Photo ......

Determining light n click Photo

Light is always the most important for the photograph . Our eyes are always better than the camera lens . While you may be able to see a scene perfectly well with your eyes, cameras do need a bit more light than our eyes in order to function properly. You do not need any fancy hand-held photography light meters for this step. The meter in the camera will work perfectly well. Simply point your camera at your intended scene and press the shutter halfway down. However, be sure that you point your camera at the darkest part of the scene you are taking that you want to be visible in your image. If you take a meter reading from a brightly lit fountain, that beautiful oak tree behind it catching the light will be too dark to appreciate. Take your reading from the oak tree instead. Look at the readings it gives you. It may say that you need a flash, or if you have a SLR, you may see the metering bar showing you how much underexposed our image will be at your current settings. If your camera does not have any adjustment options other than a nighttime setting, then turn the dial to your camera's nighttime or landscape setting and skip down to part 4 of this section. If you camera has other abilities, use them. There are four things you will set on your camera for nighttime photography film speed , aperture , shutter speed , flash You will use flash to "fill in" areas that need additional light. Remember that flash does not have an unlimited range so this works best for areas relatively close (about 4 to 9 feet) from you. If you use your camera's on-board flash I would recommend using it only when you must illuminate a person. If you have an add on flash that works with your camera you can use the fill-flash feature to set it to less power and illuminate things like the bases of lighted fountains that may otherwise be lost in shadow. Shutter speed -Unless you are shooting nighttime sports or another situation where you need to freeze motion, your shutter speed will be your third step. Set your shutter speed for a proper exposure on your metering bar. Remember to take your meter reading from the darkest part of the scene you want to appear well lit. Aperture -The aperture will be determined in mostly by your subject. Aperture controls how much depth of your image will be in focus and will be marked on your camera as F-Stop. Film speed - This is marked by "ISO" on some cameras. Unless you are shooting nighttime sports, use a slower film speed. This will reduce the grain visible in your images and produce a much clearer image. Now you can take the photograph if you shake the camera the photo wont be nice so you should be stable with hands or we can use Tripods which are the most common choice for a stabilizing but do not extend the tripod to its fullest height. Most low-cost tripods are not stable at their full extensions and will still produce a residual shake from the pressure you use to press the shutter button. If you do not have a tripod or you are not allowed to use one in your location, there are other options -- Beanbags, backpacks, rolled up jackets, or even purses can work very well. platform,

camera capability

We should know what our camera is capable of we have to check what all the features it has and we should know how to control it . Whether you have a point-and-shoot or a SLR, be sure to familiarize yourself with your camera. Four considerations to make for night photography . First is FLASH - is there and on-board flash? Is there the capability for an add-on flash? second is the shutter and aperture control- does your camera allow you to control the shutter speed and the aperture settings or at least have a "nighttime" preset? then its FILM speed check if you can set your preference of film speed? and check for SHUTTER RELEASE - do you have the option of a remote release button for the shutter or a self-timer?

Night photography

Our adventures don't stop when the sun goes down and our photography shouldn't have to either. Night photography can record beautiful scenes that have a fairytale world feel to them when compared to their daytime counterparts. A plain fountain becomes a lighted wonder, or dreary skyscrapers light up like Christmas trees. Night photography does require a slightly different approach than daytime photography, but it all boils down to the same thing that is capturing light. Once you begin your love affair with the night, you will discover that night photography is an excellent way to increase you awareness of light for all types of photography. I will give some simple ways to improve your night photography.

Great - dont you like it .

Light meter in camera .

A light meter is an instrument inside your camera that tells you if the amount of light reaching the film will be enough or too much to properly expose your image. The light meter takes into account your shutter speed, film speed, and aperture settings.Your camera's light meter shows you the amount of light in aperture settings. Each dot on the meter represents a partial "stop", or aperture increment. The numbers represent whole stops. Even though your F-Stop setting controls the aperture itself, the meter readings will also change if you change your film speed or shutter speed.Even though most of the time you will want to keep your meter reading in the center, there are times you will need to deliberately overexpose or underexpose your images slightly. Sometimes this is for artistic effect but usually it is because you are shooting in conditions that can confused the meter.
Example to overexpose - Subject is very dark in comparison to backgroundOn a bright day if your subject is in shadow .
Example to underexpose -Subject is very light in comparison to background.On a overcast day to increase color saturation

Lighting -

Photography is all about lighting. How we control the available light and add additional light when needed is basis for all photography.Taking a photo with the available light is very important aspect to be followed . There are numerous controls and methods for controlling light available to today's photographer.

This photo was selected as one of the best photo once . You don't have to have a fancy camera to take great photographs .This is just a simple photo anyone can take but you should look at images differently make them look good .You simply have to know your camera's capabilities and apply solid photography techniques. Enjoy photography ............................

Photography..........!!!!!!!!

Photography is a lovely art . The basic thing that we need for it is the camera.
Camera is a tool . The camera does not make the photograph, you do. Never allow yourself to feel like the camera is in control. The camera is your tool and you must use it as a tool. the camera is a box that controls the amount of light that reaches a piece of light sensitive film or other surface inside. The first cameras used a tiny hole in the front of the box to allow in light and to focus the image onto the viewing surface. This is the same principle as when children punch a pinhole into a piece of paper in order to watch a solar eclipse projected through the pinhole and onto the ground.
Today's cameras use glass lenses to focus and capture light much more quickly and to allow us to magnify images. Film is much more sensitive and finely detailed than the first film surfaces and now we also have digital sensors that sometimes take the place of film. Today's cameras also have shutters that control the light from reaching the film or sensor with the touch of a button and have powerful flashes to help illuminate scenes. The camera has come a long way from its humble beginnings, but it is still just a box that controls the amount of light that reaches a piece of film.
so for taking a good photograph its not that you need a great camera you need a great way of looking at objects differently . So check here for more updates about photography make it a hobby and enjoy the life .

I Am Sam -

I know that title isn't very descriptive, but all I could say for awhile after watching I Am Sam was, "Wow!"
I Am Sam begins with Sam Dawson (Sean Penn) at his job. He lives in Santa Monica and works at Starbucks. We can see that he's mentally retarded. He appears slightly autistic. Because of this, he's given only menial tasks to do. Suddenly, his boss tells him that he has to go. We see Sam running through the streets, catching buses and so on to end up at a hospital. A woman is in labor and it turns out that he's the father, but she wants nothing to do with him afterward--apparently, it was something like a one night stand. She abandons him with the baby. Aided by a quartet of developmentally disabled friends and his agoraphobic neighbor, Annie Cassell (Dianne Wiest), we see Sam doing his best to raise the girl, Lucy Diamond Dawson (eventually played by Dakota Fanning)--so named because Sam is a big Beatles fan. At least until he is "accidentally arrested". Government officials question his ability to raise his daughter, and I Am Sam becomes the tale of Sam's legal battle to retain custody of Lucy, aided by high profile lawyer Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer).

I Am Sam will likely make you say, "Wow!" afterward because it is a masterpiece on every artistic and technical level.

All of the major cast members give one of the best performances of their careers, and many of these actors have had a number of artistic triumphs on their résumés. Sean Penn is completely natural and believable as a developmentally disabled man. Two of the men playing his friends really were developmentally disabled, having been found at L.A. Goal, a non-profit agency dedicated to helping such people through a variety of programs, and it's next to impossible to tell them apart from the other actors. Nelson and her co-writer, Kristine Johnson, spent a lot of time at L.A. Goal doing research, as did Penn. Pfeiffer perfectly executes a complex character who has to undergo a number of far reaching transformations and even a breakdown of sorts. As for Fanning, I haven't seen her in a film yet where she didn't threaten to steal the whole thing from her senior, much more experienced colleagues, and during the filming of I Am Sam she was only 6 or 7. Wiest, Richard Schiff, Laura Dern and others also turn in very complex performances that convey characters with deep, multifaceted histories, despite their relatively little screen time.

Nelson approaches the film with a number of unusual artistic and technical angles that all work wonderfully. The cinematography is mostly hand-held work. Unlike similar attempts in films such as Lars Von Trier's Dogville (2003), the hand-held work never feels affected or intrusive here--it's completely "organic". The most common purpose of the unusual cinematography is to give the viewer almost a subjective sense of what it's like to be Sam, to experience the world in the way he does. Cinematographer Elliot Davis moves his camera in a way closely mirrored with Sean Penn's movements. There's an additional emotional symbolism. When Sam is feeling agitated, the camera-work is agitated. Likewise when Sam is confused, pensive, and so on. Davis shoots from a lot of unusual angles. All of them work.

