tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5389387901293618742024-03-07T14:29:02.011+05:30Vaj Book rackMy blog for book reviewsVajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-76992288616959344672013-03-05T16:51:00.001+05:302013-03-05T16:51:37.543+05:30Why don't you post ?Did you just read an awesome book ?, Want to post a review ?, why don't you do it on the rack ?<br />
Just e-mail your review complete with your Name, About you and profession. I will have it featured in the rackVajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-16644188512494336322013-01-28T21:49:00.001+05:302013-01-28T21:49:41.976+05:30Flipkart Search Bar<!-- Flipkart Search Bar --><br />
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I purchase all my books from Flipkart. A really wonderful site to shop for books and more. They provide me the best deals and more. To congratulate them for their service, I have incorporated this search bar into my siteVajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-29523945877744885032012-12-23T16:20:00.001+05:302012-12-23T16:20:27.185+05:30Awesome things to to with a book other than reading it....I was bored and came upon these wonderful things on the web. Just think of all the things you can do with a book other than reading. I came upon these pictures on Pintrest. <br />
<br />
1: Different words of a same sentence on pages of a book.<br />
2: Although not related to what you can do with a book this is too wonderful to include on the list. Big, Big books ( There are some people for scale )<br />
3: Wall art with loose pages of books<br />
4: Book art flowers<br />
5: A Peter Pan book <br />
<br />
All these pictures were found on Pintrest. I do not own any images or did not create any of these things. All these pictures and creations belong to their respective owners <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WYBR5UtWSEXOn47J4y4U_HFU2gMuiYhhBTXmb4uOoGykQJmq-thqPE0s_ClTGncvHaAyOkjp_pDhD4o6iu70yasXC_lFZMStDt5xArIVnddlYkus5n20OF01l7pVw7hZ6p5GcAVmF3E/s640/blogger-image--1876480328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WYBR5UtWSEXOn47J4y4U_HFU2gMuiYhhBTXmb4uOoGykQJmq-thqPE0s_ClTGncvHaAyOkjp_pDhD4o6iu70yasXC_lFZMStDt5xArIVnddlYkus5n20OF01l7pVw7hZ6p5GcAVmF3E/s640/blogger-image--1876480328.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M03whOovsKN-HDNdsegnewwg2sczG7tOqeHWGmT9i96hIMiq92GwnCWmC-muM1bO56ogE5FGD497RviMHSilL7ghUSW2yaHYxd-LMA1leEjGvtspkRMqH56N6Z6r6NKQbpz78bfugqU/s640/blogger-image-451684765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7M03whOovsKN-HDNdsegnewwg2sczG7tOqeHWGmT9i96hIMiq92GwnCWmC-muM1bO56ogE5FGD497RviMHSilL7ghUSW2yaHYxd-LMA1leEjGvtspkRMqH56N6Z6r6NKQbpz78bfugqU/s640/blogger-image-451684765.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx4VGZVJZ8r1izOgHDShsFxGyl7sHVPX4wIKVF8tyADkVRW1iUmpHabCCVE-dr_f_iGj9cHmDAZMSEzgc_RqJZwXtC_s1urIRne4II58GCjRw9y_sh0VnMFSf6g5bPQ15TeHbctroaZs/s640/blogger-image--1273393598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtx4VGZVJZ8r1izOgHDShsFxGyl7sHVPX4wIKVF8tyADkVRW1iUmpHabCCVE-dr_f_iGj9cHmDAZMSEzgc_RqJZwXtC_s1urIRne4II58GCjRw9y_sh0VnMFSf6g5bPQ15TeHbctroaZs/s640/blogger-image--1273393598.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwu4q9Yila6qZ4e_5Re_nQda7M1e5Dy7KqRpYW1t6S1OHsz2Dqa0H7XEEBxiNut3oExnJvYZLc1b5p99puff76CZdyKeS2Oo5e6jZMBxTpbWPWbDhTMBvj9UKLMAHXOEsgev9ns08-2w/s640/blogger-image--1296139600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwu4q9Yila6qZ4e_5Re_nQda7M1e5Dy7KqRpYW1t6S1OHsz2Dqa0H7XEEBxiNut3oExnJvYZLc1b5p99puff76CZdyKeS2Oo5e6jZMBxTpbWPWbDhTMBvj9UKLMAHXOEsgev9ns08-2w/s640/blogger-image--1296139600.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgumgBHDleyEny1-gc3VFnt_cDrlkZcEW-TvJT7wihBAJIxwTbu11nyuthPICOehG74vNiwmPacM_qeBB3X3ouj3EKg5Dr1GUfKCZTQ0zlhNM86ehLQ3zgA6oy9LHbehYE89UQ0mRXIY/s640/blogger-image--904049908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgumgBHDleyEny1-gc3VFnt_cDrlkZcEW-TvJT7wihBAJIxwTbu11nyuthPICOehG74vNiwmPacM_qeBB3X3ouj3EKg5Dr1GUfKCZTQ0zlhNM86ehLQ3zgA6oy9LHbehYE89UQ0mRXIY/s640/blogger-image--904049908.jpg" /></a></div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-36695763935683638582011-10-25T22:21:00.000+05:302011-10-25T22:21:27.280+05:30Wanna read !!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">God Save the Dork by Sidin Vadutuk<br />
Book Summary<br />
<br />
Maestro management consultant and strategy guru Robin ‘Einstein’ Varghese has been dispatched to London to the Lederman account. Things in the mother country are not all tally-ho as Einstein must make do with convoluted remuneration, temperamental digestion and a comely coworker who revels in mixed signals—not to mention a bizarre conspiracy by museums all over the city to frustrate his every attempt to imbibe in high culture.<br />
<br />
<br />
Things are not all that much better with his love life. Gouri insists that he go to Madame Tussaud’s and take a photo with the Shah Rukh Khan statue. But who will pay for the entry ticket? Gouri’s father is not the proprietor no? Then? Just when things look like they can’t get any worse, Lederman threatens to shut down the project. Panic ensues.<br />
<br />
This book has not yet released but Man I cant wait to get my hands on it<br />
This summary is from <a href="http://www.flipkart.com/">http://www.flipkart.com/</a></div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-44444487100761310552011-10-17T14:39:00.000+05:302011-10-17T14:39:28.835+05:30It couldnt just happen by Lawrence O Richards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Dr. Lawrence O. Richards, the author, is a graduate of the University of Michigan and Dallas Theological Seminary. He received his doctorate in social psychology at Northwestern University.<br />
<div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Did Earth begin with a 'Big Bang' cosmic explosion?"</div>"Does science contradict the Bible?"<br />
<br />
"What happened to dinosaurs?"<br />
<br />
"Is there life on other planets?"<br />
<br />
"Did we evolve from apes?"<br />
<br />
"What makes my body work on its own?"<br />
<br />
We have all these questions going through our minds. This awesome book provides answers to all of these questions. This is a book that supposedly offers proof as to why a creationist's world-view is the most logical and scientifically sound and it completely discounts a literal interpretation of the first several chapters in Genesis, and claims the Bible never really gives an indication of how old the earth is.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Age recommended- 11-15 years </em></strong><br />
<em>I received this book from thomas Nelson and was not required to publish a positive review.</em><br />
</div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-19052937452927713542010-10-17T10:32:00.000+05:302010-10-17T10:32:26.446+05:30The Kings Christmas List by Eldon Johnson, Illustrated by Bonnie Leich<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote>When a parent's love is woven into the wood and paint of a playhouse............-a door is opened</blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote><br />
