About The Book
For Bella Swan, there is one thing more important than life itself: Edward Cullen. But being in love with a vampire is even more dangerous than Bella could ever have imagined. Edward has already rescued Bella from the clutches of one evil vampire, but now, as their daring relationship threatens all that is near and dear to them, they realize their troubles may be just beginning...
'Shoot', I muttered when the paper sliced my finger; I pulled it out to examine the damage. A single drop of blood oozed from the tiny cut. It all happened very quickly then. 'No!' Edward roared...Dazed and disoriented, I looked up from the bright red blood pulsing out of my arm - into the fevered eyes of the six suddenly ravenous vampires.
Passionate, riveting and deeply moving, New Moon, the compelling sequel to Twilight, irresistibly combines romance and suspense with a supernatural twist.
About the Author
Stephenie Meyer debut novel Twilight and the sequels New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn are international bestsellers. Her official website can be found at www.stepheniemeyer.com
The items posted here are generally the ones which I have read somewhere and would like to share. The ones posted under the label "PERSONAL" have been written by me :).
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Why The World Would End By The Year 2012
SCIENTIFIC EXPERTS from around the world are predicting that 3 years from now, all life on Earth could well come to an end. Some are saying it'll be humans that would set it off. Others believe that a natural phenomenon will be the cause. And the religious folks are saying it'll be God himself who would press the stop button. The following are some likely arguments as to why the world would end by the year 2012.
Reason one: Mayan calendar
The first to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at two things -- building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and sacrificing virgins.
Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts that the earth will end on December 21, 2012. Given that they were pretty close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it's likely they've got the end of the world right as well.
Reason two: Sun storms
Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling discovery. Our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is, like most things in nature, cyclic and it's supposed to be in the middle of a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been bombarding the earth with lot of radiation energy. It's been knocking out power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get worse and calculations suggest it'll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012.
Reason three: The atom smasher
Scientists in Europe have been building the world's largest particle accelerator. Basically, its a 27 km tunnel designed to smash atoms together to find out what makes the universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it's properly even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They're predicting all manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball.
Reason four: The Bible says it
If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn't bad enough, religious folks are getting in on the act as well. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between good an evil, has been set for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese Book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings.
Reason five: Super volcano
Yellowstone National Park in United States is famous for its thermal springs and old faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple -- it's sitting on top of the world's biggest volcano and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years or so, and we're many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years. The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang.
Reason six: The physicists
This one's case of bog -- simple maths mathematics. Physicists at Berkely University have been crunching the numbers.
They've determined that the earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they're claiming that their calculations prove that we're all going to die, very soon. They are also saying that their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 per cent; and 2012 just happens to be the best guess as to when it occurs.
Reason seven: Earth's magnetic field
We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that shields us from most of the sun's radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic poles we call North and South have a nasty habit of swapping places every 750,000 years or so -- and right now we're about 30,000 years overdue. Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30 kms each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being right around the corner. While the pole shift is under way, the magnetic field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100 years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds, killing everything it touches.
Reason one: Mayan calendar
The first to predict 2012 as the end of the world were the Mayans, a bloodthirsty race that were good at two things -- building highly accurate astrological equipment out of stone and sacrificing virgins.
Thousands of years ago they managed to calculate the length of the lunar moon as 329.53020 days, only 34 seconds out. The Mayan calendar predicts that the earth will end on December 21, 2012. Given that they were pretty close to the mark with the lunar cycle, it's likely they've got the end of the world right as well.
Reason two: Sun storms
Solar experts from around the world monitoring the sun have made a startling discovery. Our sun is in a bit of strife. The energy output of the sun is, like most things in nature, cyclic and it's supposed to be in the middle of a period of relative stability. However, recent solar storms have been bombarding the earth with lot of radiation energy. It's been knocking out power grids and destroying satellites. This activity is predicted to get worse and calculations suggest it'll reach its deadly peak sometime in 2012.
Reason three: The atom smasher
Scientists in Europe have been building the world's largest particle accelerator. Basically, its a 27 km tunnel designed to smash atoms together to find out what makes the universe tick. However, the mega-gadget has caused serious concern, with some scientists suggesting that it's properly even a bad idea to turn it on in the first place. They're predicting all manner of deadly results, including mini black holes. So when this machine is fired up for its first serious experiment in 2012, the world could be crushed into a super-dense blob the size of a basketball.
