TFTD - 31/01

Thought for the day

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her. George Washington
Take home – Andre Agassi

American professional tennis player and former world no. 1.Generally considered by critics and fellow players to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time,Agassi has been called the best service returner in the history of the game. Described by the BBC upon his retirement as "perhaps the biggest worldwide star in the sport's history",[8] Agassi's performances, along with his unorthodox apparel and attitude, have seen him cited as one of the most charismatic players in the history of the game, and credited for helping revive the popularity of tennis during the 1990s.

Agassi is an eight-time Grand Slam singles champion who competed in 15 Grand Slam finals, and an Olympic gold medalist. A multi-surface specialist, he is the first of two male players in history to have achieved a singles Career Golden Slam, and one of four male players to have achieved a singles Career Grand Slam in the Open Era (one of seven in history). He was the first male player to win all four Grand Slams on three different surfaces (hard, clay and grass), and is the last American male to win the French Open (1999)[15] and the Australian Open (2003).[16] Agassi also won 17 ATP Masters Series titles, won the 1990 ATP Tour World Championships and was part of a winning Davis Cup team in 1990 and 1992.He is the only male singles player in history to have won all four Grand Slam tournaments, the Olympic gold medal and the ATP Tour World Championships: a distinction dubbed as a "Career Super Slam" by Sports Illustrated.

Today, Andre Agassi foundation, along with his wife, were transforming public education in the United States through our school in Las Vegas and by influencing state and national policy. Since the inception of the Andre Agassi Foundation for Education in 1994, $177 million dollars has been raised to benefit the mission of the Foundation including $118 million from the Grand Slam for Children fundraising event. Thank you for believing in children and giving them the hope that comes with education. Over 15 years, the Foundation has honed its mission to focus on transforming public education. In 2001, in partnership with the Clark County School District, the Foundation opened the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy (Agassi Prep) in West Las Vegas.  Recognized as a model charter school, Agassi Prep graduated its first senior class in June 2009 with a 100 percent college acceptance rate.

http://www.agassifoundation.org/

http://www.andreagassi.com/andre-agassi-today/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Agassi

http://www.tennis.com/players/player_bio.aspx?player_name=Andre+Agassi

Wisdom Message

Bad habits are the worst enemies you can have. You are punished by those habits. They make you do things you do not want to do, and leave you to suffer the consequences. You must drop bad habits and leave them behind you as you move forward. Every day should be a transition from old habits to better habits. In this coming year make a solemn resolution to keep only those habits that are for your highest good. The best way to get rid of your undesirable tendencies is not to think about them; do not acknowledge them. Never concede that a habit has a hold on you….You must develop “won’t” habits. And stay away from those things that stimulate bad habits.  – Yogananda Paramahansa [Messages for New Year]

Health tip for the day – Play is exercise, exercise is play

Regular daily physical activity of 60 minutes promotes good health in kids by maintaining a healthy body weight and by building bones, muscles, joints and endurance. Kids can accumulate their 60 minutes of activity all at once, or in shorter chunks during the day. Encourage your kids to use their free time to be active. Be a role model for your kids by participating with them in activities both outdoors and indoors and encourage participation in group sports under the guidance of a coach or leader. Here are some ideas to get your kids (and you) off the couch!

http://www.eatright.org/kids/article.aspx?id=6442467796

Picture of the day – Caravans, Ethiopia

Evoking a scene from biblical times, caravans arrive at the salt mines of Lake Asele, 381 feet below sea level. For centuries salt blocks, called amole, were used throughout Ethiopia as money. [NatGeo]

 

TFTD - 30/01

Thought for the day

Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.-- Denis Waitley

Take home – Home

Home is a 2009 documentary by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The film is almost entirely composed of aerial shots of various places on Earth. It shows the diversity of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet. The movie was released simultaneously on June 5, 2009 in cinemas across the globe, on DVD, Blu-ray, television, and on YouTube, opening in 181 countries. The film was financed by PPR, a French multinational holding company specializing in retail shops and luxury brands, as part of their PR strategy.

The film HOME by Yann Arthus-Bertrand is a beautifully shot panorama of the Earth and the damage done to it by modern humanity. It includes a moving narration about the evolution of the Earth, nature, agriculture, humans, and the crises of habitat destruction, energy depletion, climate disruption, degradation...of the environment, health, economic disparity, and more. They are well integrated in the film, but many assumptions in the script make this film hard to recommend unless accompanied by a reality check on energy and the value of traditional ways.