<a href="http://booksneeze.com/art/_240_360_Book.254.cover.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://booksneeze.com/art/_225_350_Book.254.cover.jpg" /></a><br />
Characters :<br />
Emmy-Chhotta baccha ( a small child )<br />
Shu Shu- a Dog (Emmy's Companion)<br />
The King<br />
The Horse- (of the Kings Carriage)<br />
Cherry Bear- A teddy<br />
A Boy and his Grandma-( Angels disguised as....)<br />
A Small Child and her parents-( Angels disguised as.... )<br />
<br />
Review<br />
A golden Glow and that's all <br />
In the Book Emmy is a girl who is very kind to give her cake made for the king to a boy and his Grandma.<br />
She also gives her Teddy to a girl who lost her's. This book is very great for kids to know about sharing.<br />
Its great for kids from age 5-10.The illustrator gets a hats off from me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote></blockquote>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-47912632021422444482010-10-09T18:06:00.000+05:302010-10-09T18:06:34.506+05:30A R Rahman The Musical Storm by Kamini Mathai <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://rahmaniac.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/arrmusicalstorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="266" src="http://rahmaniac.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/arrmusicalstorm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book Cover and inside flap</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Writing about Allah Rakha Rahman requires one to be a hound rather than a fox, a sleuth rather than an artist. And yes, it requires the patience of a saint to wait for hours at his Kodambakkam home along with directors, producers, wannabe singers and his large and ever-growing staff. The genius, when he appears, is chatty, cheery and charming enough. But he is not given to revealing too much about himself, whether it is about his faith or the way he works.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The best way to get to know him is to speak around him, which is exactly what Kamini Mathai has done. So yes A.R. Rahman: The Musical Storm may look like a quickie and even smell like a hard-headed business move rather than a long-nurtured editorial decision but it is still enlightening about one of India’s most private public figures, who began by earning Rs 50 as a record player operator and can now put any figure on desperately preferred bank cheques.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What it is rich in is a lot of trivia for Rahman's fans. Of how he was about to go to the Berkeley School of Music before Mani Ratnam offered him Roja or how he made Subhash Ghai stay up for 58 nights in a row while working on Taal or how he once dyed his ponytail red or even how the K.M. in his K.M. Music Conservatory stands for a 16th century Sufi saint, Khalishah Mastan, who had the same name as Rahman’s mother’s guru, Kareemullah Shah Qadri.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Mathai does have a muckraking sort of sensibility but clearly Rahman is the wrong guy for it. The vilest thing that can be said about him that he would sometimes have a beer when he was young while jamming with a series of rock groups or that he still often consults an astrologer.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Those not of a gossipy bent of mind and not particularly interested in his clashes with Ilaiyaraaja and his differences with Vairamuthu will not be too disappointed. There’s a lot the book says about his unique working style, from the experimentation he encourages in his singers to the absence of a full blown orchestra.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rahman’s universe is closed, even as it is cordial, so some of what Mathai writes will be news to those who follow his work. For instance, how he recorded Lata Mangeshkar while she was rehearsing Jiya jale or how he ended up composing for Ram Gopal Varma in Rangeela—only by being whisked away to Goa. Of his contribution to Indian music, she has written well: from his crediting even chorus singers on the album to his more relaxed approach towards the Tamil language.</div></div><br />
There is a lot about his gradual conversion, some of it surprisingly emotional, especially when he talks about his father’s fatal illness: “They used the same Hindu gods my father was worshiping to kill him. The more he worshiped, the more he was harmed.”<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><object height="344" style="clear: left; float: left;" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Edc5nEhLCb8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/Edc5nEhLCb8?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The book though does tend to be like a cut-rate crème brûlée, crunchy on top and not gooey enough inside. There is a tendency to hang quotes like on an untidy clothesline. Clearly there is another book out there waiting to be written on the man who is now the stuff of legend and surely the contracts are being drawn up even as we speak.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Because while there is much about his outer universe in Mathai’s account, there’s not nearly enough about the inner world of A.R. Rahman. A man at ease with his laptop and his prayer mat, a man who always travels light but thinks big</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-5989124701359253202010-06-22T13:50:00.000+05:302010-06-22T13:50:52.214+05:30After The Hangover<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://booksneeze.com/art/_140_245_Book.167.cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://booksneeze.com/art/_140_245_Book.167.cover.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Emmett Tyrrell tells the history and perspectives of the conservative movement in the US through the personalities involved. After the Hangover shows that these thinkers, originally a tightknit group fighting against the tide of big-government Liberals in the 1950s and after, changed the political landscape in the country, eventually leading to the Reagan years. <br />
<br />
<br />
Readers get a strong sense of the major ideas of conservatives, including the belief in individual freedom, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. For conservatives, the human is a mixture of good and bad, perfectly capable of choosing virtue yet easily swayed in the other direction. Government cannot legislate virtue. If someone is forced to do good deeds, rather than freely from his heart, it is not virtue. <br />
<br />
Tyrrell calls on conservatives to quit the careerism and backbiting that became pronounced, he argues, during the Second Bush years. As one way to avoid this, conservatives must continue to work at changing American culture, and not only politics. The author fears many of the projects, including Obamacare, that are currently remaking America. Yet he confidently believes that conservatives are in or near the center of American life, even if the Liberals control the media and universities. <br />
<br />
