Deo Juvante

¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
……..|___|… ……..|___|…
……..|000|… ……..|000|…
……..|000|… ……..|000|…
……..|000|… ……..|000|…
……..|000|… ……..|000|…
………0/…. ………0/…. CHEERS
………./….. ………./….. TO
………..||…… ………..||…… OUR
………..||…… ………..||…… FRIENDSHIP!
………..||…… ………..||……
………_||_…. ………_||_….
.¸.•*¨)¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´…¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨) ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` * ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸

Software engineer

A Junior Software engineer, a Senior Software engineer and their Project Manager r on their way to a meeting. On their way through a park, they come across a wonder lamp. They rub the lamp and a ghost appears. The ghost says, “Normally, 1 is granted 3 wishes but as you are 3, I will allow 1 wish each”.

So the eager Junior Software engineer shouted, I want the 1st wish. I want to be in the Bahamas, on a fast boat and have no worries. “Pfuffff” and he was gone.

Now the Senior Software engineer could not keep quiet and shouted ” I want to be in Florida with beautiful girls, plenty of food and cocktails. “Pfuffff” and he was also gone.

The Project Manager calmly said,” I want these 2 idiots back in the office after lunch at 1.30pm”

Moral: Always allow the boss 2 speek 1st………

Humm…

““´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¶´´´´´´Sweet
´´´´´¶¶¶¢¢¢¢¶¶¶´´´´´
´´´´1¶¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¶¶´´´´´
´´´´¶¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶1´´´´´Caring
´´´´¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶¶´´´´´
´´´¶¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶´´´´´
´´1¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢1´´´´´´Naughty
´´7¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶¶¶´´´´
´´´¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶¶´´´
´´¶¶¶¶¶¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶¶´´´KOOL
´1¶¶¶´´¶¶¢¢¢¢¢¶¶´´´´
´¶¶¶´´´´¶¶¢¢¢¢¶7´´´´
7¶¢¢1´´´´¶¢¢¢¢¶´´´´´Inteligent
´¶¶¶¶¶¶¶¢¢¢¢1¶¢´´´´´
´´´´´´1¢¢¢¢¢¢¶7´´´´´
´´´´´¢¢¢1111¢¶´´´´´´Loving
´´´´¶¶¢¢1111¶¶´´´´´´
´´´1¶¢111111¶´´´´´´´
´´´´¶¢111111¶´´´´´´´Loyal
´´´´¶¢111111¶´´´´´´´
´´´´1¶111111¶´´´´´´´
´´´´´¶¢1111¢¶´´´´´´´Reliable
´´´´´´¶1111¶¢´´´´´´´
´´´´´´¶1111¶´´´´´´´´
´´´´´´¶¢111¶7´´´´´´´Freaky
´´´´´´¶1111¶¢´´´´´´´
´´´´´1¶¢111¢¶´´´´´´´
´´´´´¶¢1111¢¶´´´´´´´Humuorus
´´´´¢¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢´´´´´´´
´´´´¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶´´´´´´´
´´´´¶¢¢¢¢¢¢¢¶´´´´´´´Dpendble
´´´´¢¶¢¶1¶¶¢¶¶´´´´´´
´´´´´¶¢¶´´¶¶¢¶´´´´´´
´´´´´¶¢¶´´´¶¢¶¢´´´´´Sweet
´´´´´¶¢¶7´´1¶¶¶´´´´´
´´´´´¶¢¶1´´´1¶¶¶´´´´
´´´7¶¶¢¶¶´´´´¶¢¶¶´´´Beautiful
´´´´¶¶¢¢¶´´´¶¶¢¢¶¶´´
´´´´¶¶¢¶¶¶7´´¶¶¢¢¶¶7

Aisi Apni Wife ho…

Aisi Apni Wife ho………. …

5′5″ jiski height ho

Jeans jiski tight ho

Chehra jiska bright ho

Weight mein thori light Ho

Umer mein difference slight ho

Thori see wo quiet ho

To memorable her ek night ho

Aise apni Wife ho…………………….

