Long life for milk drinkers

In recent times milk has often been portrayed by the media as an unhealthy food. The study, led by Professor Peter Elwood (Cardiff University) together with Professor Ian Givens from the University of Reading’s Food Chain and Health Research Theme, aimed to establish whether the health benefits of drinking milk outweigh any dangers that lie in its consumption.

Importantly, this is the first time that disease risk associated with drinking milk has been looked at in relation to the number of deaths which the diseases are responsible for.

The review brought together published evidence from 324 studies of milk consumption as predictors of coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke and, diabetes. Data on milk consumption and cancer were based on the recent World Cancer Research Fund report. The outcomes were then compared with current death rates from these diseases.

Professor Givens explained: “While growth and bone health are of great importance to health and function, it is the effects of milk and dairy consumption on chronic disease that are of the greatest relevance to reduced morbidity and survival. Our review made it possible to assess overall whether increased milk consumption provides a survival advantage or not. We believe it does.

“Our findings clearly show that when the numbers of deaths from CHD, stroke and colo-rectal cancer were taken into account, there is strong evidence of an overall reduction in the risk of dying from these chronic diseases due to milk consumption. We certainly found no evidence that drinking milk might increase the risk of developing any condition, with the exception of prostate cancer. Put together, there is convincing overall evidence that milk consumption is associated with an increase in survival in Western communities.”

The reviewers also believe that increased milk consumption is likely to reduce health care costs substantially due to reduced chronic disease and associated morbidity.

“There is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms involved and for focused studies to confirm the epidemiological evidence since this topic has major implications for the agri-food industry,” added Professor Givens.

Brain

New research by neuroscientists at UCLA and Rutgers University provides evidence that fMRI can be used in certain circumstances to determine what a person is thinking. At the same time, the research suggests that highly accurate "mind reading" using fMRI is still far from reality. The research is scheduled to be published in the October 2009 issue of the journal Psychological Science.

In the study, 130 healthy young adults had their brains scanned in an MRI scanner at UCLA's Ahmanson–Lovelace Brain Mapping Center while they performed one of eight mental tasks, including reading words aloud, saying whether pairs of words rhyme, counting the number of tones they heard, pressing buttons at certain cues and making monetary decisions. The scientists calculated how accurately they could tell from the fMRI brain scans which mental task each participant was engaged in.

"We take 129 of the subjects and apply a statistical tool to learn the differences among people doing these eight tasks, then we take the 130th person and try to tell which of the tasks this person was doing; we do that for every person," said lead study author Russell Poldrack, a professor of psychology who holds UCLA's Wendell Jeffrey and Bernice Wenzel Term Chair in Behavioral Neuroscience.

"It turns out that we can predict quite well which of these eight tasks they are doing," he said. "If we were just guessing, we would get it right about 13 percent of the time. We get it right about 80 percent of the time with our statistical tool. It's not perfect, but it is quite good — but not nearly good enough to be admissible in court, for example.

"Our study suggests that the kinds of things that some people have talked about in terms of mind reading are probably still pretty far off," Poldrack said. "If we are only 80 percent accurate with eight very different thoughts and we want to figure out what you're thinking out of millions of possible thoughts, we're still very far away from achieving that."

Poldrack's study is one of the first to show that neuroscientists can make these kinds of predictions on new people, whose brain patterns the researchers have never seen before. In most previous studies, researchers made predictions about a person's mental state after having already studied that person's brain to understand its particular patterns.

"Our study indicates that different people's brains work very similarly," Poldrack said. "We often tend to focus on how different each person's brain is, but our study suggests that most healthy people's brains work in very similar ways; otherwise, this approach wouldn't work.

"We can tell a lot about what you're thinking using functional MRI, even though we have never seen your brain before," he said. "However, it is limited in that there are only eight things that we are letting you think about in this study."

The tools used in this research come from a scientific field known as machine learning, which is related to statistics and computer science, said Poldrack, who noted that this technology is heavily employed by companies like Amazon to predict what people will buy based on their previous purchases.

Nearly 10 years ago, neuroscientists showed that if they take brain images with fMRI while people look at different objects, such as faces, houses and chairs, they can use the tools of machine learning to predict with high accuracy what object the subjects are looking at — if the scientists first know from studying brain activity how each subject's brain responds to those objects.

Co-authors on the research are Yaroslav Halchenko, a graduate student in psychology at Rutgers University, and Stephen Jose Hanson, a faculty member in psychology at Rutgers University.

The research was funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and the James S. McDonnell Foundation.

Science news

The study was performed by PhD student Karl Magnus Laundal and professor Nikolai Østgaard at the Institute of Physics and Technology at the University of Bergen.

"The aurora is produced due to collisions between the Earth’s atmosphere and electrically charged particles streaming along the Earth’s geomagnetic field lines. – Since these processes occur above the two hemispheres, both the Northern and the Southern light are created. So far researchers have assumed that these auroras are mirror images of each other, but our findings show that this is not always the case," professor Nikolai Østgaard says.

The researchers at the University of Bergen have used data from the two NASA-satellites IMAGE and Polar to examine the Northern and the Southern light. In the Nature letter they present several possible explanations to the unexpected result.

"The most plausible explanation involves electrical currents along the magnetic field lines. Differences in the solar exposure may lead to currents between the two hemispheres, explaining why the Northern and the Southern light are not identical," PhD student Karl Magnus Laundal says.

In addition to yielding new knowledge about the aurora, the results are important for other researchers studying the near-Earth space.

"Our study shows that data from only one hemisphere is not sufficient to state the conditions on the other hemisphere. This is important because most of our knowledge about the aurora, as well as processes in the upper atmosphere in the polar regions, is based solely on data from the Northern hemisphere," Østgaard points out.

The work of Østgaard and Laundal has been financed by the Research Council of Norway via the International Polar Year project IPY-ICESTAR.

Laundal, K.M. and Østgaard, N., Asymmetric auroral intensities in the Earth's Northern and Southern hemispheres, Nature 460, 491-493 (23 July 2009) | doi:10.1038/nature08154

Today's News[july22/09]

Evict river land grabbers: PM Report on last 7-yrs'' corruption, default loans sought Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Tuesday asked Finance Ministry to report to her the financial irregularities allegedly committed during last seven years, particularly relating to the default loans of the Nationalized Commercial Banks (NCBs), reports UNB. She gave the instruction at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in the NEC conference room as she chaired a meeting of the economic policy body. Finance Minister AMA Muhith, senior cabinet ministers and officials concerned were present at the meeting that approved five development projects at an aggregate cost of Tk 857 crore, including a foreign-aid component of Tk 30 crore. The Prime Minister further instructed authorities concerned to free the illegally occupied land along the rivers surrounding the capital city by any means, as an outcry is getting louder against the rampant grabbing of wetlands that causes environmental degradation. In a further directive she asked for ensuring installation of solar panels and building rainwater reservoirs on top of all the high-rise buildings across the country. In the wake of concerns created by hazardous climate change, she also asked authorities concerned to ensure optimum utilization of surface water, where it is possible. "The Prime Minister asked the Finance Ministry to submit the report on financial irregularities during the last seven years in the NCBs," Planning Secretary Habibullah Majumder told a press briefing after the meeting. He said the PM asked for reporting detailed information about the loan defaulters who rescheduled the loans without following proper procedures, who have been awarded with waiver of the principal and interests on the loans during the same period. "Report about the people whoever might have taken advantage of the period," the Planning secretary quoted Hasina as saying in her orders. The planning secretary said the Shipping Ministry presented a report on the proposed circular waterways surrounding the city. The Prime Minister instructed the Ministry to evict the illegal occupation of the banks of the rivers and construct walkways along both sides of the rivers to prevent fresh occupation. "Evict anyone of the illegal occupants, whoever he or she may be and how much powerful they are," she said in her strongly worded instructions. The Prime Minister also asked the authorities concerned to investigate the irregularities regarding projects under the roads and highways department and report to her the irregularities. She also instructed the authorities to take action against the culprits, no matter whoever they may be. "If necessary, they''ll be blacklisted to be ineligible to take part in the development process," said a meeting source. The planning secretary said the ECNEC returned the Gazipur-Ajmatpur-Itkhola road-construction project (Revised) of Tk 222 crore on allegations of corruption in the previous processes. Prime Minister Hasina asked the authorities to find out the irregularities, take action against the wrongdoers and then submit a fresh project proposal on it. The projects approved today are: Patuakhali Coast Guard Base Construction project (Tk 42 crore), Rajshahi City Water Supply Project (Tk 83 crore), Rural Water Supply project in southwestern region of the country (Tk 40 crore), Greater Faridpur Rural Infrastructure Development Project (Tk 553 crore) and Construction of Newly Created and River Eroded Upazilla Parisad Complexes (Tk 139 crore).

