Appreciating Our Past

It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is much more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth.
Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving. The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons.

Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want. Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too. Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we need to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed. Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for the truth.

Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be harboring about my past circumstances or relationships. I can accept, with gratitude, all that has brought me to today.

Achievement Has No Color -Abraham Lincoln.

"If you judge people you have no time to love them."
- Mother Teresa

WORTH SHARING THIS STORY:

A 50- something year old white woman arrived at her seat on a crowded flight and immediately didn’t want the seat. The seat was next to a black man.Disgusted, the woman immediately summoned the flight attendant and demanded a new seat. The woman said “I cannot sit here next to this black man.”
The fight attendant said “Let me see if I can find another seat.” After checking, the flight attendant returned and stated “Ma’am, there are no more seats in economy, but
I will check with the captain and see if there is something in first class.”
About 10 minutes went by and the flight attendant returned and stated
“The captain has confirmed that there are no more seats in economy, but there is one in first class. It is our company policy to never move a person from economy to first class, but being that it would be some sort of scandal to force a person to sit next to an UNPLEASANT person, the captain agreed to make the switch to first class.”
Before the woman could say anything, the attendant gestured to the black man and said, “Therefore sir, if you would so kindly retrieve your personal items, we would like to move you to the comfort of first class as the captain doesn’t want you to sit next to an unpleasant person.”Passengers in the seats nearby began to applause while some gave a standing ovation.
What a lesson to people who discriminate by color of skin……

“You can't hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree.”― Malcolm X.

If you are against racism, share this….

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The Challenge is not to Manage Time, but to Manage Ourselves !

“I do not believe in taking the right decision, I take a decision and make it right.”

― Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Improving self confidence

Are you the type of person who easily gets influenced by negative advices?
Follow this short self confidence lesson…

When Henry Ward Beecher was a young boy in school, he learned a lesson in self confidence which he never forgot.He was called upon to recite in front of the class. He had hardly begun when the teacher interrupted with an emphatic, “No!” He started over and again the teacher thundered, “No!” Humiliated, Henry sat down.

The next boy rose to recite and had just begun when the teacher shouted, “No!” This student, however, kept on with the recitation until he completed it. As he sat down, the teacher replied, “Very good!”
Henry was irritated. ”I recited just as he did,” he complained to the teacher.
But the instructor replied, “It is not enough to know your lesson, you must be sure. When you allowed me to stop you, it meant that you were uncertain.
If the world says, ‘No!’ it is your business to say, ‘Yes!’ and prove it.

The world will say, ‘No!’ in a thousand ways.
‘No! You can’t do that.’
‘No! You are wrong.’
‘No! You are too old.’
‘No! You are too young.’
‘No! You are too weak.’
‘No! It will never work.’
‘No! You don’t have the education.’
‘No! You don’t have the background.’
‘No! You don’t have the money.’
‘No! It can’t be done.’
And each ‘No!’ you hear has the potential to erode your confidence bit by bit until you quit all together.
Though the world says, ‘No!’ to you today, you should be determined to say,
‘Yes!’ and prove it! ” Author: Steve Goodier

Take-Two looks for life beyond 'Grand Theft Auto'

The video game company recently released Borderlands 2, which Take-Two hopes will help plug its financial holes and give it a new star franchise. It might be a long shot.

FORTUNE -- 2012 was supposed to be a banner year for video game maker Take-Two Interactive. The spring was supposed to mark the triumphant return of Max Payne, one of the gaming world's traditional heavyweight franchises. But positive reviews, eight years of development, and one of the company's largest marketing campaigns ever couldn't convince gamers to purchaseMax Payne 3, the franchise's latest installment.

Take-Two (TTWO) had had a rough go of it lately, and in July the company missed analyst's estimates for the second straight quarter. With no release date in sight for Grand Theft Auto V -- the latest sequel to the company's best-known and most profitable franchise -- Take-Two must rely on space western shooter Borderlands 2, which hits shelves this week.

Take Two is also likely hoping that Borderlands can help the company rely a little bit less onGrand Theft Auto. Despite the lack of updates to the franchise, Grand Theft Auto product sales accounted for almost 14% of the company's net revenue in fiscal year 2012. As of September 2011, Grand Theft Auto titles had sold 20 million more units then the rest of Take-Two's catalogue combined. That's over six times the number of games sold by Take-Two's second most successful franchise.

