Indian Doctor Promises Medical Education For 'Smile Pinki'

Pinki. Photo: BBC.

The child actress in Oscar winning documentary movie “Smile Pinki” received more support from her local state government inO India, when they announced free medical education for her when she grows up.

Last week, the movie “Smile Pinki” won the Oscars for the Best Documentary Picture.

Pinki, who was born with a cleft-lip and palate and dreamt of having a new clean face, had got that dream fulfilled by Smile Train through Dr. Subodh Kumar Singh, Director and Surgeon of GS Memorial Hospital, now she has another dream of becoming a doctor fulfilled by Dr. Vinod Bhandari, an Indore based Medical expert.

BJP (one of the parties in India) elected representative and the former minister, Ajai Rai announced this news on behalf of Dr. Vinod Bhandari.

Pinki will be given free boarding and education at Dr. Bhandari’s Arvindo Institute of Medical Sciences in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

In order to prepare her for her medical career, Dr. Bhandari will also provide her with all the education necessary starting from now. This early education opportunity for Pinki was made possible by Dr. Bhandari’s mother, Usha Bhandari, who donated her entire pension for her.

Inclusive The Only Solution

Mother Goose and Goslings. Photo: Sage.

"An inclusive society's the only way we can co-exist in America. That's why I regard Martin Luther King so highly, because of his comments. 'Judge me not by my color, but by the content of my character.'"

-Wayne Embry, a former NBA Player and General Manager.

This is not only true in the U.S. but also true for the world, there is no other way.

Choose Love

A. R. Rahman after winning the two Oscars. Photo: Masala.com.

“All my life I had a choice between hate and love. I chose love and I am here.”

- A. R. Rahman after winning the Oscars in the Best Original Music Score Category and Best Original Song Category. He choose the path of love and followed his musical talents from humble beginnings to becoming an Oscar Winner.

Fifty People One Question: 'To Wake Up?'

Fifty People, One Question: Brooklyn from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.



Fifty People, One Question: London from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

This is a continuing series in which Fifty People are asked one question and they record all the answers, each is as unique as the other.

This time they asked the following question:

What might happen when we venture far from home now? Will we find that London light around the corner? Will the rain hide all the dreamers out of sight? They might not want to play our little game this time - or we could look away and miss our chance. Or maybe just a bit of something out there will remind us why we take the time to ask.

It’s a simple question and the answers can lead us anywhere. So go ahead, ask yourself…

Hate to Remember

Orchids. Photo: Flickr.

"The more you love,

The more you want to remember,

The more you hate,

The more you want to forget."

- Chris Veerabadran in "All Are One".

Talent is Diamond

Children. Photo: Flickr.

"Talents in children are like diamonds in the rough, just like the diamonds, they need to be polished and sharpened in order for them to shine."

- Chris Veerabadran in "All Are One".

Dream So Impossible

Kate Winslet. Photo: Celeb9.com.

“You just don’t think that these dreams that seem so silly and so impossible could ever really come true.”

Kate Winslet after winning the "Best Actress" Oscars last night. She dreamed of winning Oscars when she was young, she practised Oscar speeches in front of mirrors holding shampoo bottle as Oscars award. But it came true because she worked at it for many years. So keep practicing those impossible dreams if you want to make them possible.

Emperor

Cambodia Royal Palace. Photo: Wikimedia.

Emperor:

"In my land of thoughts,
You are a mighty empire,
To which you don't rule with swords and arms,
Rather with your beauty and love."

- Chris Veerabadran in Mil Gracias (A Thousand Thanks).

Ironworkers etch names to cheer kid cancer patients

It is a neat story, ironworkers cheer up kids suffering from cancer by immortalizing their names on the irons used for construction.

Fifty People One Question: 'By The End Of Today?'

Fifty People, One Question: New York from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo

The project “Fifty People, One Question” poses questions that are relevant to the day and asks fifty people the same question and captures their responses in a film.

This project was originally started in New Orleans, Louisiana. After it became an instant success, the project visited various cities and posed questions to 50 strangers. They captured it in a film like this video in the article in New York.

The project is a joint collaboration of Crush & Lovely bases in New York City and San Francisco and Deltree, a New Orleans-based production company led by Benjamin Reece.

Benjamin Reece is a talented young director and creator of the original series “Fifty People, One Question” video.

In this video, 50 people in New York both residents and tourists were asked ‘By the End of Today” what they would like to accomplish.

There are diverse answers from the group but they are all what we can expect in the places we live in too.
Here are some responses from the video:

“Hope to see a better place”
“Religion be eradicated”
“Get a big client by end of today”
“Get an additional job”
“Hope to get health insurance”
“Want world peace”
“Good health”

And more.

It has background music from Louis Armstrong songs “La vie en rose” and “On the sunny side of the street”.

What would you like to do 'By the end of today'?

