Open up your mind and your potential reaches infinity…

Archive for April, 2011

Dreaming of a Better World


FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Some men see things the way they are and ask:
“Why?”
I dream things that never were, and ask:
“Why not?”
~ George Bernard Shaw


Based on The Code by Tony Burroughs, The Code boldly presents readers with a true, workable solution for the challenges facing our world today.

“I wish people would love everybody else the way they love me. It would be a better world.”
~Muhammad Ali

“You are the people who are shaping a better world. One of the secrets of inner peace is the practice of compassion.”
~Dalai Lama (1935 -)

“You can find Calcutta anywhere in the world. You only need two eyes to see. Everywhere in the world there are people that are not loved, people that are not wanted nor desired, people that no one will help, people that are pushed away or forgotten. And this is the greatest poverty.“
~Mother Teresa

BOTTOM LINE:
“You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end each of us must work for his or her own improvement, and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.”
~Marie Curie

Category:

Earth, International, Music, Social Issues

My Favourite Foods–Speak for Themselves !( Health Blog)


APPLE:
One of me(an apple) a day ,
keeps the doctor away.

Apples contain flavonoids, antioxidants that improve immune function and prevent heart disease and some cancers.

AVOCADOS
Aww kudos to me!

Nutritionally the avocado leads all other fruits in beta carotene. While other fruits gain sugar as they ripen, the avocado’s sugar content decreases as it matures. It contains more protein, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, vitamin E, and vitamin K per ounce than any other fruit. Lowers cholesterol levels.

BEETS
Am a Beet who no one can beat!

Beets, also known as beetroot, are high in potassium, folacin, and fiber, yet low in calories. Their edible leaves offer protein, calcium, fiber, beta carotene, vitamins A and C, and some B vitamins. They’re known in the arena of natural healing for their ability to purify the blood and the liver.

BROCCOLI
Call me brr rockly !

Broccoli is the superhero of the vegetable kingdom with its rich vitamin A content–notice broccoli’s dark green color as an indicator of its hearty carotene content. Though a bit on the bitter side, broccoli leaves are completely edible and also contain generous amounts of vitamin A. Rich in Calcium.

CABBAGE
Wanna capp your age at sweet sixteen—love me!

In its raw state, cabbage contains iron, calcium, and potassium. High marks are given for its vitamin C content. Cabbage is also high in vitamins B1, B2, B3, and D. Lengthy cooking tends to lower the nutritional value considerably.
Red cabbage is higher in fiber ,vitamin C, calcium, iron, and potassium than its green cousin.

CASHEWS
Best way to put your cash to use. Spend on me !

Many people avoid cashews because of their high fat content, though they are lower in total fat than almonds, peanuts, pecans, and walnuts. Cashew provide essential fatty acids, B vitamins, fiber, protein, carbohydrate potassium, iron, and zinc. Like other nuts, cashews are high in saturated fat; however, eaten in small quantities cashews are a highly nutritious food.

CORN
Huhh those who ssscorn at me, they must be jealous !

Nutritionally, corn (cooked or raw) is low in fat and calories and provides almost three grams of dietary fiber as well as protein per ear. White corn is deficient in vitamin A, while yellow corn is plentiful. Both offer moderate amounts of folacin and vitamin C, with magnesium and potassium in abundant quantity. Corn, however, is notoriously deficient in lysine and tryptophan, two essential amino acids.

CRANBERRIES
Cranes were more clever and ate me, hence I got the name—Cranberry, now Cranberry.

Today, many women who use natural remedies rely on the juice of the unsweetened cranberry or a powdered cranberry extract formed into a caplet for treatment of urinary tract infections

MANGO
Heyy I am the king of the ring (of the gang of the fruits)…

Revered not only for their exotic sweetness and juicy quality, mangoes are known for their many health blessings. They contain an enzyme similar to papain in papayas, a soothing digestive aid.
In India mangoes are used as blood builders. Because of their high iron content they are suggested for treatment of anemia and are beneficial to women during pregnancy and menstruation. People who suffer from muscle cramps, stress, and heart problems can benefit from the high potassium and magnesium content that also helps those with acidosis.

SWEET POTATO
Yum yum, no wonder Americans confuse me with yams.

The sweet potato deserves to be on the highest perch because it is a nutritional powerhouse with 4 ounces of cooked pulp supplying 2 grams of protein, 3.4 grams of fiber, 24.6 mg of vitamin C, 28 mg of calcium, 22.6 mcg of folic acid, 20 mg of magnesium, 348 mg of potassium, and a whopping 21822 I.U. of vitamin A. That’s mighty impressive for only a half cup serving. The skins, which are completely edible, add even more fiber.

TOMATOES
Oh! They all love me. The French called me “love apples.” And the Germans , “apples of paradise.”

