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“Every day is a struggle buddy – every day – but all you need is to keep going and keep going because struggles are not here to stay. Just keep on going and eventually you will overcome it all.”
| VBA's Positive News |
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US consumer confidence at highest since February 2008
Americans' confidence in the economy surged last month to the highest level in nearly five years, as many were encouraged by an improving job market. Consumers were more confident after seeing better job growth, the report noted. Hiring in July and August was stronger than first thought, and employers added a modest 114,000 jobs in September, the government reported last month.
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US: Retailers report strong sales gains for October
Americans spent briskly in October. The International Council of Shopping Centres says Thursday that its tally of 21 stores shows a 5 per cent gain in sales at stores open at least a year in October, better than the 3.5 per cent to 4.5 per cent estimate. The results cover the four-week period ending 27 October.
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Europe's in love with cycling
From London's 'cycle superhighways' to popular bike-sharing programmes in Paris and Barcelona, growing numbers of European cities are embracing cycling as a safe, clean, healthy, inexpensive, and even trendy way to get around town. Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, and the Danish capital, Copenhagen, are the pioneers of this movement, and serve as role models for other cities considering cycling's potential to reduce congestion and pollution, while contributing to public health.
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Indonesia September trade improves, October PMI at record
Indonesia's trade picture improved more than forecast in September and manufacturing grew strongly in October, signalling a recovery from weak exports that have weighed on Southeast Asia's largest economy in recent months. On top of showing Indonesia is gaining some traction, the data reinforced a trend seen across Asia, where big economies are slowly picking up after a year battling global headwinds. Business surveys on Thursday showed an improving factory sector in China, Indonesia's top trade partner.
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Video of the Day:
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World Round-Up
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Web of political links helped Vadra’s land deals
Even as the Congress party and the Haryana government insist Robert Vadra’s real estate dealings in the State are private transactions that did not involve any illegality, new evidence indicates that the businessman — who is also Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law — was provided access to a web of politically-connected property developers that went out of its way to help him build his realty empire.
It all began with Satyanand Yajee, who, together with Godavari Yajee, owns Onkareshwar Properties Pvt. Ltd, which sold Mr. Vadra’s Sky Light Hospitality 3.5 acres in Shikohpur village in Gurgaon in March 2008 — his first known foray into the real estate business.
Mr. Satyanand Yajee, as first reported by Business Standard, has strong links to Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda as well as Venod Sharma, the State’s former Power Minister who was forced to resign following allegations that he tried to bribe a witness in the Jessica Lal murder case, for which his son Manu Sharma, now stands convicted. His second son Kartikeya Sharma heads Information TV Pvt. Ltd., which has recently acquired control of the News X television channel, in addition to his existing Haryana-based media house, the Aaj Samaj group and Good Morning India Media Pvt. Ltd.
Mr. Satyanand Yajee helped Mr. Vadra by not presenting cheque no. 607251 dated February 9, 2008, drawn by his company, Sky Light Hospitality, on Corporation Bank for Rs. 7.5 crore, which is mentioned in the sale deed registered on February 12, 2008. As earlier reported in The Hindu, though the amount is shown as an overdraft in Sky Light’s balance sheet, Corporation Bank has clarified that it did not give the company an overdraft. With the stamp duty of Rs. 45,00,000 the total land cost came to Rs. 7.9 crore. This amount is reflected in the 2008 balance sheets of Onkareshwar Properties as ‘sundry debtor’. However, revenue officials point out that since the payment for the land was not received through the cheque mentioned in the sale deed, it would fall foul of Section 82 of the Registration Act, 1908 since the payment of Rs. 7.5 crore was not completed between vendor and vendee, and would ordinarily invite penalty under the Act.
However, Mr. Satyanand Yajee is no ordinary businessman and he did not complain about the unusual cheque. As the general secretary of the All India Freedom Fighters Organisation (AIFFO), he is in-charge of constructing and maintaining a memorial for Chief Minister Hooda’s father Chaudhary Ranbir Singh in Rohtak. Mr. Hooda and Mr. Satyanand Yajee are also office-bearers of the All India Freedom Fighters Successors Organisation, both being sons of prominent freedom fighters Chaudhary Ranbir Chaudhary and Sheel Bhadra Yajee respectively.
On 15 July 2009, the Haryana government allotted a site of 2.5 acres in the green belt of Rohtak’s Industrial Model Township (IMT) on NH 8 at a concessional rate of Rs 50,000/ acre to the AIFFO, for the memorial. As the organisation’s general secretary, Mr. Satyanand Yajee is the point man for the project, and it is common knowledge in Rohtak that the man has the Chief Minister’s ear.
