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Topics - Shamim Ansary

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17
Use of Forum / How to Paste Image in DIS Forum
« on: July 07, 2011, 02:16:37 PM »

18
You need to know / World’s Best Selling Books
« on: July 05, 2011, 07:25:46 PM »

The Quran is a divine scripture of Islam. This book was sent on Hazrat  Muhammad (PBUH) the prophet of Islam. Quran contains all the rules and regulations, principles and injunctions of Islam. According to an estimate at least 4,000,000,000 copies of Quran have been sold. Therefore it is considered as the second most purchased book in the world.

19
In traditional sense a library is a collection of books. It can mean the room that houses such “a collection of useful material for common use,” and in this sense in used in fields such as biology, statistics, electronics, computer science and mathematics. Now the modern libraries are increasingly being redefined a places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats from many sources. They are understood as extending beyond the physical walls of a building, by including material accessible by electronic means. There are many types of libraries, such as academic libraries, public libraries, research libraries, school libraries and special libraries...


Congress Libraries is the largest or biggest library in the world. It has the largest number of books, recordings, maps and manuscripts which are over 33,012,750 in number. Situated in Washington D.C, this is the oldest library of USA. It was established in 1800, when President John Adams signed a bill providing for the transfer of the seat of government from Philadelphia to the new capital city of Washington.

Official Website http://www.loc.gov/

20
Corporate Office / Open Letter to the Guardians
« on: July 05, 2011, 11:56:30 AM »
Dear Parent(s):

We value the trust and confidence that you have placed in us by selecting DIS for your child and we look forward to working in partnership with you.
DIS believes that there is nothing more precious than a child and nothing more important than preparing him or her for the challenges of the future. Choosing private education for your kids is one of the most important decisions that you have made.

The provision of high quality education requires a long term investment and commitment. DIS has been in the midst of developing a fine balance between education and your expectation. DIS Management has consistently been reiterating its commitment to excellence in education with equity. We are liable to guide our children through every stage of their lives as they learn to move on, towards a glorious future with bright academic record, extra curricular skills and all ethical values to be a perfect citizen to lead the society from the front. Ethics of DIS Management and Academician is to render their best efforts to turn your child perfect.

We consider it inevitable to win your cooperation, well-wish, positive attitude and productive ideas as good food of inspirations for us. If you feel to share anything of these kinds with the Top Management, please send email to:

chairman@dis.edu.bd

You can also send mail to:

Corporate Office,
Daffodil International School
102/1, Shukrabad, Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi, Dhaka

All your queries, confusions, suggestions and ideas will cordially be served.

We altogether wish to believe DIS as the second home for your child with all standards, security and satisfaction.



-----------------------------------
Md. Sabur Khan
Chairman, Governing Body
Daffodil International School
Website: www.dis.edu.bd/; Email: chairman@dis.edu.bd

21
Corporate Office / Daffodil International University (DIU) Forum
« on: July 05, 2011, 09:56:04 AM »


DIU Forum Stats recorded on 5th July 2011 at 09:49:13 AM...18616 Posts in 4041 Topics by 1997 Members...!!!


As a part of Daffodil DIU forum is also your property. Please click the link
http://forum.daffodilvarsity.edu.bd/index.php
to see how enriched our DIU forum is...

22
Be a Leader / Self Mastery
« on: July 03, 2011, 11:23:54 AM »
A Guide to Self Mastery And Mind Power
By M Deskins

I'm assuming you have heard about how we can all "attract" good things into our lives by using the power of our minds. This is true, yes, but there needs to be some understanding about it in order for it to work. What must we do to train our minds? How can we use our training to attract anything we want?

First you must realize that by training your mind, you won't be necessarily be receiving the things you "want". The things we think we want may not always be what we REALLY want. I'm sure you have heard something similar plenty of times before. And there is a reason many people make that claim. You must understand that we attract through our subconscious mind, not our conscious mind. Unfortunately we don't always know what it is our subconscious wants. Even if you want money and luck and fame, you subconsciously may not feel you deserve those things. Why? Well it could be a number of things. From the day you were born until now, you may have been told over and over again that "money is the root of all evil". "Money makes people selfish". "Fame can be a bad thing". I'm sure you get the point. Even if you don't agree with those statements (and I know I don't), they could have been pounded into your subconscious enough times for your subconscious to be influenced by it. The question is, how can you know? And how can you reprogram your subconscious?

