Examine what is said, not her who speaks

The days go by so quickly while I gaze around me, looking at the leaves turning red and gold, wind blowing, bringing fresh chill into the night. At least there is no rain tonight unlike the past two days.

It seems but only a day since I was here and yet a week has passed. So many blogs to read and so much to think. But I feel like doing nothing except for sitting and reading.
Must go to sleep soon, got to teach a geologist tomorrow how to make a presentation in English and be confident in front of an international audience. You'd think he would be confident enough considering he's been a geologist and working on his nuclear waste disposal theory since the last 25 years but....when it comes to speaking in another language; foreign to us- we become tongue-tied. I only hope I can help him gain enough confidence.

Good night sweet blogland. May you dream of lovely things tonight. Skip, as it must be nearly daytime for you- Have a wonderful week ahead my friend.

Goodness...reading the news after so long from back home reveals a lot of things.

When it comes to being satisfied with oneself, Indian youths are the world's happiest lot with career being their top priority.

Young middle-class Indians are the happiest people of all and much more satisfied with all aspects of their lives compared to other nationalities, according to a new global survey by Swedish research and consulting firm Kairos Future.

Further, work comes as top priority for Indian youth, followed by a good career and higher-status. In contrast, for those in Europe, a good living environment comes on top and above all work-related aspects, Kairos Future said.

The priorities of Indian youth -- work, good career and a position with high status, are reflected in their values such as endurance and entrepreneurship.

"Indian youth are also strikingly more optimistic about their own future and also about the future of society. The general picture in other countries is that young people tend to be personal optimists but societal pessimists," according to Kairos Future Group CEO and founder Mats Lindgren.

However, the study found that even though family is a strong focal point in an Indian society, youths here showed little interest in having a family and children of their own.

When asked about what constitutes a good life, many responded that there are many other important aspects than having a family and children, the survey said.

"Indians are focused on their careers and are much more status-oriented than youth in Europe," says the latest survey carried out by Sweden-based Kairos Future, a futures research and consulting firm.

where there's murders happening, there's also some other things going on: Here's a clipping again.
Some diseases are being worked upon after the Monsoon.Normally, in this season, many people fall sick. This year, apparently, there's some change.

Some good news for Amdavadis. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) malaria department has recorded a drastic reduction in malaria cases by 50 per cent between January and September 2007 when compared to same period last year.

Though this is the first phase of mosquito onslaught, authorities are gearing up for the post-monsoon falciparum sting which starts in the last week of September and peaks up in October.

Senior AMC officials say that the drastic 50 per cent drop in malarial cases may be because of a 7 to 13-year natural cycle when diseases like malaria take a drop.

Herd immunity, which means a particular pocket of community developing immunity towards a recurring ailment over a period of time, can be explained as one of the main reasons for this drop. The AMC has, however, stepped up its mosquito surveillance in certain problem areas of the city.

For, health officials believe that last year’s chikunguniya onslaught may have disturbed the immunity of various demographic pockets in the city. "We have increased our surveillance as Falciparum may intensify during its peak period in October," adds a senior AMC health official.

As against 4,848 malarial cases recorded between January and September last year, AMC authorities recorded 2,720 cases this year. Besides, 1,370 cases of Falciparum were recorded during the same time last year which came down to 661 this year.

"We have completed our door-to-door surveys. In all, we have surveyed 14.32 lakh households looking for mosquito hot spots and have recorded 18,902 positive cases," says municipal commissioner I P Gautam. About 2.39 lakh households were surveyed in new west zone while 1.47 lakh were surveyed in west zone.

It is so shocking to find this happening again.....in my country. What's happening to this world?! Here's a clipping from news today.

Call him Delhi's Jack the Ripper or the Hammer Man. He rips but doesn't rape. Neither does he rob. He just kills unsuspecting women in the wee hours of the morning, tears their clothes and disappears into thin air.