Nelson also has the editing, lighting and production design match the aesthetic of the cinematography. The editing is sometimes very choppy, but always feels "natural", just right for conveying Sam's experience. Sometimes there are odd incongruencies between sound and image, or between temporal sequences. The lighting, camera angles and production design often make some elements appropriately fantastical. The production design and costuming match not only Sam's world, but other characters' worlds, as well. Not one aspect of the film seems to have gone by without close examination and artistic justification.

The music, which largely consists of Beatles tunes performed by other artists, fits the film perfectly. Sam and his friends are all a bit obsessed with the Beatles (and apparently, so were many L.A. Goal members when Nelson visited). The Beatles tunes exquisitely match the various moods of the film, and the lyrics often complement emotions and actions.

But even above all of that, I Am Sam tells a heart-wrenching story that's something of an exciting, emotional roller-coaster. There are many humorous scenes, often centered on Sam and his buddies going about the world with a kind of Winnie the Pooh-like wisdom that seems more honest and admirable than most of the film's "normal" folks. Of course, there are also many scenes that will require tissues for tears. And there's just about every emotion in between the two.

Finally, the film has a great message. Does parenting, or general personal worth, really hinge on intellectual ability and amassed knowledge? I don't think so. Parents who are very smart can have more than their share of flaws, as we see with Pfeiffer's character early on. Plenty of us had parents who were smart enough but couldn't help us with our geometry homework. Love may not be all you need, but it's definitely one of the major prerequisites.

anna university results nov 2007

PS, I LOVE YOU - wow

There has been so much discussion on this film that I wasn't sure what type of movie I would be seeing - a drama, romance or comedy.

The movie has all three - the film takes you on an emotional journey, one that everyone can relate to, losing someone you love and learning to cope with the loss is universal.

Hilary Swank was a pleasant surprise I wasn't sure of her in the role. Gerard Butler as "Gerry" the deceased husband was excellent but his role should have been expanded. The scenes between Butler and Swank were the best part of the movie.

The supporting cast was very good and provided the comedic relief. I especially liked Harry Connick Jr.'s character.

You will not be disappointed with the film. It is not an academy award winning film, but it is a tearjerker and definitely makes you go home home and hug your significant other and be happy to have them in your life.

What is love and how do you know when you have found it.?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
—I Corinthians 13:4-8a

This verse describes the characteristics of true love. These qualities can certainly be found in the person of Jesus Christ, and they can be found in all truly loving relationships. The problem with trying to "find" love in our dating lives, is that too often we don't look for these characteristics. Rather we look at physical appearance, popularity, or wealth. These are not the qualities that God looks at and neither should we.

But the LORD said to Samuel, '...The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
—I Samuel 16:7b (NIV)

Love is best seen as devotion and action, not an emotion. Love is not exclusively based on how we feel. Certainly our emotions are involved, but they cannot be our only criteria for love. True devotion will always lead to action - true love.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth.
I John 3:18 (NIV)

Christ was devoted to us enough to give his own life for us (Romans 5:8), even when he didn't feel like it (Matthew 26:39).

Sex is not love! Our culture has taught us that sex and love are one in the same. This is a lie. Sex is a beautiful God-given activity that is wonderful when practiced within the boundaries of a Biblical marriage. Sex is the completion of the binding of two people within Biblical marriage; it is a God-given gift.

PRE-MARITAL SEX

Because premarital sex is not love, it only leads to pain and disappointment for those who are seeking that love. The Bible says that when two people are married, they become one flesh (Ephesians 5:31). Sex is consummation of that union. When two people break off their relationship after having sex, it is like ripping apart flesh. This is why two teenagers will struggle so much and become so dependent on those they give their bodies to. In light of I Corinthians 13:4-8 (above), it is easy to see that premarital sex is not patient, it is not kind, it does not protect, it is self-seeking. It is not love!

IDENTIFYING TRUE LOVE

We can only identify true love and know when we have found it, based on the Word of God. When we match our relationships up to what the Bible says that love is -- and we are honestly prepared to make a life-long commitment to that person -- then we can say that we are truly "in love." The three keys to that statement are:

We have to…

1. look at the Word of God
2. be completely honest with ourselves
3. understand the level of commitment that comes with true love

Juno - I do try hard to be cool

OK, get this. Juno was written by a lady called Diablo Cody. How cool is that? That's got to be one of the coolest names of all time (after Max Power of course.) It's a shame she didn't channel her coolness into the film's script, which, though charming and fuzzy and consistent, doesn't exactly go for the jugular. Juno tells the story of a sixteen year old girl named Juno MacGuff, played by the breathtakingly beautiful and rather talented Ellen Page, who finds herself pregnant after enjoying spontaneous sex with her best friend. Her eventual course of action is to put the baby up for adoption and soon finds the seemingly perfect couple, Vanessa and Mark Loring (Jennifer Garner and Jason Bateman, respectively.) However, and this came as a total shock, things don't all go to plan and Juno finds herself reassessing the situation and her life in general. Now, everybody knows that this type of film (Zach Braff's Garden State also instantly springs to mind) involves a dramatic event prompting the protagonist to meander their way through the film and eventually learn a valuable life lesson, all the while accompanied by an indie-based soundtrack. That is not important. What IS important are the things occurring around the story and for the most part Juno gets it right. The majority of the characters are quirky and funny, the highlights being the eponymous heroine and Bleeker (Michael Cera), the guy responsible for getting Juno in the pudding club, so to speak. Their actions and dialogue may not elicit spasmodic fits of laughter but they are responsible for placing the smile on your face which remains from beginning to end. Plus, I found myself actually caring about Juno's plight. Director Jason Reitman does not shy away from the subject matter (good job too, because he'd have little else to work with) and avoids making the mistake of asserting that teenage pregnancy is funny. The jokes are made parallel to the pregnancy, not at the expense of it. For example, at one point Juno is visiting the prospective adopting couple, staying a while when Vanessa suggests that she should be returning home on account of her parents worrying about her, to which Juno replies: "Nah... I mean, I'm already pregnant, so what other kind of shenanigans could I get into?" It's sentences like that that make Juno a worthwhile film experience.

However, there were a few elements which, though inoffensive enough on their own, when combined over the 96 minute running time annoyed the hell out of me. Why do independent productions always have to have title credits that look like they were designed by somebody who failed to gain entry into art school (Hitler, for example)? And always with the Red House Painters guitar pop played over the top. It doesn't look or sound good. The music all the way through was pretty bad actually, especially the frequent name-dropping conversations between Juno and Mark to firstly show how much of a cool guy Mark is and secondly to show just how damn quirky Juno really is. Mentioning Sonic Youth and/or the late seventies punk movement will never earn you any esteem. Also, the burger phone was irksome. It isn't enough that it appears several times; it has to get a mention too, as though we haven't noticed it. "Oh, sorry I'm on my burger phone, it doesn't work very well." Yes, great. We can see you have a phone shaped like a quarter-pounder, NEXT.

Although Juno does try its hardest to feed the audience a novelty communication device, it is one of those films people should watch now and again to confirm that they are not indeed emotionally dead but are actually still able to remember what happiness, however faint, feels like. Ellen Page seems like a lady who would be cool just to hang out with, the dialogue is intelligent and snappy, a Gibson Les Paul makes a welcome appearance and, of course, the ending is the equivalent to swallowing a tablespoon of sugar while swimming in a bath of syrup. You cannot go wrong.

The Bucket List - two legendary veterans(Nicholson and Freeman) that teaches us about life friendships and touches our emotions and feelings

two legendary veterans(Nicholson and Freeman) that teaches us about life friendships and touches our emotions and feelings


"The Bucket List" is certainly a sentimental favorite that as a viewer touches your emotions and has you hoping for finding a friendship in the end, even though the film is funny and somewhat unrealistic. The performances from Jack and Morgan as expected are top notch, and I personally like Rob Reiner's direction of showing how an unlikely and odd friendship develops between two guys on their way out of life by doing the things they've always wanted. The "Bucket List" in many respects is a good happy fairy tale that most ordinary folks would dream about before they die, yet the character types played by Nicholson and Freeman make it so believable.