Aside from a few swipes at conservative personalities such as William F. Buckley's son, which tend to be confusing rather than informative, Tyrrell offers a solid introduction of the main beliefs and characters of American conservatism from the mid-twentieth-century onwardsVajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-64845373649387017932010-05-28T15:55:00.000+05:302013-01-28T21:45:54.160+05:30Dork: The Incredible Adventures Of Robin 'Einstein' Varghese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://images.shopping.indiatimes.com/images/product/102522_Dork_pbilimage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gu="true" src="http://images.shopping.indiatimes.com/images/product/102522_Dork_pbilimage1.jpg" /></a>There are two reasons why you should read this book:</div><br />
- It doesn't make heavy demands on your pocket<br />
<br />
-It doesn't make heavy demands on your time<br />
<br />
<br />
I read it purely because I expected some thing really funny. Realized that the kind of humor that works on a blog may not really work in a book. A lot of pieces can be independently enjoyed as blog posts. There are very few moments when I really laughed out loud and the hypocritical dialogues become a bit too much most of the times. <br />
<br />
Overall, didn't work for me perhaps due to my high expectations, but I don't regret reading it purely because it was a such an easy read.<br />
<br />
Look hard enough within this book and examine your own life with an un-jaundiced eye and I m pretty sure you will find certain similarities in circumstances/ reactions/ behaviour!<br />
<br />
<strong><strike>BUT I CAN GIVE THIS BOOK A RATING OF </strike>4<strike>OUT OF</strike>5.</strong><br />
<br />
<br />
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Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-66398400241981789652010-03-22T20:04:00.000+05:302010-04-06T19:55:07.215+05:30Water Stories from around the world by Tulika Books<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">This is a Slideshow about the book</span></strong></div><br />
<img border="0" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI2OTI1Nzk*MDIwMyZwdD*xMjY5MjU3OTgyNTAwJnA9MTAxOTEmZD1zc19lbWJlZCZuPWJsb2dnZXImZz*yJm89MDk5N2Nl/NDdlNjE3NDFmMGFhZTVhYWY1MzMyODViOGImb2Y9MA==.gif" style="height: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 0px;" width="0" /> <br />
<div id="__ss_3453520" style="width: 425px;"><strong style="display: block; margin: 12px 0px 4px;"><a href="http://www.slideshare.net/tulikabooks/water-stories-from-around-the-world-3453520" title="Water Stories from Around the World">Water Stories from Around the World</a></strong><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=waterppt-draft-100317042037-phpapp02&stripped_title=water-stories-from-around-the-world-3453520"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=waterppt-draft-100317042037-phpapp02&stripped_title=water-stories-from-around-the-world-3453520" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br />
<div style="padding-bottom: 12px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 5px;">View more <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/tulikabooks">Tulika Books</a>.</div></div><br />
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I just heard about this book and The publisher accepted activities related to water.This is a book about water which releases today In Kolkata (Calcutta) today and the release date coincides with the World Water Day (March22). This book is a collection of folktales around the world about water. <br />
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I have interacted with many children and askes some questions.<br />
Here are some of them <br />
1) Who owns water?<br />
Ans1- The Hindu Rain God(Indra)<br />
Ans2-The People living on the earth<br />
Ans3-Clouds<br />
Ans4-Water Animals<br />
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2) How can we save water?<br />
90% of the answers were "By harvesting rainwater" ant the remaining 10% was by checking for leaking in taps and Making sure all the taps were closed.<br />
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3) How is water sad?<br />
Most of the answers were because of Pollution<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>After this there were some Video's about water, Pictures of Water Pollution,Drawing contest</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>(Unfortunately the Drawing were taken back by the children to show it to their parents)</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>LAST BUT NOT THE LEAST WE CALLEN ANY CHILD TO COME FORWARD AND SING A SONG ABOUT WATER</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Then a Child came and Sang</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>'Water water everywere but not a drop to drink'</em></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even We can understand it </div><div style="text-align: center;">ARE WE GOING TO LEAVE A BARREN, DRY LAND FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATION</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">?</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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This work is licensed under a <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/" rel="license">Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License</a>.</div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com3Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India11.0183333 76.974722210.9972708 76.9455397 11.0393958 77.0039047tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-49023299742703058792010-03-16T18:42:00.000+05:302012-12-22T19:46:42.275+05:30Interview with The Horse Whisperer<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f6check.rediff.com/bn/download.cgi/horsewhisperer.jpg?login=bvajresh&session_id=6L25PK1KRKWPLsVkj5Uhcuqpaq0cZob0&formname=download&folder=Inbox&file_name=1265916567.S.99764.H.WVN0ZXBoYW5pZSBHYXJ2ZXkATGlmZSBMZXNzb25zIGZyb20gYSBIb3JzZSBXaGlz.R.rfs70,rfs70,R,785,28112.57003.Z.f6mail-144-158.rediffmail.com.old&filetype=image/jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://f6check.rediff.com/bn/download.cgi/horsewhisperer.jpg?login=bvajresh&session_id=6L25PK1KRKWPLsVkj5Uhcuqpaq0cZob0&formname=download&folder=Inbox&file_name=1265916567.S.99764.H.WVN0ZXBoYW5pZSBHYXJ2ZXkATGlmZSBMZXNzb25zIGZyb20gYSBIb3JzZSBXaGlz.R.rfs70,rfs70,R,785,28112.57003.Z.f6mail-144-158.rediffmail.com.old&filetype=image/jpeg" vt="true" width="130" /></a><a href="http://f6check.rediff.com/bn/download.cgi/lew.jpg?login=bvajresh&session_id=6L25PK1KRKWPLsVkj5Uhcuqpaq0cZob0&formname=download&folder=Inbox&file_name=1265916567.S.99764.H.WVN0ZXBoYW5pZSBHYXJ2ZXkATGlmZSBMZXNzb25zIGZyb20gYSBIb3JzZSBXaGlz.R.rfs70,rfs70,R,785,28112.57003.Z.f6mail-144-158.rediffmail.com.old&filetype=image/jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://f6check.rediff.com/bn/download.cgi/lew.jpg?login=bvajresh&session_id=6L25PK1KRKWPLsVkj5Uhcuqpaq0cZob0&formname=download&folder=Inbox&file_name=1265916567.S.99764.H.WVN0ZXBoYW5pZSBHYXJ2ZXkATGlmZSBMZXNzb25zIGZyb20gYSBIb3JzZSBXaGlz.R.rfs70,rfs70,R,785,28112.57003.Z.f6mail-144-158.rediffmail.com.old&filetype=image/jpeg" vt="true" /></a></div><div align="center"><em><strong>Interview with Lew Sterrett </strong></em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><strong>1. HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED WITH HORSES? AT WHAT POINT DID IT BECOME YOUR LIFE’S PASSION?</strong></em></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I was but eight when my neighbors got horses and then my sister followed suit. Somehow it struck a chord with me, for I had already been infatuated with the likes of Roy Rogers, Stony Burke, the Rifleman, etc. I rode my sister’s horse looking more like a peanut on an elephant than a cowboy on his steed, but I was hooked. From that time on this fantasy began to become a reality. When I was 14, I was asked to train for someone else. It was all downhill after that. In part because of my intense enjoyment of horses, in part it was my safe place from family issues, and in part because I began to experience affirmation from others in what I did.</div><br />
