Typhoon hits China

More than six hundred thousand people evacuated as the tropical storm Fung-wong hit China's south-eastern coast late Monday. The typhoon weakened to a tropical storm as it landed outside Fuqing city in Fujian province bringing strong winds and heavy rains that left two poeple dead. Dozens of flights were also canceled at the province's Fuzhou airport. Power was cut off in Fujian's Puxia county as 15 electricity transmission lines and 498 transformer stations were damaged. No one was reported hurt. Fung-wong, Cantonese for Phoenix, is expected to be the strongest tropical storm so far his year with heavy rains and strong winds in the coastal areas forecast to continue for few days more.

Bachelor No More

Pop Star Justin Timberlake may finally be thinking settling down, as he is hunting for the perfect ring for his girlfriend Jessica Biel. The singer, who was left heartbroken by Britney Spears, seems to have finally found 'the one' in love Jessica Biel. Apparently, the singer has found a clever way to ensure the paparazzi doesn't catch him shopping for the ring at a jewelery store, as the singer is busy shopping online. The '4 minutes' singer is also reportedly eyeing many exotic islands as a venue for his marriage to Biel.

Smallest woman in the world

This is not a doll. These are pictures of the smallest woman in the world. She is 22 years of age.

This is called guts !!!

Although this looks like a scene from a Hollywood movie this is in fact a real photo taken near the South African coast during a military exercise by the British navy. It had be nominated by National Geographic as 'photo of the year'

The Hip-Hop violinist

Miri Ben-Ari, 29, grew up near Tel Aviv and paid for her music school fees by winning violin competitions. At age 13 she took a master class with Isaac Stern, the American violin virtuso. After her mandatory two years in the Israeli army, she went to New York and enrolled in Jazz program at New School. She played gigs to survive there, which often meant she skipped classes. After 2 semesters she withdrew. “I failed music,” she says “that really hurt.” Her breakthrough came at a radio station party in 2001. She knew nothing about hip-hop but he crowd went wild. Months later, she appeared as “the Hip-Hop violinist” at Carnegie Hall. She released her first major album in 2005; a follow up is due this year. Now a US citizen, Ben-Ari has not forgotten her roots. She has created a foundation to educate teens about the Nazi genocide. Still, she’s happiest expressing herself with a well-rosined bow: “My violin is my voice.”

Be safe wen online

As millions flock to social sites such as orkut and facebook its always safe to keep in mind that u cud be at risk from dangers like stalkin and identity theft. Here a few basic precautions to keep u from gettin into unwanted troubles:
* Check the website's privac policy. Some may allow unrestricted access to posted contents. As much as possible restrict access to ur contents.
* Seriously consider omitting ur full name, address, phone number or details that may allude to ur password.
* The Internet is open to public so post only those contents wich u dont mind strangers from knowing. After all u cant take it back.
* Be aware that personal photos can be altered.
* Don't believe everything u read online. report anything that u find suspicious to the local police or to ur website.

The Money Pit

For 210 years, there’s been talk of buried treasure off Oak Island in north-eastern Canada. According to legend, a trio of local boys found a depression under an oak tree there. Although they failed to unearth treasure, others say they have come across links of a gold chain, tiny pieces of parchment and a stone tablet inscribed with hieroglyphics which read “12 metres below, two million pounds are buried”. In 1971, a video camera was lowered down a shaft, capturing images that resembled a severed hand and portions of a wooden trunk. At about 27 metres, the shaft floods with water, leading some to believe that elaborate tunnels have been built to keep the treasure safe. That hasn’t stopped people from looking: six have died in the process. What are they looking for? Theories include Marie Antoinette’s jewels, the secret stash of Sir Francis Drake or Captain Kidd’s treasure. The mystery lives on.

Victory is the sweetest when you have tasted defeat

This is an extract from our former president APJ Abdul Kalam's interview for the India Knowledge@Wharton.

Former President of India APJ Abdul Kalam: 'A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure'

India Knowledge@Wharton: Could you give an example, from your own experience, of how leaders should manage failure?

Kalam: Let me tell you about my experience. In 1973 I became the project director of India 's satellite launch vehicle program, commonly called the SLV-3. Our goal was to put India 's "Rohini" satellite into orbit by 1980. I was given funds and human resources -- but was told clearly that by 1980 we had to launch the satellite into space. Thousands of people worked together in scientific and technical teams towards that goal.

