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“Success is blocked by concentrating on it and planning for it... Success is shy - it won't come out while you're watching.”
| VBA's Positive News |
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US: San Jose, California gets closer to Green Vision goal with 38 electric cars
San Jose and three other Bay Area cities received 50 battery-powered cars in a deal announced Thursday that was hailed as the largest single all-electric municipal fleet vehicle deployment in the country. San Jose received 38 of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV hatchbacks, putting it closer to the city's 'Green Vision' goal of powering its entire fleet with alternative fuels.
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Argentina: Women will now collect welfare money
After spending billions on welfare to families that keep children vaccinated and in school, President Cristina Fernandez has made a key change: From now on, mothers will collect welfare payments instead of fathers. 'It's well-known that transferring the resources to women results in a greater empowerment for them inside the household and a better use of resources, including food and clothing for their children,' said Nora Lustig, professor of Latin American economics at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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Cooperatives can build socio-economic resilience during crises - UN officials
The International Day of Cooperatives provides an opportunity to spotlight how such enterprises can help build resilience in all socio-economic spheres in times of 'global uncertainty', United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on Saturday. In his message, Guy Ryder, Director-General of the UN International Labour Organization (ILO), stated, 'The celebration of International Cooperative Day is a welcome reminder that solidarity generates strength and the capacity to build, and that effective organizational and business models can indeed be founded on values of justice and solidarity.'
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US: How clean air act made Atlanta rains rebound
Anti-pollution measures enacted in the United States in 1970 likely led to a rebound in rainfall over the city of Atlanta in the 1970s and 1980s, new research shows. Weather stations' measurements showed that average annual rainfall in the city's core increased 10 percent after the Clean Air Act, which focuses on airborne pollutants that pose a risk to human health, passed in 1970. 'It suddenly just changed dramatically in the '70s. It wasn't a gradual change.
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World Round-Up
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Red tape, bribery allegations stall Walmart's India expansion
Walmart's India expansion is stalled. When India announced last September that it would allow foreign supermarket chains to take majority ownership of their local operations, it marked a victory for Walmart Stores, which had spearheaded efforts to open the market and said its first retail store would open within two years.
Now, two sources within the Bentonville, Arkansas-based company's Indian unit say it is unlikely to apply for its first retail store licence before March 2015. The company has said it needs a further 12 to 18 months after winning government approval to open each store, which means its first retail outlet in the country would open in 2016 at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Bharti Enterprises, its local partner in an existing wholesale business, is reconsidering its commitment to their joint venture given the heavy investment requirement and distant prospects for returns, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said.
Bharti denied that it is looking to exit the tie-up and said it remains fully committed to the joint venture, and a Walmart spokeswoman declined to comment on what she called speculation.
The latest developments stem from an ongoing internal bribery probe relating to its Indian operations, still-evolving rules governing foreign participation in India's retail sector, and national elections due by May 2014 that could result in the controversial retail reform being reversed - and any newly opened supermarkets being shut - the sources said.
The delay and faltering partnership mean Walmart may miss out on the "first-mover" advantage in a country considered the last great frontier for global retailers.
If Bharti pulled out, Walmart would be forced to find a new partner from a tiny pool of large local retailers to meet the requirement that a local firm owns 49 percent of the business.
On June 26, Walmart announced that Raj Jain, who led its India push for the past six years, had left the company.
The world's biggest retailer named Ramnik Narsey, who recently joined the company after heading the Indian operations of Australia's Woolworths Ltd(WOW.AX), as interim India chief, without explaining the change.
Jain did not answer repeated calls to his mobile phone and the company declined to make Narsey available for comment.
Narsey headed the consumer electronics wholesale business of Woolworths in India for fifteen months, before it was sold to the Tata Group, offering little insight into what his appointment might mean for Walmart's India rollout.
"It will take lot more than a management change to fix things," said Devangshu Dutta, who heads Bangalore-based retail consultancy Third Eyesight.
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Astrology
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Aries March 21 to April 19
Unusual conversations may pop up while you work around the house. Discoveries of forgotten items may also be quite likely. Perhaps you'll rummage through your attic or a closet and stumble upon something you have been trying to find for ages. You may also be surprised by the comments or actions of a family member. An unannounced visit from a cousin or other relative who stops by to say hello may brighten your day.
Taurus April 20 to May 20
A surprise project may land in your lap and you may have to make a snap decision on whether to go. You may do best if you can trust your instinct on this one since only you will know if the switch will be worthwhile. This may involve wrapping up one event that you have been working on only to shift your focus in an entirely new direction. If you can pick and choose your words carefully, you may be surprised how you land on your feet.