Jalil quits gen secy post Vows to continue AL politics Abdul Jalil MP Tuesday resigned from the post of Awami League general secretary for being excluded from the preparatory work for the party''s council to be held on July 24, but he vowed to continue with the AL politics, reports UNB. "I had expected that finally I''ll get the opportunity of engaging myself in the party''s triennial council. But finding myself deprived of that opportunity, I''ve now no alternative but to relinquish the responsibility of general secretary; and hereby I resign as general secretary (of Awami League)," he told a crowded press conference at his Gulshan apartment house. However, in an emotion-charged voice, Jalil pledged to continue with the politics of Awami League under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, as an ideal worker of Bangabandhu. He was elected general secretary of Awami League at the last council session held on December 26, 2002. Jalil said that, according to party constitution, the general secretary will convene the council, issue letters and submit the general secretary''s report at the council. But he was denied the authority to perform these functions. Five MPs from his home-district Naogaon were present at the press conference expressing solidarity with the denigrated Jalil. They are Imajuddin Pramanik, Israfil Alam, Shahiduzza-man Sarkar Babul, Shahin Monwara Huq and Sadhan Chandra Majumdar. In reply to a question, Jalil said he has not made up his mind yet about joining the July 24 council session of the ruling Awami League. Asked if he feels any sorrow quitting the post, Jalil said the pain he feels is that he could not leave the post with dignity. He said the copy of his resignation letter would be sent to the party'' s Dhanmoni office and PM''s Jamuna official residence. Jalil, a staunch supporter of Sheikh Hasina, was arrested from his Mercantile Bank on May 28 2007 by the army-led joint force amid a political purge under state of emergency following the 1/11 changeover. He was critical of Dr Fakhruddin''s caretaker government. He fell critically ill and went to Singapore on a 30-day parole. Before leaving for Singapore on March 3, 2008, he made a controversial statement at LabAid Hospital against Sheikh Hasina and pledged to quit politics, when the so-called abortive ''minus-two'' formula was touted by the interim regime. The statement was assumed to have been made under pressure by certain quarters of the caretaker government under the emergency rule. During his stay in Singapore, Sheikh Hasina made Syed Ashraful Islam acting general secretary of Awami League. On his return from Singapore, Jalil was not given back the charge of general secretary. He was advised to take rest-and sidetracked ever since. Recently, he made some critical statements against some heavyweights of Awami League for being lackeys of certain intelligence agency of the army-backed caretaker regime. Jalil also made a tough statement in the new parliament''s first session on how he was tortured by the intelligence agency during the emergency rule.

Tigers seal first away Test series win Bangladesh went one better than last week''s first-ever Test win on foreign soil by securing an historic away series when they won the second and final Test at St George''s, Grenada against the West Indies by four wickets on Tuesday, reports bdnews24.com. Shakib Al Hasan''s men survived a nervy period on the fourth day at the National Cricket Ground before chasing down the modest 215-run target. Though the acting skipper narrowly missed a well deserved century, he ended years of anguish in the most emphatic manner -- hitting Kemar Roach for a six. He remained undefeated on 96 as the Tigers reached 217-6 in 54.4 overs. Man-of-the-match and series Shakib, leading in place of injured Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, smashed 13 fours and a six. He got two Blackberries for the sterling efforts with both bat and ball throughout the series. The foundation of the victory was, however, laid by the 106-run stand for the fifth wicket with Raqibul Hasan whose plucky 66 off 99 balls steadied the innings that appeared wobbling at 67 for 4. Their stand ended any hopes of the second-string West Indies outfit, missing the bulk of their first-choice players because of a contract dispute with their board, from denying Bangladesh its finest hour after gaining Test status in the year 2000. While most of Bangladesh will wake up to the news certain quarters will refocus their argument on whether the victory and Test series was convincing enough. But it is not their doing who they face. Raqibul counter-attacked to keep the hosts on their toes. He had struggled in the first Test but held his own in the first innings here. The 21-year-old was the first to reach his maiden Test half-century when the young right-hander steered the ball down to the vacant spaces at third man off Dave Bernard with score on 141-1. He eventually fell with this side 30 runs away from an historic victory after spooning a return catch to Darren Sammy who juggled and took the catch at the second attempt. His knock featured eight fours and a six. Shakib reached his third Test fifty 20 runs after his former partner Raqibul. The left-hander spanked the ball through mid-off and cover off Kemar Roach. The bowler conceded two more consecutive boundaries in that over. Earlier, the prospect of any play on the penultimate morning looked remote as there was a two-hour rain delay. But it did little to dampen the Tigers'' mood as spin duo Enamul Haque Jr and Shakib Al Hasan picked up the remaining two wickets in 4.1 overs after West Indies resumed on 192-8 and added just 17 runs to their overnight total. It was the first time Bangladesh had bowled out the opposition for less than 250 in both innings. Dave Bernard was stumped by wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim off Enamul for 69 that included six fours and two sixes while Shakib had Tino Best caught by Mushfiqur Rahim for a 23-ball 12 to end the West Indies innings. Bangladesh made 232 in reply to the hosts'' first inning total of 237.

