An amalgamation of spirituality and business

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Archana Mishra, Sept 1, 2014, DHNS:

To practice, preserve, and promote values in business, students of Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon, especially those specialising in Human Resource (HR) visited Sri Aurobindo Ashram recently.

From working in the field to attending lectures on understanding the concept of managing work and life together, students, who aspire to become dynamic leaders of tomorrow, through this day-long visit got a view about the social, human and natural resource utilisation.

The students had their day scheduled as per the daily routine of the ashram. It started with 15 minutes self-reflection exercise at 6.30 a.m. where students practised meditation. This was followed by Shramdaan where students worked in the field and garden.

Speaking about his experience Amit Prakash, a second year student said, To toil in the sun was the most humble experience which triggered many latent thoughts about our responsibility towards the society and happiness in general.

Even for his classmate Suvira, an hour of shramdaan helped her to relish the breakfast, realising and appreciating the efforts our hardworking farmers put into the soil.Thereafter, students attended a session by Dr Ramesh Bijlani, former doctor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences, on understanding the purpose of work and life, ones roles and goals and building spirituality at the work place.

Professor Avanish Kumar who was present along with the batch of students said, The visit to the ashram was a self-driven process of retrospection and reformation for corporate social responsibility. While surviving in the competitive market, people often forget the values which form the basis of human co-existence and progress. This was a fruitful session to make students realise their social obligations and responsibilities and to become insightful and conscientious leaders of the business world. The essence was that the work is spirituality and office is the place to practise it.

The day continued with another shramdaan at the basement and in the kitchen where students sorted clothes, cleaned utensils and floor. They later, attended another session on Understanding the Self in the Contemporary World. This was followed by lunch and a meeting with Tara Didi, chief mentor of the ashram and a devout follower of the philosophies of Sri Aurobindo and Mother Mirra Alfassa.

Another student, Gagandeep speaking about his day at the ashram said, The day was unlike a typical B-school morning. It made us realise our potential, our capabilities and limitations. The visit introduced us to a completely new side of ourselves. We all knew this side dwelled within us but never explored it. The session somehow makes us feel well-equipped for the world outside now.

Markus Kuehlest from Germany, who is a part of the student exchange programme says, I recognised one key HR issue holistic empowerment approach for employees. Empowerment and engagement of employees means that employerssee them as human beings and try to improve the happiness quotient. The event culminated with distribution of books based on the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother.

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An amalgamation of spirituality and business

Comment on Rethinking the Malaysian community by ENDANGERED HORNBILL

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Prof Dr. Mohamad Tajuddin Mohamad Rasdi The Malaysian Insider 30 August 2014

When I was invited by my colleagues to deliver a talk to a group of final year architecture students at UiTM on the subject of Community Center for Malaysia, I ended up talking about what being a Malaysian community means to me. From the reaction of the 80 strong students, no one had ever given a talk closest to the one I delivered ever since they set foot at UiTM. The following is an extraction of my power point presentation set in an essay format. I want to share these thoughts with all Malaysians, particularly with my Malay and Muslim friends, relatives and colleagues. I am sorry to say that I have the perception that of all the races in Malaysia, the Malays seem to be the least in understanding what being a Malaysian is all about.

I want to say that I can understand if a Malay says that they want to be Muslim first because God is greater than country but that does not give a blank check in being ill mannered and obnoxious and downright threatening to other religious adherents in order to get a certain point across. It also does not mean keeping in a lock-up two young teenagers just for wishing Muslims the breaking of fast by eating Bak-kut-teh. It also does not give any right for Muslims to threaten to slap an elected female representative or threaten to burn the holy books of the Christians. Malays and Muslims may disagree with me and even despise me but from where I am standing the loudest and most common bigots and racists in this country arethe Malays, especially from Perkasa and Isma.

The fact that these NGOs seem to get away with their unruly conduct is gravely disturbing indeed. But, on the ground, the fact that many teachers, head teachers, university students, professors, lecturers, taxi drivers and the many Mak Ciks and Pak Ciks, hang on their every word is the most frightening scenario for the well-being of the people of this nation. In my book, after 57 years of singing the Negara ku and filling televisions and youtubes with a feel good merdeka commercial, our grade is an F for failing to live up to the visions of our founding fathers like Tunku Abdul Rahman and Onn Jaafar. Plainly speaking, we are a divided nationby ignoranceand worseby choice.

Thus, it is with this sad and somber introduction that I offer my thoughts on how we should rebuild this country. I do not much care about the concerns of political parties on both sides of the divide because, again from where I am sitting, the two coalitions are simply fighting over who would own Malaysia and its wealth. Neither one is actually seriously putting across a viable concept and process of how to turn around this country on the path of moralistic, spiritual and cultural prosperity. Many Malaysians do not care two hoots about these three agendas for all their concerns is simply on a big house, a big car and a nice overseas holiday with a comfortable medical insurance expense as well as a good children education fund. But because of this ignorance, all that Malaysians covet will be meaningless and ultimately loss in a raging fire of hatred, mistrusts and civil unrest. The sparks have already began to flicker into life and is simply awaiting a small can of fuel to start the raging inferno of ethnic cleansing. Too dramatic a portrayal? I think not.