If you didn't give yourself a high score in all of those areas, then you know that your subconscious could use some work.

I also want you to take a look at your dreams. Keep a dream diary if you have to. Write in it the second you wake up, even from just a small nap. Even if you don't think you will remember much. Even if you can only remember a few words, then write those few words down. I promise that if you keep this up, you will start to remember your dreams better. You will notice they become more vivid. Take a look at your diary every few days to study your dreams. If overall they seem like happy, positive dreams, then you are subconsciously happy. This means that the things your conscious mind finds happy agrees with your subconscious mind. This is a very good thing because it means everything is aligned enough for you to attract positivity into your life.

If overall your dreams seem bland, unexciting, or even upsetting, it could be a sign that your subconscious mind isn't aligned with your conscious desires. This could mean that you're not attracting all the luck and success and love that you wish. So what do you do? Well there are many exercises to help reprogram the subconscious mind. Many of them might cost you money, such as NLP (neuro linguistic programming) and hypnosis, subliminal messages, self help cds, etc.. But there are also things you can do to help without paying any money at all.

Now remember, this goes beyond some of the things that I'm sure you may have already tried. This takes more than affirmations, raising your vibrations, and receiving healing energy.

Although those things are very, very helpful, they're not always enough for some of us. Some of us still have work to do on reprogramming our subconscious. For those of you who are totally new to these ideas, then I suggest you do them as well as the next steps. Affirmations are positive thoughts that we can repeat over and over and over again as a reminder to stay positive. "I am feeling happy today." "I have wonderful things happening in my life!" "I am filled with good luck!" "I have all the money I need!" Raising your vibes can consist of anything you say or do that makes you feel happy and positive. Do you have any hobbies that fill you with absolute joy? Jogging? Dancing? Joking with friends and laughing? Listening to uplifting music?

Watching funny movies? Try to spend at least a half hour a day doing something that makes you truly happy. Do this nonstop for at least 30 minutes, along with affirmations. Remember to keep your affirmations positive. Never use a negative word. For instance, you could say "I am wealthy! I am thankful for being wealthy!", but never say "I am not wealthy now but I will be". You always want to align your subconscious with positive words, never any negative ones.

For those who ARE doing these things every day but still don't see the results they'd like to see, then it's time to take a step further. It's time for you to try to reprogram your subconscious mind some more. Remember when I said to stay away from negative words as much as possible? I meant it. Firstly you could start with staying away from the news. Stay away from television shows where anything negative is being talked about. If someone is on tv talking about anything bad, anything bad at all, then change the channel. Even if it's a fictional show talking about a fictional murder, CHANGE THE CHANNEL. Anything that you perceive as negative, stay away from. The key is to put more positive words, thoughts, and actions into your mind than negative. The better you can get at this, the sooner you will start seeing the results you like.

Now I have a fascination with unsolved crimes and murder mysteries. Unfortunately the more I read about them, the worse I feel afterwards. I have to force myself to stay away from watching crime shows or crime websites. The more I stay away, the more positive I feel and the more pleasant my dreams are. But this is something that I must force myself to do sometimes for my own benefit. I also recommend that you only listen to happy songs. Make a play list of your favorite, upbeat songs. Read some books that will bring a smile to your face and that have a happy ending. Do whatever you can to stay away from negative thoughts and ideas. Sometimes you may even have to avoid negative people. If you are in a work environment with negative co workers, you must try to not let them get to you. If you start to feel down at work, put your right hand over your heart and take some deep breaths. Breath in deep for four seconds, hold it for four seconds, release it for four seconds, and then hold for four more seconds before breathing in again. This will help you to remain focused and centered.