Reason four: The Bible says it
If having scientists warning us about the end of the world isn't bad enough, religious folks are getting in on the act as well. Interpretations of the Christian Bible reveal that the date for Armageddon, the final battle between good an evil, has been set for 2012. The I Ching, also known as the Chinese Book of Changes, says the same thing, as do various sections of the Hindu teachings.
Reason five: Super volcano
Yellowstone National Park in United States is famous for its thermal springs and old faithful geyser. The reason for this is simple -- it's sitting on top of the world's biggest volcano and geological experts are beginning to get nervous sweats. The Yellowstone volcano has a pattern of erupting every 650,000 years or so, and we're many years overdue for an explosion that will fill the atmosphere with ash, blocking the sun and plunging the earth into a frozen winter that could last up to 15,000 years. The pressure under the Yellowstone is building steadily, and geologists have set 2012 as a likely date for the big bang.
Reason six: The physicists
This one's case of bog -- simple maths mathematics. Physicists at Berkely University have been crunching the numbers.
They've determined that the earth is well overdue for a major catastrophic event. Even worse, they're claiming that their calculations prove that we're all going to die, very soon. They are also saying that their prediction comes with a certainty of 99 per cent; and 2012 just happens to be the best guess as to when it occurs.
Reason seven: Earth's magnetic field
We all know the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field that shields us from most of the sun's radiation. What you might not know is that the magnetic poles we call North and South have a nasty habit of swapping places every 750,000 years or so -- and right now we're about 30,000 years overdue. Scientists have noted that the poles are drifting apart roughly 20-30 kms each year, much faster than ever before, which points to a pole-shift being right around the corner. While the pole shift is under way, the magnetic field is disrupted and will eventually disappear, sometimes for up to 100 years. The result is enough UV outdoors to crisp your skin in seconds, killing everything it touches.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Twilight - Stephenie Meyer
About The Book
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.
What Bella doesn't realize is that the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And it might be too late to turn back...
About three things Bella was absolutely positive.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him - and she didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for her blood.
And third, She was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
Deeply seductive and irresistibly compelling, Twilight is an extraordinary love story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.
About the Author
Stephenie Meyer debut novel Twilight and the sequels New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn are international bestsellers. Her official website can be found at www.stepheniemeyer.com
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.
What Bella doesn't realize is that the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And it might be too late to turn back...
About three things Bella was absolutely positive.
First, Edward was a vampire.
Second, there was a part of him - and she didn't know how dominant that part might be - that thirsted for her blood.
And third, She was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
Deeply seductive and irresistibly compelling, Twilight is an extraordinary love story that will stay with you long after you have turned the final page.
About the Author
Stephenie Meyer debut novel Twilight and the sequels New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn are international bestsellers. Her official website can be found at www.stepheniemeyer.com
The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - A fable about fulfilling your dreams and reaching your destiny - Robin Sharma
About the book
Wisdom to create a life of Passion, Purpose, and Peace
This inspiring tale provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy. A wonderfully crafted fable tells the extraordinary story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life. On a life-changing odyssey to an ancient culture, he discovers powerful, wise, and practical lessons that teach us to:
- Develop joyful thoughts
- Follow our life's mission and calling
- Cultivate self-discipline and act courageously
- Value time as our most important commodity
- Nourish our relationships, and - live fully, one day at a time
About the Author
Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of 10 bestselling books on leadership and personal development. His work has been published in over 50 countries and nearly 70 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari which has topped international bestseller lists and sold millions of copies.
Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a global consultancy that helps people in organizations Lead Without a Title. His clients include Microsoft, Nike, GE, FedEx, NASA and BP.
Robin's website, www.robinsharma.com, offers his blog, video coaching and podcasts.
The best lines or teachings from the book
Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson. Failure whether of the personal, professional, or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather, embrace it as the teacher that it is.
There are no mistakes in life, only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grow, learn and advance along the road of self-mastery. From struggle comes strength. Even pain can be a wonderful teacher.