MORE: Windows 8: Microsoft's 'New Coke'

This unbridled success has given Grand Theft Auto's in-house developer, Rockstar Games, free reign over the studio's development process. Rockstar takes a considerable amount of time between releasing its games (the latest Grand Theft Auto game was released in 2008), driving up Take-Two's overall development costs.

"[Rockstar] fancy themselves James Cameron in everything they do," says Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter, "Everyone gets a game out in three years; Rockstar doesn't follow these rules…." And while the studio's games are consistently praised, they aren't guaranteed financial successes. Rockstar produced Max Payne 3.

At the very least, the success of Borderlands 2 will make or break Take-Two's second quarter. Pachter estimates that Borderlands sales to account for 54% of the company's quarterly revenue. More importantly though is the Borderlands franchise's potential as another long-term source of revenue for the company.

Borderlands 2's September release date comes a little under three years after the original game was published. The game also has major hit potential. Cowen and Company analyst Doug Creutz sees Borderlands as a potential third anchor franchise for Take-Two, along with Grand Theft Auto and the Red Dead franchises, a series of spaghetti western shooters. "[Last quarter] the focus was on the missing earnings, everyone knows that," Creutz says, "One big hit [Borderlands 2] can pay for everything."

According to the video game research firm VGChartz, Borderlands 2 is on pace to rack up over 1 million United States unit sales in its first week. That's over double the first-week U.S sales of Max Payne 3.

MORE: Kids' tablets prepare for battle

Part of Borderlands' potential success has to do with its blend of two popular video game genres, first person shooters and role-playing games. "[Borderlands 2] is a very unique title," Take-Two COO Karl Slatoff said on the company's July 31 earnings call, "There's nothing else like it out there. It's a great window for us."

Take-Two's stock has soared over 35% since August 1, reflecting, at least in part, growing enthusiasm about Borderlands. Still, despite its hit potential, Borderlands 2 isn't a perfect fit for a Take-Two turnaround game.

Take-Two teamed up with third-party developer Gearbox Studios to create and distributeBorderlands 2, which lowers its share of the profits, says BMO Capital analyst Edward Williams. That's a smaller slice of revenue for the company at a time when packaged video game profits are already struggling. According to the NPD group, industry sales dropped 20% in August, a dip that's part of a larger trend as gamers wait for a new generation of consoles to hit stores.

Take-Two must also escape the considerably large shadow of Grand Theft Auto. "Take-Two is aGrand Theft Auto company," say Edward Woo, an analyst at Ascendiant Capital Markets. "While the other games are useful, they don't have as much of an impact."

India allows FDI in multi-brand retail, airlines

Cabinet on Friday decided to operationalise 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail but left it to the state governments to allow setting up of such stores.

The Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cleared the decision at a meeting this evening, a Union minister, who asked not to be identified, said here. For single-brand retail, the Cabinet decided that any firm seeking waiver of the mandatory 30 per cent local sourcing norms would have to set up a manufacturing facility in the country, the minister added.

In November last year, the government had approved 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand. This was, however, put on hold due to political opposition, including from UPA constituent Trinamool Congress.

The minister said since the implementation of the decision was put on hold, it had to go to the Cabinet again before going ahead with the decision.

The government also allowed foreign airlines to invest up to 49 percent in domestic carriers, giving wings to cash-strapped Indian carriers.

The cabinet committee on economic affairs (CCEA), chaired by the prime minister, approved the proposal that was stuck for months as there was no political consensus on the issue. Foreign airlines can now invest up to 49 percent in any of the private domestic carriers like Jet Airways, SpiceJet and Go Air.

Foreign carriers were not allowed so far to directly invest in Indian carriers for security reasons, although 49 percent FDI by non-airline players was allowed. According to civil aviation ministry sources, the directives for the implementation of the policy will be issued within a month.

When contacted, international airlines such as Emirates welcomed the move.

'We always welcome any reform which liberalises markets, including FDI rules. India is one of world's most important aviation markets,' an Emirates spokesperson told IANS.