Another very important factor in your journey, will be to feel grateful for everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Try thinking of at least 15 things a day to be thankful for. Even if it's something that many people would consider insignificant. Those little "insignificant" things can and will add up in time. For instance, you could be thankful for the pennies you find on the sidewalk or your pet happily greeting you every time you come home. You could even try showing gratitude for having good shampoo or a nice ink pen. You must remember to accept everything that you already do have with gratitude before being ready to receive more. Who or what should you be grateful to? It's up to you. If you believe in the Powers of the Universe, thank the Powers of the Universe. If you're a christian, thank Jesus. If you're a pagan, thank the Goddess. Some people even go outside to find a pretty rock and thank it for every thing. I'm sure if you look around the internet enough, you could read about these "gratitude rocks". What matters most though, is that you ARE thankful. TRULY thankful.

So in summary, if you've tried many different ideas and tips to attract good things in your life, but still haven't seen the results, it could be that you need to work more on getting rid of the negativity that is aligning itself in your subconscious. You may not even be aware of it. Let's run this through again:

1. Pay close attention to your dreams to see whether they are mostly good dreams or not.

2. If not, say positive affirmations and work to raise your vibrations some more.

3. Stay away from as much negativity as possible, including the news and violent tv programs.

Give NLP/hypnosis a try if you're interested enough.

4. Learn to be grateful and thankful more.

Some people may already have some of these steps mastered but may need some more improvement. Some of you may just be beginning and should try working with all four of these lessons. The more you practice these ideas, the more you'll be aligning your subconscious mind with your conscious mind. Once you finally master these lessons, you will be the Master of your own Life.

I'm a spiritual medium and Reiki Master. I love studying and writing about anything that is considered metaphysical and/or paranormal. I have years of experience and feel that my journey still has a long way to go. I enjoy working with other people with similar interests. I also offer my services to others and oftentimes learn from them as well. http://www.avonleestarkeeper.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=M_Deskins

23
Be a Leader / Subconscious Mind Power
« on: July 03, 2011, 11:19:12 AM »
By Joshua Benavides

Very few people understand the power of their minds. Most people get glimpses. But few understand and cultivate that power. Oh, the mind. So many different teachings about the mind ranging from Mysticism to Philosophy, Psychology to Religion.

So many ideas of what the mind is and its power. And to be more specific, the power of the subconscious mind.

You see, your subconscious mind is your power center. It has unlimited resources. It's taking care of your breathing, your sight, hearing, circulation, behaviors, reactions, habits...and the list goes on.

In fact, based on numerous scientific studies, your conscious mind, the YOU that's reading this right now, is in charge of only 2-5% of your brain potential.

What takes care of the rest?

That's right...your subconscious mind.

If you want to create massive business results in very little time, it's wise to change things from the source. If you try to clean a river downstream, it's going to take a long time to clean up the river. Make sense?

The most powerful investment of your time and energy is to condition your subconscious mind to be in alignment with your conscious goals.

If you do this, you'll reach your goals without a doubt. If you don't, you'll feel stuck, like something is blocking your progress.

The power of your subconscious mind is vast. Its role is to make things happen. Contrary to popular belief, the conscious mind is not the one that's taking action and making things happen.

It's the subconscious mind. The Conscious mind only steers the ship. It's what creates your goals, your targets. The subconscious mind is what actually gets you there. It's like the crew on the ship.

Now, if the captain (conscious mind) decides to head in a certain direction, say, to make six figures in your business this year when you've never made this much in your life...and the crew decides this isn't possible (your subconscious)...

Here's what you get: MUTINY!

If you want to create results fast, it's not simply taking action. It's taking effective action. And it's the subconscious mind that will notice all the ways that you can do just that.

Source: http://thinksucceeded.blogspot.com/

24
Be a Leader / How to Develop Good Habits
« on: July 03, 2011, 11:17:01 AM »

Welcome Stumblers and all newcomers! If you want to lose weight, gain muscle, increase energy levels, reduce stress or just generally look and feel healthier you've come to the right place.

Aristotle had this to share about habits: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

The motivation for developing a positive health habit may come from the beckoning of a New Year, a firm nudge from your doctor or your ever-expanding waistline. A few months ago we talked about how to break bad habits. While bad habits can almost miraculously get set in stone overnight, developing a good habit takes a bit more coaxing, commitment, deliberation and time. But you can become a true master at developing a good habit. You just need the tools and resolve to help you get there.