On an average day, the average person runs about sixty thousand thoughts through his mind and 95% of those thoughts were the same as the ones you thought the day before.
When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.
The secret of happiness is simple: find out what you truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing it. If you study the happiest, healthiest, most satisfied people of our world, you will see that each and every one of them has found their passion in life, and then spent their days pursuing it. This calling is almost always one that, in some way, serves others. Once you are concentrating your mental power and energy on a pursuit that you love, abundance flows into your life, and all your desires are fulfilled with ease and grace.
Stillness is the stepping stone to connecting with the universal source of intelligence that throbs through every living thing.
The Chinese define image in these terms: there are three mirrors that form a person's reflection; the first is how you see yourself, the second is how others see you and the third mirror reflects the truth. Know yourself, Know the truth.
For new behavior to crystallize into a habit, one had to perform the new activity for twenty-one days in a row.
Never do anything because you have to. The only reason to do something is because you want to and because you know it is the right thing for you to do.
Kaizen - Japanese word that means constant and never-ending improvement. It's the personal trademark of every man and woman who is living a soaring, fully awakened existence. Success on the outside begins with success on the inside. If you really want to improve your outer world, whether this means your health, your relationships or your finances, you must first improve your inner world. The most effective way to do this is through the practice of continuous self-improvement. Self-mastery is the DNA of life mastery.
Ten Rituals of Radiant Living
- The Ritual Of Solitude
Ensure that your daily schedule includes a mandatory period of peace. It's purpose is self-renewal and this is accomplished by spending time alone, immersed in the beautiful blanket of silence.
- The Ritual of Physicality
It is based on the principle that says as you care for the body so you care for the mind. As you prepare your body, so you prepare your mind. As you train your body, so you train your mind. Take some time every single day to nourish the temple of your body through vigorous exercise. Get your blood circulationg and your body moving.
- The Ritual of Live Nourishment
As you nourish your body, so you nourish your mind as a poor diet has a pronounced effect on your life. It drains your mental and physical energy. It affects your moods and it hampers the clarity of your mind.
- The Ritual of Abundant Knowledge
It centers on the whole notion of lifelong learning and expanding your knowledge base for the good of yourself and all those around you. It requires that you use what you have learned in the classroom of your existence.
- The Ritual of Personal Reflection
The power of inner contemplation. By taking the time to get to know yourself, you will connect to a dimension of your being that you never knew you had.
- The Ritual of Early Awakening
Rise with the sun and start the day off well
- The Ritual of Music
Music makes you laugh, it makes you dance and it makes you sing. Never forget the power of music. It is one of the finest motivators.
- The Ritual of the Spoken Word
It helps you to be focused, strong and happy. For example, saying mantras, written affirmations. A mantra is nothing more than a collection of words strung together to create a positive effect. In Sanskrit, 'man' means 'mind' and 'tra' means 'freeing'. So a mantra is a phrase that is designed to free the mind.
- The Ritual of a Congruent Character
Take daily, incremental action to build your character.
You sow a thought, you reap an action. Reap an action,you sow a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap your destiny.
When all your actions are congruent and aligned with the principles of industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and courage, you will feel a deep sense of inner harmony and peace.
- The Ritual of Simplicity
Live a simple life. One must never live in the thick of thin things. Focus only on your priorities, those activities that are truly meaningful. Your life will be uncluttered, rewarding and exceptionally peaceful.
Ancient Rule of Twenty - 80% of the results you achieve in your life come from only 20% of the activities that occupy your time.
When you control your thoughts, you control your mind. When you control your mind, you control your life. And once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life, you become the master of your destiny.