Another Middle East airline Etihad Airways, however, was cautious in its reaction. The airline said it will wait for all the modalities of the new reforms are clear. 'It is our policy not to comment on such speculation. If or when we do make further investments of this sort, we will announce them in line with regulatory and commercial requirements,' Etihad Airways said in a statement.

Etihad Airways has investments in AirBerlin, Air Seychelles and Aer Lingus. The news came after the equities markets closed. However, in anticipation of the policy development, scrips of the three listed airlines - Kingfisher, Jet Airways and SpiceJet - closed on a high.

The Kingfisher Airlines scrip on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) ended up 7.88 percent at Rs.10.81 a share. The scrip touched a high of Rs.11.40.

Kingfisher promoter Vijay Mallya is betting on the FDI clearance to bail out his cash-strapped carrier.

'I am an avid supporter of FDI. I don't see any reason why FDI from strategic partners like an airline should be banned or not permitted. Who would understand an airline better than another airline,' Mallya had said.

Jet Airway's scrip closed up by 1.97 percent at Rs.368.35. The scrip touched a high of Rs.381.80 in the trade. Budget carrier SpiceJet saw a 4.39 percent increase and stood at Rs.34.50. The stock climed to a high of Rs.35.80.

A group of ministers (GoM) headed by then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had agreed Jan 17 to draft a cabinet note proposing a 49 percent cap on FDI by foreign carriers in domestic airlines.

Before that decision, various departments had proposed different investment caps - from 24 percent to 26 percent.

Prevent somebody watching your Internet
activity… (You r not Safe )



Now a days Hackingis on peak. Sometimes people who have a little bit knowledge of networking and pleased to call themselves hacker sometimes trace your IP Address and then analyse your all system configuration and Network Details which they can use against you and can stuck u in any fraud.It is not a big deal if your nabour is waching your internet activity or in college wi-fi network administrator waching your all linkns and activity. So here i am going to give you a magical stick with the help of that you can Defend yourself against network surveillance and traffic analysis.
Here i Will introduce you with tor …


Now What is Tor?
Tor was originally designed, implemented, and deployed as a third-generation onion routing project of the U.S.Naval Research Laboratory. It was originally developed with the U.S. Navy in mind, for the primary purpose of protecting government communications. Today, it is used every day for a wide variety of purposes by normal people, the military, journalists, law enforcement officers, activists, and many others.


Why we should use this
Individuals use Tor to keep websites from tracking them and their family members, or to connect to news sites, instant messaging services, or the like when these are blocked by their local Internet providers. Tor’s hidden services let users publish web sites and other services without needing to reveal the location of the site. Individuals also use Tor for socially sensitive communication: chat rooms and web forums for rape and abuse survivors, or people with illnesses.

5 of the Most Expensive Apple Products Ever

The legal document that started the most valuable company is apparently worth as much as 8,000 iPhones. That's how much auction house Sotheby's sold Apple's founding documents for in December.

Signed by co-founders Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ron Wayne on April 1, 1976, the three-page agreement set up the foundation for the Apple Computer Co. (AAPL), giving Jobs and Wozniak each 45% of the company and Wayne the remaining 10%. Just 11 days later, Wayne withdrew and forfeited the ownership.

Bidding for the papers began at $70,000 and was estimated to go for $100,000 to $150,000. The final price fetched more than 10 times that, when Eduardo Cisneros, a media and entertainment mogul, submitted the winning bid.

2. Apple I computer: $374,500

The first brainchild of Jobs and Wozniak originally sold for $666.66. Yet if you're an owner of one of the 200 Apple I computers today, it can fetch more than 500 times that price.

In an auction run by Christie's in November 2010, an Apple I was sold for more than $212,000. The item also included a signed letter from Jobs himself. The auction house announced last week that it would put another Apple I up for bids, with the expectation that it could fetch as much as $126,500.

Neither of those come close to the $374,500 winning bid for a working Apple I at a Sotheby's auction in June. That device went for more than twice the $180,000 the auction house expected.

3. Silk screened logo by Andy Warhol: $26,000

Getting your hands on just about any Warhol would be a pricey endeavor, but one with Apple's logo? Well, that'll cost you $26,000.

The silk screen artwork was commissioned by former Apple executive Del Yocam, according to O'Gallerie, which sold the piece. The 1985 print, complete with Warhol's signature in the corner, was auctioned off in May 2009.