Most wanted Indian militant held Another suspected organizer of ''Lasker-e-Taiyeba'' was arrested at Dakkhinkhan in the capital on Monday evening, three days after the arrest of his sidekick Mufti Obaidullah, as a crackdown on trespassing trans-border militants is underway by order of the new government, reports UNB. Police said the arrested Islamist leader was identified as Maulana Mansur Ali, well-known as Maulana Habibullah. He was a "most wanted" militant of India. Detective Branch (DB) of the police arrested the absconding Indian national, Mansur, following confessional statement given by detained Mufti Obaidullah, now on remand. Mansur Ali, using fake identity, had been staying in Bangladesh since 1995 and teaching at different madrasas for 14 years, Deputy Commissioner of DB police Monirul Islam told reporters at a press briefing at the DB office here Tuesday noon. Mansur, a resident of Padmapukur village in North 24-Pargana district of the Indian state of West Bengal, was most wanted by the Indian law- enforcement and intelligence agencies for his terrorist activities. He was an Afghan Mujaheed and chief organizer of Ahmad Reza Commando Force on the list of Indian forces. Mansur had intruded into Bangladesh through Bagda border in 1995 with the cooperation from an Indian border-force man, as did Mufti Obaidullah, to evade Indian intelligence agencies. Later, he had started teaching at Nurani Madrasa and Maktabs in Jessore, Tikarpur Madrasa in Narayanganj, Porasun-dar maktab in Habiganj and latest at Madrasatur Rahman at Saudagarbari in Dakkhinkhan. In his student life, Mansur went to Pakistan for studying in 1984 and used go to Afghanistan and take part in the Afghan wars 20-25 times. As disclosed by the detectives, he is well-trained in operating AK-47 rifle, machinegun, and antiaircraft rocket-launcher. In 1993, he returned to India from Pakistan and held meetings with various leaders and decided to carry out activities in the Kashmir war. Several companions of Maulana Mansur were arrested in a special drive while he fled to Bangladesh in 1995. "One of Mansur''s five brothers was involved in militancy and was killed in Indian BSF firing while crossing over the Bangladesh-India border," says a police statement. During his stay here, he had close links with two leaders of Harkatul Jihad Al-Islami Bangladesh- Maulana M Abdur Rauf and Maulana M Ali Ahmed. He was said to be a chief organizer of Ahmad Reza Commando Force in India and believed to be the immediate boss to the earlier-detained Laskar-e-Taiyeba leader Mufti Obaidullah, the reporters were told. Mansur denied the allegation and said he had contact with the militants but not involved with this militant group and its activities. Earlier, Mufti Obaidullah was arrested from the capital last Friday. He also used fake identity and had also been serving as a teacher in a madrasa in Shibchar of Madaripur district. Obaidullah is being quizzed under the Task Force Intelligence cell after being taken on seven days'' remand.

BNP for withdrawal of Pinak Leaders of the main opposition BNP and its front organizations Tuesday demanded immediate withdrawal of Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty for his "audacious statements" against Bangladeshi people, reports UNB. The demand came from a meeting organized by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, held in front of the party central office at Nayapaltan in the afternoon in protest against Pinak''s remarks. Earlier Monday, the Indian envoy told a seminar that around 25,000 of the Bangladeshis who entered India with legal visas each year never return to Bangladesh. The Indian diplomat had even harsher words that over 80 percent of those who line up in front of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka for visas are "touts and brokers". The rally, presided over by JCD president Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, was addressed, among others, BNP leaders Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, MA Mannan, Fazlul Haq Milon, Nazimuddin Alam, Saheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie, MP, Jubo Dal leaders Barkatullah Bulu and Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal leader Helen Zarin Khan and JCD leader Amirul Islam Aleem. Goyeshwar criticized the government for its silence when the Indian envoy kept on making audacious statements against Bangladesh violating diplomatic norms and etiquette. He alleged that the government is busy serving the purpose of those who brought them to power through conspiracy by defeating BNP in the last general election. "Though one minister of this government had admitted that Pinak''s previous statement was out of diplomatic norms and etiquette, another minister supported Pinak," Goyeshwar told the seminar. Referring to the resignation of State Minister for Home Affairs Sohel Taj and Awami League general secretary Abdul Jalil, the outspoken BNP leader said this is the indication of the imminent fall of the government.

Young lady doctor killed A young doctor was stabbed to death by a man in a private clinic in the capital''s Badda area on Tuesday, police said, reports bdnews24.com. Sabujbagh police chief Asaduzzaman said they had arrested the man named Mostafizur Rahman Ujjal with a knife, after Dr Salma Perveen Moni, 30, was stabbed at the Rawshan Ara Clinic, located beside South Mugda mosque. Ujjal claimed to be Salma''s lover. The clinic''s X-ray technician Suman Chandra Das told bdnews24.com that the attacker had entered the clinic at around 10:30am and "roamed around for a while". "He entered Dr Salma''s room on the first floor around noon," said Das. "At around 12:30pm she came out of her room and fell down on the floor. And then we saw she was bleeding," said Das. Another hospital worker Shahjahan Kabir said though the staff tried to save her, there was no doctor in the hospital to give her emergency treatment. "She was bleeding heavily. We rushed her to Dhaka Medical College Hospital," he said. Doctors there pronounced her dead. Das said the attacker had remained in the room. "The hospital staff detained him." He said Salma joined the hospital as a medical officer just four months ago, after completing her MBBS. Her body was being kept at DMCH morgue, said officials. Ujjal, 25, later confessed to police at Sabujbagh Police Station. Produced in front of reporters, he said he had known Salma for three years, since April 2006, after he called her by mistake while trying to phone a friend. The introduction later turned into a love affair, he claimed. He said he often came to Dhaka from Natore to meet Salma, and before that had visited her every three months at Sylhet Medical College, where she was studying. Ujjal said he killed Salma on Tuesday as she tried to break off the relationship.

Total solar eclipse today Skygazers wait for the celestial delight Come Wednesday, Bangladeshis will view the longest total solar eclipse in almost 500 years-the fleeting beauty of the corona etched into the mind''s eye by the sheer grandeur of the event, reports bdnews24.com. This amazingly beautiful astronomical phenomenon will be best observed from the northern districts. It will be the longest total solar eclipse in our lifetimes, unsurpassed in duration until June 13, 2132. Bangladesh will have to wait for another 105 years to see another full solar eclipse, on June 2, 2114. The full eclipse will take place between 7:55am and 8am and the range will be between 83 percent and 100 percent eclipse throughout Bangladesh. It will be clearly visible at the north side of Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh and Thakurgaon. The highest duration of the full eclipse will be 2-3 minutes in the places. Other places will view the partial eclipse. Dhaka will see 93 percent eclipse, but the fullest will be visible from Panchagarh. A total solar eclipse begins almost unnoticeably. As the Moon starts its passage across the face of the Sun, a small "bite" appears on the western edge of the Sun. Gradually, as more and more of the Sun disappears, an interesting effect can be seen: the tiny spots of light shining through the leaves of a tree, for example, show up on the ground as crescent images of the slowly vanishing Sun. As the partial phase progresses for about an hour, there is little hint of the approaching darkness. But in the last few minutes before totality, daylight fades very quickly. People have the eerie feeling when the blinding solar disc is blotted out. Three minutes before totality, the sky darkens, many flowers fold up and birds and animals get confused. The temperature drops. And then the final diamond-like flash just before total darkness sets in! At this stage, only a few wisps of ephemeral light from the solar corona will be visible. There''s nothing like a total solar eclipse to remind you that we''re clinging to a rock floating in space. As the moon slips between Earth and Sun, a twilight neither night nor day settles across the landscape. The wrong stars appear in the sky, and the planets, their cover blown, peer down bemused. With its body blotted out by the moon, the Sun''s corona comes into view. It is an experience that lasts just a few minutes, but that reverberates for a lifetime. Bangladesh Astronomical Association (BAA), and bdnews24.com will co-organise 24 observation camps throughout the country to help watch the celestial event safely. Local organisations will help set up the camps. However, cloud and rain may ruin the party for millions of eclipse-watchers. BAA will set up its main observation centre in a Tentulia tea garden Tuesday morning. A number of related activities including workshops on the solar eclipse, a children''s science festival, solar painting competition, kite flying and exhibition, a film show on astronomical phenomena, night sky observation by telescope, paper balloon flying and a music festival will be held in different parts of the country. In the capital, Dhanmandi playground, Notre Dame College and Mirpur Town Protection Embankment in Mirpur-12 will host observation camps, jointly organised by Bijnan Andolan Mancho, Notre Dame College geography department and Amader Pathshala. BAA will have solar eclipse observation camps set up in Chittagong Court Building compound, Jessore Town Hall ground, Mymensingh Circuit House ground, Gaibandha Government College ground, Kuakata sea beach, St Martin''s sea beach, Cox''s Bazaar sea beach, Nijhum Dweep sea beach, Sarail of Brahmanbarhia, Bandarban Hillside Resort, Panchagarh Stadium, Narayanganj Shaheed Minar, Khulna Military Collegiate School, Noakhali Science and Technology University, Sylhet MC College, Rajshahi river bank, KUET playground, Comilla Victoria College, the Shomeshwari river bank in Netrokona and Habiganj Government Vrindavana College ground. Bangladesh Science and Technology Museum will organise facilities to observe the total solar eclipse from Panchagarh Stadium. Arrangements for witnessing the eclipse will also be held in front of Porishankhyan Bhaban in the capital. BAA will observe the total solar eclipse from Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Tentulia. The path of the Moon''s umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China, according to NASA. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan''s Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon''s penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean.

