Diary of kishore lakkakulahttp://lkishore.rediffiland.com/Diary of kishore lakkakulaen-usGOOD WIFESHello friends after a long long long time iam back to you all. I missed u all aloooot but conditions are like that for me.
This blog is a general blog and especially women should not take it as a serious one because i just read this one from one of the newspaper.

How to get a nice wife!

There are times in a person's life when he needs to take crucial decisions
on his own. Marriage is one of them. Believe me, the decision on whom to
marry is the most important decision a person will make in his life. After
marriage, your wife is the most important person in your life. She can make
or break your life. The mere thought of this is very frightening.

Some of the questions that crop up are -

a.. What sort of a girl do I marry?
b.. Will she adjust in my family?
c.. How can I decide on a girl by just meeting her for a few times?
d.. When should I get married?
e.. This is my life. So, I should choose the girl I marry, but then what if
I make a mistake? .. so on and so forth.

I will try to address these & many more questions in the following sections.


The Nine Rules of Arranged marriage

Rule 1 - Magic no. 28

In an ideal scenario, a girl goes to college at the age of 18. By the time
she graduates, goes for her post graduation and/ or works for 1-2 years, she
will be about 23- 24. This means that she has spent about 5 years away from
her home. In the 5 years period, she would meet many smart guys at college
or during her first few years on job. So, in all probability it would be
difficult to find a good girl older than 24 yrs. Secondly, in Indian
families there is lot of pressure on the girl's to get married by the time
they become 24-25.

Statistics says that there is a generation gap after every 5 years. So, in
such scenario, one would prefer to marry a girl who is about 3-4 years
younger to you. Thus, working backwards, an ideal age for a guy to get
married is by 28. Earlier the marriage, the better it is.

Well, as we all know, in the current market scenario, there will never be
stability in our career. So, I believe there is no such thing as, "I will
marry when I settle down".

Rule 2 -- Subset of marriage-able girls

At times you hear statements like, "I am not getting the right match, I will
look after 3 months, I will find a better match then". Well the truth is
otherwise. The subset of unmarried girl looking for a match is fixed. From
this subset, there would be girls who would get married & there would be new
girls added who would be looking for a match. The net result is that at any
given time, the variety & number of marriage-able girls are fixed.

Rule 3 - Competition for girls

Like all other facets of life, there is lot of competition for good girls.
So, if you are looking for a girl who is post graduate, done her Engg, is
working, very beautiful, smart, from a good family etc. etc, just think
again. There are other guys who are also looking for similar girls &
probably they are better off than you in terms of career, looks personality
etc. Given a choice every guy would like to marry Aishwarya Rai. So, set
your expectations accordingly.

Rule 4 -- Understanding girls

You would have met a lot of people during your life. As we all know, its
difficult to judge a person based on a few meetings. I am sure you would
agree with me that in case of girls it is even more difficult to understand
them in a few meetings. I know people who are still trying to understand
their wife. ;-).. Understanding your spouse is a life long assignment. So,
then how do you select a girl based on a few meeting? This is where you need
to take the help of your parents/ friends & latest technologies like
email/chat to choose your girl.

Rule 5 - Society expectation

The selection process is tough on every one who is involved in the process.
In arranged marriage, involvement of family & society is pretty high. You
can't meet a girl 3-4 times & then say no to her. It is bad for her future.
So, you should have a good short-listing criterion. Meet only a few girls &
be sure what you are looking for. It is for the benefit of everyone
involved.

Rule 6 -- Marriage between equals

Unlike love marriage, in arranged marriage you also marry into the girl's
family. In arranged marriages, family support plays a major role in ensuring
a successful marriage. This is where the compatibility of social status,
family values & caste/religion plays a major role. Its important to note
that in case there is a perfect match between the two families, the marriage
is destined to succeed.

Rule 7 - Know yourself

Unlike love marriage, in arranged marriage you first marry a person & then
fall in love. So, it's very important that you do a self-assessment on the
kind of person you would love. They say, "Opposite attract", while they also
say, "Bird of same feather flock together". So, you take a call on what sort
of person you like. Take a pen & paper; write down the kind of attributes
you are looking for in a girl. Say, she should ideally have the looks of
Sonia, the style of Monica, the voice of Sheena, the patience of Rashmi. You
will certainly not find the perfect girl, but then you would have a good
idea of what you are looking for. The secret here is to set some minimum
criteria for selection. Don't forget rule no.3 here.

Rule 8 -- Girl's Beauty

A girl's looks attract, but then no one wants to end up marrying a dumb It
is like buying your bike. When you initially buy it, you are crazy about the
looks, but later on you love it for its reliability, fuel economy & comfort
level. Similarly, a girl's looks are important, but then it should not be
the most important criteria. Later on in life, you will get bored of her
looks. It is then that her personality & behavior will make all the
difference to your marriage. I am sure your parents will be able to advice
you a lot better on this topic.

Rule 9 -- Taking advice

As I have mentioned in the next rule, it's very important that the final
decision on whom to marry must necessarily be yours. However, don't do the
mistake of isolating yourself from the world while planning your marriage.
Discuss with your parents & very close friends on this issue. They are your
well wishers. Secondly, in such important matters its necessary that you
analyze all possibilities. Remember, I am not suggesting that you follow
others' advice, but don't forget to take their advice.


Rule 10 -- Own decision

All said & done, it's your marriage & your life that is at stake. Once you
are married, you & your wife are the only persons who will be facing the
music. Don't marry a girl just because your parents or friends asked you to
do so. After marriage, if things don't work out & you end up saying, "It's
because of my friends or my parents that I married you", then your marriage
is destined for disaster. If the girl is of your choice, it is you who will
be responsible for whatever happens. That's when the marriage works out
perfectly. So, ensure that you marry the girl of your choice.

How to approach the selection process?

