assembled. Besides pasting Baba Ramdev's posters all over the venue, his Bharat Swabhiman Trust had erected a large tent to provide shade to the protesters. Giant screens were installed and water pouches distributed at regular intervals.
A bevy of religious and community leaders, including Baba Ramdev's close associate Acharya Balkrishna and Team Anna members Shanti Bhushan and Kiran Bedi were seated on the dais. They chanted patriotic slogans, which the huge crowds, unfazed by the sweltering heat, echoed.
In a combative speech, Acharya Balkrishna said that since June 4 last, there had been a witch-hunt against him, as part of which he received several notices from various investigating agencies, but till date none of the allegations against him had been proven. “The agencies are under pressure to act against Baba. In one year, they could do nothing to Baba. In future too, they will not succeed,” Acharya Balkrishna said. “The suffering of 80 crore Indian citizens had tormented Swami Ramdev so much that the yoga guru took up the fight against corruption.”
Other speakers at the venue were Dalit leader Udit Raj and Islamic scholar Maulana Kalbe Rushaid Rizvi.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
This may be a time when you try to merge some of your grand ideas with your occupation. One of the greatest goals is finding true happiness and interest in your work. You may be at that place in your life, and the timing would be good for this. Whether you seek outside funding for one of your pet projects or just try to expand your influence, you may find gratification in this new approach.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
You may feel like taking a longer look at some of your habits. The return of the Sun is rather like a new year, and you could set in place some new exercise or eating guidelines for yourself. As the weather changes, you may find that your old routines do not please you as they once did. It may be time for something new. It would be wise to do background work first before you decide which way to turn.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
This could be a time of great transition for you, as your house of beginnings and endings has great supportive activity. These exciting alignments usually indicate a new start of something or the successful conclusion of a project or connection of some sort. This may allow you to feel quite confident and content about what you have accomplished or what can be accomplished going forward. This may present an opportunity for which you have been searching for some time.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You may have to balance a great deal with regard to your relationship, career, and family. These areas may seem scattered which, in turn, makes you scattered. This would be an excellent time to bring it all together in a manageable format that allows you to address each aspect of your life with a sense of stability and, most important, equality. Each part of your life has importance, and if you find the right mix, you may feel much better going forward.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
There is a lot of activity within your house of career. You have the support of two very important astrological players to lend a helping hand. As such, it would be a terrific time to exert yourself or be very visible within your organization. These are times when your presence can be quite beneficial to the completion of projects. And of course, all that good energy can bring a handsome monetary reward. Your creativity and enthusiasm might light up the office.
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Petrol price cut by Rs. 2 .02
Aided by the falling international crude prices, the oil marketing companies on Saturday announced a cut of Rs. 2.02 a litre in petrol prices. The reduction came into effect on Saturday night.
Petrol will now cost Rs.71.16 in Delhi. In Mumbai, the cost will come down by Rs.2.12, to Rs.76.45. In Kolkata, it has come down from Rs.77.88 to Rs.75.81, a reduction of Rs.2.07. In Chennai, it will be Rs.75.40, down by Rs.2.13.
The decision to cut the prices was taken after a fortnightly review meeting of the oil companies. On May 24, the oil companies jacked up the prices, in the steepest ever increase, by Rs.7.54 a litre, bringing sharp criticism to the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) — even from its allies — and prompting the Opposition parties to call a nationwide bandh for May 31.
The Rs.7.54 increase was based on an average gasoline price of $124.37 a barrel and the rupee-dollar exchange rate of Rs.53.17 in the first fortnight of May. However, the gasoline price has since then dipped to $115.77 in the second fortnight, but the exchange rate has worsened to Rs.54.96.
The fall meant a cut in the petrol prices of Rs. 1.68, excluding local sales tax or value-added tax. In Delhi, the reduction would come to Rs. 2.02, after including a 20 per cent VAT, an official statement said.
It said the Indian basket of crude had come down from $113.08 a barrel to $106.68. “The cut could have been more for consumers, had the rupee's performance against the dollar not worsened further,” a senior oil company official said.
The oil companies are suffering heavy under-recoveries on diesel, kerosene and domestic LPG. The sales prices of these sensitive products were last revised in June 2011. Compared with the last revision, the current under-recovery, as on June 1, on diesel has gone up from Rs. 6.13 a litre to Rs. 12.53; on kerosene from Rs. 24.16 a litre to Rs. 30.53; and on an LPG domestic cylinder from Rs. 331.13 to Rs.396.00. At these rates, the under-recovery during 2012-13 is likely to be around Rs.96,000 crore. The next revision of petrol prices is due on June 16.