PM seeks Indian cooperation for trade with Nepal, Bhutan She favours reopening of cross-border railways Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said her government is interested to reopen the cross-border railways abandoned following the 1965 India-Pakistan war, for stronger connectivity between Bangladesh and India in the fields of trade, investment and people-to-people contacts between the two next-door neighbors, reports UNB. She also sought Indian cooperation so that Bangladesh can transact trade and business through Banglabandh and Burimari land-port routes with Nepal and Bhutan. Routing trade between Bangladesh and the two landlocked Himalayan countries through the two northern land-ports necessitates corridors through Indian territories. The Prime Minister made the remarks when a 50-member-strong business delegation from the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) led by its vice-president Harsh C Mariwala had a meeting with her at the Prime Minister''s Office (PMO) Tuesday. Hasina disclosed that she already has contacted Indian Minister for Railways Mamata Banerjee about the rerun of trains along the derelict rails. Besides, she said, the government will take immediate effective steps to modernize the intra-country railways for communications up to the present-day standards. "I have also seen the rail budget of your country (India). You have expertise in the sector of railway communications. We need your help in this regard," she told the Indian business leaders. The Prime Minister informed the Indian delegation that all land-ports located on the Bangladesh-India boarder will be developed and other necessary infrastructures set up there gradually to boost bilateral trade between the two neighboring countries. Besides, the present government has a plan to develop Mongla seaport as part of the government''s massive plan to turn Bangladesh into a prosperous modern country by 2021. As the Indian business delegation requested the Prime Minister for setting up Special Economic Zones in the boarding areas exclusively for Indian investment, she said the government has already planned to build Special Economic Zones where, like others, Indian businessmen can also make their investment. She said there are EPZs in Comilla, Feni and Syedpur (Uttara EPZ) and the Indian businessmen could invest in these EPZs as these are close to the boarding regions. Regarding special economic zone for Indian investment, she said, "If the Indian businessmen come forward to set up such zones in Bangladesh, the present government will extend all necessary cooperation." In such special zoning, the present government will prefer labour-intensive industries as the government is strongly committed to removing unemployment problem from the country. Hasina reaffirmed her government''s stand on promoting public-private partnership for rapid and sustainable development. Regarding open markets, the Prime Minister said all windows to trade and business should remain open, but, at the same time, greater interest of the people will have to be protected. The Prime Minister also emphasized sharing experiences among the South Asian countries in the fields of economy, trade, business and investment for the good of the people. About the existing bilateral friendly relations between Bangladesh and India, Hasina said in case of the bilateral problems, these can be solved through discussion. She welcomed the Indian business delegation to Bangladesh and recalled the historic role of India during the 1971 liberation war of Bangladesh. Singling out poverty as the main enemy of the South Asian nations, the PM said Bangladesh and its all neighboring countries, including India at the next door, should work together to expand trade and business for balanced development of the region through eradicating poverty. "We have resources. Our people are also very much capable and industrious. If we can work unitedly, poverty will be eliminated as well as development of all the nations will be achieved," she told her business audience from India. Finance Minister Dr Abul Maal Abdul Muhith, Commerce Minister Faruq Khan, Advisers to the Prime Minister Dr Mashiur Rahman, HT Imam and Toufiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, Prime Minister''s Principal Secretary MA Karim, PMO secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman, Prime Minister''s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, FICCI secretary-general Dr Amit Mitra, Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Annisul Huq, President of Tripura Chamber of Commerce and Industry ML Debnath and former FBCCI president Salman F Rahman were among others present at the meeting. The ministers, advisers and the business leaders in the meeting emphasized reducing the trade gap between Bangladesh and India. FBCCI president Annisul Huq said Bangladeshi businessmen are firm to work shoulder to shoulder with the Indian businessmen for reducing the trade gap amounting to nearly about 6 billion US dollars between the two countries. "But, at the same time, we have to have the assurance of exporting more products to India," said the chief of the apex trade body. Annisul Huq identified lack of warehouses at the land- ports and other infrastructural facilities as the barriers to expanding bilateral trade and business between Bangladesh and India. FICCI delegation-chief Mariwala also said the trade gap is the real issue to be addressed immediately. Commerce Minister Faruq Khan identified lack of testing facilities in Bangladesh as one of the big obstacles to trade and business with India. He said Indian authorities do not accept the testing certificates provided by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI). "But I can assure you that in the next 6 months, BSTI will be upgraded to such standards which will be accepted by the Indian authorities," he told the meet. Besides, Faruq Khan emphasized removing tariff and non-tariff barriers and fostering political understanding between the two countries for a better economy of the country. Finance Minister Muhith underscored the need for increasing regional connectivity among the South Asian countries for betterment of the people. FICCI secretary-general Dr Amit Mitra noted that India and Bangladesh have emotional attachment due to the two countries'' history and geography. "Now time has come to turn the emotional attachment of the two countries into business, trade and investment for real prosperity of the people," he said.

Razzak''s remarks on Tipai issue irk Hafiz BNP vice-chairman and former Water Resources Minister Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed Tuesday hit back at Awami League presidium member Abdur Razzak for his "controversial" remarks on the BNP''s move on Tipaimukh dam issue, reports UNB. He termed Razzak''s stance as disappointing and unfortunate. In a statement, Hafiz said they were surprised by the remarks of Razzak, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Water Resources Ministry, at a press conference on Sunday where he termed "motivated and misleading" the BNP''s presentation Saturday of data and information on the adverse impact of the proposed Tipaimukh dam on Bangladesh. He said Razzak also mentioned the BNP''s presentation on Tipaimukh dam "an attempt to fish in the troubled waters." Hafiz said: "It is not comprehensible to us what prompted Razzak to become so irritated about the BNP projecting the picture of long-term adverse impact and public sufferings due to the proposed Indian project. "Our question, whose interest he (Razzak) wants to uphold? Is his loyalty for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh or anywhere else?" Referring to the BNP chairperson''s introductory remarks on Saturday at the data presentation function, he said Begum Khaleda Zia had called for national unity to stop the Indian move of constructing a very harmful project like Tipaimukh dam. He mentioned that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also welcomed Begum Zia''s remarks. Hafiz said Razzak, who was also a former Water Resources Minister, did not utter any sentence against the India''s initiative against Bangladesh''s interest. Rather, he tried to put the opposition on the dock for speaking in favor of national interest. He said the Awami League leader again made a false remark that while in power BNP did not raise any objection against the Tipaimukh dam project. "BNP has repeatedly mentioned, backed by documented proof that while in power we raised objection at every meeting with India on the subject." On Razzak''s proposal again to submit the names of two BNP lawmakers for the parliamentary delegation to visit Tipaimukh dam site, he said it tantamounts to a joke when BNP always has been telling and proposing to send a technical expert team with the delegation as there are many complicated technical aspects of the Tipaimukh project. The BNP leader urged Razzak to refrain from such "mockery, creation of division and an ill attempt to spread smokescreen."

