~fOrts in maharaStra~

Maharashtra has been gifted with the Sahyadri ranges. This range is well populated with many forts. These forts offer us a chance to observe the beauty of nature, skills of our ancestors and allow us to add a little thrill to our life. There are numerous such forts in the vicinity of Thane and Pune which are ideal for an one day or two day trek.

Most of the forts in Maharashtra whether up in the hills or near the seas are associated with Shivaji --the great Maratha warrior and an equally great fort builder. Moreover, these forts were treated as mini-cities, such as Panhala, which is now a hill station. The concept of the fort-city was, however, not peculiar to Shivaji alone. The Portuguese who came to India as traders and missionaries, built within a century of their coming, Bassein, a garden city to rival many a European capital.

~malDives~

~wOmen wrestlers~

Women's wrestling is growing and strengthening throughout the world as more nations sponsor teams and competitions for women each year. In the past two years I have had the opportunity to see first hand the Klippan Ladies Cup in Klippan, Sweden and the Gilbert Schwaub International in Tourcoing, France. Hundreds of girls and women, age seven to the senior open level competed in the tournament from all across Europe. The skill, the technique, the hunger for victory, and the enthusiasm looked no different than attending a USA Wrestling tournament here in the United States.

~please vOte for taj~

Time is ticking away. Only we can get the magnificent Taj Mahal into the list of the new seven wonders of the world.

There is little time left to vote for the new Seven Wonders of the World. Much in the fashion of a gigantic beauty pageant, 77 finalists were narrowed down to 21 last year, and the final seven will be chosen from among them.

The Taj Mahal is one of the 21. The campaign of Swiss non-profit organization New7Wonders began in 2000 and the announcement will be made on July 7, 2007 -- appropriately 07.07.07 - in Lisbon, Portugal. The event will be broadcast around the world. About 20 million votes have already been received and the 21 finalists were those that had garnered the most votes till the end of 2005.

The Taj, slowly slipping out of the reckoning because Indians couldn’t be bothered enough to vote, needs all the votes it can get to make it to the final list of seven. New7Wonders describes Shah Jahan’s architectural paean to his beloved as the greatest symbol of love and passion.

Apart from voting for a favourite wonder online or on telephone, one can also send in pictures of the 21 finalist monuments. You can vote for the Taj Mahal at www.new7wonders.com

~avril laviGne~

18-year-old Avril literally came out of nowhere -- nowhere being the town of Napanee, Ontario -- and rose to the top of the charts with her single "Complicated." Her first full-length album, Let Go, debuted at #8 on the Billboard charts in June 2002.

From early childhood onwards, Avril Lavigne always stood out among the 5000 residents of Napanee, Ontario -- her 1984 birthplace. At first distinguished from her female peers because of her affinity for the baseball field in the summer and the hockey rink in the winter, Avril became recognizable in the community on the basis of her musical performances

Avril stands out in the current sea of female teen vocalists as a distinctly un-manufactured artist whose success can be directly linked to her musical talents. While it can be a little tiring listening to Avril's publicists hype her as the independent wild child, you have to respect a 17-year-old who can hit the Billboard Top 10 on the strength of her own vocal and songwriting abilities.

~½ a secOnd befOre tsunami~

½ a second before tsunami

The last picture! There are people who believe in God, there are others who don't believe, but we must understand that we are small when nature hits...

This picture was taken on the banks of Sumatra Island (the height of waves was of approx. 32 m = 105 ft). It was found saved in a digital camera, 1 ½ years after the disaster.

We cannot know for sure, but very likely the one who took the picture is not alive any more (it was just a matter of seconds). Today we can see the last image he/ she saw before ending life on Earth!

~cUte & cUtest~

How can you be a good parent?

There's not just one right way to raise children. And there's no such thing as a perfect parent--or a perfect child. But here are some guidelines to help your children grow up healthy and happy:

Show your love to your kid. Every day, tell your children that you love them. Give lots of hugs and kisses to them. Listen to what your children talk. Listening to your children tells them that you think they're important and that you're interested in what they have to say.

Make your children feel safe. Comfort them when they're scared. Show them you've taken steps to protect them. Provide order in their lives. Keep a regular schedule of meals, naps and bedtimes. If you have to change the schedule, tell them about the changes ahead of time.

Praise your children. When your children learn something new or behave well, tell them you're proud of them. Criticize the behavior, not the child. When your child makes a mistake, don't say, "You were bad." Instead, explain what the child did wrong. For example, say: "Running into the street without looking isn't safe." Then tell the child what to do instead: "First, look both ways for cars."

Be consistent. Your rules don't have to be the same ones other parents have, but they do need to be clear and consistent. (Consistent means the rules are the same all the time.) If two parents are raising a child, both need to use the same rules. Also, make sure baby sitters and relatives know, and follow, your family rules.

Spend time with your children. Do things together, like reading, walking, playing and cleaning house. What children want most is your attention. Bad behavior is usually their way of getting your attention.