Gemini May 21 to June 20
 This may be a great time to schedule a visit with your financial planner and see what may be in store down the road. You may already be pleasantly surprised by the recent turn of events. This may also be an opportune time to investigate grants, loans, and other creative methods for raising your income stream. There may be a potential resource that you have been unaware of that suddenly comes to light. What a pleasant surprise to find income just when you need it.
Cancer June 21 to July 22
You may feel as if a fire has been lit to boil those cool waters of yours. The universe has you out front and center, and you may be eager to make your appearance known. This may be especially true around the office or workplace where you may have drawn lots of attention lately. You may even be rewarded by a surprise appointment or other shift that brings along an unexpected component. Maybe a new prosperous client or a new territory will come your way.
Leo July 23 to Aug. 22  Be on the lookout for transitions as unexpected travel plans be required or altered. You will be best off being loose and open to changes in direction. It may be challenging to accept a diversion right now, but there may be a very good reason for the shift. You may land somewhere that brings you in touch with a lucrative new plan or a potential new partner or customer. The possibility for outside influence may come in the way of an offer to teach or to travel and give a presentation at the last minute. Be prepared.
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Indian IT companies chase banking licence hopefuls
MUMBAI: Technology services providers are already in talks with business houses that have applied for banking licences, hoping to build long-term relationships with these companies which could enter the Indian banking industry next year.
As many as six licences could be issued, making it a persuasive enough opportunity for information technology firms to gear up their sales and marketing departments. "It is an opportunity for a whole lot of players. You have the product companies and the outsourcing companies which would look to position themselves for this.
And any organisation that gets a licence will want to accelerate the roll-out, so incumbents will have an advantage," said Ernst & Young Technology Sector Leader Milan Sheth. It is after more than a decade that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is opening up the window for banking licences and a total of 26 applicants, from brokerage houses and Non-Banking Financial Institutions (NBFIs) to industrial houses and micro-finance firms, have thrown their hats in the ring. Besides large conglomerates such as the Tatas, Birlas, Reliance ADAG, others in the race include India Post, L&T, Edelweiss and Muthoot.
Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services and Oracle Financial Services, which provide software platforms, and outsourcing such as IBM, Wipro, HP have been the traditional heavyweights providing technology support to the Indian banking sector. Some of them are already in talks for the new opportunities. The fledgling banks would need a core banking software solution with a payments engine, customer relationship management systems, solutions to handle new banking channels such as Internet, wealth management solutions, provision for regulatory reporting, anti-money laundering and fraud detection, said Venkataramana Gosavi, the regional head for growth markets at Infosys Finacle, the banking product from the Bangalore-based company.
"We are naturally interested in going after this new business," he said. Technology market researcher Gartner estimated that Indian financial services companies will spend some Rs 42,200 crore on IT products and services this year, up more than 13% from 2012. Though talks are in the preliminary stages, the final deal sizes would start at a minimum of Rs 200 crore and are likely get bigger depending on the kinds of platforms and services the banks want, industry observers said.
"These are end-toend solutions from IT infrastructure, software applications, back-office, and processing.
We are already deeply engaged with most of the potential winners," said Subramanian Venkatramani, vice-president of strategic business relationship at IBM India. But the actual size of the IT contract and the systems will depend on the strategy the bank will follow.
"They will look at each element of the technology they already have, because it's not as if they are scrapping those part of their business.
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How to burn 500 calories everyday
We are programmed to believe that losing weight is a Herculean task, which involves grueling exercise schedules, crash diets and drastic lifestyle changes.
But the truth is far from it. Yes, you need exercise to feel and be your best and healthy eating should be a part of your daily life, but weight loss isn't just about a one hour fitness routine or some simple diet tips. It's about how you live each day, what you do, and how you do it. So if you're fresh out of ideas and want some extra help to burn 500 more calories every day, you've come to the right place! Here's a list of 15 activities that will help you knock off those extra calories stacking up on the weighing scale.
2 hours of bowling burns 500 calories. According to fitnessforweightloss.com one can burn 105-285 calories in 30 minutes of bowling, depending on your weight.
- If you are 72 kgs than you burn 219 calories in one hour
- If you are 91 kgs than you burn 273 calories in one hour
- If you are 109 kgs than you burn 327 calories in one hour
Talking to your loved ones on the phone in the office basement? No, don't stop, just start walking up and down the stairs while you continue your act of care. This wil not only burn calories but tone your glutes, as well!
Body weight influences caloric usage during 5 minutes of stair climbing. 30 min at a pace of 8 min per mile burns 500 calories. How many calories you burn depends on your body weight. The more you weigh the harder your body has to work and so the more calories you burn.
Clean, mop and dust your house for 2 hours and burn 500 calories for sure!