Jack Nicholson is billionaire hospital CEO administrator Edward Cole who as a grumpy and aging four time divorced playboy finds he has terminal cancer. With Freeman a character that's much different a blue collar working class auto mechanic named Carter Chambers who's a loving family man with a wife and kids and on the side a beloved history buff and trivia enthusiast yet he discovers his fate of having terminal cancer. Upon meeting in the same hospital room they share at first it's a cold and tough bonding only later to grow into a friendship by journey and discovery. The concept is thought up by Chambers by making a list called "The Bucket List" of things to do before we die. Oddly opposites agree the journey starts. The adventures include the heart pumping sky diving, auto drag racing, and trips to exotic locations and foreign countries. Many scenes like the mountain tops and pyramids seem unreal, yet are carried on by the witty and funny lines from Jack's character.

Most important aside from the journey and discovery of friendship and caring by travel and adventure a special bond is formed. Each has learned before they meet the end they have made each a better person that cares they both found what's important in life thru one another. "The Bucket List" isn't really a tear jerker, yet it's story of two terminal cancer patients provides the need for compassion as the viewer feels pain during the early scenes and you are certainly touched by the way the characters emotions grow by friendship you as the viewer feel your emotions have taken a good friendship journey. Finally this film is made even better by the performances of the two veteran legends Nicholson and Freeman. I highly recommend anyone view "The Bucket List".

27 Dresses -comment

Amidst the formula of "27 Dresses", Katherine Heigl's Jane, wearing one of her 27 bridesmaid dresses, tells James Marsden's Kevin, "Someday, it'll be my day…" Kevin had asked Jane why she keeps being everyone's bridesmaid. Heigl's response and silence is so strikingly touching and moving. The surprise of "27 Dresses" is that is really about finding love and going after what you want. I was interested in chick movie "27 Dresses", because it was written by Aline Brosh McKenna, who wrote the screenplay for "The Devil Wears Prada". "27 Dresses" is formulaic and predictable, no doubt about this. However, Director Anne Fletcher's movie has humor and great heart. Katherine Heigl and James Marsden are amazing, and have wonderful chemistry. Heigl, who is stunningly beautiful, displays emotional depth and comfortable charm. I enjoyed her here more than in "Knocked Up". James Marsden ("X-Men") is finally being leveraged for his unique talents. This started with "Enchanted", now here in "27 Dresses". Marsden has a mercurial presence. He is very versatile. He is hysterical with Heigl as they drunkenly sing Elton John's "Bennie and the Jets" in some dive bar. He is solid and vulnerable when he confesses to Jane, "You deserve more…"

So "27 Dresses" is predictable, pretty much after the first 10 minutes. Big deal. However, McKenna wonderfully unveils and reveals Jane and Kevin, throughout. She displays a particularly poignant touch about their favorite part of weddings. Fletcher and McKenna deliver humor and humanity in what could have been rather ordinary.

Jane's passion is weddings—other people's weddings. She even has a favorite Wedding columnist in the New York Journal. Actually, she possesses mastery as bridesmaid. When we first see Jane she is multitasking between two weddings. Basically, Jane can't say "No." Kevin (Marsden), who is a reporter covering one of the weddings, assists Jane after an unfortunate "jump ball" for the bridal bouquet. Kevin is on to Jane's bridesmaid glitch. After taking Jane home, Kevin under whelms her with his cynicism. Jane forgets her planner which has all her wedding schedules in their taxi. Kevin recovers her planner, and after reading it tells his editor Maureen (great Melora Hardin) that he may have a story about Jane.

Meanwhile, Jane holds a torch for her charismatic boss George (Edward Burns). Her pal Casey (funny Judy Greer) reminds Jane that she should either get a life or tell George. Unfortunately, Jane's younger sister Tess (aloof Malin Akerman) returns home. George falls for Tess, even though Tess is an obvious bitch and self serving liar. Well, I guess she is pretty and sexy. Eventually, George and Tess plan to marry, and Jane again is the bridesmaid. Jane is planning the wedding for her sister, who is marrying the man she loves. This does not escape Casey and Kevin. Kevin, hurt from a previous relationship, gets a glimpse at Jane's life and who she really is. He sees that she deserves someone great.

Doesn't take being a rocket scientist to figure how things may resolve. A few things are glaringly goofy about "27". For one thing, Tess played by Akerman is a completely unsympathetic bitch. Although the narrative ends gracefully for her, she is vapid and soulless. Consequently, George (Burns) comes off as complete idiot for choosing her. Akerman may be attractive, but Heigl as Jane is beautiful. Heigl playing it as "plain" Jane is a little ridiculous. Judy Greer is great as Casey, Jane's funny muse of common sense. She could have been leveraged more in "27".

Ultimately, Heigl and Marsden elevate and rescue "27 Dresses". Heigl has star presence that makes you rout for Jane to get what she deserves—a great life. She is smart, funny, and always touchingly believable. In a quiet scene where her Dad (Brian Kerwin) gives their mother's wedding dress to Tess, you can feel Heigl's soul empty. Marsden has an easy charm and compassionate depth. He too is wonderful in his silence, and hysterical in his rants. Along with Fletcher and McKenna, they implore charm and heart to overcome the movie's rough spots, and make "27 Dresses" unexpectedly fun and touching.

National Treasure: Book of Secrets -

I did not see the first part of the movie, but being Nicholas Cage's fan, I went to see this one.

The story is about treasure hunter Ben Gates (Nicholas Cage) who unravels the pages of missing dairy of the killer of Abrahim Lincoln to find out the secret leading to the hidden treasure of gold. The movie opens with the shooting of Lincoln and then re-opens in today's times when Ben with the help of - nerdy geek friend Riley Poole (Justin Bartha), his girl friend Abigali Chase (Daine Kruger), his father Patrick Gates (Jon Voight) and his mother Prof. Emily Appelton (Helen Mirren) – solve the mystery. There is also a villain Mitch Wilkinson (Ed Harris) who is also behind the treasure. There are lots of chase scenes, moments of comedy, suspense, thrill – that leads them to Luxembourg Garden in Paris, the statue of Liberty, Birmingham Palace in London, the White House, the Mount Rushmore and below that the hidden underground gold treasure. In the end villain dies and the treasure is given to the US government.

The movie is a typical commercial venture in the lines of James Bond and Indiana Jones movies with enough comedy, stunts, chase, geeks and good acting. Nicholas Cage looks haggard with his age, Daine Krugner looks good and at times reminds of south Indian heroine Simran, Helen Mirren and Jon Voight try to do justice to their small roles, but the scene stealer is Ed Harris in his small villainy role.

The movie has its fun moments. The last action scenes is shot underground (mostly in a studio set) on a hinge platform, and I think that could have been made much more enthralling with greater variety of stunt (how we miss Steven Spielberg to do all that for us). This movie falls short to deliver the same rush of blood as Indiana Jones series, but is though enough to entertain oneself.

(Stars 6.25 out of 10)

About the novel Treasure Island

Treasure Island is an adventure novel by author Robert Louis Stevenson, narrating a tale of "buccaneers and buried gold". First published as a book in 1883, it was originally serialised in the children's magazine Young Folks between 1881-82 under the title The Sea Cook, or Treasure Island.

Traditionally considered a coming of age story, it is an adventure tale known for its superb atmosphere, character and action, and also a wry commentary on the ambiguity of morality—as seen in Long John Silver—unusual for children's literature then and now. It is one of the most frequently dramatised of all novels. The influence of Treasure Island on popular perception of pirates is vast, including treasure maps with an 'X', schooners, the Black Spot, tropical islands, and one-legged seamen with parrots on their shoulders.

Forest management and Forest loss

Redwood tree in northern California redwood forest, where many redwood trees are managed for preservation and longevity, rather than harvest for wood production.
Coastal Douglas fir woodland in northwest Oregon.The scientific study of forest species and their interaction with the environment is referred to as forest ecology, while the management of forests is often referred to as forestry. Forest management has changed considerably over the last few centuries, with rapid changes from the 1980s onwards culminating in a practice now referred to as sustainable forest management. Forest ecologists concentrate on forest patterns and processes, usually with the aim of elucidating cause and effect relationships. Foresters who practice sustainable forest management focus on the integration of ecological, social and economic values, often in consultation with local communities and other stakeholders.

Anthropogenic factors that can affect forests include logging, human-caused forest fires, acid rain, and introduced species, among other things. There are also many natural factors that can also cause changes in forests over time including forest fires, insects, diseases, weather, competition between species, etc. In 1997, the World Resources Institute recorded that only 20% of the world's original forests remained in large intact tracts of undisturbed forest [4]. More than 75% of these intact forests lie in three countries - the Boreal forests of Russia and Canada and the rainforest of Brazil. In 2006 this information on intact forests was updated using latest available satellite imagery.