 

Thirteen thousand liters are required to produce one kilo of beef, while 100 liters of water are required for one kilo of potatoes. Ninety-five percent of soy farms in the Amazon region, which has shrunk by 20% in the last 40 years, goes to Europe for livestock and poultry. So a forest is turned into meat.

But the narration reveals a lack of understanding of the implications of peak oil. Additionally, technology is romanticized, guaranteeing that the Earth's crisis will not be solved by those wedded to present concepts:

"This pocket of sunlight [fossil fuels] freed humans from their toil on the land. With oil began the era of humans who break free from the shackles of time."

The assumption is that energy extraction can be sustained, as in "Oil might run out; we can still extract oil from the tar sands of Canada." Not that the film makers wish to see that, but they are not aware of the inability of tar sands to satisfy much demand when conventional oil extraction is already starting its plummet.

http://www.energybulletin.net/node/49641

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_(2009_film)

Wisdom Message

Our whole attitude about life is money-oriented. And money is one of the most uncreative things one can become interested in. Our whole approach is power-oriented and power is destructive, not creative. A man who is after money will become destructive, because money has to be robbed, exploited; it has to be taken away from many people, only then can you have it. Power simply means you have to make many people impotent, you have to destroy them -- only then will you be powerful, can you be powerful. Remember: these are destructive acts. A creative act enhances the beauty of the world; it gives something to the world, it never takes anything from it. A creative person comes into the world, enhances the beauty of the world -- a song here, a painting there. He makes the world dance better, enjoy better, love better, meditate better. When he leaves this world, he leaves a better world behind him. Nobody may know him; somebody may know him -- that is not the point. But he leaves the world a better world, tremendously fulfilled because his life has been of some intrinsic value.

Money, power, prestige, are uncreative; not only uncreative, but destructive activities. Beware of them! And if you beware of them you can become creative very easily. I am not saying that your creativity is going to give you power, prestige, money. No, I cannot promise you any rose-gardens. It may give you trouble. It may force you to live a poor man's life. All that I can promise you is that deep inside you will be the richest man possible; deep inside you will be fulfilled; deep inside you will be full of joy and celebration. You will be continuously receiving more and more blessings from God. Your life will be a life of benediction.  – Osho

Picture of the day – Dal Lake

A lone shikara boat slices through the peace and tranquility of Dal Lake, the oarsman reflecting on a better tomorrow to come [NatGeo]

 

TFTD - 27/01

Thought for the day

When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. – Hellen Keller

Take home – King Khan

Shah Rukh Khan, is an Indian film actor, producer and television host. Often referred to as "The King of Bollywood", Khan has acted in over 70 Hindi films.[3][4][5] He started his career appearing in theatre and several television serials in the late 1980s and made his film debut in Deewana (1992). Khan has won fourteen Filmfare Awardsfor his work in Indian films, eight of which are in the Best Actor category (a record). In 2005, the Government of India honoured him with thePadma Shri for his contributions towards Indian Cinema.

 

Shah Rukh Khan has won several awards which includes the Padma Shri for his outstanding performance in several films. Globally, Shahrukh is considered to be one of the biggest movie stars with a huge fan following and was also named in the list of 50 most powerful people in the world by newsweek. Shahrukh Khan turned producer in the year 1999 when he started a production company called Dreamz Unlimited with Juhi Chawla and director Aziz Mirza. Shahrukh’s life-size wax statue was installed at Madame Tussauds wax museum in the year 2007.

He says,

I'm the luckiest man in the world and I don't want to hide from the faces I'm acting for. So I don't surround myself with guards, I've never given an interview in which I've said I feel bad that I can't go shopping or I can't go to Chowpatty and eat bhelpuri without being mobbed. I'm not the kind of guy who goes out wearing dark glasses (I don't think I'm a big enough star to hide behind them, honest). I go to see movies in the cinema theatres, I go to restaurants with my family and friends even though I know people are going to disturb me there.

God has become a generic term like `mind blowing.' It is embarrassing. I would have said that to Amitabh Bachchan, Naseeruddin Shah, Nana Patekar. I used to tell them I want to stand in the same space as you. I've told Kamal Haasan, I just want to touch you. They are the gods of acting. When people call me God, I say, no, I'm still an angel or saint of acting. I still have a long way to go.

