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"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions."
| VBA's Positive News |
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Famous handshakes that brought message of peace
UK's Queen Elizabeth II and former Provisional Irish Republican Army leader Martin McGuinness are expected to shake hands in a delicately choreographed moment for both sides, an encounter which may be shielded from cameras but which puts a further seal on the peace process in Northern Ireland. Here is a gallery of historic handshakes that became powerful symbols of peace:
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Dutch economy crept out of recession in Q1
The Dutch economy, which has been shaken by Europe's financial crisis, managed to edge out of recession in the first quarter of 2012, the government's statistics office announced Tuesday. Adding to the good economic news, credit ratings agency Fitch maintained the country's coveted AAA grade.
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Egypt shares soar after Mursi named President
Egyptian shares surged more than 7 per cent on Monday for their biggest daily gain in nine years after the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Mursi was named as the first freely elected President, boosting hopes for a violence-free transition from army rule.
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Myanmar experiencing breakneck reform pace
Myanmar is opening up after almost 50 years of army rule, and foreign investors are descending on the resource-rich country of 60 million. The pace of change, already frenetic, looks set to accelerate after President Thein Sein announced on 19 June a second phase of reforms. The former military junta isn't dragging its feet on economic reform. The government, led by former generals, appears to recognize that the people want immediate improvement..
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World Round-Up
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India asks Pak to release Sarabjit Singh
India on Wednesday requested Pakistan to release death row prisoner Sarabjit Singh after Islamabad in a midnight twist said it had taken steps for the release of another Indian prisoner named Surjeet Singh who has been jailed for three decades.
Hours after reports emerged that Pakistan was to free Sarabjit Singh, the presidential spokesman on Tuesday night clarified that authorities were working on the release of Surjeet Singh.
External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, who had on Tuesday thanked President Asif Ali Zardari following reports that Sarabjit was to be released, on Wednesday welcomed the decision to release Surjeet and made a fresh request for the release of Sarabjit.
“I have seen media reports about the impending release from imprisonment in Pakistan of Surjeet Singh...I welcome this decision and further renew our request to the President of Pakistan to release Sarabjit Singh who has been in custody for over two decades. He is serving a death sentence,” Mr. Krishna said.
“As you are aware that government of India has consistently urged the government of Pakistan on several occasions to take a sympathetic and humanitarian view on the case of Sarabjit Singh.
“I also appeal to the government of Pakistan to release all Indian nationals who have completed prison term. I request the release of all Indians who are serving jail sentences in Pakistani prisons,” the Minister said.
In a midnight drama after Pakistani news channels played out for hours that Sarabjit was to be released, Pakistani Presidential Spokesman Farhatullah Babar disassociated the President from any such decision.
“I think there is some confusion. First, it is not a case of pardon. More importantly, it is not Sarabjit. It is Surjeet Singh, son of Sucha Singh. His death sentence was commuted in 1989 by President (Ghulam) Ishaq (Khan) on the advice of (then Premier) Benazir Bhutto,” he told PTI.
Law Minister Farooq Naek had conveyed to the Interior Ministry that Surjeet Singh had completed his life term in jail and ought to be released and sent back to India, Babar said.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
An emotionally charged power struggle might surface in your family. Whatever this is about, you can be sure that everyone involved will feel hypersensitive and somewhat vulnerable. This frame of mind will likely lead to you or your relative exhibiting a strong urge to overcompensate by taking command of the situation and everyone involved. That approach will only make things touchier, so if you're the one feeling the need to control this situation, you may want to reconsider.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Your spouse or partner might not be on the same wavelength as you are when it comes to a domestic decision. It's likely that your mate will think with his or her heart while you'll take a more rational approach. This schism may prove challenging for the two of you to reach an agreement. You'll need to find a way to balance sensitivity with logic in order to move forward together in this matter.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
A co-worker's problem might put you in a sticky situation. On the one hand, you'll feel sensitive to his or her circumstances and will want to help. On the other hand however, you may realize that this colleague is having a problem that might interfere with his or her job performance. Since you're likely to be involved on a team project, that means you'll be picking up the slack. You might feel compassion and resentment all at once.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You may feel unsettled in matters of the heart. It's possible that a decision you know you should make regarding your love life is more challenging than you anticipated. It's a problem of choosing between what feels right emotionally and what you know logically to be right. When these two sides of a coin are balanced, a decision is effortless and you rarely second guess yourself. Today, however, that isn't likely to be the case.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
A relative might not understand your communication strategies. It's possible that he or she will feel you're being too flamboyant as you express yourself. You might even inadvertently convey information about your family that's better kept under wraps, producing an unnecessary spectacle. If this is the case, consider how your actions - although not intended to harm - might not have taken the sensitivity of your clan into consideration. Thankfully, it won't be a difficult situation to remedy.