Donate Your Old Eyeglasses Don't Dump It

I got my new eyeglasses today and I wanted to get rid of my old eyeglasses. Instead of throwing away my eyeglasses in the trash, I wanted to donate it.

I searched and found a good place for donating old eyeglasses to the poor and needy. But before that we should know why do we need to donate eyeglasses?

In developing nations there are millions of adults as well as children lack access to basic eye care facilities and lack enough funds to buy the correct eyeglasses. If one doesn't fix their eyes properly and don't wear glasses their eyesight becomes even worse than before.

For children, it will affect their education, for adults, it will affect their livelihood. So it is better to donate old eyeglasses to them instead of just throwing it in trash.

I donated mine today via Lions Club's Eyeglasses Recycling. They have recycling centers worldwide, in the U.S. they have the following recycling centers (PDF document).

Check to see whether it is near your area and you can donate your old eyeglasses.

What does Lions Club do with your old eyeglasses?

They conduct an annual event called "Lions Recycle For Sight", in which they collect eyeglasses for donation to Lions Eyeglass Recycling Centers seen above. Once they collect the glasses they are cleaned and classified by prescription. They are then distributed to the needy by the trained professionals from Lions Club.

Please see they are not affiliated to any particular religious organization or any particular country, they help everyone in need.

You can donate both prescription as well as non-prescription glasses.

Besides the recycling centers, they also have Drop-Off locations, you can find the list of locations here. If there is none in your area, you can mail the eyeglasses to the following address:

LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL

ATTENTION: RECEIVING DEPARTMENT

300 W 22ND ST

OAK BROOK IL 60523-8815

If you need more information or if you want to organize eyeglasses collection event in your school or university you can contact Health and Children's Services Department, Lions Clubs International Headquarters, via email at: eyeglasses@lionsclubs.org.

To find out more about Lions Clubs International Eyeglass Recycling Program, click here.

She Gave Me A Pen

This is a trailer from Say Anything movie. It is a old one but one of the classics. There are plenty of good scenes in the movie but in one of them there is a great quote from Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) after he gets rejected by his lover Diane Court (Ione Skye) in the movie.

"She's gone. She gave me a pen.

I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."

Solveig: Ten-year-old Girl Graffiti Artist

Solveig from London is creating a stir with her graffiti paintings. She has a bright future.

Like other artists, she wanted to paint the Berlin Wall and after painting it she quoted:

"To paint a piece on a wall that people used to get shot trying to climb over is a strange feeling"

A Solveig Painting at the Berlin Wall.

Read more about Solveig here.

Here are her more graffiti paintings:

Snowman painting

Solveig enlists her sister and friend with her AGC (All Girl Crew) club.

Solveig's Salon painting

Solveig's Elephant painting.

Tiger Woods: The Goal Is Same - 'To Win'

Tiger Woods. Pic. Photobucket.

Some play games to make money or prove a point but others like Tiger Woods play to win.

"Nothing changes from every tournament I enter -- it's to win...That's my intent, to go in there and win. Nothing has ever changed.''

- Tiger Woods on his return from injury and his expectations for playing in the next tournament.

If you can't give your best don't play or in life don't do anything.

Amazing Wish From A Kid

Little Tanner pushing the totes bags for children with cancer. Tanner is now a Clemson University Basketball player.

This story is a good one:

The fourth grade student had three wishes to his parents, one to get a dog, second to become a professional basketball player, the third was very unusual but that is what started an amazing organization later on.

"To make kids with cancer laugh"

His cancer surviving father immediately accepted it and started the charity "Tanner's Totes" and delivers toys and gifts to kids with cancer. Read his whole story here.

His Charity: Tanner's Totes

If you want them to deliver totes to a teen and cheer them up, then you can fill this request form here.

As True

Cape Sunrise, North Carolina. Photo: Jeff Zimmerman.

As True:

"Oh love,

You are,

As immense as the sea,

As wide as the sky,

As brilliant as the rainbow,

As radiant as the Sun,

As infinite as the space,

As true as love can be."

- Chris Veerabadran in Mil Gracias (A Thousand Thanks).

Nature Conservancy's Best Nature Photo Winner 2008

This picture won the Nature Conservancy's Annual Photo Contest for the year 2008. It looks more like a painting than a photograph.

Check here for more winning photos.

WWF: It Takes 53 Gallons of Water to Make One Latte

The latte drink has water, milk and sugar but it also takes about 53 gallons of water to make one drink of latte, according to the World Wildlife Foundation.

The latte drink seems harmless from the outside but Planet Green has found out that it takes 53 gallons of water to make one cup of latte drink.

The latte has a little milk and some water mixed. Then more water is added and sugar to finish the drink. A plastic lid is then used to cover the drink. The plastic has to be transported over hundreds of miles and then it requires an excess amount of water and oil to produce it. Then the paper cup goes through the same process, requiring water and transportation.

