The 56th Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service

One of the first things that US president does the day after he becomes President is also the last thing he does as part of his Inauguration schedule: He attends the National Prayer Service.

• The National Prayer Service is a tradition in the US that ends the formal swearing-in events held at the National Cathedral at the conclusion of the inaugural activities.
  
• The prayer service tradition dates back to George Washington
• The service will include scripture readings, prayers, hymns and blessings delivered by faith leaders from across the United States.
• The leaders who deliver are "Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus, non-believers as well
• For the first time in history, a woman will deliver the sermon.
  
• First time a Hindu faith Leader will deliver blessings—Dr. Uma Mysorekar, President, Hindu Temple Society of North America, New York City Mysorekar, a pratising gynecologist, heads the popular Ganesha temple in New York, said to be the first Hindu shrine of North America which was consecrated on July 4, 1977.
  

Presidential Inaugural Committee Communications Director Josh Earnest. “The National Prayer Service, which will embody the themes of tolerance, unity and understanding, is a worship service for all Americans. “

Rabbis in yarmulkes, Catholic bishops in magenta vestments, Protestant pastors in suits, and female Hindu and Muslim leaders in colorful garb -- 20 prominent religious leaders in all -- participated.

Dr. Rajwant Singh, Chairman of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education attended the national prayer service

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/01/21/ST2009012101096.html

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090430/jsp/nation/story_10896912.jsp
http://www.pic2009.org/pressroom/entry/presidential_inaugural_committee_announces_participants_of_national_prayer_/

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1222593
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-01-20-obama-non-believers_N.htm

http://www.sikhnet.com/news/sikh-representative-joins-president-obama-prayer-national-service

Men and women And communication

Because men and women interact and interpret things very differently, learning how to change your approach is of utmost importance for the stability and longevity of relationships.

* Men and women THINK differently
* Men and women SPEAK differently
* Men and women DECIDE differently

Men think compartmentally
Women think globally.

Men speak to report facts in short phrases with little or no details,
Women speak in paragraphs tobuild rapport with lots of details.

Men want and need the “bottom line” first and foremost, followed up with more details now that their need for the bottom line has been met.

Women want and need to build up to the bottom line, as their enjoyment comes from telling the story.

On average:

Women use 25,500 words in a day
Men use about 12,500 in a day.

:-) :-)
A man using 12,495 words during an average work day comes home with only five words left, “What’s for dinner?” (that’s three!) and “Good Night” (that‘s five!).

Women maintain eye contact while speaking for twelve seconds
Man maintaining eye contact for three seconds.

Women have been taught since childhood to use “hint language” when asking for something she wants or needs.

Unfortunately, men do not often get the hint, due to the fact that men tend to take language very literally, focusing attention on the context of the message rather than hidden meanings.

Reference:
http://marital-communication.suite101.com/article.cfm/communication_amongst_the_sexes

India became a sponge

“India has unfortunately become the ‘sponge’ that protects us all. India’s very proximity to Pakistan, which has developed into the epicenter of global terrorism during the last thirty years, has resulted in New Delhi absorbing most of the blows unleashed by those terrorist groups that treat it as a common enemy along with Israel, the United States, and the West more generally,” he said.

Ashley J Tellis, Senior Associate with the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace, a prominent think-tank.

Tilawat in mobile phones

Millions of Muslims out of love for Quran and the beauty of tilawat (Quranic recitation) use Quranic verses as ring tones. A large number of Muslims store whole Quranic tilawat in their mobile phones as they do in their laptops and desktops.

A Muslim organization has issued a fatwa over using verses from the Koran as ringtones, saying that answering the call while the aayat (verses from the Koran) is going on is a sin.

The panel of clerics in Kanpur also said that taking a cellphone to the toilet as it rings is a sin because aayat cannot be heard in a toilet. They also condemned the habit that people have of keeping cell phones

on vibration mode while attending prayer services.

"Listening to aayats partially is anti-Islamic," Ghyasuddin, a senior cleric with the Islamic group Jamia Ashraf-ul-Madaris told the Press Association. "This kind of action amounts to a gunah (sin)."

A fatwa in the Islamic faith is a religious opinion on Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar.

http://www.techtree.com/India/News/Fatwa_Issued_on_Use_of_Mobile_Phones/551-101054-547.html
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,515622,00.html

An anecdote from the life of Rabindranath Tagore

The secret to success is to stick to your goal through rain or shine, through smooth or rough waters.

Even people who attained worldly goals in the fields of sports, the sciences, or the arts have accomplished wonders through their commitment.

Once, Mahatma Gandhi was visiting him there; he had gone there to give a public talk. Afterwards, he spent time with Tagore, discussing topics of interest to them both. Following lunch, Gandhi went to take rest when some of the ashram workers, followers of Tagore, approached him.

"Can you help us, Gandhiji? they asked. "What is it?" asked the Mahatma. "We are worried about the health of Rabindranath Tagore," they explained. "He is not keeping good health. The doctors advised him to take rest, but he refuses. After lunch, he immediately goes back to work and does not take a moment's rest. We do not want his health to fail." Gandhi asked, "Why do you want me to tell him to rest?" They replied, "We know he will not go against your advice."

After Gandhi had rested awhile, he went to Tagore's residence and saw that he was deeply immersed in his work. When Tagore looked up and saw Gandhi standing there he asked him, "Are you not comfortable that you have come out from your rest so soon?"

Gandhi replied: "I have come to ask you to take rest after your lunch so your health does not fail. You are not keeping fit these days."

Tagore replied: "How can I do that? I must tell you the truth so that you will understand. When I was 12 I took a vow never to rest at any time during the day for any reason. Up to now I have kept that vow. How many more years do I have to live? Why would I break that vow now?"

Tagore's firm determination and commitment to his promise moved Gandhi. For 67 years Tagore had never rested during the day. Gandhi was impressed by his commitment to his goal and told him, "Now I know the secret of your success!"


Discourse: Rajinder Singh Ji
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Honour-commitment-you-make-to-yourself/articleshow/4400401.cms

DNA is biological fingerprint

"DNA is biological fingerprint of an individual and no two persons anywhere in the world can have the same DNA profile except in case of biological twins,"

In every human body there are 46 chromosomes in each cell... 23 are inherited from mother and the other 23 from father. Therefore no two individuals in any part of the world can have the same DNA pattern, the prosecutor pointed out.