Wisdom Message

Until devotion is fully developed, you must practice listening to scriptures and singing God’s glory, without any interruption. Sometimes, devotees deal with God in a bargaining spirit or in the spirit of a businessman. This attitude should be given up. Whoever you may be, you should not ask from your beloved Lord anything other than devotion or love for Him. Uninterrupted flow of love towards the feet of the Lord is real surrender. Such surrender guarantees genuine and everlasting peace. – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Picture of the day – Autumn Woods, Germany

This photo was taken during autumn in Hameln, Germany, which is the birthplace of the infamous Rattenfänger—or Pied Piper as we Americans know it. This shot is actually on top of the last few hills that soon sink into the state of Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony). This area is essentially lowland plains—hence the name Lower Saxony!

TFTD - 26/01

Thought for the day

Of all that is good, sublimity is supreme. Succeeding is the coming together of all that is beautiful. Furtherance is the agreement of all that is just. Perseverance is the foundation of all actions. – Lao Tzu

Take home – Republic day India

Republic Day is a national holiday that is celebrated every year with immense zeal and enthusiasm. The Constitution of India was enforced on 26th January, 1950 marking a historical moment in the Indian history. Hence, this day is honored with great joy, pride and vigor across the country as India was also declared a sovereign, democratic and republic state on this very day. The day calls in for grand celebrations, which are evident from the massive parades, cultural programs, recitation of patriotic poems and singing and playing of patriotic songs throughout. Though every Indian state holds its celebrations, but the capital of city of New Delhi witnesses a grand parade at India Gate, near the President's Palace. Read on to know all about Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.

 

The Prime Minister lays a floral wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti early in the morning to honor the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. A two minute silence is observed in their memory and the Prime Minister moves ahead to the main dais at Rajpath. The President joins him/her there along with the Chief Guest and other dignitaries. The Chief Guest is usually the Head of State or Government from a foreign nation. The President hoists the flag and soon, the National Anthem is played. This is followed by a 21 gun salute.

The parade starts off with the Armed Forces regiments walking past the President. All the three regiments, that is, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force dress in their best official uniforms and march past finely. The Commander-in-Chief of the Indian Armed Forces, that is, the President takes the salute as the regiment pass by. The parade also includes people from the armed forces and civilians who have shown exceptional courage and distinguished themselves in various acts of heroism in different situations. The military parade is then followed with a vibrant and colorful parade of regional tableaus. 

All the major government buildings are beautifully illuminated with lights every evening from 26th to 29th January. On the third day after Republic Day, that is 29th, 'Beating the Retreat' ceremony is conducted consisting of massed bands marching to the popular tunes. The Drummer's Call follows wherein the drummers give solo performances. Thereafter, the Bugle Call follows which is characterized by the band master walking up to the President requesting to take the bands away. This marks the end of the closing ceremony of Republic Day. At 6 pm, the buglers sound the retreat and the National Flag is lowered. With this, the Republic Day celebrations are formally ended.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_Day_(India)

http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/india/republic-day

http://potirah.blogspot.com/2012/01/o-google-celebrando-o-republic-day-of.html

Picture of the day

Maybe women weren't at the Last Supper, but they are certainly going to be at the next one., Italy

 

TFTD - 25/01

Thought for the day

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. - Confucious

Take home – Prem Joshua

Multi-instrumentalist and composer, Prem Joshua – pioneer extraordinaire in the field of World Fusion Music – creates and explores forever new synthesis in sound, transporting the listener as he does beyond the borders of both East and West.

Drawing inspiration from the deep well of the ancient music traditions of the Indian sub-continent, while remaining constantly in touch with the pulse of contemporary Western music scene, over the years Joshua has continued to refine his awesome talent for fusion, creating a sound both distinctive and unique.
His music appeals so deeply because despite its contemporary feel, it still succeeds in keeping alive the wild ‘let-go’ and meditative silence of its cultural roots. This musical masala of Indian classical, jazz, funk, ethno and trance music is so masterly, yet playfully blended, that it has indeed a completely global appeal.

For his timely interpretation of the music traditions of the East, Prem Joshua has been especially honored in India. His music seems to touch the “mood of the moment” and one hears his music everywhere - from the Himalayas in the north, down to Delhi and Bombay, then south to the beaches of Goa and Kerala. The foremost Indian newspaper - the Times of India - has even lauded him as the 'New Guru of World Fusion Music’.