When we add all those ingredients, the amount of water needed is 200 liters or 52.83 gallons for every latte drink. Watch the World Wildlife Fund video posted in the article, which explains briefly how they calculated this figure.

When we add all the lattes we drink every day, the figure adds up even more and strains the water supplies in the Earth.

What A Man Wants Vs. What A Woman Wants

The pic explains a lot isn't it :)

Photo Reference DD270 Photobucket.

Lament in Old Age

The Pietà Mary and Jesus Statue by Michaelengelo.

Lament in Old Age

Written by

Abu Abullah Rudaki (d. AD 940)

Translated by

A. V. William Jackson,

Reference: Arberry, 1972.

Every tooth, ah me! has crumbled, dropped and fallen in decay!
Tooth it was not, nay say rather, 'twas a brilliant lamp's bright ray;
Each was white and silvery-flashing, pearl and coral in the light,
Glistening like the stars of morning or the raindrop sparkling bright;
Not a one remaineth to me, lost through weakness and decay,
Whose the fault? ''Twas surely Saturn's planetary rule, long lapse of days;
No, the fault of Saturn 'twas not, not the long long lapse of days;
'What then?' I will answer truly: 'Providence which God displays.'
Ever like to this world is--ball of dust as in the past,
Ball of dust for aye remaineth, long as its great law doth last.
That same thing which once was healing, may become a source of pain;
And the thing that now is painful, healing balm may prove again--
Time, in fact, at the same moment bringeth age where once was youth,
And anon rejuvenateth what was gone in eld, forsooth.
Many a desert waste existeth where was once garden glad;
And a garden glad existeth where was once a desert sad.
Ah, thou moon-faced, musky-tressed one, how cans't thou e'er know or deem
What was once thy poor slave's station--how once held in high esteem?
On him now thy curling tresses, coquettish thou dost bestow,
In those days thou didst not see him, when his own rich curls did flow.
Where are the days when my tresses could make you run!
Time there was when he in gladness, happy did himself disport,
Pleasure in excess enjoying, though his silver store ran short;
Always brought he in the market, countless-priced above the rest,
Every captive Turki damsel with a round pomegranate breast.
Ah, how many a beauteous maiden, in whose heart love for him reigned,
Came by night as pilgrim to him, and secret there remained!
Sparkling wine and eyes that ravish, and the face of beauty deep,
High-priced though they might be elsewhere, at my door were ever cheap.
Always happy, never knew I what might be the touch of pain,
And my heart to gladsome music opened like a wide champaign.
Many a heart to silk was softened by the magic of my verse,
Yea, though it were hard as flintstone, anvil-hard, or even worse.
Ever was my keen eye open for a maid's curled tresses long,
Ever alert my ear to listen to the world-wise man of song.
House I had not, wife nor children, no, nor female family ties,
Free from these and unencumbered have I been in every wise.
Rudaki's sad plight in old age, Sage, thou verily dost see;
In those days thou didst not see him as this wretch of low degree.
In those days thou didst not see him when he roved the wild world o'er,
Songs inditing, chatting gaily, with a thousand tales and more.
Time there was when that his verses broadcast through the whole world ran,
Time there was when he all-hailed was, as the bard of Khurasan,
Who had greatness? Who had favour, of all people in the land?
I it was had favour, greatness, from the Saman scions' hand;
Khurasan's own Amir, Nasr, forty thousand dirhams gave,
And a fifth to this was added by Prince of Pure and Brave;
From his nobles, widely scattered, came a sixty thousand more;
Those the times when mine was fortune, fortune good in plenteous store.
Now the times have changed--and I, too, changed and altered must succumb,
Bring the beggar's staff here to me; time for staff and script has come!

For more Rudaki poems click here.

Playing For Change: "One Love"

Playing For Change, charity organization is celebrating music legend Bob Marley's birthday today with this nice release of his great song "One Love" sung by 35 music artists worldwide.

Bob Marley would be proud to hear this beautiful remake.

The song is not available in iTunes yet but you can check their other songs "Stand By Me" and "Lets Don't Worry".

One Love - Bob Marley - Lyrics:

One love, one heart

Let's get together and feel all right

Hear the children crying (One love)

Hear the children crying (One heart)

Sayin', "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

Sayin', "Let's get together and feel all right."

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

Let them all pass all their dirty remarks (One love)

There is one question I'd really love to ask (One heart)

Is there a place for the hopeless sinner

Who has hurt all mankind just to save his own?

Believe me

One love, one heart

Let's get together and feel all right

As it was in the beginning (One love)

So shall it be in the end (One heart)

Alright, "Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

"Let's get together and feel all right."

One more thing

Let's get together to fight this Holy Armageddon (One love)

So when the Man comes there will be no, no doom (One song)

Have pity on those whose chances grow thinner

There ain't no hiding place from the Father of Creation

Sayin', "One love, one heart

Let's get together and feel all right."

