10 minutes by Ahmed Imamovic - Short Film-Europe

Now, which world do you live in?
The comfortable one, or the deprived one, the ignored one, the oblivious one, the obnoxious one, or..or..the loving one..or the responsible one??

Benares AKA Varanasi

Varanasi वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, also commonly known as Benares or Banaras (Hindi: बनारस, Urdu: بنارس, Banāras and Kashi (Hindi: काशी Kāśī, is a city situated on the banks of the river Ganga (Ganges) in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, regarded holy by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, and one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world.

The culture of Varanasi is closely associated with the river Ganges and the river's religious importance. The city has been a cultural and religious centre in northern India for several thousand years. A particular style of classical Hindustani music developed in Varanasi centuries ago, and many prominent Indian philosophers, poets, writers, and musicians resided or reside in Varanasi, including Kabir, Ravi Das, Munshi Premchand, Jaishankar Prasad, Acharya Ram Chandra Shukla, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Hariprasad Chaurasia, and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Tulsidas wrote his Ramcharitmanas there, and Gautam Buddha gave his first sermon at Sarnath near Kashi. Ayurveda is said to have originated at Varanasi.

Varanasi is the home of Banaras Hindu University. Residents mainly speak Kashika Bhojpuri, which is closely related to the Hindi language. People often refer to Varanasi as "the city of temples", "the holy city of India", "the religious capital of India", "the city of lights", "the city of learning" and the "culture capital of India".
Video Courtesy vladamikulec on Youtube.

Honey Bee Mystery

Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute

Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute is committed to increasing citizen involvement in decisions that affect our region's environment through community organizing and education.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute (PCEI) is to increase citizen involvement in decisions that affect our region’s environment. Through community organizing and education, PCEI assists members of our communities in making environmentally sound and economically viable decisions that promote a sustainable future.

Primary Goals

• To promote the ecological health and social welfare of the Palouse-Clearwater region.
• To actively participate in the conservation, preservation, and restoration of environmentally sensitive lands, natural areas, and unique ecosystems.
• To provide forums for the free exchange of views in matters of concern to the public.
• To inform and educate the public on issues of importance to the sustainable future of the Palouse-Clearwater region thus promoting a well-informed, active and concerned citizenry.

Watershed Programs
Environmental Education Programs
Community Food Programs
Transportation Options
Alternative Energy
..more..

DHARMA THE CAT - David Lourie

The theme of the cartoon collection is "Havoc and mayhem on the rocky road to nirvana, with a Buddhist cat, a novice monk and a mouse that is hell-bent on cheese."

“Dharma The Cat” has three characters. There is a novice monk named Bodhi, who is stumbling earnestly along the Buddha’s Noble Path. The Cat’s name is Dharma, and he is a wise being who looks down from a great height on those who have taken birth in human form. And there is Siam, the house Mouse, who is concerned only with cheese.

The main character’s progress along his rocky path to Nirvana reflects our own delusions and obstacles, and enables us to digest the spiritual message in a compassionate and humorous way -- contrary to portraying the road to enlightenment as a friendless, unemotional journey. Practitioners do not have to be so brave, patient, or wise, else they will fail, and they might give up unless they lighten up, so to speak, and have a great sense of humour.

for more: visit the website http://www.dharmathecatcartoons.com/15blog/

An Interpretation to the Struggle of Life...

