Laughter is the Medicine

We all know smiling is contagious but laughter is contagious as well. See the video and remember it when you are in public.






Via Kirthi.

Smile Source

My father asked me to read Thich Nhat Hanh's books. He said that Hanh offers tons of wisdom. Here is one how we should smile always whether we have a good or a bad situation.

"Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."

- Thich Nhat Hanh.

Photo courtesy of Sugar Plum.

Face of the Day - Platypus - January 29, 2010

These are two newborn Platypus.

Photo via Dailysquee.com.

Love Wine

"A glance from her...fills the stomach with ten jugs of the wine of madness."

- From "Arabian Nights and Days: A Novel" by Naguib Mahfouz.

Photo of a woman with her wine cup from Napoli's Cafe.

Lemon Carrot Dal Recipe

Jamie Oliver is a great chef from UK, here he shares one Indian recipe from Britishcarrots.co.uk. Dal (or Dhal or Dahl) is a popular and staple food in India.

Lemony Carrot Dhal Recipe:

Ingredients

30ml/2tbsp vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
450g/1lb carrots, peeled and chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 green chilli, deseeded and chopped
2.5cm/1in piece root ginger, peeled and chopped
225g/8oz split red lentils
15ml/1tbsp medium curry paste
zest and juice 2 lemons
1.15ltr/2pts vegetable stock
30ml/2tbsp chopped fresh coriander
salt and freshly ground black pepper
coriander to garnish
rice and/or naan bread to serve


Method

1. Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and carrots and sauté for 3-4mins. Add the garlic, chilli, ginger and sauté for 1min.
2. Stir in the lentils, curry paste, lemon zest and juice and stock. Bring to the boil, then cover and simmer for 25-30mins or until the carrots are tender and the lentils have broken down. Remove from the heat, stir in the coriander and season to taste. Serve hot with rice and naan bread.

www.britishcarrots.co.uk

Charlie Simpson,7, raises more than 120,000 pounds for Children in Haiti

Charlie Simpson is only seven but has a huge heart. He saw the pictures of Haiti children being rescued from the horrific earthquake that two weeks ago. Simpson felt disheartened to see their troubled faces

Simpson told AFP: "I just think it was quite sad when I saw the pictures on the TV".

His mother, Leonora told AFP: "He really felt strongly about this and thought that something had to be done".

So he wanted to do something about it, he decided to collect 500 British Pounds from others for the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) by cycling five miles around his local park in London.

Leonora set up a profile page for her son at the JustGiving site to collect donations. His profile page said the following:

A note from Charlie:

My name is Charlie Simpson, I want to do a Sponsored Bike Ride for Haiti because there was a big earthquake and loads of people have lost their lives. I want to make some money to buy food, water and tents for everyone in Haiti.

But instead of 500 pounds he raised more than 50,000 pounds in just one day. Now, the total has exceeded 120,000 pounds and rising.

Leonora added:

"But what started off as a little cycle round the park with his dad has turned into something a lot bigger than that and we can't believe it. I am extremely proud of our Charlie, he's done really well. He's worked hard and he's raised a phenomenal amount of money so we couldn't ask for anything more."

UNICEF was very impressed and happy with Charlie Simpson's efforts.

UNICEF Spokesman Michael Newsome told AFP:

"It's always heartwarming when any child starts to respond and there's something quite special about a child in the UK reaching out to the children of Haiti,"

It is a splendid effort from little Charlie for Haiti.


Photo of Charlie Simpson riding the bike from JustGiving.com.

Vincent van Gogh: Emotions Are Captains of Life

Our thoughts turn to actions sooner or later. So, when we have good thoughts it turns to good actions and similarly bad thoughts turn to bad actions. If you don't want to be embarrassed later like others who slip by saying wrong things at inappropriate moments, then don't cultivate or harbor any bad or evil thoughts from the beginning. Van Gogh's quote summarizes that.

"Let's not forget that small emotions are the captains of our lives."

- Vincent van Gogh

Self-portrait with Felt Hat by Vincent van Gogh.

Incredible lifelike sculptures by Ron Mueck

The sculptures look very real. They are part of 12 sculptures that were unveiled during the opening of the new Ron Mueck exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia. The sculptures were crafted by Ron Mueck, who hails from Australia as well. Mueck currently works in Great Britain.

There are more like it in the Life.com link.

Here is another one. Can you guess who is real and who isn't?

Predators of the Poor

budget planner – Mint.com

It is a shame they steal big time under the guise of the law.

Playing For Change - Equal Rights

Afro Fiesta sings Peter Tosh's Equal Rights song for Playing For Change charity.