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Why must you drink water
Regular intake of water is essential for maintaining good health
Most of us know that up to seventy per cent of the total body weight is due to water. Although it is present in all parts of the body, it is more present in organs such as lungs and brain and fluids such as blood, lymph, saliva and secretions by the organs of the digestive system. The common belief is that we feel thirsty only when our body needs water. While this is true, recent research studies have indicated that there are several other indicators of inadequate water in some or all parts of the body. Ignoring these indicators can lead to several major diseases. Most of us spend a lot of our working hours in air-conditioned environment so naturally we don't feel thirsty but that does not mean that our body does not need water. Lack of water can lead to fatigue too. So, for your glowing health, drink enough water.
Importance of water for maintaining normal health:
Just as water helps a seed grow into a tree, it also helps our body. The flow of water inside and outside the cells generates energy. This energy is stored in body along with other chemical sources of energy in the body. The energy generated by the water in the cells helps transmit impulses in the nerves. Water content in the body influences the functions of the various proteins and enzymes that are dissolved in it.
Water helps maintain the moisture of the lining of the internal organs of the body. It maintains normal volume and consistency of fluids such as blood and lymph. It regulates body temperature.
It removes 'toxins' from the body
Water is essential for regulating the normal structure and functions of the skin. The body loses about four litres of water every day. It is, therefore, necessary to replenish this volume by drinking at least the equivalent amount of water every day. Inadequate intake of water can lead to dehydration.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
With Mars moving through Virgo, you could be particularly action-oriented. Mars loves to be active and ambitious so if you find yourself in situations that warrant assertiveness, then you may want to rise to the occasion. You may be involved with large organizations that are complex and require diligence to break through complications. With this type of alignment, you should be well suited to state your case and get your way.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
Money may come to you from unexpected sources. This can mean developments and distributions through large organizations, such as insurance companies, the IRS, or even through inheritances. You may be asked to be the executor for an old friend or a close relative. Or you could be involved in assigning monetary responsibility for another person as well. You may be quite adept at this but you should seek outside counsel just the same. Maybe you have someone close to you who can offer some advice.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
Your temper may be boiling at some point today, but you would be wise to turn down the heat. Emotions may be hot and heavy as the moon stops by to create an atmosphere of electricity. Of course, this could be a most passionate expression and most welcome at that. Your house of relations will light, so you could see fireworks of the most dramatic and romantic kind. Your words may carry great impact so be certain to choose them carefully.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
This may be an especially enriching time to be charitable toward others. The impact of your giving can have a profound effect on others and thus, in turn, back to you in the end. If you could seize this theme and view it as a significant shift in your thinking, you may be surprised at the results. This could be particularly true with friendships or business associates. You might lend a helping hand to someone who could really use it.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
Your ruling planet has kept you honest over the last few years as it has glided through your house of work. Both the house of work and Saturn are important positions for you and could indicate a new method of work for you. You might have adopted a new approach to work and now view it in a much more serious and lasting light. Your creative efforts also will be favored, especially if you are collaborating with another.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
You could be quite effective if you attempt to challenge the guidelines of large organizations. You may be in a dispute over a financial claim or insurance settlement that requires direct intervention to resolve. These sorts of complexities do require your patience and diligence, so simply stay with the process and see it through. You should come to a happy ending. You may be working toward making permanent changes that could have a long-standing impact, so act with caution and clarity.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Friendships and professional associations could be quite powerful and important to you since Pluto has occupied that sector of your life. Long-standing alliances and connections could be strengthened, as your professional stock may be on the rise. Your personal accomplishments may open doors that once were closed, and your peers could view you through a new lens. You may feel as if you have arrived after a long journey. This would be an amazing time to bask in the glow.
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Moral Story
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SMS
We don’t see things the way they are. We see them the way WE are.
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Love consists in this, that two solitudes protect and border and salute each other.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
“A real leader faces the music, even when he doesn’t like the tune.”
Boy: Where Are You Going?
Girl: For Suicide..
Boy: Then, Why Soo Much Make-Up?
Girl: You Idiot..!! Tomorrow My Photo will Come In
Newspaper....xD
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University hands out food parcels as testing times bite
A university is being forced to hand out food parcels to students who have run out of money.
Dozens of the survival packs have been distributed to undergraduates at Hull University with hardship cases rising due to parents losing their jobs or students getting stuck in debt after taking out high-interest loans.
The university’s advice centre says it has dealt with 2,300 hardship inquiries from students in the current academic year, compared with 1,500 in 2008-09. The university has handed out 70 parcels so far this year and is still getting requests for them.
The emergency rations – expected to last a week – are all made up of supermarket budget brands, and cost £4.82.