A serial killer is on the prowl in the Baljeet Nagar area of West Delhi. Over the last two months he has attacked five women — allegedly with a hammer — leaving at least two dead and another fighting for her life in Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. His last victim, a former nurse called Sudarshana (45), was found dead in her room in Punjabi Basti on Thursday morning.

Police say that the possibility of a psychopath cannot be ruled out though they have registered cases in only two of the assaults.

"Sudarshana was declared brought dead at Deen Dayal Upadhyay hospital. A case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder has been registered at the Anand Parbat police station but the actual cause of death will be known only upon arrival of the autopsy report," said a senior police officer.

Sudarshana's next door neighbour, Pan Kumari, said, "On Thursday morning, we woke up to see that Sudarshana hadn't shut her doors. On stepping inside, we found her dead with only the face covered."

Sudarshana had survived a similar attack on the head a month ago. The police had then claimed that she had fallen off the cot although locals have a different story to tell. "He seems to have accomplished what he had unsuccessfully attempted one month back," Pan Devi said. Police however claimed that Sudarshana's brother had told them that she has been mentally unstable for 17 years.

Surprising but true. It's sunny today. Just when every body is expecting cold winds to start blowing, nature does a U-turn and brings the sun up.

Morning went by with an outing to the park and studies. Now, am back to listening songs, thinking what to eat the next and what to write out here.

Nothing comes up at the mo so I'm going to leave the post right here and shall be back later.
Cheers!

here's something for ya. Enjoy!

As I mentioned to Cab sometime back, I'm in a weird world. The weather is cold, warm, rainy at times, depending on its mood but it doesn't affect mine these days. I feel calm and at peace. I remember you all, even though am not here these days. You know what I do these days?

Since the last one week, I work, study and pray. Going out with friends is of course, included after work at times. Most of the times though, I keep to myself and am still happy. I come back, play my favourite songs, meditate and study. I think meditation helps me to concentrate on the up coming task- the decision about my future.
My mother fears I'm on a saintly road (she fears I will not marry and have a dozen kids ) but I have no such illusions. I believe, such phases often come in our lives where we decide to forget all our worries and just be content with what we have now, today.

Tonight, I went out with two lovely friends of mine to Prinzenpark, a huge area where walking is not just an exercise but also a revelation in itself. The sky was clear and full of stars. The basic intent had been to go to the fest there but it was lost somewhere once we sat in the grass, far away from the fest and stared at the sky.
contentment is the name of the word. Hope all in blogworld is just as at peace as I am, at the moment. Soon the disrupting time would start but I'd rather only focus on now than think of later. The right way to go about, wouldn't you agree?

Have a wonderful weekend! :weekend:

weekend!! You wouldn't frigging believe me if I told ya. I didn't step a toe out of my room. Nope. I didn't. The whole weekend, I was in my room (of course the window is always open for fresh air...brrrrrr- cold!)

And what did I do the whole weekend, cooped up in the room? Tch tch..no dirty thoughts now. I was all alone!! And I was on my comp the whole time, day and night. Watching Indian mythological epics- RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARATA. Didn't feel like writing, reading, doing anything at all. I could have slept long hours but nope. I didn't want to...didn't feel like I wanted sleep!! :O

And you know what? This weekend seems like the most fruitful one to me. I feel so calm and happy inside, the reason, I know not. Was it cos I was watching something which was deeply spiritual? OR was it cos I was in a dreamworld? *Shrugs her shoulders* Who cares? The matter of fact is, I am happy. Even Monday couldn't shower its blues on me. I feel fresh ten times over at the end of the day today. Says something about those mythological stories, doesn't it?

Have a good evening y'all. Meno, am sure you know all about these stories too!

and I'm missing them all!!

Here's a little something about this festival. HAPPY JANMA ASTHAMI TO ALL!

Gokulashtami marks the celebration of the birth of Bhagavan Sri Krishna. Lord Sri Krishna was born on the 'Rohini' nakshatram (star) on Ashtami day. This festival is also known as Sri Krishna Jayanti and Janmashtami. The actual day of celebration can be on two different days as the star 'Rohini' and Ashtami may not be on the same day. This occurs between August and September on the Christian calendar.