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Asian stocks up slightly on improving U.S. home data
Asian stock markets edged up on Wednesday as rising home prices in the U.S. eased jitters over the robustness of the world’s No. 1 economy.
A report showing that U.S. home prices rose 1.3 percent in April, indicating an uptick a sector closely tied to the health of the overall economy, helped send Wall Street higher on Tuesday. The increase in April was the first in seven months.
The data was a sorely needed bright spot amid signs that a solution to Europe’s debt crisis isnot close at hand. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 0.7 percent to 19,110.29. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 added 0.6 percent to 4,038.60. But South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.3 percent to 1,813.08.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 was nearly unchanged at 8,664.20 as traders awaited the start Thursday of a summit in Brussels where European Union leaders will try to reach an agreement on dealing with the continent’s chronic debt crisis.
Analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in Hong Kong said in a commentary that they expect markets to be in a holding pattern ahead of the EU summit.
On Tuesday, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.3 percent to close at 12,534.67. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index gained 0.5 percent to 1,319.99. The Nasdaq composite rose 0.6 percent to 2,854.06.
Benchmark oil for August delivery was up 10 cents at $79.46 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 15 cents to settle at $79.36 in New York on Tuesday.
In currencies, the dollar fell slightly to 79.44 yen from 79.47 yen late Tuesday in New York.
The euro was nearly unchanged at $1.2500.
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Popeye was right, spinach does make you stronger
Popeye’s yen for a can of spinach before bulging his biceps has a genuine scientific basis, as researchers have found that the green leafy vegetable really boosts the muscle power.
As against the earlier notion that the iron content of spinach accounted for its status as a superfood, researchers at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have found that it is the inorganic nitrate in the vegetable which is the secret behind its strength-giving property.
The study found mice supplied with nitrate in their drinking water developed significantly stronger muscles by stimulating two key proteins, the Daily Mail reported.
The quantity of nitrate that the mice received was roughly equivalent to that which a person would obtain by eating 200 to 300 grams of fresh spinach or two to three beetroots a day. A week into the experiment, the team found that the mice that had been on consistent nitrate had much stronger muscles. The researchers then discovered that the nitrate mice had a higher concentration of two different proteins in their muscles, which is assumed to explain the greater muscle strength.
The teams now want to take their discoveries further and study how they can be applied to people with muscle weakness.
“From a nutritional perspective our study is interesting because the amount of nitrate that affected muscle strength in mice was relatively low,” Dr Andres Hernandez, researcher at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology said.
“Translated to humans it means that we can obtain the equivalent volume by eating more of a vegetarian diet, as nitrate is found naturally in several leafy vegetables, especially in beetroot juice, for example. There are currently no dietary supplements containing nitrate,” Hernandez said.
While no effect could be seen in the so-called slow-twitch muscles used for moderate exercise and endurance, the scientists observed a clear change in the fast-twitch muscles used for strength and more high-intensity exercises, Hernandez said.
The tricky question, Hernandez said, was determining why this happened: The protein increase in turn led to higher quantities of calcium released in the muscles, pointing out that “if you have more calcium released, you have a stronger contraction.”
Nitrate could also increase endurance, Hernandez said, pointing out that when stronger, the fast-twitch muscles, which fatigue faster than other muscles, do not need to contract as frequently.