A lot of times we keep wondering why we face so much difficulty in life...obstacle over obstacle...struggling to overcome them. Trying to figure out why...why does it all have to be so hard. Why can't and don't we have an easy life? We keep searching for answers as to what we actually want to do, never ever resting in that quest. As inquisitive souls we seek answers and are desperate to find them. The moment we find an answer to one, there's another question, another struggle that we have to deal with. What is the reason for this struggle? This eternal struggle of life?
There's an answer, an interpretation, which seemingly is plausible enough to realize our purpose.
Our soul, our self, our spirit or whatever you wish to call your 'Being', is INFINITE in nature - meaning, we are free, boundless, beyond space or time, there's no beginning to our selves and no end. We are infinity itself in its purest form, that is, without the body. And our body, an accumulation of matter and substance, is FINITE, meaning, it only serves as a tangible medium for our shapeless soul, our formless self, the true 'Being' within.
So think about this for a second. What will happen when something so powerful, so vast, so vast as infinity, that is, our SOUL is put into something as small, as finite as our body? Yes, there's a conflict...not just a conflict, a struggle that starts right from the moment when the soul enters the germ cell in the womb all the way to when the body dies. So it is a struggle much bigger than anything we see tangibly, because this kind of struggle is invisible, unseen, unrealized by our conscious selves. So when we feel like doing something OUT OF THE WORLD, we feel confined, trapped and are bursting with emotion to do it. The ones among us, that realize that we can DO IT, actually get closer to doing it or even succeed. We keep trying, struggling to become our EXPANDED SELF, that is, our TRUE SELF, which leads to infinity.
We are born to be free, liberated from our minds or bodies that trap us although the body is that which gives us a finite shape. So what is the lesson here? Just be yourself, just try and be whatever you imagine yourself to be, because that is the truth. Reach out, become your Expanded Self, don't confine your thinking to what you think only your body can do. Never compromise on what you can achieve...because inside your finite body, is your infinite self, the true you.
This is not something that I just concocted out of the blue, but rather my interpretation from the teachings of Swami Ramakrishnananda in his booklet, The Universe and Man, a beautifully compiled thought process.

CROSS CULTURAL SOLUTIONS

Ever thought about volunteering across the globe?? Well, here is your chance!

Cross-Cultural Solutions is widely known as the leading organization in the field of international volunteering.

Our volunteer programs are unique in every way. Our global infrastructure supports over 4,000 international volunteers each year and over 250 sustainable community initiatives. More than 250 CCS in-country-staff members are working year-round, ensuring that you are volunteering with a project that interests you and contributing directly to the goals of each community. No other short-term international volunteer program has such a global presence and community-centered approach toward volunteering abroad.

For more details please visit the site at http://www.crossculturalsolutions.org/

Do you express yourself enough??

I find myself at some points in life...
where i have to this urge to release my thoughts....
in some way or the other...
otherwise the thoughts rush by themselves,
to jump off the cliff of my mouth...
out into the world...
and in that hurry, most of them vaporize into the ether...
some of them just lie within waiting for the right time...
and eventually get swallowed by the ever thirsty physical being that lies in me...
the hunger for thoughts never dies..
what an irony that we hardly express whatever we feel...
either for the fear of crossing limits...
or for the good of the other...
or to find a way to stop ourselves into getting into unknown spaces...
or thinking we are independent of the rest...
or to prioritize our responsibilities...
or judge everything by over analysing...
well....i could go on and on...
but the question is...
ARE YOU EXPRESSING YOURSELF ENOUGH?
to people you love...
to people you admire...
to people you are angry with...
to people who need you..
to people who seek help..
to people who might help you...
to people...and nature...and everything around?
since language was formed because the connectedness was pushed to obscurity...
we have to seriously think of communication...and EXPRESSION!
i love you all...

CHEB MAMI

CHEB MAMI (real name Ahmed Khelifati Mohamed) is an Algerian born raï singer.
RAI is a form of folk music, originated in Oran, Algeria from Bedouin shepherds, mixed with Spanish, French, African and Arabic musical forms, which dates back to the 1930s and has been primarily evolved by women in the culture. The word raï is Arabic for “opinion.” Singers of raï are called cheb (young) as opposed to sheikh (old) the name given to Chaabi music singers; the tradition arose in cities like Oran and elsewhere in Tlemcen, primarily among the poor. The word raï means literally opinion but is colloquially used as an interjection along the lines of oh, yeah! Traditionally sung by men, at the turn of the 20th century, female singers became common. Rai musicians, as early as the 1930's, were singing about social issues which affected their arab colonies. They ranged from disease to the police of the colonies. ^[1] Much like today's rap stars and hip-hop artists they sung about the current issues around them which was indeed revoluationary for their time.^[2] It's popularity not only taken the traditional sounds of the Middle East and "updated" it, but pop rai' reputation as a racy type of music has also influenced a fusion between rai and rock and several other "up and coming" styles.



for more click here...
thanks to wikipedia and the world of internet!!