4. First trade sign: $18,000

This wood-framed, Plexiglas sign was auctioned off for $18,000, but it was literally thrown in the garbage three decades ago.

It was Apple's first trade sign, which the company hung up at trade shows when it was showing off its computers, beginning with the Apple I in 1976. Eventually, the eight-foot, four-inch long sign was placed in front of the company's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters.

Steve Jobs ordered a replacement, though, and threw the old one in a dumpster. Thomas Liggett, Jr., Apple's employee No. 114, rescued the sign and kept it in his house until he sold it in 2008.

5. Steve Wozniak's toolbox: $7,000

This simple toolbox may be heavily used, but it'll cost you way more than a brand new one. That's because of its famous owner: It had belonged to Wozniak (his name is on the yellow label).

All of Apple's engineers in the 1970s were given these blue tool boxes, but when Woz stopped using his, he left it lying around the company's headquarters. Liggett, who became quite a collector of early Apple mementos, asked Woz if he could have the box.

Auctioned off in 2009 for $7,000, the banged-up metal tool box fetched $2,000 more than what it was expected to.

Electronic supercar unveiled

Croatian concept car manufacturer Rimac Automobili is preparing to unveil a prototype of their Concept One electric supercar at the upcoming Salon Prive luxury car show in London in early September.

Concept One car is seen in this undated handout released on August 31, 2012. Croatian concept car manufacturer Rimac Automobili based near Zagreb prepares to unveil a prototype of their Concept One electric supercar at the upcoming Salon Priv' car show in London in early September.The Concept One has a carbon fiber body an electric motor powering each wheel, and can produce 1,088 horse powers, capable of achieving top speed of around 305 kmh (190 mph) with a range of 600 kilometres (373 miles), making it the world's fastest electric car. Costing around $1 million each, only 13 of these high-end electric cars are expected to be produced per year. REUTERS/Rimac/Handout

Brain Teaser to Expand your Mind

The Wall Street Investor $ $ $

An investor trading through a discount stock broker that charges $10.00 Dollars per transaction bought 200 shares of Vola Tile Corporation at $50.00 Dollars per share. The stock quickly increased in value by 50%, but then lost 40% of its value. The investor sold the stock. How much money did the investor gain or lose?

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Answer:

The cost of 200 shares at $50.00 Dollars each is $10,000.00 Dollars.
The 50% gain on $10,000 is $5,000, making the new total $15,000.00 Dollars.
The 40% loss on $15,000 is $6,000, reducing the total amount to $9,000.00 Dollars.
This is a $1000.00 Dollar loss, plus $10 Dollars for the Buy transaction, and $10 Dollars for the Sell transaction.

The investor lost a total of $1020.00 Dollars.

It seems counterintuitive that the investor should lose money when the percentage of the loss is less than the percentage of the gain. However, the percentage of the loss is calculated on a bigger amount than the percentage of the gain.

England's Largest Nude Land Sculpture Unveiled

Northumberlandia, which is being called the world's largest human landform, will officially open today. Also know as "The Lady of the North," the land sculpture of a reclining lady will be unveiled by Princess Anne.

The sculpture is part of a 46-acre park with four miles of footpaths open to the public. Northumberlandia is a unique sculpture that was made from the land in the park.

"Far from being a rigid manicured art form Northumberlandia is a living part of the countryside that will mature over time and change with the seasons," the website says. "What you see when you visit is only the start of something that will evolve through generations."

Made of 1.5 million tons of rock, clay and soil, The Lady of the North is 100 ft. high and a quarter of a mile long. She is the masterpiece of Charles Jenks, an American-born architect who has come to fame in England.

The concept was born in 2004 and building began in 2010 by The Banks Group as part of the restoration of the nearby Shotton surface coal mine. The land was donated by Blagdon Estate.

The project is in line with the "restoration first" concept, which involves "taking an extra piece of land donated by the landowner, the Blagdon Estate, adjacent to the mine and providing a new landscape for the community to enjoy while the mine is still operational."

Work on Northumberlandia began two years ago when soil and clay from the surrounding areas were formed into the shape of a reclining lady. Next, grass seed was strategically placed to create the outlines of the woman.

The project cost 3 million euro and will be maintained by independent charity The Land Trust.