Finally 2012 is upon us (almost) and we will know for sure whether we, humans, will exist at the end of the year or not. Prophecies and predictions apart, 2012 promises to be a exciting year with lots and lots of changes in store – some good and some bad and some that has the potential to become super bad.

Topping the Super Bad list would obviously be the scary end of human civilization conspiracy theory. But then again, we will know only around Dec 21st, 2012. So there is plenty of time to argue, debate and fight.

Looking back at 2011, it has been a fabulous year of sorts with highs and lows. Everything that has a happy ending always has something opposite. So here are some of the Highs and Lows of 2011 that happened in India and tried to shape/influence the average Indian Citizen.

Some of the Lows of 2011 in India

1. the obvious choice would be the the insanely comical ignorance of Social Media by the UPA Government (aka) #Idiotkapilsibal
2. Restriction of or at-least trying to Censor Internet and Free Speech.
3. 2G Scam and mammoth proportion of it.
4. Inflation
5. Death of Sathya Sai Baba, MF Hussain and Steve Jobs.
6. FDI dhamaka and the shortsightedness of our politicians – ruling and opposition.
7. Japan’s earthquake/tsunami tragedy and Sikkim earthquake.

Some of the Highs of 2011 in India

1. India winning the World Cup – this surely has to be the obvious choice. After 28 years of waiting, this is a dream come true.
2. Rise of Anti-Politician and Rise of Anna Hazare – The people of India truly came alive after a frail old man took the fight to the parliament. Tired of corrupt, incompetent politicos year after year, election after election, the common man found a leader in Anna Hazare and truly made their frustrations known in one form or the other.
3. Chennai are the Super Kings of IPL-4 for the 2nd time.
4. Death of Osama Bin Laden.
5. Arab revolution
6. Rise of Amma and downfall of Appa as we prefer to call it down south!
7. Prosecution of those accused in 2G scam – while this is not yet over at-least a step in the right direction has been taken. in 2012 we will know if this remains a high or becomes yet another low in our effort to fight corruption and crime.

In the meantime Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Warner Bros has unveiled a brand new poster for “The Dark Knight Rises,” hinting that Bane (Tom Hardy) will put an end to Batman (Christian Bale).  Check it out below. The movie is set to hit theaters on July 20th, 2012.

credit: worstpreviews.com

People around you make you depressed. There are thousands of people who take antidepressants. And think about the number of divorce cases arising out of unhappy marriages. Most of the people are unhappy because they have not attained what they want. Material wealth, awards, high positions they all bring you transitory happiness.

Some tips to give you a dose of happiness
First and foremost, prepare your mind and body to enjoy the ‘JOY’ of happiness. Happiness is the ‘nectar’ desired by all but found by some and enjoyed by very few. Those people who are grumbling all the time hardly notice the presence of ‘happy moments’ in their lives. These people have such slippery souls that the ahaat of good moments just slip away unnoticed.

Here’s what you should do:

• Love yourself: Happiness is inside you, so if you have low self-esteem it is hard to feel happy. You can’t have a meaningful relationship with others if you are not happy with your own self.
• Find a purpose: You need to find a purpose, for which you live for. When you have a purpose, life is more meaningful.
• Learn to let go: In order to be happy you must let go of your negative thoughts and beliefs. Letting go of previous hurts; letting go of things which are beyond your control;
  letting go of your negative emotions and letting go of your attachment to your desires.
• Live in the moment: Today is what matters. Always say to yourself, “Just for today I will be happy.” Do whatever you are doing right now, as if it was the most important task in the world. You don’t worry about the future, neither you do complain about what is past. You see things as they are. The most important moment is the here and now.
• Smile often: Laugh wholeheartedly. Remind yourself to put on a smile every day by choosing to think happy thoughts.
• Connect with happy people: Mix and mingle with happy people. Negativity attracts negativity, while happiness will attract happiness. Reduce interactions with friends who think negatively.
• Always be looking up: Happy people never buckle under pressure. Adversities make them stronger. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an opportunist sees the opportunity in every difficulty,” Winston Churchill said.
• Take responsibility: Donʼt allow others to take decisions for you. Take responsibility by seeking information on how best you can make a decision for yourself.
• Serve others: You must give in order to receive. We are all here to serve others. It is a universal law in the flow of energy. Energy needs to circulate. To allow more happiness
  in, send more happiness out.

Happiness is not something owed to anybody in the world. Nobody is handed joy on a platter. Instead, you make your own happiness. Happiness is an attitude. It is habit gained from daily experience.  The only way to happiness is to keep your heart free from hate and mind from worry. Expect little from others, give much to the world and live simply. Fill your life with affection, love and good words.

as published in womens era magazine
image credit – http://www.theminimalists.com/

This is a video of Earth as seen from ISS Expeditions 28 & 29, 2011. A truly fascinating view of our planet that most of us will never view in person. Enjoy

Time lapse sequences of photographs taken by Ron Garan, Satoshi Furukawa and the crew of expeditions 28 & 29 onboard the International Space Station from August to October, 2011, who to my knowledge shot these pictures at an altitude of around 350 km.