Sadak per sab kahe: kya cute ho

Bhir me sab kahe: side ho, side ho

India ki paidaish ho

Saas ki khidmat jiski khwahish ho

Beauty multiply by Twice ho

Mummy Papa ki choice ho

Aisi apni Wife ho…………………….

Padosi jab baat kare tu

Haath me uskay knife ho

Dinner candle light ho

To Delicious har ek Bite ho

Dono mein na kabhi fight ho

Milne ke baad dil delight ho…

Ankhain uski jaisay…surya Tube light ho!

Honton ko dekh ker lagay…jaisay coke diet ho

Jab saari pehn ke niklay tu kya sight ho

Aisa lagay jaisay Switzerland ki flight ho

Favorite colour white ho

Make-up thora light ho

Zulfain Dynamite ho…

Basant mein jaisay ur rahi koi kite ho !

Yeh kavita padhke sab kahain “Praveen! tum right ho”

Aise apni Wife ho………………………………….

Kaash yeh concept 100 % right ho

Agar aisi apni wife ho

To kya haseen life ho

Batoon mein garmaish ho

Har kisi ki yahi farmaish ho

Bhagwan ki bhi aazmaish ho

Khuda ke software mein bhi,

Bug ki na gunjaish ho

Defense ki rehaaish ho

Driving main Right ho

Phir Very Long Drive ho

Kisi ki bhi na look-a-like ho

Aey kaash, kahin to ek aisi paidaish ho

Aisi apni wife ho……

Aisi apni wife ho………

Yadi koi ho to btana!

footprints in life

(….)…. 0ooo
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
.oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
.oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..
.oooO
(….)…. Oooo….
.\..(…..(…..)…
..\_)….. )../….
………. (_/…..

a lot of people will walk in n out of ur LIFE …..
but only true FRNDs will leave footprints in ur HEART

दोस्ती

एक मुलाक़ात करो हमसे इनायत समझकर,
हर चीज़ का हिसाब देंगे क़यामत समझकर,
मेरी दोस्ती पे कभी शक ना करना,
हम दोस्ती भी करते है इबादत समझकर………

AN INTRESTING FACT

If
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

is equal to

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

Then,

Hard Work
H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

Knowledge
K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

Love
L+O+V+E
12+15+22+5 = 54%

Luck
L+U+C+K
12+21+3+11 = 47%

most of us think this is the most important ??? )

Then what makes 100% ?

Is it Money ? .. NO ! ! !
M+O+N+E+Y
13+15+14+5+25 = 72%

Leadership ? …. NO ! ! !
L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P
12+5+1+4+5+18+19+9+16 = 89%

Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our attitude.

To go to the top,
to that 100% ,

what we really need to go further… a bit more…

ATTITUDE
A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E
1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

It is OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes OUR Life 100% ! !

बेटियाँ

ओस की बूंदों सी होती हैं बेटियाँ !
खुरदरा हो स्पर्श तो रोती हैं बेटियाँ !!
रौशन करेगा बेटा बस एक ही वंश को !
दो – दो कुलों की लाज ढोतीं हैं बेटियाँ !!
कोई नहीं है दोस्तों एक दुसरे से कम !
हीरा अगर है बेटा तो मोती है बेटियाँ !!
काँटों की राह पर खुद चलती रहेंगी !
औरों के लिए फूल ही बोती हैं बेटियाँ !!
विधि का है विधान या दुनिया की है रीत !
क्यों सबके लिए भार होती हैं बेटियाँ !!
धिक्कार है उन्हें जिन्हें बेटी बुरी लगे !
सबके लिए बस प्यार ही संजोती है बेटियाँ !!

Diffrence between Dream and Aim

there is only 1 difference between DREAM n AIM,
Dream requires Effortless SLEEP where as AIM requires SLEEPLESS Efforts.
so sleep 4 DREAM and wake up 4 ur AIM.

ladder

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Twitter confirms major cash boost

Social networking website Twitter has confirmed that it has closed a “significant round of funding”.

Co-founder Evan Williams said in a blog post that the site had secured money from five investment firms.

However, he did not confirm earlier reports that suggested the firm had managed to secure $100 million (£62m), which would value the firm at $1bn.

The site, which allows users to write and share 140-character messages, has more than 45 million users worldwide.