Rachel Kirkby, marketing and communications manager at Hull University Union, said: “We have been helping students who have been getting red letters through the door, trying to stop their credit ratings being ruined from the off.”
Earlier this year, pay-day loans company Wonga was accused of preying on vulnerable students after advertising itself as an alternative to government backed student loans. Wonga later withdrew the claim and denied actively targeting students.
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Anand takes a dig at Kasparov
A day after arriving in Chennai to a hero's welcome, Viswanathan Anand received a standing ovation from the media at an interaction organised by NIIT on Sunday.
Anand, accompanied by wife Aruna, presented the NIIT Turning Point Scholarship for the GNIIT programme to Shanmugha Priya.
After elaborating on the challenges he faced during the World championship match against Boris Gelfand, the 42-year-old chess wizard charmed the gathering with his wit and self-effacing manner as he dealt with a torrent of questions.
The five-time world champion spoke about his hunger for success, Russian President Vladimir Putin's knowledge of chess, and Aruna's support. While confirming he hadn't plans to retire anytime soon, Anand also had a dig at ex- world champion Garry Kasparov's remarks that the former was “sliding downhill.”
Excerpts:
Motivation: I don't understand the ‘nothing left to prove' thing. Honestly, I wasn't thinking about how many world titles I had won. It's more about how you love to win and hate to lose. There are no thoughts of retirement. On the contrary, this win has boosted my morale. I am very thankful for the support I have received from the people.
Meeting Putin: We laughed at his remark (when Anand had mentioned he had learnt to play chess in the Soviet Cultural Centre, Putin had said, “so we brought this on ourselves”). I thought it was a very witty line. His main sport is judo but seemed to be very knowledgeable about chess too.
Role of his seconds: The workload in a match is huge. My team has really worked hard. They have stayed up several nights working out ways to find out solutions to problem-areas.
Kasparov's criticism: He retired in 2005 but he was trying to make me retire all through 2011. Maybe he should consult me before he does that because I am going to disappoint him (laughs). It seems to me that he is a man who regrets leaving chess, who misses the attention. Maybe he should play again (smiles). In general, I try not to react to criticism. I try to stay in a bubble but if you are a public figure, you will have to develop a thick skin.
Case for Bharat Ratna: I am not going to canvass for myself (laughs).
Anand, the family man: When I got married in 1996, one of the notes I received from fellow players was ‘you were a strong player.' They thought marriage would have a detrimental effect on me. Aruna didn't know much about chess initially but picked it up in due course. She has been a huge, huge help. When you experience something like fatherhood, it changes everything. In an ideal world, I could spend more time with my son Akhil.
Tie-break rule: The system is much more legitimate now. I don't see why anyone would oppose the rule. Fans enjoy the tie-break and it's made the game more interesting.
Media attention for chess: It's improved a lot. Whether we will ever reach a point where we say ‘it's enough', I am not sure about that.
Fischer all the way: For me, Bobby Fischer is the best player. It is necessarily a subjective opinion. The hurdles he had to face make him the greatest, according to me.
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Shanghai
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Shanghai
Movie Name : Shanghai
Release Date : June 8, 2012
Genre : Thriller, Romance
Producer : Ajay Bijli, Dibakar Banerjee, Priya Sreedharan
Director : Dibakar Banerjee
Music Director : Vishal-Shekhar
Cast : Emraan Hashmi, Abhay Deol, Farooq Sheikh, Kalki Koechlin, Pitobash Tripathy, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Supriya Pathak, Anant Jog.
Synopsis:
Shanghai is about a political activist who meets with an accident in an Indian city gearing up for elections. A lone girl believes it to be a murder. A porn film maker claims to have proof that will bring the government down. A high ranking bureaucrat is brought in by the government to damage control. The three of them blow the lid off the Indian dream called Shanghai.
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A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to
death.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
The Mouse Trap
A mouse looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package; what food might it contain?
He was aghast to discover that it was a mousetrap!
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning, "There is a mouse trap in the house, there is a mouse trap in the house."
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr. Mouse, I can tell you this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me; I cannot be bothered by it."
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mouse trap in the house."
"I am so very sorry Mr. Mouse," sympathized the pig, "but there is nothing I can do about it but pray; be assured that you are in my prayers."
The mouse turned to the cow, who replied, "Like wow, Mr. Mouse, a mouse trap; am I in grave danger, Duh?"
So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught.
In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital.
She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient.
His wife's sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.
The farmer's wife did not get well, in fact, she died, and so many people came for her funeral the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.
So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when the least of us is threatened, we are all at risk.
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“The pleasures of the senses pass quickly; those of the heart become sorrows,but those of the mind are ever with us, even to the end of our journey.”
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