On 11 April 2008, one month after Mr. Vadra’s Sky Light Hospitality was given a letter of intent to develop his land in Shikohpur (on 28 March 2008) a consortium of five companies that includes Mr. Satyanand Yajee’s Onkareshwar Properties and Mark Buildtech owned by Mr. Kartikeya Sharma were given a licence for group housing on 19.362 acres in the same village. Curiously, the address given by Mark Buildtech (Flat No 714, Hemkunt Chambers 89, Nehru Place, New Delhi) is the same as that given by Onkareshwar Properties in its sale deed 12/2/2008 through which it sold the Shikohpur land to Mr. Vadra. The two companies also have at least three common directors who have entered and exited the two companies at different times.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Today you'll be most willing to help others. Your reliability and steady temperament may draw a variety of people to you. Friends, co-workers, employees, family members and your significant other may seek you out for emotional support. Some will ask for advice on money and finances. Others may simply be confused and appreciate your objective opinion about the events that are troubling them. Your Venus sign ruler is currently transiting nurturing Cancer, so you'll find just the right reassuring words to reassure others that all will be well.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
Today you'll be most willing to help others. Your reliability and steady temperament may draw a variety of people to you. Friends, co-workers, employees, family members and your significant other may seek you out for emotional support. Some will ask for advice on money and finances. Others may simply be confused and appreciate your objective opinion about the events that are troubling them. Your Venus sign ruler is currently transiting nurturing Cancer, so you'll find just the right reassuring words to reassure others that all will be well.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 Your sign ruler, Mercury, will be strongly placed in Virgo today. That will increase your influence in all matters connected with home, family, and property. Virgo is one of the earth signs, so the time you devote to establishing or maintaining lawns, gardens, and indoor greenery will be successful now. It also will be a fine day to realize profits from a home-based business or rental properties. Your connections with neighbors and prominent people in your local community will be strengthened as well.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You'll have an opportunity to realize your goals for the day during the morning hours. You likely will rise early and work quietly at home or arrive at your workplace ahead of time to begin working on your latest project. If you have children, their activities might be time consuming for you during the afternoon hours. You will have cosmic chances, however, to mingle with interesting adults throughout the rest of the day. More than one party invitation may come your way later this evening.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22
 Your desire to act on a financial matter might be stronger than your ability to do so today. The stars suggest that the timing will not yet be correct and that a cosmic break might arrive on Wednesday. In the meantime, gather more facts, figures, and background information that might help your make a correct decision. You might ignore communications you receive now because they'll lead you off course and in the wrong direction.
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Romney slams Obama’s economic policies
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has lashed out at the economic policies of Barack Obama, warning that America could be headed towards another recession if the country does not changes its course.
“I recognise that this President is again making new promises. These are promises he can’t keep, just like the last ones, because he says he’s going to keep us on the same path we’re on. And one thing we know is if we stay on this same path, $16 trillion in debt will become $20 trillion in debt. Unless we change course we may be looking at another recession down the road” he said at a poll rally in Etna Ohio.
Claiming that the unemployment rate would go “high” in next four years, Mr. Romney claimed if the U.S. continued with current economic policies, even those in jobs would suffer due to “declined take-home pay” and “stagnant wage growth”.
He also attacked Mr. Obama for his handling of defence budget, and accused him of “devastating” the military.
“So the question for this election, in my view, is that do you want to stay on the same course we’re on or do you want real change? Because we represent real change,” he said.
Mr. Romney, by citing about the “successful business” he owned and how he made it despite “starting from scratch”, claimed his record of fulfilling promises was better than Mr. Obama.
“The President promised change but he didn’t deliver it. I’m promising change, and I have a record of achieving it,” Mr. Romney said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Romney’s vice presidential running mate Paul Ryan too held meetings in Ohio.
“Four years ago, President Obama said he would do all these great things -- hope and change. He’d cut the deficit in half. He’d bring everybody together. The deficit’s doubled.
It’s the most partisan time we’ve had. Just look at the jobs that didn’t occur,” Mr. Ryan said in West Chester in Ohio.
The Congressman said this was a time for “big ideas, real reform, for a real recovery“.
“This is who Mitt Romney is. Look at this man’s life -- achievement, leadership. Look at what he’s done in the private sector. He helped create tens of thousands of jobs. By the way, being successful in business. We want that. We believe in success. We want more of it,” Ryan said.
Mr. Ryan also credited Mr. Romney with “balancing the budget without raising taxes”, and praised him for “working together” with the Democrats by “finding a common ground”.