<em><strong>2. YOU LOST YOUR DAD AT A PRETTY EARLY AGE. HOW DID THIS AFFECT YOU? YOUR FAMILY?</strong></em><br />
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To be honest it affected me so significantly that even this week – some 52 years later – I am learning to embrace it and benefit from it. Loss and grief are not always issues understood by the mind. God gives us grace to cope with pain as a child, but eventually He wants us to process it with Him, in Him. In order for us to become fully alive, God must be allowed to touch such pain. Like a horse, we need to yield it to Him, so He can turn a potential defeat into power that will eventually be harnessed for good works. This is the very process of turning an angry defeated man like Moses into a meek or powerful man of God. He truly becomes a Father to the fatherless!<br />
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<em><strong>3. THE TITLE OF YOUR THIRD CHAPTER IS 'ANYTHING WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING POORLY' – WHAT DO YOU MEAN?</strong></em> <br />
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Of course this statement opposes the more popular line that 'If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well'. However we must understand that no one ever starts anything at the top of their game. Starting is often clumsy, messy, and many times, embarrassing. The key is 'get started' for you will never learn any younger, and you really have no place to go but up! The emphasis here is to learn how to take the initiative and to keep getting up when you fall.<br />
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<strong><em>4. YOUR EARLY YEARS AT MMR WERE DIFFICULT. WHAT DID THAT EXPERIENCE TEACH YOU ABOUT LEADERSHIP? WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CONTINUE?</em></strong><br />
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The very nature of the work at MMR is 24/7/365 and mandates living in a fishbowl. I soon discovered that leadership is more about responding responsibly to crisis than about position or perks. Reading II Corinthians 10:8, 13:10, I learned that the authority the Lord gave me was for building up and not for tearing down. I began to realize that when we face resistance or criticism from either an animal or person, it is a great temptation to react and use whatever power or position we have at our disposal to protect or save ourselves first. The result is usually unsavory both to our own palate and to others. Leadership is all about crisis and the more prepared we are for win-win results the more satisfying the job. Though often tempted to quit, I am still integrity bound to a “response-able” mandate.<br />
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<strong><em>5. HOW DID SERMON ON THE MOUNT (SOTM) GET STARTED? WHAT IS YOUR MISSION WITH THIS ORGANIZATION?</em></strong><br />
At first it was simply God dealing with my own heart as I saw my own values and character mirrored in the horses I worked. Then I began to accumulate small insights that helped others see a clearer picture of God’s good purpose for their lives. However, as with the collection of small amounts of gold dust, soon the wealth and riches of God's Word became clearly evident to all through SOTM. As the word got out, invitations came from all over the country to come and share it with others. Our mission is simple: to teach and illustrate through the horse/trainer relationship both God’s plan for redemption and abundant living. It is our belief that God has just begun to use this tool and that a global opportunity is yet before us.<br />
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<strong><em>6. IN CHAPTER SIX, YOU MEET BERRY AND DESCRIBE HIM AS “THE HORSE THAT WOULD CHANGE MY LIFE.” HOW DID HE CHANGE YOU?</em></strong><br />
Berry, though outwardly beautiful and inwardly kind and cooperative, came to a place in his training that seemed impossible to surpass. As chapter 6 tells you, we thought Berry had reached his pinnacle. Finally, instead of trying to force the issue, I went back and started some basic training to increase his flexibility. Eventually, he overcame the physical challenge that was holding him back before. What I learned from him impacted me. Character is a reflection of the heart and will always surpass natural beauty and talent in the long run.<br />
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<strong><em>7. WHAT IS THE “10,000 HOUR RULE?”</em></strong><br />
When I use the phrase “It'll take a lot of wet saddle pads” my coaching audience looks baffled. However when I tell them that the only thing their team lacks is sweat equity, then the lights go on. I am very quick to emphasize that practice never makes one perfect. Otherwise we would not repeat the same dumb arguments with our spouse or kids. But it is essential to rehearse repeatedly in order for us to react automatically in crisis...kind of like forgiveness.<br />
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<strong><em>8. WHAT IS A SOFT ANSWER? HOW IS IT USED IN HORSE TRAINING? CAN WE USE IT IN OUR LIVES?</em></strong><br />
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Often an action provokes a reaction, such as a harsh reaction to a harsh statement. It would be like jerking the horse’s mouth because he doesn't respond well. Whenever a trainer or parent reacts to an immature action he or she loses perspective and becomes childish. Soon the child or animal begin to push the buttons of the authority and thereby exert their will over the parent. A soft answer is not one of low volume; rather, it is a response to the need that keeps the real objective in view. It actually turns away wrath and provokes a responsible response. It includes seeing and responding to the need and not merely reacting to the words.<br />
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<strong><em>9. IF THERE IS ONE MESSAGE YOU WANT READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK, WHAT IS IT?</em></strong><br />