Henceforth, let us all ponder on the following words that I had put together in my definition of a Malaysian community:

A Malaysian Community is a Community that comprises of people from different ethnic groups who reveres deeply their religious and individual cultural heritage and respects reverently other ethnic groups with their own religious and cultural inheritance in a spirit of democratic and civil harmony while believing fervently that their very differences are their strength and that these differences complete their social and spiritual assets. In short, One Malaysia is truly a Many Malaysia.

There are two separate parts to the above mentioned statement. The first part is a basic necessity; that of respecting the differences of culture and belief of each race and adherents. The second part is the ultimate condition if Malaysia is to survive the storms of racial hatred and bigotry; that we all accept our differences to be our social and even spiritual assets.

With reference to the first part, we must ask the question ourselves, do we respect one anothers belief system and cultural norms? The Malays believe that other races must be subservient to them because of their Malayness and Islam. It is for this reason that many cultural, education and political policies are twisted towards these two items. Now, before the Malays call me a traitor to my own kind, and the Muslims call for my beheading a la Isis fighters, I beg please think awhile. Where has this policy gotten us? 57 years of failure. The attempt to only allow Islam to be taught in public schools and universities have resulted in a deep seated resentment by other religious adherents and the result is the proliferation of vernacular and Islamic religious schools that have deeply divided our society from its very core the young.

The preference of the arts in emphasizing the dramas, poetry and songs of a single ethnic group again fuel this self-alienation. The fact that Dewan Bahasa does not publish adequate books that would bridge the cultural gap is greatly telling of the cancerous nature of our national malady. Just ask any university student a few question on cultural rituals of other races and they would fail miserably. After 57 years there is still no confidence of giving the Vice Chancellorship of a public university to a non-Malay. This is not respecting other cultures. How are we to proceed for the next 57 years if we cannot even bring ourselves to even get a passing mark in this first of all basic necessity?

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Comment on Rethinking the Malaysian community by ENDANGERED HORNBILL

Secret space plane passes 600 days in orbit

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An artist's illustration of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane in orbit. The solar-powered winged spacecraft, part of the military's secret OTV-3 mission, launched in December 2012. NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

The U.S. Air Force's mysterious unmanned space plane has winged beyond 600 days in orbit on a classified military mission that seems to have no end.

The X-37B space plane is carrying out the Orbital Test Vehicle-3 (OTV-3) mission, a long-duration cruise that marks the third flight for the unpiloted Air Force spaceflight program.

The Air Force launched the miniature space shuttle into orbit on Dec. 11, 2012 using an expendable Atlas 5 rocket. By Sept. 1, the space plane had spent 630 days in orbit. That's one year, eight months, 22 days and counting, to be exact.

"The Air Force continues to push the envelope of the solar-powered X-37B capabilities," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. [Amateur Skywatcher Spots X-37B Space Plane (Video)]

A secretive space plane

The reusable X-37B looks like a mini version of NASA's now-retired space shuttle. This space plane is 29 feet (8.8 meters) long and 9.5 feet (2.9 m) tall, and has a wingspan of nearly 15 feet (4.6 m).

The X-37B's payload bay is the size of a pickup truck bed. In contrast, NASA's space shuttle payload bay could fit two X-37B space planes comfortably inside. At liftoff, the X-37B space plane weighs 11,000 lbs. (4,990 kilograms).

The key to the X-37B's longevity in space rests with its ability to use solar panels to generate power., the solar panels extend the craft's longevity. [How the X-37B Space Plane Works (Infographic)]

"While far above the longevity of any other reusable spacecraft, it is far below that of most U.S. satellites, which are built to last for years, even decades," Johnson-Freese told Space.com. "That certainly confirms the broad, officially stated goal of the X-37B as a test bed vehicle."

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Secret space plane passes 600 days in orbit

Space plane's epic orbit

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By Leonard David, SPACE.com's Space Insider Columnist

An artist's illustration of the U.S. Air Force's X-37B space plane in orbit. The solar-powered winged spacecraft has spent more than 620 days in orbit as part of the military's secret OTV-3 mission, which launched in December 2012.NASA Marshall Space Flight Center

The U.S. Air Force's classified X-37B space plane is prepared for its first spaceflight, OTV-1, in April 2010. The same space plane launched on the third X-37B mission, OTV-2, on Dec. 11, 2012. As of Aug. 29, 2014, the mission has reached 627 dNASA

General William Shelton (retired), former commander of the Air Force Space Command, has been a leader in rallying support for future of U.S. military space capabilities, including the X-37B robotic space plane.Credit: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Christopher Boitz

The U.S. Air Force's mysterious unmanned space plane has winged beyond 600 days in orbit on a classified military mission that seems to have no end.

The X-37B space plane is carrying out the Orbital Test Vehicle-3 (OTV-3) mission, a long-duration cruise that marks the third flight for the unpiloted Air Force spaceflight program.