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Green coffee beans can make you thin
Scientists today reported striking new evidence that green, or unroasted, coffee beans can produce a substantial decrease in body weight in a relatively short period of time.
In the study Joe Vinson's team described how a group of overweight or obese people who consumed a few milligrams of ground green coffee beans each day lost about 10 per cent of their weight.
"Based on our results, taking multiple capsules of green coffee extract a day - while eating a low-fat, healthful diet and exercising regularly - appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to lose weight," said Vinson, who is with the University of Scranton.
The study involved 16 overweight or obese people aged 22-26 years who took capsules of the extract or capsules containing a placebo, an inactive powder, for a total of 22 weeks. The subjects alternated between a low dose and a higher dose of the extract.
The low dose consisted of 700mg of the coffee extract, and the high dose was 1,050mg. It was a so-called "crossover" study in which people cycled through the two doses and the placebo, each for six weeks. Such studies have advantages because each person serves as his or her own "control," improving the chances of getting an accurate result.
All of the participants were monitored for their overall diet (calories, food eaten, etc.) and exercise over the study period. "Their calories, carbohydrates, fats and protein intake did not change during the study, nor did their exercise regimen change," Vinson said.
Participants lost an average of 7 kilos during the 22 weeks of the study. It included an average of a 10.5 per cent decrease in overall body weight and a 16 per cent decrease in body fat. Vinson noted that weight loss might have been significantly faster, except that participants received the placebo and the lower dose of green coffee extract for part of the study period.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
Discussions with your significant other may revolve around finances and external expenses. This may be a time to be completely transparent and open with your motives and desires. This may be a very fruitful and positive time if you handle conversations with dignity and diplomacy. In any case of ambiguity, it may serve all parties better to be completely upfront. Ultimately, if you can rise to the occasion and be particularly accommodating, you may end up serving yourself best..
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
There may not be enough hours in the day to complete every activity on your to-do list now. You may need to delay an event connected with your home and family until another date. It may not be possible to put off making an important decision about money and your personal financial arrangements, so make time for this. The universe likely will ask you to do something entirely different in this area of your life. Ask a seasoned money manager or trusted friend for advice.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 Today you'll have an opportunity to intervene successfully in several tense situations and create harmony between the individuals involved. Both on the job and at home, this may be connected with challenging high-tech or scientific matters or a unique event. Be patient and encourage that same quality in others. If you choose to accept the invitation, the stars will help you arrange to see a film with your special someone tonight.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
You'll have such a good start to your day that you'll remain optimistic throughout the afternoon and evening hours. A business associate or your significant other may include you in plans for tonight's entertainment, so keep your calendar free. Your primary goal today could be the necessity of making an important decision connected with long-distance travel, higher education, politics, or a spiritual/religious matter. If you haven't shared your options with anyone yet, you may be very close to deciding to do so.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 The stars will align today to generate tension between you and your employer or another authority figure. The two of you may agree on a long-term goal but disagree on how to reach it. You may opt for the most efficient approach while the other person prefers one that is emotionally satisfying. There will be room for compromise and eventually, one will be reached but perhaps not today. Conversations between the two of you now may be confusing, and it will be best to wait a few days before making an agreeable arrangement.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 The stars will align today to generate tension between you and your employer or another authority figure. The two of you may agree on a long-term goal but disagree on how to reach it. You may opt for the most efficient approach while the other person prefers one that is emotionally satisfying. There will be room for compromise and eventually, one will be reached but perhaps not today. Conversations between the two of you now may be confusing, and it will be best to wait a few days before making an agreeable arrangement.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
Uranus will transit your astrological sector of money and finances today. One source of your cash flow may seem particularly unreliable now. You may feel unfairly treated by the person or organization that owes this to you but income also depends on receipts from another source. Just when you believe those funds will never arrive, they will and your worries about this will disappear. If you manage not to take it personally, it might speed up the process of money transfers for everyone involved. .
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Moral Story
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SMS
“Life is very similar to a boxing ring..
Defeat is not declared, when U fall down..
It’s declared, when U refuse to get up...”
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Love will not serve those who do not live for her, and in her, and to whom she is not the breath of life.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity.
A blond went to police station and registered a complaint
Blond - Sir I am getting Threats on my phone.
Police: Who the hell is threating you?, tell me we will take action against them.
Blond : Sir telephone people... They are threating to cut if the bill is not paid.
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After 27-yr gap, Rajasthan University starts recruitment process for 294 posts
JAIPUR: After a long gap of 27 years, the University of Rajasthan on Friday began fresh process for recruitment of professors, associate and assistant professors among others. About 294 posts are to be filled during the process.