Healthwise, tomatoes are on the “highest perch” because they contain the antioxidant lycopene, noted for its ability to reduce the risk of prostate cancer in men who consume 10 servings a week. Tomatoes also contain vitamin C and carotenoids, beta carotene being one of the most familiar, which are antioxidants. These offer protection from free radicals that cause premature aging, cancer, heart disease, and cataracts. Loaded with antioxidants and high in potassium, tomatoes are one of the healthiest “vegetables” around.

COURTESY: http://www.vegforlife.org/didyou.htm for info source.

Category:

Uncategorized

What a Wonderful World –(of Aurora Borealis


In Alaska, Canada, Norway, Finland or northern Russia, on a clear night, a greenish glow is often seen in the sky, known as the “Northern Lights.”

During magnetic storms, the glow may move southwards, and on occasion it can be seen in much of the US. It often appears as a glow on the horizon, like the glow preceding sunrise, and has therefore become known among scientists as “aurora borealis” (“aurora” for short), Latin for “northern dawn.

To an observer, an aurora is a fascinating spectacle, constantly moving and changing. It usually consists of many near-vertical greenish rays, forming long arcs and curtains, which stretch like ribbons across the sky, often from horizon to horizon.
The location of auroras on Earth is strongly controlled by the Earth’s magnetism.

The aurora is made up of blue, green, and red light. The highest part of the auroral curtain is red, the middle is greenish-white and the lower edge is pink. These color variances are due to the nature of the atmosphere at these different altitudes and the way oxygen emits light.

Ancient Myths:

Ancient Eskimos thought that the aurora was a narrow torch lit pathway for departed souls going to heaven.

Others thought spirits happily playing soccer with a walrus skull caused the aurora.

The elders of Barrow, Alaska recall wielding knives to fend off the aurora in case it tried to carry them away.

To the Iglulik Eskimo, arsharneq or arshät was a powerful spirit who assisted shamans.

The philosopher Seneca wrote of Romans during a rare, red aurora rushing off to save the port of Ostia thinking the town was ablaze.

Indeed, what a wonderful world !

This blog is to honor the Mother Earth in Earth Week( 16-23 April 2011)

Category:

Art, Earth, International, Music, Peace, Science, Social Issues

Guantanamera – The Sandpipers


“Guantanamera” (“girl from Guantánamo”) is perhaps the best known Cuban song and that country’s most noted patriotic song.
The music for the song is regularly attributed to José Fernández Diaz, known as Joseíto Fernández, who claimed to have written it in 1929.
LEGEND: The original lyrics to “Guantanamera,” also written by Diaz, are about a woman from Guantanamo, the quintessential Guantanamera. The story told is about his relationship with that woman, and her eventual departure. These original lyrics are rarely used in the song anymore, although the chorus remains. The story being the chorus, as told by Diaz, is that he was on the street with friends one day and made a pass at a woman who walked by. She was from Guantanamo, and was offended by the pass, responding harshly.
( “guarija guantanamera,” which means peasant-woman from Guantanamo.)

“Guantanamera” by the Sandpipers trio charted in the US in September 1966, and in the UK the following month, and remains the group’s biggest hit. The record sleeve for their 1967 album, Guantanamera, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera,
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera.
Yo soy un hombre sincero,
De don de crece la palma,
Yo soy un hombre sincero,
De don de crece la palma,
Yantes des morirme guiero,
Echar mis versos del alma,
Guantanamera, guajira, guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera.

Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera,
Guantanamera, guajira guantanamera.
I am a sincere man
From where the palm tree grows
And before dying I want
To share the verses of my soul.
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, guantanamera,

Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmin encendido
Mi verso es de un verde claro
Y de un carmin encendido
Mi verso es un ciervo herido
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, guantanamera,

My verse is light green
And it is flaming crimson
My verse is a wounded deer
Who seeks refuge on the mountain (or in the woods).
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera
Guantanamera, guajira, Guantanamera

Category:

CULTURE, International, Music, Peace, Poetry, Women

Nature


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Lofty mountains, reaching the sky
Magnanimous allure,gives a sigh!
Angry geysers vent out steam
Gayful falls dive into the streams

Deep woods, a splendid green
Hauntingly quiet, utterly serene
Butterflies resting in floral laps
Insects whining in Venus fly-traps

Bountiful waves washing ashore
Naughty, playful, screaming a roar
Kissing the sands with frothy jabs
Carrying along snails and crabs.

Category:

Earth, MY POETRY, Personal, Poetry

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.


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Wish we could preserve the beautiful landscapes of our planet Earth the way we received them from God.

Words of Wisdom:

“And this, our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything.”
~ William Shakespeare

“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.”
~ Mohandas K. Gandhi

“There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use.”
~ Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

“We shall require a substantially new manner of thinking if mankind is to survive.”
~Albert Einstein

Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed.
– Francis Bacon,philosopher (1561-1626)

To see a world in a grain of sand, And a heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.
~ William Blake Poet, painter (1757-1827)

Bottom Line:

If the creator had a purpose in equipping us with a neck, he surely meant us to stick it out.(~Arthur Koestler)
Yeah, stick it out against INJUSTICE & ABUSE OF OUR PLANET EARTH.