Equal Rights Lyrics:

Everyone is crying out for peace yes
None is crying out for justice
(2x)

(CHORUS)
I don't want no peace
I need equal rights and justice (3x)
Got to get it
Equal rights and justice

Everybody want to go to heaven
But nobody want to die
Everybody want to go to up to heaven
But none o them (2x) want to die

CHORUS
(Just give me my share)

What is due to Caesar
You better give it on to Caesar
And what belong to I and I
You better (2x) give it up to I

CHORUS
(I'm fighting for it)

Everyone heading for the top
But tell me how far is it from the bottom
Nobody knows but
Everybody fighting to reach the top
How far is it from the bottom

CHORUS

Everyone is talking about crime
Tell me who are the criminals
I said everybody's talking about crime, crime
Tell me who, who are the criminals
I really don't see them

CHORUS

There be no crime
Equal rights and justice (Precedes each line below)
There be no criminals
Everyone is fighting for
Palestine is fighting for
Down in Angola
Down in Botswana
Down in Zimbabwe
Down in Rhodesia
Right here in Jamaica

Macedonian Marko Calasan,9, shines in PC world

Marko Calasan is only 9 years but already has an impressive resume, is a Microsoft Certified Systems administrator for three years and currently helping a non-profit organization.

In a live interview, Calasan talks about his work and ambitions to come to the US for his future studies and career. Google, Microsoft or Apple should hire him right away.

Calasan joins Lavinashree from India and Arfa Karim from Pakistan, who have aced the Microsoft Certified Professional Exam at a young age.

Dream Practice

"Dreams are simulation of real life problems,
One can practice it, before they enact it."

- Chris Veerabadran in "All Are One".

* - In dreams you practice it, in reality you execute it.


Guggenheim Museum Design by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Little girls from North Carolina sell hot cocoa to raise money for Haiti

The girls from North Carolina set up a small hot cocoa stand to raise money for Haiti. The future is in the right hands of these children, if everyone is like them it will be a great future.

Doing Intentions

"If it is a good intention then do it as soon as possible before it becomes too late,
If it is a bad intention then don't do it anytime at all*."

- Chris Veerabadran in "All Are One".


* You will regret less in both cases.

Click the image to donate for UNICEF relief's work in Haiti. Photo wins the UNICEF year of the photo honors. Photo: Unicef.org.

Help Kiva win $1 million in the Chase Community Giving contest!

Guest post by Lisa Shah from Kiva.org.

Kiva has made it to the second round of the Chase Community Giving contest and we need your vote to help us win $1 million in funding! Voting is open now and ends on January 22nd.

To vote for Kiva, visit http://bit.ly/8dcnwe. After adding the Chase Community Giving application on Facebook, you will be able to place your vote for "Kiva Microfunds."

Winning the Chase Community Giving challenge would enable Kiva to make critical investments in staff to strengthen and expand Kiva’s Field Partner network while building and improving the Kiva website to better educate, connect, and serve Kiva lenders. By investing in Kiva’s unique model, we can generate about $10 in loans from the internet community for every $1 of award money we spend building and improving the platform.

We appreciate your support and vote for Kiva!

Ignorance Toxin

To have a blissful life free of fear, sadness and sorrow, one must rid of several toxin behaviors such as anger, lies and others, but most important of all one should rid of ignorance toxin says Gautama Buddha.

"More toxic than rust (in an iron)
is ignorance, the greatest toxin."

- The Dhammapada.

Ignorance not only costs self but costs other innocent victims.


Photo of Polar bear and the melting ice in the Arctic.

15-year-old Tyler Larronde rides a huge wave in Maui, Hawaii

Jaws wave is famous for its huge waves in Maui, Hawaii and surfers flock to ride this giant wave, it is like a Mt. Everest for them.

According to Wikipedia:

The surf break, a deep water reef break, is called "Jaws" due to the size and ferocity of the waves. The waves at "Jaws" can reach heights of 70 ft (21.3 m) on the face of the wave, moving as fast as 30 mph (48.3 km/h).

See also the video to see the actual perspective of this Jaws wave. Tyler has conquered his Mt. Everest goals.

Clouds and Buildings

Bhurj Khalifa at the far end and other skyscrapers in Dubai hover and meet up over the clouds like the scholars of the Greece past.



Photo by Alisdair Miller.

Happiness a Life Adder

Even your body (health) will agree to this.

"Happiness keeps you from dying from a lot of terrible things."

- Phyllis Diller to Tad Friend from The New Yorker magazine, Jan 11, 2010 issue.

Photo ref: Docwhisperer.wordpress.com.