Announcement for the recruitments came after the vice-chancellor of the university met Governor Margaret Alva on Thursday who took an exception of the universities not commencing recruitments of professors despite provisions being made by the government two years back.
RU's public relations officer Bhupendra Shekawat informed that recruitment notification is for 35 professors, 61 associate professors and 198 assistant professors. "Applicants can download the form online from November 1 till December 31. The eligibility criteria and other terms and conditions are available on the university website," Shekawat said. The eligibility criteria clearly states that only those candidates who have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) would be allowed for appointment of lecturers in universities and colleges.
Of the total, a maximum of 34 teachers will be recruited in the chemistry department followed by 24 each for law and botany departments. Sources said the number of teachers to be recruited still fall short of the requirements and students have to make efforts to complete their courses by themselves.
The implications of the shortage of teachings staff has hit the student-teacher ratio. According to the latest UGC guidelines, the student-teacher ratio in science subjects should be around 1:11.5 and for humanities it should be 1:20. On the contrary, on an average every teacher has over 120 students in RU.
The announcement come as a respite for the departments like dramatics, European studies, centre for mass communication, which has only one professor for over 100 students. In Maharani's college, the student-teacher ratio is around 1:80.
Earlier in 2010, the RU had made advertisements to recruit 326 teachers. However, the recruitment process has been put on hold firstly following an agitation by students demanding to clear backlog for weaker sections and later it was called off as RU missed the time period.
"If RU has to regain its old glory, then recruitment should be made a regular activity. This time, I am sure they are all prepared and will not delay as done in the past, particularly because the number of existing teachers are declining every month," cautioned Rajiv Gupta, head of department, Sociology.
The university is expecting around 50,000 applications for the posts. Experts said if all goes on time, there is a possibility that the recruitment process will be over before the commencement of the new session.
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England struggle against disciplined Mumbai A
MUMBAI: Mumbai A bowlers had the visiting England team on the mat, reducing it to 66 for four at lunch on the opening day of their second three-day warm-up game on Saturday.
After England won the toss and elected to bat on a seaming track in this Navi Mumbai stadium, medium pacer Kshemal Waingankar struck once each in his two spells to take the wickets of opener Nick Compton for 1 and Ian Bell for 4. First change bowler Javed Khan dismissed Jonathan Trott for 28.
To make matters worse for England, Mumbai captain Suryakumar Yadav -- a part-time off break bowler -- struck in the last over before lunch to dismiss Joe Root, caught at short leg for 28.
At lunch Eoin Morgan was yet to score after having come in with 10 minutes left for the interval.Waingankar had superb figures of 2 for 13 in seven overs, Khan claimed one for 19 in six while Yadav had taken a wicket off the fifth ball of his only over.
The morning clearly belonged to the unheralded second string bunch of Mumbai.
The 27-year-old Waingankar, who has played only 11 Ranji Trophy games, stuck to a fine line to take full advantage of the helpful track and put the visitors on the back foot after they won the toss and batted.
England, who made six changes to the side that played in the opening warm-up game against India A at the Brabourne Stadium even resting captain and centurion Alastair Cook, started cautiously. With the wicket assisting the two medium pacers Waingankar and Shardul Thakur runs were hard to come by.
Waingankar, in particular, maintained a steady off stump line and good length and made the ball move both way off the pitch to produce doubts in the minds of Compton and Root. Waingankar drew first blood very early in his third over by uprooting the off stump of Compton with a ball that moved in a shade.
England, 5 for 1 at Compton's departure for 1, were kept in check by Waingankar and Thakur and it was only in the sixth over that a loose ball from the latter on his legs was clipped away for four by one down Jonathan Trott, who scored an attractive 56 against India A.
The third medium pacer in the team, Javed Khan, replaced Thakur and was promptly dispatched by Trott for another boundary with an on-drive.Waingankar, after a good spell of 5-3-10-1, was replaced by part time off spinner Shikhar Dhawan, playing for the team as a special invitee along with Cheteshwar Pujara.
The 50 came up in the 16th over when Trott cut Thakur for a four after the first hour had produced 38 runs in 14. The number three batsman got out chasing outside the off stump and was caught behind, a ball after inside-edging Javed Khan to the fine leg fence. Khan gave way to Waingankar who struck his second blow of the morning by having out-of-form Ian Bell caught behind off a defensive prod outside the off stump.
Bell, who made only 5 in the first game, was out for 4 this time around.