From the day, a person decides to get married; the selection process takes a
minimum of 3 months. The whole process needs a lot of patience & commitment.
The ideal steps to be followed are:

a.. Definition phase ˆ

Define the minimum criteria for the kind of life partner you are looking for
in terms of education, physical appearance, social status, family values,
future career plans. Remember the Rule 3 here.

b.. Lead Generation phase ˆ

Place ads in various newspapers, magazines, websites, through friends,
family friends, family societies & association etc. You need to exhaust all
possible means of getting bio-datas at one go. Remember the Rule 2 here.

c.. Short listing phase ˆ

Based on your selection criteria, short-list the interesting bio-datas. The
general process followed for correspondence is as follows:

1. The initiator sends a one page profile of himself/herself.

2. Based on the profile, the receiver sends his/her one page profile
along with request for detailed profile, photo, horoscope.

3. The initiator then sends the requested information along with a
request for similar information.

4. The receiver send similar information.

5. If the bio-data is selected, it is passed over to the next phase.





A.. Casual interaction phase ˆ

Based on short listing, about 7 to 10 bio-datas are taken forwarded to this
phase. The next step to follow here is to exchange email/ chat ids. The guy
& the girl then interact for 10 - 15 days to try & judge mutual
compatibility through email/chat.

B.. Family interaction phase ˆ

Based on the earlier phase, about 5 leads are taken for consideration in
this phase. During this phase, the parents get involved & check the
background information about the families to find mutual compatibility.

C.. The dating phase ˆ

Based on the earlier phase about 3 leads are taken forward to this phase.
During this phase, the guy & the girl interact by going out alone for 2-3
times. The guy needs to prepare a set of simple questions like who is your
favorite star, what are your hobbies? He needs to use his judgment to
analyze the girl based on her responses.

D.. The D-day phase ˆ

Finally, the D-day comes when the guy has to select the girl he wants to
spend his life with. If the process if followed systematically, there will
be no ambiguity in deciding who should be your life partner.

Finally, my dear friends, marriage is all about compromises. In spite of all
the planning that you do, there are a lot of uncertainties in a marriage. In
fact this is the best part about marriage. Just remember that the person you
marry must be of your choice. In such case, there would be no going back for
both of you.

A few words of advice: To make your marriage a success; just believe in the
age-old virtue, "Never do anything to others that you don't like for
yourself".

Okey then guys then read it carefully because its related to everyones life and hope some comments also.
Okey then see u all later and take care,
byeeeeeeee.
]]>Fri, 20 Apr 2007 15:21:56 +0530http://lkishore.rediffiland.com/blogs/2007/04/20/GOOD.htmlJoke Even though the above expression is hard for someone but i think its the best way of expressing someone.
Okey it was a long time since i had posted a blog, i think every one are busy with their own work, it applies for me also, but kindly take some time to read my blog and comment something or the other so that i can think someone is reading my blog. This is a joke in a job section. If there are any of my friends in higher order, just think it as a joke and donot take it as a serious one.
I hope every one likes this one,
one employee pray to GOD and says
DEAR GOD I beg you to .....
give me the wisdom to understand my boss.
Give me the love to forgive him,
Give me the patience to understand actions,
But dear God, donot present me strength,
Because if you give me strength......
I will break his skull.....

Okey friends this might be a small joke or not but donot mind bad of this.
Okey then hope to see many comments this time.
byeeeee.
]]>Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:44:01 +0530Have Beautiful EyesHello Friends, here are a few tips for you and all to have good and beautiful eyes.

Do's and Don'ts of Eye Care
Simple everyday eye exercises
  • After every hour before a computer screen, close your eyes gently for 30 seconds to relax them.
  • Yoga experts recommend you to rotate your eyes often to relax muscles. Move your eyeballs from extreme left corner to the right corner.
  • Hold a pencil at arm's length and slowly bring it towards your nose, keeping eyes focused at all times. This helps prevent blurred vision.
When to see a doctor
  • If you have persisting headaches see a doctor and well light your work area and correct your reading/writing posture. · If you have sties often, they may indicate refractive error.
  • If you squint every time you read a book or watch television.
  • If you have dryness of the eyes, check out if it's due to antihistamines, decongestants, diuretics, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers that you may have taken.
  • If you plan to take oral contraceptives they may decrease tolerance of the eye.
  • Even if you have no complaints it's important to see a doctor and have a routine eye check up.
Don'ts of eye care
  • Don't wear contact lenses for extended periods of time or overnight as this leads to complication.
  • Don't rub eyes frequently as this can cause an eye infection as few of us bother to wash our hands before touching our eyes.
  • When you splash water do not do this furiously believing doing this will take away tiredness instead wash gently as splashing may hurtle the smallest dust particles or an allergen which may minutely damage the cornea.
  • Use disposable tissues instead of handkerchiefs to wipe eyes, as they are more hygienic.
  • Don't sit near than 15 feet from the television and keep your book at least two feet away for stronger eye muscles.
  • Use cream based eye makeup as powdery eye shadows can enter eyes and, cause irritation. Be very gentle in case you wear lenses.
  • Avoid using aerosol products like hairspray if you wear lenses.
  • Don't use your mascara for more than a year.

Hope you like the above things and if any comments you are always welcomed.
Okey then see u later for your comments. Byeeeeeeee.

]]>Mon, 21 Aug 2006 17:56:26 +0530Ancient Seven WondersHello EveryBody,
It had been long time since i had posted any blog, so now is the real time for a new blog. I hope that everybody knew about the seven wonders of the present world but about the ancient seven wonders. You think iam crazy but donot worry about that, but i want to show everybody about the ancient seven wonders. I hope U all like this blog and hope more comments from you.