By 1979 -- I think the month was August -- we thought we were ready. As the project director, I went to the control center for the launch. At four minutes before the satellite launch, the computer began to go through the checklist of items that needed to be checked. One minute later, the computer program put the launch on hold; the display showed that some control components were not in order. My experts -- I had four or five of them with me -- told me not to worry; they had done their calculations and there was enough reserve fuel. So I bypassed the computer, switched to manual mode, and launched the rocket. In the first stage, everything worked fine. In the second stage, a problem developed. Instead of the satellite going into orbit, the whole rocket system plunged into the Bay of Bengal . It was a big failure.

That day, the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, Prof. Satish Dhawan, had called a press conference. The launch was at 7:00 am, and the press conference -- where journalists from around the world were present -- was at 7:45 am at ISRO's satellite launch range in Sriharikota [in Andhra Pradesh in southern India ]. Prof. Dhawan, the leader of the organization, conducted the press conference himself. He took responsibility for the failure -- he said that the team had worked very hard, but that it needed more technological support. He assured the media that in another year, the team would definitely succeed. Now, I was the project director, and it was my failure, but instead, he took responsibility for the failure as chairman of the organization.

The next year, in July 1980, we tried again to launch the satellite -- and this time we succeeded. The whole nation was jubilant. Again, there was a press conference. Prof. Dhawan called me aside and told me, "You conduct the press conference today."

I learned a very important lesson that day. When failure occurred, the leader of the organization owned that failure. When success came, he gave it to his team. The best management lesson I have learned did not come to me from reading a book; it came from that experience.

The Oldest South Indian Language

Here are some numbers u may be familiar with:
10 = PATTU -ten
100 = NOORU -hundred
1000 = AaYIRAM -thousand
10000 = PATTAYIRAM -ten thousand
100000 = LATCHAM -hundred thousand

Some u mite have heard of:
1000000 = PATTU LATCHAM- one million
10000000 = KOODI -ten million
100000000 = ARPUTHAM -hundred million
1000000000 = NIGARPUTAM - one billion
10000000000 = KUMBAM -ten billion
100000000000 = KANAM -hundred billion

Even more u see in statistics:
1000000000000 = KARPAM -one trillion
10000000000000 = NIKARPAM -ten trillion
100000000000000 = PATHUMAM -hundred trillion
1000000000000000 = SANGGAM -one zillion
10000000000000000 = VELLAM -ten zillion
100000000000000000 = ANNIYAM -hundred zillion

And few others u have never heard of:
1000000000000000000 = ARTTAM -????
1000000000000000000 0 = PARARTTAM --anybody knows
1000000000000000000 00 = POORIYAM --?#%^&
1000000000000000000 000 = MUKKODI --&^*^%^#
1000000000000000000 0000 = MAHAYUGAM -??????????? ?????

Tamil language is one of the oldest n most POWERFUL language in the World. Did u even know these things.

Life in Four Photos

First Pic

Break of Dawn -- New lease of life, embarking upon a New Voyage......

A Child Flying Kite -- Young Blood, Aspiring to Fly High with Enormous Zest n Zeal...Coz U Know, Sky is The Limit......

A Small Tree -- Need to Nurture.......

Two Birds Hovering Above -- There r People Around to Take Ample Care of You, You r Actually Carefree.......

Second Pic

Daylight -- You r Almost Halfway Through in This Voyage Called Life.....

Couple -- You Have a Better half of Yours to Lean Upon n Speak Your Heart Out to......

Grown-up Tree -- You Have Been Nurtured Profusely to Stand Tall n Rigidly in The Storms That May, Otherwise, Let U Down........ .

A Small Tree -- You, Together With Your Better half, Have Given a New Lease of Life to Another Breaking Dawn (Your Child).........

One Bird Hovering Above -- There r Comparatively Less People around You to Take Care of You, Unlike during Your Wonder Childhood Years.......

Third Pic

Fall of Dusk -- Twilight is setting Upon, Life Has Come a Full Circle....

An Old Man -- It's a Race Against Time Now On, It's The Beginning of The End of The Voyage......

Ageing Tree -- Signifies The Above Two Things, Second One Being The Personification of This........

Grown Tree -- Your Kids Have Grown Up; It's High Time You Start Supporting Them With Tender Care Rather Than Clashes..........

One Bird -- Self Explanatory, I Guess??? Grave -- In Course of The Voyage You Have Lost Loved Ones n You Also Start to Anticipate Your Ultimate Fate n Destiny..........

Fourth Pic

Nightfall -- Voyage is Over, Darkness is Looming Over, High Time to Say Good Bye....