It depends on your current weight, how long you work, how hard you work and what activities you do. The type of activity you're doing makes a difference.If a person weighing 45kgs spends 15 minutes mopping, he/she will burn 77 calories. Washing dishes for 15 minutes would burn 38 calories. Scrubbing the floors would burn 65 calories.
And if this doesn't sound interesting, you can just turn on your favorite playlist and dance with your broom too! That can boost the number of calories burnt by another 15%!
Don't just stop there. If you're on the phone, walk around while you talk. You'll burn more calories standing than sitting. Stand while talking on the phone. Better yet, try a standing desk — or improvise with a high table or counter. Eat lunch standing up.
If you can't get away from your desk, try standing to make a phone call or read a report. Even shutting your office door to squeeze in 5 minutes of pushups or jumping jacks can burn another 50 calories.
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Virgo Aug. 23 to Sept. 22
If you can gather up your colleagues and knock around some ideas you may be surprised at what transpires. Some of your best options may occur around outside resources. A potential backer may appear and provide key support just when you most need it. It may be important to keep the dialog open and flowing. A sudden change in direction may prove to be just the pathway you need to get the project on solid ground.
Libra Sept. 23 to Oct. 22
It may be wise to keep your eyes and ears wide open at work today. You may be quite visible and influential as Mercury and the Sun work their way through that sector of your life. This type of attention can be quite useful, especially if you want to promote an idea or yourself. Think of how things might be if you had the right people listening at just the right time. That may be the energy you need, so be clever in your associations, get your ideas out, and let yourself be heard.
Scorpio Oct. 23 to Nov. 21
 You may settle into a routine day of learning or traveling, but be mindful of the possibility of a change in plans. You may be called in to help out a co-worker who could use your special expertise, and your strong intuition may be right on target. The fact that you may be called upon to come to another's aid can be quite satisfying and you may feel quite honored to have been called. It will feel right to offer a helping hand.
Sagittarius Nov. 22 to Dec. 21
You may be deep into negotiations surrounding long term financial plans and other institutional programs. Insurance policies, mortgages, loans, and other sources of outside income may be the topic that takes up your time today. You may find some fairly creative results along the way, so your efforts may be worth the investment of time and energy. You might stumble upon a truly unique new plan that satisfies your future needs while having little impact on your current situation.
Capricorn Dec. 22 to Jan. 19
 You may be singularly focused on your partner as the planets will promote relationship activities. That sector of your life has the Sun and Mercury working for you to bring about positive insights and maybe even a particularly revealing and open dialog between the two of you. You may decide to take a new route with your living arrangements and you might make plans that seem to come from out of nowhere. This could be just the surprise you have been imaging.
Aquarius Jan. 20 to Feb. 18
 A special emphasis on your health and well-being may be worth your efforts today as the Sun and Mercury will occupy that area of your life. A new plan or approach might be just what you have been looking for. One of the best ways to understand how to go about a change in habits may come from some solid investigation. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find. A little research can go a long way in helping you decide where to put your time and energy.
Pisces Feb. 19 to March 20
The universe seems to want you to go out and play. With the Sun and Mercury lighting up that area of your life, you may feel young and carefree. This fun alignment will be perfect for heading off to amusement parks and other entertaining areas. You may even find the means to go and cast your cares to the wind as an unexpected check or prize comes your way. Either way, this may be the day to simply enjoy all that you can. Gather some friends and head out for a fun-filled time.
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Moral Story
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SMS
"Speed Is Calculated As Miles Per Hour
But
Life Is Calculated As Smiles Per Hour
So Increase Your Smile Get Extra Milage In Life.. ! "
LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS
Be sure it's your real self you're showing. Because it is your real self that needs to be loved.
LEADERSHIP & SUCCESS
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens can change world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.
A student is talking to his teacher.
Student: 'Would you punish me for something I didn`t do?'
Teacher: 'Of course not.'
Student: 'Good, because I haven't done my homework.'
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70% of new admissions at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University are women
COIMBATORE: P Ellilarasi from Theni, was one of the many students at the counselling centre in Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) on Saturday, hoping to join the B Sc Horticulture course at the university.
"I decided to join the course after hearing about it from my friends.
My parents are also happy about my decision," she said. Seventy per cent of new admissions at TNAU are women.
In recent years, the number of women joining the institute has been on the rise. K Ramasamy, VC of the university, says that in 1972 only one girl student was admitted.
"Earlier, women did not opt to join the university because agriculture involved strenuous manual labour.
With the increasing use of machinery in agriculture, more women started joining the university," he said. Today, a majority of students at TNAU are women.
Among the 1018 students who got admission on Saturday, 699 are women. Ramasamy said that since women seem to do much better then men, more women are given admission.
He believes that the proportion of women to men will only increase in the coming years.
Most students who join agricultural courses are well-focussed.