ADB President arrives tomorrow Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda will arrive in Dhaka on a two-day visit on Thursday, reports UNB. His visit is expected to reaffirm ADB''s strong support for the government''s economic and social development programmes, which came under pressure from the global economic crisis. Apart from holding meetings with top government leaders and representatives of civil society, Kuroda is also expected to make a field trip to an ADB-funded project to meet some of the project beneficiaries, said a release. ADB has a long and active presence in Bangladesh, partnering with the government on a range of poverty-alleviation and development projects. Opened in 1982, ADB''s resident mission in Bangladesh is the first overseas country field office established by ADB. ADB, based in Manilla, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth and regional integration. Established in 1966, it is owned by 67 members, 48 from the region.

Hazari applies for parole to attend AL council FENI, July 21: rmer Awami league MP Joynal Hazari has applied for parole from a Feni jail in order to join the party''s national council, Hazari''s lawyer said on Tuesday, reports bdnews24.com. Hazari, facing a raft of corruption cases, was sent to jail on May 15 this year after he finally surrendered to authorities. Hazari was at one time facing 23 separate cases, of which he has secured bail in 11 cases and his name was dropped in another 11. He is awaiting bail in the single remaining case. Aziz Ahammad Chowdhury, AL''s Feni district acting president, said Tuesday a party leader had called him from Dhaka to say that Hazari was nominated as a district councillor from Feni to attend AL''s national council scheduled for July 24. "Under the circumstances, Hazari has submitted a parole application in court to be able to join the event," lawyer Ghyasuddin Nannu Tuesday told bdnews24.com. Hazari most recently secured bail from the High Court in an illegal wealth case. In Nov 2008, a special court sentenced Hazari, in his absence, to 10 years imprisonment for amassing wealth beyond his known sources of income and failing to provide a full account of his assets in a wealth statement to the ACC. The Anticorruption Commission filed the case with Feni police in Oct 2007. "Hazari will be freed from jail after he secures bail in one more case," his lawyer Enayetullah Chowdhury said after the bail hearing last Sunday.

About Forest Biodiversity

Tropical, temperate and boreal forests offer a diverse set of habitats for plants, animals and micro-organisms. Consequently forests hold the majority of the world’s terrestrial species. However these biologically rich systems are increasingly threatened, largely as a result of human activity.Forest biological diversity is broad term referring to all the life forms found within forested areas and the ecological roles they perform. As such, forest biological diversity encompasses not just trees but the multitude of plants, animals and micro-organisms that inhabit forest areas and their associated genetic diversity. More »
In the last 8000 years about 45% of the Earth's original forest cover has disappeared, cleared mostly during the past century. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) recently estimated that about 13 million hectares of the world’s forests are lost due to deforestation each year. The annual net loss of forest area between 2000 and 2005 was 7.3 million hectares (equivalent to the net loss of 0.18 percent of the world’s forests). More »
In the past, timber production was regarded as the dominant function of forests. However in recent years this perception has shifted to a more multi-functional and balanced view. Other forest functions and services, such as recreation, health and well-being, biological diversity, maintenance of ecosystem services and the mitigation of climate change, are now recognized as part of the importance of forests and have become integral components of sustainable forest management. Forest biological diversity is increasingly recognized as both a complex and unique element. More »
The CBD addresses forests directly through the expanded programme of work on forest biological diversity (annex to decision VI/22), adopted in 2002 by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth meeting. The forest work programme constitutes a broad set of goals, objectives and activities aimed at the conservation of forest biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable use of the benefits arising from the utilization of forest genetic resources. The programme of work on forest biodiversity consists of three elements: (i) conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing, (ii) institutional and socio-economic enabling environment, (iii) knowledge, assessment, and monitoring. More »

Tree

Several autumn fatalities linked to dangerous tree care practices are prompting a coalition of arborists and urban foresters to urge contractors (and others) to hire only certified tree-care professionals. Landscapers who are not trained arborists risk legal consequences if injuries result from pruning or other dangerous tree work.

River

A river tends to eliminate irregularities and forms a smooth gradient from its source to its base level. As it approaches base level, downward cutting is replaced by lateral cutting, and the river widens its bed and valley and develops a sinuous course that forms exaggerated loops and bends called meander. A river can open up a new channel across the arc of a meander, thereby cutting off the arc and creating an oxbow lake. River velocity determines quantity and size of rock fragments and sediment carried by the river. Whenever velocity is checked by changes of flow of gradient, by meeting the water mass of lakes or ocean, or by the spreading of water when a stream overflows its banks, part of the load carried by the stream is deposited in the river bed or beyond the channel. Landforms produced by deposition include the delta, the floodplain, the channel bar, and the alluvial fan and cone.

Traditionally, river systems have been classified according to their stage of development as 'young', 'mature', or 'old'. The young river is marked by steepsided valley, steep gradients, and irregularities in the bed; the mature river by a valley with a wide floor and flaring sides, by advanced headward erosion by tributaries, and by a more smoothly gradient bed; and the old river by a course graded to base level and running through a peneplain, or broad flat area. Most of the rivers of Bangladesh are at their old stage and enter into the bay of bengal.

River valleys have been important centres of civilisation, they afford travel routes, and their alluvial soils form good agricultural lands. Navigable rivers are important in commerce and have influenced the location of cities. In Bangladesh, almost all the major cities/towns and commercial centres are located on the banks of rivers, eg, Dhaka on the bank of buriganga, Narayanganj by the side of shitalakshya, Chittagong by the side of karnafuli, and Mymensingh by the side of Brahmaputra. Rivers with sufficient water volume, velocity and gradient can be used to produce hydroelectric power. At kaptai the river Karnafuli of Chittagong region is being utilised for producing hydroelectricity.

Wallpepar

Its a great picture.i love this kinds of wallpaper.............................................................................................

About song and poetry

The legacy of American poetry and song is rich and complex, and the stories that it tells are the stories of the nation.

Since the earliest days of America’s history, the creative impulse has been at work, and the people who shaped the nation have always expressed themselves in lyrical form—in hymns, ballads, marches, limericks, love songs, and elegies. The songs and poems they have left for posterity are unmatched in their vitality and variety, and the events and emotions that these works describe together make up a portrait of the American experience.

Lyrical Legacy helps teachers explore this rich heritage using primary sources—the original documents and recordings that let us see the poems and songs as they appeared in their creators’ own times. These documents, in all their irregular, intimate variety, bring the events and characters of distant eras into sharp focus and help students of today understand the attitudes, emotions, and complex circumstances that shaped the perspectives of creative Americans.

The poems and songs in Lyrical Legacy span four centuries of American history and cover a wide range of topics, styles, and authors, from acclaimed poets to nameless street singers. Each work is represented by a primary source document from the digital collections of the Library of Congress, along with an introduction to the historical background of the work. Analysis tools for students and ideas for educational activities are also included to allow easy use of these unique primary sources in the classroom.

Some of the primary sources in Lyrical Legacy contain prominent spelling and printing irregularities, and may not match more familiar versions of the poem or song. These idiosyncrasies are hallmarks of an authentic historical document and provide an excellent opportunity to encourage students to explore the details of the historical period further.