Category:

Earth, Film, International, Peace, Quotes, Science, Social Issues

What is Pleasure ?


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But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white–then melts forever;
Or like the borealis race,
That flit ere you can point their place;
Or like the rainbow‘s lovely form
Evanishing amid the storm.
~Robert Burns,

A test of what is real is
that it is hard and rough.
Joys are found in it,
not pleasure.
What is pleasure
belongs to dreams.
~Simone Weil

Category:

Poetry, Quotes

Gem Parade…


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Gemstones are mysterious things: naturally formed crystalline, geometric bodies with interesting optical properties. Each crystal has a different structure and composition giving it a unique hue and aura.
They are one of the nature’s most wonderful gifts to us.

Mankind associates different gemstones with significance related to the months of birth. We have even created superstitions associated with these beautiful creations of nature.

Interestingly they do not hold any commercial  fiscal value as the precious metals like Gold, Silver and Platinum. Once a friend of mine who is very fond of jewelery including gold and gemstones had a robbery in her house. The robber broke into the safe and picked only the gold jewelry, cash and even savings certificates while the gemstones were discretely left behind. She was overjoyed she felt it would have been inconsolable if her exotic painstakingly collected gemstones were stolen. 🙂

Here are the birthstones and their symbolic meanings, for fun sake:

Month — Birthstone– Symbolise
January —garnet— Passion & devotion
February– amethyst— Clarity of thought,
March— aquamarine —courage
April —–diamond—— amplify the thoughts
May—— emerald ——fertility & dreams
June-pearl/moonstone—inspiration& receptivity
July—- ruby —heart & love
August peri-dot —prosperity
September– sapphire —peace & happiness,
October– opal/tourmaline- passion &spontaneity
November- topaz/citrine -confidence & strength
December —turquoise/blue topaz— success

Category:

Art, CULTURE, Earth, General, Personal, Women

Just Memories


The grains of time flow
Thro’  the hourglass
Over to the other side
The past sieves through
Out of sight, buried
Beneath the sand of memories.

As I retain not the past
I reminisce not the pain
I revere just their memories.
I miss not the thrills
I frown not at follies
I cherish just their memories.

I preserve not the laughter,
I foster not the agony,
I treasure just their  memories.
I cling not to excitements
I clasp not to regrets
I embrace just their memories.

I nourish not the bitterness
I nurture not the anger
I gather just their memories.
I etch not the differences
I engrave not the grudges
I enshrine just their memories
Time flies, swift and smooth
Seasons change, winds blow
Drifting away, like parachutes
Of the seeds of dandelion.
But all, we can hold onto
Are their stalks,
Of remnant memories.

Yes, just the great memories.

Category:

General, MY POETRY, Poetry

A Veil in the Eyes of Men


As the conservatives and the liberals stay engrossed(for their own reasons) with the banning of Veil in France, I sent in a message to some select non Muslim guys (as they would be more objective) in my friends list to inquire :

What do you think when you see a veiled woman?

( I kept the question open–they could think of the Islamic veil or the Indian veil–it was left to their imagination).

The answers I got in almost 4 hours were fascinating (though qiuite expected). I had heard my own hubby and brothers talk on those lines on occasions…

A veil…

Replies almost instant:

…makes her a mystery that needs to be solved.

…tempts me to find out what lies behind it.

…feels an uncomfortable itch to lift it.

…turns her instantly into a forbidden fruit.

Within 4 hours :

…makes my eyes acquire an X ray wavelength to pierce through the barrier.

…makes all my five senses alert.

…highlights the deep, dark, beautiful eyes and wants to know what else?

…makes her a magnet and me an iron file.

…makes her more sought after.

…makes her look ugly.

…makes my mind join the dots that the eyes could see behind the black screen and make a complete picture.

…makes me give them a second and a third look.

…makes me feel sorry for them.

Two of my friends replied much later”

…There is nothing to see and think about a veiled woman.

…I dont judge her. Its entirely her choice and her culture which needs to be respected.

Looking at the earlier posts, makes me scratch my head: “Is this for which one is told to wear a veil ?”
The following words came about…

A Veil

A Worthless cover
Envelopes me
An illusion
‘Safeguard’.

Exposed, I am
Screaming ‘mystery’
Pitched out there
As tempting
As a Forbidden fruit

A meaningless veil
Feeble and frail,
Nothing it sheilds
But takes off from me,
Who really am I.


Context: The ‘hot’ discussion on Veil ban in France is currently on…

Category:

CULTURE, General, India, Indo-Pak, International, Islam, Pakistan, Personal