the great pyramid



It is the one and only Wonder which does not require a description by early historians and poets. It is the one and only Wonder that does not need speculations concerning its appearance, size, and shape. It is the oldest, yet it is the only surviving of the Seven Ancient Wonders. It is the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Location
At the city of Giza, a necropolis of ancient Memphis, and today part of Greater Cairo, Egypt.
History
Contrary to the common belief, only the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops), not all three Great Pyramids, is on top of the list of Wonders. The monument was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu of the Fourth Dynasty around the year 2560 BC to serve as a tomb when he dies. The tradition of pyramid building started in Ancient Egypt as a sophistication of the idea of a mastaba or "platform" covering the royal tomb. Later, several stacked mastabas were used. Early pyramids, such as the Step Pyramid of King Zoser (Djoser) at Saqqara by the famous Egyptian architect, Imhotep, illustrate this connection.
The great pyramid is believed to have been built over a 20 year period. The site was first prepared, and blocks of stone were transported and placed. An outer casing (which disappeared over the years) was then used to smooth the surface. Although it is not known how the blocks were put in place, several theories have been proposed. One theory involves the construction of a straight or spiral ramp that was raised as the construction proceeded. This ramp, coated with mud and water, eased the displacement of the blocks which were pushed (or pulled) into place. A second theory suggests that the blocks were placed using long levers with a short angled foot.
Throughout their history, the pyramids of Giza have stimulated human imagination. They were referred to as "The Granaries of Joseph" and "The Mountains of Pharaoh". When Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798, his pride was expressed through his famous quote: "Soldats! Du haut de ces Pyramides, 40 siècles nous contemplent". (Soldiers! From the top of these Pyramids, 40 centuries are looking at us)
Today, the Great Pyramid is enclosed, together with the other pyramids and the Sphinx, in the touristic region of the Giza Plateau. Also in the area is the museum housing the mysterious Sun Boat, only discovered in 1954 near the south side of the pyramid. The boat is believed to have been used to carry the body of Khufu in his last journey on earth before being buried inside the pyramid. It may also serve him as a means of transportation in his afterlife journey according to Ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Description
When it was built, the Great pyramid was 145.75 m (481 ft) high. Over the years, it lost 10 m (30 ft) off its top. It ranked as the tallest structure on Earth for more than 43 centuries, only to be surpassed in height in the nineteenth century AD. It was covered with a casing of stones to smooth its surface (some of the casing can still be seen near the top of Khefre's pyramid). The sloping angle of its sides is 51 degrees and 51 minutes. Each side is carefully oriented with one of the cardinal points of the compass, that is, north, south, east, and west. The horizontal cross section of the pyramid is square at any level, with each side measuring 229 m (751 ft) in length. The maximum error between side lengths is astonishingly less than 0.1%.
The structure consists of approximately 2 million blocks of stone, each weighing more than two tons. It has been suggested that there are enough blocks in the three pyramids to build a 3 m (10 ft) high, 0.3 m (1 ft) thick wall around France. The area covered by the Great pyramid can accommodate St Peter's in Rome, the cathedrals of Florence and Milan, and Westminster and St Paul's in London combined.
On the north face, is the pyramid's entrance. A number of corridors, galleries, and escape shafts either lead to the King's burial chamber, or were intended to serve other functions. The King's chamber is located at the heart of the pyramid, only accessible through the Great Gallery and an ascending corridor. The King's sarcophagus is made of red granite, as are the interior walls of the King's Chamber. Most impressive is the sharp-edged stone over the doorway which is over 3 m (10 ft) long, 2.4 m (8 feet) high and 1.3 m (4 ft) thick. All of the interior stones fit so well, a card won't fit between them. The sarcophagus is oriented in accordance with the compass directions, and is only about 1 cm smaller in dimensions than the chamber entrance. It might have been introduced as the structure was progressing.
New theories concerning the origin and purpose of the Pyramids of Giza have been proposed... Astronomic observatories... Places of cult worship... Geometric structures constructed by a long-gone civilization... Even extraterrestrial-related theories have been proposed with little evidence in support... The overwhelming scientific and historic evidence still supports the conclusion that, like many smaller pyramids in the region, the Great Pyramids were built by the great Ancient Egyptian civilization off the West bank of the Nile as tombs for their magnificent Kings... Tombs where Khufu, Khefre, and Menkaure could start their mystic journey to the afterlife.


the hanging gardens of babylon




The approach to the Garden sloped like a hillside and the several parts of the structure rose from one another tier on tier... On all this, the earth had been piled... and was thickly planted with trees of every kind that, by their great size and other charm, gave pleasure to the beholder... The water machines [raised] the water in great abundance from the river, although no one outside could see it.
Diodorus Siculus

Fruits and flowers... Waterfalls... Gardens hanging from the palace terraces... Exotic animals... This is the picture of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in most people's minds. It may be surprising to know that they might have never existed except in the minds of Greek poets and historians!
Location
On the east bank of the River Euphrates, about 50 km south of Baghdad, Iraq.
History
The Babylonian kingdom flourished under the rule of the famous King, Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC). It was not until the reign of Naboplashar (625-605 BC) of the Neo-Babylonian dynasty that the Mesopotamian civilization reached its ultimate glory. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC) is credited for building the legendary Hanging Gardens. It is said that the Gardens were built by Nebuchadnezzar to please his wife or concubine who had been "brought up in Media and had a passion for mountain surroundings".
While the most descriptive accounts of the Gardens come from Greek historians such as Berossus and Diodorus Siculus, Babylonian records stay silent on the matter. Tablets from the time of Nebuchadnezzar do not have a single reference to the Hanging Gardens, although descriptions of his palace, the city of Babylon, and the walls are found. Even the historians who give detailed descriptions of the Hanging Gardens never saw them. Modern historians argue that when Alexander's soldiers reached the fertile land of Mesopotamia and saw Babylon, they were impressed. When they later returned to their rugged homeland, they had stories to tell about the amazing gardens and palm trees at Mesopotamia.. About the palace of Nebuchadnezzar.. About the Tower of Babel and the ziggurats. And it was the imagination of poets and ancient historians that blended all these elements together to produce one of the World Wonders.
It wasn't until the twentieth century that some of the mysteries surrounding the Hanging Gardens were revealed. Archaeologists are still struggling to gather enough evidence before reaching the final conclusions about the location of the Gardens, their irrigation system, and their true appearance. Some recent researchers even suggest that the Hanging Gardens were built by Senaherib, not by Nebuchadnezzar II (ca. 100 years earlier).
Description
Detailed descriptions of the Gardens come from ancient Greek sources, including the writings of Strabo and Philo of Byzantium. Here are some excerpts from their accounts:
"The Garden is quadrangular, and each side is four plethra long. It consists of arched vaults which are located on checkered cube-like foundations.. The ascent of the uppermost terrace-roofs is made by a stairway..."
"The Hanging Garden has plants cultivated above ground level, and the roots of the trees are embedded in an upper terrace rather than in the earth. The whole mass is supported on stone columns... Streams of water emerging from elevated sources flow down sloping channels... These waters irrigate the whole garden saturating the roots of plants and keeping the whole area moist. Hence the grass is permanently green and the leaves of trees grow firmly attached to supple branches... This is a work of art of royal luxury and its most striking feature is that the labor of cultivation is suspended above the heads of the spectators".
More recent archaeological excavations at the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq uncovered the foundation of the palace. Other findings include the Vaulted Building with thick walls and an irrigation well near the southern palace. A group of archaeologists surveyed the area of the southern palace and reconstructed the Vaulted Building as the Hanging Gardens. However, the Greek historian Strabo had stated that the gardens were situated by the River Euphrates. So others argue that the site is too far from the Euphrates to support the theory since the Vaulted Building is several hundreds of meters away. They reconstructed the site of the palace and located the Gardens in the area stretching from the River to the Palace. On the river banks, recently discovered massive walls 25 m thick may have been stepped to form terraces... the ones described in Greek references.