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Every trainer wants a relationship with the horse. Man’s ways are opposite to God’s—we are deceitful and addictively self-absorbed—but God wants a relationship with us. To get there, God often has to corral us and get us to face the futility and deception of our own reasoning. Like the horse, we can’t 'save ourselves.' The story of this book is that not only does God want a relationship with every reader, but He has already sent the trainer, the Lord Jesus Christ, into our arena to speak our language and to elevate us to fellowship with him. It is our privilege to respond to Him in humility (repentance) and trust (faith) in His offer of forgiveness and eternal life to all who believe in Him for salvation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://f6check.rediff.com/bn/download.cgi/horsewhisperer.jpg?login=bvajresh&session_id=6L25PK1KRKWPLsVkj5Uhcuqpaq0cZob0&formname=download&folder=Inbox&file_name=1265916567.S.99764.H.WVN0ZXBoYW5pZSBHYXJ2ZXkATGlmZSBMZXNzb25zIGZyb20gYSBIb3JzZSBXaGlz.R.rfs70,rfs70,R,785,28112.57003.Z.f6mail-144-158.rediffmail.com.old&filetype=image/jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://f6check.rediff.com/bn/download.cgi/horsewhisperer.jpg?login=bvajresh&session_id=6L25PK1KRKWPLsVkj5Uhcuqpaq0cZob0&formname=download&folder=Inbox&file_name=1265916567.S.99764.H.WVN0ZXBoYW5pZSBHYXJ2ZXkATGlmZSBMZXNzb25zIGZyb20gYSBIb3JzZSBXaGlz.R.rfs70,rfs70,R,785,28112.57003.Z.f6mail-144-158.rediffmail.com.old&filetype=image/jpeg" vt="true" width="130" /></a></div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-35778454087050799652010-02-27T21:49:00.000+05:302010-02-27T21:49:11.017+05:30Plain Pursuit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oqg7y0PKz24/S2Of73juNhI/AAAAAAAAG8w/wJJ5rAQeBq4/s320/1595547193.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_oqg7y0PKz24/S2Of73juNhI/AAAAAAAAG8w/wJJ5rAQeBq4/s320/1595547193.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Another wonderful book! Okay, okay, I know I say that about a lot of books that I read. This book was one of those page-turners that you just can't put down. It's about a young woman named Carley, who finds herself very discontented with her life. She takes a month vacation to visit her Amish friend in Pennsylvania. Plain Pursuit is the story of her journey throughout that month. Wiseman does an amazing job of making you feel like you're right there in the story. The characters are well developed and story is easy to follow. When I first picked up the book, I thought to myself that this would be one of those books my mom would like - a typical romance story with some other stuff in between. It turned out to be so much better than that, and I can proudly say that I enjoy the same books as my mom. :)Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-27539020303012002152010-02-26T20:09:00.000+05:302010-02-26T20:09:48.160+05:30Life Lessons from a Horse Whisperer<div align="center"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=vesselproject.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvesselproject.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2Flife-lessons-of-a-horse-whisperer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kt="true" src="http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=vesselproject.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Fvesselproject.files.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F02%2Flife-lessons-of-a-horse-whisperer.jpg" width="210" /></a></div><br />
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ABOUT THE BOOK<br />
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A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. In this book, Lew tells the stories of his work with these horses and the lessons each one has taught him. Sometimes heartbreaking and often uplifting, Lew has condensed his lifetime of learning into messages for the Christian life. Today, Lew shares these messages with more than 50,000 people each year through horse training presentations at Miracle Mountain Ranch and nationally through his Sermon on the Mount Ministry.<br />
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The author's engaging style and adroit mixture of well-tested anecdotes and thoughtful instruction make this a winning read-and not just for horse lovers.<br />
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR<br />
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A champion trainer and true horse whisperer, Dr. Lew Sterrett has used patience and a firm but gentle hand to earn the trust of more than 3,500 horses. Dr. Lew Sterrett (Ph. D) had little idea that his boyhood interest in horses would open doors internationally for speaking and training. During his years in 4-H, he savored many opportunities to train and show horses and earn national recognition. As a student leader at Penn State University he benefited from many mentoring relationships from which he received valuable training, experience and honors. This foundation provided a basis for an extensive horse career with a unique emphasis on training youth and community leaders.<br />
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Lew has served as the Executive Director of Miracle Mountain Ranch Missions, Inc. (MMRM) since 1977. MMRM, located in northwestern Pennsylvania, is home for a summer youth camp, and a leadership training center for youth, adult, and family groups. He has also promoted safety in public riding programs, serving as President of the Certified Horse Association for 7 years. A licensed pastor, certified Youth, Marriage and Family Counselor, he earned his PhD from North Tennessee Seminary in 2007.<br />
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In this video Lew Sterett says about team work<br />
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Review:<br />
Who doesn’t love horses? Who hasn’t faced adversity? Who couldn’t use a word or two about discipline and training?<br />
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The answer to these questions is, of course, no one. Dr. Lew Sterrett’s book ‘Life Lessons From a Horse Whisperer‘ addresses all three with the focus being a warm and genuine look at what he has learned working with more than 3,500 hundred horses.<br />
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In this book you find that the approach to working with horses is not that different that working with people. The first Chapter reveals the whole basis of how we must approach our relationships with others.<br />
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Chapter One is entitled ‘Do You Trust Me?’ This chapter caught my attention because of the foundation of trust that must exist before any progress can be made in any relationship.<br />
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Chapter Five was the section of this book that stuck with me. Entitled ‘God and a Girl’, this chapter really spoke me about how we all approach life with gutsy and grand ideas of how our lives should unfold only to be come face to face with the reality that God has ordained for us.<br />
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‘Whispers are stronger than shouts’, Dr. Sterrett writes, and it is quite true.<br />