A thousand years - STING

a thousand reasons to live for...in this universe...with such soul-absorbing music...what can i say??

Words by sting, music by sting and kipper

A thousand years, a thousand more,
A thousand times a million doors to eternity
I may have lived a thousand lives, a thousand times
An endless turning stairway climbs
To a tower of souls
If it takes another thousand years, a thousand wars,
The towers rise to numberless floors in space
I could shed another million tears, a million breaths,
A million names but only one truth to face

A million roads, a million fears
A million suns, ten million years of uncertainty
I could speak a million lies, a million songs,
A million rights, a million wrongs in this balance of time
But if there was a single truth, a single light
A single thought, a singular touch of grace
Then following this single point , this single flame,
The single haunted memory of your face

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my head

I may be numberless, I may be innocent
I may know many things, I may be ignorant
Or I could ride with kings and conquer many lands
Or win this world at cards and let it slip my hands
I could be cannon food, destroyed a thousand times
Reborn as fortunes child to judge anothers crimes
Or wear this pilgrims cloak, or be a common thief
Ive kept this single faith, I have but one belief

I still love you
I still want you
A thousand times the mysteries unfold themselves
Like galaxies in my head
On and on the mysteries unwind themselves
Eternities still unsaid
til you love me

Wings of Evolution at Sathyam Cinemas, Chennai

Hey folks, in Chennai there are 2 hot things happening. One of course, Chennai itself, with its scorching heat and the Other is our Exclusive Screening of 'Wings of Evolution' on May 18th, 2008, at 9:45 a.m at the Seasons Theater of Sathyam Cinemas, one of the biggest multiplexes in South India. Currently, preparations are being made with ticketing, posters etc. We'll have a post-screening panel discussion , the details of which have not been finalized. Will post an update soon. Folks in Chennai, rsvp to attend. Till then, keep beating the heat.

Liberate the Marvelous!!

When we enter into people's lives..we are automatically connected to everything else that is connected to them...so...here is Paula Belina's blog...she is a friend of Kyra's.

KYRA's Blog

I met Kyra at the Gesundheit Institute when i attended the Summer School for Designing a Society...i feel inspired and happy to be in a world with people like her..she is so full of love...
i am happy that she has started sharing her thoughts with the world..through her blog..
please check out her blog and spread the love in your heart...
http://www.kyras.net/

Citizens for PEACE - essays!!

"It is only human nature that we turn to a group that is closest to our way of living whenever we feel the need for security and identity. But reaching out is so much more important even though mutual agreement may be a distant dream. Just by knowing a person with a set of values which we find odd, comes a revelation that we are similar in some ways however few they may be. This similarity is a surprise and lessens to a great extent all our apprehensions about something completely unknown. And of course the all important fact that for any correction of supposed ‘flaws’ in the other, the kind word of a friend is so much more effective than the hate filled invective of a stranger."
How truly written by Anuranjan Roy...i read this essay from Citizens of peace...lets keep in mind one thing...that love alone is the answer!
please read the whole essay and let me know what you think...
I can’t help feeling a little cynical as I pen this down. After all, the only people who would want to read an essay on “Living with differences” would be the ones who are already aware that there is no viable alternative to it. For those who are convinced that standardization-be it on the lines of religion, caste or class is the way out of the entire world’s ills wouldn’t bother making the effort. But in times when a moderate opinion on any issue is panned and reviled by both warring camps, this is an important exercise in self-motivation.
for more click here...
http://citizensforpeace.in/blog/category/essays/

Beyond the Margin blogspot...

Beyond Margin is a blogspot of a journalist I recently came across...while trying to read about rural India...and the farmer situation of recent times...
Jaideep writes...
I learnt two important things from Palagummi Sainath: what the heart does not feel, eyes cannot see. And there is no Invisible India. If at all there is one, it’s Blind India. He says, “Invisible India is an elephant in your bedroom that you don’t want to see”.