Teaching with primary sources immerses students in the world of the past like nothing else can. Bringing young people into close contact with these unique, often profoundly personal objects can give them a very real sense of what it was like to be alive during a long-past era. It can also help them understand the unique experiences of the men and women who made history before they knew it would be history.

About poor life

One day a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live.

They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.

On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, "How was the trip?"

"It was great, Dad."

"Did you see how poor people live?" the father asked.

"Oh yeah," said the son.

"So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?" asked the father.

The son answered: "I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a Creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We buy our food, but they grow theirs and eat it fresh. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them."

The boy's father was speechless as his son added, "Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are."

Isn't perspective a wonderful thing?

Big Bang Theory

Big Bang Theory - The Premise
The Big Bang theory is an effort to explain what happened at the very beginning of our universe. Discoveries in astronomy and physics have shown beyond a reasonable doubt that our universe did in fact have a beginning. Prior to that moment there was nothing; during and after that moment there was something: our universe. The big bang theory is an effort to explain what happened during and after that moment.

According to the standard theory, our universe sprang into existence as "singularity" around 13.7 billion years ago. What is a "singularity" and where does it come from? Well, to be honest, we don't know for sure. Singularities are zones which defy our current understanding of physics. They are thought to exist at the core of "black holes." Black holes are areas of intense gravitational pressure. The pressure is thought to be so intense that finite matter is actually squished into infinite density (a mathematical concept which truly boggles the mind). These zones of infinite density are called "singularities." Our universe is thought to have begun as an infinitesimally small, infinitely hot, infinitely dense, something - a singularity. Where did it come from? We don't know. Why did it appear? We don't know.

After its initial appearance, it apparently inflated (the "Big Bang"), expanded and cooled, going from very, very small and very, very hot, to the size and temperature of our current universe. It continues to expand and cool to this day and we are inside of it: incredible creatures living on a unique planet, circling a beautiful star clustered together with several hundred billion other stars in a galaxy soaring through the cosmos, all of which is inside of an expanding universe that began as an infinitesimal singularity which appeared out of nowhere for reasons unknown. This is the Big Bang theory.

Big Bang Theory - Common Misconceptions
There are many misconceptions surrounding the Big Bang theory. For example, we tend to imagine a giant explosion. Experts however say that there was no explosion; there was (and continues to be) an expansion. Rather than imagining a balloon popping and releasing its contents, imagine a balloon expanding: an infinitesimally small balloon expanding to the size of our current universe.

Another misconception is that we tend to image the singularity as a little fireball appearing somewhere in space. According to the many experts however, space didn't exist prior to the Big Bang. Back in the late '60s and early '70s, when men first walked upon the moon, "three British astrophysicists, Steven Hawking, George Ellis, and Roger Penrose turned their attention to the Theory of Relativity and its implications regarding our notions of time. In 1968 and 1970, they published papers in which they extended Einstein's Theory of General Relativity to include measurements of time and space.^{1, 2} According to their calculations, time and space had a finite beginning that corresponded to the origin of matter and energy."³ The singularity didn't appear in space; rather, space began inside of the singularity. Prior to the singularity, nothing existed, not space, time, matter, or energy - nothing. So where and in what did the singularity appear if not in space? We don't know. We don't know where it came from, why it's here, or even where it is. All we really know is that we are inside of it and at one time it didn't exist and neither did we.

Origin of Species

Origin of Species - Darwin's Classic Work
Origin of Species is the abbreviated, more commonly-known title for Charles Darwin's classic, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. British naturalist Charles Darwin (1809-1882) began drafting Origin of Species in 1842, just six years after returning from his fateful five-year voyage aboard the HMS Beagle (1831-36). Heavily influenced by Sir Charles Lyell's Principles of Geology (1830-1833, a three volume work) and Thomas Malthus' An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798), Origin of Species was ultimately published in 1859.

Origin of Species - Natural Selection
In Origin of Species, Charles Darwin introduced the concept of natural selection. Natural selection is a natural process which acts to preserve and accumulate minor advantageous variations within living systems. Suppose a member of a species were to develop a functional advantage (a reptile grew wings and learned to fly: an obvious advantage his earth-bound relatives couldn't enjoy); its offspring would inherit that advantage and pass it on to future offspring. Natural selection would act to preserve the advantageous trait. Essentially, natural selection is the naturalistic equivalent to domestic breeding. Over the centuries, human breeders have produced dramatic changes within domestic animal populations simply by selecting individuals to breed. They have been able to accentuate desirable traits (given the trait is already present in the creature's genetic code) and even suppress undesirable traits gradually over time. The difference between domestic breeding and natural selection is this: rather than human breeders making the selections, nature itself is the selector.

Darwin made a keen observation but he drew a poor conclusion. He thought that since natural selection can and does produce slight variations within animal populations it should therefore be able to explain all of the variety we observe in biology. He concluded that since natural selection explains variety, all life must somehow be related, everything ultimately having evolved from some sort of common ancestor. "It is a truly wonderful fact-the wonder of which we are apt to overlook from familiarity-that all animals and all plants throughout all time and space should be related to each other…" [1] Darwinists have even gone so far as to suggest that this common ancestor somehow evolved from non-living matter (which they presume to be some kind of dirty-water soup-like composition). Well, this whole idea of the birds and bananas, the fish and the flowers, all being related, and life evolving from non-life… may have seemed remotely plausible back in the 1800s. Modern biology was still in its infancy and the living cell was still thought to be nothing more than a simple blob of protoplasm. Gregor Mendell (1822-1884) had only just begun exploring the principles of heredity and it wasn't until the late 1850's that Luis Pasteur (1822-1895) sought to disprove the abiogenesis fallacy. But thanks to the foundations laid by these great men of science (both of whom opposed Darwinian evolution) and in light of the tremendous advances we've made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics, especially over these past fifty years, the flaws in Darwin's theory standout quite clearly. For example, we've established that genetic barriers exist. Pigs will never fly! Yes, there are degrees of variation. Different skin tones, facial features, eyes colors, hair types, etc. You could have a big dog or a small dog, a dog with long or short hair. But no kind of dog will ever produce a non-dog! Birds and bananas aren't distant cousins! As far as life arising from non-life (abiogenesis), the mechanisms are fairly well known and the bottom line is this: certain chemical constraints make abiogenesis an impossible event.

DNA

DNA Double Helix: A Recent Discovery of Enormous Complexity
The DNA Double Helix is one of the greatest scientific discoveries of all time. First described by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953, DNA is the famous molecule of genetics that establishes each organism's physical characteristics. It wasn't until mid-2001, that the Human Genome Project and Celera Genomics jointly presented the true nature and complexity of the digital code inherent in DNA. We now understand that each human DNA molecule is comprised of chemical bases arranged in approximately 3 billion precise sequences. Even the DNA molecule for the single-celled bacterium, E. coli, contains enough information to fill all the books in any of the world's largest libraries.
DNA Double Helix: The "Basics"
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a double-stranded molecule that is twisted into a helix like a spiral staircase. Each strand is comprised of a sugar-phosphate backbone and numerous base chemicals attached in pairs. The four bases that make up the stairs in the spiraling staircase are adenine (A), thymine (T), cytosine (C) and guanine (G). These stairs act as the "letters" in the genetic alphabet, combining into complex sequences to form the words, sentences and paragraphs that act as instructions to guide the formation and functioning of the host cell. Maybe even more appropriately, the A, T, C and G in the genetic code of the DNA molecule can be compared to the "0" and "1" in the binary code of computer software. Like software to a computer, the DNA code is a genetic language that communicates information to the organic cell.