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This is an inspiring book filled with genuine life lessons of encouragement, of rebuke, of leadership and of hope. This was quite and enjoyable read suitable for an evening of reflection.<br />
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I recommend this book highly for those who might struggle in leadership or in relationships. You’ll encounter God-granted insights and inspirations illustrated by Dr. Sterrett’s personal life lessons.Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-27740487414855521052010-01-13T18:39:00.000+05:302010-01-13T18:39:07.590+05:30Beautiful Mess by Diamond Rio<div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cheriaschatter.com/images/a-beautiful-mess.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://www.cheriaschatter.com/images/a-beautiful-mess.jpg" /></a><br />
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Beautiful Mess is the story of six very different musicians who come together as one unit yet remain individuals. Through all of the ups and downs that effect each of their lives, the one thing from beginning to the present is their faith. Each of these guys acknowledge that God helped them get started and will continue to be their leader. As each band member tells their own story it is easy to see their love for God, family, friends and each other.<br />
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This is a very heart warming story that will at times have you shaking your chair with laughter, then reaching for a box of tissues to dry your tears. Be warned… there will be plenty of tears of joy and laughter as well as sadness.<br />
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Diamond Rio has come a very long way in the past twenty years together, from their beginning as The Tennessee River Boys playing at the Opryland Amusement Park to the present. Life hasn’t been easy for these fellows and their families, but they all respect each other and give credit to the main person in their lives…God.<br />
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I recommend reading this book even if you are not a ‘country music’ fan because it will inspire you to do just as Diamond Rio has done, and that is to give God the glory for the bad as well as the good in your life. “Meet in the Middle”, remembering that God gives you “One More Day”, and “I Believe” you will enjoy “Beautiful Mess”, The Story of Diamond Rio.<br />
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I would like to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing this book for review.Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-81596233971116953562009-12-27T20:47:00.000+05:302009-12-27T20:47:39.370+05:30Chandamama Collectors Edition (Celebrating 60 Wonderful Years)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.shopping.indiatimes.com/images/product/102448_Books_pbilimage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://images.shopping.indiatimes.com/images/product/102448_Books_pbilimage1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book is outstanding.The stories are great, with lots of morals, pictures etc <br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The print is easily readable.There are many stories that come in the monthly magazine Chandamama.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book gives us a glimpse of the magazine's progress in many years.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has a story of how the magazine bagged great glory (with hard work of course).<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also how the Jagannath Temple came into existence<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The art work of many old, Glorious artists.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This book is so great that I cannot epress my feelings in words<br />
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</div>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-11613882657111389882009-12-17T20:18:00.001+05:302009-12-26T19:15:52.486+05:30Knockout Entrepreneur<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/176/861/400000000000000176861_s4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ps="true" src="http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/176/861/400000000000000176861_s4.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
</div>The book is billed as a publication where “Foreman shares his success secrets with aspiring and current entrepreneurs” (amazon.com) Foreman walks you through what he believes are the core values to being successful for example; Know Your Foe, Listen to Your Corner, Keep Answering the Bell, and Make it Good. <br />
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In each chapter he discusses the definition of each value and gives examples from his real life. I’ll be honest I didn’t not enjoy this book. Reading it felt like a huge chore I needed to check off and it took me weeks to finish it. I love motivational books, my favorite kind is one that leaves you pumped and ready to make changes in your life – unfortunately this book doesn’t. After the first chapter it becomes one big advertisement for Foreman.<br />
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Now I know he has done amazing things with great success but it felt like every page was a big Foreman commercial. For example did you know George was, in , thought about being involved in, beef manufacturing, restaurant chains and green cleaning products? Yeah either did I but after reading about it so much I’ll never forget it that’s for sure. <br />
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The underlying advice is pretty good, but you have to wade through everything else to get to it.Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-1741710066961686822009-11-21T20:06:00.000+05:302009-11-21T20:06:34.223+05:30Obstacles welcome by Ralph De la vega<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kJ9-ebC-N0J_pl8O03n7e-6M9BtyWWaapxeTHMF2XaBLKgTgpBCb2LuABeUsoG3JjlwLlRbRrv8U1J11YmPVDGUYzQv5kUNzIwBFJO8dWIOnxstmIZSc7Qt6sz3qrIwzui7WFjUDyLo/s1600/obstacles+welcome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9kJ9-ebC-N0J_pl8O03n7e-6M9BtyWWaapxeTHMF2XaBLKgTgpBCb2LuABeUsoG3JjlwLlRbRrv8U1J11YmPVDGUYzQv5kUNzIwBFJO8dWIOnxstmIZSc7Qt6sz3qrIwzui7WFjUDyLo/s320/obstacles+welcome.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
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The book offers little in terms of ground that hasn't been covered before. Work hard. Persevere. Empower employees. Set measurable goals. Get feedback. Hold others accountable. Be approachable. Be resilient. Dream big. Apart from a lack of new information, I'm just not sure how Biblically accurate this book is. (I mention this because the book is put out by a Christian publishing house.) For example: <br />
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Book: "Each of us is in control of our own journey. Deciding what we want and how to get there." - p. 98 <br />