The Air Force launched the miniature space shuttle into orbit on Dec. 11, 2012 using an expendable Atlas 5 rocket. By the end of Friday (Aug. 29), the space plane had spent 627 days in orbit. That's one year, eight months, 19 days and counting, to be exact.

"The Air Force continues to push the envelope of the solar-powered X-37B capabilities," said Joan Johnson-Freese, a professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. [Amateur Skywatcher Spots X-37B Space Plane (Video)]

The reusable X-37B looks like a mini version of NASA's now-retired space shuttle. This space plane is 29 feet long and 9.5 feet tall, and has a wingspan of nearly 15 feet.

The X-37B's payload bay is the size of a pickup truck bed. In contrast, NASA's space shuttle payload bay could fit two X-37B space planes comfortably inside. At liftoff, the X-37B space plane weighs 11,000 lbs.

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Space plane's epic orbit

Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask – Part 53 – Watch Out for Red-Heads – BlockBusted Gaming – Video

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Legend of Zelda: Majora #39;s Mask - Part 53 - Watch Out for Red-Heads - BlockBusted Gaming
Welcome to the show! LadyMetaRose (Marie) and RetroStarLing (Erik) star in this wacky romp through some of the best and worst video games ever! Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlockBustedGame.

By: BlockbustedGaming

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Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - Part 53 - Watch Out for Red-Heads - BlockBusted Gaming - Video

Red Raiders start slow, win season opener

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Photo by Emily de Santos/ The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech wide receiver D.J. Polite-Bray jumps up to catch a pass from quarterback Davis Webb on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium. The Red Raiders defeated Central Arkansas 42-35.

Posted: Monday, September 1, 2014 5:55 pm

Red Raiders start slow, win season opener By Everett Corder Sports Editor Daily Toreador - Dept. of Student Media, Texas Tech University |

60,778 fans set a season opener record Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium watching the heavily favored Red Raiders take on Central Arkansas.

Texas Tech won the game 42-35, but coach Kliff Kingsbury said he was embarrassed by the sloppiness of the team. The Bears, he said, wanted the win more.

(Im) just disappointed because I know how good they can be and we come out and play like that, Kingsbury said. Ive got to give Central Arkansas all the credit in the world. They played hard. They had a plan. They expected to win the game.

Central Arkansas and Tech both went three-and-out on their opening offensive drives, but the Bears were able to get on the board after their second drive with a 28-yard field goal.

Trying to catch the Red Raiders by surprise, Central Arkansas attempted an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but Tech recovered and drove down the short field to score the games first touchdown.

Tech junior DeAndre Washington ran the ball from the one-yard line for the score and eventually racked up 104 rushing yards on 20 carries in the game.

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Red Raiders start slow, win season opener

Red, itchy eyes? Why watching too much TV may be to blame

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By Adam Lee-potter

Published: 17:45 EST, 1 September 2014 | Updated: 17:45 EST, 1 September 2014

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One morning last year, a mother at my daughter's school stopped me at the gates. 'Late night?' she tutted, surreptitiously sniffing as if checking for signs of alcohol. 'You look like you haven't slept for a week. Everything all right?'

I was incensed. I'd been teetotal for a month and had slept eight hours straight the night before - I deeply resented any suggestion of impropriety.

But at home, scrutinising myself in a mirror, I saw immediately that she had a point: my bloodshot eyes were the colour of red snooker balls. I looked like I'd been hurled through a windscreen, eyeballs first. My wife was of scant comfort: 'What's new? You've had red eyes for as long as I've known you.'

Dry eye symptoms include sore, irritated eyes and blurred vision

I had assumed for years it was just the hours spent huddled over a computer screen. But looking at them more closely, I had to accept my eyes - which had been slightly red since my early 30s - had not felt right for months. They were constantly scratchy, sore and dry.

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Red, itchy eyes? Why watching too much TV may be to blame

J.Lo turns prim Hamptons heads

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Jennifer Lopezs Gucci gown with plunging neckline worn to the 39th Hampton Classic Horse Show on Sunday had some uptight guests doing double takes.

Everybody almost dropped when she walked in, said a blue-blooded spy at the event which brought out Michael Bloomberg and Diana Taylor, Rudy Giuliani, Kelly Klein and author Tom Wolfe.

What she was wearing was very un-horse show, which tends to be stuffier then red-carpet events.

One fashion Web site, however, endorsed the look as, daytime sexy chic.

J.Lo nearly had a wardrobe malfunction, a spy added, when a guest unceremoniously, stepped on the back of her gown and it began pulling sideways to nearly give all an eyeful.

Luckily, she made a graceful recovery and headed to a VIP table with twins Max and Emme in tow.

A day earlier J.Lo was at Mecox Beach with on-again beau Casper Smart.

Also enjoying the equestrian escapades were Christy Turlington, Matt Lauer, Beth Stern and Randy Kemper and Tony Ingrao.

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J.Lo turns prim Hamptons heads