The site had previously raised $35m in February in a deal that valued the business then at $255m.

“It was important to us that we find investment partners who share our vision for building a company of enduring value,” wrote Mr Williams.

“Twitter’s journey has just begun.”

Industry watchers have pointed out that the firm still has no way of making money.

However, earlier this month the site revised its terms and conditions to allow advertising on its service.

“We leave the door open for advertising. We’d like to keep our options open,” wrote co-founder Biz Stone in a blog.

The new funding has come from new investors Insight Venture Partners and T Rowe Price, as well as existing backers Institutional Venture Partners, Spark Capital and Benchmark Capital.

————-
Source: BBC

The Send\Receive problem!

“What Crap!!”……. was lying on my bed on a Saturday morning.
‘Who is banging on the door on a Saturday morning’, I mused.

I stood up… rubbing my eyes… walked up to the door… opened it…
“Hello”
I looked down… and saw a short old lady standing at my door smiling at me…
I tried my best to respond in a same tone… “Hi”… with a forced smile…

“Son, I stay in the apartment right above yours. I wanted to discuss with
you something…”… I guess I heard this only … was too sleepy to pay
attention…
Still… I replied, “ok…”

“Can I come inside…?” she asked
“Yep… sure…” I led her to the drawing room which was obviously – messed up
(being a bachelor’s apartment).

She looked at the sofa… bent a bit… held the side of the sofa… other hand
on the seat… her legs and arms trembling… and she finally bent further and
sat down..

Well… that for sure opened my eyes…

“Son, I am an old woman, so I am sorry if I am bothering you at this time
of the day.” she smiled.
“No problems aunty. Please tell me”, I said
“Son, I came to know from neighbor that you work in some computer related
stuff. I was having a problem in sending an e-mail. I am new to this. I
have never worked in this thing. So I thought, if you can help me”, said
the old woman smiling…

‘What is it? The production support which I do in my company was already on
my nerves. And now this lady comes at this time of the day and asks to
repair her computer. Sending a Mail!!!!!!…’ I mused

“Sure”… ‘I don’t have an option’… latter half was not audible…. I hope…

I went back to bedroom… pulled my towel underneath the pile of clothes…
cursing my fate… went to bathroom… washed my face… came out… and what I
see…
Her smiling face…!!!
“Lets go aunty”, I said…

The alley outside my apartment was not broad enough… and her baby steps
assured that I walk the snail’s speed till I get bored to death…

“It is such a beautiful morning… Sun’s out… cool breeze… perfect time to go
and do some jogging… … …” she went on… every statement of hers was followed
by ‘yaa’ from my side…

Anyway… we reached…
I entered…
It was silent…
… I heard something… I guess it was my heartbeat…
I heard her breathing…

She looked at my feet and said “You can take out your slippers over there…”

‘Hmm… cleanliness freak!!’

I took out my slippers… went inside.
It was one of the most beautiful drawing rooms I have ever seen.
“Nobody at home?” I asked her

“I live alone, son”, smiled the old woman.

‘Alone, it was so difficult for me to believe that. This old lady who even
found it difficult to sit on a sofa… had such a beautiful drawing room.’

“There it is, my headache”, she pointed towards the laptop on the desk.

‘Koool….. log in… send a mail for her… and run back to bed…’

I switched on the laptop… asked her the login id and pass and opened the
outlook…

“Well … my son bought me this laptop. He is such a sweet boy…”, she smiled
I smiled back… concentrating on the screen.

“He came … gave me the laptop… connected everything for me… the internet… I
don’t know what it does… how it helps… but he told me using internet I can
see the world… he taught me how to send the mail… how to receive it… how to
make an email… how to start the computer… how to shut the computer down…”….
Second round…!! she went on and on…
I smiled back…

“So what is the problem, aunty”, I said pointing towards outlook.

She looked at the screen. Her eyes almost closed with the radiations from
the pc.
“I … I used to send mail…”….
“I don’t know where I can find the mail which I sent….” she said

“In the Sent mails probably…”, I replied…

“Ahhh… Where’s that…??” she asked…

I took the mouse from her… “Give it to me aunty!!”