 

In 2005 his band played live on 'MTV Asia'.
In 2006 he and his band gave a private performance for the President of Malaysia.
In 2007 Joshua received the award "Best Film Music on Indian TV" at the Indian TV Awards in Mumbai. And more recently his band performed for the President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and legendary Indian singers, Asha Bhonsle and Lata Mangeshkar. Today he is the number one best-selling World Music artist in India. However, his music is not only appreciated in the East. It has also ‘come West’. Most notably, in 2007 his band gave a private concert for the UK’s Prince Edward at the Royal Palace in London - in 2008 the 'BBC' nominated him for their ‘World music listeners award’ - in 2009 the band performed at the 'Big Chill Festival' and in 2011 at the famous 'Glastonbury Festival'.

Wisdom Message

Worship the Lord who lives in your heart, nearer to you than your thickest friend, your father, mother or preceptor. He is all of these and more to you. The physical body and the pleasures and comforts you crave for are all subject to damage and decay. One day or the other, it becomes food for dogs and jackals. The Lord, on the other hand, grants you bliss and joy forever. He cannot be won by scholarship, pompous vows or colorful rituals. Surrender your heart to Him. He desires nothing else from you – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Article for the day – Health tip

Drinking three cups of tea a day may help lower blood pressure

http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-tea-blood-pressure-20120124,0,270329.story

Picture of the day – Vermillion Cliffs

Against the soaring backdrop of Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs, the 1929 Navajo Bridge, now used for foot traffic, crosses the Colorado River beside its 1995 counterpart. [NatGeo]

Note

Sao Paulo is celebrating the anniversary on 25^th Jan. Happy celebrations

http://www.cidadedesaopaulo.com/sp/en/the-city-of-sao-paulo

TFTD - 24/01

Thought for the day

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes - Marcel Proust

Take home- O N V Kurup – Legendary poet

O. N. V. Kurup (Ottaplavil Neelakandan Velu Kurup) is a famous Malayalam poet from Kerala, India. He is acknowledged as one of the greatest living poets in India. O. N. V. Kurup is also a film lyricist in Malayalam cinema. He received the Padmashri Award of government of India in 1998. He is also called O. N. V., without the surname. O. N. V. is known for his leftist leaning. He was the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in Thiruvananthapuram constituency for the Lok-Sabha elections in 1989, and was the runner-up.

Reacting to his winning the Jnanpith, Kurup said, “I am writing for better days for humankind. I am still drawing inspiration for writing from the life of my coastal village. The award is recognition of the Malayalam language.” Prof. O.N.V.Kurup: A poet, who, with more than his imaginative skills, created poetic expressions that often dealt with the very land he belonged to, events, people and situations he experienced.

As a poet, who has made a mark of his own in the literary world of Kerala as well as outside Kerala, Mr. O.N.V.Kurup’s stature as a poet of eminence and also as an accomplished academician, made him associate with many national and international programmes. Some of these were his visit to USSR as member of an Indian Writers Delegation to participate in the 150th birth anniversary of Tolstoy, Represented India in the Struga Poetry Festival, Yugoslavia (1987), Presented poems on Beethoven and Mozart in the Department of German, Bonn University, Indian delegate to the CISAC World Conference held in Berlin (1998) and Fellow of the Kerala Sahitya Academy in 1999. Among the responsibilities that came his way so far, he was member of the Executive Board of the Sahitya Akademi, New Delhi from 1982 to 1986, and currently serves as the Chairman of Kerala Kalamandalam. The septuagenarian poet is without doubt the few among his contemporaries, who continues his poetic pursuits with an undying fervor. And in the process, Mr. O. N. V. Kurup remains as one of the highly respected and accomplished poets of modern Kerala.

http://www.stateofkerala.in/blog/2010/09/24/prof-onv-kurup-bagged-jnanapeedam-award-2007/

http://indulekha.com/choice/2006/12/o-n-v-kurup-collection.html

Wisdom Message

If there is anything sweeter than all things, more auspicious than all auspicious things, holier than the holiest, truly, it is the Name of the Lord, or the Lord Himself. Give up the company of the worldly-minded and seek always the company of the wise and the good. Take refuge in the Lord, He is the embodiment of Peace. He will reside constantly in the place where devotees honor His Name sincerely, with devotion and dedication. Practice intense devotion to the Lord for that is the key to attaining real and permanent happiness. – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Picture of the day – Astana, Kazhakhstan