Canada has about 4,020,000 km² of forest land. More than 90% of forest land is publicly owned and about 50% of the total forest area is allocated for harvesting. These allocated areas are managed using the principles of sustainable forest management, which includes extensive consultation with local stakeholders. About eight percent of Canada’s forest is legally protected from resource development (Global Forest Watch Canada)(Natural Resources Canada). Much more forest land — about 40 percent of the total forest land base — is subject to varying degrees of protection through processes such as integrated land-use planning or defined management areas such as certified forests (Natural Resources Canada). By December 2006, over 1,237,000 square kilometres of forest land in Canada (about half the global total) had been certified as being sustainably managed (Canadian Sustainable Forestry Certification Coalition). Clearcutting is usually the harvest method of choice and companies are required by law to ensure that harvested areas are adequately regenerated. Most Canadian provinces have regulations limiting the size of clearcuts, although some older clearcuts can range upwards of 110 km² (20,000 acres) in size which were cut over several years.

In the United States, most forests have historically been affected by humans to some degree, though in recent years improved forestry practices has helped regulate or moderate large scale or severe impacts. However the United States Forest Service estimates that every year about 6,000 km² (1.5 million acres) of the nation’s 3,000,000 km² (750 million acres) of forest land is lost to urban sprawl and development. It is expected that the South alone will lose 80,000 to 100,000 km² (20 to 25 million acres) to development. However, in many areas of the United States, the area of forest is stable or increasing, particularly in many northern states.

Globally two broad types of forests can be identified: natural and anthropogenic[citation needed].

Natural forests contain mainly natural patterns of biodiversity in established seral patterns, and they contain mainly species native to the region and habitat. The natural formations and processes have not been affected by humans with a frequency or intensity to change the natural structure and components of the habitat.

Anthropogenic forests have been created by humans or sufficiently affected by humans to change or remove natural seral patterns. They often contain significant elements of species which were originally from other regions or habitats.

What is the scope of liver cancer problems?

Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. A deadly cancer, liver cancer will kill almost all patients who have it within a year. In 1990, the World Health Organization estimated that there were about 430,000 new cases of liver cancer worldwide, and a similar number of patients died as a result of this disease. About three quarters of the cases of liver cancer are found in Southeast Asia (China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan). Liver cancer is also very common in sub-Saharan Africa (Mozambique and South Africa).

The frequency of liver cancer in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa is greater than 20 cases per 100,000 population. In contrast, the frequency of liver cancer in North America and Western Europe is much lower, less than five per 100,000 population. However, the frequency of liver cancer among native Alaskans is comparable to that seen in Southeast Asia. Moreover, recent data show that the frequency of liver cancer in the U.S. overall is rising. This increase is due primarily to chronic hepatitis C, an infection of the liver that causes liver cancer.

Types of heart disease

Cardiomyopathy
Main article: Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy literally means "heart muscle disease" (Myo= muscle, pathy= disease) It is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium (i.e., the actual heart muscle) for any reason. People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of arrhythmia and/or sudden cardiac death.

Extrinsic cardiomyopathies - cardiomyopathies where the primary pathology is outside the myocardium itself. Most cardiomyopathies are extrinsic, because by far the most common cause of a cardiomyopathy is ischemia. The World Health Organization calls these specific cardiomyopathies[citation needed]:
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
Coronary artery disease
Congenital heart disease - see below
Nutritional diseases affecting the heart
Ischemic (or ischaemic) cardiomyopathy
Hypertensive cardiomyopathy
Valvular cardiomyopathy - see also Valvular heart disease below
Inflammatory cardiomyopathy - see also Inflammatory heart disease below
Cardiomyopathy secondary to a systemic metabolic disease
Intrinsic cardiomyopathies - weakness in the muscle of the heart that is not due to an identifiable external cause.
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) - most common form, and one of the leading indications for heart transplantation. In DCM the heart (especially the left ventricle) is enlarged and the pumping function is diminished.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM or HOCM) - genetic disorder caused by various mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. In HCM the heart muscle is thickened, which can obstruct blood flow and prevent the heart from functioning properly.
Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) - arises from an electrical disturbance of the heart in which heart muscle is replaced by fibrous scar tissue. The right ventricle is generally most affected.
Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) - least common cardiomyopathy. The walls of the ventricles are stiff, but may not be thickened, and resist the normal filling of the heart with blood. ** Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy - the left ventricle wall has failed to properly grow from birth and such has a spongy appearance when viewed during an echocardiogram.

Cardiovascular disease
Main article: Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease is any of a number of specific diseases that affect the heart itself and/or the blood vessel system, especially the veins and arteries leading to and from the heart. Research on disease dimorphism suggests that women who suffer with cardiovascular disease usually suffer from forms that affect the blood vessels while men usually suffer from forms that affect the heart muscle itself. Known or associated causes of cardiovascular disease include diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia and hypercholesterolemia.

Types of cardiovascular disease include:

Atherosclerosis

Coronary heart disease
Main article: Coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease is a disease of the heart caused by the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium. Angina pectoris and myocardial infarction (heart attack) are symptoms of and conditions caused by coronary heart disease.

Ischaemic heart disease - another disease of the heart itself, characterized by reduced blood supply to the organ.

Heart failure
Main article: Heart failure
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure (or CHF), and congestive cardiac failure (CCF), is a condition that can result from any structural or functional cardiac disorder that impairs the ability of the heart to fill with or pump a sufficient amount of blood throughout the body.

Cor pulmonale, a failure of the right side of the heart.

Hypertensive heart disease
Main article: Hypertensive heart disease
Hypertensive heart disease, heart disease caused by high blood pressure, especially localised high blood pressure. Conditions that can be caused by hypertensive heart disease include:

Left ventricular hypertrophy
Coronary heart disease
(Congestive) heart failure
Hypertensive cardiomyopathy
Cardiac arrhythmias

Drugs lead to

Drug abuse includes the use of illegal drugs—such as marijuana, methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin, or other "street drugs"—and the abuse of legal prescription and nonprescription drugs. Some people use drugs to get a "high" or to relieve stress and emotional problems.

Drugs like ecstasy (MDMA), ketamine, GHB, Rohypnol, and LSD, which are known as "club drugs," may be found at all-night dances, raves, trances, or clubs. Club drug use accounts for increasing numbers of drug overdoses and emergency room visits. Inhalants like nitrous oxide may also be used at these clubs. Drugs come in different forms and can be used in different ways. They can be smoked, snorted, inhaled, taken as pills, put in liquids or food, put in the rectum or the vagina, or injected with a needle. Teens and young adults may be at risk for becoming victims of sexual assault or violent behavior in situations where these drugs are used.

Some nonprescription medicines, such as cold medicines that have dextromethorphan as an ingredient, are being abused by teens and young adults as a way to get a "high."

In the United States and Canada, approximately 40% of adults will use an illegal drug at some time during their lives. This does not include the use of alcohol or prescription medicines. Many people abuse more than one illegal substance at a time.

Drug dependence or addiction occurs when you develop a physical or emotional "need" for a drug. You are unable to control your use of a drug despite the negative impact it has on your life. You may not be aware that you have become dependent on a drug until you try to stop taking it. Drug withdrawal can cause uncomfortable and sometimes dangerous symptoms. The usual treatment is to gradually reduce the dose of the drug until you can completely stop using it.

problems due to use of alcohol

Alcohol abuse causes over 100,000 deaths in the United States and Canada each year. It is the drug most commonly abused by children ages 12 to 17. Alcohol-related motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers. People who drink alcohol are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior, have poor grades or job performance, use tobacco products, and experiment with illegal drugs. Alcohol and drug use may be an unconscious attempt at self-treatment for another problem, such as depression.

You have an alcohol problem if your use of alcohol interferes with your health or daily living. You develop alcoholism if you physically or emotionally depend on alcohol to get you through your day.

Long-term heavy drinking damages the liver, nervous system, heart, and brain . It also can lead to high blood pressure, stomach problems, medicine interactions, sexual problems, osteoporosis, and cancer. Alcohol abuse can also lead to violence, accidents, social isolation, jail or prison time, and difficulties at work and home.

Symptoms of an alcohol problem include personality changes, blackouts, drinking more and more for the same "high," and denial of the problem. A person with an alcohol problem may gulp or sneak drinks, drink alone or early in the morning, and suffer from the shakes. He or she may also have family, school, or work problems or get in trouble with the law because of drinking.

The use of alcohol with medicines or illegal drugs may increase the effects of each.