Krishna Jayanthi is also called as Janma Ashtami day, Gokula Ashtami and Sri Jayanthi.The birthday of Krishna, who was born to King Vasudeva and Devaki Devi is celebrated as a festival on the eighth day of the dark fortnight in the month of Sravana, which corresponds to the English month of August-September. Therefore Gokuashtami means Gokul - Krishna and Ashtami - eight.

Sri Krishna is Lord Vishnu's eighth avatar (incarnation) on earth. He is considered to be the Lord's most glorious incarnations. Even saying and remembering His name brings joy because Sri Krishna himself was a manifestation of joy at all levels and in all walks of life. No other God in the Hindu pantheon, or for that matter in any other religion, is associated with so many romantic tales and so fully radiating with all the divine attributes as Sri Krishna.

Since Sri Krishna lived in luxury throughout his life, Sri Krishna Jayanti is celebrated with pomp and splendor. Plenty of sweets are made. Among these are laddus (yellu oonde), chakli, cheedai, payasam (kheer), and so on. In addition, plenty of milk products especially butter, which was Sri Krishna's favorite childhood food, are given in offerings. A wide variety of fruits are also offered. The most common sweets made laddus and payasam.

Great indeed are his many Leelas and the way in which he charms one and all. Several sages and seers have paid homage to him. Narada, Sri Kulashekara Azhwar, Andal, Tirumangai Azhawar, Nammazhwar have sung glorious verses in praise of Lord Krishna who embodies Shudda Satvam. The Bhagavad Gita coming from the Lord is the absolute truth which has withstood the test of time and has formed the basis and inspiration for many Acharyas and Azhwars.

The life and message of Sri Krishna is the most stirring saga of one of the greatest saviours and propounders of Dharma. Born in the dungeons of Kansa who was out to kill him at the very moment of his birth, Sri Krishna's life is replete with many such mortal dangers which he successfully triumphs over. He was the unchallenged hero of his times both in terms of his bodily prowess and his intellectual brilliance.

Sri Krishna Jayanti, therefore, signifies not merely the birth of a great and Divine Teacher of mankind in some distant past but the lighting of the spark of the Divine Power in every one of us, which spurs us on to play our dynamic part in this world of practical and hard realities with a sense of high spiritual purpose. Krishna represents the total power of attraction (Aakarshna Shakti) like a magnet of infinite rise. Hence Krishna is the source of joy.

The cultural aspects are represented by the traditionally dressed devotees. The raas or dance is also done with devotees taking part with spiritual fervor. Sri Krishna who manifests all levels of joy, is also the source of spiritual joy, which overrides mental or emotional joy, just as emotional joy overrides physical joy. If all the three are integrated and interdependent, then the observance of the festival takes on the full meaning of Sri Krishnaarpanamastu - let everything be offered to Sri Krishna.

Aren't they simply awesome!!! My favouritest ever!!

Thank you all for your warm and kind wishes for the weekend. I certainly seem to be having a great time this weekend!!

Today, I visited my friend and ex-colleague; Lightwitch. I was delighted to see that she has, at last, found the man who is her ideal partner, cares for her and loves her unconditionally. I am sure the wedding bells will peal soon. More than ever, am happy cos her daughter accepts the man and is ready and willing to take him as her father. She meets her own father but has been disappointed in him too often. It shall be good riddance indeed with that man, who has so broken and hurt these two women over the last few years.

Lightwitch took me for a walk into Luneburger Heide. Delightful area, quiet and peaceful. We took a long walk, despite my stupid high heeled sandals (and then I ask myself "why do my feet hurt!"-silly)and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Took a lot of pictures of snails and beetles and caterpillars who are waiting to turn into butterflies as time passes by- like me, I suppose.

All in all, a great Saturday. Tomorrow will see me studying, helping friends and preparing material for the classes next week, for all my students.
Hope you all dears have a great Sunday tomorrow!

Pssst..am thinking of going to the Church tomorrow morning IF I can wake up on time.