Here are five practical tips to transform your healthy pipe dream into a solid reality.

Clarity

Anyone who has written a grant, business proposal, or college application, knows that just a few lines below writing your full name, you must state your objective. So let’s start our good habit forming right here. Set your own objective and be clear and specific about it. If the good habit you want to develop is to be active in some small way each day, or to swap out ice cream for fruit, then your road to health just started blazing with a string of green lights. A crisp and sharp objective gives you the resolve to take the consequent steps to execute your plan.

Visualization

Don’t worry – You don’t have to own a crystal or burn incense to practice this good-habit-forming step. In fact, imagining what your life might look like with your health goal fastened securely and proudly to your low-rise jeans is a practice that is used by world-class athletes and leaders. Here’s why: As you mentally rehearse your health goal, your mind and body become trained to perform the skill or behavior. In doing so, you literally “intend” a specific outcome to occur. This visualized intention ups your experience and confidence even if the actual behavior hasn’t been put into action.

Visualize yourself in challenging situations that test your capacity to stick to your commitment. If your co-worker often beckons you to ditch the weight room for happy hour or if your mom, in all of her sweet maternal sincerity, feeds your break-up sorrows with homemade mac & cheese casserole and oatmeal raisin cookies, visualize yourself not caving to the temptation. Mentally-preparing for surprises and executing them in your visualization practice will effectively equip you to handle the real-life situation when it arises. And believe us, it will arise.

Repetition

If you don’t succeed….yeah, yeah, you know the adage. But compares, it’s true. As you go about making this new habit into a permanent one, aim for consistency rather than for how well you adhere to your newly-made commitment. For instance, your objective is to avoid all refined carbohydrates from Monday through Friday and you encounter three curb challenges throughout the course of your workday. You only cave to one. Rather than focus on the singular slip, get right back in there and stay committed to your cause.


Experts can’t concur on how long it actually takes to form and establish a good habit. Most estimates put it at around a month or a bit less. Instead of measuring the success of your healthy habit by some deadline, measure it rather by your continued focus to recommit to your objective right after being sidelined.

As we’ve said before [6]: It’s the day-to-day effort of putting one foot in front of the other; of making one primal choice at a time. In order to form a long-lasting good habit, you have to commit to the change every day. And then recommit to it the next day and the day after that.

Start Out Small

We don’t change overnight. It took you a few decades to develop the body, resolve and habits that you currently own up to. As well-intentioned as the new habit you want to establish may be, you don’t want to go about it in a bipolar kind of way with a rush of adrenaline in the beginning that quickly turns to three months of inaction.

So heed this advice: Slow your pace. Want to (finally) commit to a regular fitness program? Make a pact to hit the gym once a week for the first couple weeks. If you manage to accomplish this goal pat yourself on the back and up the ante to two days each week and so on. Make your goals challenging enough so that real change is actually taking place (one day is better than none!), but not so hard (e.g. exercise every day of the week) that you set yourself up for failure.

Shout it Out

When it comes to establishing that new habit, tell as many people as you can about what it is you’re doing and why you’re doing it. Not only does it create accountability on your end (the heaviness of living up to expectations is a massive motivator for taking the right action) but it also gives you that “ra-ra” pat on the rear just when you need it.

Remember that your habits are you own choices. It is up to you, and only you, to put them in place and stay their course. Luckily, you’ve already made the first step by reading this post. Armed with the right frame of mind and tools to get you from point A to point B you have set yourself up for success. Now get out there and develop some good habits!


From the source: http://thinksucceeded.blogspot.com/

25
Be a Leader / How to Break Bad Habits
« on: July 03, 2011, 11:14:05 AM »
Welcome Stumblers and all newcomers! If you want to lose weight, gain muscle, increase energy levels, reduce stress or just generally look and feel healthier you've come to the right place.

A show of hands here. Chronic cardio buffs? Halloween candy freaks? Caffeine fiends? Stress addicts? French bread fanatics? Bad health habits come in all forms, we know. But the question of the day is this: how do we finally rid ourselves of those compulsive longings, those simultaneously desired and resented routines? Is it simply a matter of will power? Is it clever strategy? Permanent exile from the world where these pet practices and items can’t taunt us with their presence? We’re interested in what your tips (and those past/present vices) are, but here are some ideas to get the proverbial ball rolling – and that monkey off your back.