Seven virtues for a life overflowing with inner peace, joy and a wealth of spiritual gifts are contained within a mystical fable. The following fable has the essence of it all. Picture the following scene in your mind's eye-
You are sitting in the middle of a magnificient, lush, green garden. This garden is filled with the most spectacular flowers you have ever seen. The environment is supremely tranquil and silent. Savor the sensual delights of this graden and feel as if you have all the time in the world to enjoy this natural oasis. As you look around you see that in the center of this magical garden stands a towering, red lighthouse, six stories high. Suddenly, the silence of the garden is disturbed by a loud creaking as the door at the base of the lighthouse opens. Japanese sumo wrestler who casually wanders into the center of the garden. [The Japanese sumo wrestler is almost totally naked. He has a pink wire cable covering his private parts]. As this sumo wrestler starts to move around the garden, he finds a shiny gold stopwatch which someone had left behind many years earlier. He slips it on, and falls to the ground with an enormous thud. The sumo wrestler is rendered unconscious and lies there, silent and still. Just when you think he has taken his last breath, the wrestler awakens, perhaps stirred by the fragrance of some fresh yellow roses blooming nearby. Energized, the wrestler jumps swiftly to his feet and intuitively looks to his left. He is startled by what he sees. Through the bushes at the very edge of the garden he observes a long winding path covered by millions of sparkling diamonds. Something seems to instruct the wrestler to take the path, and to his credit, he does. This path leads him dowm the road of everlasting joy and eternal bliss.
The 7 Timeless Virtues of Enlightened Living
Master Your Mind - The Magnificent Garden
Follow Your Purpose - The Towering Lighthouse
Practice Kaizen - The Sumo Wrestler
Live With Discipline - The Pink Wire Cable
Respect Your Time - The Gold Stopwatch
Selflessly Serve Others - The Fragrant Roses
Embrace the Present - The Path of Diamonds
We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.
Wisdom to create a life of Passion, Purpose, and Peace
This inspiring tale provides a step-by-step approach to living with greater courage, balance, abundance, and joy. A wonderfully crafted fable tells the extraordinary story of Julian Mantle, a lawyer forced to confront the spiritual crisis of his out-of-balance life. On a life-changing odyssey to an ancient culture, he discovers powerful, wise, and practical lessons that teach us to:
- Develop joyful thoughts
- Follow our life's mission and calling
- Cultivate self-discipline and act courageously
- Value time as our most important commodity
- Nourish our relationships, and - live fully, one day at a time
About the Author
Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of 10 bestselling books on leadership and personal development. His work has been published in over 50 countries and nearly 70 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari which has topped international bestseller lists and sold millions of copies.
Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a global consultancy that helps people in organizations Lead Without a Title. His clients include Microsoft, Nike, GE, FedEx, NASA and BP.
Robin's website, www.robinsharma.com, offers his blog, video coaching and podcasts.
The best lines or teachings from the book
Every event has a purpose and every setback its lesson. Failure whether of the personal, professional, or even spiritual kind, is essential to personal expansion. It brings inner growth and a whole host of psychic rewards. Never regret your past. Rather, embrace it as the teacher that it is.
There are no mistakes in life, only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only opportunities to grow, learn and advance along the road of self-mastery. From struggle comes strength. Even pain can be a wonderful teacher.
On an average day, the average person runs about sixty thousand thoughts through his mind and 95% of those thoughts were the same as the ones you thought the day before.
When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.
The secret of happiness is simple: find out what you truly love to do and then direct all of your energy towards doing it. If you study the happiest, healthiest, most satisfied people of our world, you will see that each and every one of them has found their passion in life, and then spent their days pursuing it. This calling is almost always one that, in some way, serves others. Once you are concentrating your mental power and energy on a pursuit that you love, abundance flows into your life, and all your desires are fulfilled with ease and grace.
Stillness is the stepping stone to connecting with the universal source of intelligence that throbs through every living thing.
The Chinese define image in these terms: there are three mirrors that form a person's reflection; the first is how you see yourself, the second is how others see you and the third mirror reflects the truth. Know yourself, Know the truth.
For new behavior to crystallize into a habit, one had to perform the new activity for twenty-one days in a row.
Never do anything because you have to. The only reason to do something is because you want to and because you know it is the right thing for you to do.
Kaizen - Japanese word that means constant and never-ending improvement. It's the personal trademark of every man and woman who is living a soaring, fully awakened existence. Success on the outside begins with success on the inside. If you really want to improve your outer world, whether this means your health, your relationships or your finances, you must first improve your inner world. The most effective way to do this is through the practice of continuous self-improvement. Self-mastery is the DNA of life mastery.
Ten Rituals of Radiant Living
- The Ritual Of Solitude
Ensure that your daily schedule includes a mandatory period of peace. It's purpose is self-renewal and this is accomplished by spending time alone, immersed in the beautiful blanket of silence.