Alcohol abuse patterns vary. Some people get drunk every day; others drink large amounts of alcohol at specific times, such as on the weekend. It is common for someone with an alcohol or drug problem to call in sick for work on Monday or Friday. He or she may complain of having a virus or the flu. Others may be sober for long periods and then go on a drinking binge that lasts for weeks or months.

Someone with alcohol dependence may suffer serious withdrawal symptoms, such as trembling, delusions, hallucinations, and sweating, if he or she stops drinking suddenly ("cold turkey"). Once alcohol dependence develops, it becomes very difficult to stop drinking without outside help. Medical detoxification may be needed.

Ronaldo hat-trick as toon fall apart

Manchester United moved back to the top of the Premier League with a 6-0 thrashing of crisis-club Newcastle at Old Trafford.
After going in at half-time without tangible reward for 45 minutes full of chances, the home side turned in a staggeringly clinical performance after the break to heap further woe on the rudderless Toon, who saw Alan Smith sent off late on for foul and abusive language.

Cristiano Ronaldo's first hat-trick for United, two Carlos Tevez strikes and Rio Ferdinand's sweet volley saw Newcastle torn, still reeling from Harry Redknapp's rejection, torn apart.

It was not hard to recognise the star man in a superb team-performance. After 14 times scoring twice in a match, Ronaldo finally got a United hat-trick as he brought up his 20th, 21st and 22nd goals of a stunning season.

United started with real intent and Wayne Rooney had a quartet of fine chances to open the scoring within the first 15 minutes.

Just three minutes in, he was put through on goal after Alan Smith got caught in possession in midfield. Rooney - scorer of a stunning volley against Newcastle two seasons ago - looked as though he was thinking about a spectacular chip as he sprinted into the final third; instead, he opted for power - and blasted his effort high and wide.

The England striker had a second chance just moments later after being picked out by a fine inside pass from Ronaldo as United mounted a swift break. This time, Rooney opted for more control, only to find Shay Given with a low shot from the edge of the box.

On 14 minutes, he had a shot deflected out for a corner after cutting in from the left wing before bringing a decent save out of Given with a first-time volley from the edge of the box after being picked out by an exquisite lofted pass from Michael Carrick.

In between all those chances, James Milner could have given Newcastle a shock lead, only for his shot to be blocked by Rio Ferdinand after John O'Shea's poor defensive clearance landed at his feet 14 yards out.

In general, though, it was United doing all the pressing, with O'Shea having a header cleared from under the crossbar after a flap from Given just before two very good penalty shouts in quick succession were turned down by referee Rob Styles as Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs appeared to be tripped by Steven Taylor and Smith.

Rooney wasted a fourth fine chance on 36 minutes, drifting a Eric Cantona-esque chip just wide after turning a baffled Claudio Cacapa inside out, and the home side further cranked up the pressure as half-time approached, with Ronaldo bringing a full-length save out of Given before heading the subsequent corner narrowly wide of the far post.

But despite all United's chances, Newcastle will have gone in at the break most aggrieved, with Michael Owen having a legitimate effort ruled out for off-side as he sprinted on to Milner's through-ball and fired past Edwin van der Sar.

As in the first half, United roared out of the blocks, and it took two stunning goal-line clearances from Taylor - first from Carlos Tevez, before getting to his feet to prod Giggs' follow-up shot over the bar - to keep the score level.

But just a couple of minutes later, United finally had the reward their dominance and pressure deserved. Smith was harshly adjudged to have clipped the heels of Ronaldo as he tried to get a shot away, handing United a free-kick in an ominous position - which Ronaldo got up to fire under the wall and past Given.

With the pressure lifted, it did not take long for United to go for the jugular - and before the hour, they had a second. Given was needlessly given the ball by recalled full-back Jose Enrique, the goalkeeper's attempted clearance hitting Cacapa and falling to Giggs. He rolled the ball across the face of goal, where Tevez fired home.

Charles N'Zogbia had a good curling shot pawed away by van der Sar, Owen scuffing the follow-up effort, on the hour, but United continued to carve out chance after chance, Rooney wasting another fine opening when he headed Rio Ferdinand's cross wide.

It came as no surprise when Ronaldo got a third, brilliantly controlling Tevez's pass into the penalty area before firing past Given with 19 minutes remaining.

In truth, Newcastle fell apart in the final stages; the score only being kept down to three thanks to a stunning goal-line block from Enrique, another save by Given from Rooney and referee Styles' refusal to award a stonewall penalty when Carr pushed Ferdinand as they challenged for a high ball.

Ferdinand was not to be denied, however; after 15 minutes of almost constant pressure and chances, the defender was picked out at the back post by Rooney's astute chip, and Ferdinand crashed a sweet volley past Given at the near post.

There was more drama in injury time, Tevez firing a volley off the underside of the bar and down on to the line. The referee's assistant gave the goal, although replays suggested it was a tight decision - prompting Smith's foul-mouthed rant that saw him see red.

Battling The Bloodsuckers

Just the kind of bug you want hanging around your ankle
(Globe file photo)

Helicopters are flitting around today over Bellingham, Medfield, and Millis. Why all the annoying buzzing? To reduce the amount of those other buzzing, biting annoyances -- mosquitoes.

The drenching rains earlier this month have spawned a bumper crop of mosquitoes, including aggressive breeds not usually encountered until summer, the director of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project said today.

As a result, the Norfolk mosquito control district has expanded its annual springtime spraying, said district director John Smith. Two helicopters took to the air today, dropping pellets containing a widely used pesticide that is favored by mosquito-control specialists because it kills bugs before they reach adulthood. Public health specialists believe the pesticide does not present a significant threat to the environment.

The helicopters this morning targeted Norwood, Canton, and Bellingham, and this afternoon moved to Medfield and Millis. On Wednesday, the helicopters are expected to shift to central Norfolk County and, on Thursday, Dedham, Quincy, and Weymouth.

The springtime treatments are usually restricted to wetlands, but because of the recent soaking rains they have been expanded to the flood plain of the Charles and Neponset rivers, Smith said. The current spraying is largely intended to limit the emergence of nuisance mosquitoes, as opposed to treatments later in the year, which are aimed at limiting the spread of diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as West Nile virus and Eastern equine encephalitis.

Even with about 12,000 acres treated, Smith said he still expects some mosquitoes to escape -- including the more aggressive summer breeds.

Wattled Cranes

Banhine National Park, in AWF’s Limpopo Heartland, is home to a relic population of no fewer than ten pairs of wattled cranes. This population may form an important “missing link” between South Africa’s isolated population of wattled cranes and populations in other parts of the continent. AWF is working to identify
Key habitats currently being used by cranes for nesting and foraging in the park,
Suitable habitat,
Human threats that constrain the expansion of the crane population and
Factors that influence fluctuations and distribution of crane populations.
This project will contribute to the revival of wildlife in Mozambique’s inland wetlands and will become the basis for sustainable ecotourism.

Rhino Conservation

Rhino Conservation
Rhinos have been driven to near extinction – the world rhino population has fallen by more than 90 percent in the past 30 years. Whereas 30 species of rhino once roamed the planet, only five remain today, and all of them are endangered. In Africa, only the black rhinoceros and white rhinoceros still exist.


The Challenge

What’s the cause of the rhino’s precipitous decline? Not the habitat loss or food supply disruption that affects so many African animals. Rather, it is man’s relentless pursuit of the animal’s unique horn that poses the single most dangerous threat to rhinos today.

Saving the Rhino

AWF has been at the forefront of rhino conservation for decades. In the 1970s, when demand for rhino horn skyrocketed, AWF recognized this alarming development and joined with other organizations to launch conservation measures.
Despite these efforts, rhinos stood at the brink of extinction by the mid-1980s. AWF and other conservationists agreed that the only way to ensure their survival was to secure them in protected areas such as sanctuaries. Today, thanks to these rhino areas and the work of conservationists around the world, African rhinos are recovering from threat of extinction. Though populations remain small, the outlook for rhinos is good. With the support of a host of governments, communities, scientists, and conservation organizations, AWF continues to catalyze efforts to save the rhino.