"Though there are a few who may need our guidance, most students who come for counselling are clear about their career options," said S Mahimairaja Dean of Agriculture.
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Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic to break Britain's 77-years-old Wimbledon jinx
LONDON: Face buried in the palm of his hands, he sank to his knees as the warm evening sun bathed Centre Court, its shimmering rays casting a golden glow on 2013 Wimbledon champion Andy Murray.
FACTBOX: Wimbledon champion Andy Murray
The 26-year-old World No.2 ended a near eight-decade wait for Britain as he blew away Novak Djokovic's challenge much like the celebrated title of that 1936 classic, 'Gone with the wind'. Incidentally, it was in the summer of '36 that the host nation's Fred Perry won the last of his three Wimbledon crowns. Murray, throwing in a mix of attacking and resilient tennis, collected £1,600,000 for his 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 win that ended a 77-year wait.
"This feels slightly different from Wimbledon last year," Murray said, holding the trophy close to his chest, "That was one of the toughest moments of my career. Today I tried my best and I hope all of you enjoyed it." Turning to his vanquished opponent, Murray said, "When everything is done Novak will go down as one of the greatest fighters in the game. Many, many times in his career, he has come back from the brink and he almost did that today in the last game, but somehow I managed to squeeze though. I have no recollection of what happened in that game, except that I had three match points."
Murray then thanked his team for their support. In a note of touching gratitude he applauded his coach Ivan Lendl. "I know he tried very hard to win here, he did everything he could. I'm glad I could win it for him today. I'm not a particularly easy person to manage and thank you for your support."
As always the World No.1 was graceful in defeat. "I threw everything at him today and it wasn't enough," he said, "You deserve this win, Andy. I know how much this means to you and the whole country, enjoy it. For me, it was an honour to be a part of this match."
Djokovic, whose serve was just a shade off the pace at the start of the match, held just three of his five service games in the first set. The opener was punctuated by long rallies, where the players traded brutal blows running each other ragged, like a pair of long-distance runners, matching each other stride for stride, stroke for stroke, so much so that the pattern of play resembled a clay court slugfest. Murray, who struggled when serving from the far end, however, held firm to close out the set at love in the tenth game.
With the crowd, a full house of British supporters, desperate for a home win and baying for blood, the Serb weighed in, breaking serve in the fourth game to move ahead 4-1. Murray, however, found his way back into the set when his opponent double-faulted at break point in the sixth game.
The Scot pumped his fists and up in the stands Kim Sears, in a body-hugging lace dress a shade close to the colour of the surface her boyfriend was playing on, cheered wildly. Djokovic, who seemed to be mixing it up a little too much, charging the net when he sighted an opening, slammed a forehand into the net at 30-40 to surrender serve in the 11th game. Murray then responded with characteristic British politeness, thanking his opponent by holding to love and taking a two-sets-to-love lead.
When the finalists took a bathroom break at the end of the second set, the question was whether time away from the court would calm the Serb down and force him to rethink his strategy. It was Murray, however, who came up with the shots, breaking Djokovic in the opening game of the set.
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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
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Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Movie Name : Bhaag Milkha Bhaag
Release Date : 12 June 2013
Genre : biographical, sports film
Producer :Viacom 18,Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Director : Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra
Music Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
Cast : Farhan Akhtar, Sonam Kapoor and Meesha Shafi. Milkha Singh
Synopsis:
‘Milkha Singh’- for some the name evokes a faint memory from the pages of history. All that is most remembered is that Milkha Singh, hailed as the Flying Sikh, was a famous athlete who infamously lost the penultimate race of his life. “The one who lost the 400 meters finals at the Rome Olympics” is an involuntary response when the name Milkha Singh is mentioned.The film attempts to understand a catastrophic loss that was deemed a sure victory and explores through the darkness of disgrace; Milkha’s redemption, the redemption and catharsis that come when he confronts his past.
Milkha ironically finds himself in a place wherein he had lost his all – Pakistan - a place where he witnessed the bloody massacre of his entire family. The demons hidden in some dark corner of his consciousness come alive.This iridescent tale winds through the plagues of a bloody civil war, a lost childhood, homelessness and petty crime to victories hard won and easily lost. It draws an intricate image of human trials, setbacks and fate leveraged against the sheer power of will. He evocatively illustrates that true victory lies in racing with one’s troubles and not in running away from them. Milkha flies, falls and rises, bruising his soul but not his will to survive.Milkha Singh the world champion in 400 meters lost the most important race of his life - the 1960 Rome Olympics - but won in LIFE.
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The Statue of Liberty's tablet is two feet thick.
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" INSPIRING STORY "
Hospital window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by th! e window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”
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“Success is the progressive realization of predetermined, worthwhile, personal goals.”
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