Starry Sky -- There's Still Happiness Around, Thanks to The Aesthetic Memories Left by You n The Good Work Done Too..... .

Grown-up Tree -- Your Kids r Walking in Your Shoes now, It's For Them to Follow Your Footsteps Drawing Inspiration From Your Exemplary Life..

Grave With Two Crosses -- You r United with Your Soul mates n RIPS.........

Wats the difference ?!?

A mechanic was removing the cylinder heads from the motor of a car when hespotted the famous heart surgeon in his shop, who was standing off to the side, waiting for the service manager to come to take a look at his car.

The mechanic shouted across the garage,"Hello Doctor!! Please come overhere for a minute."

The famous surgeon, a bit surprised, walked over to the mechanic. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag and askedargumentatively, "So doctor, look at this. I also open hearts, take valvesout, grind them, put in new parts, and when I finish this will work as a new one. So how come you get the big money, when you and me is doingbasically the same work?"

The doctor leaned over and whispered to the mechanic....

--

--

--

He said: "Try to do it while the engine is running ".

Tell them before its late

One day Maths teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers. That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. 'Really?' she heard whispered. 'I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!' and, 'I didn't know others liked me so much,' were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again. She never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on. Several years later, one of the students was killed in a war and the teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never attended Funeral of a serviceman before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The placewas packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk. The teacher was the last one to bless .
As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her. 'Were you San's math teacher?' he asked. She nodded: 'Yes.' Then he said: 'San talked about you a lot.' After the funeral, most of San's former classmates were there. San's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket 'They found this on San when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it.' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of San's classmates had said about him. 'Thank you so much for doing that,' San's mother said.. 'As you can see, San treasured it.' All of San's former classmates started to gather around. Arnie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home.' Raul's wife said, ' Raul asked me to put his in our wedding album.'
'I have mine too,' Chris said. 'It's in my diary'
Then Diane, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. 'I carry this with me at all times,' Diane said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: 'I think we all saved our lists'.
That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for San and for all his friends who would never see him again.
The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late.

Farewell my friends

I will not say good-bye

Yet I would say farewell

For we shall meet again

That I can foretell.

The future is unpredictable

Tomorrow is uncertain

Keep our laughs and memoirs

But I wish you have no burden.

We shall keep on learning

Remain as students and become as mentors

Face the unknown with confident yearning

Pursue our life endeavors.

Farewell, my friends, adieu

I utter it with pain

Farewell, my friends, adieu

In sunshine or in rain.

Farewell, my friends, adieu

This day would come, we knew

Our dreams we shall pursue

For now, my friends, adieu.

Why me..?

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected
blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?
To this Arthur Ashe replied:

" The world over -- 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis,
500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam,
50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals,
when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me?'.
And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?' "


Happiness keeps you Sweet,
Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrow keeps you Human,
Failure keeps you humble and Success keeps you glowing, but only Faith & Attitude Keeps you going...

I HAVE LEARNED

*I have learned...that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.
*I have learned...that we should be glad God does not give us everything we ask for.
*I have learned...that money does not buy class.
*I have learned...that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.
*I have learned...that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.
*I have learned...that the Lord did not do it all in one day.
What makes me think I can?
*I have learned...that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
*I have learned...that the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.

The beauty of a woman

A little boy asked his mother,
"Why are you crying?
"Because I'm a woman," she told him.
"I don't understand," he said.
His Mom just hugged him And said, "And you never will."
Later the little boy asked his father,"Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?""All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say. The little boy grew up and became a man,Still wondering why women cry.Finally he put in a call to God.
When God got on the phone, he asked,
"God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said: "When I made the woman she had to be special.

I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.

I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.

I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any
and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her very badly.

I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

And finally, I gave her a tear to shed. this is hers, exclusively to use whenever it is needed.""You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides."

Charles Schultz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip. You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies, awards tarnish, achievements forgotten, accolades n certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.


"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia." (Charles Schultz)

For that guy who...

Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot...
Who calls you back when you hang up on him...
Who will stay awake just to watch you sleep...
Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead...
Who wants to show you off to the world when you are in your sweats...
Who holds your hand in front of his friends...
Wait for the one who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky he is to have you...
Wait for the one who turns to his friends and says, "...that's her, or that's him"...

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day

On the fly?

When you ask How are you?

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done

Do you lie in your bed

With the next hundred chores

Running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch,

Let a good friendship die

Cos you never had time

To call and say "Hi"

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift..

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.

Think like a donkey

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.