This is not only good news for exercise buffs looking to improve their performance but also for those who are involved in several muscle ailments.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
You might lack a certain amount of discretion today. If there's anything you've been asked to keep to yourself, you might have a difficult time doing so now. You will likely feel an urge to convey what's on your mind, despite feeling that it might not be the best course of action. Consider carefully whether or not it will truly benefit you or anyone else to do so. If it doesn't, you may want to reconsider.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
You might go against your better judgment in order to help out a friend in need. If a pal approaches you about financial troubles in particular, you may want to be wary about digging into your pockets in order to help. It's likely that you will end up resenting this loan in the future and if so, you're better off not offering it. Instead, be available as a sounding board and offer advice if asked. That will be priceless.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
Although it will be a strong and dynamic time for you to express ideas to a VIP, you might want to assess your approach beforehand. It's possible that an authority figure will perceive your communication as over the top in some way - even too emotionally driven. It's one thing to be passionate about what you are doing and to convey this zeal, but it's another to come across as hypersensitive about your professional goals.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
A misalignment between your mentor's ideologies versus what you'll feel in your heart may cause some internal frustration today. Although this mentor will have your best interests in mind, he or she will operate from another perspective, unable to appreciate your point of view. This will make it even more difficult to be receptive to advice, no matter how well meaning. You might choose to respectfully listen and then agree to disagree.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
Tension may begin to build between you and your spouse or business partner. It's likely that your attempt to control this union will work against you now, no matter how clever your strategy might be. Remember that if you're not willing to approach a close relationship with a sense of equality, a split may occur. It's possible that you're concerned about losing your personal autonomy to this person and if so, it'll be time to address this apprehension.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
You may find yourself in the spotlight today for a career achievement. At the same time a partner or spouse might not offer you the verbal support or praise you're hoping to receive. It's possible that he or she feels somewhat jealous of your achievement or is worried that your professional goals are taking precedence over your relationship. Reassure your mate that this is not the case and that your success would be more enjoyable with his or her backing.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
You'll have a strong need to convince one of your co-workers that your idea about how to execute an assignment is the best option. At the same time however, the opposition you may encounter from this colleague is likely to be equally as resilient. Do your best to convey your plan without shutting down his or her opinion about it. There's likely to be a need for compromise around this matter and an agreement is possible.
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Moral Story
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SMS
Every failure redirects and opens a new path; every step on the new path, after failure, will turn into success. So the beginning of success starts with failure.
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
A relationship requires a lot of work and commitment..
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Do something everyday that you don't want to do;
This is the Golder Rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.
A guy says to his friend, "Guess how many coins I
have in my pocket."
The friends says, "If I guess right, will you give
me one of them?"
The first guys says, "If you guess right, I'll give
you both of them!"
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Want student loan? Score high marks
As yet another admission season gathers momentum, the buzz is back in banks with scores of students applying for education loans. Students walking in clutching a bag with their credentials, parents in tow, the air filled with expectation, suspense and anxiety — quite stereotypical, except that this year, banks have decided to make the selection more stringent.
The decision to play it safe is a marked change and comes amid concerns of rising non-performing assets (NPAs) in the education loan portfolio.
An indication of things ahead is evident from the revised model of the education loan scheme unveiled by the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA). Keeping admissions under management quota out of scope of the scheme is among the changes. This would cover all courses, including nursing courses. While computing the loan amount, scholarship/fee waiver available to the student would be taken into account.
Merit pays and it would also count while seeking education loans. According to the revised model scheme, “banks could consider rating educational institutions and students, as a tool for improving asset quality.” The revised guidance note, released simultaneously, hints at the need for banks to use the external data on educational institutions to create rating matrix.
“Similarly, along with the rating of institutions,” banks could also attempt rating of students. Academic record and ranking in the selection test would be core for the initial rating. To this, the academic record during the study period could be added to revise the students rating from year to year.” It would be open for the banks to offer differential interest rates based on rating of courses/institutions/students.
A senior official of State Bank of India said that many of these changes would take effect this year. On the issue of excluding students who are admitted under management quota, he said the bank was studying a judgment of the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court against such a move.
At the heart of these changes are NPAs, which, according to IBA Chief Executive K. Ramakrishnan, are around 5.5 per cent. The educational loan portfolio of banks is around Rs. 50,000 crore, and in terms of accounts, it is 25 lakh.