I'm pleading to mankind (One love)

Oh, Lord (One heart) Whoa.

"Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right."

Let's get together and feel all right.

(Repeat)

Lose Reputation Lose The Firm

Wall Street Movie Poster.

"Lose money for the firm, and I will be understanding. Lose a shred of reputation for the firm, and I will be ruthless."

- Warren Buffett's motto for his company, Berkshire Hathaway. He wanted his employees to do "first-class business in a first class way."

For more great quotes click here.

A. R. Rahman Fights Poverty With 'Pray For Me Brother'

Indian music giant AR Rahman has released this single "Pray for me brother" through his A R Rahman Foundation to fight poverty.

The vision of the A R Rahman Foundation is to strive towards making poverty history. As a first step towards achieving this vision, the foundation will set up educational institutions and provide world class, state-of-the-art infrastructure and education to underprivileged children who do not have the means to access & fund their education. This will equip them with knowledge and skill sets to pursue specialized higher studies that will provide them career opportunities to build a secure future for themselves and their families.

It is a great song. The song's inspiration came through his participation as the United Nation's ambassador:

Mumbai A R Rahman released his first English single, 'Pray For Me Brother' at Welingkar College, Mumbai. A few years ago, A R Rahman was appointed as the United Nations’ ambassador to spread awareness about the Millennium Development Goals. Thus the idea of an anthem to promote the message took shape. Rahman then teamed up with his singer friend Blaaze to develop the anthem and thus was born ‘Pray For Me Brother’. As they worked on the song, Rahman released that ‘Pray For Me Brother’ could play a much larger role, one that could spread the message of peace, love, brotherhood, caring & humanity and alleviate suffering & poverty. This also inspired Rahman to initiate the A R Rahman Foundation.

If you want to participate in this foundation, you can contact the Foundation at foundation@arrahman.com.

Pray For Me Brother Lyrics:

Pray for me brother

Pray for me brother

Pray for me sister

Are you searchin’….

Pray for me brother

Lookin’ for the answers To all the questions In my life

Will I be alone Will you be there By my side

Is it something he said Is it something he did

I wonder why He is searchin’ For the answers

To stay alive

Could you ever listen Could you ever care

To speak your mind

Only for a minute For only one moment

In time

The joy is around us But show me the love

That we must find

Are you searchin’ For a reason to be kind, to be kind…

He said… Pray for me brother

Pray for me brother Pray for me sister

Pray for me brother Say

what you wanna say now

But keep your hearts open

Be what you wanna be now

Let’s heal the confusion

Pray for me brother

Don’t let me take When you don’t wanna give

Don’t be afraid Just let me live

Don’t let me take When you don’t wanna give

Don’t be afraid Say what you wanna say now

But keep your hearts open

Be what you wanna be now Let’s heal the confusion

Pray for me brother Pray for me brother

I’m ashamed ah, brother be dying of poverty

when he down on his knees its only then he prays

And it’s a shame ah, brother be dying of ignorance

cos the world is a trip and everybody’s a hypocrite

Need to stop ah , taking a look at the other

I’m not ashamed of poverty

need to be making his life better

So think about it, think about it once more

cos life is a blessing and it’s not justa show, ah

Round and round the world is spinning around

We need to be singing a prayer, we need to be singing it now

Round and round the world is turning around

We need to be singing a prayer, we need to be singing it now

Need to be feeling the power, need to be feeling the faith

We need to coming together just to win this race

Need to be feeling the power, need to be feeling the faith

We need to coming together just to win this race (twice)

Are you searching for a reason to be kind ?

Buffett's Front-Page Test

"I want employees to ask themselves whether they are willing to have any contemplated act appear the next day on the front page of their local paper, to be read by their spouses, children and friends, with the reporting done by an informed and critical reporter."

- Warren Buffett advised this to all of his employees in whatever they do for the company, they should follow this rule.

Reputation Vulnerable

Angor Vat, Cambodia. Photo: Trenka.

"It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it."

- Warren Buffett in The Snowball.

For more great quotes click here.

Humor in Marriage and Divorce

Turtle divorce joke. Photo Ref.

Isn't it true.

She married him because he was such a "strong man"


She divorced him because he was such a "dominating male."





He married her because she was so "fragile and petite."


He divorced her because she was so "weak and helpless."





She married him because "he knows how to provide a good living."


She divorced him because "all he thinks about is business."





He married her because "she reminds me of my mother."


He divorced her because "she's getting more like her mother every day."





She married him because he was "happy and romantic."


She divorced him because he was "shiftless and fun-loving."





He married her because she was "steady and sensible."


He divorced her because she was "boring and dull."





She married him because he was "the life of the party."


She divorced him because he is always "the life of the party."