- The Ritual of Physicality
It is based on the principle that says as you care for the body so you care for the mind. As you prepare your body, so you prepare your mind. As you train your body, so you train your mind. Take some time every single day to nourish the temple of your body through vigorous exercise. Get your blood circulationg and your body moving.
- The Ritual of Live Nourishment
As you nourish your body, so you nourish your mind as a poor diet has a pronounced effect on your life. It drains your mental and physical energy. It affects your moods and it hampers the clarity of your mind.
- The Ritual of Abundant Knowledge
It centers on the whole notion of lifelong learning and expanding your knowledge base for the good of yourself and all those around you. It requires that you use what you have learned in the classroom of your existence.
- The Ritual of Personal Reflection
The power of inner contemplation. By taking the time to get to know yourself, you will connect to a dimension of your being that you never knew you had.
- The Ritual of Early Awakening
Rise with the sun and start the day off well
- The Ritual of Music
Music makes you laugh, it makes you dance and it makes you sing. Never forget the power of music. It is one of the finest motivators.
- The Ritual of the Spoken Word
It helps you to be focused, strong and happy. For example, saying mantras, written affirmations. A mantra is nothing more than a collection of words strung together to create a positive effect. In Sanskrit, 'man' means 'mind' and 'tra' means 'freeing'. So a mantra is a phrase that is designed to free the mind.
- The Ritual of a Congruent Character
Take daily, incremental action to build your character.
You sow a thought, you reap an action. Reap an action,you sow a habit. Sow a habit, you reap a character. Sow a character, you reap your destiny.
When all your actions are congruent and aligned with the principles of industry, compassion, humility, patience, honesty and courage, you will feel a deep sense of inner harmony and peace.
- The Ritual of Simplicity
Live a simple life. One must never live in the thick of thin things. Focus only on your priorities, those activities that are truly meaningful. Your life will be uncluttered, rewarding and exceptionally peaceful.
Ancient Rule of Twenty - 80% of the results you achieve in your life come from only 20% of the activities that occupy your time.
When you control your thoughts, you control your mind. When you control your mind, you control your life. And once you reach the stage of being in total control of your life, you become the master of your destiny.
Seven virtues for a life overflowing with inner peace, joy and a wealth of spiritual gifts are contained within a mystical fable. The following fable has the essence of it all. Picture the following scene in your mind's eye-
You are sitting in the middle of a magnificient, lush, green garden. This garden is filled with the most spectacular flowers you have ever seen. The environment is supremely tranquil and silent. Savor the sensual delights of this graden and feel as if you have all the time in the world to enjoy this natural oasis. As you look around you see that in the center of this magical garden stands a towering, red lighthouse, six stories high. Suddenly, the silence of the garden is disturbed by a loud creaking as the door at the base of the lighthouse opens. Japanese sumo wrestler who casually wanders into the center of the garden. [The Japanese sumo wrestler is almost totally naked. He has a pink wire cable covering his private parts]. As this sumo wrestler starts to move around the garden, he finds a shiny gold stopwatch which someone had left behind many years earlier. He slips it on, and falls to the ground with an enormous thud. The sumo wrestler is rendered unconscious and lies there, silent and still. Just when you think he has taken his last breath, the wrestler awakens, perhaps stirred by the fragrance of some fresh yellow roses blooming nearby. Energized, the wrestler jumps swiftly to his feet and intuitively looks to his left. He is startled by what he sees. Through the bushes at the very edge of the garden he observes a long winding path covered by millions of sparkling diamonds. Something seems to instruct the wrestler to take the path, and to his credit, he does. This path leads him dowm the road of everlasting joy and eternal bliss.
The 7 Timeless Virtues of Enlightened Living
Master Your Mind - The Magnificent Garden
Follow Your Purpose - The Towering Lighthouse
Practice Kaizen - The Sumo Wrestler
Live With Discipline - The Pink Wire Cable
Respect Your Time - The Gold Stopwatch
Selflessly Serve Others - The Fragrant Roses
Embrace the Present - The Path of Diamonds
We are all here for some special reason. Stop being a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of your future.
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