Mummies Of Ancient Egypt

When you think of a mummy what comes to mind? Most of us usually picture an Egyptian mummy wrapped in bandages and buried deep inside a pyramid. While the Egyptian ones are the most famous, mummies have been found in many places throughout the world, from Greenland to China to the Andes Mountains of South America.
A mummy is the body of a person (or an animal) that has been preserved after death. Normally when we die, bacteria and other germs eat away at the soft tissues (such as skin and muscles) leaving only the bones behind. Since bacteria need water in order to grow, mummification usually happens if the body dries out quickly after death. The body may then be so well preserved that we can even tell how the dead person may have looked in life.
Mummies are made naturally or by embalming, which is any process that people use to help preserve a dead body. Mummies can be dried out by extreme cold, by the sun, by smoke, or using chemicals such as natron. Some bodies become mummies because there were favorable natural conditions when they died. Others were preserved and buried with great care.
The ancient Egyptians believed that mummifying a person's body after death was essential to ensure a safe passage to the afterlife.

Human beings turn into vampires due to a genetic flaw

Vampires are very popular when it comes to fiction. There are numerous movies featuring vampires, including a few Russian-made flicks e.g. Night Watch and its sequels released over the last few years. Are vampires just fiction? According to some ostensibly serious researchers, there is not smoke without fire. They believe that all the bloodsucker stories in the modern-age movies were concocted from the original ingredients dating back to the Middle Ages. In other words, the vampires have existed and still exist in our time.
Human beings turn into vampires due to a genetic flaw



The number of vampires could have grown in a geometric progression
Kostas Eftimiou, a professor of physics at the University of Central Florida , claims to have proven that vampires are mathematically impossible. He believes that the existence of vampires is in complete contradiction to the laws of mathematics. As by popular beliefs, once bitten is forever smitten. A person bitten by a vampire is thought to become one and starts sucking blood of other people. So what? The point is that vampires are supposed to multiply in a geometric progression if the concept holds any water.

Bush traces footsteps of Jesus in Galilee

Bush traces footsteps of Jesus in G
CAPERNAUM, Israel (AFP) — US President George W. Bush traced the footsteps of Jesus on Friday as he wound up his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with a tour of Biblical sites.
Bush flew by helicopter from Jerusalem to the village of Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, where Christ delivered many of of his most famous teachings.
Led by two Franciscan monks, Bush walked down to the lake shore and then visited the ruins of Capernaum, the village where Christ lived and taught after moving from nearby Nazareth, his home for the first 30 years of his life.
Capernaum is close to where Jesus is said to have miraculously fed 5,000 people with a few loaves and fish and where he anointed Peter -- the "rock" on which he would build his new church.
The black-gowned monks then read Bush verses from the Bible and pointed towards the different holy sites in the area, just several kilometres (miles) north of the town of Tiberias.
The three were then joined by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and went on to tour the ancient limestone ruins of the village of Capernaum and its excavacations of an ancient synagogue.
Archeologists have uncovered a nearby fifth century church that was built over the ruins of what is believed to have been the home of the apostle Peter.
An ultramodern octagonal Franciscan church now dominates the site.
Bush, a devout Christian who once called Jesus Christ his favourite philosopher then headed to the Mount of the Beatitudes where Jesus is thought to have given his Sermon on the Mount in which he summarised the law of God.
He was welcomed by several priests and nuns from the Chapel.
One of the beatitudes -- "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" -- has been invoked by past leaders attempting to resolve the decades-old Middle East conflict.
Bush predicted on Thursday that Israel and the Palestinians could sign a peace treaty by the end of his term in January 2009

Zidane interested in return to football

Zinedine Zidane has said he would like to return to the world of football, but admitted he did not know in which role.
One of the sport's all-time greats, Zidane retired after France's defeat by Italy in the 2006 World Cup final, where he was sent off for his infamous head-butt on Marco Materazzi.
"I have no goal but coming back into football, I would like that," the former France playmaker told L'Equipe Magazine weekly in a rare interview released on Saturday.
"Then, in which way, how, I don't know," he added.
Zidane said he had a project to build football pitches for children in Marseille, the city where he grew up.
The gifted son of Algerian immigrants, Zidane was the inspiration behind France's 1998 World Cup triumph on home soil and has been involved in charity since ending his playing career.
"Talking about it 10 years later still gives me the shivers", he said of the finest moment in his career. "I was 26. We had the best team in the world. It was extraordinary. To share that with millions of people was magic."
Now 35, Zidane said he realised the image of the ugly gesture on which he ended his career would never go away."I would have liked to go out in a different way but it's done".

Madrid admit defeat

Madrid admit defeat Real admit Ronny is out of reach
Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic admits it is virtually impossible that Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing for the Spanish giants in the future.
Ronaldo has been repeatedly linked with Real over the last couple of years, but has committed himself to a long-term contract at Old Trafford.
The Portuguese ace agreed a five-year contract extension with United last year, tying him to Old Trafford until 2012.
"Of course it would not be bad for us to have a player like Cristiano Ronaldo, but he is at a great club like Manchester United. I see it as an impossible signing," Mijatovic told Radio Marca.
Manchester Evening News

Elsewhere, a number of sports writers have written opinion pieces about Manchester City’s supporters’ request to hold a minute’s applause instead of the planned silence to remember those who died in the Munich air disaster. The Mirror’s Oliver Holt believes most City fans will respect the gesture, but admits: “There is still a sizeable minority who will relish disrupting the silence purely because they know how important it is to United supporters that it be properly observed.”

Phil Bardsley’s transfer to Sunderland is also covered extensively, as is the FA’s decision not to examine Sir Alex’s reaction to Wayne Rooney’s goal at the Madejski Stadium.

Where does my inspiration lie

As I drive my truck each day I wonder what it is I will see today? Each day brings something new for my eyes and ears From state to state, from coast to coast what new things will I see this day? The sunrises from my front window to my back from day to day The colors are different each and every day from that sunrise The scenery is never the same even though I’ve been here dozens of time Where does my inspiration lie? Some people have to get up to go to work and it is the same old thing day after day But here in my old truck things are not that way. I look forward to the days drive and the sites I’ll see and just what’s ahead of me I have been very lucky to be able to travel and see this most beautiful land The seasons change and I drive from season to season for just that reason The seasons are never quite the same the colors are very bright with the changes Where does my inspiration lie? The people I meet, the things I’ve seen God you have blest me through my travels Snow on the mountain peaks, creeks where fish are seen, great rivers miles long Mother bears teaching her young to fish, deer’s, antelopes, long horned mountain goats Flowers in a field of gold, windmills that you make go fast in the breath of your wind Craters that have fallen from the sky large enough to make a hugh bright blue lake Cactus that bloom in the hot desert sun, sand storms that scared us to death Where does my inspiration lie? My inspiration lies in you God where all that is, you have made each and every day My inspiration lies in you my Lord for what I’ve seen you have made My inspiration lies in your grace and beauty your love and mercy that you give me My inspiration lies in the songs I hear from the morning dove that coos by my window My inspiration lies in the evening skies as it bids us good night with the colors so bright My inspiration lies in your son God who came here so we would be able to see your face Where does my inspiration lie?

Lonely am I

Lonely are the nights Lonely are the days Lonely am I, in so many ways Lonely are the seasons Lonely are the years So lonely am I, that it brings tears. Lonely is this place Lonely is my life Lonely am I, that I reach for a knife Lonely is this court room Lonely is my sentence So lonely am I that I ask for repentance.

Beauty lies in the beholder's eyes

So many beauties in this appealing world The true beauty lies in the beholder's eyes There is beauty in the child's innocence and in mother's love There is beauty in a friend's affection and in a tender heart There is beauty in a pretty smile and caring eyes There is beauty in the morning sun and a rainy day There is beauty in the flaky slow and a pleasant spring There is beauty in the milky moon and the graceful rivers There is beauty in a hard earned victory and a hopeful soul There is beauty in me and beauty in you So many beauties in this spectacular world and its dazzling life And the true beauty lies in the beholder's eyes

essential health TIPS

Quit Smoking

The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette

Indian youths - MARRY FOR LOVE.

Indian youth haven't fully embraced Western ways. Tradition still dictates much of daily life. But progressive influences are everywhere. Take the tradition of arranged marriages, where parents chose children's spouses, often without their consent. Now young people want to marry for love--but also want parents' approval.

The younger generation is nationalistic. In a recent survey by ad agency McCann-Erickson Asia-Pacific, Asian youth around the region voted Paris, London, and New York as the ''coolest'' cities. But young Indians voted for Bombay, along with New York. ''India has the best mix of people and cultures you can find,'' says Gaurav Kumar, 16, of Bangalore, India's Silicon Valley. ''We should take the best of both worlds.''

Kumar wants to be an aviation engineer. Along with half his graduating class, he intends to take the tough exam for the Indian Institute of Technology, a system of prestigious, high-tech universities. The most sought-after field: computer science. ''It's almost a religion with young people,'' says Hema Ravichander, head of human resources for Infosys, which gets 280,000 job applicants every year.