    Dig up the who, what, when, where, why and how.

More than just a journalist’s framework, you can take advantage of some digging yourself. Sure, the “what” (the habit itself) probably seems pretty clear, but as you look to revise your routine, consider the context of your target habit. Does a certain friend always try to cut into/distract your gym time? When do you feel most vulnerable in the face of sweet snacks? Where is it hardest to turn down that cup of coffee? How does your family’s routine seem to sabotage your own best efforts and goals? Why do you think you keep coming back to the habit, be it anything from breakfast cereal to workout-less weekends to an occasional (gasp!) cigarette? What’s behind that habit anyway? What are you holding onto? Why does it have the sway over you that it does? Is it a stand-in or excuse for something else going on in your life/psyche?

    Plan.

As you pinpoint the backdrop that keeps you hooked to those bad habits, take the opportunity to plan some strategies that you’ll rely on when faced with temptation. Maybe it’s an alternate entrée for the Wednesday lunch you have with friends. Perhaps it’s a thoughtful but casual way to decline after-work drinks or a good excuse to change your workout time to a more productive, less distracting time. Write (or record) a pep talk for yourself to dig out when you need it. Or, if it’s more your style, a kick-your-own-butt, what-are-you-thinking speech. What will you do or turn to when you find yourself turning toward instead of steering clear of the habitual path?

    But don’t plan too much.

Sometimes it’s easy to put so much energy into planning to give up a habit that your efforts simply allow you to put off the actual leap itself. How many of us have been stuck circling in this pattern for more weeks/months/years than we’d care to admit? At some point, you have to bite the bullet and say that you’ll deal with the difficulties as they come. Decide today to not give into the habit, and then be willing to say the same tomorrow. That’s how it starts.

    Toss the triggers.

The obvious point here is to get rid of any items whose sole purpose will be to tempt you away from your best intentions. (As in, bring any remaining Halloween treats to work the morning after, or just be really generous in the last part of the evening. Better yet, give out something that doesn’t lead anyone else down that Pied Piper path to begin with – more help on that this week.) If your triggers are less object-oriented and more contextual, toss the typical routines that encourage bad habits. Meet friends for a walk in the park instead of for dinner. Take up a fitness or dance class with your partner instead of spending Friday nights parked on the couch. Put the kids in charge of their own morning routine and get in a workout or meditation session instead. Taking on a long-held habit usually means taking charge of your life in a new way.

    Spread the word.

For those people who are more socially motivated, letting the word out can give you added incentive to stay on track. No, it doesn’t mean you have to shout your intention from the rooftops. It’s more about the people you’re closer to. Letting a few close friends or family members know your intention can make the goal seem more real. Look at it as a supportive group helping you “stay true” in your pursuit. Your success is ultimately your effort and commitment, but it always helps knowing you have a crowd (or even close pal) cheering for you.

    Pair up.

Do you have a friend or family member who’s also looking to give up a bad habit? Join forces. You’ll not only have some added support, you’ll also have the motivation of living up to your end of the bargain. When the going gets tough you can share strategies and humor to keep you both on course. One caution: be sure to not become dependent on that person’s participation. It’s ultimately your pursuit, whether the other person sticks with his/her choice or not.

    A page a day.

Ever notice the exhaustive chronicles of weight loss, smoking cessation and the like on everything from MySpace to Flickr Commons? Sure, there’s the social element of announcing your intention and success, but we think there’s more to the project than that. Whether public or private, recording your pursuit (in all its flesh and blood humanity) can be therapeutic. Particularly if you’re a more introverted person, bringing your thoughts to the page in whatever form (journaling, doodling, extemporaneous collage…) can offer a sense of personal release and allow a space for you to be 100% candid, no holds barred. Chances are you’ll be able to look back on the collection with gratitude and likely a few good laughs.

    Periodic incentive plan.