The DNA code, like a floppy disk of binary code, is quite simple in its basic paired structure. However, it's the sequencing and functioning of that code that's enormously complex. Through recent technologies like x-ray crystallography, we now know that the cell is not a "blob of protoplasm", but rather a microscopic marvel that is more complex than the space shuttle. The cell is very complicated, using vast numbers of phenomenally precise DNA instructions to control its every function.

Although DNA code is remarkably complex, it's the information translation system connected to that code that really baffles science. Like any language, letters and words mean nothing outside the language convention used to give those letters and words meaning. This is modern information theory at its core. A simple binary example of information theory is the "Midnight Ride of Paul Revere." In that famous story, Mr. Revere asks a friend to put one light in the window of the North Church if the British came by land, and two lights if they came by sea. Without a shared language convention between Paul Revere and his friend, that simple communication effort would mean nothing. Well, take that simple example and multiply by a factor containing many zeros.

We now know that the DNA molecule is an intricate message system. To claim that DNA arose by random material forces is to say that information can arise by random material forces. Many scientists argue that the chemical building blocks of the DNA molecule can be explained by natural evolutionary processes. However, they must realize that the material base of a message is completely independent of the information transmitted. Thus, the chemical building blocks have nothing to do with the origin of the complex message. As a simple illustration, the information content of the clause "nature was designed" has nothing to do with the writing material used, whether ink, paint, chalk or crayon. In fact, the clause can be written in binary code, Morse code or smoke signals, but the message remains the same, independent of the medium. There is obviously no relationship between the information and the material base used to transmit it. Some current theories argue that self-organizing properties within the base chemicals themselves created the information in the first DNA molecule. Others argue that external self-organizing forces created the first DNA molecule. However, all of these theories must hold to the illogical conclusion that the material used to transmit the information also produced the information itself. Contrary to the current theories of evolutionary scientists, the information contained within the genetic code must be entirely independent of the chemical makeup of the DNA molecule.

Life history: Charles Darwin

Charles Darwin - Immediate Family
Charles Darwin (1809-1882) was born in Shrewsbury, England. He was the fifth of six children born to Robert Darwin (1766-1848) and Susannah Wedgwood-darwin (1765-1817). Susannah died when Charles was only eight years old. Charles was the grandson of two very prominent men of the time, Erasmus Darwin (1731-1802) and Josiah Wedgwood (1730-1795). Erasmus, who died several years before Charles was even born, was a dedicated evolutionist. Erasmus' pre-charles Darwin evolutionary writings include Zoonomia, or, the Laws of Organic Life (1794-1796, a two volume work). Consider this excerpt from his posthumous poem Temple of Nature (1802), "Organic life beneath the shoreless waves was born and nurs'd in ocean's pearly caves; First forms minute, unseen by spheric glass, move on the mud, or pierce the watery mass; these, as successive generations bloom, new powers acquire and larger limbs assume; whence countless groups of vegetation spring, and breathing realms of fin and feet and wing."
Charles Darwin - Education
Charles Darwin entered Shrewsbury School as a boarding student in 1822. He left three years later, at the age of 16, called by his father to study medicine with his elder brother, Erasmus, at Edinburgh University. Repelled by the horror of early 19th century surgery, Darwin dropped out of Edinburgh in 1827 and enrolled in Christ College, Cambridge University, studying to be a clergyman in the Church of England. Charles earned his Bachelor's Degree in Theology in 1831. During his tenure as a student at Cambridge, Darwin befriended botanist and mineralogist John Stevens Henslow (1796-1861), one of his professors. It was Henslow who recommended Darwin to Captain Robert FitzRoy (1805-1865) of the HMS Beagle, who was in need of a naturalist. In August of 1831, Darwin received an invitation to serve as naturalist aboard the Beagle. Darwin accepted and set sail on a fateful five year voyage (1831-36)
Charles Darwin - Origin of Species and Natural Selection
Charles Darwin returned to England in 1836. In 1839, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society and, five days later, married to his cousin Emma Wedgwood, who bore him 10 children. In 1842, Darwin began drafting his Origin of Species. Darwin's work was heavily influenced by Lyell's Principles of Geology and Thomas Malthus' An Essay on the Principle of Population (1798). Origin of Species was ultimately published in 1859.

Darwin didn't invent the evolutionary worldview. He simply brought something new to the old philosophy: a plausible mechanism called "natural selection." In his Origin of Species, Darwin proposed natural selection as the mechanism by which all life could have descended from a common ancestor (Darwin defined evolution as "descent with modification"). However, today we know that natural selection is a deficient mechanism, even in light of genetic mutation. In fact, with the tremendous advances we've made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years, Darwin's theory has become "a theory in crisis." [2]

Evolution

The theory of evolution is part of the scientific domain, which involves accurate observation of evidence and controlled experimentation. The scientific method "is based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. The scientific method consists of the collection of data through observation and experimentation, and the formulation and testing of hypotheses."² One problem of the theory of evolution is that it has not been established using such a scientific method. Dr. Jonathan Wells says about this: "The truth is Darwinism is not a scientific theory, but a materialistic creation myth masquerading as science."3 Many proponents in the field of science have been selling a philosophy rather than presenting scientific evidence. The harm is done when this philosophy is proclaimed as if it were scientific fact backed by experimental or observational evidence.

The public tends to believe that every scientist is 100 percent correct in every pronouncement. It is almost unbelievable to some people that scientists could be subject to human errors. But we must keep in mind that scientists are not perfect and infallible. It should not come as a surprise that history has shown us many examples of scientific error. We know that:

• Scientists can believe in things that are not true. Examples are the mistaken notion that the universe is eternal or the idea that vestigial organs and "junk DNA" have no functions.
• Scientists can make design errors and miscalculations. Some examples are the accidental destruction of the Mars Climate Orbiter in 1998 and the very costly repair project on the brand-new Hubble Space Telescope in 1993.
• Scientists can be dishonest like anybody else. A recent example was a widely publicized case in 2004 which involved accusations of fraud, embezzlement, and fabrication of scientific papers by a human cloning researcher.

But more importantly, we must not forget that scientists, being human, show a great variety of beliefs, attitudes, and character, just like politicians, teachers, and salesmen. Any scientist will try to fit the evidence into his general philosophy of things. Sometimes this natural tendency overrides logic and leads one to look at only the favorable evidence. Enthusiasm for popular ideas easily leads to the ignoring of contradicting or "uncooperative" data. There is a great variety among scientists and others who believe evolution. Some are true crusaders for the doctrine. This is logical -- if a person really believes in a philosophy, he will likely spread it.

Others echo it gladly, and a great multitude simply go along because it seems to be the thing to do. Most scientists are no experts in the relevant fields, such as microbiology and genetics, and merely have an opinion on the subject like anyone else. Many of these scientists have serious doubts about evolution, but they keep their reservations to themselves. And, of course, a great many people -- including scientists -- are honestly confused on this question. Not because of evidence, but because of presumed evidence -- this is a major explanation for the prevalence of evolutionary belief. Evolution - A Fashionable False Idea
William Randolph Hearst, Jr., once wrote about pressures from "fashionable ideas...which are advanced with such force that common sense itself becomes the victim." A person under such pressure may then act, he said, "with an irrationality which is almost beyond belief."¹ It is exactly thus with the overwhelming pressure to accept evolution. This pressure is not only applied by the scientific establishment, but also by sympathizers in the media and politics, for reasons that go far beyond science and with an enormous influence and exposure to the masses. Janet Browne writes about how this started: “It was to Darwin’s friends that the first wave of positive responses must be attributed. For it was obvious that Darwin’s theories were as useful to them as they were to his theories. Over the following decades, Darwin’s defenders came to occupy influential niches in British and American intellectual life. Together, these men would also control the scientific media of the day, especially the important journals....Darwin’s opponents failed to achieve anything like the same command of the media or penetration of significant institutions.”²

Over the years, the power that the "myth" of evolution has gained over the public, through the human desire to conform, almost amounts to mass hypnosis. It has its effect because people have been led to think that it is the "orthodox" view among those whom they consider to be scientific and worldly-wise.