Image Courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory,
NASA Johnson Space Center, The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth
eol.jsc.nasa.gov

Editing: Michael König | koenigm.com

Shooting locations in order of appearance:
1. Aurora Borealis Pass over the United States at Night
2. Aurora Borealis and eastern United States at Night
3. Aurora Australis from Madagascar to southwest of Australia
4. Aurora Australis south of Australia
5. Northwest coast of United States to Central South America at Night
6. Aurora Australis from the Southern to the Northern Pacific Ocean
7. Halfway around the World
8. Night Pass over Central Africa and the Middle East
9. Evening Pass over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East
10. Pass over Canada and Central United States at Night
11. Pass over Southern California to Hudson Bay
12. Islands in the Philippine Sea at Night
13. Pass over Eastern Asia to Philippine Sea and Guam
14. Views of the Mideast at Night
15. Night Pass over Mediterranean Sea
16. Aurora Borealis and the United States at Night
17. Aurora Australis over Indian Ocean
18. Eastern Europe to Southeastern Asia at Night

video source:- vimeo.com/32001208

• Here’s Wishing A Very Happy Diwali And A Prosperous New Year To You And Yours.
• May The Festival Of Lights Brighten You And Your Family With Health, Peace, Prosperity And Good Fortune – Happy Diwali.
• May This Diwali Bring Joy, Health And Wealth To U. Brighten Up Ur Near And Dear Ones Lives.bring In U The Brightest Happiness And Luv U Have Ever Wished For….
• With Lights Dazzling, With Love Flushing Around By Your Loved Ones, With Loads Of Fun And Joy, And With Our Loving Wishes Sparkling Diwali
• Hope This Day Will Be: D-elightful, I-mmaculate, W-onderful, A-mazing, L-asting, I-ncredible For U. Happy Diwali
• Light A Lamp Of Love! Blast A Chain Of Sorrow! Shoot A Rocket Of Prosperity! Fire A Flowerpot Of Happiness! Wish U And Your Family Sparkling Diwali.

The Tata Group Monday unveiled a Nano car – made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones – worth an astronomical over Rs.22 crore.

But, it’s not for sale – the valuable and fully functional car is a unique branding and promotional initiative by Goldplus Jewellery, part of Titan Industries, a Tata Group company, an official said.

The mega-value Goldplus Nano Car was unveiled Monday evening by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.

The Goldplus Nano Car is billed as the world’s first ever gold jewellery car and celebrates the 5,000 years of jewellery making industry in India.

The car’s body is made with 80 kg 22 carat solid gold, 15 kg silver, precious stones – including diamonds, rubies – and other expensive gemstones, the official said.

After its glittering launch in Mumbai Monday evening, the Goldplus Nano Car will travel to all the Goldplus showrooms at 29 locations around the country.

The car incorporates beautiful designs, made with the precious stones of different colours, set on the gold and silver body of the car.

‘How many times would have Anna Hazare watched the movie Hindustani?’ is what one is left to wonder with the whole turn out of events. It looks like our National Indian tha tha Annaji has followed the footsteps of our own Indian tha tha ‘Senapathy’ – a role played compellingly by Actor Kamal Haasan in the Tamil original ‘Indian’.

For once the reel character has become the real character and for a relief has intentionally helped benefit the society at large. Whether Kamal haasan or Director Shankar intended for something like this to happen or not but the whole renovation of the anti-corruption ombudsman (Lok pal) bill that was 1^st mentioned during early 60’s has taken form in exactly the way paved by actor kamal haasan in his thought awakening concept of doing away with those who have done away with values is quite a thought to dwell on.

Little would have Kamal haasan realised, that him uprooting the evils of the society who practice corruption would actually become the focal point in creating the Lokpal Bill. For Kamal Haasan, it should be a great moment now to be proud of to see his dream finally realise and materialise after 15 years. A Dream to see a corruption free India! A Dream that every Indian could till now only dream of.

Every great moment starts but with one man. It was by senapathy in 1996 and the reincarnation of senapathy Anna Hazare in 2011! What assures us is the fact is that every great idea of good intention can hold ground and bloom even if it is after 15 years. Kudos to Kamal haasan !!

For your education if you do not know this —- See how Lokpal Bill can curb the politicians. Spread the message to create awareness
 

Move over, alfa males. Being No.2 is better, scientists say.

A new study on baboons has found that alpha males, or those at the pinnacle of the social hierarchy, tend to have high stress levels than beta males — the nice guys who are placed second.

The Princeton University study contrasts with earlier findings that stress levels tend to drop the higher you ascend on the social ladder.

It also suggests that being top of the pile has a big downside too, The New York Times reported.

For their study, published in the journal Science, the researchers looked at 125 male baboons living in five social groups over a nineyear period in Amboseli, Kenya.

They measured their stress hormone levels by analysing 4,500 fecal samples and found that alpha males had very high stress hormone levels, just as high as those of the lowest ranking males.
The stress, according to the researchers, was probably because of the demands of fighting off challengers and guarding access to fertile females.

Beta males, who fought less and had considerably less mate guarding to do, had much lo wer stress levels. They had fewer mating opportunities than the alphas, but they did get some mating in, more than any lower-ranking males.

The research is both impressive and surprising, said Robert Sapolsky of Stanford, a neurobiologist who carried out groundbreaking studies on stress in baboons, and was not involved in the new study.

“What’s cool about this paper is that being an alpha and being a beta are very different experiences physiologically,” Dr Sapolsky said.

Levels of stress are important partly because of the health effects of stress hormones. In the short term, in immediate fight-or-flight situations, the hormones work to energise the individual.

— PTI

The Dark Knight is back!