Admitting that the NPAs were certainly going up, Dr. Ramakrishnan, however, said: “Let’s not read too much into the issue. The banks are having problems. They are tackling it, and are on a recovery spree. It is like any other loan. These [issues] are not expected to have a bearing on disbursements.”
With regard to the trends, the South dominates in the offtake. “It is possibly because there are more engineering colleges here, and secondly, more importance is given to education,” he said.
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Time ripe for Germany’s golden generation to deliver
As Germany’s elder statesman, Miroslav Klose knows all about the generation gap in Euro 2012’s youngest squad. At 34, 14 years separate him from teammate Mario Goetze.
Klose also differs from his teammates in another important way: all in Joachim Loew’s squad except the Lazio striker and keeper Tim Wiese are products of an extensive and systematic youth programme. which began after Germany flopped at the 2000 European Championship.
Germany’s line-up in Thursday’s semifinal against Italy features several under-21 European champions from 2009, including Real Madrid midfielders Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer.
“I’m not surprised,” Loew said on Tuesday. “You could see then how many players had such a high quality. We have planned on adding more and more young players. It’s good that these players are putting pressure (on the older players).” It was a rare tournament failure, when an ageing team performed poorly at Euro 2000, which prompted the German football federation DFB to make scouting and developing talent its priority.
Klose is now the prime example of how it no longer happens. Germany’s second-most capped player after Lothar Matthaeus could quite easily have fallen by the wayside. After arriving in Germany with his family from Poland as an 8-year-old, he played for a local side, SG Blaubach-Diedelkopf, in lower leagues before signing for FC 08 Homburg, a former Bundesliga team, at the relatively late age of 20. He was already 22 when he began his first full Bundesliga season for Kaiserslautern.
Now there is a system, which is designed to recognise talent and do everything possible to develop it. The programme was further developed when former captain Matthias Sammer was appointed sports director in 2005 and began to produce international results after the 2006 World Cup.
In the last 10 years, 6,270 young players have made the step from a DFB talent base to a club’s performance centre, including from the present squad striker Mario Gomez, midfielders Toni Kroos and Ilkay Guendogan, and defenders Benedikt Hoewedes and Marcel Schmelzer.
Neuer, Oezil, Kroos, Gomez, Hummels, Hoewedes, Schmelzer, Guendogan, Jerome Boateng and Per Mertesacker all attended one of 29 elite schools combining football training with normal schooling.
While all German players are now products of the system, there are still various routes to the top.
Lars Bender, who scored the winner in the 2-1 defeat of Denmark, was a graduate of 1860 Munich’s performance centre, while an early developer, 20-year-old Goetze, has been with Borussia Dortmund from under-11 level and has progressed through all of Germany’s junior teams to make his senior international debut at 18.
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Maximum
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Maximum
Movie Name : Maximum
Release Date : June 29, 2012
Genre : Action, Crime
Producer : Kabeer Kaushik
Director : Kabeer Kaushik
Music Director : Amjad Nadeem, Devi Shri Prasad
Cast : Sonu Sood, Neha Dhupia, Naseeruddin Shah.
Synopsis:
Mumbai 2003, a maze of local trains, throbbing crowds, big land deals and intense politics. And in the center of it all, a volatile story.
Two cops, one journey and a struggle for power, maximum power. But they are not alone in this game, there are other players.
The conspirators moving at every level. Taking the dream through layers of emotions and betrayals to an unpredictable climax.
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your brain uses between 20 - 25% of the oxygen your breathe
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Testing for gossip
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, “Do you know what I just heard about your friend?”
“Hold on a minute,” Socrates replied. “Before telling me anything I’d like you to pass a little test. It’s called the Triple Filter Test.”
“Triple filter?”
“That’s right,” Socrates continued. “Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you’re going to say. That’s why I call it the triple filter test. The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?”
“No,” the man said, “Actually I just heard about it and ...”
“All right,” said Socrates. “So you don’t really know if it’s true or not. Now let’s try the second filter, the filter of Goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?”
“No, on the contrary…”
“So,” Socrates continued, “you want to tell me something bad about him, but you’re not certain it’s true. You may still pass the test though, because there’s one filter left: the filter of Usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?”
“No, not really …”
“Well,” concluded Socrates, “if what you want to tell me is neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?”
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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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