I went to Sent Items and showed her the sent mails.

“Aunty, are these the ones you sent?” I asked

She touched the screen…. clapped her hands in jubilation… “ohh yesss….
wonderful…. here they are…!!!…. they got stuck here… that’s why they did
not reach him” , she smiled as a child.

I was confused but I guess I understood her ignorance.

“Aunty, If you see the mails in this folder which is ‘Sent Items’, this
means… that the mails have been sent.”, I said.

“Ohh… You mean… the mails are already sent to him!!” she asked

I saw the screen. Saw the name to which the mail was sent.
“Ya… Aunty, The mail has been sent to Ashwin Tyagi”…”Who he is?” I asked.

“He is my sweeet son… I call him Ashu”, she smiled.

“Hmm…”
“Aunty, Why did you think that the mail was not sent?” I asked.

“Son, Ashu told me that if we click on the receive button, we receive
emails. So I used to send a mail. Then I used to click on Receive. And I
used to find no e-mail. I again used to send one. I clicked on receive. I
found no e-mail. I have been doing this past 5 months. I guess you are
mistaken. There is surely some problem”, she said.

My heart skipped a beat.
5 months!!

I opened the Sent Items again.
My sleepy eyes missed the long list of e-mails sent to Ashwin when I saw it
the first time.

‘Beta Ashu…. How are you…? I hope you are fine. I am missing you so much.
Come home some time.’
‘Beta Ashu… did you get my previous mail? I did not get your reply…’
‘Beta Ashu… I understand you will be busy with your work… don’t worry…
reply whenever you are free’
‘Beta Ashu… I thought I will mail you… I am doing good… I have made kheer
for you. Do come’
‘Beta Ashu… yesterday I had some pain in my neck… now it is fine… I applied
jhandu balm.’
……
….
…
List was endless…
And painful
Was it the radiation from pc or was it something else in my eyes…!!

Last email with the same ID was –
‘This is the test mail’

Swallowing what I saw, “Aunty”, opening the last mail, “Who sent this
mail?”

“Ohh… this mail was sent by Ashu only to show me how to send the mail”,
smiled the old woman.
I did not know how to react… when she spoke
“I know there is some problem with the computer. I am sure. He called me a
month back. He was in a meeting. So I could not ask him”
“He works for a big company…. Earns a lot now. I am so proud of him”, she
smiled.

I did not want to. But I did say – “You should be aunty…”

“Yess…” she said with her charismatic smile … “He is such a grown up now…
so responsible… he is married to a beautiful girl who used to be his
classmate. Now he has one boy and one girl…” she smiled and said like a
child…
“Both used to work out of town, so they shifted over there 3 years back. He
used to call me earlier, but then he got busy… so we could not talk much.
My ears started giving me some problem and I was not able to listen to him
on phone, so he gave me this laptop.” she said.

I was still… I was listening to her… and was watching her smile which was
excited by the thought of her son.

“So, can you fix this son?” she asked
I did not want to say that it is working fine.
I didn’t have an answer better than this – “Aunty, I guess, the send button
is working fine but the receive button is not working. So Ashu is getting
your mail but he does not know that you are not getting his mail. But I
don’t know how to fix it.”

“ohh…”, she looked a bit sad.

I was silent.
All I could do.

“…. Can you do me one more favor?” she asked

“Sure aunty… sure”, I said. If I could do anything today for her!!

“It is very irritating for me to type. Hitting those buttons! It takes me
ages to find the characters. If Send thing is working, I want to send one
last mail to my son. Can you type one last mail for me?”, she smiled.

I had no option. Yet again. But this time I guess I wanted to do it. I
wanted to relieve her from this expectation of receiving a mail.

“Sure aunty, tell me what should I type”, I opened a new mail.

“Type…”
“Beta Ashu… This is my neighbor typing from my pc…”
“There seemed to be some problem in sending mails. So I called him to help
me.”
“He also works for a big company like you.”
“He found the problem but he does not know how to fix it.”
“The problem is that send button is working fine… but the receive button is
not working. Hence, I am not able to receive your mails when I click on the
receive button.”
“Beta, it has been 5 months. Please come and meet me. I am missing you so
much.”
“I do not want this laptop. I do not want to see the world in internet.”
“I want to see you.”
“Come home.”