the statue of of zeus at olmpyia


In his right hand a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold. In his left hand, his scepter inlaid with all metals, and an eagle perched on the sceptre. The sandals of the god are made of gold, as is his robe.
Pausanias the Greek (2nd century AD)

This is the statue of the god in whose honor the Ancient Olympic games were held. It was located on the land that gave its very name to the Olympics. At the time of the games, wars stopped, and athletes came from Asia Minor, Syria, Egypt, and Sicily to celebrate the Olympics and to worship their king of gods: Zeus.
Location
At the ancient town of Olympia, on the west coast of modern Greece, about 150 km west of Athens.
History
The ancient Greek calendar starts in 776 BC, for the Olympic games are believed to have started that year. The magnificent temple of Zeus was designed by the architect Libon and was built around 450 BC. Under the growing power of ancient Greece, the simple Doric-style temple seemed too mundane, and modifications were needed. The solution: A majestic statue. The Athenian sculptor Pheidias was assigned for the "sacred" task, reminiscent of Michelangelo's paintings at the Sistine Chapel.
For the years that followed, the temple attracted visitors and worshippers from all over the world. In the second century BC repairs were skillfully made to the aging statue. In the first century AD, the Roman emperor Caligula attempted to transport the statue to Rome. However, his attempt failed when the scaffolding built by Caligula's workmen collapsed. After the Olympic games were banned in AD 391 by the emperor Theodosius I as Pagan practices, the temple of Zeus was ordered closed.
Olympia was further struck by earthquakes, landslides and floods, and the temple was damaged by fire in the fifth century AD. Earlier, the statue had been transported by wealthy Greeks to a palace in Constantinople. There, it survived until it was destroyed by a severe fire in AD 462. Today nothing remains at the site of the old temple except rocks and debris, the foundation of the buildings, and fallen columns.
Description
Pheidias began working on the statue around 440 BC. Years earlier, he had developed a technique to build enormous gold and ivory statues. This was done by erecting a wooden frame on which sheets of metal and ivory were placed to provide the outer covering. Pheidias' workshop in Olympia still exists, and is coincidentally -- or may be not -- identical in size and orientation to the temple of Zeus. There, he sculpted and carved the different pieces of the statue before they were assembled in the temple.
When the statue was completed, it barely fitted in the temple. Strabo wrote:
".. although the temple itself is very large, the sculptor is criticized for not having appreciated the correct proportions. He has shown Zeus seated, but with the head almost touching the ceiling, so that we have the impression that if Zeus moved to stand up he would unroof the temple."
Strabo was right, except that the sculptor is to be commended, not criticized. It is this size impression that made the statue so wonderful. It is the idea that the king of gods is capable of unroofing the temple if he stood up that fascinated poets and historians alike. The base of the statue was about 6.5 m (20 ft) wide and 1.0 meter (3 ft) high. The height of the statue itself was 13 m (40 ft), equivalent to a modern 4-story building.
The statue was so high that visitors described the throne more than Zeus body and features. The legs of the throne were decorated with sphinxes and winged figures of Victory. Greek gods and mythical figures also adorned the scene: Apollo, Artemis, and Niobe's children. The Greek Pausanias wrote:
On his head is a sculpted wreath of olive sprays. In his right hand he holds a figure of Victory made from ivory and gold... In his left hand, he holds a sceptre inlaid with every kind of metal, with an eagle perched on the sceptre. His sandals are made of gold, as is his robe. His garments are carved with animals and with lilies. The throne is decorated with gold, precious stones, ebony, and ivory.
The statue was occasionally decorated with gifts from kings and rulers. the most notable of these gifts was a woollen curtain "adorned with Assyrian woven patterns and Pheonician dye" which was dedicated by the Syrian king Antiochus IV.
Copies of the statue were made, including a large prototype at Cyrene (Libya). None of them, however, survived to the present day. Early reconstructions such as the one by von Erlach are now believed to be rather inaccurate. For us, we can only wonder about the true appearance of the statue -- the greatest work in Greek sculpture.

the temple of artemis at ephesus


But when I saw the sacred house of Artemis that towers to the clouds, the [other Wonders] were placed in the shade, for the Sun himself has never looked upon its equal outside Olympus.
Antipater of Sidon