Floral flourishes decorate Nurzhol Boulevard, or "Radiant Path." [NatGeo] 

TFTD - 23/01

Thought for the day

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. – Mahatama Gandhi

Take home – Chinese New Year 2012 (23/02)

Chinese New Year begins according to the Chinese calendar which consists of both Gregorian and lunar-solar calendar systems. Because the track of the new moon changes from year to year, Chinese New Year can begin anytime between late January and mid-February. Below is a chart that shows the beginning day of Chinese New Year and the animal sign for that year.  Day will be celebrated on January 23. The New Year festival will start from January 22 (Chinese New Year' Eve) and end on February 6 (Lantern Festival). 2012 marks the 4710th Chinese New Year, and this time it is the year of dragon according to the Chinese zodiac calendar.
The dragon is the 5th sign of the Chinese zodiac and it is regarded as an auspicious symbol which stands for power, good luck, success, and happiness.

Since ancient times, the Chinese New Year was considered as the time to honor ancestors and heavenly deities. In addition, it was the time to organize family gatherings and grand feasts. There is a legend associated with the celebration of New Year in China. There was a monster named Nian who used to harass the villagers by eating their crops, cattle and taking away their kids. The villagers had no other option but to place food at the entrance to their homes so that the monster would eat it and go away without harming them.

People born under the Dragon are passionate, brave and self-assured. At their best they are pioneering spirits; at their worst, they epitomize the old adage: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Dragons are generous with their resources, a tendency that at its most negative can reflect a foolhardy attitude towards money. But Dragons in general are blessed with good fortune. They are smart, enterprising and have a wicked sense of humor. They have a natural flair for fashion and are the people to consult if you want to catch up on the latest trends.

This Chinese New Year 2012 ushers in the Water Dragon. Water exerts a calming influence on the Dragon’s innate fire. Water Dragons are more open to other people’s opinions than other Dragons which gives them the ability to channel their personal charisma into real leadership qualities.

Famous celebrities born in under the Dragon include John Lennon, Ringo Starr, Al Pacino, Marlene Dietrich and Matt Dillon. The Dragon’s lucky color is yellow. Dragon years are lucky for anyone thinking of starting a business or initiating a new project of any sort because money is easier to come by for everyone, whether it’s earned, borrowed or received as a gift. Consequently we can expect the economic downturn to ease up a bit in the coming year. Fortunes can be made but they can also be lost: Keep in mind like all good things, the Year of the Dragon will come to an end and you will be held accountable for unreasonable extravagances.
Dragons do well in professions that give them the ability to function somewhat autonomously. They make excellent sales people, publicists, political campaigners, lawyers, real estate brokers, actors and politicians.

Wisdom message

Every man and every living being aspires to attain peace and happiness. People pursue various paths to experience the everlasting bliss. Everyone aspires to know the objective of life. But they are not able to succeed in their endeavour. One in a million will persist with strong determination and will not give up till he realises the goal. Ordinary mortals will not make any efforts in this direction as they think it is something beyond their reach. They spend their lives in the pursuit of physical and ephemeral pleasures. They are under the delusion that food, raiment and shelter are the three main objectives of human life. They fail to realise that there is a higher purpose in life than this. – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Article for the day – You don’t have to start off rich to build wealth

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204468004577166723997091352.html?mod=sf2tw

Picture of the day  - Buffalo Race

Kambala is a simple sport played in parts of Karnataka, India. The “track” used for Kambala is a paddy field filled with slush. It is a race of buffaloes controlled by a whip-lashing farmer. This is a shot taken at Vandar village near Mangalore.