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Apart from not exactly squaring with the Bible, there is an overall level of self-determinism in here that books such as "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell make a compelling argument against. Just how much are we in control over what happens to us? A scripture in the book of Ecclesiastes puts it this way, "The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all." There is something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. This book leans toward the side that a person can make anything happen if they work hard enough. This sounds nice, but try telling that to someone who was born a midget but really wants to play in the NBA. <br />
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The book does offer some helpful tips and words of inspiration. There are continual challenges to not get stuck in old mindsets. There are charges to break free from self-imposed limitations. There is encouragement to go for it all. This is good and commendable. Sometimes, though, it blurs into the message "get more and you will be happy". On the contrary, it is better to have one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil (Ecclesiastes 4:6). Godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Timothy 6:6). <br />
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Another thing that bugged me about this book was how the author rarely goes into any personal flaws or shortcomings. Maybe he focused a little too much on his career at the expense of his family. Maybe he has had to deal with a lot of pride as a result of all of his accomplishments. I'm sure there is something he currently struggles with. Letting us in on this would help us to see him as less of a success machine and more of a human being. I would have an easier time relating. When he does reveal any personal struggles, he quickly discusses how he remedied the situation. <br />
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Here is another example of how he comes off looking like a model of perfection: <br />
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"On some days I've shaken as many as one thousand hands (and yes, my hand hurt that night). Long ago I lost count of how many people told me, "No executive has ever come down here and shaken my hand." Just as important, I always leave time for dialogue after I speak." (p. 147) <br />
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I know that he is wanting to share his advice in order to help others achieve a greater measure of success. Still, sections like the one above came off as self-congratulatory. <br />
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Other chapters felt like they could have been titled, "How to manipulate your employees as much as possible for personal gain." I am no advocate for employees slacking off, but it is possible for things to go to the opposite extreme. In fairness to AT&T, I have no idea how well or poorly they treat their employees. <br />
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Though I have been piling on, there were many things I liked about this book. The focus on character and integrity was great. The book was clear and easy to read. The summaries at the end of each chapter were helpful. I also enjoyed the parts where de la Vega went into strategy (e.g. how he handled the merger, how he delegates authority and what changes were put in place for more effective marketing). My favorite part of the book was in the initial chapter where de la Vega describes his immigration experience. This part was fascinating and I was left wanting for more. <br />
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I have no doubt that de la Vega excels at what he does. He clearly cares very much about his company and takes great pride in its success. In the process of describing how he overcome so many obstacles, the author shares concepts in order to benefit the reader. I just didn't encounter as many new concepts as I would have liked. Nevertheless, sometimes it is good to be reminded.Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-11227280818049733982009-11-16T20:00:00.000+05:302009-11-16T20:00:13.347+05:30Children Ask Kalam<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abdulkalam.nic.in/images_new/11books10lr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.abdulkalam.nic.in/images_new/11books10lr.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
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This is the Publishers' Note in the book<br />
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Dear Children<br />
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Our President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, widely loved and admired by people of all age groups, is very popular with children. His humility, easy accessibility, simplicity, warmth and affection for children make them connect with him.<br />
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Everyday, hundreds of children from every nook and corner of the country write to Dr. Kalam asking him questions on a variety of topics. Sharing their concerns President Kalam takes time out to respond to these queries. Children Ask Kalam is unique collection of the communication between Dr Kalam and children.<br />
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This book brings Dr Kalam's view on a variety of topics to a wider audience. The president's answers bring to the fore his multifaceted personality. Though he writes in simple language, you will find that his answers do not shy away from addressing the most complex of issues. The letters have been selected carefully after much thought. For the purpose of clarity, the book is divided into six themes - education, science, children's issues, nation, spirituality and general. This book brings to fore the concerns of the children of this country and our President's initiatives to alleviate them.<br />
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We are confident that the book will help you develop an intimate understanding of our President's world view. We expect that the book with its unique and valuable information will assist you in developing a better understanding of our President and keep you well informed about various aspects you know little of but are curious about. We would appreciate your suggestions for further improvement<br />
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The former president of India Loves children and he compiles all the letters he received from children across India into a book<br />
There are many questions based on <br />
(1) Children's Issues<br />
(2) Nation<br />
(3) Education<br />
(4) General<br />
(5) Science and<br />
(6) Spirituality<br />
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The most powerful question from this book (i think) is<br />
How would you define a leader ?<br />