We approach the idea of “reward” cautiously because, like planning endeavors, rewards can sometimes act as divergent and ultimately derailing factors. What’s at the real root of breaking a bad habit, after all, but undertaking contemplation, cultivating discipline, framing a new routine or even outlook surrounding one’s health and daily practice? Rewards, while they can be a nice pick-me-up when you need them, don’t do much to bolster the real process. Our advice for incentives? Make them health-oriented. Design a “health indulgence” day, whatever that may look like for you.

    If you falter, explore what went awry.

Remember that “flesh and blood humanity” bit? We’ve all been there. There’s the old adage, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” (Then there’s the alternate ending – “you’re running about average”.) Instead of beating yourself up about it, take a day and then do the necessary post-mortem. What do you think inspired the lapse, whether it be a weak moment, an ill-considered decision, or a self-sabotaging act? What about your routine do you think you need to change this time around? Do you need some new strategies, a realignment of life priorities, or some deeper deliberation about what’s fueling the habit?

    If you succeed, study what worked.

When it comes to health (or life), we don’t believe in resting on your laurels. Good health choices are ultimately about getting up every morning and choosing to do the “right” thing for your body. Every day requires a renewed commitment and a willingness to be present and accountable in the moment. But you have a lot to learn from your own past success. What did you tell yourself that made you get to the gym this weekend? How did you let go of the stress during the really bad day last week? What did you choose to do this morning when you wanted to go for your morning coffee and donut but didn’t? Knowing what you’ve done to resist temptation in the past can build up your “toolbox” of strategies and also reassure you in less confident moments that you have what it takes to kick the habit.

Now we want to invite your comments and additions. What have been your most difficult health habits to ditch? What approaches, tips, and mantras have worked for you? (And which ones haven’t?) Share your ideas, successes and questions with other readers. And thanks for your input.

Source : http://www.marksdailyapple.com/how-to-break-bad-habits/

26
Be a Leader / 7 Proven Tips on How to Set Goals
« on: July 03, 2011, 11:00:12 AM »
By Gitana M

If you want to learn about how to set goals effectively, then you will want to read this article. In this article, I want to provide 7 proven tips on how to set goals.

What we will achieve in our life depend on what goals we set. If we want to live a meaningful life, we have to know clearly, what we want out of life. What is the most important to us. Successful people always know clearly, what they want out of life.

What can be worse than people don't know what they want to reach in their life, when they always focus on their problems, when they always talk about what they don't want.

Why set goals?

Our goals give a meaning to our life. They increase happiness, self-confidence and success. Clear and specific goals help us to focus on what is important to us; they help us to stay motivated.

Now let's discover 7 proven tips on how to set goals:

    Decide what you really want to achieve in your life. What is the most important to you? What things will make you happy?

    Write your goals. Writing will help you to increase the implementation of your goals. Set realistic, clear goals. Clearly defined goals will help you to stay motivated. Motivation makes a big influence on our goals.

    Set a deadline for your goals. Make a note for how soon you would like to achieve those goals.

    Clearly realize "why" you want to achieve those goals. Strong knowing why you want to reach your objectives increases motivation.

    Make a list of things what you will have to do. What things will help you to reach your objectives? Make a clear and consistent plan of things you will have to do. This will help you to focus on what is the most important to you and what can help you to reach your objectives. Take action.

    Identify the skills you will need to develop. What skills you need if you want to reach your goals successfully? Try to identify them and then develop those skills.

    Recognize resources that can help you to reach your goals.

Goals influence our success and happiness. They give a direction and meaning to our life. It would be difficult to achieve successful life if you don't understand clearly, what you want to reach in your life. So don't delay and take action today. Set your goals. Every day do something what can help you to achieve those goals.