“Your mother…”

I typed the last words…
I gasped and turned towards her…
I guess I saw tears in her eyes … with the same smile…

She wiped her eyes… smiled “Yess….please send the mail”

I clicked on send.

She stood up. Turned around. Went to the bedroom.
I guess I heard her crying.

I felt lonely…

She came. Hurried towards the kitchen.

“Do you love kheer??” she asked.
I smiled… with the tears which just didn’t go “Yes aunty…”

From the refrigerator she took out the bowl and gave it to me.
“Have this. I made it with my own hands…” she smiled.

I took the bowl from her. And I saw my hands were trembling.

“Thanks Aunty… Thanks a lot”, I said.

“Thank you Beta. I am so sorry… that I disturbed you this morning” she
said.

A ‘tear-let’ fell from my eyes. But I guess I did well in hiding it.

“No Aunty… Please don’t say so… do let me know whenever you need me”, I
said.
“Thanks beta”, she said.

I put on my slippers. Went outside. “Bye Aunty”, I said.
“Bye Beta”, I saw the last look on her face which saw the loneliness that
was going to come.

She closed the door.
I stopped at the stairs.
I cried for the lady who “sent” her love many a times… but did not
“receive” anything in return…
I really must say there will be many moms who must be having the same
situation as mentioned here.
Lets not forget the person who loves us more than we love ourselves…..

Panjika (The Vedic Calendar)

The Panjika (almanac) is a book of dates, lunar days, auspicious and
inauspicious times, positions of the sun, moon, planets and stars,
horoscope, days of various festivals and religious occasions, etc. In
ancient Sanskrit literature and in many regions of India, it is called
Panchanga or five sections, because it contains information primarily on
five aspects of life: days, lunar days, stars, conjunction of stars and
action. In Bengal and Bangladesh it is well known as Panjika.

From the beginning of civilisation, people thought about the passage of
time and tried to calculate it; hence, at different places people
derived different ways of dividing time into year, month, day and dates.
Gradually, the need arose to determine the time of different religious
rites and social festivals and functions, and almanacs started serving
this purpose also.

In different countries, different methods have been used for calculating
time. As the rsis (hermit-scholars) of the Vedic Age used different
seasons to celebrate different festivals, calculation of the seasons was
very important to them. Accordingly, they divided the year into the
summer and winter solstices. When the sun travelled towards the north,
it was the summer solstice; when it travelled towards the south, it was
the winter solstice. Ancient scholars divided the year into twelve
parts: Tapah, Tapasya, Madhu, Madhav, Shukra, Shuchi, Nabhas, Nabhasya,
Is, Urja, Sahas and Sahasya. Tapah to Suchi formed the summer solstice
and Nabhas to Sahasya the winter solstice. This kind of calculation
continued to be used till 1500 BC. The mention of Falguni (spring) full
moon in Vedic literature suggests that lunar months were also calculated
at that time. However, at that time, only the new moon, the full moon
and the eighth lunar day were calculated.

With the passage of time, more scientific Panjika was evolved. Around
1,000 BC, this type of almanac started its year with the summer solstice
and contained twelve months. In this, 30 lunar days and 27 stars were
counted. A period of five years was counted as an age and the days would
be recalculated at that time. Calculations were not always very
accurate; on an average, one lunar day for every star was counted and
sometimes a lunar day would be dropped from the calculation. For almost
1,500 years, this kind of almanac was used for the calculation of time
and for religious and social occasions.

The almanac was greatly improved around the 4th and 5th centuries AD,
when finer methods of calculations were adopted. Some of the people who
played a leading role in this were Arya Bhatta, Varaha Mihir, and Brahma
Gupta. They based the calculation of time on astrology and added the
position of stars and planets, their movements, auspicious/inauspicious
times, lunar days etc to the almanac. It became very convenient to
gather astrological and astronomical information from the almanac.