Is it simply a temple? How could it take its place among other unique structures such as the Pyramid, the Hanging Gardens, and the Colossus of Rhodes? For the people who actually visited it, the answer was simple. It was not just a temple... It was the most beautiful structure on earth... It was built in honor of the Greek goddess of hunting, wild nature, and fertility. That was the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.
Location
The ancient city of Ephesus near the modern town of Selcuk, about 50 km south of Izmir (Smyrna) in Turkey.
History
Although the foundation of the temple dates back to the seventh century BC, the structure that earned a spot in the list of Wonders was built around 550 BC. Referred to as the great marble temple, or temple D, it was sponsored by the Lydian king Croesus and was designed by the Greek architect Chersiphron. The Temple was decorated with bronze statues sculpted by the most skilled artists of their time: Pheidias, Polycleitus, Kresilas, and Phradmon.
The temple served as both a marketplace and a religious institution. For years, the sanctuary was visited by merchants, tourists, artisans, and kings who paid homage to the goddess by sharing their profits with her. Recent archeological excavations at the site revealed gifts from pilgrims including statuettes of Artemis made of gold and ivory... earrings, bracelets, and necklaces... artifacts from as far as Persia and India.
On the night of 21 July 356 BC, a man named Herostratus burned the temple to ground in an attempt to immortalize his name, which he did indeed. Oddly enough, Alexander the Great was born the same night. The historian Plutarch later wrote that the goddess was "too busy taking care of the birth of Alexander to send help to her threatened temple". And when Alexander the Great conquered Asia Minor, he offered to rebuild the destroyed temple, but the Temple was not restored until after his death in 323 BC. The temple was eventually restored and is labeled "Temple E" by archeologists.
When St Paul visited Ephesus to preach Christianity in the first century AD, he was confronted by the Artemis' cult who had no plans to abandon their goddess. And when the temple was again destroyed by the Goths in AD 262, the Ephesians vowed to rebuild. By the fourth century AD, most Ephesians had converted to Christianity and the temple lost its religious glamor. The final chapter came when in AD 401 the Temple of Artemis was torn down by St John Chrysostom. Ephesus was later deserted, and only in the late nineteenth century has the site been excavated. The digging revealed the temple's foundation and the road to the now swampy site. Attempts were recently made to rebuilt the temple, but only a few columns have been re-erected.
Description
The foundation of the temple was rectangular in form, similar to most temples at the time. Unlike other sanctuaries, however, the building was made of marble, with a decorated façade overlooking a spacious courtyard. Marble steps surrounding the building platform led to the high terrace which was approximately 80 m (260 ft) by 130 m (430 ft) in plan. The columns were 20 m (60 ft) high with Ionic capitals and carved circular sides. There were 127 columns in total, aligned orthogonally over the whole platform area, except for the central cella or house of the goddess.
The temple housed many works of art, including four ancient bronze statues of Amazons sculpted by the finest artists at the time. When St Paul visited the city, the temple was adorned with golden pillars and silver statuettes, and was decorated with paintings. There is no evidence that a statue of the goddess herself was placed at the center of the sanctuary, but there is no reason not to believe so.
The early detailed descriptions of the temple helped archeologists reconstruct the building. Many reconstructions such as that by H.F. von Erlach depicted the façade with a four-column porch which never existed. More accurate reconstructions may give us an idea about the general layout of the temple. However, its true beauty lies in the architectural and artistic details which will forever remain unknown.


the mausoleum at talirarnassus



have lying, over me in Halicarnassus, a gigantic monument such as no other dead person has, adorned in the finest way with statues of horses and men carved most realistically from the best quality marble.
King Maussollos
in Lucian's "Dialogues of the Dead"

Similar to the Great Pyramid, we are now visiting the burial place of an ancient king. Yet the Mausoleum is different - so different from the Pyramid that it earned its reputation - and a spot within the list - for other reasons. Geographically, it is closer to the Temple of Artemis... And it was the beauty of the tomb rather than its size that fascinated its visitors for years.
Location
In the city of Bodrum (f.k.a. Halicarnassus) on the Aegean Sea, in south-west Turkey.
History
When the Persians expanded their ancient kingdom to include Mesopotamia, Northern India, Syria, Egypt, and Asia Minor, the king could not control his vast empire without the help of local governors or rulers -- the Satraps. Like many other provinces, the kingdom of Caria in the western part of Asia Minor (Turkey) was so far from the Persian capital that it was practically autonomous. From 377 to 353 BC, king Mausollos of Caria reigned and moved his capital to Halicarnassus. Nothing is exciting about Maussollos life except the construction of his tomb. The project was conceived by his wife and sister Artemisia, and the construction might have started during the king's lifetime. The Mausoleum was completed around 350 BC, three years after Maussollos death, and one year after Artemisia's.
For 16 centuries, the Mausoleum remained in good condition until an earthquake caused some damage to the roof and colonnade. In the early fifteenth century, the Knights of St John of Malta invaded the region and built a massive crusader castle. When they decided to fortify it in 1494, they used the stones of the Mausoleum. By 1522, almost every block of the Mausoleum had been disassembled and used for construction.
Today, the massive castle still stands in Bodrum, and the polished stone and marble blocks of the Mausoleum can be spotted within the walls of the structure. Some of the sculptures survived and are today on display at the British Museum in London. These include fragment of statues and many slabs of the frieze showing the battle between the Greeks and the Amazons. At the site of the Mausoleum itself, only the foundation remains of the once magnificent Wonder.
Description
The structure was rectangular in plan, with base dimensions of about 40 m (120 ft) by 30 m (100 ft). Overlying the foundation was a stepped podium which sides were decorated with statues. The burial chamber and the sarcophagus of white alabaster decorated with gold were located on the podium and surrounded by Ionic columns. The colonnade supported a pyramid roof which was in turn decorated with statues. A statue of a chariot pulled by four horses adorned the top of the tomb.
The total height of the Mausoleum was 45 m (140 ft). This is broken down into 20 m (60 ft) for the stepped podium, 12 m (38 ft) for the colonnade, 7 m (22 ft) for the pyramid, and 6 m (20 ft) for the chariot statue at the top.
The beauty of the Mausoleum is not only in the structure itself, but in the decorations and statues that adorned the outside at different levels on the podium and the roof. These were tens of life-size as well as under and over life-size free-standing statues of people, lions, horses, and other animals. The statues were carved by four Greek sculptors: Bryaxis, Leochares, Scopas, and Timotheus, each responsible for one side. Because the statues were of people and animals, the Mausoleum holds a special place in history as it was not dedicated to the gods of Ancient Greece.
Since the nineteenth century, archeological excavations have been undertaken at the Mausoleum site. These excavations together with detailed descriptions by ancient historians give us a fairly good idea about the shape and appearance of the Mausoleum. A modern reconstruction of the shorter side of the Mausoleum illustrates the lavish nature of the art and architecture of the building... a building for a King whose name is celebrated in all large tombs today -- mausoleums.

the colossus of rhodes



To you, O Sun, the people of Dorian Rhodes set up this bronze statue reaching to Olympus when they had pacified the waves of war and crowned their city with the spoils taken from the enemy. Not only over the seas but also on land did they kindle the lovely torch of freedom.
Dedicatory inscription of the Colossus