Get free instant access to self improvement tips, secrets and inside information. Visit http://www.path-to-self-improvement.com Now!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6041420

27
Be a Leader / QUOTES on LIFE
« on: July 03, 2011, 09:50:43 AM »
Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies. -- Ann Landers

Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life.-- Buddha

Life is like riding a bicycle. You don't fall off unless you plan to stop peddling.-- Claude Pepper

It is not length of life, but depth of life. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. -- Albert Einstein

Attack life, it's going to kill you anyway. -- Steven Coallier

Life isn't worth living unless you're willing to take some big chances and go for broke.-- Eliot Wiggington

Being on the tightrope is living; everything else is waiting. -- Karl Wallenda

On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him. -- Buddha

In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed. -- Sid Caesar

Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyways. -- Anonymous

28
Story & Experience / Look before You leap
« on: July 02, 2011, 09:25:29 AM »
Once, a fox was very thirsty.
He saw a big well nearby and peeped into it.
The fox slipped and fell into the well.
He tried to come out.
But he could not do so.
After some time, there came a goat who was also thirsty.
He too peeped into the well.
The fox saw the goat and said from inside the well, “The water is very sweet. Come and Come to enjoy.”
The foolish goat also jumped into the well.
The clever fox climbed on the back of the goat and jumped out of the well.

29
History, Heritage & Culture / Top Ten Musiums of the World
« on: July 01, 2011, 10:06:36 PM »
01. Le Louvre, Paris, France

Without a doubt the most famous museum in the world, the Louvre was a medieval fortress and the palace of the kings of France before it became a museum two centuries ago. Even the modernization of the plaza with the addition of a glass pyramid in its centre takes nothing away from the historical allure of the Louvre Palace. The museum's collections, which range from the birth of the great antique civilizations to the first half of the 19th century, are among the most important on the planet. You will find pieces by some of the most famous artists in history, such as da Vinci and Rembrandt.

Main attraction: The famed Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci.

Honorable Mention:
The Guggenheim, Bilbao, Spain
Although there are branches of the Guggenheim in New York, Las Vegas, Berlin, and Venice, the one in Bilbao takes the cake in terms of architecture. Designed by North American architect Frank O. Gehry, it is the most significant museum design of the late 20th century. The sinuous stone, glass and titanium curves represent an amazing construction feat as well as a truly distinctive design. Oh yeah, and there's some art in there, too. The permanent collection is composed of works of modern and contemporary art by some of the most significant artists of the second half of the 21st century, such as Andy Warhol.

Main attraction: The building itself.
a slice of history...
Even if you aren't the most "artsy" person in the world, these museums are definitely worth a visit. If you feel overwhelmed by the size of some of these institutions, pick the rooms or collections that interest you most. Try to forget those seemingly endless grade school trips to your local museum; if you stick to what you really want to see, you'll surely find the experience quite enriching.

website link: www.louvre.fr

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Cartoon & Animation / History of the Disneyland
« on: June 30, 2011, 08:48:07 PM »
One day Walt Disney had a vision. It was a vision of a place where children and parents could have fun together. The more Walt dreamed of a "magical park," the more imaginative and elaborate it became.

The original plans for the park were on 8 acres next to the Burbank studios where his employees and families could go to relax. Although, World War II put those plans on hold. During the war, Walt had time to come up with new ideas, and creations for his magical park. It was soon clear that 8 acres wouldn't be enough.

Finally in 1953, he had the Stanford Research Institute conduct a survey for a 100-acre site, outside of Los Angeles. He needed space to build rivers, waterfalls, and mountains; he would have flying elephants and giant teacups;a fairy-tale castle, moon rockets, and a scenic railway; all inside a magic kingdom he called "Disneyland."

Location was a top priority. The property would have to be within the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and accessible by freeway. It would also have to be affordable: Walt's pockets were only so deep.

The search for the best spot finally ended in the rural Anaheim, California with a purchase of a 160-acre orange grove near the junction of the Santa Ana Freeway (I-5) and Harbor Boulevard.   



(The site where Disneyland was to be built.)

Although, Disneyland was expensive. Walt once said "I could never convince the financiers that Disneyland was feasible, because dreams offer too little collateral." So Walt turned to Television for his financial support. "Walt Disney's Disneyland" television series offered a glimpse of the future project. This brought the idea of Disneyland into reality for Walt and the American people.

Construction for Disneyland began on July 21, 1954, a meager 12 months before the park was scheduled to open. From that day forward Walt Disney's life would never be the same.