A scientist thus affected is reluctant to examine the evidence open-mindedly. The problem is not scientific -- it is emotional. One can easily become committed to what appears to be a fashionable philosophy, the "in" thing among his peers. The deciding factor is the pressure to conform, right or wrong. It always takes courage and intentional honesty to seek the truth in the face of the compulsion to be considered "in" because of "being like."

When a fashionable idea has the center of the stage in a society, it tends to drive off opposing viewpoints. Some readers may find, as we have, that it is difficult to locate in university and public libraries certain serious scientific works critical of evolution. Books of this type have a way of not ending up in the science section but instead in the religious section. Scientific works which fail to support evolution may sometimes run into difficulty getting into print and it is not exceptional to see staff members of scientific institutions lose certain positions (or never occupy certain positions in the first place) because of their unorthodox view on evolution. Today, many researchers and scientists who reject the theory of evolution either hide their thoughts and ideas completely or hide behind pseudonyms when publishing controversial ideas, fearing job loss or ridicule.

In a world which has gradually become so acquainted with an unbalanced portrayal of scientific facts, as a result of general prejudice, efforts to stifle true academic freedom and the natural human desire to be "in style," it is not hard to imagine why the theory of evolution has become so widely accepted even among scientists.

Subject: Science

Science is the human endeavor to discover truths about the world around us. Scientists seek out answers through observation and experimentation. As we discover more and more, we are able to apply what we've learned to develop new technologies and to improve everyday life. But perhaps more importantly, as we gain knowledge through science, we are able to begin satisfying our deep-felt need to know more about ourselves.

About hospital

The hospital provides modern diagnostic and treatment facilities for all diseases and disorders. specious, separate Out Patients Department are available for all the clinical and paraclinical disciplines with full time residential expert faculty. A team of Medico Social Workers (MSWS) tackles the social problems of the patients.Emergency services and trauma care are available round the clock.Inorder to provide comprehensive community based quality health care to the people of this remote area, Trust has started 100 bedded Rural Hospital in 1976. The medical need of the area were far greater than what a 100 bed hospital could provide. Over period of time it has become a 750 bedded multi-disciplinary hospital along with the other ancillary facilities.

Intensive Care Unit

Intensive Care Unit is well equipped with state-of-art monitoring and life support systems for the care of the critically ill.

About lifs values

Most of us go through life always wanting more and better. Being in this state of constant desire does not coexist with peace of mind.

It is normal to want better lives for ourselves and our families, but we have to balance our goals with the cost. How much does this promotion, vacation, new purchase, cost in terms of real life? How many extra hours of stress and anxiety, now and later, go into getting it?

With the fast paced living that surrounds us it's difficult to avoid being swept in. Too many of us are rushing through our daily lives to do more and to acquire more. We are becoming less interested in our fellow humans as friends and more as competitors as we try to keep up or to possess more material goods.

There is a big push in this social direction by corporations and their marketers. They are in business to make money for their managements and shareholders, so this will likely continue if there is not much resistance. Advertising is a powerful persuasion to buy things we may not need or maybe not even really want. The overall success of marketing has created a want addiction for many consumers.

As more and more we come to falsely regard material gains as success we are missing out on the true values of life. Money really is quite necessary in our lives, but its value should not be worshiped. The good things in life are free, life itself, friendship, nature. Whatever we do possess, in the end we must leave it all behind.

"The cost of a thing is the amount of what I call life, which is required to be exchanged for it immediately or in the long run." - Henry Thoreau (1817-1862)

About happyness

"If you aren't happy, why aren't you?

Chances are it is because you want something which you do not have, objects or conditions. This is probably not a good enough reason and a review of your situation and perceptions may be in order.

You may have seen video of children in very poor countries laughing and playing, unconcerned that they should have more to be happy about. They are happy because they are playing, because they have their friends and family, and some food to eat that day. Everyone has the right to be happy, and if they can be in their situation, shouldn't you?

"Happiness consists more in small conveniences of pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life." - Ben Franklin (1706-1790)

Happiness is inside us, in our minds, in our thinking. It is not external material things or experiences, but the enjoyment of our thoughts and feelings. This is good because our thoughts, and therefore our happiness, are up to us.

Start by reviewing the things that you have to be happy about and dwell on these. Don't overlook the little or basic things that you take for granted.

Make a habit of substituting unhappy thoughts with happy thoughts. Whenever an unfavorable picture enters your mind, eject it and replace it with a pleasant one. We all have some nice experiences to recollect and there are usually little pleasures around us most of the time. You can even imagine enjoyable experiences, and it will have a similar positive effect.

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." - Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

Establish good principles and conduct yourself according to these principles. Love, or at least be tolerant of, your fellow humans. Don't strive too hard for that which, in the end, will not make you happier.

About friendship

Interacting amiably with family and friends is a super stress reducer. Instead of the mind working overtime on worries and problems, it is occupied with thoughts of other things and other people. There is less mental capacity left for anxieties and self-doubt.

"Friendship improves happiness and abates misery by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief." - Marcus Cicero (BC)

Good friendship is healthy but it isn't easy for everyone. Getting people to like you is the starting point, and that should be fairly easy to do. People have a basic need to be liked themselves. Show interest, appreciation, and kindness. Smile. Praise given out sincerely is a great act of friendship. Be a good listener and try to see the good, not the bad qualities in people. These actions will usually be returned to you, sooner or later.

"The only way to have a friend is to be one. . . A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud." - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

As a friend, try to let an unfavorable incident or remark fly right over the top of your head. We all blurt out something stupid or do something regrettable at times, and it's so nice when the other acts as if it never happened. This is a dear friend.

"The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words." - Buddha (BC)

About problem

We are all faced with problems throughout our lives, some are small, others huge. Depending on how we deal with them, they can be overwhelming and devastate our lives, or they can quickly fade into the past.

Attitude plays a big role. With a difficult personal or work undertaking, consider all viewpoints, even those you think you don't like. It just might provide relief from your fearful analysis of the situation. Don't oversize the problem which is often a panic reaction. Discuss the actions that you could take with a friend or co-worker which can sometimes provide a good suggestion and some instant stress relief.

Lay out a procedure and slowly complete the first task. The next steps should be easier. Often we will keep on worrying after the decisions are made, which of course is of no help at all. If everything that can be done has been done then it's time to follow through.

"Our plans miscarry if they have no aim. When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind." Lucius Seneca (3-65)

Rejection can be an unpleasant experience, but it just lets us know that we aren't perfect. Who is? Consider it a lesson learned, then forget it and move on with your life in a positive constructive manner.

To help solve a difficult problem or to cut down on worrying about making a decision, analyze the situation, determine what must be done and carry it out. In writing or on your PC:

Get all the facts.
Describe the problem in detail.
List all the possible solutions.
List the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Detail what you will do.
Follow through.

You have detailed the planning and know that you will proceed in a certain way, but will review it as required. Later. Now it's time to think other thoughts.

"What we have to learn to do, we learn by doing." - Aristotle (BC)

About life

Every man dream about many things.and every man confused about many things.

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