From its building to its destruction lies a time span of merely 56 years. Yet the colossus earned a place in the famous list of Wonders. "But even lying on the ground, it is a marvel", said Pliny the Elder. The Colossus of Rhodes was not only a gigantic statue. It was rather a symbol of unity of the people who inhabited that beautiful Mediterranean island -- Rhodes.
Location
At the entrance of the harbor of the Mediterranean island of Rhodes in Greece.
History
Throughout most of its history, ancient Greece was comprised of city-states which had limited power beyond their boundary. On the small island of Rhodes were three of these: Ialysos, Kamiros, and Lindos. In 408 BC, the cities united to form one territory, with a unified capital, Rhodes. The city thrived commercially and had strong economic ties with their main ally, Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt. In 305 BC, the Antigonids of Macedonia who were also rivals of the Ptolemies, besieged Rhodes in an attempt to break the Rhodo-Egyptian alliance. They could never penetrate the city. When a peace agreement was reached in 304 BC, the Antagonids lifted the siege, leaving a wealth of military equipment behind. To celebrate their unity, the Rhodians sold the equipment and used the money to erect an enormous statue of their sun god, Helios.
The construction of the Colossus took 12 years and was finished in 282 BC. For years, the statue stood at the harbor entrance, until a strong earthquake hit Rhodes about 226 BC. The city was badly damaged, and the Colossus was broken at its weakest point -- the knee. The Rhodians received an immediate offer from Ptolemy III Eurgetes of Egypt to cover all restoration costs for the toppled monument. However, an oracle was consulted and forbade the re-erection. Ptolemy's offer was declined.
For almost a millennium, the statue lay broken in ruins. In AD 654, the Arabs invaded Rhodes. They disassembled the remains of the broken Colossus and sold them to a Jew from Syria. It is said that the fragments had to be transported to Syria on the backs of 900 camels.
Description
Let us first clear a misconception about the appearance of the Colossus. It has long been believed that the Colossus stood in front of the Mandraki harbor, one of many in the city of Rhodes, straddling its entrance. Given the height of the statue and the width of the harbor mouth, this picture is rather impossible than improbable. Moreover, the fallen Colossus would have blocked the harbor entrance. Recent studies suggest that it was erected either on the eastern promontory of the Mandraki harbor, or even further inland. Anyway, it did never straddle the harbor entrance.
The project was commissioned by the Rhodian sculptor Chares of Lindos. To build the statue, his workers cast the outer bronze skin parts. The base was made of white marble, and the feet and ankle of the statue were first fixed. The structure was gradually erected as the bronze form was fortified with an iron and stone framework. To reach the higher parts, an earth ramp was built around the statue and was later removed. When the colossus was finished, it stood about 33 m (110 ft) high. And when it fell, "few people can make their arms meet round the thumb", wrote Pliny.
Although we do not know the true shape and appearance of the Colossus, modern reconstructions with the statue standing upright are more accurate than older drawings. Although it disappeared from existence, the ancient World Wonder inspired modern artists such as French sculptor Auguste Bartholdi best known by his famous work: The Statue of Liberty.


the light house of alexandria



Sostratus, the son of Dexiphanes, the Cnidian, dedicated this to the Saviour Gods, on behalf of those who sail the seas.
Dedicatory inscription of the Lighthouse

Of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, only one had a practical use in addition to its architectural elegance: The Lighthouse of Alexandria. For sailors, it ensured a safe return to the Great Harbor. For architects, it meant even more: it was the tallest building on Earth. And for scientists, it was the mysterious mirror that fascinated them most... The mirror which reflection could be seen more than 50 km (35 miles) off-shore.
Location
On the ancient island of Pharos, now a promontory within the city of Alexandria in Egypt.
History
Shortly after the death of Alexander the Great, his commander Ptolemy Soter assumed power in Egypt. He had witnessed the founding of Alexandria, and established his capital there. Off of the city's coast lies a small island: Pharos. Its name, legend says, is a variation of Pharaoh's Island, but it is more likely that the name is Greek in origin. The island was connected to the mainland by means of a dike - the Heptastadion - which gave the city a double harbor. And because of dangerous sailing conditions and flat coastline in the region, the construction of a lighthouse was necessary.
The project was conceived and initiated by Ptolemy Soter around 290 BC, but was completed after his death, during the reign of his son Ptolemy Philadelphus. Sostratus, a contemporary of Euclid, was the architect, but detailed calculations for the structure and its accessories were carried out at the Alexandria Library/Mouseion. The monument was dedicated to the Savior Gods: Ptolemy Soter (lit. savior) and his wife Berenice. For centuries, the Lighthouse of Alexandria (occasionally referred to as the Pharos Lighthouse) was used to mark the harbor, using fire at night and reflecting sun rays during the day. It was even shown on Roman coins, just as famous monuments are depicted on currency today.
When the Arabs conquered Egypt, they admired Alexandria and its wealth. The Lighthouse continues to be mentioned in their writings and travelers accounts. But the new rulers moved their capital to Cairo since they had no ties to the Mediterranean. When the mirror was brought down mistakenly, they did not restore it back into place. In AD 956, an earthquake shook Alexandria, and caused little damage to the Lighthouse. It was later in 1303 and in 1323 that two stronger earthquakes left a significant impression on the structure. When the famous Arab traveler Ibn Battuta visited Alexandria in 1349, he could not enter the ruinous monument or even climb to its doorway.
The final chapter in the history of the Lighthouse came in AD 1480 when the Egyptian Mamelouk Sultan, Qaitbay, decided to fortify Alexandria's defense. He built a medieval fort on the same spot where the Lighthouse once stood, using the fallen stone and marble.
Description
Of the six vanished Wonders, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was the last to disappear. Therefore we have adequately accurate knowledge of its location and appearance. Ancient accounts such as those by Strabo and Pliny the Elder give us a brief description of the "tower" and the magnificent white marble cover. They tell us how the mysterious mirror could reflect the light tens of kilometers away. Legend says the mirror was also used to detect and burn enemy ships before they could reach the shore.
In 1166, an Arab traveler, Abou-Haggag Al-Andaloussi visited the Lighthouse. He documented a wealth of information and gave an accurate description of the structure which helped modern archeologists reconstruct the monument. It was composed of three stages: The lowest square, 55.9 m (183.4 ft) high with a cylindrical core; the middle octagonal with a side length of 18.30 m (60.0 ft) and a height of 27.45 m (90.1 ft); and the third circular 7.30 m (24.0 ft) high. The total height of the building including the foundation base was about 117 m (384 ft), equivalent to a 40-story modern building. The internal core was used as a shaft to lift the fuel needed for the fire. At the top stage, the mirror reflected sunlight during the day while fire was used during the night. In ancient times, a statue of Poseidon adorned the summit of the building.
Although the Lighthouse of Alexandria did not survive to the present day, it left its influence in various respects. From an architectural standpoint, the monument has been used as a model for many prototypes along the Mediterranean, as far away as Spain. And from a linguistic standpoint, it gave its name -- Pharos -- to all the lighthouses in the world... Just look up the dictionary for the French, Italian, or Spanish word for lighthouse.
]]>Tue, 04 Jul 2006 18:32:08 +0530Food PyramidFood Pyramid Explained