Surya Siddhanta was regarded as a complete book of astrology. It is
regarded as the father of modern almanacs and subsequently time
calculations were done on its basis. Scholars used to copy almanacs on
palm leaves and carry them to rural areas. Times for worship and other
religious and social festivities were fixed on the basis of such
information.

In Bangladeshi almanacs, on the left-hand side of every page the
position of the moon in the zodiac is written in words; e.g., on the
above page, is written chandro kanyayang (the moon is in Virgo). The
positions of the different planets in the zodiac are shown through
mathematical calculations. It may be noted that before the Surya
Siddhanta, the daily positions of stars and planets were not written on
the almanac.

The Bangla Panjika has an ancient history, with the earliest perhaps
being the Navadvip Panjika, edited by the renowned Smriti scholar
Raghunandan. Others who prepared Panjika include Ramrudra Vidyanidhi
(18th century) and Biswambhar Jyotisharnabha. For some time the
calculations ceased. However, during British rule, due to the efforts of
a collector of Krishnanagar, Biswambhar again began the work of
publishing the Panjika. At that time it used to be written down in the
form of Puthi, but from 1869 it started being printed. From 1890,
Bishudha Siddhanta Panjika began to be published. The last official
revision of the Panjika was done in 1952 under the aegis of the Indian
government. Under the chairmanship of the famous scientist Meghnad Saha,
a Calendar Reform Committee was set up which reviewed the existing
almanacs and recommended certain reforms. At its recommendation, the
publication of the Panjika was brought under the purview of the
government and from 1957, almanacs are being published by the Indian
government. At present it is published in twelve languages and contains
the year, month and day of the Bangla, Hijri, and Gregorian calendars.

One of the most important modifications of the Panjika to the Bangla
calendar was that initiated by the Bangla Academy. According to the
traditional method of calculation of time, it was not possible to
predict the exact number of days in a month. Sometimes a month would
have 29 days and sometimes 32 days. This appeared to be the main
impediment to the acceptance of the Bangla calendar in all walks of
life. To resolve this problem, a reform committee was set up in 1963 by
the Bangla Academy with Muhammad Shahidullah at its head. According to
its proposal, the first five months of the year were to be of 31 days
each and the next seven months of 30 days. Since 1988, the government,
in accordance with the Shahidullah Committee’s method of calculation,
started using in official papers Bangla dates alongside Gregorian dates.
That same year, the Bangla Academy set up a committee of experts to make
the Bangla calendar parallel to the Gregorian calendar and remove all
errors. In 1995, a ‘task force’ was set up by the Cultural Ministry to
develop the calendar and it gave the following recommendations:

In keeping with the Shahidullah Committee’s recommendations, the months
from Baishakh to Bhadra would be of 31 days each and those from Asvin to
Chaitra of 30 days. During the Gregorian leap year, the Bangla year will
also be considered a leap year and Falgun will consist of 31 days.

In the Panjika, the lunar days are of great significance and a full
lunar month is of 29.5 days, i.e., 29 days, 12 hrs 43 minutes 12
seconds. The moon travels 360o in 29.5 days, so in one day it covers
360o 29.5 = 12.20o. This implies that on the second day, the moon will
be 12.20o above the western horizon. While setting, the moon takes 4
minutes to cover 1o. Thus, to cover 12.20o it needs 12.20 4 = 48.80
minutes, or at the most 50.52 or 51 minutes. So, on the first day, the
moon cannot be seen on the western sky for more than 51 minutes.
Scholars believe that if the above scientific method of calculation is
followed then the calculation of religious festivals depending on the
moon would become easier.

————
- written by A. R. Howlader

Gambhir hits ton

Gautam Gambhir and a dead Ahmedabad pitch took Sri Lanka’s dream of a first Test win in India a session closer to its death. Gambhir played out 93 deliveries for 31 runs in the first session, looking entirely at home in the role of saving a Test, going through score-less spells, and not letting it affect his mind. Four of his seven centuries – and all of his last three – have now come in the second innings, two of them in match-saving scenarios. He now averages 62.52 in the second innings, as opposed to a 55.27 overall.

Train derailed in india

Maoist rebels in India have blown up a railway track, leading to the derailment of a passenger train in the eastern state of Jharkhand, police say.