TFTD - 20/01

Thought for the day

" Don't let anyone steal your joy. You might not always be able to control a situation, but you can control how you react to it. Don't give your power away to anyone. When you allow your happiness to depend on what someone else does or says, then you are giving your power away. You need to decide to stay positive and not let someone decide your happiness for you." - Diana Marconi

Take home – Gayatri Mantra

The Gayatri Mantra is a highly revered mantra in Hinduism. Written in Sanskrit, it consists of the prefix :oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ ॐ भूर्भुवस्वः, a formula taken from the Yajurveda, and the verse 3.62.10 of the Rigveda (which is an example of the Gayatri metre, whence the mantra's name). Since the other three Vedas contain material from the Rigveda, the Gayatri mantra is found in all four Vedas. The deva invoked in this mantra is Savitr, so the mantra is also called Sāvitrī. A personification of this mantra has come to be worshiped as a goddess in her own right, Gayatri. The Gayatri Mantra is praised in several other Hindu scriptures, including Manusmṛti, Atharvaveda, and the Bhagavad Gita.

The Gayatri Mantra is an important part of the upanayanam (sacred thread) ceremony for Brahmins, and was traditionally chanted only by Brahmin males, generally as part of their daily rituals. In modern times, chanting of the Gayatri Mantra is more widespread, such as at cultural celebrations, and its use has spread to include non-Brahmins and women.

AUM BHOOR BHUWAH SWAHA,

TAT SAVITUR VARENYAM

BHARGO DEVASAYA DHEEMAHI

DHIYO YO NAHA PRACHODAYAT

Oh God! Thou art the Giver of Life,

Remover of pain and sorrow,

The Bestower of happiness,

Oh! Creator of the Universe,

May we receive thy supreme sin-destroying light,

May Thou guide our intellect in the right direction.

The Vedas are widely considered to be the source of all true knowledge, the word "Veda" itself meaning "Knowledge". Gayatri Devi also gave to mankind the "Gayatri Mantra", also known as the "Guru Mantra" or the "Savitri Mantra". It is one of the oldest mantras, and generally thought of as being amongst the highest and most powerful mantras of all. This mantra is therefore often referred to as "the Mother of the Vedas". In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna had proclaimed to Arjuna - "Among all the mantras, I am the Gayatri".

Rishis selected the words of the Gayatri Mantra and arranged them so that they not only convey meaning but also create specific power of righteous wisdom through their utterance. The ideal times for chanting the mantra are three times a day - at dawn, mid-day, and at dusk. These times are known as the three sandhyas - morning, mid-day and evening. The maximum benefit of chanting the mantra is said to be obtained by chanting it 108 times. However, one may chant it for 3, 9, or 18 times when pressed for time. The syllables of the mantra are said to positively affect all the chakras or energy centres in the human body - hence, proper pronunciation and enunciation are very important.

http://www.gayatrimantra.co.in/

http://www.eaglespace.com/spirit/gayatri.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gayatri_Mantra

Wisdom Message

Philosophy that cannot be understood, scriptures that are not practised, the present world is full of these. It is a waste of time to talk of them. Real change must be made in the daily conduct and behaviour of man, for these are within the experience of all. They can be easily practised and their purpose grasped. In every little activity and word, one should discriminate and adopt the best. That is the sign of the genuine Sadhaka (spiritual aspirant). – Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Music house

Want to hear some techno music, follow the link below to listen to the best trance/techno music

http://www.beatport.com/genre/Techno/6/tracks

TFTD - 19/01

Thought for the day

" Today is a wonderful and amazing day bursting with opportunity. Such is every day that is blessed by the light of day. Treat is as such, and you will see that the opportunities are innumerable and possibilities infinite. - Savannah Brodeur 

Take home – Anthony Bourdain

Anthony Bourdain is best known for his culinary and cultural knowledge, as well as his often biting observations of the world's most exotic dishes as host of No Reservations. Currently in the 7th season of his popular Travel Channel series, Tony visits several off the grid locations that have deep seeded political history such as Haiti, Nicaragua and Cambodia. Exploring cultures and lifestyles that challenge him with a greater understanding of human existence, this season Tony experiences the underlying stories behind a locale's traditional cuisine.

 

Bourdain is not your typical celebrity chef. He is the Chef-at-large at New York's famed bistro, Les Halles, and is also an accomplished author, having written three crime novels, a cookbook, and several bestsellers. Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly, is Bourdain’s candid, hysterical and sometimes shocking portrait of life in restaurant kitchens that has been translated into over 28 languages. His book, A Cook's Tour, was published in conjunction with a popular series on the Food Network and became a bestseller both in the U.S. and the U.K. His recently released, Medium Raw: A Bloody Valentine to the World of Food and the People Who Cook, is the long-awaited follow-up to Kitchen Confidential, and is an insider's perspective on the changes in the restaurant business. His other books include Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook, The Nasty Bits, the crime novels Bone in the Throat and The Bobby Gold Stories, and No Reservations: Around the World on an Empty Stomach, an illustrated journal of Bourdain’s travels and companion to his Travel Channel series.