Bread, Grain, Cereal and Pasta Form the Base
At the base of the food pyramid, you'll see the group that contains breads, grains, cereals and pastas. These foods provide complex carbohydrates, which are an important source of energy, especially for a low-fat meal plan. You can make many low-fat choices from foods in this group. You'll need 6 to 11 servings of these foods in a day.



Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are rich in nutrients. Many are excellent sources of vitamin A, vitamin C, folate or potassium. They are low in fat and sodium and high in fiber. The Food Pyramid suggests 3 to 5 servings of vegetables each day

Note :Count only 100% fruit juice as a fruit, and limit juice consumption. Many commercial bottled juices come in containers that hold more than 2 servings which can add lots of sugar and calories to your daily diet.


Beans, Eggs, Lean Meat and Fish
Meat, poultry and fish supply protein, iron and zinc. Non-meat foods such as dried peas and beans also provide many of these nutrients. The Food Pyramid suggests 2 to 3 servings of cooked meat, fish or poultry. Each serving should be between 2 and 3 ounces.


Dairy Products
Products made with milk provide protein and vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. The Food Pyramid suggests 2 to 3 servings each day. If you are breast-feeding, pregnant, a teenager or a young adult age 24 or under, try to have 3 servings. Most other people should have 2 servings daily. Interestingly, cottage cheese is lower in calcium that most other cheeses - one cup counts as only 1/2 serving of milk. Go easy on high-fat cheese and ice cream. Choose non-fat milk and yogurt and cheeses made from skim milk because they are lowest in fat


Fats and Sweets

A food pyramid's tip is the smallest part, so the fats and sweets in the top of the Food Pyramid should comprise the smallest percentage of your daily diet. The foods at the top of the food pyramid should be eaten sparingly because they provide calories but not much in the way of nutrition. These foods include salad dressings, oils, cream, butter, margarine, sugars, soft drinks, candies and sweet desserts.




USDA food guide Pyramid







Traditional Asian Food guide Pyramid




Indian Food Guide Pyramid designed based on USDA guidelines




]]>Wed, 31 May 2006 20:15:06 +0530Health Requirements
How to calculate your daily requirement

Calculate Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Women: BMR = 655 + ( 4.35 x weight in pounds ) + ( 4.7 x height in inches ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )
Men: BMR = 66 + ( 6.23 x weight in pounds ) + ( 12.7 x height in inches ) - ( 6.8 x age in year )

OR
Women: BMR = 655 + ( 9.6 x weight in kilos ) + ( 1.8 x height in cm ) - ( 4.7 x age in years )
Men: BMR = 66 + ( 13.7 x weight in kilos ) + ( 5 x height in cm ) - ( 6.8 x age in years )

To determine your total daily calorie needs, multiply your BMR by the appropriate activity factor, as follows:
1. If you are sedentary (little or no exercise) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.2
2. If you are lightly active (light exercise/sports 1-3 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.375
3. If you are moderatetely active (moderate exercise/sports 3-5 days/week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.55
4. If you are very active (hard exercise/sports 6-7 days a week) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.725
5. If you are extra active (very hard exercise/sports & physical job or 2x training) : Calorie-Calculation = BMR x 1.9
For example a man 30 years age who weighs 80 kgs and 6 feet tall
BMR = 66 + (13.7 X 80) + (5 X 183) (6.8 X 30) = 1873

For sedentary man calorie requirement = 1873 X 1.2 = 2247.6 calories

To loose weight eat 500 calories per day less than your daily requirement



Carbohydrate requirement/day: Number of total calories X 60 % = Total calories X 60/100


Protein Requirement/day: Number of total calories X 10 % = total calories X 10/100


Total Fat requirement/ Day: Number of total calories X 30 % = total calories X 30/100

Saturated Fat Requirement /Day: Number of total calories X 10 % = total calories X 10/100


Fiber Requirement/ Day: Number of total calories X 11.5 grams /1000 calories

Example based on 2000 Calorie Diet
Carbohydrate Requirement:
Number of total calories X 60 % = 2000 X 60/100 =1200
Calories from each gram of carbohydrate = 4
Number of grams of carbohydrate required = number of carbohydrate calories / 4
= 1220/4 = 300 grams of carbohydrates/day

Protein Requirement
Number of total calories X 10 % = 2000 X 10/100 = 200 calories
Calories from each gram of protein = 4
Number of grams of protein required = number of protein calories / 4
= 200/4 = 50 grams of protein/day

Total fat requirement

Number of total calories X 30 % = 2000 X 30/100 = 600 calories/day
Calories from each gram of fat = 9
Number of grams of fat required = number of fat calories / 9
= 600/9 = 66.7 grams of fat/day

Saturated fat requirement

Number of total calories X 10 % = 2000 X 10/100 = 200 calories/day
Calories from each gram of fat = 9
Number of grams of saturated fat required = number of saturated fat calories / 9
= 200/9 = 22 grams of saturated fat/day

Total fiber requirement

Number of total calories X 11.5 grams /1000 calories = 2000 X 11.5/1000 = 23 grams per day
]]>Fri, 12 May 2006 18:08:30 +0530World Facts
Tenth planet as bright as fresh snow

The "tenth planet" is only slightly larger than Pluto, new Hubble Space Telescope images prove. It had been thought the planet, dubbed Xena, might be 25% to 30% larger.