At least two people were killed and 47 others injured in the incident, which happened near Ghaghra station.

Rebels are fighting for communist rule in a number of Indian states. They have a presence in more than 223 of India’s 600-odd districts across 20 states.

More than 6,000 people have died during the rebels’ 20-year fight.

Eight coaches of the passenger train plying between Tatanagar and Bilaspur derailed after the rebels blew up a portion of the railway track near Ghaghra halt station in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, police said.

“Maoists blew up a portion of the track that caused the derailment. Three coaches have been badly damaged,” federal railway minister Mamata Banerjee said.

Ms Banerjee said two passengers travelling on the train had died after the coaches derailed. Six others were trapped in the coaches, she added.

The rebels set off several explosions near the tracks after the incident to prevent rescue workers from reaching the site, the railway minister said.

Rescue workers have reached the site and are trying to bring out the passengers who are trapped, a senior police official said.

Biggest threat

The incident happened at the same time as the rebels called for a 24-hour strike in Jharkhand. They are demanding that a rebel who was arrested recently by the police should be presented in court immediately.
There has been a surge in Maoist violence in recent months

Last week, the rebels abducted a former legislator in Jharkhand, and later released him.

Ramchandra Singh was canvassing for the forthcoming state assembly elections. Polls are to be held in five phases between 27 November and 18 December.

Police say they are unclear about the reasons behind Mr Singh’s abduction and subsequent release.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described the Maoist insurgency as the single largest threat to the country.

The rebels say they are fighting for communist rule and the rights of the poor peasants and landless.

There has been a surge in Maoist violence in recent months – the rebels have kidnapped and killed policemen, help up an express train, attacked police stations, and blown up railway lines and communication links in affected states.

Children cost Indian man his job

A 50-year-old population control law has been invoked in the Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) to dismiss an official from a housing society board.

V Devdas was asked to step down from the Oberoi Gardens Co-operative Housing Society for having a third child.

His successor as secretary said rivals in the housing society had complained about Mr Devdas after a disagreement.

The 1960 law bars public office holders from having more than two children. It can only be invoked after a complaint.

The law is meant to set an example to the general public, but experts say it has rarely been used to disqualify anyone.

India is the second most populated country in the world after China and officials have been grappling with ways to curb population growth.

Rahul hits century

Rahul Dravid’s 27th century – and tenth 150-plus score – carried more intent than probably any of his Test innings, and helped by MS Dhoni’s second century and Yuvraj Singh’s seventh half-century, led India’s remarkable comeback from 32 for 4 in the first half hour. Along the way, he took part in his 77th and 78th 100-run partnerships (both world records), scored more runs than he ever has in a day’s play, crossed Steve Waugh to become the fifth-highest run-getter in Tests, reached 11,000 career runs, and most importantly undid the superb start that two rookies gave Sri Lanka. Chanaka Welegedara and Dammika Prasad were last-minute replacements for Nuwan Kulasekara and Thilan Thushara, but they combined to give India flashbacks of their previous Test in Ahmedabad, when they were shot out for 76 by South Africa.

Water on moon

A camera on the probe shows the ejecta plume about 20 seconds after impact

Nasa’s experiment last month to find water on the Moon was a major success, US scientists have announced.

The space agency smashed a rocket and a probe into a large crater at the lunar south pole, hoping to kick up ice.

Scientists who have studied the data now say instruments trained on the impact plume saw copious quantities of water-ice and water vapour.

One researcher described this as the equivalent of “a dozen two-gallon buckets” of water.

“We didn’t just find a little bit; we found a significant amount,” said Anthony Colaprete, chief scientist for the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) mission.

High winds forecast as storms hit in UK

Winds of up to 80mph (129km/h) are forecast to hit Wales and southern England after storms caused flooding and damage in parts of Britain.

Fire services have been dealing with localised floods and car rescues, and weather and flood warnings remain in place in many parts of the country.

Trees and power lines have been brought down in Somerset, which has been battered by high winds and heavy rain.

The Met Office predicts calmer weather on Sunday ahead of more storms.

In Somerset, severe weather warnings have been issued and the Environment Agency has put flood warnings in place on the River Parrett and River Isle.