 

Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations is a 5-time Emmy nominated series and in 2009 it won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for Nonfiction Programming.

http://blog.travelchannel.com/anthony-bourdain/

http://www.travelchannel.com/tv-shows/anthony-bourdain/articles/meet-anthony-bourdain

Photography tips – Shooting with Available light

Available-light photography has always held the allure of intimacy. Other genres reach for grandeur and beauty or the brutal impact of graphic truth. Available light offers something else: the exotic possibility of going beneath the surface and into the shadows to reveal what is hidden.

http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/available-light-richardson/

Wisdom Messages

Take the five elements, the components of this Prapancha (Universe). Of these, water has movement and coldness as its Dharma; combustion and light are the Dharma of fire. Each of the five elements have their unique Dharma. Humanity for man and animality for animals - these guard them from decline. How can fire be fire, if it has no power of combustion and light? It must manifest the Dharma to be itself. When it loses that, it becomes as lifeless as a piece of charcoal. Similarly man too has some natural characteristics that are his very life-breath; one can be identified as 'human' only when these abilities are present. To preserve and foster such qualities and abilities, certain modes of behaviour and lines of thought are laid down. This is called Dharma. These qualities are not imported from somewhere outside, nor can it be removed. It is your own genuine nature, your uniqueness. - Sri Sathya Sai Baba 

Pic of the day – Iguazu Falls 

TFTD - 18/01

Thought for the day

" Each of us has a gift to share... none are insignificant... the gift of laughter, the gift of strength, the gift of love... let the light of your gift shine for all to see and feel... you never know who might need it." – Michael Powell

Take home - A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada – Hare Rama Hare Krishna

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada  was a Gaudiya Vaishnava teacher and the founder-acharya

 of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness,[1] commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement".

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was born in 1896 in Calcutta, India. He first met his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, in Calcutta in 1922. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, a prominent devotional scholar and the founder of sixty-four branches of Gaudiya Mathas (Vedic institutes), liked this educated young man and convinced him to dedicate his life to teaching Vedic knowledge in the Western world. Srila Prabhupada became his student, and eleven years later (1933) at Allahabad, he became his formally initiated disciple. After publishing three volumes of Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada came to the United States, in 1965, to fulfill the mission of his spiritual master. Since that time, His Divine Grace has written over sixty volumes of authoritative translations, commentaries and summary studies of the philosophical and religious classics of India.
In 1965, when he first arrived by freighter in New York City, Srila Prabhupada was practically penniless. It was after almost a year of great difficulty that he established theInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966. Under his careful guidance, the Society has grew within a decade to a worldwide confederation of almost one hundred asramas, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities.

Srila Prabhupada's most significant contribution, however, is his books. Highly respected by the academic community for their authoritativeness, depth and clarity, they are used as standard textbooks in numerous college courses. His writings have been translated into eleven languages. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, established in 1972 exclusively to publish the works of His Divine Grace, has thus become the world's largest publisher of books in the field of Indian religion and philosophy. 

In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that have took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture. 

http://www.stephen-knapp.com/a_c_bhaktivedanta_swami_prabhupada.htm

http://www.prabhupada.com/About/AAbout.html

http://harekrishnavaledoitajai.wordpress.com/nossa-inspiracao-a-c-bhaktivedanta-swami-srila-prabhupada/

Wisdom Messages

Only trees grown in fertile soil can yield good fruits. Those which are grown in saline soil will bear only poor quality of fruits. So also, only in the hearts which are pure and unsullied can such holy feelings and virtues like truth, compassion, forbearance, selflessness grow and shine. Like a farmer who toils to cultivate his field, a Bhakta (devotee) must put in efforts to cultivate the Name of the Lord in his heart in order to reap the harvest - the Lord Himself. - Baba

Adventures for the year 2012 – Vote now

Some of the striking adventures sports for the year 2012, browse through and VOTE NOW!!!

 http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/

Foto shots | Sao Paulo Beaches

http://unexploredbrazil.blogspot.com/2012/01/captures-from-beaches-of-sao-paulo.html