Some 160-acres of citrus trees had been cleared and 15 houses moved to make room for the park. The area was in semi-rural Orange County, near a freeway that would eventually stretch from San Diego to Vancouver.
When the real designing came around, Walt was met with inevitable questions. How do you make believable wild animals, that aren't real? How do you make a Mississippi paddle ship? How do you go about building a huge castle in the middle of Anaheim, California? So, Walt Disney looked to his movie studio staff for the answers. The design of Disneyland was something never done before. There would be five uniquely different lands.
Walt had planed out all the lands, to every detail. Main Street, U.S.A., the very front of the park, was where Walt wanted to relive the typical turn of the century city Main Street. He said:

    "For those of us who remember the carefree time it recreates, Main Street will bring back happy memories. For younger visitors, it is an adventure in turning back the calendar to the days of grandfather's youth."

Walt made Main Street U.S.A the entrance to a "weenie," as he called it. He said:

    "What you need is a weenie, which says to people 'come this way.' People won't go down a long corridor unless there's something promising at the end. You have to have something the beckons them to 'walk this way.'"

Walt also had planed for an "exotic tropical place" in a "far-off region of the world." Called Adventureland. Walt said, "To create a land that would make this dream reality, we pictured ourselves far from civilization, in the remote jungles of Asia and Africa."

Frontierland was made to relive the pioneer days of the American frontier. Walt said:
   "All of us have a cause to be proud of our country's history, shaped by the pioneering spirit of our forefathers. . .Our adventures are designed to give you the feeling of having lived, even for a short while, during our country's pioneer days."

Fantasyland was created with the goal to "make dreams come true" from the lyrics of "When You Wish Upon a Star." Walt said:
    "What youngster. . .has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan over moonlit London, or tumbling into Alice's nonsensical Wonderland? In Fantasyland, these classic stories of everyone's youth have become realities for youngsters-of all ages-to participate in."

Fantasyland would feature a large Sleeping Beauty Castle, and a Fantasy Village.

Tomorrowland was created as a look at the "marvels of the future." Walt said:

    "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. . .The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future."

Although, Walt had trouble working on Tommorrowland. He said that "right when we do Tommorrowland, it will be out dated."

Walt Stayed close to every detail of the Park's Construction, and he visited the site in Anaheim several times a week. Progress went sporadically despite exasperating obstacles.

The Rivers of America, carved out of sandy citrus grove soil, refused to hold water. The answer was finally found in a bed of native clay: an inch layer on the river bottom formed a pad as hard as cement. Although, minor set backs did follow, progress did continue.

Plants were planted throughout the park, emptying nurseries from Santa Barbara to San Diego. Detail was made; if Walt Disney didn't like what his studio designers came up with, he'd do it himself. An example of this is Tom Sawyers Island. He thought his designers had "misunderstood the idea" so Walt took home the plans and the next day had it designed the way it appears today.   

Bit by bit, Disneyland got ready for Opening Day. The staff worked around the clock to get ready. The Mark Twain was being moved, deck by deck, down the Santa Ana freeway to get to Disneyland on time. Finally, everything seemed to come together. The "magical little park" was really a $17,000,000 "Magic Kingdom." Walt's dream had come true and Disneyland was ready to open."

Opening day, was a day to remember. Six thousand invitations to the Grand Opening had been mailed. By mid-afternoon over 28,000 ticket holders were storming the Magic Kingdom. Most of the tickets were counterfeit.

Walt Disney was 53 when he dedicated Disneyland Park. It was a memorable ceremony. There in Town Square, Walt could look around and see the fulfillment of his hopes, dreams, and ambitions in the form of a spectacular entertainment kingdom.

Although, Opening Day was a terrible disaster. A 15 day heat wave raised temperatures up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, due to a plumbers strike, few water fountains were operating in the hot weather. Asphalt still steaming, because it had been laid the night before, literality "trapping" high heeled shoes. After opening day, the heat wave continued, and almost wiped out the park.

Beside the terrible opening day conditions, the park did eventually pick up. By 1965, ten years after opening day, 50 Million visitors had come through the gates.

Even though Walt Disney wasn't able to see how his park and his company prospered and grew into the 21st Century, his legacy still lives on with us. Throughout Disneyland and throughout the entire world, he will always be there.

From the source: http://www.justdisney.com/disneyland/history.html

For more on Disneyland, please click http://www.justdisney.com/disneyland/

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