Intriguingly, the downsizing means the distant world must be brighter than almost any other object in the solar system, suggesting it is constantly being resurfaced.

Xena, officially called 2003 UB313, was first announced in July 2005 and lies about three times as far from the Sun as Pluto. Its brightness suggested it was larger than Pluto, but it was not clear by how much because astronomers did not know how much sunlight its surface reflected.

Xena's discoverers, led by Mike Brown at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, US, first thought its surface might be similar to that of Pluto, which reflects about 60% of sunlight. If so, Xena would be 25% larger than Pluto, an estimate borne out by recent ground-based observations of its heat, which suggested it was 30% larger.

But these results had a large margin of error 400 kilometres. Now, Brown and colleagues have analysed Hubble images taken in December 2005 to reveal Xena's size to the nearest 100 kilometres. Hubble was able to resolve Xena at visible wavelengths, showing its diameter is 2400 kilometres - about 5% larger than Pluto's 2290 kilometres.

Frozen methane

The fact that Xena is smaller than initially thought means it must reflect about 86% of the light that falls on it - making it about as bright as fresh snow and brighter than every other solar system body except Saturn's moon Enceladus. Spectral observations suggest its surface is covered with frozen methane, like Pluto.

But unlike Pluto, which is mottled by both bright and dark splotches, Xena is so uniformly bright that it is impossible to tell how fast it is rotating. "When we made the size measurement, we were thoroughly shocked," Brown told New Scientist. "Such a high albedo is simply unprecedented other than the very odd Enceladus."

Richard Binzel, a planetary scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, US, agrees. "Space is a dirty place," he says, explaining that particles from the solar wind alter the structure of ices, darkening them over time. "It's very hard to keep a surface bright and white - it requires some process to keep the surface fresh."

Brown suggests two possible mechanisms, working together, for the resurfacing. Xena moves in a very elongated orbit that stretches from 38 to 97 astronomical units (1 AU is the distance between the Sun and Earth). When it is near the Sun in its 560-year orbit, it may have a gaseous atmosphere. But when it moves away, it receives so little sunlight that any atmosphere would freeze onto Xena's surface, leaving it fresh and white.

But a similar freeze-thaw cycle occurs on Pluto, which moves from 30 to 50 AU over about 250 years, says Binzel. And it does not have a blindingly bright surface.

"So it may also be that fresh methane is leaking out of the surface," suggests Brown. Ice particles and water vapour spew from geysers on the snow-white Enceladus, but Brown says such violent jets are not necessary on Xena. "Instead it would be more like a picture of a steam vent in Antarctica, where the steam instantly freezes onto the surface," he says.

Gravitationally stretched

But he and other astronomers had thought that Xena's interior was made of rock and ice. For gaseous methane to survive within the planet, "you have to have an energy source", says Binzel. Brown agrees: "The real question is: Why would methane leak out of the surface?"

Some objects are heated when they are gravitationally stretched and compressed by massive objects nearby. But though Xena has a moon that might be a tenth its size, it is too small to gravitationally deform and heat Xena, says Brown.

Similarly, the decay of radioactive isotopes could not provide the necessary heat, says Binzel: "It's a wonderful mystery."]]>Mon, 24 Apr 2006 23:57:23 +0530exploring the clouds

The below block is from a science magazine about clouds.
The practice of staring at clouds will take on new dimensions with the launching of two satellites designed to make the first global survey of cloud properties that affect weather and climate. The two NASA satellites, to be launched on Friday morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, aboard the same Boeing Delta II rocket, joined three spacecraft already surveying the planet for a detailed study of the interlocking factors that affect Earth's climate.

This constellation of satellites in a string 4,400 miles long will loop around the poles at an altitude of 438 miles measuring the interactions of the air, water and surface with the Sun's energy as they drive near-term weather and longer-term climate changes.
The newest additions are the CloudSat, which will profile cloud formations with radar more than 1,000 times more sensitive than typical weather radar, and Cloud-Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations, or Calipso, spacecraft. The two orbiters are to operate for at least 22 months to provide a minimum of two seasons of data on climate dynamics, scientists said.
CloudSat and Calipso were to have flown last year, but the missions were delayed because of technical problems and a year-end strike by Boeing technicians preparing the rocket. The CloudSat radar will take vertical surveys of clouds and layers of clouds and determine how much water they contain and its form. Graeme Stephens of Colorado State University, the principal investigator, told a news conference on Wednesday at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, that although just 1 percent of Earth's water existed in the atmosphere, little was known about its overall role in climate. "The new information from CloudSat will answer basic questions about how rain and snow are produced by clouds, how rain and snow are distributed worldwide and how clouds affect the Earth's climate," Stephens said. The role of atmospheric water is a major inconsistency in producing good computer models for global warming and climate, he said. "The water in clouds is absolutely tiny, but it is critical," Stephens added. "This is the renewable part of our fresh water."

David Winker of the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virgina, the principal scientist for the Calipso, said the satellite would send laser pulses into the atmosphere to determine the amount, type and distribution of aerosol particles. Aerosols are particles from human and natural sources that absorb or reflect solar energy based on their size, shape, color and chemical composition. Their effects on climate are largely unknown, experts said. They are also the bits that collect moisture in clouds to form raindrops.
The laser pulses and instruments aboard the Calipso that can determine the composition and size of detected aerosols will help measure how long the particles stay in the atmosphere and how far they travel. That will let scientists profile layers of aerosols and clouds and see their relationships, Winker said. "We expect data gathered by Calipso to help improve forecasts of weather and climate," he said.
The two craft are to travel 15 seconds apart after they join the satellite constellation, allowing them to scan the same features almost simultaneously. The line of satellites is nicknamed the "A-Train" because it crosses the Equator in the afternoon and because the lead spacecraft is called the Aqua and the last is the Aura. The Aqua, launched in 2002, studies water cycles, and the Aura, which went up in 2004, examines atmospheric chemistry. The remaining satellite in the group, flying ahead of the Aura, is called Parasol, a French craft that studies clouds.

Although on independent missions, each satellite will be positioned to pass over a region one after another, building up a database of complementary observations that should create a global picture of the changing Earth climate, researchers said.

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