Fight dandruff with a simple natural treatment

You can either eliminate or fight dandruff with shampoos and conditioners or you can use the following home remedies:

1. White Household Vinegar
2. Listerine (Original)
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
4. Tea Tree Oil
5. Rosemary Tea
6. Peppermint Tea
7. Peppermint Cider Vinegar
8. Aspirin
9. Lavender Vinegar

Or you can just use plain cold water. Some might say why use cold water in cold winter time. There is a way without affecting you and your body.

Wash your hair like you normally do, use hot water to shampoo and condition your hair. When the time comes to rinse your hair, just use cold water instead of hot water. Put your head away from the body and let the cold water from the shower to rinse your hair. The water will bounce of the head away from the body, so the cold water won't affect you.

I have been using this treatment for the past 5 years, so far I have never used any anti-dandruff shampoos or conditioners, it works like a magic. Plus you don't use unnecessary chemicals washing away to the drains and indirectly affecting the water.

What type of method do you use to fight dandruff?


Photo ref: Pharmainfo.net.

Great Britain turns to ice

There has been heavy snow across England and its neighbors recently, because of it the whole region is blanketed by ice as seen from the top by NASA's Terra satellite.




This striking image taken by Nasa's Terra satellite on 7 January shows the UK deep in the clutches of the current cold snap.

Rather have nothing if you can't have perfection

"I remember when Steve (Steve Jobs, Apple) was my neighbor in Woodside, California., and he had no furniture. It struck me that there weren't furniture good enough for Steve in the world. He'd rather have nothing if he couldn't have perfection."

- Larry Ellison, Co-Founder and CEO, Oracle, on Steve Jobs in Fortune magazine, November 23, 2009 issue.

Photo from Steve Jobs At Home In 1982.

Life as a Bee

Our purpose of life should be as follows. In this example the flowers are the stuff available on the village (Earth).

As a bee flying from a flower,
having taken up its nectar,
does not harm its luster or fragrance,
so should the sage wander in the village.

- The Dhammapada.

Photo ref: Ozgurmulazimoglu.

Starbucks in Heaven

Apparently it is not but is equally good as a kiosk in Dubai.


Photo ref: Jon Rawlinson, Flickr via Reddit.

Cultivate Your Mind

"Just as rain pierces
a poorly roofed house,
so passion pierces
an uncultivated mind.

Just as rain cannot pierce
a well-roofed house,
so passion cannot pierce
a well-cultivated mind."

- The Dhammapada: Verses on the Way.

Photo ref: Wunderground.com.

Patience and Passion

Seek patience

and passion

in equal amounts.

Patience alone

will not build the temple.

Passion alone

will destroy its walls.

- Maya Angelou.

Mayor Shovels Snow After Twitter Request

A Twitter use Ravie Rave (@BigSixxRaven) sent a message to the Newark Mayor Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) requesting help for her 65-year-old father, who needed help shoveling the snow from his driveway. The Mayor responded quickly and asked Ravie where her father lived. Not only Mr. Booker contacted her father but also removed the snow himself from the driveway.

Mayor Booker left the following message to Ravie:

Please @BigSixxRaven don't worry bout ur dad. Just talked 2 him & I'll get 2 his Driveway by noon. I've got salt, shovels & great volunteers

The voter and his daughter are excited with Mr. Booker's response and follow-through in solving the problem.

How many political leaders will do this? Not many, but I hope there are many like Mr. Booker in the future.

Photo ref: Jfklibrary.org.

Rush to Problem Land

"Rushing things may or may not accomplish what you want,

But it will likely add more problems than what you have now."

- Chris Veerabadran in "All Are One".

Photo ref: Psychologytoday.com.

Yoga in Motion

Brilliant photography by Jasper Johal. His photos look like poetry in motion.

His is a great immigrant story. He came to the US with an old camera and 36 dollars only and now he is famous for his photography techniques.

Equanimity

Shahrzad: "I give thanks to God, for no joy carries me away, no sadness touches me."

- From "Arabian Nights and Days: A Novel" by Naguib Mahfouz.

Image of Buddha reference: Alexandracoliba.blogspot.com.

Face of the Day - Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year 2010 to my visitors.

Photo from The Big Picture - Boston.com blog. People with their faces painted "2010" pose during the New Year celebrations in the central Indian city of Bhopal January 1, 2010. (REUTERS/Raj Patidar).

Thoughts Turn to Voices

Shahrzad: "But you know, father...That I am unhappy."

Dandan: "Be careful, daughter, for thoughts assume concrete forms in palaces and give voice."

- From "Arabian Nights and Days: A Novel" by Naguib Mahfouz, a Nobel Prize winner.

Cartoon image reference: XKCD.com.