A leader has the courage to face failures and take respunsibility for the failure and pass the credit to his team when they succeed. He always asks "What can I do for you? "Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-87090381815654089962009-10-31T19:11:00.000+05:302009-10-31T19:11:03.486+05:30FEARLESS by Max Lucado<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://folhow.org/images/books/fearless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://folhow.org/images/books/fearless.jpg" vr="true" width="211" /></a><br />
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Just finished reading Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear. I can honestly recommend it not just as an inspiring book to read once or even pass on, but a reference to pick up and skim a chapter or two when we feel fear gaining a foothold. That’s how I’m going to use it. I’ll buy more copies to pass on to people, but this one? I’m keepin’.<br />
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When I first picked the book up and read the title – Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear – I thought to myself, I’ve been around the block a few times…there isn’t much I’m afraid of, so this book may not mean much to me. You see, I’ve always considered myself a bit of a risk taker.<br />
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As I read through the chapters though, I began to realize that the most paralyzing fear is not what you feel just before you bungee-jump for the first time (frightening – yet exhilarating…). Immobilizing fear is what you encounter everyday – fear of getting laid off, of not having enough money to pay the bills, of terrorists showing up in a town near you, of the weirdo that just moved in next door, of economic collapse, of global warming – I mean, just watch the TV news, it is packed with these insidious fears. It is these every-day fears that trap us in our ruts. Fear breeds anger and distrust. It turns us into people we don’t want to be. Like seeds fears are planted in our subconscious and we feed and water them everyday with the belief that we are completely alone out here!<br />
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Yet, as Fearless points out, scattered throughout the Bible are reminders of why we have no need to fear anything…ANYTHING.<br />
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For those of you who are like me and don’t know the Bible perhaps as well as we should, here are some examples:<br />
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“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows” <br />
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“I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you will have enough.” <br />
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Oh, that’s a big one. Fear of scarcity is a very common and overwhelming fear. It causes us to go into debt, to steal, to hide and not to share with others. Have you seen the show “Hoarders” on A&E? That is fear of scarcity in action.<br />
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Let’s face it, there is a lot to be afraid of these days. Is there more now though than in other times? Every generation has had its wars, atrocities, natural disasters. The human spirit is pliable, we just have to remember the great good that is constantly watching over us.<br />
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Freedom from fear is a liberation we all deserve – it is our God-given right. So even if you think you’re not afraid of anything, pick up a copy of Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear by Max Lucado. You may not even realize that you’re afraid, or what your fear is doing to you and those around you. Fearless offers comfort by reminding us of the words of God:Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-75212934238879024452009-10-30T18:23:00.001+05:302009-10-30T18:23:57.161+05:305 cities that ruled the world<a href="http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qcnNRTHONIVgxM:http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/613mMgdv2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg">http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:qcnNRTHONIVgxM:http://img.amazon.ca/images/I/613mMgdv2BL._SL500_AA240_.jpg</a><br />
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Please go to this URL to see the picture<br />
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Douglas Wilson’s book, 5 Cities that Ruled the World, about how major cities throughout time (Jerusalem, Athens, Rome, London, and New York) shaped global history is a fascinating read. I can’t say that I know enough about each city to identify any possible bias regarding their histories, and I’m little surprised at the exclusion of some cities, namely Constantinople, but I think that this is a great book for understanding world history.<br />
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Each city’s story is contained within one chapter. Things that are revealed about each city include its history (origin, major leaders, and wars and other events), its effect on the world stage, and its current state.<br />
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I found that the chapter on London contained the most “unknown” information. I guess perhaps I just didn’t know much about London history, especially the *very* early years (did you know London burned 15 times before the year 1300?!?).<br />
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My only real complaint with the book has nothing to do with its content, and instead is an issue with the materials. I can’t stand what the cover is made of–it’s a paperback, made of a textured paper, and I find it weird to touch. Other than that, the book is a great tool for learning more about our world’s major cities, and how they shaped the society in which we currently live, even from across the centuries and around the globe.Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538938790129361874.post-19871884977042474662009-10-18T08:45:00.000+05:302009-10-18T09:01:42.441+05:30100 Minutes That'll change the way you live by Dr L Prakash.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r-y4oknP_zYuqytNVruEWa3S4xZcBGENMFVWrGDgNzgB7QUmdD0J2P8ZgBzTmLZW6Y0n831MPJ76KFiOeU68_QhaXRZq-xgZ2N3kqrZG09zO8J5OAIZdIO6laUlPLTxjJbzUaWeMQ10/s1600-h/9788178061221blowup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-r-y4oknP_zYuqytNVruEWa3S4xZcBGENMFVWrGDgNzgB7QUmdD0J2P8ZgBzTmLZW6Y0n831MPJ76KFiOeU68_QhaXRZq-xgZ2N3kqrZG09zO8J5OAIZdIO6laUlPLTxjJbzUaWeMQ10/s320/9788178061221blowup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393776058185951570" /></a><br /><br />At times life gets very hard and it is in this time you will realize the full potential of the book.the author has packed ome very important top tips for everyone<br />It is explained in an humorous way without boredom by the author who himself has learnt in the process of surviving from many of these crises.<br /><em></em>Read it to believe it,and experience the change in your life<em></em><br /><strong></strong>If you come across any posts same like this report to us and we will remove it<strong></strong>Vajresh Balajihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06413568911201011513noreply@blogger.com0