Private computer training institutes are working to fill the demand. Just in the past three years, the New Delhi-based National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) and Bombay-based Aptech have expanded their franchises to 2,500 training centers in 300 cities and towns in India. ''These kids have a deep desire to uplift themselves and their families,'' says Rajendra Pawar, who co-founded NIIT in 1981.

Companies are reaching out to the computer-literate young. Koshika, the cellular phone service provider in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India's poorest states, is using young people to develop an e-mail service. The company approached people who operate cellular phones as public services for their villages. It then sold them computers at a hefty discount and taught their children to use the Internet. For a fee, they offer e-mail services. Since most village families have members working in Persian Gulf states, they are starting to use e-mail to communicate, since it is cheaper than a telephone and faster than sending a letter.

For the boys of the village, such opportunities are a great incentive for staying home rather than moving to the cities. Bunty Garg, from the town of Punnhana in Uttar Pradesh, was regarded as a ne'er-do-well by his father, who owns the local fabric store. That was until Bunty set up a public cell phone. Bunty, 22, now has seven public phone booths, his own car, and the biggest home in town.

The danger for India is, of course, that the potent mixture of aspirations created by TV, computers, and marketers in the hearts of India's young could overheat, and the social cauldron could boil over. Some researchers also worry about rising aspirations colliding with the realities of Indian poverty. ''The young generation may want more,'' says Indrani Vidyarthi of ORG-MARG, India's premier market research agency. ''But how to get more when there ain't more?'' Indeed, almost 60% of rural Indian households have no electricity. ''How will they run computers?'' asks Rakesh Mohan, director of the National Council for Applied Economic Research in New Delhi.

But Mohan may be underestimating the pragmatism and ambition of India's liberalization generation. Young Indians are not pessimistic. ''Our lives are in the fast lane,'' says Bangalore schoolboy Gaurav. ''We can cope; we have to.'' With luck, they'll not only cope--they'll thrive.

Indian youths -2

Obviously, many millions in this group remain locked in a struggle with poverty. But out of the teenage population, some 22 million belong to the urban middle class and are in a position to influence the economy dramatically as they grow older. Another 100 million or so live in rural India. Even here, many young people are having their first taste of rising prosperity and expectations.

One result is that computer literacy and education are eradicating caste barriers. While caste and social position still dominates Indian politics, sociologists predict the rigid lines of the system will continue to ease. Already, urban youth are more concerned with their professional ambition than their caste. ''We are only aware of caste while filling out government forms,'' says Trisha Singh, 23, a Pune law student. ''It's more 'What do you do?' that determines your status.''

In addition, massive computer literacy could do plenty for India's economy. National per capita income is currently $450 per year. But a 10% increase in computer literacy in a single year would push per capita income up to $650, according to Dewang Mehta of Nasscom, India's software industry association.

Indian youths -1

They're capitalist-minded--and they're changing the nation forever

Every day at 8 a.m., her straight black hair tied neatly in a braid, 16-year-old Neelam Aggarwal rides almost 5 kilometers to school in a horse-drawn buggy. She would like to be a doctor someday. But for girls like Neelam, who lives in the dusty, impoverished village of Farah in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, such a vocation seems remote. For starters, her school--like most village schools in India--doesn't even offer science classes for girls.

Still, Neelam, one of eight daughters of a sweets maker, has no intention of becoming a housewife. ''I want to make something of myself,'' she says. So each day after school, Neelam operates what amounts to the village's only public telephone--a cellular phone owned by Indian cellular operator Koshika Telecom. By charging her fellow villagers to make calls, Neelam can make as much as $8.75 on a really good day. She's saving the money for computer classes, which she hopes will lead to a good job.

Ten years ago, few girls in India would have dared to be like Neelam. But today, she is the very embodiment of India's youth--ambitious, technology-oriented, and confident. Her generation is the product of the incredible sociological change wrought by eight years of economic liberalization in India, a period of painful transition from one-party, socialist rule to an economy where free markets play a much bigger role. Indian society also has been transformed by the Internet and cable television--forces young people are best equipped to exploit.

India's youth are already having an enormous impact: on the economy, on companies hoping to sell them products, on the media, and on the culture. Unlike previous generations, today's youth are not obsessed with the ins and outs of politics. Thus the current election, which pits the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party against the Congress Party, has failed to ignite the passions of the young. ''Today, even if Parliament blew up, no one from this generation would notice,'' says Rama Bijapurkar, a marketing consultant. ''It has little relevance for them.'' Liberalization's children also differ from their conservative, insular parents in that they proudly mix Indian values with Western packaging. They enjoy wearing saris and still admire Mahatma Gandhi. But they also like wearing blue jeans, drinking fizzy sodas, and watching MTV
This generational shift in attitudes is all the more important because this group is growing so rapidly. Some 47% of India's current 1 billion population is under the age of 20, and teenagers among them number about 160 million. Already, they wield $2.8 billion worth of discretionary income, and their families spend an additional $3.7 billion on them every year. By 2015, Indians under 20 will make up 55% of the population--and wield proportionately higher spending power.

As this group, with its more materialist, more globally informed opinions, comes into its own, sociologists predict India will gradually abandon the austere ways and restricted markets that have kept it an economic backwater. These youth will demand a more cosmopolitan society that is a full-fledged member of the global economy. They will start their own businesses and contribute to a more vibrant economy. They also are likely to demand more accountability from their politicians. ''This is the generation that is reclaiming India's future,'' says Gurcharan Das, a former chief executive of Procter & Gamble Co. India and author of a forthcoming book on India in the next century. ''This is India's 'found' generation.''

ECOSYSTEM DISRUPTION - global warming

Warmer temperatures may cause some ecosystems, including alpine meadows in the Rocky Mountains, to disappear.

Consequence: ecosystem shifts and species die-off
The increase in global temperatures is expected to disrupt ecosystems and result in loss of species diversity, as species that cannot adapt die off. The first comprehensive assessment of the extinction risk from global warming found that more than one million species could be committed to extinction by 2050 if global warming pollution is not curtailed. Some ecosystems, including alpine meadows in the Rocky Mountains, as well as tropical montane and mangrove forests, are likely to disappear because new warmer local climates or coastal sea level rise will not support them.

Warning signs today


• A recent study of nearly 2,000 species of plants and animals discovered movement toward the poles at an average rate of 3.8 miles per decade. Similarly, the study found species in alpine areas to be moving vertically at a rate of 20 feet per decade in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
  
  
• The latest IPCC report found that approximately 20 to 30 percent of plant and animal species assessed so far are likely to be at increased risk of extinction if global average temperature increases by more than 2.7 to 4.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
  
  
• Some polar bears are drowning because they have to swim longer distances to reach ice floes. The U. S. Geological Survey has predicted that two-thirds of the world's polar bear sub-populations will be extinct by mid-century due to melting of the Arctic ice cap.
  
  
• In Washington's Olympic Mountains, sub-alpine forest has invaded higher elevation alpine meadows. In Bermuda and other places, mangrove forests are being lost.
  
  
• In areas of California, shoreline sea life is shifting northward, probably in response to warmer ocean and air temperatures.
  
  
• Over the past 25 years, some penguin populations have shrunk by 33 percent in parts of Antarctica, due to declines in winter sea-ice habitat.
  
  
• The ocean will continue to become more acidic due to carbon dioxide emissions. Because of this acidification, species with hard calcium carbonate shells are vulnerable, as are coral reefs, which are vital to ocean ecosystems. Scientists predict that a 3.6 degree Fahrenheit increase in temperature would wipe out 97 percent of the world's coral reefs

HEALTH EFFECTS 3 - global warming

Consequence: melting glaciers, early ice thaw
Rising global temperatures will speed the melting of glaciers and ice caps, and cause early ice thaw on rivers and lakes.

Warning signs today


• At the current rate of retreat, all of the glaciers in Glacier National Park will be gone by 2070.
  
  
• After existing for many millennia, the northern section of the Larsen B ice shelf in Antarctica -- a section larger than the state of Rhode Island -- collapsed between January and March 2002, disintegrating at a rate that astonished scientists. Since 1995 the ice shelf's area has shrunk by 40 percent.
  
  
• According to NASA, the polar ice cap is now melting at the alarming rate of nine percent per decade. Arctic ice thickness has decreased 40 percent since the 1960s.
  