England lost Trott and Root 15 minutes prior to lunch. The visitors rested Cook, pace bowlers Steven Finn and Tim Bresnan, batsman Kevin Pietersen, wicket keeper Matt Prior and leading spinner Graeme Swann from the team that played in the at CCI.
They included squad vice-captain Stuart Broad, who led the side in Cook's absence, wicket keeper Jimmy Bairstow, Joe Root, Graham Onions, Eoin Morgan and Monty Panesar in their place. The home team left out leg spinner Sagar Gorivale - the lone frontline spinner in the squad - Neelkanth Parab, Bravish Shetty and Balwinder Singh Sandhu Jr. from the playing eleven.
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Jab Tak Hai Jaan
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Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Movie Name : Jab Tak Hai Jaan
Release Date : November 13, 2012
Genre : Romance
Producer : Aditya Chopra
Director : Yash Chopra
Music Director : A R Rahman
Cast : Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Anushka Sharma, Anupam Kher, Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh.
Synopsis:
Jab Tak Hai Jaan is an upcoming 2012 Indian romance film directed by Yash Chopra and written and produced by Aditya Chopra under their production banner Yash Raj Films. The film features Shahrukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in lead roles, making it the first film to pair Khan and Kaif and the second collaboration between Khan and Sharma after Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. It was Yash Chopra's fourth film to feature Shahrukh Khan in the lead role, the former returning as a director after eight years post Veer-Zaara which released in 2004. Jab Tak Hai Jaan is Yash Chopra's last directorial venture before his death on October 21, 2012, just three weeks before the release of the film.
Yash Raj Films has always been very secretive about the stories of their films. However, it has been revealed that Anushka Sharma, who is playing the leading role in Jab Tak Hai Jaan, works for Discovery Channel and makes a documentary on Shahrukh Khan's life in the film.
Anushka Sharma told a leading daily, "I am Akira. I work for the Discovery Channel. And I am on a quest to discover the truth behind the compelling story of The Man Who Cannot Die."
In Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Shahrukh Khan plays Samar, who is an army officer, employed with a special unit of the forces. Anushka Sharma is always fascinated with Army Officer's daring lives. So, she convinces the channel team to produce a documentary on Samar's life. The audience will discover the entire story of the film through Akira's eyes.
Rahul Johri, senior vice president and general manager - South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia said, "We are honoured to have associated with one of India's foremost film stalwarts - the late Yash Chopra."
The background score and soundtrack is composed by A.R. Rahman while the lyrics are penned by Gulzar. The film is scheduled to release on the six-day Diwali weekend which begins on November 13, 2012.
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August has the highest percentage of births
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Keep your dream
I have a friend named Monty Roberts who owns a horse ranch in San Ysidro. He has let me use his house to put on fund-raising events to raise money for youth at risk programs.
The last time I was there he introduced me by saying, “I want to tell you why I let Jack use my horse. It all goes back to a story about a young man who was the son of an itinerant horse trainer who would go from stable to stable, race track to race track, farm to farm and ranch to ranch, training horses.
As a result, the boy’s high school career was continually interrupted. When he was a senior, he was asked to write a paper about what he wanted to be and do when he grew up.
“That night he wrote a seven-page paper describing his goal of someday owning a horse ranch. He wrote about his dream in great detail and he even drew a diagram of a 200-acre ranch, showing the location of all the buildings, the stables and the track.
Then he drew a detailed floor plan for a 4,000-square-foot house that would sit on a 200-acre dream ranch.
“He put a great deal of his heart into the project and the next day he handed it in to his teacher. Two days later he received his paper back. On the front page was a large red F with a note that read, `See me after class.’
“The boy with the dream went to see the teacher after class and asked, `Why did I receive an F?’
“The teacher said, `This is an unrealistic dream for a young boy like you. You have no money. You come from an itinerant family. You have no resources. Owning a horse ranch requires a lot of money. You have to buy the land.
You have to pay for the original breeding stock and later you’ll have to pay large stud fees. There’s no way you could ever do it.’ Then the teacher added, `If you will rewrite this paper with a more realistic goal, I will reconsider your grade.’
“The boy went home and thought about it long and hard. He asked his father what he should do. His father said, `Look, son, you have to make up your own mind on this. However, I think it is a very important decision for you.’ “Finally, after sitting with it for a week, the boy turned in the same paper, making no changes at all.
He stated, “You can keep the F and I’ll keep my dream.”
“Don’t let anyone steal your dreams. Follow your heart, no matter what.”
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“Never worry for the delay in your success as compared to others because construction of “wonders” take more time than ordinary structures. ”
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