Palagummi Sainath, the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award winner in the category of Journalism, literature and creative communication arts, has inspired many a young journalist like me, not only in the country, but also beyond the borders.

I learnt two important things from him: what the heart does not feel, eyes cannot see. And there is no Invisible India. If at all there is one, it’s Blind India. He says, “Invisible India is an elephant in your bedroom that you don’t want to see”.

Palagummi Sainath, the 2007 Ramon Magsaysay Award winner in the category of Journalism, literature and creative communication arts, has inspired many a young journalist like me, not only in the country, but also beyond the borders.

When the news broke on Tuesday, July 31, afternoon, we were about to start for Nagpur from Pandharkawda in Yavatmal, after three days of non-stop traveling in rural Vidarbha, visiting half a dozen suicide households and meeting people. It was typical of Sainath that he was doing what he loves to do the most: visiting the rural households to understand the newer processes that affect their lives.
for more click on link below...
http://beyondmargins.blogspot.com/

Braveheart Blog..another part of the whole!

I was touched by this soul's expressive nature...please take some time and read the whole article..
Braveheart writes in his blogspot....
I was very disturbed. Sometimes things just go out of your hands. Sometimes, you are simply forced to act in an un-reasonable way. Its inexplicable but at times, life just takes control over you. You show emotions which are not yours. You act in a way, which has not been you way. Something like this had happened with me last night.
Telelvision was on and the regular nonsense was being broadcasted. My fingers were playing with the remote. The window was open and cool breeze was gushing through my hair. I was looking out of the window at my garden. The roses had grown really beautiful. Amrita was a mother to these plants more than she was to our Rahul. Not that she was a bad mother, not at all, but the plants gor a special share of her heart. Probably, the love for them came out of a corner of her heart whcih I could never explore. The red roses were teasing me. They reminded me of the time I was crowned to be a prince, the prince who was to taste the luscious lips of the princess, Amrita.
for more please visit....
http://braveheart-blog.blogspot.com/2004/12/karvan-guzar-gaya.html

MIT OpenCourseWare

I recently stumbled upon the following link where MIT offers lots of free courses. When i visited the website i found that they have separate course materials for High School students and teachers. I think this will definitely help students and teachers all over the world and help the students decide and choose a course of their interest.

Also there are so many Audio and Video materials that can be downloaded for free. Lots of schools in the rural areas who are creating their own course materials can also make the best use of these materials. And provide higher standard of Education for free. It is our collective responsibility to provide a better education for our future generation.

Thank you MIT for the opencourseware.

CURRIKI.org

The Global Education & Learning CommunityWe believe that access to knowledge and learning tools is a basic right for every child. Our goal is to make curricula and learning resources available to everyone.The above is a website which has abundant resources for children's education and it is absolutely free and you can also contribute to the curricula if you think it might be useful for our future generations...Some of the features that are available in CURRIKI.org
THE ART OF INVENTION
These resources teach students about artists who invented new tools to explore topics they find interesting.
Decimal Basketball
Getting students actively participating in learning is one teacher's strategy for teaching decimals.
Teaching Satire in High School
A teacher in Minnesota has created a unit on reading and understanding satirical literature.
Teaching Holes in Middle School
One teacher shares her roadmaps and reading logs from the popular novel Holes by Louis Sachar. Fee's collections also include Holes vocabulary activities and materials for other great middle school books.
Unit on Things Fall Apart
This teacher shares her week by week materials to scaffold reading and get students writing about Chinua Achebe's popular novel.

If you think we can add more resources for kids to access...let us do it now!!

Latest in Technology!

http://www.softpedia.com/
for the latest in technology...i came across this website which might be useful to anyone who is seeking some new information!

HOW TO MAKE YOUR BLOG FAMOUS??

The blogging community has to grow and each and every one of us have to connect...to bring peace to the planet..and it must be a joint effort...sorry guys, i just typed "how to make your blog famous" and this is one of the links i got...thank you internet...!!
http://bloggletype.blogspot.com/2007/05/100-ways-to-make-your-blog-famous.html