  
• Arctic sea ice extent set an all-time record low in September 2007, with almost half a million square miles less ice than the previous record set in September 2005, according to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. Over the past 3 decades, more than a million square miles of perennial sea ice -- an area the size of Norway, Denmark and Sweden combined --has disappeared.
  
  
• Multiple climate models indicate that sea ice will increasingly retreat as the earth warms. Scientists at the U.S. Center for Atmospheric Research predict that if the current rate of global warming continues, the Arctic could be ice-free in the summer by 2040.
  
  

The satellite photo at far left shows the Larson B ice shelf on Jan. 31, 2002. Ice appears as solid white. Moving to the right, in photos taken Feb. 17 and Feb. 23, the ice begins to disintegrate. In the photos at far right, taken Mar. 5 and Mar 7, note water (blue) where solid ice had been, and that a portion of the shelf is drifting away. Photos: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Consequence: sea-level rise
Current rates of sea-level rise are expected to increase as a result both of thermal expansion of the oceans and melting of most mountain glaciers and partial melting of the West Antarctic and Greenland ice caps. Consequences include loss of coastal wetlands and barrier islands, and a greater risk of flooding in coastal communities. Low-lying areas, such as the coastal region along the Gulf of Mexico and estuaries like the Chesapeake Bay, are especially vulnerable.

Warning signs today


• Global sea level has already risen by four to eight inches in the past century, and the pace of sea level rise appears to be accelerating. The IPCC predicts that sea levels could rise 10 to 23 inches by 2100, but in recent years sea levels have been rising faster than the upper end of the range predicted by the IPCC.
  
  
• In the 1990s, the Greenland ice mass remained stable, but the ice sheet has increasingly declined in recent years. This melting currently contributes an estimated one-hundredth of an inch per year to global sea level rise.
  
  
• Greenland holds 10 percent of the total global ice mass; if it melts, sea levels could increase by up to 21 feet.
  

HEALTH EFFECTS 2 - global warming

WARMING WATER

Consequence: more powerful and dangerous hurricanes
Warmer water in the oceans pumps more energy into tropical storms, making them more intense and potentially more destructive.

Warning signs today

The number of category 4 and 5 storms has greatly increased over the past 35 years, along with ocean temperature.

The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, with a record 27 named storms, of which 15 became hurricanes. Seven of the hurricanes strengthened into major storms, five became Category 4 hurricanes and a record four reached Category 5 strength.

Hurricane Katrina of August 2005 was the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history.

HEALTH EFFECTS - global warming

More frequent and more intensive heat waves could result in more heat-related deaths. Photo: Gary Braasch, Chicago, July 1995. See the World View of Global Warming website for more Gary Braasch photos illustrating the consequences of the changing climate.

Consequence: deadly heat waves and the spread of disease
More frequent and more intensive heat waves could result in more heat-related deaths. These conditions could also aggravate local air quality problems, already afflicting more than 80 million Americans. Global warming is expected to increase the potential geographic range and virulence of tropical diseases as well.

Warning signs today


• In 2003, extreme heat waves claimed an estimated 35,000 lives in Europe. In France alone, nearly 15,000 people died due to soaring temperatures, which reached as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit and remained extreme for two weeks.
  
  
• Much of North America experienced a severe heat wave in July 2006, which contributed to the deaths of at least 225 people.
  
  
• Studies have found that a higher level of carbon dioxide spurs an increase in the growth of weeds whose pollen triggers allergies and exacerbates asthma.
  
  
• Disease-carrying mosquitoes are spreading as climate shifts allow them to survive in formerly inhospitable areas. Mosquitoes that can carry dengue fever viruses were previously limited to elevations of 3,300 feet but recently appeared at 7,200 feet in the Andes Mountains of Colombia. Malaria has been detected in new higher-elevation areas in Indonesia.
  

CLIMATE PATTERN CHANGES 3 - global warming

Consequence: more intense rainstorms
Warmer temperatures increase the energy of the climatic system and lead to more intense rainfall at times in some areas.

Warning signs today


• National annual precipitation has increased between 5 and 10 percent since the early 20th century, largely the result of heavy downpours in some areas.
  
  
• The IPCC reports that intense rain events have increased in frequency during the last 50 years, and human-induced global warming more likely than not contributed to the trend.
  
  
• According to NOAA statistics, the Northeast region had its wettest summer on record in 2006, exceeding the previous record by more than 1 inch.
  

CLIMATE PATTERN CHANGES 2 - global warming

Consequence: drought and wildfire
Warmer temperatures could also increase the probability of drought. Greater evaporation, particularly during summer and fall, could exacerbate drought conditions and increase the risk of wildfires.

Warning signs today



Greater evaporation as a result of global warming could increase the risk of wildfires.

• The 1999-2002 national drought was one of the three most extensive droughts in the last 40 years
  
  
• Warming may have lead to the increased drought frequency that the West has experienced over the last 30 years.
  
  
• The 2006 wildland fire season set new records in both the number of reported fires as well as acres burned. Close to 100,000 fires were reported and nearly 10 million acres burned, 125 percent above the 10-year average.
  
  
• If warming continues to exacerbate wildfire seasons, it could be costly. Fire-fighting expenditures have consistently totaled upwards of $1 billion per year.

CLIMATE PATTERN CHANGES 1- global warming

Consequence: warmer temperatures
Average temperatures will rise, as will the frequency of heat waves.

Warning signs today


• Most of the United States has already warmed, in some areas by as much as 4 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, all states experienced either "above normal" or "much above normal" average temperatures in 2006.
  
  
• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) declared 2006 to be the second warmest year on record for the United States, with an annual average temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit -- within 0.1 degrees of the record set in 1998.
  
  
• Every year from 1998 through 2006 ranks among the top 25 warmest years on record for the United States, an unprecedented occurrence, according to NOAA.
  

Alfred Hitchcock- P ersonal quotes 1 ..

Film your murders like love scenes, and film your love scenes like murders.

There is a dreadful story that I hate actors. Imagine anyone hating Jimmy Stewart . . . Jack L. Warner. I can't imagine how such a rumor began. Of course it may possibly be because I was once quoted as saying that actors are cattle. My actor friends know I would never be capable of such a thoughtless, rude and unfeeling remark, that I would never call them cattle . . . What I probably said was that actors should be treated like cattle.

[on his cameos] "One of the earliest of these was in The Lodger (1927), the story of Jack the Ripper. My appearance called for me to walk up the stairs of the rooming house. Since my walk-ons in subsequent pictures would be equally strenuous - boarding buses, playing chess, etc. - I asked for a stunt man. Casting, with an unusual lack of perception, hired this fat man!"

The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder

There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.

To me Psycho (1960) was a big comedy. Had to be.

Even my failures make money and become classics a year after I make them.

Always make the audience suffer as much as possible

Drama is life with the dull bits left out.

[His entire acceptance speech for the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award] "Thank you."

[When accepting the American Film Institute Life Achievement award] "I beg permission to mention by name only four people who have given me the most affection, appreciation, and encouragement, and constant collaboration. The first of the four is a film editor, the second is a scriptwriter, the third is the mother of my daughter Pat [Patricia Hitchcock], and the fourth is as fine a cook as ever performed miracles in a domestic kitchen. And their names are Alma Reville."

[Eva Marie Saint on Hitchcock] "He said, 'I don't want you going back to sink-to-sink movies. You do movies where you wash the dishes looking drab in an apron. The audience wants to see their leading ladies dressed up.' He saw me as others didn't."

[About Dario Argento and his film Profondo rosso (1975)] "This young Italian guy is starting to worry me."

Some films are slices of life, mine are slices of cake.

I enjoy playing the audience like a piano.

[to Ingrid Bergman when she told him that she couldn't play a certain character the way he wanted because "I don't feel like that, I don't think I can give you that kind of emotion."] "Ingrid - fake it!"

I was an uncommonly unattractive young man.

It's only a movie, and, after all, we're all grossly overpaid.

There is nothing quite so good as a burial at sea. It is simple, tidy, and not very incriminating.

Man does not live by murder alone. He needs affection, approval, encouragement and, occasionally, a hearty meal.

Cartoonists have the best casting system. If they don't like an actor, they just tear him up.

[About Claude Jade, who starred in Topaz (1969)] "Claude Jade is a brave nice young lady. But I don't give any guarantee what she will do on a taxi's back seat."

[On directing Charles Laughton] "You can't direct a Laughton picture. The best you can hope for is to referee."

The paperback is very interesting but I find it will never replace the hardcover book -- it makes a very poor doorstop.